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Cartilage transplantation is an effective way to repair, reconstruct, and replace damaged articular cartilage (AC) but its use is limited by the inability to preserve AC for long periods of time. Vitrification is an ideal choice for long-term storage of AC, and multiple cryoprotective agents (CPAs) with high concentration are usually used. To obtain high cell viability, chondrocytes at all locations inside AC should be protected properly by the CPAs during cooling and rewarming. Hence, it is important to know the mass transport properties of multiple CPAs as they synergistically infiltrate AC. In this study, a mathematical model to describe the mass transport behavior of multiple CPAs in AC was developed based on the mixture-averaged diffusion model. In addition, a methodology for the simultaneous determination of dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance was established. The model is applicable for predicting single- and multiple-CPA permeation into AC, and its accuracy was verified by a massive experimental dataset. Simulation results showed reverse diffusion in the multiple-CPA permeation process, which was not found in the single-CPA permeation process. This curious phenomenon shows the sharp contrast between the diffusion behavior of a binary mixture and a multicomponent mixture.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has become one of the most important sources of indoor air pollution. The study aimed to obtain the variation characteristics of typical air pollutant concentrations when people smoke in a closed room and explore the effect of the air-conditioner. A closed and air-conditioned room of 21 m

Hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs) are potent greenhouse gases in refrigeration systems, and their contribution will accelerate climate change. In the context of global warming, low global warming refrigerants have to be reconsidered, these refrigerants are commonly flammable, so systems that use them can pose a risk. Thus, an analysis of potential pipe leaks in refrigeration systems is urgently needed. In existing research on refrigerant leak, most studies have examined holes as leak points. However, the true morphology of leak points is commonly long and extremely narrow. Therefore, a round-pipe microcrack leak model with crack opening displacement (COD) ranging from 10–50 µm were built to perform a simulation and experiment. The Fluent (v.20, ANSYS Inc.) software performed computational fluid dynamics analysis. The R290, R32, and R1234yf refrigerants were simulated, and the orifice flow equation was introduced to calculate leakage from the microcrack. An axial and circumferential microcrack model was constructed, and the experiment validated the simulation with largest relative error of 2.9%. The simulation results indicated that for side flow through the microcrack, using the conventional discharge coefficient ( C d ) in the orifice equation may be unsuitable. Accordingly, based on the simulation results, empirical equations for predicting the C d of axial microcrack when R290, R32, and R1234yf are leaking are obtained. Additionally, the effect of length-to-diameter ratio and orifice-to-pipe-diameter ratio on C d are also discussed. Compared with existing studies, a smaller infinity discharge coefficient value ( C d ∞ ) was observed when COD 30 μ m .

Ejector is a component using high-pressure fluid to aspirate low-pressure fluid, whose potential in energy saving is increasingly emphasized. The upper limit of ejector performance is still an interesting and instructive issue. In this paper, an ideal ejector is constructed, in which the working process is thermodynamically optimized to achieve minimal entropy generation. While working with ideal gas, the optimal mixing pressure can be expressed analytically as a function of inlet fluid parameters if the inlet temperatures of primary and secondary fluids are different. Furthermore, the analytical solution for the maximum of outlet pressure or entrainment ratio is deduced. The model of ideal ejector is compared with existing ejector models to illustrate its reasonability as a thermodynamic benchmark for ejector performance. For ejector working with real gas, a semi-perfect gas approach is introduced to estimate the upper limit of ejector performance. The calculation results are compared with other theoretical ejector models as well as the experimental data at typical refrigeration conditions. The optimal mixing pressure and maximal entrainment ratio are also obtained for ejector having polytropic processes in nozzles and diffuser. The thermodynamic upper limits provided in this paper offer a more reasonable reference for evaluating ejector performance than those from previous models.

For plate heat exchangers (PHEs) used in refrigeration, the uniformity of fluid distribution is an important factor affecting heat transfer performance and system stability. This paper presents an experiment for infrared monitoring of plate evaporators with R410a as refrigerant, and proposed a processing method for the obtained thermal images to comprehensively estimate the channel-to-channel refrigerant maldistribution and the in-channel refrigerant maldistribution. In the experiment, the thermal images of the side and end surfaces of evaporators were taken with an infrared camera, and on-site calibration of infrared temperature measurement was carried out. Then a simplified evaporator model representing the division of refrigerant two-phase region and superheating region was established using the modified thermal images. Based on the model, the volume proportions of both regions and the area of the boundary surface between two-phase region and superheating region were calculated. Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the new method proposed above, a case study was carried out. Two similar evaporators were tested, one with distributor and the other without. It was shown that the uniformity improvement of refrigerant distribution revealed by larger volume proportion of two-phase region was significantly relevant with better heat transfer performance. The method provides a new tool for PHE manufacturers to improve product design and for refrigeration system manufacturers to evaluate the operational state of plate evaporators.

