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Objective Angelica (A.) sinensis is used as a traditional medical herb for the treatment of neurodegeneration, aging, and inflammation in Asia. A. sinensis optimal formula (AOF) is the best combination in A. sinensis that has been screened to rescue the cognitive ability in β-amyloid peptide (Aβ25–35)-treated Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rats. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of AOF on the learning and memory of AD rats as well as to explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Male Wistar rats were infused with Aβ25–35 for AD model induction or saline (negative control). Five groups of AD rats were fed on AOF at 20, 40, or 80 mL/kg every day, donepezil at 0.9 mg/kg every day (positive control), or an equal volume of water (AD model) intragastrically once a day for 4 weeks, while the negative control rats were fed on water. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the rats. The Aβ accumulation, cholinergic levels, and antioxidative ability were detected by ELISA. Additionally, the candidate mechanism was determined by gene sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results The results showed that AOF administration significantly ameliorated Aβ25–35-induced memory impairment. AOF decreased the levels of amyloid-β precursor protein and Aβ in the hippocampus, rescued the cholinergic levels, increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, and decreased the malondialdehyde level. In addition, AOF inhibited the expression of IL1b, Mpo, and Prkcg in the hippocampus. Conclusion These experimental findings illustrate that AOF prevents the decrease in cognitive function and Aβ deposits in Aβ25–35-treated rats via modulating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, thus highlighting a potential therapeutic avenue to promote the co-administration of formulas that act on different nodes to maximize beneficial effects and minimize negative side effects.

Pine wilt disease has caused huge losses in ecological and economic values in China, especially in the southern parts. Analyzing the spatial distribution of pine wilt disease and quantifying the impact of environmental factors on its occurrence were of great significance for its prevention and control. In this study, we examined the spatial pattern of pine wilt disease occurrence and its response to environmental variables in Nankang District, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, using kernel-smoothing density, Ripley's松材线虫病在中国大陆造成了巨大的生态与经济价值损失,南方地区尤为严重,分析松材线虫病空间分布、量化环境因素对其发生的影响对于松材线虫病的防控整治具有重要意义。本研究以江西省赣州市南康区松材线虫病为研究对象,采用核平滑密度、Ripley’s

Objective Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is involved in various abnormalities in oxidative stress markers and cytokines closely related to synaptic plasticity. However, the interactive effects among key cytokines, oxidative stress, and executive dysfunction and symptoms of schizophrenia have not been investigated yet. Methods A total of 189 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 60 controls were recruited in the current study. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and IL-2 levels; catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities; and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined in patients and controls. Executive function was evaluated by the Wisconsin card sorting tests, the verbal fluency tests, and the Stroop word-color test. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results Relative to the controls, the patients had lower activities of SOD and glutathione peroxidase and levels of TNF-alpha, but higher levels of MDA, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-2 (all p values < .05). A significant negative relationship between SOD activity and IL-8 levels was found only in patients (beta = -0.44, p = .008). Furthermore, we found that an interactive effect of low TNF-alpha level and high MDA level was associated with negative symptoms (beta = -0.02, p = .01). Moreover, the interactive effects of IL-8 and MDA or IL-8 and SOD were correlated with executive function only in patients (beta = 0.23, p = .02; beta = 0.09, p = .03). Conclusions Our findings suggest that the interrelationships between oxidative stress markers and cytokines occur in schizophrenia patients, which may be the basis of their pathological mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction.

Summary Background A vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed for older adults, in whom morbidity and mortality due to the disease are increased. We aimed to assess the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a candidate COVID-19 vaccine, CoronaVac, containing inactivated SARS-CoV-2, in adults aged 60 years and older. Methods We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 clinical trial of CoronaVac in healthy adults aged 60 years and older in Renqiu (Hebei, China). Vaccine or placebo was given by intramuscular injection in two doses (days 0 and 28). Phase 1 comprised a dose-escalation study, in which participants were allocated to two blocks: block 1 (3 μg inactivated virus in 0·5 mL of aluminium hydroxide solution per injection) and block 2 (6 μg per injection). Within each block, participants were randomly assigned (2:1) using block randomisation to receive CoronaVac or placebo (aluminium hydroxide solution only). In phase 2, participants were randomly assigned (2:2:2:1) using block randomisation to receive either CoronaVac at 1·5 μg, 3 μg, or 6 μg per dose, or placebo. All participants, investigators, and laboratory staff were masked to treatment allocation. The primary safety endpoint was adverse reactions within 28 days after each injection in all participants who received at least one dose. The primary immunogenicity endpoint was seroconversion rate at 28 days after the second injection (which was assessed in all participants who had received the two doses of vaccine according to their random assignment, had antibody results available, and did not violate the trial protocol). Seroconversion was defined as a change from seronegative at baseline to seropositive for neutralising antibodies to live SARS-CoV-2 (positive cutoff titre 1/8), or a four-fold titre increase if the participant was seropositive at baseline. This study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04383574). Findings Between May 22 and June 1, 2020, 72 participants (24 in each intervention group and 24 in the placebo group; mean age 65·8 years [SD 4·8]) were enrolled in phase 1, and between June 12 and June 15, 2020, 350 participants were enrolled in phase 2 (100 in each intervention group and 50 in the placebo group; mean age 66·6 years [SD 4·7] in 349 participants). In the safety populations from both phases, any adverse reaction within 28 days after injection occurred in 20 (20%) of 100 participants in the 1·5 μg group, 25 (20%) of 125 in the 3 μg group, 27 (22%) of 123 in the 6 μg group, and 15 (21%) of 73 in the placebo group. All adverse reactions were mild or moderate in severity and injection site pain (39 [9%] of 421 participants) was the most frequently reported event. As of Aug 28, 2020, eight serious adverse events, considered unrelated to vaccination, have been reported by seven (2%) participants. In phase 1, seroconversion after the second dose was observed in 24 of 24 participants (100·0% [95% CI 85·8–100·0]) in the 3 μg group and 22 of 23 (95·7% [78·1–99·9]) in the 6 μg group. In phase 2, seroconversion was seen in 88 of 97 participants in the 1·5 μg group (90·7% [83·1–95·7]), 96 of 98 in the 3 μg group (98·0% [92·8–99·8]), and 97 of 98 (99·0% [94·5–100·0]) in the 6 μg group. There were no detectable antibody responses in the placebo groups. Interpretation CoronaVac is safe and well tolerated in older adults. Neutralising antibody titres induced by the 3 μg dose were similar to those of the 6 μg dose, and higher than those of the 1·5 μg dose, supporting the use of the 3 μg dose CoronaVac in phase 3 trials to assess protection against COVID-19. Funding Chinese National Key Research and Development Program and Beijing Science and Technology Program.

