This paper presents the fragility assessment of non-seismically designed steel moment frames with masonry infills. The assessment considered the effects of multiple earthquakes on the damage ...accumulation of steel frames, which is an essential part of modern performance-based earthquake engineering. Effects of aftershocks are particularly important when examining damaged buildings and making post-quake decisions, such as tagging and retrofit strategy. The procedure proposed in the present work includes two phase assessment, which is based on incremental dynamic analyses of two refined numerical models of the case-study steel frame, i.e. with and without masonry infills, and utilises mainshock-aftershock sequences of natural earthquake records. The first phase focuses on the undamaged structure subjected to single and multiple earthquakes; the effects of masonry infills on the seismic vulnerability of the steel frame were also considered. In the second phase, aftershock fragility curves were derived to investigate the seismic vulnerability of infilled steel frames with post-mainshock damage caused by mainshocks. Comparative analyses were conducted among the mainshock-damaged structures considering three post-mainshock damage levels, including no damage. The impact of aftershocks was then discussed for each mainshock-damage level in terms of the breakpoint that marks the onset of exceeding post-mainshock damage level, as well as the probability of exceeding of superior damage level due to more significant aftershocks. The evaluation of the efficiency of commonly used intensity measures of aftershocks was also carried out as part of the second phase of assessment.
DNA methylation is a crucial regulator of gene transcription in the etiology and pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, it is reasonable to identify DNA methylation‐related prognostic ...markers. Currently, we aimed to make an integrative epigenetic analysis of HCC to identify the effectiveness of epigenetic drivers in predicting prognosis for HCC patients. By the software pipeline TCGA‐Assembler 2, RNA‐seq, and methylation data were downloaded and processed from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A bioconductor package MethylMix was utilized to incorporate gene expression and methylation data on all 363 samples and identify 589 epigenetic drivers with transcriptionally predictive. By univariate survival analysis, 72 epigenetic drivers correlated with overall survival (OS) were selected for further analysis in our training cohort. By the robust likelihood‐based survival model, six epi‐drivers (doublecortin domain containing 2, flavin containing monooxygenase 3, G protein‐coupled receptor 171, Lck interacting transmembrane adaptor 1, S100 calcium binding protein P, small nucleolar RNA host gene 6) serving as prognostic markers was identified and then a DNA methylation signature for HCC (MSH) predicting OS was identified to stratify patients into low‐risk and high‐risk groups in the training cohort (p < 0.001). The capability of MSH was also assessed in the validation cohort (p = 0.002). Furthermore, a receiver operating characteristic curve confirmed MSH as an effective prognostic model for predicting OS in HCC patients in training area under curve (AUC = 0.802) and validation (AUC = 0.691) cohorts. Finally, a nomogram comprising MSH and pathologic stage was generated to predict OS in the training cohort, and it also operated effectively in the validation cohort (concordance index: 0.674). In conclusion, MSH, a six epi‐drivers based signature, is a potential model to predict prognosis for HCC patients.
In this study, we identified a DNA methylation signature for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a six epi‐drivers based signature, could act as a potential model to predict prognosis for HCC patients.
•The predictive power of trait mindfulness and serenity for creativity was tested.•Both mindfulness and serenity showed unique contributions to creativity.•Mindfulness exhibited varied predictive ...powers across aspects of creativity.•Serenity showed a relatively stable predictive power across aspects of creativity.•The obtained findings enrich the discourse of the positive psychology perspective.
This study aimed to investigate the roles of two positive personal characteristics – dispositional mindfulness and dispositional serenity – in creative functioning from the perspective of positive psychology. A total of 598 (51.3% females) university students in Hong Kong took part in the study. Dispositional mindfulness and serenity were assessed with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale and the Brief Serenity Scale, respectively. By adopting a multiple-measurement approach to creativity, creative functioning was assessed with three commonly used creativity tests: (1) a divergent thinking test, (2) the Test for Creative Thinking–Drawing Production, and (3) a creative problem-solving test. Each of these tests focuses on a specific aspect of creative functioning (i.e., idea generation, combinatory ability, and restructuring ability). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were applied to test the hypothesized positive role of dispositional mindfulness and serenity in predicting creative functioning. Lending support to the positive psychology perspective, our findings suggest that dispositional mindfulness and serenity have unique contributions to creative functioning. Enriching the discourse of the positive psychology perspective, our findings on the one hand suggest that the predictive power of dispositional mindfulness varies across aspects of creative functioning; on the other hand, however, dispositional serenity presents a somewhat consistent and stable predictive power across aspects of creative functioning. These findings shed light on improving creative functioning by promoting positive human characteristics.
