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Acquired resistance to tamoxifen remains a major obstacle in breast cancer (BC) treatment, since the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) has been recently shown to be dysregulated and plays important roles in progression of breast cancer. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the biological role and clinical significance of UCA1 in BC drug resistance. Hence, we used quantitative PCR assay to evaluate the UCA1 expression in tissues from patients with BC as well as established tamoxifen-resistant BC cell lines in vitro. We tested the viability, invasive ability and apoptosis rate in MCF-7 and T47D cells using MTT assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The influence of UCA1 on tumorigenesis was monitored by in vivo mice xenograft model. The activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was evaluated by immunofluorescence assay, western blot assay and luciferase reporter assay, respectively. We found that the expression of UCA1 positively correlated with the pathological grade and mortality of breast cancer patients, moreover, expressions of UCA1 was increased significantly in the tamoxifen-resistant cell lines compared with the wild type parental cells. Ectopic expression of UCA1 promoted cell survival and resistance to tamoxifen treatment, whereas inhibition of UCA1 enhanced tamoxifen sensitivity of BC cells and induced more apoptotic cells. In addition, tamoxifen-resistant cells exhibited increased Wnt signaling activation as measured by the TOP/FOP Wnt luciferase reporter assay and β-catenin protein level compared with parental MCF-7 and T47D cells, respectively. In line with these data, UCA1 depletion attenuated the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and the tumorigenicity of the tamoxifen-resistant BC cells. Taken together, our data highlights the pivotal role of UCA1-Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer, which could be targeted to improve the effectiveness and efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer.

Here, we present the results of turbulent flow structures and their influence on aeolian sand transport over gobi surfaces based on quadrant analysis. The results show that the classified turbulent structures over gobi accounted for 43%–44% of the time frequency and contributed ∼97% to the Reynolds stress, yet the contribution rates to sand transport rate ranged from 45% to 52%. Sweeps (Quadrant 4) and ejections (Q2) were the two most frequent events and accounted for 70% of the total frequency for the classified turbulent structures. Sweeps made a major contribution of 51%–57% to sand transport rate over gobi. Outward interactions (Q1) were relatively rare, but they individually entrained as much sand as sweeps of comparable magnitude and duration. The turbulent structures over gobi show similar behaviors comparable to those of water flows over gravel riverbeds or rough seabeds yet different from those of air flow over flat sand surfaces. Plain Language Summary Turbulence is the driving factor for aeolian sand transport. Turbulence behavior over gobi, a major type of rough land surface in Asia, and its influence on sand transport are poorly understood. Quadrant analysis has been widely used to evaluate boundary layer turbulence based on the streamwise (u′) and vertical (w′) fluctuating wind speed components from the mean. Four distinct quadrants can be defined, that is, outward interactions (Q1) (u′ > 0, w′ > 0), ejections (Q2) (u′ < 0, w′ > 0), inward interactions (Q3) (u′ < 0, w′ < 0), and sweeps (Q4) (u′ > 0, w′ < 0). The quadrant analysis shows that sweeps and ejections were the two most frequent turbulent structures over gobi, accounting for a total frequency of 70%. Sweeps made the largest contribution to sand transport rate over gobi. In contrast, outward interactions were individually as effective as sweeps, and they contributed less to sand transport rate than sweeps only because they were less common. The presence of gravel on the gobi surface affects the surrounding flow field and makes the turbulent structures different from those over flat sand surfaces, highlighted by the more frequent occurrence of ejections and sweeps, whereas they show similar characteristics to those over gravel riverbeds or rough seabeds. Key Points Turbulent flow structures over a gobi surface and their impact on sand transport rate were examined Sweeps made the largest contribution to sand transport rate over gobi, while outward interactions were individually as effective as sweeps The behavior of turbulent flow over gobi surfaces shows similar turbulence characteristics to water flows over rough riverbeds or seabeds

