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As a pentacyclic triterpene in Centella asiatica, asiatic acid (AA) is a powerful antioxidant with many bioactivities. In the present research, we investigated whether AA has the potential to rescue the decrease in porcine oocyte quality that occurs during in vitro aging (IVA). Mature porcine oocytes were collected and then continuously cultured for an additional 24 h or 48 h with or without AA in maturation medium as an IVA model. The results revealed that AA supplementation reduced the percentage of abnormal aged porcine oocytes during IVA. Furthermore, AA supplementation effectively maintained aged porcine oocyte developmental competence, both parthenogenetic activation and in vitro fertilization. The number of sperm that bound to the zona pellucida on aged porcine oocytes was higher in the AA-supplemented group than in the non-supplemented group. Moreover, AA supplementation not only blocked IVA-induced oxidative stress but also maintained intracellular GSH levels and reduced the percentage of early apoptosis aged porcine oocytes. Mitochondrial functions were disordered during the IVA process. The intracellular ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential in aged porcine oocytes were dramatically increased by AA supplementation. Therefore, AA has beneficial effects on porcine oocyte quality and developmental potential maintenance during IVA.

To evaluate intravitreal conbercept injection for treatment of macular oedema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in Chinese patients during 1-year follow-up in the real-world setting. Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients with macular oedema associated with CRVO were retrospectively reviewed. The eyes received monthly intravitreal conbercept injection (0.5 mg in 50 µl) for 3 months. From then on, the patients were followed up every month and received injection pro re nata (PRN) up to 12 months. The primary outcome measurements included changes of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline to month 3 and month 12. Other outcome measurements included proportion of patients gaining ≥15 letters in BCVA at month 3 and 12, the mean number of injections and safety concerns. The mean BCVA gain from baseline was 12.7 ± 7.6 letters at month 3 and 14.8 ± 9.6 letters at month 12. The mean CRT reduction from baseline was 374.5 ± 280.7 μm at month 3 and 428.2 ± 241.3 μm at month 12. The proportion of patients who gained ≥15 letters in BCVA was 45.1% at month 3 and 52.9% at month 12. The mean number of injections was 7.6 ± 1.5. No severe local and systemic complications occurred following injection. Intravitreal conbercept injection by three monthly loading doses followed by PRN treatment regimen was safe and efficacious for patients with macular oedema secondary to CRVO through 1-year follow-up.

Asiatic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene enriched in the medicinal herb Centella asiatica, and it has been suggested to possess free radical scavenging and anti-apoptotic properties. The purpose of the current study was to explore the effects of asiatic acid on porcine early-stage embryonic development and the potential mechanisms for any observed effects. The results showed that 10 μM asiatic acid supplementation during the in vitro culture period dramatically improved developmental competence in porcine embryos derived from parthenogenetic activation (PA), somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Further analysis revealed that asiatic acid attenuated H2O2-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Notably, asiatic acid not only enhanced intracellular GSH levels but also attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction. Gene expression analysis revealed that asiatic acid upregulated expression of the antioxidant-related gene Sod-1 and the blastocyst formation related gene Cox-2, while downregulating expression of the apoptosis-related gene Caspase-9 in SCNT blastocysts. These results suggest that asiatic acid exerts beneficial effects on early embryonic development in porcine embryos and that asiatic acid may be useful for improving the in vitro production of porcine embryos.

Carbon materials are promising candidates for sensors to detect heavy metal ions. This paper reported an effective method of fabricating nanofiber membrane sensor for detection of heavy metal ions by electrospinning with the carbon nanoparticles and PANi (polyaniline) as additives. The results revealed that the PANi/C/PAN nanofiber membrane was the most economical approach to adsorbing and detecting metal ions with highly sensitive property. This paper sheds a light on an economic fabrication of nanofiber membrane sensor with well-defined characteristics in electrical sensors and adsorption applications.

In the present investigation, a new Ag–ZnO loaded carboxymethyl cellulose/K-carrageenan/graphene oxide/konjac glucomannan (Ag–ZnO@CGK) hydrogel was effectively prepared by means of a straight forward two step technique for clinical applications as wound-recuperating materials. In the first step, silver nanoparticles were synthesized with green deoxidizer mango peel extracts. The Ag–ZnO@CGK hydrogel indicated incredible swelling assimilation and impressive mechanical properties. Also, Ag–ZnO@CGK hydrogel exhibited great bactericidal movement against test microorganisms. In vitro viability testing demonstrated that fibroblast cells could endure well within the sight of Ag@CGK hydrogel, showing that Ag–ZnO@CGK hydrogel has great viability. In vivo animal models demonstrated that the Ag–ZnO@CGK hydrogel adequately quickened wound recuperating and histological examinations demonstrated that they have advanced fibroblast development and quickened epithelialization. The test results demonstrated that Ag–ZnO@CGK hydrogel has incredible potential in advanced wound healing.

