ABSTRACT: Acute liver injury (ALI) is an important medical problem that requires effective therapy. Astaxanthin (AST) is a carotenoid, and the beneficial effects of astaxanthin, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour activities, have been identified. The present study was designed to elucidate the protective effects of astaxanthin against ALI and their underlying mechanisms. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide combined with different doses of astaxanthin for 12 h. Mice were fed with or without astaxanthin for up to 7 days. LPS was administered to induce inflammation. We assessed histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis .The results indicated that astaxanthin attenuated LPS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and cell apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that astaxanthin down regulated the nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signalling pathways, inhibiting the LPS-induced inflammatory response, oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, and alleviating LPS-induced ALI in mice.

RESUMO: A lesão hepática aguda (ALI) é um problema médico importante que requer terapia eficaz. A astaxantina (AST) é um carotenóide, e os efeitos benéficos da astaxantina, incluindo atividades antioxidantes, anti-inflamatórias e antitumorais, foram identificados. O presente estudo foi desenhado para elucidar os efeitos protetores da astaxantina contra ALI e seus mecanismos subjacentes. Macrófagos RAW264.7 foram tratados com dimetil sulfóxido combinado com diferentes doses de astaxantina por 12 h. Os camundongos foram alimentados com ou sem astaxantina por até sete dias. O LPS foi administrado para induzir a inflamação. Histopatologia, estresse oxidativo, inflamação e apoptose foram avaliados. Os resultados indicaram que a astaxantina atenuou o estresse oxidativo induzido por LPS, inflamação e apoptose celular in vivo e in vitro. Experimentos in vivo e in vitro mostraram que a astaxantina regulou negativamente as vias de sinalização do fator nuclear-kappa beta (NF-κB), fator nuclear 2 relacionado ao eritróide 2 (Nrf2) e domínio de pirina da família NLR contendo 3 (NLRP3), inibindo o LPS- resposta inflamatória induzida, estresse oxidativo e apoptose celular e alívio da ALI induzida por LPS em camundongos.

Abstract To perform dermatoglyphics analysis and to explore the possible relationships between dermatoglyphic characteristics and sports level of Chinese table tennis players. A total of 92 Chinese professional table tennis players were recruited and divided into ordinary group and excellent group according to their levels. Their dermatoglyphic patterns on the palms and fingers were collected and statistically analyzed. Our results showed that the data revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the ordinary group and the excellent group in terms of atd angle, thenar eminence, total number of a-b ridges and double loop whorl, while no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in concentric whorl, arch pattern and loop pattern. In conclusion, these findings may provide experimental evidence for the application of dermatoglyphic analysis as a tool for future selection of elite table tennis players.

ABSTRACT Using the apparent-magnitude limited active galactic nucleus (AGN) host galaxy sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12 (SDSS DR12), we investigate the environmental dependence of age, stellar mass, the star formation rate (SFR) and stellar velocity dispersion of AGN host galaxies. We divide the whole apparent-magnitude limited AGN sample into many subsamples with a red-shift binning size of Δz = 0:01, and analyse the environmental dependence of these galaxy properties of subsamples in each redshift bin. It turns out that these parameters of AGN host galaxies seemingly only have a weak environmental dependence.

RESUMEN Mediante la muestra limitada por magnitud aparente de las galaxias anfitrionas de núcleos activos (AGNs) contenida en la entrega 12 de datos del Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS DR12) investigamos la dependencia ambiental de la edad, la masa estelar, la tasa de formación estelar y la dispersión de velocidades de las galaxias anfitrionas de AGNs. Dividimos la muestra limitada por magnitud aparente de AGNs en muchas submuestras, separándolas en grupos de corrimiento al rojo de Δ z = 0:01, y analizamos la dependencia ambiental de las propiedades de las galaxias en cada grupo. El resultado es que aparentemente la dependencia ambiental de estos parámetros es débil.

ABSTRACT We explore the environmental dependence of the age and the clustering-age dependence of active galaxies in two volume-limited active galaxy samples of the SDSS. In the luminous volume-limited sample, the age of active galaxies apparently depends on environments: at low density the fraction of young galaxies with ages less than 2 Gyr is significantly higher than the one in the high density case, at high density the fraction of old galaxies is significantly higher than the one at low density. Young active galaxies have a higher prevalence than old ones at small multiplicity, corresponding to isolated galaxies, close pairs and small groups, whereas old active galaxies have a higher prevalence in the multiplicity bins corresponding to dense groups and clusters. But in the faint volume-limited sample, although the environmental dependence of the age is fairly weak, a substantial clustering-age dependence can be observed.

