The Probability Density Function Related to Shallow Cumulus Entrainment Rate and Its Influencing Factors in a Large-Eddy Simulation

The process of entrainment-mixing between cumulus clouds and the ambient air is important for the development of cumulus clouds.Accurately obtaining the entrainment rate(λ)is particularly important for its parameterization within the overall cumulus parameterization scheme.In this study,an improved bulk-plume method is proposed by solving the equations of two conserved variables simultaneously to calculateλof cumulus clouds in a large-eddy simulation.The results demonstrate that the improved bulk-plume method is more reliable than the traditional bulk-plume method,becauseλ,as calculated from the improved method,falls within the range ofλvalues obtained from the traditional method using different conserved variables.The probability density functions ofλfor all data,different times,and different heights can be well-fitted by a log-normal distribution,which supports the assumed stochastic entrainment process in previous studies.Further analysis demonstrate that the relationship betweenλand the vertical velocity is better than other thermodynamic/dynamical properties;thus,the vertical velocity is recommended as the primary influencing factor for the parameterization ofλin the future.The results of this study enhance the theoretical understanding ofλand its influencing factors and shed new light on the development ofλparameterization.

Homer1a reduces inflammatory response after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Elevated intraocular pressure(IOP)is one of the causes of retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury,which results in NRP3 inflammasome activation and leads to visual damage.Homerla is repo rted to play a protective role in neuroinflammation in the cerebrum.However,the effects of Homerla on NLRP3inflammasomes in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury caused by elevated IOP remain unknown.In our study,animal models we re constructed using C57BL/6J and Homer1^(flox/-)/Homerla^(+/-)/Nestin-Cre^(+/-)mice with elevated IOP-induced retinal ischemia/repe rfusion injury.For in vitro expe riments,the oxygen-glucose deprivation/repe rfusion injury model was constructed with M uller cells.We found that Homerla ove rexpression amelio rated the decreases in retinal thickness and Muller cell viability after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Furthermore,Homerla knockdown promoted NF-κB P65^(Ser536)activation via caspase-8,NF-κB P65 nuclear translocation,NLRP3 inflammasome formation,and the production and processing of interleukin-1βand inte rleukin-18.The opposite results we re observed with Homerla ove rexpression.Finally,the combined administration of Homerla protein and JSH-23 significantly inhibited the reduction in retinal thickness in Homer1^(flox/-)Homer1a^(+/-)/Nestin-Cre^(+/-)mice and apoptosis in M uller cells after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Taken together,these studies demonstrate that Homer1a exerts protective effects on retinal tissue and M uller cells via the caspase-8/NF-KB P65/NLRP3 pathway after I/R injury.

Effect of acacetin on inhibition of apoptosis in Helicobacter pyloriinfected gastric epithelial cell line

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection can cause extensive apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells,serving as a critical catalyst in the progression from chronic gastritis,gastrointestinal metaplasia,and atypical gastric hyperplasia to gastric carcinoma.Prompt eradication of H.pylori is paramount for ameliorating the pathophysiological conditions associated with chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa and the primary prevention of gastric cancer.Acacetin,which has multifaceted pharmacological activities such as anti-cancer,anti-inflammatory,and antioxidative properties,has been extensively investigated across various domains.Nevertheless,the impact and underlying mechanisms of action of acacetin on H.pylori-infected gastric mucosal epithelial cells remain unclear.AIM To explore the defensive effects of acacetin on apoptosis in H.pylori-infected GES-1 cells and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.METHODS GES-1 cells were treated with H.pylori and acacetin in vitro.Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay,cell mortality rate via lactate dehydrogenase assay,alterations in cell migration and healing capacities through the wound healing assay,rates of apoptosis via flow cytometry and TUNEL staining,and expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins through western blot analysis.RESULTS H.pylori infection led to decreased GES-1 cell viability,increased cell mortality,suppressed cell migration,increased rate of apoptosis,increased expressions of Bax and cle-caspase3,and decreased Bcl-2 expression.Conversely,acacetin treatment enhanced cell viability,mitigated apoptosis induced by H.pylori infection,and modulated the expression of apoptosis-regulatory proteins by upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax and cleaved caspase-3.CONCLUSION Acacetin significantly improved GES-1 cell viability and inhibited apoptosis in H.pylori-infected GES-1 cells,thereby exerting a protective effect on gastric mucosal epithelial cells.

