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Herein we present a facile approach for the preparation of a novel hierarchically porous carbon, in which seaweeds serve as carbon source and KOH as activator. The fabricated KOH-activated seaweed carbon (K-SC) displays strong affinity towards tetracycline with maximum uptake quantity of 853.3 mg/g, significantly higher than other tetracycline adsorbents. The superior adsorption capacity ascribes to large specific surface area (2614 m2/g) and hierarchically porous structure of K-SC, along with strong π- π interactions between tetracycline and K-SC. In addition, the as-prepared K-SC exhibits fast adsorption kinetics, capable of removing 99% of tetracycline in 30 min. Meanwhile, the exhausted K-SC can be regenerated for four cycling adsorption without an obvious degradation in capacities. More importantly, pH and ionic strengths barely affect the adsorption performance of K-SC, implying electrostatic interactions hardly play any role in tetracycline adsorption process. Furthermore, the K-SC packed fixed-bed column (0.1 g of adsorbents) can continually treat 2780 mL solution spiked with 5.0 mg/g tetracycline before reaching the breakthrough point. All in all, the fabricated K-SC equips with high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption rate, glorious anti-interference capability and good reusability, which make it hold great feasibilities for treating tetracycline contamination in real applications.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-characteristic rehabilitation program on levels of pain and swelling after total knee arthroplasty. Methods: A total of 72 in-patients who recovered from total knee arthroplasty in our department were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into two groups according to a random number table: the control group (n = 36) with routine nursing and the treatment group (n = 36) with TCM rehabilitation nursing. The pain scores and joint swelling were statistically analyzed. Results: The pain scores in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The implementation of a TCM rehabilitation program for patients after total knee arthroplasty can effectively and quickly reduce the pain and swelling of the affected limb, promote the local blood circulation, and promote the quality of life of patients after rehabilitation.

In this work, a (2+1)-dimensional generalized Hirota–Satsuma–Ito equation realized to represent the propagation of unidirectional shallow water waves is investigated. We first study the breather wave solutions based on the three-wave method and the bilinear form. Second, the double-periodic soliton solutions are obtained via an undetermined coefficient method, which have not been seen in other literature. We present some illustrative figures to discuss the dynamic properties of the derived waves.

Background The pathogenesis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is unclear, and diagnostic methods are limited. This study aimed to identify key biomarkers in the tubulointerstitium of FSGS patients and their association with immune cell infiltration. Methods The microarray expression and related data( GSE108112 and GSE200818) were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). Identification and enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed. Additionally, PPI networks of the DEGs were constructed and classified using Cytoscape plug-in MCODE. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify the most critical gene modules. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression data were used to screen for key biomarkers of the tubulointerstitium in FSGS, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine their diagnostic accuracy. The major transcription factors affecting the hub genes were identified by Cytoscape plug-in iregulon. Infiltration of 28 immune cells and their interactions with hub genes were analyzed. Results In total, 535 DEGs were identified, including 219 upregulated genes and 316 downregulated genes. DEGs function mainly enriched in immune-related diseases and signaling fluxes. Cytoscape plug-in MCODE obtained nine modules with a total of 81 genes. The central module of WGCNA (green module, including 237 genes) in the correlation heap had the greatest association with the tubulointerstitial in FSGS. Three key genes (fractalkine/CX3C chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PPARGC1A)) were screened as potential tubulointerstitium biomarkers in FSGS. The transcription factor early growth response factor 1 (EGR1) had a regulatory effect on all three key biomarkers. Immune infiltration showed a significant correlation between CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and natural killer T cells. The results Infiltration of 28 immune cells showed that CX3CL1 and TGFB1 were enhanced, and PPARGC1A was decreased in immune and inflammation-related pathways. Conclusions The activation of natural killer T cells is closely related to tubulointerstitial renal lesions in FSGS. CX3CL1, TGFB1, and PPARGC1A may play important roles in the tubulointerstitium of FSGS through immune-related signaling pathways.

