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A W-band decoupling structure sandwiched between a pair of high-gain step-profiled horn array antennas using the silicon micromachining technology is proposed. To suppress the surface wave, 18 choke slots with a depth of one quarter wavelength at 94 GHz are arranged in a triangular-grid array and the isolation can be averagely improved by about 7 dB with a range of 2–20 dB. This decoupling structure and two W-band coplanar array antennas are fashioned and fully integrated together by the silicon micromachining technique. Five 400 μ m thick and one 650 μ m thick silicon wafers are utilized and the total thickness of the antennas is 2.65 mm. Thanks to this technology, light weight, compact size, and high integration of the decoupling structure and array antennas can also be achieved. Additionally, the two array antennas share a common ground plane within a small edge-to-edge spacing of 6.05 mm where TM surface waves exist. Experimental studies validate the performance of the proposed triangular-grid choke slot array.

A nanocomposite film of polyaniline blend poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)/multiwall CNT (PANI-PSS/MWCNT) and poly(diallydimethyl ammonium chloride)/multiwall CNT (PDADMAC/MWCNT) has been prepared as a highly-efficient catalytic material for the counter electrode (CE) of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The as-prepared CE is constructed by a nanoscale method of layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly based on the electrostatic interactions between negatively (PANI-PSS/MWCNT) and positively (PDADMAC/MWCNT) charged nanoparticles. The (CNT−/CNT+)4 multilayer CE displayed remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction reaction and low charge-transfer resistance (Rct) of 0.3 Ω at the CE/electrolyte interface. The DSSC with (CNT−/CNT+)4 multilayer-CE showed the highest fill factor (0.71) and cell efficiency (9.13%) compared to our other electrodes.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common types of solid carcinoma diagnosed during pregnancy. Taxane plus a platinum derivative is a combination therapy that is predominantly used in the treatment of ovarian cancer in non-pregnant women. Pregnancy adds various complexities to a course of treatment. In pregnant patients diagnosed with cancer during the first trimester, the risks of fetal malformations and fetal loss increase following the administration of cytotoxic drugs, and this is higher with multi-agent vs. single-agent chemotherapy (~ 25 vs. 10%). Exposure during the second and third trimester has little influence on teratogenic effects but increases the risk of intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, low birth weight, and bone marrow toxicity. The present study aimed to review the maternal and fetal safety of treatment with taxane plus platinum derivatives for ovarian cancer during pregnancy. Relevant literature was retrieved from the Embase and PubMed databases using the search terms "ovarian cancer", "pregnancy", "taxane", "paclitaxel", "docetaxel", "platinum", "cisplatin", and "carboplatin". All available data up until September 2016 was synthesized, with no language restrictions. A total of 11 articles (including 13 pregnancies and 14 newborns) were retrieved that reported on the use of standard-dose taxane and platinum chemotherapy, including 9 cases treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin, 3 cases treated with paclitaxel and cisplatin, and 1 case treated with docetaxel and cisplatin. In 13 of the 14 (92.9%) births included, a healthy neonate was born, with follow-up ranging from 2 to 160 months. The average weight of the neonates at the time of delivery was 2,442.1 g. In 7 of 9 the case reports that provided survival data, the mother was alive and disease-free at the end of follow-up (ranging from 2 to 40 months). In conclusion, combination therapy with taxanes and a platinum derivative may play a significant role in the management of pregnant patients with ovarian cancer during the second and third trimester. Exposure to this combination of agents during the second and third trimester does not appear to have a significant bearing on fetal mortality and abortion. .

DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box helicase 5 (DDX5) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that is overexpressed in various malignancies. Increasing evidence suggests that DDX5 participates in carcinogenesis and cancer progression via promoting cell proliferation and metastasis. However, the functional role of DDX5 in gastric cancer is largely unknown. In this study, we observed that DDX5 was significantly up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with the paired adjacent normal tissues. The expression of DDX5 correlated strongly with Ki67 index and pathological stage of gastric cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that knockdown of DDX5 inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and xenografts growth, whereas ectopic expression of DDX5 promoted these cellular functions. Mechanically, DDX5 induced gastric cancer cell growth by activating mTOR/S6K1. Treatment of everolimus, the specific mTOR inhibitor, significantly attenuated DDX5-mediated cell proliferation. Interestingly, the expression of DDX5 and p-mTOR in gastric cancer tissues demonstrated a positive correlation. Taken together, these results revealed a novel role of DDX5 in gastric cancer cell proliferation via the mTOR pathway. Therefore, DDX5 may serve as a therapeutic target in gastric cancer.

