Identification of key genes and active components of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of colorectal cancer based on bioinformatics analysis

Purpose: To investigate the bio-active components and key targets of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) through bioinformatics analysis.Methods: An AM action network was constructed after taking intersection of the target genes in AM and CRC-related genes. After that, Protein-Protein Interaction analysis, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed on the intersected genes. Then, the differential genes in GSE70772 and GSE113513 datasets were screened separately and intersected with genes from the PPI analysis to obtain the key targets.Results: After intersection with potential targets of AM and CRC-related genes, 105 genes were screened by PPI analysis. Then, 20 genes were identified as potential target genes of AM in GSE70772 and GSE113513 datasets. These genes were intersected with the 105 genes. Finally, a key gene called MET was identified as the key target of action of AM in the treatment of CRC, and methylnissolin (MOL000380) was the active component of AM.Conclusion: MET a potential key target gene of AM, whose active component is methylnissolin, in the treatment of CRC. Thus, the findings of this study may provide a scientific basis for the further development of AM for the treatment of CRC

Dynamics-Based Stranded-Crowd Model for Evacuation in Building Bottlenecks

In high-density public buildings, it is difficult to evacuate. So in this paper, we propose a novel quantitative evacuation model to insure people’s safety and reduce the risk of crowding. We analyze the mechanism of arch-like clogging phenomena during evacuation and the influencing factors in emergency situations at bottleneck passages; then we design a model based on crowd dynamics and apply the model to a stadium example. The example is used to compare evacuation results of crowd density with different egress widths in stranded zones. The results show this model proposed can guide the safe and dangerous egress widths in performance design and can help evacuation routes to be selected and optimized

Behavior and Distribution of Heavy Metals Including Rare Earth Elements, Thorium, and Uranium in Sludge from Industry Water Treatment Plant and Recovery Method of Metals by Biosurfactants Application

In order to investigate the behavior, distribution, and characteristics of heavy metals including rare earth elements (REEs), thorium (Th), and uranium (U) in sludge, the total and fractional concentrations of these elements in sludge collected from an industry water treatment plant were determined and compared with those in natural soil. In addition, the removal/recovery process of heavy metals (Pb, Cr, and Ni) from the polluted sludge was studied with biosurfactant (saponin and sophorolipid) elution by batch and column experiments to evaluate the efficiency of biosurfactant for the removal of heavy metals. Consequently, the following matters have been largely clarified. (1) Heavy metallic elements in sludge have generally larger concentrations and exist as more unstable fraction than those in natural soil. (2) Nonionic saponin including carboxyl group is more efficient than sophorolipid for the removal of heavy metals in polluted sludge. Saponin has selectivity for the mobilization of heavy metals and mainly reacts with heavy metals in F3 (the fraction bound to carbonates) and F5 (the fraction bound to Fe-Mn oxides). (3) The recovery efficiency of heavy metals (Pb, Ni, and Cr) reached about 90–100% using a precipitation method with alkaline solution

Can CD44+/CD24- Tumor Cells Be Used to Determine the Extent of Breast Cancer Invasion Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy?

breast cancers in relation to tumor size before and after the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: CD44 + / CD24- tumor cells obtained from breast cancer specimens were characterized in vivo and in vitro using tumor formation assays and mammosphere generation assays, respectively. The distribution of CD44+/CD24- tumor cells in 78 breast cancer specimens following administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was also evaluated using immunofluorescence assays, and this distribution was compared with the extent of tumor invasion predicted by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST). Results: In 27/78 cases, complete remission (CR) was identified using RECIST. However, 18 of these CR cases were associated with a scattered distribution of tumor stem cells in the outline of the original tumor prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 24 cases involved cancer cells that were confined to the tumor outline, and 21 cases had tumor cells or tumor stem cells overlapping the tumor outline. In addition, there were 6 patients who were insensitive to chemotherapy, and in these cases, both cancer cells and stem cells were detected outside the contours of the tumor volume imaged prior to chemotherapy. Conclusion: CD44+/CD24- tumor cells may be an additional parameter to evaluate when determining the extent of breast cancer invasion. Key Words: Breast neoplasms, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Neoplasm invasion, Stem cell