The distribution pattern of forest fuel loading is driven by the interaction of environmental factors, such as terrain and vegetation. Based on field sampling data of surface dead fuels of seven main forest types in southern Jiangxi Province, and according to the classification standard of different time-lags, we constructed structural equation models to explore the relationship between surface fuel loadings and environmental factors such as terrain and vegetation森林可燃物载量分布格局是植被与地形等环境因子之间相互作用的结果。本研究通过野外实测赣南地区主要7种森林类型地表死可燃物载量数据,依据时滞可燃物分类标准,构建了地表可燃物载量与地形、植被等环境因子间的结构方程模型,并分析了各因子的影响路径及其直接、间接和总效应。结果表明: 7种不同森林类型中,1、10和100 h时滞可燃物载量均是针阔混交林内最高,毛竹林内最低。对1 h时滞载量影响最大的变量依次为:坡度(影响系数为0.40)＞树冠高度(0.07)＞树种(-0.03)＞郁闭度(0.01);对10 h时滞载量影响最大的变量依次为:胸径(0.15)＞树种(-0.09)＞坡向(-0.08)＞郁闭度(-0.06);对100 h时滞载量影响最大的变量依次为:坡向(0.25)＞胸径(0.19)＞郁闭度(-0.08)＞树种(0.02);对可燃物总载量影响最大的变量依次为:坡度(0.22)＞树种(-0.04)、郁闭度(-0.04)＞树冠高度(-0.01)。.

Sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and aggressive disease, and its diagnosis is challenging. A 60-year-old man presented with a recurrent subcutaneous mass in his right back after the initial resection. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan found right pleural thickening, nodular pleural thickening, pleural effusion, mediastinal, and right infraclavicular lymph nodes enlargement, which indicated a right pleura MM. Immunohistochemical stains of the resected mass showed sarcomatous atypical spindle cells, which were positive for pan-CKs (clone Anti-cytokeratin cocktail AE1/AE3), cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), Wilm’s tumor 1, podoplanin, vimentin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and negative for Napsin A, thyroid transcription factor 1, CDX 2, calretinin and desmin, and fluorescent in situ hybridization detected homozygous p16/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A ( p16/CDKN2A) deletion. The association of the chest CT features and the pathological assessment confirmed metastatic MM in the subcutaneous layer of the back. Moreover, positron emission tomography–CT showed multiple metastases in his brain. He developed massive right pleural effusion and chest tightness soon, and the mass kept growing despite local and systemic treatments. The patient die of pulmonary failure in 3 months.

The microstructure evolution and the pitting corrosion resistance of a supermartensitic stainless steel after deep cryogenic treatment process were clarified through X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical methods. The results showed that the microstructure of supermartensitic stainless steel mainly consisted of reversed austenite, tempered martensite, and M23C6 carbides after tempering. The deep cryogenic treatment promoted the refinement of the martensite laths and the precipitation of the carbides in comparison with the traditional process. TEM analysis indicated that the segregation of Si atoms at the boundary was found at the interface between carbide and martensite. The pitting corrosion potential of the specimens subjected to deep cryogenic treatment decreased with the elevated tempering temperature, and the lowest pitting corrosion potential was found at the tempering temperature of 650 °C. The sensitivity of the pitting corrosion potential was attributed to the precipitation of M23C6 carbides and Si atoms segregation. Si atoms segregation engendered the formation of Cr-depleted zone near M23C6 and impeded the recovery of Cr-depleted zone.

Ribosome assembly factor URB1 is essential for ribosome biogenesis. However, its latent role in cancer remains unclear. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database and clinical tissue microarray staining showed that URB1 expression was upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) and prominently related to clinicopathological characteristics. Silencing of URB1 hampered human CRC cell proliferation and growth in vitro and in vivo. Microarray screening, ingenuity pathway analysis, and JASPAR assessment indicated that activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and X‐box binding protein 1 (XBP1) are potential downstream targets of URB1 and could transcriptionally interact through direct binding. Silencing of URB1 significantly decreased ATF4 and cyclin A2 (CCNA2) expression in vivo and in vitro. Restoration of ATF4 effectively reversed the malignant proliferation phenotype of URB1‐silenced CRC cells. Dual‐luciferase reporter and ChIP assays indicated that XBP1 transcriptionally activated ATF4 by binding with its promoter region. X‐box binding protein 1 colocalized with ATF4 in the nuclei of RKO cells, and ATF4 mRNA expression was positively regulated by XBP1. This study shows that URB1 contributes to oncogenesis and CRC growth through XBP1‐mediated transcriptional activation of ATF4. Therefore, URB1 could be a potential therapeutic target for CRC., The classic ribosome assembly factor URB1 is overexpressed and related to unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics in colorectal cancer (CRC). URB1 silencing significantly hampered human CRC cell proliferation and decreased ATF4, CCNA2, and XBP1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Briefly, our study shows that URB1 contributes to oncogenesis and growth of CRC through XBP1‐medaited transcriptional activation of ATF4 and URB1 could be a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

