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Consider the heterogeneity (e.g., heterogeneous social behaviour, heterogeneity due to different geography, contrasting contact patterns and different numbers of sexual partners etc.) of host population, in this paper, the authors propose an infection age multi-group SEIR epidemic model. The model system also incorporates the feedback variables, where the infectivity of infected individuals may depend on the infection age. In the direction of mathematical analysis of model, the basic reproduction number R0 has been computed. The global stability of disease-free equilibrium and endemic equilibrium have been established in the term of R0. More precisely, for R0 ≤ 1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable and for R0 > 1, they establish global stability of endemic equilibrium using some graph theoretic techniques to Lyapunov function method. By considering a numerical example, they investigate the effects of infection age and feedback on the prevalence of the disease. Their result shows that feedback parameters have different and even opposite effects on different groups. However, by choosing an appropriate value of feedback parameters, the disease could be eradicated or maintained at endemic level. Besides, the infection age of infected individuals may also change the behaviour of the disease, global stable to damped oscillations or damped oscillations to global stable.

Wenyuan Zhang,1 Qionghong Liu,2 Jun Zhao,1 Tiejun Wang,2 Jinshan Wang2 1Department of Urology, East Hospital, Ji’an Hospital, Jiangxi, 343000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Urology, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jinshan WangDepartment of Urology, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail wangjinshandoctor@aliyun.comIntroduction: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRANs) as suppressive or oncogenic genes have been substantiated in prostate cancer (PCa). In the current study, the role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA AATBC in the progression of PCa was evaluated.Methods: LncRNA AATBC and miR-1245b-5p expression were evaluated using RT-qPCR. CCK-8, colony-formation, apoptosis and transwell assay were used to analyze the in vitro role. The xenograft model was used to explore the in vivo role. Bioinformatics analysis and a dual luciferase assay, RIP and RNA pull down were used to confirm the interaction between lncRNA AATBC and 1245b-5p, as well as 1245b-5p and CASK.Results: Firstly, we certified that the expression of AATBC was augmented in PCa, and knockdown of AATBC could significantly inhibit the growth of PCa in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, our results manifested that AATBC could directly bind to miR-1245b-5p. In addition, miR-1245b-5p played cancer-suppressive role in PCa cells. Moreover, CASK was attested as the target of miR-1245b-5p, and CASK was demonstrated to exert as oncogene in the progression of PCa. Finally, rescue assays illustrated that miR-1245b-5p downregulation or CASK restoration could greatly resist the restrained effects of AATBC knockdown on PCa progression.Conclusion: AATBC could accelerate the progression of PCa through regulating miR-1245b-5p/CASK axis, which provided a potential therapeutic target for PCa treatment.Keywords: lncRNA, prostate cancer, AATBC, miR-1245b-5p, CASK

How populations distribute in both space and time is one of the key issues in ecological systems, which can characterize the relationship between populations, space–time structure and evolution law. Consequently, pattern dynamics in ecosystems has been widely investigated including their causes and ecological functions. In order to systematically understand the interactions in ecosystems, we summarize the related results in pattern formation of ecological systems. Based on mathematical modeling and analysis, we show the mechanisms of different patterns including feedback, scale-dependent, phase separation, nonlocal effects, time delay and spatial heterogeneity. This work offers assistance for better understanding the complexity of ecosystems and provides new insights for self-organizations evolution and ecosystem protection. We hope that our results may be applied in other related fields such as epidemiology, medical science, atmospheric science and so on.

In this study, we investigate the global dynamics of non-autonomous and autonomous systems based on the Leslie–Gower type model using the Beddington–DeAngelis functional response (BDFR) with time-independent and time-dependent model parameters. Unpredictable disturbances are introduced in the forms of feedback control variables. BDFR explains the feeding rate of the predator as functions of both the predator and prey densities. The global stability of the unique positive equilibrium solution of the autonomous model is determined by defining an appropriate Lyapunov function. The condition obtained for the global stability of the interior equilibrium ensures that the global stability is free from control variables, which is also a significant issue in the ecological balance control procedure. The autonomous system exhibits complex dynamics via bifurcation scenarios, such as period doubling bifurcation. We prove the existence of a globally stable almost periodic solution of the associated non-autonomous model. The different coefficients of the system are taken as almost periodic functions by generalizing periodic assumptions. The permanence of the non-autonomous system is established by defining upper and lower averages of a function. Our results also explain how the important hypothesis in ecology known as the “intermediate disturbance hypothesis” applies in predator–prey interactions. We show that moderate feedback intensity can make both the ordinary differential equation system and partial differential equation system more robust. The results obtained provide new insights into the protection of populations, where moderate feedback intensity can promote the coexistence of species and adjusting the intensity of the feedback in appropriate regions can control the population biomass while maintaining the stability of the system. Finally, the results obtained from extensive numerical simulations support the analytical results as well as the usefulness of the present study in terms of ecological balance and bio-control problems in agro-ecosystems.

