Discovery of human pancreatic lipase inhibitors from root of Rhodiola crenulata via integrating bioactivity-guided fractionation,chemical profiling and biochemical assay

Although herbal medicines(HMs)are widely used in the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated disorders,the key constituents exhibiting anti-obesity activity and their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood.Recently,we assessed the inhibitory potentials of several HMs against human pancreatic lipase(hPL,a key therapeutic target for human obesity),among which the root-extract of Rhodiola crenulata(ERC)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity.In this study,we adopted an integrated strategy,involving bioactivity-guided fractionation techniques,chemical profiling,and biochemical assays,to identify the key anti-hPL constituents in ERC.Nine ERC fractions(retention time=12.5e35 min),obtained using reverse-phase liquid chromatography,showed strong anti-hPL activity,while the major constituents in these bioactive fractions were subsequently identified using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS).Among the identified ERC constituents,1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose(PGG)and catechin gallate(CG)showed the most potent anti-hPL activity,with pIC50 values of 7.59±0.03 and 7.68±0.23,respectively.Further investigations revealed that PGG and CG potently inhibited hPL in a non-competitive manner,with inhibition constant(Ki)values of 0.012 and 0.082 mM,respectively.Collectively,our integrative analyses enabled us to efficiently identify and characterize the key anti-obesity constituents in ERC,as well as to elucidate their anti-hPL mechanisms.These findings provide convincing evidence in support of the anti-obesity and lipid-lowering properties of ERC.

Geochemistry and geochronology of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous intrusions related to some Au(Sb) deposits in southern Anhui: a case study and review

Some Au deposits in southern Anhui Province have recently been found to be closely associated with Late Mesozoic intrusions. Typical examples include the Huashan Au(Sb) deposit and Au deposits at Zhaojialing, Wuxi,and Liaojia. In order to understand the mechanisms that led the formation of these Au deposits, we make detailed reviews on the geological characteristics of these Au deposits. Specifically, we present new LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating, along with elemental and Hf isotopic data from the Huashan Au(Sb) deposit. Our data suggests that the Huashan ore-related intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods(144–148 Ma). They are characterized by arc-magma features and high oxygen fugacity and are rich in inherited zircons. Zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotopes from intrusions suggest that Proterozoic juvenile lithosphere is the main source of these intrusions. The regional geological history implies that lithosphere beneath southern Anhui was produced during a Proterozoic subduction and was fertilized with Au(Cu) in the process. Integrated with theresults of previous studies, we inferred that Late Mesozoic intrusions formed by the remelting of the lithosphere could provide the metal endowment for the Au-rich deposits in southern Anhui.

Research Progress of Magnesium Stabilized Aluminum Titanate and New Application of It in Pigment

Aluminum titanate has been widely used in low expansion applications and its thermal stability has been a hot topic. The stability of aluminium titanate research for improving product quality, and expanding its application field is of great significance. Aluminum titanate as glass melt erosion resistance and high temperature resistant, can be applied to high temperature pigment base. The medium temperature stability of aluminum titanate can be improved by ion doping, and magnesium stability of aluminum titanate has been widely studied. Therefore aluminium titanate is expected to become an ideal high temperature ceramic base material. In this paper, the preparation technology of magnesium-stabilized aluminum titanate powder was reviewed, and the preparation of magnesium-stabilized aluminum titanate powder by non-hydrolyzed sol-gel was mainly introduced.

Assessing the impact of fungicide enostroburin application on bacterial community in wheat phyllosphere

Fungicides have been used extensively for controlling fungal pathogens of plants. However, little is known regarding the effects that fungicides upon the indigenous bacterial communities within the plant phyllosphere. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of fungicide enostroburin upon bacterial communities in wheat phyllosphere. Culture-independent methodologies of 16S rDNA clone library and 16S rDNA directed polymerase chain reaction with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （PCR-DGGE） were used for monitoring the change of bacterial community. The 16S rDNA clone library and PCR-DGGE analysis both confirmed the microbial community of wheat plant phyllosphere were predominantly of the γ-Proteobacteria phyla. Results from PCR-DGGE analysis indicated a significant change in bacterial community structure within the phyllosphere following fungicide enostroburin application. Bands sequenced within control cultures were predominantly of Pseudomonas genus, but those bands sequenced in the treated samples were predominantly strains of Pantoea genus and Pseudomonas genus. Of interest was the appearance of two DGGE bands following fungicide treatment, one of which had sequence similarities （98%） to Pantoea sp. which might be a competitor of plant pathogens. This study revealed the wheat phyllosphere bacterial community composition and a shift in the bacterial community following fungicide enostroburin application.

