Metabolic Interaction of the Active Constituents of Coptis chinensis

Coptis chinensis is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. The study investigated metabolic interaction of the active constituents (berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine) of Coptis chinensis in human liver microsomes. After incubation of the four constituents of Coptis chinensis in HLMs, the metabolism of the four constituents was observed by HPLC. The in vitro inhibition experiment between the active constituents was conducted, and IC50 value was estimated. Coptisine exhibited inhibitions against the formation of the two metabolites of berberine with IC50 values of 6.5 and 8.3 μM, respectively. Palmatine and jatrorrhizine showed the weaker inhibitory effect on the formation of the metabolites of berberine. Berberine showed a weak inhibitory effect on the production of coptisine metabolite with an IC50 value of 115 μM, and palmatine and jatrorrhizine had little inhibitory effect on the formation of coptisine metabolite. Berberine, coptisine, and jatrorrhizine showed no inhibitory effect on the generation of palmatine metabolite (IC50 > 200 μM). The findings suggested that there are different degrees of metabolic interaction between the four components. Coptisine showed the strongest inhibition toward berberine metabolism

Opposite effects of single-dose and multidose administration of the ethanol extract of danshen on

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of single-and multidose administration of the ethanol extract of danshen on in vivo CYP3A activity in healthy volunteers. A sequential, open-label, and three-period pharmacokinetic interaction study design was used based on 12 healthy male individuals. The plasma concentrations of midazolam and its metabolite 1-hydroxymidazolam were measured. Treatment with single dose of the extract caused the mean max of midazolam to increase by 87% compared with control. After 10 days of the danshen extract intake, the mean AUC 0-12 , max , and 1/2 of midazolam were decreased by 79.9%, 66.6%, and 43.8%, respectively. The mean clearance of midazolam was increased by 501.6% compared with control. The in vitro study showed that dihydrotanshinone I in the extract could inhibit CYP3A, while tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone could induce CYP3A. In conclusion, a single-dose administration of the danshen extract can inhibit intestinal CYP3A, but multidose administration can induce intestinal and hepatic CYP3A

Evolutionary origin of genomic structural variations in domestic yaks

Yak has been subject to natural selection, human domestication and interspecific introgression during its evolution. However, genetic variants favored by each of these processes have not been distinguished previously. We constructed a graph-genome for 47 genomes of 7 cross-fertile bovine species. This allowed detection of 57,432 high-resolution structural variants (SVs) within and across the species, which were genotyped in 386 individuals. We distinguished the evolutionary origins of diverse SVs in domestic yaks by phylogenetic analyses. We further identified 334 genes overlapping with SVs in domestic yaks that bore potential signals of selection from wild yaks, plus an additional 686 genes introgressed from cattle. Nearly 90% of the domestic yaks were introgressed by cattle. Introgression of an SV spanning the KIT gene triggered the breeding of white domestic yaks. We validated a significant association of the selected stratified SVs with gene expression, which contributes to phenotypic variations. Our results highlight that SVs of different origins contribute to the phenotypic diversity of domestic yaks

Magnetoelectric interaction and transport behaviours in magnetic nanocomposite thermoelectric materials

How to suppress the performance deterioration of thermoelectric materials in the intrinsic excitation region remains a key challenge. The magnetic transition of permanent magnet nanoparticles from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism provides an effective approach to finding the solution to this challenge. Here, we have designed and prepared magnetic nanocomposite thermoelectric materials consisting of BaFe12O19 nanoparticles and Ba0.3In0.3Co4Sb12 matrix. It was found that the electrical transport behaviours of the nanocomposites are controlled by the magnetic transition of BaFe12O19 nanoparticles from ferromagnetism to paramagnetism. BaFe12O19 nanoparticles trap electrons below the Curie temperature (TC) and release the trapped electrons above the TC, playing an ‘electron repository’ role in maintaining high figure of merit ZT. BaFe12O19 nanoparticles produce two types of magnetoelectric effect—electron spiral motion and magnon-drag thermopower—as well as enhancing phonon scattering. Our work demonstrates that the performance deterioration of thermoelectric materials in the intrinsic excitation region can be suppressed through the magnetic transition of permanent magnet nanoparticles

Current Opinions on Optimal Management of Basilar Artery Occlusion: After the BEST of BASICS Survey

