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Objective: The Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase (FASTK) family of proteins has been recently found to be able to regulate mitochondrial gene expression post-transcriptionally. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of study about the role of the FASTK family in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). This study was conducted to explore the correlation of FASTK family genes with expression, prognosis, and immune infiltration in KIRC. Methods: We collected the data from the UALCAN, GeneMANIA, STRING, CancerSEA, cBioPortal, Kaplan-Meier plotter, GEPIA, TISIDB and TIMER databases to evaluate the genetic alterations, differential expression, prognostic significance, and immune cell infiltration of FASTKs in patients with KIRC. Results: In tumor tissues of KIRC, the mRNA expression level of FASTK and TBRG4 was elevated, whereas that of FASTKD1, FASTKD2, and FASTKD5 was lowered compared with normal tissues (P <.05). Patients with KIRC and high FASTK and Transforming growth factor β regulator 4 (TBRG4) expression had worse overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DFS), while those with lower expression of FASTKD2/3/5 had worse outcomes. FASTK was positively correlated with DNA damage. FASTKD1 was positively related to differentiation. FASTKD2 was inversely related to proliferation and FASTKD5 was inversely related to invasion and EMT in KIRC cells. FASTK expression in KIRC was inversely linked to the presence of several immune cells including Tgd, macrophages, Tcm, and Mast cells (P <.05). Conclusions: Our research provided fresh insight and in-depth analysis to the selection of prognostic biological markers of FASTK family members in KIRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi-one-dimensional materials are usually characterized by optical response spectroscopy methods, which show significant polarization dependence. Herein, we report a systematical investigation of polarized Raman scattering on the (110) crystal surface of the layered (TaSe4)2I compound. Taking into account group theory analysis of the crystal structure and the Raman tensor transformation technique, the vibrational mode of the Raman peaks can be differentiated by the angular dependence of the Raman peak intensity in parallel and vertical polarization Raman scattering tests. Moreover, density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) calculation confirmed the form of the Raman tensor of the (110) crystal surface, which was consistent with the result of the Raman tensor transformation technique, and the Raman spectrum and phonon dispersion curve calculations were also performed based on the Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP). This new method provides useful insight for accurately identifying the lattice vibration behavior in new 2D layered structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar energy supply system has played an increasingly substantial role in realizing nearly zero-carbon buildings. In order to overcome the impact of solar randomness on the energy supply of a distributed solar system, this paper proposes a solar tri-generation supply system which integrates a photovoltaic/thermal collector (PV/T), a heat pump (HP), and an absorption chiller (AC). The PV/T-HP integration system is adopted to provide stable heating for a building and AC. The system model is established in TRNSYS software, and its performance is evaluated based on energy, exergy, and economic aspects. The results demonstrate that the system effectively meets the load demand, with an energy efficiency of 32.98% and an exergy efficiency of 17.62%. The payback period (PP) is 7.77 years. Compared with the systems proposed in the other literature, the performance of the proposed system has a certain extent of advantage. Furthermore, the equipment and system exergy performance decline with an increase in the intensity of solar radiation. Increasing the PV/T area effectively improves the system's profitability within the actual roof area limitation of the building. Moreover, increasing the capacity of the low-temperature heat pump after 68 kW improves the system efficiency and reduces the payback period. In summary, this paper proposes an efficient distributed solar energy system that is suitable for urban building energy supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the diagnostic value of multimodal imaging techniques, including automatic breast volume scanner (ABVS), mammography (MG), and magnetic resonance (MRI) in breast sclerosing adenosis (SA) associated with malignant lesions. Methods: From January 2018 to October 2020, 76 patients (88 lesions) with pathologically confirmed as SA associated with malignant or benign lesions were retrospective analyzed. All patients completed ABVS examination, 58 patients (67 lesions) with MG and 50 patients (62 lesions) with MRI were also completed