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The modification of CC with Co(OH) 2 is employed to realize high utilization of Co-Ni-S. The as-prepared CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S exhibits enhanced specific capacitance compared to that of CC@Co-Ni-S without Co(OH) 2 modification. [Display omitted] • A freestanding CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S electrode of supercapacitor is successfully constructed by two-step electrodeposition. • Carbon cloth is directly used as a current collector, without conductive additives or polymer binders. • The specific capacitance of CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S is greatly improved by the introduction of Co(OH) 2 nanosheets as substrate for Co-Ni-S. The ternary Co-Ni sulfides (Co-Ni-S) with earth-abundance, environmental friendliness, and high theoretical capacitance have been widely investigated in the field of pseudocapacitive supercapacitors. To further improve the utilization of Co-Ni-S to realize higher capacitance, Co-Ni-S was electrodeposited on carbon cloth (CC) that was modified by Co(OH) 2 nanoflakes (CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S). The modification of CC with Co(OH) 2 exhibits rough surface, which is beneficial to the electrodeposition of Co-Ni-S, further improving the electrochemical performance. As a result, the specific capacitance of CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S is higher than that of CC@Co-Ni-S without Co(OH) 2 modification. Even after 5000 cycles, the specific capacitance of CC@Co(OH) 2 @Co-Ni-S is still about 22% higher than that of CC@Co-Ni-S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Temperate (Te), tropical (Tr), and Te × Tr inbred lines all have heat tolerant and susceptible germplasms in maize. • Tr inbred lines maintained a lower flowering – time plasticity than Te inbred lines. • Post-silking growth in nearly two weeks was most sensitive to heat stress in maize. • Sowing date and genotype together alleviated ∼80% of heat impacts on maize yield. High temperature is becoming a growing threat to global food security with warming climate. Maize grain yield greatly reduces when subjected to heat stress around flowering and early grain filling, but the responses of temperate (Te) and tropical (Tr) maize genotypes to heat stress are unclear. For this, 162 maize inbred lines including 40 Te, 45 Tr and 77 Te × Tr lines were grown at six sowing dates over four years of 2015 – 2018. Yield reduction was mainly a function of the reduced kernel number under heat stress around flowering and early grain filling period. Kernel number on average reduced by 73–98% under heat stress around flowering, with Tr inbred lines having significantly smaller reductions than Te and Te × Tr inbred lines. Kernel number reduction of Te, Tr, and Te × Tr varied largely in heat stress, indicating there are both heat sensitive and tolerant inbred lines in each group. Tasseling, pollen shedding, and silking time were all advanced by high temperature with a larger advance in pollen shedding than in silking, thus extending anthesis-silking interval. Tr inbred lines on average maintained a lower flowering – time plasticity than Te inbred lines, which partly explained the higher heat tolerance of Tr maize. Post-silking growth in a short period of approximately two weeks were most sensitive to high temperature in maize. Adjusting sowing date was a more effective strategy to reduce heat impacts around flowering than maize genotypes, but sowing date and genotype combined together alleviated ∼80% of negative effects of heat stress on yield. Hence, selecting of and breeding for heat tolerant maize genotypes is becoming more urgent, and heat tolerant inbred lines used in this study can be potential germplasm resource. Heat tolerant genotype and proper sowing date should be combined with alternative strategies to cope with heat stress with warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The isothermal phase transformation of Co-Cr-Mo alloy can be controlled by changing grain boundary characteristic. • The high density of stacking faults and low-angle boundaries accelerated the phase transformation of γ-Co to ε-Co and Laves phase precipitation. • The twin boundaries retard the isothermal phase transformation and improve the resistance to Laves phase precipitation. • The GBE Co-Cr-Mo alloy maintains high mechanical performance after isothermal treatment. In this study, we investigate the influence of grain boundary character on isothermal phase transformation and mechanical properties of selective laser melting (SLM) fabricated Co-Cr-Mo alloy. The grain boundary engineering (GBE) was used to manipulate the isothermal phase transformation and precipitation. The As-SLM Co-Cr-Mo and GBE Co-Cr-Mo alloys were isothermal treatment at 800 ℃ for 6 h in a muffle furnace, followed by air cooling, respectively. It was found that the high density of stacking faults and low-angle boundaries in As-SLM Co-Cr-Mo alloy accelerated the phase transformation of γ-Co to ε-Co and Laves phase precipitation, which improved the tensile strength and drastically deteriorated the ductility. While, the high fraction of twin boundaries in GBE Co-Cr-Mo alloy retard the isothermal phase transformation and improve the resistance to Laves phase precipitation, which nearly maintain the high mechanical performance after the same isothermal treatment. The results of this study can be a guide to fabricate high-performance Co-Cr-Mo alloy according to work conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several novel Schiff base macrocyclic compounds containing triazine were synthesized from cyanuric chloride, diethylamine, p-nitrophenol, p-phthalaldehyde, m-phthalaldehyde, and o-phthalaldehyde. Triazine macrocycles were synthesized using the high dilution method and their structures were elucidated by IR, NMR and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on the lecture for the 2014 American Geriatrics Society Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award. Elder abuse is a global public health and human rights problem. Evidence suggests that elder abuse is prevalent, predictable, costly, and sometimes fatal. This review will highlight the global epidemiology of elder abuse in terms of its prevalence, risk factors, and consequences in community populations. The global literature in PubMed, MEDLINE, Psyc INFO, BIOSIS, Science Direct, and Cochrane Central was searched. Search terms included elder abuse, elder mistreatment, elder maltreatment, prevalence, incidence, risk factors, protective factors, outcomes, and consequences. Studies that existed only as abstracts, case series, or case reports or recruited individuals younger than 60; qualitative studies; and non-English publications were excluded. Tables and figures were created to highlight the findings: the most-detailed analyses to date of the prevalence of elder abuse according to continent, risk and protective factors, graphic presentation of odds ratios and confidence intervals for major risk factors, consequences, and practical suggestions for health professionals in addressing elder abuse. Elder abuse is common in community-dwelling older adults, especially minority older adults. This review identifies important knowledge gaps, such as a lack of consistency in definitions of elder abuse; insufficient research with regard to screening; and etiological, intervention, and prevention research. Concerted efforts from researchers, community organizations, healthcare and legal professionals, social service providers, and policy-makers should be promoted to address the global problem of elder abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonist on the sexual quality of life of male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this open-label study, 42 AS patients were grouped into the TNF-α antagonist treatment group and the non-TNF-α antagonist treatment group for 3 months. Clinical and laboratory indices and changes in the sexual quality of life were compared to assess the efficacy of TNF-α antagonists on sexual activity. The relationship between sexual quality and disease activity was analyzed. There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups. After treatment, disease activity and quality of life were improved in these two groups. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score (1.9 ± 1.6 vs. 3.0 ± 1.3, p = 0.020), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (9 ± 7 mm/1 h vs. 18 ± 17 mm/1 h, p = 0.031), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (1.8 ± 2.1 mg/dl vs. 6.2 ± 8.5 mg/dl, p = 0.035) were significantly lower in the TNF-α antagonist treatment group than in the non-TNF-α antagonist treatment group. The extent of improvement in the quality of life was more evident in the TNF-α antagonist treatment group. The average degree of improvement in the quality of life was negatively related to the BASDAI score and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index score in the TNF-α antagonist treatment group ( r = −0.497, p = 0.018; r = −0.558, p = 0.007, respectively). Sexual quality of life and disease activity are improved after treatment with TNF-α antagonists in male patients with AS. The extent of improvement in sexual quality and disease activity are positively related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss a credit risk model with a pure jump Lévy process for the asset value and an unobservable random barrier. The default time is the first time when the asset value falls below the barrier. Using the indistinguishability of the intensity process and the likelihood process, we prove the existence of the intensity process of the default time and find its explicit representation in terms of the distance between the asset value and its running minimal value. We apply the result to find the instantaneous credit spread process and illustrate it with a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectin-3, a unique chimera-type member of the β-galactoside-binding soluble lectin family, is present in both normal and cancer cells and plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell adhesion. It is involved both in accelerating detachment of cells from primary tumor sites and promoting cancer cell adhesion and survival to anoikis in the blood stream. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are membrane receptors that mediate cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, and are essential for transducing intracellular signals responsible for adhesion, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and organ-specific metastasis. This review will discuss the recent advances in our understanding the biological functions, mechanism and therapeutic implication of the interaction between galectin-3 and CAMs in cancer metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS) method was developed for qualitative and quantitative determination of constituents in the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides . Qualitative analysis was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UHPLC @ HSS T3 column (1.8 μm 100 × 2.1 mm) using gradient elution with mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. Quantitative analysis was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse plus C18 column (1.7 μm 100 × 2.1 mm) using gradient elution with mobile phase of 0.1% acetic acid and acetonitrile for at least 20 min. Quadrupole TOF/MS in either full scan mode or extracted ion mode was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the constituents. According to the mass spectrometric fragmentation mechanism and UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS data, chemical structures of 45 constituents in the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides , including 19 phenols and phenolic glycosides, 16 lignans and lignan glycosides, 8 triterpenoid saponins, one flavone and one sesquiterpene, were identified tentatively on-line without the time-consuming process of isolation. In addition, 8 phenolic glycosides including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 2-hydroxy-5-(2-hydroxyethyl) phenyl-β- d -glucopyranoside (HPG), anacardoside (ACD), orcinol glucoside (OGD), orcinol-1-O-β- d -apiofuranosyl-(1 → 6)-β- d -glucopyranoside (OAG), 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid (DBA), curculigoside (CUR) and curculigine A (CCL) were quantitated in 11 collected samples and 10 commercial samples from different providers. The results show that UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS is a viable method for analysis and quality evaluation of the constituents from the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The combined effects of pH and high temperature on two anthocyanins were revealed. [•] The antioxidant capacity under the above conditions was evaluated. [•] pH 5.0/6.0 was a transition range where the loss of anthocyanins was accelerated. [•] Results can be used in quantifying the stability of individual anthocyanins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the problem of admissibility analysis is investigated for linear singular systems through a delta operator method. The delta operator model of a linear singular continuous system is set up first for a special case and then generalised to the common case. It is shown that when the sampling period tends to zero, the delta operator model tends to the corresponding singular continuous system. In order to obtain the above delta operator model, we adopt a linear singular discrete model which contains the sampling period instead of the standard discrete one which contains no sampling period in the modeling process. The relation between the admissibility of the two singular discrete models is analysed and it is proved that the admissibility of one singular discrete model is equivalent to that of the other discrete model. Moreover, based on the relation between the discrete and delta operator models, some admissibility conditions are derived for linear singular delta operator systems. A numerical example is also provided to demonstrate the theoretical results in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gangdese batholith of the southern Tibet is regarded as a principal component of the pre-Himalayan collision, Andean-type continental margin. However, the Gangdese arc root remains poorly understood because most of previous studies concentrated on granitoids from the middle and upper crust of the arc. In this paper, we report new petrochemical and geochronological characteristics of metagabbros occurred as a part of the Late Cretaceous Lilong batholith in the eastern Gangdese arc. The gabbros with protolith ages of ∼82–95 Ma, underwent slightly late (68–77 Ma) granulite-facies metamorphism and nearly coeval anatexis, typical of lower arc crusts. The metagabbros and diorites of the Lilong batholith show geochemical features of juvenile crust in continental magmatic arcs, and an original magmatic differentiation trend, with gabbros formed as the cumulates, whereas diorites as the crystalline products of evolved magmas. The Lilong batholith forms an arc crustal section with a possible thickness of 20–30 km, and may have an overall andesitic composition, providing a support for the “andesite model” of continental crust growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doubled haploid technology, which is used to rapidly purify genetic resources, is one of the key technologies in modern maize breeding. In a previous study, the major quantitative trait locus qhir1, which influences in vivo haploid induction, was narrowed down to a 243-kb region, which made it feasible to use marker-assisted selection (MAS) for inducer