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Introduction Molecular imaging of the earliest events related to the development of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could facilitate therapeutic development and patient management. We previously reported that 18 F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) PET identifies ALI/ARDS prior to radiographic abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to establish the time courses of 18 F-FDG uptake, edema and neutrophil recruitment in an endotoxin-induced acute lung injury model and to examine molecular events required for 14 C-2DG uptake in activated neutrophils. Methods Lung uptake of 18 F-FDG was measured by PET in control male Sprague Dawley rats and at 2, 6 and 24 h following the intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg LPS. Lung edema (attenuation) was measured by microCT. Neutrophil influx into the lungs was measured by myeloperoxidase assay. Control and activated human donor neutrophils were compared for uptake of 14 C-2DG, transcription and content of hexokinase and GLUT isoforms and for hexokinase (HK) activity. Results Significant uptake of 18 F-FDG occurred by 2 h following LPS, and progressively increased to 24 h. Lung uptake of 18 F-FDG preceded increased CT attenuation (lung edema). Myeloperoxidase activity in the lungs, supporting neutrophil influx, paralleled 18 F-FDG uptake. Activation of isolated human neutrophils resulted in increased uptake of 14 C-2DG, expression of GLUT 3 and GLUT 4 and expression and increased HK1 activity. Conclusion Systemic endotoxin-induced ALI results in very early and progressive uptake of 18 F-FDG, parallels neutrophil accumulation and occurs earlier than lung injury edema. Activated neutrophils show increased uptake of 14 C-2DG, expression of specific GLUT3, GLUT4 and HK1 protein and HK activity. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient care 18 F-FDG pulmonary uptake is an early biomarker of neutrophil recruitment in ALI and is associated with specific molecular events that mediate 14 C-2DG uptake in activated neutrophils. 18 F-FDG PET may provide a potential mechanism for early diagnosis and therapeutic assessment of ALI/ARDS.

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that was originally found playing a role in neuronal axon guidance and embryonic angiogenesis. NRP1 can promote various aspects of tumorigenesis, such as angiogenesis, cell survival, migration, invasion and chemo-resistance, but little is known about the nanomechanica signature of NRP1 inregulating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells. Our study found that NRP1 was overexpressed in HCC and high expression of NRP1 was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients.but there are no correlation between NRP1 and liver cirrhosis. In vivo and vitro experiments knockdown of NRP1 reduced proliferation and invasion of HCC. We quantified the Young's modulus, RMS residuals of HCC cell lines and normal liver cell line L02 using Atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM data indicated that Young's modulus decreased in highly metastatic HCC cells, which is consistent with the verification results of NRP1 knockdown. Our analyses revealed that down regulation of NRP1 negatively correlated with increased Young's modulus in cells exhibiting differing degrees of invasiveness. Our molecular data showed that NRP1 activated AKT, ERK1/2, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related signals in HCC cells and promoted tumor apoptosis and invasion. As an important biophysical property of cells, the membrane stiffness of HCC cells was further quantified by AFM force measurements, which indicated that these cells became much stiffer after NRP1 knockdown. These results collectively illuminated that Neuropilin-1 alterrated namomechanica signature in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and can be a potential therapeutic agent for HCC. Funding Statement: The present study was supported by the National Natural Science Fund of China (grant nos. 31570509 and 81702326), Science and Technology Major Project of Gansu province(1602FKDA001), the Talent innovation and Entrepreneurship Program of Lanzhou City (grant no. 2016-RC57) and the science and technology project of Chenguan District (2017SHFZ0014); Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Zhongshan Hospital Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained from each patient under Institutional Reviewer Board protocols. The study protocol conforms to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki as reflected in a prior approval by the institution's human research committee.

