Unraveling mechanisms and failures of stray current corrosion in urban Subway adjacent pipeline networks through statistical insights and 3D simulation.

The escalating expansion of urban subway systems in recent years has accentuated the issue of stray current corrosion within pipeline networks, emerging as a critical concern for urban safety. This paper delves into the intricate interplay between these phenomena, employing data-driven statistical analyses to elucidate the coupling characteristics between subway lines and the occurrence of failures in adjacent buried pipelines. An advanced three-dimensional finite element model was developed for stray current corrosion in pipelines, seamlessly integrating empirical data and physics-based modeling, which is to uncover the spatial nuances and multifaceted impacts on subway pipeline corrosion from both macro and micro perspectives under varying influencing factors. The study unveils a pronounced geographical and functional affinity between urban subway networks and metallic pipeline networks. The coupling attributes between subway systems and pipelines, such as distance, angle, and pipeline-specific characteristics including material and age, assume pivotal roles. The results further emphasize the hierarchical order of influence, with stray current intensity holding the greatest sway, followed by the distance between subway and pipelines, the angle between them, and soil resistivity. This paper offers a comprehensive investigation of the interrelationships and influential factors between subway systems and adjacent pipelines. It contributes to the mitigation and management of stray current corrosion in pipelines induced by nearby rail transit, thereby enhancing the resilience of both subway and pipeline networks within urban areas.

SOX4-activated lncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 aggravates osteoarthritis progression by modulating miR-149-5p/Notch1 signaling.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the expression and underlying network of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MCM3AP-AS1 in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Human articular cartilage samples, OA model rats and IL-1ß-treated C28/I2 cells were used in this study. The expression changes of genes and proteins were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and western blot assays, respectively. Molecule interactions were validated by dual luciferase and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. H&E staining was used to detect the pathological changes of cartilage. RESULTS: MCM3AP-AS1 was upregulated in OA patients and IL-1ß-induced chondrocytes. Knockdown of MCM3AP-AS1 enhanced autophagy, while alleviated ECM degradation and cartilage injury. Mechanistically, overexpression of SOX4 boosted the transcription of MCM3AP-AS1. Moreover, MCM3AP-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge or epigenetic regulator of miR-149-5p to facilitate Notch1 expression. Functional rescue experiments showed that either inhibition of miR-149-5p nor ectopic expression of Notch1 dramatically weakened the biological impacts of MCM3AP-AS1 silencing. CONCLUSION: These finding demonstrated that SOX4-activated MCM3AP-AS1 aggravated OA progression by modulating autophagy and ECM degradation via targeting miR-149-5p/Notch1 axis. These data supported that inhibition of MCM3AP-AS1 might be a potential treatment strategy of OA.

Community Transmission via Indirect Media-To-Person Route: A Missing Link in the Rapid Spread of COVID-19.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), stringent quarantine measures have been implemented so that healthy people and virus carriers have isolated themselves in the same community owing to the limit capacity of healthcare facilities. With the exponential growth of the infected population, the residential environment is contaminated by fomites from the infected residents and consequently threating the health of susceptible residents. Till now, little has been acknowledged on this indirect transmission route and its role on community transmission. Here we address the impact of self-isolated virus carriers on the residential environment and elucidate the potential transmission pathways via contaminated environment in communities. We urge further investigation on the superspreading cases in communities and hope to arouse the attention to evaluate the potential risk of indirect transmission route as well as the corresponding control measures.

[Immunotherapeutic efficacy of BCG vaccine in pulmonary tuberculosis and its preventive effect on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of BCG vaccine on initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis and its controlling effect on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. METHODS: All 360 volunteers with initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis of positive smear and culture were divided into immunotherapy group (180 cases, also BCG group) and control group (180 cases) at random pair. The patients in BCG group were treated with chemotherapy of a regimen of 2HRZ/2HR and immunotherapy with BCG for 4 months,and the first BCG vaccine was given a month after chemotherapy. Meanwhile, the patients in the control group were treated with chemotherapy of 2HRZ/4HR only. RESULTS: (1) The negative conversion rate of sputum smear in BCG group was 98.3% (177/180), and it was 97.2% (175/180) in control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups both at the ends of 4 and 6 months after treatment (chi2 = 0.1278, P > 0.05). (2) The positive conversion rate of sputum smear in BCG group was 2.3% (4/177), and it was 6.9% (12/175) in control group followed up for 5 years. The successful rate was 96.1% (173/180) in BCG group, and it was significantly higher than that of 90.6% (163/180) in control group (chi2 = 4.4643, P < 0.05). (3) In the 5-year follow up, bacteriologic result was similar to that of X-ray. (4) The occurrence rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was 2.3% (4/177) in BCG group,significantly lower than that of 7.3% (13/178) in the control group (chi2 = 4.9513, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As an adjunct chemotherapy,immunotherapy with BCG vaccine should be helpful for patients with initially treated pulmonary tuberculosis. It would further strengthen the effects of chemotherapy and reduce the occurrence rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.