development. Recently, a new method was developed for haploid identification using oil content (OC). The objective of this study was to develop high oil inducer lines using MAS of the qhir1 locus. We constructed an F population, two backcross populations that were backcrossed to the inducer CAU5 (BCF-CAU5) and the high oil inbred line GY923 (BCF-GY923), respectively, which was derived from the cross GY923 × CAU5, and subjected continuous selfing to develop high oil inducer lines. In each cycle, three different parameters including kernel OC, marker genotype at qhir1 and haploid induction rate (HIR) were used for pedigree selection. Three candidate high oil inducer lines were developed, with an OC of approximately 8.5 %, an HIR of approximately 8 % and superior agronomic performance, which are suitable values for the application of these lines to haploid identification by OC. Our results confirm the notion that HIR selection combined with MAS for qhir1 is an effective approach to haploid inducer breeding. In addition, we determined that the accuracy of haploid identification by OC is influenced by the female germplasm resource and the high oil inducer and that appropriate critical points for OC can balance the false discovery rate and false negative rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tubular growth of a pollen tube cell is crucial for the sexual reproduction of flowering plants. LePRK1 is a pollen-specific and plasma membrane–localized receptor-like kinase from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). LePRK1 interacts with another receptor, LePRK2, and with KINASE PARTNER PROTEIN (KPP), a Rop guanine nucleotide exchange factor. Here, we show that pollen tubes overexpressing LePRK1 or a truncated LePRK1 lacking its extracellular domain (LePRK1ΔECD) have enlarged tips but also extend their leading edges by producing "blebs." Coexpression of LePRK1 and tomato PLIM2a, an actin bundling protein that interacts with KPP in a Ca2+-responsive manner, suppressed these LePRK1 overexpression phenotypes, whereas pollen tubes coexpressing KPP, LePRK1, and PLIM2a resumed the blebbing growth mode. We conclude that overexpression of LePRK1 or LePRK1ΔECD rewires pollen tube growth to a blebbing mode, through KPP- and PLIM2a-mediated bundling of actin filaments from tip plasma membranes. Arabidopsis thaliana pollen tubes expressing LePRK1ΔECD also grew by blebbing. Our results exposed a hidden capability of the pollen tube cell: upon overexpression of a single membrane-localized molecule, LePRK1 or LePRK1ΔECD, it can switch to an alternative mechanism for extension of the leading edge that is analogous to the blebbing growth mode reported for Dictyostelium and for Drosophila melanogaster stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband operation is a critical feature for high-speed electro-optic modulators in optical signal processing. To overcome the obstacle of material absorption-induced optical bandwidth shrinkage, graphene optical modulators based on the tip plasmonic concept have been proposed. The modulator is composed of buried double-layer graphene and Ag-SiO 2 -Si-SiO 2 -Ag hybrid structure with taper slots. Due to the tightened field confinement induced by the tip plasmonic effect, the light-graphene coupling is significantly enhanced. The direct metal layers contact with graphene is exploited to serve as the electrode. The simulation results based on the finite element method present a graphene modulator with a high modulation depth (MD) of 1.1 dB/μm and a relatively low propagation loss of 0.14 dB/μm. The power consumption is about 43.80 fJ/bit at the modulation length of 20 µm. The 3 dB-bandwidth is estimated to be around 340 GHz. Comparison with reported graphene modulators adopting hybrid plasmonic slot waveguide proves favorable modulation depth of proposed design, which promise its potentials in hybrid integration and on-chip signal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Failure analysis of bolt-gasket-flange joints in ultra-high pressure pipelines was carried out by the combination of experimental and simulated methods. • The differences of microstructure and mechanical properties between serviced gaskets and unused gaskets were investigated by a series of tests. • An improved layer-variable parameter numerical model which considers the heterogeneous mechanical properties of the gasket along the thickness direction is to accurately predict its stress and deformation. • Gasket material degradation caused by frequent pressure fluctuations at the working environment of high temperature and high pressure is the main cause of seal failure. This study was focused on the conical gaskets in ultra-high pressure pipeline sealing devices. Failure analysis of the conical gaskets was carried out by combining gasket experiments and numerical simulations. Macroscopic dimension inspection, miniature specimen tensile tests, micro-hardness tests, metallographic tests, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) experiments were carried out to study the differences between used gaskets and unused gaskets. Results show that the mechanical properties of the used gaskets degenerate and microstructural changes occur, which is caused by frequent pressure fluctuations in the working environment of high temperature and high pressure. Besides, the stress distribution and deformation of the gasket, as well as the effect of pressure fluctuation on the gasket stress, were analyzed by numerical simulation. Meanwhile, an improved layer-variable parameter numerical model is proposed for the numerical simulation of the used conical gaskets. The model was used to compare the elastic resilience of the gaskets before and after service under different preload, respectively. Results show that the simulated results by the model is closer to the experimental results. The elastic resilience of the used gaskets is significantly less than that of the unused gaskets. Therefore, it can be concluded that the mechanical properties degradation and accumulation of plastic deformation of the gaskets caused the lack of the elastic resilience of the gasket, which may be the direct cause of the seal failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-Cr alloy fabricated by selective laser melting was used to investigate the recrystallization behavior and grain boundary character evolution from As-SLM to isothermal annealed at 1200 °C for 5 min to 60 min. The As-SLM Co-Cr alloy has a prominent residual strain, high densities of dislocations and stacking faults, and solute segregation along the subgrain boundaries. The driving force for recrystallization of As-SLM Co-Cr alloy is mainly provided by phase transformation rather than crystal defects, which also offer plenty of routeways for both low- and high-angle grain boundary diffusion. In addition, the stacking faults in As-SLM Co-Cr alloy can generate morphologically complex twins by extending and gliding. The obtained optimal Co-Cr alloy has a large fraction (more than 80%) of special boundaries (Σ3, Σ9, and Σ27) after complete recrystallization, which enables high designing freedom and near-net-shape production towards additive manufacturing (AM) compatible grain boundary engineering (GBE) processing strategy. [Display omitted] • The phase transformation can provide enough driving force for complete recrystallization of As-SLM Co-Cr alloy. • After fully recrystallization, the obtained GBE Co-Cr alloy had more than 80% special grain boundaries. • The twins were formed by extending and gliding the stacking faults in original As-SLM Co-Cr alloy during recrystallization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the spectral property of a class of Sierpinski-type self-affine measures μ M , D (⋅) = 1 3 ∑ d ∈ D μ M , D (M (⋅) − d) on R 2 , where M = [ ρ 1 − 1 a 0 ρ 2 − 1 ] is a real upper triangular expanding matrix and D = { ( 0 