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Tumor-size-stratified analysis on the prognosis of uterine sarcoma is insufficient. This study aimed to establish the tumor-size-stratified nomograms to predict the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients with uterine sarcoma.The data analyzed in this study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We collected data from patients with uterine sarcoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2015. According to the median tumor size of 7.8 cm, the enrolled patients were divided into two tumor size (TS) groups: TS7.8 cm and TS ≥7.8 cm. Patients in each group were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts with a ratio of 7:3. Chi-square test was used to compare differences between categorical variables. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify significant predictors. We calculated the concordance index (C-index) and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) to validate the nomograms.Compared with TS7.8 cm group, TS ≥7.8 cm group had more patients of 45-64 years group, higher black race prevalence, higher proportion of myometrium tumor, higher stage, and higher grade; In the TS7.8 cm training cohort, six variables (age, race, marital status, tumor primary site, stage, and grade) were identified as significantly associated with OS in multivariate analysis. However in the TS ≥7.8 cm training cohort, only four variables (surgery on primary site, tumor size, stage, and grade) were significantly identified; The C-index of two nomograms were 0.80 and 0.73 in training cohorts, respectively, and the AUC values for 3- and 5-year OS predictions in training cohorts were all above 0.80. Similar results were observed in validation cohorts.This study found that the significant prognostic factors were different between two tumor size groups of uterine sarcoma patients. The tumor-size-stratified nomograms, which we constructed and validated, might be useful to predict the probability of survival for patients with uterine sarcoma.

A cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate to the effectiveness of reducing mortality of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC) and feasibility of screening through a questionnaire combined with endoscopy in non-high-incidence urban areas in China. The trial design, recruitment performance, and preliminary results from baseline endoscopy are reported. Seventy-five communities in two urban cities with a non-high-incidence of UGC were randomized to a screening endoscopy arm (n = 38) or a control arm (n = 37). In the screening arm, individuals at high risk of UGC underwent endoscopic screening. The primary outcome was the UGC mortality, and secondary outcomes included the UGC detection rate, incidence rate, survival rate, and clinical stage at the time of diagnosis. A total of 10,416 and 9,565 individuals were recruited into the screening and control arms, respectively. The participation rate was 74.3%. In the screening arm, 5,242 individuals (50.3%) were estimated to be high-risk. Among them, 2,388 (45.6%) underwent endoscopic screening. Age and household income were associated with undergoing endoscopy. Three early esophageal cancer (0.13%), one gastric cancer (0.04%), 29 precancerous esophageal lesions (1.21%), and 53 precancerous gastric lesions (2.22%) were detected. Age, sex, a family history of cancer, intake of meat–egg–milk frequently, superficial gastritis, and clinical symptoms of gastric cancer were associated with the presence of precancerous lesions. The detection rate was low using endoscopic screening in non-high-incidence area given the relatively low compliance rate. These findings provide a reference for designing effective community-based UGC screening strategies in non-high-incidence urban areas.

Table S1 Comparison of screening and control arm on potential risk factors for upper gastrointestinal cancerï¼›Table S2 Multivariate logistic analysis of participation rates for endoscopy

BACKGROUND The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 include reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by one-third. Although previous modeling studies have predicted premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases, the predictions for cancer and its subcategories are less well understood in China. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to project premature cancer mortality of 10 leading cancers in Hunan Province, China, based on various scenarios of risk factor control so as to establish the priority for future interventions. METHODS We used data collected between 2009 and 2017 from the Hunan cancer registry annual report as empirical data for projections. The population-attributable fraction was used to disaggregate cancer deaths into parts attributable and unattributable to 10 risk factors: smoking, alcohol use, high BMI, diabetes, physical inactivity, low vegetable and fruit intake, high red meat intake, high salt intake, and high ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels. The unattributable deaths and the risk factors in the baseline scenario were projected using the proportional change model, assuming constant annual change rates through 2030. The comparative risk assessment theory was used in simulated scenarios to reflect how premature mortality would be affected if the targets for risk factor control were achieved by 2030. RESULTS The cancer burden in Hunan significantly increased during 2009-2017. If current trends for each risk factor continued to 2030, the total premature deaths from cancers in 2030 would increase to 97,787 in Hunan Province, and the premature mortality (9.74%) would be 44.47% higher than that in 2013 (6.74%). In the combined scenario where all risk factor control targets were achieved, 14.41% of premature cancer mortality among those aged 30-70 years would be avoided compared with the business-as-usual scenario in 2030. Reductions in the prevalence of diabetes, high BMI, ambient PM2.5 levels, and insufficient fruit intake played relatively important roles in decreasing cancer premature mortality. However, the one-third reduction goal would not be achieved for most cancers except gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS Existing targets on cancer-related risk factors may have important roles in cancer prevention and control. However, they are not sufficient to achieve the one-third reduction goal in premature cancer mortality in Hunan Province. More aggressive risk control targets should be adopted based on local conditions.

