RuPHOX-Ru Catalyzed Asymmetric Cascade Hydrogenation of 3-Substituted Chromones for the Synthesis of Corresponding Chiral Chromanols.

An efficient RuPHOX-Ru catalyzed asymmetric cascade hydrogenation of 3-substituted chromones has been achieved under mild reaction conditions, affording the corresponding chiral 3-substituted chromanols in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99 % yield, >99 % ee and >20 : 1 dr). Control reactions and deuterium labelling experiments revealed that a dynamic kinetic resolution process occurs during the subsequent hydrogenation of the C=O double bond, which is responsible for the high performance of the asymmetric cascade hydrogenation. The resulting products allow for several transformations and it was shown that the protocol provides a practical and alternative strategy for the synthesis of chiral 3-substituted chromanols and their derivatives.

2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) Ethyl Nitrate Hydrochloride Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment via Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling Pathway in Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion-Associated Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Hypertension reduces the bioavailability of vascular nitric oxide (NO) and contributes to the onset of vascular dementia (VaD). A loss of NO bioavailability increases inflammation and oxidative stress. 2-(4-Methylthiazol-5-yl) ethyl nitrate hydrochloride (W1302) is a novel nitric oxide donor (NOD) which is undergoing phase I clinical trials in China for the treatment of VaD. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of W1302 in VaD rats induced by the permanent occlusion of a bilateral common carotid arteries model related to spontaneous hypertension (SHR-2VO), and we further explored the underlying mechanisms. Nimodipine was used as a positive control. Our results showed that W1302 treatment for 4 weeks (10 mg/Kg/day) exhibited stronger improvement in the spatial learning and memory deficits in SHR-2VO rats compared with nimodipine with slightly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP). Meanwhile, W1302 treatment significantly increased NO and cGMP production, restored mitochondrial membrane potential and attenuated oxidative stress as evidenced by increasing ATP production and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain. Furthermore, W1302 treatment markedly inhibited the iNOS activity and decreased TNF-α expression via inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Nimodipine treatment also restored these aberrant changes, but its ATP production was weaker than that of W1302, and there was no significant effect on NO release. Taken together, W1302 exhibited beneficial effects on complications in VaD with hypertension, which is involved in suppressing oxidative damage, and the inflammatory reaction might be mediated by an increase in NO release. Therefore, W1302 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of VaD caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-associated spontaneous hypertension.

Numerical Simulation of Mass Transfer in Hollow Fiber Membrane Module for Membrane-Based Artificial Organs.

The mass transfer behavior in a hollow fiber membrane module of membrane-based artificial organs (such as artificial liver or artificial kidney) were studied by numerical simulation. A new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method coupled with K-K equation and the tortuous capillary pore diffusion model (TCPDM) was proposed for the simulations. The urea clearance rate predicted by the use of the numerical model agrees well with the experimental data, which verifies the validity of our numerical model. The distributions of concentration, pressure, and velocity in the hollow fiber membrane module were obtained to analyze the mass transfer behaviors of bilirubin and bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the effects of tube-side flow rate, shell-side flow rate, and fiber tube length on the bilirubin or BSA clearance rate were studied. The results show that the solute transport mainly occurred in the near inlet regions in the hollow fiber membrane module. Increasing the tube-side flow rate and the fiber tube length can effectively enhance the solute clearance rate, while the shell-side flow rate has less influence on the BSA clearance. The clearance of macromolecule BSA is dominated by convective solute transport, while the clearance of small molecule bilirubin is significantly affected by both convective and diffusive solute transport.

Discovery of 2-Ethoxy-5-isobutyramido-N-1-substituted Benzamide Derivatives as Selective Kv2.1 Inhibitors with In Vivo Neuroprotective Effects.

Kv2.1 is involved in regulating neuronal excitability and neuronal cell apoptosis, and inhibiting Kv2.1 is a potential strategy to prevent cell death and achieve neuroprotection in ischemic stroke. In this work, a series of novel benzamide derivatives were designed and synthesized as Kv2.1 inhibitors, and extensive structure-activity relationships led to highly potent and selective Kv2.1 inhibitors having IC50 values of 10-8 M. Among them, compound 80 (IC50 = 0.07 µM, selectivity >130 fold over other K+, Na+, and Ca2+ ion channels) was able to decrease the apoptosis of HEK293/Kv2.1 cells induced by H2O2. Furthermore, its anti-ischemic efficacy was demonstrated as it markedly reduced the infarct volume in MCAO rat model. Additionally, compound 80 possessed appropriate plasma PK parameters. It could serve as a probe to investigate Kv2.1 pathological functions and deserved to be further explored.

