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Objectives The humid oral environment adversely affects the interaction between a functionalised primer and dentine collagen after acid-etching. Robust adhesion of marine mussels to their wet substrates instigates the quest for a strategy that improves the longevity of resin-dentine bonds. In the present study, an etching strategy based on the incorporation of biomimetic dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) as a functionalised primer into phosphoric acid etchant was developed. The mechanism and effect of this DMA-containing acid-etching strategy on bond durability were examined. Methods Etchants with different concentrations of DMA (1, 3 or 5 mM) were formulated and tested for their demineralisation efficacy. The interaction between DMA and dentine collagen, the effect of DMA on collagen stability and the collagenase inhibition capacity of the DMA-containing etchants were evaluated. The effectiveness of this new etching strategy on resin-dentine bond durability was investigated. Results All etchants were capable of demineralising dentine and exposing the collagen matrix. The latter strongly integrated with DMA via covalent bond, hydrogen bond and Van der Waals’ forces. These interactions significantly improve collagen stability and inhibited collagenase activity. Application of the etchant containing 5 mM DMA achieved the most durable bonding interface. Conclusion Dopamine methacrylamide interacts with dentine collagen in a humid environment and improves collagen stability. The monomer effectively inactivates collagenase activity. Acid-etching with 5 mM DMA-containing phosphoric acid has the potential to prolong the longevity of bonded dental restorations without compromising clinical operation time. Clinical Significance The use of 5 mM dopamine methacrylamide-containing phosphoric acid for etching dentine does not require an additional clinical step and has potential to improve the adhesive performance of bonded dental restorations.

Toxoplasmosis post serious threaten to human health, leading to severely eye and brain disease, especially for immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. The multiple side effects and long dosing period of current main treatment regiments calls for high effective and low toxicity anti-toxoplasmosis drugs. Herein, we report our efforts to synthesize a series of 2-(piperazin-1-yl)quinazolin-4(3 H )-one derivatives and investigate their acivity against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro based on cell phenotype screening. Among the 26 compounds, 8w and 8x with diarylether moiety at the side chain of piperazine exhibited good efficacy to inhibit T . gondii, with IC 50 values of 4 μM and 3 μM, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies implies that hydrophobic aryl at the side chain would be preferred for improvement of activity. Molecular docking study reveales these two compounds appeared high affinity to Tg CDPK1 by interaction with the hydrophobic pocket of ATP-binding cleft.two compounds appeared high affinity to Tg CDPK1 by interaction with the hydrophobic pocket of ATP-binding cleft.

To test high cadmium (Cd) concentration may not be high in health risk when considering Cd bioavailability, we assessed variation of Cd relative bioavailability (RBA, relative to CdCl2) using a mouse assay for 14 vegetables of water spinach, amaranth, and pakchoi. Cadmium concentration varied from 0.13 ± 0.01–0.37 ± 0.00 μg g–1 fw. Cadmium-RBA also varied significantly from 22.9 ± 2.12–77.2 ± 4.46%, however, the variation was overall opposite to that of Cd concentration, as indicated by a strong negative correlation between Cd-RBA and Cd concentration (R2 = 0.43). Based on both Cd concentration and bioavailability, the identified high-Cd pakchoi variety resulted in significantly lower Cd intake than the high-Cd varieties of water spinach and amaranth (4.74 ± 0.05 vs. 10.1 ± 0.54 and 8.03 ± 0.04 μg kg–1 bw week–1) due to significantly lower Cd-RBA (22.9 ± 2.12 vs. 77.2 ± 4.46 and 51.3 ± 2.93%). The lower Cd-RBA in pakchoi was due to its significantly higher Ca and lower phytate concentrations, which facilitated the role of Ca in inhibiting intestinal Cd absorption. This was ascertained by observation of decreased Cd-RBA (90.5 ± 12.0% to 63.5 ± 5.53%) for a water spinach when elevating its Ca concentration by 30% with foliar Ca application. Our results suggest that to assess food Cd risk, both total Cd and Cd bioavailability should be considered. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Mushrooms accumulate arsenic (As), yet As concentrations, speciation, and localization in cultivated mushrooms across a large geographic distribution are unknown. We characterized 141 samples of nine species from markets in nine capital cities in China, with samples of Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Agaricus bisporus being analyzed for As speciation and localization. Total As concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 8.31 mg kg-1 dw, with A. bisporus (0.27-2.79 mg kg-1) containing the most As followed by P. ostreatus and L. edodes (0.04-8.31 and 0.12-2.58 mg kg-1). However, As in A. bisporus was mostly organic including nontoxic arsenobetaine, while P. ostreatus and L. edodes contained mainly inorganic As (iAs). On the basis of in situ imaging using LA-ICP-MS, As in L. edodes was localized to the surface coat of the cap, while As in P. ostreatus was localized to the junction of the pileus and stipe. When As speciation and daily mushroom consumption (1.37 g d-1 dw) are considered, daily mushroom consumption may result in elevated iAs exposure, with increased bladder and lung cancer rates up to 387 cases per 100000. Our study showed that market mushrooms could be a health risk to the general public so its production should be monitored. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a worldwide issue, posing threat to human health. Arsenic is an endocrine system disruptor, however, limited information is available regarding its long-term effects on thyroid endocrine system at low exposure. In this study, we assessed the thyroid toxicity of arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII) at 10–100 μg L−1 in juvenile mice after 8-week of exposure via drinking water. After 1–2 week, AsV and AsIII had little influence on thyroxine (T4) level (56.3–64.7 μg L−1) in mouse blood compared to control mice at 57.3–60.7 μg L−1. However, after 4–8 weeks, 10 μg L−1 AsIII or AsV increased T4 levels to 83.8–88.8 μg L−1 compared to control treatment at 77.2–80.0 μg L−1, while 100 μg L−1 AsV or AsIII decreased T4 levels except for 100 μg L−1 AsIII for 8 weeks. Based on transmission electron microscopy, exposure to 100 μg L−1 AsIII or AsV for 8 weeks caused thyroid gland damage. In addition, exposure to AsV or AsIII at 10 or 100 μg L−1 impacted gene transcription of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis including thyroid stimulating hormone and iodothyronine deiodinases. Our data demonstrated that exposing to low levels of AsIII or AsV disrupted T4 homeostasis, influenced the related gene transcription and damaged the thyroid glands in juvenile mice.

