Metabonomics Combined with UPLC-MS Chemical Profile for Discovery of Antidepressant Ingredients of a Traditional Chinese Medicines Formula, Chaihu-Shu-Gan-San

This study proposed a new strategy for uncovering the active chemical constituents of a traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formula, Chaihu-Shu-Gan-San (CSGS). Metabonomics and chemical profile were integrated in combination with the multivariate statistical analysis (MVA) to discover the chemical constituents which contribute to the antidepressant effect of CSGS. Based upon the difference between CSGS and QZ (CSGS without Zhi-Qiao) extracts in the chemical profiles and the regulations of metabolic disturbances induced by CUMS, synephrine, naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin were recognized as the active constituents of CSGS from Zhi-qiao responsible for those missing regulations of CSGS when Zhi-Qiao was subtracted from the whole formula. They participated in the regulations of the deviated metabolites 2–4, 10–14, and 22–25, involved in metabolic pathways of ketone bodies synthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, valine, aspartate, glutamate metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, the assay of MAO-A activity confirmed the potential antidepressant effect of naringin and its active sites on the MAO-A was inferred by molecular docking study. The integration of metabonomics and chemical profile was proved to be a useful strategy for uncovering what the active chemical constituents in TCM formula are and how they make contributions for the efficacy of the formula

Thorium-doping induced superconductivity up to 56 K in Gd1-xThxFeAsO

Following the discovery of superconductivity in an iron-based arsenide LaO1-xFxFeAs with a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 26 K[1], Tc was pushed up surprisingly to above 40 K by either applying pressure[2] or replacing La with Sm[3], Ce[4], Nd[5] and Pr[6]. The maximum Tc has climbed to 55 K, observed in SmO1-xFxFeAs[7, 8] and SmFeAsO1-x[9]. The value of Tc was found to increase with decreasing lattice parameters in LnFeAsO1-xFx (Ln stands for the lanthanide elements) at an apparently optimal doping level. However, the F- doping in GdFeAsO is particularly difficult[10,11] due to the lattice mismatch between the Gd2O2 layers and Fe2As2 layers. Here we report observation of superconductivity with Tc as high as 56 K by the Th4+ substitution for Gd3+ in GdFeAsO. The incorporation of relatively large Th4+ ions relaxes the lattice mismatch, hence induces the high temperature superconductivity.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Gu-4 Suppresses Affinity and Avidity Modulation of CD11b and Improves the Outcome of Mice with Endotoxemia and Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Systemic leukocyte activation and disseminated leukocyte adhesion will impair the microcirculation and cause severe decrements in tissue perfusion and organ function in the process of severe sepsis. Gu-4, a lactosyl derivative, could selectively target CD11b to exert therapeutic effect in a rat model of severe burn shock. Here, we addressed whether Gu-4 could render protective effects on septic animals. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: On a murine model of endotoxemia induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we found that the median effective dose (ED50) of Gu-4 was 0.929 mg/kg. In vivo treatment of Gu-4 after LPS challenge prominently attenuated LPS-induced lung injury and decreased lactic acid level in lung tissue. Using the ED50 of Gu-4, we also demonstrated that Gu-4 treatment significantly improved the survival rate of animals underwent sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. By adhesion and transwell migration assays, we found that Gu-4 treatment inhibited the adhesion and transendothelial migration of LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. By flow cytometry and microscopy, we demonstrated that Gu-4 treatment inhibited the exposure of active I-domain and the cluster formation of CD11b on the LPS-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Western blot analyses further revealed that Gu-4 treatment markedly inhibited the activation of spleen tyrosine kinase in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Gu-4 improves the survival of mice underwent endotoxemia and sepsis, our in vitro investigations indicate that the possible underlying mechanism might involve the modulations of the affinity and avidity of CD11b on the leukocyte. Our findings shed light on the potential use of Gu-4, an interacting compound to CD11b, in the treatment of sepsis and septic shock

The Moderating Role of Sociability and Social Connection for the Relationship between Soccer Participation and Teamwork Ability among Chinese College Students

