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Dry-cured meat products are popular worldwide because of their distinct flavor. However, the high sodium chloride levels of these products have raised public health concerns. Accordingly, to meet the needs of consumers, it is necessary to develop low-salt dry-cured meat products with high quality and safety. In this review, we discuss the effects of salt on dry-cured meat products, current research on salt reduction, and the advantages and disadvantages of salt reduction strategies. In addition, we also summarize salt reduction methods for meat products using exogenous mediation strategies, discuss salt reduction mechanisms used for mediated curing, and present future research directions for mediated salting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the relationship between red blodd cell distribution width (RDW) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients who usually had obvious hemodynamic changes. We enrolled 362 coronary heart disease patients who received CABG. POCD was assessed through neuropsychological examination at 21 days after operation. Demographics, history of diseases, blood biochemical parameters and perioperative data were collected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to find the best cut-off value of RDW for diagnosis of POCD. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between RDW and POCD. The 21-day incidence of POCD in patients receiving CABG was 27.1% (98/362). The RDW of POCD patients was significantly higher than in the non-POCD patients (17.4 vs. 13.2). The sensitivity and specificity of RDW for predicting POCD were 82.7 and 64.8%, respectively. The POCD patients also tended to be older and had higher fasting plasma glucose, hypersensitive c-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-a, white blood cell levels and longer surgery time. No significant differences were found in other parameters. The 21-day neuropsychological test results were better in the POCD patients than the non-POCD patients. After adjustment of potential factors, the preoperative high RDW was still associated with an increased risk of POCD (odds ratio (OR) = 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28-4.31). Our study indicates that preoperative RDW is significantly elevated in POCD patients receiving CABG. The elevated preoperative RDW is associated with an increased risk of POCD and preoperative RDW can be an independent predictor of POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tissue sealants are used for hemorrhage control which is imperative in many surgical procedures. It is a highly challenging task to obtain the ideal tissue sealant. Only a few commercially tissue sealants are available to be used for internal tissue or organ hemorrhage control. This study introduced two in situ injectable hydrogels for hemorrhage control: self-crosslinking gelatin (sc-G) hydrogel and hyaluronic acid/gelatin (HA/G) hydrogel. They were prepared on the tissue surface in situ and characterized by rheological analysis, stability, cytotoxicity, and bursting strength test. The hemostatic ability of the hydrogels was evaluated in a liver-bleeding rat model. The sc-G and HA/G hydrogels gelled around 90 s and 50 s, respectively. They were preferable for cell attachment and proliferation. The bursting strengths of both hydrogels exceeded that of fibrin glue. The hemostatic ability of HA/G hydrogel was better than that of sc-G hydrogel, and was same as that of fibrin glue. The HA/G hydrogel could be used as a tissue sealant for hemorrhage control in clinic. Highlights • This study introduced an in situ injectable hyaluronic acid/gelatin hydrogel, which was prepared by chemically crosslinking hyaluronic acid and gelatin with EDC/NHS. • The hydrogel had the short gelatin time, good cytocompatibility, strong bursting strength and well hemostatic ability. • The hemostatic ability of HA/G hydrogel was same as that of fibrin glue. It suggested that the hydrogel could be a tissue sealant for hemorrhage control in clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tendon derived stem cells (TDSCs) were vital in tendon homeostasis. Nevertheless, the regulation of TDSCs differentiation in tendinopathy is unclear. Matrix stiffness modulated stem cells differentiation, and matrix stiffness of tendinopathic tissues decreased significantly. In order to clarify the role of matrix stiffness in TDSCs differentiation, they were cultured on the gelatin hydrogels with the stiffness from 2.34 ± 1.48 kPa to 24.09 ± 14.03 kPa. The effect of matrix stiffness on TDSCs proliferation and differentiation were investigated with CCK8 assay, immunofluorescences, real time PCR and western blot. It was found the proliferation of TDSCs increased and more stress fibers formed with increasing matrix stiffness. The differentiation of TDSCs into tenogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic lineages were inhibited on stiff hydrogel evidenced by reduced expression of tenocyte markers THBS4, TNMD, SCX, chondrocyte marker COL2, and osteocyte markers Runx2, Osterix, and ALP. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of FAK and ERK1/2 were enhanced when TDSCs grew on stiff hydrogel. After FAK or ERK1/2 was inhibited, the effect of matrix stiffness on differentiation of TDSCs was inhibited as well. The above results indicated matrix stiffness modulated the proliferation and differentiation of TDSCs, and the regulation effect could correlate to the activation of FAK or ERK1/2. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • TDSC proliferation was enhanced with the increasing matrix stiffness. • More F-actin stress fibers formed in TDSCs while matrix stiffness increased. • Higher matrix stiffness inhibited the differentiation of TDSCs. • FAK or ERK1/2 activation was involved in the regulatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tendinopathy is prevalent in athletic and many occupational populations; nevertheless, the pathogenesis of tendinopathy remains unclear. Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) were regarded as the key culprit for the development of tendinopathy. However, it is uncertain how TDSCs differentiate into adipocytes, chondrocytes, or osteocytes in the degenerative microenvironment of tendinopathy. So in this study, the regulating effects of the degenerative tendon microenvironment on differentiation of TDSCs were investigated. TDSCs were isolated from rat Achilles tendons and were grown on normal and degenerative (prepared by stress-deprived culture) decellularized tendon slices (DTSs). Immunofluorescence staining, H&E staining, real-time PCR, and Western blot were used to delineate the morphology, proliferation, and differentiation of TDSCs in the degenerative microenvironment. It was found that TDSCs were much more spread on the degenerative DTSs than those on normal DTSs. The tenocyte-related markers, COL1 and TNMD, were highly expressed on normal DTSs than the degenerative DTSs. The expression of chondrogenic and osteogenic markers, COL2, SOX9, Runx2, and ALP, was higher on the degenerative DTSs compared with TDSCs on normal DTSs. Furthermore, phosphorylated FAK and ERK1/2 were reduced on degenerative DTSs. In conclusion, this study found that the degenerative tendon microenvironment induced TDSCs to differentiate into chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. It could be attributed to the cell morphology changes and reduced FAK and ERK1/2 activation in the degenerative microenvironment of tendinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion often causes many complications. Chitosan fluid has been used in clinic to prevent intra-abdominal adhesion. However, fluid can be easily diluted and cannot stay on the wound site. As hydrogel is able to form stable physical barrier to separate injured tissues, we developed a chitosan hydrogel for better prevention of intra-abdominal adhesion in this study. Methods We synthesized a carbodiimide-derivatized chitosan gelatin (cd-CS-gelatin) hydrogel and investigated its rheological properties. A rat model was used to compare the anti-adhesion effect of chitosan hydrogel and fluid. The wounds were created with damage of the underlying muscle of the abdominal wall and the serosal layer of the cecum. They were coated with chitosan fluid or cd-CS-gelatin hydrogel. At day 14 after surgery, the animals were euthanized and intra-abdominal adhesion was assessed. Results The cd-CS-gelatin hydrogel solidified within 3 min after the mixing of the reagents. The cecum-abdomen adhesion occurred in all rats without anti-adhesion treatment. The application of cd-CS-gelatin significantly reduced the adhesion rate from 100% to 50%, compared the chitosan fluid only to 88%. The decrease of adhesion breaking strength also manifested that cd-CS-gelatin was more effective than chitosan fluid to reduce postsurgical intra-abdominal adhesion formation. Conclusions Chitosan hydrogel is more effective than chitosan fluid to prevent postoperative cecum-abdomen adhesion. It indicates that hydrogel could be a more promising state than liquid to prevent postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A role for the NLRP3 inflammasome has been reported in various diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis (AS), nephropathy, rheumatism, and others, although limited information is available concerning the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated these inflammatory components in patients with T2DM complicated with carotid atherosclerosis (T2DM + CAS). Methods: A total of 107 inpatients or outpatients were included, including 81 T2DM + CAS patients and 26 T2DM patients. Patients with T2DM or T2DM + CAS were recruited to compare the expression levels of NLRP3 pathway genes (NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 mRNA) and the serum IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations. In the T2DM + CAS group, patients with thickened intima media thickness (IMT) and those with plaques were compared, and the correlation of the 5 variables with Crouse scores were analyzed. Results: The expression of NLRP3 pathway genes except caspase-1 was significantly higher in patients with T2DM and CAS compared to T2DM patients. Serum IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations shows no difference between the T2DM + CAS and T2DM group. In the T2DM + CAS group, the expression levels of the three inflammasome genes and IL-18 were increased in patients with thickened IMT compared to those with the plaque. All of the above factors negatively correlated with Crouse scores. Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activity is significantly increased in patients with AS and T2DM at the early stage of plaque formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) are common in patients with hypertension and are associated with higher mortality. Methods: This study aimed to observe the incidence of MACE in hypertensive patients and the correlation between the electrocardiogram (ECG) T-wave abnormalities and echocardiographic changes. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and changes in echocardiographic features in 430 hypertensive patients admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2016 to January 2022. Patients were grouped according to a diagnosis of electrocardiographic T-wave abnormalities. Results: Compared with the normal T-wave group, the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was significantly higher in hypertensive patients with abnormal T-wave (141 [54.9%] vs 120 [69.4%], x^2 = 9.113, P = .003). However, Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that no survival advantage was observed in the normal T-wave group at all in the hypertensive patients (P = .83). Echocardiographic values associated with cardiac structural markers, including ascending aorta diameter (AAO), left atrial diameter (LA), and interventricular septal thickness (IVS), were significantly higher in the group with abnormal T-wave than those in the group with normal T-wave at baseline and follow-up (P <.05 for all). In addition, in an exploratory Cox regression analysis model stratified by clinical characteristics of hypertensive patients, the forest plot indicated that the variables, including the age (>65 years), hypertension history (>5 years), premature atrial beats, and severe valvular regurgitation were significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular events (P <.05). Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with abnormal T-wave show a higher incidence of adverse cardiovascular events. The values of cardiac structural markers were significantly higher in the group with abnormal T-wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there are some researches focusing on optimization of aerodynamic noises on rear view mirrors, but researches on bionic noise reduction of rear view mirrors are rarely reported. Therefore, with an original rear view mirror as the basic model, the paper applied a head convex hull of a dung beetle to the original rear view mirror cover to obtain a bionic rear view mirror, then conducted numerical computation for aerodynamic noises of the bionic rear view mirror and compared the computational results with the original model. Finally, in order to verify correctness of computational results of aerodynamic noises of the rear view mirror, wind tunnel test was conducted on the rear view mirror. Experimental and numerical simulation results were highly consistent in the whole frequency band, so the wind tunnel test could be replaced by numerical simulation. Only one obvious vortex was behind the bionic rear view mirror, but two obvious vortexes with the opposite rotation directions were behind the original rear view mirror. The bionic rear view mirror did not present vortexes near the lateral window, so impacts of vortexes on noises in the vehicle could be eliminated effectively. Pressure difference in front of and behind the bionic view mirror was smaller than the pressure difference in front of and behind the original rear view mirror. Pressure resistance caused by the convex structure outside the rear view mirror was reduced, so noise reduction could be promoted. The convex structure mainly affected the aerodynamic noise in mid-high frequency regions. Compared with the original rear view mirror, noise reduction effects of the bionic rear view mirror were obvious, where the noise reduction amplitude reached 10dB. Noise source size and intensity of the bionic rear view mirror were reduced obviously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem for evaluating the design patterns of the Micro-Air vehicle is the multiple attribute decision making problems. In this paper, we introduce the concept of interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic sets and propose the induced interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic ordered weighted average (I-IVIULOWA) operator on the basis of the interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic ordered weighted average (IVIULOWA) operator and IOWA operator. We also study some desirable properties of the proposed operator, such as commutativity, idempotency and monotonicity. Then, we utilize the induced interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic ordered weighted average (I-IVIULOWA) operator to