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Multi-layer slopes are widely found in clay residue receiving fields. A generalized horizontal slice method (GHSM) for assessing the stability of multi-layer slopes that considers the energy dissipation between adjacent horizontal slices is presented. In view of the upper-bound limit analysis theory, the energy equation is derived and the ultimate failure mode is generated by comparing the sliding surface passing through the slope toe (mode A) with that below (mode B). In addition, the influence of the number of slices on the stability coefficients in the GHSM is studied and the stable value is obtained. Compared to the original method (Chen's method), the GHSM can acquire more precise results, which takes into account the energy dissipation in the inner sliding soil mass. Moreover, the GHSM, limit equilibrium method (LEM) and numerical simulation method (NSM) are applied to analyze the stability of a multi-layer slope with different slope angles and the results of the safety factor and failure mode are very close in each case. The ultimate failure modes are shown to be mode B when the slope angle is not more than 28°. It illustrates that the determination of the ultimate sliding surface requires comparison of multiple failure modes, not only mode A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granite is a heterogeneous material characterized by a significant population of mechanically distinct grain boundaries, which exert a substantial influence on crack propagation. An extended grain-based model was developed by integrating the geometric heterogeneity, represented by Voronoi tessellations, and the mechanical heterogeneity of grain boundary, as described by Weibull distribution. This study numerically investigates the influence of mechanical heterogeneity in grain boundary on the mechanical properties and microcracking behavior of semi-circular bend granite samples under mode I loading. The mechanical heterogeneity of grain boundary was assessed by independently varying the heterogeneity index, defined by the shape parameter m in the Weibull distribution. The findings indicate that the force–displacement curve and fracture toughness are primarily influenced by the parallel bond tensile strength and cohesion of grain boundary contacts. When the value of m in Weibull distribution is between 1.5 and 2, a compromise between failure patterns and diverse grain boundaries characterization can be reached. Considering the heterogeneous mechanical properties of grain boundary numerically is able to simulate the local stress concentration of the real rocks, thus accelerating the generation of microcracks and reflecting the brittleness of rock failure. Otherwise, the fracture toughness of the rock will may be overestimated. Generally speaking, models that consider grain boundary heterogeneity will produce larger fracture process zone and microscopically complex crack propagation patterns during loading, and these phenomena are more consistent with experimental observations than those models in which grain boundaries are homogeneous. Highlights: The mechanical heterogeneity of grain boundary in granite is quantitatively characterized by the Weibull distribution; The heterogeneous grain boundary could favor the local stress concentration, thus accelerating the generation of microcracks; Considering both geometric heterogeneity of granite and mechanical heterogeneity of grain boundary result in the generation of larger fracture process zone and microscopically complex crack propagation patterns under mode I loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of grain size heterogeneity on the mechanical and microcracking behavior of Lac du Bonnet (LdB) granite during heating, cooling, and uniaxial compression loading is investigated using a grain-based model. By defining a grain size heterogeneity index H, the heterogeneity induced by variation of grain size distribution can be explicitly incorporated into the grain-based model quantitatively. Five modelled LdB granite samples with different grain size heterogeneity indices ranging 0.19–1.22 are established. The results suggest that the grain size heterogeneity and treatment temperature have critical impacts on the mechanical properties of modelled LdB granite samples. With the increase of temperature and grain size heterogeneity index, the mechanical properties show a decreasing trend. Several empirical formulations are developed to predict the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of modelled LdB granite samples with different grain size heterogeneity indices. Generally, modelled LdB granite samples with greater grain size heterogeneity index has a lower temperature of brittle-ductile transition. In terms of microcracking behavior, both temperature and grain size heterogeneity affect it, including number, density, orientation, and distribution. As the temperature increases, the number and related density of thermal stress-induced cracks increase. Generally, the amount of thermal stress in modelled LdB granite samples during heating increases with the increases of grain size heterogeneity