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Objectives: The aim of the study is to identify clusters of lymphocyte subsets within treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and evaluate the potential association of these clusters with disease activities. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of consecutive 143 treatment-naive SLE patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, China. We used hierarchical cluster analysis to classify individuals into clusters based on circulating lymphocyte subset proportions (CD3+CD4+T cell, CD3+CD8+T cell, CD19+B cell, and CD3-CD16 + CD56 NK cell) via R software. Demographic variables, clinical manifestations, laboratory variables, and disease activities were compared among clusters. Results: The SLE patients (median age 35 (26–48) years, 90.9% female) were divided into four clusters. The clustering features were as follows: cluster 1 (B high), cluster 2 (CD4 high), cluster 3 (CD8 high), and cluster 4 (NK high). SLE patients in cluster 1 showed the highest incidence of arthritis (70.6%, 34.2%, 48.3%, and 42.9% in clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively; P = 0.046), and patients in cluster 3 and cluster 4 showed significantly a higher incidence of nephritis (35.3%, 25.0%, 48.3%, and 61.9% in in clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively; P = 0.008). Patients in cluster 2 suffered from lower SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score (12.1 ± 5.0, 10.3 ± 5.6, 12.2 ± 4.6, and 14.4 ± 7.3 in clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively; P = 0.046). Regression analysis indicated that, compared with patients in cluster 2, patients in cluster 1 exhibited higher rate of arthritis (OR 4.53, 95% CI 1.38–14.86, P = 0.013), while patients in cluster 3 (OR 2.85, 95%CI 1.15–7.08, P = 0.024) and cluster 4 (OR 4.93, 95%CI 1.76–13.85, P = 0.002) exhibited higher rate of nephritis. Conclusion: This study supports the existence of lymphocyte subset clusters with different clinical features in treatment-naive SLE patients, which could help to differentiate between various subsets of SLE. Key Points • Lymphocyte subsets may occur in a pattern of cluster in treatment-naive SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common promoters of the initiation and growth of the tumor is an immune disturbance. Numerous immune cells and inflammatory factors play a role in the tumor‐immune microenvironment. However, few studies have investigated the correlation between these immunological events and clinical consequences in cervical cancer. We measured the levels of numerous inflammatory mediators and frequencies of regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in peripheral blood (PB) of cervical cancer patients. Cervical cancer patients showed elevated production of interleukin (IL)‐18 and plasma C‐C chemokine ligand (CCL) 3/5. Meanwhile, an accumulation of C‐C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) monocytic (Mo)‐MDSCs and Tregs was observed. The cervical cancer group displayed increased frequencies of CD8+, CD4+ and highly activated CD38+CD8+MAIT cells, and reduction of double‐negative (DN) and PD1(CD279+) DN MAIT cells. Importantly, it was demonstrated that MAIT cells were positively related to Mo‐MDSCs. Furthermore, an elevated concentration of PD1(CD279+) DN MAIT cells was significantly related to increased progression‐free survival of patients with cervical cancer. In conclusion, our study suggests that the combined action of Mo‐MDSCs and MAIT cells might be associated with the progression of cervical cancer, and the frequency of DN MAIT cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was associated with the survival benefit of patients. What's new?: There is increasing evidence showing the importance of a dysfunctional host immune response in cervical cancer progression. The underlying mechanisms and their clinical relevance remain to be clarified, however. Here, the authors reveal a complex association between chronic inflammation, myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and disease progression in cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Patients showed an accumulation of CCL2/3/5, IL‐18, monocytic MDSCs, and MAIT cells. Moreover, the combined action of monocytic MDSCs and MAIT cells was related to progression of cervical cancer, while high levels of CD4‐CD8‐ MAIT cells might have a protective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feasibility of fuel property analysis of the biomass fuel by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been demonstrated in a previous study. As a further move to apply this quick method to industrial application for direct monitoring of the woody biomass pellets quality, effects of four key parameters during the pelletizing process on the LIBS spectral data have been investigated before applying LIBS directly to the woody biomass pellet. Partial Least Squares (PLS) models were built to evaluate the performance of the LIBS fuel property analyses directly on the wood pellets supplied by different manufacturers, which were produced on different pellet mills, with different pelletization technologies and under various pelletizing conditions. The results showed satisfactory performance using LIBS technique for direct determination of the fuel property of wood pellets without further sample preparation. The coefficient of determination (R2) of calibration models were all above 0.98. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of the gross calorific value (GCV), volatile matter (VM) and ash content (AC) were 0.09 MJ/kg, 0.52% and 0.15% respectively, while the average relative error (ARE) were 0.39%, 0.54% and 8.52% respectively, and the average standard deviation (ASD) were 0.14 MJ/kg, 0.52% and 0.18% respectively. • LIBS technique was used to directly measure the fuel property of wood pellets. • Effects of four key pelletization parameters on LIBS spectral data were studied. • The variation of LIBS spectra is modest within the common pelletizing conditions. • LIBS-PLS models can predict GCV, VM and ash content with good performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of gasification reactions on biomass char conversion under pulverized fuel combustion conditions was studied by single particle experiments and modelling. Experiments of pine and beech wood char conversion were carried out in a single particle combustor under conditions of 1473-1723 K, 0.0-10.5% O 2 , and 25-42% H 2 O. A comprehensive progressive char conversion model, including heterogeneous reactions (char oxidation and char gasification with CO 2 and H 2 O), homogeneous reactions (CO oxidation, water-gas shift reaction, and H 2 oxidation) in the particle boundary layer, particle shrinkage, and external and internal heat and mass transfer, was developed. The modelling results are in good agreement with both experimental char conversion time and particle size evolution in the presence of oxygen, while larger deviations are found for the gasification experiments. The modelling results show that the char oxidation is limited by mass transfer, while the char gasification is controlled by both mass transfer and gasification kinetics at the investigated conditions. A sensitivity analysis shows that the CO oxidation in the boundary layer and the gasification kinetics influence significantly the char conversion time, while the water-gas shift reaction and H 2 oxidation have only a small effect. Analysis of the sensitive parameters on the char conversion process under a typical pulverized biomass combustion condition (4% O 2 , 13% CO 2 , 13% H 2 O), shows that the char gasification reactions contribute significantly to char conversion, especially for millimeter-sized biomass char particles at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cells increase lipogenesis for their proliferation and the activation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) has a central role in this process. SREBPs are inhibited by a complex composed of INSIG proteins, SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) and sterols in the endoplasmic reticulum. Regulation of the interaction between INSIG proteins and SCAP by sterol levels is critical for the dissociation of the SCAP–SREBP complex from the endoplasmic reticulum and the activation of SREBPs1,2. However, whether this protein interaction is regulated by a mechanism other than the abundance of sterol—and in particular, whether oncogenic signalling has a role—is unclear. Here we show that activated AKT in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells phosphorylates cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), the rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, at Ser90. Phosphorylated PCK1 translocates to the endoplasmic reticulum, where it uses GTP as a phosphate donor to phosphorylate INSIG1 at Ser207 and INSIG2 at Ser151. This phosphorylation reduces the binding of sterols to INSIG1 and INSIG2 and disrupts the interaction between INSIG proteins and SCAP, leading to the translocation of the SCAP–SREBP complex to the Golgi apparatus, the activation of SREBP proteins (SREBP1 or SREBP2) and the transcription of downstream lipogenesis-related genes, proliferation of tumour cells, and tumorigenesis in mice. In addition, phosphorylation of PCK1 at Ser90, INSIG1 at Ser207 and INSIG2 at Ser151 is not only positively correlated with the nuclear accumulation of SREBP1 in samples from patients with HCC, but also associated with poor HCC prognosis. Our findings highlight the importance of the protein kinase activity of PCK1 in the activation of SREBPs, lipogenesis and the development of HCC. Phosphorylation of INSIG1 and INSIG2 by PCK1 leads to a reduction in the binding of sterols, the activation of SREBP1 and SREBP2 and the downstream transcription of lipogenesis-associated genes that promote tumour growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetic analysis plays a critical role in the gasification process. The kinetics of CO 2 gasification for various wood chars, which were prepared in a single particle reactor (SPR), were studied using a non-isothermal method in a thermogravimetric analyzer. To statistically derive significant conclusions, the data obtained from the gasification of fast pyrolyzed chars are used to compare the performance of the volumetric model (VM), grain model (GM), random pore model (RPM), integrated core model (ICM), and two-step (first step: VM; second step: ICM) parallel model. The obtained results show that most |DDTG| curves show one local minimum, representing at least one reaction step. When combined with the TG curves, the gasification process exhibits a distinct devolatilization and char gasification component. ICM has a better performance compared to the other single-step models. The two-step model significantly improves over the single-step model due to the additional equation. The two-step model's average deviation DEV(X) is 0.95 %, which shows an 80 % improvement compared to ICM (DEV(X) = 4.64 %). The predicted activation energy (devolatilization: 54.8–76.2 kJ/mol; gasification: 185.7–247.5 kJ/mol) falls within a reasonable range, which is consistent with the findings reported in the literature. • The chars were generated by fast pyrolysis in a hydrogen flame reactor. • A comparison of two-step and one-step kinetic models assesses their feasibility. • The gasification process fits the two-step model originally proposed by Di Blasi. • The two-step model improves DEV(X) by 80 % compared to ICM (DEV(X) = 4.64 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]