Variable Winds and Dust Formation in R Coronae Borealis Stars

We have observed P-Cygni and asymmetric, blue-shifted absorption profiles in the He I 10830 lines of twelve R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars over short (1 month) and long (3 year) timescales to look for variations linked to their dust-formation episodes. In almost all cases, the strengths and terminal velocities of the line vary significantly and are correlated with dust formation events. Strong absorption features with blue-shifted velocities ~400 km/s appear during declines in visible brightness and persist for about 100 days after recovery to maximum brightness. Small residual winds of somewhat lower velocity are present outside of the decline and recovery periods. The correlations support models in which recently formed dust near the star is propelled outward at high speed by radiation pressure and drags the gas along with it.Comment: AJ in press, 21 pages, 3 figure

Prefer cheap or expensive products? Shopping stage matters

E-commerce platforms generally provide consumers with the function of virtual shopping carts to help them store interested products. Although about 80% of online consumers intends to purchase after adding products to their shopping cart, the abandonment rate of cart products has been up to 70%. It is important to understand how to improve consumer attitude toward product both before and after cart use. Building on the relevant literature and the consumer shopping goal stages theory, this study aims to examine the effects of product price, as one of the most indispensable and important information in online shopping, on consumer attitudes toward product at different decision-making stages in online shopping (i.e., add-to-cart stage and place-an-order stage), and the mediating roles of perceived product quality and monetary sacrifice. The findings from behavioral experiment suggest that high price leads to a more positive attitude toward product at add-to-cart stage by strengthened perception of high product quality, while results in a less positive product attitude at place-an-order stage because of the enhanced perception of monetary sacrifice. Both theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed

Analysis of riociguat and desmethyl riociguat by UPLC-MS/MS and its interaction with quercetin

Riociguat, an orally soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-promoting drug, is mainly used in the clinical treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, a novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify the concentrations of riociguat and its metabolite (M1) in plasma. The precision, stability, accuracy, matrix effect, and recovery of the methodology were satisfactory. Quercetin, a well-recognized compound, functions as a novel anticancer agent with the potential to alleviate symptoms of PH. Therefore, the potential interaction between quercetin and riociguat was investigated in this study. The levels of riociguat and M1 in rat plasma were measured using the method developed in this study to evaluate the interactions between riociguat and quercetin in rats. The results revealed that quercetin significantly inhibited riociguat and M1 metabolism with increased systemic exposure

The effects of (+)-Gossypol on 11β-HSD and the concentration of corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone in mice serum and tissues

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) plays an important part in mediating glucocorticoid action, catalyzing the interconversion of corticosterone (B) and dehydrocorticosterone (A) in rodents. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of (+)-gossypol (G+) on 11β-HSD. Adult ICR mice were given B and B + (G+) by intraperitoneal injection. The activity of 11β-HSD was evaluated by measuring the ratio of A and B, meanwhile the effects of (+)-gossypol on the conversion rate of B to A was determined with HPLC. Serum A/B levels of the B+(G+) group decreased by 2.42, 7.32, 17.85, 31.39, and 40.02 % compared to the B group at each measured time interval. A/B levels at 1 h for the B + (G+) group decreased by 43.78, 21.29 and 34.47% in liver, kidney and adrenal glands, respectively, in comparison to the B group. However, (+)-gossypol had no effect on brain and testis. (+)-Gossypol was an inhibitor of 11β-HSD.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

The effects of (+)-Gossypol on 11β-HSD and the concentration of corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone in mice serum and tissues

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) plays an important part in mediating glucocorticoid action, catalyzing the interconversion of corticosterone (B) and dehydrocorticosterone (A) in rodents. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of (+)-gossypol (G+) on 11β-HSD. Adult ICR mice were given B and B + (G+) by intraperitoneal injection. The activity of 11β-HSD was evaluated by measuring the ratio of A and B, meanwhile the effects of (+)-gossypol on the conversion rate of B to A was determined with HPLC. Serum A/B levels of the B+(G+) group decreased by 2.42, 7.32, 17.85, 31.39, and 40.02 % compared to the B group at each measured time interval. A/B levels at 1 h for the B + (G+) group decreased by 43.78, 21.29 and 34.47% in liver, kidney and adrenal glands, respectively, in comparison to the B group. However, (+)-gossypol had no effect on brain and testis. (+)-Gossypol was an inhibitor of 11β-HSD.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Does the pursuit of perfection by Chinese people harm interpersonal relationships? Evidence from the Wenjuan