Efficiency,mechanism and microbial community of Cd(Ⅱ)removal by mixed bacteria enriched from heavy metals mine soil

Mixed bacteria were enriched from heavy metals mine soil for cadmium(Cd(Ⅱ))-containing wastewater treatment. Batch adsorption experiment results showed that the optimal pH, temperature, initial Cd(Ⅱ) concentration, and biomass dosage were 6.0, 30 ℃, 20 mg/L, and 1 g/L, respectively. Living biomass exhibited better Cd(Ⅱ) removal efficiency(91.97%) than autoclaved biomass(79.54%) under optimal conditions. The isotherms and kinetics of living biomass conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-first-order kinetic model, respectively. FTIR results implied that amine groups, hydroxyl groups and phosphoric acid play an important role in the Cd(Ⅱ) adsorption process, while XRD results showed that crystalline Cd(OH)and CdO were obtained. After Cd(Ⅱ)-containing wastewater treatment exposure, the dominant bacteria genera included Comamonas(39.94%), unclassified_f__Enterobacteriaceae(34.96%), Ochrobactrum(14.07%), Alcaligenes(4.84%), Bordetella(2.07%), Serratia(1.04%), and Bacillus(1.01%). Function prediction showed that the abundance of metabolic genes changed significantly. This study proposes the potential application of mixed bacteria for Cd(Ⅱ)-containing wastewater treatment.

An artificial synapse by superlattice-like phase-change material for low-power brain-inspired computing

Phase-change material(PCM)is generating widespread interest as a new candidate for artificial synapses in bioinspired computer systems.However,the amorphization process of PCM devices tends to be abrupt,unlike continuous synaptic depression.The relatively large power consumption and poor analog behavior of PCM devices greatly limit their applications.Here,we fabricate a GeTe/Sb2Te3 superlattice-like PCM device which allows a progressive RESET process.Our devices feature low-power consumption operation and potential high-density integration,which can effectively simulate biological synaptic characteristics.The programming energy can be further reduced by properly selecting the resistance range and operating method.The fabricated devices are implemented in both artificial neural networks(ANN)and convolutional neural network(CNN)simulations,demonstrating high accuracy in brain-like pattern recognition.

Band engineering and precipitation enhance thermoelectric performance of SnTe with Zn-doping

We have systematically studied the thermoelectric properties in Zn-doped Sn Te.Strikingly,band convergence and embedded precipitates arising from Zn doping,can trigger a prominent improvement of thermoelectric performance.In particular,the value of dimensionless figure of merit z T has increased by 100% and up to ～ 0.5 at 775 K for the optimal sample with 2% Zn content.Present findings demonstrate that carrier concentration and effective mass play crucial roles on the Seebeck coefficient and power factor.The obvious deviation from the Pisarenko line（Seebeck coefficient versus carrier concentration） due to Zn-doping reveals the convergence of valence bands.When the doping concentration exceeds the solubility,precipitates occur and lead to a reduction of lattice thermal conductivity.In addition,bipolar conduction is suppressed,indicating an enlargement of band gap.The Zn-doped Sn Te is shown to be a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications.

Effect of MEK1 inhibitor PD98059 on the signal transduction of Tec in HepG2 hepatoma cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of MEK1 inhibitor PD98058 on Tec and ERK2 in HepG2 hepatoma cells. Methods: The expression of mRNA and protein of Tec and ERK2 in HepG2 cells was detected by immunocytochemistry as- say. After various concentration of PD98059 treatment, the expression of Tec and ERK2 mRNA in HepG2 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Tec and ERK2 expressed highly in HepG2 cells. PD98059 obviously inhibited the expression of mRNA and protein of Tec and ERK2 in a dose-dependent manner, in which 40 μmol/L of PD98059 exhibited the strongest inhibiting effect. Conclusion: PD98058, as MEK1 inhibitor, can inhibit Tec, block the signal route of Ras/Raf/ERK and to impede the signal transduction in HepG2 cells. Tec may be the signal protein in the upper stream of Ras/Raf/ERK in hepatocarcinoma cells and is supposed to interact with the signal way of Ras/Raf/ERK.

