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The presence of potassium oxide (K2O) and sodium oxide (Na2O) causes high reduction swelling of pellets of Bayan Obo iron concentrate during reduction and thus affects the permeability of blast gases during blast furnace operations. The influencing mechanism of K2O and Na2O on the swelling behavior of reduction reactions (1) Fe2O3 → Fe3O4, (2) Fe3O4 → FexO, and (3) FexO → Fe was researched by adding (K2O + Na2O) to Australian fine ore briquettes. The mineral composition and structure of the briquettes, as well as the reduction swelling after the three reactions coupled with the morphology and lattice parameters of the reduced products, were studied. From the results, the swelling index with 0.6% (K2O + Na2O) added was 8.52%, 7.91%, and 33.81%, respectively, and without were 12.36%, 3.27%, and 12.61%, respectively, for the three reactions. The swelling index of the first reaction (Fe2O3 → Fe3O4) is reduced because alkali metal suppresses crystal cracking. The swelling mainly occurs at the third stage (FexO → Fe), because K2O and Na2O enhance the oriented growth of iron whiskers, as well as make them smaller. Crystal transformation does not occur at the second stage (Fe3O4 → FexO) and the reduction swelling is small, but the swelling index of the briquettes with added with K2O and Na2O increases (7.91% compared to 3.27%). The main reason is that the alkali metal reduces the melting point of the slag phase and promotes the cascade crystallization of FeO. Therefore, the abnormal swelling of briquettes caused by K and Na is mainly caused by the growth of iron whiskers at the third stage.

The objective of this study was to explore the carbohydrate contents of crop milk, insulin and glucose concentrations in serum and the expression patterns of AMP‐activated protein kinases (AMPKs) and genes related to glucose metabolism in pigeon crops during the breeding period. Crop milk was collected from squabs of rearing Day 1 (R1) to R6. Contents of total sugar and reducing sugar increased to the maximum levels at R6 (p < 0.05). Forty‐two pairs of adult pigeons were allotted to seven groups by different breeding stages, and their crops and serum were sampled. No significant differences were found in either insulin or glucose levels in serum. The glucose transporter 2 gene level was the greatest at R15 in females, whereas it was at R7 in males. However, sodium‐dependent glucose transporters 1 expression in both sexes decreased from incubation Day 17 (I17) to R7. In females, glucokinase expression peaked at R1, and at R1 and R7 in males. Pyruvate kinase mRNA levels peaked at R7 in females and at R15 males. The mRNA abundance of fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase 1 in both sexes and glucose‐6‐phosphatase in females decreased after I10. While phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 expression decreased after I17 (p < 0.05). Protein levels of AMPKα in crops were minimized at R1 (p < 0.05). In females, expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 was inhibited at I17 and R1 (p < 0.05). In males, AMPKα1 expression was decreased at R7 (p < 0.05) and AMPKα2 was reduced at I10 and R1. pAMPK expression was the lowest at I17 in females, and it was at R7 and R25 in males. Conclusively, glycolysis in pigeon crops was enhanced during chick‐rearing, while gluconeogenesis was significantly inhibited. The stability of the insulin level suggests that it was probably not involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism in crop tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclosporin A is a calcineurin inhibitor which has a narrow therapeutic window and high interindividual variability. Various population pharmacokinetic models have been reported; however, professional software and technical personnel were needed and the variables of the models were limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a model based on machine learning to predict CsA trough concentrations in Chinese allo-HSCT patients. A total of 7874 cases of CsA therapeutic drug monitoring data from 2069 allo-HSCT patients were retrospectively included. Sequential forward selection was used to select variable subsets, and eight different algorithms were applied to establish the prediction model. XGBoost exhibited the highest prediction ability. Except for the variables that were identified by previous studies, some rarely reported variables were found, such as norethindrone, WBC, PAB, and hCRP. The prediction accuracy within ±30% of the actual trough concentration was above 0.80, and the predictive ability of the models was demonstrated to be effective in external validation. In this study, models based on machine learning technology were established to predict CsA levels 3–4 days in advance during the early inpatient phase after HSCT. A new perspective for CsA clinical application is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited treatment options for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) lead to the urgent need to discover new anticancer drugs. Mannose, an isomer of glucose, has been reported to have an anticancer effect on various tumors. However, the anticancer effect of mannose in PCa remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that mannose inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of PCa cells in vitro, and mannose was observed to have an anticancer effect in mice without harming their health. Accumulation of intracellular mannose simultaneously decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, increased mitochondrial and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in PCa cells. Mannose treatment of PCa cells induced changes in mitochondrial morphology, caused dysregulated expression of the fission protein, such as fission, mitochondrial 1 (FIS1), and enhanced the expression of proapoptotic factors, such as BCL2-associated X (Bax) and BCL2-antagonist/killer 1 (Bak). Furthermore, lower expression of mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI), the key enzyme in mannose metabolism, indicated poorer prognosis in PCa patients, and downregulation of MPI expression in PCa cells enhanced the anticancer effect of mannose. This study reveals the anticancer effect of mannose in PCa and its clinical significance in PCa patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]