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Abstract Background Mechanical unloading-induced bone loss threatens prolonged spaceflight and human health. Recent studies have confirmed that osteoporosis is associated with a significant reduction in bone microvessels, but the relationship between them and the underlying mechanism under mechanical unloading are still unclear. Methods We established a 2D clinostat and hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mouse model to simulate unloading in vitro and in vivo. Micro-CT scanning was performed to assess changes in the bone microstructure and mass of the tibia. The levels of CD31, Endomucin (EMCN) and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) in tibial microvessels were detected by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. In addition, we established a coculture system of microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) and osteoblasts, and qRT‒PCR or western blotting was used to detect RNA and protein expression; cell proliferation was detected by CCK‒8 and EdU assays. ChIP was used to detect whether HDAC6 binds to the miRNA promoter region. Results Bone mass and bone microvessels were simultaneously significantly reduced in HLU mice. Furthermore, MVECs effectively promoted the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts under coculture conditions in vitro. Mechanistically, we found that the HDAC6 content was significantly reduced in the bone microvessels of HLU mice and that HDAC6 inhibited the expression of miR-375-3p by reducing histone acetylation in the miR-375 promoter region in MVECs. miR-375-3p was upregulated under unloading and it could inhibit MVEC proliferation by directly targeting low-density lipoprotein-related receptor 5 (LRP5) expression. In addition, silencing HDAC6 promoted the miR-375-3p/LRP5 pathway to suppress MVEC proliferation under mechanical unloading, and regulation of HDAC6/miR-375-3p axis in MVECs could affect osteoblast proliferation under coculture conditions. Conclusion Our study revealed that disuse-induced bone loss may be closely related to a reduction in the number of bone microvessels and that the modulation of MVEC function could improve bone loss induced by unloading. Mechanistically, the HDAC6/miR-375-3p/LRP5 pathway in MVECs might be a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of unloading-induced bone loss.

Abstract Microbot collectives can cooperate to accomplish complex tasks that are difficult for a single individual. However, various force-induced microbot collectives maintained by weak magnetic, light, and electric fields still face challenges such as unstable connections, the need for a continuous external stimuli source, and imprecise individual control. Here, we construct magnetic and light-driven ant microbot collectives capable of reconfiguring multiple assembled architectures with robustness. This methodology utilizes a flexible two-photon polymerization strategy to fabricate microbots consisting of magnetic photoresist, hydrogel, and metal nanoparticles. Under the cooperation of magnetic and light fields, the microbots can reversibly and selectively assemble (e.g., 90° assembly and 180° assembly) into various morphologies. Moreover, we demonstrate the ability of assembled microbots to cross a one-body-length gap and their adaptive capability to move through a constriction and transport microcargo. Our strategy will broaden the abilities of clustered microbots, including gap traversal, micro-object manipulation, and drug delivery.

Background: LncRNA PCAT6 has been shown to involve in carcinogenesis of different tumors. In this study, we investigated underline mechanism by which PCAT6 promoted breast cancer cell progression. Methods: RIP was used to identify lncRNAs associated with IMP1. Bioinformatics assays were used to predict potential miRNAs that interact with PCAT6 and mRNAs that are targeted by miR-545-3p. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR were used to analyze differential expression of lncRNAs and miRNA-targeted genes. Luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were performed to identify the molecular interactions between PCAT6 and individual miRNAs. The role of PCAT6-mediated cell proliferation and invasion were tested by CCK-8 and transwell assays following loss-of-function and gain-of-function effects. Results: We identified that PCAT6 is one of the lncRNAs that associated with IMP1. PCAT6 not only binds to IMP1, but also acts as a ceRNA to interact with multiple miRNAs, including miR-545-3p. Binding of IMP1 destabilized PCAT6, while competitive interaction with miR-545-3p allowed PCAT6 to positively regulate UBFD1 expression. Silencing UBFD1 mRNA could effectively rescue PCAT6-induced cell proliferation and invasive abilities. Conclusions: Our study provided evidence that PCAT6 activates UBFD1 expression via sponging miR-545-3p to increase carcinogenesis of breast cancer cells. Based on the nature of UBFD1 as a polyubiquitin binding protein, our study suggested that ubiquitin pathway might contribute to breast cancer progression.

Some high rockfill dams, built on deep overburden, utilize double concrete cutoff walls for seepage control, thereby introducing increased complexity to seepage characteristics in the dam foundation. This study focuses on a core rockfill dam located on the Dadu River in China, investigating the impact of dam body and foundation permeability coefficients on the percentages of hydraulic head reduction by the double cutoff walls. A multifactor sensitivity analysis, based on finite element method, is conducted to analyze this influence. Subsequently, an inversion model, integrating support vector regression and whale optimization algorithm, is proposed to identify parameters that align with seepage monitoring data. Results indicate that the permeability coefficients of the surface bedrock and the main grouting curtain exert the most significant influence. Parameters derived from the inversion model yield finite element calculations consistent with monitoring data. Moreover, upstream water level minimally affects the distribution of hydraulic head reduction percentages by the double cutoff walls. And the seepage gradient (G) in the dam foundation overburden remains below the permissible limit, with its relationship to the upstream water level (L) fitted as G=-1.03318+6.96E-4×L.This study may offer valuable insights for the construction and operational management of similar projects employing double cutoff walls.

The seepage characteristics of clay core walls are crucial for the seepage safety of core rockfill dams, with the permeability coefficient in the unsaturated zone being nonlinear. To accurately determine the unsaturated seepage parameters in clay core rockfill dams, this paper first proposes an enhanced reptile search algorithm (ERSA) by applying three improvement strategies: Arnold’s cat chaotic map, nonlinear evolutionary factor, and adaptive Cauchy–Gaussian mutation with variable weight. Then, by integrating the ERSA with the unsaturated seepage finite element method, an inverse modeling approach is developed. This approach is applied to an actual rockfill dam with operational monitoring data to determine the unsaturated seepage parameters of the clay core. Results indicate that the ERSA outperforms the original RSA in test functions, and the calculation results of the seepage parameters determined through inversion are consistent with the monitoring data, showing an overall mean absolute error of 1.086 m. The inverse modeling approach provides a valuable reference for determining unsaturated seepage parameters in similar clay core rockfill dams.