Investigating the pharmacological mechanism of Zhengyuan jiaonang for treating colorectal cancer via network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Zhengyuan jiaonang (ZYJN) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine (CPM) used in China for adjuvant cancer therapy, which has been proved to have anti-fatigue effects. AIM OF STUDY: The study aims to investigate the antitumor effects of ZYJN and its underlying mechanisms using subcutaneous transplant CT26 model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fingerprint analysis of ZYJN was performed using high performance liquid chromatography. The potential targets of ZYJN were predicted using bioinformatic analysis, which were further validated by Western Blot assay. Subcutaneous transplant CT26 model was used to evaluate the antitumor effects of ZYJN. The effects of ZYJN on the tumor immune microenvironment were investigated by flow cytometry. Transparent imaging was used to investigate the effects of ZYJN on fibrosis and angiogenesis. RESULTS: ZYJN could inhibit colorectal cancer growth when administered alone or in combination with 5-FU. The combination of ZYJN and 5-FU could significantly increase the serum level of albumin (ALB) and decrease the serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, the combination of ZYJN at 0.75 g/kg and 5-FU significantly decreased the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and inhibited the angiogenesis of CT26 cancer. The combination of ZYJN at 1.50 g/kg and 5-FU could promote the fibrosis process of CT26 cancer. Additionally, combination of ZYJN and 5-FU could significantly increase the percentage of tumor-infiltrating T cells and CD4+ T cells in the late stage of CT26 model, while ZYJN at 1.50 g/kg increased the percentage of NK cells as well as CD8+ T cells in the early stage of CT26 model. Western Blot analysis revealed that administration of ZYJN at 0.75 g/kg reduced the expression of PI3K-p110α, CDK1, CCNB1 and MMP-9, and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (Thr308). CONCLUSIONS: ZYJN could inhibit the tumor growth of CT26 colorectal cancer by promoting tumor fibrosis, suppressing angiogenesis, migration, and invasion and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. ZYJN enhanced the efficacy and reduced the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs in combination therapy. Our findings provide evidence for the clinical application of ZYJN in cancer treatment.

The ambient air quality standards, green innovation, and urban air quality: evidence from China.

As China's economy transitions, environmental issues have become a major concern. This study examines the impact of Ambient Air Quality Standards (AAQS) on urban air quality using panel data from 284 cities in China from 2006 to 2019. The study utilizes DID (Difference-in-Difference) models to analyze the regulatory effects of AAQS and its spatial spillover. Additionally, the serial multiple mediation models are constructed to investigate the role of green innovation. The findings reveal that the AAQS positively affects urban air quality, albeit with a notable "hysteresis effect." Local implementation of AAQS worsens air quality in neighboring cities within a distance of 400 km, but beyond 400 km, the effect is reversed. Heterogeneity analysis shows that AAQS improves air quality in central cities, large-sized and medium-sized cities, cities with weak environmental governance, and resource-based cities. Mechanism tests suggest that AAQS may enhance urban air quality by promoting green innovation and optimizing industrial structure. Especially, either the energy-use effect or industrial-structure effect triggered by green innovation can contribute to the improvement of urban air quality.

Chemical scanning of atomic oxygen at the gas-liquid interface of a NaCl solution via quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations.

