Investigation of the optimal location of the metatarsal pad in the standing position

The location of the metatarsal pads was quantitated in 16 healthy men (32 feet) using plantar pressure measurement and numeric rating scale (NRS) systems. Plantar pressure measurement system (F-Scan, Nitta co. Japan) was used to measure plantar pressure in subjects standing still under 5 different placement conditions of metatarsal pads (thickness, 8 mm). Measurement was also performed with no pads (control, 0 mm). After plantar pressure measurement under each condition, subjects rated pain caused by the height of the pads using NRS. The results showed that the placement was optimum when the apex of the pad was located 2 cm proximal and 5 mm lateral to the proximal end of the second metatarsal head along the longitudinal axis of feet

CCNE1 and survival of patients with tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma: An Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium study

BACKGROUND: Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) is a potential predictive marker and therapeutic target in tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Smaller studies have revealed unfavorable associations for CCNE1 amplification and CCNE1 overexpression with survival, but to date no large-scale, histotype-specific validation has been performed. The hypothesis was that high-level amplification of CCNE1 and CCNE1 overexpression, as well as a combination of the two, are linked to shorter overall survival in HGSC. METHODS: Within the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis consortium, amplification status and protein level in 3029 HGSC cases and mRNA expression in 2419 samples were investigated. RESULTS: High-level amplification (>8 copies by chromogenic in situ hybridization) was found in 8.6% of HGSC and overexpression (>60% with at least 5% demonstrating strong intensity by immunohistochemistry) was found in 22.4%. CCNE1 high-level amplification and overexpression both were linked to shorter overall survival in multivariate survival analysis adjusted for age and stage, with hazard stratification by study (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.47, p = .034, and HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32, p = .015, respectively). This was also true for cases with combined high-level amplification/overexpression (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09-1.47, p = .033). CCNE1 mRNA expression was not associated with overall survival (HR, 1.00 per 1-SD increase; 95% CI, 0.94-1.06; p = .58). CCNE1 high-level amplification is mutually exclusive with the presence of germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and shows an inverse association to RB1 loss. CONCLUSION: This study provides large-scale validation that CCNE1 high-level amplification is associated with shorter survival, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker in HGSC

Discovery of widespread transcription initiation at microsatellites predictable by sequence-based deep neural network

Using the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) technology, the FANTOM5 consortium provided one of the most comprehensive maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) in several species. Strikingly, ~72% of them could not be assigned to a specific gene and initiate at unconventional regions, outside promoters or enhancers. Here, we probe these unassigned TSSs and show that, in all species studied, a significant fraction of CAGE peaks initiate at microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs). To confirm this transcription, we develop Cap Trap RNA-seq, a technology which combines cap trapping and long read MinION sequencing. We train sequence-based deep learning models able to predict CAGE signal at STRs with high accuracy. These models unveil the importance of STR surrounding sequences not only to distinguish STR classes, but also to predict the level of transcription initiation. Importantly, genetic variants linked to human diseases are preferentially found at STRs with high transcription initiation level, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of transcription initiation at STRs. Together, our results extend the repertoire of non-coding transcription associated with DNA tandem repeats and complexify STR polymorphism

Thermodynamic Analysis on the Dust Generation from EAF for the Recycling of Dust

Recently, in addition to the large interest on the CO2 emission problem, the energy saving and the environmental conservation become more and more important issue. Zero emission campaign is adopted by many companies. In such circumstances, most of steel companies were carrying out the recycling of dust by many ways. There are many aspects on the dust recycling. One of important purpose is the zinc recovery, and other is the utilization as a slag (e.g. roadbed material) by injection. Especially for the dust injection, many troubles such as an accumulation in the filtering system and an increase of the content of harmful elements in the dust will occur. Then, it become very important to understand the mechanism and the thermodynamics of the dust generation or/and precipitation form EAF to prevent those troubles. In this study, the dust sampled from the impeller of blower in the dust filtering system of EAF was examined by XRD and XRF. Quite complicated compounds formed in Zn-Fe-Pb-Cr-Mn-O-Cl-F system were found in the dust according to the dust injection. Thermodynamic analysis was performed and the equilibrium composition obtained from the calculation was in excellent agreement with the actual composition in the dust. Main constituents in the dust are ZnFe2O4 and Fe2O3. Relatively dominant ones are as follows: Fluorides are FeF3, ZnF2 and PbF2, chlorides are ZnCl2 and PbCl2, and oxides are ZnO and MnO2. The fluorides deposit around 1000°C from gas phase. And the chlorides ZCl2, PbCl2 and oxides MnO2 form less than 500°C. The partial pressure of chloride gas will become a maximum around 400°C, when there is no moisture