Abstract Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a high prevalence and poor prognosis. It is an urgent problem to deeply understand the molecular mechanism of ESCC and develop effective diagnostic and prognostic methods. Methods Using tumor tissue and corresponding paracancerous samples from 141 resected ESCC patients, we assessed Jumonji domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) expression using Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate or multivariate analysis were used to investigate the relationship between JMJD6 expression and clinicopathological features. The expression status and prognostic value of JMJD6 were analyzed by bioinformatics and enrichment analysis. Results The expression of JMJD6 in ESCC samples was higher than that in the corresponding paracancerous samples, and high expression of JMJD6 was positively associated with poor prognosis of ESCC patients. In addition, bioinformatics analysis of the expression and prognosis of JMJD6 in a variety of tumors showed that high expression of JMJD6 was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in ESCC patients. Enrichment analysis indicated that the high expression of genes similar to JMJD6, such as Conserved oligomeric Golgi 1(COG1), Major facilitator superfamily domain 11 (MFSD11) and Death Effector Domain Containing 2 (DEDD2), was associated with poor prognosis of ESCC, suggesting that JMJD6 might be involved in the occurrence and prognosis of ESCC. Conclusion Our study found that JMJD6 expression was significantly increased in ESCC patients and positively correlated with prognosis, indicating that targeting JMJD6 might be an attractive prognostic biomarker and provides a potential treatment strategy for ESCC. Trial registration The study was approved by Tangdu Hospital ethics committee (No. TDLL-202110-02).

Nowadays, infectious diseases persist as a global crisis by causing significant destruction to public health and the economic stability of countries worldwide. Especially bacterial infections remain a most severe concern due to the prevalence and emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) and limitations with existing therapeutic options. Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a potential therapeutic modality that involves the systematic administration of photosensitizers (PSs), light, and molecular oxygen (O2) for coping with bacterial infections. Although the existing porphyrin and non-porphyrin PSs were effective in APDT, the poor solubility, limited efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria, and non-specific distribution hinder their clinical applications. Accordingly, to promote the efficiency of conventional PSs, various polymer-driven modification and functionalization strategies have been adopted to engineer multifunctional hybrid phototherapeutics. This review assesses recent advancements and state-of-the-art research in polymer-PSs hybrid materials developed for APDT applications. Further, the key research findings of the following aspects are considered in-depth with constructive discussions: i) PSs-integrated/functionalized polymeric composites through various molecular interactions; ii) PSs-deposited coatings on different substrates and devices to eliminate healthcare-associated infections; and iii) PSs-embedded films, scaffolds, and hydrogels for regenerative medicine applications.

Summary: MACC1 is a master oncogene involved in multiple aspects of cancer metastasis in a broad variety of tumors. However, the molecular mechanism by which MACC1 transcription is regulated remains unclear. Here, we show that in breast cancer cells, lncRNA MACC1-AS1 serves as a cis-factor to up-regulate MACC1 transcription and this regulation increases the cell proliferation potential. Mechanistically, MACC1-AS1 forms a complex with DEAD-Box helicase 5 (DDX5) and simultaneously interacts with the distal region of the MACC1 promoter. The interaction allows its associated DDX5 to spatially contact the MACC1 core promoter and shift from MACC1-AS1 to the core promoter. Moreover, binding of DDX5 to the core promoter results in local recruitment of the transcription factor SP-1, thus enhancing MACC1 transcription. Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which MACC1-AS1 cis-regulates MACC1 transcription by interacting with the distal promoter region and delivering DDX5 to the core-promoter of the gene.

Abstract Surface modification plays a pivotal role in tailoring the functionalities of a solid material. Introduction of antimicrobial function on material surfaces can provide additional protection against life‐threatening bacterial infections. Herein, a simple and universal surface modification method based on surface adhesion and electrostatic interaction of phytic acid (PA) is developed. PA is first functionalized with Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) via metal chelation and then conjugates with cationic polymers (CPs) through electrostatic interaction. With the aid of surface adherent PA and gravitation effect, the as‐formed PA–PB–CP network aggregates are deposited on the solid materials in a substrate‐independent manner. Synergistic bactericidal effects of “contact‐killing” induced by the CPs and localized photothermal effect caused by the PB NPs endow the substrates with strong antibacterial performance. Membrane integrity, enzymatic activity, and metabolism function of the bacteria are disturbed in contact with the PA–PB–CP coating under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation. The PA–PB–CP modified biomedical implant surfaces exhibit good biocompatibility and synergistic antibacterial effect under NIR irradiation, and eliminate the adhered bacteria both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract High indoor humidity/temperature pose serious public health threat and hinder industrial productivity, thus adversely impairing the wellness and economy of the entire society. Traditional air conditioning systems for dehumidification and cooling involve significant energy consumption and have accelerated the greenhouse effect. Here, this work demonstrates an asymmetric bilayer cellulose‐based fabric that enables solar‐driven continuous indoor dehumidification, transpiration‐driven power generation, and passive radiative cooling using the same textile without any energy input. The multimode fabric (ABMTF) consists of a cellulose moisture absorption–evaporation layer (ADF) and a cellulose acetate (CA) radiation layer. The ABMTF exhibits a high moisture absorption capacity and water evaporation rate, which quickly reduces the indoor relative humidity (RH) to a comfortable level (40–60% RH) under 1 sun illumination. The evaporation‐driven continuous capillary flow generates a maximum open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.82 V, and a power density (P) up to 1.13 µW cm−3. When a CA layer with high solar reflection and mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) emissivity faces outward, it realizes subambient cooling of ≈12 °C with average cooling power of ≈106 W m−2 at midday under radiation of 900 W m−2. This work brings a new perspective to develop the next‐generation, high performance environmentally friendly materials for sustainable moisture/thermal management and self‐powered applications.

In order to quantitatively evaluate the sustainability of bus low-fare policy, this study establishes a sustainability evaluation index system for bus low-fare policy by using the PSR (Pressure–State–Response) model. Based on the matter–element extension model and entropy weight method, the sustainability evaluation model of bus low-fare policy is constructed. Finally, taking Shenzhen as an example, this study compares and analyzes the sustainability changes of bus fare policy in 2006, 2012 and 2016. The results show that the sustainability of the bus fare policy does not depend on the attribute of the fare (profit-making fares or public welfare fares): the sustainability of bus low-fare policy is closely related to the supporting fiscal subsidy system. Compared with the cost regulation subsidy system, the quota subsidy system is more conducive to the sustainability of bus low-fare policy. This study provides a decision-making reference for the sustainable development of urban bus low-fare policy.

