Search

Chigger mites are arthropods and are the sole vectors of scrub typhus, and rodents as well as other small mammals are the most common hosts of chigger mite larvae. Therefore, it is of great medical significance to study the ecology of chigger mites. In this study, a detailed analysis of chigger mites was conducted based on field survey data. A total of 4,941 chigger mites were collected from 86 hosts at 34 survey sites in Ruili, Yunnan Province, China. Among the 4,941 chiggers, five genera in one subfamily were identified; Schoengastiella ligula was the dominant chigger species with the highest infestation index, prevalence (Pm, 42.86%) and mean intensity (MI, 59.09%) (P0.001). The association coefficient (V) between S. ligula and Gahrliepia radiopunctata was positively correlated (P0.05), indicating the tendency of chiggers to select and coexist on the same host at the same time. The dominant species Leptotrombidium kunmingense, Ascoschoengastia indica, S. ligula and G. radiopunctata showed aggregation distribution patterns, indicating that the distribution of chiggers among different hosts was not uniform. Low altitudes and low latitudes appeared to be more favorable for the growth and reproduction of chigger mites (P0.05). It is suggested to collect as many host samples as possible in future field investigations to better understand the dynamics of chigger mite populations and their primary hosts.

IntroductionCOVID-19 is a public health emergency of international concern, which is characterised by rapid and widespread transmission, high mortality and complications. Several studies have shown the benefits of tai chi and qigong for recovery after COVID-19; however, no meta-analysis has been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tai chi and/or qigong on rehabilitation after COVID-19 through a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a reference and basis for clinical application.Methods and analysisThis study will use the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China Knowledge Network, China Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database and Wanfang Database. The time period is from the inception of the database to November 2021, with no language restrictions. Searches will be conducted using the subject terms “Taichi”,“Qigong” and “COVID-19” plus free-text words. Articles will be screened and collected by two reviewers independently. Included studies will be assessed for quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool. Statistical analyses will be performed using the Revman V.5.3 software. The primary outcomes include 1-second forced expiratory volume and 1-second forced vital capacity, oxygen saturation, total white cell count and quality of life score. Secondary outcomes include time to remission of major symptoms, incidence of adverse events, clinical cure rate and mortality. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will also be used to explore and interpret the heterogeneity. This protocol is written based on the guideline of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Protocol.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval and consent are unnecessary because no primary data will be collected. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021288962.

Purpose. We assessed the clinical outcomes and toxicities following hypofractionation with helical tomographic intensity-modulated radiotherapy technology (tomotherapy) in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were not candidates for surgery or concurrent chemoradiation. Methods. Forty-three patients with stage III NSCLC who were treated between 2011 and 2017 were enrolled. The prescription doses for gross target volume and clinical target volume were 70 Gy and 60 Gy (respectively) delivered in 15–25 fractions over 3–5 weeks. Results. The median overall survival (OS) time was 34.23 (range 11.33–99.33) months. The estimated 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 97.7%, 74.4%, and 55.9%, respectively; the corresponding progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 79.1%, 53.5%, and 36.1%, respectively. The local disease recurrence, regional disease recurrence, and distant metastasis rates at 3 years were 4.7%, 11.62%, and 55.81%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, dose regimen (p<0.05). Seven patients developed grade 1-2 acute radiation pneumonia (RP), 5 patients developed grade 1-2 late RP, while 3 patients developed grade 3 late RP. None of the patients developed grade 4-5 radiation lung injury. Conclusion. Tomotherapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with stage III NSCLC. It may be a viable alternative to surgery with lower incidence of side effects.

