DHX33 interacts with AP-2β to regulate Bcl-2 gene expression and promote cancer cell survival

The RNA helicase DHX33 has been found to be overexpressed in human cancers, where it promotes cancer development. Previous reports have shown that DHX33 deficiency caused cancer cell apoptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we discovered that DHX33 regulates Bcl-2 family protein expression. In multiple human cancer cell lines, DHX33 was found to stimulate the transcription o

Development of a New Surface Acoustic Wave Based Gyroscope on a X-112°Y LiTaO3 Substrate

A new micro gyroscope based on the surface acoustic wave (SAW) gyroscopic effect was developed. The SAW gyroscopic effect is investigated by applying the surface effective permittivity method in the regime of small ratios of the rotation velocity and the frequency of the SAW. The theoretical analysis indicates that the larger velocity shift was observed from the rotated X-112°Y LiTaO3 substrate. Then, two SAW delay lines with reverse direction and an operation frequency of 160 MHz are fabricated on a same X-112°Y LiTaO3 chip as the feedback of two SAW oscillators, which act as the sensor element. The single-phase unidirectional transducer (SPUDT) and combed transducers were used to structure the delay lines to improve the frequency stability of the oscillator. The rotation of a piezoelectric medium gives rise to a shift of the propagation velocity of SAW due to the Coriolis force, resulting in the frequency shift of the SAW device, and hence, the evaluation of the sensor performance. Meanwhile, the differential structure was performed to double the sensitivity and compensate for the temperature effects. Using a precise rate table, the performance of the fabricated SAW gyroscope was evaluated experimentally. A sensitivity of 1.332 Hz deg−1 s at angular rates of up to 1,000 deg s−1 and good linearity are observed

Association between baseline pulse pressure and hospital mortality in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: a retrospective cohort study

Background and purposePrevious studies have described an association between pulse pressure (PP) level and mortality in stroke patients. Evidence of associations between PP level and the risk of mortality remains unknown in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. We aimed to explore the relationship between the baseline PP level and hospital mortality.MethodsThis cohort study of 693 non-traumatic SAH adults used Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) data from 2008–2019 admissions to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). PP level was calculated as the first value after admission to the ICU. The endpoint of the study was in-hospital mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to analyze the association between baseline PP level and hospital mortality. Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) analysis was utilized to determine the relationship curve between hospital mortality and PP level and examine the threshold saturation effect. We further applied Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis to examine the consistency of these correlations. The interaction test was used to identify subgroups with differences.ResultsThe mean age of the study population was 58.8 ± 14.6 years, and 304 (43.9%) of participants were female. When baseline PP level was assessed in quartiles, compared to the reference group (Q1 ≤ 56 mmHg), the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) in Q2 (57–68 mmHg), Q3(69–82 mmHg), Q4 (≥83 mmHg) were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.33–0.93, p = 0.026), 0.99 (95% CI, 0.62–1.59, p = 0.966), and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.62–1.59, p = 0.954), respectively. In the threshold analysis, for every 5 mmHg increase in PP level, there was an 18.2% decrease in hospital mortality (adjusted HR, 0.818; 95% CI, 0.738–0.907; p = 0.0001) in those with PP level less than 60 mmHg, and a 7.7% increase in hospital mortality (adjusted HR, 1.077; 95% CI, 1.018–1.139; p = 0.0096) in those with PP level was 60 mmHg or higher.ConclusionFor patients with non-traumatic SAH, the association between baseline PP and risk of hospital mortality was non-linear, with an inflection point at 60 mmHg and a minimal risk at 57 to 68 mmHg (Q2) of baseline PP level

Advances in SAW Gas Sensors Based on the Condensate-Adsorption Effect

A surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) gas sensor with a low detection limit and fast response for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) based on the condensate-adsorption effect detection is developed. In this sensor a gas chromatography (GC) column acts as the separator element and a dual-resonator oscillator acts as the detector element. Regarding the surface effective permittivity method, the response mechanism analysis, which relates the condensate-adsorption effect, is performed, leading to the sensor performance prediction prior to fabrication. New designs of SAW resonators, which act as feedback of the oscillator, are devised in order to decrease the insertion loss and to achieve single-mode control, resulting in superior frequency stability of the oscillator. Based on the new phase modulation approach, excellent short-term frequency stability (±3 Hz/s) is achieved with the SAW oscillator by using the 500 MHz dual-port resonator as feedback element. In a sensor experiment investigating formaldehyde detection, the implemented SAW gas sensor exhibits an excellent threshold detection limit as low as 0.38 pg

Study on Spontaneous Combustion Tendency of Coals with Different Metamorphic Grade at Low Moisture Content Based on TPO-DSC

In the environments of various open coal storage sites, mining-affected coalbeds, and goafs, etc., some coal bodies are often affected by external environmental factors. They are highly prone to spontaneous combustion in low moisture content (≤8%). In order to examine the effect of low moisture content on the spontaneous combustion tendency of coals with different metamorphic grade, we conducted a temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) experiment and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiment to study the spontaneous combustion characteristics of coals with different metamorphic grade at four different low moisture contents. The change laws of the characteristic parameters of four different metamorphic grade coals at four different low moisture contents were comparatively analyzed. The experimental results indicate that: (1) Compared other low moisture content, anthracite and fat coal at a low moisture content of 1.2 % show a stronger tendency for spontaneous combustion, and long flame coal and lignite at a low moisture content of 3.4% and 5.6% are more prone to spontaneous combustion. (2) Four different metamorphic grade coals at a low moisture content of 7.8% are less prone to spontaneous combustion

Clinical indicators and immunological characteristics of COVID-19: a retrospective analysis of 123 cases

Objective To study the relevant clinical indicators and immunological characteristics of patients with different levels of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A total of 123 patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital from February 5 to April 10, 2020 were enrolled as the study objects. According to Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Treatment Protocol (6th Edition), they were divided into recovery (n=69), severe (n=45), and death (n=9) groups. Their electronic medical records were collected, and basic data, clinical symptoms, and results of laboratory examinations were analyzed statistically. A cross-sectional study was conducted on the expression levels of serum cytokines, T cell characteristics, and PD-1 expression on T cells. All data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 software. Results There were 74 male and 49 female COVID-19 patients, with a median age of 63.94 years in this study, and among them, 79 were over 60 years old. Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBHD), cystatin C (CysC), and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly elevated in the severe disease and death groups (P < 0.05). The 2 groups also had obviously higher serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-17 than the recovery group (P < 0.05). The patients from the death group had the lowest peripheral blood lymphocyte count and the highest neutrophil count (P < 0.05). The expression level of PD-1 in CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells was notably higher in the severe and death groups than the recovery group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Age is associated with the level of COVID-19. And the levels of cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8, decrease of T lymphocytes and exhaustion of T cell function are closely correlated with the severity of COVID-19

Water assisted synthesis of double-walled carbon nanotubes with a narrow diameter distribution from methane over a Co-Mo/MgO catalyst

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with a narrow diameter distribution have been synthesized with the assistance of water vapor in a fluidized-bed reactor from methane over a Co–Mo/MgO catalyst. The results reveal that an appropriate amount of water enhances the carbon yield and also changes the diameter distribution of the DWCNTs. An excess amount of water depresses the formation of carbon nanotubes due to the stabilization of the Co–molybdate phase. Water facilitates the formation of adjacent Co and CoO phases, and therefore methane activation and carbon nanotube formation. The formation of adjacent Co and CoO phases results in smaller Co nanoparticles. DWCNTs with narrow diameter distribution are produced with this method at a low cost