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A Ni(II)/bisoxazoline-catalyzed asymmetric dearomative [3+2] cycloaddition of substituted purines with donor-acceptor oxiranes was developed. This reaction, which proceeds via highly chemoselective C-C bond cleavage of the oxiranes, accesses chiral purino[3,2-ic/i]oxazole compounds (≤99% ee after enrichment via crystallization). The electronic effects of the purine ring determine the reactivity of the substrate. The general applicability of this method was illustrated by gram-scale synthesis, the diverse transformations of the product, and the promising biological activities of selected derivatives.

The cultural and creative industry has become a critical driving force for China's economic growth, with traditional Chinese culture serving as an essential element in this emerging industry. This paper focuses on the popular television show "New Forbidden City" and examines the application of traditional Chinese culture in the cultural and creative industry. By analyzing the characteristics of the show, its messages, and its impact on the industry, this paper concludes that the application of traditional Chinese culture in the cultural and creative industry is significant for both preserving cultural heritage and promoting economic development.

Summary Background Immunometabolism is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to repurpose metformin, an anti-diabetic drug that regulates systemic and cellular metabolism, and assess its effects in Chinese patients with SLE without diabetes. Methods We did a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in three hospitals in Shanghai, China. We enrolled adult patients with SLE, without diabetes, who had Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment–Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) scores no higher than 6; with no A score or no more than one B score on the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) scale at screening; who had had at least one lupus flare; and were treated with prednisone (≥20 mg per day) within the preceding 12 months. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) in blocks of four by a computer algorithm to add metformin tablets (250 mg per tablet with a target dose of 0·5 g three times per day; metformin group) or placebo tablets (placebo group) to their standard therapy, for a maximum of 12 months. Patients, assessment staff, and statisticians were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite index of major or mild-to-moderate disease flares (SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index) at 12 months. The full analyses were done in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug using the χ2 test. Adverse events were recorded during the 12-month follow-up. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02741960 . Findings Between May 24, 2016, and Dec 13, 2017, 180 patients were screened, of whom 140 (78%) of them were enrolled. 31 (17%) did not meet the inclusion criteria and nine (5%) withdrew informed consent without treatment after randomisation. 67 patients were assigned to the metformin group and 73 to the placebo group. By 12 months of follow-up, there was no significant difference in the incidence of lupus flares, which occurred in 14 (21%) patients in the metformin group versus 25 (34%) in the placebo group (relative risk 0·68, 0·42–1·04, p=0·078). Patients receiving metformin experienced more gastrointestinal adverse events (three [4%] discontinued for this reason vs one [1%] for placebo; overall 26 [39%] vs 11 [15%], p=0·0015), but the incidence of non-flare serious adverse events was similar between groups (one [1%] vs three [4%], p=0·35). The frequency of infection events was significantly lower in patients in the metformin group than in the placebo group (17 [25%] vs 32 [44%], p=0·022). No patients died as a result of treatment. Interpretation This trial was underpowered to draw a sound conclusion on the efficacy of metformin to reduce disease flares as an add-on treatment to standard care in patients with SLE. Nonetheless, metformin had a favourable safety profile and our data present a basis for larger trials to investigate its potential effect on reducing the frequency of flares for patients with SLE with low-grade disease activity who are at risk of relapse. Funding Shanghai Shenkang Promoting Project and the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

In this letter, a new kind of quasi quarter SIW resonator (QQSIWR) using Sierpinski fractal defected structure is presented first. Comparing with SIW resonator, this novel resonator has lower resonant frequency (f0) and acceptable unloaded quality (Qu) value, while maintaining almost unchanged electromagnetic fields distributions. The frequency characteristics and Qu of this resonator is investigated under different fractal sizes. To validate the properties of QQSIWR, a miniature cross-coupled bandpass filter (BPF) with a size reduction over 88% is proposed and optimized using Sierpinski fractal structure and cross coupling technology. It can produce asymmetrical frequency response by generating a transmission zero (TZ) on the high side of passband. A prototype of the filter is fabricated and measured, and the measured results are in good agreement well with the simulated ones. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1176–1179, 2016

Source and ambient samples were collected in a city in China that uses considerable biofuel, to assess influence of biofuel combustion and other sources on particulate matter (PM). Profiles and size distribution of biofuel combustion were investigated. Higher levels in source profiles, a significant increase in heavy-biomass ambient and stronger correlations of K

For 45steel, the noise test of different groove milling inserts in milling processing is carried on and the distribution model is studied. Firstly, the cutting noise test system is designed and the acquisition scheme of the test points is determined; secondly, the noise tests in the dry milling process are carried on and the test results are analyzed. Also the influence degree of different milling parameters on the noise of milling inserts is analyzed and the distribution situation of the noise size with different milling parameters is compared; finally, using stepwise regression analysis method, the milling noise distribution models of different groove inserts are set up. Research shows that: in the same machining conditions, different groove inserts, which with complex grooves and a periodic function grooves have the best machining performance. All above study results will provide a certain theoretic base for improving the workshop environment, controlling and predicting the noise and optimizing the design of insert groove.

