The surface and internal morphology, drug distribution and release kinetics at 22°C of polyesters such as PCL (polycaprolactone) and PLGA (poly(
dl-lactic-
co-glycolic acid)) 65
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35 microspheres ...containing BSA (bovine serum albumin) have been investigated in order to understand the relationship amongst morphology, drug distribution and in vitro release profiles and to develop controlled release devices for marine fishes in tropical area. CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscope) micrographs reveal that the polyvinylalcohol (PVA as an emulsifier) concentration in the external water phase strongly influences drug distribution within microspheres and release profiles. The presence of PVA in the internal water phase enhances the stabilization of inner water droplets against coalescence. This results in a more uniform drug distribution and a slower BSA release. Different oil-phase volumes and polymer concentrations yield different solvent exchange and precipitation mechanisms, which lead to different morphologies. A low oil-phase volume yields microspheres with a porous matrix and defective skin surface, which gives a high initial BSA burst as well as a fast release profile. Microspheres fabricated from a low polymer concentration have less defective skin surface, but with a less tortuous inner matrix which results in a more rapid BSA release. A higher BSA loading yields a larger concentration gradient between the emulsion droplet and the continuous water phase as well as between the microspheres and the in vitro medium. The former results in a lower encapsulation efficiency, whereas the latter yields a faster initial burst and a more rapid release profile. High stirring speed can reduce microsphere size, but decreases the yield of microspheres.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Global aquatic ecosystems are essential to human existence and have deteriorated seriously in recent years. Understanding the influence mechanism of habitat variation on the structure of the food-web ...allows the effective recovery of the health of degraded ecosystems. Whereas most previous studies focused on the selection of driving habitat factors, the impact of habitat variation on the food-web structure was rarely studied, resulting in the low success rate of ecosystem restoration projects globally. This paper presents a framework for exploring the effects of spatial variations in water quality and hydrological habitat factors on the food-web structure in city waters. Indices for the evaluation of the food-web structure are first determined by integrating model-parameter extraction via literature refinement. The key water quality and hydrological factors are then determined by coupling canonical correspondence analysis with partial least squares regression. Their spatial variation is investigated using spatial autocorrelation. Finally, fuzzy clustering is applied to analyze the influence of the spatial variations in water quality and hydrological factors on the food-web structure. The results obtained in Ji'nan, the pilot city of water ecological civilization in China, show that the Shannon diversity index, connectance index, omnivory index, and the ratio of total primary production to the total respiration are important indicators of food-web structural change. They show that the driving factors affecting the aquatic food-web structure in Ji'nan are hydrological factors (e.g., river width, water depth, and stream flow), physical aspects of water quality (e.g., air temperature, water temperature, electrical conductivity, and transparency), and chemical aspects (e.g., potassium, dissolved oxygen, calcium, and total hardness). They also show that the stability of the food-web is more prone to spatial variations in water quality than in hydrological factors. Higher electrical conductivity, potassium, total hardness, and air temperature lead to deteriorated food-web structures, whereas better transparency improves structure and stability. We found that water and air temperature are the most important factors in the spatial variation of the food-web structure in the study area, followed by total hardness. Transparency is the least important factor. Large disparities and varied spatial distributions exist in the driving effects of water quality and hydrological factors across regions attributable to differences in geographical environments, water salinity (fresh vs. sea water), and environmental factors (e.g., water pollution). The above methods and results serve as a theoretical and scientific basis for a high success rate of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects in the study area and other cities worldwide.
