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Alogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that is a class of relatively new oral hypoglycaemic drugs used in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), can be used as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-diabetic agents, including metformin, pioglitazone, sulfonylureas and insulin with a considerable therapeutic effect. Alogliptin exhibits favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles in humans. Alogliptin is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP2D6) and CYP3A4. Dose reduction is recommended for patients with moderate or worse renal impairment. Side effects of alogliptin include nasopharyngitis, upper-respiratory tract infections and headache. Hypoglycaemia is seen in about 1.5% of the T2DM patients. Rare but severe adverse reactions such as acute pancreatitis, serious hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis, angioedema and severe cutaneous reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported from post-marketing monitoring. Pharmacokinetic interactions have not been observed between alogliptin and other drugs including glyburide, metformin, pioglitazone, insulin and warfarin. The present review aimed to update the clinical information on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects and drug interactions, and to discuss the future directions of alogliptin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unified calculation of optical band positions and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) (or spin-Hamiltonian) parameters for the trigonal Cr3+–Li+centre in CsMgCl3crystal is made by using the complete diagonalisation (of energy matrix) method based on the two-spin–orbit-parameter model. In this model, the contributions from the spin–orbit parameter of central dnion and that of ligand ion are included. From the calculation, the 11 observed optical and EPR data (eight optical band positions and three EPR parametersg//,g⊥,D) are reasonably explained with five adjustable parameters and the defect structure of the Cr3+–Li+centre (which is consistent with the expectation based on the electrostatic interaction) in CsMgCl3is acquired. The results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

With mixed transition-metal-complex, alkali-metal, or organic cations as structure-directing agents, a series of novel two-dimensional (2D) layered inorganic-organic hybrid iodoargentates, namely, Kx[TM(2,2-bipy)3]2Ag6I11 (TM = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), Ni (4), Zn (5); x = 0.89-1) and [(Ni(2,2-bipy)3][H-2,2-bipy]Ag3I6 (6), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. All the title compounds feature 2D microporous layers composed by [Ag3I7] secondary building units based on AgI4 tetrahedra. Differently, the [Ag3I7] trimers are directly interconnected via corner-sharing to form the 2D [Ag6I11]5- layer in compounds 1-5, whereas two neighboring [Ag3I7] trimers are initially condensed into a hexameric [Ag6I12] ternary building unit as a new node, which further self-assembles, leading to the 2D [Ag6I10]4- layer in compound 6. The UV-vis diffuse-reflectance measurements reveal that all the compounds possess proper semiconductor behaviors with tunable band gaps of 1.66-2.75 eV, which lead to highly efficient photocatalytic degradation activities over organic pollutants under visible light irradiation compared to that of N-dotted P25. Interestingly, all the samples feature distinct photodegradative speeds at the same reaction conditions, and compound 1 features the highest photocatalytic activity among the title phases. The luminescence properties, band structures, and thermal stabilities were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using transitional metal (TM)complex cations as structure-directingagents, a series of new hybrid cuprous halides with abundant architecturesranging from one-dimensional (1D) ribbons to two-dimensional (2D)layers have been solvothermally prepared and structurally characterized.Compounds [TM(2,2-bipy)3]Cu5I7(TM= Fe (1), Co (2), and Ni (3)) feature 1D [Cu5I7]2–chainsformed by the interconnection of [Cu5I10] unitsvia edge-sharing. In compounds [TM(2,2-bipy)2I]2Cu7I9(TM = Mn (4), Cu (5), and Ru (6)), the [Cu5I9] units and [Cu2I6] dimers are alternatelyinterlinked via edge-sharing to form the 1D [Cu7I9]2–chains. Compound [Cu(2,2-bipy)2I][(Me)2-2,2-bipy]Cu8I11(7) containsa new 1D [Cu8I11]3–chaincomposed of complex [Cu8I13] units based onCuI4tetrahedra and CuI3triangles. Compound[Co(2,2-bipy)3]Cu5Br8(8) features 1D [Cu5Br8]3–anionicchain built from the interconnection of [Cu6Br10] units and linear [Cu4Br8] tetramers. In compoundK[Mn(2,2-bipy)3]2Cu6I11(9), the [Cu3I7] secondary buildingunits are directly interconnected to form 2D [Cu6I11]5–layers, which are further interconnectedby K+ions via weak K–I bonds to generate a 3D [K@Cu6I11]4–framework with 1D largechannels occupied by [Mn(2,2-bipy)3]2+complexes.The UV–vis diffuse reflectance measurements reveal that thetitle compounds possess semiconductor behaviors with smaller bandgaps of 1.44–1.95 eV, and samples 4, 5, and 9show highly efficient photocatalytic degradationactivities over organic pollutant than N-doped P25 under visible-lightirradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With only 1.3−4.3% in total hepatic CYP content, human CYP2D6 can metabolize more than 160 drugs. It is a highly polymorphic enzyme and subject to marked inhibition by a number of drugs, causing a large interindividual variability in drug clearance and drug response and drug–drug interactions. The expression and activity of CYP2D6 are regulated by a number of physiological, pathological and environmental factors at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and epigenetic levels. DNA hypermethylation and histone modifications can repress the expression ofCYP2D6. Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α binds to a directly repeated element in the promoter ofCYP2D6and thus regulates the expression of CYP2D6. Small heterodimer partner represses hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α-mediated transactivation ofCYP2D6. GW4064, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, decreases hepatic CYP2D6 expression and activity while increasing small heterodimer partner expression and its recruitment to theCYP2D6promoter. The genotypes are key determinants of interindividual variability in CYP2D6 expression and activity. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified a large number of genes that can regulate CYP2D6. Pregnancy induces CYP2D6 via unknown mechanisms. Renal or liver diseases, smoking and alcohol use have minor to moderate effects only on CYP2D6 activity. Unlike CYP1 and 3 and other CYP2 members, CYP2D6 is resistant to typical inducers such as rifampin, phenobarbital and dexamethasone. Post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation of CYP2D6 Ser135 have been observed, but the functional impact is unknown. Further functional and validation studies are needed to clarify the role of nuclear receptors, epigenetic factors and other factors in the regulation of CYP2D6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are a class of oral antidiabetic drugs that improve glycaemic control without causing weight gain or increasing hypoglycaemic risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The eight available DPP-4 inhibitors, including alogliptin, anagliptin, gemigliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, teneligliptin, and vildagliptin, are small molecules used orally with identical mechanism of action and similar safety profiles in patients with T2DM. DPP-4 inhibitors may be used as monotherapy or in double or triple combination with other oral glucose-lowering agents such as metformin, thiazolidinediones, or sulfonylureas. Although DPP-4 inhibitors have the same mode of action, they differ by some important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that may be clinically relevant in some patients. The main differences between the eight gliptins include: potency, target