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Objective. Ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, is considered a novel target for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to explore whether modified Gegen Qinlian decoction (MGQD) ameliorates UC in mice via mediating ferroptosis. Methods. Mice with dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced colitis were administered with MGQD for seven days. Subsequently, iron, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. ELISA and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and tight junction proteins, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was used to reveal mitochondrial morphology. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses were used to assess the expression levels of the proteins of Nrf2/GPX4 pathway. The docking affinity of MGQD and Nrf2 was assessed using AutoDock Vina 1.1.2. Results. Ferroptosis was identified in mice with UC, as demonstrated by mitochondrial disruption, MDA and ROS production, iron overload, decrease in GSH level, and abnormal expression of core marker proteins of ferroptosis. After MGQD treatment, these characteristic changes of ferroptosis were significantly reversed, along with concomitant activation of the Nrf2/GPX4 pathway. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis revealed that MGQD had a high affinity for Nrf2. Conclusion. MGQD may ameliorate UC by inhibiting ferroptosis via the activation of Nrf2/GPX4 pathway. This study provided new insights into the application of MGQD complementary therapy for UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tunnel heating systems, phase change materials may minimize the consumption of conventional electric energy, which is very considerate in the field of tunnel heating in cold regions. Because of the phase change material's poor heat conductivity, its annual growth rate heat absorption and release is slower; thus, the majority of phase change heat storage systems must improve heat transmission. In this study, a spiral metal ring is implanted in the paraffin to improve heat transmission to achieve this objective using a concentric sleeve-type paraffin heat storage device as a medium. Experiments were performed out in order to determine the effects of heating rate, hot fluid flow rate, and the use of a spiral metal ring on the heat storage and release process of a thermal storage device. In comparison to the paraffin thermal storage device, the embedding of the spiral metal ring accelerates the internal thermal performance of the composite heat storage device, resulting in a more uniform temperature distribution. When the thermal radiation heating rate is 60°C, 65°C, or 70°C during the heat storage process, the heat storage time of the composite heating storage device is reduced by 59.2 percent, 44.4 percent, and 40.7 percent, respectively. When the ambient temperature is 26°C and the heat storage device's starting temperature is 65°C, the exothermic time is reduced by 22.6 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid oxygen chill-down in a straight horizontal pipe was studied experimentally. The effect of the entrance corner was excluded, and much denser wall temperature sensors along the pipe have been set compared to the present studies. In this way, the chill-down process, as well as the development of the flow pattern, has been drawn for every test. As a result, the mechanism of LO2 chill-down would be obtained for various pressure sections. For cases with stable pressure below 1.25 MPa, liquid rewetting in the pipe is controlled by the propagation of quenching fronts. For cases with a higher pressure, liquid rewetting in the second half of the pipe is controlled by the sudden liquid fill-in. Based on the transition points obtained, heat transfer coefficients on the Leidenfrost point and critical heat flux have been correlated for various pressure sections using new approaches. Conclusions show that the correlation equations are dependent on the chill-down mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity is prevalent, but its correlation with homocysteine (Hcy), a biomarker of vascular risk events, is unclear. This study is aimed at exploring the correlation of H. pylori IgG seropositivity and plasma Hcy levels in adults. Methods. Data was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle 1999-2000. Hcy was measured by the Abbott homocysteine assay, and H. pylori IgG was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The weighted multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustments for potential confounders were conducted. Subgroup analyses stratified by gender, age, and race were performed. Results. A total of 4029 subjects aged 20-85 years were included. Population prevalence of H. pylori IgG seropositivity was 44.7% in the overall population with higher prevalence found in those with older age, Mexican Americans, lower education, and lower household income. Levels of plasma Hcy were not elevated in those with H. pylori IgG seropositivity versus seronegativity (β -0.120 (-0.438, 0.199) P = 0.462). This difference was not significant after stratifying by gender and age. However, in the subgroup analyses stratified by race, a negative correlation between H. pylori seropositivity and plasma Hcy levels was observed in Mexican Americans (β -0.802 (-1.253, -0.352) P < 0.001). Conclusions. H. pylori IgG seropositivity was not associated with plasma Hcy levels in the general population, but there may be a negative correlation in Mexican Americans. These findings provide new insights to advance the research of the link between plasma Hcy levels and stomach health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For