solve the multiple attribute decision making problems with interval-valued intuitionistic uncertain linguistic information. Finally, an illustrative example for evaluating the design patterns of the Micro-Air vehicle is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers in both academia and industry. However, research into ionic liquids is mainly limited in chemistry, and the electromagnetic characteristics and microfluidic/optofluidic applications of ionic liquids have been rarely studied. Here, ionic liquids are used as a new type of fluid material for microfluidics/optofluidics, and the research on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) microfluidic drive of ionic liquids is conducted using hydrophilic [bmim]BF4 and hydrophobic [bmim]NTf2. The experimental study shows that ionic liquids can be driven by Lorentz force to induce laminar flow. The flow rates of [bmim]NTf2 are 2.7 and 7.8 μl/s at applied direct-current potentials of 6 and 8 V, respectively, in a 0.4-T magnetic field. The experimental results of the two ionic liquids and electrolytes are compared. Moreover, the experimental results are compared with the theoretical data calculated using a numerical simulation and Poiseuille's law, and the limitation of Poiseuille's law is pointed for the MHD drive. The conducted research can promote the application of ionic liquids in microfluidics or optofluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antiflammin-1 (AF-1), a derivative of uteroglobin (UG), is a synthetic nonapeptide with diverse biological functions. In the present study, we investigated whether AF-1 has a protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were injected with bleomycin intratracheally to create an animal model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. On Day 7 and Day 28, we examined the anti-inflammatory effect and antifibrotic effect, respectively, of AF-1 on the bleomycin-treated mice. The effects of AF-1 on the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced proliferation of murine lung fibroblasts (NIH3T3) were examined by a bromodeoxycytidine (BrdU) incorporation assay and cell cycle analysis. Results: Severe lung inflammation and fibrosis were observed in the bleomycin-treated mice on Day 7 and Day 28, respectively. Administration of AF-1 significantly reduced the number of neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the lung homogenates on Day 7. Histological examination revealed that AF-1 markedly reduced the number of infiltrating cells on Day 7 and attenuated the collagen deposition and destruction of lung architecture on Day 28. The hydroxyproline (HYP) content was significantly decreased in the AF-1-treated mice. In vitro, AF-1 inhibited the TGF-β1-induced proliferation of NIH3T3 cells, which was mediated by the UG receptor. Conclusions: AF-1 has anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic actions in bleomycin-induced lung injury. We propose that the antifibrotic effect of AF-1 might be related to its suppression of fibroblast growth in bleomycin-treated lungs and that AF-1 has potential as a new therapeutic tool for pulmonary fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which regulates gene expression of the key proteins involved in lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation, and proliferation. PPARγ may contribute to attenuating atherogenesis and postangioplasty restenosis. PPARγ C161→T substitution is associated with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). Whether or not the gene substitution alters the risk of CAD in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients remains unclear. Methods: A total of 556 unrelated subjects from a Chinese Han population, including 89 healthy subjects, 78 CAD patients, 86 T2DM patients, and 303 CAD combined with T2DM patients, were recruited to enroll in this study. PPARγC161→T gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Plasma levels of lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, glucose, and insulin were measured by ELISA or radioimmunoassay (RIA). The coronary artery lesions were evaluated by coronary angiography. Results: The frequency of the 161T allele in CAD, T2DM, and CAD combined with T2DM patients was similar to that observed in the healthy control group. However, in CAD combined with T2DM patients, the group with angiographically documented moderate stenoses had a higher frequency of the 161T allele in comparison to the group with severe stenoses (P < 0.05). Moreover, in CAD with T2DM patients, the triglyceride levels and apoB in CC homozygote carriers were significantly higher than those in "T" allele carriers. Conclusions: PPARγC161→T genotypes weren't significantly associated with the risk of CAD, but were markedly correlated with severity of disease vessels in patients with CAD and T2DM. Furthermore, PPARγC161→T substitution was associated with an altered adipose, but not glucose metabolism. These results indicate that the PPARγ C161→T polymorphism may reduce the risk of severe atherogenesis by modulation of adipose metabolism, especially triglycerides and apoB, in Chinese patients with CAD and T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzymatic synthesis of short boranophosphate RNA was studied by comparing the yield and pattern of abortive products of in vitro transcription at steady-state conditions with that of normal RNA. Boranophosphate short RNA can be readily synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current practice in vascular surgery utilizes only diagnostic and empirical data to plan treatments and does not enable quantitative a priori prediction of the outcomes of interventions. We have previously described a new approach to vascular surgery planning based on solving the governing equations of blood flow in patient-specific models. A one-dimensional finite-element method was used to simulate blood flow in eight porcine thoracothoraco aortic bypass models. The predicted flow rate was compared to in vivo data obtained using cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging. The mean absolute difference between computed and measured flow distribution in the stenosed aorta was found to be 4.2% with the maximum difference of 10.6% and a minimum difference of 0.4%. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the flow rate and distribution with respect to stenosis and branch losses were quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously described a new approach to planning treatments for cardiovascular disease, Simulation-Based Medical Planning , whereby a physician utilizes computational tools to construct and evaluate a combined anatomic/physiologic model to predict the outcome of alternative treatment plans for an individual patient. Current systems for Simulation-Based Medical Planning utilize finite element methods to solve the time-dependent, three-dimensional equations governing blood flow and provide detailed data on blood flow distribution, pressure gradients and locations of flow recirculation, low wall shear stress and high particle residence. However, these methods are computationally expensive and often require hours of time on parallel computers. This level of computation is necessary for obtaining detailed information about blood flow, but likely is unnecessary for obtaining information about mean flow rates and pressure losses. We describe, herein, a space-time finite element method for solving the one-dimensional equations of blood flow. This method is applied to compute flow rate and pressure in a single segment model, a bifurcation, an idealized model of the abdominal aorta, in three alternate treatment plans for a case of aorto-iliac occlusive