Biological Fingerprinting Analysis of Interaction Between Taxoids in Taxus and Microtubule Protein by Microdialysis Coupled with High-performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for Screening Antimicrotubule Agents

Some natural products, such as traditional Chinese medicines（TCMs）, contain compounds with anticancer activity and have attracted a great interest in recent years as alternative anticancer therapies. A quick and convenient assay for screening antimicrotubule compounds in which in vitro microdialysis/high-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） is used to monitor the binding of the compounds extracted from TCM Taxus cuspidata Siebold ＆ Zucc（Taxus） to microtubules is reported. It was observed that the extract of Taxus contains at least five compounds which have affinity interaction with microtubules by biological fingerprinting analysis, and they were identified as the taxoids of taxol, baccatin III, 10-deacetylbaccatin Ⅲ（10-DAB）, cephalomannine and 7-epi-10-deacetyltaxol （7-epi-10-DAT） based on the comparison of their high-performance liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric and UV spectra with those of the standard samples, both assembly-promoting and disassembly-inhibiting characteristics of those compounds were evaluated. It was observed that baccatin Ⅲ and 10-DAB bound to microtubules and the binding degrees were influenced by GTP. Competitive binding behavior of taxol with other four taxoids to microtubules was also investigated.

Accelerated design of high-performance Mg-Mn-based magnesium alloys based on novel bayesian optimization

Magnesium(Mg),being the lightest structural metal,holds immense potential for widespread applications in various fields.The development of high-performance and cost-effective Mg alloys is crucial to further advancing their commercial utilization.With the rapid advancement of machine learning(ML)technology in recent years,the“data-driven''approach for alloy design has provided new perspectives and opportunities for enhancing the performance of Mg alloys.This paper introduces a novel regression-based Bayesian optimization active learning model(RBOALM)for the development of high-performance Mg-Mn-based wrought alloys.RBOALM employs active learning to automatically explore optimal alloy compositions and process parameters within predefined ranges,facilitating the discovery of superior alloy combinations.This model further integrates pre-established regression models as surrogate functions in Bayesian optimization,significantly enhancing the precision of the design process.Leveraging RBOALM,several new high-performance alloys have been successfully designed and prepared.Notably,after mechanical property testing of the designed alloys,the Mg-2.1Zn-2.0Mn-0.5Sn-0.1Ca alloy demonstrates exceptional mechanical properties,including an ultimate tensile strength of 406 MPa,a yield strength of 287 MPa,and a 23%fracture elongation.Furthermore,the Mg-2.7Mn-0.5Al-0.1Ca alloy exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 211 MPa,coupled with a remarkable 41%fracture elongation.

Optimization Techniques for GPU-Based Parallel Programming Models in High-Performance

This study embarks on a comprehensive examination of optimization techniques within GPU-based parallel programming models,pivotal for advancing high-performance computing(HPC).Emphasizing the transition of GPUs from graphic-centric processors to versatile computing units,it delves into the nuanced optimization of memory access,thread management,algorithmic design,and data structures.These optimizations are critical for exploiting the parallel processing capabilities of GPUs,addressingboth the theoretical frameworks and practical implementations.By integrating advanced strategies such as memory coalescing,dynamic scheduling,and parallel algorithmic transformations,this research aims to significantly elevate computational efficiency and throughput.The findings underscore the potential of optimized GPU programming to revolutionize computational tasks across various domains,highlighting a pathway towards achieving unparalleled processing power and efficiency in HPC environments.The paper not only contributes to the academic discourse on GPU optimization but also provides actionable insights for developers,fostering advancements in computational sciences and technology.

Expansion Performance and Microstructure of High-performance Concrete using Differently Scaled MgO Agents and Mineral Powder

To investigate the assumptions proposed in this paper,the evolution law governing the strength and expansion performance of MgO and nano-MgO micro-expansive concrete in the environment of mineral powder was firstly observed in this study.Secondly,SEM,XRD,and TG-DSC microscopic tests were conducted to reveal the effects of the active mineral-powder admixture on the hydration degree and expansion performance of MgO and nano-MgO in HPC.Our experimental results successfully verified our hypothesis,which indicated that the expansion performance of macro-MgO and nano-MgO was indeed depressed by the addition of active mineral power admixtures,even though the mechanical property of concrete composites was effectively improved.Furthermore,the hydration test also demonstrated the negative interference on the mineral powders,which was induced by the expansion agents.It is found the amounts of hydrates tend to decrease because the mineral powder ratio reaches and exceeds 40%.Moreover,it is also concluded the effect of expansion agents is governed by the alkalinity cement paste,especially for the nano-MgO.In other words,the expansion performance of nano-MgO will vary more obviously with the hydration process,than MgO.The results of this study provide that effective experimental and theoretical data support the hydration-inhibition mechanism of magnesium expansive agents.