To estimate traffic status on urban road accurately and determine the appropriate traffic-status evaluation interval, this research introduces a method based on the theory of set-pair analysis, and takes the number of vehicles passing the segment continuously as time interval of evaluation. First, to improve the operating efficiency of the model, based on the summary and analysis of the current research status, time interval of evaluation could be obtained according to the number of vehide passing and the instantaneous speed is taken as a single index. Second, according to the principle of set-pair analysis, set pair H (A, B)is formed by sets A (measured data) and B (standard of indices). A traffic-status evaluation model with a five-element coefficient is established from the perspectives of identity, difference, and reverse. Finally, to verify the validity of the model, we take the measured data of the eastern segments of the South Second Ring Road in Xi'an City as an example and use the fuzzy-evaluation and set-pair analysis methods to distinguish the traffic-status grade of this segment of roads. Results prove the superiority of our method. The evaluation results of the two methods are basically the same, but the traffic-condition evaluation method based on set-pair analysis theory is more sensitive to the change in speed. When evaluating road-traffic conditions, a smaller time interval means higher sensitivity of traffic conditions to changes in speed. When the evaluation time interval is less than 1 min, the result of traffic-status evaluation is no longer affected by the time interval.

Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is evolutionally conserved and frequently activated in various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). It has been reported that the ribosome assembly factor Urb1 acts downstream of mTORC1/raptor signaling and contributes to digestive organ development in zebrafish. Previously, we highlighted that URB1 was overexpressed in CRC. Here, we assessed the mTORC1/regulatory associated protein with mTOR (RAPTOR)‐URB1 axis in CRC tumorigenesis. We found that RAPTOR was overexpressed in CRC tissues and cell lines, was a favorable predictor in patients with CRC, and positively correlated with URB1. Silencing of RAPTOR suppressed CRC cell proliferation and migration and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and inhibited xenograft growth in vivo. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of RAPTOR exerted an inverse biological phenotype. Knockdown of RAPTOR quenched mTORC1 activity and reduced the expression of URB1 and cyclinA2 (CCNA2). In contrast, overexpression of RAPTOR activated mTORC1 and upregulated URB1 and CCNA2. Furthermore, URB1 and CCNA2 expression were also impeded by rapamycin, which is a specific inhibitor of mTORC1. Thus, RAPTOR promoted CRC proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression by inducing mTORC1 signaling and transcriptional activation of both URB1 and CCNA2. Taken together, we concluded that RAPTOR has the potential to serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for CRC., Regulatory associated protein with mammalian target of rapamycin (RAPTOR) contributes to colorectal cancer proliferation and cell cycle progression through positively regulating URB1 and cyclinA2 via activating mTOR complex 1 signaling. We conclude that RAPTOR has the potential to serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

ImportanceWhether herd immunity through mass vaccination is sufficient to curb SARS-CoV-2 transmission requires an understanding of the duration of vaccine-induced immunity, and the necessity and timing of booster doses. Objective: To evaluate immune persistence of two priming doses of CoronaVac, and immunogenicity and safety of a third dose in healthy adults ≥60 years. Design, setting, and participants: We conducted a vaccine booster study built on a single-center, randomized, double-blind phase 1/2 trial of the two-dose schedule of CoronaVac among healthy adults≥60 years in Hebei, China. We examined neutralizing antibody titres six months or more after the second dose in all participants. We provided a third dose to 303 participants recruited in phase 2 trial to assess their immune responses.InterventionsTwo formulations (3 μg, and 6 μg) were used in phase 1 trial, and an additional formulation of 1.5 μg was used in phase 2 trial. All participants were given two doses 28 days apart and followed up 6 months after the second dose. Participants in phase 2 received a third dose 8 months after the second dose.Main outcomes and measuresGeometric mean titres (GMT) of neutralizing antibodies to live SARS-CoV-2 and adverse events were assessed at multiple time points following vaccination.ResultsNeutralizing antibody titres dropped below the seropositive cutoff of 8 at 6 months after the primary vaccination in all vaccine groups in the phase 1/2 trial. A third dose given 8 months or more after the second dose significantly increased neutralizing antibody levels. In the 3 μg group (the licensed formulation), GMT increased to 305 [95%CI 215.3-432.0] on day 7 following the third dose, an approximately 7-fold increase compared with the GMT 28 days after the second dose. All solicited adverse reactions reported within 28 days after a booster dose were of grade 1 or 2 severity.Conclusion and relevanceNeutralizing antibody titres declined substantially six months after two doses of CoronaVac among older adults. A booster dose rapidly induces robust immune responses. This evidence could help policymakers determine the necessity and the timing of a booster dose for older adults.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov(NCT04383574).

