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Novel copper-nanocarbons – Cu-fullerene soot/reduced graphene oxide composites with 0-5 wt.% carbon additions were fabricated by spray drying method and hot pressing procedure. In order to obtain the homogeneity of composites, the spray drying integrating with shear mixing was adopted. The microstructure and properties of the composite materials were investigated and compared to Cu–graphite composite, which was prepared under the standard technology. The interface, depending on the nanocarbons addition, prevents copper aggregation, and inhibits the copper grain growth. The compact composites hardness was significantly higher as compared with Cu-CNTs and Cu-Graphite composites of the same carbon concentration with small reduction of the thermal conductivity.

Background: Astaxanthin is a kind of tetraterpene and has strong antioxygenic property. The biosynthesis of astaxanthin in engineered microbial chassis has greater potential than its chemical synthesis and extraction from natural producers in an environmental-friendly way. However, the cost-offsetting production of astaxanthin in engineered microbes is still constrained by the poor efficiency of astaxanthin synthesis pathway as a heterologous pathway.Results: To address the bottleneck of limited production of astaxanthin in microbes, we developed in vitro and in vivo recombination methods respectively in engineered yeast chassis to optimize the combination of heterologousβ-carotene ketolase (crtW) and hydroxylase (crtZ) modules that were selected from different species. As a result, the in vitro and in vivo recombination methods enhanced the astaxanthin yield respectively to 2.11~8.51 folds and 3.0~9.71 folds compared to the initial astaxanthin pathway, according to the different combination of particular genes. The highest astaxanthin producing strain yQDD022 was constructed by in vivo method and produced 6.05 mg/g DCW of astaxanthin. Moreover, it was proved that the in vivo recombination method showed higher DNA-assembling efficiency than the in vitro method and contributed to higher stability to the engineered yeast strains.Conclusions: The in vitro and in vivo recombination methods of heterologous modules provide simple and efficient ways to improve the astaxanthin yield in yeast. Both the two methods enable high-throughput screening of heterologous pathways through recombination of certain crtW and crtZ derived from different species. This study not only exploited the underlying optimal combination of crtZ and crtW for astaxanthin synthesis, but also provided a general approach to evolve a heterologous pathway for the enhanced accumulation of desired biochemical products.

Analysis of gas exchange and determination of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in leaves of three tree species including Aesculus chinensis, A. octandra and A. hybrida were conducted under field conditions and then comparison was carried out. The results showed that the light compensation point (LCP) was significantly different among the three tree species, of which the LCP of A. chinensis with 12.53 μmol·m-2·s-1 that of the lowest was notable lower than that of the other two species (36.11 and 46.41 μmol·m-2·s-1respectively). On the other hand, the light saturation point (LSP) of the three tree species also showed remarked different and the LSP of A. chinensis was 1475 μmol·m-2·s-1 which was dramatic higher than that of the other two species respective to 1366.67 and 1025 μmol·m-2·s-1. Beside, the maximum net photosynthetic rate (MNPR) was different too, MNPR of A. chinensis was 9.47μmol CO 2·m-2·s-1which was higher than the other two species (5.91 and 2.30 μmol CO 2·m-2·s-1 respectively), indicating A. chinensis had a higher photosynthetic capacity and stronger utilization ability for light energy. Moreover, the electron transport rate (ETR) of A. chinensis was higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida, the ETR of the former was 55.800 that were 1.33 and 1.44 times of the later two respectively. Quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ФPSII) in A. chinensis was higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida, the ФPSII of the former was 0.470 that were 1.21 and 1.15 times of the later two respectively. Furthermore, the photochemical quenching (qP) of A. chinensis was 0.975 much higher than A. octandra and A. hybrida respective to 1.10 and 1.10 times of the later two respectively. These three photochemical parameters with dramatic different among the three different tree species suggested A. chinensis had a high activity of electron transport and conversion efficiency for light energy.

