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Laxogenoside-C (LG-C) has BRs-likely activity and with higher activity stability. In this study, the LG-C and SsS (the mixture of Laxogenoside-A, -B, and -C; isolated from the Smilax scobinicaulis C.H. Wright) were used to conduct the seeding treatment and greenhouse experiments with different application time and concentrations, to clarify the effect on yield and quality of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) for development of a new plant growth regulator. The results showed that 10 μM LG-C and SsS increased hypocotyls, elongation and cotyledon weight compared with other treatment. The greenhouse experiments indicated that the interaction effect of plant growth regulator types and application time was significant for all parameters except for phosphorus content. An application of LG-C or SsS produced a higher yield than multiple times. Compared with T0 treatment, LG-C and SsS sprayed at root enlargement (T4) increased yield by 25.33% and 24.10%, respectively. T4 treatment of LG-C produced the highest yield and free amino acid and phosphorus, but the other parameters not. T4 treatment of SsS not only had the highest yield and water-soluble carbohydrates and water-soluble protein but also improved the other radish quality. In conclusion, this study indicated that the application of SsS at root enlargement with 10 μM improved radish root tubers yield and quality.

Using potassium permanganate-modified pineapple cellulose as an adsorbent, the absorption behaviour of Cu2+ was analyzed based on isothermal adsorption, adsorption kinetics and adsorption thermodynamics. SEM, FTIR and XPS analyses were conducted to further investigate the absorption mechanism. Results showed that the modified pineapple bran cellulose by potassium permanganate adsorbed more Cu2+ in solution than the unmodified pineapple bran cellulose by 110.96%. SEM, XPS and FTIR analyses demonstrated that the strong oxidizing agent MnO4− attacked the molecule chains of pineapple bran cellulose and resulted in the growth in the specific surface area and active groups, which provided additional adsorption sites for Cu2+. Adsorption kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption of the modified pineapple bran cellulose for Cu2+ was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudo-second order kinetic equation indicating mainly chemisorption. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. And the chemisorption process dominated the Cu2+ adsorption process of modified pineapple bran cellulose.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) control several important agronomic traits, such as strengthening resistance to diverse adversity, improving the quality, and increasing crop yield. Their chemical structures and varieties, specific methods for the evaluation of bioactivities, structure-activity relationships, potential novel compounds, and practical agricultural uses were summarized. The findings allow the examination of brassinosteroids in two important issues: 1) Do the results of different bioevaluation protocols provide similar activities for BRs? and 2) which bioevaluated compounds would proof to have a greater potential for application in agricultural usages?

Additive layer manufacturing (ALM), using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) as heat source, is a promising technology in producing Inconel 625 components due to significant cost savings, high deposition rate and convenience of processing. With the purpose of revealing how microstructure and mechanical properties are affected by the location within the manufactured wall component, the present study has been carried out. The manufactured Inconel 625 consists of cellular grains without secondary dendrites in the near-substrate region, columnar dendrites structure oriented upwards in the layer bands, followed by the transition from directional dendrites to equiaxed grain in the top region. With the increase in deposited height, segregation behavior of alloying elements Nb and Mo constantly strengthens with maximal evolution in the top region. The primary dendrite arm spacing has a well coherence with the content of Laves phase. The microhardness and tensile strength show obvious variation in different regions. The microhardness and tensile strength of near-substrate region are superior to that of layer bands and top region. The results are further explained in detail through the weld pool behavior and temperature field measurement.

