The effects of various feeding protocols on oxidative stress status in the brain.

<p>Seven-week old male mice had free access to regular chow or high fat diet or were allowed to have free access to regular chow every other day (intermittent fasting) for 11 months. Their brains were then harvested to measure glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and nitrotyrosine containing proteins. The levels of GSH and GSSG and ratio of GSH/GSSG in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus are presented in panels A and B, respectively. The levels of HNE and nitrotyrosine containing proteins in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus are shown in the panels C and D. Results are means ± S.E.M (n = 8). * P<0.05 compared with mice on regular chow <i>ad libitum</i>.</p

Designing Difunctional Promoters for Hypergolic Ignitions of Green Bipropellants Combining Ionic Liquids with H₂O₂

The emergence of tetrahydroborate (BH4–)/cyanoborohydride (BH3CN–) anion-based ionic liquid fuels in combination with high test peroxide (>90%H2O2, HTP) oxidizers has accelerated the greening of bipropellants. However, most BH4– and BH3CN– anion-based ionic liquids are sensitive to water, making it difficult to store them. Here, novel difunctional promoters are designed for hypergolic ignition of BH4–/BH3CN– anion-free ionic liquids with 90%H2O2. The transition metal in anions of promoters is expected to catalyze the exothermic decomposition of H2O2, and the substituted borohydride in cations of promoters acts as the ignition source. These novel difunctional promoters show good solubility in commercially available 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ionic liquid fuels, and the composite fuels exhibit high density, acceptable viscosity, and high thermostability. The addition of difunctional promoters ensures the smooth hypergolic ignition of BH4–/BH3CN– anion-free ionic liquid fuels with a minimum ignition delay time of 34.0 ms, and no apparent microexplosion and secondary combustion are observed during the ignition process. With the increase in the amount of the promoter, density specific impulses of the composite fuels improve gradually. This work provides a platform strategy for designing promoters by synergy of cations and anions and makes efforts to seek green bipropellants

The effects of various feeding protocols on CA1 pyramidal cell layer thickness, neuron-specific proteins and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain.

<p>Seven-week old male mice had free access to regular chow or high fat diet or were allowed to have free access to regular chow every other day (intermittent fasting) for 11 months. Their brains were then harvested to measure CA1 pyramidal cell layer thickness (panel A) and expression of NeuN, drebrin and synaptophysin in the cerebral cortex (panel B) and hippocampus (panel C) as well as the BDNF levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (panel D). The protein abundance results in each mouse were normalized by the mean value of the corresponding protein in the regular diet-fed mice. Results are means ± S.E.M (n = 7 – 12). * P<0.05 compared with mice on regular diet ad libitum. GAPDH: glyceraldehydes 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Hippo: hippocampus; SP: synaptophysin; RD: regular diet; IF: intermittent fasting; HFD: high fat diet.</p

Potential of High Load Extension for Gasoline HCCI Engine Using Boosting and Exhaust Gas Recirculation

Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) still faces challenges in high load extension. In this paper, HCCI high load operation range was extended and combustion phasing was controlled by boosting combined with internal EGR and external EGR in a gasoline HCCI engine. Internal EGR was obtained by negative valve overlap (NVO) and used to achieve gasoline HCCI at ambient temperature without intake heating. Combustion phasing was optimized by adjusting the external EGR inducted into the intake system. The experimental results show that both boosting and EGR are effective means for HCCI high load extension but with limitations of peak pressure (<i>P</i>_max), maximum rate of pressure rise (<i>R</i>_max), combustion efficiency (η_c), and NO_<i>x</i> emissions. Under the acceptable <i>P</i>_max, <i>R</i>_max, η_c, and NO_<i>x</i> levels of a production gasoline engine, the achievable maximum IMEP is in the following order: external EGR, boosting, boosting combined with EGR. With increasing boost pressure, NO_<i>x</i> emissions are significantly reduced. But with acceptable <i>P</i>_max, heavy boosting leads to an ultralean mixture, followed by uncompleted combustion, which results in CO and HC emissions. At a fixed NVO, there is an appropriate range of the external EGR rate for stable HCCI combustion without knocking or misfire. Therefore, the optimized path was achieved using various internal EGR and external EGR combined to extend HCCI high load operation range. In addition, it can be found that boost pressure, percentage of CO₂ addition, and internal and external EGR rate have shown significant effects on combustion phasing of HCCI

Additional file 3 of Genome-wide identification and characterization of AP2/ERF gene superfamily during flower development in Actinidia eriantha

Additional file 3: Table S3. The basic information of AP2/ERF gene family in A. eriantha and A. chinensis

Production of Biodiesel by Esterification of Stearic Acid over Aminophosphonic Acid Resin D418

Biodiesel production has become a very intense research field because of its environmental benefits and the growing interest in finding new resources and alternatives for conventional fuels. In the present work, biodiesel production from the esterification of the free fatty acid stearic acid with ethanol over aminophosphonic acid resin D418 was studied. The effects of experimental factors such as the amount of D418, reaction temperature, and molar ratio of ethanol to stearic acid on the conversion ratio were evaluated. Process optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) was performed, and the interactions between the operating variables were elucidated. The optimum values for maximum esterification percentage were obtained by using a Box–Behnken center-united design with a minimum of experimental work. Moreover, the kinetics of the esterification catalyzed by D418 was studied, and the pseudohomogeneous (PH) model was used to simulate the experimental data

