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The influence of ultraviolet light irradiation on the pitting corrosion performance of a Zr2Ni metallic glass was examined using electrochemical methods and immersion test in 0.05 mol/L NaCl solution. From the results of potentiostatic polarization, the pitting potential of the ultraviolet light-irradiated sample shifted positively with a value of ~300 mV, revealing the enhanced pitting corrosion resistance of the samples. The corrosion morphology after the immersion test also demonstrated lower degree of corrosion damage and improved pitting resistance of the sample with ultraviolet light irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed more zirconium enrichment in the passive film and no chloride ions adsorption for the samples with ultraviolet irradiation, accounting for the suppression of the pit generation and growth. Our findings indicate that ultraviolet light irradiation improves the pitting corrosion resistance of the Zr-based metallic glasses, which are promising structural materials to be used in corrosion environments with high ultraviolet irradiation.

IntroductionMetabolic syndrome (MS) is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but can be prevented with regular physical activity. This study aimed to assess the impact of a physical fitness training programme on MS among military personnel.MethodsThis retrospective observational study included volunteer army soldiers who underwent annual health examinations between 2011 and 2014. In 2011, the reformed physical fitness training programme and physical fitness test were introduced to the participants. MS evaluation and physical fitness performances were evaluated before and after implementing the training programme using a mixed-effects model and generalised estimating equation, adjusted for sex, age and smoking.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2014, 1720 soldiers underwent the annual health examination. In 2011, before the fitness programme, 246 soldiers (14.3%) had MS. After implementation, decreases in blood pressure and fasting glucose levels were observed and maintained for 3 years. Running performance was negatively correlated to triglycerides (ß=−11.37; p<0.001) and waist circumference (ß=−0.42; p<0.001) and positively correlated to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (ß=2.14; p<0.001). The severity of MS was reduced following introduction of the physical fitness programme.ConclusionsMS and its components improved after introducing the reformed fitness programme, with running performance proving to be most relevant to MS. Clinicians should encourage increased physical activity to prevent MS among military personnel.

Three types of water pins are currently used in the water-assisted injection molding technologies to mold plastic parts, including orifice, ring and piercing type pins. Nevertheless, the former two types of pins have the disadvantages of a low flow rate and high pressure drop, while the drawbacks for the latter type are that timing the piercing pin into the cavity is a challenge and the cost of a mold is high. This report describes the development a novel high flow rate water pin for water-assisted injection molding of plastic parts. The pin, which consists of a sintered porous surface outlet, has been tested on parts with two different geometries: a plate with a channel across the center and a float-shaped tube part. The experimental results suggests that the proposed water injection pin can mold parts of a large size with a more uniform residual wall thickness distribution.

Water assisted injection molding technology has received extensive attention in recent years, due to its light weight, relatively lower resin cost per part, faster cycle time, and its flexibility in the design and manufacture of plastic parts. However, there are still some unsolved problems that confound the overall success of this technology. Unstable water penetration in molded symmetric channels is one of them. This report was to study the water penetration behavior in the water assisted injection molded symmetric cavity. Experiments were carried out on an 80-ton injection-molding machine equipped with a water injection unit. A plate cavity with symmetric water channels was used. The materials used were amorphous polystyrene and semi-crystalline polypropylene. Various processing variables were studied in terms of their influence on the water penetration behavior inside the symmetric parts: melt temperature, mold temperature, melt fill speed and fill pressure, short-shot size, water temperature and water pressure, and water injection delay time and water hold time. The effect of channel layout was also investigated. Tapered channels were found to mold parts with better penetration stability than flat channels. In addition, the penetration behaviors of water and gas in molded symmetric parts were also compared. The experimental results suggested that water penetration stability is more stable than that of gas in molded symmetric parts.