Visual Analysis of Digital Healthcare Based on CiteSpace

Objective: Digital healthcare is rapidly becoming a new model for medical development in the information society with its convenience, and personalization, and a research boom in digital healthcare has formed at home and abroad in recent years. The purpose of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the field of digital healthcare and to understand the research background and development trend in this field. Methods: A visual analysis of authors, institutions, journals and keywords was conducted using CiteSpace 5.8R3 software. Results: A total of 1646 digital healthcare-related retrieved from WoS and PubMed studies. There was an overall upward trend in the number of digital healthcare publications, with the highest number of publications in 2021 (290). The author AZIZ SHEIKH is ranked first in the number of published articles (13), while King Saud University (23) is the research institution with the most articles. Keyword clustering showed that the first cluster was data security;the common high frequency keywords that appeared were systems (85), artificial intelligence (82), mobile health (70), internet (61), and technology (57). Digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, healthcare services, machine learning and deep learning are the hotspot of current research. Conclusion: This paper summarises the state of the art in digital healthcare research. Using statistical analysis and network visualisation, it highlights the background, trends and hot topics in digital healthcare research. The paper finds that there is significant potential for artificial intelligence to help bridge the digital divide and reduce health inequalities. To understand the current state, hot trends and future directions of digital healthcare research, this paper can serve as a reference. .

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in Laizhou Bay(China)using the ecological risk index and the integrated biomarker response of the goby Acanthogobius ommaturus

We used the Integrated Biological Responses version 2(IBRv2)method to evaluate the biological eff ects of heavy metals in the sediments in Laizhou Bay,China on the benthic goby Acanthogobius ommaturus.In December 2018,gobies and sediments were collected from 15 stations.We measured the activities of defense enzymes and the contents of malondialdehyde(MDA)and metallothionein(MT)in the goby liver as well as the levels of heavy metals in the sediments and goby muscle tissue.Most of the heavy metal concentrations in sediment at each station were below the Class I criteria set by Chinese Standards for Marine Sediment Quality,and the Håkanson ecological risk index suggested low risk for the heavy metals.We found that A.ommaturus could eff ectively accumulate mercury,cadmium,arsenic,and zinc and that the contents of MT and MDA and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were suitable biomarkers of heavy metal pollution in this species.The IBRv2 method integrated these four biomarkers and discriminated stations according to heavy metal pollution.Higher IBRv2 values suggested more adverse eff ects in gobies,corroborating more serious heavy metal contamination.The stations with high IBRv2 values and high contents of heavy metals were mainly distributed in the west and northeast parts of the bay.These results show that the IBRv2 approach is a feasible strategy for assessing heavy metal pollution through biological response and biological status and that it can be implemented for environmental monitoring in Laizhou Bay.

Determination of okadaic acid related toxins from shellfish (<i>sinonovacula constricta</i>) by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Consumption of shellfish contaminated with algal toxins produced by marine dinoflagellates can lead to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). It was therefore essential that there are analytical techniques to identify and quantify DSP toxins in shellfish. This new methodology could facilitate DSP monitoring and create a means of rapidly responding to incidents threatening public health. In the last years there were different analytical methods for DSP, such as mouse bioassay and LC-FLD. With the development of instrument, Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was substituted for other analytical methods with its good sensitivity and selectivity and without derivatization for the determination of DSP. In this report, a high performance liquid chromatogra-phytandem mass spectrometric(HPLC-MS/MS)method was developed for the simultaneous determination of okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxins(DTX1) in Sinonovacula constricta. Optimization of pretreatment experiment was carried out to maximize recoveries and the effectiveness. The analytes were determined under multi-reactions monitoring (MRM) scan type with tandem mass analyzer using negative ion electrospray ionization (-ESI) mode .Finally, the detection and identification of OA and DTX-1 were based upon their retention times (RT) and the fragmentation patterns of their mass spectra. The method of LOQ for the two poisons was 0.02 mg·kg-1.The real sample test showed that this method could be used for sensitive, fast, and accurate determination of the two diarrheic shellfish poisons in shellfish.

