This paper investigates the application of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) to cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). A new cooperative multiple-input ...single-output (MISO) SWIPT NOMA protocol is proposed, where a user with a strong channel condition acts as an energy-harvesting (EH) relay by adopting power splitting (PS) scheme to help a user with a poor channel condition. By jointly optimizing the PS ratio and the beamforming vectors, we aim at maximizing the data rate of the "strong user" while satisfying the QoS requirement of the "weak user". To resolve the formulated nonconvex problem, the semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique is applied to reformulate the original problem, by proving the rank-one optimality. And then an iterative algorithm based on successive convex approximation (SCA) is proposed for complexity reduction, which can at least attain its stationary point efficiently. In view of the potential application scenarios, e.g., Internet of Things (IoT), the single-input single-output (SISO) case is also studied. The formulated problem is proved to be strictly unimodal with respect to the PS ratio. Hence, a golden section search (GSS) based algorithm with closed-form solution at each step is proposed to find the unique global optimal solution. It is worth pointing out that the SCA method can also converge to the optimal solution in SISO cases. In the numerical simulation, the proposed algorithm is numerically shown to converge within a few iterations, and the SWIPT-aided NOMA protocol outperforms the existing transmission protocols.
Chemotherapy represents an important treatment option for colorectal cancer (CRC), but only half of the patients benefit from these regimens. We explored the potential predicting value and mechanism ...of PIK3CA mutation in CRC chemotherapy. CRC specimens from 440 patients were retrospectively collected and examined with a fluorescence PCR-based method. The correlation of first-line chemotherapy response and PIK3CA mutation was evaluated according to follow-up and medical records. The underlying mechanism of PIK3CA mutation in chemotherapy resistance was assessed with CRC tumors and primary cells. The mutation frequency of the PIK3CA gene in CRC patients was 9.55%, which was correlated with late TNM staging and lower histological grade. The CRC patients with PIK3A mutation showed worse response to first-line chemotherapy than those without PIK3CA mutation. PIK3A mutation tumor cells showed poor sensitivity to first-line chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. PIK3CA mutation induced PI3K/Akt signaling activation to increase LGR5
CRC stem cells survival and proliferation, from which lead to chemotherapy resistance. Furthermore, PIK3CA
/LGR5
expression was an independent detrimental factor for CRC patients. Our findings indicated that PIK3CA mutation induced PI3K/Akt activation contributed to CRC stem cells survival and proliferation, from which cells further resistance to chemotherapy. PIK3CA
/LGR5
expression was a potential biomarker for monitoring chemotherapy resistance in CRC.
WRKYs are important regulators in plant development and stress responses. However, knowledge of this superfamily in soybean is limited. In this study, we characterized the drought- and salt-induced ...gene
based on RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR.
, which is 714 bp in length, encoded 237 amino acids and grouped into WRKY II. The promoter region of
included ABER4, MYB, MYC, GT-1, W-box and DPBF
-elements, which possibly participate in abscisic acid (ABA), drought and salt stress responses.
was minimally expressed in different tissues under normal conditions but highly expressed under drought and salt treatments. As a nucleus protein,
was responsive to drought, salt, ABA and salicylic acid (SA) stresses. Using a transgenic hairy root assay, we further characterized the roles of
in abiotic stress tolerance. Compared with control (Williams 82), overexpression of
enhanced drought and salt tolerance, increased proline (Pro) content and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content under drought and salt treatment in transgenic soybean seedlings. These results may provide a basis to understand the functions of
in abiotic stress responses in soybean.
In this paper, a new model-free adaptive integral sliding-mode-constrained control scheme is presented for autonomous four-wheeled mobile vehicle (4WMV) parking systems. The proposed control strategy ...includes: 1) online identification for the object model based on a data-driven technique is presented for 4WMV and 2) an integral sliding-mode controller with control input constraints and stability analysis is provided. For online data-driven model identification, a compact-form dynamic linearization-based observer formulation is constructed for 4WMV. For integral sliding-mode controller design, a dynamic antiwindup compensator is introduced to solve integral saturation and actuator saturation problems in the autonomous 4WMV parking system. The designed control scheme only utilizes the body angle and steering angle of the vehicle under the condition that the precise mechanism model of the autonomous 4WMV parking system is not available to us. Finally, simulation comparisons between the model-free adaptive integral sliding-mode-constrained control scheme, PID control, and model-free adaptive control algorithms with coordinate compensation are given for two different vehicles. The simulation results show that a better control performance is achieved with the proposed new sliding-mode controller than the traditional control method when actuator or control input saturation exists in the autonomous 4WMV parking system.
Hip fracture is an important and prevalent medical condition associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this article is to systematically review and summarise the predictors of poor functional ...outcomes and mortality for patients with hip fractures.
