Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed t...Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol in combination with the chemotherapy drug 5-FU on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines(AGS and EPG85-257).Materials and Methods:In this in vitro study,AGS and EPG85-257 cells were treated with different concentrations of celastrol,5-FU,and their combination.Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.The synergistic effect of 5-FU and celastrol was studied using Compusyn software.The DNA content at different phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis rate was measured usingflow cytometry.Results:Co-treatment with low concentrations(10%inhibitory concentration(IC10))of celastrol and 5-FU significantly reduced IC50(p<0.05)so that 48 h after treatment,IC50 was calculated at 3.77 and 6.9μM for celastrol,20.7 and 11.6μM for 5-FU,and 5.03 and 4.57μM for their combination for AGS and EPG85-257 cells,respectively.The mean percentage of apoptosis for AGS cells treated with celastrol,5-FU,and their combination was obtained 23.9,41.2,and 61.9,and for EPG85-257 cells 5.65,46.9,and 55.7,respectively.In addition,the 5-FU and celastrol-5-FU combination induced cell cycle arrest in the synthesis phase.Conclusions:Although celastrol could decrease the concentration of 5-fluorouracil that sufficed to suppress gastric cancer cells,additional studies are required to arrive at conclusive evidence on the anticancer effects of celastrol.展开更多
As I see the white,fluffy catkins soar through the air,I laugh to myself.It reminds me of when I first arrived.I was under the impression those lttle balls were actually the PM2.5 pollution particulates I had read abo...As I see the white,fluffy catkins soar through the air,I laugh to myself.It reminds me of when I first arrived.I was under the impression those lttle balls were actually the PM2.5 pollution particulates I had read about.I thought,"Wow,you really can see it."But that was hilariously disproven when I mentioned it at a party.This was the first of many zany and uninformed misconceptions I had about this country I've called home for the past seven years.展开更多
As someone who considers myself a bit of a cook,I was super intimidated when I first arrived in China.Heading to the local markets,I was confronted with strange ingredients,different presentation styles,and of course,...As someone who considers myself a bit of a cook,I was super intimidated when I first arrived in China.Heading to the local markets,I was confronted with strange ingredients,different presentation styles,and of course,language barriers.The first real shop,if you can even call it that,was an open-air market right outside my neighborhood.I was thrilled to come home with two huge bags of veggies,some eggs,meat and even a few snacks for less than US$15.展开更多
Anyone who has lived abroad has a built-in understanding of the nuances that come with it.And living in China has its own set of unique quirks that only other expats living here would fully understand.These shared exp...Anyone who has lived abroad has a built-in understanding of the nuances that come with it.And living in China has its own set of unique quirks that only other expats living here would fully understand.These shared experiences are not only amusing but also create a sense of belonging,a feeling of being part of a niche community that truly gets you.I am even part of an expat meme group that posts jokes like,“How can you complain?There are literally people living outside the 3rd Ring Road,”and funny reels depicting the foreigner navigating life in China with just one phrase:ting bu dong-“I don’t understand.”展开更多
"Stop complaining;there are literally people living outside of the Third Ring Road!"For the first seven years I lived here,I thought there could be nothing worse than living on the outskirts of town.When I f..."Stop complaining;there are literally people living outside of the Third Ring Road!"For the first seven years I lived here,I thought there could be nothing worse than living on the outskirts of town.When I first arrived in China,I was whisked away from the airport and taken to the far-flung east of Beijing to my new apartment.When I signed up to come,I was shown beautiful hutong apartments,flooded with light and surrounded by bustling streets.However,when I got to my new"home,"I wondered if there had beensomemistake.展开更多
Purpose-In the present research,location and routing problems,as well as the supply chain,which includes manufacturers,distributor candidate sites and retailers,are explored.The goal of addressing the issue is to redu...Purpose-In the present research,location and routing problems,as well as the supply chain,which includes manufacturers,distributor candidate sites and retailers,are explored.The goal of addressing the issue is to reduce delivery times and systemcosts for retailers so that routing and distributor locationmay be determined.Design/methodology/approach-By adding certain unique criteria and limits,the issue becomes more realistic.Customers expect simultaneous deliveries and pickups,and retail service start times have soft and hard time windows.Transportation expenses,noncompliance with the soft time