Necroptosis plays a crucial role in the exacerbation of retinal injury after blunt ocular trauma

Retinal injury after blunt ocular trauma may directly affect prognosis and lead to vision loss.To investigate the pathological changes and molecular mechanisms involved in retinal injury after blunt ocular trauma,we established a weight drop injury model of blunt ocular trauma in male Beagle dogs.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,immunofluorescence staining,western blotting,and TUNEL assays were performed to investigate retinal injury within 14 days after blunt ocular trauma.Compared with the control group,the thicknesses of the inner and outer nuclear layers,as well as the number of retinal ganglion cells,gradually decreased within 14 days after injury.The number of bipolar cells in the inner nuclear layer began to decrease 1 day after injury,while the numbers of cholinergic and amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer did not decrease until 7 days after injury.Moreover,retinal cell necroptosis increased with time after injury;it progressed from the ganglion cell layer to the outer nuclear layer.Visual electrophysiological findings indicated that visual impairment began on the first day after injury and worsened over time.Additionally,blunt ocular trauma induced nerve regeneration and Müller glial hyperplasia;it also resulted in the recruitment of microglia to the retina and polarization of those microglia to the M1 phenotype.These findings suggest that necroptosis plays an important role in exacerbating retinal injury after blunt ocular trauma via gliosis and neuroinflammation.Such a role has important implications for the development of therapeutic strategies.

Highly reinforce the interface stability using 2-Phenyl-1H-imidazole-1-sulfonate electrolyte additive to enhance the high temperature performance of LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)/graphite batteries

This work develops 2-Phenyl-1H-imidazole-1-sulfonate(PHIS)as a multi-functional electrolyte additive for H2O/HF scavenging and film formation to improve the high temperature performance of LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)/graphite batteries.After 450 cycles at room temperature(25℃),the discharge capacity retentions of batteries with blank and PHIS-containing electrolyte are 56.03%and 94.92%respectively.After 230 cycles at high temperatures(45℃),their values are 75.30%and 88.38%respectively.The enhanced electrochemical performance of the batteries with PHIS-containing electrolyte is supported by the spectroscopic characterization and theoretical calculations.It is demonstrated that this PHIS electrolyte additive can facilitate the construction of the electrode interface films,remove the H2O/HF in the electrolyte,and improve the electrochemical performance of the batteries.This work not only develops a sulfonate-based electrolyte but also can stimulate new ideas of functional additives to improve the battery performance.

空位有序双钙钛矿A2BX6的弹性和热电性质的第一性原理研究

卤化物钙钛矿在热电应用中表现出了巨大的潜力。准确了解卤化物钙钛矿的热电传输性质对于进一步提高热电设备的应用效率至关重要。本研究采用了Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof(PBE)和修正的Becke Johnson(mBJ)交换关联泛函探究了卤化物双钙钛矿Rb_(2)SnI6、Rb_(2)PdI6和Cs_(2)PtI6的弹性和热电性质。通过对这些材料的力学稳定性、有效质量、塞贝克系数、功率因子和热电品质因数的研究,我们发现,这三种化合物都是力学稳定的,并且具有可塑性。这些化合物是窄带隙半导体,具有简并的带边结构,结合低的载流子有效质量使得它们具有热电应用潜力。Cs_(2)PtI6在空穴掺杂在500 K温度下可以达到0.76 mV·K^(−1)的高塞贝克系数。由于高塞贝克系数和最大功率因子,Rb_(2)SnI6、Rb_(2)PdI6和Cs_(2)PtI6在p型掺杂下具有高的热电品质因数,分别为0.91、0.96和0.98。总体而言,我们的研究为卤化物钙钛矿的热电性能提供了新的见解,为这些化合物的实验合成提供了有价值的参考。

