Involvement of energy and cell wall metabolisms in chilling tolerance improved by hydrogen sulfide in cold-stored tomato fruits.

KEY MESSAGE: Hydrogen sulfide improved cold resistance of tomato fruits by regulating energy metabolism and delaying cell wall degradation, thereby alleviating the damage of cold storage on fruits. Postharvest cold storage in tomato fruits extended shelf life but caused the appearance of chilling injury (CI), appeared by softness and spots on the surface of the fruits. These changes were linked closely with energy and cell wall metabolisms. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as the gaseous fresh-keeping regulator, was used in the present study to investigate the effects of H2S on energy and cell wall metabolisms in tomato fruits during cold storage. Fruits after harvest were fumigated with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mM) of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) solution as H2S honor for 24 h and stored at 4 °C for 25 days. The results showed that 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS solution fumigation promoted the accumulation of endogenous H2S, followed by the increase in L-cysteine desulfurase (LCD) and D-cysteine desulfurase (DCD) activities in fruits during cold storage. It was also found that 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS treatments improved H+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activities. Moreover, the contents of cellulose and hemicellulose were increased by 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS, following down-regulated activities of cellulase (CL), pectin lyase (PL), α-mannosidase (α-man) and ß-Galactosidase (ß-Gal) and down-regulated expression of PL1, PL8, MAN4 and MAN7 genes. Thus, H2S alleviates CI led by cold storage in tomato fruits via regulating energy and cell wall metabolisms.

Abdominal obesity and digestive system cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic criteria for abdominal obesity are usually waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio. The magnitude of the risks for cancers of the digestive system and abdominal obesity is unknown. To assess whether abdominal obesity increases the risk of digestive cancer, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies in a database. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to December 2022. The 9-star Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess  study quality. Pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using fixed or random effect models respectively. The stability of the results was explored by one-by-one exclusion. Subgroup analysis was conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by Begg's and Egger's tests. RESULTS: A total of 43 cohort studies were included. There were 42 and 31 studies in the meta-analysis of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio on digestive system cancer, respectively. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the greater waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were correlated with increased incidence of digestive system cancers: waist circumference: RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38-1.59, p < 0.001; waist-to-hip ratio: RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.28-1.38, p = 0.001. Subgroup analysis by cancer type showed that higher WC and WHR would increase the prevalence of LC, PC, GC, EC, and CRC. The sensitivity analysis was conducted by a one-by-one elimination method, and the results of the meta-analysis remained stable. It is proved that the results were robust by the trim-and-fill method. CONCLUSIONS: There was evidence to suggest that abdominal obesity increased the incidence of digestive cancer, it is necessary to take appropriate measures to reduce abdominal obesity. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio may be better predictors of digestive system cancers. However, the association between waist circumference and digestive system cancer was greater, so more attention should be paid to measuring abdominal obesity with waist circumference.

Effect of microRNA-135a on Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, Apoptosis and Tumor Angiogenesis Through the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the ability of microRNA-135a (miR-135a) to influence cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis through the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: NSCLC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 138 NSCLC patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of miR-135a and IGF-1, PI3K, Akt, VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 mRNA; western blotting was used to determine the expression levels of IGF-1, PI3K and Akt protein; and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze the expression levels of VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 protein. Human NSCLC cell lines (A549, H460, and H1299) and the human bronchial epithelial cell line (HBE) were selected. A549 cells were assigned to blank, negative control (NC), miR-135a mimics, miR-135a inhibitors, IGF-1 siRNA and miR-135a inhibitors + IGF-1 siRNA groups. The following were performed: an MTT assay to assess cell proliferation, a scratch test to detect cell migration, a Transwell assay to measure cell invasion, and a flow cytometry to analyze cell apoptosis. RESULTS: The expression level of miR-135a was lower while those of IGF-1, PI3K and Akt mRNA were higher in NSCLC tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated IGF-1 as a target of miR-135a. The in vitro results showed that compared with the blank group, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were suppressed, mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1, PI3K, Akt, VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 were reduced, and cell apoptosis was enhanced in the miR-135a mimics and IGF-1 siRNA groups. Compared with the IGF-1 siRNA group, cells in the miR-135a inhibitors + IGF-1 siRNA group demonstrated increased cell proliferation, migration and invasion, elevated mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1, PI3K, Akt, VEGF, bFGF and IL-8 and reduced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that miR-135a promotes cell apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor angiogenesis by targeting IGF-1 gene through the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in NSCLC.