Natural plants offer a treasure trove of resources for anticancer drug development. Clematis are widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, studies on the active substances in Clematis are scarce. In the present study, four monomer compounds were successfully extracted from this species and their inhibitory effects on the growth of breast cancer cells were investigated using bioactivity tests. Among them, Clematis hederagenin saponin (CHS) belongs to the class of triterpenoid saponins. CHS showed cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The compound also induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells in a time-dependent manner. Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells showed that the compound significantly reduced mitochondrial Apaf-1 and cytochrome c proteins in breast cancer cells. In addition, it upregulated the activities of caspase-3 and -9. In conclusion, CHS induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells through regulation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. The results suggest that the hederagenin saponin extracted from Clematis ganpiniana offers great potential as a novel anti-breast cancer drug.

The flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (family: Asteraceae) are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat fever, cold and swelling. However the aerial part is considered as agriculture waste and the chemical and pharmacological information is scanty. From the stems of this plant, four new compounds named as morineoliganosides A (1), B (2), C (3) and heterophyllol-1-O-β- d -glucopyranoside A (4) together with 27 known isolates (5–31), including flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods The inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase of these compounds have been determined. This research provided a scientific development and utilization of C. morifolium stems.

Understanding the reaction mechanism of phenol ozonation in coking wastewater is very important for industrial applications of the ozonation process. Ozonation of p-nitrophenol in water at 300 K was simulated by ReaxFF force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF MD) employing the GPU-enabled high-performance code of GMD-Reax and a unique code of VARxMD developed in authors' group. Evolution trends of aromatic ring opening, CO2 generation, dominant radicals (center dot OH, center dot O2, center dot O), and H2O clusters were obtained. The simulated CO2 generation and reduction of aromatic ring could be described with pseudo-first-order kinetics. Moreover, the reaction pathways for the ozonation of p-nitrophenol can be divided into three stages: hydrogen abstraction, opening of the six-membered-ring structure, and the breaking of C-C bonds. The simulations revealed the important role of radicals and water clusters in the ozonation of p-nitrophenol. This work is an attempt to investigate the ozonation mechanism of phenols in aqueous solutions at room temperature using ReaxFF MD, which should be helpful for further experimental or theoretical investigation of the mechanism.

Botrytis cinerea can cause grey mould and seriously affect the commercial value of grapes. An artificial inoculation trial was done using table grape ‘Red Globe’ (Vitis vinifera L.). Grape berries were treated either with ultrapure water or 600, 400, 200 times dilution of wood vinegar (WV), followed by inoculation with B. cinerea suspension after 24 h. Disease incidence (DI), disease severity (DS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide content and activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase were determined every two days during B. cinerea infection. Compared with the positive control group, WV treatment significantly reduced the DI and DS of grapes infected with grey mould. WV significantly decreased the amount of hydrogen peroxide and MDA and promoted the accumulation and expression of antioxidant enzyme in grapes. These results suggested the efficacy of WV treatment in improving the resistance of ‘Red Globe’ grapes to grey mould and in mitigating harm caused by oxidative stress.

Graphite intercalation compounds (GIC) are the most common precursors for expanded graphites which are promising materials for many applications. A series of GICs with different expanding volumes (EV) were prepared by a two-step chemical intercalation way. Effects of the input of oxidant and intercalating agent on the EV of GICs were discussed. The microstructures and morphologies of graphites before and after intercalation were analylized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results show that the GIC with an EV of 600 ml⋅g-1 may be prepared under temperal conditions by a two-step intercalation way. The interlayer spacing of the pre-GIC formeded by one-step intercalation is a bit larger than that of natural graphites, while the interlayer spacing of the GIC obtained by two-step intercalation becomes much larger than that of the pre-GIC because of secondery intercalation. When the d-spacing (d002) value of the GIC rises from 0.3590 nm up to 0.3711nm, its EV increases from 267 up to 600 ml⋅g-1 due to the decomposition and release of much more intercalated substances during a thermal shock.

