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Additional file 1. Additional figures, tables and compounds information.

The steel bar connection is an important and inevitable work in civil engineering. The traditional overlapped connection method usually needs to place the transversal rebars in the overlapped splicing area to restrict the splitting cracks in concrete. The steel usage and labor cost are increased. An improved splice, which is the hybrid connection of welding and overlapping, was developed for mid-diameter bars, which is easy to install and has commendable mechanical behavior. A series of reinforcing rebar splice tests with steel-concrete interaction were conducted. The failure model of hybrid connection and the ultimate strength were acquired. Based on the tests, the failure mechanism of hybrid connections was analyzed. The results show that the ultimate load of the new splice is sufficient for the engineering application and the failure model is reasonable. The hybrid connection could be used in the engineering practice.

Aim It is of clinical importance to find methods to overcome bortezomib resistance. In the current study, we clarified the relationship between resistance to bortezomib and the differentiation status of myeloma cells, and explored the feasibility of induction of differentiation in overcoming bortezomib resistance in myeloma. Methods Cell morphology, immunoglobulin light-chain protein secretion levels, and XBP-1 expression were used to evaluate the differentiation status of myeloma cells. Low dose 2-ME2 alone or in combination with ATRA was used to induce differentiation in myeloma cells. Results The differentiation status of myeloma cells was related to myeloma sensitivity to bortezomib. After successful induction of differentiation, the myeloma cells were more sensitive to bortezomib with decreased growth and an increased rate of apoptosis. Induction of differentiation increased the proteasome workload in myeloma cells by increasing immunoglobulin secretion, while reducing proteasome capacity by decreasing proteasome activity. The imbalance between increased proteasome workload and decreased proteasome capacity is a possible mechanism by which induction of differentiation overcomes myeloma resistance to bortezomib. Conclusion The current study demonstrated, for the first time, that myeloma differentiation status is associated with myeloma sensitivity to bortezomib and that induction of differentiation can overcome myeloma resistance to bortezomib.