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Saccharomycopsis fibuligera, also known as Endomyces fibuliger or Saccharomyces fibuligera, is a yeast that produces ascospores and is widely found in all types of fermentation starters. It secretes α-amylase, β-glucosidase and acid protease with high efficiency and is an important functional microorganism in the fermentation of grains. Hence, S. fibuligera has high industrial application value; for example, it has a high starch conversion capacity and can synthesise trehalose from starch and it can decompose and synthesise single-cell proteins from starch and use proteins as a protein feed. It also produces aromas, esters and alcohols via fermentation; thereby, improving liquor quality. Moreover, S. fibuligera exerts an inhibitory effect on guava grey mould and can synthesise fungicides. Because S. fibuligera has excellent development potential and research value in industrial production, it has attracted considerable attention. In this study, the physicochemical, enzymatic and ester-producing properties of S. fibuligera and its effect on liquor flavour were examined. These findings will help screen excellent strains, optimise liquor fermentation conditions and improve liquor production quality.

"AIM: To determine moxonidine in aqueous humor and iris-ciliary body by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and to evaluate the retinal neuroprotective effect after topical administration with moxonidine in a high intraocular pressure (IOP) model. METHODS: The eyes of albino rabbits were administered topically and ipsilaterally with 0.2% moxonidine. A RP-HPLC method was employed for the identification and quantification of moxonidine between 2 and 480min, which presented in the aqueous humor and iris-ciliary body. Flash electroretinography (F-ERG) amplitude and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level were measured between day 1 and day 15 after topical administration with moxonidine in a rabbit model of high IOP. Histological and ultrastructural observation underwent to analyze the changes of retinal morphology, the inner retinal layers (IRL) thickness, and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counting. RESULTS: Moxonidine was detectable between 2 and 480min after administration, and the peak concentration developed both in the two tissues at 30min, 0.51 µg/mL in aqueous humor and 1.03 µg/g in iris-ciliary body. In comparison to control, F-ERG b-wave amplitude in moxonidine eyes were significantly differences between day 3 and day 15 (P

The free radical scavenging ability of fullerenols is their most exploited property in biomedical studies. The antioxidant properties and associated mechanisms of fullerenol have been previously investigated, but less research has been done to examine the hepatoprotective effects of fullerenol nanoparticles on alcohol-induced oxidative stress. This study examined the antioxidant effects in rat liver primary hepatocyte exposure to fullerenols dissolved in ethanol. In this study, liver primary hepatocytes of Wistar rats were divided into nine experimental groups that were exposed to ethanol (0.1, 1.0 and 10%), fullerenol dissolved in ethanol (0.1, 1.0 and 10%) and controls (PBS; PBS + fullerenol; Vitamin C (Vc) in 10% ethanol). The results demonstrated that fullerenol nanoparticles in 400 μmol L−1 exhibited excellent ROS scavenging abilities. This contributed to the anti-inflammatory effects involving reduced alcoholic oxidative damage and the regulated promotion of the tumor necrosis factor. The intracorporeal metabolism of rat-intake fullerenol was also evaluated by examining precision-cut rat slices of liver and kidney. All results demonstrated the potential hepatoprotective effects of fullerenol nanoparticles in the preventive treatment of alcoholic hepatopathy.

This study presents an improved impedance method based on unbalanced synchronous excitation to identify the rotordynamic coefficients of labyrinth seals. The rotordynamic coefficient test is implemented near the cylinder resonance frequency to enlarge the influence of seal force. The force generated by the rotor unbalance is used to provide synchronous frequency excitation for the rotordynamic coefficient test. Four unique equations are set up under two sets of different rotor unbalance conditions to obtain four unknown complex rotordynamic coefficients. The factors that influence the rotordynamic coefficients of seals, namely, unbalance mass, inlet/outlet pressure ratio, and rotating speed, are considered. The dynamic coefficients are minimally affected by different rotor unbalances. The direct items are nearly equal with same signs, whereas the cross-coupled items are nearly equal with opposite signs. All coefficients increase with increasing inlet/outlet pressure ratio and rotating speed. The direct stiffness coefficients increase more quickly than the cross-coupled items. In addition, the effect stiffness and effect damping coefficients are analyzed; results indicate that both coefficients increase with increasing rotating speed.

