Optimal control strategies for energy storage systems for HUB substation considering multiple distribution networks.

With the global consensus to achieve carbon neutral goals, power systems are experiencing a rapid increase in renewable energy sources and energy storage systems (ESS). Especially, recent development of hub substations (HS/S) equipped with ESS, applicable for resolving site constraints if implemented as mobile transformers, is expanding the development of ESS-equipped facilities. However, these units require centralized control strategies considering variability within integrated networks. While studies on electric vehicle charging considering the variability of renewable energy or load are widely studied, ESS management scheme for individual substations requires further optimization, especially considering the state of distributed sources at lower levels and transmission system operators. Thus, in this study, an optimal control approach for ESS located at the connection point of transmission and distribution systems, including further consideration of the loss in distribution lines and the constraints of renewable energy sources is presented. This study attempts to derive proactive control strategies for ESS in HS/S to operate with various distribution networks. By establishing control priorities for each source through optimal operation strategy, a suitable capacity of ESS and its economic benefits for distribution network management can be examined. Validation of the current analysis results is performed by utilizing MATPOWER. By adapting the operational range of design scenarios, diverse distribution systems can be tested against multiple configurations of connected devices.

Health and Safety Performance of UK Universities and How to Improve It.

Background: This research suggested a method for evaluating health and safety performance as a combination of reactive and active monitoring. Methods: A number of Freedom of Information requests (FoI) were sent to the Health and safety Executive (HSE) and 100 UK universities. Data on the number of reportable incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences were compiled for UK universities and combined with the Impact Ranking for good health and well-being. A semi-structured survey was used to identify best H&S practices. Subsequently, the effect of workers' involvement in H&S management on RIDDOR and near-miss reports, was investigated using statistical analysis. Results: A ranking of UK universities that perform highly in Health and Safety (H&S) was assembled and selected universities were contacted to identify best practices. Best practices were divided into three categories: team management, roles and responsibilities, and H&S performance monitoring. One of the findings demonstrated a reverse dependence between provision of a refresher training in risk assessments and a number of reported RIDDOR incidents. Conclusion: Health and Safety professionals in the universities may find it useful to reflect on these findings and the identified best practices in order to improve the H&S performance in their own organisations.

Important Counteranion Effect on Adsorption Efficacity of Hydrogen Sulfide by Silver(I)-Dithione Coordination Polymers.

Four new coordination polymers (CPs) have been prepared and evaluated for their efficacy in adsorbing hydrogen sulfide. The reactions of the structurally flexible assembling dithione ligand, L, with different silver(I) salts lead to four new metal-organic coordination architectures (CPs I, III, V, and VIII) exhibiting either one- or two-dimensional networks. CP I, 2D-[(Ag2Cl2)L]n, exhibits a linear series of rhomboid (S)2Ag(µ2-Cl)2Ag(S)2 secondary building units (SBUs) where S is one of the thione functions of L, altogether forming a 2D-network. CP III, 2D-[(AgI)L]n, is built upon parallel staircase-shaped 1D-[Ag2(µ3-I)2]n SBUs bridged by S atoms of L that form a 2D-grid. CP V, 2D-[(AgL)(NO3)]n, presents parallel 1D-folded S-shaped [AgL]n+ chains linked by strong argentophilic Ag···Ag interactions, forming a 2D-scaffolding. CP VIII, 1D-[(Ag2L3)(Cr2O7)]n, shows 1D-zigzag [{Ag(η2-µ2,η-µ,µ-L)}2]n2n+ chains accompanied by Cr2O72- counteranions. The adsorption isotherms of H2S gas by these new CPs were examined and compared to those of related CPs [(Ag2Br2)L]n (II), [(AgCN)4L]n (IV), [(Ag2L)(CF3SO3)2]n (VI), and [(Ag2L)(NO3)(ClO4)]n (VII). Among the tested polymers, the 3D-CP IV featuring cyanide anions exhibits the highest adsorption capacity of the CPs studied in this work. In order to determine the reason for this marked difference, density functional theory (DFT) computations were used. All in all, it turns out that the electrostatic interactions (CN-···H-SH) are significantly stronger than the O-···H-SH ones. This investigation provides a valuable conceptual tool for other designs of CPs and MOFs having the purpose of capturing toxic gases.

