Comprehensive Network Analysis Identified SIRT7, NTRK2, and CHI3L1 as New Potential Markers for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is considered the basis of serious clinical symptoms, especially for low back pain (LBP). Therefore, it is essential to explore the regulatory role and diagnostic performance of dysregulated genes and potential drugs in IDD. Through WGCNA co-expression analysis, 36 co-expression modules were obtained. Among them, MidnightBlue and Red modules were the most related to IDD. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the Red module was mainly related to neutrophil activation and regulation of cytokine-mediated signaling pathway and apoptosis, whereas the MidnightBlue module was mainly related to extracellular matrix organization, bone development, extracellular matrix, extracellular matrix component, and other extracellular matrices. Furthermore, 356 genes highly related to the module were screened to construct a protein interaction network. Network degree distribution analysis showed that the known IDD-related genes had a higher degree of distribution. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that these genes were enriched in MAPK_SIGNALING_PATHWAY (FDR = 0.012), CHEMOKINE_SIGNALING_PATHWAY, and some other pathways. By constructing a disease-gene interaction network, three disease-specific genes were finally identified. Through combining with the drug-target gene interaction network, two potential therapeutic drugs, entrectinib and larotrectinib, were determined. Finally, based on these genes, the diagnostic model in the training dataset, test dataset, and verification dataset all showed a high diagnostic performance. The findings of this study contributed to the diagnosis of IDD and personalized treatment of IDD.

Formation of bcc and fcc during the coalescence of free and supported Fe and Ni clusters.

The formation of bcc and fcc during the coalescence of free and supported Fe and Ni clusters has been studied by molecular dynamics simulation using an embedded atom method. Structural evolution of the clusters, coalesced under varying temperature, Ni content and substrate conditions, was explored by interatomic energy, snapshots, pair distribution functions and bond order parameters. The results show that the formation of bcc and fcc is strongly related to Ni content, substrate and coalescence temperature. Free clusters coalesced at 1200 K form bcc at lower Ni contents with fcc forming at higher Ni concentrations and no observable coexistence of bcc and fcc. Differences in coalescence at 1000 K result from the coexistence of bcc and fcc within the Ni range of 50-70%. Free clusters supported on disordered Ni substrates were shown to transform from spherical morphology to islands of supported clusters with preferred epitaxial orientation. The Ni content required to form bcc and fcc coexistence on supported clusters at 1000 K decreased to 30-50% Ni. Free clusters possessing bcc and fcc generally stacked along the bcc (110) and fcc (111) facets, whereas supported clusters stacked along the (111) bcc and (100) fcc planes. Structural transformation was induced by clusters containing greater numbers of atoms. Spread over the substrate enhanced interatomic energy, order substrates affect the epitaxial growth direction and increase the melting points of the supported clusters. This study can be used to predict the nature of fcc and bcc formation in Fe-Ni films.

Evolution of morphology in electrodeposited nanocrystalline Co-Ni films by in-situ high magnetic field application.

The effect of high magnetic fields up to 12 T, applied during electrodeposition process, on the morphology of nanocrystalline CoNi films has been investigated. The magneto-induced dramatic modifications in the morphology were observed by using field-emission scanning electronic microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Along with the increase of magnetic flux density (B), the grain size and the surface roughness of the films increased to reach a maximum value at a field of 9 T. Meanwhile, higher magnetic flux density could improve cobalt atomic percentage in the film due to the impacts of magnetohydrodynamic effect. However, at a high field of 12 T, the paramagnetic force played a predominant role in a decrease of mass transport, resulting in minimum grain size and roughness, even smaller than that of the ordinarily (B=0 T) sample.

[Air pollutant emissions of aircraft in China in recent 30 years].

Although aircrafts are of great importance in transportation in China, there has been rare study on air pollutant emissions of aircrafts until now. Based on the annually statistical data collected by the Statistic Center of Civil Aviation of China, using the emission factor method derived from fuel consumption, the air pollutant emissions of aircrafts during 1980-2009 were calculated, and their emission intensities and dynamic characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the emissions of SO2, CO, NO(x) and HC from aircrafts of China Civil Aviation increased from 0.31 thousand, 1.89 thousand, 2.25 thousand and 3.14 thousand tons in 1980 to 11.83 thousand, 72.98 thousand, 87.05 thousand and 121.59 thousand tons in 2009, indicating a increase of 0.397 thousand, 2.45 thousand, 2.92 thousand and 4.08 thousand tons per year, respectively. The emission intensities of SO2, CO, NO(x) and HC decreased significantly from 0.624, 3.806, 4.53 and 6.322 g x (t x km)(-1) in 1980 to 0.275, 1.697, 2.025 and 2.828 g x (t x km)(-1) in 2009, respectively. SO2, CO, NO(x) emissions of aircrafts of China Civil Aviation accounted very little of each total emissions in China, and the air pollutant emissions from aircrafts of China Civil Aviation was less than those from other industries in China.

[Air pollutants emissions of locomotives in China railways in recent 33 years].

Although railway has played a great role in transportation in China, there has been no any study on air pollutants emissions of locomotives until now. Based on the annual statistical data collected by the Chinese Railway Statistic Center, using the emission factor method derived from fuel consumption, the air pollutants emissions of locomotives during 1975-2007 were calculated, and their emission intensities and dynamic characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the emissions of soot, SO2, CO and CnHm from steam and diesel locomotives in china decreased from 3510.6 thousand, 399.7 thousand, 846.0 thousand and 845.3 thousand ton in 1975 to 78.7 thousand, 11.4 thousand, 36.7 thousand and 26.4 thousand ton in 2007, indicating a decrease of 107.0 thousand, 12.1 thousand, 25.3 thousand and 25.6 thousand ton per year, respectively. However, the emissions of NO,showed an increase trend from 34.8 thousand ton in 1975 to 98.3 thousand ton in 2007 with an increase rate of 2.0 thousand ton per year. The emission intensities of soot, SO2, CO and CnHm decreased significantly from 686.2, 78.1, 165.4 and 165.2 g/(hundred converted ton-km) in 1975 to 5.4, 0.8, 2.5 and 1.8 g/(hundred converted ton-km) in 2007, respectively. The emission intensity of NOx fluctuated in the range of 5.0-8.0 g/(hundred converted ton-km). Air pollutants emissions of locomotives accounted for very little of the total emissions in China, and the emission intensities decreased persistently. It shows that railway transportation is a perfect way of saving energy and reducing emission in the sector of transportation.

Effects of high magnetic fields on solidified structures of Mn-90.4 wt% Sb hypoeutectic alloy.

Mn-90.4 wt% Sb alloy specimens were solidified under both uniform magnetic field and magnetic field gradient conditions. The solidification behavior was examined to elucidate the effects of high magnetic fields on the solidified structure evolution of this hypoeutectic alloy. The macrostructures on the longitudinal section of the alloys were investigated by optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The volume fraction of primary MnSb phases and the interrod spacing of the eutectic were measured by metallographic analysis. It was found that the segregation of the primary MnSb particles at the certain regions of the specimens occurred under the influence of high magnetic field gradients. The MnSb phases obtained under magnetic fields were oriented with their (h0 l) planes along the direction of the magnetic field. Both the volume fraction of primary MnSb phases and the interrod spacing of the eutectic were decreased upon the application of the high magnetic fields.