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Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly bowel necrotic disease of premature infants. Low levels of plasma IGF-1 predispose premature infants to NEC. While increasing evidence suggests that defective perinatal intestinal microvascular development plays a role in NEC, the involved mechanism remains incompletely understood. We report here that serum and intestinal IGF-1 are developmentally regulated during the perinatal period in mice and decrease during experimental NEC. Neonatal intestinal macrophages produce IGF-1 and promote endothelial cell sprouting in vitro via IGF-1 signaling. In vivo, in the neonatal intestine, macrophage-derived IGF-1 promotes VEGF expression and endothelial cell proliferation and protects against experimental NEC. Exogenous IGF-1 preserves intestinal microvascular density and protects against experimental NEC. In human NEC tissues, villous endothelial cell proliferation and IGF-1- producing macrophages are decreased compared to controls. Together, our results suggest that defective IGF-1-production by neonatal macrophages impairs neonatal intestinal microvascular development and predisposes the intestine to necrotizing enterocolitis. This study highlights the impact of macrophage-derived IGF-1 on the microvascular development in the neonatal intestine and a resulting protective effect against necrotizing enterocolitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of selective laser melting (SLM) is complex and instantaneous, which communicates with a variety of physical phenomena such as solid–liquid phase transition. The microstructure and material properties are favorable evidence to explain the SLM forming mechanism. In this paper, the forming properties of the iron-based alloy, titanium-based alloys, and aluminum-based alloys are discussed, which are relatively mature in research. The influence of processing strategy on the density and quality of metal specimens is briefly introduced. The research progress of microstructure and mechanical properties of metal specimens formed by SLM is mainly introduced. Also, the influence of processing parameters and heat treatment on the microstructure and the effect of microstructure on mechanical properties are summarized. The corrosion behavior of metal specimens formed by SLM is analyzed. Furthermore, the research development of copper-based alloys, shape memory alloys, and high-entropy alloys is presented. Finally, the problems encountered in the alloys forming process are described, and the future development direction has prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LTR retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are ubiquitous and represent the dominant repeat element in plant genomes, playing important roles in functional variation, genome plasticity and evolution. With the advent of new sequencing technologies, a growing number of whole-genome sequences have been made publicly available, making it possible to carry out systematic analyses of LTR-RTs. However, a comprehensive and unified annotation of LTR-RTs in plant groups is still lacking. Here, we constructed a plant intact LTR-RTs dataset, which is designed to classify and annotate intact LTR-RTs with a standardized procedure. The dataset currently comprises a total of 2,593,685 intact LTR-RTs from genomes of 300 plant species representing 93 families of 46 orders. The dataset is accompanied by sequence, diverse structural and functional annotation, age determination and classification information associated with the LTR-RTs. This dataset will contribute valuable resources for investigating the evolutionary dynamics and functional implications of LTR-RTs in plant genomes. Measurement(s) LTR_retrotransposon • genome Technology Type(s) bioinformatics method • digital curation Factor Type(s) Species Sample Characteristic - Organism Rhodophyta • Chlorophyta • Bryophyta • Tracheophyta Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.14684877 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the crown of the scholar's four jewels, the brush has occupied a cherished position in the culture of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy since its invention. In virtual painting, virtual brush modeling plays the most important role. A powerful virtual brush model can truly reflect the characteristics of a real brush and enhance the reality of virtual painting. By reviewing the state of the art in virtual brush modeling, we summarize the basic principles, merits, and drawbacks of typical modeling methods, and discuss simulation results based on empirical methods and physical methods separately. The influences of brush-paper, paper-ink, and human-computer interactive devices on virtual brush modeling are analyzed briefly. The main challenges and problems in virtual painting are analyzed, and the prospects for research on virtual brush modeling in the future are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cutting force measurement is an essential requirement in tool condition monitoring and offer an important indicator to design machine tools, optimize machining processes. In this paper, a novel cutting force dynamometer for measuring axial force and torque in milling is proposed. The new type sensing element has been developed to enhance the sensitivity of the dynamometer meanwhile to maintain enough rigidity. The device is based on