Overview of Human HtrA Family Proteases and Their Distinctive Physiological Roles and Unique Involvement in Diseases,Especially Cancer and Pregnancy Complications

The mammalian high temperature requirement A (HtrA) proteins are a family of evolutionarily conserved serine proteases, consisting of four homologs (HtrA1-4) that are involved in many cellular processes such as growth, unfolded protein stress response and programmed cell death. In humans, while HtrA1, 2 and 3 are widely expressed in multiple tissues with variable levels, HtrA4 expression is largely restricted to the placenta with the protein released into maternal circulation during pregnancy. This limited expression sets HtrA4 apart from the rest of the family. All four HtrAs are active proteases, and their specific cellular and physiological roles depend on tissue type. The dysregulation of HtrAs has been implicated in many human diseases such as cancer, arthritis, neurogenerative ailments and reproductive disorders. This review first discusses HtrAs broadly and then focuses on the current knowledge of key molecular characteristics of individual human HtrAs, their similarities and differences and their reported physiological functions. HtrAs in other species are also briefly mentioned in the context of understanding the human HtrAs. It then reviews the distinctive involvement of each HtrA in various human diseases, especially cancer and pregnancy complications. It is noteworthy that HtrA4 expression has not yet been reported in any primary tumour samples, suggesting an unlikely involvement of this HtrA in cancer. Collectively, we accentuate that a better understanding of tissue-specific regulation and distinctive physiological and pathological roles of each HtrA will improve our knowledge of many processes that are critical for human health.     

离子液体催化醇醛树脂的固化动力学及力学性能

为了获得醇醛树脂固化的绿色催化剂,以离子液体1-磺酸丁基-3-甲基咪唑硫酸氢盐([HSO_3-pHim]HSO_4)为醇醛树脂的催化剂,用差示扫描量热法(DSC)对固化反应动力学进行研究,并用万能试验机测试了[HSO_3-pHim]HSO_4催化醇醛树脂基PBX的力学性能。结果表明,固化反应的平均表观活化能为2.59 kJ·mol~(-1),指前因子为994.61 s~(-1),反应级数为0.93,在[HSO_3-pHim]HSO_4含量为0.9%,固化温度为30℃时,PBX的拉伸和压缩强度分别为16 MPa和41 MPa,拉伸断裂延伸率为0.81%。与硫酸二乙酯(DES)催化PBX相比,采用[HSO_3-pHim]HSO_4为催化剂能将PBX的压缩模量降低35%。     

含快燃物ACP丁羟推进剂高压燃烧特性和常压火焰结构

为了研究水合-四-(4-氨基-1,2,4-三唑)高氯酸铜(ACP)对推进剂燃烧特性的影响,利用高压燃速测定系统研究了ACP对丁羟推进剂3～29 MPa压力范围内燃速的影响;收集推进剂在不同压力(3,10,20 MPa)下的燃烧产物,分析了ACP对燃烧产物化学组成的影响;采用显微高速摄像系统获取了推进剂的燃烧火焰和燃烧表面,对燃烧熄火表面及组分进行了研究。结果表明,在丁羟推进剂中添加ACP可大幅提高燃速,添加5%ACP可使推进剂29 MPa下的燃速提高84.8%,9～11 MPa为不稳定燃烧压力区。燃烧压力3 MPa的完全燃烧产物中活性铝含量为16.22%。推进剂在0.1 MPa燃烧时,存在粒径约100μm的粒子被燃烧气流从燃烧表面带入到气相区中分解燃烧的现象,熔铝粒子在燃烧表面无明显团聚。添加ACP使燃烧表面不规则程度增加。     

2, 4-二硝基咪唑的合成、热性能及感度研究（英）

实验室合成出了2,4-二硝基眯唑。     

Investigation of the microwave dielectric properties of Ca1−xMgxLa4Ti5O17 ceramics for application in coplanar patch antenna

In this paper, the dielectric properties of Ca_1−xMg_xLa₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramics at microwave frequency have been studied. The diffraction peaks of Ca_(1−x)Mg_xLa₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramics nearly unchanged with x increasing from 0 to 0.03. Similar X-ray diffraction peaks of Ca_0.99Mg_0.01La₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramic were observed at different sintering temperatures. A maximum density of 5.3 g/cm³ can be obtained for Ca_0.99Mg_0.01La₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramic sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h. A maximum dielectric constant (_r) and quality factor (Q × f) of Ca_0.99Mg_0.01La₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramic sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h are 56.3 and 12,300 GHz (at 6.4 GHz), respectively. A near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) of −9.6 ppm/°C can be obtained for Ca_0.99Mg_0.01La₄Ti₅O₁₇ ceramic sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h. The measurement results for the aperture-coupled coplanar patch antenna at 2.5 GHz are presented. With this technique, a 3.33% bandwidth (return loss <−10 dB) with a center frequency at approximately 2.5 GHz has been successfully achieved.     

