Mechanical Behavior Monitoring and Load Inversion Analysis of Large-Diameter Underwater Shield Tunnel during Construction.

The construction of large-diameter shield tunnels underwater involves complex variations in water and earth load outside the tunnel segment, as well as intricate mechanical responses. This study analyzes the variation laws of external loads, axial forces, and bending moments acting on the segment ring during the shield assembly and removal from the shield tail. It accomplishes this through the establishment of an on-site monitoring system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and proposes a Bayesian-genetic algorithm model to estimate the water and earth pressure. The fluctuation section exhibits a peak load twice as high as that in the stable section. These variations are influenced by Jack thrust, shield shell force, and grouting pressure. The peak load observed in the fluctuation section is twice as high as the load observed in the stable section. During the shield tail removal process, the internal forces undergo significant fluctuations due to changes in both load and boundary conditions, and the peak value of the axial force during the fluctuation section is eight times higher than that during the stable section, while the peak value of the bending moment during the fluctuation section is five times higher than that during the stable section. The earth and water pressure calculated using the inversion analysis method, which relies on the measured internal forces, closely matches the actual measured values. The results demonstrate that the accuracy of the water and earth pressure obtained through inversion analysis is twice as high as that obtained using the full coverage pressure method. These results can serve as a valuable reference for similar projects.

Functional supramolecular gels based on poly(benzyl ether) dendrons and dendrimers.

Supramolecular gels, as a fascinating and useful class of soft materials, constructed from low-molecular-weight gelators via noncovalent interactions have attracted increasing attention in the past few decades. Dendrimers and dendrons are highly branched and monodisperse macromolecules with a well-defined three-dimensional architecture and multiple surface functionalities. In recent years, poly(benzyl ether) dendrimers and dendrons are found to be powerful candidates for constructing gel phase materials in organic or aqueous media due to the advantages of capability of forming multiple noncovalent interactions and significant steric impact. In this Feature Article, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in supramolecular gels involving poly(benzyl ether) dendritic molecules. Firstly, we outline the molecular design strategies of dendritic gelators with an emphasis on the discussion of their gelating units and position in molecular structures. Subsequently, we discuss the potential applications of dendritic gels in light harvesting, stimuli responsive materials, sensors and environmental remediation. In addition, the potential challenges and future perspectives of poly(benzyl ether) dendritic gels have also been discussed. It is hoped that this feature article will attract increasing attention and provide some valuable insights for the future design and evolution of supramolecular gels.

Competing risk model to determine the prognostic factors and treatment strategies for elderly patients with glioblastoma.

The prognostic factors and optimal treatment for the elderly patient with glioblastoma (GBM) were poorly understood. This study extracted 4975 elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) with histologically confirmed GBM from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Firstly, Cumulative incidence function and cox proportional model were utilized to illustrate the interference of non-GBM related mortality in our cohort. Then, the Fine-Gray competing risk model was applied to determine the prognostic factors for GBM related mortality. Age ≥ 75 years old, white race, size > 5.4 cm, frontal lobe tumor, and overlapping lesion were independently associated with more GBM related death, while Gross total resection (GTR) (HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.80-0.94, P = 0.010), radiotherapy (HR 0.64, 95%CI 0.55-0.74, P < 0.001), chemotherapy (HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.59-0.90, P = 0.003), and chemoRT (HR 0.43, 95%CI 0.38-0.48, P < 0.001) were identified as independently protective factors of GBM related death. Based on this, a corresponding nomogram was conducted to predict 3-, 6- and 12-month GBM related mortality, the C-index of which were 0.763, 0.718, and 0.694 respectively. The calibration curve showed that there was a good consistency between the predicted and the actual mortality probability. Concerning treatment options, GTR followed by chemoRT is suggested as optimal treatment. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone also provide moderate clinical benefits.

Sediminibacillus terrae sp. nov., a moderate halophile isolated from non-saline farm soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic, strictly aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, strain JSM 102062T, was isolated from a non-saline farm soil sample collected from Dehang Canyon in Hunan, PR China. Growth occurred with 0.5-20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4-7 %) at pH 5.5-11.0 (optimum pH 8.0) and at 20-50 °C (optimum 30-35 °C). Contained cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and possessed menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the major respiratory isoprenoid quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, five unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 102062T belonged to the genus Sediminibacillus, sharing high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Sediminibacillus halophilus EN8dT (99.4 %) and Sediminibacillus albus NHBX5T (98.3 %). The whole genomic analysis showed that strain JSM 102062T constituted a different taxon separated from the recognized Sediminibacillus species. Combined data from phenotypic and genotypic studies demonstrated that strain JSM 102062T represents a noval species of the genus Sediminibacillus, for which the name Sediminibacillus terrae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is JSM 102062T (=CCTCC AB 2014166T = CGMCC 1.12957T=DSM 28949T=KCTC 33541T).

Fibroblasts play a potential role in bone destruction via osteopontin related caldesmon expression and polymerization in human non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are the most frequent pituitary tumors. The elucidation of the mechanisms of aggressive NFPAs in bone destruction is required in order to guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NFPAs. In the present study, we investigated the differential proteomics of fibroblasts isolated from clinical specimens of NFPAs with or without bone destruction. Proteomic analysis revealed a group of molecules associated with cytoskeleton organization, including caldesmon, were differentially expressed between fibroblasts isolated from bone destruction NFPAs (BD-NFPAs) and fibroblasts isolated from non-bone destruction NFPAs (NBD-NFPAs). The secreted proteins analysis found that osteopontin was significantly upregulated in BD-NFPAs fibroblasts. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of the NFPAs clinical samples showed that the expression of caldesmon in stromal cells and the expression of osteopontin in both tumor cells and stroma were significantly increased in BD-NFPAs. Taken together, our results indicate a possible way that osteopontin secreted from both NFPA cells and surrounding fibroblasts modify caldesmon expression and polymerization in fibroblasts, which may contribute to bone destruction in NFPA patients.

PPIC, EMP3 and CHI3L1 Are Novel Prognostic Markers for High Grade Glioma.

Current treatment methods for patients diagnosed with gliomas have shown limited success. This is partly due to the lack of prognostic genes available to accurately predict disease outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate novel prognostic genes based on the molecular profile of tumor samples and their correlation with clinical parameters. In the current study, microarray data (GSE4412 and GSE7696) downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus were used to identify differentially expressed prognostic genes (DEPGs) by significant analysis of microarray (SAM) between long-term survivors (>2 years) and short-term survivors (≤2 years). DEPGs generated from these two datasets were intersected to obtain a list of common DEPGs. The expression of a subset of common DEPGs was then independently validated by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qPCR). Survival value of the common DEPGs was validated using known survival data from the GSE4412 and TCGA dataset. After intersecting DEPGs generated from the above two datasets, three genes were identified which may potentially be used to determine glioma patient prognosis. Independent validation with glioma patients tissue (n = 70) and normal brain tissue (n = 19) found PPIC, EMP3 and CHI3L1 were up-regulated in glioma tissue. Survival value validation showed that the three genes correlated with patient survival by Kaplan-Meir analysis, including grades, age and therapy.

COL3A1 and SNAP91: novel glioblastoma markers with diagnostic and prognostic value.

Although patients with glioblastoma (GBM) have grave prognosis, significant variability in patient outcome is observed. This study aims to identify novel targets for GBM diagnosis and therapy. Microarray data (GSE4290, GSE7696, and GSE4412) obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by significant analysis of microarray (SAM). Intersection of the identified DEGs for each profile revealed 46 DEGs in GBM. A subset of common DEGs were validated by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (qPCR). The prognostic value of some of the markers was also studied. We determined that RRM2 and COL3A1 were increased and directly correlated with glioma grade, while SH3GL2 and SNAP91 were decreased in GBM and inversely correlated with glioma grade. Kaplan-Meir analysis of GSE7696 revealed that COL3A1 and SNAP91 correlated with survival, suggesting that COL3A1 and SNAP91 may be suitable biomarkers for diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for GBM.

A Pronounced Halogen Effect on the Organogelation Properties of Peripherally Halogen Functionalized Poly(benzyl ether) Dendrons.

An interesting halogen-substituent effect on the organogelation properties of poly(benzyl ether) dendrons is reported. A new class of poly(benzyl ether) dendrons with halo substituents decorating their periphery was synthesized and fully characterized. A systematic study on the gelation abilities, thermotropic behaviors, aggregated microstructures, and mechanical properties of self-assembled organogels was performed to elucidate the halogen-substituent effects on their organogelation propensity. It was found that the exact halogen substitutions on the periphery of dendrons exert a profound effect on the organogelation propensity, and dendrons Gn -Cl (n=2, 3) and G2 -I proved to be highly efficient organogelators. The cooperation of multiple π-π, dispersive halogen, CH-π, and weak C-H⋅⋅⋅X hydrogen-bonding interactions were found to be the key contributor to forming the self-assembled gels. Dendritic organogels formed from Gn -Cl (n=2, 3) in 1,2-dichloroethane exhibited thixotropic-responsive properties, and such thixotropic organogels are promising materials for future research and applications.