Statistical Analysis of Morphological Characteristics of Inconel 718 Formed by High Deposition Rate and High Laser Power Laser Cladding.

Laser cladding is one of the emerging additive manufacturing technologies and has been adopted in various industrial fields. In this study, the morphological characteristics of a single clad of Inconel 718 manufactured by coaxial laser cladding with high laser power from 4200 W to 5400 W, powder feeding rate from 25 g/min to 50 g/min, and cladding speed from 20 mm/s to 50 mm/s are studied. The cross-section of the melt pool is analyzed and classified by type into three types: shallow dilution, flat dilution, and fluctuating dilution. Nine parameters are designed to describe the morphological characteristics of the clad, and the corresponding linear regression models are developed to establish a quantitative relationship between the combined process parameters and morphological characteristics. The results indicate that the total area of the cross-section A, the clad area above the substrate Ac, the area of the molten substrate Am, the total height of the cross-section H, the height of the clad above the substrate hc, the penetration depth hm, the clad width W, the dilution ratio D, and the wetting angle θ are determined by complex coupling of energy input and mass accumulation, and they are proportional to PF0.4/V, P0.5F/V, P/F0.2/V0.4, P2F0.6/V, PF0.7/V, P2/F/V0.3, P/V0.8, P/FV0.2, and PF7/V0.8, respectively. The large linear regression coefficients and the analysis residuals indicate the high reliability of the statistical linear regression models. This work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the main processing parameters on the morphological characteristics of the clad, which is of great value in providing a reference and laying a basis for the practical application of laser cladding technology at a high deposition rate.

Role of Surface-Active Element Sulfur on Thermal Behavior, Driving Forces, Fluid Flow and Solute Dilution in Laser Linear Welding of Dissimilar Metals.

Understanding heat and mass transfer and fluid flow in the molten pool is very helpful in the selection and optimization of processing parameters, and the surface-active element has an important effect on the heat and mass transfer in laser welding of dissimilar metals. A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model coupled with a sub-model of surface tension, which considers the influence of local temperature and the concentration of surface-active element sulfur at the gas/liquid surface, is used to analyze the thermal behavior, driving forces, fluid flow, and solute dilution during laser linear welding of 304SS and Ni. The relationship between surface tension, driving forces, and the temperature coefficient of surface tension with the spatial distribution of temperature and the surface-active element sulfur is quantitatively analyzed. The simulation results show that the molten pool is fully developed at 45 ms, and the collision of inward and outward convection, with the maximum velocity reaching 1.7 m/s, occurs at the isotherm with a temperature between 2200 K and 2500 K. The temperature-gradient term and concentration-gradient term of surface shear stress play different roles in different positions of the free surface. The local sulfur concentration changes the temperature sensitivity of the surface tension at different sides of the free surface and further determines the transition of convection. Complex fluid flow promotes solute dilution, and the distribution of solute becomes uniform from the front to the rear of the molten pool. The Ni element is transferred to 304SS mainly at the rear side. The work provides theoretical support for the control of joint quality by changing the content of surface-active elements in dissimilar welding.

Effect of Laser Beam Profile on Thermal Transfer, Fluid Flow and Solidification Parameters during Laser-Based Directed Energy Deposition of Inconel 718.

The profile of the laser beam plays a significant role in determining the heat input on the deposition surface, further affecting the molten pool dynamics during laser-based directed energy deposition. The evolution of molten pool under two types of laser beam, super-Gaussian beam (SGB) and Gaussian beam (GB), was simulated using a three-dimensional numerical model. Two basic physical processes, the laser-powder interaction and the molten pool dynamics, were considered in the model. The deposition surface of the molten pool was calculated using the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian moving mesh approach. Several dimensionless numbers were used to explain the underlying physical phenomena under different laser beams. Moreover, the solidification parameters were calculated using the thermal history at the solidification front. It is found that the peak temperature and liquid velocity in the molten pool under the SGB case were lower compared with those for the GB case. Dimensionless numbers analysis indicated that the fluid flow played a more pronounced role in heat transfer compared to conduction, especially in the GB case. The cooling rate was higher for the SGB case, indicating that the grain size could be finer compared with that for the GB case. Finally, the reliability of the numerical simulation was verified by comparing the computed and experimental clad geometry. The work provides a theoretical basis for understanding the thermal behavior and solidification characteristics under different laser input profile during directed energy deposition.