This paper experimentally and numerically investigates the seismic behavior of two innovative types of hybrid precast concrete shear walls with diagonal-shaped or cross-shaped concealed bracings. Six 0.75-scaled braced precast concrete shear (BPCS) wall specimens and one monolithic cast-in-situ shear (MCS) wall were fabricated and employed to conduct the displacement-controlled pseudo-static tests. The length and thickness of the specimens were identical, whereas the heights of BPCS wall specimens were different owing to the different shear span ratios (SSRs) of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0. Using the MCS wall specimen as a reference, the effects of bracing type and SSR on the seismic behavior of BPCS walls were studied in terms of failure mode, hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation capacity. Finite element (FE) analyses of the wall specimens were further performed using the multi-layer shell element model on the Opensees platform. The numerically calculated hysteresis loops of the wall specimens show good agreement with the experimental data, which proves that the employed FE model is adequately accurate in the seismic behavior assessment of BPCS walls. The experimental and numerical results indicate that the developed BPCS walls not only possess similar bearing capacity but also outperform the MCS wall in saving concrete usage and enhancing energy dissipation capacity. The diagonal and cross BPCS walls exhibit diametrically opposite characteristics as SSR increases. The diagonal BPCS wall with low SSR of 1.0 performs better in drift capacity, while the cross BPCS walls are more suitable for earthquake resistance at higher SSRs of 1.5 and 2.0.

A backward Lagrangian stochastic (BLS) model for estimating ammonia emission in the field, utilizing data from ammonia concentration measurements by the open-path tunable diode laser method, was assessed by comparing it with the benchmark provided by simultaneous monitoring by the micrometeorological mass balance (MMB) technique. The results indicated that after rejecting data with u* ≤ 0.15 m s−1 or |L| < 10 m, the ammonia emissions derived by the BLS model were very similar to those by MMB (regression gradient = 0.966, R2 = 0.959). The BLS model was also compared with the static chamber (SC) method of monitoring changes in gas concentration (enrichment/depletion) over time; it was found that these methods yielded significantly different results for both diurnal ammonia fluctuations and total ammonia loss. The results also showed that the mean time had little effect on the accuracy of the BLS method, but a short averaging time was preferable when investigating diurnal change of ammonia emissions.

Agronomical traits and SSR markers were used to analyze genetic diversity of 142 parent lines of sweet sorghum. Parent lines were clustered into 5 groups based on agronomical traits and each group is characterized by morphological traits and main origins. 41 selected SSR markers were used to analyze the parent lines. The genetic distance (GD) of the parent lines ranged from 0.558 to 0.858, averaging 0.640. The average specific index of parent lines was 189.0, which ranged from 109.1 to 454.7. According to SSR markers, parent lines were clustered into 7 groups but the agronomical traits of which were not significantly different between each group, and clusters based on SSR markers did not coincide with the analysis results based on agronomical traits. Cluster analysis was failed to distinctly group restorer lines and maintainer lines by both agronomical traits and SSR markers. Parent lines should be selected both with different agronomical traits and distant genetic distance for higher heterosis. Groups clustered by agronomical traits and molecular markers should be taken into account simultaneously in hybrid breeding. Information of this study can be used to select parent lines for development of segregating populations and hybrid breeding of sweet sorghum.

TiNi and Ti-based shape memory alloys were processed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at 673-773 K along B c route to obtain ultrafine grains for increasing the strength of parent phase and improving the functional properties. The effects of both thermodynamically stable and metastable second phases on the mechanical properties and martensitic transformations of these alloys were investigated. It is found that thermodynamically stable Ti 2 Ni phase has no effect on martensitic transformation and superelasticity of Ti-rich TiNi alloy, thermodynamically stable α phase is harmful for ductility of Ti–Mo–Nb–V–Al alloy, but metastable Ti 3 Ni 4 phase is effective for R phase transformation, martensitic transformation and superelasticity of Ni-rich TiNi alloy. The mechanisms of the second phases on the martensitic transformations and mechanical properties were discussed.

A series of 2,6-dinitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxysalicylaldoxime derivatives (1h–20h) have been designed and synthesized, and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential antiproliferation and tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among all the compounds, 2h showed the most potent activity in vitro, which inhibited the growth of MCF-7, Hep-G2 and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 0.70 ± 0.05, 0.68 ± 0.02 and 0.86 ± 0.05 μM, respectively. Compound 2h also exhibited significant tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50 = 3.06 ± 0.05 μM). The result of flow cytometry (FCM) demonstrated that compound 2h induced cell apoptosis. Docking simulation was performed to insert compound 2h into the crystal structure of tubulin at colchicine binding site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound 2h with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth may be a potential anticancer agent.

