Prognostic Values of Long Noncoding RNA GAS5 in Various Carcinomas: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) is a long noncoding RNA with low expression in multiple cancers. This meta-analysis aims to explore the association between GAS5 expression levels and cancer patients' prognosis. We collected all the relevant literatures about GAS5 expression levels associated with overall survival (OS), lymph node metastasis (LNM) and high tumor stage (II/III/IV) (HTS) from the PubMed and Web of Science. The hazard ratio (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the link strength between GAS5 and cancer prognosis. A total of 934 patients from 14 studies were included to the present meta-analysis, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results demonstrated that low expression of GAS5 could predict poor OS in cancer patients (HR = 1.955, 95% CI: 1.551–2.465, P < 0.001). Meanwhile we also analyzed the following cancers independently: hepatocellular carcinoma (HR = 1.893, 95% CI: 1.103–3.249, P = 0.021) and urothelial carcinoma (HR = 1.653, 95% CI: 1.185–2.306, P = 0.003). Compared to the high GAS5 expression group, additionally, patients with low GAS5 expression in tumor tissues were more prone to lymph node metastasis (OR = 0.234, 95%CI: 0.153–0.358, P < 0.001) and high tumor stage (OR = 0.185, 95% CI:0.102–0.333, P < 0.001). In conclusion, this meta-analysis showed that GAS5 might be served as a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis in various types of cancers

Online dynamic cardiac imaging based on the elastic-net model

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to develop an online dynamic cardiac MRI model to reconstruct image frames from partial acquisition of the Cartesian k-space data, which utilizes structural knowledge of consecutive image frames. Materials and methods: Using an elastic-net model, the proposed algorithm reconstructs dynamic images using both L and L norm operations. The L norm enforces the sparsity of the frame difference, while the L norm with motion-adaptive weights catches the internal structure of frame differences. Unlike other online methods such as the Kalman filter (KF) technique, the new model requires no assumption of Gaussian noise, and can faithfully reconstruct the dynamic images within a compressive sensing framework. Results: The proposed method was evaluated using simulated dynamic phantoms with 40 frames of images (128 × 128) and a cardiac MRI cine of 25 frames (256 × 256). Both results showed that the new model offered a better performance than the online KF method in depicting simulated phantom and cardiac dynamics. Conclusion: It is concluded that the proposed imaging model can be used to capture a large variety of objects in motion from highly under-sampled k-space data, and being particularly useful for improving temporal resolution of cardiac MRI

Design of a Distributed Food Traceability Platform and Its Application in Food Traceability at Guangdong Province

Food traceability is an important measure to secure food safety. This paper designed a food traceability platform based on distribution framework and implemented it in Guangdong province. The platform can provide traceability service, production and management service for food enterprise, provide forward and backward traceability of the whole cycle of food production and circulation, and provide various methods of food traceability for public. One characteristic of the platform is that it opens up the data flow among production, circulation and supervising departments, and builds a unified commodity circulation data pool. Based on the flow data pool, not only the production and circulation information of the food product can be traced, but also its inspection and quarantine information. Another characteristic of the platform is that its database and data interface were developed based on the fool electronic traceability standards formulated by the National Food and Drug Administration. Its interface standardization and compatibility with other food traceability platforms can thus be guaranteed. The platform is running at Guangdong province for key supervising products of Infant formula foods (including milk powder, rice flour, farina, etc), editable oil and liquor. The public can use the Guangdong food traceability portal, mobile APP, Wechat or the self-service terminals in the supermarkets to trace food products by scanning or input its traceability code or its product code and verify its authenticity. It will help to promote consumer confidence in food safety

Numerical Simulation of 50 mm 316L Steel Joint of EBW and Its Experimental Validation

