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The study aimed to identify an effective probiotic combination for the removal of deoxynivalenol (DON) from wheat and corn, and to verify the detoxification effect of solid-state fermentation. The content of DON removed, adsorbed, and degraded by the selected strains was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that in the liquid matrix, the detoxification rate increased with the reaction time and was higher for Streptococcus pentosus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus plantarum among all the bacteria. After 24 hours, the maximum detoxification rates of the individual strains reached 79.62%, 62.22%, and 82.75%, respectively. Measurement of DON content in different treatment solutions revealed that the removal of DON by the three strains was primarily due to adsorption, with a DON desorption rate of less than 15%. In the solid-state fermentation system, the highest detoxification rate of DON-contaminated wheat could reach 79.49%, when the inoculation amount of three strains were 1×106, 1×107 and 1×108 CFU/mL. The highest detoxification rates for DON- and zearalenone-contaminated corn achieved 61.54% and 78.15%, respectively, when the inoculation amount of three strains were 1×106, 1×108 and 1×107 CFU/mL. In addition, the combined solid-state fermentation of the three strains increased the crude protein and reduced the crude fibre content of toxin-contaminated wheat and corn. This study identified compound probiotics that can efficiently remove DON in liquid substrates and solid-state fermentation systems, and preliminarily explored their detoxification mechanisms, which could provide a theoretical and practical basis for the detoxification of grains contaminated with mycotoxins through solid-state fermentation.

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been shown to have a close association in previous studies, but their pathogeneses are unclear. This study explores the molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of OSA and NAFLD and identifies key predictive genes.MethodsUsing the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we obtained gene expression profiles GSE38792 for OSA and GSE89632 for NAFLD and related clinical characteristics. Mitochondrial unfolded protein response-related genes (UPRmtRGs) were acquired by collating and collecting UPRmtRGs from the GeneCards database and relevant literature from PubMed. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with OSA and NAFLD were identified using differential expression analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted for signaling pathway enrichment analysis of related disease genes. Based on the STRING database, protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed on differentially co-expressed genes (Co-DEGs), and the Cytoscape software (version 3.9.1) was used to visualize the PPI network model. In addition, the GeneMANIA website was used to predict and construct the functional similar genes of the selected Co-DEGs. Key predictor genes were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsThe intersection of differentially expressed genes shared between OSA and NAFLD-related gene expression profiles with UPRmtRGs yielded four Co-DEGs: ASS1, HDAC2, SIRT3, and VEGFA. GSEA obtained the relevant enrichment signaling pathways for OSA and NAFLD. PPI network results showed that all four Co-DEGs interacted (except for ASS1 and HDAC2). Ultimately, key predictor genes were selected in the ROC curve, including HDAC2 (OSA: AUC = 0.812; NAFLD: AUC = 0.729), SIRT3 (OSA: AUC = 0.775; NAFLD: AUC = 0.750), and VEGFA (OSA: AUC = 0.812; NAFLD: AUC = 0.861) (they have a high degree of accuracy in predicting whether a subject will develop two diseases).ConclusionIn this study, four co-expression differential genes for OSA and NAFLD were obtained, and they can predict the occurrence of both diseases. Transcriptional mechanisms involved in OSA and NAFLD interactions may be better understood by exploring these key genes. Simultaneously, this study provides potential diagnostic and therapeutic markers for patients with OSA and NAFLD.

Abstract Background Higher stress is associated with higher levels of depression and instrumental-activities-of-daily-living (IADL) dependence, and depression is strongly associated with specific IADL disabilities. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of perceived stress on the association between depression and IADL dependence among older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods We examined baseline data collected from a longitudinal study that recruited 110 patients with DM aged ≥ 65 years from the endocrinology outpatient clinic of a district hospital. The instruments used for our measurement processes comprised a demographic data sheet and Chinese versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-S), and the Lawton IADL Scale. We assessed the mediating effects of positive perceived stress (PPS) and negative perceived stress (NPS) after controlling for five covariates by using a regression-based model run through the SPSS macro PROCESS. Results We observed negative correlations between GDS-S scores and PPS and between PPS and IADL dependence; we noted positive correlations between GDS-S scores and NPS and between NPS and IADL dependence (all P

BackgroundPerinatal depression seriously affects the physical and mental health of pregnant women， such as affecting their role transition， identity， and family relationships， etc. In severe case， it can even lead to suicidal behavior， causing a heavy burden on pregnant women and their families. A hierarchical management model centered on pregnant women， involving collaboration of families， communities， and hospitals， facilitates comprehensive and dynamic management of perinatal depression.ObjectiveTo evaluate the application effect of "Internet +" hospital-community-family trinity linkage management model on perinatal depression in pregnant women， in order to provide a reference for the clinical intervention.Methods80 pregnant women who established medical records from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Mianyang Third People's Hospital from January to December 2022， with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale （EPDS） score>9， were selected as the research objects. According to the random number table method， they were divided into a study group and a control group， each group consisting of 40 cases. Both groups received routine nursing intervention in the pregnant women's school of obstetrics and gynecology outpatient department before delivery， and in the study room of the department of obstetrics and gynecology after being admitted to the hospital for delivery. After discharge， they received routine follow-up until 42 days postpartum. The study group received the "Internet +" hospital-community-family ternary linkage management on the basis. EPDS， Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI）， Generic Quality of Life Inventory （GQOLI-74） and Nursing Satisfaction questionnaire were assessed before intervention and 42 days postpartum.ResultsAfter intervention， the EPDS score and PSQI score of the study group were lower than those of the control group （F=42.823， 60.453， P

