Artemyriantholides A-K, guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers from Artemisia myriantha var. pleiocephala and their antihepatoma activity.

Artemyriantholides A-K (1-11) as well as 14 known compounds (12-25) were isolated from Artemisia myriantha var. pleiocephala (Asteraceae). The structures and absolute configuration of compounds 2 and 8-9 were confirmed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, and the others were elucidated by MS, NMR spectral data and electronic circular dichroism calculations. All compounds were chemically characterized as guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers (GSDs). Compound 1 was the first example of the GSD fused via C-3/C-11' and C-5/C-13' linkages, and compounds 2 and 5 were rare GSDs containing chlorine atoms. Eleven compounds showed obvious inhibitory activity in HepG2, Huh7 and SK-Hep-1 cell lines by antihepatoma assay to provide the IC50 values ranging from 7.9 to 67.1 µM. Importantly, compounds 5 and 8 exhibited the best inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 14.2 and 18.8 (HepG2), 9.0 and 11.5 (Huh7), and 8.8 and 11.3 µM (SK-Hep-1), respectively. The target of compound 5 was predicted to be MAP2K2 by a computational prediction model. The interaction between compound 5 and MAP2K2 was conducted to give docking score of -9.0 kcal/mol by molecular docking and provide KD value of 43.7 µM by Surface Plasmon Resonance assay.

Synthesis and antihepatoma activity of guaianolide dimers derived from lavandiolide I.

Guaianolide dimers represent a unique class of natural products with anticancer activities, but their low content in plants has limited in-depth pharmacological studies. Lavandiolide I is a guaianolide dimer isolated from Artemisia species, and had been synthesized on a ten-gram scale in four steps with 60 % overall yield, which showed potent antihepatoma activity on the HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines with IC50 values of 12.1, 18.4, and 17.6 µM, respectively. To explore more active dimers, 33 lavandiolide I derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their inhibitory activity on human hepatoma cell lines. Among them, 10 derivatives were more active than lavandiolide I and sorafenib on the three cell lines. The primary structure-activity relationship concluded that the introduction of aldehyde, ester, azide, amide, carbamate and urea functional groups at C-14' of the guaianolide dimer significantly enhanced the antihepatoma activity. Among these compounds, derivatives 25, 27, and 33 enhanced antihepatoma activity more than 1.2-5.8 folds than that of lavandiolide I, and demonstrated low toxicity to the human liver cell lines (THLE-2) and good safety profiles with selective index ranging from 1.3 to 3.4, while lavandiolide I was more toxic to THLE-2 cells. This work provides new insights into enhancing the antihepatoma efficacy and reducing the toxicity of sesquiterpenoid dimers.

Highly Selective and Rapid "Turn-On" Fluorogenic Chemosensor for Detection of Salicylic Acid in Plants and Food Samples.

Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the chemical molecules, involved in plant growth and immunity, thereby contributing to the control of pests and pathogens, and even applied in fruit and vegetable preservation. However, only a few tools have ever been designed or executed to understand the physiological processes induced by SA or its function in plant immunity and residue detection in food. Hence, three Rh6G-based fluorogenic chemosensors were synthesized to detect phytohormone SA based on the "OFF-ON" mechanism. The probes showed high selectivity, ultrafast response time (<60 s), and nanomolar detection limit for SA. Moreover, the probe possessed outstanding profiling that can be successfully used for SA imaging of callus and plants. Furthermore, the fluorescence pattern indicated that SA could occur in the distal transport in plants. These remarkable results contribute to improving our understanding of the multiple physiological and pathological processes involved in SA for plant disease diagnosis and for the development of immune activators. In addition, SA detection in some agricultural products used probes to extend the practical application because its use is prohibited in some countries and is harmful to SA-sensitized persons. Interestingly, the as-obtained test paper displayed that SA could be imaged by ultraviolet (UV) and was directly visible to the naked eye. Given the above outcomes, these probes could be used to monitor SA in vitro and in vivo, including, but not limited to, plant biology, food residue detection, and sewage detection.

