In situ atomic-scale observation of size-dependent (de) potassiation and reversible phase transformation in tetragonal FeSe anodes

Potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)are considered promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries owing to cost-effective potassium resources and a suitable redox potential of-2.93 V(vs.-3.04 V for Li+/Li).However,the exploration of appro-priate electrode materials with the correct size for reversibly accommodating large K+ions presents a significant challenge.In addition,the reaction mecha-nisms and origins of enhanced performance remain elusive.Here,tetragonal FeSe nanoflakes of different sizes are designed to serve as an anode for PIBs,and their live and atomic-scale potassiation/depotassiation mechanisms are revealed for the first time through in situ high-resolution transmission electron micros-copy.We found that FeSe undergoes two distinct structural evolutions,sequen-tially characterized by intercalation and conversion reactions,and the initial intercalation behavior is size-dependent.Apparent expansion induced by the intercalation of K+ions is observed in small-sized FeSe nanoflakes,whereas unexpected cracks are formed along the direction of ionic diffusion in large-sized nanoflakes.The significant stress generation and crack extension originating from the combined effect of mechanical and electrochemical interactions are elucidated by geometric phase analysis and finite-element analysis.Despite the different intercalation behaviors,the formed products of Fe and K_(2)Se after full potassiation can be converted back into the original FeSe phase upon depotassiation.In particular,small-sized nanoflakes exhibit better cycling perfor-mance with well-maintained structural integrity.This article presents the first successful demonstration of atomic-scale visualization that can reveal size-dependent potassiation dynamics.Moreover,it provides valuable guidelines for optimizing the dimensions of electrode materials for advanced PIBs.

240 nm AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet micro-LEDs:size effect versus edge effect

240 nm AlGaN-based micro-LEDs with different sizes are designed and fabricated.Then,the external quantum efficiency(EQE)and light extraction efficiency(LEE)are systematically investigated by comparing size and edge effects.Here,it is revealed that the peak optical output power increases by 81.83%with the size shrinking from 50.0 to 25.0μm.Thereinto,the LEE increases by 26.21%and the LEE enhancement mainly comes from the sidewall light extraction.Most notably,transversemagnetic(TM)mode light intensifies faster as the size shrinks due to the tilted mesa side-wall and Al reflector design.However,when it turns to 12.5μm sized micro-LEDs,the output power is lower than 25.0μm sized ones.The underlying mechanism is that even though protected by SiO2 passivation,the edge effect which leads to current leakage and Shockley-Read-Hall(SRH)recombination deteriorates rapidly with the size further shrinking.Moreover,the ratio of the p-contact area to mesa area is much lower,which deteriorates the p-type current spreading at the mesa edge.These findings show a role of thumb for the design of high efficiency micro-LEDs with wavelength below 250 nm,which will pave the way for wide applications of deep ultraviolet(DUV)micro-LEDs.

Effects of Different Seed Stem Sizes on the Changes of Available Elements in Rhizosphere Soil of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.

[Objectives]This study was conducted to screen suitable seed stems of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq.from different provenances and to provide a theoretical basis for the high-yielding and high-efficiency cultivation of F.thunbergii Miq.introduced to different places.[Methods]F.thunbergii Miq.from four different provenances including Zhejiang,Nantong and Chongqing were introduced and cultivated in Wanzhou of Chongqing.The contents of available Zn,Fe,Mn,Cu,Mo,N,P,K,Ca and Mg in rhizosphere soil of F.thunbergii Miq.during five growing stages were determined after selecting different stem sizes for field cultivation.[Results]Small stems of Pan an and Ningbo provenances(SSG3,121-160/kg)and middle stems of Nantong and Fengjie provenances(SSG2,81-120/kg)showed higher soil availability.[Conclusions]In the process of introduction and cultivation of F.thunbergii Miq.,high yield and high efficiency can be achieved by selecting smaller seed stems of F.thunbergii Miq.

