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Recent studies have reported that collagen type V alpha 2 (COL5A2) is a hub gene and associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients, playing an important role in GC. In this study, we aim to fathom out the biological roles of COL5A2 and its relevant mechanism in GC. Oncomine, gene expression profiling interactive analysis, and UALCAN were used to explore the effects of COL5A2 on GC. Cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assay were conducted to investigate the biological behaviors of GC cell lines AGS and SGC-7901. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to determine gene and protein expressions. COL5A2 expression was up-regulated and negatively correlated with survival percentage of GC patients. COL5A2 expression was notably elevated in high stage and high grade of GC. Down-regulation of COL5A2 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of AGS and SGC-7901 cells. COL5A2 induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by promoting the expressions of mesenchymal markers (SNAI1, SNAI2, TWIST, VIM, and MMP2), thereby facilitating the malignant phenotypes of GC. COL5A2 plays an oncogenic role in GC and has potential to predict the progression and prognosis of GC patients.

In the field of pump impeller studies, tip leakage flow (TLF) and the resultant tip leakage vortex (TLV) significantly influence hydraulic efficiency, cavitation, and noise generation. This paper builds a novel square-cavity jet model combined with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) technology to obtain precise the dynamic properties of the TLV, significantly simplifying the computational resources required for numerical simulations. The novel square-cavity jet model simplifies a single blade channel to a square-cavity, and then adds a longitudinal slit on the top wall of the square-cavity. The analysis of both instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields indicates that the interaction between the main flow and the jet is the primary source of TLV generation. This study successfully captures the formation process of the TLV and accurately reveals its turbulent coherent structures. The evolution of the TLV is divided into three main parts: the first part is the jet slot, predominantly characterized by negative vorticity flow. The second part is the TLV formation, which is mainly composed of significant negative streamwise vortices. The third part is the development of the TLV, where positive and negative vorticities begin to interact, resulting in a more complex overall structure. The entire evolution of the TLV phenomenon starts with a concentrated negative vortex, which, after breakdown, develops at a certain angle to the slot and continuously advances towards the sidewall, ultimately resulting in the formation of a large-scale intermingled group of small-scale positive and negative vortices. This research not only provides a new physical model for investigating the tip leakage phenomenon in axial flow pumps but also offers a powerful tool and methodology for future studies in similar complex flow domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is challenging to simultaneously achieve both high mechanical performance and self-healing ability within one polymer hydrogel network, we, herein, synthesized a novel class of hydrogels based on a combination of chemical and dual non-covalent crosslinks via micellar polymerization of 3-isocyanatomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl isocyanate, end-capped by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (IPDI-HEMA), with acrylamide (AM). The prepared hydrogels were demonstrated to possess a tensile elongation at a break of at least 1900%, a fracture energy of 138.4 kJ m−3, and remarkable self-healing behaviors (e.g., a strong self-healing ability achieved at ambient temperature without the need for any stimulus or healing agent). The multiple crosslinks developed in this study for one polymer hydrogel network are significant steps to construct the desired functional hydrogels with excellent self-healing and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China Building energy consumption contributes about 30% to the total national greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, and thus, to climate change. At the same time, climate change will in turn impact the total energy consumption and GHG emissions of residential sector. This study investigated the potential impact of climate change on the total energy consumption and related GHG emissions of housing in Southern China. Identified potential pathways were implemented for existing and new residential buildings to adapt to climate change. Results show that the ambient temperatures in 2020s, 2050s and 2080s will increase by 0.82 o C, 1.91 o C and 3.41 o C accordingly. The total heating and cooling energy use of 3.5 and 5.5 star-buildings are projected to increase 25% and 20% respectively with a 1.0 o C global warming. However, utilizing energy-efficient appliances and retrofitting the house to 6.5 stars or higher level are substantial measures to maintain the level same as or less than the current level of overall energy consumption and GHG emissions. Climate adaptions that focus on improving the energy-efficiency of building envelop, applying renewable energy and switching to facilities with low GHG emissions are desirable solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the constant advance of global urbanization and aggravation of urban construction land scarcity, high-rise residential buildings have become one of the main carriers of urban residential function on account of both land saving and large housing requirement. However, relevant studies on consumers’ floor selection preference in high-rise residential buildings, regarding what inherent and regular features and causes it has, are still insufficient, despite that related issues have important practical significance for real estate developers and designers’ decision making in terms of dwelling size ratio, floor area, indoor layout, and so on. This study, based on systematic examination of existing domestic and international researches, seeks to make empirical tests and generalization on the above issues from the aspect of “utility function” (safety, comfortableness, accessibility and economic efficiency) of the living environment that impacted by different floor levels, and floor selection features regarding consumers’ social and family structure attributes, as well as the intrinsic correlation between them. The results show the existence of floor level preference in high-rise residential buildings. Its essence is a personalized characterization of consumers’ social and family structures’ attributes in selecting the “utility function” of the living environment, as the preference value differs under various attributes including gender, age, income, family members and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]