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Objective Huidouba (HDB) is a Chinese folk medicine used to treat diabetes in Sichuan Province, China. Therefore, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of HDB and its underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that HDB treatment could enhance glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and thus prevent a hyperglycemia state. Methods To test the hypothesis, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and db/db mice, widely used models of hyperglycemia and insulin-resistant diabetes, were either treated with HDB, metformin, or acarbose. Blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, pancreatic histopathology and serum biochemistry were detected to assess the hypoglycemic effect of HDB. Results HDB treatments were found to show the effect in reducing glucose levels. HDB also resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and food intake in the STZ-induced diabetic mouse model. Furthermore, it significantly improved glucose and insulin tolerance in the two diabetic mouse models. Importantly, insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin immunohistochemistry revealed that HDB treatment improved the function and the location of the cells in the islets compared with the other two treatments. HDB treatment resulted in significant restoration of islet function. Our results illustrated the underlying mechanism of HDB in the progression of diabetes, and HDB can be an effective agent for the treatment of diabetes. Conclusion The results of this study suggested that HDB can reduce blood glucose levels in STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice and db/db mice.

In order to understand the influence of the tensile stress on the corrosion of reinforcement bars in civil engineering, the reinforcement bars specimens were put into the liquid corrosion tank made of hydrochloric acid and distilled water by applying the tension stress on the reinforcing frame to carry out rapid corrosion. The corrosion of reinforcement bars under different tension stresses was tested by using electrochemical polarization method. The metallographic examination of reinforcement bars was carried out through the section of reinforcement bars. The corrosion mechanism of the stressed reinforcement bar was tested and analyzed. It can be known from the experimental study: First in the same corrosion condition, the larger the tensile stress is, the faster the corrosion of steel bar will be; Second corrosion current density or corrosion rate are index for evaluating corrosion rate of reinforcement bars with different tensile stresses. Corrosion potential can not be used as an index for evaluating corrosion rate of reinforcement bars with different tensile stresses; Third intercrystalline corrosion occurs inside the reinforcement bar due to micro-defects after rolling and moulding, which directly affects the mechanical properties of reinforcement bar.

Water striders have intrigued researchers for centuries from the viewpoints of biology to biomechanics. In this review, we introduce the basic theories and techniques of physics and force measurement for biomechanical research into water striders. Morphological and behavioral traits of water striders are summarized and discussed from biomechanical perspectives, along with comparative study. This integrated review also highlights potential directions for studies on water-walking arthropods, which might inspire future biological and biomechanical research.

Derivatives of oxazine dyes were synthesized on mulitigram scales via efficient synthetic strategies. One practical route was selected to prepare compounds 6, 9 and 10, especially water-soluble compound 6 was obtained in better yield than reported, and compound 10 was insoluble in aqueous media in absence of phenolic-OH. Compounds 3 and 9 were found to be clear pH-dependent between pH = 4.0 and 10.0, and could be used as acid-base indicators to measure intracellular pH. Compounds 6, 9, 10 all have carboxylic acid functionalities, which could be activated and used to conjugate the dyes to biomolecules. In addition, compounds 6 and 9 with good solubility in aqueous media were used to develop a simple, quick, safe, highly sensitive staining method to detect PHAs-producing bacteria on heat-fixed smears, which was confirmed by fluorescence images of PHAs granules of bacteria.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in resting-state spontaneous brain activity in patients with major depressive disorder MDD) experiencing multiple episodes. METHODS: Between May 2007 and September 2014, 24 recurrent and 22 remitted patients diagnosed with MDD with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), and 69 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and educational level participated in this study. Among them, 1 healthy control was excluded due to excessive head motion. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) was assessed for all recruited subjects during the completion of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Relationships between fALFF and clinical measurements, including number of depressive episodes and illness duration, were examined. RESULTS: Compared to patients with remitted MDD and to healthy controls, patients with recurrent MDD exhibited decreased fALFF in the right posterior insula and right precuneus and increased fALFF in the left ventral anterior cingulate cortex. Decreased fALFF in the right precuneus and increased fALFF in the right middle insula were correlated with the number of depressive episodes in the recurrent MDD groups (r = -0.75, P < .01 and r = 0.78, P < .01, respectively) and remitted MDD groups (r = -0.63, P < .01 and r = 0.41, P = .03, respectively). In addition to regions in the default mode network (DMN) and salience network, the altered resting-state activity in the middle temporal and visual cortices was also identified. CONCLUSIONS: Altered resting-state activity was observed across several neural networks in patients with recurrent MDD. Consistent with the emerging theory that altered DMN activity is a risk factor for depression relapses, the association between reduced fALFF in the right precuneus and number of depressive episodes supports the role of the DMN in the pathology of recurrent depression.

