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The global pandemic has a serious impact on economic and social development of all countries. The production and demand of many industries have greatly shrunk. However, the takeout industry in the United States is an exception. Under the influence of COVID-19, the supply and demand of American takeout industry have increased significantly compared with that before the pandemic. The market has become increasingly hot. Once the current market environment changes, it is uncertain whether the American takeout industry can continue to be popular. Due to this reality, the research explores the market trend of American takeout industry in recent years, and forecasts the future takeout market. The study also analyzes whether the American takeout market should follow the Chinese market’s approach. The research reveals that there are several disadvantages in the American takeout market in terms of labor cost and the price of buyers. To address these issues, the study develops new sale method through several ways, for example, reducing the buyer's cost of delivery fee, making the delivery fee paid by the seller as well as by the platform. Moreover, the platform can send vouchers to the buyers together with seller.

A multi-crosslinking network is well-designed using a facile strategy for the fabrication of a low-temperature tolerance hydrogel that exhibits excellent conductivity (0.8 S m−1 even at −80 °C) and sensitivity when applied in sensors at −20 °C.

The subject of the study is the consideration of the minilateral formations in the framework of the implementation of US foreign policy. The object of the study is the US foreign policy towards China since the beginning of the 21st century. The author examines in detail such aspects as the interaction of the United States and its allies in the Asian region, within the framework of the formation of the anti-Chinese coalition association, as well as analyzing and drawing conclusions about the effectiveness of a number of large minilateral organizations. Particular attention is paid to the reactionary perception of the top leadership of the leadership and the public masses of China on the role of the United States in building minilateral formations in its foreign policy. The main conclusions of the study are: • The minilateral unions only accelerate the process of dividing the Asian region into pro-Chinese and pro-American. Such a competitive policy to attract Asian states to their trade, economic and political space will only complicate the process of finding a compromise point of view between the two great economic powers, as well as damage peace, prosperity and stability in the region in the long term; • The growing popularity in the formation of minilateral structures is a consequence of the growing confrontation between China and the USA over the past decade, and not the primary cause of contradictions; • To date, most of the programs that have a "minilateral connotation" have little effective impact for the American government, nevertheless they cannot be called unfulfilled. Taking into account the relatively recent acceleration in attracting an increasing number of countries to existing and newly formed formats, Washington expects to get positive results for itself in the next decade, provided that China's economic and technological development is consolidated. The scientific novelty is determined primarily by the fact that the work analyzes the mechanism and evolution of interstate relations between the United States and partner countries, as well as the peculiarities of their activities in the minilateral associations.

A microgrid cluster is composed of multiple interconnected microgrids and operates in the form of cluster, which can realize energy complementation between microgrids and significantly improve their renewable energy consumption capacity and system operation reliability. A microgrid optimal dispatch based on a distributed economic model predictive control algorithm is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the control task of the microgrid power generation system is defined, which is required to meet the load demand while reducing the economic loss of the system and realize dynamic economic optimization. The global objective function is designed based on the control task, and the detailed design method of the distributed economic model predictive controller is given. The control law is obtained by an iterative calculation using the Nash optimal method, which can effectively reduce the amount of data in the communication network. Finally, a microgrid group composed of four microgrids is used as an example for simulation verification. The simulation results show that the distributed economic model predictive control algorithm proposed in this paper has good economic benefits for microgrid dispatching.

Leakage incidents on LNG bunker vessels will result in a serious degree of hazard. This paper investigates typical high-risk scenarios such as hose ruptures and valve joint leakages. The consequences of an LNG leakage accident during the simultaneous operation of a bunker vessel and a container carrier are simulated using the FLACS software, and the dispersion range of the combustible vapor cloud is quantitatively analyzed under both ballast and laden conditions. Under the ballast condition, the diffusion range of the combustible vapor cloud on the side of the bunker vessel is 58 × 15.5 m from the front wall of the cargo equipment room to the bow of the vessel, and 35 × 9.5 m between the cargo equipment room and the transom of the vessel. Under the laden condition, the diffusion range on the side of the bunker vessel is 58 × 15.5 m from the front wall of the cargo equipment room to the bow of the vessel, and 15 × 4 m between the rear end wall of the cargo equipment room and the front wall of the stern of the vessel. These results provide important technical guidance and reference values for the safe operation of LNG bunker vessels.

