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OBJECTIVE: The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling pathway may be involved in the regulation of osteoclast development. The purpose of this investigation was to investigate whether SB600125, a JNK inhibitor, could attenuate titanium-particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 mice were randomly divided into a Sham group, a Titanium group, and a Titanium + JNK inhibitor group, 15 mice per group. After establishing an air pouch bone graft model, we injected phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), titanium particles, or titanium particles + JNK inhibitor into the air pouch of the three groups. The pouch membranes containing bone implants were taken for morphological and molecular analysis 14 days after the mice were sacrificed. RESULTS: General morphological structure observation results, Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E)-Stained Sections, anti-tartaric acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and the transmission electron microscope showed that SB600125, by inhibiting the expression of JNK, attenuated titanium particle-induced inflammatory osteolysis (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical appearance results and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results showed SB600125 reduced expression of IL-6, and TNF-a in osteolytic sites stimulated with wear debris (p<0.05). The Western blot results showed the expression of the p-JNK protein in the titanium particle + SB600125 group was significantly reduced compared to the titanium particle stimulation group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Interfering with the JNK signaling pathway may be beneficial in reducing osteolysis, providing a therapeutic target for preventing and treating aseptic loosening caused by debris-induced inflammatory osteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the impact of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways and the reduced use of opioids on postoperative outcomes in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia (GA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data from 99 elderly patients who underwent laparoscopic CRC surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed and grouped based on the method of pain control measures received. Of 99 patients, 51 received conventional doses of opioid drugs (conventional group), and 48 patients were treated with reduced doses of opioids based on the principles of ERAS (lowdose group). Perioperative characteristics, postoperative pain level, cognitive function, serum biochemical index levels, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The first exhaust time, defecation time, and bedtime activity time of the low-dose group were compared to the conventional group (p<0.05). On the first day after the surgery, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score of the low-dose group was higher than the conventional group (p<0.05). After the surgery, the levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) decreased in both groups, while the levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) increased. However, compared to the conventional group, the low-dose group had higher levels of BDNF and lower levels of NSE and 5-HT (p<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the low-dose group was lower than that in the conventional group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ERAS protocol and the reduced use of opioid drugs in CRC patients who underwent surgery under GA is associated with an analgesic effect that is comparable to that of conventional opioid use. Reduced dosage of opioid drugs lessened cognitive impairment and lowered the incidence of adverse reactions in surgical patients with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regrowth of tropical secondary forests and plantations can not offset the carbon release caused by tropical deforestation, consequently determining net carbon losses on tropical lands. However, large uncertainties remain in relation to this assumption. Here, we used a biometric method to estimate the net dry matter production and net ecosystem production in a rubber forest, the most widespread plantation type in tropical Southeast Asia. According to biometric estimates made during the study, the ecosystem was a carbon sink (790 gC m-2 yr-1). Net ecosystem carbon fluxes were measured by the eddy covariance method. The carbon budget estimated using the FluxNet procedure (904 gC m-2 yr-1) was closer to the biometric estimates in comparison to a method based on data measured during neutral atmospheric conditions. Overall, when considering the whole life cycle, including deforestation of the prior-existing tropical forest, the hypothesis of plantations serving as large carbon sinks is not supported by our study.

Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate ecosystem-scale soil respiration, our understanding of this process is still incomplete, especially with respect to the spatial variability and ecological factors that drive such variability in respiration. The present study was conducted to investigate the respiration, structural parameters and soil properties in a seasonal rainforest with complex topography. Specifically, we sampled a 20-ha plot in intervals of 20 m to measure the soil respiration. Based on the entire 20-ha plot, the spatial mean soil respiration rate was 4.09 µmol m-2 s-1 and 2.71 µmol m-2 s-1 during the rainy and dry season, respectively. Strong spatial heterogeneity was observed, with coefficients of variance of 42% and 38% being obtained for the rainy and dry season, respectively. The patch size of soil respiration was approximately 40 m, which was much smaller than that of the soil temperature and water content. Soil-respiration hot spots induced a right-skewed probability density function of soil respiration in space. However, termite mounds did not account for the respiration hot spots. The required number of sampling points in our studied forest was estimated to be 71 and 51 for the rainy and dry season, respectively.

