Porous Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) microspheres consisting of a stack of primary nano-crystalline grains were prepared by adding dropwise LiOH solution into tetrabutyl titanate (TBT)/cetyltrimethylammonium ...bromide (CTAB) glycol solution, followed by hydrothermal synthesis and further calcination. In order to understand the formation mechanism of LTO microspheres, the effects of cationic species and pH of solution on the hydrolysis of TBT in TBT/CTAB/LiOH solution were studied first by using NaOH, KOH and LiCl as substitutes for LiOH solution. Furthermore, in order to study the effect of CTAB, the morphology and microstructure of hydrothermal products and calcined products from TBT/CTAB/LiOH and TBT/LiOH solution were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that strong basicity of solution and existence of CTAB in TBT/CTAB/LiOH solution are two necessary factors for the formation of LTO microspheres. The spinel LTO microspheres obtained are porous because of the loose stacking of primary nano-crystalline grains. The structure is beneficial for the improvement of the contact surface area between the electrode and electrolyte, and the quick diffusion of electrons and ions. Therefore, LTO microspheres exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. The specific capacities at 10C, 20C, 30C, 40C, 50C and 60C are up to 177, 175, 170, 165, 158 and 157 mA h g-1, respectively. When the current density returns to 10C, the discharge capacity of LTO microspheres returns to the capacity at 10C; moreover, the capacity retention reaches 93% after 500 cycles.
Helicobacter pylori infects almost half of the world population and is listed as a type I carcinoma factor since 1994. Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. (Labiatae) has been used to treat ...gastro-intestinal diseases for thousands of years in many east Asian countries, and the key ingredient, patchouli alcohol (PA), has been observed to exert anti-H. pylori and anti-urease activities.
We investigated the effect of PA on H. pylori urease and its subsequent influence on macrophage phagosome maturation and function.
In H. pylori experiment, the berthelot method and pH shock assay were adopted to evaluate the effect of PA on extracellular and intracellular H. pylori urease. And then, Q-PCR and Western blot were carried out to analyze the alterations in the expression of urease-related genes and proteins after PA treatment. In the H. pylori and macrophage cell (RAW264.7) co-culture experiment, the effects of PA on H. pylori-induced phagocytosis and intracellular killing of RAW264.7 were investigated using gentamycin protection assay, and the underlying mechanism was explored by immunofluorescence.
PA at 25 and 50 μM inhibited intracellular H. pylori urease activity but not isolated urease by down-regulating the gene expression levels of ureB, ureE, ureI and nixA and reducing the protein expression level of UreB, thereby inhibiting the acid resistance of H. pylori. PA also recovered the function of macrophage bacterial digestion, and prior treatment with ammonium chloride inhibited the efficacy of PA.
PA suppressed intracellular H. pylori urease function and maturation, which increased macrophage digestion ability.
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•The characteristics of tensile strength and acoustic emission (AE).•Analysis of the AE time sequence based on fractal theory.•The AE correlation dimension values for early warning of ...failures.•Suggestion on monitoring of rock instability, microcrack mechanisms, and earthquakes.
The strata of shale contain structural weak planes such as laminations and joints, which do not have the same mechanical properties as intact rock masses. Tensile strength is a critical parameter that determines the capacity of a rock and its resistance to deformation and failure. Focusing on tensile strength and acoustic emission (AE), the characteristics of shale were investigated at various orientations of the laminations with respect to the loading direction. By coupling Brazilian test and the AE technique, the mechanical properties and damage patterns of shale can be explored. The shale exhibits clear laminations and contains a high proportion of brittle minerals by XRD and SEM analysis. The stress–time curve of the Brazilian test can be divided into three stages with distinct brittleness characteristics, and the tensile strength exhibited undulatory trend as bedding angles increases. At low bedding angles, the compaction of fissures and pores within the shale is not significant, and the cumulative AE count–time curves exhibited a flat-to-sharply rising trend. By contrast, the curves showed a gradually increasing “stepped” tendency at high bedding angles. Analysis of the AE time sequence based on fractal theory reveals that fractal dimension values fluctuate with increase of the stress, signifying the initiation of complex microcracks within the shale. The fractal dimension values sharply dropped when approaching the limit of tensile strength, signifying the occurrence of major cracks. The sudden drop of AE time sequence correlation dimension values can serve asan early warning for the coming failures. The research findings could be instrumental in the monitoring of rock mass instability, microcrack mechanisms, and earthquake sequences.