In this paper, we discuss a diffusive predator–prey system with mutually interfering predator and nonlinear harvesting in predator with Crowley–Martin functional response. The mathematical analysis of the system starts with the existence and uniqueness of solution of the system using $$C_0$$ semigroup. The analysis reflects that the upper bound of rate of predator harvesting for the coexistence of the species can be guaranteed. In addition, we establish the existence and nonexistence of non-constant positive steady state. Explicit conditions on predator harvesting are obtained for local and global stability of interior equilibrium and also for the existence and nonexistence of non-constant steady-state solution. We also investigate conditions for Turing instabilities of the diffusive system analytically. Our results show that the effort of harvesting (g) provides a threshold value for existence of non-constant positive stationary solution. Furthermore, we illustrate the spatial patterns via numerical simulations, which show that the system exhibits interesting patterns. Some biological implications of obtained theoretical results have also been discussed.

The Ba1-xSiO3:xEu3+ (x = 0.0025, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.09), Ba0.996SiO3:0.004Bi3+ and Ba0.92-ySiO3:0.08Eu3+, yBi3+ (y = 0, 0.001, 0.0025, 0.004, 0.005, 0.01) phosphors have been synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method combined with one calcination of the corresponding precursors in air. Then the XRD, XPS and spectrophotometer have been carried out to analyze the crystal structure and photoluminescence properties of the phosphor. The structure of samples is orthorhombic and the space group is P212121. Meanwhile, Bi3+ co-doped system shows a broadened charge transfer band (CTB) and the highest peak of CTB has red shifted from 246 to 274 nm due to an overlap of the transition from O2− to Bi3+. The symmetry of Eu3+ ions is distorted by co-doping Bi3+ ion and the efficient energy transfer from Bi3+ to Eu3+ ions enhances the photoluminescence intensities of the BaSiO3:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphors significantly. The optimum concentration of Eu3+ and Bi3+ ions in BaSiO3 is 8 mol% and 0.4 mol%, respectively. Additionally, the CIE 1931 chromaticity coordinates of Ba0.916SiO3:0.08Eu3+, 0.004Bi3+ excited by 274 and 393 nm are located at red region. The PL emission spectra of the optimized phosphor at different temperatures show an excellent thermal stability, it remains 87.6% of photoluminescence intensity at 25 °C when the temperature reaches 100 °C. Moreover, the activation energy (Ea) is calculated to be 0.27 eV. These results indicate that BaSiO3:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphors are the suitable candidates for commercial red phosphor.

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury causes cellular dysfunction and a series of immune or apoptotic reactions. Bach1 is a mammalian transcription factor that represses Hmox1, which encodes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) that can degrade heme into free iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin, to play an important role in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can be found in a variety of eukaryotic cells and viruses, a class of noncoding small RNAs that are encoded by endogenous genes. The aims of this study were to determine whether miR-27a-5p targets Bach1 and regulates cellular death; the dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to detect this and the results showed that miR-27a-5p significantly decreased the luciferase activity of the Bach1 3'-untranslated region. MiR-27a-5p was increased in mice during hepatic I/R and Bach1 was decreased. By transfecting the AML12 cells with the mimic, inhibitor miR-27a-5p in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) models showed that overexpression of miR-27a-5p decreased Bach1 messenger RNA, upregulated HO-1 expression, and promoted antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and downregulated proapoptotic caspase-3 gene expression. In contrast, the miR-27a-5p inhibitor yielded the opposite results. Meanwhile, transfection with Bach1 small interference RNA obviously upregulated the protein levels of HO-1 and resulted in an increase in Bcl-2 and a decrease in caspase-3 protein levels. Thus, we can conclude that miR-27a-5p is relevant to liver I/R injury and overexpression of miR-27a-5p may alleviate apoptosis in H/R injury by targeting Bach1 in vitro.

In order to improve the luminescence property of silicate phosphors, a series of Sr(1.992-x)MgxSiO4: 0.008Eu2+(x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) blue phosphors have been synthesized using one-step calcination of a precursor prepared by chemical co-precipitation. And then the crystal structure and luminescence properties of the phosphors are investigated by means of X-Ray Diffraction and spectrophotometer. The results show that β-phase existed in the mixed phases of Sr2SiO4 (β+α′) would transform to α′-phase with Mg2+ ions doping into the silicate host until it disappeared. On the other hand, the introduction of Mg2+ ions can enhance the intensity of the excitation spectrum and promote the excitation sensitivity of Sr(1.992-x)MgxSiO4: 0.008Eu2+ phosphors in NUV region. Under NUV excitation at 350 nm, all samples exhibit a broadband emission in range of 400–550 nm due to the 4f65d1→4f7(8S7/2) transition of Eu2+ ions. According to Multi-peak fitting to emission spectra by Gauss method, the broad emission band consists of two single bands with peaks Em1 and Em2 locating at 460 and 490 nm, which corresponds to Eu2+ ions occupying the ten-fold oxygen-coordinated Sr1 site and the nine-fold oxygen-coordinated Sr2 site, respectively. The luminescence intensity of Sr(1.992-x)MgxSiO4:0.008Eu2+(x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) blue phosphors has been enhanced remarkably after Mg2+ ions are added. Meanwhile, the chromaticity coordinates change from the blue-green region to the blue region as x moves from 0 to 0.75. Moreover, the decay curves are measured and can be well fitted with double exponential decay equation. It shows that the average lifetime is extended with the concentration of Mg2+ ions increasing. These results indicate that Sr(1.992-x)MgxSiO4: 0.008Eu2+(x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) can be used as a potential blue phosphor in near UV-excited white LEDs.