semiconductor strain gauge that measures the deformation of lantern-shape sensing element. In order to check the feasibility of the proposed dynamometer, a static calibration and modal impact test were carried out, and the performance of device installed on a milling machine has been tested under different cutting conditions. The results show that the dynamometer has a high performance and could be used as an instrument for monitoring machining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-pneumatic tire appears to have advantages over traditional pneumatic tire in terms of flat proof and maintenance free. A mechanical elastic wheel (MEW) with a non-pneumatic elastic outer ring which functions as air of pneumatic tire was presented. The structure of MEW was non-inflatable integrated configuration and the effect of hinges was accounted for only in tension. To establish finite element model of MEW, various nonlinear factors, such as geometrical nonlinearity, material nonlinearity and contact nonlinearity, were considered. Load characteristic test was conducted by tyre dynamic test-bed to obtain force-deflection curve. And the finite element model was validated through load characteristic test. Natural dynamic characteristics of the MEW and its influencing factors were investigated based on the finite element model. Simulation results show that the finite element model closely matched experimental wheel. The results also show that natural frequency is related to ground constraints, material properties, loads and torques. Influencing factors as above obviously affect the amplitude of mode of vibration, but have little effect on mode of vibration shape. The results can provide guidance for experiment research, structural optimization of MEW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial cells (ECs) are critical for angiogenesis, and microRNA plays important roles in this process. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of miR-302c in the process of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in ECs. When miR-302c was overexpressed in HUVECs, the motility of the HUVECs was weakened; the expression levels of EndMT markers were also changed: vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin was up-regulated, whereas β-catenin, FSP1, and a-SMA were down-regulated. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the growth of HCC was inhibited when co-cultured or co-injected with HUVECs overexpressing miR-302c. On the contrary, when miR-302c was suppressed in HUVECs, the opposite results were observed. Reporter assays showed that miR-302c inhibited metadherin (MTDH) expression through directly binding to its 39UTR. In addition, compared to ECs isolated from normal liver tissues of HCC patients, ECs isolated from tumor tissues expressed markedly low levels of miR-302c but high levels of MTDH. These results suggest that EC-specific miR-302c suppresses tumor growth in HCC through MTDH-mediated inhibition of EndMT. MTDH and miR-302c might provide a new strategy for anti-angiogenic therapy in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the prognostic factors for the patients with lung metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred and five patients with lung metastases from HCC were analyzed retrospectively. We analyzed the impact factors, including the gender, age, liver function, serum AFP and γ-GT level, the status of intrahepatic tumor and pulmonary metastases and treatment for them, the distant metastases beyond the lung, as well as the causes of death. The overall cumulative probability of survival was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method, and the difference between the groups was compared using the Log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox-regression proportional hazard model were performed to evaluate the prognostic parameters for survival. The survival after the lung metastases was influenced by clinical parameters, such as the status and the treatment for both the intrahepatic tumor and the pulmonary lesions. The causes of death were respiratory failure due to metastatic lesions from HCC in 16 patients (20.0%), liver failure caused by the progressive intrahepatic lesions in 54 (67.5%). The mean and median survival times were 684 and 487 days after HCC diagnosis and 264 and 179 days after lung metastases, respectively. It was very important to treat the intrahepatic tumor because its worsening was still the major cause of death. The progressive treatment for pulmonary metastases may also be advised for possible prolongation of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and aggressive human malignancies. Its high mortality rate is mainly a result of intra-hepatic metastases. We analyzed the expression profiles of HCC samples without or with intra-hepatic metastases. Using a supervised machine-learning algorithm, we generated for the first time a molecular signature that can classify metastatic HCC patients and identified genes that were relevant to metastasis and patient survival. We found that the gene expression signature of primary HCCs with accompanying metastasis was very similar to that of their corresponding metastases, implying that genes favoring metastasis progression were initiated in the primary tumors. Osteopontin, which was identified as a lead gene in the signature, was over-expressed in metastatic HCC; an osteopontin-specific antibody effectively