Antidepressant-Like Behavioral, Anatomical, and Biochemical Effects of Petroleum Ether Extract from Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Mice Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress

Zhong Ai,Ai-Fang Cheng,Yuan-Tao Yu,Wenwen Jin 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.5

Maca has been consumed as a medical food in Peru for thousands of years, and exerts anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Our present study aimed to evaluate the behavior and anatomical and biochemical effects of petroleum ether extract from maca (ME) in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression in mice. Three different doses of maca extract (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) were orally administrated in the six-week CUMS procedure. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) was used as a positive control drug. Maca extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in the tail suspension test. After treatment with maca extract (250 and 500 mg/kg), the granule cell layer in the dentate gyrus appeared thicker. Maca extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) also induced a significant reduction in corticosterone levels in mouse serum. In mouse brain tissue, after six weeks of treatment, noradrenaline and dopamine levels were increased by maca extract, and the activity of reactive oxygen species was significantly inhibited. Serotonin levels were not significantly altered. These results demonstrated that maca extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) showed antidepressant-like effects and was related to the activation of both noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems, as well as attenuation of oxidative stress in mouse brain.

Exponential Synchronization for Arrays of Coupled Neural Networks with Time-delay Couplings

Tao Li,Ting Wang,Ai-guo Song,Shumin Fei 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2011 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.9 No.1

This paper deals with global exponential synchronization in arrays of coupled delayed neural networks with both delayed coupling and one single delayed one. Through employing Kronecker product and convex combination technique, two novel synchronization criteria are presented in terms of linear ma-trix inequalities (LMIs), and these conditions are dependent on the bounds of both time-delay and its derivative. Through employing Matlab LMI Toolbox and adjusting some matrix parameters in the derived results, we can realize the design and applications of the addressed systems, which shows that our methods improve and extend those reported methods. The efficiency and applicability of the proposed results can be demonstrated by three numerical examples with simulations.

Multilevel resistive switching and synaptic behaviors in MnO-based memristor

Ai Ruibo,Zhang Tao,Guo Huijie,Luo Wang,Liu Xiaojun 한국물리학회 2022 Current Applied Physics Vol.41 No.-

Exploring new synaptic electronic devices that combine computing and memory is a promising strategy that fundamentally approaches intelligent machines. In this study, the multilevel resistive switching and synaptic behaviors of a MnO-based device is studied. The device is composed of Al/MnO/Ni sandwich structure, has stable resistance switching characteristics, has continuous nonvolatile memory state, can be used as electrically programmable and erasable analog memory. The gradual conductance modulation is realized by changing the compliance current and the maximum scanning voltage. The Al/MnO/Ni devices successfully mimic the basic functions of synapses, including the paired-pulse facilitation, spike-rate-dependent plasticity, excitatory postsynaptic current, short-term plasticity, long-term plasticity, and sike-timing-dependent plasticity.

Guhong injection protects against focal cerebral ischemia– reperfusion injury via anti-inflammatory effects in rats

Jinchao Ai,Haitong Wan,Mingchun Shu,Huifen Zhou,Tao Zhao,Wei Fu,Yu He 대한약학회 2017 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.40 No.5

Guhong injection (GHI), composed of aceglutamideand safflower aqueous extract, has been used clinicallyfor the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases such ascerebral embolism, hemorrhage and mental deterioration. In this paper, we reported the results of the first study onthe anti-inflammatory effects of GHI in murine focalcerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Adult male SDrats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham group,I/R group, GHI-L group (2.5 mL/kg), GHI-M group(5 mL/kg), GHI-H group (10 mL/kg) and Nimodipinegroup. I/R injury was induced by middle cerebral arteryocclusion (MCAO) for 1.5 h followed by reperfusion for24 h. Compared with I/R group, rats treated with GHIshowed dose dependent reductions in neurological defectscores and cerebral infarct volume. GHI obviously downregulatednitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase(iNOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1b (IL-1b),TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor-a) and C reactive protein(CRP) levels in serum. Moreover, histological examinationby H&E staining showed that clear cell outline, less vacuolatedspaces and largely surviving neurons wereobserved in GHI-treated rats. The immunohistochemicalstaining revealed that GHI administration significantlydiminished the positive expressions of intercellular celladhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor-jB p65(NF-jB p65) in brain tissues. Western blot analysis forICAM, NF-jB p65 and iNOS further solidified the abovefindings. All these results demonstrate that GHI exerts astrong and ameliorative effect on cerebral I/R injury in ratspossibly through the inhibition of inflammation.

