The Mechanism Research of Qishen Yiqi Formula by Module-Network Analysis

Qishen Yiqi formula (QSYQ) has the effect of tonifying Qi and promoting blood circulation, which is widely used to treat the cardiovascular diseases with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. However, the mechanism of QSYQ to tonify Qi and promote blood circulation is rarely reported at molecular or systems level. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of QSYQ based on the protein interaction network (PIN) analysis. The targets’ information of the active components was obtained from ChEMBL and STITCH databases and was further used to search against protein-protein interactions by String database. Next, the PINs of QSYQ were constructed by Cytoscape and were analyzed by gene ontology enrichment analysis based on Markov Cluster algorithm. Finally, based on the topological parameters, the properties of scale-free, small world, and modularity of the QSYQ’s PINs were analyzed. And based on function modules, the mechanism of QSYQ was elucidated. The results indicated that Qi-tonifying efficacy of QSYQ may be partly attributed to the regulation of amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and cAMP metabolism, while QSYQ improves the blood stasis through the regulation of blood coagulation and cardiac muscle contraction. Meanwhile, the “synergy” of formula compatibility was also illuminated

Perspectives on studies on soil carbon stocks and the carbon sequestration potential of China

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Wrinkling behaviour of annular graphynes under circular shearing load using molecular dynamics simulations

Graphyne, a novel carbon allotrope, is a two-dimensional lattice of sp2+sp1 hybridization-type carbon atoms, similar to graphene. The initiation and development of wrinkles in single-layer graphynes (α-, β-, γ-, and 6, 6, 12-graphyne) subjected to in-plane circular shearing are investigated. In comparison with graphene, wrinkle pattern and profile characterization in relation to wave number, wavelength and amplitude of graphynes are extensively explored using classic molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. Unlike graphene, the wave numbers of graphynes increase with increasing rotational angles; the wavelengths reduce correspondingly. The amplitudes show an increasing trend, with some local drops when the rotational angles increase. The drops occur as the positions of the wave numbers increase. Graphynes have superior fracture properties to graphene, despite the densities of graphynes being far lower. The fracture rotational angles depend on the percentages of acetylenic linkages in the graphyne structures: the more acetylenic linkages, the larger the fracture rotational angles. Meanwhile, acetylenic linkages also affect the bond length strains of the graphynes during the wrinkling process. The influences of the temperature on the fracture rotational angles are also examined to obtain further insights into the mechanical properties of such kinds of carbon allotropes. The achieved results can be used as guidelines for the wrinkling control and potential applications of graphynes

Markov Chain-based Clustering Analysis of Customers and WebPages

This paper focuses on users’ behavior towards an EC website. A novel Markov Chain-based way combining the web log file information and the topology of an EC website is presented to rank a user\u27s interest in a WebPage. Then a URL-USERID relevant matrix is set up, with URL taken as a row and USERID as column, and each element’s value is the probability of a user to access a WebPage when time goes infinitely. The similarity of each column vector can be used to cluster customers, and relevant web pages can be found from the similarity of each row vector. The knowledge discovered by this dynamic model can be fairly helpful to the design and maintenance of a website, to provide personalized service, and can be used in an effective recommending system of an EC website etc

A novel voice coil motor-driven compliant micropositioning stage based on flexure mechanism

This paper presents a 2-degrees of freedom flexure-based micropositioning stage with a flexible decoupling mechanism. The stage is composed of an upper planar stage and four vertical support links to improve the out-of-plane stiffness. The moving platform is driven by two voice coil motors, and thus it has the capability of large working stroke. The upper stage is connected with the base through six double parallel four-bar linkages mechanisms, which are orthogonally arranged to implement the motion decoupling in the x and y directions. The vertical support links with serially connected hook joints are utilized to guarantee good planar motion with heavy-loads. The static stiffness and the dynamic resonant frequencies are obtained based on the theoretical analyses. Finite element analysis is used to investigate the characteristics of the developed stage. Experiments are carried out to validate the established models and the performance of the developed stage. It is noted that the developed stage has the capability of translational motion stroke of 1.8 mm and 1.78 mm in working axes. The maximum coupling errors in the x and y directions are 0.65% and 0.82%, respectively, and the motion resolution is less than 200 nm. The experimental results show that the developed stage has good capability for trajectory tracking