selectivity, oral bioavailability, elimination half-life, binding to plasma proteins, metabolic pathways, formation of active metabolite(s), main excretion routes, dosage adjustment for renal and liver insufficiency, and potential drug-drug interactions. The off-target inhibition of selective DPP-4 inhibitors is responsible for multiorgan toxicities such as immune dysfunction, impaired healing, and skin reactions. As a drug class, the DPP-4 inhibitors have become accepted in clinical practice due to their excellent tolerability profile, with a low risk of hypoglycaemia, a neutral effect on body weight, and once-daily dosing. It is unknown if DPP-4 inhibitors can prevent disease progression. More clinical studies are needed to validate the optimal regimens of DPP-4 inhibitors for the management of T2DM when their potential toxicities are closely monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five isostructural polymeric iodoargentates incorporating similar transition metal complex cations as structure-directing agents, - namely, [TM(2,2-bipy)3]Ag3I5 [TM = Mn ( 1), Fe ( 2), Co ( 3), Ni ( 4), Zn ( 5)] - have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The title compounds contain saturated [TM(2,2-bipy)3]2+ cations and one-dimensional (1D) [Ag3I5]2- anionic chains formed by trans-interconnection of [Ag3I5] semicubes through Ag-I bonds. The optical absorption spectra indicate that compounds 1- 5 are semiconductors with estimated band gaps of 2.28, 1.87, 1.95, 2.01, and 2.61 eV, respectively, which are mainly ascribed, on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, to charge transitions between the [Ag3I5]2- anionic chains and organic cationic units. We evaluated the photocatalytic efficiencies of compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 with regard to the decomposition of crystal violet (CV) under visible irradiation, and the four compounds showed excellent photodegradation abilities in comparison with N-doped P25, with an order of 1 > 2 > 4 > 5 > P25. The luminescent properties and thermal stabilities of the title compounds were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Black Americans are exposed to higher annual levels of air pollution containing fine particulate matter (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5]) than White Americans and may be more susceptible to its health effects. Low-income Americans may also be more susceptible to PM2.5 pollution than high-income Americans. Because information is lacking on exposure–response curves for PM2.5 exposure and mortality among marginalized subpopulations categorized according to both race and socioeconomic position, the Environmental Protection Agency lacks important evidence to inform its regulatory rulemaking for PM2.5 standards. METHODS We analyzed 623 million person-years of Medicare data from 73 million persons 65 years of age or older from 2000 through 2016 to estimate associations between annual PM2.5 exposure and mortality in subpopulations defined simultaneously by racial identity (Black vs. White) and income level (Medicaid eligible vs. ineligible). RESULTS Lower PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower mortality in the full population, but marginalized subpopulations appeared to benefit more as PM2.5 levels decreased. For example, the hazard ratio associated with decreasing PM2.5 from 12 μg per cubic meter to 8 μg per cubic meter for the White higher-income subpopulation was 0.963 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.955 to 0.970), whereas equivalent hazard ratios for marginalized subpopulations were lower: 0.931 (95% CI, 0.909 to 0.953) for the Black higher-income subpopulation, 0.940 (95% CI, 0.931 to 0.948) for the White low-income subpopulation, and 0.939 (95% CI, 0.921 to 0.957) for the Black low-income subpopulation. CONCLUSIONS Higher-income Black persons, low-income White persons, and low-income Black persons may benefit more from lower PM2.5 levels than higher-income White persons. These findings underscore the importance of considering racial identity and income together when assessing health inequities. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor cells intensively engage in metabolic reprogramming for enhancing the availability of glycolytic metabolites and support cell proliferation. As the most important rate-limiting enzyme in aerobic glycolysis, activating the pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 (PKM2) from dimers to tetramers has become a key tumor chemotherapy method to control glucose metabolism. Herein, we developed a glycopeptide-based PKM2 nano-activator, which could induce the tetramerization of PKM2 based on serine bonding to Domain C of PKM2. The bound and trapped PKM2 tetramers significantly hindered glycolytic intermediates, prevented the nucleus translocation of dimeric PKM2, and ultimately inhibited the proliferation, chemoresistance and metastasis of tumor. The glycopeptide assembled into nanoparticles under aqueous conditions and in the circulation, which in situ transformed into PKM2 nano-activator with nanofibrillar structure after specifically activated by O-GlcNAcase recognition upregulated in a wide range of human tumors. Moreover, the glycopeptide-based PKM2 nano-activator successfully accumulated at the tumor sites and boosted the chemo-drug sensitivity against prostate and breast cancers. Attributed to these intriguing results, the newly developed glycopeptide-based PKM2 nano-activator can be envisioned a promising candidate for the treatment of tumors by switching catabolic pathways. Schematic illustration of self-assembly, accumulation and in situ fibrillar transformation of GPNA1 in tumor cells, followed by intracellular anti-proliferative events. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous epidemiological and experimental animal studies have indicated that chronic psychological stress may promote tumor development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which chronic stress promotes tumorigenesis remain to be fully elucidated and animal models have not yet been well established. In the present study, an established mouse model of repeated social defeat stress (RSDS), was generated and used to investigate the effect of stress on tumor growth and metastasis. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to RSDS for 10 days, followed by subcutaneousl inoculation with Lewis lung carcinoma cells for seven days. The tumor weight and volume as well as the number of the lung metastatic nodules were then determined. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum levels were measured using ELISAs. In addition, expression levels of VEGF receptor (VEGFR) and L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) messenger (m)RNA were confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, protein expression levels of phosphorlyated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were examined using western blot analysis. The results showed that RSDS significantly increased the weight and the volume of the primary tumor as well as the number of the lung metastatic nodules. Serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in the tumor-stress group compared with those of the unstressed tumor mice. In addition, tumors in stressed animals demonstrated markedly enhanced expression of VEGFR-2 and L1CAM mRNA as well as pERK, MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. In conclusion, these results suggested that RSDS contributed to lung cancer progression, angiogenesis and metastasis, which was partially associated with increased VEGF secretion and therefore the activation of the ERK signaling pathway, resulting in the induction of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. Retrospective database analysis. Objective. To determine C2 fracture patterns associated with vertebral artery injury (VAI) as assessed by computed tomography angiography. Summary of Background Data. The incidence of C2 fracture hospitalizations has increased significantly in the last decade. The vertebral arteries are susceptible to injury as each courses through the C2 transverse foramen. Early