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ObjectiveThis review aims to summarize the salvage experience of cardiopulmonary collapse occurring as a result of absolute ethanol sclerotherapy for vascular malformations.MethodsIn total, we reviewed three cases of cardiopulmonary collapse induced by ethanol sclerotherapy for vascular malformations and described the details of the salvage procedure. Saturation of pulse oxygen (SpO2), end-tidal CO2, and invasive arterial pressure were the routine monitors for ethanol injection patients. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and deoxyepinephrine were mainly used to correct circulation parameters. Manually ventilated via endotracheal intubation with 100% O2, increased respiratory rate were mainly used to correct Respiratory parameters.ResultsAll three cases were successfully salvaged without major complications. When cardiopulmonary collapse occurred, manual ventilation via endotracheal intubation with 100% O2, increased ventilation frequency and external cardiac compression were the emergency treatments. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, deoxyepinephrine infusion solely or combined were crucial to maintaining the basic vital signs.ConclusionDespite the severity of cardiopulmonary collapse caused by ethanol sclerotherapy, it can be detected by close observation and reversed with timely treatment.

The ovules or seeds (fertilized ovules) with wings are widespread and especially important for wind dispersal. However, the earliest ovules in the Famennian of the Late Devonian are rarely known about the dispersal syndrome and usually surrounded by a cupule. From Xinhang, Anhui, China, we now report a new taxon of Famennian ovules, Alasemenia tria gen. et sp. nov. Each ovule of this taxon possesses three integumentary wings evidently extending outwards, folding inwards along abaxial side and enclosing most part of nucellus. The ovule is borne terminally on smooth dichotomous branches and lacks a cupule. Alasemenia suggests that the integuments of the earliest ovules without a cupule evolved functions in probable photosynthetic nutrition and wind dispersal. It indicates that the seed wing originated earlier than other wind dispersal mechanisms such as seed plume and pappus, and that three- or four-winged seeds were followed by seeds with less wings. Mathematical analysis shows that three-winged seeds are more adapted to wind dispersal than seeds with one, two or four wings under the same condition.

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol embolization in treating traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (TAVFs).Materials and methodsFrom March 2012 to April 2020, 42 consecutive patients (29.9 ± 15.1 years, range: 3–68 years) with peripheral TAVFs underwent ethanol embolization. All patients underwent clinical and imaging follow-ups (40.0 ± 25.9 months, range: 3–90 months). The mean time to onset of symptoms after trauma was 5.4 ± 5.9 months (range: 0.5–30 months). Among the patients, 27 (64.3%) reported that the TAVFs occurred after blunt trauma, 10 (23.8%) presented after penetrating trauma (with 4 patients involving penetration by infusion indwelling needles), and 3 (7.1%) had a history of surgery. Treatment effects, devascularization rates, and complications were evaluated at follow-ups conducted at 1–3 month intervals.ResultsSeventy-one embolization procedures were performed, with a mean of 1.6 ± 0.7 procedures per patient. Thirty-four patients received coil-assisted ethanol embolization. Absolute ethanol was used in all procedures, with an average volume of 7.1 ± 4.2 ml per procedure (range: 1–18 ml); 28 patients (28/42, 66.7%) received coil embolization in 36 procedures (36/71, 50.7%). Upon re-examination, 39 patients (92.9%) achieved 100% devascularization; of these, 29 patients (74.4%) with Schobinger stage II TAVFs improved to stage I or became asymptomatic. Overall, 30 cases (66.7%) achieved a complete response, while the other 12 cases (33.3%) showed a partial response. In addition, no major complications were observed postoperatively, apart from minor complications.ConclusionsCoil-assisted ethanol embolization can effectively manage TAVFs with an acceptable risk of mild complications.

Abstract Background Clinically, arteriovenous malformations in the buttocks (bAVMs) are extremely rare. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol embolotherapy in managing bAVMs. Results A total of 32 patients with bAVMs (14 females and 18 males) from 2012 to 2021 were included in this study. All patients underwent complete clinical and imaging examinations. Further, the AVMs lesions were analyzed according to Schöbinger staging and Yakes classification. Each patient had undergone a multistage ethanol embolization. The amelioration of clinical symptoms and devascularization on angiography were evaluated at regular follow-ups. In the present cohort, the 11–20 age group had the most patients (15/32; 46.88%). A total of 124 embolization procedures were performed (average 3.88 procedures per patient), and the average dose of absolute ethanol was 18.96 mL per procedure. Thirteen patients with dominant draining veins underwent additional coil deployment before ethanol embolization (13/32; 40.63%). During follow-ups, clinical improvement was found in 23 of 27 who presented with a pulsating mass (85.19%), 17 of 20 with abnormal local skin temperature (85%), 5 of 6 with bleeding (83.33%), and 5 of 5 patients treated for pain (100%). More than 75% angiographic devascularization was achieved in 18 patients (18/32; 56.25%). Finally, 12 out of 13 patients (92.31%) reduced from Schöbinger Stage III to a lower grade, and ten patients exhibited a complete response (10/32; 31.23%). There was a single serious complication of local necrosis, while neither paranesthesia nor infection was observed postoperatively. Conclusions Ethanol embolization assisted with coils can treat bAVMs effectively and safely. The Yakes classification contributed to the optimal ethanol embolotherapy of bAVMs.

Currently, video question answering (VideoQA) algorithms relying on video-text pretraining models employ intricate unimodal encoders and multimodal fusion Transformers, which often lead to decreased efficiency in tasks such as visual reasoning. Conversely, video question answering algorithms based on graph neural networks often exhibit suboptimal performance in video description and reasoning, attributed to their simplistic graph construction and cross-modal interaction designs, necessitating additional pretraining data to mitigate these performance disparities. In this work, we introduce the Spatio-temporal Graph Convolution Transformer (STCT) model for VideoQA. By leveraging Spatio-temporal Graph Convolution (STGC) and dynamic graph Transformers, our model explicitly captures the spatio-temporal relationships among visual objects, thereby facilitating dynamic interactions and enhancing visual reasoning capabilities. Moreover, our model introduces a novel cross-modal interaction approach utilizing dynamic graph attention mechanisms to adjust the attention weights of visual objects based on the posed question, thereby augmenting multimodal cooperative perception. By addressing the limitations of graph-based algorithms dependent on pretraining for performance enhancement through meticulously designed graph structures and cross-modal interaction mechanisms, our model achieves superior performance in visual description and reasoning tasks with simpler unimodal encoders and multimodal fusion modules. Comprehensive analyses and comparisons of the model’s performance across multiple datasets, including NExT-QA, MSVD-QA, and MSRVTT-QA datasets, have confirmed its robust capabilities in video reasoning and description.