Objective. This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic mechanism of Yiguanjian (YGJ) decoction against Parkinson’s disease (PD) through integrating the central nervous (inner brain) and peripheral system (outer brain) relationship spectrum. Methods. The active components of YGJ were achieved from the TCMSP, TCMID, and TCM@Taiwan databases. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of the active components along with their corresponding targets was evaluated utilizing the existing website, namely, SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction. The targets of PD were determined through database retrieval. The interaction network was constructed upon the STRING database, followed by the visualization using Cytoscape software. Then, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses on potential targets. Finally, the molecular docking approach was employed to assess the binding affinity between key components and key targets. Results. Overall, we identified 79 active components, 128 potential targets of YGJ, and 97 potential targets of YGJ-BBB potentially suitable for the treatment of PD. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the YGJ treatment of PD mainly relied on PI3K-Akt pathway while the YGJ-BBB was mostly involved in endocrine resistance. The molecular docking results displayed high affinity between multiple compounds and targets in accordance with previous observations. Conclusions. Our study unveiled the potential mechanisms of YGJ against PD from a systemic perspective: (1) for the YGJ, they have potential exerting effects on the peripheral system and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis through regulating the PI3K-Akt pathway; (2) for the YGJ-BBB, they can directly modulate endocrine resistance of the central nervous and holistically enhance body resistance to PD along with YGJ on PI3K-Akt pathway.

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) is a novel retardant. DBDPE is used in various flammable consumer products such as electronics, building materials, textiles, and children's toys. The presence of DBDPE in humans makes it extremely urgent to assess the health effects of DBDPE exposure. Here, we used female mice as an animal model to investigate the effects of DBDPE on embryonic development and offspring health. The results showed that 50 μg/kg bw/day of DBDPE exposure did not affect spindle rotation in oocytes after fertilization, but led to a decrease of pronuclei (PN) in zygotes. Further investigation found that DBDPE interferes with the self-assembly of F-actin in PN, resulting in PN reduction, DNA damage, and reduced expression of zygotic genome activating genes, and finally leading to abnormal embryonic development. More importantly, we found that maternal DBDPE exposure did not affect the growth and development of the first generation of offspring (F1) mice, but resulted in behavioral defects in F1 mice. Female F1 mice from DBDPE-exposed mothers exhibited increased motor activity and deficits in social behavior. Both female and male F1 mice from DBDPE-exposed mothers exhibited cognitive memory impairment. These results suggest that DBDPE has developmental toxicity on embryos and has a cross-generational interference effect. It is suggested that people should pay attention to the reproductive toxicity of DBDPE. In addition, it also provides a reference for studying the origin of neurological diseases and indicates that adult diseases caused by environmental pollutants may have begun in the embryonic stage.

The asymmetric plate heat exchanger (APHE) has the possibility of achieving balanced pressure drops on both hot and cold sides for situations with unbalanced flow, which may in turn enhance the heat transfer. In this paper, the single-phase water flow and heat transfer of an APHE consisted of two types of plates are numerically (400⩽Re⩽ 12000) and experimentally (400⩽Re⩽ 3400) investigated. The numerical model is verified by the experimental results. Simulations are conducted to study the effects of N, an asymmetric index proposed to describe the geometry of APHEs. The correlations of the Nusselt number and friction factor in the APHEs are determined by taking N and working fluids into account. It is found that an optimal Nexists where the pressure drops are balanced and the heat transfer area reaches the minimum. The comparison between heat transfer and flow characteristics of the APHEs and the conventional plate heat exchanger (CPHE) is made under various flow rate ratios of the hot side and the cold side and different allowable pressure drops. The situations under which APHE may perform better are identified based on a comprehensive index Nu/f1/3.