Although it is difficult in fully clarifying its mechanisms and effects,Deqistill can be considered as an instant “sign” of acupuncture response of the patient and acupuncturist, which has a significant value in clinic and research. This paper aims to take a history trace to the development ofDeqitheory, understand the connotation ofDeqibased on Chinese medicine theory, and establish an evaluation methodology accordingly. We believe thatDeqiis not only the needling sensation, but also the perception of changes ofqi'flowing of the patient elicited by needling on acupoints. The signs ofDeqiinclude the patient’s subjective perception (needling sensation), the objective physiological changes (common referred to the skin redness around the acupoints and the response of brain), and the acupuncturists' perception. AlthoughDeqiis essential for attaining the effect, it may not be the necessary sign of the ideal efficacy. It is found that the characteristics ofDeqisensations,Deqi’s intensity, time duration, and the propagation will all affect the efficacy. Thus, acupuncturists should pay attention to elicit and controlDeqistate, which is also the key point in modern research on the therapeutic implications ofDeqi.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) treated with acupotome. Methods Forty-two cases of PD admitted in clinical center of Maiduo, Brasov Romania, were accepted acupotome treatment for cervical and thoracic vertebrae. Treatment spots of cervical vertebrae were located at 1–2 cm besides posterior midline on bilateral sides of spinous process, treatment spots of zygapophyseal joint were fixed 1.5–3 cm lateral to the midline of back, treatment spots of relative zygapophyseal joints and spinous points of T1–T5 were fixed 1.5–2.5 cm lateral to the posterior midline. After treatment, modified Webster Rating Scale was evaluated on therapeutic effect. Results Thirty-one cases had significant effect, occupying 73.8 %; 11 cases were effective with 26.2 %. The total effective rate was 100% (42/42). Conclusion Acupotome for PD shows beneficiary therapeutic effect.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) can colonize the roots of Amorpha fruticosa, a perennial leguminous woody shrub and form arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). AMF have significant promoting effects on A. fruticosa growth as the intensity of fungal colonization increases. Taking AMF-A. fruticosa symbionts as the experimental material, gel-free isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used to investigate the expression of A. fruticosa mycorrhizal proteins at the maturation stage. A total of 3,473 proteins were identified, of which 77 showed dramatic changes in their root expression levels; 33 increased and 44 decreased. We also found nine AMF proteins that were expressed with AMF treatment. The 77 proteins were classified according to function. Plant proteins were assigned into 11 categories: metabolism-related (32%), protein folding and degradation-related (22%), energy-related (10%), protein synthesis-related (8%), stress and defense-related (24%), transcription-related (6%), membrane and transport-related (4%), cellular structure-related (2.5%), signaling transduction-related (11%) and unknown proteins (5%). The results of the study provide a foundation for further investigation of the metabolic characteristics and molecular mechanisms of AM.

In our previous paper, we analyzed "Deqi" in book Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic) and Nanjing (Canon of Difficult Medical Problems) from "Zhishen"(Treating mentality) and Tiaoqi (Regulating qi). In the present paper, the authors discuss the connotations of "Deqi" and related events in the later ages of the abovementioned two classic books to the later stage of the Qing Dynasty when involves about 20 classical works as Zhenjiu Dacheng ( The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion), Zhenjing Zhinan (Guide to the classics of Acupuncture), Zhenjiu Daquan (A Complete Works of Acupuncture and Moxibustion) etc. from 1) close association between "Deqi" and patients' mental activity; 2) how to wait for arrival of qi if the needling does not induce "Deqi" for the time being; 3) how to identify "qi-arrival" and then, performing suitable manipulations; 4) Deqi and shallow- or deep-needling; 5) putting more emphasis on patients' feeling and reactions, rather than the practitioners perception beneath the needle which is described in book Huangdi Neijing; and 6) not withdrawing the acupuncture needles if qi does not arrive. Generally, in the later ages, the connotations of Deqi are enriched greatly.

Acupuncturists have always paid high attention to deqi (needling sensation) in clinical. However, relationship between deqi and curative effect has not been elucidated yet. In order to have a further understanding on effect of deqi on clinical effect, through study on literature associated with deqi since the establishment of People's Republic of China in 1949, it is held that various factors can influence therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment, including whether needling sensation appears or not, the speed of deqi, the intensity of deqi, different types of sensations as well as propagated sensation along meridians (PSM). Joint launched multidisciplinary researches should be carried out to reveal the influence principle of deqi on acupuncture effect, and to lay foundations for the further studies on mechanism of deqi.

Background. Deqi sensation is a complex but an important component for acupuncture effect. In this study, we tried to observe the relationship between Deqi and skin temperature changes and whether there was some relativity between Deqi and needle stimulations on cold congealing and dysmenorrhea rat model. Thirty-two female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups (Saline Control Group, Model Group, Group A with strong stimulation, and Group B with small stimulation). Group A and Group B were performed with different stimulations. We found that, compared with saline control group, model group, and Group B, Group A showed that the skin temperature changes on right acupoint SP6 and SP10 increased significantly at 5 min–10 min interval. The skin temperature changes on left SP6 decreased at instant–5 min interval. The skin temperature changes on right SP10 decreased significantly at instant–5 min interval and 10 min–20 min interval. Thermogenic action along Spleen Meridian of Foot Greater Yin was manifested as simultaneous skin temperature increase on right SP6 and SP10 at 5 min–10 min interval after needling SP6, which was helpful to illustrate the relationship between the characteristic of Deqi and needle stimulations.

In this study, we try to evaluate the effects of acupuncture stimulation with different amounts at Sanyinjiao (SP6) on uterine contraction and uterus microcirculation in rats with dysmenorrhea of cold coagulation syndrome and to explore whether there is direct relativity between “De qi” and needle stimulus intensity. Diestrus female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including saline control group, model control group, “A” stimulus group (with strong stimulus), and “B” stimulus group (with weak stimulus). We found that dysmenorrhea rats of the cold coagulation syndrome present a high intensity in uterine tension and high contraction of microvascular diameter. Acupuncture applied with two different stimuli could relieve the symptoms, but, compared with “B” stimulus, “A” stimulus leads to better outcomes on reducing uterine contraction and increasing diameter of uterine microvascular; moreover, hand manipulation during needling mediates the curative effect on the microvascular diameter. Our finding indicates that using thick needles and deep insertion with hand manipulation are more effective and achieve desired level of “De qi” in dysmenorrhea rats.

