Advanced glycation end products accelerate ischemia/reperfusion injury through receptor of advanced end product/nitrative thioredoxin inactivation in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells.

The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are associated with increased cardiac endothelial injury. However, no causative link has been established between increased AGEs and enhanced endothelial injury after ischemia/reperfusion. More importantly, the molecular mechanisms by which AGEs may increase endothelial injury remain unknown. Adult rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) were isolated and incubated with AGE-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) or BSA. After AGE-BSA or BSA preculture, CMECs were subjected to simulated ischemia (SI)/reperfusion (R). AGE-BSA increased SI/R injury as evidenced by enhanced lactate dehydrogenase release and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, AGE-BSA significantly increased SI/R-induced oxidative/nitrative stress in CMECs (as measured by increased inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, total nitric oxide production, superoxide generation, and peroxynitrite formation) and increased SI/R-induced nitrative inactivation of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), an essential cytoprotective molecule. Supplementation of EUK134 (peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst), human Trx-1, or soluble receptor of advanced end product (sRAGE) (a RAGE decoy) in AGE-BSA precultured cells attenuated SI/R-induced oxidative/nitrative stress, reduced SI/R-induced Trx-1 nitration, preserved Trx-1 activity, and reduced SI/R injury. Our results demonstrated that AGEs may increase SI/R-induced endothelial injury by increasing oxidative/nitrative injury and subsequent nitrative inactivation of Trx-1. Interventions blocking RAGE signaling or restoring Trx activity may be novel therapies to mitigate endothelial ischemia/reperfusion injury in the diabetic population

The Relationship Between Cognitive Dysfunction and Symptom Dimensions Across Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is considered a core feature among schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite abundant literature comparing cognitive dysfunction among these disorders, the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and symptom dimensions remains unclear. The study aims are a) to identify the factor structure of the BPRS-18 and b) to examine the relationship between symptom domains and cognitive function across SZ, BD, and MDD.Methods: A total of 716 participants [262 with SZ, 104 with BD, 101 with MDD, and 249 healthy controls (HC)] were included in the study. One hundred eighty participants (59 with SZ, 23 with BD, 24 with MDD, and 74 HC) completed the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), and 507 participants (85 with SZ, 89 with BD, 90 with MDD, and 243 HC) completed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). All patients completed the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).Results: We identified five BPRS exploratory factor analysis (EFA) factors (“affective symptoms,” “psychosis,” “negative/disorganized symptoms,” “activation,” and “noncooperation”) and found cognitive dysfunction in all of the participant groups with psychiatric disorders. Negative/disorganized symptoms were the most strongly associated with cognitive dysfunctions across SZ, BD, and MDD.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cognitive dysfunction severity relates to the negative/disorganized symptom domain across SZ, BD, and MDD, and negative/disorganized symptoms may be an important target for effective cognitive remediation in SZ, BD, and MDD

Role of Human-Mediated Dispersal in the Spread of the Pinewood Nematode in China

Background: Intensification of world trade is responsible for an increase in the number of alien species introductions. Human-mediated dispersal promotes not only introductions but also expansion of the species distribution via long-distance dispersal. Thus, understanding the role of anthropogenic pathways in the spread of invading species has become one of the most important challenges nowadays. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analysed the invasion pattern of the pinewood nematode in China based on invasion data from 1982 to 2005 and monitoring data on 7 locations over 15 years. Short distance spread mediated by long-horned beetles was estimated at 7.5 km per year. Infested sites located further away represented more than 90% of observations and the mean long distance spread was estimated at 111–339 km. Railways, river ports, and lakes had significant effects on the spread pattern. Human population density levels explained 87% of the variation in the invasion probability (P,0.05).Since 2001, the number of new records of the nematode was multiplied by a factor of 5 and the spread distance by a factor of 2. We combined a diffusion model to describe the short distance spread with a stochastic,individual based model to describe the long distance jumps. This combined model generated an error of only 13% when used to predict the presence of the nematode. Under two climate scenarios (stable climate or moderate warming), projections of the invasion probability suggest that this pest could expand its distribution 40–55% by 2025. Conclusions/Significance: This study provides evidence that human-induced dispersal plays a fundamental role in the spread of the pinewood nematode, and appropriate control measures should be taken to stop or slow its expansion. This model can be applied to Europe, where the nematode had been introduced later, and is currently expanding its distribution. Similar models could also be derived for other species that could be accidentally transported by humans

Insight of the role of cooling method and soil environment on the corrosion behavior of Mg–2Nd alloys

Understanding the corrosion behavior of Mg alloys in the soil environments is crucial to preventing catastrophic accidents in their facilities due to the soil corrosion. The Mg–2Nd alloys were exposed to the soil after cooling in different ways under the same heat treatment conditions. The corrosion mechanisms of Mg–2Nd alloy in the soil are mainly affected by corrosion micro-batteries and macro-batteries. The more precipitates, the more severe micro-galvanic corrosion are formed. Meanwhile, the corrosion product films are damaged by micro-galvanic corrosion, which have a serious impact on the differential concentration of oxygen and differential infiltration of rainwater corrosion. The Mg–2Nd alloy buried in the soil with high water content and low oxygen permeability in corrosive macro-batteries will be corroded into anodes, thereby accelerating the corrosion rate of Mg–2Nd alloy in this part. Furthermore, the formation of corrosion product MgCO3 reduces the electrochemical activity of the sample surface, thereby reducing the corrosion rate of Mg–2Nd alloy in the soil. Therefore, the Mg–2Nd alloy after water-cooling has the best corrosion behavior in the soil environment

Tuning formation process of void defects in microcolumn arrays via pulse reverse electrodeposition

The pulse reverse current electrodeposition process consists of two stages: the forward deposition and reverse dissolution. This study aims to understand the characteristics of forward deposition and reverse dissolution and to reveal their influences on the formation of void defects in electrodeposited microcolumn arrays. Both the simulation and experimental results show that pulse reverse current contributes to the void-free deposition of microcolumn arrays. During the deposition under forward pulse stage, the thickness of deposited layer in micro cavities via pulse reverse current is more uniform compared with direct current. Meanwhile, the dissolution behavior under reverse pulse stage is greatly determined by the reverse pulse current density. A low reverse pulse current density (1 A/dm2) leads to a slow dissolution at the mouth of micro cavities. In contrast, a high reverse pulse current density (4 A/dm2) contributes to a high electrolyte potential, as well as a rapid dissolution at the mouth of micro cavities, which helps to eliminate void defects. The experimental results exhibit that void-free microcolumn arrays with a high aspect ratio of 5:1 are obtained via pulse reverse current. This study provides a clear understanding on the formation process of void defects in microcolumn arrays via pulse reverse electrodeposition

The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties improvement of the AZ61 alloy by adding Sc

The improvement of mechanical properties and the microstructure evolution through adding Sc to AZ61magnesium alloy were studied. The results indicated that the Mg _17 Al _12 phase in the extruded AZ61 alloy was mainly distributed around the sub-structured and fine deformed grains, resulting in the nonuniform microstructure. The addition of Sc could effectively suppress the band-like precipitation of Mg _17 Al _12 phase and improve the uniformity of microstructure. The grain sizes of the extruded alloys showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing with the increase of Sc, which was mainly attributed to the secondary phase. The AZ61–0.5Sc alloy exhibited the best mechanical properties, its ultimate tensile strength and yield strength were 14.8MPa and 40.8MPa higher than those of the extruded AZ61 alloy, respectively, which was ascribed to the fine grains and abundant secondary phase in the alloy