Conductive aramid (PPTA) fibers are highly needed for making flexible conductive materials, antistatic materials, and electromagnetic shielding materials. In this work, silver-plated conductive PPTA fibers with high conductivity and excellent mechanical properties were prepared by the electroless plating of PPTA fibers modified with crosslinked hyperbranched polyamide-amine (HPAMAM). The crosslinked HPAMAM creates a stable interface between the PPTA fibers and the silver plating. The morphology and physicochemical properties of the modified and the silver-plated fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Three epoxy crosslinking agents with different chain lengths were used to crosslink HPAMAM, and the effects of HPAMAM concentration, crosslinking agent dosage, and crosslinking time on the resistance of the fibers were studied. The long chain crosslinking agent appears to be beneficial to silver plating. The lowest resistance (0.067 Ω/cm) was attained when HPAMAM was modified by diethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (1:1 molar ratio), and 20 g/L HPAMAM was used to modify the PPTA fibers. The tensile strength of the original PPTA fibers decreased by only 3% or less after silver plating.

With the large-scale access of all kinds of distributed generations (DGs), the operation mode of the distribution network is increasingly diverse and changeable. To monitor the operation of an active distribution network, an adaptive dynamic estimation method is proposed to address the new generation of power system. Considering the features of different types of operation scenario change of distribution network and DGs, the proposed method uses the state deviation index to identify the current operation mode before state estimation. In the adaptive estimation stage, two typical estimators are improved to cope with the typical operation mode and embedded in the interactive multiple model (IMM) algorithm framework. IMM uses the identification results of operation mode to give higher weight to the corresponding estimator and finally outputs the joint estimation results. The proposed estimation method is investigated in an improved IEEE 33-bus system and an actual distribution network in China, which results indicate the proposed method converges more quickly and maintains better accuracy while facing the complex distribution network.

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) is a newly discovered bat-origin coronavirus with fatal pathogenicity for neonatal piglets. There is no vaccine to prevent SADS-CoV infection or clinically approved drugs targeting SADS-CoV. Therefore, unraveling cellular factors that regulate SADS-CoV for cell entry is critical to understanding the viral transmission mechanism and provides a potential therapeutic target for SADS-CoV cure. Here, we showed that Type I interferon (IFN-I) pretreatment potently blocks SADS-CoV entry into cells using lentiviral pseudo-virions as targets whose entry is driven by the SADS-CoV Spike glycoprotein. IFN-I-mediated inhibition of SADS-CoV entry and replication was dramatically impaired in the absence of TET2. These results suggest TET2 is found to serve as a checkpoint of IFN-I-meditated inhibition on the cell entry of SADS-CoV, and our discovery might constitute a novel treatment option to combat against SADS-CoV.

Background LINC00152 (long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 152) was identified as an oncogenic lncRNA in multiple cancers. In the current study, we aimed to explore the transcriptional profile of LINC00152 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its regulations at the transcriptional level. Methods Bioinformatic analysis was performed by extracting the OSCC subset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSC). LINC00152 subcellular localization and its interacting transcriptional factors (TFs) were explored. Dual-luciferase assay and ChIP-qPCR were applied to study transcriptional regulation. In vitro and in-vivo tumor cell growth models were used for functional assays. Results NR_024206.2 was the dominant isoform that accounts for 80% of all transcripts of LINC00152. LINC00152 upregulation was associated with unfavorable survival of patients with OSCC. LINC00152 knockdown significantly impaired OSCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. RNA FISH assay confirmed nuclear and cytoplasmic distribution of LINC00152. It physically interacted with Upstream Transcription Factor 1 (USF1), a common transcription factor in mammalian cells. USF1 could bind to the promoter region of MRPL52 (Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein L52) and activate its transcription. LINC00152 could enhance the binding, thereby indirectly elevating MRPL52 expression. USF1 or MRPL52 knockdown slowed the proliferation of OSCC cells and partly canceled LINC00152 mediated growth-promoting effects. Conclusion This study revealed a novel LINC00152-USF1/MRPL52 axis promoting OSCC tumor growth.

A sensitive procedure was developed for trace Cr determination by ICP MS with a DDTC enhanced nebulized film dielectric barrier discharge (NFDBD) vapor generation sampling system.

