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This research explores the intricate-coupling relationship between typhoons and the ionosphere by the high-frequency surface wave radar's (HFSWR) over-the-horizon capabilities. This letter describes the gravity wave features in travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and ionospheric drift information. Further discussion is raised on the chaotic properties of gravity wave features using the Lyapunov exponents and chaotic attractors, particularly as they are influenced by typhoon. To predict these gravity wave features more accurately, a new model is developed by synergizing phase space reconstruction theory and statistical learning theory, a chaotic prediction model for gravity wave features constructed on a third-order Volterra filter. The experimental findings confirm that the gravity waves features detected via HFSWR present the hyperchaotic behaviour. More importantly, the innovative gravity wave prediction model based on chaotic attractor can capture the dynamics of the original chaotic system. Notably, the model's prediction accuracy has been improved by 98.6% after the introduction of phase space reconstruction modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe synergistic effect of ionic liquids (ILs) and anionic surfactants, ILs and cationic surfactants, and ILs and nonionic surfactants to form microemulsions has been studied by other researchers, while the synergistic effect of ionic liquids and zwitterionic surfactants to form microemulsions has not been reported. Here, we report the synergistic effect of imidazolium ionic liquid, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [C16mim] [Br], and betaine-type zwitterionic surfactant, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (CAHS), as surfactants, to form microemulsions with n-butanol, n-hexane and water. Phase behavior of the systems with different mass ratios of two surfactants, varied mass ratios of surfactant to cosurfactant (Km), and different temperatures are investigated by pseudo-ternary phase diagrams. The single-phase region of the microemulsion is maximized when the ratio of CAHS to [C16mim] [Br] is 1:4 and Km is 1.5, with little temperature dependence. The size and the polarity of microemulsions are explored. The synergistic effect of [C16mim] [Br] and CAHS is confirmed by surface tension and interface tension. A universal preparation method to form microemulsions by combining ionic liquids with zwitterionic betaine-type surfactants is provided and it play a pivotal role in broadening the potential uses of ILs in microemulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) modified glassy carbon electrodes (HBC/GCEs) was fabricated by an electrochemical synthesis, solving the difficulty of the preparation of HBC films because of its poor solubility. HBC/GCE was used as a sensing electrode for the voltammetric investigation of imidacloprid (IDP). The presence of HBC increased the conductivity of GCE, and showed good electrocatalytic activity toward the reaction of IDP. Therefore, the HBC enhanced the electrochemical signal of IDP, which increased the sensitivity of the sensor. The best performance was obtained by optimizing the electrochemical synthesis time, pH and enrichment time. The linear response range and the limit of detection were 5 to 750 μmol·L−1 and 1.5 μmol·L−1, respectively. Moreover, the proposed sensor also exhibited good repeatability, selectivity and stability, and promising applications for real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over half of patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA) will have an air-bonr gap (ABG), however, current research on audiology has focused on the influencing factors of air-conducted. To retrospectively analyse the influencing factors and clinical manifestations of the bone-conduction threshold and ABG in patients with EVA. We included 286 patients with EVA; among them, 126 had full SLC26A4 gene sequence results. We performed a descriptive analysis of the bone-conduction threshold and explored the effect of age. Finally, we analyzed the relationship of ABG and SLC26A4 genes with the degree of vestibular aqueduct (VA) enlargement. Among 555 ears, 312 (57.8%) ears had ABG; approximately 94% of the patients' bone-conduction hearing is almost completely lost at frequencies of 2 and 4 kHz. There was no linear correlation between age and bone-conduction threshold (p > 0.05). ABG did not significantly differ according to the degree of VA enlargement and number of SLC26A4 allele mutations (p > 0.05). Among patients with EVA, ABG is mainly produced at low frequencies and is not significantly correlated with age, size of the VA opening or SLC26A4 genes, which could be attributed to the biomechanical effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number (CN) is a biomarker of mitochondrial function and has been reported associated with kidney disease. However, its association with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common cause of glomerulonephritis (GN), has not been evaluated. We included 664 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN and measured mtDNA-CN in peripheral blood by multiplexed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We examined the associations between mtDNA-CN and clinical variables and found that patients with higher mtDNA-CN had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = 0.1009, p =.0092) and lower serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and uric acid (UA) (r=−0.1101, −0.1023, −0.07806, respectively, all p values <.05). In terms of pathological injury, mtDNA-CN was higher in patients with less mesangial hypercellularity (p =.0385, M0 vs. M1 score by Oxford classification). Multivariable logistic regression analyses also showed that mtDNA-CN was lower for patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) vs. mild renal impairment, with the odds ratio of 0.757 (95% confidence interval: 0.579–0.990, p =.042). In conclusion, mtDNA-CN was correlated with better renal function and less pathological injury in patients with IgAN, proposing that systemic mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in or reflect the development of IgAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Rice straw and King grass on apparent digestibility, ruminal bacterial, and fungus composition in buffaloes. Three ruminal fistulated buffaloes were used in a 3 × 2 Latin square design. The dietary treatments were king grass and straw hay. Experimental animals were kept in individual pens and concentrate was offered at 1 kg/d while roughage was fed ad libitum. Each period lasted for 15d, with the first 12d for an adaptation period, followed by a 3-day formal trial period. King grass has higher digestibility of protein. Rice straw has higher digestibility to cellulose. The results showed that when buffaloes were fed king grass and straw, Bacteroidetes were dominant in the rumen normal flora, but firmicutes were not. In addition, the results of this experiment suggest that increasing protein content in diets may be beneficial to increase the relative abundance of Proteobacteria. Similarly, higher dietary fiber content may be beneficial for increasing relative abundance of Prevotella and Staphylococcus. The dominant fungi in ruminal fluid 2 h after ingestion were aerobic fungi. These aerobic fungi most likely entered the rumen with food. Whether and how long aerobic fungi can survive in the rumen needs more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvianolic acid A (SA-A), a water-soluble compound extracted from traditional Chinese herb Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza, has anti-fibrotic effects on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of SA-A