screening for VAI to institute antithrombotic treatment is critical to prevent ischemic neurological sequelae. Imaging-based fracture classification schemes to determine which patterns are predictors of VAI in isolated C2 fractures using computed tomography angiography have not been described. Methods. Cervical spine computed tomographic (CT) scans at a level I trauma center were reviewed for isolated C2 fractures from 2004 to 2014 under institutional board review approval. Exclusion criteria included penetrating injury or additional cervical/occipital fractures. Fractures were classified using multiplanar CT scans into type I/II/IIa/III spondylolisthesis, type I/IIA/IIB/IIC/III dens, transverse foramen (displacement/comminution/intraforaminal fragments), and miscellaneous vertebral body fractures. Corresponding CT angiograms were assessed for VAI on the basis of the Denver grading criteria. Fisher exact test and Student t test were performed to determine predictors of VAI on the basis of fracture type. Results. Sixty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Fracture pattern analysis revealed that the majority were dens fractures (50.8%) and traumatic spondylolisthesis (41.8%); 29.9% had miscellaneous coronal/sagittal fractures and 22.4% were a combination. VAI was identified in 37.3% of patients with isolated C2 fractures, and 88% of patients had transverse foramen involvement. Fracture patterns significantly associated with VAI were type III dens and transverse foramen fractures with intraforaminal fragments, with or without comminution. Conclusion. The C2 fracture pattern most associated with VAI was comminuted transverse foramen fracture with intraforaminal fragments. Transverse foramen fracture alone was not found to be significant. These results help stratify patients with isolated C2 fractures who are at high VAI risk and should be further evaluated with computed tomography angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a finite quiver without sources or sinks, we prove that the homotopy category of acyclic complexes of injective modules over the corresponding finite-dimensional algebra with radical square zero is triangle equivalent to the derived category of the Leavitt path algebra viewed as a differential graded algebra with trivial differential, which is further triangle equivalent to the stable category of Gorenstein projective modules over the trivial extension algebra of a von Neumann regular algebra by an invertible bimodule. A related, but different, result for the homotopy category of acyclic complexes of projective modules is given. Restricting these equivalences to compact objects, we obtain various descriptions of the singularity category of a finite-dimensional algebra with radical square zero, which contain previous results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

0.93(Bi 0.5− x /0.93 Er x /0.93 Na 0.5 )TiO 3 –0.07BaTiO 3 photoluminescent ceramics have been prepared by a conventional ceramic fabrication technique and their photoluminescence, ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties have been studied. Under an excitation of 980 nm, the ceramics exhibit visible up-conversion luminescent emissions at 532 nm (green), 540 nm (green) and 600 nm (red), as well as broadband down-conversion luminescent emissions in near-infrared (1.44–1.66 μm) and mid-infrared (2.62–2.84 μm) regions. The quenching concentration for the ceramics is high, about 6%, and both the visible and invisible emissions are very strong. Among the emissions, the photoluminescence intensity of the red emission band increases most significantly by more than 47 times as the Er-concentration increases from 0.005 to 0.07. As a result, the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage chromaticity coordinates shift from (0.29, 0.69) to (0.49, 0.50), and the emission color changes from green to yellowish green. Owing to the establishment of a dynamic circulatory energy process at high Er-concentrations, the photoluminescence intensity of the mid-infrared emission increases significantly by more than 4 times at the expense of the near-infrared emission. Together with the good ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties, the ceramics should be promising candidates for multifunctional optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major public health concern and cause significant patient morbidity and mortality. Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic polymorphisms affect an individual's response to pharmacotherapy at the level of a whole genome. This article updates our knowledge on how genetic polymorphisms of important genes alter the risk of ADR occurrence after an extensive literature search. To date, at least 244 pharmacogenes identified have been associated with ADRs of 176 clinically used drugs based on PharmGKB. At least 28 genes associated with the risk of ADRs have been listed by the Food and Drug Administration as pharmacogenomic biomarkers. With the availability of affordable and reliable testing tools, pharmacogenomics looks promising to predict, reduce, and minimize ADRs in selected populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third-generation heat transfer technologies, such as three-dimensional fin and dimple, are still important means of improving energy efficiency and will continue to be challenging issues. This paper presents condensation heat transfer performance of an edge-shaped finned tube fabricated by a ploughing–extruding process. The edge-shaped finned tube integrates more than one heat transfer enhancement technology and can enhance the heat transfer capacity greatly. It is seen that the overall heat transfer coefficient and heat flux increase with inlet velocity of cold water increasing, and decrease with inlet temperature of cold water increasing, whereas the shell-side heat transfer coefficient decreases with inlet velocity of cold water increasing and increases with inlet temperature of cold water increasing. At the same inlet velocity, the shell-side heat transfer coefficient for the edge-shaped finned tube is improved by 5–7 times compared to that of a smooth tube. At the same temperature difference between wall and vapor, the shell-side heat transfer coefficient is also higher than what had been reported in the literature. The shell-side heat transfer coefficient of the edge-shaped finned tube decreases with the increase of fabrication parameter feed at the same inlet velocity or inlet temperature of cold water. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Well injection depth extraction (WIDE) is used to remediate contaminated fine-grained soil with low hydraulic conductivity. The flow path is short because the prefabricated vertical wells (PVW) are closely installed in the WIDE system. The current analytical solution that considers the infinite extraction boundary is not suitable to describe the close distance between the injection PVWs (IPVW) and the extraction PVWs (EPVW). A Neumann boundary is proposed as an extraction boundary that can reflect the characteristics of the WIDE system. A flux-type boundary is proposed as an injection boundary to meet the requirements for mass conservation. An analytical solution for a simplified planar two-dimensional model of the WIDE system is presented to take into account the proposed extraction and injection boundaries. Moreover, the initial concentration that is exponentially distributed along the depth is taken into account. The results are consistent with those obtained from the finite-difference method and the experimental data. The results indicate that the Neumann boundary is better than the infinite extraction boundary, and the analytical solution with the infinite boundary is a special case of the proposed solution. The proposed analytical solution is relatively simple and can be used for a quick preliminary calculation to evaluate the experimental results and to evaluate more complex numerical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With different transition metal (TM) complexes as structure directing agents or building units, three new multinary