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanisms of the relationship between Perfectionism and interpersonal relationships.MethodsData were collected and research was conducted using the online platform Wenjuanxing, which distributed the Psychological Resilience Scale, Core Self-Evaluation Scale, Interpersonal Sensitivity Questionnaire, Perfectionism Scale, and Peer Relationships Scale.ResultsPerfectionism not only directly and significantly predicts interpersonal sensitivity, but it can also mediate interpersonal sensitivity through dual or triple mediation paths formed by Psychological Resilience, Peer Relationships, and Core Self-Evaluation.ConclusionPerfectionism can directly and significantly predict interpersonal sensitivity and can also indirectly predict interpersonal sensitivity through Psychological Resilience, Peer Relationships, and Core Self-Evaluation. The traditional Confucian educational philosophy in China advocates core values such as “benevolence,” “righteousness,” “propriety,” and “wisdom,” emphasizing that individuals should constantly cultivate themselves and their families to achieve moral perfection. This can lead to heightened interpersonal sensitivity and severe psychological repression. Modern education should build on traditional educational values while promoting inclusivity and tolerance, encouraging individuals to focus on the present, accept their emotions and experiences, respect human freedom of development, and safeguard psychological health

Birth of the Taklamakan Desert: When and How?

The Taklimakan Desert is one of the largest deserts and sand seas in the world and plays a critical role in the global aerosol (eolian dust) system, impacting both climate and ecosystems on continents and over oceans. Geological evidence suggests that much of the western part of the Tarim Basin, which is now covered by the vast sandy desert, was once the eastern fringe of the Paratethys Sea. After the retreat of the sea, the area transformed into a fluvial system before becoming an mountain front alluvial fan system due to the uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Deserts developed during this period, as sand dunes and eolian loess deposits were formed and buried to become part of the sedimentary sequence. Dating of these sequences suggests that the Taklimakan Desert, in a similar form to what we observe today, came into existence no later than 25 million years ago. Taklimakan Desert was formed as a response to a combination of widespread regional aridification due to the rain shadow effect and increased erosion in the surrounding mountain fronts, both of which are closely linked to the tectonic uplift of the Tibetan-Pamir Plateau and Tian Shan, which had reached a climatically sensitive threshold at this time

Simultaneous determination of cortisone and cortisol in serum by HPLC-DAD and application for pharmacokinetics

To develop a high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of cortisone and cortisol in rat serum and apply it for pharmacokinetics. After addition of pirfenidone as internal standard (IS), a liquid-liquid extraction with ethylacetate was employed for the sample preparation. Samples were separated on Zorbax SB-C18 column at 25 ºC using mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water-0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid with flow rate of 0.9 mL/min, utilizing DAD detection at 246 nm. Excellent liner relationships of the cortisone and cortisol concentrations were obtained from 50 to 6000 ng/mL, with r = 0.9997, 0.9999 respectively, and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were both 50 ng/mL. The developed method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of cortisone and cortisol in rats following single dose of 20 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

The effects of (+)-Gossypol on 11β-HSD and the concentration of corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone in mice serum and tissues

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) plays an important part in mediating glucocorticoid action, catalyzing the interconversion of corticosterone (B) and dehydrocorticosterone (A) in rodents. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of (+)-gossypol (G+) on 11β-HSD. Adult ICR mice were given B and B + (G+) by intraperitoneal injection. The activity of 11β-HSD was evaluated by measuring the ratio of A and B, meanwhile the effects of (+)-gossypol on the conversion rate of B to A was determined with HPLC. Serum A/B levels of the B+(G+) group decreased by 2.42, 7.32, 17.85, 31.39, and 40.02 % compared to the B group at each measured time interval. A/B levels at 1 h for the B + (G+) group decreased by 43.78, 21.29 and 34.47% in liver, kidney and adrenal glands, respectively, in comparison to the B group. However, (+)-gossypol had no effect on brain and testis. (+)-Gossypol was an inhibitor of 11β-HSD.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire