Butyrate alleviates alcoholic liver disease-associated inflammation through macrophage regulation and polarization via the HDAC1/miR-155 axis.

BACKGROUND: We recently found that butyrate could ameliorate inflammation of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice. However, the exact mechanism remains incompletely comprehended. Here, we examined the role of butyrate on ALD-associated inflammation through macrophage (Mψ) regulation and polarization using in vivo and in vitro experiments. METHODS: For in vivo experiments, C57BL/6J mice were fed modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets supplemented with or without ethanol and sodium butyrate (NaB). After 6 weeks of treatment, mice were euthanized and associated indicators were analyzed. For in vitro experiments, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory murine RAW264.7 cells were treated with NaB or miR-155 inhibitor/mimic to verify the anti-inflammatory effect and underlying mechanism. RESULTS: The administration of NaB alleviated pathological damage and associated inflammation, including LPS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1ß levels in ALD mice. NaB intervention restored the imbalance of macrophage polarization by inhibiting inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and elevating arginase-1 (Arg-1). Moreover, NaB reduced histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), and miR-155 expression in ALD mice, but also increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Thus, MiR-155 was identified as a strong regulator of ALD. To further penetrate the role of miR-155, LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells co-cultured with NaB were treated with the specific inhibitor or mimic. Intriguingly, miR-155 was capable of negatively regulated inflammation with NaB intervention by targeting SOCS1, SHIP1, and IRAK-M genes. CONCLUSION: Butyrate suppresses the inflammation in mice with ALD by regulating macrophage polarization via the HDAC1/miR-155 axis, which may potentially contribute to the novel therapeutic treatment for the disease.

Equal importance of humic acids and nitrate in driving anaerobic oxidation of methane in paddy soils.

Methane (CH4) is both generated and consumed in paddy soils, where anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) serves as a crucial process for mitigating CH4 emissions. Although the participation of humic acids (HA) and nitrate in AOM has been recognized, their relative roles and significance in paddy soils remain insufficiently investigated. In this study, we explored the potential activity of AOM driven by HA and nitrate, as well as the composition of archaeal communities in paddy soils across different rice growth periods and fertilization treatments. AOM activity ranged from 0.81 to 1.33 and 1.26 to 2.38 nmol of 13CO2 g-1 (dry soil) day-1 with HA and nitrate, respectively. No significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between the AOM activity driven by HA and nitrate across the three fertilization treatments. According to AOM activity, the annual consumption of CH4 was estimated at approximately 0.49 ± 0.06 and 0.83 ± 0.19 Tg for AOM processes driven by HA and nitrate in Chinese paddy soils. Nitrate-driven AOM activity exhibited a positive (p < 0.05) correlation with the abundance of the ANME-2d mcrA gene but a negative (p < 0.05) correlation with the content of dissolved organic carbon. Intriguingly, HA-driven AOM activity was only correlated positively with the nitrate-driven AOM activity. Soil water content, soil organic carbon, nitrate and nitrite contents were significantly correlated with the relative abundance of methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea. These results identified the potential importance of HA and nitrate in driving AOM processes within paddy soils, providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex microbial processes regulating greenhouse gas emissions from paddy soils.

[Textual research on Bungarus Parvus].

Bungarus Parvus, a precious animal Chinese medicinal material used in clinical practice, is believed to be first recorded in Ying Pian Xin Can published in 1936. This study was carried out to analyze the names, geographical distribution, morphological characteristics, ecological habits, poisonousness, and medicinal parts by consulting ancient Chinese medical books and local chronicles, Chinese Pharmacopeia, different processing standards of trditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces, and modern literatures. The results showed that the earliest medicinal record of Bungarus Parvus was traced to 1894. In 1930, this medicinal material was used in the formulation of Annao Pills. The original animal, Bungarus multicinctus, was recorded by the name of "Bojijia" in 1521. The morphological characteristics, ecological habits, and poisonousness of the original animal are the same in ancient and modern records. The geographical distribution is similar between the ancient records and modern documents such as China Medicinal Animal Fauna. The dried body of young B. multicinctus is used as Bungarus Parvus, which lack detailed references. As a matter of fact, it is still inconclusive whether there are differences between young snakes and adult snakes in terms of active ingredients, pharmacological effects, and clinical applications. This study clarified the medicinal history and present situation of Bungarus Parvus. On the basis of the results, it is suggested that systematic comparison on young and adult B. multicinctus should be carried out to provide references for revising the medicinal parts of B. multicinctus.

