Linearity optimization of multi-octave analog photonic links based on power weighting, polarization multiplexing and bias control.

We present and demonstrate an approach to linearizing analog photonic links (APLs) with substantially enhanced multi-octave spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR). Combining with power weighting, polarization multiplexing and bias control techniques, the proposed approach enables the second-order harmonic distortion (HD2) and third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) to be suppressed simultaneously. To maximize the RF output power, an optimization model is established. The simulation results indicate that the maximum RF power can be attained when the power weighting factor and polarization incident angle are equal to 0.5 and 0.34 radians, respectively. The link is validated with a proof-of-principle experiment. The third-order SFDR is 112.3 dB·Hz2/3, corresponding to the improvement of 15.5 dB as compared with a quadrature-biased link. The second-order SFDR reaches as high as 94.6 dB·Hz1/2. Furthermore, the adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) is measured to be up to 54.6 dBc, which is 5.4 dB greater than that of a quadrature-biased link. Finally, the system tolerances for the RF and optical input power are also investigated in terms of error vector magnitudes (EVMs). Therefore, by introducing optimization model, our scheme provides further insight into the APL linearization technique and a better performance is also achieved.

Analog radio-over-fiber links with a high SFDR for passive distributed antenna system applications using Lagrange multiplier optimization.

An analog radio-over-fiber scheme with a high spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) is proposed for constructing a passive distributed antenna system (DAS). By developing a Lagrange multiplier constrained optimization model, the best trade-off among RF output power, the polarization incident angle, and the RF power ratio is obtained. Consequently, the third-order intermodulation distortion and second-order harmonic distortion can be suppressed simultaneously simply by varying the polarization incident angle. The simulated and experimental results show that the proposed scheme is effective and feasible. Additionally, this Letter offers valuable insights into the nonlinear optimization, and it may be of great significance in future design and manufacture.

[Protective Effects of Angelica sinensis Volatile Oil on Atherosclerosis in Hyperlipidemia Mice].

Objective: To study the protective effects of Angelica sinensis volatile oil on atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemia mice. Methods: 60 mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, fluvastatin group, and high-, medium- and low-dose groups of Angelica sinensis volatile oil. Normal control group were fed with normal diet, the other groups were fed with high fat diet, and treated orally Vitamin D3 (100 million IU/kg) daily for 42 d. At the 14th day after modeling, fluvastatin group were orally administrated fluvastatin (6.7 mg /kg), and high-, medium- and low-doses of Angelica sinensis volatile oil groups were orally administrated Angelica sinensis volatile oil (40, 20, 10 mg /kg) for 28 d, and the normal control group and model group were administrated equal volume normal saline. The activity state, body weight and the levels of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in serum were measured. The atherosclerosis indexes (AI1, AI2), coronary heart index (R-CHR) were calculated. After the mice were killed, the heart, liver and abdominal aortas were taken. The mass of the heart and liver were measured, and the organ indexes were calculated; the tissues were fixed by formalin, embedded in paraffin, sliced, HE stained, and the histopathology changes were observed by microscope. Results: Compared with normal control group, the body weight of mice in the model group were decreased (P＜0.01), and the heart, liver indexes were significantly increased (P＜0.05), the levels TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C in serum and AI1, AI2 and R-CHR were significantly increased after modeling 42 d (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice body weight were significantly increased, and the heart, liver index were significantly decreased (P＜0.05) in the high-, middle-dose group of Angelica sinensis volatile oil groups; the TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased in low-dose group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01); AI1 and R-CHR were significantly decreased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) in all Angelica sinensis volatile oil groups, but the AI2 in the high-dose group of Angelica sinensis volatile oil was significantly decreased (P＜0.05). The histopathology results showed that Angelica sinensis volatile oil could relieve the fatty degeneration of hepatic cells and the injury of thoracic aortic intimae, and myocardial fibrosis, which could inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Conclusion: The certain protective effects of Angelica sinensis volatile oil are determinated on atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemia mice.

N6-methyladenosine regulators-related immune genes enable predict graft loss and discriminate T-cell mediate rejection in kidney transplantation biopsies for cause.

Objective: The role of m6A modification in kidney transplant-associated immunity, especially in alloimmunity, still remains unknown. This study aims to explore the potential value of m6A-related immune genes in predicting graft loss and diagnosing T cell mediated rejection (TCMR), as well as the possible role they play in renal graft dysfunction. Methods: Renal transplant-related cohorts and transcript expression data were obtained from the GEO database. First, we conducted correlation analysis in the discovery cohort to identify the m6A-related immune genes. Then, lasso regression and random forest were used respectively to build prediction models in the prognosis and diagnosis cohort, to predict graft loss and discriminate TCMR in dysfunctional renal grafts. Connectivity map (CMap) analysis was applied to identify potential therapeutic compounds for TCMR. Results: The prognostic prediction model effectively predicts the prognosis and survival of renal grafts with clinical indications (P< 0.001) and applies to both rejection and non-rejection situations. The diagnostic prediction model discriminates TCMR in dysfunctional renal grafts with high accuracy (area under curve = 0.891). Meanwhile, the classifier score of the diagnostic model, as a continuity index, is positively correlated with the severity of main pathological injuries of TCMR. Furthermore, it is found that METTL3, FTO, WATP, and RBM15 are likely to play a pivotal part in the regulation of immune response in TCMR. By CMap analysis, several small molecular compounds are found to be able to reverse TCMR including fenoldopam, dextromethorphan, and so on. Conclusions: Together, our findings explore the value of m6A-related immune genes in predicting the prognosis of renal grafts and diagnosis of TCMR.

