Pharmacokinetics of Acetaminophen and Metformin Hydrochloride in Rats After Exposure to Simulated High Altitude Hypoxia

The pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs were altered under high altitude hypoxia, thereby affecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drug. However, there are few literatures on the pharmacokinetic changes of antipyretic and pain-relieving drugs and cardiovascular system drugs at high altitude. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen and metformin hydrochloride in rats under simulated high altitude hypoxia condition. Mechanically, the protein and mRNA expression of uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) and organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) were investigated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. Compared with the normoxia group, the t1/2 and AUC of acetaminophen were significantly increased, and the CL/F was significantly decreased in rats after exposure to simulated high altitude hypoxia. The t1/2 of metformin hydrochloride was significantly increased by simulated high altitude hypoxia. No significant differences in AUC and CL/F of metformin hydrochloride were observed when comparing the hypoxia group with the normoxia group. The protein and mRNA expression of UGT1A1 and OCT2 were decreased significantly under hypoxia in rats. This study found obvious changes in the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen and metformin hydrochloride in rats after exposure to simulated high altitude hypoxia, and they might be due to significant decreases in the expressions of UGT1A1 and OCT2. To sum up, our data suggested that the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen and metformin hydrochloride should be reexamined, and the optimal dose should be reassessed under hypoxia exposure

Experiment and Simulation of Liquid Film Flow Driving Abrasive Particle Dispersion on the Surface of a Rotating Disk

Controlling the distribution of the abrasive grains on the surface of the grinding tools in an appropriate way is important for improving the quality of grinding processing and meeting the workpiece precision requirements. In the present study, a novel method for the orderly arrangement of abrasive particles is proposed by using the liquid film flow on the surface of the rotating disk as the driving and controlling means for the uniform dispersion and position arrangement of abrasive particles. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been performed to clearly illustrate the trajectories of abrasive particles under the strong influence of liquid film flow on the rotating disk and reveal the effects of fluid flow, disk rotational motion, and the mixture viscosity on the particle distribution. A new abrasive grain arrangement device is designed and fabricated using this novel method. The operating parameters such as liquid volume flow rate, disk rotational speed, and liquid viscosity are adjusted to control the placement of abrasive grains on the surface of the grinding tool. An image processing tool is used to examine and analyze the arrangement results. The experimental results indicated that the application of the liquid film flow on a rotating disk to the abrasive grain arrangement can improve the arrangement of abrasive grains and get rid of the dependence on the template

Seroprevalence and genotype of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs, dogs and cats from Guizhou province, Southwest China

Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate, intracellular protozoan that infects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, domesticated and wild animals. Recent studies of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from animals in different regions of China have shown a limited genetic diversity with the dominance of the ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #9 named as “Chinese 1”. However, there is not much published information regarding its prevalence in domestic animals from Guizhou province, a subtropical region in Southwest China. The objectives of this study were to determine seroprevalence and genetic diversity of T .gondii in pigs, dogs and cats in Guizhou province, Southwest China. Findings The anti-T. gondii IgG were detected in 70.0%(49/70) pigs, 20.56%(22/107) dogs and 63.16(12/19) cats. The anti-T. gondii IgM were found in 0.93%(1/107) dogs, 21.53%(4/19) cats, but not in pigs. In addition, the toxoplasma circulating antigen (CAG) were detected in 16.9%18/70)pigs, 13.1% (14/107) dogs and 10.5%(2/19) cats. The T. gondii DNA were detected in 31.5%(22/70) pigs, 3.7%(4/107) dogs and 52.63%(10/19) cats. Five T. gondii isolates were obtained(3 from pigs and 2 from cats). The genotype of these five isolates belonged to the predominant genotype “Chinese 1”. Conclusions The high prevalence of T. gondii infection in pigs,cats and dogs indicated that the T. gondii infection is common in Guizhou province. Additionally, the T. gondii genotype “Chinese 1” was dominant in Southwest China

Crystalline Nanojoining Silver Nanowire Percolated Networks on Flexible Substrate

Optoelectronic performance of metal nanowire networks are dominated by junction microstructure and network configuration. Although metal nanowire printings, such as silver nanowires (AgNWs) or AgNWs/semiconductor oxide bilayer, have great potential to replace traditional ITO, efficient and selective nanoscale integration of nanowires is still challenging owing to high cross nanowire junction resistance. Herein, pulsed laser irradiation under controlled conditions is used to generate local crystalline nanojoining of AgNWs without affecting other regions of the network, resulting in significantly improved optoelectronic performance. The method, laser-induced plasmonic welding (LPW), can be applied to roll-to-roll printed AgNWs percolating networks on PET substrate. First principle simulations and experimental characterizations reveal the mechanism of crystalline nanojoining originated from thermal activated isolated metal atom flow over nanowire junctions. Molecular dynamic simulation results show an angle-dependent recrystallization process during LPW. The excellent optoelectronic performance of AgNW/PET has achieved <i>R</i>_s ∼ 5 Ω/sq at high transparency (91% @λ = 550 nm)

A Novel NASICON-Typed Na4VMn0.5Fe0.5(PO4)(3) Cathode for High-Performance Na-Ion Batteries

The Na+ superionic conductor (NASICON)-type Na3V2(PO4)(3) cathodes have attracted extensive interest due to their high structural stability and fast Na+ mobility. However, the substitution of vanadium with low-cost active elements remains imperative due to high cost of vanadium, to further boost its application feasibility. Herein, a novel ternary NASICON-type Na4VMn0.5Fe0.5(PO4)(3)/C cathode is designed, which integrates the advantages of large reversible capacity, high voltage, and good stability. The as-obtained Na4VMn0.5Fe0.5(PO4)(3)/C composite can deliver an excellent rate capacity of 96 m Ah g(-1) at 20 C and decent cycling durability of 94% after 3000 cycles at 20 C, which is superior to that of Na4VFe(PO4)(3)/C and Na4VMn(PO4)(3)/C. The synergetic contributions of multimetal ions and facilitated Na+ migration of the Na4VMn0.5Fe0.5(PO4)(3)/C cathode are confirmed by the first-principles calculations. The processive reduction/oxidation involved in Fe2+/Fe3+, Mn2+/Mn3+, V3+/V4+/V5+ redox couples are also revealed upon the charging/discharging process by ex situ soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The reversible structure evolution and small volume change during the electrochemical reaction is demonstrated by in situ X-ray diffraction characterization. The rational design of NASICON-type cathodes by regulating composition with substitution of multimetal ions can provide new perspectives for high-performance Na-ion batteries.</p