Objective To observe the protective effect of fasudil hydrochloride against acute renal injury in septicopyemia rats. Methods A total of 60 Wister rats were included in the study and divided into control group (n = 10), model group (n = 25) and treatment group (n = 25). Model group and treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (ET) to establish acute renal injury models while the control group only received daily intraperitoneal injection of normal saline 1 mL. Five rats were taken out of model group and treatment group respectively at 1 h (T1), 6 h (T2), 12 h (T3), 24 h (T4) and 48 h (T5), for intraperitoneal injection of ET 30 mg/kg. Treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of fasudil hydrochloride 30 mg/kg 1 h before injection of ET. For three groups, 5 mL blood samples were collected from postcava for determination of serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels at different time points. Concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor α and ET-1 were determined by using ELISA. The renal pathologic changes were observed under the microscope. Results Serum creatinine levels in both model group and treatment group were significantly higher than control group at T2–T5 (P

Based on the interaction mode of capture probe-target-signaling probe (CP-T-SP), an electrochemical DNA sensor based on the synergism strategy of Au electrode with large surface area, background suppression and multi-redox-modified signaling probe is developed for the detection of a specific DNA sequence. The proposed sensor can detect as low as ∼2 fM target DNA with good mismatch discrimination ability and outstanding working capability in real complex matrixes.

In order to evaluate utilization variation of, and growth response to, soybean meal diets in largemouth bass for breeding programs, test diets with 0%, 35%, and 50% fishmeal having been replaced by soybean meal (SBM; S0, S35, and S50) were administered to three northern strains of largemouth bass (LMB; Jones, Marlow, and Remlinger). In the S35 and S50 groups, the Marlow and Remlinger strains had much better growth response to soybean meal diet (SMD) than the Jones strain, indicating that these two strains can better utilize diets containing high level of SMD. The results suggest that genetic variation exists for growth and feed efficiency in LMB fed diets containing both SBM and fishmeal, and genetic improvement may be possible for the trait of feed efficiency. In all the three strains, the growth performance of individuals in the S35 and S50 groups declined when compared with the S0 group, and the specific growth rate and weight gain correlated negatively with dietary levels of SBM. Genes that were differentially expressed between dietary SBM levels were identified. Transcripts of genes related to insulin-signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis were significantly downregulated in the S35 and S50 groups compared with the S0 group. Interestingly, several transcripts of genes (egfr, pla2g4, and ugt) involved in GnRH-signaling pathway and steroid hormone biosynthesis were also downregulated in the S35 and S50 groups, inferring that feeding with SMD could impair the sexual development of juvenile LMB. Likewise, the genes related to insulin signaling and fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis were downregulated in the Jones strain compared to the Marlow and Remlinger strains in all three treatments. Overall, the Marlow and Remlinger strains exhibited better adaptation to SBM diets, and could be considered as potential breeding candidates. These results also suggest that insulin-signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis play important roles in adaptation to diets with high levels of SBM in LMB. This study provides useful information for LMB breeding programs, and it contributes to our understanding of genetic mechanisms related to growth performance of LMB fed with high levels of SMB.

A simple chemosensor, 6-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-5,6-dihydro-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline (1), was synthesized via simple nucleophilic addition reaction coupled with Schiff base condensation. The probe 1 is aggregation-induced emission-active and could be used as an on–off fluorescence sensor toward Cu2+ in H2O/CH3CN (99.5%, v/v) solution. Furthermore, the resultant Cu2+ complex selectively responded to pyrophosphate (PPi) among various anions based on fluorescent on–off signal. In addition, the probe could be used for detecting Cu2+ and PPi in HeLa cells.

A total of 70% of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor (ER)α; therefore, targeting the ER may be an effective endocrine therapy with which to inhibit breast cancer growth. Tamoxifen is the most common‑used clinically used drug for the treatment of advanced or metastatic ER‑positive (ER+) breast cancer. However, a substantial proportion of patients become resistant to endocrine therapies. To overcome this limitation, in this stud, we sought to maximize the benefits associated with tamoxifen therapy via drug combination strategies. We demonstrated that rapamycin, an FDA‑approved mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, enhanced the effects of endocrine therapy with tamoxifen, and the concentration of tamoxifen required for ER+ breast cancer cell growth inhibition was substantially reduced. Moreover, treatment with rapamycin plus tamoxifen significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, this synergistic effect may be mediated by the induction of p73. We revealed a novel mechanism in which p73 increases ERα expression by directly binding to the promoter region of the ERα gene. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that combination therapy with rapamycin and tamoxifen underlying p73‑mediated ERα expression may provide new insight into the drug combination for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer.

New supramolecular structures were designed in this work using large-sized polyoxometalates (POMs) and crown-ether-based supramolecular cations selected as building blocks. Two novel supramolecular inorganic–organic hybrids [(3-F-4-MeAnis)([18]crown-6)]2[SMo12O40]•CH3CN (1) and [(4-IAnis)([18]crown-6)]3[PMo12O40]•4CH3CN (2) (3-F-4-MeAnis = 3-fluoro-4-methylanilinium and 4-IAnis = 4-iodoanilinium) were synthesized. Crystals 1 and 2 have been characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis (EA). Based on X-ray diffraction analysis, Crystals 1 and 2 were constructed through noncovalent bonding interactions and belong to different space groups due to the difference of the building blocks used. Supramolecular cations formed due to strong N–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions between the six oxygen atoms of [18]crown-6 molecules and nitrogen atoms of anilinium derivatives. Crystal 1 has two different supramolecular cations with an anti-paralleled arrangement that forms a dimer through weak hydrogen bonding interactions between adjacent [18]crown-6 molecules. Crystal 2 has three independent supramolecular cations that fill large spaces between the [PMo12O40] polyoxoanions forming a rhombus-shape packing arrangement in the ac plane. Crystals 1 and 2 are unstable at room temperature.

