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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disease in middle-aged and elderly men. The main pathological mechanisms of BPH include static factors that increase prostate volume and dynamic factors that increase prostate tension. The RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway is a classical pathway that regulates cell contraction, migration, and growth. In this review, we summarize the potential role of RhoA/ROCK signaling in the development of BPH. The RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway can enhance the contraction of prostate smooth muscle through the Ca2+ sensitization pathway and increase passive tension in the prostate through tissue fibrosis. Additionally, RhoA/ROCK signaling promotes cell proliferation by regulating cell division and may influence apoptosis by affecting the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, risk factors, such as inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and hormonal changes, can upregulate RhoA/ROCK signaling, which in turn promotes these risk factors, eventually leading to the development of BPH. Given the role of RhoA/ROCK signaling in regulating multiple pathogenic factors of BPH, this pathway represents a promising molecular target for BPH treatment and warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws upon the vernacularized psychedelic rock of Shin Joong Hyun (Sin Chung-hyŏn, b. 1938) and youth culture fiction of Ch'oe In-ho (1945–2013) in order to formulate a method for close listening to literary articulations of a shared artistic pursuit of individual liberation through the undermining of established modes of feeling and consciousness. The article overviews psychedelic aesthetics and coding and explicates their recodification by novelist Yi In-sŏng (b. 1953). It then contextualizes the coeval advent of psychedelic counterculture and youth culture in South Korea vis-à-vis the emergence of a nascent middle class. Next the article illustrates how Ch'oe transposed cosmopolitan musical sensibilities onto stories of alienated urban youth and daydreams of class mobility. It then moves from textual reference to formal homology, interpreting the global countercultural call for self-liberation in two novellas by Ch'oe through psychedelic musical codes of noise and upward movement, respectively. Finally, the conclusion draws upon the work of Kim Ch'ae-wŏn (b. 1946) to reflect upon the legacy of vernacularized psychedelic codes in Korean literature. The article argues that close listening to heterodox and hallucinatory resonances across popular music and understudied works of fiction by well-known authors complicates conventional understandings and cultural histories of subversive art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rho-associated kinases 1 and 2 (ROCK1 and ROCK2) regulate critical cell functions, including actomyosin contractility, apoptosis, and proliferation. Some studies suggest that ROCK inhibition may serve as a treatment for liver fibrosis. More investigation is needed to understand the role of hepatocyte ROCK signaling in vivo, especially in the context of profibrotic liver injury. Methods: Rock1 fl/fl , Rock2 fl/fl , and Rock1 fl/fl ; Rock2 fl/fl mice were given adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-thyroid hormone-binding globulin (TBG)-Cre to produce targeted gene deletion in hepatocytes, or given AAV8-TBG-Null to generate littermate controls (WT). Mice were then placed on a 0.1% 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) diet to induce liver injury. Results: Upon DDC-induced liver injury, mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of ROCK1 alone (R1 KO) or ROCK2 alone (R2 KO) demonstrated minimal differences compared to WT. In contrast, mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of both ROCK1 and ROCK2 (DKO) showed pervasive early mortality, increased hepatocellular injury, and decreased hepatic function. DDC-injured DKO mice demonstrated markedly distorted liver histology characterized by large cavities in the parenchyma. RNA-seq analysis showed upregulation of cell death, inflammatory, and profibrotic pathways in DDC-injured DKO liver as compared to DDC-injured WT liver. Cdkn1a (gene encoding p21) was one of the most highly upregulated genes in the DKO liver in response to DDC-induced injury. Correspondingly, there was increased hepatocyte nuclear localization of p21 and expression of cleaved caspase-3 in DDC-injured DKO liver, consistent with the activation of p21-mediated caspase-3–dependent apoptotic cell death pathways. ROCK1/ROCK2-deficient primary hepatocytes demonstrated increased susceptibility to both caspase-3–mediated apoptosis and caspase-3–independent forms of cell death in a cell intrinsic manner. Conclusions: ROCK signaling plays a critical role in mediating hepatocyte cell survival pathways in response to liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a semiempirical method to estimate the rate of scour of earth materials, supplementing existing empirical and semiempirical methods that only quantify maximum scour depth. The premise is that the rate of scour equals the rate of removal of earth material that has already been dislodged by flowing water. A universal relationship between effective energy and the amount of dislodged material removed over a certain period is explored. Energy is defined as the product of stream power and flow duration and effective energy is the energy remaining after the energy required to dislodge the earth material has been consumed. An energy-based equation based on fundamental principles of physics is derived and its potential universality illustrated using laboratory and case study data. Analysis of volumes of gneiss scoured from the Kariba Dam plunge pool over a period of 20 years and analysis of experimental rate of scour data of soils occurring within minutes confirm the essential character of the equation. The ease by which the equation can be applied is demonstrated by an example calculation