•We assessed impact of water quality and hydrology change on foodweb in city waters.•We proposed a quantitative framework with modeling and system analysis techniques.•It can help improve the success rate of ecosystem restoration projects globally.•Foodweb is more prone to the variations in water quality than hydrological factors.•Higher EC, K+, total hardness and air temperature lead to deteriorated food webs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa, including five new families, 20 new genera, and 100 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new families, ...Ascocylindricaceae, Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae (Ascomycota) are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology. The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria (Amniculicolaceae), Heracleicola, Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces (Didymosphaeriaceae), Brunneoclavispora, Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium (Halotthiaceae), Lophiohelichrysum (Lophiostomataceae), Galliicola, Populocrescentia and Vagicola (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ascocylindrica (Ascocylindricaceae), Elongatopedicellata (Roussoellaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria (Latoruaceae) and Pseudomonodictys (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae) are introduced. The newly described species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola (Amniculicolaceae), Flammeascoma lignicola (Anteagloniaceae), Ascocylindrica marina (Ascocylindricaceae), Lembosia xyliae (Asterinaceae), Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola (Botryosphaeriaceae), Caryospora aquatica (Caryosporaceae), Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces palmicola (Didymosphaeriaceae), Floricola viticola (Floricolaceae), Brunneoclavispora bambusae, Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica (Halotthiaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria fagi (Latoruaceae), Keissleriella dactylidicola (Lentitheciaceae), Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi (Lophiostomataceae), Aquasubmersa japonica (Lophiotremataceae), Pseudomonodictys tectonae (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae), Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae (Microthyriaceae), Alloleptosphaeria clematidis, Allophaeosphaeria cytisi, Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora, Dematiopleospora luzulae, Entodesmium artemisiae, Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria, Loratospora luzulae, Nodulosphaeria senecionis, Ophiosphaerella aquaticus, Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Elongatopedicellata lignicola, Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior (Roussoellaceae) and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata (Tetraploasphaeriaceae). The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora, Austropleospora archidendri, Pseudopithomyces chartarum, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Pseudopithomyces sacchari, Vagicola vagans, Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes. The new genera Dictyosporella (Annulatascaceae), and Tinhaudeus (Halosphaeriaceae) are introduced in Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota) while Dictyosporella aquatica (Annulatascaceae), Chaetosphaeria rivularia (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis (Cordycipitaceae), Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum (Discosiaceae), Colletotrichum aciculare, Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola (Glomerellaceae), Tinhaudeus formosanus (Halosphaeriaceae), Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea (Pestalotiopsiceae), Phaeoacremonium tectonae (Togniniaceae), Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica (Valsaceae), Annulohypoxylon palmicola, Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis (Xylariaceae) are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes. The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum (Mycocaliciaceae). Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa (Acarosporaceae), Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis (Graphidaceae), Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella (Lobariaceae) are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes. In class Pezizomycetes, Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa (Helvellaceae) are introduced as new species. The new families, Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae (Basidiomycota) are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella (Neoantrodiellaceae), here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data. In the class Agaricomycetes, Agaricus pseudolangei, Agaricus haematinus, Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus (Agaricaceae), Amanita melleialba, Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina (Amanitaceae), Entoloma calabrum, Cora barbulata, Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa (Inocybaceae), Xerocomellus sarnarii (Boletaceae), Cantharellus eucalyptorum, Cantharellus nigrescens, Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor (Cantharellaceae), Cortinarius alboamarescens, Cortinarius brunneoalbus, Cortinarius ochroamarus, Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii (Cortinariaceae), Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides (Hymenochaetaceae), Xylodon ramicida (Schizoporaceae), Colospora andalasii (Polyporaceae), Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae (Russulaceae), Tremella dirinariae, Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae (Tremellaceae) are introduced. Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea, Neoantrodiella thujae (Neoantrodiellaceae), Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida, Punctulariopsis efibulata (Punctulariaceae) are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota. Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis, Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana (Cunninghamellaceae), Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana (Mortierellaceae) are newly introduced in the Zygomycota, while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis (Neocallimastigaceae) are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota. Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia, Cucurbitaria ephedricola, Austropleospora, Austropleospora archidendri, Byssosphaeria rhodomphala, Lophiostoma caulium, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Massariosphaeria, Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
A cross-scale study on the effect induced by laser shock peening (LSP) and physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating on the wear and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiAl high entropy alloys (HEA) has ...been made in this work. The nano scale FeCoCrNiAl HEA coating on substrate 304 steel and microscale FeCoCrNiAl HEA has been acquired through PVD nanocoating and LSP, respectively. The micro hardness, friction and corrosion properties have been investigated to evaluate the reliability of the material in application. The results of microhardness and wear test indicate that both approaches have increased the surface hardness of HEA through grain refinement. And the results for corrosion test reveal a competing effect between grain refinement and compressive stress. As the enhancement brought by PVD nano coating is not comparable to the cast sample, due to the side effect brought by grain refinement which will reduce the corrosion resistance. Surprisingly, specimens treated with LSP have better performance in corrosion resistance, as the compressive residual stress induced by LSP enhanced the adhesion between the substrate and modified layer, forming dense passive films to inhibit corrosion ions in the environment and successfully neutralized the side effect brought by grain refinement. Therefore, the modified layer induced by LSP on the surface contributes to the improvement of both wear resistance and corrosion resistance.
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•Effect of LSP and PVD on wear and corrosion resistance of HEA have been studied.•The wear and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiAl0.1 are enhanced.•The grain refinement has a positive effect on the wear properties.•The compressive stress has a positive effect on the corrosion properties.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In recent years, several plant species have been used as bioindicators, and several tests have been developed to evaluate the toxicity of environmental contaminants on vegetal organisms. In this ...study, barley (
Hordeum vulgare L) seedling was used as bioindicator of cadmium (Cd) pollution in the range of 30–120
mg
l
−1. Inhibition of root growth and reduction of total soluble protein content in root tips of barley seedlings were observed with the increase of Cd concentrations. The changes occurring in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of root tips following Cd treatment included variation in band intensity, loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands compared with the normal seedlings. Additionally, we found that the effect of changes was dose-dependent. These results indicated that genomic template stability (a qualitative measure reflecting changes in RAPD profiles) was significantly affected at the above Cd concentration. Thus, DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigation tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker assay for the detection of genotoxic effects of Cd pollution on plants.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
•We present a potential assessment model based on response of fish to their habitat.•It links hydrologic, physical and chemical habitat gradients to fish attributes.•Requiring a little assemblage ...information and expertise makes it practical.•Habitat and fish were monitored at 144 sites with 5084 fish tested.•Application results were well validated by references and freshwater transparency.
Aquatic ecological rehabilitation is increasingly attracting considerable public and research attention. An effective method that requires less data and expertise would help in the assessment of rehabilitation potential and in the monitoring of rehabilitation activities as complicated theories and excessive data requirements on assemblage information make many current assessment models expensive and limit their wide use. This paper presents an assessment model for restoration potential which successfully links hydrologic, physical and chemical habitat factors to fish assemblage attributes drawn from monitoring datasets on hydrology, water quality and fish assemblages at a total of 144 sites, where 5084 fish were sampled and tested. In this model three newly developed sub-models, integrated habitat index (IHSI), integrated ecological niche breadth (INB) and integrated ecological niche overlap (INO), are established to study spatial heterogeneity of the restoration potential of fish assemblages based on gradient methods of habitat suitability index and ecological niche models. To reduce uncertainties in the model, as many fish species as possible, including important native fish, were selected as dominant species with monitoring occurring over several seasons to comprehensively select key habitat factors. Furthermore, a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was employed prior to a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the data to avoid the “arc effect” in the selection of key habitat factors. Application of the model to data collected at Jinan City, China proved effective reveals that three lower potential regions that should be targeted in future aquatic ecosystem rehabilitation programs. They were well validated by the distribution of two habitat parameters: river width and transparency. River width positively influenced and transparency negatively influenced fish assemblages. The model can be applied for monitoring the effects of fish assemblage restoration. This has large ramifications for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems and spatial heterogeneity of fish assemblages all over the world.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The soluble complexes formed between hydrolyzed soybean protein and calcium at pH 7.4 were investigated using dialysis, gel chromatography, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The ...results demonstrate that the amount of calcium bound was significantly different for soybean protein hydrolysates obtained using the proteases neutrase, flavourzyme, protease M, and pepsin. Maximum levels of calcium binding (66.9 mg/g) occurred with hydrolysates produced using protease M. Peptide fragments exhibiting high calcium binding capacity had molecular weights of either 14.4 kDa or 8 to 9 kDa, and the calcium binding capacity was linearly correlated with carboxyl group content (R²= 0.8204). FTIR experiments revealed that upon binding calcium, the amide I band underwent a shift to lower wave numbers. A wide, intense Ca-O absorption band also appeared between 400 and 100 cm⁻¹ in the far-infrared spectrum. The width and intensity of this band increased after treatment of samples with glutaminase. The amount of bound calcium was related to both the molecular weight of the peptides and to the carboxyl group content, and the most likely sites for calcium binding are the carboxyl groups of Asp and Glu.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Cognitive deficits in psychiatric and age-related disorders generally involve dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), but there are few treatments for these debilitating symptoms. ...Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3), which couple to Gi/Go, have been a focus of therapeutics based on rodent research, where mGluR2/3 have been shown to reduce axonal glutamate release and increase glial glutamate uptake. However, this strategy has had mixed results in patients, and understanding mGluR2/3 mechanisms in primates will help guide therapeutic interventions. The current study examined mGluR2/3 localization and actions in the primate dlPFC layer III circuits underlying working memory, where the persistent firing of 'Delay cells' is mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and weakened by cAMP-PKA-potassium channel signaling in dendritic spines. Immunoelectron microscopy identified postsynaptic mGluR2/3 in the spines, in addition to the traditional presynaptic and astrocytic locations. In vivo iontophoretic application of the mGluR2/3 agonists (2R, 4R)-APDC or LY379268 onto dlPFC Delay cells produced an inverted-U effect on working memory representation, with enhanced neuronal firing following low doses of mGluR2/3 agonists. The enhancing effects were reversed by an mGluR2/3 antagonist or by activating cAMP signaling, consistent with mGluR2/3 inhibiting postsynaptic cAMP signaling in spines. Systemic administration of these agonists to monkeys performing a working memory task also produced an inverted-U dose-response, where low doses improved performance but higher doses, similar to clinical trials, had mixed effects. Our data suggest that low doses of mGluR2/3 stimulation may have therapeutic effects through unexpected postsynaptic actions in dlPFC, strengthening synaptic connections and improving cognitive function.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Summary
Background
Fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4) is a surrogate marker for hepatic fibrosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.
Aim
To investigate whether FIB‐4 index stratifies the risks of adverse ...liver events.
Methods
A total of 2075 treatment‐naïve, noncirrhotic the patients with chronic HBV infection were included. Most of them (82.1%) were HBeAg‐negative patients and their baseline FIB‐4 levels were explored to stratify the risks of cirrhosis, cirrhosis‐related complications and liver‐related mortality.
Results
During a mean follow‐up period of 15.47 years, we found a higher baseline FIB‐4 index was associated with increased incidence rates of cirrhosis in addition to the common host and viral factors. Patients with FIB‐4 >1.29, compared to those with FIB‐4 <1.29, were associated with increased risks of cirrhosis, cirrhosis‐related complications and liver‐related mortality with the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 6.19 (4.76‐8.05), 6.88, (3.68‐12.86) and 7.79, (4.54‐13.37) respectively. Within the first 3 years of follow‐up, FIB‐4 remained stable and its kinetics were consistently associated with the develoopment of adverse liver events. Furthermore, FIB‐4 index of 1.29 was able to stratify all the risks of adverse liver events even in HBeAg‐negative patients with a low risk of disease progression (HBV DNA <2000 IU/mL, HBsAg <1000 IU/mL and ALT <40 U/L). Only 1 patient with FIB‐4 index <1.29 developed cirrhosis but not other events within 15 years of follow‐up.
Conclusions
In noncirrhotic patients with chronic HBV infection, a higher FIB‐4 index was associated with increased risks of adverse liver events. FIB‐4 index <1.29 is useful for the prediction of the lowest risks of disease progression.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK