Search

Organic matter in black shales is composed of oil-prone macerals, such as alginite and amorphous organic matter (AOM), and non-oil-prone macerals, including vitrinite and inertinite. Organic matter...

In this study, a pH-responsive controlled-release mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) formulation was developed. The MSNs were functionalized with a histidine (His)-tagged targeting peptide (B3int) through an amide bond, and loaded with an anticancer drug (cisplatin (CP)) and a lysosomal destabilization mediator (chloroquine (CQ)). Cu

Dense smoke released during the combustion of polystyrene (PS) potentially limits its applications in some fields. In this study, a Zr-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66) was prepared via the solvothermal method and added to PS to suppress its smoke emission. Well-defined UiO-66 particles showed an excellent dispersion state and good compatibility in the PS matrix. The introduction of UiO-66 improved the flame retardancy and smoke suppression of PS. The peak heat-release rate and total heat release were reduced by 26.8% and 14.7%, respectively, for PS/ UiO-66-5 wt%. Moreover, the smoke emissions of PS composites were evidently suppressed, and more than a 35% reduction in total smoke production was obtained with 5-wt% UiO-66. Through the analysis of the residues and pyrolysis products of PS composites, the mechanisms of enhanced flame retardancy and smoke suppression can being speculated as the promoted char-forming and heat barrier of UiO-66. This work offers a significant reference for the further study of UiO-66 and polymer materials.

Accurate estimation of groundwater recharge (GR) and evapotranspiration (ET) are essential for sustainable groundwater resources management, especially in water-limited arid and semi-arid regions. In the Manas River Basin (MRB), water shortage is the main factor restricting sustainable development of irrigated agriculture, which relies heavily on groundwater. Film-mulched drip irrigation significantly changes the pattern and dominant processes of water flow in the unsaturated zone, which increases the difficulty of estimating GR and ET. To better estimate GR and ET under film-mulched drip irrigation in the MRB, bromide tracer tests and soil lithologic investigation were conducted at twelve representative sites in the MRB. A one-dimensional variably saturated flow model (HYDRUS-1D) was calibrated at each site using groundwater evaporation data inferred from the bromide tracer tests. The results showed that average annual groundwater evaporation in uncultivated lands calculated from bromide trace tests was 25.55 mm. Good simulation accuracy was achieved between the observed and simulated evaporation. Model calculations showed that the annual GR was within 5.5 to 37.0 mm under film-mulched drip irrigation. The annual ET was within 507.0 to 747.1 mm, with soil evaporation between 35.7 to 117.0 mm and transpiration between 460.9 to 642.3 mm, respectively. The portion of the soil evaporation for the total ET was within 7% to 16% and more than 70% of the precipitation and irrigation water was used by the cotton plants. Spatial variations in soil lithology, water-table depth, and initial soil water content led to the spatial differences of GR and ET in the MRB. Our study indicated that bromide tracer tests may be used to evaluated ET in the arid and semi-arid oases. The combination of bromide tracer tests and one dimensional variably saturated model can enhance reliability for estimation of GR and ET under film-mulched drip irrigation not only in the MRB, Northwest China but also the other similar arid inland basins around the world.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor. The aim of the present study was to analyze the application value of serum pepsinogen (PG), carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA72-4), and gastrin-17 (G-17) detection in the screening, diagnosis, and evaluation of early gastric cancer. METHODS: In total, 122 patients with gastric cancer treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2021 were selected as the gastric cancer group and subdivided into the early gastric cancer (group A) and advanced gastric cancer (group B) groups. Sixty-five patients with benign gastric disease treated in the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group, and 122 healthy people who underwent physical examination during the same period were allocated to the control group. The differences in the levels of G-17, PGI, PGII, PGI/PGII, and CA72-4 were compared; receiver-operating characteristic curves were drawn; and the efficacy of different factors in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer was calculated. RESULTS: G-17, PGI, and PGI/PGII levels in the gastric cancer group were significantly lower than those in the healthy group, and CA72-4 was significantly higher than that in the healthy group (P0.05). G-17, PGI, and PGI/PGII levels in groups A and B were significantly lower than those in the control group. CA72-4 in groups A and B was significantly higher than that of the control group, and was highest in group B (P