Objective Cognitive improvement after antipsychotic agents in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) appears to involve redox regulation through neurotrophins such as brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). This study examined whether cognitive improvement was associated with the increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and whether higher levels of BDNF could have a permissive role in allowing SOD to improve cognition. Methods We examined this hypothesis in 183 drug-naïve first-episode SCZ patients taking risperidone monotherapy for 12 weeks. We measured total copper-zinc SOD (CuZn-SOD), manganese SOD (Mn-SOD), and SOD activities and BDNF levels in these patients and compared their levels with 152 healthy controls. We assessed cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms at baseline and 12-week follow-up. Results After treatment with risperidone, CuZn-SOD activity was significantly increased, and BDNF levels were slightly increased. Increased CuZn-SOD activity was associated with the cognitive effectiveness of risperidone monotherapy. The BDNF levels and SOD activities were correlated at baseline but not after 12-week treatment. Furthermore, baseline CuZn-SOD activity positively correlated with improvement on the delayed memory subscale of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status only in the high BDNF subgroup. Conclusions Our longitudinal study suggests that risperidone can enhance SOD activity and that, in combination with higher baseline BDNF levels acting in a permissive role, can improve cognitive impairments in SCZ. Greater baseline CuZn-SOD activity also may have predictive value for cognitive improvement of delayed memory in SCZ patients receiving risperidone treatment.

Sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and aggressive disease, and its diagnosis is challenging. A 60-year-old man presented with a recurrent subcutaneous mass in his right back after the initial resection. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan found right pleural thickening, nodular pleural thickening, pleural effusion, mediastinal, and right infraclavicular lymph nodes enlargement, which indicated a right pleura MM. Immunohistochemical stains of the resected mass showed sarcomatous atypical spindle cells, which were positive for pan-CKs (clone Anti-cytokeratin cocktail AE1/AE3), cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), Wilm's tumor 1, podoplanin, vimentin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and negative for Napsin A, thyroid transcription factor 1, CDX 2, calretinin and desmin, and fluorescent in situ hybridization detected homozygous p16/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (

Background: Sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and aggressive disease, and its diagnosis is challenging.Case presentation: A 60-year-old man was found a recurrent mass in his right back after the initial resection. A chest CT found right pleural thickening, nodular pleural thickening, pleural effusion, mediastinal and right infraclavicular lymph nodes enlargement, which indicated a right pleura MM. Immunohistochemical (IHC) stains of the resected mass showed sarcomatous atypical spindle cells, which were positive for CK 1/3, CK 5/6, WT1, podoplanin and vimentin, and negative for Napsin A, TTF-1 and CDX2, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) detected homozygous p16/CDKN2A deletion. The association of the chest CT features and the mass assessment confirmed metastatic MM in the subcutaneous layer of the back. Moreover, PET-CT showed multiple metastases in his brain. He developed massive right pleural effusion and chest tightness soon, and the mass kept growing despite of the local and systemic treatments, and he died from pulmonary failure in 3 months.Conclusion: We described an extremely rare subcutaneous metastasis in the back from sarcomatoid MM. And we made the diagnosis by both histological and molecular analysis of the metastatic lesion. MM patients most likely have subcutaneous metastasis on head, they usually develop pleural effusion, chest pain or dyspnea, and their prognosis is very poor because of late diagnosis and insensitivity to current therapies.

Abnormal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are involved in cognitive decline in patients with schizophrenia. The role of atypical antipsychotic risperidone in improving cognitive function remains unclear. The study aimed to investigate the effect of risperidone monotherapy on cognitive impairment in drug-naive first-episode (DNFE) patients with schizophrenia and whether BDNF levels were correlated to the improvement of cognition. 354 DNFE patients and 152 healthy controls were recruited, and we compared their serum BDNF levels and cognition shown on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). High and low BDNF subgroups were defined by median split. Then, 211 patients were treated with risperidone monotherapy for 12 weeks, and their serum BDNF levels and cognition were measured again after treatment. DNFE patients had poorer cognitive functions and lower BDNF levels compared to controls. Lower BDNF levels were correlated with delayed memory in DNFE patients with high baseline BDNF levels. After 12 weeks of treatment, risperidone significantly improved immediate memory, delayed memory and RBANS total scores and BDNF levels were slightly increased. In patients with low-BDNF, BDNF levels were significantly increased after risperidone treatment, while in patients with high-BDNF, BDNF levels were significantly decreased. In addition, baseline BDNF levels were associated with improvement of delayed memory and were a prognostic factor for the improvement of the delayed memory and RBANS total score in patients with high-BDNF. Our result suggests risperidone treatment can partially improve certain domains of the cognitive impairment and baseline BDNF levels are related to cognitive response to risperidone in DNFE patients with schizophrenia.

A novel donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D’) type of BODIPY derivative BDP-1 was synthesized and its fluorescence properties were investigated. By delicate tuning various parameters, e. g. solvent, concentration, excitation wavelength, aggregates of BDP-1 display single component white light emission (WLE), and the CIE coordinate values could be optimized to (0.33, 0.32). Detailed photophysical analysis by use of time-resolved spectroscopy and model compounds demonstrated that aggregation and further balance between energy transfer (ET) and intramolecular charge transfer (CT) from different groups in BDP-1 resulted in coordinated three primary color emissions which led to single component WLE.

