PCAT1 is a poor prognostic factor in endometrial carcinoma and associated with cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important modulators of cancer progression, among which prostate cancer-associated transcript 1 (PCAT1) has been shown to be an oncogene in several tumors. However, the clinical significance and biological function of PCAT1 in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remain unclear. In this study, we used 89 EC tissues and HEC-1B, Ishikawa, RL95-2 and AN3CA EC cell lines. We found elevated expression levels of PCAT1 in EC tissues and cell lines using reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR). The prognostic value of PCAT1 was determined using Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox regression analysis. The results showed that higher PCAT1 expression was positively correlated with FIGO stage, myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, and a shorter overall survival. A series of functional assays showed that the knockdown of PCAT1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting PCAT1 (siPCAT1) suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted apoptosis. Western blot analysis further showed that B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), vimentin and N-cadherin were downregulated, but E-cadherin and Bcl-2-associated death promoter (Bad) were upregulated in PCAT1-silenced EC cells. Taken together, our results underscore the oncogenic role of PCAT1 in EC and show that PCAT1 may be a potential therapeutic target in EC treatment

Feasibility and safety of a self-developed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of refractory foreign body incarceration

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of a novel self-designed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGIT).MethodsAn interventional study was conducted between June and December 2022. A total of 60 patients who underwent an endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body from the UGIT were randomly allocated to the self-developed sleeve and the conventional transparent cap. The study evaluated and compared the operation time, successful removal rate, new injury length at the entrance of the esophagus, new injury length at the impaction site, visual field clarity, and postoperative complications between the two groups.ResultsThe success rates of the two cohorts in the foreign body removal display no significant discrepancy (100% vs. 93%, P = 0.529). Nevertheless, the methodology of the novel overtube-assisted endoscopic foreign body removal has culminated in a significant reduction in the removal duration [40 (10, 50) min vs. 80 (10, 90) min, P = 0.01], reduction in esophageal entrance traumas [0 (0, 0) mm vs. 4.0 (0, 6) mm, P < 0.001], mitigation of injuries at the location of the foreign body incarceration [0 (0, 2) mm vs. 6.0 (3, 8) mm, P < 0.001], an enhanced visual field (P < 0.001), and a decrement in postoperative mucosal bleeding (23% vs. 67%, P < 0.001). The self-developed sleeve effectively negated the advantages of incarceration exclusion during removal.ConclusionThe study findings support the feasibility and safety of the self-developed sleeve for the endoscopic removal of a refractory incarcerated foreign body in the UGIT, with advantages over the conventional transparent cap

Dissecting the Genetic Basis Underlying Combining Ability of Plant Height Related Traits in Maize

Maize plant height related traits including plant height, ear height, and internode number are tightly linked with biomass, planting density, and grain yield in the field. Previous studies have focused on understanding the genetic basis of plant architecture traits per se, but the genetic basis of combining ability remains poorly understood. In this study, 328 recombinant inbred lines were inter-group crossed with two testers to produce 656 hybrids using the North Carolina II mating design. Both of the parental lines and hybrids were evaluated in two summer maize-growing regions of China in 2015 and 2016. QTL mapping highlighted that 7 out of 16 QTL detected for RILs per se could be simultaneously detected for general combining ability (GCA) effects, suggesting that GCA effects and the traits were genetically controlled by different sets of loci. Among the 35 QTL identified for hybrid performance, 57.1% and 28.5% QTL overlapped with additive/GCA and non-additive/SCA effects, suggesting that the small percentage of hybrid variance due to SCA effects in our design. Two QTL hotspots, located on chromosomes 5 and 10 and including the qPH5-1 and qPH10 loci, were validated for plant height related traits by Ye478 derivatives. Notably, the qPH5-1 locus could simultaneously affect the RILs per se and GCA effects while the qPH10, a major QTL (PVE > 10%) with pleiotropic effects, only affected the GCA effects. These results provide evidence that more attention should be focused on loci that influence combining ability directly in maize hybrid breeding