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating disease affecting trees belonging to the genus Pinus. To control the spread of PWD in the Masson pine forest in China, PWD resistant Masson pine clones have been selected by the Anhui Academy of Forestry. However, because Masson pine is a difficult-to-root species, producing seedlings is challenging, especially from trees older than 5 years of age, which impedes the application of PWD resistant clones. In this study, we investigated the factors affecting rooting of PWD resistant clones and established a cheap, reliable, and simple method that promotes rooting. We tested the effects of three management methods, four substrates, two cutting materials, two cutting treatments, and three collection times on the rooting of cuttings obtained from 9-year-old PWD resistant clones. Rooting was observed only in stem cuttings treated with the full-light automatic spray management method. Additionally, stem cuttings showed a significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than needles cuttings. Compared with other substrates, stem cuttings planted in perlite produced the longest adventitious root and the highest total root length and lateral root number. Moreover, stem cuttings of PWD resistant clones collected in May showed a significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than those collected in June and July. Moreover, stem cuttings prepared with a horizontal cut while retaining the needles showed significantly higher rooting rate and root quality than those prepared with a diagonal cut while partly removing the needles. This study promotes the reproduction of seedlings of PWD-resistant Masson pine clones which helps control the spread of PWD, meanwhile, provides a technical reference for the propagation of mature pine trees via cuttings.

Carotid stenosis is a common physiological abnormality that can cause a stroke or even death. For a clear understanding of its forming mechanism and potential damage, a hemodynamics model of carotid artery stenosis in a swine is built and analyzed based on surgery and ultrasonography. Eight Chinese mini-swine were partially ligated; transcranial Doppler and 3D DSA are employed to obtain physiological parameters for reconstructing the in vivo experimental vessel model. A numerical model of the swine blood flow and a detailed swine carotid vessel model with stenosis are proposed. The empirical function of WSS was validated for the swine model. Two models, a rigid wall and an elastic wall are precisely compared for pathological analysis of vascular diseases, such as carotid atherosclerosis and hemangioma. The elastic wall model performs better in representing experimental conditions while the rigid wall is much more efficient. Both models show that stenosis has a significant effect on resulting complex blood flow behavior and concentrated WSS distribution.

A series of Sr2P2O7:Dy3+, Sr2P2O7:Ce3+ and Sr2P2O7:Dy3+,Ce3+ phosphors was synthesized via the one-step calcination process for the precursors prepared by co-precipitation methods. The phases, morphology, quantum efficiency and photoluminescence properties of the obtained phosphors were characterized systematically. These results show that the near-spherical particles prepared through calcining the precursors by means of ammonium dibasic phosphate co-precipitation (method 3) have the smallest particle size and strongest emission intensity among the three methods in the paper. With Dy3+ concentration increasing in Sr2P2O7:Dy3+ phosphors, the luminescence intensity first increases, reaches maximum, and then decreases. A similar trend was followed by Sr2P2O7:Ce3+ with Ce3+concentration increasing. A successful attempt was made to initiate the energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Dy3+ in the host lattice and an overlap between the emission band of Ce3+ and the excitation band of Dy3+ indicated that the Ce3+ → Dy3+ energy transfer may indeed exist. It is clear that the photoluminescence intensity of Dy3+ as well as the quantum efficiency of the phosphor can be enhanced markedly by co-doping Ce3+. Sr2P2O7:Dy3+,Ce3+ has its (CIE) chromaticity coordinates in the bluish-white-light region, near the standard illuminant D65. The CIE 1913 chromaticity coordinates of Sr2P2O7:Dy3+ phosphors fall in the white-light region, and are adjacent to the ideal white-light coordinates. In addition, the colour temperature and colour tone of Sr2P2O7:Dy3+ could be adjusted by changing the relative concentration of Dy3+. In short, Sr2P2O7:Dy3+ can be a promising single-phased white-light emitting phosphor for near-UV (NUV) w-LEDs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as crucial regulators of gene expression in human cancer biology. CircZFR is a novel identified circRNA and its effect in bladder cancer remains unclearly. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of circZFR in the progression of bladder cancer. First, we demonstrated that the expression of circZFR was higher in bladder cancer tissues and cells compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues and normal bladder epithelial cells. And higher circZFR levels were positively correlated with bladder cancer patients’ pathological T stage, grade, lymphatic metastasis, recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Functionally, knockdown of circZFR could significantly prohibit cell growth, migration and invasion, arrest cell cycle as well as promote apoptosis of bladder cancer cells in vitro study. Mechanistically, we observed that circZFR could directly bind to miR-377 as sponge to promote ZEB2 expression in bladder cancer cells. In addition, rescue assays demonstrated that restoration of ZEB2 significantly impaired the suppressive effects of circZFR silencing on bladder cancer cells growth, migration and invasion. Taken together, our results illuminated that circZFR could be a prognostic biomarker in bladder cancer and exerted oncogenic roles through regulating miR-377/ZEB2 axis in bladder cancer, which indicated that circZFR could be a potential therapeutic target for bladder cancer patients treatment.

