Tetra-μ-benzoato-κ8 O:O′-bis­[(benzoic acid-κO)nickel(II)]

The title compound, [Ni2(C7H5O2)4(C7H6O2)2], is composed of two NiII ions, four bridging benzoate anions and two η1-benzoic acid mol­ecules. The [Ni2(PhCOO)4] unit adopts a typical paddle-wheel conformation. The center between the two NiII atoms represents a crystallographic center of inversion. In addition, each NiII ion also coordinates to one O atom from a benzoic acid mol­ecule. The crystal packing is realised by inter­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions and π–π stacking inter­actions, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.921 (1) Å

The Research of Biology Coupling Characteristics on the Shells of Haliotis discus hannai Ino

The surface morphologies, structures and materials of Haliotis discus hannai Ino shells were qualitatively studied by means of a stereoscopic microscope，a field emission scanning electronic microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer, and abrasive particle wear was qualitatively and quantitatively studied by means of a pin-on-disc apparatus. The results showed that the outer layer surface of Haliotis discus hannai Ino shells was non-smooth and had some strumae or similar parallel convex wave. The shells of Haliotis discus hannai Ino are polycrystalline composites of calcium carbonate and proteins and glycoproteins and consist of the periostracum, prismatic and nacreous layers with calcite in the outer prismatic layer and aragonite in the inner nacreous layer. Nacreous layer is a natural composite comprised of calcium carbonate in the aragonite polymorph with organic macromolecules sandwiched in between, and the coupling of platelet interlocks and organic materials makes nacreous layer to be strong and tough.The abrasive particle wear tests showed that the abrasion resistance was different on the different parts of the shells, and the left of the shells possessed the highest abrasion resistance and the abrasion resistance of the shells was the lowest on the edge of the right. The nacreous layer possessed higher abrasion resistance than prismatic layer because of the coupling of structure and materials of nacreous layer. Key words: Haliotis discus hannai Ino shells; morphology; structure; materials; anti-wear; biological character; couplin

(2,4-Dichloro­phen­yl)(diphenyl­phosphor­yl)methanol

In the title compound, C19H15Cl2O2P, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenyl rings bonded to the P atom is 75.4 (1)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into chains running along the a axis by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Mol­ecules are further connected into a three-dimensional array by weak C—H⋯O inter­actions

Naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetra­carboxylic acid 1,8-anhydride–4,4′-bipyridine (1/1)

The title compound, C14H6O7·C10H8N2, has been hydro­thermally synthesized. Structural ananlysis indicates that the crystals are produced by cocrystallization of naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetra­carboxylic acid 1,8-anhydride and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) mol­ecules. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter­molecular O—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.5846 (9) Å]

(Diphenyl­phosphor­yl)(2-nitro­phen­yl)methanol

In the title compound, C19H16NO4P, the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenyl rings bonded to the P atom is 75.4 (1)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into chains running along the a axis by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Mol­ecules are further connected into a three-dimensional array by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Erythromycin Enhances CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T-Cell Responses in a Rat Model of Smoke-Induced Lung Inflammation

Heavy smoking can induce airway inflammation and emphysema. Macrolides can modulate inflammation and effector T-cell response in the lungs. However, there is no information on whether erythromycin can modulate regulatory T-cell (Treg) response. This study is aimed at examining the impact of erythromycin on Treg response in the lungs in a rat model of smoking-induced emphysema. Male Wistar rats were exposed to normal air or cigarette smoking daily for 12 weeks and treated by gavage with 100 mg/kg of erythromycin or saline daily beginning at the forth week for nine weeks. The lung inflammation and the numbers of inflammatory infiltrates in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were characterized. The frequency, the number of Tregs, and the levels of Foxp3 expression in the lungs and IL-8, IL-35, and TNF-α in BALF were determined by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Treatment with erythromycin reduced smoking-induced inflammatory infiltrates, the levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in the BALF and lung damages but increased the numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and the levels of Foxp3 transcription in the lungs, accompanied by increased levels of IL-35 in the BALF of rats. Our novel data indicated that erythromycin enhanced Treg responses, associated with the inhibition of smoking-induced inflammation in the lungs of rats

