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Purpose: The most common detector material in the PC CT system, cannot achieve the best performance at a relatively higher photon flux rate. In the reconstruction view, the most commonly used filtered back projection, is not able to provide sufficient reconstructed image quality in spectral computed tomography (CT). Developing a triple-source saddle-curve cone-beam photon counting CT image reconstruction method can improve the temporal resolution. Methods: Triple-source saddle-curve cone-beam trajectory was rearranged into four trajectory sets for simulation and reconstruction. Projection images in different energy bins were simulated by forward projection and photon counting CT respond model simulation. After simulation, the object was reconstructed using Katsevich’s theory after photon counts correction using the pseudo inverse of photon counting CT response matrix. The material decomposition can be performed based on images in different energy bins. Results: Root mean square error (RMSE) and structural similarity index (SSIM) are calculated to quantify the image quality of reconstruction images. Compared with FDK images, the RMSE for the triple-source image was improved by 27%, 21%, 14%, 8%, and 6% for the reconstrued image of 20–33, 33–47, 47–58, 58–69, 69–80 keV energy bin. The SSIM was improved by 1.031%, 0.665%, 0.396%, 0.235%, 0.174% for corresponding energy bin. The decomposition image based on corrected images shows improved RMSE and SSIM, each by 33.861% and 0.345%. SSIM of corrected decomposition image of iodine reaches 99.415% of the original image. Conclusions: A new Triple-source saddle-curve cone-beam PC CT image reconstruction method was developed in this work. The exact reconstruction of the triple-source saddle-curve improved both the image quality and temporal resolution.

Due to the low boiling points of the main constituents of 7075 aluminum alloy and the high surface tension gradient of the molten alloy， combined with the uneven energy distribution of the circular Gaussian （CG） laser beam spot commonly used in directed energy deposition （DED） processes， the forming quality of 7075 aluminum alloy DED specimens is generally poor. This significantly restricts the further application of DED in 7075 aluminum alloy. By regulating the laser mode， it is possible to effectively modify the temperature and flow fields of the melt pool， as well as the corresponding solidification conditions. Thus， the forming quality of laser additive manufacturing specimens and the active control of microstructure are improved. An off-axis parabolic integrating mirror is employed to homogenize the CG laser mode into a circular flat-top （CF） laser mode， which is further tilted to achieve a transversely elliptical flat-top （TE） laser mode. Using these three different laser modes， single-track cladding， single-wall structures， and 7075 aluminum alloy in DED block specimens are prepared. Combined with numerical simulations， the influence laws and underlying mechanisms of the laser modes on the forming quality and solidification structure are revealed. The simulation results indicate that by modulating the laser beam spot from the conventional CG laser mode to the CF and TE laser modes， the uniformity of the heat flux on the surface of the cladding layer is significantly improved， subsequently reducing the temperature gradient of the melt， and increasing the solidification rate. Compared to the CG laser mode， the surface forming quality of single-wall structures and block specimens under the CF and TE laser modes is significantly enhanced. The width variation of the single-wall structures is greatly reduced， and the dimensional accuracy in the horizontal direction of the block specimens is improved. Additionally， the density of the block specimens increases from 95.8% to 97.2% and 97.7%， respectively. In terms of solidification structure， the texture is significantly weakened， the grain size is reduced by approximately 50%， and the number of nano-precipitated η-phase within the grains is also increased.

Objective To explore the role of sulodexide (SDX) in neointimal hyperplasia of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) rats and its possible mechanism. Methods A total of 18 male rats (weighing 300±50 g) were randomly and equally divided into AVF group, CKD+AVF group (CKD induction followed by AVF surgery and then gavaged with normal saline for 2 months), and CKD+AVF+SDX group[treated as in the CKD+AVF group but with 8 mg/(kg·d) SDX gavage].HE staining was used to observe the degree of neointimal hyperplasia.The expression of Hippo pathway related molecules, Yes-associated protein (YAP), pYAP and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, YAP downstream target protein, one of mesenchymal marker) was detected by immunofluorescence assay.After human umbilical vein cell fusion EAHy926 cells were treated with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 or 40 μg/mL SDX for 24 h, and with 2.5 μg/mL SDX for 24, 48 or 72 h, respectively, CCK-8 assay was used to measure cell survival rate.Moreover, the serum sample from CKD rat was used to treat EAHy926 cells, and then the cells were treated with SDX or YAP inhibitor verteporfin.The expression levels of YAP, pYAP, CTGF and endothelial cell marker CD31 were detected by Western blotting. Results HE staining and immunofluorescence assay showed that CKD rats had serious neointimal hyperplasia in AVFs (P < 0.05), and slightly lower expression of pYAP and enhanced expression of CTGF (P < 0.05) when compared with the rats of the AVF group.While, SDX treatment alleviated the neointimal hyperplasia of AVFs, enhanced the expression of pYAP and reduced the expression of CTGF (P < 0.05).CCK-8 assay showed that cell survival rate was decreased significantly in a dose-and time-dependent manner after SDX treatment (P < 0.05).Western blotting revealed that SDX increased the expression of pYAP and CD31 while inhibited the expression of CTGF in EAHy926 cells (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the effect of verteporfin treatment. Conclusion SDX can block YAP activation caused by CKD and attenuate neointimal hyperplasia in AVFs.

