A new criterion of coal burst proneness based on the residual elastic energy index

To evaluate the coal burst proneness more precisely,a new energy criterion namely the residual elastic energy index was proposed.This study begins by performing the single-cyclic loading-unloading uniaxial compression tests with five pre-peak unloading stress levels to explore the energy storage characteristics of coal.Five types of coals from different mines were tested,and the instantaneous destruction process of the coal specimens under compression loading was recorded using a high speed camera.The results showed a linear relationship between the elastic strain energy density and input energy density,which confirms the linear energy storage law of coal.Based on this linear energy storage law,the peak elastic strain energy density of each coal specimen was obtained precisely.Subsequently,a new energy criterion of coal burst proneness was established,which was called the residual elastic energy index(defined as the difference between the peak elastic strain energy density and post peak failure energy density).Considering the destruction process and actual failure characteristics of coal specimens,the accuracy of evaluating coal burst proneness based on the residual elastic energy index was examined.The results indicated that the residual elastic energy index enables reliable and precise evaluations of the coal burst proneness.

Effects of curcumin on hippocampal Bax and Bcl-2 expression and cognitive function of a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

We tested the effects of curcumin treatment on a rat model of Alzheimer's disease induced by beta-amlyoid (Aβ1-40) expression. We investigated alterations in the expression of the apoptosis-related genes Bax and Bcl-2 in the hippocampus, as well as changes in the spatial memory and cognitive function of the rats. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry results showed that Bax expression was remarkably decreased and Bcl-2 expression was increased in the rat Alzheimer's disease model after curcumin treatment. Morris water maze results showed that the average time of escape latency was shortened in the curcumin treated model rats. Our study shows that curcumin can significantly improve spatial learning and memory functions in rats with Aβ1-40-induced Alzheimer's disease by modulating Bax and Bcl-2 expression.

Association of four GSTs gene polymorphisms with Parkinson disease: A meta-analysis

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurological disorder with huge destruction to human body, which affects approximately 2% of the population aged 65 years or older. As antioxidants in the stress defence systems, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are dimeric cytosolic enzymes with an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the polymorphisms of GST genes and PD. Meta-analyses were conducted from 17 studies (38 stages) among 3419 cases and 5686 controls between four polymorphisms (GSTT1 deletion polymorphism;GSTM1 deletion polymorphism;GSTP1-104: rs1695;GSTP1-114: rs1799811) and PD. There is no significant association between the four GST gene variants and PD. A further subgroup study by ethnicity observed a risky role of GSTM1 deletion polymorphism with PD in Europeans (p = 0.013, OR = 1.126, 95% CI = 1.025-1.236), and a protective role of GSTM1 deletion polymorphism with PD in Latin Americans (p = 0.032, OR = 0.750, 95% CI = 0.577-0.975). Our meta-analysis suggested that GSTM1 deletion polymorphism increased the risk of PD in Europeans, but reduced the risk of PD in Latin Americans. Future large-scale studies might be needed to confirm the ethnic difference of GSTM1 deletion polymorphism, and to check whether there was significant association of PD for other GST genetic polymorphisms.

A focused transcriptomic analysis of the TP53-regulated genes identifies the GPI-anchored molecule-like protein(GML)as a favorable prognostic predictor of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.1 The current clinical staging systems cannot adequately predict the prognosis of patients with lung cancer,making it difficult to individualize the clinical treatment of the disease,resulting in poorer outcomes.

Peak-strength strain energy storage index for evaluating coal burst liability based on the linear energy storage law

The strain energy storage index WET was widely used to evaluate coal burst liability,but the scientific evidence for selecting the unloading stress level interval(around 80%of peak strength)remains lacking,and WET can not reflect the energy storage and dissipation ratio(ESD ratio)of the whole pre-peak stage for coal materials.In this study,these two key problems in WET calculation and application were solved based on the linear energy storage(LES)law.The LES law was defined as the linear relationship between the elastic strain energy and input strain energy for solid material during loading.Using the LES law,the elastic strain energy and dissipated strain energy of at 10 types of coals were calculated precisely,and ideal ESD ratio and general ESD ratio at any stress level will be obtained subsequently.The results also show that WET is extremely close to the ideal and general ESD ratio,which proves that the selecting stress level of WET calculation is scientific and reasonable.Furthermore,the general ESD ratio converges to the peak ESD ratio(namely peak strain energy storage index WET P)as stress level increases.Compared with WET,Wp ET not only reflects the ESD ratio of coal materials over the whole pre-peak loading stage,but also exhibits excellent stability.Consequently,Wp ET is suggested as a new evaluation index of coal burst liability.

Mitochondrial genomes of four pierid butterfly species(Lepidoptera: Pieridae) with assessments about Pieridae phylogeny upon multiple mitogenomic datasets

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genomes of four pierid butterfly species, namely Batltia butleri, Talbotia naganum, Pontia callidice and P. daplidice, were newly sequenced and characterized. Meanwhile the phylogenetic relationships of the main Pieridae lineages covering 22 pierid butterfly species, were reconstructed with Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods based on different mitogenomic datasets, including the concatenated 13 PCGs, 13 PCGs + 2 rRNAs, 2 rRNAs, 2 rRNAs + 22 tRNAs and 22 tRNAs sequences, respectively. Our results of mitogenomic analysis showed that the four mitogenomes were 15,124, 15,155, 15,109, 15,124 bp in size, with the gene orders and arangements identical to all other butterflies determined. Our results of phylogenetic analyses upon protein coding genes, rRNA genes or their sequence combinations indicated that the three pierid subfamilies of this study were all monophyletic, with their relationships of being(Dismorphiinae,(Pierinae, Coliadinae)); the phylogenetic relationship of Pierini of this study was(Pieris,(Baltia,(Talbotia, Pontia))) +(Prioneris,(Delias, Aporia)). Additionally, our analyses suggested that only mitogenomic t RNA sequence datasets were not ready to be utilized in resolving the deeper phylogeny, whereas somewhat suitable to be applied in clarifying the phylogenies of closely related species, of the pierid butterflies.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Parnassius actius(Lepidoptera： Papilionidae： Parnassinae) with the related phylogenetic analysis

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Parnassius actius(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Parnassinae) was reported. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic position of this Apollo species was inferred from this sequence combined with other available related sequence data. The results showed that the whole mitogenome is 15,386 bp in length, containing 13 typical protein-coding genes(PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes(t RNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes(r RNAs) and a noncoding control region(A+T-rich region). The mitogenomic gene orientation and arrangement are the same with other sequenced Parnassius species. Thirteen protein coding genes is 11,195 bp in size, encoding 3,720 amino acids totally; the lr RNA and sr RNA genes are 1,351 bp and 779 bp, respectively. Eleven intergenic spacers ranging from 1 to 40 bp(129 bp in total), 10 overlapping regions from 1 to 8 bp(26 bp in total), and a 504 bp A+T-rich region harboring some Parnassius-specific sequences are scattered throughout the whole mitogenome. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses showed that the genus Parnassiusof this study contained five major clades which can be categorized into the eight subgenera reported by the previous molecular studies; additionally, the P. actius was shown to be more closely related to P. nomion than other Parnassius species, suggesting that the P. actius stands as an effective species with its phylogenetic position awaiting further studies.

Hypermethylation of the ALOX12 and CBS promoters in osteoporosis:Potential biomarkers for early diagnosis

As a bone-confined chronic degenerative disorder,the progression of osteoporosis is characterized by abnormal crosstalk between osteoblasts and osteoclasts,leading to an imbalance of bone remodeling in adults.1 Several studies reported that arachidonic acid ester 12 lipoxygenase(ALOX12)acts as a regulator in bone genesis by participating in the activation of the peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor(PPARG)pathway through its reaction product.

Transcriptomic analysis identifies the S100 calcium-binding protein β subunit(S100B)and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)as potential diagnostic biomarkers for acute cerebral infarction

Due to its high mortality,disability,and recurrence rates,cerebral infarction has a serious impact on the economy and is a physical and psychological burden on patients.1 There is a huge unmet medical need for biomarkers to predict acute cerebral infarction.Studies have shown that the ischemic damage to neurons,myelin,and glia caused by a stroke leads to the release of the S100 calcium-binding protein beta subunit(S100B)through the blood-brain barrier into the systemic circulation,resulting in an increase in the level of S100B in the peripheral blood.