The influence of joints and composite floor slabs on effective tying of steel structures in preventing progressive collapse

The event of the terrorist attack at 11th September 2001 in the USA has attracted increasing attention of researchers and engineers on progressive collapse of structures. It has gradually become a general practice for engineers to consider progressive collapse resistance in their design. In this paper, progressive collapse of steel frames with composite floor slabs is simulated by the finite element method. The numerical results are compared with test results. The influence of the joints and the concrete slabs on the effective tying of steel beams is investigated through parametric studies. From the analysis, methods of preventing progressive collapse that can be considered in design and when retrofitting existing structures are proposed. The results show that retrofitting a structure with pre-stressed steel cables and an increase of crack resistance in the concrete near joints can effectively improve effective tying of a structure, which results in an enhanced structural capacity in preventing progressive collapse

An early clinical comparative study on total knee arthroplasty with kinematic alignment using specific instruments versus mechanical alignment in varus knees

BackgroundThe kinematic alignment technique, as one of the alignment options for total knee arthroplasty, has attracted increasing attention from orthopedic surgeons and has been increasingly performed in the most populous countries in the world. The purpose of this study is to explore and compare the early clinical outcomes of total knee arthroplasty with KA using specific instruments vs. mechanical alignment in our nation.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent unilateral total knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity. Depending on the alignment method, patients were divided into a kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty (KA-TKA) group and a mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty (MA-TKA) group. The hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle before and after surgery, the knee joint clinical score (KS-C), the knee joint functional score (KS-F) and the forgotten joint score (FJS) at 3 months and 2 years after surgery were recorded and statistically analyzed.ResultsA total of 126 patients were enrolled, including 65 in the KA-TKA group and 61 in the MA-TKA group. The mean follow-up period was 30.8 months. The postoperative HKA angle was not significantly different at the 2-year follow-up between the two groups (P > 0.05). The KS-C, KS-F and FJS scores in the KA-TKA group were higher than those in the MA-TKA group at 3 months after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). At the 2-year follow-up, the KS-C, KS-F and FJS scores in the KA-TKA group were higher than those in the MA-TKA group, and the difference in the KS-C and FJS scores was statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionPatients who underwent KA-TKA had a postoperative lower limb alignment similar to that of those who underwent MA-TKA. The clinical outcomes of KA-TKA were superior to those of MA-TKA in terms of clinical performance, knee function and subjective sensation up to 2 years after surgery

Cellular immune responses in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance induced by antiviral therapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mechanisms by which chronic hepatitis B is completely resolved through antiviral therapy are unknown, and the contribution of acquired T cell immunity to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance has not been investigated. Therefore, we measured the T-cell responses to core and envelope antigens in patients with HBsAg seroclearance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fourteen subjects with HBsAg seroclearance following antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B, 7 HBeAg-positive immunotolerant HBV carriers and 9 HBeAg-negative inactive HBsAg carriers were recruited. HBV-specific T-cell responses to recombinant HBV core (rHBcAg) and envelope (rHBsAg) proteins and pools of core and envelope peptides were measured using an ELISPOT assay detecting interferon-gamma and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assays detecting interferon-gamma or interleukin 2.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Interferon-gamma ELISPOT assays showed a low frequency of weak responses to the rHBsAg and S peptide pool in the HBsAg seroclearance group, and the response frequency to the rHBcAg and the C peptide pool was higher than to the rHBsAg (<it>P </it>< 0.001) and S peptide pool (<it>P </it>= 0.001) respectively. A higher response frequency to C than S peptide pools was confirmed in the interferon-gamma ICS assays for both CD4+ (<it>P </it>= 0.033) and CD8+ (<it>P </it>= 0.040) T cells in the HBsAg seroclearance group. The responses to C and S antigens in the inactive carriers were similar.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There was a low frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses to envelope antigens in Chinese subjects with HBsAg seroclearance following antiviral therapy. It is unlikely that these immune responses are responsible for HBsAg seroclearance in these subjects.</p

