Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) can enter tumor cells through endocytosis and transfer to mitochondria, then disrupt mitochondrial function, damage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and finally lead to cell death and apoptosis. As the Ag-NPs synthesized by Moringa peregrina leaf extract contain biomolecules such as flavonoids and terpenoids, they may suppress cancer by disrupting the flow of autophagy and inhibiting the differentiation of cancer cells, especially in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells. Accordingly, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromid (MTT) assay proved that Ag-NPs could inhibit the OVCAR-3 cell line in a timeand concentration-dependent manner. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed that the ratio of the pro-apoptotic Bak1 gene to the anti-apoptotic Bclx gene increased about 10 times compared to the control. Also, the expression of the caspase-3 gene has increased about 18 times compared to the control. In addition, it was found that Ag-NPs can inhibit the progression of ovarian cancer cell lines and decrease the expression of the AKT1 gene by 0.08. And the more important point was the safety of Ag-NPs, which was checked by the lipid peroxidation method and it was confirmed that the treated hepatocytes did not have any significant difference in the production of malondialdehyde with the control and probably do not cause hepatotoxicity.

ABSTRACT The yield of crops has a significant impact on economic and social development. It is significant to ensure the healthy growth of crops. Leaves can represent the growth of crops. Crop health can be monitored by analyzing a sufficient number of leaf images. But advanced farming techniques make leaves less susceptible to pests and diseases. Therefore, it is difficult to collect enough leaves with pests and diseases for image analysis. To solve this problem, this research proposed a method based on few-shot learning to identify crop leaf images and judge crop health status. The main structure of the method is a siamese network. The structure of its two subnetworks is the convolution neural network with an attention module. Each subnetwork outputs a feature vector. Measuring the distance of two feature vectors in the feature space, the similarity is calculated. Then the categories of leaf pests and diseases are judged. The experiments in this research were carried out on apple and potato leaves. The accuracy of identifying their pests and diseases reached 98.03% and 97.34% respectively. The experiment proved that when the sample size is small. The method proposed can effectively identify crop leaf pests and diseases.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a potentially fatal disease with a strong genetic contribution. The dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contributes to the formation of this aneurysm. Although previous studies suggested that long non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA) hypoxia inducible factor 1 α-antisense RNA 1 (HIF1A-AS1) exerted a vital role in the progression and pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm, we managed to find a new regulatory mechanism of HIF1A-AS1 in VSMCs via transcriptomics. Methods: Cell viability was detected by the cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining. Transwell migration assay and wound healing assay were performed to check the migration ability of HIF1A-AS1 on VSMCs. The NextSeq XTen system (Illumina) was used to collect RNA sequencing data. Lastly, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed the veracity and reliability of RNA-sequencing results. Results: We observed that overexpressing HIF1A-AS1 successfully promoted apoptosis, significantly altered cell cycle distribution, and greatly attenuated migration in VSMCs, further highlighting the robust promoting effects of HIF1A-AS1 to thoracic aortic aneurysm. Moreover, transcriptomics was implemented to uncover its underlying mechanism. A total of 175 differently expressed genes were identified, with some of them enriched in apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle-related pathways. Intriguingly, some differently expressed genes were noted in vascular development or coagulation function pathways. Conclusion: We suggest that HIF1A-AS1 mediated the progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm by not only regulating the function of VSMCs, but also altering vascular development or coagulation function.

In this work, the effects of electric pulse treatment (EPT) on the corrosion resistance of HAl52-2 aluminum brass has been investigated using electrochemical workstation, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The results have shown that after EPT, the corrosion potential increased and the corrosion current density decreased. At the same time, the diameter of the capacitive reactance arc of the HAl52-2 aluminum brass after EPT was 5 ~ 6 times of the original sample, and the thickness of dezincification layer was reduced from 59.2 µm to 50.2 µm by 84.8%. The aluminum brass alloy with EPT has demonstrated better corrosion resistance of than the original sample.

