Whole-genome analysis informs breast cancer response to aromatase inhibition

To correlate the variable clinical features of oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer with somatic alterations, we studied pretreatment tumour biopsies accrued from patients in two studies of neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy by massively parallel sequencing and analysis. Eighteen significantly mutated genes were identified, including five genes (RUNX1, CBFB, MYH9, MLL3 and SF3B1) previously linked to haematopoietic disorders. Mutant MAP3K1 was associated with luminal A status, low-grade histology and low proliferation rates, whereas mutant TP53 was associated with the opposite pattern. Moreover, mutant GATA3 correlated with suppression of proliferation upon aromatase inhibitor treatment. Pathway analysis demonstrated that mutations in MAP2K4, a MAP3K1 substrate, produced similar perturbations as MAP3K1 loss. Distinct phenotypes in oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer are associated with specific patterns of somatic mutations that map into cellular pathways linked to tumour biology, but most recurrent mutations are relatively infrequent. Prospective clinical trials based on these findings will require comprehensive genome sequencing.     

Macrostructure and properties of thin walled copper tubes prepared by the downward continuous unidirectional solidification method

The macrostructure and properties of the thin walled copper tube prepared by the downward continuous unidirectional solidification (DCUS) method were studied. The result shows that the macrostructure is closely related to the solid-liquid interface profile, which is influenced by the distance between the cooling water location and the solidification front. The mechanical properties of the thin walled copper tube prepared by the DCUS method are near those of the normal cast copper, and it has good relative density, electrical conductivity, and elongation, which are not greatly affected by casting speed. The thin walled copper tube prepared by the DCUS method also has good processing properties that can be taken to further drawing procedures directly without an intermediate process, and obtains good mechanical properties with the total processing rate of 89.8%.     

Deformation behavior and microstructure of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Zr alloy during hot deformation

The hot deformation behavior and microstructures of Al-7055 commercial alloy were investigated by axisymmetric hot compression at temperatures ranging from 300℃ to 450℃ and strain rates from 10-2 to 10 s-1, respectively. Microstructures of deformed 7055 alloy were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The dependence of peak stress on deformation temperature and strain rate can be expressed by the hyperbolic-sine type equation. The hot deformation activation energy of the alloy is 146 kJ/mol. Moreover, the flow stress curves predicted by the modified constitutive equations are reasonably consistent with the experimental results, which confirms that the proposed deformation constitutive equations can provide evidence for the selection of hot forming parameters. TEM results indicate that dynamic recovery is the main softening mechanism during hot deformation.     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of extracting zinc from zinc oxide ore by the ammonium sulfate roasting method

Thermodynamic analyses and kinetic studies were performed on zinc oxide ore treatment by (NH₄)₂SO₄ roasting technology. The results show that it is theoretically feasible to realize a roasting reaction between the zinc oxide ore and (NH₄)₂SO₄ in a temperature range of 573-723 K. The effects of reaction temperature and particle size on the extraction rate of zinc were also examined. It is found that a surface chemical reaction is the rate-controlling step in roasting kinetics. The calculated activation energy of this process is about 45.57 kJ/mol, and the kinetic model can be expressed as follows:1-(1-α)1/3=30.85 exp(-45.57/RT)·t. An extraction ratio of zinc as high as 92% could be achieved under the optimum conditions.     

Microtextural evolution of different TRC AA8006 alloy sections with homogenization

Grain microtexture evolution in twin-roll cast AA8006 alloy sheets subjected to different treatments was investigated using electron backscatter diffraction. The textures of rolling-transverse and normal-transverse sections were characterized in original as-cast twin-roll casting and cold-rolled samples as well as samples homogenized at 500℃ for 8 h and at 580℃ for 4 h. It is found that grains on both the rolling-transverse and normal-transverse sections of cold-rolled samples are made finer by rolling deformation and coarsened after homogenization. Annealing temperature has a stronger effect on the microstructural evolution than annealing time. The grain growth direction is parallel to the normal-transverse section, while grain deformation is more stable on the rolling direction than on the normal direction. The rolling orientations display more obvious anisotropy on the normal-transverse sections than on the rolling-transverse sections. Grain recrystallization and growth occur much easier on the normal-transverse section than on the rolling-transverse section for samples homogenized at 500℃ for 8 h. A special misorientation relationship between cold deformation texture, such as S orientation {123}<634> and cube orientation <110>‖X_axis[cubic], and recrystallization texture after homogenization, such as R orientation {124}<211> and P orientation {011}<122>, is observed.     

