ABSTRACT Vertical wind profiles of selected tropical cyclones over the South China Sea are studied for the first time using dropsonde measurements by a fixed-wing aircraft of the Hong Kong Government. They are studied in two aspects which have not been conducted before for storms over the South China Sea. First the strengthening and weakening of the tropical cyclones are analyzed based on the radial wind profiles, namely, inflow and outflow, particularly over the atmospheric boundary layer. Second, the vertical wind profiles are fitted using the commonly considered wind profile models reported in the literature and compared with stipulations in Hong Kong and Chinese structural design codes. This would have significant contributions to wind engineering applications in the region. The results are unique for tropical cyclones over South China Sea and would serve as useful reference for the studies of tropical cyclones in this ocean basin.

RESUMEN Se estudian por primera vez los perfiles verticales del viento de algunos ciclones tropicales del mar de China Meridional, utilizando para ello mediciones de radiosondas lanzadas desde una aeronave del gobierno de Hong Kong. Se analizan dos aspectos de dichos perfiles relativos a tormentas en el mar de China Meridional, los cuales no se han abordado antes. Primero, se estudian el fortalecimiento y el debilitamiento de los ciclones tropicales con base en perfiles radiales del viento, específicamente de entrada y de salida, en particular sobre la capa límite atmosférica. En segundo lugar, se ajustan los perfiles verticales del viento utilizando para ello los modelos de perfiles de viento más reportados en la literatura y se les compara con las especificaciones de las normas chinas y hongkonesas para el diseño de estructuras, lo cual constituye una importante contribución a las aplicaciones de ingeniería de vientos en la región. Los resultados son exclusivos para ciclones tropicales en el mar de China Meridional y pueden servir como referencia útil para su estudio en esa cuenca oceánica.

Mineral homeostasis is often disrupted in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) infants. Most studies focus on calcium or phosphorus metabolism of IUGR infants via determining serum mineral concentrations instead of tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of IUGR on the mineralization and physiological functions of tissue in a piglet model. Six normal birth weight (NBW) and six IUGR neonatal piglets were slaughtered at 35 days. Mineral concentrations in blood and selected tissues (liver, kidney, lungs, heart, and longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM)), hepatic lipid, mRNA expressions of magnesium (Mg) metabolism, and autophagy were analysed. Results showed that IUGR pigs showed significantly lower phosphorus (P) in LDM, and lower Mg in the liver and LDM, and higher Mg in lungs than NBW pigs. There were no significant differences in concentrations of selenium (Se), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al), and lithium (Li) in selected tissues. IUGR pigs had similar mRNA expression of TRPM7 and MagT1 to NBW pigs, but significantly lower expressions of HNF1B and Mrs2 in the liver than NBW pigs. Hepatic triglyceride was significantly increased, and MAP1LC3B expression was significantly decreased in IUGR pigs compared with those of NBW pigs. These result suggested that IUGR pigs had tissue mineralization disturbance, especially for Mg, and liver dysfunction (increased hepatic lipid and inhibited autophagy). Hepatic Mg deficiency might result from increased Mg efflux via reducing HNF1B expression.

ABSTRACT Ten-week-old Langde geese in similar body weight were randomly selected, four for overfeeding and four for routinly feeding. The abundance of liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), thyroid hormone-responsive (THRSP or Spot 14), obese (OB), and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) genes in goose were detected by quantitative RT-PCR. L-FABP was higher expressed in liver and intestine than other tissues, but no expression was detected in the pancreas or brain. The other three genes were widely expressed in different tissues, OB was higher expressed in pancreas and abdominal fat, Spot 14 and Apo A1 was higher expressed in sebum and abdominal fat. Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes were up-regulated in overfed goose livers compared with that in the control. Thus, Spot 14 and Apo A1 genes may play important roles in lipid metabolism in goose fat liver.

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term survival and risk factors of traditional open surgical repair (OSR) vs thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for complicated type-B aortic dissection (TBAD). A total of 118 inpatients (45 OSR vs 73 TEVAR) with TBAD were enrolled from January 2004 to January 2015. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed to identify the long-term survival rate and independent predictors of survival, respectively. Meta-analysis was used to further explore the long-term efficacy of OSR and TEVAR in the eight included studies using Review Manager 5.2 software. An overall 10-year survival rate of 41.9% was found, and it was similar in the two groups (56.7% OSR vs 26.1% TEVAR; log-rank P=0.953). The risk factors of long-term survival were refractory hypertension (OR=11.1; 95%CI=1.428-86.372; P=0.021] and preoperative aortic diameter >55 mm (OR=4.5; 95%CI=1.842-11.346; P=0.001). Long-term survival rate did not differ significantly between OSR and TEVAR (hazard ratio=0.87; 95%CI=0.52-1.47; P=0.61). Compared with OSR, TEVAR did not show long-term advantages for patients with TBAD. Refractory hypertension and total aortic diameter >55 mm can be used to predict the long-term survival of TBAD in the Chinese Han population.

