The Modulatory Properties of Astragalus membranaceus Treatment on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Integrated Pharmacological Method.

Background: Studies have shown that the natural products of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) can effectively interfere with a variety of cancers, but their mechanism of action on breast cancer remains unclear. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a severely poor prognosis due to its invasive phenotype and lack of biomarker-driven-targeted therapies. In this study, the potential mechanism of the target composition acting on TNBC was explored by integrated pharmacological models and in vitro experiments. Materials and Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the relational database of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), the drug and target components were initially screened to construct a common network module, and multiattribute analysis was then used to characterize the network and obtain key drug-target information. Furthermore, network topology analysis was used to characterize the betweenness and closeness of key hubs in the network. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the affinity between compounds and targets and obtain accurate combination models. Finally, in vitro experiments verified the key component targets. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, invasion assay, and flow cytometric analysis were used to assess cell viability, invasiveness, and apoptosis, respectively, after Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) intervention. We also performed western blot analysis of key proteins to probe the mechanisms of correlated signaling pathways. Results: We constructed "compound-target" (339 nodes and 695 edges) and "compound-disease" (414 nodes and 6458 edges) networks using interaction data. Topology analysis and molecular docking were used as secondary screens to identify key hubs of the network. Finally, the key component APS and biomarkers PIK3CG, AKT, and BCL2 were identified. The in vitro experimental results confirmed that APS can effectively inhibit TNBC cell activity, reduce invasion, promote apoptosis, and then counteract TNBC symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, most likely by inhibiting the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway. Conclusion: This study provides a rational approach to discovering compounds with a polypharmacology-based therapeutic value. Our data established that APS intervenes with TNBC cell invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis via the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway and could thus offer a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC

Development and external validation of dual online tools for prognostic assessment in elderly patients with high-grade glioma: a comprehensive study using SEER and Chinese cohorts

BackgroundElderly individuals diagnosed with high-grade gliomas frequently experience unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to design two web-based instruments for prognosis to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS), assisting clinical decision-making.MethodsWe scrutinized data from the SEER database on 5,245 elderly patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma between 2000-2020, segmenting them into training (3,672) and validation (1,573) subsets. An additional external validation cohort was obtained from our institution. Prognostic determinants were pinpointed using Cox regression analyses, which facilitated the construction of the nomogram. The nomogram’s predictive precision for OS and CSS was gauged using calibration and ROC curves, the C-index, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Based on risk scores, patients were stratified into high or low-risk categories, and survival disparities were explored.ResultsUsing multivariate Cox regression, we identified several prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in elderly patients with high-grade gliomas, including age, tumor location, size, surgical technique, and therapies. Two digital nomograms were formulated anchored on these determinants. For OS, the C-index values in the training, internal, and external validation cohorts were 0.734, 0.729, and 0.701, respectively. We also derived AUC values for 3-, 6-, and 12-month periods. For CSS, the C-index values for the training and validation groups were 0.733 and 0.727, with analogous AUC metrics. The efficacy and clinical relevance of the nomograms were corroborated via ROC curves, calibration plots, and DCA for both cohorts.ConclusionOur investigation pinpointed pivotal risk factors in elderly glioma patients, leading to the development of an instrumental prognostic nomogram for OS and CSS. This instrument offers invaluable insights to optimize treatment strategies

Effect of Welding Current on Weld Formation, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties in Resistance Spot Welding of CR590T/340Y Galvanized Dual Phase Steel

During resistance spot welding, the welding current is the most important process parameter, which determines the welding heat input and then has a great influence on the welding quality. In present study, the CR590T/340YDP galvanized dual phase steel widely used as automobile material was carried out using resistance spot welding. The effect of welding current on the weld formation, microstructure, and mechanical properties was studied in detail. It was found that the quality of weld appearance decreased with the increase of welding current, and there was a Zn island on the weld surface. The microstructure of the whole resistance spot welded joint was inhomogeneity. The nugget zone consisted of coarse lath martensite and a little of ferrite with the columnar crystal morphology, and the microstructure of weld nugget became coarser when the welding current was higher. There was an optimum welding current value and the tensile strength reached the maximum. This investigation will provide the process guidance for automobile body production