Young stroke patients have a strong desire to return to the society, but few studies have been conducted on their rehabilitation training items, intensity, and prognosis. We analyzed clinical data of young and middle-aged/older stroke patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Capital Medical University, China from February 2014 to May 2015. Results demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke (59.6%) was the primary stroke type found in the young group, while ischemic stroke (60.0%) was the main type detected in the middle-aged/older group. Compared with older stroke patients, education level and incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia were higher in younger stroke patients, whereas, incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were lower. The average length of hospital stay was longer in the young group than in the middle-aged/older group. The main risk factors observed in the young stroke patients were hypertension, drinking, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, previous history of stroke, and heart disease. The most accepted rehabilitation program consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion. Average rehabilitation training time was 2.5 hours/day. Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale scores were increased at discharge. Six months after discharge, the degree of occupational and economic satisfaction declined, and there were no changes in family life satisfaction. The degrees of other life satisfaction (such as friendship) improved. The degree of disability and functional status improved significantly in young stroke patients after professional rehabilitation, but the number of patients who returned to society within 6 months after stroke was still small.

Coupled anaerobicaerobic granular bio-film reactor was employed to acclimatize the granules when treating actual coking wastewater. Two oxygenation methods (i.e. A and B) were employed. For method A, dissolved O2was supplied to the reactor A (RA) through a continuous oxygenation way of 800-15000mlmin-1. And for method B, dissolved O2of 800-15000mlmin-1(18-12 times at 20-60min intervals, 1 h each time) was supplied to the reactor B (RB). The experimental results showed that it took only about 6 months for granules acclimation using actual coking wastewater. With inorganic carbon (NaHCO3) addition, both oxygenation methods could run well when acclimatizing the granules. However, method A could have comparatively high and stable operation effect. And the continuous oxygenation way was more suitable for the acclimation of the granules when treating actual coking wastewater than the intermittent oxygenation way.

The effects of fuel quality and pollution control devices on SOF and PAHs emissions in particle matter (PM) for China V heavy-duty (HD) diesel engine fueled with China III, China IV and China V diesel were studied by using soxhlet extraction technique and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) technique. Two engines used were equipped with Diesel Oxidation Convert (DOC)+Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Select Catalytic Reduction (SCR) individually. It is found that the SOF mass fraction in PM rises remarkably and total PAHs concentration declines obviously with the improvement of diesel fuel from China III to China V. However, the 16 components of PAHs distribute similarly for three quality of diesel, the concentrationes of Flu、PA、Ant、FL、Pyr、BaA、CHR reduce obviously, especially Pyr decrease by 95.8%. Moreover, the pollution control device has important effects on SOF and PAHs emissions.

