Search

The barrierless exothermic reactions between atomic oxygen and the cyano radical, O(3P) + CN(X2 Σ + ) → CO(X1Σ+) + N(2D)/N(4S), play a significant role in combustion, astrochemistry, and hypersonic environments. In this work, their dynamics and kinetics are investigated using both wave packet (WP) and quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) methods on recently developed potential energy surfaces of the 12A′, 12A,″ and 14A″ states. The product state distributions in the doublet pathway obtained with the WP method for a few partial waves show extensive internal excitation in the CO product. This observation, combined with highly oscillatory reaction probabilities, signals a complex-forming mechanism. The statistical nature of the reaction is confirmed by comparing the WP results with those from phase space theory. The calculated rate coefficients using the WP (with a J-shifting approximation) and QCT methods exhibit agreement with each other near room temperature, 1.77 × 10−10 and 1.31 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, but both are higher than the existing experimental results. The contribution of the quartet pathway is small at room temperature due to a small entrance channel bottleneck. The QCT rate coefficients are further compared with experimental results above 3000 K, and the agreement is excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Sensing the chirality of molecules is of great importance to fields such as enantioselective synthesis, pharmaceutical industry, and biomedicine. Plasmonic nanoparticles are ideal candidates for molecular sensing due to their inherent plasmonic properties that significantly enhance their sensitivity to surrounding molecules. Developing plasmonic nanoparticle‐molecule complexes for chirality sensing has drawn enormous attention in recent years due to their intriguing properties and potential applications. Thus, in this review, we believe it is timely to circumnavigate the rational design of plasmonic nanoparticle‐molecule complexes and widen the scope of their emerging applications in chirality sensing. First, we present different fundamental mechanisms for plasmon‐based chirality that are built on the system of plasmonic nanoparticle‐molecule complexes. Second, we review the typical applications of plasmonic nanoparticle‐molecule complexes in chirality sensing. Third, we discuss the emerging biomedical applications that the plasmon‐based chirality has attracted enormous interest. Finally, we provide an outlook on the challenges and opportunities in the field of plasmonic approaches for chirality sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear optical (NLO) materials are useful for applications varying from modulation of optical signals to cancer therapy. Besides inorganic crystals and organic molecules with defined structures, carbonized products have emerged as a new generation of materials showing good NLO properties. Due to the small sizes, the NLO performance of such materials mainly originates from nonlinear absorption. Obtaining a product with a high content of π-conjugated moiety is the key to improving the NLO performance. By using aldehydes bearing π units as the precursors, in this work we synthesized three polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) through one-step pyrolysis, which also have large contents of π-conjugated structures. It was found that a larger size of π unit in the precursor led to a higher content as well as the size of the π-conjugated structure, which induced a bathochromic shift in the emission and an improved performance in the NLO response. When embedded in polymethylmethacrylate films, the products showed reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behavior with β up to 4.20 × 10−6 m W−1 and optical limit threshold down to 0.0012 J cm−2, which are comparable to those of metal-doped counterparts. This work gives deep insight on the structure-property relationship of the pyrolyzed products from π-conjugated small molecules, which is also useful for the preparation of task-specific carbon dots (CDs) or PNPs in future. TOC GraphicPyrolysis of π-conjugated aldehydes yielded soft polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). A larger size of π-conjugated moiety in the precursor yielded PNPs with longer emission wavelength and better nonlinear optical response. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic data alignment, a fundamental operation in sequencing, can be utilized to map reads into a reference sequence, query on a genomic database and perform genetic tests. However, with the reduction of sequencing cost and the accumulation of genome data, privacy-preserving genomic sequencing data alignment is becoming unprecedentedly important. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of secure genomic data comparison schemes. We discuss the privacy threats, including adversaries and privacy attacks. The attacks can be categorized into inference, membership, identity tracing and completion attacks and have been applied to obtaining the genomic privacy information. We classify the state-of-the-art genomic privacy-preserving alignment methods into three different scenarios: large-scale reads mapping, encrypted genomic datasets querying and genetic testing to ease privacy threats. A comprehensive analysis of these approaches has been carried out to evaluate the computation and communication complexity as well as the privacy requirements. The survey provides the researchers with the current trends and the insights on the significance and challenges of privacy issues in genomic data alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are a group of class II transposable elements. The MITE Monkey King (MK) was first discovered upstream of BnFLC.A10. In this study, genome resequencing of four selected B. napus accessions, revealed more than 4000 distributed copies of MK s constituting ~2.4 Mb of the B. napus genomic sequence and caused 677 polymorphisms among the four accessions. MK -polymorphism-related markers across 128 natural and 58 synthetic accessions revealed more polymorphic MK s in natural than synthetic accessions. Ten MK -induced indels significantly affected the expression levels of the nearest gene based on RNAseq analysis, six of these effects were subsequently confirmed using qRT-PCR. Decreased expression pattern of MK -derived miRNA-bna-miR6031 was also observed under various stress treatments. Further research focused on the MITE families should promote not only our understanding of gene regulatory networks but also inform crop improvement efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and overweight/obesity are significant global public health issues. Appropriate free-time physical activity (PA) is essential for overweight/obese patients with chronic kidney disease, but specific guidelines are lacking. The present study was conducted to determine the association between PA and all-cause mortality in these patients. Methods: Data from 3,434 overweight/obese adults with CKD from the 1999–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed. Associations between clinical/laboratory findings and PA intensity (moderate and vigorous) were investigated. The all-cause mortality of patients in different PA categories were compared by Kaplan–Meier analysis. Factors associated with all-cause mortality were determined using a Cox proportional hazards model. A restricted cubic spline was employed to obtain a more flexible and detailed representation of the