Abstract Low temperature is one of the major constraints on agricultural productivity worldwide and is likely to further increase. Several adaptations and mitigation strategies are required to cope with low-temperature stress. Uniconazole (S3307) could play a significant role in the alleviation of abiotic stress in plants. In this study, the effects of S3307 on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant metabolism were studied in the leaves of mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. The experimental results showed that the low-temperature induced accumulation of superoxide anion (O2 -) production rate, and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents. Increased proline content and enzymatic antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), were found to alleviate oxidative damage under low temperatures. While, S3307 could reduce O2 - production rate and MDA contents and increase the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT, slowed the decrease in ascorbic acid (AsA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and promoted increase in soluble sugars (SS), soluble proteins (SP), and proline (Pro) content under low-temperature. At the same time, low temperature leads to lower 100 grain weight and number of grains per plant, which eventually causes yield reduction decreased. Foliar spraying of S3307 could alleviate the yield loss caused by low temperature, and the increase of S3307 treatment was 5.1%–12.5% and 6.3%–32.9% for the two varieties, respectively, compared with CK. In summary, exogenous S3307 pretreatment enhances plant tolerance to low-temperature by improving the antioxidant enzyme activities, increased non-enzymatic antioxidants content, and decreased O2 - production rate and MDA contents and inducing alterations in endogenous S3307, and reduce the decrease in mung bean yield.

Abstract. Background:. The molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis have continually been the focus of researchers. Cuproplasia is defined as copper-dependent cell growth and proliferation, including its primary and secondary roles in tumor formation and proliferation through signaling pathways. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the expression of cuproplasia-associated genes (CAGs) in pan-cancerous tissues and investigated their role in immune-regulation and tumor prognostication. Methods:. Raw data from 11,057 cancer samples were acquired from multiple databases. Pan-cancer analysis was conducted to analyze the CAG expression, single-nucleotide variants, copy number variants, methylation signatures, and genomic signatures of micro RNA (miRNA)–messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions. The Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer and the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal databases were used to evaluate drug sensitivity and resistance against CAGs. Using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and Immune Cell Abundance Identifier database, immune cell infiltration was analyzed with the ssGSEA score as the standard. Results:. Aberrantly expressed CAGs were found in multiple cancers. The frequency of single-nucleotide variations in CAGs ranged from 1% to 54% among different cancers. Furthermore, the correlation between CAG expression in the tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration varied among different cancers. ATP7A and ATP7B were negatively correlated with macrophages in 16 tumors including breast invasive carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma, while the converse was true for MT1A and MT2A. In addition, we established cuproplasia scores and demonstrated their strong correlation with patient prognosis, immunotherapy responsiveness, and disease progression (P

Based on the latest classification by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies in 2018, vascular malformations (VMs) can be categorized into simple, combined VMs of major named vessels, and VMs associated with other anomalies. Simple VMs include lymphatic, venous, capillary, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). AVMs represent disorders of direct arteriovenous shunts caused by the absence of a capillary bed between the involved arteries and veins. This abnormal vascular communication causes arterial blood to accumulate in the venous vessels, thus resulting in venous hypertension and characteristic clinical manifestations, such as pulsation, tremors, and elevated temperature. AVMs can occur sporadically or as manifestations of syndromic lesions and are considered among the most complex and challenging VMs. The diagnosis and treatment of AVMs can vary depending on the lesion location and associated clinical symptoms, thus complicating their management. Herein, we discuss peripheral AVMs in terms of their clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, and staging systems to provide a comprehensive reference for the treatment, evaluation methods, and follow-up procedures for this vascular anomaly.

To study the propagation of gas explosion shock wave and flame in coal mine heading face at real scale, the numerical simulation software of gas explosion was used to establish roadway models of different scales, and the influence of premixed gas concentration, premixed gas length and roadway spatial characteristics on the overpressure and flame propagation was studied. It is found that the maximum overpressure of gas explosion in heading face can reach 180-630 kPa under the original scale. The constraint degree of roadway section and premixed gas amount are important control factors of gas explosion pressure and flame range. The resistance of high-speed flame propagation will lead to slow flame diffusion and eventually make the flame expansion ratio tend to a certain value.

The relay protection sensitivity is one of the determined factors in the power system, however, it is often overlooked in current distribution network (DN) planning. The relay protection sensitivity can be decreased to below the minimum values, failing to meet the requirements for electrical installations. To address this challenge, a new optimization model integrated with the relay protection sensitivity to maximize the inverter interfaced distributed generator (IIDG) penetration level while minimizing IIDG investment was proposed in this paper. The IIDG effect on the relay protection sensitivity was analysed and the relay protection sensitivity re-evaluation method was developed. The relay protection sensitivity evaluation was integrated into the proposed model and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was developed to solve the nonlinear issue. The proposed optimization method was tested on different cases, and results confirmed the effectiveness of the method. Furthermore, the relay sensitivity profiles obtained through the proposed method and the optimization without considering the relay sensitivity limits were compared. The proposed method improves the average and minimum sensitivity factors by 28.77 % and 51.76 %, respectively, when the DTO protection functions as the backup for the protected line in the thirty-three-node system. When DTO acts as the backup for the adjacent line, the average and minimum values increase by 29.91 % and 50.95 %, respectively. Comparative analysis confirms the efficacy of the proposed method. The new method extends the power system panning approaches and can be integrated into the DN planning tools to support the low-carbon initiatives.

