Stabilization of Giant Fullerenes C(41)-C, D(85)-C, C(132)-C, C(157)-C, and C(175)-C by Encapsulation of a Large LaC Cluster: The Importance of Cluster-Cage Matching.

Successful isolation and unambiguous crystallographic assignment of a series of higher carbide cluster metallofullerenes present new insights into the molecular structures and cluster-cage interactions of endohedral metallofullerenes. These new species are identified as LaC@C(41)-C, LaC@D(85)-C, LaC@C(132)-C, LaC@C(157)-C, and LaC@C(175)-C. This is the first report for these new cage structures except for D(85)-C.

The Effect of Selenium on the Cd-Induced Apoptosis via NO-Mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway in Chicken Liver.

Cd-induced apoptosis and the protective effects of Se against Cd-induced injury have been reported in previous studies. However, little is known regarding the effects of Cd-induced apoptosis in hepatic cells and the antagonistic effects of Se on Cd in poultry. In the present study, 128 healthy 31-week-old laying hens were randomly divided into four groups, which were fed basic diets, with the addition of Se (NaSeO, 2 mg/kg), Cd (CdCl, 150 mg/kg), or Se + Cd (150 mg/kg of CdCl and 2 mg/kg of NaSeO) for 90 days.

Transcriptomic characterization of zebrafish larvae in response to mercury exposure.

Mercury is a widespread toxicant in aquatic environment that can cause deleterious effects on fish. Although a number of mercury-regulated genes have been investigated in adult fish, the transcriptional responses of fish larvae to acute mercury exposure are not well understood. In this study, RNA sequencing was used to examine the transcriptional changes in developing zebrafish larvae under a low concentration of mercuric chloride exposure from 24 to 120hpf.

The Unanticipated Dimerization of Ce@C (9)-C upon Co-crystallization with Ni(octaethylporphyrin) and Comparison with Monomeric M@C (9)-C (M = La, Sc, and Y).

We report that Ce@C (9)-C forms a centrosymmetric dimer when co-crystallized with Ni(OEP) (OEP = octaethylporphyrin dianion). The crystal structure of {Ce@C (9)-C } ⋅2[Ni(OEP)]⋅4 C H shows that a new C-C bond with a bond length of 1.605(5) Å connects the two cages.

Identification of a C-type lectin from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its functional characterization under low-temperature stress.

C-type lectin, which plays an important role in fish innate immunity, was cloned from tilapia and its functional characterization under low-temperature stress is reported. Its ORF is 453 bp, encoding 150 amino acids, and has a 5'UTR of 83 bp, a 3'UTR of 559 bp, and a poly (A) tail. The tilapia C-type lectin genomic DNA was acquired with a length of 5714 bp, containing six exons and five introns.

Comparative molecular analysis of early and late cancer cachexia-induced muscle wasting in mouse models.

Cancer-induced muscle wasting, which commonly occurs in cancer cachexia, is characterized by impaired quality of life and poor patient survival. To identify an appropriate treatment, research on the mechanism underlying muscle wasting is essential. Thus far, studies on muscle wasting using cancer cachectic models have generally focused on early cancer cachexia (ECC), before severe body weight loss occurs.

Evaluation of the impacts of cooperative adaptive cruise control on reducing rear-end collision risks on freeways.

Although plenty of studies have been conducted recently about the impacts of cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) system on traffic efficiency, there are few researches analyzing the safety effects of this advanced driving-assistant system. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impacts of the CACC system on reducing rear-end collision risks on freeways. The CACC model is firstly developed, which is based on the Intelligent Driver Model (IDM).

[Comprehensive Evaluation of Biological Activity in Different Passage Populations of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow in Ovariectomy Osteoporotic Rats].

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the biological activity in different passage populations of mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)derived from bone marrow in ovariectomy osteoporotic rats(named OVX-rBMSCs),providing experimental basis for new osteoporotic drug development and research.OVX-rBMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro by the whole bone marrow adherent screening method.The morphological observation,cell surface markers(CD29,CD45,CD90)detection,cell proliferation,induced differentiation experimental detection were performed to evaluate the biological activity of Passage 1,2,3,4populations(P1,P2,P3,P4)OVX-rBMSCs.

Direct visualization of free-volume-triggered activation of β relaxation in colloidal glass.

β relaxation, which is predicted by mode coupling theory and involves the localized motions of particles, initiates in a supercooled liquid and continues into glassy state. It correlates essentially with many fundamental properties of amorphous materials. Despite its importance, the underlying mechanisms leading to the β relaxation have remained elusive.

Do psychological interventions reduce depression in hemodialysis patients?: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials following PRISMA.

Background: Depression is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients and results in poor patient outcomes. Although psychological interventions are being developed and used for these patients, there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of these interventions. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of psychological interventions on depression treatment in hemodialysis patients.

Rigid Tether Directed Regioselective Synthesis and Crystallographic Characterization of Labile 1,2,3,4-Bis(triazolino)[60]fullerene and Its Thermolized Derivatives.

Labile bis-triazoline adducts of C60 are supposed to be the precursors of bis-azafulleroids, but the formation mechanism is still unclear because of the incomplete isolation of the thermolized products and the lack of X-ray structures. A rigid-tethered reagent 1,2-bis(azidomethyl)benzene (1) was used to regioselectively synthesize the labile 1,2,3,4-bis(triazolino)[60]-fullerene (2), the structure of which was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Further thermolysis of 2 produces four products (3 a-3 d), which were all characterized by X-ray crystallography.