Etched surface morphology is the main cause of etched fracture conductivity. It would be helpful to optimize acidification fracturing design and improve the reservoir reconstruction effect by analyzing the rock etched surface during the acid-rock reaction process. The chemical mechanism involved in forming the etched carbonate surface and reasons for non-uniform morphogenesis are thoroughly analyzed in this paper. By applying different viscous acid-rock reaction kinetic parameters, a measuring device, and a 3D laser scanner, the acid-rock reaction rate and etched surface morphology are tested under different acid concentrations, reaction temperatures, and flow rates. The regularity of the surface morphology is also obtained under different acid-rock reaction rates. The results demonstrate that, with an increase in the acid concentration, reaction temperature, and acid flow, the acid reaction rate can be accelerated and the etched masses are positively related to the etched volume and acid-rock reaction rate. The main controlling factors of the acid-etched surface morphology in the parallel and vertical acid flow directions are the acid-rock reaction rate and mineral composition distribution, respectively. The increase in the acid-rock reaction rate contributes to drastic changes in the rock wavy surface, as well as the differences in and degree of inhomogeneity. In the acid flow direction, it is more conducive to form acid-etched holes and grooves by increasing the acid-rock reaction rate.

Accurate estimation of groundwater recharge (GR) and evapotranspiration (ET) are essential for sustainable groundwater resources management, especially in water-limited arid and semi-arid regions. In the Manas River Basin (MRB), water shortage is the main factor restricting sustainable development of irrigated agriculture, which relies heavily on groundwater. Film-mulched drip irrigation significantly changes the pattern and dominant processes of water flow in the unsaturated zone, which increases the difficulty of estimating GR and ET. To better estimate GR and ET under film-mulched drip irrigation in the MRB, bromide tracer tests and soil lithologic investigation were conducted at twelve representative sites in the MRB. A one-dimensional variably saturated flow model (HYDRUS-1D) was calibrated at each site using groundwater evaporation data inferred from the bromide tracer tests. The results showed that average annual groundwater evaporation in uncultivated lands calculated from bromide trace tests was 25.55 mm. Good simulation accuracy was achieved between the observed and simulated evaporation. Model calculations showed that the annual GR was within 5.5 to 37.0 mm under film-mulched drip irrigation. The annual ET was within 507.0 to 747.1 mm, with soil evaporation between 35.7 to 117.0 mm and transpiration between 460.9 to 642.3 mm, respectively. The portion of the soil evaporation for the total ET was within 7% to 16% and more than 70% of the precipitation and irrigation water was used by the cotton plants. Spatial variations in soil lithology, water-table depth, and initial soil water content led to the spatial differences of GR and ET in the MRB. Our study indicated that bromide tracer tests may be used to evaluated ET in the arid and semi-arid oases. The combination of bromide tracer tests and one dimensional variably saturated model can enhance reliability for estimation of GR and ET under film-mulched drip irrigation not only in the MRB, Northwest China but also the other similar arid inland basins around the world.

Using neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) internalization to measure of substance P release in rat spinal cord slices, we found that it was induced by the adenylyl cyclase (AC) activator forskolin, by the protein kinase A (PKA) activators 6-Bnz-cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP, and by the activator of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) 8-pCPT-2-O-Me-cAMP (CPTOMe-cAMP). Conversely, AC and PKA inhibitors decreased substance P release induced by electrical stimulation of the dorsal root. Therefore, the cAMP signaling pathway mediates substance P release in the dorsal horn. The effects of forskolin and 6-Bnz-cAMP were not additive with NMDA-induced substance P release and were decreased by the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801. In cultured dorsal horn neurons, forskolin increased NMDA-induced Ca(2+) entry and the phosphorylation of the NR1 and NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptor. Therefore, cAMP-induced substance P release is mediated by the activating phosphorylation by PKA of NMDA receptors. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, but not by TRPV1 or TRPA1, also contributed to cAMP-induced substance P release. Activation of PKA was required for the effects of forskolin and the three cAMP analogs. Epac2 contributed to the effects of forskolin and CPTOMe-cAMP, signaling through a Raf - mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway to activate Ca(2+) channels. Epac1 inhibitors induced NK1R internalization independently of substance P release. In rats with latent sensitization to pain, the effect of 6-Bnz-cAMP was unchanged, whereas the effect of forskolin was decreased due to the loss of the stimulatory effect of Epac2. Hence, substance P release induced by cAMP decreases during pain hypersensitivity.

