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Aims: Investigations into the nutrient content and changes in the stoichiometry and nutrient resorption strategies of different original forests during their development are of great significance toward the establishment of healthy, high-quality forest ecosystems. Methods: 24 sample plots with age gradients were established in natural Larix principis-rupprechtii forests and plantations, from which mature and senescent leaves, new branches, fine roots, and soil were collected for analysis. The carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents were determined, and the stoichiometric ratios and resorption efficiencies were calculated. Results and Conclusions: The soil organic carbon and total nitrogen of the forests accumulated with advancing age, while the total phosphorus decreased due to higher consumption. Plantation trees tended to store scarce nutrients within inactive plant structures to prevent nutrient loss, whereas natural forest trees maintained a stable nutrient concentration within their active organs. Plantation and natural forest trees adopted highly conservative N and P utilization strategies through improved resorption efficiencies. However, natural forest change was weaker than in plantations. The mature leaves, litter, branches, and fine roots of natural forestswere more susceptible to soil P concentrations, whereas those of their plantation counterparts were more affected by soil N. Nutrient concentrations within the active organs of plantation trees were more strongly dependent on soil than natural forests. We considered that natural forests likely possessed a more extensive range of strategies to deal with the variable compositions and concentrations of soil nutrients, which might strengthen their resilience against the effects of aging.

The effect of high-altitude (HA) on venous thromboembolism (VTE) and its mechanism remains ambiguous. To clarify this, we aimed to conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the incidence of VTE at HA and comparatively low altitude (LA) and figure out the intrinsic risk factors such as susceptibility genes of patients with VTE at HA.We selected studies that explored the risk factors for HA and VTE by searching PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to analyze the impact of HA on VTE. All relevant studies before August 2021 were screened using the terms ([high altitude] OR [plateau] OR [mountain]) AND ([venous thromboembolism] OR [deep vein thrombosis] OR [pulmonary embolism]). Latest studies on the gene of HA-VTE patients were also summarized and analyzed.Fifteen studies were eventually assessed, and the overall numbers of subjects with and without VTE were 1475 and 286,926 respectively. The overall incidence of VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in the HA group was significantly higher than that in the LA group (P0.01). The overall incidence of VTE, DVT and PE in the HA group was significantly higher than that in the LA group at 30 days post operation (P0.05, P0.05 and P0.01, respectively). At 90 days post operation, incidence of VTE and PE in the HA group was higher than that in the LA group (P0.01and P0.01, respectively), but there was no difference in the incidence of DVT (P = 0.07). Regarding endogenous factors, the analysis of genes in patients with HA-VTE revealed numerous targeted genes such as ANG, ACE, lncRNA-LINC00 659/UXT-AS1 and GP4.We observed a significant association between HA and the overall incidence of VTE and that at 30/90 days post operation, indicating that HA may be a risk factor for VTE.

The use of induction motor (IM) is a promising way to replace conventional mechanical actuation such as PMSM in small-size servo press. However, in order to achieve a better dynamical and steady performance than traditional control method, new control strategies have to be investigated. In this paper, model predictive control (MPC) of IM with Computed torque is implemented for the first time which can satisfy the strict positioning requirements in servo press. Additionally, PD control based on velocity and acceleration is employed. Simulation for algorithm is established on a servo press model and shows an improved performance with respect to the existing control strategies.

In order to improve the accuracy of trajectory planning, servo-drive of induction machine was employed in press. The crank mechanism is widely used as the critical transmission of the press. Dynamic model of press was established through Lagrange Equation and computed torque control method was chosen to solve the nonlinearity problem. To delivering better dynamic performance and reduce the cost of encoder, a predictive torque control of induction machine with an adaptive observer is also proposed in this scheme. The simulation shows the new algorithm can help servo-drive track the trajectory of crank and the performance of new strategy is better than traditional method. It can extent the new possible solution of trajectory for nonlinearity.

We read the paper by Rapado-Gonzalez et al. [1] with interest. The authors performed a large meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic value of salivary biomarkers for detection of malignant non-ora...