Bioactivity evaluations of ingredients extracted from the flowers of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl

Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl, a member of genus Citrus (Rutaceae), widespread in China, is used as folk medicine for the treatment of helping digest, phlegm, enteritidis, stomachic and other deceases. In the present research, silica gel column, Sephadex LH-20, mass spectrometer (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to separate and identify the chemical compounds from the flowers of C. aurantium var. amara, and several bioactivity assays were used to evaluate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-virus and antitumour activities. Two major compounds, 5-hydroxy-6,7,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (HTF) and limonexic acid (LA), were isolated and identified from C. aurantium var. amara for the first time. The results of the bioactivity assays showed that HTF and LA displayed significant antioxidant activities and showed significant inhibition effects on the B16 cell lines at a concentration range from 6.25 to 50 μg/ml, and on the SMCC-7721 cell lines from 12.5 to 200 μg/ml. The antitumour effect, anti-inflammatory activity and the inhibiting expression of HBsAg and HBeAg of 2.2.15 cells displayed the tendency in a concentration-dependent manner. These two compounds from C. aurantium var. amara could potentially be used as a promising natural agent in the pharmaceutical industries.     

Influence of composition of MgAl2O4 supported NiCeO2ZrO2 catalysts on coke formation and catalyst stability for dry reforming of methane

Dry reforming of methane was studied over Ni catalysts supported on γAl₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂ and MgAl₂O₄ (670 °C, 1.5 bar, 16–20 l CH₄ ml_catalyst⁻¹ h⁻¹). It is shown that MgAl₂O₄ supported Ni catalysts promoted with both CeO₂ and ZrO₂ are promising catalysts for dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide. Within a certain composition range, the simultaneous promotion with CeO₂ and ZrO₂ has great influence on the amount of coke and the catalyst service time. XRD analyses indicate that formation of crystalline Ce_xZr_1−xO₂ mixed oxide phases occurs on double promotion. In particular, incorporation of low amounts of Zr in the CeO₂ fluorite structure provides stable dry reforming catalysis. As shown with TPR, promotion leads to a higher reduced state of Ni. SEM, XRD and TPR analyses demonstrate that highly dispersed, doubly promoted Ni catalysts with a strong metal-support interaction are essential for stable dry reforming and suppression of the formation of carbon filaments.     

Role of chirality in olfactory-directed behavior: Aggregation of pine engraver beetles in the genusIps (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

There has been a renaissance of interest in the significance of enantiomeric composition in biological systems. Three chiral monoterpene alcohol aggregation pheromone components (ipsenol, ipsdienol, andcis-verbenol) commonly isolated from engraver beetles (Ips spp.) provide a paradigm for this theme as it relates to olfactory-guided insect behavior. The literature pertaining to this system is reviewed and the effects of the enantiomeric composition of these semiochemicals on theIps spp. community is explored on two trophic levels. Hypotheses generated from the well-studied aggregation pheromone production and response patterns forI. paraconfusus Lanier andI. pini (Say) are generalized to the North American species in the genus. Despite the progress withI. paraconfusus andI. pini, substantial deficiencies exist in our understanding of the role of enantiomeric composition in pheromonal/allomonal effects in different subgeneric groups, in the regulation and mechanisms of stereoselective biosynthesis of the monoterpene alcohols, and in the benefits derived by individual insects that produce relatively large proportions of inactive or interruptive enantiomers with attractive enantiomers.     

Poly(4-diphenylaminostyrene) with a well-defined polymer chain structure: Controllable optical and electrical properties

The effect of polymer chain structure on the optical and electrical properties are reported for poly(4-diphenylaminostyrene) (PDAS), which was prepared by the living anionic polymerization of 4-diphenylaminostyrene (DAS) with the benzyllithium (BzLi)/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) system. The optical properties of PDAS are strongly affected by the stereoregularity of the PDAS polymer chain; intramolecular excimer-forming fluorescence was observed from PDAS with a syndiotactic-rich configuration. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of PDAS were approximately −5.4 and −2.0 eV, respectively, regardless of the polymer chain structure. The hole and electron drift mobilities for PDAS were in the order of 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁵ (cm²/V s) and 10⁻⁵ (cm²/V s), respectively, with negative slopes. The distance of each triphenylamino (TPA) group in the polymer chain was a major factor influencing the drift mobility of PDAS. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of PDAS were controllable according to the polymer chain structure of PDAS.