Atmospheric pressure plasmas can serve as double phase reactors to produce plasma activated water for water treatment. However, the physical-chemical processes involving plasma-supplied atomic oxygen and reactive oxygen species in an aqueous solution remain unclear. In this work, quantum mechanics (QM)/molecular mechanics (MM) molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) have been performed to directly observe the chemical reactions occurring between atomic oxygen and a NaCl solution at the gas-liquid interface using a model containing 10,800 atoms. During simulations, the atoms in the QM and MM Parts are dynamically adjusted. To examine the effects of local microenvironments on the chemical processes, atomic oxygen is used as a chemical probe to scan the gas-liquid interface. The excited atomic oxygen reacts with water molecules and Cl- ions to produce H2O2, OH, HOCl, ClO-, and HO2-/H3O+ species. The ground-state atomic oxygen is significantly more stable than the excited atomic oxygen, although it can react with water molecules to produce OH radicals. However, the branch ratio of ClO- computed for triplet atomic oxygen is significantly larger than that determined for singlet atomic oxygen. This study can help achieve a better understanding of the fundamental chemical processes during plasma-treated solution experiments and promotes advances in applications of QM/MM calculations at the gas-liquid interface.

PHPB Attenuated Cognitive Impairment in Type 2 Diabetic KK-Ay Mice by Modulating SIRT1/Insulin Signaling Pathway and Inhibiting Generation of AGEs.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been recognized as an increased risk factor for cognitive impairment, known as diabetic encephalopathy (DE). Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are the main initiators of DE, which is related to the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Potassium 2-(1-hydroxypentyl)-benzoate (PHPB), a derivative of 3-n-butylphthalide (dl-NBP), has emerged various properties including improved mitochondrial function, antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammation, and neuroprotective effects. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of PHPB against AGEs accumulation in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice model with DE and further explore the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that PHPB markedly ameliorated the spatial learning ability of KK-Ay mice in the Morris water maze and decreased AD-like pathologic changes (Tau hyperphosphorylation) in the cortex. Furthermore, we found that PHPB treatment significantly reduced AGEs generation via up-regulation of glyoxalase-1 (GLO1) protein and enhancement of methylglyoxal (MG) trapping, while there was no obvious difference in levels of glucose in plasma or brain, contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and plasma insulin. Also, PHPB treatment improved the insulin signaling pathway by increasing sirtuin1 (SIRT1) deacetylase activity and attenuated oxidative stress evidenced by elevating glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) protein expression, promoting the production of reduced glutathione (GSH) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), restoring mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain. Taken together, PHPB exhibited a beneficial effect on DE, which involved modulating the SIRT1/insulin signaling pathway and reducing oxidative stress by inhibiting the generation of AGEs.

Size distributions of molecular markers for biogenic secondary organic aerosol in urban Beijing.

To understand the source, formation, and seasonality of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (BSOA), a nine-stage cascade impactor was utilized to collect size-segregated particulate samples from April 2017 to January 2018 in Beijing, China. BSOA tracers derived from isoprene, monoterpene, and sesquiterpene were measured with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Isoprene and monoterpene SOA tracers exhibited significant seasonal variations, with a summer maximum and a winter minimum. Dominance of 2-methyltetrols (isoprene SOA tracers) with a good correlation with levoglucosan (a biomass burning tracer), which was combined with the detection of methyltartaric acids (possible indicators for aged isoprene) in summer, implies possible biomass burning and long-range transport. In contrast, sesquiterpene SOA tracer (ß-caryophyllinic acid) was dominant in winter and was probably associated with the local burning of biomass. Bimodal size distributions were observed for most isoprene SOA tracers, consistent with previous laboratory experiments and field studies showing that they can be formed not only in the aerosol phase but also in the gas phase. Monoterpene SOA tracers cis-pinonic acid and pinic acid showed a coarse-mode peak (5.8-9.0 µm) in four seasons due to their volatile nature. Sesquiterpene SOA tracer ß-caryophyllinic acid showed a unimodal pattern with a major fine-mode peak (1.1-2.1 µm), which is linked to local biomass burning. The tracer-yield method was used to quantify the contributions of isoprene, monoterpene, and sesquiterpene to secondary organic carbon (SOC) and SOA. The highest isoprene SOC and SOA concentrations occurred in summer (2.00 µgC m-3 and 4.93 µg m-3, respectively), contributing to 1.61% of OC and 5.22% of PM2.5, respectively. These results suggest that BSOA tracers are promising tracers for understanding the source, formation, and seasonality of BSOA.

Effects of Rare Earth Oxides on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Phenolic-Based Hybrid Nanocomposites.