Objective To establish a rat model of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) manifesting the Chinese medicine syndrome pattern of both qi and yin deficiency for evaluating the efficacy of a Chinese herbal formula (CHF), integrative medicine (IM), and pioglitazone (PIO) on T2DM indicators in the animal model. Methods The rat model was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg). CHF (3.4 g/kg), PIO (2.7 mg/kg), and IM (3.4 g CHF + 2.7 mg PIO) were administered to rats once daily for 14 days. Related laboratory parameters were observed. Results Diabetic rats showed unsmooth fur, alopecia, reduced activity, huddling, somnolence, depression, pale or reddened tongue, damp/dark red tail, and high levels of water and food intake, urine volume, and stool weight, but weakened grip strength. Low levels of serum SOD, Na + -K + -ATPase, cAMP/cGMP, and a high level of iNOS were observed. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, high levels of serum glucagon/IDE and pancreatic amylin, and low serum and pancreatic SS levels were evident as well. Conclusions A rat model of T2DM with both qi and yin deficiency was successfully replicated. CHF appeared to be more efficacious than IM and PIO in the rat model of qi and yin deficiency pattern of T2DM, though IM and PIO were each found to have their merits and drawbacks in attenuating T2DM indicators in the rat model.

An efficient C-O amination of aryl methyl ethers has been achieved. This transformation proceeds via imine-directed Ti(IV)-mediated cross-coupling reactions between aryl methyl ethers and Ti(NR2)4 at room temperature, straightforwardly leading to a series of arylamines. This protocol features a wide substrate scope, exclusive regioselectivity, and mild reaction conditions.

The syntheses, characterizations and properties of two coordination complexes, [Cr3(L)3Cl6] (1) and [Cu4(L)2Br2]n (2) (HL = 2,2′,2″-(1H-imidazole-2,4,5-triyl)tripyridine) were reported. The HL ligand was unprecedentedly afforded by metal-mediated solverthermal in situ metal–ligand reaction among picolinaldehyde, ammonium acetate and metal ions. Compound 1 can be described as a bottom-opened vase-like complex with the three CrIII ions showing a triangle conformation. For complex 2, the sandwich-like [Cu4(L)2]2 + moieties are linked by bromide ions to generate a 1D chain framework. Variable-temperature magnetic studies in the temperature range of 2.0–300 K for 1 reveal antiferromagnetic CrIII⋯CrIII interactions. The catalytic activity of 2 towards the reaction of 2-butanone and ethylene glycol was also investigated; it showed a very good catalytic property allowing for the easy and high yielding preparation of 2-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane under mild conditions.

The ligands 2-pyrazol-1-yl-1H-indole (HL1) and 2-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl-1H-indole (HL2) individually reacted with Ti(NMe2)4 in tetrahydrofuran to form the corresponding complexes Ti(L1)2(NMe2)2 (1) and Ti(L2)2(NMe2)2 (2), respectively. The titanium complexes were fully characterized by NMR measurement and elemental analysis as well as the single-crystal X-ray diffraction of 1 and 2. Both 1 and 2 exhibit high activities towards intermolecular hydroamination of terminal alkynes with high selectivity, and they also efficiently promote the ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone.

Ethnopharmacology relevance Based on basic theories of Chinese medicine, Yi-Qi-Yang-Yin-Hua-Tan-Qu-Yu (YQYYHTQY) recipe was constituted by eleven kinds of Chinese herbs and effective in treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). But the therapy target was unclear. Objective In this study, we used the serum proteome labeled by iTRAQ to find therapy target of YQYYHTQY recipe on T2DM. Materials and methods The rat model was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ, 30 mg/kg). Drugs were administered to rats once daily for 14 days. Related laboratory parameters were observed. Serum proteome were compared between T2DM and YQYYHTQY group using the iTRAQ labeling quantitative proteomics technique. Functional differential proteins were analysis by STRING software. Target proteins were confirmed by ELISA kits. Results Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, decrease of glucose transporter, depilation, less activity, flock together, depression, ecchymosis of tongue and tail appearance, the typical diabetic patients “a little more than three” symptoms, as well as the decrease of grip strength, serum cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/ cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) ratio, serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and the increase of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), thromboxane B2 (TXB2)/ 6-keto prostaglandin F1α (6-keto PGF1α) ratio, endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels were found in T2DM group. After drugs treatment, all the above indexes almost were improved in different degrees and effect of YQYYHTQY recipe was superior to pioglitazone hydrochloride. In addition, there were 23 differential proteins, 5 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated proteins. Of them, there were 4 proteins related with diabetes, blood and behavior. Cell division control protein 42 homolog (CDC42) and Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) were the therapy targets of YQYYHTQY recipe on T2DM. Conclusions YQYYHTQY recipe showed therapy effect on T2DM. CDC42 and RhoA proteins were the therapy targets of YQYYHTQY recipe.

