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ABSTRACTPolygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides (PCP) have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. Here, PCP extraction was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), and the antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects of its main component, PCP1, were evaluated in vitro. The maximum PCP yield was 11.05% at an extraction temperature was 72°C, liquid-to-solid ratio of 21, extraction time of 96 min, and two extraction rounds. PCP1 was purified by column chromatography and showed significant scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, and 2, 2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals at concentration of 0.2–1.0 mg/mL. At a concentration of 200 [Formula: see text]g/mL, PCP1 significantly improved lipid disorder and damage induced by palmitic acid in HepG2 cells. These results show that PCP has potent antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects in vitro; moreover, the PCP extraction rate is significantly increased using RSM. Therefore, PCP is an effective antioxidant and lipid-lowering product with potential medicinal applications.

Background: The associated factors of peritoneal small solute transport was not fully understood. This research aimed to investigate the connection between dialysate inflammatory markers (e.g. macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) effluent and peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) properties. Subjects and design: A total of 80 stable PD patients in the First ShaoYang Hospital were enrolled in present study. Overnight PD effluent and serum inflammatory markers including MIF, MCP-1, VEGF, IL-6, TNFα and TGFβ were detected. Pearson correlation analysis and Logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors for the increased PSTR. Results: A trend toward increased values of MIF, MCP-1 and IL-6 in PD effluent was observed in subjects with high PSTR when compared with those with low PSTR. The Pearson correlation test showed that D/P Cr exhibited positive correlations with dialysis effluent MIF (r = 0.32, p = 0.01), MCP-1 (r = 0.47, p = 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.48, p = 0.01). Conversely, no significant correlation was found between D/P Cr and TGF-β (r = 0.04, p = 0.70), TNF-ɑ (r = 0.22, p = 0.05), VEGF (r = 0.02, p = 0.86) and serum inflammatory markers. In the unadjusted regression analysis, dialysis effluent MIF (OR 2.41), MCP-1 (OR 1.72), IL-6 (OR 1.55) were associated with high PSTR condition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratios (OR) of dialysis effluent MIF for high PSTR were 2.47 in all subjects (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Elevated MIF, MCP-1 and IL-6 levels in PD effluent were associated with increased PSTR. Elevated dialysis effluent MIF levels was an independent risk factor for high PSTR in subjects with PD treatment. Resumen: Antecedentes: Los factores asociados del transporte peritoneal de pequeños solutos no se conocen completamente. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo investigar la conexión entre los marcadores inflamatorios del dializado (por ejemplo, el factor inhibidor de la migración de macrófagos [MIF]) en el efluente de diálisis peritoneal (DP) y las propiedades de la tasa de transporte de solutos peritoneal (PSTR). Sujetos y diseño: Se incluyó un total de 80 pacientes con DP estable en el primer Hospital de Shaoyang. Se detectaron efluentes de DP nocturnos y marcadores inflamatorios séricos, incluyendo MIF, MCP-1, VEGF, IL-6, TNF -ɑ, TGF -β. Se realizó un análisis de correlación de Pearson y regresión logística para determinar los factores de riesgo para la PSTR aumentada. Resultados: Se observó una tendencia hacia valores incrementados de MIF, MCP-1 e IL-6 en el efluente de DP en sujetos con PSTR alta, en comparación con aquellos con PSTR baja. La prueba de correlación de Pearson mostró que D/Pcr exhibe correlaciones positivas con el MIF del efluente diálisis (r = 0,32, p = 0,01), MCP-1 (r = 0,47, p = 0,01), IL-6 (r = 0,48, p = 0,01). Por el contrario, no se encontró una correlación significativa entre D/Pcr y TGF-β (r = 0,04, p = 0,70), TNF-ɑ (r = 0,22, p = 0,05), VEGF (r = 0,02, p = 0,86) y marcadores séricos de inflamación. En el análisis de regresión no ajustado, el MIF del efluente diálisis (OR 2,41), la MCP-1 (OR 1,72), la IL-6 (OR 1,55) se asociaron con una PSTR elevada. El análisis de regresión logística multivariante mostró que las odds ratios (OR) ajustadas del MIF del efluente diálisis para PSTR alta fueron de 2,47 en todos los sujetos (p = 0,03). Conclusión: Los niveles elevados de MIF, MCP-1 y IL-6 en el efluente de DP se asociaron con un aumento de la PSTR. Los niveles elevados del MIF del efluente diálisis fueron un factor de riesgo independiente para PSTR elevada en sujetos tratados con DP.

ABSTRACT To accurately measure sowing depth, we designed a multisensor data fusion algorithm based on the Kalman filter and applied it to a dual-channel ultrasonic sowing depth measurement system. We installed two ultrasonic sensors on the frame above the depth limit wheel and the soil covering-compacting wheel. The terrain-like plate was installed on the central axis of the depth limit wheel to simulate the surface relief and calculate the seeding depth value. The Kalman filter algorithm filters out the clutter generated when the two ultrasonic sensors collect the depth data and then fuses the two ultrasounds of the filtered data. The test shows that when the vehicle speed is 4 km/h , the fluctuation ranges of the collected data of ultrasonic 1 and 2 are 45-60 mm and 35-70 mm , respectively, and the fluctuation ranges of the filtered data are 52-58 mm and 48-60 mm , respectively. After data fusion processing, the data fluctuate in a small range of approximately 55 mm . When the vehicle speed is 6 km/h and 8 km/h, the obtained results have the same trend as the experimental results at 4 km/h . The results show that the sowing depth measurement system is effective.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative analgesia is crucial for early functional excise after total knee arthroplasty. To investigate the clinical efficacy of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guided continuous femoral nerve block analgesia after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: 46 patients with ASA grade I-III who underwent total knee arthroplasty received postoperative analgesia from October 2012 to January 2013. In 22 patients, ultrasound and nerve stimulator guided continuous femoral nerve block were performed for analgesia (CFNB group); in 24 patients, epidural analgesia was done (PCEA group). The analgesic effects, side effects, articular recovery and complications were compared between two groups. RESULTS: At 6 h and 12 h after surgery, the knee pain score (VAS score) during functional tests after active exercise and after passive excise in CFNB were significantly reduced when compared with PCEA group. The amount of parecoxib used in CFNB patients was significantly reduced when compared with PCEA group. At 48 h after surgery, the muscle strength grade in CFNB group was significantly higher, and the time to ambulatory activity was shorter than those in PCEA group. The incidence of nausea and vomiting in CFNB patients was significantly reduced when compared with PCEA group. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound and nerve stimulator guided continuous femoral nerve block provide better analgesia at 6 h and 12 h, demonstrated by RVAS and PVAS. The amount of parecoxib also reduces, the incidence of nausea and vomiting decreased, the influence on muscle strength is compromised and patients can perform ambulatory activity under this condition.

This new report from UF/IFAS researchers provides another set of observation data that can be used to develop better models for accurate prediction of weather and near-term climate. It describes the observations conducted during the MicroWEX-11, a season-long experiment incorporating active and passive microwave observations for bare soil, elephant grass, and sweet corn using a variety of sensors to understand land–atmosphere interactions and their effect on observed microwave signatures. These observations match that of satellite-based passive microwave radiometers and NASA’s recently launched Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. This 96-page report was written by Tara Bongiovanni, Pang-Wei Liu, Karthik Nagarajan, Daniel Preston, Patrick Rush, Tim H.M. van Emmerik, Robert Terwilleger, Alejandro Monsivais-Huertero, Jasmeet Judge, Susan Steele-Dunne, Roger De Roo, Ruzbeh Akbar, Ella Baar, Max Wallace, and Anthony England and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2015. AE514/AE514: Field Observations during the Eleventh Microwave Water and Energy Balance Experiment (MicroWEX-11): from April 25, 2012, through December 6, 2012 (ufl.edu)

For accurate weather prediction, accurate modeling of surface hydrological processes is very important. Most current models capture the biophysics of moisture and energy transport and of crop growth and development pretty well. However, model estimates of soil moisture in the root zone diverge from reality due to accumulated errors in initialization, forcings, and computation. Remotely sensed microwave observations can be assimilated into these models to improve root zone soil moisture and crop yield estimates. This 100-page report describes the observations conducted during a season-long experiment in elephant grass and sweet corn using active and passive microwave observations. Published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, April 2015. (Photo: J. Casanova, UF) AE512/AE512: Field Observations During the Tenth Microwave Water and Energy Balance Experiment (MicroWEX-10): from March 1, 2011 through January 5, 2012 (ufl.edu)

The goal of MicroWEX-9 was to conduct a season-long experiment that incorporated passive microwave observations as well as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) observations for a growing season of elephant grass. The variety of sensors would allow for further understanding of the land-atmosphere interactions during the growing season, and their effect on observed passive microwave signatures at 6.7 GHz and 1.4 GHz, as well as LiDAR scans. This 72-page fact sheet was written by Tara Bongiovanni, Pang-Wei Liu, Karthik Nagarajan, Robert Terwilleger, Alejandro Monsivais-Huertero, Jasmeet Judge, Juan Fernandez-Diaz, Daniel Preston, Tyler Cheney, Jason Motsinger, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae494

In order to really accurately predict weather and near-term climate, it is necessary to take into consideration soil moisture in the top meter of soil: it governs moisture and energy fluxes at the land-atmosphere interface, and it plays a significant role in partitioning of the precipitation into runoff and infiltration. This 68-page report presents the observations of an experiment using remotely sensed microwave observations with a view towards incorporating the findings into the models used to estimate energy and moisture fluxes and improve root zone soil moisture estimates. Written by Tara Bongiovanni, Heather Enos, Alejandro Monsivais-Huertero, Blaire Colvin, Karthik Nagarajan, Jasmeet Judge, Pang-Wei Liu, Juan Fernandez-Diaz, Roger De Roo, Yuriy Goykhman, Xueyang Duan, Daniel Preston, Ramesh Shrestha, Clint Slatton, Mahta Moghaddam, and Anthony England, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, August 2011. AE476/AE476: Field Observations During the Eighth Microwave Water and Energy Balance Experiment (MicroWEX-8): from June 16 through August 24, 2009 (ufl.edu)