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A cyclophosphazene derivative (HACP) was sythesized by hexachlorocyclotriphosphazine and butylamine. Then it was combined with β-CD and used to prepare polylactic acid (PLA) composites. Effect of HACP and β-CD on thermal stability of PLA was studied. The results showed that char residue at final temperature increased with the increasing HACP and β-CD content.These char layers formed on the sample surface can act as an excellent barrier of mass transport and thermal insulation. HACP produced phosphoric and polyphosphoric acids during thermal degradation, which served as the dehydration agents and was the driving force for the formation of the heat resistant carbonaceous char by carbonization. Therefore, HACP and β-CD had a good effect in improving the thermal stability of PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using a colloidal gold–antibody probe for the rapid detection of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in corn samples was developed. The colour density of the test line correlated with the concentration of FB1 in the range 2–40 ng ml–1 by the assay, and the detection limit for FB1 was 2 ng ml–1. The linear range for FB1 was 50–1000 µg kg–1, and the visual limit detection of the test was 1000 µg kg–1 in corn samples. The ICA to detect FB1 is sensitive, specific and rapid. Specific anti-FB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and FB1-ovalbumin (FB1-OVA) conjugate antigen were prepared. FB1 mAb, labelled with colloidal gold, was used as the probe on the immunochromatographic strip. FB1-OVA and goat-anti-mouse IgG were coated onto a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane as test lines and control lines, respectively. FB1 in samples will competitively combines the FB1 mAb with the FB1-OVA in an NC membrane and the results are directly observed by the colour of the detection and quality control lines. The concentrations of FB1 mAb labelled with colloidal gold, detecting antigen and goat anti-mouse IgG, were optimised. The results indicate that the test strip is specific for FB1, with no cross-reactivity to other toxins. The strip assay for FB1 was simple, only needing one step without complicated assay performance and expensive equipment, and the total time for visual evaluation was less than 10 min. A survey of 24 corn samples from Hefei, China, was performed with the test strip and HPLC, and the detection results showed that the developed ICA and the HPLC were in excellent agreement. Hence, the developed ICA can be used as a method for rapid detection of FB1 in corn samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To improve the crystallization ability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a novel nucleating agent with a benzoyl hydrazine compound was used in this study. The crystallization behaviors of PLA/talc and PLA/bibenzoylhydrazinepropane (BBP) with or without poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy. The DSC curves showed that the crystallization temperature and crystallinity of PLA/BBP (PBBP) was higher than that of PLA/talc. With the addition of PEG, a synergistic effect was found. According to the results of nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, the values of F( T) of PBBP0.5PEG5 were usually smaller than those of PTa3PEG5, so the nucleation efficiency of BBP was much better than that of talc. From a polarized optical microscopy photo, it was easy to determine that the nucleation density of BBP was higher than that of PTa3PEG5, and the spherulitic diameter increased linearly with the crystallization time no matter the impingements. The spherulitic growth rate of PBBP0.5PEG5 was faster than that of PTa3PEG5, and the induction time of PBBP0.5PEG5 was the shortest among all of the samples. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41367. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present an atomistic study on the phase stability, site preference and lattice constants of the rare earth intermetallics Lu2Fe17−x T x (T=Cr, Mn, Ru). The calculated preferential occupation site of ternary element T is found to be the 4f site. The order of site preference is given as 4f, 12k, 12j and 6g for Lu2Fe17−x T x . The calculated lattice parameters are corresponding to the experimental results. We have calculated the magnetic moments of Lu2Fe17−x T x compounds. Results show that the calculated total magnetic moment of Lu2Fe17 compound is M=37.34μB/f.u. In addition, the total and partial phonon densities of states are evaluated first for these complicated structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A systemic study of the structural properties of the rare-earth intermetallics Lu2(Fe, T)17 (T = Mn, Ru) and their hydrides has been performed by a series of interatomic pair potentials. The site preference of T atoms at Fe sites is evaluated and the order is given as 4f, 12k, 12j and 6g for Lu2(Fe, T)17. The interstitial H atoms only occupy 6h interstitial sites in Lu2(Fe, T)17. The calculated lattice constants agree with a report in the literature. We have calculated the magnetic moments of Lu2(Fe, T)17 compounds. Results showed that the calculated total magnetic moment of Lu2Fe17 compound is M = 37.34 μB/f.u. Furthermore, the total and partial phonon densities of states are evaluated first for Lu2(Fe, T)17 and their hydrides with the hexagonal Th2Ni17-type structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which determines the impact of the tissue explants adhered method on cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells of broilers. The study identified the cells as typical form of vascular smooth cells under light microscope and immunohistochemical test. Moreover, the study proves the efficiency of the method in providing ideal materials for vascular physiopathologic studies.