Carbon blocks with relatively high graphitization degree (>92%) were prepared by simply binding natural graphite flakes with mesophase pitch at 1300–1500 °C without the traditionally used high-temperature graphitization process (~3000 °C). The influences of pitch content, molding pressure and heat-treatment temperature on the volume density and open porosity, mechanical property, and electrical resistivity of the carbon blocks were systematically investigated. The thermal conductivity and frictional property for typical carbon blocks were tested. The microstructure of the carbon blocks was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Results showed that carbon blocks with excellent comprehensive properties could be manufactured. Carbon blocks with bending strength up to 41.98 MPa were obtained when the mesophase pitch content was 25 wt%, the molding pressure 40 MPa, and heat-treatment temperature 1300 °C. The electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of the carbon blocks (parallel to the graphite layers) were in the range of 10–15 μΩ m and 50–60 W/(m K), respectively. The frictional coefficient of the carbon blocks was below 0.1.

Four complexes of composition [Cd(4-Apha)2]n (1), [Zn2(4-Apha)4(H2O)2]·2H2O (2), [Zn(4-Apha)(CH3COO)]n (3), and [Zn4(4-Apha)4(CH3COO)4(H2O)]n·2nCH3OH (4) (4-AphaH = 4-aminophenylhydroxamic acid) have been synthesized in different solvents and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and elemental analysis. X-ray crystal analysis reveals that these complexes exhibit four varieties of structures. Complex 1 displays a 1-D chain structure, and complex 2 is binuclear. Complexes 3 and 4 possess different 3-D structures. Fluorescence emissions are observed for complexes 1, 2 and 4 in solid state.

Poly(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate was polymerized via reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization (RAFT), and then chain extended in the presence of both a cross-linker and vinyl benzaldehyde (VBA), yielding monodisperse star polymers. The presence of aldehyde groups in the core was exploited to attach doxorubicin. The drug loading was controlled by the amount of VBA incorporated (until 28 wt% in drug). The doxorubicin release was studied at pH = 5.5 and 7.4; conditions representative of endosomal and extra cellular environments. In vitro studies revealed that the doxorubicin-conjugated star polymers had a level of cytotoxicity comparable to that found for free doxorubicin. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry studies confirmed efficient cell uptake of the star polymers.

Floating of SiC particles in a Zn–Al filler metal was investigated as functions of isothermal holding time, holding temperature, particle volume fraction and size. The floating distance increased with isothermal holding time until a stabilized condition was reached with all particles floating on the top of the melt. The floating distance increased significantly with increasing holding temperature and particle size and decreased with increasing particle volume fraction. The measured floating rates deviated significantly from those predicted by the modified Stokes’ law at relatively low holding temperatures, but the correspondence turned better with increasing holding temperature. Although the effect of particle volume fraction had been taken into account in the modified Stokes’ law, the correspondence was not good between the measured and the calculated values at various particle volume fractions. The measured floating rates which increased with particle size were much lower than the calculated values, particularly for large particle sizes.

An efficient C–O amination of aryl methyl ethers has been achieved. This transformation proceeds via imine-directed Ti(IV)-mediated cross-coupling reactions between aryl methyl ethers and Ti(NR2)4 at room temperature, straightforwardly leading to a series of arylamines. This protocol features a wide substrate scope, exclusive regioselectivity, and mild reaction conditions.