Abstract This paper presents a high‐precision, low‐power delta‐sigma modulator (DSM) designed for healthcare and medical diagnostics. It utilizes a hybrid switching integrator to reduce distortion caused by the non‐linear on‐resistance of switches at a low supply voltage. Leveraging the characteristics of the hybrid switching integrator, a non‐50% duty cycle sampling timing and a corresponding tunable Miller‐compensated operational transconductance amplifier are proposed to reduce resistor thermal noise and meet lower power consumption requirements. The DSM is simulated based on 130‐nm CMOS technology and achieves 93.5‐dB signal‐to‐noise‐plus‐distortion ratio at a 1‐kHz bandwidth while consuming 23.7 µW from a 1.5‐V supply.

A bentonite slurry mixed with seawater is prone to sedimentation, which will reduce the quality of the filter cake and lower the stability of the excavation surface in undersea tunnels. It is necessary to study the performance and influencing factors of the bentonite slurry mixed with seawater. This article simulates the process of undersea slurry shield tunnel construction, where the pressurized slurry penetrates into the sand layer and forms a filter cake when the shield stops pressurizing. We investigated the effects of bentonite, additives (CMC), fine sand, pressure, and formation permeability on the performance of the seawater slurry and filter cake. The sedimentation of mud caused by seawater interfered with the experiment, which manifested as the increase in bentonite, and delayed the formation of the filter cake. Fine sand with a particle size close to the average value of the formation can improve the speed and quality of filter cake formation. By conducting a sensitivity analysis on experimental data, the degree of influence of various factors on the formation rate, thickness, and porosity of the filter cake was determined. Fine sand and bentonite are the factors that have the greatest impact on the formation rate, thickness, and porosity of the filter cake.

The priority direction of mine dust control is to suppress dust generation and flying at the source. Foam, a gas-liquid two-phase medium, has some unique advantages of large dust covering area, strong adhesion ability and fast wetting of dust. It is an efficient way of dust suppression, especially for respiratory dust. However, there is limited research on the morphology and properties of dust suppression foam in the past, resulting in a certain blindness in the preparation and utilization of dust suppression foam. And there is a problem of a large amount of spray foam in exchange for higher dust suppression efficiency, which restricts the low-cost application of this technology in mines. Therefore, in this study, a theoretical derivation was combined with experimental research and quantitative analysis to study the process and law of dust suppression foam drain, the micromorphology of dust suppression foam, the performance influence mechanism and the quantitative evaluation method. These results show that the drain factor w is related to the height of the foam column and the liquid of foam in the foaming process. The higher height of the dust suppression foam and the greater liquid content, the value of the discharge factor w will be lower. The predicted value of w and the theoretical discharge curve calculated by the drainage model show a high degree of consistency with the experimental results, which verifies the accuracy of the theoretical model. The results show foam size distribution, average diameter with the concentration of foaming agent changes. At a low concentration (1%), the number of foam decreases and large particle size bubbles increase. The addition of low-concentration (

Abstract We aimed to identify a novel prognostic biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) based on tumor immunology‐related alternative splicing (AS). Data for 502 HNSCC and 44 normal samples were obtained from the TCGA database and used to establish an AS‐related risk model through univariate, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator Cox regression analyses. Fresh HNSCC and normal oral tissues were surgically obtained from 44 HNSCC patients. Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR were used to assess gene expression levels. Kaplan–Meier was performed to evaluate patients' overall survival (OS) rate. The CIBERSORT algorithm, single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis, and immune checkpoint analyses were performed to compare immune activities between subgroups. The risk model was established using 10 pivotal AS events first. Collagen Type III Alpha 1 Chain (COL3A1) were screened based on |log2FC| ≥ 1 and FDR < 0.05 criteria. COL3A1 expression levels in HNSCC tissues were elevated relative to normal tissues (p

The study of pressure stimulated current (PSC) changes of rocks is significant to monitor dynamic disasters in mines and rock masses. The existing studies focus on change laws and mechanism of currents generated under the loading of rocks. An electrical and mechanics test system was established in this paper to explore the impacts of loading rates on PSCs. The results indicated that PSC curves of different rocks had different change laws under low/high loading rates. When the loading rate was relatively low, PSC curves firstly changed gently and then increased exponentially. Under high loading rates, PSC curves experienced the rapid increase stage, gentle increase stage and sudden change stage. The compressive strength could greatly affect the peak PSC in case of rock failure. The loading rate was a key factor in average PSC. Under low loading rates, the variations of PSCs conformed to the damage charge model of fracture mechanics, while they did not at the fracture moment. Under high loading rates, the PSCs at low stress didn’t fit the model due to the stress impact effects. The experimental results could provide theoretical basis for the influence of loading rates on PSCs.

Highlights Formulas are derived to calculate temperature drop and heat loss, and the causations of all results are shown in detail. Relative heat loss increases almost linearly with the pipeline length, thermal conductivity and reciprocal of insulation thickness. Relative heat loss decreases with the pipeline diametre, initial temperature, flow velocity, surrounding temperature.

Objective(s):. Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation syndrome (CM-AVM) is a rare autosomal-dominant complex vascular disorder that can be associated with fast-flow vascular malformations (FFVMs). The purpose of this study is to explore the genotype–phenotype and genotype–outcome associations based on a large parallel sequencing of CM-AVM patients to improve the understanding of the development and risk factors for FFVM. Methods:. A total of 117 patients with CM-AVMs were enrolled in this multicenter cohort study. All patients underwent detailed clinical phenotyping, including age, sex, capillary malformation (CM) size, with or without FFVM, and outcome (Schobinger stage). Next-generation sequencing was performed with peripheral blood and tissue samples. Genotype–phenotype, genotype–outcome, and phenotype–outcome analyses were performed. Results:. Germline or mosaic RASA1 variants were the most common cause of CM-AVM, found in 61.5%, with EPHB4 variants in 32.5%. A total of 76.9% of patients had a dominant CM lesion larger than 5 cm. No obvious correlations between genotypes and phenotypes, including sex, age, location, and size of CMs, were found in this cohort. Comparing the patients with FFVMs with those without FFVMs, we found significant differences in age and the size of dominant CM lesions but not in genotype, sex, or location. Conclusion:. CM-AVMs can be categorized as complex vascular malformations caused by different gene alterations in the RAS/RAF/MEK pathway. No obvious correlations between genotypes and phenotypes were identified. Critically, the occurrence and progression of FFVM is strongly determined by phenotypes, including age and the size of the dominant CM, rather than genotypes.