on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. All mice (except control group) were intraperitoneally administered CCl4 dissolved in peanut oil to induce liver fibrosis. Treatment groups were then gavaged with SA-A (20 or 40 mg/kg). The liver function index; liver fibrosis index; and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were determined. Furthermore, histopathological changes in liver tissues were observed via hematoxylin–eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I was detected using immunofluorescence, and the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Finally, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression levels of proteins related to Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/IκBα, p38 MAPK, and JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathways. The results showed that SA-A could ameliorate CCl4-induced liver injury and liver fibrosis, improve morphology, and alleviate collagen deposition in the fibrotic liver. Moreover, SA-A could regulate the Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/IκBα, p38 MAPK, and JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathways; increase the levels of SOD and GSH-Px; and decrease MDA level in the fibrotic liver. Collectively, our study findings indicate that SA-A is effective in preventing liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress via regulating the Nrf2/HO-1, NF-κB/IκBα, p38 MAPK, and JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-methylthiofentanyl and thiofentanyl are psychoactive substances that have been abused in recent years, strongly threatening social and public security. Because they are rapidly metabolized in vivo, their determination presents a great challenge for forensic science. An automated method of online solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of alpha-methylthiofentanyl, thiofentanyl, and the metabolite norfentanyl in urine. The analytes were first enriched and purified by an Oasis HLB online SPE column and eluted on a Hypersil GOLD C18 analytical column. Chromatographic separation was achieved with mobile phase components of 2 mM ammonium formate and 0.1% formic acid in water and same composition in methanol in gradient elution mode. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantitation of the method for the three analytes were 0.2 and 2 pg/ml, respectively. Acceptable linearity was obtained from 2 to 800 pg/ml. The accuracy was in the range of 87.98–108.95%; and precision, calculated as the relative standard deviation, was less than 14.63%. The method recoveries were from 65.56 to 113.72%. This highly sensitive method was applied to study the detection window of the precursor compounds and metabolites in rat urine. Both alpha-methylthiofentanyl and thiofentanyl are metabolized to norfentanyl, which was first revealed in this study. With the aid of norfentanyl, the detection windows of alpha-methylthiofentanyl and thiofentanyl were extended to 18–26 days and 20–27 days, respectively. This study provides important auxiliary tools for the forensic identification of fentanyl analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effects of historical land-use change and static land-use state on the modeling, we established three cellular automata (CA) models using the spatial autoregressive model (SAR). The models are CASAR-Cha based on the change data, CASAR-Sta based on the start-state data, and CASAR-End based on the end-state data. The models that considered five different neighborhood sizes (from 3 × 3 to 11 × 11) were applied to simulate the urban growth of Jiaxing, China from 2008 to 2018, and predict the urban scenario to the year 2048. All three models can accurately reproduce the urban growth from 2008 to 2018, and the CASAR-End model performed best in calibration and validation. The differences in historical land data did affect the spatial distribution of the simulated urban patterns. The neighborhood size has a significant impact on the model's allocation ability, yet the appropriate size depends on the unique landscape context being studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grey mould, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is an increasingly destructive disease of ginseng (Panax ginseng) in China. However, the extent of variation in the morphological characteristics of fungal colonies, genetic background and pathogenicity of different strains of this pathogen remains unknown. In this study, we isolated and identified 102 isolates of B. cinerea from ginseng. Among these, the sclerotial phenotype was dominant, followed by the mycelial and conidial phenotypes, with the proportion of each phenotype in the pathogen population showing no obvious variance across three provinces. Isolates were separated into three groups with differing pathogenicity, based on the diameter of the lesions they caused in pathogenicity tests; moderate-pathogenicity isolates were dominant, followed by strong- and weak-pathogenicity isolates. Variation was observed in the pathogenicity of isolates from three provinces. The Nei's genetic diversity index and the Shannon's information index of isolates from Jilin province was highest, followed by those from Liaoning, while isolates from Heilongjiang displayed the lowest genetic diversity. Furthermore, most of the genetic variance was found within the geographically defined B. cinerea populations; the low-genetic variance among populations was probably counteracted by gene flow. Results from this study provide a base understanding of genetic and pathogenic variation in B. cinerea populations from the main ginseng-growing regions of China, which will be helpful for further research and control of grey mould of ginseng. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Genetically, complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) is androgenetic diploid, containing two sets of paternal chromosomes. In most cases, recurrent HM (RHM) is CHM but has diploid biparental chromosome constitution. Case report: We report a mother with RHM, both with biparental diploidy. The mother was compound heterozygous for two variants, c.1720dup, p.(C574Lfs*4) and c.2165A > G, p.(D722G) of the NLRP7 gene, as was a brother who fathered 2 normal pregnancies. Conclusion: The genotype study should be obtained for patients of CHM, even in their first pregnancy, followed by genetic screening for maternal-effect variants in those with biparental moles. This strategy will identify patients in their first pregnancy with HM that have a decreased chance for a normal pregnancy, to allow genetic counseling, perhaps utilizing a donor egg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral framing is a mobilizing strategy in digital activism to raise awareness of a social issue. This essay discussed the strengths and weaknesses of multiple methods of extracting moral framing from media content. Two issues were highlighted from crowd-coding and automated coding using computational approaches: context sensitivity and the handling of coding discrepancies. We compared results from manual content coding and automated analysis using the eMFD, urging scholars to incorporate multiple methods to uncover the meanings behind each moral value. We argued that crowdcoding, computational approaches and manual coding are not exclusive of one another, and encouraged scholars to diversify their methodological toolbox and choose what to use based on the research context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by moral foundation theory and information virality theory, this study explored how moral framing, operationalized as the use of one of the five moral dimensions in tweets (i.e., care, fairness, loyalty, authority, and sanctity), is related to virality of social movement messages. It