Alkyne Oxidation by a Vitamin B2-Based Photocatalytic System with Both H2O and O2 as the Oxygen Source.

The employment of readily available photocatalysts and green oxygen atom sources is recognized as a promising strategy to develop sustainable catalysis for oxidation reactions. We herein reported a sacrificial reagent-free system consisting of riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT), an ester of natural vitamin B2 as the photocatalyst, and Sc(OTf)3 and NaCl as the cocatalysts for alkyne oxidation under blue light or even sunlight irradiation to produce 1,2-diketone in which the oxygen atoms were from both water and molecular oxygen, respectively. A major Cl-/Cl• cycle was proposed to be involved and achieved by the excited [RFT-2Sc3+]* complex via single electron transfer for the first time, distinguished from the OCl- active species by a two-electron process in previous flavin-halide photo-oxidation systems.

Influence of Regional Nerve Block in Addition to General Anesthesia on Postoperative Delirium, Pain, and In-hospital Stay in Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate whether venous injection of sedative agent or regional nerve block in alliance with major anesthesia could decrease the risk of postoperative delirium occurrence in patients receiving cardiothoracic surgery. Electronic academic databases were retrieved for related publications, and statistical software was used for data pooling and analysis. Forest plot was used to show the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio. Combined receiver operating characteristic curve was used to show the area under the curve of complex data. Seven studies were included for analysis. The risk of occurrence of delirium still showed no difference (risk rate = 0.93, 95% CI, 0.85-1.03) between the intervention group and placebo group. Postoperative pain feeling was more alleviated in patients with prophylactic application of regional nerve block. In addition, prophylactic application of regional nerve block could decrease the risk of postoperative in-hospital stay (risk rate = 0.28, 95% CI, 0.02-0.54). Our study demonstrated that, in elderly patients or pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery, prophylactic application of regional nerve block failed to decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium. However, the option of regional nerve block could decrease the duration of in-hospitalization stay and alleviate the acute pain during the postoperative period after open-heart surgery.

Therapeutic effect of metformin on inflammation and apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats through the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect of metformin on spinal cord injury (SCI) through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. BACKGROUND: SCI is a serious traumatic disease of the central nervous system. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway plays important roles in SCI. Metformin has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system. Whether metformin could improve SCI through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway remains unclear. METHODS: Rats were divided into sham group, SCI group, SCI + metformin group, metformin + XAV939 group (XAV939 is an effective inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway), and methylprednisolone group. BBB scores were used to detect motor function recovery at different time points (0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) in SCI rats. Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, TUNEL, HE and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological characteristics of spinal cord tissue and the expression of inflammation and apoptosis in spinal cord neurons. RESULTS: Metformin(50 mg/kg) promoted motor functional recovery in rats after SCI, increased the expressions of ß-catenin and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inhibited neuron apoptosis and inflammatory response, and improved the recovery of pathological morphology at the injury site by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: We found a possible mechanism that metformin could reduce inflammation and apoptosis, and promote functional recovery of SCI rats through activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Graphene oxide-based colorimetric detection of organophosphorus pesticides via a multi-enzyme cascade reaction.

Size-tunable graphene oxides (GO) were synthesized as a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) mimic for colorimetric detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) at nanomolar levels via a cascade reaction. A GO-based colorimetric method showed high sensitivity and stability toward OPs, which hold great potential in public health applications.

Low-carbon electricity generation-based dynamic equilibrium strategy for carbon dioxide emissions reduction in the coal-fired power enterprise.

Climate change is already resulting in extreme devastation in the earth, with carbon dioxide emissions produced by coal-fired power plants being the largest contributor. Therefore, integrated coal purchasing, blending, and distribution strategies are playing a more important role in large-scale coal-fired power enterprises due to the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and operational costs. In this study, a dynamic equilibrium strategy for integrated coal purchasing, blending, and distribution under an uncertain environment is proposed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in large-scale coal-fired powered enterprises; the practicality and efficiency of which are verified using a real-world case. Sensitivity analyses under different carbon dioxide emissions levels and satisfactory degrees were also conducted to give insights into the conflict between economic development and environmental protection for large-scale coal-fired power enterprises, and balance short-term and long-term production plans. The results indicated that the proposed method was able to achieve economic-environmental coordination and sustainable development. Compared to previous studies, the developed model was found to be able to reduce carbon emissions by about 30% compared with the maximum carbon emissions and improve carbon emissions reduction performance to assist in mitigating climate change.

Equilibrium approach towards water resource management and pollution control in coal chemical industrial park.

In this study, an integrated water and waste load allocation model is proposed to assist decision makers in better understanding the trade-offs between economic growth, resource utilization, and environmental protection of coal chemical industries which characteristically have high water consumption and pollution. In the decision framework, decision makers in a same park, each of whom have different goals and preferences, work together to seek a collective benefit. Similar to a Stackelberg-Nash game, the proposed approach illuminates the decision making interrelationships and involves in the conflict coordination between the park authority and the individual coal chemical company stockholders. In the proposed method, to response to climate change and other uncertainties, a risk assessment tool, Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) and uncertainties through reflecting parameters and coefficients using probability and fuzzy set theory are integrated in the modeling process. Then a case study from Yuheng coal chemical park is presented to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of the optimization model. To reasonable search the potential consequences of different responses to water and waste load allocation strategies, a number of scenario results considering environmental uncertainty and decision maker' attitudes are examined to explore the tradeoffs between economic development and environmental protection and decision makers' objectives. The results are helpful for decision/police makers to adjust current strategies adapting for current changes. Based on the scenario analyses and discussion, some propositions and operational policies are given and sensitive adaptation strategies are presented to support the efficient, balanced and sustainable development of coal chemical industrial parks.