Aqueous potassium formate solution is regarded as a potential working fluid of an absorption heat transformer (AHT) because of its noncorrosive and biodegradable characteristics. The vapor pressure of working fluids is an important property for application in an absorption cycle. However, current experimental data are mostly limited to temperature and concentration ranges that are suitable for a dehumidification system. Thus, more accurate data of vapor pressure are anticipated. In this paper, the equilibrium vapor pressures of aqueous HCOOK solution were measured with a static method in the temperature range from 323.15 to 373.15 K. The mass concentration of HCOOK varied from 10 to 70%. The measured data were compared with the estimated values of a referenced chemical engineering property database (Aspen Plus). A relatively large mean absolute relative deviation (MARD) of 13.27% was found. The data were then correlated with a modified Antoine equation, and the MARD was reduced to 0.45%. The thermodynamic...

Considering the issues of environmental pollution and energy efficiency, heat pumps are gradually replacing traditional coal combustion for heating at low ambient temperatures. In this paper, eco-friendly CO2/HCs with large temperature glides are applied in a single-stage recuperative heat pump water heater. Its heating performance is theoretically investigated under the working condition of producing circulating hot water in typical winter of northern China, with medium temperature difference between supply/return water and large temperature difference between air inlet and water inlet. Due to its simple structure, low initial investment and high efficiency, its potential for producing circulating hot water is demonstrated. Exergy analyses are conducted to reveal the significant influence of the exergy losses of heat exchanger on system performance. For specified CO2/HC, optimal COP is obtained through global optimization of cycle pressures and mixture concentration. The heating performances of different CO2/HCs are compared, among which CO2/R600 and CO2/R600a behave better. Meanwhile, a typical vapor-injection cycle is used to demonstrate priorities on the heating performance of this recuperative cycle, in which the COP of recuperative cycle using CO2/R600 is more than 3.4% higher than that of the vapor-injection cycle. The results obtained in this paper provide a simple and efficient solution for producing circulating hot water at low ambient temperatures.

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) is a novel flame retardant that is widely used in plastics, electronic products, building materials and textiles. Our previous studies have revealed the oocyte toxicity of DBDPE, but the effect of DBDPE on preimplantation embryo development has not been reported. Here, we investigated whether and how DBDPE exposure affects preimplantation embryo development. Adult female mice were orally exposed to DBDPE (0, 5, 50, 500 μg/kg bw/day) for 14 days. First, we found that after DBDPE exposure, mice showed obvious circadian rhythm disorder. Moreover, the development of preimplantation embryos was inhibited in DBDPE-exposed mice after pregnancy. Then, we further explored and revealed that DBDPE exposure reduced the endogenous melatonin (MLT) level during pregnancy, thereby inhibiting the development of preimplantation embryos. Furthermore, we discovered that exogenous MLT supplementation (15 mg/kg bw/day) rescued the inhibition of preimplantation embryo development induced by DBDPE, and a mechanistic study demonstrated that exogenous MLT inhibited the overexpression of ROS and DNA methylation at the 5-position of cytosine (5-mC) in DBDPE-exposed preimplantation embryos. Simultaneously, MLT ameliorated the DBDPE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP, and Trp1 expression. Additionally, MLT restored DBDPE-induced changes in zona pellucida (ZP) hardness and trophectoderm (TE) cortical tension. Finally, the protective effect of MLT on embryos ameliorated the adverse reproductive outcomes (dead fetus, fetus with abnormal liver, fetal weight loss) induced by DBDPE. Collectively, DBDPE induced preimplantation embryo damage leading to adverse reproductive outcomes, and MLT has emerged as a potential tool to rescue adverse reproductive outcomes induced by DBDPE.

The successful preservation of articular cartilage (AC) is of great clinical and scientific significance. The vitreous cryopreservation of AC through the liquidus-tracking (LT) method has achieved satisfactory levels of post-warming chondrocyte survival, but the design of the entire procedure could be improved further. Mathematical modeling would help to better understand the nature and features of the LT process as experienced by the AC sample, possibly providing additional instructive data useful for guiding experimental design. In this paper, the addition/removal of the cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) into/from the LT-treated AC was modeled and studied numerically. The cryoprotectant permeation model and the cell membrane transport model were combined, and the spatiotemporal concentrations of Me2SO in the AC matrix and the chondrocytes were profiled. In addition, the possible injuries to the cell were predicted based on the biophysical properties of chondrocytes under both the stepwise and the continuous LT protocols. Based on these results, improvements to the stepwise LT method were proposed. Compared to the existing protocol, these improvements might eliminate two processing steps and reduce the protocol duration by 35%. Decreasing the number of processing steps and protocol duration not only saves labor and material resources, but also lowers the risk that chondrocytes will incur toxicity- and chilling-associated injury.