Deqi (needle sensation), is closely related to clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture in the treatment of different clinical conditions. In the present paper, the authors summarized various components or concepts of Deqi mainly in the foreign studies collected from Pubmed database. At present, foreign researches about Deqi mainly include 1) the subjects' subjective qualitative and quantitative descriptions about Deqi, 2) correlation between acupuncture stimulation induced Deqi and clinical therapeutic effects, and 3) responses of different brain regions or the connectivity of brain network shown by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during Deqi by needling different acupoints. According to the current commonly used 6 questionnaires, aching, tingling, numbness, heaviness, dull pain, throbbing, and deep pressure sensation are the most frequently seen components of Deqi of acupuncture stimulation. The factors influencing Deqi are psychological state, personal previous experience and cultural background. Regarding the degree of Deqi and clinical effects or outcomes, the conclusions are controversial.of fMRI analysis shows that in spite of extensive deactivation of the limbic system has been found in many studies, and the connectivity of the intrinsic brain functional networks is increased during acupuncture-induced Deqi, the significance of activation or deactivation of some brain regions remains unclear, and the related mechanisms need to be studied further. No matter activation or deactivation of different brain regions during Deqi, the most important issue is the relationship between Deqi and clinical therapeutic effects. Further studies are definitely needed.

Deqisensation is believed to be important in clinical efficacy according to TCM theory. The measuring method ofDeqisensation has significant implications for the result of research trials. This study makes an investigation on acupuncture-experienced patients and expert acupuncturists in China and aims to find out the patient’s needling sensations and acupuncturist’s sensations which can be acceptable as descriptors ofDeqisensation, so as to provide foundation for more systematic and sensitive quantitative evaluation method ofDeqisensation. Results of this survey indicated that theDeqisensation noted by both patient and acupuncturist is equally important to the treatment efficacy. It is found that there are some differences between the patients’ real-life experience and the acupuncturists’ expectations on patients’Deqisensation. The “dull pain,” “aching,” “sore,” “numb,” “distended,” “heavy,” “electric,” “throbbing,” “warmness,” “coolness,” “spreading,” and “radiating” can be considered as the main manifestations ofDeqisensations. The acupuncturists believed thatDeqisensations were mainly “pulling,” “tight,” and “throbbing.” We suggest developing a questionnaire measuring theDeqisensations which includes both the sensations of the patient and acupuncturist, and this would be very important and necessary for a better understanding of the relationship betweenDeqisensation and acupuncture effects in future studies.

Through inoculating Amorpha fruiticosa with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and without, the dynamic characteristics of plant endogenous hormone levels, soluble sugar contents in roots and in leaves respectively were systemic studied. The results showed that AM fungi could obviously influenced soluble sugar contents and endogenous hormone levels in host plants with colonization percentage changing. Two kinds of AM fungi, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices, were chose as tested strains to infect A. fruiticosa roots for forming the mycorrhizal complex using pot-experiment methods, and G. mosseae had a better colonization effect than G. intraradices on A. fruiticosa roots. After 70 days growth of A. fruiticosa seedings in the greenhouse, the colonization percentage of G. mosseae on hosts reached 88.5% that of the highest. The soluble sugar contents in roots and leaves of seedlings inoculated with AM fungi were significantly higher than control treatments, and had positive correlation with colonization percentage. AM fungi dramatically increased the contents of auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA) and zeatin (ZR) in roots, but had litter impact on abscisic acid (ABA).

Background The family Camelidae that evolved in North America during the Eocene survived with two distinct tribes, Camelini and Lamini. To investigate the evolutionary relationship between them and to further understand the evolutionary history of this family, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the wild two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus ferus), the only wild survivor of the Old World camel. Results The mitochondrial genome sequence (16,680 bp) from C. bactrianus ferus contains 13 protein-coding, two rRNA, and 22 tRNA genes as well as a typical control region; this basic structure is shared by all metazoan mitochondrial genomes. Its protein-coding region exhibits codon usage common to all mammals and possesses the three cryptic stop codons shared by all vertebrates. C. bactrianus ferus together with the rest of mammalian species do not share a triplet nucleotide insertion (GCC) that encodes a proline residue found only in the nd1 gene of the New World camelid Lama pacos. This lineage-specific insertion in the L. pacos mtDNA occurred after the split between the Old and New World camelids suggests that it may have functional implication since a proline insertion in a protein backbone usually alters protein conformation significantly, and nd1 gene has not been seen as polymorphic as the rest of ND family genes among camelids. Our phylogenetic study based on complete mitochondrial genomes excluding the control region suggested that the divergence of the two tribes may occur in the early Miocene; it is much earlier than what was deduced from the fossil record (11 million years). An evolutionary history reconstructed for the family Camelidae based on cytb sequences suggested that the split of bactrian camel and dromedary may have occurred in North America before the tribe Camelini migrated from North America to Asia. Conclusion Molecular clock analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from C. bactrianus ferus and L. pacos suggested that the two tribes diverged from their common ancestor about 25 million years ago, much earlier than what was predicted based on fossil records.