Background: Cancers with aberrant expression of Serine/threonine kinase 33 (STK33) has been reported to be particularly aggressive. However, its expression, clinical significance, and biological functions in gastric cancer remain largely unknown. In the present study, we determined the expression and function of STK33 in gastric cancer and delineated the clinical significance of the Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4)/STK33 signaling pathway.Methods: STK33 expression and its association with multiple clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed immunohistochemically in human gastric cancer specimens. STK33 knockdown and overexpression were used to dissect the underlying mechanism of its functions in gastric cancer cells. Regulation and underlying mechanisms of STK33 expression by KLF4 in gastric cancer cells were studied using cell and molecular biological methods.Results: Drastically higher expression of STK33 was observed in gastric cancer and gastric intraepithelial neoplasia tissues compared with adjacent normal gastric tissues. Increased STK33 expression correlated directly with tumor size, lymph node, and distant metastasis; and patients with low STK33 expression gastric cancer were predicted to have a favorable prognosis. Enforced expression of STK33 promoted gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo, whereas reduced STK33 did the opposite. Moreover, STK33 promoted epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Mechanistically, KLF4 transcriptionally inhibited STK33 expression in gastric cancer cells. KLF4-mediated inhibition of gastric cancer cell invasion was reversed by upregulation of STK33 expression.Conclusions: STK33 has pro-tumor function and is a critical downstream mediator of KLF4 in gastric cancer. STK33 may serve as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for gastric cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 24(10); 2440–51. ©2018 AACR.

Supplementary Figure 1 from KLF4-Mediated Negative Regulation of IFITM3 Expression Plays a Critical Role in Colon Cancer Pathogenesis

Supplementary Figures - PDF file 584K, Supplementary Figures contain 5 figures: Supplementary Fig. S1. Gene expression profiling in pancreatic cancer cells treated with BA. Supplementary Fig. S2. Inhibition of the in vitro and in vivo growth of primary pancreatic cancer cultures and xenografts. Supplementary Fig. S3. Lamin B1 expression pattern in pancreatic tissue. Supplementary Fig. S4. Lamin B1 expression on the nuclear envelop from nuclei with different sizes. Supplementary Fig. S5. Altered lamin B1 expression affect cell cycle progression of pancreatic cancer cells

7 Supplementary Tables: Supplementary Table S1. Clinicopathologic characteristics of the 625 GC patients from whom the TMA specimens were obtained Supplementary Table S2. Clinicopathologic characteristics of the 45 GC patients from whom the TMA specimens were obtained Supplementary Table S3. The sequences of the gene-specific primers used in real-time PCR analysis, vector constructs, and ChIP analysis Table S4. Expression of STK33 in Normal Mucosa, Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Gastric Cancer Table S5. Relation between STK33 Expression and Clinicopathological Parameters in Patients with Gastric Cancer Table S6. Univariate Cox Regression Analysis of Factors Associated With Overall Survival in Gastric Cancer Patients Table S7. Multivariate Cox Regression Analysis Of Factors Associated With Overall Survival in Gastric Cancer Patients

Supplementary Tables 1-9 from KLF4-Mediated Negative Regulation of IFITM3 Expression Plays a Critical Role in Colon Cancer Pathogenesis

One file in MS word format contains the following information on methods: 1. Flow Cytometric Cell Sorting Analysis; 2. Reverse Transcription and Quantitative Real-Time PCR; 3. Western Blot Analysis; 4. ChIP Assay; 5. Immunocytochemistry; 6. Promoter Activity Analysis; 7. Transient transfection of Plasmids and siRNAs; 8. Cell Scratch-Wound Healing Assay; 9. Cell Invasion Assay; 10. Immunohistochemistry Analysis; 11. Animal Models of Tumorigenesis and Metastasis; 12. SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES

KLF4 and CD44 regulate cancer cell stemness, but their precise functions and roles in metastatic progression are not well understood. In this study, we used both inducible and genetic engineering approaches to assess whether the activities of these two factors intersect in pancreatic cancer. We found that genetic ablation of Klf4 in pancreatic cancer cells isolated from Klf4flox/flox mice drastically increased CD44 expression and promoted the acquisition of stem-like properties, whereas tetracycline-inducible expression of KLF4 suppressed these properties in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that KLF4 bound to the CD44 promoter to negatively regulate transcription and also the expression of the CD44 variant. Moreover, in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues, the expression patterns of KLF4 and CD44 were mutually exclusive, and this inverse relationship was particularly striking in human metastatic pancreatic tumors and in autochthonous mouse models of PDAC. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that KLF4 acts as a tumor suppressor in PDAC cells that restricts metastatic behaviors through direct negative regulation of CD44, providing support for the clinical investigation of therapeutic approaches focusing on targeted KLF4 activation in advanced tumors. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2419–31. ©2016 AACR.