Background The best management of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains uncertain. The BASICS (Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study) and the BEST (Basilar Artery Occlusion Endovascular Intervention Versus Standard Medical Treatment) trials reported neutral results. We sought to understand physicians’ approaches to BAOs and whether further BAO randomized controlled trials were warranted. Methods We conducted an online international survey from January to March 2022 to stroke neurologists and neurointerventionalists. Survey questions were designed to examine clinical and imaging parameters under which clinicians would offer (or rescind) a patient with BAO to endovascular therapy (EVT) or best medical management versus enrollment into a randomized clinical trial. Results Of >3002 invited participants, 1245 responded (41.4% response rate) from 73 countries, including 54.7% stroke neurologists and 43.6% neurointerventionalists. More than 95% of respondents would offer EVT to patients with BAO, albeit in various clinical circumstances. There were 70.0% of respondents who indicated that the BASICS and BEST trials did not change their practice. Only 22.1% of respondents would perform EVT according to anterior circulation occlusion criteria. The selection of patients for BAO EVT by clinical severity, timing, and imaging modality differed according to geography, specialty, and country income level. Over 80% of respondents agreed that further randomized clinical trials for BAO were warranted. Moreover, 45.6% of respondents indicated they would find it acceptable to enroll all trial‐eligible patients into the medical arm of a BAO trial, whereas 26.3% would not enroll. Conclusion Most stroke physicians continue to believe in the efficacy of EVT in selected patients with BAO in spite of BEST and BASICS. There is no consensus on which selection criteria to use, and few clinicians would use anterior circulation occlusion criteria for BAOs. Further randomized clinical trials for BAO are warranted

Endovascular versus Medical Management of Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Controlled Trials

Background and Purpose The optimal management of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) compared to medical management (MM) for acute BAO through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of patients with acute BAO. We analyzed the pooled effect of EVT compared to MM on the primary outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] of 0–3 at 3 months), secondary outcome (mRS 0–2 at 3 months), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality rates. For each study, effect sizes were computed as odds ratios (ORs) with random effects and Mantel-Haenszel weighting. Results Four RCTs met inclusion criteria including 988 patients. There were higher odds of mRS of 0-3 at 90 days in the EVT versus MM group (45.1% vs. 29.1%, OR 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–3.80; P=0.04). Patients receiving EVT had a higher sICH compared to MM (5.4% vs. 0.8%, OR 7.89, 95% CI 4.10–15.19; P<0.01). Mortality was lower in the EVT group (35.5% vs. 45.1%, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.99; P=0.05). In an analysis of two trials with BAO patients and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) <10, there was no difference in 90-day outcomes between EVT versus MM. Conclusion In this systematic review and meta-analysis, EVT was associated with favorable outcome and decreased mortality in patients with BAO up to 24 hours from stroke symptoms compared to MM. The treatment effect in BAO patients with NIHSS <10 was less certain. Further studies are of interest to evaluate the efficacy of EVT in basilar occlusion patients with milder symptoms

High performance supercapacitors based on highly conductive nitrogen-doped graphene sheets

Thermal nitridation of reduced graphene oxide sheets yields highly conductive (similar to 1000-3000 S m(-1)) N-doped graphene sheets, as a result of the restoration of the graphene network by the formation of C-N bonded groups and N-doping. Even without carbon additives, supercapacitors made of the N-doped graphene electrodes can deliver remarkable energy and power when operated at higher voltages, in the range of 0-4 V

Famous Chinese Traditional Dishes: Spatial Diffusion of Roast Duck in Mainland China and Spatial Association Characteristics of Chain Stores

The spatial pattern and geographical diffusion of Chinese traditional food culture are important manifestations of population migration and cultural chain remodeling. Taking the national roast duck stores and Beijing Quanjude and Bianyifang brand chain roast duck stores as the research objects, the spatial distribution characteristics and geographic diffusion patterns of roast duck stores, and the spatial association characteristics of the chain stores are analyzed by using spatial analysis methods and mathematical statistics. The results of the study showed that: (1) The roast duck stores in the mainland show an overall northeast-southwest direction, and the spatial distribution is extremely uneven. The eastern coast of China shows a high-value continuous distribution, from the Bohai Bay Economic Circle and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle, gradually radiating westward to the middle and showing the clustering characteristics of &ldquo;point + surface&rdquo;. (2) Using the point cluster analysis method, the diffusion pattern of roast duck stores in the three major economic zones of China is explored, and roast duck stores in the western region show the characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Contact diffusion is the main diffusion mode of roast duck stores in the east. The central region shows the diffusion characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Overall, the roast duck stores in mainland China show a composite diffusion pattern. (3) Quanjude and Bianyifang stores have spatial agglomeration characteristics, Quanjude chain stores have a slightly stronger central pointing, while Bianyifang roast duck chain stores have slightly wider spatial diffusion. Both brands significantly show spatial orientation close to transportation facilities and high consumption markets. The street population has a slightly weaker influence on the spatial distribution of the two brands. (4) Through the multivariate spatial analysis method, it is found that the spatial correlation of mutual attraction between Quanjude and Bianyifang roast duck chain stores is presented, but there are differences in the formation mechanism and weak asymmetry in the attraction intensity, which is related to the consumer population and corporate positioning of Quanjude and Bianyifang. With the advent of the big data era, it is possible to obtain and use big data analysis methods to reshape the deep information under the surface logic. Attention should be paid to the location choice of traditional restaurant chains in the new era, to explore the possibilities of enterprise development, and to improve the efficiency of urban space