China has about 107 local chicken breeds and is considered one of the richest countries in terms of genetic resources. This diversity is a source of richness natural resources across the globe and is regarded as an excellent material for genetic improvement of breeds or breeding new breeds around the world. The present review highlights the recent evidence and studies of chicken origin and domestication in China and Southeast Asia. The evidence of molecular genetics and archeological results supported that multiple regions and event were contributed to the creation of chicken evolution from Red Jungle fowl and the findings proposed that one of events happened in domestication of chicken 8000 BP in Southeast of Asia. Several researchers confirmed that China was declared as most important of the world as a first centers for the chicken’s domestication and these chickens have remained in many archaeological sites in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease in the elderly and seriously affects the quality of life of patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of Fibulin-5 on articular chondrocytes and its mechanism of action. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Articular cartilage tissues from patients with OA and normal people were selected and tested for differences in Fibulin- 5 expression. In addition, human chondrocytes were cultured, and the effects of Fibulin-5 on the extracellular matrix (ECM) of chondrocytes and the level of inflammation were examined by means of cell transfection and cytokine intervention. SKL2001, an agonist of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, was used to validate the mechanism of action of Fibulin-5 to protect chondrocytes. RESULTS: Fibulin-5 was lowly expressed in the cartilage tissue of patients with OA. Overexpression of Fibulin-5 significantly increased the expressions of ECM collagen II and aggrecan in chondrocytes, while decreasing the expressions of MMP-3 and MMP-13. In addition, Fibulin-5 reduced IL-1β-induced inflammation of chondrocytes, as well as expressions of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. Overexpression of Fibulin-5 also reduced the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway attenuated the protective effects of Fibulin-5 on the ECM of chondrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Fibulin-5 can protect the ECM of chondrocytes and reduce the inflammatory response of chondrocytes by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a typical cardiac arrhythmia. The autonomic nervous system can modulate the myocardial system with complicated mechanisms. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in myocardial diseases, and lncRNA TCONS_00202959 is down-regulated in AF. However, the detailed effects of AF on automatic functions or cardiomyocytes are not well known yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, AF group (which was prepared by injecting the acetylcholine-CaCl2 solution) and treatment group (receiving lentiviral transfection of lncRNA TCONS_00202959 on AF rats). Real Time-quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of lncRNA TCONS_00202959. Atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and AF induction rate were measured, along with heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to reveal autonomic nervous function. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) was analyzed in atrial tissues. RESULTS: The expression of lncRNA TCONS_00202959 was decreased in the AF group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), which also had shortened AERP and elevated AF induction rate. The analysis of the autonomic nervous function revealed lower standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), SDNN of atrial (SDANN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and SDNN intervals in all 5-min segments (SDNNindx), plus elevated power ratio of low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF). TH expression was increased whilst CHAT expression was decreased (p < 0.05). The treatment group showed enhanced expression of lncRNA TCONS_00202959, elongated AERP plus decreased AF induction rate. The treatment rats also had higher SDNN, SDANN, RMSSD and SDNNindx, lower LF/HF ratio, decreased TH expression and increased CHAT expression (p < 0.05 compared to the AF group). CONCLUSIONS: AF rats had decreased expression of lncRNA TCONS_00202959, which can help to prevent AF pathogenesis by suppressing cardiac autonomic nervous function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To protect the surface of A Ti-Al alloy, a new method was used: laser shock peening (LSP). LSP has its own advantages: no contact, no heat affected zone (HAZ), easy to change the processing path and efficient. To check the new method by testing the surface morphology, the diffraction pattern and the surface hardness was investigated. The results showed that the new method could successfully make a coating layer on the substrate. The coating layer not only covered the substrate surface but also embedded in the substrate. Due to its advantages, the substrate material didn't grow new phases. In conclusion, the new method not only make a surface coating layer but also have the advantages of LSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The scientific problems concerning Quaternary soil water content and the water cycle have not been researched. This study examined the soil water content and depth of distribution of gravitational water in the south Loess Plateau during development of the first palaeosol layer (S1) by methods such as field investigation, electron microscopy, energy spectrum analysis, chemical analysis, and so on. The purpose was to reveal the climate, water balance and vegetation type at the time when S1 developed. The depth of migration of CaCO3 and Sr were 4.2 m below the upper boundary of the S1 palaeosol, and the depth of weathered loess beneath the argillic horizon was 4.0 m. Ferri‐argillans developed well in the argillic horizon and their depth of migration was 1 m below the argillic horizon. These findings suggest that the climate during the last interglacial was subtropical and humid, and the soil‐water balance was positive. Gravitational water was present to a depth of least 4.2 m from the top of S1, and the water content was adequate for tree growth. The chemical weathering index showed that this palaeosol has been moderately weathered. Highlights: We studied the palaeo-water content index during development of the first palaeosol. Soil water balance during development of S1 palaeosol in the south Loess plateau was positive. Available water content was 14% during development of S1 palaeosol. We suggest that a subtropical climate and forest vegetation prevailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of exogenous adiponectin in the prevention of no-reflow phenomenon in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 66 patients were randomly divided into control group and observation group, 33 cases in each group. According to the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) emergency treatment principle, patients from the control group were treated with an intracoronary injection of adenosine combined with a micro-pump intravenous infusion of tirofiban. Patients from the observation group were injected with exogenous adiponectin in addition to the adenosine and tirofiban treatments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gender, age, location of the target lesion, degree of stenosis, stent implantation number, length and the inner diameter between control and observation group (p > 0.05). Lower frequent of slow blood flow and no-reflow and shorter interventional procedures were observed in observation group compared with those of control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the increase of plasma creatine kinase (CK-MB) in patients of observation group was lower than that of the patients in control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the levels of troponin-I (cTnI), IL-6, TNF-α, endothelin-1 (ET-1), vascular endothelial adhesion molecular I (VCAM-1) and bax/Bcl-2 were significantly lower in observation group than those in control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during a 12-month follow-up was significantly lower in the observation group than that of control (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous adiponectin further reduced the no-reflow phenomenon during PCI treatment of the patients with T2DM combined with AMI. The function of exogenous adiponectin is associated with the reduced myocardial and endothelial cell injury and the inhibited inflammation and apoptosis. The application of exogenous adiponectin can significantly improve the clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of source (corn DDGS, rice bran, or soybean) or form of oil (extracted or intact) on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of acid-hydrolyzed ether extract (AEE) and fatty acids. The study determined and compared the ATTD or TTTD of AEE and fatty acids in extracted corn oil, rice oil, and soybean oil with intact oil in corn DDGS, full-fat rice bran, and full-fat soybean. Seventy-eight barrows (initial BW = 47.2 ± 3.9 kg; Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire) were allotted to 1 of 13 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 6 barrows in each dietary treatment. The 13 experimental diets included 1 cornstarch-soybean meal basal diet (AEE, 0.56%) and 3 diets containing 6% extracted oils (corn oil, rice oil, and soybean oil) and 9 diets supplemented with 3 levels of corn DDGS (17%, 34%, and 51%), full-fat rice bran (14%, 28%, and 42%), and full-fat soybean (12%, 24%, and 36%). These diets provided about 2%, 4%, and 6% intact oil, respectively. The barrows were housed in individual metabolism crates and were fed the assigned test diets at 4% of initial BW per day. A 5-d total collection of feces followed a 7-d diet adaptation period. The ATTD of AEE were calculated for each diet. The endogenous flow of AEE associated with each ingredient and values for TTTD were calculated using regression methods. The ATTD of AEE were greater (P < 0.05) for extracted oil than for intact oil. Compared to extracted oil, intact oil had lower (P < 0.01) ATTD of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and linolenic acid (C18:3). However, a source by form interaction (P < 0.01) was observed for ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3. The ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3 in extracted corn and rice oil were greater compared with intact corn DDGS and rice oil (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference for the ATTD of C18:0, C18:2, and C18:3 between extracted soybean oil and intact oil in full-fat soybean. In conclusion, lipids that are extracted have a greater digestibility compared with intact lipids, and this is especially true regarding saturated fatty acids. The ATTD of AEE in 2 forms of rice oil (intact oil and extracted oil) was less than the values in corn oil and soybean oil. The TTTD of AEE in corn DDGS and full-fat soybeans were greater than in full-fat rice bran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a clinical syndrome associated with cognitive decline in patients after anesthesia. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VB12 (Vitamin B12), a kind of necessary micronutrients promoting the growth and development of the nervous system, on cognitive dysfunction induced by isoflurane anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen-month-old rats were exposed to or were not exposed to 1.4% isoflurane for 2 h. Two hours before isoflurane exposure, rats in groups with VB12 were injected intramuscularly with VB12 at 10 or 20 μg. Two weeks later, rats were subjected to Barnes maze and Morris water maze. RESULTS: Rats exposed to isoflurane had significant impairments in long-term spatial memory assessed by Barnes maze. There was no statistical significance in the percentage of swimming time and path length in the Morris water maze tests among five groups, suggesting that isoflurane may not impair the recall of learned information in rats. Isoflurane increased the expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and activated caspase 3 in the hippocampus, but not cortex of the rats. The increase of IL-1β and activated caspase 3 was attenuated by VB12. However, isoflurane did not change the amount of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and β-amyloid peptide in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. CONCLUSIONS: VB12 can attenuate cognitive dysfunction induced by isoflurane anesthesia. At the same time, IL-1β may play an important role in this isoflurane effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the multi-objective mobile robot path planning in a dangerous environment with dynamic obstacles, this paper proposes a modified membraneinspired algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (mMPSO), which combines membrane systems with particle swarm optimization. In mMPSO, a dynamic double one-level membrane structure is introduced to arrange the particles with various dimensions and perform the communications between particles in different membranes; a point repair algorithm is presented to change an infeasible path into a feasible path; a smoothness algorithm is proposed to remove the redundant information of a feasible path; inspired by the idea of tightening the fishing line, a moving direction adjustment for each node of a path is introduced to enhance the algorithm performance. Extensive experiments conducted in different environments with three kinds of grid models and five kinds of obstacles show the effectiveness and practicality of mMPSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distribution state estimation (DSE) is becoming more and more important in distribution control center considering deregulation and introduction of renewable sources based distributed generations (REDGs). To realize the real-time estimation of the load and REDGs output values with limited monitoring devices in a distribution network, this paper presents a novel DSE approach by introducing a Modified Quantum-Inspired Evolutionary Algorithm (mQIEA) combining a QIEA with Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedures (GRASP). Thirteen knapsack problems, which are well-known as NP-hard ones, with various items are used to compare mQIEA with four QIEA variants. IEEE34 and IEEE70 test systems with REDGs are applied to conduct DSE experiments. Results show that mQIEA outperforms four QIEA variants in terms of the solution quality and that mQIEA obtains better estimation results than eight optimization algorithms reported in the recent literature with respect to the maximally relative error, maximally absolute error, and estimation precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A SUGAR model, which was established to predict the partitioning of carbon into sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol in fruit mesocarp of peach cultivars (Prunus persica (L.) Batch) with normal glucose: fructose ratio (G:F) of 0·8–1·5, was evaluated and extended for peach cultivars with a high G:F ratio of 1·5–7·8. The extended model (SUGARb) is more generic and assumes a high G:F ratio to be due to preferential transformation of sorbitol into glucose, preferential utilization of fructose or preferential conversion of fructose into glucose. The simulated seasonal variations in sugars via the SUGARb-model-matched experimental data for three normal and three high G:F cultivars well, and accurately exhibited G:F ratio characteristics. The relative rates of sucrose transformation into glucose and fructose differed according to cultivar but not according to G:F status. Compared with hexosephosphate interconversion, a lower production rate of fructose than glucose from sorbitol, and/or a higher utilization rate of fructose than that of glucose might be preferential alternatives for forming high G:F ratios in the high G:F cultivars studied in the present study, which is discussed in the light of recent results on enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study which described the remodeling of the zero-stress state of the femoral artery in flow overload. Definition of residual strain in reference to zero-stress state; Materials and methods; Results of the study.

Flow characteristics in straight tubes with an asymmetric bulge have been investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) over a range of Reynolds numbers from 600 to 1200 and at a Womersley number of 22. A mixture of glycerine and water (approximately 40:60 by volume) was used as the working fluid. The study was carried out because of their relevance in some aspects of physiological flows, such as arterial flow through a sidewall aneurysm. Results for both steady and pulsatile flow conditions were obtained. It was found that at a steady flow condition, a weak recirculating vortex formed inside the bulge. The recirculation became stronger at higher Reynolds numbers but weaker at larger bulge sizes. The centre of the vortex was located close to the distal neck. At pulsatile flow conditions, the vortex appeared and disappeared at different phases of the cycle, and the sequence was only punctuated by strong forward flow behaviour (near the peak flow condition). In particular, strong flow interactions between the parent tube and the bulge were observed during the deceleration phase. Stents and springs were used to dampen the flow movement inside the bulge. It was found that the recirculation vortex could be eliminated completely in steady flow conditions using both devices. However, under pulsatile flow conditions, flow velocities inside the bulge could not be suppressed completely by both devices, but could be reduced by more than 80 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "The mechanism of exogenous adiponectin in the prevention of no-reflow phenomenon in type 2 diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction during PCI treatment" which appeared in the 2018 issue.