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AbstractThe semi-analytical dynamic modeling method of cylindrical shell with arbitrary variable path curved stiffeners (CS-AVPCS) is studied in this study. Specifically, the arbitrary variable path curve stiffener is described by curve fitting technique or self-setting function. According to the functions of curve stiffeners, its mechanical properties are equivalent to the shell surface at the junction of the stiffener and the skin, so as to realize the introduction of the mechanical properties of the curve stiffener. Furthermore, the semi-analytical dynamic model of CS-AVPCS is established, the calculation efficiency is compared and its rationality is verified. The influence of parameters is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a common reproductive disease that is associated with chronic inflammation in ovaries. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a pro-inflammatory IL-1 family cytokine, and functions as an alarmin reflecting inflammatory reaction. Our study aimed to investigate levels of IL-33 and its soluble receptor (sST2) in both follicular fluid (FF) and paired serum during different stages of POI, and evaluate their predictive potentials for POI. Furthermore, we attempted to determine whether IL-33 and sST2 were associated with embryo quality. Methods: A total of 148 women, including 50 patients with biochemical POI (bPOI) (10 IU/L < follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ≤ 25 IU/L), 46 patients with POI (25 IU/L2), testosterone (T) and antral follicle count (AFC). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that for POI prediction, FF IL-33 had a better predictive accuracy (AUC 0.901) with high sensitivity (82.61%) and good specificity (84.62%) than those for bPOI prediction. IL-33 levels in paired serum did not differ among three groups. Regarding sST2, its levels in FF declined with POI progression. Contrarily, they showed negative associations with FSH and LH, but positive correlations with AMH, E2, T and AFC. ROC analysis revealed that FF sST2 had comparatively weak potentials for both bPOI and POI prediction compared to those of FF IL-33. Similarly, there was no significant alteration of sST2 in paired serum among three groups. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that FF IL-33 levels were negatively associated with the rates of Day-3 good-quality embryos (r=-0.206, P =0.012), whereas FF sST2 did not. Conclusion: Our study revealed an increased abundance of FF IL-33, whereas an sST2 deficiency with POI development. This implies that IL-33 and sST2 levels might be associated with the development of POI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE Computed tomography (CT)-based body composition parameters and the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) are key characteristics in patients with liver cirrhosis. The present study aims to explore the correlation between CT-based body composition parameters and HVPG, as well as the difference in HVPG between patients with and patients without sarcopenia. METHODS A literature search for studies reporting the correlation between HVPG and CT-based body composition parameters published in English up to August 2023 in four databases, Embase, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, was conducted. The correlation coefficient between HVPG and CT-based body composition parameters was the primary outcome, and the difference in the HVPG value between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups was the secondary outcome. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects models. The methodologic quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies instrument. RESULTS A total of 652 articles were identified, of which nine studies (n = 1,569) met the eligibility criteria. Among them, seven studies reported the primary outcome via the muscle index, five via the skeletal muscle index (SMI), two via the psoas-muscle-related index (PRI), and three via two adipose tissue indexes. A total of five studies reported the secondary outcome: four via SMI and one via PRI. No evidence of a significant correlation was determined between the various body composition parameters and the HVPG value, either in the muscle index or the adipose tissue index. Higher HVPG values were observed in patients with sarcopenia than in patients without sarcopenia [pooled standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.628 (-0.350, 1.606), P < 0.001; I² = 92.8%; P < 0.001] when an Asian sarcopenia definition was adopted. In contrast, when a Western cut-off value was applied, the HVPG value was higher in patients without sarcopenia than in patients with sarcopenia [pooled SMD: -0.201 (-0.366, -0.037), P = 0.016; I² = 0.00%; P = 0.785]. CONCLUSION No sufficient evidence regarding a correlation between the CT-based body composition and HVPG value was discovered. The difference in the HVPG value between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups was likely dependent on the sarcopenic cut-off value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine shale reservoirs have experienced intense tectonic movements in southeastern Chongqing, resulting in widely developed folds, faults and bedding slip deformation. The gas content is of a wide range while the organic matter content and thickness are sufficient for shale gas accumulation. Here, we review previous work and present outcrop and core data from 11 shale wells around southeastern Chongqing to analyze and summarize tectonic types and their combinations, as well as their influence on shale gas preservation and enrichment. Fault and bedding slips are prevalent in shale reservoirs, and they apparently influence shale gas content. Bedding slip crush is usually formed at the bottom interval where the total organic content is high from intense horizontal compression. Bedding slip crushing and well-developed high-angle natural fractures form a net fracture system where shale gas is enriched in an anticline structure or lost to air in a syncline structure laterally. Strata dip is the key geological factor that controls bedding slip deformation in shale reservoirs in certain areas. According to the established bedding slip geological model, when bedding slip occurred, the critical strata dips of the lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation were 13.34°, respectively. Bedding slip crushed anticlines without faults and synclines without faults and bedding slip crushing are the two tectonic patterns that are favorable for shale gas preservation and enrichment, which should be the focus of further explorations of lower Paleozoic shale gas in southeastern Chongqing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paclitaxel (PTX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for cancer patients. It has been reported that circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0005785is involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study is to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0005785 in the PTX resistance of HCC. Cell viability, proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis were detected using 3‐(4, 5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2, 5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, transwell, wound‐healing, flow cytometry, and tube formation assay. Circ_0005785, microRNA‐640 (miR‐640), and Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta (GSK3β) levels were detected using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Protein levels of Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl‐2, and GSK3β were measured using western blot assay. After being predicted using Circular RNA interactome or TargetScan, binding between miR‐640 and circ_0005785 or GSK3β was verified using dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA Immunoprecipitation assay. PTX treatment could repress HCC cell viability, decrease circ_0005785 and GSK3β expression, and increase the miR‐640 level in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, circ_0005785 and GSK3β were increased, and miR‐640 was decreased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Moreover, circ_0005785 knockdown hindered proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and boosted apoptosis in PTX‐treated HCC cells in vitro. In addition, circ_0005785 silencing improved the PTX sensitivity of HCC in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0005785 acted as a sponge of miR‐640 to regulate GSK3β expression. PTX restrained HCC tumorigenesis partly via regulating the circ_0005785/miR‐640/GSK3β axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic target for the HCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to analyze the consistency between stationarity and dynamic convergence of time series, since in economic science both issues are often addressed independently, particularly from the methodological point of view, they are studied in a mutually exclusive manner. However, these two approaches are widely related, and their study has the common purpose of making forecasts and projections in any economic variable. For this reason, given the inappropriate specification of a model or the possible presence of spuriousness, the theoretical correspondence between these two properties could be incongruous in practice, especially for autoregressive modeling due to the assumption of ergodicity; in this way, the forecasts made based on this type of models could be erroneous within the economic analysis. However, this type of analysis has not been carried out to date with clearness and deepness, which would mean a new line of research in the empirical analysis of stationarity and dynamic convergence in the economy, and in this specific case, the variables that make up international trade and the exchange rate adjustments in Mexico are involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]