Market planning for regional economic development is a crucial task connected to stability and systematicness and influences the unique outcomes of regional economic growth. As a result, market planning for regional economic development must be given more weight. There are several issues with regional economies currently developing in many parts of our country. Lack of focus on market planning for regional economic growth results in several flaws in market planning, making it challenging to support sustainable development. The accurate analysis of diverse massive economic datasets has significant research value. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of market planning and regional economic and industrial development, analyze the effects of market planning on regional economic and industrial development, identify issues with market planning and regional economic and industrial development, and suggest solutions. This article employs big data analysis technology to forecast corporate market value and develop regional economic markets. The system is employed to conduct experimental big data analysis within a specific field for an extended period. According to test analysis results, the system’s data analysis accuracy can reach up to 95.8%, which has a promising future for use.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the health performance of the Urban and Rural Residents Medical Insurance (URRMI) scheme in China and to make practical recommendations and scientific references for its full implementation in China.MethodsThis is a panel study that uses data from the China Family Panel Studies from 2018 to 2020, which is separated into treated and control groups each year, utilizing the key approach of propensity score matching and difference-in-difference (PSM-DID). Using 1-to-1 k-nearest neighbor matching, we proportionate the baseline data. Using difference-in-difference model, we examine the mean treatment impact of the outcome variables. Using a 500-time random sample regression model, we validate the robustness of the model estimation.ResultsThe result was credible after matching, minimizing discrepancies. Good overall performance of self-rated health with an average Hukou status of, respectively, 0.8 and 0.4 in the treated and control group, primarily in rural and urban regions separately. The participation of URRMI significantly impacted self-rated health of residents, with a 0.456-unit improvement probabilities observed (p

The POI data and Place2vec model within the third ring of Fuzhou City were used to identify the functional zones in the city, on the basis of which we were able to analyze the characteristics of the spatial differentiation of the thermal field levels in each functional zone. We subsequently constructed the functional zone warming sensitivity index using a boosting regression tree algorithm to quantitatively measure the sensitivity difference of different functional zones in the process of surface warming and then explored the spatial differentiation mechanism of the urban thermal environment on a regional scale. The results showed the following. First, the identification framework of urban functional zones was constructed based on POI data and the Place2vec model; and the identification of the five types of functional zones—the living service and residential zone, public management and service zone, commercial zone, industrial zone, green space and square zone—was highly accuratecy. Second, the internal thermal field grades of the green space and square zone are mainly low-temperature and sub-low-temperature, while the rest of the four types of internal surface heat field grades of functional zones are dominated by medium-temperature, sub-high-temperature, high-temperature, and very-high-temperature zones. Additionally, the distribution of sub-low-temperature, low-temperature, and very-low-temperature zones is not significant. Except for the green space and square zone, all four types of functional zones exhibit high-temperature phenomena, of which the extremely high-temperature zone accounts for the most in the industrial zone (as high as 20.68%) and the least in the green space and square zone(1.90%). Third, the overall sensitivity to temperature increase of each type of functional zone, in descending order, is as follows: industrial zone, living service and residential zone, commercial zone, public management and service zone, green space and square zone. The sensitivity to temperature increase of each functional zone in different warming stages differs significantly under the high-temperature gradient. The sensitivity to temperature increase of the ground cover of different functional zones has the distinctive characteristics of the functional zones. Specifically, the higher the degree of development of the zone, the higher the sensitivity to temperature increase of the built land. The higher the degree of regional construction development, the greater the difference between the sensitivity of construction land and the sensitivity of vegetation and water, and the sensitivity of construction land is always higher than the sensitivity of vegetation and water in each functional zone. The results of this study will help overcome the limitations of existing urban thermal environmental research and provide a scientific decision-making basis for promoting the rational layout of urban functional areas, alleviating the urban heat island effect, preventing the risk of high temperatures under extreme weather conditions, and realizing sustainable urbanization.