window,distributor construction,vehicle purchase or leasing,andmanufacturing costs are all part of the system costs.The problem’s conceptual model is developed and modeled first,and then General Algebraic Modeling System software(GAMS)and Multiple Objective Particle Swarm Optimization(MOPSO)and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II(NSGAII)algorithms are used to solve it in small dimensions.Findings-According to the mathematical model’s solution,the average error of the two suggested methods,in contrast to the exact answer,is less than 0.7%.In addition,the performance of algorithms in terms of deviation from the GAMS exact solution is pretty satisfactory,with a divergence of 0.4%for the biggest problem(N 5100).As a result,NSGAII is shown to be superior to MOSPSO.Research limitations/implications-Since this paper deals with two bi-objective models,the priorities of decision-makers in selecting the best solution were not taken into account,and each of the objective functions was given an equal weight based on the weighting procedures.The model has not been compared or studied in both robust and deterministic modes.This is because,with the exception of the variable that indicates traffic mode uncertainty,all variables are deterministic,and the uncertainty character of demand in each level of the supply chain is ignored.Practical implications-The suggested model’s conclusions are useful for any group of decision-makers concerned with optimizing production patterns at any level.The employment of a diverse fleet of delivery vehicles,as well as the use of stochastic optimization techniques to define the time windows,demonstrates how successful distribution networks are in lowering operational costs.Originality/value-According to a multi-objective model in a three-echelon supply chain,this research fills in the gaps in the link between routing and location choices in a realistic manner,taking into account the actual restrictions of a distribution network.The model may reduce the uncertainty in vehicle performance while choosing a refueling strategy or dealing with diverse traffic scenarios,bringing it closer to certainty.In addition,two modified MOPSO and NSGA-II algorithms are presented for solving the model,with the results compared to the exact GAMS approach for medium-and small-sized problems.展开更多
After living in the'Jing for almost seven years,people from back home ask:"So,are you fluent in Chinese yet,or what?"At first,I would say,Oh,I'm only staying a year,so there's no need.But as one ...After living in the'Jing for almost seven years,people from back home ask:"So,are you fluent in Chinese yet,or what?"At first,I would say,Oh,I'm only staying a year,so there's no need.But as one year turned to two(and then seven),I realized I'd made a big mistake.展开更多
Living on a tropical island,with waves lappingup on thesand and the sun shining-sounds like a dream come true,right?Well,for me,it was a 100-percent no.After seven years in China and always wondering what it would be ...Living on a tropical island,with waves lappingup on thesand and the sun shining-sounds like a dream come true,right?Well,for me,it was a 100-percent no.After seven years in China and always wondering what it would be like to live in paradise,I decided to take the plunge and move to another country,destination Thailand.展开更多
One of the most overwhelming culture shocks I had when moving to China was the food scene.I remember walking down the street and it felt like there was a little mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant almost every other door.T...One of the most overwhelming culture shocks I had when moving to China was the food scene.I remember walking down the street and it felt like there was a little mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant almost every other door.The small tables and wooden chairs filled with diners slurping their noodles or dipping their dumplings.展开更多
There's always that one friend-the globetrotter who,somewhere between sipping espresso in Parisian cafes and scaling mountains in Nepal,has become an ambassador of the world.They've made it back home from thei...There's always that one friend-the globetrotter who,somewhere between sipping espresso in Parisian cafes and scaling mountains in Nepal,has become an ambassador of the world.They've made it back home from their weary voyage,with a talent for turning every conversation into a travelogue.展开更多
Why is the food so salty?Why is everything so expensive?Almost US$15 to get a taxi two kilometers down the road?These are just a few of the questions I asked myself after making my longawaited pilgrimage“home”after ...Why is the food so salty?Why is everything so expensive?Almost US$15 to get a taxi two kilometers down the road?These are just a few of the questions I asked myself after making my longawaited pilgrimage“home”after almost three years mainly spent in Beijing.I almost forgot about daunting longdistanceflights,annoying layovers with short transfer times and insane airport prices,but I didn't care,I was too excited to get home and see my family(and eat all thefood I had been missing,of course).展开更多
