Dynamic evolution mechanism of water-bearing coal permeability and water film under stress

To explore coal permeability evolution mechanism under the comprehensive action of multiple factors including stress - adsorption - water and slippage effect, considering the coal deformation induced by stress - adsorption, the expression of water film thickness was corrected to quantitatively characterize the effective pore size, and based on this, the intensity of gas slippage effect of water-bearing coal was further quantified and the permeability model was established under the comprehensive action of multiple factors. Combined with experimental research to verify the reliability of permeability model, and then the evolution mechanism of coal permeability, water film and slippage factors under the comprehensive action of multiple factors was further revealed. The results show that under different water saturation conditions, the permeability decreases sharply first and then tends to flat with the increase of effective stress; under the same effective stress condition, the permeability decreases with the increase of water saturation. The water film thickness changes dynamically under the action of stress - adsorption – water, the water film thickness has a negative correlation with stress and adsorption, but a positive correlation with water saturation; the slippage factor increases gradually with the increase of water saturation, but the increase trend is gentle under low stress condition, and more sharply under high stress condition. In addition, based on the disjoining pressure of gas-liquid-solid surface, the expressions of dynamic water film in square and equilateral triangle under the effect of stress-adsorption were deduced, and the evolution mechanisms of gas permeability, water film and slip coefficient of pores with different geometric shapes are compared and analyzed. Due to the presence of corner holes, the order of water film thickness in pores of different geometric forms is circle > square > equilateral triangle from large to small, the order of permeability is opposite; the slippage factor in circular is larger than that in angular pore, while the slippage factor in square and equilateral triangle pore has little difference

Role and therapeutic potential of DEAD-box RNA helicase family in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed and the second cancer-related death worldwide, leading to more than 0.9 million deaths every year. Unfortunately, this disease is changing rapidly to a younger age, and in a more advanced stage when diagnosed. The DEAD-box RNA helicase proteins are the largest family of RNA helicases so far. They regulate almost every aspect of RNA physiological processes, including RNA transcription, editing, splicing and transport. Aberrant expression and critical roles of the DEAD-box RNA helicase proteins have been found in CRC. In this review, we first summarize the protein structure, cellular distribution, and diverse biological functions of DEAD-box RNA helicases. Then, we discuss the distinct roles of DEAD-box RNA helicase family in CRC and describe the cellular mechanism of actions based on recent studies, with an aim to provide future strategies for the treatment of CRC

Genetic Variation of Promoter Sequence Modulates XBP1 Expression and Genetic Risk for Vitiligo

Our previous genome-wide linkage analysis identified a susceptibility locus for generalized vitiligo on 22q12. To search for susceptibility genes within the locus, we investigated a biological candidate gene, X-box binding protein 1(XBP1). First, we sequenced all the exons, exon-intron boundaries as well as some 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences of XBP1 in 319 cases and 294 controls of Chinese Hans. Of the 8 common variants identified, the significant association was observed at rs2269577 (p_trend = 0.007, OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.09–1.71), a putative regulatory polymorphism within the promoter region of XBP1. We then sequenced the variant in an additional 365 cases and 404 controls and found supporting evidence for the association (p_trend = 0.008, OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.07–1.59). To further validate the association, we genotyped the variant in another independent sample of 1,402 cases and 1,288 controls, including 94 parent-child trios, and confirmed the association by both case-control analysis (p_trend = 0.003, OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06–1.32) and the family-based transmission disequilibrium test (TDT, p = 0.005, OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.21–3.07). The analysis of the combined 2,086 cases and 1,986 controls provided highly significant evidence for the association (p_trend = 2.94×10−6, OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.13–1.35). Furthermore, we also found suggestive epistatic effect between rs2269577 and HLA-DRB1*07 allele on the development of vitiligo (p = 0.033). Our subsequent functional study showed that the risk-associated C allele of rs2269577 had a stronger promoter activity than the non-risk G allele, and there was an elevated expression of XBP1 in the lesional skins of patients carrying the risk-associated C allele. Therefore, our study has demonstrated that the transcriptional modulation of XBP1 expression by a germ-line regulatory polymorphism has an impact on the development of vitiligo