Modification of wetting property of Inconel 718 surface by nanosecond laser texturing

Topographic and wetting properties of Inconel 718 (IN718) surfaces were modified via nanosecond laser treatment. In order to investigate surface wetting behavior without additional post treatment, three kinds of microstructures were created on IN718 surfaces, including line pattern, grid pattern and spot pattern. From the viewpoint of surface morphology, the results show that laser ablated grooves and debris significantly altered the surface topography as well as surface roughness compared with the non-treated surfaces. The effect of laser parameters (such as laser scanning speed and laser average power) on surface features was also discussed. We have observed the treated surface of IN718 showed very high hydrophilicity just after laser treatment under ambient air condistion.And this hydrophicility property has changed rapidly to the other extreme; very high hydrophobicity over just about 20 days. Further experiments and analyses have been carried out in order to investigate this phenomena. Based on the XPS analysis, the results indicate that the change of wetting property from hydrophilic to hydrophobic over time is due to the surface chemistry modifications, especially carbon content. After the contact angles reached steady state, the maximum water contact angle (WCA) for line-patterned and grid-patterned surfaces increased to 152.3 1.2° and 156.8 1.1° with the corresponding rolling angle (RA) of 8.8 1.1° and 6.5 0.8°, respectively. These treated IN718 surfaces exhibited superhydrophobic property. However, the maximum WCA for the spot-patterned surfaces just increased to 140.8 2.8° with RA above 10°. Therefore, it is deduced that laser-inscribed modification of surface wettability has high sensitivity to surface morphology and surface chemical compositions. This work can be utilized to optimize the laser processing parameters so as to fabricate desired IN718 surfaces with hydrophobic or even superhydrophobic property and thus extend the applications of IN718 material in various fields

Serum retinol-binding protein 4 levels are elevated but do not contribute to insulin resistance in newly diagnosed Chinese hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is closely correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a novel adipokine that modulates the action of insulin in various diseases. This study addressed the relationship between RBP4 and IR in newly diagnosed essential hypertension. METHODS: Serum RBP4, anthropometric and metabolic parameters were determined in 267 newly diagnosed essential hypertensive patients not taking antihypertensive medications. The patients along with 64 control (NC) normotensive and lean subjects paired by age and sex were divided into two groups depending on body mass index (BMI), hypertension with obesity (HPO) and hypertension without obesity (HP). RESULTS: A striking difference was observed in RBP4 levels between the HP and NC groups. Significantly higher levels were noted in the HP group compared with the NC group; slightly, but not significantly, lower levels were observed in the HPO group compared with the HP group. After adjusting for BMI, WC and WHR, a modestly linear relationship was observed between RBP4 levels and SBP (r = 0.377; p = 0.00), DBP (r = 0.288; p = 0.00) and HOMA-β(r = 0.121; p = 0.028). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SBP, WHR and drinking were independently related with serum RBP4 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that RBP4 levels were increased in naive hypertensive patients; however, no differences were observed in obese or non-obese hypertensive subjects. Our data suggest for the first time that RBP4 levels are significantly increased but do not contribute to the development of IR in newly diagnosed hypertensive Chinese patients

Mechanical properties investigation of monolayer h-BN sheet under in-plane shear displacement using molecular dynamics simulations

The mechanical properties, including wrinkling patterns and fracture behavior, of monolayer h-BN sheets have been investigated using classic molecular dynamics simulations and continuum model. The wrinkling pattern formation and evolution have been first explored. The dependences of the wrinkling shape, amplitude, and wavelength, as well as wrinkling number on shear displacement are extensively elucidated. The influences of geometry and shear load direction, as well as temperature, on the fracture behavior have also been studied to obtain further insights into the properties of the monolayer h-BN sheets