Asymptotic behaviors of the extremes of the beta-normal distribution are derived. The higher-order asymptotic expansions of the probability density and cumulative distribution functions for the ...maximum are given under an optimal normalizing constants. In particular, the associated rates of convergence are explicitly calculated.
Being different from avoidance of singularity of closed-loop linkages, this paper employs the kinematic singularity to construct compliant mechanisms with expected nonlinear stiffness characteristics ...to enrich the methods of compliant mechanisms synthesis. The theory for generating kinetostatic nonlinear stiffness characteristic by the kinematic limb-singularity of a crank-slider linkage is developed. Based on the principle of virtual work, the kinetostatic model of the crank-linkage with springs is established. The influences of spring stiffness on the toque-position angle relation are analyzed. It indicates that corresponding spring stiffness may generate one of four types of nonlinear stiffness characteristics including the bi-stable, local negative-stiffness, zero-stiffness or positive-stiffness when the mechanism works around the kinematic limb-singularity position. Thus the compliant mechanism with an expected stiffness characteristic can be constructed by employing the pseudo rigid-body model of the mechanism whose joints or links are replaced by corresponding flexures. Finally, a tri-symmetrical constant-torque compliant mechanism is fabricated, where the curve of torque-position angle is obtained by an experimental testing. The measurement indicates that the compliant mechanism can generate a nearly constant-torque zone.
The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) continues to increase worldwide. Aerobic glycolysis, the prominent feature of glucose metabolism in cancer progression, is associated with TC. We first ...demonstrated that HIF-1a is highly expressed in TC tissues and is positively correlated with the level of XIST in the serum of patients with TC. Then, we proved that XIST regulates the expression of HIF-1a through the XIST/miR-93/HIF-1a pathway, thereby regulating the level of glycolysis in TC cells. Knockdown of XIST inhibits glycolysis, proliferation, the cell cycle and metastasis of TC cells. Finally, we verified that artemisinin could target the degradation of HIF-1a and inhibit glycolysis in TC cells. Collectively, XIST levels in serum may be used as a tumor marker for TC promoted by HIF-1a, which could be treated using artemisinin.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Based on the configuration of the Stewart parallel mechanism (SPM), after analyzing the kinetostatic characteristic of a planar four-bar linkage with attached springs which works around the kinematic ...limb-singularity, a process of constructing a novel multi-degree of freedom (DOF) parallel passive compliant constant-force mechanism (CCFM) is presented. The kinematic limb-singularity of a rigid four-bar linkage with attached springs is obtained and then is applied to construct a constant-force compliant mechanism (CM) based on the pseudo-rigid-body-model by designing appropriate structure parameters to obtain appropriate equivalent spring stiffness of flexures. The CCFM is further used as the branches of the SPM and then a passive multi-DOF parallel mechanism (PM) is constructed. Here the method of replacing the original rigid branch of the PM with the CCFM is called the “Expanded Rigid-body Replacement Synthesis” (ERBRS). The multi-DOF parallel passive CCFM can generate a constant-force zone when makes a small pose transformation around a certain position, where each compliant branch is located at the constant-force zone. The proposed CCFM can be applied in practice such as the polishing machine which needs the constant contact-force between the polishing head and the workpiece. The proposed method of constructing a CCFM with one- or multi-degree of freedom mechanism has some important reference value on designing other types of CCFMs.
The effect of intra-operative chemotherapy (IOC) on the long-term survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the independent effect of ...intra-operative infusion of 5-fluorouracil in combination with calcium folinate on the survival of CRC patients following radical resection.
1820 patients were recruited, and 1263 received IOC and 557 did not. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including overall survival (OS), clinicopathological features, and treatment strategies. Risk factors for IOC-related deaths were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. A regression model was developed to analyze the independent effects of IOC.