To investigate the population structure and genetic diversity of Henan indigenous pig breeds, samples from a total of 78 pigs of 11 breeds were collected, including four pig populations from Henan Province, three Western commercial breeds, three Chinese native pig breeds from other provinces and one Asian wild boar. The genotyping datasets were obtained by genotyping-by-sequencing technology. We found a high degree of polymorphism and rapid linkage disequilibrium decay in Henan pigs. A neighbor-joining tree, principal component analysis and structure analysis revealed that the Huainan and Erhualian pigs were clustered together and that the Queshan black pigs were clearly grouped together but that the Nanyang and Yuxi pigs were extensively admixed with Western pigs. In addition, heterozygosity values might indicate that Henan indigenous pigs, especially the Queshan black and Huainan pigs, were subjected to little selection during domestication. The results presented here indicate that Henan pig breeds were admixed from Western breeds, especially Nanyang and Yuxi pigs. Therefore, establishment of purification and rejuvenation systems to implement conservation strategies is urgent. In addition, it is also necessary to accelerate genetic resources improvement and utilization using modern breeding technologies, such as genomic selection and genome-wide association studies.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Previous history of knee injury is a significant risk factor for OA. It has been established that low-level chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the onset and pathogenesis of OA. The primary aim of this research was to determine if a history of knee joint injury is associated with systemic inflammation. A secondary aim was to determine if systemic inflammation is related to knee pain and joint structure. Methods Differences in serum cytokine association networks, knee joint structural changes (MRI), and self-reported pain (i.e., Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain subscale, KOOSPAIN and Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain score, ICOAP) between individuals who had sustained a youth (aged 15–26 years) sport-related knee injury 3–10 years previously and age- and sex-matched controls were examined. Proteins of interest were also examined in an OA rat model. Results Cytokine association networks were found to differ significantly between study groups, yet no significant associations were found between networks and KOOSPAIN or MRI-defined OA. A group of cytokines (MCP1/CCL2, CCL22 and TNFα) were differentially associated with other cytokines between study groups. In a pre-clinical rat OA model, serum CCL22 levels were associated with pain (r = 0.255, p = 0.045) and structural changes to the cartilage. CCL22 expression was also observed in human OA cartilage and furthermore, CCL22 induced apoptosis of isolated human chondrocytes. Discussion These results suggest that CCL22 may be an early factor in the onset/pathogenic process of cartilage degeneration and/or related to pain OA.

Background ALRN-6924 is a cell-penetrating α-helical stapled peptide that disrupts the interaction of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and its inhibitors, MDMX and MDM2. Reactivation of p53 with ALRN-6924 in TP53-wild-type tumors triggers cell cycle arrest and apoptosis resulting in antitumor efficacy. CDK4/6 inhibitors induce apoptosis, senescence, and cell growth arrest via the interrelated Rb pathway, and co-amplification of MDM2 and CDK4 (both on chromosome 12q13) is a known oncogenic driver, suggesting that combinations of ALRN-6924 and CDK4/6i's may be synergistic. This study evaluates the antitumor efficacy and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ALRN-6924 combined with palbociclib or abemaciclib. Methods ALRN-6924 was tested in combination with palbociclib or abemaciclib in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and MDM2- and CDK4-co-amplified SJSA-1 sarcoma cell lines using WST-1 cell viability assays. Synergy was quantified by the Chou-Talalay combination index method. Single agents and combinations were evaluated in cell culture using assays for apoptosis (Caspase 3/7 cleavage), proliferation (BrdU), senescence (ß-Galactosidase), colony growth (Giemsa), and Western blot analysis of p53, p21, Rb, phospho-Rb, FOXM1, and phospho-FOXM1; and E2F1 mRNA. In vivo combinations were tested in athymic nude mouse MCF-7 and SJSA-1 xenograft models, with cell cycle assays (EdU) measured in tumor samples by flow cytometry. Results ALRN-6924 combinations with palbociclib or abemaciclib display synergistic in vitro anti-proliferative activity in MCF-7 and SJSA-1 cells. ALRN-6924 induces senescence in vitro as a monotherapy and in combination with CDK4/6i's. Western blot assays show that ALRN-6924/palbociclib combinations trigger sustained on-mechanism biomarker activation, vs. transient activation with single agents. Phospho-Rb and phospho-FOXM1 down-regulation, p53 and p21 up-regulation, and repression of E2F1 mRNA are sustained after wash-out in combination, but not in single agent-treated cells. MCF-7 and SJSA-1 tumor growth inhibition was improved in mice treated with ALRN-6924 combinations with either palbociclib or abemaciclib vs. single agent. EdU assays show that ALRN-6924/palbociclib combinations inhibit SJSA-1 tumor cell proliferation in vivo. Body weights and mortality data show the combination of ALRN-6924 with palbociclib 75 mg/kg/day was well tolerated; the combination with abemaciclib 100 mg/kg/day was tolerated with interruption and dose-reduction. No pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interactions were noted in nude mice due to different modes of metabolism for ALRN-6924 (proteolysis) and palbociclib (CYP3A). Conclusions This study demonstrates that ALRN-6924 and CDK4/6i combinations show synergistic activity. PD biomarkers indicate on-mechanism in vitro activity that is sustained after wash-out. In vivo efficacy, biomarker, PK, and tolerability results, plus clinical evidence that the most frequent and concerning safety issues for CDK4/6i's (neutropenia, leukopenia, infections) do not overlap with ALRN-6924's reported safety profile (Meric-Bernstam et al., ASCO 2017) support the development of combination regimens for breast cancer and other malignancies. Citation Format: Annis A, Carvajal LA, Ren J-G, Sutton D, Santiago S, Narasimhan N, Guerlavais V, Aivado M. The stapled peptide ALRN-6924, a dual inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2, and the CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib or abemaciclib synergistically enhance each other's in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-21-07.

Background: MDMX and MDM2 are endogenous inhibitors of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. MDMX levels are frequently elevated in luminal breast cancer, which generally expresses wild-type p53. ALRN-6924, an α-helical stapled peptide, is the first and only dual inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2 currently in clinical trials for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. We sought to determine the antitumor efficacy of the combination of ALRN-6924 with taxanes in models of human breast cancer. Methods: Sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the combination of ALRN-6924 with taxanes in vitro. Athymic nude mice were implanted with MCF-7 tumors and treated for four weeks with ALRN-6924 alone and in combination with paclitaxel in cremaphor (Taxol®, study #1) or a nanoparticle-albumin-bound (nab) formulation (Abraxane®, study #2). In study #1, ALRN-6924 (5, 10 mg/kg) was dosed twice weekly and paclitaxel (10, 15 mg/kg) was dosed weekly, with paclitaxel administered 6 h prior to ALRN-6924. In study #2, ALRN-6924 alone (5 mg/kg) was dosed twice weekly while nab-paclitaxel (15 mg/kg) was administered weekly in combination at -24h, -6h, 0h, +6h, or +24h relative to ALRN-6924 administration. Results: ALRN-6924 was found to have synergistic activity with paclitaxel in both MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cell lines in vitro (Combination index: 0.874 and 0.323 respectively). In in vivo study #1, the combination of ALRN-6924 and paclitaxel significantly inhibited MCF-7 tumor growth compared to either agent alone (p In study #2, the combination of nab-paclitaxel with ALRN-6924 administered -6h to +24h relative to nab-paclitaxel resulted in improved efficacy over either single agent and a significant increase in the number of tumor regressions (up to 6/10 with 3 consecutive measurements In both studies, drug treatments were well tolerated with no significant weight loss in mice. Conclusion: The significant increase in efficacy observed with ALRN-6924 in combination with paclitaxel supports further evaluation in patients with breast cancer. Citation Format: Pairawan SS, Yuca E, Evans K, Annis A, Narasimhan N, Sutton D, Carvajal LA, Ren J-G, Santiago S, Guerlavais V, Akcakanat A, Tapia C, Illeana Dumbrava EE, Aivado M, Meric-Bernstam F. The stapled peptide ALRN-6924, a dual inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2, enhances antitumor efficacy of paclitaxel and Nab-paclitaxel in TP53 wild-type MCF-7 breast cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-20-11.

Although it has been well established that G protein plays pivotal roles in physiologic or pathologic conditions, including cancer formation, its role in breast cancer, especially specific subunits, remains largely unknown. Our work aimed to evaluate the correlation of the G protein alpha subunit (GNAS) with breast cancer and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. The expression of GNAS was determined by breast tumor tissue microarray of 150 patients with complete follow-up information. The correlation between GNAS expression and clinical features was assessed. CCK8, EdU incorporation, flow cytometry, wound healing, transwell, western blot and tumor formation assays were carried out in nude mice to study the biological function of GNAS and the underlying molecular mechanism in breast cancer by silencing GNAS using a specific siRNA. High GNAS expression showed a close correlation with a reduced overall survival (p = 0.021), frequent distal metastasis (p = 0.026), advanced clinical stage (p = 0.001), stronger cell proliferation (ki67+ positive cell rate, p = 0.0351) and enhanced cancer cell migration, which was further confirmed by in vitro and in vivo assays and might be dependent on the PI3K/AKT/Snail1/E-cadherin axis. The data suggested that GNAS promoted breast cancer cell proliferation and migration (EMT) through the PI3K/AKT/Snail1/E-cadherin signaling pathway. These findings also indicate that GNAS can serve as a potential prognostic indicator and novel therapeutic target in breast cancer.