Forests appeared during the Middle to Late Devonian, but Devonian forests and their compositions are still rarely known. Xinhang forest was reported as the largest Devonian forest, with lycopsid trees of Guangdedendron micrum Wang et al. A fern-like plant Xinhangia spina Yang and Wang with shoots and anatomy, was previously described from this forest, but its habit and ecology remain unclear. From Xinhang forest, we now report more specimens of fern-like plants including X. spina and some unnamed plants in several beds. Prominent adventitious roots, spines and secondary xylem indicate that the stems of X. spina are largely procumbent to function as anchorage, absorption and support. Other fern-like plants with distinct roots or multiple slender branches also suggest procumbent habits. Xinhang forest is thus reconsidered as multispecific with a canopy of lycopsid trees and understory of diverse fern-like plants, which are adapted to the disturbed coastal environment. The composition of Xinhang forest may indicate a structural transition of the early forests’ dominator from fern-like plants to lycopsids.

The conventional reflective optical surface with adjustable reflection characteristics requires a complex external power source. The complicated structure and preparation process of the power system leads to the limited modulation of the reflective properties and difficulty of use in large-scale applications. Inspired by the biological compound eye, different microstructures are utilized to modulate the optical performance. Convex aspheric micromirror arrays (MMAs) can increase the luminance gain while expanding the field of view, with a luminance gain wide angle > 90° and a field-of-view wide angle close to 180°, which has the reflective characteristics of a large gain wide angle and a large field-of-view wide angle. Concave aspheric micromirror arrays can increase the luminance gain by a relatively large amount of up to 2.66, which has the reflective characteristics of high gain. Industrial-level production and practical applications in the projection display segment were carried out. The results confirmed that convex MMAs are able to realize luminance gain over a wide spectrum and a wide range of angles, and concave MMAs are able to substantially enhance luminance gain, which may provide new opportunities in developing advanced reflective optical surfaces.

Spiking neural network (SNN) consisting of memristor-based artificial neurons and synapses has emerged as a compact and energy-efficient hardware solution for spatiotemporal information processing. However, it is challenging to develop memristive neurons and synapses based on the same material system because the required resistive switching (RS) characteristics are different. Here, it is shown that SrFeOx (SFO), an intriguing material system exhibiting topotactic phase transformation between insulating brownmillerite (BM) SrFeO2.5 phase and conductive perovskite (PV) SrFeO3 phase, can be engineered into both neuronal and synaptic devices. Using a BM-SFO single layer as the RS medium, the Au/BM-SFO/SrRuO3 (SRO) memristor exhibits nonvolatile RS behavior originating from the formation/rupture of PV-SFO filaments in the BM-SFO matrix. By contrast, using a PV-SFO (matrix)/BM-SFO (interfacial layer) bilayer as the RS medium, the Au/PV-SFO/BM-SFO/SRO memristor exhibits volatile RS behavior originating from the interfacial BM-PV phase transformation. Synaptic and neuronal characteristics are further demonstrated in the Au/BM-SFO/SRO and Au/PV-SFO/BM-SFO/SRO memristors, respectively. Using the SFO-based synapses and neurons, fully memristive SNNs are constructed by simulation, which show good performance on unsupervised image recognition. Our study suggests that SFO is a versatile material platform on which both neuronal and synaptic devices can be developed for constructing fully memristive SNNs.

Abstract The integration of the inverter interfaced distributed generators (IIDGs) challenges the conventional fault analysis in distribution networks. However, the existing analysis methods mainly focus on the fault occurring at the network buses and little research has been done to analyse the whole‐line faults. To extend the fault analysis methods, this paper proposed a phase domain estimation method. The new method was designed to analyse the whole‐line faults in unbalanced distribution networks, considering the control strategy and fault‐ride‐through (FRT) capability of IIDG. A canonical method was developed and a compensation method was utilised, avoiding constructing the entire bus matrix and predefining the fault boundary conditions. Moreover, the new method is robust and can be used to analyse the simultaneous faults as well. Finally, the proposed method was programmed in MATLAB and different scenarios were tested on an unbalanced network. The calculation results were examined by the simulations, which verified the effectiveness of the new method. The new method can analyse whole‐line fault in unbalanced networks with IIDGs connection, extending the current fault analysis methods and providing foundations for relay protection.

Objectives:. To identify genetic variants in venous malformations for noninvasive diagnosis using peripheral plasma Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) after ethanol embolization. Method:. In this prospective, multicenter and cross-sectional study with a total of 121 patients with venous malformation, next-generation sequencing with a targeted panel of 40 specific genes was conducted to detect variants. We collected peripheral blood samples, cfDNA samples isolated from peripheral plasma before and 1 hour after ethanol embolization in 24 patients in a pilot study, and paired lesion plasma samples in 7 of those patients. Then variant profiles of peripheral postembolization plasma cfDNA were prospectively collected and analyzed from 97 patients in an independent validation group. Results:. Variants were detected in cfDNA samples, but none was detected in paired peripheral blood. The prevalence of TEK/PIK3CA variant in peripheral pre-embolization, postembolization, and lesion plasma cfDNA were 12.5%, 87.5%, and 71.4% (P < .0001), respectively, which areas under the ROC curve of 0.5625 (P = .4579), 0.9375 (P < .0001), and 0.8571 (P = .0253), respectively. In a prospective independent validation group with postembolization cfDNA analysis in 97 patients, 119 variants were identified in 90.7% (88/97) of patients with areas under the ROC curve of 0.9545 (P < .0001). Conclusion:. cfDNA from peripheral postembolization plasma bears safe, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic potential for venous malformations.

