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This work investigates the wave dispersion characteristics in viscoelastic lipid nanotubes conveying protein solution. The protein solution is assumed to be viscous, incompressible, and irrotational. The theoretical formulation is within the framework of the Rayleigh beam theory and the nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT). The analytical wave dispersion relations of protein-conveying lipid nanotubes are obtained. Results show that the nonlocal parameter, the material length-scale parameter, the fluid mass density, and the damping coefficient have important effect on wave dispersion characteristics of viscoelastic lipid nanotubes conveying protein solution. These findings are helpful to understand the wave dispersion characteristics of protein-conveying lipid nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) can dramatically improve type 2 diabetes independent of weight loss and food restriction. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that brain insulin signaling plays an important role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. This study explores whether the antidiabetic effect of DJB is involved in brain insulin signaling activation and brain glucose utilization. Methods: A diabetic rat model was established by high-fat and high-glucose diet. DJB or sham surgery was performed in diabetic rats. 18F-FDG PET scanning was used to detect glucose uptake in different organs, particularly in the brain. The levels of glucose transporters, glucose utilization-related proteins (HK1 and PFK2), insulin, and insulin signaling pathway-related proteins (InsR, IRS1/2, PI3K, and p-Akt) in the brain tissues were evaluated and analyzed. Results: The results showed that DJB significantly improved basal glycemic parameters and reversed the decreasing glucose uptake in the brains of type 2 diabetic rats. DJB significantly increased not only the expression levels of brain insulin, IRS1/2, PI3K, and p-Akt but also the levels of the glucose utilization enzymes HK1 and PFK2 in the brain. Conclusion: These results indicate that enhanced brain insulin signaling transduction and brain glucose utilization play important roles in the antidiabetic effect of DJB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about the clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognosis of Talaromyces marneffei infection in children is limited. A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric patients with disseminated T. marneffei infection in a clinical setting. Extracted data included demographic information (age and sex), clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment, and prognosis. Eleven HIV-negative children were enrolled. The male/female ratio was 8:3. The median age of onset was 17.5 months (3.5–84 months). The mortality rate in these children was 36.36% (4/11). Seven children had underlying diseases. All of the children had multiple immunoglobulin abnormalities and immune cell decline. Ten children received voriconazole treatment, and most of the children (7/10) had a complete response to therapy at primary and long-term follow-up assessment; only three children died of talaromycosis. One patient recovered from talaromycosis but died of leukemia. The child who received itraconazole treatment also showed clinical improvement. No adverse events associated with antifungal therapies were recorded during and after the treatment. Talaromycosis is an indicator disease for undiagnosed severe immunodeficiencies in children. Awareness of mycoses in children by pediatricians may prompt diagnosis and timely treatment. Voriconazole is an effective, well-tolerated therapeutic option for disseminated T. marneffei infection in non-HIV-infected children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, free vibration of a metal foam core sandwich (MFCS) beam embedded in Winkler–Pasternak elastic foundation is studied using the Chebyshev collocation method (CCM). This method can achieve high precision within the range allowed by the effective number of bits of computers. Three foam distribution types along the thickness direction are considered for the core. The Timoshenko beam theory is adopted and Hamilton's principle is utilized to derive the boundary conditions and governing equations of the model. The numerical results show that natural frequencies of the sandwich beam initially increase and then decrease with the rise in thickness of metal foam core. By arranging the foam distribution in the core, natural frequencies of the sandwich beam can be significantly changed. Moreover, natural frequencies of the uniform foam distribution beam are insensitive to the foam coefficient. For the beam with non-uniform foam distribution, however, the natural frequencies increase or decrease with the foam coefficient, depending closely on the foam type. In addition, the present method is validated by comparing with the published ones for special cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the molecular mechanism underlying the antineoplastic activity of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. extracts (COE). Methods: The human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) knockdown