tunnels in cold or serious cold areas, the problem of leaking in the spring thawing period is very frequent, which will cause various tunnel diseases due to freezing. By using the surrounding rock geothermal energy in the tunnel project, especially the tunnel project below the permafrost layer, the cold area tunnel heat pump system is able to improve the overall heating energy efficiency as the side temperature regarding the heat pump evaporation increases, that furtherly serves the surrounding supporting building facilities. Inspired by this system and the active and passive coupling building technology, a heat recovery type of heat storage wall model is proposed in this research. By describing the heat transfer process regarding the heat recovery type of heat storage wall and carrying out the experimental research, its feasibility and effectiveness are verified. The results show that when the outdoor ambient temperature in Urumqi is −7~−15°C and the instantaneous total solar radiation reaches the range of 0~1108 W/m2, this kind of wall can create hot wall-near air whose temperature is 11.89°C higher than the ambient temperature for providing a high-quality air heat source for the air source heat pump when the temperature is low, thereby significantly improving the air source heat pump heating system efficiency. Without the photovoltaic and photothermal equipment, the heat recovery type of heat storage wall can make the utilization rate of solar energy reach 13% to 20%, even up to 36%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid oxygen chill-down in a vertical exit-contracted pipe was investigated experimentally. The wall temperatures were recorded in detail to describe the filling and chill-down process of the experimental section. Two quenching fronts, the exit one and the inlet one, were detected, and their propagations were found. Results show that the chill-down process is controlled mainly by the formation and propagation of quenching front, which are determined by the pressure level. With the increase of pressure, the roles of both propagation of quenching front and inlet quenching front undergo decreasing. On the vertical section, the effect of circumferential position was discussed in detail and the dominant point was identified, which determines the boiling transition time of the dominated points on the current cross-section. Based on the experimental data, two correlations were suggested for dominant point and dominated points, respectively, to predict heat flux on Leidenfrost, heat transfer coefficient on Leidenfrost, and critical heat flux. One equation was approved to predict heat transfer coefficient on critical heat flux point for both sorts of points. All of these correlations could produce reliable predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of insufficient protection and spatial development of traditional villages, a method of spatial layout of traditional villages based on computer numerical analysis is proposed. This method uses GIS technology to determine the spatial distribution characteristics of traditional villages in a city by using the nearest neighbor index, geographic concentration index, and kernel density estimation, and analyzes its influencing factors. The experimental results show that most traditional villages are 60–119 km away from the central urban area, and 73% of the traditional villages are more than 60 km away from the central urban area. Traditional villages are generally far away from the central urban area and are less affected by urbanization, maintaining the original style of traditional villages. It shows that elevation, slope, hydrology, traffic conditions, economic indicators, and cultural factors are important factors affecting the spatial distribution of traditional villages in a city. Through analysis, it can be seen that the distribution of traditional villages is affected by multiple factors such as natural conditions, social and economic conditions, and cultural factors. The optimal layout of traditional villages can be strengthened mainly from these aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies have attempted to use vehicle motion data for real-time vehicle crash prediction, many driver behavior and road/environment factors (e.g., driving intention and pavement condition) have not been considered. In order to cope with increased complexity and extent crash risk assessment with the consideration of factors like driving intention and pavement condition, this paper (a) combines driver intention, vehicle motion, and dynamic traffic environment into the assessment of the conflict risk in real time, (b) establishes a hierarchical analysis model for quantitatively describing driving safety based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and (c) applies a Matter Element (ME) Model to take multiple factors, which are heterogeneous in terms of nature of analysis (quantitative or qualitative) and measure units, into account, and provide a comprehensive evaluation of vehicle crash risk. Finally, a set of simulation cases are used to compare the detection efficiency of the proposed method with ANN and SVM for vehicle collision. The example analysis shows that the proposed AHP-ME model can more accurately predict the collision risk of vehicles. Moreover, the proposed AHP-ME model provides an effective solution to unify multi-factors (driver intention, vehicle motion, and dynamic traffic environment) into an integrated decision-making framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD), a Chinese herbal compound, has been widely used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in China. However, evidence from systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) of GQD in UC remains highly controversial. To collate, evaluate, and synthesize the current evidence, we carried out this study. Methods. SRs/MAs of GQD for UC were obtained from eight databases. Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) was utilized to appraise the methodological quality, Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for reporting quality, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) for evidence quality. Results. Four eligible SRs/MAs were obtained. According to AMSTAR 2, all SRs/MAs were graded as critically low quality. According to PRISMA checklist, all SRs/MAs failed to report the information of protocol and registration. With GRADE, no outcome measure with high-quality evidence was found, and the evidence quality for outcome measures was in the moderate to critically low levels. Conclusions. GQD with conventional medicine (CM) seems to be more effective in UC than CM alone. This finding provides a new alternative strategy for the treatment of UC. However, owing to the limitations of the evidence provided by the included SRs/MAs, this conclusion must be treated with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Dahuang Danshen decoction (DD) is used to treat pancreatic fibrosis. Pancreatic fibrosis is a typical manifestation of chronic pancreatitis (CP), which affects the digestive system. The therapeutic mechanisms of DD in pancreatic fibrosis are unclear. Aim. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of DD on oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in CP. Materials and Methods. Experimental rats were intraperitoneally injected with 500 mg/kg BW of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) twice a week for six weeks to induce CP. At the same time, DD was administered orally at daily doses of 1.37 g/kg BW, 2.74 g/kg BW, and 5.48 g/kg BW to evaluate its treatment effects on CP. After all treatments, pancreatic tissues were harvested and subjected to H&E staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also performed to show the endoplasmic reticulum structure in the pancreatic tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the α-SMA expression level in the pancreatic tissues. Metabolomics analysis of the serum and proteomics analysis of the pancreatic tissues were performed to reveal the changes of endogenous metabolites and proteins, respectively. Concentrations of GSH, MDA, SOD, ROS, col-1, and col-3 were determined using corresponding kits. The western blotting method was used to determine the protein levels of Keap-1, HO-1, NQO1, Nrf2, GRP, JNK, and caspase 12. The pancreatic mRNA levels of NQO1, GPX1, HO-1, GST-π, GRP, JNK, and caspase 12 were also determined by quantitative PCR. The interactions between TCM components and Keap-1 were investigated by molecular docking modeling. Results. The pathohistological results demonstrated that DD could ameliorate DDC-induced CP in vivo, indicated by reduction of α-SMA, col-1, col-3, TNF-α, and IL-6. DD increased serum levels of GSH and SOD but reduced pancreatic ROS. DD decreased cytoplasmic Keap-1 and increased Nrf2 nuclear localization. Correspondingly, DD increased the expression levels of Nrf2 downstream antioxidant genes NQO1, GPX1, HO-1, and GST-π. DD also decreased ERS hallmarks caspase 12 cleavage and GRP expression. Eventually, DD inhibited PSC activation by reducing JNK phosphorylation and MMK-3/p38 expression. Molecular docking analysis showed that salvianolic acid B and emodin had a good binding affinity toward Keap-1. Conclusions. These results demonstrated that DD could ameliorate the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress through releasing Nrf2 from Keap-1 binding and inducing the downstream antioxidant enzymes. As a result, DD could thwart pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting PSCs activation, which was induced by OS and ERS through JNK and MMK3/p38 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of nuclear transcription factors. The functions of the PPAR family (PPARA, PPARD, and PPARG) and their coactivators (PPARGC1A and PPARGC1B) in maintenance of lipid and glucose homeostasis have been unveiled. However, the roles of PPARs in cancer development remain elusive. In this work, we made use of 11,057 samples across 33 TCGA tumor types to analyze the relationship between PPAR transcriptional expression and tumorigenesis as well as drug sensitivity. We performed multidimensional analyses on PPARA, PPARG, PPARD, PPARGC1A, and PPARGC1B, including differential expression analysis in pan-cancer, immune subtype analysis, clinical analysis, tumor purity analysis, stemness correlation analysis, and drug responses. PPARs and their coactivators expressed differently in different types of cancers, in different immune subtypes. This analysis reveals various expression patterns of the PPAR family at a level of pan-cancer and provides new clues for the therapeutic strategies of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from sand and clay, loess has special engineering properties; hence, existing soil grouting theories are not suitable for the disaster treatment of shallow loess tunnels. In this study, a fine grouting reinforcement test system was developed, and the Yuhan Road tunnel overlying loess was used as the injection medium. An orthogonal test based on slurry dry density, moisture content, water-to-cement ratio, and grouting pressure was conducted. Results revealed that the loess samples have high integrity after grouting, and the cohesion and compressive strength improved significantly. The stress-strain curve showed that the strengthened samples have greater ultimate and residual