chalcognidometalates based on T3 supertetrahedral nanocluster of [Mn2Ga4Sn4S20]8− have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. In compound Mn2Ga4Sn4S20[Mn2(en)5]2·4H2O (1, en = ethylenediamine), the neighboring [Mn2Ga4Sn4S20]8− cores were bridged by two pairs of [Mn2(en)5]4+ complex cations via Mn–S bonds to form one-dimensional (1D) neutral chains. Compound Mn2Ga4Sn4S20[Mn(dien)2]4·2H2O (2, dien = diethylenetriamine) contained discrete [Mn2Ga4Sn4S20]8− cores separated by [Mn(dien)2]2+ cations. In compound Mn2Ga4Sn4S20[Mn(teta)]4 (3, teta = triethylenetetramine), each [Mn2Ga4Sn4S20]8− core was covalently attached by four [Mn(teta)]2+ complexes via terminal Mn–S bonds to form a neutral isolated cluster. The photocatalytic experiments indicate that compound 1 was able to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and crystal violet (CV) under visible irradiation. Furthermore, the luminescence properties and thermal stabilities of the title compounds, as well as the second-order nonlinear optical property of 3 were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past few decades, a number of studies have investigated the association of the wolframin ( WFS1) gene H611R polymorphism with mood disorders, but the findings are not always consistent. Aims: The objective of the present study is to assess the association between WFS1 gene H611R polymorphism and mood disorders by using a meta-analysis. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Elsevier Science Direct and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted to identify relevant articles, with the last report up to April 15, 2014. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated. Results: Seven studies including 1318 cases and 1252 controls were selected from potentially relevant articles. This meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between WFS1 gene H611R polymorphism and mood disorders (R vs. H: OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.82-1.05, P = 0.22; HR+ RR vs. HH: OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.82-1.17, P = 0.80; RR vs. HH+ HR: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.67-1.04, P = 0.11; RR vs. HH: OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.67-1.10, P = 0.24; HR vs. HH: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.78-1.36, P = 0.83). In subgroup analyses by ethnicity, we did not detect any significant association of this polymorphism with mood disorders in Caucasian and Asian populations ( P > 0.05). In subgroup analyses by types of mood disorders, we also did not detect any significant association of this polymorphism with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that there is no association between WFS1 gene H611R polymorphism and mood disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new organic–inorganic hybrid manganese thiogermanates and thiostannates, namely, [Mn(en)2]MnGeS4 (1, en = ethylenediamine), [Mn(dien)2]MnSnS4 (2, dien = diethylenetriamine) and [Mn(1,2-dap)]2Sn2S6 (3, 1,2-dap = 1,2-diaminopropane), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 has a three-dimensional (3D) neutral framework composed of one-dimensional (1D) [MnGeS4]2− chains and unsaturated [Mn(en)2]2+ cations interconnected via Mn–S bonds, whereas compounds 2–3 feature 1D [MnSnS4]2− anionic chains and 1D neutral [Mn(1,2-dap)]2Sn2S6 chains, respectively. Investigation into the magnetic properties of the title compounds reveals antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic coupling interactions between the Mn(ii) ions for compounds 1 and 3, respectively. The optical and luminescence properties, as well as the thermal stabilities, were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct some irreducible representations of the Leavitt path algebra of an arbitrary quiver. The constructed representations are associated to certain algebraic branching systems. For a row-finite quiver, we classify algebraic branching systems, to which irreducible representations of the Leavitt path algebra are associated. For a certain quiver, we obtain a faithful completely reducible representation of the Leavitt path algebra. The twisted representations of the constructed ones under the scaling action are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature atherosclerosis, the hallmark of cardiovascular diseases, has been found to be a significant cause of late deaths in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Therefore, early identification of atherosclerosis before the overt disease is curial for the management program of SLE. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD%) is a reliable, noninvasive, easy to use, reproducible, and pathogenically relevant index for early atherosclerosis. In recent years, a number of studies have been performed to compare the mean FMD% difference between patients with SLE and healthy controls. However, these studies have shown inconclusive or even contradictory findings. In this study, to derive a more precise comparison of FMD% difference between SLE patients and healthy controls, a meta-analysis was performed. Databases were searched to identify all available studies comparing FMD% between SLE patients and healthy controls. The study eligibility criteria were cohort or case-control studies with data on both patients diagnosed with SLE and healthy controls, and use of high-resolution ultrasonography to detect FMD. Random effect meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the overall mean FMD% difference between the two groups. Publication bias was detected by funnel plot and Egger's test. Meta-regression analysis was performed to investigate the potential influencing factors on FMD% difference. Of the 434 articles initially identified, 22 were finally included in the meta-analysis. Compared to healthy controls, SLE patients had significantly lower FMD% (standardized mean difference, −1.19; 95 % CI, −1.63, −0.74; P < 0.001). There was significant heterogeneity among these studies ( I = 94.3 %, P < 0.001), which was mainly due to variations in disease duration of SLE patients. The funnel plot showed a skewed shape, indicating a marked publication bias, which was further supported by the Egger's test ( P = 0.006). However, after the correction for potential publication bias by using the trim-and-fill method, the main results for all studies combined were still significant ( P < 0.001). Taken together, these findings support the current evidence on a higher cardiovascular burden in SLE and support using FMD% as a surrogate for premature atherosclerosis in SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructures and mechanical properties of Clinocardium californiense shell were investigated in relation to the different parts of shell. It is found that the shell can be divided into three parts, that is, the dorsal side, body part, and marginal side based on the variation of microstructures along the longitudinal cross section. Specifically, all areas exhibit a cross-lamellar structure on the dorsal side, and a hierarchical structure comprising three layers including inner (with a cross-lamellar structure), middle (with a complex cross-lamellar structure), and outer (with a prismatic structure) layers was observed on the body part, whereas on the marginal side, the orientation of aragonite sheets shows an obvious deflection. The structural architecture, the dimensions of different-order lamellae in the same kind of structure and the orientation between the indenting direction and aragonite sheet all contribute to the unique mechanical properties of this shell. It is also found that a low value of the ratio of hardness-to-Young's modulus ( H/ E) corresponds to an improved indentation toughness. The middle layer with the densest and most complicated structure on the body part shows the lowest H/ E ratio and the highest hardness and Young's modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verticinone, the main active component in F. hupehensis, exhibits potent antitussive and expectorant effects. Here, a LC-MS method was developed and applied to study the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of verticinone in rats, and its plasma protein binding in vitro. A significant gender difference in the pharmacokinetics of verticinone in rats was observed, as its absolute oral bioavailability in male and female rats was 45.8% and 2.74%, respectively. The relative bioavailability of verticinone was significantly lower in female rats as compared to male, following intragastrical (i.g.