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High voltage direct current (HVDC) cable is attracting more attention during power transmission due to its many advantages. However, the accumulation of space charge, poor breakdown strength and low thermal conductivity of cable insulation layer have been a long-standing obstacle to utilize the HVDC cable applications. Because boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are increasingly demanded in high thermal conductivity insulation materials, herein we report a facile and easy way to prepare styrene-(ethylene-co-butylene)-styrene tri-block copolymer/polypropylene (SEBS/PP) blends filled with BNNSs based on the construction of thermal conductive networks with double-percolation process. The morphology, thermal, and electrical properties of the BNNSs/SEBS/PP nanocomposites were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the BNNSs were well dispersed in the SEBS phase at low loading of 3 phr. The analysis results on electrical properties illustrated that the direct current (DC) breakdown strength and space charge suppression were remarkably improved by the introduction of BNNSs. In addition, the thermal conductivity of SEBS/PP blends (0.42 W m −1 K −1 ) was increased to 1.38 W m −1 K −1 when doped with 3 phr BNNSs. This nanocomposites with enhanced thermal conductivity and electrical properties have great potential to be used as recyclable insulating materials for HVDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan web pages appear enormously. It is meaningful that the information processing technology is utilized to find the useful knowledge from the Tibetan web information. Tibetan semantic ontology can enrich the Tibetan digital resource and is helpful to improve the information processing performance. In this paper, semantic classification of Tibetan network corpus is studied. Firstly Tibetan web pages are collected. Secondly preprocessing is conducted to extract the useful information from Web pages. Thirdly the word segmentation and text representation are introduced. Finally the text similarity classification algorithm is proposed to classify the text. During the experiment, the comparison between semantic classification and non semantic classification is conducted. The results show that the semantic classification performance is obviously superior to non semantic classification. This means that making full use of ontology semantic relationship can greatly enhance the classification accuracy. The research is useful and helpful to the study of Tibetan semantic information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating the inorganic particles into polymer have opened up novel opportunities to prepare the dielectric materials applied in embedded capacitors. In this work, the barium titanate (BaTiO3)/epoxy nanocomposites with excellent dielectric properties were fabricated. The embedded capacitors with three-layer sandwich structure containing the BaTiO3/epoxy nanocomposites as dielectric layer and copper foil as electrodes were prepared through lamination process. This method could ensure uniformity of capacitor paste in the structure, resulting in improved dielectric properties. The capacitors exhibit high dielectric permittivity (ε =20), low dielectric loss (0.01) at 103 Hz from 40°C to 100°C and high breakdown strength (24kV/mm). These results demonstrate that the BaTiO3/epoxy nanocomposites have potential for high-performance embedded capacitors in field of microelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma is a highly aggressive brain cancer with a poor prognosis. Necroptosis is a form of programmed cell death occurring during tumor development and in immune microenvironments. The prognostic value of necroptosis in glioma is unclear. This study aimed to develop a prognostic glioma model based on necroptosis., Methods: A necroptosis-related risk model was constructed by Cox regression analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) training set, validated in two Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) validation sets. We explored the differences in immune infiltration and immune checkpoint genes between low and high risk groups and constructed a nomogram. Moreover, we compiled a third validation cohort including 43 glioma patients. The expression of necroptosis-related genes was verified in matched tissues using immunochemical staining in the third cohort, and we analyzed their relationship to clinicopathological features., Results: Three necroptosis-related differentially expressed genes ( EZH2 , LEF1 , and CASP1 ) were selected to construct the prognostic model. Glioma patients with a high risk score in the TCGA and CGGA cohorts had significantly shorter overall survival. The necroptosis-related risk model and nomogram exhibited good predictive performance in the TCGA training set and the CGGA validation sets. Furthermore, patients in the high risk group had higher immune infiltration status and higher expression of immune checkpoint genes, which was positively correlated with poorer outcomes. In the third validation cohort, the expression levels of the three proteins encoded by EZH2 , LEF1 , and CASP1 in glioma tissues were significantly higher than those from paracancerous tissues. They were also closely associated with disease severity and prognosis., Conclusions: Our necroptosis-related risk model can be used to predict the prognosis of glioma patients and improve prognostic accuracy, which may provide potential therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Yuan, Jin, Chen, Liao, Zhang, Yu, Li, Cao, Huang and Kang.)

