Experimental investigation on thermal performance of underground refuge chamber under natural convection and ventilation

© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives CC BY-NC-ND licence, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Thermal performance of densely populated underground buildings is normally influenced by various factors, including the surrounding rock (SR), ventilation, and indoor heat sources. It is recognized that little experimental studies on thermal control for the above building was reported. In this article, a full-size 50-person mine refuge chamber (MRC) was newly constructed to test the thermal performance under natural convection and ventilation. The heat ducts were used to simulate the heat released from human body. Experimental results indicated that: (1) the intensity of the heat transfer between rock and air increases with the rise in heat source rate and ventilation temperature (VT), while it decreases as the initial surrounding rock temperature (ISRT) increases; (2) when considering the joint temperature control of pre-cooled SR, it is recommended to reduce the VT linearly during the evacuation period in order to ensure the thermal safety of personnel. During the non-refuge period, the cold amount should be stored as far as possible into the shallow SR body to make full use of it; (3) to ensure the thermal safety of an MRC with a capacity of 30 people for 96 h, cooling measures are required when the ISRT exceeds 21.3 °C. In addition, when the ISRT reaches 27.6 °C, the per capita ventilation is 0.19 m3/min, and the temperature is 26 °C, which can also meet the requirements. This study provides experimental verification as a basis for future research on underground space temperature control considering the influence of SR.Peer reviewe

Prognostic value of log odds of positive lymph nodes, lymph node ratio, and N stage in patients with colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

AimLittle attention has been paid in the prognosis of colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC). This study aims to explore the predictive capacity of log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), lymph node ratio (LNR), and pN stage in the prognosis of patients with colorectal SRCC.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was designed, and data were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Data on demographic characteristics, clinicopathological features, and treatment were extracted. Outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Association of LODDS, LNR, and pN stage with OS and CSS were explored using Cox proportional hazard model and Cox competing risk model, respectively, with results showing as hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI). Predictive performance of LODDS, LNR, and pN stage in OS and CSS was assessed by calculating C-index.ResultsA total of 2,198 patients were included in this study. LODDS, LNR, and pN stage were associated with the OS and CSS of colorectal SRCC patients (all P < 0.05). LODDS showed a good performance in the OS (C-index: 0.704, 95% CI: 0.690–0.718), which was superior to LNR (C-index: 0.657, 95% CI: 0.643–0.671) and pN stage (C-index: 0.643, 95% CI: 0.629–0.657). The C-index of LODDS, LNR, and pN stage for CSS was 0.733 (95% CI: 0.719–0.747), 0.713 (95% CI: 0.697–0.729), and 0.667 (95% CI: 0.651–0.683), respectively.ConclusionsLODDS displayed a better predictive capacity in the OS and CSS than LNR and pN stage, indicating that LODDS may be effective to predict the prognosis of colorectal SRCC in the clinic

A genome scan for quantitative trait loci affecting male reproductive traits in a White Duroc × Chinese Erhualian resource population

Chinese Erhualian boars have dramatically smaller testes, greater concentrations of circulating androgens, and fewer Sertoli cells than Western commercial breeds. To identify QTL for boar reproductive traits, testicular weight, epididymal weight, seminiferous tubular diameter at 90 and 300 d, and serum testosterone concentration at 300 d were measured in 347 F2 boars from a White Duroc × Chinese Erhualian cross. A whole genome scan was performed with 183 microsatellites covering 19 porcine chromosomes. A total of 16 QTL were identified on 9 chromosomes, including 1% genome-wide significant QTL for testicular weight at 90 and 300 d and seminiferous tubular diameter at 90 d on SSCX, and for epididymal weight and testosterone concentration at 300 d on SSC7. Two 5% genome-wide significant QTL were detected for testicular weight at 300 d on SSC1 and seminiferous tubular diameter at 300 d on SSC16. Nine suggestive QTL were found on SSC1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 13, and 14. Chinese Erhualian alleles were not systematically favorable for greater reproductive performance. This study confirmed the previous significant QTL for testicular weight on SSCX and for epididymal weight on SSC7, and reported QTL for seminiferous tubular diameter and testosterone concentration at the first time. The observed different QTL for the same trait at different ages reflect the involvement of distinct genes in the development of male reproductive traits