This study investigated the dietary structure, Cadmium (Cd) contents in foods and exposure to Cd through diets of the residents in the mining-affected areas of Nandan County in summer 2013 (July to August) and winter 2014 (November to December). The weighing of foods and the chemical analysis of foods were applied to determine the dietary structure, and the concentration of trace element Cd in the diets, respectively, of the residents in the mining-affected areas (Chehe town, Dachang town, and Zhanglao town) and a control area (Liuzhai town), and subsequently the Cd exposure from the diets was estimated. In the mining-affected areas, the geometric mean of Cd in rice and rice products was the highest (0.29 μg/g) among all food types, and it exceeds the value of 0.2ug/g from the China Food Safety National Standard for Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB2762-2017). The Cd contents in rice and rice products, vegetables, and beans in the mining-affected areas were significantly higher than those in the control area. The estimated daily food intakes of Cd in the mining-affected areas were higher than the intake in the control area. The THQ in the mining-affected areas of Chehe town, Dachang town, and Zhanglao town was 3.03, 2.31, and 3.27, respectively. All of which were higher than the value of 1.44 in the control area. Thus, the high level of dietary cadmium intakes of residents in this area deserves our attention.

The relationship between landscape patterns and soil conservation, as well as the need for nature-based soil erosion control and landscape pattern optimization, have increasingly gained attention in the scientific and political community in the past decade. With the implementation of a series of afforestation/reforestation projects in the western China, the optimization and management of forest landscape patterns will become more important for soil conservation. In this study, the Bailongjiang Watershed (BLJW), in the western China, was used as a case study to explore the relationship between the forest landscape pattern and soil conservation services using mathematical and spatial statistics methods. A spatially-explicit model called the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) model of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) was used to assess the soil conservation service in each sub-basin of BLJW in 1990, 2002, and 2014, and landscape indices were used to describe changes in forest landscape patterns in each sub-basin. Nine forest landscape indices, including the percentage of landscape (PLAND), largest patch index (LPI), edge density (ED), landscape shape index (LSI), mean patch shape (SHAPE_MN), patch cohesion index (COHESION), landscape division index (DIVISION), splitting index (SPLIT) and aggregation index (AI), were significantly correlated to the soil conservation service. PLAND, AI, LSI and SPLIT of forestland were determined to be the more important landscape indicators. The results also indicated that soil conservation was substantially scale-dependent. The results demonstrated that landscape type diversity greatly affected watershed soil conservation and can be used for forest landscape restoration and management. Furthermore, spatial statistics analysis indicated that the Spatial Lag Model (SLM) was superior to the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) for soil conservation regressions in 1990 and 2014, while OLS was more appropriate for the regression in 2002. These findings will be useful for enhancing soil conservation and for optimizing mountainous forest landscape patterns for afforestation/reforestation and regional development. Future planning and implementation of ecological restoration should focus more on strategic spatial planning and integrated landscape management with full consideration of future climate, water availability/consumption, hydrological regime, topography, and watershed features, especially on afforestation and revegetation projects in western mountainous China, where the socio-ecological system is fragile and poor.

Understanding the trade-offs among ecosystem services (ESs) at multiple scales is a key challenge to effective environmental management. However, the scale effect of ESs trade-offs in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has received little attention. This study investigated the scale effects of ESs trade-offs in Bailongjiang Watershed (BLJW), a typical transitional ecotone from the Loess Plateau to the Tibetan Plateau with multiple ESs, intensive human activities and frequent geological disasters in the Eastern Margin of the QTP, China. Four key ESs including food supply (FS), soil conservation (SC), water conservation (WC), and habitat quality (HQ) in BLJW in 1990, 2002, and 2016 were mapped to analyze the scale effects at the watershed, county, and township scales. The results indicated varying scale-related temporal and spatial relationships among FS, SC, WC, and HQ. The trade-offs between FS-SC and FS-WC initially increased and then decreased during 1990–2002 and 2002–2016, respectively, while the trade-offs between SC-WC, SC-HQ, HQ-WC, and HQ-FS first decreased and then increased at the same period. The magnitudes of the trade-offs among the four ESs are in the order of watershed scale > township scale > county scale. Among the major land-use types in BLJW, the trade-offs between WC-FS and between HQ-FS in farmland and grassland were higher than those of other land uses. There is a strong trade-off between SC-HQ in forestland and a weak trade-off between SC-WC in farmland and grassland. The trade-offs between the six ESs pairs varied and were scale-dependent mainly due to spatial heterogeneity in the landscape and in human activities. Understanding the ESs trade-offs at the watershed, county, and township scales provides a scientific basis for the formulation of environmental management strategies at appropriate spatial scales. At the BLJW watershed scale, more attention should be paid on farmland and grassland planning and its management, also, forestland should be enlarged if possible. At the county and township scales, land consolidation and planning should be paid more attention to develop ecological agricultural tourism and multi-functional landscapes for strategic spatial planning and integrated watershed management.