We present a dynamical study of the intermediate polar and dwarf nova cataclysmic variable GK Persei (Nova Persei 1901) based on a multisite optical spectroscopy and R-band photometry campaign. The radial velocity curve of the evolved donor star has a semi-amplitude K-2 = 126.4 +/- 0.9 km s(-1) and an orbital period P = 1.996872 +/- 0.000009 d. We refine the projected rotational velocity of the donor star to v(rot) sin i = 52 +/- 2 km s(-1) that, together with K-2, provides a donor star to white dwarf mass ratio q = M-2/M-1 = 0.38 +/- 0.03. We also determine the orbital inclination of the system by modelling the phase-folded ellipsoidal light curve and obtain i = 67 degrees +/- 5 degrees. The resulting dynamical masses are M-1 = 1.03(-0.11)(+0.16) M-circle dot and M-2 = 0.39(-0.06)(+0.07) M-circle dot at 68 per cent confidence level. The white dwarf dynamical mass is compared with estimates obtained by modelling the decline light curve of the 1901 nova event and X-ray spectroscopy. The best matching mass estimates come from the nova light curve models and an X-ray data analysis that uses the ratio between the Alfven radius in quiescence and during dwarf nova outburst.

Summary Synovitis is common in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and is associated with pain and disease progression. We have previously demonstrated that the chemokine C-C motif chemokine 22 (CCL22) induces chondrocyte apoptosis in vitro; however, the effects of CCL22 on the synovium remain unknown. Therefore, our goal was to investigate the effect of CCL22 on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). CCL22 treatment suppressed expression of IL-4 and IL-10 and promoted expression of S100A12 in FLS. The response of FLS to CCL22 was not dependent on the disease state of the joint (e.g., normal versus OA), but was instead correlated with the individuals' synovial fluid level of CCL22. CCL22 induction of S100A12 in FLS was attenuated after knockdown of CCR3, yet ligands of CCR3 (CCL7, CCL11) did not induce S100A12 expression. In the presence of CCL22, CCR3-positive FLS upregulate CCL22 and S100A12 driving a potential feedforward pro-inflammatory mechanism distinct from canonical CCL22 and CCR3 pathways., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • CCL22 increases the expression of the pro-inflammatory mediator S100A12 • CCL22 decreases the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators IL-4 and IL-10 • Fibroblast-like synoviocytes from normal and OA joints do not express CCR4 • CCL22 induces S100A12 expression through CCR3 but not CCR5, Molecular Biology; Immunology

Electron and hole trapping is studied in the ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$- and ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$-doped ${\mathrm{Lu}}_{2}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ scintillation single crystals (LPS:$\mathrm{Ce}$ and LPS:$\mathrm{Pr}$) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Detailed EPR measurements of the x-ray irradiated LPS crystals reveal that holes generated by irradiation are predominantly trapped at oxygen lattice ions creating ${\mathrm{O}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ centers. The same x-ray irradiation creates also electron-type centers, which are attributed to ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{2+}$ ions, where the trapped electron at the Lu lattice ion is stabilized by a nearby defect, such as the oxygen vacancy and ${\mathrm{Ir}}^{3+}$ impurity ion. Both the hole and electron centers can be thus considered as a bound small polaron, which makes the charge trapping in a scintillation mechanism quite competitive. The hole ${\mathrm{O}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and electron ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{2+}$ centers show thermal stability well above room temperature. Thermal decays of their concentrations correlate well with the appearance of the thermally stimulated luminescence glow peaks at 470--550 K. The presence of the same intrinsic traps in the $\mathrm{Ce}\text{\ensuremath{-}}$ and $\mathrm{Pr}$-doped LPS crystals suggests that the difference in the light yield of these crystals is an intrinsic property of the ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ and ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ activator centers in the LPS lattice. An origin of charge traps in this pyrosilicate structure and their role in the scintillation mechanism is compared with the results previously described in the literature on orthosilicates.