The 316L thick plate electron beam welding (EBW) has been widely used in fusion test reactor manufacturing. Therefore, the numerical simulation of the 50 mm 316L austenitic stainless steel by two heat sources and experimental on microstructure and residual stress have been studied in this article. In the simulation study, the traditional heat source model (3D Gaussian heat source) and composite heat source (double ellipsoid heat source superimposed on the 3D Gaussian heat source) were proposed to simulate the welding of local joint. Weld cross-section, temperature curve, and residual stress after welding obtained by simulations were investigated. The experimental study involved residual stress tests and microstructure analysis. It turned out that the result of the composite heat source was closer to the actual joint. The residual stress distribution of simulation was validated and in accordance with experimental measurement. Moreover, the microstructures were studied by electro backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and compared with the temperature curve. The formation mechanism of microstructural heterogeneity was caused mainly by different thermal cycles at different positions of the thick plate. The top of the joint was more prone to stress concentration

Influence of M-EMS on Fluid Flow and Initial Solidification in Slab Continuous Casting

A mathematical model coupled with electromagnetic field has been developed to simulate the transient turbulence flow and initial solidification in a slab continuous casting mold under different electromagnetic stirring (EMS) currents and casting speeds. Through comparing the magnetic flux density, flow field with measured results, the reliability of the mathematical model is proved. The uniform index of solidified shell thickness has been introduced to judge the uniformity of the solidified shell. The results show that a horizonal recirculation flow has been generated when EMS is applied, and either accelerated or decelerated regions of flow field are formed in the liquid pool. Large EMS current and low casting speed may cause the plug flow near the mold narrow face and a suitable EMS current can benefit to the uniform growth of solidified shell. Meanwhile, an industrial test exhibits that EMS can weaken the level fluctuation and number density of inclusion. Overall, a rational EMS current range is gained, when the casting speed is 1.2 m/min, the rational EMS current is 500–600 A

Novel Blood Indicators of Progression and Prognosis in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Red Cell Distribution Width-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Albumin-to-Fibrinogen Ratio

Objective. To evaluate the value of preoperative red cell distribution width-to-lymphocyte ratio (RLR) and albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) to the prognosis of patients after renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods. From 2012 to 2016, a total of 273 RCC patients underwent radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy. This study retrospectively analyzed this group of patients. X-tile software was used to determine the optimal values of RLR and AFR in the peripheral blood. The nomogram constructed with independent factors was used to predict the survival outcome of the patients after RCC. Results. The RLR of the RCC group was higher than that of the normal control group (P=0.002), whereas the AFR of the RCC group was lower than that of the normal control group (P<0.001). RLR and AFR are related to tumour type and tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P<0.05 for all). Cox regression analysis showed that the independent prognostic factors affecting overall survival and disease-free survival in the RCC group were symptom, tumour type, TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, RLR, and AFR (P<0.05 for all). The nomogram constructed by multiple factors has better predictive power for patients after RCC. Conclusion. Preoperative RLR and AFR can serve as potential biomarkers to predict the prognosis of postoperative RCC patients and improve the predictability of patient recurrence and survival

Synthesizing a Genetic Sensor Based on CRISPR-Cas9 for Specifically Killing p53-Deficient Cancer Cells

Cancer is still one of the greatest medical challenges in the world. The <i>p53</i> protein plays an important role in the process of cancer formation. In addition, <i>p53</i> is found as the most common mutant gene in cancers. Because of the central role of <i>p53</i> in oncology, it is necessary to construct effective sensors to detect this protein. However, there are few methods to detect wild type <i>p53</i> protein (WTP53) or to distinguish the wild type and mutant <i>p53</i> proteins. In our study, we designed and constructed a <i>p53</i> genetic sensor that detected the expression of WTP53 in cells. Moreover, we combined the <i>p53</i> sensor with diphtheria toxin using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to construct a <i>p53</i> genetic sensor that specifically killed <i>p53</i>-deficient cells such as tumor cells. Our study therefore developed a new way to treat cancers by using an available genetic sensor based on <i>p53</i> protein