Multiplicity of Solutions for a Class of Noncooperative Elliptic Systems

In this paper, we consider the following noncooperative elliptic systems where Ω is a bounded domain in RN with smooth boundary ∂Ω, λ,δ,γ are real parameters, and . We assume that F is subquadratic at zero with respect to the variables u,v. By using a variant Clark’s theorem, we obtain infinitely many nontrivial solutions (uk,vk) with as k → ∞. Compared with the existing literature, we do not need to assume the behavior of the nonlinearity ∇F at infinity.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of the effects of Zhenwu decoction on kidney yang deficiency pattern in chronic kidney disease

Objective:To explore the kidney yang deficiency pattern(KYDP)in a chronic kidney disease(CKD)rat model and the mechanisms underlying the effects of Zhenwu decoction(ZWD)by conducting tran-scriptomic and metabolomic analyses.Methods:Adriamycin(ADR)combined with hydrocortisone(HC)was used to induce CKD with KYDP in rats.ADR was injected into the tail vein twice.HC was injected intramuscularly for 8 weeks.ZWD was administered by gavage for 8 weeks.The general condition was observed,24-h urine protein was detected,serum corticosterone,triiodothyronine,thyroxine,TSH,testosterone,cAMP,and cGMP levels were determined,and pathological analysis was conducted.Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to screen differentially expressed genes(DEGs),differentially expressed metabolites(DEMs),and differentially expressed pathways(DEPs).The core DEMs and DEGs were input to Metab-oanalyst 5.0 to identify the pathways affected by ZWD.Results:In the HC group,KYDP symptoms were observed.Compared with control group,the levels of 24-h urine protein,TSH,and cGMP significantly increased(all P<0.01),and corticosterone,triiodothyronine,thyroxine,and cAMP significantly decreased(all P<0.01)in the HC group.After ZWD intervention,the levels of above-mentioned indicators could be reversed to some extent.Pathological analysis in the HC group revealed kidney lesions.DEGs in the ZWD group were mainly associated with pathways such as nucleotide synthesis and endocrine pathways.In the ZWD group,differences in biosynthesis of unsat-urated fatty acids and butanoate metabolism were observed.The following pathways were significantly affected by ZWD:arachidonic acid metabolism,valine,leucine,and isoleucine biosynthesis,linoleic acid metabolism,and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism.Conclusion:ZWD can be used to treat KYDP in CKD through regulating arachidonic acid metabolism,valine,leucine,and isoleucine biosynthesis,linoleic acid metabolism,and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism.

Tangshenping granule inhibits pyroptosis in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy via the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of Tangshenping(TSP) on pyroptosis in a streptozotocininduced diabetic nephropathy(DN) rat model.Methods: DN was established in Spraguee Dawley rats. Rats were randomly divided into DN(model group), irbesartan, and TSP low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, besides the control group. The 24 h albuminuria content, and serum content of TC, TGs, Scr, IL-1 b, UREA, LDLs, and IL-18 were assessed.Hematoxylin & eosin and Mallory staining were performed to examine pathological changes in the kidney. The mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase 1, and GSDMD in the kidney were also examined.Results: The 24 h albuminuria content was obviously lower in the treatment groups compared to the model group(all P <.01). Levels of TC, TGs, Scr, UREA, LDLs, and IL-18 after drug interventions were obviously lower compared to the model group(all P <.05). The serum content of IL-1 b in the TSP medium-and high-dose groups were much lower compared to the model group(P =.013 and P=.001,respectively). Through immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we observed that the protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1 b, and IL-18 were lower after drug interventions compared to the model group(all P <.05). Using qPCR, we observed that the mRNA expressions of caspase-1, IL-1 b, IL-18, and GSDMD after drug interventions were significantly lower compared to the model group(all P <.05). The m RNA expressions of NLRP3 in the TSP medium-and high-dose groups were both lower compared to the model group(all P <.05).Conclusion: TSP downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, and GSDMD. Our findings demonstrate that the beneficial effects of TSP on renal function are at least partly mediated by the inhibition of micro-inflammation and modulation of the expression of pyroptosis-related factors.

