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Excavation can induce the settlement deformation of adjacent buried pipeline. Obtaining the deformation is of great significance for evaluating the normal use and safety of pipeline. In this study, based on the elastic foundation beam theory, the calculation formula of the settlement displacement of buried pipeline is derived, and the influence of the two parameters of the surface center settlement and the calculation length on the settlement displacement of pipelines is emphatically analyzed. According to the geometric relationship between the buried pipeline and the edge of the foundation pit, the calculation length can be used to divide into five working conditions. The rationality of the analytical method is verified by comparing with two cases. In the case of excavation in Beijing, the spatio-temporal variation rules of settlement displacement of buried pipeline were analyzed. The results show that the variated trend of the calculated settlement displacement in different periods is consistent with that from measurement, but the calculated value is slightly higher than the measured value. The surface center settlement has a significant influence on the pipeline settlement displacement. larger input causes more concave settlement curve, and smaller input leads to smoother settlement curve. The decreasing rate of settlement displacement increases from the central point to end, and decreases near the boundary point, with the range of about one tenth of the calculated length. The proposed method in this study is conservative in the evaluation of pipeline settlement, which is a supplement to the existing settlement calculation theory of buried pipelines, and can provide a important information for predicting the distribution of pipeline settlement in the early stage of construction.

BackgroundOsteosarcoma (OS) poses a significant clinical challenge, necessitating a comprehensive exploration of its molecular underpinnings.MethodsThis study explored the roles of PTTG family genes (PTTG1, PTTG2, and PTTG3P) in OS, employing a multifaceted approach encompassing molecular experiments, including OS cell lines culturing, RT-qPCR, bisulfite and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and in silico experiments, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets-based validation, overall survival, gene enrichment, functional assays, and molecular docking analyses.ResultsOur findings reveal a consistent up-regulation of PTTG genes in OS cell lines, supported by RT-qPCR experiments and corroborated across various publically available expression datasets databases. Importantly, ROC curve analyses highlight their potential as diagnostic markers. Moving beyond expression profiles, we unveil the epigenetic landscape by demonstrating significant hypomethylation of CpG islands associated with PTTG genes in OS. The negative correlation between methylation status and mRNA expression emphasizes the regulatory role of promoter methylation in PTTG gene expression. Contrary to expectations, genetic mutations in PTTG genes are rare in OS, with only benign mutations observed. Moreover, functional assays also confirmed the oncogenic roles of the PTTG gene in the development of OS. Lastly, we also revealed that Calcitriol is the most appropriate drug that can be utilized to treat OS in the context of PTTG genes.ConclusionThe identification of PTTG genes as potential diagnostic markers and their association with epigenetic alterations opens new avenues for understanding OS pathogenesis and developing targeted therapies. As we navigate the complex landscape of OS, this study contributes essential insights that may pave the way for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in its management.

Abstract Background Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a highly effective treatment for depressive disorder. However, the use of ECT is limited by its cognitive side effects (CSEs), and no specific intervention has been developed to address this problem. As transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a safe and useful tool for improving cognitive function, the main objective of this study was to explore the ability to use tDCS after ECT to ameliorate the cognitive side effects. Methods 60 eligible participants will be recruited within two days after completing ECT course and randomly assigned to receive either active or sham stimulation in a blinded, parallel-design trial and continue their usual pharmacotherapy. The tDCS protocol consists of 30-min sessions at 2 mA, 5 times per week for 2 consecutive weeks, applied through 15-cm2 electrodes. An anode will be placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and a cathode will be placed over the right supraorbital cortex. Cognitive function and depressive symptoms will be assessed before the first stimulation (T0), after the final stimulation (T1), 2 weeks after the final stimulation (T2), and 4 weeks after the final stimulation (T3) using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Discussion We describe a novel clinical trial to explore whether the administration of tDCS after completing ECT course can accelerates recovery from the CSEs. We hypothesized that the active group would recover faster from the CSEs and be superior to the sham group. If our hypothesis is supported, the use of tDCS could benefit eligible patients who are reluctant to receive ECT and reduce the risk of self-inflicted or suicide due to delays in treatment. Trial registration details The trial protocol is registered with https://www.chictr.org.cn/ under protocol registration number ChiCTR2300071147 (date of registration: 05.06.2023). Recruitment will start in November 2023.