The fungus Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-12-7-1), which can produce a rare class of steroids (4-methyl-progesteroids) in rice solid medium, was subjected to a one strain-many compounds (OSMAC) approach. It was found to produce ten new 4-methyl-progesteroid derivatives named nodulisporisteroids C-L (1-10) in potato-dextrose-broth (PDB) medium, which showed that the fungus was a prolific producer of 4-methyl-progesteroids. The structures of 1-10 were elucidated by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines had been evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method.

ZnS:O2− (ZSO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a low temperature solid-state reaction method. The effects of annealing conditions and the content of the surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG) on photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZSO nanoparticles were studied. It was found that annealing and adding PEG during the synthesis did not change the crystal structure of ZSO nanoparticles, and their average crystallite size increased with increasing annealing time and temperature, but decreased with increasing PEG content. The emission intensity of ZSO nanoparticles was found to be enhanced after annealing or using PEG during the synthesis. Optimal annealing conditions both in air and vacuum and the optimal content of PEG were obtained for achieving maximum emission intensity from the ZSO nanoparticles.

To explore the preventive effect of aspirin on the cardiovascular complications in prostate cancer after endocrinotherapy.A total of 92 patients with prostate cancer were divided into observation group (n=44) and control group (n=48). The control group was treated with medical castration plus anti-androgenic drugs. Based on the above treatment, the observation group was added aspirin. The follow-up duration was 2 years. The changes of partial prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), platelet aggregation rate (PAG), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and serum testosterone (T) before and after treatment as well as incidence of cardiovascular disease were observed.The 2-year survival rates of patients without cardiovascular disease in observation group and control group were 95.45% (42/44) and 72.92% (35/48), respectively, and significant difference was presented between two groups by comparison to the survival rates (χ2=8.5453, p=0.0035). There was no statistical significance between two groups as well as before and after treatment regarding PT (p0.05). After treatment, APTT went down and PAG was gradually on the rise in control group, while PAG down and APTT on the rise increasingly in observation group. Significant differences were presented between two groups as well as before and after treatment (p0.01). Both PSA and T levels were decreased significantly in two groups after treatment (p0.01), but there was no statistical significant between two groups (p0.05).Application of endocrinotherapy in prostate cancer can easily lead to occurrence of cardiovascular disease, but cardiovascular complications can be prevented by aspirin, without affecting the effect of endocrinotherapy.

Eight new viridins, nodulisporiviridins A-H (1-8), were isolated from the extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-17-2-1) that was fermented with potato-dextrose broth. The structures were determined using spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Nodulisporiviridins A-D (1-4) are unique viridins with an opened ring A. The Aβ42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 1-8 were evaluated using a thioflavin T (ThT) assay with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as the positive control (EGCG IC50 of 0.5 μM). Nodulisporiviridin G (7) displayed potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1.2 μM, and the preliminary trend of activity of these viridins as Aβ42 aggregation inhibitors was proposed. The short-term memory assay on an Aβ transgenic drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease showed that all eight compounds improved the short-term memory capacity, with potencies close to that of the positive control (memantine).

Three new cyclohexenones (1-3, named sarcosones A-C) and two new isocoumarins (4 and 5), together with five known isocoumarins (6-10), were isolated from the solid cultures of an endophytic fungus Sarcosomataceae sp. NO.49-14-2-1. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of HR-ESI-TOF-MS, (1)H, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectra. Their absolute configurations were determined via modified Mosher's method and circular dichroism spectra method.

4,5-seco-Probotryenols A–C (1–3), a new type of sesquiterpenoids named seco-probotryane-type sesquiterpenoid, have been obtained from Stachybotrys bisbyi (PYH05-7), along with five new botryane skeleton sesquiterpenoids (4, 5, and 8–10), and two known ones (6 and 7). Their structures were determined by NMR analyses, chemical derivatization, and X-ray crystallography.