Protective effect and possible mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

Objective:To explore the protective effect and potential mechanisms of danshen root(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.,S.miltiorrhiza) and its extracts for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods:Preclinical studies of S.miltiorrhiza and its extracts on DN were systematically searched in nine databases.The primary outcomes were blood glucose,kidney function,proteinuria,and renal histopathology.The secondary outcomes included the related mechanisms.The methodological quality of animal studies was assessed based on the risk of bias tool of the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation(SYRCLE) for animal studies.Meta-analysis was performed using R software(version 4.1.2).Results:Twenty-nine animal experimental studies that met the eligibility criteria were included in this study.Compared to the control group,S.miltiorrhiza reduced the serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen,24-h urine protein,24-h urine albumin,blood glucose,and kidney index(kidney weight/body weight),and alleviated renal pathological damage.In terms of the mechanism of action,compared to the control group,S.miltiorrhiza reduced the levels of transforming growth factor β1,collagen Ⅳ,malondialdehyde,tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin-6,and monocyte/macrophage(ED-1),and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase,nuclear factor E2-related factor 2,and heme oxygenase-1.Conclusion:The existing evidence shows that S.miltiorrhiza has beneficial effects on the animal model of DN,and its mechanism is mainly related to improving kidney fibrosis,oxidative stress,and inflammatory response.

Effects of Irrigation Amount on Soil Water Content of Gentiana macrophylla

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different irrigation quotas and irrigation times on soil physical and chemical properties and water content in the planting areas of Gentiana macrophylla in dry farming areas of southern Ningxia.[Methods]G.macrophylla planted for three years was selected as the experimental material,and the water content,nutrients,bulk density and total porosity of the soil at different depths(0-20 and 20-40 cm)were measured under different irrigation quotas and irrigation times.[Results]Compared with the CK,different irrigation quotas and irrigation times could significantly improve the water contents of the 0-20 and 20-40 cm layers in the planting areas of G.macrophylla.The change trend of water content at the 0-20 cm soil depth was 3 times of irrigation>2 times of irrigation>1 time of irrigation>CK,and that at the 20-40 cm soil depth was 2 times of irrigation>3 times of irrigation>1 time of irrigation>CK.With the increase of irrigation times,soil urease in the 0-20 cm soil showed a trend of decreasing at first and then increasing,reaching a maximum value of 0.415 mg/g·24 h with 1 time of irrigation,which increased by 84.44%compared with the CK,and the value with two times of irrigation was basically the same as that of the CK,but 3 times of irrigation resulted in a value 57.33%higher than the CK.However,the changes of 20-40 cm were the opposite.The change trends of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil layers with irrigation times was smaller,and the contents of soil organic carbon,available phosphorus and available potassium increased first and then decreased with the increase of irrigation times,and were generally higher than those in the CK.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical and technical basis for the artificial cultivation of G.macrophylla in dry farming areas of Ningxia.

The cytogenetics and fiber properties of an allohexaploid between Gossypium hirsutum and G.somalense

Cytogenetics and fiber properties were studied on the Gossypium hirsutumxG. somalense F2 hybrid and later generations. The cytological analyses of pollen mother cells (PMCs) were made at meiotic metaphase I. The results indicated that the hybrid was a new allohexaploid, its chromosome number determined as 2n=6x=78, and genome group as 2[(AD)1E2]. Chromosomal configurations of the hexaploid averaged 0.15Ⅰ+ 38.72Ⅱ + 0.1Ⅲ + 0.02Ⅳ per cell, 85.09% PMCs having 39 bivalents, and only 11.84% PMCs having 1 to 2 multivalents, indicating that heteroge-netic recombinations of chromosomes occurs between (AD)1 and E2, nevertheless, the frequency is lower. The hexaploids are self-fertile and the progenies remain the hexaploids, whose fibers are light brown and have higher strength by measurement of HVI 900 system. The fiber strength increases 42% than that of upland cotton variety. Therefore, it is possible for the hexaploid to be an important germplasm resource to improve fiber strength of cotton.