relationship between PA intensity and all-cause mortality, with better predictive capability. Results: The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that greater all-cause mortality was associated with < 10 min/week moderate/vigorous PA (log-rank p < 0.001). A greater survival probability was associated with ≥ 150 min/week vigorous PA or 10–149 min/week moderate PA (log-rank p < 0.001). Age, gender, vigorous PA, smoking status, alcohol consumption, diabetes status, eGFR, serum albumin level, uric acid level, and blood urea nitrogen level were identified as factors associated independently with mortality in the Cox proportional hazards analysis. The restricted cubic splines revealed that these relationships were non-linear (all p < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier analysis of data from patients who engaged in 10–450 min/week moderate/vigorous PA revealed significant differences between the 0–74-min/week and other vigorous PA groups (all log-rank p < 0.001). Conclusions: Extended durations of vigorous PA are associated with reduced all-cause mortality in overweight/obese patients with CKD. Clinicians should recommend vigorous free-time PA to these patients, and public health interventions should target this goal to maximize patient health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A full-dimensional electronic ground state potential energy surface for the hydrogen abstraction reaction F + HCl → HF + Cl is developed by using the permutation invariant polynomial neural network approach based on 6509 points computed at the level of CCSD(T)-F12a/AVTZ. Spin-orbit correction is also taken into account at the complete active space self-consistent field level. Theoretical thermal rate coefficients determined by the ring polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD) approach agree well with experiment, validating the accuracy of the PES. Kinetic isotope effect is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hogskin is a kind of natural and safe high-quality organic material, which can be used to prepare Pickering emulsion. However, its poor storage stability is a key technical problem that restricts its wide application. In this study, preparation and characterization of hogskin particles and stable hogskin Pickering emulsion were conducted, and the functional characteristics of curcumin embedding were also discussed. The results suggested that the Pickering emulsion had good storage stability within 2 months. Besides, diverse pH values and ionic strengths had little influence on the change in emulsion particle size, but zeta potential showed an opposite change trend. Observation under the microscopy showed that the hogskin particles were irreversibly adsorbed onto oil-water interface, and the emulsion exhibited shear thinning and elastic behaviors. After ultraviolet treatment for 7 h and storage for 8 days, curcumin exhibited a good retention rate in Pickering emulsion, and the final retention rate reached 87.54%. [Display omitted] • Pickering emulsion was prepared directly from hogskin particles for the first time. • It provides a new way for the reuse of hogskin waste. • Hogskin particle Pickering emulsion has a wide range of adaptability to pH and ion concentration changes. • Hogskin particle Pickering emulsion had protective effect on embedded curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that long-term treatment with hydrogen-rich saline abated testicular oxidative stress induced by nicotine in mice. Methods: The effects of hydrogen-rich saline (6 ml/kg, i.p.), vitamin C (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg, i.p.) on reproductive system and testicular oxidative levels in nicotine-treated (4.5 mg/kg, s.b.) mice were investigated. Results: It was found that vitamin C and vitamin E attenuated serum oxidative level, but did not lower testicular oxidative levels in mice subjected to chronic nicotine treatment, and did not improve the male reproductive damage and apoptosis induced by nicotine. Different from normal antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E, hydrogen-rich saline abated oxidative stress in testis, and protected against nicotine-induced male reproductive damages. Conclusion: Our results first demonstrated that long-term treatment with hydrogen-rich saline attenuated testicular oxidative level and improved male reproductive function in nicotine-treated mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four novel terminal modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs) were designed, synthesized and tested for their anti-influenza virus activity. Initial biological studies indicated that lipophilic and rimantadin emodificated Flutide exhibited more potent anti-H1N1 activity than Flutide. Among them, lipophilic modificated ODN (Flutide-I) showed the most antiviral activity. The EC50 value of Flutide-I for inhibiting H1N1 induced cytopathic effect (CPE) and H1N1 RNA were respectively (0.26±0.16)μM and (0.11±0.03)μM. The cytotoxicity of these compounds has also been assessed. No significant cytotoxicities were found for any of these compounds with the concentrations up to 20μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alopecia areata (AA) is an inflammatory hair loss disorder with a major genetic component, which may cause great psychosocial distress for those affected. Studies have shown that interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a very potent inducer of hair loss and a significant human hair growth inhibitor. The 4-bp insertion/deletion (Indel) polymorphism (rs3783553) within the 3′ untranslated regions of IL1A gene has been suggested to be associated with risk of various types of cancers, possibly through regulating expression of IL-1α levels. In the current study, we estimated the susceptibility to AA associated with rs3783553 in two independent case–control panels of Eastern and Southern Chinese populations, totally containing 313 AA cases and 626 healthy controls. Logistic regression analysis showed that the heterozygote and the homozygote 4-bp ins/ins confer a significantly lower risk of AA in both panels and total subjects [odds ratio (OR)=0.55, 95% confidence interval (C.I.)=0.41–0.75, P =6.24×10−5; OR=0.47, 95% C.I.=0.28–0.76, P =0.001, respectively]. Stratification analysis based on age onset showed that the protective roles of ins/del and ins/ins genotype against developing AA was more obvious in AA patients with early age onset (<30years) under dominant model (OR=0.48, 95% C.I.