Poly[hexa­aqua­tri-μ-malonato-didysprosium(III)]

The title compound, [Dy2(C3H2O4)3(H2O)6]n, forms a coordination polymeric structure comprising hydrated dysprosium ions and malonate ligands. In the asymmetric unit, there are one dysprosium ion, one and a half malonate ligands, and three water mol­ecules. Each DyIII atom is coordinated by six O atoms from four malonate ligands and by three water mol­ecules, and displays a tricapped trigonal–prismatic coordination geometry. The malonate ligands adopt two types of coordination mode, linking dysprosium centres to form a three-dimensional coordination polymer. The extensive network of hydrogen bonds in this polymer enhances the structural stability

Research on Application of Potato Powder in Noodles

In this study, the potato whole flour was added to wheat flour with wheat gluten was auxiliary added to make potato noodle. Three groups of the potato powder noodles with different total flour content were studied from three levels: texture characteristics, microstructure and physicochemical properties of noodles. It was found that the potato powder had a certain effect on the mechanical properties of dough, the formation and structure of gluten network, and the cooking parameters and appearance of noodles. The results showed that the overall index was the best when the total amount of the potato powder was 20% (g/g)and the amount of gluten was 0.03% (g/g). It was also found that the effect of the potato powder on dough was bidirectional. The effect of the potato starch on the dough was negative, but the polysaccharides and protein in the potato powder may have a positive effect on the dough and gluten network. At the same time,the addition of wheat gluten can improve the stability of dough and the quality of noodles

Antineuroinflammatory Effects of Modified Wu-Zi-Yan-Zong Prescription in β

Modified Wu-Zi-Yan-Zong prescription (MWP), a traditional Chinese medicinal decoction, has possessed the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The mechanisms associated with these properties, however, are not completely understood. We designed the experiments to elucidate the antineuroinflammatory property of MWP in BV2 microglia activated by β-amyloid (Aβ), which is a characteristic feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The composition of MWP was studied using HPLC. BV2 microglia cells were then treated with Aβ in the presence or absence of MWP. The effects of MWP treatment on Aβ-activated neuroinflammation were determined using PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. MWP significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1, as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in Aβ-activated BV2 microglia. MWP also inhibited the nuclear translocation and signaling pathway of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) by suppressing inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB) degradation and downregulating IκB kinase β (IKKβ) phosphorylation. Moreover, MWP decreased extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, which is an important signaling pathway for proinflammatory gene expression. We concluded that MWP could suppress neuroinflammatory responses in Aβ-activated BV2 microglia via the NF-κB and ERK/p38 MAPK signaling cascades and could prove an effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases such as AD

Cases report: MRI findings of asymptomatically familial subependymal heterotopia with filamin A gene abnormality

Subependymal heterotopia (SEH) is a rare neuronal migration disorder consisting of gray matter nodules along the lateral ventricular walls and is often associated with other brain malformations. Despite most SEH cases showing epilepsy during their lifetimes, very few patients with asymptomatically familial SEH tend to cause misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. We present four familial SEH cases without any positive symptoms and medical history, including two fetuses, who were diagnosed by MRI and confirmed by genetic testing with mutation of filamin A. This report emphasizes the role of MRI in the recognition of SEH at an early age of gestation and in asymptomatically familial SEH. MRI provides a fast, repeatable, reliable, and cheap choice for detecting and screening familial SEH

Phase separation and crystallization of La2O3 doped ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 glass

In order to investigate the effect of the La2O3 on the phase separation and crystallization of ZnO-B2O3-SiO2 glass, after the occurence of the phase separation and crystallization of glasses by heat treatment, the microstructure morphology and distribution of elements in different sample areas were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS); the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the glass samples was studied by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and the precipitated crystals of crystallized glass were determined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results suggest that the phase separation and crystallization of 60ZnO-30B2O3-10SiO2 glass occur at glass surface, and the incorporation of small amount (<4 mol%) of La2O3 significantly inhibits the glass phase separation and consequently improves the thermal stability of glass. Doping of La2O3 accelerates the glass crystallization at the elevated temperature (660 °C), making the depth of crystal layer thicker and diffraction intensity in XRD patterns stronger. However, due to the precipitation of several crystals that occur simultaneously when La2O3 doping amount is 4 mol%, crystallization of the 60ZnO-30B2O3-10SiO2 glass is obviously depressed, the crystallization activation energy Ec and the relative crystallinity Xc of the glass reach the maximum and the minimum values, respectively. Although transition from one-dimensional growth of crystals to two-dimensional growth of crystals results from La2O3 addition, the one-dimensional growth of crystals remains dominant in crystallization process. This work can provide some useful information for preparing glass ceramics with nano-crystals precipitated in the glass surface

Vitamin C Enhances the Generation of Mouse and Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

SummarySomatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by defined factors. However, the low efficiency and slow kinetics of the reprogramming process have hampered progress with this technology. Here we report that a natural compound, vitamin C (Vc), enhances iPSC generation from both mouse and human somatic cells. Vc acts at least in part by alleviating cell senescence, a recently identified roadblock for reprogramming. In addition, Vc accelerates gene expression changes and promotes the transition of pre-iPSC colonies to a fully reprogrammed state. Our results therefore highlight a straightforward method for improving the speed and efficiency of iPSC generation and provide additional insights into the mechanistic basis of the reprogramming process