Observation of non-Hermitian antichiral edge currents

Non-Hermitian topological photonics is of great interest in bridging topological matter with gain/dissipation engineering in optics. A key problem in this direction is the interplay between the effective gauge potential and the non-Hermiticity. Here we tackle this problem in a synthetic non-Hermitian Hall ladder and experimentally observe antichiral edge currents (ACECs) of photons, by tuning the locally uniform effective magnetic flux and the on-site gain/loss. Such ACECs provide a topological method to probe the signatures of the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE) from steady-state bulk dynamics. The universality of this method is verified by its generalization to three dimensions. This study paves a way to investigate exotic non-Hermitian topological physics and has potential applications in topological photonics engineering

Standard and elegant higher-order Laguerre-Gaussian correlated Schell-model beams

To date, all of the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) correlated Schell-model beams proposed and studied are restricted to the standard form with the beam mode indices (0, l), termed as a SLG(0l)CSM beam. We propose, for the first time, the elegant and standard higher-order LG correlated Schell-model beams as an extension to a SLG(0l)CSM beam. We develop theoretical formulae to determine the beam mode indices of a vortex beam and describe propagation effects of such beams. We demonstrate that by controlling the beam mode indices, one can produce different intensity distribution patterns during propagation, for example, a dark or solid core surrounded by bright concentric rings. Moreover, using our proposed beams, we illustrate how single-layer and multi-layer adjustable optical cages can be formed near the back of the focal zone of a lens. As anticipated, the proposed beams may find important applications in particle trapping, optical manipulation and optical communications.Web of Science218art. no. 08560

Long noncoding RNA HEGBC promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of gallbladder cancer via forming a positive feedback loop with IL-11/STAT3 signaling pathway

Abstract Background Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of GBC. However, the expressions, clinical significances, and roles of most other lncRNAs in GBC are still unknown. Methods The differentially expressed lncRNAs in GBC were screened through re-analyzing the public available microarray datasets. The expression of lncRNA high expressed in gallbladder cancer (lncRNA-HEGBC) in GBC was measured by qRT-PCR. The correlations between HEGBC with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were analyzed by Pearson chi-square test and log-rank test. A series of in vitro and in vivo, gain-of and loss-of function assays were performed to investigate the roles of HEGBC in GBC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, tumor growth and metastasis. The interactions between HEGBC and IL-11/STAT3 signaling were explored using chromatin isolation by RNA purification (ChIRP), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qRT-PCR, western blot, and luciferase reporter assays. Results We identified a novel lncRNA HEGBC, which is upregulated in GBC and positively associated with advanced TNM stages and poor prognosis of GBC patients. Overexpression of HEGBC increased GBC cell viability, inhibited GBC cell apoptosis, promoted GBC cell migration, and promoted GBC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, depletion of HEGBC decreased GBC cell viability, promoted GBC cell apoptosis, inhibited GBC cell migration, and inhibited GBC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistic investigations showed that HEGBC bound to the promoter of IL-11, increased IL-11 transcription, induced IL-11 autocrine, and activated IL-11/STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, STAT3 also bound to the promoter of HEGBC and activated HEGBC expression. Thus, HEGBC/IL-11/STAT3 formed a positive regulatory loop in GBC. Depletion of IL-11 attenuated the oncogenic roles of HEGBC in GBC. Conclusions Our findings identified a novel lncRNA HEGBC, which is upregulated and indicts poor prognosis of GBC. HEGBC exerts oncogenic roles in GBC via forming a positive regulatory loop with IL-11/STAT3 signaling. Our data suggested that HEGBC could be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GBC

Novel cancer-fighting role of ticagrelor inhibits GTSE1-induced EMT by regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway in malignant glioma