estimating the rate of scour at a bridge pier. Practical Applications: Designing hydraulic structures to withstand the maximum scour depth can be unnecessarily costly if the time required to reach that depth exceeds the design life of the structure. Most of the empirical methods available to practicing engineers only estimate maximum scour depth and not the rate of scour, thereby hampering efforts to optimize designs. Implementing the energy-based equation presented in this paper offers a solution to this problem by following a two-step procedure. The first step is to estimate the maximum scour depth and the associated volume of material to be removed. This is done using existing empirical methods. Once the volume of material to be removed is known, the second step entails quantifying the rate of removal of the dislodged material. The principal objective of this paper is to enable the second step by offering an equation for calculating the rate of scour. The ease of application of this two-step procedure is illustrated by presenting an example calculation of scour at a bridge pier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinearity of the constitutive relation for rocks becomes more prominent with a more complex physical-mechanical environment and mechanical behavior. The accurate establishment of the constitutive relation affects the determination of rock deformation and damage state from physical features. In this study, a novel statistical damage constitutive model for rocks is proposed based on quantified energy conversion. The novelty of the model is that the nature of rock damage before and after damage stress is considered. In the constitutive model, the evolution characteristics of energy conversion show a five-stage evolution with a 'spoon' form and correspond to the rock deformation and damage process, which can be fitted with the modified GaussAmp function; the damage variable is deduced by the Weibull distribution with energy conversion as the distribution variable, which presents a monotonic decrease caused by initial defects before the σ cd and shows a 'S' shape caused by nascent cracks after the σ cd. Furthermore, triaxial test data of three types of rocks under different confining pressures were used to verify the proposed model, and the results were in good agreement with the test data in most cases. The characteristics of the crack closure stage, peak stress, residual strength, and stress drop process are controlled by the model parameters, which can be determined using experimental data. As these parameters definitely have a physical meaning and a relation to the confining pressure, the proposed model has the potential to be used in rock engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing our understanding of the damage evolution in pre-heated rock is essential for safer design practices. Accordingly, a mechanical damage variable that accurately depicts the initial damage recovery process was proposed. Subsequently, a damage constitutive model is developed based on the generalized equivalent strain principle, enabling the identification of the initial nonlinear characteristics exhibited in the stress-strain curve. By integrating the above constitutive model with a statistical damage model that considers the residual strength based on the Weibull distribution, a comprehensive piecewise damage constitutive model specifically designed for pre-heated rocks was derived. The model consists of eight parameters, which can be directly determined through experimental results or readily obtained by fitting of the stress-strain data. A comparison of experimental data from multiple pre-heated rock types subjected to uniaxial compression is performed to validate the proposed model, revealing a strong agreement between the theoretical and experimental results. The comparison results demonstrate that the proposed model effectively captures the nonlinearity of the stress-strain curve throughout various stages, including the initial compaction, linear elastic, and strain-hardening stages before reaching the peak stress, as well as the subsequent strain-softening and residual stages. Furthermore, the proposed damage constitutive model elucidates the influence of temperature on crucial factors such as the elastic modulus, peak stress, residual strength, and stress-strain curve of pre-heated rocks, thereby enhancing its applicability in the design of deep underground rock projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For rock structures exposed in the natural condition, water-induced weakening (including water softening and chemical weathering) is thought to be the main reason for its' stiffness and strength degradation, thus it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties of rocks under the influence of water. In this study, a hexagonal close-packed particle assembly (2D) composed of bonded circular particles with same diameter is considered to approximate a typical soft rock, where the composite contact model for rock materials considering the water-induced wakening is adopted to define the microscopic mechanical reactions between particles. Based on homogenisation theory and lattice model, the stress-strain relationship and strength criteria for rock considering water-induced weakening, as well as the quantitative correlation between macroscopic elastic and strength parameters with microscopic parameters are obtained. The effects of water softening and chemical weathering respectively characterised by saturation and mass loss ratio on macroscopic mechanical behaviours of rock are analysed in detail. The long-term ageing effects of water-induced weakening are also analysed. All results are in good agreement with the laboratory test results, verifying the applicability of the theoretical solution for analysing the effect of water-induced weakening on mechanical behaviours of rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of rock models with different fractal dimensions on their mechanical properties and fracture behavior, three representative numerical