Small-scale natural gas liquefiers are developing rapidly in China due to the scattered and remote distribution of natural gas sources with small reserve. Compared to the complexity of cascade process and the relatively higher power consumption of expander process, the mixed refrigerant process is a preferable choice for small-scale liquefaction systems considering its relatively simple structure and moderate power consumption. In this paper, a single-cycle natural gas liquefaction process operating with mixed refrigerants and a rectifying column was proposed for small-scale applications, which could utilize a commercial oil-lubricated compressor to realize the liquefaction of natural gas. Experiments were conducted to study the influences of the operating pressures and mixed refrigerant compositions on the overall performances. Relatively optimum SPC values of 4.49 kW h/kg, 1.98 kW h/kg, 1.61 kW h/kg and 1.29 kW h/kg were obtained for the liquefactions of 0.1 MPa, 0.3 MPa, 0.5 MPa and 0.7 MPa pure methane, respectively.

Natural gas (NG) fields of low pressure and small reserve are usually located remotely and dispersedly in China, for which pipeline transport in gaseous state is not economic. As a result, liquefying natural gas with small-scale liquefiers is a more preferable choice. In this paper, four configurations of natural gas liquefaction process (NGLP) operating with mixed refrigerants (MRs) and a rectifying column were proposed. The mixture was composed of R728, R50, R1150, R290 and R600a. In the rectifying column, the volatile and less volatile components of the MR were better separated, and the entrained lubricating oil of the compressor was trapped, thus avoiding blockage in the low temperature section. Simulations were conducted for these configurations using modified PT equation and Virial mixing rule in vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) calculation of MR. The influences of operating pressures, refrigerant composition and process configuration on system performance indicators, such as specific power consumption (SPC) and discharge temperature, were detailly investigated. It was found by simulation that SPC first decreases and then increases with the decrease of suction pressure in all configurations, while the minimum is achieved at around 250 kPa. The simulation results also suggested keeping the molar fraction of R600a the highest among the components, and increasing the molar fractions of R50 and R728 as much as possible provided that the compressor discharge temperature does not exceed the limit. Preliminary experiments have been conducted to compare the performances of four configurations under specified MR composition and NG flow rate.

The potential of ejector in saving energy is renewed in refrigeration, power and hybrid systems. This paper presents a novel way to utilize ejector in a freeze drying system. High pressure steam is firstly used to drive a multi-stage ejector vacuum pump, then to drive an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator which offers freezing for foods and cooling for hygroscopic solution cycled to absorb sublimed water vapor from frozen stuffs. Thermodynamic analysis was made for the performance of the new freeze drying system. The optimization of the entrainment ratio distribution was investigated. It was found that equal entrainment ratio for each stage is not appropriate. Optimized unequal entrainment ratio will lead to much less energy consumption due to better match of the subsystems. Compared with traditional system driven by electricity which is produced with steam at the same pressure, the heat requirement of the new system can be reduced by 32.3%–46.1%. The limitations of the system are discussed based on analyses of the impacts of primary steam pressure and ejector efficiency. The proposed freeze drying system with ejector will be a good choice for freeze drying agricultural products in rural areas having limited electricity and rich heat source.

Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), as a substitute for bisphenol A, is used in many industries in daily life. Many studies have clarified its effects as an endocrine disruptor on organisms, but its effect on lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae is not clear. Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are more susceptible to external pollutants. It is not clear how BHPF perturbs lipid metabolism or promotes NAFLD progression.We explored the biological effects of BHPF on locomotor activity, inflammatory response, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and lipid metabolism in zebrafish, especially in the mechanism of lipid homeostasis disorder. In addition, the role of BHPF in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was further explored.We found that high concentration (100 nmol/L) BHPF caused retarded growth, mild lipid accumulation and reduced the locomotive activity of zebrafish larvae, accompanied by a decrease in endogenous cortisol level. At the same time, it caused the full activation of inflammation and ER stress. Rescue experiments by 25(OH)DOur findings provide new insights into the role of BHPF in development of overweight and obesity and also improve understanding of its toxicological mechanism. Our results play a warning role in the administration of environmental pollutants.

This study investigated the indoor air quality (IAQ) during humid season in an old badminton hall, to explore the IAQ characteristics of natural ventilated sports buildings for public use. The indoor air parameters (temperature, relative humidity and air velocity) and indoor air pollutants (CO2, TVOC, PM2.5 and PM10) were measured. A subjective approach was carried out through questionnaire survey. 185 valid questionnaires were recovered, and 68.7% of the participants had exercised. Results show that the indoor air qualities obtained through objective and subjective approaches were obviously different. Indoor PM, TVOC and CO2 concentrations were normal, but 37.3% of the participants complained about the building materials' smell and 73.5% of the participants reported obvious sweaty odor. Physical activity might reduce a person's sensitivity to the environment. The participants generally felt warm and hot because of the high relative humidity. Post-exercise participants felt significantly hotter than those who did not exercise, and were generally more receptive to IAQ. The method of Fanger was employed to narrow the gap between subjective and objective approaches with a modified parameter, and to furtherly estimate the ventilation. The present study demonstrates the necessity to combine two approaches together to assess the IAQ in sports buildings.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the main control area of the clock rhythm in the mammalian brain. It drives daily behaviours and rhythms by synchronizing or suppressing the oscillations of clock genes in peripheral tissue. It is an important brain tissue structure that affects rhythm stability. SCN has high plasticity and is easily affected by the external environment. In this experiment, we found that exposure to the endocrine disruptor 17β-trenbolone (17β-TBOH) affects the rhythmic function of SCN in the brains of adolescent male balb/c mice. Behavioural results showed that exposure to 17β-TBOH disrupted daily activity-rest rhythms, reduced the robustness of endogenous rhythms, altered sleep-wake-related behaviours, and increased the stress to light stimulation. At the cellular level, exposure to 17β-TBOH decreased the c-fos immune response of SCN neurons to the large phase shift, indicating that it affected the coupling ability of SCN neurons. At the molecular level, exposure to 17β-TBOH interfered with the daily expression of hormones, changed the expression levels of the core clock genes and cell communication genes in the SCN, and affected the expression of wake-up genes in the hypothalamus. Finally, we observed the effect of exposure to 17β-TBOH on energy metabolism. The results showed that 17β-TBOH reduced the metabolic response and affected the metabolic function of the liver. This study revealed the influence of environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on rhythms and metabolic disorders, and provides references for follow-up research.

Enriched melatonin (MEL) has been found in the mammalian intestine and has been recently demonstrated to alleviate rodent colitis. In this study, the effect of MEL on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal inflammations was investigated in new chicken hatchlings. The chicks were fed with a diet supplemented with MEL (12.5 mg/day) from D1 to D10. Meanwhile, the chicks in the LPS or MEL + LPS groups were injected with LPS (10 mg/kg BW, i.p.) at D10. LPS treatment for 6 h increased the expression of IL-6, IL-4, caspase-3 mRNAs and TUNEL-positive cell populations, but decreased populations of the goblet and PCNA+ cells, IgA production and the expression of MUC2 mRNA in the duodenum. Compared with the LPS group, MEL pre-feeding alleviated duodenal inflammation and decreased the expression of TNF-α mRNAs by 23.6% (P = 0.004), IL-6 mRNAs by 69.4% (P = 0.001), IL-4 mRNAs by 4.1% (P = 0.824) and caspase-3 mRNAs by 45.8% (P0.001). Conversely, MEL pre-feeding attenuated the LPS-induced changes of IgA production by 161.6% (P = 0.013) and PCNA+ cell populations by 172.1% (P0.001) in the duodenum. TLR4 mRNA was also up-regulated by LPS treatment but down-regulated by MEL pre-feeding. In conclusion, dietary MEL could attenuate LPS-induced chick duodenal inflammation by down-regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, promoting epithelial cell proliferation, improving the immunological barrier and inhibiting epithelial apoptosis via the mediation of TLR4.

