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The penalized least squares (PLS) method with appropriate weights has proved to be a successful baseline estimation method for various spectral analyses. It can extract the baseline from the spectrum while retaining the signal peaks in the presence of random noise. The algorithm is implemented by iterating over the weights of the data points. In this study, we propose a new approach for assigning weights based on the Bayesian rule. The proposed method provides a self-consistent weighting formula and performs well, particularly for baselines with different curvature components. This method was applied to analyze Schottky spectra obtained in 86Kr projectile fragmentation measurements in the experimental Cooler Storage Ring (CSRe) at Lanzhou. It provides an accurate and reliable storage lifetime with a smaller error bar than existing PLS methods. It is also a universal baseline-subtraction algorithm that can be used for spectrum-related experiments, such as precision nuclear mass and lifetime measurements in storage rings.

Regional concentrations, fluorescent components, and sources of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in a drinking water source in Chaobai River across seasons were investigated here using fluorescence excitation-emission matrices, parallel factor analysis, and fluorescence indexes. Five fluorescent-DOM components were identified, including two microbial humic-like components and one autochthonous tyrosine-like, one reduced quinone-like, and one terrestrial humic-like component. DOM was mainly derived from microorganisms. The farmland-dominated region showed the highest DOM concentration and significantly lower maximum fluorescence intensities (

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, which currently lacks disease-modifying therapy to slow down its progression. Idebenone, a coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) analogue, is a well-known antioxidant and has been used to treat neurological disorders. However, the mechanism of Idebenone on PD has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to predict the potential targets of Idebenone and explore its therapeutic mechanism against PD. Method We obtained potential therapeutic targets through database prediction, followed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Next, we constructed and analyzed a protein-protein interaction network (PPI) and a drug-target-pathway-disease network. A molecular docking test was conducted to identify the interactions between Idebenone and potential targets. Lastly, a PD cell line of SH-SY5Y overexpressing mutant α-synuclein was used to validate the molecular mechanism. Result A total of 87 targets were identified based on network pharmacology. The enrichment analysis highlighted manipulation of MAP kinase activity and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway as potential pharmacological targets for Idebenone against PD. Additionally, molecular docking showed that AKT and MAPK could bind tightly with Idebenone. In the cell model of PD, Idebenone activated autophagy and promoted α-synuclein degradation by suppressing the AKT/mTOR pathway. Pretreating cells with chloroquine (CQ) to block autophagic flux could diminish the pharmacological effect of Idebenone to clear α-synuclein. Conclusion This study demonstrated that Idebenone exerts its anti-PD effects by enhancing autophagy and clearance of α-synuclein, thus providing a theoretical and experimental basis for Idebenone therapy against PD.

Using the ground-state mass of 52Ni and two-proton decay energy of 54Zn, the ground-state mass excess of 54Zn is deduced to be –6504(85) keV. This value is about 2 MeV lower than the prediction of the quadratic form of the isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME). A cubic fit to the existing mass data of the , isospin multiplet yields a surprisingly large d coefficient of IMME, i.e., , being deviated from zero, and the resultant ratio significantly deviates from the systematics. This phenomenon is analyzed in this study, and we conclude that the breakdown of the quadratic form of IMME could be likely due to the mis-assignment of the isobaric analog state (IAS) in the nucleus 54Fe or extremely strong isospin mixing.

Mass excesses of $^{52}$Co and its $(2^+)$ isomer are measured to be $-34361(8)$ keV and $-33974(10)$ keV using isochronous mass spectrometry at CSRe. Referring to the $\beta$-delayed $\gamma$ emissions of $^{52}$Ni, we identified a new excited state in $^{52}$Co and assigned it as the $T=2$, $J^{\pi}=0^+$ isobaric analog state (IAS) of $^{52}$Ni. This state is 135(17) keV less bound than that suggested previously based on the $\beta$-delayed protons of $^{52}$Ni. We find that the mass of this IAS together with those of the IAS's in $^{52}$Fe, $^{52}$Mn, and $^{52}$Cr fit well into the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation. An interesting finding from this measurement is that the IAS in $^{52}$Co decays dominantly via $\gamma$ transitions while proton emission is almost negligible. This phenomenon could be due to very low isospin mixing according to the large-scale shell model calculations.

The RIBLL2 in-flight separator at IMP, the secondary beam line between two storage rings at the \blue{\uwave{Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL-CSR)}}, has been commissioned to study the rare-isotope beam (RIB) physics at around 300 MeV/nucleon for the first time, in combination of the external target facility (ETF). The unambiguous particle identification in mass and charge states for $^{18}$O and $^{40}$Ar fragments has been achieved in recent experiments. A full realization of RIBLL2 will open many potentials to address important RIB physics problems at around 300 MeV/nucleon., Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures

A new pyridine alkaloid and six known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Lysimachia patungensis Hand.-Mazz. The structure of the new alkaloid, named patungensin, was characterized as (17R, E)-2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxy-17-acetoxy-cyclopentadeca-1, 3-diene[1,2-b]pyridine, and the six known compounds were identified as octacosanoic acid (1), palmic acid (2), stigmasterol (3), ardisiacrispin A (5), isorhamnetin 3-β-D-galactopyranoside (6), and isorhamnetin 3-robinobioside (7), respectively.

