Search

Esophageal cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors globally. The prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains poor, with a 5-year survival rate below 20 % due to limited advances in therapy. Ferroptosis, a novel form of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-driven regulated cell death (RCD), shows significant promise in cancer treatment. Berbamine (BBM), a natural bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid derived from Berberis amurensis, exhibits anti-tumor effects against various cancers, yet its impact on esophageal cancer remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the role of BBM in inducing ferroptosis in the treatment of esophageal cancer, focusing on its molecular mechanisms. Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA) analysis highlighted the potential of BBM as an anti-cancer agent through ferroptosis induction. We found that BBM inhibited growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in esophageal cancer cell lines, promoting Fe accumulation, ROS, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, thereby triggering cell death. These suppressive effects were successfully reversed by Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Mechanistically, BBM decreased deubiquitination enzyme USP51 levels, leading to ubiquitin degradation and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) instability, and it stimulated ferroptosis. The Overexpression of USP51 mitigated the downregulation of GPX4 induced by BBM.BBM significantly inhibited tumor xenograft growth in nude mice. This discovery positions BBM as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

With the increase of the running time of the subway system, long-term use will lead to the reduction of damping, the change of the operating state of the wheels and the track, and the effect of vibration damping measures will gradually weaken. In order to maintain a low level of environmental vibration in vibration sensitive areas, the reconstruction of some existing lines with high level vibration is imminent. In order to solve this problem, this paper focuses on the reconstruction of the existing line of longitudinal sleeper track, which is commonly used in the middle and high level vibration reduction measure in the subway. Because of the high cost of reconstruction of the slab and its lower part, this paper tries to realize the reconstruction of the existing longitudinal sleeper track by changing the fastener system. In this paper, the environmental vibration prediction model of longitudinal sleeper track is established by using the theory of infinite long period structure and the 2.5-dimensional finite element and boundary element (2.5D FE-BE) environmental vibration prediction model. The validity of the numerical model is determined by comparing the field experiment with the numerical simulation. On the basis of the above, the stiffness matching of longitudinal sleeper and fastener is explored by using the verified numerical model. The reasons for the poor vibration reduction effect of the existing longitudinal sleeper matching floating rail fastener (low stiffness) are analyzed. And the matching strategy of the supporting stiffness for vibration reduction of longitudinal sleeper and fastener are summarized.

Abstract Background Aimed to assess clinical effect of three-port inflatable robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in mediastinal tumor resection by comparing results of the robot group with the video group. Methods Retrospectively analyze 179 patients diagnosed with anterior mediastinal tumor from May 2017 to August 2021. Two groups were divided according to the surgical approach, including 92 cases in the RATS group and 87 cases in the VATS group. The results were analyzed between two groups with variables of age, sex, BMI, tumor size, and diagnosis. Perioperative clinical data was gathered to compare. Result There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regards to demographic data and clinical features. There were no significant differences inoperative time and duration of chest tube via RATS vs. VATS. The intraoperative blood loss was statistically significantly different among the RATS and VATS groups (75.9 ± 39.6 vs. 97.4 ± 35.8 ml p = 0.042). The postoperative stay of patients in RATS group were significantly shorter than that in VATS group (2.3 ± 1.0 vs. 3.4 ± 1.4 day p = 0.035), Conclusion Three-port inflatable robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumor is feasible and reliable it is more advantageous, and it provides the surgeon with advice on treatment choice.

For large infrastructures, dynamic displacement measurement in structures is an essential topic. However, limitations imposed by the installation location of the displacement sensor can lead to measurement difficulties. Accelerometers are characterized by easy installation, good stability and high sensitivity. For this regard, this paper proposes a structural dynamic displacement estimation method based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network and acceleration data. It models the complex relationship between acceleration signals and dynamic displacement information. In order to verify the reliability of the proposed method, a finite element-based frame structure was created. Accelerations and displacements were collected for each node of the frame model under seismic response. Then, a dynamic displacement estimation dataset is constructed using the acceleration time series signal as features and the displacement signal at a certain moment as target. In addition, a typical neural network was used for a comparative study. The results indicated that the error of the neural network model in the dynamic displacement estimation task was 9.52 times higher than that of the one-dimensional convolutional neural network model. Meanwhile, the proposed modelling scheme has stronger noise immunity. In order to validate the utility of the proposed method, data from a real frame structure was collected. The test results showed that the proposed method has a mean square error of only 5.097 in the real dynamic displacement estimation task, which meets the engineering needs. Afterwards, the outputs of each layer in the dynamic displacement estimation model are visualized to emphasize the displacement calculation process of the convolutional neural network.

Context Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt (Asteraceae), named snow chrysanthemum, is known to have a high level of polyphenols. However, the potential prebiotic effect on modulating intestinal microflora is still unclear.Objective The chemical composition, antioxidant properties of snow chrysanthemum polyphenols (SCPs) and their effects on human intestinal microbiota were investigated.Materials and methods SCPs were extracted using ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and further determined using UPLC-QE Orbitrap/MS. Five assays were used to investigate the antioxidant activities of SCPs. Subsequently, the effects of SCPs on intestinal microbiota in vitro were determined by high throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.Results Marein, isookanin and cymaroside were the major phenolic compounds, which accounted for 42.17%, 19.53% and 12.25%, respectively. Marein exhibited higher scavenging capacities in DPPH (EC50 = 8.84 µg/mL) and super anion radical assay (EC50 = 282.1 µg/mL) compared to cymaroside and isookanin. The antioxidant capacity of cymaroside was weakest among the three phenolic compounds due to the highest EC50 values, especially for superoxide anion radical assay, EC50 > 800 µg/mL. The result of in vitro fermentation showed that the three phenolic compounds increased the relative abundances of Escherichia/Shigella, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, etc., and isookanin notably increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.Discussion and conclusions SCPs exhibited antioxidant properties and potential prebiotic effects on modulating the gut microbiota composition. The findings indicated that SCPs consumption could exert prebiotic activity that is beneficial for human health.

As rail transportation continues to advance, it provides significant convenience to the public. However, the environmental vibration and noise generated during its operation have become major concerns for residents living near rail lines. In response to these concerns, the “Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution” was promulgated in China, bringing attention to this issue within the rail transportation sector. This review summarizes the regular features observed in environmental vibration and secondary structural noise tests on different sections, including embankment sections, bridge sections, underground railroads and vehicle sections. Furthermore, it introduces several physical models utilized in the study of environmental vibration and secondary structural noise, focusing on three key aspects: excitation sources, propagation paths and the modelling of building structures. This paper also explores the introduction of data-driven models related to big data and artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of research in this field and provides an overview of commonly used measures to control train-induced environmental vibrations and secondary noise in buildings. These measures are discussed in terms of excitation sources, propagation paths, and receivers, offering insights into effective strategies for mitigating the impact of rail transportation on nearby residents. Finally, this study highlights the primary findings and offers pertinent recommendations. These recommendations include considerations regarding both laboratory and on-site testing procedures, challenges associated with the deployment of data-driven models and key parameters for designing and utilizing low-stiffness fasteners.

It is a common experience that the interior noise of an underground train vehicle increases suddenly when it just runs into a track section with steel spring floating slabs, significantly reducing passengers’ comfort. This paper investigates the reasons, and control, of such noise through field tests and model simulations. The effect of rail surface irregularity on interior noise was investigated first by analysing data collected from interior noise tests, rail surface irregularity measurement and by analysing the modal behaviour of the slab. Noise radiation of the track slab was then analysed using the acoustic boundary element method while the vibration of the steel spring floating slab track is predicted based on an infinitely long periodic structure model; And finally with the prediction models, a parameter study was performed for the steel spring floating slab, on the purpose of improving the parameters to make the track less noisy. The research presented in this paper may provide a reference for the design of steel spring floating slabs in terms of noise control.

Leaf Area Index (LAI) is one of the most important biophysical parameters of vegetation, and its dynamic changes can be used as a reflective indicator and differentiation basis of vegetation function. In this study, a VCA–MLC (Vertex Component Analysis–Maximum Likelihood Classification) algorithm is proposed from the perspective of multi-temporal satellite LAI image classification to monitor and quantify the spatial and temporal variability of vegetation dynamics in China since 2000. The algorithm extracts the vegetation endmembers from 46 multi-temporal images of MODIS LAI in 2011 without the aid of other a priori knowledge and uses the maximum likelihood classification method to select the categories that satisfy the requirements of the number of missing periods, absolute distance, and relative distance for the rest pixels to be classified, ultimately dividing the vegetation area of China into 10 vegetation zones called China Vegetation Functional Zones (CVFZ). CVFZ outperforms MCD12Q1 and CLCD land cover datasets in the overall differentiation of vegetation functions and can be used synergistically with other land cover datasets. In this study, CVFZ is used to cut the constant vegetation-type pixels of MCD12Q1 during 2001–2022. The results of the LAI mean time series decomposition of each subregion using the STL (Seasonal-Trend Decomposition based on Loess) method show that the rate of vegetation greening ranges from 9.02 × 10−4 m2m−2yr−1 in shrubland subregions to 2.34 × 10−2 m2m−2yr−1 in savanna subregions. In relative terms, the average greening speed of forests is moderate, and savannas tend to have the fastest average greening speed. The greening speed of grasslands and croplands in different zones varies widely. In contrast, the average greening speed of shrublands is the slowest. In addition, CVFZ detected grasslands with one or two phenological cycles, broadleaf croplands with one or two phenological cycles, and shrublands with no apparent or one phenological cycle.

This paper developed a time domain simplified model to study the effect of control measures on wheel/rail noise when the vehicle curves. The time domain model consists of two parts, one being a vehicle-track coupling dynamic model for wheel/rail interaction, the other being a transient finite element and boundary element domain model for vibration and sound radiation. Wheel/rail noise under wheel/rail lateral creep force is predicted for a narrowly curved section of a conventional underground railway, and compared with measurement. Based on the developed model, the effect of wheel/rail friction modification on squeal noise is investigated. In addition, effectiveness of resilient wheel and embedded track to control curve squeal noise are also assessed.

A three-dimensional wheel–rail rolling contact model (3D WRRCM) developed using the explicit finite element method (FEM) can be used to analyze the dynamic performances of wheelsets and tracks while considering the wheelset rotation and translation, as well as the real wheel–rail contact mechanism. When using the FEM with static initialisation (traditional model), the first step is to calculate the static wheel–rail displacement, strain, and stress when applying axle loading on the wheel and neglecting the wheelset rotation and translation. Then, using these results as the initial conditions, the dynamic wheel–rail displacement, strain, and stress are calculated while considering the wheelset rotation and translation by adopting the explicit dynamic solution method. However, obtaining a solution using this traditional method is time consuming, and the solution can be divergent because of the impulse produced by the suddenly increasing wheelset rotation when proceeding from the initial condition to the dynamic. The optimised method developed in this study can solve this problem. A comparison of the results from the traditional and optimised methods reveals that in the optimised method, the softer initial impulse effectively shortens the track length needed for the calculation and improves the solution efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]