Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Discuss the Mechanism of Antitussive and Expectorant Action of Ruanerli

The antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli and its mechanism were investigated by methods of network pharmacology. The outcomes predicted were verified by molecular docking and animal experiments. The components and targets of Ruanerli were obtained by literature investigation and TCMSP database screen. Mapping with two groups of genes related to "cough" and "sputum" from GeneCards database, the target genes of antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli were obtained. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the target genes was performed by Metascape platform. The PPI network among the target genes was constructed through STRING data platform. Cytoscape plugin CytoHubba was used to screen the Top10 genes related to antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli, and KEGG pathway enrichment was performed on the Top10 genes through Metascape data platform to predict the possible signal pathways involved in antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli. Autodock Vina was used for molecular docking between the predicted Top10 gene proteins and the Top 3 active ingredients of Ruanerli. Finally, the predicted results were verified by ammonia induced cough test and phenol red excretion test. According to the analysis of multiple databases, 51 chemical components and 282 corresponding targets have been reported, eighty of them were related to the antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli. The Top10 genes selected by Degree value were mainly concentrated in infection and immune-related pathways. Molecular docking test showed that the Top10 genes had strong binding activity with the Top3 chemical components (Caffeic acid, Rutin and Valeraldehyde) in PPI network. Animal experiments showed that the cough induced by ammonia was significantly inhibited when treated with Ruanerli in mice. The levels of IL-6 and IL-13 in serum were reduced and the excretion of phenol red in mice trachea was increased. PCR and WB detection showed that the mRNA levels and protein expressions of inflammatory genes IL6, IL1B, VEGFA, PTGS2 and MAPK3 were decreased, suggesting that the antitussive and expectorant effects of Ruanerli might be related to decreasing the expression of inflammatory genes and the release of inflammatory factors

Irrigation scheduling for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) under drip irrigation in an arid region using AquaCrop model

Potato is one of the key food crops and China is the largest potato producer in the world. However water scarcity is the major constraint to increase the productivity of potato in the arid regions such as Ningxia in northwest China where this crop is extensively cultivated. The overall objective of this study was to optimize the irrigation for potato cultivated under the drip irrigation. To do this, the AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using the data obtained from two years of field experiment. Then, the calibrated crop model was used to simulate growth and tuber yield of potato in response to 30 different irrigation schemes under two different irrigation scenarios. The crop model evaluation parameters namely, the root mean square error (RMSE), the index of agreement (d), the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2) showed that the AquaCrop model could simulate the growth and yield of potato under the drip irrigation with different irrigation treatments with reasonable accuracy. Furthermore, yield of potato has increased with increasing amount of total irrigation under drip irrigation; however, yield begins to decline when the amount of total irrigation exceeds 2500 m3 ha-1. The study also found that the optimum irrigation schedule for potato was 20 mm of irrigation quota at 7 days of irrigation cycle (i.e., 1800 m3 ha-1 or 180 mm of total irrigation). The above irrigation scheduling has achieved 46.77 t ha-1 of tuber yield with 15.74 kg m-3 of water use efficiency. These findings may be evaluated in potato cultivation across different climate and soil conditions for wide applicability at different arid regions of the world

Nudel and FAK as Antagonizing Strength Modulators of Nascent Adhesions through Paxillin

Competition for binding to the cellular protein paxillin by the proteins Nudel and focal adhesion kinase is important for the proper regulation of cell adhesion and migration

Consistent Extended Kalman Filter-Based Cooperative Localization of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

In order to solve the problem of inconsistent state estimation when multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are co-located, this paper proposes a method of multi-AUV co-location based on the consistent extended Kalman filter (EKF). Firstly, the dynamic model of cooperative positioning system follower AUV under two leaders alternately transmitting navigation information is established. Secondly, the observability of the standard linearization estimator based on the lead-follower multi-AUV cooperative positioning system is analyzed by comparing the subspace of the observable matrix of state estimation with that of an ideal observable matrix, it can be concluded that the estimation of state by standard EKF is inconsistent. Finally, aiming at the problem of inconsistent state estimation, a consistent EKF multi-AUV cooperative localization algorithm is designed. The algorithm corrects the linearized measurement values in the Jacobian matrix for cooperative positioning, ensuring that the linearized estimator can obtain accurate measurement values. The positioning results of the follower AUV under dead reckoning, standard EKF, and consistent EKF algorithms are simulated, analyzed, and compared with the real trajectory of the following AUV. The simulation results show that the follower AUV with a consistent EKF algorithm can keep synchronization with the leader AUV more stably

