A novel fluorescent probe based on naphthimide for H2S identification and application.

In view of the superior chemical activity of selenoether bond (-Se-) and the excellent optical properties of naphthimide, a novel fluorescent probe (NapSe) with near-rectangular structure, which contains double naphthimide fluorophores linked by selenoether bond, is designed for specific fluorescence detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). NapSe has excellent optical properties: super large Stokes Shift (190 nm) and good stability in a wide pH range. The selectivity of NapSe fluorescence detection of H2S is high, and displays excellent "turn-on" phenomenon and strong anti-interference. And the fluorescence intensity increased obviously, reaching 42 times. The time response of probe NapSe is very rapid (3 min) compared with other fluorescence probes that respond to H2S. It shows high sensitivity by calculating the detection limit (LOD) as low as 5.4 µM. Notably, the identification of H2S by probe NapSe has been successfully applied to the detection of test paper and the detection of exogenous and endogenous fluorescence imaging of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Long-Term Immunogenicity and In Vitro Prophylactic Protective Efficacy of M. tuberculosis Fusion Protein DR2 Combined with Liposomal Adjuvant DIMQ as a Boosting Vaccine for BCG.

The resuscitation of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important cause of adult tuberculosis (TB) transmission. According to the interaction mechanism between M. tuberculosis and the host, the latency antigen Rv0572c and region of difference 9 (RD9) antigen Rv3621c were selected in this study to prepare the fusion protein DR2. Stimulating clinically diagnosed active tuberculosis infections (i.e., TB patients), latent tuberculosis infections, and healthy controls confirmed that T lymphocytes could recognize DR2 protein in the peripheral blood of TB-infected individuals more than subcomponent protein. The DR2 protein was then emulsified in the liposome adjuvant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide, and imiquimod (DIMQ) was administered to C57BL/6 mice immunized with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine to evaluate their immunogenicity. Studies have shown that DR2/DIMQ, a booster vaccine for BCG primary immunization, can elicit robust CD4+ Th1 cell immune response and predominant IFN-γ+ CD4+ effector memory T cells (TEM) subsets. Furthermore, the serum antibody level and the expression of related cytokines increased significantly with the extension of immunization time, with IL2+, CD4+, or CD8+ central memory T cells (TCM) subsets predominant in the long term. This immunization strategy showed matched prophylactic protective efficacy by performing in vitro challenge experiment. This result provides robust evidence that the novel subunit vaccine prepared by fusion protein DR2 combined with liposomal adjuvant DIMQ is a promising TB vaccine candidate for further preclinical trials as a booster vaccine for BCG.

Brain Network Changes in Lumbar Disc Herniation Induced Chronic Nerve Roots Compression Syndromes.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) induced nerve compression syndromes have been a prevalent problem with complex neural mechanisms. Changes in distributed brain areas are involved in the occurrence and persistence of syndromes. The present study aimed to investigate the changes of brain functional network in LDH patients with chronic sciatica using graph theory analysis. A total of thirty LDH adults presenting L4 and/or L5 root (s) compression syndromes (LDH group) and thirty age-, sex-, BMI- and education-matched healthy control (HC group) were recruited for functional MRI scan. Whole-brain functional network was constructed for each participant using Pearson's correlation. Global and nodal properties were calculated and compared between two groups, including small-worldness index, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, degree centrality (DC), betweenness centrality (BC) and nodal efficiency. Both LDH and HC groups showed small-world architecture in the functional network of brain. However, LDH group showed that nodal centralities (DC, BC and nodal efficiency) increased in opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus; and decreased in orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus, lingual cortex and inferior occipital gyrus. The DC and efficiency in the right inferior occipital gyrus were negatively related with the Oswestry Disability Index in LDH group. In conclusion, the LDH-related chronic sciatica syndromes may induce regional brain alterations involving self-referential, emotional responses and pain regulation functions. But the whole-brain small-world architecture was not significantly disturbed. It may provide new insights into LDH patients with radicular symptoms from new perspectives.

Whole-genome resequencing and bisulfite sequencing provide new insights into the feeding habit domestication in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi).

Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is one of the most economically important fish in China. However, it has the peculiar feeding habit that it feeds solely on live prey fish since first-feeding, while refuses dead prey fish or artificial diets. After the specific training procedure, partial individuals could accept dead prey fish and artificial diets. The genetic basis of individual difference in artificial diet feeding habit is still unknown. In the present study, the resequencing was performed between 10 individuals which could be domesticated to accept artificial diets and 10 individuals which could not. Through the selective sweep analysis based on heterozygosity (Hp) and population differentiation coefficient (Fst), 57 candidate windows were identified as the putative selected regions for feeding habit domestication of mandarin fish, involved in 149 genes. These genes were related to memory, vision and olfaction function, which could be potential targets of molecular marker assistant breeding of artificial diet feeding trait. Beside of the DNA sequence, we also explored the potential role of DNA methylation in feeding habit domestication in mandarin fish. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was performed between the individuals which could be domesticated to accept artificial diets and those could not. 5,976 differentially methylated regions were identified, referring to 3,522 genes, such as the genes involved in cAMP signaling pathway. The DNA methylation changes of these genes might contribute to the adaption of artificial diets in mandarin fish. In conclusion, the putative selected regions and the differentially methylated regions were identified in the whole genome, providing new insights into the feeding habit domestication from live prey fish to artificial diets in mandarin fish. And the involved genes were identified as the candidate genes for molecular breeding of artificial diet utilization in mandarin fish.

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolome analysis of food habits domestication from live prey fish to artificial diets in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi).

BACKGROUND: As economical traits, food habits domestication can reduce production cost in aquaculture. However, the molecular mechanism underlying food habits domestication has remained elusive. Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) only feed on live prey fish and refuse artificial diets. In the present study, we domesticated mandarin fish to feed on artificial diets. The two groups were obtained, the fish did not eat artificial diets or ate artificial diets during all of the three domestication processes, named Group W or X, respectively. RESULTS: Using transcriptome and metabolome analysis, we investigated the differentially expressed genes and metabolites between the two groups, and found three common pathways related to food habit domestication, including retinol metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways. Furthermore, the western blotting and bisulfite sequencing PCR analysis were performed. The gene expression of TFIIF and histone methyltransferase ezh1 were significantly increased and decreased in the fish of Group X, respectively. The total DNA methylation levels of TFIIF gene and tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) were significantly higher and lower in the fish of Group X, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was speculated that mandarin fish which could feed on artificial diets, might be attributed to the lower expression of ezh1, resulting in the decreased level of H3K27me3 and increased level of DNA methylation of TFIIF gene. The high expression of TFIIF gene might up-regulate the expression of genes in retinol metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and glycerophosphoric metabolism pathways. Our study indicated the relationship between the methylation of DNA and histone and food habits domestication, which might be a novel molecular mechanism of food habits domestication in animals.

Valine acts as a nutritional signal in brain to activate TORC1 and attenuate postprandial ammonia-N excretion in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

An emerging concept is that the hypothalamic nutrient sensor can regulate peripheral energy metabolism via a brain-liver circuit. Valine is an essential branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that drives intracellular signaling cascades by the activation of target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) which is critical to protein metabolism in mammals. However, in teleost fish, it remains scarce in this area especially about how the intraventricular (ICV) injection of valine can mediate the protein metabolism in peripheral organs. This study would tentatively explore the effects of ICV injection of valine on protein metabolism in peripheral organs through evaluating the postprandial ammonia-N excretion rate in Chinese perch. The control group was injected with 5-µL PBS, and the Val group was injected with 20-µg L valine dissolved into 5-µL PBS. The ammonia-N excretion rate of Val group was lower than control group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection, while the concertation of plasma glucose was increased sharply at 0.5-, 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. We further checked both mRNA level and the enzyme activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in the liver and adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) in muscle, and we found that they were obviously decreased in Val group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. The phosphorylation level of ribosomal protein S6, a downstream target protein of TORC1, was markedly enhanced in the liver of Val group at 4-, 12-, and 24-h postinjection. Collectively, these results illustrated that ICV injection of valine can attenuate protein degradation in peripheral organs by depressing the GDH and AMPD enzyme activity; on the other hand, the injected valine can trigger the activation of TORC1 in the liver via a brain-liver circuit and then interdict proteolysis.

Mandarin fish (Sinipercidae) genomes provide insights into innate predatory feeding.

Mandarin fishes (Sinipercidae) are piscivores that feed solely on live fry. Unlike higher vertebrates, teleosts exhibit feeding behavior driven mainly by genetic responses, with no modification by learning from parents. Mandarin fishes could serve as excellent model organisms for studying feeding behavior. We report a long-read, chromosomal-scale genome assembly for Siniperca chuatsi and genome assemblies for Siniperca kneri, Siniperca scherzeri and Coreoperca whiteheadi. Positive selection analysis revealed rapid adaptive evolution of genes related to predatory feeding/aggression, growth, pyloric caeca and euryhalinity. Very few gill rakers are observed in mandarin fishes; analogously, we found that zebrafish deficient in edar had a gill raker loss phenotype and a more predatory habit, with reduced intake of zooplankton but increased intake of prey fish. Higher expression of bmp4, which could inhibit edar expression and gill raker development through binding of a Xvent-1 site upstream of edar, may cause predatory feeding in Siniperca.

