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Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a fatal gynecological malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Previous research has demonstrated that Tripterygium glycosides (GTW) can enhance effectiveness of cisplatin (DDP) chemotherapy against EOC. However, the underlying mechanism of GTW alleviating EOC still remains unclear. In this article, an ID8 cell-derived xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy of GTW combined with DDP. Consistent with previous findings, the results suggested that GTW combined with DDP can exhibit a stronger tumor suppressive effect than DDP alone. Additionally, GTW was found can further exert gastrointestinal protection against DDP by reducing pathological damage on colon tissue. Secondly, to verify whether gut microbiota play an instrumental role in GTW's anticancer effect, we treated mice models with antibiotic to eliminate gut microbiota. And our experimental results indicated that all drug groups showed a weaker tumor suppressive effect and more severe gastrointestinal damage post antibiotic supplement. At genus level, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was dramatically diminished by the antibiotic treatment, while combined treatment of GTW and DDP can significantly restore the level. Moreover, we performed Lactobacillus acidophilus transplantation and healthy mice fecal microbiota transplantation experiments to further investigate the link between the anticancer effect of GTW and gut microbiota. Our results suggested that both cisplatin-sensitizing and intestinal barrier-protecting effects of GTW can be recovered to a different extent. In conclusion, our results indicated that GTW is a promising chemosensitization and intestinal barrier repair drug for EOC, and the potential mechanism may corelate with the restoration of the compromised intestinal microbial balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We determined the effects of Cuscutae semen (Cuscuta chinensis Lam. or Cuscuta australis R. Br.)–Radix rehmanniae praeparata (Rehjnannia glutinosa Libosch.) on the protein levels in testicular tissues of rats gavaged with tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides (GTW) and elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata for relieving GTW-induced reproductive injury.Methods: A total of 21 male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, and Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata group based on their body weights. The control group was given 10 mLkg−1 of 0.9% normal saline by gavage daily. The model group (GTW group) was administered with 12 mg kg-1 GTW by gavage daily. Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata group (the TSZSDH group) was administered with 1.56 gkg−1 of Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata granules daily according to their model group dosing. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and testosterone were measured after 12 weeks of continuous gavage, and the pathological lesion of testicular tissues was observed. Differentially expressed proteins were evaluated by quantitative proteomics and verified by western blotting (WB) and Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR).Results: Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata can effectively relieve pathological lesions of GTW-induced testicular tissues. A total of 216 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the TSZSDH group and model group. High-throughput proteomics revealed that differentially expressed proteins are closely associated with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, protein digestion and absorption, and protein glycan pathway in cancer. Cuscutae semen–Radix rehmanniae praeparata can significantly upregulate the protein expressions of Acsl1, Plin1, Dbil5, Plin4, Col12a1, Col1a1, Col5a3, Col1a2, Dcn, so as to play a protective role on testicular tissues. Acsl1, Plin1, and PPARγ on the PPAR signaling pathway were verified by WB and RT-qPCR experiments, which were found to be consistent with the results of proteomics analysis.Conclusion: Cuscutae semen and Radix rehmanniae praeparata may regulate the PPAR signaling pathway mediated Acsl1, Plin1 and PPARγ to reduce the testicular tissue damage of male rats caused by GTW.

Optimum design about geometric parameters，i.e. link lengths is one of the most important issues in the field of parallel robots. In order to facilitate optimization of the geometric parameters of 5R parallel robot，the following steps are given. First，the planar design spaces of the 5R symmetric parallel robot are drawn. Then，using the concept of transmission angle，the good transmission workspace （GTW） and global transmission index （GTI） are defined by reasonable range of LTI（Local Transmission Index）. The GTW and GTI atlas are given in the planar design space. Finally，the optimization design process is given，and the optimum design of planar 5R symmetric parallel manipulator is conducted based on the performance atlases. As long as the transmission angle is kept within a certain range，the optimized robot not only can meet the needs of work，but also has excellent performance on motion and force transmission.

The thermal hydrolysis of saturated (06:0 and 08:0) and unsaturated fatty acids (06:1, 08:1, and 08:2) was investigated at 90 °C to 160 °C for 30 min and 8 h durations. Hydrolysis efficiencies were calculated based on mass yield (i.e., mg/g parent compound), which accounted for all C2-C24 byproducts. Very little degradation (less than 1%) of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) was observed front 30 min thermal hydrolysis. At 140 and 160 °C for 8 h, saturated fatty acids degraded uniformly to C2 to C14. Saturated fatty acids tended to convert to alkanes (1.5-2.0% of total fatty acids) instead of fatty acids (8 h). Thermal hydrolysis did not significantly affect unsaturated LCFA degradation at any duration. The unsaturated by-products seen were the result of cleavage at the allylic or vinylic positions. Thermal hydrolysis of LCFAs with digested sludge was investigated. The amount of VFAs and LCFAs in primary and secondary sludge was increased at 140 and 160 °C as a result of lipid degradation in the sludge mixture. Thermal hydrolysis of fatty acids with different catalysts was also investigated. Whereas saturated LCFAs were stable under all catalytic conditions, unsaturated LCFAs were nearly completely degraded when hydrolyzed with hydrogen peroxide and activated carbon or copper sulfate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an increasingly popular scheme to mitigate CO2 emissions from large point sources (IPCC, 2005) Thermal Power Plants account for a large portion of the world's total CO2 emissions and are therefore the most attractive target for CCS. For a typical thermal power plant; the process would involve capturing the CO2, transporting it to a suitable location for storage and storing it in a manner that will ensure minimal leakage over a very long period of time. Due to public concerns and protests regarding storage onshore, offshore geological storage of CO2 is most likely to be used for future projects (Windén et al., 2011). The successful implementation of CCS thus depends on the feasibility of capturing the CO2, transporting it to an offshore site and injecting it deep beneath the seabed. Pilot projects such as the Sleipner rig in Norway have already proven the feasibility of using offshore geological storage and post combustion technology for capturing CO2 can also be considered mature. No long distance, large scale transportation solutions for CO2 has yet been proven to work with satisfactory results. Transportation of CO2 is thus identified as an area where breakthroughs could lead to forward leaps in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a study on a possible future way of solving CO2 transportation issues associated with the use of CCS. Geological storage locations are located in the sedimentary basins which is where oil and gas reserves are also found. The issue of transporting CO2 from an onshore power plant to an offshore storage site can thus be compared to the issue of transporting natural gas from an offshore extraction site to an onshore power plant or production facility. This is conventionally done using either ships or pipelines. This paper investigates the cost competitiveness of using the third alternative of Gas To Wire (GTW) where the gas is combusted offshore. This eliminates the need for transportation altogether and the concept has already been proven to be attractive for exploiting certain gas fields. It is shown here that the concept is even more attractive in a scenario where CCS is used since it eliminates two transportation issues. In this study, the transportation cost of natural gas and CO2 is compared to the costs of sub-sea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electrical cables and is shown to be higher. Pipelines have a large potential to be the most economical way of transporting CO2 to most prospective storage sites in the future (Windén et al., 2011) and will therefore be used to represent a conventional method of CO2 transportation in this study. For comparison, the alternative of transporting by ship or using a pipeline-ship combination will also be presented briefly. Initial studies show that the reduction in transportation costs compared to all conventional methods would more than offset the increased costs of operating a power plant offshore. It is also shown that the gains in transportation cost will decrease the Levelised Cost Of Energy (LCOE) for an example scenario located in Western Australia. This work has been carried out as a part of the Lloyd's Register Educational Trust Collegium of 2011. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]