Tubson-2 decoction ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis complicated with osteoporosis in CIA rats involving isochlorogenic acid A regulating IL-17/MAPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is considered as one of the major comorbidities of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and is responsible for fragility fracture. However, there is currently no effective treatment for RA complicated with OP. Tubson-2 decoction (TBD), a Mongolian medicine also known as Erwei Duzhong Decoction, has been shown to exert a preventive effect on post-menopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). The preventive effects of TBD on RA-induced OP, as well as the bioactive compound responsible and the underlying mechanisms, remain to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of TBD on RA-induced OP in vivo, and to elucidate the mechanism of isochlorogenic acid A (ICA), the effective component of TBD, in vitro. METHODS: To evaluate the anti-arthritic and anti-osteoporotic effects of TBD, we conducted H&E straining and safranine O/fast green, TEM, immunohistochemistry (IHC), bone histomorphometry, micro-CT imaging, and biomechanical testing in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats. The active ingredient in TBD was identified using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The identification was supported by in vivo IHC assay, and further confirmed using qRT-PCR, Western blot, and SEM analysis in TNF-α-treated MH7A cells and/or in LPS-exposed RAW264.7 cells. RESULTS: Oral administration of TBD attenuated the severity of arthritis and osteopenia as well as poor bone quality, in CIA rats. Additionally, TBD and the positive control, tripterygium glycosides (TG), exhibited similar effects in reducing inflammation in both the synovium and ankle joint. They also were both effective in improving bone loss, microarchitecture, and overall bone quality. TBD reduced the expression of MMP13, IL-17, and p-JNK protein in the synovium of CIA rats. ICA, which was screened, suppressed TNF-α or LPS-triggered inflammatory responses via down-regulating IL-17 signaling, involving in MMP13, IL-1ß, IL-23, and IL-17, and the MAPK pathway including p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-P38, both in MH7A cells and in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, ICA prevented osteoclasts from differentiating and bone resoprtion in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence that TBD exerts intervening effects on RA-induced OP, possibly through the downregulation of the IL-17/MAPK signaling pathway by ICA. The findings of our study provides valuable insights for further research in this area.

Selenized Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery of Tripterine with Ameliorative Oral Anti-Enteritis Activity and Bioavailability.

The oral delivery of insoluble and enterotoxic drugs has been largely plagued by gastrointestinal irritation, side effects, and limited bioavailability. Tripterine (Tri) ranks as the hotspot of anti-inflammatory research other than inferior water-solubility and biocompatibility. This study was intended to develop selenized polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles loading Tri (Se@Tri-PLNs) for enteritis intervention by improving its cellular uptake and bioavailability. Se@Tri-PLNs were fabricated by a solvent diffusion-in situ reduction technique and characterized by particle size, ζ potential, morphology, and entrapment efficiency (EE). The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, oral pharmacokinetics, and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect were evaluated. The resultant Se@Tri-PLNs were 123 nm around in particle size, with a PDI of 0.183, ζ potential of -29.70 mV, and EE of 98.95%. Se@Tri-PLNs exhibited retardant drug release and better stability in the digestive fluids compared with the unmodified counterpart (Tri-PLNs). Moreover, Se@Tri-PLNs manifested higher cellular uptake in Caco-2 cells as evidenced by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The oral bioavailability of Tri-PLNs and Se@Tri-PLNs was up to 280% and 397% relative to Tri suspensions, respectively. Furthermore, Se@Tri-PLNs demonstrated more potent in vivo anti-enteritis activity, which resulted in a marked resolution of ulcerative colitis. Polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLNs) enabled drug supersaturation in the gut and the sustained release of Tri to facilitate absorption, while selenium surface engineering reinforced the formulation performance and in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy. The present work provides a proof-of-concept for the combined therapy of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using phytomedicine and Se in an integrated nanosystem. Selenized PLNs loading anti-inflammatory phytomedicine may be valuable for the treatment of intractable inflammatory diseases.

