Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae improves learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats

Kidney-tonifying recipe can reduce the accumulation of advanced glycation end products, prevent neuronal degeneration and improve cognitive functions in ovariectomized rats. Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts may dose-dependently inhibit non-enzymatic saccharification in vitro. This study aimed to examine the effect of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae on advanced glycation end products and on learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae alcohol extracts （containing 1.5 g/kg crude drug） or 0.1% aminoguanidine for 12 weeks and behavioral testing was performed with the Y-electrical maze. This test revealed that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae and aminoguanidine could improve the learning and memory capabilities of ovariectomized rats. Results of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine reduced the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the frontal cortex of ovariectomized rats, while increasing content in the blood and urine. Biochemical tests showed that treatment with Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae or aminoguanidine decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and frontal cortex, and increased serum levels of glutathione peroxidase in ovariectomized rats. In addition there was no apparent effect on malondialdehyde levels. These experimental findings indicate that Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae inhibits production of advanced glycation end products and its accumulation in brain tissue, and improves learning and memory capabilities in ovariectomized rats. These effects may be associated with an anti-oxidative action of the extract.

Rapid Identification of a Candidate Gene Related to Fiber Strength Using a Superior Chromosome Segment Substitution Line from Gossypium hirsutum × Gossypium barbadense via Bulked Segregant RNA-Sequencing

Cotton is the most widely cultivated commercial crop producing natural fiber around the world.As a critical trait for fiber quality,fiber strength principally determined during the secondary wall thickening period.Based on the developed BC5F3:5 CSSLs(chromosome segment substitution lines)from Gossypium hirsutum CCRI36×G.barbadense Hai 1,the superior MBI9915 was chosen to construct the secondary segregated population BC7F2 with its recurrent parent CCRI36,which was subsequently subjected to Bulk segregant RNA-sequencing(BSR-seq)for rapid identification of candidate genes related to fiber strength.A total of 4 fiber-transcriptome libraries were separately constructed and sequenced,including two parents(CCRI36 and MBI9915)and two extreme pools at 20 DPA(days post anathesis).Through multiple comparisons,536 DEGs(differentially expressed genes)were overlapped at 20 DPA.Allelic-polymorphism comparison in mRNA sequences revealed 831 highly probable SNPs between two extreme pools related to fiber strength.Linkage analysis was performed between two extreme pools with SNP-index method.Eighteen correlated regions with 1981 annotation genes were obtained between two pools at 20 DPA,of which 12 common DEGs were similarly identified both between two parents and two pools.One gene(Gh_A07G0837)in the candidate region related to fiber strength was differentially expressed in both parents and extreme pools and involved in fiber strength development through reactive oxygen species(ROS)activity.Co-expression analysis of Gh_A07G0837 showed that Gh_A07G0837 may cooperate with other genes to regulate fiber strength.The reliability of BSR-seq results was validated by the quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)experiments on 5 common DGEs 20 DPA.Co-expressed analysis results indicated that there were some genes expressed especially low in MBI9915,resulting in good fiber strength.Focusing on bulked segregant analysis on the extreme pools derived from superior CSSL population,this study indicates that BSR-seq can be efficiently applied on rapid identification of candidate genes related to fiber strength,which make contributions to our understanding of fiber quality formation in cotton.

Dynamic Expression Analysis and Introgressive Gene Identification of Fiber Length Using Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines from G.hirsutum×G.barbadense