In order to provide empirical evidence for soccer’s promotion of teamwork ability and to examine whether sociability and social connection have an effect on this promotion, we explored the relationship between soccer participation (volume, duration), teamwork ability and sociability and social connection (SSC). Using the method of stratified sampling, a questionnaire survey was carried out in four universities in Shanghai. All the respondents are undergraduate students, which include the specially recruited soccer athletes and the soccer participants from ordinary college students. The findings from this study indicate that participating in soccer can positively predict the teamwork ability of college students, and SSC can negatively moderate the effect of soccer participation on teamwork ability. The effect of soccer participation on teamwork ability was different in the collegiate soccer athletes and collegiate soccer participants groups. An important value of soccer, which is often overlooked, is the help it provides college students, who have insufficient sociability and social connections, in better integrating into the team and in improving their teamwork ability. We highly recommend that college students participate in soccer to improve their teamwork skills in study and work and to better prepare for their careers

BRCA1 overexpression attenuates breast cancer cell growth and migration by regulating the pyruvate kinase M2-mediated Warburg effect via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

This work explored the mechanism of the effect of breast-cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) on the metabolic characteristics of breast cancer cells, including the Warburg effect and its specific signaling. We transfected MCF-7 cells with a BRCA1-encoding LXSN plasmid or PKM2 siRNA and examined cancer cell metabolism using annexin V staining, inhibitory concentration determination, Western blotting, glucose uptake and lactic acid content measurements, and Transwell assays to assess glycolytic activity, cell apoptosis, and migration, and sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment. The BRCA1-expressing MCF-7 cells demonstrated low PKM2 expression and decreased glycolytic activity (downregulated hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression, upregulated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) expression, and reduced O2 and glucose consumption and lactate production) via regulation of PI3K/AKT pathway compared with the empty LXSN group. BRCA1 transfection slightly increased apoptotic activity, decreased cell migration, and increased the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin. Inhibiting PKM2 using siRNA attenuated the IC50 index for doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin compared with the control. Inhibiting PKM2 activated PI3K/AKT signaling, increased apoptosis, and decreased MCF-7 cell migration. Our data suggest that BRCA1 overexpression reverses the Warburg effect, inhibits cancer cell growth and migration, and enhances the sensitivity to anti-cancer treatment by decreasing PKM2 expression regulated by PI3K/AKT signaling. These novel metabolic findings represent a potential mechanism by which BRCA1 exerts its inhibitory effect on breast cancer

A Trans-Scale Study on the Influence of Water Content and Particle Size on Matric Suction

Exploring the water retention properties of unsaturated soil from the perspective of a liquid bridge has been a popular issue in recent years. This study first measures the soil–water characteristic curves (SWCCs) of granular specimens to determine the influence of particle size on matric suction from a macroscopic perspective. Then, the internal mechanism of the influence of particle size and volumetric water content on matric suction is analyzed from the mesoscopic perspective by using the Young–Laplace (Y–L) equation to calculate matric suction between two equal spheres. The macroscopic and mesoscopic experiments both show that matric suction decreases with an increase in particle radius. Moreover, identifying the internal mechanism of SWCC from the liquid bridge perspective is only applicable when the influence of gravity can be disregarded or is in the transitional stage. The influence of volumetric water content and sphere radius on matric suction is mostly caused by the variation in the outer radius of the liquid bridge (r1) and the neck radius of the liquid bridge (r2). With an increase in volumetric water content and sphere diameter, the increasing rate of r1 is much higher than r2, and the macroscopical matric suction gradually decreases

Pressure-induced phase transitions on a liquid crystalline europium(III) complex

The effect of pressure on the phase behavior of the liquid crystalline complex [Eu(bta)3L2] (bta is benzoyltrifluoroacetonate, and L is the Schiff base 2-hydroxy-N-octadecyl-4-tetradecyloxybenzaldimine) was studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy. The pressure was varied between ambient pressure and 8.0 GPa. [Eu(bta)3L2] exhibits a smectic A (SmA) phase at room temperature. The complex undergoes a transition from the SmA phase to a solid lamellar structure around 0.22 GPa and another transition from the solid lamellar phase to an amorphous state from 1.6 to 3.5 GPa. At low pressures, the smectic layer spacing increases, and the intermolecular distance decreases. Above 3.5 GPa, both the interlamellar and the intermolecular spacings hardly change, but the intensity of X-ray reflections exhibits a remarkable decrease and eventually vanishes. An interpretation of the changes in the molecular structure is given. It was found that less interdigitation of the alkyl chains situated in adjacent layers and/or a full extension of the alkyl chains occurred at low pressures and that the second phase transition was accompanied by a transfer of the hydrogen atom from the nitrogen atom of the imine group to the oxygen atom of the Schiff base ligand. The effect of applying pressure equals that of the lanthanide contraction on the phase behavior.status: publishe

