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The existence of error when compressing nonlinear functions into the coefficients of the characteristic model is known to be a key issue in existing characteristic modeling approaches, which is solved in this work by an error-free compression method. We first define a key concept of relevant states with corresponding compressing methods into their coefficients, where the coefficients are continuous and bounded and the compression is error-free. Then, we give the conditions for decoupling characteristic modeling for MIMO systems, and sequentially, we establish characteristic models for nonlinear systems with minimum phase and relative order two as well as the flexible spacecrafts, realizing the equivalence in the characteristic model theory. Finally, we explicitly explain the reasons for normalization in the characteristic model theory.

The mutation of the gene encoding a stearoyl-acyl carrier protein fatty acid desaturase (ssi2) has been proved to enhance pathogen resistance in several plants, while it's potential to regulate biotic and abiotic stresses in wheat is still unclear. In this study, we cloned TaSSI2 gene in wheat and provided several evidences of its involvement in multiple biological functions. By using barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in wheat, it was found that TaSSI2 negatively regulated both powdery mildew and Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance, which was consistent with the phenotype observed in knock-out mutants of Kronos. The expression of TaSSI2 was down-regulated by in vitro treatments of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), but positively regulated by salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA), implying the cross-talk between different hormone signaling pathways involved in wheat to regulate biotic stresses is still to be elucidated. Furthermore, the up-regulated expression of PR4 and PR5 indicated that TaSSI2 probably regulated FHB resistance by depressing the SA signaling pathway in wheat. In addition, the over-expression of TaSSI2 increased the content of linolenic acid (18:3) and subsequently enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic Brachypodium. This phenomenon might be associated with its subcellular localization in the whole cytosol, partly overlapping with Golgi apparatus and the secreted vesicles. As a stearoyl-acyl carrier protein fatty acid desaturase, TaSSI2 was proposed to be involved in cell lipid metabolism and carried targets out of the cell from membrane or wax synthesis, resulting in enhanced drought tolerance in plant.

Bi2MoO6 catalysts with rare earth dopants have been successfully synthesized using the facile hydrothermal method. The morphologies, phase content, and optical absorption properties of these catalysts with rare earth dopants are measured via X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS) techniques. The internal relationship between these measurement properties have also been analyzed. Our results suggest that in the Nd and Sm-doping cases, one new phase Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55 has been synthesized. The morphologies and microstructures of Bi2MoO6 system have also been changed correspondingly. The photocatalytic activities of these doped Bi2MoO6 samples are also evaluated via the photodegradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The results indicate that, with rare earth doping, the photocatalytic activities of these Bi2MoO6 samples have been greatly improved. Moreover, the mechanism about the enhancement of photocatalytic activity has also been discussed.

Bi 2 MoO 6 samples with different morphologies have been prepared using co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods. Octahedral-, spherical-, and plate-like particles have been obtained by changing some external factors including preparation methods, solvent types, and surfactants. Our results suggest that pure Bi 2 MoO 6 phase with nanoplate morphology are easily obtained via hydrothermal preparation method using ethylene glycol solvent. The photocatalytic and photoelectric properties of these Bi 2 MoO 6 samples have also been investigated in detail. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity is enhanced with addition of surfactants, such as Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and cetytrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The excellent photocatalytic activity is found for CTAB addition, which is nearly 100%. It may be ascribed to the specifically exposed facets structure, which is related to larger visible light absorption and improved separation of photogenerated charge carriers.

Visible light-driven photocatalyst γ-Bi2MoO6 was prepared by a hydrothermal process, with stirring in the preparation process, and surfactant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) addition in precursors. The obtained samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction technique, scanning electron microscopy, technology electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible diffraction reflectance spectra. The obtained results suggest that the stirring and EDTA addition have one strong influence on the morphology. Meanwhile, the formation mechanism of γ-Bi2MoO6 with different morphologies was also discussed. The catalytic activation of γ-Bi2MoO6 photocatalysts was evaluated by methyl blue under visible light irradiation. It was found that the photocatalytic properties change largely with surfactant assistant.

A series of Sr2.4Y0.2Eu0.2V2O8:xNa+(yBa2+) and Sr2.4Y0.2Eu0.2V2O8:zNb5+(mP5+) phosphors are synthesized by solid-state reaction method and the photoluminescence (PL) properties are investigated. All phosphors exhibit bright red emission centered at ∼619 nm. Na+ and Ba2+, as the sensitizers for the luminescence of Eu3+, are found to improve significantly the PL intensity of these phosphors. For the Sr2.4Y0.2Eu0.2V2O8:xNa+(yBa2+) samples, the emission intensity increases with Na+(Ba2+) doping, and the strongest intensity is achieved in the case when x is 0.09 and y is 0.15. The introduction of Nb(P)O4 3− reduces the non-radiative energy transfer between neighboring VO4 3− and results in the energy transfer between VO4 3− and Eu3+, and eventually leads to the enhancement of Eu3+ emission. Comparing the doping effect of between Na and Ba, and the effect between Nb and P, respectively, it is found that both Na and P doping largely tend to improve the emission intensity. The relevant mechanisms have been discussed.

Our preliminary data showed that VEGFR2 upregulation promoted renal ROS overproduction in high-fat diet- (HFD-) treated mice. Given that ROS-induced NLRP3 activation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetic kidney injury, we evaluate whether VEGFR2 upregulation induces type 2 diabetic kidney injury via ROS-mediated NLRP3 activation and further explore the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that VEGFR2 knockdown decreased ROS overproduction, blocked NLRP3-dependent inflammation, and alleviated kidney damage in HFD-treated mice. Treatment with α-lipoic acid, a scavenger of ROS, lowered ROS overproduction and alleviated NLRP3-triggered kidney injury of HFD-treated mice. Collectively, the VEGFR2/ROS/NLRP3 signal is a critical therapeutic strategy for the kidney injury of HFD-treated mice. Purple sweet potato color (PSPC), a natural anthocyanin, can exert renal protection by inhibiting ROS in HFD-treated mice. Here, we provide a novel mechanism of PSPC against renal damage in HFD-treated mice by downregulating VEGFR2 expression.