Abstract Background The Parkinson’s disease (PD) gene family expression is strongly linked to tumor development and progression; PINK1 and PARK2 are essential members of the PD gene family. However, the relationship between PINK1 and PARK2 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. This research aims to clarify the prognostic value of PINK1 and PARK2 in ESCC. Methods PINK1 and PARK2 protein levels in 232 ESCC specimens, and 125 matched adjacent normal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between PINK1 and PARK2 protein expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate the prognostic value of the PINK1 and PARK2 proteins in patients. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the risk factors affecting the OS for patients with ESCC. Results PINK1 and PARK2 had low expression in ESCC. Patients with low PINK1 had worse differentiation and advanced T and TNM stages. Lower PARK2 expression was linked to lymph node metastases and an advanced TNM stage. Furthermore, reduced PINK1 and PARK2 levels were associated with a poor prognosis for ESCC. Cox univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that PINK1, PARK2, and tumor size were closely associated with the prognosis of patients with ESCC, and PARK2 was an independent risk factor for patients with ESCC. Finally, the PINK1 and PARK2 proteins were closely related and shared the same signal pathway. Conclusions PINK1 and PARK2 could work as tumor suppressors in ESCC and are likely to become new treatment targets for ESCC.

Earthquakes are one of the main causes of bedding slope instability, and scientifically and quantitively evaluating seismic stability is of great significance for preventing landslide disasters. This study aims to assess the bedding slope stability under seismic loading and the influences of various parameters on stability using a pseudo-dynamic method. Based on the limit equilibrium theory, a general solution for the dynamic safety factor of bedding slope is proposed. The effects of parameters such as slope height, slope angle, cohesion, internal friction angle, vibration time, shear wave velocity, seismic acceleration coefficient, and amplification factor on stability are discussed in detail. To evaluate the validity of the pseudo-dynamic solution, the safety factors are compared with those given by early cases, and the results show that the safety factors calculated by the present formulation coincide better with those of previous methods. Moreover, a two-dimensional numerical solution of bedding slope based on Mohr–Coulomb’s elastic–plastic failure criterion is also performed by using the finite element procedure, and the minimum safety factor is essentially consistent with the result of the pseudo-dynamic method. It is proved that the pseudo-dynamic method is effective for bedding slope stability analyses during earthquakes, and it can overcome the limitations of the pseudo-static method.

Abstract Thalassemia is a group of common hereditary anemias that cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, precisely diagnosing thalassemia, especially rare thalassemia variants, is still challenging. Long-range PCR and long-molecule sequencing on the PacBio Sequel II platform utilized in this study could cover the entire HBA1, HBA2 and HBB genes, enabling the diagnosis of most of the common and rare types of thalassemia variants. In this study, 100 cases of suspected thalassemia were subjected to traditional thalassemia testing and third-generation sequencing for thalassemia genetic diagnosis. Compared with traditional diagnostic methods, an additional 10 cases of rare clinically significant variants, including 3 cases of structure variants and 7 cases of single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were identified, of which a case with − α3.7 subtype III (− α3.7III) was first identified and validated in the Chinese population. Other rare variants of 11.1 kb deletions (− 11.1/αα), triplicate α-globin genes (aaa3.7/αα) and rare SNVs have also been thoroughly detected. The results showed that rare thalassemia variants are not rare but have been misdiagnosed by conventional methods. The results further validated third-generation sequencing as a promising method for rare thalassemia genetic testing.