A series of pyrazolyl-thiazolinone derivatives (E1-E36) have been designed and synthesized and their biological activities were also evaluated as potential EGFR and HER-2 kinase inhibitors. Thirty-four of the 36 compounds were reported for the first time. Among them, compound 2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)-3-p-tolyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)thiazol-4(5H)-one (E28) displayed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC(50)=0.24μM for EGFR and IC(50)=1.07μM for HER-2). Antiproliferative assay results indicated that compound E28 owned high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7, B16-F10 and HCT-116 in vitro, with IC(50) value of 0.30, 0.54, and 0.70μM, respectively. Docking simulation was further performed to position compound E28 into the EGFR active site to determine the probable binding model. Based on the preliminary results, compound E28 with potent inhibitory activity in tumor growth would be a potential anticancer agent.

Against the situation that serious error exists when the current FFT algorithm is used to calculate AC phasor, we establish the original AC signal model in which frequency swing, harmonic, noise, and etc are included and consider it as a random process. Researching the change law of FFT algorithm result's incremental phase under the condition of initial phase and time variation, and following the estimate frequency of its mean value, we subsequently obtain the real-time phasor of AC through FFT in precise frequency. Simulation results show that measurement precision of this algorithm has been improved significantly compared with DFT.

In the traditional three-dimensional CT reconstruction algorithms, high-frequency characteristics are difficult to obtain, and the noise is difficult to filter. In addition to, the reconstruction purpose is of diversification, and the three-dimensional filter to extract feature is more difficult to design and implement. Based on the characteristics of three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm and the RADON transform, a 3D CT reconstruction method to directly reconstruct multi-characteristic based on EMD was proposed and derived from the theoretical possibility and feasibility. EMD algorithm could firstly be used to decompose projection image before the reconstruction, and we could combine different IMF components to achieve a variety of feature, then use three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm to directly reconstruct the characteristics. The experimental results showed that the algorithm can better highlight a variety of useful information, simplify the filter design, and is of a certain practicability.

Patterned, nanostructured, silicate-based phosphors with the capacity to convert light from near-UV to red wavelengths were synthesized via metabolic insertion of europium in live Navicula. Structural and photoluminescent properties of the sample were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Red emission (614 nm, 5D0–7F2) was obtained at 394 nm due to the 7F0–5L6 transition of Eu3+. The novel red phosphors are a suitable candidate for white LED lighting applications because of their particle size, large surface area, and broadened excitation band in the near-UV range.

Exserohilum monoceras (Drechsler) Leonard and Suggs is a potential biocontrol agent for the control of Echinochloa species. This fungus causes leaf blight in Echinochloa species, but does not damage rice. Phytotoxicity of the fungal fermented broth was evaluated through the bioassay and the active ingredients were preliminarily isolated by using silica gel column chromatography (CC) in this study. The most active fraction 5-III was obtained and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results show that 5-III consisted of many compounds, in which 36 compounds accounted for 94.24% of total peak area. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) displayed the highest activity accounted for 9.24% of the total peak area, suggesting that DBP may be one of the main active compounds produced by E. monoceras.

DL111-IT, a non-hormonal contragestional agent, revealed synergistic effects in combination with mifepristone (RU486) in some species. The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of DL111-IT when used alone or plus RU486 on uterine polyamines biosynthesis, histologic alteration of decidual cells, and antifertility activity in rats. The levels of polyamines in pregnant rat uterus were determined by formed benzoyl chloride derivatives of polyamines for RP-HPLC. The results showed that all the treated groups including DL111-IT 2.8 mg. kg(-1). d(-1), RU486 3.0 mg. kg(-1). d(-1), and DL111-IT 0.56 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) plus RU486 0.6 mg. kg(-1). d(-1) caused 100% early pregnancy arrest. Uterine putrescine, spermidine, and spermine levels in comparison with vehicle control were declined significantly from d7 of gestation (1 day after treatment) to d9 or d14 (3 days or 8 days after treatment) by Duncan's multiple range test, and accompanied by histologic alterations, edema, degeneration and dissolution of decidual cells with nuclei indefinite in appearance on d8 of gestation (2 days after treatment). The combined administration at lower doses caused the most injury. The data verified that the decrease in uterine polyamine levels and subsequent decidual cells injuries were the critical role of early pregnancy arrest induced by DL111-IT or RU486. The two compounds used in combination with lower dosages revealed greatly synergistic effects.