before biopsy or surgical excision, of which, six patients (eight lesions) diagnosed as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) category 3 by all imaging examinations underwent surgical excision without biopsy, other 70 patients (80 lesions) with BI‐RADS category 4 or above by any imaging examination completed biopsy, including 65 patients (75 lesions) were further surgical excised and the other five patients (five lesions) were just followed up. All lesions were retrospectively described and classified, and were divided into benign group and malignant group according to their pathological results. Image features of different examination methods between the two groups were compared and analyzed. A ROC curve was established using the sensitivity of BI‐RADS categories to predict malignant lesions in different imaging techniques as the ordinate and 1‐specificity as the abscissa. Results: 88 lesions including 26 purely SA and 45 SA associated with benign lesions were classified as benign group, and the remaining 17 SA associated with malignant lesions were classified as malignant group. On ABVS, 40 mass lesions, their heterogeneous echo, not circumscribed margin and coronal convergence signs were statistically significant for malignant lesions (p <.05), but the remain 48 nonmass lesions lack specific sonographic features. On MG, 12 showed negative results, 55 showed with microcalcification, mass, structural distortion, and asymmetric density shadow, of which 11 lesions had the above two signs at the same time, but only microcalcification had statistical difference between the two groups. 35 mass enhanced lesions and 27 nonmass enhanced lesions on MRI, but there were no significant difference between their pathological results. Time signal intensity curves showed no differences, but ADC value <1.10 × 10−3 mm2/s is more significant in malignant lesions (p <.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of BI‐RADS classification of ABVS, MG, and MRI in the diagnosis of malignant lesions were 0.611, 0.474, and 0.751, respectively, and the AUC of the combined diagnosis of the three was 0.761. Conclusion: Mass lesions with heterogeneous echo, not circumscribed margin and coronal convergence sign on ABVS, microcalcification on MG and the ADC value <1.10 × 10−3 mm2/s on MRI are significant signs for SA associated with malignant lesions. The combined diagnosis of the three methods was the highest, and the following were MRI, ABVS, and MG. Therefore, be cognizant of significant characteristics in SA associated with malignancy showed in different imaging examinations can improve the preoperative evaluation of SA and better provide basis for subsequent clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study showed that stimulation of adenosine [A.sub.1] receptors located in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) exerts counteracting effects on the iliac vascular bed: activation of the adrenal medulla and [beta]-adrenergic vasodilation versus vasoconstriction mediated by neural and unknown humoral factors. In the present study we investigated the relative contribution of three major potential humoral vasoconstrictors: vasopressin, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine in this response. In urethane-chloralose anesthetized rats we compared the integral changes in iliac vascular conductance evoked by microinjections into the NTS of the selective [A.sub.1] receptor agonist [N.sup.6]-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA; 330 pmol in 50 nl) in intact (Int) animals and following: [V.sub.1] vasopressin receptor blockade (VX), angiotensin II [AT.sub.1] receptor blockade (ATX), bilateral adrenalectomy + ganglionic blockade (ADX + GX; which eliminated the potential increases in circulating norepinephrine and epinephrine), ADX + GX + VX and ADX + GX + VX + ATX. In Int animals, stimulation of NTS [A.sub.1] adenosine receptors evoked typical variable responses with prevailing pressor and vasoconstrictor effects. VX reversed the responses to depressor ones. ATX did not significantly alter the responses. ADX + GX accentuated pressor and vasoconstrictor responses, whereas ADX + GX + VX and ADX + GX + VX + ATX virtually abolished the responses. Stimulation of NTS [A.sub.1] adenosine receptors increased circulating vasopressin over fourfold (26.4 [+ or -] 10.4 vs. 117.0 [+ or -] 19 pg/ml). These data strongly suggest that vasopressin is a major vasoconstrictor factor opposing [beta]-adrenergic vasodilation in iliac vascular responses triggered by stimulation of NTS [A.sub.1] adenosine receptors, whereas angiotensin II and norepinephrine do not contribute significantly to the vasoconstrictor responses. purinergic receptors; [V.sub.1] receptor blockade; angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade; ganglionic blockade; adrenalectomy; lumbar sympathectomy; iliac vascular conductance doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00432.2009.