Pharmacokinetics, Bioavailability, and Tissue Distribution Study of Angoroside C and Its Metabolite Ferulic Acid in Rat Using UPLC-MS/MS

Angoroside C is a phenylpropanoid glycoside compound isolated from the dried root of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl., which possesses the effects of preventing ventricular remodeling, reducing pulmonary oedema, and reducing blood pressure, as well as having the properties of anti-platelet aggregation, hepatoprotection and anti-nephritis, etc. However, few investigations have been conducted on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) study of angoroside C. Thus, a fast ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of angoroside C and its metabolite ferulic acid in rat plasma and tissue homogenate. The two analytes were extracted from the biosamples using a simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The developed method was validated and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and tissue distribution study after the intragastric administration of angoroside C (100 mg/kg) or the intravenous administration of angoroside C (5 mg/kg), respectively. The results showed that angoroside C can be absorbed extremely quickly (Tmax = 15 min), can be eliminated very rapidly (t1/2 = 1.26 h), and its oral bioavailability is only about 2.1%. Furthermore, angoroside C was extensively distributed in all main organs (liver, heart, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain), and the highest concentration was detected in the lung 15 min after oral administration. This paper also indicated that angoroside C could be converted to the active metabolite ferulic acid in vivo. The maximum concentrations of ferulic acid in the kidney occurred at 6 h after oral administration. In summary, this study explored some of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of angoroside C in vivo, and the data produced could provide a basis for the further investigation of angoroside C

Biochar for Sustainable Farming and Recultivation

Food shortage is a severe problem, with an estimated 720 to 811 million people globally facing hunger in 2020, as reported by the FAO [...

PaaS RTI-Supporting Distributed Simulation Interaction in Cloud Computing Age

Abstract. In Cloud Computing age, distributed interaction simulation would encounter many difficulties, especially the WAN-based interaction. A scheme of remodeling the traditional RTI software to be with "Platform as a Service (PaaS)" architecture was proposed. This paper puts forward two different software architectures to adapt to different network environments. Kernel idea is encapsulating the APIs of traditional RTI to be Web Services, deploying and scheduling these Web Services on servers, so, a distributed interaction platform is provided to simulation users on WAN. Users could utilize the services from the platform to execute simulation interaction. Finally, an experiment was carried out to test the time-latency performance of the remodeled software

PaaS RTI-Supporting Distributed Simulation Interaction in Cloud Computing Age

Abstract. In Cloud Computing age, distributed interaction simulation would encounter many difficulties, especially the WAN-based interaction. A scheme of remodeling the traditional RTI software to be with "Platform as a Service (PaaS)" architecture was proposed. This paper puts forward two different software architectures to adapt to different network environments. Kernel idea is encapsulating the APIs of traditional RTI to be Web Services, deploying and scheduling these Web Services on servers, so, a distributed interaction platform is provided to simulation users on WAN. Users could utilize the services from the platform to execute simulation interaction. Finally, an experiment was carried out to test the time-latency performance of the remodeled software

Optimal mean-variance reinsurance with common shock dependence

We consider the optimal proportional reinsurance problem for an insurer with two dependent classes of insurance business, where the two claim number processes are correlated through a common shock component. Using the technique of stochastic linear–quadratic control theory and the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation, we derive the explicit expressions for the optimal reinsurance strategies and value function, and present the verification theorem within the framework of the viscosity solution. Furthermore, we extend the results in the linear–quadratic setting to the mean–variance problem, and obtain an efficient strategy and frontier. Some numerical examples are given to show the impact of model parameters on the efficient frontier. doi:10.1017/S144618111600016

Optimal portfolio and consumption for a Markovian regime-switching jump-diffusion process

We consider the optimal portfolio and consumption problem for a jump-diffusion process with regime switching. Under the criterion of maximizing the expected discounted total utility of consumption, two methods, namely, the dynamic programming principle and the stochastic maximum principle, are used to obtain the optimal result for the general objective function, which is the solution to a system of partial differential equations. Furthermore, we investigate the power utility as a specific example and analyse the existence and uniqueness of the optimal solution. Under the constraints of no-short-selling and nonnegative consumption, closed-form expressions for the optimal strategy and the value function are derived. Besides, some comparisons between the optimal results for the jump-diffusion model and the pure diffusion model are carried out. Finally, we discuss our optimal results in some special cases.   doi:10.1017/S144618112100012

Spatial Diffusion of Taiwanese Enterprises in Mainland China under the Vision of Rural Industrial Vitalization

The Taiwanese, who have accumulated rich experience from the strategy, have greatly promoted the development of the rural economy in mainland China through the establishment of rural Taiwanese enterprises. In the process of the strategy of rural revitalization, it is important to draw on the experience from Taiwan, and to acknowledge the leading role of Taiwanese entrepreneurs. In this study, we considered 941 rural Taiwanese enterprises that were registered in townships and villages in mainland China. Based on the cultural diffusion model, spatial analysis of GIS, and statistical methods, this study analyzed the spatial pattern and evolution of rural Taiwanese enterprises, and predicted the spatial diffusion pattern as well. The study found the following: (1) The reform and opening-up policy leads to the core position of Dongguan and Kunshan, and continues to consolidate the dual-core pattern with a noticeable combined effect. (2) Rural Taiwanese enterprises are mainly engaged in the secondary industry, with characteristics of small-scale and strong independence. They tend to be located in secondary cities in developed regions, in order to reduce costs and obtain maximum profits. (3) They display a V-shaped pattern covering the Eastern coastal line and Hunan-Sichuan line, with Guangdong as the node. (4) It is predicted that, in the next decade, the growth of the enterprises will slow down and their spatial diffusion pattern will be more conspicuous. While the spatial diffusion of Taiwanese enterprises slows down, more domestic investment may lead to industry vitalization in rural China