In order to improve the luminescent performance of silicate blue phosphors, Sr(1.5-x)-(1.5y) Mg0.5 SiO4 :xEu2+ ,yCe3+ phosphors were synthesized using one-step calcination of a precursor prepared by chemical co-precipitation. The crystal structure and luminescent properties of the phosphors were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. Because the activated ions (Eu2+ ) can occupy two different types of sites (Sr1 and Sr2 ), the emission spectrum of Eu2+ excited at 350 nm contains two single bands (EM1 and EM2 ) in the wavelength range 400-550 nm, centered at 463 nm, and the emission intensity first increases and then decreases with increasing concentrations of Eu2+ ions. Co-doping of Ce3+ ions can greatly enhance the emission intensity of Eu2+ by transferring its excitation energy to Eu2+ . Because of concentration quenching, a higher substitution concentration of Ce3+ can lead to a decrease in the intensity. Meanwhile, the quantum efficiency of the phosphor is improved after doping with Ce3+ , and a blue shift phenomenon is observed in the CIE chromaticity diagram. The results indicate that Sr(1.5-x)-(1.5y) Mg0.5 SiO4 :xEu2+ ,yCe3+ can be used as a potential new blue phosphor for white light-emitting diodes.

Ca 0.68 Mg 0.2 SiO 3 :0.12Eu 3+ red-emitting phosphor was synthesized via one-step calcination process of the precursor prepared by chemical coprecipitation with different fluxes. Then X-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectrophotometry were adopted to investigate the structure and luminescent properties of Ca 0.68 Mg 0.2 SiO 3 :0.12Eu 3+ . The results indicated that adding fluxes increased the crystalline significantly while the phase composition of samples was not changed. Furthermore, the fluxes improved the intensity of emission peak and the quantum efficiency greatly. With the concentration of flux (Li 2 CO 3 or K 2 CO 3 ) increasing, the emission intensity of Ca 0.68 Mg 0.2 SiO 3 :0.12Eu 3+ firstly increased and then decreased. Meanwhile, red-shift phenomenon was observed in the emission spectra. The optimal adding fraction of Li 2 CO 3 and K 2 CO 3 was 6% and 5% respectively, and the luminous intensity of samples calcined with the optimum adding amount of Li 2 CO 3 , K 2 CO 3 is 42 and 48 times that of the samples without flux. K 2 CO 3 showed a better effect on improving the emission intensity of the phosphors than Li 2 CO 3 .

BackgroundInhibition of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) pathway improves the neurological outcome in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) animal model. In this study we analyzed the microRNAs profile targeting NOX2 and NOX4 genes and its response to NOX2/4 inhibitor VAS2870 to understand the mechanisms of this protective effect.MethodsThe intraluminal filament tMCAO model was established in hyperglycemic rats (n=106) with 5 hours ischemia followed by 19 hours reperfusion. NOX inhibitor VAS2870 was delivered intravenously before reperfusion. Infarct volume, hemorrhagic transformation, and mortality were determined at 24 hours after cerebral ischemia. MicroRNAs profile targeting NOX2 and NOX4 genes were predicted by microRNA databases and further evaluated by microRNA microarray and quantitative RT-PCR.ResultsTen microRNAs potentially targeting NOX2 and NOX4 genes (including microRNA-29a, microRNA-29c, microRNA-126a, microRNA-132, microRNA-136, microRNA-138, microRNA-139, microRNA-153, microRNA-337, and microRNA-376a) were significantly downregulated in the ischemic hemisphere in the tMCAO group compared with the sham-operated group, as shown by microRNA microarray and quantitative RT-PCR (all pConclusionsSeveral microRNAs potentially targeting NOX2 and NOX4 genes displayed altered levels in hyperglycemic rats with the tMCAO model, suggesting their regulatory roles and targeting potentials for acute ischemic stroke treatment. Targeting specific microRNAs may represent a novel intervention opportunity to improve outcome and reduce hemorrhagic transformation after mechanical reperfusion for acute ischemic stroke.

Predator switching is an indispensable factor for a general predator in food chain and spatial motions is also the basic feature in the dynamics of ecosystems. However, the effects of those behavior on population dynamic are not fully understood. To explore their roles, we introduce a predator-prey model with diffusion. What is more, we take the prey as a part of environmental carrying capacity of predator in model to describe predator switching which we also called predation dependence. Our purpose is to reveal that how this predator spatial distribution transforms and density change as the degree of dependence about predator on prey or prey’s mobility varies. Through the analysis of Hopf and Turing bifurcation, exact Turing region is obtained. Furthermore, to find which kind of pattern will arise we study the amplitude equations of the Turing pattern after carrying out the multiple scale analysis. Additionally, we alter the parameters which we are concerned in Turing domain to investigate how patterns transform. The results suggest that when the mobility of prey crosses a certain value, the prey population is inclined to extinct, its existence is being threatened. However, when the predator is dependent on this prey, then both population density of them will augment as the degree of dependence increases. This work systematically reveals the impact of spatial mobility and predator switching on population sustainability.

Brain‑type glycogen phosphorylase (PYGB) is an enzyme that metabolizes glycogen, whose function is to provide energy for an organism in an emergency state. The present study purposed to investigate the role and mechanism of PYGB silencing on the growth and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. A cell counting kit‑8 assay and flow cytometry were performed to determine the cell viability, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, respectively. Colorimetry was performed to analyze the activity of caspase‑3. Western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate the associated mRNA and protein expression levels. The results revealed that PYGB was upregulated in prostate cancer tissues and was associated with disease progression. In addition, PYGB silencing suppressed the cell viability of PC3 cells. PYGB silencing promoted apoptosis of PC3 cells via the regulation of the expression levels of cleaved‑poly (adenosine diphosphate‑ribose) polymerase, cleaved‑caspase‑3, B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2) and Bcl‑2‑associated X protein. PYGB silencing increased the ROS content in PC3 cells, and affected nuclear factor (NF)‑κB/nuclear factor‑erythroid 2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways in PC3 cells. In conclusion, PYGB silencing suppressed the growth and promoted the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by affecting the NF‑κB/Nrf2 signaling pathway. The present study provided evidence that may lead to the development of a potential therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.

