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The C-S bond is one of the most fundamental chemical bonds in synthetic chemistry. However, how to control the highly reactive thiyl radical and develop new strategies for forming C-S bonds remains a challenging yet elusive objective. Herein, we demonstrate that a triple radical catalytic cycle, specifically the combination of organic photocatalysis, hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis and a programmed radical relay cycle, can be leveraged to enable the [3 + 2] radical sulfuration of alkenes by carrying out multi-component radical cross-coupling. CS2 is a masked 1,3-disulfur radical equivalent, successfully leading to five-memberedring sulfur-containing scaffolds with six C-S bonds. This visiblelight-mediated organic photocatalytic mechanism can allow multiple reactive radicals to be used programmatically. Applying this strategy enables us to find new methods for forming chemical bonds that had previously been inaccessible or uninvestigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated (1) how nasal septal perforations (NSPs) modify nasal airflow and air-conditioning characteristics and (2) how the modifications of nasal airflow are influenced by the size and location of the NSP. Computed tomography scans of 14 subjects with NSPs were used to generate nasal cavity models. Virtual repair of NSPs was conducted to examine the sole effect of NSPs on airflow. The computational fluid dynamics technique was used to assess geometric and airflow parameters around the NSPs and in the nasopharynx. The net crossover airflow rate, the increased wall shear stress (WSS) and the surface water–vapor flux on the posterior surface of the NSPs were not correlated with the size of the perforation. After the virtual closure of the NSPs, the levels in relative humidity (RH), air temperature (AT) and nasal resistance did not improve significantly both in the choanae and nasopharynx. A geometric parameter associated with turbinate volume, the surface area-to-volume ratio (SAVR), was shown to be an important factor in the determination of the RH and AT, even in the presence of NSPs. The levels of RH and AT in the choanae and nasopharynx were more influenced by SAVR than the size and location of the NSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Education introduced the "Double Reduction" policy to ease students' academic pressure while promoting increased engagement in sports activities. This policy has opened up fresh prospects for the non-disciplinary training sector, particularly in sports training. This study examines the extent of implementation of off-campus youth sports training in Chengdu following the enactment of the "Double Reduction" policy. It delves into the challenges and obstacles faced in executing such training programs. The study utilized quantitative and qualitative methods, involving 72 coaches and 36 club owners from 36 clubs across 12 districts in Chengdu. It analyzed factors like sex and education to assess the correlation between sports training implementation and the "Double Reduction" policy. It also conducted interviews to investigate challenges in off-campus youth sports training in Chengdu. Consensus exists among coaches and club owners regarding implementing off-campus youth sports training in Chengdu, with no significant differences observed in various aspects. However, significant differences were noted in perceptions of Chengdu's "Double Reduction" policy implementation, particularly concerning regulatory processes, service provision, and industry development. The study underscores governmental ambiguity and industry disarray in management, emphasizing the need to address homogenized training, limited service variety, and inadequate systems. Solutions involve implementing robust frameworks, enhancing owner competencies, addressing staff shortages, improving service quality, and diversifying marketing approaches to bolster resilience against risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location of nasal septal deviation (NSD) directly impacts nasal physiology. The objective is to examine, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the difference in the airflow and air conditioning characteristics according to the location of NSD. Twenty patients with septal deviation were divided into two: 10 caudal septal deviation (CSD) and 10 posterior septal deviation (PSD). Physiological variables were compared and numerical models for nasal cavity were created with CT scans. Cases with CSD had distinctive features including restricted airflow partition, larger nasal resistance, and decreased surface heat flux in the more obstructed side (MOS), and lower humidity and air temperature in the lesser obstructed side (LOS). Physiological differences were observed according to the location of septal deviation, CSD cases exhibit significantly more asymmetric airflow characteristics and air conditioning capacity between LOS and MOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that LXR agonist can inhibit Aβ generation and alleviate Aβ-induced various adverse reactions in vivo and in vitro experiments, but the mechanisms have not been clarified. The study aimed to observe the effect of LXR agonist TO901317 on the cognitive function of AD transgenic mice fed with cholesterol-rich diet (CRD), and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods: 32 male 6-month-old double transgenic AD mice were enrolled and randomly divided into 4 groups: control (normal diet) group, CRD treatment group, TO901317 treatment group and GSK2033 treatment group. After 3 month, Morris water maze was for the changes of spatial exploration and memory ability; ELISA was for detecting the production of Aβ42 in the brain; the concentration of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) in serum were detected by cholesterol enzyme colorimetry; Finally, the expression of LXR-β, RXR-α, ABCA1, caveolin-1, BACE1 and APP at protein level in the brains was measured by Western blotting. Compared with the control group, the learning, memory ability and spatial exploration ability of the mice were more significantly serious in the CRD group (P<0.05); The contents of TC and LDL in the serum and the production of Aβ42 in the brains were significantly increased (P<0.05), but HDL was remarkably decreased (P<0.05); The protein levels of LXR-β, RXR-α and ABCA1 were also significantly decreased (P<0.05); The expression of caveolin-1, APP and BACE1 were evidently increased (P<0.05). However, after treatment with TO901317, the impaired learning and memory and spatial exploration ability of the mice were significantly improved (P<0.05); The contents of TC and LDL in serum and the production of Aβ42 in the brains were significantly decreased (P<0.05), but HLD was increased (P<0.05); The protein levels of LXR-β, RXR-α, ABCA1were all significantly increased (P<0.05), while, the expression of caveolin-1, APP and BACE1 were all significantly decreased (P<0.05). All the changes were reversed by GSK2033 (P<0.05). TO901317 attenuated the more serious impairment of spatial exploration, learning and memory in transgenic AD mice induced by CRD, and the mechanism may be that TO901317 could activate the LXR-β/RXR-α/ABCA1 transmembrane transport system, promote the cholesterol efflux, and decreased caveolin-1, APP and BACE1, further reduce Aβ42 in the brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data in communication networks need to be secured during transmission. This paper improved the mathematical model of advanced encryption standard (AES)-based encryption and decryption based on chaos theory. The key of AES was obtained using Logistic mapping and Chebyshev mapping. Random words were added to further improve the randomness of the key. The improved mathematical model was established and tested for its security. It was found that the key obtained from chaotic sequences fully passed the NIST test. Compared with x0 =0.1 the results of encryption and decryption obtained when x0 =0.1+10-15 were completely different, which proved the sensitivity of the key and the stronger randomness of the ciphertext obtained after encryption. Compared with AES, the improved mathematical model spent only 1/3 time in encryption and decryption, showing a higher efficiency. The results demonstrate the reliability of the improved mathematical model for data encryption and decryption in communication networks. This mathematical model can be applied in practical communication networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septoturbinoplasty is a surgical procedure that can improve nasal congestion symptoms in patients with nasal septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy. However, it