The products and the related gene expression of flavonoid metabolism were examined in the skin and pulp of Yan73 (Vtis vinifera L. cv.) grapes, a teinturier variety cultivated in China, and the data were compared with those in the skin and pulp of Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L. cv.) grapes, a well-known red variety. The results showed that, in comparison with the skins of Cabernet Sauvignon, the skins of Yan73 berries were characterised by fewer types of flavonols and anthocyanins, a higher level of flavonoids, and a much lower percentage of 3'-hydroxylated flavonols. Flavonoid metabolism was also present in the pulp of Yan73, and the percentages of 3'-hydroxylated flavonols and 3'-hydroxylated flavan-3-ols were significantly higher than the percentages of their corresponding 3',5'-hydroxylated forms. Only flavan-3-ols were found in the pulp of Cabernet Sauvignon. The expression of VvmybAl exhibited a co-ordination with the accumulation of anthocyanins in the pulp of the teinturier cultivar, which showed great similarity to that in the skin. A good correlation was found between the expression of VvF3'H and 3'-hydroxylated flavonoids, as well as between the expression of VvF3'5'H and 3',5'-hydroxylated flavonoids in the skin and pulp of the grape berries. It is suggested that tissue-specific accumulation of flavonoids in grape berries is related to the transcriptional expression of VvF3'H and VvF3'5'H.

The separation performance of a raw coal sample from South Africa based on the dense gas-solid fluidized bed beneficiation technique was investigated. Analysis showed that the raw coal sample distributes mainly in the -50+6 mm size range with the -1.6 g/cm³ density fraction accounting for 78.20% of the cumulative mass distribution. A flow sheet of the sequential coal beneficiation technique was introduced. The experimental and simulation results of the hydromechanical and density distribution stability indicate that the dense gas-solid fluidized bed could provide a stable separation environment with uniform density fluctuations under suitable operating conditions. With the application of this technique on the raw coal sample, the separation results show that three products, consisting of 73.25% clean coal with an ash content of 9.59%, 11.31% middlings, and 15.44% gangue were effectively separated at two different densities of 1.82 g/cm³ and 1.57 g/cm³. This study provides an effective flow sheet for achieving the high-efficiency separation performance on raw coal from arid areas.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibits growth and induces cell cycle G2/M arrest in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells. In this study, 15 mg/L DADS exerted similar effects on growth and cell cycle arrest in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. Due to the importance of cell cycle redistribution in DADS-mediated anti-carcinogenic effects, we investigated the role of checkpoint kinases (Chk1 and Chk2) during DADS-induced cell cycle arrest. We hypothesized that DADS could mediate G2/M phase arrest through either Chk1 or Chk2 signal transduction pathways. We demonstrated that DADS induced the accumulation of phosphorylated Chk1, but not of Chk2, and that DADS down-regulated Cdc25C and cyclin B1. The expression of mRNA and total protein for Chkl and Chk2 was unchanged. Chk1 is specifically phosphorylated by ATR (ATM-RAD3-related gene). Western blot analysis showed that phospho-ATR was activated by DADS. Taken together, these data suggest that cell cycle G2/M arrest, which was associated with accumulation of the phosphorylated forms of Chk1, but not of Chk2, was involved in the growth inhibition induced by DADS in the human gastric cancer cell line BGC823. Furthermore, the DADS-induced G2/M checkpoint response is mediated by Chk1 signaling through ATR/Chk1/Cdc25C/cyclin B1, and is independent of Chk2.

A newly formulated colistin sulphate solution was prepared in a previous study as a potential agent for intramuscular injection and its effectiveness, toxicity and pharmacokinetics were investigated. In order to provide more information to establish scientific guidance for safe use of this preparation, its residue depletion in swine tissues following intramuscular administration was investigated in this experiment. Fifty healthy cross-bred piglets (13.3 ± 0.9 kg) were used in this study. Five animals were kept as untreated controls and the other 45 animals were intramuscularly injected with the colistin preparation at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of body weight. From the treated piglets, 5 animals were randomly selected and sacrificed at different withdrawal times. Liver, kidney and muscle tissues were sampled to examine the colistin residue levels by microbiological assay. The results showed that the colistin residue in liver and muscle decreased quickly and could not be detected at 1 day after the final dosing. However, the residue depletion in the kidneys was much slower than that in other tissues and even a small quantity of drug could be detected at 14 days after withdrawal. Using the method recommended by the Committee for Veterinary Medical Products (CVMP), a withdrawal time of 10 days was established for the safe use of the newly formulated colistin sulphate solution.