Halogen-bonding for visual chloride ion sensing: a case study using supramolecular poly(aryl ether) dendritic organogel systems.

A convenient and straightforward method for the visual recognition of chloride ion has been established through a chloride-responsive dendritic organogel. The specificity was largely attributed to the higher binding affinity of the dendritic gelator for chloride compared with other anions through halogen bonding interactions.

Alternative splicing of the AGAMOUS orthologous gene in double flower of Magnolia stellata (Magnoliaceae).

Magnolia stellata is a woody ornamental shrub with more petaloid tepals than related plants from family Magnoliaceae. Recent studies revealed that expression changes in an AGAMOUS (AG) orthologous gene could resulted in double flowers with increased numbers of petals. We isolated three transcripts encoding different isoforms of a single AG orthologous gene, MastAG, mastag_2 and mastag_3, from M. stellata. Sequence alignments and Southern blot analyses suggested that MastAG was a single-copy gene in M. stellata genomes, and that mastag_2 and mastag_3 were abnormally spliced isoforms of MastAG. An 144bp exon skipping in MastAG results in the truncated mastag_2 protein lacking the completely I domain and 18 aa of the K1 subdomain, whereas an 165bp exon skipping of MastAG produces a truncated mastag_3 protein lacking 6 aa of the K3 subdomain and the completely C terminal region. Expression analyses showed that three alternative splicing (AS) isoforms expressed only in developing stamens and carpels. Functional analyses revealed that MastAG could mimic the endogenous AG to specify carpel identity, but failed to regulate stamen development in an Arabidopsis ag-1 mutant. Moreover, the key domain or subdomain deletions represented by mastag_2 and mastag_3 resulted in loss of C-function. However, ectopic expression of mastag_2 in Arabidopsis produced flowers with sepals converted into carpeloid organs, but without petals and stamens, whereas ectopic expression of mastag_3 in Arabidopsis could mimic the flower phenotype of the ag mutant and produced double flowers with homeotic transformation of stamens into petals and carpels into another ag flower. Our results also suggest that mastag_3 holds some potential for biotechnical engineering to create multi-petal phenotypes in commercial ornamental cultivars.

Fluorescent dendritic organogels based on 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole: emission enhancement and multiple stimuli-responsive properties.

A new highly efficient and versatile poly(benzyl ether) dendritic organogelator HPB-G1 with 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HPB) at the focal point has been designed and synthesized. HPB-G1 can form stable organogels toward various apolar and polar organic solvents. Further studies revealed that intermolecular multiple π-π stacking interactions are the main driving forces for the formation of the organogels. Notably, dendron HPB-G1 exhibited a significantly enhanced emission in the gel state in contrast to weak emission in solution. Most interestingly, these dendritic organogels exhibited multiple stimuli-responsive behaviors upon exposure to environmental stimuli, including temperature, sonication, shear stress, and the presence of anions, metal cations, acids/bases, thus leading to reversible sol-gel phase transitions.

[Analysis of chemical components of volatile oil from Paris polyphylla and their antibacterial activities].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chemical components of volatile oil from Paris polyphylla by GC-MS, and to investigate their antimicrobial activities. METHODS: The chemical compositions of essential oil, which from Paris polyphylla obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide, were analyzed by GC-MS, and their antibacterial properties for five common pathogens were screened by filter paper method. RESULTS: The components in the volatile oils were analyzed by GC-MS, and 75 compounds comprising for 98.46% of the essential oil were identified. The major components of essential oil were phthalic acid-isobutyl-hex-3-enyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 2 (1H)-naphthalenone, octahydro-4alpha-methyl-7-(1-methylethyl)-, glycerin, 9-octadecenoic acid-methyl ester, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid-butyl-2-methylpropyl ester, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 2-myristynoyl-glycinamide, ethanol, 2-(9,12) -octadecadienyloxy, hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester, dodecanoic acid, 10-methyl, methyl ester, diglycerol and 3,3-diethoxy-1-propanol; The bacteriostatic experiment results indicated that this volatile oil had strong inhibitory effects on Micrococcus, Aerobacter and Brevibacterium, whereas it had poor effects Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. CONCLUSION: The experiment provides a scientific basis for further development and utilization of Paris polyphylla.

