Accumulating evidences highlight the critical roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in a variety of cancers. LncRNA PXN‐AS1‐L was previously shown to exert oncogenic roles in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the expression, role, and molecular mechanism of PXN‐AS1‐L in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) malignancy remain unknown. Here, we determined that PXN‐AS1‐L is upregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. Increased expression of PXN‐AS1‐L predicts worse prognosis of NPC patients. PXN‐AS1‐L overexpression promotes NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and NPC tumor growth in vivo. PXN‐AS1‐L silencing suppresses NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, PXN‐AS1‐L directly interacts with SAPCD2 mRNA 3′‐untranslated region, prevents the binding of microRNAs‐AGO silencing complex to SAPCD2 mRNA, and upregulates the mRNA and protein level of SAPCD2. SAPCD2 is also increased in NPC tissues. The expression of SAPCD2 is significantly positively associated with that of PXN‐AS1‐L in NPC tissues. Gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function experiments demonstrated that SAPCD2 also promotes NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, depletion of SAPCD2 significantly reverses the roles of PXN‐AS1‐L in promoting NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and NPC tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, lncRNA PXN‐AS1‐L is upregulated in NPC and promoted NPC malignancy by upregulating SAPCD2 via direct RNA‐RNA interaction.

It is typically difficult for engineers to detect the tension force of prestressed tendons in concrete structures. In this study, a smart bar is fabricated by embedding a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) in conjunction with its communication fiber into a composite bar surrounded by carbon fibers. Subsequently, a smart composite cable is twisted by using six outer steel wires and the smart bar. Given the embedded FBG, the proposed composite cable simultaneously provides two functions, namely withstanding tension force and self-sensing the stress state. It can be potentially used as an alternative to a prestressing reinforcement tendon for prestressed concrete (PC), and thereby provide a solution to detecting the stress state of the prestressing reinforcement tendons during construction and operation. In the study, both the mechanical properties and sensing performance of the proposed composite cable are investigated by experimental studies under different force standing conditions. These conditions are similar to those of ordinary prestressed tendons of a real PC components in service or in a construction stage. The results indicate that the proposed smart composite cable under the action of ultra-high pretension stress exhibits reliable mechanical performance and sensing performance, and can be used as a prestressed tendon in prestressed concrete structures.

Now the internal combustion engine mini-tiller has become the main and indispensable agricultural machinery in vast hilly and mountainous areas of Southwest China. However, its intense vibration may pose a big threat to operators. As a countermeasure to the tiller vibration, a new type of electric mini-tiller powered with a group of lithium battery and a brushless DC motor was developed. The vibration signals at the handle of the tiller were tested under 6 conditions as follows: the tiller was under states of static and working in the field, at slow, medium and rapid speed, respectively. The signals were processed by means of the time domain eigenvalue analysis and the frequency spectrum analysis. The results show that with the electric motor rated speed increased from 95 to 140 r/min under static conditions, the RMS values increased 122.54%, and with the forward speed increased from 0.30 to 0.80 m/s under working conditions, the RMS values increased 201.78%. When the tiller was working, the first order vibration frequencies were 25.99 Hz, 26.99 Hz and 28.99 Hz at slow, medium and rapid speed respectively, all not within 37.50-65.00 Hz, the sensitive range of human hands to the vibration frequency. In addition, according to the results of hand transmitted vibration analysis, it can be found that compared with operating the internal combustion engine mini-tiller under the same working condition, the onset of vibration-induced white finger can be delayed for 3.70 years to 10.20 years by operation of the new electric tiller.

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of regorafenib plus programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor in treating microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remains controversial. AIM To investigate the benefits of regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitor in treating MSS mCRC and explore indicators predicting response. METHODS This retrospective study included a total of 30 patients with microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer treated with regorafenib combined with programmed cell death-1 inhibitor at Henan Provincial People’s Hospital between December 2018 and December 2020. During a 4-wk treatment cycle, regorafenib was performed for 3 continuous weeks. PD-1 inhibitor was intravenously injected starting on the first day of the oral intake of regorafenib. We reviewed tumor response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and evaluated association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and outcomes in this retrospective study. RESULTS Stable disease and progressive disease were found in 18 (60.0%) and 12 (40.0%) patients, respectively. The disease control rate was 60.0%. The median follow-up time was 12.0 mo, and median PFS was 3.4 mo [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-4.6 mo]. Of the 12 patients with progressive disease, 10 (83.3%) had liver metastasis before starting the combined treatment. Among the 18 patients with SD, 10 (55.6%) did not have liver metastases. One patient without liver metastases at baseline was found with a substantially prolonged PFS of 11.2 mo. The liver metastasis, the choice of programmed cell death-1 inhibitor other than nivolumab or pembrolizumab and previous exposure to regorafenib was’t associated with treatment outcome. The median PFS in the low-PLR group was 4.2 mo (95%CI: 3.5-4.9 mo), compared with 2.8 mo (95%CI: 1.4-4.2 mo) in the high-PLR group ( P = 0.005). The major TRAEs included hand-foot syndrome (33.3%), hypertension (23.3%), malaise (20.0%), and gastrointestinal reaction (16.7%). The incidence of grade 3 TRAEs was 13.3% (4/30), which comprised abnormal capillary proliferation ( n = 1), transaminase elevation ( n = 1), and hand-foot syndrome ( n = 2). No grade 4 or higher toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION Regorafenib combined with PD-1 inhibitor could lead to a longer PFS in some patients with MSS mCRC. The PLR might be a prediction of the patient response to this therapy.