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Background: Sea buckthorn (SBT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins, which can potentially prevent and treat osteoporosis. However, no research has been conducted to confirm these hypotheses. QiangGuYin (QGY) is a TCM compound used to treat osteoporosis. There is a need to investigate whether SBT enhances QGY efficacy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore whether SBT enhances QGY efficacy by inhibiting CKIP-1 and Notum expression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The study also aimed to explore the active components of SBT. Methods: Experimental animals were divided into control, model, QGY, SBT, SBT + Eucommia ulmoides (EU), and SBT + QGY groups. After treatment, bone morphometric parameters, such as estrogen, PINP, and S-CTX levels, and Notum, CKIP-1, and β-catenin expression were examined. Screening of SBT active components was conducted by molecular docking to obtain small molecules that bind Notum and CKIP-1. Results: The results showed that all the drug groups could elevate the estrogen, PINP, and S-CTX levels, improve femoral bone morphometric parameters, inhibit Notum and CKIP-1 expression, and promote β-catenin expression. The effect of SBT + EU and SBT + QGY was superior to the others. Molecular docking identified that SBT contains seven small molecules (folic acid, rhein, quercetin, kaempferol, mandenol, isorhamnetin, and ent-epicatechin) with potential effects on CKIP-1 and Notum. Conclusion: SBT improves bone morphometric performance in PMOP rats by inhibiting CKIP-1 and Notum expression, increasing estrogen levels, and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, SBT enhances the properties of QGY. Folic acid, rhein, quercetin, kaempferol, mandenol, isorhamnetin, and ent-epicatechin are the most likely active ingredients of SBT. These results provide insight into the pharmacological mechanisms of SBT in treating osteoporosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Yuan, Wang, Zhou, Tang, Liu, Huang, He, Chen, Fang, Liang, Mao, Qie, Liu and Shi.)

In order to improve the spatial layout ability of ecological buildings under the background of rural revitalization, a multiobjective planning and decision-making model for the spatial layout of ecological buildings is constructed. Based on the visual impact detection of ecological building space, a three-dimensional rendering model is established. The block matrix matching and boundary contour parameter analysis methods are used to plan and design the layout boundary feature points, and the wavelet scale decomposition method is used to analyze the mixed tone of the layout image. Based on this, a multiobjective planning decision-making model for the spatial layout of ecological buildings is established, based on which the spatial layout design scheme of ecological buildings is output to realize the spatial layout planning of ecological buildings. The simulation results show that the spatial layout of ecological buildings using this method is more reasonable, and the expression ability of ecological aesthetics is stronger, which has a good application value in rural planning and design., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest regarding this work., (Copyright © 2022 Ying Liu et al.)

Catalytic conversion of un-pretreated Jatropha oil with high-acid value (13.8 mg KOH/g) to biodiesel was studied in ionic liquids (ILs) with metal chlorides. Several commercial ILs were used to catalyze the esterification of oleic acid. It was found that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tosylate {[BMIm][TS]} had high catalytic activity with 93% esterification rate for oleic acid at 140 °C but only 63.7% Jatropha biodiesel yield at 200 °C. When ZnCl2 was added to [BMIm][TS], a maximum Jatropha biodiesel yield of 92.5% was achieved at 180 °C. Addition of metal ions supplied Lewis acidic sites in ILs promoted both esterification and transestrification reactions. It was also found that the transition metal ions performed higher catalytic activity in transestrification than the ions of Group A. Mixture of [BMIm][TS] and ZnCl2 was easily separated from products for reuse to avoid producing pollutants.

Biodiesel and lactic acid from rapeseed oil was produced using sodium silicate as catalyst. The transesterification in the presence of the catalyst proceeded with a maximum yield of 99.6% under optimized conditions [3% (w/w) sodium silicate, methanol/oil molar ratio 9/1, reaction time 60 min, reaction temperature 60°C, and stirring rate 250 rpm]. After six consecutive transesterification reactions, the catalyst was collected and used for catalysis of the conversion of glycerol to lactic acid. A maximum yield of 80.5% was achieved when the reaction was carried out at a temperature of 300°C for 90 min. Thus, sodium silicate is an effective catalyst for transesterification and lactic acid production from the biodiesel by-product, glycerol., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Catalytic conversion of un-pretreated Jatropha oil with high-acid value (13.8 mg KOH/g) to biodiesel was studied in ionic liquids (ILs) with metal chlorides. Several commercial ILs were used to catalyze the esterification of oleic acid. It was found that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tosylate ([BMIm][CH(3)SO(3)]; a Brønsted acidic IL) had the highest catalytic activity with 93% esterification rate for oleic acid at 140°C but only 12% biodiesel yield at 120°C. When FeCl(3) was added to [BMIm][CH(3)SO(3)], a maximum biodiesel yield of 99.7% was achieved at 120°C. Because metal ions in ILs supplied Lewis acidic sites, and more of the sites could be provided by trivalent metallic ions than those of bivalent ones. It was also found that the catalytic activity with bivalent metallic ions increased with atomic radius. Mixture of [BMIm][CH(3)SO(3)] and FeCl(3) was easily separated from products for reuse to avoid producing pollutants., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two novel chiral stationary phases for ligand exchange chromatography were prepared by synthesizing 2-(2-hydroxyl-3-octoxy)propyl-(S)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid (C8-(S)-THIQCA) and 2-(2-hydroxyl-3-dodecoxy)propyl-(S)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinolinecarboxylic acid (C12-(S)-THIQCA) as chiral selectors, and coating them on ODS bonded stationary phase. Chromatographic resolutions of some DL-amino acids were achieved on the chiral stationary phases by using 1 mmol/L NH4Cl with 0.2 mmol/L Cu(Ac)2 solution as mobile phase and detection at 254 nm. Ability of chiral resolution of the DL-amino acids through the stationary phases was compared and the effect of cupric ion on resolutions of the DL-amino acids was examined. The elution order of D-isomer before L-isomer was observed for all the DL-amino acids resolved, except DL-Val. For DL-Pro, DL-Val and DL-Leu the elution order through the chiral phases was different from that through the chiral ligand exchange phases prepared from L-Pro or L-hydroxyl proline with five membered ring structure.

The effects of sophoridine on acute myocardial infarction induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery in 16 anesthetized and open-chest dogs were studied. Treatment with sophoridine 20 mg.kg-1 iv reduced the size of myocardial infarct 6 h after ligation and lowered the elevated plasma levels of lactic acid and pyruvic acid 15, 30 and 60 min after ligation. Sophoridine also lowered the activity of serum CPK 60 and 120 min after ligation and reduced TXB2 and increased 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, hence the metabolites of PGI2/TXA2 ratio after ligation was increased. Electron microscopy showed that sophoridine protected mitochondria of ischemic cells. These results indicated that sophoridine showed protective effects on acute myocardial infarction. The beneficial effect on PGI2/TXA2 and mitochondria seems to contribute its protective action.