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In this paper, a novel ion-imprinted electrochemical sensor modified with magnetic nanomaterial Fe3O4@SiO2 was established for the high sensitivity and selectivity determination of UO22+ in the environment. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the interaction between templates and binding ligands to screen out suitable functional binding ligand for the reasonable design of the ion imprinted sensors. The MIIP/MCPE (magnetic ion imprinted membrane/magnetic carbon paste electrode) modified with Fe3O4@SiO2 exhibited a strong response current and high sensitivity toward uranyl ion comparison with the bare carbon paste electrodes. Meanwhile, the MCPE was fabricated simultaneously under the action of strong magnetic adsorption, and the ion imprinted membrane can be adsorbed stably on the electrode surface, handling the problem that the imprinted membrane was easy to fall off during the process of experimental determination and elution. Based on the uranyl ion imprinting network, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was adopted for the detection technology to realize the electrochemical reduction of uranyl ions, which improved the selectivity of the sensor. Thereafter, uranyl ions were detected in the linear concentration range of 1.0 × 10−9 mol L−1 to 2.0 × 10−7 mol L−1, with the detection and quantification limit of 1.08 × 10−9 and 3.23 × 10−10 mol L−1, respectively. In addition, the sensor was successfully demonstrated for the determination of uranyl ions in uranium tailings soil samples and water samples with a recovery of 95% to 104%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a formulation and solution for the train connection services (TCSs) problem in a large-scale rail network in order to determine the optimal freight train services, the frequency of services, and the distribution of classification workload among yards. TCS problem is modeled as a bi-level programming problem. The upper-level is intended to find an optimal train connection service, and the lower-level is used for assigning each shipment to a sequence of train services and determining the frequency of services. Our model solves the TCS problem of the China railway system, which is one of the largest railway systems in the world. The system consists of 5544 stations, and over 520,000 shipments using this system for a year period. A subnetwork is defined with 127 yards having some minimum level of reclassification resources and 14,440 demands obtained by aggregating 520,000 shipments to the subnetwork. We apply a simulated annealing algorithm to the data for optimal computation after pre-processing and get an excellent result. Comparing our optimal solution with the existing plan result, there are improvements of about 20.8% in the total cost. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Gelatin nanofibres were electrospun from its aqueous acetic acid solution. Electrospinning parameters, such as concentration of aqueous acetic acid and gelatin solutions, electric field and spinning distance, were examined to investigate the electrospinnability of gelatin solutions and the morphology of gelatin nanofibrous mats. Nanofibrous mats from poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and gelatin/PLLA solutions were obtained. The electrospun mats showed controlled evaporative water loss, promoted fluid drainage ability, and excellent biocompatibility, and therefore have a potential application as wound dressing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For the purpose of increasing the interaction between cells and polymers, a new biodegradable polymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid-co-lysine) (PLGAL), was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. And the arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) peptides were covalently attached to the polymer chains. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and PLGAL–RGD/PLGA blend were electrospun to fabricate fibrous matrices. To assay the cytocompatibility of the PLGA and PLGAL–RGD/PLGA matrices, cell culture of WI-38 on the matrices was investigated. The results indicate that the cytocompatibility of PLGAL–RGD/PLGA is improved significantly because of the presence of RGD. Electrospun membrane from PLGAL–RGD/PLGA has potential applications in the medical fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nardostachys jatamansi (D.Don) DC. (family Caprifoliaceae, NJ) is well-documented and commonly used in the systems of traditional medicine in China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India and Japan for curing digestive and neuropsychiatric disorders with a long history of medication. However, the possible action mechanisms of antidepressant effects of NJ remain unraveled. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate chemical substances of NJ and their effects on serotonin transporter (SERT) in antidepressant activity. Antidepressant effects of total methanol extract of NJ were evaluated by tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT). Then the total extract was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method, and its effect on SERT activity was evaluated by high content assay (HCA) to determine half maximal effective concentration (EC 50). This total extract was subfractioned into twenty subfractions by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (p -HPLC) method, and 'subfraction-SERT activity' relationship curve was fitted with medians of the retention time of those subfractions and their SERT activity values. Then, the fraction NJFr.01 enriched with SERT enhancers was optimized, prepared and analyzed by UHPLC method. Antidepressant effects of the fraction NJFr.01 were evaluated by TST and OFT. Further, major constituents of the total extract and fraction