This study aims to reveal the deformation characteristics of buried pipelines and the effects of various parameters on settlement displacement using the analytical analysis method. A simplified mechanical model for the settlement displacement of buried pipelines is proposed with the theory of the Winkler model, and the sensitivity impacts of various parameters are performed by comparing them with those given by other cases. The rationality of the proposed approach is verified by a comparison with previous cases, and it also turned out that the present method performed better than the other two methods in the literature in its overall tendency of settlement displacement and error precision. The parameter analysis results of this study indicate that the maximum settlement displacement of the buried pipelines only increases linearly with the increase in ground displacement. Other parameters such as the subgrade modulus and calculated length increase to a certain threshold; the maximum settlement displacement will remain stable. However, the diameter and elastic modulus of the pipelines only have a small effect on the maximum settlement displacement of the pipelines, so they are not a sensitive factor and these effects can be ignored. In addition, an engineering example of pipeline deformation in a deep foundation pit from open-cut excavation is researched to verify the practicality of this present method.

IntroductionBipolar disorder (BD) is a common and debilitating mental illness that affects about 400 million people worldwide, decreasing their functionality and quality of life. Medication and psychotherapy are recommended for treatment of BD, while some evidence indicates that exercise could improve the clinical outcome of BD. This study aims to investigate whether exercise intervention could reduce the mood symptoms and inflammation level of BD.MethodsThis is a longitudinal, interventional, randomized, and single-blind trial. We plan to recruit 94 patients diagnosed with BD in depression episode. Patients will be randomly assigned to treatment as usual + aerobic exercise group (intervention group) and treatment as usual (TAU) only group, at a ratio of 1:1. The intervention group will undergo 40-min aerobic exercise training twice a week for eight weeks. The primary outcome of this study is the mean change of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 (HAMD 17) scores from baseline to week 8. The Young Manic Rating Scale (YMRS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels will also be measured. The measurements will be performed at baseline, immediately after intervention and two months after intervention.DiscussionAerobic exercise training + treatment is expected to bring more benefits to BD patients than TAU only. This trial might provide stronger evidence of physical exercise efficacy for BD treatment.Clinical trial registrationThis study was approved by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Code: ChiCTR2200057159). Registered on 1 March 2022.

Background and Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually associated with chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Its most common subtype is accompanied with diarrhea (IBS-D). The enteric nervous system (ENS) modulates major gastrointestinal motility and functions whose aberration may induce IBS-D. The enteric neurons are susceptible to long-term neurotransmitter level alterations. The patchouli alcohol (PA), extracted from Pogostemonis Herba, has been reported to regulate neurotransmitter release in the ENS, while its effectiveness against IBS-D and the underlying mechanism remain unknown.Experimental Approach: In this study, we established an IBS-D model in rats through chronic restraint stress. We administered the rats with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of PA for intestinal and visceral examinations. The longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) neurons were further immunohistochemically stained for quantitative, morphological, and neurotransmitters analyses.Key Results: We found that PA decreased visceral sensitivity, diarrhea symptoms and intestinal transit in the IBS-D rats. Meanwhile, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PA significantly reduced the proportion of excitatory LMMP neurons in the distal colon, decreased the number of acetylcholine (Ach)- and substance P (SP)-positive neurons in the distal colon and restored the levels of Ach and SP in the IBS-D rats.Conclusion and Implications: These findings indicated that PA modulated LMMP excitatory neuron activities, improved intestinal motility and alleviated IBS-induced diarrheal symptoms, suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of PA against IBS-D.

Groundwater and earthquake are two of the factors behind the occurrence of slope instability. This paper focuses on the computation of the safety factor acting on a sandy slope when subjected to groundwater seepage and earthquake load. Based on the theory of limit equilibrium and a pseudodynamic method of analysis, a general solution for the dynamic factor of sandy slope containing two load conditions is proposed. In the solution, the effects of parameters such as water level, seismic acceleration coefficients, slope angle, and soil internal friction angle on the slope stability have been discussed. In order to evaluate the validity of the present formulation, the dynamic factors of safety computed by the present method are compared with those given by other cases. It is found that the results of the present method are in good agreement with those of the previous method. The results indicate that the dynamic of safety factor increases linearly with an increase in the soil internal friction angle but decreases with the slope angle and groundwater level and that the effects of direction and magnitude of the seismic inertia forces on the dynamic safety factor of sandy slope are different at different times.