We conducted a systemic literature search using PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. We included English peer-reviewed cohort studies that examined predictors of poor functional outcomes (such as independence in Activities of Daily Living) and mortality for patients with hip fracture published in the past 15 years (from 1 Jan 2004 up to 30 May 2019). Two independent researchers evaluated the articles for eligibility. Consensus on the eligibility was sought and a third researcher was involved if there was disagreement. A standardised form was used to extract relevant data. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies.
We retrieved 4339 and included 81 articles. We identified two emerging predictors of poor functional outcomes and mortality for patients with hip fractures: low hand grip strength and frailty in line with an emerging concept of "physical performance". The predictors identified in this systematic review can be grouped into 1) medical factors, such as presence of co-morbidities, high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, sarcopenia, 2) surgical factors including delay in operation (e.g. > 48 h), type of fracture s, 3) socio-economic factors which include age, gender, ethnicity, and 4) system factors including lower case-volume centers.
This systematic review identified multiple significant predictors of poor functional outcomes and mortality, with the hand grip strength and frailty being important emerging predictors in the most recent literature. These predictors would further inform healthcare providers of their patients' health status and allow for early intervention for modifiable predictors.
Patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a high risk of disease relapse, despite a high proportion of patients attaining complete clinical remission after receiving ...standard-of-care treatment (ie, definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without induction chemotherapy). Additional adjuvant therapies are needed to further reduce the risk of recurrence and death. However, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma remains controversial, highlighting the need for more effective adjuvant treatment options.
This multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial was done at 14 hospitals in China. Patients (aged 18–65 years) with histologically confirmed, high-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage III–IVA, excluding T3–4N0 and T3N1 disease), no locoregional disease or distant metastasis after definitive chemoradiotherapy, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, sufficient haematological, renal, and hepatic function, and who had received their final radiotherapy dose 12–16 weeks before randomisation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either oral metronomic capecitabine (650 mg/m2 body surface area twice daily for 1 year; metronomic capecitabine group) or observation (standard therapy group). Randomisation was done with a computer-generated sequence (block size of four), stratified by trial centre and receipt of induction chemotherapy (yes or no). The primary endpoint was failure-free survival, defined as the time from randomisation to disease recurrence (distant metastasis or locoregional recurrence) or death due to any cause, in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of capecitabine or who had commenced observation. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02958111.
Between Jan 25, 2017, and Oct 25, 2018, 675 patients were screened, of whom 406 were enrolled and randomly assigned to the metronomic capecitabine group (n=204) or to the standard therapy group (n=202). After a median follow-up of 38 months (IQR 33–42), there were 29 (14%) events of recurrence or death in the metronomic capecitabine group and 53 (26%) events of recurrence or death in the standard therapy group. Failure-free survival at 3 years was significantly higher in the metronomic capecitabine group (85·3% 95% CI 80·4–90·6) than in the standard therapy group (75·7% 69·9–81·9), with a stratified hazard ratio of 0·50 (95% CI 0·32–0·79; p=0·0023). Grade 3 adverse events were reported in 35 (17%) of 201 patients in the metronomic capecitabine group and in 11 (6%) of 200 patients in the standard therapy group; hand-foot syndrome was the most common adverse event related to capecitabine (18 9% patients had grade 3 hand-foot syndrome). One (<1%) patient in the metronomic capecitabine group had grade 4 neutropenia. No treatment-related deaths were reported in either group.
The addition of metronomic adjuvant capecitabine to chemoradiotherapy significantly improved failure-free survival in patients with high-risk locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, with a manageable safety profile. These results support a potential role for metronomic chemotherapy as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
The National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, the Innovation Team Development Plan of the Ministry of Education, and the Overseas Expertise Introduction Project for Discipline Innovation.
For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key regulators of the link between inflammation and cancer. A negative correlation between infiltration intensity of M2-polarized TAMs and ...prognosis of pancreatic cancer has been reported. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important biological process in the progression of primary tumors toward metastasis. Inflammation-induced EMT has been previously shown, therefore, we hypothesized M2-polarized TAMs could induce EMT in pancreatic cancer. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling has an active role in tumor progression during chronic inflammation and the receptor is primarily expressed on macrophages. Activation of TLR4 on M2-polarized TAMs stimulates an increase in the cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10); consequently, another aim was to investigate the potential role of TLR4/IL-10 signaling in the EMT of pancreatic cancer. Treatment with IL-4 (20 ng/ml) for 24 h successfully induced the polarization of macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 to M2 phenotype, IL-10(high), IL-12(low), and IL-23(low), and high expression of CD204 and CD206. A coculture system allowed investigation of the roles of M2-polarized TAMs and TLR4/IL-10 signaling in the EMT of Panc-1 and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Our results showed that coculture with M2-polarized TAMs increased fibroblastic morphology, upregulated mesenchymal markers vimentin and snail at the mRNA and protein levels, and increased proliferation, migration, and metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 proteolytic activity in pancreatic cancer cells. Simultaneously, coculture with M2-polarized TAMs decreased the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Coculture with pancreatic cancer cells increased TLR4 mRNA and protein expression in M2-polarized TAMs. Application of TLR4 siRNA and neutralizing antibodies against TLR4 and IL-10 markedly inhibited E-cadherin reduction and the upregulation of snail and vimentin. Furthermore, activation of TLR4 signaling by lipopolysaccharide profoundly increased the EMT of pancreatic cancer cells. In conclusion, M2-polarized TAMs promoted EMT in pancreatic cancer cells partially through TLR4/IL-10 signaling, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies and enhancing our understanding of M2-polarized TAMs.