ProfKin: A comprehensive web server for structure-based kinase profiling.

Protein kinases are central mediators of signal-transduction cascades and attractive drug targets for therapeutic intervention. Since kinases are structurally and mechanistically related to each other, kinase inhibitor selectivity is often investigated by kinase profiling and considered as an important index for drug discovery. We here describe a versatile web server termed ProfKin for structure-based kinase profiling, which is based on a kinase-ligand focused database (KinLigDB). It provides all ready-to-use 3D structure coordinates of 4219 kinase-ligand complex structures covering 297 human kinases and the associated information, particularly including binding site type, binding ligand type, interaction fingerprints, downstream molecules and related human diseases. The web server works via predicting possible binding modes for the query molecule, prioritizing the binding modes guided by an interaction fingerprint analysis method, and giving a list of ranked kinases by a comprehensive index. Users can freely select entire or part of the KinLigDB database, e.g. via subfamily and binding site type, to customize the profiling contents. The superimpositions of the predicted binding poses of the query molecule with reference binding modes can be visually inspected on the website. The additional classification attributes and phylogenetic tree are also given for each top-ranked kinase.

[Preliminary pharmacodynamics study on antiasthmatic action of butylphthalide in guinea pig].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-asthmatic effects of butylphthalide in guinea pig. METHODS: This research included isolated tra-cheal smooth muscle and in vivo animal experiments. Antispasmodic effects of butylphthalide at the concentrations of 1, 10, 100 mg/L were observed through spasmodical tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig induced by acetylcholine or histamine (n=10). After screened, the guinea pigs were divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone(DXM) group, high and low dose butylphthalide groups. The effects of butylphthalide on nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and asthmatic behaviors were observed on the asthmatic guinea pigs that were stimu-lated six times by the excitation fluid (1% ACh:0.05% Hist=1:1). RESULTS: Butylphthalide at the concentrations of 1、10、100 mg/L had an-ti-spasmodic effects on spasmodical tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig (15.08 ±7.68、42.41 ±13.54、77.56 ±24.82 to acetylcholine, 19.40 ±7.60、56.84 ±11.72、76.35 ±19.40 to histamine), which showed a certain dose-effect relationship. Butylphthalide could prolong asth-matic incubation period (53.3 ±13.2、33.1 ±13.0), improve asthmatic behaviors, reduce NO in serum (78.71 ±19.40、84.75 ±20.97) and ET-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (24.30 ±5.80、28.50 ±6.31) (P < 0.05, 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Butylphthalide has some effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to relieve abnormal increase of NO and ET-1.

Semi-bionic extraction of compound turmeric protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute enteritis in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Compound turmeric has been widely used as a remedy for infectious diseases in China. It is a classic multi-herb prescription in traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used in the treatment of enteritis, pneumonia, and abdominal pain for hundreds of years. However, throughout this history, the powder of multi-herbs was directly swallowed, which is currently difficult to administer to patients. The extract of Chinese herbal medicine is made by semi-bionic extraction technology, which is great progress in the modernization of powders of traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this work is to investigate the protective effects of semi-bionic extraction of compound turmeric (SET) on acute enteritis (AE) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SET was extracted in artificial gastric juice or artificial intestinal juice and mixed. After vacuum drying, the SET powder was dissolved in distilled water. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups. Rats were given salazosulfapyridine (SASP, 175.0mg/kg) or SET (0.42 or 0.21g/kg) before intragastric administration of 5% DSS solutions (0.75g/kg). The treatments lasted 7 days. The food intake in 24h, disease activity index (DAI), and wet/dry (W/D) weight ratios and histological changes in colon tissue were measured. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1ß, IL-8, and IL-10 in serum were determined at 1, 4, or 7 d after DSS challenge. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), malonaldehyde (MDA), diamine oxidase (DAO), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in colon tissue were determined at 7 d. In addition, the nuclear factor-kappa (NF-κ B) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) activations in colon tissue were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS: In rats with AE, SET significantly reduced DAI at 7 d after DSS treatment, increased the body weight of rats and the food intake in 24h at 3 or 6 d after DSS challenge, and reduced the colon W/D ratio. SET also reduced the TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-8 in serum and increased IL-10 in serum at 4 and 7 d. In addition, SET decreased MPO, MDA, DAO, and GSH-Px activities in colon and attenuated histological changes in the colon at 7 d after DSS treatment. Further studies demonstrated that SET significantly inhibited NF-κB and ICAM-1 activations in colon tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that SET has potent protective effects on DSS-induced AE in rats through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities.