The Use of Conducting Polyaniline as Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid

Sulfonated chitosan (S-CTS) doped polyaniline (PANI) was synthesized by "template-free" method successfully, and it is reported as corrosion inhibitor for the first time. The corrosion inhibition property of PANI was demonstrated for mild steel in acidic environment using weight loss test, Tafel polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and adsorption isotherm. The results revealed S-CTS doped PANI had excellent corrosion inhibition for mild steel in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid media and its inhibitive efficiency was more than 92.3% even with a low concentration of 40 mg/L

Research on the Industrial Heritage Community Retrofitting Design Based on Space Network Model of Carbon

The low-carbon retrofitting of industrial heritage communities is an important issue for reducing urban carbon emissions. Previous research on the judgment of heritage elements and carbon emission factors of industrial heritage communities lacked the construction of elements within the space, and the value judgment of conservation and the determination of low-carbon factors lacked a systematic network analysis. Carbon spatial networks as a systematic approach can systematically harmonize the contradictions between “conservation–transformation–low carbon” while considering the spatial and temporal carbon emissions of nodes. This research uses hierarchical analysis to analyze the value of heritage elements and locate them in space, then combine the elements that affect carbon activities in space to form carbon space nodes integrated with heritage conservation elements, and analyze the links between nodes to form a carbon space network. Then, this research uses a carbon spatial network to dissect the structure of carbon emissions, calculate the carbon activity at nodes, and reflect it into a parameterized platform to guide designers. After that, this research selected 16 industrial heritage communities in the severe cold region for the carbon activity measurement of carbon spatial network node elements in the operation stage and conducted a correlation analysis to obtain a correlation matrix model of node elements and carbon activities. Within the constraints of heritage element protection, the results show that the volume ratio, green area ratio, and building density of the carbon spatial network model have the greatest influence on its carbon performance, followed by porosity and road density. Through case simulation verification, the floor area ratio of industrial heritage communities should be controlled between 2.1–2.5, the number of residential building floors should be 7–14, the road network density should be 4.16–4.50%, the green space ratio should be 20–35%, and the porosity should be 35–45%. Taking the three major power road communities in Harbin as an example, retrofit measures were decided by reference to relevant parameter control intervals, resulting in a 21.1% reduction in energy consumption, an approximate 32.7% reduction in carbon emissions, and a 7.3% reduction in the annual percentage of hours in extreme hot and cold environments

A Multispectral and Panchromatic Images Fusion Method Based on Weighted Mean Curvature Filter Decomposition

Since the hardware limitations of satellite sensors, the spatial resolution of multispectral (MS) images is still not consistent with the panchromatic (PAN) images. It is especially important to obtain the MS images with high spatial resolution in the field of remote sensing image fusion. In order to obtain the MS images with high spatial and spectral resolutions, a novel MS and PAN images fusion method based on weighted mean curvature filter (WMCF) decomposition is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a weighted local spatial frequency-based (WLSF) fusion method is utilized to fuse all the bands of a MS image to generate an intensity component IC. In accordance with an image matting model, IC is taken as the original α channel for spectral estimation to obtain a foreground and background images. Secondly, a PAN image is decomposed into a small-scale (SS), large-scale (LS) and basic images by weighted mean curvature filter (WMCF) and Gaussian filter (GF). The multi-scale morphological detail measure (MSMDM) value is used as the inputs of the Parameters Automatic Calculation Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PAC-PCNN) model. With the MSMDM-guided PAC-PCNN model, the basic image and IC are effectively fused. The fused image as well as the LS and SS images are linearly combined together to construct the last α channel. Finally, in accordance with an image matting model, a foreground image, a background image and the last α channel are reconstructed to acquire the final fused image. The experimental results on four image pairs show that the proposed method achieves superior results in terms of subjective and objective evaluations. In particular, the proposed method can fuse MS and PAN images with different spatial and spectral resolutions in a higher operational efficiency, which is an effective means to obtain higher spatial and spectral resolution images