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Introduction/objective: There are increasing numbers of children diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given the chronicity of the disease, individuals are confronted with cocktails of medications for an extended period. The present study explores experiences in medication adherence among adolescents with SLE in an acute care hospital. Method: A descriptive qualitative design was employed. Fourteen adolescents with SLE were purposively selected. Face-to-face audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted. Field notes and reflexive journals were maintained, and frequent debriefing sessions were performed to ensure the study's methodological rigour. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analyses were used. Constant comparative analysis was used to identify similarities and differences among the participants. Results: Four themes emerged from interviews: (1) making sense of the treatment; (2) contending with side effects of medications; (3) maintaining networks of support; and (4) creating a new normal. The participants were motivated to adhere to medications when they developed awareness, received social support from family and friends and created routines for new normal when confronted with their diseases. However, some attributed a lack of parental support, poor doctor-patient relationships and the large numbers of medications as deterrence to medication adherence. Conclusions: This study highlights various medication-taking motivators and deterrents. Interdependent relationships between motivators and deterrents determine medication-taking behaviours. Findings from this multi-ethnic group of individuals of various ages and religious faith across the disease trajectory provide a deep insight into adolescents' experiences of medication adherence. This can contribute to the development of unique interventions for such individuals. Key points • Adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus struggle with conforming to cocktails of medications. • A variety of factors either facilitate or impede their decisions to adhere to medication regimes. • Results suggest that tackling medication adherence among adolescents requires a multi-pronged approach from individual, familial and medical perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of large amounts of genomic data is now feasible and cost-effective with improvements in next generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) is becoming the preferred method for comprehensively characterising global transcriptome activity. Unique to cytoreductive surgery (CRS), multiple spatially discrete tumour specimens could be systematically harvested for genomic analysis. To facilitate such downstream analyses, laser capture microdissection (LCM) could be utilized to obtain pure cell populations. The aim of this protocol study was to develop a methodology to obtain high-quality expression data from matched primary tumours and metastases by utilizing LCM to isolate pure cellular populations. We demonstrate an optimized LCM protocol which reproducibly delivered intact RNA used for RNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). After pathologic annotation of normal epithelial, tumour and stromal components, LCM coupled with cDNA library generation provided for successful RNA sequencing. To illustrate our framework's potential to identify targets that would otherwise be missed with conventional bulk tumour sequencing, we performed qPCR and immunohistochemical technical validation to show that the genes identified were truly expressed only in certain sub-components. This study suggests that the combination of matched tissue specimens with tissue microdissection and NGS provides a viable platform to unmask hidden biomarkers and provides insight into tumour biology at a higher resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA‑1470 (miR‑1470) is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, its role and underlying molecular mechanism remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the tumorigenic role and mechanism of miR‑1470 overexpression in ESCC. The expression of miR‑1470 in ESCC tissues and cell lines was detected using human miRNA microarrays and the reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The effects of miR‑1470 on cell proliferation, migration and senescence were determined using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, Transwell migration assay and β‑galactosidase staining kit. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of genes in the apoptosis signaling pathway. An increased expression level of miR‑1470 was observed in ESCC tissues compared with that in paracancerous tissues. Knockdown of miR‑1470 significantly suppressed proliferation, and down‑regulated the cell cycle regulatory gene cyclin E1. It was also revealed that knockdown of miR‑1470 significantly inhibited migration, and decreased the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP13 and MMP14. Western blotting analysis revealed that knockdown of miR‑1470 induced apoptosis by increasing B‑cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) expression. The results of the present study suggest that overexpression of miR‑1470 in ESCC promotes cancer cell proliferation by accelerating the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis, and also enhances cancer cell migration by upregulating MMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miR-99a is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), however the role and underlying mechanism are still unknown. We aim to explore the role and mechanism of miR-99a down-regulation in ESCC. The expression of miR-99a in ESCC tissues and cell lines was detected by Human miRNA Microarrays and Real-time PCR. The effects of miR-99a on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell migration and invasion assay. Target gene of miR-99a were analyzed by target prediction software and validated by Real-time PCR andWestern blotting assay. Our microarray results and four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets showed lower expression level of miR-99a in ESCC tissues. Overexpression of miR-99a using mimics significantly suppressed cell proliferation, and decreased expressions of CCND1, CCNA2 and CCNE1. We also found that enhanced miR-99a significantly inhibited migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ESCC cells, and down-regulated EMT associated transcription factor Slug, and MMPs including MMP2, MMP7 and MMP13. TargetScan predicted insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) as the cadidate target gene of miR-99a, and western blotting confirmed the negative correlation between miR-99a and IGF1R. Importantly, we further found that knockdown of IGF1R also significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and slug-induced EMT of ESCC cells, and reduced the cell cycle regulatory proteins and MMPs. In conclusion, our findings suggested that loss of miR-99a in ESCC promoted the tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and slug-induced EMT through activating IGF1R signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the major histological type of esophageal cancer in developing countries including China, and the prognosis is very poor. Many microRNAs are involved in several important biological and pathologic processes, and promote tumorigenesis. To better understand the prognostic and therapeutic roles of microRNAs in ESCC, we reviewed the diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic microRNAs (e.g. miR-21 and miR-17-92 cluster) and tumor suppressor microRNAs (e.g. miR-375, miR-133a and miR-133b), and diagnosis and prognosis associated oncogenic target genes (e.g. PDCD4 and CCND1) and tumor suppressor target genes (e.g. EZH2 and PDK1). We also summarized the prognostic microRNA and target gene pairs (e.g. miR-296 and CCND1, miR214 and EZH2). Taken together, our review highlights the opportunities and challenges for microRNAs in the molecular diagnosis and target therapy of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of uremia is now dominated by dialysis; in some cases, patients are treated with dialysis for decades, but overall outcomes are disappointing. A number of studies have confirmed