Correction: Yu, D.Q., et al. Microscopic Characteristic and Chemical Composition Analysis of Three Medicinal Plants and Surface Frosts. Molecules 2019, 24, 4548.

The authors would like to correct an error in the title paper [...].

[Evolution of commercial specification and experimental identification terms of Gastrodiae Rhizoma].

Gastrodia Rhizoma, as a precious Chinese materia medica, has attracted the attention of Chinese materia medica experts in the past dynasties for the commercial specification and experimental identification, and has gradually formed a wealth of terms concerning commercial specification and experimental identification. Through combing the literatures of successive dynasties, this paper discussed the change of the commercial specification of the Gastrodiae Rhizoma and formation of its identifying terms. It has found that the Gastrodiae Rhizoma mainly came from the dried rhizomes of the Gastrodia elata f.elata before the Qing Dynasty. Since the Qing Dynasty, G. elata in Yunnan and Guizhou gradually arose and become one of sources of mainstream commodities. After that, G. elata f. glauca and G. elata f. elata were becoming the main sources of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. Before the large-scale cultivation of G. elata in the 1970 s, there is only wild G. elata over the country. In terms of commercial specification, they were often classified into Chunma and Dongma according to their harvest time. With the successful promotion of cultivation technology and the endangered wild resources of G. elata, the Dongma became the mainstream in the market. The adulterants of G. elata increased significantly in the 1960 s and 1970 s, in this period, the terms of experimental identification for G. elata also increased obviously. Experimental identification is distinctive in different times, therefore, studying experimental identification of medicinal materials helps to promote the development of the Chinese materia medica.

[Cloning and prokaryotic expression analysis of squalene synthase CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 from Crataegus pinnatifida].

In order to understand the structural characteristics of squalene synthase genes in the triterpenoids biosynthesis pathway of Crataegus pinnatifida, the squalene synthase genes of C. pinnatifida was cloned and analyzed by bioinformatics and prokaryotic expression. Two squalene synthase genes CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 were cloned from C. pinnatifida fruit by RT-PCR. The ORF length of CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 were 1 239 bp and 1 233 bp respectively, encoding 412 aa and 410 aa respectively. CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 were predicted to be stable acidic proteins by online tools. The secondary structure was mainly composed of α-helix structure, and the tertiary structure was predicted by homology modeling. Structural functional domain analysis showed that 35-367 aa of CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 cDNA containing conserved trans-isoprenyl pyrophosphate synthase domains. Transmembrane domain analysis predicted that two transmembrane domains were founded in CpSQS1 and CpSQS2. The squalene synthase amino sequence of C. pinnatifida had higher homology with the known SQS of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Glycyrrhiza glabra. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that CpSQS1 and CpSQS2 were clustered into one branch of MdSQS1 and MdSQS2, which were consistent with the phylogenetic rule. Prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-4 T-1-CpSQS1 and pGEX-4 T-1-CpSQS2 were transformed into Escherichia coli Transetta(DE3) for induction, and the target protein was successfully expressed at 65 kDa. The expression levels of CpSQS2 were significantly higher than that of CpSQS1 in three different developmental stages of C. pinnatifida. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequences of C. pinnatifida SQS1 and SQS2 were cloned and analyzed for the first time, which provided the foundation for further study on the metabolic pathway of C. pinnatifida triterpenoids.

Microscopic Characteristic and Chemical Composition Analysis of Three Medicinal Plants and Surface Frosts.

The accumulation of chemical constituents of some medicinal plants, such as Paeonia ostii T. Hong et J. X. Zhang, Houpoëa officinalis (Rehder and E. H. Wilson) N. H. Xia and C. Y. Wu. and Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC, can precipitate on the surface and form frosts after natural or artificial intervention. The characteristics of these three medicinal plants and their frosts were analyzed by light microscope, polarizing microscope, stereomicroscope, and metalloscope. The results of ordinary Raman of P. ostii and H. officinalis showed that the frosts of P. ostii matched paeonol, while that of H. officinalis matched magnolol and honokiol. In P. ostii and its frost, 19 peaks were identified by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, and the main component was paeonol. Eleven components were identified in H. officinalis and its frosts, and the main components were magnolol and honokiol. A. lancea and its frosts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 21 were identified, and its main components were hinesol and ß-eudesmol. These three medicinal plants accumulate compounds and precipitate frosts on the surface. The results show that the components of the frosts provide a basis for quality evaluation and research on similar medicinal plants, and reveals the scientific connotation of "taking the medicinal materials' precipitated frosts as the best" of P. ostii, H. officinalis, and A. lancea, to some extent.

Atmospheric correction for retrieving ground brightness temperature at commonly-used passive microwave frequencies.

