Screening the effective components in treating dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency syndrome and elucidating the potential mechanism of Poria water extract.

Poria is an important medicine for inducing diuresis to drain dampness from the middle energizer. However, the specific effective components and the potential mechanism of Poria remain largely unknown. To identify the effective components and the mechanism of Poria water extract (PWE) to treat dampness stagnancy due to spleen deficiency syndrome (DSSD), a rat model of DSSD was established through weight-loaded forced swimming, intragastric ice-water stimulation, humid living environment, and alternate-day fasting for 21 days. After 14 days of treatment with PWE, the results indicated that PWE increased fecal moisture percentage, urine output, D-xylose level and weight; amylase, albumin, and total protein levels; and the swimming time of rats with DSSD to different extents. Eleven highly related components were screened out using the spectrum-effect relationship and LC-MS. Mechanistic studies revealed that PWE significantly increased the expression of serum motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), ADCY5/6, p-PKAα/ß/γ cat, and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein in the stomach, and AQP3 expression in the colon. Moreover, it decreased the levels of serum ADH, the expression of AQP3 and AQP4 in the stomach, AQP1 and AQP3 in the duodenum, and AQP4 in the colon. PWE induced diuresis to drain dampness in rats with DSSD. Eleven main effective components were identified in PWE. They exerted therapeutic effect by regulating the AC-cAMP-AQP signaling pathway in the stomach, MTL and GAS levels in the serum, AQP1 and AQP3 expression in the duodenum, and AQP3 and AQP4 expression in the colon.

The Method of Creel Positioning Based on Monocular Vision.

Automatic replacement of bobbins on the frame is one of the core problems that must be solved in the textile industry. In the process of changing the bobbin, it is faced with problems such as the position offset of the bobbin, the loosening and deformation of the bobbin, which will lead to the failure of replacing the bobbin. Therefore, it is necessary to initialize the creel coordinates regularly, also considering the labor intensity and poor reliability of manual positioning. This paper proposes an automatic creel positioning method based on monocular vision. Firstly, the industrial camera was installed on the drum changing manipulator controlled by the truss system, and each yarn frame in the yarn area was inspected. Secondly, the end face image of the creel was collected at a reasonable distance, and the collected images were transmitted to the computer in real time through the Ethernet bus. Thirdly, the center coordinates (x, y) and radius r of the creel were marked by the improved Hough circle detection algorithm. Finally, the coordinate deviation of the creel was calculated and transmitted to the system controller to realize deviation correction. Before the test, the creel positioning markers were specially designed and the camera was calibrated. Thus, the influence of image complex background, creel end roughness, reflection and other factors can be reduced, and the image processing speed and positioning accuracy can be improved. The results show that the positioning effect of this method is fine when the distance between the center of the camera lens and the center of the end face of the creel is 170~190 mm. Moreover, when the distance is 190 mm, the positioning effect is the best, with an average error of only 0.51 mm. In addition, the deviation between the center coordinate and the radius of the end face of the marker is also very small, which is better than the requirements of bobbin yarn changing accuracy.

Total Triterpenes of Wolfiporia cocos (Schwein.) Ryvarden & Gilb Exerts Antidepressant-Like Effects in a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Rat Model and Regulates the Levels of Neurotransmitters, HPA Axis and NLRP3 Pathway.

Purpose: Wolfiporia cocos is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat depression. However, antidepressant-like effects of the main active ingredients of Wolfiporia cocos, total triterpenes of Wolfiporia cocos (TTWC), are not well studied. This study aimed to investigate those effects and explore their specific mechanisms of action in depth. Methods: Chemical components of TTWC were analyzed using LC-MS. Depression-like behavior in rats were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The suppressive effects of TTWC (60, 120, 240 mg/kg) against CUMS-induced depression-like behavior were evaluated using the forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT) and sucrose preference test (SPT). Levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), glutamate (GLU), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in different groups were determined by ELISA. Western blotting (WB) was used to detect the expression of NLRP3, ASC, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1, pro-IL-1beta, IL-1beta, pro-IL-18, and IL-18 in the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, the mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1beta and IL-18 were detected by RT-PCR. Results: A total of 69 lanostane-type triterpene acids of TTWC were identified. The results showed that TTWC exhibited an antidepressant-like effect in CUMS rats, reversed the decreased sugar preference in the SPT, reduction of immobility time in the FST, reduced the rest time, increased the total moving distance in the OFT. TTWC increased 5-HT levels and decreased GLU levels in the hippocampus. Moreover, TTWC decreased CRH levels in serum, indicating the regulation of over-activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, reduced serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. The WB results implied that TTWC inhibited the expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1beta, and IL-18 in the prefrontal cortex and enhanced the expression of pro-caspase-1, pro-IL-1beta, and pro-IL-18. Although most of the results were not significant, PCR results showed that TTWC inhibited the expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1beta, and IL-18 in the prefrontal cortex. Conclusion: TTWC treatment exerted an antidepressant-like effect and regulates neurotransmitters, HPA axis and NLRP3 signaling pathway. These results indicated the potential of TTWC in preventing the development of depression.

Relationship between the Geological Origins of Pore-Fracture and Methane Adsorption Behaviors in High-Rank Coal.

Coal is characterized by a complex pore-fracture network and functional groups, which are derived from various geological origins and which further affect methane adsorption. To explore the relationship between the geological origins of pore-fractures and methane adsorption behaviors, we conducted pore structure tests and adsorption isotherms on six Qinshui high-rank coals. The pores and fractures were observed using an optical microscope (OM), a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and the pore structure parameters were determined using mercury intrusion and low-pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption. High-pressure CH4 adsorption isotherms were obtained at 30 °C using the manometric method. Results show that the Qinshui high-rank coals develop five stages of pore size distribution, consisting of the smaller micropore stage (0.3-1 nm), the larger micropore and smaller mesopore stage (1-10 nm), the mesopore and smaller macropore stage (10-110 nm), the microfracture stage (0.11-40 µm), and the larger macropore stage (>40 µm). The micropores dominate the total pore volume (PV) and specific surface area (SSA). Pores and fractures of various morphologies and sizes have different geological origins, which are related to coalification and stress field evolution. Methane adsorption on coals mainly occurs in the micropores as a form of volume filling. The maximum pore size for complete gas filling (MPSCGF) ranges from 0.60 to 0.88 nm in Qinshui high-rank coals. The coal-forming geological processes, such as coalification and stress field evolution, contribute to various pores and fractures, which show different pore sizes and functional groups. The geological origins of pores and fractures control the methane adsorption behaviors in coals by way of the pore size and functional groups. Surface coverage-related methane adsorption behavior occurs in fractures, primary pores, and large-scale secondary pores, while micropore filling is the methane adsorption behavior in macromolecular pores and small-scale secondary pores. The aim of this study is to provide a new insight into the methane adsorption on coals from the geological process of the formation and modification of pores and fractures.

Distribution and Migration of Trace Elements during Flotation in Ge-Rich Low-Rank Coal from Wulantuga Coal Mine, Inner Mongolia, China.

The high-Ge low-rank coal in Wulantuga Coal Mine, Inner Mongolia, China, has a high utilization value due to its enrichment of critical element Ge. However, it is also enriched with toxic elements such as Be, F, As, and Hg; therefore, the coal should be cleaned before use. In this study, the flotation experiment, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, and the release experiment for the high-Ge low-rank coal from Wulantuga were carried out, and the results are as follows. (1) The total mineral content of the feed coal is higher than that of the cleaned coal and tailing, and the content of the functional group -OH is also increased, indicating that the moisture in the cleaned coal is increased after flotation. (2) Argillation occurred and some minerals (dihydrate gypsum and kaolinite) and elements were released into the water during flotation, so the ash yield and the percentage of TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, and CaO of the cleaned coal and tailing are lower than those of feed coal. (3) The concentrations of elements Li, Be, F, Mn, Zn, Sr, Hg, Tl, and Pb of the cleaned coal are higher than those of tailing, indicating that these elements are more likely to occur in organic matter or fine-grained mineral embedded in organics, but the concentration of other elements such as Ge, As, Sb, and W in the cleaned coal is lower than that of tailing, suggesting that these elements are weakly associated with organics or occur in minerals. (4) After flotation, trace elements Be, Cs, Ti, Ge, Sb, and W enriched in the feed coal were removed in large quantities, while F, As, and Hg were difficult to remove; therefore, other preparation methods should be tried. (5) The release experiment showed that the release rate of chalcophile and siderophile elements and rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) is relatively higher. In addition to those of Be, Ga, Sr, and Cs, the release rate of most elements is relatively low.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Of Pembrolizumab In The Treatment Of Advanced Recurrent Metastatic Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma In China And The United States.

BACKGROUND: Pembrolizumab, a programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, has recently gained prominence as a second-line treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (R/M HNSCC). This study compares the acceptance and different influencing factors of pembrolizumab in the treatment of R/M HNSCC in developed (i.e., the United States) and developing (i.e., China) countries through cost-effectiveness analysis and provides valuable suggestions for clinical decision making. METHODS: A Markov model was constructed using TreeAge Pro 2015 software to evaluate the economic value of four treatment strategies. Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were used as economic indicators for incremental cost-effectiveness analysis. The stability of the model was evaluated by one-way sensitivity and probability sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: The ICERs for the pembrolizumab group versus PD-L1 CPS treatment in China and the US were $7892/QALY and $11,900/QALY, respectively. All ICERs were less than the threshold of $29,306 in China and $50,000 in the US; thus, pembrolizumab is cost effective. Sensitivity analysis confirmed a stable economic advantage in the single-drug regimen of pembrolizumab in China and the US. CONCLUSION: Pembrolizumab monotherapy as a second-line treatment for R/M HNSCC presents more health benefits in comparison with the standard, PD-L1 TPS and PD-L1 CPS groups in China and the US.