Dietary Cd intake is often estimated without considering Cd bioavailability. Measured urinary Cd for a cohort of 119 nonsmokers with rice as a staple was compared to predicted values from rice-Cd intake with and without considering Cd relative bioavailability (RBA) in rice based on a steady state mouse kidney bioassay and toxicokinetic model. The geometric mean (GM) of urinary Cd and β 2 -microglobulin was 1.08 and 234 μg g -1 creatinine. Applying Cd-RBA in foods to aggregate Cd intake (41.5 ± 12.4, 48.0 ± 9.3, 48.8 ± 21.3% for rice, wheat, and vegetables), rice was the largest contributor (71%). For 63 participants providing paired urine and rice samples, the predicted GM of urinary Cd at 4.14 μg g -1 based on total Cd in rice was 3.5 times that of measured value at 1.20 μg g -1 , while incorporating Cd-RBA to assess rice-Cd intake made the two closer with GM at 1.07 μg g -1 . The cohort findings were extended to a national scale, with urinary Cd for nonsmokers from rice Cd intake was mapped at province/city levels after considering rice Cd-RBA. Therefore, incorporating Cd bioavailability to assess dietary Cd intake is a valuable tool to accurately estimate human Cd exposure and associated health risk. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Lead bioavailability in contaminated soils varies considerably depending on Pb speciation and sources of contamination. However, little information is available on bioavailability of Pb associated with different fractions. In this study, the Tessier sequential extraction was used to fractionate Pb in 3 contaminated soils to exchangeable (F1), carbonate-bound (F2), Fe/Mn oxides-bound (F3), organic-bound (F4), and residual fractions (F5). In addition, soil residues after F1–F2 extraction (F345), F1–F3 extraction (F45), and F1–F4 extraction (F5) were measured for Pb relative bioavailability (RBA) using a mouse kidney model. Based on the mouse model, Pb-RBA in the soils was 44–93%, which decreased to 43–89%, 28–75%, and 15–68% in the F345, F45, and F5 fractions, respectively. Based on Pb-RBA in the soil residues, Pb-RBA in different fractions was calculated based on a mass balance. The data showed that Pb-RBA was the highest (∼100%) in the exchangeable and carbonate fraction, and the lowest (15–68%) in the residual fraction. In addition, Pb in the first three fractions (F1–F3) contributed most (83–89%) to bioavailable Pb in contaminated soils. Our study shed light on oral bioavailability of Pb in contaminated soils of different fractions based on sequential extraction and provide important information for soil remediation.

Soils are often co-contaminated with As, Pb, and Cd. To what extent ingested metal(loid)s interact with each other in the gastrointestinal tract and influence their RBA (relative bioavailability) is largely unknown. Three soils predominantly contaminated with As (MS, mining/smelting impacted), Pb (WR, wire rope production impacted), and Cd (EP, enamel pottery production impacted) were administered to mice individually or in binary and tertiary combinations with sodium arsenate, Cd chloride, and/or Pb acetate. In binary combinations, 10-fold higher Pb addition decreased As-RBA in MS (26.0 ± 6.28% to 17.1 ± 1.08%), while 10-fold higher As addition decreased Pb-RBA in WR (61.3 ± 2.41% to 28.8 ± 5.45%). This was possibly due to the formation of insoluble Pb arsenate in mouse intestinal tract, as indicated by the formation of precipitates when As and Pb co-occurred in water or simulated human gastrointestinal fluids. Due to competition for shared absorption transporters, 10- A nd 100-fold higher Pb addition decreased Cd-RBA in EP (95.8 ± 12.9% to 67.8 ± 12.8% and 62.8 ± 8.24%). Tertiary combinations showed that interactions between two metal(loid)s were affected by the presence of the third metal(loid). Our study suggests that As oxyanion could interact with Pb or Cd ions in the mouse gastrointestinal tract, and the interactions vary depending on concentration and solution characteristics Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This study investigated the mechanisms through which arctigenin promotes osteogenesis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from ovariectomized (OVX) rats were differentiated into osteoblasts, and osteogenesis was evaluated via Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) measurements in cultured BMSCs. The levels of phosphorylated AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (p-Akt), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression were quantified by Western blot analysis. The levels of urine calcium (U-Ca), urine phosphorus (U-P), serum ALP, and bone mineral density (BMD) of OVX rats were assessed in vivo. The results showed that treatment with arctigenin in rat BMSCs enhanced mineralization, increased ALP activity, increased the expression of Akt and p-Akt, and decreased PPARγ expression, consistent with its ability to promote osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, arctigenin prevented OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats by increasing BMD and ALP activity and inhibiting the loss of Ca and P. In contrast, treatment with LY294002, a selective inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), produced the opposite phenotype. These data suggest that the protective effects of arctigenin on BMSCs and OVX rat models result from the induction of osteogenesis involving the PI3K/Akt/PPARγ axis.

