Assessment of land use change of ecological green wedge and cooling island effect: A case study of Wuhan, China.

The construction of urban ecological green wedges, which can mitigate the heat island effect through cooling and ventilation effects, is an important way to enhance the adaptation of cities to climate change. Dynamic monitoring and periodic assessment of both the conservation status and cooling effect of ecological green wedges is a key to ensure the heat mitigation benefits. Based on multi-source remote sensing data, we systematically analyzed the land use changes of six ecological green wedges in Wuhan in 2013 and 2020 using the methods of Markov transfer matrix, land use dynamics, and comprehensive index of land use degree, and evaluated the changes in surface temperature of the ecological green wedges and their cooling island effect. Results showed that the ecological green wedges in Wuhan generally had a large amount of construction land encroaching on ecological land from 2013 to 2020, with the water decreased the most. With the continuous deterioration of ecological green wedges, their land surface temperatures showed rising trends, together with significant weakening trends in cooling island effects. Among all the six wedges, the Dadonghu, Tangxun, and Wuhu exhibited relatively better ecological conservation, slighter land use change and lower overall development degree. Qinglinghu and Houguanhu demonstrated average levels of conservation. Fuhe experienced the most severe change under the significant influence of the westward policy of Wuhan City, with the proportion of water decreasing by 7.1%, warming up by 3.00 ℃, and the largest reduction in cooling distance for the cooling island effect, amounting to about 210 m. The results provided scientific evidence for the urban heat island mitigation-oriented planning and management of ecological green wedges for Wuhan City.

[Research progress on anti-tumor effects by traditional Chinese medicine based on "soothing" or "blockage" regulation of tumor vessels].

Regulation of tumor vessels has become one of the most common strategies for clinical anti-tumor therapy. In recent years, studies have found that the anti-tumor effect of limotherapy, which routinely inhibits tumor angiogenesis, is not ideal and may even deteriorate the tumor microenvironment, causing tumor resistance and distal metastasis and increasing the risk of tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, the proper use of anti-angiogenic drugs can promote the normalization of tumor vessels, improve the structure and function of tumor vessels, increase the number of functional vessels in the tumor, and reduce the number of ineffective vessels. It is beneficial to promote the penetration of anti-tumor drugs into the tumor, improve the microenvironment of tumor hypoxia and immunosuppression, and enhance the anti-tumor effect. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has a long history of understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of tumors and has accumulated rich experience in tumor treatment, with significant clinical advantages and broad application prospects. In this study, from the perspective of bidirectional "soothing" or "blockage" regulation of tumor vessels, the commonly used molecular targets were sorted out, and the research status of anti-tumor regulation of tumor vessels by monomer-single herb-compound(herb pair) of TCM in recent years was summarized. The research on the anti-tumor effects of TCM compounds and active ingredients by regulating tumor vessels combined with other therapies was analyzed and sorted out, so as to provide ideas for the clinical application of TCM in regulating functions and anti-tumor effects of tumor vessels.

[Q-marker prediction of resin ethanol extract of Gegen Qinlian Decoction based on characteristic spectrum and network pharmacology].

The resin ethanol extract of Gegen Qinlian Decoction(GGQLD) has been found to significantly alleviate the intestinal toxicity caused by Irinotecan, but further research is needed to establish its overall quality and clinical medication standards. This study aimed to establish an HPLC characteristic fingerprint of the resin ethanol extract of GGQLD, predicted the targets and signaling pathways of its pharmacological effects based on network pharmacology, identified core compounds with pharmacological relevance, and analyzed potential quality markers(Q-markers) of the resin eluate of GGQLD for relieving Irinotecan-induced toxicity. By considering the uniqueness, measurability, and traceability of Q-markers based on the "five principles" of Q-markers and combining them with network pharmacology techniques, the overall efficacy of the resin ethanol extract of GGQLD can be characterized. Preliminary predictions suggested that the four components of puerarin, berberine, baicalin, and baicalein might serve as potential Q-markers for the resin etha-nol extract of GGQLD. This study provides a basis and references for the quality control and clinical mechanism of the resin ethanol extract of GGQLD.

[Equivalence of combined decoction and mixed single decoctions of Gegen Qinlian Decoction in alleviating chemotherapy-associated diarrhea].