To determine the operation parameters of the expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor treating actual domestic wastewater at ambient temperature of 15-26°C, the effects of influent flow, HRT, recycle ratio,Vup and temperature on the performance of the EGSB reactor were investigated in this paper. The results indicated that when treating actual domestic wastewater, the EGSB reactor could support high influent flow and low HRT. For 9L.h-1, 11L.h-1, 15L.h-1, 24L.h-1 influent flow, with the optimal recycle ratios of 1.6-2.5, 1.2-1.6, 0.4-0.8, 0.0, the COD removal efficiencies could attain to 86-90%, 88-89%, 83%, 83%, respectively. For lower influent flow, higher Vup could slightly increase COD removal, but accordingly higher recycle ratio need to supply. Meanwhile, for higher influent flow, higher Vup will damage the granular characteristic and thus cause the decreasing of COD removal, and thus for the EGSB reactor treating actual domestic wastewater, 2.7-3.0m.h-1 optimal Vup should be employed. The EGSB reactor could work well at ambient temperature of 15°C-26°C. The optimal influent flow and Vup were 15-24L.h-1 and 3.0m.h-1. High average OLR of 18.6kgCOD.m-3.d-1 and high average COD removal efficiencies of above 81.4% could achieve, and only very low recycle ratio of 0.0 to 0.4 need employ.

Some researches have been done to solve the important problems, such as the shape of end cover and consequence part shear force and bending moment calculation. The solutions have been done by theoretical analysis. Formula and charts used in designing are given as follows.

We evaluated the effect of Tween 80 as elicitor on licochalcone A from hairy root cultures of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. After a 15-days treatment with 2% Tween 80, hairy roots still grew well and produced higher levels of licochalcone A and total flavonoids than the control (without treatment). Licochalcone A content and total flavonoid content were 3.103 and 127.095 mg per flask (9- and 11-fold higher), respectively, compared with controls. Secretion of licochalcone A and total flavonoids into the culture medium was remarkably high, up to 98 and 94% of the total production, respectively. The enhanced flavonoid production was associated with elevated mRNA levels and enzyme activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL), and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H). These results clearly demonstrated that Tween 80 treatment permeabilized the roots to enhance secretion, but also acted as an efficient elicitor of licochalcone A and total flavonoid production in hairy roots of G. uralensis Fisch.

The AGPL1 (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit 1) promoter from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.) has proved to exhibit fruit-specific expression patterns in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). A plant expression vector harboring sweet-taste protein, Brazzein, directed by AGPL1 promoter, was constructed and transferred into tomato plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transform methods. Histochemical staining assay, PCR screening, Southern blotting analysis and RT-PCR analysis showed that Brazzein gene was successfully integrated into the genome of transgenic tomato plants with stable expression. Sweet-taste fruits were produced under control of fruit-specific AGPL1 promoter, whereas other parameters of fruit quality were largely unchanged.

Root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, one of the most important medicinal plants, containing bioactive triterpene saponins (glycyrrhizin). Squalene synthase (SQS) plays a regulatory role in the biosynthesis of triterpene saponins. In the present investigation, SQS coding sequence from G. uralensis was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a transgenic system was developed for G. uralensis through Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. The SQS gene placed under a CaMV 35S promoter was transferred into G. uralensis using A. rhizogenes strain ACCC10060. The transformed hairy roots were selected on Murashige and Skoog (1962)-containing phosphinothricin (PPT) and root lines were established. The integration of SQS gene was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot. Three transgenic root lines UP1, UP24, UP31 were obtained and their growth rates were detected. The result showed that transgenic root lines but UP1 line grew faster than control hairy roots; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis demonstrated the highest glycyrrhizin content of transgenic roots was 2.5 mg/g dry weight and was about 2.6 times higher than control hairy roots.

Purpose: To evaluate the larvicidal activity of the essential oil of Dipsacus asper Wallich ex Candolle (Dipsacaceae) roots against the larvae of Aedes aegypti L. and Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett.Methods: Essential oil was extracted from D. asper roots by hydrodistillation and analyzed for its composition by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The oil was evaluated for larvicidal activity, using World Health Organization (WHO) procedures, against the fourth larvae of A. aegypti and C. pipiens pallens within 24 h, and activity was recorded for various concentrations of the oil ranging from 12.5 – 200.0 μg/mL.Results: A total of 34 components of the essential oil of D. asper were identified. The major compounds of the essential oil were caryophyllene oxide (13.29 %), caryophyllene (9.14 %), cubebene (7.87 %), β-gurjunene (6.43 %), carvone (5.38 %), 1,8-cineole (5.29 %), and calamenene (5.05 %). The oil exhibited larvicidal activity against A. aegypti and C. pipiens pallens at median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 56.29 μg/mL and 47.49 μg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: The essential oil of D. asper roots has potentials for use in the control of A. aegypti and C. pipiens pallens and may be useful in the search for new, safer and more effective natural larvicides.Keywords: Dipsacus asper, Aedes aegypti, Culex pipiens pallens, Essential oil, Larvicidal activity, Caryophyllene, Cubebene, β-Gurjunene, Carvone

Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis is a rare cerebrovascular disorder, which seldom represents a complication of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). As a part of the coagulopathy of APL, thrombosis is a less recognized and underestimated life-threatening manifestation and is overshadowed by the more obvious bleeding complications. Here, we described a 28-year-old woman with APL who developed massive thrombosis of the cerebral sinuses while on induction treatment with all-trans retinoic acid. On the basis of this report, the potential pathogenic mechanisms and the diagnosis based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with magnetic resonance venogram (MRV) are discussed. Early anticoagulant therapy contributed to the progressive dissolution of the thrombosis, as documented by MRI, with the complete disappearance of neurological signs without sequelae. Given the increasing recognition of thromboembolic events in APL, the use of prophylactic anticoagulation during induction therapy may need to be redefined.

The aim of this study was to investigate the tissue factor (TF) expression of platelets and leukocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), patients with stable angina (SA) and healthy subjects (as controls). 26 patients with ACS, 29 patients with SA, and 25 controls were enrolled in this study. The peripheral blood samples of above-mentioned subjects were collected and isolated to obtain the monocytes and platelet-rich plasma, the TF-mRNA expression of monocytes, and platelets among 3 groups was detected by RT-PCR, the TF expression ratio of platelets, platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA) and platelet-monocyte aggregates (PMP) was detected by flow cytometry among 3 groups. The results showed that the TF mRNA expression level of platelets in ACS group were significantly higher (3.11 ± 0.51 relative expression) as compared with SA and control groups (1.88 ± 0.78 and 0.7 ± 0.1, respectively) (P = 0.03). Expression of TF mRNA of monocytes was higher in ACS group (P = 0.05 versus controls) too. ACS group had a significantly higher amount of TF-positive platelets (8.8 ± 2.6) than SA (2.6 ± 0.5, P = 0.02) or control groups (2.5 ± 0.4, P = 0.02). A significantly greater number of TF positive platelet-leukocyte aggregates and platelet-monocyte aggregates were also found by flow cytometry in blood of ACS patients than in either SA patients or controls. It is concluded that the high TF expression of platelets and leukocytes in ACS patients strengthens the platelet activation, blood coagulation, and thrombus formation and may further contribute to the hypercoagulability associated with the disease. The present study further extends the proinflammatory/prothrombotic phenotype of ACS patients showing that new players on the scene.

The international prognostic index (IPI) has been established as one of the best predictors of outcome, and several different immunologic subtypes have been established as independent predictors of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study was aimed to reassess and re-evaluate the useful value of these prognostic predictors in patients treated with immunochemotherapy. A retrospective analysis of clinical records of immuno-chemotherapeutic (rituximab + CHOP, R-CHOP) and route chemotherapeutic (CHOP) groups was carried out. Standard two-step method of immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expression of CD10, MUM-1, BCL-6 and BCL-2. The different classification models (Han's algorithm and Muris model) were performed for patients with DLBCL according to the immunohistochemical staining results in both R-CHOP and CHOP regimen groups. Then the data of remission and overall survival rate in different groups were analyzed to investigate the effect of these prognostic factors. Total 126 de novo DLBCL patients were collected in this study, including 51 patients with treatment of R-CHOP and the other 75 patients with treatment of CHOP. The results showed that the R-CHOP group had higher complete remission rate (68.8) than CHOP group (58.7). The patients with IPI score ≤ 2 had significantly higher overall response rate and overall survival rates than the patients with IPI scores2 in both groups. The survival rates of different subtypes in Han's and Muris models were not different from each other in R-CHOP group, but were obvious different from each other in CHOP group. It is concluded that IPI is still effective and predictive for identification of different risk groups. Immunochemotherapy can improve the remission and overall survival rate of DLBCL, but weaken the effect of outcome predictor.