strengths than samples before grouting. Through a range analysis, it was determined that water-to-cement ratio and moisture content are the main factors affecting loess cohesion and compressive strength. Therefore, a comprehensive test of the water-to-cement ratio and moisture content as a single variable was conducted. It was found that their influence on loess cohesion and compressive strength is not a single linear relationship but a combined balance. To characterize the joint effect of water in loess and in slurry on reinforcement, the concept of a comprehensive water-to-cement ratio is proposed, and the cohesion and compressive strength curves with respect to this ratio were drawn. An optimal comprehensive water-to-cement ratio, which corresponds to the maximum cohesion or compressive strength, was found. Based on this ratio, we further propose a method to calculate the water-to-cement ratio of slurry and suitable grouting amount for the Yuhan Road tunnel reinforcement project, in which all solution parameters can be measured via field tests. In the project, a surface layered grouting scheme, based on the optimal comprehensive water-to-cement ratio, was designed. After grouting, loess strength was improved significantly, permeability was reduced greatly, and the overall reinforcement effect was suitable; these results provide a reference for similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To reveal the molecular mechanisms of ulcerative colitis (UC) and provide potential biomarkers for UC gene therapy. Methods. We downloaded the GSE87473 microarray dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between UC samples and normal samples. Then, a module partition analysis was performed based on a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), followed by pathway and functional enrichment analyses. Furthermore, we investigated the hub genes. At last, data validation was performed to ensure the reliability of the hub genes. Results. Between the UC group and normal group, 988 DEGs were investigated. The DEGs were clustered into 5 modules using WGCNA. These DEGs were mainly enriched in functions such as the immune response, the inflammatory response, and chemotaxis, and they were mainly enriched in KEGG pathways such as the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, and complement and coagulation cascades. The hub genes, including dual oxidase maturation factor 2 (DUOXA2), serum amyloid A (SAA) 1 and SAA2, TNFAIP3-interacting protein 3 (TNIP3), C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL1), solute carrier family 6 member 14 (SLC6A14), and complement decay-accelerating factor (CD antigen CD55), were revealed as potential tissue biomarkers for UC diagnosis or treatment. Conclusions. This study provides supportive evidence that DUOXA2, A-SAA, TNIP3, CXCL1, SLC6A14, and CD55 might be used as potential biomarkers for tissue biopsy of UC, especially SLC6A14 and DUOXA2, which may be new targets for UC gene therapy. Moreover, the DUOX2/DUOXA2 and CXCL1/CXCR2 pathways might play an important role in the progression of UC through the chemokine signaling pathway and inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil (POCO) with its unique properties has been shown clinical benefits for FD. However, the potent statistical data to confirm its effects are lacking. This meta-analysis thus aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of POCO compared with placebo in treating patients with FD. We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, Wanfang, and VIP databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) up to June 2019. Dichotomous data were shown as a risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All data were analyzed by Review Manager 5.2 software. The search identified 382 citations, and 5 RCTs (578 participants) were included. POCO showed a statistically significant effect in global improvement of FD symptoms (RR for not much or very much improvement 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.71, P < 0.00001 , I2 36%, NNT 3) and improvement in epigastric pain (RR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.28 to 2.03, P < 0.0001 , I2 0%, NNT 3). There were no significant differences in the total number of adverse events between POCO and placebo (NNH 40). In conclusion, this is the first meta-analysis to assess the effects of POCO in FD. POCO is an effective and safe short-term treatment for FD. However, current findings are based on smaller sample sizes and low/very low quality of the evidence. More well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes of FD patients are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal mechanism of a microbial flocculant produced using a novel Paenibacillus sp. strain A9 (MBFA9) for two heavy metal ions, lead and zinc, from an aqueous solution is studied and compared. The removal rate of Pb(II) or Zn(II) by MBFA9 increased with an increase in the pH when the pH was less than 6.0. The removal rates were 91.26% for Pb(II) and 76.28% for Zn(II). The optimum condition was found at a pH of 5.5 and dosage of MBFA9 of 5% (v/v, 150 mg/L). When the initial concentration of metal ions was 100 mg/L, the removal capacity was 453.70 mg/g for Pb(II) and 398.48 mg/g for Zn(II). The capture process of a single metal ion of Pb(II) or Zn(II) by MBFA9 agreed with the Langmuir adsorption model with fitting coefficients of 0.9907 and 0.9408, respectively. Both the adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium, usually described as adsorption isotherms, showed that this process of Pb(II) or Zn(II) capture by MBFA9 involved simple adsorption of a single molecular layer. The maximum reaction rate constant, K 