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One new aliphatic ketone alcohol, 15,17‐dione‐16‐hentriacontanol (1), with fifteen known compounds (2–16) were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the whole dried plant of Lepidium latifolium. The antibacterial activities (using minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) detection method), the antioxidant activities (using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and pyrogallol), and the antiproliferative activities (using 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method) against three human cancer cell lines were evaluated. The results showed that compounds 2, 9, 10 and 11 with phenolic hydroxyl groups have good antibacterial and DPPH scavenging activities. Compounds 2, 12 and 13, which contain ‐NH groups have the highest scavenging rates of superoxide anions. The compounds of long‐chain alkane containing hydroxyl groups have potent inhibitory activity against MGC‐803, HepG2 and T24 cancer cells. The experimental content of this paper enriches the related research of L. latifolium, and greatly expands the market application value of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast and accurate extraction of vascular structures from medical images is fundamental for many clinical procedures. However, most of the vessel segmentation techniques ignore the existence of the isolated and redundant points in the segmentation results. In this study, we propose a vascular segmentation method based on a prior shape and local statistics. It could efficiently eliminate outliers and accurately segment thick and thin vessels. First, an improved vesselness filter is defined. This quantifies the likelihood of each voxel belonging to a bright tubular-shaped structure. A matching and connection process is then performed to obtain a blood-vessel mask. Finally, the region-growing method based on local statistics is implemented on the vessel mask to obtain the whole vascular tree without outliers. Experiments and comparisons with Frangi's and Yang's models on real magnetic-resonance-angiography images demonstrate that the proposed method can remove outliers while preserving the connectivity of vessel branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in mesh-based deformation simulation in computer graphics is to deal with mesh distortion. In this paper, we present a novel mesh-insensitive and softer method for simulating deformable solid bodies under the assumptions of linear elastic mechanics. A face-based strain smoothing method is adopted to alleviate mesh distortion instead of the traditional spatial adaptive smoothing method. Then, we propose a way to combine the strain smoothing method and the corotational method. With this approach, the amplitude and frequency of transient displacements are slightly affected by the distorted mesh. Realistic simulation results are generated under large rotation using a linear elasticity model without adding significant complexity or computational cost to the standard corotational FEM. Meanwhile, softening effect is a by-product of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research was performed on the jacket structure located in the new oil storage port which can accommodate 300 and 450 thousand DWT crude oil ships in Dalian. Compared with gravity type caisson, mechanical behaviors and construction characteristics of jacket structure type are presented. Design work and method of jacket structure applied to open style offshore deep-water wharf are discussed, such as member's strength, member's stability, socketed length and bearing capacity of rock-socketed pile, static strength and fatigue life of tubular joints. This structure, which can be used in open style wharf when depth of water is more than 25 m, is calculated and optimized. It is shown that this structure is more economical than the gravity circular caisson jacket structure, and can meet the standards of design work. The employment of jacket structure in open style offshore deep-water wharf is safe, feasible and economical in China. Achievements from the study can guide the design of open style wharf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horizontal force friction of sliding-isolated bearing is variable when the vertical press change. So if the rubber bearings and the sliding-isolated bearings are used together in parallel in the same base-isolated layer, the characteristic of isolated layer is compex. In this paper the nonlinear finite element program which can analyze the vertical stress variation on sliding isolated bearing is made and introduced. One three-floor frame is analyzed as one example. The dynamical properties of base-isolation layer combined by rubber bearing and sliding-isolated bearing in parallel are anlyzed. The effects of overturning moment and vertical difference deformation on isolation layer are analyzed. The lateral displacement curves of the isolated layer top and the curves of vertical press changing on the sliding-isolated bearing are given on each condition. Analytical results show, that because of the vertical stress variation on sliding isolated bearing, the horizontal dynamic behavior of isolated layer is changed in such layer. This condition should be considered in design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, most asphalts and modified asphalts cannot meet requirements of both high temperature stability and low temperature cracking resistance simultaneously. Hence, the objective of this paper is to find new modification system to improve the high and low temperature properties of SK-70 base asphalt. In this paper, nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) particles, nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO 2 ) particles, nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO 3 ) particles, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) were selected as modifiers. The modified asphalt samples with three or two kinds of modifiers were prepared, and the softening point, ductility and penetration of modified asphalt samples were measured and compared. Eventually, three optimal nano-particles/polymer