is unclear which physical domains of nasal airflow after septoturbinoplasty are related to symptomatic improvement. This work employs computational fluid dynamics modeling to identify the physical variables and domains associated with symptomatic improvement. Sixteen numerical models were generated using eight patients' pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans. Changes in unilateral nasal resistance, surface heat flux, relative humidity, and air temperature and their correlations with improvement in the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score were analyzed. The NOSE score significantly improved after septoturbinoplasty, from 14.4 ± 3.6 to 4.0 ± 4.2 (p < 0.001). The surgery not only increased the airflow partition on the more obstructed side (MOS) from 31.6 ± 9.6 to 41.9 ± 4.7% (p = 0.043), but also reduced the unilateral nasal resistance in the MOS from 0.200 ± 0.095 to 0.066 ± 0.055 Pa/(mL·s) (p = 0.004). Improvement in the NOSE score correlated significantly with the reduction in unilateral nasal resistance in the preoperative MOS (r = 0.81). Also, improvement in the NOSE score correlated better with the increase in surface heat flux in the preoperative MOS region from the nasal valve to the choanae (r = 0.87) than in the vestibule area (r = 0.63). Therefore, unilateral nasal resistance and mucous cooling in the preoperative MOS can explain the perceived improvement in symptoms after septoturbinoplasty. Moreover, the physical domain between the nasal valve and the choanae might be more relevant to patient-reported patency than the vestibule area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The evolution of fungicide resistance in agricultural and natural ecosystems is associated with the biology of pathogens, the chemical property and application strategies of the fungicides. The influence of ecological factors such as host diversity on the evolution of fungicide resistance has been largely overlooked but is highly relevant to social and natural sustainability. In this study, we used an experimental evolution approach to understand how host population heterogeneity may affect the evolution of fungicide resistance in the associated pathogens. 2. Potato populations with six levels of genetic heterogeneity were grown in the same field and naturally infected by Phytophthora infestans. Pathogen isolates (~1,200) recovered from the field experiment were molecularly genotyped. Genetically distinct isolates were selected from each population and 142 isolates were assayed for their tolerance to two fungicides differing in the mode of action. Tolerance was determined by calculating the relative growth rate of the isolates in the presence and absence of fungicides and the effective concentration for 50% inhibition. 3. The evolution of fungicide resistance in P. infestans was affected by the genetic variation of host populations. Higher potato diversification increased the sensitivity of P. infestans to both fungicides and reduced genetic variation of the pathogen available for the development of fungicide resistance. These mitigating effects are independent of biochemical properties of fungicides and are likely caused by host selection for pathogen strains differing in the ability of fungicide influxes, effluxes or detoxification rather than mutations in fungicide target genes. 4. Synthesis and applications. The development of fungicide resistance greatly threatens food security and ecological sustainability, and it is urgent need to develop agricultural practices which can ameliorate this problem. Our results show that potato crop with a higher genetic diversity is associated with a late blight pathogen of higher fungicide sensitivity and lower potential of developing fungicide resistance, indicating that agricultural diversification such as through cultivar mixture can reduce the application dose and frequency of fungicides needed to achieve the same level of disease control, which, in turn, further reduce the selection pressure acting on the pathogen populations and the evolutionary risk of developing fungicide resistance in pathogens. Together with benefits documented in other studies, our results indicate that crop diversification is an eco-friendly approach that not only ameliorate fungicide resistance but also help achieve social and ecological sustainability by balancing the interaction among food security, socio-economic development and ecological resilience and should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the impact of the screw location and the diaphragm effects on the buckling behavior of the simply supported C/Z-section purlins under wind uplift loadings. The diaphragm effects provided by the sheeting and the warping-torsional effect induced by load eccentricity are taken into account in the differential equations of the nonlinear twisting flexural-torsional model. The biaxial bending moments, bi-moments, as well as the flexural-torsional buckling load of the purlin can be numerically obtained with the proposed model. The global, local, and distortional buckling interaction behavior and the limit states capacities are formulated based on the modified Direct Strength Method. The effects of both the restraints provided by the sheeting and impact of the screw location on the mechanical performance of the purlins are evaluated with the proposed method. The relationship between the buckling load and rotational restraint stiffness is also provided. The proposed methodology will contribute to the assessment of buckling capacity of purlin-sheeting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcining magnesite slag to capture CO2 is a new and simple method of processing CO2 and magnesite slag simultaneously. In this work, the CO2 capture capacity by calcined magnesite slag in wet flue gas simulated by adding water vapour was investigated. The magnesite slag exhibits excellent CO2 adsorption performance, with 3.01 mmol/g CO2 adsorption capacity, which is reduced to 2.18 mmol/g after 8 cycles and is obvious superior to magnesite. The structure and characterization of the magnesite slag are examined by XRF, FT-IR, TGDSC, XRD, CO2-TPD and BET. It can be confirmed by X-ray fluorescence analysis that the key component of magnesite slag is MgSiO3 and MgCO3. The results of this work indicate that the magnesite slag is an available adsorbent for CO2 adsorption after calcination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senescent cells are beneficial for repairing acute tissue damage, but they are harmful when they accumulate in tissues, as occurs with advancing age. Senescence-associated extracellular vesicles (S-EVs) can mediate cell-to-cell communication and export intracellular content to the microenvironment of aging tissues. Here, we studied the uptake of EVs from senescent cells (S-EVs) and proliferating cells (P-EVs) and found that P-EVs were readily taken up by proliferating cells (fibroblasts and cervical cancer cells) while S-EVs were not. We thus investigated the surface proteome (surfaceome) of P-EVs relative to S-EVs derived from cells that had reached senescence via replicative exhaustion, exposure to ionizing radiation, or treatment with etoposide. We found that relative to P-EVs, S-EVs from all senescence models were enriched in proteins DPP4, ANXA1, ANXA6, S10AB, AT1A1, and EPHB2. Among them, DPP4 was found to selectively prevent uptake by proliferating cells, as ectopic overexpression of DPP4 in HeLa cells rendered DPP4-expressing EVs that were no longer taken up by other proliferating cells. We propose that DPP4 on the surface of S-EVs makes these EVs refractory to internalization by proliferating cells, advancing our knowledge of the impact of senescent cells in aging-associated processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism and selectivity of the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts (F-C) alkylation reaction between indole and chalcone catalyzed by chiral N,N'-dioxide-Sc(III) complexes were investigated at the M06/6-311+G(d,p)//M06/[LANL2DZ,6-31G(d)](SMD,CH2Cl2) level. The reaction occurred via a three-step mechanism: (i) the C3-Cβ bond formation by interacting the most mucleophilic C3 center of indole with the most electrophilic Cβ center of chalcone; (ii) the abstraction of the proton at the C3 atom of indole by counterion OTf-; (iii) proton transfer from HOTf to the Cα atom of chalcone, generating the F-C alkylation product. The reaction preferred to occur along the favorable re-face attack pathway, producing the dominant R-product. The turnover frequency (TOF) of catalysis was predicted to be 1.59 × 10-7 s-1, with a rate constant of K(T) = 1.58 × 10-7 exp(-29057/RT) dm6·mol-2·s-1 over