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Context • Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication in diabetic patients. The pathogenesis of DN is complex. Inflammatory response may play a key role as a common downstream pathway. Objective • The study intended to explore the relationship between the levels of plasma nucleotide-binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3 inflammasome), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 and the progression of type 2 diabetic nephropathy to clarify their relationship with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to provide evidence for clinical treatment. Design • The research team performed a controlled observational study. Setting • The study took place at Baoding No. 1 Central Hospital in Baoding, Hebei, China. Participants • Participants were 153 patients with T2DM who received treatment at the hospital between October 2020 and October 2021. The research team allocated 30 participants without evidence of DN to the control group. Based on the DN stage, the team assigned the 123 remaining participants to one of five observation groups: (1) 32 participants with stage 1 DN to the DN1 group, (2) 31 participants with stage 2 DN to the DN2 group, (3) 30 participants with stage 3 DN to the DN3 group, (4) 30 participants with stage 4 DN to the DN4 group, and (5) 29 participants with stage 5 DN to the DN5 group. Outcome Measures • The research team measured participants’ levels of “nucleotide binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3” (NLRP3), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-18 and used the Spearman rank correlation analysis to determine the correlation between those levels and the DN stages. Results • The levels of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in all the five observation groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<.01). The levels were also significantly higher: (1) in the DN2, DN3, DN4, and DN5 groups than those in the DN1 group (all P<.01); (2) in the DN3, DN4, and DN5 groups than those in the DN2 group (all P<.01); (3) in the DN4 and DN5 groups than those in the DN3 group (all P < .01); and (4) in the DN5 groups than those in the DN4 group (all P < .01). The Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 levels were significantly positively correlated with the DN stage (P=.01). Conclusions • NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 played an important role in the progression of T2DM, and their levels increased with the aggravation of DN. Therefore, the plasma levels of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 can be useful as indicators of the occurrence and development of DN and can provide clinical guidance for the early diagnosis of DN and for the determination and adjustment of treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the protein expression of A-kinase anchor protein 95 (AKAP95), cyclin D3 and AKT with pathological indicators in lung cancer tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression levels of the proteins in 51 lung cancer tissue samples and 15 pericarcinoma tissue samples. The percentage of cyclin D3 positive samples in the lung cancer and pericarcinoma tissues was 68.63 and 28.57%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). However, cyclin D3 expression was not shown to correlate with differentiation grade, histological type or lymph node metastasis. In addition, the percentage of AKT positive samples in the cancer and pericarcinoma tissues was 76.47 and 38.46%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). AKT expression was found to signifi- cantly correlate with the grade of cancer tissue differentiation (P<0.05); however, no correlations were observed with histological type or lymph node metastasis (P>0.05). AKAP95 expression was shown to correlate with cyclin D3 and AKT expression in the lung cancer tissue (P<0.05); however, there was no correlation between cyclin D3 and AKT expression. The present study provided evidence suggesting that AKAP95 may have a role in regulation of the cell cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the digitization level of landscape design, the application of computer virtual reality technology in landscape teaching is discussed in this paper. Firstly, the probability of related core technology is explained. Secondly, the various stages of virtual reality technology aided landscape design are analyzed, and the SketchUp virtual modelling software is used to explain and demonstrate the specific cases. Finally, the application characteristics and advantages of virtual reality technology are summarized, and the application status of the technology in university landscape architecture education is discussed. The application results show that the introduction of computer virtual technology into the landscape design teaching in universities can effectively improve teaching efficiency, and SketchUp modelling can also complete the virtual modelling of buildings, vegetation and so on to assist landscape design. The research in this paper is of great significance in guiding the application of virtual reality technology in landscape design teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-silica ZSM-35 has been successfully synthesized by adding non-calcined MCM-49 seeds to the initial gel without the help of organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs). This is the first report of seed-assisted synthesis without the common composite building units (CBUs) contained in the seeds and products. High solid yields of 65-85% have been achieved, which are the highest values ever reported for the seed-assisted synthesis. Alkaline treatment and hyperpolarized 129 Xe NMR are employed to study the ZSM-35 products, and an interface-induced growth mechanism is proposed, in which ZSM-35 grows over partially dissolved MCM-49 through interface connection. It is supposed that similarity in the local atomic connection between the seeds and target zeolites, even without the common CBUs, would have the possibility to lead to a successful synthesis. The catalytic performance of H-ZSM-35 is tested in the dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation, which shows excellent stability and high selectivity towards methyl acetate (MA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of organic acids greatly influences the taste and storage life of fleshy fruit. Our current understanding of the molecular mechanism of organic acid accumulation in apple (Malus domestica) fruit focuses on the aluminum-activated malate transporter 9/Ma1 gene. In this study, we identified a candidate gene, MdWRKY126, for controlling fruit acidity independent of Ma1 using homozygous recessive mutants of Ma1, namely Belle de Boskoop "BSKP" and Aifeng "AF." Analyses of transgenic apple calli and flesh and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit demonstrated that MdWRKY126 was substantially associated with malate content. MdWRKY126 was directly bound to the promoter of the cytoplasmic NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase MdMDH5 and promoted its expression, thereby enhancing the malate content of apple fruit. In MdWRKY126 overexpressing calli, the mRNA levels of malate-associated transporters and proton pump genes also significantly increased, which contributed to the transport of malate accumulated in the cytoplasm to the vacuole. These findings demonstrated that MdWRKY126 regulates malate anabolism in the cytoplasm and coordinates the transport between cytoplasm and vacuole to regulate malate accumulation. Our study provides useful information to improve our understanding of the complex mechanism regulating apple fruit acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2004, we conducted a nationwide dual flame survey of landline and cell phone numbers to evaluate the feasibility of including cell phone numbers in a random digit dial telephone survey. Households with both landline and cell phones were eligible for selection in both samples. This article describes our design and data collection methods; compares the results from the two samples (with an emphasis on operational characteristics); and presents the outcomes of two experimental manipulations designed to improve the cell phone response rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a dual frame survey of landline and cell phone numbers in 2004 to evaluate the feasibility of including cell phone numbers in random digit dial telephone surveys in the United States. By sampling cell phone numbers, the coverage bias associated with households that have only cell phones is eliminated. However, we discovered two major sources of nonresponse bias in the dual frame sample. In an attempt to reduce these biases, we applied several different estimation schemes. But a comparison to the 2004 Current Population Survey Cell Phone Supplement showed that none of the estimation schemes substantially reduced the nonresponse bias of the estimates. We suggest other methods that might be used in future surveys that include cell phones and discuss the need for additional data collection and research on this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]