An analysis of impact load and fragmentation dimension to explore energy dissipation patterns in coal crushing.

This research delineates the energy dissipation characteristics in coal crushing under impact loads, leveraging the capabilities of Separated Hopkinson Pressure Bar experimental system. A meticulous examination of both burst-prone and non-burst-prone coal samples during destruction processes was undertaken to decipher the dynamic compression mechanical attributes from perspectives of energy and fragmentatio's fractal dimensions. Burst-prone coal showcases a more pronounced escalation in fragmentation work in comparison to non-burst-prone samples, thereby illustrating a perceptible strain-rate dependent effect correlating with enhanced strain rates. Additionally, it was observed that incident, reflected, and transmitted energy trajectories for both sample categories follow an approximately linear ascendancy, albeit exhibiting diverse magnitudes. Burst-prone coal manifests a more rapid and focused energy growth compared to its non-burst-prone counterpart. When subjected to impact loads, a notable trend was discerned where the fragmentation's fractional dimension escalated persistently with both the incident energy and the crushing work, portraying a prominent growth effect. The insights garnered from this study pave the way for distinguishing between impacted and unimpacted coal samples using energy perspectives and fragmentation's fractal dimensions.

HISTONE DEACETYLASE 15 and MOS4-associated complex subunits 3A/3B coregulate intron retention of ABA-responsive genes.

Histone deacetylases (HDAs) play an important role in transcriptional regulation of multiple biological processes. In this study, we investigated the function of HDA15 in abscisic acid (ABA) responses. We used immunopurification coupled with mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify proteins interacting with HDA15 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). HDA15 interacted with the core subunits of the MOS4-associated complex (MAC), MAC3A and MAC3B, with interaction between HDA15 and MAC3B enhanced by ABA. hda15 and mac3a/mac3b mutants were ABA-insensitive during seed germination and hyposensitive to salinity. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that HDA15 and MAC3A/MAC3B co-regulate ABA-responsive intron retention (IR). Furthermore, HDA15 reduced the histone acetylation level of genomic regions near ABA-responsive IR sites and the association of MAC3B with ABA-responsive pre-mRNA was dependent on HDA15. Our results indicate that HDA15 is involved in ABA responses by interacting with MAC3A/MAC3B to mediate splicing of introns.

Melatonin attenuates low shear stress-induced pyroptosis and endothelial cell dysfunction via the RORα/miR-223/STAT-3 signalling pathway.

Endothelial cells sense changes in blood flow shear stress and affect the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of cell death and has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Melatonin and its nuclear receptor retinoid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) have protective effects on the development of atherosclerosis. To date, whether melatonin can prevent endothelial cell pyroptosis and dysfunction in pathological shear stress remains unclear. In the present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) were cultured under low shear stress conditions (5 dyne/cm2) for 24 h and treated with or without melatonin (2 µmol/l). The binding sites of the microRNA (miR)-223 promoter and RORα were predicted using the JASPAR website. Expression of pyroptosis-related proteins, including cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D, caspase-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed. The results indicated that low shear stress increased pyroptosis and ICAM-1 expression, whereas it decreased NO levels. Melatonin alleviated pyroptosis and ICAM-1 expression and increased the production of NO in ECs. Further assessment revealed that low-level shear stress decreased RORα protein and mRNA expression, whereas melatonin would bind to RORα and thereby promoted miR-223 transcription in ECs. The present study also identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3) as a potential target gene of miR-223-3p. When transfected with miR-223 inhibitor, ECs up-regulated the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and ICAM-1, and down-regulated NO levels. By contrast, silencing STAT-3 expression diminished the protective effect of miR-223. These results indicated that melatonin prevented ECs from undergoing pyroptosis and alleviated dysfunction via the RORα/miR-223/STAT-3 signalling pathway. This information could aid in the development of novel therapeutic approaches and provide new insights into atherosclerosis.

Integrated analysis of chromosome copy number variation and gene expression in cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to explore chromosomal copy number variations (CNV) and transcript expression and to examine pathways in cervical pathogenesis using genome-wide high resolution microarrays. METHODS: Genome-wide chromosomal CNVs were investigated in 6 cervical cancer cell lines by Human Genome CGH Microarray Kit (4x44K). Gene expression profiles in cervical cancer cell lines, primary cervical carcinoma and normal cervical epithelium tissues were also studied using the Whole Human Genome Microarray Kit (4x44K). RESULTS: Fifty common chromosomal CNVs were identified in the cervical cancer cell lines. Correlation analysis revealed that gene up-regulation or down-regulation is significantly correlated with genomic amplification (P=0.009) or deletion (P=0.006) events. Expression profiles were identified through cluster analysis. Gene annotation analysis pinpointed cell cycle pathways was significantly (P=1.15E-08) affected in cervical cancer. Common CNVs were associated with cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Chromosomal CNVs may contribute to their transcript expression in cervical cancer.

Healing effect of a two-herb recipe (NF3) on foot ulcers in Chinese patients with diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we examined the effect of a two-herb traditional Chinese medicine (NF3), comprised of Astragali Radix and Radix Rehmanniae, on the healing of diabetic foot ulcer and the possible molecular mechanisms involved. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Sixteen diabetic patients were randomized to receive either placebo or NF3 for 6 months. Ulcer healing and sensory changes were examined. Molecular studies included measurement of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and RNA microarray investigation. RESULTS: The daily rate of reduction in ulcer area was 3.55% in the NF3 group and 1.52% in the placebo group (P = 0.062). In the index limb, the number of negative tests for sensory neuropathy using monofilament was reduced from 27% to 7% in the NF3 group and from 37% to 35% in the placebo group (P < 0.001). In addition, NF3 significantly decreased serum TNF-α levels (P = 0.034). Microarray studies revealed concerted changes following NF3 treatment in the expression of genes implicated in fibroblast regeneration, angiogenesis, and anti-inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In this proof-of-concept study, 6-month treatment with NF3 was associated with improved wound healing and sensation accompanied by concerted changes in gene expression.

Large excursions of action within the resonance of a degenerate Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom.

We investigate the width of the resonance zone in a degenerate Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom, in which the Hamiltonian lacks the quadratic term in the Taylor expansion. This leads to larger excursions of action in the phase space than the nondegenerate one, and corresponding resonance frequency widths would become narrower. However, in contrast to the nonautonomous Hamiltonian system with one and half degree of freedom, we find that the above case is not generic and only occurs at particular resonances. An example relevant to the interaction of resonances is considered. Analytic results are verified in numerical simulations.