the temperature range of 248-368 K. Activation strain model (ASM) and energy decomposition analysis (EDA), as well as noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis, for the stereocontrolling transition state revealed that the substituent attached to the N atom of the amide subunits as well as the amino acid backbone of ligand played important roles in chiral inductivity. The benzyl group with structural flexibility tended to form strong π-π stacking with substrate as well as the terminal phenyl group of chalcone, stabilizing re-face attack transition state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENaC) superfamily of ion channels contains subfamilies with diverse functions that are fundamental to many physiological and pathological processes, ranging from synaptic transmission to epileptogenesis. The absence in mammals of some DEG/ENaCs subfamily orthologues such as FMRFamide peptide-activated sodium channels (FaNaCs), which have been identified only in mollusks, indicates that the various subfamilies diverged early in evolution. We recently reported that the nonproton agonist 2-guanidine-4-methylquinazoline (GMQ) activates acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), a DEG/ENaC subfamily mainly in mammals, in the absence of acidosis. Here, we show that GMQ also could directly activate the mollusk-specific FaNaCs. Differences in ion selectivity and unitary conductance and effects of substitutions at key residues revealed that GMQ and FMRFamide activate FaNaCs via distinct mechanisms. The presence of two activation mechanisms in the FaNaC subfamily diverging early in the evolution of DEG/ENaCs suggested that dual gating is an ancient feature in this superfamily. Notably, the GMQgating mode is still preserved in the mammalian ASIC subfamily, whereas FMRFamide-mediated channel gating was lost during evolution. This implied that GMQ activation may be essential for the functions of mammalian DEG/ENaCs. Our findings provide new insights into the evolution of DEG/ENaCs and may facilitate the discovery and characterization of their endogenous agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of transoral endoscopic adenoidectomy on peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and its treatment strategy. Ninety-eight pediatric patients with adenoidal hypertrophy associated with OSAHS admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology, Xuzhou Children's Hospital were selected. After admission, patients received perfected 24 h polysomnogram monitoring, routine blood examination, fasting blood biochemistry examination, T-lymphocyte subset count, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and nasopharyngeal computed tomography. After patients were diagnosed with adenoidal hypertrophy associated with OSAHS, they underwent transoral endoscopic adenoidectomy with a power microdebrider. Patients were evaluated at 3-, 6- and 12-week follow-up visits. The CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell counts, CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio, and changes of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure before and after surgery were recorded. After the 6-week follow-up visit, the mean CD4+ T lymphocyte count in patients was increased significantly compared with that before surgery, the CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio increased gradually, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The frequency of nocturnal awakening of patients was decreased significantly after surgery and the duration of nocturnal sleep was extended significantly (P<0.05). Through analysis of the preoperative and postoperative clinical data of pediatric patients, the CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio was negatively correlated with mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r=-1.06, P=0.003). In conclusion, adenoidectomy can significantly decrease the MAP in pediatric patients with OSAHS and increase the duration of nocturnal sleep. The peripheral blood CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio in pediatric patients was significantly negatively correlated with MAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the reliability of the practical life space in post-stroke patients using the Korean version of the Life-Space Assessment (K-LSA) questionnaire and to assess the relationships between the K-LSA and physical function, daily activity, quality of life, and post-stroke depression. Methods The LSA questionnaire was translated into Korean, and the translated version was authorized by the author of the LSA questionnaire. In a cross-sectional study, the performance of the K-LSA was evaluated in 34 stroke patients (20 males and 14 females; mean age 65.11±2.39 years) who were receiving physical and occupational therapy at the outpatient clinic in the rehabilitation medicine department of a university medical center at the time of evaluation. Performances were assessed twice by one examiner at a 2-week interval to test the reliability. The patients were evaluated using the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale, and mobility subscale of the FIM to assess their relationships with the K-LSA. They were also evaluated using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to determine the relationship with quality of life and post-stroke depression. Results Test-retest reliability at the first (62.20±32.14) and second (63.15±32.22) assessment was 0.993 (p<0.01). The K-LSA showed significant correlations with the FAC (r=0.848, p<0.01), FIM (r=0.765, p<0.01), mobility category of the FIM (r=0.764, p<0.01), GDS (r=-0.657, p<0.01), and EQ-5D (r=0.506, p<0.01). Conclusion This study suggests that the practical life space of post-stroke patients, assessed by the K-LSA, has a significant correlation with patients' functional mobility, independence in daily activity, quality of life, and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synopsis: The establishment of a multidisciplinary consultation system is necessary for the diagnosis of complicated fetal anomalies.Purpose: We aimed to investigate the incidences of different types of fetal anomalies and the influence of multidisciplinary consultation on fetal prognosis.Patients and Methods: Multidisciplinary specialists include obstetricians, pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, and experts of ultrasound department and genetic counseling. Consultation was done if the fetal ultrasound examinations showed abnormality. Follow-up, assistance, and guidance for the fetus were achieved by phone calls.Results: Ultrasound screening showed that the incidences of central nervous system anomaly and genitourinary anomaly were 25.80% (275/1,066) and 22.05% (235/1,066), respectively. The detection rates of fetal anomalies were 5.07% (54/1,066), 36.12% (385/1,066), and 58.82% (627/1,066) in pregnant women with gestational age of <20, 20-28, and >28 weeks, respectively. In addition, the fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly accounted for 40.73% of central nervous system malformation, while 71.43% cases with fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly were alleviated during the follow-up period. The proportion of hydronephrosis in genitourinary anomalies was 50.64%, and the remission rate of hydronephrosis was 67.23% during the follow-up period.Conclusion: The establishment of a multidisciplinary consultation system is necessary for the diagnosis of complicated fetal anomalies. The central nervous system anomaly and genitourinary anomaly are the most common fetal anomalies. In addition, the remission rates of cerebral ventriculomegaly and fetal hydronephrosis are high during the follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The authors previously reported that noncoding microRNA miR-219-5p is down-regulated in the spinal cord in a nociceptive state. The ventral tegmental area also plays critical roles in modulating nociception, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The authors hypothesized that miR-219-5p in the ventral tegmental area also may modulate nociception.Methods: The authors studied the bidirectional regulatory role of ventral tegmental area miR-219-5p in a rat complete Freund's adjuvant model of inflammatory nociception by measuring paw withdrawal latencies. Using molecular biology technologies, the authors measured the effects of astroglial coiled-coil and C2 domain containing 1A/nuclear factor κB cascade and dopamine neuron activity on the down-regulation of ventral tegmental area miR-219-5p-induced nociceptive responses.Results: MiR-219-5p expression in the ventral tegmental area was reduced in rats with thermal hyperalgesia. Viral overexpression of