the relevance of several experimental insights to the pathogenesis of uremia, but the specific biomarkers of uremia have not been fully elucidated. To date, our knowledge about the alterations in DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in uremia is unclear, to investigate the role of DNA 5-hmC in the onset of uremia, we performed hMeDIP-chip between the uremia patients and the normal controls from the experiment to identify differentially expressed 5-hmC in uremia-associated samples. Methods: Extract genomic DNA, using hMeDIP-chip technology of Active Motif companies for the analysis of genome-wide DNA 5-hmC, and quantitative real-time PCR confirmation to identify differentially expressed 5-hmC level in uremia-associated samples. Results: There were 1875 genes in gene Promoter, which displayed significant 5-hmC differences in uremia patients compared with normal controls. Among these genes, 960 genes displayed increased 5-hmC and 915 genes decreased 5-hmC. 4063 genes in CpG Islands displayed significant 5-hmC differences in uremia patients compared with normal controls. Among these genes, 1780 genes displayed increased 5-hmC and 2283 genes decreased 5-hmC. Three positive genes, HMGCR, THBD, and STAT3 were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Conclusion: Our studies indicate the significant alterations of 5-hmC. There is a correlation of gene modification 5-hmC in uremia patients. Such novel findings show the significance of 5-hmC as a potential biomarker or promising target for epigenetic-based uremia therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines bearing a hydroxamic acid moiety as novel HDAC inhibitors were designed and synthesized. The structures of the new synthesized compounds were confirmed using IR, 1H, 13C NMR spectrum. Compounds 11–13 showed potent inhibitory activities against HDACs with IC50 values at 0.38, 0.49 and 0.61μM. Most of target compounds displayed strong anti-proliferative activity by a MTT assay on three human cancer cell lines including HCT-116, MCF-7 and HeLa. Compound 11, having potent inhibitory activities against HDACs, induced apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest in HCT-116 cell line. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of exposure to a sinusoidal 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) and an incoherent (noise) MF on hormone secretion in human first trimester villous trophoblasts were investigated. Trophoblasts were isolated from more than 30 first trimester human chorionic villi of 8-10 weeks gestation. They were cultured and exposed to MFs for different durations. The concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone in culture medium were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The results showed that exposure of the villous trophoblasts to a 50-Hz MF at 0.4 mT (milli Tesla) for 72 hrs could significantly inhibit the secretion of hCG and progesterone, whereas exposure to an incoherent MF (frequency range between 30 to 90 Hz) with the same conditions did not significantly affect the secretion. However, when the incoherent MF was superimposed on the 50-Hz MF and the cells were exposed to both fields simultaneously, no significant change in hormone secretion was observed. Based on these results, we concluded that 50-Hz MF exposure for 72 hrs could inhibit the hormone secretion of trophoblasts, and an incoherent MF of equal intensity could completely eliminate the effects induced by the 50-Hz MF. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a novel non-dispersive infrared ray (IR) gas detection system is described. Conventional devices typically include several primary components: a broadband source (usually an incandescent filament), a rotating chopper shutter, a narrow-band filter, a sample tube and a detector. But we mainly use the mini-multi-channel detector, electrical modulation means and mini-gas-cell structure. To solve the problems of gas accidents in coal mines, and for family safety that results from using gas, this new IR detection system with integration, miniaturization and non-moving parts has been developed. It is based on the principle that certain gases absorb infrared radiation at specific (and often unique) wavelengths. The infrared detection optics principle used in developing this system is mainly analyzed. The idea of multi-gas detection is introduced and guided through the analysis of the single-gas detection. Through researching the design of cell structure, a cell with integration and miniaturization has been devised. By taking a single-chip microcomputer (SCM) as intelligence handling, the functional block diagram of a gas detection system is designed with the analyzing and devising of its hardware and software system. The way of data transmission on a controller area network (CAN) bus and wireless data transmission mode is explained. This system has reached the technology requirement of lower power consumption, mini-volume, wide measure range, and is able to realize multi-gas detection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ecosystem services (ESs) synergies have been broadly studied, whose synergy control areas and driving mechanisms were still not fully understood. Here, We analyzed soil conservation (SC), water yield (WY), net primary productivity (NPP) and food supply (FS) on the basis of geospatial analysis techniques from 1992 to 2015. The results showed that the SW karst areas contributed 23.7% of SC and 14.56% of NPP with only 8.4% of China's continent. 49.28% of China's land was synergy control areas, while accounted for 82.23% in the SW karst areas. The cause of this phenomenon was twofold, one was the significant increase in NDVI was mainly due to human activities (HA), and the coincidence rates between the HA dominated areas and the synergies control areas up to 90.7%. These results emphasized that ecological engineering was a key factor of the synergy among multi-ESs, the synergy control areas should be priority for ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Previous studies have performed integrative analyses of genomic aberrations in soft tissue sarcomas. Utilising clinical information, groups have proposed nomograms for prediction of survival and recurrence in retroperitoneal sarcomas. Expanding on clinical nomogram prediction models with molecular classification of tumours may allow us to further identify clinical phenotypes within this heterogeneous group. We showed that a five-gene molecular prognostic panel can provide additional prognostic information in patients with retroperitoneal DDLS, independent of clinical features. A combined clinical and molecular prediction model may offer the best way to prognosticate patients for patient counselling and therapeutic decision making. Up to 10% of well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLS) progress to dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS). We aimed to identify gene expression changes associated with dedifferentiation and whether these were informative of tumour biology of DDLS. We analysed datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO, ID = GSE30929) database to identify differentially expressed genes between WDLS (n = 52) and DDLS (n = 39). We validated the signature on whole and laser-capture microdissected samples from patients with tumours consisting of mixed WDLS and DDLS components. A subset of this signature was applied to an independent dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 58 DDLS) database to segregate samples based on gene expression and compared for recurrence and overall survival (OS). A 15-gene signature consisting of genes with increased expression in DDLS compared to WDLS was generated. This signature segregated WDLS and DDLS samples from patients with mixed component tumours and across multiple recurrences. A further subset of this signature, consisting of five genes (AQP7, ACACB, FZD4, GPD1, LEP), segregated DDLS in a TCGA cohort with a significant difference in OS (p = 0.019) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.061). The five-gene model stratified DDLS into prognostic groups and outperformed clinical factors in existing models in retroperitoneal DDLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonate rock chemical weathering carbon sinks reduce the rate of