LncRNAs are emerging as important regulators of gene expression by controlling transcription in the nucleus and by modulating mRNA translation in the cytoplasm. In this study, we reveal a novel function of lncRNA SNHG15 in mediating breast cancer cell invasion through regulating the local translation of CDH2 mRNA. We show that SNHG15 preferentially localizes at the cellular protrusions or cell leading edge and that this localization is directed by IMP1, a multifunctional protein involved in many aspects of RNA regulation. We demonstrate that SNHG15 also forms a complex with nucleolin, allowing nucleolin to be co-transported with SNHG15 to the cell protrusions, where the accumulated nucleolin is able to bind to CDH2 mRNA. Interaction with nucleolin stabilizes local CDH2 mRNA and regulates its translation, thus promoting cell invasive potential. Our findings reveal an underlying mechanism by which lncRNA could serve as a carrier to transport a protein regulator into a specific cell compartment to enhance target mRNA expression.

Abstract Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with high incidence and mortality rates and low survival rates. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of ESCC progression remains unclear. Here, we first showed significantly higher WNT5A and SNAIL expression in ESCC samples than in corresponding paracancerous samples. High WNT5A and SNAIL expression levels correlated positively with lymphatic metastasis and poor prognosis for patients with ESCC based on immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of 145 paired ESCC samples. Spearman’s correlation analyses confirmed the strong positive correlation between WNT5A and SNAIL expression, and patients with ESCC presenting coexpression of WNT5A and SNAIL had the worst prognosis. Then, we verified that the upregulation of WNT5A promoted ESCC cell metastasis in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that WNT5A might be a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of ESCC. Furthermore, WNT5A overexpression induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7) upregulation, and HDAC7 silencing significantly reversed WNT5A-induced SNAIL upregulation and ESCC cell metastasis. In addition, we used HDAC7 inhibitors (SAHA and TMP269) to further confirm that HDAC7 participates in WNT5A-mediated carcinogenesis. Based on these results, HDAC7 is involved in WNT5A-mediated ESCC progression, and approaches targeting WNT5A and HDAC7 might be potential therapeutic strategies for ESCC.

Genetic lineage tracing is indispensable to unraveling the origin, fate, and plasticity of cells. However, the intrinsic leakiness in the CreER-loxP system raises concerns on data interpretation. Here, we reported the generation of a novel dual inducible CreER-loxP system with superior labeling characteristics. This two-component system consists of membrane localized CreER (mCreER: CD8α-FRB-CS-CreER) and TEV protease (mTEVp: CD8α-FKBP-TEVp), which are fusion proteins incorporated with the chemically induced dimerization machinery. Rapamycin and tamoxifen induce sequential dimerization of FKBP and FRB, cleavage of CreER from the membrane, and translocation into the nucleus. The labeling leakiness in Ad293 cells reduced dramatically from more than 70% to less than 5%. This tight labeling feature depends largely on the association of mCreER with HSP90, which conceals the TEV protease cutting site between FRB and CreER and thus preventing uninduced cleavage of the membrane-tethering CreER. Membrane-bound CreER also diminished significantly cytotoxicity. Our studies showed mCreER under the control of the rat insulin promoter increased labeling specificity in MIN6 islet beta-cells. Viability and insulin secretion of MIN6 cells remained intact. Our results demonstrate that this novel system can provide more stringent temporal and spatial control of gene expression and will be useful in cell fate probing.

Seepage is the primary cause of dam failures. Conducting regular seepage analysis for dams can effectively prevent accidents from occurring. Accurate and rapid determination of seepage parameters is a prerequisite for seepage calculation in hydraulic engineering. The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) was combined with Support Vector Regression (SVR) to invert the hydraulic conductivity. The good point set initialization method, a cosine-based nonlinear convergence factor, the Levy flight strategy, and the Quasi-oppositional learning strategy were employed to improve WOA. The effectiveness and practicality of Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm (IWOA) were evaluated via numerical experiments. As a case study, the seepage parameters of the Dono Dam located on the Baishui River in China were inversed, adopting the proposed inversion model. The calculated seepage field was reasonable, and the relative error between the simulated head and the measured value at each monitoring point was within 2%. This new inversion method is more feasible and accurate than the existing hydraulic conductivity estimation methods.

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Premature infants who receive life-saving oxygen therapy often develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease. Infants with BPD are at a high risk of abnormal neurodevelopment, including motor and cognitive difficulties. While neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are crucial for proper brain development, it is unclear whether they play a role in BPD-associated neurodevelopmental deficits. Here, we show that hyperoxia-induced experimental BPD in newborn mice led to lifelong impairments in cerebrovascular structure and function as well as impairments in NPC self-renewal and neurogenesis. A neurosphere assay utilizing nonhuman primate preterm baboon NPCs confirmed impairment in NPC function. Moreover, gene expression profiling revealed that genes involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, vascular autoregulation, neuronal formation, and neurotransmission were dysregulated following neonatal hyperoxia. These impairments were associated with motor and cognitive decline in aging hyperoxia-exposed mice, reminiscent of deficits observed in patients with BPD. Together, our findings establish a relationship between BPD and abnormal neurodevelopmental outcomes and identify molecular and cellular players of neonatal brain injury that persist throughout adulthood that may be targeted for early intervention to aid this vulnerable patient population.

Researchers have linked microgravity in space to the significant imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption that induces persistent bone loss in load-bearing bones. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear, which hinders the development of therapeutic measures. The aim of this study was to identify hub genes and explore novel molecular mechanisms underlying microgravity-induced bone loss using transcriptome datasets obtained from the GEO and SRA databases. In summary, comparative RNA expression pattern studies that differ in species (Homo or Mus), models (in vitro or in vivo), microgravity conditions (real microgravity or ground-based simulators) and microgravity duration showed that it is difficult to reach a consistent conclusion about the pathogenesis of microgravity-induced bone loss across these studies. Even so, we identified 11 hub genes and some miRNA-mRNA interactions mainly based on the GSE100930 dataset. Also, the expression of CCL2, ICAM1, IGF1, miR-101-3p and miR-451a markedly changed under clinorotation-microgravity condition. Remarkedly, ICAM1 and miR-451a were key mediators of the osteogenesis of hMSCs under clinorotation-microgravity condition. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of bone loss during microgravity and could indicate potential targets for further countermeasures against this condition.

To investigate the hydraulic fracturing in sulfate-attacked cement-based materials with tensile stress, splitting tensile strength test, hydraulic fracturing test under splitting load, and scanning electron microscopy test are conducted on cement mortar specimens immersed in Na2SO4 solution. The results reveal that the critical water pressure first increases and then decreases with the increase in immersion time, which is consistent with the tensile strength evolution. The tensile stress promotes the occurrence of hydraulic fracturing. Next, a critical water pressure model is proposed, in which the critical water pressure is expressed as a linear function of tensile strength and nominal tensile stress. Moreover, a theoretical formula is established to reveal the critical water pressure evolution mechanism of cement mortar exposed to sulfate attack. The evolution of critical water pressure depends on the porosity, matrix tensile strength, and expansion stress. Furthermore, a semi-empirical function is proposed to predict the critical water pressure evolution, which exhibits good accuracy. To avoid hydraulic fracturing, decreasing the porosity and tensile stress, increasing the matrix tensile strength, and releasing the expansion stress are effective strategies.