Purpose. The study aims to identify the postoperative advantages of tonsillectomy in conjunction with pharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy alone in children with obstructive sleep apneas. Methods. In a prospective observational study, patients who met the study criteria were randomly divided into two groups: tonsillectomy and pharyngoplasty group, and tonsillectomy alone group. In both groups, adenoidectomy was also performed in patients with adenoid hypertrophy. Differences in their healing processes in the pharyngeal wound and their hemorrhage proportions were compared. Furthermore, postoperative velopharyngeal function was also assessed. Results. Pharyngoplasty together with tonsillectomy was performed in 328 children with obstructive sleep apnea from tonsillar hypertrophy, and tonsillectomy was performed in 275 children. These cohorts did not reveal any significant demographic differences between groups. Furthermore, blood loss was found to be significantly decreased in the tonsillectomy and pharyngoplasty group (P <0.01), and the healing process was markedly shorter. Postoperative velopharyngeal function was not affected. Conclusions. Tonsillectomy in conjunction with pharyngoplasty reduced the duration of the healing process and blood loss, compared with tonsillectomy alone; however, postoperative complications did not increase. We consider pharyngoplasty in conjunction with tonsillectomy has great potential in the treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Objetivo. Identificar las ventajas posoperatorias de la amigdalectomía en conjunto con la faringoplastia en comparación con la amigdalectomía sola en niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño. Métodos. En un estudio prospectivo observacional, los pacientes que cumplían con los criterios del estudio fueron asignados aleatoriamente a dos grupos: el grupo de amigdalectomía y faringoplastia, y el grupo de solo amigdalectomía. En ambos grupos, también se practicó adenoidectomía a los pacientes con vegetaciones. Se compararon los procesos de cicatrización en la herida faríngea y las proporciones hemorrágicas. Además, se evaluó la función velofaríngea posoperatoria. Resultados. La faringoplastia junto con la amigdalectomía se practicó en 328 niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño debido a hipertrofia amigdalina, y la amigdalectomía sola, en 275 niños. Estas cohortes no mostraban diferencias demográficas significativas. Por otro lado, se encontró que la pérdida de sangre fue significativamente menor en el grupo que recibió amigdalectomía y faringoplastia (p < 0,01), y el proceso de cicatrización fue notablemente más breve. La función velofaríngea posoperatoria no resultó afectada. Conclusiones. En comparación con la amigdalectomía, la amigdalectomía junto con la faringoplastia redujeron la duración del proceso de cicatrización y la pérdida de sangre; no obstante, las complicaciones posoperatorias no aumentaron. En nuestra opinión, la combinación de faringoplastia y amigdalectomía reúne un gran potencial en el tratamiento de los niños con apnea obstructiva del sueño.

Abstract White pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and long pepper (Piper longum L.) belong to family Piperaceae and are commonly used as household spices and traditional medicine worldwide, specifically in China and Southeast Asia. In Traditional Chinese Hui Medicine, these herbs are widely used for treatment of stroke. Our present study investigated effects of these herbs on inflammation in rat model with cerebral ischemia. After subjecting the rats to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) for 6 h, at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, dichloromethane fraction from white pepper and long pepper, respectively, was intragastrically administered once a day for seven consecutive days. Cerebral cortical and hippocampal tissues were collected after seven days. Superoxide dismutase, malonaldehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-6 were measured by spectrophotometer. Phytochemical profile of dichloromethane fraction was determined through HPLC. Dichloromethane fraction exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing expression or production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. By contrast, dichloromethane fraction showed activity against pMCAO injury by reducing oxygen-free radicals through increased superoxide dismutase activity and decreased malonaldehyde level. HPLC analysis revealed piperine as major component of dichloromethane fraction. These results show that dichloromethane fraction provides protection against cerebral ischemia. The possible mechanism is related to anti-inflammatory activity and reduction in oxygen-free radicals.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to present the aerodynamic and flow characteristics of a slender body with a 30° swept wing configuration undergoing a limit cycle oscillation using a synchronous measurement and control technique of wing rock/particle image velocimetry/dynamic pressure associated with the time history of the wing rock motion. The experimental investigation was concentrated on 3 main areas: motion characteristics, static and dynamic surface pressures and static and dynamic particle image velocimetry. The tests’ results revealed that the lag in asymmetric twin vortices over the forebody switching from the left vortice pattern to the right one exhibits a hysteresis evolvement during the wing rock motion; the asymmetric triple vortices over the forebody interacted with the flowfield over wings appeared to induce the instability and damping moments. The main flow phenomena responsible for wing rock of wing body configuration were completely determined by the forebody vortices. These exhibit apparent dynamic hysteresis in vertical position, which further influences the wing flows, and the dynamic hysteresis of flows yields the damping moments sustaining the oscillations.