Plastid-localized glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (ATS1) catalyzes the first-step reaction in glycerolipid assembly through transferring an acyl moiety to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) to generate lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an intermediate in lipid metabolism. The effect of ATS1 overexpression on glycerolipid metabolism and growth remained to be elucidated in plants, particularly oil crop plants. Here, we found that overexpression of BnATS1 from Brassica napus enhanced plant growth and prokaryotic glycerolipid biosynthesis. BnATS1 is localized in chloroplasts and an in vitro assay showed that BnATS1 had acylation activity toward glycerol 3-phosphate to produce LPA. Lipid profiling showed that overexpression of BnATS1 led to increases in multiple glycerolipids including phosphatidylglycerol (PG), monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylinositol (PI), with increased polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, increased MGDG was attributed to the elevation of 34:6- and 34:5-MGDG, which were derived from the prokaryotic pathway. These results suggest that BnATS1 promotes accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in cellular membranes, thus enhances plant growth under low-temperature conditions in Brassica napus.

Latent sensitization is a model of chronic pain in which a persistent state of pain hypersensitivity is suppressed by opioid receptors, as evidenced by the ability of opioid antagonists to induce a period of mechanical allodynia. Our objective was to determine if substance P and its neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) mediate the maintenance of latent sensitization. Latent sensitization was induced by injecting rats in the hindpaw with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), or by spared nerve injury (SNI). When responses to von Frey filaments returned to baseline (day 28), the rats were injected intrathecally with saline or the NK1R antagonist RP67580, followed 15 min later by intrathecal naltrexone. In both pain models, the saline-injected rats developed allodynia for 2 h after naltrexone, but not the RP67580-injected rats. Saline or RP67580 were injected daily for two more days. Five days later (day 35), naltrexone was injected intrathecally. Again, the saline-injected rats, but not the RP67580-injected rats, developed allodynia in response to naltrexone. To determine if there is sustained activation of NK1Rs during latent sensitization, NK1R internalization was measured in lamina I neurons in rats injected in the paw with saline or CFA, and then injected intrathecally with saline or naltrexone on day 28. The rats injected with CFA had a small amount of NK1R internalization that was significantly higher than in the saline-injected rats. Naltrexone increased NK1R internalization in the CFA-injected rats but nor in the saline-injected rats. Therefore, sustained activation of NK1Rs maintains pain hypersensitivity during latent sensitization.

Latent sensitization is a long-term model of chronic pain in which hyperalgesia is continuously suppressed by opioid receptors, as demonstrated by the induction of mechanical allodynia by opioid antagonists. Different intracellular signals may mediate the initiation, maintenance and expression of latent sensitization. Our criterion for the involvement of a signal in the maintenance of latent sensitization is that inhibitors should permanently eliminate the allodynia produced by an opioid antagonist. We hypothesized that Src family kinases (SFKs) maintain latent sensitization and tested this hypothesis by inducing latent sensitization in rats with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) or spared nerve injury. After measures of mechanical allodynia returned to baseline, vehicle or the SFK inhibitor PP2 were injected intrathecally. The opioid antagonist naltrexone injected intrathecally 15 min later produced allodynia in control rats but not in rats injected with PP2. Vehicle or PP2 were injected daily for two more days and naltrexone was injected five days later. Again, naltrexone induced allodynia in the control rats but not in the rats injected with PP2. Results were similar when latent sensitization was induced with CFA or spared nerve injury. We concluded that an SFK, likely Fyn, maintains latent sensitization induced by inflammation or nerve injury.