Cancer-Testis Gene Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Identification of Prognostic Markers and Potential Targets for Immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-testis genes can serve as prognostic biomarkers and valuable targets for immunotherapy in multiple tumors because of their restricted expression in testis and cancer. However, their expression pattern in hepatocellular carcinoma is still not well understood. The purpose is to comprehensively characterize the cancer-testis gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma as well as identify prognostic markers and potential targets for immunotherapy. METHODS: Cancer-testis database and publicly available data sets reporting new cancer-testis genes were integrated, and then restricted them in a testis and hepatocellular carcinoma expression pattern. Pathway enrichment analysis and survival analysis were conducted to evaluate the biological function and prognostic effect of cancer-testis genes. Clustering analysis and coexpression analysis were performed to illustrate cancer-testis gene expression patterns in hepatocellular carcinoma. The association of gene expression of each cancer-testis gene to the corresponding methylation status was detected. Finally, we explored the associations between cancer-testis genes and CD8+ T-cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma by TISIDB, and then validated it in an independent hepatocellular carcinoma cohort with 72 patients. RESULTS: A total of 59 testis-specific genes were identified highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that cancer-testis genes in hepatocellular carcinoma significantly involves in the process of cell cycle regulation. Most of the cancer-testis genes were coexpressed, and cluster analysis suggested that cancer-testis gene expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma is independent of sex, hepatitis status, and histology type. We also found that demethylation might be a regulatory mechanism of cancer-testis gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival analysis indicated that cancer-testis genes could predict the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, BUB1B was identified contributing to the resistance of CD8+ T-cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma and was an independent prognostic factor both for overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis enables better understanding of cancer-testis genes in hepatocellular carcinoma and provides potential targets for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Experimental and clinical studies are needed for further validations.

Histone Methylation of H3K4 Involved in the Anorexia of Carnivorous Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi) After Feeding on a Carbohydrate-Rich Diet.

Food intake of carnivorous fish decreases after feeding on a carbohydrate-rich diet. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the anorexia caused by high-carbohydrate diets has remained elusive. We domesticated the mandarin fish to feed on carbohydrate-rich (8%) diets. After 61 days of feeding, several fish (Group A) fed well on artificial diets during the whole feeding period; the other fish (Group B) fed well on artificial diets at the beginning of the feeding period, with their food intake then decreasing to half (anorexia) and then to zero for 5 days; and, finally, a negative control (Group C) fed on live prey fish throughout the experimental process. The plasma glucose was significantly higher in the mandarin fish of Group B than in those of Group A, whereas levels of hepatic glycogen and plasma triglyceride were significantly lower. Using transcriptome sequencing, we investigated the differentially expressed genes between Groups A and B and excluded the genes that were not differentially expressed between Groups A and C. The activation of mTOR and Jak/STAT pathways were found in the mandarin fish with anorexia, which was consistent with the higher expression levels of pepck and pomc genes. We found a higher expression of histone methyltransferase setd1b gene and an increased histone H3 tri-methylated at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) in the fish of Group B. Furthermore, using ChIP assay and inhibitor treatment, we found that the up-regulated H3K4me3 could activate pepck expression, which might have contributed to the hyperglycemia and anorexia in the mandarin fish that fed on carbohydrate-rich diets. Our study initially indicated a link between histone methylation and pepck expression, which might be a novel regulatory mechanism of fish who are fed a carbohydrate-rich diet.

Lipid deposition pattern and adaptive strategy in response to dietary fat in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