0 ) , ( d 1 0 ) , ( d 2 d 3 ) } is a three-element real digit set with d 1 d 3 ≠ 0. A necessary and sufficient condition for μ M , D to be a spectral measure is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the problem of state feedback admissible control for the linear singular delta operator systems that result from linear singular continuous systems. By introducing the concept of delta operator, for a given linear singular continuous system, we establish its corresponding delta operator model and this discrete model converges to its continuous counterpart as the sampling period decreases. Sufficient conditions for desirable controllers in terms of matrix inequalities and linear matrix inequalities are given, and the explicit expressions of the controllers are derived. Some examples as well as numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Snake arm robots have flexible continuous constructions which can be used for accessing confined places in many fields, e.g., minimally invasive surgery and industry assembly. This paper proposes a novel design of a snake arm robot which has a unique twin actuation construction and maintains the cable tension in any arbitrary configuration. Also, this design has a great flexibility (bend capability) and an appropriate stiffness enabled by compliant joint construction. Further, a kinematic model for this construction is introduced, which is among the most efficient method along the existing approaches. This model can significantly simplify the kinematics of this cable driven system and Jacobian of snake arm robot that is also described in detailed. Furthermore, based on a proposed Jacobian, the stiffness for multi-compliant joint connected snake arm robot is presented. Finally, all the analyses have been verified by Finite element model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Adiabatic shear is known to be a precursor to the failure of metals processed at high strain rate. The present study focuses on the adiabatic shear failure characteristic of TA2 titanium alloy under dynamic compression. The dynamic stress-strain behavior is tested by split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), and adiabatic shear bands ( ASBs) are investigated by means of optical microscopy. The metallographic analysis reveals that the ASBs pattern in specimen is symmetrical bi-conical. Furthermore, a comprehensive finite element analysis of shear localization of the deformed cylindrical specimens is carried out. The numerical simulations are in agreement with the experimental results, and the frictional force between the specimen and the Hopkinson bars significantly affects the evolution of shear localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The accumulation of adipocytes in bone marrow is common in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and aging. Adipocytes in bone marrow exhibit severe adverse effect on osteoblast differentiation, proliferation, and function. However, the molecular mechanism of adipocytes lipotoxicity on osteoblasts is still far from completely understood. The present study was designed to investigate the signaling pathway responsible for adipocytes lipotoxicity on osteoblasts. Using a co-culture system, we have identified that free fatty acids (FFAs) released by the adipocytes inhibited osteoblasts proliferation and function and induced osteoblasts apoptosis, evidenced by decreased cell viability/proliferation, ALP activity, expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RunX2), type I collagen (ColA1) and osteocalcin and alizarin red staining. Dexamethasone (Dex) promoted the inhibitory effect of adipocytes on osteoblasts through stimulating FFAs release. Dex-exacerbated FFAs release from adipocytes contributes to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In the co-culture system, the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/P38 was increased and inhibition of ERK/P38 significantly suppressed adipocytes lipotoxicity. FFAs-generated ROS was responsible for adipocytes-induced activation of ERK/P38 signaling. In conclusion, FFAs-ROS-ERK/P38 pathway plays a key role in adipocyte lipotoxicity on osteoblasts in co-culture. The evidence provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the lipotoxic effect of adipocytes on bone within the marrow microenvironment and prevention of lipotoxicity on bone metabolism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To set parameters for accurate cell counting by flow cytometer. Method By setting forward scatter (FSC), side scatter (SSC) and speed, we programmed the enumeration of GLC, and compared the results between flow cytometer method and blood counting plate method. Result There was no significant difference in the concentration of GLC between the blood counting plate method and flow cytometer method of the appropriate speed (P>0.05). Conclusions CyFlow Space flow cytometer is able to quickly and accurately count cultured cell lines, flow cytometer method can be recommend to be applied in large scale experiments for cell counting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet experienced Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic–Cenozoic composite orogenesis. This work reports a study on the petrology, geochemistry, zircon U–Pb chronology and Hf isotopes of Late Paleozoic and Late Mesozoic intrusive rocks from the southeastern Lhasa terrane. The Late Paleozoic intrusive rocks crystallized in the Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous of 371 to 355Ma, representing a bimodal igneous association formed in the back-arc extensional setting. The mafic end-member originated from the enriched mantle and experienced contamination of crustal materials, characterized by a slight enrichment of LREE, positive anomalies of U, K and Pb and negative anomalies of Th, Nb, Ta and Ti. The felsic end-member was derived from the partial melting of the ancient continental crust, characterized by metaluminous, positive anomalies of Th, Zr and Hf, negative anomalies of Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta and Ti and negative εHf(t) values of zircon with TDM2 ages from 1.90 to 1.40Ga. The Late Cretaceous (ca. 107Ma) mafic intrusions, along with the Late Paleozoic intrusive rocks, underwent nearly syn-intrusion amphibolite-facies metamorphism under P–T conditions of 0.56 to 0.69GPa and 692 to 735°C during the Andean-type orogeny correlated with the subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab beneath the Lhasa terrane. This study provides a new insight into the pre-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] A practical approach for metabolism of chiral drugs was based on combined LC/MS/MS. [•] Racemic tetrahydropalmatine was chosen as the model chiral drug. [•] UPLC-QTOF/MS was used to identify the metabolites of THP enantiomers in rat urine. [•] LC-QqQ/MS was applied for quantification of THP enantiomers and their metabolites. [•] Semi-quantification of three phase I and two phase II metabolites was performed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of Notch signaling in the protection of neuropeptide substance P (SP) in hyperoxia-exposed alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII). Methods AECII were isolated from the lung of 19-day rat fetus and then cultured in six-well plates. The cells were randomly divided into air group, hyperoxia group, hyperoxia + SP group, and hyperoxia + SP + antagonist group. Air group was exposed to 21% oxygen and hyperoxia group was exposed to 95% oxygen for 24 hours, respectively. SP was added into hyperoxia + SP group before oxygen exposure, while SP and its receptor antagonist (L703.606) were added into hyperoxia +SP + antagonist group simultaneously before oxygen exposure; then both groups were exposed to 95% oxygen for 24 hours. Flow cytometry and MTT colorimetric assay were used to detect the ability