Wild plant species from three deserted antimony (Sb) mine areas in southern China were collected to measure eight metal(loid)s. Antimony, As (arsenic), Cd (cadmium), Cr (chromium), Cu (copper), Ni (nickel), Pb (lead), and Zn (zinc) concentrations in plants and soil were analyzed. The soils of the mining area was weakly alkaline and contained toxic levels of Sb, As, Pb, Cd, and Zn. Many plant species in the area (40 species and 19 families) have no clear signs of toxicity. The plants were divided into three categories (high, moderate, and low tendency to accumulate metals) based on their (ratio [RT], bioaccumulation factor [BCF], translocation factor [TF]) values. The plants with a high accumulation tendency exhibited the high potential to absorb Sb from contaminated soil; therefore, they can be used for the remediation or phytoremediation of Sb-contaminated soil.

A field investigation in the abandoned lead-zinc mines in Yunan Province was conducted to assess the accumulation potential of dominant plant species and six heavy metals in mine soils. Eighteen types of plants were selected for the analysis. Local plants and soil were sampled and analyzed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and Zn (zinc) concentrations. Bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated. Cluster analysis was performed to calculate the accumulation potential. The results showed that all dominant plants (18 species and 13 families) were herbaceous plants. The content of heavy metals in these plants was higher than their normal content in plants. The above-ground Cd content of

Tough gel with extreme temperature tolerance is a class of soft materials having potential applications in the specific fields that require excellent integrated properties under subzero temperature. Herein, physically crosslinked Europium (Eu)-alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) organohydrogels that do not freeze at far below 0°C, while retention of high stress and stretchability is demonstrated. These organohydrogels are synthesized through displacement of water swollen in polymer networks of hydrogel to cryoprotectants (e.g., ethylene glycol, glycerol, and d-sorbitol). The organohydrogels swollen water-cryoprotectant binary systems can be recovered to their original shapes when be bent, folded and even twisted after being cooled down to a temperature as low as −20 and −45°C, due to lower vapor pressure and ice-inhibition of cryoprotectants. The physical organohydrogels exhibit the maximum stress (5.62 ± 0.41 MPa) and strain (7.63 ± 0.02), which is about 10 and 2 times of their original hydrogel, due to the synergistic effect of multiple hydrogen bonds, coordination bonds and dense polymer networks. Based on these features, such physically crosslinked organohydrogels with extreme toughness and wide temperature tolerance is a promising soft material expanding the applications of gels in more specific and harsh conditions.

This study studied the dietary structure, lead (Pb) contents and exposure of the diets of the residents in the mining-affected areas of Nandan County in summer (July to August) and winter (November to December). The weighing method and the Chemical Analysis Method were applied to determine the daily intake amount of trace element Pb in the diets of the residents in the mining-affected areas and a contrast area, and subsequently estimated the Pb exposure of the diets of the residents. Based on the Provisionally Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) and Margin of Exposure (MoE), the risk of Pb poisoning driven by the dietary intake of the residents in the study areas was determined. Among the food types, rice and rice products, vegetables, meat and meat products were the major contributing factors. In the mining-affected areas, Pb contents in meat and meat products ranked the top (2.47 μg/g) among the food types. The Pb contents in rice and rice products, vegetables, and meat and meat products in the mining-affected areas were significantly different from those in the contrast area. The average intake amounts of Pb in all kinds of food of the residents in the mining-affected areas (Chehe Town, Dachang Town and Zhanglao Town) were 958.6 µg/d, 1178 µg/d and 813.7 µg/d, respectively. According to the MoE method, current study confirmed high health risk due to Pb contamination in the diets of the residents in these mining-affected areas. From the dietary contribution rate perspective, meat was the main source of Pb intake of the residents in the mining-affected areas. To reduce the health risk induced by excessive Pb exposure in the dietary intake, local residents should consume more fish and grains instead of meat.