ventral tegmental area miR-219-5p attenuated complete Freund's adjuvant-induced nociception from 7 days after complete Freund's adjuvant injection (paw withdrawal latencies: 6.09 ± 0.83 s vs. 3.96 ± 0.76 s; n = 6/group). Down-regulation of ventral tegmental area miR-219-5p in naïve rats was sufficient to induce thermal hyperalgesia from 7 days after lentivirus injection (paw withdrawal latencies: 7.09 ± 1.54 s vs. 11.75 ± 2.15 s; n = 8/group), which was accompanied by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (fold change: 2.81 ± 0.38; n = 3/group) and reversed by intraventral tegmental area injection of the astroglial inhibitor fluorocitrate. The nociceptive responses induced by astroglial miR-219-5p down-regulation were inhibited by interfering with astroglial coiled-coil and C2 domain containing 1A/nuclear factor-κB signaling. Finally, pharmacologic inhibition of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons alleviated this hyperalgesia.Conclusions: Down-regulation of astroglial miR-219-5p in ventral tegmental area induced nociceptive responses are mediated by astroglial coiled-coil and C2 domain containing 1A/nuclear factor-κB signaling and elevated dopamine neuron activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The study is to explore the role of tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in human ovarian cancer (OC) SKOV3 cells proliferation, migration and invasion by modulating the activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. METHODS: The collected human OC SKOV3 cells were randomly separated into three groups: The control group, the Tun group (treated with tunicamycin to induce ERS) and the CHOP-si group (transfected with CHOP-siRNA before tunicamycin treatment). CCK-8 method was applied for testing cell proliferation, while flow cytometry was conducted to detect cell apoptosis. Scratch test and Transwell test were used to determine the level of cell migration and invasion, respectively. Western blotting was performed to determine the related proteins expressions in ERS and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. RESULTS: The cell survival rate in the Tun group was enhanced than that in the CHOP-si group, both of which were declined with the passage of time. The cell apoptosis rate in the Tun group was increased compared to the CHOP-si group, both of which were significantly elevated. The horizontal migration distance and the number of invasive cells in the Tun and CHOP-si groups were inhibited; however, the horizontal migration distance and the number of invasive cells in the CHOP-si group were enhanced than that in the Tun group. In comparison with the control group, the expressions of CHOP and TRB3 were increased in the Tun group but decreased in the CHOP-si group. The PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR expressions were remarkably declined in the Tun group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study provides strong evidence that tunicamycin-induced ERS induces the apoptosis of human OC SKOV3 cells through inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used computational fluid dynamics to study airflow characteristics in the space between the bulla and the middle turbinate (Region P1) and the superior meatus (Region P2) of the human upper airway, which exhibit intermittent flow separation. For comparison, we examined airflow passage in the inferior meatus (Region N), where large-scale flow separation develops. We assessed six different flow rates, based on realistic human respiration data representing one full period of respiration, in an anatomically correct numerical model. The simulation results showed that airflow in regions P1 and P2 had a relatively smaller separation bubble with a larger variation of bubble size with time, whereas region N exhibited a more gradually changing, two-dimensional rotation-like motion. Distinctive features of flow characteristics in regions P1 and P2 were relatively low Reynolds number, higher curvature of streamlines of the local main flow, with the existence of locations exhibiting intermittent occurrence of relatively quite high level of wall shear during inspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and environmentally-friendly technique for the aqueous extraction of natural substances from sustainable resources is the use of induced electric fields. Based on this concept, a fluidic system was developed for the rapid extraction of seed oil from yellow horn under mild conditions (55 °C). The flowing sample solution at pH 4.5 acted as the secondary coil was exposed to the field at 20 kHz to accelerate the extraction. Results revealed that this method was beneficial to the release of oil without affecting oil quality. Positive factors affecting oil yield include the number of reactors connected in both series and parallel, as well as the excitation voltage. Increasing the number of reactors improved in the rate of extraction. Various series and parallel connection modes of the system significantly affected yield even when the input power was held constant. Maximum yield was observed only for the series mode. It has been concluded that the induced electric field-assisted extraction (IEFAE) developed in this study is an ideal technique for the extraction of seed oil because of its high efficiency, avoidance of metal electrode usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of Korean version of AST (K-AST) as a bedside screening test of apraxia in patients with stroke for early and reliable detection. Methods AST was translated into Korean, and the translated version received authorization from the author of AST. The performances of K-AST in 26 patients (21 males, 5 females; mean age 65.42±17.31 years) with stroke (23 ischemic, 3 hemorrhagic) were videotaped. To test the reliability and validity of K-AST, the recorded performances were assessed by two physiatrists and two occupational therapists twice at a 1-week interval. The patient performances at admission in Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), self-care and transfer categories of Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and motor praxis area of Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment, the second edition (LOTCA-II) were also evaluated. Scores of motor praxis area of LOTCA-II was used to assess the validity of K-AST. Results Inter-rater reliabilities were 0.983 (p<0.001) at the first assessment and 0.982 (p<0.001) at the second assessment. For intra-rater (test-retest) reliabilities, the values of four raters were 0.978 (p<0.001), 0.957 (p<0.001), 0.987 (p<0.001), and 0.977 (p<0.001). K-AST showed significant correlation (r=0.758, p<0.001) with motor praxis area of LOTCA-II test. K-AST also showed positive correlations with the total FIM score (r=0.694, p<0.001), the selfcare category of FIM (r=0.705, p<0.001) and the transfer category of FIM (r=653, p<0.001). Conclusion K-AST is a reliable and valid test for bedside screening of apraxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inferior hydrophilicity of graphene is an adverse factor to the performance of the graphene modified anodes (G anodes) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this paper, different amounts of hydrophilic graphene oxide (GO) were doped into the modification layers to elevate the hydrophilicity of the G anodes so as to further improve their performance. Increasing the GO doped ratio from 0.15 mg ⋅ mg-1 to 0.2 mg ⋅ mg-1 the static water contact angle (θc) of the G-GO anodes decreased from 74.2 ± 0.52 ° to to 64.6 ± 2.75 ° and 41.7 ± 3.99 °, respectively. The G-GO0.2 anode with GO doped ratio of 0.2 mg ⋅ mg-1 exhibited the optimal performance and the maximum power density (Pmax) of the corresponding MFC was 1100.18 mW ⋅-2, 1.51 times higher than that of the MFC with the G anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of carboxylative cyclization of propargyl alcohol with CO2 catalyzed by N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) has been studied by density functional theory calculations. The calculations reveal that the catalytic reaction tends to proceed via the NHO-mediated basic ionic pair mechanism, in which free NHO primarily acts as a basic precursor to trigger the carboxylation of propargyl alcohol with CO2, leading to a [NHOH]+[carbonate]− ion pair intermediate. Then, the catalytic cycle proceeds, including isomerization of the [NHOH]+[carbonate]− ion pair intermediate, intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the carbonate oxygen anion to the alkynyl group, and protonation of the alkenyl carbon anion with an external propargyl alcohol molecule. Molecule orbital and nature population analysis discloses that the preference for the basic ionic pair mechanism is due to the favorable orbital and charge interactions between the α-carbon atom of NHO and the hydroxyl hydrogen of propargyl alcohol. The [NHOH]+ cation has proven to be crucial for stabilizing the [carbonate]− anion, which allows the reaction to proceed through a more thermodynamically stable pathway. The investigations of the effect of substituents of NHOs predict that N-substituents with a strong electron donating effect and a bulky steric effect might improve the catalytic activity of NHOs for the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