rock models, including the digital texture model, the Voronoi polygon model, and the Weibull distribution model, are established in this paper. These models are used to simulate the structure of multi-mineral rocks and to investigate the influence of fractal dimensions on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of rocks. Uniaxial compression numerical tests are carried out on 2D and 3D intact rocks under different fractal dimensions using the particle flow simulation method. The relationship between fractal dimensions and uniaxial compression strength and fracture behavior was analyzed. The results show that the fractal dimension of the Weibull distribution model is the largest, followed by the digital texture model, and the fractal dimension of the Voronoi polygon model is the smallest. With the increase in fractal dimension, the uniaxial compressive strength of intact rocks increases significantly, and their relationship is approximately linear. The influence of fractal dimension on rock strength shows a similar trend in both the 2D and 3D models. This study provides a new perspective for the application of fractal dimensions in multi-mineral rock models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Missile impacts on underground structures pose significant safety concerns, necessitating thorough investigation to enhance the resilience and safety of such infrastructures. This study aims to evaluate the effects of missile impacts on underground structures by comparing the impact of rigid and deformable impactors using advanced simulation techniques. The simulation of 3D models of impact scenarios on underground structure was carried out using ANSYS/LSDYNA software. The simulations focused on assessing the differences in damage caused by rigid and deformable impactors. Due to the symmetry of the geometry and loading, a quarter of the model was simulated to reduce calculation time. Various material models were employed, including MAT_RHT for rock, MAT_CSCM_CONCRETE for concrete, and MAT_PLASTIC_KINEMATIC for rebars and impactors. Different contact algorithms and boundary conditions were applied to replicate real-world scenarios accurately. Our analysis revealed that employing a deformable impactor significantly reduces the damage to both the ground and the tunnel lining compared to a rigid impactor. Specifically, the velocities observed for rigid and deformable impactors were 91.8 and 65.7 m/s, respectively. Validation of the numerical model was achieved through comparison with experimental data on RC beams subjected to impact, demonstrating the model’s reliability in predicting impact responses. Our findings underscore the critical influence of impactor material behaviour on damage outcomes. The results advocate for the consideration of nonrigid materials in impact assessments for stiff structures, contributing to enhanced safety protocols and design strategies for underground infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freeze–thaw processes caused by temperature changes in frost areas are the most essential reasons for damage to rock engineering structures. Thus, the study of the damage constitutive model of freeze-thawed rock is significant for evaluating the stability of rock excavations in these areas. Based on the classical statistical damage mechanics theory, this paper constructed a novel triaxial compressive damage constitutive model of freeze-thawed rock considering the damage threshold and residual strength characteristics. The proposed model was compared with previous experimental data and verified that the model has good fitting results. Then, the total damage growing process is divided into the initial damage stage, slow damage development stage, rapid damage development stage, and stable damage development stage. Additionally, it is found that with the increase of cohesion, internal friction angle, and confining pressure, the damage threshold and the strain value at the start point of the rapid damage development stage increase. For example, after an increase of 10 MPa in confining pressure, the damage threshold increases by 61.11%. With the increase of Poisson’s ratio and elastic modulus, the damage threshold and the maximum total damage variable decrease. Furthermore, the damage threshold has little effect on the stress–strain curve before the peak strength point, but the stress-dropping rate decreases with the increase of the damage threshold after the peak strength stage. In addition, the residual strength increases with the increase of the damage threshold. For example, when the damage threshold increases from 0.0029 to 0.0059, the residual strength increases by 4.66%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and loss of neuronal integrity. Emerging evidence suggests that RhoA, Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK), and their downstream effector molecule glycogen synthase 3β (GSK3β) interact within a complex signaling pathway (RhoA/ROCK/GSK3β) that plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. RhoA, a small GTPase, along with its downstream effector, ROCK, regulates various cellular processes, including actin cytoskeleton dynamics, apoptosis, and synaptic plasticity. GSK3β, a serine/threonine kinase, plays a key role in neuronal function and AD pathology, including the regulation of tau phosphorylation and amyloid-beta cleavage. Overactive GSK3β has been closely linked to tau hyperphosphorylation, neurodegeneration, and the progression of AD. Thus, GSK3β has been considered as a promising therapeutic target for treating AD and mitigating cognitive impairment. However, clinical trials of GSK3β in AD have faced considerable challenges due to the complexity of the specific neuronal inhibition of GSK3β. In this review, we summarize the literature regarding the relationship of RhoA/ROCK and GSK3β signaling pathways in AD pathogenesis. We further discuss recent findings of the sTREM2-transgelin-2 (TG2) axis as a potential mediator of this complex pathway and provide our review on a novel targeting strategy for AD.