Eliminating malaria and preventing re-establishment of malaria transmission in border areas requires universal coverage of malaria surveillance and a rapid response to any threats (i.e. malaria cues) ...of re-establishing transmission.
Strategy 1: Intensive interventions within 2.5 km-wide perimeter along the border to prevent border-spill malaria. The area within 2.5 km along the international border is the travel radius of anopheline mosquitoes. Comprehensive interventions should include: (1) proactive and passive case detection, (2) intensive vector surveillance, (3) evidence-based vector control, and (4) evidence-based preventative treatment with anti-malarial drugs. Strategy 2: Community-based malaria detection and screening of migrants and travellers in frontier townships. Un-permitted travellers cross borders frequently and present in frontier townships. Maintenance of intensified malaria surveillance should include: (1) passive malaria detection in the township hospitals, (2) seek assistance from villager leaders and health workers to monitor cross border travellers, and refer febrile patients to the township hospitals and (3) the county's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention maintain regular proactive case detection. Strategy 3: Universal coverage of malaria surveillance to detect malaria cues. Passive detection should be consolidated into the normal health service. Health services personnel should remain vigilant to ensure universal coverage of malaria detection and react promptly to any malaria cues. Strategy + 1: Strong collaborative support with neighbouring countries. Based on the agreement between the two countries, integrated control strategies should be carried out to reduce malaria burden for both countries. There should be a clear focus on the border areas between neighbouring countries.
The 3 + 1 strategy is an experience summary of border malaria control and elimination, and then contributed to malaria elimination in Yunnan's border areas, China. Nevertheless, Yunnan still has remaining challenges of re-establishment of malaria transmission in the border areas, and the 3 + 1 strategy should still be carried out.
2D van der Waals (vdW) semiconductors hold great potentials for more‐than‐Moore field‐effect transistors (FETs), and the efficient utilization of their theoretical performance requires compatible ...high‐k dielectrics to guarantee the high gate coupling efficiency. The deposition of traditional high‐k dielectric oxide films on 2D materials usually generates interface concerns, thereby causing the carrier scattering and degeneration of device performance. Here, utilizing a space‐confined epitaxy growth approach, the authors successfully obtained air‐stable ultrathin indium phosphorus sulfide (In2P3S9) nanosheets, the thickness of which can be scaled down to monolayer limit (≈0.69 nm) due to its layered structure. 2D In2P3S9 exhibits excellent insulating properties, with a high dielectric constant (≈24) and large breakdown voltage (≈8.1 MV cm−1) at room temperature. Serving as gate insulator, ultrathin In2P3S9 nanosheet can be integrated into MoS2 FETs with high‐quality dielectric/semiconductor interface, thus providing a competitive electrical performance of device with subthreshold swings (SS) down to 88 mV dec−1 and a high ON/OFF ratio of 105. This study proves an important strategy to prepare 2D vdW high‐k dielectrics, and greatly facilitates the ongoing research of 2D materials for functional electronics.
Ultrathin indium phosphorus sulfide (In2P3S9) nanosheets are obtained utilizing a space‐confined epitaxy growth approach, which exhibits a high dielectric constant (≈24) and large breakdown voltage (≈8.1 MV cm−1) at room temperature. The excellent insulating properties make it suitable for integration into 2D field‐effect transistors as dielectric layer, which can provide an efficient modulation for the carrier density in a semiconducting channel.
Conversion of platform molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into high-value-added derivatives has attracted significant interest. In this paper, a metallic cobalt catalyst was prepared by the ...simple reduction of commercially available Co
3
O
4
, and used to catalyze the reductive etherification of HMF to 2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)furan (BMMF) under mild conditions. A yield of 93% 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) was obtained (90 °C, 2 MPa H
2
, 1 h) and 98.5% yield of BMMF was achieved (140 °C, 2 MPa H
2
, 1 h) by using a Co-400 catalyst. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), ammonia-temperature-programmed-desorption (NH
3
-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). It was found that the Co
0
and Co
2+/3+
species coexist on the surface of the catalyst and the catalyst became more porous and rougher after reduction at high temperature. This may be more beneficial for enhancing the selectivity of the etherification product and the mass transfer of reaction species. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed based on GC and
1
H-NMR analyses. The cobalt catalyst was reused five times with a slight decrease in activity.
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