expressed (HepG2/mTOR) were constructed using molecular biological technology. In vitro, the HepG2/mTOR− cells were treated with COE at various concentrations (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 µ g/mL). Cell viability was determined using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. According to the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (140 mg/L), the concentrations of COE in the subsequent experiment was set to alleviate cytotoxicity. The HepG2/mTOR− cells were divided into 5 groups: negative control (untreated), COE treatment groups (40, 80, 120 mg/L COE) and positive control group (cisplatin, DDP, 2 mg/L), respectively. Wild-type HepG2 cells were used as a blank control. The effects of COE on the cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), respectively. The protein expression levels of mTOR signal pathways were determined by Western blotting. In vivo, HepG2/mTOR− cells (2 × 106 cell/mice) were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of nude mice. Thirty-six female nude mice were randomly assigned to 6 groups according to body weight (6 mice per group) as follows: solvent vehicle control, Banmao Capsule treated group (BM, 195 mg/kg), Tegafur, Gimeracil and Oteracil Potassium Capsules (10 mg/kg) treated group, and different dosages of COE (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) groups. Tumor growth was monitored and immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in tumor tissues. Results: COE inhibited the proliferation significantly in a concentration-dependent manner in HepG2/mTOR− cells (P<0.01). COE significantly induced the apoptosis of HepG2/mTOR− cells (P<0.01), and the apoptotic bodies can be observed under TEM. COE significantly inhibits the proteins expression of mTOR-related signal pathways. In vivo, COE significantly inhibited tumor growth in nude mice (P<0.01). Moreover, the results showed that COE down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and up-regulated the levels of Bax and caspase-3 protein (P<0.01). Conclusion: COE was a potential chemotherapeutic drug in HCC treatments via targeting mTOR signal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, vibration and stability of fluid-conveying lipid nanotubes are investigated. The first-order shear deformation theory and the nonlocal strain gradient theory are adopted in the model. By using Hamilton's principle, the governing equations of the present system are obtained. In order to analyze the eigenvalue problem, the modal expansion method is used. Results show that the nonlocal parameter, the length-to-radius ratio, the flow velocity, the material length scale parameter and the solution density have important effect on the free vibration of fluid-conveying lipid nanotubes. Additionally, the current method is validated by comparing with the literature for special cases. The obtained results can be used for the biological application and design of fluid-conveying lipid nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alloying additions of 0 at%–1.1 at% Fe were added into Ti43Al5Nb0.1B alloys for increasing the room-temperature strength and ductility, and the microstructure and mechanical properties were systematically studied. The results show that the lattice tetragonality (c/a) of γ phase and the average width of columnar grains of alloys decrease with Fe content increasing. Fe addition brings about the formation of Fe-rich B2 phase both in the dendrites and in interdendritic regions, and its content increases with Fe contents increasing. Furthermore, Fe addition aggravates the Al segregations in the interdendritic regions. The alloy with 0.7 at% Fe exhibits higher combined mechanical properties with the ultimate compression strength and fracture strain of 1958.4 MPa and 29.8%, respectively. The grain refinement strengthening and solid-solution strengthening of Fe are responsible for the improvement in the strength and the strain. However, excessive Fe addition results in the decrease in the strength and strain, which is attributed to the severe Al segregations in the interdendritic regions that cause the premature fracture during compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Pliocene is a pre-Quaternary warming period compared to the preindustrial period. Here, based on the updated PRISM4 (Pliocene Research, Interpretation and Synoptic Mapping version 4) boundary conditions from the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project phase 2 (PlioMIP2), seven experiments are conducted to simulate the global monsoon in the late Pliocene interglacial period and further investigate the impacts from changes in the individual boundary conditions by using the Community Earth System Model (CESM 1.0.4). The simulated late Pliocene interglacial climate is generally warmer and wetter than the preindustrial period climate, with an expanded monsoon domain, particularly in North Africa, Asia and Australia. The differences in topography, vegetation and lakes outside of Greenland and Antarctica account for the greatest contribution to monsoon changes. Moreover, orbital parameter variations further significantly affect monsoon domains and lead to significant fluctuations