Drug discovery from traditional Chinese herbal medicine using high content imaging technology

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has been widely used in China and other Asia countries for thousands of years to treat or prevent human diseases. Chinese herbal medicine, one of the most important components of TCM, has unique diversities in chemical components, and thus results in a wide range of biological activities. However, pharmaceutical industry is facing a major challenge to develop a large population of novel natural products and drugs, and considerable efforts have not resulted in highvolume of novel drug discovery and productivity. At present, increasing attention has been paid to Chinese herb medicine modernization in combination with the cutting-age technologies of drug discovery, especially the high throughput selection. High content imaging is an image-based high throughput screening method by using automated microscopy and image analysis software to capture and analyze phenotypes at a large scale to investigate multiple biological features simultaneously in the biological complex. Here, we described the pipeline of the state-of-the-art high content imaging technology, summarized the applications of the high content imaging technology in drug discovery from traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and finally discussed the current challenges and future perspectives for development of high throughput image-based screening technology in novel drug research and discovery.

An analysis on the formation mechanism of the distributionof high content of chlorophyll-a in the continentalshelf edge waters of East China Sea

On the basis of the data obtained from the comprehensive Kuroshio surveys in 1987-1988,this paper analyses the oceanographic characteristics in the area (125°-130° E,27°-31° N) of the continental shelf edge of the East China Sea (E. C. S. ) and its adjacent waters and discusses the effects of the Kuroshio front,thermocline and upwelling of the Kuroshio subsurface water on the distribution of standing stock of phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a). The distribution of high content of chlorophylly-a has been detected at 20-50 in depth in the water body on the left side of the Kuroshio front in the continental shelf edge waters of the E. C. S. The high content of chlorophyll-a spreads from the shelf area to the Kuroshio area in the form of a tongue and connects with the maximum layer of subsurface chlorophyll-a of the Kuroshio and pelagic sea. The author considers that the formation of the distribution of high content chlorophyll-a in this area results from the bottom topography and oceanic environment and there are close correlations between the high content of chlorophyll-a and the light-nutrient environment.

Hierarchically porous Fe/N/S/C nanospheres with high-content of Fe-Nx for enhanced ORR and Zn-air battery performance

Heteroatom-doped carbon-based transition-metal single-atom catalysts(SACs) are promising electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR). Herein, with the aid of hierarchically porous silica as hard template, a facile and general melting perfusion and mesopore-confined pyrolysis method was reported to prepare single-atomic Fe/N–S-doped carbon catalyst(FeNx/NC-S) with hierarchically porous structure and well-defined morphology. The FeNx/NC-S exhibited excellent ORR activity with a half-wave potential(E_(1/2)) of 0.92 V, and a lower overpotential of 320 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)for OER under alkaline condition. The remarkable electrocatalysis performance can be attributed to the hierarchically porous carbon nanospheres with S doping and high content of Fe-Nx sites(up to 3.7 wt% of Fe), resulting from the nano-confinement effect of the hierarchically porous silica spheres(NKM-5) during the pyrolysis process. The rechargeable Zn-air battery with FeNx/NC-S as a cathode catalyst demonstrated a superior power density of 194.5 mW cm-2charge–discharge stability. This work highlights a new avenue to design advanced SACs for efficient sustainable energy storage and conversion.

Identification of berbamine dihydrochloride from barberry as an anti-adipogenic agent by high-content imaging assay

Objective:Lipid droplet(LD)deposition in adipose tissue is a critical factor leading to metabolic dysfunction.Various herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)are used to treat hyperlipidemia,type 2 diabetes,obesity,and other diseases.The objective of this study was to identify potential anti-adipogenic agents from TCM herbal compounds.Methods:One hundred and twenty compounds were evaluated in terms of their effect on adipocyte differentiation through image-based high content screening.Anti-adipogenic effects of identified hits were further confirmed at various concentrations.In addition,drug-induced liver injury assay was performed with HepG2 cells to test the hepatotoxicity of hit compounds.Results:Berbamine(BBM),a chemical isolated from barberry,and a derivative of BBM,berbamine dihydrochloride(BBMD),reduced LDs formation by more than 50%.Dose-dependent effects were observed and the IC50 values of the two hits,BBM and BBMD,were determined as 1.88 mM and 0.95 mM,respectively.Moreover,BBM induced mild HepG2 cell injury,while its dihydrochloridedBBMD did not exhibit hepatotoxicity within 40 mM.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that BBMD may be a potential therapeutic candidate for disorders associated with elevated LDs accumulation.