Spectroscopic Measurements of Physiological Elements in Microdialysis Samples from Rat Brain,Flowering Plum Fruit and Pea

The basal levels of magnesium and copper in rat brain and flowering plum fruit dialysates, and the background concentration of calcium in pea dialysates have been determined with sensitive spectroscopic techniques including atomic absorption spectrometry and spectrophotometry based on amino G acid chlorophosphonazo. It is found that the magnesium level in flowering plum fruit dialysates is much lower than that in rat brain dialysates, indicating a considerable composition difference present between a plant dialysate and an animal one.

Recent developments and applications on high-performance cast magnesium rare-earth alloys

During the past decades,with the increasing demands in lightweight structural materials,Mg alloys with low density and high performance have been extensively investigated and partly applied in some industries.Especially when rare earth(RE)elements are added as major alloying elements to Mg alloys,the alloy strength and creep resistance are greatly improved,which have promoted several series of Mg-RE alloys.This paper reviews the progress and developments of high-performance Mg-RE alloys in recent years with emphasis on cast alloys.The main contents include the alloy design,melt purification,grain refinement,castability,novel liquid casting and semisolid forming approaches,and the industrial applications or trials made of Mg-RE alloys.The review will provide insights for future developments of new alloys,techniques and applications of Mg alloys.

Plasma free amino acid profiling of esophageal cancer using high-performance liquid chromatography spectroscopy

AIM:To perform plasma free amino acid(PFAA)profiling of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)patients at different pathological stages and healthy subjects.METHODS:Plasma samples from ESCC patients(n=51)and healthy control adults(n=60)were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The ESCC patients included moderate/poorly-differentiation(n=24),lymph node metastasis(n=17)and clinical stage>Ib2(n=36).Partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed to demonstrate that the PFAA metabolic patterns enabled discrimination between ESCC patients and controls,and the Student t test was applied to assess significant differences in PFAA concentrations between the two groups.RESULTS:There were significant differences in the PFAA profiles between controls and ESCC patients.Compared with healthy controls,the levels of Asp,Glu,Gly,His,Thr,Tau,Ala,Met,Ile,Leu,and Phe were decreased in ESCC patients,but Cys was increased.There exists a strong correlation between PFAA profiles and clinicopathological characteristics in ESCC patients.The levels of many PFAAs(i.e.,Glu,Asp,Ser,Gly,Tau,Ala,Tyr,Val,Ile,and Leu)were related to pathological grading,lymph node metastasis,and ESCC clinical stage.Very good discrimination between ESCC patients and control subjects was achieved by multivariate modeling of plasma profiles.CONCLUSION:HPLC-based plasma profiling analysis was shown to be an effective approach to differentiate between ESCC patients and controls.PFAA profiles may have potential value for screening or diagnosing ESCC.

Prediction of rat liver transplantation outcomes using energy metabolites measured by microdialysis

Background: Warm ischemia jeopardizes graft quality and recipient survival in donation after cardiac death(DCD) transplantation. Currently, there is no system to objectively evaluate the liver quality from DCD. The present study tried to use energy metabolites to evaluate the donor liver quality. Methods: We divided 195 Sprague-Dawley rats into five groups: the control( n = 39), warm ischemic time(WIT) 15 min( n = 39), WIT 30 min( n = 39), WIT 45 min( n = 39), and WIT 60 min( n = 39) groups. Three rats from each group were randomly selected for pretransplant histologic evaluation of warm ischemiarelated damage. The remaining 36 rats were randomly divided into donors and recipients of 18 liver transplantations, and were subjected to postoperative liver function and survival analyses. Between cardiac arrest and cold storage, liver energy metabolites including glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol were measured by microdialysis. The lactate to pyruvate ratio(LPR) was calculated. Results: The changes in preoperative pathology with warm ischemia were inconspicuous, but the trends in postoperative pathology and aminotransferase levels were consistent with preoperative energy metabolite measurements. The 30-day survival rates of the control and WIT 15, 30, 45, and 60 min groups were 100%, 81.82%, 76.92%, 58.33%, and 25.00%, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of glucose, lactate, glycerol, and LPR were 0.87, 0.88, 0.88, and 0.92, respectively. Conclusion: Glucose, lactate, glycerol, and LPR are predictors of graft quality and survival outcomes in DCD transplantation.