With over eight years of work experience in China,I've come to appreciate the nuances of the work culture in this dynamic country.While I never expected it to mirror my home country's norms,I did encounter som...With over eight years of work experience in China,I've come to appreciate the nuances of the work culture in this dynamic country.While I never expected it to mirror my home country's norms,I did encounter some stark differences.展开更多
I am finally taking the plunge and moving after six years in my first Chinese apartment.Considering I am a hoarder,this is not for the faint of heart.The one thing anyone knows about having an apartment in China,espec...I am finally taking the plunge and moving after six years in my first Chinese apartment.Considering I am a hoarder,this is not for the faint of heart.The one thing anyone knows about having an apartment in China,especially one with roommates,is that each person who goes leaves things behind and it becomes like a museum of tenants past.展开更多
First of all,I want to say I don't condone or want to make smoking seem glamorous in any way,but there is an undeniable trend in China that has taken the country by storm-e-cigarettes.When I first came to China,I ...First of all,I want to say I don't condone or want to make smoking seem glamorous in any way,but there is an undeniable trend in China that has taken the country by storm-e-cigarettes.When I first came to China,I was a cigarette smoker.While I didn't smoke every day,I did smoke when I was drinking,so pretty much every weekend.展开更多
Is it weird that I am a little sad that the restaurants are back open in Beijing?Maybe,but maybe not.At first I was annoyed and a litle worried when dining-in was suspended in late April,but soon those feelings were g...Is it weird that I am a little sad that the restaurants are back open in Beijing?Maybe,but maybe not.At first I was annoyed and a litle worried when dining-in was suspended in late April,but soon those feelings were gone as Beijing dining establishments adapted very quickly,and so did Beijingers.展开更多
As my friends and I walked into Universal Beijing Resort on Christmas Eve,I almost had the mind to walk right out.The wind whipped me in the face(which is still chapped by the way)and my hands curled up on their own,s...As my friends and I walked into Universal Beijing Resort on Christmas Eve,I almost had the mind to walk right out.The wind whipped me in the face(which is still chapped by the way)and my hands curled up on their own,shaking and throbbing from the cold.Why did we come here on the coldest day of winter?展开更多
“Finally made it here!So happy to have such amazing and supportive friends and family”read my first-ever WeChat Moments post on May 3,2016.The post,accompanied by pictures of my meal on Air China,the plane on the ta...“Finally made it here!So happy to have such amazing and supportive friends and family”read my first-ever WeChat Moments post on May 3,2016.The post,accompanied by pictures of my meal on Air China,the plane on the tarmac and my first Yanjing Beer,brings back a flood of memories of how I felt that day.Seems like yesterday but also a million years ago.展开更多
I have never been one to care much about fashion or pay top-dollar for clothing and accessories.Back home,I knew my fair share of“fashionistas”but here in China,I have seen some of the most amazing and crazy styles....I have never been one to care much about fashion or pay top-dollar for clothing and accessories.Back home,I knew my fair share of“fashionistas”but here in China,I have seen some of the most amazing and crazy styles.When my sister was coming to visit,she messaged me and asked,“What kind of style do people wear there?What kind of clothes should I bring:”I think this is really the first time I stopped to think about it because I didn't have an answer.I started to think about styles and what I have seen.展开更多
Meituan,Ele.me,Taobao,JD-these are a few of my favorite things...so when I hear fellow expats saying they don't know how to use online delivery apps or other popular Chinese apps and services,I think to myself tha...Meituan,Ele.me,Taobao,JD-these are a few of my favorite things...so when I hear fellow expats saying they don't know how to use online delivery apps or other popular Chinese apps and services,I think to myself that what we have here is a failure to assimilate.From late-night cravings for a soda,to scanning a share bike to get to a friend's house,the convenience of China is one of the biggest draws to me.展开更多
My headphones were in and I was listening to my favorite station(Disney Hits),the sun was shining,my backpack was full of snacks,the roads were open and clear and my scooter was fully charged.Just as I was hitting my ...My headphones were in and I was listening to my favorite station(Disney Hits),the sun was shining,my backpack was full of snacks,the roads were open and clear and my scooter was fully charged.Just as I was hitting my stride on the open road-WHAM!The bike in front of me stopped suddenly and hard and I gripped my two brake handles tightly,causing my bike to flip.展开更多
基金supported by Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences,Shahrekord,Iran(Ethics Code:IR.SKUMS.REC.1397.119,Grant No.3696 and Ethics Code:IR.SKUMS.REC.1401.197,Grant No.6651).