Research on the One-Stop Information Service Model for University Library

Following the advent of and continuous progress of technology,computer network and information management have gradually being incorporated into the daily operation and management of university libraries all around the world.The service system of university libraries has also transformed from the conventional reference consulting model into a knowledge-based service model.This transformation has improved the professionalism and individualism of university libraries.Therefore,establishing a competent one-stop information service model has significant and important values.In this work,we analyzed the basic functionalities and the feasibility of one-stop information service model for university libraries.We also discussed in details the construction methodology for different modes,for reference only.

Collision Classification MAC Protocol for Underwater Acoustic Communication Networks Using Directional Antennas

Traditional underwater acoustic communication networks(UACNs)generally use omnidirectional transmission technology that causes a large number of data-packet collisions,thus resulting in low network throughput and high end-to-end delays.Compared with omnidirectional transmission technology,directional technology only sends and receives data packets in a specified direction.This can significantly reduce the probability of collisions and improve network performance.However,it also causes a deafness problem,which occurs when the sending node sends a data packet to the receiving node but the receiving node is unable to reply to the sender,because its antenna beam is closed.To resolve this issue,this study proposes a collision classification media access control(CC-MAC)protocol for UACNs.With this protocol,the underwater acoustic channel is divided into two subchannels,and the nodes transmit corresponding data types on them.The sending node can estimate the current status of the receiving node(i.e.,no collision,normal collision,deafness)according to the type of the data packet received and the sub-channel it arrived on,and it can choose correct options to improve network efficiency.Finally,we verify the performance of CC-MAC via simulations,showing that the protocol achieved higher network throughput and lower end-toend delays.

The multi-objective optimal control with X-Q adaptive controller

This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear controllers and a large phase angle allowance design method based on the multi-objective optimal control system. With the proposed method, the performance of the system becomes better than that of the original system. Then, an example of the radar servo system is designed with a large phase angle allowance multi-objective optimal design method. Finally, the performance based on computer simulation demonstrates that the multi-objective optimal system is superior to linear optimal systems.

Research on the Status Quo and Countermeasures of Socialized Service Based on University Library

With the continuous improvement of China’s social and economic level,education,especially college education,has been highly valued by people and has achieved certain results.For the development of colleges and universities,library construction is an important part of it and to a certain extent promotes the stable development of colleges and universities.Judging from the actual development of domestic university libraries,many university libraries have gradually entered the path of socialized service.Due to the profound influence of traditional education mode and test-oriented education concept,many university libraries in China are currently developing socialization.There are some problems that need to be solved in the service work process.The existence of these problems makes many domestic university libraries unable to play their own roles and individual values,and it also seriously affects the rapid development of China’s college education.Based on this situation,the author makes an in-depth analysis and discussion on the status quo and optimization strategies of the socialization service of university libraries in China,hoping to provide reference for the social service work of college libraries nationwide.

A novel TICT-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for light-up sensing and imaging of human serum albumin in real samples

Human serum albumin(HSA) has emerged as a pivotal biomarker and prognostic indicator for various human diseases. Real-time sensing and visual tracking of HSA in plasma or other biological systems will immensely facilitate the basic researchers and clinicians to better understand HSA-associated biological processes. Herein, a novel near-infrared(NIR) fluorescent probe(7-HTCF) was rationally constructed for light-up sensing and in-situ imaging of HSA in real samples, based on the principle of twisted intramolecular charge transfer(TICT). Under physiological conditions, 7-HTCF could be efficiently trapped by HSA to form a stable complex via binding on a non-drug binding site, while the complex emitted strong fluoresce signals around 670 nm. Further investigations demonstrated that 7-HTCF displayed a great combination of excellent selectivity and good chemical stability, as well as rapid fluorescent response and ultra-high sensitivity for HSA detection. Particularly, the newly developed light-up probe has been successfully utilized for quantitative detection of HSA in diluted plasma samples, while its readouts are hardly affected by the addition of therapeutic agents and herbal medicines. 7-HTCF is also successfully used for in-situ imaging of the reabsorbed HSA in living renal cells, while this dye exhibits good cell permeability and high resolution for in-situ imaging in living cells. Collectively, a novel TICT-based near-infrared fluorescent probe was devised for highly selective and ultra-sensitive sensing of HSA in plasma samples or imaging HSA in living cells, which offered a practical tool for clinical tests and for exploring HSA-associated biological processes.

BBX9 forms feedback loops with PIFs and BBX21 to promote photomorphogenic development

Light is one of the most essential environmental factors that tightly and precisely control various physiological and developmental processes in plants.B-box CONTAINING PROTEINs(BBXs)play central roles in the regulation of light-dependent development.In this study,we report that BBX9 is a positive regulator of light signaling.BBX9 interacts with the red light photoreceptor PHYTOCHROME B(phyB)and transcription factors PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORs(PIFs).phyB promotes the stabilization of BBX9 in light,while BBX9 inhibits the transcriptional activation activity of PIFs.In turn,PIFs directly bind to the promoter of BBX9 to repress its transcription.On the other hand,BBX9 associates with the positive regulator of light signaling,BBX21,and enhances its biochemical activity.BBX21 associates with the promoter regions of BBX9 and transcriptionally up-regulates its expression.Collectively,this study unveiled that BBX9 forms a negative feedback loop with PIFs and a positive one with BBX21 to ensure that plants adapt to fluctuating light conditions.

Brain-inspired multimodal approach for effluent quality prediction using wastewater surface images and water quality data

Efficiently predicting effluent quality through data-driven analysis presents a significant advancement for consistent wastewater treatment operations.In this study,we aimed to develop an integrated method for predicting effluent COD and NH3 levels.We employed a 200 L pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor(SBR)to gather multimodal data from urban sewage over 40 d.Then we collected data on critical parameters like COD,DO,pH,NH_(3),EC,ORP,SS,and water temperature,alongside wastewater surface images,resulting in a data set of approximately 40246 points.Then we proposed a brain-inspired image and temporal fusion model integrated with a CNN-LSTM network(BITF-CL)using this data.This innovative model synergized sewage imagery with water quality data,enhancing prediction accuracy.As a result,the BITF-CL model reduced prediction error by over 23%compared to traditional methods and still performed comparably to conventional techniques even without using DO and SS sensor data.Consequently,this research presents a cost-effective and precise prediction system for sewage treatment,demonstrating the potential of brain-inspired models.

Organization of microtubule plus-end dynamics by phase separation in mitosis

In eukaryotes,microtubule polymers are essential for cellular plasticity and fate decisions.End-binding(EB)proteins serve as scaffolds for orchestrating microtubule polymer dynamics and are essential for cellular dynamics and chromosome segregation in mitosis.Here,we show that EB1 forms molecular condensates with TIP150 and MCAK through liquid–liquid phase separation to compartmentalize the kinetochore–microtubule plus-end machinery,ensuring accurate kinetochore–microtubule interactions during chromosome segregation in mitosis.Perturbation of EB1–TIP150 polymer formation by a competing peptide prevents phase separation of the EB1-mediated complex and chromosome alignment at the metaphase equator in both cultured cells and Drosophila embryos.Lys220 of EB1 is dynamically acetylated by p300/CBP-associated factor in early mitosis,and persistent acetylation at Lys220 attenuates phase separation of the EB1-mediated complex,dissolves droplets in vitro,and harnesses accurate chromosome segregation.Our data suggest a novel framework for understanding the organization and regulation of eukaryotic spindle for accurate chromosome segregation in mitosis.

Approaching the theoretical capacity of TiO_(2) anode in a photorechargeable lithium-ion battery

New generation of lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)integrating solar energy conversion and storage is emerging,as they could solve the fluctuation problem in the utilization of solar energy.Photo-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries(PR-LIBs)are ideal devices for such target,in which solar energy is converted into electricity and stored in LIB.In order to achieve the high performance of PR-LIB,it is crucial to develop dual-function electrode materials that can synergistically capture solar energy and store lithium.Herein,we present photo-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries using defective black TiO_(2) as photoanode prepared by lithium reduction.The photoanode exhibits excellent photo response in full solar spectrum with a capacity enhancement of 46.4%under illumination,corresponding to the energy conversion efficiency of 4.4%at the current density of 1 A·g^(-1).When illumination is applied at 20 mA·g^(-1),the battery capacity increases from~230 in dark to~349 mAh·g^(-1) at the first cycle,and then stabilizes at 310 mAh·g^(-1),approaching the theoretical value of 335 mAh·g^(-1) of TiO_(2) electrode material.This finding provides thoughts for breaking the capacity limitations in TiO_(2) and paves the way for powering LIBs by solar illumination.