The objective of this study is to investigate the encapsulation of 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (20(R)-Rg3) using polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and promotion for its antitumor activity.Preparation and evaluation of the antitumor efficacy of 20(R)-Rg3-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were the first reported. The data will be helpful to apply 20(R)-Rg3 efficiently and broadly in new drug form development and clinical cancer treatment.The nanoparticles were prepared using emulsion and solvent evaporation methods. The uniform particle size and good dispersion were further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was applied to detect cell proliferation after 20(R)-Rg3-loaded PLGA nanoparticles treatment. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining were used for observation of key proteins related with proliferation and apoptosis. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometer technology.The results showed that the size of 20(R)-Rg3-loaded PLGA was 97.5 nm in diameter, and zeta potential was -28 mV detected by Malvern particle size analyzer. The encapsulation efficiency was 97.5%, and drug loading was 70.2% measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The in vitro study showed that the encapsulated 20(R)-Rg3 was consecutively released and the release ratio reached to the highest value (19.36%) at the time point of 96 h. The encapsulated 20(R)-Rg3 significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in A431 cancer cells compared with the unencapsulated 20(R)-Rg3, control and PLGA alone.20(R)-Rg3-loaded PLGA nanoparticles was well prepared and characterized. The antitumor activity was increased after PLGA encapsulation. The data will be beneficial to the development of new dosage forms of 20(R)-Rg3 and extensive application.

Liquid–liquid extractions using the mixtures of aliphatic acids and oleyl alcohol as extractants are investigated to improve isopropanol and butanol (IB) production in fed-batch fermentation. Extractive fermentation with a mixture of tetradecanoic acid (30%) and oleyl alcohol improved IB production by 63.41% compared with fermentation without extraction. A mixture of dodecanoic acid (35%) and oleyl alcohol was 24.75% more effective that the tetradecanoic acid system. The IB yield and productivity were 0.53 g/g and 0.35 g/L/h, respectively for the dodecanoic acid system. The accumulated IB in the dodecanoic acid containing extractant reach a relatively high level of 65.92 g/L from four sequential continuous fed-batch fermentation batches. Online extractive fermentation using the mixture of dodecanoic acid and oleyl alcohol as extractant can recover and accumulate IB at high concentration, which will facilitate subsequent IB purification and significantly improve IB production as a future technique reserve.

The pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin has been reported to have an effect on vertebrate development and cardiovascular disease. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) is considered to have cardioprotective effects and melatonin is known to regulate sleep-waking cycles. In this experiment, we used transgenic zebrafish Tg (kdrl:mCherry) and Tg (myl7:GFP) to investigate whether STS and melatonin could reverse the cardiovascular toxicity and neurotoxicity induced by deltamethrin. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 25 μg/L deltamethrin at 10 hpf and treated with 100 mmol/L STS and 1 μmol/L melatonin showed that deltamethrin treatment affected normal cardiovascular development. In situ hybridization and qRT-PCR results showed that deltamethrin could interfere with the normal expression of cardiovascular development-related genes vegfr2, shh, gata4, nkx2.5, causing functional defects in the cardiovascular system. In addition, deltamethrin could affect the sleep-waking behavior of larvae, increasing the activity of larvae, decreasing the rest behavior and the expression of hcrt, hcrtr, aanat2 were down-regulated. The addition of melatonin and STS can significantly alleviate cardiovascular toxicity and sleep-waking induced by deltamethrin, while restoring the expression of related genes to normal levels. Our study demonstrates the role of STS and melatonin in protecting cardiovascular and sleep-waking behavior caused by deltamethrin.

17β-Trenbolone (17β-TBOH) is an endocrine disruptor that has been widely reported in aquatic organisms. However, little is known about the effect of 17β-TBOH on mammals, particularly on the development of adolescents. Through a series of behavioural experiments, exposure to at 80 μg kg −1 d −1 and 800 μg kg −1 d −1 17β-TBOH during puberty (from PND 28 to 56, male mice) increased anxiety-like behaviours. Exposure to the low dose of 80 μg kg −1 d −1 resulted in a clear social avoidance behaviour in mice. The two doses affected testicular development and endogenous androgen synthesis in male mice. In addition, 17β-TBOH exposure altered the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and the formation of the myelin sheath in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These results reveal the effects of 17β-TBOH on the behaviours, gonadal and neurodevelopment of adolescent mammals. In addition, the inhibition of the secretion of endogenous hormones and decrease in the formation of the myelin sheath in mPFC may be associated with the 17β-TBOH-induced behavioural changes in mice.