Fast volumetric imaging of bound and pore water in cortical bone using three-dimensional ultrashort-TE (UTE) and inversion recovery UTE sequences.

We report the three-dimensional ultrashort-TE (3D UTE) and adiabatic inversion recovery UTE (IR-UTE) sequences employing a radial trajectory with conical view ordering for bi-component T2 * analysis of bound water (T2 *(BW) ) and pore water (T2 *(PW) ) in cortical bone. An interleaved dual-echo 3D UTE acquisition scheme was developed for fast bi-component analysis of bound and pore water in cortical bone. A 3D IR-UTE acquisition scheme employing multiple spokes per IR was developed for bound water imaging.

Optical digital coherent detection technology enabled flexible and ultra-fast quantitative phase imaging.

Quantitative phase imaging has been an important labeling-free microscopy modality for many biomedical and material science applications. In which, ultra-fast quantitative phase imaging is indispensable for dynamic or transient characteristics analysis. Conventional wide field optical interferometry is a common scheme for quantitative phase imaging, while its data acquisition rate is usually hindered by the frame rate of arrayed detector.

Comparison of the pulmonary dead-space fraction derived from ventilator volumetric capnography and a validated equation in the survival prediction of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose: This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the accuracy of dead-space fraction derived from the ventilator volumetric capnography (volumetric CO₂) or a prediction equation to predict the survival of mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods: Consecutive VD/VT measurements were obtained based upon a prediction equation validated by Frankenfield et al for dead-space ventilation fraction: VD/VT = 0.320 + 0.

Inhibition of autophagy and enhancement of endoplasmic reticulum stress increase sensitivity of osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells to cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2.

WIN55,212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, can activate cannabinoid receptors, which has proven anti-tumour effects in several tumour types. Studies showed that WIN can inhibit tumour cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in diverse cancers. However, the role and mechanism of WIN in osteosarcoma are still unclear.

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of the Labile Isomer of Y@C82 Cocrystallized with Ni(OEP): Unprecedented Dimerization of Pristine Metallofullerenes.

Although the major isomers of M@C82 (namely M@C2v (9)-C82 , where M is a trivalent rare-earth metal) have been intensively investigated, the lability of the minor isomers has meant that they have been little studied. Herein, the first isolation and crystallographic characterization of the minor Y@C82 isomer, unambiguously assigned as Y@Cs (6)-C82 by cocrystallization with Ni(octaethylporphyrin), is reported. Unexpectedly, a regioselective dimerization is observed in the crystalline state of Y@Cs (6)-C82 .

The ABA receptor PYL9 together with PYL8 plays an important role in regulating lateral root growth.

Abscisic acid is a phytohormone regulating plant growth, development and stress responses. PYR1/PYL/RCAR proteins are ABA receptors that function by inhibiting PP2Cs to activate SnRK2s, resulting in phosphorylation of ABFs and other effectors of ABA response pathways. Exogenous ABA induces growth quiescence of lateral roots, which is prolonged by knockout of the ABA receptor PYL8.

Genomic characterization of influenza A (H7N9) viruses isolated in Shenzhen, Southern China, during the second epidemic wave.

There were three epidemic waves of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in 2013-2014. While many analyses of the genomic origin, evolution, and molecular characteristics of the influenza A (H7N9) virus have been performed using sequences from the first epidemic wave, genomic characterization of the virus from the second epidemic wave has been comparatively less reported. In this study, an in-depth analysis was performed with respect to the genomic characteristics of 11 H7N9 virus strains isolated from confirmed cases and four H7N9 virus strains isolated from environmental samples in Shenzhen during the second epidemic wave.

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of La2C2@Cs(574)-C102 and La2C2@C2(816)-C104: Evidence for the Top-Down Formation Mechanism of Fullerenes.

Tubular higher fullerenes are prototypes of finite-length end-capped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) whose structures can be accurately characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography. We present here the isolation and crystallographic characterization of two unprecedented higher fullerenes stabilized by the encapsulation of a La2C2 cluster, namely, La2C2@Cs(574)-C102, which has a perfect tubular cage corresponding to a short (10, 0) zigzag carbon nanotube, and La2C2@C2(816)-C104 which has a defective cage with a pyracylene motif inserting into the cage waist. Both cages provide sufficient spaces for the large La2C2 cluster to adopt a stretched and nearly planar configuration, departing from the common butterfly-like configuration which has been frequently observed in midsized carbide metallofullerenes (e.

Clinical study of midazolam sequential with dexmedetomidine for agitated patients undergoing weaning to implement light sedation in intensive care unit.

Purpose: To evaluate midazolam sequential with dexmedetomidine for agitated patients undergoing weaning to implement light sedation in ICU.

Methods: This randomized, prospective study was conducted in Tianjin Third Central Hospital, China. Using a sealed-envelope method, the patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (40 patients per group).

Valproic acid attenuates skeletal muscle wasting by inhibiting C/EBPβ-regulated atrogin1 expression in cancer cachexia.

Muscle wasting is the hallmark of cancer cachexia and is associated with poor quality of life and increased mortality. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, has important biological effects in the treatment of muscular dystrophy. To verify whether VPA could ameliorate muscle wasting induced by cancer cachexia, we explored the role of VPA in two cancer cachectic mouse models [induced by colon-26 (C26) adenocarcinoma or Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)] and atrophied C2C12 myotubes [induced by C26 cell conditioned medium (CCM) or LLC cell conditioned medium (LCM)].