This paper investigates the hydrodynamics of a bent elastic tube with an instantaneously deformed wall using an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) finite element method. The study reveals that the tube deforms continuously with the fluid’s progression, exhibiting diverse deformation patterns. The flow patterns do not adhere to Poiseuille’s profile, with higher velocities detected on the inner side of the bent region during deformation. The results deepen insights into hydrodynamics within bent elastic tubes and bring significance for the design of curved pipelines.

Nuclear power generation constitutes a significant component of the energy infrastructure within the United States. The dry cask storage system canister, used for storing highly radioactive spent fuel, demands vigilant structural health monitoring. This paper explores the feasibility of monitoring of stress corrosion cracking in large-scale dry cask storage system canisters using acoustic emission sensors. In this paper, a 304H stainless steel plate, reflecting a typical canister, was subjected to conditions inducing stress corrosion cracking by exposure to a potassium tetrathionate solution and tensile stresses. Analysis of the captured acoustic emission signals showed that the sensors were able to detect this corrosion even at considerable distances from the cracks. Moreover, a finite element model was designed to simulate the acoustic emission signals, thus providing a preliminary understanding of the signal profiles at different sensor locations and potentially providing guidance on the optimal placement of the sensors during field monitoring.

The proportions of fat and carbohydrate in diet have an important impact on lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism and health. On the premise of consistent dietary available energy (metabolic energy), the effects of different fat and carbohydrates energy supply ratios in diet on fat metabolism and gut microbiota were studied. Sixty-four 9-weeks-old SPF grade male SD rats aged 9 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups including: HFf group (energy supply ratio of fat to carbohydrate (F/C) 40% : 45%), MFf group (F/C 31% : 54%), LFf group (F/C 21% : 64%) and CON group (control diet). The results showed that there were no significant differences in body weight, blood glucose, blood lipid and liver steatosis among all groups (P > 0.05). The liver triglyceride and abdominal adiponectin of HFf group were significantly higher than those of the other three groups (P < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) gene expression in the liver of HFf group decreased, while the expressions of lipid synthesis genes, fatty acid transporter (FAT/CD36), sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP1), and adipocyte differentiation gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ) increased in HFf group (P < 0.05). Compared with CON group, the cholesterol synthesis factor hydroxymethylglutarate monoacyl CoA (HMG-CoA) gene expression in the liver of HFf, MFf and LFf groups were all increased (P < 0.05). In addition, the higher dietary F/C (40% : 45% and 30% : 55%) resulted in impaired gut villi development, which led to decreasing abundance of beneficial bacteria but increasing abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, under the same dietary available energy, although the diet of the high-fat group contained a high proportion of fat, it also contained a high content of cellulose, which effectively alleviated the weight gain and blood glucose and lipid abnormalities caused by the high-fat diet. However, there were still symptoms such as increased liver fat and impaired intestinal health, and the F/C in the diet of rats should not exceed 30%. This provides a theoretical reference for the appropriate proportion of macronutrients in the diet.

The shortage of high-quality protein feed resources has become an important variable affecting food security in China. Grain and oil processing by-products are abundant in China, but the feeding value is low. If these resources are processed through modern biotechnology, such as biofermentation, enzymolysis technology or synthetic biology, their quality and efficiency will be improved and can be used to replace the soybean meal. This paper summarized the production process, feed value and its application in soybean meal replacement of fermented feed, enzymolysis feed and microbial protein feed, and also introduced the research progress of microbial adsorption, degradation, or enzymes on removing mycotoxins, finally put forward the research prospect of development, industrialization application, standard establishment, and industry supervision for biological fermentation feed. This paper can provide guidance for the application of biotechnology in grain and oil feed resources.

