Bayesian inference of the crust–core transition density via the neutron-star radius and neutron-skin thickness data

In this work,we perform a Bayesian inference of the crust-core transition density ρ_(t) of neutron stars based on the neutron-star radius and neutron-skin thickness data using a thermodynamical method.Uniform and Gaussian distributions for the ρ_(t) prior were adopted in the Bayesian approach.It has a larger probability of having values higher than 0.1 fm^(−3) for ρ_(t) as the uniform prior and neutron-star radius data were used.This was found to be controlled by the curvature K_(sym) of the nuclear symmetry energy.This phenomenon did not occur if K_(sym) was not extremely negative,namely,K_(sym)>−200 MeV.The value ofρ_(t) obtained was 0.075_(−0.01)^(+0.005) fm^(−3) at a confidence level of 68%when both the neutron-star radius and neutron-skin thickness data were considered.Strong anti-correlations were observed between ρ_(t),slope L,and curvature of the nuclear symmetry energy.The dependence of the three L-K_(sym) correlations predicted in the literature on crust-core density and pressure was quantitatively investigated.The most probable value of 0.08 fm^(−3) for ρ_(t) was obtained from the L-K_(sym) relationship proposed by Holt et al.while larger values were preferred for the other two relationships.

Obesity and cancer stem cells:Roles in cancer initiation,progression and therapy resistance

Obesity,the global pandemic since industrialization,is the number one lifestylerelated risk factor for premature death,which increases the incidence and mortality of various diseases and conditions,including cancer.In recent years,the theory of cancer stem cells(CSCs),which have the capacity for self-renewal,metastasis and treatment resistance,has been bolstered by increasing evidence.However,research on how obesity affects CSCs to facilitate cancer initiation,progression and therapy resistance is still in its infancy,although evidence has already begun to accumulate.Regarding the ever-increasing burden of obesity and obesity-related cancer,it is pertinent to summarize evidence about the effects of obesity on CSCs,as elucidating these effects will contribute to the improvement in the management of obesity-related cancers.In this review,we discuss the association between obesity and CSCs,with a particular focus on how obesity promotes cancer initiation,progression and therapy resistance through CSCs and the mechanisms underlying these effects.In addition,the prospect of preventing cancer and targeting the mechanisms linking obesity and CSCs to reduce cancer risk or to improve the survival of patients with cancer is considered.

Effect of laparoscopic surgery combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242, LEP and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with low rectal cancer

Objective: To study the effect of laparoscopic surgery combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242, LEP and T lymphocyte subsets in patients with low rectal cancer. Methods A total of 80 patients with low rectal cancer in our hospital from June 2014 to June 2017 were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into the control group (n=40) and the treatment group (n=40) randomly. The control group were treated with laparoscopic surgery, the treatment group were treated with laparoscopic surgery combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and both the two groups were treated for 6 periods with neoadjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. The serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242, LEP levels and peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK cells of the two groups before and after treatment were compared. Results: There were no significantly differences of the serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242, LEP levels and peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK cells of the two groups before treatment. The serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242 and LEP levels of the two groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment, and that of the treatment group were significantly lower than the control group.The peripheral blood CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, NK cells of the two groups of the two groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment, and that of the treatment group were significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy can significantly reduce the serum CEA, VEGF, CA724, CA242, LEP levels, improve the immunologic function, and it was worthy clinical application.

Effects of laparoscopic operation combined neoadjuvant chemotherapy on serum levels of CEA, CA242, CA19-9, CA724, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Objective: To observe the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the basis of laparoscopic operation on colorectal carcinoma patients, serum CEA, CA242, CA19-9, CA724, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels. Methods: A total of 120 cases of colorectal carcinoma in our hospital from January 2012 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into control group and observation group, with each group of 60 patients. All patients were given laparoscopic operation, the patients in the observation group were given neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX4 regimen) four cycles before laparoscopic surgery, fasting venous blood before and after treatment in the morning was taken and centrifuged, and the serum CA242, CA19-9, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were measured by ELISA, and the serum CEA levels were measured by MEIA, and the serum CA724 levels were measured by ECLI, and compared with those of the two groups. Results: (1) Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the serum CEA, CA242, CA19-9 and CA724 levels between the two groups. After treatment, compared with the same group before treatment, the serum CEA, CA242, CA19-9 and CA724 levels of the two groups were significantly lower, and those levels of observation group were significantly better than the control group, there was significant difference between the two groups;(2) Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 levels between the two groups. After treatment, compared with the same group before treatment, the serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 levels of the two groups were significantly lower, and those levels of observation group were significantly better than the control group, there was significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The treatment of colorectal cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with laparoscopic operation can effectively reduce serum CEA, CA242, CA19-9, CA724, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels, indicating that the program can regulate cancer-related tumor markers and the expression of relative factors, to promote the recovery of patients with autoimmune system, ease the patient's condition, safe and reliable, worthy of clinical application.

Dependence of the tidal deformability of neutron stars on the nuclear equation of state

Within the Bayesian framework,using an explicitly isospin-dependent parametric equation of state(EOS)for the core of neutron stars(NSs),we studied how the NS EOS behaves when we confront it with the tidal deformabilitiesΛ1.4abilities of massive NSs.We found that it does not significantly improve the constraints on the NS EOS but has a weak effect on narrowing down the slope parameter of the symmetry energy by decreasing the measurement errors ofΛ1.4.Both the isospin-dependent and isospin-independent parts of the NS EOS were significantly constrained and raised as the tidal deformabilities of massive NSs were adopted in the calculations,especially in high-density regions.We also found thatΛ1.4symmetry energy,whereas the opposite occurs for the radius of canonical NSs R1.4.The tidal deformability of an NS with two times the solar massΛ2.0ergy,andΛ1.4and R1.4have no correlation with the former.

Economic importance and structural robustness of the international pesticide trade networks

Pesticides are agricultural inputs that can significantly reduce yield losses,regulate plant growth,effectively liberate agricultural productivity,and improve food security.The availability of pesticides in economies worldwide is ensured by redistribution through international trade,with different economies playing different roles in this process.In this study,we measured and ranked the importance of economies using nine node metrics.We found that the clustering coefficient was negatively correlated with the other eight node metrics,whereas the other eight node metrics were positively correlated with each other and could be grouped into three communities(betweenness;in-degree,PageRank,authority,and in-closeness;out-degree,hub,and out-closeness).We further investigated the structural robustness of international pesticide trade networks proxied by large component size under three types of shocks to economies(node removal in descending,random,and ascending orders).The results showed that,except for the clustering coefficient,international pesticide trade networks are relatively robust under shocks to economies in ascending order but fragile under shocks to economies in descending order.By contrast,removing nodes with a clustering coefficient in ascending and descending order yielded similar robustness curves.Moreover,the structural robustness related to large component size evolved over time and exhibited an inverse U-shaped pattern.

Enhancing point defect scattering in copper antimony selenides via Sm and S Co-doping

Doping- and alloying-induced point defects lead to mass and strain field fluctuations which can be used as effective strategies to decrease the lattice thermal conductivity and consequently boost the performance of thermoelectric materials. Herein, we report the effects of Sm and S co-doping on thermoelectric transport properties of copper antimony selenides in the temperature range of 300 K 〈 T〈 650 K. Through the Callaway model, it demonstrates that Sm and S co-doping induces strong mass differences and strain field fluctuations in Cu3SbSe4. The results prove that doping with suitable elements can increase point defect scattering of heat-carrying phonons, leading to a lower thermal conductivity and a better ther- moelectric performance. The highest figure of merit （ZT） of - 0.55 at 648 K is obtained for the Sm and S co-doped sample with nominal composition of Cu2.995Sm0.005Sb- Se3.95S0.05, which is about 55% increase compared to the ZT of pristine Cu3SbSe4.

Roles of N△→NN and πN→△ Reactions in Heavy-Ion Collisions at Intermediate Energies

Within the framework of the isospin-dependent transport model, the roles of the reactions N? → NN and πN→ ? are investigated through simulating heavy-ion collisions at 1000 MeV/nucleon. The absorption process N? → NN plays an important role for heavy impact systems and small impact parameters than for light impact systems and large impact parameters. The resorption process πN→ ? is of importance for heavy impact systems and large impact parameters than for light impact systems and small impact parameters. Thus the influences of the reaction N? → N N(πN→ ?) on pion production dynamics can be neglected in heavy-ion collisions for smaller(larger) impact parameters and light systems. It is the reaction πN→ ? that causes the anti-correlation of pions and nucleons in the rapidity dependence of the directed flow.

Lipopolysaccharide Stimulates Surfactant Protein-A in Human Renal Epithelial HK-2 Cells through Upregulating Toll-like Receptor 4 Dependent MEK1/2-ERK1/2-NF-KB Pathway

Background： Surfactant protein-A （SP-A） contributes to the regulation of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the expression of SP-A in the human renal tubular epithelial （HK-2） cells can be stimulated by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）. The present study evaluated the possible signal-transducing mechanisms of LPS-induced SP-A biosynthesis in the HK-2 cells. Methods： Tetrazolium salt colorimetry （MTT） assay was used to detect cell viability of HK-2 cells after LPS stimulation on different time points. HK-2 cells were stimulated with 100 ng/ml of LPS for different durations to determine the effects of LPS on SP-A and toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） messenger RNA （mRNA） expression, as well as phosphorylation of mitogen-activated/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase （MEK） 1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2）, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38MAPK）, and nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-KB） inhibitor-alpha （IkB-a）. Then, HK-2 cells were pretreated with CLI-095, a TLR4 inhibitor, to analyze mRNA and protein levels of SP-A and TLR4 and expression of NF-KB ill the cytoplasm and nucleus of HK-2 before LPS exposure. Results： HK-2 cells exposed to 100 ng/ml of LPS for 1,6, and 24 h did not affect cell viability which showed no toxic effect of 100 ng/ml LPS on cells （P = 0.16）; however, the biosynthesis of SP-A mRNA and protein in HK-2 cells was significantly increased （P = 0.02）. As to the mechanism, LPS enhanced transmembrane receptor TLR4 protein expression. Sequentially, LPS time dependently augmented phosphorylation of MEKI, ERKI/2, and p38MAPK. In addition, levels of phospborylatedand nuclear NF-KB were augmented with LPS exposure for 2 h. LPS-induced SP-A and TLR4 mRNA as well as NF-KB expression were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with CLI-095. Conclusions： The present study exhibited that LPS can increase SP-A synthesis in human renal epithelial cells through sequentially activating the TLR4-related MEK1 -ERK 1/2-NF-kB-dependent pathway.

Effects of density-and momentum-dependent potentials in Au+Au collisions at intermediate energies

Based on an isospin-dependent transport model, the effects of the density- and momentum-dependent potentials are studied by simulating Au on Au collisions at 90, 120, 150 and 400 MeV/nucleon. It is found that the calculated results overestimate the experimental data on the directed flow and underestimate the data on the elliptic flow for protons. The impact of the density- and momentum-dependent potentials is observed in the mid-rapidity region of the final spectra. At 90 MeV/nucleon, the momentum-dependent potential has a larger impact on the observables than the density-dependent potential, and the elliptic flow has a higher value with the positive effective mass splitting. At 400 MeV/nucleon, however, the opposite is observed. The rapidity dependence of the elliptic flow for protons is sensitive to the symmetry energy. A soft symmetry energy corresponds to a higher value of the proton elliptic flow.