in monsoon precipitation and winds on the orbital scale, and the changed magnitude is even larger than that between the late Pliocene and preindustrial period when orbital forcing is not considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celastrus orbiculatus is a medicinal plant belonging to the Celastraceae family. In this survey on the secondary metabolites of plants for obtaining antitumor substances, the chemical constituents of the stems of C. orbiculatus were investigated. Nortriptonoterpene (1), a new C19-norabietane diterpenoid, together with six other known abietane-type diterpenoids (2–7) and five known kaurane-type diterpenoids (8–12) were isolated and identified from the EtOAc extract of C. orbiculatus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI–MS, ECD, and NMR experiments, and by comparison with literature data. Compound 1 is a new C19-norabietane diterpenoid with 19 carbons. All compounds except for 10 and 11 were isolated from C. orbiculatus for the first time. The NMR data of 9 were reported for the first time. Compounds 1, 7 and 11 showed cytotoxicities against SGC-7901 with IC50 values of 63.2, 80.9 and 56.7 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two medium-entropy alloys, NbZrTi and NbHfZrTi, were prepared by arc melting. Both NbZrTi and NbHfZrTi alloys are composed of simple body-centered cubic (bcc) solid solution phase and exhibit dendritic structure. After being homogenized, both NbZrTi and NbHfZrTi alloys are still composed of the single bcc solid solution phase, but the microstructure of the two alloys transforms from the dendritic structure into the polycrystalline structure. Two alloys display significantly work-hardening effect during compression at room temperature and show relatively good deformation plasticity during compressive deformation at room temperature. For NbZrTi and NbHfZrTi alloys, the dynamic recrystallized grains form along the boundary during compression at the temperatures of 1073 and 1273 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, free vibrations of cylindrical nanoshells made of nanoporous metal foam are investigated for the first time. Based on the modified couple stress theory and Love's thin shell theory, the governing equations of the present system are derived by using Hamilton's principle. Two types of nanoporosity distribution are considered in the construction of the nanoporous shells. Then, the Navier method and Galerkin method are utilized to solve natural frequencies of the nanoporous shells under different boundary conditions. Afterwards, a detailed parametric study is conducted. Results show that the nanoporosity type, the material length scale parameter, the porosity coefficient, the length-to-radius ratio, and the radius-to-thickness ratio play important role on the free vibrations of nanoporous shells. To check the validity of the present analysis, the results are compared with those in previous studies for the special cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the free vibration of metal foam circular cylindrical shells under various boundary conditions. The elasticity modulus and mass density of the shells vary gradually and continually in the thickness direction. Two types of porosity distribution are taken into account including symmetrical and unsymmetrical distributions. Love's shell theory is employed to formulate the governing equations and then the Rayleigh–Ritz method is utilized to solve natural frequencies of the system. The results show that the porosity coefficient has important effect on the natural frequencies of metal foam shells. Its effect also relates to the boundary conditions of the shells. Moreover, different porosity distributions make the metal foam shells possess different vibration characteristics, which is quite obvious at large porosity coefficient. As the circumferential wave number increases, the natural frequencies of the metal foam shells tend to the same under various boundary conditions. Additionally, the present results are verified by the comparison with the published ones in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interpenetrating double network hydrogel based on cellulose backbone and poly-dopamine dendritic structure was successfully prepared with the advantages of controlled hydrophobic drug loading, pH-responsive ability, and long-term bacteriostatic property. 13C-NMR was used to process the structural characterization and explain the mechanism of hydrogel system's construction. Hydrophobic drug of ciprofloxacin with carbonyl group can evenly carry in the hydrogel system, and the highest loaded ratio of ciprofloxacin was reach to 80.56%. Besides, the swelling property and the controlled drug loading ability of our prepared hydrogel were carefully studied, which showed a close relation with the hydrogel design. Moreover, the in vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel had an obvious pH-responsive release property of ciprofloxacin, and the result of bacteriostatic experiment also showed a long-term bacteriostatic effect on Escherichia coli, which showed potential application on biological and medical fields, including wound treatment. Graphical abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Celastrus