Abstract: Pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) were isolated from broilers by the method of tissue explantation. The cells were identified using morphological features and immunocytochemical staining using a specific antiserum against factor VIII related antigen. Xanthine/Xanthine oxidase (X/XO) served as the oxygen free radical (OFR) generating system. In vitro model of oxidative injury of PAEC was established based on the X/XO system. The effect of OFR on the growth and viability of PAEC was determined with methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA, a product of lipid peroxidation) in culture medium of PAEC was detected by a thiobarbituric acid colorimetric assay. The results showed that PAEC survive in vitro and can be subcultured for 5–6 passages. Morphological and immunocytochemical observations of cultured cells demonstrated specific characteristics of endothelial cells. PAECs were severely damaged by OFR. The viability of cells was reduced by the X/XO system, and a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was found with increasing XO dosages. OFR promoted lipid peroxidation of PAEC and increased the MDA concentration in culture media. These results suggest that OFR can injure the endothelial cells from broiler pulmonary arteries in vitro, which confirms previous results obtained in vivo. Oxidative injury may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension syndrome in broiler. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An atomistic study on the phase stability, site preference and lattice constants of the rare earth intermetallics Lu2Fe17-xMx (M: Cr, Mn, Ru) is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invariant chain (Ii) is an important immune molecule, as it assists major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to present antigenic peptides. The relationship between the Ii and MHC molecules in teleosts remains poorly understood. This study focused on the molecular structure of grass carp Ii (gIi), its organ distribution, correlations with gene transcription, and the association with MHC. g Ii cDNA was cloned using designed degenerate primers and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends method (RACE). The gIi sequence was 92%–96% similar to that of other teleosts, but only 52%–67% similar to that of mammals, respectively. The g Ii gene was distributed in all 12 organs examined by PCR. The g Ii gene transcription levels were markedly higher in organs enriched with immune cells than in other organs ( P < 0.01). Moreover, positive correlations were detected between transcription levels of the g Ii and g Mhc I or II genes in different organs ( r = 8.415–8.523, P = 0.001). The gIi co-localized on endomembrane systems with either class I or II molecules in co-transfected cells observed by a laser confocal. Further testing confirmed that the gIi bound gMHCI and II molecules. Taken together, these results indicate that the gIi is associated with MHC class I and II molecules, suggesting homology of both MHC molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present an atomistic study on the phase stability, site preference and lattice constants of the rare earth or actinium intermetallics Ce6Rh30Si19 and A6Pt30Si19 (A=Th, U). The calculated preferential occupation site of one Si atom is found to be the 2b site in Ce6Rh30Si19 and A6Pt30Si19. The Si atom is located at the sites 2b with occupancy close to 50%. Our calculated lattice constants agree with a report in the literature. The total and partial phonon densities of states are evaluated first for these complicated defect structures. The analysis of the inverted potentials explains qualitatively the contributions of different atoms to the vibrational modes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents and is typically associated with a poor prognosis. Tumor stem cells (TSCs) are presumed to drive tumor initiation and tumor relapse or metastasis. Hence, the poor prognosis of osteosarcoma likely results from a failure to target the osteosarcoma stem cells. Here, we have utilized three different methods to enrich TSCs in osteosarcoma and further evaluated whether salinomycin could selectively target TSCs in osteosarcoma. Our results indicated that sarcosphere selection, chemotherapy selection and stem cell marker OCT4 or SOX2 over-expression are all effective in the enrichment of TSCs from osteosarcoma cell lines. Further investigation found that salinomycin inhibited osteosarcoma by selectively targeting its stem cells both in vitro and in vivo without severe side effects, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may be involved in this inhibition of salinomycin. Taken together, we have identified that salinomycin is an effective inhibitor of osteosarcoma stem cells, supporting the use of salinomycin for elimination of osteosarcoma stem cells and implying a need for further clinical evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The structural properties of intermetallic Ho3Fe29− x Cr x have been studied by using ab initio pair potentials obtained by the lattice inversion method. Calculated results show that in Ho3Fe29− x Cr x , the order of site preference is 4g(Fe6), 4i(Fe3) and 4i(Fe2), and the calculated lattice constants coincide quite well with experimental values. The evolution process from ordered Ho3Fe29 to disordered Ho2Fe17 (Th2Ni17-type) is evaluated. The structural properties of the disordered Ho2Fe17 compound, including lattice constants and X-ray diffraction have been calculated, and the lattice constants are in good agreement with experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The new intermetallics Fe23CB6 have been studied to ascertain the effect of ternary element C on the phase stability and site preference. Fe23CB6 may form with Cr23C6 prototype structure, and the carbons atoms are positioned at 4a sites. The calculated