increase of the atmospheric CO2 concentration and global warming. However, uncertainty still exists in the estimation results of carbonate rock chemical weathering carbon sink fluxes (CCSF), and the contributions of climate change and ecological restoration to the CCSF are not clear. To this end, we compiled published site data on ion concentrations in different watersheds in China and used a classical thermodynamic dissolution model to reassess the potential and spatial and temporal patterns of the CCSF in China from 1991 to 2020. We quantified the contributions of temperature (MAT), precipitation (MAP), evapotranspiration (ET), soil water (SM), and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to the CCSF. The results revealed that (1) China's CCSF was 22.76 t CO2 km−2 yr−1, which was higher than the global average (15.771CO2 km−2 yr−1). The total carbonate rock chemical weathering carbon sink (CCS) was 4772.67×104 t CO2, contributing 14.91% of the global CCS through a carbonate rock area of 252.98×104 km−2. (2) China's CCSF decreased gradually from southeast to northwest, with values of 33.14, 12.93, and 7.27 t CO2 km−2 yr−1 in the southern karst, Qinghai-Tibetan karst, and northern karst regions, respectively. (3) The overall CCSF in China exhibited an increasing trend from 1991 to 2020, with a rate of increase of 0.16 t CO2 km−2 yr−1. (4) The contributions of the MAP, MAT, ET, SM, and NDVI to the CCSF were 63.3%, 3.02%, 27.5%, 3.1%, and 3.05%, respectively. Among them, the increase in precipitation was the main contributor to the increase in the CCSF in China over the last 30 years, while the enhancement of ET offset part of the positive contribution of the increase in precipitation to the CCSF. In conclusion, the results of this study provide a systematic quantification of the magnitude, the patterns, and the influencing factors of CCS over a long time series in China. The results are of great significance and provide a reference for the diagnosis and gap analysis of the national and global carbon neutrality capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is associated with poor prognosis. Platinum resistance contributes significantly to the high rate of tumour recurrence. We aimed to identify a set of molecular markers for predicting platinum sensitivity. A signature predicting cisplatin sensitivity was generated using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Four potential biomarkers (CYTH3, GALNT3, S100A14, and ERI1) were identified and optimized for immunohistochemistry (IHC). Validation was performed on a cohort of patients (n = 50) treated with surgical resection followed by adjuvant carboplatin. Predictive models were established to predict chemosensitivity. The four biomarkers were also assessed for their ability to prognosticate overall survival in three ovarian cancer microarray expression datasets from The Gene Expression Omnibus. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm was selected for the final model to validate the accuracy in an independent validation dataset (n = 10). CYTH3 and S100A14, followed by nodal stage, were the features with the greatest importance. The four gene signature had comparable prognostication as clinical information for two-year survival. Assessment of tumour biology by means of gene expression can serve as an adjunct for prediction of chemosensitivity and prognostication. Potentially, the assessment of molecular markers alongside clinical information offers a chance to further optimise therapeutic decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about gender differences in the symptom burden of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) on antiretroviral therapy in China. This study was conducted based on a biopsychosocial-medical model to describe gender differences in symptom burden among 1035 PLWHA in Yunnan Province, China. After propensity score matching, 798 PLWHA were included in this analysis. Feeling stressed, poor sleep, and memory loss were the most burdensome symptoms among men, while feeling stressed, memory loss, and dizziness were the most burdensome symptoms among women. Among men PLWHA, factors associated with symptom burden were being of the ethnic minority, CD4 count ≥ 500 cells/mm3, physical functioning, and social support. Among women PLWHA, factors associated with symptom burden were being an inpatient, physical functioning, psychological functioning, and social support. Our findings suggest that healthcare providers need to take into account gender differences when developing optimal prevention, treatment, and care programs that provide individualized care to reduce patients’ symptom burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tandem C2 domains, nuclear (TC2N) is a C2 domain-containing protein that belongs to the carboxyl-terminal type (C-type) tandem C2 protein family, and acts as an oncogenic driver in several cancers. Previously, we preliminarily reported that TC2N mediates the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to inhibit tumor growth of breast cancer (BC) cells. Beyond that, its precise biological functions and detailed molecular mechanisms in BC development and progression are not fully understood. Methods: Tumor tissues of 212 BC patients were subjected to tissue microarray and further assessed the associations of TC2N expression with pathological parameters and FASN expression. The protein levels of TC2N and FASN in cell lines and tumor specimens were monitored by qRT-PCR, WB, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. In vitro cell assays, in vivo nude mice model was used to assess the effect of TC2N ectopic expression on tumor metastasis and stemness of breast cancer cells. The downstream signaling pathway or target molecule of TC2N was mined using a combination of transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics, and the underlying mechanism was explored by WB and co-IP assays. Results: Here, we found that the expression of TC2N remarkedly silenced in metastatic and poorly differentiated tumors. Function-wide, TC2N strongly inhibits tumor metastasis and stem-like properties of BC via inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. Mechanism-wise, TC2N blocks neddylated PTEN-mediated FASN stabilization by a dual mechanism. The C2B domain is crucial for nuclear localization of TC2N, further consolidating the TRIM21-mediated ubiquitylation and degradation of FASN by competing with neddylated PTEN for binding to FASN in nucleus. On the other hand, cytoplasmic TC2N interacts with import proteins, thereby restraining nuclear import of PTEN to decrease neddylated PTEN level. Conclusions: Altogether, we demonstrate a previously unidentified role and mechanism of TC2N in regulation of lipid metabolism and PTEN neddylation, providing a potential therapeutic target for anti-cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly stretchable electrodes with electrically robust behavior are critical for wide applications of soft robots, electronic skins, and flexible sensors. However, it remains challenging to fabricate such electrodes with traditional fabrication methods, such as lithography, conductive composite material synthetization, stencil printing, and microchannel injection. Herein, a facile method is proposed to construct robust and stretchable electrodes by direct‐written liquid metal (LM) onto a predeposited interface bonding layer, which greatly improves the interfacial force between the LM and substrate. An electrospun graphene oxide/thermoplastic polyurethane composite nanofiber membrane is used as the bonding layer, which provides rich –OH on the interface and in situ forming of hydrogen bond (H‐bond) with the LM oxide layer. A prototype electrode shows stretchability of 580%. The resistance remains stable that varies from 2.8 to 19.3 Ω at 500% elongation, and varies slightly after 7500 stretching cycles under 50% elongation, from 2.6–4.0 to 4.4–6.4 Ω. The fabrication technique is demonstrated with applications in stretchable circuit board assemblies and stretchable electronic cables, indicating a potential effective method for fabricating high‐performance stretchable electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel antenna is proposed for high-temperature testing, which can make the high-temperature pressure characteristics of