Two new species of the spider wasp genus Paracyphononyx Gribodo, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Pompilidae) in China, with a key to Chinese species.

The taxonomy of the genus Paracyphononyx Gribodo, 1884 from China is studied. Two new species, P. pilisquamatus Liu & Ma, sp.

One new species and two new records of the spider wasp genus Telostholus Haupt, 1929 in China, with a key to the world species.

The taxonomy of the genus Telostholus (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae) from China is studied and one species is newly described and illustrated: T. venarectus Song & Ma, sp. nov.

A voxel-level resting-state fMRI study on patients with alcohol use disorders based on a power spectrum slope analysis method.

Background: Earlier neuroimaging investigations showed that abnormal brain activity in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) was frequency dependent. However, there is lacking of a comprehensive method to capture the amplitude of multi-frequency bands directly. Here, we used a new method, the power spectrum slope (PSS) to explore abnormal spontaneous activity of brain in patients with AUD.

Alterations of brain activity in patients with alcohol use disorder: a resting-state fMRI study.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a negative impact on one's health and wastes a lot of societal resources since it damages one's brain tissue. Yet the knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying alcohol addiction still remains limited. This study aims to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying alcohol addiction by using voxel-wise binarized degree centrality (DC), weighted DC and functional connectivity (FC) methods to analyze brain network activity in individuals with AUD.

New Mechanism for Cinchona Alkaloid-Catalysis Allows for an Efficient Thiophosphorylation Reaction.

An efficient synthesis of nucleoside 5'-monothiophosphates under mild reaction conditions using commercially available thiophosphoryl chloride was achieved with a cinchona alkaloid catalyst. A detailed mechanistic study of the reaction was undertaken, employing a combination of reaction kinetics, NMR spectroscopy, and computational modeling, to better understand the observed reactivity. Taken collectively, the results support an unprecedented mechanism for this class of organocatalyst.

Computed Tomography Image Analysis and Clinical Correlations of Retromaxillary Cells.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate and analyze the anatomic characteristics of the retromaxillary cell (RMC) by using computed tomography (CT) images of paranasal sinuses and to improve its identification with ethmomaxillary sinus (EMS).

Methods: The paranasal sinus CT scans of 441 outpatients or inpatients in our hospital from January 2018 to October 2018 were analyzed. The incidence of RMC, EMS, Haller cell, imaging anatomical characteristics, and morphological manifestations were observed via sinus CTs.

Abnormal functional connectivity and effective connectivity between the default mode network and attention networks in patients with alcohol-use disorder.

Background: Patients with alcohol-use disorder (AUD) demonstrate dysfunctional cerebral network connectivity. However, limited studies have investigated attention systems in AUD.

Purpose: To assess functional (FC) and effective connectivity (EC) in the dorsal (DAN) and ventral attention networks (VAN) and default mode network (DMN) in patients with AUD using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

(Z)-Tetrahydrothiophene and (Z)-tetrahydrothiopyran synthesis through nucleophilic substitution and intramolecular cycloaddition of alkynyl halides and EtOCSK.

This protocol provides a novel, environmentally friendly and simple method for the synthesis of (Z)-tetrahydrothiophene derivatives using the nucleophilic thiyl radical intramolecular cycloaddition cascade process to construct C-S bonds under transition-metal-free conditions. This transformation process offers a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and excellent stereoselectivity (Z/E ratios up to 99/1). Moreover, the process uses odourless, stable and cheap EtOCS2K as the sulfur source.

Hierarchically macroporous/mesoporous POC composite scaffolds with IBU-loaded hollow SiO microspheres for repairing infected bone defects.

Infected bone defects are normally regarded as contraindications for bone repair. In the present study, a hollow mesoporous structure of silica (SiO) microspheres was first synthesized and loaded with ibuprofen (IBU). Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-Ca(PO), β-TCP), together with IBU-loaded SiO were fabricated by a 3D printing technique based on the Freeform Fabrication System with Micro-Droplet Jetting (FFS-MDJ).

Fast setting and anti-washout injectable calcium-magnesium phosphate cement for minimally invasive treatment of bone defects.

The development of injectable calcium phosphate cements (ICPC) represents a promising approach for minimally invasive surgical techniques. However, the undesirable anti-washout property and slow setting time of ICPC greatly hinder its clinical application. Xanthan gum (XG) has strong hydrophilic, shape retention and rheological properties.

Glymes as benign co-solvents for CaO-catalyzed transesterification of soybean oil to biodiesel.