modification systems for SK-70 base asphalt including 3%nano-ZnO/0.5%nano-TiO 2 /3.7%SBS, 5%nano-ZnO/4.2%SBS, 5%nano-CaCO 3 /4%SBR were proposed. To study the effects of these three optimal modification formulations on high and low temperature properties of base asphalt, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), thin film oven test (TFOT), and beam bending rheometer (BBR) tests were conducted on the asphalt of SK-70 and the nano-particles/polymer modified asphalts. The micro-morphology of SK-70 and the modified asphalts was examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the reactions between modifiers and SK-70 base asphalt were studied by infrared spectrum instrument. From the test results, it was observed that the nano-materials were well dispersed in base asphalt, and could increase the dispersibility of polymer in base asphalt and improve the compatibility between polymer and base asphalt. Furthermore, the nano-materials could improve the high and low temperature properties of SK-70 base asphalt. Additionally, the results also revealed that for polymer modified asphalts the physical reaction between polymers and asphalt played the dominant role in the modification process, while for nano-particles/polymer modified asphalts, both physical and chemical reaction occurred in the modification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a dominant role in inflammation, autoimmunity, and host defense. RORγt is a key transcription factor mediating T helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation and IL-17 production, which is able to activate CD8 + T cells and elicit antitumor efficacy. A series of sulfonamide derivatives as novel RORγt inverse agonists were designed and synthesized. Using GSK2981278 (phase II) as a starting point, we engineered structural modifications that significantly improved the activity and pharmacokinetic profile. In animal studies, oral administration of compound d3 showed a robust and dose-dependent inhibition of the IL-17A cytokine expression in a mouse imiquimod-induced skin inflammation model. Docking analysis of the binding mode revealed that the compound d3 occupied the active pocket suitably. Thus, compound d3 was selected as a clinical compound for the treatment of Th17-driven autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To observe the effects of low-level laser irradiation on mesenteric microcirculation of rats in vivo in the early stage of endotoxemia (ETM)., Methods: The experimental model of ETM was reproduced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sixty healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups used random number table: control group, LPS group and low-level laser irradiation group, each group included 20 rats which were subdivided into four temporal subgroups (1, 2, 4, 6 hours, respectively). In low-level laser irradiation group, the rats were irradiated by type SLT semiconductor laser (650 nm, 5 mW) on unilateral femoral artery and vein, and blood vessel of the ear concurrently for 30 minutes. The interference course was vertical irradiation taken at 30 minutes after the injection of LPS. At 1, 2, 4, 6 hours after the injection of LPS, changes in mesenteric microcirculation and microcirculatory blood flow were recorded with the laser Doppler flowmeter, the velocity of red blood cells in venules was observed, and the number of open capillaries and adherent leukocytes were recorded., Results: The blood flow velocity (mm/s) of the mesenteric microcirculation in LPS group was accelerated at 1 hour and 2 hours after LPS injection (1 hour: 0.190+/-0.007 vs. 0.174+/-0.009, 2 hours: 0.200+/-0.010 vs. 0.172+/-0.015, both P<0.05, respectively), but decelerated at 6 hours (0.116+/-0.015 vs. 0.164+/-0.011, P<0.05). The blood flow volume in the mesenteric vessels and the number of open capillaries did not show any significant change at that time. Significant increase in number of adherent leukocytes was observed at 2, 4, 6 hours after injury (2 hours: 2.60+/-1.14 vs. 0.40+/-0.55, 4 hours: 5.40+/-0.89 vs. 0.40+/-0.55, 6 hours : 5.40+/-1.52 vs. 0.60+/-0.90, all P<0.05, respectively). The state of blood flow in the microcirculation became abnormal. After irradiated with laser in low dose, the blood flow velocity was smooth and stable (mm/s, 1 hour: 0.174+/-0.011, 2 hours: 0.180+/-0.023, 4 hours: 0.168+/-0.013, 6 hours: 0.162+/-0.023), and the number of adherent leukocytes was reduced significantly at 4 hours and 6 hours than that in LPS group (4 hours: 2.00+/-0.71 vs. 5.40+/-0.89, 6 hours: 2.60+/-1.52 vs. 5.40+/-1.52, both P<0.05) and the microcirculatory flow state was improved obviously., Conclusion: Low-level laser irradiation may ameliorate the local mesenteric microcirculation, alleviate the microcirculatory disorder in early stage of ETM.

AIM:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the bioartificial liver support system in canines with acute liver failure (ALF).METHODS:Nine canines with acute liver failure by acetaminophen-induced received TECA-I bioartificial liver support system (BALSS) from Hong Kong TECA LTD Co. Blood was perfused through a hollow fiber tube containing (1-2)X10(10) the porcine hepatocytes.In contrast, another 10 canines with acute liver failure by Acetaminophen received drugs. Each treatment lasted 6 hours.RESULTS:BALSS treatment resulted in beneficial effects for acetaminophen-induced ALF canines with survival and with the recovery of the liver functions and tissues, and plasma ammonia decreased from 135.9&mgr;mol/L plus minus 17.5&mgr;mol/L to 65.7&mgr;mol/L plus minus 22.0&mgr;mol/L, 32.5&mgr;mol/L plus minus 8.8&mgr;mol/L, GPT from 97.8U/L plus minus 8.7U/L to 64.8U/L plus minus 11.9U/L, 19.0U/L plus minus 6.3U/L, GOT from 103.0U/L plus minus 16.7U/L to 75.7U/L plus minus 19.6U/L, 26.5U/L plus minus 5.0U/L, and AKP from 158.3U/L plus minus 12.1U/L to 114.5U/L plus minus 19.8U/L, 43.8U/L plus minus 5.6U/L during and after the treatment. In contrast, 10 ALF canines in both the drug and control groups died 1 or 2 days after treatment.CONCLUSION: TECA-1 artificial liver support system is safe and efficacious for canines with acute liver failure.