Instantaneous sap flow velocity simulation of Euonymus bungeanus based on neural network optimization model.

The sap flow of trees is complex and difficult to express with multivariate linear or empirical models. A simple and feasible method on the basis of understanding sap flow variation to simulate its variation with environmental factors is of special importance for quantitatively analyzing forest ecohydrological processes and regional water demand. In this study, with one of the shelter forest species Euonymus bungeanus in the east sandy land of Yellow River in Ningxia as the research object, we continuously measured the trunk sap flow velocity by thermal diffusion sap flow meter, and analyzed the effects of environmental factors on stem sap flow. We used the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and sparrow search algorithm (SSA) optimized neural network model to predict sap flow velocity of E. bungeanus. Results showed that the main environmental factors influencing sap flow were solar radiation, vapor pressure deficit, air temperature, and relative humidity, with the influencing importance of 32.5%, 25.3%, 22.0% and 16.1%, respectively. The response process between sap flow and environmental factors presented a hysteresis loop relationship. The optimized BP, Elman and ELM neural network models improved the comprehensive evaluation index (GPI) by 1.5%, 30.0% and 5.3%, respectively. Compared with the PSO-Elman and SSA-ELM optimization models, the SSA-BP optimization model had the best prediction results with an improvement of 1.0% and 23.2% in GPI, respectively. Therefore, the prediction results of the BP neural network model based on the sparrow search algorithm could be used as an optimal model for predicting instantaneous sap flow velocity of E. bungeanus.

Epidemiology of esophageal cancer in 2020 and projections to 2030 and 2040.

Esophageal cancer is a familiar malignancy with high incidence and mortality, and the overall prognosis is poor. The numbers of cases of and deaths from esophageal cancer have risen rapidly in recent decades. It is one of the most malignant cancers, with more than 0.6 million new cases and 0.54 million deaths worldwide in 2020. Here, we present the global epidemiology of esophageal cancer in 2020 and projections to 2030 and 2040 at different geographical levels of continents, regions and countries, and analyze them by gender, race, geographic region and human development index. We summarize the prospects for the esophageal cancer burden and risk factors in different areas, which will be useful for global esophageal cancer clinical therapy and cancer control planning.

Association between waist circumference change and incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among Chinese adults: a 10-year cohort study.

The aim of our study was to investigate waist circumference (WC) change and the risk of incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Chinese adults. A total of 8164 participants aged > 18 years who attended health examinations with repeat measurements of WC and lung function [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)] from 2010 to 2019 were recruited. WC change was categorized as ≤ - 2.5%, - 2.5 to 2.5%, 2.5% to 5% and > 5% according to sex. Modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the association of WC gain and the risk of COPD. During the 10-year follow-up, a total of 917 COPD cases were identified. From baseline to follow-up, the mean FEV1 decreased from 3.20 to 2.79L among male participants and 2.28-1.95L among female participants. Compared with participants who did not have abdominal obesity, at either, baseline or follow-up, participants with abdominal obesity of both sexes after the follow-up were associated with a greater risk of COPD regardless of abdominal obesity at baseline. The risk of incident COPD increased 19% among male participants (RR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.04-1.48) and 14% among female participants (RR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.01-1.40) when WC gain increased > 5% during the 10-year follow-up. The COPD risk decreased 18% among male participants with a WC change ≤ - 2.5% (RR = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.67-0.99). The risk of incident COPD was positively associated with increasing WC among Chinese adults of both sexes.

miR-15a and miR-16-1 downregulate CCND1 and induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary tumor of the bones, causes many deaths due to its rapid proliferation and drug resistance. Recent studies have shown that cyclin D1 plays a key regulatory role during cell proliferation, and non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) act as crucial modulators of cyclin D1 (CCND1). The aim of the current study was to determine the role of miRNAs in controlling CCND1 expression and inducing cell apoptosis. CCND1 has been found to be a target of miR-15a and miR-16-1 through analysis of complementary sequences between microRNAs and CCND1 mRNA. The upregulation of miR-15a and miR-16-1 in the cell line SOSP-9607 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Osteosarcoma cells transfected with miR-15a and miR-16-1 show slower proliferation curves. Moreover, the transcription of CCND1 is suppressed by miR-15a and miR-16-1 via direct binding to the CCND1 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). The data presented here demonstrate that the CCND1 contributes to osteosarcoma cell proliferation, suggesting that repression of CCND1 by miR-15a and miR-16-1 could be used for osteosarcoma therapy.

[Protective function of melatonin to acute lung injury and its mechanisms in rats caused by oleic acid].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of P-selectin (Ps), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in lung tissues of acute lung injury (ALI) rat model induced by oleic acid (OA) and to explore the protective effects of melatonin (MT) in lung tissues in rats. METHODS: All rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, OA group, MT + OA group and SB203580 + OA group. Rat model of ALI was established by intravenous injection of oleic acid (OA). Lung coefficient was measured, lung tissues were imbedded by paraffin to observe morphological changes and the expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB in lung tissues by means of immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the lung coefficient increased significantly in OA group (P < 0.05). Alveolar septum thickened significantly in OA group, there had many infiltrated inflammatory cells and collapsed alveoli of lung; positive expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB were very obvious (P < 0.05); the administration of MT and SB203580 mitigated above changes significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MT possesses obviously protective effect on lung tissues during ALI, its protective mechanism might be related to the inhibition of the expression of Ps, ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB.

[Protective effects of melatonin in acute lung injury rats caused by LPS].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in lung tissues of acute lung injury rat model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to explore the protective effects of melatonin (MT) in lung tissues in rats. METHODS: Seventy-two rats was randomly assigned to three groups, control group, LPS group and LPS + MT group. Rat model of ALI was established by instilling LPS intratracheally. We used immunohistochemical SP and Western blot method to detect the expression of p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in lung tissues and used light microscope to observe morphological changes. RESULTS: There were rare p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase positive cells scattered in alveolar and airway epithelial cells in control group (P < 0.01). The positive p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase cells in LPS group increased obviously than those in control group (P < 0.01), and were mainly distributed in infiltrative inflammatory cells, airway epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial cells and pleurames epithelial cells. In MT group, the p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase positive cells in airway and lung tissues were much less than those in the LPS group (P < 0.05). The Western blot results were consistent with those of immunohistochemical method. CONCLUSION: The expression of p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase increases in alveolar and airway epithelial cells in acute lung injury rat models induced by LPS. The activation of p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is found in most lung tissues, suggesting that p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase participates in the signal transduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory cells. MT is an effective antioxidant, which relieves the inflammation in acute lung injury rats, possibly through the inhibition of the pathway of p38 MAPK over activation.