Photocatalysis: A Possible Vital Contributor to the Evolution of the Prebiotic Atmosphere and the Warming of the Early Earth

The evolution of the early atmosphere was driven by changes in its chemical composition, which involved the formation of some critical gases. In this study, we demonstrate that nitrous oxide (N2O) can be produced from Miller’s early atmosphere (a mixture of CH4, NH3, H2, and H2O) by way of photocatalysis. Both NH3 and H2O were indispensable for the production of N2O by photocatalysis. Different conditions related to seawater and reaction temperature are also explored. N2O has a strong greenhouse gas effect, which is more able to warm the Earth than other gases and offers a reasonable explanation for the faint young Sun paradox on the early Earth. Moreover, the decomposition of N2O into N2 and O2 can be boosted by soft irradiation, providing a possible and important origin of atmospheric O2 and N2. The occurrence of O2 propelled the evolution of the atmosphere from being fundamentally reducing to oxidizing. This work describes a possible vital contribution of photocatalysis to the evolution of the early atmosphere

The employment of vaccinia virus for colorectal cancer treatment: A review of preclinical and clinical studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies that causes death worldwide. Cancer vaccines and oncolytic immunotherapy bring new hope for patients with advanced CRC. The capability of vaccinia virus (VV) in carrying foreign genes as antigens or immunostimulatory factors has been demonstrated in animal models. VV of Wyeth, Western Reserve, Lister, Tian Tan, and Copenhagen strains have been engineered for the induction of antitumor response in multiple cancers. This paper summarized the preclinical and clinical application and development of VV serving as cancer vaccines and oncolytic vectors in CRC treatment. Additionally, the remaining challenges and future direction are also discussed

A pilot clinical study of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treatment via foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling

Abstract Background To evaluate the feasibility of and identify problems in treating complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling. Methods This prospective clinical study enrolled five patients with complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling at the 988th Hospital of People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Force, China. During the 24-week follow-up period, the patients underwent measurements of their best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and visual field testing. Additionally, B-ultrasound and fundus photography of the patients’ retinal reattachments helped evaluate the treatment’s post-surgery efficacy. We determined the safety of foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling based on infection, eye pain, diplopia, elevated intraocular pressure, and other postoperative severe complications. Results All five patients’ complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachments were successfully treated and evaluated via B-ultrasound and fundus photography after surgery. Visual acuity was enhanced in four patients 24 weeks after surgery, while the remaining patients developed diplopia after surgery. No other complications were observed. Conclusion This pilot study preliminarily determined that foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling is feasible for efficient and safe treatment of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. These results support this surgery as a potential and novel alternative to current extraocular procedures for treating complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Trial registration The prospective observational clinical study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee and registered at the clinical research center in the 988th Hospital of People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Force, China (9,882,019,000)

Functional polymers as metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recognized as the most powerful clinical imaging modality due to its ability to generate detailed three-dimensional anatomical images with high spatial resolution in a non-invasive manner without requiring harmful ionizing radiation. Conventionally, exogenous paramagnetic transition metal ion chelates or iron oxide nanoparticles are used as contrast agents (CAs) to enhance the image contrast of anatomical features. However, despite the wide use of these metal-based CAs, safety concerns have been raised regarding their potential toxic effects resulting from long-term in vivo accumulation. This has driven the development of organic metal-free CAs in various forms for use in MRI. Importantly, functional polymers capable of MRI via different mechanisms represent one of the most promising alternatives to current metal-based MRI CAs due to appealing features such as low toxicity, improved pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profile, and tailored structures and functionalities. Such structural and functional flexibility can enable a myriad of biomedical applications. In this review, we will highlight advances in the development of functional polymers as organic metal-free macromolecular MRI CAs based on different mechanisms including polymeric nitroxide-based H MRI CAs, polymeric chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI CAs, and polymeric heteronuclei-based MRI CAs. In addition, the review will address the challenges and future opportunities for these promising classes of metal-free polymeric MRI CAs