Application of machine learning models in groundwater quality assessment and prediction:progress and challenges

Groundwater quality assessment and prediction(GQAP)is vital for protecting groundwater resources.Traditional GQAP methods can not adequately capture the complex relationships among attributes and have the disadvantage of being computationally demanding.Recently,the application of machine learning(ML)in GAQP(GQAPxML)has been widely studied due to ML’s reliability and efficiency.While many GQAPxML publications exist,a thorough review is missing.This review provides a comprehensive summary of the development of ML applications in the field of GQAP.First,the workflow of ML modeling is briefly introduced,as are data preparation,model development,model evaluation,and model application.Second,299 publications related to the topic are filtered,mainly through ML modeling.Subsequently,many aspects of GQAPxML,such as publication trends,the spatial distribution of study areas,the size of data sets,and ML algorithms,are discussed from a bibliometric perspective.In addition,we review in detail the well-established applications and recent findings for several subtopics,including groundwater quality assessment,groundwater quality modeling using groundwater quality parameters,groundwater quality spatial mapping,probability estimation of exceeding the groundwater quality threshold,groundwater quality temporal prediction,and the hybrid use of ML and physics-based models.Finally,the development of GQAPxML is explored from three perspectives:data collection and preprocessing,model building and evaluation,and the broadening of model applications.This review provides a reference for environmental scientists to better understand GQAPxML and promotes the development of innovative methods and improvements in modeling quality.

胎儿宫内治疗及风险评估

胎儿疾病影响胎儿宫内生长发育、新生儿存活率及其近、远期预后等。对胎儿疾病围产期处理的关键,在于精确诊断、多学科团队(MDT)参与评估、个体化治疗及管理策略制定。胎儿疾病宫内治疗方式、时机选择或指征把握,直接影响治疗后胎儿的近、远期结局。由于某些胎儿疾病,可能导致宫内胎儿病情迅速恶化,或产后缺乏有效治疗手段,因此对产前筛查和诊断发现的胎儿疾病实施宫内治疗,阻止疾病进展,降低胎儿宫内死亡率,并为产后新生儿干预创造机会具有重要作用。目前,胎儿医学在双胎输血综合征(TTTS)、双胎反向动脉灌注序列(TRAPS)、多胎妊娠选择性减胎术、胎儿下尿路梗阻(LUTO)、胎儿先天性膈疝(CDH)、胎儿胸腔积液、胎儿骶尾部畸胎瘤(SCT)及胎儿心律失常(FA)等的宫内治疗方面已积累一定临床经验。笔者拟就胎儿疾病评估、治疗及风险的最新研究现状进行阐述,旨在为胎儿疾病的宫内治疗提供参考。

Effects of cotton straw amendment on soil fertility and microbial communities

Maintaining soil fertility, while controlling pollution from excessive chemical fertilizer application is important for keeping soil productivity of sustainable agriculture. Variety of straws have been used and proven to be good soil amendments for increasing soil organic matter （OM） and a range of additional soil nutrients. However, little is known about the utilization of cotton straw for soil amendment. To better understand the mechanism behind cotton straw soil amendments, investigations were performed upon cucumber seedlings, where changes to soil nutrients and microbial communities were investigated. The results revealed that the cotton straw application promoted the cucumber seedling growth by significantly increasing the soil OM, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium. The concentration of cotton straw was positively correlated to both the number of the culturable microorganisms and also the total microbial biomass within soil. Furthermore, assessment of cotton straw application using Biolog metabolic profiling and phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed that such application increased the microbial community metabolic activity, and markedly changed the structure of microbial community. 16S rRNA gene clone library construction and phylogenetic analysis of soil bacteria revealed 7- Proteobacteria sequences dominated the cotton straw amendment soil, comprising 27.8% of the total number of analyzed sequences, while they were less represented in control soil （13.4%）. On the contrary, the Sphingobacteria （7.8%） and Verrucomicrobia （2.4%） in the cotton straw amendment soil decreased after application when compared to the control soil 15.2% and 15.2%.