An analysis of the atmospheric impact on ground brightness temperature (Tg) is performed for numerous land surface types at commonly-used frequencies (i.e., 1.4 GHz, 6.93 GHz, 10.65 GHz, 18.7 GHz, 23.8 GHz, 36.5 GHz and 89.0 GHz). The results indicate that the atmosphere has a negligible impact on Tg at 1.4 GHz for land surfaces with emissivities greater than 0.7, at 6.93 GHz for land surfaces with emissivities greater than 0.8, and at 10.65 GHz for land surfaces with emissivities greater than 0.9 if a root mean square error (RMSE) less than 1 K is desired. To remove the atmospheric effect on Tg, a generalized atmospheric correction method is proposed by parameterizing the atmospheric transmittance τ and upwelling atmospheric brightness temperature Tba↑. Better accuracies with Tg RMSEs less than 1 K are achieved at 1.4 GHz, 6.93 GHz, 10.65 GHz, 18.7 GHz and 36.5 GHz, and worse accuracies with RMSEs of 1.34 K and 4.35 K are obtained at 23.8 GHz and 89.0 GHz, respectively. Additionally, a simplified atmospheric correction method is developed when lacking sufficient input data to perform the generalized atmospheric correction method, and an emissivity-based atmospheric correction method is presented when the emissivity is known. Consequently, an appropriate atmospheric correction method can be selected based on the available data, frequency and required accuracy. Furthermore, this study provides a method to estimate τ and Tba↑ of different frequencies using the atmospheric parameters (total water vapor content in observation direction Lwv, total cloud liquid water content Lclw and mean temperature of cloud Tclw), which is important for simultaneously determining the land surface parameters using multi-frequency passive microwave satellite data.

Treatment of the terephthalic acid-containing wastewater using a biological-aerated filter.

In this paper, the biological-aerated filter (BAF) was employed to treat the wastewater containing terephthalic acid (TA). Factors that affected the efficiency of TA and CODCr removal were evaluated experimetally, including pH, hydraulic loading, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and TA volume loading. At pH 7-8, hydraulic loading rate 0.067-0.48 m3/(m2 h), HRT more than 3.5h and TA loading 0.04-0.15g/(m3 d), the TA and CODCr removal efficiency was more than 93% and 87%, respectively. The mathematical model of matrix (TA) was obtained by Monod's relation and the experimental parameters of the model were 1.972 g/(m2d) and 9.782 mg/L.

Statistical model for small clusters transforming from one isomer to another.

Based on the fact that the kinetic energy of one atom in small cluster still obeys the Boltzmann distribution, a statistical model is developed to predict the time consumed by a small cluster transforming from one isomer to another and is tested by vast molecular dynamics simulations of C(12) isomers transformation in helium gas at high temperatures (2000-3500 K). Extrapolating the model to lower temperatures, we found that the time for the most probable isomer of C(12) formed at 2500 K turning into the most stable one is more than 10(12) years at room temperature.

Description of a New Species of Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and a Key to Species of the Subgenus From the Chinese Mainland.

Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) makanensis Hou sp. n. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is described and illustrated based on male and female specimens from China. It is characterized by the male aedeagus triangular, with large cone-shaped process at apex, basal arch high, basal arm slender and curved, parameres separate narrower distance at base, cone-shaped apically, and the female subgenital plate pliers-shaped, without lateral process, with two spermathecae, oval, nearly equal. The new species is compared with the similar congener F. (Forcipomyia) lochmocola Zou and Yu, 1991. We provide separate keys for identification of the males and females of the species of subgenus F. (Forcipomyia) Meigen in China.

Guanxin Danshen Formulation improved the effect of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation for the treatment of myocardial infarction probably via enhancing the engraftment.

Although intravenous injection is the most convenient and feasible approach for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) delivery, the proportion of donor stem cells in the target myocardium after transplantation is small. It is believed that TCM enhances the effect of stem cell therapy by improving the hostile microenvironment and promoting the migration and survival of stem cells. Guanxin Danshen (GXDS) formulation is one of the main prescriptions for clinical treatment of ischemic heart diseases in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of GXDS formulation administration combined with MSCs transplantation on cardiac function improvement, apoptosis, angiogenesis and survival of transplanted cells in an acute model of acute myocardial infarction (MI). After being labeled with GFP, MSCs were transplanted via intravenous injection. Meanwhile, GXDS dripping pills were given by intragastric administration for 4 weeks from 2 days before MI. Echocardiography showed moderate improvement in cardiac function after administration of GXDS formulation or intravenous transplantation of MSCs. However, GXDS formulation combined with MSCs transplantation significantly improved cardiac function after MI. The myocardial infarct size in rats treated with MSCs was similar to that in rats treated with GXDS formulation. However, GXDS formulation combined with MSCs transplantation significantly reduced infarction area. In addition, GXDS formulation combined with MSCs transplantation not only decreased cell apoptosis according to the TUNEL staining, but also enhanced angiogenesis in the peri-infarction and infarction area. Interestingly, the use of GXDS formulation increased the number of injected MSCs in the infarct area. Furthermore, GXDS formulation combined with MSCs transplantation increased SDF-1 levels in the infarcted area, but did not affect the expression of YAP. Our study provided a more feasible and accessible strategy to enhance the migration of stem cells after intravenous injection by oral administration of GXDS formulation. The combination of GXDS formulation and stem cell therapy has practical significance and application prospects in the treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy such as MI.

Transcrystallization of Isotactic Polypropylene/Bacterial Cellulose Hamburger Composite.

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is a commonly used thermoplastic polymer with many excellent properties. But high brittleness, especially at low temperatures, limits the use of iPP. The presence of transcrystallization of iPP makes it possible for fiber-reinforced iPP composites with higher strength. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a kind of cellulose with great potential to be used as a new filler to reinforce iPP due to its high crystallinity, biodegradability and efficient mechanical properties. In this study, the iPP/BC hamburger composite was prepared by a simple hot press and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used to improve the interface compatibility of iPP and BC. The polarizing microscope (POM) photograph shows that BC successfully induces the transcrystallization of iPP. The differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) date proves that the addition of BC could improve the thermal properties and crystallization rate of the composite. Especially, this change is more obvious of the iPP/MAPP/BC. The mechanical properties of the iPP/BC composites were greatly increased. This DSC date is higher than BC; we used BC particles to enhance the iPP in our previous research. The scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis intuitively shows that the interface of the iPP/MAPP/BC is more smooth and flat than the iPP/BC. The fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the iPP/BC hamburger composites was shown that a new C=O group vibration appeared at 1743 cm-1, which indicated that the hydrogen bond structure of BC molecules was weakened and some hydroxyl groups were substituted after modification which can increase the lipophilicity of BC. These results indicated that the BC fiber can easily induce the transcrystallization of iPP, which has excellent mechanical properties. Moreover, the addition of MAPP contributes greatly to the interface compatibility of iPP and BC.

Isotactic Polybutene-1/Bamboo Powder Composites with Excellent Properties at Initial Stage of Molding.

Isotactic polybutylene-1 (iPB) has lots of advantages and is best used as hot water pipe. However, to transform into stable crystal form I, the iPB needs as long as 7 days. In this process, the irreversible damage brings great difficulties to the use of the iPB. The method which convert it directly into crystal I has shortcomings such as being requiring complex operation and being expensive. In this study, an innovative idea was put forward, not paying attention to the crystal transformation of iPB but only focusing on reducing the time it can be applied. In this study, bamboo powder was modified by the silane coupling agent KH570 (KBP) to prepare iPB/KBP composite. The infiltration test and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the hydrophilicity of KBP is greatly reduced, which can greatly improve the compatibility of the iPB and KBP. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of the composites storage for 3 days is equal to the pure iPB with storage 7 days with the KBP additions of 3%, 3%, 7%, and 5%, respectively. The heat deformation temperature (HDT) of the composite with 3% KBP after 1-day storage reached the value of pure iPB storage for 7 days. This provides more space and possibilities for the industrialization of the iPB. The crystallization behavior of iPB/KBP composites proves that the addition of KBP accelerates the crystallization rate of iPB, but the crystallinity of the iPB/KBP composites is not changed. The SEM photograph of iPB/KBP composites showed that when the KBP addition was low the compatibility between KBP and iPB was good. When the KBP addition was increased the agglomeration of KBP in the iPB was very obvious, which leads to the poor mechanical properties of the composite.

Electroacupuncture improves memory and protects neurons by regulation of the autophagy pathway in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its clinical effects and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests autophagy is involved in ß-amyloid (Aß) clearance. We hypothesised that electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of AD involves the autophagy pathway in rats. METHODS: We injected 2µl Aß1-40 bilaterally into the hippocampi of 42 rats to establish AD. Rats remained untreated (AD group, n=14) or received 24 EA treatments at GV20+BL23 over 28 days from day 7 post-injection with/without co-treatment with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor (AD+EA+3-MA and AD+EA groups, respectively, n=14 each). Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze (MWM) testing. Hippocampi were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and stained with haematoxylin and eosin/transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) to assess neuronal morphology/apoptosis, respectively. Protein expression of Beclin-1, LC3 and Aß1-40 was examined. RESULTS: In the MWM test, the AD+EA group showed an improvement in parameters consistent with improved learning/memory compared to untreated AD rats, and 3-MA attenuated these effects. EA mitigated cellular apoptosis resulting from Aß infusion in the CA1 region and enhanced LC3II/LC3I ratios and Beclin-1 expression. Numerous autophagosome precursors and enlarged autophagosomes were observed by TEM in the hippocampi of EA-treated rats. Reduced Aß levels, and co-localisation of Aß and LC3II, were observed following EA treatment by immunofluorescence staining. EA+3-MA treated rats had much higher TUNEL-positive neurons, lower LC3II/LC3I ratios and Beclin-1 expression, and elevated Aß levels compared with EA alone. CONCLUSIONS: EA reduces neuronal apoptosis, enhances degradation of Aß, and improves learning/memory in AD rats by upregulating the autophagy pathway.