Organoarsenicals have been used in poultry production for years, however, studies focused on roxarsone (ROX), with little attention to p-arsanilic acid (ASA). We assessed arsenic (As) concentration and speciation in chicken meat collected from 10 cities in China. The geometric mean for total As in 249 paired raw and cooked samples was 4.85 and 7.27 μg kg–1 fw, respectively. Among 81 paired raw and cooked samples, ASA and ROX were detected in >90% samples, suggesting the prevalence of organoarsenical use in China. ASA contributed the most (45% on average) to total As in cooked samples, followed by As(V), DMA, As(III), and ROX (7.2–22%). ASA was found to contribute more to total As in chicken meat compared to ROX for the first time. Arsenic in chicken meat showed considerable geographic variation, with higher inorganic arsenic (iAs) being detected from cities with higher ROX and ASA, indicating that organoarsenical use increased iAs concentration in chicken meat. When health risk was estimated, dietary exposure to iAs would result in an increase of 3.2 bladder and lung cancer cases per 100,000 adults. The result supports the removal of organoarsenicals in poultry production from Chinese market and further supports its removal from the global markets. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Fully bio-based polyamide 1010 (PA1010) was successfully melt-blended with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA03, PVA05, PVA08 and PVA14) to prepare PA1010xPVAzy blends. The PA1010xPVA03y, PA1010xPVA05y, PA1010xPVA08y and PA1010xPVA14y films demonstrated the lowest oxygen transmission rates (OTR), free volume fraction (Fv), mean volume of the free volume holes (Vf) and mean number of free volume holes per unit volume (I3) values, when the PVA concentration in each PA1010xPVAzy series reached a corresponding critical value of 22.5, 20, 17.5 and 12.5 wt%, respectively. OTR, Fv, Vf and I3 values obtained for the best PA101087.5PVA1412.5, PA101082.5PVA0817.5, PA101080PVA0520 and PA101077.5PVA032.25 films reduced gradually as the degree of polymerization of PVA reduced. The results of dynamical mechanical and other experimental characterizations demonstrated that PA1010 and PVA are compatible to some extent, when the PVA are ≤ the corresponding critical concentration. The significantly enhanced oxygen permeation resistance and free volume characteristics for optimal PA1010xPVAzy films is at least partly due to the improved hydrogen-bonded molecular interactions between PA1010 C=O groups and PVA O-H groups.

Due to its toxicity as a carcinogen and wide distribution in the environment, arsenic (As) exposure in humans is of public concern globally. Many studies have manifested that As exposure induces cancers besides pathological effects in humans. Animal studies showed that chronic As exposure induces serious neurological effects. Based on recent studies, researchers proposed that As, including arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII), is also an endocrine disruptor. This review discusses the mechanisms of As toxicity on three endocrine systems including gonadal, adrenal and thyroid endocrine systems. Arsenic methylation and oxidative stress are responsible for As-induced disorders of endocrine systems, however, strong binding of AsIII to thiols also play an important role. Some studies showed AsV toxicity on endocrine systems, but mechanistic investigation is lacking. Research is needed to look into their toxicity mechanisms to help cure the illnesses caused by As-induced endocrine system disorders. Keywords: Arsenite, Arsenate, Endocrine disruptor, Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis

3-Amino-4,4'-bi-1,2,4-triazole hydrochlorate and 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-bi-1,2,4-triazole ditosylate were obtained with the reduction of 3,3',5,5'-tetraazide-4,4'-bi-1,2,4-triazole (TABT) by (Ph)3P/H2O and the followed salt forming reaction with concentrated HCl and aqueous TsOH, respectively. Their structures were characterized with elemental analyses, IR, MS, 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The single crystals were cultivated and determined with X-ray diffraction, test results reveal that H+ combines with electron-rich N atom in triazole ring to form ionic salts, two N,N-linked triazoles are almost perpendicular to each other due to lower steric hindrance. The aromatic π…π stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds between molecules are observed. These two novel salts and their derivatives may be applied in coordination chemistry, medicinal chemistry and energetic materials.

Despite high morbidity and mortality, no effective options are available for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). Therefore, the present study investigated the protective effect of honokiol (HK) on ALI via determination of its effect on several key biomarkers. The results of the study showed that HK significantly inhibited the infiltration of neutrophils and protein leakage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (p

Arsenic-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata is efficient in As absorption, reduction, and translocation. But the molecular mechanisms and locations of arsenate (AsV) reduction in P. vittata are still unclear. Here, we identified two new arsenate reductase genes from P. vittata, PvHAC1 and PvHAC2. Two PvHAC genes encoded a rhodanase-like protein, which were localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Both recombinant Escherichia coli strains and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines showed arsenate reductase ability after expressing PvHAC genes. Further, expressing PvHAC2 enhanced As tolerance and reduced As accumulation in A. thaliana shoots under AsV exposure. Based on expression pattern analysis, PvHAC1 and PvHAC2 were predominantly expressed in the rhizomes and fronds of P. vittata. Different from those of HAC homologous genes in non-hyperaccumulators, little PvHAC was expressed in the roots. Besides, PvHAC1 expression was strongly upregulated under AsV exposure but not AsIII. The data suggest that arsenate reductase PvHAC1 in the rhizomes coupled with arsenate reductase PvHAC2 in the fronds of P. vittata played a critical role in As-hyperaccumulation by P. vittata, which helps to further improve its utility in phytoremediation of As-contaminated soils.