文摘Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol in combination with the chemotherapy drug 5-FU on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines(AGS and EPG85-257).Materials and Methods:In this in vitro study,AGS and EPG85-257 cells were treated with different concentrations of celastrol,5-FU,and their combination.Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.The synergistic effect of 5-FU and celastrol was studied using Compusyn software.The DNA content at different phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis rate was measured usingflow cytometry.Results:Co-treatment with low concentrations(10%inhibitory concentration(IC10))of celastrol and 5-FU significantly reduced IC50(p<0.05)so that 48 h after treatment,IC50 was calculated at 3.77 and 6.9μM for celastrol,20.7 and 11.6μM for 5-FU,and 5.03 and 4.57μM for their combination for AGS and EPG85-257 cells,respectively.The mean percentage of apoptosis for AGS cells treated with celastrol,5-FU,and their combination was obtained 23.9,41.2,and 61.9,and for EPG85-257 cells 5.65,46.9,and 55.7,respectively.In addition,the 5-FU and celastrol-5-FU combination induced cell cycle arrest in the synthesis phase.Conclusions:Although celastrol could decrease the concentration of 5-fluorouracil that sufficed to suppress gastric cancer cells,additional studies are required to arrive at conclusive evidence on the anticancer effects of celastrol.
文摘As I see the white,fluffy catkins soar through the air,I laugh to myself.It reminds me of when I first arrived.I was under the impression those lttle balls were actually the PM2.5 pollution particulates I had read about.I thought,"Wow,you really can see it."But that was hilariously disproven when I mentioned it at a party.This was the first of many zany and uninformed misconceptions I had about this country I've called home for the past seven years.
文摘As someone who considers myself a bit of a cook,I was super intimidated when I first arrived in China.Heading to the local markets,I was confronted with strange ingredients,different presentation styles,and of course,language barriers.The first real shop,if you can even call it that,was an open-air market right outside my neighborhood.I was thrilled to come home with two huge bags of veggies,some eggs,meat and even a few snacks for less than US$15.
文摘Anyone who has lived abroad has a built-in understanding of the nuances that come with it.And living in China has its own set of unique quirks that only other expats living here would fully understand.These shared experiences are not only amusing but also create a sense of belonging,a feeling of being part of a niche community that truly gets you.I am even part of an expat meme group that posts jokes like,“How can you complain?There are literally people living outside the 3rd Ring Road,”and funny reels depicting the foreigner navigating life in China with just one phrase:ting bu dong-“I don’t understand.”
文摘"Stop complaining;there are literally people living outside of the Third Ring Road!"For the first seven years I lived here,I thought there could be nothing worse than living on the outskirts of town.When I first arrived in China,I was whisked away from the airport and taken to the far-flung east of Beijing to my new apartment.When I signed up to come,I was shown beautiful hutong apartments,flooded with light and surrounded by bustling streets.However,when I got to my new"home,"I wondered if there had beensomemistake.
文摘Purpose-In the present research,location and routing problems,as well as the supply chain,which includes manufacturers,distributor candidate sites and retailers,are explored.The goal of addressing the issue is to reduce delivery times and systemcosts for retailers so that routing and distributor locationmay be determined.Design/methodology/approach-By adding certain unique criteria and limits,the issue becomes more realistic.Customers expect simultaneous deliveries and pickups,and retail service start times have soft and hard time windows.Transportation expenses,noncompliance with the soft time window,distributor construction,vehicle purchase or leasing,andmanufacturing costs are all part of the system costs.The problem’s conceptual model is developed and modeled first,and then General Algebraic Modeling System software(GAMS)and Multiple Objective Particle Swarm Optimization(MOPSO)and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II(NSGAII)algorithms are used to solve it in small dimensions.Findings-According to the mathematical model’s solution,the average error of the two suggested methods,in contrast to the exact answer,is less than 0.7%.In addition,the performance of algorithms in terms of deviation from the GAMS exact solution is pretty satisfactory,with a divergence of 0.4%for the biggest problem(N 5100).As a result,NSGAII is shown to be superior to MOSPSO.Research limitations/implications-Since this paper deals with two bi-objective models,the priorities of decision-makers in selecting the best solution were not taken into account,and each of the objective functions was given an equal weight based on the weighting procedures.The model has not been compared or studied in both robust and deterministic modes.This is because,with the exception of the variable that indicates traffic mode uncertainty,all variables are deterministic,and the uncertainty character of demand in each level of the supply chain is ignored.Practical implications-The suggested model’s conclusions are useful for any group of decision-makers concerned with optimizing production patterns at any level.The employment of a diverse fleet of delivery vehicles,as well as the use of stochastic optimization techniques to define the time windows,demonstrates how successful distribution networks are in lowering operational costs.Originality/value-According to a multi-objective model in a three-echelon supply chain,this research fills in the gaps in the link between routing and location choices in a realistic manner,taking into account the actual restrictions of a distribution network.The model may reduce the uncertainty in vehicle performance while choosing a refueling strategy or dealing with diverse traffic scenarios,bringing it closer to certainty.In addition,two modified MOPSO and NSGA-II algorithms are presented for solving the model,with the results compared to the exact GAMS approach for medium-and small-sized problems.