Six new polyesters, talapolyesters A-F (1-4, 14, and 16), together with 11 known ones 15G256 nu (5), 15G256 nu-me (6), 15G256 pi (7), 15G256 beta-2 (8), 15G256 alpha-2 (9), 15G256 alpha-2-me (10), 15G256 iota. (11), 15G256 beta (12), 15G256 alpha (13), 15G256 alpha-1 (15), and 15G256 omega (17), were isolated from the wetland soil-derived fungus Talaromyces flavus BYD07-13, and their structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Among them, 1-4 and 16 were assembled in a different manner from that of the known 256 polyesters. All the polyesters are composed of (R)-2,4-dihydroxy-6-(2-hydroxypropyl)benzoic acid and (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid/(S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid residues. The absolute configurations of the residues were determined by alkaline hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines of these compounds was examined, and a tight structure-activity relationship is proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sporormiellin A (1), the first tetrahydrofuran-fused furochromone with an unprecedented tetracyclic skeleton, has been obtained from the fungal strain Sporormiella minima. The structure with absolute configuration was elucidated by NMR data, X-ray crystallography, and quantum chemical ECD calculations.

Exfoliated graphite with large expanding volume (EV) was prepared by two-step intercalation, in which the mixture of nitric acid and phosphoric acid, and that of nitric acid and acetic acid were employed as intercalating agent step by step, and potassium permanganate was used as oxidant. Its preparation conditions were optimized by orthogonal experiment and parallel experiment, and its microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscope. The results show that the optimal preparation conditions for the first step intercalation are as follows: the mass-volume ratio of natural graphite (NG) to mixed acid is 1: 4, the volume ratio of nitric acid to phosphoric acid is 1: 2, the mass ratio of NG to potassium permanganate is 1: 0.2, and the reaction temperature is 20~30°C for 40~60 minutes. Those for the second step intercalation are as follows: the mass-volume ratio of acidized graphite (AG) to acetic acid is 1: 5, the mass-volume ratio of AG to nitric acid is 1: 1.5, the mass ratio of AG to potassium permanganate is 1: 0.15, and the reaction temperature is 20~30°C for 40~60 minutes, the EV is 450ml/g under the conditions listed above. The interlayers of graphite are fully opened and become a worm-like fluffy rope.

Two new 4-methyl-progesteroids, nodulisporisteriod A (1) and nodulisporisteriod B (2), were isolated from the extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nodulisporium sp. (No. 65-17-2-1), along with two related metabolites, demethoxyviridin (3) and inoterpene B (4). Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses, X-ray crystallographic analysis and comparison of the NMR data with those of the closely related compounds previously reported. Nodulisporisteriod A (1) and nodulisporisteriod B (2) possess new carbon skeletons, which are the first cases of fission at C-3,4 in 4-methyl-progesteroids. A hypothetical biosynthetic pathway for 1 and 2 was proposed. Moreover, the Aβ42 aggregation inhibitory activities of 1-4 were evaluated using standard thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as positive control. Demethoxyviridin (3) displayed anti-Aβ42 aggregation activity with IC50 value of 13.4μM.

The toluene soluble (TS) fraction prepared from a middle-temperature coal tar pitch was subjected to a series of thermal treatments at the various temperatures from 410 °C to 470 °C for different periods of time. The samples obtained after heat treatment was quenched to ambient temperature. Mesophase spheres were separated from the quenched samples using washing oil and quinoline. The kinetics of mesophase sphere formation of the TS fraction was studied, based on the data derived from the time-dependent changes in the mesophase sphere content. It was clarified that the mesophase sphere formation of TS fraction was an autocatalytic type reaction. The rate law and the rate constants for the mesophase sphere formation at holding temperatures of 410°C, 430°C, 450°C and 470°C were determined. The rate constants of the mesophase sphere formation follow the Arrhenius equation. The Arrhenius parameters of the mesophase sphere formation are 200.2 kJ mol-1 of the activation energy and 2.71x1012 % -1 h-1 of the pre-exponential factor. The treatment temperature had a greater effect on the formation of mesophase spheres than the treatment time.

Two kinds of exfoliated graphite have been prepared from graphite flake and graphite powder, and their preparation conditions were respectively optimized by orthogonal experiments and parallel experiments. The effect of graphite size on the characteristics of exfoliated graphite was researched. The microstructure of two kinds of exfoliated graphite was measured by SEM. The results show that the optimal preparation conditions for exfoliated graphite flake are as following: the mass-volume ratio of graphite to mixed acid is 1: 4, the volume ratio of nitric acid to phosphoric acid is 1: 2, the mass ratio of graphite to potassium permanganate is 1: 0.1, and the reaction temperature is 25°C. For exfoliated graphite powder, the optimal mass ratio of graphite powder to potassium permanganate is 1: 0.22, and the consumption of oxidant for exfoliated graphite powder is more than that for exfoliated graphite flake. The longitudinal expansion of graphite flake is more apparent than that of graphite powder and leads to a worm-like fluffy rope.