offered a case study of the 2019 Hong Kong protests by analyzing Twitter data collected using #HongKongPoliceBrutality. Results demonstrated that care framing promotes message virality, indicated by the likelihood of getting retweeted and favorited. However, the use of the fairness or authority frame decreased virality. Results indicated that the supporters of the movement were more likely to be triggered by non-political messages. The effect of moral framing on information virality was contingent upon the audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a modification of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and reports the effects of culture on the sustainable livelihoods of households in a typical rural tourist site in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province, China. Different from the previous studies, this paper highlights the role of cultural factors in households' sustainable livelihoods. The modified SLF can be used as a possible theoretical model to comprehensively characterise the sustainable livelihoods of households in tourism destinations with rich cultural resources. Results show that traditional culture significantly impacts locals' thoughts and behaviours and is an indispensable livelihood asset for households. The commercial value of traditional culture has gained prominence in response to shifts in modern tourists' preferences. Most households draw on their past to generate intangible and tangible cultural products to attract tourists and achieve their livelihood goals. The utilisation of tangible cultural resources and intangible cultural heritage to develop rural tourism promotes changes in the livelihood strategies of households. It can enhance locals' financial, human, and social capital. However, rural tourism development has made cultural preservation a potential source of livelihood vulnerability for households in the study area. Regulations may help reduce the adverse livelihood outcomes of rapid tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a defense mechanism that the immune system uses in response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, toxic compounds, or irradiation. These stimuli may induce inflammatory response and potentially tissue damage in respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, nervous, endocrine, urinary, or reproductive systems. Inflammatory diseases include a broad array of disorders and conditions that are characterized by inflammation, ranging from autoimmune disease, atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, glomerulonephritis, hepatitis, reperfusion injury, transplant rejection, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, to depression. Epigenetic mechanisms play crucial roles in many biological processes by regulating transcriptional activation or repression. Histone post-translational modifications have emerged as prospective therapeutic targets. Methylation of histone 3 at lysine 9 is one of the most highly conserved epigenetic marks that correlate well with gene silencing. The methylation status of H3K9 modulates immune cell differentiation and immune responses and therefore influences the outcome of cancer, infection, and other inflammatory diseases. Here, we review the high impact and innovate discoveries in this field, highlight the critical role of the H3K9 methylation/de-methylation in human inflammatory diseases, discuss potential new therapeutic strategies based on a better understanding of the biology of H3K9 methylation modifications. Abbreviations: 2OG: 2-oxoglutarate; AOL: Amine oxidase-like; ChIP: Chromatin immunoprecipitation; CNS2: conserved noncoding sequence 2; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CoREST: Corepressor of RE1 silencing transcription factor; CPP: Cell-permeant protein; CTLA4: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4; DCs: Dendritic cells; DN: Diabetic nephropathy; ESRD: End-stage renal disease; ETDB: SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase; FAD: Flavin adenine dinucleotide; FEV1%: The percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second; FEV1/FVC: Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/Forced vital capacity (FVC) value; FOXP3: forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3; GLP: G9a like protein; GZMB: Granzyme B; H3K27me3: Trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3; H3K4me3: Trimethylation of lysine 4 on histone H3; H3K9: Histone 3 Lysine 9; HG: Hyperglycemia; HDAC3: Histone deacetylase 3; HP1: Heterochromatin protein 1; I/R: Ischemia/Reperfusion; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; IFN-: Interferon-; IFNG: Interferon Gamma; IL-2: Interleukin-2; ILC2s: Group 2 innate lymphoid cells; JMJD: Jumonji domain-containing protein; iTreg: inducible Treg; KDM: Lysine-specific demethylase; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide; LSD: Lys-specific demethylase; MCP-1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; MCSF: Macrophage colony-stimulating factor; MIP-1: Macrophage inflammatory protein-1; MS: Metabolic syndrome; NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NKRF: NF-kappaB repressing factor; NOR: Norisoboldine; NuRD: Nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase; OxLDL: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein; PBMCs: Peripheral blood monocytes; PHD: Plant homology domain; Poly I:C: Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid; PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; PTMs: Post-translational modifications; SUV3-9: Suppressor of variegation3-9; T1D: Type 1 diabetes; TLRs: Toll like receptors; TSDR: TGF-β sensitive region and Treg cell specific demethylated region; Treg: Regulatory T cell; VSMCs: Vascular smooth muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the multi-theoretical, multilevel (MTML) framework, this study draws from the World Polity Theory and World System Theory to examine factors shaping the structure and evolution of an international human rights network which included INGOs, IGOs, and countries as key players. Using a longitudinal research design and network modeling, this study collected data from 197 countries and revealed a consistent increase of their participation in the networks over a period of 10 years and also the tendency to stabilize. Nonetheless, structural inequality has persisted over time, which was reinforced by endogenous network configurations such as centrality and transitivity at the country level. Exogenous variables such as a country's economic development, press freedom, and human rights performance-based reputation all contributed to the evolution of this international alliance network. Theoretical and practical implications on how communication and collaboration between countries may play a role in influencing a country's human right performance are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, posing a significant threat to public health. Research on the relationship between CVD and temperature has primarily focused on developed urban settings, with limited studies conducted in rural regions with lower levels of development. Additionally, compared to relative risks, attributable risks can provide more information when assessing the risk of CVD hospitalizations associated with exposure to apparent temperature (AT). Apparent temperature is a composite temperature index that takes into account both meteorological factors and temperature, providing an objective reflection of human thermal sensation. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of AT on CVD hospitalization and quantifies the burden of CVD admission in the rural areas of China. We employed the distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) to estimate the relationship between AT and the relative risk (RR) of CVD hospitalization. Finally, we used attributable risk methods to quantify this relationship further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the remediation effect of heavily contaminated sediments, the experiments to repair heavily contaminated sediments were carried out under selective and nonselective oxidation conditions. Results showed that a lot of denitrifying bacteria was detected on the surface of modified zeolite by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after inoculating both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria for 7 days. Up to 3.69 mg/g, in-situ regeneration of ammonium on zeolite loading with high ammonium (ammonium adsorption: 4.20 m/g) was obtained, which was 1.42 times that of nonselective oxidation (2.60 mg/g). This indicated that the in-situ regeneration rate of zeolite under high ammonium adsorption (5.0 mg/g) and high bacterial inoculum (80 mL/g) was enhanced. Moreover, only 1.50 mg/L total nitrogen with 84% inhibition in the overlying water under selective oxidation conditions was observed, which was 2.37 times the inhibition percentage of modified zeolite under nonselective oxidation conditions. The results illuminated that effective inhibition of ammonium released from heavily contaminated sediments can be achieved through selective oxidation with zeolite layer. At the same time, the in-situ service life of attached biofilm-modified zeolite under selective oxidation conditions was 5.87 years, which was extended by 3 years compared with nonselective oxidation conditions. Effective inhibition of ammonium released from heavily contaminated sediments through selective oxidation with zeolite layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded by MDR1) mediates resistance to multiple immunosuppressors. Several common MDR1 variants (1236C > T, 2677G > T, 3435C > T) impact the efflux activity of P-gp-mediated substrates. We assessed the effect of these polymorphisms on the sensitivity, intracellular accumulation, and efflux of tacrolimus, cyclosporine A, sirolimus and everolimus in transfected LLC-PK1 cells. 2. LLC-PK1 cell lines were transfected with empty vector (pcDNA3.1) and recombinant MDR1T-T-T, MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T and MDR1C-G-C vectors, respectively and further screened in the presence of puromycin. The IC50 values, intracellular accumulation, and apparent permeability ratios of tacrolimus, cyclosporine A, sirolimus and everolimus were evaluated. 3. MDR1 overexpression increased the resistance of LLC-PK1 cells to tacrolimus, cyclosporine A, sirolimus and everolimus. The resistance of cells expressing MDR1C-G-C wild-type haplotypes to tacrolimus were increased compared to MDR1T-T-T, MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T variant haplotypes. The efflux ability of P-gp-mediated tacrolimus in cells transfected with MDR1C-G-C was higher than cells overexpressing MDR1T-T-T, MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T variant haplotypes. In addition, the resistance of cells expressing MDR1C-G-C wild-type haplotypes to sirolimus were increased compared to MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T variant haplotypes. The efflux ability of P-gp-mediated sirolimus in cells overexpressing MDR1C-G-C was higher than cells transfected with MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T variant haplotypes. 4. These findings indicate that wild-type MDR1 exports tacrolimus and sirolimus more efficiency than the MDR1T-T-T, MDR1C-T-T, MDR1C-G-T variant protein. This observation indicates that 1236C > T, 2677G > T, 3435C > T variant haplotypes drastically decrease the efflux ability of P-gp-mediated tacrolimus and sirolimus in a substrate-specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new flavonoid derivative flavoside A (1), one new 5-hydroxyanthranilic acid derivative crassilin (2), along with the known angucyclinone PD116740 (3) and oxachelin (4), was isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fermentation broth of the sea urchin (Anthocidaris crassispina)-derived actinobacterium, Streptomyces sp. HD01. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of their HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopic data. All of these compounds were assessed for their antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. In clinical practice, diammonium glycyrrhizinate is usually used with omeprazole in patients with viral hepatitis and cirrhosis accompanied by peptic ulcers. However, the drug interaction between diammonium glycyrrhizinate and omeprazole remains unclear. 2. In this study, the effects of diammonium glycyrrhizinate on the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole was investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical method. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups: omeprazole and omeprazole + diammonium glycyrrhizinate, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated after oral administration. It was found that using the omeprazole along with the diammonium glycyrrhizinate increased the AUC, AUMC, Cmax for omeprazole. 3. For this reason, we used the LC-MS/MS to detect the binding rate of plasma protein (BRPP) of omeprazole in rats, it was found that diammonium glycyrrhizinate could decrease the BRPP in rats. In addition, we found that diammonium glycyrrhizinate specifically inhibited the enzyme activity of the CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, which are involved in the metabolism of the omeprazole. 4. These results mean that diammonium glycyrrhizinate could inhibit the metabolism and increase the plasma concentration of the omeprazole in rats. Overall, diammonium glycyrrhizinate can influence the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole by inhibiting CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 activities and decreasing BRPP of omeprazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Danshen tablets (DST), an effective traditional Chinese multi-herbal formula, are often combined with atorvastatin calcium (AC) for treating coronary heart disease in the clinic. Objective: This study investigated the effects of DST on the pharmacokinetics of AC and the potential mechanism. Materials and methods: The pharmacokinetics of AC (1 mg/kg) with or without pretreatment of DST (100 mg/kg) were investigated using LC-MS/MS. The effects of DST (50 μg/mL) on the metabolic stability of AC were also investigated using rat liver microsome incubation systems. Results: The results indicated that Cmax (23.87 ± 4.27 vs. 38.94 ± 5.32 ng/mL), AUC(0-t) (41.01 ± 11.32 vs. 77.28 ± 12.92 ng h/mL), and t1/2 (1.91 ± 0.18 vs. 2.74 ± 0.23 h) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) when DST and AC were co-administered, which suggested that DST might influence the pharmacokinetic behavior of AC when they are co-administered. The metabolic stability (t1/2) of AC was also decreased (25.7 ± 5.2 vs. 42.5 ± 6.1) with the pretreatment of DST. Discussion and conclusions: This study indicated that the main components in DST could accelerate the metabolism of AC in rat liver microsomes and change the pharmacokinetic behaviors of AC. So these results showed that the herb-drug interaction between DST and AC might occur when they were co-administered. Therefore, the clinical dose of AC should be adjusted when DST and AC are co-administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritoneal fibrosis caused by long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the main reason why patients withdraw from PD treatment. Lipid accumulation in the peritoneum was shown to participate in fibrosis, and klotho is a molecule involved in lipid metabolism. GSK343 (enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) inhibitor) has been verified to