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Based on the three-phase porous media mixed theory, the dynamic governing equations of unsaturated soils is established and the dynamic response of graded nonhomogeneous unsaturated soils subjected to a strip load is studied. Combined with the reverberation-ray matrix method (RRMM) and the boundary condition, the calculation formula of the displacement, stress and pore pressure of graded nonhomogeneous unsaturated soils is derived. Assuming that the continuous variation of physical and mechanical properties of unsaturated soils along the thickness-coordinate by exponential law distribution, the numerical solution of the displacement, stress, and pore pressure then obtained by using numerical inverse Fourier transformation, and the influence of soil heterogeneity and saturation on the dynamic response of unsaturated soils is discussed. The results show that the displacement decreased with increasing gradient factor, and the stress first increased then decreased with the gradient factor increased, and the pore pressure first decreased then increased with increasing gradient factor. The displacement and pore pressure under different gradient factors all increase with increasing saturation.

Background Rab40b is an evolutionarily conserved Rab GTPase that plays an important role in intracellular trafficking and is closely related to cancer progression. However, the role and potential molecular mechanism of Rab40b in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been elucidated. Materials and methods The expression of Rab40b in HCC tissues and peritumour tissues was tested by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and histological analysis. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was generated based on the expression of Rab40b in the HCC samples. Cell proliferation assays, wound healing assays, and transwell assays are used to examine the effect of Rab40b on HCC cell growth in vitro. The effect of Rab40b on cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry. A xenograft implantation model was used to assess the effect of Rab40b on the development of HCC cells in vivo. Results Rab40b protein expression is upregulated in HCC tissues, and this upregulation is associated with high pathological stage and poor prognosis in HCC patients. Rab40b overexpression promotes the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by upregulating cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. Conversely, Rab40b inhibitors can significantly inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cell lines and induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Studies of a nude mouse xenograft model demonstrated that Rab40b knockdown can significantly inhibit the proliferation and progression of HCC tumours in vivo. Conclusion Overall, this study demonstrates that Rab40b is an important oncoprotein that promotes HCC progression by regulating the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E1, p21 and MMP2 through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

Based on the mixed theory of three-phase porous media, the dynamic response of unsaturated soils under a strip load is addressed under the two different boundary conditions of water/air permeable and water/air impermeable. Using the Fourier transform, the dynamic governing equations of unsaturated soils are established, and the general solution is derived in the frequency domain. The effects of the saturation, frequency, and boundary conditions on the dynamic behavior of the unsaturated soil are analyzed. The results show that for the unsaturated soil these parameters have an important influence on the dynamic characteristic.

Background: Modern Western diets are rich in acidogenic foods. Human and in vitro studies suggest a potential link between dietary acid load and cancer risk. However, no epidemiologic studies have investigated the association of dietary acid load with the risk of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we conducted a prospective cohort study to fill this gap. Methods: A population-based cohort of 95,708 American adults was identified. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) were used to assess dietary acid load of each subject, with greater values indicating greater dietary acid load. Cox regression was used to estimate risk estimates for pancreatic cancer incidence. Predefined subgroup analysis was used to identify the potential effect modifiers. Results: A total of 337 pancreatic cancer cases were observed during 848,534.0 person-years of follow-up. PRAL score was found to be positively associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer [fully adjusted HRquartile 4 vs. 1: 1.73; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.21–2.48; Ptrend = 0.001] in a nonlinear dose–response pattern (Pnonlinearity = 0.012). Subgroup analysis found that the positive association of PRAL score with the risk of pancreatic cancer was more pronounced in subjects aged Conclusions: Higher dietary acid load is associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Future studies should validate our findings in other populations and settings. Impacts: This is the first epidemiologic study suggesting that reducing dietary acid load may be useful in primary prevention of pancreatic cancer.

Background Kirschner wire fixation remains to be the mainstream treatment modality in unstable or displaced supracondylar humerus fracture in children, with divergent lateral pins being the most preferred due to their sufficient stability and decreased risk of ulnar nerve injury. However, the entry point at which the proximal lateral pin can be inserted to achieve a more proximal exit and maximum divergence has not been reported. This study retrospectively analyzed the characteristics and factors influencing the entry and exit points of the proximal lateral pins. Methods The study was divided into two stages. In stage one, the entry and exit points of the proximal pins of lateral pinning configuration were analyzed from intra-operative radiographs of children treated for extension-type supracondylar humerus fractures. The coronal and sagittal pin angles formed by the proximal pins were also measured. Using the findings of stage one, we intentionally tried to achieve a more proximal exit with the proximal pins in stage two. Comparisons between groups of patients treated by random and intentional pinnings were done statistically. Results In the first stage, 47 (29.2%) of the 161 proximal pins exited above the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) region. Of these, 85.1% entered from lateral and posterior to the ossific nucleus of the capitellum (ONC). The pin angles averaged 58.4° and 90.5° in the coronal and sagittal planes respectively. In the second stage, 47 (65.3%) proximal pins in the intended group exited above the MDJ region, while only 32 (36%) in the random group exited above the MDJ region. Conclusion While aiming at the upper border of the distal MDJ during pinning, lateral pins can easily achieve a higher, proximal exit above the MDJ if inserted from lateral and posterior to the ONC and parallel to the humeral shaft in the sagittal plane. Higher exit can also be easily achieved in younger patients and patients fixated with smaller diameter pins.