Impact of water uptake and mixing state on submicron particle deposition in the human respiratory tract (HRT) based on explicit hygroscopicity measurements at HRT-like conditions

Particle hygroscopicity plays a key role in determining the particle deposition in the human respiratory tract (HRT). In this study, the effects of hygroscopicity and mixing state on regional and total deposition doses on the basis of the particle number concentration for children, adults, and the elderly were quantified using the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry model, based on the size-resolved particle hygroscopicity measurements at HRT-like conditions (relative humidity = 98 %) performed in the North China Plain. The measured particle population with an external mixing state was dominated by hygroscopic particles (number fraction = (91.5 ± 5.7) %, mean ± standard deviation (SD); the same below). Particle hygroscopic growth in the HRT led to a reduction by around 24 % in the total doses of submicron particles for all age groups. Such a reduction was mainly caused by the growth of hygroscopic particles and was more pronounced in the pulmonary and tracheobronchial regions. Regardless of hygroscopicity, the elderly group of people had the highest total dose among three age groups, while children received the maximum total deposition rate. With 270 nm in diameter as the boundary, the total deposition doses of particles smaller than this diameter were overestimated, and those of larger particles were underestimated, assuming no particle hygroscopic growth in the HRT. From the perspective of the daily variation, the deposition rates of hygroscopic particles with an average of (2.88 ± 0.81) × 109 particles h-1 during the daytime were larger than those at night ((2.32 ± 0.24) × 109 particles h-1). On the contrary, hydrophobic particles interpreted as freshly emitted soot and primary organic aerosols exhibited higher deposition rates at nighttime ((3.39 ± 1.34) × 108 particles h-1) than those in the day ((2.58 ± 0.76) × 108 particles h-1). The traffic emissions during the rush hours enhanced the deposition rate of hydrophobic particles. This work provides a more explicit assessment of the impact of hygroscopicity and mixing state on the deposition pattern of submicron particles in the HRT. Copyright

circFBXW7 attenuates malignant progression in lung adenocarcinoma by sponging miR-942-5p

Background: As a type of non-coding RNA, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered to be functional molecules associated with human cancers. An increasing number of circRNAs have been verified in malignant progression in a number of cancers. The circRNA, circFBXW7, has been proven to play an important role in tumor proliferation and metastasis. However, whether circFBXW7 influences progression in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods: Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify circFBXW7 in LUAD cell lines and LUAD tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis was then used to compare the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of these LUAD patients. The biological function of circFBXW7 was examined by overexpression and knockdown of circFBXW7 using MTT assay, EdU assay, wound-healing assay, and Transwell in vitro assays. To explore the mechanism of the circFBXW7, RNA pull-down assay, dual luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were employed to examine the interaction between circFBXW7 and miR-942-5p. Western blot was used to study the fundamental proteins associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. In vivo studies with BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously injected with cells stably overexpressing circFBXW7 were performed to further validate the in vitro results. Results: circFBXW7 was downregulated in LUAD cell lines and tissues, and LUAD patients with lower levels had shorter DFS and OS. The in vitro study showed that circFBXW7 overexpression inhibited proliferation and migration of A549 and HCC2279 cell lines. These results were confirmed by circFBXW7 knockdown, which showed the reverse effect. The in vivo model showed that the circRNA levels influenced the tumor growth. Finally, we determined that circFBXW7 target miRNA-942-5p which regulates the EMT gene BARX2. The modulation of circFBXW7 levels produced significant changes in EMT genes in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Our findings showed that circFBXW7 inhibits proliferation and migration by controlling the miR-942-5p/BARX2 axis in LUAD cell lines and its levels correlates with patient survival suggesting that regulating circFBXW7 could have therapeutic value in treating LUAD patients

A study on the association between prefrontal functional connectivity and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depression

