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The mechanical response and deformation characteristics in calcareous sand foundations during pile driving and setup were studied using model tests combined with the technical methods of tactile pressure sensors and close-range photogrammetry. Different types of piles were considered, including a pipe pile, square pile and semi-closed steel pipe pile. The test results show that during pile driving, the pile tip resistance of different piles increases with an increase in the pile insertion depth, and an obvious fluctuation is also obtained due to the particle breakage of the calcareous sand and energy dissipation. Different degrees of particle breakage generated by different type piles make the internal stress variations different, as with the pile tip resistance. The pile tip resistance of model pile A, which simulates a pipe pile, is the highest, followed by model pile B, the simulated square pile. Model pile C, which simulates a semi-closed steel pipe pile, has the smallest pile tip resistance because its particle breakage is the most obvious and the pile tip energy cannot be continuously accumulated. The induced deformation such as sag or uplift on the surface and the associated influence range for the calcareous sand foundation are the smallest for model pile C, followed by model pile B and then model pile A. Model pile A has the most obvious pile driving effect. During the pile setup process after piling, the increase in the total internal stress of model pile B is the largest, and the improvement of the potential bearing capacity is the most obvious, followed by model pile A and model pile C. During the pile setup, the induced uplift deformation in pile driving is recovered and the potential bearing capacity increases due the redistribution and uniformity of the vertical and radial stress distributions in the calcareous sand foundation. Considering the potential bearing capacity of different model piles, the influence range of pile driving, foundation deformation and the pile setup effect, it is suggested to use a pointed square pile corresponding to model pile B in pile engineering in calcareous sand foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the lactate-related genes (LRGs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by various methods, construct a prognostic model, and explore the relationship between lactate subtypes and the immune tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: 24 LRGs were collected. The mutation landscape and the prognosis value of LRGs were explored by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Consensus clustering analysis was used for different lactate subtype identification. Based on the lactate subtypes, we explore the landscape of TME cell infiltration. A risk-score was calculated by using the LASSO-Cox analysis. A quantitative real-time PCR assay was utilized to validate the expression of characteristic genes in clinical cancer tissues and paracarinoma tissues from LUAD patients. Results: Comparing the normal samples, 18 LRGs were differentially expressed in tumor samples, which revealed that the differential expression of LRGs may be related to Copy Number Variation (CNV) alterations. The two distinct lactate subtypes were defined. Compared to patients in the LRGcluster A group, LUAD patients in the LRGcluster B group achieved better survival. The prognostic model was constructed based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via the LASSO-Cox analysis, which showed the accuracy of predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients using the ROC curve. A high-risk score was related to a high immune score, stromal score, and tumor mutation burden (TMB). Patients had better OS with low risk compared with those with high risk. The sensitivities of different risk groups to chemotherapeutic drugs were explored. Finally, the expression of characteristic genes in clinical cancer tissues and paracarinoma tissues from LUAD patients was verified via qRT-PCR. Conclusions: The lactate subtypes were independent prognostic biomarkers in LUAD. Additionally, the difference in the lactate subtypes was an indispensable feature for the individual TME. The comprehensive evaluation of the lactate subtypes in the single tumor would help us to understand the infiltration characteristics of TME and guide immunotherapy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin, a special xanthophyll derived from marine algae, has increasingly attracted attention due to its diverse biological functions. However, reports on its ocular benefits are still limited. In this work, the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on visible light and lipid peroxidation-induced phagocytosis disruption in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells was investigated in vitro. Marked oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption were evident in differentiated RPE cells following their exposure to visible light under a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich environment. Following pretreatment with fucoxanthin, however, the activated nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway was observed and, furthermore, when the fucoxanthin -pretreated RPE cells were irradiated with visible light, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and inflammation were obviously suppressed, while phagocytosis was significantly improved. However, following the addition of Nrf2 inhibitor ML385, the fucoxanthin exhibited no ameliorative effects on the oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption in the RPE cells, thus indicating that the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on the phagocytosis of RPE cells is closely related to the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results suggest that fucoxanthin supplementation might be beneficial to the prevention of visible light-induced retinal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin, a special xanthophyll derived from marine algae, has increasingly attracted attention due to its diverse biological functions. However, reports on its ocular benefits are still limited. In this work, the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on visible light and lipid peroxidation-induced phagocytosis disruption in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells was investigated in vitro. Marked oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption were evident in differentiated RPE cells following their exposure to visible light under a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich environment. Following pretreatment with fucoxanthin, however, the activated nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway was observed and, furthermore, when the fucoxanthin -pretreated RPE cells were irradiated with visible light, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and inflammation were obviously suppressed, while phagocytosis was significantly improved. However, following the addition of Nrf2 inhibitor ML385, the fucoxanthin exhibited no ameliorative effects on the oxidative stress, inflammation, and phagocytosis disruption in the RPE cells, thus indicating that the ameliorative effect of fucoxanthin on the phagocytosis of RPE cells is closely related to the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, these results suggest that fucoxanthin supplementation might be beneficial to the prevention of visible light-induced retinal injury.