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Introduction: Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a novel mono-pegylated human recombinant interferon (IFN) with the addition of N-terminal proline covalently attached by a 40-kDa polyethylene (peg) moiety. The present study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) profiles and safety of the product in healthy Chinese. Methods: Forty subjects were enrolled and treated with a single subcutaneous injection of either 180 mcg peg-IFN alfa-2a or 90, 180, and 270 mcg ropeginterferon alfa-2b. Results: The mean Tmax of ropeginterferon alfa-2b was 92–141 h and the elimination half-life was 78–129 h. Dose-related, non-proportional increase in ropeginterferon alfa-2b exposure was observed, which was higher than for peg-IFN alfa-2a. The PD parameters were similar between each dose level of ropeginterferon alfa-2b. The mean Tmax of β2-microglobulin ranged from 118 to 132 h after a single dose of ropeginterferon alfa-2b. The average Emax was 3 mcg/ml in all dose levels and the mean AUEC0–t ranged from 1608 to 1775 h/mcg/ml. The TEAEs were comparable among each treatment group and no death nor drug-related SAE was reported. Conclusion: Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is safe and well tolerated after a single subcutaneous injection up to 270 mcg in healthy Chinese. Clinical Trial Registration: www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn, CTR20190451. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of critical importance for our understanding of speciation process to determine the forms of reproductive isolation and their relative importance in species divergence. Oryza nivara and O. rufipogon are direct ancestors of Asian cultivated rice and a progenitor-daughter species pair. Investigating the reproductive isolation between them provides insights into plant speciation and helps understanding of the rice domestication. Here, we quantitatively measured the major components of reproductive isolation between the two species based on common garden and crossing experiments for three pairs of sympatric populations in Nepal, Cambodia and Laos. We revealed significant differences in the flowering times between species pairs, with O. nivara flowering much earlier than O. rufipogon. A very weak reduction in seed set but no reduction in F1 viability and fertility were detected for the crosses between species relative to those within species. Moreover, we detected asymmetrical compatibility between species and found that emasculation significantly decreased pollination success in O. nivara but not in O. rufipogon. Our study demonstrates that the divergence between O. nivara and O. rufipogon is maintained almost entirely by the difference in flowering times and suggests that differential flowering times contribute to both habitat preferences and reproductive isolation between species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase-producing bacterial strains (DP24 and XG32) were isolated from surface-sterilized tomato roots and rizhospere soil. The strains were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar. IV (XG2) and Erwinia herbicola (DP24) by physiological and biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Both strains showed positive plant growth-promoting activity when inoculated into cucumber ( Cucumis sativus), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum), pepper ( Capsicum annuum) and rapeseed ( Brassica napus L.). Colonization ability and behavior of these two strains were determined by treating mutant strains with rifampicin and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay with rRNA targeted probes, respectively. Both strains were endophytic colonizers of pepper plants. The behavior of the two strains was not identical. Strain XG32 only colonized the root and reached the max level of 27.7 × 10 c.f.u./g (fresh weight), after 12 days postinoculation, while strain DP24 was able to colonize the roots, stems and leaves. The max level was reached at 40.87 × 10 c.f.u./g (fresh weight) in the roots, 17 × 10 c.f.u./g in the stems after 7 days postinoculation and 44.84 × 10 c.f.u./g in the leaves after 12 days postinoculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: In this paper, mathematical models of smooth and enhanced tubes were established. A new mathematical model in evaluating single-tube falling film absorption effect outside enhanced tubes is proposed. The liquid film outside enhanced tubes is assumed to consist of two layers, i.e. internal and external layers. The analytical solutions to the distribution of the velocity, temperature and concentration in the internal layer are obtained by means of theoretical analysis, while the solutions in the external layer are calculated by using numerical method. The governing equations of the two layers are coupled using a second-order coupling method. The effects of the height and the angle of the ribs on the performances of the heat and mass transfer of the liquid film are discussed. It is shown that the agreement is good between the calculation results and the experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT: In this paper, mathematical models of smooth and enhanced tubes were established. A new mathematical model in evaluating single-tube falling film absorption effect outside enhanced tubes is proposed. The liquid film outside enhanced tubes is assumed to consist of two layers, i.e. internal and external layers. The analytical solutions to the distribution of the velocity, temperature and concentration in the internal layer are obtained by means of theoretical analysis, while the solutions in the external layer are calculated by using numerical method. The governing equations of the two layers are coupled using a second-order coupling method. The effects of the height and the angle of the ribs on the performances of the heat and mass transfer of the liquid film are discussed. It is shown that the agreement is good between the calculation results and the experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]