High-Performance and Multifunctional Cement-Based Composite Material

Concrete is a continuously evolving material, and even the definition of high-performance concrete has changed over time. In this paper, high-performance characteristics of concrete material are considered to be those that support the desirable durability, resilience, and sustainability of civil infrastructure that directly impact our quality of life. It is proposed that high-performance material characteristics include tensile ductility, autogenous crack-width control, and material “greenness.” Furthermore, smart functionalities should be aimed at enhancing infrastructure durability, resilience, and sustainability by responding to changes in the surrounding environment of the structure in order to perform desirable functions, thus causing the material to behave in a manner more akin to certain biological materials. Based on recent advances in engineered cementitious composites (ECCs), this paper suggests that concrete embodying such high-performance characteristics and smart multifunctionalities can be designed, and holds the potential to fulfill the expected civil infrastructure needs of the 21st century. Highlights of relevant properties of ECCs are provided, and directions for necessary future research are indicated.

Advancements in the preparation of high-performance liquid chromatographic organic polymer monoliths for the separation of small-molecule drugs

The various advantages of organic polymer monoliths, including relatively simple preparation processes,abundant monomer availability, and a wide application range of pH, have attracted the attention of chromatographers. Organic polymer monoliths prepared by traditional methods only have macropores and mesopores, and micropores of less than 50 nm are not commonly available. These typical monoliths are suitable for the separation of biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, but their ability to separate small molecular compounds is poor. In recent years, researchers have successfully modified polymer monoliths to achieve uniform compact pore structures. In particular, microporous materials with pores of 50 nm or less that can provide a large enough surface area are the key to the separation of small molecules. In this review, preparation methods of polymer monoliths for high-performance liquid chromatography, including ultra-high cross-linking technology, post-surface modification, and the addition of nanomaterials, are discussed. Modified monolithic columns have been used successfully to separate small molecules with obvious improvements in column efficiency.

Recovery rates of combination antibiotic therapy using in vitro microdialysis simulating in vivo conditions

Microdialysis is a technique used to measure the unbound antibiotic concentration in the interstitial spaces, the target site of action. In vitro recovery studies are essential to calibrating the microdialysis system for in vivo studies. The effect of a combination of antibiotics on recovery into microdialysate requires investigation. In vitro microdialysis recovery studies were conducted on a combination of vancomycin and tobramycin, in a simulated in vivo model. Comparison was made between recoveries for three different concentrations and three different perfusate flow rates. The overall relative recovery for vancomycin was lower than that of tobramycin. For tobramycin, a concentration of 20μg/mL and flow rate of 1.0μL/min had the best recovery. A concentration of 5.0μg/mL and flow rate of 1.0μL/min yielded maximal recovery for vancomycin. Large molecular size and higher protein binding resulted in lower relative recoveries for vancomycin. Perfusate flow rates and drug concentrations affected the relative recovery when a combination of vancomycin and tobramycin was tested. Low perfusate flow rates were associated with higher recovery rates. For combination antibiotic measurement which includes agents that are highly protein bound, in vitro studies performed prior to in vivo studies may ensure the reliable measurement of unbound concentrations.

Determination of 6-Mercaptopurine in Rat Blood by Microdialysis Coupled with High Performance Liquid Chromatography on a Functionalized Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode

A new chemically modified electrode(CME) immobilized on the surface of multi-wall carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic groups was fabricated. The results indicate that the CME exhibits efficiently electrocatalytic oxidation of 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP). The CME can be used as the working electrode in the liquid chromatography for the determination of 6-MP. The peak current of 6-MP is linearly changed with its concentration ranging from 4.0×10 -7 to 1.0×10 -4 mol/L with the calculated detection limit (S/N=3) of 2.0×10 -7 mol/L. Coupled with microdialysis sampling, the method has been successfully applied to assessing the content of 6-MP in rat blood.

INFLUENCE OF MINERAL ADMIXTURES ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE

The improvements of the mechanical properties, including bulk density of fresh mixtures, elastic modulus, and compressive strengths of four high-performance concrete mixtures, made with the addition of fly ash, refined ground blast - furnace microslag (microslag) and silica fume are studied. The concrete mixtures were determined based on the dispersion testing results. The study indicates that the elastic modulus at 28 and 91 days, and compressive strengths of the concretes are improved a lot when fly ash and microslag by 25 percent by weight of cement are added into the mixtures individually. The improvement is especially evident when silica fume by 5 percent and fly ash by 25 percent by weight of cement are added together into the mixture, while the fresh concrete mixture keeps a good workability. Through the analysis of chemically combined water ratios of the four mixtures at various hydration ages, it is found that the addition of all these mineral mixtures are beneficial to the hydration process, especially, at later stages, which might be one of the reasons for the improvement of mechanical properties. (Author abstract) 4 Refs.

