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In this study, two isomeric impurities were identified in cefotiam hydrochloride injection preparation and were characterized. Column-switching HPLC-MS and NMR techniques were used to identify the impurity 1 as the Δ3(4) isomers of cefotiam. Using software-based calculations, it was predicted that neither of the isomeric impurities was embryotoxic. This study provides a reference for the production, storage, and quality control of cefotiam and related cephalosporin antibiotics.

Objective The effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of coronary heart disease is controversial. Several studies have assessed the effects of alcohol on the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, but few studies have evaluated the chronic effects of alcohol consumption on the coronary artery diameter. We investigated whether alcohol consumption affects the coronary artery diameter. Methods This prospective study enrolled men who were undergoing coronary angiography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2016 to December 2017. The participants were categorized into three groups based on their drinking behavior: heavy drinking (>175 g/week in the last 2 years, n = 70), moderate drinking (>42 to ≤175 g/week in the last 2 years, n = 53), and nondrinking (lifetime alcohol consumption of

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feed conditioners (single-layer, double-layer and retention-conditioner) on the growth performance, meat quality and intestinal morphology of pigs throughout the growing to finishing phase. A total of 96 growing pigs ((28.70±3.20) kg) were selected and randomized into three treatment groups with four replicates per group. Eight pigs were used per replicate for the 17-week feeding trial. The grower diet was given at 0 to 6 weeks and a finisher diet was given at 6 to 17 weeks. The treatments were as follows: SC diet (control; single-layer conditioning), DC diet (double-layer conditioning), and RC diet (retention-conditioning). Starch gelatinization was significantly higher (P

Background Study: As flipped learning is a flexible pedagogical methodology to tailor students' needs and maximize the learning effects, this study integrated peer learning with MosoTeach‐supported flipped mode in an undergraduate blended EFL course. MosoTeach is a popular online learning platform in China with a variety of learning resources. Objectives: The study aimed to test the impact of MosoTeach flipped learning (MTFL) mode on undergraduate EFL students' perceived motivation, participation, feedback, and test performance. Methods: A quasi‐experimental design was carried out in Z university during the spring semester of 2020, with the experimental group (n = 34) adopting the MTFL model and a control group (n = 33) the non‐flipped mode. Results and Conclusions: The independent t‐test results showed that the experimental MTFL group outperformed the control group in post‐test scores, and a positive correlation was found in the relationship between the experimental MTFL group's post‐test scores and MosoTeach learning experience points (LEPs). Moreover, the course perception questionnaire survey indicated a higher level of students' perceived motivation, participation, and feedback in the experimental MTFL group, which corresponded to the results of the content analysis of students' responses to open‐ended questions and reflective reports. But students in both groups experienced challenges such as isolation, procrastination and technological anxiety. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topicFlipped language learning is mostly reported to be effective in improving EFL learning.Peer learning is mostly reported to be effective in improving EFL learning.MosoTeach was investigated in English learning contexts before, but without experimental design. What this paper addsMosoTeach proved as a valid online learning platform in flipped language learning, and the learning experience points (LEPs) on MosoTeach could predict students' exam performance.Students in the experimental group (MosoTeach‐supported flipped) had better exam performance and a higher level of motivation, participation and feedback.Students in both groups experienced isolation, procrastination and technological anxiety. Implications for practice:Peer discussion boards in MosoTeach provide learning support effectively for students in pre‐class learning.Group projects and peer assessment in MosoTeach integrate pre‐class peer discussion into in‐class interaction successfully.MosoTeach provides equal opportunity for every student in the large‐size Chinese English classes, thus contributing to the equity of in‐class peer interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single- and double-walled WS2 nanotubes of small diameter (

Background: The prevalence of non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in children and adolescents who are mostly resulted from overfeeding. Previous studies demonstrate that berberine (BBR), a compound derived from plant, has beneficial effects on NAFLD in adults but poorly understood in the pediatric population. This study employed a larval zebrafish model to mimic the therapeutic effects of BBR in the pediatric population and the mechanisms underlying its hepatoprotection.Methods: High-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed zebrafish exposed to BBR at doses of 0, 1, 5, and 25 μM. After the larvae were treated with BBR for 10 days, its effect on hepatic steatosis was evaluated. We introduced Raman imaging and three-dimensional (3D) molecular imaging to detect changes in the biochemical composition and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of zebrafish liver. Gene expression microarray was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) followed by gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and functional category analysis.Results: BBR (5 and 25 μM) administration prevented HCD-induced liver lipid accumulation in larval zebrafish. The result was further confirmed by the pathological observation. Raman mapping indicated that the biochemical composition in the liver of BBR-treated group shifted to the control. The quantitative analysis of 3D imaging showed that the ROS level was significantly decreased in the liver of BBR-treated larvae. In the livers of the BBR group, we found 468 DEGs, including 172 genes with upregulated expression and 296 genes with downregulated expression. Besides, GO enrichment, KEGG pathway, and functional category analysis showed that various processes related to glucolipid metabolism, immune response, DNA damage and repair, and iron were significantly enriched with DEGs. The expression levels of the crucial genes from the functional analysis were also confirmed by quantitative PCR (qPCR).Conclusion: BBR can significantly improve hepatic steatosis in HCD-fed zebrafish larvae. Its mechanisms might be associated with the regulation of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and iron homeostasis. Raman imaging in larval zebrafish might become a useful tool for drug evaluation. Mainly, the gene expression profiles provide molecular information for BBR on the prevention and treatment of pediatric NAFLD.

To improve the quality control of drugs, we predicted the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of ceftazidime (CAZ) and its impurities via in silico methods. We used three types of quantitative structure-activity relationship and docking software for precise prediction: Discovery Studio 4.0, OECD QSAR Toolbox 4.1, Toxtree, and the pkCSM approach. The pharmacokinetics and toxicity of ceftazidime and impurity A (Δ-2-CAZ) are similar. The biological properties of impurity B (CAZ E-isomer) are different from CAZ. Therefore, we focused on drug stability to analyze impurity B. Impurities D and I have strong lipophilicity, good intestinal absorption, and poor excretion in the body. Impurity D is particularly neurotoxic and genotoxic. It is important to control the content of impurity D. The toxicity of impurity F is low, but the toxicity is enhanced when it becomes the C-3 side chain of CAZ and forms a quaternary amine group. We conclude that the beta-lactam ring of nucleus, the quaternary amine group at the C-3 side chain, and the acetates at the C-7 side chain of CAZ are the main toxic functional groups. Impurities B and D may be the genetic impurity in CAZ and may also have neurotoxicity. This in silico approach can predict the toxicity of other cephalosporins and impurities.

The technology of cotton leaf removal is an important prerequisite for realizing the mechanical harvesting of cotton, but low temperature affect the efficiency of TDZ-induced leaf abscission, which cannot meet the requirements of mechanized harvesting. In our laboratory, we found that cyclanilide (CYC) could improve the defoliation efficiency of TDZ at low temperature, but the mechanism of CYC promoting chemical defoliation (TDZ) under low temperature is unknown. Therefore, the content of plant hormones and the relative expression level of related genes in the abscission zone of cotton leaves were analyzed using Zhongmian 425 as the experimental material, setting two temperature levels (25 and 15 ) and three treatments [water (CK), single TDZ (T), and the compound of TDZ+CYC (TC)]. At 240 h after treatment under low temperature (15 ), the abscission rate of cotton leaves treated by T was only 53.0%, while the start time of cotton leaves abscission treated by TC was 24 h ahead of that treated by T and the abscission rate of cotton leaves treated by TC increased to 79.6%. At low temperature, compared with T, the relative expression level of auxin (IAA) transport genes (LAX2, PIN1), IAA response genes (IAA9, ARF3) and the content of IAA in the abscission zone of cotton leaves treated with TC were reduced significantly; the relative expression level of ethylene (ET) synthesis genes (ACS, ACO), and the content of ET synthesis precursor ACC were increased, the relative expression level of ET downstream signal gene(ERF1B) was up-regulated significantly in the abscission zone treated with TC. The jasmonate acid (JA) synthesis-related gene (AOC4) was up-regulated, and the content of JA was increased in abscission zone treated by TC. The inhibition of the IAA transport and signal transduction and the promotion of ET and JA synthesis and ET signal transduction caused by TC treatment in the abscission zones of cotton leaves could be the key reason that CYC could promote cotton leaves abscission effect of TDZ at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cloud environments, the high dynamics and more service failures were great obstacles to cloud applications, service substitution was a key research issue and also was a main solution to these challenges. A method of determining substitutability of cloud services was proposed using type theory, in which session types were semantically extended for modeling the behaviors of cloud service, QoS such as price, reliabil ty were introduced as QoS type, and a series of subtyping rules were constructed for SST and QoST. After that, determining consistency and context compatibility of services were put into practice. The method was proved feasibly by a case determining, and the experimental results show that it brings higher success rate of execution.