Calculating densities and viscosities of natural gas with a high content of C_(2+) to predict two-phase liquid-gas flow pattern

The paper is devoted to the two-phase flow simulation.The gas-condensate mixture flow in a horizontal pipe under high pressure is considered.The influence of the equation of state(EOS)choice for mixture properties modelling on the flow regime calculation results is studied for gas with high content of methane homologues.An analytical overview of the methods to predict the flow pattern is provided.Based on this analysis,two techniques are selected.For these techniques,values of density and viscosity for each phase are required.Density calculation for the gas phase is performed with Van der Waals based EOS.The propriate EOS is selected based on studies of calculation errors for test mixtures.Calculation of liquid phase density is done by means of Patela-Teja and Guo-Du equations,two different models are considered for viscosity estimation.The flow patterns of gas-condensate mixture in a range of temperatures and pressures are calculated and verified via probability map.The results of study allow to recommend the Brusilovsky EOS for calculation of densities for similar gas mixtures and make more rigorous flow regime evaluation.The probability map shows that for the chosen composition and parameters of media the flow pattern is mostly transitional between segregated and annular independent from EOS.

Breeding of Brassica napus Cultivar Shuangyou 092 with High Oil Content and Its Fine-quality and High-yield Cultural Techniques

Shuangyou 092, a Brassica napus cultivar with high oil content, high quality and high yield, was bred by Institute of Industrial Crops of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences with Zhongshuang 9 as female parent, and the cytoplasmic male sterility maintainer line 32B as male parent. It was registered and released in 2014. The average yield was 2 858.5 kg/hm^2 in Henan province regional test of high quality, 12.43% higher than the check variety Fengyou 9 in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Its yield was 3 478.8 kg/ha in Henan Province productive test of high quality,9.52% higher than the check variety Fengyou 9 in 2012-2013. According to the test results in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, the seeds quality of Shuangyou 092 was very good with near zero erucic acid （0.0%, 0.1%） in fat acid, 17.19 μmol/g and 19.78 μmol/g glucosinolates in its meal, the oil content of 46.60% and 45.76%. The cultivar was resistant （tolerant） to Sclerotinia, virus diseases, cold, and lodging. Its high yield and high quality can be obtained by planting in large scale, sowing at right time, rational close planting, balancing fertilizer and harvesting at right time.

Biodrying of municipal solid waste with high water content by combined hydrolytic-aerobic technology

The high water content of municipal solid waste(MSW)will reduce the effciency of mechanical sorting,consequently unfavorable for beneficial utilization.In this study,a combined hydrolytic-aerobic biodrying technology was introduced to remove water from MSW.The total water removals were proved to depend on the ventilation frequency and the temporal span in the hydrolytic stage. The ventilation frequency of 6 times/d was preferable in the hydrolytic stage.The hydrolytic span should not be prolonged more than ...

Toward high-sulfur-content,high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries:Review of materials and technologies

Lithium sulfur batteries(LSBs)are recognized as promising devices for developing next-generation energy storage systems.In addition,they are attractive rechargeable battery systems for replacing lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)for commercial use owing to their higher theoretical energy density and lower cost compared to those of LIBs.However,LSBs are still beset with some persistent issues that prevent them from being used industrially,such as the unavoidable dissolution of lithium polysulfide intermediates during electrochemical reactions and large volume expansion(up to 80%)upon the formation of Li_(2)S,resulting in serious battery life and safety limitations.In the process of solving these problems,it is necessary to maintain a high sulfur content in the cathode materials to ensure that the LSBs have high energy densities and excellent cycle performance.In this review,the novel preparation methods and cathode materials used for preparing LSBs in recent years are reviewed considering the sulfur content and cycle performance.In addition,the problems and difficulties in practically applying cathode materials are described,and the development trend is discussed.

Regulation of carbon distribution to construct high-sulfur-content cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery is regarded as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems due to the ultra-high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg^(-1).To address the insulation nature of sulfur,nanocarbon composition is essential to afford acceptable cycling capacity but inevitably sacrifices the actual energy density under working conditions.Therefore,rational structural design of the carbon/sulfur composite cathode is of great significance to realize satisfactory electrochemical performances with limited carbon content.Herein,the cathode carbon distribution is rationally regulated to construct high-sulfur-content and high-performance Li-S batteries.Concretely,a double-layer carbon(DLC)cathode is prepared by fabricating a surface carbon layer on the carbon/sulfur composite.The surface carbon layer not only provides more electrochemically active surfaces,but also blocks the polysulfide shuttle.Consequently,the DLC configuration with an increased sulfur content by nearly 10 wt%renders an initial areal capacity of 3.40 mAh cm^(-2) and capacity retention of 83.8%during 50 cycles,which is about two times than that of the low-sulfur-content cathode.The strategy of carbon distribution regulation affords an effective pathway to construct advanced high-sulfur-content cathodes for practical high-energy-density Li-S batteries.