Construction of a Risk Prediction Model for Postpartum Stress Urinary Incontinence Based on Machine Learning

Pregnancy pregnancy and childbirth is one of the main causes of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). SUI not only affects women's physical health, but also affects women's mental health. 48 puerperae with SUI 6-8 weeks postpartum and 118 puerperae without urinary incontinence during the same period were selected in a hospital in eastern China. Patient information was retrieved from medical records, and postpartum women were asked to complete the International Urinary Incontinence Counseling Questionnaire Short Form (ICI-Q-SF). The early prediction model of SUI was constructed based on the random forest ensemble learning method. Compared with the results of the traditional logistic regression model, the random forest model has better prediction performance and can be used as a screening tool for high-risk groups of SUI during pregnancy to guide clinical work

Operation Optimization Method of Distribution Network with Wind Turbine and Photovoltaic Considering Clustering and Energy Storage

The problem of distribution network operation optimization is diversified and uncertain. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes a method of distribution network operation optimization considering wind-solar clustering, which includes source load and storage. Taking the total operating cost as the objective function, it includes network loss cost, unit operating cost, and considers a variety of constraints such as energy storage device constraints and demand response constraints. This paper aims to optimize the operation according to different wind-solar clustering scenes to improve the economy of distribution network. Taking the 365-day wind-solar output curves as the research object, K-means clustering is carried out, and the best k value is obtained by elbow rule. The second-order cone programming method and solver are used to solve the optimization model of each typical scenario, and the operation optimization analysis of each typical scenario obtained by clustering is carried out. Taking IEEE33 system and local 365-day wind-solar units output scenes as examples, the period is 24 h, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed method has guiding significance for the operation optimization of distribution network

Silver-Mediated Methoxylation of Aryl C(<i>sp</i>²)–H Bonds Directing by DMEDA

The first example of silver-mediated phosphine-promoted methoxylation of aryl C(sp2)&#8315;H bonds with the commercially available reagent for the preparation of alkyl aryl ethers has been developed. This protocol is characterized by mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and high regioselectivity

Practice OBE concept and innovate the guidance method for graduation design of electrical engineering

In order to improve the quality of undergraduate graduation design, this paper studies and improves the guidance method of electrical engineering graduation design based on the OBE concept. The graduation design teaching process was discussed around the topic selection stage, the topic opening stage, and the design stage. The main goal is to expand students' knowledge, enhance their engineering knowledge and improve their ability to solve practical engineering problems. The process inspection and guidance methods were optimized from the three levels of instructors, majors and colleges. The process inspection and guidance of colleges and specialties were online or offline. After the student selected the topic, the graduation design guidance and inspection of the instructor was conducted face to face or online. Through the questionnaire survey, this paper completed the achievement degree analysis of graduation design goals. The method proposed in this paper is beneficial to improving the practical ability and innovation ability of electrical engineering undergraduates

Practice OBE concept and innovate the guidance method for graduation design of electrical engineering

In order to improve the quality of undergraduate graduation design, this paper studies and improves the guidance method of electrical engineering graduation design based on the OBE concept. The graduation design teaching process was discussed around the topic selection stage, the topic opening stage, and the design stage. The main goal is to expand students' knowledge, enhance their engineering knowledge and improve their ability to solve practical engineering problems. The process inspection and guidance methods were optimized from the three levels of instructors, majors and colleges. The process inspection and guidance of colleges and specialties were online or offline. After the student selected the topic, the graduation design guidance and inspection of the instructor was conducted face to face or online. Through the questionnaire survey, this paper completed the achievement degree analysis of graduation design goals. The method proposed in this paper is beneficial to improving the practical ability and innovation ability of electrical engineering undergraduates