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The popularity and widespread of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) have warranted a necessity for monitoring different populations directly or indirectly exposed to particulate matter (PM) from ECIGs. To accurately estimate exposure to aerosols from ECIGs, it is important to correctly measure the concentration of aerosols. Real-time aerosol monitors are usually based on optics that provides biased measurements that are adjusted using filter correction factors. In addition, low-cost aerosol sensors have become popular that allow widespread of these sensors and can estimate ECIG aerosol exposure after calibration. Therefore, this study determined the filter correction factors for three aerosol monitors (MiniWRAS, pDR, and SidePak) based on exposure to six ECIG brands and two particle sizes (PM1 and PM2.5). In addition, the GeoAir2 low-cost monitor was evaluated compared to filter corrected MiniWRAS measurements for these exposures. The study also evaluated the real-time measurements and mass median diameter (MMD) for each ECIG brand. The correction factors varied between aerosol monitors, ECIG brands and particle sizes, with ranges for PM2.5 that span between 1.85 and 2.42 (MiniWRAS), 0.50 and 0.58 (pDR), and 0.24 and 0.28 (SidePak). The GeoAir2 underestimated the reference measurements but had a high correlation (r ¼ 0.90 0.94), showing that the monitor can be effectively calibrated to provide good estimates. The real-time average PM2.5 measurements differed between aerosol instruments with concentrations that ranged between 1398 and 3706 lg/m³ (MiniWRAS), 5479 and 16,825 lg/m³ (pDR), and 9783 and 29,808 lg/m³ (SidePak). Finally, the MMD values spanned between 0.45 and 0.80 lm based on the MiniWRAS measurements. The differences between the raw real-time measurements for the aerosol monitors show the necessity for developing filter correction factors to accurately measure ECIG exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Based on the analysis of a biochemical information database, the "target-pathway" network of anlotinib in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer was constructed by using network pharmacological methods to explore the mechanism of multi-target and multi-pathway treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: The 3D molecular structure formula of anlotinib was obtained by searching the PubChem database, and the target of anlotinib was predicted by using the PharmMapper database; obtain non-small cell lung cancer related targets through the GeneCards database, screen common genes related to drug targets and diseases by Venny 2.1.0, and build the relationship between drugs and diseases. Through the STRING11.5 database, the interaction relationship between action targets was built, the protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and the target degree was analyzed by Cytocsape 3.7.2 software to screen molecular docking objects. The DAVID database was used for Gene Ontology gene enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to predict its mechanism, and the AutoDock software was used for molecular docking of the main targets. Results: The analysis results showed that there were 76 possible targets involved in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with anlotinib, mainly acting on epidermal growth factor receptor, mitogen-activated protein kinase 14, tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11, heat shock protein HSP 90-alpha, tyrosine-protein kinase Lck, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha and other target protein genes, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis obtained 60 possible pathways related to its treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, mainly involving progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, prostate cancer, proteoglycans in cancer, FoxO signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, Ras signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Conclusion: Anlotinib has the characteristics of multi-targets and multi-pathways in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, which provides a scientific basis for the follow-up study on the optimization of its efficacy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and the revelation of the pharmacological effects of anlotinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I-motifs are four-strand noncanonical secondary structures formed by cytosine (C)-rich sequences in living cells. The structural dynamics of i-motifs play essential roles in many cellular processes, such as telomerase inhibition, DNA repli-cation, and transcriptional regulation. In cells, the structural dynamics of the i-motif can be modulated by the interaction of poly(C)-binding proteins (PCBPs), and the interaction is closely related to human health, through modulating the transcription of oncogenes and telomere stability. Therefore, the mechanisms of how PCBPs interact with i-motif structures are fundamentally important. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. I-motif structures in the promoter of the c-MYC oncogene can be unfolded by heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), a PCBP, to activate its transcription. Here, we selected this system as an example to comprehensively study the unfolding mechanisms. We found that the promoter sequence containing 5 C-runs preferred folding into type-1245 to type-1234 i-motif structures based on their folding stability, which was further confirmed by single-molecule FRET. In addition, we first revealed that the c-MYC i-motif structure was discretely resolved by hnRNP K through two intermediate states, which were assigned to the opposite hairpin and neighboring hairpin, as further confirmed by site mutations. Furthermore, we found all three KH (hnRNP K homology) domains of hnRNP K could unfold the c-MYC i-motif structure, and KH2 and KH3 were more active than KH1. In conclusion, this study may deepen our understanding of the interactions between i-motifs and PCBPs and may be helpful for drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the impact of Bushen Qudu Decoction on renal function, renal tissue morphology and TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction pathway in adenine-induced chronic renal failure rats. Methods: 76 rats were assigned to normal group, model group, uremic clearance group, benazepil group, Bushen Qudu decoction gunshan A group and Bushen Qudu decoction Guiza group. Renal failure was induced in rats using intragastric administration of adenine for 30 days. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad6 were determined with immunohistochemistry. Real-time quantitative PCR was employed to assay the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in each group, while protein expressions of Smad2, Smad3 and Smad6 were determined with western blot. The scores of glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions in each group were obtained by histopathological examination. Results: Bushen Qudu decoction significantly reduced BUN and creatinine in rats with chronic renal failure; furthermore, it also lowered the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and SMAD2/3, but Smad6 protein, relative to control (p < 0.05). The TGF-β1mRNA expression was down-regulated (p < 0.05), relative to control group. Conclusion: Bushen Qudu decoction reduces renal interstitial fibrosis in rats and delays the progression of chronic renal failure by regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. These findings provide some insight that should facilitate the development of new drugs that would delay the onset of chronic renal failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase transition of iron under shock compression has attracted much attention in recent decades because of its importance in fields such as condensed matter physics, geophysics, and metallurgy. At room temperature, the transition of iron from the α-phase (bcc) to the ε-phase (hpc) occurs at a stress of 13 GPa. At high temperature, a triple point followed by transformation to the γ-phase (fcc) is expected. However, the details of the high-temperature phase transitions of iron are still under debate. Here, we investigate the phase-transition behavior of polycrystalline iron under compression from room temperature to 820 K. The results show that the shock-induced phase transition is determined unequivocally from the measured three-wave-structure profiles, which clearly consist of an elastic wave, a plastic wave, and a phase-transition wave. The phase transition is temperature-dependent, with an average rate Δσtr/ΔT of -6.91 MPa/K below 700 K and -34.7 MPa/K at higher temperatures. The shock α-ε and α-γ phase boundaries intersect at 10.6 ± 0.53 GPa and 763 K, which agrees with the α-ε-γ triple point from early shock wave experiments and recent laser-heated diamond-anvil cell resistivity and in situ X-ray diffraction data but disagrees with the shock pressure-temperature phase diagram reported in 2009 by Zaretsky. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase transition of iron under shock compression has attracted much attention in recent decades because of its importance in fields such as condensed matter physics, geophysics, and metallurgy. At room temperature, the transition of iron from the α-phase (bcc) to the ε-phase (hpc) occurs at a stress of 13 GPa. At high temperature, a triple point followed by transformation to the γ-phase (fcc) is expected. However, the details of the high-temperature phase transitions of iron are still under debate. Here, we investigate the phase-transition behavior of polycrystalline iron under compression from room temperature to 820 K. The results show that the shock-induced phase transition is determined unequivocally from the measured three-wave-structure profiles, which clearly consist of an elastic wave, a plastic wave, and a phase-transition wave. The phase transition is temperature-dependent, with an average rate Δσtr/ΔT of −6.91 MPa/K below 700 K and −34.7 MPa/K at higher temperatures. The shock α-ε and α-γ phase boundaries intersect at 10.6 ± 0.53 GPa and 763 K, which agrees with the α-ε-γ triple point from early shock wave experiments and recent laser-heated diamond-anvil cell resistivity and in situ X-ray diffraction data but disagrees with the shock pressure–temperature phase diagram reported in 2009 by Zaretsky [J. Appl. Phys. 106, 023510 (2009)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the effect of agricultural data collection and transmission, based on the technology adopted by the mainstream agricultural environmental information monitoring system on the market, this paper uses game theory to innovatively improve the algorithm mechanism of wireless sensor nodes, optimise the clustering structure and routing method of wireless sensor networks, design a remote monitoring platform for field farm information and finally build a complete agricultural information monitoring system. Moreover, taking the temperature and humidity sensor as an example, this paper improves the parameters on the basis of testing the various performance of the sensor, and develops the software of the main chip on the basis of the improved node, and completes the driver design of the sensor. In addition, this paper constructs a wireless sensor network data transmission model based on game theory, and combines simulation experiments to conduct experimental research on the system model constructed in this paper. From the test results, it can be seen that the model constructed in this paper has a better effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of critical source areas (CSAs) is pivotal for the management of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution of watersheds. Most studies focus on source (S) factors and ignore the driving (D) factors of such pollution. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and the export coefficient method (ECM) were incorporated to quantify the S factors of ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and total phosphorus (TP) as NPS pollution. Specifically, S factors coupled with D factors, including precipitation, slope, soil and land use, were regarded as multifactors. Moreover, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was adopted to determine the respective weights of multi-factors after overlaying the factor maps to identify the CSAs. These CSAs accounted for 23.86% of the total area, and generated 54.94% of NH4-N and 42.59% of the TP loads. In contrast with single and multi-factors, we found that using multi-factors having differing weights was more accurate for identifying CSAs. Our study results indicate this approach is reasonable for CSAs' identification in watersheds, and it can provide insights into different pollution sources and migration, thus providing a sounder basis for future decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with a poor prognosis is increasing, and a single field is not capable of fully diagnosing and comprehensively treating IBD. The purpose of the current study was to explore the role of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Subjects were 55 patients with IBD who underwent surgery at this hospital before the establishment of a MDT (before June 2016) and 276 patients who were discussed by a MDT; 72 of the latter patients underwent surgery. The preoperative rate of diagnosis, preoperative basic nutritional status, frequency of emergency surgery, and surgical complications in the two groups were compared to determine whether the MDT significantly affected the diagnosis and treatment of IBD and to explore trends in the types of patients with IBD and treatment decision-making since the establishment of MDT. Results revealed that the MDT significantly improved preoperative diagnostic accuracy for patients with IBD who underwent surgery (p < 0.005), and the frequency of elective surgery decreased significantly (p < 0.005). There were significant differences in the rate of clinical recurrence (p < 0.005) and the rate of additional surgery (p < 0.01) between the two groups, with higher rates in the control group. In terms of preoperative nutritional status, the proportion of decreased serum albumin and hemoglobin in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). MDT plays a positive role in accurate preoperative diagnosis, improvement of preoperative preparations, and a reduction in postoperative adverse events for patients with IBD undergoing surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the correlation between T lymphocytes and clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. A total of 183 COVID-19 patients were recruited in Shenzhen Third People's Hospital from January 11 to February 16, 2020. According to the clinical classification criteria, they were divided into severe group (46 cases) and non-severe (137cases). T lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte subpopulation, IL-6 levels, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Compared with the non-severe group, the lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte percentage, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage, CD8+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte percentage were lower in the severe group (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-severe group, IL-6 were higher in the severe group (p < 0.05). Compared with admission, the T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count were significantly increased upon discharge in severe patients, non-severe patients and all patients. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.011; 95% CI −0.041 to −0.001; p = 0.011), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.14; 95% CI −0.048 to −0.003; p = 0.013) were closely correlated with the clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis also showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.012; 95% CI −3.177 to 0.261; p = 0.021), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.019; 95% CI −5.852 to 0.115; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of disease progressing to the composite endpoint. Subgroup analysis for critically ill patients: The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count remained low in the death patients. The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count recovered soon in the discharged patients. In the event of COVID-19 infection, the T-lymphoid system is the primary activated immune system. The T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes continued to be low may be significantly related to the deterioration of the disease, and may indicate a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure dependence of the yield strength of tantalum was investigated experimentally up to 101 GPa at room temperature using a diamond anvil cell. A yield strength softening is observed between 52 and 84 GPa, whereas a normal trend is observed below 52 GPa and above 84 GPa. The onset pressure of the softening is in agreement with previous results obtained by the pressure gradient method and shock wave experiments. This unusual strength softening in tantalum is not related with structural transformation, preferred orientation, or material damage. Our measurements indicate that microscopic deviatoric strain is the major reason for the observed strength softening in tantalum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the correlation between T lymphocytes and clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. A total of 183 COVID-19 patients were recruited in Shenzhen Third People's Hospital from January 11 to February 16, 2020. According to the clinical classification criteria, they were divided into severe group (46 cases) and non-severe (137cases). T lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte subpopulation, IL-6 levels, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Compared with the non-severe group, the lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte percentage, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage, CD8+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte percentage were lower in the severe group (p < 0.05). Compared with the non-severe group, IL-6 were higher in the severe group (p < 0.05). Compared with admission, the T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count were significantly increased upon discharge in severe patients, non-severe patients and all patients. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.011; 95% CI −0.041 to −0.001; p = 0.011), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.14; 95% CI −0.048 to −0.003; p = 0.013) were closely correlated with the clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis also showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.012; 95% CI −3.177 to 0.261; p = 0.021), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.019; 95% CI −5.852 to 0.115; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of disease progressing to the composite endpoint. Subgroup analysis for critically ill patients: The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count remained low in the death patients. The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count recovered soon in the discharged patients. In the event of COVID-19 infection, the T-lymphoid system is the primary activated immune system. The T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes continued to be low may be significantly related to the deterioration of the disease, and may indicate a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed machine learning systems have been receiving increasing attentions for their efficiency to process large scale data. Many distributed frameworks have been proposed for dierent machine learning tasks. In this paper, we study the distributed kernel regression via the divide and conquer approach. The learning process consists of three stages. Firstly, the data is partitioned into multiple subsets. Then a base kernel regression algorithm is applied to each subset to learn a local regression model. Finally the local models are averaged to generate the final regression model for the purpose of predictive analytics or statistical inference. This approach has been proved asymptotically minimax optimal if the kernel is perfectly selected so that the true regression function lies in the associated reproducing kernel Hilbert space. However, this is usually, if not always, impractical because kernels that can only be selected via prior knowledge or a tuning process are hardly perfect. Instead it is more common that the kernel is good enough but imperfect in the sense that the true regression can be well approximated by but does not lie exactly in the kernel space. We show distributed kernel regression can still achieve capacity independent optimal rate in this case. To this end, we fist establish a general framework that allows to analyze distributed regression with response weighted base algorithms by bounding the error of such algorithms on a single data set, provided that the error bounds have factored the impact of unexplained variance of the response variable. Then we perform a leave one out analysis of the kernel ridge regression and bias corrected kernel ridge regression, which in combination with the aforementioned framework allows us to derive sharp error bounds and capacity independent optimal rates for the associated distributed kernel regression algorithms. As a byproduct of the thorough analysis, we also prove the kernel ridge regression can achieve rates faster than O(N-1) (where N is the sample size) in the noise free setting which, to our best knowledge, are fist observed and novel in regression learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomeres are specific nucleoprotein structures that are located at the ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes and play crucial roles in genomic stability. Telomere DNA consists of simple repeats of a short G-rich sequence: TTAGGG in mammals and TTTAGGG in most plants. In recent years, the mammalian telomeric G-rich repeats have been shown to form G-quadruplex (G4) structures, which are crucial for modulating telomere functions. Surprisingly, even though plant telomeres are essential for plant growth, development, and environmental adaptions, only few reports exist on plant telomeric G4 DNA (pTG4). Here, using bulk and single-molecule assays, including CD spectroscopy, and single-molecule FRET approaches, we comprehensively characterized the structure and dynamics of a typical plant telomeric sequence, d[GGG(TTTAGGG)3]. We found that this sequence can fold into mixed G4s in potassium, including parallel and antiparallel structures. We also directly detected intermediate dynamic transitions, including G-hairpin, parallel G-triplex, and antiparallel G-triplex structures. Moreover, we observed that pTG4 is unfolded by the AtRecQ2 helicase but not by AtRecQ3. The results of our work shed light on our understanding about the existence, topological structures, stability, intermediates, unwinding, and functions of pTG4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better solve the problem of gas outburst prediction, based on the in-depth study of ant colony algorithm, the ant colony clustering algorithm is improved, and the population classification and ant sensory perception characteristics are applied to make the ant colony the most likely to find. The optimal solution effectively avoids the possibility of local optimization, improves the global optimization performance and convergence speed of the algorithm, and reduces the influence of human subjective factors. Based on the prominent basic speech and actual working conditions, the paper selects five indexes of gas velocity, initial gas velocity, gas content, gas pressure and coal firmness coefficient as clustering attributes, and uses ant colony clustering algorithm to judge outstanding the state of occurrence. The paper uses MATLAB programming language to write a coal and gas outburst prediction program based on improved ant colony clustering algorithm, and predicts a coal mine. The final result is the same as the actual observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermodynamic equation of state (EOS) for thermoelectrons is derived which is appropriate for investigating the thermodynamic variations along isobaric paths. By using this EOS and the WuJing (WJ) model, [Q. Wu and F. Jing J. Appl. Phys. 80, 4343 (1996)] an extended Hugoniot EOS model is developed which can predict the compression behavior of highly porous materials. Theoretical relationships for the shock temperature, bulk sound velocity, and the isentrope are developed. This method has the advantage of being able to model the behavior of porous metals over the full range of applicability of pressure and porosity, whereas methods proposed in the past have been limited in their applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to verify and validate the newly developed thermoelectron equation of state (EOS) model that is based on the Wu-Jing EOS [J. Appl. Phys. 80, 4343 (1996); Appl. Phys. Lett. 67, 49 (1995)], calculations of shock compression behavior have been made on five different porous metals: iron, copper, lead, tungsten, and aluminum which are commonly used as standards. The model was used to calculate the Hugoniot, shock temperature, sound velocity, and unloading isentrope for these materials and comparisons were made to previous calculations and available data. Based on these comparisons, it is felt that the model provides information in good agreement with the corresponding experimental and theoretical data published previously. This suggests that the new model can satisfactorily describe the properties of shocked porous materials over a wide range of pressure and porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online learning has attracted great attention due to the increasing demand for systems that have the ability of learning and evolving. When the data to be processed is also high dimensional and dimension reduction is necessary for visualization or prediction enhancement, online dimension reduction will play an essential role. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new online learning approach for supervised dimension reduction. Our algorithm is motivated by adapting the sliced inverse regression (SIR), a pioneer and effective algorithm for supervised dimension reduction, and making it implementable in an incremental manner. The new algorithm, called incremental sliced inverse regression (ISIR), is able to update the subspace of significant factors with intrinsic lower dimensionality fast and efficiently when new observations come in.We also refine the algorithm by using an overlapping technique and develop an incremental overlapping sliced inverse regression (IOSIR) algorithm. We verify the effectiveness and efficiency of both algorithms by simulations and real data applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on bilateral alkylamine. It outlines its use of restraining charge recombination and enhancement of stability in blade-coated perovskite solar cells (PSCs). An overview of its power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and the strategy of its amelioration through scalable blading is also provided.

