Epimedium brevicornu Maxim extract shows protective activity against Alzheimer's disease in mice

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Epimedium brevicornu Maxim extract (EBME) against Alzheimer's disease in 3xTg-AD mice. Methods: The cognitive function of 3xTg-AD mice was assessed using Morris water maze test. The levels of amyloid beta deposits and NeuN in the mouse hippocampus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Brain neurotrophic-derived factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions were examined by western blot analysis. Results: EBME treatment significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits in AD mice, as shown by the increased time spent in the target zone during probe tests. Compared with the 3xTg-AD mice (8.4 ± 1.1 s), the escape latency in animals treated with 600 mg/kg EBME (21.5 ± 1.1 s) was significantly increased (p < 0.01). In addition, EBME significantly decreased Aβ deposits, increased NeuN-positive cells, and upregulated the expressions of BDNF (1.5 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) and TrkB (1.6 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) in the 3xTg AD mice. Conclusion: EBME treatment may be a useful therapeutic strategy for managing memory impairment

Dynamical evolution of spinodal decomposition in holographic superfluids

We study the nonlinear dynamical evolution of spinodal decomposition in a first-order superfluid phase transition using a simple holographic model in the probe limit. We first confirm the linear stability analysis based on quasinormal modes and verify the existence of a critical length scale related to a gradient instability -- negative speed of sound squared -- of the superfluid sound mode, which is a consequence of a negative thermodynamic charge susceptibility. We present a comparison between our case and the standard Cahn-Hilliard equation for spinodal instability, in which a critical length scale can be also derived based on a diffusive instability. We then perform several numerical tests which include the nonlinear time evolution directly from an unstable state and fast quenches from a stable to an unstable state in the spinodal region. Our numerical results provide a real time description of spinodal decomposition and phase separation in one and two spatial dimensions. We reveal the existence of four different stages in the dynamical evolution, and characterize their main properties. Finally, we investigate the strength of dynamical heterogeneity using the spatial variance of the local chemical potential and we correlate the latter to other features of the dynamical evolution.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure

High Ozone (O3) Affects the Fitness Associated with the Microbial Composition and Abundance of Q Biotype Bemisia tabaci

Abstract Ozone (O3) affects the fitness of an insect, such as its development, reproduction and protection against fungal pathogens, but the mechanism by which it does so remains unclear. Here, we compared the fitness (i.e., the growth and development time, reproduction and protection against Beauveria bassiana (B. bassiana) of Q biotype whiteflies fumigated under hO3 (280 ± 20 ppb) and control O3 (50 ± 10 ppb) concentrations. Moreover, we determined that gene expression was related to development, reproduction and immunity to B. bassiana and examined the abundance and composition of bacteria and fungi inside of the body and on the surface of the Q biotype whitefly. We observed a significantly enhanced number of eggs that were laid by a female, shortened developmental time, prolonged adult lifespan, decreased weight of one eclosion, and reduced immunity to B. bassiana in whiteflies under hO3, but hO3 did not significantly affect the expression of genes related to development, reproduction and immunity. However, hO3 obviously changed the composition of the bacterial communities inside of the body and on the surface of the whiteflies, significantly reducing Rickettsia and enhancing Candidatus_Cardinium. Similarly, hO3 significantly enhanced Thysanophora penicillioides from the Trichocomaceae family and reduced Dothideomycetes (at the class level) inside of the body. Furthermore, positive correlations were found between the abundance of Candidatus_Cardinium and the female whitefly ratio and the fecundity of a single female, and positive correlations were found between the abundance of Rickettsia and the weight of adult whiteflies just after eclosion and immunity to B. bassiana. We conclude that hO3 enhances whitefly development and reproduction but impairs immunity to B. bassiana, and our results also suggest that the changes to the microbial environments inside of the body and on the surface could be crucial factors that alter whitefly fitness under hO3. Key words: Bemisia tabaci, high ozone (hO3), fitness, microbial communities, inside of the body, on the surfac

(2-Acetyl­phenolato)(2,2′-bipyridine)nitratocopper(II)

In the title compound, [Cu(C8H7O2)(NO3)(C10H8N2)], the CuII ion is five-coordinate in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The basal positions are occupied by two N atoms from a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand and two O atoms from the 2-acetyl­phenolate anion. The axial position is occupied by one O atom of a nitrate anion. In the bipyridine ligand, the two pyridine rings are slightly twisted by an angle of 3.5 (1)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by C—H⋯O hydrogen bond