Fiber length is a critical trait that principally determines cotton spinning quality,while Upland cotton as the most widely cultivated Gossypium species around the world subjects to the relatively ordinary fiber performance.Chromosome segment substitution lines(CSSLs)have been introduced in cotton breeding to take full advantages of superior fiber quality and high yield from Sea Island and Upland cotton,respectively,which serve as ideal materials for elucidating the genetic mechanism of complex quantitative traits.Here,three CSSLs derived from CCRI45(G.hirsutum)×Hai1(G.barbadense),two superior(MBI7561 and MBI7747)and one(MBI7285)with ordinary fiber-quality,were subjected to transcriptome sequencing during fiber elongation together with their recurrent parent CCRI45,and 471.425 million clean reads were obtained with 91.47%average Q30 and 45.23%mean GC content.In total,5,673 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified from multi-sample comparisons,which were mainly involved in the oxidation-reduction process,protein phosphorylation,regulation of transcription,DNA template,and carbohydrate metabolic process.Eight temporal expression patterns were monitored on the DEGs of different lines,of which the significantly enriched profile revealed higher similarities between two superior CSSLs or the ordinary CSSL and CCRI45 with respect to fiber performance.Based on the intersection between the predicted introgressive genes from RNAseq data and the published gene information from the G.barbadense genome,1,535 introgressive genes were identified in three CSSLs.Further analysis of the three common introgressive sections in superior CSSLs revealed eight candidate genes that were identified to be involved in fiber development,namely,O-fucosyltransferase family protein(GB_A02G0240),glutamine synthetase 2(GB_A02G0272),Ankyrin repeat family protein(GB_A02G0264),beta-6 tubulin(GB_D03G1742),WRKY DNA-binding protein 2(GB_D03G1655),quinolinate synthase(GB_D07G0623),nuclear factor Y,subunit B13(GB_D07G0631),and leucine-rich repeat transmembrane protein kinase(GB_D07G0797).Our results provide novel insights into the mechanism underlying fiber formation and lay a solid foundation for further high-efficiency determination of candidate genes by combining RNA-seq data and pivotal chromosome regions.

The Chinese herbal formula Tongluo Jiunao promotes expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin-related kinase B pathways in a rat model of ischemic brain injury

The neurotrophin-Trk receptor pathway is an intrinsic pathway to relieve damage to the central nervous system. The present study observed the effects of Tongluo Jiunao （TLJN）, which comprises Panax Notoginseng and Gardenia Jasminoides, on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） and tropomyosin-related kinase B （TrkB） in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemic injury. Xue Sai Tong （XST）, comprising Panax Notoginseng, served as the positive control. Mechanisms of neuroprotection were analyzed following TLJN injection. Following establishment of the middle cerebral artery occlusion models, TLJN and XST were intraperitoneally injected, and 2, 3 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining results revealed that TLJN injection reduced infarct volume, suggesting that TLJN exerted a neuroprotective effect. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that TLJN elevated BDNF and growth associated protein-43 expression in ischemic brain tissues, as well as serum BDNF levels. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot results showed that TLJN injection did not affect TrkB expression in the ischemic brain tissues of rats. These results suggested that TLJN injection reduced damage to ischemic brain tissues and increased BDNF expression. In addition, TLJN injection resulted in better promoting effects on neurotrophic factor expression compared with XST.

Genome-wide identification,characterization,and expression analysis of aluminum-activated malate transporter genes(ALMTs)in Gossypium hirsutum L.

Aluminum-activated malate transporters(ALMT)are widely involved in plant growth and metabolic processes,including adaptation to acid soils,guard cell regulation,anion homeostasis,and seed development.Although ALMT genes have been identified in Arabidopsis,wheat,barley,and Lotus japonicus,little is known about its presence in Gossypium hirsutum L.In this study,ALMT gene recognition in diploid and tetraploid cotton were done using bioinformatics analysis that examined correlation between homology and evolution.Differentially regulated ALMT genetic profile in G.hirsutum was examined,using RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR,during six fiber developmental time-points,namely 5 d,7 d,10 d,15 d,20 d,and 25 d.We detected 36 ALMT genes in G.hirsutum,which were subsequently annotated and divided into seven sub-categories.Among these ALMT genes,34 had uneven distribution across 14/26 chromosomes.Conserved domains and gene structure analysis indicated that ALMT genes were highly conserved and composed of exons and introns.The GhALMT gene expression profile at different DPA(days post anthesis)in different varieties of G.hirsutum is indicative of a crucial role of ALMT genes in fiber development in G.hirsutum.This study provides basis for advancements in the cloning and functional enhancements of ALMT genes in enhancing fiber development and augmenting high quality crop production.