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Background: This study aimed to identify the potential circulating biomarkers of protein, mRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to differentiate the papillary thyroid cancers from benign thyroid tumors. Methods: The study population of 100 patients was classified into identification (10 patients with papillary thyroid cancers and 10 patients with benign thyroid tumors) and validation groups (45 patients with papillary thyroid cancers and 35 patients with benign thyroid tumors). The Sengenics Immunome Protein Array-combined data mining approach using the Open Targets Platform was used to identify the putative protein biomarkers, and their expression validated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next-generation sequencing by Illumina HiSeq was used for the detection of dysregulated mRNAs and lncRNAs. The website Timer v2.0 helped identify the putative mRNA biomarkers, which were significantly over-expressed in papillary thyroid cancers than in adjacent normal thyroid tissue. The mRNA and lncRNA biomarker expression was validated by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Although putative protein and mRNA biomarkers have been identified, their serum expression could not be confirmed in the validation cohorts. In addition, seven lncRNAs (TCONS_00516490, TCONS_00336559, TCONS_00311568, TCONS_00321917, TCONS_00336522, TCONS_00282483, and TCONS_00494326) were identified and validated as significantly downregulated in patients with papillary thyroid cancers compared to those with benign thyroid tumors. These seven lncRNAs showed moderate accuracy based on the area under the curve (AUC = 0.736) of receiver operating characteristic in predicting the occurrence of papillary thyroid cancers. Conclusions: We identified seven downregulated circulating lncRNAs with the potential for predicting the occurrence of papillary thyroid cancers.

The thick titanium nitrides coating was fabricated on LZ91 alloy by surface mechanical nano-alloying (SMNAT) combined with gas nitriding. Experimental results showed that a nanostructured titanium coating with thickness of 50–80 µm was formed on surface of LZ91 alloy by SMNAT with pure titanium powders for 30 min. By adding of the aluminium powders into titanium powders during the SMNAT, a thicker Ti-Al composite coating with improved continuity and uniformity was obtained. After nitriding at 450°C, the whole Ti and Ti-Al coating were successfully nitrided. The surface layer of nitrided Ti coated sample is mainly composed of TiN, Ti2N, TiN0.3, TiN0.61and Ti4N2.33phases and the surface layer of nitrided Ti-Al coated sample is composed of Ti2N, TiN0.9, TiN0.3, Ti4N2.33, AlN, Ti3Al2N2and AlTi2N phases. The hardness measurements demonstrated that the surface hardness of nitrided Ti coated and nitrided Ti-Al coated samples reached to 634 and 734 HV, respectively.

ABSTRACTThe thick titanium nitrides coating was fabricated on LZ91 alloy by surface mechanical nano-alloying (SMNAT) combined with gas nitriding. Experimental results showed that a nanostructured titanium coating with thickness of 50–80 μm was formed on surface of LZ91 alloy by SMNAT with pure titanium powders for 30 min. By adding of the aluminium powders into titanium powders during the SMNAT, a thicker Ti-Al composite coating with improved continuity and uniformity was obtained. After nitriding at 450°C, the whole Ti and Ti-Al coating were successfully nitrided. The surface layer of nitrided Ti coated sample is mainly composed of TiN, Ti2N, TiN0.3, TiN0.61and Ti4N2.33phases and the surface layer of nitrided Ti-Al coated sample is composed of Ti2N, TiN0.9, TiN0.3, Ti4N2.33, AlN, Ti3Al2N2and AlTi2N phases. The hardness measurements demonstrated that the surface hardness of nitrided Ti coated and nitrided Ti-Al coated samples reached to 634 and 734 HV, respectively.

To investigate the surface damage of a material by He ions, a dispersion-strengthened W-1wt%TiC alloy was irradiated by 5-keV He ions at 773 K, 973 K, and 1173 K up to an ion dose of 1.8 × 1021He m−2, respectively. No He bubble formation was observed under transmission electron microscopy at any temperature for He doses less than 1.5 × 1020He m−2. When this dose was exceeded, He bubbles grew and void swelling increased with increasing irradiation doses. Naturally, the growth of He bubbles and the void swelling became more pronounced with increasing irradiation temperatures. Compared to the published data on commercially available pure W, the formation of He bubbles was suppressed by TiC particles in the W–TiC alloy, especially at low doses.