Waste load equilibrium allocation: a soft path for coping with deteriorating water systems.

Waste load allocation is always regarded as another efficient approach comparing with the technology-based approach to improve the water quality. This paper proposes a bi-level multi-objective optimization model for optimally allocating the waste load of a river basin incorporating some concerns (i) the allocation equity from the regional authority, (ii) maximal benefits from the subareas along the river, and (iii) the Stackelberg-Nash-Cournot equilibrium strategy between the upper and lower decision makers. Especially, a novel Gini coefficient for measuring the load allocation equity is defined by considering the economic level and waste water quantity. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated through a practical case based on the Tuojiang River, which is a typical basin with diversified industrial waste discharges in western China. Some operational suggestions are developed to assist the decision makers' cope with deteriorating water systems.

Equilibrium strategy-based optimization method for the coal-water conflict: A perspective from China.

Environmental water problems have become increasingly severe, with the coal-water conflict becoming one of the most difficult issues in large scale coal mining regions. In this paper, a bi-level optimization model based on the Stackelberg-Nash equilibrium strategy with fuzzy coefficients is developed to deal with environmental water problems in large scale coal fields, in which both the groundwater quality and quantity are considered. Using the proposed model, and fully considering the relationship between the authority and the collieries and also the equilibrium between economic development and environmental protection, an environmental protection based mining quotas competition mechanism is established. To deal with the inherent uncertainties, the model is defuzzified using a possibility measure, and a solution approach based on the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker condition is designed to search for the solutions. A case study is presented to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of the model, and different constraint violation risk levels and related results are also obtained. The results showed that under the environmental protection based mining quotas competition mechanism, collieries attempt to conduct environmentally friendly exploitation to seek greater mining quotas. This demonstrates the practicality and efficiency in the proposed model of reducing the coal-water conflict. Finally, a comprehensive discussion is provided and some propositions is given as a foundation for the proposed management recommendations.

MiR-219-5p inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by targeting glypican-3.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to the molecular pathogenesis of many cancers. In this study, we found that miR-219-5p was significantly downregulated in 83 HCC tissues and three HCC cell lines, compared to their non-tumor counterparts. MiR-219-5p expression correlated with tumor size, histological differentiation, and overall survival time in HCC patients. We also found that miR-219-5p could inhibit cell proliferation in vitro and arrest cell cycle at the G1 to S transition. Further studies identified that miR-219-5p reduced both the mRNA and protein levels of glypican-3 (GPC3). These findings indicate that miR-219-5p exerts tumor-suppressive effects in hepatic carcinogenesis through negative regulation of GPC3 expression.

[Effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and the mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody on the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells and explore the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (L-OHP) and fluorouracil (5-Fu), used alone or in combination with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, on the proliferation of LoVo cells in vitro was assessed by MTT assay. The expressions of PI3K and Akt protein in the treated cells were examined by Western blotting, and their mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Both h-R3 and C-225 treatments significantly increased the chemosensitivity of LoVo cells to irinotecan and oxaliplatin. 5-Fu and h-R3 coadministered showed a synergistic effect on the cells, but 5-Fu and C-225 had an antagonistic action. Treatment with C-225 or h-R3 resulted in lowered expressions of PI3K and Akt in LoVo cells. CONCLUSION: Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody can increase the chemosensitivity of human colon cancer cells to most chemotherapeutic drugs, and such effect might be attributed to the blocking of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by these antibodies.

[Mechanism of photodynamic therapy against human esophageal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in nude mice bearing human esophageal cancer cell line Eca-109 xenografts. METHODS: A nude mouse model bearing human esophageal carcinoma was established by subcutaneous transplantation of Eca-109 cells. The mice were then randomized into 4 groups, namely hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD)-PDT group (given HpD and laser irradiation), exclusive laser irradiation group, exclusive HpD group and blank control group. In HpD-PDT group, the mice were exposed to irradiation at the light energy density of 120 Jsol;cm(2) delivered via a DIOMED 630 PDT system 24 h after intraperitoneal HpD injection, and the mice in exclusive laser irradiation group received only laser irradiation. Three days later, all the nude mice were sacrificed for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) production, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 protein and HE staining of the tumor tissue. RESULTS: The MDA level was significantly higher in HpD-PDT group than in the other 3 groups (P<0.01), and comparable between the latter 3 groups. Expression of caspase-3 protein was similar between HpD-PDT group and the blank control group (P>0.05). Under light microscope, HE staining visualized massive tissue necrosis in HpD-PDT group with homogeneous red staining. CONCLUSION: In human esophageal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice, HpD-PDT generates singlet oxygen to result in direct tumor cell damage and cause MDA production. Caspase-3 may not be activated in the apoptotic pathway, suggesting that this pathway may not be caspase-3-dependent.