Orbiculatus extracts (COE) on metastasis in hypoxia-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: The effect of COE (160, 200 and 240 µ g/mL) on cell viability, scratch-wound, invasion and migration were studied by 3-4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), scratch-wound and transwell assays, respectively. CoCl2 was used to establish a hypoxia model in vitro. Effects of COE on the expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin and N-cadherin were investigated with Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis, respectively. Results: COE inhibited proliferation and metastasis of hypoxia-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Furthermore, the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers were also remarkably suppressed in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). In addition, the upstream signaling pathways, including the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (Hif-1 α) and Twist1 were suppressed by COE. Additionally, the Hif-1 α inhibitor 3-5′-hydroxymethyl-2′-furyl)-1-benzylindazole (YC-1), potently suppressed cell invasion and migration as well as expression of EMT in hypoxia-induced HepG2 cells. Similarly, the combined treatment with COE and YC-1 showed a synergistic effect (P<0.01) compared with the treatment with COE or YC-1 alone in hypoxia-induced HepG2 cells. Conclusions: COE significantly inhibited the tumor metastasis and EMT by suppressing Hif-1 α/Twist1 signaling pathway in hypoxia-induced HepG2 cell. Thus, COE might have potential effect to inhibit the progression of HepG2 in the context of tumor hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei can cause fatal disseminated infection in immunocompromised hosts. However, therapeutic strategies for the mycosis are limited. Reports of the other fungi suggest that berberine, a component of traditional herb, inhibitors interact with antifungal agents to improve the treatment outcomes. In the study, we evaluated the in vitro efficacy of berberine in combination with conventional antifungal agents against the pathogenic yeast form of T. marneffei. We demonstrate the synergistic effect of combination of berberine with fluconazole (52.38%), itraconazole (66.67%), voriconazole (71.43%), amphotericin B (71.43%) or caspofungin (52.38%) of T. marneffei strains, respectively. Time–kill curves confirmed the synergistic interaction, and no antagonistic was observed in all of the combinations. In conclusion, berberine could enhance the efficacy of conventional antifungal agents against the yeast form of T. marneffei in vitro. The results indicated berberine might have a potential role in combination therapy for talaromycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to examine the mediating roles of parent-child communication and parental warmth in the relationship between economic pressure and loneliness in a sample of migrant children in China. A total of 437 participants were selected from two public schools for migrant children in Zhejiang Province, China. All participants were asked to complete four measures, including the Perceived Economic Strain Scale, the Parent-Child Communication Questionnaire, the Parental Warmth Scale, and the Children's Loneliness Scale. The results showed that economic pressure was positively and directly related to loneliness. Furthermore, parent-child communication and parental warmth partially mediated the relationship between economic pressure and loneliness in migrant children. Thus, parent-child communication and parental warmth play important roles in reducing the negative effect of economic pressure on loneliness in migrant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress plays a crucial role in several psychiatric disorders, including anxiety. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we used acute stress (AS) and chronic restraint stress (CRS) models to develop anxiety-like behavior and investigate the role of miR-150 in the hippocampi of mice. Corticosterone levels as well as glutamate receptors in the hippocampus were evaluated. We found that anxiety-like behavior was induced after either AS or CRS, as determined by the open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze test (EPM). Increased corticosterone levels were observed in the blood of AS and CRS groups, while the expression of miR-150 mRNA in the hippocampus was significantly decreased. The expressions of GluN2A, GluR1, GluR2, and V-Glut2 in the hippocampus were decreased after either AS or CRS. Hippocampal GAD67 expression was increased by AS but not CRS, and GluN2B expression was decreased by CRS but not AS. Adult miR-150 knockout mice showed anxiety-like behavior, as assessed by the OFT and EPM. The expressions of GluN2A, GluN2B, GluR1, and GluR2 were also downregulated, but the expression of V-Glut2 was upregulated in the hippocampi of miR-150 knockout mice compared with wild-type mice. Interestingly, we found that the miR-150 knockout mice showed decreased dendrite lengths, dendrite branchings, and numbers of dendrite spines in the hippocampus compared with wild-type mice. These results suggest that miR-150 may influence the synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus and play a significant role in stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in adult mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates vibration characteristics of longitudinally moving sigmoid functionally graded material (S-FGM) plates containing porosities. Two types of porosity distribution, i.e., the even and uneven distributions, are taken into account. In accordance with the sigmoid distribution rule, the material properties of porous S-FGM plates vary smoothly along the plate thickness direction. The nonlinear geometrical relations are adopted by using the von Kármán non-linear plate theory. Based on the d’Alembert’s principle, the nonlinear governing equation of the system is derived. Then, the governing equation is discretized to a set of ordinary differential equations via the Galerkin method. These discretized equations are subsequently solved by using the method of harmonic balance. Analytical solutions are verified with the aid of the adaptive step-size fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. By using the perturbation technique, the stability of the steady-state response is highlighted. Finally, both natural frequencies and nonlinear forced responses of moving porous S-FGM plates are examined. Results demonstrate that the moving porous S-FGM plates exhibit hardening spring characteristics in the nonlinear frequency response. Moreover, it is shown that the type of porosity distribution, moving speed, porosity volume fraction, constituent volume fraction and in-plane pretension all have significant influence on the nonlinear forced responses of moving porous S-FGM plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the alteration of QT dispersion (QTd) and QTc dispersion (QTcd) in hemodialysis patients after oral administration of Zhigancao Decoction (炙甘草汤, Roasted Licorice Decoction, RLD).Methods: To investigate the alteration of QTd and QTcd in 68 routine hemodialysis patients before and after hemodialysis with 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) after orally administrated RLD for 4 weeks. Blood was also taken for measurement of plasma electrolytes, liver function, renal function, hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (HCT).Results: After hemodialysis, QTd and QTcd were prolonged evidently; the difference was significant between before and after hemodialysis (P<0.05). After RLD orally administrated for 4 weeks, QTd and QTcd only slightly increased after dialysis compared with pre-dialysis (P>0.05). The QTd and QTcd of the post-therapy-post-dialysis decreased significantly compared with the pre-therapy-post-dialysis (P<0.05). There were no other significant changes in other variables (post-therapy-pre-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-pre-dialysis, or post-therapy-post-dialysis vs. pre-therapy-post-dialysis;P>0.05). After therapy, the number of patients with supraventricular arrhythmia, occasional ventricular premature beat and multiple ventricular premature beat were decreased from 15 to 4, 10 to 2 and 7 to 1, respectively.Conclusion: RLD therapy not only lowered the increased QTd and QTcd after hemodialysis, but also displayed a safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has demonstrated that there are major advantages and synergistic effects on flame retardancy in using a combination of borates with magnesium hydroxide. In this paper, a novel 2MgO·B2O3·1.5H2O-Mg(OH)2 nanocomposite has been controllably prepared by in situ hydrothermal reaction, and the formation mechanism of the nanocomposite was proposed. As a comparison, 2MgO·B2O3·1.5H2O nanobelt and Mg(OH)2 nanosheet were also prepared. All samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. Furthermore, their flame-retardant properties were investigated by thermal analysis method and oxygen index method, demonstrating that the flame retardancy of nanocomposite is significantly higher than that of single 2MgO·B2O3·1.5H2O or Mg(OH)2. The possible flame retarding mechanism has been proposed. It can be predicted that this nanocomposite could serve as a potential flame retardant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface barriers have been used as one of the engineering measures to prevent saltwater intrusion in the coastal aquifers in China. However, the effectiveness of those barriers has not been studied thoroughly. In this research, comparative studies using sandbox test as a physical model and the FEFLOW-based groundwater numerical model were conducted for better understanding of the dynamic processes of saltwater intrusion with and without subsurface barriers. Both laboratory tests and numerical simulation without subsurface barriers showed that the saltwater front intruded to 18, 55 and 63 in the aquifer in 10, 20 and 40 min, respectively. The impact of the different permeability of the subsurface barriers to the migration distance and diffusion of saltwater front was also tested in the laboratory and simulated by using the two-dimensional numerical model. Results showed the saltwater front could still pass through the subsurface barrier and continued moving forward when the permeability K of the subsurface barriers was 9.9 × 10−7 m/s. When the K of