Repaglinide (RPG) is a short-acting insulin secretagogue widely prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It boosts insulin secretion by inhibiting the pancreatic ATP-sensitive potassium ...channel (K
). However, the mechanisms by which RPG binds to the K
channel are poorly understood. Here, we describe two cryo-EM structures: the pancreatic K
channel in complex with inhibitory RPG and adenosine-5'-(γ-thio)-triphosphate (ATPγS) at 3.3 Å and a medium-resolution structure of a RPG-bound mini SUR1 protein in which the N terminus of the inward-rectifying potassium channel 6.1 (Kir6.1) is fused to the ABC transporter module of the sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1). These structures reveal the binding site of RPG in the SUR1 subunit. Furthermore, the high-resolution structure reveals the complex architecture of the ATP binding site, which is formed by both Kir6.2 and SUR1 subunits, and the domain-domain interaction interfaces.
The Dengfuxian and Xitian ore fields, located in the central Nanling Range of South China, are characterized by multi‐stage W–Sn polymetallic mineralization. In this study, whole‐rock and zircon ...compositions in altered granites from four typical deposits in these ore fields (i.e., Dalong Pb–Zn, Xiangdong W, Gaolong fluorite, and Shaiheling Sn–Pb–Zn) were studied to constrain their fluid chemistry and mineralization history. Compared to unaltered granites at Dengfuxian and Xitian, these fluid‐altered granites are characterized by more variable SiO2 (64.2–78.4%) and lower TiO2 (0.02–0.12%), CaO (0.25–1.2%), and Na2O (0.31–2.6%) concentrations, lower ΣREE (87–156 ppm), and higher Zr/Hf (11.1–31.6) and Y/Ho (31.1–53.4) ratios, suggesting intense F‐rich fluid metasomatism. Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL), transmitted light and back‐scattered electron (BSE) imaging, laser ablation multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS) trace‐element analysis, U–Pb dating, and Hf isotopes revealed a sequence of three W–Sn polymetallic mineralization stages: a Triassic stage (~220 Ma), a Jurassic stage (~150 Ma), and a Cretaceous stage (~80 Ma). The Triassic episode was associated with a highly fractionated granitic magma derived from the lower crust and contaminated by basement rocks; the magmatic fluid was affected by a high 176Hf/177Hf component from the ~770‐Ma basement and probably precipitated under high F and high fO2 conditions. The Jurassic episode was related to mantle–crust interaction and resulted in large‐scale W–Sn mineralization at decreased fO2. The Cretaceous episode was marked by Sn mineralization in a lithospheric extensional setting. We infer that basement rocks were the major source of metals for the world‐class W–Sn ore deposits in the Nanling Range of South China. This study also demonstrates that whole‐rock geochemistry of hydrothermally altered granites in combination with Lu–Hf isotopic, U–Pb dating, and trace element analyses of magmatic and hydrothermal zircons can be a useful approach to recognition of multi‐stage magmatic and mineralization processes.
Exosomes are nanosized vesicles that are abundant in biological fluids. In recent years, exosomes have attracted increasing attention as their cargo may provide promising biomarkers for the early ...diagnosis of and therapy for many diseases, such as cancer. In addition to ultracentrifugation (UC), many alternative methods including size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) have been developed for isolating exosomes. It has been reported that the SEC method provided improved performance relative to the UC method in isolating exosomes from plasma, where the former contained less residual blood protein contamination. We have compared the SEC method with an optimized UC method in isolating exosomes from human serum. This was based on dilution of the serum to reduce the viscosity and a prolonged cycle of UC, followed by another four cycles. We found that >95% of serum proteins were removed without a significant loss of exosome proteins relative to SEC. We also combined one cycle of UC with SEC and found that this method provided improved results relative to the SEC method, although the serum protein contamination was several times higher than that of our optimized UC method. The TEM showed that the size distribution of exosomes isolated from each of the three methods was similar.
Abstract
Low clouds frequent the subtropical northeastern Pacific Ocean (NEP) and interact with the local sea surface temperature (SST) to form positive feedback. Wind fluctuations drive SST ...variability through wind–evaporation–SST (WES) feedback, and surface evaporation also acts to damp SST. This study investigates the relative contributions of these feedbacks to NEP SST variability. Over the summer NEP, the low cloud–SST feedback is so large that it exceeds the evaporative damping and amplifies summertime SST variations. The WES feedback causes the locally enhanced SST variability to propagate southwestward from the NEP low cloud deck, modulating El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) occurrence upon reaching the equator. As a result, a second-year El Niño tends to occur when there are significant warm SST anomalies over the subtropical NEP in summer following an antecedent El Niño event and a second-year La Niña tends to occur when there are significant cold SST anomalies over the subtropical NEP in summer following an antecedent La Niña event The mediating role of the NEP low cloud–SST feedback is confirmed in a cloud-locking experiment with the Community Earth System Model, version 1 (CESM1). When the cloud–ocean coupling is disabled, SST variability over the NEP weakens and the modulating effect on ENSO vanishes. The nonlocal effect of the NEP low cloud–SST feedback on ENSO has important implications for climate prediction.