In this paper, a novel dual-mode substrate integrated waveguide resonator which is a square SIW cavity perturbed by a rectangle metallic plane inserted into the middle of the substrate. With this type of dual-mode substrate integrated waveguide cavity, a novel fourth-order bandpass filter is presented. The filter was fabricated and measured with high selectivity and compact size, and the size reduction of less than 50% is achieved. The experimental filter exhibits a passband which is centered at 11.2GHz with an insertion loss of

The present study provides in vivo trials of silicone rubber chambers filled with different concentrations of bilobalide (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 μM) and Schwann cells (1.5 × 105 cell/ml) in a 1:1 volumetric addition to bridge a 15 mm sciatic nerve defect in rats. At the conclusion of 8 weeks, histological technique was used to evaluate the functional recovery of the nerve. In the groups receiving the Schwann cells and bilobalide at 50, 100, 200 and 400 μM, 44% (4 of 9, one died during experiment), 50% (5 of 10), 30% (3 of 10), and 60% (6 of 10) of the animals exhibiting a regenerated nerve cable across the 15-mm gap, respectively. In comparison, 50% (5 of 10) of the animals in the group with Schwann cells only showed such regenerated nerve cables. Although the adding of bilobalide did not promote the nerve growth-promoting capability of Schwann cells in the nerve guides, the techniques we used in this study provided a new approach combining Chinese medicine and tissue engineering to nerve regeneration.

Apelin, a novel bioactive peptide highly concentrated in the brain, is identified as the endogenous ligand for angiotensin-like 1 receptor (APJ). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of apelin-13 on emotion-related behavior using the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of apelin-13 (0.3, 1 and 3 μg/mouse) dose-dependently increased the immobility time in the FST and TST, compared with control group. However, the APJ receptor antagonist apelin-13(F13A) (0.3–10 μg/mouse, i.c.v.) had no influence on immobility time in the FST. The increase of immobility time induced by apelin-13 was significantly blocked by apelin-13(F13A), non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine dihydrochloride (nor-BNI), respectively, but not the non-selective corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist α-helical CRF 9–41 in the FST. In order to eliminate the possibility of a false-positive result in the FST or TST, spontaneous activity and motor function were checked. The results demonstrate that apelin-13 alone or antagonists co-administered with apelin-13 did influence spontaneous activity counts. And apelin-13 had no effect on the motor behavior in the rotarod test and wire hanging test. These results indicate that centrally administered apelin-13 elicited depression-like behavior in mice, which was mediated via APJ receptor and κ-opioid receptor, but not CRF receptor.

The effect of apelin-13 on pain modulation at the supraspinal level was investigated in mice using the tail immersion test. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of apelin-13 (0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 3 microg/mouse) produced a dose- and time-related antinociceptive effect. This effect was significantly antagonized by the APJ receptor antagonist apelin-13(F13A), indicating an APJ receptor-mediated mechanism. Furthermore, naloxone, beta-funaltrexamine and naloxonazine, could reverse the analgesic effect. However, naltrindole or nor-binaltorphimine could not reverse the effect, suggesting that mu opioid receptor (primarily mu(1) opioid receptor subtype) is involved in the analgesic response evoked by apelin-13. Moreover, i.c.v. administration of apelin-13 potentiated the analgesic effect induced by morphine (i.c.v., 5 microg/kg) and this potentiated effect can be also reversed by naloxone.

Investigations of post-implantation annealing were carried out on gallium nitride wafers that had been implanted with beryllium ions. The thermal processes performed were rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 1100/spl deg/C for 120 s, pulse laser annealing (PLA) using a 248 nm KrF excimer laser at an energy of 0.2 Jcm/sup -2/ and a combination of both. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity of the PLA-treated sample was vastly improved over the RTA sample and even the as grown sample. However, off-resonance Raman and high resolution X-ray diffraction spectroscopy showed that many defects that result from the Be implantation still remained in the GaN wafer, because of the shallow penetration depth of the 248 nm laser. These defects can be annealed out, however, with a subsequent RTA process. Thus, a combination of PLA and RTA is recommended to produce good optical activation of the Be-implanted GaN, and to repair the crystal defects that arise from the implantation.