Adjusting CA19-9 values with clinical stage and bilirubin to better predict survival of resectable pancreatic cancer patients: 5-year-follow-up of a single center

BackgroundPancreatic cancer mortality is growing every year, and radical resection is the most essential therapy strategy. It is critical to evaluate the long-term prognosis of individuals receiving radical surgery. CA19-9 is a biomarker for patient recurrence and survival, however obstructive jaundice has a significant impact on this index. Researchers have attempted to modify the index using various modification methods, but the results have been unsatisfactory. In this study, we adjusted CA19-9 values based on clinical stage and bilirubin and found that it provided better prediction than CA19-9 alone in assessing patients.MethodsWe analyzed over 5 years follow-up records of patients who underwent radical pancreatic cancer surgery between August 2009 and May 2017 in a single center. We investigated the association of risk factors with overall survival (OS) as well as disease-free survival (DFS) after surgery. Threshold values for high-risk features associated with poor prognosis in resectable pancreatic cancer were determined. The hazard ratios of the indicators were eventually examined under the stratification of patients’ clinical stages.ResultsA total of 202 patients were involved in the study. The optimum cut-off values for CA19-9 and CA19-9/TB for predicting overall survival were 219.4 (p = 0.0075) and 18.8 (p = 0.0353), respectively. CA19-9>219.4 increased the risk of patient mortality by 1.70 times (95% CI 1.217-2.377, p = 0.002), and tumor poor differentiation raised the risk by 1.66 times (95% CI 1.083-2.553, P = 0.02). Based on clinical stage stratification, we found discrepancies in the predictive efficacy of CA19-9 and CA19-9/TB. CA19-9 was a better predictor in clinical stage 1 (HR = 2.056[CI 95%1.169-3.616], P = 0.012), whereas CA19-9/TB indications were better in stages 2 (HR = 1.650[CI 95%1.023-2.662], P = 0.040) and 3 (HR = 3.989[CI95%1.145-13.896], P = 0.030).ConclusionsCA19-9, CEA, and tumor differentiation are predictors for patients with resectable PDAC. CA19-9 values can be adjusted based on clinical stage and bilirubin levels to better predict overall survival in patients with resectable PDAC. CA19-9>219.4 predicted poor survival in individuals in clinical stage 1, whereas CA19-9/TB>18.8 predicted poor survival for individuals in stages 2 and 3

A Facile Nanodelivery Platform Based on Functionalized Hyperbranched Poly(ether-ester) for Individualized Antitumor Drugs: Pingyangmycin as a Model

Nanodelivery of antitumor drugs is a new treatment mode for cancer. The aim of this investigation was to construct and evaluate a facile nanodelivery platform for individualized antitumor drugs based on functionalized hyperbranched poly(ether-ester)s. Poly(ether-ester)s, as a kind of hyperbranched polymers, have received extensive attention. Three terminal-functionalized (OH–, NH2– and COOH–) hyperbranched poly(ether-ester)s were prepared and characterized by dynamic light scattering and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The relationship between chemical terminal variation and physical surface charges was investigated. Biocompatibility of these polymers was confirmed by methyl tetrazolium assays and scanning electron microscopy. As a model drug, pingyangmycin has antitumor and antiangiogenic effects. In the paper, pingyangmycin was mixed with carboxyl-modified hyperbranched poly(ether-ester) through ionic binding. Polymer-mixed pingyangmycin exhibited significant inhibition of HN-6 head and neck cancer human cells in vitro. These studies demonstrate that functionalized hyperbranched (ether-ester)s can be exploited as a facile nanodelivery platform for antitumor therapy