The incidence and mortality rate of bladder cancer have dramatically expanded, so it's urgent to discover new biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder cancer. Recently, lncRNA has been identified as oncogene or tumor suppressor to regulate the tumorigenesis. LncRNA ZFAS1 has been confirmed as oncogene in various tumors. However, the expression, function, and underlying mechanism of ZFAS1 in bladder carcinogenesis have yet to be totally clarified. In the current study, our data demonstrated that ZFAS1 expression was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that high ZFAS1 expression was significantly associated with unfavorable progression free survival (PFS) (P = 0.0034 0.01) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0041 0.01) of bladder cancer patients. Moreover, silencing of ZFAS1 expression could markedly suppress bladder cancer cells proliferation and colony formation, arrest cell cycle, promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell migration in vitro. In addition, bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay, and pull down assay revealed that ZFAS1 straightly interacted with miR-329. Lastly, rescue experiments confirmed that miR-329 inhibitor reversed the tumor suppressing roles of ZFAS1 knockdown on bladder cancer cells. Collectively, our results illuminated that ZFAS1 could serve as an oncogene in the tumorigenesis of bladder cancer, and discovered the functional regulatory network of ZFAS1 sponging miR-329.

Consideration of radial inhomogeneity of soil, an analytical solution to horizontal vibration of pile in radial inhomogeneous soil is deduced, and the parameters influencing the horizontal vibration characteristics of the pile in radial inhomogeneous soil is analyzed carefully. The number of the radial layers of the inner soil, the thickness of the inner soil, the weakened degree and the ratio of length and radius can obviously affect complex impedance of the top of the pile. Before analyzing horizontal vibration of pile, choice a reasonable number of the radial layers of the inner soil and proper thickness of the inner soil, which is crucial. The more is the weakened degree of the inner soil, the stronger the fluctuations of horizontal vibration of pile are. The ratio of length and radius can influent horizontal vibration of pile within a certain range.

According to the International Electrotechnical Commission issued IEC61000-4-2 testing standards, through the electrostatic discharge current waveform characteristics analysis and numerical experiment method, using exponential pulse signal and the damped sinusoidal signal to construct a new the ESD current expression. Using Laplace transform, established the ESD system mathematical model. According to the mathematical model, construct double second-order circuit model of the ESD system, and the simulation is carried out. The simulation results meet the IEC61000-4-2 standard, and verify the consistency of the ESD current expression, the mathematical model and the circuit model.

A series of Sr

In order to improve the luminescent performance of silicate blue phosphors, Sr

BackgroundSevere hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after mechanical thrombectomy predicts a poor clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke. To better understand the mechanism of HT, we investigated the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX) in HT after reperfusion during acute stroke and whether NOX2/4 inhibitor VAS2870 reduces reperfusion-induced HT after mechanical recanalization.MethodsA model of reperfusion-induced HT was established in rats (n=182) with hyperglycemic challenge and 5 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 19 h reperfusion. NOX inhibitor VAS2870 was delivered intravenously 30 min before reperfusion. Infarct volume, brain water content, HT, neurological score, mortality rate, blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage, neuronal apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species were determined at 24 h after cerebral ischemia. The expressions of NOX1, NOX2, NOX4, and BBB-associated proteins were measured.ResultsNOX2 and NOX4 upregulation and severe HT were observed in hyperglycemic rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. VAS2870 suppressed oxidative stress, neuronal apoptosis, and NOX2/4 upregulation in the ischemic hemisphere. VAS2870 reduced infarct volume (17.2±5.3% vs 37.4±9.2%, pConclusionsNOX2 and NOX4 may mediate HT in rats with large vessel stroke after mechanical reperfusion. Infusion of NOX inhibitor VAS2870 before mechanical thrombectomy represents a novel adjunctive therapeutic strategy to prevent reperfusion-induced HT and improve outcome of acute stroke treatment.

Cone photoreceptor cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels play a pivotal role in cone phototransduction, which is a process essential for daylight vision, color vision, and visual acuity. Mutations in the cone channel subunits CNGA3 and CNGB3 are associated with human cone diseases, including achromatopsia, cone dystrophies, and early onset macular degeneration. Mutations in CNGB3 alone account for 50% of reported cases of achromatopsia. This work investigated the role of CNGB3 in cone light response and cone channel structural stability. As cones comprise only 2-3% of the total photoreceptor population in the wild-type mouse retina, we used Cngb3(-/-)/Nrl(-/-) mice with CNGB3 deficiency on a cone-dominant background in our study. We found that, in the absence of CNGB3, CNGA3 was able to travel to the outer segments, co-localize with cone opsin, and form tetrameric complexes. Electroretinogram analyses revealed reduced cone light response amplitude/sensitivity and slower response recovery in Cngb3(-/-)/Nrl(-/-) mice compared with Nrl(-/-) mice. Absence of CNGB3 expression altered the adaptation capacity of cones and severely compromised function in bright light. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that CNGA3 channels lacking CNGB3 were more resilient to proteolysis than CNGA3/CNGB3 channels, suggesting a hindered structural flexibility. Thus, CNGB3 regulates cone light response kinetics and the channel structural flexibility. This work advances our understanding of the biochemical and functional role of CNGB3 in cone photoreceptors.