台风影响下海滩内碎波带的波动特征

根据９７１３号台风影响期间对粤东海岸一海滩内碎波带２个测波点同步测量的波浪资料,分析了内碎波带的波功率谱、交叉谱和二阶相干谱,讨论了海滩反射性、碎波要素、组成波之间非线性相互作用与长重力波的形成等与地形动力有关的海滩—碎波带波动特征     

岬间海湾碎波带波能振荡的小波分析

８０年代发展起来的小波分析,作为一种崭新的数学分析方法,适宜于分析信号的局部特征,在诸多研究领域得到了广泛的应用［１～４］．本文拟通过对现场实测的碎波带波面记录,通过小波变换分析碎波带能量波动的多尺度性,并进行统计上的检验．１资料采集现场工作位于粤东...     

中国西南镇雄-赫章地区筇竹寺组高演化页岩气勘探方向

勘探实践表明中国西南的镇雄-赫章地区下寒武统筇竹寺组页岩气成藏条件优越,受强改造与高演化制约,筇竹寺组页岩气勘探尚未获得突破。为寻找热演化程度相对较低的有利保存区,基于钻井、露头、地震资料,通过编制关键期次岩相古地理图及古地质图,结合各沉积-剥蚀分区典型埋藏史分析,精细刻画镇雄-赫章地区沉积-剥蚀分区特征。结果表明:镇雄-赫章地区发育加里东期-海西期古隆起,控制二叠纪前沉积充填过程,沉积-剥蚀差异性明显。其中Ⅰ区及Ⅱ区缺失层系较多,且热演化间断时间长,热演化程度相对较低,为筇竹寺组页岩气有利勘探区。古隆起及周缘地区为海相高演化页岩气勘探的有利指向。     

Environmental chemical stressors as epigenome modifiers: a new horizon in assessment of toxicological effects

In eukaryotic cells, chromatin transformation from euchromatin into heterochromatin as a means of controlling gene expression and replication has been known as the ‘‘accessibility hypothesis' '. The interplay of epigenetic changes including histone modifications, DNA methylation, RNA interference(RNAi) and other func- tional epigenetic components are intricate. It is believed that these changes are well-programmed, inherited and can be modified by environmental contaminant stressors. Environmentally-driven epigenetic alterations during development, e.g. embryonic, foetal or neonatal stage, may influence disease susceptibility in adulthood. Therefore, understanding how epigenome modifications develop in response to environmental chemicals and, how epigenetic-xenobiotic interactions influence human health will shed new insights into gene-environment interactions in the epidemiology of several diseases including cancer. In this review, we consider studies of chemical modifiers including nutritional and xenobiotic effects on epigenetic components in vitro or in vivo. By examining the most-studied epigenome modifications and how their respective roles are interlinked, we highlight the central role of xenbiotic- modified epigenetic mechanisms. A major requirement will be to study and understand effects following environmentally-relevant exposures. We suggest that the study of epigenetic toxicology will open up new opportunities to devise strategies for the prevention or treatment of at-risk populations.     

Experimental Study on the Feasibility of Methane Drainage in Coal Seams with Compound Technique of Perforating and Fracturing

1IntroductionGas disasters are the most main hidden dangersof coal mines,actually the ultimate means ofproblem-solvingis pre-drainage.The permeabilitycoefficient of coal seamis the parameter whichjudges the degree of difficulty or easiness of themethane flows in coal seams,which is provedright in theory and in practice.During drainingmethane,the drainage effects of coal seams,whose pressure are not relived,are mainly dependonthe permeability coefficients[1].At the presenttime,one of the key pr…