Sex pheromones of male yellowfin Baikal sculpin (Cottocomephorus grewingki): Isolation and chemical studies

Three components of the male yellowfin Baikal sculpin pheromonal signal have been isolated from urine by diethyl ether extraction, thinayer chromatography (TLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using mass spectrometry, we have identified two of them as testosterone (T) and 11-hydroxytestosterone (11HT). These steroids are synthesized in testes during full spermatogenesis, and they are excreted in male urine with milt. The third component is not a steroid. It is more likely to be a polyene alcohol (farnesol). 2Z,6E-Farnesol possesses behavioral activity.     

Thermal expansion of Pyros from 20 to 1273 K

Pyros, which is a Ni-base alloy (82% Ni, 8% Cr, 4% W, 3% Mn, and 3% Fe), has been used extensively in France since 1926 as a temperature sensor and as a reference material for thermal expansion measurements. In this paper we present recent data on the expansion and expansivity of Pyros from 20 to 1273 K. Expansivity results, obtained by taking the derivative of a cubic-spline polynomial fitting performed to the L/L experimental data, show that Pyros is a stable material in the 20 to 1273 K temperature range. Furthermore, since the expansivity values are similar to those of steels, Pyros should be of special interest to laboratories which are concerned with expansion measurements on steels. Therefore, we suggest that Pyros be considered as a suitable reference material for thermal expansion measurements on steels, and until more accurate results are obtained, we propose our results as reference data between 20 and 1273 K.Paper presented at the Ninth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 24–27, 1985, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Aluminum. II. Derivation of C v0from C p and comparison to C v0 calculated from anharmonic models

The specific heat at constant pressure, C _p, of aluminum measured by Ditmars, Plint, and Shukla has been reduced to the volume V ₀ appropriate for 0 K employing the Murnaghan equation. The C _v0 thus obtained is compared with the theoretical C _v0 calculated in the harmonic and the lowest-order anharmonic approximation from three different pseudopotentials (Harrison, Ashcroft, and Dagens-Rasolt-Taylor) as well as a phenomenological Morse potential. The higher-order ( ⁴) anharmonic contributions are calculated from the same nearest-neighbor Morse potential as in the lowest-order anharmonic theory. The role of the vacancy and the higher-order anharmonic contributions to C _v0 has been examined and we conclude that the ⁴ contributions to C _v0 are much smaller than the vacancy contribution. After removal of the vacancy contribution, the reduced C _v0 is found to be in excellent agreement with the Ashcroft and Harrison pseudopotentials as well as the Morse potential including the ² and ⁴ contributions to C _v0.     

Hydriding-dehydriding properties of Mg2Ni alloy modified by ball-milling in tetrahydrofuran

A new approach of ball-milled Mg2Ni in tetrahydrofuran (THF) to improve the hydriding kinetics of Mg2Ni alloy is suggested and studied. It is found that the modified alloy displayed the improved activity for hydriding even at relatively low temperature (e.g., 323-373 K). In the case of the sample milled in THF for 20 h, the hydrogen content (mass fraction) reaches 1.6 % at 323 K, 2.1% at 348 K and 3.4% at 448 K, respectively. The use of THF during grinding led to the change of the structure, which is reflected by the broadening and weakening of the diffraction peaks in the XRD spectra. The XPS analysis shows that Mg (2s) binding energy peak of Mg2Ni after modification shifted from a lower binding energy to a higher one, indicating the charge transference between Mg and THF and the formation of catalytically active electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes on the surface of modified Mg2Ni alloy.     

Formation of WC/Ni hard alloy coating by laser cladding of W/C/Ni pure element powder blend

WC/Ni coating was formed by laser cladding of a W/C/Ni powder blend. The formed WC crystals have rectangular or quadrangle cross-section shapes with size of 2–30 μm. Step, twist and cross growth morphologies of WC formation were observed. The coating contains WC, CW_3, WNi, FeW₃C, Fe₆W₆C, W₃O, W, C, and (Fe,Ni) phases.     

Differential Action of Connexin Hemichannel and Pannexin Channel Therapeutics for Potential Treatment of Retinal Diseases

Dysregulation of retinal function in the early stages of light-induced retinal degeneration involves pannexins and connexins. These two types of proteins may contribute to channels that release ATP, leading to activation of the inflammasome pathway, spread of inflammation and retinal dysfunction. However, the effect of pannexin channel block alone or block of both pannexin channels and connexin hemichannels in parallel on retinal activity in vivo is unknown. In this study, the pannexin channel blocker probenecid and the connexin hemichannel blocker tonabersat were used in the light-damaged rat retina. Retinal function was evaluated using electroretinography (ERG), retinal structure was analyzed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and the tissue response to light-induced injury was assessed immunohistochemically with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) and Connexin43 (Cx43). Probenecid did not further enhance the therapeutic effect of connexin hemichannel block in this model, but on its own improved activity of certain inner retina neurons. The therapeutic benefit of blocking connexin hemichannels was further evaluated by comparing these data against results from our previously published studies that also used the light-damaged rat retina model. The analysis showed that treatment with tonabersat alone was better than probenecid alone at restoring retinal function in the light-damaged retina model. The results assist in the interpretation of the differential action of connexin hemichannel and pannexin channel therapeutics for potential treatment of retinal diseases.     

新型高温合金700℃时效组织及力学性能

利用微观组织分析和高温力学性能测试方法，研究了1种新型Ni—Cr—Co基高温合金在700℃长期时效过程中的组织稳定性及其一些力学性能。结果表明：试验合金在700℃时效过程中，析出物有MC，M23C6和γ’；晶内和晶界碳化物MC和M23C6的稳定性好，γ'的粗化为扩散控制的生长过程；在700℃时效初期，室温硬度变化小，随时效时间的增加而减小，这与γ'的粒度、形貌和分布有关；合金的高温拉伸强度和持久强度比Nimonic 263显著提高，且韧塑性好；试验合金在700℃具有稳定的显微组织和较高的高温力学性能。     

EFFECT OF AGING ON HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STEEL Cr21Ni6Mn9N

Effects of 650℃ aging for 1—1000 h on structure and hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility(HES)of steel Cr21Ni6Mn9N have been investigated.The results show that M_(23)C_6 typecarbide precipitates at grain boundaries and Cr-depletive region appears beside them duringaging.The precipitates grow and connect each other as the aging time prolongs.Meanwhile,the degree of Cr-depletion aggravates first and then recovers gradually while the aging time isvery long,i.e.,1000 h.The HES of the steel increases with increasing aging time but does notreduce with the recovery of Cr content at the Cr-depletive region.That implies that the ex-isting of carbides at grain boundaries might be the main reason which promotes the HES ofsteel during aging.     

Potential Antitumor Effects of 6-Gingerol in p53-Dependent Mitochondrial Apoptosis and Inhibition of Tumor Sphere Formation in Breast Cancer Cells

Hormone-specific anticancer drugs for breast cancer treatment can cause serious side effects. Thus, treatment with natural compounds has been considered a better approach as this minimizes side effects and has multiple targets. 6-Gingerol is an active polyphenol in ginger with various modalities, including anticancer activity, although its mechanism of action remains unknown. Increases in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to DNA damage and the induction of DNA damage response (DDR) mechanism, leading to cell cycle arrest apoptosis and tumorsphere suppression. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) promotes tumor growth by stimulating signaling of downstream targets that in turn activates tumor protein 53 (p53) to promote apoptosis. Here we assessed the effect of 6-gingerol treatment on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. 6-Gingerol induced cellular and mitochondrial ROS that elevated DDR through ataxia-telangiectasia mutated and p53 activation. 6-Gingerol also induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial apoptosis by mediating the BAX/BCL-2 ratio and release of cytochrome c. It also exhibited a suppression ability of tumorsphere formation in breast cancer cells. EGFR/Src/STAT3 signaling was also determined to be responsible for p53 activation and that 6-gingerol induced p53-dependent intrinsic apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Therefore, 6-gingerol may be used as a candidate drug against hormone-dependent breast cancer cells.