the subsurface barriers was 1.3 × 10−7 m/s, the salt-front passed through the subsurface barrier in 40 min, and the migration rate of the salt-fresh water interface did not change in 70 min. When the K was 3.7 × 10−8 m/s, the saltwater front could not go through the subsurface barriers. These research results indicated that the subsurface barriers with low permeability (K = 3.7 × 10−8 m/s) could prevent the saltwater intrusion effectively. The results of this case study provide important practical significance for the prevention of saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that obesity is associated with chronic pain. However, whether obesity is associated with acute inflammatory pain is unknown. Using a well-established obese mouse model induced by a high-fat diet, we found that: (1) the acute thermal pain sensory threshold did not change in obese mice; (2) the model obese mice had fewer nociceptive responses in formalin-induced inflammatory pain tests; restoring the obese mice to a chow diet for three weeks partly recovered their pain sensation; (3) leptin injection induced significant phosphorylation of STAT3 in control mice but not in obese mice, indicating the dysmodulation of topical leptin-leptin receptor signaling in these mice; and (4) leptin-leptin receptor signaling-deficient mice (ob/ob and db/db) or leptin-leptin receptor pathway blockade with a leptin receptor antagonist and the JAK2 inhibitor AG 490 in wild-type mice reduced their nociceptive responses in formalin tests. These results indicate that leptin plays a role in nociception induced by acute inflammation and that interference in the leptin-leptin receptor pathway could be a peripheral target against acute inflammatory pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new isocoumarins, (3R)-methyl-8-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxydihydroisocoumarin (1) and (3R)-methyl-7,8-dimethoxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)dihydroisocoumarin (2), together with three known isocoumarins (3-5), were isolated from the fermentation products of an endophytic fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activities of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2 showed anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates of 21.8 and 18.6% at the concentration of 20 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the behaviors of tropical cyclones (TCs), it is very important to explore how TCs respond to anthropogenic greenhouse gases and natural forcings. Volcanic eruptions are a major natural forcing mechanism because they inject sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere, which modulate the global climate by absorbing and scattering solar radiation. The number of Atlantic hurricanes is thought to be reduced following strong tropical eruptions, but whether the response of TCs varies with the locations of the volcanoes and the different ocean basins remains unknown. Here, we use the Community Earth System Model-Last Millennium Ensemble to investigate the response of the large-scale environmental factors that spawn TCs to strong volcanic eruptions at different latitudes. A composite analysis indicates that tropical and northern hemisphere volcanic eruptions lead to significantly unfavorable conditions for TC genesis over the whole Pacific basin and the North Atlantic during the 3 years post-eruption, relative to the preceding 3 years. Southern hemisphere volcanic eruptions result in obviously unfavorable conditions for TC formation over the southwestern Pacific, but more favorable conditions over the North Atlantic. The mean response over the Indian Ocean is generally muted and insignificant. It should be noted that volcanic eruptions impact on environmental conditions through both the direct effect (i.e. on radiative forcing) and the indirect effect (i.e. on El Niño-Southern Oscillation), which is not differentiated in this study. In addition, the spread of the TC genesis response is considerably large for each category of eruptions over each ocean basin, which is also seen in the observational/proxy-based records. This large spread is attributed to the differences in stratospheric aerosol distributions, initial states and eruption intensities, and makes the short-term forecast of TC activity following the next large eruption challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been used widely, acid-related diseases are still associated with a huge burden on the health care system. Recently, the efficacy and safety of a new acid suppressant named vonoprazan in the treatment of acid-related diseases have been evaluated by a series of studies. As a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan may provide reversible acid suppression by preventing K+ from binding to gastric H+/K+-ATPase. It has been clinically used for the short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Japan. The healing rate of GERD and gastric ulcers by vonoprazan is more than 95 and 90%, respectively; also, it is effective in curing PPI-resistant GERD. It increases H. pylori eradication rate to more than 88% as part of both first-line and second-line therapy. It is also effective in the eradication of clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori strains. All of these short-term studies show vonoprazan is safe and well-tolerated. As a safe and effective acid inhibitor, vonoprazan might be a novel alternative in the treatment of acid-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title complex, {[Co4(DPT)4(bdc)4] · DPT · DMF · H2O}n (1) was prepared under hydrothermal condition (dimethylformamide and water) based on mixed ligands, namely, 2,5-dipyridinethiophene (DPT) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (H2bdc). DPT and bdc2- ligands link Co cations to give a 2D layer in the title complex. Each layer is stacked in parallel manners. The title compound has channels running in parallel to the a axis with the dimensions of 3.6 × 6.8 Å2, which entraps a guest DPT ligand molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new alkaloids, 3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,9-dimethyl-7H-benzo[de]quinolin-7-one ( 1) and 3-(hydroxymethyl)-8-methoxy-6,9-dimethyl-7H-benzo[de]quinolin-7-one ( 2), together with two known alkaloids ( 3 and 4) were isolated from the seeds of Cassia alata. Their structures were determined by means of HR-ESI-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity. The results revealed that compounds 1-4 have potential anti-TMV activity with inhibition rates of 29.2, 38.5, 24.2, and 28.8% at the concentration of 20 μM, respectively. The inhibition rates of 1 and 2 are higher than that of the postive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is one of the most commonly used solid lubricants for Cu-Fe-based friction materials. Nevertheless, MoS reacts with metal matrices to produce metal sulfides (e.g., FeS) and Mo during sintering, and the lubricity of the composite may be related to the generation of FeS. Herein, the use of FeS as an alternative to MoS for producing Cu-Fe-based friction materials was investigated. According to the reaction principle of thermodynamics, two composites-one with MoS (Fe-Cu-MoS sample) and the other with FeS (FeS-CuS-Cu-Fe-Mo sample), were prepared and their friction behaviors and mechanical properties were compared. The results showed that MoS2 reacted with the Cu-Fe matrix to produce FeS, metallic ternary sulfides, and Mo when sintered at 1050°C. The MoS-Cu-Fe and FeS-CuS-Cu-Fe-Mo samples thereby exhibited similar characteristics with respect to phase composition, density, hardness, and tribological behaviors. Micrographs of the worn surfaces revealed that the stable friction regime for both composites stemmed from the iron sulfides friction layers rather than from the molybdenum sulfides layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA polymerase (DNApol) is present in all baculoviruses and plays a crucial role in viral DNA replication. Previously we showed that the DNApol of the alphabaculovirus group II Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV) could partially substitute for the DNApol of a group I alphabaculovirus, Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). However, it is not known if a betabaculovirus DNApol could subsititute for the alphabaculovirus DNApol in AcMNPV. In this report, DNApol of the betabaculovirus Pieris rapae granulovirus (PiraGV) was inserted into a dnapol-null AcMNPV bacmid, creating Bac-AcΔpol:PrPol. The repair virus did not spread to neighboring cells; virus growth curve and real-time PCR revealed that the PiraGV dnapol substitution abrogated AcMNPV DNA replication and virus production. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that PiraGV DNApol could be expressed and localized to the nucleus. Collectively, our results suggested that the alphabaculovirus AcMNPV DNApol could not be replaced by a DNApol from the betabaculovirus, PiraGV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Analysis of 387 sugarcane clones using Bru 1 diagnostic markers revealed two possible sources of Bru 1 in Chinese cultivars: one from Saccharum spontaneum and another from Saccharum robustum of New Guinea. Abstract: Sugarcane brown rust (SBR) is an important fungal disease in many sugarcane production areas around the world, and can cause considerable yield losses in susceptible sugarcane cultivars. One major SBR resistance gene, named Bru1, initially identified from cultivar R570, was shown to be a major SBR resistance source in most of the sugarcane producing areas of the world. In this study, by using the two Bru1-associated markers, R12H16 and 9O20-F4, we surveyed the presence of Bru1 in a Chinese sugarcane germplasm collection of 387 clones, consisting of 228 hybrid cultivars bred by different Chinese sugarcane breeding establishments, 54 exotic hybrid cultivars introduced from other countries and 105 clones of sugarcane ancestral species. The Bru1-bearing haplotype was detected in 43.4% of Chinese sugarcane cultivars, 20.4% of exotic hybrid cultivars, and only 3.8% of ancestral species. Among the 33 Chinese cultivars for which phenotypes of resistance to SBR were available, Bru1 was present in 69.2% (18/26) of the resistant clones. Analyses of the allelic sequence variations of R12H16 and 9O20-F4 suggested two possible sources of Bru1 in Chinese cultivars: one from S. spontaneum and another from S. robustum of New