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of anthraquinones in sicklepod sprouts with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

INTRODUCTION: Sicklepod [Cassia obtusifolia L. syn Senna obtusifolia (L.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Fabaceae] sprouts are promising ingredients with health-promoting benefits. Notwithstanding, the pharmacologically active compounds in sicklepod sprouts have not been studied or analysed in detail. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to isolate and structurally identify phytochemicals showing α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in sicklepod sprouts and simultaneously quantify the compounds in the sprouts to determine the optimal cultivation method and germination time to maximise active compounds. METHOD: A simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method with high sensitivity and accuracy was developed and used to analyse time-dependent changes in anthraquinone content during sicklepod germination. RESULTS: Thirteen anthraquinones were isolated and identified, of which six-chrysoobtusin, emodin, 1-O-methyl-2-methoxychrysophanol, 7-O-methylobtusin, chrysophanol, and physcion-showed moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The maximum content of anthraquinones in a sprout was observed on Day 5 under both light and dark conditions. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study revealed that sicklepod sprouts which are promising functional food materials contain a variety of anthraquinones.

Two new anthraquinone derivatives from Saprosma crassipes H. S. Lo.

Two new anthraquinone derivatives sapranquinones A and B (1 and 2) together with two known biogenetically related anthraquinone derivatives (3 and 4) were isolated from the stems of Saprosma crassipes H. S. Lo. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their antibacterial activities and compounds 1 and 3 had a broad spectrum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus albus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus tetragenus, and Micrococcus luteus with MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 5 µg/mL.

Predicting protein flexibility with AlphaFold.

AlphaFold2 has revolutionized protein structure prediction from amino-acid sequence. In addition to protein structures, high-resolution dynamics information about various protein regions is important for understanding protein function. Although AlphaFold2 has neither been designed nor trained to predict protein dynamics, it is shown here how the information returned by AlphaFold2 can be used to predict dynamic protein regions at the individual residue level. The approach, which is termed cdsAF2, uses the 3D protein structure returned by AlphaFold2 to predict backbone NMR NH S2 order parameters using a local contact model that takes into account the contacts made by each peptide plane along the backbone with its environment. By combining for each residue AlphaFold2's pLDDT confidence score for the structure prediction accuracy with the predicted S2 value using the local contact model, an estimator is obtained that semi-quantitatively captures many of the dynamics features observed in experimental backbone NMR NH S2 order parameter profiles. The method is demonstrated for a set nine proteins of different sizes and variable amounts of dynamics and disorder.

The combined analgesic, sedative, and anti-gastric cancer mechanisms of Tinospora sagittata var. yunnanensis (S. Y. Hu) H. S. Lo based on integrated ethnopharmacological data.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: As a Yi medicine for eliminating wind to relieve pain, Tinospora sagittata var. yunnanensis (S. Y. Hu) H. S. Lo (TSY) is widely used to treat sore throat, stomach pain, bone and muscle injuries, and tumors; however, the material basis and mechanism of action remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate the potential active compounds of TSY and related pharmacological mechanisms against gastric cancer using a multitarget strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main chemical components of TSY were collected through a literature review and database searches. The components were further screened for ADMET properties, and their targets were predicted using network pharmacology (admetSAR) and substructure-drug-target network-based inference (SDTNBI) approaches in silico. The pharmacological mechanism of action of TSY extract for pain relief, sedation, and anti-gastric cancer activities were identified via in vivo and in vitro biochemical analyses. RESULTS: Here, 28 chemical components were identified, 7 active compounds were selected, and 75 targets of TSY extract were predicted. A compound-target-disease network topological approach revealed that the predicted targets are highly related to the digestive system and nervous system. Network pharmacology results suggested that the anti-gastric cancer activity of TSY was highly correlated with its analgesic and sedative targets and MAPK. In vivo experiments confirmed that TSY extract not only reduced the number of voluntary activities in the mouse model but also exhibited a synergistic effect on sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep, reduced the number of mice exhibiting writhing responses to acetic acid, and increased the hot plate pain threshold of mice. Thus, TSY extract exhibits good analgesic and sedative effects. The TSY extract inhibited HGC-27 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by regulating apoptotic proteins (BAX, BCL-2 and BCL-XL) in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: TSY exhibits combined analgesic, sedative, and anti-gastric cancer activities.