Basis international electrician committee issued IEC61000-4-2 testing standards, proposed a new ESD current expression. Using Laplasse transform, established the ESD system mathematical model, according to the mathematical model, construction of passive four order ESD system circuit model and active four order ESD system circuit model, and simulation. The simulation results meet the IEC61000-4-2 standard, and verify the ESD current expression, the mathematical model and the circuit model of consistency.

Objective Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage may result in rapid worsening of stenosis and thrombus formation leading to stroke in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of the lesional expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 with carotid plaque and intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model. Methods Carotid atherosclerosis was induced in miniswine using a combination of partial ligation and a high cholesterol diet. The carotid artery and rete mirabile were obtained for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies at 3 months. Atherosclerotic changes were classified by Stary stage according to the American Heart Association and the features of vulnerable carotid plaque were assessed. The association of MMP-9 expression in the carotid plaque with intraplaque hemorrhage was analyzed. Results One hundred and ninety-one carotid segments from 10 carotid artery models were assessed. Among 139 segments with atherosclerotic changes, 102 had advanced plaque (Stary stage IV–VI). Atheroemboli were found in all 10 rete mirabili, confirming the presence of vulnerable ipsilateral carotid plaques. There was a trend to increased MMP-9 expression in the group with advanced plaque. Areas positive for MMP-9 were significantly greater in plaques with intraplaque hemorrhage than in those without intraplaque hemorrhage (11.84±1.22% vs 6.63±0.59%, p Conclusions Increased expression of MMP-9 is associated with intraplaque hemorrhage in a swine model of vulnerable carotid atherosclerosis.

The anti-aging asphalt modified by Supramolecular Ultra Violate(UV) Light Resistant material which is Layer double hydroxides (LDHs)was prepared in this paper, by using mechanical mixing, LDHs by various mass ratio were added into different typical asphalts. Taking the influence of the factors into account, including mechanical dispersing technologies, reaction conditions(temperature and time), content of the LDHs, the mutual consistent of LDHs among asphalt and storage stability was studied by segregation process and microstructure analysis (X-ray diffraction、Scanning Electron Microscope). Then after thin-film-oven-test (TFOT) and the artificial accelerated UV aging tests to simulate long-term UV aging, basic properties tests were conducted in this paper. The results showed that the UV anti-aging properties of the asphalt were greatly improved. Key words: LDHs; preparation manners; UV anti-aging

The similar material model experiment takes the NO.S2S9 coal face in DaPing coal mine as a prototype to research the characteristics of movement and failure of the soft overburden under fully mechanized top coal caving conditions. The abutment pressure distribution and periodic weighting, caving span are given by monitoring the stress and strain in the similar material model. The results show that rocks fracture extended from button with the advance of workface. The first caving step distance of main roof is 34m. The periodic caving step distance of main roof is 10m. The internal stress field is 10m and the peak abutment pressure point is 80m far away from the coal wall, while the disturbance range in anterior coal wall is 200m. Some cracks are closed in the later stage. The advance of around 300m is the distance that the water flowing fractured zone’s height reaches the highest value. The biggest height of water- flowing fractured zone is 140m. The soft overburden has strong plastic deformation capability. The synchronism of failure and movement of overburden is strong. The failured overburden is compacted and the cracks keep close with the advance of workface. The simulation experiment provides a reference bases for the application and promotion of thick seam mining technology.

Compare experiment analysis effect of material, slump, carbonation depth on green high performance concrete strength by rebound method, analysis under questions based on microstructure: (1)Basic reason for additives and admixtures etc. impact rebound testing; (2) Significant differences of pumping concrete and plastic concrete; (3) Concrete carbonation depth impact rebound value. Provide the method for improving testing accuracy of green high performance concrete strength testing by rebound method.

Cones function in constant light and are responsible for mediating daytime human vision. Like rods, cones use the photosensitive molecule 11-cis-retinal to detect light, and in constant illumination, a continuous supply of 11-cis-retinal is needed. A retina visual cycle is thought to provide a privileged supply of 11-cis-retinal to cones by using 11-cis-retinol generated in Müller cells. In the cycle, 11-cis-retinol is transported from Müller cells to cone inner segments, where it is oxidized to 11-cis-retinal. This oxidation step is only performed in cones, thus rendering the cycle cone-specific. Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) is a retinoid-binding protein in the subretinal space that binds 11-cis-retinol endogenously. Cones inIrbp−/−mice are retinoid-deficient under photopic conditions, and it is possible that 11-cis-retinol supplies are disrupted in the absence of IRBP. We tested the hypothesis that IRBP facilitates the delivery of 11-cis-retinol to cones by preserving the isomeric state of 11-cis-retinol in light. With electrophysiology, we show that the cone-like photoreceptors ofNrl−/−mice use the cone visual cycle similarly to wild-type cones. Then, using oxidation assays in isolatedNrl−/−Rpe65−/−retinas, we show that IRBP delivers 11-cis-retinol for oxidation in cones and improves the efficiency of the oxidation reaction. Finally, we show that IRBP protects the isomeric state of 11-cis-retinol in the presence of light. Together, these findings suggest that IRBP plays an important role in the delivery of 11-cis-retinol to cones and can facilitate cone function in the presence of light.