Rhodamine-based fluorescent sensors for the rapid and selective off-on detection of salicylic acid and their use in plant cell imaging.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a key hormone that regulates plant growth and immunity, and understanding the physiologic processes induced by SA enables the development of highly pathogen-resistant crops. Here, we report the synthesis of three new SA-sensors (R1-R3) from hydroxyphenol derivatives of a rhodamine-acylhydrazone scaffold and their characterization by NMR and HRMS. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that structural variations in R1-R3 resulted in sensors with different sensitivities for SA. Sensor R2 (with the 3-hydroxyphenyl modification) outperformed R1 (2-hydroxyphenyl) and R3 (4-hydroxyphenyl). The SA-detection limit of R2 is 0.9 µM with an ultra-fast response time (<60 s). In addition, their plant imaging indicated that designed sensor R2 is useful for the further study of SA biology and the discovery and development of new inducers of plant immunity.

FoxO and rotund form a binding complex governing wing polyphenism in planthoppers.

Wing polyphenism is found in a variety of insects and offers an attractive model system for studying the evolutionary significance of dispersal. The Forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factor (TF) acts as a wing-morph switch that directs wing buds developing into long-winged (LW) or short-winged morphs in wing-dimorphic planthoppers, yet the regulatory mechanism of the FoxO module remains elusive. Here, we identified the zinc finger TF rotund as a potential wing-morph regulator via transcriptomic analysis and phenotypic screening in the brown plathopper, Nilaparvata lugens. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of rotund antagonized the LW development derived from in the context of FoxO depletion or the activation of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling cascade, reversing long wings into intermediate wings. In vitro binding assays indicated that rotund physically binds to FoxO to form the FoxO combinatorial code. These findings broaden our understanding of the complexity of transcriptional regulation governing wing polyphenism in insects.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of artemyrianolide H derivatives as potential antihepatoma agents.

Artemyrianolide H (AH) is a germacrene-type sesquiterpenolid isolated from Artemisia myriantha, and showed potent cytotoxicity against three human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 with IC50 values of 10.9, 7.2, and 11.9 µM, respectively. To reveal structure-activity relationship, 51 artemyrianolide H derivatives including 19 dimeric analogs were designed, synthesized, and assayed for their cytotoxicity against three human hepatoma cell lines. Among them, 34 compounds were more active than artemyrianolide H and sorafenib on the three cell lines. Especially, compound 25 exhibited the most promising activity with IC50 values of 0.7 (HepG2), 0.6 (Huh7), and 1.3 µM (SK-Hep-1), which were 15.5, 12.0, and 9.2-fold higher than that of AH and 16.4, 16.3 and 17.5-fold higher than that of sorafenib. Cytotoxicity evaluation on normal human liver cell lines (THLE-2) demonstrated good safety profile of compound 25 with SI of 1.9 (HepG2), 2.2 (Huh 7) and 1.0 (SK-Hep1). Further studies revealed that compound 25 dose-dependently arrested cells at G2/M phase which was correlated with the up-regulation of both cyclin B1 and p-CDK1, and induced apoptosis through the activation of mitochondrial pathways in HepG2 cells. In addition, the migratory and invasive abilities in HepG2 cells after treatment with 1.5 µM of compound 25 were decreased by 89% and 86% with the increase of E-cadherin expression accompanied by the decrease of N-cadherin, vimentin expression. Bioinformatics analysis based on machine learning predicted that PDGFRA and MAP2K2 might be acting targets of compound 25, and SPR assays demonstrated compound 25 were bound with PDGFRA and MAP2K2 with KD value of 0.168 nM, and 8.49 µM, respectively. This investigation proposed that compound 25 might be considered as a promising lead compound for the development of antihepatoma candidate.

Artemiprinolides A-M, thirteen undescribed sesquiterpenoid dimers from Artemisia princeps and their antihepatoma activity.

Bioassay-guided investigation of the active fraction of Artemisia princeps led to 13 undescribed sesquiterpenoid dimers, artemiprinolides A-M (1-13), together with 11 known ones (14-24). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data and absolute configurations were assigned based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data and ECD calculations. Structurally, all compounds were postulated to be derived from the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The isolated dimers except 11 and 15 were assayed for their cytotoxicity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines, of which four compounds (3, 13, 17, 18) exhibited obvious cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 8.8 to 20.1 µM. Interestingly, the most active compounds 1 and 16 manifested significant cytotoxicity on the three tested hepatoma cell lines with IC50 values of 5.4, 4.1 (HepG2), 7.7, 5.6 (Huh7), and 11.8, 15.7 µM (SK-Hep-1), respectively, which were better than sorafenib. Compound 1 dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion, and significantly induced the HepG2 cell arrest in G2/M phase by downregulating cdc2 and pcdc2 and upregulating cyclinB1; and induced apoptosis by downregulating Bcl-2 expression and upregulating Bax level. The molecular docking study implied that the carbonyl at the C-12' of 1 had a strong binding affinity with PRKACA.

