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OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Yinzhihuang (YZH) liquid, a traditional Chinese medicine mainly composed of extracts of four components, on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD) in rats. METHODS Altogether 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: control, the model group (HFHCD + saline) and the treatment group (HFHCD + YZH). Liver histological features and serum biochemical parameters were assessed by the end of the 16th week. RNA sequencing and protein mass spectrometry detection were performed. The genes and proteins expressed differentially were subjected to KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and included in a network-based regulatory model. RESULTS The weight, liver and fat indices and serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and total cholesterol levels of the HFHCD + YZH group were all significantly lower than those of the HFHCD + saline group. Moreover, their hepatic steatosis, ballooning and lobular inflammation were relieved, and 64 hepatic genes and 73 hepatic proteins were found to be reversed in their expression patterns after YZH treatment (P

Tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated fuel particles with spherical ceramic fuel kernels followed by three layers of pyrolytic carbon and one layer of silicon carbide (SiC) is successfully used in high temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR) system. In this paper, an improved design concept of fully ceramic fuel is proposed. The kernels were coated by SiC layers with different densities. Two kinds of SiC coatings, namely porous SiC and dense SiC were prepared by a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition method. The densities of porous SiC and dense SiC were 1.40 g/cm3 and 3.20 g/cm3, respectively. By controlling experimental parameters, densities of the SiC layer can be adjusted. The structure and micromorphology of the coated particles were investigated by various technologies such as XRD, SEM, and EDX. The coated particles were dispersed in SiC matrix and further sintered to dense compacts. High temperature oxidation test confirmed the robustness of the fuel elements.

Tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) particle, with spherical ceramic fuel particle kernels followed by three layers of pyrolytic carbon and one layer of silicon carbide (SiC), has been successful now in high temperature gas cooled reactor (HTGR). The silicon carbide (SiC) layer used in TRISO coated fuel particles is normally produced at high temperatures (~1600°C) via fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition from methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) in a hydrogen environment. The precursor is strong corrosive and the process is not environmentally friendly. In this work, hexamethyldisilane (HMDS) was used instead of MTS and the deposition behavior was investigated via fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition method. Different experimental parameters were tested, such as deposition temperature (800~1450°C) and gas flow ratio of Ar: H2. The deposition rates were obtained and compared. It was found that the optimization parameters of highest deposition rate is 1000°C with the ratio of Ar: H2 of 1:1. The microstructures of the products were further investigated by SEM, XRD and Raman scattering. From the X-ray diffraction pattern it could be inferred that the β-SiC phase was obtained, and free carbon was also found in deposition products. Different types of SiC layer, including dense and porous layer can be prepared. The experimental results validated that HMDS was an alternative precursor for preparing the SiC layer in producing the TRISO particle and other SiC-coated materials in lower temperatures

Silicon carbide nanowires have been extensively studied because of their unique physical and chemical properties. They can be applied in high temperature, high frequency, high power, and corrosive environments, and have a wide range of applications in electronics, chemical industry, energy and other fields. In this paper, SiC nanowires with high output were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition method using methyltrichlorosilane as raw material. The influences of the catalyst and temperature were studied. SiC nanochains were also obtained by adding Al2O3 powder under appropriate temperature controlled strategy. These two kinds of one-dimensional SiC nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods.

The traffic lights identification algorithms is an important part of the platform for automatic driving technology and it is also applied in the remote control system. As the absolute standard of behavior instruction, lights are the most firsthand object to judge. Image recognition technology has been applied in the Gray Spaces and HSI space, but Comparing with RGB color space, the latter is easier to understand and realize. This paper puts forward a kind of identification algorithm for single or multiple lights. According to the target image numerical characteristics in the RGB color space and judging from the target area needed and the related parameters extracted, The feasibility of this algorithm is proved in theory and application and the experimental results are satisfactory in the Matlab environment.

AIM: To establish the more feasible and sensitive assessment approach to the detection of adefovir (ADV) resistance-associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies. METHODS: Based on the characteristics of rtA181V/T and rtN236T mutations, a new approach based on real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was established for the detection of ADV-resistant HBV quasispecies, total HBV DNA, rtA181 and rtN236 mutations in blood samples from 32 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with unsatisfactory curative effect on ADV and compared with routine HBV DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Both the sensitivity and specificity of this new detection approach to ADV-resistant HBV quasispecies were 100%, which were much higher than those of direct HBV DNA sequencing. The approach was able to detect 0.1% of mutated strains in a total plasmid population. Among the 32 clinical patients, single rtA181 and rtN236T mutation and double rtA181T and rtN236T mutations were detected in 20 and 8, respectively, while ADV-resistant mutations in 6 (including, rtA181V/T mutation alone in 5 patients) and no associated mutations in 26. CONCLUSION: This new approach is more feasible and efficient to detect ADV-resistant mutants of HBV and ADV-resistant mutations before and during ADV treatment with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 100%.