RESUMEN Exploramos la dependencia ambiental de la edad y la dependencia agrupamiento-edad de las galaxias activas de dos muestras, ambas limitadas por volumen, obtenidas del SDSS. En la muestra luminosa, la edad de las galaxias activas aparentemente depende del medio ambiente: cuando la densidad es pequeña, la fracción de galaxias jóvenes (< 2 giga-años) es mucho mayor que cuando la densidad es grande. A altas densidades la fracción de galaxias viejas es mucho mayor que a bajas densidades. Las galaxias activas jóvenes prevalecen sobre las viejas para multiplicidades bajas (galaxias aisladas, pares cerrados y grupos pequeños). En cambio, las galaxias activas viejas prevalecen sobre las jóvenes en los intervalos de multiplicidad correspondientes a grupos densos y cúmulos. En la muestra débil, la dependencia entre la edad y el medio ambiente es débil, si bien se observa una considerable dependencia entre la edad y el agrupamiento.

ABSTRACT In this work, I construct a LRG (Luminous Red Galaxy) sample with redshifts 0.6 ≤ z ≤ 0.75 from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 15 (SDSS DR15), which contains 184172 CMASS LRGs and 27158 eBOSS LRGs, and examine the environmental dependence of galaxy age and stellar mass in this galaxy sample. I divide this LRG sample into subsamples with a redshift binning size of ∆z = 0.01, and analyze the environmental dependence of galaxy age and stellar mass for these subsamples in each redshift bin. Overall, galaxy age and stellar mass in the LRG sample with redshift 0.6 ≤ z ≤ 0.75 are very weakly correlated with the local environment, which shows that minimal environmental dependence of galaxy parameters can continue to larger redshifts.

RESUMEN En este trabajo se compila una muestra de galaxias luminosas rojas (LRG) con corrimientos al rojo 0.6 ≤ z ≤ 0.75 extraída del Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 15 (SDSS DR15), que contiene 184172 CMASS LRGs y 27158 eBOSS LRGs. Se estudia la dependencia ambiental de las edades de las galaxias de esta muestra y de las masas estelares. Se divide la muestra de LGRs en submuestras usando una ∆z = 0.01 y se analiza la dependencia ambiental de las edades de las galaxias y las masas estelares en cada intervalo de z. En general, la correlación de las edades galacticas y las masas estelares en la muestra LRG con 0.6 ≤ z ≤ 0.75 con el medio ambiente local es leve, lo que muestra que la mínima dependencia ambiental de los parámetros galácticos puede extenderse a corrimientos al rojo mayores.

The aim of this study is to examine the environmental dependence of the u - r, u - g, g - r, r - i and i - z colors in the loz z sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10). To decrease the radial selection effect, I divide the low z sample into subsamples with a redshift binning size of ∆z=0.01 and analyze the environmental dependence of colors for these subsamples in each redshift bin. The statistical results show that all five colors of galaxies in the low z sample are weakly correlated with the local environment, which is consistent with the results of main galaxies at z > 0.15 and CMASS galaxies.

El objetivo de este estudio es examinar la dependencia ambiental de los colores u - r, u - g, g - r, r - i e i - z en la muestra de baja z del Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10). Para disminuir el efecto de selección radial, divido la muestra de baja z en submuestras agrupadas en intervalos de ∆z=0.01 y analizo la dependencia ambiental de los colores para estas submuestras en cada intervalo de corrimiento al rojo. Los resultados estadísticos indican que los cinco colores de la muestra de baja z están levemente correlacionados con las propiedades ambientales locales, lo cual coincide con lo encontrado para galaxias principales a z > 0.15 y para galaxias GMASS.

Using the CMASS sample with a redshift of 0.44≤ z ≤0.59, we investigate the environmental dependence of all five band luminosities in the CMASS sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 9 (SDSS DR9). To decrease the radial selection effect, we divide the CMASS sample into several subsamples with a redshift binning size of Δz = 0.01, and we analyze the environmental dependence of the five band luminosities of subsamples in each redshift bin. It is found that all five band luminosities are very weakly correlated with the local environment.

Utilizamos la muestra CMMASS con corrimientos al rojo entre 0.44 y 0.59 para investigar la dependencia ambiental de las luminosidades en cinco bandas de esta muestra proveniente del Sloan Digital Sky Survey Versión 9 (SDSS DR9). Para disminuir el electo de selección radial dividimos la muestra CMASS en diferentes submuestras con corrimientos al rojo agrupados en celdas con Δz = 0.01 y analizamos para cada submuestra la dependencia ambiental de las luminosidades en cinco bandas. Encontramos que todas las luminosidades están débilmente correlacionadas con el ambiente local.

