Different Al2O3 carriers were synthesized by co-precipitation and sol-gel method. From them, 4%NiO-20%MoO3/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption, NH3 temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and H2-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and subsequently used for selective hydrogenation of naphthalene to high-value tetralin. The results showed that Ni-Mo/so-ge Al2O3 (900) exhibited better catalytic performance than Ni Mo/commercial Al2O3, achieving 99.56% naphthalene conversion and 99.43% tetralin selectivity.

Abstract Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) is extracted from a well-known traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra chinensis (SC). We purified a new compound and would like to analyze the effect of SCP on oxidative stress (OS) in vitro. SCP was identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and infrared spectrum (IR). The effect of SCP on cell proliferation, activity of oxidative and anti-oxidative index superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), protein expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its down-stream factors expression, stability of Nrf2, and binding activity of Nrf2 with DNA were tested using different methods in 293T cells. The result showed that SCP enhanced the cell proliferation of 293T cells, the contents of GSH and CAT, and the activity of SOD, while decreased the content of MDA. In addition, SCP promoted the transfer of Nrf2 from cytoplasm to nucleus, the binding activity of Nrf2 with DNA, the stability of Nrf2 protein, and prolonged the half-life of Nrf2. SCP showed a strong anti-oxidative activity and activation of the Nrf2 pathway, indicating that SCP had the potential to be developed into the natural anti-oxidant in the future.

This study aimed to explore the prognostic role of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DPP4 expression was measured in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens that were gathered from 327 HCC patients. Immunohistochemistry analyses were utilized to examine DPP4 expression characteristics and prognostic values (overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence) of DDP4 in HCC tissues. In addition, a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was used to assess the correlation between DPP4 expression and tumor growth in vivo. DPP4 was expressed in low levels in HCC tissues in contrast to paired peritumoral tissues (38 cases were down-regulated in a total of 59 cases, 64.4%. P=0.0202). DPP4 expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage (P=0.038), tumor number (P=0.035), and vascular invasion (P=0.024), and significantly reduced in patients who were in TNM stages II and III-V, with multiple tumors, and with microvascular invasion compared to patients with TNM stage I, single tumor, and no microvascular invasion. Notably, HCC tissues with low expression of DPP4 had poor OS (P=0.016) compared with HCC tissues with high expression of DPP4, and results from PDX model showed that tumor growth was significantly faster in HCC patients that lowly expressed DPP4 compared to those with highly expressed DPP4. Our findings suggested that low levels of DPP4 could impact the aggressiveness of HCC and contribute to a poor prognosis.

Summary Objective: To explore the correlation between growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) -3148C/G polymorphism and the formation of collateral circulation in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Han population of Taiyuan area. Method: The present study included 92 STEMI patients and 56 normal controls based on coronary angiography; STEMI group was divided into collateral group and non-collateral group according to Rentrop's grading method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing methods were used to detect and analyze the GDF-15 -3148C/G polymorphism in all participants. Results: There was significant difference in GDF-15 -3148C/G CC and GC distribution between STEMI group and control group (p=0.009); the allele frequencies between these two groups were also significant different (p=0.016); and the risk genotype for STEMI was CC with increased OR=2.660. For STEMI group, GDF-15 -3148C/G CC and GC distribution was also significantly different between patients with and without collateral (p=0.048), and CC genotype significantly promote the formation of collateral circulation. However, there were no significant differences in allele frequencies between these two subgroups of STEMI. Conclusion: There was correlation between GDF-15-3148C/G polymorphism and the formation of collateral circulation in patients with acute STEMI.

A simple and rapid high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method was developed for simultaneous quantification of three chemical types of bioactive compounds including an alkaloid (epigoitrin), six nucleosides (uracil, cytidine, hypoxanthine, uridine, guanosine and adenosine), and four phenylpropanoids (syringin, clemastanin B, indigoticoside A and isolariciresinol) in Radix Isatidis and its relevant pharmaceutical dosage forms. The developed method was successfully applied to analyze 32 batches of samples with good linearity (R2, 0.9966-0.9999), precisions (relative standard deviation (RSD), 0.24-4.61%), repeatability (RSD, 0.39-4.93%), stability (RSD, 1.18-4.29%) and recovery (range, 95.4-104.6%) of the eleven compounds. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) of the method ranged 0.0383-0.1744 and 0.1550-0.5467 µg mL-1, respectively. The results indicated that the newly established HPLC-DAD method was sensitive, precise, accurate and reproducible. It could be applied to the quality control of Radix Isatidis and its relevant pharmaceutical dosage forms.