The incorporation of rare earth oxides and nano-silica has been found to significantly enhance the mechanical and tribological characteristics of phenolic-based hybrid nanocomposites. In this work, the impact of these additives was investigated through single-factor experiments. The study revealed that cerium oxide and yttrium oxide were the primary factors influencing changes in the impact strength, shear strength, coefficient of friction, and wear rate. Additionally, the content of nano-silica exerted the most substantial influence on the hardness and compressive strength of the specimens. Furthermore, the material ratios of the phenolic-based hybrid nanocomposites were optimized using an orthogonal experimental design and a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. The optimal material ratio for these nanocomposites was determined to be 2% cerium oxide, 2.5% yttrium oxide, and 3% nano-silica, based on their mechanical, frictional, and wear properties. This research provides valuable insights for the development of new brake friction materials with low friction and high wear resistance and contributes to meeting the demand for polymer composites with superior mechanical performance in diverse applications.

[A case of tsutsugamushi disease complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute infectious disease caused by Rickettsia. Occasionally it has been reported in Macau, China. Critical cases are rare. Because the clinical manifestations of tsutsugamushi disease are non-specific and diverse, if not diagnosed and treated in time, the disease may progress to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even death. A patient with tsutsugamushi disease complicated by MODS was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Kiang Wu Hospital in Macau, China on September 30, 2021. Combined with the history of outdoor activities (exposure to chigger mite larvae), clinical symptoms and signs (characteristic eschar of tsutsugamushi disease was found on the abdominal skin), related laboratory examinations (Weil-Felix test: negative). Diagnosis of tsutsugamushi disease with MODS. After admission, the patient was treated by anti-infection, correction of coagulation dysfunction, tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, noradrenalin to maintain blood pressure, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), but the condition didn't improve significantly. We initiated veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO), which was initially setted blood flow to 5 L/min (70 mL×kg-1×min-1), rotate speed to 3 500 rpm, fractional concentration of inspired oxygen (FiO2) to 1.00. Heparin was used as anticoagulant and activated coagulation time (ACT) was kept between 180 and 200 seconds. Meanwhile the speed of fluid removal in CRRT was adjusted. After 9 hours of ECMO support, the oxygenation improved, the blood flow of ECMO was reduced to about 4 L/min (58 mL×kg-1×min-1), rotate speed to 3 000 rpm. The patient's condition improved after 4 days of ECMO treatment and her ECMO flow rate and FiO2 could be decreased gradually. On hospital day 5, ECMO was removed. Eight days on mechanical ventilation, the patient was successfully weaned and extubated. On day 11 of hospitalization, weaned the CRRT and turned to intermittent hemodialysis. The patient was transferred out of ICU due to her stable condition on the 12th day hospitalization. After that, her spontaneous urine output increased gradually. The functions of various organs returned to normal. After 36 days of hospitalization, she recovered and was discharged.

Carbon-based composites for rechargeable zinc-air batteries: A mini review.

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have gained a significant amount of attention as next-generation energy conversion and storage devices owing to their high energy density and environmental friendliness, as well as their safety and low cost. The performance of ZABs is dominated by oxygen electrocatalysis, which includes the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts that are both highly active and stable. Carbon-based materials are regarded as reliable candidates because of their superior electrical conductivity, low price, and high durability. In this Review, we briefly introduce the configuration of ZABs and the reaction mechanism of bifunctional ORR/OER catalysts. Then, the most recent developments in carbon-based bifunctional catalysts are summarized in terms of carbon-based metal composites, carbon-based metal oxide composites, and other carbon-based composites. In the final section, we go through the significant obstacles and potential future developments for carbon-based bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs.

Application of Multiprocessing Technology of Motion Video Image Based on Sensor Technology in Track and Field Sports.

To improve the accuracy of track and field sports feature recognition, this paper combines sensor technology to improve the motion video image multiprocessing technology and gives the basic principles of image registration. Moreover, this paper chooses a model based on projection transformation. When using a high-speed linear CCD, only the image information on the finish line is collected. Unlike the previous high-speed area CCD cameras that can capture runway information, linear CCDs are used to collect only the image information on the finish line, and the data is collected and processed through sensor technology. The research shows that the application effect of the motion video image multiprocessing technology based on sensor technology in track and field sports proposed in this paper has good practical effects.

