A Unique Synthesis of 5,8-Difluoro‑2<i>H</i>‑chromene Using Silicone Oil as a Solvent

A significantly improved synthesis of 5,8-difluoro-2<i>H</i>-chromene <b>1</b> using silicone oil as the reaction solvent is described. The new method eliminated the tedious workup and large quantity of waste produced via conventional methods. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of conducting an organic reaction using silicone oil as an organic solvent

A hybrid artificial bee colony algorithm for a flexible job shop scheduling problem with overlapping in operations

<p>Overlapping in operations is an effective technology for productivity improvement in modern manufacturing systems. Thus far, however, there are still rare works on flexible job shop scheduling problems (FJSPs) concerning this strategy. In this paper, we present a hybrid artificial bee colony (hyABC) algorithm to minimise the total flowtime for a FJSP with overlapping in operations. In the proposed hyABC, a dynamic scheme is introduced to fine-tune the search scope adaptively. In view of poor exploitation ability of artificial bee colony algorithm, a modified migrating birds optimisation algorithm (MMBO) is developed and integrated into the search process for better balancing global exploration and local exploitation. In MMBO, a forward share strategy with one-job based crossover is designed to make good use of valuable information from behind solutions. Besides, an improved downward share scheme is adopted to increase diversification of the population, and thus alleviate the premature convergence. Extensive experiments based on benchmark instances with different scales are carried out and comparisons with other recent algorithms identify the effectiveness of the proposed hyABC.</p

Foley catheter with simultaneous oxytocin on labor induction: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

<p><b>Objective:</b> It is unclear that whether Foley catheter with simultaneous oxytocin could improve the efficacy of induction outcome.</p> <p><b>Method:</b> To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies to evaluate the effect of Foley catheter with simultaneous oxytocin on labor induction. PubMed, Embase, and other databases were searched from their inception to July 2017. We included all RCTs comparing Foley catheter with simultaneous oxytocin (i.e. intervention group) with Foley catheter followed by oxytocin (i.e. control group) in the three kinds of women (nulliparas and multiparas/only nulliparas/only multiparas). We estimate summarized relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous outcomes, standard mean difference for continuous outcomes. Fixed- and random-effects models were used, depending on heterogeneity.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> After application of our inclusion and exclusion criteria, six RCTs with a total of 1133 participants were identified. We found that only nulliparas had significant RR of delivery within 24 h (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.55, <i>I</i>² = 46.5%). Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control groups in vaginal delivery in 24 h, cesarean delivery, time to delivery, and Apgar score at 5 min less than 7. Foley catheter with simultaneous oxytocin did not increase the risk of side effects, included chorioamnionitis, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine hyperstimulation, and neonatal intensive care unit admission.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The results seem to support the use of oxytocin to a Foley catheter at the initiation of labor induction, as it might lead to increases the rate of delivery within 24 h in nulliparas.</p

Concatenated

The matrix of ITS and trnL-F

Switchable Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Awakened TiO₂ Nanoparticle Emulsifiers Using UV/Dark Actuation

In this work, switchable Pickering emulsions that utilize UV/dark manipulation employ a type of smart TiO₂ nanoparticle as emulsifiers. The emulsifiers can be awakened when needed via UV-induced degradation of grafted silanes on TiO₂ nanoparticles. By tuning the surface wettability of TiO₂ nanoparticles <i>in situ</i> via UV/dark actuation, emulsions stabilized by the nanoparticles can be reversibly switched between the water-in-oil (W/O) type and oil-in-water (O/W) type for several cycles. Due to the convertible wettability, the smart nanoparticle emulsifiers can be settled in either the oil phase or the water phase as desired during phase separation, making it convenient for recycling. The present work provides a facile and noninvasive method to freely manipulate the formation, breakage, and switching of the emulsion; this method has promising potential as a powerful technique for use in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly industries

The Phylogeography and Population Demography of the Yunnan Caecilian (<i>Ichthyophis bannanicus</i>): Massive Rivers as Barriers to Gene Flow