index. The controlling factor of the failure pattern of samples gradually changes from the presence of thermal stress-induced cracks to grain size heterogeneity as the model progresses from relatively homogeneous (H ranging 0.19–0.76) to heterogeneous (H ranging 0.93–1.22). Highlights: Explicitly incorporate grain size heterogeneity induced by grain size distribution into a grain-based model. Reveal the effect of grain size heterogeneity on mechanical properties and microcracking behavior of Lac du Bonnet granite at different temperatures. Propose empirical formulations to quantify the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of Lac du Bonnet granite with grain size heterogeneity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the microcracking mechanisms and associated acoustic characteristics involved in the creep of heterogeneous granite at the grain scale is of high importance in practical engineering. To perform this task, a series of creep numerical simulations were conducted on granite with a single pre-existing open flaw using a grain-based parallel-bonded stress corrosion model. We investigated the effect of flaw inclination angle on the creep behavior and discussed the significance of microstructure. The results suggest that the axial strain, secondary creep strain rate and time-to-failure all depend strongly and nonlinearly on the flaw inclination angle. Creep failure is mainly induced by the initiation, propagation and coalescence of microcracks, and the dominant types are inter-grain tension cracks and intra-grain tension cracks. The b value, source types and distribution of acoustic emission events are associated with the flaw inclination angle and driving-stress ratio. Tensile sources account for the majority of the total number of acoustic emission sources, while shear and implosive acoustic emission sources are larger in magnitude. The model with higher heterogeneity creeps at a faster rate under the same applied constant axial stress. The higher number of acoustic emission events at each creep stage of such model indicates that the relatively heterogeneous microstructure provides more paths for the growth of microcracks during creep loading. As the heterogeneity increases, the secondary creep strain rate rises and the b value decreases. The position of the final macroscale shear band of pre-cracked granite is more affected by pre-existing flaw compared to its microstructure. Highlights: An extended grain-based parallel-bonded stress corrosion (GB-PSC) model was proposed to simulate the creep and associated acoustic behavior of granite. Voronoi tessellations to provide a more realistic representation of the microstructure of granite. Effects of open flaw inclination angle on creep behavior of pre-cracked granite were systematically investigated and the significance of microstructure were discussed. The acoustic emission characteristics of mineral boundaries and interiors during creep loading were obtained using the moment tensor analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Emerging evidence suggests that cytotoxic therapy may promote drug resistance and metastasis while inhibiting the growth of primary tumors. As yet, however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the pro-metastatic effects of adriamycin (ADR) therapy on breast cancer cells and to investigate the mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods: Differentially expressed genes between MCF-7 and ADR-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells were identified using high-throughput RNA-seq and differential gene expression analyses. In vitro transwell and scratch wound-healing assays, and an in vivo spontaneous metastasis model were used to study the metastatic potential of the breast cancer cells. The relationship between SIRT7 and TEK expression was studied using promoter activity, electrophoretic mobility shift (EMSA), CHIP-qPCR and Co-IP assays. Results: Using transcriptome sequencing, we identified two key genes (SIRT7 and TEK) that might contribute to the pro-metastatic effect of ADR on breast cancer cells. SIRT7 acted as a negative regulator for TEK by inducing deacetylation of H3K18 at the TEK promoter. Through transcription factor prediction and double fluorescence experiments, we found that EST-1 could bind to the TEK promoter. Knockdown of EST-1 removed the transcriptional inhibition of TEK that was mediated by up-regulation of SIRT7. Co-IP showed that SIRT7 interacts directly with EST-1 in breast cancer cells, indicating that SIRT7 may induce H3K18 deacetylation at the TEK promoter region by directly binding to EST-1. In vitro and in vivo results showed that overexpression of SIRT7 or inhibition of TIE2 significantly reduced ADR-dependent breast cancer cell invasion/metastasis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ADR therapy may accelerate breast cancer metastasis in a SIRT7/TEK(TIE2) dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental work is presented that aims to improve our understanding of water–rock reaction, under both neutral and acidic conditions, and its effects on the mechanical deterioration of sandstone in Chongqing, southwest