Cone photoreceptors mediate our daytime vision and function under bright and rapidly-changing light conditions. As their visual pigment is destroyed in the process of photoactivation, the continuous function of cones imposes the need for rapid recycling of their chromophore and regeneration of their pigment. The canonical retinoid visual cycle through the retinal pigment epithelium cells recycles chromophore and supplies it to both rods and cones. However, shortcomings of this pathway, including its slow rate and competition with rods for chromophore, have led to the suggestion that cones might use a separate mechanism for recycling of chromophore. In the past four decades biochemical studies have identified enzymatic activities consistent with recycling chromophore in the retinas of cone-dominant animals, such as chicken and ground squirrel. These studies have led to the hypothesis of a cone-specific retina visual cycle. The physiological relevance of these studies was controversial for a long time and evidence for the function of this visual cycle emerged only in very recent studies and will be the focus of this review. The retina visual cycle supplies chromophore and promotes pigment regeneration only in cones but not in rods. This pathway is independent of the pigment epithelium and instead involves the Müller cells in the retina, where chromophore is recycled and supplied selectively to cones. The rapid supply of chromophore through the retina visual cycle is critical for extending the dynamic range of cones to bright light and for their rapid dark adaptation following exposure to light. The importance of the retina visual cycle is emphasized also by its preservation through evolution as its function has now been demonstrated in species ranging from salamander to zebrafish, mouse, primate, and human.

A model simplification method for linear discrete systems is presented to determine both numerator and denominator coefficients of a simplified model by differential evolution algorithm in order to minimize the root mean squared error between the step responses of original and simplified models. The performance of the proposed method was demonstrated by two examples with different orders and the results show that the method can yield a good approximation of the original system.

Based on the theory of geomechanics and using geologic analytical methods, analyed the fault characteristics, mechanical properties, displacement mode, tectonic system, structural pattern, activity mode of stress, tectonic activity, and tectonic evolution of the area of the Xiamen submarine tunnel, the strike NWW 295°, which is the main unfavorable geological structure that affects the safety of the tunnel construction; the macro geological prediction concludes that weathered troughs and groundwater-rich zones formed by its larger-scale fault fracture zones are the main unfavorable geological bodies provides a basis for preventing the geo-logical hazards in the tunnel construction.

Summary Daytime vision is mediated by retinal cones which, unlike rods, remain functional even in bright light and dark-adapt rapidly. These cone properties are enabled by rapid regeneration of their pigment. This in turn requires rapid chromophore recycling which may not be achieved by the canonical retinal pigment epithelium visual cycle. Recent biochemical studies have suggested the presence of a second, cone-specific visual cycle, although its physiological function remains to be established. Here we report that the Müller cells within the salamander neural retina promote cone-specific pigment regeneration and dark adaptation that are independent of the pigment epithelium. Without this pathway, dark adaptation of cones is slow and incomplete. Interestingly, the rates of cone pigment regeneration by the retina and pigment epithelium visual cycles are essentially identical suggesting a possible common rate-limiting step. Finally, we also observed cone dark adaptation in the isolated mouse retina.

Reinforced concrete beams strengthened with externally bonded CFRP sheet and prestressed CFRP are analyzed in this paper. Crack developments and displacements with curvatures for different beams are analyzed. Test results show that prestressed CFRP are able to control the development of macro cracks in concrete and prestressed CFRP is an effective method to improve the toughness of concrete, reduce strengthening cost and meanwhile enhance bearing capacity of concrete beams.

In the adhesive postinstalled method, headed anchor is anchored into concrete by means of a high strength epoxy resin adhesive. To measure the concrete compressive strength, the metal anchor is “pulled” from the concrete. There occur four types of failure when the metal anchor is pulled out. This paper introduces the rationale of the adhesive postinstalled method to estimate the in-place concrete strength. The embedment depth and the diameter of the reaction ring are specified by experimental phenomenon and theoretical analysis.

The palaeoenvironment and age of coal-bearing lacustrine deposits in the Jidong Basin, Heilongjiang Province, is poorly understood. New pollen data from the Yongqing Formation and the overlying lower part of the Daqingshan Formation recovered in borehole 91-205 revealed a rich and diverse palynoflora representing approximately 70 taxa at the genus/family level. Of these taxa, Ulmus , Quercus , Carya , Liquidambar , Pinus , Tilia , Fagus , and Alnus are the main woody elements; these occur together with numerous pteridophytes, subordinate herbs, and rare algae and acritarchs. Abundant woody taxa suggest a mixed deciduous/conifer forest in the region in association with local shrubs, herbs and algal communities. Some of the pollen types, especially those of climate sensitive genera such as Ulmus , Carya , Liquidambar and Fagus , vary considerably in relative abundances, suggesting climate variability. The reflected climate shows an overall trend towards cooling or deterioration which is largely in agreement with global climate change during the Neogene. Comparisons of the pollen record with representative datasets from neighbouring areas, together with the appearance of the highly-evolved genus Artemisia , suggest that the Yongqing Formation and the lower part of the Daqingshan Formation are of Miocene age.