Abstract Purpose The adverse health consequences of premarital sex and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are both global public health problems. Based on a random sample of college students from a Chinese city, this study investigated the relationship between CSA severity and premarital sex among students, focusing on sex differences. Methods A total of 2722 college students from 4 schools in Luzhou were recruited by multistage random sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used to measure CSA experiences and premarital sex. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyse the relationship between CSA and premarital sex. Results The prevalence of CSA was 9.39%, and that of mild, moderate and severe CSA was 4.04%, 2.90% and 2.46%, respectively. The premarital sex reporting rate was 22.42%. After adjusting for confounding variables, CSA was positively associated with premarital sex. Notably, a cumulative effect of CSA on premarital sex was observed among students. Further stratification analyses showed that males who experienced CSA had a higher premarital sex rate than females, and this sex difference was also observed among students with different CSA severities. Conclusion CSA and its severity were associated with premarital sex among college students. Furthermore, this association was stronger for males than females. Therefore, it is important to emphasize CSA prevention, especially for boys. These findings can promote understanding of the effects of CSA on premarital sex, and CSA prevention and intervention strategies should consider CSA severity and sex differences.

The early warning of coal spontaneous combustion is difficult to solve the perception of fire information. The acoustic emission (AE) signal generated by thermal damage and destruction on coal rock can perceive the temperature, and then issue a warning on the evolutionary state of coal spontaneous combustion. In order to study the change of AE signal in the process of coal heating and combustion, we explore the difference of and the time and frequency changes of the AE signals released by coal in different temperatures in the process of coal spontaneous combustion, and study the generation mechanism of the AE signal, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the inversion of coal temperature and for monitoring coal spontaneous combustion. The AE signal test system is constructed. By choosing the bituminous coal from Dongtan coal mine as the research subject, we test and analyze the change of the AE signal during coal heating process, analyze the evolutionary process of coal deformation and cracking under the influence of temperature and the change of coal composition, and examine the generation mechanism of AE signal in the process of coal heating. The results show that the ringing counts of coal increase sporadically from heating to combustion, and the correlation coefficient exceeds 0.87 by linear fitting, indicating that the frequency of coal deformation and cracking increases during the heating process. With the increase of temperature, the growth rate of ringing counts and the average frequency (AF value) of AE signal generated by coal are lower in the initial heating stage, but are higher when the temperature rises rapidly. The cumulative damage parameters show an inflection point when the coal temperature exceeds 80°C, and the main damage mode changes from rapid expansion damage to progressive damage. By analyzing the macro- and microscopic changes of coal structure and composition at different temperatures, we find that the mineral conversion rate in coal affects the main damage mode inside the coal body with the increase of temperature, and that the high mineral conversion rate corresponds to the rapid expansion damage inside the coal body, which promotes the derivative expansion of coal pores and cracks, and produces gradually increasing AE signals.

Objective: This study aimed to induce the machine vision technology into the appearance detection of Pleurotus eryngii. Methods: A bilateral filter was proposed to replace Gaussian filter as image smoothing filter, and Ostu maximum inter-class variance method was proposed to replace the improved Canny operator, based on fixed double threshold segmentation, and used as edge detection algorithm. HALCON operator and color space conversion were used to extract the length, diameter, curvature, evenness, color and cap defects of P. erynii, and the development and design of visual software function modules were completed, under the VS 2017 development environment with HALCON 18.05 and C#. Results: 200 pieces of P. eryngii were randomly obtained to test the accuracy of the algorithm and the performance of the visual software. The diameter grading accuracy of the Pleurotus eryngii was 83%, and the remaining characteristic elements could reach more than 95%, with the overall classification accuracy of all specifications more than 90%. Conclusion: The classification of appearance quality of P. eryngii can be completed through the improvement of algorithm and the design of visual software.

Gastric Cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy within the digestive tract, ranking as the fifth most common malignant tumor worldwide. It is characterized by clinical features such as a tendency for metastasis and an unfavorable prognosis. Ferroptosis, a recently identified form of cell death, represents a novel mode of cellular demise that diverges from the traditional concepts of necrosis and apoptosis. Numerous studies have found that ferroptosis plays a significant role in the proliferation, metastasis, drug resistance, and microenvironment regulation within GC. This review summarizes the mechanism of ferroptosis and its role in the occurrence and development of GC cells. It provides examples demonstrating how various anti-tumor drugs can induce ferroptosis in GC cells. Additionally, it summarizes the potential application value of ferroptosis in the future treatment of GC.

The interaction between financial assistance and enterprise development is examined in this paper by constructing a coupled coordination degree model. The weights of the secondary indicators in the financial assistance and enterprise development system are calculated using the entropy weighting method. By calculating the coupling degree between financial assistance and enterprise development, we can judge the strength of the coupling effect between them and the time interval. The financial system and enterprise development evaluation indexes were constructed to explore the factors affecting financial assistance for enterprise development. Under certain conditions, financial support and enterprise development can positively affect each other, as shown in the results. The development support weights in the financial support system are 0.1979 and 0.2231, and the total weight is 0.421. The enterprise development system has a technical weight of 0.5806 for technological innovation.