BACKGROUND: Previous studies in teleost have demonstrated the adaptive strategy to maintain hepatic lipid homeostasis within certain limit. The excess of fat-intake could induce abnormal lipid deposition in liver but not adipose tissue. However, the molecular mechanism between the impaired lipid homeostasis and the aggravated lipid deposition in liver has not been elucidated well in fish. METHODS: Four isonitrogenous diets with different fat levels (2, 7, 12 and 17%) were formulated, named L2, L7, L12 and L17 respectively, and fed Chinese perch (44.50 ± 0.25 g) to apparent satiation for five weeks. Growth index, triglyceride concentrations and expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism were measured. RESULTS: The maximal growth performance and food intake were observed in L12 group. The lipid content in liver and serum were comparable in L2, L7 and L12 groups, while they were increased significantly in L17 group. Histology analysis also demonstrated that mass lipid droplets emerged in hepatocyte and then induced hepatic steatosis in L17 group. Compared to L2 group, the lipolytic genes related to fatty acids (FAs) transport (lpl & hl) and FAs ß-oxidation (cpt1 & cs) were increased in L7 and L12 group. Relative mRNA levels of the gluconeogenesis (pc, pepck & g6pase) were also increased, in contrast, the lipogenic genes (srebp1, accα & fas) were decreased. Compared to L12 group, L17 group had higher mRNA levels of the FAs transport and the lipogenesis. But the lipolytic genes related to FAs ß-oxidation were steady and the mRNA levels of gluconeogenesis were down-regulated instead. CONCLUSIONS: Within certain limit, the increase of dietary fat in L7 and L12 group was propitious to reduce the consumption of protein and improve growth performance in Chinese perch. It was due to the homeostasis of hepatic triglyceride (TG) pool and serum glucose through promoting the FAs ß-oxidation and gluconeogenesis respectively. Both the increase of lipogenesis and the absence of FAs ß-oxidation in L17 group could trigger the esterification of FAs, indeed, the inhibition of gluconeogenesis could also aggravate triglyceride accumulation in liver and induce hepatic steatosis.

Specific alterations in gut microbiota are associated with prognosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Gut microbiota is associated with liver diseases. However, gut microbial characteristics of Budd-Chiari syndrome (B-CS) have not been reported. Here, by MiSeq sequencing, gut microbial alterations were characterized among 37 health controls, 20 liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, 31 initial B-CS patients (B-CS group), 33 stability patients after BCS treatment (stability group) and 23 recurrent patients after BCS treatment (recurrence group). Gut microbial diversity was increased in B-CS versus LC. Bacterial community of B-CS clustered with controls but separated from LC. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) 421, 502 (Clostridium IV) and 141 (Megasphaera) were unique to B-CS. Genera Escherichia/Shigella and Clostridium XI were decreased in B-CS versus controls. Moreover, nine genera, mainly including Bacteroides and Megamonas, were enriched in B-CS versus LC. Notably, Megamonas could distinguish B-CS from LC with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.7904. Microbial function prediction revealed that L-amino acid transport system activity was decreased in B-CS versus both LC and controls. Furthermore, OTUs 27 (Clostridium XI), 137 (Clostridium XIVb) and 40 (Bacteroides) were associated with B-CS stability. Importantly, genus Clostridium XI was enriched in stability group versus both recurrence group and B-CS group. Also, PRPP glutamine biosynthesis was reduced in stability group versus recurrence group, but was enriched in stability group versus B-CS group. In conclusion, specific microbial alterations associated with diagnosis and prognosis were detected in B-CS patients. Correction of gut microbial alterations may be a potential strategy for B-CS prevention and treatment.

Inhibitory neurotransmitter serotonin and excitatory neurotransmitter dopamine both decrease food intake in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi).

Aminergic neurotransmitters play important roles in the regulation of food intake. However, their effects on feeding in fish have been less explored and still unclear. In the present study, the effects of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) on food intake were evaluated through intraventricular (ICV) administration in Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi) and the mRNA expression levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti gene-related protein (AgRP), and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) were detected. At 1 h post-injection, 5-HT significantly decreased food intake in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression of NPY and AgRP were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), whereas the mRNA expression of POMC was significantly increased (p < 0.05), suggesting the involvement of NPY, AgRP, and POMC in inhibitory action of 5-HT on food intake in Chinese perch. DA significantly decreased (p < 0.05) food intake and AgRP mRNA expression at 1 h post-injection, indicating the inhibitory effect of DA on food intake might be mediated through AgRP. This might shed new light on the regulation of food intake in Chinese perch.

[Evolution and transition of source of Patrinia Herba and Patrinia Radix].

Both Patrinia Herba and Patrinia Radix are traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The herbal source and medicinal part of them are confusing in the herbal medicine market of China. To explore the evolution and transition of the herbal source and medicinal part of Patrinia Herba and Patrinia Radix, this paper systematically summarizes the record of the herbal source and medicinal part of them in ancient classics of herbal medicine in China. According to the findings, before Ming Dynasty, Patrinia Herba originated from the radix of the plants with yellow flowers of Patrinia. In Ming and Qing Dynasty, Patrinia Herba originates from the whole plant (including the radix)of the plant with white flowers of Patrinia. In Ming Dynasty, Patrinia Radix, stemming from the radix of the plants with yellow flowers of Patrinia, started to be used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which had the same herbal source with that of Patrinia Herba before Ming Dynasty. Therefore, Patrinia Herba and Patrinia Radix can be seen as the same traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and the genuine of Patrinia Herba should be the radix and the whole herba of P. scabiosaefolia and P. heterophylla.