Research on the Development of Digital Creative Sports Industry Based on Deep Learning.

The core of the digital entrepreneurial sports culture creative industry lies in innovation, which emphasizes the new impetus brought by the digital entrepreneurial sports culture to the social economy. The digital entrepreneurial sports cultural creative industry is rooted in the cultural creative industry. The digital entrepreneurial sports cultural creative industry is also an important part of the sports industry, and its development highly depends on the development of the sports industry. The digital entrepreneurial sports cultural creative industry has the characteristics of both the sports industry and the cultural creative industry. This paper uses the deep learning technology to study the development of the digital creative sports industry and build an intelligent model. Moreover, this paper assigns weights to the input multidimensional features, extracts the most relevant data features, and analyzes the performance of the proposed model through simulation experiments. From the experimental analysis results, we can see that the model proposed in this paper has certain practicality.

Design and Analysis of a Pneumatic Spring Testing System for Precision Manufacturing.

The vibration isolation effect of the pneumatic spring determines the precision of the manufacturing. In this paper, in order to detect the performance of a pneumatic spring, a multi frequency band testing system with different payload is designed and developed. First, the pneumatic spring structure is analyzed, and the stiffness of the pneumatic spring is obtained based on the ideal gas model, Kelvin-Voigt model, and finite element method. Then, to verify the reliability of the system, a dynamic model of the vibration platform is established. Through an analysis of the simulation using the Simulink environment, critical parameters are determined, and the effective conditions of the vibration isolation are obtained. Based on the results from the simulation and experiment, the transmission rate is around 20% under 40 Hz vibration, and 12% under 100 Hz vibration. The pneumatic spring proves to be effective under vibrations beyond 7 H. This achievement will become an important basis for future research concerning precision manufacturing.

The Research Progress of Electrical Impedance Tomography for Lung Monitoring.

Medical imaging can intuitively show people the internal structure, morphological information, and organ functions of the organism, which is one of the most important inspection methods in clinical medical diagnosis. Currently used medical imaging methods can only be applied to some diagnostic occasions after qualitative lesions have been generated, and the general imaging technology is usually accompanied by radiation and other conditions. However, electrical impedance tomography has the advantages of being noninvasive and non-radiative. EIT (Electrical Impedance Tomography) is also widely used in the early diagnosis and treatment of some diseases because of these advantages. At present, EIT is relatively mature and more and more image reconstruction algorithms are used to improve imaging resolution. Hardware technology is also developing rapidly, and the accuracy of data collection and processing is continuously improving. In terms of clinical application, EIT has also been used for pathological treatment of lungs, the brain, and the bladder. In the future, EIT has a good application prospect in the medical field, which can meet the needs of real-time, long-term monitoring and early diagnosis. Aiming at the application of EIT in the treatment of lung pathology, this article reviews the research progress of EIT, image reconstruction algorithms, hardware system design, and clinical applications used in the treatment of lung diseases. Through the research and introduction of several core components of EIT technology, it clarifies the characteristics of EIT system complexity and its solutions, provides research ideas for subsequent research, and once again verifies the broad development prospects of EIT technology in the future.

Effects of light and water disturbance on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa and the release of algal toxins.

Eutrophication of water constitutes a serious threat to global water quality. Light intensity and water disturbance are important factors affecting the growth of algae and the release of algal toxins. In this study, algal growth indicators, algal enzyme systems, and algal toxin release in Microcystis aeruginosa under different light intensities and water disturbances were determined. The results showed that 2500 lx and 120 rpm were the optimal conditions for the growth of M. aeruginosa. The growth of algal cells was inhibited by high light intensity and high water disturbance. However, the optimal conditions for algal growth were not favorable conditions for the release of algal toxin. The highest concentration of microcystin-LR (MC-LR), observed at 4500 lx and 80 rpm, was 198.1 µg/L, whereas the highest single cell toxin production reached up to 10.49 × 10-9  µg/cell at 7000 lx and 120 rpm. Redundancy analysis results showed that the concentration of MC-LR was positively correlated with algal cell density and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and malondialdehyde [MDA]) and negatively correlated with the total nitrogen and total phosphorus consumption rates and MDA. Single cell toxin production was negatively correlated with algal cell density and antioxidant enzyme activity but positively correlated with MDA content. PRACTITIONER POINTS: There was an optimal water disturbance condition for algae growth affected by the light intensity. Optimal conditions for algae cell growth are not necessarily the optimal conditions for algal toxin release. Enzyme indicators have correlation with the release of algae toxins and the growth of algae cells.