=0.29–0.77, P =0.001). The results of luciferase assay showed that rs3783553 could influence expression of IL-1α in a miR-122 dependant manner. Taken together, our results suggested that the IL1A 4-bp indel polymorphism may be a marker for genetic susceptibility to patchy (mild) AA in Chinese populations, likely through miR-122 mediated regulation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lawny grass is selected as a novel adsorbent to remove Cd(II) from aqueous solution. Different adsorbents are prepared by some reagents and characterized by elemental analysis, SEM and FTIR. The acidic and basic sites and points of zero charge are also determined. Influences of pH, contact time, initial concentration of Cd(II), biosorbent dosage and temperature on adsorption of Cd(II) are discussed. Different models are used to fit experimental data. Results show that experimental data follows Langmuir–Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacities obtained from Langmuir–Freundlich are 1.29 and 1.19molkg−1 by using 1CG and 0.6CG (lawny grass modified by 1molL−1 or 0.6molL−1 citric acid), respectively. Equilibrium time is obtained at 60–90min. In addition, thermodynamic parameters indicate that this adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous. Breakthrough curves of column experiments show that the breakthrough begins at 100 BV (bed volume) by 0.6CG and 138 BV by 1CG. 0.1molL−1 HCl is selected to be as elution for regeneration of the column. After four cycles of adsorption–desorption, the adsorption capacity of regenerated column is similar to new column. Therefore, lawny grass can be used as an efficient and cost effective biosorbent for removing Cd(II) from aqueous solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Analogues of [Dmt 1 ]DALDA (H-Dmt- d -Arg-Phe-Lys-NH 2 ; Dmt = 2′,6′-dimethyltyrosine), a potent μ opioid agonist peptide with mitochondria-targeted antioxidant activity were prepared by replacing Dmt with various 2′,6′-dialkylated Tyr analogues, including 2′,4′,6′-trimethyltyrosine (Tmt), 2′-ethyl-6′-methyltyrosine (Emt), 2′-isopropyl-6′-methyltyrosine (Imt) and 2′,6′-diethyltyrosine (Det). All compounds were selective μ opioid agonists and the Tmt 1 -, Emt 1 and Det 1 -analogues showed subnanomolar μ opioid receptor binding affinities. The Tmt 1 - and Emt 1 -analogues showed improved antioxidant activity compared to the Dmt 1 -parent peptide in the DPPH radical-scavenging capacity assay, and thus are of interest as drug candidates for neuropathic pain treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of new chemical-modified lawny grass adsorbents were prepared and the feasibility of absorbents to remove Pb(II) ion from aqueous solution was examined. The absorbents were characterized by FTIR spectra and elemental analysis. Kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, column adsorption and mechanism were studied. The optimum pH is in the range of 5.0–5.8 for all adsorbents. The sorption system follows pseudo-second-order kinetic model and equilibrium time is obtained after 60min. The maximum adsorption capacities obtained from Langmuir–Freundlich model are 1.55 and 1.26mol/kg by using 1CG and 0.6CG (lawny grass modified by 1mol/L or 0.6mol/L citric acid, respectively). Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS are evaluated for the adsorption process. The results indicates that the adsorption of Pb(II) is spontaneous and endothermic. The breakthrough point is achieved at 100BV (bed volume) by a column of 0.6CG. Desorption of Pb(II) and regeneration of the column is achieved by 0.1mol/L HCl elution. After 3 adsorption/desorption cycles, the breakthrough point remains around 100BV, which shows that grass adsorbent is regenerated easily and used repeatedly. Above results indicates that lawny grass have a good potential for removal of lead from dilute aqueous solution in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Light is essential for photosynthesis but light levels that exceed an organism's assimilation capacity can cause serious damage or even cell death. Plants and microalgae have developed photoprotective mechanisms collectively referred to as non-photochemical quenching to minimize such potential damage. One such mechanism is energy-dependent quenching (qE), which dissipates excess light energy as heat. Over the last 30 years, much has been learned about the molecular mechanism of qE in green algae and plants. However, the steps between light perception and qE represented a gap in our knowledge until the recent identification of light-signaling pathways that function in these processes in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this review, we summarize the high light and UV-mediated signaling pathways for qE in Chlamydomonas. We discuss key questions remaining about the pathway from light perception to photoprotective gene expression in Chlamydomonas. We detail possible differences between green algae and plants in light-signaling mechanisms for qE and emphasize the importance of research on light-signaling mechanisms for qE in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of orange peel cellulose biosorbents has been specifically prepared by different chemical modifications to understand the mechanism of copper adsorption from chloride solutions. The different biosorbents and raw orange peels were characterized using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The acidic and basic sites and pH of zero charge were also determined. The influences of pH, contact time, initial copper concentration and solid/liquid ratio on copper removal were examined. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper was 1.22 mol/kg, using orange peel esterified by 0.6 mol/L citric acid at 80 °C after 0.1 mol/L NaOH saponification. A comparison of different isotherm models revealed that the combination of Langmuir and Freundlich (L–F) isotherm model fitted the experimental data best. Results indicate that the chemically modified orange peel cellulose can provide an efficient and cost-effective technology for eliminating copper from aqueous solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent years, there is a rapid growth on the research of metal-free phosphor. A typical example is blend of photoluminescent carbon nanomaterials with a matrix. Normally, the C dots were prepared first, which were then mixed with the matrix. A drawback of this strategy is that multiple steps have to be involved, which is time consuming. In this work, we show that by simply heating a readily-available small organic molecule (phthalic acid) in a high-boiling solvent with reactive group (formamide), ready-to-use and metal-free phosphor can be produced in high yields (over 70%). The phosphor contains single crystals of phthalic anhydride with photoluminescent species adsorbed on the surfaces, which shows yellow emission in solid state with a fluorescence quantum yield (Φ) of 28.53%. The phosphor can be directly used to prepare light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which results in a yellow LED on the UV chip and a white LED on the blue-emitting chip. Single crystals of small organic molecules with carbon dots adsorbed on the surface have been prepared. The hybrid material shows yellow emission, which can be used as metal-free phosphor for white-light-emitting diodes. [Display omitted] • Metal-free phosphor can be readily prepared in one-step with high yield. • The phosphor can be directly used to prepare LEDs. On the blue-emitting LED chip, a white LED was obtained. • The as-prepared crystals exhibit strong emission in both solid and colloidal state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkylated, blue-emitting CDs were synthesized by pyrolyzing dodecylamine (DDA) in substituted benzene solvents. By tuning the structure of the solvent, both the yield and fluorescence quantum yield of the CDs have been greatly improved. Meanwhile, a change of the solvent tunes the structure and property of the CDs. The synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) has attracted much attention in recent years. In this article, alkylated, blue-emitting CDs are prepared from dodecylamine through pyrolysis in differently substituted benzene solvents. The influences of the solvent on the size, yield and fluorescence quantum yield of the CDs have been investigated in detail. Overall, eight solvents were probed. It was found that the presence of halogen atom(s) in the solvent structure is beneficial for the production of the CDs, as seen from the poor yields of the CDs