inhibit epithelial mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) and peritoneal fibrosis, but its related mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether lipid accumulation was involved in the effect of GSK343 and its related mechanism. First, the expression of EZH2, klotho and EMT indices in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HMrSV5) incubated with high glucose (HG) levels was detected. After EZH2 was inhibited by GSK343, Western blot (WB), wound healing and Transwell assays were used to explore the effect of GSK343. EZH2 and klotho expression was also detected. Oil red O and Nile red staining and triglyceride (TG) detection kits were used to detect lipid accumulation. A rescue experiment with small interfering RNA specific for klotho (si-klotho) on the basis of GSK343 was also conducted to verify that GSK343 exerted its effect via klotho. In in vivo experiments, rats were administered GSK343, and the related index was assessed. In our study, we revealed that the expression of EZH2 was significantly upregulated and klotho was significantly downregulated in HMrSV5 cells induced by high glucose. With the aid of GSK343, we found that lipid deposition caused by HG was significantly decreased. In addition, EMT and fibrosis were also significantly alleviated. Moreover, GSK343 could also restore the downregulation of klotho. To further verify whether klotho mediated the effect of EZH2, a rescue experiment with si-klotho was also conducted. The results showed that si-klotho could counteract the protective effect of GSK343 on high glucose-induced lipid accumulation and fibrosis. In vivo experiments also revealed that GSK343 could relieve peritoneal fibrosis, lipid deposition and EMT by mitigating EZH2 and restoring klotho expression. Combining these findings, we found that EZH2 regulated lipid deposition, peritoneal fibrosis, and EMT mediated by klotho. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the effect of the EZH2-klotho interaction on peritoneal fibrosis. Hence, EZH2 and klotho could act as potential targets for the treatment of peritoneal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-one surface sediments collected from seven surroundings areas of Lake Taihu in two different years were analyzed for total mercury (THg) concentrations, physicochemical characteristics and speciation using a sequential extraction method to assess spatial distribution, sources, and potential ecological risk. Surface sediments from Lake Taihu contained elevated levels of Hg in two sampling years with THg levels ranging from 77 to 346 ng/g (mean 145 ng/g) in October 2010 and ranging from 122 to 573 ng/g (mean 266 ng/g) in November 2012, respectively. The mean THg concentrations in all studied surface sediments exhibited an increasing trend over time. The oxidizable fraction (F3) and residual fraction (F4) were the predominant Hg species in sediments, while more mobile Hg phases of acid-soluble fraction (F1) and reducible fraction (F2) made up less than 0.5% THg. Significant relationships were found between total organic carbon (TOC) and THg and geochemical speciation indicating an important role for organic matter in affecting distribution, mobility, and bioavailability of Hg in sediments. As evidenced by Hakanson's potential risk index the total ecological risk of Hg was low in the entire Lake Taihu in 2010 but considered moderate in Zhushan Bay, West Coast, and Meiliang Bay in 2012. These findings provide conservation managers with information needed to more effectively regulate the environment of Lake Taihu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We performed this meta-analysis to estimate the association between vitamin B6 intake and colorectal cancer risk. Methods: Prospective cohort studies on vitamin B6 intake and colorectal cancer risk were identified by searching databases from the period of 1960 to 2016. Results from individual studies were synthetically combined using Stata 13.0 software. Results: A total of 10 prospective cohort studies including 13 data sets were included in our meta-analysis, containing 7,817 cases and 784,550 subjects. The combined relative risks (RR) of colorectal cancer for the highest vitamin B6 intake compared with the lowest vitamin B6 intake was 0.88 [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 0.77-1.02]. Dose-response meta-analysis based on five eligible studies showed that for each additional 3 and 5 mg of vitamin B6 intake, the risk would decrease by 11% (RR: 0.89, 95%CI: 0.81-0.98) and 17% (RR: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.71-0.97), respectively. Little evidence of publication bias was found. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence of a nonsignificant decrease in colorectal cancer risk associated with the high level of vitamin B6 intake, but the risk in dose-response analysis is significant. However, the latter finding is based on a limited number of studies, which should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on the improvement in the survival of a refractory anemia patient having excess blasts in the U.S. Topics discussed include the treatment options of myelodyslastic syndrome patients, the development of new drugs, and the significance of the improvement of the patient's overall survival.

Classical biological control agents fail to achieve an impact on their hosts for a variety of reasons and an understanding of why they fail can help shape decisions on subsequent releases. OrnamentalFicus microcarpais a widely planted avenue fig tree that is invasive in countries where its pollinator (Eupristina verticillata) is also introduced. This tree also supports more than 20 species of non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFW) that feed in the figs and have the potential to reduce the plant’s reproduction.Odontofroggatia galili, one of the most widely introduced NPFW, has larvae that develop in galled ovules that might otherwise develop into seeds or support pollinator larvae. We examined the distribution and relative abundance of the pollinator andO. galilionF. microcarpain China, towards the northern limit of the tree’s natural range, and in Italy where the two species have been introduced. Where they co-existed, we also recorded the impact of varying densities ofO. galilionF. microcarpaseed and pollinator production.O. galiliandE. verticillatadisplayed contrasting habitat preferences in China, withO. galilialmost absent from warmer sites.O. galiliabundance and sex ratios varied between the natural and introduced ranges. Figs with moreO. galilicontained fewer seeds and pollinator offspring, but reproduction was rarely inhibited totally. Additional species with a greater impact in the figs they occupy are needed if biocontrol ofF. microcarpais to be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) as a safe, effective and noninvasive treatment have been researched and used for many years in orthopedics, and the common use clinically is to promote fracture healing. The effects of EMFs on osteoporosis have not been well concerned. The balance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity as well as the balance between osteogenic differentiation and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells plays an important role in the process of osteoporosis. A number of recent reports suggest that EMFs have a positive impact on the balances. In this review, we discuss the recent advances of EMFs in the treatment of osteoporosis from basic research to clinical study and introduce the possible mechanism. In addition, we presented future perspectives of application of EMFs for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies and implements a real-time robust balance control for a humanoid robot under three environment disturbances which