A serious groundwater inrush occurred at the Wangjialing coal mine on March 28, 2010. Great effort from all over the country was taken during the postaccident rescue. However, triggered by accumulated water in the upper abandoned tunnels and goafs of a nearby closed individually owned coal mine, it caused great damage, including 38 deaths and direct economic losses of over 49 million yuan. The inrush water was from the abandoned tunnels and goafs, which were filled subsequently by groundwater from the sandstone aquifer in the roof of the coal seam. The passage formed in the west roof of the heading face of the air return tunnel in the 20101 first mining face. Unidentified distribution and water-filled degree of the abandoned tunnels and goafs are critical bases for the accident. That important regulations for abundant groundwater exploration and release were not carried out thoroughly was another fatal cause leading to the accident. The poor awareness of water hazard controlling also contributed to the accident to a large extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A number of methods and instruments, such as retinoscopy, Hartmann-Shack sensor, ray tracing method and rotary prism technology, are available for assessing refractive status in clinic. The literature on comparison of refractive error values between KR-1W wavefront analyser and KR-8800 automatic refractometer is not adequately available. Aim: To compare refractive error measurements taken by KR- 1W wavefront analyser and KR-8800 automatic refractometer and study factors influencing the refractive error values, such as age and gender. Materials and Methods: As a prospective observational study, one eye of 57 school children underwent refractive error measurements with the sequence of KR-8800 and KR-1W with the time interval less than five minutes under no cycloplegic condition. The interdevice agreement was evaluated using the Bland-Altman analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and paired two-tailed t-test. Vector analysis was used to compare astigmatism measurements Results: The spherical power values measured by the KR- 8800 were significantly more negative about 0.16±0.51 diopter than those of the KR-1W (p=0.024). The cylinder power values measured by the KR-8800 were significantly more positive about 0.11±0.32 diopter than those of the KR-1W (p=0.014). Moreover, KR-8800 and KR-1W were significantly different in astigmatism measurements using vector analysis. There was a significant linear correlation between the KR-8800 and KR-1W instruments for the spherical error (r=0.974, p<0.0001), cylinder power (r=0.807, p<0.0001). The interdevice 95% Limits of Agreement (LoA) range for the spherical error and cylinder power were 2.02 D and 1.25 D, respectively. Age negatively correlated with spherical error and cylinder power and the spherical error showed much more negative correlation values than cylinder power. However, gender showed no significant correlations with neither spherical error nor cylinder power of both instruments. Conclusion: The spherical power and astigmatism showed significant difference between the KR-1W and KR-8800 devices. However, the measurements of the two instruments showed significant linear correlation to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex hydrogeological conditions of China’s coal fields and the frequent water inrush accidents there seriously threaten the safe mining of coal. A new risk evaluation model for water inrushes from seam floors was constructed by combining the established evaluation index system with set pair analysis (SPA), thereby integrating quantitative and qualitative indexes. The resultant model reflects both the factors affecting water inrush from the seam floor and the uncertainty in the parameter values for those factors. To demonstrate the value of this model, the risk of water inrush from the seam floor was assessed for the working face of a mine in Tongzi county, Guizhou province, China. The prediction obtained from the model conformed to the actual conditions. Moreover, the methodology provides a basis for water inrush risk assessment from seam floors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous shrinking of semiconductor manufacturing technology node, the pattern size has become smaller and the pattern density has become higher. This can cause the lithography defects to be more difficult to remove, because the developing fragments have a larger relative surface area, and thus more sticky to the patterned substrate surface. Although the defect can be reduced or removed by the rinse process, it may require more time and effort. As we know, the process optimization is related to the co-optimization of the rinse dispense volume, the nitrogen gas dispense recipe, and the wafer rotation speed. In the limit that we push the three parameters to the highest level, the defect can be removed. However, the adverse effect is that the resist patterns may be damaged, such as pattern collapse. It may also cause an increase in the cost for the process and more trouble shooting time in finding an optimizing recipe. It will be very helpful that we can develop a simulation program that can do the optimization. We present a model based on viscous fluid dynamics and calculate the removing force distribution across the 300-mm-diameter wafer for the defect residual. We assume that the defect, mostly the partially deprotected and developed photoresist polymer residual. We assume that once the removing force made by a sum of the flowing rinse water, the nitrogen gas, and the centrifugal force by wafer rotation reached certain threshold level, the defect can be removed. We have performed some simulation study and compared our results with previous studies. We found that we can reproduce the defect distribution patterns, such as the two rings, from the previous studies. From the simulation, we have learned the interrelations between the three parameters and find that we can get the minimally required strength from the three parameters for defect removal. We have also studied the situation of the 450-mm diameter wafer, and we found that we can get the defect clean result with reduced wafer rotation speed. In summary, we have built a defect model for photolithography development that can model the defect removal mechanism during the rinse process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new poroid wood-inhabiting fungal genus, Elaphroporia, typified by E. ailaoshanensis sp. nov., is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. The genus is characterised by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps, becoming rigid and light-weight up on drying, a monomitic hyphal system with thick-walled generative hyphae bearing both clamp connections and simple septa, slightly amyloid, CB+ and ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth and IKI-, CB- basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data of ITS+nLSU sequences showed that Elaphroporia belonged to the residual polyporoid clade and was closely related to Junghuhnia crustacea. Further investigation was obtained for more representative taxa in the Meruliaceae based on ITS+nLSU sequences, in which the result demonstrated that the genus Elaphroporia formed a monophyletic lineage with a strong support (100% BS, 100% BP, 1.00 BPP) and then grouped with Flaviporus and Steccherinum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The platelet is considered as an accessible and valuable tool to study mitochondrial function, owing to its greater content of fully functional mitochondria compared with other metabolically active organelles. Different lines of studies have demonstrated that mitochondria in platelets have function far more than thrombogenesis regulation, and beyond hemostasis, platelet mitochondrial dysfunction