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Pantana phyllostachysae Chao is a leaf-eating pest that poses a significant threat to bamboo forest health. Current research mainly focuses on statically identifying damage using remote sensing images. However, the mechanism behind the damage's traceability remains unclear, making it difficult to pinpoint early infestation sources accurately. Additionally, our understanding of the pest's spreading laws is limited. This study leverages Sentinel-2A/B images from February to November 2021 to investigate P. phyllostachysae infestation traceability through the dynamic age algorithm and indicator analysis method. The results shed light on the distribution of early pest sources over the study period. By analyzing both the overall pest infestation “cluster” and its center of gravity, we dissect P. phyllostachysae infestation characteristics and paths monthly throughout the study period. Our findings reveal three zones with strong spreading momentum, three with slow spreading momentum, and two transitional zones during the February-November period, aligning with P. phyllostachysae occurrence patterns. However, the direction of P. phyllostachysae spreading varies, likely due to a combination of meteorological, topographical, vegetative biochemical, and human activity factors. This study introduces innovative approaches for identifying early pest source points and understand their spreading laws, contributing to more effective pest prevention and control in forest ecosystems.

Nowadays, intermittent energy resources, such as wind turbines, and direct current (DC) transmission have been extensively integrated into power systems. This paper proposes an identifying method for weak lines of novel power systems with intermittent energy resources and DC lines integration, which aims to provide decision making for control strategies of novel power systems and prevent system blackouts. First, from the perspective of power system safety and stability, a series of risk indicators for the risk assessment of vulnerable lines is proposed. Then, lines in the system are tripped one by one. The calculation method for the proposed risk indicators is introduced. The impact of each line outage on system safety and stability can be fairly evaluated by these proposed risk indicators. On this basis, each risk assessment indicator is weighted to obtain a comprehensive risk assessment indicator, and then the risk caused by each line outage on the system can be quantified efficiently. Finally, the test system of a modified IEEE-39 bus system with wind farms and DC lines integration is used to verify the applicability of the proposed method, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is also demonstrated by comparing with existing methods.

IntroductionMelanoma is a highly aggressive and recurrent form of skin cancer, posing challenges in prognosis and therapy prediction.MethodsIn this study, we developed a novel TIPRGPI consisting of 20 genes using Univariate Cox regression and the LASSO algorithm. The high and low-risk groups based on TIPRGPI exhibited distinct mutation profiles, hallmark pathways, and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment.ResultsNotably, significant differences in tumor immunogenicity and TIDE were observed between the risk groups, suggesting a better response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in the low-TIPRGPI group. Additionally, molecular docking predicted 10 potential drugs that bind to the core target, PTPRC, of the TIPRGPI signature.DiscussionOur findings highlight the reliability of TIPRGPI as a prognostic signature and its potential application in risk classification, immunotherapy response prediction, and drug candidate identification for melanoma treatment. The "TIP genes" guided strategy presented in this study may have implications beyond melanoma and could be applied to other cancer types.

Abstract Background Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery has been proven to be a safe, effective, and predictable method for correcting myopia and myopic astigmatism. However, predicting the vault and ideal ICL size remains technically challenging. Despite the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology, no AI studies have provided available choices of different instruments and combinations for further vault and size predictions. This study aimed to fill this gap and predict post-operative vault and appropriate ICL size utilizing the comparison of numerous AI algorithms, stacking ensemble learning, and data from various ophthalmic devices and combinations. Results This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 1941 eyes of 1941 patients from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. For both vault prediction and ICL size selection, the combination containing Pentacam, Sirius, and UBM demonstrated the best results in test sets [R 2 = 0.499 (95% CI 0.470–0.528), mean absolute error = 130.655 (95% CI 128.949–132.111), accuracy = 0.895 (95% CI 0.883–0.907), AUC = 0.928 (95% CI 0.916–0.941)]. Sulcus-to-sulcus (STS), a parameter from UBM, ranked among the top five significant contributors to both post-operative vault and optimal ICL size prediction, consistently outperforming white-to-white (WTW). Moreover, dual-device combinations or single-device parameters could also effectively predict vault and ideal ICL size, and excellent ICL selection prediction was achievable using only UBM parameters. Conclusions Strategies based on multiple machine learning algorithms for different ophthalmic devices and combinations are applicable for vault predicting and ICL sizing, potentially improving the safety of the ICL implantation. Moreover, our findings emphasize the crucial role of UBM in the perioperative period of ICL surgery, as it provides key STS measurements that outperformed WTW measurements in predicting post-operative vault and optimal ICL size, highlighting its potential to enhance ICL implantation safety and accuracy.