Abstract Background Activity limitations and participation restrictions were observed in patients with diabetes, which may impact their quality of life. Environmental factors such as seasonal effects, resources and perceived stress may play important role in activity limitations and participation restrictions. In this study, a variant of International Classification of Functioning (ICF) model was used to clarify the associations of function/structure factors, personal factors and environmental factors with activity limitations and participation restrictions. Methods This was a longitudinal design with 1 year follow-up. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale- short form, Perceived Stress Scale, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living assessments were measured at 3-month intervals for long-term follow-up in 110 patients with diabetes aged ≥ 65 years. Results Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that age (p = 0.001), perceived health status, MMSE scores (p

The emergence of business intelligence and analytics(BI&A) 3.0 and the broadening application scenarios of information fusion enhance the importance of data fusion in the business intelligence.More and more researches in the fields of economy,finance and management use the idea and methods of fusion,and the application of data fusion in these fields shows characteristics different from the traditional information fusion.Considering the concepts of information fusion and BI&A,this paper puts forward the new connotation of BI&A based on the perspective of data fusion under the background of multi-source and heteroge-neous big data,highlighting the importance of data fusion in BI&A.In addition,the paper constructs the fusion framework of ‘data,information and knowledge’ for BI&A based on WSR system methodology,so that the data fusion can be better applied in the fields of economy,finance and management.It provides scientific basis for acquiring knowledge from massive multi-source and heterogeneous data,and is beneficial to the development and implementation of a more effective business intelligence system.

Hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) is the predominant active compound in Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZBM). Our present work was aimed to explore the in vitro metabolism characteristics, and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of HAS. Plasma (human), liver microsomes, and hepatocytes (human, monkey, dog, mouse, and rat) were collected for HAS metabolism studies in vitro and HAS elimination rates in liver microsomes and hepatocytes of different species were investigated. In addition, five recombinant human CYP enzymes were used to identify CYP isoforms of HAS. Finally, the PK properties of HAS in rats in vivo were studied by oral administration (p.o.). The results showed that HAS stably metabolized in human and rat liver microsomes and human hepatocytes, and the binding of HAS to human plasma proteins was nonspecific; HAS has strong inhibitory effects on CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 of human liver microsomes. In addition, in vivo PK study, HAS is rapidly absorbed in rats after oral administration. In conclusion, the in vivo and in vitro metabolic studies of HAS in this study provide data support for its further development and application, and the metabolic profiles of different species can be used as a reference for its safety evaluation.

Abstract Background X-ray fluoroscopy has been the primary cardiac imaging modality in permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) operations, but it inevitably results in radiation exposure for both operators and patients. Fluoroscopy is considered a contraindication, especially in certain circumstances, such as gestation, during which the fetus is most sensitive to radiation exposure. Therefore, measures to avoid radiation exposure are necessary, and a more safe and feasible approach is needed for this procedure. Since the EnSite NavX mapping system (ENMS) can create the required geometric contours of those relevant cardiac structures and chambers, it can be used as an alternative to X-ray fluoroscopy in PPI. In addition, because the displacement of atrial leads is a common complication of PPI, lead displacement may occur more readily without fluoroscopic guidance. Therefore, reliable measures are required to prevent leads from displacement. Case introduction A 41-year-old woman at the 15th week of gestation was referred to our department with recurrent episodes of syncope and amaurosis fugax for 2 years. Holter monitoring showed sinus rhythm, Mobitz Type II atrioventricular block and high-grade atrioventricular block with ventricular arrest up to 4945 ms. A dual-chamber PPI was performed successfully for the patient under the guidance of the ENMS instead of fluoroscopy. Displacement of atrial lead was effectively avoided by bending the top of atrial lead before implantation and making it a U-shape during operation, which left space for possible subsequent external pulling stress. Conclusions For PPI, ENMS is a feasible and reliable alternative to traditional X-ray fluoroscopy, especially when performing operations on pregnant patients. By bending the top of the active-fixation atrial lead into a U-shape during operation, the displacement of atrial lead may be avoided.

Chinese authorities pay high attention to food saving and loss reduction work, and emphasize to take various measures to reduce food loss. The mycotoxin pollution in grain and feed has caused food loss and seriously threatens the health of humans and livestock. The physical, chemical and biological methods can detoxify mycotoxin and improve the utilization value of feed resources. Adsorption is a detoxification method by stably combining adsorbents and mycotoxins into complexes. The multiple modification of traditional adsorbents and the development of new adsorbent materials have significantly improved the adsorption effect. This article will review the types of mycotoxin adsorbents and the evaluation methods of its adsorption effects in grain and feed. The modified methods of mycotoxin adsorbents, such as aluminosilicates, carbon materials, organic polymers, bio-adsorbents and new materials, will be briefly introduced. Besides, the application of in vitro method, artificial gastrointestinal fluid parenteral simulation and animal experiment in the evaluation of efficacy and safety of mycotoxin adsorbents will be highlighted, which can provide references for the development, scientific application and analysis of adsorption mechanisms of mycotoxin adsorbents.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. The fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. is a common spice and herbal medicine in China, and hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) is the most abundant amide in Z. bungeanum and reported to have significant hypoglycemic effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of HAS on T2DM and the potential mechanisms responsible for those effects. An acute toxicity test revealed the median lethal dose (LD50) of HAS is 73 mg/kg. C57BL/6 J mice were fed a high-fat diet and given an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to induce T2DM in mice to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of HAS. The results showed that HAS significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, reduced pathological changes in the liver and pancreas, and increased liver glycogen content. In addition, glucosamine (GlcN)-induced HepG2 cells were used to establish an insulin resistance cell model and explore the molecular mechanisms of HAS activity. The results demonstrated that HAS significantly increases glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in HepG2 cells and activates the PI3K/Akt pathway in GlcN-induced cells, as well as increases GSK-3β phosphorylation, suppresses phosphorylation of glycogen synthase (GS) and increases glycogen synthesis in liver cells. Furthermore, these effects of HAS were blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. The results of our study suggest that HAS reduces hepatic insulin resistance and increases hepatic glycogen synthesis by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/GS signaling pathway.

Introduction: The ambiguity of the drug target is one of the major factors restricting the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMs) and its bioactive constituents. The characteristics of “multiple components, multiple targets and multiple pathways” of TCMs make the research of drug targets extremely difficult. With the emergence of new theories, there are increasing technologies and strategies that can be used for the drug targets research of TCMs. In this paper, we summarize several techniques and methods applied to the study of TCM targets. Methods: Through consulting a large number of literature, research and summary, and finally summarized the application direction of the technical method, advantages and limitations. Results: The methods and techniques including computer aided drug design, network pharmacology, phage display, affinity fishing, drug affinity responsive target stability and cellular thermal shift assay were summarized, and their application directions, advantages and disadvantages were discussed. At the same time, a large number of application examples were given to provide reference for the research of TCM targets.

BackgroundRaw hawthorn (RH) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used to treat indigestion. Charred hawthorn (CH) is obtained from RH by charring. It is reported that the effect of CH treatment on dyspepsia is stronger than RH. However, this has not been fully proven. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of RH and CH on functional dyspepsia (FD) model rats. And contribute to the development of dietary therapy for dyspepsia.MethodsSPF-grade male SD rats were divided into 5 groups: the control group, the model group, the Mos group, the RH group, and the CH group. The FD rat model was established by using the methods of water restriction, fasting, tilting cage restraint, day and night upside down, swimming, and tail damping. The body weight of rats in each group was recorded. And the gastric emptying rate, intestinal propulsive rate, and the levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), and 5-HT in serum were compared in each group. The expression of C-kit in the stomach and small intestine of each group was compared by immunofluorescence and PCR.ResultsRH and CH could increase weight, improve the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsive rate, and promote the secretion of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), and 5-HT in the serum of FD rats. RH and CH can upregulate the expression of the characteristic protein c-kit of ICC in the stomach and small intestine of FD model rats, and the effect of CH is stronger than RH.ConclusionRH and CH may increase the number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the gastrointestinal tract by upregulating c-kit expression, thus improving gastrointestinal motility in FD model rats. And compared with RH, CH has certain advantages.

The fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. Was a popular traditional Chinese herbal medicine for pain relief, itching prevention, and diarrhea relief. The fruits of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. Essential oil (HEO) had an effect of improving anxiety and other emotional disorders. In this paper, we aim to systematically research the antidepressant effects of HEO on Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stimulation (CUMS) mice and explore the relevant molecular mechanisms. Experimental mice were exposed to CUMS for 8 weeks. Meanwhile, for 8 weeks, Sertraline hydrochloride (20 mg/kg/day) and HEO (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg/day) were administered by gavage. HEO treatment increased residence time of central zone in OFT and open-arm in EPM test but decreased immobility times in FST and TST. Moreover, HEO treatment improved the levels of 5-HT, DA, NE, and BDNF, but reduced CRF and CORT levels of the HPA axis in the hippocampus. Network pharmacology predicted the possible mechanisms for the antidepressant effects of HEO by regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The mRNA expression of PI3K and Akt were increased, and immunofluorescence results in the hippocampus indicated that HEO treatment could increase the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt. Besides, the viability of CORT-treated PC12 cells was significantly improved by HEO treatment. The AO-EB staining, MOMP analysis, and flow cytometry analysis results showed HEO inhibiting the CORT-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells significantly. Besides, the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt in COTR-induced PC12 cells could increase by HEO treatment. In conclusion, HEO ameliorated depression behavior induced by CUMS, potentially via regulating HPA axis and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to reduce neuronal apoptosis.

The reliability of aircraft control surfaces, constructed from thermoplastic materials, can be affected by impacts from airborne particles. Recognizing the exact position of such impacts is essential for correctly estimating the resulting damage. This research intended to address the issue by introducing an innovative structural health monitoring solution capable of autonomously detecting and localizing impacts using acoustic emission monitoring. The objective of this research is to investigate the application of AE for the localization of impacts on aircraft elevators using machine learning techniques, specifically regression algorithms. To achieve this goal, two algorithms, linear regression, and random forest, were employed for predicting the impact locations based on AE signals. The performance of each algorithm was validated on a thermoplastic composite aircraft elevator. Results indicated that both linear regression and random forest models show high accuracy in predicting the impact locations. The random forest model, with an R2 value of 0.98616 and an RMSE of 0.6778, outperformed the linear regression model, which exhibited an R2 value of 0.9361 and an RMSE of 1.4614.

