Pancreatic cancer mortality trends attributable to high fasting blood sugar over the period 1990–2019 and projections up to 2040

BackgroundPancreatic cancer (PC) is a prevalent malignancy within the digestive system, with diabetes recognized as one of its well-established risk factors.MethodsData on PC mortality attributed to high fasting blood sugar were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019 online database. To assess the temporal trends of PC burden attributable to high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG), estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) for age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) between 1990 and 2019 were determined using a generalized linear model. Furthermore, a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model using the integrated nested Laplacian approximation algorithm was employed to project the disease burden over the next 20 years.ResultsGlobally, the crude death number of PC attributable to HFPG almost tripled (from 13,065.7 in 1990 to 48,358.5 in 2019) from 1990 to 2019, and the ASDR increased from 0.36/100,000 to 0.61/100,000 with an EAPC of 2.04 (95% CI 1.91–2.16). The population aged ≥70 years accounted for nearly 60% of total deaths in 2019 and experienced a more significant increase, with the death number increasing approximately fourfold and the ASDR increasing annually by 2.65%. In regions with different sociodemographic indexes (SDIs), the highest disease burden was observed in the high-SDI region, whereas more pronounced increasing trends in ASDR were observed in the low to middle-SDI, low-SDI, and middle-SDI regions. Additionally, a significantly negative association was found between EAPCs and ASDRs of PC attributable to HFPG from 1990 to 2019. Moreover, the BAPC model predicts that ASDR and age-standardized disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) rate for PC attributed to HFPG was projected to increase obviously for men and women from 2019 to 2040.ConclusionsThe burden of PC attributed to HFPG has increased globally over the past three decades, with the elderly population and high-SDI regions carrying a relatively greater disease burden, but more adverse trends observed in low-SDI areas. Furthermore, the burden is projected to continue increasing over the next 20 years. Hence, more tailored prevention methodologies should be established to mitigate this increasing trend

High-altitude cerebral hypoxia promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of mouse neurons

IntroductionNeuronal cell death is an important factor in the pathogenesis of acute high-altitude cerebral hypoxia; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we tested if high-altitude hypoxia (HAH) causes neuronal death and mitochondrial dysfunction using various in vivo and in vitro approaches.MethodsAcute high-altitude cerebral hypoxia was induced by hypobaric hypoxia chamber in male mice. we explored the mechanisms of neuronal cell death using immunofluorescence, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and flow cytometry. Next, mitochondrial function and morphology were observed using Jc-1 staining, seahorse assay, western blotting, MitoTracker staining, and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, open field test, elevated plus test, and Morris water maze were applied for animal behavior.ResultsResults revealed that HAH disrupted mitochondrial function and promoted neuronal apoptosis and necroptosis both in HT-22 cells and in mouse hippocampal neurons. Moreover, the mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate production decreased in neurons after HAH, while oxidative stress and mitochondrial fission increased. Behavioral studies suggested that HAH induced anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial memory, while it had no effect on athletic ability.DiscussionThese findings demonstrated that HAH promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of mouse neurons, thus providing new insights into the role of mitochondrial function and neuronal cell death in acute high-altitude cerebral hypoxia

High-efficiency 100-W Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator

We demonstrate a Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator and investigate the approach to increase the optical-to-optical efficiency based on the scheme of direct multiple passes of the laser beam through the thin-disk medium. With twelve passes through the thin disk, 266-fs pulses were delivered from the oscillator with an average power of 105.6 W at a repetition rate of 20 MHz. The corresponding optical-to-optical efficiency is 31.1%, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest efficiency of any mode-locked thin-disk oscillator with pulse duration below 300 fs. This demonstration paves the way to even more efficient mode-locked femtosecond thin-disk oscillators, and provides an excellent laser source for the applications such as non-linear frequency conversion and high-precision industrial processing

Screening and identification of the dominant antigens of the African swine fever virus