lattice constants are found to agree with report in literatures. We have calculated the magnetic moments of Fe22NiB6, Fe23C6, Fe23B6 and Fe23CB6 compounds. Furthermore, the total and partial phonon densities of states are evaluated first for Fe23C6, Fe23B6 and Fe23CB6. The analysis of the inverted potentials explains qualitatively the contributions of different atoms to the vibrational modes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rationale: Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy is a rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects the meninges, brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. GFAP astrocytopathy can coexist with a variety of antibodies, which is known as overlap syndrome. Anti-NMDAR-positive encephalitis overlap syndrome has been reported; however, encephalitis overlap syndrome with both anti-NMDAR and sulfatide-IgG positivity has not been reported., Patient Concerns: The patient was a 50-year-old male who was drowsy and had chills and weak limbs for 6 months. His symptoms worsened after admission to our hospital with persistent high fever, dysphoria, gibberish, and disturbance of consciousness. Positive cerebrospinal fluid NMDA, GFAP antibodies, and serum sulfatide antibody IgG were positive., Diagnoses: Autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy with anti-NMDAR and sulfatide-IgG-positive encephalitis overlap syndrome., Interventions: In addition to ventilator support and symptomatic supportive treatment, step-down therapy with methylprednisolone (1000 mg/d, halved every 3 days) and pulse therapy with human immunoglobulin (0.4 g/(kg d) for 5 days) were used., Outcomes: After 6 days of treatment, the patient condition did not improve, and the family signed up to give up the treatment and left the hospital., Conclusions: Patients with autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy may be positive for anti-NMDAR and sulfatide-IgG, and immunotherapy may be effective in patients with severe conditions., Lessons: Autoimmune GFAP astrocytopathy with nonspecific symptoms is rarely reported and is easy to be missed and misdiagnosed. GFAP astrocytopathy should be considered in patients with fever, headache, disturbance of consciousness, convulsions, and central infections that do not respond to antibacterial and viral agents. Autoimmune encephalopathy-related antibody testing should be performed as soon as possible, early diagnosis should be confirmed, and immunomodulatory therapy should be administered promptly., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Enhancing the flame retardancy of electrolytes and the stability of lithium anodes is of great significance to improve the safety performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. It is well known that the most commonly used ether based electrolyte solvents in Li-S batteries have a lower flash point and higher volatility than the ester electrolyte solvents in Li-ion batteries. Hence, lithium-sulfur batteries have greater safety risks than lithium-ion batteries. Herein, ethoxy(pentafluoro)cyclotriphosphazene (PFPN), which is commonly used as a flame retardant for ester electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries, is utilized as both a film-forming electrolyte additive and a flame retardant additive for the ether electrolyte to investigated its applicability in Li-S batteries. It is found that the ether electrolyte containing PFPN not only has good flame retardant properties and a wide potential window of about 5 V, but also can form a stable SEI film on the surface of a lithium anode. As a result, with the ether-based electrolyte containing 10 wt% PFPN, Li-Cu and Li-S batteries all delivered a stable cycling performance with a high coulombic Efficiency and a long-lifespan performance, which were all superior to the batteries using the ether-based electrolyte without PFPN. This study demonstrates an effective solution to solve the problems of flammable ether-based electrolytes and reactive lithium anodes, and it may contribute to the development of safe Li-S batteries., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A sensitive immunochromatographic assay (ICA) using a colloidal gold-antibody probe for the rapid detection of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in corn samples was developed. The colour density of the test line correlated with the concentration of FB1 in the range 2-40 ng ml(-1) by the assay, and the detection limit for FB1 was 2 ng ml(-1). The linear range for FB1 was 50-1000 µg kg(-1), and the visual limit detection of the test was 1000 µg kg(-1) in corn samples. The ICA to detect FB1 is sensitive, specific and rapid. Specific anti-FB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and FB1-ovalbumin (FB1-OVA) conjugate antigen were prepared. FB1 mAb, labelled with colloidal gold, was used as the probe on the immunochromatographic strip. FB1-OVA and goat-anti-mouse IgG were coated onto a nitrocellulose (NC) membrane as test lines and control lines, respectively. FB1 in samples will competitively combines the FB1 mAb with the FB1-OVA in an NC membrane and the results are directly observed by the colour of the detection and quality control lines. The concentrations of FB1 mAb labelled with colloidal gold, detecting antigen and goat anti-mouse IgG, were optimised. The results indicate that the test strip is specific for FB1, with no cross-reactivity to other toxins. The strip assay for FB1 was simple, only needing one step without complicated assay performance and expensive equipment, and the total time for visual evaluation was less than 10 min. A survey of 24 corn samples from Hefei, China, was performed with the test strip and HPLC, and the detection results showed that the developed ICA and the HPLC were in excellent agreement. Hence, the developed ICA can be used as a method for rapid detection of FB1 in corn samples.