Artemidubolides A-T, cytotoxic unreported guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers against three hepatoma cell lines from Artemisia dubia.

A random bioassay revealed that the EtOH extract and EtOAc fraction of Artemisia dubia Wall. (Asteraceae) exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells with inhibitory ratios of 57.1% and 84.2% at a concentration of 100.0 µg/mL. Bio-guided isolation combined by LC-MS-IT-TOF analyses of the active fractions led to the isolation of 20 previously undescribed guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers named artemidubolides A-T (1-20). Their structures and the absolute configurations were determined by comprehensive spectral analyses, comparison of the experimental and calculated ECD spectra, and seven compounds (artemidubolides A, B, D, F, K, O and R) were confirmed unequivocally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Structurally, artemidubolides A-Q were [4 + 2] Diels-Alder adducts of two monomeric guaianolides, and artemidubolides R-T were linked though an ester bond. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their hepatomatic cytotoxicity against HepG2, Huh7, and SK-Hep-1 cell lines to demonstrate that 18 compounds exhibited obvious cytotoxicity against three tested hepatoma cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 5.4-87.6 µM. Importantly, artemidubolides B, D, and M exhibited hepatoma cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 5.4, 5.7, and 9.7 (HepG2), 8.2, 4.3, and 12.2 (Huh7), and 13.4, 8.4, and 12.9 µM (SK-Hep-1), respectively. Mechanism investigation in HepG2 cells suggested the most active artemidubolide D dose-dependently inhibited cell migration and invasion, induced G1/M cell cycle arrest by down-regulating proteins CDK4, CDK6 and CyclinD1 and up-regulating the level of protein P21; and induced apoptosis by down-regulated of PARP-1 and BCL-2 expression and up-regulating Bax and cleaved PARP-1 levels.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Intestinal Barrier in Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Surgery-A Single-Center Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal failure results in death in critically ill patients. This study aimed to explore the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on intestinal barrier function and its mechanism in critically ill patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: Patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were randomized into the DEX group (n = 21) or midazolam (MID) group (n = 21). Sufentanil was used for analgesia in both groups. In the DEX group, DEX was loaded (1 µg/kg) before sedation and infused (0.7 µg/kg/h) during sedation. In the MID group, MID was loaded (0.05 mg/kg) before sedation and infused (0.1 mg/kg/h) during sedation. The mean arterial pressure , heart rate , borborygmus resumption time , first defecation time, length of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay were observed. The diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactate , TNF-α, IL-6, and α7nAChR levels in plasma or hemocytes were detected before the start of sedation (0 h) and after sedation (24 h). RESULTS: No significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were noted (P > 0.05). The mean arterial pressure between 0 h and 24 h showed no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05), but the heart rate was significantly lower in the DEX group (P = 0.042). The borborygmus resumption time was significantly earlier in the DEX group (P = 0.034). The lengths of intensive care unit stay (P = 0.016) and hospital stay (P = 0.031) were significantly shorter in the DEX group. The TNF-α level in the DEX group was lower at 24 h than 0 h. The D-lactate level was significantly lower in the DEX group than the MID group at 24 h (P = 0.016). The expression of α7nAChR in the DEX group was significantly higher at 24 h than 0 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DEX maintained intestinal barrier integrity in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

New data of Nazeris Fauvel from the Dayao Mountains, Guangxi, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae).

Three new species of Nazeris Fauvel, 1873 from the Dayao Mountains, Guangxi, China, are described and illustrated: N. shengtangus Ma, Miao Hu, sp. n., N. songi Ma, Miao Hu, sp. n., and N. curvilaminatus Ma, Miao Hu, sp. n. An identification key to the Nazeris species in Guangxi, and a map showing their distribution are provided.

A new species of Quedius Stephens in Zhejiang, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Staphylinini).

N/A.