Eight new isocoumarin glycosides (1-8) were obtained from the solid culture of the wetland soil-derived fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (No. DTH12-10). Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of HR ESI-TOF MS, (1)H, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectra. The absolute configurations were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism (CD) spectrum, and chemical derivatization methods. In addition, inhibition of the biofilm formation and the secretion of virulence factor of the new isocoumarin glycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAOA (clinical isolates) were evaluated. The result revealed that compound 1 showed antibacterial activity comparable with (Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone (BF).

Chemical investigation on an endolichenic fungal strain Scopulariopsis sp. led to the isolation of two new naphthalene derivatives, 1-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1,8-dimethoxynaphthalen-2(1H)-one (1) and 1,8-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-ol (2). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR).

Molecular crowding is a new approach to promoting molecular imprinting more efficiently. In this work, this concept was applied to the preparation of imprinted monoliths in the presence of molecular crowding agent for stabilizing binding sites and improving molecular recognition. The imprinted monolithic column was synthesized using a mixture of enrofloxacin (template), methacrylic acid, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and polystyrene (molecular crowding agent). Some polymerization factors, such as template-monomer molar ratio and the composition of the porogen, on the imprinting effect of resulting MIP monolith were systematically investigated. Moreover, a stoichiometric displacement model for retention was successfully applied to evaluate the interaction between the solute and the stationary phase. Compared with the MIP prepared by conventional polymerization, the molecular crowding-based monolithic MIPs showed higher selectivity. The results suggested that molecular crowding is a powerful strategy to increase the effect of molecular imprinting.

The orientation of the hydrocarbon chains and functionally important chromophore of copper (II) phthalocyanine (CuPc) derivatives are discussed by spectrum assessment methods in ordered thin films. The attention is focused upon the monolayer and multilayer films of CuPc derivatives that are symmetrically and asymmetrically substituted CuPc biosimulation systems. On the basis of infrared (IR) transmission, polarized IR, reflection–absorption (RA) IR spectroscopy and surface enhancement resonance Raman spectra (SERRS) study, following conclusions are given. The hydrocarbon chains of CuPc in the film are in hexagonal or pseudohexagonal subcell packing, and the CH2 asymmetric vibrational vector is oriented with respect to the substrate surface. The macrocycle of CuPc on the Ag substrate is oriented parallel to the surface, and the RA spectroscopy can distinguish the two CH2 stretching modes of benzene cycle. All these studies and results are useful to provide an insight into the nanostructure of the thin films of other kinds of compounds.

In this work, molecular crowding agent was first applied to the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based drug release system. With S-naproxen as template, the MIPs were prepared with methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, in the presence of polystyrene as molecular crowding by precipitation polymerization. Morphology and particle size of the resulting MIP sub-micrometer microparticles were determined by scanning electron microcopy and dynamic light scattering. The influence of several parameters on the sustained release of the imprinted polymers was investigated, including the molar ratio of the imprint molecule to the functional monomers, the molar ratio of the functional monomers to the crosslinking monomers, and the type of the porogen. In addition, the release of the MIP was compared to that of the traditionally prepared imprinted polymers with other porogens. The transport mechanism of template was studied by fitting experiment data with different model equations and calculating the corresponding parameters. The novel MIPs prepared with molecular crowding were able to prolong S-naproxen, in a phosphate buffers solution of pH 7.4, for more than 12 h, indicating better sustained release effect than that prepared with noncrowding agent. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers

Molecular crowding is a new concept to obtain molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with greater capacity and selectivity. In this work, molecular crowding agent was firstly applied to the preparation of MIPs monolithic column. A new polymerization system based on molecular crowding surrounding was developed to prepare enrofloxacin-imprinted monolith, which was composed of polystyrene and tetrahydrofuran. The result showed that the monolithic MIPs under molecular crowding conditions presented good molecular recognition for enrofloxacin with an imprinting factor of 3.03.

Firstly, the reduced graphene oxide was prepared by modified hummer method and characterized. Then, the complex refractive index of reduced graphene oxide in IR band was tested and its IR absorption and radiation properties were researched by correlated calculation. The results show that reduced graphene oxide prepared by hummer method are multilayered graphene with defects and functional groups on its surface. Its absorption in near and far IR bands is strong, but it's weaker in middle IR band. At the IR atmosphere Window, its normal spectral emissivity decreases with wavelength increasing, and its total normal spectral emissivity in 3 ∼ 5μm and 8 ∼ 14μm are 0.75 and 0.625, respectively. Therefore, reduced graphene oxide can be used as IR absorption and coating materials and have a great potential in microwave and infrared compatible materials.