of cell proliferation; the intracellular superoxide anion level was detected by SpectraMax M5/M5e and confocal microscopy; the mRNA and protein expressions of Notch1 and Notch3 were assessed by QPCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results Compared with those in air group, the apoptosis rate and the intracellular superoxide anion concentration were significantly increased, while the proliferation rate of cells was significantly decreased in hyperoxia group (P<0.01). In contrast, the apoptosis rate and the intracellular superoxide anion concentration were lower and the cell proliferation rate were higher in hyperoxia SP group than in hyperoxia group (P<0.01). Hyperoxia exposure resulted in significantly decreased expression of Notch1 and increased expression of Notch3 (P<0.01), while SP treatment reversed the above results significantly (P<0.01). These parameters did not differ significantly between hyperoxia group and hyperoxia + SP + L703.606 group. Conclusion SP can reduce the hyperoxia-induced AEC damage and death and promote cell proliferation, which is associated with the activation of Notch signal transduction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For an analytic function on the open unit disk and continuous on , the Cantor boundary behavior (CBB) is used to describe the curve that forms infinitely many fractal-look loops everywhere. The class of analytic functions with the CBB was formulated and investigated in Dong et al. [6]. In this note, our main objective is to give further discuss of the criteria of CBB in Dong et al. [6]. We show that the two major criteria, the accumulation of the zeros of near the boundary and the fast mean growth rate of near the boundary, do not imply each other. Also we make an improvement of another criterion, which allows us to have more examples of CBB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The photo assist system can relieve the crystal quality degradation effectively. [•] The Ni and oxygen content have important effect on the characters of the films. [•] The p-NiZnO film can be obtained easily by controlling the Ni and oxygen content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nyingchi complex, forming the eastern segment of the Gangdese magmatic arc, occurs within the southern Lhasa terrane in south Tibet, and is composed dominantly of plutons and their metamorphosed equivalents. Together with some metasedimentary units these rocks record multiple Mesozoic and Cenozoic magmatic and metamorphic events during northward subduction of Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere beneath the Eurasian continent. Petrological and geochronological studies reveal that the Nyingchi complex experienced intense Paleocene subduction-related magmatism and almost synchronous granulite-facies metamorphism accompanied by the formation of S-type granites. Subduction-related I-type granitoids show geochemical features typical of continental magmatic arcs; zircon separates from them yield 206Pb/238U ages from c. 65 to c. 56 Ma, and commonly display positive &varepsilon;Hf(t) values ranging from −1·7 to +13·0. The occurrence of magmatic epidote, as well as the syn-intrusion high-grade metamorphism, indicates that the plutons were emplaced at middle to lower crustal depths within the Lhasa terrane. Associated S-type granitoids are peraluminous and contain garnet and muscovite; their zircons yield 206Pb/238U ages ranging from c. 66 to c. 55 Ma, and these have distinct but mostly negative &varepsilon;Hf(t) values from −18·4 to +2·1. The zircons from the associated metasedimentary rocks include both detrital and metamorphic types; the detrital zircons yielded variable inherited 206Pb/238U ages ranging from c. 2910 to c. 235 Ma, constraining the maximum depositional age to the Triassic. The metamorphic zircons from the metaplutonic and metasedimentary rocks yielded ages from c. 67 to 52 Ma. Phase equilibria modeling shows that the Nyingchi complex experienced peak granulite-facies metamorphism and partial melting under conditions of 800–830°C and 9–10·5 kbar, and then cooled isobarically to c. 700°C in the lower crust at depths of >30 km. We argue that rollback of the flat-subducted Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab during Early Paleogene times resulted in a contractional orogeny and intrusion of voluminous mantle-derived magmas, which caused large-scale crustal heating, partial melting and granulite-facies metamorphism within the deep crust of the Gangdese arc. The Nyingchi complex represents the exposed lower crust of the Gangdese magmatic arc, and links the granulite-facies metamorphism with silicic magmatism and crustal growth during Paleocene arc accretion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Monoclinic layered Li2MnO3 has been extensively investigated due to its large discharge capacity. However, the poor cycling stability hinders its application as a cathode material of lithium-ion batteries. Herein we present a new strategy of sodium substitution for partial lithium to significantly enhance the cycling stability of Li2MnO3 through a conventional solid state reaction. In the electrochemical window of 2.0–4.6 V vs. Li/Li+, Li1.90Na0.10MnO3 delivers an initial discharge capacity of 181 mAh g−1 with an excellent capacity retention of 99.3% after 45 cycles at 1/10 C, and 161 mAh g−1 with a capacity retention of 98.6% after 100 cycles at 1/2 C. Sodium substitution for partial lithium is promising to make Li2MnO3 be practically applied at a low current density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Daidzein and genistein synergistically inhibited proliferation of both PCa cells. [•] Daidzein and genistein synergistically induced apoptosis of both PCa cells. [•] Most combinations of daidzein and genistein had no impacts on cell cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study investigates the problem of state feedback H∞ control for linear singular discrete systems. First, a novel admissibility condition and then a new bounded real lemma are proposed for linear singular discrete systems. Then, the existence condition and explicit expression of a desirable state feedback H∞ controller are obtained based on the above results. It should be pointed out that all the conditions in this study are necessary and sufficient and in the form of strict linear matrix inequalities that can be solved easily. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and magnetic properties of BiCo0.875Ni0.125O3 were systematically investigated within the framework of density functional theory. Calculations show that C-type antiferromagnetic structure is the ground state in Ni-doped BiCoO3. The hybridization between Bi-O, Co-O, and Ni-O plays an essential role in the C-AFM behavior. The macroscopic magnetization caused by the short-range antiferromagnetic coupling can be greatly increased by Ni doping. The total magnetic moment of BiCo0.875Ni0.125O3 is 1.02 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) are psychiatric disorders with overlapping symptoms, leading to high rates of misdiagnosis due to the lack of biomarkers for differentiation. This study aimed to identify metabolic biomarkers in urine samples for diagnosing MDD and BD, as well as to establish unbiased differential diagnostic models. We utilized a metabolomics approach employing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) to analyze the metabolic profiles of urine samples from individuals with MDD (n = 50), BD (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 50). The identification of urine metabolites was verified using MS data analysis tools and online metabolite databases. Two diagnostic panels consisting of a combination of metabolites and clinical indicators were identified—one for MDD and another for BD. The discriminative capacity of these panels was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9084 