A large-scale investigation was conducted on the cadmium (Cd) content in the farmland soils of Guizhou to explore the spatial variation in soil Cd content, identify the main factors responsible for causing Cd pollution, and determine the zonation of Cd pollution. Multivariate statistical analysis, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and decision tree methods were used to study the distribution, spatial variation, and pollution partitioning of Cd and the factors influencing the Cd accumulation in agricultural soils of the Guizhou province. Areas with high Cd content in agricultural soil were found to be concentrated in the high-altitude areas in the western region of Guizhou province. The results of the single factor pollution index showed that the proportion of sample sites with Cd class I (priority protection), II (security utilization), and III (strict control) in the agricultural soils of Guizhou province were 65.96%, 31.27%, and 2.77%, respectively. In high-altitude areas, the Cd content in the agricultural soils was mainly derived from the soil parent material. In contrast, mining activities and road traffic were the main factors Cd accumulation in agricultural soils in lower altitude areas.

Background Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for tuberculosis but little is known about the relationship between tobacco smoking and drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the association between DR-TB and tobacco smoking. Methods We searched for relevant studies in the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG, and WEIPU data-bases from inception to September 1, 2017. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with accompanying 95% CIs, and subgroup analyses were performed by study design, smoking type, DR-TB type, and multivariate analysis. Results Thirty-three studies related to tobacco smoking and DR-TB were included. We found substantial evidence that tobacco smoking is associated with an increased risk of DR-TB (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.33-1.86). Associations were also found in subgroup analyses: for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.19-1.86) and for any DR-TB (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.3-2.23); the pooled OR was 1.45 (95% CI 1.11-1.90) for current smoking, 2.25 (95% CI 1.46-3.47) for past smoking, and 1.56 (95% CI 1.22-1.98) for smoking history; and similar ORs were also observed in study design and multivariate analysis subgroup analysis. Conclusion This study demonstrated that tobacco smoking is an independent risk factor for DR-TB.

Acute pulmonary embolism is a common disease, which is associated with high mortality and morbidity. There is significant relationship between haptoglobin and pulmonary embolism, however, the usefulness of haptoglobin as a biomarker for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism remains poorly defined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the change and clinical diagnostic value of haptoglobin in pulmonary embolism. A comparative proteomic analysis was used for clinical screening of serum proteins in 18 patients (9 patients with pulmonary embolism and 9 controls). ELISA was used to validate the dysregulated proteins in 48 patients (24 patients with pulmonary embolism and 24 controls). Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of haptoglobin in pulmonary artery of both groups. The diagnostic value of the differential protein and its association with the severity of pulmonary embolism were evaluated. Eight proteins showed significant changes in serum of pulmonary embolism patients. Haptoglobin, as one of the eight differential proteins, was significantly overexpressed in the serum of pulmonary embolism patients. In accordance, the expression of haptoglobin was increased in pulmonary artery of pulmonary embolism patients. The ROC curve showed that serum haptoglobin was a specific parameter in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with an area under the curve of 0.764 (95% confidence interval, 0.622-0.906; P < 0.01); in particular, the haptoglobin level at least 256.74 mg/l was the most useful cut-off value, with the sensitivity of 62% and specificity of 83%. Increased haptoglobin level may be an acceptable diagnostic parameter for pulmonary embolism.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of rs1532624 and rs289741 loci in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genes and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods: The CETP gene rs1532624 and rs289741 in 95 patients with ACI and 177 healthy subjects were genotyped by MassARRAY mass spectrometry. Each locus genotype and allele frequency distributions were compared. Results: The difference of allele frequency distribution between the rs1532624 (χ2=1.723, P =0.189) and rs289741 (χ2=2.466, P =0.116) were not statistically significant. The frequency distribution of rs1532624 genotype between the cerebral infarction group and healthy control group was statistically significant (χ2=7.096, P =0.029), while rs289741 genotype frequency distribution between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ=2.906, P =0.234). Conclusion: ACI have a positive correlation with rs1532624 polymorphism, and AA genotype may be susceptible factors of ACI.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the different provocative maneuvers in detecting right-to-left shunt during contrast transthoracic echocardiography (cTTE). Methods: We e...