To explore a new evaluation method for spontaneous combustion tendency of different areas in sulfide ore heap, ore samples from a pyrite mine in China were taken as experimental materials, and the temperature variations of the measuring points of simulated ore heap were measured. Combined with wavelet transform and nonlinear parameters extraction, a new method for spontaneous combustion tendency of different areas in sulfide ore heap based on nonlinear parameters was proposed and its reliability was verified by field test. The results indicate that temperature field evolution of the simulated ore heap presents significant spatial difference during self-heating process. Area with the maximum increasing extent of temperature in sulfide ore heap changes notably with the proceeding of self-heating reaction. Self-heating of sulfide ore heap is a chaotic evolution process, which means that it is feasible to evaluate spontaneous combustion tendency of different areas by nonlinear analysis method. There is a relatively strong correlation between the maximum Lyapunov exponent and spontaneous combustion tendency with the correlation coefficient of 0.9792. Furthermore, the sort of the maximum Lyapunov exponent is consistent with that of spontaneous combustion tendency. Therefore, spontaneous combustion tendency of different areas in sulfide ore heap can be evaluated by means of the maximum Lyapunov exponent method.

The initiation and progression of various types of tumors, such as lung neoplasms, are driven by a population of cells with stem cell properties and their microenvironment. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in long-term in vitro culture may exhibit spontaneous changes in stem cell biological properties, including malignant transformations; however, the molecular mechanisms of this have not been fully elucidated. In the present study, a BM-MSC and lung cancer A549 cell co-culture system was utilized to investigate how the tumor microenvironment may spontaneously change the proliferation, migration and differentiation of BM-MSCs. It was demonstrated that the lung cancer A549 microenvironment is able to induce changes in the cell morphology, proliferation, karyotype, cytoskeleton and migration ability of BM-MSCs in vitro. Compared with the control group BM-MSCs, the expression of Ras, phosphorylated-extracellular regulated protein kinases, nuclear factor-κB, P62 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) proteins in groups of co-cultured BM-MSCs increased significantly (P

Fused magnesia smelting for fused magnesium furnace (FMF) is an energy intensive process with high temperature and comprehensive complexities. Its operational index namely energy consumption per ton (ECPT) is defined as the consumed electrical energy per ton of acceptable quality and is difficult to measure online. Moreover, the dynamics of ECPT cannot be precisely modelled mathematically. The model parameters of the three-phase currents of the electrodes such as the molten pool level, its variation rate and resistance are uncertain and nonlinear functions of the changes in both the smelting process and the raw materials composition. In this paper, an integrated optimal operational control algorithm is proposed and is composed of a current set-point control, a current switching control and a self-optimized tuning mechanism. The tight conjoining of and coordination between the computational resources including the integrated optimal operational control, embedded software, industrial cloud, wireless communication and the physical resources of FMF constitutes a cyber-physical system (CPS) based embedded optimal operational control system. Successful application of this system has been made for a production line with ten fused magnesium furnaces in a factory in China, leading to a significant reduced ECPT.

A tetrahedral DNA probe can effectively overcome the steric effects of a single-stranded probe to obtain well-controlled density and minimize nonspecific adsorption. Herein, a highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor is fabricated for determination of protein using a tetrahedral DNA probe and rolling circle amplification (RCA). N- and P-co-doped graphene (NP-rGO) is prepared, and AuNPs are then electrodeposited on it for DNA probe immobilization. Benefitting from the synergistic effects of the excellent electrical conductivity of NP-rGO, the stability of the tetrahedral DNA probe and the signal amplification of RCA, the biosensor achieves a low limit of 3.53 × 10−14 M for thrombin and a wide linear range from 1 × 10−13 to 1 × 10−7 M. This study provides a sensitive and effective method for the detection of protein in peripheral biofluids, and paves the way for future clinical diagnostics and treatment of disease.

Background: To assess the long-term protection conferred by plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine at 20–31y after primary immunization during infancy in Chinese rural community. Method: Participants born between 1986 and 1996, who received a full course of primary vaccination with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine and had no experience with booster vaccination were enrolled. An epidemiological investigation was performed, and blood samples were collected to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). The positive rate of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were calculated to evaluate the long-term protection of the plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine. Results: A total of 949 participants were enrolled in the final analysis. Six subjects were detected to be HBsAg-positive, resulting in a HBsAg carrier rate of 0.63% (6/949). A total of 468 (52.41%) participants maintained a level of anti-HBs antibody ≥10 mIU/mL, with a GMC of 112.20 mIU/mL (95%CI: 97.72 ~ 128.82 mIU/mL). A significant downtrend was observed in the anti-HBs positive rate (P < .001). The average anti-HBc positive rate was 5.90% (56/949), increased with prolongation of immunization (P < .001). Conclusions: The plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine maintained satisfactory protection at 20–31 y after primary immunization. These results indicate that a booster dose is not necessary. Further studies on the immune memory induced by the plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine are needed.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Astragalus-Lily Granules on intestinal mucosa and intestinal flora homeostasis in mice under high altitude hypoxia condition. Methods We put mice into high altitude hypoxia cabin to establish high altitude hypoxia model mice. Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, Astragalus-Lily particles (ALP) low, medium and high dose groups [1.75, 3.5, 7g/(kg•d)] respectively. After three days of routine feeding, the ALP mice received drug by intragastric administration, once a day for continuous 17 days，control group and model group were given double distilled water in same volume. From the 15th day, all the mice but control group were exposed to simulated high altitude hypoxia condition for 3 days in a high altitude hypoxia cabin after they were gavaged for half an hour daily. By the 18th day, the fresh mouse feces were collected and smeared to observe the changes of microflora. The pathological changes of intestinal tissues were observed by HE staining and the expression of HIF-1αprotein in intestines was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The enterococci and gram negative bacteria showed a higher proportion (65.2%±2.4% and 56.7%±3.3%, respectively) in the model group compared with the control group (24.7%±1.2%, 23.2%±1.5%, respectively, P

The integrable nonlocal Lakshmanan—Porsezian—Daniel (LPD) equation which has the higher-order terms (dispersions and nonlinear effects) is first introduced. We demonstrate the integrability of the nonlocal LPD equation, provide its Lax pair, and present its rational soliton solutions and self-potential function by using the degenerate Darboux transformation. From the numerical plots of solutions, the compression effects of the real refractive index profile and the gain-or-loss distribution produced by δ are discussed.