A robust and efficient automatic method to segment maize FASGA stained stem cross section images to accurately quantify histological profile.

BACKGROUND: Grasses internodes are made of distinct tissues such as vascular bundles, epidermis, rind and pith. The histology of grasses stem was largely revisited recently taking advantage of the development of microscopy combined with the development of computer-automated image analysis workflows. However, the diversity and complexity of the histological profile complicates quantification. Accurate and automated analysis of histological images thus remains challenging. RESULTS: Herein, we present a workflow that automatically segments maize internode cross section images into 40 distinct tissues: two tissues in the epidermis, 19 tissues in the rind, 14 tissues in the pith and 5 tissues in the bundles. This level of segmentation is achieved by combining the Hue, Saturation and Value properties of each pixel and the location of each pixel in FASGA stained cross sectiona. This workflow is likewise able to highlight significant and subtle histological genotypic variations between maize internodes. The grain of precision provided by the workflow also makes it possible to demonstrate different levels of sensitivity to digestion by enzymatic cocktails of the tissues in the pith. The precision and strength of the workflow is all the more impressive because it is preserved on cross section images of other grasses such as miscanthus or sorghum. CONCLUSIONS: The fidelity of this tool and its capacity to automatically identify variations of a large number of histological profiles among different genotypes pave the way for its use to identify genotypes of interest and to study the underlying genetic bases of variations in histological profiles in maize or other species.

Conductivity Prediction Method of Carbon Nanotube Resin Composites Considering the Quantum Tunnelling Effect.

Understanding and predicting the conductivity of carbon nanotube resin composites are essential for structural health detection and monitoring applications. Due to the complexity in the composition of carbon nanotube resin composites, it is of practical significance to develop a method for predicting the conductivity with a view to design and making of the composite. In this paper, the influence of carbon nanotube tunnelling on the conductivity was investigated thoroughly, where the tunnelling conductivity effect is considered as an independent conductive phase. Then, the effective medium model and the Hashin-Shtrikman (H-S) boundary model are used to predict the conductivity of carbon nanotube resin composites. The results presented in this paper show that the developed method can reduce the prediction range of the H-S boundary model and improve the prediction accuracy of the lower bound of the H-S boundary model. The results also show that the tunnelling has little effect on conductivity prediction based on the effective medium model. Based on the results, the effects of nanotube conductivity, the aspect ratio and the barrier height on the prediction of the effective conductivity are discussed to provide a guidance for the design and making of the composites.

Opportunities and Challenges for Construction Health and Safety Technologies under the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chinese Construction Projects.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in significant delays and cost overrun in construction projects. The implementation of health and safety (H&S) technologies is one of the most important strategies to alleviate the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on the construction industry and help the industry adapt to the new normal. This study aims to evaluate the adoption of H&S technologies for pandemic management in the construction sector under the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with eighteen practitioners engaged from construction companies and technology firms were conducted to collect their views on the driving forces and issues of the adoption of H&S technologies for pandemic management in Chinese construction projects. The results reveal that the major H&S technologies used included the health quick response (QR) code system, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fever monitoring, and site access control system. These technologies were reported to be effective in preventing the spread of the pandemic in workplaces. The findings of the study amplify that the pandemic may serve as an acceleration of the adoption of H&S technologies in the construction sector. Other technologies, such as building information modeling, drones, AI-based safety monitoring, and robotics, however, were seldom used in the studied projects. The interviewees addressed several problems regarding the implementation of these technologies. High costs of technologies, a lack of client support, and disruptions to the normal work process were the main hurdles of the adoption of these technologies. The results indicated that the external influence factor-the COVID-19 pandemic-could considerably drive the use of H&S technologies, whereas the internal influence factors-cost and compatibility of technology-might be the major barriers to technology adoption. To encourage the wider use of H&S technologies in construction, the government is recommended to support the technology transformation by granting financial subsidies for costs involved in innovation adoption. Project owners may consider investing substantially in H&S technologies that can strengthen their resilient and innovative ability to adapt to the post-COVID-19 landscape. The present results will be useful to industry stakeholders and researchers interested in developing H&S technologies for combating the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises.