Relationship between the risk factors of cardiovascular disease by testing biochemical markers and young men with erectile dysfunction: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) shares common risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and dyslipidemia, but the relationship between the risk factors of CVD in biochemical markers and young men with ED age 20-40 years is not fully clarified. METHODS: A total of 289 ED outpatients (20-40 years old) were allocated under ED group, based on patients' complaints and physical examinations. According to the frequency matching ratio of 1:4, 1,155 male individuals (20-40 years old) without ED were set as control group. All participants were tested for lipid profiles including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), blood glucose (BG), homocysteine (HCY), liver function including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and renal function including uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CR). The study was designed to compare the two groups using an established binary logistic regression analysis model. The ED group was then subdivided into a younger ED group (20-30 years old) and an older ED group (31-40 years old) for further comparisons. RESULTS: After comparison, no obvious differences were found in medians of age, TC, TG, HDL, HCY, UA, and ALT in the two groups. Median LDL, BG, and CR were significantly higher and AST was much lower in the ED group (P<0.01). In binary logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (OR) for LDL, BG, CR, and AST were 1.279, 1.237, 1.026, and 0.978, respectively. The sensitivity value and specificity value were 43.25% and 72.56%, respectively. The medians of LDL, TG, and TC were higher and HDL was much lower in the older ED group, as compared with the younger group (P<0.05). No significant differences were displayed in medians of other biochemical markers in the above comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated LDL, BG, and CR were related factors of ED in young men. Lipid profile was significantly different between young men with ED aged 20-30 and 31-40 years.

Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) CD46 isoforms protect the cells from autologous complement attack.

CD46 is an important immune regulatory receptor with multiple functions. However, studies on the function of teleost CD46, especially the different CD46 isoforms are limited. In this study, we identified three membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46) gene isoforms from ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) and tentatively named as PaCD46 isoforms. PaCD46 isoforms were generated by alternative splicing and all consisted of four conserved short consensus repeats (SCRs), and the variable serine-threonine-proline-rich domain, transmembrane hydrophobic domain, and cytoplasmic tail. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the isoforms clustered together with other fish CD46 and then with higher animal CD46. Western blotting analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) revealed three bands, all of which had much larger molecular weights than the theoretical values of the three PaCD46 isoforms. Moreover, three PaCD46 isoforms were individually expressed on HEK293 cells, and Western blotting showed the similar band profile to that of PBMC. The recombinant extracellular domain of the PaCD46 isoforms, obtained by expression in Pichia pastoris, significantly reduced hemolysis activity of ayu sera. Furthermore, each of the three PaCD46 isoforms respectively protected the HEK293 cells expressing the isoform. The isoforms were also identified for their protection of autologous PBMC from complement activation. These results provided the first evidence that PaCD46 isoforms may be complement regulatory proteins to prevent complement-induced damage to self-tissue.

[Evaluation of sustainable development of eco-economic systems in China based on emergy analysis].

We comprehensively evaluated the sustainable development level in China from 2006 to 2016 based on emergy theory. According to the differences in the proportion of primary energy input, all the provinces in China were divided into four groups for inter-provincial comparison to further examine the impacts of primary energy input on the sustainable development. The results showed that under the high economic development, the continuous increase in the primary energy input rate enhanced the environmental load rate of Chinese eco-economic system from 2.78 to 3.13. Meanwhile, the increases in imports led to a decline in emergy yield rate and a decline in emergy sustainable index to 5.40. Results of inter-provincial comparison showed that the trend of emergy per area was generally consistent with the change in the primary energy input rate. Currently, economic development in most provinces was dependent on energy consumption. Among them, sustainable development in cities with dual characteristics of highly developed economics and significant environmental pressures was not optimistic, including Beijing and Shanghai. Provinces in southern China with lower energy input and higher emergy yield were stronger in sustainable development, with Jiangsu as the most representative province. Consequently, improving the efficiency of energy utilization in inland provinces, adjusting the mode of economic development and appropriately slowing down the intensity of economic development could fully alleviate the contradiction between economic growth and environmental protection, and thus steadily achieve sustainable development of ecology and economy.