A novel, metal-free, and regioselective approach for the synthesis of isoxazoline/cyclic nitrone-featured methylenes has been developed by the reaction of readily accessible β,γ- and γ,δ-unsaturated ketoximes with TEMPO via tandem iminoxyl radical-promoted cyclization/TEMPO-mediated Cope-like elimination, respectively. This protocol utilizes commercially available TEMPO as the iminoxyl radical initiator as well as the β-hydrogen acceptor in the Cope-like elimination.

Fire is one of the major factors that alter structure and function of forest in the Great Xing'an Mountains, with consequences on soil carbon cycling in forests. In this study, we collected soil samples (layers O, A, AB, BC, and C) under different fire-severity levels (low, moderate, and high) and post-fire recovery times (1987-2012) in the forests of Great Xing'an Mountains. Analysis of variance and multiple comparison were used to analyze effects of fire severity and reco-very time on content of soil organic carbon. The results showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) content in layer O presented a rising trend under both moderate- and high-severity fire disturbances. The content of SOC in layers A and B decreased year by year under low- and moderate-severity fires, which ranked in the order: 3 years5 years10 yearsover 10 years since fire. The content of SOC under high-severity fire presented an increasing trend within 10 years since fire distur-bance and then decreased rapidly over 10 years. The content of SOC in layer BC presented no obvious changes.在大兴安岭针叶林生态系统中,林火是驱动森林结构与功能变化的主要因子之一,对土壤碳循环过程产生了深刻影响.本研究在大兴安岭林区选择不同火烧强度(轻度、中度、重度)和火烧年份(1987—2012年)的火烧迹地开展野外调查,分土壤发生层(O层、A层、AB层、BC层、C层)采集样品,采用双因素方差分析和多重比较法,分析了火烧强度和火后恢复时间对森林土壤有机碳含量的影响.结果表明: 中度和重度火烧后,土壤O层有机碳含量呈逐年上升趋势;A、B层土壤有机碳含量在轻、中度火烧后呈逐年下降趋势,其随时间的变化情况为火后3年火后5年火后10年火后10年以上,在重度火烧后的10年之内呈逐年上升趋势,但在火后10年以上又迅速下降;BC层有机碳含量变化无明显规律.

This article describe a low temperature oxidation experiment and nine different sulfide ore samples to investigate a new evaluation method of oxidation activity of sulfide ores. The measured weight gain rate was studied by integrating wavelet de-noising and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. The results show that mass variation trend of ore samples during the low temperature oxidation process consists of three stages: rapidly increasing, slowly increasing and unchanged. Content of water-soluble iron ion and sulfate ion of ore samples increase after oxidation. The surface of ore samples is relatively smooth and the particles are uniform before oxidation. After oxidation, ore samples surface is loose and porous, and there is obvious agglomeration of ore samples on the surface. The order ore samples oxidation activity is: Samples #2, #8, #5, #4, #9, #7, #1, #6 and #3.

Climate change will increase the frequency of fire disturbances, which may further exa-cerbate carbon loss from boreal forests in the Great Xing'an Mountains, China. In this study, we coupled forest ecosystem and forest landscape models to simulate the dynamics of boreal forest carbon storage in the next 100 years. We quantified the effects of climate change, fire and harvest on carbon storage of boreal forests. The results showed that climate change would increase carbon storage of boreal forests in the Great Xing'an Mountains, even if fire and harvest could partially offset such changes. Aboveground and soil organic carbon storage would increase by 9%-22% and 6%-9% in the next 100 years. In the short-term (0-20 years), the effects of climate change on carbon storage was stronger than fire. The effects of climate change on boreal forest carbon storage were less than fire and harvest in medium (30-50 years) and long-term (60-100 years). The variability of climate change and fire disturbance in the Great Xing'an Mountains caused high uncertainty of the future boreal forest carbon storage. The uncertainties of aboveground and soil organic carbon of boreal forests in the Great Xing'an Mountains were 12.4%-16.2% and 6.6%-10.4% in the next 100 years. The effects of seed dispersal, fire and harvest should be taken account for accurate estimation of carbon storage in Chinese boreal forests.大兴安岭林区林火发生的频率受气候变化的影响将会增加,可能会增加该地区森林生态系统碳损失.本研究通过耦合森林生态系统模型和森林景观模型以模拟未来百年大兴安岭森林碳储量动态变化,量化气候变化、林火和采伐对森林碳储量的影响.结果表明: 虽然采伐和林火会抵消相当一部分由气候变化增加的碳储量,但气候变化仍然能够增加大兴安岭森林碳储量.未来100年该地区森林地上和土壤有机碳储量将会分别增加9%～22%和6%～9%.短期(0～20年)气候变化对大兴安岭森林碳储量的影响大于同期林火的影响,中期(30～50年)和长期(60～100年)气候变化对森林碳储量的影响小于林火和采伐的影响.由于未来大兴安岭地区气候变化及其林火干扰存在不确定性,导致未来该地区森林碳储量存在较大的不确定性.未来100年大兴安岭森林地上碳储量和土壤有机碳储量不确定性分别为12.4%～16.2%和6.6%～10.4%.为准确估算我国北方森林生态系统碳储量,需要考虑种子传播、林火和采伐的影响.

