Coupled CFD-DEM simulation of progressive failure of tunnel face in sand.

Many studies have investigated tunnel face failure using the discrete element method (DEM). However, DEM simulations that incorporate water-soil interactions in tunnel face failure are still limited. In this study, the coupled CFD-DEM method is employed to simulate the progressive failure of the shield tunnel face in both saturated and dry sand.

Modulation of blood-tumor barrier transcriptional programs improves intratumoral drug delivery and potentiates chemotherapy in GBM.

Efficient drug delivery to glioblastoma (GBM) is a major obstacle as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-tumor barrier (BTB) prevent passage of the majority of chemotherapies into the brain. Here, we identified a transcriptional 12-gene signature associated with the BTB in GBM. We identified CDH5 as a core molecule in this set and confirmed its expression in GBM vasculature using transcriptomics and immunostaining of patient specimens.

A Narrow Range of Transcript-error Rates Across the Tree of Life.

The expression of genomically-encoded information is not error-free. Transcript-error rates are dramatically higher than DNA-level mutation rates, and despite their transient nature, the steady-state load of such errors must impose some burden on cellular performance. However, a broad perspective on the degree to which transcript-error rates are constrained by natural selection and diverge among lineages remains to be developed.

Preparation, Antifungal Activity Evaluation, and Mechanistic Studies of Unique and Structurally Novel Pyrazole-Heterocyclic-Amide Analogues.

Thirty-six novel pyrazole-heterocyclic-amide analogues were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The bioassay results showed that most target compounds exhibited good fungicidal activities against , , , , and at 20 μg/mL. Compounds , , , and possessed better fungicidal activities than the commercial fungicide prochloraz against .

The "prostate-pelvic syndrome" theory used in patients with type-III prostatitis and its correlation with prostate volume.

Background: Type-III prostatitis is the most common prostate disease in adult males below 40 years old. The actual operation of its diagnosis process is cumbersome. Recently, a group of top Chinese urologists have proposed the theory of "prostate-pelvic syndrome (PPS)" and suggested using it to replace the traditional term for type-III prostatitis.

AGD1/USP10/METTL13 complexes enhance cancer stem cells proliferation and diminish the therapeutic effect of docetaxel via CD44 m6A modification in castration resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Most patients with prostate cancer inevitably progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), at which stage chemotherapeutics like docetaxel become the first-line treatment. However, chemotherapy resistance typically develops after an initial period of therapeutic efficacy. Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells confer chemotherapy resistance via exosomes.

HIF-2α/LPCAT1 orchestrates the reprogramming of lipid metabolism in ccRCC by modulating the FBXW7-mediated ubiquitination of ACLY.

The current research revealed a strong link between lipid reprogramming and dysregulated lipid metabolism to the genesis and development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Pathologically, ccRCC exhibits a high concentration of lipid droplets within the cytoplasm. HIF-2α expression has previously been demonstrated to be elevated in ccRCC caused by mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, which plays a vital role in the development of renal cell carcinoma.

Precisely Constructing Superlattices of Soft Giant Molecules via Regulating Volume Asymmetry.

Soft matters, particularly giant molecular self-assembly, have successfully replicated complex structures previously exclusive to metal alloys. These superlattices are constructed from mesoatoms─supramolecular spherical motifs of aggregated molecules, and the formation of superlattices critically depends on the volume distributions of these mesoatoms. Herein, we introduce two general methods to control volume asymmetry (i.

The LDL Receptor-Related Protein 1: Mechanisms and roles in promoting Aβ efflux transporter in Alzheimer's disease.

The LDL Receptor-Related Protein 1(LRP1), a member of the Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptor family, is a multifunctional cellular transporter and signaling receptor, this includes regulation of lipid metabolism, cell migration and signaling. Abnormal accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain is thought to be the main pathological change in Alzheimer's disease. By binding to a variety of ligands, LRP1 is involved in the internalization and degradation of Aβ, thereby affecting the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

A retrospective cohort study on the association between nutritional status and prognosis in COVID-19 patients with severe and critical infection.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between nutritional scoring systems, nutritional support methods, and the prognosis of severe and critically ill patients infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Patients with confirmed Omicron variant severe and critical COVID-19, who were admitted to Chongqing Medical University First Hospital between December 2022 and January 2023, were enrolled into this retrospective study. Clinical data of patients who survived for 28 days were compared with those who died during the same period.

Horizontal ecological compensation and urban inclusive green growth: evidence from China.

Introduction: Horizontal ecological compensation (HEC) has the potential to incentivize inclusive green growth in cities.