Molecular Cloning, Tissue Distribution and Expression of Porcine y⁺L Amino Acid Transporter-1

Zhi, Ai-min,Zhou, Xiang-yan,Zuo, Jian-jun,Zou, Shi-geng,Huang, Zhi-yi,Wang, Xiao-lan,Tao, Lin,Feng, Ding-yuan Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.2

In this study, we cloned, sequenced and characterized porcine y+L Amino Acid Transporter-1 (y+LAT1). By screening a translated EST database with the protein sequence of the human $y^{+}$LAT1 and by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), the full-length cDNA encoding porcine $y^{+}$LAT1 was isolated from porcine intestine RNA. It was 2,111 bp long, encoding a 511 amino acid trans-membrane glycoprotein composed of 12 transmembrane domains. The predicted amino acid sequence was found to be 91%, 90%, 87% and 87% identical to those of cattle, human, mouse and rat $y^{+}$LAT1 respectively. Real-time RT-PCR results indicated that the small intestine had the highest $y^{+}$LAT1 mRNA abundance and the lung had the lowest $y^{+}$LAT1 mRNA abundance. Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged porcine $y^{+}$LAT1 cDNA indicated that the cellular localization of the gene product in BHK was on the plasma membrane.

Fabrication of copper ions-substituted hydroxyapatite/polydopamine nanocomposites with high antibacterial and angiogenesis effects for promoting infected wound healing

Bailong Tao,Chuanchuan Lin,Ai Guo,Yonglin Yu,Xian Qin,Kai Li,Hongchuan Tian,Weiwei Yi,Dengliang Lei,Lixue Chen 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.104 No.-

Infected wound healing remains a critical threat, which frequently delays the healing process and evenleads to severe life-threatening complications. Herein, we reported an effective anti-infection approach,which was based on copper ions-releasing hydroxyapatite/polydopamine (HA-Cu/PDA) nanocompositeswith photothermal effect. The HA-Cu/PDA nanocomposites was fabricated through a co-precipitationreaction between polydopamine (PDA)-coated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA)-loaded Cu2+ (HA-Cu). Through a synergistic effect of released Cu2+ and photothermal efficiency of PDA coating, and the HACu/PDA nanocomposites exhibited extraordinary antibacterial capacities against Escherichia coli (E. coli)and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The nanocomposites presented good biocompatibility for mouseembryonic fibroblast (NIH-3T3) cells and promoted NIH3T3 cells to migrate toward wound sites. Additionally, this nanocomposite could stimulate the tissue remodeling-related gene expression toinduce the blood vessels formation, granulation tissues and collagen deposition, and eventually enhancewound healing. In vivo study further verified that HA-Cu/PDA nanocomposites with NIR irradiation couldsignificantly improve bacterial infected wound healing through the prominent antibacterial property,reduced inflammatory response, the formation of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, and angiogenesisability. Thus, this study develops a versatile strategy for a broad range of wound healing and skinreconstruction caused by bacterial infection.

Segmental Quantitative MR Imaging Analysis of Diurnal Variation of Water Content in the Lumbar Intervertebral Discs

Tingting Zhu,Tao Ai,Wei Zhang,Tao Li,Xiaoming Li 대한영상의학회 2015 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.16 No.1

To investigate the changes in water content in the lumbar intervertebral discs by quantitative T2 MR imaging in the morning after bed rest and evening after a diurnal load. Twenty healthy volunteers were separately examined in the morning after bed rest and in the evening after finishing daily work. T2-mapping images were obtained and analyzed. An equally-sized rectangular region of interest (ROI) was manually placed in both, the anterior and the posterior annulus fibrosus (AF), in the outermost 20% of the disc. Three ROIs were placed in the space defined as the nucleus pulposus (NP). Repeated-measures analysis of variance and paired 2-tailed t tests were used for statistical analysis, with p < 0.05 as significantly different. T2 values significantly decreased from morning to evening, in the NP (anterior NP = -13.9 ms; central NP = -17.0 ms; posterior NP = -13.3 ms; all p < 0.001). Meanwhile T2 values significantly increased in the anterior AF (+2.9 ms; p = 0.025) and the posterior AF (+5.9 ms; p < 0.001). T2 values in the posterior AF showed the largest degree of variation among the 5 ROIs, but there was no statistical significance (p = 0.414). Discs with initially low T2 values in the center NP showed a smaller degree of variation in the anterior NP and in the central NP, than in discs with initially high T2 values in the center NP (10.0% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.037; 6.4% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.006, respectively). Segmental quantitative T2 MRI provides valuable insights into physiological aspects of normal discs.