Mechanical performance of 22SiMn2TiB steel welded with low-transformation-temperature filler wire and stainless steel filler wire

TX-80 low-transformation-temperature (LTT) welding wire was used to replace the traditional ER 307Si welding wire to realize the connection of 22SiMn2TiB armor steel in manual overlay welding. The previously existing issues, such as welding cracks, large welding deformation, and severe welding residual stress, were solved to ensure good strength and ductility requirements. In particular, with the same welding conditions, TX-80 LTT wire eliminates welding cracks. It reduces the welding deformation no matter the base pretreatment of pre-setting angle or no pre-setting angle. By comparison, it was found that the microstructure at the TX-80 weld is mainly composed of martensite and a small amount of retained austenite. In contrast, the microstructure of the ER 307Si weld consists of a large amount of austenite and a small amount of skeleton-like ferrite. The variation trend of residual stress and microhardness from the weld to the base were investigated and compared with the mechanical properties of base materials. The TX-80 and the ER 307Si tensile samples elongation is 6.76% and 6.01%, while the ultimate tensile strengths are 877 and 667 MPa, respectively. The average impact toughness at room temperature of the ER 307Si weld is 143.9 J/cm2, much higher than that of the TX-80 weld, which is only 36.7 J/cm2. The relationship between impact and tensile properties with microstructure species and distribution was established. In addition, the fracture surface of the tensile and the impact samples was observed and analyzed. Deeper dimples, fewer pores, larger radiation zone, and shear lips of TX-80 samples indicate better tensile ductility and worse impact toughness than those of ER 307Si weld.</p

[3,5-Bis(benz­yloxy)phen­yl]methanol

In the title compound, C21H20O3, the two terminal phenyl rings are each approximately perpendicular to the central benzene ring, making dihedral angles of 84.40 (16) and 75.12 (15)°. The H atom of the hydr­oxy group is disordered over two positions with equal occupancies. The mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a chain along the a axis

Isomorphic Cd(II)/Zn(II)-MOFs as Bifunctional Chemosensors for Anion (Cr2O72–) and Cation (Fe3+) detection in Aqueous Solution

Two isomorphic 3D MOFs [Cd(2-bpeb)(sdba)] (1) and [Zn(2-bpeb)(sdba)] derived from the π-conjugated pro-ligand 2-(4-((E)-2-(pyridine-2-yl)vinyl)styryl)pyridine (2-bpeb) and 4,4’-sulfonyldibenzoate (H2sdba) were synthesized and characterized. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit striking fluorescence properties and can function as chemical sensors via rapid luminescence quenching in the presence of Fe3+and Cr2O72- in aqueous media with high sensitivity and selectivity

Evaluation of three high abundance protein depletion kits for umbilical cord serum proteomics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High abundance protein depletion is a major challenge in the study of serum/plasma proteomics. Prior to this study, most commercially available kits for depletion of highly abundant proteins had only been tested and evaluated in adult serum/plasma, while the depletion efficiency on umbilical cord serum/plasma had not been clarified. Structural differences between some adult and fetal proteins (such as albumin) make it likely that depletion approaches for adult and umbilical cord serum/plasma will be variable. Therefore, the primary purposes of the present study are to investigate the efficiencies of several commonly-used commercial kits during high abundance protein depletion from umbilical cord serum and to determine which kit yields the most effective and reproducible results for further proteomics research on umbilical cord serum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The immunoaffinity based kits (PROTIA-Sigma and 5185-Agilent) displayed higher depletion efficiency than the immobilized dye based kit (PROTBA-Sigma) in umbilical cord serum samples. Both the PROTIA-Sigma and 5185-Agilent kit maintained high depletion efficiency when used three consecutive times. Depletion by the PROTIA-Sigma Kit improved 2DE gel quality by reducing smeared bands produced by the presence of high abundance proteins and increasing the intensity of other protein spots. During image analysis using the identical detection parameters, 411 ± 18 spots were detected in crude serum gels, while 757 ± 43 spots were detected in depleted serum gels. Eight spots unique to depleted serum gels were identified by MALDI- TOF/TOF MS, seven of which were low abundance proteins.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The immunoaffinity based kits exceeded the immobilized dye based kit in high abundance protein depletion of umbilical cord serum samples and dramatically improved 2DE gel quality for detection of trace biomarkers.</p