2, of MBFA9 in the captured Pb(II) decreased from 0.0497 to 0.0095, with an increase in the Zn(II) concentration under different Zn(II) concentrations (0, 20, and 40 mg/L). This indicated that the presence of Zn(II) competed with PB(II) for the binding sites of MBFA9 and led to a decrease in the removal rate. The process was controlled by chemical adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scene understanding is to predict a class label at each pixel of an image. In this study, we propose a semantic segmentation framework based on classic generative adversarial nets (GAN) to train a fully convolutional semantic segmentation model along with an adversarial network. To improve the consistency of the segmented image, the high-order potentials, instead of unary or pairwise potentials, are adopted. We realize the high-order potentials by substituting adversarial network for CRF model, which can continuously improve the consistency and details of the segmented semantic image until it cannot discriminate the segmented result from the ground truth. A number of experiments are conducted on PASCAL VOC 2012 and Cityscapes datasets, and the quantitative and qualitative assessments have shown the effectiveness of our proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of monofilament tests for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods. We searched EMBASE (OvidSP), MEDLINE (OvidSP), the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify diagnostic accuracy trials of monofilament tests for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We used a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristics (HSROC) model to conduct the meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy of monofilament tests for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Results. A total of 19 comparative trials met the inclusion criteria and were part of the qualitative synthesis. Eight trials using nerve conduction studies as the reference standard were selected for the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of monofilament tests for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy were 0.53 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32 to 0.74) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.94), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 4.56 (95% CI 2.93 to 7.10) and 0.53 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.81), respectively. Conclusions. Our review indicated that monofilament tests had limited sensitivity for screening diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The clinical use of the monofilament test in the evaluation of diabetic peripheral neuropathy cannot be encouraged based on currently available evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To systematically assess the effects of yoga on pain, mobility, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods. Pubmed, Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and other sources were searched systematically in this study. Two reviewers identified eligible studies and extracted data independently. Downs and Black’s Quality Index were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Results. A total of 9 articles (6 studies) involving 372 patients with knee osteoarthritis met the inclusion criteria. The most common yoga protocol is 40~90 minutes/session, lasting for at least 8 weeks. The effect of yoga on pain relief and function improvement could be seen after two-week intervention. Conclusion. This systematic review showed that yoga might have positive effects in relieving pain and mobility on patients with KOA, but the effects on quality of life (QOL) are unclear. Besides, more outcome measure related to mental health of yoga effects on people with KOA should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To research the mechanism of action and transcriptomic characteristics for the intervention effect of self-made Chaihuang decoction (Sichs) on gastric ulcer (GU) rats with liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency and to clarify the therapeutic pathway and effective target. Methods. Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, and Sichs group (10 rats per group). The model of GU rats with liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency was established through multifactor compound simulation of traditional Chinese medical (TCM) etiology and acetic acid method. Histopathological changes in the gastric antrum tissue were observed with H&E staining. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was utilized to check differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the gastric antrum tissues of rats, and gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. The key DEGs were validated using qRT-PCR. Results. Sichs could ameliorate gastric antrum tissue injury in GU rats with liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency. After RNA-seq, it was found that Sichs could reverse 225 upregulated genes and 26 downregulated genes in the model group. And the DEGs between the Sichs group and the model group were related to cell division, complement activation, and phospholipase A2 (Pla2g2a) activity. According to KEGG pathway analysis, DEGs between the two groups were mainly enriched in signaling pathways such as cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, and linolenic acid metabolism. The validation results of the four key DEGs were consistent with the analysis trend of sequencing results. Conclusion. Sichs can effectively improve GU with liver qi stagnation and spleen deficiency in rats through the signaling pathways related to cell cycle and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]