Eu3+ and Ba2+ co-doped Sr4V2O9 samples are prepared via a hydrothermal method and the structure, morphology, and photoluminescence properties are investigated. Sr4V2O9 is composed of disperse nano-rods. However, with Eu3+ and Ba2+ co-doping, nano-rods begin agglomerated and extend outward from the center to form a flower-like structure. Photoluminescence measurement indicates that Ba2+ dopants greatly enhance the emission intensity, for example, the enhanced emission intensity reaches for 234% when Ba2+ content is 5% for Sr4V2O9:Eu3+ (10%),Ba2+ (x%). However, with Ba2+ increasing further, the emission intensity decreases for Sr4V2O9:Eu3+ (10%),Ba2+ (x%) and Sr4V2O9:Eu3+(15%),Ba2+ (x%) samples, which is ascribed to the quenching behaviors. Further, CIE coordinates of (0.666, 0.333) for Sr4V2O9:Eu3+ (15%),Ba2+ (8%) sample, very similar to the (0.665, 0.334) coordinates for the commercial red phosphor Y2O3S:Eu3+, can be obtained.

Background/PurposeChronic rejection limits the long-term success of cardiac transplantation and the underlying cause of the disease is unknown. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is considered as a mitogenic and chemotactic factor for fibroblasts, and is associated with cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. We evaluated the expression of CTGF in a rat model of heart allograft chronic rejection.MethodsIntra-abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation was performed from 20 Wistar rats to 20 Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats that received cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and methylprednisolone as immunosuppression. Ten heart allografts were explanted at 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively for analysis of morphologic changes. The hearts from 10 normal Wistar rats served as a control group. Coronary artery density, luminal loss of myocardial coronary arteries, and myocardial fibrosis were measured. The expression of CTGF was studied by immunohistochemistry. Correlation between CTGF expression and development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) or fibrosis was studied.ResultsAllografts harvested at 8 weeks postoperatively showed more coronary intimal proliferation, fibrosis and CTGF expression compared with the 2-week allografts (p < 0.05) and the controls (p < 0.01), but the coronary artery density was lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). However, the control group showed negligible CTGF expression. There were strong negative correlations between the gray value of CTGF protein expression and cardiac fibrosis and coronary intimal occlusion (r = −0.734, −0.713; p < 0.01), which demonstrated that CTGF protein expression was positively correlated with cardiac fibrosis and coronary intimal occlusion.ConclusionCTGF is expressed in cardiomyocytes in CAV. Increased expression of CTGF in cardiac allografts is associated with development of CAV and fibrosis formation.

To study the effects of Kaempferol on activation, proliferation and cell cycle of murine T lymphocytes, and to elucidate the mechanism of the immunosuppressive effect of Kaempferol.Lymphocytes were prepared from lymphoid nodes of mouse, and were stimulated with polyclonal activators ConA, and then were co-cultured with Kaempferol of different final concentration. The effect on the expression of CD69 (the early marker of the activated T cells) on T lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry combined with two colored monoclonal antibodies flow cytometry. While, the effect of Kaempferol on the proliferation of T lymphocytes in response to ConA stimulation was determined by MTT, cell cycle was detected by PI staining.Kaempferol (final concentration is 10, 20 and 40 mumol/L) can inhibit the expression of CD69 on activated T lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05). The expression rate of CD69 on T cells in response to ConA was (39.11+/-1.17)%. After treatment with Kaempferol, the expression rate of CD69 reduced to (30.64+/-0.23)%, (27.95+/-0.04)% and (5.63+/-0.37)%, respectively (P0.05); The result of MTT showed that Kaempferol can inhibit the proliferation of T lymphocytes stimulated by ConA in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05); The result of PI staining showed that Kaempferol can arrest cell cycle at S phage and G2/M at all experimental concentration (P0.05).Kaempferol can effectively inhibit the activation, proliferation of mouse T lymphocytes in respond to ConA, arrest cell cycle at S phage and G2/M in vitro.

This study investigated the effect of phloretin (Ph) on the proliferation, activation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes and NO production and phagocytosis of macrophages. Carboxyfluorescein diacetatesuccinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) staining plus flow cytometry assay was employed to obtain the proliferation-related index (PI) of lymphocytes. The expression levels of CD69 and CD25 on T lymphocytes stimulated with Con A were evaluated with flow cytometry after staining with fluorescent monoclonal antibody. Cell-cycle distribution of T lymphocytes was analyzed by propidium iodide staining. Griess kit was used to evaluate the NO production and fluorescent microbeads were used to analyze the phagocytosis ability of macrophages. Our results showed that phloretin (40, 60, and 80 micromol x L(-7)) significantly inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes and the PI reduced from 1.41 +/- 0.13 to 1.34 +/- 0.16, 1.19 +/- 0.12 and 1.07 +/- 0.06, respectively. Phloretin significantly inhibited the expression of CD69 and CD25 (P0.01). The cell cycle distribution analysis showed that phloretin could induce a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. NO production of LPS +IFN-gamma group of macrophages was (26.72 +/- 3.57) micromol x L(-1), and was significantly reduced by phloretin (P0.01). And phagocytosis rate of macrophages was significantly reduced by phloretin (P0.01). The results demonstrate that phloretin might be developed into a new immuosuppressive drug.