MiRNA-133 (miR-133) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in many types of human cancers. However, its clinical significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation of miR-133 expression with clinical variables and prognosis in AML patients.Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze blood samples from 145 patients with AML and 70 healthy volunteers.Decreased miR-133 levels were observed in AML patients and closely associated with aggressive clinical parameters, such as white blood cells and poor Karyotype subgroups. In addition, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that serum miR-133 could efficiently screen AML patients from normal controls with high sensitivity and specificity. More interestingly, serum miR-133 levels were remarkably elevated in the patients with favorable response after standard induction chemotherapy or achieving a complete remission. Furthermore, patients in the high serum miR-133 expression group had better overall survival and recurrence-free survival than those in the low serum miR-133 expression group. Meanwhile, multivariate analysis identified serum miR-133 as a significant independent predictor for survival.Low miR-133 expression was a common event and correlated with worse clinical outcome in AML, suggesting that serum miR-133 might serve as a promising indicator for the early detection and prognosis evaluation of AML.

Beishan granite is a potential host rock for a high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository in China. Understanding the hydromechanical (HM) behavior and permeability evolution of Beishan granite is important for the HLW repository safety. Therefore, the granite of Beishan in Gansu province was studied. HM coupled tests are carried out on Beishan granite under different pore pressures. The results show that the initial pressure difference has little influence on permeability measurement before dilatancy starts. However, after onset of dilatancy, the permeability increases with the increasing initial pressure difference. The initial permeability of Beishan granite is about 10−18 m2 under a confining pressure of 20 MPa. In the initial loading phase, the permeability shows a relatively large reduction. Then, the permeability almost keeps constant until dilatancy starts. From dilatancy point to peak stress, permeability increases linearly with volumetric strain. The proposed permeability evolution rule is implemented into a numerical code to perform HM coupled simulations. The simulation results show that the damaged zone first appears at the model boundary and then extends to the inside, forming high volumetric strain areas. And it provides seepage channels for fluid flow. The macroscopic fracture patterns indicate that pore pressure accelerates rock degradation during HM coupling. The obtained results help to understand the damage mechanisms of granite caused by pore pressures and are of great importance for the safety of a HLW repository.

The ultimate shear strength at the interface between the soil nail and surrounding soil is of practical importance in the design and performance of a soil nail system. The most commonly adopted method of measuring this interface shear strength is by soil nail pullout testing. This study introduces a novel soil nail system in the form of a screw nail and compares its performance with a conventional grouted soil nail. Both types of soil nails are tested in a controlled laboratory setting using residual soil in a large purpose-made pullout box. The development of the screw nail and the laboratory testing procedures are briefly discussed first, followed by presentation and discussion of the results of the interface shear behaviour measured from pullout tests. It is shown that the screw nail offers many advantages in terms of pullout load–displacement behaviour and the interface shear mechanism than that of the conventional grouted soil nail.

It has long recognized that there exists three different terrain belt in China, i.e. east, central, and west can have very different impacts on the land use changes. It is therefore better understand how spatiotemporal patterns linked with processes and instability of land use change are evolving in China across different regions. This paper compares trends of the similarities and differences to understand the spatiotemporal characteristics and the linked processes i.e. states, incidents and instability of land use change of 5 Chinese cities which are located in the nodes of The Silk Road in China. The results show that on the whole, the more land transfer times and the more land categories involved changes happens in Quanzhou City, one of eastern China than those in central and western China. Basically, cities in central and western China such as Changsha, Kunming and Urumuqi City become instable while eastern city like Quanzhou City turns to be stable over time.

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides precise imaging of temporomandibular joint anatomy without superimposition and distortion. CBCT is relatively a new imaging modality and used commonly in dental practice.Objective: The aim of this study is to present detailed imaging of emporomandibular joint in case of condyle fracture using CBCT for its use in diagnosis, surgical planning and evaluation of treatment.Method: In our study, we evaluated 3D - CBCT (three dimensional Cone beam computed tomography) examinations of 18 patients with mandibular condyle fractures. All of the fractures in our cases were overlooked on CBCT, thus providing axial, coronal and para-sagittal imaging of condylar head including 3D dimensional volumetric images of the condyle and surrounding structures.Result: Out of 18 condylar fracture patient’s CBCT, 8 radiographs showed condylar head (intracapsular) fracture, 2 condylar neck, 8 subcondylar fracture. 13 condylar fractures were unilateral and 5 were bilateral fracture. 9 of the condylar fractures were not associated with the mandible fracture. Out of the 9 associated condylar fractures; 3 were associated with symphysis fracture, 4 associated with parasymphysis fracture, 1 associated with body fracture and remaining 1 associated with mandibular angle fracture. 6 of the condylar fracture showed no signs of displacement of the fractured part and among 12 displaced condylar fracture parts 8 medially and 4 laterally displaced recorded in CBCT. All of the patients were given treatment on the basis of CBCT diagnosis and the results obtained from it was clinical satisfactory without complaints.Conclusion: We concluded that CBCT is the latest sophisticated technology which provides clear image of condylar head without superimposition of other structures, presented supplementary information for a more effective diagnosis and management of mandibular condyle fractures. Health Renaissance 2015;13 (3): 73-81

