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Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in shales, occurring predominantly in three forms: biogenic quartz (BQ), detrital quartz (DQ) and clay-transformed quartz (CTQ). The content of quartz is typically correlated with the fracability of shale gas reservoirs. However, the origins of quartz and its influence on mechanical properties remain not fully elucidated. To address this gap, this study examines shale samples from LM1-LM8 graptolite zones in well W202 of the Weiyuan shale gas field, the Sichuan Basin as the research object. After systematic analysis of organic geochemistry, mineral composition, cathodoluminescence observation, major/trace elements, and log interpretation and calculation of shale mechanical parameters, the genetic mechanism of quartz was analyzed and the percentage of quartz of different origins and the influence on rock mechanical properties were evaluated quantitatively. The results indicate that the three types of quartz (BQ, DQ and CTQ) were variably present in the Longmaxi shale across different graptolite zones. The LM1-LM3 graptolite zones exhibit the highest abundance of BQ, with contents ranging from 58.3 to 79.6%, with an average of 65.7%. DQ predominates in the LM4-LM5 and LM6-LM8 graptolite zones, with average contents of 38.7% and 34.9%, respectively. The BQ content is marginally higher in the LM4-LM5 zone compared to the LM6-LM8 zone, averaging 12.7% and 6.1%, respectively. The three types of quartz exert a dual influence on Young’s modulus, and a single linear effect on Poisson’s ratio. An increase BQ content correlates with a decreased in Poisson’s ratio, whereas increased contents of DQ and CTQ correlate with an increased Poisson’s ratio. With the highest Young’s modulus and the lowest Poisson’s ratio, the LM1-LM3 shale is the most favorable interval for hydraulic fracturing. Furthermore, BQ is positively correlated with the Brittleness index (BI), whereas the contents of DQ and CTQ are negatively correlated with BI. When the quartz content falls between 52% and 85%, the ratio of DQ to BQ is optimal for fracture development coinciding with high BI values, which are most conducive to fracturing stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation (HS/R) can lead to acute kidney injury, mainly manifested as oxidative stress and inflammatory injury in the renal tubular epithelial cells, as well as abnormal autophagy and apoptosis. Sulforaphane (SFN), an agonist of the nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, is involved in multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, autophagy, and apoptosis regulation. This study investigated the effect of SFN on acute kidney injury after HS/R in mice. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in mice by controlling the arterial blood pressure at a range of 35–45 mmHg for 90 min within arterial blood withdrawal. Fluid resuscitation was carried out by reintroducing withdrawn blood and 0.9% NaCl. We found that SFN suppressed the elevation of urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels in the blood induced by HS/R. SFN mitigated pathological alterations including swollen renal tubules and renal casts in kidney tissue of HS/R mice. Inflammation levels and oxidative stress were significantly downregulated in mouse kidney tissue after SFN administration. In addition, the kidney tissue of HS/R mice showed high levels of autophagosomes as observed by electron microscopy. However, SFN can further enhance the formation of autophagosomes in the HS/R + SFN group. SFN also increased autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 expression and suppressed P62 expression, while increasing the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II and LC3-I (LC3-II/LC3-I). SFN also effectively decreased cleaved caspase-3 level and enhanced the ratio of anti-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma 2 and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bcl2/Bax). Collectively, SFN effectively inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress, enhanced autophagy, thereby reducing HS/R-induced kidney injury and apoptosis levels in mouse kidneys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is a common complication of surgical manipulation of the uterine cavity such as abortion. The pathology of IUA is characterized by fibrosis, but the pathogenesis is not fully understood. The function of Apelin-13 in IUA and related mechanisms were investigated in this study. The IUA rat model was established. The pathological changes and fibrosis degree of rat uterine tissues were detected by HE and Masson staining after intraperitoneal injection of Apelin-13. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of endometrial epithelial cells and endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EnMT) of vein endothelial cells were induced by TGF-β1. Tube-forming assay using HUVEC was implemented to detect the effect of Apelin-13 upon angiogenesis. IHC staining, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot were conducted to detect the expression levels of EMT markers, angiogenesis, and key proteins of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling. Apelin-13 significantly alleviated IUA and fibrosis, and increased endometrial thickness and gland number in IUA rats. In addition, Apelin-13 significantly reversed EMT and EnMT induced by IUA modeling and TGF-β1, promoted the tube-forming ability of HUVEC, and up-regulated the expression of angiogenesis-related proteins. Mechanistically, Apelin-13 significantly suppressed smad2/3 phosphorylation and inhibited the TGF-β1/Smad signaling via its receptor APJ. Apelin-13 might alleviate IUA via repressing the TGF-β1/Smad pathway and is expected to be a potent therapeutic option for the clinical treatment of IUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rich micromammal fossils from Early, Middle, and Late Miocene horizons of the Damiao sequence in Nei Mongol provide an opportunity to study Miocene biostratigraphy and faunal turnover in Asia. In this study, we describe thirteen dipodid species from the Damiao sequence, including two new species, Sinozapus damiaoensis sp. nov. and Lophocricetus parvus sp. nov. Sinozapus damiaoensis sp. nov. is characterized by the metaloph connecting to the central hypocone on M1-M2, the absence of the anterior arm of the protoconid, and the posterior arm of the protoconid merging with the metaconid on m2. Lophocricetus parvus sp. nov. displays a set of transitional morphological traits between Heterosminthus and Lophocricetus. It resembles Heterosminthus in its small size, the presence of the mesocone and mesoloph on M1-M2, the vestigial pseudomesolophid, and the posterior crest of the protoconid on m1. Meanwhile, it has the characteristics of Lophocricetus, including the protostyle on M1 and the hypoconid-entoconid connection on the m1. These two new species represent the earliest records of their respective genera. The Damiao dipodid fossil records improve our understanding of Neogene dipodid diversity, and refine the biostratigraphic framework in the central Nei Mongol. The new fossil records reveal a shift from small, low-crowned, humid-adapted early taxa to ecologically diverse late Middle Miocene forms, including desert-adapted jerboas, indicating a trend towards regional aridification. Nonetheless, relict sicistines and zapodines suggest localized persistence of humid refugia within broader dry environments during the late Middle Miocene, which sheltered pliopithecids in the Mongolia Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coix lacryma-jobi L. is a traditional medicinal plant in east Asia and is an important crop in Guizhou province, southwest China, where there are elevated levels of soil mercury and arsenic (As). Exposure to multiple potentially toxic elements (PTEs) may affect plant accumulation of metal(loid)s and food safety in regions with high geological metal concentrations. Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of PTEs on metal(loid) accumulation and physiological response of C. lacryma in different plant parts at three pollution levels. Total root length, number of root tips, number of branches, and number of root crosses increased with increasing pollution level, with increases in highly polluted areas of 44.2, 57.0, 79.6, and 97.2%, respectively, compared to lightly polluted areas. Under multi-element stress the activity of C. lacryma antioxidant oxidase showed an increase at low and medium PTE concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The As contents were all below the maximum limit of cereal food contaminants in China (GB 2762-2022, As < 0.5 mg kg−1). The stems had high Tl bioconcentration factors but the translocation factors from stem to grain were very low, indicating that the stems may be a key plant part restricting Tl transport to the grains. C. lacryma increased root retention and reduced the transport effect, thus reducing metal accumulation in the grains. C. lacryma adapted to PTE stress through root remodeling and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of ambient temperature, sliding speed and normal load on friction coefficient and wear mechanism were investigated through end-face testing to simulate the influence of process parameters during hot forming–quenching integrated process. With the increasing ambient temperature, the wear mechanism changes from abrasive wear to adhesive wear and oxidation wear. When the ambient temperature reaches 400 °C, the delamination wear characteristics occur due to the crack propagation caused by thermal stress. The friction coefficient and wear rate increase with the increase in the normal load. When the normal load is 1.8 and 3 kN, because of the generation of a large amount of heat and the increase in the contact area, the peeling morphology appears, and the adhesive wear and oxidation wear are further enhanced with the increase in the temperature. The enhancement of work hardening weakened the adhesion effect due to the high sliding speed. The friction coefficient decreases with the increase in the sliding speed. In addition, the wear rate at 10 r/min and 50 r/min sliding speed are 29.6 and 29.2 mm3/m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although microsatellite stability/Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (MSS/EMT) subtypes have been reported in multiple cancer prognosis studies, strong confounding factors between MSS/EMT (usually with Lauren's diffuse phenotype) and diffuse gastric cancer (GC) may obscure the independent prognostic value of diffuse GC. Additionally, recent studies suggest a strong correlation between mural stratification based on CT and diffuse GC. This study aims to investigate potential prognostic factors of MSS diffuse GC using mural stratification and to develop a risk assessment model. Methods: This retrospective study included 131 patients with MSS diffuse GC who underwent radical surgery. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify model predictors and construct a nomogram for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) risks. The model's performance was evaluated using ROC, accuracy, and C-index. Internal validation of the model was conducted using the bootstrap resampling method. Results: Among 131 cases, 60 cases (45.8%) exhibited grade 2 mural stratification, which correlated with a poorer tumor prognosis and a more invasive phenotype. Furthermore, a nomogram for predicting OS and RFS prognosis was established based on multivariate results (age, extranodal invasion, mural stratification, and/or P53). The nomogram demonstrated excellent performance, with an AUC of 0.859 (95% CI 0.794–0.924) for OS and 0.859 (95% CI 0.789–0.929) for RFS. Internal validation using 1000 bootstrap samples yielded AUC values of 0.845 and 0.846 for OS and RFS, respectively. Conclusion: Grade 2 mural stratification based on CT imaging revealed a more aggressive invasive phenotype, characterized by increased LN metastasis, higher rates of peritoneal metastasis, and a poorer short-term prognosis. Furthermore, the CT phenotype–based nomogram demonstrates favorable discrimination and calibration, enabling convenient individual short-term prognostic evaluation following resection of MSS diffuse GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of alloying elements on the microstructure evolution and properties of GH2107 superalloy during long-term aging are investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The results indicate that the microstructure of the alloy becomes unstable with the prolongation of aging time. Cr element promotes the precipitation of M23C6 carbides at grain boundaries, and Fe element inhibits the precipitation and growth of M23C6 carbides at high temperature. At the same time, high Fe promotes the growth of γ' phase and the precipitation of TCP phase, which has a certain influence on the plasticity and strength of the alloy. The yield strength of alloy1 (15.41% Cr, 35.3% Fe) and alloy2 (15.08% Cr, 40.1% Fe) decreases with the increase in aging time. However, for alloy3 with high Fe content, the yield strength increases suddenly at 3000 h aging time due to the improving effect of solid solution strengthening. In addition, the dislocation movement mechanism of GH2107 alloy was studied, and Orowan bypass mechanism is more likely to occur in alloys with high Fe content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accurate prediction of preoperative occult peritoneal metastasis (OPM) is critical to selecting appropriate therapeutic regimen for gastric cancer (GC). Considering the clinical practicability, we develop and validate a visible nomogram that integrates the CT images and clinicopathological parameters for the individual preoperative prediction of OPM in GC. Methods: This retrospective study included 520 patients who underwent staged laparoscopic exploration or peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC) examination. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression results were used to screen model predictors and construct nomograms of OPM risk. The performance of the model was detected by using ROC, accuracy, and C-index. The bootstrap resampling method was considered internal validation of the model. The Delong test was used to evaluate the difference in AUC between the two models. Results: Grade 2 mural stratification, tumor thickness, and the Lauren classification diffuse were significant predictors of OPM (p < 0.05). The nomogram of these three factors (compared with the original model) showed a higher predictive effect (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.830 (95% CI 0.788–0.873), and the internally validated AUC of 1000 bootstrap samples was 0.826 (95% CI 0.756–0.870). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 76.0%, 78.8%, and 78.3%, respectively. Conclusions: CT phenotype–based nomogram demonstrates favorable discrimination and calibration, and it can be conveniently used for preoperative individual risk rating of OPM in GC. Clinical relevance statement: In this study, the preoperative OPM prediction model based on CT images (mural stratification, tumor thickness) combined with pathological parameters (the Lauren classification) showed excellent predictive ability in GC, and it is also suitable for clinicians to use rather than limited to professional radiologists. Key Points: • Nomogram based on CT image analysis can effectively predict occult peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer (training area under the curve (AUC) = 0.830 and bootstrap AUC = 0.826). • Nomogram model combined with CT features performed better than the original model (established using only clinicopathological parameters) in differentiating occult peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil teeth representing four species of Lophiomeryx are identified from early Oligocene strata in the Saint Jacques area of Nei Mongol, including L. shinaoensis, L. gracilis, L. cf. chalaniati, and L. triangularis sp. nov. This represents the highest species richness of this early traguline from a single stratigraphic sequence. The new materials expand the spatiotemporal ranges of L. shinaoensis and L. gracilis, which are previously known from the late Eocene of Guizhou, south China. We present further morphological details that support the validity of the original taxonomy for the Guizhou materials. L. cf. chalaniati resembles the type species morphologically but is smaller than European specimens. L. triangularis sp. nov. is the last to appear in the sequence, and it is notably larger and more high-crowned than all the other known species of Lophiomeryx. Aside from the dental materials, we report the first known skull of L. gracilis, collected from a nearby locality, Qianlishan. While the overall skull morphology is primitive for tragulines, the specimen preserves a closed postorbital bar, a derived feature that was previously thought to be absent in Lophiomeryx. Our new specimens shed light on the diversity, biogeography, and ecology of this basal ruminant as well as on the evolution of early tragulines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) has been used in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of gastric cancer, but the research on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been reported. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of RADG versus laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) after NAC for AGC. Methods: This was a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis from February 2020 and March 2022. Patients who underwent RADG or LDG for AGC (cT3-4a/N +) following NAC were enrolled and a propensity score-matched analysis was performed in a 1:1 manner. The patients were divided into RADG group and LDG group. The clinicopathological characteristics and short-term outcomes were observed. Results: After propensity score matching, 67 patients each in the RADG and LDG groups. RADG was associated with a lower intraoperative blood loss (35.6 vs. 118.8 ml, P = 0.014) and more retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) (50.7 vs. 39.5, P < 0.001), more extraperigastric (18.3 vs. 10.4, P < 0.001), and suprapancreatic LNs (16.33 vs. 13.70, P = 0.042). The RADG group showed lower VAS scores at postoperative 24 h (2.2 vs 3.3, P = 0.034), earlier ambulation (1.3 vs. 2.6, P = 0.011), aerofluxus time (2.2 vs. 3.6, P = 0.025), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.3 vs. 9.8, P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in the operative time (216.7 vs.194.7 min, P = 0.204) and postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusion: RADG may be a potential therapeutic option for patients with AGC after NAC considering its advantages in perioperative period compared with LDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is considered one of the most effective measures to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and low-rank coal reservoirs are commonly recognized as potential CO2 storage sites for carbon sequestration. To evaluate the geological CO2 sequestration potential of the low-rank coal reservoirs in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin, multiple experiments were performed on coal samples from that area, including high-pressure mercury porosimetry, low-temperature N2 adsorption, overburden porosity and permeability measurements, and high-pressure CH4 and CO2 isothermal adsorption measurements. Combined with the geological properties of the potential reservoir, including coal seam development and hydrodynamic characteristics, the areas between Santun River and Sigong River in the Junggar Basin were found to be suitable for CO2 sequestration. Consequently, the coal-bearing strata from Santun River to Sigong River can be defined as "potentially favorable areas for CO2 eequetfraiion" To better guide the future field test of CO2 storage in these areas, three CO2 sequestration modes were defined: 1) the broad syncline and faulted anticline mode; 2) the monoclinic mode; 3) the syncline and strike-slip fault mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapies using dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown promising applications for bone tissue engineering. This in vitro experiment evaluated the joint osteogenic capability of DPSCs and EVs on alloplastic (maxresorp), allogeneic (maxgraft), and xenogeneic (cerabone) bone grafts. We hypothesize that osteogenic differentiation and the proliferation of human DPSCs vary between bone grafts and are favorable under the influence of EVs. DPSCs were obtained from human wisdom teeth, and EVs derived from DPSCs were isolated from cell culture medium. DPSCs were seeded on alloplastic, allogeneic, and xenogeneic bone graft substitutes for control, and the same scaffolds were administered with EVs in further groups. The cellular uptake of EVs into DPSC cells was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cell vitality staining and calcein acetoxymethyl ester staining were used to evaluate cell attachment and proliferation. Cell morphology was determined using scanning electron microscopy, and osteogenic differentiation was explored by alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin red staining. Within the limitations of an in vitro study without pathologies, the results suggest that especially the use of xenogeneic bone graft substitutes with DPSCS and EVs may represent a promising treatment approach for alveolar bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anterior auditory field (AAF) is a core region of the auditory cortex and plays a vital role in discrimination tasks. However, the role of the AAF corticostriatal neurons in frequency discrimination remains unclear. Here, we used c-Fos staining, fiber photometry recording, and pharmacogenetic manipulation to investigate the function of the AAF corticostriatal neurons in a frequency discrimination task. c-Fos staining and fiber photometry recording revealed that the activity of AAF pyramidal neurons was significantly elevated during the frequency discrimination task. Pharmacogenetic inhibition of AAF pyramidal neurons significantly impaired frequency discrimination. In addition, histological results revealed that AAF pyramidal neurons send strong projections to the striatum. Moreover, pharmacogenetic suppression of the striatal projections from pyramidal neurons in the AAF significantly disrupted the frequency discrimination. Collectively, our findings show that AAF pyramidal neurons, particularly the AAF–striatum projections, play a crucial role in frequency discrimination behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in gastrointestinal surgery has been widely accepted. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ERAS in total robotic distal gastrectomy (TRDG) versus 3D total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (3D-TLDG) for gastric cancer. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 73 patients underwent TRDG and 163 patients who received 3D-TLDG. The propensity score was used for matching analysis according to a 1:1 ratio, so that there was no significant difference in the baseline data between the two groups. The short-term effect and safety of the two groups were compared. Results: The TRDG group had a less intraoperative bleeding (30.21 ± 13.78 vs. 41.44 ± 17.41 ml, P < 0.001), longer intraoperative preparation time (31.05 ± 4.93 vs. 15.48 ± 2.43 min, P < 0.001), shorter digestive tract reconstruction time (32.67 ± 4.41 vs. 39.78 ± 4.95 min, P < 0.001), shorter postoperative ambulation time (14.07 ± 8.97 vs. 17.49 ± 5.98 h, P = 0.007), shorter postoperative anal exhaust time (1.78 ± 0.79 vs. 2.18 ± 0.79 days, P = 0.003), shorter postoperative hospital stay (7.74 ± 3.15 vs. 9.97 ± 3.23 days, P < 0.001), lower postoperative pain score (P = 0.006) and higher hospitalization cost (89,907.15 ± 17,147.19 vs. 125,615.82 ± 11,900.80 RMB, P < 0.001) than the 3D-TLDG group. Conclusion: TRDG and 3D-TLDG under ERAS protocol are safe and feasible. Compared with 3D-TLDG, the TRDG has better intraoperative bleeding control effect and greater advantages in digestive tract reconstruction. After the combination of ERAS protocol, TRDG also has certain advantages in the recovery process of patients after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactivation of astrocytes plays a critical role in spinal cord injury (SCI) repairment. In this study, IL1RAP expression has been found to be upregulated in SCI mice spinal cord, SCI astrocytes, and LPS-stimulated NHAs. Genes correlated with IL1RAP were significantly enriched in cell proliferation relative pathways. In LPS-stimulated NHAs, IL1RAP overexpression promoted NHA cell proliferation, decreased PTEN protein levels, and increased the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. IL1RAP overexpression promoted LPS-induced NHA activation and NF-κB signaling activation. Conditioned medium from IL1RAP-overexpressing NHAs inhibited SH-SY5Y cells viability but promoted cell apoptosis. Conclusively, IL1RAP knockdown in LPS-stimulated NHAs could partially suppress LPS-induced reactive astrogliosis, therefore promoting neuronal cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolted joints widely exist in the field of the national defense industry. However, its nonlinear stiffness degradation will occur under tangential load which may lead to the reliability reduction. According to Coulomb friction theory, the pressure distribution is the key in the tangential degradation of bolted joints. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the pressure distribution of bolted joints. Firstly, we established a threaded bolt model and two simplified models. Secondly, the accuracy of the three models describing the contact area is verified, and the influence of preload and material properties on the contact radius is analyzed. Thirdly, we compared the pressure distribution of the three models, and results show that the smooth bolt model is more suitable for pressure analysis. Finally, the accuracy of several different functions to characterize the pressure distribution of bolted joints is analyzed, and results indicated that the Fernlund function is optimal. This paper provides a feasible simplified bolt model for finite element analysis, and the optimal pressure distribution function can be applied in the tangential stiffness degradation modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apelin, an endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ, is extensively expressed in various systems, especially the nervous system. This article reviews the role of apelin/APJ system in neurological diseases. In detail, apelin/APJ system can relieve acute brain injury including subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, and ischemic stroke. Also, apelin/APJ system has therapeutic effects on chronic neurodegenerative disease models, involving the regulation of neurotrophic factors, neuroendocrine, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and autophagy. In addition, through different routes of administration, apelin/APJ system has a biphasic effect on depression, epilepsy, and pain. However, apelin/APJ system exacerbates the proliferation and invasion of glioblastoma. Thus, apelin/APJ system is expected to be a therapeutic target for the treatment of nervous system diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfacies analysis and mapping of shelf shale are a hot spot in shale sedimentology. Based on shale thickness and X-ray diffraction whole rock data, microfacies and their distribution are analyzed and mapped systematically. The results show that (1) shale thickness and contents of carbonate, quartz, and clay minerals are closely related to topography, water depth, and transportation pathways and can be used to indicate microfacies. Commonly, the lower the topography, the thicker the shale; the deeper the water depth, the higher the quartz content; the shallower the water depth, the lower the carbonate content; and the closer to transportation pathways, the higher the clay mineral content. (2) Shelf shale can be subdivided into five microfacies based on shale thickness and contents of carbonate, quartz, and clay minerals, namely, shallow shelf, subaqueous slope, subaqueous plain, subaqueous sag, and turbidite. Shallow shelf has the highest carbonate content above 20%, subaqueous sag has the highest quartz content above 55%, and turbidite has the highest clay mineral content above 35%. (3) Distributions of shale thickness and contents of carbonate, quartz, and clay minerals can be used comprehensively to identify microfacies distribution for the Wufeng–L11 shelf shale. As a result, two highs, one slope, one plain, four sags, and eight turbidite are shown in the southern Sichuan Basin, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate clinicopathologic features and prognosis of post-complete resection in patients with PDGFRA-mutant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), and even to establish a relapse-free survival (RFS) prognostic model for this subgroup. Methods: This retrospective study used data from patients with primary PDGFRA-mutant GIST who underwent complete resection (2005–2019) at 16 large-scale medical centers in China. Stepwise multivariate Cox regression models were performed to build the prediction model, in which the potential predictors were available in routine clinical practice and using the risk score functions. The prediction model was cross-validated by calibration histogram and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: A total of 280 patients with PDGFRA-mutant (172 D842V-mutant and 108 non-D842V-mutant) GIST after complete resection were enrolled. Most tumors originated in the stomach (89.6%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 95.9%, 91.2%, and 89.5%, respectively. The RFS of the non-D842V-mutant group was superior to that of the D842V group (P = 0.033). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that D842V mutation (P = 0.017), non-gastric tumor (P < 0.001), and Ki-67 > 5% (P = 0.005) were the independent variables influencing the prognosis of patients with PDGFRA-mutant GIST. The scoring model showed the predicted and actual cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year follow-up relapse rates fit well. Conclusions: PDGFRA-mutant GIST mostly originated in the stomach and had a favorable prognosis after surgery. Non-D842V-mutant patients might have better prognoses than D842V-mutant patients. The prognostic model demonstrated favorable prediction accuracy, suggesting its clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of comparative analyses on the use of carbon nanoparticle suspension injection (CNSI) and indocyanine green (ICG) tracer technology for lymph node detection and their perioperative safety in robotic radical gastrectomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent robotic distal gastrectomy between November 2019 and November 2020. Patients were assigned to the CNSI group, the ICG group, or the control group. The number of lymph nodes detected, number of lymph nodes detected at each station, number of micro lymph nodes detected, rate of lymph node metastasis, and inoperative and postoperative recovery were compared. Results: Of the 93 patients analyzed, 34 were in the CNSI group, 27 were in the ICG group, and 32 were in the control group. The mean number of lymph nodes retrieved in the CNSI group (48.44) was higher than that in the ICG (39.19) and control (35.28) groups (P = 0.004; P < 0.001), and there was no difference between the ICG and control groups (P = 0.102). The mean number of micro lymph nodes retrieved in the CNSI group (13.24) was higher than that in the ICG (5.74) and control (5.66) groups (P < 0.001). The lymph node metastasis rates in the CNSI, ICG, and control groups were 5.03, 4.63, and 