NMR spectroscopic method for the assignment of 3,5-dioxygenated aromatic rings in natural products.

In recent years, certain "new" naturally occurring compounds (1-28) with 3,5-dioxygenated aromatic rings have been reported. A comparison of the NMR data of these compounds with the data of four model compounds (A-D) indicated that the structures of these "new" compounds were erroneous. The reason for the incorrect elucidation of the structures of 1-28 was attributed to "deceptively simple" (1)H NMR spectra, which displayed two broad singlets with integrations of 1:2 for H-2 and H-5, H-6, respectively.

Gauge field optics with anisotropic media.

By considering gauge transformations on the macroscopic Maxwell's equations, a two-dimensional gauge field, with its pseudomagnetic field in the real space, is identified as tilted anisotropy in the constitutive parameters. We show that the optical spin Hall effect with broadband response and one-way edge states become possible simply by using anisotropic media. The proposed gauge field also allows us to obtain unidirectional propagation for a particular pseudospin based on the Aharonov-Bohm effect.

Classification of metagenomics data at lower taxonomic level using a robust supervised classifier.

As more and more completely sequenced genomes become available, the taxonomic classification of metagenomic data will benefit greatly from supervised classifiers that can be updated instantaneously in response to new genomes. Currently, some supervised classifiers have been developed to assess the organism of metagenomic sequences. We have found that the existing supervised classifiers usually cannot discriminate the training data from different classes accurately when the data contain some outliers.

Topological photonic phase in chiral hyperbolic metamaterials.

Recently, the possibility of achieving one-way backscatter immune transportation of light by mimicking the topological properties of certain solid state systems, such as topological insulators, has received much attention. Thus far, however, demonstrations of nontrivial topology in photonics have relied on photonic crystals with precisely engineered lattice structures, periodic on the scale of the operational wavelength and composed of finely tuned, complex materials. Here we propose a novel effective medium approach towards achieving topologically protected photonic surface states robust against disorder on all length scales and for a wide range of material parameters.

Neuroprotective naphthalene and flavan derivatives from Polygonum cuspidatum.

Ten naphthalene derivatives including two unusual glycosides possessing a naphthalene-fused piceid via a [C8'-O-C6-C5-C7']-trans-dihydrofuran ring, two flavan derivatives, as well as sixteen known phenolic compounds, were isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum. The structures were determined by extensive NMR, MS, CD data, and chemical evidence. In the in vitro neuroprotective assays, at the concentration of 10 μM, five of these compounds exhibited significant effects against PC12 cells injured by rotenone.

Wideband-adjustable reflection-suppressed rejection filters using chirped and tilted fiber gratings.

Wideband-adjustable band-rejection filters based on chirped and tilted fiber Bragg gratings (CTFBG) are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The flexible chirp-rate and wide tilt-angle provide the gratings with broadband filtering functions over a large range of bandwidths (from 10 nm to 150 nm), together with a low insertion loss (less than 1 dB) and a negligible back-reflection (lower than -20 dB). The slope profile of CTFBG in transmission can be easily tailored by adjusting the tilt angle, grating irradiation time and chirp rate-grating factor, and it is insensitive to the polarization state of the input light, as well as to temperature, axial strain and surrounding refractive index.

A link partition approach for finding overlapping functional modules in the transcriptional regulatory network.

The transcriptional regulation of cellular functions is carried out by the overlapping functional modules of a complex network. In this paper, a statistical approach for detecting functional modules in the transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) is studied. The proposed method defines modules as groups of links rather than nodes since nodes naturally belong to more than one module.

Evaluation of HODE-15, FDE-15, CDE-15, and BDE-15 toxicity on adult and embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Diphenyl ether and its derivatives are widely used in the industry of spices, dyes, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Following the previous study, we selected 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether, 4,4'-difluorodiphenyl ether, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether, and 4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether as research objects. The LC50 (96 h) values for these compounds in adult zebrafish were determined with the acute test.

Phytosterol colloidal particles as Pickering stabilizers for emulsions.

Water-insoluble phytosterols were developed into a kind of colloidal particle as Pickering stabilizers for emulsions by a classic anti-solvent method using 100% ethanol as the organic phase to solubilize the phytosterols and whey protein concentrate (WPC) as the emulsifier. The colloidal particles in the dispersion, with morphology of stacked platelet-like sheets, had a mean diameter of 44.7 and 24.

Optimal waist circumference cut-off values for identifying metabolic risk factors in middle-aged and elderly subjects in Shandong Province of China.

Objective: To study the optimal waist circumference (WC) cut-off values for identifying metabolic risk factors in middle-aged and elderly subjects in Shandong Province of China.

Methods: A total of 2,873 men and 5,559 women were included in this cross-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed according to the definition of Chinese Diabetes Society in 2004.

An intelligent superwetting PVDF membrane showing switchable transport performance for oil/water separation.

A superamphiphilic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane with superoleophobicity under water and superhydrophobicity under oil is successfully prepared. Due to the switchable transport performance, the membrane is applicable to the separation of various oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions with a droplet size greater than 20 nm, and shows superior permeability and antifouling properties, as well as a high separation efficiency.

