Effects of the Anti-Tumorigenic Agent AT101 on Human Glioblastoma Cells in the Microenvironmental Glioma Stem Cell Niche

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a barely treatable disease due to its profound chemoresistance. A distinct inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity reflected by specialized microenvironmental niches and different tumor cell subpopulations allows GBMs to evade therapy regimens. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies. A promising candidate for the treatment of GBMs is AT101, the R(-) enantiomer of gossypol. The present study evaluates the effects of AT101, alone or in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), in a microenvironmental glioma stem cell niche model of two GBM cell lines (U251MG and U87MG). AT101 was found to induce strong cytotoxic effects on U251MG and U87MG stem-like cells in comparison to the respective native cells. Moreover, a higher sensitivity against treatment with AT101 was observed upon incubation of native cells with a stem-like cell-conditioned medium. This higher sensitivity was reflected by a specific inhibitory influence on the p-p42/44 signaling pathway. Further, the expression of CXCR7 and the interleukin-6 receptor was significantly regulated upon these stimulatory conditions. Since tumor stem-like cells are known to mediate the development of tumor recurrences and were observed to strongly respond to the AT101 treatment, this might represent a promising approach to prevent the development of GBM recurrences.     

It doesn’t take a village to fall for misinformation: Social media use,discussion heterogeneity preference,worry of the virus,faith in scientists,and COVID-19-related misinformation beliefs

With the circulation of misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization has raised concerns about an “infodemic,” which exacerbates people’s misperceptions and deters preventive measures. Against this backdrop, this study examined the conditional indirect effect of social media use and discussion heterogeneity preference on COVID-19-related misinformation beliefs in the United States, using a national survey. Findings suggested that social media use was positively associated with misinformation beliefs, while discussion heterogeneity preference was negatively associated with misinformation beliefs. Furthermore, worry of COVID-19 was found to be a significant mediator as both associations became more significant when mediated through worry. In addition, faith in scientists served as a moderator that mitigated the indirect effect of discussion heterogeneity preference on misinformation beliefs. That is, among those who had stronger faiths in scientists, the indirect effect of discussion heterogeneity preference on misinformation belief became more negative. The findings revealed communication and psychological factors associated with COVID-19-related misinformation beliefs and provided insights into coping strategies during the pandemic.     

User activities and the heterogeneity of urban space:The case of Dahiyat Al Hussein park

Urban researchers have maintained a constant interest in the complexity and continuity of urban space usage. Some have applied actor–network theory (ANT) to investigate the heterogeneity of spaces and present them through the networks of their users’ activities. However, these accounts are predominantly limited in examining the extent to which these spaces may be heterogeneous when exploring such networks. This paper draws on recent ANT scholarship, which employs an ethnographic research conducted in a main park in a housing project at Dahiyat Al Hussein in Amman, Jordan. The findings describe the complex and unpredictable negotiations that occur within spaces by documenting the varieties and interrelations among user activity networks within this common and shared urban space. This research reveals the extent to which spaces, parks in this case, may be heterogeneous by unpacking their usage. The conclusions and insights assert the necessity of paying attention to design detail and creating designs that are responsive to evolving user activities.     

番禺30-1砂岩强水驱气藏储层非均质性研究

针对垂向非均质性严重且边底水能量强的番禺30-1气田面临的潜在开发问题，通过岩心分析及测井二次解释，对其夹层特征及储层非均质性等进行了研究，划分出19个流动单元并定量描述了各流动单元的特征参数，建立了该气田的精细地质模型。综合评价表明，新建的地质模型具有较高的精度，为该气藏合理开发提供了坚实的地质基础。     

Microscopic and Macroscopic Growth Rates of Fatigue Cracks in Steels and Alloys under the Influence of Crack Closure

On the basis of the experimental data, we show that the difference between the macroscopic and microscopic fatigue crack growth rates in the second section of the kinetic diagram of fatigue fracture is caused by the effect of crack closure within the limits of its existence. We establish the relationships between the macroscopic and microscopic fatigue crack growth rates and the structure of the material in the second section of the diagram for various values of the load ratio with regard for the effect of crack closure and propose a procedure of examination of the fracture processes in structural materials based on the analysis of microscopic and macroscopic fatigue crack growth rates.     