Production of 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-1,4-dien-3-one by modifying multiple genes in Mycolicibacterium.

C22 steroid drug intermediates are suitable for corticosteroids synthesis, and the production of C22 steroids is unsatisfactory due to the intricate steroid metabolism. Among the C22 steroids, 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-1,4-dien-3-one (1,4-HP) could be used for Δ1-steroid drug synthesis, such as prednisolone. Nevertheless, the production of 1,4-HP remains unsatisfactory. In this study, an ideal 1,4-HP producing strain was constructed. By the knockout of 3-ketosteroid-9-hydroxylase (KshA) genes and 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd4A) gene, the steroid nucleus degradation and the accumulation of C19 steroids in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum were blocked. The mutant strain could transform phytosterols into 1,4-HP as the main product and 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-4-ene-3-one as a by-product. Subsequently, the purity of 1,4-HP improved to 95.2% by the enhancement of 3-ketosteroid-Δ1-dehydrogenase (KSTD) activity, and the production of 1,4-HP was improved by overexpressing NADH oxidase (NOX) and catalase (KATE) genes. Consequently, the yield of 1,4-HP achieved 10.5 g/L. The molar yield and the purity of 1,4-HP were optimal so far, and the production of 1,4-HP provides a new intermediate for the pharmaceutical steroid industry. KEY POINTS: • A third 3-ketosteroid-9-hydroxylase was identified in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum. • An 1,4-HP producer was constructed by KshA and Hsd4A deficiency. • The production of 1,4-HP was improved by KSTD, NOX, and KATE overexpression.

Direct calibration of neutron detectors for laser-driven nuclear reaction experiments with a gated neutron source.

Nowadays, the sustained technological progress in high-intensity lasers is opening up the possibility of super-intense laser pulses to trigger or substantially influence nuclear reactions. However, it is a big challenge to quantitatively measure the reaction products because of the interference of electromagnetic pulses induced by high-intensity lasers. Fast scintillation detectors are widely chosen for fast neutron detection. The calibration of neutron detectors is crucial to measuring the yield of neutron products. Since one large signal superimposed by a number of neutron signals appears during a short period, it is difficult to directly and precisely calibrate the detectors' response for a single neutron. In the present work, we developed a direct calibration method with a gated fission neutron source 252Cf to solve this problem. This work demonstrates that the gated fission neutron source approach, with a unique "Pulse Shape Discrimination & Time of Flight window" function, has the highest background-γ-rejection and improves the confidence level of the final results for both liquid and plastic scintillator. Compared with the result of Compton edge method and neutron beam method, the gated fission neutron source method achieves much cleaner neutron signals and avoids interference caused by the modeling accuracy of the neutron detectors. This approach can be widely used in laser-driven nuclear physics experiments with higher accuracy for neutron detection.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of Artemisiae Verlotori Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Artemisiae Argyi Folium (Aiye in Chinese) has been widely used since ancient times. In the Lingnan region (Southern China), the leaf of Artemisia verlotorum Lamotte, which is named Hongjiaoai (HJA) because the roots are red (Hongjiao means red foot in Chinese), has been used as a local substitute for Artemisiae Argyi Folium. The plant has a long medicinal and edible history that can be traced to the Jin Dynasty. However, there is no systematic and reliable method to control the quality of Artemisiae Verlotori Folium. In this study, a comprehensive method involving high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and quadrupole-time-of-flight high-definition mass spectrometry was established to identify and quantify eight constituents (including organic acids and flavonoids) in Artemisiae Verlotori Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium as well as high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints of the two varieties. Moreover, dissimilarities of chemical compositions among the two varieties were further investigated by orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis and cluster analysis. This research not only explored the similarities and differences between Artemisiae Verlotori Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium in eight components but also provided a qualitative and quantitative analytical method that quickly, accurately, and comprehensively assesses the quality of Artemisiae Verlotori Folium.