Heat stress protection in Aspen sp1 transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

( Bo Zhu ),( Ai Sheng Xiong ),( Ri He Peng ),( Jing Xu ),( Jun Zhou ),( Jin Tao Xu ),( Xiao Fen Jin ),( Yang Zhang ),( Xi Lin Hou ),( Quan Hong Yao ) 생화학분자생물학회 2008 BMB Reports Vol.41 No.5

Stretching Deformation Mechanism of Polyacrylonitrile-based Carbon Fiber Structure at High Temperatures

Yu Wang,Tao Yan,Shuai Wu,Yuan-jian Tong,Ai-jun Gao,Liang-hua Xu 한국섬유공학회 2018 Fibers and polymers Vol.19 No.4

In a high-temperature environment, polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber (PAN-CF) can be deformed by stretching, where the stretching deformation ability of PAN-CF is enhanced with the increase of the temperature. Further, the hightemperature stretching deformation of PAN-CF directly affects the control of the carbon crystalline orientation. Based on the techniques of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and in situ tension testing, the variation regularity and the intrinsic mechanism of high-temperature stretching deformation ability of PAN-CF obtained at different preparation temperatures were systematically studied in a high-temperature environment. The results indicated that the essence of PAN-CF high-temperature deformation was the relative motion of the carbon crystallite. Further, the main structural parameters that affected the high-temperature stretching deformation ability of PAN-CF were the degree of cross-linking between the carbon crystallites, the orientation angle(OA) of the carbon crystallite and the nitrogen content. When the testing temperature was lower than the preparation temperature, only physical structure changes were observed in the PAN-CF. For the PAN-CF tested undergoing physical structure changes, as the degree of cross-linking between the crystallites and the orientation angle decreased, the slipping of crystallites became easier. In the same environment, as the stretching tension decreased, the stretching deformation ability improved. When PAN-CF was tested under temperatures higher than the preparation temperature, the microcrystalline cross-linking in the PAN-CF was prone to fracture and slipping, and the high-temperature stretching deformation ability was enhanced. Also, for PAN-CF of lower preparation temperatures in PAN-CF containing no nitrogen (i.e., <0.15 wt%), the cross-linkages increased and the structures were more unstable, inducing an increase in the fracture of weak bonds and a reduction of the stretching tension. For nitrogen-containing PAN-CF, the removal of nitrogen led to severe shrinkage in the graphite layer and interlayer, and the fiber tension was thus increased, causing the high-temperature stretching deformation ability of the PAN-CF with less nitrogen content to be improved.

Influence of Vanadium Substitution on Phase Structure, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of BiFeO₃ Ceramics

Qiang Li,Shengxiang Bao,Tao Hong,Libo Ai,Yingli Liu,Yulan Jing,Jie Li 한국자기학회 2018 Journal of Magnetics Vol.23 No.1

BiFe1-xVxO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.09) ceramics were prepared by solid-sate reaction method. The effect of V<SUP>5+</SUP> substitution on phase structure, morphology, magnetic and dielectric properties had been investigated. The Rietveld refinement of the X-Ray diffraction data from the BiFe1-xVxO₃ (BFVO) ceramics showed samples with rhombohedral structure (R3c) for x = 0.00-0.07. When x = 0.09, partial phase structural be translated to orthorhombic phase (Pnma). Morphology showed two kinds of crystal and proved the phase to be transition. Magnetic measurements exhibited weak ferromagnetic behavior of sample. BiFe0.93V0.07O₃ ceramic exhibited the highest value of saturation magnetization. Due to V<SUP>5+</SUP> substitution, maybe BFVO attributed weak ferromagnetism to structure distortion and phase transition. Dielectric constant kept a stable value in a wide range frequency of 1 MHz to 1 GHz. With V<SUP>5+</SUP> ions increasing, dielectric constant increased significantly, while dielectric loss kept a low value. These results indicated that BFVO may be promising for application in magneto-electric devices.