Ectopic expression of FaesAP3, a Fagopyrum esculentum (Polygonaceae) AP3 orthologous gene rescues stamen development in an Arabidopsis ap3 mutant.

Arabidopsis thaliana APETALA3 (AP3) and Antirrhinum majus DEFICIENS (DEF) MADS box genes are required to specify petal and stamen identity. AP3 and DEF are members of the euAP3 lineage, which arose by gene duplication coincident with radiation of the core eudicots. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying organ development in early diverging clades of core eudicots, we isolated and identified an AP3 homolog, FaesAP3, from Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat, Polygonaceae), a multi-food-use pseudocereal with healing benefits. Protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed that FaesAP3 grouped into the euAP3 lineage. Expression analysis showed that FaesAP3 was transcribed only in developing stamens, and differed from AP3 and DEF, which expressed in developing petals and stamens. Moreover, ectopic expression of FaesAP3 rescued stamen development without complementation of petal development in an Arabidopsis ap3 mutant. Our results suggest that FaesAP3 is involved in the development of stamens in buckwheat. These results also suggest that FaesAP3 holds some potential for biotechnical engineering to create a male sterile line of F. esculentum.

A systematic study of peripherally multiple aromatic ester-functionalized poly(benzyl ether) dendrons for the fabrication of organogels: structure-property relationships and thixotropic property.

A new class of peripherally multiple aromatic ester-functionalized poly(benzyl ether) dendrons and/or dendrimers with different focal point substituents, surface groups, interior structures, as well as different generations have been synthesized and their structure-property relationships with respect to their gelation ability have been investigated systematically. Most of these dendrons are able to gel organic solvents over a wide polarity range. Evident dendritic effects were observed not only in gelation capability but also in thermotropic, morphological, and rheological characterizations. It was disclosed that subtle changes in peripheral ester functionalities and interior dendritic structures affected the gelation behavior of the dendrons significantly. Among all the dendrons studied, the second- and third-generation dendrons G0G2-Me and G0G3-Me with dimethyl isophthalates (DMIP) as peripheral groups exhibited the best capability in gelation, and stable gels were formed in more than 22 aromatic and polar organic solvents. The lowest critical gelation concentration (CGC) reached 2.0 mg mL(-1), indicating that approximately 1.35×10(4) solvent molecules could be entrapped by one dendritic molecule. Further study on driving forces in gel formation was carried out by using a combination of single-crystal/powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and concentration-dependent (CD)/temperature-dependent (TD) (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained from these experiments revealed that the multiple π-π stacking of extended π-systems due to the peripheral DMIP rings, cooperatively assisted by non-conventional hydrogen-bonding, is the key contributor in the formation of the highly ordered supramolecular and fibrillar network. In addition, these dendritic organogels exhibited unexpected thixotropic-responsive properties, which make them promising candidates with potential applications in the field of intelligent soft materials.

A new class of dendritic metallogels with multiple stimuli-responsiveness and as templates for the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles.

A new class of poly(aryl ether) dendritic ligands containing a pyridine functionality at the focal point and the corresponding Ag(I) complexes through metal-ligand coordination were designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. Compared with the dendritic ligands, the corresponding dendritic complexes exhibited much better gelation ability for various organic solvents at very low critical gelation concentrations. The gel-sol phase transition temperatures and morphologies could be finely tuned by binding silver ion to the ligand. A preliminary study revealed that multiple noncovalent interactions, such as Ag(I) -pyridine coordination, solvophobic interaction, and π-π stacking, synergistically enable the formation of stable metallogels. Interestingly, these metallogels could intelligently respond to multiple external stimuli including temperature, chemicals, and shear stress, leading to gel-sol phase transitions. In addition, these dendritic metallogels were successfully applied as templates for the in situ formation and stabilization of silver nanoparticles without the use of any chemical reducing/stabilizing agents.

N-Boc-protected 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine-based dendritic organogels with multiple-stimulus-responsive properties.

A new class of poly(benzyl ether) dendrimers, decorated in their cores with N-Boc-protected 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine groups, were synthesized and fully characterized. It was found that the gelation capability of these dendrimers was highly dependent on dendrimer generation, and the second-generation dendrimer (R,R)-G(2)DPENBoc proved to be a highly efficient organogelator. A number of experiments (SEM, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, rheological measurements, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, CD, and XRD) revealed that these dendritic molecules self-assembled into elastically interpenetrating one-dimensional nanostructures in organogels. The hydrogen bonding, π-π, and solvophobic interactions were found to be the main driving forces for formation of the gels. Most interestingly, these dendritic organogels exhibited smart multiple-stimulus-responsive behavior upon exposure to environmental stimuli such as temperature, anions, and mechanical stress.

Applied anatomy for pituitary adenoma resection.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenomas are common intracranial tumors, with a rising incidence in China. Excision is a mainstay therapy for this disease, and is often carried out via transfrontal, transsphenoidal or transpterional approaches. However, few studies have systematically addressed the regional anatomy involved in these microsurgical procedures. The present study attempted to establish some key anatomic measurements relevant to pituitary adenoma resection based on cadaver and computer tomography (CT) image studies. METHODS: Head specimens from 30 randomly selected formalin-fixed adult cadavers were used for anatomical analysis. Measurements were made on the base of the skull following removal of brain structures above the pituitary gland, and on the mid-sagittal plane of the cranium. Parameters were designed by considering the 3 above-mentioned common microsurgical approaches, and obtained on each head using a sliding caliper. Multi-level CT images from 30 individuals were also used for distance measurements between landmark structures that are relevant to these surgeries. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS 11.5 software. RESULTS: There was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) of distance measured on cadavers relative to CT images in 3 sets of measurements related to the transfrontal surgical approach, i.e., distances from the midpoint of superciliary arch superior border to the cranial entrance of internal carotid arteries (ICAs), the opposite side entrance of ICA and to the genu of ICA. While regional anatomical analyses were carried out according to the transpterional approach, statistically significant difference was also found in 3 sets of distance measurements between cadaver and CT image data, with regard to the distances between the pterion and some landmark structures around the pituitary. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides key anatomical and CT image measurements involving the 3 conventionally used surgical approaches for pituitary tumor resection. The data implicate that while CT scan results can provide valuable guidelines for operations, cautions and adjustments are needed during surgery for sufficient tumor excision and protection of key blood vessels and nerves in the vicinity of the pituitary gland and around the surgical pathway.

[Surgical treatment of childhood craniopharyngioma: clinical analysis of 31 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis, surgical treatment and outcome of craniopharyngioma in 31 children. METHODS: The clinical data of 31 children (aged 7-14 years) with craniopharyngioma were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Headache, visual disorder and growth retardation were main manifestations in the 31 children. The 31 children were definitely diagnosed with craniopharyngioma by CT and MRI. In the 31 cases, 19 (61.3%) underwent total tumor removal, 5 (16.1%) subtotal removal, and 7 (22.6%) partial removal. After tumor removal, transient diabetes insipidus occurred in 19 cases (61.3%) and long-term diabetes insipidus in 3 cases. Six cases (19.4%) presented hypothalamic injuries after surgery. No patient died after surgery. Five patients (16.1%) had recurrent tumor in a mean follow-up of 32.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of childhood craniopharyngioma may be based on clinical manifestations and CT/MRI examinations. Craniotomy is a preferred surgical treatment. Proper extent of tumor resection should be determined in order to reduce the tumor recurrence and the incidence of postoperative complications.

Bacillus neizhouensis sp. nov., a halophilic marine bacterium isolated from a sea anemone.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, facultatively alkaliphilic, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, strain JSM 071004(T), was isolated from a sea anemone collected from Neizhou Bay in the South China Sea. Growth occurred with 0.5-10 % (w/v) total salts (optimum 2-4 %) and at pH 6.5-10.0 (optimum pH 8.5) and 4-30 degrees C (optimum 25 degrees C). meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(15 : 0). The genomic DNA G+C content was 39.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JSM 071004(T) belongs to the genus Bacillus, being related most closely to the type strain of Bacillus agaradhaerens (sequence similarity 97.3 %), followed by the type strains of Bacillus cellulosilyticus (96.2 %), Bacillus clarkii (96.1 %) and Bacillus polygoni (96.0 %). The combination of phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data support the proposal that strain JSM 071004(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus neizhouensis sp. nov. is proposed, with JSM 071004(T) (=CCTCC AB 207161(T) =DSM 19794(T) =KCTC 13187(T)) as the type strain.