二态量子系统准确布居动力学的一类新型相空间表示及其与三角窗函数的关系

二态系统是最简单的且无经典对应的量子系统,对二态系统的同构表示的认识和研究能启发研究人员对其动力学与统计行为的更深刻理解.本文使用在[J.Chem.Phys.145,204105(2016);J.Chem.Phys.151,024105(2019);J.Phys.Chem.Lett.12,2496(2021)]等文章中发展的约束相空间严格理论、非协变相空间函数、含时权重函数与含时归一化因子来构建一类新型量子相空间表示.这类同构表示可以导出二态量子系统布居动力学的准确结果.约束相空间上的轨迹运动方程同构于含时薛定谔方程.每条相空间轨迹对于布居动力学所对应积分表达式的贡献严格半正定。进一步证明了在[J.Chem.Phys.145,144108(2016)]这篇文章中根据经验提出的三角窗函数方法在本质上可以对应于本文的这类新型相空间表示的一个特殊情况,因此同样是二态量子系统准确布居动力学的同构表示.

Eliminating H_(2)O/HF and regulating interphase with bifunctional tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate(TDI)additive for long life Li-ion battery

Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)featuring a Ni-rich cathode exhibit increased specific capacity,but the establishment of a stable interphase through the implementation of a functional electrolyte strategy remains challenging.Especially when the battery is operated under high temperature,the trace water present in the electrolyte will accelerate the hydrolysis of the electrolyte and the resulting HF will further erode the interphase.In order to enhance the long-term cycling performance of graphite/LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2)(NCM811)LIBs,herein,Tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate(TDI)additive containing lone-pair electrons is employed to formulate a novel bifunctional electrolyte aimed at eliminating H_(2)O/HF generated at elevated temperature.After 1000 cycles at 25℃,the battery incorporating the TDI-containing electrolyte exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 94%at 1 C.In contrast,the battery utilizing the blank electrolyte has a lower capacity retention of only 78%.Furthermore,after undergoing 550 cycles at 1 C under45℃,the inclusion of TDI results in a notable enhancement of capacity,increasing it from 68%to 80%.This indicates TDI has a favorable influence on the cycling performance of LIBs,especially at elevated temperatures.The analysis of the film formation mechanism suggests that the lone pair of electrons of the isocyanate group in TDI play a crucial role in inhibiting the generation of H_(2)O and HF,which leads to the formation of a thin and dense interphase.The existence of this interphase is thought to substantially enhance the cycling performance of the LIBs.This work not only improves the performance of graphite/NCM811 batteries at room temperature and high temperature by eliminating H_(2)O/HF but also presents a novel strategy for advancing functional electrolyte development.

Moiré superlattices arising from growth induced by screw dislocations in layered materials

Moiré superlattices(MSLs) are modulated structures produced from homogeneous or heterogeneous two-dimensional layers stacked with a twist angle and/or lattice mismatch. Enriching the methods for fabricating MSL and realizing the unique emergent properties are key challenges in its investigation. Here we recommend that the spiral dislocation driven growth is another optional method for the preparation of high quality MSL samples. The spiral structure stabilizes the constant out-of-plane lattice distance, causing the variations in electronic and optical properties. Taking SnS_(2) MSL as an example, we find prominent properties including large band gap reduction(~ 0.4 e V) and enhanced optical activity. Firstprinciples calculations reveal that these unusual properties can be ascribed to the locally enhanced interlayer interaction associated with the Moiré potential modulation. We believe that the spiral dislocation driven growth would be a powerful method to expand the MSL family and broaden their scope of application.

Punicalagin prevents obesity-related cardiac dysfunction through promoting DNA demethylation in mice

The aim of this study was to investigate whether punicalagin(PU)could prevent obesity-related cardiac dysfunction by promoting DNA demethy lation,and to explore its possible mechanism.C57BL/6J mice were fed with standard diet,high-fat diet(HFD),HFD supplemented with resveratrol,low-dose PU(LPU)and high-dose PU(HPU)for 8 weeks.Compared with HFD group,body weight was significantly lower in PU treatment groups,number of cardionwocytes and the protein level of myosin heavy chain 7B were significantly higher in PU treatment groups.Levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-formylcytosine were significantly lower in HFD group than in other groups.Compared with the HFD group,the protein level of ten-eleven translocation enzyme(TET)2 was significantly higher in PU treatment groups,p-AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)was significantly higher in LPU group.Levels of total antioxidant capacity and the protein levels of complexesⅡ/Ⅲ/Ⅴ,oxoglutarate dehydrogenase,succinate dehydrogenase B and fumarate hdrolase were significantly lower in HFD group than PU treatment group.The ratio of(succinic acid+fumaric acid)/a-ketoglutarate was significantly higher in HFD group than other groups.In conclusion,PU up-regulated TETs enzyme activities and TET2 protein stability through alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction and activating AMPK,so as to promote DNA demethylation,thus preventing obesity-related cardiac dysfunction.