Abstract Purpose Dynamic PET is an essential tool in oncology due to its ability to visualize and quantify radiotracer uptake, which has the potential to improve imaging quality. However, image noise caused by a low photon count in dynamic PET is more significant than in static PET. This study aims to develop a novel denoising method, namely the Guided Block Matching and 4-D Transform Domain Filter (GBM4D) projection, to enhance dynamic PET image reconstruction. Methods The sinogram was first transformed using the Anscombe method, then denoised using a combination of hard thresholding and Wiener filtering. Each denoising step involved guided block matching and grouping, collaborative filtering, and weighted averaging. The guided block matching was performed on accumulated PET sinograms to prevent mismatching due to low photon counts. The performance of the proposed denoising method (GBM4D) was compared to other methods such as wavelet, total variation, non-local means, and BM3D using computer simulations on the Shepp–Logan and digital brain phantoms. The denoising methods were also applied to real patient data for evaluation. Results In all phantom studies, GBM4D outperformed other denoising methods in all time frames based on the structural similarity and peak signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, GBM4D yielded the lowest root mean square error in the time-activity curve of all tissues and produced the highest image quality when applied to real patient data. Conclusion GBM4D demonstrates excellent denoising and edge-preserving capabilities, as validated through qualitative and quantitative assessments of both temporal and spatial denoising performance.

The phenylpyrazole derivative 5-amino-3-[1-cyano-2-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) vinyl]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (LN002), which was screened out through high-throughput molecular docking for the AOX target, exhibits promising efficacy against Cryptosporidium. However, its poor water solubility limits its oral bioavailability and therapeutic utility. In this study, solid dispersion agents were prepared by using HP-β-CD and Soluplus® and characterized through differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared, powder X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Physical and chemical characterization showed that the crystal morphology of LN002 transformed into an amorphous state, thus forming a solid dispersion of LN002. The solid dispersion prepared with an LN002/HP-β-CD/Soluplus® mass ratio of 1:3:9 (w/w/w) exhibited significantly increased solubility and cumulative dissolution. Meanwhile, LN002 SDs showed good preservation stability under accelerated conditions of 25 °C and 75% relative humidity. The complexation of LN002 with HP-β-CD and Soluplus® significantly improved water solubility, pharmacological properties, absorption, and bioavailability.

The aim of this study is to observe the changes in autophagy activities in lung tissues of mice with different degrees of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), and explore the association between PF and autophagy activity. The PF model was established by bleomycin (BLM, 25 and 35 mg/kg) atomization inhalation in C57BL/6 mice, samples were collected on the 7, 14, and 28 days after BLM administration. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes in lung tissues. Masson staining was utilized to assess areas of blue collagen fiber deposition in lung tissues. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expressions of autophagy-related genes, including Atg5, Atg7, and Atg10 in lung tissues. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of autophagy-related genes, including p62 and LC3II/LC3I in lung tissues. Compared with control group, BLM dose-dependently decreased PaO2, mRNA expressions of Atg5, Atg7, Atg10, and LC3II/LC3I, while increased lung wet weight, lung coefficient, PF score, the blue area of collagen fibers, and p62 protein on the 7th, 14th, and 28th days. In conclusion, the more severe the PF induced by BLM, the lower the autophagy activity.

Objective: In order to effectively solve the problems of low efficiency, quality fluctuation and increasing labor cost of artificial sorting. Methods: A mechanical system based on differential separation principle was designed to complete the classification and separation device of Pleurotus eryngii, and the differential separation principle was introduced and modeled. Results: The test prototype was built and the principle verification test was completed. The success rate of separation of special mushroom was 99.5%, and that of other varieties was 100%. Conclusion: The test device can achieve good differential separation effect.