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of 11 constituents in Viticis Fructus by HPLC-HRMS and HPLC-DAD combined with chemometric methods.

INTRODUCTION: Viticis Fructus is the dried ripe fruit of Vitex trifolia L. (VTF) or V. trifolia subsp. litoralis Steenis (VTLF). Different botanical sources of the same herbal medicines may have different clinical efficacies, but few studies have reported the comparative identification of VTF and VTLF. OBJECTIVES: To establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous assay of 11 constituents in Viticis Fructus, to compare the chemical compositions of VTF and VTLF, and to identify chemical markers for the discrimination and quality evaluation of the two botanical origins of Viticis Fructus. METHODOLOGY: An HPLC-diode array detection (DAD)-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) method was developed for the simultaneous separation and quantification of 11 constituents in 21 batches of Viticis Fructus samples from different sources in China. Moreover, chemometrics were performed to compare and discriminate VTF and VTLF samples. RESULTS: The results from 11 batches of VTF and 10 batches of VTLF were compared for 11 components, of which 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were identified and quantified in Viticis Fructus for the first time. The quantitative analysis showed significantly higher chlorogenic acid and casticin contents in VTLF than in VTF, and the chemometric analysis indicated that chlorogenic acid and casticin were responsible for the significant differences between VTF and VTLF; these two compounds might be used as chemical markers to distinguish the two original plant sources of Viticis Fructus. CONCLUSIONS: The present work provides useful information for understanding the chemical differences between VTF and VTLF. This work also provides feasible methods for the quality evaluation and discrimination of herbal medicines originating from multiple botanical sources.

[Comparison on volatile components between Artemisiae Verlotori Folium and Artemisiae Argyi Folium based on GC-MS and chemometrics].

Artemisiae Argyi Folium is commonly used in clinical practice. Artemisiae Verlotori Folium, the dried leaves of Artemisia verlotorum, is often used as a folk substitute for Artemisiae Argyi Folium in Lingnan area. In this study, gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC-MS) was used to detect the volatile oil components of 27 samples of Artemisiae Verlotori Folium and 13 samples of Artemisiae Argyi Folium, and the volatile components were compared between the two species. The internal standard method was combined with multi-reaction monitoring mode(MRM) to determine the content of six major volatile components. Hierarchical clustering analysis(HCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were carried out for the content data. The results showed that the Artemisiae Argyi Folium samples had higher content and more abundant volatile oils than the Artemisiae Verlotori Folium samples. Artemisiae Argyi Folium mainly had the components with lower boiling points, while Artemisiae Verlotori Folium mainly had the components with higher boiling points. Terpenoids were the main volatile components in Artemisiae Verlotori Folium(mainly sesquiterpenoids) and Artemisiae Argyi Folium(monoterpenoids). In addition, Artemisiae Argyi Folium had higher content of oxygen-containing derivatives than Artemisiae Verlotori Folium. Furthermore, the stoichiometric analysis showed that the two species could be distinguished by both HCA and OPLS-DA, indicating that the volatile components of the two were significantly different. This study can provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation and data support for the local rational application of Artemisiae Verlotori Folium in Lingnan.

Geometry Optimization of the Runner Insert for Improving the Appearance Quality of the Injection Molded Auto Part.