Tensile cracks at the crest of slope will attenuate the stability of slope. The aim of this paper is to investigate the computation of safety factors acting on a clay slope when the slip surface consists of tensile crack and shear surface. Based on the theory of limit equilibrium, an analytical solution for safety factors containing three types of failure mechanisms is presented. The optimal crack depth was obtained by using the principle of minimum safety factor. In the solution, effects of parameters such as crack depth, slope angle, height, cohesion, and internal friction angle on slope stability were discussed. By comparing with the results of previous studies, the rationality of the proposed approach was verified. Results show that consideration of tensile cracks lead to a significant reduction in slope stability, and the safety factor decreases by about 10% compared with the slope without cracks. The law of safety factor varying with crack depth indicates that it first decreases as the crack depth is increased and then increases as the crack depth is further increased. Through the parametric analysis, it is found that the safety factor increases with an increase in cohesion and internal friction angle but decreases with the slope angle and height increase. It is important to note that the optimal crack depth does not exceed one-third of the slope height. Moreover, a highway landslide that occurred in the road running across the Yunnan and Tibet Province was investigated to verify the practicality of the present method.

Background: Blepharospasm (BSP) and dry eye disease (DED) are clinically common diseases characterized by an increased blinking rate. A sustained eyelid muscle activity may alter the cortical sensorimotor concordance and lead to secondary functional changes. This study aimed to explore the central mechanism of BSP by assessing brain functional differences between the two groups and comparing them with healthy controls.Methods: In this study, 25 patients with BSP, 22 patients with DED, and 23 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) was applied to analyze the imaging data.Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed widespread differences in ALFF across the three groups. In comparison with healthy controls, patients with BSP showed abnormal ALFF in the sensorimotor integration related-brain regions, including the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), left cerebellar Crus I, left fusiform gyrus, bilateral superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), and right superior frontal gyrus (SFG). In comparison with patients with DED, patients with BSP exhibited a significantly increased ALFF in the left cerebellar Crus I and left SMA. ALFF in the left fusiform gyrus/cerebellar Crus I was positively correlated with symptomatic severity of BSP.Conclusions: Our results reveal that the distinctive changes in the brain function in patients with BSP are different from those in patients with DED and healthy controls. The results further emphasize the primary role of sensorimotor integration in the pathophysiology of BSP.

The etiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is complicated and closely related to neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Developing new strategies for treating this disease is a major challenge for IBS-D research. Berberine hydrochloride (BBH), the derivative of berberine, is a herbal constituent used to treat IBS. Previous studies have shown that BBH has potential anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, and antidiarrheal effects and a wide range of biological activities, especially in regulating the release of some neurotransmitters. A modified IBS-D rat model induced by chronic restraint stress was used in all experiments to study the effects of BBH on the GI tract. This study measured the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) response to graded colorectal distention (CRD; 20, 40, 60, and 80 mmHg) and observed the fecal areas of stress-induced IBS-D model. Experiments were conducted using organ bath techniques, which were performed in vitro using strips of colonic longitudinal smooth muscle. Inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter agents were added to each organ bath to observe contractile responses on the strips and the treatment effect exerted by BBH. The IBS-D rat model was successfully induced by chronic restraint stress, which resulted in an increased defecation frequency and visceral hypersensitivity similar to that of humans. BBH could reduce 4-h fecal areas and AWR response to CRD in IBS-D. The stress-induced IBS-D model showed upregulated colonic mRNA expression levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine-3A receptor and downregulated expression levels of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. Meanwhile, BBH could reverse this outcome. The responses of substances that regulate the contraction induced by related neurotransmission in the longitudinal smooth muscle of IBS-D colon (including the agonist of acetylcholine, carbachol; NOS inhibitor, L-NAME; and P2Y1 receptor antagonist, MRS2500) can be inhibited by BBH. In summary, BBH promotes defecation frequency and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS-D and exerts inhibitory effects on contractile responses in colonic longitudinal smooth muscle. Thus, BBH may represent a new therapeutic approach for treating IBS-D.

