Structure of Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Across Eight World Regions.

The Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) has garnered intense attention over the past 15 years.

The effect of carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-hexyl ester on infection, quality and physiology of postharvest litchi fruits.

Background: Litchi ( Sonn.) is a subtropical fruit with attractive characteristic of white to creamy semitranslucent flesh and red color in pericap, but it was easily subjected to the infection of and lost its market values. Experiments were conducted to understand the effect of [Carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-hexyl ester, CTE] on the growth of and quality properties in litchi fruits during postharvest storage.

Molecular cloning, overexpression, purification, and sequence analysis of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) ferritin light polypeptide.

The complementary DNA (cDNA) of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) ferritin light polypeptide (FTL) gene was successfully cloned using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technology. We constructed a recombinant expression vector containing FTL cDNA and overexpressed it in Escherichia coli using pET28a plasmids. The expressed protein was then purified by nickel chelate affinity chromatography.

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil microbial biomass and community structure in two reforested tropical forests.

Elevated nitrogen (N) deposition may aggravate phosphorus (P) deficiency in forests in the warm humid regions of China. To our knowledge, the interactive effects of long-term N deposition and P availability on soil microorganisms in tropical replanted forests remain unclear. We conducted an N and P manipulation experiment with four treatments: control, N addition (15 g N m(-2)·yr(-1)), P addition (15 g P m(-2)·yr(-1)), and N and P addition (15 + 15 g N and P m(-2)·yr(-1), respectively) in disturbed (planted pine forest with recent harvests of understory vegetation and litter) and rehabilitated (planted with pine, but mixed with broadleaf returning by natural succession) forests in southern China.

A new dual fluorogenic and chromogenic "turn-on" chemosensor for Cu²⁺/F⁻ ions.

Turn "off-on" chemosensor 2-(-2-((3',6'-bis(diethylamino)-3-oxospiro[isoindoline-1,9'-xanthen]-2-yl)imino)ethylidene)-N-phenylhydrazine-1-carbothioamide (RBS) was designed and synthesized. Using the naked eye, RBS showed favorable observation characteristics with both Cu(2+) and F(-) ions. The various modes of sensitivity shown by RBS toward the Cu(2+) and F(-) ions were investigated by spectral techniques, including UV-Vis, fluorescence and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

A new 1,2-ethanedione benzofurane derivative from Tephrosia purpurea.

A new 1,2-ethanedione benzofurane derivative, purpdione (1), was isolated from Tephrosia purpurea, together with seven known flavonoids, purpurenone (2), pongamol (3), ovalitenin A (4), karanjin (5), lanceolatin B (6), tachrosin (7) and villosinol (8). The new structure was elucidated based on the analysis of its spectroscopic data. The structures of the known compounds were identified by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.

Behavioral and electrophysiological measures of the body inversion effect: the contribution of the limb configurations.

Previous behavioral and electrophysiological studies examining the body inversion effect, where inversion of a body stimulus reduces its recognition, suggested that information regarding human bodies is processed configurally. However, few studies to date have examined how the magnitude of the body inversion effect may be impacted by varying degrees of configural information present in a stimulus of interest. In the current study, upright and inverted body stimuli were presented across three body posture conditions, the whole body, piecemeal body (without head and trunk), and random body posture conditions, while response times, error rates, and event-related potentials were recorded.

Effects of litter manipulation on litter decomposition in a successional gradients of tropical forests in southern China.

Global changes such as increasing CO2, rising temperature, and land-use change are likely to drive shifts in litter inputs to forest floors, but the effects of such changes on litter decomposition remain largely unknown. We initiated a litter manipulation experiment to test the response of litter decomposition to litter removal/addition in three successional forests in southern China, namely masson pine forest (MPF), mixed coniferous and broadleaved forest (MF) and monsoon evergreen broadleaved forest (MEBF). Results showed that litter removal decreased litter decomposition rates by 27%, 10% and 8% and litter addition increased litter decomposition rates by 55%, 36% and 14% in MEBF, MF and MPF, respectively.