Abstract Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease. Although the impact of immune cell disorder in MG has been extensively studied, little is known about the transcriptomes of individual cells. Here, we assessed the transcriptional profiles of 39,243 cells by single-cell sequencing and identified 13 major cell clusters, along with 39 subgroups of cells derived from patients with new-onset myasthenia gravis and healthy controls. We found that B cells, CD4+ T cells, and monocytes exhibited more heterogeneity in MG patients. CD4+ T cells were expanded in MG patients. We reclustered B cells and CD4+ T cells, and predict their essential regulators. Further analyses demonstrated that B cells in MG exhibited higher transcriptional activity towards plasma cell differentiation, CD4+ T cell subsets were unbalanced, and inflammatory pathways of monocytes were highly activated. Notably, we discovered a disease-relevant subgroup, CD180− B cells. Increased CD180− B cells in MG are indicative of a high IgG composition and were associated with disease activity and the anti-AChR antibody. Together, our data further the understanding of the cellular heterogeneity involved in the pathogenesis of MG and provide large cell-type-specific markers for subsequent research.

Abstract Nonlinear holography has recently emerged as a novel tool to reconstruct the encoded information at a new wavelength, which has important applications in optical display and optical encryption. However, this scheme still struggles with low conversion efficiency and ineffective multiplexing. In this work, we demonstrate a quasi-phase-matching (QPM) -division multiplexing holography in a three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear photonic crystal (NPC). 3D NPC works as a nonlinear hologram, in which multiple images are distributed into different Ewald spheres in reciprocal space. The reciprocal vectors locating in a given Ewald sphere are capable of fulfilling the complete QPM conditions for the high-efficiency reconstruction of the target image at the second-harmonic (SH) wave. One can easily switch the reconstructed SH images by changing the QPM condition. The multiplexing capacity is scalable with the period number of 3D NPC. Our work provides a promising strategy to achieve highly efficient nonlinear multiplexing holography for high-security and high-density storage of optical information.

Ensuring the long-term, efficient, and safe operation of reservoir dams relies on the slope stability of embankment dams. Periodic fluctuations of the reservoir water level due to reservoir scheduling operations make the slope of the reservoir bank vulnerable to instability. To investigate the influence of various factors and their interactions with embankment dam slope stability under changing reservoir water levels, a global sensitivity analysis method is proposed that accounts for seepage–stress coupling. An embankment dam in Shaanxi Province, China, is studied as an example, with COMSOL Multiphysics software simulating the seepage and slope stability of the dam under fluctuating reservoir water level conditions and seepage–stress coupling. The global sensitivity analysis of factors affecting dam slope stability is accomplished by combining Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken experimental designs, with ANOVA determining the sensitivity of each factor and interaction term. The results demonstrate that during the impoundment period of the reservoir, the saturation line is concave, and the overall stability safety of the dam slope increases first and then tends to be stable, according to the coefficient. The internal friction angle φ, cohesion c, and soil density ρs represent the three most sensitive factors affecting the stability and safety of the dam slope, while c × ρs is a second-order interaction term with significant sensitivity to the stability and safety coefficient of the dam slope. The reservoir drainage period infiltration line is convex, and dam slope stability first reduced and then increased. The magnitude of water level change H, internal friction angle φ, cohesion c, and soil density ρs are the four most sensitive factors for the coefficient of safety of dam slope stability, while c × ρs, H × ρs, and φ × ρs are the second-order interaction terms with significant sensitivity to the coefficient of safety of dam slope stability. These research findings and methods can offer valuable technical support and reference for the investigation and evaluation of the stability of embankment dam slopes.

Seepage is a main cause of dam failure, and its stability analysis is the focus of a dam’s design, construction, and management. Because a geological survey can only determine the range of a dam foundation’s hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic conductivity inversion is crucial in engineering. However, current inversion methods of dam hydraulic conductivity are either not accurate enough or too complex to be directly used in engineering. Therefore, this paper proposes a new method for the inversion of hydraulic conductivity with high application value in hydraulic engineering using an improved genetic algorithm coupled with an unsaturated equivalent continuum model (IGA–UECM). This method is implemented by a new code that fully considers engineering applicability. In addition to overcoming the premature convergence shortcomings of traditional genetic algorithms, it converges faster than Bayesian optimization and tree-structured Parzen estimator inversion algorithms. This method is verified by comparing the water head from drilling exploration and inversion. The results of the inversion are used to study the influence of a cement grouting curtain layout scheme on the seepage field of the Hami concrete-face rockfill dam in China, which is used as an engineering application case of the IGA–UECM. The law of the seepage field is reasonable, which verifies the validity of the IGA–UECM. The new inversion method of hydraulic conductivity and the proposed cement grouting curtain layout in this study offer possible strategies for the design, construction, and management of concrete-face rockfill dams.

The DeepCwind floating wind turbine platform has become one of the most successful structures for accommercial floating wind farms, and the stability of it is crucial for survivability. Hence, this paper studies an anti-oscillation device with the purpose of reducing the heave and surge effects of the platform. The influence of various chamfered perforations at different sizes of the anti-heave device on the floating platform was further studied by numerical and experimental methods. Furthermore, through an analysis of the surge and heave of the pedestal with anti-heave devices with different chamfered perforations under different wave heights and wave periods, the effects on the hydrodynamic performance of the pedestal were studied. Physical experiments were conducted on a pedestal with anti-heave devices with chamfered perforations under the working conditions of different wave heights and wave periods to verify the reliability of the numerical simulation. The results show that the anti-heave effect of the anti-oscillation device is obvious under the small wave period and large wave height. Under the working conditions of different wave heights and wave periods, different perforated chamfers have different effects on reducing the oscillation of the pedestal, and its effect does not change linearly with an increasing chamfer. Under most working conditions, the anti-heave effect of the 35° chamfered perforated model was found to be the most obvious.