disease and in a vascular bypass graft. All of these solutions were obtained in less than 5 min of computation time on a personal computer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(p-phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) molecular wires are one-dimensional materials with distinctive properties and can be applied in electronic devices. Here, the approach called firstprinciples quantum transport is utilized to investigate the PPE molecular wire field-effect transistor (FET) efficiency limit through the geometry of the gate-all-around (GAA) instrument. It is observed that the n-type GAA PPE molecular wire FETs with a suitable gate length (Lg = 5 nm) and underlap (UL = 1, 2, 3 nm) can gratify the on-state current (Ion), power dissipation (PDP), and delay period (τ) concerning the conditions in 2028 to achieve the higher performance (HP) request of the International Roadmap for Device and Systems (IRDS, 2022 version). In contrast, the p-type GAA PPE molecular wire FETs with Lg = 5, 3 nm, and UL of 1, 2, 3 nm could gratify the Ion, PDP, and τ concerning the 2028 needs to achieve the HP request of the IRDS in 2022, while Lg = 5 and UL = 3 nm could meet the Ion and τ concerning the 2028 needs to achieve the LP request of the IRDS in 2022. More importantly, this is the first one-dimensional carbon-based ambipolar FET. Therefore, the GAA PPE molecular wire FETs could be a latent choice to downscale Moore’s law to 3 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian steroid cell tumors (SCTs), not otherwise specified (NOS) are particularly rare ovarian tumors, which are composed of steroid-hormone secreting cells. The majority of patients with this tumor produce excessive quantities of testosterone and virilization is common. The current report presents a rare case of SCT in a 59-year-old female who presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. The patient had experienced irregular vaginal bleeding for two months, 12 years after menopause. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging identified a solid adnexal mass and the pathological result of diagnostic curettage showed a proliferative endometrium. The patient's serum estrogen and testosterone levels were elevated (393.71 nmol/l and 22.28 nmol/l, respectively). The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, hysterectomy and bisalpingectomy. The neoplasm was well-circumscribed, solid, homogeneous and yellow in color. Microscopically, the tumor was predominantly composed of granular eosinophilic or vacuolated cytoplasm. Reinke's crystals, prominent nucleoli and Call-Exner bodies were not observed, and there was no mitotic figure. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the tumor cells were strongly positive for inhibin. The present rare case aims to expand the current knowledge of this type of ovarian tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum refining is a technology complex, energy- and CO 2 emission-intensive industrial process, which is affected by the type and property of the crude oil. China has been the exploitation of crude oil to paraffinic most. This paper targets to quantify and evaluate the material or energy metabolism and environment loads of paraffin-based petroleum at refining process unit-level through the established petroleum flow and energy flow on the CO 2 emissions accounting framework, and explores energy conservation and CO 2 emission reduction pathways and policy implications, using a typical paraffin-based petroleum refining enterprise in China as a case. The results indicated that the crude oil from the inputs were fractionated in the atmospheric and vacuum distillation (AVD) unit, and its energy consumption and CO 2 emissions accounted for 14.38% and 13.2% of the total energy consumption and CO 2 emissions in the case study, respectively. With the transformation of petroleum refinery plant structure, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), ketone benzol dewaxing (KBD), and delayed coking units dominated more energy consumption and CO 2 emissions. FCC unit was both the largest energy consumer and supplier, flue gas waste heat recovery efficiency of which was an important factor affecting energy conservation and CO 2 emission reduction for FCC unit and even enterprise. KBD unit records the largest energy and CO 2 emission intensities, which are 67.95 kgce/t product and 256.82 kgCO 2e /t product respectively, due to the high wax content of paraffin-based crude oil and the coal-dominated power generation structure. Based on these research findings, three mitigation policy recommendations were proposed, including the improvement of energy efficiency, optimization of energy consumption structure and product output structure. Carbon capture and storage can reduce CO 2 emission by about a third in the concentrated units of primary energy consumption (i.e. AVD, FCC, and DC). The results of this paper are key components of the life cycle assessment of the CO 2 emissions of petroleum fuels produced by domestic paraffin-based crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. A recent phylogenetic analysis revealed that Didiciea King & Prain is nested in Tipularia Nutt., thus it is necessary to transfer both species of Didiciea into Tipularia. The epithet of D. japonica Hara cannot be transferred to Tipularia because of the prior existence of T. japonica Matsum., so a new name, T. kyushuensis Bo Li, is proposed for D. japonica. A lectotype for the name is designated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family of photodetectors plays an important role in multiple applications. Extensive research and continuous development of photodetectors has enriched their functionalities and improved their performances. The silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology extends the concepts and merits of photodetectors. Herein, the recent progress of the SOI-based photodetectors is reviewed from the viewpoint of operation principles and performances. Silicon and Germanium photodiodes with conventional PIN structure are discussed first. Photodetectors with novel operating mechanism and high internal gain are then presented: avalanche photodiode on SOI, innovative photo-Z2 -field effect transistor (FET), and devices based on interface coupling. Superior functionalities, such as wavelength detection, dynamically tunable responsivity and response spectrum, are demonstrated. At last, the technology of active pixel sensors on SOI is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional tunnel and layer frame crystal structure materials are extremely attractive for energy storage in electrode materials. The energy storage properties of the electrode materials depend on their conductivity. Furthermore, the conductivity of electrode materials can be tailored through combination or doping with other materials, which transforms their properties from semiconductor to semimetallic or metallic and allow them to show unequaled performance for storage devices. In this work, heterostructures of manganese oxide (MnO) and modified sodium titanate (Na2Ti6O13) (MnO@Na2Ti6O13) nanowires are attained by the in situ thermal decomposition method. The heterojunction between MnO and Na2Ti6O13 allows the semiconductor properties of pure Na2Ti6O13 to show remarkable metallic behavior for improving the electrochemical performance. The capacitance of MnO@Na2Ti6O13 heterojunction nanowires can reach 272.3 F g−1, a power intensity of 250 W kg−1 at the energy density of 37.83 Wh kg−1 and retain 5000 W kg−1 at 6.67 Wh kg−1 as well. The energy storage mechanism of the MnO@Na2Ti6O13 heterostructure is studied by density functional theory. All of the