Size-fitting effect for hybridization of DNA/mercaptohexanol mixed monolayers on gold.

In this article we proposed a simple hexagonal model for exploring the hybridization of thiol-modified probe DNA self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold with target DNA molecules in solution. The size-fitting coefficient d(c)/d(t) from the model was used to discuss the principle for DNA optimal hybridization, where d(c) was the channel diameter among three adjacent probe DNA molecules on gold and dt was the gyration diameter of the target DNA molecules in solution. Experimentally we investigated the hybridization effect (hybridization efficiency H(E) and hybridization density H(D)) of thiol-modified probe DNA (DNA base amount m = 15, 25 or 35)/mercaptohexanol (MCH) mixed SAMs on gold in 1 M electrolyte solution by chronocoulometry (CC) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Cloning, purification, and characterization of inorganic pyrophosphatase from the hyperthermophilic archaea Pyrococcus horikoshii.

The gene encoding inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPiase) from the hyperthermophilic archaea Pyrococcus horikoshii (Pho PPiase) was cloned in the Escherichia coli strain BL21/pET15b, and the recombinant PPiase was purified by Ni-chelating chromatography in only an one-step procedure. The PPiase showed optimal activity at 88°C and pH of 10.3.

Effects of chitin and sepia ink hybrid hemostatic sponge on the blood parameters of mice.

Chitin and sepia ink hybrid hemostatic sponge (CTSH sponge), a new biomedical material, was extensively studied for its beneficial biological properties of hemostasis and stimulation of healing. However, studies examining the safety of CTSH sponge in the blood system are lacking. This experiment aimed to examine whether CTSH sponge has negative effect on blood systems of mice, which were treated with a dosage of CTSH sponge (135 mg/kg) through a laparotomy.

A highly selective and sensitive photoswitchable fluorescent probe for Hg2+ based on bisthienylethene-rhodamine 6G dyad and for live cells imaging.

A new photochromic diarylethene derivative bearing rhodamine 6G dimmer as a fluorescent molecular probe is designed and synthesized successfully. All the compounds are characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The bisthienylethene-rhodamine 6G dyad exhibit excellent phtochromism with reversibly color and fluorescence changes alternating irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light.

Effects of titania nanotubes with or without bovine serum albumin loaded on human gingival fibroblasts.

Modifying the surface of the transmucosal area is a key research area because this process positively affects the three functions of implants: attachment to soft tissue, inhibiting bacterial biofilm adhesion, and the preservation of the crestal bone. To exploit the potential of titania nanotube arrays (TNTs) with or without using bovine serum albumin (BSA) to modify the surface of a dental implant in contact with the transmucosal area, BSA was loaded into TNTs that were fabricated by anodizing Ti sheets; the physical characteristics of these arrays, including their morphology, chemical composition, surface roughness, contact angle, and surface free energy (SFE), were assessed. The effect of Ti surfaces with TNTs or TNTs-BSA on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) was determined by analyzing cell morphology, early adhesion, proliferation, type I collagen (COL-1) gene expression, and the extracellular secretion of COL-1.

Nucleotide sequences of an important functional gene hnRNPA2/B1 from Ailuropoda melanoleuca and Ursus thibetanus mupinensis and its potential value in phylogenetic study.

The cDNA fragments of hnRNPA2/B1 were cloned from the giant panda and black bear using RT-PCR method, which were, respectively, 1029bp and 1026bp in length encoding 343 and 341 amino acids. Analysis indicated the cDNA cloned from the giant panda encoded variant B1 while the cDNA cloned from black bear encoded variant A2. Analyzing the hnRNPA2B1 peptide of the giant panda and black bear, 76 glycine residues and 86 glycine residues were, respectively, found, and moreover, most glycine are concentrated in the latter halves of the hnRNPA2B1 peptides.

Effects of experimental nitrogen and phosphorus addition on litter decomposition in an old-growth tropical forest.

