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Shear strengths of silty soil were determined for shallow destruction of the soil sites frequently occurring in the Central Plains area. Specimens were prepared with five different clay contents (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) prior to compaction at dry densities of 1.60, 1.70, and 1.80 g/cm3. Soil specimens were saturated and then the consolidated undrained shear test was conducted with eight confined pressures ranging from 1 to 400 kPa. Results indicate that the shear strength increases significantly as the clay content increases from 5 to 25%, and the cohesion c shows bilinear function with the inflection point at the clay content of 10%. The difference of cohesion in the high and low stress sections decreases gradually to almost the same value until 25% of the clay content, while the internal friction angle φ decreases with the increase in clay content. Within the range of dry density and clay content tested, the shear strength of silty soil in the low stress range obtained is higher than the measured value. Therefore, for the shallow damage of soil site, the shear strength parameters should consider the low stress test conditions. The bilinear growth of cohesion c with clay content can be attributed to the changes from “sand-like soil” to “clay-like soil” with the skeleton of soil specimen transitioning from sand particles to “clay grid” when the clay content exceeds approximately 10% combined with the results of scanning electron microscopy.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a squamous cell carcinoma originating in the nasopharynx, is a leading malignancy in south China and other south and east Asia areas. It is frequently associated with Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) infection, while there are also some NPC patients without EBV infection. Here, it is shown that the EBV+ (EBV positive) and EBV‐ (EBV negative) NPCs contain both shared and distinct genetic abnormalities, among the latter are increased mutations in TP53. To investigate the functional roles of NPC‐associated genetic alterations, primary, orthotopic, and genetically defined NPC models were developed in mice, a key tool missed in the field. These models, initiated with gene‐edited organoids of normal nasopharyngeal epithelium, faithfully recapitulated the pathological features of human disease. With these models, it is found that Trp53 and Cdkn2a deficiency are crucial for NPC initiation and progression. And latent membrane protein1 (LMP1), an EBV‐coding oncoprotein, significantly promoted the distal metastasis. Further, loss of TGFBR2, which is frequently disrupted both in EBV‐ and EBV+ NPCs, dramatically accelerated the progression and lung metastasis of NPC probably by altering tumor microenvironment. Taken together, this work establishes a platform to dissect the genetic mechanisms underlying NPC pathogenesis and might be of value for future translational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal tumors, the second leading cause of human mortality, are characterized by their association with inflammation. Currently, progress in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of gastrointestinal tumors is limited. Recent whole‐genome analyses have underscored their profound heterogeneity and extensive genetic and epigenetic reprogramming. Epigenetic reprogramming pertains to dynamic and hereditable alterations in epigenetic patterns, devoid of concurrent modifications in the underlying DNA sequence. Common epigenetic modifications encompass DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNA, RNA modifications, and chromatin remodeling. These modifications possess the potential to invoke or suppress a multitude of genes associated with cancer, thereby governing the establishment of chromatin configurations characterized by diverse levels of accessibility. This intricate interplay assumes a pivotal and indispensable role in governing the commencement and advancement of gastrointestinal cancer. This article focuses on the impact of epigenetic reprogramming in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, and colorectal cancer, as well as other uncommon gastrointestinal tumors. We elucidate the epigenetic landscape of gastrointestinal tumors, encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and their interrelationships. Besides, this review summarizes the potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic targets in epigenetic reprogramming, with the aim of assisting clinical treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technology to prepare thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with yttrium-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and Yb2O3-Y2O3-co-stabilized ZrO2 (YbYSZ) materials at different spraying powers. It analyzes the differences and changes in the microstructure, thermodynamic properties, and mechanical properties of the TBCs. The CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) resistance of coatings was tested using thermal cycling-CMAS experiments and isothermal corrosion experiments. Compared to YSZ coatings, YbYSZ coatings have lower thermal conductivity, a higher hardness and elastic modulus, a longer lifetime under thermal cycling-CMAS conditions, and lower penetration and degradation depths. Under thermal cycling-CMAS coupling conditions, the optimal power range for the longest thermal cycling lifetime for both coatings is 39–40 kW. Overall, compared to the YSZ material, the YbYSZ material exhibits superior properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the static and dynamic behaviors of the postbuckling of axially moving spin beams (bi-gyro system). The Hamilton's principle is used to derive the nonlinear governing equations of bi-gyro systems, which are based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam model and account for von Karman geometric nonlinearity. After neglecting the time-dependent terms, the static equations are discretized using the differential quadrature method and then solved as a nonlinear algebraic system via the Newton-Raphson iteration method. Subsequently, the linear vibration problem is accurately solved for axially moving spinning beams in their first buckled configuration. Finally, numerical calculations are conducted to investigate the impact of axial and spinning velocities on the steady-state dynamic responses of bi-gyro systems. The findings are as follows: (a) the critical axial velocity where trivial equilibrium is unstable remains unaffected by the presence of spinning velocity; (b) the bifurcation point of the axial velocity corresponding to amplitude is reduced by spinning velocity, resulting from centrifugal force; (c) the vibration amplitude of the bi-gyro system will diverge under a weaker displacement constraint spring; and (d) stable buckled and straight configurations can coexist under certain axial and spinning velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden loss of renal function with a high mortality rate and inflammation is thought to be the underlying cause. The phenylpropanoid components acteoside (ACT) and isoacteoside (ISO), which were isolated from Cistanche deserticola Y.C.Ma, have been reported to have preventive effects against kidney disorders. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties and protective mechanisms of ACT and ISO. In this investigation, kidney function was assessed using a semi-automatic biochemical analyzer, histopathology was examined using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and immunohistochemistry, and the concentration of inflammatory cytokines was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. In addition, using Western blot and q-PCR, the expression of proteins and genes connected to the NF-κB signaling pathway in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI was found. The findings showed that under AKI intervention in LPS group, ACT group and ISO group, the expression of Rela (Rela gene is responsible for the expression of NFκB p65 protein) and Tlr4 mRNA was considerably elevated (P<0.01), which led to a significant improvement in the expression of MyD88, TLR4, Iκ-Bɑ and NF-κB p65 protein (P<0.001). The levels of Alb, Crea and BUN (P<0.001) increased along with the release of downstream inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, Cys-C, SOD1 and TNF-α (P<0.001). More importantly, the study showed that ISO had a more favorable impact on LPS-induced AKI mice than ACT. In conclusion, by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway, ACT and ISO could relieve renal failure and inflammation in AKI, offering a fresh possibility for the therapeutic management of the condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]