From the apparent magnitude-limited main galaxy sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7), we construct a paired galaxy sample and an isolated galaxy sample, and compare the star formation rate (SFR) and the specific star formation rate (SSFR) of paired galaxies with those of isolated galaxies. It is found that isolated galaxies preferentially have higher SFR and SSFR than paired galaxies. We also investigate the dependence of the SFR and SSFR on the three-dimensional separation between two members of pairs, but do not find evidence for the dependence of SFR enhancement on this separation.

A partir de la muestra de galaxias limitada por magnitud aparente proveniente del Sloan Digital Sky Survey, versión 7 (SDSS DR7) construimos una muestra de pares de galaxias y una muestra de galaxias aisladas, y comparamos la tasa de formación estelar (SFR) y la tasa específica de formación estelar (SSFR) entre ambas muestras. Encontramos que las galaxias aisladas tienen SFRs y SSFRs mayores que las galaxias en pares. También investigamos la dependencia de la SFR y la SSFR de las separaciones tri-dimensionales entre los miembros de los pares de galaxias, pero no encontramos evidencia de que la SFR dependa de las separaciones.

OBJECTIVE: The angiotensin-converting enzyme gene is one of the most studied candidate genes related to atrial fibrillation. Among the polymorphisms of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene, the 2350 G/A polymorphism (rs4343) is known to have the most significant effects on the plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A polymorphism with atrial fibrillation in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 169 hypertensive patients were eligible for this study. Patients with atrial fibrillation (n = 75) were allocated to the atrial fibrillation group, and 94 subjects without atrial fibrillation were allocated to the control group. The PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was used to assess the genotype frequencies. RESULTS: The distributions of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A genotypes (GG, GA, and AA, respectively) were 40.43%, 41.49%, and 18.08% in the controls and 18.67%, 46.67%, and 34.66% in the atrial fibrillation subjects (p = 0.037). The frequency of the A allele in the atrial fibrillation group was significantly greater than in the control group (58.00% vs. 38.83%, p = 0.0007). Compared with the wild-type GG genotype, the GA and AA genotypes had an increased risk for atrial fibrillation. Additionally, atrial fibrillation patients with the AA genotype had greater left atrial dimensions than the patients with the GG or GA genotypes (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in this study indicate that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2350 G/A polymorphism is associated with atrial fibrillation and that the A allele shows an increased risk for atrial fibrillation in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension.

Using four volume-limited Main galaxy samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 8 (SDSS DR8), we have investigated the environmental dependences of the SFR, SSFR and stellar mass at fixed luminosity. At fixed luminosity, we still observe strong environmental dependences of the SFR, SSFR and stellar mass of galaxies: galaxies in the lowest density regime preferentially have a higher SFR or SSFR and lower stellar mass than galaxies in the densest regime. This result suggests that the limitation or fixation of luminosity does not exert substantial influence on the environmental dependences of the SFR, SSFR and stellar mass of galaxies, which further shows that luminosity is not a fundamental parameter in correlations between galaxy properties and the environment.

Empleamos cuatro muestras limitadas en volumen de galaxias principales del Sloan Digital Sky Survey, versión 8 (SDSS DR8) para investigar la dependencia del medio ambiente de la tasa de formación estelar (SFR), la tasa específica de formación estelar (SSFR) y la masa en estrellas a una luminosidad fija. Aún fijando la luminosidad, se observa una fuerte dependencia ambiental de la SFR, la SSFR y de la masa en estrellas: las galaxias en la región de más baja densidad tienden a tener mayores SFR y SSFR, y masa en estrellas menores que las galaxias en la región de más alta densidad. Este resultado sugiere que al fijar la luminosidad no se altera apreciablemente la dependencia ambiental de la SFR, la SSFR y la masa en estrellas de las galaxias, lo cual muestra que la luminosidad no es un parámetro fundamental en las correlaciones entre las propiedades galácticas y el ambiente.

Using the volume-limited main galaxy sample constructed from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7), we have explored the environmental dependence of the fraction of 'unconventional' galaxies: luminous late-types and faint early-types. It is found that the fraction of faint early-types increases substantially with increasing local density, and that the fraction of luminous late-types weakly decreases with increasing local density. This shows that there is an environmental dependence for morphology beyond that for luminosity.

Usamos la muestra principal, limitada en volumen, del Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7), para explorar la dependencia ambiental de la fracción de galaxias 'no convencionales', esto es, galaxias luminosas de tipo tardío, y galaxias débiles de tipo temprano. Encontramos que la fracción de galaxias tempranas débiles aumenta significativamente al aumentar la densidad local, y que la fracción de galaxias tardías luminosas decrece un poco al aumentar la densidad local. Esto muestra que existe una dependencia ambiental de la morfología, además de la luminosidad.