Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applicati...Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applications.Recently,thermal neutron radiography experiments based on a D-T neutron generator performed by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science indicated a significant resolution deviation between the experimental results and the values calculated using the traditional resolution model.The experimental result was up to 23%lower than the calculated result,which hinders the achievement of the design goal of a compact neutron radiography system.A GEANT4 Monte Carlo code was developed to simulate the CTNR process,aiming to identify the key factors leading to resolution deviation.The effects of a low collimation ratio and high-energy neutrons were analyzed based on the neutron beam environment of the CTNR system.The results showed that the deviation was primarily caused by geometric distortion at low collimation ratios and radiation noise induced by highenergy neutrons.Additionally,the theoretical model was modified by considering the imaging position and radiation noise factors.The modified theoretical model was in good agreement with the experimental results,and the maximum deviation was reduced to 4.22%.This can be useful for the high-precision design of CTNR systems.展开更多
Though Berberis(Berberidaceae)is widely distributed across the Eurasian landmass it is most diverse in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountain(HHM)region.There are more than 200 species in China where it is one of the most com...Though Berberis(Berberidaceae)is widely distributed across the Eurasian landmass it is most diverse in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountain(HHM)region.There are more than 200 species in China where it is one of the most common mountain shrubs.The study on the taxonomy and evolution of Berberis in this region can thus provide an important insight into the origin and diversification of its flora.A prerequisite to this is mapping and describing the various species of Berberis in the region-a task that despite recent progress is by no means complete.It is clear that in China there may be a significant number of species still to be described and that even with published species much about their distribution remains to be discovered.As a contribution to the first of these tasks seven new species from the northern Hengduan Mountain of N.Sichuan and S.Qinghai:Berberis chinduensis,Berberis degexianensis,Berberis jiajinshanensis,Berberis jinwu,Berberis litangensis,Berberis longquensis and Berberis riparia,are described here.Differences in overall morphology and especially in floral structures with each other and with similar species of Berberis in the same region are presented.The report is the result of phylogenetic analyses based on plastome and partial nrDNA sequences of both the seven proposed new species and a significant number of similar species already published.Provisional conclusions as to the insights provides on the history of the genetic divergence are discussed.展开更多
Traditional thiazolidinediones(TZDs),such as rosiglitazone,are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g(PPARg)potent agonists that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes but carry unwanted effects,including increase...Traditional thiazolidinediones(TZDs),such as rosiglitazone,are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g(PPARg)potent agonists that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes but carry unwanted effects,including increased risk for fracture.The present work aimed to compare the insulin-sensitizing efficacies and bone-loss side effects of CMHX008,a novel TZDs-like PPARg partial agonist,with those of rosiglitazone.A TR-FRET PPARg competitive binding assay was used to compare the binding affinity between CMHX008 and rosiglitazone.Mice were administered vehicle,CMHX008 or rosiglitazone for 16 weeks.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)were used to examine differences in differentiation into osteoblasts after compounds treatment.TR-FRET showed lower affinity to PPARg by CMHX008 compared with rosiglitazone.Mice treated with CMHX008 showed insulin sensitization similar to that of mice treated with rosiglitazone,which was related to the significant inhibition of PPARg Ser273 phosphorylation and improved insulin sensitivity by facilitating the phosphorylation of insulin receptor and Akt in adipose tissues.Micro-CT and histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that the degree of trabecular bone loss after treatment with CMHX008 was weaker than that observed with rosiglitazone,as evidenced by consistent changes in BV/TV,Tb.N,Tb.Th,Tb.Sp,and the mineral apposition rate.MSCs treated with CMHX008 showed higher ALP activity and mRNA levels of bone formation markers than did cells treated with rosiglitazone in the osteoblast differentiation test.Thus,CMHX008 showed insulin-sensitizing effects similar to those of rosiglitazone with a lower risk of bone loss,suggesting that PPARg sparing eliminates the skeletal side effects of TZDs while maintaining their insulin-sensitizing properties.展开更多
Circular RNAs(circRNAs)are a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that play important roles in gene expression regulation.This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of circRNAs in decidual tissue of patients ...Circular RNAs(circRNAs)are a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that play important roles in gene expression regulation.This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of circRNAs in decidual tissue of patients with early recurrent miscarriage(RM).We constructed circRNA expression profiles in decidual tissue using microarray data.A total of 123 differentially expressed circRNAs,including 78 upregulated and 45 downregulated circRNAs were detected in the early RM group compared with the control group(P<0.05).Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis also revealed the enrichment of specific circRNAs.The verified circRNA-targeted miRNA-mRNA network was constructed,most of the circRNAs harbored miRNA binding sites.The network involved 3 circRNAs,27 microRNAs and 82 mRNAs.Hsa_circRNA_103092-miR-224-PRLR network was selected to verify by qRT-PCR.These results showed that circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the decidual tissue in early RM patients and play potential roles in the development of early RM.It gives new insights into the mechanism of recurrent miscarriage.展开更多
As a potent anticancer drug,gambogic acid(GA)suffers from its poor water solubility and low chemical stability and shows a limited clinical outcome.To address this problem,we report here a simple and effective strateg...As a potent anticancer drug,gambogic acid(GA)suffers from its poor water solubility and low chemical stability and shows a limited clinical outcome.To address this problem,we report here a simple and effective strategy to immobilize and deliver GA using a reducible diblock poly(amino acid)as a model.The electrostatic interaction between GA and polymer enables a high drug loading content up to 53.6%.Moreover,the drug complexation induces a micelle-to-vesicle transformation,combined with a conformation tra nsition from random coil to a-helix.The hierarchically assembled drug nanocomplexes can serve as a smart carrier for efficient cell internalization and triggered release of multiple drugs under intracellular acidic and reductive conditions,resulting in a synergistic antitumor efficacy in vitro.This work provides a new insight into the drug-carrier interaction and a facile nanoplatform for drug delivery applications.展开更多