AIM: To evaluate the morphological changes in anterior segment in Chinese patients with uveal effusion (UE) after the attack of acute primary angle-closure (APAC) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), and to assess the clinical course and prognosis of the disease. METHODS: In a retrospective case series, 26 eyes in 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with UE after the treatment of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication for the attack of APAC were enrolled. The unaffected fellow eyes served as controls. The morphological changes were observed by ultrasonography, slit lamp microscopy and gonioscopy. UBM was used to assess the degree and extent of effusion based on the analysis of parameters associated with UE. RESULTS: The mean IOP was 9.2 (SD 2.1) mm Hg at the diagnosis of UE after IOP-lowering medication, while 14.1 (SD, 2.6) mm Hg in the fellow eyes (P=0.000). The anterior chamber depth (ACD) (P=0.000), angle opening distance at 500 μm (AOD500) (P

This paper sets up a dynamic analysis model for cylinder-seal system. A new identification method for fluid-induced force and stiffness coefficients in eccentric seal is presented. The study shows that the system stability decreases with increasing cross-coupled stiffness in a certain range. Beyond this range, the system will be destabilized. Influences of rotating speed, inlet pressure, eccentricity and clearance on fluid-induced force were tested in the rig. It was found that a large tangential fluid-induced force was produced in the direction perpendicular to the eccentric displacement of rotor. The difference between the tangential and radial fluid-induced force became larger and larger with the increasing rotating speeds. Under the action of the seal force, the logarithmic decrement descended with increasing rotating speeds, and the stability of the system decreased. These effects became more and more serious for higher inlet pressure and tighter clearance.

This paper presents a new rotordynamic measurements conducted on a test rig for evaluation of multiple rings of labyrinth seals. Considering the tilting motion of cylinder occurs in experiments, the impedance matrix of cylinder system is obtained first. An equivalent seal force identification model is set up for multiple seals based on double plane balance theory of rotor dynamics. The resultant seal forces are calculated on two end planes of the cylinder, and resolved to multiple sections that seals located. A frequency domain identification method delivers the test seals stiffness and damping coefficients. Compressed air inlet tests were run from 1000 rpm-2200rpm, 0.1-0.6Mpa supply pressures were used. For each ΔP test condition, the static eccentricity ratio ε=e/Cr is range from zero to approximately 0.6. Results show that 8 rotordynamic coefficients increase almost linearly with inlet/outlet pressure ratio. Increasing eccentricity ratio weakens the stability of seal-rotor system obviously.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome of adenovirus-mediated p27KIP1 (Ad-p27) expression on wound healing after filtration surgery and to investigate the inhibition of cell proliferation induced by Ad-p27. We constructed the adenovirus recombinant vector Ad-p27 and administered it to a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery by subconjunctival injection; phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and mitomycin C (MMC) were used as controls. Intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb scores, and anterior chamber depths were observed during a 28-d period. Histological examinations, fluorescence observations and Western blot analyses were evaluated. Ad-p27 enhanced the surgical outcome and inhibited cell proliferation when compared with PBS. Bleb scores in the Ad-p27-treated eyes were higher than those in the PBS-treated eyes on d 7 (P

To determine the release characteristics of a 5-fluorouracil-loaded poly (lactic acid) disc (5-FU-PLA-DS) and the effect of sustained drug delivery on the success of glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbit eyes. A method of microspheres accumulated by excessive carriers was used in the preparation of the 5-FU-PLA-DS. The disc was characterized for drug loading, entrapment efficiency, in vitro release, and external morphology. It was then implanted subconjunctivally into rabbit eyes with trabeculectomy. Intraocular pressure, ocular inflammatory reaction, filtration bleb appearance, and persistence were evaluated up to postoperative d 90. A quantitative analysis of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was performed in the aqueous humor. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to assess the appearance of the filtering fistula. The 5-FU-PLA-DS was produced with the drug-loading of 3.07±0.08 mg (mean±SD). 5-FU was released for 91 d with suppressive concentrations. The decrease in intraocular pressure from baseline was significantly more marked in the 5-FU-PLA-DS-implanted eyes during postoperative d 3-90, and the persistence of bleb and filtration fistula was longer than the control eyes (P

