The response of photosynthesis in the flag leaf of rice (Oryza sativa) to elevated CO2 or reduced O2 was investigated relative to other environmental factors using steady-state gas exchange ...techniques. We found under moderate conditions of temperature and photosynthetic flux density (PFD) photosynthesis in the flag leaf of rice during heading and grain filling saturated at near ambient levels of CO2, with a concomitant loss of O2 sensitivity, when a high stomatal conductance was maintained by high humidity. Under 18 degrees C there was near complete loss of O2 sensitivity of photosynthesis at normal ambient levels of CO2. This is in contrast to the large enhancement of photosynthesis by supra-atmospheric levels of CO2 and sub-atmospheric levels of O2 by suppression of photorespiration when there is no limitation on utilizing the initial product of CO2 assimilation (triose-P) as predicted from Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) kinetic properties. Thus, loss of sensitivity to CO2 and O2 has been previously explained as a limitation on utilization of triose-P to synthesize carbohydrates. Under high PFD at 25 degrees C, the rate of photosynthesis in rice declined over a period of hours around midday, while the intercellular levels of CO2 remained constant suggesting a limitation on utilization of photosynthate. Short-term fluctuations in climatic factors including temperature, light and humidity could result in a feedback limitation of photosynthesis in rice which may be exacerbated by rising CO2
Novel temperature-sensitive membranes have been synthesized by grafting poly(
N-isopropyacrylamide) (poly(NIPAAm)) onto a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) backbone using hydrogen peroxide-ferrous ion as ...initiator. Due to the grafting of poly(NIPAAm), the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and the polarity of the pendent groups within the membranes are modified. Significant temperature sensitivity of the grafted membranes is observed close to the LCST of linear poly(NIPAAm) in the pervaporation processes for ethanol-water separation. Both the pervaporation and sorption selectivities for water show a maximum value in the vicinity of 30–32°C for an ethanol content of 75 and 80%. The temperature sensitivity of the grafted membranes also depends on the ethanol concentration. The maxima of pervaporation and sorption selectivities disappear when the ethanol content is lower than 75% because the much larger degree of swelling reduces the size screening effect of the membranes.
Hepatosplenic candidiasis (HSC) is a rare type of candidiasis that can occur in patients with hematologic malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At present, there is still a lack of ...studies on HSC in patients with hematologic disorders. Based on The Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Invasive Fungal Disease in Patients with Hematological Disorders and Cancers (the 6th revision), We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with HSC treated in Peking University Institute of Hematology from 2008 to 2022. Finally, eighteen patients were included, with 1 (5.6%) proven, 2 (11.1%) probable, and 15 (83.3%) possible HSC. Among them, 3 (16.7%) patients occurred after haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 15 (83.3%) patients occurred after chemotherapy. 6 (33.3%) patients had positive blood cultures, including 4 cases of Candida tropicalis and 2 cases of Candida albicans. At 4 weeks of antifungal therapy, 10 (58.8%) patients achieved
Sustained hyperlipidemia contributes to fatty liver and liver cirrhosis. Red yeast rice (RYR) effectively improved the lipid profile; however, the effects of RYR on the risk of incident liver ...cirrhosis remain to be elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of RYR use on the risk and outcome of liver cirrhosis.ObjectiveSustained hyperlipidemia contributes to fatty liver and liver cirrhosis. Red yeast rice (RYR) effectively improved the lipid profile; however, the effects of RYR on the risk of incident liver cirrhosis remain to be elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of RYR use on the risk and outcome of liver cirrhosis.We identified 156,587 adults who had newly diagnosed hyperlipidemia in 2010-2016 from health insurance data in this retrospective cohort study. Using propensity score matching, we selected 34,367 patients who used RYR and 34,367 patients who used lovastatin. Events of incident liver cirrhosis that occurred in the two cohorts during the follow-up period of 2010-2019 were identified. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (Cis) for liver cirrhosis risk associated with RYR use in the multiple Cox proportional hazard model.Patients and methodsWe identified 156,587 adults who had newly diagnosed hyperlipidemia in 2010-2016 from health insurance data in this retrospective cohort study. Using propensity score matching, we selected 34,367 patients who used RYR and 34,367 patients who used lovastatin. Events of incident liver cirrhosis that occurred in the two cohorts during the follow-up period of 2010-2019 were identified. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (Cis) for liver cirrhosis risk associated with RYR use in the multiple Cox proportional hazard model.Compared with patients who used lovastatin, patients who used RYR had a decreased risk of liver cirrhosis (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.57-0.63), and this association was significant in various subgroups. A biological gradient relationship between the frequency of RYR use and decreased liver cirrhosis was observed (p for trend < 0.0001). Reduced postcirrhosis jaundice (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43-0.72), ascites (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28-0.50), hepatic coma (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26-0.50), and mortality (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.38-0.61) were also associated with RYR use.ResultsCompared with patients who used lovastatin, patients who used RYR had a decreased risk of liver cirrhosis (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.57-0.63), and this association was significant in various subgroups. A biological gradient relationship between the frequency of RYR use and decreased liver cirrhosis was observed (p for trend < 0.0001). Reduced postcirrhosis jaundice (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43-0.72), ascites (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.28-0.50), hepatic coma (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.26-0.50), and mortality (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.38-0.61) were also associated with RYR use.We demonstrated the beneficial effects of RYR use on the risk and outcome of liver cirrhosis; however, the lack of compliance data should be considered. However, our study did not infer causality or claim the superiority of RYR over lovastatin.ConclusionWe demonstrated the beneficial effects of RYR use on the risk and outcome of liver cirrhosis; however, the lack of compliance data should be considered. However, our study did not infer causality or claim the superiority of RYR over lovastatin.
This paper presents preliminary results obtained from research into the development of a microsphere fibre laser designed for use in a compact gas sensor system. In this paper the focus is on ...achieving the optimum coupling between the microsphere and the tapered fibre used and obtaining the potential ultra-low threshold of the laser system.
Epidemiological observations and laboratory studies have shown that green tea has a variety of health effects, including antitumor, antioxidative, and hypolipidemic activities. The aim of this study ...was to examine whether it had an effect on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Sprague−Dawley rats. In experiment 1 (in vivo study), rats were divided into two groups: a control group fed standard chow and deionized distilled water and a “green tea” group fed the same chow diet but with green tea instead of water (0.5 g of lyophilized green tea powder dissolved in 100 mL of deionized distilled water). After 12 weeks of green tea supplementation, the green tea group had lower fasting plasma levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and free fatty acid than the control rats. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of, and insulin binding to, adipocytes were significantly increased in the green tea group. In experiment 2 (in vitro study), a tea polyphenol extract was used to determine its effect on insulin activity in vitro. Green tea polyphenols (0.075%) significantly increased basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of adipocytes. Results demonstrated that green tea increases insulin sensitivity in Sprague−Dawley rats and that green tea polyphenol is one of the active components. Keywords: Green tea; insulin sensitivity; diabetes; polyphenol; triglyceride
Objective: Acinetobacter baumannii is a hazardous bacterium that causes hospital-acquired nosocomial infections, and the advent of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDR-AB) strains is concerning. ...Novel antibacterial therapeutic strategies must be developed. The biological effects of glabridin on MDR-AB were investigated in this study. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of glabridin against eight clinical MDR-AB strains were determined using the broth microdilution technique. Crystal violet staining was used to assess biofilm development, which has significant contribution to bacterial resistance. Swarming motility was measured according to surface growth zone of MDR-AB on LB agar medium. qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR. Glabridin and routinely used therapeutic antimicrobial agents were tested for synergistic action using the checkerboard method. Results: According to our findings, glabridin suppressed MDR-AB growth at high doses (512-1024 microg/mL). The 1/4 MIC of glabridin significantly decreased MDR-AB biofilm formation by 19.98% (P < 0.05), inhibited MDR-AB motility by 44.27% (P < 0.05), whereas the 1/2 MIC of glabridin dramatically reduced MDR-AB biofilm development by 27.43% (P < 0.01), suppressed MDRAB motility by 50.64% (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, glabridin substantially downregulated the expression of quorum sensing-related genes abaI and abaR by up to 39.12% (P < 0.001) and 25.19% (P < 0.01), respectively. However, no synergistic effect between glabridin and antibacterial drugs was found. Conclusion: Glabridin might be a quorum sensing inhibitor that inhibits MDR-AB biofilm development and swarming motility. Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, multidrug-resistance, glabridin, quorum sensing
A search for exotic dark matter (DM) in the sub-GeV mass range has been conducted using 205 kg\(\cdot\)day data taken from a p-type point contact germanium detector of CDEX-10 experiment at China ...Jinping underground laboratory. New low-mass dark matter searching channels, neutral current fermionic DM absorption (\(\chi+A\rightarrow \nu+A\)) and DM-nucleus 3\(\rightarrow\)2 scattering (\(\chi+\chi+A\rightarrow \phi+A\)), have been analyzed with an energy threshold of 160 eVee. No significant signal was found. Thus new limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section are set for both models at sub-GeV DM mass region. A cross section limit for the fermionic DM absorption is set to be \(\rm 2.5\times 10^{-46} cm^2\)(90\% C.L.) at DM mass of 10 MeV/c\(^2\). For the DM-nucleus 3\(\rightarrow\)2 scattering scenario, limits are extended to DM mass of 5 MeV/c\(^2\) and 14 MeV/c\(^2\) for the massless dark photon and bound DM final state, respectively.
In the present paper, a new type of DC arc plasma torch is disclosed. The principles of the new magnetic and fluid dynamic controlled large orifice long discharge tunnel plasma torch is discussed. ...Large area uniformity is achieved through the externally applied magnetic field which stabilizes the arc jet and the proper magnetic and fluid dynamic control which guarantees the dynamic mixing of gases before impinging on to the substrate. The 100 kW high power jet which is newly developed based on the experience of the low power model is equipped with a
Φ120 mm orifice torch, and is capable of depositing diamond films over a substrate area of
Φ110 mm at a growth rate as high as 40
μm/h, and can be operated in gas recycling mode, which allows 95% of the gases to be recycled. It is demonstrated that the new type DC plasma torch can be easily scaled-up to an even higher power jet. It is estimated that even by the 100 kW Jet, the cost for tool grade diamond films can be as low as less than $4/carat.
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