Latent sensitization is a long-term model of chronic pain in which hyperalgesia is continuously suppressed by opioid receptors. This is demonstrated by the induction of mechanical allodynia by opioid antagonists. Different intracellular signals may mediate the initiation, maintenance and expression of latent sensitization. Our criterion for the involvement of a signal in the maintenance of latent sensitization is that it inhibitors should permanently eliminate the allodynia produced by an opioid antagonist. We hypothesized that Src family kinases (SFKs) maintain latent sensitization and tested this hypothesis in rats with latent sensitization induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) or by spared nerve injury. After measures of mechanical allodynia returned to baseline, the SFK inhibitor PP2 or vehicle were injected intrathecally. The opioid antagonist naltrexone injected intrathecally 15 min later produced allodynia in control rats but not in rats injected with PP2. PP2 or vehicle were injected daily for two more days and naltrexone was injected five days later. Again, naltrexone induced allodynia in the control rats but not in the rats injected with PP2. Results were similar when latent sensitization was induced either with CFA or spared nerve injury. We concluded that an SFK, likely Fyn, maintains latent sensitization induced by inflammation or nerve injury.PerspectiveThis article presents evidence that a Src family kinase, likely Fyn, maintains latent sensitization induced by inflammation or nerve injury. If latent sensitization is a valid model of chronic pain, inhibiting its maintenance with Src family kinase inhibitors may cure chronic pain.

The latent sensitization model of chronic pain reveals that recovery from some types of long-term hyperalgesia is an altered state in which nociceptive sensitization persists but is suppressed by the ongoing activity of analgesic receptors such as μ-opioid receptors (MORs). To determine whether these MORs are the ones present in nociceptive afferents, we bred mice expressing Cre-recombinase under the Nav1.8 channel promoter (Nav1.8cre) with MOR-floxed mice (flMOR). These Nav1.8cre/flMOR mice had reduced MOR expression in primary afferents, as revealed by quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence colocalization with the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide. We then studied the recovery from chronic pain of these mice and their flMOR littermates. When Nav1.8cre/flMOR mice were injected in the paw with complete Freund adjuvant they developed mechanical hyperalgesia that persisted for more than 2 months, whereas the responses of flMOR mice returned to baseline after 3 weeks. We then used the inverse agonist naltrexone to assess ongoing MOR activity. Naltrexone produced a robust reinstatement of hyperalgesia in control flMOR mice, but produced no effect in the Nav1.8/flMOR males and a weak reinstatement of hyperalgesia in Nav1.8/flMOR females. Naltrexone also reinstated swelling of the hind paw in flMOR mice and female Nav1.8cre/flMOR mice, but not male Nav1.8cre/flMOR mice. The MOR agonist DAMGO inhibited substance P release in flMOR mice but not Nav1.8cre/flMOR mice, demonstrating a loss of MOR function at the central terminals of primary afferents. We conclude that MORs in nociceptive afferents mediate an ongoing suppression of hyperalgesia to produce remission from chronic pain.

The interaction between NMDA receptors and μ-opioid receptors in primary afferent terminals was studied by using NMDA to induce substance P release, measured as neurokinin 1 receptor internalization. In rat spinal cord slices, the μ-opioid receptor agonists morphine, DAMGO and endomorphin-2 inhibited NMDA-induced substance P release, whereas the antagonist CTAP right-shifted the concentration response of DAMGO. In vivo, substance P release induced by intrathecal NMDA after priming with BDNF was inhibited by DAMGO. ω-Conotoxins MVIIC and GVIA inhibited about half of the NMDA-induced substance P release, showing that it was partially mediated by the opening of voltage-gated calcium (Cav) channels. In contrast, DAMGO or ω-conotoxins did not inhibit capsaicin-induced substance P release. In cultured DRG neurons, DAMGO but not ω-conotoxin inhibited NMDA-induced increases in intracellular calcium, indicating that μ-opioid receptors can inhibit NMDA receptor function by mechanisms other than inactivation of Cav channels. Moreover, DAMGO decreased the ω-conotoxin-insensitive component of the substance P release. Potent inhibition by ifenprodil showed that these NMDA receptors have the NR2B subunit. Activators of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA) induced substance P release and this was decreased by the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801 and by DAMGO. Conversely, inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase and PKA, but not of protein kinase C, decreased NMDA-induced substance P release. Hence, these NMDA receptors are positively modulated by the adenylyl cyclase-PKA pathway, which is inhibited by μ-opioid receptors. In conclusion, μ-opioid receptors inhibit NMDA receptor-induced substance P release through Cav channel inactivation and adenylyl cyclase inhibition.