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Spermatogenesis in Rats with Oligozoospermia of Insufficiency of Shen (Kidney) Essence Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of cytoskeletal proteins from Sertoli cells (SCs) and spermatogenesis in rats with oligozoospermia of insufficiency of Shen (Kidney) essence syndrome (OIKES). METHODS: Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups using a random number table: control, tripterygium glycosides (TG) treatment, sham and EA groups (n=5 in each group). A rat model of OIKES was established by oral gavage with TG. The EA group was treated with TG and received EA at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) acupoints for 20 min, once daily for 30 days, while the sham group received EA at identical acupoints with skin penetration without stimulation. After 30 days, the final body weight and coefficients for the testis and epididymis were calculated and sperm parameters were measured. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to detect expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity in germ cells. Apoptosis in germ cells was quantified by the transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling assay. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the final body weight and testis/epididymis coefficients of rats in the TG-treated group were not significantly different, but the sperm count and motility were lower (P<0.05). Expressions of vimentin and α-tubulin were also significantly weaker (P<0.01). The PCNA immunoreactivity of germ cells was decreased (P=0.059), whereas the apoptotic index of germ cells was increased significantly (P<0.01). In contrast, EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints significantly improved the final body weight as well as the sperm count, concentration and motility (P<0.01 or P<0.05). EA increased expression of vimentin and α-tubulin in SCs markedly, and significantly enhanced PCNA immunoreactivity with decreased apoptosis in germ cells (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA at BL 23 and ST 36 acupoints has protective effects on spermatogenesis in rats with OIKES. This effect seems to be achieved by attenuating TG-induced disruption of cytoskeletal protein in SCs.

[Bioinformatics study of sperm proteomics in oligoasthenozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To identify differentially expressed proteins in the sperm of oligoasthenozoospermia (OAZ) patients and provide some theoretical evidence for the study of OAZ. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 30 OAZ patients and another 30 normal healthy males. Using the tandem mass tag (TMT) and proteomic technology, we identified differentially expressed proteins in the sperm of the OAZ patients and normal subjects, followed by gene ontology (GO) analysis and bioinformatics analysis of the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. RESULTS: A total of 1 199 differentially expressed sperm proteins were obtained from the semen samples of the subjects by proteomic technology, of which 663 were up-regulated and 536 down-regulated. GO analysis preliminarily indicated that the differential proteins played a leading role in the composition and function of the ribosome, while KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differential proteins were involved in 244 signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Differentially expressed proteins in the sperm of OAZ patients involve complex biological processes, molecular functions and signaling pathways, and proteomic screening and bioinformatics analysis are helpful for the study of the pathogenesis of oligoasthenozoospermia.

[Differentially expressed proteins in the penile tissue of rats with compound stress-induced ED after intervention with Yimusake Tablets: A bioinformatics analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To search for specific protein makers and target proteins for intervention with Yimusake Tablets (YT) in the penile tissue of rats with ED induced by compound cold stress and explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of ED. METHODS: Eighty adult male rats were screened and divided into three groups, normal control (n = 10), ED model control (n = 15) and YT intervention (n = 15). The model of compound cold stress-induced ED was established in the latter two groups, and meanwhile the animals in the YT intervention group were treated with oral YT for 2 weeks. After that, proteins were extracted from the penile tissues of the rats for screening and identification by iTRAQ labeling combined with LC-MS-MS proteomics, and the IPA bioinformatics software was used for analysis of differentially expressed proteins. RESULTS: A total of 48 differentially expressed proteins were identified from the penile tissue of the ED model controls, of which 18 were associated with endothelial function, 5 with smooth muscle activity and 4 with inflammation, involving the biological processes of glucose metabolism and alcohol catabolism and the signaling pathways of glucose metabolism, calcium and RXR activation. In comparison, 29 differentially expressed proteins were identified from the rats in the YT intervention group, of which 5 were associated with endothelial function, 1 with smooth muscle activity and 4 with inflammation, involving the biological processes of glucose metabolism, vasodilation and acute-phase response and the signaling pathways glucose metabolism, RXR activation and acute-phase response. Seven ED-associated candidate biomarkers were obtained from the differentially expressed proteins in the ED model control and YT intervention group, including Collagen alpha-1(III) chain（COL3α1）, Collagen alpha-1(I) chain（COL1α1）, Collagen alpha-2(I) chain（COL1α2）, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase（GAPDH）, T-kininogen 1（MAP1）,Biglycan（BGN）, and Myosin-11（MYH11）. CONCLUSIONS: Changes of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle functions in the penile tissue are likely to be the key mechanisms underlying the development and progression of compound stress-induced ED, which is also associated with inflammation as well as the interaction of the identified differentially expressed proteins and their participation in the relevant signaling pathways. The 7 proteins obtained can be used as the markers of compound stress-induced ED in the rat penile tissue, of which MAP1, GAPDH, BGN and MYH11 may serve as target proteins for YT intervention.

[Groundwater Arsenic and Silicate Adsorption on TiO2 and the Regeneration of TiO2].