Plasma nitrogen fixation system with dual-loop enhancement for improved energy efficiency and its efficacy for lettuce cultivation

Plasma nitrogen fixation(PNF)has been emerging as a promising technology for greenhouse gasfree and renewable energy-based agriculture.Yet,most PNF studies seldom address practical application-specific issues.In this work,we present the development of a compact and automatic PNF system for on-site agricultural applications.The system utilized a gliding-arc discharge as the plasma source and employed a dual-loop design to generate NO_(x)from air and water under atmospheric conditions.Experimental results showed that the system with a dualloop design performs well in terms of energy costs and production rates.Optimal operational parameters for the system were determined through experimentation,resulting in an energy cost of 13.9 MJ mol^(-1)and an energy efficiency of 16 g kWh^(-1)for NO_(3)^(-)production,respectively.Moreover,the concentration of exhausted NO_(x)was below the emission standards.Soilless lettuce cultivation experiments demonstrated that NO_(x)^(-)produced by the PNF system could serve as liquid nitrate nitrogen fertilizer.Overall,our work demonstrates the potential of the developed PNF system for on-site application in the production of green-leaf vegetables.

基于磁控溅射的PEEK表面HA涂层构建及其生物安全性评估

目的:基于磁控溅射技术在PEEK表面构建羟基磷灰石(HA)涂层,并系统评估该方法的生物安全性。方法:磺化PEEK以增加结合面积,并利用磁控溅射技术在其上构建HA涂层;通过扫描电镜结合能谱分析检测构建效果;通过细胞黏附实验、细胞骨架荧光染色以及扫描电镜来评估细胞层面安全性;通过SD大鼠全身毒性评估材料在体安全性;通过金黄地鼠黏膜刺激实验评估材料口腔应用安全性。结果:利用上述技术可在PEEK表面成功构建具有梯度形貌的HA涂层;该涂层可促进细胞黏附、伸展与增殖;且无全身毒性,对动物体重与体内重要脏器HE染色均无显著性影响(P>0.05);同时该涂层在一定程度上减轻了单纯磺化带来的口腔黏膜刺激。结论:基于磁控溅射技术可稳定制备HA涂层,并满足临床应用的生物安全性需求。

Analysis of acupoint massage combined with touch on relieving anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant surgery

BACKGROUND Oral implant surgery is an effective procedure for artificial implants in missing tooth areas under local anesthesia.Because patients under local anesthesia are conscious during this procedure,compared with general anesthesia-related operations,they are more likely to experience negative emotions,such as anxiety and tension.These emotional reactions result in shivering and chills in the limbs,leading to poor doctor-patient cooperation and even avoidance of treatment.In traditional Chinese medicine,it is believed that acupoint massage regulates blood and Qi,dredge menstruation,and relieve pain,which is beneficial for patients’emotional adjustment;however,there are few related clinical studies.AIM To observe the changes in anxiety and pain in patients with oral implant after acupoint massage combined with touch therapy.METHODS One hundred patients undergoing oral implantation in our hospital between May 2020 and May 2023 were randomly divided into control and study groups,according to a random number table,with 50 patients in each group.The control group received routine intervention,and the study group received acupoint massage combined with touch on the basis of the control group.Anxiety[assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale(MDAS)],pain severity,blood pressure,heart rate,and satisfaction were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Before intervention,the difference in MDAS score between the two groups was not significant(P>0.05),while after the intervention,the MDAS scores decreased in both groups compared with those before the intervention(P<0.05);the MDAS score of the study group was lower than that of the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The degree of pain in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Before the intervention,there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures or heart rate between the two groups(P>0.05).The systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate in the intervention group,during and after the intervention,were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The total degree of satisfaction in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Acupoint massage combined with touch better relieves anxiety and pain in patients undergoing dental implant surgery,improving the perioperative comfort of these patients and ensuring safety and a smooth operation.