a wireless passive ceramic pressure sensor demonstrated at up to a temperature of 600 °C. The design parameters of the antenna are similar to those of the sensor, which will increase the coupling strength between the sensor and testing antenna. The antenna is fabricated in thick film integrated technology, and the properties of the alumina ceramic and silver ensure the feasibility of the antenna in high-temperature environments. The sensor, coupled with the ceramic antenna, is investigated using a high-temperature pressure testing platform. The experimental measurement results show that the pressure signal in a harsh environment can be detected by the frequency diversity of the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structures and magnetic properties of (Mn, N)-codoped ZnO are investigated by using the first-principles calculations. In the ferromagnetic state, as N substitutes for the intermediate O atom of the nearest neighboring Mn ions, about 0.5 electron per Mn2+ ion transfers to the N2− ion, which leads to the high-state Mn ions (close to +2.5) and trivalent N3− ions. In an antiferromagnetic state, one electron transfers to the N2− ion from the downspin Mn2+ ion, while no electron transfer occurs for the upspin Mn2+ ion. The (Mn, N)-codoped ZnO system shows ferromagnetism, which is attributed to the hybridization between Mn 3d and N 2p orbitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the progression of human cancer. Although previous reports have shown that miR-145-5p is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the roles and mechanisms of down-regulation of miR-145-5p in ESCC are still largely unknown. Using microRNA microarray and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, we confirmed that miR-145-5p was down-regulated in ESCC tissues. In vitro assays revealed that ectopic miR-145-5p expression repressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). miR-145-5p also reduced the expressions of cell cycle genes including cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin E1 (CCNE1), the EMT-associated transcription factor Slug, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including MMP2, MMP7 and MMP13. Furthermore, miR-145-5p mimics reduced candidate target gene specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and nuclear factor κ B (NF-kB) (p65) both in mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of Sp1 phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p overexpression on cell cycle regulators, EMT and the expression of NF-κB (p65). Importantly, inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway or knockdown of NF-κB (p65) phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p on the migration, invasion and EMT of ESCC cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that miR-145-5p plays tumor-suppressive roles by inhibiting esophageal cancer cell migration, invasion and EMT through regulating the Sp1/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to identify the candidate target genes of genomic aberrations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to analyze the copy number changes and expression level of candidate genes, respectively. Integrative analysis revealed that homozygous deletions of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKN) 2A and CDKN2B and gains of fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) and homer scaffolding protein 3 (HOMER3) occurred frequently in ESCC. The results demonstrated that the homozygous deletion of CDKN2A or CDKN2B was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. Notably, the expression of CDKN2A and CDKN2B was lower in dysplasia than in normal esophageal epithelium. We also observed that the copy number increase of FSCN1 was significantly associated with pT, pN and pStage, and that the gain of HOMER3 was significantly linked with pN and pStage. We further revealed that FSCN1 and HOMER3 were overexpressed in ESCC, and that their overexpression was correlated with copy number increase. In conclusion, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, FSCN1 and HOMER3 are candidate cancer-associated genes and may play a tumorigenic role in ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dormancy is a biological characteristic developed to resist the cold conditions in winter. The bZIP transcription factors are present exclusively in eukaryotes and have been identified and classified in many species. bZIP proteins are known to regulate numerous biological processes, however, the role of bZIP in bud dodormancy has not been studied extensively. In total, 50 PpbZIP transcription factor-encoding genes were identified and categorized them into 10 groups (A–I and S). Similar intron/exon structures, additional conserved motifs, and DNA-binding site specificity supported our classification scheme. Additionally, chromosomal distribution and collinearity analyses suggested that expansion of the PpbZIP transcription factor family was due to segment/chromosomal duplications. We also predicted the dimerization properties based on characteristic features of the leucine zipper and classified PpbZIP proteins into 23 subfamilies. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results indicated that PpbZIPs genes may be involved in regulating dormancy. The same gene of different species might participate in different regulating networks through interactions with specific partners. Our expression profiling results complemented the microarray data, suggesting that co-expression patterns of bZIP transcription factors during dormancy differed among deciduous fruit trees. Our findings further clarify the molecular characteristics of the PpbZIP transcription factor family, including potential gene functions during dormancy. This information may facilitate further research on the evolutionary history and biological functions of bZIP proteins in peach and other rosaceae plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The POC flux is approximately 0.12 –0.20 Pg C/yr from land to oceans. • Asia exports more POC than other continents (60.50–61.69%). • The Amazon basin contributes 53.30–58.68% of the POC to the Atlantic. • The POC flux has two key zones in the latitude zone along latitude bands. The transport of particulate organic carbon (POC) through rivers from land to sea affects the redistribution of global organic carbon. However, because of the limitation of the quantity and quality of monitoring data, the POC magnitude, scale and global distribution pattern of land-sea migration are still not well understood. Therefore, based on an updated GEMS-GLORI database and other reanalysis data, we use the soil erosion model (F erosion), total suspended solids model (F tss), and runoff model (F runoff) to re-analyze and generate the POC flux of major rivers in the world dataset. The major results are as follows: the POC flux from global terrestrial biosphere rivers exports approximately 0.12–0.20 Pg C to oceans every year, including 0.20 Pg F erosion , 0.17 Pg F tss , and 0.12 Pg F runoff. In contrast to earlier studies that the Pacific and Arctic Oceans are the main recipients of POC flux, we find that the Pacific and Atlantic received more POC flux and received 30.76%–62.51% and 26.77%–53.95%, respectively. This difference may be related to the combined effects of soil erosion, total suspended solids, and runoff. Asia exports more POC than other continents (60.50%–61.69%). The Amazon basin is the major contributor to the Atlantic POC, contributing 53.30%–58.68%. Furthermore, because of the intense human activities and the widespread distribution of many large watersheds in the highly eroded area, it was found that the POC flux has two key zones (25.75–41.5°N and 4.50°N–13.50°S) in the latitude zone. In summary, the above findings increase our understanding of the spatial redistribution of global organic carbon from land to sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The POC flux is approximately 0.12 –0.20 Pg C/yr from land to oceans. • Asia exports more POC than other continents (60.50–61.69%). • The Amazon basin contributes 53.30–58.68% of the POC to the Atlantic. • The POC flux has two key zones in the latitude zone along latitude bands. The transport of particulate organic carbon (POC) through rivers from land to sea affects the redistribution