Radiotherapy is an essential postoperative treatment for grade II gliomas. However, comparative dosimetric studies of different radiotherapy plans for grade II gliomas are still lacking. Therefore, we conducted this case series analysis to compare the dosimetric differences among helical tomotherapy (TOMO), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for grade II gliomas. To achieve that, seven diagnosed postoperative patients with grade II gliomas were analyzed by computed tomography and then planned with TOMO, VMAT, and IMRT. The plan target volume (PTV) prescribed dose was 50 Gy (daily fraction of 2.0 Gy, 5 days/week). The expected treatment efficiency was measured by monitor units (MUs) scoring. Treatment plans of the patients were compared in the quality of target volumes dosage coverage, the efficiency of dosage delivery, and the dosage exposure of normal adjacent organs at risk (OAR). Differences in each method were measured by utilizing the Nonparametric ANOVA. The study shows that TOMO achieved a significantly higher PTV-D98% (doses received by 98% of the PTV volume) than VMAT and IMRT (50.30 ± 0.13 vs 49.21 ± 0.19, p = 0.006; 50.30 ± 0.13 vs 49.78 ± 0.18, p = 0.014), while there was no difference in PTV-D2% (doses received by 2% of the PTV volume). IMRT achieved a conformity index (CI) preferably, and TOMO generated a favorable homogeneity index (HI) (p < 0.05 for both). The MUs were fewer for VMAT than IMRT and TOMO (294 ± 19, 572 ± 24, 317 ± 97, respectively). IMRT achieved better protection for the lens and brain stems. Our case series study indicated that TOMO, VMAT, and IMRT achieved a comparatively good target dosimetric coverage, and most OARs were protected well. IMRT is not inferior to TOMO and VMAT and is still very suitable for treating most grade II glioma patients.

Abstract Background The treatment of gastric cancer remains a challenge. Methods We divided gastric cancer into three subtypes based on 14 cancer functional states. We investigated differences between subtypes through multi-omics data, especially at the single-cell level, which allowed us to analyze differences from the perspective of each type of cell rather than the whole. Results The cluster 1 is characterized by high levels of tumor progression-related cancer functional status, worst survival outcomes, low metabolic level, high infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, high copy number variations (CNV), and low tumor mutational burden (TMB). The cluster 2 is characterized by low levels of tumor progression-related cancer functional status, favorable prognosis, moderate metabolic level, low immune cell infiltration, high CNV, and moderate TMB. Then, the cluster 3 is characterized by the high level of all cancer functional status, high metabolic level, low CNV, high TMB, high infiltration of immune cells with high cytotoxicity, and better response to immunotherapy. We also established a prognostic model based on cancer functional status and validated its robustness. Conclusions Collectively, our study identified gastric cancer subtypes and provided new insights into the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

To explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Camellia oleifera seed oil, the metabolites in ethanol extracts from 15 batches of C. oleifera seeds were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and the inhibitory activity of the ethanol extracts on enteritis in Drosophila was evaluated by the “Smurf” test. The correlation between small molecular metabolites in the ethanol extracts and their anti-inflammatory activity was investigated and molecular docking with lipoxidase (LOX) was conducted to identify the key metabolites. Finally, the key metabolites were verified by the “Smurf” test. The results showed that the ethanol extract of C. oleifera seeds had good enteritis inhibitory activity, with percentage inhibition of 15.06%–61.71%, and its metabolites mainly included polyphenols, amino acids, organic acids, nucleotides, sugars and lipids. Seven polyphenolic compounds were identified in C. oleifera seeds for the first time. The monomeric compounds with good anti-enteritis activity were preliminarily identified as bruceine B, miltirone, 8-geranyloxypsoralen, cedrelone, wighteone, kaempferitrin and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. The anti-inflammatory activity of wighteone was reported for the first time in this study, and at 0.1 mg/mL, the percentage inhibition of enteritis was 64%, much greater than the positive control sulfasalazine (27.99%). This study lays the foundation for further exploring the anti-enteritis activity and mechanism of C. oleifera seed oil in vitro and in vivo.

This research aimed to investigate teachers’ perceptions of inclusive education, with the understanding that the sociocultural backdrop to inclusive education is crucial to ensure its efficiency. Interpretivist paradigm was adopted, and qualitative study design was used. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with six Chinese school teachers from various mainstream schools that provided inclusive education. It was found that respondents believed that inclusive education results in development of social skills of the students. It was also found that inclusive education helps autistic children interacting with others, shunning their inhibitions, and making friends. The results also confirmed challenges of inclusive education wherein respondents listed several attitudinal and behavioural challenges associated with social stigma and bullying, and difficulty in schools.

Gastric cancer is ranked as the fifth most prevalent cancer globally and has long been a topic of passionate discussion among numerous individuals. However, the incidence of gastric cancer in society has not decreased, but instead has shown a gradual increase in recent years. For more than a decade, the treatment effect of gastric cancer has not been significantly improved. This is attributed to the heterogeneity of cancer, which makes popular targeted therapies ineffective. Methionine is an essential amino acid, and many studies have shown that it is involved in the development of gastric cancer. Our study aimed to review the literature on methionine and gastric cancer, describing its mechanism of action to show that tumor heterogeneity in gastric cancer does not hinder the effectiveness of methionine-restricted therapies. This research also aimed to provide insight into the inhibition of gastric cancer through metabolic reprogramming with methionine-restricted therapies, thereby demonstrating their potential as adjuvant treatments for gastric cancer.