High maternal and neonatal mortality rates persist in Mozambique, with stillbirths remaining understudied. Most maternal and neonatal deaths in the country are due to preventable and treatable childbirth-related complications that often occur in low-resource settings. The World Health Organization introduced the Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) in 2015 to reduce adverse birth outcomes. The SCC, a structured list of evidence-based practices, targets the main causes of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths in healthcare facilities. The SCC has been tested in over 35 countries, demonstrating its ability to improve the quality of care. However, it has not been adopted in Mozambique. This study aimed to identify potential facilitators and barriers to SCC implementation from the perspective of birth attendants, clinical administrators, and decision-makers to inform future SCC implementation in Mozambique. We conducted a qualitative study involving focus group discussions with birth attendants (n = 24) and individual interviews with clinical administrators (n = 6) and decision-makers (n = 8). The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the questions used in the interviews and focus group discussions, as well as the subsequent data analysis. A deductive thematic analysis of Portuguese-to-English translated transcripts was performed. In Mozambique, most barriers to potential SCC implementation stem from the challenges within a weak health system, including underfunded maternal care, lack of infrastructure and human resources, and low provider motivation. The simplicity of the SCC and the commitment of healthcare providers to better childbirth practices, combined with their willingness to adopt the SCC, were identified as major facilitators. To improve the feasibility of SCC implementation and increase compatibility with current childbirth routines for birth attendants, the SCC should be tailored to context-specific needs. Future research should prioritize conducting pre-implementation assessments to align the SCC more effectively with local contexts and facilitate sustainable enhancements in childbirth practices.

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) stands as a pivotal economic bamboo species globally, holding substantial potential for carbon sequestration. Accurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) in Moso bamboo forests is crucial due to its close ties with the ecosystem's carbon cycle. Despite the maturation of monitoring techniques for Pantana phyllostachysae Chao, a significant pest of Moso bamboo, its interplay with AGB in these forests remains enigmatic. This study addressed this gap by categorizing P. phyllostachysae's impact on Moso bamboo forests into four levels: healthy, mild damage, moderate damage, and severe damage. By scrutinizing field data, we delved into the shifts in Moso bamboo leaf biomass under P. phyllostachysae stress. Leveraging Sentinel-2A/B imagery, we extracted diverse correlation factors, including original wave bands, vegetation indices, texture attributes, and vegetation's physical and chemical parameters. Subsequently, machine learning algorithms-namely, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) were employed to achieve remote sensing inversion of AGB in Moso bamboo forests, accounting for the presence of insect pests. We analyzed the response of Moso bamboo biomass sensitive factors and to further clarify the changes of AGB of Moso bamboo forests under insect pest stress at the remote sensing level ultimately. The results showed that (1) the degree of Moso bamboo leaf biomass damage was positively related to the damage level, which gradually increased from 15.15 % to 59.42 %; (2) the RF algorithm excelled in estimating Moso bamboo forest AGB, particularly in May, and inclusion of insect pest considerations enhanced AGB estimation accuracy; (3) among the four factor types, Band information and vegetation indices emerged as most impactful, and Band5, Band11, Band12, NDVI68a and MSAVI were selected the most often; (4) at the remote sensing level, AGB in Moso bamboo forests significantly varies under P. phyllostachysae stress. Healthy areas demonstrate an AGB of 66.9037 Mg ha−1, while heavily affected regions drop to 52.6591 Mg ha−1. It can be seen that combining pest factors for Moso bamboo biomass estimation solves the problem of rough biomass estimation, and this study provides a more promising method for forest growth monitoring.

Background: The incidence of melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) is high and significantly compromises patient survival and quality of life. Effective treatment of MBM is made difficult by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), since it restricts the entry of drugs into the brain. Certain anti-psychotic drugs able to cross the BBB have demonstrated efficacy in suppressing brain metastasis in preclinical studies. However, the activity of zuclopenthixol against MBM is not yet clear. Methods: Cell viability assays were employed to investigate the potential of zuclopenthixol in the treatment of MBM. Subsequently, the mechanism of action was investigated by RNA-sequencing (RNAseq), flow cytometry-based cell cycle and apoptosis assays, protein expression analysis, and autophagy flux detection. Additionally, the efficacy of zuclopenthixol against tumor growth was investigated in vivo, including MBM models. Results: Zuclopenthixol inhibited the proliferation of various melanoma cell lines at minimal doses by causing cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. Zuclopenthixol also induced cytoprotective autophagy, and inhibition of autophagy enhanced the anti-melanoma effects of zuclopenthixol. Furthermore, zuclopenthixol inhibited the growth of human melanoma tumors in nude mice, as well as the growth of intracranial metastases in a mouse model of MBM. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that zuclopenthixol has significant potential as an effective therapeutic agent for MBM.

