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Background/Introduction: At present, human diet is replete with sugar and fat. Abnormal metabolism and hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia in the body induces the development of an overactive and continuous inflammatory response, resulting in obesity and metabolic syndromes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. Torenia concolor Lindley var. formosana Yamazaki (TC), a perennial creeping herbaceous plant, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely used for the treatment of heat stroke, aching muscles and bones, cold, dysentery, and ambustion. Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of TC on inflammation responses and lipid metabolism. Methods: In this study, ground TC powder was extracted with 95% ethanol. The ethanol was removed by vacuum concentration, and the resulting extract was further extracted with a number of solvents of different polarity to produce four final extracts: an ethanol extract (TCEE), an ethyl acetate extract (TCEAE), an n-butanol extract (TCBUE), and a water extract (TCWE). The anti-inflammatory efficacy of the extracts and their capability for lipid metabolism regulation was then explored. Results: TCEE, TCEAE, and TCBUE exhibited good anti-inflammatory efficacy; TCEAE also simultaneously regulated lipid metabolism. In RAW264.7 cells, these three extracts suppressed the expression of iNOS and IL-6 via the signaling pathway activation of the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and thereby showed anti-inflammatory efficacy. In 3T3-L1 cells, these three extracts promoted lipid metabolism and reduced lipid accumulation through the activation of PPARα and the increased expression of adiponectin, thus demonstrating regulation of lipid metabolism. Conclusion: These results indicate that TC possesses anti-inflammatory efficacy and can regulate lipid metabolism through the activation of transcription factor PPARs. We speculate that these nutraceutical effects are attributable to betulin, an active ingredient in this herbal medicine.

Abstract Geochemical, Sr Nd isotopic and geochronological methods were used to reveal the protoliths and geodynamic implications of the newly discovered Triassic Baqing eclogites, eastern Qiangtang terrane, central Tibet. We assessed the mobility of trace elements, and it turned out that high field strength elements (HFSEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) were immobile in the high-pressure (HP) metamorphic process and reliably employed to discriminate the protoliths of the Baqing eclogites. Whole-rock geochemical data (especially immobile elements) suggested both arc-related (negative Nb Ta anomalies, high light (L) REEs/heavy (H) REEs ratios) and mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB)-related (without negative Nb Ta anomalies, relatively low REEs contents) characteristics, indicating the contribution of different proportions of subduction material with a backarc basin origin. According to the Sr Nd isotopic ratios (initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios: 0.7078–0.7086; ε Nd (t) values: −0.58 to +1.96), the protoliths of the Baqing eclogites originated from mantle which experienced continental crustal contamination in the subduction zone. Compared with nearby subduction-related magmatic rocks from eastern Qiangtang terrane, backarc basin was the most likely tectonic environment for the Baqing eclogite protoliths. The Jinsha Paleo-Tethyan Ocean southward subduction underneath East Qiangtang block (EQB) and rollback led to the formation of this backarc basin between the Late Permian and Early Triassic, and subsequent northward subduction of the backarc basin formed the Baqing eclogites in early Late Triassic (227–221 Ma). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Late Triassic (227–221 Ma) Baqing eclogites from eastern Qiangtang, Tibet, are reported. • Protoliths of Baqing eclogites originated from Late Permian–Early Triassic backarc basin. • The Jinsha Paleo-Tethys southward subduction and rollback accounted for the formation of the Baqing backarc basin. • The CQMB eclogites constrained the boundary of East and West Qiangtang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop three-dimensional (3D) morphological modeling and visualization is an important part of digital plant study. This paper aimed to develop a 3D morphological model of wheat root system based on the parameters of wheat root morphological features, and to realize the visualization of wheat root growth. According to the framework of visualization technology for wheat root growth, a 3D visualization model of wheat root axis, including root axis growth model, branch geometric model, and root axis curve model, was developed firstly. Then, by integrating root topology, the corresponding pixel was determined, and the whole wheat root system was three?dimensionally re?constructed by using the morphological feature parameters in the root morphological model. Finally, based on the platform of OpenGL, and by integrating the technologies of texture mapping, lighting rendering, and collision