AlSi10Mg alloy has excellent characteristics such as high specific strength and good wear resistance. The composition of AlSi10Mg alloy is close to the eutectic point, thus it has good forming property and has been widely used in selective laser melting processing. However, for this moment, only the conventional annealing strategy is employed in the selective laser melted AlSi10Mg component, which greatly limits their further applications. In this work, the effects of several annealing on the microstructure and tensile properties of selective laser melted AlSi10Mg alloys were investigated. The results show that the as-fabricated sample presents a mixed structure of columnar α-Al and eutectic Al-Si structure along building direction, which possesses a strong texture of α-Al 〈100〉. The single molten pool consists of fine grain region, coarse grain region and heat affected region. The as-fabricated sample shows ultimate strength of 389.5 MPa with 4% elongation to failure. During the heat treatment, the eutectic Si is broken and spheroidized along with precipitation of supersaturated Al(Si). When the annealing temperature increases from 200 ℃ to 500 ℃, the silicon particle suffers the Ostwald ripening for size increase of 23 times. The samples heat treated at 300 ℃ and 500 ℃ show the ultimate strength of 287.0 MPa and 268.0 MPa, and elongation of 10.3% and 17.2%, respectively.

The spatial variability is an inherent uncertainty of soils. The random field theory is used to represent the spatial variability of soils, and the random field discretization is performed by the Karhunen-Loève (KL) expansion method. Using the slope upper bound analysis based on the discrete mechanism, the discretization results of the internal friction angle random field at each point in the space are considered when generating the velocity discontinuity surface. And the strength reduction technique, bisection searching, and sequential quadratic programming method are combined to solve the safety factor of slopes. The first-order reliability method (FORM) and subset simulation (SS) are employed for slope reliability analysis. Given the characteristics of SS and the shear strength reduction technique, an optimization algorithm coupling the two is proposed to improve computational efficiency. By calculating and analyzing an earth slope, the similarities and differences between FORM and SS based on the KL expansion method in solving the slope reliability index and failure consequence are clarified. The influence of the coefficient of variation of soil strength parameters on the slope reliability index and failure consequence is investigated, providing a theoretical basis for risk analysis and prevention of slopes.

Abstract Background Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in important molecular biological processes of tumor cells and play an essential role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC). Methods Combined The Cancer Genome Atlas Program and Genotype-Tissue Expression database to extract the expression of TFs in GC, analyzed the differences, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to extract TFs related to GC. The cohort including the training and validation cohort. Univariate Cox, least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate Cox analysis was used for screening hub TFs to construct the prognostic signature in the training cohort. The Kaplan–Meier (K–M) and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive ability of the prognostic signature. A nomogram combining clinical information and prognostic signatures of TFs was constructed and its prediction accuracy was evaluated through various methods. The target genes of the hub TFs was predicted and enrichment analysis was performed to understand its molecular biological mechanism. Clinical samples and public data of GC was collected to verify its expression and prognosis. 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine and Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide staining, flow cytometry and Western-Blot detection were used to analyze the effects of hub-TF ELK3 on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer in vitro. Results A total of 511 misaligned TFs were obtained and 200 GC-related TFs were exposed from them. After systematic analysis, a prognostic signature composed of 4 TFs (ZNF300, ELK3, SP6, MEF2B) were constructed. The KM and ROC curves demonstrated the good predictive ability in training, verification, and complete cohort. The areas under the ROC curve are respectively 0.737, 0.705, 0.700. The calibration chart verified that the predictive ability of the nomogram constructed by combining the prognostic signature of TFs and clinical information was accurate, with a C-index of 0.714. Enriching the target genes of hub TFs showed that it plays an vital role in tumor progression, and its expression and prognostic verification were consistent with the previous analysis. Among them, ELK3 was proved in vitro, and downregulation of its expression inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, induced proliferation, and exerted anti-tumor effects. Conclusions The 4-TFs prognostic signature accurately predicted the overall survival of GC, and ELK3 may be potential therapeutic targets for GC

This study was conducted to address the rock burst problem caused by serious stress concentrations in coal seams. Based on the principle of inducing agent corrosion affecting coal components to soften coal, different inducers were selected to study the desensitization effect of acid leaching induction on coal components. The microscopic behavior characteristics of coal under acid leaching were analyzed, and the qualitative and quantitative laws were obtained for different acid leaching times and microscopic behavior characteristics. The results show the following: (1) The mixed acid solution as an inducer has the effect of immersion, dissolution, and fracture on coal. During the reaction process, the internal pores of the coal expand, and the height of the external liquid decreases. The mixed acid solution had the best effect in terms of the removal of minerals in coal. (2) Under microscopic conditions, the internal crack width of the coal body expanded several times after mixed acid soaking; the difference in the unevenness before and after compression fracture was stable at 25–27%, and the mixed acid expanded the gap in the coal. (3) This practical study shows that the characterization changes of the mixed acid solution, injected into the borehole, combines the characteristics of the citric acid and phosphoric acid solution. The minerals around the borehole are dissolved, and the debris fuses with the solution. The liquid is viscous and forms a film on the surface of the solution. The mixed acid has a more obvious effect on the immersion and dissolution of coal.