Polarimetric multi-mode tilted fiber grating sensors.

The polarimetric sensing characteristics of multi-mode-fiber based tilted fiber Bragg gratings (MMF-TFBG) have been analyzed and experimentally demonstrated. The larger diameter fiber core and graded index core/cladding profile enable the tilted gratings to excite multiple high-order core modes with significantly different polarization dependence and to form a well-defined "comb" of spectrally separated resonances at different wavelengths. Orientation-recognized twist/rotation measurements (-90° to 90°) have been achieved with sensitivity of 0.

Emulsifying properties of soy protein nanoparticles: influence of the protein concentration and/or emulsification process.

The interfacial and emulsifying properties of soy protein isolate nanoparticles formed by combined treatments of heating and electrostatic screening, as affected by variation of the protein concentration (c) and emulsification process, were investigated. These nanoparticles (with a z-average diameter of 103 nm at c = 0.1%, w/v) tended to aggregate at higher c values, and their internal structure was mainly maintained by hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bondings.

In-situ detection of density alteration in non-physiological cells with polarimetric tilted fiber grating sensors.

Tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) biosensors can be used as a cost-effective and relatively simple-to-implement alternative to well established biosensor platforms for high sensitivity biological sample measurements in situ or possibly in vivo. The fiber biosensor presented in this study utilizes an in-fiber 12° tilted Bragg grating to excite a strong evanescent field on the surface of the sensor over a large range of external medium refractive indices. The devices have minimal cross-sensitivity to temperature and their fabrication does not impact the structural integrity of the fiber and its surface functionalization.

The J-curve relationship between diastolic pressure and coronary collateral circulation in patients with single chronic total occlusion.

Background: In our previous study, we had shown that high diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was positively related to well-developed coronary collateral circulation (CCC). This study sought to find out the more precise relationship between DBP and CCC.

Methods And Results: To investigate this, we conducted a study of 671 patients with single chronic total occlusion of coronary artery.

Expression of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V in gastric cancer correlates with metastasis and prognosis.

N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) is an enzyme that catalyzes β1-6 branching of N-acetylglucosamine on asparagine (N)-linked oligosaccharides (N-glycan) of cell proteins and the dysfunction of which is a common feature of various carcinomas. Nevertheless, the role of GnT-V remains controversial. Therefore, the clinical implication of GnT-V expression may differ in each cancer type.

Polarization-independent coherent perfect absorption by a dipole-like metasurface.

We show that polarization-independent coherent perfect absorption can be realized in a simple dipole-like metasurface by precisely engineering the ratio between the scattering loss γ(s) and the dissipation loss γ(l). This effect can be traced to a critical condition on the scattering matrix in a dipolar picture, which requires that the scattering and dissipation losses are equivalent, i.e.

Subacute oral toxicity of BDE-15, CDE-15, and HODE-15 in ICR male mice: assessing effects on hepatic oxidative stress and metals status and ascertaining the protective role of vitamin E.

The present study examined the effects of oral exposure of 4,4'-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE-15), 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether (CDE-15), and 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether (HODE-15) on hepatic oxidative stress (OS) and metal status in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) male mice. Furthermore, the role of vitamin E in ameliorating potential OS caused by BDE-15, CDE-15, and HODE-15 was investigated. Three groups of mice were exposed to 1.

Soy protein nanoparticle aggregates as pickering stabilizers for oil-in-water emulsions.

In recent years, there have been increasing interests in developing food-grade Pickering stabilizers, due to their potential applications in formulations of novel functional foods. The present work was to investigate the potential of soy proteins to be developed into a kind of Pickering-like stabilizer for oil-in-water emulsions. The nanoparticle aggregates of soy protein isolate (SPI) were formed by sequential treatments of heating at 95 °C for 15 min and then electrostatic screening with NaCl addition.

Manipulating polarization and impedance signature: a reciprocal field transformation approach.

We introduce a field transformation method for wave manipulation based on completely reciprocal and passive materials. While coordinate transformations in transformation optics (TO) change the size and shape of an object, field transformations give us direct control on the impedance and polarization signature of an object. Using our approach, a new type of perfect conductor can be realized to completely convert between transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations at any incidence angles and a perfect magnetic conductor of arbitrary shape can be mimicked by using anisotropic materials.

microRNAs Involved in Regulating Spontaneous Recovery in Embolic Stroke Model.

To date, miRNA expression studies on cerebral ischemia in both human and animal models have focused mainly on acute phase of ischemic stroke. In this study, we present the roles played by microRNAs in the spontaneous recovery phases in cerebral ischemia using rodent stroke models. Brain tissues were harvested at different reperfusion time points ranging from 0-168 hrs after middle cerebral artery occlusion using homologous emboli.

Modified Nuss procedure is a safe choice for recurrent pectus excavatum after previous open repair experience of 26 cases.

Purpose: This study is aiming to investigate the feasibility and effect of applying modified Nuss procedure on recurrent pectus excavatum following previous open repair.

Methods: By retrospectively reviewing patients of pectus excavatum enrolled in our department from July 2007 to August 2012, we find 27 cases of recurrent PE who received open repair previously. Twenty-six patients received Nuss repair, while one patient refused.