The objective of this study was to deeply understand the adaptation mechanism of the functional traits of Moso bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens syn. edulis (Poales: Poaceae) leaves to the environment under different Pantana phyllostachysae Chao damage levels, analyzing the changes in the relationship between specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC). We combined different machine learning models (decision tree, RF, XGBoost, and CatBoost regression models), and used different canopy heights and different levels of infestation, to analyze the changes in the relationship between the two under different levels of infestation based on the results of the best estimation model. The results showed the following: (1) The SLA of Ph. pubescens showed a decreasing trend with the increase om insect pest degree, and LDMC showed an inverse trend. (2) The SLA of bamboo leaves was negatively correlated with the LDMC under different insect pest degrees; the correlation of the data under the healthy class was higher than that of other insect pest levels, and at the same time better than that of the full sample, which laterally confirmed the effect of insect pest stress on the functional traits of Ph. pubescens leaves. (3) When modeling under different infestation levels, the CatBoost model was used for heavy damage and the RF model was used for the rest of the cases; the decision tree regression model was used when modeling different canopy heights. The findings contribute certain insights into the nuanced responses and adaptive mechanisms of Ph. pubescens forests to environmental fluctuations. Moreover, these results furnish a robust scientific foundation, essential for ensuring the enduring sustainability of Ph. pubescens forest ecosystems.

Abstract Background The discovery of the glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vessels challenged the traditional view regarding the lack of a lymphatic system in the central nervous system. It is now known that the intracranial lymphatic system plays an important role in fluid transport, macromolecule uptake, and immune cell trafficking. Studies have also shown that the function of the intracranial lymphatic system is significantly associated with neurological diseases; for example, an impaired intracranial lymphatic system can lead to Tau deposition and an increased lymphocyte count in the brain tissue of mice with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods In this study, we assessed the changes in the intracranial lymphatic system after intracerebral hemorrhage and the regulatory effects of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation on the glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vessels in an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model of male mice. Experimental mice were divided into three groups: Sham, ICH, and ICH + repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Three days after ICH, mice in the ICH+rTMS group were subjected to rTMS daily for 7 days. Thereafter, the function of the intracranial lymphatic system, clearance of RITC‐dextran and FITC‐dextran, and neurological functions were evaluated. Results Compared with the Sham group, the ICH group had an impaired glymphatic system. Importantly, rTMS treatment could improve intracranial lymphatic system function as well as behavioral functions and enhance the clearance of parenchymal RITC‐dextran and FITC‐dextran after ICH. Conclusion Our results indicate that rTMS can abrogate ICH‐induced brain parenchymal metabolite clearance dysfunction by regulating intracranial lymphatic drainage.

Biochemical components of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) are critical to physiological and ecological processes and play an important role in the material and energy cycles of the ecosystem. The coupled PROSPECT with SAIL (PROSAIL) radiative transfer model is widely used for vegetation biochemical component content inversion. However, the presence of leaf-eating pests, such as Pantana phyllostachysae Chao (PPC), weakens the performance of the model for estimating biochemical components of Moso bamboo and thus must be considered. Therefore, this study considered pest-induced stress signals associated with Sentinel-2A/B images and field data and established multiple sets of biochemical canopy reflectance look-up tables (LUTs) based on the PROSAIL framework by setting different parameter ranges according to infestation levels. Quantitative inversions of leaf area index (LAI), leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), and leaf equivalent water thickness (LEWT) were derived. The scale conversions from LCC to canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) and LEWT to canopy equivalent water thickness (CEWT) were calculated. The results showed that LAI, CCC, and CEWT were inversely related with PPC-induced stress. When applying multiple LUTs, the p-values were