Through a series of numerical simulations on single-hole blasting and presplit blasting, this paper analyzed the performance differences of the Riedel-Hiermaier-Thomal (RHT) and Holmquist-Johnson-Cook (HJC) constitutive models in simulating the blasting crack propagation of rock under different in-situ stress environments. Firstly, the RHT model parameters for granite were determined through mechanical experiments. Then, the traditional HJC model was improved by introducing failure criterion, and the practicability of the above two models in simulating blasting cracks was verified. Finally, the performance differences between these two models were analyzed in simulating blasting cracks of deep rocks. The results indicate that the improved HJC model is consistent with the RHT model in characterizing the blasting cracks of shallow rock. As the burial depth increases, the RHT model can accurately simulate the propagation of cracks in the entire blasting area under different in-situ stress conditions, while the improved HJC model can only simulate the crushed zone generated by blasting well. In addition, the improved HJC model behaves poorly in terms of general applicability because the specific failure criterion cannot be applied to multiple scenarios. These findings can offer valuable references to deep rock blasting simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure mechanisms of engineering rock masses primarily involve tensile and shear failure. Differentiating between the acoustic emission (AE) signals generated during the tensile and shear damage processes in rock can provide a scientific basis for the classification of acoustic signals in field rock fracture monitoring. This paper presents a study on acoustic emission monitoring during the direct tensile testing of granite, proposing a method for classifying AE signals based on the damage and failure processes of the samples. Additionally, the classification of tensile and shear AE signals is explored. The main conclusions are as follows. The proportion of low-frequency signals (frequency <200 kHz) and high-frequency signals (frequency >200 kHz) in all AE signals was found to be 81.6 % and 19.4 %, respectively. Based on an integrated classification and statistical method for AE signals in rock tensile failure, which involves steps such as "denoising the raw waveform, time-frequency domain data transformation, fuzzification processing, extraction of dominant frequency and corresponding amplitude, and identification of secondary dominant frequencies," the AE signals were categorized into two types, A and B. Type A signals accounted for an average of 7.6 %, while Type B signals made up 92.4 %. Based on the polarity determination method, the focal mechanisms of AE (Acoustic Emission) events were identified. In tensile events, the average proportion of Type A signals was 8.34 %, while the average proportion of Type B signals was 91.66 %. The Brazilian splitting test also yielded classification results similar to those obtained from direct tensile testing. Thus, it was preliminarily concluded that Type A signals, characterized by the presence of both a primary and secondary frequency, correspond to shear signals, whereas Type B signals, which only exhibit a primary frequency without a secondary frequency, correspond to tensile signals. • A classification method of AE signals in rock failure process was proposed. • The AE signal discrimination method of tensile and shear failure was proposed. • The dominant and secondary frequency characteristics of AE signals were analyzed. • The distribution characteristics of high and low frequency AE signals were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a gas molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) exerts neuroprotective effects. Despite its recognized importance, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of H 2 S's impact on vascular smooth muscle cells and its role in ischemic brain injury. This study employs encompassing cultured primary cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells, oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation model, in vitro vascular tone assessments, in vivo middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion experimentation in male rats, and the utilization of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 ( ROCK 2 ) knockout, to unravel the intricate relationship between H 2 S and cerebrovascular diastolic function. Our findings show that RhoA activation induces heightened vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction, whereas the introduction of exogenous H 2 S mitigates the relaxant effect of the middle cerebral artery in rats through the downregulation of both ROCK 1 and ROCK 2 , with ROCK 2 exhibiting a more pronounced effect. Correspondingly, the attenuation of ROCK 2 expression yields a more substantial reduction in the protective impact of H 2 S on cerebral blood flow, as well as learning and memory ability in ischemic injury, compared with the decrease in ROCK 1 expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that H 2 S effectively mitigates the damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in male mouse primary vascular smooth muscle cells. This effect is characterized by enhanced cell proliferation, reduced lactate dehydrogenase leakage, elevated superoxide dismutase activity, and inhibited apoptosis. Notably, this protective effect is markedly diminished in cells derived from ROCK 2 knockout mice. Our study reveals that H 2 S can relax cerebral vascular smooth muscle and ameliorate ischemic stroke injury by inhibiting the ROCK, with a particular emphasis on the role of ROCK 2 . NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study employs a diverse array of methods; our collective findings indicate that H 2 S safeguards against ischemic brain injury by inhibiting ROCK activity, thereby promoting relaxation of cerebral smooth muscle and mitigating the impairment of cerebral smooth muscle cell function caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation. In addition, our data underscore the critical role of ROCK 2 in mediating the cerebral protective effects of H 2 S, surpassing that of ROCK 1 .