Mmu-miR-27a-5p-Dependent Upregulation of MCPIP1 Inhibits the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates macrophages to release proinflammatory cytokines. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that are involved in inflammatory reaction. Our previously study identified the downregulated expression of mmu-miR-27a-5p in RAW267.4 cells treated with LPS. To dissect the mechanism that mmu-miR-27a-5p regulates target genes and affects proinflammatory cytokine secretion more clearly, based on previous bioinformatics prediction data, one of the potential target genes, MCPIP1 was observed to be upregulated with qRT-PCR and western blot. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to further confirm in silico prediction and determine that MCPIP1 is the target of mmu-miR-27-5p. The results suggested that mmu-miR-27a-5p directly targeted the 3′-UTR of MCPIP1 and the interaction between mmu-miR-27-5p and the 3′-UTR of MCPIP1 is sequence-specific. MCPIP1 overexpression decreased the secretion of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 in macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Our findings may provide the important information for the precise roles of mmu-miR-27a-5p in the macrophage inflammatory response to LPS stimulation in the future

Diurnal haze variations over the North China plain using measurements from Himawari-8/AHI

International audienceThe diurnal variations of haze properties are essential in understanding the haze pollution formation and its environmental impact. Ground-based measurements can provide this information with high temporal resolution, but the haze measurements are not spatially continuous. The Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) sensor onboard the next-generation geostationary satellite Himawari-8 can provide haze properties with high spatial and temporal resolution. In this study, the diurnal variations of haze frequency, haze properties [aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom exponent (AE) and fine-particle ratio (RF)] and cloud cover are jointly analyzed over the North China Plain (NCP) for summer and winter seasons during 2015-2017. Both the haze and cloud scheme and the haze properties are well validated. The results reveal that the haze frequency in winter (33.51%) is much higher than that in summer (6.34%), and the diurnal variations of AOD values in winter (0.2-0.9) are stronger than those in summer (0.5-0.9). The diurnal maximum haze frequency values in summer (16:00 p.m.) occur 3 h later than the most severe pollution (13:00 p.m.), with AOD values of 0.7-0.9, AE values of 1.1-1.2 and RF values of 0.5-0.6. In winter, the haze frequency increases from 9:00 to 15:00. However, no typical diurnal variations of AOD, AE and RF are shown. It is also found that haze frequency exhibits opposite diurnal variations compared with those of clouds

Population attributable fractions of fatty liver disease for type 2 diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Purpose To determine the population attributable fraction (PAF) of fatty liver disease (FLD) for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and compare it to the PAFs of other metabolic abnormalities. Methods We conducted a 10-year retrospective cohort study of 33,346 individuals in Karamay Central Hospital of Xinjiang. Individuals were followed up for T2DM occurrence based on FBS. The PAFs of FLD were calculated generally and respectively in different sex and age groups. A comparison of the PAF of FLD and that of other metabolic abnormalities, as well as the PAFs of FLD in different groups classified based on age and sex, was performed using Cox regression. Results During an average follow-up period of 3.71 years, 1486 T2DM were diagnosed. The incidence density of T2DM was 1.2/100 person-years, and cumulative incidence rate was 4456.31/100,000 person-years. Partial PAF (PAFp) of FLD in the entire population was 23.11%. In the male population, PAFp was higher at 30–40 years old. In the female population, it was higher when age ≥ 60 years old. In multivariable Cox regression model, FLD, male sex, age ≥ 45 years old, overweight, hypertriglyceridaemia, and systolic hypertension were independent risk factors for T2DM, with corresponding PAFp of 25.00%, 24.99%, 36.47%, 24.96%, 5.71%, and 6.76%, respectively. Age ≥ 45 years old showed the highest PAFp and adjusted hazard ratio, followed by FLD. Conclusions FLD contributes more to T2DM incidence than other metabolic disorders. Particular attention should be given to male populations of 30–40 and female populations above 60 for FLD prevention and treatment