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was widely used to remove arsenic (As) from groundwater due to its excellent properties. Previous studies show that the coexisting silicate ions (Si) could occupy the available surface sites of TiO2 and further inhibit As adsorption and TiO2 regeneration. To investigate the effect of Si adsorption on the As molecular surface structure, an extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis was conducted in this work. The results indicated that the presence of Si exhibited no impact on the As adsorption configuration on TiO2. In situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy results demonstrated that the polymerization of Si that formed on the TiO2 surface compete with As adsorption sites, increasing the difficulty for TiO2 regeneration. To effectively regenerate TiO2, the removal efficiency of Si polymers on TiO2 via sodium fluoride (NaF) was studied. The results showed that NaF could remove Si monomer and polymer from TiO2, and the regenerated TiO2 could be reused with a stable adsorption performance. In situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy suggested that NaF desorbed the Si monomer and polymer effectively. When spent TiO2 was regenerated with NaOH and NaF in three treatment cycles, As and Si desorption rates were 86.8%-100.3% and 67.9%-82.0%, respectively. The present study provides a new insight into regenerating absorbents with coadsorbed As and Si in groundwater.

[Research of Parameter Uncertainty for the HSPF Model Under Different Temporal Scales].

Various hydrological models have been applied to the management of water resources and water quality. However, parameter uncertainty is of perpetual interest in the application of hydrological models. In this context, the HSPF model was constructed and calibrated using monthly observed stream data from 1998 to 2010 in the Chaohe River watershed, northeast of Beijing. Specifically, the sensitivity and uncertainty of the model parameters were investigated by the GLUE algorithm with the PEST platform. The major results were illustrated as follows:① the hydrological simulation shows good performance with Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.84 and 0.55 in the period of calibration and validation, respectively; ② the parameters were divided into three categories:global sensitive parameters (LZSN, INFILT, IRC, and AGWRC), regional sensitive parameters (UZSN), and non-sensitive parameters (DEEPFR, BASETP, AGWEPT, INTFW, and CEPSC); ③ strong correlations were detected within the sensitive parameters, which further involved significant negative correlations (LZSN~INFILT, INFILT~UZSN, and UZSN~AGWRC) and a positive correlation (LZSN~UZSN) and (UZSN~AGWRC); ④ the equifinality for different parameters was found in the HSPF model, indicating that parameter sets determine the simulation performance rather than individual parameters; ⑤ among various external factors, precipitation was identified as the most important condition for simulation uncertainty; and ⑥ the temporal difference in simulation performance was considered using annual, seasonal, and monthly scales with simulation precisions of 81.80%, 78.70%, and 80.56%, implying that the annual scale might be the optimal simulation period with higher accuracy. This research result is useful for the application and localization of the HSPF model.

Ayu C-reactive protein/serum amyloid P agglutinates bacteria and inhibits complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis by monocytes/macrophages.

The short-chain pentraxins (PTXs), including C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P (SAP), are soluble pattern recognition molecules (PRMs) that exhibit calcium-dependent binding to bacterial surface molecules. They opsonize pathogens or other particles by phagocytic clearance. However, the detailed functions of short-chain PTXs in teleosts remained unclear. In this study, we identified a short-chain PTX gene from ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, and tentatively named as PaCRP/SAP. Sequence analysis revealed that PaCRP/SAP has typical characteristics of fish CRP/SAP and is mostly closely related to rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) SAP. PaCRP/SAP transcripts were detected in all tested tissues, with the highest level in the liver, and its expression significantly upregulated following Vibrio anguillarum infection. The active recombinant mature PaCRP/SAP (rPaCRP/SAPm) agglutinated Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, V. anguillarum, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) in a calcium-dependent manner in vitro, and it correspondingly bound peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide in a dose-dependent manner. The binding of rPaCRP/SAPm to E. coli and S. aureus resulted in a clear inhibition of the deposition of ayu complement 3 (PaC3) on the bacteria. Furthermore, rPaCRP/SAPm decreased phagocytosis of rPaCRP/SAPm-bound E. coli and S. aureus cells by ayu monocytes/macrophages (MO/MΦ) in a complement-dependent way. However, rPaCRP/SAPm alone had no significant influence on phagocytosis. These results provided the first evidence that PaCRP/SAP might function in ayu immune responses via agglutinating bacteria and inhibiting complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis by MO/MΦ.