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Geopolymer concrete (GC) has been gaining attention in research and engineering circles; however, it is a brittle material with poor tensile performance and crack resistance. To address these problems, we introduced fibers into GC. In this study, axial compression and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were carried out on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) short fiber reinforced low-calcium fly ash-slag-based geopolymer concrete (PFRGC). The ratio of PVA short fibers and low-calcium fly ash on the compression behavior of fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete (FRGC) were investigated and discussed. The test results show that PVA fibers play a bridging role in the cracks of the specimen and bear the load together with the matrix, so the addition of PVA fibers delayed the crack propagation of GC under axial compression. However, with the increase of low-calcium fly ash/PVA fibers, the number of unreacted fly ash particles in PFRGCs increases. Too many unreacted fly ash particles make GC more prone to micro-cracks during loading, adversely affecting compressive properties. Therefore, the axial compressive strength, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of GC decrease with the increasing low-calcium fly ash/PVA fibers.

In this paper, we focus on the reducibility of graphene oxide by hydrazine hydrate. The main emphasis is placed on the problem of the dosage of hydrazine hydrate and the reaction time on the reduction of chemical groups. This paper describes a system for the analysis of FT-IR. A model is developed for the FT-IR analysis using exponential decay function (Y=Y0e−RX). The height of the peaks in FT-IR spectra of the chemical groups was fitted with exponential decay function. Decay constant R is given the name of Reducibility Factor R. Emphasis is placed on the decay constant R in the fitting functions by which the reducibility of the chemical groups on graphene oxide is evaluated. It is found that R is different for different chemical groups. The sequence is ROH>RC=O>RC−O−C. This means that C−O−C is the most difficult one to be reduced, OH is the most easy, and C=O is between C−O−C and OH. The experimental results reveal a basis for the research of the application of graphene oxide.

An improved simple, rapid and accurate HPLC method for quantification of doxorubicin derived from micelle-encapsulated or liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin formulation in rat plasma was described. The mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol-water [containing 0.1% formic acid anhydrous and 0.1% ammonia solution (25%), pH 3.0], 60:40, was delivered at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Sample preparation for micelle- or liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin in rat plasma were achieved directly by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Doxorubicin and daunorubicin (internal standard, IS) were separated on a C(18) reversed-phase HPLC column and quantified by a fluoresence detection with an excitation wavelength of 475 nm and an emission wavelength of 580 nm. The linearity was obtained over the range of 5.0-1000.0 ng/mL and 1.0-200.0 microg/mL for doxorubicin and the lower limit of quantitation was 5.0 ng/mL. For each level of quality control samples, inter- and intra-assay precision was less than 9.6 and 5.1% (relative standard deviation), respectively, and percentage error was within +/-2.6%. The extraction recoveries of doxorubicin in the range of 10 ng/mL to 100 microg/mL in rat plasma were between 94.1 and 105.6%. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of doxorubicin formulations after i.v. administration to rats.

ZT-1 is a novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. It is rapidly transformed to Huperzine A (Hup A) in vitro. A simple and rapid HPLC-UV method for the simultaneous determination of ZT-1 and its metabolite Hup A in plasma is described. The chromatographic separations were achieved on a C18 ODS column (250 mm × 4.6 mm ID) using methanol-1 mmol/L ammonium acetate (70:30,v/v) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.7 mL/min, the detection wavelength was 313 nm and the column temperature was kept at 35 °C. Plasma samples were prepared as rapidly as possible and extracted immediately with 5 mL of chloroform:iso-propyl alcohol mixture (v/v, 9:1).The retention times of ZT-1 and Huperzine A (Hup A) were 18.7 and 14.4 min, respectively. The mean absolute recoveries of two analytes were >90%. Quantification limits were all 0.02 nmol/mL for ZT-1 and Hup A. This analytical method was reliable and convenient procedure that meets the criteria for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of ZT-1 on experimental animals.

A procedure for the high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of vertilmicin in rat serum was described using pre-column derivatization. The serum proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile and vertilmicin in the supernatant was derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Etimicin was selected as the internal standard. The mobile phase consisted of methanol--20mM ammonium acetate (80:20, v/v), and flow-rate was 0.9 ml/min. Ultraviolet detection was set at 365 nm. The reaction products were chromatographed on a C(18) column kept at 40 degrees C. A good linearity was found in the range of 0.5-250 microg/ml. Both intra- and inter-day precisions of vertilmicin, expressed as the relative standard deviation, were less than 7.4%. Accuracy, expressed as the relative error, ranged from -0.1 to 3.6%. The mean absolute recovery of vertilmicin at three different concentrations was 92.5%. Serum volumes of 50 microl were sufficient for the determination of vertilmicin. The method was proved suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of vertilmicin in rats.

Autophagy is essential for maintaining glucose homeostasis, but the mechanism by which energy deprivation activates autophagy is not fully understood. We show that Mec1/ATR, a member of the DNA damage response pathway, is essential for glucose starvation-induced autophagy. Mec1, Atg13, Atg1, and the energy-sensing kinase Snf1 are recruited to mitochondria shortly after glucose starvation. Mec1 is recruited through the adaptor protein Ggc1. Snf1 phosphorylates Mec1 on the mitochondrial surface, leading to recruitment of Atg1 to mitochondria. Furthermore, the Snf1-mediated Mec1 phosphorylation and mitochondrial recruitment of Atg1 are essential for maintaining mitochondrial respiration during glucose starvation, and active mitochondrial respiration is required for energy deprivation-activated autophagy. Thus, formation of a Snf1-Mec1-Atg1 module on mitochondria governs energy deprivation-induced autophagy by regulating mitochondrial respiration.