Methods: Using the multi-stage difference-in-differences (DID) method, this study examines the impact of HEC policies as a quasi-natural experiment. Panel data are analyzed; the data pertain to 87 cities in the Yangtze River Basin, from 2007 to 2020.

Design, synthesis and antifungal activity of novel pyrazole-amide-isothiazole derivatives as succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors.

To discover new fungicides to protect food safety and quality, thirty-four novel pyrazole-amide-isothiazole compounds were designed, synthesised by using scaffold hopping theory for the first time. The bioactivity of all the target compounds against five plant pathogens (Including Penicillium digitatum, Physalospora piricola, Helminthosporium maydis, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea) were determined, the results showed that most of the compounds exhibited certain biological activities against B. cinerea in vitro.

Wearable Hydrogel SERS Chip Utilizing Plasmonic Trimers for Uric Acid Analysis in Sweat.

Uric acid is typically measured through blood tests, which can be inconvenient and uncomfortable for patients. Herein, we propose a wearable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) chip, incorporating a hydrogel membrane with integrated plasmonic trimers, for noninvasive monitoring of uric acid in sweat. The plasmonic trimers feature sub 5 nm nanogaps, generating strong electromagnetic fields to boost the Raman signal of surrounding molecules.

Causality investigation among gut microbiota, immune cells, and prostate diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The gut microbiota has been demonstrated to have a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of diseases, including prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Potential links between prostate diseases, immune cells and the gut microbiota have not been adequately investigated.

Methods: MR studies were conducted to estimate the effects of instrumental variables obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of 196 gut microbial taxa and 731 immune cells on the risk of prostate diseases.

High-throughput DNA engineering by mating bacteria.

To reduce the operational friction and scale DNA engineering, we report here an DNA assembly technology platform called SCRIVENER (equential onjugation and ecombination for n ivo longation of ucleotides with low rors). SCRIVENER combines bacterial conjugation, DNA cutting, and homologous recombination to seamlessly stitch blocks of DNA together by mating in large arrays or pools. This workflow is simpler, cheaper, and higher throughput than current DNA assembly approaches that require DNA to be moved in and out of cells at different procedural steps.

An artificial layer enables generation of a homogeneous inorganic/organic composite solid electrolyte interphase for stable lithium metal batteries.

Lithium (Li) metal anodes are considered one of the most promising anodes for high-performance batteries with ultra-high specific energy density. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth and the unsuitability of common systems for high voltage hinder the development of Li metal batteries with long cycle life. Herein, we report a rationally designed artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) for Li metal anodes, incorporating LiNO and lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) as additives within a porous poly (vinylidene fluoride--hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) polymer skeleton (referred to as PNF).

Modulation of blood-tumor barrier transcriptional programs improves intra-tumoral drug delivery and potentiates chemotherapy in GBM.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. GBM has an extremely poor prognosis and new treatments are badly needed. Efficient drug delivery to GBM is a major obstacle as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents passage of the majority of cancer drugs into the brain.

Association of Dietary Selenium Intake with Type 2 Diabetes in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China.

The relationship between distinct dietary selenium intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is still a topic of uncertainty. This study examined the relationship between dietary selenium intake and T2D risk among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Dietary selenium intake was assessed through three 24 h recalls, using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Directed Self-Assembly of Polystyrene-Block-Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Monolayer by Nano-Trench for Nanopatterning.

This work pioneers to combine fast self-assembly of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanocage-based giant surfactants with high etching contrast and directed self-assembly for reliable long-range lateral order to create well-aligned sub-10 nm line nanopatterns via reactive ion etching (RIE). Polystyrene-block-oligo(dimethylsiloxane) substituted POSS (PS-b-oDMSPOSS) with seven oligo(dimethylsiloxane) at the corners of the POSS nanocage and one polystyrene (PS) tail is designed and synthesized as a giant surfactant with self-assembly behaviors like block copolymer (BCP). In contrast to BCP, oDMSPOSS gives a volume-persistent "nanoatom" particle with higher mobility for fast self-assembly and higher segregation strength with PS for smaller feature size.

Alcohol intake exacerbates experimental autoimmune prostatitis through gut microbiota driving cholesterol biosynthesis-mediated Th17 differentiation.

Background: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is very common worldwide, and alcohol consumption is a notable contributing factor. Researches have shown that gut microbiota can be influenced by alcohol consumption and is an important mediator in regulating Th17 cell immunity. However, it is still unclear the exact mechanism by which alcohol exacerbates the CP/CPPS and the role of gut microbiota in this process.