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on neural differentiation of stem cells offer new hope for neurological disease treatment

Stem cell transplantation has brought new hope for the treatment of neurological diseases.The key to stem cell therapy lies in inducing the specific differentiation of stem cells into nerve cells.Because the differentiation of stem cells in vitro and in vivo is affected by multiple factors,the final differentiation outcome is strongly associated with the microenvironment in which the stem cells are located.Accordingly,the optimal microenvironment for inducing stem cell differentiation is a hot topic.EGb761 is extracted from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree.It is used worldwide and is becoming one of the focuses of stem cell research.Studies have shown that EGb761 can antagonize oxygen free radicals,stabilize cell membranes,promote neurogenesis and synaptogenesis,increase the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factors,and replicate the environment required during the differentiation of stem cells into nerve cells.This offers the possibility of using EGb761 to induce the differentiation of stem cells,facilitating stem cell transplantation.To provide a comprehensive reference for the future application of EGb761 in stem cell therapy,we reviewed studies investigating the influence of EGb761 on stem cells.These started with the composition and neuropharmacology of EGb761,and eventually led to the finding that EGb761 and some of its important components play important roles in the differentiation of stem cells and the protection of a beneficial microenvironment for stem cell transplantation.

Analysis of the Effect of Subgroup Size on the X-Bar Control Chart Using Forensic Science Laboratory Sample Influx Data

This paper analyzes the effect of subgroup size on the x-bar chart characteristics using sample influx (SIF) into forensic science laboratory (FSL). The characteristics studied include changes in out-or-control points (OCP), upper control limit UCLx, and zonal demarcations. Multi-rules were used to identify the number of out-of-control-points, Nocp as violations using five control chart rules applied separately. A sensitivity analysis on the Nocp was applied for subgroup size, k, and number of sigma above the mean value to determine the upper control limit, UCLx. A computer code was implemented using a FORTRAN code to create x-bar control-charts and capture OCP and other control-chart characteristics with increasing k from 2 to 25. For each value of k, a complete series of average values, Q(p), of specific length, Nsg, was created from which statistical analysis was conducted and compared to the original SIF data, S(t). The variation of number of out-of-control points or violations, Nocp, for different control-charts rules with increasing k was determined to follow a decaying exponential function, Nocp = Ae–α, for which, the goodness of fit was established, and the R2 value approached unity for Rule #4 and #5 only. The goodness of fit was established to be the new criteria for rational subgroup-size range, for Rules #5 and #4 only, which involve a count of 6 consecutive points decreasing and 8 consecutive points above the selected control limit (σ/3 above the grand mean), respectively. Using this criterion, the rational subgroup range was established to be 4 ≤ k ≤ 20 for the two x-bar control chart rules.

Utilizing sediment grain size characteristics to assess the effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in reducing aeolian erosion in Minqin desert area,China

The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.

Effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs in combination with insulin on myocardial infarct size in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM To evaluate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs(GLP-1 a) combined with insulin on myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury in diabetic rats.METHODS Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2 DM) was induced in maleWistar rats with streptozotocin(65 mg/kg) and verified using an oral glucose tolerance test. After anesthesia, the left coronary artery was occluded for 40 min followed by 80 min reperfusion. Blood glucose level was measured during surgery. Rats were randomized into six groups as follows:(1) control rats;(2) insulin(0.1 U/kg) treated rats prior to ischemia;(3) insulin(0.1 U/kg) treated rats at reperfusion;(4) GLP-1 a(140 mg/kg) treated rats prior to ischemia;(5) GLP-1 a(140 mg/kg) treated rats at reperfusion; and(6) rats treated with GLP-1 a(140 mg/kg) prior to ischemia plus insulin(0.1 U/kg) at reperfusion. Myocardial area at risk and infarct size was measured planimetrically using Evans blue and triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, respectively.RESULTS There was no significant difference in the myocardial area at risk among groups. Insulin treatment before ischemia resulted in a significant increase in infarct size(34.7% ± 3.4% vs 18.6% ± 3.1% in the control rats, P < 0.05). Post-ischemic administration of insulin or GLP-1 a had no effect on infarct size. However, pre-ischemic administration of GLP-1 a reduced infarct size to 12% ± 2.2%(P < 0.05). The maximal infarct size reduction was observed in the group treated with GLP-1 a prior to ischemia and insulin at reperfusion(8% ± 1.6%, P < 0.05 vs the control and GLP-1 a alone treated groups).CONCLUSION GLP-1 a pre-administration results in myocardial infarct size reduction in rats with T2 DM. These effects are maximal in rats treated with GLP-1 a pre-ischemia plus insulin at reperfusion.