for MDD and an AUC value of 0.9017 for BD. High-resolution mass spectrometry-based assays show promise in identifying urinary biomarkers for depressive disorders. The combination of urine metabolites and clinical indicators is effective in differentiating healthy controls from individuals with MDD and BD. The metabolic pathway indicating oxidative stress is seen to significantly contribute to depressive disorders. • Accurate identification of differential metabolites between healthy controls and disease groups using UHPLC-MS and multiple databases. • Models utilizing urinary metabolites combined with clinical indicators are reliable for the diagnosis of MDD and BD. • Diagnostic models emphasize the important role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM), also known as pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, is a rare vascular developmental anomaly. Most cases of PAVM are associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Hemothorax associated with PAVM is even rarer, and management concerning this complication still challenges. Case presentation: A 55-year-old man with sudden onset of dyspnea and chest pain was admitted to our hospital. He had a medical history of epistaxis, intraperitoneal germ cell tumor and PAVM. Chest unenhanced CT revealed the left-sided pleural effusion together with partial passive atelectasis and gradual increase at the interval of six days. Diagnostic thoracocentesis further revealed hemorrhagic effusion. CT angiography (CTA) showed tortuously dilated lumen of the left lower pulmonary artery and PAVM with the formation of aneurysm. Due to his family's refusal of surgery, the patient underwent transcatheter embolization therapy. However, the left pleural effusion did not significantly reduce and there was a slow drop in hemoglobin value even after interventional treatment, indicating the possibility of ongoing active bleeding. Eventually, the patient received lobectomy of the left lower lobe with a satisfactory outcome. Conclusions: Massive hemothorax resulting from PAVM rupture into the pleural space can lead to fatal outcomes. CTA can accurately diagnose this pathologic condition. Transcatheter embolization is frequently used in the treatment of PAVM, but it may be challenging to achieve the desirable effect in patients with hemothorax. Combined with our case and literature review, direct radical surgery can lead to a successful outcome when PAVM complicated with hemothorax and a large diameter of the draining vein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a global health challenge characterized by bone loss and microstructure deterioration, which urgently requires the development of safer and more effective treatments due to the significant adverse effects and limitations of existing drugs for long-term treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine, like Epimedium, offers fewer side effects and has been used to treat osteoporosis, yet its active compounds and pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 65 potential active compounds, 258 potential target proteins, and 488 pathways of Epimedium were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Further network analysis and review of the literature identified six potential active compounds and HIF-1α for subsequent experimental validation. In vitro experiments confirmed that 2″-O-RhamnosylIcariside II is the most effective compound among the six potential active compounds. It can promote osteoblast differentiation, bind with HIF-1α, and inhibit both HIF-1α gene and protein expression, as well as enhance COL1A1 protein expression under hypoxic conditions. In vivo experiments demonstrated its ability to improve bone microstructures and reduce bone loss by decreasing bone marrow adipose tissue, enhancing bone formation, and suppressing HIF-1α protein expression. This study is the first to describe the therapeutic effects of 2-O-RhamnosylIcariside II on osteoporosis, which was done, specifically, through a mechanism that targets and inhibits HIF-1α. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of Epimedium and offers a new candidate drug for the treatment of osteoporosis. Additionally, it provides new evidence supporting HIF-1α as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration and damage of neurons in the brain. However, developing an accurate diagnostic assay using blood samples remains a challenge in clinic practice. The aim of this study was to explore senescence‐associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) in peripheral blood using mass spectrometry based multi‐omics approach and to establish diagnostic assays for AD. Methods: This retrospective study included 88 participants, consisting of 29 AD patients and 59 cognitively normal (CN) individuals. Plasma and serum samples were examined using high‐resolution mass spectrometry to identify proteomic and metabolomic profiles. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to screen biomarkers with diagnostic potential. K‐nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm was utilized to construct a multi‐dimensional model for distinguishing AD from CN. Results: Proteomics analysis revealed upregulation of five plasma proteins in AD, including RNA helicase aquarius (AQR), zinc finger protein 587B (ZNF587B), C‐reactive protein (CRP), fibronectin (FN1), and serum amyloid A‐1 protein (SAA1), indicating their potential for AD classification. Interestingly, KNN‐based three‐dimensional model, comprising AQR, ZNF587B, and CRP, demonstrated its high accuracy in AD recognition, with evaluation possibilities of 0.941, 1.000, and 1.000 for the training, testing, and validation datasets, respectively. Besides, metabolomics analysis suggested elevated levels of serum phenylacetylglutamine (PAGIn) in AD. Interpretation: The multi‐omics outcomes highlighted the significance of the SASPs, specifically AQR, ZNF587B, CRP, and PAGIn, in terms of their potential for diagnosing AD and suggested neuronal aging‐associated pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many species of Lepidoptera, but few complete mitochondrial genomes of Lepidoptera have been included in databases. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Salassa thespis was isolated and characterized. It was 15,302 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and an A + T-rich region. Among the 13 PCGs, the initiation codon of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) was CGA, and the rest were ATN. The cox1 and cox2 genes had an incomplete stop codon T, while the rest terminated with TAA. Codon usage analysis showed that Phe, Ile, Leu and Asn were the most frequent amino acids, while Trp was the least. Like other Lepidopterans, some conserved motifs were found in the A + T-rich region, including a 17 bp poly-T guided by ATAGA, the AT-rich area and a poly-A element. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree analysis based on 13 PCGs of S. thespis confirmed that it belonged to the Saturniidae family and showed the following relationship: (S. thespis + (Rhodinia fugax + Samia canningi)). The enrichment of mitochondrial DNA provides reference information for the study of the evolution and diversity of Lepidoptera insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The novel designs of micromixer were obtained based on topology optimization method. • The mixing quality maximization problem of topology optimization was formulated. • The mixing mechanism for non-Newtonian fluid at low Reynolds number was investigated. Improving the mixing performance is a crucial and widely concerned topic in microfluidic devices for low Reynolds numbers (Re). In this paper, the mixing unit as the design domain in a typical T-shape micromixer considering non-Newtonian fluid effects is investigated using topology optimization. The objective of topology optimization is to maximize the mixing quality under the prescribed pressure drop of the micromixer. Based on the optimized structures obtained by topology optimization, high-fidelity calculations are performed to eliminate the influence of the greyscale problem. For the Newtonian fluid, the optimized structure has better mixing performance than the reference structure with the same pressure drop. For the non-Newtonian fluid, cross-comparison is conducted to obtain the optimized structure. The results show that the mixing qualities of the 25-period mixing unit are 93.90% (Newtonian fluid, Re = 8) and 93.84% (non-Newtonian fluid, Re = 0.24), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Protoliths of Milin gneisses are ∼1556–1517 Ma continental arc-like granitoids. • Bulk-rock Nd and zircon Hf isotopes show their Paleoproterozoic material derivation. • The gneiss metamorphosed at ∼1200 Ma represents the Precambrian metamorphic basement. • Milin gneisses suggest the Lhasa terrane origins from the supercontinent Columbia. The Precambrian basement of the Lhasa terrane provides important information for understanding the formation and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. However, due to the paucity of exposure, the properties of the Precambrian basement of the Lhasa terrane remain poorly known. Here we report zircon U–Pb ages, bulk-rock geochemical and zircon Hf isotopic data on the orthogneisses in the Milin area of the southeastern Lhasa terrane, southern Tibet. Inherited magmatic zircon cores of these gneisses yield protolith crystalline ages of 1556–1517 Ma, whereas the zircon rims give metamorphic ages of 1197–1192 Ma, both could be local provenance for the Mesoproterozoic detrital zircons in the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic strata in the Lhasa terrane. Geochemical data indicate that the protoliths of the Mesoproterozoic rocks are continental arc-like granitoids with bulk-rock ε Nd (t) values of −3.7 to +0.7 (T DM2 = 1.99–2.34 Ga) and zircon core ε Hf (t) values of +1.8 to +8.6 (T DM2 = 1.71–2.17 Ga), suggesting their most likely derivation from partial melting of Paleoproterozoic crustal materials. We propose that the Mesoproterozoic gneisses in the Milin area represent the Precambrian metamorphic basement of the Lhasa terrane, likely related to the growth of Columbia supercontinent. Local exposure of the Precambrian metamorphic basement may be caused by crustal rapid uplift and erosion in the late Cenozoic and their inhomogeneous distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The generation of ultra-high temperature droplets benefits the suppression of the in-flight oxidation of boron-alloyed NiCr particles during plasma spraying. • Ni20Cr4B coating with a low and constant oxygen content of 0.18 wt.% was deposited in open atmosphere by plasma spraying. • The limited oxide inclusion in coating leads to deposition of highly dense coating with a porosity of 0.21%. • The highly dense microstructure of Ni20Cr4B coating blocks the penetration of corrosive media in hot corrosion test with molten salts. Atmospheric plasma sprayed metallic coatings always contain oxides because of the entrainment of ambient air into plasma jet, which significantly limits their performances and applications. This paper presents an approach to deposit highly dense Ni-based alloy coatings with oxide-free particles achieved by introducing boron as deoxidizer element through plasma spraying to generate ultrahigh temperature Ni20Cr4B droplets. During spraying, boron is preferentially oxidized and the formed B 2 O 3 is completely removed due to rapid evaporation. Thus, the in-flight oxidation of metal can be suppressed to achieve oxide-free particles. The oxygen content of plasma sprayed Ni20Cr4B coating is lower than 0.18 wt.% and presents little change over a wide spray distance range from 60 mm to 140 mm. With such a low oxygen content, the Ni20Cr4B coating presents a highly dense microstructure (porosity of 0.21 ± 0.11%) and well-bonded inter-splat interfaces. The hot-corrosion test at 600 °C for 200 h shows that the highly dense Ni20Cr4B coating can effectively block the penetration of the corrosion media and the corrosion only takes place at the coating surface, while severe inner corrosion was observed for the traditional Ni20Cr coating with poor inter-splat bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: In the genus Curculigo, Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, Curculigo capitulata (Lour) O. Ktze and Curculigo pilosa (Schumach. & Thonn.) Engl are often used in traditional medicine. Curculigo orchioides is used for the treatment of impotence, limb limpness, arthritis of the lumbar and knee joints, and watery diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicine, and also used as a potent immunomodulator and aphrodisiac in the Ayurvedic medical system. Curculigo capitulata is used for the treatment of consumptive cough, kidney asthenia, impotence and spermatorrhea, hemorrhoids, asthma, jaundice, diarrhea, colic and gonorrhea in traditional Chinese and India medicine, and to treat urinary tract infection, acute renal pelvis and nephritis, nephritis-edema, cystitis, nephrolithiasis, hypertension and rheumatic arthritis in traditional Dai medicine. Curculigo pilosa are applied to treat gastrointestinal and heart diseases in Africa. Aim of the review: This review aims to exhibit up-to-date and comprehensive information about traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of medicinal plants in the genus Curculigo, and has an insight into the opportunities for the future research and development of Curculigo plant. Methods: A bibliographic investigation was performed by analyzing the information available on Curculigo plant from worldwide accepted scientific databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Yahoo). Furthermore, information also was obtained from some local and foreign books on ethnobotany and ethnomedicines. Results: Curculigo orchioides, Curculigo capitulata and Curculigo pilosa have been used as traditional medicine to treat kinds of diseases such as impotence, limb limpness, gastrointestinal and heart diseases, etc. Phytochemical investigation of eight species of the genus Curculigo has resulted in identification of more than 110 compounds. The content of curculigoside is used as an indicator to evaluate the quality of rhizome of Curculigo orchioides. The medicinal plants have showed a wide spectrum pharmacological activities, including adaptive, immunostimulatory, taste-modifying and sweet-tasting, antioxidant, mast cell stabilization, antihistaminic and antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective activity. Toxicological test indicated that Curculigo orchioides at the dose of 120g/kg after administrating rats for 180 days may cause injury of liver and kidney. Conclusion: The medicinal plants of genus Curculigo have emerged as a good source of the traditional medicines. Some uses of these plants in the traditional medicines have been validated by pharmacological investigation. However, the mechanism of their actions should be further elucidated; the particular constituent responsible for toxicity should be isolated and identified, and the target tissue and mechanism of toxic ingredients also deserve to be further investigated; more reference substances should be prepared, and sophisticated analytical technologies should be developed to comprehensively assess the quality of Curculigo herbs. These investigations will be helpful for further utilization of the plants of genus Curculigo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on measured velocities in conical vortices by flow visualization, a simplified two-dimensional vortex model was established by adding transitional region between the vortex core and the potential flow region of the Rankine vortex. Through this flow model, a