has also been used for studying mitochondrial-related diseases. In this review, the interplay between platelet mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA lesions, electron transfer chain impairments, mitochondrial apoptosis and mitophagy has been outlined. Meanwhile, considerable efforts have been made towards understanding the role of platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in human diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, sepsis and neurodegenerative disorders. Alongside this, we have also articulated our perspectives on the development of potential biomarkers of platelet mitochondrial dysfunction in mitochondrial-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diazo compounds as coupling partners are efficiently applied to Ir(III)-catalyzed direct C--H functionalization of arylphosphine oxides. Involving C--H activation, carbene insertion, and tautomerism, this reaction proceeds under mild conditions, thus proving an approach to the synthesis of MOP-type ligand precursor in a single step. The utility of this transformation has been further demonstrated in ligand synthesis as well as in the construction of phosphole framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have demonstrated enhanced light emission from a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot scintillator film in the normal direction by photonic crystal structures. With the control of the photonic crystal structures, a two-fold enhancement was achieved for the wavelength-integrated emission spectra under the excitation of both ultra-violet and X-rays, which is beneficial to radiation detection applications. Furthermore, it is found that the optical properties such as the bandwidth and peak wavelength can be controlled by adjusting the thickness of a TiO2 conformal layer which was deposited on the surface of the photonic crystal slab formed from solidified resist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on a single mode-small diameter no core fiber structure is proposed. In this structure, a small diameter no core fiber (SDNCF) used as a sensor probe, was fusion spliced to the end face of a traditional single mode fiber (SMF) and the end face of the SDNCF was coated with a thin film of gold to provide reflective light. The influence of SDNCF diameter and length on the refractive index sensitivity of the sensor has been investigated by both simulations and experiments, where results show that the diameter of SDNCF has significant influence. However, SDNCF length has limited influence on the sensitivity. Experimental results show that a sensitivity of 327 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) has been achieved for refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.38, which agrees well with the simulated results with a sensitivity of 349.5 nm/RIU at refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.38. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enhancement of small and micro enterprises' technological innovation capability not only helps enterprise increase its core competence to adapt to the changeful environment, but also helps our country to increase its national competence. In order to enhance small and micro enterprises' technological innovation capability, enterprises should build a well technological innovation system, increase the technology innovation input and be active in technological innovation activities, and at the same time, it is essential for the government to play a role of leading, make effective policies and build good environment. Therefore, it is necessary to collect and study on small and micro enterprises' technological innovation capability related data, cases and policies in order to know the current situation and trend of small and micro enterprises' technological innovation capability. In order to make the above-mentioned work more convenient and more efficient, in this paper, we investigate the multiple attribute decision making for evaluating the technological innovation capability of small and micro enterprises with hesitant fuzzy information. Motivated by the ideal of dependent aggregation, we develop the dependent hesitant fuzzy Hamacher weighted geometric (DHFHWG) operator, in which the associated weights only depend on the aggregated hesitant fuzzy arguments and can relieve the influence of unfair hesitant fuzzy arguments on the aggregated results by assigning low weights to those "false" and "biased" ones and then apply them to develop an approach for multiple attribute decision making with hesitant fuzzy information. Finally, an illustrative example for evaluating the technological innovation capability of small and micro enterprises is given to verify the developed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the promoting apoptosis and antitumor activities of ferulic acid (FA) in human osteosarcoma and its potential mechanism. Methods: The SaOS-2 and MG63 osteosarcoma cell lines were opted to experiment and these cells were, respectively, cultured with various concentrations of FA (0 μM, 10 μM, 20 μM, 40 μM) for 72 hours at 37°C. The viabilities of the FA treated cells were monitored by MTT. Apoptosis cells were evaluated using annexin V/PI by flow cytometry. Apoptosis proteins caspase-3, procaspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by western blot. Expressions of apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bax were quantified by qPCR. Results: The cell viabilities were critically declined in the concentration-dependent manner in FA groups (P < 0.01). The apoptosis cells were increased proportionately with the concentration of FA (P < 0.05). The procaspase-3 protein contents, and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein contents were significantly decreased while caspase-3 protein contents, and Bax mRNA and protein contents were concomitantly increased in the concentration-dependent manner in FA groups (P < 0.05). The response to FA by the SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cell was similar with the MG63 osteosarcoma cell (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Ferulic acid could significantly descend osteosarcoma cell viability through the promoting apoptosis pathway in which FA activates both caspase-3 and Bax and inactivates Bcl-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporadic cases of melioidosis have been reported in Hainan, China for decades; however, to the best of our knowledge, there are no accurate source-identification investigations confirming that melioidosis is endemic. Four indigenous melioidosis cases were identified, which prompted the performance of contact microbiologic and molecular techniques to evaluate endemicity. Environmental samples were collected from various locations surrounding each patient's residence. The samples were screened for Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) using Ashdown culture medium, and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Clinical and environmental isolates of B. pseudomallei were evaluated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and 4-locus multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-4) for evidence of homology between them. Analysis by MLST indicated that one environmental sample and one clinical colony were sequence type-46, as well as type (8, 3, 11, 9) by MLVA-4. The evidence indicates a likely geographical and epidemiological association. Taken together, B. pseudomallei from the environmental samples in addition to the high molecular homology between the clinical and environmental isolates indicates, at least, regional endemicity of melioidosis in Hainan, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A whipple shield using Al/PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) energetic material to protect against space debris is presented. The hypervelocity impact characteristics were investigated experimentally using a two-stage light gas gun at velocities between 3 and 6 km/s. A good protection of the shield was obtained through comparative experiments which used the same bumper areal density. The results showed that the critical projectile diameter can be improved by 28% by contrast with the Christiansen ballistic limit equations. The Al/PTFE energetic material bumper can break up the projectile into smaller, less massive, and slower projectiles due to the combined effect of impact and explosion, thereby producing a sharp rise in the spacecraft protection ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common head and neck cancer with an incidence of 10-30 cases per 100,000 in southern China. Although primary treatment includes radiation therapy, prognosis is still unsatisfactory. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined the role of HNF1A-AS in NPC progression in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Relative levels of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA), HNF1A-AS, were evaluated in tumor tissues from 20 patients with NPC as well as from cultured NPC cell lines. Lentivirus-mediated HNF1A-AS knockdown was conducted in NPC cell lines, CNE-2 and SUNE-1. Cell migration and invasion abilities were estimated in vitro by colony-formation, wound-healing, and transwell assays. Cell cycle analysis was used to further examine the role of HNF1A-AS in cell proliferation. The tumor size of 24 male mice with or without HNF1A-AS knockdown was monitored once a week. The underlying mechanism of HNF1A-AS-mediated cell proliferation was studied by western blot analysis. RESULTS: Lentivirus-mediated HNF1A-AS knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and migration abilities. In mice injected with CNE-2 and SUNE-1, depletion of HNF1A-AS caused inhibition of tumor growth, whereas cell cycle analysis showed that HNF1A-AS-knockdown resulted in cell accumulation in the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, HNF1A-AS was found to be associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that LncRNA, HNF1A-AS potentially regulates NPC tumorigenesis. This could help in development of new strategies for NPC diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive and rapid ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to determine dapoxetine and its two major metabolites (dapoxetine- N -oxide and desmethyldapoxetine) in human plasma simultaneously. After a simple protein precipitation, the analytes and the combined internal standard (carbamazepine) were separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water with gradient elution. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed using a XEVO TQD triple quadruple mass spectrometer coupled with an electro-spray ionization (ESI) source in the positive ion mode. The MRM transitions are of m / z 306.3 → 261.2, m / z 322.2 → 261.2, m / z 292.2 → 261.2 and m / z 237.1 → 194.2 for dapoxetine, dapoxetine- N -oxide, desmethyldapoxetine and IS, respectively. The linearity of this method was found to be within the concentration range of 1.0–200 ng/mL for dapoxetine; 0.5–100 ng/mL for dapoxetine- N -oxide; and 0.1–5.0 ng/mL for desmethyldapoxetine in human plasma, respectively. Only 4.0 min was needed for an analytical run. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision were within the acceptable limits of ±15% at all of the concentrations. This assay was successfully used to support a clinical pharmacokinetic study following oral administration of dapoxetine tablets in healthy Chinese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a microfluidic approach to simulate tumor hypoxia and vascular anomaly. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) phantoms with embedded microchannel networks were fabricated by a soft lithography process. A dialysis membrane was sandwiched between two PDMS slabs to simulate the controlled mass transport and oxygen metabolism. A tortuous microchannel network was fabricated to simulate tumor microvasculature. A dual-modal multispectral and laser speckle imaging system was used for oxygen and blood flow imaging in the tumor-simulating phantom. The imaging results were compared with those of the normal vasculature. Our experiments demonstrated the technical feasibility of simulating tumor hypoxia and vascular anomalies using the proposed PDMS phantom. Such a phantom fabrication technique may be potentially used to calibrate optical imaging devices, to study the mechanisms for tumor hypoxia and angiogenesis, and to optimize the drug delivery strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • Telomerase is a critical enzyme that is involved in aging and cancer and that is thought to be a part of multiple neurological diseases. Objective • To investigate the telomerase response in the brain to acupuncture, the study examined the levels of expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its downstream signaling molecules, including tyrosine kinase receptor Β (TrkB), p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), protein kinase B (Akt), extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2), and nuclear factor κΒ (NF-κΒ). Design • Both telomerase-deficient (Terc-/-) mice (Terc-/- group) and normal, wild-type (WT) mice (WT group) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 subgroups, 1 receiving acupuncture (acupuncture subgroup), 1 receiving sham acupuncture therapy (sham subgroup), and 1 receiving no treatment (control subgroup). Setting • The study occurred at the University of South Florida Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute (Tampa, FL, USA). Intervention • The 2 acupuncture subgroups received acupuncture at the stomach 36 (ST-36) position for 30 min/d for 4 d. For the 2 sham groups, the sham point was set at a location approximately 3 mm to the lateral side of the tail on the gluteus muscle following the same schedule. Outcome Measures • After 4 d, the mice were sacrificed, and the brain tissues were collected. The protein levels in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus (DG) of each mouse were determined by western blotting and immunostaining assays. Results • The Terc-/- group showed downregulated hippocampal BDNF expression compared with the WT mice. Acupuncture at ST-36 for 4 d upregulated BDNF, TrkB, p75NTR, Akt, and ERK1/2 in the DG and hippocampus of the telomerase-deficient mice, but that result was not seen in the WT mice with normally functioning telomerase. Conclusions • The use of acupuncture in pathologies associated with telomerase deficiencies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), may provide some benefit in terms of eliciting better clinical responses. The research team believes that result occurs through the activation of BDNF and its downstream signaling pathways in populations of patients who exhibit low telomerase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new ionic current rectification device responsive to a broad range of pH stimuli has been fabricated using porous anodic alumina membrane with tailor-made branching nanochannel array. The asymmetric geometry Is achieved by changing oxidation voltage using a simple two-step anodization process. Due to the protonation/deprotonation of the intrinsic hydroxyl groups upon solution pH variation, the nanochannels array-based device is able to regulate ionic current rectification properties. The ion rectification ratio of the device is mainly determined by the branching size and surface charges, which is also confirmed by theoretical simulations. In addition, theoretical simulations show that the slight difference in ion rectification ratio for the nanochannel devices with different branching numbers is due to the propagation of concentration polarization. Three dimensional simulations clearly show the nonuniform concentration profiles in stem nanochannel near the junction interface due to the presence of branching nanochannels. The present ionic device is promising for biosensing, molecular transport and separation, and drug delivery in confined environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing multidrug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a serious public-health problem. In the present study, the inhibitory activities of sodium houttuyfonate (SH) against biofilm formation and alginate production in a clinical strain of P. aeruginosa (AH16) were investigated in vitro using crystal violet dying and standard curve methods, respectively. The cellular morphology of P. aeruginosa treated with SH was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to identify differences in the expression levels of genes associated with alginate biosynthesis as a result of the SH treatment. The results indicated that SH significantly inhibited biofilm formation, and decreased the levels of the primary biofilm constituent, alginate, in P. aeruginosa AH16 at various stages of biofilm development. In addition, scanning electron microscopy observations demonstrated that SH markedly altered the cellular morphology and biofilm structure of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the results from the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that SH inhibited biofilm formation by mitigating the expression of the algD and algR genes, which are associated with alginate biosynthesis. Therefore, the present study has provided novel insights into the potent effects and underlying mechanisms of SH-induced inhibition of biofilm formation in a clinical strain of P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Psoriasin (S100A7) plays a role in the malignant potential of several epithelial cancers, and could candidate diagnostic marker or therapeutic target. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) regulates cancer cell growth and is modulated by phospholipase activity in many cancer cells. In the present study, we first evaluate the involvement of S100A7 in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical usefulness for diagnosis. We then study whether knockdown of S100A7 in lung squamous cell carcinoma cells would reduce cell proliferation and NF-κB activity in vitro and attenuate tumor growth in vivo. Methods: We examined S100A7 expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues by immunohistology. The human lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line NCI-H520 were transduced with short hairpin RNA targeting S100A7. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting confirmed knockdown of S100A7 messenger RNA and protein, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the MTT assay. NF-κB phosphorylation was assayed by western blot. 1 × 106 of NCI-H520/S100A7 knockdown cells were injected into the left flanks of nude mice (aged 6 to 8 weeks). Tumors were followed for 35 days, then removed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, stained with Ki-67, and analyzed for S100A7 protein expression. Results: S100A7 protein levels were significantly higher in carcinoma specimens than in nonneoplastic tissues. S100A7 might be a useful marker for diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma. In vitro data showed that inhibition of S100A7 decreased proliferation of NCI-H520 cells. S100A7 knockdown reduced NF-κB phosphorylation and tumor growth in vivo and vivo. Explanted knockdown tumors maintained lower S100A7 levels compared with wild-type, confirmed by immunohistology. Ki-67 staining was more prominent throughout the wild-type tumors compared with knockdown tumors. Conclusions: Our present results suggest that S100A7 level is a promising tool for diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma. Knockdown of S100A7 suppresses lung cancer growth in part by attenuating NF-κB activity. S100A7 may be a promising therapeutic target for lung squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in G-quadruplex (G4) studies have confirmed that G4 structures exist in living cells and may have detrimental effects on various DNA transactions. How helicases resolve G4, however, has just begun to be studied and remains largely unknown. In the present paper, we use single-molecule fluorescence assays to probe Pif1-catalysed unfolding of G4 in a DNA construct resembling an ongoing synthesis of lagging strand stalled by G4. Strikingly, Pif1 unfolds and then halts at the ss/dsDNA junction, followed by rapid reformation of G4 and 'acrobatic' re-initiation of unfolding by the same monomer. Thus, Pif1 unfolds single G4 structures repetitively. Furthermore, it is found that Pif1 unfolds G4 sequentially in two large steps. Our study has revealed that, as a stable intermediate, G-triplex (G3) plays an essential role in this process. The repetitive unfolding activity may facilitate Pif1 disrupting the continuously reforming obstructive G4 structures to rescue a stalled replication fork. The proposed mechanism for step-wise unfolding of G4 is probably applicable to other helicases that resolve G4 structures for maintaining genome stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succession of C-H activation and C-C activation was achieved by using a single rhodium(iii) catalyst. Vinylcyclopropanes were used as versatile coupling partners. Mechanistic studies suggest that the olefin insertion step is rate-determining and a facile β-carbon elimination is involved, which represents a novel ring opening mode of vinylcyclopropanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is one of the most common pleura-associated conditions observed in clinical practice. The development of MPE usually defines advanced cancer with a poor prognosis. Carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), as an effective pleural fluid biomarker, has been an object of ongoing research in the detection of MPE. The aim of this meta-analysis was to establish the overall diagnostic accuracy of the measurement of pleural CA 15-3 for diagnosing MPE. The databases Medline (using PubMed as the search engine), Embase, Ovid, Web of Science and Cochrane database (up to December 2013) were searched to identify relevant studies. No lower date limit was applied. All literature published in English was reviewed. Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were pooled using a random-effect model. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the overall diagnostic value. The methodological quality was assessed in line with the Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy statement. Twenty-one studies with a total of 2,861 cases were included in present meta-analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and DOR of CA 15-3 in the diagnosis of MPE were 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.56-0.61], 0.91 (95% CI, 0.90-0.93), 8.93 (95% CI, 4.45-17.93), 0.46 (95% CI, 0.37-0.56) and 24.89 (95% CI, 10.39-59.63), respectively. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.84. In conclusion, due to the significantly high specificity of pleural CA 15-3 in detecting MPE, it may play a pivotal role in screening to identify patients who may benefit from further invasive pathologic examination, particularly in those presenting clinical manifestations of MPE but with negative cytological findings of the pleural fluid. However, ruling out MPE by testing CA15-3 alone is not recommended due to its limited sensitivity, and it is recommended that the results of CA15-3 assays are interpreted in parallel with conventional test results and other clinical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fluorescent probe P derived from naphthalimide bearing a pyridine group has been synthesized and characterized. The proposed probe P shows high selectivity and sensitivity to Cu2+ in aqueous media. Under optimized conditions, the linear response of P (2 μM) toward Cu2+ was 0.05-0.9 μM in ethanol-water solution (3:2, v:v, 50 mM HEPES, pH 7.4), and the detection limit was 0.03 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunas are among the most economically important fish species and play critical roles in food composition and nutrition of humans. As apex predators, they also keep the marine ecosystem healthy and balanced. Both natural and human factors influence the status of this important marine resource and their habitats. There is a large cadre of studies on how tunas are of great significance to the exploitation and management of their fisheries, yet there are few summaries of this research. We aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively synthesize the global knowledge structure and emerging trends in tuna research using bibliometric software. References with "Tuna", "Katsuwonus", or "Thunnus" as the subject in the Web of Science Core Collection Database from 1995 to 2019 were visually analyzed using CiteSpace. Publication rate and output, active countries, institutions, authors, and co-cited references were performed. Results suggested that the number of international tuna research papers increased significantly between 2000 and 2010, as a considerable number of high-impact articles emerged during this period. Researchers paid more attention to 19 main topics during this period, notably "overfishing", "bycatch", "climate change", "marine pollution", and "fish management", which all posed potential risks and challenges to tuna survival. Future research should emphasize resolving these challenges and building international cooperation for the proper management of tuna populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock breaking efficiency of drill bits is an important index for measuring the drilling efficiency in the oil and gas drilling field, and it is influenced by many factors, such as structure and material. This study developed a calculation model and an experimental model of rock breaking of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) and diamond impregnated cutter (DIC) hybrid bit to reveal the influence of bit structure and material on tangential force, axial force and wear height. On the basis of the calculation model of the co-rail arrangement of the PDC--DIC hybrid bit and the rock breaking mode, a rock breaking mechanical parameter prediction model and a rock breaking performance test model were established. Rock stress calculation method, rock failure criterion, and mechanical specific energy (MSE) calculation method were used to analyze the rock stress and the relationship between MSE and tangential force, axial force, and wear height during combined rock breaking. The accuracy of the model was verified by experiments. Results