Consistent Extended Kalman Filter-Based Cooperative Localization of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

In order to solve the problem of inconsistent state estimation when multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are co-located, this paper proposes a method of multi-AUV co-location based on the consistent extended Kalman filter (EKF). Firstly, the dynamic model of cooperative positioning system follower AUV under two leaders alternately transmitting navigation information is established. Secondly, the observability of the standard linearization estimator based on the lead-follower multi-AUV cooperative positioning system is analyzed by comparing the subspace of the observable matrix of state estimation with that of an ideal observable matrix, it can be concluded that the estimation of state by standard EKF is inconsistent. Finally, aiming at the problem of inconsistent state estimation, a consistent EKF multi-AUV cooperative localization algorithm is designed. The algorithm corrects the linearized measurement values in the Jacobian matrix for cooperative positioning, ensuring that the linearized estimator can obtain accurate measurement values. The positioning results of the follower AUV under dead reckoning, standard EKF, and consistent EKF algorithms are simulated, analyzed, and compared with the real trajectory of the following AUV. The simulation results show that the follower AUV with a consistent EKF algorithm can keep synchronization with the leader AUV more stably

Consistent Extended Kalman Filter-Based Cooperative Localization of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

In order to solve the problem of inconsistent state estimation when multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are co-located, this paper proposes a method of multi-AUV co-location based on the consistent extended Kalman filter (EKF). Firstly, the dynamic model of cooperative positioning system follower AUV under two leaders alternately transmitting navigation information is established. Secondly, the observability of the standard linearization estimator based on the lead-follower multi-AUV cooperative positioning system is analyzed by comparing the subspace of the observable matrix of state estimation with that of an ideal observable matrix, it can be concluded that the estimation of state by standard EKF is inconsistent. Finally, aiming at the problem of inconsistent state estimation, a consistent EKF multi-AUV cooperative localization algorithm is designed. The algorithm corrects the linearized measurement values in the Jacobian matrix for cooperative positioning, ensuring that the linearized estimator can obtain accurate measurement values. The positioning results of the follower AUV under dead reckoning, standard EKF, and consistent EKF algorithms are simulated, analyzed, and compared with the real trajectory of the following AUV. The simulation results show that the follower AUV with a consistent EKF algorithm can keep synchronization with the leader AUV more stably.</jats:p

Clinical significance of ischemia-modified albumin in the diagnosis of doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-modified albumin is an altered serum albumin that forms under conditions of oxidative stress, a state also associated with doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to better assess diagnostic and prognostic significance of ischemia-modified albumin in patients with breast cancer undergoing doxorubicin chemotherapy. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 152 breast cancer patients before and after each cycle of doxorubicin chemotherapy to measure the serum levels of ischemia-modified albumin, cardiac troponin T and creatine kinase-MB. We also monitored cardiac function during a 12 month follow-up. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in ischemia-modified albumin levels before and after each cycle of chemotherapy and the ischemia-modified albumin concentration positively correlated with the cumulative dose of doxorubicin (r = 0.212, P < 0.05). The combination of ischemia-modified albumin with cardiac troponin T and creatine kinase-MB increased the sensitivity to 0.920 and the specificity to 0.830 in the diagnosis of doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury. The optimal cutoff for ischemia-modified albumin concentration was 112.09 U/ml. The rate of change for ischemia-modified albumin levels correlated negatively with the rate of change for left ventricular ejection fraction at one year (r = -0.221, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ischemia-modified albumin may be a clinically potential new marker for diagnosing doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury, and is helpful to predict long-term impairment of cardiac function