Overfeeding in early life is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood.In the present study,a well-characterized mouse model was used to investigate whether neonatal overfeeding increases susceptibil...Overfeeding in early life is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood.In the present study,a well-characterized mouse model was used to investigate whether neonatal overfeeding increases susceptibility to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)following feeding with a methionine and choline-deficient(MCD)diet.Neonatal overfeeding was induced by adjusting litters to 3 pups per dam(small litter size,SL)in contrast to 10 pups per dam as control(normal litter size,NL).At 11 weeks of age,mice were fed with standard(S)or a methionine and choline-deficient(MCD)diet for 4 weeks.Glucose tolerance tests,tissue staining with haematoxylin and eosin,oil-red O and immunohistochemistry for F4/80,reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and western blotting were performed.Compared with NL mice,SL mice exhibited higher body weight gain from 2 weeks of age throughout adulthood,and more profound glucose intolerance as adults.Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthase mRNA expression levels in liver were upregulated in SL mice at 3 weeks of age.MCD diet induced typical NASH,especially in SL-MCD mice,evidenced by marked fat accumulation,macrovescular steatosis,ballooned hepatocytes,inflammatory cells infiltration and tumour necrosis factor-a mRNA upregulation in the liver,as well as increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the serum.There were no significant differences in liver fibrosis in all groups.Overfeeding during early life exhibited effect with administration of MCD diet in inducing adverse effects on the metabolic function and in promoting the progression of NASH in mice,possibly mediated through dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes and aggravated hepatic inflammation.展开更多
基金supported by the Nuclear Energy Development Project of China (No.[2019]1342)the Presidential Foundation of HFIPS (No.YZJJ2022QN40)。
文摘Owing to the immobility of traditional reactors and spallation neutron sources,the demand for compact thermal neutron radiography(CTNR)based on accelerator neutron sources has rapidly increased in industrial applications.Recently,thermal neutron radiography experiments based on a D-T neutron generator performed by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science indicated a significant resolution deviation between the experimental results and the values calculated using the traditional resolution model.The experimental result was up to 23%lower than the calculated result,which hinders the achievement of the design goal of a compact neutron radiography system.A GEANT4 Monte Carlo code was developed to simulate the CTNR process,aiming to identify the key factors leading to resolution deviation.The effects of a low collimation ratio and high-energy neutrons were analyzed based on the neutron beam environment of the CTNR system.The results showed that the deviation was primarily caused by geometric distortion at low collimation ratios and radiation noise induced by highenergy neutrons.Additionally,the theoretical model was modified by considering the imaging position and radiation noise factors.The modified theoretical model was in good agreement with the experimental results,and the maximum deviation was reduced to 4.22%.This can be useful for the high-precision design of CTNR systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1802242)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Taiwan Young Talent Programme(2018TW2SB0002).
文摘Though Berberis(Berberidaceae)is widely distributed across the Eurasian landmass it is most diverse in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountain(HHM)region.There are more than 200 species in China where it is one of the most common mountain shrubs.The study on the taxonomy and evolution of Berberis in this region can thus provide an important insight into the origin and diversification of its flora.A prerequisite to this is mapping and describing the various species of Berberis in the region-a task that despite recent progress is by no means complete.It is clear that in China there may be a significant number of species still to be described and that even with published species much about their distribution remains to be discovered.As a contribution to the first of these tasks seven new species from the northern Hengduan Mountain of N.Sichuan and S.Qinghai:Berberis chinduensis,Berberis degexianensis,Berberis jiajinshanensis,Berberis jinwu,Berberis litangensis,Berberis longquensis and Berberis riparia,are described here.Differences in overall morphology and especially in floral structures with each other and with similar species of Berberis in the same region are presented.The report is the result of phylogenetic analyses based on plastome and partial nrDNA sequences of both the seven proposed new species and a significant number of similar species already published.Provisional conclusions as to the insights provides on the history of the genetic divergence are discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81270947 and 81570763,to XX)the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China(973 Program,2012CB517505,to XX)+1 种基金the Fundamental Science and Advanced Technology Research of Chongqing(Major Project,CSTC2015jcyjB0146)Chongqing Graduate Student Research Innovation Fund(CYB15095,to HY)。
文摘Traditional thiazolidinediones(TZDs),such as rosiglitazone,are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g(PPARg)potent agonists that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes but carry unwanted effects,including increased risk for fracture.The present work aimed to compare the insulin-sensitizing efficacies and bone-loss side effects of CMHX008,a novel TZDs-like PPARg partial agonist,with those of rosiglitazone.A TR-FRET PPARg competitive binding assay was used to compare the binding affinity between CMHX008 and rosiglitazone.Mice were administered vehicle,CMHX008 or rosiglitazone for 16 weeks.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)were used to examine differences in differentiation into osteoblasts after compounds treatment.TR-FRET showed lower affinity to PPARg by CMHX008 compared with rosiglitazone.Mice treated with CMHX008 showed insulin sensitization similar to that of mice treated with rosiglitazone,which was related to the significant inhibition of PPARg Ser273 phosphorylation and improved insulin sensitivity by facilitating the phosphorylation of insulin receptor and Akt in adipose tissues.Micro-CT and histomorphometric analyses demonstrated that the degree of trabecular bone loss after treatment with CMHX008 was weaker than that observed with rosiglitazone,as evidenced by consistent changes in BV/TV,Tb.N,Tb.Th,Tb.Sp,and the mineral apposition rate.MSCs treated with CMHX008 showed higher ALP activity and mRNA levels of bone formation markers than did cells treated with rosiglitazone in the osteoblast differentiation test.Thus,CMHX008 showed insulin-sensitizing effects similar to those of rosiglitazone with a lower risk of bone loss,suggesting that PPARg sparing eliminates the skeletal side effects of TZDs while maintaining their insulin-sensitizing properties.