Root systems play a vital role in soil-plant interactions. The dynamics and distributions of soil moisture content (SMC), soil salinity, and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root density under mulched drip irrigation are complex and their interactions are not well understood. The aim of this study is to describe these dynamics and distributions and to evaluate their impacts on cotton above-ground growth and yield during two-year field experiments in a cotton field under mulched drip irrigation with brackish and fresh water. Significant differences were observed for the distributions of SMC, soil salinity, and root length density (RLD) in the root zone for brackish water irrigation treatment (BWT) and fresh water irrigation treatment (FWT). The average SMC and soil salinity in the root zone were higher for BWT than for FWT. The spacing of irrigation lines also had measurable impacts. SMC was less variable when irrigation spacing was small (narrow rows) than beneath wide rows. SMC for BWT and FWT decreased after irrigation due to root water uptake; simultaneously, salt concentration increased, especially in regions where RLD was relatively high. More roots were observed growing in the mulched narrow and wide rows than in the no-mulch zone. Roots were concentrated in the shallowest 30 cm. Our study indicated that the average values of the ECe (electrical conductivity of soil saturation extract) in the root zone after BWT irrigation were higher than the published threshold value for optimal cotton yield. The average RLD, shoot dry weight and yield for BWT were observed to be lower than those of FWT as a result of the elevated soil salinity associated with BWT.

Background:Previous studies have reported that self-rated health (SRH) predicts subsequent mortality. However, less is known about the association between SRH and functional ability. The aim of this study was to examine whether SRH predicts decline in basic activities of daily living (ADL), even after adjustment for depression, among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.Methods:A three-year prospective cohort study was conducted among 654 residents aged 65 years and older without disability in performing basic ADL at baseline. SRH was assessed using a visual analogue scale (range; 0–100), and dichotomized into low and high groups. Information on functional ability, sociodemographic factors, depressive symptoms, and medical conditions were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between baseline SRH and functional decline three years later.Results:One hundred and eight (16.5%) participants reported a decline in basic ADL at the three-year follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the low SRH group had a higher risk for functional decline compared to the high SRH group, even after controlling for potential confounding factors (odds ratio (OR) = 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3–4.4). Furthermore, a 10-point difference in SRH score was associated with subsequent functional decline (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.16–1.61).Conclusions:SRH was an independent predictor of functional decline. SRH could be a simple assessment tool for predicting the loss or maintenance of functional ability in community-dwelling older adults. Positive self-evaluation might be useful to maintain an active lifestyle and stay healthy.

The creep model is the main form of rock model used to describe the rheological behavior of rocks. A large number of creep models have been proposed, but many are complicated and/or are not able to fully simulate the three stages of rock creep. Hence, an important focus of research on rock creep has been to develop a model with few parameters and better simulation performance. To achieve this, in this study, we propose a new four-element creep model, based on variable-order fractional derivatives and continuum damage mechanics. The newly proposed creep model agrees well with experimental data for Changshan rock salt. The results show that the segmentation treatment is an effective approach for simulating the creep behavior of rocks.