S-layer proteins (Slps) are crystalline arrays of protein on bacterial cell surface layers. Owning to their capability to reassemble on the surface of lipid layers, Slps have been employed to modify liposomes for various profits. But the interaction information between Slps and positively charged liposomes are destitute, especially the gastrointestinal adhesion of Slps-coating liposomes is rarely reported. In the present work, the Slps extracted from Lactobacillus helveticus were reassembled on the surface of novel positively charged liposomes composed of soybean lecithin, Eudragit®RL100 and cholesterol. The particle size and remarkable changes of Zeta potential with various Slps/lipid weight ratios were determined by dynamic light scattering and phase analysis light scattering. Significant difference in fluorescence dequenching percentage of liposomes decorated by ODA-FITC confirmed Slps self-reassemble on the surface of liposomes. A higher integrity of vesicular membrane after the addition of Triton X-100 solution demonstrated the stability enhancement of Slps-coating liposomes. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy illustrated the interaction came from non-covalent bond. The mucoadhesion of Slps-coating liposomes was evaluated by the resident FITC-LP on the gastric and intestinal tract of mice at 7h and 12h after intragastrical administration, which proved that the Slps-coating improved the gastrointestinal adhesion significantly.

To investigate the toxic effect of oscillating high glucose (OHG) versus persistent high glucose (PHG) in inducing oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) in vitro.HCAECs were incubated for 72 h continuously in normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L glucose), PHG (25 mmol/L glucose), OHG (5.5 mmol and 25 glucose mmol/L alternating every 6 h) and mannitol, respectively. Cellular viability, concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA and GSH) in the supernatants of cell culture, and intracellular ROS level were quantitated after exposure to different concentrations of glucose for a total 72 h. Apoptosis of HCAECs cultured with various glucose levels was evaluated by annexin V-FITC and PI staining followed by analysis with flow cytometry. The expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 were measured by RT-qPCR and Western blotting at the end of the experiment.HCAECs cultured with PHG showed decreased cellular viability compared to those with normal level of glucose (p0.05). The decrease was more pronounced under OHG condition (p0.05). Cellular oxidative stress was provoked in HCAECs exposed to PHG with marked increased MDA level, reduced GSH concentration and elevated ROS production (p0.05). The stress was further amplified in the setting of OHG (p0.05). The cellular apoptosis was enhanced by culturing with PHG, and to a greater extent when incubated with OHG. Both expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 were suppressed in HCAECs in persistent hyperglycemia condition, while the inhibition was more intense in the fluctuating hyperglycemia condition (p0.05).These findings indicate that OHG could be more detrimental to HCAECs than PHG. This is probably due to the enhancement of oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis induced by frequent glucose swings through the inhibition of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Yun-Chun Zhao,1 Li Zhang,2 Shi-Sen Feng,3 Lu Hong,3 Hai-Li Zheng,3 Li-Li Chen,4 Xiao-Ling Zheng,1 Yi-Qing Ye,1 Meng-Dan Zhao,1 Wen-Xi Wang,3 Cai-Hong Zheng1 1Pharmacy Department, Women’s Hospital, 2Pharmacy Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Pharmaceutic Preparation, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 4Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China Abstract: A novel cationic cholesterol derivative-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference strategy was suggested to inhibit Notch1 activation in SKOV3 cells for the gene therapy of ovarian cancer. The cationic cholesterol derivative, N-(cholesterylhemisuccinoyl-amino-3-propyl)-N, N-dimethylamine (DMAPA-chems) liposome, was incubated with siRNA at different nitrogen-to-phosphate ratios to form stabilized, near-spherical siRNA/DMAPA-chems nanoparticles with sizes of 100–200 nm and zeta potentials of 40–50 mV. The siRNA/DMAPA-chems nanoparticles protected siRNA from nuclease degradation in 25% fetal bovine serum. The nanoparticles exhibited high cell uptake and Notch1 gene knockdown efficiency in SKOV3 cells at an nitrogen-to-phosphate ratio of 100 and an siRNA concentration of 50 nM. They also inhibited the growth and promoted the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells. These results may provide the potential for using cationic cholesterol derivatives as efficient nonviral siRNA carriers for the suppression of Notch1 activation in ovarian cancer cells. Keywords: siRNA, cationic cholesterol derivative, Notch1, ovarian cancer cells