Effects of spot size on the operation mode of Ga As photoconductive semiconductor switch employing extrinsic photoconductivity

To guide the illuminating design to improve the on-state performances of gallium arsenide(GaAs)photoconductive semiconductor switch(PCSS),the effect of spot size on the operation mode of GaAsPCSS based on a semi-insulating wafer with a thickness of 1 mm,triggered by a 1064-nm extrinsic laser beam with the rectangular spot,has been investigated experimentally.It is found that the variation of the spot size in length and width can act on the different parts of the output waveform integrating the characteristics of the linear and nonlinear modes,and then significantly boosts the PCSS toward different operation modes.On this basis,a two-channel model containing the active and passive parts is introduced to interpret the relevant influencing mechanisms.Results indicate that the increased spot length can peak the amplitude of static domains in the active part to enhance the development of the nonlinear switching,while the extended spot width can change the distribution of photogenerated carriers on both parts to facilitate the linear switching and weaken the nonlinear switching,which have been proved by comparing the domain evolutions under different spot sizes.

Effects of tree size and organ age on variations in carbon,nitrogen,and phosphorus stoichiometry in Pinus koraiensis

Carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)are of fundamental importance for growth and nutrient dynamics within plant organs and deserve more attention at regional to global scales.However,our knowledge of how these nutrients vary with tree size,organ age,or root order at the individual level remains limited.We determined C,N,and P contents and their stoichiometric ratios(i.e.,nutrient traits)in needles,branches,and fine roots at different organ ages(0-3-year-old needles and branches)and root orders(1st-4th order roots)from 64 Pinus koraiensis of varying size(Diameter at breast height ranged from 0.3 to 100 cm)in northeast China.Soil factors were also measured.The results show that nutrient traits were regulated by tree size,organ age,or root order rather than soil factors.At a whole-plant level,nutrient traits decreased in needles and fine roots but increased in branches with tree size.At the organ level,age or root order had a negative effect on C,N,and P and a positive effect on stoichiometric ratios.Our results demonstrate that nutrient variations are closely related to organ-specific functions and ecophysiological processes at an individual level.It is suggested that the nutrient acquisition strategy by younger trees and organ fractions with higher nutrient content is for survival.Conversely,nutrient storage strategy in older trees and organ fractions are mainly for steady growth.Our results clarified the nutrient utilization strategies during tree and organ ontogeny and suggest that tree size and organ age or root order should be simultaneously considered to understand the complexities of nutrient variations.

Effect of Pelleted Total Mixed Ration of Different Particle Sizes on Production Performance and Serum Biochemical Index of Fattening Hainan Black Goats

[Objective] The paper to investigate the effects of pelleted total mixed ration of different particle size on production performance and serum biochemical index of fattening Hainan black goats.[Method] Thirty-six fattening Hainan black goats with the same genetic backgrounds and similar initial weight of(19.02±0.22) kg were randomly divided into three treatments. Goats were fed with Juncao+concentrate(control group), pel-leted total mixed ration I(particle size 6 mm, experimental group I) and II(particle size 5 mm, experimental group II), respectively. The trial lasted 45 d.[Result](1) The final weight and daily gain of experimental group II were significantly higher than those of control group( P<0.05), and the daily gain of experimental group II was also higher than that of experimental group I(P<0.05);the feed intake of experimental group II was markedly higher than that of control group(P<0.05), but was significantly lower than that of experimental group I(P<0.05). The feed/gain ratio of experimental group II was significantly lower than those of control group and experimental group I(P<0.05).(2) The feed gain cost of experimental group II was markedly lower than that of control group(P<0.05), but the gross profit was significantly higher than those of control group and experimental group I(P<0.05).(3) Compared with the control group, the serum total protein content of experimental group II increased markedly( P<0.05) while the urea nitrogen level decreased(P>0.05).[Conclusion] The pelleted total mixed ration with the particle size of 5 mm obtained better fattening ef-fect, and obviously improved the serum total protein level.