Abstract Maffucci syndrome (MS, OMIM 166000) is an extremely unusual, nonhereditary, multisystemic disorder that is characterized with multiple enchondromas and vascular lesions, most of which are spindle cell hemangiomas. Complications of MS, such as bone deformities and dysfunction caused by enchondromas, usually increase during childhood and adolescence. Malignant transformation of enchondromas and other malignancies are the most severe complications. MS is caused by somatic mosaic IDH1/2 mutations, 65% of which are the IDH1 p.Arg132Cys variant. Due to its rarity, there is no international consensus for the most appropriate treatment option of MS. Here, we report a case of a female patient presenting with multiple enchondromas and spindle cell hemangiomas (SCHs) on bilateral hand and feet diagnosed as MS. A detailed clinical, pathological and genetic diagnosis of MS was rendered. Integrative Genomics Viewer (IGV) visualization of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data revealed the consistent detection of the low-frequency somatic IDH1 p.Arg132Cys mutation between SCH tissue and cystic blood-derived cfDNA. This is the first successful molecular diagnosis of MS complicated with SCH utilizing minimally invasive cfDNA techniques. We suggest that cfDNA sequencing could potentially be used as an alternative, reliable and sensitive method to identify molecular information for genetic diagnosis and for future targeted therapies of MS.

Abstract PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) is a series of congenital, sporadic disorders that are associated with segmental overgrowth phenotypes and postzygotic, somatic gene mutations in the PIK3CA-ATK-mTOR pathway. The variability and overlapping phenotypes between PROS and other complex vascular malformations make the differential diagnosis confusing and challenging. PROS should be considered for the differential diagnosis with other complex vascular malformations and syndromes with a tissue overgrowth phenotype, such as Parkes-Weber syndrome (PWS). Herein, we diagnosed one unique clinically challenging case manifested as capillary malformation (CM), limb overgrowth, as well as increased skin temperature and peripheral venous dilatation of lower limb that indicated a potential fast-flow lesion. The patient was initially diagnosed with PWS. Contrary to the previous diagnosis, based on further MR imaging and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), which ruled out the existence of AVMs and AVFs, and molecular analysis with targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealing a somatic PIK3CA mutation, we ultimately diagnosed that the patient had a unique form of PROS simulating PWS phenotypes. We suggest that it is important to propose the differential diagnosis of PWS and PROS, two diseases that share a common overgrowth phenotype. We recommended radiological diagnosis such as MRI, CT and DSA as well as further molecular diagnosis to provide more information for the assessment of vascular lesions and to further guide clinical treatment strategies.

BackgroundIn absence of the large-sample study of simple peripheral arteriovenous malfomations (pAVM), we aimed to perform the epidemiological analysis of over 1,000 simple pAVM patients from our center in the past 5 years, and establish a novel classification based on the anatomical localization of the primary lesion.ResultsBetween March 27, 2016, and March 31, 2021, Chinese patients who were diagnosed with simple pAVM were taken into account. Those who suffered from simple arteriovenous malformations of the central nervous system (cnsAVM), combined types of AVM, and syndromes, such as CLOVES syndrome, etc. were all excluded from this study. A total of 1,070 simple pAVM patients were screened out. All of the simple pAVM patients were diagnosed by clinical manifestations and imaging examinations. Demographic data were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The 5-year prevalence of simple pAVM was about (2.15–6.60) /1,000,000 population. The male-female ratio was approximately 1.22:1. The pAVM inpatients that were included in the age group of 21~30 years old had the highest constituent ratio (P = 0.01). The classification included four groups: Type I (primarily occurring in soft tissue); Type II (primarily occurring in bone); Type III (primarily occurring in the viscus) and Type IV (simple pAVM coexisting with CNS lesions). There were two subtypes of Type I: the A subtype (involving one major anatomical region) and the B subtype (involving two or more major anatomical regions); two subtypes of Type II: the A subtype (the cortex was intact) and the B subtype (the lesion had broken through the cortex). Generally, 657 patients were classified as Type IA (61.4%), 232 patients were Type IB (21.7%), 82 patients were Type IIA (7.7%) and 79 were categorized as Type IIB (7.4%); the number of patients who had Type III and Type IV pAVM were 9 (0.8%) and 11 (1.0%), respectively. The clinical manifestations and diagnostic standards for each type were also systematically summarized.ConclusionsPrevalence data for simple pAVM were analyzed, and a novel classification was proposed based on the anatomy of the lesions. The present work was expected to facilitate the diagnosis of simple pAVM in clinical works.

BackgroundNecroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, is increasingly being investigated for its controversial role in tumorigenesis and progression. Necroptosis suppresses tumor formation and tumor development by killing tumor cells; however, the necrotic cells also promote tumor formation and tumor development via the immunosuppressive effect of necroptosis and inflammatory response caused by cytokine release. Thus, the exact mechanism of necroptosis in pan-cancer remains unknown.MethodsThe data of 11,057 cancer samples were downloaded from the TCGA database, along with clinical information, tumor mutation burden, and microsatellite instability information of the corresponding patients. We used the TCGA data in a pan-cancer analysis to identify differences in mRNA level as well as single nucleotide variants, copy number variants, methylation profiles, and genomic signatures of miRNA-mRNA interactions. Two drug datasets (from GDSC, CTRP) were used to evaluate drug sensitivity and resistance against necroptosis genes.ResultsNecroptosis genes were aberrantly expressed in various cancers. The frequency of necroptosis gene mutations was highest in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, the correlation between necroptosis gene expression in the tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration varied for different cancers. High necroptosis gene expression was found to correlate with NK, Tfh, Th1, CD8_T, and DC cells. These can therefore be used as biomarkers to predict prognosis. By matching gene targets with drugs, we identified potential candidate drugs.ConclusionOur study showed the genomic alterations and clinical features of necroptosis genes in 33 cancers. This may help clarify the link between necroptosis and tumorigenesis. Our findings may also provide new approaches for the clinical treatment of cancer.

