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Highly effective antibacterial surfaces are crucial to prevent bacterial infections. In this work, we developed a simple method based on Ag/TiO2 nanoparticles via a dopamine-assisted process with long-term antibacterial efficacy, for the preparation of antibacterial glass surfaces. The chemical and morphological features of the prepared surfaces were investigated through field-emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy absorption spectra of the prepared glass samples were measured with a spectrophotometer. The prepared Ag/TiO2 nanoparticle modified surfaces exhibited high activity in the elimination of the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis bacteria under visible light and still maintained good antibacterial properties against E. coli after immersion in phosphate buffered saline solution for 60 days.

Background and aims Atherosclerosis is characterized by lipid deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the arterial intima. Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids (GLTs) and polysaccharides (GLPs) are traditional Chinese medicines with potential cardiovascular benefits. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of GLTs and GLPs on atherosclerosis and the associated underlying mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. Methods and results Japanese big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of blank, model, and treatment, and the treatment group was fed with GLSO and GLSP (0.3 g/kg body-weight/day) for 4 months. Serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total (TC), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in GL treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group. The area of aortic plaques was significantly reduced in the treatment group. Further, GL administration in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by inhibiting the upregulation of the nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB p65 and the relative receptor LOX-1. In THP-1 cells treated with phorbol myristate acetate, GL inhibited the inflammatory polarization of macrophages (as evidenced by reduced TNF-α levels) via regulation of Notch1 and DLL4 pathways. Ox-LDL-stimulated THP-1 cells treated with GL showed an increase in the apoptosis of foam cells. Conclusions GLTs and GLPs attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis by alleviating endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory polarization of macrophages, thus promoting apoptosis of foam cells.

Smoking is a big public health issue because of the harmful substances generated. To diminish the risk of smoking, cut tobacco was washed with pure water, aqueous solution of sodium carbonate, or citric acid to remove the precursors of harmful substances in this work. The composition and pyrolysis kinetics of washed cut tobacco were determined to interpret the reduction in harmful substances generated during fast pyrolysis process. Sugar and alkaloid in cut tobacco were removed partly during prewash process. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that cut tobacco washed with aqueous solution of citric acid was pyrolyzed at higher temperature, while the one washed with the solution of sodium carbonate was pyrolyzed at lower temperature. The changes in composition and pyrolysis kinetics resulted in significant reduction in benzo[a]pyrene, phenol, and nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone generated during pyrolysis, demonstrating that wash of cut tobacco with suitable chemicals ...

Objective To investigate the contraceptive mechanism of combination regimen of low-dose gossypol acetic acid (GA) with steroid hormones [desogestre/ethinylestradiol/testosterone undecanote (DSG/EE/TU)]. Methods Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group GH: rats were fed orally with gossypol acetic acid (GA, 12.5 mg/kg) and desogestrel (DSG, 0.125 mg/kg)/ethinylestradiol (EE, 0.025 mg/kg)/testosterone undecanoate (TU, 100 mg/kg per day, qd × 4 weeks or 10 weeks); group G: a single dose of GA (12.5 mg/kg per day, qd × 4 weeks or 10 weeks); group H: the same dosage of DSG/EE/TU as in group GH; group C: rats were treated with vehicle (1% methyl cellulose) as the control. Expression of protein kinase C alpha (PKC-α) and cyclin D1 in rat testes were tested mainly by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting. Results IHC results showed that protein PKC-α was expressed mainly in interstitial tissue of testis among seminiferous tubule. The expression of PKC-α in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased greatly compared with that in group C. The protein cyclin D1 was expressed mainly in residual body of seminiferous tubule cavosurface and interstitial tissue among seminiferous tubule of testis. Western blotting results showed that the expression of PKC-α in groups H and GH at week 10 was decreased significantly compared with that in group C (P Conclusion The administration of low-dose gossypol acetic acid with steroid hormones for 10 weeks can decrease the expression of PKC-α greatly.

This paper adopts a 3-stage rotating biological contactor (RBC), studies kinetic analysis on RBC treatment of organic matter .Water temperature 25 °C and hydraulic retention time (HRT) 5h , COD concentration of influent varies from about 400 to 700mg / L, the average COD removal rate is 85% . According to Monod and Michaelis-Menten formula, organic matter removal kinetics equation in the first stage of RBC can be catched. When DO≥2mg/L, organic matter removal kinetic equation: U1=7.02S1/( S1+640.70), DO

NaLa1−y(MoO4)2−x(WO4)x:yEu3+ series red-emitting phosphors have been synthesized by a combustion route and their crystal structure, optical and luminescent properties have been investigated. Their emission spectra show an intense red emission at 616 nm due to the 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+. As the tungstate content increases, the intensity of 5D0 → 7F2 emission of Eu3+ activated at wavelength of 467 nm is found to increase and reaches a maximum when the relative ratio of Mo/W is 1:1. Also, the effect of Eu3+ concentration on the luminescence behavior of the solid solutions is examined. The optical properties of NaLa0.9Eu0.1(MoO4)(WO4) phosphor make it attractive for the application in white-light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in particular for near-UV InGaN-based white-LEDs.

Attempts to develop gossypol and steroidal hormones alone as a male contraceptive have been tested for many years; however, both caused undesirable side effects that have prevented their acceptance. In this study, we formulated a regimen of combined gossypol at a low dose of 12 mg/kg or a high dose of 50 mg/kg plus methyltestosterone 20 mg/kg and ethinylestradiol 100 g/kg daily (12 mg G+H and 50 mg G+H) administered for 6 weeks in adult rats. The possible roles of germ cell apoptosis and related genes expression were studied by techniques of TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), agarose gel electrophoresis of low-molecular–weight DNA, in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detection. Results showed that germ cell apoptosis and related genes expression were significantly induced after combined drug administration. The apoptosis index increased 3.86- and 9.65-fold in the 12-mg and 50-mg G+H-treated groups, respectively, as compared to the control group. DNA ladder formation on the agarose gel further validated the findings of TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells. The apoptosis-related genes fas mRNA expression levels increased 0.44- and 1.39-fold, bax mRNA 0.74- and 2.56-fold, caspase-3 mRNA 0.60- and 1.29-fold, and caspase-9 mRNA 2.50- and 4.08-fold, respectively, in the 12-mg and 50-mg G+H-treated groups vs. the control group. These results indicated that our drug regimen applied as a contraceptive could induce rat germ cell apoptosis. The apoptotic process involved fas system, bax and caspase family genes and the apoptotic extent and cell types were gossypol dose-dependent.

Two new isoprenoid-substituted isoflavanones, glyasperins K and M, a 3-arylcoumarin, glyasperin L, and an isoflavone, glyasperin N, were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza aspera. The structures of glyasperins K-N were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.