obtained in methylated benzenes. For the three mono-substituted halogenated benzenes with Cl, Br, I, as the atomic number of the halogen atom increases, hence increasing the resulting polarizability of the medium, the quantity of CDs obtained after pyrolysis also increases. For the two dichlorobenzenes probed, only the ortho-substitution is advantageous for the production of the CDs. The major quantity of CDs was obtained in iodobenzene (∼26 %) while the highest fluorescence quantum yield was observed for CDs prepared in bromobenzene (∼24 %), which is almost 4 times and 3 times that of the CDs developed in the old strategy using chlorobenzene as a solvent. Not only the change of the solvent tunes the photophysical properties of the CDs, it also alters their chemical structure. While the mono-substituted solvent is conducive to CDs with enriched C = O, the di-substituted one facilitates instead the formation of C-O. The possible interaction between the alkylamine and the solvent during pyrolysis was probed by adding lewis base and lewis acid to the system. Evidence of the occurrence of a process similar to Friedel-Crafts alkylation has been found. Our research illustrates new synthetic pathways and mechanism analysis for the preparation of CDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mode-specific chemistry has been a hot research topic in the field of molecular reaction dynamics since different degrees of freedom play potentially divergent effects on the reactivity of different channels and the associated product branching ratios. In this work, we examine the mode specificity effect in the reaction F + CH3OH → HF + CH3O (R1)/CH2OH (R2), a prototypical polyatomic reaction with multiple channels and submerged barriers, by extensive vibrational state-specific molecular dynamical calculations with the quasi-classical trajectory approach on a globally accurate full-dimensional potential energy surface. Complicated mode specificity effects are revealed. In particular, the vibrational excitations of the O–H stretching motion and the torsional motion with respect to the C–O axis can enhance the reactivity of R1 significantly. The excitations of the C–H stretching vibrational motions do not influence R1. For another channel, R2, the C–H stretching vibrational excitation shows some weak enhancement effect, while the O–H stretching vibrational excitation shows no effect on the reactivity. Then, the sudden vector projection model is employed to rationalize the mode specificity effects and understand the product energy partitioning in the two channels. The ro-vibrational state distributions of the nascent product HF/DF from F + CH3OH/CH3OD/CD3OH/CD3OD are also in good agreement with available experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fundamental challenge for cells is how to coordinate various biochemical reactions in space and time. To achieve spatiotemporal control, cells have developed organelles that are surrounded by lipid bilayer membranes. Further, membraneless compartmentalization, a process induced by dynamic physical association of biomolecules through phase transition offers another efficient mechanism for intracellular organization. While our understanding of phase separation was predominantly dependent on yeast and animal models, recent findings have provided compelling evidence for emerging roles of phase separation in plants. In this review, we first provide an overview of the current knowledge of phase separation, including its definition, biophysical principles, molecular features and regulatory mechanisms. Then we summarize plant‐specific phase separation phenomena and describe their functions in plant biological processes in great detail. Moreover, we propose that phase separation is an evolutionarily conserved and efficient mechanism for cellular compartmentalization which allows for distinct metabolic processes and signaling pathways, and is especially beneficial for the sessile lifestyle of plants to quickly and efficiently respond to the changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloroplasts have multiple suborganellar membranes. Correct and efficient translocation of chloroplast proteins from their site of synthesis into or across membranes to their functional compartments are fundamental processes. In recent years, several new components and regulatory mechanisms involved in chloroplast protein import and sorting have been explored. Moreover, the formation of liquid–liquid phase transition (LLPT) has been recently reported as a novel mechanism for regulating chloroplast protein sorting. Here, we overview the recent advances of both nuclear- and chloroplast-encoded protein trafficking to their final destination within chloroplasts, and discuss the novel components and regulatory mechanisms of intrachloroplast sorting. Furthermore, we propose that LLPT may be a universal and conserved mechanism for driving organelle protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis. Identification and functional characterization of novel components, facilitating translocation across the envelope, and subsequent sorting at the thylakoid membranes, implies that the ancient thylakoid transport systems have acquired new components to adapt to their eukaryotic environment. The newly identified stromal components play key roles not only in recognizing preproteins to prevent mistargeting, but also in ensuring efficient sorting. Dynamic interactions of chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) 43 with light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding protein (LHCP), cpSRP54, and chloroplast filamentation temperature sensitive Y (cpFtsY) provide further insight on how cpSRP54 drives cpSRP43 binding to the L18 region of LHCP and the subsequent interaction of LHCP with the Alb3 translocase through structural rearrangements. The ankyrin proteins, sorting of cpTat substrates to thylakoid membranes (STT)1 and STT2, form a heterocomplex to selectively direct chloroplast twin-arginine translocation (cpTat) proteins to their thylakoid translocon through a liquid–liquid phase transition (LLPT) mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State transition is a fundamental light acclimation mechanism of photosynthetic organisms in response to the environmental light conditions. This process rebalances the excitation energy between photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II through regulated reversible binding of the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) to PSI. However, the structural reorganization of PSI–LHCI, the dynamic binding of LHCII, and the regulatory mechanisms underlying state transitions are less understood in higher plants. In this study, using cryoelectron microscopy we resolved the structures of PSI–LHCI in both state 1 (PSI–LHCI-ST1) and state 2 (PSI–LHCI–LHCII-ST2) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Combined genetic and functional analyses revealed novel contacts between Lhcb1 and PsaK that further enhanced the binding of the LHCII trimer to the PSI core with the known interactions between phosphorylated Lhcb2 and the PsaL/PsaH/PsaO subunits. Specifically, PsaO was absent in the PSI–LHCI-ST1 supercomplex but present in the PSI–LHCI–LHCII-ST2 supercomplex, in which the PsaL/PsaK/PsaA subunits undergo several conformational changes to strengthen the binding of PsaO in ST2. Furthermore, the PSI–LHCI module adopts a more compact configuration with shorter Mg-to-Mg distances between the chlorophylls, which may enhance the energy