Halide-activated pack cementation and Air plasma spraying methods were utilized to deposit Si-modified MCrAlY coatings. Nb-base alloys were coated with MCrAlY by Air plasma spraying and followed by pack siliconizing process at 1100°C for 8h and 10h. The pack powders were consisted of 5 Wt.℅NH4Cl、35 Wt.℅Si、60 Wt.℅Al2O3. Si-modified MCrAlY coatings have three-layer microstructure. The outer layer was composed of NbSi2 and Nb3Ni2.4Cr1.6Si6, while the middle layer comprised the compound of Nb、Ti、Ni、Cr、Si. The inner layer adjacent to the substrate was silicide. Isothermal oxidation resistance of Si-modified MCrAlY coatings was tested at 1250°C in static air. Si-modified MCrAlY coatings had excellent oxidation resistance, because continuous Cr2O3 and SiO2 scales which serve as obstacle of oxygen diffusion were formed after oxidation.

Eight new isocoumarin glycosides (1-8) were obtained from the solid culture of the wetland soil-derived fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (No. DTH12-10). Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of HR ESI-TOF MS, (1)H, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectra. The absolute configurations were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, circular dichroism (CD) spectrum, and chemical derivatization methods. In addition, inhibition of the biofilm formation and the secretion of virulence factor of the new isocoumarin glycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAOA (clinical isolates) were evaluated. The result revealed that compound 1 showed antibacterial activity comparable with (Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-2(5H)-furanone (BF).

Pericoterpenoid A (1), a new cadinane-type sesquiterpene, was isolated from an endolichenic fungal strain Periconia sp. (No. 19-4-2-1). Its structure was characterized by analyzing the spectroscopic data (IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR). The antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans was evaluated. Pericoterpenoid A showed moderate antimicrobial activity against A. niger and weak activity against C. albicans. This is the first report of the presence of cadinane-type sesquiterpene in Periconia sp.

Sporormiellin A (1), the first tetrahydrofuran-fused furochromone with an unprecedented tetracyclic skeleton, has been obtained from the fungal strain Sporormiella minima. The structure with absolute configuration was elucidated by NMR data, X-ray crystallography, and quantum chemical ECD calculations.

Three new isocoumarin derivatives, mucorisocoumarins A-C, are isolated along with seven known compounds.

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of osthole on postmenopausal osteoporosis using ovariectomized (OVX) rats. All of the rats were divided into sham and OVX groups. At 2 weeks post-operation, the sham-operated rats received solvent vehicle (97% corn oil and 3% ethanol, 1.0 ml/kg, subcutaneously); the OVX rats were divided into three groups which were treated with solvent vehicle (same the sham rats, 1.0 ml/kg, subcutaneously), 17beta-estradiol (30 microg/kg, subcutaneously) or osthole (9.0 mg/kg, orally) 5 d/week for 4 weeks, respectively. In OVX rats, the increases of body weight, spleen and thymus weight were significantly decreased and the atrophy of uterus was preserved by 17beta-estradiol treatment, but not by osthole. Treatment with either 17beta-estradiol or osthole significantly protected cancellous bone loss owing to estrogen deficiency and significantly increased the maximal load in the femoral neck of OVX rats. In addition, the increases of serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) levels caused by ovariectomy were all significantly suppressed by 17beta-estradiol. However, only urinary DPD was significantly reduced by osthole and no change was found in serum OC. Our results demonstrate that osthole may be just as effective as 17beta-estradiol in suppressing bone loss due to ovariectomy but osthole perhaps does not work through the estrogen pathway.

Three new isocoumarin derivatives, mucorisocoumarins A-C (1-3, resp.), together with seven known compounds, 4-10, were isolated from the cold-adapted fungal strain Mucor sp. (No. XJ07027-5). The structures of the new compounds were identified by detailed IR, MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses. It was noteworthy that compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were successfully resolved by chiral HPLC, indicating that 1-7 should exist as enantiomers. In an embryonic developmental toxicity assay using a zebrafish model, compound 3 produced developmental abnormalities in the zebrafish embryos. This is the first report of isocoumarins with developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos.

Two new naphthaline glucosides, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-8-methyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosylnaphthaline (1) and 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-8-methyl-2-O-β-d-glucopyranosylnaphthaline (2), together with one new isocoumarin glucoside, 3-(3,3-dichloro-2-hydroxylpropyl)-6-methoxy-8-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-1H-isochromen-1-one (3), were isolated from a cold-adapted fungal strain Mucor sp. (No. XJ07027-5). Their structures were characterized by detailed analyses of IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. Among them, 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against five tumor cells (A-549, HL-60, MCF-7, SMMC-7721, and SW480).