The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and dietary diversity score (DDS) has been widely discussed, but little is known about the age and cohort effects on DDS and how the SES effect on DDS varies with age and across successive cohorts among urban and rural older adults in China. Thus, this study aimed to examine the temporal change in DDS among Chinese older adults and SES heterogeneities in such change from the perspective of urban–rural differentiation. Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) between 2002 and 2018 were used, and a total of 13,728 participants aged between 65 and 105 years were included in this study. A total of eight food groups were used to assess DDS, while education, family income, and perceived income status were used to assess SES. A linear mixed model was used to estimate the age and cohort effects on DDS and their urban–rural and SES disparities. The results show that higher SES, including more education, family income, and perceived income status, was associated with higher DDS (for urban older adults, β = 0.1645, p = 0.0003, β = 0.2638, p < 0.0001, β = 0.2917, p < 0.0001, respectively; for rural older adults, β = 0.0932, p = 0.0080, β = 0.4063, p < 0.0001, β = 0.2921, p < 0.0001, respectively). The DDS of older adults increased with age and across successive cohorts in both urban and rural China. Moreover, we found the three-way interaction effect of SES, age, and cohort was statistically significant in both urban and rural China. Thus, living in an urban area and having higher SES are associated with higher DDS, but these associations change with age and across successive cohorts. The dietary health of earlier cohorts and rural oldest-old in China deserves more attention.

Abstract Exosomes derived from tumor cells play a key role in tumor development. In the present study, we identified the bioactivity of exosomes released from WERI-Rb1 retinoblastoma cells in tumor angiogenesis, as well as the underlying mechanism, through biochemical methods and animal experiments. Our in vitro data showed that exosomes could be engulfed by human vesicle endothelial cells (HUVECs), significantly promote cell viability and induce an inflammatory response in HUVECs by increasing the expression of a series of related genes, such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, VCAM1, and ICAM1. Significant increases in migration and tube formation were also observed in the HUVECs incubated with exosomes. Moreover, experiments with a nude mouse xenotransplantation model showed that exosomes injected near tumors could be strongly absorbed by tumor cells. The numbers of endothelial cells and blood vessels were significantly increased in tumor tissues treated with exosomes compared to control tissues. Furthermore, to reveal the mechanism underlying exosome-mediated angiogenesis in retinoblastoma, we analyzed the levels of 12 microRNAs in the exosomes. Specifically, our data showed that miR-92a-3p was enriched in RB exosomes. Accordingly, miR-92a-3p was increased in the HUVECs incubated with these exosomes. After treatment with a miR-92a-3p inhibitor, the promoting effect of exosomes on the migration and tube formation of HUVECs was significantly abrogated. The expression of the angiogenesis-related genes mentioned above was markedly decreased in HUVECs. Similarly, treatment with a microRNA mimic also demonstrated that miR-92a-3p was involved in the angiogenesis of HUVECs. More importantly, bioinformatics analysis predicted that Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), a member of the KLF family of zinc-finger transcription factors, might be an active target of miR-92a-3p. Notably, this prediction was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our work suggests that exosomal miR-92a-3p is involved in tumor angiogenesis and might be a promising therapeutic candidate for retinoblastoma.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is of great significance for relieving acute intracranial hypertension and saving lives after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, a severe TBI mouse model was created using controlled cortical impact (CCI), and a surgical model of DC was established. Furthermore, a series of neurological function assessments were performed to better understand the pathophysiological changes after DC. In this study, mice were randomly allocated into three groups, namely, CCI group, CCI+DC group, and Sham group. The mice in the CCI and CCI+DC groups received CCI after opening a bone window, and after brain injury, immediately returned the bone window to simulate skull condition after a TBI. The CCI+DC group underwent DC and contused tissue removal 6 h after CCI. The mice in the CCI group underwent the same anesthesia process; however, no further treatment of the bone window and trauma was performed. The mice in the Sham group underwent anesthesia and the process of opening the skin and bone window, but not in the CCI group. Changes in Modified Neurological Severity Score, rotarod performance, Morris water maze, intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), brain edema, blood–brain barrier (BBB), inflammatory factors, neuronal apoptosis, and glial cell expression were evaluated. Compared with the CCI group, the CCI+DC group had significantly lower ICP, superior neurological and motor function at 24 h after injury, and less severe BBB damage after injury. Most inflammatory cytokine expressions and the number of apoptotic cells in the brain tissue of mice in the CCI+DC group were lower than in the CCI group at 3 days after injury, with markedly reduced astrocyte and microglia expression. However, the degree of brain edema in the CCI+DC group was greater than in the CCI group, and neurological and motor functions, as well as spatial cognitive and learning ability, were significantly poorer at 14 days after injury.