relationship between the flow above the vortices, the curvature radius of flow streamlines in the vortices and the suctions beneath vortex cores was given. The flow model indicats that the larger the curvature of flow streamlines and the faster the vortex spins, the greater the intensity of vortex is. The effect of rational velocity on intensity of vortices is more obvious. Through measured velocities by flow visualization and parameters of vortices, the intensities of conical vortices on a large-span fiat roof under different wind directions were provided. The quasi-steady theory was corrected by including the effect of vortices. With this two-dimensional vortex model and the corrected quasi-steady theory, mean and peak suctions beneath cores of conical vortices can be predicted, which were verified by measured pressures on a larger-scale model of the large-span fiat roof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] It firstly developed an LC–MS method for simultaneous measurement of timosaponin B-II and timosaponin A-III. [•] The method is simple, sensitive and specific, with a short analysis time (8min). [•] There were obvious differences in the pharmacokinetics between timosaponin B-II and timosaponin A-III. [•] This study revealed the practical value of the compatibility of herb-pair remedy in clinic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the multi-wavelength data from UV to sub-millimeter in the region of H-ATLAS (Herschel Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey) Science Demonstration Phase (SDP), in combination with the population synthesis model and dust model, the total infrared luminosities of the galaxies were calculated. On this basis, for respectively the strong and weak star-forming galaxies, we studied the differences in the star formation rates calculated by the UV luminosity, infrared luminosity and H α line, as well as the intrinsic physical origin of such differences. It was found that for the galaxies of strong star-formation activity, the 3 kinds of star formation rate indicators give the basically consistent results with a small dispersion. But at the end of high star formation rate, the star formation rate calculated by the UV luminosity is slightly smaller than that calculated by the Hα-line flux; at the end of low star formation rate, the UV indicator tends to be greater than the Hα indicator; and at both ends, the infrared indicator and Hα indicator have no significant difference. For the weak star-forming galaxies, significant differences exist among the 3 kinds of indicators, and there is a rather large dispersion. The dispersions and systematic difference of the star formation rates calculated by the UV luminosity and Hα line increase with the galactic age and mass. The main cause for the increased systematic difference is that when the extinction of an weak star-forming galaxy is calibrated by its UV continuum spectral slope β, the UV extinction of the galaxy is overestimated, it makes the UV luminosity tends to be large after the extinction correction. In addition, the star formation rates (Hα) of weak starforming galaxies in the MPA/JHU (Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics/Johns Hopkins University) database are generally less than the real values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report the growth of atomically smooth N-polar GaN on c-plane sapphire by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. A two-step growth technique was adopted; low-temperature growth of GaN buffer before high-temperature GaN growth. The complete two-dimensional N-polar GaN growth process was recorded by in situ reflectance. The phase composition of the low-temperature GaN was examined by X-ray diffraction pole figure measurements. The thickness of the low-temperature GaN buffer dramatically affected the crystalline and electronic properties of the N-polar GaN. A very small full width at half maximum for the (0002) X-ray rocking curve, 51arcs, was obtained for 700-nm-thick N-polarity GaN by optimizing the buffer thickness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a proposed centralised greywater reuse (CGR) system for Daxing New City, Beijing. This system would use separate greywater and blackwater discharge pipes in residences and public buildings. Greywater would be treated in a centralised plant and reused for public purposes. Water supply–demand balance analysis showed that this system would conserve 28.5% of freshwater resources. A centralised wastewater reuse system that would conserve the same water resources and serve the same consumers was developed for comparison. The greywater reuse system would cost 1.2% more than the reference system, but would decrease the pollution load by 10% and improve the water-quality compliance of the Xinfeng River (total phosphorous: 24–42%, total nitrogen: 0–7%). The proposed CGR system exhibited acceptable water conservation, environmental impact, and construction and operation costs, and would thus be suitable in urbanising areas that face water shortages and aqueous environmental deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Let be the space of analytic functions on the open disk and continuous on . Let be the boundary of , we are interested in the class of such that the image is a curve that forms loops everywhere. This fractal behavior was first raised by Lund et al. (1998) [21] in the study of the Cauchy transform of the Hausdorff measure on the Sierpinski gasket. We formulate the property as the Cantor boundary behavior (CBB) and establish two sufficient conditions through the distribution of zeros of and the mean growth rate of near the boundary. For the specific cases we carry out a detailed investigation on the gap series and the complex Weierstrass functions; the CBB for the Cauchy transform on the Sierpinski gasket will appear elsewhere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

QiShen'YiQi Pills (QSYQ) is a compound Chinese medicine used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The present study investigated the effects of QSYQ on the Doxorubicin- (DOX-) induced disorders in rat cardiac structure and function and the possible mechanism underlying. A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were administrated by intraperitoneal injections with DOX at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg, once every day for a total of 6 times. After the 6th injection, the rats were evaluated by echocardiographic analysis, and the animals with injured heart (n = 14) were divided into 2 groups and further treated with (n = 7) or without (n = 7) QSYQ by gavage at a dose of 0.2 g/day, once a day, over the next 2 weeks. Two weeks after QSYQ treatment, the following variables were assessed: myocardial blood flow (MBF) by Laser-Doppler Perfusion Imager, the ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW), myocardial histology, myocardial content of ATP, AMP, free fatty acids (FFAs) and AMP/ATP by ELISA, and expression of PPARa, PGC- la, and ATP 5D by Western blot. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Turkey test for multiple comparisons. DOX challenge significantly increased left ventricular internal diameter and HW/BW and decreased the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall, the left ventricle ejection fraction, and the left ventricle fractional shortening. DOX also increased AMP, FFA, and AMP/ATP, decreased ATP, and downregulated the protein content of ATP 5D, PPAR α, and PGC-1 α. All these DOX-induced cardiac insults were attenuated significantly by QSYQ treatment. These results show the potential of QSYQ to ameliorate DOX-induced disorders in cardiac structure and function; this effect may be related to the increase in myocardial ATP content via the upregulation of ATP 5D, PPAR α, and PGC-1 α and the oxidation of FFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]