This study compared the chemical profiles, component content, dry paste yield, and pharmacological effects of samples obtained from the mixed single decoctions and the combined decoction of Gegen Qinlian Decoction(GQD), aiming to provide an experimental foundation for evaluating the equivalence of the two decocting methods and the suitability of TCM formula granules in clinical application. The same decoction process was used to prepare the combined decoction and mixed single decoctions of GQD. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) was employed to compare the chemical profiles between the two groups. High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to compare the content of nine characteristic components between the two groups. Then, a delayed diarrhea mouse model induced by irinotecan was established to compare the pharmacological effects of the two groups on chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. The UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS in ESI~+ and ESI~- modes identified 59 chemical components in the compound decoction and mixed single decoctions, which showed no obvious differences in component species. The content of baicalin and wogonoside was higher in the compound decoction, while that of puerarin, daidzein-8-C-apiosylglucoside, berberine, epiberberine, wogonin, glycyrrhizic acid, and daidzein was higher in the mixed single decoctions. Further statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the content of the nine characteristic components between the compound decoction and the mixed single decoctions. The dry paste yield had no significant difference between the two groups. Compared with the model group, both compound decoction and mixed single decoctions alleviated the weight loss and reduced diarrhea index in mice. Both of them lowered the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), interleukin-10(IL-10), malondialdehyde(MDA), and nitric oxide(NO) in the colon tissue. Furthermore, they significantly increased the levels of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase(SOD). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining showed that colon tissue cells were tightly arranged with clear nuclei in both groups without obvious difference. The compound decoction and mixed single decoctions showed no significant differences in chemical component species, content of nine characteristic components, dry paste yield, or the pharmacological effects on alleviating chemotherapy-induced diarrhea. The findings provide a reference for evaluating the flexibility and superiority of combined or single decocting method in the preparation of TCM decoctions or formula granules.

Analyzing pericytes under mild traumatic brain injury using 3D cultures and dielectric elastomer actuators.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as brain damage due to an external force that negatively impacts brain function. Up to 90% of all TBI are considered in the mild severity range (mTBI) but there is still no therapeutic solution available. Therefore, further understanding of the mTBI pathology is required. To assist with this understanding, we developed a cell injury device (CID) based on a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), which is capable of modeling mTBI via injuring cultured cells with mechanical stretching. Our injury model is the first to use patient-derived brain pericyte cells, which are ubiquitous cells in the brain involved in injury response. Pericytes were cultured in our CIDs and mechanically strained up to 40%, and by at least 20%, prior to gene expression analysis. Our injury model is a platform capable of culturing and stretching primary human brain pericytes. The heterogeneous response in gene expression changes in our result may suggest that the genes implicated in pathological changes after mTBI could be a patient-dependent response, but requires further validation. The results of this study demonstrate that our CID is a suitable tool for simulating mTBI as an in vitro stretch injury model, that is sensitive enough to induce responses from primary human brain pericytes due to mechanical impacts.

Substrates, Plants, and Their Combinations for Water Purification of Urban Household Aquaponics Systems.

To make full use of urban household balcony space, an urban aquaponics system for balconies was constructed to investigate the purification effects of four different substrates (volcanic stone, ceramic pellets, ceramic rings, and nanorods) and six plants (mung bean sprouts, hollow cabbage, water celery, lettuce, leek, and water chestnut) on fish culture wastewater. Through the determination of contaminants such as nitrogen and phosphorus and through the use of 16SrDNA sequencing technology, the substrate material and plant combinations with the best purification effects were screened. The results show that volcanic stone and nanorods have strong purification capacities. Compared to the other substrate types, there were more unique bacterial species on the surface of volcanic stone, among which amoeba species were the most dominant (92.42%). Among the six tested plant species, mung bean sprouts had the highest contribution to nitrogen uptake (94.96%), and water chestnut had the highest contribution to phosphorus uptake at 12.07%. Finally, the combination of nanorods and water celery was the best at purifying the wastewater. This study provides a theoretical basis and new ideas for the construction of urban aquaponics systems on balconies, which will help to achieve green farming and the efficient utilization of water resources.

[Mechanisms and application of triptolide against breast cancer].

Overtaking lung cancer,breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer seriously threatening people's health and life. As the main effective component of Tripterygium wilfordii,triptolide( TP) has attracted increasing attention due to its multitarget and multi-pathway anti-tumor activity. Recent studies have revealed that breast cancer-sensitive TP enables the inactivation of breast cancer cells by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and autophagy,interfering in tumor cell metastasis,resisting drug resistance,arresting tumor cell cycle,and influencing tumor microenvironment. It has been recognized as a promising clinical antitumor agent by virtue of its widely accepted therapeutic efficacy. This paper reviewed the anti-breast cancer action and its molecular mechanisms of TP on the basis of the relevant literature in the past ten years,and proposed application strategies in view of the inadequacy of TP to provide a reference for further research on the application of TP in the treatment of breast cancer.