Feed antibiotics have played a great role in disease prevention and growth promotion,but in the past years,the negative problems caused by antibiotics,such as drug residues and bacterial resistance,have caused serious harm to human production and life.In recent years,some feed additives have been used in livestock and poultry breeding industry to resist disease,promote growth and play a role in replacing antibiotics.To provide support for the research and development of reducing or replacing antibiotic technology in livestock and poultry industry,the application effects of probiotics,acidification agent,plant extracts,enzyme preparation,antibacterial peptides,etc.in improving animal immunity,promoting intestinal development,ameliorating intestinal microecological environment,and enhancing feed digestibility were reviewed in this paper.

Grain and oil crops was always faced with the problem of fungal diseases.Fungi produce mycotoxin under certain conditions,which not only caused food waste,but also seriously endangered the health of human and animal.Physical,chemical and biological detoxification methods can remove some mycotoxin,but there were some problems to be considered,such as desorption,residual solvent and complex degradation product.In recent years,the photocatalytic technology had achieved great process in degradation of mycotoxin.In this work,the latest progress of photocatalysis technology in mycotoxin degradation in grain and oil was briefly summarized which providing a reference for further understanding the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation and promoting the application of photocatalytic mycotoxin degradation in grain and oil crops.

BACKGROUND Attapulgite clay is a water-rich magnesium aluminosilicate mineral with a layered chain structure. The different genesis of the deposit results in a different composition of trace elements in attapulgite clay. Elements Be, Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Sb, Hg, and Pb have adverse effects to health and environment, while V, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, Sn and Ba can affect the performance and application of attapulgite clay. Therefore, accurate analysis of trace elements in attapulgite clay can provide a theoretical basis for the high-efficiency value-added deep processing of attapulgite clay. Determination of trace elements in rocks and minerals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has the characteristics of low limit of detection (LOD) and high sensitivity. Complex spectral interference during the analysis is difficult to completely eliminate, even if collision reaction cell (CRC) technology is used. OBJECTIVES To establish an analytical method for the accurate determination of trace elements in attapulgite clay by ICP-MS/MS. METHODS In view of the spectral interference in the analysis process, in the MS/MS mode, O2 and NH3/He were added into CRC as reaction gases, and the corresponding oxide ions and cluster ions were generated by mass shift reaction to eliminate the interference. Internal standard elements with similar mass number and similar mass spectrometry behavior were selected to correct the matrix effect and stabilize the analysis signal. RESULTS The microwave digestion of attapulgite samples with mixed nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid can not only accelerate the digestion speed of the sample, but also maintain the stability of the analytical elements in the digestion solution. The method was used to determine 16 trace elements in national standard reference material basalt (GBW07105). The relative errors of analytes were -9.60%-8.21%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 6.0%. Under the selected analytical conditions, the LOD of analyte was 0.13-51.6ng/L. CONCLUSIONS ICP-MS/MS can effectively reduce the interference of mass spectrometry and improve the accuracy and sensitivity of some specific isotopes in complex media. The method is suitable for the rapid determination of trace elements in attapulgite clay.

Abstract Background and objective Colon cancer is occurring at an increasing rate and ginger (Zingiber officinale), as a commonly used herbal medicine, has been suggested as a potential agent for colon cancer. This study was aimed to identify the bioactive components and potential mechanisms of ginger for colon cancer prevention by an integrated network pharmacology approach. Methods The putative ingredients of ginger and its related targets were discerned from the TCMSP and Swiss target prediction database. After that, the targets interacting with colon cancer were collected using Genecards, OMIM, and Drugbank databases. KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis were performed to explore the signaling pathways related to ginger for colon cancer treatments. The PPI and compound-target-disease networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.8.1. Finally, Discovery studio software was employed to confirm the key genes and active components from ginger. Results Six potential active compounds, 285 interacting targets in addition to 1356 disease-related targets were collected, of which 118 intersection targets were obtained. A total of 34 key targets including PIK3CA, SRC, and TP53 were identified through PPI network analysis. These targets were mainly focused on the biological processes of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling, cellular response to oxidative stress, and cellular response to peptide hormone stimulus. The KEGG enrichment manifested that three signaling pathways were closely related to colon cancer prevention of ginger, cancer, endocrine resistance, and hepatitis B pathways. TP53, HSP90AA1, and JAK2 were viewed as the most important genes, which were validated by molecular docking simulation. Conclusion This study demonstrated that ginger produced preventive effects against colon cancer by regulating multi-targets and multi-pathways with multi-components. And, the combined data provide novel insight for ginger compounds developed as new drug for anti-colon cancer.

