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هي أكبر فضاء معماري موجود، وهي بحجمها واتساع رقعتها، تدل على هيمنة الإمبراطورية على العالم، وأيا كانت قوة ونفوذ المرء فإنه بمجرد دخوله المدينة المحرمة، يجد نفسه أشبه بحبة رمل في صحراء واسعة، لا أهمية له، وعليه أن يخضع لهيمنة ذلك الفضاء، وأن يخضع سيره وجلوسه لقوانين ذلك الفضاء ؛ أما بالنسبة للإمبراطور فالوضع مختلف، فهو وحده سيد المكان، فهو لا يخضع في ظهوره وفي أي مناسبة لأي قيد أو شرط، في جلوسه على عرش التنين في قاعة الانسجام الأسمى، يصبح مركز الكون، ولا سيطرة للفضاء الواسع عليه. عندما يفقد الناس ذواتهم في القصور الضخمة ففي ذلك استعارة لسلطة الإمبراطور على رعاياه المبنية على أساس معماري حينما يمر الإمبراطور في القصر يفرض هيمنته على الجميع.

Designing and building structures that will withstand the unique challenges that exist in subsea operations is no easy task. As deepwater wells are drilled to greater depths, engineers are confronted with a new set of problems such as water depth, weather conditions, ocean currents, equipment reliability, and well accessibility, to name just a few. A definitive reference for engineers designing, analyzing and instilling offshore structures, this book provides an expert guide to the key processes, technologies and equipment that comprise contemporary offshore structures. Written in a clear and easy to understand language, the book is based on the authors 30 years of experience in the design, analysis and instillation of offshore structures. This book answers the above mentioned crucial questions as well as covers the entire spectrum of subjects in the discipline, from route selection and planning to design, construction, installation, materials and corrosion, inspection, welding, repair, risk assessment, and applicable design solutions. It yields a roadmap not only for the subsea engineer but also the project managers, estimators and regulatory personnel hoping to gain an appreciation of the overall issues and directed approaches to subsea engineering design solutions.

Marine pipelines for the transportation of oil and gas have become a safe and reliable part of the expanding infrastructure put in place for the development of the valuable resources below the worlds seas and oceans. The design of these pipelines is a relatively new technology and continues to evolve as the design of more cost effective pipelines becomes a priority and applications move into deeper waters and more hostile environments. This updated edition of a best selling title provides the reader with a scope and depth of detail related to the design of offshore pipelines and risers not seen before in a textbook format.

This book is based on the authors' 30 years of experience in offshore. The authors provide rigorous coverage of the entire spectrum of subjects in the discipline, from pipe installation and routing selection and planning to design, construction, and installation of pipelines in some of the harshest underwater environments around the world. All-inclusive, this must-have handbook covers the latest breakthroughs in subjects such as corrosion prevention, pipeline inspection, and welding, while offering an easy-to-understand guide to new design codes currently followed in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and other countries.

Seamless integration of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks is crucial to providing full-dimensional wireless and ubiquitous coverage, particularly catering to those engaged in marine activities. Compared to terrestrial networks, wireless communications in the marine domain are still not satisfactory for ubiquitous connectivity. Featuring agile maneuverability and strong adaptive capability, autonomous marine vehicles (AMVs) play a pivotal role in enhancing communication coverage by relaying or collecting data. However, path planning for maritime data harvesting is one of the most critical issues to enhance transmission efficiency while ensuring safe sailing for AMVs; yet it has rarely been discussed under this context. This paper provides a comprehensive and holistic overview of path-planning techniques custom-tailored for the purpose of maritime data collection. Specifically, we commence with a general portrayal of fundamental models, including system architectures, problem formulations, objective functions, and associated constraints. Subsequently, we summarize the various algorithms, methodologies, platforms, tools, coding environments, and their practical implementations for addressing these models. Furthermore, we delve into the burgeoning applications of path planning in the realm of maritime data harvesting and illuminate potential avenues for upcoming research endeavors. We believe that future research may focus on developing techniques to adapt more intricate and uncertain scenarios, such as sensor failures, inaccurate state estimations, complete modeling of communication channels, ocean dynamics, and application of heterogeneous systems.

Cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma has been recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. However, cisplatin is associated with poor patient compliance and has notable side-effects. Lobaplatin, a third-generation platinum drug, has shown promising antitumour activity against several malignancies with less toxicity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lobaplatin-based induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy over a cisplatin-based regimen in patients with locoregional, advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this open-label, non-inferiority, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial done at five hospitals in China, patients aged 18–60 years with previously untreated, non-keratinising stage III–IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Karnofsky performance-status score of at least 70; and adequate haematological, renal, and hepatic function were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive intravenously either lobaplatin-based (lobaplatin 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 22, and fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 on days 1–5 and 22–26 for two cycles) or cisplatin-based (cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on days 1 and 22, and fluorouracil 800 mg/m2 on days 1–5 and 22–26 for two cycles) induction chemotherapy, followed by concurrent lobaplatin-based (two cycles of intravenous lobaplatin 30 mg/m2 every 3 weeks plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy) or cisplatin-based (two cycles of intravenous cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy) chemoradiotherapy. Total radiation doses of 68–70 Gy (for the sum of the volumes of the primary tumour and enlarged retropharyngeal nodes), 62–68 Gy (for the volume of clinically involved gross cervical lymph nodes), 60 Gy (for the high-risk target volume), and 54 Gy (for the low-risk target volume), were administered in 30–32 fractions, 5 days per week. Randomisation was done centrally at the clinical trial centre of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Centre by means of computer-generated random number allocation with a block design (block size of four) stratified according to disease stage and treatment centre. Treatment assignment was known to both clinicians and patients. The primary endpoint was 5-year progression-free survival, analysed in both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations. If the upper limit of the 95% CI for the difference in 5-year progression-free survival between the lobaplatin-based and cisplatin-based groups did not exceed 10%, non-inferiority was met. Adverse events were analysed in all patients who received at least one cycle of induction chemotherapy. This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-TRC-13003285 and is closed. From June 7, 2013, to June 16, 2015, 515 patients were assessed for eligibility and 502 patients were enrolled: 252 were randomly assigned to the lobaplatin-based group and 250 to the cisplatin-based group. After a median follow-up of 75·3 months (IQR 69·9–81·1) in the intention-to-treat population, 5-year progression-free survival was 75·0% (95% CI 69·7–80·3) in the lobaplatin-based group and 75·5% (70·0 to 81·0) in the cisplatin-based group (hazard ratio [HR] 0·98, 95% CI 0·69–1·39; log-rank p=0·92), with a difference of 0·5% (95% CI −7·1 to 8·1; pnon-inferiority=0·0070). In the per-protocol population, the 5-year progression-free survival was 74·8% (95% CI 69·3 to 80·3) in the lobaplatin-based group and 76·4% (70·9 to 81·9) in the cisplatin-based group (HR 1·04, 95% CI 0·73 to 1·49; log-rank p=0·83), with a difference of 1·6% (−6·1 to 9·3; pnon-inferiority=0·016). 63 (25%) of 252 patients in the lobaplatin-based group and 63 (25%) of 250 patients in the cisplatin-based group had a progression-free survival event in the intention-to-treat population; 62 (25%) of 246 patients in the lobaplatin-based group and 58 (25%) of 237 patients in the cisplatin-based group had a progression-free survival event in the per-protocol population. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events were mucositis (102 [41%] of 252 in the lobaplatin-based group vs 99 [40%] of 249 in the cisplatin-based group), leucopenia (39 [16%] vs 56 [23%]), and neutropenia (25 [10%] vs 59 [24%]). No treatment-related deaths were reported. Lobaplatin-based induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy resulted in non-inferior survival and fewer toxic effects than cisplatin-based therapy. The results of our trial indicate that lobaplatin-based induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy might be a promising alternative regimen to cisplatin-based treatment in patients with locoregional, advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. National Science and Technology Pillar Program, International Cooperation Project of Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province, Planned Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province, and Cultivation Foundation for the Junior Teachers at Sun Yat-sen University. For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with endothelial dysfunction. We have previously reported that statins prevent endothelial dysfunction through inhibition of microRNA-133a (miR-133a). This study is to investigate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of statins on HFpEF. Here, we show that statins upregulate the expression of a circular RNA (circRNA-RBCK1) which is co-transcripted with the ring-B-box-coiled-coil protein interacting with protein kinase C-1 (RBCK1) gene. Simultaneously, statins increase activator protein 2 alpha (AP-2α) transcriptional activity and the interaction between circRNA-RBCK1 and miR-133a. Furthermore, AP-2α directly interacts with RBCK1 gene promoter in endothelial cells. In vivo, lovastatin improves diastolic function in male mice under HFpEF, which is abolished by loss function of endothelial AP-2α or circRNA-RBCK1. This study suggests that statins upregulate the AP-2α/circRNA-RBCK1 signaling to suppress miR-133a in cardiac endothelial cells and prevent diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF. Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to occur in HFpEF and we know that statins can target endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting miR-133a. Here the authors show that statins improve diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF by increasing the levels of a circRNA which, in turns, binds to miR-133a modulating its downstream targets.

