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The empirical expressions for predicting the small-strain shear modulus (G0) of granular soils in current engineering practice are established mainly on experimental data under isotropic stress conditions. In most geotechnical applications, however, soils are subjected to anisotropic stress conditions. The impact of stress anisotropy on G0 is a critical concern but is not yet fully understood. In this paper, we present a specifically designed experimental study to address the question. Various principal stress ratios were applied to isotropically consolidated sand specimens in a triaxial apparatus, and the elastic shear waves were generated by the bender elements installed in the apparatus such that the variations of G0 from isotropic stress states to anisotropic stress states were determined. Three quartz sands with different particle shapes were tested under a range of states in terms of void ratio, axial stress, and radial stress. The study shows that the impact of stress anisotropy is much more complicated than commonly thought. It depends on the magnitude of the stress ratio and the loading mode. A simple model that accounts for two primary mechanisms associated with the impact of stress anisotropy is proposed, and its performance is evaluated using various sources of data in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Accurate and effective biomarkers for the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly identified. A network-based gene signature may serve as a valuable biomarker to improve the accuracy of risk discrimination in patients. Methods. The expression levels of cancer hallmarks were determined by Cox regression analysis. Various bioinformatic methods, such as GSEA, WGCNA, and LASSO, and statistical approaches were applied to generate an MTORC1 signaling-related gene signature (MSRS). Moreover, a decision tree and nomogram were constructed to aid in the quantification of risk levels for each HCC patient. Results. Active MTORC1 signaling was found to be the most vital predictor of overall survival in HCC patients in the training cohort. MSRS was established and proved to hold the capacity to stratify HCC patients with poor outcomes in two validated datasets. Analysis of the patient MSRS levels and patient survival data suggested that the MSRS can be a valuable risk factor in two validated datasets and the integrated cohort. Finally, we constructed a decision tree which allowed to distinguish subclasses of patients at high risk and a nomogram which could accurately predict the survival of individuals. Conclusions. The present study may contribute to the improvement of current prognostic systems for patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reduced heart rate (HR) increase (HRI), recovery (HRR), and higher resting HR are associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease, but causal inferences have not been deduced. We investigated causal effects of HRI, HRR, and resting HR on CV risk, all-cause mortality (ACM), atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary artery disease (CAD), and ischemic stroke (IS) using Mendelian Randomization. Methods: 11 variants for HRI, 11 for HRR, and two sets of 46 and 414 variants for resting HR were obtained from four genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on UK Biobank. We performed a lookup on GWASs for CV risk and ACM in UK Biobank (N = 375,367, 5.4% cases and N = 393,165, 4.4% cases, respectively). For CAD, AF, and IS, we used publicly available summary statistics. We used a random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and sensitivity analyses to estimate causality. Results: IVW showed a nominally significant effect of HRI on CV events (odds ratio [OR] = 1.0012, P = 4.11 × 10–2) and on CAD and AF. Regarding HRR, IVW was not significant for any outcome. The IVW method indicated statistically significant associations of resting HR with AF (OR = 0.9825, P = 9.8 × 10–6), supported by all sensitivity analyses, and a nominally significant association with IS (OR = 0.9926, P = 9.82 × 10–3). Conclusion: Our findings suggest no strong evidence of an association between HRI and HRR and any outcome and confirm prior work reporting a highly significant effect of resting HR on AF. Future research is required to explore HRI and HRR associations further using more powerful predictors, when available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

YES‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) plays a key role as a transcriptional coactivator in the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. YAP1 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers and is considered to be encoded by a proto‐oncogene. However, the role of YAP1 remains debatable, because both gain and loss of YAP1 expression have both been reported in breast cancer (BC). Here, we found that elevated expression of YAP1 mRNA in BC was negatively correlated with relapse‐free, distant metastases‐free and overall survival rates. We then knocked down or overexpressed YAP1 in human BC cells, and examined cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenic ability in vivo. We identified that YAP1 promotes cell growth and inhibits cell apoptosis of BC through the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10–AKT signaling pathway, and thus suggest that YAP1 might serve as a new target for inhibiting BC progression. YES‐associated protein 1 (YAP1) is overexpressed in human breast cancer (BC) and is negatively correlated with the prognosis of BC patients. We report here that YAP1 can promote cancer cell growth and inhibit cell apoptosis by regulating PTEN–AKT signaling in vitro. These results suggest that YAP1 plays an important role in BC progression and might serve as a new target for BC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triglyceride-glucose index (TyGI) is a novel indicator of insulin resistance, which has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the association between TyGI and the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). Cohort studies relevant to the aim of the meta-analysis were retrieved by searching electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. A random-effects model was used to combine the data, incorporating the influence of between-study heterogeneity. Twelve studies involving 20,639 patients with HF were included. Pooled results showed that compared to patients with the lowest category of TyGI at baseline, those with the highest TyGI index were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality during follow-up (relative risk [RR] 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 - 2.00; P < 0.001; I² = 55%). Sensitivity analyses limited to studies after adjustment for confounding factors showed similar results (RR 1.89, 95% CI 1.67 - 2.21; P < 0.001; I² = 13%). Subsequent meta-analyses also showed that a high TyGI at baseline was related to the incidence of cardiovascular death (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.42 - 2.47; P < 0.001; I² = 57%), HF rehospitalization (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.04 - 1.69; P < 0.02; I² = 46%), and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.39 - 2.06; P < 0.001; I² = 17%) during follow-up. In conclusion, a high TyGI may be associated with a poor clinical prognosis for patients with HF.