Due to the characteristics of high heap and large volume, the complex layers of waste, high-water level of leachate, environmental pollution, and slope instability are easily produced. Although many researchers have studied landfill two-dimensional leachate migration law, three-dimensional seepage and stability of landfill sites have been rarely studied. This paper focuses on the heterogeneous characteristics of the landfill piles and analyzes the seepage field and slope stability of the landfill using statistical and numerical analysis methods. The calculated results are compared with the field measurement and literature research data to verify the reliability of the model, which may provide the basis for the design and safe and eco-friendly operation of the landfill. Taking an actual landfill as the research object, the saturated–unsaturated transient model of heterogeneous waste is applied to practical engineering. Considering the landfill process and heterogeneous permeability, the calculated maximum water level is higher. Compared with the homogeneous material, the difference in the water level of each waste layer is about 0.08∼1.88 m, which is not good for the stability of the landfill. Combined with the engineering characteristic distribution of a landfill, the heterogeneous stability model is applied to the actual project to study the influence of different unit weight and shear strength distribution on landfill stability. The established model is suitable for the study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional slope stability of landfill sites. Through the slope stability analysis of the three-dimensional landfill site, it is found that the bank slope of the reservoir is steep and prone to instability failure. In most studies, only the instability of the landfill is of concern, but the bank failure is ignored. In the process of landfill operation and management, while considering the capacity of the landfill, the stability of the bank slope should also be paid attention to, and if necessary, bank slope reinforcement or slope ratio improvement should be carried out.

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency is a genetic lung disease that results in lethal respiratory distress within months of birth. Here, the authors describe a gene therapy strategy using a rationally designed AAV6 capsid that restores surfactant homeostasis, prevents lung injury, and improves survival in a mouse model of SP-B deficiency.

A balanced, diverse gut microbiota is vital for animal health. The microbial population is shaped by multiple factors including genetic background and environment, but other determinants remain controversial. Numerous studies suggest that the dominant factor is genetic background while others emphasize the environmental factors. Here, we bred asexual hybridization queens (AHQs) of honeybees through nutritional crossbreeding (laid in Apis mellifera colony but bred in Apis cerana colony), sequenced their gut microbiome, and compared it with normally bred sister queens to determine the primary factor shaping the gut microbiota. Our results showed that the dominant genera in the gut microbiota of AHQs were Brevundimonas, Bombella, and Lactobacillus, and its microbial community was more related to A. mellifera queens. The AHQs had a moderate number of different bacterial species and diversity, but total bacterial numbers were low. There were more significant taxa identified in the comparison between AHQ and A. cerana queen according to LEfSe analysis results. The only genetic-specific taxon we figured out was Brevundimonas. The growth of core bacterial abundance showed different characteristics among different queen groups in the first week after emerging. Collectively, this study suggested that the genetic background played a more dominant role than environmental factors in shaping the gut microbiota of honeybee queen and the microbiota of midgut was more sensitive than that of rectum to this impact.

Mechanical unloading-related bone loss adversely harms astronauts’ health. Nevertheless, the specific molecular basis underlying the phenomenon has not been completely elucidated. Although the bone microvasculature contributes significantly to bone homeostasis, the pathophysiological role of microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) in bone loss induced by mechanical unloading is not apparent. Here, we discovered that MC3T3-E1 cells could take up exosomes produced by MVECs under clinorotation-unloading conditions (Clino Exos), which then prevented MC3T3-E1 cells from differentiating into mature osteoblasts. Moreover, miR-92b-3p was found to be highly expressed in both unloaded MVECs and derived exosomes. Further experiments demonstrated that miR-92b-3p was transferred into MC3T3-E1 cells by exosomes, resulting in the suppression of osteogenic differentiation, and that encapsulating miR-92b-3p inhibitor into the Clino Exos blocked their inhibitory effects. Furthermore, miR-92b-3p targeted ELK4 and the expression of ELK4 was lessened when cocultured with Clino Exos. The inhibitor-92b-3p-promoted osteoblast differentiation was partially reduced by siRNA-ELK4. Exosomal miR-92b-3p secreted from MVECs under mechanical unloading has been shown for the first time to partially attenuate the function of osteoblasts through downregulation of ELK4, suggesting a potential strategy to protect against the mechanical unloading-induced bone loss and disuse osteoporosis.

To better understand the seepage field in tailings dam with a drainage structure that combines drainage mat, drainage tube, and geotextile, an equivalent seepage analysis method for the drainage structure is presented. In the method, an equivalent drainage structure is suggested to replace the original drainage. It has enough size to be easily presented in the three-dimensional (3d) model of a tailings dam. According to a back analysis procedure using the quasi-3d models of a tailings dam with original and equivalent drainage structures, the material properties of the equivalent drainage structure can be obtained under the principle of drainage capacity equivalence. It is demonstrated that the suggested method is accurate enough to capture the seepage field in a tailings dam based on comparing the calculated and measured phreatic lines in a tailings dam for verification. Then, the method is employed to investigate the seepage field in a tailings dam in China for a case study. The rise of water level, damage of drainage structure, or increase of tailings discharge speed and time will lift up phreatic line. After terminating tailings discharge, phreatic line will first rise and then fall. The effect of tailings discharge on phreatic line will almost disappear after terminating tailings discharge for 24 h.

Background: To evaluate the preoperative diagnostic efficacy of 3D-MRI for the depth of myometrial invasion of endometrial carcinoma. Methods: A total of 116 patients with endometrial carcinoma who had undergone pelvic MRI before surgery were included. Mimics 21.0 (Materialize Co., Belgium) software was used to reconstruct three-dimensional MRI models (3D-MRI). The tumor volume and surface area, uterine volume and surface area were measured, and the tumor volume ratio was calculated. TVR (Tumor Volume Ratio) = tumor volume/uterine volume, TAR (Tumor Area Ratio) = tumor surface area/uterine surface area. Postoperative pathology was used as the gold standard to compare the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of conventional MRI and 3D-MRI in preoperative assessment of endometrial carcinoma myometrial invasion. Results: The accuracy and specificity of 3D-MRI in the diagnosis of deep myometrial invasion were better than conventional MRI (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in tumor volume or surface area between stage IA and stage IB (p > 0.05), while TVR and TAR showed significant statistical differences (8.05 ± 0.66 vs. 19.12 ± 3.20, p < 0.01; 21.38 ± 1.04 vs. 35.15 ± 3.42, p < 0.01). Further analysis, the area under the ROC curve of TVR is 0.738, p < 0.01, and the best cut-off value is 13.59%; the area under the ROC curve of TAR is 0.770, p < 0.01, and the best cut-off value is 27.41%. Conclusions: Preoperative 3D-MRI can effectively assess the myometrial invasion of endometrial carcinoma.