Proportional hazard regression analysis showed that IOC (hazard ratio HR=0.53, 95% confidence intervals CI 0.43, 0.65, P < 0.001) was a protective factor for the survival of patients. The mean overall survival time in IOC group was 82.50 (95% CI 80.52, 84.49) months, and 71.21 (95% CI 67.92, 74.50) months in non-IOC group. The OS in IOC-treated patients were significantly higher than non-IOC-treated patients ( P < 0.001, log-rank test). Further analysis revealed that IOC decreased the risk of death in patients with CRC in a non-adjusted model (HR=0.53, 95% CI 0.43, 0.65, P < 0.001), model 2 (adjusted for age and gender, HR=0.52, 95% CI 0.43, 0.64, P < 0.001), and model 3 (adjusted for all factors, 95% CI 0.71 0.55, 0.90, P = 0.006). The subgroup analysis showed that the HR for the effect of IOC on survival was lower in patients with stage II (HR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.31, 0.67) or III disease (HR=0.59, 95% CI 0.45, 0.76), regardless of pre-operative radiotherapy (HR=0.55, 95% CI 0.45, 0.68) or pre-operative chemotherapy (HR=0.54, 95% CI 0.44, 0.66).
IOC is an independent factor that influences the survival of CRC patients. It improved the OS of patients with stages II and III CRC after radical surgery.
chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR 2100043775.
Cheese is one of the traditional fermented dairy products in Xinjiang, China. Due to its geographical location and regional feature this type of cheese harbors certain regional characteristics. To ...investigate these, here Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to target the v4-v5 interval to analyze the composition of fungal flora in Xinjiang traditional cheese. Our results showed the fungal flora of this cheese is mainly composed of
Pichia
(65.20%),
Kazachstania
(9.05%),
Galactomyces
(7.21%),
Zygosaccharomyces
(6.56%),
Torulaspora
(3.13%),
Dipodascus
(2.11%) and
Ogataea
(1.64%) belonging to the Ascomycota. PcoA (Principal Co-ordinates Analysis) and an UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means) based on the OTUs (Optical Transform Unit) horizontal-weighted UniFrac distances, revealed some differences in fungal community structure among 17 cheese samples. At the OTU level, nine dominant OTUs were found in all the samples, for which
Pichia
was the most important fungal group. Building on this, the moisture content (23.20–59.22%), water distribution, and salt content (1.13–4.84%) in cheese were also determined. We found that six of the seven dominant fungal genera had specific correlations with the above physical and chemical variables, with only
Ogataea
uncorrelated with any variables. The results provide a theoretical basis for the development and use of cheese microbial resources in Xinjiang, China.
The effects of autochthonous starter cultures (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius and L. plantarum + L. salivarius) on the accumulation of biogenic amines (BAs) in traditional Chinese ...smoked horsemeat sausage were investigated. The concentration of biogenic amines, microbiological growth, pH, and moisture content were evaluated. Starter cultures could effectively inhibit indigenous bacteria, as judged by traditional microbiological methods and polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE), and promote the degradation of BAs through oxidative deamination catalyzed by amine oxidase. L. salivarius inhibited BAs to a greater extent than the other two strains, and L. plantarum and L. salivarius had an antagonistic effect on the accumulation of BAs. The results indicate that starter cultures producing amine oxidase have a bacteriostatic effect and decrease the production of BAs during ripening of smoked horsemeat sausage, provided that suitable strain combinations are employed.
Practical applications
Smoked horsemeat sausage is favored by consumer with its special flavor and high nutritional value. However, it is usually manufactured in small workshop following spontaneous fermentation. Therefore, the quality and safety of the final product is not guaranteed. The application of starter cultures is one of efficient methods for smoked horsemeat sausage’ quality. In this study, L. plantarum + L. salivarius were used as starter cultures, which can reduce BA content to ensure food safety, and inhibit contaminant microorganisms growth, as well as no negatively influence to traditional properties of the product.