of global organic carbon. However, because of the limitation of the quantity and quality of monitoring data, the POC magnitude, scale and global distribution pattern of land-sea migration are still not well understood. Therefore, based on an updated GEMS-GLORI database and other reanalysis data, we use the soil erosion model (F erosion), total suspended solids model (F tss), and runoff model (F runoff) to re-analyze and generate the POC flux of major rivers in the world dataset. The major results are as follows: the POC flux from global terrestrial biosphere rivers exports approximately 0.12–0.20 Pg C to oceans every year, including 0.20 Pg F erosion , 0.17 Pg F tss , and 0.12 Pg F runoff. In contrast to earlier studies that the Pacific and Arctic Oceans are the main recipients of POC flux, we find that the Pacific and Atlantic received more POC flux and received 30.76%–62.51% and 26.77%–53.95%, respectively. This difference may be related to the combined effects of soil erosion, total suspended solids, and runoff. Asia exports more POC than other continents (60.50%–61.69%). The Amazon basin is the major contributor to the Atlantic POC, contributing 53.30%–58.68%. Furthermore, because of the intense human activities and the widespread distribution of many large watersheds in the highly eroded area, it was found that the POC flux has two key zones (25.75–41.5°N and 4.50°N–13.50°S) in the latitude zone. In summary, the above findings increase our understanding of the spatial redistribution of global organic carbon from land to sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of land use on river water chemistry in a typical karst watershed (Wujiang River) of southwest China have been evaluated. Dissolved major ions and Sr isotopic compositions were determined in 11 independent sub-watersheds of the Wujiang River to investigate the spatio-temporal variations in river water chemistry and their relationship to land use. The results show significant spatial variability in pH, major ions, total dissolved solids (TDS), and Sr isotopic compositions throughout the basin. Correlation analysis indicates that nitrogen content is significantly related to forest coverage. Nitrogen and potassium generally have higher values in the rainy season, and the percentage of agricultural land controlled NO3-levels, which originate from anthropogenic sources. Forest cover, which varies between 35% and 71%, has no statistically significant impact on river solute concentrations, but the TDS flux is low in sub-watersheds with greater forest cover. Geological sources have a significant influence on pH and Sr isotopic compositions in river water throughout the basin.Editor D. KoutsoyiannisCitation Han, G., Li, F., and Tan, Q., 2014. Effects of land use on water chemistry in a river draining karst terrain, southwest China. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (5), 1063–1073. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Train-induced vibrations critically influence permafrost subgrade deformation. This study used ABAQUS secondary development to establish a finite element model of vibration-induced settlement for permafrost subgrades in the Qinghai-Tibet Railway (QTR) based on a cumulative plastic strain model. A numerical simulation method for cumulative vibration-induced settlement prediction considering seasonality, vibration frequency, train types, and global warming was proposed. The scientificity of the simulation was verified by monitoring data. Then, the influences of embankment height, ice-rich permafrost thickness, and initial mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) of the site on cumulative vibration-induced settlement and permanent deformation accumulation in permafrost subgrades were analysed. The study further quantitatively evaluated cumulative dynamic and static deformation in the DK1136 section under various global warming conditions. The results indicate that cumulative vibration-induced settlement primarily occurs near the ice-rich permafrost layer and is significantly influenced by ground temperature. Permanent deformation accumulation increases with increasing embankment height, ice-rich permafrost thickness and initial MAGT of the site. Permanent deformation accumulation primarily results from thaw consolidation of the permafrost layer, with vibration-induced settlement contributing approximately 20 %. For permafrost regions, an optimal railway embankment height of 3–3.5 m and effective mitigation of settlement issues involve lowering the ground temperature and the embankment weight. These findings provide essential insights for subgrade challenges in permafrost regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Average start of the photosynthetic period in China was on the 123rd day of the year. • The average start of the photosynthetic period advances at a rate of 4.3 d (10 a)−1. • 64% of the region is temperature controlled, others are precipitation controlled. • Importance of temperature and precipitation determined by pre-season precipitation. • Climate change increases NPP by advancing the start of the photosynthetic period. In the context of global warming, the advancement of spring phenology in northern and temperate regions due to increased temperatures has been widely reported. Early and delayed start of the photosynthetic period (SOP) directly affects the vegetation net primary productivity (NPP). However, the interrelationship between climate change, the SOP, and the NPP is unclear. In this paper, we use the dynamics of decadal daily solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence data to calculate the response of Chinese vegetation photosynthetic phenology to climate change and its impact on the NPP over the last 20 years. The results found that over the last 20 years, the average SOP in China was on the 123rd day of the year, and the SOP has advanced at an average rate of 4.3 d (10 a)−1, with a faster trend of SOP advancement in highland and high-altitude areas. 64% of SOP in China is controlled by temperature; 36% of the SOP in China is controlled by precipitation, and the relative importance of temperature and precipitation was reversed as the precipitation gradient decreased, with SOP dominated by temperature when pre-season precipitation ≧300 mm, and SOP dominated by precipitation when pre-season precipitation ≦300 mm. Finally, we find that climate change indirectly increases vegetation NPP by advancing SOP. Our study emphasizes the importance of precipitation on phenology. It provides a scientific basis for understanding and predicting the response of spring photosynthetic phenology to climate change and the contribution of spring phenology to carbon estimation in terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We have previously identified and validated a panel of molecular prognostic markers (ATP13A3, SSR3, and ANO1) for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the consequence of ATP13A3 dysregulation on signaling pathways, to aid in formulating a therapeutic strategy targeting ATP13A3-overexpressing HNSCC.Materials and Methods: Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed on HNSCC microarray expression data (Internal local dataset [n = 92], TCGA [n = 232], EMBL [n = 81]) to identify pathways associated with high expression of ATP13A3. Validation was performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue microarrays (TMAs) of head and neck cancers (n = 333), staining for ATP13A3 and phosphorylated Aurora kinase A (phospho-T288). Short interfering RNA was used to knockdown ATP13A3 expression in patient derived HNSCC cell lines. Protein expression of ATP13A3 and Aurora kinase A was then assessed by immunoblotting.Results: GSEA identified Aurora kinase pathway to be associated with high expression of ATP13A3 (p = 0.026). The Aurora kinase pathway was also associated with a trend towards poor prognosis and tumor aggressiveness (p = 0.086, 0.094, respectively). Furthermore, the immunohistochemical staining results revealed a significant association between Aurora kinase activity and high ATP13A3 expression (p < 0.001). Knockdown of ATP13A3 in human head and neck cell lines showed decrease in Aurora kinase A levels.Conclusion: Tumors with high ATP13A3 are associated with high Aurora kinase activity. This suggests a potential