Effect of Delay Released Welan Gum on the Performance of Cement Mortar

Welan gum is widely applied in environmental admixtures due to its good thickening and rheological properties. With its powerful charge density in the molecular structure, the competitive adsorption between welan gum and other admixtures happened remarkably during the addition process. So controlling the releasing rate of welan gum will be able to improve the competitive adsorption, while having no disadvantages to its thickening and workability at the same time. The investigation of influences of the delay released welan gum（DRWG） on the fluidity and strength of cement mortar, bleeding rate and rheological properties of cement paste, adsorption amount and zeta potential of clinker single mineralogical phases, shows that there will be a better mortar workability and certain improvement in mortar strength with DRWG. For mortar with DRWG, the standing bleeding rate is 0, and there is less thixotropic, less adsorption, and a lower zeta potential value on the surface of clinker mineralogical phases.

Delayed seed dispersal species and related traits in the desert of the United Arab Emirates

The ability of plants to safely retain seeds in the mother plant is an adaptive mechanism described in many desert plants.However,research about delayed seed dispersal species in the desert of the United Arab Emirates(UAE)is lacking.This study aims to identify these delayed seed dispersal species and assess the relationships of the presence of delayed seed dispersal with plant growth form,habit,spatial dispersal,antitelechoric mechanism,and seed release time.The relationships between the presence of delayed seed dispersal and the above studied traits were assessed by using the Pearson Chi-square test and Nonlinear Principal Components Analysis(NLPCA).Results showed that a total of 46 delayed seed dispersal species were recorded(15.0%of 307 studied species)and the highest incidence occurred in the Fabaceae family(17.4%).Delayed seed dispersal species were predominantly perennial plants(73.9%)with spatial restricted dispersal(67.4%),which released seed in the dry season(45.7%).The dominant groups of delayed seed dispersal species were persistent fruits species and synaptospermy(28.3%).All graminoids showed persistent lignified fruits,while prostrate annuals were basicarpic species with myxospermy.Sandy habitats had the highest number of delayed seed dispersal species(54.3%),whereas salt flats had the lowest(23.9%).In the desert of the UAE,delayed seed dispersal species spread seeds until the end of the dry and windy season,thus breaking seed dormancy at this time and ensuring seed germination in the next arrival of the rainy season.This morphological and ecological adaptation of delayed dispersal species is essential to the survival and sustainable development of vegetation in desert environments.

A classification of genes involved in normal and delayed male puberty

Puberty is a pivotal biological process that completes sexual maturation to achieve full reproductive capability.It is a major transformational period of life,whose timing is strongly affected by genetic makeup of the individual,along with various internal and external factors.Although the exact mechanism for initiation of the cascade of molecular events that culminate in puberty is not yet known,the process of pubertal onset involves interaction of numerous complex signaling pathways of hypothalamopituitary-testicular(HPT)axis.We developed a classification of the mechanisms involved in male puberty that allowed placing many genes into physiological context.These include(i)hypothalamic development during embryogenesis,(ii)synaptogenesis where gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH)neurons form neuronal connections with suprahypothalamic neurons,(iii)maintenance of neuron homeostasis,(iv)regulation of synthesis and secretion of GnRH,(v)appropriate receptors/proteins on neurons governing GnRH production and release,(vi)signaling molecules activated by the receptors,(vii)the synthesis and release of GnRH,(viii)the production and release of gonadotropins,(ix)testicular development,(x)synthesis and release of steroid hormones from testes,and(xi)the action of steroid hormones in downstream effector tissues.Defects in components of this system during embryonic development,childhood/adolescence,or adulthood may disrupt/nullify puberty,leading to long-term male infertility and/or hypogonadism.This review provides a list of 598 genes involved in the development of HPT axis and classified according to this schema.Furthermore,this review identifies a subset of 75 genes for which genetic mutations are reported to delay or disrupt male puberty.

Glutamate-releasing BEST1 channel is a new target for neuroprotection against ischemic stroke with wide time window

Many efforts have been made to understand excitotoxicity and develop neuroprotectants for the therapy of ischemic stroke.The narrow treatment time window is still to be solved.Given that the ischemic core expanded over days,treatment with an extended time window is anticipated.Bestrophin1(BEST1)belongs to a bestrophin family of calcium-activated chloride channels.We revealed an increase in neuronal BEST1 expression and function within the peri-infarct from 8 to 48 h after ischemic stroke in mice.Interfering the protein expression or inhibiting the channel function of BEST1 by genetic manipulation displayed neuroprotective effects and improved motor functional deficits.Using electrophysiological recordings,we demonstrated that extrasynaptic glutamate release through BEST1 channel resulted in delayed excitotoxicity.Finally,we confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of BEST1 during 6—72 h post-ischemia in rodents.This delayed treatment prevented the expansion of infarct volume and the exacerbation of neurological functions.Our study identifies the glutamatereleasing BEST1 channel as a potential therapeutic target against ischemic stroke with a wide time window.