China, where a lot of heritage rock statues are carved in the same strata. SCB tests were conducted to evaluate the weakening of fracture toughness of Chongqing sandstone after water and acid erosions, and a high-speed camera was employed to capture its cracking behaviors under different hydrochemical conditions. Microstructural observation was also carried out to investigate the cracking path at a micro-scale, and the chemical analyses of sandstone soaking water in a duration of up to 120 days allows to reveal the evolving process of water–rock reaction. The results show that compared to acid solutions of pH = 3 and 5, the strength weakening effect of distilled water on Chongqing sandstone is more severe. Crack propagation rates captured by the high-speed camera vary between 20 and 60 mm/s in the SCB tests. There is no significant difference in the data for dry and water-saturated samples, and the same for the samples in the two acid fluids. Yet the crack growth rates of the latter two groups are apparently greater than those of the former two. The chemical reaction between water / acid solutions and Chongqing sandstone is mainly pertinent to the cementation and grain boundaries, which weakens grain contacts and promote crack propagation. This mechanism results in a low KIC, long crack length, i.e., more tortuosity along grain boundaries, and high crack propagation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), black phosphorus (BP), MXene and borophene, have aroused extensive attention since the discovery of graphene in 2004. They have wide range of applications in many research fields, such as optoelectronic devices, energy storage, catalysis, owing to their striking physical and chemical properties. Among them, anisotropic 2D material is one kind of 2D materials that possess different properties along different directions caused by the intrinsic anisotropic atoms' arrangement of the 2D materials, mainly including BP, borophene, low-symmetry TMDs (ReSe2 and ReS2) and group IV monochalcogenides (SnS, SnSe, GeS, and GeSe). Recently, a series of new devices has been fabricated based on these anisotropic 2D materials. In this review, we start from a brief introduction of the classifications, crystal structures, preparation techniques, stability, as well as the strategy to discriminate the anisotropic characteristics of 2D materials. Then, the recent advanced applications including electronic devices, optoelectronic devices, thermoelectric devices and nanomechanical devices based on the anisotropic 2D materials both in experiment and theory have been summarized. Finally, the current challenges and prospects in device designs, integration, mechanical analysis, and micro-/nano-fabrication techniques related to anisotropic 2D materials have been discussed. This review is aimed to give a generalized knowledge of anisotropic 2D materials and their current devices applications, and thus inspiring the exploration and development of other kinds of new anisotropic 2D materials and various novel device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new schiff base cobalt(III) complex [N,N′-bis(2′-hydroxyphenylacetone)-o-ethanediamine] cobalt(III) (M3) has been synthesized and characterized by single X-ray crystallography. The cytotoxicity of complex M3 was evaluated against HeLa, LoVo, A549, A549/cis cancer cell lines, and the normal cell lines LO2 by MTT assays. The IC50 is in the range of 6.27-22.68 μM, which is somewhat lower than cisplatin on the basis of platinum molar concentration. Furthermore, anticancer mechanistic studies showed that the complex M3 inhibited cell proliferation by blocking DNA synthesis and then acted on nuclear division of HeLa cells over time. Moreover, western blot analysis indicated M3 dramatically decreased the target protein c-Myc and KLF5 expression levels, and activated many signaling pathways including ER stress, apoptosis, cell cycle and DNA damage in HeLa. M3 did not affect proteasomal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferritin, an iron-storage protein, regulates cellular iron metabolism and oxidative stress. The ferritin structure is characterized as a spherical cage, inside which large amounts of iron are deposited in a safe, compact and bioavailable form. All ferritins readily catalyze Fe(II) oxidation by peroxides at the ferroxidase center to prevent free Fe(II) from participating in oxygen free radical formation via Fenton chemistry. Thus, ferritin is generally recognized as a cytoprotective stratagem against intracellular oxidative damage The expression of cytosolic ferritins is usually regulated by iron status and oxidative stress at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The mechanism of ferritin-mediated iron recycling is far from clarified, though nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) was recently identified as a cargo receptor for ferritin-based lysosomal degradation. Cytosolic ferritins are heteropolymers assembled by H- and L-chains in different proportions. The mitochondrial ferritins are homopolymers and distributed in restricted tissues. They play protective roles in mitochondria where heme- and Fe/S-enzymes are synthesized and high levels of ROS are produced. Genetic ferritin disorders are mainly related to the L-chain mutations, which generally cause severe movement diseases. This review is focused on the biochemistry and function of mammalian intracellular ferritin as the major iron-storage and anti-oxidation protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A particle-based discrete element model combined with digital image processing to take into account the grain geometry and size distribution is used to investigate the mechanical and microcracking behavior of Beishan granite (BG), a typical crystalline rock potential for nuclear waste disposal in China. First, the procedure to construct a digital image-based grain-based model is introduced. The unsupervised K-means clustering algorithm is used to determine mineral boundaries, and four micro-parameters are assigned according to the Weibull distribution to reflect micro-heterogeneity of rock. Then, the model is calibrated to the macro-properties of BG obtained from laboratory tests, and consistency between model simulation and laboratory test results of both microcracking processes and failure modes is found. It is shown that intragrain cracks are initiated successively in quartz, feldspar, and mica; and their numbers in quartz and feldspar are much more than that in mica. Crack cluster, forking cracks and cataclastic microcracking are typical in quartz, while the "voids" is found in mica. Grain property heterogeneity has a significant impact on micro-cracking behavior and macro-properties of the model, with greater heterogeneity resulting in a lower uniaxial compression strength and elastic modulus, and a more scattered distribution of microcrack inclination. The modeling procedures presented here provide an effective method for investigating mechanical and damage behavior of granites, with specific consideration of heterogeneity involving the distribution of mineral grains and their mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A comprehensive review of the recent development of two-dimensional (2D) PtSe2 synthesis strategies has been extensively surveyed. The applications of 2D PtSe2 materials in areas, including opto/electric devices, photocatalysis, hydrogen evolution reaction, and sensors, have been reviewed. Current challenges in the development of 2D PtSe2 materials are identified, and outlooks toward unexplored research areas are suggested.In recent years, emerging two-dimensional (2D) platinum diselenide (PtSe2) has quickly attracted the attention of the research community due to its novel physical and chemical properties. For the past few years, increasing research achievements on 2D PtSe2 have been reported toward the fundamental science and various potential applications of PtSe2. In this review, the properties and structure characteristics of 2D PtSe2 are discussed at first. Then, the recent advances in synthesis of PtSe2 as well as their applications are reviewed. At last, potential perspectives in exploring the application of 2D PtSe2 are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis is an important process for maintaining tissue homeostasis and eliminating abnormal cells in multicellular organisms. Abnormality in apoptosis often leads to severe diseases such as cancers. Better understanding of its mechanisms and processes is therefore important. Accompanying molecular biology events of apoptosis is a series of cellular morphology changes: nucleus condensation, cell shrinkage and rounding, cell surface blebbing, dynamic blebbing, apoptotic membrane protrusions and nucleus fragmentations and finally, the formation and release of apoptotic bodies. It is difficult to detect cellular changes in the early phase of apoptosis due to the subtle changes at this phase. In the current study, we induced apoptosis in HeLa cells with H2O2 and used nuclear dye Hoechst 33258, mitochondria, lysosome and cytoplasmic protein specific aggregation-induced emission fluorogens (AIEgens), TPE-Ph-In, 2M-DABS and BSPOTPE to successfully perform live cell multiplexed imaging to investigate early apoptosis cellular events. We showed the gradual dissipation of mitochondria membrane potential until it is nondetectable by TPE-Ph-In. Increased mitophagy detected by TPE-Ph-In and 2M-DABS, condensed nucleus detected by Hoechst 33258, increased permeability and/or reduced integrity of nuclear membrane, and increased intracellular vesicles detected by 2M-DABS are some of the early events of apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder dusting method is the most practically useful approach for latent fingerprint development in the crime scene. Herein, a general powder dusting method has been explored for latent fingerprint development based on aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens). A series of tetraphenylethene (TPE) derivatives with multiple diphenylamine (DPA), namely, TPE-DPA, TPE-2DPA and TPE-4DPA, were selected as candidates to dope with magnetic powders and applied for latent fingerprint development. After screening, the magnetic powder 3 doped with TPE-4DPA proves to be the best, in terms of