High-performance self-assembly MnCo2O4 nanosheets for asymmetric supercapacitors

In this study,MnCo2O4 nanosheets were proposed to be utilized as an electrode material for supercapacitors.A two-step hydrothermal method with post-annealing treatment was employed in preparation of the nanostructures.MnCo2O4 electrode delivered a high specific capacitance of 2000 F g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1,remarkable high-rate capability of 1150 F g^-1 at 20 A g^-1,and an excellent cycling stability of 92.3%at 5 A g^-1 after 5000 cycles.It is found that a three-electrode supercapacitor based on MnCo2O4 exhibits a promising electrochemical performance,better than the other similar materials,benefited from the synergistic effects of MnCo2O4 nanosheets.In fact,the self-assembly of nanosheets structure with high specific surface area and mesoporous structure can potentially enhance the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors.

Determination of gouty arthritis' biomarkers in human urine using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Creatinine, uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine are important diagnostic biomarkers in human urine for gouty arthritis or renal disease diacrisis. A simple method for simultaneous determination of these biomarkers in urine based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography （RP-HPLC） with ultraviolet （UV） detector was proposed. After pretreatment by dilution, centrifugation and filtration, the biomarkers in urine samples were separated by ODS-BP column by elution with methanol/50 mM NaH2PO4 buffer solution at pH 5.26 （5：95）. Good linearity between peak areas and concentrations of standards was obtained for the biomarkers with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.9957-0.9993. The proposed analytical method has satisfactory repeatability （the recovery of data in a range of creatinine, uric acid, hypoxanthine and xanthine was 93.49-97.90%, 95.38-96.45%, 112.46-115.78%and 90.82-97.13%with standard deviation of o5%, respectively） and the limits of detection （LODs, S/N Z 3） for creatinine, uric acid, hypoxanthine, and xanthine were 0.010, 0.025, 0.050 and 0.025 mg/L, respectively. The established method was proved to be simple, accurate, sensitive and reliable for the quantitation of gouty arthritis＇ biomarkers in human urine samples. The ratio of creatinine to uric acid was found to be a possible factor for assessment of gouty arthritis.

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL POLY(IMINO KETONE)S AS HIGH-PERFORMANCE POLYMERS

Di(4-bromophenyl)ketone and various aromatic diamines as the monomers,a series of novel poly(imino ketone)s (PIKs)have been synthesized via palladium-catalyzed aryl amination,which is Hartwig-Buchwald polycondensation reaction.The structures of PIKs are characterized by means of elemental analysis,FT-IR,~1H-NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results show a good agreement with the proposed structure.The general properties of PIKs are studied by DSC,TG and wide-angle X-ray diffraction,the solubility behavior is...

Influence of shrinkage-reducing admixture on drying shrinkage and mechanical properties of high-performance concrete

High-performance concrete （HPC） has specific performance advantages over conventional concrete in strength and durability. HPC mixtures are usually produced with water/binder mass ratios （mW/mB） in the range of 0.2-0.4, so volume changes of concrete as a result of drying, chemical reactions, and temperature change cannot be avoided. For these reasons, shrinkage and cracking are frequent phenomena. It is necessary to add some types of admixture for reduction of shrinkage and cracking of HPC. This study used a shrinkage-reducing admixture （SRA） for that purpose. Concrete was prepared with two different mW/mB （0.22 and 0.40） and four different mass fractions of SRA to binder （w（SRA） = 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%）. The mineral admixtures used for concrete mixes were： 25% fly ash （FA） and 25% slag by mass of binder for the mixture with mW/mB = 0.40, and 15% silica fume （SF） and 25% FA for the mixture with mW/mB = 0.22. Tests were conducted on 24 prismatic specimens, and shrinkage strains were measured through 120 days of drying. Compressive strength, splitting strength, and static modulus of elasticity were also determined. The results show that the SRA effectively reduces some mechanical properties of HPC. The reductions in compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and elastic modulus of the concrete were 7%-24%, 9%-19%, and 5%-12%, respectively, after 90 days, compared to concrete mixtures without SRA. SRA can also help reduce drying shrinkage of concrete. The shrinkage strains of HPC with SRA were only as high as 41% of the average free shrinkage of concrete without SRA after 120 days of drying.