5.93%, respectively (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The effect of CNSI on lymph node dissection and sorting was better than that of ICG, and CNSI improved the surgical quality and reduced lymph node staging deviation to a greater extent. CNSI was better than ICG in terms of improving the number of micro lymph nodes detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved black carbon (DBC) is regarded as an important part of the natural organic matter pool. However, it is unclear about DBC's photochemical activity and the relationships between reactive intermediates (RIs) and the molecular structure of DBC remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the photochemical formation ability of RIs and spectral parameters (E2/E3, S275–295) of DBC made from five types of plants at five pyrolysis temperatures. The results showed that there were good linear regressions between the RI quantum yields and the spectral parameters (E2/E3, S275–295), and this was indicative of the RI generation prediction from DBC under solar irradiation. The DBC-mediated photochemical experiment of sulfadiazine revealed that 3DBC* was the primary active species for the indirect photodegradation of sulfadiazine. Further studies indicated that a linear relationship was observed between the indirect photodegradation ability of sulfadiazine induced directly by 3DBC* at different pyrolysis temperatures and the 3DBC* quantum yields or E2/E3. These findings indicate that the simple models of the RI quantum yield as a function of spectral parameters can be used to evaluate the degradation of pollutants with known DBC spectral parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicate-iron oxyhydroxide complex formed by mineral weathering has an important influence on the geochemical reactions of heavy metals in mining areas. In this work, tailings were collected from an abandoned iron tailings pond, and the physicochemical properties and distribution of heavy metals were studied under natural weathering and hydraulic processes. The results showed that Fe2+ in the iron tailings were transported to the surface during the weathering process, and then the iron oxyhydroxide formed by mineralization adsorbed Cu2+ and Zn2+. Silicic acid and exchangeable acid were released during the formation of binary agglomerates between hydroxy iron oxide and kaolin, then they migrated to the lower area of a tailing pond via surface runoff. Finally, silicate-iron oxyhydroxide complex were formed. The heavy metals were replaced by H+ and penetrated to the bottom layer with water. This research provides an important scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lime is one of the commonly used amendments for acidic soils. The reasonable application of lime can effectively improve the current status of acid tailings and reduce harm to the environment. In this study, we analyzed the pH alternation of acid tin tailing as a function of lime dose based on three methods—single titration method, K-bicarbonate titration method, and buffer curve method—to predict the accurate lime requirement (LR) in acid tin tailing treatments. Of these prediction methods, the buffer curve method was best suited for the prediction of lime dose, and the prediction values agreed with the experimental data by factors of 1.0‒1.4. Thus, we determined that the buffer curve method was more suitable for predicting the lime requirement of acid tailings. This study of acid tailings lime requirement provides scientific research for the subsequent modification of tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of information technology accelerates the modernization of distance education. To realize the unified organization and management of learning resources as well as improve the utilization rate of resources, this paper proposes the design of a mobile online education resource sharing system from the perspective of man-machine cooperation. This paper analyzes the main body and scope of collaboration, constructs a man-machine collaborative resource sharing model with large-scale man-machine cooperation as the main model; defines the system design principle, comprehensively considers the software layering idea and user usage, and determines the overall framework including client, presentation layer and business logic layer; divides resource sharing into three stages: production, registration, audit and release, and uses "centralized management", to protect the intellectual property rights of distance education resources. The role access control mechanism is used to manage user rights, and the settlement incentive algorithm is introduced to protect the intellectual property rights of distance education resources. Our experimental results show that the system can be used as a key technology to promote the development of distance education information, improve the efficiency of resource sharing, and enhance the enthusiasm of users to contribute educational resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has significant potential to evaluate changes in brain network activity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and enable early prognosis of potential functional (e.g., motor, cognitive, behavior) deficits. In this study, resting-state and task-based fMRI (rs- and tb-fMRI) were utilized to examine network changes in a pediatric porcine TBI model that has increased predictive potential in the development of novel therapies. rs- and tb-fMRI were performed one day post-TBI in piglets. Activation maps were generated using group independent component analysis (ICA) and sparse dictionary learning (sDL). Activation maps were compared to pig reference functional connectivity atlases and evaluated using Pearson spatial correlation coefficients and mean ratios. Nonparametric permutation analyses were used to determine significantly different activation areas between the TBI and healthy control groups. Significantly lower Pearson values and mean ratios were observed in the visual, executive control, and sensorimotor networks for TBI piglets compared to controls. Significant differences were also observed within several specific individual anatomical structures within each network. In conclusion, both rs- and tb-fMRI demonstrate the ability to detect functional connectivity disruptions in a translational TBI piglet model, and these disruptions can be traced to specific affected anatomical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many educational institutions have adopted e-learning under COVID-19 pandemic to maintain school teaching activities. Most teachers were encouraged to use online instruction in early February 2020. Thus, whether online learning changes students' learning habits and replaces traditional physical teaching methods, online learning has become a keen topic. Based on the push–pull–mooring model, we proposed a comprehensive research model and explored the impact of online learning during COVID-19 pandemic on students' attitude and behavioral intention. We found that push effects (perceived security risk, learning convenience, and service quality), pull effects (usefulness, ease of use, teacher's teaching attitude, task-technology fit), and mooring effects (switching cost, habit) had significantly influence the switching intentions of users from physical course to online learning platforms. The findings of this study will bring more insights into e-learning during an epidemic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibacterial properties of chitosan and self-repairing properties of collagen-I play important roles in the medical field. New types of collagen-I/chitosan/methyl vinyl silicone rubber materials have been synthesized by blending and grafting copolymerization. The effects of chitosan contents on mechanical and antibacterial properties of collagen-I/chitosan/methyl vinyl silicone rubber were investigated, while the morphology and molecular structure were observed and analyzed. It was determined that the antibacterial and self-repairing properties of collagen-I/chitosan/methyl vinyl silicone rubber were better than those of methyl vinyl silicone rubber. Additionally, the optimal contents of chitosan and collagen-I were determined to be 5 wt % and 5 mg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious neurological disease. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG1) and microRNA-362-3p (miR-362-3p) were confirmed to be related to neurological disorders. However, it is unclear whether SNHG1 was involved in the development of SCI via regulating miR-362-3p. PC12 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to imitate the in vitro cell model of SCI. Cell ciability and apoptosis rate were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry assay. The levels of SNHG1, miR-362-3p, and Janus kinase-2 (Jak2) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed to verify the interaction between miR-362-3p and SNHG1 or Jak2. Besides, the levels of apoptosis- and autophagy- related proteins were detected by western blot assay. In present research, LPS suppressed cell viability, and induced apoptosis and autophagy in PC12 cells. SNHG1 knockdown could affect cell viability, and suppress cell apoptosis and autophagy in LPS-treated PC12 cells. Moreover, miR-362-3p was a target of SNHG1, miR-362-3p targeted Jak2 and negatively regulated Jak2/stat3 pathway. Our data also demonstrated that SNHG1 depletion inactivated Jak2/stat3 pathway to affect cell viability and confine apoptosis, autophagy in LPS-treated PC12 cells. Taken together, SNHG1 regulated cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy in LPS-treated PC12 cells by activating Jak2/stat3 pathway via sponging miR-362-3p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unexpected observation among the COVID-19 pandemic is that smokers constituted only 1.4%–18.5% of hospitalized adults, calling for an urgent investigation to determine the role of smoking in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we show that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) increase ACE2 mRNA but trigger ACE2 protein catabolism. BaP induces an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent upregulation of the ubiquitin E3 ligase Skp2 for ACE2 ubiquitination. ACE2 in lung tissues of non-smokers is higher than in smokers, consistent with the findings that tobacco carcinogens downregulate ACE2 in mice. Tobacco carcinogens inhibit SARS-CoV-2 spike protein pseudovirions infection of the cells. Given that tobacco smoke accounts for 8 million deaths including 2.1 million cancer deaths annually and Skp2 is an oncoprotein, tobacco use should not be recommended and cessation plan should be prepared for smokers in COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low proportion of gastric cancer (GC) patients with high HER2 expression limits the clinical application of trastuzumab, a humanized epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody targeting for GC treatment. We found that Dicer was positively correlated with HER2 expression in GC tissue by immunostaining as well as induce HER2 overexpression without increasing invasiveness of GC cell. In addition, both the growth of GC referring to cell proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis was inhibited by Dicer overexpression. Moreover, the HER2 overexpression induced by Dicer provided more effective and additive target for trastuzumab to amplify the inhibition effect for GC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, as assessed in a subsequent experiment, calcitriol induced HER2 overexpression and amplified the inhibition effect of trastuzumab in GC cells referring to proliferation. Our finding demonstrated the calcitriol might increase indication of trastuzumab by inducing HER2 overexpression in GC patients. Dicer would be a potential target that extend the clinical indications of HER2 antibody in patients with low or negative HER2, who were not fit for HER2 antibody treatment before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harnessing the maximum diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by including stroke lesion location in relation to specific structures that are associated with particular functions will likely increase the potential to predict functional deficit type, severity, and recovery in stroke patients. This exploratory study aims to identify key structures lesioned by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) that impact stroke recovery and to strengthen the predictive capacity of neuroimaging techniques that characterize stroke outcomes in a translational porcine model. Clinically relevant MRI measures showed significant lesion volumes, midline shifts, and decreased white matter integrity post-MCAO. Using a pig brain atlas, damaged brain structures included the insular cortex, somatosensory cortices, temporal gyri, claustrum, and visual cortices, among others. MCAO resulted in severely impaired spatiotemporal gait parameters, decreased voluntary movement in open field testing, and higher modified Rankin Scale scores at acute timepoints. Pearson correlation analyses at acute timepoints between standard MRI metrics (e.g., lesion volume) and functional outcomes displayed moderate R values to functional gait outcomes. Moreover, Pearson correlation analyses showed higher R values between functional gait deficits and increased lesioning of structures associated with motor function, such as the putamen, globus pallidus, and primary somatosensory cortex. This correlation analysis approach helped identify neuroanatomical structures predictive of stroke outcomes and may lead to the translation of this topological analysis approach from preclinical stroke assessment to a clinical biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sichuan Basin is rich in shale oil and gas resources, with favorable geological conditions that the other shale reservoirs in China cannot match. Thus, the basin is an ideal option for fully "exploring petroleum inside source kitchen" with respect to onshore shale oil and gas in China. This paper analyzes the characteristics of shale oil and gas resources in the United States and China, and points out that maturity plays an important role in controlling shale oil and gas composition. US shale oil and gas exhibit high proportions of light hydrocarbon and wet gas, whereas Chinese marine and transitional shale gas is mainly dry gas and continental shale oil is generally heavy. A comprehensive geological study of shale oil and gas in the Sichuan Basin reveals findings with respect to the following three aspects. First, there are multiple sets of organic-rich shale reservoirs of three types in the basin, such as the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation and Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation marine shale, Permian Longtan Formation transitional shale, Triassic Xujiahe Formation lake-swamp shale, and Jurassic lacustrine shale. Marine shale gas enrichment is mainly controlled by four elements: Deep-water shelf facies, moderate thermal evolution, calcium-rich and silicon-rich rock association, and closed roof/floor. Second, the "sweet section" is generally characterized by high total organic carbon, high gas content, large porosity, high brittle minerals content, high formation pressure, and the presence of lamellation/bedding and natural microfractures. Moreover, the "sweet area" is generally characterized by very thick organic-rich shale, moderate thermal evolution, good preservation conditions, and shallow burial depth, which are exemplified by the shale oil and gas in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation, Longtan Formation, and Daanzhai Member of the Ziliujing Formation. Third, the marine, transitional, and continental shale oil and gas resources in the Sichuan Basin account for 50%, 25%, and 30% of the respective types of shale oil and gas geological resources in China, with great potential to