γ-L-glutamyl-S-[2-[[[3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-1- benzopyran-6-yl]oxy]carbonyl]-3-[[2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]-3-oxopropyl]-L-cysteinylglycine sodium salt (ESeroS-GS) is a water-soluble derivative of -tocopherol (vitamin E). We reported previously that ESeroS-GS can act as an anti-inflammatory agent and can induce cell death in breast cancer cells. However, the potential antioxidant capacities of ESeroS-GS remain elusive. Here, we measured its scavenging effects on free radicals and evaluated its protective effects on neuronal cells against oxidative stress. The results indicated that ESeroS-GS effectively scavenged both 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonate free radicals (ABTS•+) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals, and attenuated H2O2-induced neuronal cell death. H2O2 treatment induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization rapidly, and caused the redistribution of lysosomal proteases, which were responsible for the neuronal cell death. ESeroS-GS abolished the interaction between tBid and the lysosomal membranes, blocked the translocation of tBid to the lysosomal membranes, decreased its oligomerization within the membrane circumstances, prevented the lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and thus attenuated the neuronal cell death. These data suggest that ESeroS-GS protected the neuronal cells from oxidative stress by stabilizing lysosomal membranes, and thus might act as a novel neuroprotector for neuronal diseases associated with oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a particular clinical challenge because these cancers do not respond to endocrine therapy or other available targeted agents. The lack of effective agents and obvious targets are major challenges in treating TNBC. In this study we explored the cytostatic effect of thiazole ring containing antibiotic drug thiostrepton on TNBC cell lines and investigated the molecular mechanism. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell surface marker was monitored by FCM. Western blot was applied to assess the protein expression levels of target genes. Results: We found that thiostrepton remarkably suppressed the CD44+/CD24- stem-like population and sphere forming capacity of TNBC cell lines. Notably, we showed for the first time that thiostrepton exerted its pharmacological action by targeting sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway. Thiostrepton repressed SHH ligand expression and reduced Gli-1 nuclear localization in TNBC cell line. Furthermore, the downstream target of SHH signaling undergone dose-dependent, rapid, and sustained loss of mRNA transcript level after thiostrepton treatment. Finally, we showed that SHH ligand was essential for maintaining CD44+/CD24- stem-like population in TNBC cell line. Conclusion: We conclude that thiostrepton suppresses the CD44+/CD24- stem-like population through inhibition of SHH signaling pathway. Our results give a new insight into the mechanism of thiostrepton anti-tumor activity and suggest thiostrepton as a promising agent that targets hedgehog signaling pathway in TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

XiaoyanLidan tablets (XYLDTs) are traditional Chinese medicines frequently used for syndromes of the liver and gallbladder, cholecystitis and cholangitis. To evaluate the consistency of the quality of commercial XYLDT preparations, we established a simple and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method with a photodiode array (PDA) detector and mass spectrometry (MS), including a fingerprint analysis and quantification of the main pharmacologically-active markers. In the UPLC-PDA detection-based fingerprint analysis of XYLDTs, approximately 39 peaks were found in the XYLDT chromatogram, 26 of which were attributed to Picrasmaquassioides, nine to Andrographis and four to Isodonserra. Subsequently, the structures of these bioactive markers were identified through ESI-MS analyses. Using the chemometricmethods of similarity analysis and principal component analysis, the five significant herbal componentswere determined as 4-methoxy-5-hydroxycanthin-6-one, andrographolide, dehydroandrographolide, neoandrographolide and rosmarinic acid, and these components were qualitatively assessed. Our experimental results demonstrated that combining the fingerprint analysis with UPLC-MS and multi-ingredient determination is useful for rapid pharmaceutical quality evaluation. Moreover, the combined approach can potentially differentiate the origin, determine the authenticity and assess the overall quality of the formulae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In circuit electromechanics, the coupling strength is usually very small. Here, replacing the capacitor in circuit electromechanics by a superconducting flux qubit, we show that the coupling among the qubit and the two resonators can induce effective electromechanical coupling which can attain the strong coupling regime at the single photon level with feasible experimental parameters. We use dispersive couplings among two resonators and the qubit while the qubit is also driven by an external classical field. These couplings form a three-wave mixing configuration among the three elements where the qubit degree of freedom can be adiabatically eliminated, and thus results in the enhanced coupling between the two resonators. Therefore, our work constitutes the first step towards studying quantum nonlinear effect in circuit electromechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sirtuins with an extended N-terminal domain (NTD), represented by yeast Sir2 and human SIRT1, harbor intrinsic mechanisms for regulation of their NAD-dependent deacetylase activities. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms is crucial for understanding the biological functions of sirtuins and development of potential therapeutics. In particular, SIRT1 has emerged as an attractive therapeutic target, and the search for SIRT1-activating compounds (STACs) has been actively pursued. However, the effectiveness of a class of reported STACs (represented by resveratrol) as direct SIRT1 activators is under debate due to the complication involving the use of fluorogenic substrates in in vitro assays. Future efforts of SIRT1-based therapeutics necessitate the dissection of the molecular mechanism of SIRT1 stimulation. We solved the structure of SIRT1 in complex with resveratrol and a 7-amino-4- methylcoumarin (AMC)-containing peptide. The structure reveals the presence of three resveratrol molecules, two of which mediate the interaction between theAMCpeptide and theNTDof SIRT1. The two NTD-bound resveratrol molecules are principally responsible for promoting tighter binding between SIRT1 and the peptide and the stimulation of SIRT1 activity. The structural information provides valuable insights into regulation of SIRT1 activity and should benefit the development of authentic SIRT1 activators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [NH3e-mim] [BF4], amino ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [OHe-mim][BF4], and 2-hydroxyethylammonium lactate, [HOEAm], were selected and supported onto a variety of molecular sieves, NaY, USY, SAPO-34 and MCM-41, to prepare supported ionic liquids. It was found that [NH3e-mim][BF4]/NaY showed an excellent CO2 adsorption performance, with an adsorption capacity of 0.11 mmol CO2 g-1. In this study, the optimal adsorption conditions and recyclability of [NH3e-mim][BF4]/NaY were investigated. The results showed that [NH3e-mim][BF4]/NaY showed good CO2 adsorption under the conditions of 20 °C and 20 % loading of the IL. By vacuum heating, the CO2 adsorption capacity reached 0.45 mmol CO2 g-1 in the fifth adsorption run but was reduced to 0.29 mmol CO2 g in the tenth run. The structure and characterization of [NH3e-mim][BF4]/NaY were examined by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TG-DSC. The TG-DSC results showed that the thermostability of NH3e-mim][BF4]/NaY was good below 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover new agrochemicals with prominent pesticidal properties, a series of novel β-naphthol derivatives containing benzothiazolylamino and various heteroaryl groups (8a-q) were efficiently synthesised via Betti reaction. The bioassay results showed that most of the synthesised compounds exhibited favourable insecticidal potentials, particularly towards oriental armyworm (50-100% at 200mg⋅L-1) and diamondback moth (50-95% at 10mg⋅L-1). Compounds 8b, 8f, 8g, 8j, 8k, 8n, and 8o possessed LC50 values of 0.0988-5.8864 mg⋅L-1 against diamondback moth. Compounds 8i, 8l, and 8 m also displayed lethality rates of 30-90% against spider mite at the concentration of 100mg⋅L-1. Overall, some compounds could be considered as new insecticidal/acaricidal leading structures for further investigation. The calcium imaging experiments revealed that 8h, 8i, and viii could activate the release of calcium ions in insect (M. separata) central neurons at a higher concentration (50mg⋅L-1). The SAR analysis provided valuable information for further structural modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designed with electron-rich and electron-deficient groups as π-linkers, a series of novel unsymmetrical squaraine dyes (SQ) for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been simulated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods. Dye/TiO2 complexes were also calculated to explore various properties on the interface. The results show that, compared with the prototype dye of WCH-SQ11, the modified WCH-SQ11-1, obtained by replacing the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) unit in WCH-SQ11 with dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole (DTP), keeps a good balance in various key properties including light harvesting efficiency (LHE), driving force for electron injection (ΔGinject), charge transfer (CT) character, and vertical dipole moment (µnormal). Further investigation of the adsorbed WCH-SQ11-1 (i.e. the WCH-SQ11-1/(TiO2)38 complex) reveals a red-shifted absorption spectrum compared to the free dye. The analysis of the molecular orbitals responsible for the maximum absorption indicate a direct electron injection mechanism for the WCH-SQ11-1/(TiO2)38 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum dot (QDs) have been employed as bioimaging agents and delivery vehicles for gene therapeutics in several types of cells. In this study, we fabricated multiple QD bundled nanoparticles (NPs) to investigate the effect of QD size and poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) coating on the efficiency of gene delivery into human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Several types of QDs, which exhibit different ranges of particle size and fluorescence when employed, were coated with PEI to alter their negative charges and to enable them to be bundled into larger particles. Using specific wavelengths of QDs for bioimaging, gene-complexed QD bundled NPs were easily detected in the hMSCs using several different methods such as fluorescence-activated cell sorter, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and in vivo optical imaging. These PEI-coated, bundled QD NPs exhibited significantly higher gene transfection efficacy than single-type QDs. Particularly, the largest QD bundled NPs examined, QD655, had a much higher uptake capability and greater gene expression ability than the other QD NPs (QD525, QD565, and QD605). We believe that our findings help to enrich knowledge of design considerations that will aid in the engineering of QD NPs for stem cell application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common critical disease in term neonates, but reasons for the occurrence of RDS remains unclear. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the cause of RDS in full-term neonates by a retrospective case-control study. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: Among the patients admitted to Bayi Children's Hospital between January 2008 and December 2010, a total of 205 full-term neonates with RDS were assigned to the study group, and 410 full-term neonates without RDS were assigned to the control group. Clinical information, including the presence or absence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), gender of the neonates, mode of delivery, birth weight, and any conditions suffered by the neonates were recorded. Results: The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the following causes were closely correlated with term neonatal RDS: selective cesarean section (OR: 8.737; 95% CI: 5.232-14.588), severe birth asphyxia (OR: 6.988; 95% CI: 2.990-16.333), small gestational age (OR: 6.222; 95% CI: 2.001-8.993), maternal-fetal infection (OR: 5.337; 95% Cl: 1.999-8.233), PROM (OR: 3.380; 95% CI: 1.986- 5.754), male sex (OR: 2.641; 95% CI: 1.721-4.053), gestational glucose intolerance or diabetes (OR: 2.415; 95% CI:1.721-4.053), and low birth weight (OR: 2.323; 95% CI: 1.329-4.060). Conclusion: Several high-risk factors, such as selective cesarean section, severe birth asphyxia, maternal-fetal infection, PROM, and male sex are closely correlated with full-term neonatal RDS. These could provide a significant reference for the diagnosis and treatment of term neonatal RDS.

Etoxazole, 2-(2,6-difluorophenyl-4-[4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-ethoxy-phenyl]-4,5-dihydrooxazole, an organofluorine chitin synthesis inhibitor, was assayed for its bioactivities against several major insect and acarus pests and compared to several other pesticides: two chitin synthesis inhibitors, hexaflumuron and chlorfluazuron; a pyrethroid, permethrin; an organophosphate, acephate; a carboximide, hexythiazox; and a tetrazine, clofentezine. The LC50 of etoxazole was calculated using probit analysis of the concentration-dependent mortality data against susceptible and resistant strains of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Plutellidae); bean aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae); and carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) Boudreaux (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae). The resistant strains were found to be resistant against all tested pesticides except etoxazole. The bioactivity of etoxazole was many times that of the other tested insecticides and acaricides widely used in vegetable crops in China. On the basis of our research, etoxazole can be expected to be extensively used on vegetable crops in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically analyzes determinants that influence IPO's initial abnormal returns Chinese Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) with the sample of 355 listed companies. The result indicates that there exists unbalanced distribution of listed companies in different regions and industries on GEM and their initial abnormal return is significantly different. Issue price, interval between issuing and listing, issuing size, return on equity, concentration of ownership from the second shareholder to the tenth shareholder, turnover rate, average IPO's initial abnormal return of 5 new stocks and lot winning rate of online issuing can influence IPO's initial abnormal return significantly. The findings can confirm the application of the following hypotheses to Chinese GEM: winners' curse hypothesis, ex ante uncertainty hypothesis, signaling hypothesis, heterogeneous expectation hypothesis, supervision strengthening hypothesis, investor sentiment hypothesis and bandwagon hypothesis. This paper concludes that the impact of the secondary market is significantly larger than the primary market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic pathogen infecting humans and almost all warm-blooded animals. The most common sources of human infection are ingestion of tissue cysts in raw or undercooked meat. However, limited information is available about T. gondii infection in horses and donkeys in China. In the present study, we report the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in horses and donkeys in Liaoning province, northeastern China. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 711 and 738 slaughtered horses and donkeys, respectively, in 13 regions of Liaoning province. The modified agglutination test (MAT) was used to test the specific antibodies to T. gondii. Results: In this study, 178 of 711 (25.0%) horses were seropositive for T. gondii with titers of 1:25 in 81, 1:50 in 62, 1:100 in 33, and 1:200 in 2, and seroprevalence of T. gondii infection from 13 regions ranged from 8.2% to 37.0%. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 174 of 738 (23.6%) donkeys with titers of 1:25 in 66, 1:50 in 54, 1:100 in 49, and 1:200 in 5, and seroprevalence varied in 13 different regions, ranging from 9.1% to 32.6%. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that the rate of infection with T. gondii in horses and donkeys is a little high in Liaoning province, northeastern China in comparison to other surveys in China, which suggests that consumption of horse and donkey meat in this area may represent a potential source for human infection with T. gondii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calyx-end browning in ‘Fuyu’ persimmon (Diospyros kakiThumb.) fruits was investigated to learn how meteorological factors and calcium (Ca) concentrations in soil, fruiting shoot, and fruit were related to the symptom occurrences, how longitudinal sections in fruits and fruiting height contribute nutrient partitioning of fruits, and how Ca soaking into fruits affects the cell structure in the flesh. Low humidity with extended radiation reduced fruit browning. Fruiting shoots without browning fruits had greater Ca and lower potassium (K) concentrations than the shoots with browning fruits. Proximal flesh had a greater Ca concentration than middle and distal end parts in calyx-end browning fruits that had lower ratios of Ca:K, Ca:magnesium (Mg), and Ca:K+Mg. Nutrient concentrations were similar to the fruiting height within a canopy, except for manganese, and boron. Calcium dipping into fruit under a vacuum increased Ca concentration in flesh and core parts, which had apparent cell wall strength. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recognition of methylated histone tail lysine residues by tudor domains plays important roles in epigenetic control of gene expression and DNA damage response. Previous studies revealed the binding of methyllysine in a cage of aromatic residues, but the molecular mechanism by which the sequence specificity for surrounding histone tail residues is achieved remains poorly understood. In the crystal structure of a trimethylated histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) peptide bound to the tudor-like domains of Spindlinl presented here, an atypical mode of methyllysine recognition by an aromatic pocket of Spindlinl is observed. Furthermore, the histone sequence is recognized in a distinct manner involving the amino terminus and a pair of arginine residues of histone H3, and disruption of the binding impaired stimulation of pre-RNA expression by Spindlinl. Our analysis demonstrates considerable diversities of methyllysine recognition and sequence-specific binding of histone tails by tudor domains, and the revelation furthers the understanding of tudor domain proteins in deciphering epigenetic marks on histone tails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The airflow and gas exchange behaviors of the human maxillary sinus were quantified to better understand the effect of an accessory ostium (AO). An anatomically correct numerical domain was constructed using CT data from a male patient with mild nasal obstruction. For the purpose of comparison, a numerical model without an AO was also generated by artificially removing the AO from the original model using CAD software. A steady-flow field through the nasal cavity was simulated using ANSYS-FLUENT v13.0 with a target flow rate of 250ml/s. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) method was used to investigate the concentration field of nitric oxide (NO) initially filled in the maxillary sinus. The simulation results showed that a transit flow through the maxillary sinus developed in the presence of an AO. As the flow entered the sinus through either a natural or accessory ostium from the middle meatus, the velocity was significantly reduced to a local maximum of approximately 0.034m/s inside the sinus. This by-pass flow rate through the sinus of 2.186×10−1 to 3.591×10−1 ml/s was a small fraction of the total flow rate inhaled from the nostril, but it effectively changed the local flow topology and led to a larger reduction in NO concentration in the maxillary sinus. This more rapid reduction in NO concentration was due to enhanced ventilation activity afforded by convective transport of the transit stream through the flow path connecting the natural ostium and the AO. The inspiration and expiration phases were qualitatively similar in flow pattern except for the flow direction in the maxillary sinus, suggesting that the AO plays a similar physiological role during both inspiration and expiration in terms of ventilation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Knowledge of airflow characteristics in the nasal cavity is essential to understanding the physiologic and pathologic aspects of nasal breathing. Airflows inside post-surgery models were investigated both experimentally and numerically to simulate the inferior turbinectomy. The left cavities of all three models are normal and right cavity is modified by (1) excision of the head of the inferior turbinate, (2) resection of the lower fifth of the inferior turbinate, and (3) resection of almost the entire inferior turbinate. Thin-slice CT (computed tomography) data (0.6mm deep) and meticulous refinement of the model surface by over a decade-long collaboration between engineers and an experienced ENT doctor resulted in the creation of sophisticated nasal cavity models. After numerical experiments and validation by comparison with the PIV results, the CFD code using the Reynolds stress turbulent model and variable temperature boundary condition on the mucosal wall was chosen as the proper numerical framework. Both global quantities (pressure drop, flow rate ratio, total wall heat transfer) and local changes (velocity, temperature, humidity, pressure gradient, and wall shear stress) were numerically investigated. The turbinectomy obviously altered the main stream direction. The flow rate in the upper airway near the olfactory slit decreased in models (1) and (3). This may weaken the olfactory function of the nose. Fluid and thermal properties that are believed to be related with physiology and prognosis are dependent on turbinate resection volume, position, and manner. Widening of the inferior airway does not always result in decreased flow resistance or wall heat transfer. The gains and losses of inferior turbinectomy were considered by analysis of the post-surgery model results. Nasal resistance was increased in model (1) due to sudden airway expansion. Nasal resistance increased and the wall heat transfer decreased in model (3) due to sudden airway expansion and excessive reduction of the mucosal wall surface area. Local shear stress and pressure gradient levels were increased in models (1) and (3). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: In recent years, investigations of Toxoplasma gondii infection in poultry (chickens, ducks, and geese) have been reported worldwide, including China. However, little is known about the prevalence of T. gondii infection in poultry in northeastern China. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in slaughtered chickens, ducks, and geese in Shenyang, northeastern China. Methods: In the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in 502 adult chickens, 268 adult ducks, and 128 adult geese was surveyed using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Results: The seroprevalences of T. gondii were 5.8%, 7.8%, and 4.7% in chickens, ducks, and geese, respectively. Prevalence was higher in free-range groups (11.2%, 12.3%, and 8.9%) than caged groups (4.7%, 7.5%, and 6.0%), and there was a statistically significant difference only between free-range chickens and caged chickens, but no significant difference was found between free-range ducks, geese and caged ducks, geese. Conclusions: The present study shows the prescence of T. gondii infection in slaughtered chickens, ducks, and geese in Shenyang, northeastern China, which suggests that consumption of poultry meat in Shenyang may pose a potential threat to human health and should be given attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme in the de novo synthesis of guanosine nucleotides. It is considered an important target in the quest for drugs in the immunosuppressive, antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer therapeutic areas. In this study, a chemical feature-based pharmacophore model of IMPDH inhibitors has been firstly developed with the aid of the HypoRefine protocol within D S 2.5. The best model for IMPDH inhibitors, Hypo1-1, was characterized by the best correlation coefficient (0.97595) and the lowest RMSD (0.582058). It consisted of one hydrogen-bond donor, one hydrogen-bond acceptor, one aromatic ring and one hydrophobic feature, as well as two excluded volumes. The model was validated using a wide range of test molecules and a cross-validation. Furthermore, the