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is currently the main drug used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). However, long-term use of l -DOPA causes substantial side effects, and we hope to find a biological active ingredient that synergizes with a low-dose of l -DOPA to achieve the same therapeutic effect as that of a high-dose of l -DOPA. The natural product parthenolide (PTL) is the active ingredient in the medicinal plant feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. ACT001, a fumarate salt form of dimethylaminomicheliolide (DMAMCL), is a derivative of parthenolide and has comparable effects to those of PTL but exhibits higher stability in the plasma and is available at a lower cost. In our study, we used ACT001 in combination with l -DOPA to treat 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease in mice. Specifically, ACT001 significantly reduced motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in MPTP-treated mice. Furthermore, ACT001 abolished MPTP-induced α-synuclein overexpression, astrocyte activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in the substantia nigra and striatum of the mouse brain. In addition, ACT001 increased the levels of the anti-apoptotic signalling molecule Bcl-2 and the pAkt/Akt ratio and reduced the levels of the pro-apoptotic signalling molecule Bax and the activation of Caspase3 in the substantia nigra and striatum. We found that the effects of the co-administration of ACT001 and l -DOPA (5 mg/kg) were equivalent to those of the administration of 8 mg/kg l -DOPA in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease in mice. Then, this evidence suggests that l -DOPA + ACT001 may be used for the treatment of PD.

Background Nowadays, the research of doctor-patient communication is becoming increasingly important not only in China but also around the world. Methods The study designs a type of learning software to train the interns to advance their communication skills, and whose validity for improving doctor-patient communication in self-controlled trials is evaluated. With the aid of the new learning software, the self-controlled tests were carried out among 183 interns to assess the quality of their communication skill acquisition. The learning effectiveness of the preparation stage, information collection, information given, patient understanding, and inquisition ending was evaluated with the Set Elicit Give Understand End (SEGUE) framework after 3 months of training. Results More interns (37.16% vs. 10.98%, P P P Conclusions The doctor-patient communication software may help the interns known more about communication skills.

L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) relieves symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD), but long-term use can cause serious side effects. Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, RV), a polyphenolic compound derived from grapes and red wine that has antioxidant activity, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. RV was investigated to enhance the therapeutic effect of L-DOPA in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mouse model of Parkinson disease. Mice received a saline or RV injection (10 mg/kg/day), then 2 h later, saline or MPTP (15 mg/kg/day) was administered for 7 consecutive days. Saline or L-DOPA (5 or 8 mg/kg/day) was injected post-administration of MPTP for the last 2 consecutive days. Our results indicated that RV alleviated MPTP-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons and attenuated astroglial activation in the nigrostriatal pathway. In parallel, RV reduced the expression of α-synuclein in the striatum. In addition, RV also increased levels of the anti-apoptotic signalling molecule Bcl-2, reduced levels of the pro-apoptotic signalling molecule Bax, and reduced activation of caspase-3 in the striatum. Specifically, RV significantly reduced motor dysfunction in MPTP-treated mice. Furthermore, the RV-treated group showed less IL-1β and an enhanced pAkt/Akt ratio, which promoted dopamine neuron survival in the striatum. We found that the effects of co-administration of RV with L-DOPA (5 mg/kg) were equivalent to those of administration of 8 mg/kg L-DOPA in MPTP-induced PD mice. Therefore, with fewer side effects, L-DOPA can be effectively used in the treatment of PD over a long period of time.

Endocrine disruptor chemicals induce adverse effects to animals' development, reproduction and behavior in environment. We investigated the effects of fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF), one substitute of bisphenol A, on courtship behavior and exploratory behavior of adult zebrafish. Customized apparatus was used to evaluate courtship behavior. The result showed that the male spent less time with BHPF and anti-oestrogenic fulvestrant (FULV) treated female in region of approaching (ROA). Courtship index between BHPF-exposed female and male decreased. The body orientation of BHPF- and FULV-exposed female to male decreased. Furthermore, BHPF exposure downregulated the expression of genes related to estrogen receptor, steroidogenesis and upregulated oxidative stress related genes. It indicated that BHPF exposure interfered the preference of male and female in courtship, and induced detrimental effects on reproduction. BHPF treatment decreased locomotor activity and time spent in top, increased freezing bouts, and induced anxiety/depression-like behavior. The tyrosine hydroxylase in brain decreased under BHPF exposure. Here we showed the potential adverse effects of BHPF on reproduction and exploratory behaviors.