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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are highly prevalent endocrine system diseases. However, studies on the molecular mechanisms of T2DM and PCOS at the ...transcriptomic level are still few. Thus, we aimed to reveal the potential common genetic and molecular pathways between T2DM and PCOS via bioinformatics analyses.
We downloaded the GSE10946 and GSE18732 datasets for T2DM and PCOS, respectively, from the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. These datasets were subjected to integrated differential and weighted gene co-expression network analyses (WGCNA) to screen common genes. Thereafter, functional enrichment and disease gene association analyses were performed, transcription factor (TF)-gene and TF-miRNA-gene regulatory networks were constructed, and finally, the relevant target drugs were identified.
We identified common genes (BIRC3, DEPTOR, TNNL3, ADRA2A) in T2DM and PCOS. Pathway enrichment analysis depicted that the common genes were enriched in smooth muscle contraction, channel inhibitor activity, apoptosis, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathways. TFs such as SP7, KLF8, HCFC1, IRF1, and MLLT1 played key roles in TF regulatory networks. Orlistat was indicated to be an important gene-targeting drug.
This study is the first study to explore four diagnostic biomarkers and gene regulatory networks for T2DM and PCOS. The findings of our study provide novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of T2DM and PCOS.
During the preparation of saccadic eye movements, visual attention is confined to the target of intended fixation and there is a corresponding diminution of visual sensitivity at nontarget locations. ...Neurons within the macaque visual cortex exhibit correlates of these perceptual changes, such as in area V4, where neuronal responses are enhanced during the preparation of saccades to stimuli within the receptive field (RF), and responses are suppressed during the preparation of saccades to other locations. Both the perceptual and neurophysiological effects suggest that the sensitivity of visual cortical neurons to input is dynamic during saccade preparation. We probed the contrast sensitivity of area V4, neurons to nontarget stimuli at varying times during the preparation of saccades to locations outside of the neuron's receptive field. We found that the contrast sensitivity of many neurons is profoundly altered within 50 ms of saccade onset. The luminance or color contrast sensitivity of individual V4 neurons could increase, decrease, or remain unchanged before saccade onset. For luminance contrast sensitivity, decreases in sensitivity were more frequent and larger in magnitude, resulting in an overall decrement in sensitivity across the population. For color contrast, the effects were smaller and more heterogeneous, resulting in little or no overall change in sensitivity across the population. Our results demonstrate the dynamic influence that saccade preparation has on the sensitivity of visual cortical neurons and suggest a basis for the changes in perception known to occur during saccade preparation.
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Pericytes limit tumor cell metastasis Xian, Xiaojie; Håkansson, Joakim; Ståhlberg, Anders ...
The Journal of clinical investigation,
03/2006, Volume:
116, Issue:
3
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Previously we observed that neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) deficiency in beta tumor cells facilitates metastasis into distant organs and local lymph nodes. Here, we show that NCAM-deficient ...beta cell tumors grew leaky blood vessels with perturbed pericyte-endothelial cell-cell interactions and deficient perivascular deposition of ECM components. Conversely, tumor cell expression of NCAM in a fibrosarcoma model (T241) improved pericyte recruitment and increased perivascular deposition of ECM molecules. Together, these findings suggest that NCAM may limit tumor cell metastasis by stabilizing the microvessel wall. To directly address whether pericyte dysfunction increases the metastatic potential of solid tumors, we studied beta cell tumorigenesis in primary pericyte-deficient Pdgfb(ret/ret) mice. This resulted in beta tumor cell metastases in distant organs and local lymph nodes, demonstrating a role for pericytes in limiting tumor cell metastasis. These data support a new model for how tumor cells trigger metastasis by perturbing pericyte-endothelial cell-cell interactions.