ObjectiveAmong adolescents with depression, the occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is prevalent, constituting a high-risk factor for suicide. However, there has been limited research on the neuroimaging mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and NSSI behavior, and the potential association between the two remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the alterations in functional connectivity (FC) of the regions in the prefrontal cortex with the whole brain, and elucidates the relationship between these alterations and NSSI behavior in adolescents with depression.MethodsA total of 68 participants were included in this study, including 35 adolescents with depression and 33 healthy controls. All participants underwent assessments using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17-HAMD) and the Ottawa Self-Harm Inventory. In addition, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of the participants’ brains were collected. Subsequently, the FCs of the regions in the prefrontal cortex with the whole brain was calculated. The FCs showing significant differences were then subjected to correlation analyses with 17-HAMD scores and NSSI behavior scores.ResultCompared to the healthy control group, the adolescent depression group exhibited decreased FCs in several regions, including the right frontal eye field, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right orbitofrontal cortex, left insula and right anterior cingulate coetex. The 17-HAMD score was positively correlated with the frequency of NSSI behavior within 1 year (rs = 0.461, p = 0.005). The FC between the right anterior cingulate cortex and the right precuneus showed a negative correlation with the 17-HAMD scores (rs = −0.401, p = 0.023). Additionally, the FC between the right orbitofrontal cortex and the right insula, demonstrated a negative correlation with the frequency of NSSI behavior within 1 year (rs = −0.438, p = 0.012, respectively).ConclusionAdolescents with depression showed decreased FCs of the prefrontal cortex with multiple brain regions, and some of these FCs were associated with the NSSI frequency within 1 year. This study provided neuroimaging evidence for the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and its comorbidity with NSSI behavior

Local Diffusion Homogeneity Provides Supplementary Information in T2DM-Related WM Microstructural Abnormality Detection

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether an inter-voxel diffusivity metric (local diffusion homogeneity, LDH), can provide supplementary information to traditional intra-voxel metrics (i.e., fractional anisotropy, FA) in white matter (WM) abnormality detection for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was acquired from 34 T2DM patients and 32 healthy controls. Voxel-based group-difference comparisons based on LDH and FA, as well as the association between the diffusion metrics and T2DM risk factors [i.e., body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP)], were conducted, with age, gender and education level controlled.Results: Compared to the controls, T2DM patients had higher LDH in the pons and left temporal pole, as well as lower FA in the left superior corona radiation (p < 0.05, corrected). In T2DM, there were several overlapping WM areas associated with BMI as revealed by both LDH and FA, including right temporal lobe and left inferior parietal lobe; but the unique areas revealed only by using LDH included left inferior temporal lobe, right supramarginal gyrus, left pre- and post-central gyrus (at the semiovale center), and right superior radiation. Overlapping WM areas that associated with SBP were found with both LDH and FA, including right temporal pole, bilateral orbitofrontal area (rectus gyrus), the media cingulum bundle, and the right cerebellum crus I. However, the unique areas revealed only by LDH included right inferior temporal lobe, right inferior occipital lobe, and splenium of corpus callosum.Conclusion: Inter- and intra-voxel diffusivity metrics may have different sensitivity in the detection of T2DM-related WM abnormality. We suggested that LDH could provide supplementary information and reveal additional underlying brain changes due to diabetes

Transcriptomic profile of premature ovarian insufficiency with RNA-sequencing

IntroductionThis study aimed to explore the transcriptomic profile of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) by investigating alterations in gene expression.MethodsA total of sixty-one women, comprising 31 individuals with POI in the POI group and 30 healthy women in the control group (HC group), aged between 24 and 40 years, were recruited for this study. The transcriptomic profiles of peripheral blood samples from all study subjects were analyzed using RNA-sequencing.ResultsThe results revealed 39 differentially expressed genes in individuals with POI compared to healthy controls, with 10 upregulated and 29 downregulated genes. Correlation analysis highlighted the relationship between the expression of SLC25A39, CNIH3, and PDZK1IP1 and hormone levels. Additionally, an effective classification model was developed using SLC25A39, CNIH3, PDZK1IP1, SHISA4, and LOC389834. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated the involvement of these differentially expressed genes in the “haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex,” while KEGG pathway analysis indicated their participation in the “Proteoglycans in cancer” pathway.ConclusionThe identified genes could play a crucial role in characterizing the genetic foundation of POI, potentially serving as valuable biomarkers for enhancing disease classification accuracy

Plot evolution and character transformation in Shihou ji (The Lioness’s Roar) on the traditional Kunqu Stage