To explore the shape and the location of mediastinal spaces (mediastinal lymph node locations) associated with conventional transbronchial needle aspiration technique (C-TBNA), and to determine the relationship between the mediastinal spaces and physiological and anatomical marks in trachea-bronchial lumen for choosing the puncture points of C-TBNA.The chest HRCT images of 1 000 consecutive patients preparing for bronchoscopic examination were analyzed to determine the shape and the location of the mediastinal gap, and which physiological and anatomic markers in the airway were suitable for locating the mediastinal spaces and lymph nodes. Eighty-one groups of lymph nodes from 52 patients were punctured by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) to verify the locating of puncture points by these markers for the mediastinal lymph nodes under general anesthesia. The needle was punctured into the wall of the airway first, and then the ultrasound was used to confirm if the needle was in the lymph nodes.Pretracheal space, aortic-left pulmonary window space, superior-carinal space and subcarinal space showed close relationship with C-TBNA biopsy for mediastinal lymph nodes. The pretracheal space could be located by the physiological and anatomic marks of aortic impression and aortic pulse points. The superior-carinal space was like a triangle and locating in 12 o'clock of the first ring of trachea. The 9-10 o'clock of the first ring of the trachea was the aortic-left pulmonary window. The 8-9 o'clock of the right main bronchus and middle bronchus was for subcarinal space. Eighty-one groups of lymph nodes from 52 patients were punctured by EBUS-TBNA according to the physiological and anatomic markers, and it showed that only 3 groups were missed by C-TBNA. No mediastinal bleeding and pneumomediastinum occurred.Mediastinal spaces(mediastianl lymph nodes) and physiological and anatomical marks within the airway had a relatively fixed relationship. These marks could be used for locating the mediastinal lymph nodes when C-TBNA was performed.

Objective This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) to treat muscle spasticity after brain injury (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-11001310). Methods A total of 60 patients with muscle spasticity after brain injury were randomized to the following 3 groups: 100, 2, and 0 Hz (sham) TEAS. The acupoints Hegu (LI4)—Yuji (LU10) and Zusanli (ST36)—Chengshan (BL57) on the injured side were stimulated at 0, 2, or 100 Hz, 5 times per week for 4 weeks. The patients were followed up for 1 and 2 months after the treatments. The effects of the treatments on muscle spasticity at the wrist, thumb, the other 4 fingers, elbow, shoulder, knee, and ankle were evaluated by the Modified Ashworth Scale, and the effects on disability were assessed by the Disability Assessment Scale. The walking capability was evaluated by the Holden functional ambulation classification score. The overall performance was assessed by the Global Assessment Scale score and the improved Barthel Index. The safety of the treatments administered was also monitored. Results The wrist spasticity was significantly reduced from baseline at weeks 2, 3, and 4 of treatment and at the 1- and 2-month follow-up visits in the 100 Hz group (P < 0.01). Compared with 2 Hz or sham TEAS, 100 Hz TEAS decreased wrist spasticity at weeks 2, 3, and 4 of treatment and 1 month after treatment (P < 0.001). The other endpoints were not affected by the treatments. No treatment-emergent adverse events were reported during treatments and follow-up visits. Conclusions TEAS appears to be a safe and effective therapy to relieve muscle spasticity after brain injury, although large-scale studies are required to further verify the findings. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-11001310 http://www.chictr.org

A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of metolazone in human blood. Metolazone was extracted from blood using ethyl acetate and separated on a C18 column interfaced with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer. The mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile, 10 mmol/l ammonium acetate and formic acid (60:40:0.1, v/v/v) was delivered at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was operated in positive ion mode. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using the transitions of m/z 366 → m/z 259 and m/z 321 → m/z 275 were used to quantify metolazone and the lorazepam (internal standard), respectively. The linearity was obtained over the concentration range of 0.5–500 ng/ml for metolazone and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/ml. For each level of QC samples, inter- and intra-run precision was less than 8.07 and 3.56% (relative standard deviation (RSD)), respectively, and the bias was within ±4.0%. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of metolazone formulation after oral administration to humans.

Object:To investigate the related factors in complications of stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial tumors. Methods: A retrospectective review of 146 patients with intracranial tumors treated with stereotactic radiosurgery was conducted. Sixty-five patients received single-dose treatment and the rest received fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery. Ninety-five patients received conventional radiotherapy in the meantime. Results: Follow-up period was 18–54 months. Follow-up rate was 92.5% and 39 patients (26.7%) had different complications. The Cox statistics showed that target volume, target peripheral dose, target maximal dose, and ratio of maximal dose to peripheral dose are related to the complications. Conversely, neither type of tumor disease, gender, radiation schedule with or without conventional radiotherapy, target minimal dose, nor ratio of target peripheral isodose volume to target volume were found to be related to complications. Conclusion: Target volume and dose are the major factors causing complications, and the optimization of the therapeutic planning can play a significant role in reducing them.

Meridian theory is an important part of the TCM system. Since 1950s, we have already studied the essence of meridian for more than a half century, but there was no substantive progress. In this article the author point that, in order to determine the concept and scope of meridian, it’s necessary to have a briefly discussion on the philosophize of meridian research, and the most important is the Meridian research in future should be multi-angle, multi-level, three-dimensional and so on.