Appearance quality is one of the most important indexes for many injection-molded products, like optical parts, automotive parts etc., especially at the area near the injection gate. Different from the work that focused on designing the dimensions of the runner, this work proposed a method which is based on the insert technology to improve the appearance quality of a standard automotive part. An insert was introduced into the runner system which located before the gate. Three different shapes of this insert (circular, rectangular and diamond) were used to study the effect of geometrical factors on the appearance quality in this paper. All inserts were parameterized to describe their location and dimensions. Based on the geometrical design parameters, expected improvement optimization problem about the appearance quality were solved by using sequential approximate optimization method. The appearance qualities of three cases are improved by 13.77%, 21.56%, 14.37% respectively. Results showed that the best geometrical design scheme of the insert is rectangular with the optimal geometrical location and dimensions. The reasons were discussed by investigating the flow and thermal history in detail. Compared with the design case without any insert, the heat was absorbed and the velocity field was changed by the insert before the polymer melts ran into the cavity. It changed the complicated thermo-mechanical history inside the material during the entire processing history, which improved the final appearance quality of this auto part.

Multifunctional manganese-containing vaccine delivery system Ca@MnCO3/LLO for tumor immunotherapy.

The ideal vaccine delivery systems can not only deliver antigens in intelligent manners but also act as adjuvants. Recently found that Mn2+ can effectively stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, and Ca2+ can regulate autophagy to promote the cross-presentation of antigens. Thus, we constructed such a manganese-containing multimode vaccine delivery system by using calcium-doped manganese carbonate microspheres (Ca@MnCO3) and perforin-listeria hemolysin (LLO), as termed as Ca@MnCO3/LLO. The two components Ca@MnCO3 and LLO, not only act as vaccine adjuvants by themselves, but also contribute to achieve cellular immunity. Among them, Ca@MnCO3 microspheres as an excellent Mn2+ and Ca2+ reservoir, can continuously release adjuvants Mn2+ and Ca2+ to enhance immune response in dendritic cells, while LLO can contribute to induce lysosomal escape. Particularly, Ca2+ was added firstly to MnCO3 microspheres to improve the stability and load capacity of the microspheres. Along with the degradation of intracellular Ca@MnCO3 microspheres, and the lysosomal membrane-lytic effects of perforin LLO, the Mn2+, Ca2+ and OVA were released to the cytoplasm. These outcomes cooperatively promote antigen cross-presentation, elicit CD8+ T cell proliferation, and finally achieve prominent anti-tumor effects. The results indicate that the manganese-containing vaccine delivery system Ca@MnCO3/LLO provides a promising platform for the construction of tumor vaccines.

Bioinformatics analysis reveals potential biomarkers associated with the occurrence of intracranial aneurysms.

To better understand the molecular mechanisms of intracranial aneurysm (IA) pathogenesis, we used gene coexpression networks to identify hub genes and functional pathways associated with IA onset. Two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets encompassing intracranial aneurysm tissue samples and cerebral artery control samples were included. To discover functional pathways and potential biomarkers, weighted gene coexpression network analysis was employed. Next, single-gene gene set enrichment analysis was employed to investigate the putative biological roles of the chosen genes. We also used receiver operating characteristic analysis to confirm the diagnostic results. Finally, we used a rat model to confirm the hub genes in the module of interest. The module of interest, which was designated the green module and included 115 hub genes, was the key module that was most strongly and negatively associated with IA formation. According to gene set variation analysis results, 15 immune-related pathways were significantly activated in the IA group, whereas 7 metabolic pathways were suppressed. In two GEO datasets, SLC2A12 could distinguish IAs from control samples. Twenty-nine hub genes in the green module might be biomarkers for the occurrence of cerebral aneurysms. SLC2A12 expression was significantly downregulated in both human and rat IA tissue. In the present study, we identified 115 hub genes related to the pathogenesis of IA onset and deduced their potential roles in various molecular pathways; this new information may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of IAs. By external validation, the SLC2A12 gene may play an important role. The molecular function of SLC2A12 in the process of IA occurrence can be further studied in a rat model.

Species-specific identification of donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants using marker peptides.

