The effect of hydrogen bonds on diffusion mechanism of water inside single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Nanopores can serve as a molecule channel for transport of fluid, where water diffusion differs remarkably from that of simple particles. Hydrogen bonds play an essential role in the diffusion anomaly. Detailed investigations are carried out on the systems of rigid (6, 6), (7, 7), (8, 8), (9, 9), and (10, 10) armchair carbon nanotubes, solvated with Lennard-Jones water fluids.

Effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the development and function of ovine fetal liver.

This study investigated the effects of maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy on the development and function of ovine fetal liver. Eighteen ewes with singleton fetuses were allocated to three groups at d 90 of pregnancy: Restricted Group 1 (RG1, 0.175MJMEkgBW(-0.

[Between the self and the other: the ethical attitude of providing care to others].

Background: The need to face others is an inescapable part of the professional responsibilities of nurses. The meaning of "facing the other" is poorly addressed in nursing practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the ethical attitudes of nurses related to facing others.

Regional patterns of (15)N natural abundance in forest ecosystems along a large transect in eastern China.

The regional determining factors underlying inter- and intra-site variation of (15)N natural abundance in foliage, O horizon and mineral soil were investigated in eastern China.(15)N natural abundance values for these forest ecosystems were in the middle of the range of values previously found for global forest ecosystems. In contrast to commonly reported global patterns, temperate forest ecosystems were significantly more(15)N-enriched than tropical forest ecosystems, and foliage δ(15)N was negatively correlated with increasing mean annual temperature and net soil N mineralisation in eastern China.

The Ti4 cluster activates water dissociation on defective graphene.

Activation of the Ti4 cluster on defective graphene for water adsorption and dissociation was investigated via density functional theory. Both the vacancy and the Ti cluster can promote the water dissociation reaction. The vacancy can efficiently enhance the adsorption of Ti atoms to stabilize the cluster.

A pharmacokinetic study on a novel anti-HBV agent imidol hydrochloride in rats.

Imidol hydrochloride is a novel agent for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is currently being evaluated in a phase II trial. This study investigated the absorption, excretion and tissue distribution of imidol after an oral dose in rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined for both intravenous and oral dosing.

Peptide encapsulation regulated by the geometry of carbon nanotubes.

In this work the encapsulation of an α-helical peptide in single carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with similar diameter and length but different geometry (armchair and zigzag) was investigated through molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. Our simulation results showed that in vacuo it makes no evident difference whether the investigated peptide is encapsulated in armchair or zigzag CNTs; however, in aqueous solution the armchair CNT encapsulates the peptide remarkably easier than the zigzag CNT does. A detailed analysis revealed that the equilibrium conformation of the water molecules inside the CNTs with varying geometry mediates the peptide encapsulation.

Molecular basis for the targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVβ3.

Integrin αVβ3-targeting peptides with an exposed arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) sequence play a crucial role in targeted anticancer drug delivery. The effects of RGD-containing peptide structure and quantity on mechanism of targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVβ3 were studied intensively at the molecular level via molecular dynamic simulations. Targeted recognization was mainly driven by the electrostatic interactions between the residues in RGD and the metal ions in integrin αVβ3, and cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartate-phenylalanine-valine (RGDFV) peptide appeared to be a better vector than the linear RGD-containing peptides.

[Differential expression of protease-activated receptor 2 in a bile duct ligation-induced rat model of liver fibrosis].

Objective: To observe the dynamic change in expression of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) during onset and progression of liver fibrosis by using a rat model.

Methods: A cholestatic liver fibrosis model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8-9 weeks, body weight 350 - 400 g) by bile duct ligation surgery. Rats receiving a sham operation and unoperated rats served as the negative and normal control groups, respectively.

Identification of 2-amino-5-aryl-pyrazines as inhibitors of human lactate dehydrogenase.

A 2-amino-5-aryl-pyrazine was identified as an inhibitor of human lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) via a biochemical screening campaign. Biochemical and biophysical experiments demonstrated that the compound specifically interacted with human LDHA. Structural variation of the screening hit resulted in improvements in LDHA biochemical inhibition and pharmacokinetic properties.

Docosahexaenoic acid reduces inflammation and joint destruction in mice with collagen-induced arthritis.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the anti-inflammatory activity of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alone and in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis, collagen induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: The CIA was induced in DBA/1OlaHsd mice by the injection of bovine type II collagen in Freunds's complete adjuvant on days 0 and 21. Mice were fed modified diets containing DHA and/or EPA for 4 weeks prior to the initial collagen injection until study termination at day 45.