Using Cohen’s Effect Size to Identify Distinguishing Statements in Q-Methodology

Q-methodology was introduced more than 80 years ago to study subjective topics such as attitudes, perceptions, preferences, and feelings and there has not been much change in its statistical components since then. In Q-methodology, subjective topics are studied using a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques. It involves development of a sample of statements and rank-ordering these statements by study participants using a grid known as Q-sort table. After completion of Q-sort tables by the participants, a by-person factor analysis (i.e., the factor analysis is performed on persons, not variables or traits) is used to analyze the data. Therefore, each factor represents a group of individuals with similar views, feelings, or preferences about the topic of the study. Then, each group (factor) is usually described by a set of statements, called distinguishing statements, or statements with high or low factor scores. In this article, we review one important statistical issue, i.e. the criteria for identifying distinguishing statements and provide a review of its mathematical calculation and statistical background. We show that the current approach for identifying distinguishing statements has no sound basis, which may result in erroneous findings and seems to be appropriate only when there are repeated evaluations of Q-sample from the same subjects. However, most Q-studies include independent subjects with no repeated evaluation. Finally, a new approach is suggested for identifying distinguishing statements based on Cohen’s effect size. We demonstrate the application of this new formula by applying the current and the suggested methods on a Q-dataset and explain the differences.

Theory of Electromagnetism and Gravity —Modeling Earth as a Rotating Solenoid Coil

Presented in this manuscript are conventional electrical engineering tools to model the earth as a rotating electrical machine. Calculations using known parameters of the earth and measured field data has resulted in new understanding of the earth’s electrical system and gyroscopic rotation. The material makeup of the inner earth is better understood based on derived permeability and permittivity constants. The planet has been modeled as simple coils and then as a parallel impedance circuit which has led to fundamental insight into planetary speed control and RLC combination for Schumann Resonance of 7.83 Hz. Torque and Voltage Constants and the inverse Speed Constant are calculated using three methods and all compare favorably with Newton’s Gravitational Constant. A helical resonator is referenced and Schumann’s Resonant ideal frequency is calculated and compared with others idealism. A new theory of gravity based on particle velocity selector at the poles is postulated. Two equations are presented as the needed links between Faraday’s electromagnetism and Newtonian physics. Acceleration and Deceleration of earth is explained as a centripetal governor. A new equation for planetary attraction and the attraction of atomic matter is theorized. Rotation of the earth’s electrical coil is explained in terms of the Richardson effect. Electric power transfer from the sun to the planets is proposed via Flux Transfer Events. The impact of this evolving science of electromagnetic modeling of planets will be magnified as the theory is proven, and found to be useful for future generations of engineers and scientists who seek to discover our world and other planets.

Experimental study on the size effect on the equation of state of concretes under shock loading

Adopting the classical theory of hydrocodes,the constitutive relations of concretes are separated into an equation of state(EoS)which describes the volumetric behavior of concrete material and a strength model which depicts the shear properties of concrete.The experiments on the EoS of concrete is always challenging due to the technical difficulties and equipment limitations,especially for the specimen size effect on the EoS.Although some researchers investigate the shock properties of concretes by fly-plate impact tests,the specimens used in their tests are usually in one size.In this paper,the fly-plate impact tests on concrete specimens with different sizes are performed to investigate the size effect on the shock properties of concrete materials.The mechanical background of the size effect on the shock properties are revealed,which is related to the lateral rarefaction effect and the deviatoric stress produced in the specimen.According to the tests results,the modified EoS considering the size effect on the shock properties of concrete are proposed,which the bulk modulus of concrete is unpredicted by up to 20% if size effects are not accounted for.