There are no theoretical formulas that can accurately predict the sand transport rate (Qm) over the Gobi surface. We report herein high‐frequency field observations of wind‐blown sand processes over the Gobi surface under extremely high winds in eastern Xinjiang, China. The results reveal that the power‐law exponent of the scaling relationship between Qm and friction wind velocity (uτ) in the extremely high winds with high gravel coverage Gobi area can reach 15.51, significantly exceeding that on sandy surfaces. Meanwhile, there is a favorable power‐law between Qm and the fluctuation intensity of the vertical wind velocity (Iw), whereas the correlation between Qm and the streamwise fluctuation intensity (Iu) is weak. Therefore, Iw has a significant application in constructing the prediction model for Qm over such Gobi surfaces. This study provides a new insight into the quantitative analysis of the aeolian transport over the windy Gobi areas.

To enable the efficient and environmentally benign treatment of phenol-containing wastewater, a nitrogen-doped porous carbon material (denoted as 900-CN) was synthesized via high-temperature annealing of a composite composed of humic acid (HA) and g-C3N4. The as-prepared materials were characterized, and their catalytic performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for phenol degradation was investigated. The results demonstrate that g-C3N4 acts as a layered template; upon high-temperature annealing, it gradually evolves into a highly wrinkled and porous architecture. This morphology substantially increases the specific surface area, thereby facilitating pollutant removal. PMS formed metastable surface complexes on 900-CN, enabling concomitant electron transfer. Concurrently, functional groups on the HA-derived carbon reacted with PMS to generate singlet oxygen (1O2), a highly oxidative species that markedly enhanced phenol degradation. The 900-CN composite achieved complete phenol removal (100%) within 60 min. Variations in reaction temperature (20–50 °C) and initial pH (2–10) exhibited negligible influence on the performance of the 900-CN/PMS system. Reactive species in the 900-CN/PMS/phenol system included •OH, SO4•−, O2•−, and 1O2, indicating that phenol degradation occurred through combined radical and non-radical pathways. These findings highlight the strong potential of 900-CN as a promising catalyst for the treatment of phenolic wastewater.

Objective We aimed to identify independent risk factors for perineural invasion (PNI) in early gastric cancer (EGC) and to construct the first individualized nomogram for predicting PNI risk. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathological data from 416 EGC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy between December 2019 and August 2025. The optimal set of risk predictors for PNI was selected using the LASSO regression model with ten-fold cross-validation. Independent risk factors were subsequently identified via multivariable logistic regression analysis. For internal validation, we randomly selected 30% of the sample as a validation set using R software (version 4.4.2). The model’s performance was comprehensively evaluated by assessing its discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve), and clinical utility (decision curve analysis, DCA). Results A total of 416 patients were included in the final analysis, among whom 30 (7.21%) had PNI. LASSO regression analysis identified eight predictors for PNI: age, CEA level (ng/mL), tumor location, maximum tumor thickness, tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, Lauren classification, and pT stage. These variables were subsequently incorporated into a multivariable logistic regression model. The analysis revealed that age (OR = 1.105, 95% CI: 1.029–1.187, P  = 0.006), CEA level (OR = 59.489, 95% CI: 3.456–1023.871, P  = 0.005), maximum tumor thickness (OR = 38.807, 95% CI: 3.408–441.872, P  = 0.003), and lymphovascular invasion (OR = 4.131, 95% CI: 1.337–12.768, P  = 0.014) were independent risk factors for PNI in EGC (all P  < 0.05). The nomogram demonstrated strong discriminative ability, with AUC values of 0.895 (95% CI: 0.839–0.950) in the training cohort and 0.783 (95% CI: 0.625–0.940) in the validation cohort. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test indicated good model calibration in both the training (χ² = 11.994, P  = 0.152) and validation cohorts (χ² = 3.833, P  = 0.872). DCA showed substantial clinical net benefits across a wide range of threshold probabilities. Conclusion In conclusion, this study identified age, CEA level, maximum tumor thickness, and lymphovascular invasion as independent predictors of PNI in EGC. We developed the first nomogram for individualized PNI risk assessment, which demonstrated strong predictive performance, good calibration, and clinical usefulness. Although this tool offers a reliable approach for personalized risk evaluation, further multicenter validation is necessary to enhance its clinical applicability.