Zeta-carbonic anhydrases show CS2 hydrolase activity: A new metabolic carbon acquisition pathway in diatoms?

CDCA1 is a very peculiar member of the Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) family. It has been the first enzyme to show an efficient utilization of Cd(II) ions in Nature and a unique adaptation capability to live on the surface ocean. Indeed, in this environment, which is extremely depleted in essential metal ions, CDCA1 can utilize Zn(II) or Cd(II) as catalytic metal to support the metabolic needs of fast growing diatoms. In this paper we demonstrate a further catalytic versatility of this enzyme by using a combination of X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics simulations and enzymatic experiments. First we identified the CO2 binding site and the way in which this substrate travels from the environment to the enzyme active site. Then, starting from the observation of a structural similarity with the substrate entry route of CS2 hydrolase from Acidanius A1-3, we hypothesized and demonstrated that also CS2 is a substrate for CDCA1. This finding is new and unexpected since until now only few CS2 hydrolases have been characterized, and none of them is reported to have any CO2 hydratase action. The physiological implications of this supplementary catalytic activity still remain to be unveiled. We suggest here that it could represent another ability of diatoms expressing CDCA1 to adapt to the external environment. Indeed, the ability of this enzyme to convert CS2 could represent an alternative source of carbon acquisition for diatoms, in addition to CO2.

[Two newly recorded species of plants in Jiangxi province].

Based on the investigation of wild medicinal plant resources in Dexing city, Jiangxi province, and the collected plant specimens, which were identified by taxonomy, two new record species of geographical distribution were found, which are Meehania zheminensis A. Takano, Pan Li & G.-H. Xia and Corydalis huangshanensis L.Q.Huang & H.S.Peng. The voucher specimens are kept in Dexing museum of traditional Chinese medicine. In this paper, the new distribution species were reported, which provides valuable information for further enriching and supplementing the species diversity of medicinal plant resources in Jiangxi province.

Oxocrebanine: A Novel Dual Topoisomerase inhibitor, Suppressed the Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells MCF-7 by Inducing DNA Damage and Mitotic Arrest.

BACKGROUND: DNA topoisomerase (Topo) inhibition plays key role in breast cancer treatment. Stephania hainanensis H. S. Lo et Y. Tsoong (S. hainanensis), a Li nationality plant that has abundant aporphine alkaloids, can inhibit Topo. PURPOSE: To identify a dual Topo inhibitor, a deep and systematic study of active aporphine alkaloids in S. hainanensis and their mechanisms of inhibiting breast cancer proliferation and Topo activity are essential. STUDY DESIGN: This study aimed to assess the anti-breast cancer and Topo inhibitory activities of oxocrebanine and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The growth inhibitory activities of 12 compounds in S. hainanensis were screened by MTT assay in MCF-7, SGC-7901, HepG-2 cells, and compared with the effects on human normal mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells as non cancer control cells. The Topo inhibitory activity was assessed by DNA relaxation and unwinding assays, kDNA decatenation assay and western blot. Cell cycle and autophagy analyses were carried out with flow cytometry and staining. Acridine orange staining and α-tubulin morphology were observed by fluorescence microscopy. Western blot was used to examine microtubule assembly dynamics and the expression levels of key proteins associated with DNA damage, autophagy and mitotic arrest. RESULTS: Oxocrebanine was the anti-breast cancer active alkaloid in S. hainanensis. It exhibited the best inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 16.66 µmol/l, and had only weak effect on the proliferation of MCF-10A cells. Oxocrebanine inhibited Topo I and II α in a cell-free system and in MCF-7 cells. The DNA unwinding assay suggested that oxocrebanine intercalated with DNA as a catalytic inhibitor. Oxocrebanine regulated the levels of Topo I and IIα and DNA damage-related proteins. Oxocrebanine led to the mitotic arrest, and these effects occurred through both p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways. Oxocrebanine induced autophagy, abnormal α-tubulin morphology and stimulated enhanced microtubule dynamics. CONCLUSION: Oxocrebanine was the anti-breast cancer active aporphine alkaloid in S. hainanensis. Oxocrebanine was a Topo I/IIα dual inhibitor, catalytic inhibitor and DNA intercalator. Oxocrebanine caused DNA damage, autophagy, and mitotic arrest in MCF-7 cells. Oxocrebanine also disrupted tubulin polymerization. Accordingly, oxocrebanine held a great potential for development as a novel dual Topo inhibitor for effective breast cancer treatment.