Chao Lake is one of the five largest fresh lake in China and important to the socio-economy development of Anhui Province. With the enforcement of agricultural development, agriculture planting and stock breeding sectors boosted quickly and None Point Source(NPS) Pollution has become a considerable source contributing to the total pollutants loads into Chao lake. It is essential to study NPS pollutants loading amounts and their spatial distribution for taking effective countermeasures to control NPS pollution. It is a complex task to estimate the contribution of different NPS sources in a large watershed like Chao lake. When there is no extensive pollutant discharge monitoring data, no adequate soil, land use, atmospheric and hydrodynamic data, Export Coefficient Methods (ECM) could be more practical for evaluating NPS pollution and its spatial distribution in large scale watershed. In this paper, ECM was applied using county level statistical datasets(for the year 1990, 2000 and 2009) in Chao lake watershed to assess NPS pollutants loading and their spatial distribution. The research results showed that: The research showed that: i) Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus(TP) generated in Chao lake watershed were 36979, 65042, 77706 and 8973, 23560, 30383 tons respectively for the year 1990, 2000 and 2009, which kept increasing trend for the past three decades; ii) For the year 2009, Livestock/Poultry Breeding sector contributed 73.8% of the TN generation, which followed by domestic waste water(15.2%) and fertilizer using(10.9%). however, Livestock/Poultry Breeding sector contributed 91.7% of the TP generation; iii) The top three counties were Feixi, Feidong and Wuwei, whose amounts of TN and TP generation accounted for 57% and 60% of the whole Chao lake watershed. Therefore effective countermeasures should be taken to control the generation and discharge amount of TP to improve water quality of Chao Lake.

The high-spin states in 197Bi have been studied with the 187Re(16O,6n) reaction at 16O energies from 85 to 105 MeV. In-beam measurements of γ-ray excitation functions, γ-γ-t coincidences and γ-ray angular distributions were carried out with six BGO(AC)HPGe detectors and one intrinsic Ge planar detector. Eleven new transitions and three new isomers were observed, and a level scheme for 197Bi was established. Some differences between the present work and the previous results were found.

Understanding the spatial-temporal distributions and variations of water quality index are important for pollution sources identification and are essential for efficient water environment management. Reasonable designed monitoring networks of rivers and the periodical monitoring campaign can provide the water quality data to describe the spatial-temporal vision of the river water quality state. Multiple statistical methods are reliable and effective in interpreting the monitoring water quality data set. In this study, multiple statistical methods including cluster analysis (CA) and factor analysis (FA) were used to evaluate the temporal-spatial variations of water quality of Luzhi river system in Plain River-Net Areas, Suzhou, China. The results showed that: (1) water quality of Luzhi river system exists obvious temporal-spatial distribution characteristic, The sampling periods were categorized into two groups corresponding to seasonal changes in water quality, Sampling sites were classified into three groups which represented different water quality levels and pollution degrees. (2) Three factors were extracted by using FA method and they reflected nitrogen and phosphorus levels of the water, organic and physical conditions respectively. (3) The varifactors obtained from FA indicate that the parameters responsible for water quality variations of different monitoring site are mainly related to corresponding geographical location pollution source situation and the hydrodynamic characteristics. The study provided critical information for water quality management in the Luzhi river-net areas.

Tenacissimoside A (1) and 11alpha-O-benzoyl-12beta- O-acetyltenacigenin B (2), two derivatives of tenacigenin B (3) from the plant Marsdenia tenacissima, reversed multidrug resistance in P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-overexpressing multidrug-resistant cancer cells. The sensitivity of HepG2/Dox cells to the antitumor drugs doxorubicin, vinblastine, puromycin, and paclitexel was increased by 18-, 10-, 11-, and 6-fold by 20 microg/mL (or 25 microM) of 1 and 16-, 53-, 16-, and 326-fold by 20 microg/mL (or 39 microM) of 2, respectively. A preliminary mechanistic study has suggested that 1 might modulate Pgp-mediated multidrug resistance through directly interacting with the Pgp substrate site.

To detect parkin gene mutation of early-onset parkinsonism (EOP) by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).The blood cell genomic DNA of 82 EOP patients was isolated. Exons of parkin gene were amplified by PCR. The PCR products were detected by DHPLC. The sample with abnormal peak shape was sequenced.Three point mutations were identified in 82 EOP patients compared with 100 healthy controls. Mutations in intron include IVS1-39 G --T and IVS9 +18 C --T. The T1422C mutation was in coding region and resulted in 441 Cys --Arg.Three heterozygous mutations are found in sporadic EOP patients and genetic diagnosis of parkin gene by DHPLC is applicable in EOP patients.