African swine fever is a highly lethal contagious disease of pigs for which there is no vaccine. Its causative agent African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a highly complex enveloped DNA virus encoding more than 150 open reading frames. The antigenicity of ASFV is still unclear at present. In this study, 35 proteins of ASFV were expressed by Escherichia coli, and ELISA was developed for the detection of antibodies against these proteins. p30, p54, and p22 were presented as the major antigens of ASFV, positively reacting with all five clinical ASFV-positive pig sera, and 10 pig sera experimentally infected by ASFV. Five proteins (pB475L, pC129R, pE199L, pE184L, and pK145R) reacted well with ASFV-positive sera. The p30 induced a rapid and strong antibody immune response during ASFV infection. These results will promote the development of subunit vaccines and serum diagnostic methods against ASFV

Layered sphere-shaped TiO2 capped with gold nanoparticles on structural defects and their catalysis of formaldehyde oxidation

We describe here a one-step method for the synthesis of Au/TiO2 nanosphere materials, which were formed by layered deposition of multiple anatase TiO2 nanosheets. The Au nanoparticles were stabilized by structural defects in each TiO2 nanosheet, including crystal steps and edges, thereby fixing the Au-TiO2 perimeter interface. Reactant transfer occurred along the gaps between these TiO2 nanosheet layers and in contact with catalytically active sites at the Au-TiO2 interface. The doped Au induced the formation of oxygen vacancies in the Au-TiO2 interface. Such vacancies are essential for generating active oxygen species (*O-) on the TiO2 surface and Ti3+ ions in bulk TiO2. These ions can then form Ti3+-O-Ti4+ species, which are known to enhance the catalytic activity of formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation. These studies on structural and oxygen vacancy defects in Au/TiO2 samples provide a theoretical foundation for the catalytic mechanism of HCHO oxidation on oxide-supported Au materials. (C) 2015 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V

Bell House Seniors, Westbrook Junior College, Class of 1957

Twenty of the twenty-one Class of 1957 Bell House seniors have their photos glued to the windows of a paper assembled replica of Bell House in this black and white photograph by the Wendell White Studio, Portland, Maine. This photo was used as an introductory page in The Tower yearbook to those seniors who lived in Bell House. Class of 1957 seniors residing in Bell House included in alphabetical order: Gail Andrews, Ann Frances Baxter, Lois Chick, Marilyn Edith Haynes, Faith Hutchins, Geraldine Johnson, Ruth Phillis Karlin, Dorothy Karris, Janet Kay, Elpiniki Joan Loulakis, Dorcas Bassett Marsaw, Barbara Ann Michaeles, Charlotte Preston Norton, Sheila Marion O\u27Brien, Scott Ormsbee, Lucille B. Plante, Anita Sallus, Marie D. Schultz, Shirley Sewell, Sandra Elaine Tinkham, and Carole Gail Weber.https://dune.une.edu/wchc_photos_students1950s/1001/thumbnail.jp

Large strain with enhanced energy-storage and temperature stable dielectric properties in Bi0.38Na0.38Sr0.24Ti(1-x)(Mn1/3Nb2/3)xO3 ceramics

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. A series of novel Bi0.38Na0.38Sr0.24Ti(1-x)(Mn1/3Nb2/3)xO3 lead-free ceramics (BNST-100xMN) were designed and fabricated. The dielectric, ferroelectric, energy-storage, electrostrain properties, and impedance performance of these materials were systematically investigated. A large strain response under low driving electric field was obtained that benefits from the enhanced relaxor-to-ferroelectric phase transition. The optimum piezoelectric stain coefficient d33* of 930 pm/V (under 40 kV/cm) was achieved in BNST-1MN composition. The substitution by MN dopant gave rise to a homogeneous micro-morphology with small grains that gave rise to an enhanced high breakdown strength (BDS). Slim and slanted ferroelectric hysteresis was obtained by introducing a larger amount of MN, and hence the BNST-2MN ceramic exhibits a high energy-storage density of 1.30 J/cm3 at 110 kV/cm, accompanied with an excellent fatigue-free behavior. The dielectric response exhibited a stable high temperature dielectric property with low dielectric loss. These results indicate that BNST-100xMN ceramics are promising candidates for the actuator and energy storage applications