pharmacophore features were confirmed by molecular docking studies. The pharmacophore model could quantitatively predict inhibitor activity and identify highly potent molecules. Therefore, the present results could be valuable for the discovery and development of specific IMPDH inhibitors. A chemical feature-based pharmacophore model of IMPDH inhibitors has been firstly developed with the aid of the HypoRefine protocol. The model was validated by using a wide range of test molecules, a cross validation and molecular docking. The pharmacophore model could quantitatively predict inhibitor activity and identify highly potent molecules, which could be valuable for the discovery and development of specific IMPDH inhibitors [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical response to electrical stimulation was investigated in a chiral smectic elastomer. The two-dimensional strain tensor in an elastomer film was precisely measured by tracking fluorescent beads dispersed on the film. Shear deformation in the film was clearly observed when an electric field was applied perpendicular to the film surface. The temperature dependence of the strain tensor was also investigated, and the origin of the electric-field-induced shear strain in the chiral smectic-C phase was mainly attributed to the Nambu-Goldstone mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic effect of sustained intravitreal injectable voriconazole microspheres (VCZ-MS) on experimental endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus was investigated. VCZ-MS were prepared and evaluated. Vitrectomy was performed on rabbits after intravitreal inoculation of susceptible A. fumigatus. The animals were randomly divided into five groups, including control (no treatment after vitrectomy), vitrectomy plus voriconazole intravitreal injection, and vitrectomy plus intravitreal injection of VCZ-MS containing 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg of voriconazole. The therapeutic effect was assessed at different time intervals. Voriconazole concentrations were monitored in the vitreous injected with VCZ-MS containing 1.0 mg of voriconazole. The results showed that endophthalmitis occurred in all eyes of the control group and rapidly developed into panophthalmitis. The inflammation in the voriconazole and VCZ-MS groups was mild, and in the groups treated with VCZ-MS containing 1.0 or 1.5 mg voriconazole, the inflammation was controlled, the vitreous was clear in all eyes, and there was no recurrence of endophthalmitis. Histopathological examination showed normal structures in the cured eyes, while most uncured eyes were atrophied. Therefore, it can be concluded that an intravitreal injection of VCZ-MS in addition to vitrectomy is an effective treatment for A. fumigatus-induced endophthalmitis in rabbits. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:1745-1759, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An increased percentage of pro-inflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocytes might contribute to inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possible contribution of pro-inflammatory monocytes to inflammation in HD patients and also to evaluate the effect of on-line hemodiafiltration (HDF). Methods: Flow cytometric detection of monocytes in patients undergoing HD, on-line HDF and healthy controls as well as plasma cytokines and cytokine mRNA measurement were performed. Results: Percent pro-inflammatory monocytes, plasma cytokines and cytokine mRNA significantly increased in HD patients. Intracellular cytokine staining showed pro-inflammatory monocytes were the predominant source of tumor necrosis factor-α. Percent pro-inflammatory monocytes positively correlated with plasma inflammatory cytokines. Percent pro-inflammatory monocytes, plasma cytokines and cytokine mRNA significantly decreased in on-line HDF patients. Conclusion: Increased pro-inflammatory monocytes are likely to contribute to inflammation in HD patients, and beneficial effect of on-line HDF might be partially mediated by modulating the inflammatory response. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapamycin analogs temsirolimus and everolimus have been approved for the treatment of advanced renal cancer and are being tested in a wide spectrum of human tumors. However, objective response rates with rapalogs in clinical trials were modest and variable. Identification of biomarkers capable of predicting response to rapalogs is of increasing interest. We analyzed pairwise Pearson correlation coefficients ( r) between rapalogs activity and gene expression profile for each NCI-60 cell line. p27 showed the highest positive correlation among 9,706 gene probes tested. At cellular levels, breast cancer MCF-7, T47D, and BT-474 cells, expressing high levels of p27, were sensitive to rapalogs, whereas the cells expressed low levels of p27, such as MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-435 cells, exhibited resistance to rapalogs. Mechanistic study indicated that this correlation is likely determined by the basal level of p27 regardless of the phosphorylation or redistribution of p27 upon rapalogs treatment, which may provide a putative threshold to block G1/S transition. Consistently, down-regulation of p27 by siRNA conferred MCF-7 and BT-474 cells insensitive to rapalogs. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between p27 gene expression and rapamycin anti-tumor activity was also observed in mice bearing different human cancer cell xenografts. In conclusion, p27 expression level is positively correlated with the anticancer activity of rapalogs in vitro and in vivo. We propose p27 expression level may be also a candidate predictive biomarker for patient selection for rapalogs-based therapy, which requires clinical validation in a series of patients treated with rapalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Time-dependent characteristics of the flow in a human nasal airway constructed from the CT image of a healthy volunteer were investigated using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. To capture the time-varying nature of the flow as well as pressure and temperature fields, the large eddy simulation (LES) technique instead of the RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes) approach was adopted. To make the present analysis more relevant to a real human breathing cycle, the flow was designed to be induced by the pressure difference and the time-varying pressure at the end of trachea was described to reproduce the flow rate data from the measurement. Comparison of the present results with those of typical steady simulations showed that the difference in flow characteristics is magnified in the expiration phase. This fact may suggest that the inertial effect associated with unsteady flow is more important during the expiration period. Also, the fact that the distribution of the flow rate in a given cross-section of the airway changes significantly with time implies the importance of unsteady data for clinical decision. The wall shear stress was found to have relatively high values at the locations near nasopharynx and larynx but the magnitude changes with time during the whole respiratory cycle. Analysis of the temperature field showed that most of the temperature change occurs in the nasal cavity when the air is incoming and thus, the nasal cavity acts as a very efficient heat exchanger during an inspiration period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Immobilized lectin chromatography can be employed for glycoprotein enrichment, but commonly used columns have limitations of yield and resolution. To improve efficiency and to make the technique applicable to minimal sample material, we have developed a nanoscale chelating Concanavalin A (Con A) monolithic capillary prepared using GMA-EDMA (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) as polymeric support. Con A was immobilized on Cu(II)-charged iminodiacetic acid (IDA) regenerable sorbents by forming a IDA:Cu(II):Con A sandwich affinity structure that has high column capacity, as well as stability. When compared with conventional Con A lectin chromatography, the monolithic capillary enabled the better reproducible detection of over double .the number of unique N-glycoproteins in human urine samples. Utility for analysis of minimal biological samples was confirmed by the successful elucidation of glycoprotein profiles in mouse urine samples at the microliter scale. The reproved efficiency of the nanoscale monolithic capillary will impact the analysis of glycoproteins in complex biological samples, especially where only limited material may be available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]