2′,5′-oligoadenylate synthase (OAS) is a class of enzymes induced by interferons and mainly encoded by the OAS1, OAS2, and OAS3 genes, which activate the potential RNA enzymes to degrade viral mRNA, inhibit viral protein synthesis and promote apoptosis in virus-infected cells. OAS3 is associated with breast cancer prognosis. However, the expression and prognosis of OAS3 and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in pan-cancer remain unknown. In the present study, we have systematically investigated and confirmed the role of OAS3 in tumour immune infiltration, immune escape, tumour progression, response to treatment, and prognosis of different cancer types using various bioinformatics methods. The findings suggest that OAS3 is aberrantly expressed in almost all TCGA cancer types and subtypes and is associated with tumour staging, metastasis, and prognostic deterioration in different tumours. In addition, OAS3 expression is associated with the prognosis and chemotherapeutic outcomes of various cancers. In terms of immune-infiltrating levels, OAS3 expression is positively associated with the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells. These findings suggest that OAS3 is correlated with prognosis and immune-infiltrating levels.

The Internet of Things requires greater attention to the security and privacy of the network. Compared to other public-key cryptosystems, elliptic curve cryptography can provide better security and lower latency with shorter keys, rendering it more suitable for IoT security. This paper presents a high-efficiency and low-delay elliptic curve cryptographic architecture based on the NIST-p256 prime field for IoT security applications. A modular square unit utilizes a fast partial Montgomery reduction algorithm, demanding just a mere four clock cycles to complete a modular square operation. The modular square unit can be computed simultaneously with the modular multiplication unit, consequently improving the speed of point multiplication operations. Synthesized on the Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA platform, the proposed architecture completes one PM operation in 0.08 ms using 23.1 k LUTs at 105.3 MHz. These results show significantly better performance compared to that in previous works.

Background: Several new blood vessels are formed during the process of tumor development. These new blood vessels provide nutrients and water for tumour growth, while spreading tumour cells to distant areas and forming new metastases in different parts of the body. The available evidence suggests that tumour angiogenesis is closely associated with the tumour microenvironment and is regulated by a variety of pro-angiogenic factors and/or angiogenic inhibitors.Methods: In the present study, a comprehensive characterization of angiogenesis genes expression was performed in a pan-cancer analysis across the 33 human cancer types. Further, genetic data from several public databases were also used in the current study. An angiogenesis score was assigned to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer data, with one angiogenesis score as per sample for each tumour.Results: It was found that angiogenesis genes vary across cancer types, and are associated with a number of genomic and immunological features. Further, it was noted that macrophages and iTreg infiltration were generally higher in tumours with high angiogenesis scores, whereas lymphocytes and B cells showed the opposite trend. Notably, NK cells showed significantly different correlations among cancer types. Furthermore, results of the present study showed that a high angiogenesis score was associated with poor survival and aggressive types of cancer in most of the cancer types.Conclusion: In conclusion, the current study evidently showed that the expression of angiogenesis genes is a key feature of tumour biology that has a major impact on prognosis of patient with cancers.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a serious public health issue in China, accounting for more than 40% of all mortality, and it is the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is the pathological basis for much CVD, including coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke. Endothelial dysfunction is an initiating and exacerbating factor in atherosclerosis. Recent research has linked oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage to endothelial dysfunction. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor with antioxidant effects that is strongly connected to several CVDs. However, the mechanism by which Nrf2 reduces CVD is unknown. Research indicates that Nrf2 improves endothelial function by resisting oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, thereby delaying atherosclerosis. This article examines the mechanisms and potential targets of Nrf2 affecting endothelial cell function to improve atherosclerosis and to provide ideas for the development of new CVD treatments.

Cardiovascular disease, especially coronary artery disease and stroke, kills around one-third of the world’s population, and myocardial infarction, a primary symptom of coronary heart disease, is a major worldwide health problem. Cardiovascular disease research has historically focused on promoting angiogenesis following myocardial damage. Myocardial vascular repair is crucial for improving myocardial infarction prognosis. Endothelial cells, the largest population of nonmyocytes within myocardial tissue, play an important role in angiogenesis. In recent years, different types of programmed cell death such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy have been described and found to be linked with cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and myocarditis. This will have important implications for reforming the treatment strategy of cardiovascular diseases. Different types of cell death of endothelial cells in myocardial infarction have been proposed, the roles and mechanisms of endothelial cell death in myocardial infarction are summarized in this review, and endothelial cell death inhibition as a therapeutic technique for treating myocardial infarction might be advantageous to human health.

Waste sediment (WS) is a solid waste produced from subway construction. In the present work, high-volume WS was upcycled to prepare grouting material.The results showed that the working performances (consistency, fluidity, setting time, bleeding ratio, and stone ratio)of WS-based grouting material were significantly affected by the mass concentration of solid components, binder to WS ratio, and steel slag addition. This material can meet the engineering requirement by adjusting these parameters. The WS-based grouting material exhibited superior performance compared to traditional grouting materials. It achieved self-leveling (160 mm fluidity) and wassuitable for grouting (consistency within 100-130 mm, 95.0% stone ratio). Amorphous phases were formed in the hardened sample. The addition of a suitable amount of steel slag (10%) can reduce the total porosity, and also promote the hydration degree and increase the mechanical properties of cement matrix.The strength development can be attributed to the formation of hydration products and the cementation between hydrates and sediment particles.

We aimed at establishing a risk – score model using pyroptosis-related genes to predict the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A total of 33 pyroptosis-related genes were selected. We then evaluated the data of 502 HNSCC patients and 44 normal patients from TCGA database. Gene expression was then profiled to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Using the univariate, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses, we generated a risk – score model. Tissue samples from neoplastic and normal sites of 44 HNSCC patients were collected. qRT-PCR were employed to analyze the mRNA level of the samples. Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the overall survival rate (OS). Enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of HNSCC patient's differentially survival status from the perspective of tumor immunology. 17 genes were categorized as DEGs. GSDME, IL-6, CASP8, CASP6, NLRP1 and NLRP6 were used to establish the risk – score model. Each patient's risk score in the TCGA cohort was calculated using the risk – score formula. The risk score was able to independently predict the OS of the HNSCC patients (P = 0.02). The OS analysis showed that the risk score model (P < 0.0001) was more reliable than single gene, a phenomenon verified by practical patient cohort. Additionally, enrichment analysis indicated more active immune activities in low-risk group than high-risk group. In conclusion, our risk – score model has provided novel strategy for the prediction of HNSCC patients’ prognosis.

South China displays Devonian strata with well-exposed outcrops and is regarded as a diversity hotspot of Late Devonian lycopsids. The heterosporous lycopsid Sublepidodendron grabaui has been studied for over ten years, with its general morphology, aerial stem anatomy, microsporangiate strobili, and growth architecture reported. Based on new specimens from Guangde City, Anhui Province, this study provides further knowledge about the megasporangiate strobili and megaspores of S. grabaui. Its slender megasporangiate strobili occur singly or in pairs and occasionally bifurcate in the middle-upper portion. Each megasporophyll consists of a flattened pedicel and an adaxially curved lamina. The lamina forms a downturned heel at the base. Each sessile megasporangium contains at least eight Lagenicula-type megaspores with a small gula. The other observed characteristics of S. grabaui in this study conform to those previously known and are compared to relative coeval taxa.

The integration of the inverter interfaced distributed generation (IIDG) challenges the conventional fault current calculation methods. The existing fault current calculation methods for distribution networks with IIDG connection generally use nodal admittance matrix and its implicit inverse, which take a longer calculation time and are not suitable for electrical engineering. To simplify the calculation process and reduce the calculation time, a new method was proposed. The new method can estimate fault currents of the feeders with IIDG connection with a higher computation speed, using fault current values obtained in networks without IIDG connection as the initial values in the procedure. The proposed method can obtain results without modifying the node impedance matrix and the calculation time was not affected by the nodes number, which can be used for fast short-circuit current calculation in radial distribution networks with IIDG connection. The new method can be conveniently integrated into software packages for power system analysis and relay protection evaluation. • The proposed method can estimate fault currents of the feeders with IIDG connection with a higher computation speed, which is beneficial for electrical engineering. • The new method has advantages in calculation time and accuracy of the results in comparison with the conventional bus-oriented methods. • The method proposed in this paper can be conveniently integrated into software packages for power system analysis and relay protection evaluation.

Venous malformations (VMs) are the most common vascular developmental anomalies. There are many controversies over VMs in Chinese clinical medical practice. Experts on the panel from vascular-anomaly centers in China reviewed the etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, classification, clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment of VMs. The aim of this consensus document is to provide recommendations for, and assist clinicians and patients in, the diagnosis and treatment of VMs. Keywords: venous malformations, consensus, diagnosis, treatment

Abstract Background The earliest seed plants in the Late Devonian (Famennian) are abundant and well known. However, most of them lack information regarding the frond system and reconstruction. Cosmosperma polyloba represents the first Devonian ovule in China and East Asia, and its cupules, isolated synangiate pollen organs and pinnules have been studied in the preceding years. Results New fossils of Cosmosperma were obtained from the type locality, i.e. the Leigutai Member of the Wutong Formation in Fanwan Village, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, South China. The collection illustrates stems and fronds extensively covered in prickles, as well as fertile portions including uniovulate cupules and anisotomous branches bearing synangiate pollen organs. The stems are unbranched and bear fronds helically. Fronds are dimorphic, displaying bifurcate and trifurcate types, with the latter possibly connected to fertile rachises terminated by pollen organs. Tertiary and quaternary rachises possessing pinnules are arranged alternately (pinnately). The cupule is uniovulate and the ovule has four linear integumentary lobes fused in basal 1/3. The striations on the stems and rachises may indicate a Sparganum-type cortex. Conclusions Cosmosperma further demonstrates diversification of frond branching patterns in the earliest seed plants. The less-fused cupule and integument of this plant are considered primitive among Devonian spermatophytes with uniovulate cupules. We tentatively reconstructed Cosmosperma with an upright, semi-self-supporting habit, and the prickles along stems and frond rachises were interpreted as characteristics facilitating supporting rather than defensive structures.

Abstract As an explosion control measure, rock dusting has been used in underground coal mines in many major coal producing countries with different standards. The effectiveness of the rock dust in reducing explosion intensity has been proven by historic events and laboratory experiments. The main functions of rock dust in controlling mine explosions (i.e., isolator, physical heat sink and chemical energy absorber) have been quantitatively studied and results are presented in this paper.

To further understand the problems of coal combustion and coalfield fire reignition, this paper researched the reaction characteristics of coal pyrolysis and low oxygen combustion and the reburning oxidation characteristics of residual structure by thermal analysis methods. The results show that temperature promotes both pyrolysis and low oxygen combustion reactions, but low oxygen combustion reaction is more sensitive to temperature changes. As the constant temperature rises, the mass reduction rate of low oxygen combustion of coal samples reaches 80% on average, which is 4 times that of pyrolysis, and the variations of thermogravimetric parameters are also significantly higher than those of pyrolysis. However, the higher the pyrolysis degree of the residues, the stronger their oxidizability, which greatly enhances the intensity and concentration of the secondary combustion, and the mass of residues is reduced by 90% on average. Conversely, because the combustible components are continuously consumed during low oxygen combustion, the reburning characteristics of residues become less obvious. For instance, the weight loss rate slows down, the burning becomes dispersed, and the burning intensity is weakened. In addition, the heat release is reduced from 8662 to 444.5 J/g, and the change trend is just opposite to that of pyrolysis. The above results show that as the constant temperature rises, the pyrolysis reaction greatly shortens the reburning process, while the low oxygen combustion reaction largely inhibits the reburning.

Inert gases can effectively inhibit coal spontaneous combustion. In this paper, the inhibition effect of inert gases (N2 and CO2) on coal spontaneous combustion was studied. In the low-temperature oxidation stage, the constant-temperature heat release and apparent activation energy of coal sample were measured and calculated by the C80 micro-calorimeter. In the high-temperature combustion stage, the critical temperature, maximum peak temperature, ignition temperature, and burn-out temperature of coal samples were analyzed by the synchronous thermal analyzer. The results demonstrate that with the decrease of O2 concentration, the oxidation heat release of coal samples drops gradually while the apparent activation energy increases gradually. In the N2 and CO2 atmospheres, as the O2 concentration is reduced to 1.5% and 3%, respectively, the value of apparent activation energy changes from negative to positive, and the spontaneous reaction transits to a nonspontaneous reaction. The TG-DTG (thermogravimetric-derivative thermogravimetric) curve of coal sample in the high-temperature combustion stage indicates that the critical temperature exhibits a W-shaped trend with the decrease of O2 concentration, which also leads to gradual increases of maximum peak temperature, ignition temperature, and burn-out temperature. The above results signify that increasing the inert gas concentration can gradually reduce the oxidation and combustion rate and improve the inhibition effect on coal spontaneous combustion. In addition, when the O2 concentration is the same, the inhibition effect of CO2 on coal spontaneous combustion is superior to that of N2.