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is a kind of malignancy with a high mortality and recurrence. An effective prediction model based on ideal biomarkers to assess prognosis could benefit patients for optimization of treatment. Bioinformatics has played an increasingly important role in the study of cancer diseases. Therefore, this study started with bioinformatics to establish a reliable prognostic model of gastric cancer. The gene expression data and clinical data of GC tissues and normal tissues were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Genotype‐Tissue Expression (GTEx), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) profile database. We finally identified a four gene signature and constructed a prognostic model. The results of internal and external validation showed that the model is highly reliable. In addition, we also constructed a nomogram based on the model, which was verified by a calibration curve to show its predicted accuracy. Comprehensive analysis indicated that the four genes in the model are related to the occurrence and development of tumors, perhaps they are potential targets for tumor treatment. Generally, this prognostic model can bring potential benefits to patients with gastric cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the chromobox homologue 7 (CBX7) expression with the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in cervical cancer (CC), as well as with the disease prognosis. CBX7, E-cadherin (E-cad), and vimentin (VIM) expression levels were detected with immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression of CBX7, E-cad, and VIM expression and conventional clinicopathological characteristics of CC were evaluated. The positive expression rates of CBX7 and E-cad in the CC tissues were lower than the adjacent non-tumorous cervical tissues. Moreover, the VIM expression level was higher. The CBX7 expression was positively correlated with the E-cad expression, whereas was negatively correlated with the VIM expression. Furthermore, CBX7 was associated with the disease clinical staging, histological differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and vascular invasion. Patients with negative CBX7 expression showed decreased overall survival rates compared with those with low or high CBX7 expression. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the decreased CBX7 expression was an independent predictor for the poor prognosis of CC. In conclusion, the absence of CBX7 is associated with the histologic differentiation, lymphatic metastasis, vascular invasion, and poor prognosis of CC. CBX7 may be an independent prognostic factor for the prognosis of CC patients.

Objective To observe the effects of metformin on the autophagy of endothelial cells and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mmol/L metformin for 24 h or with 5 mmol/L metformin for 24, 48 and 72 h, and cell survival after the treatment was assessed using CCK-8 assay. The formation of autophagosomes in HUVECs treated with metformin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), alone or in combination, was observed with transmission electron microscopy, and the expression levels of autophagy-related molecules LC3II and Beclin-1 were detected using immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting. The effects of XMU-MP-1 (an inhibitor of Hippo signaling pathway) and verteporfin (a blocker of Hippo signal transcription factor YAP) in the absence or presence of metformin or TGF-β1 on the expression levels of LC3II, YAP, pYAP and CTGF (the target protein of pYAP) were detected using Western blotting. Results CCK-8 assay showed that compared with the control cells, HUVECs treated with 10, 20 and 40 mmol/L metformin for 24 h exhibited significantly reduced cell survival rates (all P < 0.01), and we therefore used 5 mmol/L metformin for 24 h in the subsequent experiments. The results of electron microscopy, immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting showed that treatment with TGF-β1 significantly increased the number of autophagosomes, enhanced the expression of LC3II and Beclin-1 (P < 0.05), lowered the expression of pYAP (P < 0.01), and up-regulated CTGF expression in HUVECs (P < 0.01). These changes were significantly blocked by metformin. The expression of levels LC3II and CTGF were also inhibited in the cells by treatment with verteporfin and TGF-β1 (P < 0.01). XMU-MP-1 showed similar effects to TGF-β1 and significantly up-regulated the expression of LC3II (P < 0.01), decreased the expression of pYAP (P < 0.01), and enhanced the expression of CTGF (P < 0.01); such effects of XMU-MP-1 were also significantly blocked by metformin (all P < 0.05). The expression levels of CTGF and LC3II were obviously down-regulated in the cells treated with both verteporfin and XMU-MP-1 (P < 0.01). Conclusion Metformin may protect the veins by inhibiting TGF-β1-induced autophagy and blocking the activation of YAP signaling in the endothelial cells.