<div><p><i>Ichthyophis bannanicus</i> is the only caecilian species in China. In this study, the phylogeography and population demography of <i>I</i>. <i>bannanicus</i> were explored, based on the mitochondrial DNA genes (cyt <i>b</i> and ND2) and 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Altogether 158 individuals were collected from five populations in Yunnan province, Guangxi province, Guangdong province, and Northern Vietnam. Phylogeographical and population structure analysis identified either two groups (Xishuangbanna, Northern Vietnam-Yulin-Yangchun-Deqing) or three groups (Xishuangbanna, Northern Vietnam-Yulin-Yangchun, and Deqing), indicating that the Red River and Pearl River systems may have acted as gene-flow barriers for <i>I</i>. <i>bannanicus</i>. Historical population expansion that happened 15–17 Ka ago was detected for mtDNA data and was possibly triggered by warmer weather after the Last Glacial Maximum. However, the Bayesian simulations of population history based on microsatellite data pinpointed population decline in all populations since 19,123 to 1,029 years ago, demonstrating a significant influence of anthropogenic habitat alteration on <i>I</i>. <i>bannanicus</i>.</p></div

Silencing of PEG10 suppressed trophoblast proliferation and invasion in chorionic villous explants.

<p>(A, B) Primary human chorionic villous cells (CVC) were prepared from first trimester placentas and infected with lentiviruses harboring PEG10 siRNA or non-targeting control (NC) sequence. At 48 h after infection, the expression levels of (A) <i>PEG10</i> mRNA and (B) PEG10 protein were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Significance versus non-transduced CVC, ***<i>p</i><0.001. (C) Chorionic villi were prepared from first trimester human placentas, and subjected to syncytial denudation to remove the syncytiotrophoblast layer, followed by lentiviral transduction with PEG10 siRNA or NC. The expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7), Ki67, HLA-G and integrin α5 in the chorionic villous explants was examined by Immunohistochemistry 72 h later. The sections were observed and photographed at 400× magnification (20 μm scales).</p

PEG10 silencing inhibited migration and invasion of JEG-3 cells.

<p>(A) Migration of PEG10-silenced JEG-3 cells was evaluated by <i>in vitro</i> scratch wound assay. (B) Matrigel Transwell assay was performed to assess invasiveness of PEG10-silenced JEG-3 cells. Expression of the key players of cell invasion including MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was examined by (C) Western blotting and (D-F) real-time PCR. (G) Gelatin zymography was performed to determine the enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 which were from the conditioned culture medium. The figure shows the representative images of three independent experiments and data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Significance versus non-transduced JEG-3 cells, *<i>p</i>< 0.05, ***<i>p</i>< 0.001.</p

Silencing of PEG10 suppressed proliferation of JEG-3 cells.

<p>JEG-3 cells were infected with lentiviruses harboring PEG10 siRNA or NC sequences. At 48h post-infection, (A) <i>PEG10</i> mRNA level and (B) PEG10 protein level was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. (C) MTT assay was performed to assess cell proliferation with 5 replicates at each time point. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Significance versus non-transduced JEG-3 cells, ***<i>p</i>< 0.001.</p

Silencing of PEG10 elevated secretion of TIMP-1 by chorionic villous explants and knockdown of TIMP-1 reversed PEG10 siRNA-induced inhibition of JEG-3 invasion.

<p>(A) The levels of TIMP-1 in the culture medium of chorionic villous explants were measured by ELISA at 72 h after lentiviral infection. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. Significance versus non-transduced explants, ***<i>p</i>< 0.001. (B) Three sets of <i>TIMP-1</i> siRNA were designed and transduced into JEG-3 cells, and 24 h later, the level of <i>TIMP-1</i> mRNA was assessed by PCR. (C) JEG-3 cells were transduced with <i>PEG10</i> siRNA alone, or double-transduced with <i>PEG10</i> siRNA and <i>TIMP-1</i> siRNA, and subjected to Transwell assay at 24 h after lentiviral infection. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Significance versus <i>PEG10</i> siRNA-transduced JEG-3 cells, ***<i>p</i>< 0.001.</p