transfer efficiency from the peripheral antenna to the PSI core in ST2. Collectively, our work provides novel structural and functional insights into the mechanisms of light acclimation during state transitions in higher plants. This study resolves the cryo-EM structures of PSI–LHCI in both state 1 and state 2 from Arabidopsis thaliana. It was found that during state transitions, PSI–LHCI adopts a more compact configuration, resulting in shorter distances between some key chlorophyll molecules to facilitate the energy transfer from the peripheral antenna to the PSI core. In state 2, conformational changes of PsaA/PsaL/PsaK facilitate the assembly of PsaO and strengthen the binding of the LHCII trimer to PSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is widely distributed, and has strong drought resistance and salt tolerance. These characteristics make it the best type of tree for landscaping and resource conservation in China. In this study, the chloroplast genomes of five black locusts were identified de novo and the evolutionary relationship among these black locusts and their taxonomic statuses in leguminous plants were determined. The chloroplast structures of the five black locusts were typical and had four parts, including two single copy regions (large and small single copy sections) and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs). Genome sizes were between 155,364 bp and 155,655 bp; the genome of R. pseudoacacia var. decaisneana was the smallest, while that of R. pseudoacacia var. tortuosa was the largest. The genomes contained 124–130 protein-coding genes; R. pseudoacacia var. tortuosa had the fewest, while R. hispida and R. pseudoacacia var. decaisneana had the most. In this study, eight to ten genes from chloroplast genomes contained introns. Nine genes from the chloroplast genomes of R. pseudoacacia and R. pseudoacacia f. unifolia contained introns that had lost the trnL-CAA gene via evolution, while eight chloroplast genes of R. pseudoacacia var. tortuosa contained introns that had lost the trnL-CAA and psaA genes. Among them, the rpoC1 gene had the longest introns at 2828 bp, and rps12+ had the smallest introns at only 533 bp. There were various amplification phenomena in the IR region among the five black locusts. Most of the protein-coding genes of the five black locusts had a high degree of codon preference. To determine the phylogenetic positions of the five black locusts, we conducted a systematic evolutionary analysis using common protein-coding genes in chloroplast sequences from 34 species of leguminous plants and 12 other species. The results showed that the relationship between Robinia and Acacia ligulata was the most distant among those of the leguminous plants, and the relationship between Robinia and Lotus japonicus was the closest. The chloroplast protein-coding genes in different black locusts were relatively conservative by evolutionary selection pressure analysis standards. These results are important for our understanding of their photosynthetic mechanisms and evolution, and the transgenic engineering of their chloroplasts. Highlights • The research on molecular biology of the black locust is weak, and its phylogenetic position among plants remains unclear. • In this study, the chloroplast genomes of five black locusts were identified de novo. • The taxonomic statuses of black locusts in leguminous plants were determined. • The results are important for our understanding of their photosynthetic mechanisms and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find the optimal share of barley seedling powder (BSP) to improve the rheological properties of wheat dough and physico-chemical properties of steamed bread (SB), BSP was added with wheat flour at various proportions (2–10%). Results showed that with the increasing amount of BSP additive, the farinograph index (86.33–123), dough stability (9.37–12.63 min), and dough development time (6.23–7.63 min) in blend flour increased. Similarly, with the increasing BSP, SB became darker and more greenish, and the total flavonoid content increased. The content of chlorophyll-b, and total chlorophyll demonstrated a faster increase than that of chlorophyll-a. The hardness and chewability of SB improved as well whereas the springiness increased first and then decreased. The best springiness and gumminess of SB were found with 2% and 8% BSP additives respectively. 2%, 4%, and 6% addition of BSP resulted in a slight fluctuation in the bound water quantity than 8% and 10% BSP additive. No new compound formation was confirmed by Infrared analysis and there was only a heat and mass transfer process. Results from this study indicated that SB with improved quality attributes can be prepared from wheat flour fortified with BSP at 2–4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an article "Design, Synthesis and Antiinfluenza Virus Activities of Terminal Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides" by J. Zhang and colleagues which appeared in a 2013 issue of the periodical "Tetrahedron Letters".

Mosquito-transmitted diseases like malaria and dengue fever are global problem and an estimated 50–100 million of dengue or dengue hemorrhagic fever cases are reported worldwide every year. The mermithid nematode Romanomermis wuchangensis has been successfully used as an ecosystem-friendly biocontrol agent for mosquito prevention in laboratory studies. However, this nematode can not undergo sex differentiation in vitro culture, which has seriously affected their application of biocontrol in the field. In this study, based on transcriptome sequencing analysis of R. wuchangensis, Rwucmab-3, Rwuclaf-1 and Rwuctra-2 were cloned and used to investigate molecular regulatory function of sex differentiation. qRT-PCR results demonstrated that the expression level of Rwucmab-3 between male and female displayed obvious difference on the 3rd day of parasitic stage, which was earlier than Rwuclaf-1 and Rwuctra-2, highlighting sex differentiation process may start on the 3rd day of parasitic stage. Besides, FITC was used as a marker to test dsRNA uptake efficiency of R. wuchangensis, which fluorescence intensity increased with FITC concentration after 16 h incubation, indicating this nematode can successfully ingest soaking solution via its cuticle. RNAi results revealed the sex ratio of R. wuchangensis from RNAi treated groups soaked in dsRNA of Rwucmab-3 was significantly higher than gfp dsRNA treated groups and control groups, highlighting RNAi of Rwumab-3 may hinder the development of male nematodes. These results suggest that Rwucmab-3 mainly involves in the initiation of sex differentiation and the development of male sexual dimorphism. Rwuclaf-1 and Rwuctra-2 may play vital role in nematode reproductive and developmental system. In conclusion, transcript sequences presented in this study could provide more bioinformatics resources for future studies on gene cloning and other molecular regulatory mechanism in R. wuchangensis. Moreover, identification and functional analysis of sex differentiation genes may clarify the sex differentiation mechanism of R. wuchangensis, which are helpful to solve the uncompleted sex differentiation problem in vitro culture and the potential large-scale field application controlling the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, A. aegypti and A. albopictus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The sensing properties of ZnO nanorods which were immobilized with CA15.3 antibody (anti-CA15.3) for CA15.3 detection