The effects of (-)-huperzine A, a promising therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease, on learning behavior and on alterations of the cholinergic system, the oxygen free radicals and energy metabolites induced by permanent bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries were investigated in rats. Daily oral administration of huperzine A produced a significant improvement of the deficit in the learning of the water maze task, beginning 28 days after ischemia, correlating to about 33-40% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in cortex and hippocampus. Huperzine A significantly restored the decrease in choline acetyltransferase activity in hippocampus and significantly reduced the increases in superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxide, lactate and glucose to their normal levels. The present findings demonstrate that the improvement by huperzine A of the cognitive dysfunction in the late phase in chronically hypoperfused rats is due to its effects, not only on the cholinergic system, but also on the oxygen free radical system and energy metabolism. Our results strongly suggest that huperzine A has therapeutic potential for the treatment of dementia caused by cholinergic dysfunction and/or decrease of cerebral blood flow.

Deoxycytidine kinase is a key anabolic enzyme for the activation of ara-C and other antitumor drugs, as well as normal purine and pyrimidine deoxynucleotides. Previously, two forms of the kinase have been identified; deoxycytidine kinase I (70 kDa) and deoxycytidine kinase II (70 kDa). Deoxycytidine kinase I utilized dCyd and ara-C as substrates, while deoxycytidine kinase II used dCyd and dThd as substrates. Deoxycytidine kinase kinase II had very low activity on ara-C as a substrate. We report a procedure for the purification of a novel deoxycytidine kinase (52 kDa) from isolated human peripheral blood leukemia cell mitochondria. This enzyme has activity similar to deoxycytidine kinase II. The enzyme was extracted from the mitochondria with digitonin (1 mg/8 mg protein) and 0.3 M NaCl, and the extract was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and thymidine-Sepharose affinity chromatography. This procedure produced a near homogeneous enzyme preparation with a yield of 70%. The mitochondrial deoxycytidine kinase was localized to the outer mitochondrial membrane. The enzyme phosphorylated dCyd (Km = 17 microM), however, ara-C was not a good substrate for the mitochondrial deoxycytidine kinase. ATP was the best phosphate donor, whereas dCTP and dTTP were potent inhibitors of mitochondrial deoxycytidine kinase. In contrast, phosphorylation of ara-C by deoxycytidine kinase I utilized GTP, dGTP, or ATP as a phosphate donor.

X-ray diffraction was used as a probe to study the twinning of KNaSO 4 and K 3 Na(SO 4 ) 2 crystals. The results showed that twinning phenomena are frequently found in these compounds and the twinning is of the merohedral type.

Irob) + r1(z) g(z)), where each ri is a rational function with poles off X. In the cast in which g(z) = Z, the closures of 22(X, 2) in various norms were first considered by O’Farrell [4]. Later, several authors (e.g., Carmona, Trent, Verdera, and Wang) explored the subject. A question which arose from these investigations concerned the characterization of R(X, g), the uniform closure of 92(X, g) in C(X). When X has empty interior $ this was settled in [6] (also see [l]) by showing that R(X, g) = C(X) if and only if R(Z) = C(Z), where g is a smooth function and Z is the subset of X on which 8g vanishes. Here 8 = $(8/8x + id/L+) is the usual Cauchy-Riemann operator in the complex plane. The existence of interior points, however, makes the problem more -difficult. Note that a functionfsatisties a(Q,Y/ag) = 0 in an open set U if and only if f = h + gk with h and k holomorphic. Therefore it is natural to ask the following question: For an arbitrary compact set X, is

The complex [Cu6(CN)6(C4N3H13)] with short metal–metal separations has been hydrothermally synthesised and structurally characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography.

The metal–ligand complex [Co2(C2O4)2(C4H6N2)4]·H2O (C4H6N2 = 4-methylimidazo) has been hydrothermally synthesised and structurally characterised.