A seismic elastic moduli module for the measurements of low-frequency wave dispersion and attenuation of fluid-saturated rocks under different pressures

Knowledge about the seismic elastic modulus dispersion,and associated attenuation,in fluid-saturated rocks is essential for better interpretation of seismic observations taken as part of hydrocarbon identification and time-lapse seismic surveillance of both conventional and unconventional reservoir and overburden performances.A Seismic Elastic Moduli Module has been developed,based on the forced-oscillations method,to experimentally investigate the frequency dependence of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio,as well as the inferred attenuation,of cylindrical samples under different confining pressure conditions.Calibration with three standard samples showed that the measured elastic moduli were consistent with the published data,indicating that the new apparatus can operate reliably over a wide frequency range of f∈[1-2000,10^(6)]Hz.The Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the shale and the tight sandstone samples were measured under axial stress oscillations to assess the frequency-and pressure-dependent effects.Under dry condition,both samples appear to be nearly frequency independent,with weak pressure dependence for the shale and significant pressure dependence for the sandstone.In particular,it was found that the tight sandstone with complex pore microstructure exhibited apparent dispersion and attenuation under brine or glycerin saturation conditions,the levels of which were strongly influenced by the increased effective pressure.In addition,the measured Young's moduli results were compared with the theoretical predictions from a scaled poroelastic model with a reasonably good agreement,revealing that the combined fluid flow mechanisms at both mesoscopic and microscopic scales possibly responsible for the measured dispersion.

Effect of inhibiting miR-155 expression on proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cell in patients with COPD

Objective:To investigate the effect of inhibiting miR-155 expression on the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells(ASMCs)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods:ASMCs were isolated and cultured from 8 patients with COPD(observation group)and 3 patients with benign lung cancer without COPD(control group).The ASMCs were transfected with miR-155 suppression expression plasmid(to detect the expression of miR-155;flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycler of cell clones;Transwell was used to detect cell migration and invasion;Enzyme-linked immunosorbent aanti-miR-155)and the negative contre;clone formation experiment was used to detect the numbol plasmid(anti-miR-NC),and blank control group was set.Real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)was usedssay(ELISA)method was used to detect tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)level.Results:The expression level of miR-155 in ASMCs of observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The miR-155 expression level in inhibited miR-155 expression group was significantly lower,compared with the negative control group and the blank group(P<0.05).In the inhibited miR-155 expression group,the proportion of G0-G1 phase cells was increased,the proportion of S phase cells was decreased,the number of cell clones,migration,and the number of invasive cells were decreased,and the levels of TNF-αand IL-6 were increased(P<0.05).Conclusions:Inhibiting the expression of miR-155 can inhibit the proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells in COPD patients,and inhibit the release of proinflammatory factors.

Loss of GATA6-mediated up-regulation of UTX promotes pancreatic tumorigenesis and progression

Ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X(UTX),also known as lysine(K)-specific demethylase 6A(KDM6A),functions as a tumor suppressor gene or oncogene depending on the tumor type and context.However,its tumor-suppressive mechanisms remain largely unknown.Here,we investigated the clinical significance and biological effects of UTX expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDA)and determined the potential mechanisms of its dysregulation.UTX expression and its association with clinicopathologic characteristics of PDA patients were analyzed using immunohistochemistry.UTX mRNA and protein expression and their regulation in PDA cell lines were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses.The biological functions of UTX in PDA cell growth,migration,and invasion were determined using gain-and loss-of-function assays with both in vitro and in vivo animal models.UTX expression was reduced in human PDA cell lines and specimens.Low UTX expression was associated with poor differentiation and prognosis in PDA.Forced UTX expression inhibited PDA proliferation,migration,and invasion in vitro and PDA growth and metastasis in vivo,whereas knockdown of UTX expression did the opposite.Mechanistically,UTX expression was trans-activated by GATA6 activation.GATA6-mediated PDA progression could be blocked,at least partially,by silencing UTX expression.In conclusion,loss of GATA6-mediated UTX expression was evident in human PDA and restored UTX expression suppressed PDA growth and metastasis.Thus,UTX is a tumor suppressor in PDA and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Baicalin,silver titanate,Bletilla striata polysaccharide and carboxymethyl chitosan in a porous sponge dressing for burn wound healing

Objective This study tests the efficacy of Bletilla striata polysaccharide(BSP),carboxymethyl chitosan(CMC),baicalin(BA)and silver titanate(ST)in a wound dressings to fight infection,promote healing and provide superior biocompatibility.Methods The antibacterial activity of BA and ST was evaluated in vitro using the inhibition zone method.BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were prepared and characterized.The biocompatibility of BA/ST/BSP/CMC was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 assay.The therapeutic effect of BA/ST/BSP/CMC was further investigated using the dorsal skin burn model in Sprague-Dawley rats.Results The wound dressing had good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through BA and ST,while the combination of BSP and CMC played an important role in promoting wound healing.The BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were prepared using a freeze-drying method with the concentrations of BA and ST at 20 and 0.83 mg/mL,respectively,and the optimal ratio of 5%BSP to 4%CMC was 1:3.The average porosity,water absorption and air permeability of BA/ST/BSP/CMC porous sponge dressings were measured to be 90.43%,746.1%and 66.60%,respectively.After treatment for 3 and 7 days,the healing rates of the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group and BA/BSP/CMC group were significantly higher than those of the normal saline(NS)group and silver sulfadiazine(SSD)group(P<0.05).Interleukin-1βexpression in the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group at 1 and 3 days was significantly lower than that in the other three groups(P<0.05).After being treated for 3 days,vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the BA/BSP/CMC group and BA/ST/BSP/CMC group was significantly higher than that in the NS group and SSD group(P<0.05).Inspection of histological sections showed that the BA/ST/BSP/CMC group and BA/BSP/CMC group began to develop scabbing and peeling of damaged skin after 3 days of treatment,indicating accelerated healing relative to the NS group and SSD group.Conclusion The optimized concentration of BA/ST/BSP/CMC dressing was as follows:6 mg BSP,14.4 mg CMC,0.5 mg ST and 12 mg BA.The BA/ST/BSP/CMC dressing,containing antibacterial constituents,was non-cytotoxic and effective in accelerating the healing of burn wounds,making it a promising candidate for wound healing.