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Two new natural products named 5,7-dihydroxy-3,3',6,8-tetramethoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxyflavone (1) and 3,3',5,7-tetramethoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxyflavone (2), along with thirteen known compounds, β-sitosterol (3), desmethoxyyangonin (4), hexadecane (5), 3,9-bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro [5.5] undecane 3,9-dioxide (6), 2'6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxydihydrochalcone (7), cardamonin (8), 3,3',5,6,7,8-hexamethoxy-4',5'-methylenedioxyflavone (9), isofraxidin (10), aniba dimer A (11), 3,3',4',5,5',8-hexamethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone (12), quercetin (13), quercitrin (14) and isoquercitrin (15) were isolated from Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai by various chromatographic methods. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, and 12 were isolated from S. glabra for the first time. Their chemical structures were identified through the analysis of NMR and HR-MS spectra. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–15 were evaluated in cell assays. The results indicated that compounds 1, 7, 8, 10, 14, and 15 significantly inhibited the NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Moreover, compounds 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 exhibited a cytotoxic effect on the human HepG2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a teaching-and-learning case study of a 2018–2019 university-based summer institute in Beijing, China that concerned environmental education in support of global citizenship, involving Chinese and international faculty from education, social work, and related disciplines. The case study identifies: (1) the context of the summer institute; (2) its goals, design, and basic content; and (3) lessons learned for social work education. Specific attention is paid to: the importance of connecting university-based ecosocial work education with community-based practice in a Chinese context; addressing global social and environmental justice concerns through rural collaborative problem-solving; and navigating disciplinary boundaries involving social work education and other disciplines and professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiments on the adsorption of Re(VII) onto Tributyl phosphate (TBP) coated solvent-impregnated LS-300 resins (TBP-CSIRs) were performed systematically. The optimal TBP concentration for the impregnation was 70%. The adsorption equilibrium reached in 6 h and the saturation adsorption capacity was 24.48 mg/g. The highest separation coefficients of rhenium over copper, iron, zinc, nickel, and arsenic were 93, 412, 348, 72 and 51, respectively. The adsorption capacity maintained in 93.50% after five times recycles. A 97.57% rhenium was recovered from waste acid with TBP-CSIRs, respectively. This study would contribute to the direct recovery of rhenium from waste acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephrotoxicity, especially acute kidney injury (AKI), is the main dose-limiting toxicity of cisplatin. Although recent studies showed that curcumin prevented cisplatin-induced AKI effectively, further studies to understand the mechanism are required. We established an AKI mouse model. Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to three groups: saline group (control), cisplatin group (CP), and curcumin + cisplatin group (CP + Cur). The CP group received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cisplatin, while the control group received saline. The CP + Cur group received i.p. curcumin three days before cisplatin injection and curcumin administered for another three days until the day before euthanization. Renal injury was assessed by serological and histological analysis. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and microRNA (miR)-181a expression in the renal tissues. Bioinformatics prediction and western blotting methods validated the targets of miR-181a in vitro. Curcumin treatment alleviated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity as validated by the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values, and histological analysis of kidneys. At the molecular level, curcumin treatment decreased miR-181a expression level, which was induced by cisplatin and restored the in vivo expression of PTEN, which was suppressed by cisplatin. We verified the direct regulation of PTEN by miR-181a in cultured human embryonic kidney 293T cells. We showed the involvement of miR-181a/PTEN axis in the renoprotective effect of curcumin against cisplatin-induced AKI, and provide new evidence on the ability of curcumin to alleviate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of organization-environment relations informs how organizational managers, community leaders, and policymakers and advocates secure essential resources, justify their strategic importance, collaborate and compete, and engage in civic participation and politics. Yet the topic has rarely focused upon the built and natural environments; and research on environmental justice (as a sister of social justice) has lagged despite longstanding concerns of environmental racism and strong interest in the development and sustainment of community-based practices, programs, and policies in response to environmental degradation. We provide a brief vision of macro practice, education, research, and theory that is (1) centered in environmental justice and (2) rooted in what managers and leaders do within organizations and communities. Our analysis identifies novel and needed directions for the future, as we imply that important theoretical and conceptual perspectives supporting macro practice, programming, and research are being unmoored by environmental dislocations facing targeted communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural populations in the developing world face great challenges in climate adaptation and human development. Broader development and climate adaptation can potentially enhance each other, and their positive synergies are essential to improve human well-being in less developed rural areas. Such synergies are, however, commonly lacking across developing countries. This paper examines the relationship between climate adaptation and broader development and finds a positive synergy in the Poyang Lake Region (PLR) - an important rice producing area in China that is vulnerable to flood hazards. We further examine household decision-making and link household decisions to rice