To investigate the chemical constituents in the ethyl acerate extract of Lysimachia fortunei.The compounds were isolated by silica gel chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR data and references.Nine natural constituents were isolated, and their structures were identified as 9, 19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-one (1), 24-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-7, 22(E)-dien-3-one (2), 1-pentatriacontanol (3), beta-stigmasterol (4), 24-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-7, 22(E)-dien-3beta-ol (5), palmitic acid (6), isorhamnetin (7), kaempferol (8) and quercetin (9) respectively.All compounds mentioned above were isolated from this plant for the first time, and compound 1, 2 and 5 were obtained from the genus for the first time.

To detect mutations of guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GCH1) gene in Chinese patients with dopa responsive dystonia (DRD).Six sporadic patients with DRD were examined. GCH1 gene mutations were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequence analysis and restriction enzyme digestion analysis. One hundred normal people were detected using PCR and restriction enzyme digestion analysis.A new point mutation, 151(G--A) in exon one was found in a patient. It lead to substitution of a methionine for isoleucine at amino acid 1(M1I). This mutation was not found in normal control people.The authors report a new heterozygotic point mutation 151(G--A) in GCH1 gene. There are GCH1 gene mutations in Chinese sporadic patients with DRD.

To investigate the value of fluorescence semi-quantitative PCR in analysis of the exon rearrangement of parkin gene in Chinese patients with isolated early-onset parkinsonism (EOP).fluorescence semi-quantitative PCR was used to analyze the exon rearrangements of parkin gene in 61 isolated patients with EOP.Exon deletions in parkin gene were found in 4 of the 61 isolated patients with EOP. One of them failed to show the PCR product of exon 4 and had homozygous deletions of exon 4. The normalized ratios (NRs) of exon 2, exon 3, and exon 4 of the other 3 patients were 0.47, 0.52, and 0.49 respectively, showing that they had heterozygous deletions of exon 2, 3, and 4 respectively. No exon multiplication was found in this study.Exon rearrangement of parkin gene exists in Chinese patients with isolated EOP.

To investigate the gene mutations and the clinical features of Chinese patients with autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism(AR-JP).the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequence analysis, and restriction enzyme digestion analysis were applied to check parkin gene mutations of 15 index patients from 15 families with AR-JP.Three families were detected to have parkin mutations. Two of them had heterozygous deletion mutations (202-203 del AG in exon 2, 1069-1074 del GTGTCC in exon 9) and another of them carried a heterozygous missense mutation [1422(T--C) in exon 12]. Two of the mutations [1069-1074delGTGTCC and 1422(T--C)] were not reported previously. There were six patients in the three families. Mean age at onset was 25.2+/-5.7 years, ranging from 18 to 31 years. The symptoms were under slow progression, diurnal fluctuation with sleep benefit, and hyperreflexia were relatively prominent. Response to levodopa was satisfactory.There are parkin mutations happened in Chinese patients with AR-JP. Patients with parkin mutations have distinct clinical features besides the common clinical features of Parkinson's disease.

To investigate over-expression of wild-type alpha-synuclein inducing the aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein in HEK293 cell in vitro.The cDNA encoding the human alpha-synuclein without the stop code was cloned into PGEM T-easy vector. Using enzyme map and DNA sequencing analyzed and determined the recombinant plasmid, and then sub-clone the alpha-synuclein cDNA fragment into pEGFP-N1 vector. The recombinant plasmids alpha-synuclein-pEGFP were transfected into HEK293 cells by lipofectamin 2000. The aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein was measured by EGFP fluorescence, anti-alpha-synuclein immunocytochemistry. The inclusions in the cultured cells were identified with HE staining.The restriction enzyme map suggested that eukaryotic expression vector for human wild-type alpha-synuclein gene was constructed successfully. By EGFP fluorescence, anti-alpha-synuclein immunocytochemistry, it could be observed that the alpha-synuclein protein could aggregate in cytoplasm and the Lewy body-like inclusions found in cytoplasm of cultured cells.The over-expression of wild-type alpha-synuclein can induce protein aberrant aggregation and Lewy body-like inclusions formation in cytoplasm of HEK293 cell in vitro.

To investigate the mutation characteristics of DJ1 gene in Chinese patients with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinsonism (AR-EP).Mutations of DJ1 gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction combined with DNA direct sequencing in index patients with AR-EP from 11 unrelated families.No pathogenetic mutations in the DJ1 gene were detected in this group. Six intronic DJ1 polymorphisms (IVS1-15T--C, IVS4+30T--G, IVS4+45G--A, IVS4+46G--A, IVS5+31G--A, g.168-185del) were found. Three of them (IVS1-15T--C, IVS4+45G--A, IVS4+46G--A) were not reported previously.DJ1 mutations were rare in Chinese patients with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinsonism.