are an external thrust, an inclinable platform, and a see-saw. More precisely to say, the robot with robust control can resist an external thrust, stand on a two-axis inclinable platform, or walk on a see-saw successfully. The main feature of the robot is that it has a waist joint which has three degrees of freedom. With the aids of the proposed fuzzy controllers, the robot can change the posture of the body nimbly by adjusting the waist joint and two ankle joints to strengthen the stabilization capacity. The sensory system of the robot includes eight force sensors and one inertial measurement unit sensor in order to measure the center of pressure and the slant angle of the robot’s body. According to the measured data from the sensors and by imitating human reflex actions, the proposed fuzzy controllers perform real-time balance control for the robot under three environment disturbances. According to the experiment results, the stability of the robot is increased at least 32.2 and 61.7% under the first two environment disturbances, respectively. In addition, the robot walking on a see-saw has a success rate of about 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The current study explores the influence of communication variables on human rights protection. The effects of international and domestic mass communication and digital media were assessed among global social, economic, and political factors. The statistical analyses on a sample of 101 nation states over the most recent decade reveal several important findings: (a) top-down, internationally initiated human rights discourse and monitoring were not as effective as bottom-up, domestically initiated human rights dialogues; (b) access to the Internet and access to a mobile phone have different effects on human rights performance, and Internet availability played an especially important role; (c) economic development, political system, and population size are powerful predictors of nations’ human rights performance, but a large population size diminishes the effect of economic development; and (d) economic development can moderate the effect of political context on human rights performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new extinct genus and new species,Quizqueiplana alexbrownigen. et sp. nov. of the tribe Augilini Baker belonging to the family Caliscelidae Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Fulgoroidea), is described from Early Miocene Dominican amber. This is the first fossil record of this planthopper family and an unexpected occurrence of the tribe Augilini from the Neotropical region. Augilini are only known from extant taxa in South-East Asia and Madagascar, as shown in a checklist of taxa in the tribe with their distributions. Biogeographical consequences for the Augilini lineage, now with a so-called Gondwanian disjunction pattern, are discussed. Host-plant data suggest that ancestral Augilini fed on Bambusoideae. A Late Palaeocene Laurasian origin for the lineage with later dispersal events, or an older Indo-Malagasian lineage with an early vicariance and later dispersion events, remain two possible explanations of the origin of the Augilini. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A5307860-2947-4EBA-BD12-E71E78CC535E [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a design for a cutting-edge English program in which elementary school learners of English as a foreign language in Taiwan had lively interactions with a teaching assistant robot. Three dimensions involved in the design included (1) a pleasant and interactive classroom environment as the learning context, (2) a teaching assistant robot designed and built by the researchers as instructional technology (instructional tool/medium), and (3) the need for improved motivation and learning outcomes and positive learning experiences of the students as the core research problem. This Human–Robot Interaction (HRI) led to better pedagogical effects on learning and teaching by (1) employing a vivid, enjoyable teaching approach; (2) adopting practical, interesting learning materials; and (3) creating a natural, enjoyable learning context. Both quantitative and qualitative findings of this study indicate that the students' English learning experiences were enhanced, as were their motivation and learning outcomes as a result of this HRI. This paper, instead of merely suggesting design criteria for robots, provides a set of instructional design guidelines that other researchers can follow to create an innovative and enjoyable English classroom that employs an interactive robot as an assistant for enhancing English acquisition while simultaneously reducing the pressure and teaching load of the English instructors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Eucommia ulmoidesis a small tree that has evolved strong pest resistance. This study investigated the mechanism of this resistance by evaluating pest damage and antifeedant activity of the secondary metabolite gutta-percha. In the field,E. ulmoidesdisplayed an average plant resistance of 93.3%, with most damage confined to leaves. We assessed the effects of gutta-percha as a feeding deterrent againstHyphantria cuneaandAnoplophora glabripennislarvae by mixing it into or daubing it onto the surface of artificial diets. Diets containing more than 6% gutta-percha significantly reduced the amount of feeding byA. glabripennislarvae and the body length ofH. cunealarvae. In addition, approximately 95% of the artificial diet was not consumed compared to the control without gutta-percha. The content, distribution, properties, and dynamics of gutta-percha inE. ulmoidesindicate that gutta-percha may function as a physical-chemical barrier against insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorophorus caragana(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a trunk borer that feeds onCaraganashrubs in the desert. There are five species ofCaraganaplant in the distribution area ofCh. caragana. We investigated damagedCaraganaplants in the field. Olfactory responses of femaleCh. caraganato plants and identified volatile compounds fromCaraganaplants were further evaluated.Caragana davazamciiwas severely damaged in the field, followed byCaragana microphylla. No damage was found to the other three species. Behavioral experiments showed thatC. davazamcii, C. microphylla, andCaragana korshinskiiwere attractive to female insects.Caragana ordosicacould repel and avoid female insects.Caragana brachypodahad no effect on the orientation behavior of female insects. Seventy volatile components were identified from theCaraganaplants, and (Z)-β-ocimene, 1,3-pentadiene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, perillene, chrysanthenone, and limonene were the most abundant volatiles identified from theCaraganaplants. The volatiles were categorized into three groups. Those most attractive toCh. caraganaconsisted of chrysanthenone, 1,3-pentadiene, and (Z)-β-ocimene. Those repellingCh. caraganaconsisted of perillene, dibutyl phthalate, nonanal, and pentadecane, and those irrelevant to each other consisted of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, 1-octene, nonene, decanal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and α-pinene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research we investigated the influence of abusive supervision on employees’ prosocial voice and silence, as well as clarified the roles of interactional justice (as a mediator) and organizational attribution (as a moderator). Moreover, we examined a mediated moderating model stipulating that interactional justice mediated the moderating effect of organizational attribution on the focal relationship. A scenario experiment was employed in Study 1, and after analyzing data from 196 employees, we found that abusive supervision influenced employees’ prosocial voice and silence via interactional justice. In Study 2, data were collected from 379 employees in two waves separated by 1 week. The results not only replicated the findings of Study 1 but also indicated that organizational attribution buffered the abusive supervision-voice and silence relationship, and that interactional justice mediated this moderating effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