blocked HCC cell invasion in vitro and inhibited pulmonary metastasis of HCC cells in nude mice. Thus, osteopontin acts as both a diagnostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for metastatic HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amplification of the gene encoding the ErbB2 (Her2/neu) receptor tyrosine kinase is critical for the progression of several forms of breast cancer. In a large-scale clinical trial, treatment with Herceptin (trastuzumab), a humanized blocking antibody against ErbB2, led to marked improvement in survival. However, cardiomyopathy was uncovered as a mitigating side effect, thereby suggesting an important role for ErbB2 signaling as a modifier of human heart failure. To investigate the physiological role of ErbB2 signaling in the adult heart, we generated mice with a ventricular-restricted deletion of Erbb2. These ErbB2-deficient conditional mutant mice were viable and displayed no overt phenotype. However, physiological analysis revealed the onset of multiple independent parameters of dilated cardiomyopathy, including chamber dilation, wall thinning and decreased contractility. Additionally, cardiomyocytes isolated from these conditional mutants were more susceptible to anthracycline toxicity. ErbB2 signaling in cardiomyocytes is therefore essential for the prevention of dilated cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among various immunotherapeutic approaches, interleukin-12 (IL-12) is particularly appealing because of its superior antitumor effects, which have been demonstrated in preclinical as well as clinical studies. However, IL-12 therapy was often accompanied by severe side effects due mainly to the supranormal induction of interferon-γ. To optimize the therapeutic efficacy and lower the side effects of IL-12, we have investigated the antitumor activity of combined IL-12 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene therapy in a highly malignant and poorly immunogenic murine hepatocellular carcinoma model. Using a versatile hydrodynamics-based DNA delivery method, we showed that the combined gene delivery of IL-12 and GM-CSF induced very strong antitumor cellular immunity and achieved significant therapeutic efficacy, whereas each cytokine gene alone yielded appreciable but less effects. We also observed that the combined therapy induced lower levels of interferon -γ than did IL-12 alone. These results suggest that combined IL-12 and GM-CSF therapy can render a stronger antitumor effect as well as lowering potential side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the hydrodynamics, the airflow exciting-vibration force of control stage of steam turbine is studied by using the momentum theorem. A formulation for calculating the air exciting-vibration force of the control stage of steam turbine is deduced first by using theoretical analysis method and taking all the design factors of vane and nozzles into consideration. Moreover, the exciting-vibration forces in different load cases are discussed respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human anti-(murine Ig) antibody (HAMA) responses were monitored in 32 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing radioimmunotherapy usingI-labeled anti-HCC monoclonal antibody (Hepama-1 mAb) intrahepatic arterial infusion. Dosages of Hepama-1 mAb ranged from 5 mg to 20 mg and the mAb was radiolabeled with 0.74-4.00 GBq (20-108 mCi)I (4-6 mCi/mg). T lymphocyte subsets were examined before and after radioimmunotherapy in 24 patients. In this series, 34.4% (11/32) of patients developed HAMA within 2-4 weeks after the infusion. All patients with a negative HAMA response ( n=14). had CD4 T lymphocyte subsets (T helper/inducer) much lower than those of the HAMA-positive ( n=10) patients and the control group ( n=40) ( P<0.01) prior to infusion. The sequential resection and survival rates in the HAMA-negative group were also lower than that of the HAMA-positive group. Thus, the determination of T lymphocyte subsets might help to predict the HAMA response in HCC patients during radioimmunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The course, tempo and mode of chloroplast genome evolution remain largely unknown, resulting in limited knowledge about how plant plastome gene and genome evolve during the process of recent plant speciation. Here, we report the complete plastomes of 22 closely related Oryza species in chronologically ordered stages and generate the first precise map of genomic structural variation, to our knowledge. The occurrence rapidity was estimated on average to be ~7 insertions and ~15 deletions per Myr. Relatively fewer deletions than insertions result in an increased repeat density that causes the observed growth of Oryza chloroplast genome sizes. Genome-wide scanning identified 14 positively selected genes that are relevant to photosynthesis system, eight of which were found independently in shade-tolerant or sun-loving rice species. psaA seemed positively selected in both shade-tolerant and sun-loving rice species. The results show that adaptive evolution of chloroplast genes makes rice species adapt to diverse ecological habitats related to sunlight preferences. Gao, Liu, Zhang, Li et al. report the complete plastid genome assemblies for 22 closely related species of rice, generating a map of genomic structural variation. They show that plastid gene evolution has helped rice evolve to diverse