Heat driven battery is a type of technology that develops quickly in recent years. The power density of thermally regenerative ammonia-based battery (TRAB) using copper-based redox couples is among the highest within aqueous-based thermoelectrochemical systems, whereas cycle construction according to the battery characteristics still needs research. This paper presents such an attempt which combines TRAB with NH3/LiNO3/H2O absorption refrigerator. A thermodynamic model is established and detailed theoretical analyses are carried out for the new cycle. The impacts of operation factors (such as heat source temperature and cooling condition) and design parameters (such as compositions of battery electrolyte and absorbent) on system efficiency are investigated. Furthermore, the design procedure of a combined cycle under restrictions of heating and cooling condition is illustrated. While the temperatures of heat source and sink are 135 °C and 20 °C respectively, the combined cycle can run either in refrigeration mode with COP of 0.388 and evaporation temperature at −33 °C, or in battery mode with a thermal efficiency of 3.753%. The performances of the combined cycle are compared with those of existing NH3/LiNO3/H2O absorption refrigerators and heat driven batteries. Moreover, the economic of combined cycle is evaluated, while its feasibility of operating at scale is also discussed.

Melamine cyanuric acid (MCA) is a flame retardant linked by hydrogen bonds between melamine and cyanuric acid. MCA is used in an excellent series of phosphorus and nitrogen flame retardants. MCA can harm the kidney, liver, testis, and spleen cells. However, the effects of MCA on the emotions and behaviour of adolescent mice have not yet been investigated. In this article, male mice were exposed to MCA at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg for four weeks. MCA exposure resulted in enhanced mouse locomotor and nocturnal activity. We also observed anxiety-like and depression-like behaviours. Moreover, after MCA exposure, the serum concentrations of thyroid-related hormones were changed, and the mRNA levels were affected. In short, MCA exposure can cause behavioural and emotion disorders.

Psychoactive drugs discharged into the environment have different effects on the behavior of vertebrates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of venlafaxine on the behavior of zebrafish, and whether melatonin could reverse the induction of venlafaxine. In this study, a series of venlafaxine concentrations (1 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 100 μg/L) was used to treat zebrafish embryos from 2 hours post-fertilization (hpf) to 5dpf. We found that venlafaxine (1 μg/L) can stimulate the growth of the head area, eye area, and body length of zebrafish. The light-dark test showed that venlafaxine (1 μg/L) could increase the activity of zebrafish larvae. What's more, venlafaxine (1 μg/L) upregulated the expression of steroid regulatory factors including steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star), cytochrome P450 family member 11A1 (cyp11a1) and 11 β hydroxylase (cyp11b1) by cAMP-pCREB pathway, affecting the function of the steroidogenic cells, which might be involved in the increased cortisol levels in zebrafish larvae. Whereas, melatonin (230 μg/L) restored the altered locomotion behavior induced by venlafaxine and recovered the altered gene expression. Our results demonstrate that venlafaxine at levels detected in the aquatic environment impacts behavior and may compromise the adaptive responses to the environment in zebrafish larvae.

Glyphosate (Gly) is the herbicide widely used in agricultural fields and landscaping. Mammalian exposure to glyphosate could cause neurotoxicity, blood, liver, kidney, endocrine, reproductive, genetic and other toxic effects. Melatonin (MT) is a neuroendocrine hormone secreted mainly by the pineal gland. It is unknown whether MT can improve reproductive defects and hormonal disorders in mice exposed to Gly. In this study, mice were exposed to 250 and 500 mg/kg Gly by intragastric administered and 15 mg/kg MT was treated via intraperitoneal injection for 7 days. Our results shown that the weight gain of mice, the ovarian coefficient and the ATP content in the ovaries were decreased significantly. Gly-treated oocytes showed that the first polar body extrusion failed, the level of oxidative stress increased, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decreased. Subsequently, our results showed that increased expression level of BAX protein, reduced expression of BCL-2 protein, ATG12 and LC3 protein expression increased in ovaries after Gly treatment. At the same time, Gly exposure led to abnormal expression of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid (HPT) axis-related genes and disrupted hormone homeostasis. After the injection of 15 mg/kg MT, the oocytes showed decreased oxidative stress level, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, incremental ATP content in the ovaries and the hormone levels were approached to the control group. Thus, our results demonstrated that melatonin can improve oocyte quality and maintain hormone homeostasis in mice exposed to glyphosate.