In this paper, a type of Fe-Cr-C-B-Mn self-shielded metal-cored wire was developed to fabricate experimental hardfacing alloys. The slag-free mechanism, microstructure evolution, and wear resistance were investigated. It was observed that the traces of slag detached from the metal droplet, weld metal, and slag bridge at a high temperature and detached from the surface of the weld after solidification, contributing to a slag-free weld. The slag detachability at the high-temperature stage of the welding process was discussed. The 3D morphologies indicated that the blade-like and rod-like shapes of M7(C, B)3-type carbides are, in fact, just based on differences in sectioning. Moreover, gaps existed at the edge of all primary M7(C, B)3 carbides, and austenite and eutectic M3(C, B) carbides may be formed in the gap of primary M7(C, B)3 carbides. With the increase of load, the friction coefficient of hardfacing alloys decreased, but the wear loss increased gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon is investigated as an active material for the anode of lithium-ion battery (LIB) because of the 10 times higher specific capacity of silicon than graphite. In order to achieve a low internal resistance and high areal capacity of a silicon-based anode, metal foams are used as three-dimensional current collectors. However, unless the foam is densely compressed, active materials adhere loosely to the foam and suffer from loss of electrical contacts with the current collector. A densely compressed anode suffers from poor physical integrity without spare room for large volume expansion of silicon. By means of pyrolysis at 800 °C in argon of a mixture of silicon nanoparticles, phenolic resin binder, and Super P conductivity agent on the nickel foam, silicon reacts with nickel to form nickel silicide while the specially selected binder is graphitized to form a conductive and porous anode with a nickel foam current collector. We report 80-nm-silicon-based anode with a nickel foam, exhibiting excellent cycling performance and a high retained areal capacity of 6.5 mAh/cm2after 50 cycles under a discharge/charge current density of 4 mA/cm2. For anode area of 1 cm2, it stores 23.4 C of charges at a current rate of 4 mA.

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to highlight the effectiveness and necessity of the computational methods applications for architecture conceptual designs and improve the use of advanced simulation tools in urban planning. The results can provide the urban designers, planners and other decision makers with useful design information for assessing human wind comfort of the surrounding open spaces of public buildings in an urban area. Among different kinds of public buildings, museum architecture is of significant social value and importance for the augmentation of urban image. Using the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao for the case study, this investigation performed CFD simulations of the airflow over the museum to characterize the wind environments around the buildings. The predicted wind speed distributions were used to determine the wind comfort level of the featured spots around the museum for evaluating the suitability allowing visitors to sit or stand at the pedestrian plane for extended periods.

In the tumor microenvironment, chemokine system has a critical role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. The acquisition of stem-like properties by cancer cells is involved in metastasis and drug resistance, which are pivotal problems that result in poor outcomes in patients with lung cancer. Patients with advanced lung cancer present high plasma levels of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGFß1), which correlate with poor prognostic features. Therefore, TGFß1 may be important in the tumor microenvironment, where chemokines are widely expressed. However, the role of chemokines in TGFß1-induced tumor progression still remains unclear. In our study, TGFß1 upregulated CXC chemokine receptor expression, migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) formation in lung adenocarcinoma. We found that CXCR7 was the most upregulated chemokine receptor induced by TGFß1. CXCR7 knockdown resulted in reduction of migration, invasion and EMT induced by TGFß1, whereas CXCR4 knockdown did not reverse TGFß1-promoted EMT. CXCR7 silencing significantly decreased cancer sphere-forming capacity, stem-like properties, chemoresistance and TGFß1-induced CSC tumor initiation in vivo. In clinical samples, high TGFß1 and CXCR7 expression was significantly associated with the late stages of lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, TGFß1 and CXCR7 coexpression was positively correlated with the CSC marker, CD44, which is associated with lymph node metastasis. Besides, patients with high expression of both CXCR7 and TGFß1 presented a significantly worse survival rate. These results suggest that the TGFß1-CXCR7 axis may be a prognostic marker and may provide novel targets for combinational therapies to be used in the treatment of advanced lung cancer in the future.