•Fe and O codopants substantially accelerated the electron transfer of g-C3N4 for PMS activation.•Efficient BPA removal was achieved at high salinity and within wider pH ranges.•High-valent iron-oxo ...species and singlet oxygen were identified as two main reactive species.•Nonradical pathways were elucidated based on experimental and theoretical analyses.
Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for wastewater treatment have recently attracted widespread interests. However, the degradation of organic pollutants via traditional radical-dominated pathway is severely limited by the side reactions between radicals and the co-existing inorganic anions, especially under high salinity conditions. Herein, an efficient Fe/O co-doped g-C3N4nanosheet catalyst was synthesized to dominantly activate PMS through a dual non-radical pathway with the singlet oxygen and high-valent iron-oxo species (Fe(V)=O). The rapid degradation of model pollutant bisphenol A (BPA) was achieved by dosing PMS (1 mM), catalyst (0.1 g/L) in a simulated high-salt wastewater (≥200 mM) of the developed Fe/O-doped g-C3N4+PMS system with a reaction rate constant of 1204-fold higher than that in g-C3N4+PMS system. The O and Fe co-dopants could reconfigurate the electronic structure of pristine g-C3N4 to produce more non-radical active species. The formed Fe(V)=O played a main role in the BPA degradation by promoting electron transfer from BPA molecule to the “metastable PMS/catalyst complex”, which was verified by electrochemical tests and density functional theory calculations. The auxiliary transient productions of ·OH+SO4·– species were also favorable for the pollutant degradation. Excellent reusability in a wide pH range confirmed the practical application prospects of the Fe/O-doped g-C3N4+PMS system. The successive addition of PMS with a low dosage into the system rich in pollutants was confirmed to favor the PMS utilization. Our work unveils the potential applications of a non-radical dominated process for the decontamination of organic pollutants in saline water.
Fibrin glue has been widely used as a surgical sealing and hemostatic agent. Its application is restricted due to poor tissue adhesion and low mechanical strength. To develop better tissue sealant ...and hemostatic agent, this study prepared the injectable hydrogels by chemically cross‐linking gelatin (G) with or without hyaluronic acid (HA) in situ at a mild condition. The rheological analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling, proteolytic degradation, biocompatibility, tissue sealing, and hemostatic ability of the hydrogels were investigated. It was found that the chemical cross‐linking rapidly formed in both self‐crosslinking gelatin (sc‐G) and gelatin/hyaluronate acid (G/HA) hydrogels. The hydrogels could be degraded by trypsin and had a desirable biocompatibility. The tissue sealing ability of the hydrogels was superior to fibrin glue. Furthermore, the G/HA hydrogel had similar hemostatic performance as fibrin glue, and was better than that of gelatin hydrogel. The results in the study indicated that the G/HA hydrogel could be used in clinic as a tissue sealant or surgical hemostat.
Perinatal depression in women is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and has attracted increasing attention. The investigation of risk factors of perinatal depression in women may ...contribute to the early identification of depressed or depression-prone women in clinical practice.
A computerized systematic literature search was made in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE from January 2009 to October 2021. All included articles were published in English, which evaluated factors influencing perinatal depression in women. Based on the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration protocols, Review Manager 5.3 was used as a statistical platform.
Thirty-one studies with an overall sample size of 79,043 women were included in the review. Educational level (P = 0.0001, odds ratio OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.18,1.67), economic status of families (P = 0.0001, OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.29,2.22), history of mental illness (P < 0.00001, OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.47), domestic violence (P < 0.00001, OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.17,0.34), perinatal smoking or drinking (P = 0.005, OR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.45, 0.87; P = 0.008, OR: 0.43, 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.80; respectively), and multiparity(P = 0.0003, OR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.87) were correlated with perinatal depression in women. The stability of our pooled results was verified by sensitivity analysis and publication bias was not observed based on funnel plot results.
Lower educational level, poor economic status of families, history of mental illness, domestic violence, perinatal smoking or drinking, and multiparity serve as risk factors of perinatal depression in women.
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