La información geomórfica se omite en muchos de los métodos de generación de Modelos Digitales de Elevación (DEM, en inglés) que se elaboran a partir de líneas de contorno, lo que resulta en errores significativos durante la interpolación. En este trabajo se presenta un esquema avanzado para el mejoramiento del método comprensivo regionalizado de interpolación lineal. Esta aproximación utiliza un método de ajuste movil para un punto interpolado y selecciona puntos de elevación representativos o características geomórficas como un todo para mejorar la calidad de la interpolación. Se seleccionaron 16 puntos de acuerdo con ciertos criterios, en ocho direcciones alrededor del punto interpolado; por lo tanto, hay dos puntos en cada dirección, lo que es suficiente para proveer una representación precisa de las características geomórficas del DEM. El método propuesto consta de puntos virtuales de control para prevenir cambios repentinos en los resultados de la interpolación, lo que ayuda a vencer los problemas relacionados a la distorsión de la distribución geoespacial local en áreas donde la información de las características geomórficas es inadecuada. Se utilizó una función de interpolación spline con puntos de intersección y puntos de control virtual, que fueron utilizados para calcular el punto de elevación. Además, se indexaron todos los valores de elevación y los puntos espaciales de las características lineales con el método de árbol-R para asegurar que los puntos relacionados a una posición interpolada pueden ser recuperados tan rápido como sea posible. Finalmente, el método fue evaluado con la configuración de elevación de una mina de carbón. Los resultados confirman que el método propuesto puede generar modelos sin problemas y, en particular, evitar complicaciones relacionadas a distorsión local.

Geomorphic information is omitted from many existing methods of generating gridded digital elevation models (DEMs) from contour lines, resulting in significant errors during interpolation. Here, we present an advanced schema for improvement of the comprehensive regionalized method of linear interpolation. This approach uses a moving fitting method for an interpolated point and selects elevation points that are representative of geomorphic features as a whole to improve interpolation quality. A total of 16 points are selected, according to certain criteria, in eight directions surrounding the interpolated point; thus, there are two points in each direction, which is sufficient to provide an accurate representation of the geomorphic features of the DEM. Our method introduces virtual control points to prevent sudden changes in the interpolation results, which helps to overcome problems related to the distortion of the local geospatial distribution in areas where feature geomorphic information is inadequate. We construct the spline interpolation function using intersection points and virtual control points, all of which are applied to compute the point elevation. Moreover, we index all elevation values and spatial points of linear features using the R-tree method to ensure that points related to an interpolated position can be retrieved as quickly as possible. Finally, we test our method using a coal mine elevation dataset. The results confirm that our proposed method can generate DEMs smoothly and, in particular, avoid problems related to local distortion.

Abstract: From two volume-limited main galaxy samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10 (SDSS DR10), we extracted paired galaxies and isolated galaxies, and performed comparative studies between them to explore the influence of galaxy interactions on age, stellar velocity dispersion and K-band luminosity. Paired galaxies have preferentially larger stellar velocity dispersions and are preferentially older than isolated galaxies. We also noted apparent differences in the K-band luminosity distribution between paired galaxies and isolated galaxies in the luminous volume-limited main galaxy sample: paired galaxies are preferentially more luminous than isolated galaxies, whereas this difference in the faint volume-limited main galaxy sample is very small.

Resumen: A partir de dos muestras de galaxias principales limitadas por volumen y obtenidas del SDSS DR10 extrajimos pares de galaxias y galaxias aisladas, y realizamos estudios comparativos de ambas muestras para explorar la influencia de las interacciones galácticas sobre la edad, la dispersión de velocidades estelares y la luminosidad en la banda K. Los pares de galaxias tienden a tener dispersiones de velocidades estelares mayores, y a ser más viejos que las galaxias aisladas. En la muestra limitada por volumen de galaxias brillantes también notamos diferencias en la luminosidad en la banda K entre las pares de galaxias y las galaxias aisladas: los pares de galaxias tienden a ser más luminosos que las galaxias aisladas. Sin embargo, en la muestra de galaxias débiles también limitadas por volumen, esta diferencia es pequeña.

Inferential models are usually used to evaluate the effect of winter warming on range expansion of insects. Generally, correlative approaches used to predict changes in the distributions of organisms are based on the assumption that climatic boundaries are fixed. Spodoptera exigua Htibner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) overwinters as larvae or pupae in China regions. To understand the climate change impacts on overwintering of this species in regions of China, CLIMEX and Arc-GIS models were used to predict possible changes of distribution based on temperature. The climate change projection clearly indicated that the northern boundary of overwintering for S. exigua will shift northward from current distribution. Thus, the ongoing winter warming is likely to increase the frequency of S. exigua outbreaks.

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.

We want to construct a yeast expression system for thymosin a1 (Ta1) to make the orally administered Ta1 preparation possible. The whole Ta1 DNA fragment was obtained by PCR. After being digested with restriction enzymes, it was cloned into pYES2 vector. Sequencing was performed to identify the recombinant. The sequence of Ta1 in recombinant coincided with the original one reported in Genbank. When pYES2-Ta1 plasmid was transformed into yeast, galactose instead of glucose was used to induce Ta1 expression. Western blot was performed to identify the quality of the expressed Ta1. Dried yeast containing pYEST2-Ta1 was fed to Balb/c mice whose immunities were inhibited by cyclophosphamide in advance. Synthesized Ta1 peptide was used as positive control and empty yeast was used as negative control. Compared with the negative control group, both dried yeast containing pYEST2-Ta1 and synthesized Ta1 peptide can significantly increase the CD8+ level (22.74±1.09 and 18.77±4.72 vs 7.49±2.14, p<0.01), while both of them had little effect on the CD4+ lymphocytes (61.86±6.94 and 65.91±4.78 vs 57.93±10.40, p>0.05). We concluded that a high effective yeast expression system for Ta1 was constructed successfully and the Ta1 protein expressed by this system can improve CD8+ level in immune inhibited mice.