Background: For patients who treated with tacrolimus after kidney transplant, therapeutic drug monitoring is essential to improve their prognosis. However, previous detection methods have limitations, such as the overestimation and unacceptable bias in the immunoassays. Precision medicine has been challenged. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is recognized as the gold standard due to its accuracy and specificity, but lack of throughput and complex process limits its clinical application. Therefore, an accurate, simple and high throughput method for tacrolimus monitoring is needed for clinical practice., Methods: A modified LC-MS/MS method was introduced and validated. Whole blood samples were prepared by a one-step protein precipitation method. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Phenomenex Kinetex 2.6 μm XB-C18 2.1 × 50 mm column with a total run time of 3.5 min to avoid matrix effect. An electrospray ionization source (ESI) was used in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode for mass spectrometric detection. In order to protect the mass spectrometer, only part of the sample after LC separation was allowed to enter the mass spectrum, through a two HPLC systems coupled one mass spectrometry design. In this way, the instrument throughput is also improved and realizing the detection of 2 samples within 3.5 min and carried out a shorter analyzing time for each sample of 1.75 min. Additionally, we calculated tacrolimus-intrapatient variant (Tac-IPV) based on this modified method and assessed the prognostic value of Tac-IPV in Chinese kidney transplant patients., Results: The LC-MS/MS was modified by streamlining the procedure and increasing the throughput. The method proved to be accurate and reproducible with all performance parameters suitably meeting the clinical requirements over a calibration ranged from 0.37 to 42.90 ng/mL. Parameters such as linearity, limit of quantification (LoQ) and dilution integrity were validated with a clinical reportable range from 0.37 to 343.20 ng/mL, which was particularly useful for high drug concentrations patients (rare but very serious). Both cross-contamination and matrix effects were negligible. Clinical data of 83 patients showed that Tac-IPV was associated with poor kidney transplant outcome in Chinese (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 3.96, 4.75; 95% Cl: 1.10-14.21, 1.23-18.36; P < 0.05)., Conclusions: This modified LC-MS/MS method possessed high throughput and simple sample preparation, allowing it to meet daily clinical needs. At the same time, Tac-IPV based on this modified LC-MS/MS had excellent prognostic value in kidney transplantation. These advantages have great significance for the individualized treatment of Chinese kidney transplant patients and broad application of Tac-IPV., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Gliomas are the most aggressive and common type of malignant brain tumor, with limited treatment options and a dismal prognosis. Angiogenesis, a hallmarks of cancer, is one of two critical events in the progression of gliomas. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that in glioma dysregulated molecules like long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are closely linked to tumorigenesis and prognosis. However, the effects of and mechanisms of action of lncRNAs during tumor angiogenesis are poorly understood. The effect of lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 on angiogenesis was elucidated through an intracranial orthotopic glioma model, immunohistochemistry, and an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Co-culture experiments and cell migration assays were performed to investigate the function of lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 in vitro . lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 increased CD31 + microvessel density, and overexpression of lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 resulted in poor mouse survival. lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 promoted endothelial cell migration and tube formation. Nomogram and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses indicated that higher VEGFA is correlated with a poor prognosis. Mechanistically, lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 promotes angiogenesis by increasing the nuclear level of EP300 and facilitating the transcription and secretion of VEGFA. Our study contributes to the latest understanding of glioma angiogenesis and prognosis. lncRNA RP11-732M18.3 may be a potential treatment target in glioma., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Kang, Zhao, Yuan, Liao, Yu, Li, Jin, Cao, Chen, Jin, Chen, Ke, Li, Huang, Hu and Huang.)

Atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases pose severe threats to human health worldwide. There is evidence to suggest that at least 50% of foam cells in atheromas are derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); the first step in this process involves migration to human atherosclerotic lesions. Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play significant roles in diverse biological processes. The present study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNAs in VSMCs. The expression of lncRNAs or mRNAs was detected using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The Gene Expression Omnibus datasets in the NCBI portal were searched using the key words 'Atherosclerosis AND tissue AND Homo sapiens ' and the GSE12288 dataset. Gene expression in circulating leukocytes was measured to identify patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or controls, and used to analyze the correlation coefficient and expression profiles. The protein level of ATP‑binding cassette sub‑family G member 1 (ABCG1) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)3 was determined using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The analysis of mouse aortic roots was performed using Masson's and Oil Red O staining. The expression of lncRNA AL355711, ABCG1 and MMP3 was found to be higher in human atherosclerotic plaques or in patients with atherosclerotic CAD. The correlation analysis revealed that ABCG1 may be involved in the regulation between lncRNA AL355711 and MMP3 in atherosclerotic CAD. The knockdown of lncRNA AL355711 inhibited ABCG1 transcription and smooth muscle cell migration. In addition, lncRNA AL355711 was found to regulate MMP3 expression through the ABCG1 pathway. The expression of ABCG1 and MMP3 was found to be high in an animal model of atherosclerosis. The results indicated that lncRNA AL355711 promoted VSMC migration and atherosclerosis partly via the ABCG1/MMP3 pathway. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the inhibition of lncRNA AL355711 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. lncRNA AL355711 in circulating leukocytes may be a novel biomarker for atherosclerotic CAD.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, imposing an enormous economic burden on society. Several studies have identified a link between the genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D pathways and lung cancer risk; however, the results remain inconclusive. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) and GC genes on lung cancer risk. Methods: Eligible case-control studies published between January 2000 and December 2018 were searched and studied. The pooled odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were used to estimate the effect. Results: Fifteen articles that included 4732 lung cancer patients and 4337 controls were identified for this study. Our results demonstrated that the VDR Bsm1 polymorphism ( p  < 0.05) and the TC and TT+TC genotypes of the Cdx2 polymorphism ( p  < 0.05) were protective factors for avoiding lung cancer incidence, while the T allele and the TT genotype of Taq1 polymorphism ( p  < 0.05) were risk factors for lung cancer. Ethnicity-based subgroup analyses indicated that the AA genotype of both the Apa1 and the Bsm1 polymorphisms decreased lung cancer risk in Asians, while Fok1 and Taq1 polymorphisms increased lung cancer risk in Asians. Subgroup analysis by cancer subtypes showed that certain alleles and genotypic structures of the Bsm1 , Fok1 , Taq1 , and rs7041 were associated with nonsmall-cell lung cancer risk. Subgroup analysis by smoking status showed that the interaction between the TT genotype of Taq1 and smoking increased the risk of lung cancer. Subgroup analysis with regard to gender showed that the AA+Aa genotype of Apa1 decreased lung cancer risk in male patients. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the Bsm1 and Cdx2 polymorphisms decreased lung cancer risk, while the Taq1 polymorphism increased lung cancer risk. Moreover, the AA genotype of the Apa1 and Bsm1 variants were protective factors in Asian populations, whereas the Fok1 and Taq1 polymorphisms were risk factors for lung cancer in Asian populations. Future case-control studies with different ethnicities are still needed to generalize these associations.

Ceritinib, an advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) next-generation inhibitor, has been proved excellent antitumor activity in the treatment of ALK-associated cancers. However, the accumulation of acquired resistance mutations compromise the therapeutic efficacy of ceritinib. Despite abundant mutagenesis data, the structural determinants for reduced ceritinib binding in mutants remains elusive. Focusing on the G1123S and F1174C mutations, we applied molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study possible reasons for drug resistance caused by these mutations. The MD simulations predict that the studied mutations allosterically impact the configurations of the ATP-binding pocket. An important hydrophobic cluster is identified that connects P-loop and the αC-helix, which has effects on stabilizing the conformation of ATP-binding pocket. It is suggested, in this study, that the G1123S and F1174C mutations can induce the conformational change of P-loop thereby causing the reduced ceritinib affinity and causing drug resistance., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aim: To summarize the relationship between p.Tyr113His and p.His139Arg polymorphisms in microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) and risk for esophageal cancer (EC)., Methods: The MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies of the association between EPHX1 polymorphisms and EC risk that were published from the database inception date to April 2013. A total of seven case-control studies, including seven on p.Tyr113His (cases, n = 1118; controls, n = 1823) and six on p.His139Arg (cases, n = 861; controls, n = 1571), were included in the meta-analysis. After data extraction by two investigators working independently, the meta-analyses were carried out with STATA 11.0 software. Pooled odds ratios and 95%CI were calculated using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model, as appropriate., Results: The pooled EPHX1 p.Tyr113His polymorphism data showed no significant association with EC in any of the genetic models (OR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.70-1.48 for Tyr/His vs Tyr/Tyr; OR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.77-1.57 for His/His vs Tyr/Tyr; OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.75-1.49 for a dominant model; OR = 1.09, 95%CI: 0.89-1.34 for a recessive model). Similar results were obtained from the p.His139Arg polymorphism analysis (Arg/His vs His/His: OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.84-1.23; Arg/Arg vs His/His: OR = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.60-1.54; OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.78-1.37 for the dominant model; OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.61-1.56 for the recessive model). Subgroup analyses for ethnicity, subtype of EC, and source of controls (population-based or hospital-based) showed trends that were consistent with the pooled analysis (reported above), with no significant associations found., Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that the p.Tyr113His and p.His139Arg polymorphisms in EPHX1 may not be associated with EC development.