ABSTRACT The genus Aconitum has strong toxicity, but the acute toxicity of baked Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz., Ranunculaceae, was reduced significantly on the premise of keeping anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. However, the risk associated with long-term use is unknown. In a sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were orally administered A. flavum at doses of 0.76–3.03 g/kg for 90 days and further recovered for 14 days. Our results showed that oral treatment with A. flavum for 90 days caused significant changes in some hematological indicators at doses of 3.03 and 1.52 g/kg, such as red blood cell, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These results indicated that the A. flavum affects the structure and function of red blood cell. Furthermore, significant changes were observed in the white blood cell at dose of 3.03 g/kg in male rats, which confirmed tissue damage or toxicity. The liver function tests exhibited non-significant alterations in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and avenin-like storage proteinsgene. But other parameters, such as total protein and albumin were obviously decreased at all doses. A. flavum also caused a significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol and triacylglyceride at all doses. For kidney function, there were significant elevations in urea and creatinine at doses of 3.03 and 1.52 g/kg. The levels of certain electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) were significantly different after 90 days of treatment with A. flavum (3.03 and 1.52 g/kg). Organs were observed by light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Hemosiderin depositions in the spleen were observed in the A. flavum group. These data demonstrated that the subtoxicity of A. flavum was reduced considerably by baked, but the subchronic toxicity effects on the liver, kidney and spleen should not be ignored.

Abstract To study the hepatoprotective effect of the essential oil of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Asteraceae, on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice, the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, hepatic levels of reduced glutathione, activity of glutathione peroxidase, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde were assayed. Administration of the essential oil of A. capillaris at 100 and 50 mg/kg to mice prior to CCl4 injection was shown to confer stronger in vivo protective effects and could observably antagonize the CCl4-induced increase in the serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and malondialdehyde levels as well as prevent CCl4-induced decrease in the antioxidant superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione level and glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.01). The oil mainly contained β-citronellol, 1,8-cineole, camphor, linalool, α-pinene, β-pinene, thymol and myrcene. This finding demonstrates that the essential oil of A. capillaris can protect hepatic function against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice.

Taurine has positive effects on bone metabolism. However, the effects of taurine on osteoblast apoptosis in vitro have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of taurine on apoptosis of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. The data showed that 1, 5, 10, or 20 mM taurine resulted in 16.7, 34.2, 66.9, or 63.75% reduction of MC3T3-E1 cell apoptosis induced by the serum deprivation (serum-free α-MEM), respectively. Taurine (1, 5, or 10 mM) also reduced cytochrome c release and inhibited activation of caspase-3 and -9, which were measured using fluorogenic substrates for caspase-3/caspase-9, in serum-deprived MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, taurine (10 mM) induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 (10 μM) blocked the activation of ERK induced by taurine (10 mM) and abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of taurine (10 mM) in MC3T3-E1 cells. The present results demonstrate for the first time that taurine inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis via the TAUT/ERK signaling pathway.