Time-Dependent Surface Structure Evolution of NiMo Films Electrodeposited Under Super Gravity Field as Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The surface structures of the electrodeposited NiMo films from compact to porous structure are adjusted by the combination of gravity acceleration and electrodeposition time. The evolution mechanism of surface structure is discussed based on the protrusion growth theory. The dependence of catalytic activity of the NiMo films for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on surface structure evolution is studied. The results indicate that compact NiMo layer is first electrodeposited, and then protrusions are formed. Finally, the protrusions rapidly grow and form a porous structure. It is found that only the compact NiMo films are electrodeposited under normal gravity condition due to a long induced time for the protrusions formation. Under super gravity field, the induced time for the protrusions formation is only less than 5 min owing to the enhanced mass transfer by the gravity-induced convection and hydrogen bubble agitation convection. So, a porous structure is easily formed under high gravity acceleration and long electrodeposition time. The HER activities of NiMo films are improved with the surface structure evolution from compact to porous structure due to the increase of active area. All NiMo films exhibit a good long-term durability, and the cell voltage of water electrolysis on porous NiMo films is lower

Metal–Organic Framework Derived Magnetic Nanoporous Carbon: Novel Adsorbent for Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction

The fabrication of a magnetic nanoporous carbon (MNPC) via one-step direct carbonization of Co-based metal–organic framework has been achieved without using any additional carbon precursors. The morphology, structure, and magnetic behavior of the as-prepared Co-MNPC were characterized by using the techniques of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The Co-MNPC has a high specific surface area, large pore volume, and super paramagnetism. Its performance was evaluated by the magnetic solid-phase extraction of some neonicotinoid insecticides from water and fatmelon samples followed by high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. The effects of the main experimental parameters that could affect the extraction efficiencies were investigated. The results demonstrated that the Co-MNPC had an excellent adsorption capability for the compounds

Vaginoplasty with Acellular Dermal Matrix after Radical Resection for Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

<p>Various methods are available for vaginoplasty, but many of them have the drawbacks including surgical complexity and postoperative pain at the donor site. We herein evaluated the outcomes of vaginoplasty using tissue-engineered biomaterial graft. This study included 16 early stage cervical cancer patients who received curative surgery in combination with radiotherapy. They underwent vaginoplasty with tissue-engineered biological material, acellular dermal matrix (ADM). After treatment, a vaginal dilator was advised to be used for 6 months to prevent contraction of vagina. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by the anatomic changes of vagina before and after treatment, and the sexual outcomes at 12-month after treatment. The procedure was safe with no intra-operative complications reported. The mean operation time was 1.7 ± 0.3 hours, with 11/16 patients had blood loss < 50 mL during surgery. Generally, epithelialization was observed in 2-week after treatment. At the 1-year follow-up visit, the mean vaginal width was increased significantly from 1.31 ± 0.4 cm before surgery to 4.13 ± 0.43 cm after surgery (p = 0.034). The vaginal length was also increased from 5.97 ± 0.59 cm to 9.25 ± 0.66 cm (p < 0.001). Majority of the patients (12/16) reported satisfactory sexual life. The use of ADM in vaginoplasty was a safe and effective procedure that provided satisfactory sexual function for patients with vaginal abnormalities after cervical cancer treatment.</p

Covalent Bonding of Metal–Organic Framework-5/Graphene Oxide Hybrid Composite to Stainless Steel Fiber for Solid-Phase Microextraction of Triazole Fungicides from Fruit and Vegetable Samples

A hybrid material of the zinc-based metal–organic framework-5 and graphene oxide (metal–organic framework-5/graphene oxide) was prepared as a novel fiber coating material for solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The SPME fibers were fabricated by covalent bonding via chemical cross-linking between the coating material metal–organic framework-5/graphene oxide and stainless steel wire. The prepared fiber was used for the extraction of five triazole fungicides from fruit and vegetable samples. Gas chromatography coupled with microelectron capture detector (GC-μECD) was used for quantification. The developed method gave a low limit of detection (0.05–1.58 ng g^–1) and good linearity (0.17–100 ng g^–1) for the determination of the triazole fungicides in fruit and vegetable samples. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for five replicate extractions of the triazole fungicides ranged from 3.7 to 8.9%. The method recoveries for spiked fungicides (5, 20, and 50 ng g^–1) in grape, apple, cucumber, celery cabbage, pear, cabbage, and tomato samples were in the range of 85.6–105.8% with the RSDs ranging from 3.6 to 11.4%, respectively, depending on both the analytes and samples. The metal–organic framework-5/graphene oxide coated fiber was stable enough for 120 extraction cycles without a significant loss of extraction efficiency. The method was suitable for the determination of triazole fungicides in fruit and vegetable samples