Because intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) had been introduced to animal science, not only reproductive biology of domestic animals, but also medicine to treat infertility has been developed. This assisted reproductive technology is beneficial for generating transgenic animals, especially pigs, because polyspermy is the greatest hurdle in porcine IVF when researchers make highly qualified preimplantation embryos. However, ICSI-derived embryos expressed high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to cause serious dysfunction during preimplantation development. The objective of this study was to investigate the developmental competence, ROS level, and apoptosis index when glutathione (GSH) or cysteine was supplemented into the in vitro culture medium for ICSI-derived porcine embryos. First, we evaluated the effect of different concentrations of GSH or cysteine on developmental ability of porcine ICSI-derived embryos. The cleavage rate (79.6%) and the blastocyst formation rate (20.9%) were significantly improved in culture medium supplemented with 1 mmol/L GSH compared with other concentrations or no supplementation. Also, 1.71 mmol/L cysteine showed a significantly higher proportion of cleavage (80.7%) and blastocyst formation (22.5%) than other cysteine-supplemented groups. Next, we confirmed that intracellular ROS level was significantly reduced in the group of blastocysts cultured with GSH or cysteine after ICSI compared with the no supplementation group. Finally, we found that terminal uridine nick-end labeling index, fragmentation, and total apoptosis were significantly decreased and the total cell number was significantly increased in blastocysts when ICSI-derived embryos were cultured with supplementation of 1.71 mmol/L cysteine or 1 mmol/L GSH. Taken together, these results strongly indicate that GSH or cysteine can improve the developmental competence of porcine ICSI-derived embryos by reducing intracellular ROS level and the apoptosis index.

This study investigated whether treating fetal fibroblast cells (donor cells) with epigenetic modification-inducing drugs could improve the development of porcine cloned embryos. Donor cells were treated with different DNA methylation inhibitors (5-aza-dC, zebularine or RG108; 5 nM) or histone deacetylase inhibitors (TSA, NaBu or SCR; 50 nM) for 1 h, and then subjected to SCNT. All of the treated groups showed significantly higher blastocyst formation rates compared to the control group. We chose 5-aza-dC and TSA as a combined treatment, and found that donor cells co-treated with 2.5 nM 5-aza-dC for 1 h and subsequently treated with 50 nM TSA for another 1 h before SCNT showed significantly improved blastocyst rates compared to the control, 5-aza-dC-treated, and TSA-treated groups. The levels of DNA methylation were decreased (though not to a significant degree) in donor cells treated with 5-aza-dC, TSA or both. The histone H3 acetylation levels were significantly increased in donor cells treated with TSA or co-treated with 5-aza-dC and TSA. Donor cells simultaneously co-treated with 5 nM 5-aza-dC and 50 nM TSA for 1 h showed increased apoptosis of SCNT blastocysts. However, when we decreased the concentration of 5-aza-dC to 2.5 nM, the co-treatment induced less apoptosis among SCNT blastocysts and the blastocyst development rate improved. Together, these results indicate that treatment of donor cells with 5-aza-dC, TSA, or TSA plus a low dose of 5-aza-dC could improve the blastocyst development of porcine cloned embryos.

Two new heptaketides, (+)-(2S,3S,4aS)-altenuene (1a) and (-)-(2S,3S,4aR)-isoaltenuene (2a), together with six known compounds, (-)-(2R,3R,4aR)-altenuene (1b), (+)-(2R,3R,4aS)-isoaltenuene (2b), 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (3), alternariol (4), alternariol-9-methyl ether (5), and 4-hydroxyalternariol-9-methyl ether (6) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nigrospora sphaerica (No.83-1-1-2). Compounds 1a and 1b were separated from enantiomers 1 by chiral HPLC, and so were 2a and 2b from enantiomers 2. Interestingly, 1-6 were also obtained from other two endolichenic fungal strains Alternaria alternata (No.58-8-4-1) and Phialophora sp. (No.96-1-8-1). The structures of 1-6 were elucidated by means of MS, HR-MS, NMR, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the absolute configurations of 1a-2b were determined by CD experiments and CD calculation. Of these compounds, 4 and 5 showed antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) in vitro, with IC(50) values of 13.5 and 21.3 μM, and with selective index (SI) values of 26.5 and 17.1, respectively.

In the title molecule, C8H11NO2, the r.m.s. deviation of non-H atoms from their best plane is 0.031 Å. Molecules are connected via a pair of N—H...O hydrogen bonds into a centrosymmetric dimer.

The title compound, C(18)H(20)O(4), was synthesized by a Wittig-Horner reaction of diethyl 3,4-dimeth-oxy-benzyl-phosphate and 3,5-dimeth-oxy-benzaldehyde. In the crystal, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 2.47 (12)°. All the meth-oxy groups are almost coplanar with the aromatic ring to which they are attached [C-C-O-C torsion angles = -2.8 (3), -5.2 (4), -176.3 (2) and -178.0 (2)°].