The diffusion coefficient of hydrogen ions is a key parameter for the acid reaction model calculation. The analysis of the law of the hydrogen ions diffusion coefficient in acid reaction is helpful to optimize acid fracturing technology design, and to improve stimulation. By introducing the power law fluid Reynolds number and the Schmidt number, the calculation method of the hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient was corrected for acid reaction kinetics parameter measurement apparatus with different acid viscosity. The new apparatus was designed and built in 2010, here it was used to investigate the law of hydrogen ions diffusion coefficient under various conditions by the tests of acid rock reaction rate. Combining the theoretical formula and acid rock reaction experiments, the laws of the acid rock reaction rate and hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient by gelled acid and in-situ gelled acid were obtained. The acid rock reaction experiments were performed by varying acid concentration, reaction temperature and flow velocity. The results showed that the rate of acid reaction can be accelerated by increasing acid concentration, reaction temperature and velocity. The degree of influence on the acid reaction is reduced by various factors result from increase of acid viscosity. When acid concentration is 0.006 mol/cm3, the hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient is minimum due to the trapping effect between hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient increases as increase of acid flow velocity. When flow velocities of gelled acid and in-situ gelled acid are beyond 113.21 cm/s and 158.38 cm/s, respectively, the hydrogen ion diffusion coefficient tends to be stable.

Acid fracturing is an important method to stimulate oil and gas wells in carbonate reservoirs. The main purpose of acid fracturing is to create a high-speed channel for oil and gas flow, and conductivity is an important factor that determines the effect of acid-fracturing construction pressure. Studying the variation trend of the fracture friction coefficient is important to explain the variation in the acid-fracturing construction pressure and the formation of conductivity of acid-etched fracture. According to the fracture-roughness theory and friction-coefficient calculation method, the roughness, aperture width, and friction coefficients of carbonate rocks before and after acid etching were calculated using the surface morphology and conductivity results of gelled acid-etched carbonate fractures. The average friction coefficients of the fractures were found to be 3088529 and 49857.4 before and after the acid etching after acid etching, respectively, i.e., approximately 1.61% of that before acid etching. With the increase in the reaction rate, reaction time, and acid flow rate, the fracture friction coefficient significantly reduced after the acid etching. Similar to the variation law in the friction coefficient of a pipe flow, the smaller the fracture roughness and the larger the hydraulic aperture are, the smaller is the friction coefficient of the fracture. The smaller the friction coefficient is, the higher is the conductivity and the better is their correlation.

The study of pore network evolution is an important aspect of tight shale reservoir characterization. Pore spaces in shales consist of three major types: interparticle pores and intraparticle pores associated with mineral matrix and organic-matter pores. In this study, the evolution of pore networks for each pore type in lacustrine shales during thermal maturation was studied based on a suite of 19 Triassic Yanchang Formation shale samples from the Ordos Basin across a maturation gradient from immature to late mature (vitrinite reflectance (Ro) from 0.36 to 1.30%). The results show that different pore types follow systematic evolutions during thermal maturation and that the evolution of pore type and pore size is critically controlled by multiple diagenetic processes such as mechanical compaction, cementation, mineral dissolution, clay mineral transformation, and organic matter thermal maturation. Specifically, at immature and early mature stages (Ro

