A kind of multi-dot ensemble regression AI detector for lubricating oil additive content based on lambert-beer law.

In this work, we propose a Multi-dot Ensemble Regression AI detector (MER) based on the Lambert-Beer law. We pre-trained a model using the infrared spectral data of target additives collected in advance to detect the target additives in unknown oil samples. The algorithm's feasibility was validated by assessing the content of additives in a series of simulated commercial oil samples that were not part of the training set. We established models for three common lubricating oil additives (anti-friction, anti-wear, and antioxidant agents), demonstrating their effectiveness in oil sample detection. Additionally, by comparing with other algorithms, we established the superiority of MER in small-sample learning scenarios.

Improvement of nucleotide content of Cordyceps tenuipes by Schisandra chinensis: fermentation process optimization and application prospects.

Nucleotides are important components and the main indicators for judging Cordyceps quality. In this paper, the mixed fermentation process of Schisandra chinensis and Cordyceps tenuipes was systematically studied, and it was proposed that the fermentation products aqueous extract (S-ZAE) had antioxidant activity and anti-AChE ability. Herein, the results of a single factor showed that S. chinensis, yeast extract, inoculum amount, and pH had significant effects on nucleotide synthesis. The fermentation process optimization results were 3% glucose, 0.25% KH2PO4, 2.1% yeast extract, and S. chinensis 0.49% (m/v), the optimal fermentation conditions were 25℃, inoculum 5.8% (v/v), pH 3.8, 6 d. The yield of total nucleotides in the scale-up culture was 0.64 ± 0.027 mg/mL, which was 10.6 times higher than before optimization. S-ZAE has good antioxidant and anti-AChE activities (IC50 0.50 ± 0.050 mg/mL). This fermentation method has the advantage of industrialization, and its fermentation products have the potential to become good functional foods or natural therapeutic agents.

A survey of caregiver burden for stroke survivors in non-teaching hospitals in Western China.

The social factors that moderate stroke caregiver burden have been found to be culture- and gender-specific. We examined the factors that influence the social support and self-efficacy of caregivers of stroke survivors and the burden of caregiving in China. To determine the caregiver burden of stroke survivors, their social support, and their self-efficacy. A total of 328 stroke survivors and their caregivers were recruited from 4 tertiary medical centers to participate in this cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic and stroke-related characteristics of the participants were obtained. Perceived social support and self-efficacy were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale and General Self-efficacy Scale, respectively. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview Scale. Relationships between the variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation, the chi-square test, and a paired t test. A total of 27.4% of the caregivers reported receiving adequate social support, while 20.7% reported high levels of self-efficacy. A total of 67.1% of the caregivers experienced varying degrees of care burden, while the remaining 32.9% felt no burden. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics (age, daily care time, self-rated health, and financial situation) were significantly related to caregiver burden, social support, and self-efficacy (P < .001). The findings indicate an inverse relationship between caregiver burden, social support and self-efficacy. Adequate social support and self-efficacy can reduce stroke caregivers' burden. Hospital departments should provide assistance to stroke caregivers through educational programs and group training to increase their social support and self-efficacy, thereby alleviating their burden.

miR-600 promotes ovarian cancer cells stemness, proliferation and metastasis via targeting KLF9.

Previous studies have revealed that miRNAs participate in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer; however, whether miR-600 is also involved remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigated the role of miR-600 in ovarian cancer progression. Here, miR-600 expression was significantly upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and stem cells. Functional studies showed that miR-600 promoted ovarian cancer cell stemness, proliferation and metastasis. Mechanistic studies revealed that Kruppel like factor 9 (KLF9) was indicated as the target of miR-600. The luciferase reporter assay suggested that miR-600 directly bound to the 3'-untranslated region of KLF9. Additionally, miR-600 expression was negatively associated with KLF9 expression in human ovarian cancer tissues. Si-KLF9 partially abolished the discrepancy of self-renewal, growth and metastasis capacity between miR-600 knockdown ovarian cancer cells and control cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-600 promotes ovarian cancer cell stemness, proliferation and metastasis via directly downregulating KLF9, and impairing miR-600 levels may be a new treatment strategy for ovarian cancer in the future.

Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe Enhances Pregnancy Outcome via the VEGF/PI3K/AKT/eNOS Signaling Pathway in EID Mice.

PURPOSE: In this study, we evaluated the effect of Tiaojing Cuyun Recipe (TJCYR) on embryo implantation dysfunction- (EID-) induced damage of endometrial receptivity in mice and investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. METHODS: The main compounds of TJCYR were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One hundred and twenty pregnant mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, EID only, progesterone (Prog)+EID, TJCYR-low-dose+EID, TJCYR-medium-dose+EID, and TJCYR-high-dose+EID. Mifepristone was injected to make the EID model. On the fourth day of pregnancy, serum was obtained to analyze hormone level by radioimmunoassay, the uterus was collected to analyze morphology by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a combination of immunofluorescence and Western blot was used to identify the related proteins. On the eighth day of pregnancy, the mice were sacrificed and the number of uterus-implanted blastocysts was counted. RESULTS: Treatment with TJCYR significantly improved the number of implanted sites, the number of well-developed pinopodes, and microvascular formation in the mice. Moreover, TJCYR significantly activated PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathways to promote angiogenesis, resulting in significantly improved endometrial receptivity and fertility outcomes when compared to the model group. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that TJCYR was able to protect embryo implantation of EID mice due to TJCYR-mediated improvement in endometrial receptivity by promoting endometrial angiogenesis.

3D Printing of Photocuring Elastomers with Excellent Mechanical Strength and Resilience.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing elastomers, as a combination of transformative technology and widely used materials, have received great demand in many fields. However, commercial photocuring elastomer inks for 3D printing usually exhibit poor mechanical strength, inferior resilience, and lower elongation at break. In this study, photocuring inks that can be employed for digital light processing 3D printing are developed with acryloyl-modified polyethylene glycol (Acryl@PEG). The resultant photocuring inks exhibit not only high tensile strength of 14.1 MPa and elongation of 245.0%, but also excellent resilience (recover to 90.85% after 30 min under the 200% strain). With the photocuring elastomer inks, a variety of architectures including hollow vases, eggs, finger rings, and porous lattices are built with excellent precision, which all could experience large shape deformations repeatedly without any damage, indicating the excellent elasticity, outstanding shape-recovery property, and mechanical stability. The present photocuring elastomer inks for 3D printing are therefore believed to be promising for soft robots, wearable devices, flexible electronics, and many other applications.

Roles of aging in the production of light-flavored Daqu.

Daqu, a complex starting material used for Baijiu production, contains microorganisms, enzymes, and volatile compounds. An important part of Daqu production is aging, but the physicochemical and microbial changes during aging remain largely unknown. This study characterized aging according to physicochemical parameters, volatile compounds, and microbial communities. Aging was found to aid in the stabilization of the physicochemical parameters. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to detect 72 types of volatile compounds, which were predominantly alcohols, esters, aldehydes, alkenes, and alkanes. During aging, these compounds changed considerably, but their structures eventually stabilized. A high-throughput sequencing approach was used to analyze the changing composition of the microbial communities. In general, aging helped to enrich and stabilize the microbial population for making Baijiu. A total of 35 bacteria were detected as prokaryotic; among these, 15 had a diversity abundance ratio of more than 1%. The dominant bacteria were from the genus Pantoea, but these decreased with aging, while bacteria from Lactobacillus and Weissella increased. After aging for 2 months, Pantoea, Lactobacillus and Weissella accounted for 0.4%, 54.0%, and 18.9%, respectively. A total of 12 eukaryotic yeast and fungi were detected, the most abundant of which were Incertae_Sedis_incertae_sedis, Saccharomycopsis, Trichocomaceae_unclassified, Pichia, Tremellales_unclassified, and Galactomyces. During aging, the levels of Trichocomaceae_unclassified, Saccharomycopsis, and Galactomyces initially decreased but then increased. Pichia stayed unchanged as aging progressed. In conclusion, aging led to rebalanced interactions among Daqu microbes and was important in improving Daqu quality and ensuring its stability.

S-adenosyl methionine regulates calcium channels and inhibits uterine smooth muscle contraction in rats with infectious premature delivery through the transient receptor protein 3/protein kinase Cß/C-kinase-activated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitor of 17 kDa signaling pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) on infectious premature inflammatory factors and uterine contraction, and to further explore its mechanism of action via the transient receptor protein 3 (TRPC3)/protein kinase Cß (PKCß)/C-kinase-activated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitor of 17 kDa (CPI-17) signaling pathway, following intervention by a TRPC3 inhibitor. A rat model of premature delivery induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established. Following treatment with SAMe and inhibiting TRPC3 expression, rat serum and uterus were isolated. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the uterus. Uterine muscle strips in vitro were selected to measure the changes in muscle tension. ELISA was utilized to measure the changes in serum inflammatory factor and oxidative stress indexes. Immunohistochemistry, western blot assay and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were applied to detect calcium channel protein expression in the uterus. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the expression of TRPC3/PKCß/CPI-17 signaling pathway-related proteins. TRPC3 was highly expressed in the uterus of rat models of premature delivery induced by LPS. Following treatment with SAMe, inflammatory cell infiltration markedly reduced in the uterus and the tension of in vitro uterine muscle strips significantly decreased. SAMe treatment suppressed inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, and diminished L-type and T-type calcium channel protein expression. TRPC3/PKCß/CPI-17 signaling pathway-related protein expression was also reduced. When TRPC3 expression was suppressed, the effects of SAMe against inflammation and oxidative stress were diminished. TRPC3/PKCß/CPI-17 signaling pathway-related protein expression significantly increased. SAMe was able to reduce inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress in the uterus of rat model of infectious premature delivery induced by LPS, prolong delivery time, reduce the mortality rate of offspring rats, and serve a therapeutic role. This effect is likely achieved via the regulation of uterine contractions and childbirth through the TRPC3/PKCß/CPI-17 signaling pathway.

Cryptotanshinone reverses reproductive disturbances in rats with dehydroepiandrosterone-induced polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), with a prevalence of 5-8%, is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Although cryptotanshinone (CRY) has been shown to effectively reverse reproductive disturbances, it remains poorly understood whether it can be used to treat PCOS. Here we used an established rat model of PCOS. Prepubertal female Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously injected with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) 60 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks. Those in the DHEA group were given normal saline, while the CRY group was given 27 mg/kg by gastrogavage for 3 weeks. DHEA-treated rats had irregular estrous cycles and significantly increased ovarian weight compared to control rats (P < 0.05), and 3 weeks of treatment with CRY in DHEA-treated rats significantly decreased ovarian weight (P < 0.05). CRY decreased the levels of testosterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as the LH/follicle stimulating hormone ratio (P < 0.05). CRY decreased inhibin B and follistatin mRNA and protein expression but upregulated activin A mRNA and protein expression in the ovarian tissue of rats with PCOS (P < 0.05). These results suggest that CRY treatment could reverse reproductive disturbances in rats with PCOS.

[Role of nicotinamide vadenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 in transforming growth factor-ß-induced A549 cell migration].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of NADPH oxidase 4( NOX4) in transforming growth factor-ß( TGF-ß)-induced A549 cells migration. METHODS: The A549 cells were allocated into five groups: TGF-ß( stimulation) group, Normal control group, DPI( NOX4 inhibitor) group, TGF-ß + DPI group, and DMSO( solvent control)group. The level of ROS were detected by flow cytometry instrument. The level of NOX4, snail and E-cadherin protein were detected by western blot. Use scratches experiment to express the change of A549 cells migration. RESULTS: After the quantification by Quantity One software, the expression of NOX4 in TGF-ß group is( 1. 80 ± 0. 07), the TGF-ß +DPI group is( 0. 49 ± 0. 03)( F = 327. 071, P < 0. 001). The change of EMT related protein: the expression of snail protein in TGF-ß group is( 9. 0 ± 0. 6), the TGF-ß + DPI group is( 1. 8 ± 0. 3)( F = 119. 097, P < 0. 001), the expression of E-cadherin protein in TGF-ß group is( 0. 5 ± 0. 1), the TGF-ß + DPI group is( 3. 3 ± 0. 3)( F = 71. 063, P <0. 001). These aboveresult indicate that DPI can inhibit the expression of NOX4 and EMTprogress in A549 cells. Then TGF-ß + DPI group compared with the TGF-ß group, the scratch healing rate is decreased( F = 33. 899, P < 0. 001). It illustrates that DPI can inhibit migration ability of A549 cells. CONCLUSION: After the NOX4 was inhibited by DPI, TGF-ß-induced migration of A549 cells was inhibited. And this phenomenon is associated with the progress of TGF-ß-induced EMT.