Chromium (Cr) is mainly found in the form of organic-Cr(III) complexes in the natural environment and industrial waste. The widespread existence of composite contaminants composed of organic matter (OM) and Cr pose a serious ecological threat, and its potential interaction and removal need to be further summarised. Organic ligands, such as carbohydrates, nitrogen compounds, phenolic compounds, humus substances (HS), and low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), play an important role in governing the speciation, mobility, and absorption and desorption of Cr in the environment. Moreover, growing evidence indicates that oxygen-containing functional groups (e.g., carboxyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate) are closely related to the complexation of Cr(III). Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are efficient and widely applicable technologies. However, the re-complexation of oxidation intermediates with Cr(III) and the formation and accumulation of much more toxic Cr(VI) species hinder the possible utilisation of AOPs. In this paper, the sources and harmful effects of organic-Cr(III) complexes are reported in detail. The complexation behaviour and structure of the organic-Cr(III) complexes are also described. Subsequently, the application of AOPs in the decomplexation and degradation of organic-Cr(III) complexes is summarised. This review can be helpful for developing technologies that are more efficient for organic-Cr(III) complex removal and establishing the scientific background for reducing Cr discharge Cr into the environment.

Abstract Background The number of research articles on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been strikingly increasing. This study aimed to explore the general trends and hotspots of HRQoL. Methods Based on the Web of Science database, research on HRQoL published between 2000 and 2019 were identified. A bibliometric analysis was performed based on the number of articles, citations, published journals, authors' addresses, and keywords. Descriptive analysis, visualization of geographic distribution and keyword clustering analysis were applied to the collected data. Results The annual number of articles showed growth over the past twenty years, but the annual total citations and annual citations per article were both in decreasing trends. Articles about HRQoL were more likely to be published in journals of multi-subject categories. The HRQoL research was mainly distributed across North America and Europe throughout the twenty years and ushered in a vigorous development worldwide after 2015. Cooperation strength between domestic institutions was much greater than that of international institutions. HRQoL research had six concentrated clusters: HRQoL, Depression, Obesity, Disability, Oncology, Fatigue. Conclusion This study provided an overall perspective of global research trends and hotspots in HRQoL, and a potential insight for future research. HRQoL research had experienced significant increasing development during 2000–2019, especially the HRQoL measurement instruments, however, there were significant regional disparities in scientific output in HRQoL.

Leaf water content (LWC) is very important in the growth of vegetation. LWC and leaf spectra change when the leaves are under pest stress; exploring the change mechanism between LWC, leaf spectra, and pest stress can lay the foundation for pest detection. In this study, we measured the LWC and leaf spectra of moso bamboo leaves under different damage levels, used the Pearson–Lasso method to screen the features, and established a multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest regression (RFR) model to estimate the LWC. We analyzed the relationship between LWC and spectral features of moso bamboo leaves under Pantana phyllostachysae Chao (PPC) stress and their changes. The results showed that: (1) the LWC showed a decreasing trend as the pest level increased. (2) The spectra changed substantially when the leaves were under pest stress. (3) The number and significance of response features associated with the LWC were diverse under different damage levels. (4) The estimation of LWC under different damage levels differed significantly. LWC, leaf spectra, response features, and the model estimation effect were diverse under different damage levels. The correlation between LWC and features was higher for healthy leaves than for damaged and off-year leaves. The two models were more effective in estimating the LWC of healthy leaves but less effective for damaged and off-year leaves. This study provides theoretical support for the prediction of PPC stress and lays the foundation for remote sensing monitoring.

GATA binding protein 3 (Gata3), a zinc-finger transcription factor, plays an important role in neural development. However, its expression and bioactivity in the retina remain unclear. In the present study, our data indicated that Gata3 maintains the precursor state of 661W cells, and Gata3 silencing induces cell differentiation. The expression of Nestin, a marker of precursor cells, was significantly decreased in parallel, whereas the expression of Map2, a marker of differentiated neurons, was significantly increased following the decrease in Gata3. Neurite outgrowth was increased by 2.78-fold in Gata3-silenced cells. Moreover, Gata3 expression generally paralleled that of Nestin in developing mouse retinas. Both Gata3 and Nestin were expressed in the retina at postnatal day 1 and silenced in the adult mouse retina. Exogenous Gata3 significantly inhibited the neural activity of primary retinal neurocytes (postnatal day 1) by decreasing synaptophysin levels, neurite outgrowth, and cell viability. Furthermore, in vivo, exogenous Gata3 significantly induced apoptosis and the contraction of retinal outlay filaments and decreased the a- and b-waves in adult mouse intravitreal injected with AAV-Re-Gata3-T2A-GFP. Thus, Gata3 silencing promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Its abnormal expression impedes neural activity in adult retinal neurocytes. This study provides new insights into Gata3 bioactivity in retinal neurocytes.