The responses of litter decomposition to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions were examined in an old-growth tropical forest in southern China to test the following hypotheses: (1) N addition would decrease litter decomposition; (2) P addition would increase litter decomposition, and (3) P addition would mitigate the inhibitive effect of N addition. Two kinds of leaf litter, Schima superba Chardn. & Champ.

Chromogenic sensing of biological thiols using squarylium dye.

A new highly selective probe for biothiols, squarylium dye (SQ), was designed and synthesized. The probe displayed a color change from blue to colorless upon reaction with biothilos such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH). The competition experiments revealed that no obvious interference was observed by performing the titration with the mixtures of Cys and other amino acids.

Configural processing in body posture recognition: an eye-tracking study.

The body inversion effect is the finding that inverted body posture pictures are more difficult to recognize than upright body posture pictures are. The present study reinvestigated the body inversion effect in human observers using behavioral and eye movement measures to explore whether the body inversion effect correlates with specific eye movement features. Results showed that body postures elicited a robust and stable body inversion effect in reaction time throughout the experimental sessions.

[Impacts of moxibustion on erythrocyte immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in athletes].

Objective: To observe the impacts of moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) on red blood cell (RBC) immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in athletes.

Methods: Twenty-four table tennis players in the training were divided into a trial group and a control group according to the paired design, 12 cases in each one. The training program was the same in two groups.

Antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of an acidic polysaccharide from Morinda officinalis.

An acidic polysaccharide APMO was isolated from Morinda officinalis by alkaline solvent extraction followed by fractionation treatments. Its antioxidant activities were evaluated by various methods in vitro, APMO presented excellent capability in scavenging DPPH radicals, chelating ferrous ions and inhibiting hemolysis of rats erythrocyte induced by H2O2, which was stronger than those of Vc at high concentration. Moreover, APMO displayed moderate reducing power.

A new iridoid glycoside and potential MRB inhibitory activity of isolated compounds from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L.

A new iridoid glycoside, rotunduside (1), along with four known iridoid glycosides, 10-O-p-hydroxybenzoyltheviridoside (2), 10-O-vanilloyltheviridoside (3), 6″-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-procumbide (4) and loganic acid (5), was isolated from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of UV, IR, MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses. In addition, the macrophages respiratory burst (MRB) inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was reported.

The synthesis and luminescence of europium (III) complex based on deprotonated 1-(4-ethyl-4H-thieno[3,2-b]indol-6-yl)-4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-dionate and 1,10-phenanthroline.

A new β-diketone ligand, 1-(4-ethyl-4H-thieno[3,2-b]indol-6-yl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-butane-1,3-dione(HL) was synthesized by four steps reaction (Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, Cadogan cyclization, N-ethylation and Claisen condensation reaction) from 1-(4-bromo-3-nitrophenyl)ethanone and thiophen-2-ylboronic acid. Deprotonated ligand (L(-1)) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) coordinated to Eu(3+) to obtain a new europium (III) complex, EuL(3)(phen). The complex was characterized by elementary analysis, IR, (1)H NMR, UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements in detail.

Hypolipidaemic effects and mechanisms of the main component of Opuntia dillenii Haw. polysaccharides in high-fat emulsion-induced hyperlipidaemic rats.

The antihyperlipidaemic effects of ODP-Ia, one of the main components of Opuntia dillenii Haw. polysaccharides, were studied. Gavage administration of ODP-Ia was observed to significantly decrease serum lipid levels and to increase serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in hyperlipidaemic rats.

Two novel phenolic compounds from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L.

Two novel compounds, 1α-methoxy-3β-hydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin (1) and 1α,3β-dihydroxy-4α-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalin (2), were isolated along with six known compounds 3-8 from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus. This paper reports the isolation and full spectroscopic characterization of these new compounds by NMR, UV, IR and MS data.

A new triterpene saponin from the roots of Ilex pubescens.

A new triterpene saponin, ilexoside P (1), along with three known triterpene saponins, ilexoside O (2), ilexsaponin B3 (3) and ilexpublesnin A (4) was isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of UV, IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopic analyses coupled with chemical degradation. In addition, the xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity of the isolated saponins was reported.