Subsequent Acupuncture Reverses the Aftereffects of Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation.

Objective: This study explored whether acupuncture affects the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and the acquisition of motor skills following repetitive sequential visual isometric pinch task (SVIPT) training. Methods: Thirty-six participants were recruited. The changes in the aftereffects induced by intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and followed acupuncture were tested by the amplitude motor evoked potential (MEP) at pre-and-post-iTBS for 30 min and at acupuncture-in and -off for 30 min. Secondly, the effects of acupuncture on SVIPT movement in inducing error rate and learning skill index were tested. Results: Following one session of iTBS, the MEP amplitude was increased and maintained at a high level for 30 min. The facilitation of MEP was gradually decreased to the baseline level during acupuncture-in and did not return to a high level after needle extraction. The SVIPT-acupuncture group had a lower learning skill index than those in the SVIPT group, indicating that acupuncture intervention after SVIPT training may restrain the acquisition ability of one's learning skills. Conclusion: Acupuncture could reverse the LTP-like plasticity of the contralateral motor cortex induced by iTBS. Subsequent acupuncture may negatively affect the efficacy of the acquisition of learned skills in repetitive exercise training.

[Research on characteristic of interrelationship between toxic organic compound BPA and Chlorella vulgaris].

The effects of different concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) on Chlorella vulgaris and removal capacity of BPA by Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. Results showed that a low concentration (0-20 mg x L(-1)) of BPA promoted the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, whereas a relative high concentration (20-50 mg x L(-1)) of BPA inhibited the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, and the inhibition effect was positively correlated with the concentration of BPA. Likewise, a high dose of initial BPA (> 20 mg x L(-1)) led to a decline in the content of chlorephyll a. Chlorella vulgaris had BPA removal capacity when initial BPA concentration ranged from 2 mg x L(-1) to 50 mg x L(-1). There was positive correlation between the removal rate of BPA per cell and initial BPA concentration. The removal rate of BPA was the highest when initial BPA was 50 mg x L(-1), which appeared between lag phase and logarithmic phase.

[Research on sludge toxicity caused by DMF biodegradation and toxicity spatial distribution in sludge flocs].

The aerobic sequencing batch activated sludge system (SBR) was used to remove the toxic and refractory organic pollutant, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The formation property and spatial distribution of the organic toxicity in sludge were studied. The operation parameters were controlled as follows: influent COD was about 300 mg x L(-1), every DMF concentration phase lasted 30 d(40 mg x L(-1), 80 mg x L(-1), 120 mg x L(-1)), the SBR cycle lasted 12 h, and DO was 2.0-3.0 mg x L(-1). The results showed that the sludge toxicity increased in the beginning and then decreased to a steady range at each DMF concentration phase; there was a positive correlation between the sludge toxicity and the initial DMF concentration; most of the sludge organic toxicity was caused by DMF biodegradation and existed in the inner extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and intracellular section of sludge flocs.

Anionic triazine systems.

The synthesis of TAS+ C3N3F4- (1) (TAS+ = (Me2N)3S+) and the reactions of 1 with Me3SiOSiMe3 and Me3SiCF3 to give TAS+ C3N3F2O- (2) and TAS+[(NCF)(NCCF3)(NC(CF3)(2)]- (4) are reported. An isomer of 4, TAS+[(NCCF3)2(NCFCF3)]-, compound 6, was obtained by fluoride ion addition to (CF3CN)3. From the reactions with Me3SiNMe2 neutral fluoroamino triazines C3N3Fn(NMe2)(n-1) (n = 1, 2) were isolated. Possible reaction pathways are discussed, the X-ray structures of 1, 2, 4 and 6 were determined.