We present a bottom-up method of fabricating microlens arrays based on a template of close-packed microvoids created by self-assembly and subsequent evaporation of condensed water droplets on the surface of a polymer solution exposed to humid air. The pattern of microvoids is transferred to an optically transparent, thermally curable elastomer to form the microlens array. The method offers advantages over conventional top-down microfabrication approaches in terms of easy fabrication, high fill factor, and near-optimum shape of the microlenses. Attachment of the microlens array to the glass substrate of an OLED device results in a significant increase in total emission and external quantum efficiency. These experimental results are compared to the predictions of a hybrid ray optics/wave optics model that can be used to gain further understanding and to help optimize the system.

Structures, energies, and vibrational frequencies have been calculated for the two C24H20 isomers with pagodane-like or isopagodane-like structures at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory. Thus the two C24H20 isomers have the form of tri-cage molecules. Symmetries of isomer 1 and 2 are D2h and D2d, respectively. Heats of formation for the two C24H20 isomers have been estimated in this paper. Heats of formation as well as the vibrational analysis indicate that the two C24H20 isomers enjoy sufficient thermodynamic stability to allow for its experimental preparation.

Tumor suppressor p53 has been implicated in cell stress response and determines cell fate of either growth arrest or apoptosis. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) expressed under stress usually confer survival protection to the cell or interruption in the apoptotic pathways. Although Hsp90 can physically interact with p53, whether or not the hsp90 gene is influenced downstream of p53 in UV irradiation-induced apoptosis remains unclear. We have found that the level of p53 is elevated with the decline of Hsp90 in UV-irradiated cells and that malfunction of Hsp90, as inhibited by geldanamycin, enhances the p53-involved UV irradiation-induced apoptosis. In addition, the expression of the hsp90beta gene was reduced in both UV-irradiated and wild type p53-transfected cells. These results suggest a negative correlation between the trans factor p53 and a chaperone gene hsp90beta in apoptotic cells. Mutation analysis demonstrated that the p53 binding site in the first exon was indispensable for p53 regulation on the hsp90beta gene. In addition, with p53 bound at the promoter of the hsp90beta gene, mSin3a and p300 were differentially recruited in UV irradiation-treated or untreated Jurkat cells in vivo. The evidence of p53-repressed hsp90beta gene expression in UV-irradiated cells shed light on a novel pathway of Hsp90 in the survival control of the stressed cells.

This paper describes the use of solvent-free atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the synthesis of Fe2O3@polystyrene (PS) core−shell nanoparticles. In this approach, oleic acid stabilized Fe2O3 nanoparticles were ligand exchanged with 2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid (Br-MPA), the initiator for ATRP. These Fe2O3 nanoparticles become soluble in styrene and can be used as macroinitiators for solvent-free ATRP. The synthesized core−shell nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) spectroscopy, and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Well-defined Fe2O3@PS core−shell nanoparticles were obtained. The glassy transition temperature of PS was studied using DSC, and the molecular weight of PS was characterized by GPC. The unique aspects of this solvent-free ATRP in the synthesis of well-defined polymer-coated nanoparticles will be discussed.

Three new Cu(II) coordination polymers have been prepared using Cu(II) salts in combination with 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L2). The compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. In the solid state, all three new polymeric compounds 1–3 (1: monoclinic, P2/c, a=10.0956(11) A, b=6.8710(7) A, c=18.6152(19) A, β=97.270(2)°, V=1280.9(2) A3, Z=2; 2: monoclinic, P21/c, a=9.2275(5) A, b=16.0479(9) A, c=18.3403(3) A, β=91.1260(10)°, V=2715.4(3) A3, Z=4; 3: triclinic, P-1, a=6.9932(7) A, b=11.5777(12) A, c=12.5291(13) A, α=109.401(2)°, β=103.922(2)°, γ=95.316(2)°, V=912.06 A3, Z=2) feature novel one-dimensional single or double-sinusoidal chain motifs with different repeat periods, which result from the different conformations adopted by the L2 ligand.

Carboxylic acid chloride end-functionalized all-aromatic hyperbranched polyesters were prepared from the bulk polycondensation of the AB2 monomer 5-(trimethylsiloxy)isophthaloyl dichloride. The acid chloride end functionality of the hyperbranched polyester was modified in situ with methanol and yielded methyl ester ends in a one-pot process. Chain-end functionalization and esterification were quantitative according to both potentiometric titration and 1H NMR analysis. The signals of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the esterified hyperbranched polyester were fully assigned from model compounds of the focal, linear, dendritic, and terminal units. The degree of branching and molecular weight averages measured by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and multidetector size exclusion chromatography increased systematically with increasing polymerization temperatures between 80 and 200 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2855–2867, 2002

2-O-acetonyl-2-O-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, which could be used as a key intermediate for very soluble functional β-cyclodextrin derivatives, was prepared based on the proper oxidation of heptakis(6-O-dimethylthexylsilyl)-2-O-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

The solution atom-transfer radical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate in butyl acetate at 110 °C in the presence of Cu(II) bromide and 2,2′-bipyride was investigated. Polystyrene was polymerized by atom-transfer radical polymerization using benzyl bromide as initiator and MMA was then added to the system. Block copolymers were formed when MMA was added at ≤90% styrene conversion. Molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn) of the block copolymers were ≤1.5. The possibility of end-capping the polystyrene precursor as a means of improving its initiating efficiency towards MMA was also investigated but did not improve the system. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry