Optimal time for mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in rats with myocardial infarction

Background： Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell （MSC） transplantation is a promising strategy in the treatment of myocardial infarction （MI）. However, the time for transplanting cells remains controversial. The aim of this study was to find an optimal time point for cell transplantation. Methods： MSCs were isolated and cultured from Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats. MI model was set up in SD rats by permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. MSCs were directly injected into the infarct border zone at 1 h, 1 week and 2 weeks after MI, respectively. Sham-operated and MI control groups received equal volume of phosphate buffered saline （PBS）. At 4 weeks after MI, cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography; vessel density was analyzed on hematoxylin-eosin stained slides by light microscopy; the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling （TUNEL） assay; the expressions of proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results： MSC transplantation improved cardiac function, reduced the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and increased vessel density. These benefits were more obvious in 1-week group than in 1-h and 2-week groups. There are more obvious increases in the ratio of bcl-2/bax and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and more obvious decreases in the expression of cleaved-caspase-3 in 1-week group than those in other two groups. Conclusion： MSC transplantation was beneficial for the recovery of cardiac function. MSC transplantation at 1 week post-MI exerted the best effects on increases of cardiac function, anti-apoptosis and angiogenesis.     

Application of principal component-radial basis function neural networks （PC-RBFNN） for the detection of water-adulterated bayberry juice by near-infrared spectroscopy

Near-infrared （NIR） spectroscopy combined with chemometrics techniques was used to classify the pure bayberry juice and the one adulterated with 10% （w/w） and 20% （w/w） water. Principal component analysis （PCA） was applied to reduce the dimensions of spectral data, give information regarding a potential capability of separation of objects, and provide principal component （PC） scores for radial basis function neural networks （RBFNN）. RBFNN was used to detect bayberry juice adulterant. Multiplicative scatter correction （MSC） and standard normal variate （SNV） transformation were used to preprocess spectra. The results demonstrate that PC-RBFNN with optimum parameters can separate pure bayberry juice samples from water-adulterated bayberry at a recognition rate of 97.62%, but cannot clearly detect water levels in the adulterated bayberry juice. We conclude that NIR technology can be successfully applied to detect water-adulterated bayberry juice.     

A component-based back-propagation reliability model with low complexity for complex software systems

Since most of the available component-based software reliability models consume high computa- tional cost and suffer from the evaluating complexity for the software system with complex structures, a component-based back-propagation reliability model （CBPRM） with low complexity for the com- plex software system reliability evaluation is presented in this paper. The proposed model is based on the artificial neural networks and the component reliability sensitivity analyses. These analyses are performed dynamically and assigned to the neurons to optimize the reliability evaluation. CBPRM has a linear increasing complexity and outperforms the state-based and the path-based reliability models. Another advantage of CBPRM over others is its robustness. CBPRM depends on the component relia- bilities and the correlative sensitivities, which are independent from the software system structure. Based on the theory analysis and experiment results, it shows that the complexity of CBPRM is evi- dently lower than the contrast models and the reliability evaluating accuracy is acceptable when the software system structure is complex.     

Polymerization of fluorescent analogue of plant actinin vitro andin vivo

Maize pollen actin has been labeled with Oregon Green 488 iodoacetamide. A yield of 3 mg fluorescent actin analogue has been obtained from 10 mg of maize pollen actin, which is 99% in purity and the dye/protein ratio is 72%. In the presence of Mg²⁺ and K⁺, the fluorescent actin analogue polymerized into filamentsin vitro. Green fluorescent filaments were observed when the fluorescent actin was introduced into living plant cells by microinjection, indicating that the fluorescent actin analogue functions similarly to the native actin.     

三维超分子化合物[Cu2(phen)2(H2O)4]·(SO4)2的水热合成、晶体结构及荧光性质研究

在水热条件下,用Cu(Ⅱ)盐与邻菲罗啉(phen)进行反应,得到了三维超分子[Cu2(phen)2(H2O)4]·(SO4)2(化合物1).化合物1为单斜晶系,C2/c空间群,晶胞参数:a=4.233(2)nm,b=1.3844(8)nm,c=0.7025(4)nm,β=90.230(7)°,V=4.117(4)nm3...     

活体小鼠脑组织Ca2+敏感荧光染料双光子成像的观察

 使用双光子激光共聚焦显微镜对活体小鼠脑组织（体感皮层）进行形态学和细胞内Ca²⁺变化水平的观察和记录。方法是对小鼠开颅后向脑内注射Ca²⁺敏感荧光染料Oregon Green 488 BAPTA-1乙酰氧基甲酯,然后在双光子显微镜下观察并记录。双光子显微镜下的图像清晰生动,可扫描到大脑皮层以下较深区域,并能检测神经元细胞内Ca²⁺离子即时水平变化。实验结果表明通过注射Ca²⁺敏感荧光染料并结合多光子激光共聚焦显微镜观察活体动物脑部变化的方法可以得到高分辨率图像并且作为分析的来源。     

Dehydration melting of UHP eclogite and paragneiss in the Dabie orogen: Evidence from laboratory experiment to natural observation

Dehydration melting of subducted continental crust is significant during exhumation, and its study from both experimental and petrological observations is of great importance to our understanding of continental geodynamics. Dehydration melting experi- ments were carried out on ultrahigh-pressure （UHP） eclogite from Bixiling in the Dabie orogen using a piston cylinder at 1.5-3.0 GPa and 800-950℃ to investigate partial melting of eclogite induced by phengite breakdown. The phengite-bearing eclogite started to melt at T≤800-850℃ and P=1.5-2.0 GPa and produced about 3% granitic melt. The products of dehydration melting vary with temperature and pressure. Such results provide valuable constraints on the micro-texture related to partial melting of UHP rocks in the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Three types of polyphase inclusions were identified in garnet from the Shuanghe UHP eclogite. K-feldspar and quartz inclusions are interpreted to represent the products of segregation and crystallization of minor amounts of melt that formed during dehydration melting of phengite by the inferred reaction Phengite＋Omphacite＋Quartz Amphibole_＋Garnet＋Melt （K-feldspar＋Quartz＋Plagioclase）. Polyphase inclusions of phengite and K-feldspar＋Quartz inclusions were also found in zoisite/clinozoisite and garnet from the Shuanghe garnet-bearing paragneiss. These polyphase inclusions pro- vide evidence for a continuous process from sub-solidus dehydration to partial melting within the UHP gneissic rocks. The com- positional variation of garnets demonstrates that breakdown of epidote-group minerals may have played a crucial role during de- hydration melting reaction of phengite. The Ti-in-zircon thermometry and Si content of phengite in zircon suggest that partial melting would occur at 783-839℃ and 2.0-2.5 GPa. Therefore, both experimental results and petrological observations indicate that dehydration melting and fluid activity within the Dabie UHP rocks at micro-scale are controlled by the breakdown of phengite.     

Adaptive Neural Control for a Class of Low-triangular-structured Nonlinear Systems with H-∞ Performance Analysis

In this paper, a neural-network-based variable structure control scheme is presented for a class of nonlinear systems with a general low triangular structure. The proposed variable structure controller is proved to be Cl, thus can be applied for backstepping design, which has extended the scope of previous nonlinear systems in the form of strict-feedback and pure-feedback. With the help of neural network approximator, H-∞ performance analysis of stability is given. The effectiveness of proposed control law is verified via simulation.     

Drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders

Objective： This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the necessity of drainage after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders. Methods： A total of 116 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroidal disorders were randomly allocated to be drained or not. Operative and postoperative outcomes including operating time, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale （VAS）, total amount of intramuscular analgesic administration, hospital stay, complications, necessity for re-operation and satisfaction of patients were all assessed. Results： The mean operating time was similar between two groups （the drained and non-drained groups）. The mean VAS score was found to be significantly low in the non-drained group patients in postoperative day （POD） 0 and POD 1. The mean amount of intramuscular analgesic requirement was significantly less in the non-drained group. One case of hematoma, two cases ofseroma and three cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the non-drained group, whereas one case of hematoma, two cases of seroma, two cases of wound infections and two cases of transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in the drained group. No patient needed re-operation for any complication. The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter and the satisfaction of patients was superior in the non-drained group. Conclusion： These findings suggest that postoperative complications cannot be prevented by using drains after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for benign thyroid disorders. Furthermore, the use of drains may increase postoperative pain and the analgesic requirement, and prolong the hospital stay. In the light of these findings, the routine use of drains might not be necessary after thyroid surgery for benign disorders.     

Weak interaction between CH3SO and HOCl: Hydrogen bond, chlorine bond and oxygen bond

B3lyp/6-311＋＋g＊＊ and mp2/6-311＋＋g＊＊ calculations were used to analyze the interaction between CH3SO and HOCl. Nine （complex A： S1A-S9A） and five （complex B： S4B-S7B and S10B） minima were localized on the potential energy surface of CH3SO…HOCl complexes at b3lyp/6-311＋＋g＊＊ and mp2/ 6-311＋＋g＊＊ computational levels, respectively. The AIM and NBO theories were also applied to explain the nature of the complexes. Bonding energy of complexes A and B corrected with BSSE falls in the ranges of -0.4―-41.4 kJ·mol-1 and -6.9―-35.8 kJ·mol-1 at mp2/6-311＋＋g＊＊ level, respectively. The re- sults show that a novel oxygen bond complex （S6） exists in the system, besides hydrogen bond and chlorine bond. Especially, S6B-F, S6B-Br and S7B are blue shifted complexes compared with red shifted S6A, because the electron transfer occurs between LP1（S8） and σ＊（O5-Cl7）, resulting in the increase of O5-Cl7 and the decrease of vibrational frequency. The complex of S10B has characteristics of both red shift and blue shift.     

Mechanisms of inherited cancer susceptibility

A small proportion of many cancers are due to inherited mutations in genes, which result in a high risk to the individual of developing specific cancers. There are several classes of genes that may be involved： tumour suppressor genes, oncogenes, genes encoding proteins involved in DNA repair and cell cycle control, and genes involved in stimulating the angiogenic pathway. Alterations in susceptibility to cancer may also be due to variations in genes involved in carcinogen metabolism. This review discusses examples of some of these genes and the associated clinical conditions caused by the inheritance of mutations in such genes.     

Mechanisms and assessment of water eutrophication

Water eutrophication has become a worldwide environmental problem in recent years, and understanding the mechanisms of water eutrophication will help for prevention and remediation of water eutrophication. In this paper, recent advances in current status and major mechanisms of water eutrophication, assessment and evaluation criteria, and the influencing factors were reviewed. Water eutrophication in lakes, reservoirs, estuaries and rivers is widespread all over the world and the severity is increasing, especially in the developing countries like China. The assessment of water eutrophication has been advanced from simple individual parameters like total phosphorus, total nitrogen, etc., to comprehensive indexes like total nutrient status index. The major influencing factors on water eutrophication include nutrient enrichment, hydrodynamics, environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, carbon dioxide, element balance, etc., and microbial and biodiversity. The occurrence of water eutrophication is actually a complex function of all the possible influencing factors. The mechanisms of algal blooming are not fully understood and need to be further investigated.     

A novel portable transmitter with 8dBm output power for wireless communication equipments

In this paper,a portable 2.42 GHz transmitter for wireless communication systems,with 8dBm output power and small size is proposed.Several novel features exist in this transmitter.First,power consumption and output are balanced by introducing a differential oscillator with input signal controlled biasing,which acts as both a carrier generator and an OOK modulator.Then,power consumption of the transmitter is reduced by the OOK modulated signal via switching the oscillator and the power amplifier at the same time.Furthermore,the area size is also reduced by a class-AB power amplifier,which uses the PCB antenna as the resonance inductance.With these features,the total chip area is reduced to 670μm×740μm(In a 0.18μm CMOS process).     

Phytate: impact on environment and human nutrition. A challenge for molecular breeding

Phytic acid （PA） is the primary storage compound of phosphorus in seeds accounting for up to 80% of the total seed phosphorus and contributing as much as 1.5% to the seed dry weight. The negatively charged phosphate in PA strongly binds to metallic cations of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn and Zn making them insoluble and thus unavailable as nutritional factors. Phytate mainly accumulates in protein storage vacuoles as globoids, predominantly located in the aleurone layer （wheat, barley and rice） or in the embryo （maize）. During germination, phytate is hydrolysed by endogenous phytase（s） and other phosphatases to release phosphate, inositol and micronutrients to support the emerging seedling. PA and its derivatives are also implicated in RNA export, DNA repair, signalling, endocytosis and cell vesicular trafficking. Our recent studies on purification of phytate globoids, their mineral composition and dephytinization by wheat phytase will be discussed. Biochemical data for purified and characterized phytases isolated from more than 23 plant species are presented, the dephosphorylation pathways of phytic acid by different classes of phytases are compared, and the application of phytase in food and feed is discussed.     

A preliminary study on the teratogenesis of dexamethasone and the preventive effect of vitamin B12 on murine embryonic palatal shelf fusion in vitro

Excessive dexamethasone （Dex） administrated into pregnant mice during critical periods of palatal development can produce a high incidence of cleft palate. Its mechanisms remain unknown. Vitamin B12 has been shown to antagonize the teratogenic effects of Dex, which, however, remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the effects of Dex and vitamin B12 on murine embryonic palatal shelf fusion using organ culture of murine embryonic shelves. The explanted palatal shelves on embryonic day 14 （E14） were cultured for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h in different concentrations of Dex and/or vitamin B 12. The palatal shelves were examined histologically for the morphological alterations on the medial edge epithelium （MEE） and fusion rates among different groups. It was found that the palatal shelves were not fused at 72 h or less of culture in Dex group, while they were completely fused in the control and vitamin B 12-treated groups at 72 and 96 h, respectively. The MEE still existed and proliferated. In Dex＋vitamin B12 group the palatal shelves were fused at each time point in a similar rate to controls. These results may suggest that Dex causes teratogenesis of murine embryonic palatal shelves and vitamin B12 prevents the teratogenic effect of Dex on palatogenesis on murine embryos in vitro.     

A polynomial smooth epsilon-support vector regression based on cubic spline interpolation

Regression analysis is often formulated as an optimization problem with squared loss functions.Facing the challenge of the selection of the proper function class with polynomial smooth techniques applied to support vector regression models,this study takes cubic spline interpolation to generate a new polynomial smooth function |x|_ε~2 in ε-insensitive support vector regression.Theoretical analysis shows that S_ε~2-function is better than p_ε~2-function in properties,and the approximation accuracy of the proposed smoothing function is two order higher than that of classical p_ε~2-function.The experimental data shows the efficiency of the new approach.     

Effects of different types of palatal lateral excisions on growth and development of maxilla and dental arch

Objective： This study aimed to explore the effects of different types of palatal lateral excisions on the growth and development of the maxilla and dental arch, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Methods： A total of 112 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley （SD） male rats were randomly divided into a control and 3 experimental groups： the mucoperiosteal denudation group, the mucosal flap excision group, and the periosteum excision group. In the experimental groups, bilateral mucoperiosteal, mucosal flap and periosteum were excised respectively in the lateral one half of the palate. Four rats in each group were randomly chosen for sacrifice every two weeks. The maxilla was dissected following the excision. The widths of the maxilla and dental arch were measured and the histological phenomena were investigated at different phases. At the same time, 12 animals in each group were sequentially injected with calcein every two weeks. Three animals in each group, whose fluorescent labeling was used, were sacrificed for investigating bone formation at Week 8 following injection. Results： （1） Each experimental group presented the constriction of the maxilla and dental arch. The upper first molars in the experimental groups inclined medially. The mucoperiosteal denudation group showed the largest degree of effect followed by the periosteum excision group. The indices of the mucosal flap excision group, which retained the structures of the periosteum layer, had the most approximate values to the control group; （2） Different histological changes among the experimental groups were detected. The fibers penetrated into the palatal bone as Sharpey＇s fibers in the mucoperiosteal denudation group. The pattern of bone deposition was the bundle type. Sharpey＇s fibers were not found in the mucosal flap and periosteum excision groups and the depositions of palatal bone were the lamellar type as those in the control group; （3） The rates of bone deposition in the experimental groups decreased compared with the     

Real-time haptic model for soft tissue deformation in surgery simulation

The modelling and simulation of deformable objects is a challenging topic in the field of haptic rendering between human and virtual environment. In this paper, a novel and efficient layered rhombus-chain-connected haptic deformation model based on physics is proposed for an excellent haptic rendering. During the modelling, the accumulation of relative displacements in every chain structure unit in each layer is equal to the deformation on the virtual object surface, and the resultant force of corresponding springs is equivalent to the external force. The layered rhombus-chain-con- nected model is convenient and fast to calculate, and can satisfy real-time requirement due to its simple nature. Simulation experiments in virtual human liver based on the proposed model are con- ducted, and the results demonstrate that our model provides stable and realistic haptic feeling in real time. Meanwhile, the display result is vivid.