Objective Several miRNAs have been found to be abnormally expressed during nasopharyngeal carcinoma development. Nevertheless, the interaction between miRNAs and downstream genes remains unexploited. In this study, we aim to investigate miRNAs-mRNAs interaction and the mechanism of miR-182 in NPC. Results Integrative analysis identified several hub-miRNAs that drive NPC pathogenesis. The expression of miR-182 was notably increased in 32 NPC tissues and cell lines (CNE1 and 5-8F). Up-regulation of miR-182 was strongly correlated with poor prognosis of NPC patients. Moreover, the proliferation and invasion of NPC cells were notably increased in miR-182 mimics condition and decreased in miR-182 inhibitor condition. Furthermore, PTEN was verified to be a target of miR-182 and overexpression of PTEN could abrogate the promotion effect of miR-182 mimics on NPC invasion. Conclusions We identified several hub-miRNAs that may drive NPC pathogenesis. MiR-182 could promote proliferation and invasion of NPC cells via targeting PTEN, which provides a new insight into the clinical therapy of NPC. Materials and methods Genome-wide miRNAs of NPC tissues was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools. QRT-PCR experiment was conducted to measure relative expression level. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify target relationship. The proliferation and invasion of transfected cells were measured by CCK-8 and transwell assay.

With the increase of the renewable energy penetration (REP) level in the interconnected power grid, the proportion of the grid-connected conventional synchronous generators reduces continuously, resulting in the decrease of the system inertia. The insufficient system inertia brings challenges to the system frequency stability. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs), regarded as the high-quality frequency regulation resource, play an important role in maintaining the frequency stability of the system with the high REP level. To configure the proper power of BESSs in system frequency regulation, a BESS power configuration scheme (PCS) considering the REP constraint is proposed in this paper. In particular, the process to obtain the REP boundary of the interconnected grid on the premise of system frequency stability is included in the PCS, and the optimal power configuration of the BESS is further determined on the analysis of the BESS impact on the REP boundary. Furthermore, a simulation model of the Australian five-area interconnected power grid is built in MATLAB/Simulink, and the proposed REP-constrained PCS is verified and analyzed. At last, the promising results show that the PCS can take full advantages of the BESS in frequency regulation and meet the system requirement of the frequency stability at a particular REP level.

Background As crucial regulators and possible biomarkers for cancer development, miRNAs have attracted intensive attention during the last two decades. Among the known miRNAs, miR-135a has been indicated as a tumor suppressor in several cancer types, whereas its roles and mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely unclear. Materials and methods Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was conducted to detect the expression of miR-135a in paired GC tissues as well as cell lines. The prognostic value was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to determine the roles of miR-135a in GC cell migration. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, qPCR, and Western blot analysis were used to validate the targeting of TRAF5 and subsequent NF-κB pathway by miR-135a. Rescue experiments were done to explain the involvement of TRAF5 in mediating the anti-migration effect of miR-135a in GC cells. Finally, the expression of TRAF5 was examined in paired GC tissues. Results miR-135a was confirmed to be decreased in GC tissues and cell lines, and its lower expression predicted worse overall survival. Cellular experiments proved that miR-135a suppressed migration in GC cells. Through directly targeting TRAF5 and subsequently inhibiting NF-κB pathway, miR-135a might efficiently inhibit GC cell metastasis. Furthermore, we found that TRAF5 overexpression was negatively correlated with miR-135a expression in GC tissues. Conclusion Our study indicated that miR-135a serves a suppressing role in GC cell migration by targeting TRAF5 and the downstream NF-κB pathway.

In this paper, the controller based on sliding mode observer (SMO) is studied for a singular biological economic model with stage structure and uncertain parameters. First, a biological economic system is established by the singular system with uncertain parameters for the invasion of alien species. And SMO is designed by use of control inputs and measurement outputs. Then, the integral sliding surface is constructed for the error system and the SMO system. Second, by constructing an augmented system, it is ensured that the system is regular, free of impulse, and stable by use of the linear matrix inequality technique and Lyapunov stability theory. Third, a sliding mode control (SMC) law is designed to guarantee the considered system reaching the sliding mode surface. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by a simulation example.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a non-infectious chronic inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa provoking T helper cell (Th) 17 response. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), one of the most abundant polyphenol compounds in various agricultural products, possesses antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. However, the effect of CGA on AR is unclear. Thus, our study explored the effect of CGA in modulating AR-related symptoms and immunoreaction, especially Th17 response. AR mice were induced by ovalbumin (OVA) administration and further treated with CGA or dexamethasone (Dex). The frequencies of rubbing and sneezing of AR mice were recorded. Histopathological analysis of nasal mucosa was conducted by Hematoxylin–Eosin and Periodic acid–Schiff stainings. The serum and nasal mucosa levels of OVA-immunoglobulin (Ig)E, interferon (IFN)-γ, retinoic acid-associated nuclear orphan receptor (ROR)-γt, and interleukin (IL)-17A were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), or Western blot. The ratio of CD4+IL-17+Th17 cells to CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood of AR mice was assessed by flow cytometer. CGA diminished the frequencies of rubbing and sneezing of AR mice in a concentration-dependent manner. CGA attenuated histopathological abnormalities and decreased goblet cell number in nasal mucosa of AR mice. CGA decreased the serum levels of OVA-IgE, ROR-γt, and IL-17A, while increasing the serum level of IFN-γ in AR mice. Meanwhile, CGA decreased the ratio of CD4+IL-17+Th17 cells to CD4+T cells in peripheral blood and the mRNA and protein levels of IL-17A and ROR-γt in AR mice. CGA ameliorated AR-related symptoms in mice by regulating Th17 cells, which could be a candidate for the treatment of AR.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common causes of disability. Neural stem cells (NSCs) from the cochlear nuclei have been considered to be a potential direction for the treatment of SNHL. Neuregulin 1 (NRG1)/ErbB2 signaling displays an essential role in nervous system development. In this study, we aimed to explore the roles of NRG1/ErbB2 in differentiation and apoptosis of cochlear nuclei NSCs. The data showed that the expression of NGR1 and ErbB2 in cochlear nuclei NSCs isolated from rats were increased with the age of rats. NRG1 treatment reduced the nestin-positive cells number, increased the MAP2-positive and GFAP-positive cells number, decreased the expression of cleaved-caspase-3, and increased the activation of PI3K/AKT. ErbB2 knockdown by lentiviral-mediated ErbB2 shRNA infection reversed the effect of NRG1 on cochlear nuclei NSCs. LY294002 administration further enhanced the effect of ErbB2 silencing on the expression of nestin, MAP2, GFAP and cleaved-caspase-3. Taken together, NRG1/ErbB2 regulates differentiation and apoptosis of cochlear nucleus NSCs through PI3K/Akt pathway.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is tightly associated with type 2 inflammation. SFRP5 combined with WNT5A mainly inhibits chronic inflammatory response, atherosclerosis, and other metabolic disorders. However, the effect of SFRP5/WNT5A axis on recombinant human interleukin-13 (rhIL-13)-induced inflammation has not been studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) could modulate the production of cytokines relevant to eosinophil infiltration and mucin secretion through blocking the activation of Wnt family 5A (WNT5A) signaling pathway. A mouse model of AR demonstrated low expression of SFRP5 and high expression of WNT5A, and indicated that the number of eosinophil and goblet cells was increased, concomitant with elevated IL-13, colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2), chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11), Mucin 4, and Mucin 5AC levels. Furthermore, lentivirus-SFRP5 overexpression up-regulated the expression of SFRP5 but down-regulated WNT5A level, and inhibited the activation of JNK pathway via decreasing p-JNK1/2 (Thr183/Tyr185) and p-c-Jun (Ser73) protein expressions in rhIL-13-treated human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs). Noticeably, SFRP5 overexpression markedly reduced rhIL-13-induced inflammatory protein and mucin generation through lowered CSF2, CCL11, Mucin 4, as well as Mucin 5AC levels. Taken together, these findings confirmed the regulatory role of SFRP5/WNT5A axis in rhIL-13-mediated inflammatory response in HNEpCs.

Supplemental material, supplumentary_file for Prognostic and clinicopathological value of Ki-67 expression in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis by Zhaohui Shi, Weihong Jiang, Xiaodong Chen, Min Xu, Xiaocheng Wang and Dingjun Zha in Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology

The anti-interference performance test method of the communication system of the traditional new energy power plant has the shortcoming of long test time. To this end, the anti-interference performance test method of the communication system of the new energy power plant is proposed. By determining the interference type of the new energy communication system, establishing the anti-interference performance index of the communication system, and then calculating the differential mode rejection ratio, common mode rejection ratio and bit error rate, the anti-interference performance test method analysis of the communication system of the new energy power plant is completed. Compare the test time with two traditional anti-interference performance test methods, the experimental results show that the proposed anti-jamming performance test method of communication system in new energy power plant requires shorter test time, and the results indicating that it has a higher test efficiency.

Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) is a promising anode material for electric vehicles (EVs) and electrochemical energy storage applications because of its safety, good rate capability, and long cycle life. At elevated temperature, such as 60 °C, it always shows poor cycle performance because of the instability between the electrode material and electrolyte, which may also lead to a serious gassing issue. In this article, a facile hydrothermal method is adopted to coat the LTO powder with a thin LiF layer, in which the LiF acts as an artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer to prevent the direct contact of LTO and electrolyte, thus improving the high-temperature cycle performance. Electrochemical tests prove that the LiF coating layer has no influence on the kinetics at ambient temperature and greatly enhances the high-temperature cycle stability, and the LTO@LiF composite material keeps 87% of its initial discharge capacity in 300 1C cycles at 60 °C. Moreover, the LiF coating layer exhibits a special self-driven ...

Inverter is one of the most important equipment in photovoltaic power plant. Ventilation cooling can affect inverter efficiency, and then affect the photovoltaic power plant reliability. This paper analyses several different ventilation schemes for integrated inverter, and compares two CFD models which are ventilation with and without hood and duct using simulation software “ANSYS FLUENT”. The CFD simulation shows that hood and duct can improve the cooling effect. The paper shows that inverter ventilation with hood and duct can reduce the energy cost and ensures the photovoltaic power plant reliability, this ventilation scheme is recommend for inverter room ventilation.

Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen. Serotype 2 and sequence type (ST) 1 are the most frequently reported strains in both infected humans and pigs. ST7 is only endemic to China, and it was responsible for outbreaks in 1998 and 2005 in China. In the present study, 38 sporadic ST7 S. suis strains, which mostly caused sepsis, were collected from patients in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GX) between 2007 and 2018. Of 38 sporadic ST7 strains, serotype 14 was the most frequent (27 strains, 71.1%), followed by serotype 2 (11 strains, 28.9%). The phylogenetic structure of the ST7 population, including epidemic and sporadic ST7 strains, was constructed using mutational single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). High diversity within the ST7 population was revealed and divided into five lineages. Only one sporadic ST7 strain, GX14, from a Streptococcal toxic-shock-like syndrome (STSLS) patient was clustered into the same lineage as the epidemic strains. GX14 and the epidemic strains diverged in 1974. The sporadic ST7 strains of GX were mainly clustered into lineage 5, which emerged in 1980. Comparing to genome of epidemic strain, the major differences in genome of sporadic ST7 strains of GX was the absence of 89 kb pathogenicity island (PAI) specific to epidemic strain and insertion of 128 kb ICE_phage tandem MGE or ICE portion of the MGE. These mobile elements play a significant role in the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in sporadic ST7 strains. Our results enhanced the understanding of the evolution of the ST7 strains and their ability to cause life-threatening infections in humans.