Strength criterion for crystalline rocks considering grain size effect and tensile-compressive strength ratio

The macroscopic mechanical properties of rocks are significantly influenced by their microstructure.As a material bonded by mineral grains,the grain morphology of crystalline rock is the primary factor influencing the strength.However,most strength criteria neglect the strength variations caused by different grain characteristics in rocks.Furthermore,the traditional linear criteria tend to overestimate tensile strength and exhibit apex singularity.To address these shortcomings,a piecewise strength criterion that considers the grain size effect has been proposed.A part of an ellipse was employed to construct the envelope of the tensive-shear region on the meridian plane,to accurately reproduce the low tensile-compressive strength ratio.Based on the analysis of experimental data,both linear and exponential modification functions that account for grain size effects were integrated into the proposed criterion.The corresponding finite element algorithm has been implemented.The accuracy and applicability of the proposed criterion were validated by comparing with the experimental data.

Numerical study of size effect in concrete penetration with LDPM

Projectile size effect is of great importance since the scaling researches are extensively applied to concrete penetration investigations. This paper numerically deals with the projectile size effect on penetration resistance via the recently developed Lattice Discrete Particles Model(LDPM) which is featured with mesoscale constitutive laws governing the interaction between adjacent particles to account for cohesive fracture, strain hardening in compression and compaction due to pore collapse. Simulations of two different penetration tests are carried to shed some light on the size effect issue. The penetration numerical model is validated by matching the projectile deceleration curve of and predicting the depth of penetration(DOP). By constant velocity penetration simulations, the target resistance is found to be dependent on the projectile size. By best fitting numerical results of constant velocity penetration, a size effect law for target resistance is proposed and validated against literature data. Moreover, the size effect is numerically obtained in the projectile with longer extended nose part meanwhile the shorter extended nose is found to improve the DOP since the projectile nose is sharpened.

Effect of Skeleton Grain Size on the Saturation of Gas Hydrate in Natural Sediments

Natural gas hydrate is prospected as a new and promising,highly clean energy resource that mainly occurs in perma-frost or at continental margins.Its formation is subject to many soil conditions,such as grain size,matrix materials,pore morphology,and permeability.In this study,we propose that grain size is the most decisive parameter that affects the saturation of gas hydrate in sediments based on data from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 164 and Mallik 5L-38,which represent marine sediments and terrestrial sediments,respectively.Our study reveals that high gas hydrate saturation generally occurs in coarse-grained sand,regardless of whether sediment formation is homogeneous or inhomogeneous,and the sorting of sediments may affect the hydrate saturation to a certain degree.Using grain size and sorting of sediments may be the most intuitive proxy method for a rough estimation of hydrate saturation.Further study is necessary to fully understand the relationship between hydrate morphology and sediment grain size,even though massive hydrates are typically found in fine clayey-rich sediments.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Polysaccharide from Embelia parviflora Wall.on Rheumatoid Arthritis in Rats

[Objectives]To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Embelia parviflora Wall.polysaccharide on rheumatoid arthritis(RA)in rats.[Methods]RA rat model was induced by type II collagen.After successful modeling,the rats were divided into model group,positive group,low,medium and high dose of E.parviflora Wall.polysaccharide groups,and normal control group.Body mass,toe volume and arthritis index were measured,and thymus index and spleen index were calculated.The levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-αin serum and synovial tissue of ankle joint were detected by ELISA.[Results]Compared with the normal control group,the pathological changes such as synovial hyperplasia and unclear layer were observed in the model group,the body mass was decreased(P<0.05),the toe volume,arthritis index,thymus and spleen index were increased(P<0.05),and the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-αin serum and ankle synovial tissue were increased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the histopathological changes in synovium of ankle joint in the positive group and the medium and high dose groups of E.parviflora Wall.polysaccharide were significantly improved,and the body mass was increased(P<0.05).The toe volume,arthritis index,thymus index and spleen index were decreased(P<0.05).The levels of IL-Iβ,IL-6 and TNF-αin serum and synovial tissue of ankle joint were increased(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference between the low dose group of E.parviflora Wall.polysaccharide and the model group(P>0.05).[Conclusions]E.parviflora Wall.polysaccharide can reduce the body's inflammatory response and improve RA,which may be related to the inhibition of the activation of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α.