The effects of desalted duck egg white peptides (DPs) and Val-Ser-Glu-Glu (VSEE) on calcium absorption were investigated in calcium-deficient diets rat model. Six-week oral administration results indicated DPs + CaCO3 and VSEE + CaCO3 were significantly higher than CaCO3 group in calcium absorption, serum osteocalcin, bone calcium content and max load, but lower in serum bone alkaline phosphatase level (P

Background and Purpose: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually associated with chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Its most common subtype is accompanied with diarrhea (IBS-D). The enteric nervous system (ENS) modulates major gastrointestinal motility and functions whose aberration may induce IBS-D. The enteric neurons are susceptible to long-term neurotransmitter level alterations. The patchouli alcohol (PA), extracted from Pogostemonis Herba, has been reported to regulate neurotransmitter release in the ENS, while its effectiveness against IBS-D and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. Experimental Approach: In this study, we established an IBS-D model in rats through chronic restraint stress. We administered the rats with 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg of PA for intestinal and visceral examinations. The longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus (LMMP) neurons were further immunohistochemically stained for quantitative, morphological, and neurotransmitters analyses. Key Results: We found that PA decreased visceral sensitivity, diarrhea symptoms and intestinal transit in the IBS-D rats. Meanwhile, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PA significantly reduced the proportion of excitatory LMMP neurons in the distal colon, decreased the number of acetylcholine (Ach)- and substance P (SP)-positive neurons in the distal colon and restored the levels of Ach and SP in the IBS-D rats. Conclusion and Implications: These findings indicated that PA modulated LMMP excitatory neuron activities, improved intestinal motility and alleviated IBS-induced diarrheal symptoms, suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of PA against IBS-D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study was conducted to determine and compare the contents of flavonoids in the leaves of Tetracera asiatica, an ethnic medicine from different habitats, in order to provide a basis for the quality control of its medicinal materials. [Methods] The flavonoid compounds in the leaves of T. asiatica were reflux-extracted in a water bath, and the total flavonoid content in T. asiatica was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. [Results] The total flavonoid content in T. asiatica leaves varied according to different habitats. The highest content was found in Gaofeng (19.41%) of Guangxi, followed by Huizhou (16.88%) of Guangdong and Hong Kong (16.76%). The lowest total flavonoid content was found in Shangcuntang (3.91%) of Bobai County, Guangxi, followed by Beiliu (4. 15%), Guangxi. The total flavonoid contents in the samples ranged from 3.91% to 19.41%, with an average content of about 12.36%. [Conclusions] The UV spectrophotometry method is easy to operate, and has good repeatability, accurate detection results, and high reliability, and can be used for the determination of flavonoids in T. asiatica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Given the limited availability of bibliometric and visual analysis on the topic of romantic love, the primary objective of the current study is to fill this gap by conducting a comprehensive visual analysis of relevant literature. Through this analysis, the current study aimed to uncover current research trends and identify potential future directions in the field of romantic love. The current study’s search criteria were met by an impressive 6858 publications found in the Web of Science database for the period between 2013 and 2022. A thorough analysis was conducted on the bibliographic visualization of the authors, organizations, countries, references, and keywords. Over time, there has been a remarkable surge in the number of significant publications. Among the authors in the field of romantic love, Emily A. Impett has emerged as the most prolific. The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships is indeed one of the top journals that has published a significant number of articles on the topic of romantic love. During the preceding decade, the University of California System emerged as a prominent producer of publications centered around romantic love, solidifying the United States’ position as a dominant player in this field. In recent times, there has been a significant surge in the popularity of keywords such as “same-sex,” “conflict resolution,” and “social relationships” within academic literature. These topics have experienced a burst of attention, as evidenced by a substantial increase in references and citations. Through the use of visualization maps and analysis of key publications, the current study offers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and potential avenues for future research in the field of romantic love. Gaining a deep understanding of the complex dynamics and societal implications of romantic love has been instrumental in formulating policies that embody increased compassion and support. As a result, these policies have played a pivotal role in fostering resilient familial ties and contributing to the enduring stability and prosperity of our social fabric.