Effects of Activation Conditions on the Properties of Sludge-Based Activated Coke.

Sewage sludge and waste biomass are unavoidable byproducts of municipal and industrial processes. Both materials have significant carbon contents. Activated coke with a developed pore structure can be obtained after its physical activation. In this study, sewage sludge and waste poplar bark were used as precursor materials to prepare activated coke by steam, carbon dioxide gas, and their mixtures. The effects of different concentrations of activation gas on the activated coke product were investigated. Through nitrogen adsorption analysis, it was found that activated coke has a higher specific surface area and better pore structure when activated in gas containing 20% steam. The activated coke prepared by carbon dioxide gas activation has higher microporosity than that prepared by steam activation. Infrared spectrum analysis shows that steam activation is beneficial to the formation of free hydroxyl functional groups. Through scanning electron microscopy analysis, the pores of activated coke prepared by steam activation appeared to extend deeper in the structure of the coke, while the pores of activated coke prepared by carbon dioxide activation appeared to have fine circular structures. The activated coke prepared by the activation of mixed gas appeared to have ablated particles on the surface due to the ablation of the pore structure. In order to prepare activated coke with excellent adsorption performance, the physical and chemical properties of activated coke under different activation conditions were studied in detail.

Response of the Bacterial Community and Antibiotic Resistance in Overnight Stagnant Water from a Municipal Pipeline.

Although drinking water safety has raised considerable concern, to date, the hidden health risks in newly released overnight water from a municipal pipeline have seldom received attention. In this study, bacterial community composition and the response of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) to ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline, penicillin, and cephalosporin in overnight stagnant water were analyzed. With increases in heterotrophic bacteria plate count (HPC) during water stagnation, the numbers of ARB and the ARB/HPC ratios for the five antibiotics in resident water were observed to increase, which illustrated that the prevalence of ARB rose in the pipe network water during stagnation time (ST). Furthermore, during water stagnation for 12 h, an increase in bacteria related to fermentation was also observed. When the ST rose to 48 h, the fermentation bacteria become non-significant, and this was related to the exchange of pipe network water during daytime stagnation within the 48-h period. The antibiotic resistance index (ARI) showed that tetracycline had the highest resistance level in fresh water, and then decreased during water stagnation. When ST increased to 12 h, all ARI values of the five antibiotics were low, which was associated with changes in parameters during water retention and reduced resistance during short-term stagnation. When the ST increased to 24 and 48 h, the resistance to most antibiotics (except for tetracycline) increased, which showed that increasing antibiotic resistance is caused by the formation of biofilms in the pipeline during water stagnation.

Potassium 2-(1-hydroxypentyl)-benzoate improves depressive-like behaviors in rat model.

Potassium 2-(1-hydroxypentyl)-benzoate (PHPB) is a novel drug candidate for acute ischemic stroke. PHPB has been also shown to be beneficial for some neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we demonstrated that PHPB improved depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in rats. Male SD rats were subjected to the stress for five weeks. PHPB (30 and 100 mg/kg) or fluoxetine (FLX 10 mg/kg, as positive control) was administered orally from the third week in CUMS procedure. The behavioral tests were applied and then the biochemical studies were carried out. PHPB or FLX treatment rescued the behavioral deficiency in CUMS-exposed rats. Meanwhile, PHPB normalized the enhanced level of serum corticosterone, improved hippocampal and serum BDNF levels, as well as p-CREB level in hippocampus. In addition, PHPB could reverse the reduced level of extracellular 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of depressed rats. In summary, our results showed that PHPB improved depression-like behaviors in CUMS-exposed rats. The mechanisms might relate to the reverse of neurotrophic disturbance in the brain, reducing excessive HPA axis response and facilitating the release of 5-HT.