Effects of Degree of Superheat on the Running Performance of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Waste Heat Recovery System for Diesel Engines under Various Operating Conditions

This study analyzed the variation law of engine exhaust energy under various operating conditions to improve the thermal efficiency and fuel economy of diesel engines. An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery system with internal heat exchanger (IHE) was designed to recover waste heat from the diesel engine exhaust. The zeotropic mixture R416A was used as the working fluid for the ORC. Three evaluation indexes were presented as follows: waste heat recovery efficiency (WHRE), engine thermal efficiency increasing ratio (ETEIR), and output energy density of working fluid (OEDWF). In terms of various operating conditions of the diesel engine, this study investigated the variation tendencies of the running performances of the ORC waste heat recovery system and the effects of the degree of superheat on the running performance of the ORC waste heat recovery system through theoretical calculations. The research findings showed that the net power output, WHRE, and ETEIR of the ORC waste heat recovery system reach their maxima when the degree of superheat is 40 K, engine speed is 2200 r/min, and engine torque is 1200 N·m. OEDWF gradually increases with the increase in the degree of superheat, which indicates that the required mass flow rate of R416A decreases for a certain net power output, thereby significantly decreasing the risk of environmental pollution

Effects of Degree of Superheat on the Running Performance of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Waste Heat Recovery System for Diesel Engines under Various Operating Conditions

This study analyzed the variation law of engine exhaust energy under various operating conditions to improve the thermal efficiency and fuel economy of diesel engines. An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery system with internal heat exchanger (IHE) was designed to recover waste heat from the diesel engine exhaust. The zeotropic mixture R416A was used as the working fluid for the ORC. Three evaluation indexes were presented as follows: waste heat recovery efficiency (WHRE), engine thermal efficiency increasing ratio (ETEIR), and output energy density of working fluid (OEDWF). In terms of various operating conditions of the diesel engine, this study investigated the variation tendencies of the running performances of the ORC waste heat recovery system and the effects of the degree of superheat on the running performance of the ORC waste heat recovery system through theoretical calculations. The research findings showed that the net power output, WHRE, and ETEIR of the ORC waste heat recovery system reach their maxima when the degree of superheat is 40 K, engine speed is 2200 r/min, and engine torque is 1200 N·m. OEDWF gradually increases with the increase in the degree of superheat, which indicates that the required mass flow rate of R416A decreases for a certain net power output, thereby significantly decreasing the risk of environmental pollution

Experimental Research on Performance Comparison of Compressed Air Engine under Different Operation Modes

An air-powered vehicle is a low-cost method to achieve low-pollution transportation, and compressed air engines (CAE) have become a research hotspot for their compact structure, low consumption, and wide working conditions. In this study, a pneumatic motor (PM) test bench is built and tested under different inlet pressures, operation modes, and three driving cycles. On the basis of the data obtained by sensors, power output, compressed air consumption rate, and efficiency are calculated to evaluate the pneumatic motor performances. The results show that with an increase in rotation speed, the output power and efficiency first increase and then decrease, and the compression air consumption rate decreases. With an increase in torque, the rotation speed decreases, and the power output and efficiency first increase and then decrease. With an increase in mass flow rate, the torque increases, the power output and efficiency first increase and then decrease. The pneumatic motor achieves the best performance under a rotation speed of 800–1200 rpm, where power output, efficiency, and compressed air consumption rates are 1498 W, 13.6%, and 10 J/g, respectively. The pneumatic motor achieves the best power output and efficiency under the UDDS driving cycle

First complete mitochondrial genome of the Alashan ground squirrel (<i>Spermophilus alashanicus</i>) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) from Ningxia, China

The Alashan ground squirrel (Spermophilus alashanicus) is primarily distributed in the regions of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, China. In this study, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of S. alashanicus. The genome spans 16,464 base pairs and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a single control region with a marked AT bias. The overall GC content is 35.4%. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that S. alashanicus clusters are closely associated with S. dauricus. This comprehensive characterization of the S. alashanicus mitochondrial genome serves as a foundational resource for future studies on mitochondrial evolution, species identification, population genomics, and phylogenetics.</p