Association between the COMT Val158Met polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 30,199 cases and 38,922 controls.

Many studies have reported the role of COMT Val158Met with breast cancer risk, but the results remained controversial. In addition, previous meta-analysis on COMT Val158Met showed conflicting results. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between breast cancer and COMT Val158Met (30,199 cases and 38,922 controls) in different inheritance models. When all the eligible studies were pooled into this meta-analysis, there was no evidence of significant association between breast cancer risk and COMT Val158Met polymorphism in any genetic model (dominant model: odds ratio [OR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94-1.04, P value of heterogeneity test [P(h)] = 0.009, I(2) = 36.9%; recessive model: OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.92-1.02, P(h) = 0.044, I(2) = 28.6%; additive model: OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.91-1.05, P(h) = 0.004, I(2) = 40.4%). However, significant between-study heterogeneity was detected in any genetic model. Hence, we performed the stratified analysis according to ethnicity, source of controls, menopausal status, and family history. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity significantly decreased breast cancer risk was observed in Caucasian population (recessive model: OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92-1.00, P(h) = 0.419, I(2) = 3.1%). In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates that COMT Val158Met polymorphism may be associated with decreased breast cancer risk in Caucasian population. However, a study with the larger sample size is needed to further evaluated gene-environment interaction on COMT Val158Met polymorphisms and breast cancer risk.

Association between the OGG1 Ser326Cys and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphisms and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

The previous published data on the association between the 8-oxo-guanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic-endonuclease-1 (APEX1/APE1) polymorphisms and lung cancer risk remained controversial. Several polymorphisms in the OGG1 and APEX1 gene have been described, including the commonly occurring Ser326Cys in OGG1 and Asp148Glu in APEX1. This meta-analysis of literatures was performed to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. A total of 37 studies were identified to the meta-analysis, including 9,203 cases and 10,994 controls for OGG1 Ser326Cys (from 25 studies) and 3,491 cases and 4,708 controls for APEX1 Asp148Glu (from 12 studies). When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism, significantly increased lung cancer risk was observed in recessive model (OR = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.33) and in additive model (OR = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.42). In the stratified analysis, significantly increased risk of lung cancer was also observed on the population-based studies (recessive model: OR = 1.26, 95 % CI = 1.08-1.46, additive model: OR = 1.42, 95 % CI = 1.06-1.73) and non-smokers (dominant model: OR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.42, recessive model: OR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.40, additive model: OR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 1.08-1.68). Additionally, when one study was deleted in the sensitive analysis, the results of OGG1 Ser326Cys were changed in Asians (recessive model: OR = 1.16, 95 % CI = 1.06-1.27, additive model: OR = 1.23, 95 % CI = 1.09-1.38). When all the eligible studies were pooled into the meta-analysis of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism, there was no evidence of significant association between lung cancer risk and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism in any genetic model. In the stratified analysis, significantly decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk was observed in recessive model (OR = 0.68, 95 % CI = 0.48-0.97, P (h) = 0.475, I(2) = 0.0 %). Additionally, when one study was deleted in the sensitive analysis, the results of APEX1 Asp148Glu were changed in Asians (recessive model: OR = 1.21, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.43) and smokers (dominant model: OR = 1.62, 95 % CI = 1.08-2.44, additive model: OR = 1.37, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.84). In summary, this meta-analysis indicates that OGG1 Ser326Cys show an increased lung cancer risk in Asians and non-smokers, APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism may be associated with decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk, and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism show an increased lung cancer risk in Asians and smokers. However, a study with the larger sample size is needed to further evaluated gene-environment interaction on OGG1 Ser326Cys and APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphisms and lung cancer risk.

Metabolic profiling in colorectal cancer reveals signature metabolic shifts during tumorigenesis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) arises as the consequence of progressive changes from normal epithelial cells through polyp to tumor, and thus is an useful model for studying metabolic shift. In the present study, we studied the metabolomic profiles using high analyte specific gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to attain a systems-level view of the shift in metabolism in cells progressing along the path to CRC. Colonic tissues including tumor, polyps and adjacent matched normal mucosa from 26 patients with sporadic CRC from freshly isolated resections were used for this study. The metabolic profiles were obtained using GC/MS and LC/MS/MS. Our data suggest there was a distinct profile change of a wide range of metabolites from mucosa to tumor tissues. Various amino acids and lipids in the polyps and tumors were elevated, suggesting higher energy needs for increased cellular proliferation. In contrast, significant depletion of glucose and inositol in polyps revealed that glycolysis may be critical in early tumorigenesis. In addition, the accumulation of hypoxanthine and xanthine, and the decrease of uric acid concentration, suggest that the purine biosynthesis pathway could have been substituted by the salvage pathway in CRC. Further, there was a step-wise reduction of deoxycholic acid concentration from mucosa to tumors. It appears that to gain a growth advantage, cancer cells may adopt alternate metabolic pathways in tumorigenesis and this flexibility allows them to adapt and thrive in harsh environment.

Hole Morphology and Keyhole Evolution during Single Pulse Laser Drilling on Polyether-Ether-Ketone (PEEK).

Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK), with its superior mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties, as well as high biocompatibility, has been used in aerospace, electronics, and biomedical applications. In this paper, a large number of experiments of single-pulse laser drilling on PEEK were performed to analyze the hole morphology and keyhole evolution, which were characterized by an optical microscope, charge-coupled device (CCD), and high-speed camera. A novel method is proposed to observe and measure the dimension of the processed hole rapidly right after laser drilling for special polymer materials with wear-resistance and non-conductivity. Morphological characteristics of holes are presented to illustrate the effect of pulse width and peak power on hole depth, hole diameter, and aspect-ratio. The obtained maximum drilling depth was 7.06 mm, and the maximum aspect-ratio was 23. In situ observations of the dynamic process of laser drilling, including the keyhole evolution together with ejection and vaporization behavior, were also carried out. The keyhole evolution process can be divided into three stages: rapid increment stage (0−2 ms) at a rate of 2.1 m/s, slow increment stage (2−4 ms) at a rate of 0.3 m/s, and stable stage (>4 ms). Moreover, the variation of dimensionless laser power density with the increase in pulse width was calculated. The calculated maximum drilling depth based on energy balance was compared with the experimental depth. It is proven that the laser−PEEK interaction is mainly influenced by a photothermal effect. Ejection is the dominant material-removal mechanism and contributes to over 60% of the depth increment during the rapid increment stage, while vaporization is dominant and contributes to about 80% of the depth increment during the slow increment stage. The results reveal the material removal mechanism for single-pulse laser drilling on PEEK, which is helpful to understand the dynamic process of keyhole evolution. This not only provides a processing window for future laser drilling of PEEK but also gives a guide for the manufacturing of other polymers.

Inokosterone Is A Potential Drug Target of Estrogen Receptor 1 in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: Analysis from Active Ingredient of Cyathula Officinalis.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the active compounds and the molecular mechanism of Cyathula Officinalis as a drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The target genes of active ingredients from Cyathula Officinalis were obtained from bioinformatics analysis tool for the molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine. The protein-protein interaction between the target genes were analyzed using STRING and Genemania. The transcriptome of RA patients compared to healthy people (GSE121894) were analyzed using R program package Limma. The relative expression of the target genes was obtained from the RNA-seq datasets. The molecular docking analyses were processed based on the molecular model of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) binding with estradiol (PDB ID:1A52). The binding details were analyzed by SYBYL. RESULTS: Inokosterone, ecdysterone, and cyaterone were the 3 active ingredients from Cyathula Officinalis that bind to target genes. Of all the significantly changed genes from RA patients, ESR1, ADORA1, and ANXA1 were significantly increased in mRNA samples of RA patients. CONCLUSION: ESR1, the transcription factor that binds inokosterone in the molecular binding analysis, is the target protein of Cyathula Officinalis.

miRNA-302e attenuates inflammation in infantile pneumonia though the RelA/BRD4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

In the present study, the main focus was investigating the role of microRNA (miRNA)­302e in infantile pneumonia (IP) and exploring the potential protective mechanisms. Briefly, the expression of miRNA­302e was reduced in a mouse model of IP. In addition, the administration of anti­miRNA­302e increased inflammation and induced the protein expression of RelA, bromodomain­containing protein 4 (BRD4) and nuclear factor (NF)­κB in the in vitro model of IP. In contrast, over­expression of miRNA­302e reduced inflammation and suppressed the protein expression of RelA, BRD4 and NF­κB in an in vitro model of IP. Small interfering (si)­RelA attenuated the effects of miRNA­302e on inflammation in an in vitro model of IP. Consistently, si­BRD4 or si­NF­κB attenuated the effects of miRNA­302e on inflammation in an in vitro model of IP. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that miRNA­302e attenuated inflammation in IP through the RelA/ BRD4/ NF­κB signaling pathway.

[A method for determination of volatile organic compounds in drinking water by purge and trap in combination with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method of purge and trap in combination with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry(P and T-GC/MS) for the rapid determination of minimum multi-mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water simultaneously. METHODS: The experimental conditions of P and T, such as desorption temperature, desorption time, the type of the trap and the analytical conditions of GC were optimized. 54 VOCs in drinking water were determined by P and T-GC/MS. RESULTS: The method enjoyed a wide linear range and good precision, the method detection limit(MDL) was 0.01 - 0.5 microg/L, the average recoveries of the method was 90% - 110% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.24%-7.79%. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the method was accurate and high sensitivity and might be good for application and suitable for trace analysis of VOCs in drinking water.

A combination of four effective components derived from Sheng-mai san attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in PC12 cells through inhibiting Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

The present study was designed to investigate whether a combination of four effective components derived from Sheng-mai san (SMXZF; ginsenoside Rb1: ginsenoside Rg1: DT-13: Schizandrol A as 6 : 9 : 4 : 5) could attenuate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in PC12 cells, focusing on the Akt and MAPK pathways . The PC12 cells were exposed to H2O2 (400 µmol·L(-1)) for 1 h in the presence or absence of SMXZF pre-treatment for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The efflux of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the intracellular content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and caspase-3 were also determined. Cell apoptosis was measured by Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining method. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, Akt, and MAPKs were detected by Western blotting analyses. SMXZF pretreatment significantly increased the cell viability and SOD activity and improved the cell morphological changes, while reduced the levels of LDH and MDA at the concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 µg·mL(-1). SMXZF also inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Moreover, SMXZF reduced the activity of caspase-3, up-regulated the protein ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax and inhibited the expression of cleaved caspase-3, p-Akt, p-p38, p-JNK and p-ERK1/2 in H2O2-induced PC12 cells. Co-incubation of Akt inhibitor or p38 inhibitor partly attenuated the protection of SMXZF against H2O2-injured PC12 cells. In conclusion, our findings suggested that SMXZF attenuated H2O2-induced injury in PC12 cells by inhibiting Akt and MAPKs signaling pathways, which might shed insights on its neuroprotective mechanism.

[Luminescence properties of rare earth ions in 2SrO.0.84 P2O5.0.16 B2O3: RE3+ (RE=Ce, Tb)].

The phosphors of 2SrO.0.84 P2O5.0.16 B2O3: RE3+ (RE=Ce, Tb) were synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The luminescence properties of Ce3+, Tb3+ and the sensitization of Ce3+ to Tb3+ were studied. In the excitation spectrum of Ce3+, there are two broad bands at 232 and 296 nm respectively. Because of the large overlap between the emission bands, the authors could not separate them from each other. The authors could get two bands at 325 and 344 nm with the Gaussian fitting method. The possible reason is that these two peaks are from two light centers. In the phosphor of 2SrO.0.84 P2O5.0.16 B2O3: Tb3+, the excitation spectrum of Tb3+ exhibits high absorption at 370 nm and emission spectrum shows the strongest emission peak at 548 nm. The emission from the levels of (5)D3 and (5)D4 of Tb3+ appear at the same time, indicating that non-radiative process between them is inefficient. In the phosphor of Ce3+ and Tb3+ co-doped 2SrO.0.84 P2.O5.0.16 B2O3, efficient energy transfer exists.

[VUV spectral properties of (Y, Gd) Al3 (BO3)4: Tb].

(Y, Gd)A13 (BO3)4 doped with Ce and Tb were prepared by solid state reaction. The structure, VUV excitation properties, excitation were studied. (Y,Gd)Al3 (BO3)4 belongs to trigonal crystal system with thespace group of R32, and the crystal structure does not change as Tb3+ and Ce3+ ions are doped to the crystal lattice. The host absorption band of (Y,Gd)Al3 (BO3)4:Tb moves to longer wavelength as Gd3+ mol concentration increases. The energy transfer between Gd3+ and Tb3+ is very effective, and the samples with high Gd3+ mol concentrations have high radiant efficiencies. It was found that the luminescence of Tb3+ is quenched by Ce3+ in (Y,Gd)Al3(BO3)4:Ce, Tb under VUV excitation.

[Luminescence properties and spectral analysis of long phosphorescent phosphors: Ba(1 - x) Ca (x) Al2O4 : Eu2+, RE3+].

New long phosphorescent phosphors Ba(1 -x),Ca(x)Al2O4 : Eu2+, RE3+ (RE3+ = Dy3+, Nd3+) with tunable color emission have been prepared by solid state reaction. The luminescence properties of the samples are discussed and analyzed. The emission spectra show that the tuning range of the color emission of the phosphors is between 498 and 440 nm, which is determined by x, under the excitation of UV. The wavelength of afterglow increases with increasing x until x equals 0.6, and when x equals 0.6, the luminescence property of Ba(1-x) Ca(x)Al2O4: Eu2+, RE3+ (RE3+ = Dy3+, Nd3+) is similar to that of CaAl2O4 : Eu2+, RE3+. The XRD measurements were performed to investigate the single phase states of the samples, and it was found that the single phase limit in the phosphors is below an x value of 0.4. The thermoluminescence curves imply that the traps in the hosts are different with different x value, which well explains the varying delay time of the samples.

Network pharmacology-based prediction and verification of the molecular targets and pathways for schisandrin against cerebrovascular disease.

AIM: To illuminate the molecular targets for schisandrin against cerebrovascular disease based on the combined methods of network pharmacology prediction and experimental verification. METHOD: A protein database was established through constructing the drug-protein network from literature mining data. The protein-protein network was built through an in-depth exploration of the relationships between the proteins. The computational platform was implemented to predict and extract the sensitive sub-network with significant P-values from the protein-protein network. Then the key targets and pathways were identified from the sensitive sub-network. The most related targets and pathways were also confirmed in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced PC12 cells by Western blotting. RESULTS: Twelve differentially expressed proteins (gene names: NFKB1, RELA, TNFSF10, MAPK1, CHUK, CASP8, PIGS2, MAPK14, CREB1, IFNG, APP, and BCL2) were confirmed as the central nodes of the interaction network (45 nodes, 93 edges). The NF-κB signaling pathway was suggested as the most related pathway of schisandrin for cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, schisandrin was found to suppress the expression and phosphorylation of IKKα, as well as p50 and p65 induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells by Western blotting. CONCLUSION: The computational platform that integrates literature mining data, protein-protein interactions, sensitive sub-network, and pathway results in identification of the NF-κB signaling pathway as the key targets and pathways for schisandrin.

[Determination of 15 volatile organic compound residues in cosmetics by headspace gas chromatography].

A headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) method was developed for the rapid determination of multimixture of 15 residual volatile organic compounds in cosmetics. The experimental conditions of HS-GC such as headspace temperature, headspace time and the analytical conditions of GC were optimized. Cosmetic samples were extracted and cleaned-up by headspace at 60 degrees C for 30 min, determined by GC-flame ionization detector (FID) and quantified by external standard method. The 15 poisonous volatile organic compounds were separated efficiently from impurities with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 5%, the recoveries were from 62.8%-116%, the linear range was 0.002-2.0 mg/L with a good linear correlation coefficient (r > 0.999) and the limits of detection were 0.09-0.68 mg/kg. By means of the above developed HS-GC method, 15 residual volatile organic compounds in cosmetics were detected accurately and simultaneously in a single sample injection. The method is accurate, simple, rapid, and is suitable for the trace analysis of multimixture of residual volatile organic compounds in various cosmetics.

Quasi-Dammann grating with proportional intensity array spots.

A quasi-Dammann grating is proposed to generate array spots with proportional-intensity orders in the far field. To describe the performance of the grating, the uniformities of the array spots are redefined. A two-dimensional even-sampling encode scheme is adopted to design the quasi-Dammann grating. Numerical solutions of the binary-phase quasi-Dammann grating with proportional-intensity orders are given. The experimental results with a third-order quasi-Dammann grating, which has an intensity proportion of 3:2:1 from zero order to second order, are presented.