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The spin–orbit coupling (SOC) lifts the band degeneracy that plays a vital role in the search for different topological states, such as topological insulators (TIs) and topological semimetals (TSMs). In TSMs, the SOC can partially gap a degenerate nodal line, leading to the formation of Dirac/Weyl semimetals (DSMs/WSMs). However, such SOC-induced gap structure along the nodal line in TSMs has not yet been systematically investigated experimentally. Here, we report a direct observation of such gap structure in a magnetic WSM Co3Sn2S2 using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our results not only reveal the existence and importance of the strong SOC effect in the formation of the WSM phase in Co3Sn2S2, but also provide insights for the understanding of its exotic physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is one of the most ordinary malignant tumors. Recently, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression has caught the attention of numerous researchers. In this work, lncRNA SNHG14 was studied to identify how it functioned in the progression of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: First, Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to measure SNHG14 expression in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, to identify the function of SNHG14 in prostate cancer, functional experiments were conducted in vitro and in vivo. In addition, by performing Luciferase assays and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP), the underlying mechanism was explored. RESULTS: In this work, SNHG14 expression was remarkably higher in prostate cancer samples when compared with that in the corresponding ones. Moreover, cell proliferation was inhibited after SNHG14 was silenced in prostate cancer cells and the expression of miR-613 was upregulated after SNHG14 was silenced. Further mechanism assays showed that miR-613 was a direct target of SNHG14 in prostate cancer. In addition, tumor formation was inhibited after SNHG14 was knocked-down in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study discovers a potential oncogene in prostate cancer and identifies that SNHG14 enhances cell proliferation via sponging miR-613. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species and bio-availability of phosphorus (P) in primary, secondary and digested sludge were fractionated and further analyzed in this study. Results showed that inorganic P (IP) was the primary P fraction in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, in which non-apatite IP (NAIP) amounted to 91.6% and 69.3% of total IP, respectively. Organic P (OP), accounting for about 71.7% of total P (TP), was the dominant P composition in primary sludge. The content of bio -available P was about 9.7, 43.4, 29.8 mg-P/g-TS in primary sludge, secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively, suggesting secondary sludge is the optimal choice when land application of sewage sludge is taken into consideration, followed by digested sludge and primary sludge. Polyphosphate and orthophosphate, comprising approximately 54.3% and 89.2% of TP, were the dominant P species in the secondary sludge and digested sludge, respectively. Monoester-P (54.6% of TP in extract) and diester- P (24.1%) were identified as OP species in primary sludge by Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31PNMR). The present results would be helpful for P recovery and recycling from sewage sludge in wastewater treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Pathogenesis factor of pregnant hypertension is still unclear and lacks of effective treatment. MiR-155 is a recently discovered miRNA molecule with differential expression in pregnant hypertension, which participates in the disease regulation. As a downstream target gene of miR-155, FOXO3a is correlated with blood pressure regulation. We investigated the regulatory role and mechanism of miR-155 in pregnant hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established a pregnant hypertension rat model, on which miR-155 inhibitor or FOXO3a siRNA was applied, followed by HE staining, 24 h urea protein, blood pressure and serum creatine assay to evaluate disease severity. RESULTS: MiR-155 expression was significantly elevated in model rats, accompanied by a reduction of the FOXO3a level. MiR-155 inhibitor suppressed miR-155 expression, increased FOXO3a level and placental tissue morphology by HE staining, and depressed blood pressure as well as serum creatine level. Downregulation of FOXO3a by specific siRNA resulted in opposite effects. These results illustrated the miR-155 mediated FOXO3a expression in pregnant hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The inhibition of miR-155 improves the damage of pregnant hypertension via the upregulation of FOXO3a, which provides academic leads for the future therapy of pregnant hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cause of crankshaft fracture crack of a certain vehicle has been analyzed through macroscopic inspection, chemical composition analysis, microstructure analysis, hardness test, mechanical properties test and dimension inspection. The analysis results show that: All of its chemical composition, microstructure, hardness, mechanical properties and dimensions accord with the technical specifications. However, due to the bearing score of the seventh main journal and the wear of fillet, the crankshaft cracked at multi-points from the fillet. The reason is that the fracture of crankshaft is finally caused by large cyclic external force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer is a commonly occurred tumor in females. High motility group box-1 protein (HHMB1) is a chromosome- related protein with multiple functions. A recent study revealed critical roles of HMGB1 in occurrence and progression of ovarian cancer. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a recently identified novel molecule, which regulates acetylation of HMGB1. Whether SIRT1 is involved in migration, invasion or angiogenesis of ovarian cancer is unclear. This study aims to investigate the role of SIRT1-induced HMGB1 acetylation in migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In ovarian cancer cell line, SIRT1 expression was potentiated. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to measure HMGB1 expression, acetylation level, and nuclear translocation. Scratch assay and transwell chamber methods were used to examine cell migration and invasion potency. A mouse model with ovarian cancer cell transplantation was generated to measure induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOs) and CD105 expression. RESULTS: Compared to adjacent tissues, ovarian cancer tissues had significantly decreased SIRT1 expression. In ovarian cancer cells, SIRT1 over-expression decreased HMGB1 and acetylation levels, and SIRT1 knockdown facilitated HMGB1 expression and acetylation. SIRT1 over-expression also suppressed nuclear translocation of HMGB1. Meanwhile, SIRT1 could suppress, migration and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer cells via HMGB1. CONCLUSIONS: SIRT1 over-expression effectively inhibited HMGB1 expression and acetylation, thus inhibiting ovarian cancer migration, invasion and angiogenesis. HMGB1 modulated behaviors of ovarian cancer via SIRT1. Therefore, SIRT1 might work as a treatment target for managing ovarian cancer migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The flame-retardant properties and impact fracture toughness for the polypropylene (PP) composites filled, respectively, with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) and nanometer calcium carbonate/polyolyaltha olefin were measured in the present paper. It was found that the limited oxygen index increased nonlinearly, whereas the horizontal combustibility rate decreased with increasing the IFR weight fraction (ϕIFR). The smoke density rank increased with increasing ϕIFR. The values of both the V-notched Izod impact strength and Charpy impact strength of the composites were higher than those of the unfilled PP; they decreased slightly with an increase of ϕIFR when ϕIFR was more than 10%. Moreover, the fracture surface of the specimens was observed using a scanning electronic microscope to discuss the mechanisms of the flame retardant and toughening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of esophageal carcinoma and to compare its results with pathological findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study examined 43 cases of patients (32 males and 11 females, aged 54 ± 13 years old) being diagnosed with lymph node metastasis of esophageal carcinoma in our hospital between 2005 and 2014. All of these patients accepted 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging 10 days before the operation. Before reconstruction, each patient went through the body scan. PET/CT images were subject to comprehensive diagnostic analyses, by three experienced radiologists and/or professional nuclear physicians, on the number of metastatic lymph nodes and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). A control study was also performed on the pathological findings according to the latest esophageal cancer lymph node partition. RESULTS: A total of 846 lymph nodes were taken out from the patients, among which 154 were confirmed with metastasis. When the SUVmax cutoff values were set at 2.5 and 5, 201 and 173 metastatic lymph nodes were found by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging, respectively. Additionally, under such condition, 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging had the esophageal sensitivity of 69.48% vs 87.66%, specificity of 92.71% vs 9 4.51%, accuracy of 83.33% vs 93.26%, positive predictive value of 53.23% vs 78.03%, and negative predictive value of 92.71% vs 97.18%. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG PET/CT had high accuracy in imaging lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer. SUVmax cutoff value of 5 had a higher diagnostic accuracy and should be recommended in clinical practice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amounts and forms of phosphorus (P) in sediments, orthophosphate (Pi) concentrations as well as Pi release fluxes across the sediment-water interface were investigated from five sampling sites in the Three-Gorges Reservoir (TGR). The Total P (TP) contents of surface sediments (0-2 cm) ranged from 415.5 to 1047.9 mg/kg, and the predominant fraction was HCl-P (Ca-bound P). The main rank order of P-fractions was HCl-P > Res-P (Residual-P) > NaOH-P (Al-adsorbed P) > BD-P (Redox sensitive P) > NH4Cl-P (Labile P), and ranged from 164.5 to 687.2 mg/kg, 96.0 to 140.8 mg/kg, 75.8 to 111.5 mg/kg, 34.0 to 104.8 mg/kg, and 5.9 to 15.9 mg/kg, respectively. The pH values ranged from 6.4 to 8.2 across sediment-water interface and sediment pH values were lower than those of the corresponding overlying water. The average Pi concentrations of pore water were higher than those of the open water and overlying water. Based on calculations using the Fick's first law, sediment in Xiangxi River (XX03) functioned as a P sink, with Pi flux of -0.003 mg/m²/d, while sediments from Modaoxi03 (MDX03), Daning02 (DN02), Caotanghe (CTH) and Changjiang Badong (CJBD), had Pi fluxes of 0.013 mg/m²/d, 0.009 mg/m²/d, 0.004 mg/m²/d and 0.007 mg/m²/d, respectively, and served as an internal P source in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]