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In this paper, we investigate some sufficient conditions of Chung type almost sure convergence and strong law of large numbers of double array of arbitrarily dependent random variables. In the proofs, the techniques developed by Ghosal and Chandra are employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicines have been reported to have outstanding effects in the treating of hepatocellular carcinoma. Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) has demonstrated anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Baicalein, wogonin, and baicalin are the main pharmacologically bioactive compounds of S. baicalensis. Eight electronic databases were searched to select articles published from their inception to 30 May 2022. For selected articles, clinical and preclinical data was obtained on the use of S. baicalensis and its bioactive compounds in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan version 5.3 and Stata software. Quality assessment of the studies was performed using Cochrane and Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE)'s risk of bias tools. Seven clinical and 17 preclinical in vivo studies along with 31 in vitro studies were included in this research. Meta-analysis showed that a Chinese herbal medicine preparation, with S. baicalensis as the sovereign herb, combined with Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or primary treatment, could lead to a significantly improved tumor objective response rate (Risk ratio (RR) = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.30, 1.90], p < 0.00001). Scutellaria baicalensis-based extracts (standard mean difference (SMD) = –0.86, 95%CI: [–1.20, −0.53], p < 0.00001), baicalein (SMD = –4.80, 95%CI: [–6.66, − 2.95], p < 0.00001), baicalin (SMD = –2.28, 95%CI [–3.26, −1.30], p < 0.00001) and wogonin (SMD = –1.41, 95%CI [–2.26, −0.57], p < 0.00001) slowed tumor growth in vivo. These outcomes might be linked to the mechanism by which S. baicalensis promotes apoptosis, induces autophagy, and blocks the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (p < 0.05). Based on experimental and clinical evidence, we believe that S. baicalensis and its bioactive compounds have therapeutic potential and plausible mechanisms of action against hepatocellular carcinoma, in terms of efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to geological conditions, acquisition environment, and economic restrictions, acquired seismic data are often incomplete and irregularly distributed, and this affects subsequent migration imaging and inversion. Sparse constraint-based methods are widely used for seismic data interpolation, including fixed-base transform and dictionary learning. Fixed-base transform methods are fast and simple to implement, but the basis function needs to be pre-selected. The dictionary learning method is more adaptive, and provides a means of learning the sparse representation from corrupted data. K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) is a classical dictionary learning method that combines sparse coding and dictionary updating iteratively. However, the dictionary atoms are updated column-by-column, leading to high computational complexity due to long SVD calculation times. In this study, we evaluated the dictionary learning method via l4-norm maximisation using an orthogonal dictionary, which is different from the traditional l0-norm or l1-norm minimisation, and interpolated the missing traces in the projection onto convex sets (POCS) framework. The optimal objection function is convex, but can be solved using a simple and efficient Matching, Stretching and Projection (MSP) algorithm, which greatly reduces the dictionary learning time. Numerical experiments using synthetic and field data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new dinor-eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, named multistalin A (1), and multistalin B (2), together with three sesquiterpene glycosides (3–5), and a norlabdane-type diterpene (6) were isolated from the root extract of Chloranthus multistachys Pei. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D, 2D NMR techniques and HR-ESI-MS. In addition, the cytotoxicity activities of the isolated compounds against selected cancer cells (Hela and A-549) were evaluated by MTT assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been proven to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neuronal injury. As a novel adipocytokine, omentin is produced by visceral adipose with insulin sensitizing effects and has been revealed to possess anti-inflammatory effects. However, the possible effect of omentin on oxidative stress remains unknown. The present study aimed to detect the potential protective effect of omentin against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cytotoxicity of PC12 cells. The results showed that no cytotoxic effect was shown in PC12 cells co-cultured with omentin alone at a concentration of 50–1000 ng/mL. The CCK8 and TUNEL assays suggested that omentin could remarkably attenuate apoptosis induced by 100 μM H2O2. The PCR and western blotting