Nanostructured surface layers were fabricated on titanium and steel components of the Ti/steel clad sheet by the surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The average grain size on the top surface layer of SMAT titanium component and SMAT steel component is ∼8 and 10–20nm respectively. Subsequently, the nitriding behaviours of the SMAT Ti/steel clad sheet at 530°C for 8h were investigated in comparison with those of the coarse grained counterpart. Experimental results showed that the surface nanocrystallisation evidently promotes the formation of an ultrafine polycrystalline compound layer on titanium component and of a much thicker compound layer on steel component. Surface property tests demonstrated that two components of the SMAT nitrided Ti/steel clad sheet exhibit high surface hardness and excellent wear resistance. This paper offers a novel approach for simultaneous nitriding of two components on the Ti/steel clad sheet.

Nanostructured surface layers were fabricated on titanium and steel components of the Ti/steel clad sheet by the surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The average grain size on the top surface layer of SMAT titanium component and SMAT steel component is ~8 and 10–20?nm respectively. Subsequently, the nitriding behaviours of the SMAT Ti/steel clad sheet at 530°C for 8?h were investigated in comparison with those of the coarse grained counterpart. Experimental results showed that the surface nanocrystallisation evidently promotes the formation of an ultrafine polycrystalline compound layer on titanium component and of a much thicker compound layer on steel component. Surface property tests demonstrated that two components of the SMAT nitrided Ti/steel clad sheet exhibit high surface hardness and excellent wear resistance. This paper offers a novel approach for simultaneous nitriding of two components on the Ti/steel clad sheet.

Electroless copper plating on Al2O3substrate assisted by a new non-noble pretreatment is developed, the surface exhibits granular distribution, and the particles are closely bound except for the presence of defects (large holes). Heat treatment is performed at various temperatures to modify this surface. Results show that slight surface changes occur when the heat treatment temperature is below the recrystallisation temperature. Beyond the recrystallisation temperature, particles are fused, thereby modifying certain properties. However, heat stress also increases with increased temperature to 800°C, leading to poor bonding between the plating and substrate. When the temperature approaches the melting point of copper, plating exhibits an entirely different surface morphology. The molten copper in the cooling process forms shrinkages and dimples that reduce coating performance. The optimal heat treatment temperature is deemed to be approximately 500°C.

Nanocrystalline Fe74·29–xCuxNb2·9Si13·56B9·25(x?=?0·8–1·1) alloy ribbon cores were prepared by the single roller melt spinning technology and the subsequent annealing treatment. The Cu content dependences of the thermal stability, crystallisation behaviour, and soft magnetic properties of Fe74·29–xCuxNb2·9Si13·56B9·25alloys were investigated. The alloy's coercivity Hcfirstly increased and then decreased with increasing Cu content from 0·8 to 1·1, while the saturation induction Bsand the effective permeability µeshowed the opposite variation tendencies. The alloy with the Cu content of 0·9, which had the minimum Hcof 0·59 A m-1, the maximum Bsof 1·26T and the maximum µeof 120800, was found to exhibit the relatively best soft magnetic properties. When the Cu content was more than 0·9, the soft magnetic properties deteriorated obviously. This is due to the growth of the alloy's nanograins caused by the increase in the Cu content and suggests that the proper Cu content is effective to improve the soft magnetic properties.