To evaluate the remediation potential of

ObjectiveIn this paper, we will discuss if the CETP polymorphism contributes to the centenarians in Hainan island.MethodsWe tested the TaqIB and I405V polymorphisms of CETP gene among 276 centenarians and 301 matched healthy individuals by AS-PCR and analyzed the data with SPSS software package (Version 19.0).ResultsOur data indicated that allele B1 and V have the significant differences between centenarians and healthy control groups with P

A new meroterpenoid, named terretonin D1 (

In order to determine the distribution characteristics of heavy metal pollution in farmland soils and related influencing factors in the Xijiang River Basin, 2187 farmland soil samples were collected and their heavy metal contents were tested. The spatial structure and distribution characteristics of heavy metal elements were studied using a combination of geostatistics theory and GIS spatial interpolation. The potential ecological risk index was employed for risk assessment. Multivariate statistical methods, such as correlation analysis and principal component analysis, were used to analyze heavy metal sources. Results showed that farmland soils in the Basin were enriched with seven kinds of heavy metal to some extent, with Cd accumulation being the most evident. T-test independent samples results showed significant differences in heavy metal content between dry and field paddy soils (

In this study, 2585 soil samples were collected in the Xijiang River Basin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the spatial variability and contamination of Arsenic in soils were evaluated using geostatistical and GIS tools. The results showed that the concentrations of As in surface soils (23.82 mg·kg

To understand the distribution and risk of soil cadmium (Cd) in the Xijiang River drainage basin in Guangxi, a total of 2512 soil samples were collected nonferrous metal mining area, farmland (paddy soils and dryland soils) and the background soils, in the Xijiang River drainage basin in Guangxi.The results showed that Cd concentration was 0.514 mg·kg

To obtain data for the accumulation of Pb and its risk in soils in the Xijiang River drainage of Guangxi, 2594 samples were collected from nonferrous metal mining soils, farmland soils (paddy soils and dryland soils), and the background soils in the drainage area. Geostatistical analysis combined with GIS was used to study the soil spatial distribution characteristics and pollution distribution of the soil Pb content. The results showed that the Pb background value of the soil was 51.84 mg ·kg

Abies alba is native to the mountains of Europe and often used as Christmas trees. In this study, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of A. alba. The complete chloroplast genome is 121,243 ...

Using the model of stationary white noise excitation, defining the exact analytic method of random response and nearer value of earthquake action about single degree of freedom generalized Maxwell damping, firstly transform the motion equation into standard form, with the Laplace transform and Inverse Laplace transform method, obtained the exact analytical formula of structural response, calculate the response variance by the complex modal method and frequency domain decomposition and make comparisons, The response variance decomposition for the first standard vibrator and second order of the standard vibrator, According to the corresponding relationship between maximum response of the second order vibrator and The design response spectrum, calculated the maximum response by it, base on the maximum response proportion of the first standard vibrator and second, obtained the design of the structural response values and its corresponding earthquake force.

To improve the corrosion resistance of Ni-P electroless coating, the KI was added in the electroless solution. The surface micrograph was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the corrosion resistance of Ni-P coatings in 3.5%NaCl solution was examined by polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The experimental results showed that KI reduced the amount of defects and the size of crystal grain of Ni-P coating, and the surface of Ni-P coating became more homogenous, smoother and compact by KI. In addition, the phosphorus content of Ni-P coating was increased by KI. These factors increased the ability to corrosion protection of Ni-P coating.

Oil source made up of constant pressure variable displacement pump, accumulator, and pipeline is widely used to provide stable pressure for electro-hydraulic control system in practical engineering. Based on the experiment, the relationship between initial charging pressure & volume of the accumulator at inlet of the servo valve and control precision is analyzed in detail, and coupling rules between the load variation and the pressure fluctuations of oil-source are obtained, the rules can give reference for selecting initial charging pressure & volume of the accumulator according to the requirement of system control precision, which can further improve control precision and product quality by optimizing equipment parameters.

The passive films formed on X80 and X70 pipeline steel in 0.5 mol·L-1NaHCO3solution are investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the corrosion resistance of both steel is compared. The results show that X80 steel has a much lower passive current density than X70 steel. EIS measurements indicate that the film formed on X80 steel is much more compact and uniform than that of X70 steel. Mott-Schottky analysis demonstrates that the passive film of X80 steel has a lower donor density and a thicker space charge layer than X70 steel. These factors lead to a better corrosion resistance for X80 steel than X70 steel.