showed that the expression levels of Bax was significantly inhibited by omentin via the upregulation of miR-128-3p at its 3′-UTR. Taken together, these results indicated that omentin protects PC12 cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis, and further studies need to be conducted before utilization in the clinic for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International scientific collaboration is widely considered a driver of innovation. However, the social processes through which this can occur are complex. It is not only scientists that have a direct interest in international collaboration; but also the institutions or firms that employ them and the governments whose policies are designed to promote collaboration. This article seeks to reveal the social dynamics underpinning this process. Drawing on an empirical study of 79 scientists working in Australia and China we argue that the social process is essentially a system of exchange. Throughout this system, a range of scientific, innovation and social currencies are offered, received and reciprocated. Through the exchange process, scientific and technological capital is accumulated as different expectations are fulfilled and reconciled. Anthropological and sociological literature offers a theoretical framework for the analysis and the findings offer a sociological perspective of scientific collaboration across national innovation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonhealing chronic wounds on foot induced by diabetes is a complicated pathologic process. They are mainly caused by impaired neovascularization, neuropathy, and excessive inflammation. A strategy, which can accelerate the vessel network formation as well as inhibit inflammatory response at the same time, makes it possible for effective diabetic ulcers treatment. Co-delivery of multiple drugs with complementary bioactivity offers a strategy to properly treat diabetic wound. We previously demonstrated that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) could accelerate diabetic wound healing through promoting angiogenesis and reducing inflammatory response. In order to further enhance blood vessel formation, a pro-angiogenic molecular called deferoxamine (DFO) was topically co-administrated with HSYA. The in vitro results showed that the combination of DFO and HSYA exerted synergistic effect on enhancing angiogenesis by upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression. The interpenetrating polymer networks hydrogels, characterized by good breathability and water absorption, were designed for co-loading of DFO and HSYA aiming to recruit angiogenesis relative cells and upgrade wound healing in vivo. Both DFO and HSYA in hydrogel have achieved sustained release. The in vivo studies indicated that HSYA/DFO hydrogel could accelerate diabetic wound healing. With a high expression of Hif-1α which is similar to that of normal tissue. The noninvasive US/PA imaging revealed that the wound could be recovered completely with abundant blood perfusion in dermis after given HSYA/DFO hydrogel for 28 days. In conclusion, combination of pro-angiogenic small molecule DFO and HSYA in hydrogel provides a promising strategy to productively promote diabetic wound healing as well as better the repair quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the binding of the enzyme chitinase A1 (afChiA1) from the plant-typeAspergillus fumigatuswith four potent inhibitors, allosamidin (ASM), acetazolamide (AZM), 8-chloro-theophylline (CTP) and kinetin (KIT) is investigated by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculation. The results reveal that the electrostatic interactions play an important role in the stabilisation of the binding ofafChiA1 with inhibitors. Based on the binding energy ofafChiA1-ligands, the key residues (Gln37 and Trp312) in the active binding pocket of the complex systems are confirmed by molecular mechanics/Poisson–Boltzmann surface area method, and the active inhibitors, ASM and AZM, both could form strong interaction with Gln37 and Trp312, and the non-active ligands, CTP and KIT, could not interact with these two residues, which is consistent with the result of experimental report. Then, it is identified that Gln37 and Trp312 should be one of the important active site residues ofafChiA1. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is characterized by a combination of symptoms including autonomic dysfunction, parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, and cortico-spinal disorders. The disease can have either predominant parkinsonism or cerebellar features (MSA-P and MSA-C, respectively). The measurement of the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) and pudendal nerve somatosensory-evoked potentials (PSEPs) was originally developed to diagnose diabetic cystopathy and other neuropathologic diseases that share similar symptoms with MSA. We investigated the relationship between abnormalities of neurophysiological parameters and MSA, and estimated the potential value of BCR. Methods: Fifty-one MSA patients (28 and 23 MSA-P and 23 MSA-C patients, respectively) and 30 healthy