Value of Non-tumoral Liver Volume in the Prognosis of Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After R0 Resection

Background and Aims:Hepatectomy is an effective treatment for selected patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This study aimed to develop a nomogram in-corporating non-tumoral liver volume(non-TLV)and liver function markers to predict the patients’overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS).Methods:Data of 198 consecutive large HCC patients who underwent hepa-tectomy at the Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University were collected.Another 68 patients from the Mengchao Hepatobil-iary Surgery Hospital served as an external validation cohort.The nomograms were developed based on the independent prognostic factors screened by multivariate Cox regression analyses.Concordance index(C-index),calibration curves,and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to measure the discrimination and predic-tive accuracy of the models.Results:High HBV DNA level,low non-TLV/ICG,vascular invasion,and a poorly differenti-ated tumor were confirmed as independent risk factors for both OS and DFS.The model established in this study pre-dicted 5-year post-operative survival and DFS in good agree-ment with the actual observation confirmed by the calibra-tion curves.The C-indexes of the nomograms in predicting OS and DFS were 0.812 and 0.823 in the training cohort,0.821 and 0.846 in the internal validation cohort,and 0.724 and 0.755 in the external validation cohort.The areas under the ROC curves(AUCs)of nomograms for predicted OS and DFS at 1,3,and 5 year were 0.85,0.86,0.83 and 0.76,0.76,0.63,respectively.Conclusions:Nomograms with non-TLV/ICG predicted the prognosis of single large HCC patients ac-curately and effectively.

Uniform convergence rates for spot volatility estimation

This study presents the uniform convergence rate for spot volatility estimators based on delta sequences.Kernel and Fourier-based estimators are examples of this type of estimator.We also present the uniform convergence rates for kernel and Fourier-based estimators of spot volatility as applications of the main result.

Excellent strength-ductility synergy properties of gradient nano-grained structural CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy

Tailoring heterogeneities could bring out excellent strength-ductility synergy properties.A gradient nanograined(GNG)structure,i.e.grain size range from nanometer(~50 nm)at topest surface layer to micrometer(~1.3μm)at center layer,was successfully introduced into CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy(MEA)by means of high energy shot peening in this work.Experimental results demonstrated that this GNG CrCoNi MEA shows excellent strength and ductility combination properties,exhibiting high yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of~1215 MPa and~1524 MPa,respectively,while remaining a good ductility of~23.0%.The extraordinary hetero-deformation induced(HDI)hardening origins from heterogeneous structure,i.e.GNG structure,which contributes to the majority strength enhancement.Dynamical reinforced heterogeneous structure during tension process results in the enhanced HDI hardening effect,which facilitates excellent ductility and strain hardening capacity at high-level strength.Our work provide not only a feasible and effective way to strengthen the CrCoNi MEA,and other low stacking faults energy(SFE)materials,but also an useful insight to understanding HDI hardening in heterogeneous structure.

Superb strength and ductility balance of a Co-free medium-entropy alloy with dual heterogeneous structures

In present work,we successfully fabricated a novel Co-free non-equiatomic Ni_(46)Cr_(23)Fe_(23)Al_(4)Ti_(4)mediumentropy alloy with dual heterogeneous structures,i.e.three-levels grain structures and heterogeneous L1;precipitates.Experimental results revealed the dual heterogeneous structures lead to remarkable strength-ductility synergy properties in this Co-free medium-entropy alloy,showing high yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of~1203 MPa and~1633 MPa,respectively,remaining an excellent ductility of~28.7%.Further analyses about strengthening and deformation mechanisms indicated precipitation hardening and hetero-deformation induced hardening contribute the majority strength enhancement,meanwhile deformation-induced hierarchical stacking-faults networks,high density Lomer-Cottrell locks and microstructure features of heterogeneous grains and precipitates substantially facilitate the high work-hardening capacity and excellent tensile ductility.This work not only offers fundamental understanding of the strength and deformation mechanisms of the dual heterogeneous structural material,but also provides useful strength design strategy for low-price high performance high/medium-entropy alloys.

Applications of multiresolution analysis in Besov-Q type spaces and Triebel-Lizorkin-Q type spaces

In this survey,we give a neat summary of the applications of the multi-resolution analysis to the studies of Besov-Q type spaces B_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n))and Triebel-Lizorkin-Q type spaces B_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n)).We will state briefly the recent progress on the wavelet characterizations,the boundedness of Calderon-Zygmund operators,the boundary value problem of B_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n)) and F_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n)).We also present the recent developments on the well-posedness of fluid equations with small data in B_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n))and F_(p,q)^(γ1,γ2) (R^(n)).

Riesz potentials of Hardy-Hausdorff spaces and Q-type spaces

This study investigates the restriction problem for the Riesz potentials of Hardy-Hausdorff spaces HH^1-γ(R^n)and Q-type spaces Qγ(R^n).By exploiting a geometric-measure theory generated by the indicatorlike functions of compact sets,it is proved that the Riesz operator Iαcontinuously maps HH^1-γ(R^n)into the weak Morrey spaces L^q,λ/μ,*induced by a Radon measureμ,which obeys a geometric condition.

Temperature-dependent deformation in silver-particle-covered copper nanowires by molecular dynamics simulation

Cu nanowires covered by Ag particles is studied for potential applications in the next-generation microelectronics.To date,the deformation mechanism in the Cu-Ag core-particle is not clear.Here,molecular dynamics simulation is used to describe the Cu-Ag core-particle system.The results show that the equilibrium structure of Ag particles is reconstructed,when the particle≤1.0 nm.At low temperature(1 K)indicate that three different deformation processes take part in the core-particle structure,depending on the size of Ag particles.When the particle diameter≤2.0 nm,the prevailing deformation mechanism is the emission of dislocations from the Cu surface.For the particle diameters ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 nm,the emission of misfit dislocations from the Ag-Cu interface is the dominant deformation mechanism.If the Ag particle≥6.0 nm,the deformation mechanism can be characterized by the slip band,consisting of the dislocations and amorphous atoms.For elevated temperatures(2-400 K),the mechanical properties of the Ag-Cu core-shell system are nearly independent of temperature,whereas the structure with particles larger than 2.0 nm showed a strong dependence of its mechanical properties on temperature.Based on the results,the diameter-temperature plastic deformation map is proposed.

Gaussian BV Functions and Gaussian BV Capacity on Stratified Groups

Let G be a stratified Lie group and let{X_(1)……,X_(n1)}be a basis of the first layer of the Lie algebra of G.The sub-Laplacian△G is defined by△G=-n_(1)∑j=1 X^(2)j,The operator defined by△G-n_(1)∑j=1 Xjp/pXj is called the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck operator on G,where p is a heat kernel at time 1 on G.In this paper,we investigate Gaussian BV functions and Gaussian BV capacities associated with the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck operator on the stratified Lie group.

浅论赞比亚中国新移民的基本状况

本文在分析赞比亚中国新移民群体的规模、来源、类型和基本特征的基础上,重点分析中国新移民群体与当地社会的关系现状及发展趋势。本文认为,中国新移民群体在直接感受和见证了中非合作关系全面提升的同时,他们的活动也对当地的经济、社会和文化产生了重大影响,直接关系到中非关系的健康发展。

论一战后法国对西非殖民地的“联合”政策

19世纪末法属西非殖民地确立以来,法国一直实行以'封建解放'和'直接接触'为特征的'同化'政策。到'一战'前后,法属西非政府意识到'同化'政策难以为继。由于殖民地开化精英阶层的出现,法国文明使命观念的变化,以及帝国本土政治和文化的影响,殖民政府对于非洲传统统治者态度发生转变。在当时的民族志研究的支持下,法国转而实行保护土著结构的'联合'政策。'联合'政策有效遏制了'开化精英'的政治诉求,并且赢得了此前反叛的酋长的忠诚。在非洲社会剧烈变迁的背景下,'联合'政策既要将酋长塑造成社会变革工具,又试图维持其'传统'合法性,这一内在悖论注定了'联合'政策难以实现。