Influence of accelerated ageing on methacrylate‐based denture resins heterogeneity as viewed by ESR‐spin‐probe method

The electron‐spin‐resonance (ESR) spin‐probe method, was used to study the heterogeneity of denture resins based on poly(methyl methacrylate). Results for three resins processed by microwave energy, conventional curing and cold curing (depending on the curing procedure and exposed to ageing in various environmental conditions) were compared. All three cured resins were stored over the same time (1200 h) in distilled water at ambient temperature and in artificial saliva at 348 K. The temperature‐dependent ESR spectra of a spin probe dispersed in the denture resins are analyzed in terms of line‐shapes and line‐widths. The appearance of two spectral components was taken as an indication of resin heterogeneity. The results reveal that the cold‐cured resin has a lower local density in comparison with microwave and conventionally cured resin. The amount of residual monomer also contributes to the local motion of polymer segments. The change of denture resins exposed to ageing is influenced both by the structure of the original resin and the ageing conditions. Restricted motion of a spin probe incorporated into the acrylic resins exposed to accelerated ageing suggests additional crosslinking of polymer chains. The differences are observed for all the investigated resins, but the highest change is observed with the cold‐cured resin. The ESR results are accompanied by T_g and T_m measurements. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigation of Centreline Segregation and Centreline Porosity in CC ‐ Slabs

Improvements of solidification processing in conventional or near net shape casting depend on sophisticated methods of macroscopic examination of central unsoundness and inhomogeneity of the cast material. As long as remarkable deviations referring to the quality features exist between the slab centre and the bulk material such methods should be looked after. Two semi‐macroscopic methods of segregation analysis are discussed in this paper: firstly, the potential of the emission spectral analysis combined with sectioning of a sample and secondly, the computer aided micro‐probe analysis. Both methods are restricted to small local areas. The proneness of elements and steel grades with respect to micro‐ and macrosegregation as well as distribution‐ and segregation coefficients are determined. The effect of a diffusion anneal on homogenisation of segregation is studied. Last not least the precipitation of sulphides, phosphides or carbonitrides is estimated. Ultrasonic detection of the central unsoundness of conventional slabs or thin slabs is a new approach towards a quantitative macroscopic examination. The sample size is 400 mm x 300 mm x 30 mm. To achieve a low ultrasonic noise using a 5 MHz‐transducer the samples are heat treated for grain refinement. “Dog bone porosity”, macroscopic topographical misfit between the upper and lower solidifying shells, periodical corner cracks or systematic transverse centre cracks are detected. Obviously, segregations do not reflect the ultrasonic beam. However, it can be presumed that an interrelation exists between porosity and segregation, although these might be locally apart from each other. This new ultrasonic test of the central unsoundness of continuous cast (c.c.) slabs gives valuable arguments to machine builders and maintenance people to decide on the right concepts for strand guidance, support rollers and secondary cooling. Soft reduction can be optimized and variations in casting speed counteracted by dynamic means. R&D service of this kind can help steelmakers when decisions are impending to build new casting machines or revamp old ones.     

苏里格低渗强非均质性气田开发技术对策探讨

鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格气田储集层具有低渗、强非均质性、中强压敏的特点，气井产能低，稳产期短。根据单井模拟及生产动态分析，气井低产量生产可以降低压敏效应的影响，加强气井低产量生产阶段的管理，有利于合理利用地层能量，提高井控外围低渗区储量动用程度；分层压裂、多层合采可以在纵向上充分动用气井控制储量，增加气井最终累计产气量和稳产时间；地质研究与地震相结合，是提高储集层预测精度和钻井成功率的技术关键；降低成本，争取优惠政策也是提高经济效益的有效途径。     

判断油气藏非均质性的新方法

非均质性是油气藏的基本特性,也是影响油气面采收率的重要因素.它是反映油气藏的渗透率、孔隙度、有效厚度及其连通性的综合特征参数.不同油气藏在投入开发后,其产量随时间变化的分布曲线与油气藏自身的非质均性有密切关系.利用伽马分布描述油气藏产量随时间的变化,研制了典型曲线的理论图版,通过拟会求解,可判断油气藏的非均质程度.     

非均质储层模型微观水驱油实验

储层的非均质性不但普遍存在，而且是影响注水开发油藏水驱效率和开发后期剩余油分布的重要因素。利用微观模型水驱油实验，研究了横向、纵向及平面共6种非均质模型在不同注采方式下微观水驱油机理。针对不同非均质模型和注采方式下剩余油分布特点，研究了改变注采方向和驱替压力对提高水驱采收率的影响。改变注采方向后，横向和平面非均质模型采收率分别提高了2．89％和5．42％；对于纵向非均质模型，首次低注高采改变为高注低采后提高采收率3．72％，反之提高了1．26％。提高驱替压力后，横向及纵向非均质模型的采收率分别提高了35．65％和31．26％，平面非均质模型只提高了8．10％。