Engineering properties for high kitchen waste content municipal solid waste

Engineering properties of municipal solid waste （MSW） depend largely on the waste＇s initial compositionand degree of degradation. MSWs in developing countries usually have a high kitchen waste content（called HKWC MSW）. After comparing and analyzing the laboratory and field test results of physicalcomposition, hydraulic properties, gas generation and gas permeability, and mechanical properties forHKWC MSW and low kitchen waste content MSW （called LKWC MSW）, the following findings wereobtained： （1） HKWC MSW has a higher initial water content （IWC） than LKWC MSW, but the field capacitiesof decomposed HKWC and LKWC MSWs are similar; （2） the hydraulic conductivity and gaspermeability for HKWC MSW are both an order of magnitude smaller than those for LKWC MSW; （3）compared with LKWC MSW, HKWC MSW has a higher landfill gas （LFG） generation rate but a shorterduration and a lower potential capacity; （4） the primary compression feature for decomposed HKWCMSW is similar to that of decomposed LKWC MSW, but the compression induced by degradation ofHKWC MSW is greater than that of LKWC MSW; and （5） the shear strength of HKWC MSW changessignificantly with time and strain. Based on the differences of engineering properties between these twokinds of MSWs, the geo-environmental issues in HKWC MSW landfills were analyzed, including highleachate production, high leachate mounds, low LFG collection efficiency, large settlement and slopestability problem, and corresponding advice for the management and design of HKWC MSW landfills wasrecommended.

Pulsed Nd:YAG laser cladding of high silicon content coating on low silicon steel

A pulsed Nd：YAG （yttrium aluminum garnet） laser-based technique was employed to clad low silicon steel with preplaced Si and Fe mixed powders for high Si content. The surface morphology, microstructural evolution, phase composition, and Si distribution, within the obtained cladding coatings, were characterized by optical microscopy （OM）, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, with associated energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The microhardness was also measured along the depth direction of the specimens, A crack- and pore-free cladding coating through excellent metallurgical bonding with the substrate was successfully prepared on low silicon steel by means of optimized single-track and multi-track laser cladding. The phases of the coating are a-Fe, T-Fe, and FeSi. The high microhardness of the lasercladding zone is considered as an increase in Si content and as the refined microstructure produced by the laser treatment. The Si contents of the cladding coatings were about 5.8wt% in the single-track cladding and 6.5wt% in the multi-track cladding, respectively.

High Water Content Material Based on Ba-Bearing Sulphoaluminate Cement

A new type of high water content material which is made up of two pastes is prepared, one is refute from lime and gypsum, and another is based on Ba-bearing sulphoaluminate cement. It has excellent properties such as slow single paste solidifing ,fust double pustes solidifing ,fast coagulating and hardening, high early strength, good suspeasion property at high W/C ratio and low cost. Meanwhile, the properties and hydration mechanism of the material were analyzed by using XRD, DTA- TG and SEM. The hydrated products of new type of high water content material are Ba-bearing ettringite, BaSO4 , aluminum gel and C-S-H gel.

Room temperature tensile deformation behavior of a Ni-based superalloy with high W content

K416B Ni-based superalloy with high W content has good high temperature properties and low cost,which has a great development potential.To investigate the room temperature tensile property and the deformation feature of K416B superalloy,tensile testing at room temperature was carried out,and optical microscopy (OM),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to analyze the deformation and damage mechanisms.Results show that the main room temperature tensile deformation features of the K416B nickel-based superalloy are dislocations slipping in the matrix and shearing into γ’ phase.The <110> super-dislocations shearing into γ’ phase can form the anti-phase boundary two coupled (a/2)<110> partial-dislocations or decompose into the configuration of two (a/3)<112> partial dislocations plus stacking fault.In the later stage of tensile testing,the slip-lines with different orientations are activated in the grain,causing the stress concentration in the regions of block carbide or the porosity,and cracks initiate and propagate along these regions.

Development of Steel Slag-Based Solidification/Stabilization Materials for High Moisture Content Soil

To solve the problems of high moisture content,high viscosity,and poor engineering mechanical properties of soil,this paper using with steel slag(SS)and desulfurization ash(DS)as initial raw materials,realizing the coop-erative treatment of solid waste and solidification of silt soil.The synergistic utilization of SS and DS can reduce the production cost of curing agent and promote its own consumption.According to blended cement of various SS contents and inspected compressive strength performances,the most suitable raw materials ratio was selected.The best formula for this curing agent is cement:steel slag=3:7 with 5%DS,and its 28-day compressive strength can reach 30 MPa.The experiment shows that the effect of DS and Na_(2)SO_(4) reagent with the same quality on early compressive strength improvement of cement and SS system is not much different.In this study,the mineral composition and microstructure of different gel system blocks were characterized by XRD,SEM and EDX,and a large number of webbed structures were found in the SEM test,which was not seen in previous studies.Besides,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),water resistance,and toxic characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)were used to evaluate silt solidified soil properties.The results demonstrated that the solidified silt could meet not only the standard of general subgrade;but also has a partial stabilization effect of heavy metal ions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Silicon Oxynitride MCM-41 with High Nitrogen Content

Mesoporous silicon oxynitrides MCM-41 were synthesized successfully. The resulting materials not only have high nitrogen contents and good structural characteristics of MCM-41 (high surface area, narrow pore size distribution and good order), but also are amorphous. The composition and structure of the materials were investigated by CNH element analysis, XPS, Si MAS NMR, XRD, HRTEM and N-2 sorption, respectively. Mesoporous silicon oxynitrides MCM-41 with a high nitrogen content are still non-crystal (amorphous).

High Solids-Content Nanosize Polymeric Microlatexes Made by Microemulsion Copolymerization at Ambient Temperature

The microemulsion copolymerizations of acrylic acid (AA),acrylamide (AM),N-methylol acrylamide (NMA),methylmethacrylate (MMA),butyl acrylate (BA) and acrylonitrile (AN) initiated by the redox initiator ammonium persulfate (APS) and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) at ambient temperature were investigated.With this process high solids-content (44.0 wt%) and small (less than 50 nm) particle diameter copolymer latexes were attained.The effects of surfactants,the mechanical stabilities and application properties as an environmentally friendly self-crosslinking pigment printing binder with multifunctional groups were studied.

A crosslinking hydrogel binder for high-sulfur content S@pPAN cathode in rechargeable lithium batteries

High-energy density lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries have received intensive attention as promising energy storage system.Among diverse sulfur-based cathodes,sulfurized pyrolyzed poly(acrylonitrile)(S@pPAN)cathode delivered superior electrochemical performance.However,the sulfur content of S@pPAN is relatively low(<50 wt%),which significantly limits the energy density.Herein,a hydrogel SA-Cu binder was proposed with a crosslinking network constructed by Cu^(2+) ions.The introduction of Cu^(2+) ions enabled excellent electrochemical behaviors of S@pPAN cathode even with high sulfur content of 52.6 wt% via chemical interaction with sulfur and polysulfide.Moreover,a favorable cathode interphase was formed containing electrochemically active and conductive CuSx.S@pPAN/SA-Cu exhibited a high sulfur utilization of 85.3%,long cycling stability over 1000 cycles and remarkable capacity of 1200 mAh g_(s)^(-1) even at10 C.Furthermore,ascribed to the improved electrode structure,high-loading electrode(sulfur loading:4 mg cm^(-2)) displayed stable cycling with areal capacity of 5.26 mAh cm^(-2)(1315 mAh g_(s)^(-1)) after 40 cycles.This study provides new directions to prepare high-sulfur content and high-loading S@pPAN cathode for higher energy density.

Study on Filling Cross-Roadway in Fully-Mechanized Coal Faces with High Water-Content Material

A new method using high water content material to mechanically fill cross roadways to form artificial bottom for coal faces was introduced. The reasonable determination of filling range, the optimization of the compounding ratio of high water content material, and the filling technique were discussed in detail. This new method has been spread after industrial testing in Baodian Colliery. Compared with the traditional method, the manual wooden chock method, the new one decreases about 40% of the filling range and cost in dealing every one set of cross roadway in the testing condition.

Outstanding long-cycling lithium−sulfur batteries by core-shell structure of S@Pt composite with ultrahigh sulfur content

Here we proposed a novel approach to greatly enhance the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries by designing a composite electrode material composed of a core-shell structure of S@Pt composite(sulfur content,85%)grown on the S surface.The platinum(Pt)nanosheets provide physical barrier and strong chemical binding to anchor LiPSs and improve the electronic conductivity of S.Significantly,by introducing carbon nanofibers(CNFs)as the interlayer,we achieved outstanding Li-S battery with a high initial discharge capacity of 1040 mAh g^(-1)at 1.0C and a reversible capacity of 742 mAh g^(-1)after 350 cycles,demonstrating its excellent long-term cycling stability with a low capacity decay rate of 0.08%per cycle.According to the density functional theory(DFT)calculations,we proposed that the superior performance is attributed to the cooperative effects of the strong interfacial interaction between Pt(111)surface and the S8 molecule,and very low reaction energy of decomposition,−6.4eV.

USING HIGH Mg-CONTENT CORED-WIRE TO SPHEROIDIZE AND DESULPHURIZE DUCTILE IRON MELT IN INDUSTRIAL EXPERIMENTS

Mg-content cored-wire was used to desulphurize and spheroidize ductile iron melt in industrial experiments. The optimal feeding speed and suitable treatment temperature were determined in the experiments. And cored-wire method and pouring method were compared. Conclusions have been drawn that, under these conditions in the experiments, the optimal feeding speed is 15m/min, treatment temperature should be as low as possible, 1400-1450℃ generally; and cored-wire method can act more effective in ductile iron melt desulphurization and spheroid than pouring method.