Reconstructing past sea‐level changes is critical in Quaternary science. On remote oceanic reefs, aragonite‐to‐calcite alteration occurs during subaerial exposure, directly recording the timing of sea‐level fall. U–Th dating of coral calcite is challenging due to open‐system issues. However, following calcite formation, the accumulated thermoluminescence (TL) signal can date the initial subaerial exposure event. This study pioneers the application of isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) dating of reef calcite from the Xisha Islands, South China Sea. ITL single‐aliquot regenerative‐dose protocol improved the precision of equivalent dose measurement. By integrating dose rate simulation within a Bayesian framework constrained by U–Th ages, we obtained ITL ages of 127.0 ± 8.0 and 138.5 ± 1.5 ka for two reef core samples, dating sea‐level lowstands to late Marine Isotope Stage 6. Our results demonstrate that ITL dating of reef calcite enables the high‐resolution chronostratigraphic reconstruction of sea‐level sequences back to at least 1.5 million years ago.

Boao Jade Beach, on the east coast of Hainan Island, is a typical sandy beach and is one of the areas where typhoons frequently land in Hainan. This study examined wind speed, wind direction, and sediment transport data obtained from field meteorological stations and omnidirectional sand accumulation instruments from 2020 to 2024 to study the coastal aeolian environment and sediment transport distribution characteristics in the region. The findings provide a theoretical basis for comprehensive analyses of the evolution of coastal aeolian landforms and the evaluation and control of coastal aeolian hazards. The research results showed the following: (1) The annual average threshold wind velocity for sand movement in the study area was 6.13 m/s, and the wind speed frequency was 20.97%, mainly dominated by easterly winds (NNE, NE) and southerly winds (S). (2) The annual drift potential (DP) and resultant drift potential (RDP) of Boao Jade Belt Beach from 2020 to 2024 were 125.99 VU and 29.59 VU, respectively, indicating a low-energy wind environment. The yearly index of directional wind variability (RDP/DP) was 0.23, which is classified as a small ratio and indicates blunt bimodal wind conditions. The yearly resultant drift direction (RDD) was 329.41°, corresponding to the NNW direction, indicating that the sand on Boao Jade Belt Beach is generally transported in the southwest direction. (3) When the measured data from the sand accumulation instrument in the study area from 2020 to 2024 were used for a statistical analysis, the results showed that the total sediment transport rate in the study area was 39.97 kg/m·a, with the maximum sediment transport rate in the S direction being 17.74 kg/m·a. These results suggest that, when sand fixation systems are constructed for relevant infrastructure in the region, the direction of protective forests and other engineering measures should be perpendicular to the net direction of sand transport.

The coastal sandy land in northeast Hainan Province is typical for this land type, also exhibiting strong sand activity. This study is based on wind speed, wind direction, and sediment transport data obtained at a field meteorological station using an omnidirectional sand accumulation instrument from 2020 to 2024, studying the coastal aeolian environment and sediment transport distribution characteristics in the region. Its findings provide a theoretical basis for comprehensively analyzing the evolution of coastal aeolian landforms and the evaluation and control of coastal aeolian hazards. The research results show the following: (1) The annual average threshold wind velocity for sand movement in the study area is 6.84 m/s, and the wind speed frequency (frequency of occurrence) is 51.54%, dominated by easterly (NE, ENE) and southerly (S, SSE) winds. (2) The drift potential (DP) refers to the potential amount of sediment transported within a certain time and spatial range, and the annual drift potential (DP) and resultant drift potential (RDP) of Mulan Bay from 2020 to 2024 were 550.82 VU and 326.88 VU, respectively, indicating a high-energy wind environment. The yearly directional wind variability index (RDP/DP) was 0.59, classified as a medium ratio and indicating blunt bimodal wind conditions. The yearly resultant drift direction (RDD) was 249.45°, corresponding to a WSW direction, indicating that the sand in Mulan Bay is generally transported in the southwest direction. (3) When the measured data extracted from the sand accumulation instrument in the study area from 2020 to 2024 were used for statistical analysis, the results showed that the total sediment transport rate (the annual sediment transport of the observation section) in the study area was 110.87 kg/m·a, with the maximum sediment transport rate in the NE direction being 29.26 kg/m·a. These results suggest that when sand fixation systems are constructed for relevant infrastructure in the region, the construction direction of protective forests and other engineering measures should be perpendicular to the net direction of sand transport.