Magnetic bearings have been used in flywheel energy storage systems to improve their performance because these kinds of bearings can provide non-contact supporting so that the friction between the rotor and the bearings is reduced significantly. However, the gyroscopic coupling, parameter coupling, and imbalance force affect the operating performance and stability of a magnetic suspended flywheel energy storage system with asymmetric rotor; therefore, the main purpose of this study is to propose a control method for achieving decoupling and stable operation of the aforementioned system. To this end, after deriving the mathematical model of a radial 4-degree-of-freedom rotor–bearing system, a novel cross-feedback-based modal decoupling controller is designed for vibration suppression caused by gyroscopic coupling, parameter coupling, and imbalance force. Better performance is obtained through comparing the decoupling performance, control performance, and disturbance rejection performance with a traditional decentralized proportional–integral–derivative controller and a cross-feedback controller via ADAMS–MATLAB co-simulation technology and experimental results.

A mild and efficient synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-6(7H)-one derivatives via a three-component reaction of an aldehyde, Meldrum’s acid and 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine using recyclable polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400 as a reaction medium is described. This method has the advantages of accessible starting materials, good yields, mild reaction conditions and begin environmentally friendly.

Coal dust explosions (CDE) are one of the main threats to the occupational safety of coal miners. Aiming to identify and assess the risk of CDE, this paper proposes a novel method of fuzzy fault tree analysis combined with the Visual Basic (VB) program. In this methodology, various potential causes of the CDE are identified and a CDE fault tree is constructed. To overcome drawbacks from the lack of exact probability data for the basic events, fuzzy set theory is employed and the probability data of each basic event is treated as intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. In addition, a new approach for calculating the weighting of each expert is also introduced in this paper to reduce the error during the expert elicitation process. Specifically, an in-depth quantitative analysis of the fuzzy fault tree, such as the importance measure of the basic events and the cut sets, and the CDE occurrence probability is given to assess the explosion risk and acquire more details of the CDE. The VB program is applied to simplify the analysis process. A case study and analysis is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of this proposed method, and some suggestions are given to take preventive measures in advance and avoid CDE accidents.

In the control of the rotary crane, it is important to consider the trade-off between the boom positioning characteristics and the sway of the load. However, it seems difficult to obtain good control performance in both of them using 1-degree-of-freedom control approach. Therefore, a robust 2-degree-of-freedom control approach is proposed in this article. First, a linear dynamic model of a rotary crane is derived using a disturbance observer. Next, a state feedback controller with integrator is designed based on the model, and controller gains are determined by using linear matrix inequality optimization for achieving robustness with respect to rope length variance. Then, a feedforward controller is designed by solving an optimal regulator problem based on the model of closed-loop system for improving the boom positioning characteristics of the crane. Finally, the experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. Hence, the crane can be easily operated without sensor systems for measuring rope length, and consequently, the structure of the crane can be simplified and implementation cost can be reduced.

New megafossil and microfossil data indicate four episodes in the diversification of Silurian-Early Carboniferous land plants of South China, a relatively continuous regional record. Plant diversity increased throughout, but the rising curve was punctuated by three major falls. There were peaks of origination in the Ludlow-Pragian, Givetian, late Famennian and Visean and peaks of extinction in the Pragian-Emsian, Givetian and early Tournaisian. Speciation and extinction rates were highest in the Lochkovian-Pragian and became progressively lower in subsequent stages. High correlation coefficients indicate that these events are associated with the availability of land habitat contingent on eustatic variations and increasing numbers of cosmopolitan genera. Meanwhile, proportions of endemic genera declined gradually. Due to less endemism and more migrations, both speciation and species extinction rates reduced. The changes of diversity and the timing of the three extinctions of land plants in South China are similar to those known already from Laurussia. However, the largest events in the Lochkovian-Pragian and subsequent smaller ones have not been seen in the global pattern of plant evolution. These land plant events do not correspond well temporally with those affecting land vertebrates or marine invertebrates. In South China, the diversity curve of land plants is generally opposite to that of marine faunas, showing a strong effect of eustatic variations. The increasing diversity of both land vertebrates and plants was punctuated above the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary, known as Romer's Gap, implying common underlying constraints on macroevolution of land animals and plants.

The Ras oncogene of silkworm pupae (Bras2) may belong to the Ras superfamily. It shares 77% of its amino acid identity with teratocarcinoma oncogene 21 (TC21) related ras viral oncogene homolog-2 (R-Ras2) and possesses an identical core effector region. The mRNA of Bombyx mori Bras2 has 1412 bp. The open reading frame contains 603 bp, which encodes 200 amino acid residues. This recombinant BmBras2 protein was subsequently used as an antigen to raise a rabbit polyclonal antibody. Western blotting and real-time PCR analyses showed that BmBras2 was expressed during four developmental stages. The BmBras2 expression level was the highest in the pupae and was low in other life cycle stages. BmBras2 was expressed in all eight tested tissues, and it was highly expressed in the head, intestine, and epidermis. Subcellular localization studies indicated that BmBras2 was predominantly localized in the nuclei of Bm5 cells, although cytoplasmic staining was also observed to a lesser extent. A cell proliferation assay showed that rBmBras2 could stimulate the proliferation of hepatoma cells. The higher BmBras2 expression levels in the pupal stage, tissue expression patterns, and a cell proliferation assay indicated that BmBras2 promotes cell division and proliferation, most likely by influencing cell signal transduction.