A phylogenetic overview of the Hydnaceae (Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) with new taxa from China.

The family Hydnaceae (Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) is a group of fungi found worldwide which exhibit stichic nuclear division. The group is highly diverse in morphology, ecology, and phylogeny, and includes some edible species which are popular all over the world. Traditionally, Hydnaceae together with Cantharellaceae, Clavulinaceae and Sistotremataceae are four families in the Cantharellales. The four families were combined and redefined as "Hydnaceae", however, a comprehensive phylogeny based on multiple-marker dataset for the entire Hydnaceae sensu stricto is still lacking and the delimitation is also unclear. We inferred Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies for the family Hydnaceae from the data of five DNA regions: the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the mitochondrial small subunit rDNA gene (mtSSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1). We also produced three more phylogenetic trees for Cantharellus based on 5.8S, nLSU, mtSSU, RPB2 and TEF1, Craterellus and Hydnum both based on the combined nLSU and ITS. This study has reproduced the status of Hydnaceae in the order Cantharellales, and phylogenetically confirmed seventeen genera in Hydnaceae. Twenty nine new taxa or synonyms are described, revealed, proposed, or reported, including eight new subgenera (Cantharellus subgenus Magnus, Craterellus subgenus Cariosi, subg. Craterellus, subg. Imperforati, subg. Lamelles, subg. Longibasidiosi, subg. Ovoidei, and Hydnum subgenus Brevispina); seventeen new species (Ca. laevihymeninus, Ca. magnus, Ca. subminor, Cr. badiogriseus, Cr. croceialbus, Cr. macrosporus, Cr. squamatus, H. brevispinum, H. flabellatum, H. flavidocanum, H. longibasidium, H. pallidocroceum, H. pallidomarginatum, H. sphaericum, H. tangerinum, H. tenuistipitum and H. ventricosum); two synonyms (Ca. anzutake and Ca. tuberculosporus as Ca. yunnanensis), and two newly recorded species (H. albomagnum and H. minum). The distinguishing characters of the new species and subgenera as well as their allied taxa are discussed in the notes which follow them. The delimitation and diversity in morphology, ecology, and phylogeny of Hydnaceae is discussed. Notes of seventeen genera which are phylogenetically accepted in Hydnaceae by this study and a key to the genera in Hydnaceae are provided.

Sodium sulfite heptahydrate and its relation to sodium carbonate heptahydrate.

The monoclinic crystal structure of Na2SO3(H2O)7 is characterized by an alternating stacking of (100) cationic sodium-water layers and anionic sulfite layers along [100]. The cationic layers are made up from two types of [Na(H2O)6] octahedra that form linear 1∞[Na(H2O)4/2(H2O)2/1] chains linked by dimeric [Na(H2O)2/2(H2O)4/1]2 units on both sides of the chains. The isolated trigonal-pyramidal sulfite anions are connected to the cationic layers through an intricate network of O-H...O hydrogen bonds, together with a remarkable O-H...S hydrogen bond, with an O...S donor-acceptor distance of 3.2582 (6) Å, which is about 0.05 Šshorter than the average for O-H...S hydrogen bonds in thiosalt hydrates and organic sulfur compounds of the type Y-S-Z (Y/Z = C, N, O or S). Structural relationships between monoclinic Na2SO3(H2O)7 and orthorhombic Na2CO3(H2O)7 are discussed in detail.

Screening for elder abuse in geriatric outpatients: reliability and validity of the Iranian version Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/EAST).

The present research seeks the notion of the appropriateness of "Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S/East)", and psychometric properties to analyses cultural aspects of elder abuse in the Iranian community dwellers referred to clinics. In this cross-sectional validation study 364 participants, 60 years and over were selected from outpatient' clinics. The SF-36, GDS-15, and AMT scores were used for concurrent validity. The Brief Abuse Screen for the Elderly (BASE) scale was examined to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Iranian version H-S/East. The elder abuse rate in participants was 29.4% based on cutoff ≥4, while a significant correlation was found in Iranian version H-S/EAST with depression and SF-36 subscale MCS at P < .01, and four factors observed. Optimal cutoff ≥4 obtained with 82.8% sensitivity and 84.5% specificity. It seems the Iranian version of H-S/East demonstrates concurrent validity and fair reliability in elderly outpatients, while construct validity should be carried out in the Iranian elder illiterate population and other languages/cultures.

Serum S100A8/A9 as a Potentially Sensitive Biomarker for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of human S100A8/A9 (h-S100A8/A9) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether serum S100A8/A9 is a sensitive biomarker for IBD. METHODS: Serum specimens from outpatients with IBD (n = 101) and healthy volunteers (HVs) (n = 101) were used in this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for h-S100A8/A9 and inflammatory cytokines were performed using these specimens. Further, correlation analysis was performed to investigate the significance of h-S100A8/A9 fluctuation in patients with IBD. RESULTS: The average of serum h-S100A8/A9 concentration in outpatients with IBD was significantly higher than that in HVs. The concentration of h-S100A8/A9 in patients with IBD was barely correlated with that of CRP and inflammatory cytokines. Despite that finding, the serum level of h-S100A8/A9 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) was correlated with the severity of IBD, compared with other inflammatory proteins. CONCLUSION: Serum h-S100A8/A9 is superior to CRP as a sensitive biomarker for IBD.

Overcoming dormancy of Senna multijuga seeds with an ultrasonic probe the comparison with ultrasound and sulfuric acid baths / Superação da dormência de sementes de Senna multijuga com sonda ultrassônica e a comparação com banho de ultrassom e ácido sulfúrico

ABSTRACT: Understanding germination is extremely important for the production of seedlings that are used in revegetation of degraded areas. Some species enter dormancy as a survival strategy to overcome adverse environmental conditions. Their seeds germinate only when this process is interrupted, which can occur naturally when the conditions become more favorable for the survival of the species or by induction. Studies showed that ultrasound can increase the germination rate of seeds. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of an ultrasound probe and compare it with other methodologies implemented for seed germination of Senna multijuga (Rich.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, a species used in revegetation of degraded areas. The experiment evaluated the effect of the ultrasonic probe at different powers on seeds that were placed to germinate in a gerbox on paper moistened with distilled water. Ninety-five percent of seeds treated with ultrasound and only 14% of non-treated seeds (control) germinated. There was no significant difference in the germination among the treatments with different powers. The speed of germination index (SGI) reached 4.7 in seeds that underwent the treatment, and 0.6 in the control group. From the results it is possible to conclude that the ultrasound probe is an efficient treatment to accelerate seed germination in this species; and consequently, contributed to production of a greater number of seedlings to be used in revegetation of degraded areas in a short period of time.

RESUMO: Entender a germinação é extremamente importante para produção de mudas utilizadas na revegetação de áreas degradadas. Algumas espécies são consideradas dormentes por apresentarem uma estratégia de sobrevivência para superar condições ambientais adversas. Essas sementes germinam apenas quando esse processo é interrompido, o que pode ocorrer naturalmente quando as condições se tornam mais favoráveis para a sobrevivência da espécie ou de forma induzida. Estudos demonstram que o ultrassom pode aumentar a taxa de germinação das sementes. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da sonda ultrassom e compará-la com outras metodologias utilizadas para a germinação de sementes de Senna multijuga (Rich.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby, espécie utilizada na revegetação de áreas degradadas. O experimento avaliou o efeito da sonda de ultrassom em diferentes potências sobre as sementes, que foram colocadas para germinar em gerbox sobre papel umedecido com água destilada. Das sementes que sofreram o tratamento com a sonda de ultrassom 95% germinaram, já das que não sofreram nenhum tratamento apenas 14% delas germinaram. Não houve diferença significativa entre as diferentes potências avaliadas. O índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) chegou a 4,7 em sementes que sofreram o tratamento e 0,6 no grupo controle. A partir dos resultados é possível concluir que a sonda de ultrassom é um tratamento eficiente para acelerar a germinação de sementes desta espécie e, consequentemente, contribuir para produção de um maior número de mudas em curto período para serem utilizadas na revegetação de áreas degradadas.

Reduced sound-evoked and resting-state BOLD fMRI connectivity in tinnitus.