The Indian pepper ‘Guijiangwang’ (Capsicum frutescens L.), one of the world’s hottest chili peppers, is rich in capsaicinoids. The accumulation of the alkaloid capsaicin and its analogs in the epidermal cells of the placenta contribute to the pungency of Capsicum fruits. To identify putative genes involved in capsaicin biosynthesis, RNA-Seq was used to analyze the pepper’s expression profiles over five developmental stages. Five cDNA libraries were constructed from the total RNA of placental tissue and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2000. More than 19 million clean reads were obtained from each library, and greater than 50% of the reads were assignable to reference genes. Digital gene expression (DGE) profile analysis using Solexa sequencing was performed at five fruit developmental stages and resulted in the identification of 135 genes of known function; their expression patterns were compared to the capsaicin accumulation pattern. Ten genes of known function were identified as most likely to be involved in regulating capsaicin synthesis. Additionally, 20 new candidate genes were identified related to capsaicin synthesis. We use a combination of RNA-Seq and DGE analyses to contribute to the understanding of the biosynthetic regulatory mechanism(s) of secondary metabolites in a nonmodel plant and to identify candidate enzyme-encoding genes.

A drug-cyclodextrin complex in liposome system was prepared in order to make a comparison with conventional risperidone-loaded liposome. Thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation and ethanol injection methods were taken as preparation means to obtain the two types of liposome. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the thermal characters of inclusion complexes and morphology of liposome, respectively. Particle size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency were studied by light scattering analysis and ultrafiltration. In vitro release was carried out in the pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution and samples were collected at the certain time. As a result, drug-cyclodextrin complex in liposome prepared by various methods displayed lower encapsulation efficiency than conventional liposome. However, size was larger and its stability was better than the latter. The second release phase of novel delivery system was slightly slower after initial burst release at the first phase, while the conventional liposome displayed a more regular trait. Thus, the novel liposome have potential to be developed as co-administration formulation with long-acting injection.

The mechanism of the interaction of singlet excited dibenzoyl(methanato)boron difluoride (*DBMBF2 = *A) with olefins and substituted benzenes (SB) was investigated by the determination of effective quenching distances (Reff) from fluorescence monitors in acetonitrile as analyzed by the Smoluchowski−Collins−Kimball equation and by solvent effects on the dichotomy of the formation of cycloadducts and [4 + 2] dimers from 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) and 1,3-cyclooctadiene (1,3-COD). The correlation of Reff with directly demonstrates that the reactants have to get closer to affect electron transfer from these substrates as the driving force become more positive and coalesce on exciplexes. Both photophysical and photochemical probes converge on the partition of encounter pairs to the SSRIP (the ket pathway which leads to radical ion reactions and nonfluorescent) and exciplexes (the kex pathway which leads to cycloadducts and fluorescent species); the former pathway was promoted by low redox energies of donor−accep...

The photolysis of dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2) in the presence of vinyl ethers in acetonitrile gave dimers of the latter from acid catalysis or electron transfer sensitization, but, it contrast, gave cycloaddition products in an efficient reaction in less polar solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) and benzene.

The pattern of the photoreactions of DBMBF2 with a cyclic diene is highly dependent on solvent nature, giving mainly the dimers of dienes in polar solvents but cycloadduct in non-polar solvents. The quantum yields of the adduct (ΦA) correlate smoothly with an empirical polarity constant (ETN) in spite of exciplex formations with aromatic solvents.

Ore flotation had been widely employed in sulphide ores selection. However, large amount wastewater produced by flotation processes had caused major problem to mine environment. Biofiltration was a cost effective and environmental friendly technology combining biodegradation and physical scrubbing that had become an outstanding alternative for decentralized area wastewater treatment. In this study, a benchscale anoxic-aerobic biofilter was utilized to remove xanthate from synthetic beneficiation wastewater. Volcanic stone with diameter between 4mm to 6mm was applied as packing media for aerobic section. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of volcanic stone based biofilter for the treatment of xanthate. The running conditions were investigated to reach the maximum removal efficiency. Experimental data showed when HRT was 6h, air water flow ratio was 10/1 with an influent xanthate concentration below 250mg/L, the average COD removal efficiency was 88.7% and effluent COD concentration ranged 12mg/L to 43mg/L. The biofilter could well accustom to high pH influent while low pH influent would cause detrimental impact to biofilm and lead to system failure.

Dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2), the BF2 complex of dibenzoylmethane, reacted from its singlet excited state with α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters to give 1,5-diketones by a [2+2] cycloaddition and ring-opening sequence in an analogous pathway to that observed in the photocycloaddition to olefins and dienes. The present photoreaction is unexpected since conjugated enones and en-esters are poor electron donors to comply with the previously proposed charge transfer requirement in DBMBF2 photoreactions. The photocycloaddition to these substrates was highly regioselective and stereoselective, giving the head-to-head orientation, which could be enhanced by α-methyl substitution; β-methyl substitution increased the alternate head-to-tail orientation. The photolysis of a mixture of DBMBF2 and a cyclic enone also caused the latter to dimerize to give head-to-head and head-to-tail dimers in significant yields. These photodimerizations were apparently caused by DBMBF2 sensitization. The mechanism of the sensitization is discussed.

Dibenzoylmethanatoboron difluoride (DBMBF2), the BF2 complex of dibenzoylmethane, reacted from its singlet excited state with α,β-unsaturated ketones and esters to give 1,5-diketones by a [2+2] cyc...

This paper describes the characterization of some atmospheric dusts collected in Chengdu and Dukou of Sichuan Province, China, and compares them with samples from Tokyo and its vicinity. The samples were fractionated with heavy liquids, followed by ordinary x-ray diffraction and fluorescence analyses. Individual particles were further analyzed using an x-ray microdiffractometer with a position sensitive proportional counter. Dukou's dust fall was characterized by high-temperature products and by large amounts of magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ). Chengdu's sample was characterisized by large contents of gypsum (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O) and the lightest fraction of 3 including carbonaceous substance and some epsomite (MgSO 4 ·7H 2 O). It resembled the sample of Chiba (Japan) in the amounts of gypsum and epsomite, and it was similar to the samples to Tokyo in the large proportion of the 3 fraction. In addition to quartz and iron oxides, kaolin mineral and mica were detected in Chengdu, while plagioclase, chlorite, mica, and sodium chloride were detected in Japan. The origins of the pollutants are discussed.

Objectives To investigate the effect of ligustrazine (tetramethylpyrazine, TMP) in attenuating myocardial apoptosis on rats with myocardial ischaemia reperfusion (IR) injury and to explore its mechanism. Methods The animal model was built by ligation of the left anterior descending artery of rats (35 min of regional ischaemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, IR, TMP pretreated (TMP 10 mg/kg intravenous injection, 5 min before ligation), and TMP+L-NAME group (TMP 10 mg/kg intravenous injection, 5 min before ligation and L-NAME 30 mg/kg intravenous injection, 15 min before reperfusion). Caspase-3 activity and TUNEL staining were used to detect myocardial apoptosis. Nitric oxide production (NO x ) of myocardial tissue was examined using nitric oxide detection kit and expression of eNOS were observed by RT-PCR and western blot. Results There were some TUNEL-positive staining myocardial cells in experimental groups except the sham group. Compared with IR group, TMP reduced apoptosis index (15.0±2.9% vs 25.2±3.3% in the IR group, p x (0.40±0.04 µmol/g vs 0.30±0.03 µmol/g in IR group, p Conclusions Ligustrazine offers antiapoptotic and cardioprotection effects against myocardial IR injury possibly through increasing the expression of eNOS and the level of NO.

Objective To observe the diverse apoptosis of the myocardiac mitochondria on insulin therapy in diabetic rats and to investigate the anti-apoptotic mechanism of insulin interacting with the mitochondria. Methods Male wistar rats were administered with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 25 mg/kg) and high fat diet to induce type 2 diabetic mellitus. Twenty-two were randomly divided into two treatment groups, namely, the early treatment group and the late treatment group (each n=7), and one diabetic (DM)group (n=8). Another eight were chosen for control. Novolin 30R was administrated hypodermically to the early treatment group (IE group) at the first week and to the late treatment group (IL group) at the fourth week. DM group were injected subcutaneously with physiological saline. All groups were treated for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment we compared SOD, MDA, GSH in different groups, as well as apoptotic index, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), active oxygen and myocardial ultrastructure. Results Compared to the control group, DM rats had higher blood glucose (30.53±2.39 vs 7.48±1.03, p Conclusion Insulin has an anti-apoptotic effect on cardiocytes of diabetic rats, and earlier intervention is better than later.