Liver fibrosis, a consequence of chronic liver injury, represents a major global health burden and is the leading cause of liver failure, morbidity, and mortality. The pathological hallmark of this condition is excessive extracellular matrix deposition, driven primarily by integrin-mediated mechanotransduction. Integrins, transmembrane heterodimeric proteins that serve as primary ECM receptors, orchestrate complex mechanosignaling networks that regulate the activation, differentiation, and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and other ECM-secreting myofibroblasts. These mechanical signals create self-reinforcing feedback loops that perpetuate the fibrotic response. Recent advances have provided insight into the roles of specific integrin subtypes in liver fibrosis and revealed their regulation of key downstream effectors-including transforming growth factor beta, focal adhesion kinase, RhoA/Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase, and the mechanosensitive Hippo pathway. Understanding these mechanotransduction networks has opened new therapeutic possibilities through pharmacological manipulation of integrin-dependent signaling.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to provide researchers with a comprehensive knowledge map and identify existing knowledge gaps., Introduction: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. ROCK inhibitors are a novel class of intraocular pressure-lowering drugs that specifically target trabecular meshwork cells. Current research on ROCK inhibitors is dispersed across multiple directions, and their precise mechanisms of action in glaucoma treatment remain incompletely understood. For these reasons, we sought to integrate the existing evidence using a scoping review approach., Methods: Relevant articles published between 2014 and 2024 were identified and screened using keywords in the PubMed and Embase databases. Articles were analyzed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria., Results: The collected studies were categorized into three main themes: intraocular pressure reduction, neuroprotection, and anti-fibrosis. A total of 23 articles were included in the review. We found that studies related to intraocular pressure reduction accounted for the majority (approximately 74%), while research on neuroprotection and anti-fibrosis was relatively limited (approximately 14% each). Furthermore, among the 23 included articles, only one was a systematic review or meta-analysis., Conclusion: ROCK inhibitors directly act on the trabecular meshwork to lower IOP and have potential neuroprotective and anti-fibrotic effects. However, these potential effects require further clinical trials to validate their efficacy in humans. In the future, more systematic reviews and meta-analyses are also needed to integrate and summarize the current primary research findings., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Despite the myriad studies examining the diversity and mechanisms of gecko adhesion in the lab, we have a poor understanding of how this translates to locomotion in nature. It has long been assumed that greater adhesive strength should translate to superior performance in nature. Using 13 individuals of Bradfield's Namib day gecko (Rhoptropus bradfieldi) in Namibia, I tested the hypothesis that maximum running performance in nature (speed and acceleration) is driven by maximum frictional adhesive strength. Specifically, those individuals with greater frictional adhesion should escape with faster speed and acceleration because of increased contact with the surface from which to apply propulsive forces. I tested this prediction by quantifying laboratory adhesive performance and then releasing the geckos into the field while simultaneously recording the escape using high-speed videography. Additional measurements included how this species modulates maximum running speed (stride length and/or stride frequency) and how temperature influences field performance. I found that maximum acceleration was significantly correlated with maximum frictional adhesive strength, whereas maximum sprinting speed was only correlated with increases in stride frequency (not stride length) and temperature. Thus, different measures of performance (acceleration and speed) are limited by very different variables. Acceleration is key for rapidly escaping predation and, given their correlation, maximum frictional adhesion likely plays a key role in fitness., Competing Interests: Competing interests The author declares no competing or financial interests., (© 2025. Published by The Company of Biologists.)