Fe73·37Cu0·92Nb2·9Si13·56B9·24amorphous alloy ribbon was prepared by melt spinning method. The influences of the annealing temperature on its microstructure and soft magnetic properties were investigated. Two crystallisation stages were found with temperature increasing by using differential scanning calorimetry. X-ray diffraction test showed that the first crystallisation phase is a-Fe(Si) with the average grain sizes ranging from 12 to 25 nm when annealing temperature is below 560°C and the secondary crystallisation phase with an average grain size of about 45 nm appears when annealing temperature is at 700°C. The soft magnetic property measurement showed that the Bsincreases to 1·26 T and the Hcdecreases to 0·002 Oe when annealing temperature increased from 520 to 560°C, while corresponding values for the alloy annealed at 700°C are 1·1 T and 0·079 Oe respectively. These results indicate that the Fe73·37Cu0·92Nb2·9Si13·56B9·24alloy annealed at 560°C has the relatively best magnetic properties.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea (HU) in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract: Children and adolescents living in earthquake impacted areas may present various post-traumatic responses and adjustment along the post-traumatic reconstructive phases. Their surrounding environmental damage and reconstructive conditions may influence their adjustment as well. As part of a prospective and longitudinal research project aims to investigate the range and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children and adolescents residing near the epicenter after the Taiwan 921 Earthquake, this paper reports the changes of PTSD symptoms over a 2-year period. The study also examines the effects of school damage and reconstructive condition on PTSD symptoms. Earthquake Exposure Index for Youths and Child Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index were administered to 2,028 and 2,077 youths at the first and second year, respectively, from two heavily impacted townships. Given that location, gender, individual and dwelling trauma exposure dose effect were controlled through a balanced sampling procedure and prior statistical confirmation, post-traumatic phase and school damage condition yield significant main effects. Students from the heavily damaged schools consistently displayed significantly more PTSD symptoms, including re-experiencing/avoidance and numbness/maladaptive symptoms, than their counterparts at the first and second year. Decline of prevalence of PTSD symptoms was noted from the first year to the second. Accordingly, there may be a need to implement a broad disaster recovery project with periodic screenings as well as school-specific and school-based mental health program.

Eight new meroditerpenoid-related metabolites, including one naphthoquinone derivative, chabrolonaphthoquinone B (1), four tetraprenyltoluquinone-related compounds, chabrolobenzoquinones E−H (2−5), and three tetraprenyltoluquinol-related metabolites, chabrolohydroxybenzoquinones E−G (6−8), were isolated from the organic extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Nephthea chabrolii. The structures of 1−8 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the data with those of the related metabolites. Cytotoxic activity of metabolites 1−3 and 5−8 against a limited panel of cancer cell lines is also described.

A series of cardenolides and related compounds have been isolated from the aerial parts and roots of the ornamental milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Among them, three derivatives of calactinic acid methyl ester (13−15), 19-nor-16α-acetoxy-10β-hydroxyasclepin (16), 20β,21-dihydroxypregna-4,6-dien-3-one (19), and 3,4-seco-urs-20(30)-en-3-oic acid (22) are new compounds. The relative configuration of calactinic acid methyl ester (12) has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis on its derivative 13. Most of the cardenolides obtained showed pronounced cytotoxicity against four cancer cell lines (IC50 0.01 to 2.0 μg/mL).

High purity single crystal alpha silicon nitride (α-Si3N4) nanowires were obtained in high yield via a simple vapor phase reaction approach without the presence of catalyst. The produced α-Si3N4 nanowires have diameters mostly ranging from 30 to 100 nm and lengths of several hundred micrometers. The nanowires were grown via vapor–solid (VS) mechanism. The room-temperature dielectric properties show that the effective dielectric constants of α-Si3N4 nanowires is higher than that of the α-Si3N4 micropowders, especially at low frequencies. Analysis of the dielectric properties indicates that the small size effect of nanowires has great influence on the dielectric behavior of the samples. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of lidocaine and bronchodilator inhalation treatments for rapid cough suppression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Prospective comparison study carried out in a tertiary emergency department. Consecutive COPD patients presenting with intractable cough were randomly assigned to receive lidocaine or terbutaline inhalation treatments for cough suppression. Patients with dyspnoea, unstable vital signs, and pneumonia or neoplasm on chest x ray were excluded. A subjective, 10 point questionnaire based cough severity score was used for assessing the outcome. RESULTS: The final study sample included 127 patients (mean (SD) age, 69.2 (12.1) years; 33.1% women) of whom 62 received nebulised lidocaine and 65 nebulised bronchodilator. The cough severity score was significantly reduced one hour after inhalation treatment with both lidocaine and bronchodilator, with no significant difference in efficacy. Common but mild side effects in the lidocaine group included oropharyngeal numbness and bitter taste, and, in the bronchodilator group, tremor and palpitation. Dyspnoea, dizziness, and nausea and vomiting were equally uncommon in both groups. None of these problems caused any of the patients to discontinue their treatments and no allergic reactions were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Both lidocaine and bronchodilator inhalation treatments are equally effective for short term cough suppression in patients with COPD.