A selective synthesis of non-symmetrical bimacrocyclic ligand by using the ‘lariat’ Ni(II) complex is reported. The bimacrocyclic ligand in which only one of the macrocycles has cyanoethyl groups has been synthesized and characterized by 13CNMR and FAB mass spectroscopy. The dinickel(II) complex with the ligand has been isolated as the salt with one chloride and three perchlorates. The visible absorption spectrum of the dinickel(II) complex indicates that one of the Ni(II) ions has a square planar configuration and the other is five-coordinate.

The AGPL1 (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit 1) promoter from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.) has proved to exhibit fruit-specific expression patterns in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). A plant expression vector harboring sweet-taste protein, Brazzein, directed by AGPL1 promoter, was constructed and transferred into tomato plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transform methods. Histochemical staining assay, PCR screening, Southern blotting analysis and RT-PCR analysis showed that Brazzein gene was successfully integrated into the genome of transgenic tomato plants with stable expression. Sweet-taste fruits were produced under control of fruit-specific AGPL1 promoter, whereas other parameters of fruit quality were largely unchanged.

Economically important compounds, such as licorice flavonoids, are present in insufficient amounts in the hairy roots. To overcome this problem, we took the transgenic approach combined with the elicitation technique to increase the flavonoid production. The Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch cDNA encoding chalcone isomerase gene (chi) was over-expressed in hairy roots of G. uralensis Fisch mediated by the disarmed Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4. Stable genetic transformation was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The transgenic and wild cultures were subsequently elicited with PEG8000 (2%) alone, yeast extract (YE) (0.1%) alone, or both of them, and then the total flavonoids were extracted and measured. The results showed that over a culture period of 3 weeks, the wild-type hairy roots, the untreated transgenic hairy roots, and the double-treated transgenic hairy roots accumulated 0.842, 1.394, and 2.838 (g/100 g DW) of total flavonoids, respectively. Moreover, the enhanced accumulation of flavonoids were correlated with the elevated level of chi transcripts and CHI activity, confirming the key role of chi in the flavonoids synthesis. This research demonstrated that the combination of the metabolic engineering and PEG8000-YE elicitation treatment was an effective strategy to increase the flavonoids production in hairy roots of G. uralensis Fisch.

A 1.8 kb 5'-flanking region of the large subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, isolated from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.), has fruit-specific promoter activity in transgenic tomato plants. Two negative regulatory regions, from -986 to -959 and from -472 to -424, were identified in this promoter region by fine deletion analyses. Removal of both regions led to constitutive expression in epidermal cells. Gain-of-function experiments showed that these two regions were sufficient to inhibit RFP (red fluorescent protein) expression in transformed epidermal cells when fused to the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S minimal promoter. Gel mobility shift experiments demonstrated the presence of leaf nuclear factors that interact with these two elements. A TCCAAAA motif was identified in these two regions, as well as one in the reverse orientation, which was confirmed to be a novel specific cis-element. A quantitative beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity assay of stable transgenic tomato plants showed that the activities of chimeric promoters harbouring only one of the two cis-elements, or both, were approximately 10-fold higher in fruits than in leaves. These data confirm that the TCCAAAA motif functions as a fruit-specific element by inhibiting gene expression in leaves.

A selective synthesis of non-symmetrical bimacrocyclic ligand by using the ‘lariat’ Ni(II) complex is reported. The bimacrocyclic ligand in which only one of the macrocycles has cyanoethyl groups has been synthesized and characterized by 13CNMR and FAB mass spectroscopy. The dinickel(II) complex with the ligand has been isolated as the salt with one chloride and three perchlorates. The visible absorption spectrum of the dinickel(II) complex indicates that one of the Ni(II) ions has a square planar configuration and the other is five-coordinate.