Multi-seam mining-induced subsidence profile is observed to be different from that of single-seam mining. Understanding the characteristics of multi-seam subsidence is the first step in achieving reliable subsidence predictions. Characteristics of multi-seam subsidence are investigated by means of several sand-plaster physical models. Geological and site specific parameters are kept constant in all the models in order to compare the multi-seam subsidence parameters for different mining configurations. Based on observations from the physical models, it is concluded that the panel configurations of the two seams have significant impact on the multi-seam subsidence development. Based on the relative location of the panels the multi-seam mine area can be divided into different zones, to which suitable subsidence characteristics can be assigned. Dividing the mine area into different zones enables characterisation of the strata movement and multi-seam subsidence for various multi-seam configurations. The proposed characterisation of the multi-seam subsidence can also be utilised in subsidence prediction methods in order to achieve reliable prediction results.

We present a clean, magnitude-limited (IRAC1 or WISE1 ≤ 15.0 mag) multiwavelength source catalog for the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with 45 466 targets in total, with the purpose of building an anchor for future studies, especially for the massive star populations at low-metallicity. The catalog contains data in 50 different bands including 21 optical and 29 infrared bands, retrieved from SEIP, VMC, IRSF, AKARI, HERITAGE, Gaia, SkyMapper, NSC, Massey (2002, ApJS, 141, 81), and GALEX, ranging from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared. Additionally, radial velocities and spectral classifications were collected from the literature, and infrared and optical variability statistics were retrieved from WISE, SAGE-Var, VMC, IRSF, Gaia, NSC, and OGLE. The catalog was essentially built upon a 100 crossmatching and a 300 deblending between the Spitzer Enhanced Imaging Products (SEIP) source list and Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2) photometric data. Further constraints on the proper motions and parallaxes from Gaia DR2 allowed us to remove the foreground contamination. We estimate that about 99.5% of the targets in our catalog are most likely genuine members of the SMC. Using the evolutionary tracks and synthetic photometry from MESA Isochrones & Stellar Tracks and the theoretical J - KS color cuts, we identified 1405 red supergiant (RSG), 217 yellow supergiant, and 1369 blue supergiant candidates in the SMC in five different color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), where attention should also be paid to the incompleteness of our sample. We ranked the candidates based on the intersection of different CMDs. A comparison between the models and observational data shows that the lower limit of initial mass for the RSG population may be as low as 7 or even 6 M⊙ and that the RSG is well separated from the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) population even at faint magnitude, making RSGs a unique population connecting the evolved massive and intermediate stars, since stars with initial mass around 6 to 8 M⊙ are thought to go through a second dredge-up to become AGB stars. We encourage the interested reader to further exploit the potential of our catalog. © ESO 2019.

In this paper, viewing the symplectic linear group as a subset of the Lagrangian Grassmannian we extend the mean index to the complement of a codimension-two subset of the Grassmannian. This extension retains many of the desirable properties of the mean index, the most significant of which are continuity and a homogeneity condition adapted to the set-theoretic composition of canonical relations., 27 pages, 1 figure

The physics of laser-plasma interaction is studied on the Shenguang III prototype laser facility under conditions relevant to inertial confinement fusion designs. A sub-millimeter-size underdense hot plasma is created by ionization of a low-density plastic foam by four high-energy (3.2 kJ) laser beams. An interaction beam is fired with a delay permitting evaluation of the excitation of parametric instabilities at different stages of plasma evolution. Multiple diagnostics are used for plasma characterization, scattered radiation, and accelerated electrons. The experimental results are analyzed with radiation hydrodynamic simulations that take account of foam ionization and homogenization. The measured level of stimulated Raman scattering is almost one order of magnitude larger than that measured in experiments with gasbags and hohlraums on the same installation, possibly because of a greater plasma density. Notable amplification is achieved in high-intensity speckles, indicating the importance of implementing laser temporal smoothing techniques with a large bandwidth for controlling laser propagation and absorption.