habitats with different levels of sunlight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overtaking accidents caused by improper operations performed by a driver occur frequently. However, most studies on overtaking safety have neglected research into driver control input. A novel method is proposed to obtain the driver control input during the overtaking process. Meanwhile, to improve the safety of overtaking, two types of safe distances, and the time of the overtaking are considered. Path constraints are established when considering the two types of safe distances. An optimal control model is established to solve the minimum time maneuver under multiple constraints. Using the Gauss pseudospectral method, the optimal control problem is converted into a nonlinear programming problem, which is then solved through sequential quadratic programming (SQP). In addition, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified based on the results of a Carsim simulation. The simulation results show that by adopting an inverse dynamics method to solve the manipulation problem of the vehicle's minimum overtaking time, the manipulation capability of a vehicle in completing an overtaking safely within the minimum time can be obtained. This method can provide a reference for research into the active safety of manned and unmanned vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machining and installation errors are unavoidable in mechanical structures. However, the effect of errors on radial stiffness of the mechanical elastic wheel (ME-Wheel) is not considered in previous studies. To this end, the interval mathematical model and interval finite element model of the ME-Wheel were both established and compared with bench test results. The intercomparison of the influence of the machining and installation errors on the ME-Wheel radial stiffness revealed good consistency among the interval mathematical analysis, interval finite element simulation, and bench test results. Within the interval range of the ME-Wheel machining and installation errors, parametric analysis of the combined elastic rings was performed at different initial radial rigidity values. The results showed that the initial radial stiffness of the flexible tire body significantly influenced the ME-Wheel radial stiffness, and the inverse relationship between the hinge unit length or suspension hub and the radial stiffness was nonlinear. The radial stiffness of the ME-Wheel is predicted by using the interval algorithm for the first time, and the regularity of the radial stiffness between the error and the load on the ME-Wheel is studied, which will lay the foundation for the exact study of the ME-Wheel dynamic characteristics in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel sequencing designs are necessary to supplement the recognized knowledge of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-related genomic alterations. In this study, we sequenced 28 target genes in 320 Chinese MDS patients but obtained 77.2% of recall factors and 82.8% of genetic abnormalities (including karyotype abnormalities). In addition to known relationships among mutations, some specific chromosomal abnormalities were found to link to specific gene mutations. Trisomy 8 tended to be linked to U2AF1 and ZRSR2 mutations, and 20q- exhibited higher SRSF2/WT1 and U2AF1 mutation frequency. Chromosome 7 involvement accounted for up to 50% of RUNX1 mutations and 37.5% of SETBP1 mutations. Patients carrying a complex karyotype were prone to present TP53 mutations (36.1%). However, individuals with normal karyotypes rarely possessed mutations in the TP53, RUNX1 and U2AF1. Moreover, DNMT3A, TP53, SRSF2, STAG2, ROBO1/2 and WT1 predicted poor survival and high AML transformation. By integrating these predictors into international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) or revised IPSS, we built a set of mutation-based prognostic risk models. These models could layer different degrees of risk in patients more satisfactorily. In summary, this sequencing design was able to detect a number of gene mutations and could be used to stratify patients with varied prognostic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) is the third most common subtype of kidney cancers. In the present study, we identified 58 treatment-naïve primary chRCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and analyzed the genome-wide microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles, with the aim to assess the relationship of miRNA expression with the progression and prognosis of chRCC. Overall, a total of 105 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between tumor and the adjacent normal tissues from 22 chRCC patients. In the unpaired condition (58 chRCC vs. 22 normal tissues), 77 (96.3%) samples were distinguished correctly by the signatures. In the progression-related profiles, 27 miRNAs were selected for pathologic T and 9 for lymph node involvement. In the survival analyses, the expression levels of mir-191, mir-19a, mir-210, and mir-425 were significantly associated with both recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival, while mir-210 was proven as an independent prognostic factor in terms of RFS. In summary, miRNAs are expressed differentially in chRCC, and unique expression of miRNAs is associated with the progression and prognosis of chRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]