results show that the MnO@Na2Ti6O13 heterostructure material has the potential to be an excellent supercapacitor material in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the irreversibility of crumpled graphene obtained by hydrostatic or biaxial compression. Our results show that there is a critical degree of crumpling, above which the crumpling is irreversible after the external force is removed. The critical degree of irreversible crumpling is closely related to the self-adhesion phenomenon of graphene, which leads to a step-like jump or decrease in the adhesion energy. We find the critical degree of crumpling is about 0.5 or 0.55 for hydrostatic or biaxial compression, which matches analytic predictions based on a competition between adhesive and bending energies in folded graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Psychiatric co‐morbidities including depression and anxiety are common in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Emerging evidence suggests that interactions between the gut microbiota and brain may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric symptoms in IBD. Aim: To review the literature on microbiota‐brain‐gut interactions in gut inflammation, psychosocial stress and mental disorders and to discuss the putative mediating role of gut microbiota in the development of psychiatric symptoms or co‐morbidities in IBD. Methods: A literature search was conducted on Ovid and Pubmed to select relevant animal and human studies reporting an association between IBD, mental disorders and gut microbiota. Results: Gut microbial alterations are frequently reported in subjects with IBD and with mental disorders. Both have been associated with reduced faecal bacterial diversity, decreased taxa within the phylum Firmicutes and increased Gammaproteobacteria. In animal studies, microbial perturbations induce behavioural changes and modulate inflammation in mice. Anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviours in animals can be transferred via faecal microbiota. In humans, modulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics is associated with behavioural and mood changes. Recent data show correlations in changes of faecal and mucosal microbiota and psychological distress in patients with IBD independent of disease activity. Conclusion: Both IBD and mental disorders are associated with gut microbial alterations. Preclinical and preliminary human studies have shown a mediating role of the gut microbiota in intestinal inflammation and anxiety, depression and stress. Targeting the gut microbiota may represent a useful therapeutic approach for the treatment of psychiatric co‐morbidities in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the room temperature ionic liquid, the liquid crystal and some new liquid materials appear, some of these liquids have high refractive indices over the measurement range (1.30–1.70) of the conventional Abbe refractometer. Here a new refractometer using a liquid prism and the glancing incidence measurement is proposed. It has a simpler structure and a broader measurement range than the Abbe refractometer. The theoretic results indicate that the measurement range of this refractometer is 1.00–3.86 when the vertex angle of the liquid prism is 30°. The experimental results demonstrate the proposed refractometer is viable. This liquid prism based refractometer will have a good applied prospect because it is easy to convert into a product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few-layered black phosphorus materials currently attract much attention due to their special electronic properties. As a consequence, a single-layer black phosphorus (SLBP) nanotube has been theoretically built. The corresponding electronic properties of such a black phosphorus nanotube (BPNT) were also evaluated numerically. However, unlike graphene formed with 2sp2 covalent carbon atoms, SLBP is formed with 3sp3 bonded atoms. It means that the structure from SLBP will possess lower Young’s modulus and mechanical strength than those of carbon nanotubes. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate the strength and stability of BPNTs affected by the factors of diameter, length, loading speed and temperature. Results are fundamental for investigating the other physical properties of a BPNT acting as a component in a nanodevice. For example, buckling of the BPNT happens earlier than fracture, before which the nanostructure has very small axial strain. For the same BPNT, a higher load speed results in lower critical axial strain and a nanotube with lower axial strain can still be stable at a higher temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to a carbon nanotube fabricated from a graphene sheet, a black phosphorus nanotube (BPNT) can also be theoretically produced by curling rectangular single-layer black phosphorus (SLBP). In the present study, the effect of the thermal vibration of atoms on the failure of a BPNT is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Two types of double-shell BPNTs obtained by curling the SLBP along its armchair/pucker and zigzag directions respectively are involved in simulation. At finite temperature, a bond on the outer shell of the tube is under tension due to both the curvature of the tube and the serious thermal vibration of the atoms. As the length of a bond with such elongation approaches its critical value, i.e. 0.279 nm, or the smallest distance between two nonbonding phosphorus atoms is over 0.389 nm caused by a great variation of the bond angle, the tube fails quickly. The critical stable states of either an armchair or a zigzag BPNT at finite temperature are calculated and compared. To achieve a stable BPNT with high robustness, the tube should have a higher radius or should work at a lower temperature. Only when the BPNT has structural stability does it have the potential application as a nanowire in a future nano electro-mechanical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT)-based rotary motor driven by a uniform temperature field was proposed in 2014, how to control quantitatively the rotation of the rotor is still an open question. In this work, we present a mathematical relationship between the rotor’s speed and interaction energy. Essentially, the increment of interaction energy between the rotor and the stator(s) determines the rotor’s rotational speed, whereas the type of radial deviation of an end carbon atom on the stator determines the rotational direction. The rotational speed of the rotor can be specified by adjusting temperature and radial deviation of an end carbon atom on the stator. It is promising for designing a controllable temperature-driven rotary motor based on DWCNTs with length of few nanometers only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explores about the 619-pixel machine vision enhancement chip based on two-dimensional semiconductors. It mentions that how rapid development of machine vision applications demands hardware that can sense and process visual information in a single monolithic unit to avoid redundant data transfer.