137Cs+/90Sr2+-containing radioactive wastewater is one of the most important problems that the world has been facing with. A by-product, activated porous calcium silicate, is generated at high levels by the pre-desiliconizing and soda-lime-sintering processes for producing Al2O3from high-alumina fly ash. In order to examine if this by-product could be used as an absorbent for removal of137Cs+/90Sr2+from radioactive wastewater, various parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, and initial concentration, were discussed. Results indicated that the equilibrium reached in about 2 hr. Activated porous calcium silicate was highly pH sensitive and able to remove Cs+/Sr2+in a near-neutral environment. The adsorption equilibrium was best described by Freundlich isotherm equations, and the adsorption of Cs+/Sr2+was a physical process. The adsorption kinetic data could be better fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption was controlled by multidiffusion. Current study showed that activated porous calcium silicate has a good adsorption of Cs+/Sr2+for their removal. However, other characteristics, such as selectivity because of coexisting cations, elution and regeneration, thermal stability, and acid resistance, should be discussed carefully before using it in an actual field.Implications:Removing 137Cs+/90Sr2+ from radioactive wastewater is one of the tough issues that has been attracting more and more attention world widely, which is the same as fly ash. For recycling high-alumina fly ash, in which Al is extracted to produce Al2O3, a huge amount of activated porous calcium silicate is generated year by year. In this paper, this by-product was successfully used as an absorbent to remove 137Cs+/90Sr2+ from radioactive wastewater for the first time. Factors that affect the absorbability and the mechanisms were discussed in details, providing a possible choice for disposal of 137Cs+/90Sr2+-containing radioactive wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the control problems of semilinear fractional delay evolution equations. Under rather mild conditions, we study the topological structure of solution sets (compactness andRδ-property). Then, the information about the structure is employed to show the invariance of a reachability set of the control problem under nonlinear perturbations. Finally, we present an example to illustrate the feasibility of the abstract results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new α-globin chain variant in a Chinese subject. This novel variant, with a Val→Met substitution at codon 93 of the α-globin chain, has been named Hb Qingcheng (HBA1: c.280G>A) for where the proband was born. A woman with somatic mosaicism for Hb Qingcheng presented with the phenotype of mild α-thalassemia (α-thal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amino acid, protein, carbohydrate, and mineral element contents and composition of the xylem, phloem, and leaves of healthy and insect-damaged Caragana korshinskii plants were analyzed to evaluate the changes in the nutrient content of C. korshinskii after damage by Chlorophorus caragana. The amino acid content decreased in the leaf and phloem but increased in the xylem in response to damage, while the protein content did not change in the leaf, increased in the xylem, and decreased in the phloem. The carbohydrate content increased slightly in the leaf but decreased in the xylem and phloem. The six mineral elements analyzed, namely, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and iron decreased in the xylem, phloem, and leaf. The present results may provide a basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying the effect of C. caragana on the loss of viability of C. korshinskii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of relative humidity on jades by enclosing the samples under constant relative humidity (RH) of 32, 49, 61.5, and 81.7% at the same temperature of 40±0.1°C for 160 days. The simulated samples were pure and dense tremolite jade and serpentine jade, impure tremolite jade and serpentine jade containing some calcite, and serpentinized calcite, which are all common materials of ancient jade found in archaeological excavations. All samples were characterized through particle-induced X-ray emission and a glossmeter. The degree of deterioration proved to be greater in impure materials than in pure ones. The best RH to conserve various kinds of materials differs: for pure tremolite and serpentine, all of the RH levels are equal; for impure tremolite with some calcite, 61.5 and 81.7% were superior; for impure serpentine with some calcite, the highest RH (81.7%) was best; and as to the serpentinized calcite, there is no clear conclusion as yet and further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endemic Australian spittlebug genus Anyllis Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae) is revised and five species including two new species are recognized: Anyllis gibbosus sp. nov. (Queensland), Anyllis leiala Kirkaldy, 1906 (type species, throughout the eastern part of Australia from north Queensland to Tasmania), Anyllis pseudotiegsi sp. nov. (Tasmania), Anyllis spinostylus Liang, 2005 (Tasmania) and Anyllis tiegsi (China, 1952) (Victoria and the higher parts of southeast New South Wales). Descriptions or redescriptions of the genus and its included species are provided together with the dorsal habitus of the adults and the structural illustrations of the head, pronotum, scutellum and male genitalia. A diagnostic key is given for differentiation of the known species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ardipusilloside I isolated from Ardisia pusilla on tumor angiogenesis and its mechanism of action. The anti-angiogenic effect in vivo was evaluated on xenograft in the athymic mice model and the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) neovascularization model, the inhibition of growth in vitro was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, and the mechanism was demonstrated through detecting microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and P-VEGFR2 protein expressions, as well as mRNA expressions of VEGF and VEGFR2. The results showed that ardipusilloside I had a good inhibitory effect on A549 xenografted tumor growth, angiogenesis of CAM, and A549 cell growth. Compared to the negative control, MVD protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF and VEGFR were significantly inhibited by ardipusilloside I in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggested that ardipusilloside I might be a promising candidate as angiogenesis inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic stress is considered to predispose to various cardiovascular events such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and even heart failure. In this study, rats were exposed to stress for 1 day, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks to establish a chronic stress model. A specific toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist eritoran was used to block the activity of TLR4. On the second day after the last stress exposure, the animals were killed. The expression of TLR4 mRNA and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity in the myocardium were measured using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL-6) in myocardium were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myocardial injury was evident after chronic stress for 2 weeks. The TLR4 mRNA expression reached a peak after stress for 1 week. It was sustained at a stable level after stress exposure for 3 weeks and was restored to a nearly normal level in the fourth week. NF-κB DNA-binding activity was significantly enhanced after the stress for 1 day and markedly enhanced again after a 2-week stress exposure. It was weakened and reached a normal level after stress exposure for 4 weeks. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 gradually increased and reached peaks after stress for 4 weeks. Meanwhile, eritoran significantly decreased the TLR4 mRNA expression and NF-κB activity in rats from the 2-week stress group. However, it did not downregulate the levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Importantly, it significantly improved the myocardial injury induced by the chronic stress. In conclusion, TLR4/NF-κB participates in myocardial injury during chronic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-fluorescence background of jade creates a great impact on the Raman spectra measurements that impedes their application in jade analysis and treatment, particularly with ancient jade. The five most important materials of Chinese ancient jade are amphibole, serpentine, turquoise, agate/chalcedony, and anorthite-zoisite (Dushan jade). This study comparatively analyzed the Raman spectra of different wavelengths' excitation light sources (514.5 nm, 632.8 nm, 785 nm) in identifying these Chinese jades, and this article discusses the most applicable ones to the analysis of different jade materials. The results show that although 632.8 nm He-Ne laser is appropriate for turquoise jades, generally speaking, Raman spectra produced by the 785 nm semiconductor laser and the 632.8 nm He-Ne laser are better for most kinds of jades than the spectra produced by the 514.5 nm argon ion laser, and both of them can be effectively used jointly in research by nondestructive phase analysis of Chinese ancient jade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of topical application of avosentan (SPP 301), endothelin receptor type A antagonist, on intraocular pressure (IOP) in monkey eyes with laser-induced unilateral glaucoma. Materials and Methods: A multiple-dose study was performed in eight glaucomatous monkey eyes that were topically treated with SPP 301 by applying a 50 µl drop (25 µl × 2) at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for 5 consecutive days at three concentrations (0.003%, 0.03%, or 0.3%). IOP was measured hourly for 6 hrs on each day of the study beginning at 9:30 a.m. for one baseline day, one vehicle-treated day, and treatment days 1, 3, and 5. Results: Twice daily administration of each of the three concentrations of SPP 301 for 5 days significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced IOP. The maximum reduction in IOP occurred 2 or 3 hrs after morning dosing and was 1.8 ± 0.8 (mean ± SEM) mmHg (6%) for 0.003% SPP 301, 4.1 ± 0.7 mmHg (13%) for 0.03% SPP 301, and 7.1 ± 1.3 mmHg (21%) for 0.3% SPP 301. The longest duration of IOP reduction was for 2 hrs with 0.003% SPP 301, and was for at least 6 hrs with 0.03% and 0.3% concentrations. Compared to 0.03% or 0.003% concentrations, 0.3% SPP 301 produced a greater ( p < 0.05) IOP reduction. IOP was reduced in fellow untreated normal eyes 2 hr after morning dosing with 0.3% SPP 301, maximum reduction in IOP (11%) occurred on day 1. Of the eyes treated with 0.3% SPP 301, one eye demonstrated mild conjunctival discharge and one eye was closed for 5 min after dosing. Conclusion: Topically applied SPP 301, an endothelin antagonist, reduced IOP in glaucomatous monkey eyes in a dose-dependent manner. Endothelin antagonists, a novel class of compound, may have potential for the treatment of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional measures of mainstreaming wetlands biodiversity conservation such as counting relevant regulations and policies produce little insight into the success or failure of mainstreaming or of the potential for impact on wetlands biodiversity of sectoral laws and policies. The authors developed a semi-quantitative process to evaluate the regulatory framework at national and provincial levels that can effectively promote discussions with sectoral ministries on change of legal/regulatory texts that would improve the management of wetlands. The paper outlines the methodology, how the results are interpreted, and some of the key concerns in implementing the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student loans schemes have developed rapidly alongside China's move towards mass higher education. In this paper, the main features of the existing four types of student loan schemes are compared. In particular, the providers of principal loan, borrower eligibility, loan size, loan origination, interest subsidy, risk-sharing, repayment conditions and loan collection are examined. The authors of this article will then predict the problems and challenges confronting the reform of the student loans system in China and suggest that the feasible option for the future is to allow for the co-existence and competition of a variety of student loans schemes and to explore more mature student loans schemes through institutional innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of the historical development of rural compulsory education in China. It states two characteristics in promoting compulsory education, which include a stable foundation for material support and expanding the provision of education, and another is by raising the level of funding by widely dispersing funding responsibilities. According to the author, the country's financial system is one of the most decisive elements influencing systemic improvements related to increasing fiscal input in rural compulsory education.

There is growing interest in the possible health benefits of tea. We reported previously on the inhibition by white tea of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the rat (4). To distinguish between blocking and suppressing effects, and thus provide mechanistic insights into prevention during the initiation versus post-initiation phases of carcinogenesis, white tea, and green tea were administered at 2% (w/v) as the sole source of drinking fluid either 2 wk before and 2 wk during PhIP dosing (100 mg/kg, every other day by oral gavage), or starting 1 wk after the carcinogen and continued until the study was terminated at 16 wk. In the former protocol, each tea produced marginal inhibition of colonic ACF, despite evidence for changes in several hepatic enzymes involved in heterocyclic amine metabolism. Post-initiation, however, the data were as follows (ACF/colon, mean ± SE): PhIP/water 12.2 ± 1.5; PhIP/white tea 5.9 ± 0.9 (** P < 0.01); PhIP/caffeine 5.9 ± 1.5 (** P < 0.01); PhIP/EGCG 3.5 ± 0.8 (***P < 0.001); PhIP/green tea 8.9 ± 1.2 (P = 0.22, not significant). In the latter study, apoptosis was determined using in situ oligo ligation and cleaved caspase-3 assays, whereas cell proliferation was assessed via bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. No consistent changes were seen in apoptosis assays, but BrdU labeling was as follows (percent of cells positive/colonic crypt, mean ± SE): PhIP/water 10.4 ± 0.6; PhIP/white tea 8.6 ± 0.2 (*P < 0.05); PhIP/EGCG 6.0 ± 0.85 (** P < 0.01); PhIP/caffeine 8.75 ± 0.45 (*P < 0.05); PhIP/green tea 9.5 ± 0.4 (P > 0.05, not significant). The data imply that white tea, caffeine, and EGCG may be most effective post-initiation, via the inhibition of cell proliferation in the colon and through the suppression of early lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]