Donkey-hide gelatin is an important traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey skin. Despite decades of effort, identifying the animal materials (donkeys, horses, cattle and pigs) in donkey-hide gelatin remains challenging. In our study, we aimed to identify marker peptides of donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants and develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to identify them. Theoretical marker peptides of four animals (donkeys, horses, cattle and pigs) were predicted and verified by proteomic experiments, and 12 species-specific marker peptides from donkey-hide gelatin and its adulterants were identified. One marker peptide for each gelatin was selected to develop the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The applicability of the method was evaluated by investigating homemade mixed gelatin samples and commercial donkey-hide gelatin products. Using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, the addition of cattle-hide gelatin and pig-hide gelatin to donkey-hide gelatin could be detected at a level of 0.1%. Horse-hide gelatin was detected when added at a level of 0.5%. Among 18 batches of donkey-hide gelatin products, nine were identified as authentic, and eight of the remaining samples were suspected to be adulterated with horse materials. These results provide both a practical method to control the quality of donkey-hide gelatin and a good reference for quality evaluations of other medicinal materials and foods containing protein components.

Molecular Identification of Commercial Fish Maws by DNA Sequencing of 16S rRNA and Cytochrome c Oxidase I Genes.

ABSTRACT: Fish maws (dried swim bladders) have long been used for medicinal tonics and as a valuable food resource in Southeast Asia. However, it is difficult to identify the original species of fish maws sold in markets due to a lack of taxonomic characteristics. In the present study, 37 kinds of commercial fish maws from various medicinal material markets were examined, and gene sequences were successfully obtained from ca. 95% of the samples. Partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene were obtained and used to investigate the origin of these commercial fish maws. Thirty-five specimens belonged to nine species: five croakers and four noncroakers. All species identification was supported by both high homogeneity (98 to 100%) and clear clustering with low within-group Kimura two-parameter divergence scores (0 to 0.04 for 16S rRNA and 0 to 0.07 for COI) and high between-group divergence scores (0.07 to 0.15 for 16S rRNA and 0.11 to 0.24 for COI). Croakers were the predominant species, accounting for 74% of the total fish maw specimens. The large demand for croakers has put some species at the risk of extinction due to overfishing. As a valuable food, fish maw has progressively become more popular and has been used as a substitute for shark fin. The identification results allowed us to learn more about the fish species available on the fish maw market and provided an indicator for possible control of threatened or endangered fish species. A probable correlation between the molecular characteristics and morphological features of fish maws was also found and could provide both consumers and merchants with an important reference for identifying the origin of fish maws.

[Mechanism of moistening process of Rehmanniae Radix based on kinetic process].

The moistening process of Rehmanniae Radix was characterized quantitatively by moisture phase, texture properties, and component content based on water absorption kinetics and expansion kinetics. Non-linear fitting of water absorption kinetics and expansion kinetics in the moistening process of Rehmanniae Radix was carried out. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and imaging(LF-NMR/MRI) technology was used to investigate the phase state and distribution changes of water during the moistening process. The Texture Analyzer was used for the determination of texture properties. The correlations between water absorption rate, expansion rate, water phase state, hardness, and compression cycle work of Rehmanniae Radix at different moistening time were analyzed. The results showed that the water absorption kinetics and expansion kinetics of Rehmanniae Radix were in accordance with the first-order kinetics. Moreover, the water absorption rate and expansion rate increased with the increase in temperature but decreased with the increase in the size of the medicinal materials.In the moistening process, the moisture was transferred from the outside to the inside, and the proportion of the moisture phase changed significantly.Within 16 hours, free water increased from 0.825% to 97.7%,while bound water decreased from 99.2% to 2.33%.Within 28 hours, the texture properties, such as hardness and compression cycle work, decreased gradually with the prolongation in moistening time.At 32 hours, water was evenly distributed throughout the whole medicinal material, and the texture properties also tended to be stable.Pearson correlation bivariate analysis showed that moistening time, water absorption rate, expansion rate, the relative content of free water and bound water, hardness, and compression cycle work were significantly correlated, suggesting that water absorption kinetics and expansion kinetics, LF-NMR/MRI,and Texture Analyzer could directly and quantitatively characterize the moistening process.This study is expected to provide a scientific basis for clarifying the scientific connotation of the moistening process of Rehmanniae Radix.