PurposeFractal theory has been frequently applied to quantify soil particle-size distributions (PSDs) and evaluate soil degradation. Eolian desertification occurring on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is threatening the ecological environment. It is essential to investigate the desertification process by adopting the concept of space as a substitute for time. Here, the fractal features of soil PSDs and their relationships with selected soil properties and wind erosion and deposition were studied.Materials and methodsThe tested soil samples were collected from rangelands with four different degrees of desertification (light, medium, severe, and extremely severe). Soil particle sizes were measured by a laser diffraction particle-size analyzer. Soil moisture and soil bulk density were determined by the soil weight difference before and after oven-drying for 8 h. Soil organic carbon was determined by the K2Cr2O7-H2SO4 oxidation method and soil total nitrogen was analyzed using the Kjeldahl digestion procedure. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to simulate wind erosion and deposition during the desertification process. Values of the fractal dimension of soil PSDs were calculated using the volume-based fractal model. ANOVA with an LSD test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze whether different parameters used in the fractal model influenced the results of the fractal dimensions and were reasonable to be applied.Results and discussionDifferent parameters, including the arithmetic mean size and the upper sieve size of two successive sieve sizes, values of Rmin, and the number of data points used in the fractal model, rarely influenced the results of the fractal dimensions (p > 0.05). The D values showed a significantly positive correlation with the clay and silt contents and a strong negative correlation with the sand contents. Along the degrees of desertification from light to extremely severe, the contents of clay, silt, and very fine sand decreased while the fine sand contents increased, and the D values decreased accordingly. Rangelands with heavier desertification and lower D values were more easily exposed to wind erosion, relating to the further loss of soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil moisture and increased soil bulk density. The soil depth could affect soil PSDs and the selected soil properties of rangelands under light and medium degrees of desertification but rarely influenced those of severely and extremely severely desertified lands.ConclusionsDifferent parameters, including the arithmetic mean size, the upper sieve size, values of Rmin, and the number of data points used in the fractal model, had no impacts on the results of the fractal dimensions, and were reasonable to be applied. We suggest the fractal dimension as an effective indicator to evaluate soil environment changes induced by desertification.

As a new type of driver, linear ultrasonic motor (LUSM) is widely used in the high-tech field because of its low speed, high thrust, low noise, and no electromagnetic interference. However, as an actuator used in microdevices, most of the existing LUSMs are large in size and not compact in structure. In order to overcome these limitations, a new structure of linear ultrasonic motor’s stator is developed in this paper. The stator is similar to a tuning fork structure, which is divided into three parts: two driving feet, two driving legs, and the driving body. By using the first-order longitudinal vibration mode of the whole stator and the unique partial second-order bending vibration mode of the driving legs to achieve vibration mode degeneracy, a mode hybrid linear ultrasonic motor that is easy to miniaturize is proposed. Its working principle is analyzed. The dynamic analysis of the stator is carried out by using finite element software. The structure dimension of the stator and the driving frequency under the working mode are determined. At the same time, the feasibility of driving feet synthesizing elliptical motion is verified theoretically and experimentally. In addition, the LUSM test setup is built. The effects of driving frequency and Vpp on stator stall force and average velocity are studied. The results show that the maximum stall force can reach 99 mN, and the average velocity of the motor is 88.67 mm/s with Vpp = 320 V and driving frequency 80.2 kHz. The proposed LUSM is appropriate for use in occasions with quick return characteristics, like the controlling valve or nozzle of the printer. The research results provide guidance for the stator design of the linear ultrasonic motor.