This study investigated nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the endothelium of pulmonary arterioles of broilers during the development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). PHS was triggered by exposing broilers to sub-thermoneutral (cool) temperatures and an additional 1.0% L-arginine was added to the basal diet to evaluate the effects of supplemental L-arginine on nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial NOS expression, and the incidence of PHS. Cumulative mortality from PHS, right/total ventricle weight ratios (RV/TV), and body weights were recorded. Plasma NO concentration and NOS expression in the endothelium of pulmonary arterioles with an outer diameter ranging from 100 to 200 microm were determined. Birds exposed to cool temperatures had increased pulmonary hypertension and PHS mortality and diminished endothelial NOS expression. Supplemental dietary L-arginine reduced PHS mortality and elicited higher NOS expression within the pulmonary endothelium coincident with elevated NO production. The results demonstrated that broilers developing PHS exhibited diminished NOS expression in the endothelium of their pulmonary arterioles. Supplemental L-arginine prevented the reduced expression of NOS in the pulmonary endothelium, which might contribute to the increased production of NO by the pulmonary vasculature.

Objective: Pulmonary vascular remodelling is one of the important pathological bases of broiler pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS). Nitric oxide (NO) has been found to inhibit proliferation and to induce apoptosis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) in mammals with pulmonary hypertension. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of NO precursor l-arginine on pulmonary vascular remodelling in broilers with pulmonary hypertension induced by cold exposure and to examine whether NO-induced apoptosis in pulmonary arteriole SMC is involved in the regulatory mechanisms., Methods: Two hundred and forty mixed-sex commercial broilers were equally assigned to three groups and reared in normal brooding temperatures before day 14. Starting on day 14 continuing until the end of the experiment, the control group was brooded in normal temperatures whereas the other two groups were subjected to low ambient temperatures with or without l-arginine added to the basal diets. Cumulative PHS mortality and body weight were recorded in each group. Right/total ventricle ratio (RV/TV), plasma NO concentration and pulmonary vascular morphological changes were analyzed. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect apoptosis in pulmonary arteriole SMC., Result: l-Arginine, in group A, had no effect on body weights under cold temperature condition. Birds kept in group B had increased PHS mortality, RV/TV ratio, vessel wall area/vessel total area ratios (WA/TA) and mean media thickness in pulmonary arterioles (mMTPA) (P<0.05). Percentages of apoptotic SMC in pulmonary arterioles in group B were not altered by cold exposure (P>0.05). Supplemental dietary l-arginine in group A elevated plasma NO level (P<0.05), reduced PHS mortality (P<0.05), attenuated pulmonary vascular remodelling and increased the percentages of apoptotic SMC (P<0.05) when compared with the group B., Conclusion: Supplemental l-arginine partially inhibited pulmonary vascular remodelling that occurred secondary to increased pulmonary pressure; NO-induced apoptosis in arteriole SMC might contribute to its regulatory effect on pulmonary vascular structural changes.

Objective: The present study was conducted to examine the presence of protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) in the pulmonary arterioles of broilers during the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodelling., Method: One hundred and sixty day-old Avian-2000 broilers were divided equally into a control group and a cold temperature group. All the birds were reared in normal temperatures up to day 14, with the lighting schedule at 24 h per day. Thereafter, birds in the cold temperature group were subjected to low temperature by lowering 1-2 degrees C per day to 12-14 degrees C, and then kept constant until day 49, while birds in the control group were still brooded at normal temperatures. All the birds were fed a diet of pellets throughout the study. Samples of blood were taken from the wing vein, and of heart and lung collected after the birds were killed with an overdose of sodium pentobarbitial, at days 24, 32, 39 and 45 of age, respectively. Right ventricle to total ventricle ratio (RV/TV) and packed cell volume (PCV) were measured. Vessel wall area to vessel total area ratio (WA/TA) and mean media thickness in pulmonary arterioles (mMTPA) was examined using computer-image analytic software. Expression of PKC in pulmonary muscular arterioles was assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantified by measuring optical density (OD) using computer-image analytic software., Results: The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) was 12.5% in birds exposed to cold, and 3.75% in the control group (P<0.05). PCV in the cold temperature group was elevated after day 32 (P<0.05), and RV/TV ratio increased on day 45 (P<0.05). Both the WA/TA and mMTPA of birds subjected to cold were significantly elevated (P<0.05). The OD values were not significantly increased before day 32 (P>0.05), however, one week later (at day 39 of age), the difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). The increased PKCalpha expression was positively correlated with the values of mMTPA and WA/TA., Conclusion: PKCalpha expression was up-regulated during the development of pulmonary hypertension. The activation of PKCalpha might be involved in the development of pulmonary vascular remodelling.