To detect PINK1 gene mutations and study the clinical features in Chinese patients with autosomal recessive early-onset parkinsonism (AREP) type 6.PINK1 gene mutations were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequence analysis, and restriction enzyme digestion analysis in 11 index probands of 11 AREP families.Two novel point mutations in PINK1 gene, C938T in exon four, leading to substitution of a threonine for methionine codon at amino acid 313 (T313M) and C1474T in exon seven introducing a stop codon at amino acid 492 (R492Stop), were found in two families. In another family, a synonymous mutation (Y454Y) was detected. The clinical features in patients with PINK1 mutations included early onset, slow disease progression, hyperreflexia, diurnal fluctuations with sleep benefit, and good response to levodopa. However, dyskinesias related to levodopa treatment were absent.PINK1 gene mutations are a common cause of AREP. PARK6 pedigrees have been firstly identified in Chinese Mainland. Clinical heterogeneity exists in PARK6.

To investigate the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of the dopamine D4 receptor(DRD4) gene exon 3 48 bp variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism in Hunan Han population.The genotype and alleles of 304 healthy persons were examined with polymerase chain reaction, denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining.Seven alleles and twelve genotypes were found. The most common allele was allele 5 with a frequency of 70.6%. There was statistically significant difference in allele distribution between the Hunan Han population and the Han population of other regions such as Shanghai, Beijing and Sichuan in China (P0.05). Different allele frequency distributions were observed when compared to other ethnic populations such as Japanese, American, Mexican, and Italian (P0.05).The distributions of allele of DRD4 gene exhibit regional and ethnic heterogeneity.

To understand clinic and genetic characteristics of Chinese AR-JP.The clinical dates of 1 Chinese AR-JP family was collected and analysed. Genomic DNA was extracted by standard techniques from venous blood leukocytes of members in three women of the family, polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing were used to detect mutation of parkin gene.Onset age of 2 Chinese AR-JP patients is young, periods of disease is long, clinical manifestation include: resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesias, disability, a good response to levodopa, but early levodopa induced symptom fluctuation; but no hyperactive tendon reflexes, sleep benefit, and foot dystonia. Parkin mutation analysis in 2 patients of the family discovered abnormal SSCP electrophoresis band, by DNA examination, conformed 2 base deletion mutation (exon 2 202-203delAG).Clinical features of Chinese AR-JP patients are different with Japanese AR-JP, similar with late-onset Parkinson disease; our study detected a parkin mutation (exon 2 202-203delAG), conform mutation of parkin gene is a cause of AR-JP in Chinese.

This study sought to isolate and identify the proteins that interact with ataxin-3, to confirm the interacted domain, and to provide new clues for exploring the function of ataxin-3 and the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD).Yeast two-hybrid screen (MATCHMAKER GAL4 Two-Hybrid System 3) and regular molecular biologic techniques were undertaken to screen human brain cDNA library with mutant ataxin-3 bait. Two baits from both normal and mutant C-terminus of ataxin-3 were created by subcloned methods to determine which domain of ataxin-3 interacts with the putative associated proteins and to find out optimal candidate proteins that interact with C-terminus of ataxin-3. Confocal microscope was used to observe whether ataxin-3 co-localized with the obtained interacting proteins in mammalian cells.Five novel ataxin-3 interacting proteins were obtained, among which were three known proteins, namely human rhodopsin guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor alpha, small ubiquitin-like modifier 1, and human neuronal amiloride-sensitive cation channel 2; the other two were unknown. Interacting domain analysis revealed that an unknown protein interacted with the C-terminus near the polyglutamine tract of ataxin-3, the other four all interacted with the N-terminus. In the nucleus of SH-SY5Y cell, small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 co-localized with the wild-type ataxin-3 and with the intranuclear aggregates formed by the mutant ataxin-3.An unknown protein probably interacting with C-terminus of ataxin-3 is firstly discovered, and the initiative findings suggest first that the interaction of small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 with N-terminus of ataxin-3 and the relevant sumoylation probably participate in the post-translation modifying of ataxin-3 and in the pathogenesis of SCA3/MJD.

The neutron-deficient isotopes 39 Ti and 40 Ti have been produced as fragments of 58 Ni projectiles at 65 MeV per nucleon. Decay by β-delayed charged-particle emission has been observed for both of them with half-lives of 26 −7 +8 ms for 39 Ti and 56 −12 +18 ms for 40 Ti. No evidence for direct two-proton emission from 39 Ti was obtained. The conditions that would make such a new radioactive mode possible are discussed.