Evolution of the tetragonal to rhombohedral transition in (1 − x)(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 − xBaTiO3 (x ≤ 7%)

(1 − x)(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 − xBaTiO3 has been the most studied Pb-free piezoelectric material in the last decade; however, puzzles still remain about its phase transitions, especially around the important morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). By introducing the strain glass transition concept from the ferroelastic field, it was found that the phase transition from tetragonal (T, P4bm) to rhombohedral (R, R3c) was affected by a strain glass transition at higher temperature for x ≥ 4%. In these compositions, the T–R transition was delayed or even totally suppressed and displayed huge thermal hysteresis upon cooling and heating. Also, isothermal phase transitions were predicted and realized successfully in the crossover region, where the interaction between the T–R transition and the strain glass transition was strong. Our results revealed the strain glass nature in compositions around the MPB in this important material, and also provide new clues for understanding the transition complexity in other (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-based Pb-free piezoelectric materials

Combined PD-1 blockade and GITR triggering induce a potent antitumor immunity in murine cancer models and synergizes with chemotherapeutic drugs

BACKGROUND: The coinhibitory receptor Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) inhibits effector functions of activated T cells and prevents autoimmunity, however, cancer hijack this pathway to escape from immune attack. The costimulatory receptor glucocorticoid-induced TNFR related protein (GITR) is up-regulated on activated T cells and increases their proliferation, activation and cytokine production. We hypothesize that concomitant PD-1 blockade and GITR triggering would synergistically improve the effector functions of tumor-infiltrating T cells and increase the antitumor immunity. In present study, we evaluated the antitumor effects and mechanisms of combined PD-1 blockade and GITR triggering in a clinically highly relevant murine ID8 ovarian cancer model. METHODS: Mice with 7 days-established peritoneal ID8 ovarian cancer were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with either control, anti-PD-1, anti-GITR or anti-PD-1/GITR monoclonal antibody (mAb) and their survival was evaluated; the phenotype and function of tumor-associated immune cells in peritoneal cavity of treated mice was analyzed by flow cytometry, and systemic antigen-specific immune response was evaluated by ELISA and cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS: Combined anti-PD-1/GITR mAb treatment remarkably inhibited peritoneal ID8 tumor growth with 20% of mice tumor free 90 days after tumor challenge while treatment with either anti-PD-1 or anti-GITR mAb alone exhibited little antitumor effect. The durable antitumor effect was associated with a memory immune response and conferred by CD4(+) cells and CD8(+) T cells. The treatment of anti-PD-1/GITR mAb increased the frequencies of interferon-γ-producing effector T cells and decreased immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, shifting an immunosuppressive tumor milieu to an immunostimulatory state in peritoneal cavity. In addition, combined treatment of anti-PD-1/GITR mAb mounted an antigen-specific immune response as evidenced by antigen-specific IFN-γ production and cytolytic activity of spleen cells from treated mice. More importantly, combined treatment of anti-PD-1/GITR mAb and chemotherapeutic drugs (cisplatin or paclitaxel) further increased the antitumor efficacy with 80% of mice obtaining tumor-free long-term survival in murine ID8 ovarian cancer and 4 T1 breast cancer models. CONCLUSIONS: Combined anti-PD-1/GITR mAb treatment induces a potent antitumor immunity, which can be further promoted by chemotherapeutic drugs. A combined strategy of anti-PD-1/GITR mAb plus cisplatin or paclitaxel should be considered translation into clinic

Tu techo seguro.

Para el desarrollo del presente proyecto se han seguido los pasos que caracterizan a un Plan de Negocios, el cual sirve como guía en la formación de una empresa o la estructuración de un proyecto, como es el presente caso. Para ello se ha tomado en cuenta que el Plan de Negocios nos servirá para determinar todos los factores claves para el éxito del producto, así como carta de presentación frente a los posibles compradores y proveedores del proyecto. En el desarrollo de “Tu Techo Seguro” se podrá ver a detalle todo el trabajo intelectual y técnico que ha llevado a desarrollar este servicio tomando en cuenta; la idea en la cual se basará el trabajo, el análisis del entorno y de la industria, análisis FODA, la estructuración y propuesta de la empresa, los aspectos técnicos del producto ofertado y la viabilidad económica y financiera del mismo. Por otro lado el Estudio de Factibilidad tiene como objetivo conocer real posibilidad de que el proyecto sea implementado y en este caso comercializado, considerando ciertos aspectos técnicos, del estudio de mercado, administrativos y financieros, pero el Plan de Negocios es mucho más amplio para el desarrollo de un proyecto o empresa porque no solo se analiza lo antes mencionado, sino la oportunidad que tiene la idea en sí, además que el Business Plan nos sirve como presentación en el aspecto externos de la empresa para vender la idea, conseguir préstamos en caso de necesitar un apalancamiento o inversionistas y les da a los posibles compradores o promotores una visión del retorno que obtendrían con el proyecto y la rentabilidad del mismo