therapeutic role of Aurora kinase inhibitors in a subset of poor prognosis HNSCC patients with overexpression of ATP13A3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish an evaluation method for the ecological benefits of rocky desertification control in karst areas, data reference was provided for the benefits of the national comprehensive control project of rocky desertification. This article analyzed the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of soil conservation, water yield, and net primary productivity (NPP) of southwestern China using GIS spatial analysis technology and INVEST Model, the trade-offs and synergistic relationship between ecosystem services and its influencing factors were discussed. The results showed that: (1) During the 15 years, the average value of ecosystem services showed an increasing trend. NPP, water yield, and soil conservation were increased by 43.04 gC/m2, 4.37 mm, and 15.4 t·ha−1, respectively. (2) There was a synergistic relationship between NPP and soil conservation. Increased NPP could improve soil erosion, while water yield exhibited trade-off relationship with NPP and soil conservation. (3) Over the past 15 years, the average comprehensive score of the ecological condition in the study area has increased from 0.30 to 0.31, meanwhile the ecological situation of the study area is gradually improved. (4) Through the analysis of hotspots, we found that more than half of the regions had no hotspots for ecosystem services, meanwhile this region was mainly karst area. Through this study, the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services were understood. The ecological benefits of rocky desertification control were evaluated based on the background of ecosystem services, which also provided a reference for the subsequent research on rocky desertification control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis is the primary cause of high mortality in patients with osteosarcoma (OS). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of metastatic disease are yet to be determined. Differentially expressed in FDCP 6 homolog (DEF6) has been demonstrated to be correlated with the metastatic behavior of several cancers, such as breast, ovarian and colorectal cancers. However, the role of DEF6 in OS remains unknown. Accordingly, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between DEF6 expression and the malignant behavior of OS. The results revealed that high levels of DEF6 in OS tissues were associated with advanced clinical stage and metastases. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry results predicted a poor prognosis in 58 human OS specimens. Additionally, DEF6 expression was reported to be upregulated in human OS cell lines compared with a normal osteoblast cell line. small interfering RNA transfection, cell proliferation and colony formation assays, wound healing assays and Transwell assays were performed. DEF6 was not identified to be a major driver of OS cell proliferation, but it significantly contributed to metastatic potential in vitro. In addition, bioinformatics, western blotting and immunohistochemistry results indicated that MMP9 expression was positively correlated with DEF6 expression in human OS. To summarize, the results revealed that increased levels of DEF6 were associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in human OS and that DEF6 expression is positively correlated with MMP9 expression. The results indicated that DEF6 may serve as a potential antimetastatic target for OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid and accurate grasp of changes in residences is crucial for urban planning and urbanisation. However, the traditional methods for extracting residences exists several problems, which lead to inaccurate extraction results. In this study, the Landsat image is used to establish a new method for extracting the residences quickly and accurately. The specific steps are as follows: (1) We calculate surface albedo to exclude the interference of waters and shadows; (2) Using single-band threshold method, we eliminate the interference of shadows; (3) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index is calculated to exclude the effects of vegetation; (4) Roads are removed by calculating the shape index. Verification shows that the accuracy of this extraction method is 92.81%, which is more accurate than the traditional methods and solves the problems existed in the traditional methods. This novel method is a new reference for other land cover research on the technical aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CUE in karst areas is higher than in non-karst areas, and the WUE is slightly lower than in non-karst areas. • The CUE exhibited an increasing trend, and grassland (7.2 × 10−3 yr−1) increase was the most obvious. • The WUE exhibited a downward trend, shrub land (−8.4 × 10−3 g C kg−1 H 2 O yr−1) decreased most significantly. • Precipitation contributed 57.21% of the increase of CUE and 33.1% of the decrease in the WUE. It is crucial to determine the factors affecting the carbon use efficiency (CUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) of vegetation in ecosystems. However, the relationships between climate changes and CUE and WUE by karst vegetation in China are still unclear. The response of the CUE and WUE to regional climate change was studied by using trend analysis and partial derivative method. In addition, the distribution characteristics of the CUE and WUE of different land use types were analyzed. The following results were found. (1). From 2000 to 2018, the average of CUE in karst areas of China was 0.557, and the average value of WUE was 1.237g C kg−1 H 2 O. (2) The CUE of grassland was higher than that of forest land (0.051), whereas the WUE value of grassland was far lower than that of forest land (1.415 g C kg−1 H 2 O). (3) CUE was affected by precipitation (P), exhibiting an increasing trend (5.5 × 10−3 yr−1), and the most obvious increase occurred in the grassland (7.2 × 10−3 yr−1). Under the influence of solar radiation (SR), the WUE decreased (−1.5 × 10−3 g C kg−1 H 2 O yr−1), and the largest decrease occurred in the shrub land (−8.4 × 10−3 g C kg−1 H 2 O yr−1). (4) 90.31 % CUE increase depended on P and SR, while 78.32 % of the decrease in the WUE was due to P and SR. This study makes important contributions to clarifying the responses of the CUE and WUE of ecosystems to climate changes in karst areas, optimizing the management of regional water and soil resources, and promoting healthy development of the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical weathering of silicate rocks can yield bicarbonate which is transported via rivers to the ocean, followed by the deposition of carbonate, acting as a carbon sink on long time scales. The dissolution of carbonate minerals and the participation of exogenous acids (e.g., sulfuric acid and nitric acid) also affect the chemical weathering process. However, their effects have rarely been quantified at the global scale. Here, based on a compilation of time series datasets of hydro-chemistry samples from 3573 monitoring sites and high-resolution hydro-meteorological datasets, we quantified the effects of carbonate minerals and exogenous acids on the carbon fluxes from the chemical weathering of granite and basalt. The calculated true carbon fluxes of the chemical weathering of granite and basalt were approximately 28.72 Tg C/yr and 30.42 Tg C/yr on the global grid scale. Although the effects of exogenous acids to the true carbon fluxes of the chemical weathering from granite and basalt were similar, corresponding to 30% and 28% of the estimated cation fluxes, respectively, the effect of carbonate minerals on the chemical weathering of granite was approximately twice the effect on the chemical weathering of basalt. These discrepancies were caused by the differences in the chemical weathering characteristics and the laws that integrated the different effects of basalt and granite. Our results address the roles of carbonate minerals and exogenous acids in the global carbon cycle and their link to CO 2 consumption via the chemical weathering of silicate rocks. • Quantifying the effects of carbonate minerals and exogenous acids. • Reassessing magnitude and changes of the weathering carbon sink of granite