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a negative regulator of T cell activation, which competes with CD28 for B7.1/B7.2 binding with a greater affinity. Co-expression specific antigens and extracellular domain of CTLA4 represents a promising approach to increase the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. In this study, we evaluated this interesting approach for its enhancement on G250/MN/CA IX (G250)-specific immune responses and its anti-tumor effects in renal carcinoma mice model. Consequently, we constructed a DNA vaccine containing the G250 and the CTLA-4 gene. Vaccination with the co-expression DNA not only induced much higher level of anti-CTLA4 and anti-G250 antibody, but also increased G250-specific T cell response in mice. To evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy of the plasmids, murine models with G250-expressing tumors were generated. After injection into the tumor-bearing mouse model, the plasmid carrying the co-expression gene of CTLA4 and G250 showed stronger inhibition of tumor growth than the plasmid expressing CTLA4 or G250 alone. These observations emphasize the potential of the CTLA4 and G250 co-expression DNA vaccine, which could represent a promising approach for tumor immunotherapy.

Servo presses require accurate and fast response of driving torque from electric machines. To achieve higher metal forming performance, a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm has been implemented in the electric driver for current control in the presented study. Simulations and experiments have been carried out with MPC controller while proportional-integral (PI) controller of field oriented control (FOC) was used as comparison. The experiments have shown that MPC can produce fast and accurate current response, which leads to satisfactory trajectory following performances of major crank. It can be concluded that MPC is a solid alternative of traditional PI controller for motor drive of servo presses.

Average grain size is usually used to describe a polycrystalline medium, however, many investigations demonstrate the grain-size distribution has a measurable effect on most of mechanical properties. This paper addresses the experimental quantification for the effects of grain-size distribution on attenuation in &alpha, titanium alloy by laser ultrasonics. Microstructures with different mean grain sizes of 26&ndash, 49 &mu, m are obtained via annealing at 800 &deg, C for different holding times, having an approximately log-normal distribution of grain sizes. Experimental measurements were examined by using two different theoretical models: (i) the classical Rokhlin&rsquo, s model considering a single mean grain size, and (ii) the improved Turner&rsquo, s model incorporating a log-normal distribution of grain sizes in the attenuation evaluation. Quantitative agreement between the experiment and the latter model was found in the Rayleigh and the Rayleigh-to-stochastic transition regions. A larger attenuation level was exhibited than the classical theoretical prediction considering a single mean grain size, and the frequency dependence of attenuation reduced from a classical fourth power to an approximately second power due to a greater probability of large grains than the assumed Poisson statistics. The provided results would help support the use of laser ultrasound technology for the non-destructive evaluation of grain size distribution in polycrystalline materials.

This study aimed to identify the differential expression levels of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptors (ERα, ERβ), and progesterone receptor (PGR) between normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The combination of immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting assay was used to identify the distribution and differential expression of these receptors at the immunoactive biomarker, transcriptional, and protein levels between 5 normal human prostate tissues and 40 BPH tissues. The results were then validated in a rat model of BPH induced by testosterone propionate and estradiol benzoate. In both human and rat prostate tissues, AR was localized mainly to epithelial and stromal cell nuclei; ERα was distributed mainly to stromal cells, but not exclusively; ERβ was interspersed in the basal layer of epithelium, but sporadically in epithelial and stromal cells; PGR was expressed abundantly in cytoplasm of epithelial and stromal cells. There were decreased expression of ERα and increased expression of PGR, but no difference in the expression of ERβ in the BPH compared to the normal prostate of both human and rat. Increased expression of AR in the BPH compared to the normal prostate of human was observed, however, the expression of AR in the rat prostate tissue was decreased. This study identified the activation of AR and PGR and repression of ERα in BPH, which indicate a promoting role of AR and PGR and an inhibitory role of ERα in the pathogenesis of BPH.

A series of Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized using the incipient-wetness impregnation method. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. The characterization results indicate that the Pt nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of the CNTs, and the mean size was less than 5 nm. These catalysts were utilized to convert cellulose to hexitol, ethylene glycerol (EG), and 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2-PG) under low H2 pressure. The total yields were as high as 71.4% for EG and 1,2-PG using 1Pt/CNTs as the catalyst in the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose under mild reaction conditions.