were studied by using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors in this work. ZnO nanorods were synthesized at 90°C by wet chemical route which was used to grow the ZnO nanorods directly on the QCM. The sensors were constructed by binding anti-CA15.3 on ZnO nanorods surface using 3-aminopropyltrietoxy silane (APTES) and glutaraldehyde and were used for CA15.3 detection. The morphology of ZnO nanorods was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM results indicated the grown ZnO nanorods were well-aligned and the diameter was around 100nm. These QCM sensors showed high sensitivity (25.34±0.67Hz/scale (1U/mL)) and good linearity (0.99) in the concentration range of CA15.3 from 0.5 to 26U/mL by the experiment. The response time of these sensors were observed less than 10s with good reproducibility and stability. All the results indicated that one-dimensional ZnO nanostructure is a good material for biosensor application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Most of the existing image fusion methods are dedicated to extracting the respective private features in the source image to reconstruct to get a fused image that contains rich information. However, its neglect of the enhancement of texture details in the source image as well as the preservation of background structures, which makes the fusion result look less impressive. To this end, an infrared and visible image fusion method based on a semi-global weighted least squares (SGWLS) method and guided edge-aware filter (GEAF) is proposed. First, a SGWLS method is applied to decompose the source image into base and detail layers containing different scale information. Then, the detail layer are texture-enhanced by using the scale coefficients. Due to the lack of edge features in the original base layer, for this reason, a guided edge-aware filter is designed, in which the enhanced detail layer was used as the guidance image as a way to perform a quadratic feature enhancement fusion for the base layer in order to retain richer gradient information. Finally, reconstruction of the fused detail and base layers by using inverse transformation to obtain the fusion result. Compared with nine state-of-the-art fusion algorithms, a large number of experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in highlighting texture details and background features, as well as the obvious advantages in SF and AG metrics. • A semi-global weighted least squares based image decomposition scheme is designed. • A guided edge-aware filter strategy for base layer fusion is proposed. • The results show that our method performs well in preserving texture and highlighting the background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique flavor and extended shelf life were identified as essential characteristics of Yu jiaosuan (YJS), while challenges of fermentation control and poor stability were noted to have hindered its industrialization. The effects of Y279 inoculation on the bacterial community structure and quality improvement of YJS were investigated in this study. The results showed that after fermentation with Y279, the total acidity and amino nitrogen concentration of YJS were increased by 0.40 g/kg and 18.45 mg/100 g, respectively, while the pH, TBARS value, and nitrite content were significantly decreased by 0.28, 0.2, and 0.0048 mg/kg, respectively. High-throughput sequencing confirmed that Lactobacillus and Weissella were the dominant genera in the inoculated fermentation group. Forty-five differential metabolites were identified, involving three tastant-related pathways: arginine and proline metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and purine metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking revealed substances in these differential metabolites that were bound to taste receptors via traditional hydrogen and carbon-hydrogen bonds. The results of sensory evaluation showed that the umami and sourness taste and color of the inoculated fermentation group were enhanced.This study offers theoretical guidance for the use of fermentation agents to improve YJS quality. • Fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y279 enhances product safety. • Lactobacillus and Weissella were the dominant genera in the inoculated fermentation group. • The study identified 45 differential metabolites involved in three metabolic pathways. • Umami and sour compounds were screened by molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheme 1. Schematic illustration showcases a fish oil nanoemulsion delivery system with a dense interfacial layer coated by HA-PG10-C18, highlighting enhanced gastrointestinal stability and extended shelf-life of droplets. [Display omitted] • HA-PG10-C18 is a promising candidate emulsifier for nanoemulsion delivery system. • Surface density for HA-PG10-C18@NE is 60% greater than for PG10-C18@NE. • HA-PG10-C18@NE possesses outstanding freeze-thaw and freeze-drying stability. This study aimed to synthesize a novel emulsifier, hyaluronic acid-poly(glyceryl)10-stearate (HA-PG10-C18), and employ it for the fabrication of nanoemulsions incorporating deep-sea fish oil to improve their apparent solubility and physicochemical stability. 1H NMR and FT-IR analyses indicated successful synthesis of HA-PG10-C18. Nanoemulsions of deep-sea fish oil loaded with HA-PG10-C18 (HA-PG10-C18@NE) were successfully fabricated by ultrasonic emulsification. The fixed aqueous layer thickness (FALT) of PG10-C18@NE and HA-PG10-C18@NE was determined and the FALT of both nanoemulsions was similar, while the surface density of HA-PG10-C18@NE (4.92 × 10−12 ng/nm2) is 60 % higher than that of PG10-C18@NE (3.07 × 10−12 ng/nm2). Notably, HA-PG10-C18@NE demonstrated an exceptional physicochemical stability when exposed to various stressed environmental conditions, especially its freeze-thaw stability. Moreover, after simulated in vitro digestion, the HA-PG10-C18@NE exhibited a comparatively greater liberation of free fatty acids (94.0 ± 1.7 %) when compared to the release observed in PG10-C18@NE (85.5 ± 2.2 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore the strong familial responsibility sense of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in rural western China, based on the data obtained from in-depth interviews. The data show that PLHIV were coping positively with a poor family economic status, caring for their family more than themselves, and taking concrete steps to fulfill their familial obligations. However, unique economic, cultural, and social factors exert negative impact on their ability to achieve their aims. The findings from our study illustrate that proper governmental and social interventions should be launched based on the actual situation and needs of local PLHIV and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The balance between cellular proliferation and differentiation is a key aspect of development in multicellular organisms. Recent studies on Arabidopsis roots revealed distinct roles for different reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these processes. Modulation of the balance between ROS in proliferating cells and elongating cells is controlled at least in part at the transcriptional level. The effect of ROS on proliferation and differentiation is not specific for plants but appears to be conserved between prokaryotic and eukaryotic life forms. The ways in which ROS is received and how it affects cellular functioning is discussed from an evolutionary point of view. The different redox-sensing mechanisms