fluorescent intensity, resolution and adhesiveness. Afterwards, the magnetic powder 3 was applied for visualization of latent fingerprint on various smooth and porous substrates, including glass, stainless steel, leaf, ceram, plastic bag, lime wall, wood and paper money. Specific details, such as island, core, termination and bifurcation, can be clearly observed for the fluorescent fingerprint images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daidzin (DZ) and genistin (GEN) are the main glucosidic components of soy isoflavone; the detection of DZ and GEN can provide insight for the appropriate ingestion of soy products. An indirect competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (icCLIA) method based on N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI) as chemiluminescent (CL) label was developed to assay DZ in soy products. Meanwhile, GEN also could be determined due to the cross reaction with DZ monoclonal antibody (MAb). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was used to label the pure DZ antigen to compete with DZ in toy products. Magnetic beads (MBs) capped with anti-FITC antibody were both the solid phase and separator. The chemiluminescence signal produced by the emission of photons from ABEI was inversely proportional to the amount of DZ and GEN in the sample solution. The method was linear to 6000 ng/mL DZ with a detection limit of 1.34 ng/mL. The intra-assay imprecision results [mean (coefficient of variation, CV)] were less than 6%. The average recoveries ranged from 92 to 98%. The relationship between the proposed method and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) exhibited a correlation. The proposed method demonstrates acceptable performance for rapid quantification of DZ and GEN and can be used to rapidly detect these substances in soy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Muchanghe landslide is located on the left bank of the Muchang River in Dongping reservoir, Hubei Province, China. During reservoir impoundment, cracking and dislocation deformations occurred at the front and middle parts of the Muchanghe landslide. Once the landslide was triggered, the river could be blocked, which would lead to a serious threat to upstream flood control safety. In this study, the engineering geological properties and deformation characteristics of the Muchanghe landslide during impoundment were analyzed. A 3-D limit equilibrium method was proposed for the stability analysis of this asymmetric landslide. Based on the proposed 3-D method, a visualization program (JSlope3D) was developed and applied to evaluate the stability of the Muchanghe landslide. The results indicated that the stability of the landslide gradually decreases with the rise of impounding water level in the Dongping reservoir. When the impounding water level reaches an elevation of 490 m (normal pool level), the calculated factor of safety predicted that the landslide would be in an unstable state. To prevent the generation of a landslide failure, a reinforcement scheme involving the cutting back of the slope and backfill was proposed to improve the stability of the landslide. Using the proposed 3-D method, the Muchanghe landslide, after stabilization, was stable at different impoundment water levels and can satisfy the requirements of the design specification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered to be a typical condition of glucose intolerance in which a woman previously undiagnosed with diabetes exhibits high levels of blood glucose during the third trimester of pregnancy. It can hence be defined as any degree of intolerance to glucose with its first recognition only during the pregnancy. Approximately 7 % of all cases of pregnancy are found to be variedly complicated with GDM and this result in more than 200,000 cases annually. In US only, GDM has been found to complicate about 7-14 % cases annually, and the trend seems to have increased by 35-100 % in the recent years. A history of GDM can be considered to be one of the sturdiest risk factors concerning the development of type 2 diabetes. Among women who have a history of GDM, the risk of developing classical type 2 diabetes usually ranges from 20 to 50 %. Evidences collected from various efficacy trials suggest that lifestyle interventions like weight management can modulate and prevent type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals. The cornerstone of GDM management is glycemic control, and hence, it is attributed to be the main focus of attention for the therapy. In this review, we have tried to highlight the various risk factors associated with GDM along with the available therapeutic options in the treatment and management of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is common that the deformation of an excavation slope leads to the displacement or even destruction of the surrounding buildings. An effective way to put an end to such accidents is to have adequate knowledge on the trigger factors of the deformation and failure of excavation slopes. Herein, taking the foundation pit slope at the Cultural Square in Badong County, China as an example, we carried out a site survey, including the engineering geology condition, the terrain change process, the spatial distribution characteristics of the surface crack and the construction process of the foundation pit. A further study was performed on the trigger factors, such as geological environment, earthquake, rainfall, fluctuation of reservoir level, human engineering activities, on ground surface deformation. The results show that the complex engineering geological condition and weak geological environment are the internal factors that lead to the deformation of the foundation pit slop. Earthquakes and fluctuations of reservoir level have little effect on this deformation, while rainfall and the excavation have a significant influence on it. The excavation process destroys the original geological environment and is thus the critical external factor inducing the formation and growth of crack, and rainfall intensifies the deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the role of progranulin (PGRN) in cervical cancer, which is an autocrine growth factor. We used immunohistochemistry, western blot, and ELISA to determine the expression levels of PGRN in cervical cancer and cervical cancer cell lines. Immortalized normal cervical cell line H8 with lower PGRN expression was treated with recombinant human PGRN (rhPGRN) and forced expression of PGRN by transfection and cell proliferation were determined. PGRN knockdown by siRNA was also performed in HeLa cells with high PGRN expression and cell proliferation was also determined. Furthermore, H8 cell xenograft mouse model was employed to determine if PGRN treatment could increase tumorigenesis of H8 cell xenograft. Our results showed that PGRN expression was significantly increased in cervical cancer tissue and high expression of PGRN is closely correlated with the degree of malignancy in cervical cancer cell lines. Increased PGRN expression or rhPGRN treatment increased the proliferation of H8 cells. Consistently, PGRN knockdown in HeLa cells by siRNA transfection reduced proliferation of HeLa cells. In H8 cell xenograft model, both intraperitoneal and intratumoral rhPGRN treatments increased tumorigenic capacity of H8 cell line. Our results suggested that PGRN could be used as both a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling between hydraulic and mechanical behavior of the fractured rock mass is of great significance for various civil and environmental engineering projects. In order to study the hydro-mechanical behavior of single fracture, seepage tests under different confining pressures and fracture water pressures were conducted on single shear fractures produced by triaxial loading of diabase rock samples from Danjiangkou Water Reservoir, China. Test results show that fluid pressure acting on fracture surfaces has strong influences on the hydraulic behavior of the fracture. Based on the classic Biot poroelasticity theory and by taking the fracture as assembling of a set of voids in rock mass, a generalized Biot coefficient is introduced to describe the interaction effect between pore fluid pressure and fracture deformation. Then, a nonlinear constitutive equation for single fracture under both normal stress and fluid pressure is developed. Later, the mechanical deformation of the fracture is related to the fracture hydraulic conductivity through 'cubic law', so that a coupled mechanical-hydraulic model is proposed. All the four parameters involved in this model have their physical significances and can be determined through mechanical compression tests and seepage tests. A first validity of the model is made by predicting the variation of fracture flowrates versus normal stress under different fluid pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a simple and validated reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) with fluorescence detection has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine (Gly) and taurine (Tau) in Wistar and tremor rats brain synaptosomes. The samples were separated on a C18 analytical column with gradient elution of methanol and 0.1 mol L potassium acetate at a flow rate of 1 mL min. Total run time was approximately 25 min. All calibration curves exhibited good linearity ( r > 0.999) within test ranges. The reproducibility was estimated by intra-and inter-day assays and RSD values were less than 2.48%. The recoveries were between 96.32 and 105.21%. The method was successfully applied to the quantification of amino acids in Wistar and tremor rats brain synaptosomes. Through this developed protocol, the levels of Glu in hippocampal and prefrontal cortical synaptosomes of tremor rats were both significantly elevated than those of adult Wistar rats whereas significantly decreased concentrations of GABA and Gly were observed in the hippocampal region of tremor rats without evident difference in the prefrontal cortex between experimental and control groups. In addition, our studies also showed a marked elevation of Tau in tremor rats hippocampal synaptosomes although there was no pronounced difference in the prefrontal cortical region of Wistar and tremor rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]