To investigate whether ESM-1 expression change reflects the impairment of endothelial cells and rejection after kidney transplantation, ESM-1 expression was detected under various immune states in this study.Kidney transplantations were performed from BN to LEW rats. Syngenic LEW-LEW grafts were used as controls. The LEW recipient rats were divided into acute rejection (AR) group, ciclosporin A (CsA) group and control group. In each group, 10 rats were sacrificed at 1, 5, and 7d after operation, respectively, and blood and kidney samples were collected. In the rat model of kidney transplantation, ESM-1 mRNA and ESM-1 protein expression were detected in various immune states to verify if ESM-1 can reflect endothelial cell impairment sensitively.ESM-1 mRNA (1d vs. 3d, P0.01;3d vs. 7d, P=0.018) and ESM-1 protein expression was upregulated significantly in the AR group (P0.01, 5 and 7d), when compared to CsA group and control group. In CsA group, the cell apoptosis rate decreased when compared to AR group (P0.01). Pathological impairment was more serious in AR group than in CsA group (P0.01).Peripheral blood ESM-1 mRNA and ESM-1 protein expression in kidney grafts can reflect the severity of endothelial cell impairment. Thus, ESM-1 may be used as a new indicator for AR prediction and diagnosis. Nevertheless, further investigation is required to test if it meets the criteria for clinical utility.

This paper introduces a novel nondestructive testing (NDT) method based on laser ultrasonic technology and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. A FBG sensor is employed as discrete sensing elements to detect the ultrasonic generated by pulsed laser. An all-fiber and adaptive acousto-ultrasonic (AU) monitoring system for the dynamic detection of impact damage is developed for the present work. A tunable distributed feedback semiconductor laser is used to track AU frequencies as a demodulation scheme. To continuously lock the laser wavelength to the middle-reflection wavelength of FBG, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) device is integrated with the signals from the photodetector in a feedback loop, thus stabilizing the operating points against quasi-state perturbations such as temperature and vibration, while the high frequency dynamic strain shifts the FBG reflection spectral profiles. We demonstrate the all-fiber adaptive AU demodulating system that has the sensing capability to monitor the high frequency AU signals using FBG that is glued on a loaded aluminum plate.

To observe the effects of different loading doses of atorvastatin calcium on the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).A total of 120 CHD patients aged over 80 years were randomly assigned into 3 equal groups to receive intensive pretreatment with statin at the doses of 20, 40, or 60 mg prior to PCI performed within 48 to 72 h after admission. The changes of postoperative cardiac biochemical markers including creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB), troponin I (cTNI) and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were observed and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization) were recorded within 30 days after PCI.Thirty-four patients in 20 mg statin group, 40 in 40 mg statin group, and 38 in 60 mg statin group completed this study. In all the 3 groups, hs-CRP level significantly increased at 12 and 24 h after PCI compared with the preoperative levels (P0.05). The patients in 60 mg statin group showed significantly lower levels of CKMB, cTNI, and hs-CRP at 24 h after PCI than those in 20 mg statin group (P0.05), and had also a significantly lower incidence of total MACE within 30 days after PCI (2.6% vs 26.5%, P=0.003) resulting primarily from significantly reduced myocardial infarction associated with PCI (2.6% vs 20.6%, P=0.016). The adverse drug reactions were comparable among the 3 groups (P0.05).Intensive pretreatment with 60 mg/day atorvastatin calcium can significantly reduce myocardial infarction related to PCI with good safety in elderly patients with CHD.

The binding of palmitate to β -lactoglobulin at protein concentrations ranging from 1 to 200 μM was determined using an ultrafiltration method with [ 14 C]palmitate. Fit of the data to theoretical models required the assumption of two independent sets of binding sites; however, binding characteristics were dependent on the protein concentration. A model assuming one set of sites on the protein monomer and another on the dimer was consistent with the data. The analysis suggests that 2mol of palmitate are bound/mol of dimer and that the binding constant is of the order of 10 5 M –1 ; a larger number of palmitate molecules are bound per mole of monomer with a smaller binding constant of the order of 10 4 M –1 . Apparently, formation of the dimer, by hydrophobic interactions at the monomer contact site, eliminated palmitate binding sites on the monomer but formed a higher affinity pocket for binding to the dimer.