The Great Xing'an Mountains are an important boreal forest region in China with high frequency of fire occurrences. With climate change, this region may have a substantial change in fire frequency. Building the relationship between spatial pattern of human-caused fire occurrence and its influencing factors, and predicting the spatial patterns of human-caused fires under climate change scenarios are important for fire management and carbon balance in boreal forests. We employed a spatial point pattern model to explore the relationship between the spatial pattern of human-caused fire occurrence and its influencing factors based on a database of historical fire records (1967-2006) in the Great Xing'an Mountains. The fire occurrence time was used as dependent variable. Nine abiotic (annual temperature and precipitation, elevation, aspect, and slope), biotic (vegetation type), and human factors (distance to the nearest road, road density, and distance to the nearest settlement) were selected as explanatory variables. We substituted the climate scenario data (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5) for the current climate data to predict the future spatial patterns of human-caused fire occurrence in 2050. Our results showed that the point pattern progress (PPP) model was an effective tool to predict the future relationship between fire occurrence and its spatial covariates. The climatic variables might significantly affect human-caused fire occurrence, while vegetation type, elevation and human variables were important predictors of human-caused fire occurrence. The human-caused fire occurrence probability was expected to increase in the south of the area, and the north and the area along the main roads would also become areas with high human-caused fire occurrence. The human-caused fire occurrence would increase by 72.2% under the RCP 2.6 scenario and by 166.7% under the RCP 8.5 scenario in 2050. Under climate change scenarios, the spatial patterns of human-caused fires were mainly influenced by the climate and human factors.我国重要的北方针叶林地区大兴安岭是林火高发地区.受气候变暖影响,该地区林火发生频率将会发生显著变化.模拟人为火的发生分布与影响因素之间的关系、加强气候变化下人为火的发生分布预测,对于林火管理和减少森林碳损失具有重要作用.本文采用点格局分析方法,基于大兴安岭1967—2006年的火烧数据,建立人为火空间分布与影响因素之间的关系模型,该模型以林火发生次数为因变量,选取非生物因子(年均温和降水量、坡度、坡向和海拔)、生物因子(植被类型)和人为活动因子(距离道路距离、距离居民点距离、道路密度)共9个因子为自变量.并采用RCP 2.6和RCP 8.5气候情景数据代替当前气候情景预测2050年大兴安岭人为火的空间分布状况.结果表明: 点格局模型能够较好地模拟人为火发生分布与空间变量的关系,可以预测未来气候下人为火的发生概率.其中,气候因子对人为火的发生具有明显的控制作用,植被类型、海拔和人为活动等因子对人为火的发生也具有重要影响.林火发生预测结果表明,未来气候变化下,南部地区的林火发生概率将进一步增加,北部和沿主要道路干线附近将成为新的人为火高发区.与当前相比,2050年大兴安岭人为火的发生概率将增加72.2%～166.7%.在未来气候情景下,人为火的发生更多受气候和人为活动因素的控制.

The multi-component reactive transport model is widely used in contaminant transport, water–rock interaction, and other earth science fields. Since its complexity lies in its solution, a decoupling approach is used to simplify the model to enhance computational efficiency. A decoupling approach is presented for heterogeneous media, and used to solve the model in this situation. The whole domain is divided into several sub-domains due to the different reactions which may occur and the corresponding component matrix was obtained. The boundary between sub-domains could be divided into two parts, inflow and outflow, which are defined as the Neumann condition and the Dirichlet one, and the concentration of the latter could be calculated by the component in the adjacent sub-domain. Then the models in each sub-domain can be connected and solved. Taking a heterogeneous porous media as an example in which permanganate is partially dissolved during the process, firstly the result obtained by this method without considering porosity variation is compared to that from PHAST: good agreement is achieved, then while considering the change of porosity caused by the dissolution of the permanganate, the flow field, species concentration and porosity of the whole domain and typical sections and points during the reaction are analysed. It is concluded that: the decoupling approach to heterogeneous media is appropriate, and the results from the model could reflect the variation of physical fields due to groundwater in heterogeneous media.

Water shutoff through injection wells is one of the most important techniques used for water injection profile control and modification in severely heterogeneous reservoirs, aiming at stabilizing oil production. It has been widely reported that the effectiveness and efficiency of water shutoff using gel is mostly dependent on the gel dynamic sealing properties in the porous media. Firstly the gelation strength and gelation time of polymer gel were evaluated. Then, core flowing experiments were conducted before and after gelation in a 32 m long sand pack. In addition, water flooding core experiments were also carried out in a long core of 80 cm before and after injecting gel system to check the reliability of this evaluation method. The experimental results show that moderate-strength gel can be formed at 65 °C. According to the integrated evaluation of the plugging coefficient, plugging strength and water breakthrough time, the gel particles are capable of migrating to a distance of 7.47 m from the injection point of the 32 m long sand pack during the water injection process after gelation. Based on sands gelation status and effluent analyses, the effective migration distance of the gel particles is 4–14 m. Through the core flooding experiments using the 80 cm heterogeneous core, it is evidenced that the gel can be formed in the deep reservoir (40.63% of total length) with the plugging strength as high as 6.33 MPa/m, which leads to extra oil recovery of 10.55% of original oil in place (OOIP) by water flooding after gel treatment.