Qwen Technical Report

Large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence, enabling natural language processing tasks that were previously thought to be exclusive to humans. In this work, we introduce Qwen, the first installment of our large language model series. Qwen is a comprehensive language model series that encompasses distinct models with varying parameter counts. It includes Qwen, the base pretrained language models, and Qwen-Chat, the chat models finetuned with human alignment techniques. The base language models consistently demonstrate superior performance across a multitude of downstream tasks, and the chat models, particularly those trained using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), are highly competitive. The chat models possess advanced tool-use and planning capabilities for creating agent applications, showcasing impressive performance even when compared to bigger models on complex tasks like utilizing a code interpreter. Furthermore, we have developed coding-specialized models, Code-Qwen and Code-Qwen-Chat, as well as mathematics-focused models, Math-Qwen-Chat, which are built upon base language models. These models demonstrate significantly improved performance in comparison with open-source models, and slightly fall behind the proprietary models.Comment: 59 pages, 5 figure

Conflict evaluation on traffic simulation in highway work zone

The roadway worksite makes the traffic environment complex and the dropped capacity causes more potential risks. In order to ensure the progress of highway maintenance, to improve the safety of the work zone and to reduce the possibilities of traffic accidents, the study aims on the traffic flow in highway’s work zone based on simulation method and traffic conflict analyze techniques. According to the research literature, the traffic characteristics and main safety problems on work zones are analyzed. The factors which influence the safety of highway work zone are discussed to get the generalized index. Based on Verkehr In Städten SIMulations model (VISSIM) and Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM), a multi-index conflict analysis is proposed and a conversion method for the equivalent numbers of traffic conflict is established. Finally, Total Equivalent Conflict Numbers (TECN) is determined and a prediction equation is regressed. This index can present the severity of traffic conflict comprehensively, and has a very strong regression relationship with its factors (traffic volume and proportion of truck)

U.S. foreign policy towards Taiwan Strait after 9/11.

48 p.China regards Taiwan as a province awaiting reunification with the mainland. China is a great power and has always claimed her sovereignty over Taiwan. In terms of size and national strength, Taiwan is a small entity with regard to size and military strength of great power China. How could such small Taiwan counter a great power? Indeed, the United States is the most influential international actor and obstacle for China on Taiwan Issue. The notion of Cross-Strait relationship has always referred to Sino-U.S. relationship. Taiwan has become the core issue in Sino-American relations. If handled inappropriately, Taiwan issue has posed the most direct challenge to a stability of Sino-American relationship. After the 9/11 terrorism attacks, the world has witnessed a significant improvement in ties between the two countries.Master of Science (International Relations

Dynamic real-time individual green space exposure indices and the relationship with static green space exposure indices: A study in Shenzhen

Many studies have demonstrated the importance of green spaces in promoting human physical and mental health. However, traditional static green space assessment and planning methods with core indicators, such as green space ratio, cannot effectively assess an individual’s level of green space exposure. This study explores a method to calculate dynamic real-time green space exposure indices, such as total green space exposure level, green space exposure per unit time, and green space exposure per unit distance, and analyzes their relationship with static green space exposure indices measured using green space accessibility, availability, and visibility. A field study in a central business district in Shenzhen revealed that people whose workplaces had high levels of static green space exposure maintained relatively high levels of dynamic green space exposure. In addition, dynamic green space exposure was influenced by individuals’ green space usage behaviors and travel time preferences. This study built an interactive analysis framework for dynamic and static green space exposure based on individual behaviour

The Principal–Agent Leasing Model of “Company + n Farmers” under Two Division Modes

The principal–agent leasing model consisting of one risk-neutral company and n risk-averse farmers is proposed by taking into consideration the characteristics of contract-farming and the fulfilment issues existing in the production process of agricultural products. We also discuss the optimal incentive coefficients and rents for n farmers under the two strategies of decentralization and concentration. The analysis suggests that the two division modes have no influence on the determination of the optimal effort level and the incentive coefficient of each party, and under the n farmers, the incentive coefficient given by the company to a single farmer household is not affected by the conditions of other farmer households. In terms of rent, land rent in the decentralized mode is strictly higher than land rent under the centralized mode. In the two modes of division, the total income of the company and the farmers is equal. Taking into account the randomness of the production process of agricultural products, the company will prefer to choose the centralized mode, and the farmers will tend to choose the decentralized mode in cooperation