Experimental results of a series of laboratory pullout tests on a new screw soil nail are presented. A review of the literature for the screw soil nails as well as a comparison of its performance with other conventional types of soil nails is discussed. The present investigation also examines the fundamental interface mechanism and attempts to define the associated rupture zones in cohesionless material with the aid of thin vertical bands of coloured sand cast in a large distinctly fabricated pullout box. The philosophy behind the design and development of the new screw nail is briefly described first followed by presentation of the laboratory testing procedure and its instrumentation. The results of the testings indicate that the slip mechanism, which controls the pullout behaviour, is rather different to the conventional soil nails and the resultant pullout capacity is higher when compared to this type soil nails. This effect is attributed to the geometry of the screw nail and the installation processes that result in the development of different soil stresses around the soil nail. In addition, the experimental pullout results demonstrate, contrary to the conventional soil nail, that the screw nail pullout capacity is dependent on the overburden pressure and that the failure planes extends out a certain radial distance from the soil–nail interface. From the test results, it is shown that the failure of the screw nail satisfies the Mohr–Coulomb failure condition, which is similar behaviour seen in the conventional soil nail tests.

Physical activity has been shown to suppress tumor initiation and progression. The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) is closely related to movement and exhibits antitumor properties. However, whether the suppressive effects of physical activity on tumors was mediated by the nervous system via increased DA level remains unknowns. Here we show that regular moderate swimming (8 min/day, 9 weeks) raised DA levels in the prefrontal cortex, serum and tumor tissue, suppressed growth, reduced lung metastasis of transplanted liver cancer, and prolonged survival in a C57BL/6 mouse model, while overload swimming (16 and 32 min/day, 9 weeks) had the opposite effect. In nude mice that were orthotopically implanted with human liver cancer cell lines, DA treatment significantly suppressed growth and lung metastasis by acting on the D2 receptor (DR2). Furthermore, DR2 blockade attenuated the suppressive effect of moderate swimming on liver cancer. Both moderate swimming and DA treatment suppressed the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of transplanted liver cancer cells. At the molecular level, DR2 signaling inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and expression of TGF-β1 in vitro. Together, these findings demonstrated a novel mechanism by which the moderate exercise suppressed liver cancer through boosting DR2 activity, while overload exercise had the opposite effect, highlighting the possible importance of the dopaminergic system in tumor growth and metastasis of liver cancer.

A physical testing protocol for modelling mining-related problems has been presented. • A new method for monitoring fracture propagation pattern has been introduced. • Laser based and optical devices have been used for physical modelling of subsidence. • Multiple-seam subsidence has been measured by photogrammetry, DIC analysis, optoNCDT and 3D TLS.

To investigate the effect of miR-425 on the proliferation and apoptosis of clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCA) cells, and to explore the underlying mechanism.A total of 80 pairs of human clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCA) and cancer-adjacent normal tissue samples were collected in this study. Human ccRCA cell line (786-O) and normal human kidney cell line (HK-2) were used in cellular research. The expression level of miR-425 was detected in ccRCA tissues and cells, respectively. Target genes of miR-425 were predicted by bioinformatics and verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. Moreover, the role of miR-425 in regulating E2F6 as well as its effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of ccRCA cells were detected.Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression of miR-425 was significantly decreased in ccRCA tissues and cells. The proliferation ability and cell cycle of 786-O cells were significantly inhibited after miR-425 overexpression. The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was remarkably increased, while the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases was significantly decreased. Besides, the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in the miR-425 intervention group. On-line target gene prediction software indicated that E2F6 was the potential downstream target gene of miR-425. RT-PCR, Western blotting and luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that the expression of E2F6 was negatively regulated by miR-425. In addition, subsequent experiments showed that the up-regulation of E2F6 could suppress the inhibitory effect of miR-425 on the proliferation and apoptosis of ccRCA cells.Our research demonstrated the inhibitory function of miR-425 in ccRCA. Therefore, the miR-425/E2F6 axis was expected to be one of the targets of ccRCA targeted therapy.