Guinea. In addition, we developed an improved Bru1 diagnostic marker, 9O20-F4- HaeIII, which can eliminate all the false results of 9O20-F4- RsaI observed among S. spontaneum, as well as a new dominant Bru1 diagnostic marker, R12E03-2, from the BAC ShCIR12E03. Our results provide valuable information for further efforts of breeding SBR-resistant varieties, searching new SBR resistance sources and cloning of Bru1 in sugarcane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction of endogenous adult stem cells by administering soluble molecules provides an advantageous approach for tissue damage repair, which could be a clinically applicable and cost-effective alternative to transplantation of embryonic or pluripotent stem cell-derived tissues for the treatment of acute organ failures. Here, we show that HGF/Rspo1 induce liver stem cells and rescue liver dysfunction. Carbon tetrachloride treatment promotes both fibrosis and Lgr5+ liver stem cell proliferation, whereas Lgr5 knockdown worsens fibrosis. Injection of HGF in combination with Rspo1 increases the number of Lgr5+ liver stem cells and improves liver function by attenuating fibrosis. We observe Lgr5+ liver stem cells in human liver fibrosis tissues, and once they are isolated, these cells are able to form organoids, and treatment with HGF/Rspo1 promotes their expansion. We suggest that Lgr5+ liver stem cells represent a valuable target for liver damage treatment, and that HGF/Rspo1 can be used to promote liver stem cell expansion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new anthraquinones, alataquinones A and B ( 1 and 2), together with two known anthraquinones ( 3 and 4), were isolated from the barks of Cassia alata. Their structures were determined by means of HR-ESI-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) activity. The results showed that compounds 1-4 exhibited moderate anti-TMV activity with inhibition rates in the range of 22.8-26.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Qingfei Mixture (清肺合剂), a Chinese medicine, in treating mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) in MP patients and rat model Methods: A total of 46 MP children with phlegm heat obstructing Fei (Lung) syndrome were randomly assigned to two groups by the method of random number table, with 23 children in each group. The control group was treated with intravenous infusion of azithromycin; the treatment group received intravenous infusion of azithromycin and oral administration of Qingfei Mixture. The treatment course was 7 days. Major symptoms and minor symptoms were observed and scored before and after treatments. A rat model of MP was also established. A total of 120 wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a normal group, infection group, Qingfei Mixture treatment group, azithromycin treatment group, and Qingfei Mixture + azithromycin treatment group. Each group contained 24 rats, from which every 6 were euthanatized 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after infection. MP DNA in pulmonary tissue homogenates was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Pathology was assessed after hematoxylin (HE) staining and lung tissue pathology scores were determined in pulmonary tissue. Transmission electron microscopic detection and electronic image analysis were performed on lung tissue 3 days after infection. Interleukin (IL)-17 was detected in serum using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 7 days after infection. Results: In the clinical study, both control and the treatment group showed improved results on removing symptoms of phlegm heat syndrome compared to the control group ( P<0.05). In animal experiments, On the 7th day after MP infection, as detected by electron microscopy, the pulmonary capillary basement membranes of the azithromycin + Qingfei Mixture treatment group were much thinner than those of the azithromycin or Qingfei mixture treatment groups ( P<0.05). The level of serum IL-17 in the azithromycin + Qingfei Mixture treatment group was lower than that in the azithromycin or Qingfei Mixture groups ( P<0.01). Conclusion: Both Qingfei Mixture and azithromycin have therapeutic effects on mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, but the combination of both agents had the greatest effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study on the corrosion resistance of NiFeO ceramic inert anode for aluminum electrolysis prepared in the different sintering atmosphere was carried out in NaAlF-AlO melt. The results show that the corrosion rates of NiFeO ceramic inert anodes prepared in the vacuum and the atmosphere with oxygen content of 1×10 are 6.08 cm/a and 2.59 cm/a, respectively. A densification layer is formed at the surface of anode due to some reactions which produce aluminates. For the anode prepared in the atmosphere with oxygen content of 1×10, the thickness of the densification layer (about 50 μm) is thicker than that (about 20 μm) formed at the surface of anode prepared in the vacuum. The content of NiO and Fe(II) in Ni(II)Fe(II)Fe(III)O increases with the decrease of the oxygen content of sintering atmosphere, which reduces the corrosion resistance of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]