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of eight alkaloids in Corydalis Decumbentis Rhizoma (Xiatianwu) and Corydalis Rhizoma (Yanhusuo) by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with chemometric methods.

In this study, we established a comprehensive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry method to identify 10 and quantified eight constituents in Corydalis Decumbentis Rhizoma ("Xiatianwu" in Chinese) and Corydalis Rhizoma ("Yanhusuo" in Chinese). Chemometric methods were applied to distinguish the botanical origins of the Xiatianwu and Yanhusuo samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved using an Agilent Poroshell EC-C18 column with mobile phases A (1000 ml of 0.2% acetic acid solution containing 2.8 ml of triethylamine) and B (acetonitrile) and stepwise gradient elution. The analytical method was fully validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, intra- and interday precision and repeatability, the limit of detection, the limit of quantitation, and recovery. Twenty-six Xiatianwu samples and 10 Yanhusuo samples were analyzed for quality evaluation. In addition, hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis were used to discriminate among samples of different botanical origins. The results showed that the contents of eight alkaloids in Xiatianwu and Yanhusuo were significantly different. Moreover, it was found that chemometric methods could be applied to accurately distinguish these two often conflated Chinese medicinal materials. In conclusion, this study provides a relatively comprehensive method for botanical origin identification and Xiatianwu and Yanhusuo quality control.

Early Age Shrinkage and Mechanical Effect of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Composite Deck: A Case Study with In Situ Test and Numerical Simulation.

For the Honghe Bridge project located in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, a steel/ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) composite deck is used in the suspension bridge with a 700 m main span, and the steel stud connectors are used in the 50 mm-thick UHPC layer. To investigate the shrinkage behavior of UHPC and the relevant influence, the in situ time-dependent strain is measured continuously, and within the 20-day curing time, the material behavior is summarized based on test results. This paper proposes a prediction model for UHPC shrinkage which is refined from the widely used B3 model for normal concrete material, and the parameter values are modified and optimized by experimental comparison. Combining the numerical model and the finite element analysis model of the composite deck, the detailed mechanical state in structural parts is studied. For the practical construction, the simulation results indicate that the small thickness of UHPC above the stud and weak bond strength can influence the eventual structural performance greatly. In the discussion of stress distribution at different locations of the deck, the potential crack on the edge and the corner of the UHPC-steel interface and the mechanical damage on the stud connector around are also indicated.

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of 10 bioactive flavonoids in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi) by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry combined with chemometric methods.

INTRODUCTION: Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (Zhishi in Chinese) is the dried young fruit of Citrus aurantium L. (CA) and its cultivated varieties or Citrus sinensis Osbeck (CS). The content of flavonoids in different varieties of Zhishi may be significantly different. However, there is confusion about the botanical origin of Zhishi, and there is no reliable and systematic method to control Zhishi quality. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to establish an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with diode-array detection and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS) for the quantitative analysis of 10 flavonoids in Zhishi that could be used for quality control and botanical origin identification. METHODOLOGY: A UPLC-DAD-HRMS/MS method was established for simultaneous identification and quantification of 10 flavonoids. Separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase under gradient elution. MS was performed in positive and negative ionisation modes. The flavonoids in 41 batches were isolated and quantified. Zhishi of different botanical origins were identified by chemometrics. RESULTS: The results showed that the established method for the determination of 10 components was reliable and accurate. Chemometrics could be used to distinguish Zhishi of different botanical origins. There were significant differences in the contents of 10 flavonoids in samples of different botanical origins. CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative analysis method in this study can be used to accurately determine the content of 10 flavonoids and provide a chemical basis for quality control and botanical origin identification of Zhishi.