[Effects of VOR on asthmatic BALB/c mice and on immune-activity of Th17 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-asthmatic effects of Volatile oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (VOR, Traditional Chinese Medicine) on asthmatic BALB/c mice and its effect on Th17 cell immuno-activity through IL-17A and RORγt. METHODS: After grouping (n=12), the asthmatic BALB/c mice were replicated through injection of ovalbumin (OVA) for sensitization and administration of OVA aerosol for challenge and then, the asthmatic behaviors, respiratory function, lung histopathology as well as levels of IL-17A in serum and retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) in lung tissue were observed after the action of VOR. RESULTS: VOR could maintain normal growth of body weight in asthmatic mice, improve asthmatic behaviors, respiratory function, lung histopathology and, inhibit over-expression of IL-17A and RORγt (P<0.05, 0.01) at 60, 120, 240 mg/kg doses. The combination of VOR and dexamethasone could bring synergistic effects on growth of body weight and expression of IL-17A and RORγt. CONCLUSIONS: VOR has significant effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to inhibit immune activity of Th17 cell through relieving over-expression of IL-17 and RORγt. Besides, the combination of VOR and glucocorticoid could bring synergistic effects.

[Effects of Rhubarbs from different regions on blood lipid and antioxidation of hyperlipidemia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively study the effects of Rhubarbs from different regions on blood lipid and antioxi dation of hyperlipidemia rats. METHODS: Male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups ( n = 8) and fed with high-fat diet to replicate the hyperlipidemia model. Meanwhile, Rheum tanguticum was administrated intragastrically at two doses (3.0 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg), once a day for continuous 28 days. The effects of Rheum tanguticum planted in Gannan (RT-GN), Rheum tanguticum planted in Xinin (RT-XN) and Rheum plmatum planted in Lixian (RP-LX) were evaluated through detecting the parameters of blood lipids, blood viscosity and antioxidant system. RESULTS: T-GN, RT-XN and RP-LX in the range of 1.0-3.0 g/kg could decrease the blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in blood. Besides, they could reduce blood viscosity, increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) level and upregulate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Interestingly, their effects on blood viscosity was obviously in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the effects of RT-GN on LDL, MDA and blood viscosity were not significantly different from those of RT-XN and better than those of RP-LX. CONCLUSION: The RT has better hypolipidemic effects than the RP, but RT-GN and RT-XN are not different from the above effects.

[Effect of Volatile Oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis on experimental asthma in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Volatile Oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (VOA) on experimental asthma in rat model based on abnormal immune functions of Treg cells. METHODS: After grouping, the asthmatic rats were developed through injecting OVA and AI(OH)3 for sensitization and then administering OVA aerosol for challenge, and the respiratory functions, asthmatic behaviors, IL-10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (ELISA) and Foxp3 expression (immunohistochemistry) in lung of asthmatic rats were observed. RESULTS: VOA at the doses of 40-160 mg/kg could improve the respiratory functions and the asthmatic behaviors, and upgrade IL-10 levels in BALF and Foxp3 expression in lung of asthmatic rats. CONCLUSION: VOA has some effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to improving the lower immune functions of Treg cells.

[The influences of ultrafiltration and alcohol sedimentation on protective effects of Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri against rat's cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influences of ultrafiltration and alcohol sedimentation on protective effects of Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri against rat's cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Using dexamethasone (im.) and ligating common carotid artery, the rat stasis model combined transient cerebral ischemia was established to evaluate the effects of the ultrafiltration and alcohol sedimentation through detecting antioxidant system and other indexes in brain tissue. RESULTS: The results showed that the 6 g/kg water extract(crude drug), ultrafiltration and alcohol sedimentation of Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri could upgrade adenosine-triphosphate (ATP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and degrade malondialdehyde(MDA) and water content of brain tissue in rat stasis model combined transient cerebral ischemia, the water extract and ultrafiltration of them could degrade lactic acid (LD) of brain tissue, and the effects of alcohol sedimentation of Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri become weaker than water extract of them. CONCLUSION: The water extract, ultrafiltration and alcohol sedimentation of Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri have some protective effects on cerebral ischemia in rats, the effective differences of the extract through the same extraction method are not remarkable, and alcohol precipitation method has obvious influences effect on Radix Astragali and Radix Hedyseri.

[Effect of JTS caps. treating cerebral ischemia on metabolism and antioxidant system in cerebral ischemia rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of JTS, Traditional Chinese Medicine caps. treating cerebral ischemia on metabolism and antioxidant system in cerebral ischemia rat. METHODS: I.m. dexamethasone and ligating common carotid artery, the model of cerebral ischemia rats was established to investigate the effects of JTS caps. and its mechanisms through detecting substance metabolism, energy metabolism and antioxidant system. RESULTS: JTS caps. (1.78 - 3.56 g/kg) could upgrade glucose (Glu), total amino acids (T-AA), ATP, Na(+)-K(+) -ATPase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) of brain tissue and degrade lactic acid (LD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and water content of brain tissue in cerebral ischemia rat (P < 0.05, 0.01). JTS caps. (3.56 g/kg) could also depress extenuation of rat's body weight. CONCLUSION: JTS caps. has some protections against the cerebral ischemia in rats, and one of the mechanisms may be improving the metabolism and antioxidant system.