The exact neurophysiological basis of chronic tinnitus, which affects 10-15% of the population, remains unknown and is controversial at many levels. It is an open question whether phantom sound perception results from increased central neural gain or not, a crucial question for any future therapeutic intervention strategies for tinnitus. We performed a comprehensive study of mild hearing-impaired participants with and without tinnitus, excluding participants with co-occurrences of hyperacusis. A right-hemisphere correlation between tinnitus loudness and auditory perceptual difficulty was observed in the tinnitus group, independent of differences in hearing thresholds. This correlation was linked to reduced and delayed sound-induced suprathreshold auditory brain responses (ABR wave V) in the tinnitus group, suggesting subsided rather than exaggerated central neural responsiveness. When anatomically predefined auditory regions of interest were analysed for altered sound-evoked BOLD fMRI activity, it became evident that subcortical and cortical auditory regions and regions involved in sound detection (posterior insula, hippocampus), responded with reduced BOLD activity in the tinnitus group, emphasizing reduced, rather than increased, central neural gain. Regarding previous findings of evoked BOLD activity being linked to positive connectivities at rest, we additionally analysed r-fcMRI responses in anatomically predefined auditory regions and regions associated with sound detection. A profound reduction in positive interhemispheric connections of homologous auditory brain regions and a decline in the positive connectivities between lower auditory brainstem regions and regions involved in sound detection (hippocampus, posterior insula) were observed in the tinnitus group. The finding went hand-in-hand with the emotional (amygdala, anterior insula) and temporofrontal/stress-regulating regions (prefrontal cortex, inferior frontal gyrus) that were no longer positively connected with auditory cortex regions in the tinnitus group but were instead positively connected to lower-level auditory brainstem regions. Delayed sound processing, reduced sound-evoked BOLD fMRI activity and altered r-fcMRI in the auditory midbrain correlated in the tinnitus group and showed right hemisphere dominance as did tinnitus loudness and perceptual difficulty. The findings suggest that reduced central neural gain in the auditory stream may lead to phantom perception through a failure to energize attentional/stress-regulating networks for contextualization of auditory-specific information. Reduced auditory-specific information flow in tinnitus has until now escaped detection in humans, as low-level auditory brain regions were previously omitted from neuroimaging studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS0006332.

Sulfur as hydrogen-bond acceptor in cocrystals of 2-thio-modified thymine.

Doubly and triply hydrogen-bonded supramolecular synthons are of particular interest for the rational design of crystal and cocrystal structures in crystal engineering since they show a high robustness due to their high stability and good reliability. The compound 5-methyl-2-thiouracil (2-thiothymine) contains an ADA hydrogen-bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor) if the S atom is considered as an acceptor. We report herein the results of cocrystallization experiments with the coformers 2,4-diaminopyrimidine, 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine, 6-amino-3H-isocytosine and melamine, which contain complementary DAD hydrogen-bonding sites and, therefore, should be capable of forming a mixed ADA-DAD N-H...S/N-H...N/N-H...O synthon (denoted synthon 3sN·S;N·N;N·O), consisting of three different hydrogen bonds with 5-methyl-2-thiouracil. The experiments yielded one cocrystal and five solvated cocrystals, namely 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-2,4-diaminopyrimidine (1/2), C5H6N2OS·2C4H6N4, (I), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-2,4-diaminopyrimidine-N,N-dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C5H6N2OS·2C4H6N4·C3H7NO, (II), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine-N,N-dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C5H6N2OS·2C9H9N5·C3H7NO, (III), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-6-amino-3H-isocytosine-N,N-dimethylformamide (2/2/1), (IV), 2C5H6N2OS·2C4H6N4O·C3H7NO, (IV), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-6-amino-3H-isocytosine-N,N-dimethylacetamide (2/2/1), 2C5H6N2OS·2C4H6N4O·C4H9NO, (V), and 5-methyl-2-thiouracil-melamine (3/2), 3C5H6N2OS·2C3H6N6, (VI). Synthon 3sN·S;N·N;N·O was formed in three structures in which two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded networks are observed, while doubly hydrogen-bonded interactions were formed instead in the remaining three cocrystals whereby three-dimensional networks are preferred. As desired, the S atoms are involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions in all six structures, thus illustrating the ability of sulfur to act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and, therefore, its value for application in crystal engineering.