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the trabecular meshwork (TM) of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) patients treated with trabeculectomy. Materials and methods Six eyes with NVG underwent trabeculectomy for therapeutic purposes. The data consisted of patient demographics, presurgical and postsurgical visual acuity, intraocular pressure, gonioscopy, and neovascularization of iris and/or the anterior chamber angle. TM samples were obtained from the NVG eyes that had undergone surgery. Immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy were carried out to determine the expression of UCP2 and ZO-1 in the TM cells. Results The baseline median visual acuity was light perception, and the mean intraocular pressure (standard error) was 52.5 (8.3) mm Hg. All eyes displayed neovascularization of the iris and the anterior chamber angle. The expression of UCP2 was significantly decreased in TM cells of NVG compared with the control (P=0.000), whereas increase in ZO-1 expression was detected in staining cells with NVG in comparison with the control (P=0.000). The necrotic cells in the TM were increased (P=0.000), whereas the viable cells were reduced (P=0.000) in comparison with the control. Conclusions The decreased UCP2 expression and increased ZO-1 expression suggest that the oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and tight junction formation may play pivotal roles in the progress of NVG.

PURPOSE To investigate the potential antiproliferative effect of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B) overexpression in a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS). METHODS The recombinant adenovector expressing exogenous CDKN1B was delivered to Tenon's capsule by subconjunctival injection during unilateral filtration surgery. The time course of CDKN1B expression was monitored by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Evaluation of proliferating activity was performed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region (AgNOR) staining, and fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1). Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and Cdk4 expression were detected with immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS The overexpression of CDKN1B in Tenon's capsule was monitored throughout the experimental period. Immunoreactivity to CDKN1B was mainly observed in the nucleus of fibroblasts. The increased expression of CDKN1B in sclera was detected up to 21 days after viral infection, whereas the level of CDKN1B protein in corneal stroma was not significantly increased. The overexpression of CDKN1B induced a significant decrease in AgNOR number/nucleus and area/nucleus, PCNA staining, FSP-1 positive cells, and the decreased expressions of Cdk2 and Cdk4, as evidenced by nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity to Cdk2 and Cdk4 antibodies in positive fibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS The persistent overexpression of CDKN1B mediated by the recombinant adenovector expressing exogenous CDKN1B in Tenon's fibroblasts after GFS may lead to the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation and the downregulation of Cdk2 and Cdk4 activity, thereby reducing the severity of scar formation and the surgical outcome.

A framework for consciousness is introduced based upon traditional artificial neural network models. This astral framework reflects explicit connections between two parts of brain: one global working memory and distributed modular cerebral networks related to specific brain functions. Accordingly, this framework is composed of two layers, physical mnemonic layer and abstract thinking layer, which cooperate together to accomplish information storage and cognition using algorithms of how these interactions contribute to consciousness: (1) the bottom-up-projection process whereby cerebral subsystems group distributed signals into coherent object patterns; (2) the top-down-attention process whereby global workspace selectively responses to highly impressive patterns; and (3) the horizontal resonant learning process whereby global workspace steadily adjusts its network to adapt to environmental changes. Using this framework, various sorts of human brain actions can be explained, leading to a general approach for analyzing brain functions.

Two distinct types of cell growth of suspension-cultured Mentha were formed when the cells maintained in the medium containing 1000 micrograms l-1 2,4-D were subcultured into different 2,4-D concentrations. Few cell elongation of Mentha (average cell length: 34-40 microns) was observed after division in the medium containing 1-200 micrograms l-1 2,4-D; and significant cell elongation (average cell length: 95-130 microns) was observed after cell division in the medium containing 500-2000 micrograms l-1 2,4-D. A close correlation between culture medium and water content in the cells indicated that 2,4-D promoted cell elongation by water uptake. Amounts of phenolic acid in cell walls were much higher in unelongated cell walls than in elongated ones during the cultivation, and there was a close correlation between the amounts and the level of PAL activity in elongated and unelongated cells. However, there was no significant difference in cell wall components and its neutral sugar composition between elongated and unelongated cells.