cropping patterns interpreted from satellite images to explain the micro- to macro- mechanisms that lead to this synergy. The analysis shows that both the broader development context (national economic development and agricultural policy) and specific risk management (levees) are important for creating the positive synergy. Moreover, it is the right interactions of the social, natural, and technological subsystems that enable rural households to make different land-use and livelihood choices in a way that improves rural livelihoods and reduces flood impacts on rural livelihoods. The diverse household choices then collectively lead to preservation of rice production, despite the negative influence from increasing nonfarm work, and decreased flood impacts on agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was the first report for the complete chloroplast genome of Passiflora serrulata Jacq. (Passifloraceae). The cp genome was 149,683 bp in length contained two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,470 bp, which were separated by large single-copy (LSC) and small single-copy (SSC) of 86,252 bp and 13,491 bp, respectively. A total of 110 functional genes were encoded, comprised 76 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The GC content was 37.0%. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that P. serrulata was recovered as the member of subg. Passiflora and most closely related to the clade formed by P. serratodigitata and P. ligularis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete chloroplast genome of Passiflora miniata Vanderpl. was reported in this study. The cp genome was 149,573 bp in length including two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,012 bp, which were separated by LSC and SSC of 86,070 bp and 13,479 bp, respectively. The GC content was 37.1%. The genome encoded 106 functional genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree indicated that P. miniata was recovered in the clade of subg. Passiflora and most related to P. vitifolia. This newly reported plastid genome will provide essential data for further study on the phylogeny and evolution of the genus and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an important factor for the sustainable development of tourism. We constructed a comprehensive model of the tourism water footprint (TWF), including tourism sewage and water for management, and used the world heritage Mount Huangshan as an example. The results showed that the total TWF, which included green, blue and grey water of Mount Huangshan in 2012, was about 10.19 million m3/year, approximately per tourist 3.39 m3/day or 3387 L/day. Tourism sewage and food were the main factors of water consumption. The spatial transfer of TWF led the spillover of tourism environmental impact, not only affecting Mount Huangshan but the Huangshan City and even nationwide. Tourist flow and temperature had a highly significant positive correlation with the TWF. Quantifying the TWF can reflect the pressure of tourists on water resources, and provide an effective decision-making basis for rational use of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decades, various analytical macroscopic models of structural walls have been developed for simulating the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) walls. Due to the inherently complicated characteristics of RC walls, macroscopic models that can capture all the important response characteristics with good accuracy and applicability are very challenging to establish. A thorough review of the four main types of mathematical macro models of RC walls, i.e., the vertical-line-element-model, the 2-D shear panel element model, the equivalent truss model and the fiber-based model, is presented to discuss the methodology behind each model and examine the corresponding merits and disadvantages. Suggestions are also made for the further research of the macro modeling of structural walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the preparation of a PEGylated niosomes-mediated drug delivery systems for Paeonol, thereby improving the bioavailability and chemical stability of Paeonol, prolonging its cellular uptake and enhancing its synergistic anti-cancer effects with 5-Fu. PEGylated niosomes, which are prepared from biocompatible nonionic surfactant of Spans 60 and cholesterol, and modified with PEG-SA. Pae-PEG-NISVs were evaluatedin vitroandin vivo. The cytotoxicity of Pae-PEG-NISVs was investigated against HepG2 cells. Fluorescence microscope was used to detect the apoptotic morphological changes. Growth inhibition assays were carried out to investigate whether Pae-PEG-NISVs could enhance the antiproliferative effects of Pae co-treated with 5-FU on HepG2 cells. The optimized Pae-PEG-NISVs had mean diameters of approximately 166 nm and entrapment efficiency (EE) of 61.8%. Furthermore, thein vitrorelease study of Paeonol from PEGylated niosomes exhibited a relatively prolonged release profile for 12 h. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats after i.v. injection showed that Pae-PEG-NISVs had increased elimination half-lives (t1/2, 87.5 versus 17.0 min) and increased area under the concentration–time curve (AUC0-t, 38.0 versus 19.48 μg/ml*min) compared to Paeonol solution. Formulated Paeonol had superior cytotoxicity versus the free drug with IC50values of 22.47 and 85.16 μg/mL at 24 h on HepG2 cells, respectively, and we found that low concentration of Pae-PEG-NISVs and 5-Fu in conjunction had obviously synergistic effect. Our results indicate that the PEG-NISVs system has the potential to serve as an efficient carrier for Paeonol by effectively solubilizing, stabilizing and delivering the drug to the cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has become a global health burden because of its contagious mode of transmission and the resultant long-term liver damage. Aim: To investigate how the polymorphisms of theIFN-γgene, particularly theIFN-γ+874T/A (rs2430561) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), influence susceptibility to HBV infection. Subjects and methods: Relevant articles were identified by a comprehensive literature search covering the following computerised bibliographic databases. Eleven independent case-control studies were ultimately selected for the current meta-analysis, comprising a total of 1527 HBV cases and 1467 healthy subjects. Results: The results in the current meta-analysis showed that carriers of theIFN-γA allele were more likely to develop HBV infection than those without in all five genetic models (allp < 0.05). According