The importance of nutrient provisions and weaning methods for calves has been well established over the past few years,while as increasing interest has focused on contribution of animal behavior and ...their overall performance in production regimes.The present study investigated the effects of feeding methods and space allowance on growth performance,individual and social behaviors in Holstein calves.Twenty-four Chinese Holstein male and female calves were allocated to either an individual or group of 6 and fed either with a bucket or a teat.Milk replacer,calf starter,and Chinese wildrye were offered during the experiment.A fecal index used in the present study was defined as the total fecal scores/total number of calves in each treatment.The results showed that there was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of feed intake,body weight,average daily gain,and fecal index.For the feeding behaviors,the ingesting milk time and ingesting milk rate were significantly affected by space allowance,while the feeding methods showed a significant influence on the bunting behavior of the calves.There was no significant difference among the 4 treatments in terms of licking fixtures,self-grooming,and lying down behaviors,irrespective of the feeding method or space allowance.However,sucking an empty bucket or the teat was significantly affected by the feeding method.Several selected group behaviors were examined in the present study,and similar values for sniffing the other calves,social grooming,and cross-sucking behaviors were observed.Overall,the present study demonstrated that different feeding methods and space allowances had a significant effect on the feeding behavior of calves,while the feed intake,growth performance,health condition,individual and group social behaviors were not significantly influenced.Furthermore,under intensified production systems,Holstein calves raised in a group may obtain a similar production performance,thus reducing management input and profitability compared with those kept individually.However,there may be competition during the feeding period.
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A unified approach is presented herein for concrete impact which represents an extension and further development of the UMIST formulae. The paper consists of two parts, i.e. a critical overview and ...assessment of the accuracy of the UMIST formulae in the wake of the new test results and the data made available recently; derivation of a new set of empirical equations by introducing a previously suggested mean resistive pressure to predict the depth of penetration, through-thickness cone cracking, scabbing and perforation of reinforced concrete targets subjected to projectile impact. It is shown that the UMIST formulae can be used with reasonable confidence for large mass low velocity projectile impact onto reinforced concrete targets and that they considerably underestimate the scabbing of reinforced concrete targets struck by non-flat-ended missiles and significantly overpredict the perforation of very thick concrete targets as compared to the experimental data. It is also shown that the present empirical formulae are in good agreement with available experimental data over a wider range of impact conditions, being applicable not only to flat-faced projectiles but also to non-flat-ended (i.e., conical-, spherical-, ogival-nosed) missiles; not only to low strength concrete but also to high strength concrete; not only to low impact velocity but also to high impact velocity and that the modified UMIST formulae are in reasonable agreement with available test data.
•The UMIST formulae are critically reviewed and reassessed against the test data for non-flat-ended projectiles.•A unified approach for concrete impact is presented.•The effects of various parameters on penetration depth, cone cracking, scabbing and perforation are considered.•The present empirical formulae have a wider range of applicability.•The modified UMIST formulae are also in reasonable agreement with the test data.
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In order to understand the yield performance and nitrogen （N） response of hybrid rice under different ecological conditions in southern China, field experiments were conducted in Huaiji County of ...Guangdong Province, Binyang of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Changsha City of Hunan Province, southern China in 2011 and 2012. Two hybrid （Liangyoupeijiu and Y-liangyou 1） and two inbred rice cultivars （Yuxiangyouzhan and Huanghuazhan） were grown under three N treatments （N1,225 kg ha-l; N2, 112.5-176 kg ha-l; N3, 0 kg ha-1） in each location. Results showed that grain yield was higher in Changsha than in Huaiji and Binyang for both hybrid and inbred cultivars. The higher grain yield in Changsha was attribut- ed to larger panicle size （spikelets per panicle） and higher biomass production. Consistently higher grain yield in hybrid than in inbred cultivars was observed in Changsha but not in Huaiji and Binyang. Higher grain weight and higher biomass production were responsible for the higher grain yield in hybrid than in inbred cultivars in Changsha. The better crop perfor- mance of rice （especially hybrid cultivars） in Changsha was associated with its temperature conditions and indigenous soil N. N2 had higher internal N use efficiency, recovery efficiency of applied N, agronomic N use efficiency, and partial factor productivity of applied N than N1 for both hybrid and inbred cultivars, while the difference in grain yield between N1 and N2 was relatively small. Our study suggests that whether hybrid rice can outyield inbred rice to some extent depends on the ecological conditions, and N use efficiency can be increased by using improved nitrogen management such as site-specific N management in both hybrid and inbred rice production.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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