become the cradle of the shale oil and gas industrial revolution in China. Following the "Conventional Daqing-Oil" (i.e., the Daqing oilfield in the Songliao Basin) and the "Western Daqing-Oil & Gas" (i.e., the Changqing oilfield in the Ordos Basin), the Southwest oil and gas field in the Sichuan Basin is expected to be built into a "Sichuan-Chongqing Daqing-Gas" in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have systematically investigated the chemical constituents of E. lathyris from Hebei Province. Consequently, a new ingenane-type diterpenoid (1) was isolated, together with 17 known diterpenoids (2–18). The structures of these compounds were established by NMR spectra and comparison with the literature. The anti-HIV activity of ethanol extracts of the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris from different origins was evaluated. The results showed that all the ethanol extracts exhibited significant anti-HIV activity. The anti-HIV activity of the 18 compounds was determined, but all of the compounds were inactive against HIV viral replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a major cause of disability in children, and the genetic mechanism of this disease remains unclear. In our previous study, we found that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A2 (PAPP-A2) was associated with DDH significantly. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) expression and collagen synthesis as well as cartilage proliferation-related proteins in the case of abnormal expression of Pappa2 in mice to research the relationship between PAPP-A2 and the pathological changes of DDH. Methods: In vivo animal experiments, the mice were directly injected with 50 µl of Cas9/PAPP-A2 sgRNA lentiviruses around the hip to downregulate the Pappa2 gene expression and injected with control lentiviruses on the other side, then to observe the expression and localization of related proteins. And in an in vitro experiment, mice fibroblasts and primary chondrocytes were cultured with insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) protein, PAPP-A2 protein and Cas9/PAPP-A2 sgRNA lentiviruses to detect of related proteins and mRNA expression. Results: Cartilage proliferation-related proteins demonstrated a significant decrease in the PAPP-A2 knockdown hips acetabulum and femoral head cartilage, meanwhile the IGF expression was also downregulated in the soft tissue around the acetabulum compared with the control hips. Furthermore, the role PAPP-A2 played in chondrocytes and fibroblasts was the same as in the in vivo experiments, downregulation of PAPP-A2 expression or upregulation of IGFBP-5 expression can reduce collagen synthesis and cartilage proliferation. Conclusions: PAPP-A2 may be involved in the development of the mouse hip joint by interfering the fibrous and cartilaginous metabolism via IGF pathway-associated proteins pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postoperative hemorrhage and hematoma formation is a potentially lethal complication in thyroid surgery, although the patterns and treatment of hemorrhage after total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) via breast approach has not been reported previously. We aim to share our experience about postoperative bleeding.Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1932 patients who underwent TET from April 2008 to May 2018 in our institution was carried out. The patterns of postoperative hemorrhage and hematoma formation that need surgical treatment were summarized and focused on the relation to the source of bleeding and the time interval between first surgery and hemorrhage. Related risk factors were analyzed by univariate or multivariate analysis processes.Results: The overall rate of hemorrhage and hematoma occurrence was only 0.724% (14 in 1932 patients). Of them, 12 occurred in the first 24 h after surgery, and the other two occurred after withdrawal of the drainage tube. The principle independent risk factors for postoperative hemorrhage and hematoma were age (older than 35 years old) and lateral compartment dissection (LCD) revealed by multivariate regression. During re-exploration, obvious bleeding points were detected in 13 patients. Among them, 12 bled from the vessels in the main trocar cavity and another 1 bled from a broken vein located between the two heads of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle with LCD.Conclusions: Hemorrhage after TET usually occurs within 24 h, and the main video trocar cavity was the area most likely to bleed. Age and LCD may increase the bleeding risk. Appropriate dissection level is the main solution to prevent postoperative hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Louver blinds are commonly used in building designs to avoid excessive solar radiation in an indoor environment, particularly for buildings with highly glazed facades. However, little attention has been given to their impact on flow field and pressure distribution around a building, which is crucial for predicting convective heat transfer, pollutant dispersion, and indoor ventilation. Therefore, the present study combined a wind-tunnel experiment with computational fluid dynamics simulations to study a wind velocity profile, flow field patterns, and surface pressure around a cubic building with louver blinds. The louver blinds move windward flow separation in an upward direction and extend the recirculation region of a roof; moreover, some subvortices are generated between the two adjacent louver slats. Louver angle φ, installing distance W, and slat width B severely affect the generation of subvortices between slats and a conical vortex on the roof. Subsequently, blinds with different φ, W, and B exhibit different pressure distributions on the windward surface and top surface of a building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new diterpenoid, 19-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-labda-8(17),14-dien-13-ol (1), and nine known triterpenes (2-10) were isolated from the aerial parts of Tripterygium hypoglaucum. All structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopic methods. Moreover, the inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release were also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empoasca onukii Matsuda is a serious pest affecting tea production throughout China. Chemosensory behaviors are important in the life cycle of E. onukii, especially for detecting plant odorants during host localizations. In this process, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) mediate the initial biochemical recognition steps. We used a transcriptomics-based approach to identify 40 putative E. onukii OBP genes and 11 CSP genes. The encoded OBPs comprised 19 classic OBPs and 21 plus-C OBPs. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the plus-C OBPs formed monophyletic groups, and most of the classic OBPs and CSPs were distributed among other orthologous groups. Additionally, there were significant differences between the sexes regarding the expression of five OBP genes and two CSP genes. Moreover, 36 OBP genes and six CSP genes were most highly expressed in the heads. Two CSP genes were most highly expressed in the thoraxes, while four OBP genes and three CSP genes exhibited high expression levels in the heads and thoraxes. Our data may represent a valuable resource for future functional characterizations of the E. onukii OBPs and CSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species-specific sex pheromone is biosynthesized and released in most female moths as a chemical cue in mating communication. However, information on genes involved in this pathway is limited. The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest that causes severe economic losses to many crops. In China, the female sex pheromones in sex pheromone glands (PGs) of S. exigua have been measured which comprises (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecen-l-ol, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol in a ratio of 47:18:18:17. Fifty-nine putative genes related to sex pheromone biosynthesis were identified in the present study by sequencing and analyzing the sex pheromone gland (PG) transcriptome of S. exigua. Expression profiles revealed that two desaturase ( SexiDes5 and SexiDes11) and three fatty acyl reductase ( SexiFAR2, 3, and 9) genes had PG-specific expression, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that they clustered with genes known to be involved in pheromone synthesis in other moth species. Our results provide crucial background information that could facilitate the elucidation of sex pheromone biosynthesis pathway of S. exigua as well as other Spodoptera species and help identify potential targets for disrupting sexual communication in S. exigua for developing novel environment-friendly pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the molecular mechanism of gastric cancer cell apoptosis is pivotal for the development of precise therapies targeting this disease. In the present study, we examined the effects of annexin A7 inhibition on the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells and the growth of tumour xenografts in vivo. Expression of annexin A7 in BGC823 cells was suppressed by small interference RNA, and cells apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. The mechanism by which annexin A7 mediates apoptosis in BGC823 cells was explored by determining the expression of key apoptosis regulators. In addition, by suppressing annexin A7 in BGC823 cells with small hairpin RNA, we studied the effects of annexin A7 inhibition on in vivo tumour growth. Our results showed that inhibiting annexin A7 expression induced more than fivefold increase in BGC823 cell apoptosis in vitro. This was in concord with a significant decrease of Bcl-2 expression and increases of Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9. The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased by 2.95 ± 0.18 and 3.70 ± 0.33 times, respectively, upon the annexin A7 downregulation in BGC823 cells. Importantly, suppressing annexin A7 showed the same apoptotic mechanism in vivo and significantly inhibited the growth of BGC823 xenografts in mice. These data suggest that annexin A7 likely protects gastric cells from apoptosis and targeting it may represent a valuable strategy in future therapeutic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of bedding-parallel fractures at any scale in a rock will considerably add to its compliance and elastic anisotropy. Those properties will be more significantly affected when there is a relatively high degree of connectivity between the fractures and the corresponding interconnected pores. This contribution uses linear poroelasticity to reveal the characteristics of the full frequency-dependent compliance of an infinitely extended fracture model assuming the periodicity of the fractured structures. The fracture compliance tensor is complex-valued due to the wave-induced fluid flow between fractures and pores. The interaction between the adjacent fractures is considered under fluid mass conservation throughout the whole pore space. The quantitative effects of fracture (volume) density (the ratio between fracture thickness and spacing) and host rock porosity are analyzed by the diffusion equation for a relatively low-frequency band. The model in this paper is equivalent to the classical dry linear slip model when the bulk modulus of fluid in the fractures tends to zero. For the liquid-filled case, the model becomes the anisotropic Gassmann's model and sealed saturated linear slip model at the low-frequency and high-frequency limits, respectively. Using the dynamic compliance definition, we can effectively distinguish the saturating fluids in the fractures with the same order magnitude of bulk modulus (e.g., water and oil) using the compliance ratio method. Additionally, the modified dynamic model can be simplified as acceptable empirical formulas if the strain on the fractures induced by the incoming waves is small enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) can play important roles in the microbial oxidation of ammonia nitrogen in freshwater lake, but information on spatiotemporal variation in water column and sediment community structure is still limited. Additionally, the drivers of the differences between sediment and water assemblages are still unclear. The present study investigated the variation of AOA and AOB communities in both water columns and sediments of eutrophic freshwater Dianchi Lake. The abundance, diversity, and structure of both planktonic and sediment ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in Dianchi Lake showed the evident changes with sampling site and time. In both water columns and sediments, AOB amoA gene generally outnumbered AOA, and the AOB/AOA ratio was much higher in summer than in autumn. The total AOA amoA abundance was relatively great in autumn, while sediment AOB was relatively abundant in summer. Sediment AOA amoA abundance was likely correlated with ammonia nitrogen (rs = 0.963). The AOB/AOA ratio in lake sediment was positively correlated with total phosphorus (rs = 0.835), while pH, dissolved organic carbon, and ammonia nitrogen might be the key driving forces for the AOB/AOA ratio in lake water. Sediment AOA and AOB diversity was correlated with nitrate nitrogen (rs = -0.786) and total organic carbon (rs = 0.769), respectively, while planktonic AOB diversity was correlated with ammonia nitrogen (rs = 0.854). Surface water and sediment in the same location had a distinctively different microbial community structure. In addition, sediment AOB community structure was influenced by total phosphorus, while total phosphorus might be a key determinant of planktonic AOB community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Previous studies proved that Vav3 gene was overexpressed in cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of Vav3 in apoptosis still keeps unclear; therefore, the relationship between Vav3 gene and apoptosis of gastric cancer (GC) was explored in the present study. Vav3-siRNA was transfected into MGC803 cells, and then cell activity and apoptosis rate were tested with MTT and FCM; apoptosis-related genes and proteins in MAPK signaling pathway were also tested. Results showed that Vav3 was overexpressed in GC than in adjacent normal tissues (all P < 0.05), and expression of Vav3 was related to degree of histological differentiation, cancer invasion depth, and lymphatic metastasis ( Χ = 7.185, P = 0.007; Χ = 18.654, P < 0.001; Χ = 5.058, P = 0.025). Vav3 silencing inhibited activity of MGC803 cells, and apoptosis rate of cells was affected. Vav3-siRNA transfection led to changes of apoptosis-related genes such as Survivin, xIAP, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and Bax (all P < 0.01). After transfection, ratio of phosphorylation of ERK significantly reduced. We concluded that Vav3 inhibition can suppress cell activity and promote apoptosis by regulating the apoptosis-related genes through the ERK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To produce a therapeutic protein (endostatin) by fusion with two fragments of the carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) of the human chorionic gonadotropin β-subunit in Pichia pastoris. Results: Two CTP sequences were fused to the C-terminal of human endostatin, and the fusion protein (endo-CTP) was expressed by P. pastoris. Endo-CTP inhibited proliferation of endothelial cells with an IC of 7 μg ml, and 30 % of cells were annexin V-positive after treatment with 20 μg endo-CTP ml for 48 h. Migration of endothelial cells was inhibited by endo-CTP in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-life of endo-CTP in Sprague-Dawley rats was much longer than that of its commercial counterpart (Endostar). Conclusion: A long-acting endostatin can be produced using CTP technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]