Nitrogen Trifluoride: A New Reactant Gas in Chemical Reaction Interface Mass Spectrometry for Detection of Phosphorus, Deuterium, Chlorine, and Sulfur

A new set of reactions that involve fluorine have been investigated in chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry (CRIMS). The primary goal of this study was to provide a means to selectively detect phosphorus-containing compounds, which fluorine does by generating PF5. PF4+, the main fragment ion of PF5, provides a sensitive (10 pg/s), selective, and linear (> 105 dynamic range) channel for phosphorus-containing analytes. This fluorine-rich environment also provides new ways to selectively and simultaneously detect hydrogen isotopes, chlorine, and sulfur. NF3 as a reactant gas provides the most comprehensive array of elemental and isotopic detection yet available for CRIMS. An application of phosphorus-selective detection was attempted by examination of a plasma sample from a patient who had been treated with cyclophosphamide. The phosphorus-selective channel showed six peaks: one is derivatized phosphate, two are t-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatives of cyclophosphamide, another two are TBDMS derivatives of 4-hydroxy-yclophosphamide, and one is from underivatized cyclophosphamide. The simultaneous detection of chlorinecontaining compounds confirmed our results for those peaks related to cyclophosphamide and its metabolite

Implementation of the chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry technique on a Hewlett-Packard mass-selective detector

AbstractA microwave-powered chemical reaction interface has been installed in a Hewlett-Packard gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) system (5890 II gas chromatograph-5971 mass-selective detector). The technical details and optimization strategies are discussed. The evaluation of this new setup is presented, showing detection limits of 1 ng of 13C-,15N-, and Cl-containing compounds with signal-to-noise ratios greater than or equal to 3. Selective detection was evaluated with a urine sample from a dog dosed with 15N3-midazolam that had been previously analyzed by using a differentially pumped research-level quadrupole mass spectrometer. The results show that the detection of 15N and Cl remains highly selective and the mass-selective detector gives comparable sensitivity to the larger instrument when the latter is operating over a conventional mass range. The capability for chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry can be easily accomplished with an inexpensive GC-MS system

Coverage Hole Recovery Algorithm Based on Molecule Model in Heterogeneous WSNs

In diverse application fields, the increasing requisitions of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have more and more research dedicated to the question of sensor nodes’ deployment in recent years. For deployment of sensor nodes, some key points that should be taken into consideration are the coverage area to be monitored, energy consumed of nodes, connectivity, amount of deployed sensors and lifetime of the WSNs. This paper analyzes the wireless sensor network nodes deployment optimization problem. Wireless sensor nodes deployment determines the nodes’ capability and lifetime. For node deployment in heterogeneous sensor networks based on different probability sensing models of heterogeneous nodes, the author refers to the organic small molecule model and proposes a molecule sensing model of heterogeneous nodes in this paper. DSmT is an extension of the classical theory of evidence, which can combine with any type of trust function of an independent source, mainly concentrating on combined uncertainty, high conflict, and inaccurate source of evidence. Referring to the data fusion model, the changes in the network coverage ratio after using the new sensing model and data fusion algorithm are studied. According to the research results, the nodes deployment scheme of heterogeneous sensor networks based on the organic small molecule model is proposed in this paper. The simulation model is established by MATLAB software. The simulation results show that the effectiveness of the algorithm, the network coverage, and detection efficiency of nodes are improved, the lifetime of the network is prolonged, energy consumption and the number of deployment nodes are reduced, and the scope of perceiving is expanded. As a result, the coverage hole recovery algorithm can improve the detection performance of the network in the initial deployment phase and coverage hole recovery phase

Cyclic axial compressive performance of hybrid double-skin tubular square columns

This paper presents an experimental study on the cyclic axial compressive behavior of FRP-concrete-steel hybrid double-skin tubular columns. The square column specimens were cast with an external Fiber Reinforced Polymer jackets, inner steel tube and concrete in between. The height of the columns was 500 mm and the side dimension was 150 mm. The effects of loading scheme, void ratio and diameter-thickness ratio on axial compression behavior were investigated. A total of eight columns were tested under monotonic and cyclic axial compression. The experimental results show that the effect of loading scheme on axial stress-strain envelope curve and the peak load were not significant, and the ultimate state of the square columns subjected to cyclic axial compression was very similar to that of specimens subjected to monotonic axial compression. Besides, compared with void ratio, the diameter-thickness ratio of the inner steel tube has significant influence on the peak load of the columns when subjected to cyclic axial compression