Baicalein, a widely used Chinese herbal medicine, has multiple pharmacological activities. However, the precise mechanisms of the anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of baicalein on gallbladder cancer (GBC) remain poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the anti-proliferation and anti-metastatic effects of baicalein and the related mechanism(s) on GBC. In the present study, we found that treatment with baicalein induced a significant inhibitory effect on proliferation and promoted apoptosis in GBC-SD and SGC996 cells, two widely used gallbladder cancer cell lines. Additionally, treatment with baicalein inhibited the metastasis of GBC cells. Moreover, we demonstrated for the first time that baicalein inhibited GBC cell growth and metastasis via down-regulation of the expression level of Zinc finger protein X-linked (ZFX). In conclusion, our studies suggest that baicalein may be a potential phytochemical flavonoid for therapeutics of GBC and ZFX may serve as a molecular marker or predictive target for GBC.

Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury (MIRI) was often observed after surgeries, causing a lot of suffering to patients. Inflammation and apoptosis were critical determinants during MIRI. We conveyed experiments to reveal the regulatory functions of circHECTD1 in MIRI development. The Rat MIRI model was established and determined by 2,3,5‐triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. We analyzed cell apoptosis using TUNEL and flow cytometry. Proteins expression was evaluated by western blot. The RNA level was determined by qRT‐PCR. Secreted inflammatory factors were analyzed by ELISA assay. To predict the interaction sequences on circHECTD1, miR‐138‐5p, and ROCK2, bioinformatics analysis was performed. Dual‐luciferase assay was used to confirm these interaction sequences. CircHECTD1 and ROCK2 were upregulated in the rat MIRI model, while miR‐138‐5p was decreased. CircHECTD1 knockdown alleviated H/R‐induced inflammation in H9c2 cells. Direct interaction and regulation of circHECTD1/miR‐138‐5p and miR‐138‐5p/ROCK2 were confirmed by dual‐luciferase assay. CircHECTD1 promoted H/R‐induced inflammation and cell apoptosis by inhibiting miR‐138‐5p. miR‐138‐5p alleviated H/R‐induced inflammation, while ectopic ROCK2 antagonized such effect of miR‐138‐5p. Our research suggested that the circHECTD1‐modulated miR‐138‐5p suppressing is responsible for ROCK2 activation during H/R‐induced inflammatory response, providing a novel insight into MIRI‐associated inflammation.

This paper proposes a novel wideband high-frequency (HF) communication system supporting video transmission based on non-contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (NC-OFDM) and probabilistic shaping (PS). The HF spectrum is currently very crowded; to find a free continuous frequency band around 500 KHz for video transmission is almost impossible. So this paper investigates how to exploit spectrum holes in the HF band with NC-OFDM technology. We propose a transmission scheme over a wideband HF channel modeled by the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) channel model with valid bandwidth up to 1 MHz. In order to improve the reliability of proposed scheme, this paper further investigates the probabilistic shaping-based coding modulation. Simulation results show that the designed wideband HF NC-OFDM communication system can meet the data rate required for video transmission. In addition, the probabilistic shaping-based coding modulation provides a significant performance improvement over uncoded systems and the probabilistic shaping offers an extra 0.6 dB shaping gain in the wideband HF channel compared to equal probability constellation systems.