Hypoglycaemic effect of Berberis vulgaris L.in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To achieve a primary pharmacological screening contained in the aqueous extract of Berberis vulgaris(B.vulgaris) and to examine the hypoglycaemic effect and biochemical parameters of aqueous and saponins extract on groups of rats rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin.Methods:The phytochemicol tests to detect the presence of different compounds were based on the visual observation of color change or formation of precipitate after the addition of specific reagents.Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal(i.p.) injection of streptozotocin(STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/kg bw.The fasting blood glucose levels were estimated by glucose oxidase-peroxidase reactive strips(Dextrostix,Bayer Diagnostics).Blood samples were taken by cutting the tip of the tail.Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were estimated by enzymatic DHBS colorimetric method.Results:Administration of 62.5 and 2S.0 mg/kg of saponins and aqueous extract respectively in normal rats group shows a significant hypoglycemic activity(32.33%and 40.17%respectively) during the first week.However,diabetic group treated with saponin extract produced a maximum fall of 73.1%and 76.03%at day 1 and day 21 compared to the diabetics control.Also,blood glucose levels of the diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract showed decrease of 78.79%on the first day and the effect remains roughly constant during 3 week. Both extracts also declined significantly biochemical parameters(20.77%-49.00%).The control in the loss of body weight was observed in treated diabetic rats as compared to diabetic controls. Conclusions:These results demonstrated significant antidiabetic effects and showed that serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides levels were decreased,significantly,consequently this plant might be of value in diabetes treatment.

Effects of aminoguanidine on nitric oxide production induced by inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin in cultured rat hepatocytes

AIM: To study the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) and two L-arginine analogues N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mixture (CM) in the cultured rat hepatocytes, and examine their mechanisms action. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were incubated with AG, L-NAME, L-NNA, Actinomycin D (ActD) and dexamethasone in a medium containing CM (LPS plus TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) for 24h. NO production in the cultured supernatant was measured with the Griess reaction. Intracellular cGMP level was detected with radioimmunoassy. RESULTS: NO production was markedly blocked by AG and L-NAME in a dose-dependent manner under inflammatory stimuli condition triggered by CM in vitro. The rate of the maximum inhibitory effects of L-NAME (38.9%) was less potent than that obtained with AG(53.7%, P 【 0.05). There was no significant difference between the inhibitory effects of AG and two L-arginine analogues on intracellular cGMP accumulation in rat cultured hepatocytes. Non-specific NOS expression inhibitor dexamethasone (DEX)and iNOS mRNA transcriptional inhibitor ActD also significantly inhibited CM-induced NO production. AG(0.1 mmol x L(-1)) and ActD (0.2 ng x L(-1)) were equipotent in decreasing NO production induced by inflammatory stimuli in vitro, and both effects were more potent than that induced by non-selectivity NOS activity inhibitor L-NAME (0.1 mmol x L(-1)) under similar stimuli conditions (P【0.01). CONCLUSION: AG is a potent selective inhibitor of inducible isoform of NOS,and the mechanism of action may be not only competitive inhibition in the substrate level, but also the gene expression level in rat hepatocytes.

Effect of Size and Initial Water Content on the Effective Diffusion Coefficient during Convective Drying of Sweet Potato Cut into Cubic and Cylindrical Shapes

In this article, we investigated the influence of size and initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient of sweet potatoes samples cut into cubic and cylindrical shapes. The sizes of the cubic samples are 0.5, 1, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5 and 3 cm edge with a respective initial water content of 2.7, 3.76, 3.48, 2.68, 3.28, 2.17 and 2.29 kg/kgms. For cylindrical samples, the radius is set at 0.5 cm and sample heights are 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 cm with respective water contents of 2.2, 3.19, 2.85, 2.1, 2.17, 2.39 and 2.03 kg/kgms. The effective diffusion coefficients of cubic samples are of the order of 10−10 and 10−9 m2∙s−1 grew with sample edge. As for the cylindrical samples, the effective diffusion coefficients were of the order of 10−9 m2∙s−1 and there was no linear correlation between cylinder height and their effective diffusion coefficient. As for the examination of the initial water content on the effective diffusion coefficient, it turned out that the initial water content had no influence on the effective diffusion coefficient of the sweet potato samples.