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Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways play essential roles in the tumorigenesis and development of colorectal cancer. We found that Celastrol, isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii plant, exerted a significant inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo, and further unraveled the molecular mechanisms. Celastrol induced β-catenin degradation through phosphorylation of Yes-associated protein (YAP), a major downstream effector of Hippo pathway, and also Celastrol-induced β-catenin degradation was dependent on liver kinase B1 (LKB1). Celastrol increased the transcriptional activation of LKB1, partially through the heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). Moreover, LKB1 activated AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) and further phosphorylated YAP, which eventually promoted the degradation of β-catenin. In addition, LKB1 deficiency promoted colorectal cancer cell growth and attenuated the inhibitory effect of Celastrol on colorectal cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, Celastrol inhibited colorectal cancer cell growth by promoting β-catenin degradation via the HSF1-LKB1-AMPKα-YAP pathway. These results suggested that Celastrol may potentially serve as a future drug for colorectal cancer treatment.

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) was prepared from high-alumina cement mixed with short-cut basalt fiber or steel fiber for the objective to analyze the mechanical performance and deterioration mechanism at high temperature. The results show that the high-temperature resistance of TRC matrix concrete can be improved by adding steel fibers and basalt fibers, but the compressive strength of concrete decreases with the increase of temperature in a quadratic parabolic law, while the flexural strength decreases in a linear law. The addition of basalt fiber significantly improves the bending bearing capacity of the TRC plates. In comparison, the addition of steel fiber significantly improves the flexural strength of TRC thin-plates above 600°C. The scanning electron microscopy indicates that when the temperature surpasses 600°C, the addition of basalt fiber and the steel fiber surface are significantly damaged by high-temperature deterioration. The deterioration of the mechanical performance of TRC thin-plates at high temperatures is caused mainly by changes in the chemical composition of the concrete matrix, deterioration of the fiber and damage of the bonding surface. The results obtained in this study can provide the theoretical support for the design and application of TRC in a high-temperature environment.

Postoperative pain is a common complication in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) patients. This study aimed to develop and validate predictive models for postoperative pain associated ESD. Methods: We retrospectively constructed a development cohort comprising 2162 patients who underwent ESD at our hospital between January 2015 and April 2022. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set (n = 1541) and a validation set (n = 621) in a 7:3 ratio. The bidirectional stepwise regression with Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to screen the predictors of post-ESD pain and construct three nomograms. We evaluated the model's discrimination, precision and clinical benefit through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) goodness-of-fit test and decision curve analysis (DCA) in internal validation. Results: The proportion of patients developing postoperative pain in the training and testing data set was 25.6% and 28.5%, respectively. Three nomograms were constructed according to the final logistic regression models. The clinical prediction models for preoperative risks, preoperative and intraoperative risks, and perioperative risks consisted of seven, nine and six independent predictors, respectively, after bidirectional stepwise elimination. The models demonstrated the AUC of 0.794 (95% CI 0.768– 0.820), 0.823 (95% CI 0.799– 0.847) and 0.817 (95% CI 0.792– 0.842) in the training cohort and 0.702 (95% CI 0.655– 0.748), 0.705 (95% CI 0.659– 0.752) and 0.747 (95% CI 0.703– 0.790) in the validation cohort. The calibration plot, HL and DCA demonstrated the model's favorable clinical applicability. Conclusion: We developed and validated three robust nomogram models, which might identify patients at risk of post-ESD pain and promising for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological structures significantly influence mining-induced deformations in open-pit mines, with their variations and interactions adding complexity to the excavation process and introducing uncertainties in deformation outcomes. This study utilized numerical simulations to analyze the impact of weak rock zones in a specific open-pit limestone quarry in Japan on mining-induced deformation. The simulation results were both qualitatively and quantitatively validated against field measurements, enhancing the reliability of the findings. Subsequently, four conceptual models were developed based on the characteristics of the quarry to investigate the mechanisms by which weak rock zones affect rock slope deformations. Our analyses demonstrated that slip deformation occurred exclusively when two weak rock zones were connected. This deformation was associated not only with shear failure in the upper weak rock zone but also with the contraction and bending of the lower weak rock zone. Furthermore, the simulation results were consistent with field data and supported by the conceptual models, confirming that the proposed sliding mechanisms can effectively explain the observed deformation behaviors. The insights gained from these models provide valuable references for managing similar geological challenges in other open-pit mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial emphasizes the importance of sustainable development in geotechnical engineering, specifically in construction projects that interact with the earth. It highlights the need to efficiently use rock and soil masses, reduce carbon emissions from building materials, and minimize environmental impact. The document mentions a special issue of the journal Sustainability that features research papers on various topics related to sustainable development in geotechnical engineering. The articles cover a range of topics, including the properties of sandstone, prediction and control of surface subsidence, waste solidification, safety analysis, and innovative technologies. The authors express their gratitude to the contributors and reviewers involved in the publication process, and a disclaimer states that the opinions and data presented in the articles are the responsibility of the individual authors and not the publisher. [Extracted from the article]

This study explores the efficiency of using carbon dioxide (CO2) to extract shale gas, highlighting its potential to enhance extraction while mitigating environmental CO2 pollution. Given the intricate microstructure of shale, CO2 injection inevitably induces deformation within the shale reservoir's internal microstructure, thereby impacting gas displacement efficiency. The organic matter (kerogen) network and fracture network in shale, serving as primary spaces for gas adsorption and migration, exhibit complex microstructural characteristics. Thus, we developed a dynamic coupled hydro-mechanics permeability model for binary gas displacement, and three novel, interdisciplinary fractal power-law parameters are proposed to represent the distribution of shale fractures, considering the adsorption–desorption strength of the kerogen network. Numerical simulations analyzed the changes in gas seepage, diffusion, shale stress, permeability, and factors influencing displacement efficiency during the CO2–EGR (enhanced gas recovery) projects. Key findings include (1) CO2 injection leads to a nonlinear increase in the number of shale fracture networks, thereby enhancing the CH4 output efficiency. (2) Compared to traditional fractal theory, the proposed power-law model is applicable to a wider range of reservoir fracture distributions and effectively characterizes the density (by α), size (by r), and complexity (by n) of the fracture network during the CO2–EGR process. (3) Changes in the proposed interdisciplinary power-law parameters significantly alter CO2 and CH4 adsorption capacities and, in turn, significantly affects displacement efficiency and shale deformation. According to calculations, these parameters have the greatest impact on the CO2–EGR process, ranging from 16.3% to 68.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]