Crystal structure of azilsartan methyl ester ethyl acetate hemisolvate

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the NSFC (No. 21002009), the Scientific and Technological Project of Jiangsu Province (BY2014037–01), the Major Program for Natural Science Research of Jiangsu Colleges and Universities (12 K J A150002, 14 K J A150002) and the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province.Peer reviewe

Protective Efficacy of Vitamins C and E on p,p′-DDT-Induced Cytotoxicity via the ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial Pathway and NF-κB/FasL Pathway

Dichlorodiphenoxytrichloroethane (DDT) is a known persistent organic pollutant and liver damage toxicant. However, there has been little emphasis on the mechanism underlying liver damage toxicity of DDT and the relevant effective inhibitors. Hence, the present study was conducted to explore the protective effects of vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) on the cytotoxicity of DDT in HL-7702 cells and elaborate the specific molecular mechanisms. The results demonstrated that p,p′-DDT exposure at over 10 µM depleted cell viability of HL-7702 cells and led to cell apoptotic. p,p′-DDT treatment elevated the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induced mitochondrial membrane potential, and released cytochrome c into the cytosol, with subsequent elevations of Bax and p53, along with suppression of Bcl-2. In addition, the activations of caspase-3 and -8 were triggered. Furthermore, p,p′-DDT promoted the expressions of NF-κB and FasL. When the cells were exposed to the NF-κB inhibitor (PDTC), the up-regulated expression of FasL was attenuated. Strikingly, these alterations caused by DDT treatment were prevented or reversed by the addition of VC or VE, and the protective effects of co-treatment with VC and VE were higher than the single supplement with p,p′-DDT. Taken together, these findings provide novel experimental evidences supporting that VC or/and VE could reduce p,p′-DDT-induced cytotoxicity of HL-7702 cells via the ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway and NF-κB/FasL pathway

Water-related Ecosystem Services from Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is currently in common use to provide water-related ecosystem services. Common applications include: use include bio-retention basins, green roofs, constructed wetlands, permeable pavement, and sidewalk planter. These applications collectively can contribute to a city and region\u27s alternative infrastructure. They help to improve the water quality of streams and drinking water supplies as well as manage and reduce the amount of storm water runoff. While green infrastructure is increasingly applied, it is not consistently monitored to learn how it performs regarding specific ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the benefits that people can get from nature ecosystem. In this paper we discuss specific methods and procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of specific ecosystem services related to water quality and quantity

Application of chemometric analysis to infrared spectroscopy for the identification of wood origin

Chemical characteristics of wood are used in this study for plant taxonomy classification based on the current Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification (APG III System) for the division, class and subclass of woody plants. Infrared spectra contain information about the molecular structure and intermolecular interactions among the components in wood but the understanding of this information requires multivariate techniques for the analysis of highly dense datasets. This article is written with the purposes of specifying the chemical differences among taxonomic groups, and predicting the taxa of unknown samples with a mathematical model. Principal component analysis, t-test, stepwise discriminant analysis and linear discriminant analysis, were some of the chosen multivariate techniques. A procedure to determine the division, class, subclass and order of unknown samples was built with promising implications for future applications of Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy in wood taxonomy classification

Greening Worcester: Planning and Designing Green Infrastructure Networks for Habitat, Recreation, and Landscape Interpretation:

Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning ~ Masters of Landscape Architecture Studio LA 607: Landscape Planning Greening Worcester: Planning and Designing Green Infrastructure Networks for Habitat, Recreation, and Landscape Interpretation: Instructor: Robert L. Ryan, Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional PlanningThis graduate studio focused on the creating green infrastructure networks in Worcester, Massachusetts which is the second most populated city in Massachusetts. The studio worked in conjunction with the EcoTarium, an innovative science museum in Worcester in order to link the City’s rich cultural, historic, and academic resources across a densely populated urban region; and expand opportunities for local residents to learn about urban ecology in their own neighborhoods. The studio project builds on the City’s open space plan goals by planning improved access to water resources, increased connectivity between existing parks and open space, and safer bicycle and pedestrian connections. The project also strives to improve water quality in the Blackstone River and reduce stormwater runoff by a series of green infrastructure improvements throughout the City. Finally, the project addresses the existing wayfinding challenges in Worcester to help visitors and local residents alike access the City’s historical, cultural, and natural resources

The identification and correction of pseudohypercalcemia

BackgroundWe found that a subset of patients with monoclonal gammopathy exhibited hypercalcemia without apparent causes or clinical manifestations In a cohort of 289 monoclonal gammopathy patients, 2.4% presented with such atypical hypercalcemia, with one notable case exhibiting normal ionized calcium levels, suggesting the presence of pseudohypercalcemia.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to elucidate the factors contributing to pseudohypercalcemia in monoclonal gammopathy and to develop a novel globulin-corrected calcium formula for clinical application.MethodsThis observational study enrolled 110 monoclonal gammopathy patients from our center. An additional 33 patients were recruited to validate the newly proposed formula. Univariate analysis identified potential risk factors. And multivariate logistic regression identified definitive influential factors. The determined influential factors were utilized to develop a formula by multiple linear regression, which was validated by a paired t-test and the Youden index.ResultsThis study found that globulin was a risk factor for pseudohypercalcemia. It revealed that pseudohypercalcemia should be considered in patients with globulin levels ≥61 g/L (P=0.014). Both albumin and globulin were confirmed as independent factors associated with bound calcium. Given that, we developed a formula to correct ionized calcium levels, which was consistent with ionized calcium tested by blood gas analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of the new formula (Youden index is 0.906) is better than the traditional formula (Youden index is 0.906). Interestingly, all monoclonal immunoglobulin types, except for light chains, showed an equal propensity to develop pseudohypercalcemia (P=0.306). It also showed a linear correlation between IgA, IgG, and IgM and bound calcium.ConclusionThis study confirmed that elevated globulin affects serum total calcium and offered the threshold of globulin ≥ 61 g/L in the differential diagnosis of peudohypercalcemia from hypercalcemia. The new formula based on albumin and globulin was developed, which was verified to be better than the traditional formula for correctly diagnosing hypercalcemia. In addition, we found that neither light chains nor heavy chains of monoclonal immunoglobulin alone can result in pseudohypercalcemia

Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder Presenting as Chronic Diarrhea and Intestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Systemic Epstein-Barr virus-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative childhood disease (EBV+ T-LPD) is extremely rare. Primary acute or chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection triggers EBV+ T-LPD's onset and the disease involves clonal proliferation of infected T-cells with activated cytotoxic phenotype. The adult-onset EBV+ T-LPD (ASEBV+ T-LPD) is even rarer and needs to be extensively studied. Further, according to literature review, it is a challenge to find patients who are immunocompetent and diagnosed with ASEBV+ T-LPD involving gastrointestinal tract. This case report discusses a previously healthy middle aged woman who presented with unique symptoms mimicking inflammatory bowel disease, and required a total colectomy and terminal ileum rectomy, as reveled by endoscopic examinations, due to severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Post-surgery histopathological findings were confirmatory for the diagnosis of ASEBV+ T-LPD (II: Borderline). This patient died 7 months after the diagnosis