A systematic review and meta-analysis of Danshen combined with mesalazine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Purpose: Current pharmacological treatments for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) have limitations. Therefore, it is important to elucidate any available alternative or complementary treatment, and Chinese herbal medicine shows the potential for such treatment. As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Danshen-related preparations have been reported to be beneficial for UC by improving coagulation function and inhibiting inflammatory responses. In spite of this, the credibility and safety of this practice are incomplete. Therefore, in order to investigate whether Danshen preparation (DSP) is effective and safe in the treatment of UC, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and CQVIP Database were searched for this review.The main observation indexes were the effect of DSP combined with mesalazine or DSP on the effective rate, platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of UC. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias. The selected studies were evaluated for quality and data processing using RevMan5.4 and Stata17.0 software.Results: A total of 37 studies were included. Among them, 26 clinical trials with 2426 patients were included and 11 animal experimental studies involving 208 animals were included. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with mesalazine alone, combined use of DSP can clearly improve the clinical effective rate (RR 0.86%, 95% CI:0.83–0.88, p < 0.00001) of UC. Furthermore it improved blood coagulation function by decreasing serum PLT and increasing MPV levels, and controlled inflammatory responses by reducing serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in patients.Conclusion: Combining DSP with mesalazine for UC can enhance clinical efficacy. However, caution should be exercised in interpreting the results of this review due to its flaws, such as allocation concealment and uncertainty resulting from the blinding of the study.Systematic Review Registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/myprospero.php, identifier PROSPERO: CRD4202229328

Mechanism of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium as an Anticancer Agent from the Perspective of Flavonoids: A Review

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), also known as “chenpi”, is the most common qi-regulating drug in traditional Chinese medicine. It is often used to treat cough and indigestion, but in recent years, it has been found to have multi-faceted anti-cancer effects. This article reviews the pharmacology of CRP and the mechanism of the action of flavonoids, the key components of CRP, against cancers including breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, hepatic carcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer and other cancers with a high diagnosis rate. Finally, the specific roles of CRP in important phenotypes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy and migration–invasion in cancer were analyzed, and the possible prospects and deficiencies of CRP as an anticancer agent were evaluated

The genome of the glasshouse plant noble rhubarb (Rheum nobile) provides a window into alpine adaptation

Feng T, Pucker B, Kuang T, et al. The genome of the glasshouse plant noble rhubarb (Rheum nobile) provides a window into alpine adaptation. Communications Biology . 2023;6(1): 706.Glasshouse plants are species that trap warmth via specialized morphology and physiology, mimicking a human glasshouse. In the Himalayan alpine region, the highly specialized glasshouse morphology has independently evolved in distinct lineages to adapt to intensive UV radiation and low temperature. Here we demonstrate that the glasshouse structure - specialized cauline leaves - is highly effective in absorbing UV light but transmitting visible and infrared light, creating an optimal microclimate for the development of reproductive organs. We reveal that this glasshouse syndrome has evolved at least three times independently in the rhubarb genus Rheum. We report the genome sequence of the flagship glasshouse plant Rheum nobile and identify key genetic network modules in association with the morphological transition to specialized glasshouse leaves, including active secondary cell wall biogenesis, upregulated cuticular cutin biosynthesis, and suppression of photosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis. The distinct cell wall organization and cuticle development might be important for the specialized optical property of glasshouse leaves. We also find that the expansion of LTRs has likely played an important role in noble rhubarb adaptation to high elevation environments. Our study will enable additional comparative analyses to identify the genetic basis underlying the convergent occurrence of glasshouse syndrome. © 2023. The Author(s)

The genome of the glasshouse plant noble rhubarb (Rheum nobile) provides a window into alpine adaptation.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program (2019QZKK0502) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA20050203). We thank the Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) at Bielefeld University for providing an environment to perform computational analyses.Glasshouse plants are species that trap warmth via specialized morphology and physiology, mimicking a human glasshouse. In the Himalayan alpine region, the highly specialized glasshouse morphology has independently evolved in distinct lineages to adapt to intensive UV radiation and low temperature. Here we demonstrate that the glasshouse structure - specialized cauline leaves - is highly effective in absorbing UV light but transmitting visible and infrared light, creating an optimal microclimate for the development of reproductive organs. We reveal that this glasshouse syndrome has evolved at least three times independently in the rhubarb genus Rheum. We report the genome sequence of the flagship glasshouse plant Rheum nobile and identify key genetic network modules in association with the morphological transition to specialized glasshouse leaves, including active secondary cell wall biogenesis, upregulated cuticular cutin biosynthesis, and suppression of photosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis. The distinct cell wall organization and cuticle development might be important for the specialized optical property of glasshouse leaves. We also find that the expansion of LTRs has likely played an important role in noble rhubarb adaptation to high elevation environments. Our study will enable additional comparative analyses to identify the genetic basis underlying the convergent occurrence of glasshouse syndrome