controls who were seen at the Department of Neurology were included in the study. A Keypoint EMG/EP system was used to test BCR and PSEPs, and the latencies and amplitudes were recorded for statistical analyses. Results: The BCR was elicited in 78.4% patients with MSA (22/28 MSA-P, 18/23 MSA-C). Prolonged BCR latencies were found in patients with MSA compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001). BCR amplitudes were significantly lower in the MSA group than the control group (p < 0.001). PSEP P41 amplitudes were not significantly different between the MSA and control groups in males (p = 0.608) or females (p = 0.897). There were no significant differences in PSEP latencies among the MSA-P, MSA-C, and control groups (p = 1.0, p = 0.263, and p = 0.060, respectively). Discussion: MSA patients exhibit prolonged BCR latencies and lower amplitudes, which provides a rough anatomical localization of nervous system lesions in MSA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to establish a reliable high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to investigate the pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution profiles of 2-undecanone. A LC2010AHT HPLC system coupled with UV detector was employed and the separations were performed on a ZORBAX Extend C18analytical column. The mobile phase was a mixture of 50% acetonitrile and 50% water at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min with isocratic elution. The method was validated within the concentration range 0.08–5.00 µg/mL for plasma samples, and 0.04–4.00 µg/g for tissue samples, the calibration curves were linear with correlation coefficients >0.99. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.03 µg/mL or 0.02 µg /g (three times signal/noise ratio). Intra- and inter-day precisions expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD) for the method were 1.95–3.89% and 2.43–4.23%, respectively. The method recoveries for all samples were >80%. The main pharmacokinetic parameters obtained were tmax = (0.32 ± 0.10) h, Cmax = (6.47 ± 1.91) µg/mL, AUC0→∞ = (9.81 ± 3.11) (µg/mL) · h, and Ka = (5.30 ± 1.73) · h−1. The concentrations of 2-undecanone in liver (5.50 ± 0.26 µg/g) and spleen (3.90 ± 0.22 µg/g) were higher than in the other investigated tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using optical rotation effect, a sensitive, simple optical analytical system is developed for determining the phase transition temperatures of liquid crystals (LCs). When a monochromatic polarized light passes through LCs sample and analyzer, the light intensity changes with temperature. Especially, during the phase transition process, the intensity varies greatly due to optical rotation effect. The variation of light intensity versus variation of temperature curve shows the phase transition temperatures of LCs clearly. The phase transition temperatures of three cholesteric liquid crystals (ChLCs) and a nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) were detected by this method, and compared with those of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscope (PLM) methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of response gene to complement-32 (RGC-32) in renal tissue of children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Material and methods. Forty-five patients diagnosed as having IgAN by renal biopsy were enrolled. The expression of RGC-32, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was observed by immunohistostaining. The relationshis between the expression of RGC-32, α-SMA, TGF-β1, degree of renal pathological lesions in IgAN and clinical index were assessed by Spearman correlation. Results. Immunohistostaining analysis showed that RGC-32 protein was present in epithelial cells of renal tubules in normal and IgAN renal tissues. With more severe renal pathological lesions, the expression of RGC-32 in IgAN was increased. The expression of RGC-32 was positively correlated with that of α-SMA, TGF-β1 and the degree of renal pathological lesions in children with IgAN ( p < 0.05), but had no relationship with serum creatinine, urinary N-acetyl-β- d-glucosaminidase/creatinine, urinary microalbuminuria/creatinine, urinary microimmunoglobulin/creatinine or urinary α1-microglobulin/creatinine ratio ( p > 0.05). Conclusion. Expression of RGC-32 can reflect the degree of renal pathological lesions in IgAN. RGC-32 may participate in the renal tubulointerstitial lesions in children with IgAN, especially in epithelial -mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-β1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By introducing octyloxy to C-3 and alkyl groups to C-8 of jatrorrhizine, a series of 3-octyloxy-8-alkyljatrorrhizine derivatives were synthesized and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated in vitro. The results indicated that the derivatives exhibited high antimicrobial activities, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. The 3-octyloxy-8-butyljatrorrhizine displayed the highest antimicrobial activity in all compounds. Their structure-activity relationships were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]