Sense and antisense OsDof12 transcripts in rice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antisense transcription is a widespread phenomenon in plants and mammals. Our previous data on rice gene expression analysis by microarray indicated that the sense and antisense transcripts at the <it>OsDof12 </it>locus were co-expressed in leaves. In current study, we analyzed the expression patterns in detail and looked for the possible mechanism related to their expression patterns.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>OsDof12</it>, being a single copy gene located on rice chromosome 3, encodes a predicted Dof protein of 440 amino acids with one intron of 945 bp. The antisense transcript, <it>OsDofl2os</it>, overlaps with both the exonic and intronic regions of <it>OsDof12 </it>and encodes a functionally unknown protein of 104 amino acids with no intron. The sense-antisense <it>OsDof12 </it>transcripts were co-expressed within the same tissues, and their expressions were not tissue-specific in general. At different developmental stages in rice, the <it>OsDof12 </it>and <it>OsDof12os </it>transcripts exhibited reciprocal expression patterns. Interestingly, the expression of both genes was significantly induced under drought treatment, and inhibited by dark treatment. In the <it>Pro</it>_{<it>OsDof</it>12}<it>-GUS </it>and <it>Pro</it>_{<it>OsDof</it>12<it>os</it>}-<it>GUS </it>transgenic rice plants, the expression profiles of GUS were consistent with those of the <it>OsDof12 </it>and <it>OsDof12os </it>transcripts, respectively. In addition, the analysis of cis-regulatory elements indicated that either of the two promoters contained 74 classes of cis-regulatory elements predicted, of which the two promoter regions shared 53 classes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based on the expression profiles of <it>OsDof12 </it>and <it>OsDof12os</it>, the expression patterns of GUS in the <it>Pro</it>_{<it>OsDof</it>12}<it>-GUS </it>and <it>Pro</it>_{<it>OsDof</it>12<it>os</it>}-<it>GUS </it>transgenic rice plants and the predicted common cis-regulatory elements shared by the two promoters, we suggest that the co-expression patterns of <it>OsDof12 </it>and <it>OsDof12os </it>might be attributed to the basically common nature of the two promoters.</p

Influence of scale effect on flow field offset for ships in confined waters

To investigate the flow field characteristics of full-scale ships advancing through confined waters, the international standard container ship (KRISO Container Ship) was considered as a research object in this study. Using the RANS equation, the volume of fluid method and the body force method were selected to investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of a model-scale ship (the model-scale ratio λ=31.6) and a full-scale ship advancing through confined waters at low speed. A virtual disk was used in the full-scale model to determine the influence of the propeller on the ship’s flow field. First, the feasibility of the numerical calculations was verified. This proves the feasibility of the numerical and grid division methods. The self-propulsion point of the full-scale ship at Fr=0.108 is determined. The calculation cases of model-scale and full-scale ships (with or without virtual disks) at different water depths and distances between the ship and the shore were calculated, and the changes in the hull surface pressure, the flow field around the ship, and the wake fraction near the ship propeller disk in different calculation cases were determined and compared. The variations in the surge force, sway force, and yaw moment between the model- scale and full-scale ships were generally consistent. In very shallow water (H/T=1.3), the non-dimensional force and moment coefficients for model-scale ships increase more rapidly with decreasing distance from shore, suggesting that using model-scale ships to investigate the wall effect in very shallow water will result in predictions that are biased towards safety. By comparing full-scale ships with and without propellers, it was discovered that the surge force, sway force, and yaw moment were marginally greater in the propeller-equipped ship due to the suction effect, and the accompanying flow before and after the propeller was slightly smaller, with less asymmetry

Serum albumin and albuminuria predict the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study

Background Diabetes-related kidney disease is associated with end-stage renal disease and a high mortality rate. However, data on risk factors associated with kidney disease in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) remains insufficient. The aim of the present study was to identify the risk factors significantly associated with chronic kidney disease progression in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 DM. Methods We reviewed a total of 254 consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Nanjing First Hospital from January to December 2014. They were observed for two years, and baseline and biochemical variables were used to identify significant predictors of kidney failure progression. Kidney failure progression was defined as a ≥ 30% increase in serum creatine level. Results The mean age of patients was 58.96 years, 37.4% were women, and 57.1% had hypertension. Kidney function progressed in 40 patients (15.75%). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that serum albumin (p = 0.015) and microalbuminuria (p < 0.001) were associated with kidney failure progression in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 DM. Those with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 30–60 ml/min/1.73 m2) at baseline had lower serum albumin levels compared to those of patients with higher eGFR. The albuminuria levels were higher in patients with lower eGFR than in those with eGFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.754 (95% CI [0.670–0. 0.837]). Conclusions The overall rate of chronic kidney disease progression is relatively high, and low serum albumin and high albuminuria levels are associated with kidney failure progression in newly diagnosed diabetic patients