The base (such as CaO)-catalyzed heterogeneous preparation of biodiesel encounters a number of obstacles including the need for CaO pretreatment and the reactions being incomplete (typically 90-95% yields). In this study, a number of glymes were investigated as benign solvents for the CaO-catalyzed transesterification of soybean oil into biodiesel with a high substrate loading (typically soybean oil >50% v/v). The triglyceride-dissolving capability of glymes led to a much faster reaction rate (>98% conversions in 4h) than in methanol alone (typically 24h) and minimized the saponification reaction when catalyzed by anhydrous CaO or commercial lime without pre-activation.

Ionic derivatives of betulinic acid as novel HIV-1 protease inhibitors.

Betulinic acid is a natural product possessing abundant and favourable biological activity, including anti-cancer, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV properties, while causing minimal toxicity to unaffected cells. The full biological potency of betulinic acid cannot be fully unlocked, however, for a number of reasons, a primary one being its limited solubility in aqueous and biologically pertinent organic media. Aiming to improve the water solubility of betulinic acid without disrupting its structurally related bioactivity, we have prepared different ionic derivatives of betulinic acid.

STRUCTURE OF PORPHYRIN TPPS AND ITS INTERACTION WITH METAL IONS AS ELUCIDATED BY H NMR AND UV-VISIBLE SPECTRA.

Porphyrins are a group of tetrapyrrole pigments. Physical and chemical properties of porphyrins are often related to their compositions and structures. We conducted H solution NMR and UV-visible spectral analysis to characterize the structural feature of a water-soluble, synthetic porphyrin i.

High transesterification activities of immobilized proteases in new ether-functionalized ionic liquids.

Three new ether-functionalized hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized. Two proteases (subtilisin and alpha-chymotrypsin both covalently immobilized on chitosan) exhibited high synthetic activity (1-3 micromol/min x g) and selectivity (>97-99%, esterification over hydrolysis) in these ILs containing 10-15% (v/v) water during the transesterification of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester with 1-propanol. However, the same reaction in t-butanol or [BMIM][Tf(2)N], with water contents higher than 2% (v/v) yielded low synthetic activities (0.

Elucidation of spermidine interaction with nucleotide ATP by multiple NMR techniques.

Interaction of polyamines with nucleotides plays a key role in many biological processes. Here we use multiple NMR techniques to characterize interaction of spermidine with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). Two-dimensional (1)H-(15)N spectra obtained from gs-HMBC experiments at varied pH show significant shift of N-1 peak around pH 2.

Myosin-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis elucidated by 31P NMR kinetic studies and 1H PFG-diffusion measurements.

We conducted (31)P NMR kinetic studies and (1)H-diffusion measurements on myosin-catalyzed hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) under varied conditions. The data elucidate well the overall hydrolysis rate and various factors that significantly impact the reaction. We found that the enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was followed by ADP hydrolysis, and different nucleotides such as ADP and guanosine triphosphate acted as competitors of ATP.

New ether-functionalized ionic liquids for lipase-catalyzed synthesis of biodiesel.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are being explored as solvents for the enzymatic methanolysis of triglycerides. However, most available ILs (especially hydrophobic ones) have poor capability in dissolving lipids, while hydrophilic ILs tend to cause enzyme inactivation. Recently, we synthesized a new type of ether-functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) carrying anions of acetate or formate; they are capable of dissolving a variety of substrates and are also lipase-compatible (Green Chem.

[Effects of montelukast and BCG-PSN on the expression of STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA in blood mononuclearcells of rats with asthma].

Objective: To study the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) mRNA and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA in blood mononuclearcells in a rat model of asthma and the effect of montelukast (MK) and BCG-polysaccharide and nucleic acid injection (BCG-PSN) on STAT5b mRNA and IL-4 mRNA expression.

Methods: Fifty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight:140-200 g) were randomly divided into four groups: asthma, MK treated and BCG-PSN-treated and control groups. Rat model of asthma was prepared by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization.

Microwave-assisted esterification of N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine using modified Mukaiyama's reagents: A new approach involving ionic liquids.

Inspired by the concept of ionic liquids (ILs), this study modified the original Mukaiyama's reagent, 2-chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide (m.p. 200-dec), from ionic solid into liquids by changing its anion.

Effect of kosmotropicity of ionic liquids on the enzyme stability in aqueous solutions.

This paper examined the effect of several pyridinium and imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) on the protease stability in aqueous solutions. In general, the enzyme was found quite active at low concentrations of hydrophilic ILs. In aqueous environment, the enzyme was stabilized by the kosmotropic anions (such as CF3COO- and CH3COO-) and chaotropic cations (such as [BuPy]+ and [EMIM]+), but was destabilized by chaotropic anions (such as tosylate and BF4-) and kosmotropic cations (such as [BMIM]+).