Based on the measured data of the tunnel lighting, this paper is focusing on the arrangement of measured points in the experiment of tunnel lighting. Through the way of changing the location of measured area and the arrangement of measured points, comparing the simulation from the software DIALUX and the actual measurement in a repetitive region, the best position of measured area and the corresponding layout mode can be found. Analysis shows that, the larger the lamp distance is, the more similar the experiment and simulation results are. Before the experiment, the analysis of the light distribution curve is required, then, the simulation of software can help to find out the best position of lamp interval, measured area and layout mode, in order to ensure the authenticity of the results and to avoid too large or too small lighting evaluation, layout mode must include the maximum measured points and the minimum measured point.

Background: To investigate tumor inhibition effects and mechanisms of Angelica sinensis and Sophorae flavescentis ait decoction (ASSF) combined with diamine-dichloroplatinum (DDP). Materials and Methods: Bodyweight, tumor inhibition rate and q value were calculated for single ASSF or ASSF combined with DDP on H22 carcinoma xenograft KM mice. Biochemical methods for serum LDH, AST, ALT, and AKP, ELISA method for serum HIF-1α, pathological assessemnt of thymus, immunohistochemistry detection of tumor tissue caspase3 and mutant p53 protein, and qRT-PCR detection of bax/ bcl-2 mRNA were applied. Results: Compared with DDP control group, the bodyweight increased in ASSF-DDP group (p

Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200~240 g were randomly divided into sham-operated group (sham group), vehicle-treated SNL group (model group), and Tan IIA-treated SNL group (Tan IIA group). Tan IIA was administered intraperitoneally to rats in the Tan IIA-treated group at a dose of 30 mg/kg daily for 14 days after SNL surgery. Paw withdrawal mechanical thresholds (PWTs) and paw withdrawal thermal latencies (PWLs) were measured. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and protein expression in the spinal cord were measured. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the spinal cord were measured, too. Both the mechanical and heat pain thresholds were significantly decreased. After Tan IIA treatment, HMGB1, and TLR4 mRNA and protein levels, the expression of TNF-αand IF-1βwas reduced significantly. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA reversed SNL-induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia and downregulated HMGB1 and TLR4 levels and inhibited the HMGB1-TLR4 pathway. Tanshinone IIA inhibited TNF-αand IL-1βexpression but not IF-10 expression in the spinal cords of SNL rats. These results indicate that Tanshinone IIA inhibited SNL-induced neuropathic pain via multiple effects, and targeting the HMGB1-TLR4 pathway could serve as the basis of new antinociceptive agents.

Staphylococcus hyicus has caused great losses in the swine industry by inducing piglet exudative epidermitis (EE), sow mastitis, metritis, and other diseases and is a threat to human health. The pathogenesis of EE, sow mastitis, and metritis involves the interaction between the host and virulent protein factors of S. hyicus, however, the proteins that interact with the host, especially the host immune system, are unclear. In the present study, immunoproteomics was used to screen the immunogenic proteins of S. hyicus strain ZC-4. The cellular and secreted proteins of S. hyicus strain ZC-4 were obtained, separated by 2D gel electrophoresis, and further analyzed by western blot with S. hyicus strain ZC-4-infected swine serum. Finally, 28 specific immunogenic proteins including 15 cellular proteins and 13 secreted proteins, 26 of which were novel immunogenic proteins from S. hyicus, were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. To further verify their immunogenicity, two representative proteins (acetate kinase [cellular] and enolase [secreted]) were chosen for expression, and the resultant recombinant proteins could react with S. hyicus ZC-4-infected swine serum. In mice, both acetate kinase and enolase activated the immune response by increasing G-CSF and MCP-5 expression, and acetate kinase further activated the immune response by increasing IL-12 expression. Enolase can confer better protection against S.hycius than acetate kinase in mice. For the first time to our knowledge, our results provide detailed descriptions of the cellular and secreted proteins of S. hyicus strain ZC-4. These immunogenic proteins may contribute to investigation and elucidation of the pathogenesis of S. hyicus and provide new candidates for subunit vaccines in the future.

When there is partial failure or risk of failure in power grid, the redistribution of load in power grid means load transfer. Its necessary to choose the most optimal path from load transfer paths. In this paper, the concept of comprehensive coefficient is added to the load transfer system. The involving equipments parameters are calculated according to certain coefficient. Compare the comprehensive coefficients in these load transfer solutions to choose the optimal path. At the same time, the closed-loop factors are added to the constraint. It can avoid the system running long time with closed loop, and makes sure of which the system runs without power outage when the circuit repairs.

The vertical seepage velocity is an important parameter in the groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) exchange process. It is reported that the periodical fluctuated temperature record of the streambed can be used to determine the seepage velocity. Based on a 1-D flow and heat transport model with a sinusoidal temperature oscillation at the upstream boundary, a new analytical model is built. This analytical model can be used to determine the seepage velocity from the amplitude ratio of the deep and shallow test points. The process of calculation is discussed. The field data are superimposed by multi-periods, so the spectrum analysis and the data filtering are desirable. For the typical seepage medium, the analytical model is effective to compute the seepage velocity between -2 m/d and 6 m/d by using the record of the daily period fluctuation. The temperature time-series analytical model is used to determine the upwards seepage under the condition that the spacing of test points is small (less than 0.2 m). Lastly, a case study for the Russian River shows that this model is very convenient to determine the temporal changes of the GW-SW exchange.