Intravascular Ultrasound-guided Versus Angiography-guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials

Coronary angiography has been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and guidance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, 2D-projection angiography cannot completely reflect the 3D coronary lumen. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can overcome a number of limitations of coronary angiography by providing more information about the dimensions of the vessel lumen, plaque characteristics, stent deployment, and the mechanisms of device failure. Growing data from observational studies and randomized controlled trials have confirmed the clinical benefit of IVUS guidance during PCI. This article summarizes the evidence regarding IVUS guidance to highlight its advantages and to support the use of IVUS during PCI

Isolation and characterization of ZZ1, a novel lytic phage that infects Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant nosocomial pathogen, has evolved resistance to almost all conventional antimicrobial drugs. Bacteriophage therapy is a potential alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, one lytic bacteriophage, ZZ1, which infects A. baumannii and has a broad host range, was selected for characterization. RESULTS: Phage ZZ1 and 3 of its natural hosts, A. baumanni clinical isolates AB09V, AB0902, and AB0901, are described in this study. The 3 strains have different sensitivities to ZZ1, but they have the same sensitivity to antibiotics. They are resistant to almost all of the antibiotics tested, except for polymyxin. Several aspects of the life cycle of ZZ1 were investigated using the sensitive strain AB09V under optimal growth conditions. ZZ1 is highly infectious with a short latent period (9 min) and a large burst size (200 PFU/cell). It exhibited the most powerful antibacterial activity at temperatures ranging from 35°C to 39°C. Moreover, when ZZ1 alone was incubated at different pHs and different temperatures, the phage was stable over a wide pH range (4 to 9) and at extreme temperatures (between 50°C and 60°C). ZZ1 possesses a 100-nm icosahedral head containing double-stranded DNA with a total length of 166,682 bp and a 120-nm long contractile tail. Morphologically, it could be classified as a member of the Myoviridae family and the Caudovirales order. Bioinformatic analysis of the phage whole genome sequence further suggested that ZZ1 was more likely to be a new member of the Myoviridae phages. Most of the predicted ORFs of the phage were similar to the predicted ORFs from other Acinetobacter phages. CONCLUSION: The phage ZZ1 has a relatively broad lytic spectrum, high pH stability, strong heat resistance, and efficient antibacterial potential at body temperature. These characteristics greatly increase the utility of this phage as an antibacterial agent; thus, it should be further investigated

Whole-Genome Resequencing of Worldwide Wild and Domestic Sheep Elucidates Genetic Diversity, Introgression, and Agronomically Important Loci

Domestic sheep and their wild relatives harbor substantial genetic variants that can form the backbone of molecular breeding, but their genome landscapes remain understudied. Here, we present a comprehensive genome resource for wild ovine species, landraces and improved breeds of domestic sheep, comprising high-coverage (similar to 16.10x) whole genomes of 810 samples from 7 wild species and 158 diverse domestic populations. We detected, in total, similar to 121.2 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, similar to 61 million of which are novel. Some display significant (P < 0.001) differences in frequency between wild and domestic species, or are private to continent-wide or individual sheep populations. Retained or introgressed wild gene variants in domestic populations have contributed to local adaptation, such as the variation in the HBB associated with plateau adaptation. We identified novel and previously reported targets of selection on morphological and agronomic traits such as stature, horn, tail configuration, and wool fineness. We explored the genetic basis of wool fineness and unveiled a novel mutation (chr25: T7,068,586C) in the 3 '-UTR of IRF2BP2 as plausible causal variant for fleece fiber diameter. We reconstructed prehistorical migrations from the Near Eastern domestication center to South-and-Southeast Asia and found two main waves of migrations across the Eurasian Steppe and the Iranian Plateau in the Early and Late Bronze Ages. Our findings refine our understanding of genome variation as shaped by continental migrations, introgression, adaptation, and selection of sheep