Latent sensitization is a model of chronic pain in which a persistent state of pain hypersensitivity is suppressed by opioid receptors, as evidenced by the ability of opioid antagonists to induce a period of mechanical allodynia. Our objective was to determine if substance P and its neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) mediate the maintenance of latent sensitization. Latent sensitization was induced by injecting rats in the hindpaw with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), or by tibial spared nerve injury (SNI). When responses to von Frey filaments returned to baseline (day 28), the rats were injected intrathecally with saline or the NK1R antagonist RP67580, followed 15 min later by intrathecal naltrexone. In both pain models, the saline-injected rats developed allodynia for 2 h after naltrexone, but not the RP67580-injected rats. Saline or RP67580 were injected daily for two more days. Five days later (day 35), naltrexone was injected intrathecally. Again, the saline-injected rats, but not the RP67580-injected rats, developed allodynia in response to naltrexone. To determine if there is sustained activation of NK1Rs during latent sensitization, NK1R internalization was measured in lamina I neurons in rats injected in the paw with saline or CFA, and then injected intrathecally with saline or naltrexone on day 28. The rats injected with CFA had a small amount of NK1R internalization that was significantly higher than in the saline-injected rats. Naltrexone increased NK1R internalization in the CFA-injected rats but nor in the saline-injected rats. Therefore, sustained activation of NK1Rs maintains pain hypersensitivity during latent sensitization.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSPA) consists of catechin, epicatechin and epicatechin gallate, which are strong antioxidants that are beneficial to health and may attenuate or prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, the effects of GSPA on pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell viability were determined using cell counting kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, whereas apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm) were measured via flow cytometry analysis. The effect of GSPA administration on the behavior and memory of amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS-1) double transgenic mice was assessed using a Morris water maze. APP Aβ peptides and tau hyperphosphorylation were examined by western blotting; whereas the expression levels of PS-1 were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared with pathological sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Congo red. Data from the in vitro experiments demonstrated that GSPA significantly alleviated Aβ25-35 cytotoxicity and LDH leakage ratio, inhibited apoptosis and increased Ψm. The findings from the in vivo experiments showed a significant enhancement in cognition and spatial memory ability, an improvement in the pathology of APP and tau protein and a decrease in PS-1 mRNA expression levels. Therefore, the results of the present study indicated that GSPA may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD or may, at the very least, improve the quality of life of patients with AD.

Aim The aim of the present study was to show the status of objective geriatric functions and subjective quality of life in Ladakh, India, compared with Japanese controls. Methods We analyzed data of 117 people aged 60 years or older in Domkhar, and age- and sex-specific Japanese controls. Variables measured included blood pressure, hemoglobin, timed up & go test, basic activities of daily living, Geriatric Depression Scale and the Visual Analog Scale for subjective quality of life. Results People in Domkhar were more likely to have difficulties in basic activities of daily living compared with Japanese controls. However, they were significantly more likely to maintain social roles. The Visual Analog Scale scores in subjective friendship, economic satisfaction and happiness were higher in Domkhar compared with Japanese controls. Living alone (OR 9.92, 95% CI 2.13–46.26), high Geriatric Depression Scale score (6 or more; OR 8.45, 95% CI 1.65–43.35) and timed up & go test (17 s or more; OR 21.00, 95% CI 1.69–260.87) were significantly associated with a low score of subjective happiness (less than 50). Residence in Domkhar (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04–0.77) was a significant factor for low prevalence of a low score of subjective happiness by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions Subjective quality of life among older adults in Domkhar was higher than Japanese controls despite a higher rate of difficulty in basic activities of daily living. We have to consider prevention, treatment, and care of not only diseases and disabilities, but also loneliness for the older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 480–486.

Anaerobic fermentation of the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) sludge was investigated in terms of phosphate release and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production regarding polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) activity. PAOs decay rate during fermentation was determined as 0.35 ± 0.03 d −1 . Sludge lysis was enhanced with an increase in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) content. Moreover, the phosphate release profiles and the VFAs production as well as the individual VFA fractions varied with different acetate concentrations added initially. Based on these observations, anaerobic digestion model No. 1 was extended and modified by introducing: (1) processes that PAOs store 4 VFA species as PHA, which can be degraded into varied fractions of individual VFA in dependence on PHA composition, (2) the effect of PHA content on disintegration rate, and (3) phosphorus precipitation. The proposed model adequately fitted a multi-experiment, multi-variable data set, indicating that it plays an important role in predicting phosphate and VFAs variations during EBPR sludge fermentation.

