Biosynthesis of thiocarboxylic acid-containing natural products.

Thiocarboxylic acid-containing natural products are rare and their biosynthesis and biological significance remain unknown. Thioplatensimycin (thioPTM) and thioplatencin (thioPTN), thiocarboxylic acid congeners of the antibacterial natural products platensimycin (PTM) and platencin (PTN), were recently discovered. Here we report the biosynthetic origin of the thiocarboxylic acid moiety in thioPTM and thioPTN. We identify a thioacid cassette encoding two proteins, PtmA3 and PtmU4, responsible for carboxylate activation by coenzyme A and sulfur transfer, respectively. ThioPTM and thioPTN bind tightly to β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II (FabF) and retain strong antibacterial activities. Density functional theory calculations of binding and solvation free energies suggest thioPTM and thioPTN bind to FabF more favorably than PTM and PTN. Additionally, thioacid cassettes are prevalent in the genomes of bacteria, implicating that thiocarboxylic acid-containing natural products are underappreciated. These results suggest that thiocarboxylic acid, as an alternative pharmacophore, and thiocarboxylic acid-containing natural products may be considered for future drug discovery

Effects of Linear-Polarized Near-Infrared Light Irradiation on Chronic Pain

In order to study the efficacy of linear-polarized near-infrared light irradiation (LPNIR) on relieving chronic pain in conjunction with nerve block (NB) or local block (LB), a 3-week prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted to evaluate the pre- and post-therapy pain intensity. Visual analogue scales (VASs) were measured in all patients before and 6 months after therapy visiting the pain clinic during the period of August 2007 to January 2008. A total of 52 patients with either shoulder periarthritis or myofascial pain syndrome or lateral epicondylitis were randomly assigned into two groups by drawing lots. Patients in Group I were treated with NB or LB plus LPNIR; Group II patients, for their part, were treated with the same procedures as in Group I, but not using LPNIR. In both groups, the pain intensity (VAS score) decreased significantly immediately after therapy as compared to therapy. There was a significant difference between the test and control groups immediately after therapy (P < 0.05), while no effect 6 months later. No side effects were observed. It is concluded that LPNIR is an effective and safe modality to treat various chronic pains, which has synergic effects with NB or LB

Poly[[(μ4-5-amino­isophthalato)aqua­iron(II)] dihydrate]

In the title three-dimensional coordination polymer, {[Fe(C8H5NO4)(H2O)]·2H2O}n, the FeII atom exhibits a distorted octa­hedral geometry, being coordinated by one N and four O atoms from four 5-amino­isophthalate ligands and one water mol­ecule. In addition, the crystal structure is stabilized by numerous O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Blockchain-based multi-authority revocable data sharing scheme in smart grid

In view of the problems of inefficient data encryption, non-support of malicious user revocation and data integrity checking in current smart grid data sharing schemes, this paper proposes a blockchain-based multi-authority revocable data sharing scheme in the smart grid. Using online/offline encryption technology with hybrid encryption technology enhances the encryption performance for the data owner. The use of user binary tree technology enables the traceability and revocability of malicious users. The introduction of multiple attribute authorization authorities eliminates the threat of collusive attacks that exist in traditional data-sharing schemes. In addition, the semi-honest problem of third-party servers is solved by uploading data verification credentials to the blockchain. The security analysis results show that the scheme can resist selective plaintext attacks and collusion attacks. The performance analysis results show that the proposed scheme has lower computational overhead and better functionality than similar schemes, which is suitable for secure data sharing in smart grids

Muon radiography experiments on the subway overburden structure detection

Muon radiography is an innovative and non-destructive technique for internal density structure imaging, based on measuring the attenuation of cosmic-ray muons after they penetrate the target. Due to the strong penetration ability of muons, the detection range of muon radiography can reach the order of hundreds of meters or even kilometers. Using a portable muon detector composed of plastic scintillators and silicon photomultipliers, we performed a short-duration(1h) flux scanning experiment of the overburden above the platform and tunnel of the Xiaoying West Road subway station under construction. With the observation direction facing up, the detector is placed on the north side of the track and moved eastward from the platform section inside the station to the tunnel section. The scanning length is 264m and a total of 21 locations are observed. By comparing the observed and predicted values of the muon survival ratio at different locations, the experiment accurately detects the jump in thickness at the interface of the platform section and tunnel section. Furthermore, unknown anomalies caused by random placed light brick piles and side passage mouth above the observation locations are detected and confirmed later. This experiment verifies the feasibility of using natural muons to quickly detect abnormal structures of the overburden of tunnel, and shows that muon radiography has broad application prospects in tunnel safety and other similar aspects.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure

Pemodelan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia Menggunakan Data Panel Dinamis Dengan Pendekatan Generalized Method of Moment Arellano-Bond

Pertumbuhan ekonomi merupakan Perubahan aktivitas perekonomian dalam menghasilkan tambahan pendapatan masyarakat suatu negara dalam periode tertentu. Variabel-variabel ekonomi bersifat dinamis sehingga pada penelitian ini digunakan pemodelan menggunakan metode regresi data panel dinamis. Metode regresi data panel dinamis tidak hanya untuk mengetahui efek jangka pendek (short-run effect), namun juga efek jangka panjang (long-run effect). Faktor-faktor yang diduga mempengaruhi pertumbuhan ekonomi di Indonesia adalah investasi luar negeri, pengeluaran pemerintah dan penyerapan tenaga kerja. Berdasarkan hasil analisis estimasi Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) Arellano-Bond, variabel yang berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi adalah investasi luar negeri dan pengeluaran pemerintah. Selanjutnya mendapatkan pemodelan dan mengetahui elastisitas jangka pendek dan jangka panjang. Elastisitas jangka pendek investasi luar negeri sebesar 0,00269 dan jangka panjang sebesar 0,08661. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa setiap peningkatan 10 persen investasi luar negeri suatu provinsi, maka akan meningkatkan Produk Domestik Regional Bruto (PDRB) secara jangka pendek sebesar 0,0269 persen dan jangka panjang sebesar 0,8661 persen. Elastisitas jangka pendek pengeluaran pemerintah sebesar 0,00198 dan jangka panjang sebesar 0,06384. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa setiap peningkatan 10 persen pengeluaran pemerintah suatu provinsi, maka akan meningkatkan PDRB secara jangka pendek sebesar 0,0198 persen dan jangka panjang sebesar 0,6384 persen

Efficacy of combined traditional Chinese medicine spray with premature ejaculation desensitization therapy for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation

Objectives: We recommend a new kind of spray made from eight kinds of traditional Chinese medicine, we aimed to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of combined traditional Chinese medicine spray (TCMS) with premature ejaculation desensitization therapy (PEDT) for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PPE).Methods: A total of 90 patients with PPE were randomly assigned to receive TCMS, PEDT monotherapy or TCMS plus PEDT combination therapy for 6 weeks. Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and Chinese index of sexual function for premature ejaculation (CIPE-5) were measured to evaluate the effect of each treatment.Results: Eighty six (86) participants completed the study voluntarily. Both IELT and CIPE-5 in these three groups increased after treatment when compared with baseline levels (p&lt; 0.01). IELT and CIPE-5 after treatment in TCMS plus PEDT group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (both p &lt;0.05). Additionally, clinical efficacy in TCMS plus PEDT group (89.7%) was significantly higher than in TCMS (65.5%) and PEDT group (67.9%) (p&lt; 0.01).Conclusion: The self-made TCMS was safe and effective for the treatment of PPE, a combination of TCMS and PEDT therapy was more effective than the TCMS or PEDT monotherapy.Keywords: Primary premature ejaculation (PPE); traditional Chinese mdicine spray (TCMS); premature ejaculation desensitization training therapy (PEDT); Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT); Chinese index of sexual function for premature ejaculation (CIPE-5