BACKGROUND The heavy metals in electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue can cause different degrees of environmental pollution and hidden dangers to downstream aquatic ecosystems and agricultural ecosystems through surface runoff under rainwater leaching. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to determine the content of heavy metal elements in leaching solution of electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue. Usually, the detection limits of atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry are insufficient to meet the measurement requirements, since the content of heavy metal elements in the leaching solution of electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue is typically very low. The challenge is to eliminate complex spectral interference. OBJECTIVES To find an efficient method for the determination of six heavy metal elements in leaching solution of electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue. METHODS The objective was determined by inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). The six heavy metal elements Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Hg and Pb in the electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue were directly measured by ICP-MS/MS after H2SO4-HNO3 mixed acid leaching. The O2 reaction mode was adopted to eliminate the spectral interference of Cr, Ni, As and Cd during analysis. The background equivalent concentrations (BECs) of 52Cr, 60Ni, 75As and 111Cd in the different analytical mode were investigated to evaluate the influence of spectral interference on the analysis results. RESULTS In the MS/MS mode, O2 was selected as the reaction gas, and the spectral interference of 52Cr, 60Ni, 75As and 111Cd was eliminated by using mass shift method and on-mass method. The limits of detection for Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Hg and Pb were 3.06, 9.31, 3.50, 2.72, 2.03, 1.89ng/L, respectively. The spiked recoveries were between 95.6% and 106.2%. The relative standard deviation was no higher than 3.9%. CONCLUSIONS The method has been successfully applied to the determination of heavy metal elements in leaching solution of electrolytic manganese dioxide waste residue.

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumor types and has a high incidence and mortality. Many miRNAs play important roles in the development of HCC. Identification of these miRNAs and their targets is increasingly urgent for a better understandingof miRNA function in both physiological and pathological contexts. Many studies have shown that the expression of let-7 is often downregulated in the process of tumorigenesis, suggesting that let-7 may participate in this process as an oncogene. Methods Immunochemistry staining was used to observe the expression of let-7b in HCC tissues. A CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the role of let-7b in the proliferation of HCC cells. The cell cycle of HCC cells was examined by flow cytometry. BALB/c nu/nu mice were used to detect the tumorigenesis potential of HCC cells; western blot and real-time PCR were employed to observe the expression of p21 in HCC cells. Results In our previous studies investigating HCC tissue samples obtained from the national tissue samples bank of liver cancer in Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, we found one abnormal expression of miRNA (let-7b), which was significantly downregulated in HCC tissue. In the current work, we studied the relationship between let-7b and HCC to potentially provide invaluable information for developing novel therapeutic strategies for treating HCC. Based on our findings, let-7b expression was absent in HCC tumors, and its lower expression was associated with poor prognosis of HCC. In further experiments, we found that let-7b inhibited HCC cell proliferation through upregulation of p21. Conclusion The results of our study suggested that let-7b might inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells by upregulating p21.

Context Cinnamomi ramulus, the dry twig of Cinnamomum cassia Presl. (Lauraceae), has been reported to exert several activities such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Objective This study investigates the effects of an aqueous extract of Cinnamomi ramulus (ACR) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods TNF-α-induced RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocyte MH7A cells were incubated with ACR (0.1–2 mg/mL) for 24 h. The proliferation was tested using CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The migration and invasion abilities were measured using transwell tests and wound healing assays. Apoptosis and cell cycle were examined by flow cytometry. The potential mechanisms were determined by western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. UPLC-QE-MS/MS was used for chromatographic analysis of ACR and its compounds were identified. Molecular docking strategy was used to screen the potential anti-RA active compounds of ACR. Results We found that ACR induced apoptosis in MH7A cells at concentrations of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 mg/mL. The proliferation of MH7A cells was reduced and the cell cycle was blocked in the G2/M phase at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 mg/mL. Migration and invasion of MH7A cells were reduced through inhibiting the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-3. The molecular docking strategy results showed that 9 compounds in ACR have good affinity with protein crystal, and benzyl cinnamate (10–100 µg/mL) could inhibit cell migration and induce apoptosis. Conclusions The anti-RA effect of ACR may be attributed to its anti-proliferative and anti-migration effects on synovial fibroblasts. These data suggest that Cinnamomi ramulus may have therapeutic value for the treatment of RA.

Phosphate crystals attract much attention on account of their rich crystal structures and excellent physical and chemical properties. Herein, Rb3Ti3P5O20 single crystals were grown by the high temperature solution method using Rb2CO3 and NH4H2PO4 as the fluxes. This crystal, with non-centrosymmetric Pca21 space group, presents a three-dimensional framework structure composed of [TiO6] octahedron, [PO4] tetrahedra, and [P2O7] dimers. The electronic structure was measured via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The measurements found that Rb3Ti3P5O20 has stronger Ti–O ionic bonding properties and weaker P–O covalent bonding properties compared to RbTiOPO4. Optical measurements indicated that Rb3Ti3P5O20 has a 3.54 eV band gap and a wide transmission range (0.33–4.5 μm). Theoretical calculations showed that Rb3Ti3P5O20 crystals have a moderate birefringence of 0.079 at 1064 nm. In addition, the relationship of the structure–property was studied using first-principles method. The results demonstrated that TiO6 octahedron played a significant role for the optical properties.

Ferulic acid (FA) is one of the most abundant phenolic acids in grain, mainly existing in bran and cereal germ and existing as an insoluble combined state. FA has a strong antioxidant and cell-protection activity, and has a role in scavenging hydrogenperoxide, superoxideradical, hydroxyl radical and nitroso peroxide. In addition, FA can suppress the activity of enzymes producing free radical, and enhance the activity of enzymes scavenging free radical. Therefore, FA can be used to prevent or treat some diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, obesity, etc. Physicochemical properties, nutritional values and physiological activities of FA in grain and its benefits for health have been reviewed in this paper in order to offer some references for related researchers.

The nutrient composition, fatty acid value, mycotoxins and swine bionic digestible energy of 28 stored corn samples collected from Heilongjiang granaries stored in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were detected. The results showed that compared with stored corn samples collected in 2014, 2015 and 2016, stored corn collected in 2013 had lower content of arginine and tyrosine (P0.05). In conclusion, the samples have similar nutrition value for pigs, so that all of them could be utilized in preparation of pig feed.

Objective(s): Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is confirmed to cause lesions in multiple organs, especially in the lung tissue. Tempol is an antioxidant that has been reported to restrain inflammation and oxidative stress, with its role in OSA-induced lung injury being unclear. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of tempol on chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced lung injury.Materials and Methods: A rat model of OSA was established by IH. There were four groups: normal air (NA), IH, IH+tempol, NA+tempol. Inflammatory response was evaluated by TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. Oxidative stress was detected by MDA and GSH levels, and SOD activity. The protein levels were assessed by Western blot. DNA binding activity of NF-κB or Nrf2 was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Results: According to the results, tempol administration alleviated pathological changes of the lung tissue, decreased leukocyte count and protein content (P

Dust storms occur frequently in arid central Asia (ACA) and greatly influence the regional ecology/environment, human health, and security, as well as the global climate. To date, neither the patterns nor the underlying mechanisms of dust storms in ACA are fully understood, partly due to the lack of long-term historical records. Here, we reconstruct a dust storm history of the past ∼160 years in northwest China, based on high-resolution sedimentary proxies retrieved from Lake Karakul (located in the core zone of ACA). We find that changes in the sedimentary coarse fraction (grain size > 64 μm) in Lake Karakul are correlated with both historical and modern observed dust storms. The reconstructed dust storm intensity shows a decreasing trend since AD 1850s, with three high occurrence intervals at AD 1870s–1910s, AD 1930s–1940s, and AD 1960s–1980s. We contend that changes in temperature and wind speed could have dominated the frequency and intensity of dust storms in northwest China during the record periods: temperature controls the wind speed and then the dust storm frequency/intensity; lower temperature corresponding to higher wind speed, and higher dust storm frequency/intensity, and vice versa. The observed anthropogenic global warming could have led to a decrease in atmospheric temperature gradients and decline in wind speed and then decreasing dust storm frequency/intensity. Providing this stands, less and weaker dust storms are expected under a continuously anthropogenic warming scenario.

Background: The gene polymorphisms in microRNA might relate to susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the results of existing studies were inconsistent and obscure. To investigate the precise associations between microRNA gene polymorphisms and T2DM risk, the present meta-analysis was performed. Methods: The literatures were searched from four electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang. Subsequently, odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were both used to evaluate the associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (microRNA146a rs2910164 (G>C), microRNA124a rs531564 (C>G)) and risk of T2DM in Asian population. Results: Totally, there were 4 studies included in our present analysis in the language of English and Chinese. There were partly significant associations between susceptibility of T2DM and SNPs (microRNA146a rs2910164 (G>C), microRNA124a rs531564 (C>G)). The G allele in microRNA146a rs2910164 (G>C) and C allele in microRNA124a rs531564 (C>G) both presented remarkably reduced risk of T2DM when compared with the healthy population. Conclusion: The microRNA146a rs2910164 (G allele) and microRNA124a rs531564 (C allele) might function as protective factors in the pathogenetic process of T2DM in Asian population.

In our previous studies, using a B cell vaccine (scFv-Her2), the targeting of tumor-associated antigen Her2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) to B cells via the anti-CD19 single chain variable fragment (scFv) was shown to augment tumor-specific immunity, which enhanced tumor control in the prophylactic and therapeutic setting. However, the fusion protein displayed limited activity against established tumors, and local relapses often occurred following scFv-Her2 treatment, indicating that scFv-Her2-induced responses are inadequate to maintain anti-tumor immunity. In this study, targeting the IV region (D4) of the extracellular region of Her2 to B cells via CD19 molecules (scFv-Her2D4) was found to enhance IFN-γ-producing-CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor tissues and reduced the number of tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). However, negative co-stimulatory molecules such as programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), CD160, and LAG-3 on T cells and programmed death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells were upregulated in the tumor microenvironment after scFv-Her2D4 treatment. Further, anti-PD1 administration enhanced the efficacy of scFv-Her2D4 and anti-tumor immunity, as evidenced by the reversal of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell exhaustion and the reduction of MDSCs and Treg cells, which suppress T cells and alter the tumor immune microenvironment. Moreover, combining this with anti-PD1 antibodies promoted complete tumor rejection. Our data provide evidence of a close interaction among tumor vaccines, T cells, and the PD-L1/PD-1 axis and establish a basis for the rational design of combination therapy with immune modulators and tumor vaccine therapy.

The structure alteration rocks (named as SBT) is the product of sedimentation, tectonization, and hydrothermal alteration. It is the major body hosting many ore deposits such as gold, antimony, and fluorite in Southwest Guizhou. Recently establishment and application of a metallogenic model based on the SBT made a significant breakthrough in gold prospecting in Southwest Guizhou. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine REEs concentrations of SBT samples from several typical ore deposits in Southwest Guizhou. The results show that: (1) ΣREEs concentrations of SBT from different locations are variable, ranging from 49.55×10-6 to 271.72×10-6 (in Table 1). (2) The SBT is enriched in LREEs, with LREEs/HREEs ranging from 5.62 to 13.59 (in Table 1). The REEs patterns normalized to North American shale and chondrite display enrichment of LREEs and distinct 'Four grouping' effect, indicating that they are the products of the same hydrothermal process (in Fig.2-Fig.4). The strongly positive europium anomalies in the Getang—Dachang area suggest the convergence of two hydrothermal ore fluid systems with different directions in this region. This study characterized the REEs content and its distribution in SBT from Southwest Guizhou Province, which is crucial for understanding the origin and evolution of ore-forming fluids, and provides guidance for gold prospecting in Southwest Guizhou Province.

Mg2MnO4 nanoparticles with cubic spinel structure were synthesized by the sol-gel method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a chelating agent. X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectrum (IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the crystalline phase and particle size of as-synthesized nanoparticles. The electronic structure of Mg2MnO4 spinel was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that pure cubic Mg2MnO4 spinel nanoparticles were obtained when the annealing temperature was 500–700 °C. The samples had a porous-spongy structure assembled by nanoparticles. XPS studies indicated that Mg2MnO4 nanoparticles were mixed spinel structures and the degree of cation inversion decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Furthermore, the performance of Mg2MnO4 as lithium anode material was studied. The results showed that Mg2MnO4 samples had good cycle stability except for the slight decay in the capacity at 50 cycles. The coulombic efficiency (ratio of discharge and charge capacity) in most cycles was near 100%. The sample annealed at 600 °C exhibited good electrochemical properties, the first discharge capacity was 771.5 mAh/g, and the capacity remained 340 mAh/g after 100 cycles. The effect of calcination temperature on the charge–discharge performance of the samples was studied and discussed.

Cancer is a major factor threatening human health and life safety, and there is a lack of safe and effective therapeutic drugs. Intervention and prevention in premalignant process are effective ways to reverse carcinogenesis and prevent cancer from occurring. Plant natural products are rich in sources and are a promising source for cancer chemoprevention. This article reviews the chemopreventive effects of natural products, especially focused on polyphenols, flavonoids, monoterpene and triterpenoids, sulfur compounds, and cellulose. Meanwhile, the main mechanisms include induction of apoptosis, antiproliferation and inhibition of metastasis are briefly summarized. In conclusion, this article provides evidence for natural products remaining a prominent source of cancer chemoprevention.

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe and analyze the microstructure of the cross section of cortical bone. The observation results illustrated that the cortical bone is composed of cylindrical osteons and interstitial bone between osteons, and the osteon are unevenly distributed. Based on the microstructure characteristics of cortical bone, three types of cortical bone mesoscopic analysis models were established. Then, the extended finite element method (X-FEM) was used to simulate the microcrack propagation process in bone. The simulate results show that the crack initiation strain of the two-phase model is 19.1% larger than that of the single-phase model, and the three-phase model is 57.8% larger than that of the two-phase model, which demonstrated that the osteons and cement line can significantly enhance the crack initiation strain of bone. In addition, under the same boundary conditions, the model with cement line can effectively change the propagation path of microcrack and prevent the propagation of crack. Therefore, the cement lines in cortical bone can effectively increase the fracture resistance of bone and enhance the fracture toughness of cortical bone.

Based on the coal reserves, coal quality, geographical location and policy support of Indonesia, this paper discusses the prospect of coal resource development in Indonesia, and holds that Indonesia is rich in coal resources, has good coal quality index, is easy to opencast mining, and has a good coal export location, which can be the first choice for coal resource development in southeast Asia. At the same time, the advantages and problems of coal industry in Indonesia are analyzed, and it is suggested that joint ventures can be established with local companies to reduce investment risks caused by backward infrastructure and weak government supervision. Coal and electricity joint venture is an ideal investment and development model in the process of coal mine development in Indonesia.