Many chronic pain disorders alternate between bouts of pain and periods of remission. The latent sensitization model reproduces this in rodents by showing that the apparent recovery (“remission”) from inflammatory or neuropathic pain can be reversed by opioid antagonists. Therefore, this remission represents an opioid receptor-mediated suppression of a sustained hyperalgesic state. To identify the receptors involved, we induced latent sensitization in mice and rats by injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in the hindpaw. In WT mice, responses to mechanical stimulation returned to baseline 3 weeks after CFA. In μ-opioid receptor (MOR) knock-out (KO) mice, responses did not return to baseline but partially recovered from peak hyperalgesia. Antagonists of α2A-adrenergic and δ-opioid receptors reinstated hyperalgesia in WT mice and abolished the partial recovery from hyperalgesia in MOR KO mice. In rats, antagonists of α2Aadrenergic and μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors reinstated hyperalgesia during remission from CFA-induced hyperalgesia. Therefore, these four receptors suppress hyperalgesia in latent sensitization. We further demonstrated that suppression of hyperalgesia by MORs was due to their constitutive activity because of the following: (1) CFA-induced hyperalgesia was reinstated by the MOR inverse agonist naltrexone (NTX), but not by its neutral antagonist 6β-naltrexol; (2) pro-enkephalin, pro-opiomelanocortin, and pro-dynorphin KO mice showed recovery from hyperalgesia and reinstatement by NTX; (3) there was no MOR internalization during remission; (4) MORs immunoprecipitated from the spinal cord during remission had increased Ser375phosphorylation; and (5) electrophysiology recordings from dorsal root ganglion neurons collected during remission showed constitutive MOR inhibition of calcium channels.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTChronic pain causes extreme suffering to millions of people, but its mechanisms remain to be unraveled. Latent sensitization is a phenomenon studied in rodents that has many key features of chronic pain: it is initiated by a variety of noxious stimuli, has indefinite duration, and pain appears in episodes that can be triggered by stress. Here, we show that, during latent sensitization, there is a sustained state of pain hypersensitivity that is continuously suppressed by the activation of μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors and by adrenergic α2Areceptors in the spinal cord. Furthermore, we show that the activation of μ-opioid receptors is not due to the release of endogenous opioids, but rather to its ligand-independent constitutive activity.

Depression in older adults erodes their health, quality of life and the economy. Existing interventions are not feasible for broad application at the community. Postcard intervention only requires a few resources, and previous studies have shown its effectiveness for patients following drug overdose, self-harm and hospitalisation for major depression. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a postcard intervention. Participants were community-dwelling individuals, aged 65 or older, who eat meals alone and with the score of 4 or higher on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). We enrolled 184 eligible participants, with 93 in the intervention and 91 in the control arm. Postcards were sent to participants once a month for eight months. Primary outcome was the GDS-15 score at post-intervention. Secondary outcomes were quality of life and activities of daily living. There was no significant difference in primary and secondary outcomes between completers of the intervention and the control arm. However, most of the participants who received intervention thought the intervention was effective. The postcard intervention for depression in community-dwelling elderly people in Japan is neither feasible nor effective. However, the descriptive results suggest that the intervention may be effective given different parameters.

Film-mulched drip irrigation with brackish water has been used widely for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in arid regions. Full consideration of the promise of brackish water irrigation requires consideration of the dependence of cotton root characteristics on soil conditions. To date, these dependences are complex and poorly understood. The present study compared the impacts of soil temperature, water and salinity on root characteristics on cotton yield for brackish water irrigation treatment (BWT) and fresh water irrigation treatment (FWT). Spatial differences were observed for cotton root mass, root length, root surface-area and root volume distribution that corresponded with differences in the distributions of soil conditions. There existed a strikingly linear relationship between cotton root length and root mass. Soil temperature did not exert clear control on root system growth. Lower average root density and coarser roots were observed for BWT than for FWT as a result of the reduced soil temperature and the elevated soil salinity associated with BWT. Cotton shoot growth was more sensitive than root growth to salt stress for BWT. Higher root density and fine root proportion for FWT than BWT led to higher cotton yield. That is, more cotton roots were observed in the shallow mulched zone, which corresponded with high root water uptake rate and salt accumulation. Our study indicated that the easily-measured cotton root mass could be used as a practical surrogate for root length under mulched drip irrigation. Subsurface drip irrigation with drip tapes set in the shallow mulched zone may further promote cotton root system growth, allowing for sustainable cotton production with brackish water irrigation.