show that the specific work of rock breaking of the PDC-DIC hybrid bit is less than that of PDC, and a reverse nonlinear relationship exists between specific work of rock breaking and wear height. The energy required for hybrid bit to break rock is less than that of PDC bit. A positive nonlinear relationship exists between the energy of PDC-DIC hybrid bit and the wear height, whereas the cutting depth and the wear height show a negative nonlinear relationship. The stress distribution of PDC rock breaking is uniform, and the maximum equivalent stress is up to 104 MPa. The stress distribution of rock breaking of the hybrid PDC-DIC is extremely nonuniform, and stress concentration occurs with a minimum equivalent stress of 84 MPa and a maximum stress of 161 MPa, which is beneficial to rock breaking. Rock breaking of PDC-DIC hybrid bit can promote the generation and development of rock cracks, thereby reducing the crushing strength of the rock. The study provides a design method and theoretical basis for designing a new type of PDC-DIC hybrid bit, with certain reference for exploring the rock breaking mechanism of various bits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) protein, an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger transcription factor, showed to be highly expressed in various human cancers in addition to malignancies in the lymphoid system. This study investigated the role of BCL6 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance in breast cancer patients. Methods Expression of BCL6 protein was assessed using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in 127 breast cancer patients and 50 patients with breast benign disease as well as in breast cell lines. Expression of BCL6 was restored or knocked down in two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D) using BCL6 cDNA and siRNA, respectively. The phenotypic change of these breast cancer cell lines was assessed using cell viability MTT, Transwell invasion, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays and in a xenograft mice model. Luciferase reporter gene, immunoblot, and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the molecular events after manipulated BCL6 expression in breast cancer cells. Results BCL6 protein was highly expressed in breast cancer cell lines and tissue specimens and expression of BCL6 protein was associated with disease progression and poor survival of breast cancer patients. In vitro, the forced expression of BCL6 results in increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, invasion and survival of breast cancer cell lines, whereas knockdown of BCL6 expression reduced these oncogenic properties of breast cancer cells. Moreover, forced expression of BCL6 increased tumor growth and invasiveness in a nude mouse xenograft model. At the gene level, BCL6 was a target gene of miR-339-5p. Expression of BCL6 induced expression of CXCR4 and cyclinD1 proteins. Conclusions The current study demonstrated the oncogenic property of BCL6 in breast cancer and further study could target BCL6 as a novel potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) protein, an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger transcription factor, showed to be highly expressed in various human cancers in addition to malignancies in the lymphoid system. This study investigated the role of BCL6 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance in breast cancer patients. Methods: Expression of BCL6 protein was assessed using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in 127 breast cancer patients and 50 patients with breast benign disease as well as in breast cell lines. Expression of BCL6 was restored or knocked down in two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D) using BCL6 cDNA and siRNA, respectively. The phenotypic change of these breast cancer cell lines was assessed using cell viability MTT, Transwell invasion, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays and in a xenograft mice model. Luciferase reporter gene, immunoblot, and qRT-PCR were used to investigate the molecular events after manipulated BCL6 expression in breast cancer cells. Results: BCL6 protein was highly expressed in breast cancer cell lines and tissue specimens and expression of BCL6 protein was associated with disease progression and poor survival of breast cancer patients. In vitro, the forced expression of BCL6 results in increased proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, migration, invasion and survival of breast cancer cell lines, whereas knockdown of BCL6 expression reduced these oncogenic properties of breast cancer cells. Moreover, forced expression of BCL6 increased tumor growth and invasiveness in a nude mouse xenograft model. At the gene level, BCL6 was a target gene of miR-339-5p. Expression of BCL6 induced expression of CXCR4 and cyclinD1 proteins. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated the oncogenic property of BCL6 in breast cancer and further study could target BCL6 as a novel potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented attempt was conducted on suitably functionahzed integration of three-dimensional hyperbranched titania architectures for efficient multistack photoanode, constructed via layer-bylayer assembly of hyperbranched hierarchical tree-like titania nanowires (underlayer), branched hierarchical rambutan-like titania hollow submicrometer- sized spheres (intermediate layer), and hyperbranched hierarchical urchin-like titania micrometer-sized spheres (top layer). Owing to favorable charge-collection, superior light harvesting efficiency and extended electron lifetime, the multilayered TiO2-based devices showed greater Jsc and Voc than those of a conventional TiO2 nanoparticle (TNP), and an overall power conversion efficiency of 11.01% (Jsc = 18.53 mA cm-2; Voc = 827 mV and FF = 0.72) was attained, which remarkably outperformed that of a TNP-based reference cell (n = 7.62%) with a sirriilar film thickness. Meanwhile, the facile and operable film-fabricating technique (hydrothermal and drop-casting) provides a promising scheme and great simplicity for high performance/cost ratio photovoltaic device processability in a sustainable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The expression status of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) in gliomas is still unclear by now. We try to investigate the relationship between BMP4 expression and the biological behavior of gliomas in order to lay a foundation for the management of these tumors. Methods: A total of 630 patients with glioma were enrolled in the study from January 2002 to January 2008. The expression status of BMP4 in gliomas was evaluated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between BMP4 expression and clinicopathological parameters and between BMP4 expression and prognosis were also studied. Results: The expression of BMP4 in tumor tissues was significantly lower than that in the paracancer tissues at both mRNA and protein levels (P = 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that BMP4 expression was closely related to extent of resection, Ki-67 expression, and the WHO grade (P = 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively), but it was not related to age, sex, or the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (P = 0.099, 0.472, and 0.201, respectively). Finally, Ki-67 expression and the WHO grade were found to be related to BMP4 expression using logistic regression (P = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Interestingly, we found that the expression of BMP4 was significantly related to distant glioma metastasis. Cox regression analysis identified the KPS score, extent of resection, Ki-67 expression, WHO grade, and BMP4 expression as independent prognostic factors (P = 0.044, 0.010, 0.002, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: BMP4 is differentially expressed in glioma patients and is closely related to the biological behavior of gliomas. BMP4 expression was found to be a strong predictor of distant metastasis and postoperative prognosis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress of research for graphene applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices is reviewed, and recent developments in circuits based on graphene devices are summarized. The bandgap—mobility tradeoff inevitably constrains the application of graphene for the conventional field-effect transistor (FET) devices in digital applications. However, this shortcoming has not dampened the enthusiasm of the research community toward graphene electronics. Aside from high mobility, graphene offers numerous other amazing electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties that continually motivate innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]