This work is an update and extension of the previously published article "Ultralong Oxford Nanopore Reads Enable the Development of a Reference-Grade Perennial Ryegrass Genome Assembly" by Frei et al.  The published genome assembly of the doubled haploid perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) genotype Kyuss (Kyuss v1.0) marked a milestone for forage grass research and breeding. However, order and orientation errors may exist in the pseudo-chromosomes of Kyuss, since barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), which diverged 30 million years ago from perennial ryegrass, was used as the reference to scaffold Kyuss. To correct for structural errors possibly present in the published Kyuss assembly, we de novo assembled the genome again and generated 50-fold coverage high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) data to assist pseudo-chromosome construction. The resulting new chromosome-level assembly Kyuss v2.0 showed improved quality with high contiguity (contig N50 = 120 Mb), high completeness (total BUSCO score = 99%), high base-level accuracy (QV = 50), and correct pseudo-chromosome structure (validated by Hi-C contact map). This new assembly will serve as a better reference genome for Lolium spp. and greatly benefit the forage and turf grass research community., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in treating Chinese patients with liver cancer. A total of 367 liver cancer patients from 24 medical centers were consecutively enrolled in this multiple-center, prospective cohort study, including 275 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases, 37 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) cases, and 55 secondary liver cancer cases. All the patients received CalliSpheres ® DEB-TACE treatment. Treatment response, overall survival (OS), change of liver function, and adverse events (AEs) were assessed. DEB-TACE treatment achieved 19.9% complete response (CR) and 79.6% objective response rate (ORR), with mean OS of 384 days [95% confidence interval (CI): 375-393 days]. CR and ORR were both higher in HCC patients compared with primary ICC patients and secondary liver cancer patients, while no difference was discovered in OS. Portal vein invasion was an independent risk factor for CR, while portal vein invasion, previous conventional TACE (cTACE) treatment, and abnormal blood creatinine (BCr) were independent risk factors for ORR. In addition, largest nodule size ≥5.0 cm, abnormal albumin (ALB), and abnormal total bilirubin (TBIL) independently correlated with unfavorable OS. Most liver function indexes were recovered to baseline levels at 1-3 months after DEB-TACE. Common AEs were pain, fever, vomiting, and nausea; most of them were at mild grade. CalliSpheres ® DEB-TACE is efficient and well tolerated in Chinese liver cancer patients. Portal vein invasion, previous cTACE treatment, largest nodule size, abnormal BCr, ALB, and TBIL correlate with worse prognosis independently.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) treatment in Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and the prognostic factors for treatment response as well as survival. A total of 275 HCC patients were included in this prospective study. Treatment response was assessed by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), and progression-free survival (PFS) as well as overall survival (OS) were determined. Liver function and adverse events (AEs) were assessed before and after DEB-TACE operation. Complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and objective response rate (ORR) were 22.9%, 60.7%, and 83.6%, respectively. The mean PFS was 362 (95% CI: 34.9-375) days, the 6-month PFS rate was 89.4 ± 2.1%, while the mean OS was 380 (95% CI: 370-389) days, and the 6-month OS rate was 94.4 ± 1.7%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that portal vein invasion ( p  = 0.011) was an independent predictor of worse clinical response. Portal vein invasion ( p  = 0.040), previous cTACE treatment ( p  = 0.030), as well as abnormal serum creatinine level (BCr) ( p  = 0.017) were independent factors that predicted worse ORR. In terms of survival, higher Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage ( p  = 0.029) predicted for worse PFS, and abnormal albumin (ALB) ( p  = 0.011) and total serum bilirubin (TBIL) ( p  = 0.009) predicted for worse OS. The number of patients with abnormal albumin, total protein (TP), TBIL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were augmented at 1 week posttreatment and were similar at 1-3 months compared with baseline. The most common AEs were pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting, and no severe AEs were observed in this study. DEB-TACE was effective and tolerable in treating Chinese HCC patients, and portal vein invasion, previous cTACE treatment, abnormal BCr, ALB, and TBIL appear to be important factors that predict worse clinical outcome.

Background: This study aimed to assess the treatment response, short-term overall survival (OS) and safety profiles of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in patients with secondary liver cancer., Methods: Fifty-five patients with secondary liver cancer underwent DEB-TACE were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Treatment response was assessed by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). OS was calculated from the time of DEB-TACE operation until the date of death., Results: The complete response (CR) and objective response rate (ORR) at 1-3 months post DEB-TACE were 12.7% and 67.3%. Mean OS was 383 d (95% CI: 360-406), and 6-month OS rate was 93.4%±3.7%. Subgroup analysis revealed previous conventional TACE (cTACE) treatment was correlated with worse ORR (P=0.028), and it was a risk factor for ORR achievement (P=0.021). As for liver function, the percentages of abnormal TP (P=0.031), TBIL (P=0.022), ALT (P=0.002) and AST (P=0.035) were increased at 1 week post DEB-TACE compared to baseline, while these four indexes returned to baseline (all P>0.05) at 1-3 months post DEB-TACE. As to safety profiles, 41 (66.1%), 28 (45.2%), 17 (27.4%), 8 (12.9%) and 6 (9.7%) cases had pain, vomiting, fever, nausea and other adverse events (AEs) respectively during DEB-TACE operation, while 26 (41.9%), 9 (14.5%), 8 (12.9%), 4 (6.5%), 1 (1.6%) and 2 (3.2%) cases had pain, fever, vomiting, nausea, bone marrow toxicity and other AEs respectively at 1 month after DEB-TACE operation., Conclusions: DEB-TACE was efficient and well tolerated in treating patients with secondary liver cancer., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr.2019.06.44). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2019 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)