Background: Nasal polyps are a common health problem that can significantly impact the quality of life. Objective: To analyze the impact of allergy and peripheral eosinophils (EOS) on the morbidity of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in Northwest China. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 323 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and CRSwNP in Xijing Hospital was studied between January 5, 2011, and January 4, 2015. All of the patients underwent an allergen skin prick test and peripheral blood EOS inspection. Detailed information regarding the impact of allergy and EOS on the morbidity of CRSwNP was collected. Potential risk factors associated with nasal polyps were explored using logistic regression analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors. Results: The results revealed that EOS is an important risk factor for nasal polyps. In the univariate analysis, the adjusted OR was 2.01 (95% CI 1.08–3.72; p = 0.027). In the multivariate analysis, the adjusted OR was 2.02 (95% CI 1.08–3.76; p = 0.027). Compared to allergic rhinitis and normal EOS levels, nonallergic rhinitis and elevated EOS levels constituted a risk factor for CRSwNP (OR = 2.70; 95% CI 1.32–5.50). Compared to allergen-positive and EOS-normal status, allergen-negative and elevated-EOS status constituted a risk factor for CRSwNP (OR = 2.95; 95% CI 1.38–6.33). Conclusion: EOS is a significant factor related to the morbidity of CRSwNP in Northwest China. Elevated EOS levels occurring in the context of nonallergic rhinitis constitute a risk factor for CRSwNP. Similarly, elevated EOS levels occurring in the context of allergen-negative rhinitis are also an important risk factor for morbidity of CRSwNP.

The harmonic amplitude may exceed the limit when the large scale of wind farm is connected to the weak AC system through AC submarine cable. The harmonic with high amplitude will endanger the safety of power equipment, and even affect the normal integration of large-scale wind farm. This paper takes an actual offshore wind power connected to the system through AC submarine cable as an example. On the basis of building the model of the system in the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation software. The simulation calculation is systematically carried out. The effect of multiple factors on the harmonic characteristics is analyzed. The preliminary explanation for the harmonic amplitude out of limit is given for the actual large scale of wind farm connected to the weak AC system through AC submarine cable.

Carbon emissions related to population factors have aroused great attention around the world. A multitude of literature mainly focused on single demographic impacts on environmental issues at the national level, and comprehensive studies concerning population-related factors at a city level are rare. This paper employed STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology) model incorporating PLS (Partial least squares) regression method to examine the influence of population-related factors on carbon emissions in Beijing from 1984 to 2012. Empirically results manifest that urbanization is the paramount driver. Changes in population age structure have significantly positive impacts on carbon emissions, and shrinking young population, continuous expansion of working age population and aging population will keep on increasing environmental pressures. Meanwhile, shrinking household size and expanding floating population boost the discharge of carbon emissions. Besides, per capita consumption is an important contributor of carbon emissions, while industry energy intensity is the main inhibitory factor. Based upon these findings and the specific circumstances of Beijing, policies such as promoting clean and renewable energy, improving population quality and advocating low carbon lifestyles should be enhanced to achieve targeted emissions reductions.

In this paper, a very high repetition-rate, short-pulse, electro-optical cavity-dumped Nd: YVO 4 laser is experimentally and theoretically investigated. The laser performance is optimized from two aspects. Firstly, the laser resonator is designed for a good thermal stability under large pump power fluctuation through optics methods. Secondly, dynamics simulation as well as experiments verifies that cavity dumping at very high repetition rate has better stability than medium/high repetition rate. At 30 W, 880 nm pump power, up to 500 kHz, constant 5 ns, stable 1064 nm fundamental-mode laser pulses can be obtained with 10 W average output power.

LncRNAs were a group of RNAs, which can be a regulator or master in biological activities of cancer cells. HIF1A-AS2 belongs to this group, and it has been verified to be able to affect cell activities in several kinds of cancers. In this study, we tried to study the functions of HIF1A-AS2 exerted in colorectal cancer. In order to clearly know about the expression of HIF1A-AS2, miR-129-5p and DNMT3A in CRC tissues and cells, we employed qRT-PCR. The relevance among those three genes was examined by the use of Pearson correlation analysis. With the aid of bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter assays, the combinations between them were verified one by one MTT, colony formation trans-well and western blotting, immunofluorescence, all those assays reflected a fact that as a ceRNA, HIF1A-AS2 could directly bind with miR-129-5p, and could positively affect cell proliferation, invasion and EMT formation by regulation of the expression of miR-129-5p and DNMT3A. Therefore, we obtained a conclusion that HIF1A-AS2 exerted the oncogenic functions in CRC through regulating miR-129-5p/DNMT3A axis, which indicates that HIF1A-AS2 might be a useful therapeutic target in CRC.

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