Background: Glioma is the most common malignant brain tumor of the central nervous system. Despite of the improvement of therapeutic strategy, the prognosis of malignant glioma patients underwent by STUPP strategy is still unexpected. Previous studies have suggested that ticagrelor exerted chemotherapeutic effects by inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various diseases including tumors. However, whether ticagrelor can exhibit the antitumor efficiency in glioma by affecting the EMT process is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the cancer-fighting role of ticagrelor and demonstrated its chemotherapeutic mechanism in glioma. Materials and methods: The MTT assay was performed to detect the cytotoxicity of ticagrelor in glioma cells. We evaluated the expression of Ki67 in glioma cells by immunofluorescence assay after ticagrelor treatment. We conducted wound healing assay and transwell assay to determine the effects of ticagrelor on the migration and invasion of glioma cells. RNA-seq analysis was conducted to examine potential target genes and alternative signaling pathways for ticagrelor treatment. The expression levels of key EMT -related proteins were examined by Western blot experiment. Results: Ticagrelor inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells with a favorable toxicity profile in vitro. Ticagrelor downregulated the expression of GTSE1 in glioma cells. RNA-seq analysis explored that GTSE1 acted as the potential target gene for ticagrelor treatment. Upregulation of GTSE1 antagonized the inhibitory effect of ticagrelor on the invasion of glioma and EMT progression by regulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. And ticagrelor also exhibited the similar chemotherapeutic effect of glioma in vivo. Conclusions: Ticagrelor as a potential chemotherapeutic option induced the inhibition of the GTSE1-induced EMT progression by regulation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway

Experimental Application of Cement-Stabilized Pavement Base with Low-Grade Metamorphic Rock Aggregates

Low-grade metamorphic rock (LMR) is a kind of stone that is widely distributed in China. The alkali activity strictly prevents its application in conventional concrete. This paper evaluates the possibility of using LMR aggregate in cement-stabilized pavement base (CSPB). The compressive strength of CSPB prepared with LMR and limestone aggregates at various curing conditions was measured. Expansion rates were determined via accelerated simulation tests to assess the alkali reactivity of LMR, followed by microscopic analysis. Finally, the possibility of using LMR in CSPB was evaluated from the economic viewpoint. Results indicate that CSPB specimens prepared with LMR have similar compressive strength at each content of cement, regardless of curing conditions. The expansion rates of all CSPB specimens with LMR were lower than 0.1%, indicating the absence of an AAR, which was further validated by the absence of the AAR product in microscopic observations. It is inferred from the economic analysis that 70.9% lower cost can be achieved by the replacement of limestone aggregate with LMR aggregate. This demonstrates that technical, economic and environmental benefits endow LMR with wide market potential as the aggregate of CSPB

Experimental Application of Cement-Stabilized Pavement Base with Low-Grade Metamorphic Rock Aggregates

Low-grade metamorphic rock (LMR) is a kind of stone that is widely distributed in China. The alkali activity strictly prevents its application in conventional concrete. This paper evaluates the possibility of using LMR aggregate in cement-stabilized pavement base (CSPB). The compressive strength of CSPB prepared with LMR and limestone aggregates at various curing conditions was measured. Expansion rates were determined via accelerated simulation tests to assess the alkali reactivity of LMR, followed by microscopic analysis. Finally, the possibility of using LMR in CSPB was evaluated from the economic viewpoint. Results indicate that CSPB specimens prepared with LMR have similar compressive strength at each content of cement, regardless of curing conditions. The expansion rates of all CSPB specimens with LMR were lower than 0.1%, indicating the absence of an AAR, which was further validated by the absence of the AAR product in microscopic observations. It is inferred from the economic analysis that 70.9% lower cost can be achieved by the replacement of limestone aggregate with LMR aggregate. This demonstrates that technical, economic and environmental benefits endow LMR with wide market potential as the aggregate of CSPB

Additional file 2: of Long noncoding RNA HEGBC promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of gallbladder cancer via forming a positive feedback loop with IL-11/STAT3 signaling pathway

Figure S1. The full-length sequence of HEGBC. Representative image of PCR products from 5’-RACE and 3’-RACE assays are shown. Figure S2. RIP assay in NOZ cells was performed using RPLP0 specific antibody or negative control IgG. The bound RNA was detected using qRT-PCR with specific primers against HEGBC. Results are shown as mean ± s.d. of 3 independent experiments. ns, not significant by Student’s t test. (DOCX 15 kb