Bone loss caused by mechanical unloading is a threat to prolonged space flight and human health. Epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in varied biological processes, but the mechanism of histone modification on unloading-induced bone loss has rarely been studied. Here, we discovered for the first time that the methyltransferase Setdb1 was downregulated under the mechanical unloading both in vitro and in vivo so as to attenuate osteoblast proliferation. Furthermore, we found these interesting processes depended on the repression of Macrod2 expression triggered by Setdb1 catalyzing the formation of H3K9me3 in the promoter region. Mechanically, we revealed that Macrod2 was upregulated under mechanical unloading and suppressed osteoblast proliferation through the GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, Atf7ip cooperatively contributed to osteoblast proliferation by changing the localization of Setdb1 under mechanical loading. In summary, this research elucidated the role of the Atf7ip/Setdb1/Macrod2 axis in osteoblast proliferation under mechanical unloading for the first time, which can be a potential protective strategy against unloading-induced bone loss.

The seepage parameters of the dam body and dam foundation are difficult to determine accurately and quickly. Based on the inverse analysis, a Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO) was introduced into this study to search the target hydraulic conductivity. A novel approach for initialization, a polynomial-based nonlinear convergence factor, and weighting factors based on Euclidean norms and hierarchy were applied to improve GWO. The practicability and effectiveness of Improved Gray Wolf Optimizer (IGWO) were evaluated by numerical experiments. Taking Kakiwa dam located on the Muli River of China as a case, an inversion analysis for seepage parameters was accomplished by adopting the proposed optimization algorithm. The simulated hydraulic heads and seepage volume agree with measurements obtained from piezometers and measuring weir. The steady seepage field of the dam was analyzed. The results indicate the feasibility of IGWO in determining the seepage parameters of Kakiwa dam.

To address the problem of dissolution damage during the long-term service of concrete hydraulic buildings, the concrete dissolution damage degree D and contact dissolution loss model with time were proposed by combining the results of indoor concrete dissolution tests. A mathematical model of the evolution of concrete parameters with time was developed. In the context of an underground concrete culvert project, a numerical analysis model of concrete dissolution deterioration was established, according to which the effects of different damage locations on the stress and displacement of concrete culverts were analyzed. The results show that the settlement value of the surface and the soil pore pressure value increase more when the bottom of the culvert is damaged by dissolution, and the settlement of the surface from the bottom damage is about 1.07~1.16 times of that from the top damage. When the damage position deviates from the center line of the culvert, the maximum point of vertical displacement in the transverse settlement trough of the ground surface deviates from the centerline of the culvert by about 3~5 m in the horizontal direction. At the bottom of the culvert, the concrete permeability coefficient reaches 6.957 × 10−8 m/s~8.354 × 10−8 m/s in about 13~16 years after the occurrence of dissolution damage, and local leakage occurs, causing a significant increase in the pore pressure of the soil near the leakage location. The overall settlement and uneven settlement resulting from the dual action of dissolution deterioration of concrete and infiltration pressure can have a serious impact on the upper channel buildings.

Abstract Knowledge of methane dissolution behavior in drilling mud is of major importance to early kick detection and well control operation in oil and gas drilling industry. In this work, methane solubility experiments in water‐based and oil‐based muds were conducted over wide ranges of temperature and pressure conditions. The influences of mud compositions and methane phases were investigated accordingly. It is found that methane solubility in water‐based mud is minimal and can be ignored. The data in oil‐based mud were analyzed using different equation of state and mixing rules. Our results show that the combination of our novel binary interaction parameter equations, Peng‐Robinson equation, and van der Waals2 mixing rule provides a very good representation of our data as well as those available in the literature. With the proposed model, the annulus methane solubility profile of a deepwater well in South China Sea was predicted, which provides a better understanding of the annulus flow behavior and further improve the safety of drilling operation.

Clay core dams are widely applied in reservoir construction, regulating water resource and provide electric power. Leakage is a common problem in reservoir construction, and the leakage amount, which not only affects the economic benefits of the project, but also relates to the safety of the dam body, is difficult to estimate. According to Darcy’s law and stable seepage theory, an analytical method can be proposed to calculate the leakage of the clay core dam to gain the seepage flux in a short time. By making some reasonable assumptions, we propose formulae for seepage calculation in different conditions of the position of the groundwater levels, below or above the reservoir bottom. Both sets of formulae contain two parts of leakage calculation, i.e., leakage from the reservoir bottom and leakage from the dam body. By using the proposed analytical method, the leakage of clay core dams can be estimated considering the influence of the groundwater level. To prove the rationality of the analytical method, a simple numerical model can be established using Geo-studio 2020 to calculate the seepage flux of the clay core dam, where relative errors between numerical solutions and analytical solutions are less than 10%. To verify the feasibility in engineering applications, the proposed method was applied to calculate the seepage of a clay core dam in Sichuan, China, which was also calculated using numerical methods by establishing a three-dimensional model. The results show the rationality of the analytical method, which can strike a balance between precision and efficiency.

The deterioration of mortar has an adverse impact on the deformation and stress state of the masonry arch dam, after freeze-thaw cycles, in long-term operation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of reinforcement grouting on the stress of a thin masonry arch dam and propose a reasonable grouting method in the case of mortar deterioration. The determination of the ultimate grouting pressure is another main focus. The masonry material was generalized by combining a linear elastic model and the proportional weighted average under the condition of deterioration caused by freeze-thaw cycles. A series of analytical methods were proposed for the research of grouting effect on dam stress, based on which the ultimate grouting pressure is calculated in various cases. Results demonstrate that the dam tensile stress may exceed the allowable value in the following operation. Then, some recommended methods for the grouting layout and the estimation of grouting pressure were put forward by integrating the grouting field test with numerical analysis for reinforcement. The research conclusions might have a guiding significance for the reinforcement of similar projects.

There exist shear and seepage behaviors on the interface between clay core and concrete slab in clay core dams. In order to investigate the seepage characteristics of the clay–structure interface after shear deformation, a shear-seepage test system is proposed, in which the seepage direction is perpendicular to the shear direction. The shear test and shear-seepage test are performed on clay–metal and clay–mortar interfaces under different normal stresses (100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 kPa). The shear stress-deformation curves of two clay–structure interfaces exhibit softening behavior and residual friction behavior. The interface roughness can enhance peak and residual shear strength and increase peak displacement. The shear-seepage test results show that specimen permeability decreases first and then increases to a stable value as shear deformation increases under low normal stress, while it decreases continuously and then retains stability under high normal stress. The interface roughness enhances specimen permeability under low normal stress, whereas it has a weak effect on specimen permeability under high normal stress. Compared with initial permeability, shear deformation reduces specimen permeability rather than raise it. The ratio of stabilized permeability coefficient to initial value ranges from 0.6 to 0.8. The clay–structure interface still has a good resistance to seepage failure after shear deformation. The shear dilation features and interface pore decrease caused by shear behavior are the internal attributions of clay–structure specimen permeability evolution.