First principles study of the permeability of graphene to hydrogen atoms.

Using calculations from first principles and harmonic transition state theory, we investigated the permeability of a single graphene sheet to protons and hydrogen atoms. Our results show that while protons can readily pass through a graphene sheet with a low tunneling barrier, for hydrogen atoms the barriers are substantially higher. At the same time, the presence of defects in the membrane can significantly reduce the penetration barrier in a region that extends beyond the defect site itself.

A novel chemiluminescent ELISA for detecting furaltadone metabolite, 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidone (AMOZ) in fish, egg, honey and shrimp samples.

In this study, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with chemiluminescent (CLELISA) detection for 3-amino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidone (AMOZ) was developed. A monoclonal antibody (MAb) against AMOZ was prepared through immunizing BALB/c mice with 4-carboxybenzaldehyle derivatized AMOZ (CPAMOZ), conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as antigen. The effects of the substrates luminol, p-iodophenol and urea peroxide on the performance of the assay were studied and optimized.

[The transformation of nurses in holding and containing: a reflective group for end-of-life care].

Background: Caring for dying patients is an emotional burden for nurses.

Purpose: This study used reflective groups to explore the process of transition that nurses go through in caring for dying patients.

Methods: We adopted a phenomenological approach.

Dexmedetomidine inhibits inflammatory reaction in lung tissues of septic rats by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Dexmedetomidine has been reported to reduce mortality in septic rats. This study was designed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on inflammatory reaction in lung tissues of septic rats induced by CLP. After induction of sepsis, the rats were treated with normal saline or dexmedetomidine (5, 10, or 20 μg/kg).

Characterization and evolution of 5' and 3' untranslated regions in eukaryotes.

Untranslated regions (UTRs) in eukaryotes play a significant role in the regulation of translation and mRNA half-life, as well as interacting with specific RNA-binding proteins. However, UTRs receive less attention than more crucial elements such as genes, and the basic structural and evolutionary characteristics of UTRs of different species, and the relationship between these UTRs and the genome size and species gene number is not well understood. To address these questions, we performed a comparative analysis of 5' and 3' untranslated regions of different species by analyzing the basic characteristics of 244,976 UTRs from three eukaryote kingdoms (Plantae, Fungi, and Protista).

Ketamine inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced astrocytes activation by suppressing TLR4/NF-ĸB pathway.

Background/aims: Ketamine has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects on astrocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanism has not been elicited clearly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ketamine on TLR4 expression and NF-ĸB-p65 phosphorylation, as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokines in LPS challenged astrocytes.

Pharmacokinetics of mequindox and its metabolites in rats after intravenous and oral administration.

Pharmacokinetics of mequindox (MEQ) and its metabolites were determined in rats after intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.

Activation of water on the TiO2 (110) surface: the case of Ti adatoms.

Using first-principles calculations we have studied the reactions of water over Ti adatoms on the (110) surface of rutile TiO(2). Our results provide fundamental insights into the microscopic mechanisms that drive this reaction at the atomic level and assess the possibility of using this system to activate the water dissociation reaction. In particular, we show that a single water molecule dissociates exothermically with a small energy barrier of 0.

Growth, clinical chemistry and immune function in domestic piglets fed varying ratios of arachidonic acid and DHA.

In the USA, infant formulas contain long-chain PUFA arachidonic acid (ARA) and DHA in a ratio of 2:1 and comprise roughly 0·66 g/100 g and 0·33 g/100 g total fatty acids (FA). Higher levels of dietary DHA appear to provide some advantages in visual or cognitive performance. The present study evaluated the effect of physiologically high dietary ARA on growth, clinical chemistry, haematology and immune function when DHA is 1·0 g/100 g total FA.

[Expressions of RANK, RANKL, and osteoprotegerin in male rats at different ages].

Objective: To investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), its ligand RANKL, and osteoprotegerin, and observe the effects of αD3 on their expressions in male rats at different ages.

Methods: Wistar rats at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 24 months (n=15) were examined for mRNA expressions of RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin in the left proximal femur using RT-PCR and for their protein expressions in the right femur using immunohistochemistry. RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin expressions were also detected in another 15 rats aged 24 months following intragastric administration of 0.

Pharmacokinetics of mequindox and one of its major metabolites in chickens after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration.

Pharmacokinetics of mequindox and one of its major metabolites (M) was determined in chickens after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.