基金The authors would like to thank all the members of our research group for their technical supportThis work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no 31771663).
文摘Circular RNAs(circRNAs)are a novel class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that play important roles in gene expression regulation.This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of circRNAs in decidual tissue of patients with early recurrent miscarriage(RM).We constructed circRNA expression profiles in decidual tissue using microarray data.A total of 123 differentially expressed circRNAs,including 78 upregulated and 45 downregulated circRNAs were detected in the early RM group compared with the control group(P<0.05).Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis also revealed the enrichment of specific circRNAs.The verified circRNA-targeted miRNA-mRNA network was constructed,most of the circRNAs harbored miRNA binding sites.The network involved 3 circRNAs,27 microRNAs and 82 mRNAs.Hsa_circRNA_103092-miR-224-PRLR network was selected to verify by qRT-PCR.These results showed that circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in the decidual tissue in early RM patients and play potential roles in the development of early RM.It gives new insights into the mechanism of recurrent miscarriage.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51873118,21474064,52022062)the KeyResearch and Development Program of Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(No.2019YFS0514)+2 种基金Science and Technology Project of Chengdu(No.2019-YF05-00784-SN)the Project of State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering(No.sklpme2020-2-03)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities。
文摘As a potent anticancer drug,gambogic acid(GA)suffers from its poor water solubility and low chemical stability and shows a limited clinical outcome.To address this problem,we report here a simple and effective strategy to immobilize and deliver GA using a reducible diblock poly(amino acid)as a model.The electrostatic interaction between GA and polymer enables a high drug loading content up to 53.6%.Moreover,the drug complexation induces a micelle-to-vesicle transformation,combined with a conformation tra nsition from random coil to a-helix.The hierarchically assembled drug nanocomplexes can serve as a smart carrier for efficient cell internalization and triggered release of multiple drugs under intracellular acidic and reductive conditions,resulting in a synergistic antitumor efficacy in vitro.This work provides a new insight into the drug-carrier interaction and a facile nanoplatform for drug delivery applications.
基金The present work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.81270947 and 81570763,to XX)the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China(973 Program+1 种基金grant no.2012CB517505,to XX)the Fundamental Science and Advanced Technology Research of Chongqing(Major Project,grant no.CSTC2015jcyjB0146).
文摘Overfeeding in early life is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood.In the present study,a well-characterized mouse model was used to investigate whether neonatal overfeeding increases susceptibility to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)following feeding with a methionine and choline-deficient(MCD)diet.Neonatal overfeeding was induced by adjusting litters to 3 pups per dam(small litter size,SL)in contrast to 10 pups per dam as control(normal litter size,NL).At 11 weeks of age,mice were fed with standard(S)or a methionine and choline-deficient(MCD)diet for 4 weeks.Glucose tolerance tests,tissue staining with haematoxylin and eosin,oil-red O and immunohistochemistry for F4/80,reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and western blotting were performed.Compared with NL mice,SL mice exhibited higher body weight gain from 2 weeks of age throughout adulthood,and more profound glucose intolerance as adults.Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthase mRNA expression levels in liver were upregulated in SL mice at 3 weeks of age.MCD diet induced typical NASH,especially in SL-MCD mice,evidenced by marked fat accumulation,macrovescular steatosis,ballooned hepatocytes,inflammatory cells infiltration and tumour necrosis factor-a mRNA upregulation in the liver,as well as increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the serum.There were no significant differences in liver fibrosis in all groups.Overfeeding during early life exhibited effect with administration of MCD diet in inducing adverse effects on the metabolic function and in promoting the progression of NASH in mice,possibly mediated through dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes and aggravated hepatic inflammation.