Ocular inflammation is a common pathological condition of a series of retinal degenerative diseases. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a Chinese herbal extraction, is widely used in the treatment of several ocular diseases in Eastern countries. However, the exact mechanisms correlating the vision protective effects of TMP have not been elucidated. Thus, this study aimed to investigate TMP’s molecular targets in anti-inflammatory activity in endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced retinal inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. The primary cultured retinal microglial cells were pretreated with TMP and then activated by LPS. We found pretreatment with TMP significantly inhibited LPS-induced upregulation of CD68, a marker of mononuclear microglia activation. The morphological changes induced by LPS were also inhibited by the TMP pretreatment. Moreover, Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylation of inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (p-IκB-α) and the translocation of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) were significantly downregulated in retinal microglial cells with TMP pretreatment, which indicated that TMP might suppress LPS-induced retinal microglial activation through TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway. And these results were confirmed in vivo. Pretreatment with TMP inhibited microglial activation, migration and regeneration, especially in ganglion cell layer (GCL). In addition to the inhibition of TLR4, TMP significantly inhibited the translocation of NF-κB p-65 to the nucleus in vivo. The downstream genes of NF-κB, such as the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), were significantly downregulated by TMP pretreatment in the retina. Accordingly, the increased expression of cleaved caspase-3 and the decreased ratio of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) to Bcl-2 associated X Protein (Bax) were significantly attenuated by TMP. TUNEL assay also demonstrated that TMP exerted neuroprotective effects in the retina. Therefore, this study elucidated a novel mechanism that TMP inhibits retinal inflammation by inhibiting microglial activation via a TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway.

In gun barrel-cradle structure, the presence of clearance usually changes the dynamic response of muzzle and results in shooting dispersion (under continuous firing condition). The parameter estimation of such clearance nonlinear system is the prerequisite for establishing quantitative relation between the clearance and muzzle disturbance. In this paper, the restoring force surface (RFS) method and the nonlinear identification through feedback of outputs (NIFO) method are first combined for parameter identification in a simplified barrel-cradle structure. With the RFS method, clearance value can be obtained by analyzing the restoring force plot. Then the contact stiffness can be identified by using NIFO method. This identification process is verified in a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system with clearance. To adapt to the rigid-flexible coupled beam system with clearances which is simplified from the barrel-cradle structure, a modification for the combined method mentioned above is proposed. The core idea of the modification is reducing the continuous system to multiple-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) system to reserve the nonlinear characteristics through modal transformation matrix. The advantage of this transformation is that the linear parts of the MDOF systems are decoupled, which greatly reduces the difficulty of identification. The simulation results have shown the effectiveness of current method.

We applied TLC/FTIR coupled with mapping technique to analyze an alanine/arginine mixture. Narrow band TLC plates prepared by using AgI as a stationary phase were used to separate alanine and arginine. The distribution of alanine and arginine spots was manifested by a 3D chromatogram. Alanine and arginine can be successfully separated by the narrow band TLC plate. In addition, the FTIR spectra of the separated alanine and arginine spots on the narrow band TLC plate are roughly the same as the corresponding reference IR spectra.

We proposed a new approach to prepare lanthanum carbonate via reactions between lanthanum chloride and NaHCO3. In the reaction, small amount of NaHCO3 solution was firstly added to the acidic lanthanum chloride solution to generate lanthanum carbonate nuclei and then NaHCO3 is added to the lanthanum chloride at a constant speed. This approach makes both precipitation reaction and neutralization reaction take place simultaneously. Consequently, lanthanum carbonate is produced at low pH environment (pH below 4.0) so that the risk of generating lanthanum carbonate hydroxide is reduced. The product of the above reaction is validated by EDTA titration, elemental analysis, and XRD characterization. In addition, we established a FTIR spectroscopic method to identify La(OH)CO3 from La2(CO3)2·8H2O. Lanthanum carbonate exhibits considerable ability to bind phosphate.