Expression of turtle riboflavin-binding protein represses mitochondrial electron transport gene expression and promotes flowering in Arabidopsis

BACKGROUND: Recently we showed that de novo expression of a turtle riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) in transgenic Arabidopsis increased H(2)O(2) concentrations inside leaf cells, enhanced the expression of floral regulatory gene FD and floral meristem identity gene AP1 at the shoot apex, and induced early flowering. Here we report that RfBP-induced H(2)O(2) presumably results from electron leakage at the mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) and this source of H(2)O(2) contributes to the early flowering phenotype. RESULTS: While enhanced expression of FD and AP1 at the shoot apex was correlated with early flowering, the foliar expression of 13 of 19 METC genes was repressed in RfBP-expressing (RfBP(+)) plants. Inside RfBP(+) leaf cells, cytosolic H(2)O(2) concentrations were increased possibly through electron leakage because similar responses were also induced by a known inducer of electron leakage from METC. Early flowering no longer occurred when the repression on METC genes was eliminated by RfBP gene silencing, which restored RfBP(+) to wild type in levels of FD and AP1 expression, H(2)O(2), and flavins. Flowering was delayed by the external riboflavin application, which brought gene expression and flavins back to the steady-state levels but only caused 55% reduction of H(2)O(2) concentrations in RfBP(+) plants. RfBP-repressed METC gene expression remedied the cytosolic H(2)O(2) diminution by genetic disruption of transcription factor NFXLl and compensated for compromises in FD and AP1 expression and flowering time. By contrast, RfBP resembled a peroxisomal catalase mutation, which augments the cytosolic H(2)O(2), to enhance FD and AP1 expression and induce early flowering. CONCLUSIONS: RfBP-repressed METC gene expression potentially causes electron leakage as one of cellular sources for the generation of H(2)O(2) with the promoting effect on flowering. The repressive effect on METC gene expression is not the only way by which RfBP induces H(2)O(2) and currently unappreciated factors may also function under RfBP(+) background. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-014-0381-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

National Brain Tumour Registry of China (NBTRC) statistical report of primary brain tumours diagnosed in China in years 2019-2020

BACKGROUND: The lack of a well-designed brain tumour registry with standardized pathological diagnoses in underdeveloped countries hinders the ability to compare epidemiologic data across the globe. The National Brain Tumour Registry of China (NBTRC), created in January 2018, is the first multi-hospital-based brain tumour registry in China. Patient data reported to the NBTRC in years 2019-2020 were assessed. METHODS: Tumour pathology was based on the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumours of the central nervous system and ICD-O-3. The anatomical site was coded per the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) solid tumour module (version of July 2019). The cases were tabulated by histology and anatomical site. Categorical variables were reported as numbers (percentages). The distribution of tumours by age (0-14, 15-19, 20-39, 40-64, and 65+ years) was analysed. FINDINGS: There were a total of 25,537 brain tumours, foremost among them meningioma (23.63%), followed by tumours of the pituitary (23.42%), and nerve sheath tumours (9.09%). Glioblastoma, the most common and lethal form of primary brain cancer in adults, represented 8.56% of all cases. Of note, 6.48% of the malignant tumours were located in the brain stem. The percentage of malignant brain tumours decreased with increasing age, 24.08% in adults (40+ years), 30.25% in young adults (20-39 years), 35.27% in adolescents (15-19 years), and 49.83% in children (0-14 years). Among the 2107 paediatric patients, the most common sites were ventricle (17.19%), brainstem (14.03%), pituitary and craniopharyngeal duct (13.4%), and cerebellum (12.3%), a distribution that differed from that of the entire cohort. The histology distribution was also unique in children, with glioblastoma much less incident compared to the whole cohort (3% vs. 8.47%, INTERPRETATION: The histological and anatomical site distribution of brain tumours in the NBTRC was statistically different in the subgroup of children (0-14 years). Patient choice of pursuing trans-provincial treatment was common and the in-hospital LOS was longer compared to that reported in similar European and American patient populations, which merits further attention. FUNDING: The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2015BAI12B04, 2013BAI09B03, 2014BAI04B01, and 2021YFF1201104) and Chinese National Natural Science Foundation of China (81971668)