Famous Chinese Traditional Dishes: Spatial Diffusion of Roast Duck in Mainland China and Spatial Association Characteristics of Chain Stores

The spatial pattern and geographical diffusion of Chinese traditional food culture are important manifestations of population migration and cultural chain remodeling. Taking the national roast duck stores and Beijing Quanjude and Bianyifang brand chain roast duck stores as the research objects, the spatial distribution characteristics and geographic diffusion patterns of roast duck stores, and the spatial association characteristics of the chain stores are analyzed by using spatial analysis methods and mathematical statistics. The results of the study showed that: (1) The roast duck stores in the mainland show an overall northeast-southwest direction, and the spatial distribution is extremely uneven. The eastern coast of China shows a high-value continuous distribution, from the Bohai Bay Economic Circle and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Circle, gradually radiating westward to the middle and showing the clustering characteristics of “point + surface”. (2) Using the point cluster analysis method, the diffusion pattern of roast duck stores in the three major economic zones of China is explored, and roast duck stores in the western region show the characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Contact diffusion is the main diffusion mode of roast duck stores in the east. The central region shows the diffusion characteristics of contact diffusion combined with hierarchical diffusion. Overall, the roast duck stores in mainland China show a composite diffusion pattern. (3) Quanjude and Bianyifang stores have spatial agglomeration characteristics, Quanjude chain stores have a slightly stronger central pointing, while Bianyifang roast duck chain stores have slightly wider spatial diffusion. Both brands significantly show spatial orientation close to transportation facilities and high consumption markets. The street population has a slightly weaker influence on the spatial distribution of the two brands. (4) Through the multivariate spatial analysis method, it is found that the spatial correlation of mutual attraction between Quanjude and Bianyifang roast duck chain stores is presented, but there are differences in the formation mechanism and weak asymmetry in the attraction intensity, which is related to the consumer population and corporate positioning of Quanjude and Bianyifang. With the advent of the big data era, it is possible to obtain and use big data analysis methods to reshape the deep information under the surface logic. Attention should be paid to the location choice of traditional restaurant chains in the new era, to explore the possibilities of enterprise development, and to improve the efficiency of urban space

A Lorentz Force EMAT Design with Racetrack Coil and Periodic Permanent Magnets for Selective Enhancement of Ultrasonic Lamb Wave Generation

This article proposes an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for selectively improving the purity and amplitude of ultrasonic Lamb waves in non-ferromagnetic plates. The developed EMAT consists of a racetrack coil and a group of periodic permanent magnets (PPMs). Two-dimensional finite element simulations and experiments are implemented to analyze the working mechanism and performance of the PPM EMAT. Thanks to the specific design, the eddy currents increase with increasing wire density and the directions of the magnetic fields and Lorentz forces alternate according to the polarities of the magnet units. Wires laid uniformly beneath the magnets, and the gaps between adjacent magnets generate tangential and normal Lorentz forces, resulting in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OP) displacements, respectively. The constructive interference occurs when the wavelength of the generated Lamb wave is twice the spacing of the magnets, leading to large amplitudes of the targeted ultrasonic Lamb waves. Therefore, the PPM EMAT is capable of generating pure symmetric or antisymmetric mode Lamb waves at respective frequencies. The results prove that the developed PPM EMAT can generate pure either S0 or A0 mode Lamb waves at respective frequencies. The increase in wire width and wire density further increases the signal amplitudes. Compared with the case of conventional meander-line-coil (MLC) EMAT, the amplitudes of the A0 and S0 mode Lamb waves of our PPM EMAT are increased to 880% and 328%, respectively