Oxygen transmission rates and free volume properties (i.e. average volumes of free-volume-cavities (Vf), mean number of the free volume cavities per unit volume (I3) and fractional free volume (Fv)) values of bio-based polyamide 612 (PA612)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (i.e. PA612xPVA03y, PA612xPVA05y, PA612xPVA08y and PA612xPVA14y) blend films were reduced to a minimum value, when their PVA content reached corresponding optimal values of 25, 20, 15 and 10 wt%, respectively. The minimum oxygen transmission rate, Vf, I3 and Fv value obtained for the best PA61290PVA1410, PA61285PVA0815, PA61280PVA0520 and PA61275PVA0325 bio-based blown films reduced considerably with decreasing PVA degrees of polymerization. As evidenced by the results of dynamical mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic experiments, PA612 and PVA are miscible to some extent at the molecular level when their PVA contents are ≤ the corresponding optimal values. The significantly improved oxygen barrier and free volume properties for the PA612xPVAzy blend films with optimized compositions is at least in part to the enhanced intermolecular interactions between PA612 carbonyl groups and PVA hydroxyl groups.

Paints are often used on chopsticks, however, a paucity of studies has assessed metals in the paints and the associated health risk. In this study, total Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni concentrations in paints were assessed for 72 wood and 29 stainless steel chopsticks with different colors while metal solubilization from paints in simulated saliva, 0.07M HCl, and 1% citric acid solutions was measured for 9 samples having total Pb> 90 mg kg⁻¹,representing exposure scenarios of mouthing, incidental paint ingestion, and metal migration in food. Results showed that Pb (0.12–500,000 mg kg⁻¹), Cd (0.002–120,000 mg kg⁻¹), Cr (2.2–8400 mg kg⁻¹), Co(0.004–2600 mg kg⁻¹), and Ni (0.10–150,000 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations varied considerably among paint samples.Most samples showed low metal concentrations, however, high metal concentrations were observed in red and green paints on stainless steel chopsticks, while paints on wood chopsticks showed lower metal concentrations.Estimation of daily metal intakes incorporating metal solubilization data in saliva, 0.07M HCl, and 1% citric acid solutions suggested that the health risk via saliva contact was negligible, while unacceptable health risk was observed for Pb and Cd via their solubilization in 0.07M HCl and 1% citric acid solutions from paints with high Pb and Cd concentrations. To avoid Pb and Cd exposure, use of metal-based paints on chopsticks should be banned, particularly in countries where food is regularly consumed with chopsticks. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Two novel tetrahalogeno-4,4′-bi-1,2,4-triazoles, tetrachloro-4,4′-bi-1,2,4-triazole (1, TCBTr) and tetrabromo-4,4′-bi-1,2,4-triazole (2, TBBTr) were successfully synthesized through halogenation of 4,4′-bi-1,2,4-triazole (BTr) and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 13C NMR and MS spectra. The single crystals of title compounds were cultivated and determined with X-ray diffraction, and the test results reveal that the aromatic π…π stacking interactions between molecules and the tetrahalogeno-4,4′-bi-1,2,4-triazoles with the two triazole rings being perpendicular are well observed in the crystal structure of (1) and (2).

We compared four methods to extract arsenic (As) from three different plants containing different As levels for As speciation with the goal of developing a more efficient method, i.e., As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata at 459-7714mgkg(-1), rice seedling at 53.4-574mgkg(-1), and tobacco leaf at 0.32-0.35mgkg(-1). The four methods included heating with dilute HNO3, and sonication with phosphate buffered solution, methanol/water, and ethanol/water, with As being analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Among the four methods, the ethanol/water method produced the most satisfactory extraction efficiency (~80% for the roots and >85% for the fronds) without changing As species based on P. vittata. The lower extraction efficiency from P. vittata roots was attributed to its dominance by arsenate (82%) while arsenite dominated in the fronds (89%). The ethanol/water method used sample:solution ratio of 1:200 (0.05g:10mL) with 50% ethanol and 2h sonication. Based on different extraction times (0.5-2h), ethanol concentrations (25-100%) and sample:solution ratios (1:50-1:300), the optimized ethanol/water method used less ethanol (25%) and time (0.5h for the fronds and 2h for the roots). Satisfactory extraction was also obtained for tobacco leaf (78-92%) and rice seedlings (~70%) using the optimized method, which was better than the other three methods. Based on satisfactory extraction efficiency with little change in As species during extraction from three plants containing different As levels, the optimized method has the potential to be used for As speciation in other plants.

To determine the effectiveness of mineral dietary supplements to modulate cadmium (Cd) exposure, an in vivo mouse bioassay was conducted to determine Cd relative bioavailability (Cd-RBA) in Cd-contaminated rice (0.80 mg Cd kg(-1)) with and without Zn, Fe, or Ca supplements as nitrate or chloride salts. Without mineral supplements, Cd-RBA was 43 +/- 5.3% based on average Cd accumulation in the liver plus kidneys as the end point. Among Ca(NO3)(2), Zn(NO3)(2), and Fe(NO3)(2) supplements, 150-5000 mg kg(-1) Ca was the most effective in reducing rice Cd-RBA by 31-80% to 8.5-29%, while 30-200 mg kg(-1) Zn supplements was ineffective, with Cd-RBA being 33-57%. Low Fe at