Rice and flour products are a type of major food in China, which is abundant in nutrients and humidity and thus is suitable for microbial growth. Spoilage microbes could shorten the shell life of food, and pathogenic microbes could cause food poisoning cases. In recent years, rapid detection on food borne microbes includes traditional and nucleic acids amplification methods, of which PSR is advantageous on sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, showing a promising application prospect. In addition, viable but non-culturable (VBNC) microbial cells is incapable of being detected by “Golden standard” culturing methodology, and thus becomes an important threat for food safety. This review has summarized the major microbes in rice and flour products, currently available detection methodologies, as well as the biological characteristics and detection method of VBNC, which will provide significant information on further safety control of microbes in rice and flour products.

In order to mitigate both residual stress and distortion induced by large thermal gradient in laser solid forming (LSF) process, the in-situ measurement first was used to monitor the thermal and distortion evolutions of the substrate during LSF and to calibrate the finite element model. Using the validated model, the effect of different scanning paths on the evolution of thermo-mechanical fields in LSF was analysed. The results show that good agreement is obtained between the numerical results and the experimental measurements. The maximum thermal gradient and the maximum tensile stress occur in the deposition of the first layer, and with the increasing of the layers, the temperature gradient is reduced gradually. The largest distortion is resulted from the long edge unidirectional scanning mode while the minimum residual stress and distortion is produced by short edge reciprocating scanning. The checkerboard scanning method can effectively reduce distortion of the substrate while hardly reduce the residual stress. In addition, the transverse bending of the substrate can notably curb the longitudinal bending of the substrate. Stress relaxation induced by the phase transformation has a significant effect on both residual stress and distortion of LSF part.

Authoritarian leadership is of great significance to eastern countries, including China. Meanwhile, unethical employee behavior also exists in all types of social organizations. The relationship between authoritarian leadership and unethical employee behavior is worth studying. Senior leaders (managers) often do not have a direct influence on employees except for through their immediate supervisors. The leadership style of senior leaders also influences the leadership style of their subordinates (employees’ direct supervisors). This paper studies how authoritarian manager leadership trickles down to unethical employee behavior through authoritarian supervisor leadership (through social learning theory and ASA theory) and discusses the moderating effect of leader member exchange (LMX) and an ethical climate. Through a questionnaire survey of 406 pairs of leaders, supervisors, and employees, the research results of the multilevel model show that (1) authoritarian supervisor leadership is positively related to unethical employee behavior, (2) authoritarian supervisor leadership mediates the relationship between authoritarian manager leadership and unethical employee behavior, (3) LMX positively moderates the relationship between authoritarian manager leadership and authoritarian supervisor leadership and moderates the mediating effect of authoritarian supervisor leadership, and (4), that an ethical climate negatively moderates the relationship between authoritarian supervisor leadership and unethical employee behavior and moderates the mediating effect of authoritarian supervisor leadership.

Cemented coal gangue paste backfill (CCGPB) containing coal gangue and fly ash is a backfilling technique newly developed in coal mines in China that allows environmentally hazardous products, such as gangue and fly ash, to be reused in underground stopes. CCGPB materials provide efficient ground support for the caving of strata and reduce surface subsidence. In this paper, field monitoring of CCGPB properties was conducted in an underground coal mine, which mainly included the measurement of the longwall face temperature, humidity, CCGPB internal hydration temperature, stress conditions inside the backfills, and displacement. First, the components of the backfills, paste technique, slurry generation procedures, coalfield geology, and mining conditions were introduced. Then, a monitoring system was designed in the field. An online monitoring system was installed. The results of the field monitoring showed that the curing temperature significantly varied, i.e., from 26°C near the main gate to 37°C near the tailgate. The curing humidity had the same trends, increasing from 60% relative humidity (RH) near the main gate to 81% RH near the tailgate. The internal hydration process of the paste was divided into four stages, i.e., the rapid hydration stage, slower hydration stage, rapid decline hydration stage, and relatively stable stage. The highest hydration temperature was 50°C, which was measured on the second day after the backfill process. The temperature approached stability at 41°C. The evolution of the roof stress applied on the CCGPB was divided into four stages: the development stage, regulation stage, rapid growth stage, and relatively stable stage. The maximum roof loading was 12 MPa in the middle of the longwall face. The deformation of the backfill experienced four stages, i.e., the rapid deformation stage, slow deformation stage, relatively stable stage, and long-term stable stage. The maximum deformation was 104.3 mm, appearing in the middle of the face. In addition, the compression ratio of the backfill was approximately 4%. The results of this study showed that the working conditions of backfills in the field were different from those in the laboratory. This paper provides guidance for the design of the CCGPB technique and the predictions of surface subsidence induced by the production process of underground mining.