Research review on pharmacological actions of Cartthamus tinctorius L / Монголын эм зүй, эм судлал

Introduction@#To collate the pharmacological literature of safflower and lay a foundation for its later development. @*Methods@#Collect and sort out the literature of modern periodicals, and the study the pharmacology of Safflower in academic websites.@*Conclusion@#The pharmacological study and clinical medication of Mongolian medicine Safflower were studied in this paper. Safflower is one of the clinical medicines of Mongolian medicine, which is often used to treat liver diseases and is known as "the best of the liver". It has the functions of blocking blood vessels, irregular menstruation, clearing liver heat, nourishing, relieving pain and detumescence. Through collecting and sorting out the pharmacological studies of Safflower in modern periodicals and academic websites, we conclude that safflower can protect liver, expand blood vessels, anticoagulation, ischemic injury, lowering blood lipids, stimulating uterus, analgesic and sedative effects on nervous system, nourishing, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-cancer and anti-aging.

[The expression of connective tissue growth factor in mast cells in the development of pulmonary fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether connective tissue growth factor (CGGF) is expressed in mast cells (MCs) in lung in the development of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: BLM group and control group (n=16). The rats in BLM group were received single intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg), and the rats in control group received equal volume of 0.9% normal saline(NS) to BLM. The rats in each group were sacrificed for lung tissue sampling on day 14 and day 28 after intratracheal instillation respectively. As the index of the severity of pulmonary fibrosis, the content of hydroxyproline in lungs was analyzed by chloramine T method. Mast cells and CTGF expression in lungs were examined by toluidine blue stain and immunohistochemical assay respectively. RESULTS: (1) On day 28 after intratracheal instillation of BLM, the content of hydroxyproline in lungs of rats was higher than that of control rats (P < 0.01). (2) Compared to control rats, the rats on day 14 and day 28 after instillation of BLM showed increased number of mast cells (Both P < 0.01) and up-regulated CTGF expression (Both P < 0.01). (3) No CTGF immuno-positive MCs were seen in the lungs of control rats whereas CTGF immuno-positive MCs were observed in the pathological areas in lungs of rats on day 14 and day 28 after BLM. CONCLUSION: CTGF is expressed in MCs in lungs in the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which might be one of the mechanisms underling promoting effect of MCs on fibrosis in lung.

[Alterations in pulmonary arterial reactivity during pulmonary arterial hypertension at the early-stage of pulmonary fibrosis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the alterations in pulmonary arterial reactivity during pulmonary arterial hypertension at the early-stage of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. METHODS: Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: bleomycin (BLM) group and sham group. The rats in BLM group were received single intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg), and the rats in sham group received equal volume of 0.9% normal saline (NS). The alterations in pulmonary arterial reactivity were measured by vascular tension detected technique, the pathomorphological changes in the wall of pulmonary arteries were displayed with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, the degree of fibrosis in lung was revealed with Masson staining, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure was detected via a catheter in the pulmonary artery. RESULTS: (1) The contractile response to a- adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE), of pulmonary arteries both with remaining endothelium and with removing endothelium, from BLM-treated rats , was reduced significantly, compared with sham rats (P both < 0.05). (2) The relaxant response to the endothelially dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (Ach), of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, from BLM-treated rats, was also reduced, compared with sham rats (P < 0.01). (3) In sham rats, the contractile response to (omega) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) plus PE, of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, was enhanced, compared with that to PE alone (P < 0.01), while in BLM group, the contractile responses to L-NAME plus PE, of pulmonary arteries with remaining endothelium, was not different from that to PE alone (P > 0.05). (4) In BLM group, vascular endothelial cells lost. (5) In BLM group, the initial stage of fibrogenesis was observed in lungs, and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased, compared with that in sham group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The abnormal responsibility of pulmonary arteries occurred during pulmonary arterial hypertension at the early-stage of pulmonary fibrosis in rats.