Physical Activity and the Risk of Gallstone Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of physical activity in preventing gallstone disease independent of its effect on the body weight has not been well established. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies to analyze this potential association. METHODS: We searched PubMed and EMBASE to identify all published studies in English through April 2016. We pooled the relative risks (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from individual studies using a random-effects model to investigate associations between physical activity and the risk of gallstone disease. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies comprising 19 independent reports of approximately 260,000 participants met the inclusion criteria, including 6 case-control studies and 13 cohort studies. In a pooled analysis of cohort studies, physical activity (in a comparison of the highest-level and the lowest-level groups) was associated with a reduced risk of gallstone disease (RR=0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.92; I=79.5%). For men, the RR was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.60-0.97), and for women, the RR was similar (RR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.66-0.91). In a dose-response analysis, the RR of gallstone disease was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.92; I=1.0%) per 20 metabolic equivalent-hours of recreational physical per week. In comparison, case-control studies yielded a stronger significant risk reduction for gallstone disease (OR=0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.90; I=76.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an inverse association between physical activity and gallstone disease in both men and women; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of study heterogeneity.

Aspirin might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

Although there is evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be able to prevent pancreatic cancer, the findings from epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. In this paper, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to examine this possibility. We searched PubMed and Embase for observational (cohort or case-control) studies examining the consumption of aspirin and other NSAIDs and the incidence of or mortality rates associated with pancreatic cancer. Twelve studies including approximately 258,000 participants in total were analysed. The administration of aspirin significantly reduced the incidence of pancreatic cancer (8 studies; odds ratio (OR) = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.62 to 0.96; I(2) = 74.2%) but not the mortality associated with it (2 studies; OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.73 to 1.22). Specifically, frequent aspirin use was associated with reduced pancreatic cancer incidence (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.83 for high frequency; OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.84 for medium frequency). The summary ORs regarding the incidence of pancreatic cancer and either non-aspirin NSAIDs use (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.31) or overall NSAIDs use (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.86 to 1.10) were not significant. In conclusion, aspirin use might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution because of study heterogeneity.

Jørgensen-Hayashi catalysts supported on poly(ethylene glycol)s as highly efficient and reusable organocatalysts for the enamine-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction.

A new kind of recyclable and reusable PEG-supported Jørgensen-Hayashi catalyst is synthesized for the first time and proven to be efficient for the enamine-catalyzed asymmetric Michael reaction with generally moderate to good diastereoselectivity and high to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 6 : 1 dr, 99% ee). The prepared PEG-supported catalyst can be recovered eight times and was found to provide similar diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity to unsupported functional catalysts.

Association between vitamin D deficiency and mortality in critically ill adult patients: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is common in critically ill patients, and was reported to be associated with adverse outcomes. However, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on mortality in critically ill patients remains unclear. METHODS: We searched PubMed and EMBASE from the inception to July 2014 for cohort studies to assess the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the incidence of mortality in critically ill patients. Mortality-specific odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled with a random- or fixed-effect models when appropriate. RESULTS: Seven cohort studies with a total of 4,204 participants including 1,679 cases of vitamin D deficiency were included in this meta-analysis. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with an increased hospital mortality (OR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.38 to 2.24; P < 0.001), with very low heterogeneity (I (2) = 2.3%; P = 0.402). The finding of increased hospital mortality in critically ill adult patients was consistently found in every stratum of our subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased incidence of hospital mortality in critically ill adult patients.

Selective reflection of Airy beam at an interface between dielectric and homogeneous atomic medium.

We examine selective reflection (SR) spectrum of an Airy beam at an interface between a dielectric and a homogeneous atomic medium. It is shown that both the general reflection (GR) and the SR of Airy beams exhibit accelerating dynamics with a parabolic trajectory, however, the accelerating rate for the SR is slightly greater than that for the GR. Due to interaction of atoms and the Airy beams at the interface between dielectric and resonant atoms, the SR beams can create far-field interference patterns. We also show that the amplitude of the SR can be dramatically modified by the detuning of the incident fields, the reduced x-coordinate and the distance from the interface. The SR at the resonant medium interface of Airy beams can probably be a powerful tool in the use of optical power delivering, resonant particle manipulation and spatial spectrum detection of a resonant medium at an interface.

(2S,4R)-2-[(1R)-1-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-2-nitro-eth-yl]-4-ethyl-cyclo-hexa-none.

The crystal structure of the title compound, C(16)H(20)BrNO(3), contains three chiral centers in the configuration 1R,2S,6R. The cyclo-hexane ring is in a chair conformation. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O inter-actions, forming chains along the a-axis direction.