Hand-to-mouth activity is an important pathway for children's exposure to contaminated soils, which is often co-contaminated by Pb and As in mining and smelting sites. To reduce soil Pb risk to humans by oral exposure, phosphate amendments have been used to reduce Pb relative bioavailability (RBA), but its efficiency has not been investigated using validated in vitro assays nor its influence on As-RBA. Here, 5 contaminated soils (A-E) were amended with 0.5% phosphoric acid (PA) to study its effect on Pb- and As- RBA using a newly-developed mouse kidney model and bioaccessibility using 4 in vitro assays including UBM, SBRC, IVG, and PBET. Based on the mouse kidney model, Pb-RBA in PA-amended soils decreased from 14.2-62.5% to 10.1-29.8%. In contrast, As-RBA decreased from 26.5% to 15.9% in soil B but increased from 27.5 to 41.2% in soil D, with changes being insignificant in 3 other soils (35.8-58.8 to 28.1-61.1%). When assessing Pb bioaccessibility in PA-amended soils, decreased bioaccessibility were found using PBET and SBRC. For As, its bioaccessibility increased in PA-amended soils, inconsistent with in vivo data. Our results shed light on the importance of method selection to assess risk in Pb- and As-contaminated soils amended with phosphate.

We investigated the effects of arsenic species on As accumulation, plant growth and rhizospheric changes in As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata (PV). PV was grown for 60-d in a soil spiked with 200 mg kg(-1) arsenate (AsV-soil) or arsenite (AsIII-soil). Diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) were used to monitor As uptake by PV. Interestingly AsIII-soil produced the highest PV biomass at 8.6 g plant(-1), 27% and 46% greater than AsV-soil and the control. Biomass increase was associated with As-induced P uptake by PV. Although AsIII was oxidized to AsV during the experiment, As species impacted As accumulation by PV, with 17.5% more As in AsIII-soil than AsV-soil (36 vs. 31 mg plant(-1)). As concentration in PV roots was 30% higher in AsV-soil whereas As concentration in PV fronds was 7.9% greater in AsIII-soil, suggesting more rapid translocation of AsIII than AsV. These findings were important to understand the mechanisms of As uptake, accumulation and translocation by PV.

The objective of this study was to carry out a meta-analysis of the efficacy of gemcitabine+platinum agent regimens in the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using the following combination of search terms: gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, cholangiocarcinoma, biliary, gallbladder, bile duct. Studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis if they were randomized trials on the use of gemcitabine plus a platinum agent for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic cancer) BTC. Outcomes of interest were response rate, overall survival, and progression-free survival. Pooled odds ratios/differences in median survival and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined for each outcome. A total of 47 records were identified in the initial search. Ultimately, three open-label randomized trials (two phase 2 and one phase 3) met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Two studies compared gemcitabine plus cisplatin with gemcitabine alone, whereas the other study compared gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin with fluorouracil-folinic acid. The total number of patients in the studies ranged from 54 to 410. The overall analyses revealed that all survival outcomes assessed were significantly more favorable for patients treated with gemcitabine plus platinum agents than for patients not treated with this combination. Response rates: odds ratio=2.639, 95% CI=1.210-5.757, Z=2.439, P=0.015; pooled difference in median overall survival=3.822 months, 95% CI=1.798-5.845 months, Z=3.702, P

A series of N-arylmorpholines 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i, 1j, 1k, 1l, 1m, 1n was obtained by cyclocondensation of arylamines and diethylene glycol dimesylate under microwave irradiation in an aqueous potassium carbonate medium. The reaction is rapid and convenient, and a variety of functional groups are tolerated in the process.

Fine zirconium diboride (ZrB2) powders with high purity were successfully prepared by combustion synthesis through magnesiothermic reduction process in Mg–B2O3–ZrO2 system. The reaction mechanism was investigated by differential thermal analysis and quenching experiment. The results show that the whole magnesiothermic reduction process includes three stages: first, molten B2O3 and Mg formed above the temperature of 650 °C, and glassy B2O3 and solid ZrO2 particles were coated on the surface of the molten Mg; thus, the hollow balls can be formed when the molten Mg was exuded under capillary function. Second, ZrO2 particles reacted with molten Mg to form Zr and MgO with dissolution–precipitation mechanism, which released a large amount of heat to induce the diffusion reaction between B2O3 and Mg to form B and MgO. Last, Zr reacted with B to form ZrB2 grains. The preparation of ZrB2 by self-propagating synthesis in Mg–B2O3–ZrO2 system is a solid–liquid-liquid reaction.

Columnar crystaldendriteequiaxial dendritescolumnar crystalNanosized powder was synthesized by direct-reactive precipitation process using a stoichiometrical mixture of TiCl4, BaCl2 as the reactants while NaOH as precipitant. Under the ratio of Ba to Ti is 1.02, PH=13, three reaction temperature of 70°C, 80°C and 90°C were conducted respectively. Morphology and phase structure of powder were investigated, and the influence of reaction temperature on powder morphology was discussed. The result indicates that synthesized powder is single cubic BaTiO3 and contains no impurities. BaTiO3 powders generally show spherical, and average particle size decreases with increasing reaction temperature. When reaction temperature is 80°C, BaTiO3 powder has best uniformity and dispersivity with the diameter of 80-100nm. The influence of reaction temperature on powder particle size can be attributed to the corporate contribution of nucleation and growth rate. Polyglycol as surface active agent has a significant effect in restraining agglomeration.

Parthenolide (PN), a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the herbal medicine feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), was reported to possess neuroprotective activity. However, the neuroprotective effect of PN against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of PN against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that PN ameliorated OGD/R-evoked neuronal injury and oxidative stress in PC12 cells. In addition, PN notably decreased HIF-1α expression, as well as inhibited apoptosis in PC12 cells after OGD/R. Furthermore, PN pretreatment significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β in PC12 cells exposed to OGD/R. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that PN exhibits a neuroprotective effect against OGD/R through activation of the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that PN has the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic agent for cerebral I/R injury.

Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) is one of the low-cost and large-scale separation techniques for the separation of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (m-SWCNTs) and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs). The separated m-SWCNTs were divided into several parts and characterized by the UV-visible-near infrared absorption spectra and the Raman spectra respectively. The results show that the moieties with the fastest electrophoresis migration rate contain more m-SWCNTs. Furthermore, the effects of different agarose concentrations on the separation efficiencies of SWCNTs were investigated. It was found that higher concentration of agarose gel was beneficial to the enrichment of the m-SWCNTs, and the separation efficiency of the m-SWCNTs could be realized by increasing the charge density on the surface of the SWCNTs.

Root proliferation can be stimulated in a heterogeneous nutrient patch; however, the functions of the root proliferation in the nutrient-rich soil patches are not fully understood. In the present study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to examine the comparative effects of localized application of ammonium and phosphorus (P) at early or late stages on root growth, nutrient uptake, and biomass of maize ( Zea mays L.) on a calcareous soil in an intensive farming system. Localized supply of ammonium and P had a more evident effect on shoot and root growth, and especially stimulated fine root development at the early seedling stage, with most of the maize roots being allocated to the nutrient-rich patch in the topsoil. Although localized ammonium and P supply at the late stage also enhanced the fine root growth, the plant roots in the patch accounted for a low proportion of the whole maize roots in the topsoil at the flowering stage. Compared with the early stage, fine root length in the short-lived nutrient patch decreased by 44%–62% and the shoot dry weight was not different between heterogeneous and homogeneous nutrient supply at the late growth stage. Localized supply of ammonium and P significantly increased N and P accumulation by maize at 35 and 47 days after sowing (DAS); however, no significant difference was found among the treatments at 82 DAS and the later growth stages. The increased nutrient uptake and plant growth was related to the higher proportion of root length in the localized nutrient-enriched patch. The results indicated that root proliferation in nutrient patches contributed more to maize growth and nutrient uptake at the early than late stages.

Microbial ferric iron reduction, with organic carbon or hydrogen as the electron donor, is one of the most important biogeochemical processes in anoxic paddy soils; however, the diversity and community structure of hydrogen-dependent dissimilatory iron-reducers remain unknown. Potential H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing bacteria in paddy soils were explored using enrichment cultures with ferrihydrite or goethite as the electron acceptor and hydrogen as the electron donor. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis and cloning/sequencing were conducted to reveal bacterial community structure. Results showed that Geobacter and Clostridium were the dominant bacteria in the enrichment cultures. Fe(III) oxide mineral phases showed a strong effect on the community structure; Geobacter and Clostridium were dominant in the ferrihydrite treatment, while Clostridium spp. were dominant in the goethite treatment. These suggested that H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing bacteria might be widely distributed in paddy soils and that besides Geobacter, Clostridium spp. might also be an important group of H2-dependent Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms.

AZ31B magnesium alloys recycled by solid-state process from oxidized chip were extruded repeately. Microstructures and mechanical properties of recycled alloys for different extrusion times were studied. With the increasing extrusion times, the breaking degree and homogeneity of oxide increase and stream line feature of oxide become less obvious. Second extrusion make dynamic recrystallization microstructure of recycled alloy become more homogeneous and fine, but the microstructure is not refined furtherly after 3 and 4 times extrusion. The ultimate tensile strength increases with the increasing extrusion time, which resulting from the microstructure evolution during repeating extrusion and the enhanced bonding between oxide and magnesium alloy matrix. The elongation to failure of recycled alloy increases after second extrusion and continuously decreases after 3 and 4 time extrusion. This is determined not only by the variation of dynamic recrystallization microstructure and bonding strength between chips but also by the distribution status of oxide.

Control of aflatoxin contamination has been a worldwide problem. Laminarin from Laminaria digitata is one kind of polysaccharides with multiple biological activities. In this paper, the inhibitory effects of Laminarin on the growth and toxin production of A. flavus was studied. The results indicated that 150 and 200 µg/mL of Laminarin ccould significantly inhibit the aflatoxin production in Sabouraud liquid medium (Sab), without affecting mycelium growth. In addition, the results also showed that certain concentration Laminaria could decrease the infection of peanut seeds by A. flavus as well as the contamination by aflatoxin B1.

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) based piezoelectric composites embedded with ZnO nanowhiskers (ZnO w ) were investigated to clarify the optimal sintering condition for densification, microstructure, and electrical properties. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the increase of the sintering temperature and time is quite effective in improving the densification and piezoelectric properties of the PZT/ZnO w composites. However, the relative density and piezoelectric properties deteriorate as the composites are sintered over the optimal sintering condition. Particularly, the PZT/ZnO w composites sintered at 1150 °C for 2 h show excellent electrical properties of piezoelectric constant d 33 ∼ 471 pC/N, relative dielectric constant ɛ ∼ 3838, planar electromechanical coupling factor k p ∼ 0.543, remnant polarization P r ∼ 23.2 μC/cm 2 and coercive field E c ∼ 9.2 kV/cm.

An efficient and clean synthesis of N -arylpyrrolidines from arylamines and 1,4-dimesyloxybutane was developed using microwave irradiation in an aqueous potassium carbonate medium without any catalyst. The procedure is rapid, simple and convenient.