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration. After successive i.g. administration of verticinone, accumulation was observed in female rats but not in the male ones. The tissue distribution study showed that verticinone had a good tissue penetrability and a high tissue affinity in most studied tissues, except brain. After a 2 mg/kg oral dose, less than 4% of the dose was excreted as unchanged parent compound in male rats, and less than 1% in female rats, which indicated that verticinone was metabolized more extensively in female rats than in male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lead-free ceramics K0.5Na0.5NbO3 doped with x mol% Er3+ ions have been successfully manufactured and their photoluminescence properties, including the up-conversion visible (480-700 nm) emissions, down-conversion near infrared (1400-1680 nm) and middle infrared (2620-2850 nm) emissions, emission colors and lifetimes of the energy levels have been systemically investigated. The corresponding photoluminescence mechanism has been discussed in detail. Our results show that the Er-doping induces a phase transition from orthorhombic to cubic-like as well as inhibits the grain growth due to the donor-type nature. Both the change of crystallographic structures and concentration-quenching effect induced by Er3+ ions have great influences on the photoluminescence properties. Because of the wide emission ranges and long lifetimes, Er-doped K0.5Na0.5NbO3 ceramics are the promising candidates for optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) syndrome during hysteroscopic surgery is a severe complication due to the absorption of irrigating fluids and pressure in uterine cavity, fluid overload and/or dilution hyponatremia cause a series of clinical symptoms. It can be a dread complication if it is not timely diagnosed and treated. The relevant pathophysiology of TURP syndrome was discussed through the analysis on four typical cases, the relative major factors include high-pressure perfusion and venous sinuses open during the surgery. The principles of preventive measures and treatments of this complication were discussed in order to strengthen the safety awareness of doctors, to reduce the incidence of this complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third generation enhanced heat transfer technologies, such as three-dimensional fin and dimple, are still important means of improving energy efficiency and will continue to be challenging issues. This paper concentrates on the analysis of the condensation heat transfer performance of an edge-shaped finned-tube fabricated by extrusion-ploughing process. Experimental results show that the overall heat transfer coefficient increases with increases of volumetric flow rate of cold water and heat flux whereas the shell side heat transfer coefficient decreases with volumetric flow rate and heat flux increasing. At the similar volumetric flow rate, the shell side heat transfer coefficient of the edge-shaped finned-tube is 4-6 times larger than that of the smooth tube. At the similar volumetric flow rate, the shell side heat transfer coefficient of edge-shaped finned-tube increases with ploughing depth increasing. At the same temperature difference between wall and vapor, the shell side heat transfer coefficient is also higher than what had been reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a hierarchical control system structure based on the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model to achieve an optimal control of a boiler–turbine unit. In the upper layer of the hierarchy, an optimal reference governor is designed to find the optimal operating point. A disturbance term is introduced to the fuzzy model to lump the modeling mismatch and unknown disturbance. Thus, the effect of plant behavior variation can be removed and the operating point found can be feasible to control. In the lower layer, a stable model predictive controller is developed to track the optimal set-points while guaranteeing the input-to-state stability of the system. Fuzzy Lyapunov function and appropriate slack and collection matrices are used to reduce the conservatism of stability design and improve the performance. Through the estimation of the disturbance term using an observer, the two layers in the hierarchy are coupled and the integrated system can realize a dynamic optimal control of the boiler–turbine unit, even in the case of severe plant behavior variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous magnesium has been recently recognized as a biodegradable metal for bone substitute applications. A novel porous Mg scaffold with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected pores and with a porosity of 33-54% was produced by the fiber deposition hot pressing (FDHP) technology. The microstructure and morphologies of the porous Mg scaffold were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effects of porosities on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the porous Mg were investigated. Experimental results indicate that the measured Young's modulus and compressive strength of the Mg scaffold are ranged in 0.10-0.37 GPa, and 11.1-30.3 MPa, respectively, which are fairly comparable to those of cancellous bone. Such a porous Mg scaffold having a 3D interconnected network structure has the potential to be used in bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working face of tunnel constructions has to be kept stable during tunneling to prevent large soil deformations or fatal failure. In layered soils with lower cohesion, failures happen more often and more abrupt than in cohesive soils. Therefore, the maintenance of a proper support pressure at the tunnel working face is of high importance. In this paper, an upper bound analysis is introduced to investigate the minimum support pressure for the face stability in layered soils. A three-dimensional kinematically admissible mechanism for the upper bound analysis is improved to model potential failure within different soil layers. An analytical solution for the support pressure assessment is achieved. The influence of the crossing and cover soil on the face stability is analyzed, respectively. This solution provides an analytical estimation of the minimum support pressure for the face stability. It may be used as a reference for projects under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that a certain homological epimorphism between two algebras induces a triangle equivalence between their singularity categories. Applying the result to a construction of matrix algebras, we describe the singularity categories of some non-Gorenstein algebras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spontaneous combustion of coal gangue dumps after reclamation causes severe harm to the ecological environment surrounding mining areas. Using remote sensing technology to determine vegetation heat stress levels is an important way to evaluate the probability of a spontaneous combustion disaster. The canopy spectra and chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) parameters of alfalfa were collected through pot experiments to simulate different heat stress levels. Time series analyses of three ChlF (chlorophyll fluorescence) parameters showed that the regularity of the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) in light-adapted conditions ( Fv ′ / Fm ′ ) was stronger during the monitoring period. The correlation coefficients between the three ChlF parameters and the canopy raw spectrum, first derivative spectrum, and vegetation indices were calculated, and the spectral features were found to be more correlated. Lasso regression was used to further screen spectral features, and the optimal