NJFr.01 were isolated by p -HPLC and identified by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses and comparisons with those reported data, and their SERT activities were also evaluated. Finally, antagonistic effects of chlorogenic acid and desoxo-narchinol A against fluoxetine on SERT were evaluated. Results of TST and OFT demonstrated antidepressant effects of toatal extract of NJ. The EC 50 of total extract on SERT enhancement was 31.63 μ g/mL. The fitted 'subfraction-SERT activity' relationship curve revealed that fraction NJFr.01 was enriched with SERT enhancing constituents. Both total extract and fraction NJFr.01 significantly enhanced SERT activity, while the rest fraction NJFr.02 didn't show any SERT activity. Then, antidepressant effects of fraction NJFr.01 were demonstrated by TST and OFT. Further, phytochemistry investigation and UHPLC analyses confirmed the identification of fourteen constituents in the total extract of NJ, including 7-oxonardinoperoxide (1), desoxo-narchinol A (2), kanshone B (3), narchinol B (4), nardosinonediol (5), kanshone A (6), 1-hydroxylaristolone (7), debilon (8), nardosinone (9), kanshone H (10), 1,8,9,10-tetradehydroaristolan-2-one (11), (−)-aristolone (12), 1(10)-aristolene-2-one (13) and jatamol A (14), and seven constituents in the fraction NJFr.01 , including chlorogenic acid (15), 8 α -dihydrogeniposide (16), 7-deoxy-8- epi -loganic acid (17), adoxosidic acid (18), 8- epi -loganic acid (19), 8 α -6,7-dihydroapodantheroside acetate (20) and 6″-acetylpatrinalloside (21). Their structures were established by NMR analyses and comparisons with those reported data. HCA results of these constituents demonstrated the major components of fraction NJFr.01 enhanced SERT activity. Antagonistic results showed that chlorogenic acid and desoxo-narchinol A reversed inhibition effect of fluoxetine on SERT activity. This study first systematically expatiated the roles of SERT activity in antidepressant effects of NJ, including total methanol extract and the water-soluble fraction NJFr.01 enriched with SERT enhancing constituents. This is the first report of natural SERT enhancing extract and fractions with antidepressant potential in NJ. Both total extract and fraction NJFr.01 of N. jatamansi possess antidepressant potentials.SERT Enhancers and inhibitors were co-existed in N. jatamansi.Antagonistic effects were observed between SERT enhancers of N. jatamansi and fluoxetine on SERT.Serotonin transporters play important roles in antidepressant effects of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrorus tatarinowii Schott has been widely used in the treatments of neuropsychiatric and digestive disorders in clinical practices of traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Both clinical and preclinical studies demonstrated antidepressant effects of A. tatarinowii. However, the possible action mechanisms of antidepressant effects of A. tatarinowii remain unraveled. Aim of the study : The present study aimed to investigate the roles of serotonin transporter (SERT) in antidepressant effects of A. tatarinowii. Antidepressant effects of water extract of A. tatarinowii were evaluated by forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and locomotor activity test. The water extract was analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method. Two major fractions of A. tatarinowii , petroleum ether extract and water extract after petroleum ether processed, were prepared and analyzed by UPLC method. Further, volatile oil extracted by ether extraction, solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) and hydro-distillation were compared and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) method. Finally, major constituents of water extract of A. tatarinowii were isolated by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Effects of all of the above mentioned samples on SERT activity were tested by a high content assay (HCA). Results of FST, TST and locomotor activity confirmed that water extract of A. tatarinowii significantly decreased mice immobility time but did not change mice locomotor activity. UPLC analysis results revealed that the water extract contained trace amount of β -asarone (0.0004206%) and α -asarone (0.0001918%). HCA results demonstrated that the water extract significantly enhanced SERT activity at 100 μ g/mL. Further, GC-MS and UPLC analyses revealed that petroleum ether extract contained high content of β -asarone (45.63%) and α -asarone (12.50%). GC-MS analysis results demonstrated that the volatile oil extracted by ether extraction, SPME and hydro-distillation contained similar major components. HCA results verified that the petroleum ether extract significantly enhanced SERT activity at 1.56 μ g/mL. Moreover, UPLC analysis of water extract after petroleum ether processed did not show any characteristic peaks. HCA results demonstrated that this extract significantly inhibited SERT activity at 50–100 μ g/mL. Finally, phytochemistry investigation on the water extract of A. tatarinowii afforded seven constituents including veratric acid (9), anisic acid (7), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (3), trans -isoferulic acid (2), 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (11), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (6) and syringic acid (13). Their structures were established on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometer (MS) data and comparative UPLC analyses. HCA results demonstrated the major components of the water extract of A. tatarinowii demonstrated SERT enhancement/inhibition activities. This study first systematically demonstrated the roles of SERT activity in antidepressant effects of A. tatarinowii , including water extract, major fractions and main constituents. These results revealed that A. tatarinowii could regulate SERT activities in bidirectional ways. Serotonin transporters play important roles in antidepressant effects of Acorus tatarinowii. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cardiac hypertrophy is a maladaptive change in response to pressure overload, and is also an important risk for developing heart failure. Berberine is known to have cardioprotective effects in patients with hypertension and in animal models of cardiac hypertrophy. In the current study, we observed that transverse aortic contraction (TAC) surgery induced a marked increase in heart size, the ratio of heart weight to body weight, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophic marker brain natriuretic peptide, all of which were effectively suppressed by berberine administration. In addition, berberine enhanced autophagy in hypertrophic hearts, which was accompanied by a decrease in heart size, cardiac apoptosis, and the attenuation of cardiac dysfunction. Furthermore, use of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) blocked berberine-induced autophagy level, and abrogated the protection of berberine against heart hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, and apoptosis. Berberine ameliorated TAC-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, which was also abolished by 3-MA. Moreover, berberine significantly inhibited the upstream signaling of autophagy, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. We conclude that berberine could attenuate left ventricular remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis through an autophagy-dependent mechanism in a rat model of cardiac hypertrophy, which is, at least in part, associated with enhanced autophagy through inhibition of mTOR, p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The binding of a novel carditionic agent (2-amino-4-chloro-N-(4-(6-oxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridazin-3-yl)phenyl)benzamide (ACPB)) to human serum albumin (HSA) under physiological conditions has been investigated by using UV/vis absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) in combination with protein–ligand docking study. It was observed that there was a prominent interaction between ACPB and HSA. The interaction was also confirmed by two-dimensional (2D) correction analysis based on the quenching perturbation on the fluorescence spectra and the order of the response of ACPB and HSA to the quenching perturbation was also elucidated based on Noda’s rule. Fluorescence data revealed that the fluorescence quenching was a static quenching process and the binding constants were calculated to be 8.781×105, 7.310×105, and 5.358×105 M−1 at 290, 300, and 310K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated according to the Van’t Hoff equation and the binding mode was determined. In addition, the alterations of protein secondary structure were qualitatively and quantitatively determined by the evidence from synchronous fluorescence, CD and FT-IR. Furthermore, docking studies that corroborate our experimental results revealed that the binding sites were located in subdomain IIA of HSA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The plants of the genus Nardostachys (Caprifoliaceae) have been used for a long history in different cultural systems of medicine, including Chinese, Ayurvedic, Korean folk medicine and Islamic, for treatments of disorders in nervous, digestive, cardiovascular and integumentary systems. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on Nardostachys plants including botany update, traditional uses, data mining of uses in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and current Chinese medicinal patents, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, toxicity and analytical method studies. Studies of the genus Nardostachys were collected via Google Scholar and Baidu Scholar, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Wiley Online Library, ACS Publications, NLM/NCBI, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG DATA, EMBASE, Huabeing database and Traditional Chinese Medicine Resource Network and libraries. Some local books, PhD or MS's dissertations were also included. The literatures cited in this review covered the period from 1962 to March 2021. The Plant List and Kew Herbarium Catalogue databases were used to authenticate the scientific name. Botany description of Nardostachys genus is updated. Analysis of the literatures indicates that Nardostachys species are valuable herbs with therapeutic potentials for various disorders. Data mining on ancient TCM prescriptions and current Chinese medicinal patents containing Nardostachys revealed its common compatibility with other herbs in China. Phytochemical studies identified terpenoids and phenolic compounds as the main constituents in the genus Nardostachys and sesquiterpenoids as the major bioactive components. Experimental studies demonstrated that crude extracts, major fractions and the main constituents from Nardostachys species mainly exhibited pharmacological activities on nervous, digestive, cardiovascular and skin systems. Further, in vivo and in vitro toxicological studies demonstrated that Nardostachys plants showed either no or low toxicities, except at high doses. Finally, methods of qualitative and quantitative analyses on chemical constituents of genus Nardostachys were summarized, including TLC/HPTLC, GC and HPLC/UPLC methods, combined with common detectors including PDA, DAD and MS. This review summarizes the progress on phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and analytical methods of the genus Nardostachys. Studies demonstrate traditional uses of the genus Nardostachys , and reveal novel bioactive effects for clinical uses. These achievements expand our knowledge on the genus Nardostachys and its clinical value. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]