A simple, efficient, and general a-prenylation approach for the synthesis of a variety of a-prenylated alcohols has been successfully developed. A wide range of a-prenylated alcohol derivatives could be obtained in good yields by highly a-regioselective zinc-mediated prenylation of various aldehydes and ketones with prenyl bromide at 120 °C in HMPA. By simply altering the reaciton solvent and temperature, the method allows the achievement of a highly notable opposite regiocontrol, providing the expected regiochemical product. The method provides a convenient route for the direct a-prenylation of carbonyl compounds in a highly a-regioselective manner using a cheap and convenient mediator. Two possible pathways are proposed to account for the formation of these synthetically difficult-to-obtain molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To clarify gender differences in the demographic variables and infertility problems associated with depression among men and women undergoing infertility treatment. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: We surveyed 380 women and 360 men undergoing infertility treatment at the reproductive medicine center of a hospital in China's Ningxia Province from March ‐ September 2016. Results: For women, ethnicity, the number of clinic visits, social concern, and sexual concern were factors linked with depression symptoms. For men, treatment cost pressure and social concern were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion: Psychological counseling and intervention programs should be integrated into in‐vitro fertilization treatments and interventions should be targeted based on gender differences. Impact: The provision of treatment‐related sexual knowledge by nurses is indispensable for infertile participants. Mental health policies should be developed to facilitate the implementation of psychological services. Psychological counseling and intervention programs should be integrated into in vitro fertilization treatment to help men and women with infertility cope with psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By exploiting the storage performance of supercapacitors, iron has the potential to be used as a new anode material. However, this potential is limited by unsatisfactory electrical conductivity and poor cycling stability which impact the energy and power density. Consequently a foundation for improving the electrical conductivity and cycling stability of iron materials to obtain good storage performance is needed. In this work, Ag-modified Fe2O3 nanoparticles on carbon cloth were synthesized as an anode material for supercapacitors. The specific capacitance of the composite material reaches 10.39 F cm−2 (2734.2 F g−1) at a current density of 1 mA cm−2 and remains at 83% of this value after 12 000 cycles. The energy density is 379.8 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 131.6 W kg−1 and remains at 123.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 2631.6 W kg−1. The electrical conductivity and interfacial effect created between Ag@Fe2O3 is confirmed with density functional theory calculations. The packaged asymmetric supercapacitor devices have flexibility and can light ten LEDs for 2 min 30 s, with an energy density of 60.3 Wh kg−1 that can be reached at a power density of 1063.8 W kg−1 and remain at 16 Wh kg−1 even at a power density of 4255.3 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine has many pharmacological effects, such as antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, but the question remains on how its low oral bioavailability has greatly limited its clinical application. As a safer hypoglycemic agent, we must evaluate the bioavailability of berberine organic acid salts (BOAs) to ensure that the bioavailability of berberine is not negatively affected. It has been proven that the bioavailability of BOAs is higher than that of BH (berberine hydrochloride); especially BF (berberine fumarate) and BS (berberine succinate), which are improved by 1.278-fold and 1.313-fold, respectively. After 1 h of oral administration, berberine mainly acted on the stomach of mice, it also influenced the liver, kidney, lungs, and intestines after 4 h. The accumulation of BF in the lung is more evident than BH. Our analysis shows that these results are closely related to the regulation of organic acids and berberine in the intestinal tract, they also indicate the influence of intestinal flora on berberine metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) photocatalysts were synthesized via a simple microwave hydrothermal process, in which the morphology and size were tailored by using different citric acid concentrations in precursor solution. The photocatalytic activity of prepared samples was evaluated by degrading rhodamine B (Rh B) under UV and visible light irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS) were used to investigate the samples' crystallinity, purity, morphology and spectral features. When the citric acid loading amount on the BFO sample was 0.02 g, the optimal photocatalytic degradation efficiency was improved to 72.0%. On the basis of the calculated band-gap and the current experiment, the photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women worldwide. In order to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) and mRNAs associated with the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer, an miRNA microarray, GSE30656, and 3 mRNA microarrays, GSE63514, GSE39001 and GSE9750, for cervical cancer were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus. These datasets were analyzed in order to obtain differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs using the GEO2R tool. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis for DEGs were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis for DEGs was conducted using The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes software and visualized using Cytoscape, followed by hub gene identification, and biological process and pathway enrichment analysis of the module selected from the PPI network using the Molecular Complex Detection plugin. In addition, miRecords was applied to predict the targets of differentially-expressed miRNAs. A total of 44 DEGs and 15 differentially-expressed miRNAs were identified. These DEGs were mainly enriched in GO terms associated with the cell cycle. In the PPI network, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, topoisomerase DNA IIa, aurora kinase A (AURKA) and minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2) had higher degrees of connectivity. A significant module was detected from the PPI network. AURKA, MCM2 and kinesin family member 20A exhibited higher degrees in this module, while the genes in the module were mainly involved in the cell cycle and the DNA replication pathway. In addition, estrogen receptor 1 was predicted as the potential target of 13 miRNAs. A total of 10 DEGs were identified as potential targets of miR-203. In conclusion, the results indicated that microarray dataset analysis may provide a useful method for the identification of key genes and patterns to successfully identify determinants of the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer. The functional studies of candidate genes and miRNAs from these databases may lead to an increased understanding of the development of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adhesions frequently occur after abdominal surgery. Many anti-adhesion products have been used in clinic. However, the evidences are short for surgeons to reasonably choose the suitable anti-adhesion produces in clinical practice. This study provided such evidence by comparing the efficiency of five products to prevent abdominal adhesion formation in a rat model. Methods: Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: sham-operation group, adhesion group, and five product groups (n = 8). The abdomens of rats were opened. The injuries were created on abdominal wall and cecum in the adhesion and product groups. The wounds on abdominal wall and cecum of rats in the adhesion group were not treated before the abdomens were closed. The wounds on abdominal wall and cecum of rats in the product groups were covered with anti-adhesion product: polylactic acid (PLA) film, Seprafilm®, medical polyethylene glycol berberine liquid (PEG), medical sodium hyaluronate gel (HA), or medical chitosan (Chitosan). Fourteen days after surgery, the adhesions were evaluated by incidence, severity, adhesion area on abdominal wall and adhesion breaking strength. Results: The application of PLA film and Seprafilm® significantly reduced the incidence, severity, adhesion area and breaking strength of cecum-abdomen adhesion (P<0.05). HA, PEG and Chitosan failed to significantly reduce the cecum-abdomen adhesion (P>0.05). The statistical significances in the incidence and severity of abdomen-adipose adhesion between adhesion group and the product groups were not achieved. However, Seprafilm® was more effective to reduce abdomen-adipose adhesion than PLA film. Furthermore, it was found that the products tested in this study did not effectively reduce cecum-adipose adhesion. The application of PEG could result in abdomen-small intestine adhesion. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the preference order of anti-adhesion products used to reduce postsurgical intra-abdominal adhesion formation is Seprafilm > PLA >> HA > Chitosan > PEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethics teaching is a relatively new area of medical education in China, with ethics curricula at different levels of development. This study examined ethics education at three medical schools in China to understand their curricular content, teaching and learning methods, forms of assessments, changes over time, and what changes are needed for further improvement. Methods: We used student and faculty surveys to obtain information about the ethics courses’ content, teaching methods, and revisions over time. The surveys also included five realistic cases and asked participants whether each would be appropriate to use for discussion in ethics courses. Students rated the cases on a scale and gave written comments. Finally, participants were asked to indicate how much they would agree with the statement that medical professionalism is about putting the interests of patients and society above one’s own. Results: There were both similarities and differences among these schools with regard to course topics, teaching and assessment methods, and course faculty compositions, suggesting their courses are at different levels of development. Areas of improvement for the schools’ courses were identified based on this study’s findings and available literature. A model of the evolution of medical ethics education in China was proposed to guide reform in medical ethics instruction in China. Analysis identified characteristics of appropriate cases and participants’ attitudes toward the ideal of professionalism. Discussion: We conclude that the development of medical ethics education in China is promising while much improvement is needed. In addition, ethics education is not confined to the walls of medical schools; the society at large can have significant influence on the formation of students’ professional values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble dietary fiber (DF) reduces the risk of developing diabetes and may have therapeutic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of soluble DF on metabolic control in patients with DM2. A total of 117 patients with DM2 between the ages of 40 and 70 were assessed. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups, and administered extra soluble DF (10 or 20 g/day), or to a control group (0 g/day) for one month. Blood glucose, serum insulin and connecting peptide (C-peptide) levels, and the insulin resistance index, as determined using the homeostatic model assessment method, were measured during fasting and up to 2-h postprandially prior to and following one month of treatment. Other measurements included serum levels of glycated albumin (GA), blood lipid profiles, and an analysis of the blood pressure, body weight and waist/hip ratio of all patients. Following intervention, the levels of 2-h blood glucose, fasting insulin and lipoprotein(a), and the insulin resistance index, were significantly improved in all groups. Furthermore, the fasting blood glucose, 2-h insulin, fasting C-peptide, 2-h C-peptide, GA and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly improved in the soluble DF groups. The 20 g/day soluble DF group exhibited significantly improved fasting blood glucose and low-density lipoprotein levels, as well as a significantly improved insulin resistance index. In addition, 10 and 20 g/day soluble DF significantly improved the waist and hip circumferences and levels of TGs and apolipoprotein A. The results of the present study suggested that increased and regular consumption of soluble DF led to significant improvements in blood glucose levels, insulin resistance and metabolic profiles, without improving the secretory function of the islets of Langerhans, over a short-term intervention period in patients with DM2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daidzein (one of the major isoflavones) can be metabolized to equol in certain individuals. The effects of isoflavones alone and equol status on lipid profiles are still controversial. To evaluate the 6-mo effects of daidzein on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic individuals and the interactions of these effects with equol status and estrogen receptor (ESR) genotypes, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial consisting of 210 hypercholesterolemic adults (40-65 y old). The participants were randomly assigned (177 completed) to consume placebo, 40 mg daidzein (DAI40), or 80 mg daidzein (DAI80) daily for 6 mo. Daidzein decreased serum triglycerides (TGs) by 0.15 ± 0.62 mmol/L (mean ± SD) and 0.24 ± 0.61 mmol/L and decreased serum uric acid by 23 ± 47 μmol/L and 29 ± 44 μmol/L in the DAI40 and DAI80 groups, respectively. These reductions in the DAI40 and DAI80 groups were greater than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Other blood lipids, glucose, insulin, or glycated hemoglobin did not significantly change after daidzein treatment. No dose-dependent effects of daidzein were found. The reduction of TGs was influenced by the ESR genotype, with a greater effect observed in participants with the GA genotype compared with those with the GG genotype of ESR-β RsaI. These effects were not influenced by equol status. Six-month supplementation of daidzein significantly decreased TGs and uric acid. ESR-β RsaI genotype, not equol status, influenced daidzein's effects on TGs. Daidzein consumption may be effective to improve cardiovascular risk factors, especially in adults with the GA genotype of ESR-β RsaI. This trial was registered at the Chinese clinical trial registry as ChiCTR-TRC-10001048. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nd3+, Er3+ single-doped and Nd3+/Er3+ codoped tellurite glasses were prepared via a melt-quenching technique, and their optical transition properties were studied in the framework of Judd-Ofelt theory. The differential excited state absorption cross section from 4I13/2 to 4I11/2 was obtained based on the McCumber theory; furthermore, the optical gain coefficient spectrum for 4I11/2-4I13/2 transition was calculated. The energy transfers 4F3/2(Nd3+)14I15/2 (Er3+)-4I9/2(Nd3+)14I9/2(Er3+) and 4I13/2(Er3+)14I9/2(Nd3+)+4I15/2(Er3+)14I15/2(Nd3+) in the codoped sample were analyzed by using Föster-Dexter theory and Inokuti-Hirayama's model, respectively; meanwhile, the energy transfer rates for both the energy transfer processes were confirmed. The results indicated that Nd3+ may be a good sensitizer for Er3+ to obtain intense midinfrared emission, and that Nd3+/Er3+ codoped tellurite glass may be a good candidate media for mid-infrared lasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycoprotein E2, the immunodominant protein of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), can induce neutralizing antibodies and confer protective immunity in pigs. Our previous phylogenetic analysis showed that subgroup 2.1 viruses branched away from subgroup 1.1, the vaccine C-strain lineage, and became dominant in China. The E2 glycoproteins of CSFV C-strain and recent subgroup 2.1 field isolates are genetically different. However, it has not been clearly demonstrated how this diversity affects antigenicity of the protein. Results: Antigenic variation of glycoprotein E2 was observed not only between CSFV vaccine C-strain and subgroup 2.1 strains, but also among strains of the same subgroup 2.1 as determined by ELISA-based binding assay using pig antisera to the C-strain and a representative subgroup 2.1 strain QZ-07 currently circulating in China. Antigenic incompatibility of E2 proteins markedly reduced neutralization efficiency against heterologous strains. Single amino acid substitutions of D705N, L709P, G713E, N723S, and S779A on C-strain recombinant E2 (rE2) proteins significantly increased heterologous binding to anti-QZ-07 serum, suggesting that these residues may be responsible for the antigenic variation between the C-strain and subgroup 2.1 strains. Notably, a G713E substitution caused the most dramatic enhancement of binding of the variant C-strain rE2 protein to anti-QZ-07 serum. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that the glutamic acid residue at this position is conserved within group 2 strains, while the glycine residue is invariant among the vaccine strains, highlighting the role of the residue at this position as a major determinant of antigenic variation of E2. A variant Simpson's index analysis showed that both codons and amino acids of the residues contributing to antigenic variation have undergone similar diversification. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that CSFV vaccine C-strain and group 2 strains circulating in China differ in the antigenicity of their E2 glycoproteins. Systematic site-directed mutagenesis of the antigenic units has revealed residues that limit cross-reactivity. Our findings may be useful for the development of serological differential assays and improvement of immunogenicity of novel classical swine fever vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To determine the signaling pathways and components involved in insulin-mediated regulation of Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase1 (ACAT1). Methods: THP-1 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium and were induced into macrophages in the presence of 160nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Before insulin was added in, macrophages were preincubated with the inhibitors of the insulin signaling pathway, including wortmannin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor; PD98059, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor; SB203580, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) inhibitor; SP600125, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor and U73122, phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) inhibitor. ACAT1 mRNA and protein expression level in macrophages were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Results: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting demonstrated that PD98059, SB203580 or SP600125 down-regulated the expression of ACAT1 in a dose-dependent manner. However, no obvious alteration was found in wortmannin and U73122 groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that the ERK, p38MAPK and JNK signaling pathways may be involved in insulin-mediated regulation of ACAT1, but no PI3K and PLC-γ signaling pathways were involved in the present study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The insertion reaction mechanism of CBr2with CH3CHO has been studied by using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method. The geometries of reactions, transition state and products were completely optimized. All the energy of the species was obtained at the CCSD(T)/6-31 G(d) level. All the transition state is verified by the vibrational analysis and the internal reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations. The results show that the propionaldehyde (HP1) is the main product of CH2 insertion with CH3CHO. The calculated results indicated that all the major pathways of the reaction were obtained on the singlet potential energy surface. The singlet CBr2 not only can insert the Cα-H [reaction 1(1)]) but also can react with CβH [reaction II(1)]. The statistical thermodynamics and Eyring transition state theory with Wigner correction are used to study the thermodynamic and kinetic characters of 1(1) and 11(1) in temperature range from 100 to 2200 K. The results show that the appropriate reaction temperature rang is 250 to 1750 K and 250 to 1600 K at 1.0 atm for 1(1) and 11(1) respectively. The rate constant and equilibrium constant are distinct in the range from 250 to 1000 K so that 1(1) more easily occurs, while the reactions are not selected in the temperature range of 1000-1600 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the development of a polymerase chain reaction method based on amplification of a specific DNA fragment for the identification of camel, Camelus materials. Design of a species-specific primer pair L183/H372 based no the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene; Amplification of a pair fragment.

The temperature in the active region of semiconductor modules can be measured by a vacuum system method. The test device is positioned on a vacuum test platform and heated in two ways, from the chip and from the case, to identify the required heat to establish stable temperature gradients for the two processes, respectively. A complementary relationship between the temperatures under the two heating methods is found. By injecting the total heat into the device, the resulting uniform temperature can be derived from the temperature curves of the chip and case. It is demonstrated that the temperature obtained from this vacuum system method is equivalent to the normal operating temperature of the device in the atmosphere. Further comparison of our result with that of the electrical method also shows good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myrica rubra (MR) is rich in anthocyanins, and it has good anti-cancer, anti-aging, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. The proportion of disability and death caused by ischemic stroke gradually increased, becoming a major disease that is harmful to human health. However, research on effects of anthocyanin from MR on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is rare. In this study, we prepared eight purified anthocyanin extracts (PAEs) from different types of MR, and examined the amounts of total anthocyanin (TA) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C-3-G). After one week of PAE treatment, the cerebral infarction volume, disease damage, and contents of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde were reduced, while the level of superoxide dismutase was increased in I/R mice. Altogether, our results show that Boqi1 MR contained the most TA (22.07%) and C-3-G (21.28%), and that PAE isolated from Dongkui MR can protect the brain from I/R injury in mice, with the mechanism possibly related to the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/ nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 protein (NLRP3) pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]