Supplementary Figure Legends - PDF file 93K, Supplementary Figure Legends contain 5 figures: Supplementary Fig. S1. Gene expression profiling in pancreatic cancer cells treated with BA. Supplementary Fig. S2. Inhibition of the in vitro and in vivo growth of primary pancreatic cancer cultures and xenografts. Supplementary Fig. S3. Lamin B1 expression pattern in pancreatic tissue. Supplementary Fig. S4. Lamin B1 expression on the nuclear envelop from nuclei with different sizes. Supplementary Fig. S5. Altered lamin B1 expression affect cell cycle progression of pancreatic cancer cells

9 Supplementary Figures: Supplementary Figure S1. Immunohitochemical analysis of STK33 in TMAs of gastric cancer tissue specimens with different differentiation grade. Supplementary Figure S2. Estimates of OS and DFS of gastric cancer patients from GSE66229 (N=300). Supplementary Figure S3. STK33 expression patterns in human gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Supplementary Figure S4. Effect of altered STK33 expression on gastric cancer metastasis and EMT. Supplementary Figure S5. Effect of altered STK33 expression on gastric cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Supplementary Figure S6. Identification of STK33 as a downstream target gene of KLF4. Supplementary Figure S7. KLF4 negatively regulated STK33-induced invasion and EMT. Supplementary Figure S8. Identification of transcriptional inhibition on STK33 expression by KLF4 in pancreatic cancer cells. Supplementary Figure S9. STK33 kinase inhibitor BRD-8899 failed to inhibit STK33-induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion in GC.

Supplementary Tables - PDF file 192K, Supplementary Table S1 Genes Supplementary Table S2 Patient characteristics and lamin B1 expression Supplementary Table S3 Multivariate COX regression analysis of overall survival in relation to clinicopathologic features and lamin B1 expression

The serine/threonine kinase STK33 has been implicated in cancer cell proliferation. Here, we provide evidence of a critical role for STK33 in the pathogenesis and metastatic progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). STK33 expression in PDAC was regulated by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF1α. In human PDAC specimens, STK33 was overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis. Enforced STK33 expression promoted PDAC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, whereas STK33 depletion exerted opposing effects. Mechanistic investigations showed that HIF1α regulated STK33 via direct binding to a hypoxia response element in its promoter. In showing that dysregulated HIF1α/STK33 signaling promotes PDAC growth and progression, our results suggest STK33 as a candidate therapeutic target to improve PDAC treatment. Cancer Res; 77(24); 6851–62. ©2017 AACR.

Purpose: Betulinic acid, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, exhibits potent antitumor activities, whereas the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the current study, we sought to determine the role and regulation of lamin B1 expression in human pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and betulinic acid–based therapy.Experimental Design: We used cDNA microarray to identify betulinic acid target genes and used tissue microarray to determine the expression levels of lamin B1 in pancreatic cancer tissues and to define their relationship with the clinicopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer. We also used in vitro and in vivo models to determine the biologic impacts of altered lamin B1 expression on and mechanisms underlying lamin B1 overexpression in human pancreatic cancer.Results: We found that lamin B1 was significantly downregulated by betulinic acid treatment in pancreatic cancer in both in vitro culture and xenograft models. Overexpression of lamin B1 was pronounced in human pancreatic cancer, and increased lamin B1 expression was directly associated with low-grade differentiation, increased incidence of distant metastasis, and poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, knockdown of lamin B1 significantly attenuated the proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells.Conclusions: Lamin B1 plays an important role in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and is a novel therapeutic target of betulinic acid treatment. Clin Cancer Res; 19(17); 4651–61. ©2013 AACR.