Pterostilbene (3,5-dimethoxy-4’-hydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic compound primarily found in blueberries, grapes, and a tree wood, pterocarpus marsupium. Studies demonstrate that pterostilbene inhibits a variety of cancers, such as lung, breast, stomach, colon, etc. The anti-cancer activities are related to the regulation of several hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, pterostilbene exhibits much greater bioavailability and bioactivity than resveratrol which warrants further investigation in the anti-cancer functions and mechanisms.

During the long-term service life of hydraulic structures, the calcium compounds in cement-based materials decompose in the aqueous environment, leading to the continuous change of seepage characteristics. To study the influence of calcium leaching on the concrete dam seepage characteristics, we proposed a new mathematic model of the cement-based material calcium leaching model under advection-diffusion-driven leaching. A solid-liquid nonequilibrium model is adopted to model the decomposition of calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium silicate hydrate gel (C-S-H). To calculate the porosity more accurately, the proposed model takes the effect of different calcium compound decomposition on the porosity increase in consideration, respectively. Shimantan dam is selected for the three-dimensional (3D) calcium leaching analyses. The 3D finite element model of this dam is analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics software that is based on the finite element method. Based on the proposed model, seepage characteristics evolutions of the Shimantan dam are studied. Good agreement between the numerical results and the monitored data indicates the accuracy of this simulation. The result shows that after 100 a leaching duration, the uplift pressure increases by 40.8%, and the leakage quantities of the dam body and foundation increase by 48 and 17 times. The rise of uplift pressure and leakage changes caused by curtain deterioration are the main influences of calcium leaching on the dam seepage. The parameter sensitivity results show that it is necessary to reduce CH content in cement-based materials to obtain better calcium leaching durability. This model and simulation results can guide the operation of concrete dams under advection-diffusion-driven leaching.

The calcium leaching effect leads to a decrease in the impermeability of the impervious curtain. The inverse analysis strategy was introduced in this study because the calcium leaching parameters of the curtain are not easy to determine. An orthogonal design and the finite element method were used in the strategy. The time-series data of hydraulic head and leakage volume were applied to construct the objective function. The extreme learning machine (ELM) was proposed to build the reflection sets. Genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), sparrow search algorithm (SSA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) were employed to accelerate the iterative search for the target parameters. The target parameters of the calcium leaching model were used for finite element verification by comparing the monitored and simulated values. The simulated values of hydraulic head and leakage by PSO show good agreement with measurements. The evolution of the curtain permeability coefficient in 100 years was analyzed. The results demonstrate the strategy’s feasibility in determining the curtain’s calcium leaching parameters and permeability coefficients.

Hydraulic fracturing may be induced easily in a cement-based structure in a sulfate-rich environment, which threatens engineering safety. In order to investigate the evolution of critical water pressure, a series of hydraulic fracturing tests and splitting tensile strength tests on the cement mortar under different sulfate-exposure periods are performed. The critical water pressure of the cement mortar under sulfate attack experiences an initial increase stage and a subsequent decrease stage. A stress intensity factor is modified by two proposed damage variables which are crack length and fracture stress. Then, the relationship between the critical water pressure and the tensile strength is established. Moreover, an evolution model of the critical water pressure is proposed, which reveals that the matrix tensile strength and porosity of cement mortar strongly affect the critical water pressure evolution. Additionally, an empirical formula is suggested to describe the critical water pressure evolution of the cement mortar under sulfate attack, and its validity is verified by experimental results.

The calcium leaching effect inevitably increases the grout curtain hydraulic conductivity. It is diffucult to sample and obtain the leaching-related calculation parameters for deep-buried grout curtains. This study introduced the inversion method into the calcium leaching analysis to get proper leaching-related calculation parameters and accurate results. An inverse analysis model was proposed using the genetic algorithm (GA) and finite element analysis technology to solve the calcium leaching problems. The objective function is constructed using the hydraulic head and leakage quantity time-series measurements, which improves the uniqueness and reliability of the inverse results. The proposed method was applied to the inverse analysis of the hydraulic conductivity evolution of the grout curtain in a concrete dam foundation. The predicted water heads and leakage quantity are consistent with the monitored data, indicating the rationality of this simulation. The grout curtain hydraulic conductivity prediction in 100 years is also presented. The results illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method for determining leaching-related parameters and the hydraulic conductivity prediction in the leaching process.

This study is aimed at exploring the expression pattern and methylation level of G0S2 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with positive acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibodies and revealing the relationship between the G0S2 methylation pattern and MG. The relationship between the NFAT family members and G0S2 was explored to reveal the regulatory mechanism of G0S2 in the pathogenesis and treatment of AChR MG. Moreover, we attempted to demonstrate the potential therapeutic mechanism of tacrolimus in AChR MG. The relative G0S2 expression level in the PBMCs of healthy people was compared with that in the PBMCs of AChR MG patients with quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The methylation frequency of the G0S2 promoter was detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) and pyrosequencing. A dual-luciferase reporter system was used to reveal the relationship between the G0S2 promoter and nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5). The qRT-PCR results showed that G0S2 expression was significantly upregulated in the B cells and CD8+ T cells of AChR MG patients but not in the CD4+ T cells, and these expression differences were significantly associated with a decrease in G0S2 methylation. NFAT5, which was speculated to bind to island 1 (p1) in the G0S2 promoter, may regulate the lymphocyte balance by regulating G0S2 gene expression but failed to affect the methylation of the G0S2 promoter. Tacrolimus therapy-induced methylation and overexpression of NFAT5 could significantly reduce the expression of G0S2 in AChR MG patients. The G0S2 gene was remarkably upregulated in the PBMCs of MG patients. NFAT5 may affect transcription initiation and downregulate G0S2 expression through p1 in the promoter, thus controlling G0S2 gene expression and regulating the lymphocyte balance. Therefore, G0S2 could be an immune regulatory factor in both AChR MG occurrence and treatment with tacrolimus.

Mechanical unloading contributes to significant cardiovascular deconditioning. Endothelial dysfunction in the sites of microcirculation may be one of the causes of the cardiovascular degeneration induced by unloading, but the detailed mechanism is still unclear. Here, we first demonstrated that mechanical unloading inhibited brain microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and downregulated histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) expression. Furthermore, HDAC6 promoted microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and attenuated the inhibition of proliferation caused by clinorotation unloading. To comprehensively identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that are regulated by HDAC6, we analyzed differential miRNA expression in microvascular endothelial cells after transfection with HDAC6 siRNA and selected miR-155-5p, which was the miRNA with the most significantly increased expression. The ectopic expression of miR-155-5p inhibited microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and directly downregulated Ras homolog enriched in brain (RHEB) expression. Moreover, RHEB expression was downregulated under mechanical unloading and was essential for the miR-155-5p-mediated promotion of microvascular endothelial cell proliferation. Taken together, these results are the first to elucidate the role of HDAC6 in unloading-induced cell growth inhibition through the miR-155-5p/RHEB axis, suggesting that the HDAC6/miR-155-5p/RHEB pathway is a specific target for the preventative treatment of cardiovascular deconditioning.