New lead zirconate titanate/zinc oxide nanowhisker (PZT/ZnOw) ceramics were fabricated by a conventional solid state processing and their structures, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and mechanical properties were studied. Both the PZT perovskite and ZnO phases can be observed from the X-ray diffraction patterns. The grain size of ceramics is reduced due to the ZnOw addition. The incorporation of ZnOw into the PZT ceramics improves the strength and toughness, while deteriorates the piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties. For the PZT/ZnOw ceramics with 1–2 wt% ZnOw, the mechanical properties become optimum, meanwhile maintain good piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties: σc = 376–484 MPa, σf = 115–121 MPa, KIC = 1.41–1.54 MPa m1/2, d33 = 442–490 pC/N, kp = 0.54–0.55, er = 3,322–3,980, Qm = 99–101, tanδ = 1.6%–1.7%, Pr = 21.5–26.9 μC/cm2 and Ec = 8.1–8.6 kV/cm.

The addition of ZnO nanowhiskers (ZnOw) in lead zirconate titanate (PZT) matrices results in reinforced composite materials but deteriorates their electrical properties. In this study, novel piezoelectric PZT/ZnOw composites modified with Nb2O5 were successfully fabricated using solid-state sintering method. The experimental results showed that the addition of 0.5 wt% Nb2O5 resulted in highly dense and homogenous PZT composites after sintering at 1150°C, with good piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties similar to pure PZT, specifically piezoelectric constant d33=665 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor kp=0.7, relative dielectric constant ɛ=5048, and remnant polarization Pr=30.2 μC/cm2. The “soft effect” of Nb5+ ions, reflected in the improvement of the aforementioned properties, is attributed to the accommodation of Nb5+ ions at the B sites of the lattice of PZT. Compared with the PZT/ZnOw reinforced composites, the mechanical properties were slightly improved by adding 0.5 wt% Nb2O5, where flexural strength σf of 128 MPa and fracture toughness KIC of 1.46 MPa·m1/2 were measured.

Spectroscopic and viscosity methods were applied to investigate the mechanism of interaction between Congo red (CR)–Sm(III) complex and herring sperm DNA by using acridine orange as a spectral probe in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.40). The binding ratio of Sm(III)(CR)3 : DNA is 5 : 1, the apparent molar absorptivity of ϵ Sm(III)(CR)3–DNA is 4.80 × 105 L (mol cm)−1 and the bonding constant of Sm(III)(CR)3 interacting with DNA is = 1.11 × 107 L mol−1. The thermodynamic parameters are Δr = 5.40 × 104 J mol−1, Δr = 3.16 × 102 J (mol K)−1, Δr = −4.03 × 104 J mol−1. The results confirm that the interaction between Sm(III)(CR)3 complex and DNA is a partial intercalation, and the reaction process is entropy favorable.

Hydroxyapatite coating on metal implants is an effective method to enhance bioactive properties of the metal surface. We report here a method to coat the Ti-6Al-4V alloy with hydroxyapatite crystals. After alkaline/heat treatment, the spontaneous growth of organoapatite on titanium alloy surface involves sequential preadsorption of titanium isopropoxide (TIPO) and the copolymer of acrylic acid and itaconic acid on the metal, followed by exposure to simulated body fluid (SBF). The organoapatite characterization of the coating was carried out by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffraction. The copolymer of acrylic acid and itaconic acid overlayer which is rich of carboxylate groups can lead to the deposition of needle-like and homogeneous HA on the surface after immersion in SBF.

This study aimed to characterize the effect of apigenin on the reproductive system in male mice. Adult male mice were treated with intraperitoneal injection of apigenin at the dose levels of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg.bw, 0.05% DMSO and 0.9% normal saline daily for seven days. Then, testis and epididymis sperms in sperm motility, sperm morphology, the percentages of ploidy cells and seminiferous epithelium cells at the cell-circle phase, and the ratio of ploidy cells were evaluated. The results showed that sperm density significantly reduced in the 25 mg/kg group compared with the solvent control group. The abnormal sperms were mainly amorphous; non-hook sperms took the second largest group; and banana, double-tail and folded-tail sperms were rare. Abnormal sperms were mainly in the head sperm. Moreover, after intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg apigenin, the percentage of 1C population increased, and the percentage of 4C declined, leading to a significant increase of the 1C:4C ratio, compared with the solvent and negative control groups. The percentage of seminiferous epithelium cells at the cell-circle phase of G0/G1 exhibited a significant increase in the 25 mg/kg group compared with the control groups. Taken together, that apigenin has adverse effects on the reproductive system in adult male mice is demonstrated.

Evaluation of the uniformity and stability is of great importance before the release determination of crop cultivars. The ratio of homozygous DNA locus is one of the main factors affecting the uniformity and stability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. The objective of this study was to figure out the feasibility and effectiveness of molecular markers in evaluating the uniformity and stability of wheat cultivars based on the ratio of homozygous DNA loci. A total of 172 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers, 99 pairs of expressed sequence tag-derived SSR (EST-SSR) primers, and 76 pairs of amplified fragment length polymorphism-derive sequence characterized amplified region (AFLP-SCAR) primers were screened with the plants from 511 wheat cultivars (136 released and 375 under the evaluation of the National Regional Trials from 2006 to 2009) and each 10 breeding lines (50 plants per line) in F4 and F5 generations. The ratios of homozygous DNA loci were 82.1–94.5% in F4 generation and 95.7–99.4% in F5 generation. The ratios of homozygous DNA loci in F6 generation was predicted to a range from 98% to 100% based on the homozygous DNA locus ratio of 500 F5 individuals. In the 511 cultivars, 10% had the ratio of homozygous DNA loci smaller than 95%. Cultivars with higher ratios of homozygous DNA locus possessed better uniformity and stability. In the 375 cultivars from the National Regional Trials, most cultivars with the ratio of homozygous DNA loci higher than 95% and a few cultivars with the ratios ranging from 90% to 95% showed good performance on uniformity and stability, whereas, cultivars with the ratio of homozygous DNA loci smaller than 90% had obviously phenotypic segregation. Therefore, the ratio of homozygous DNA locus can serve as a supplementary criterion in evaluating uniformity and stability of wheat cultivars. The proposed evaluation system is based 20 individuals and 50 loci.