Freeze-drying is commonly used to preserve probiotics, but it could cause cell damage and loss of viability. The cryoprotectants play an important role in the conservation of viability during ...freeze-drying. In this study, we investigated the survival rates of
Lactobacillus reuteri
CICC6226 in the presence of cryoprotectants such as sucrose, trehalose, and reconstituted skim milk (RSM). In addition, we determined the activities of hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ATPases immediately following the freeze-drying. The results showed that the differences in HK and PK activities with and without the cryoprotectants during freeze-drying were not significant, but cell viability and activities of LDH and ATPase were significantly different (
P
<0.01) prior to and after freeze-drying. Meanwhile, the results showed that the maintenance of the membrane integrity and fluidity was improved in the presence of the 10% trehalose or 10% RSM than other treatments during freeze-drying. These results have provided direct biochemical and metabolic evidence of injured cell during freeze-drying. Freeze-drying damaged membrane structure and function of cell and inactivated enzymes (LDH and ATPases). The results imply that LDH and ATPases are key markers and could be used to evaluate the effect of cryoprotectants on viability and metabolic activities of
L. reuteri
CICC6226 during freeze-drying.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
CEKLJ, DOBA, EMUNI, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Lacticaseibacillus paracasei
SMN-LBK, which was isolated in Xinjiang, has been shown to be a probiotic strain and used as the auxiliary starter for dairy fermentation. Comparative genomic analysis ...was performed to investigate the metabolic preference and ethanol tolerance mechanisms of
L. paracasei
SMN-LBK. The results of comparative genomics showed that
L. paracasei
strains had high conservation and genetic diversity. SMN-LBK encoded various genes related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism pathways, which endow this strain with good fermentation potential. In addition, 6 CRISPR sequences and 8 cas proteins were found in SMN-LBK, and these could play vital roles in the immune system. Furthermore, a unique cluster of potential secondary metabolism genes related to bacteriocins was detected in the genome of SMN-LBK, and this could be important for the preservation of fermented foods. Multiple genes related to alcohol tolerance were also identified. In conclusion, our study explained the traits that were previously demonstrated for SMN-LBK as phenotypes and provided a theoretical basis for the application of SMN-LBK in the food industry.
Background. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for most of the proportion of thyroid cancer (TC). The objective of this study was to identify diagnostic, differentially expressed long ...noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), contributing to understanding the epigenetics mechanism of PTC. Methods. The data of lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, followed by functional analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs. Optimal diagnostic lncRNA and miRNA biomarkers were identified via random forest. The regulatory network between optimal diagnostic lncRNA and mRNAs and optimal diagnostic miRNA and mRNAs was identified, followed by the construction of ceRNA network of lncRNA-mRNA-miRNA. Expression validation and diagnostic analysis of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were performed. Overexpression of ADD3-AS1 was performed in PTC-UC3 cell lines, and cell proliferation and invasion assay were used for investigating the role of ADD3-AS1 in PTC. Results. A total of 107 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 81 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 515 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified. 11 lncRNAs and 6 miRNAs were regarded as the optimal diagnostic biomarkers for PTC. The epigenetic modifications via the above diagnostic lncRNAs and miRNAs were identified, including MIR181A2HG-FOXP2-hsa-miR-146b-3p, BLACAT1/ST7-AS1-RPS6KA5-hsa-miR-34a-5p, LBX2-AS1/MIR100HG-CDHR3-hsa-miR-34a-5p, ADD3-AS1-PTPRE-hsa-miR-9-5p, ADD3-AS1-TGFBR1-hsa-miR-214-3p, LINC00506-MMRN1-hsa-miR-4709-3p, and LOC339059-STK32A-hsa-miR-199b-5p. In the functional analysis, MMRN1 and TGFBR1 were involved in cell adhesion and endothelial cell migration, respectively. Overexpression of ADD3-AS1 inhibited cell growth and invasion in PTC cell lines. Conclusion. The identified lncRNAs/miRNAs/mRNA were differentially expressed between normal and cancerous tissues. In addition, identified altered lncRNAs and miRNAs may be potential diagnostic biomarkers for PTC. Additionally, epigenetic modifications via the above lncRNAs and miRNAs may be involved in tumorigenesis of PTC.
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