and basalt. • Carbon fluxes of the chemical weathering of basalt were about twice that of granite. • Carbonate minerals have a more prominent effect on the chemical weathering of granite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calotropin (M11), an active compound isolated from Asclepias curasavica L., was found to exert strong inhibitory and pro-apoptotic activity specifically against cisplatin-induced resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells (A549/CDDP). Molecular mechanism study revealed that M11 induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase through down-regulating cyclins, CDK1, CDK2 and up-regulating p53 and p21. Furthermore, M11 accelerated apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway which was accompanied by increase Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in reactive oxygen species production, activations of caspases 3 and 9 as well as cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). The activation and phosphorylation of JNK was also found to be involved in M11-induced apoptosis, and SP610025 (specific JNK inhibitor) partially prevented apoptosis induced by M11. In contrast, all of the effects that M11 induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549/CDDP cells were not significant in A549 cells. Drugs with higher sensitivity against resistant tumor cells than the parent cells are rather rare. Results of this study supported the potential application of M11 on the non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) with cisplatin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate change situation partly depends on the climate change policies of countries around the world, including China. Therefore, it is necessary to reasonably reduce carbon emissions (CEs) and increase carbon sink in order to progressively achieve the carbon neutral (CN) goal. However, the capacity and the potential to achieve carbon neutral with the support of its ecosystem, that is to say the carbon neutral capacity (CNC) and potential, are still unclear. To this end, based on China's energy emissions data, meteorological and hydrological data, lithology data, and vegetation data, we used the GEM-CO 2 model, soil respiration model, spatial autocorrelation analysis method and other methods to establish the spatial information map of China city-scale CNC from 1997 to 2017. Furthermore, based on the future climate, vegetation data, CEs data and their influencing factors in 2025–2060, the Back Propagation neural network model was used to predict the CN potential of China's provinces. This study found during the study period, annual CEs of 5.63 Pg CO 2 were not absorbed, which is about 90% of the average annual CEs. And the carbon surplus regions were mainly concentrated in the less developed northeastern and southwestern border regions. Moreover, the change in the CNC in China from 1997 to 2017 was −13.37 Tg/yr, indicating that the CNC of China's terrestrial ecosystems overall reduced. It should be noted that most provinces are not highly polarized, that is, there is no significant differences in CNC between cities in the provinces. Moreover, the scenario simulation's method of IPCC provides a reference for this manuscript, so we set up two future scenarios (A2 and B1 scenarios). In the future, China is expected to achieve a carbon emission peak before 2030 under the B1 scenario while it will continue to grow under the A2 scenario. From 2017 to 2060, the CNC under the two scenarios (A2/B1) will decrease by 44.58% and increase by 15.54%. It follows then that the road to CN in China will be difficult without corresponding policy intervention. In short, this study has clarified China's CNC from the past to the future, as well as CNC's spatial distribution and changing trends. This provided theoretical and data support for China to introduce corresponding zero-carbon solutions based on its understanding of CNC. • The spatial information map of China city-scale carbon neutral capacity (CNC) was established. • Annual CEs of 5.63 Pg CO 2 were not absorbed, which is about 90% of the average annual CEs. • The carbon surplus regions were mainly concentrated in the less developed border regions. • From 2017 to 2060, the CNC under the two scenarios (A2/B1) will decrease by 44.58% and increase by 15.54%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dormancy mechanisms in seeds and buds arrest growth until environmental conditions are optimal for development. A genotype-specific period of chilling is usually required to release dormancy, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. To discover transcriptional pathways associated with dormancy release common to seed stratification and bud endodormancy, we explored the chilling-dependent expression of 11 genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response signal pathways. We propose that endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response impact on seed as well as bud germination and development by chilling-dependent mechanisms. The emerging discovery of similarities between seed stratification and bud endodormancy status indicate that these two processes are probably regulated by common endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response signalling pathways. Clarification of regulatory pathways common to both seed and bud dormancy may enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying dormancy and breeding programs may benefit from earlier prediction of chilling requirements for uniform blooming of novel genotypes of deciduous fruit tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A transition metal-free method for the direct amination of benzoxazoles using formamides as nitrogen sources is reported, which was mediated by an inexpensive and environmentally friendly tetrabutylammonium iodide/tert-butyl hydroperoxide system and gave the 2-aminobenzoxazole derivatives with moderate to good yields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Strontium isotope ratios and concentrations of Ca2+, NH4 +, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, NO3 − and Al3+, Sr2+ were measured for 52 rainwater samples collected in virgin forest in a rural region between May 2007 and Dec. 2008. The rainwater pH values vary from 4.1 to 7.2 with a volume weight mean (VWM) value of 5.40. 40 of 52 samples have pH value above 5.0, indicating that the regional rainwater was not acidic. Among anions and cations, sulphate concentration (40.4 μeq l−1, VWM) is the highest in the rainwater, followed by ammonium and calcium (30.2 and 20.8 μeq l−1, VWM). Rainwater quality is characterized by low salinity and neutralized pH. The chemical compositions and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the rainwater samples vary considerably. Using Na+ concentration as an indicator of marine origin, the proportions of sea salt and crustal elements were estimated from elemental ratios. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios were used to characterize different sources base on the data sets of this study and those from literatures. Such sources include weathering of limestone (87Sr/86Sr = 0.7075), remote soil dust (87Sr/86Sr > 0.7135) and anthropogenic source (fertilizers: 87Sr/86Sr = 0.7079). The results of the present study suggest that one likely source for high ammonium and calcium concentration is local soil. Due to a large contribution of these cations to the sulphate neutralization action, the rainwater in this region displays non-acidity, and thus has not significant environmental impact. The wet precipitation in the karst virgin forest in Guizhou province is strongly influenced by natural sources rather than anthropogenic sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis often develop complications which prevent them from receiving adequate oral intake. This can contribute to malnutrition, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. In such patients, total parenteral nutrition, which involves the intravenous administration of nutrients thereby bypassing the oral route, can be lifesaving. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing literature to evaluate the effect of total parenteral nutrition on the survival of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. In light of the limited treatment options available, total parenteral nutrition may improve survival outcomes, but further studies are needed to conclude definitively. Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is often associated with malnutrition and an inability to tolerate enteral feeding. Although total parenteral nutrition (TPN) can be lifesaving for patients with no other means of nutritional support, its use in the management of PC patients remains controversial. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the benefit of TPN on the overall survival of PC patients, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 187 articles were screened; 10 were included in this review and eight were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled median overall survival of patients who received TPN was significantly higher than patients who did not receive TPN (p = 0.040). When only high-quality studies were included, a significant survival advantage was observed in PC patients receiving TPN (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of patients receiving chemotherapy demonstrated a significant survival benefit (p = 0.008) associated with the use of TPN. In conclusion, TPN may improve survival outcomes in PC patients. However, further studies are needed to conclude more definitively on the effect of TPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-rich area of the Yellow River basin are the major energy producers in China, the energy eco-efficiency (ecological efficiency) of this area has a direct impact on the implementation of ecological protection and high-quality development strategies in the Yellow River Basin due to its huge energy consumption. In this paper, the Stochastic Frontier Model (SFA) was used to estimate the energy ecological efficiency of the study area from 2002 to 2016, the spatial differences in energy eco-efficiency were explored with the use of Spatial Auto-regressive Model (SAR), the Spatial Dubin Model (SDM) is used to analyze the influencing factors. The results show that the average value of each region in 2002 and 2016 is 0.799 and 0.698 respectively; the energy eco-efficiency showing significant spatial aggregation, with the lowest in western regions such as Wuzhong and Zhongwei, and the highest in central regions such as Ordos and Yulin; the spatial pattern of energy eco-efficiency is affected by many factors, such as the proportion of fixed assets investment in gross regional product, industrial added value in gross regional product, and the foreign investment. As a result, the formulation of regional development strategies shall focus on optimization of industrial structure and improvement of regional technical level, which shall also be supported by the establishment of cross-regional coordination organizations, the best play of advantages of all regions, and the improvement of industrial competitiveness, so as to realize the evolution and improvement of the overall energy eco-efficiency in the region. • Calculate and analyze the energy ecological efficiency by SFA and SDM models. • The overall efficiency in the study area is low, presenting a downward trend. • The evolution principle of efficiency is similar in time but difference in space. • R&D, industrial structure and other factors are related to efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. We aim to generate and validate a biomarker set predicting sensitivity to Mitomycin-C to refine selection of patients with colorectal peritoneal metastasis (CPM) for this treatment. A signature predicting Mitomycin-C sensitivity was generated using data from Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Validation was performed on CPM patients who underwent CRS-HIPEC (n = 62) using immunohistochemistry (IHC). We determined predictive significance of our set using overall survival as a surrogate endpoint via a logistic regression model. Three potential biomarkers were identified and optimized for IHC. Patients exhibiting lower expression of PAXIP1 and SSBP2 had poorer survival than those with higher expression (p = 0.045 and 0.140, respectively). No difference was observed in patients with differing DTYMK expression (p = 0.715). Combining PAXIP1 and SSBP2 in a set, patients with two dysregulated protein markers had significantly poorer survival than one or no dysregulated marker (p = 0.016). This set independently predicted survival in a Cox regression model (HR 5.097; 95% CI 1.731–15.007; p = 0.003). We generated and validated an IHC prognostic set which could potentially identify patients who are likely to benefit from HIPEC using Mitomycin-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the last two or three decades, the pace of development of treatments for osteosarcoma tends has been slow. Novel effective therapies for osteosarcoma are still lacking. Previously, we reported that tumor-suppressing STF cDNA 3 (TSSC3) functions as an imprinted tumor suppressor gene in osteosarcoma; however, the underlying mechanism by which TSSC3 suppresses the tumorigenesis and metastasis remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the dynamic expression patterns of TSSC3 and autophagy-related proteins (autophagy related 5 (ATG5) and P62) in 33 human benign bone tumors and 58 osteosarcoma tissues using immunohistochemistry. We further investigated the correlations between TSSC3 and autophagy in osteosarcoma using western blotting and transmission electronic microscopy. CCK-8, Edu, and clone formation assays; wound healing and Transwell assays; PCR; immunohistochemistry; immunofluorescence; and western blotting were used to investigated the responses in TSSC3-overexpressing osteosarcoma cell lines, and in xenografts and metastasis in vivo models, with or without autophagy deficiency caused by chloroquine or ATG5 silencing. Results: We found that ATG5 expression correlated positively with TSSC3 expression in human osteosarcoma tissues. We demonstrated that TSSC3 was an independent prognostic marker for overall survival in osteosarcoma, and positive ATG5 expression associated with positive TSSC3 expression suggested a favorable prognosis for patients. Then, we showed that TSSC3 overexpression enhanced autophagy via inactivating the Src-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in osteosarcoma. Further results suggested autophagy contributed to TSSC3-induced suppression of tumorigenesis and metastasis in osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo models. Conclusions: Our findings highlighted, for the first time, the importance of autophagy as an underlying mechanism in TSSC3-induced antitumor effects in osteosarcoma. We also revealed that TSSC3-associated positive ATG5 expression might be a potential predictor of favorable prognosis in patients with osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of the reaction conditions to oxadiazole, benzimidazole and imidazole derivatives fails to furnish amidated products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: To evaluate the mass measles vaccination campaign of 2009 in Guangdong Province, China. Methods: Data on the campaign implementation, measles surveillance, and serological surveillance were reviewed and analyzed by statistical methods. Results: Rapid coverage surveys showed that 98.09% of children were vaccinated during the campaign. The coverage of migrant children increased significantly from 67.10% to 97.32% (p <0.01). From May to December 2009, after the campaign, the number of measles cases was reduced by 93.04% compared with the same period of 2008. The antibody positive rate in children aged less than 15 years reached above 95%. More than 1 million migrant children were identified and vaccinated during the campaign. Flyers, notices of information from doctors, and television programs were the best methods to inform parents of the campaign. Awareness of the campaign by residents increased significantly from 91.86% to 97.10% (p <0.01) through the use of social mobilization materials. Conclusions: A massive vaccination campaign approach for controlling measles in a developing region like Guangdong Province with a vast migrant population has proved effective. Comprehensive mobilization, communication with the mass media, and support from government departments were critical to the success of the campaign. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]