Paeoniflorin improves menopause depression in ovariectomized rats under chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Paeoniflorin has been shown to effectively relieve neurologic impairments and lessen depression. It remains poorly understood whether it can be used to treat menopause depression; therefore, in the present study, animal model of menopause depression were established by resecting the ovaries in combined with long-term chronic unpredictable stress. Animal model of menopause depression was established by ovariectomy. Sprague-Dawley rats were given 10 mg/kg of paeoniflorin by gastrogavage for 2 weeks. Fluoxetine (2.5 mg/kg) served as a positive control. Sucrose solution consumption test, open-field test, real-time PCR and western blot results demonstrated that paeoniflorin increased sucrose solution consumption, voluntary behaviors and 5-HT1AR mRNA and protein expression. Paeoniflorin decreased the levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT) and 5-HT2AR mRNA and protein expression in rats with menopause depression. These results indicate that paeoniflorin unregulated 5-HT1AR expression, but downregulated 5-HT2AR expression in brains of rats with menopause depression, and thus exert antidepressant effects.

Noncovalent microcontact printing for grafting patterned polymer brushes on graphene films.

This article describes a simple and universal approach to prepare patterned polymer brushes on graphene-based substrate surfaces by microcontact printing (µCP) of initiator molecules and subsequent surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) method. Four different initiators are designed and have strong adhesion with graphene-based substrates through noncovalent interaction. Optical and fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the successful polymerization of vinyl monomers on substrate surfaces. To demonstrate the broad applicability of this strategy, polymer brushes with different functionalities including cationic and anionic polyelectrolyte, thermally and pH responsive polymers, as well as polymer patterns on different graphene-based surfaces are fabricated. Binary polymer brushes can also be easily prepared by further initiating the initiator backfilled in the bare areas.

Imidazolium ionic liquids as antiwear and antioxidant additive in poly(ethylene glycol) for steel/steel contacts.

Three imidazolium-based ionic liquids containing sterically hindered phenol groups were synthesized. The cation was 1-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-methyl-imidazolium, and the anions were tetrafluoroborates, hexafluorophosphates, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The physical properties of the synthetic products and of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with the additive were evaluated. The oxidative stability of 0.5 wt % 1-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphates in PEG were assessed via rotating bomb oxidation test (RBOT), thermal analysis, and copper strip test. The tribological behaviors of the additives for PEG application in steel/steel contacts were evaluated on an Optimol SRV-IV oscillating reciprocating friction and wear tester as well as on MRS-1J four-ball testers. The worn steel surface was analyzed by a JSM-5600LV scanning electron microscope and a PHI-5702 multifunctional X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. RBOT test, thermal analysis, and copper strip test results revealed that synthesized ionic liquids possessed excellent antioxidant properties. Tribological application results revealed that these could effectively reduce friction and wear of sliding pairs compared with the PEG films used without the additives. Specifically, (BHT-1)MIMPF(6) exhibited better antiwear properties at an optimum concentration of 1 wt %. At this level, its antiwear property significantly improved by 100 times with respect to using just the PEG base oil. Boundary lubrication films composed of metal fluorides, organic fluorines, organic phosphines, and nitride compounds were formed on the worn surface, which resulted in excellent friction reduction and antiwear performance.

Aucubin prevents loss of hippocampal neurons and regulates antioxidative activity in diabetic encephalopathy rats.

In this study, the neuroprotection of aucubin and its mechanism were evaluated in the rat model of diabetic encephalopathy. Diabetes mellitus (DM) rats were stratified by cognitive capability (CC), and assigned to four treatment groups for aucubin treatment (doses of 0, 1, 5 or 10 mg/kg aucubin), with a further two groups of non-DM rats ranked by CC as controls for aucubin (doses of 0 or 5 mg/kg aucubin). Neuroprotection was estimated by the indexes of behavior and histology. Behavioral testing was performed in a Y-maze. The surviving neurons in CA1-CA4 and subiculum (SC) of the hippocampus were counted under a microscope. In addition, the apoptotic neurons in the CA1 of the hippocampus were also examined by using TUNEL staining. In order to clarify the mechanism of aucubin's neuroprotection, the activities of endogenous antioxidants and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) together with the content of lipid peroxide in the hippocampus were assayed. The results proved that aucubin significantly reduced the content of lipid peroxide, regulated the activities of antioxidant enzymatic and decreased the activity of NOS. All these effects indicated that aucubin was a potential neuroprotective agent and its neuroprotective effects were achieved, at least in part, by promoting endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities.

Bisimidazolium ionic liquids as the high-performance antiwear additives in poly(ethylene glycol) for steel-steel contacts.

Bisimidazolium ionic liquids [C(10)(m(2)im)(2)(NTf(2))(2), C(10)(m(2)im)(2)(PF(6))(2), and C(10)(m(2)im)(2)(BF(4))(2)] with different anions were evaluated as the antiwear additives in poly(ethylene glycol) at room temperature. Results showed that they could effectively reduce the friction and wear of sliding pairs compared with the cases without these additives. Especially, C(10)(m(2)im)(2)(NTf(2))(2) showed better antiwear properties with an optimum concentration of 3 wt %, by which a significant improvement of its antiwear property by dozens of times with respect to the base oil was achieved. The excellent tribological properties are attributed to the formation of high-quality physical adsorption films and tribochemical product during friction and the good miscibility of ionic liquids with base oil.

Neuroprotection of aucubin in primary diabetic encephalopathy.

Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis accompanied by impairment of cognitive function occurs in primary diabetic encephalopathy. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanism of the iridoid glycoside, aucubin, using rats (n=8). Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight). After 65 d, half of the DM rats were administered aucubin (5 mg/kg; i.p.) for 15 d, yielding treatment DM+A. A third group of rats received no streptozotocin or aucibin, and served as controls (CON). Encephalopathy was assessed using Y-maze behavioral testing. Rats were euthanized on Day 87, and hippocampi were excised for visual (light and transmission electron microscopic) and immunochemical (Western blot; immunohistochemical) assessments of the CA1 subfield for apoptosis and expression of regulatory proteins Bcl-2 and Bax. Treatment responses to all the parameters examined (body weight, plasma glucose, Y-maze error rates, pyramidal cell ultrastructure, proportions of apoptotic cells, levels of expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, and survivability of neuronal cells) were identical: there were highly significant differences between DM and CON groups (P<0.001), but the effects were significantly moderated (P<0.01) in DM+A compared with DM. These findings confirm the association of apoptosis with the encephalopathic effects of diabetes mellitus, and suggest a major role of the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax in the regulation of apoptotic cell death. All of the results suggest that aucubin could effectively inhibit apoptosis by modulating the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax genes.

The potentiation of curcumin on insulin-like growth factor-1 action in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

Curcumin has anticarcinogenic and chemopreventive properties in a variety of experimental cancer models. Our in vitro studies have shown that curcumin inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in MCF-7, a human breast carcinoma cell line. The insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system, including IGFs (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGF-1R (IGF-1 receptor) and IGFBPs (IGF binding proteins), has been implicated to play a critical role in the development of breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the growth inhibitory effects of curcumin were related to changes of the IGF-1 system in MCF-7 cells. IGF-1 at 50 microg/l in serum-free medium produced maximum proliferation and minimized apoptosis. However, curcumin exhibited a potent ability to blunt IGF-1-stimulated MCF-7 cell growth and reverse the IGF-1-induced apoptosis resistance. To determine whether curcumin intervenes in IGF-1 or IGFBP-3 secretion, MCF-7 cells were incubated in serum-free medium in the presence of various concentrations of curcumin for indicated time periods. Curcumin decreased the secretion of IGF-1 with a concomitant increase of IGFBP-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Receptor tyrosine kinase assays revealed that IGF-1-stimulated IGF-1R tyrosine kinase activation was also abrogated by curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RFQ-RT-PCR) further revealed that curcumin suppressed IGF-1R gene expression at transcriptional level. In conclusion, the inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis by curcumin in MCF-7 cells might be mediated, at least partially, by its ability to down-regulate the IGF-1 axis.