In Vitro Models of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health challenge that is also the third leading cause of death worldwide. It is also the leading cause of long-term disability in children and young adults worldwide. Despite a large body of research using predominantly in vivo and in vitro rodent models of brain injury, there is no medication that can reduce brain damage or promote brain repair mainly due to our lack of understanding in the mechanisms and pathophysiology of the TBI. The aim of this review is to examine in vitro TBI studies conducted from 2008-2018 to better understand the TBI in vitro model available in the literature. Specifically, our focus was to perform a detailed analysis of the in vitro experimental protocols used and their subsequent biological findings. Our review showed that the uniaxial stretch is the most frequently used way of load application, accounting for more than two-thirds of the studies reviewed. The rate and magnitude of the loading were varied significantly from study to study but can generally be categorized into mild, moderate, and severe injuries. The in vitro studies reviewed here examined key processes in TBI pathophysiology such as membrane disruptions leading to ionic dysregulation, inflammation, and the subsequent damages to the microtubules and axons, as well as cell death. Overall, the studies examined in this review contributed to the betterment of our understanding of TBI as a disease process. Yet, our review also revealed the areas where more work needs to be done such as: 1) diversification of load application methods that will include complex loading that mimics in vivo head impacts; 2) more widespread use of human brain cells, especially patient-matched human cells in the experimental set-up; and 3) need for building a more high-throughput system to be able to discover effective therapeutic targets for TBI.

[Evaluation of chemical quality profile of Polygoni Multiflori Radix at different processing degrees based on its classic processing method "nine-steaming and nine-sun-curing"].

Based on the ancient method of nine-steaming and nine-sun-curing,the chemical composition changes and quality profiles in different processes of Polygoni Multiflori Radix were studied. Their contents of stilbene glycoside,anthraquinones and polysaccharides were determined by nine-steaming and nine-sun-curing with black bean juice and pharmacopoeia method. HPLC chemical fingerprints were established,and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis( OPLS-DA) was performed on different processed products using SIMCA 14. 1 software to evaluate the quality difference between samples. The results of content determination show that,with the increase of the number of processing and steaming times,the stilbene glycoside and the combined anthraquinone showed a decreasing trend,and the free anthraquinone,total anthraquinone and polysaccharide showed an upward trend in the different preparations of Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Pharmacopoeia. Six-steamed and six-sun-cured products can be used as the finishing point for the classic steaming. Fingerprint results showed that there were significant differences in chemical composition in Polygoni Multiflori Radix at different processing processes. It can be identified stilbene glycoside( peak 13),emodin( peak 21),and physcion( peak 24). By comparing the relative peak areas of the 26 chromatographic peaks in the sample after normalization( the reference is peak 7),it was found that the relative peak areas of 12 peaks in the processed products were higher than the raw products,13 peaks were reduced; according to statistical analysis of OPLS-DA,Polygoni Multiflori Radix at different processing degrees was further divided into three categories,sample S1 was class I,S2-S5 were class Ⅱ,and S6-S11 were class Ⅲ． And 8 peaks with the VIP value higher than 1. 0 were peak 13,21,4,3,11,14,5,and 24 in order. The eight chemical components were the main components to distinguish the difference between Polygoni Multiflori Radix in the process of nine-steaming and nine-sun-curing,suggesting that it was rational to use stilbene glycoside,emodin and emodin methyl ether as quality control indicators of Polygoni Multiflori Radix. The method established in this experiment conformed to the methodological verification requirements,established a method of multi-component content determination combined with fingerprint,and clarified that six-steaming and six-sun-curing was used as an improved classical processing technology,and more clearly defined the whole dynamic change of chemical composition in Polygoni Multiflori Radix by nine-steaming and ninesun-curing process. It provides a basis for the chemical quality evaluation model about different processed products of Polygoni Multiflori Radix.

Characterization of the gene encoding glycoprotein C of duck enteritis virus.

A total of 2,718 bp of DNA fragment was amplified from the C-KCE strain of duck enteritis virus (DEV) genome using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. This newly identified viral DNA fragment contained two non-overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) oriented from the 5' to 3' direction. The first ORF was comprised of 43.5% G + C and contained the full-length genomic sequence of the UL44 gene (1,296 bp) encoding 431 amino acid residues of DEV glycoprotein C (gC). The second ORF encoded a partial peptide of the UL43 gene. The sequences of DNA and deduced amino acids of the DEV gC gene shared high homology with other members of known herpesviruses, supporting the classification of DEV. Phylogenetic analysis of the DEV gC gene revealed that the gC gene had a close evolutionary relationship with the subfamily of Alphaherpesvirinae.