spectral features were the raw spectral value at 741 nm (abbreviated as RS (741)) and NDVI (652, 671). To discriminate among heat stress levels accurately and automatically, we built a time convolution neural network. The classification results showed that when the sequence length is 3, the heat stress is divided into three categories, and the model obtains the highest accuracy. In combination with relevant research conclusions on the temperature distribution law of spontaneous combustion in coal gangue dumps, three heat stress levels can be used to assess the potential of spontaneous combustion in coal gangue dumps after reclamation. The research results provide an important theoretical basis and technical support for early warnings regarding spontaneous combustion disasters in reclaimed coal gangue dumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To 3‐dimensional radiographically assess the effect of titanium plate in guided bone regeneration (GBR) for the treatment of peri‐implant ridge defects in esthetic zone. Material and Methods: Nineteen patients with buccal peri‐implant defects in the maxillary esthetic zone were treated with GBR using xenograft, autogenous bone, and collagen membrane. Subjects were divided into two groups: control (conventional GBR, 10 patients with 16 implants) and test (GBR with an adjunctive titanium plate; nine patients with 15 implants). Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images obtained immediately after and 5–7 months following GBR were used to assess buccal crestal bone level (BBL) and buccal bone thickness (BBT) at different implant levels. Results: Thirty‐one implants in 19 patients were evaluated. Titanium plate exposure occurred in three cases (33.33%) of the test group. After 5–7 months, the mean BBL was located 1.48 ± 0.71 mm coronal to the platform in the test group and 0.90 ± 3.03 mm coronal to the platform in the control group (p = 0.03). The mean over all BBT (BBT‐M) was 4.16 ± 0.48 mm in the test group and 2.38 ± 0.97 mm in the control group (p < 0.01). More resorption occurred in the control group than in the test group regarding mean BBL (3.00 ± 3.11 mm vs. 0.78 ± 0.79 mm, respectively; p = 0.04), BBT‐M change (1.87 ± 1.59 mm vs. 0.56 ± 0.33 mm, respectively; p = 0.02), and percentage change in BBT‐M (40.69 ± 24.01% vs. 11.53 ± 5.86%, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusion: In the short‐term, titanium plate‐enhanced GBR maintained ridge dimensions better than conventional GBR did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite rapid progress and wide applications of room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials, it is still a great challenge to optimize the RTP activity through rational structural design at a molecular level. Herein, a successful cationic engineering strategy is demonstrated to modulate the crystal flexibility achieving controllable RTP in a new pair of metal halides [APML]ZnCl4 ([APML] = N‐(3‐Aminopropyl)morpholine) and [AEML]ZnCl4 ([AEML] = N‐(2‐Aminoethyl)morpholine). Both halides display blue fluorescence under 365 nm UV. Comparing with longer [APML]+, shorter [AEML]+ significantly enhances crystal rigidity and restrains non‐radiative scattering, boosting photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) from 18.89% to 22.41%. Synchronously, enhanced crystal rigidity significantly promotes the inter‐system crossing from singlet to triplet excited states. As a consequence, [AEML]ZnCl4 displays long‐lived green RTP property with millisecond scale lifetime in contrast to the blank RTP activity of [APML]ZnCl4. Comprehensive investigations demonstrate that the energy transfer between inorganic and organic components greatly changes the redistribution of singlet and triplet excited states, resulting in distinct phosphorescence activity. The different short‐lived blue fluorescence and long‐lived green phosphorescence provide a color‐time‐dual‐resolved luminescent tag with advanced applications in anti‐counterfeiting, etc. This work highlights a new structural engineering strategy to achieve controllable RTP affording a guide to rationally design RTP materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the luminescent performance of organic–inorganic metal halides (OIMHs) have obtained significant advances, achieving intrinsic water‐stable OIMHs remain a substantial challenge due to the fragile ionic nature of hybrid the halide structure. To overcome these challenges, a structural design strategy is proposed that involves the use of highly hydrophobic cations as a protective layer to improve the water stability of OIMH. Herein, an aprotic trimethylsulfoxonium [TMSO]+ is selected as a hydrophobic cation and successfully assemble two new manganese based OIMHs of (TMSO)MnCl3 and (TMSO)MnBr3 through facile solid and liquid phase reaction methods. Remarkably, these halides exhibit strong red light emissions with high quantum yields recorded at 86.1% and 53.4%, respectively, originating from the octahedral [MnX6]4− based one‐dimensional (1D) [MnX3]− chain. Most significantly, these halides present extraordinary structural and luminescent stabilities toward continuous corrosion by humid air, water, and acid‐aqueous solution for more than one month, suggesting promising application prospects in extreme chemical environments. In‐depth Hirshfeld surface calculations demonstrate that the ultrahigh water‐stability benefits from the abundant hydrogen bonds and strong electrostatic interactions between [TMSO]+ and [MnX3]− ions, which provides an underlying insight into the stability mechanism. This water‐stability enhancement strategy represents a breakthrough structural engineering to rationally design more water‐stable OIMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new 3-D bi-metal organic framework was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • After pyrolysis, binary metal oxides were prepared and applied to the anode materials of LIBs. • CeCo-700 has the highest specific capacity of 952 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 150 cycles. Precursor method is a well-known technology for preparing certain functional materials. In this work, a novel 3d-4f bimetallic organic framework, denoted as 45MCeCo (45 M representing 4,5-imidazole dicarboxylic acid), was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal technique. The compound thus obtained has the molecular formula of C 10 H 11 CeCoN 4 O 12. By meticulously controlling the amounts of the experimental materials, it was feasible to prepare flower-like crystals possessing identical single crystal structures and significantly larger specific surface areas. As a precursor for electrode materials, this structure underwent calcination at different temperatures to prepare Co 3 O 4 /CeO 2 composites with in situ composite heterostructures. Post-electrochemical tests revealed that CeO 2 remains unreactive across all potentials, thereby contributing to the stabilization of the electrode material structure. In contrast, Co 3 O 4 participated in redox reactions to provide a specific capacity to the sample. In addition, when comparing the performance of the electrode material under different calcination conditions, it became evident that the material exhibited optimal electrochemical performance when subjected to a temperature of 700 °C for 2 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining in high groundwater table areas causes many environmental issues. In China, such regions have three unique and significant characteristics, (1) multiple coal seams; (2) thick coal seams and (3) high groundwater, which lead to mine subsidence ponds. In the past, reclamation of disturbed land was carried out after subsidence stabilised. Such reclamation is a low-percentage of reclaimed farmland, and has high reclamation cost, difficult construction conditions, because of relatively flat terrain and the shortage of backfilling materials in flat topography. Therefore, salvaging the topsoil before it is submerged in water and reusing it while subsidence becomes stable would be a good way to improve the reclamation efficiency. This paper