that evolved ultimately result in the activation of gene regulatory networks that control cellular fate and decision-making. This review highlights the potential common origin of ROS sensing, indicating that organisms evolved similar strategies for utilizing ROS during development, and discusses ROS as an ancient universal developmental regulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining the characteristics of rare earth extractants and water-soluble polymer complexants, a novel complexant phosphorylated chitosan (PCS) was synthesized by Kabachnik–Fields reaction with alkalized chitosan, dimethyl phosphonate, and formaldehyde as raw materials and toluene-4-sulfonic acid monohydrate (TsOH) as catalyst. The complexation properties of PCS and poly (acrylic acid) sodium (PAAS) for lanthanum ions in the solution were compared at the same pH and room temperature. In addition, the frontier molecular orbital energies of polymer–La complexes were calculated by the density functional theory method, which confirmed the complexation properties of the polymers to rare earths. The results indicate that the PCS has better water solubility compared with chitosan and good complex ability to rare earths, which can be used for rare earth separation by the complexation–ultrafiltration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Demonstration of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on gouty arthritis. • The inhibitory effect of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on NLRP3 inflammasome was found. • It was found that tetrahydropalmatine (THP) has dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a crucial role in the inflammatory responses of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced gouty arthritis. Therefore, the molecular basis of NLRP3 inflammasome is very valuable in developing potential therapeutic drugs for gout. Tetrahydropalmatine (THP), the main active component of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Corydalis yanhusuo, has shown prominent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, but to date, these effects have not been investigated exhaustively on gout. This study indicated that THP attenuated pain and swelling in an MSU-induced acute gout model by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inflammatory cell infiltration. THP exerted its actions by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent formation of caspase-1. Furthermore, results showed that THP alleviated MSU-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, upstream of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, by an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our study suggests that THP suppressed ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in MSU-induced inflammatory responses, which highlights its therapeutic potential in gouty arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel nonsense ETHE1 variant was identified in a Chinese patient with EE. • A genotype-phenotype spectrum review based on previous reported variants in ETHE1. • Patients with truncated variants exhibit pathological symptoms earlier and present more severe manifestations. • Targeted NGS is a useful approach for the molecular diagnosis of EE. Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE) is a rare and devastating neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the ETHE1 gene. It is characterized by early-onset encephalopathy, chronic diarrhea, petechiae, orthostatic acrocyanosis, and high levels of methylsuccinic, lactic, and ethylmalonic acids in body fluids. In this study, we report a patient with EE, who was identified through newborn screening, and the diagnosis was confirmed by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). The patient displayed recurrent petechiae, intermittent jaundice, protracted diarrhea, and extensive developmental regression. Genetic testing identified a homozygous nonsense variant, c.295C > T (p. Q99*), in the ETHE1 gene. A review of all known ETHE1 variants observed in other EE patients was conducted. This revealed the current difficulties in EE diagnosis. Besides, it also showed that patients with truncated variants of ETHE1 might exhibit pathological symptoms earlier and present more severe manifestations. Finally, a novel nonsense variant was identified, which supported and expanded our current knowledge of the variant spectrum for ETHE1. This novel variant also deepened our understanding of the genotype-phenotype associations that occur in EE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the automotive industry has faced an unprecedented crisis. In particular, the zero-inventory approach, which has been widely pursued by many automobile companies, seems to be impractical in some real production contexts since it requires an inventory of all parts but in low amounts. In this paper, we investigate a new logistics method which collects automobile parts by integrating the progress-lane (P-LANE) into the corresponding vehicle routing problem. We propose a mixed integer programming formulation for this new model, which can simultaneously determines the trip routes to collect automobile parts, as well as the P-LANE that each collected part should be assigned to, so as to minimize the total costs of the production and inbound logistics. The comparison with the zero-inventory model shows that the use of the P-LANE within the milk-run system could significantly decrease the total costs and also improve the transportation efficiency. To be specific, for small and large size instances, the total costs of the zero-inventory model are about 10% and 30% higher than the ones with P-LANE, respectively, which suggests that the periodic part collection model with P-LANE could be more appropriate for automobile manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose decay caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides greatly shortens the shelf life and commercial quality of mango fruit. Putrescine (1,4-Diaminobutane) is involved in modulating plant defense to various environmental stresses. In this research, in vivo and in vitro tests were used to explore the antifungal activity and the underlying mechanism of putrescine against C. gloeosporioides in mango fruit after harvested. In vivo tests suggested that putrescine markedly delayed the occurrence of disease and limited the spots expansion on inoculated mango fruit. Further analysis exhibited that putrescine treatment enhanced disease resistance, along with enhanced activities of chitinase (CHI), β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and the accumulation of lignin, flavonoid, phenolics, and anthocyanin in infected mango fruit. In addition, in vitro tests showed that putrescine exerted strongly antifungal activity against C. gloeosporioides. Putrescine induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and severe lipid peroxidation damage in C. gloeosporioides mycelia, resulting in the leakage of soluble protein, soluble sugar, nucleic acids, K+ and Ca2+ of C. gloeosporioides mycelia. The mycelium treated with putrescine showed severe deformity and shrinkage, and even cracking. Taken together, putrescine could effectively reduce the incidence rate and severity of anthracnose disease possibly through direct fungicidal effect and indirect induced resistance mechanism, thus showing great potential to be applied to disease control. [Display omitted] • Putrescine enhanced anthracnose resistance in mango fruit. • Putrescine inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of C. gloeosporioides. • Putrescine caused plasma membrane damage and leakage of intracellular constituents of C. gloeosporioides. • Putrescine enhanced defense-related enzyme activities and accumulation of antifungal compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of a HCV NS5A inhibitor, ombitasvir, led to the identification of 10d with improved pan-genotype NS5A inhibition and better pharmacokinetic properties. The key structural changes to ombitasvir include bioisosteric replacement of carbon with silicon atom. Compared with ombitasvir, the activity of anti-HCV genotypes (GT 1 to 6) of 10d is increased to some extent, especially the inhibitory activity against genotype 3a and 6a is increased by more than seven times, and the dog's in vivo pharmacokinetics properties were also superior to ombitasvir. Further drug evaluation showed that 10d was similar to ombitasvir on plasma protein binding and liver distribution profiles, with no cytotoxicity and no inhibitory effect on both CYP 450 and hERG ligand binding. However, permeability assay results indicated that 10d was not the substrate of P-gp or BCRP transporter, which is different from that of ombitasvir. The results of a 14-day repeat-dose toxicity study identified no toxicity with 10d . Our findings in preclinical tests suggest that the silicon-containing compound 10d could be worthy of continued study as a potential drug candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem. HBsAg inhibitors are expected to reduce the production of HBsAg via inhibiting host proteins PAPD5 & PAPD7 and finally achieve the ideal goal of "functional cure". In this work, a series of tetrahydropyridine (THP) derivatives with a bridged ring were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibiting HBsAg production and HBV DNA activity. Among them, compound 17i was identified as potent HBsAg production inhibitor with excellent in vitro anti-HBV potency (HBV DNA EC 50 = 0.018 μM, HBsAg EC 50 = 0.044 μM) and low toxicity (CC 50 > 100 μM). Moreover, 17i exhibited favorable in vitro/in vivo DMPK properties in mice. 17i could also significantly reduce serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (1.08 and 1.04 log units, respectively) in HBV transgenic mice. [Display omitted] • A series of tetrahydropyridine (THP) derivatives with bridged fragments were designed and synthesized. • The target compounds showed potent antiHBV activity. • Compound 17i was identified as potent HBsAg production inhibitor with excellent in vitro anti-HBV potency and low toxicity. • Compound 17i exhibited favorable in vitro/in vivo DMPK properties in mice. • Compound 17i could also significantly reduce serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels in HBV transgenic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shielding effectiveness (SE) of a small size perforated shielding enclosure is analysed in this study. For an ideal model, the numerical results by modal method of moment (MoM) match well with the simulation results by a finite integration technique simulator CST‐MWS. When adding some detailed structures such as reinforcing rib structures to the ideal model, the modal MoM is not suitable. To verify whether the simulation results by CST on the detailed model are correct or not, the physical enclosure is tested in a microwave anechoic chamber. To measure the SE under the height limitation of the enclosure, an L‐shaped antenna is designed and used as the receiving antenna. The measurement results and the simulation results by CST on SE are pretty close. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid growth of sequencing technology, a number of genomes and transcriptomes of various species have been sequenced, contributing to the study of lineage-specific genes (LSGs). We identified two sets of LSGs using BLAST: one included Caenorhabditis elegans species-specific genes (1423, SSGs), and the other consisted of Caenorhabditis genus-specific genes (4539, GSGs). The subsequent characterization and analysis of the SSGs and GSGs showed that they have significant differences in evolution and that most LSGs were generated by gene duplication and integration of transposable elements (TEs). We then performed temporal expression profiling and protein function prediction and observed that many SSGs and GSGs are expressed and that genes involved with sex determination, specific stress, immune response, and morphogenesis are over-represented, suggesting that these specific genes may be related to the Caenorhabditis nematodes' special ability to survive in severe and extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Amifostine is the first FDA approved cytoprotective and chemoprotective agent in the treatment of cancer. However, it is not used widely because of its ineffectiveness when administered orally. The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate the radioprotective efficacy of orally active amifostine enteric microcapsules (amifostine mc). The microcapsules were prepared by spray drying technique using Eudragit L100-55, and the yield was more than 80%. The particle size and surface morphology were determined by particle analyzer and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal characterization and infrared spectroscopy were evaluated as well. In vitro release assay found that more than 60% amifostine was released during the first 4h and the cumulative release ratio was up to approximately 90% in 24h at 37°C. The radioprotective efficacy was determined by 30-day survival study in mice acutely exposed to 6Gy γ-ray irradiation. The results showed that all dose groups of amifostine microcapsules could significantly improve survival animal numbers and time. Furthermore, tissue distribution studies indicated the concentrations of the active metabolite WR-1065 in mice tissues of microcapsule group were higher than that of oral amifostine group at 180min (p <0.01). These results demonstrated that oral administration of amifostine microcapsules provided effective radioprotection compared to the bulk drug. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The preparation of chemically modified orange peel cellulose adsorbents and its biosorption behaviors of Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) have been studied. Effects of different chemical modifications on the adsorbent properties including different alkalis saponification (NaOH, NH4OH, and Ca(OH)2) and different acids (C6H6O7·H2O, H2C2O4, and H3PO4) modification after saponification with NaOH were investigated. The FT-IR spectra showed that there are different functional groups in adsorbents, which are able to react with metal ions in aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacities of Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) for SPA, SPA, SCA and SOA were obtained as 1.28, 1.23, 1.21 and 1.13mol/kg and have increased by 95, 178, 60 and 130% compared to raw orange peel, respectively. Effects of initial pH, initial metal ions concentrations, shaking time and solid/liquid ratio on metal ions biosorption were also investigated. Biosorption equilibriums were rapidly established in about 60min and the adsorption kinetics followed the Lagergren first-order kinetics model. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms models fitted the experimental data best with regression coefficient R 2 >0.95 for all the metal ions. Elution efficiencies with different concentrations of HCl were evaluated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]