ZnS nanostructures with different morphologies, sizes, and microstructures were synthesized by the evaporation of ZnS nanopowders. Based on the appearance of the as‐synthesized products, we show that substrate temperature and catalyst are the critical factors for controlling the size and the structure of various kinds of ZnS nanostructures, such as nanorods, nanowires, nanobelts, and nanosheets. Within a certain temperature range, products with a specific morphology can be obtained. Therefore, it may be possible to obtain ZnS nanostructures with a specific morphology by controlling the reaction temperature and catalyst. This represents an important step toward the design and control of nanostructures. High‐resolution electron microscopy revealed that most of the nanorods and nanowires grew along the [100] direction, whereas most of the nanobelts and nanosheets grew along [001]. Photoluminescence properties and growth mechanisms of these as‐synthesized ZnS nanostructures are discussed.

Two new monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous acetogenins, montacin (1), and cis-montacin (2), along with four known acetogenins, annonacin, cis-annonacin, annomontacin, and cis-annomontacin, were isolated from the seeds of Annona montana. The structures of the new isolates were elucidated by spectral and chemical methods. The new acetogenins exhibited moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against the 1A9 human ovarian cancer cell line. Interestingly, when Ca²⁺ was present, compounds 1 and 2 became 3- to 10-fold more active against 1A9 cells and the PTX10 subline.

Hydrogen-induced defects of AISI 316 stainless steel were systemically investigated by measuring variable energy Doppler broadening energy spectra (DBES) of positron annihilation. Defect profiles of the S-parameter from DBES as a function of positron incident energy up to 30 keV (i.e. ~1 μm depth) were analyzed. Experimental results showed that hydrogen damage between the surface and the bulk has a significant variation with depth, and strongly depends on the condition of hydrogen charging, i.e. current density and charging time. It has been suggested that the increase in the S-parameter near the surface after hydrogen charging mainly comes from the formation of hydrogen damage (voids); however, the increase in the S-parameter in the bulk after hydrogen charging mainly comes from the production of structural defects (dislocations). Defect densities induced due to hydrogen charging in some cases (e.g. dislocation density in the bulk) were estimated based on a simple trapping model. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Twenty-one compounds, including five new agarofuran sesquiterpenes, reissantins A−E (1−5), were isolated from Reissantia buchananii by means of bioassay-directed fractionation and their structures identified from spectral data. Reissantins A−C are the first reported simple agarofuran sesquiterpenes to contain a 5-carboxy-N-methyl-2-pyridone (CNMP) substituent, which has previously been found only in macroring agarofuran pyridine alkaloids. The major terpenoid components, celastrol (6) and its methyl ester derivative, pristimerin (7), were significantly active against nine cancer cell lines, including A549, MCF-7, HCT-8, KB, KB-VIN, U-87-MG, PC-3, 1A9, and PTX10 cell lines, with ED50 values ranging from 0.076 to 0.34 μg/mL.

α-Al2O3 Nanobelts and nanosheets with different morphologies and sizes have been successfully synthesized by a simple chemical route from H2O and Al in an argon atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations show that the as-synthesized α-Al2O3 nanostructures consist of nanobelts and nanosheets. We find that the temperature distribution inside the alumina tube is the critical factor determining the morphologies and sizes of the α-Al2O3 nanostructures. Photoluminescence measurements showed a blue luminescence band in the wavelength range of 400–500 nm, which can be attributed to F+ centers in the α-Al2O3 nanostructures. The growth of these products is believed to be mainly determined by growth kinetics as well as thermodynamics.

A new secoiridoid glycoside, hydrachoside A (1), along with 14 known compounds, was isolated from the leaves of Hydrangea chinensis. The absolute stereochemistry of the side chain attached to C-15 on the secoiridoid glycoside hydrangenoside E (2) was determined by NMR spectral analysis. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. The previously reported structure, hydrachine A (3), was revised as its epimer, (−)-neodichroine (4), a new compound.

Amorphous Pr2Fe14B was produced by the melt-spinning technique and subsequent nanocrystallization was carried out by isothermal annealing. The free volumes in amorphous and in nanocrystalline Pr2Fe14B have been characterized using positron lifetime spectroscopy. The two primary lifetime components were ascribed to vacancy-type defects in the intergranular layers or the interfaces of the crystallites and to large free volumes of the size of several missing atoms, e.g., in triple junctions. The increase of the intensity ratio I1/I2 of the positron lifetime components with increasing crystallite size confirms the picture that the positrons are annihilated in the free volumes of grain boundaries and that of triple junctions.

Several bioactive acetogenins were selective against 1A9 (ovarian cancer) cell replication but did not show a corresponding hyperactivity against other cell lines. The most active compound (26, molvizarin) was a selective inhibitor of 1A9 cell replication with a potency (ED50 = 5 pg/mL) of over 1 million times more than that for other cell lines.

The vapor pressures of aqueous NaCl + KBr and NaBr + KCl solutions were measured in the temperature range from 303.15 to 333.15 K and the electrolyte concentration range from 1 to 4 m. The experimental data showed that vapor pressures of these two aqueous mixed electrolyte solutions increase with increasing temperatures and almost linearly decrease with increasing concentrations of electrolyte. The experimental data also showed that, since these two aqueous mixed electrolyte solutions contain the same ions, an identical vapor pressure was observed at the same temperature and electrolyte concentration. This observation is consistent with the well understood fact that the particle interactions are identical in these solutions because the strong electrolytes are completely ionized in solution and have the same effect on the thermodynamic properties of water. The vapor pressures of these solutions were also estimated with the model of two-ionic-parameters for ion activity coefficient estimations proposed by Lin and Lee. The average absolute deviation (AAD) and the average absolute relative deviation (AARD) of NaCl + KBr aqueous solution are 0.05 kPa and 0.41%, respectively, and those of NaBr + KCl aqueous solution are 0.05 kPa and 0.40%, respectively.

A new triterpene, laxifolone A (1), four known sesquiterpene alkaloids, ebenifoline E-II (2), carigorinine E (3), euojaponine C (4), and emarginatine E (5), and six triterpenoids, 3-hydroxyolean-12-en-22,29-γ-lactone, 3,11-dioxo-β-amyrene, 3β,22α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid, 28,29-dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one, 29-hydroxy-3-oxo-D:A-friedooleanan-28-oic acid, and putranjivadione, were isolated from the stems and leaves of Euonymus laxiflorus. Structural elucidations of these compounds were established by spectral analysis. Compound 1 displayed significant nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory effect.

Two new styrylpyrones, (6R,7R,8R)-8-methoxygoniodiol (1) and (6R,7R,8R)-8-chlorogoniodiol (2), together with seven known styrylpyrones and eight other known compounds, were isolated from the leaves and/or stems of Goniothalamus amuyon. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectral data interpretation, and the absolute stereochemistry of styrylpyrones in the diol and triol series was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis and CD spectral data. Compound 2 demonstrated significant selective cytotoxicity toward the HONE-1 cancer cell line.

Seven new compounds, including three new flavans [tupichinol A−C (1−3)], three new spirostanol sapogenins [tupichigenin D−F (4−6)], and one new pregnane genin [tupipregnenolone (7)], together with 18 known compounds, were isolated from the underground parts of Tupistra chinensis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence. The structures and relative stereochemistry of 1 and 9 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds Δ²⁵⁽²⁷⁾-pentrogenin, 10, and ranmogenin A showed 100%, 96%, and 80% inhibition, respectively, against human gastric tumor (NUGC) cells at a concentration of 50 μM. Δ²⁵⁽²⁷⁾-pentrogenin showed 100% inhibition against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HONE-1) cells at a concentration of 50 μM.

The patch-clamp recording technique was used to investigate the effect of squamocin, an Annonaceous acetogenin, on ion currents in cultured smooth muscle cells of human coronary artery. In whole-cell configuration, squamocin (0.3−100 μM) induced Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current [IK(Ca)] in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 4 μM. Squamocin-stimulated IK(Ca) was suppressed by iberiotoxin (200 nM), paxilline (1 μM), or tetraethylammonium chloride (5 mM), yet not by apamin (200 nM) or glibenclamide (10 μM). In cells dialyzed with 10 mM EGTA, this compound had little effect on IK(Ca). When cells were exposed to Ca²⁺-free solution, squamocin (3 μM) induced a transient increase in IK(Ca). In continued presence of squamocin, an additional increase in extracellular Ca²⁺ (1 mM) caused a significant increase in IK(Ca). Pretreatment with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP; 3 μM) for 5 h did not alter the magnitude of squamocin-induced IK(Ca). However, squamocin (30 μM) suppressed the amplitude of voltage-dependent L-type Ca²⁺ current. In cell-attached configuration of single-channel recordings, squamocin applied to the bath increased the activity of large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BKCa) channels without altering single-channel conductance. Conversely, in inside-out patches, squamocin applied to the intracellular surface had no effect on BKCa channel activity, whereas niflumic acid increased it effectively. These findings provide the evidence that squamocin can activate IK(Ca) in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Initial transient activation of IK(Ca) may reflect the squamocin-induced Ca²⁺ release from intracellular Ca²⁺ stores, whereas the sustained activation of IK(Ca) may arise from the squamocin-induced Ca²⁺ influx across the cell membrane. The stimulatory effect of squamocin on these channels should affect the functional activity of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aiming to simplify the solution process of elasto-plastic problems, this paper proposes a reproducing kernel particle algorithm based on principles of parametric quadratic programming for elasto-plasticity. The parametric quadratic programming theory is useful and effective for the assessment of certain features of structural elasto-plastic behaviour and can also be exploited for numerical iteration. Examples are presented to illustrate the essential aspects of the behaviour of the model proposed and the flexibility of the coupled parametric quadratic programming formulations with the reproducing kernel particle method. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A phytochemical investigation on the stems of Annona squamosa led to the isolation of six new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, annomosin A (16β-hydroxy-19-al-ent-kauran-17-yl 16β-hydro-19-al-ent-kauran-17-oate) (1), annosquamosin C (16α-hydro-17-hydroxy-19-nor-ent-kauran-4α-ol) (2), annosquamosin D (16β-acetoxy-17-hydroxy-19-nor-ent-kauran-4α-ol) (3), annosquamosin E (16β-hydroxy-17-acetoxy-19-nor-ent-kauran-4α-formate) (4), annosquamosin F (16β-hydroxy-17-acetoxy-18-nor-ent-kauran-4β-hydroperoxide) (5), and annosquamosin G (16β,17-dihydroxy-18-nor-ent-kauran-4β-hydroperoxide) (6), along with 14 known ent-kaurane diterpenoids. The structures of 1−6 were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation. Compound 1 is the first dimeric ent-kaurane derivative to have been reported from a plant in the family Annonaceae. Certain useful NMR data were generalized to determine the stereochemistry of C-16 among the ent-kaurane diterpenoids investigated. ent-Kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (9) and 16α-hydro-19-al-ent-kauran-17-oic acid (17) showed complete inhibitory effects on rabbit platelet aggregation at 200 μM.