considers a longwall panel in Shandong province as a case study. Dynamic mining subsidence was simulated using mining subsidence prediction software. To illustrate subsidence development and its effects on farmland, the ground was first divided into cell size of 40 m along with pre-mining topography. The mining subsidence and water logging time for each cell were then calculated. Based on the simulations, the topsoil removal time, scope and depth of topsoil was determined. The salvaged topsoil could be reused subsequently, which would provide enough filling material to raise the percentage of reclaimed farmland, and reduce reclamation costs. The research benefits the development of concurrent mining and reclamation technology in underground mining sites, and promotes the synchronisation of exploitations and treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withdifferent transition metal (TM) complexes as structure-directingagents or structure-building units, a series of new mercury thioantimonateswith abundant architectures ranging from one-dimensional (1D) ribbonsto two-dimensional (2D) layers have been solvothermally synthesizedand structurally characterized. Compounds [Co(en)3]Hg2Sb2S6(1) (en = ethylenediamine)and [Ni(1,2-dap)3]2HgSb3S7Cl (2, 1,2-dap = 1,2-diaminopropane) containa discrete 2D [Hg2Sb2S6]n2n–layer and1D [HgSb3S7]n3n–chain, respectively. Compounds[Ni(1,2-dap)3]HgSb2S5(3) and [Mn(dien)2]HgSb2S5(4, dien = diethylenetriamine) feature distinct 2D[HgSb2S5]n2n–layer and 1D [HgSb2S5]n2n–ribbon, respectively, whereas the 1D [HgSb2S5]n2n–chains are attached by [TM(tren)]2+complexes via TM–Sbonds to form 1D {[TM(tren)]HgSb2S5}nribbons in compounds [TM(tren)]HgSb2S5(TM = Mn (5), Fe (6), Co(7), tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine). Compounds [TM(dien)2]Hg3Sb4S10(TM = Mn (8), Co(9), Ni(10)) feature 2D [Hg3Sb4S10]n2n–anionic layers separated by[TM(dien)2]2+cations. The most interestingstructural feature of these compounds is the presence of three differenttypes of coordination environments of Hg centers including linear[HgS2] unit, [HgS3] triangle, and [HgS4] tetrahedron. The optical properties and thermal stabilities ofthe title compounds were studied by UV–vis spectra and thernogravimetricanalyses, respectively. The photocatalytic experiments indicated that 3, 4, and 10were able to degraderhodamine B (RhB) under visible irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next generation of heterogeneous integration requires 2.5-D packages on through silicon interposer (TSI) as enabling technology for less signal delay, faster speed, and more functionality. In the meantime, the introduction of multiple chips on interposer tends to increase the heat density with added interconnect complexity, which requires systematic thermal analysis and characterization. In this paper, thermal characterization of 2.5-D packages on TSI is reported in both bare-die package and overmolded package formats. The test vehicle consists of two dummy chips and thermal test die assembled on the same interposer of 18~mm\times 18~mm\times 0.1~mm through the flip chip bumping and joining process. A thermal test chip of 5.08~mm\times 5.08~mm is built in with heaters and diodes for thermal characterization. Thermal measurements are conducted for thermal resistances from junction to the ambient, from junction to the board, and from junction to top casing. Measurement accuracy is improved through distributed through silicon via network, multidie temperature monitoring and uncertainty analysis and minimization. It is found that the overmolded package has lower thermal resistances than the bare die package. In addition, the thermal resistance from the junction to the casing is also characterized with a liquid-cooled minichannel cold plate as heat sink, indicating the vast difference between bare die package and molded package. Besides experimental measurements, thermal simulation models under different boundary conditions are established, respectively, to compare with the measurements. Good agreements are generally achieved between simulation and measurements. Further simulation is also conducted to examine the effects of overmold thickness and power dissipation from the multichips module on the interposer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the active metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), is a widespread environmental contaminant and has been proved to have potential adverse effects on the reproductive system, carcinogenicity, liver, kidney and developmental toxicities. However, the effect of MEHP on vascular system remains unclear. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of MEHP on human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) and its possible molecular mechanism. HUVEC cells were treated with MEHP (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25,50 and 100 µM), and the cellular apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential as well as intracellular reactive oxygen species were determined. In present study, MEHP induced a dose-dependent cell injury in HUVEC cell via an apoptosis pathway as characterized by increased percentage of sub-G1, activation of caspase-3, -8and -9, and increased ratio of Bax/bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression as well as cytochrome C releasing. In addition, there was obvious oxidative stress, represented by decreased glutathione level, increased malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase activity. N-Acetylcysteine, as an antioxidant that is a direct reactive oxygen species scavenger, could effectively block MEHP-induced reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential loss and cell apoptosis. These data indicated that MEHP induced apoptosis in HUVEC cells through a reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondria-dependent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two manganese-amine complexes incorporating thioantimonates, namely (dienH3)[(dienH)MnSb8S15]⋅H2O (dien = diethylenetriamine) (1) and [Mn(teta)(H2O)2]2[Mn(tren)]2Sb3S12⋅H3O (2, teta = triethylenetetramine, tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Interestingly, the organic amines show diversiform structure-directing actions in the title compounds. In compound 1, two dien molecules exhibit partial coordination to Mn2+ ions and protonated cations, and compound 2 contains mixed tetradentate tren and teta chelating amines. The optical properties, thermal stabilities and magnetic properties have also been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new quaternary chalcogenides, Ba4AgGaS6 ( 1), Ba4AgGaSe6 ( 2), Ba4CuInS6 ( 3), and Ba4AgInS6 ( 4), were synthesized by solid-state reactions and their structures were characterized through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In spite of their similar chemical compositions, the flexible arrangement between the transition metals and the triel atoms leads to subtle differences in their polyanion structures. All structures feature similar [MTrQ6]8− 1D polyanionic chains (M=Cu, Ag; Tr=Ga, In; Q=S, Se), which are constructed from corner-sharing MQ4 or TrQ4 tetrahedra. However, the transition metals and triels are mixed in 1, 2, and 3, but they occupy independent crystallographic sites in 4. As a result, compounds 1- 3 belong to the known Ba2CoS3 ( Pnma No. 62) or Ba2MnS3 ( Pnma No. 62) class, whereas 4 crystallizes in its own structural type within the monoclinic P21/ c (No. 14) space group. The structural relationship among these new phases was also studied with the aid of DFT calculations and related optical properties are presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetics of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) reaction in marine anammox bacterial culture was first investigated. The nitrogen removal performance of the reactor was compared with prediction of Monod model, modified Stover–Kincannon model, first-order and the Grau second-order substrate removal models. Based on calculations, Monod model, modified Stover–Kincannon model and the Grau second-order model proved to be more appropriate to