A bioaffinity column of all-trans-retinal immobilized on Celite was capable of isolating high-purity (94.5%) β-lactoglobulin from bovine acid whey. Conditions for producing a potentially hypoallergenic reduced β-lactoglobulin whey were investigated. Reapplication of pH 5.1 eluate to the column resulted in a final purity of 87% α-lactalbumin. The purity of β-lactoglobulin was slightly lower upon elution with buffers containing

Background Bladder transitional cell carcinoma greatly threatens human health all over the world. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) shows a strong apoptosis-inducing effect on a variety of cancer cells including bladder cancer. However, adenovirus-mediated TRAIL expression still showed cytotoxicity to normal cells mainly due to lack of tumor specificity. Methods To solve the problem, we applied miRNA response elements (MREs) of miR-1, miR-133 and miR-218 to confer TRAIL expression with specificity to bladder cancer cells. Results Expression of miR-1, miR-133 and miR-218 was greatly decreased in bladder cancer than normal bladder tissue. Luciferase assay showed that application of the 3 MREs was able to restrain exogenous gene expression to within bladder cancer cells. Subsequently, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus with TRAIL expression regulated by MREs of miR-1, miR-133 and miR-218, namely Ad-TRAIL-MRE-1-133-218. qPCR, immunoblotting and ELISA assays demonstrated that Ad-TRAIL-MRE-1-133-218 expressed in bladder cancer cells, rather than normal bladder cells. The differential TRAIL expression also led to selective apoptosis-inducing and growth-inhibiting effect of Ad-TRAIL-MRE-1-133-218 on bladder cancers. Finally, bladder cancer xenograft in mouse models further confirmed that Ad-TRAIL-MRE-1-133-218 effectively suppressed the growth of bladder cancers. Conclusions Collectively, we demonstrated that MREs-based TRAIL delivery into bladder cancer cells was feasible and efficient for cancer gene therapy.

Binding of hydrogen ions by N-retinyl-Celite indicates an approximate pK of 5.6 for the secondary amino group which is consistent with the previously observed pH dependence of β-lactoglobulin binding by this affinity matrix. N-Retinyl-3-(triethoxysilyl)-n-propylamine was synthesized as a soluble model compound for the affinity ligand. 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectra of this compound and its precursors, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, all-trans-retinal, and the Schiff base, confirmed formation of the Schiff base and its selective reduction with NaCNBH3. Furthermore, 1H NMR spectra confirmed that protonation of the secondary amine in N-retinyl-3-(triethoxysilyl)-n-propylamine occurred upon treatment at pH 5.1. Keywords: N-Retinyl-Celite; N-retinyl triethoxysilyl n-propylamine; 13C NMR spectra; 1H NMR spectra; hydrogen ion binding

The recent studies indicated that the epithelial cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is a well-recognized molecule that is important in cell adhesion. To further investigate the molecular basis of this notion, we used small-interfering RNA to inhibit E-cadherin function and found that loss of E-cadherin promoted Colorectal cancer cell growth, invasion and drug resistance through induction of β-catenin nuclear translocation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Further analysis of E-cadherin expression with clinicopathologic parameters showed that E-cadherin expression decreased in Colorectal cancer patients who developed liver metastasis (P = 0.043). These findings indicate that E-cadherin loss in tumors contributes to progression and metastatic dissemination. Thus, E-cadherin can act as a central modulator of the cell biological phenotypes and a potential prognostic marker in Colorectal cancer.

An experiment of EMP effects on the solid state relay is described. In order to get the radiation interference threshold value of the relay, the length of the connection is cut as short as possible. The radiation interference threshold value is found to be superior to 75kV/m. By using capacitor coupling, the conduction interference voltage threshold value 3850V is found. The experiment results also show that the EMP interference at the input port of the relay can induce transient switching on, which can cause misworking.

The binding of the lipophilic nutrients, retinal, vitamin D 2 , and retinyl palmitate by β -lactoglobulin was measured by analysis of changes in the fluorescence of the tryptophanyl residue of β -lactoglobulin or the retinyl moiety. The fluorescence intensity of the tryptophanyl residue was quenched by retinoid or vitamin D binding but was enhanced by palmitate binding. The analysis of competitive binding experiments with palmitate indicated that retinal and palmitate did not compete for the same site; however, vitamin D 2 , which binds with a stoichiometry of 2, appeared to displace palmitate at higher concentrations. Also, the retinoids and vitamin D 2 were bound more tightly than was palmitate. The results are consistent with the model in which the retinoids and vitamin D 2 bind in the calyx formed by the β -barrel; palmitate and a second molecule of vitamin D 2 bind in a surface pocket near the dimer contact region. Retinyl palmitate, which has both moieties, appeared to bind at both sites.

beta-Lactoglobulin was isolated directly from acidic whey by bioselective adsorption on N-retinyl-Celite, yielding preparations of > or = 96% purity. Interactions of these preparations with vitamin D2, vitamin D3, ergosterol, cholesterol, and 7-dehydrocholesterol were examined by following changes in the fluorescence spectra. Both the excitation and emission spectra indicated that energy was transferred between the tryptophanyl residues of the protein and the chromophore of the ligand. Analyses of the fluorescence changes that occurred upon titration of beta-LG with the various ligands allowed determination of the dissociation constant for the complex and the number of moles bound per mole of protein. The affinity for vitamin D2 (dissociation constant of 4.91 nM) was 10-fold higher than that of the other compounds, except for ergosterol, which was 5-fold larger than the others. Also, the affinity was 10-fold higher than that typically reported for the retinoids. Furthermore, the value obtained for the number of moles bound per mole of protein was 2 mol.mol-1 for each of the ligands examined in this study; it has been well established that all of the retinoids are bound with a stoichiometry of 1.0. These results suggest that beta-LG may be a better carrier of vitamin D than of vitamin A.

All- trans -retinal was covalently immobilized on Celite™ and investigated as a bioselective adsorption matrix for β -lactoglobulin. Two types of Celite™ supports were compared, indicating the best performance with 100/120 mesh, type R648. The R648 matrix yielded a high concentration (9.2 μ mol/ml) of the ligand when the derivative was produced, and the derivatized matrix exhibited the best retention of β -lactoglobulin. Binding of β -lactoglobulin to the immobilized trans -retinal matrix is biospecific, but the affinity is dependent on pH and ionic strength. α -Lactalbumin is not bound to this bioselective adsorbant, so its elution was not retarded or affected by pH or buffer concentration. Affinity for β -lactoglobulin was optimal at pH 5.14; a dissociation constant of 2.7 μM was obtained in .1 M buffer solutions. At pH 7.0, the affinity decreased 44-fold, and, below pH 3.5, no binding occurred. The estimated loading capacity based on chromatographic data was approximately 14g/L (.75 μ mol/ml) of support.

This paper presents the orbital energies and the densities of states near the Fermi level of the pero Vskite type catalysts La 0.7 A' 0.3 MnO (A' = Sr, Ba, Ca), calculated by the MS- X α method. It compares the frontier orbital electronegativities of the catalysts to those of the adsorbed molecules (O 2 and CO). This work also includes the total energy curves of the catalyst model with the adsorbed molecules calculated by the CNDO/2 method, compares the relative strength of adsorption of both O 2 and CO, and discusses the catalytic mechanism of the oxidation of CO. It is promising that the noble-metal catalysts used in the oxidation of CO for purification of automobile exhausts and for other purposes could be replaced by the peroVskite type catalysts La 0.7 A' 0.3 MnO 3 (A' = Sr, Ba, Ca). The catalysts, which are very active in such an oxidation reaction, have been studied for years by many authors, and considerable headway has been made experimentally. Theoretically, however, interpretation of the catalytic mechanism in terms of molecular interactions has not been available. This paper presents some theoretical results of the adsorption and activity of the catalysts studied by the MS- X α and CNDO/2 methods.