文摘After living in the'Jing for almost seven years,people from back home ask:"So,are you fluent in Chinese yet,or what?"At first,I would say,Oh,I'm only staying a year,so there's no need.But as one year turned to two(and then seven),I realized I'd made a big mistake.
文摘Living on a tropical island,with waves lappingup on thesand and the sun shining-sounds like a dream come true,right?Well,for me,it was a 100-percent no.After seven years in China and always wondering what it would be like to live in paradise,I decided to take the plunge and move to another country,destination Thailand.
文摘One of the most overwhelming culture shocks I had when moving to China was the food scene.I remember walking down the street and it felt like there was a little mom-and-pop Chinese restaurant almost every other door.The small tables and wooden chairs filled with diners slurping their noodles or dipping their dumplings.
文摘There's always that one friend-the globetrotter who,somewhere between sipping espresso in Parisian cafes and scaling mountains in Nepal,has become an ambassador of the world.They've made it back home from their weary voyage,with a talent for turning every conversation into a travelogue.
文摘Why is the food so salty?Why is everything so expensive?Almost US$15 to get a taxi two kilometers down the road?These are just a few of the questions I asked myself after making my longawaited pilgrimage“home”after almost three years mainly spent in Beijing.I almost forgot about daunting longdistanceflights,annoying layovers with short transfer times and insane airport prices,but I didn't care,I was too excited to get home and see my family(and eat all thefood I had been missing,of course).
文摘With over eight years of work experience in China,I've come to appreciate the nuances of the work culture in this dynamic country.While I never expected it to mirror my home country's norms,I did encounter some stark differences.
文摘I am finally taking the plunge and moving after six years in my first Chinese apartment.Considering I am a hoarder,this is not for the faint of heart.The one thing anyone knows about having an apartment in China,especially one with roommates,is that each person who goes leaves things behind and it becomes like a museum of tenants past.
文摘First of all,I want to say I don't condone or want to make smoking seem glamorous in any way,but there is an undeniable trend in China that has taken the country by storm-e-cigarettes.When I first came to China,I was a cigarette smoker.While I didn't smoke every day,I did smoke when I was drinking,so pretty much every weekend.
文摘Is it weird that I am a little sad that the restaurants are back open in Beijing?Maybe,but maybe not.At first I was annoyed and a litle worried when dining-in was suspended in late April,but soon those feelings were gone as Beijing dining establishments adapted very quickly,and so did Beijingers.
文摘As my friends and I walked into Universal Beijing Resort on Christmas Eve,I almost had the mind to walk right out.The wind whipped me in the face(which is still chapped by the way)and my hands curled up on their own,shaking and throbbing from the cold.Why did we come here on the coldest day of winter?
文摘“Finally made it here!So happy to have such amazing and supportive friends and family”read my first-ever WeChat Moments post on May 3,2016.The post,accompanied by pictures of my meal on Air China,the plane on the tarmac and my first Yanjing Beer,brings back a flood of memories of how I felt that day.Seems like yesterday but also a million years ago.
文摘I have never been one to care much about fashion or pay top-dollar for clothing and accessories.Back home,I knew my fair share of“fashionistas”but here in China,I have seen some of the most amazing and crazy styles.When my sister was coming to visit,she messaged me and asked,“What kind of style do people wear there?What kind of clothes should I bring:”I think this is really the first time I stopped to think about it because I didn't have an answer.I started to think about styles and what I have seen.
文摘Meituan,Ele.me,Taobao,JD-these are a few of my favorite things...so when I hear fellow expats saying they don't know how to use online delivery apps or other popular Chinese apps and services,I think to myself that what we have here is a failure to assimilate.From late-night cravings for a soda,to scanning a share bike to get to a friend's house,the convenience of China is one of the biggest draws to me.
文摘My headphones were in and I was listening to my favorite station(Disney Hits),the sun was shining,my backpack was full of snacks,the roads were open and clear and my scooter was fully charged.Just as I was hitting my stride on the open road-WHAM!The bike in front of me stopped suddenly and hard and I gripped my two brake handles tightly,causing my bike to flip.