Rapid Determination of Dopamine and Its Metabolites During in vivo Cerebral Microdialysis by Routine High Performance Liquid Chromatography With Electrochemical Detection

To determine dopamine and its metabolites during in vivo cerebral microdialysis by routine high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Methods Microdialysis probes were placed into the right striatum of Wistar rat brains and perfused with Ringer＇s solution at a rate of 1.5 pL/min. A reverse phase HPLC with electrochemistry was used to assay DA, DOPAC, and HVA after cerebral microdialysates were collected every 20 minutes from awake and freely moving rats. In order to identify the reliability of this method, its selectivity, linear range, precision and accuracy were tested and the contents of DA, DOPAC, and HVA in rat microdialysates were determined. Results The standard curve was in good linear at the concentration ranging from 74 nmol/L to 1.5 pmol/L for DOPAC （r^2= 0.9996）, from 66 nmol/L to 1.3 gmol/L for DA （r^2=l.0000） and from 69 nmol/L to 1.4 pmol/L for HVA （r^2=0.9992）. The recovery of DOPAC （0.30, 0.77, 1.49 gmol/L）, DA （0,26, 0.69, 1.32 gmol/L）, and HVA （0.27, 0.71, 1.37 gmol/L） was 82.00±1.70%, 104.00±4.00%, 98.70±3.10%; 92.30± 1.50%, 105.30±2.30%, 108.00±2.00%; 80.00±7.80%, 107.69±8.00%, and 108.66±3.10%, respectively at each concentration. Their intra-day RSD was 3.3%, 3.4%, and 2.5%, and inter-day RSD was 4.2%, 2.3%, and 5.6%, respectively. The mean extracellular concentrations of DOPAC, DA, and HVA in rat brain microdialysates were 10.7, 2.4, and 9.2 gmol/L （n=6）, respectively. Conclusion The findings of our study suggested that the simple, accurate and stable method can be applied to basic researches of diseases related to monoamines neurotransmitters by cerebral microdialysis in rats.

The effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on muscle strength,volume and activity upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in high-performance aircraft personnel

Background:Technological advancements in modern military and acrobatic jet planes have resulted in extraordinary psychophysiological loads being exerted upon flying personnel,including inducing neck and back pain.The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training on 1)the volume and strength of the neck and shoulder muscles and 2)muscular activity upon exposure to helmets of different masses and elevated Gz forces in a long-arm centrifuge in high-performance aircraft personnel.Methods:Eighteen participants underwent 12 weeks of functional strength training(n=12)or the control protocol(n=6)without additional strength training.Pre-and post-intervention tests included evaluations of isometric strength of the head extensor muscles,flexion,and lateral flexion and rotation,as well as magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)to measure the volume of the m.sternocleidomastoideus,m.trapezius,and deep neck muscles.Furthermore,during a long-arm centrifuge(+1.4 and+3Gz)protocol,the muscular activity levels of the m.sternocleidomastoideus,m.trapezius and m.erector spinae muscles were assessed without a flight helmet,with a helmet,and with a helmet and night vision goggles.Each participant’s perception of muscular strain was noted immediately after the long-arm centrifuge protocol.Results:The maximal isometric strength in all exercises and muscle volumes increased in the training group but not the control group(P<0.05).Relative muscle activity(%MVC)with a helmet decreased after the intervention in the training but not the control group(P=0.01).Relative muscle activity while wearing a helmet and night vision goggles was higher after intervention in the control group than in the training group(P<0.01).The perceived muscular strain of the neck muscles induced by the long-arm centrifuge did not differ between the groups.Conclusions:Twelve weeks of functional strength training improves the maximal isometric strength and volume of neck and shoulder muscles and leads to lower relative muscle activation upon exposure to elevated Gz forces in a long-arm centrifuge.

Dispersive Liquid-liquid Microextraction Combined with High-performance Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of Clozapine and Chlorpromazine in Urine

A simple method has been proposed for the determination of clozapine （CLZ） and chlorpromazine （CPZ） in human urine by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction （DLLME） in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector （HPLC-UV）. All important variables influencing the extraction efficiency, such as pH, types of the extraction solvent and the disperser solvent and their volume, ionic strength and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection （LODs） and quantification （LOQs） of the method were 13 and 39 ng/mL for CLZ, and 2 and 6 ng/mL for CPZ, respectively. The relative standard deviations （RSDs） of the targets were less than 5.1% （C=0.100 μg/mL, n=9）. Good linear behaviors over the tested concentration ranges were obtained with the values of R20.999 for the targets. The absolute extraction efficiencies of CLZ and CPZ from the spiked blank urine samples were 98.3% and 97.8%, respectively. The applicability of the technique was validated by analyzing urine samples and the mean recoveries for spiked urine samples ranged from 93.3% to 105.0%. The method was successfully applied for the determination of CLZ and CPZ in real human urine.