Purpose. The objective of our study was to predicate candidate genes in cervical cancer (CC) using a network-based strategy and to understand the pathogenic process of CC.Methods. A pathogenic network of CC was extracted based on known pathogenic genes (seed genes) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CC and normal controls. Subsequently, cluster analysis was performed to identify the subnetworks in the pathogenic network using ClusterONE. Each gene in the pathogenic network was assigned a weight value, and then candidate genes were obtained based on the weight distribution. Eventually, pathway enrichment analysis for candidate genes was performed.Results. In this work, a total of 330 DEGs were identified between CC and normal controls. From the pathogenic network, 2 intensely connected clusters were extracted, and a total of 52 candidate genes were detected under the weight values greater than 0.10. Among these candidate genes,VIMhad the highest weight value. Moreover, candidate genesMMP1,CDC45, andCATwere, respectively, enriched in pathway in cancer, cell cycle, and methane metabolism.Conclusion. Candidate pathogenic genes includingMMP1,CDC45,CAT, andVIMmight be involved in the pathogenesis of CC. We believe that our results can provide theoretical guidelines for future clinical application.

In the present work, the density, ρ, refractive index, nD, and dynamic viscosity, η, for four binary solutions containing ionic liquids [Cnmim]X (Cnmim = 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium; n = 6, 8; X = Cl, Br) and ethylene glycol (EG) were investigated at temperatures of 288.15–333.15 K and at ambient pressure. In addition, the excess molar volume, VmE, was calculated and correlated using the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. The temperature effect on the density of the binary systems studied was expressed by a linear two-parameter equation. The variation in density, refractive index, and viscosity with the composition was described by polynomial equations. The influence of carbon chain-length and the anion of the ionic liquids, and the influence of the temperature on the physicochemical properties of the binary systems can be explained by comparison of the experimental results.

The specific aims of this study were to evaluate the inhibition effect on CYP3A of di-n-butyl-di-(4-chlorobenzohydroxamato)tin (IV) (DBDCT), a tin-based complex with high antitumor activity, and the probable mechanism(s) of this action. Adult male SD rats were treated separately with natural saline (NS), lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg), DBDCT (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 2 days after induction of CYP3A with dexamethasone (DEX, 100 mg/kg) for 4 days. Western blot analysis and fluorescent quantitation PCR (FQ-PCR) were conducted to determine the changes in expression of CYP3A, PXR, CAR and RXR. The biological accumulation of DBDCT and total Sn were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). CYP450 content and CYP3A activities were significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) in DBDCT-treated rats compared with the control group, as was the expression of CYP3A (p < 0.05) at both protein and mRNA levels. In DBDCT-treated groups, the expression of PXR protein and mRNA increased, while the expression of CAR decreased. The biological accumulation of DBDCT and Sn in rat livers treated with DBDCT was high. The accumulation of DBDCT and Sn due to the inhibition of CYP3A may be involved in the mechanism of toxicity of DBDCT in rat liver.

A lumped parameter model is proposed for analysis of dynamic behavior of a Passive Hydraulic Engine Mount (PHEM) with incorporation of throttle, which is characterized by effective and efficient vibration isolation behavior in the range of both low and high frequencies. The experiments are made for the purpose of PHEM validation. The aim of simulation is to discuss the effect of throttle that the key parts of new mount. It has been shown by comparison of the numerical results with the experimental observations that the present PHEM with throttle achieves good performance for vibration isolation.

A superoxide dismutase enzyme was extracted from the leaves of Agave Hybrid No.11648 using homogenisation, ammonium sulphate fractional precipitation, diethylaminoethyl cellulose ion exchange and Sephadex gel filtration chromatography. A superoxide dismutase parallelogram-shaped crystal was formed after packing at 4 °C for two days. The optimum pH was 8, and the optimum temperature was 40 °C. The crystal was relatively stable at temperatures below 60 °C and at pH values from 5 to 10. The subunit size was determined to be approximately 27.5 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was also demonstrated that the enzyme is an iron-containing superoxide dismutase based on its sensitivity to inhibitors of potassium cyanide, hydrogen peroxide and chloroform-ethanol and based on the results of ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy.

To prevent the contaminated water from flowing back into the potable water supply, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was employed to measure the variation of flow field and study the relation between the minimum air gap h and the water outlet diameter d concretely. The theoretical analysis and the experimental results show that the h/d is not vary linearly as required in ‘Code for Design of Building Water Supply and Sewerage’ but exponentially.