The traditional Chinese theatre of Kunqu, also known as Kunju, is a highly stylized and conventionalized theatre genre evolved from the melody of Kunshan, which emerged in 14th century and became the dominant style of private, commercial, and even court stages from the 16th to 18th centuries. Defined by its conventions and regarded as “the ancestor of hundreds of [Chinese] theatrical genres,” Kunqu became an audience-centered theatre, whereby audience’s preferences reshaped not only the characters but also the plots of plays on stage. Playscripts of Kunqu originated as chuanqi (southern drama), plays written by literati dramatists from the 15th to 18th centuries. Their arias follow very strict prosodic rules and follow the tonal patterns and rhyme schemes of classical poetry. Kunqu’s music also follows rules based on the tones of each character; such is the refinement of its lyrics that it was a nearly impossible task for the actors, who were mostly illiterate, to change the lines. However, Kunqu troupes still managed to convert the plots and characters of a play by changing the fundamental stage conventions rather than the texts. An example of such conversion is Shihou ji (The Lioness’s Roar), a play that has undergone an amazing transformation, from a shrew-taming chuanqi in thirty scenes written in the mid-Ming dynasty to a husband-taming play in four scenes popular in the mid-Qing. Regardless of the chuanqi playwright’s intention to inculcate the orthodox Confucian principle of the husband’s supremacy in the domestic sphere, the second half of his play, in which the wife gets tamed, was abandoned by actors. What survived on the Kunqu stage are four acts from the first half, in which the husband suffers punishments and gets convinced that following one’s wife is by all means a right thing to do. This thematic changeover was mainly achieved by the changing of role types, costumes, and make-up of the main characters. In addition, a few lines added as dialogue and some stage movements created by actors on stage also helped to give a new look to the play.Arts, Faculty ofAsian Studies, Department ofGraduat

Theoretical analysis of the static and dynamic response of tensor skin

Comprised of cover ply, tensor ply and carrying ply, tensor skin is a kind of composite sandwich structure developed to improve the helicopter's crashworthiness in water impacts. In this study, a theoretical model is proposed to analyze the static and dynamic response of a kind of tensor skin. The whole response of tensor skin is divided into three stages: an elastic deformation stage of the whole beam; an unfolding stage of the tensor ply; and a stretching stage of the tensor ply. At the beginning of impact, the whole beam undergoes elastic deformation until the breakage of the cover and carrying plies; then the tensor ply left is unfolded and stretched to absorb more impact kinetic energy. In the unfolding stage, by adopting the rigid, perfectly plastic material idealization, a deformation mechanism with stationary plastic hinges is proposed. It is found that the static critical pressure first decreases then increases with the increasing central deflection. The static critical pressure varies with the geometric parameters, but the total energy dissipated in the unfolding stage is independent of the geometric parameters. The residual kinetic energy at the end of unfolding stage will be dissipated by the plastic stretching. The dynamic responses of the tensor skin are analyzed for step loaded pressure and rectangular pressure pulse. It is verified that the theoretical predictions display very good agreement with the corresponding finite element simulations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

A Bibliometric Analysis on Research Regarding Residential Segregation and Health Based on CiteSpace

Considerable scholarly attention has been directed to the adverse health effects caused by residential segregation. We aimed to visualize the state-of-the-art residential segregation and health research to provide a reference for follow-up studies. Employing the CiteSpace software, we uncovered popular themes, research hotspots, and frontiers based on an analysis of 1211 English-language publications, including articles and reviews retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1998 to 2022. The results revealed: (1) The Social Science & Medicine journal has published the most studies. Roland J. Thorpe, Thomas A. LaVeist, Darrell J. Gaskin, David R. Williams, and others are the leading scholars in residential segregation and health research. The University of Michigan, Columbia University, Harvard University, the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and the University of North Carolina play the most important role in current research. The U.S. is the main publishing country with significant academic influence. (2) Structural racism, COVID-19, mortality, multilevel modelling, and environmental justice are the top five topic clusters. (3) The research frontier of residential segregation and health has significantly shifted from focusing on community, poverty, infant mortality, and social class to residential environmental exposure, structural racism, and health care. We recommend strengthening comparative research on the health-related effects of residential segregation on minority groups in different socio-economic and cultural contexts