Effect of Elephantopus scaber L.Extract on Acute Pleurisy in Rats

[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammatory effect of Elephantopus scaber L.extract on acute pleurisy induced by carrageenan in rats,and to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism.[Methods]The active sites of E.scaber L.were extracted by ethanol reflux method.The extracts of different concentrations of E.scaber L.were used as the study object,and dexamethasone was used as the positive control drug.The anti-inflammatory effects of E.scaber L.extracts were studied by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2)),tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in pleural fluid and serum nitric oxide(NO),MDA,PEG_(2),TNF-α,IL-1βin rats with acute pleurisy induced by carrageenan.[Results]E.scaber L.extracts in three doses could reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in pleural fluid and serum,and inhibit acute pleurisy in rats.It was speculated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism was related to the inhibition of the release of inflammatory factors and the antioxidant effect of extracts of three doses of E.scaber L.[Conclusions]This experiment provides a basis for the development and application of E.scaber L.

Histochemical studies on intestinal metaplasia adjacent to gastric cardia adenocarcinoma in subjects at high-incidence area in Henan, north China

AIM: To characterize the histochemical type and pattern of intestinal metaplasia (IM) adjacent to gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) and distal gastric cancer (GC) in Linzhou, Henan Province, China.METHODS: Alcian-blue-periodic acid Schiff and high iron diamine-Alcian blue histochemical methods were performed on 142 cases of IM, including 49 cases of GCA and 93 cases of GC. All the patients were from Linzhou, Henan Province, China, the highest incidence area for both GCA and squamous cell carcinoma. Radio- or chemotherapy was not applied to these patients before surgery.RESULTS: The detection rate of IM in tissues adjacent to GCA tissues was 44.9%, which was significantly lower than that in GC tissues (80.64%, P<0.01). The rates of both incomplete small intestinal and colonic IM types identified by histochemistry in GCA tissues (31.82% and 63.64%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in GC (5.33% and 21.33%, respectively, P<0.01).CONCLUSION: IM in GCA and GC should be considered as a separate entity. Further research is needed to evaluate whether neoplastic progression of IM is related to its mucin profile in GCA.

地方高校化学基础课虚拟教研室建设的探索与实践

依托学堂在线平台建设地方高校化学基础课虚拟教研室,提出了建设目标和内容。以“总-分”模式分层搭建虚拟教研室组织框架,以“模块化”建设虚拟教研平台。通过协同建设、协调共享线上线下资源,组织开展虚拟教研活动和教师培训提升教师教育教学能力,打造和构建地方高校化学基础课共建共享平台和教学学术共同体。

Role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the pulmonary fi brosis induced by paraquat in rats

BACKGROUND:This study aims to explore the characteristics of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT)process and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the period of paraquat(PQ)-induced pulmonary fi brosis(PF).METHODS:Picrosirius red staining and collagen volume fraction were utilized to evaluate the pathological changes of PQ-induced PF in rats.Immunohistochemistry,Western blot,and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)were used to measure the protein and gene expression of EMT markers,EMT-associated transcription factors,and regulators of EMT-related pathways,respectively.RESULTS:The collagen deposition in the alveolar septum and increased PF markers were characteristics of pathological changes in PQ-induced PF,reached a peak on day 14 after PQ poisoning,and then decreased on day 21.The protein and gene expression of the fibrosis marker,EMT markers,transcription factors,and regulators of EMT-related signaling pathways signifi cantly increased at diff erent time points after PQ poisoning compared with corresponding controls(P<0.05),and most of them reached a peak on day 14,followed by a decrease on day 21.The gene expression of EMT markers was significantly correlated with PF markers,transcription factors,and regulators of EMT-related signaling pathways(P<0.05).The mRNA expression of transcription factors was signifi cantly correlated with that of TGF-β1 and Smad2(P<0.05 or P<0.01),instead of Wnt2 andβ-catenin(P>0.05).CONCLUSIONS:EMT process plays a role in the PQ-induced PF,in which most PF and EMT markers have a peak phenomenon,and its underlying molecular mechanisms might be determined by further studies.