to the ethnicity-based sub-group analysis, a significant difference of theIFN-γrs2430561 T > A polymorphism was detected associated with the increased risk of HBV infection in Asians and European-derived populations in the majority of the groups. Conclusions: The results implicate a possible relationship between theIFN-γrs2430561 T > A polymorphism and the risk of HBV infection. Therefore,IFN-γgenetic polymorphisms might be important in determining an individual’s susceptibility to HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As rural households worldwide become increasingly engaged in urban economies and regional and global markets, agricultural land use is increasingly under influences of macrolevel forces. Investigating the cross-scale processes behind land-use decisions of rural households is important for understanding the deferential effects of macrolevel forces across local social and environmental contexts. We combined quantitative analysis of household surveys and qualitative analysis of interviews and participant observations in eight villages in the Poyang Lake Region of China to investigate how macrolevel forces associated with policy reforms in China (i.e., urban job markets and agricultural markets) interact with microlevel factors (i.e., the biophysical environment, location, and household demographics) to shape land-use decisions of rural households. We also found differential regional government interventions that reinforced preexisting biophysical conditions to affect household crop choices, contributing to the maintenance of intensive two-season rice production in select agricultural bases. Our use of multilevel modeling and qualitative analysis enabled an improved understanding of the cross-scale processes behind household land-use decisions, which has practical implications for securing food production and promoting sustainable land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat bran was magnetically modified with microwave-synthesized magnetic iron oxides particles. Magnetic wheat bran was chosen as a biosorbent for removal of uranium from aqueous solutions. The uranium sorption increased with increasing pH and reached a plateau between pH 4.0 and 10.0. The increase of temperature slightly improved the sorption process. The uranium adsorption followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative convenient approach for the bromination of various poly-substituted 4-pyridones has been developed via an oxidative nuclear bromination in the presence of sole pyridinium bromochromate (PBC). The PBC performs the dual role of oxidant and source of Br+during the process. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition ofSynthetic Communications®for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel chitosan (Cs)/gelatin (Gel) porous scaffolds containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and heparan sulfate (HS) were fabricated via freeze-drying technique, and their physicochemical characteristics including pore size, porosity, water absorption, and in vitro degradation and biocompatibility were investigated. It was demonstrated that the Cs/Gel/HA/HS composite scaffolds had highly homogeneous and interconnected pores with porosity above 96% and average pore size ranging from 90 to 140 urn and a controllable degradation rate. The scanning electron microscopic images, cell viability assay, and fluorescence microscopy observation revealed that the presence of HA and HS in the scaffolds significantly promoted initial neural stem and progenitor cells (NS/PCs) adhesion and supported long-time growth in three-dimensional environment. Moreover, NS/PCs also maintained mutilineage differentiation potentials with enhanced neuronal differentiation upon induction in the Cs/Gel/HA/ HS composite scaffolds in relation to Cs/Gel scaffolds. These results indicated that the Cs/ Gel/HA/HS composite scaffolds were suitable for neural cells' adhesion, survival, and growth and could offer new and important options for neural tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of l-arginine supplementation on blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy. Methods. Trials were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. A total of five trials were included in the meta-analysis. Results. l-Arginine supplementation exhibited a mean decrease of 3.07 mmHg ( p = 0.004) for diastolic blood pressure and a mean increase of 1.23 weeks ( p = 0.002) for gestation age at delivery in pregnancy, but did not reduce systolic BP ( p = 0.19) as compared to placebo. Conclusion. l-Arginine supplementation had a significant effect of lowering diastolic blood pressure and prolonging gestation age in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 174 respondents completed an online questionnaire measuring their responses to a liked, neutral, or disliked character from the ABC drama Lost. Specifically, they reported their perceived similarity, identification while viewing, and parasocial interaction with the character, as well as the extent to which they had tried to change aspects of themselves to be more like the character (“change/influence”). Across the whole sample, perceived similarity was a significant positive predictor of both identification and parasocial interaction, and identification was associated with higher levels of parasocial interaction. Parasocial interaction, but not identification, was a significant positive predictor of reported change/influence. When the three types of characters were examined separately, all four responses were higher for liked and neutral characters than for disliked characters, and parasocial interaction was higher for liked than for neutral characters. Interpretations of the findings, and implications for understanding viewers' involvement with media characters, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds, rubescensins Q and R ( 1 and 2 ), and a new acetonide derivative ( 3 ) of lasiodonin, together with thirteen known analogues, oridonin ( 4 ), ponicidin ( 5 ), wikstroemioidin B ( 6 ), lasiodonin ( 7 ), lasiokaurin ( 8 ), enmenol ( 9 ), 1- O -β- d -glucopyranosyl-enmenol ( 10 ), trichokaurin ( 11 ), the acetonide of maoyecrystal F ( 12 ), rabdoternins A-D ( 13 - 16 ), have been isolated from Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis . The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially the 2D NMR spectral analysis. Compound 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against K562, Bcap37, CA, CNE, BIU87, BGC823, and HeLa cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]