detection, the 3D visualization of wheat root growth was realized. The 3D output of wheat root system from the model was vivid, which could realize the 3D root system visualization of different wheat cultivars under different water regimes and nitrogen application rates. This study could lay a technical foundation for further development of an integral visualization system of wheat plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of homogeneous catalyst for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis by oxidative carbonylation of methanol in the liquid-phase reaction was investigated. The polymer-bound monometallic PVP-CuCl2 catalyst (PVP, poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)) prepared by the combination of an alcoholic solutions of PVP and CuCl2 exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol with carbon monoxide and oxygen to DMC under 3.0 MPa (PO2=0.24 MPa and PCO=2.76 MPa) pressure at temperature around 140–160 °C. The catalyst exhibits much higher activity and selectivity than non-supported CuCl2 in the DMC synthesis reaction. The remarkable increase in the conversion and selectivity is attributed to the presence of a strong complexation effect between Cu(II) and the amide ligands in the polymer chains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis reaction by oxidative carbonylation of methanol has been studied in a flow reaction system at atmospheric pressure in the presence of quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)-promoted bimetallic PdCl2-CuCl2 catalyst system supported on mesoporous HMS silica. The effects of the various QAS promoters, the promoter doping level and the Cu/Pd mole ratio were investigated, as well as the reaction conditions on the catalytic reactivates. The results showed that the tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) promoted PdCl2-CuCl2/HMS catalyst system has the best catalytic performance. The characterization of PdCl2-CuCl2-TBAB/HMS catalysts was performed by means of BET, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. The essential role of TBAB promoter is to facilitate the Pd(0)/Pd(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox processes. The formation of substantial amounts of surface stabilized cuprous species on the bimetallic HMS catalysts may account for the significant enhancement of the catalytic performance in DMC synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To examine the association between interferon (IFN) therapy and loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in inactive HBsAg carriers., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study in inactive HBsAg carriers, who were treatment-naive, with a serum HBsAg level < 100 IU/mL and an undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level (< 100 IU/mL). All the 20 treated patients received subcutaneous PEG-IFN alfa-2a 180 μg/wk for 72 wk and were then followed for 24 wk. There were 40 untreated controls matched with 96 wk of observation. Serum HBsAg, HBV DNA, and alanine aminotransferases were monitored every 3 mo in the treatment group and every 3-6 mo in the control group., Results: Thirteen (65.0%) of 20 treated patients achieved HBsAg loss, 12 of whom achieved HBsAg seroconversion. Mean HBsAg level in treated patients decreased to 6.69 ± 13.04 IU/mL after 24 wk of treatment from a baseline level of 26.22 ± 33.00 IU/mL. Serum HBV DNA level remained undetectable (< 100 IU/mL) in all treated patients during the study. HBsAg level of the control group decreased from 25.72 ± 25.58 IU/mL at baseline to 17.11 ± 21.62 IU/mL at week 96 (P = 0.108). In the control group, no patient experienced HBsAg loss/seroconversion, and two (5.0%) developed HBV reactivation., Conclusion: IFN treatment results in HBsAg loss and seroconversion in a considerable proportion of inactive HBsAg carriers with low HBsAg concentrations.

Crop three-dimensional (3D) morphological modeling and visualization is an important part of digital plant study. This paper aimed to develop a 3D morphological model of wheat root system based on the parameters of wheat root morphological features, and to realize the visualization of wheat root growth. According to the framework of visualization technology for wheat root growth, a 3D visualization model of wheat root axis, including root axis growth model, branch geometric model, and root axis curve model, was developed firstly. Then, by integrating root topology, the corresponding pixel was determined, and the whole wheat root system was three-dimensionally re-constructed by using the morphological feature parameters in the root morphological model. Finally, based on the platform of OpenGL, and by integrating the technologies of texture mapping, lighting rendering, and collision detection, the 3D visualization of wheat root growth was realized. The 3D output of wheat root system from the model was vivid, which could realize the 3D root system visualization of different wheat cultivars under different water regimes and nitrogen application rates. This study could lay a technical foundation for further development of an integral visualization system of wheat plant.