The abrasion of hydraulic concrete structures caused by the washing action of flowing water is a common problem and cannot be solved by simply increasing the strength of the concrete. To ensure safe operation, increase in service life and reduction of maintenance costs of hydraulic concrete structures and the development of abrasion-resistant materials are required. In this work, polyurethane-modified epoxy resin was synthesized using the interpenetrating network technology (IPN). After many mixing experiments, the ratio of polyether amine to alicyclic amine in Component B was determined to be 29 : 14 and the ratio of Component A to Component B was 7 : 3. With these ratios, elastic epoxy achieved a tensile strength of more than 15 MPa and an elongation rate of more than 20%, thus balancing strength and toughness. The effects of the curing conditions, the ratio of Component A to Component B, and diluents and fillers on tensile strength and elongation of the elastic epoxy resin were analyzed. The results of the analysis indicated that the curing duration should be over 7 days, the optimal proportion of Component A to Component B should be 7 : 3, and the diluent of the elastic epoxy material should be the bifunctional butanedioldiglycidyl ether (622). The reliability of this material was determined by pull-out testing, adhesion, and tensile strength testing. The underwater steel ball test and ring test were adopted as the abrasion-resistance tests for the elastic epoxy resin material. The results showed that the abrasion-resistance performance of elastic epoxy coating improved hundreds of times over that of common concrete. Although the wearing strength was reduced with pressure, the elastic epoxy coating still retained excellent abrasion-resistance performance. At last, future application prospects of elastic epoxy improvement products are introduced and need further reach.

The structures and spectral properties of three ruthenium complexes with 8-hydroxyquinoline (Hhqn) and their derivatives 2-methyl-8-quinolinoline (H2mqn) and 2-chloro-8-quiolinoline (H2cqn) as ligands (QN = hqn, 2mqn, or 2cqn) were calculated with density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level. The UV-Vis and IR spectra of the three [RuCl(QN)NO]− complexes were theoretically assigned via DFT calculations. The calculated spectra reasonably correspond to the experimentally measured spectra. Photoinduced NO release was confirmed through spin trapping of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), and the dynamic process of the NO dissociation upon photoirradiation was monitored using time-resolved infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Moreover, the energy levels and related components of frontier orbitals were further analyzed to understand the electronic effects of the substituent groups at the 2nd position of the ligands on their photochemical reactivity. This study provides the basis for the design of NO donors with potential applications in photodynamic therapy.

Effective methods for extending the storage capacity of tailings for a mining company include expanding and increasing the height of the tailings dam. However, this change could lead to an uplift in the phreatic line and a decrease in the slope stability. In this paper, a new drainage system combining a horizontal drainage pipe with an upward bending slotted pipe was proposed and applied to the design of a seepage-proof system for the Xigou tailings dam with an increased height. To accurately simulate the performance of the seepage control system, a three-dimensional finite element model was established on the basis of a geological investigation of the site conditions. In this work, a substructure technique was used to model the drainage pipe with a small radius and dense spacing to reduce the difficulty in mesh generation, and a back-analysis method called MPSO-BP (modified particle swarm optimization algorithm and a back propagation neural network) was used to correct the measured permeability coefficients. The results show that the new drainage system can effectively dissipate the seepage pressure, decrease the phreatic surface, and improve the safety factors of the slope stability. The proposed drainage system can also meet the seepage stability requirements of the higher tailings dam. Additionally, this system can be widely deployed in similar projects.

Electrospun nanofiber mats have been used as sensing elements to construct piezoresistive devices due to their large surface area and high porosity. However, they have not been utilized as skin-contact supporting layers to package conductive nanofiber networks for the fabrication of piezoresistive sensors. In this work, we developed a sandwich-structured pressure sensor, which can sensitively monitor human motions and vital signs, with electrospun nanofiber mats as supporting, sensing, and packaging layers. The nanofiber mats were prepared by electrospinning with biocompatible poly (l-lactide) (PLA), silk fibroin (SF), and collagen (COL) as raw materials. The synthesized PLA–SF–COL mat possesses a non-woven structure with a fiber diameter of 122 ± 28 nm and a film thickness of 37 ± 5.3 μm. Polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were grown in-situ on the mat to form a conductive layer. After stacking the pristine and conductive mats to form a PLA–SF–COL mat/(PPy-coated mat)2 structure, another layer was electrospun to pack the multilayers for the construction of a sandwich-structured piezoresistive sensor. The as-prepared device can sensitively detect external pressures caused by coin loading and finger tapping/pressing. It can also tolerate more than 600 times of pressing without affecting its sensing capability. The human body-attached experiments further demonstrate that the sensor could real-time monitor finger/arm bending, arterial pulse, respiration rate, and speaking-caused throat vibration. The electrospinning-based fabrication may be used as a facile and low-cost strategy to produce flexible piezoresistive sensors with excellent skin-compatibility and great pressure sensing capability.

Background: There is an abnormal expression of nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 6 (NR2F6) in human cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and acute myelogenous leukemia. However, its clinical significance in cervical cancer has not been established. We explored NR2F6 expression and its clinicopathological significance in early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: NR2F6 expression in cervical cancer cell lines and cervical cancer tissues was determined by Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunochemistry (IHC). NR2F6 expression in 189 human early-stage cervical cancer tissue samples was evaluated using IHC. The relevance between NR2F6 expression and early-stage cervical cancer prognosis and clinicopathological features was determined. Results: There was marked NR2F6 mRNA and protein overexpression in the cervical cancer cells and clinical tissues compared with an immortalized squamous cell line and adjacent noncancerous cervical tissues, respectively. In the 189 cervical cancer samples, NR2F6 expression was positively related to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (p = 0.006), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (p = 0.006), vital status (p < 0.001), tumor recurrence (p = 0.001), chemotherapy (p = 0.039), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001). Overall and disease-free survival was shorter in patients with early-stage cervical cancer and higher NR2F6 levels than in patients with lower levels of NR2F6. Univariate and multivariate analysis determined that NR2F6 was an independent prognostic factor of survival in early-stage cervical cancer. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that high NR2F6 expression predicts pelvic lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence and poor prognosis in early-stage cervical cancer. NR2F6 might be a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target of cervical cancer.