describe the nitrogen removal kinetics of the reactor than first-order model with high determination coefficients of 0.993, 0.993 and 0.991, respectively. According to the modified Stover–Kincannon model, the maximal substrate removal rate (r m) and saturation rate constant (K B) were suggested as 7.37 and 6.41 g N/L/d, respectively. In addition, in light of the Monod model, the saturation concentration (K s) and the maximal specific substrate removal rate constant (R m) were determined to be 0.107 g/L and 0.952 g N/g MLVSS/d, respectively. Moreover, model evaluation was carried out by assessing the linear correlation between measured and predicted values. Both kinetics study and model evaluation showed that Monod model, modified Stover–Kincannon model and the Grau second-order substrate removal models could be used to describe the kinetic behavior or design of the marine anammox reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insect midgut epithelium is generally lined with a unique chitin and protein structure, the peritrophic membrane (PM), which facilitates food digestion and protects the gut epithelium. PM proteins are important determinants for PM structure and formation. In this study, the silkworm Bombyx mori midgut PM protein BmCDA7 was identified by proteomic tools. The full-length BmCDA7 cDNA is 1357 bp; the deduced protein is composed of 379 amino acid residues and includes a 16 amino acid residue signal peptide, a putative polysaccharide deacetylase-like domain and 15 cysteine residues present in three clusters. The heterologously expressed proteins of the BmCDA7 gene in yeast displayed chitin deacetylase activity. Expression of B. mori BmCDA7 was detected in the midgut at both the transcriptional and translational levels. The BmCDA7 gene was expressed by the newly hatched silkworm larvae until day seven of the fifth instar and was expressed at a high level in the newly exuviated larvae of different instars. The functions and regulatory mechanism of BmCDA7, however, need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new isostructural quaternarytin(IV) antimony(III) sulfides,[TM(en)3][SnSb4S9] [TM = Ni(1), Co (2); en = ethylenediamine], andone mixed-valent thioantimonate (III and V), [Mn(dien)2]2Sb4S9(3, dien= diethylenetriamine), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurallycharacterized. In the structures of 1and 2, four neighboring SbS3trigonal pyramids are condensedvia corner-sharing to form bow-like Sb4S9tetramers,which are further interconnected by SnS6octahedra intothe three-dimensional (3D) chiral [SnSb4S9]2–framework with two types of one-dimensional (1D)chiral channels along the caxis. Compound 3features a 3D network composed of 1D anionic [Sb4S9]4–chains and [Mn(dien)2]2+complexes interconnected via various hydrogenbonds. The most interesting structural feature of 3isthe presence of two different oxidation states of antimony centersin the 1D [Sb4S9]4–chainwith three different types of coordination environments, respectively.The optical absorption spectra indicate that the band gaps of compounds 1, 2, and 3are 2.07, 2.04, and2.29 eV, respectively. The thermal stabilities and magnetic propertiesof the title compounds are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Fairness preference" is an important theory to deal with the relationship between fairness and efficiency. It has been a hot issue of experimental economics in the recent years. Because it has a contradiction with the hypothesis of rational man, it is hard to incorporate fairness into the classical economics theory framework. This study introduces information and memory effect under the hypothesis of the classical economics theory and sets up the double-blind ultimatum game model, the distributor strategy model and the dynamic interaction game model. The models are tested by computer simulation. The computer simulation of the dynamic interaction game model leads to the non-zero allocation proportion, which coincides with the experiments in the previous literatures and reality. It shows that fairness preference is related to information and memory effect. This means information and memory effect can derive fairness preference under the classical economics theory framework. This study can bridge the hypothesis of rational man and fairness preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new triterpenoid saponin, named 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,16α,28,30-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), along with four known triterpenoids (2–5), was isolated from the rhizomes ofArdisia gigantifolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds1–4showed cytotoxic activity against Hela, EJ, BCG, and HepG-2 cell lines. The percentage of early apoptotic cells after treatment with1was significantly increased compared with control cells (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Malpighian tubules (MTs) are highly specific organs of arthropods (Insecta, Myriapoda and Arachnida) for excretion and osmoregulation. In order to highlight the important genes and pathways involved in multi-functions of MTs, we performed a systematic proteomic analysis of silkworm MTs in the present work. Totally, 1,367 proteins were identified by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and as well as by Trans Proteomic Pipeline (TPP) and Absolute protein expression (APEX) analyses. Forty-one proteins were further identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Some proteins were revealed to be significantly associated with various metabolic processes, organic solute transport, detoxification and innate immunity. Our results might lay a good foundation for future functional studies of MTs in silkworm and other lepidoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) remains a controversial topic, mainly because of doubts about its oncologic validity. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available evidence. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed until June 2013 to identify comparative studies evaluating survival rates, recurrence rates, surgical outcomes and complications. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the random effects model. Data synthesis and statistical analysis were carried out using RevMan 5.1 software. Results: Fifteen trials were involved in this analysis. Compared to open gastrectomy (OG), LG involved a longer operating time (WMD = 48.67 min, 95% CI 34.09 to 63.26, P < 0.001); less blood loss (WMD = -139.01 ml, 95% CI -174.57 to -103.44, P < 0.001); earlier time to flatus (WMD = -0.79 days, 95% CI -1.14 to -0.44, P < 0.001); shorter hospital stay (WMD = -3.11 days, 95% CI -4.13 to -2.09, P < 0.001); and a decrease in complications (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.90, P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the number of harvested lymph nodes, margin distance, mortality, cancer recurrence rate and long-term survival rate between the AGC patients treated with LG or OG (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Despite a longer operation, LG is a safe technical alternative to OG for AGC with a lower complication rate and enhanced postoperative recovery. Moreover, there were similar outcomes between both approaches in terms of cancer recurrence and the long-term survival rate. Because of the limitation of this study, methodologically high-quality studies are needed for further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new regioisomer of andrographolide, 17-hydro-9-dehydro-andrographolide (1), and five new sulfates of andrographolide (2–6) were isolated from Xiyanping, a China licensed anti-inflammatory drug derived from andrographolide through sulfation reaction. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The inhibition effects of these compounds on angiogenesis were evaluated by rat aortic ring assay. Compounds1and3exhibited strong inhibitory activities on vascular endothelial cell tube formation in rat aorta ring at the concentration of 1 μM. Compounds4and5showed moderate suppression on angiogenesis at 10 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]