Chitosan fibers(CSf) andCaSiO3 were incorporated into a poly (L-lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLLA/HA) matrix as reinforcements to prepare scaffold composites with adequate strength and high porosity for bone tissue engineering combined with emulsion freeze drying technique. The structural morphology of the composites was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The porosity was tested by liquid substitute method. The mechanical property was measured. The effects of addition of CSf and CaSiO3 on composites were also discussed. Simulated body fluid (SBF) experiments were conducted to assess the bioactivity of the composites. The chemical components of resultants on surfaces after the immersion in SBF were analyzed by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the composites with high connectivity have pore sizes of 100~250μm, a porosity of 60%~80%, compressive strength of 3.5~8.0MPa. In the SBF tests, Chitosan fiber reinforced PLLA/HA-CaSiO3 composite degraded stably, meanwhile, the formation of a layer of bone-like apatite on the surfaces of the samples indicated a good bioactivity. Studies suggest the feasibility of using CSf reinforced PLLA /HA-CaSiO3 composite for bone tissue engineering.

A novel kind of denture base nanocomposite was prepared by polymethyl methyacrylate(PMMA) and cethyltrimethylammonium bromide modified organic montmorillonite (OMMT). The dispersion of montmorillonite in the polymer matrix was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transimission electron microscope (TEM).The content of residual MMA in nanocomposites and the amount of MMA released to water from nanocomposites were determined by gas chromatography (GC). The analysis of TEM and XRD showed that exfoliated-intercalated and intercalated nanocomposites were formed when the content of OMMT was 3% and 5% in the PMMA powder respectively. The results of GC showed that the residual MMA increased with the increase of OMMT content in the polymer matrix. After 7 days in water, the amount of MMA released into water from the nanocomposites tended to be stable. The results of one-way ANOVA and t-test showed that OMMT gave a significant increase of residual MMA concentration (p

The feasibility of fabricating h-BN-SiC high-temperature ceramics by in-situ combustion synthesis was demonstrated by igniting the mixture of boron carbide and silicon powder under 100MPa nitrogen pressure. The reaction thermodynamics and the adiabatic combustion temperature were calculated theoretically. The phase composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of composite were identified by XRD and SEM. The maximum bending strength and fracture toughness of the composite were 65.2 MPa and 1.4 MPa·m1/2 under room temperature, respectively. The effects of h-BN and SiC dilution contents on the mechanical properties of composite were also discussed.

Three surveys were carried out in anchovy spawning periods in southern Yellow Sea in May and June 2001, and June 2002. Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration, bacterioplankton abundance, biomass and their variations along the zone of tidal fronts were investigated. The results showed that (1) high Synechococcus abundance distributed more often in frontal area and middle-surface layer of a stratified zone; and (2) the maximal abundance of bacteria occurred in stratified and mixed zone. 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cobalt (II) hydroxamates with the benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) pendant have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes were successfully employed to the oxidation of p-xylene to p-toluic acid with air at 110°C under normal atmospheric pressure. The effects of the B15C5 pendant, the length of chain bonding of B15C5 in these complexes and the addition of alkali metal ions on the oxidation for p-xylene are also investigated by the comparison with the crown-free analogue.

In this article, a research on the characteristics and performance of water-absorbent slow release nitrogen fertilizer (WASRNF) using infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), was present. The results indicate that the water absorbency and nitrogen analysis of WASRNF is 103 g g^(-1) and 30%, respectively, and WASRNF exhibits approximately neutral pH and very low salt index. WASRNF is a copolymer of nitrogen fertilizer and super absorbent polymer (SAP) monomers which is formed through hydrogen bond interaction, and the molecule contains hydrophilic groups, which is responsible for the absorption and water retention capacity of the molecule. WASRNF is a gel that exhibits the ability to swell, but does not dissolve in water. WASRNF shows non-homogenous nature as a whole, but in local zone it is homogenous, the copolymer molecule shows chain network that is the physical structure responsible for absorption and retention of water in WASRNF. The water retained in WASRNF exists as free and nonfreezing bound and freezing bound water states, with the free and the nonfreezing water accounting for more than 95% of water retained in WASRNF, and the nonfreezing bound water for less than 5%. WASRNF functions in delaying the release of nitrogen from it, thereby serving a novel slow release nitrogenous fertilizer.

The oxygenation constants ( K O 2 ) of cobalt(II) hydroxamates ( Co L 2 1 – Co L 2 3 ) with benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) pendants were measured over the range of −5 to +20 °C, and the values of thermodynamic parameters (Δ H 0 and Δ S 0 ) were calculated based on these ( K O 2 ) values. Meanwhile, these crowned complexes were employed to the oxidation for p -xylene to p -toluic acid with air at 110Δ under normal atmospheric pressure. The effects of B15C5 pendant and the length of chain bonded to B15C5 in these complexes on the O 2 -binding capabilities and oxidation for p -xylene were investigated with the comparison of crown-free analogues Co L 2 4 .