Comprehensive biochemical analysis and nutritional evaluation of fatty acid and amino acid profiles in eight seahorse species (Hippocampus spp.).

Seahorses are increasingly recognized for their nutritional potential, which underscores the necessity for comprehensive biochemical analyses. This study aims to investigate the fatty acid and amino acid compositions of eight seahorse species, including both genders of Hippocampus trimaculatus, Hippocampus kelloggi, Hippocampus abdominalis, and Hippocampus erectus, to evaluate their nutritional value. We employed Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to analyze the fatty acid and amino acid profiles of the seahorse species. GC-MS was used to detect 34 fatty acid methyl esters, while HPLC provided detailed amino acid profiles. GC-MS analysis demonstrated high precision with relative standard deviations (RSDs) generally below 2.53 %, satisfactory repeatability (RSDs from 6.55 % to 8.73 %), and stability (RSDs below 2.82 %). Recovery rates for major fatty acids ranged from 98.73 % to 109.12 %. HPLC analysis showed strong separation of amino acid profiles with theoretical plate numbers exceeding 5000. Precision tests yielded RSDs below 1.23 %, with reproducibility and stability tests showing RSDs below 2.73 % and 2.86 %, respectively. Amino acid recovery rates ranged from 97.58 % to 104.66 %. Nutritional analysis revealed significant variations in fatty acid content among the species. Female H. erectus showed higher levels of hexadecanoic acid and saturated fatty acids, while male H. abdominalis had lower concentrations of n-3 full cis 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Total lipid yields varied from 3.2491 % to 12.3175 %, with major fatty acids constituting 17.9717 %-74.6962 % of total lipids. In conclusion, this study provides essential insights into the fatty acid and amino acid composition of seahorses, supporting their potential as valuable dietary supplements. The differences between genders in specific fatty acids suggest a nuanced nutritional profile that could be exploited for targeted dietary applications. Further research is needed to explore the seasonal and environmental variations affecting seahorse biochemical composition.

Unraveling Special Structures and Properties of Gold-Covered Gold-Core Cage on Au33-42 Nanoparticles.

New low-energy atomic structures and properties of medium-size gold nanoparticles (Au33-42) are studied, where the atomic positions of gold atoms are obtained on the basis of the generic formulation of shell and core concept. Hollow cage, tube-like, double-layered flat, fcc-like, and close-packed configurations are predicted. Relativistic density functional theory optimization indicated that low-symmetry stuffed configurations are all lower in energy than the others. Further analysis of the optimized structures of Au33-42 nanoparticles shows that these gold cores are all four-atom tetrahedral structures and similar to each other; only the number and positions of gold atoms at the surface of gold core are different. Compared with structure and electronic properties, Au33-42 nanoparticles have different structure stabilities and chemical activities. But they are all hybridizations of sp and d electrons. The obtained information forms the basis for future chemisorption studies to unravel the catalytic effects of gold nanoparticles.

Carbon-tuned bonding method significantly enhanced the hydrogen storage of BN-Li complexes.

Through first-principles calculations, we found doping carbon atoms onto BN monolayers (BNC) could significantly strengthen the Li bond on this material. Unlike the weak bond strength between Li atoms and the pristine BN layer, it is observed that Li atoms are strongly hybridized and donate their electrons to the doped substrate, which is responsible for the enhanced binding energy. Li adsorbed on the BNC layer can serve as a high-capacity hydrogen storage medium, without forming clusters, which can be recycled at room temperature. Eight polarized H(2) molecules are attached to two Li atoms with an optimal binding energy of 0.16-0.28 eV/H(2), which results from the electrostatic interaction of the polarized charge of hydrogen molecules with the electric field induced by positive Li atoms. This practical carbon-tuned BN-Li complex can work as a very high-capacity hydrogen storage medium with a gravimetric density of hydrogen of 12.2 wt%, which is much higher than the gravimetric goal of 5.5 wt % hydrogen set by the U.S. Department of Energy for 2015.

[Paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: report of 5 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnosis and treatment of paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (PER). METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical data of 5 cases of PER treated from 1997 to 2009 and reviewed the relevant literature, focusing on its clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: The 5 cases of PER, 2 involving the spermatic cord, 2 the testis and 1 the tunica vaginalis, were all treated by radical orchiectomy. Pathologically, 2 cases were classified as stage I, 1 as stage II and 2 as stage IV. Postoperatively, 2 of the patients received chemotherapy and the other 3 refused adjunctive therapy. The patients were followed up for 6, 12, 18 and 28 months, respectively. Four of them remained free from relapse and metastasis, and 1 stage IV patient died of multiple metastasis at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, radical orchiectomy and adjunctive chemo- or radio-therapy are effective means to the treatment of PER.

A density functional study of YnAl (n=1-14) clusters.

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic and magnetic properties of Y(n)Al (n=1-14) clusters have been systematically investigated by using density functional theory with generalized gradient approximation. The growth pattern for different sized Y(n)Al (n=1-14) clusters is Al-substituted Y(n+1) clusters and it keeps the similar frameworks of the most stable Y(n+1) clusters except for Y(9)Al cluster. The Al atom substituted the surface atom of the Y(n+1) clusters for n<9. Starting from n=9, the Al atom completely falls into the center of the Y-frame. The Al atom substituted the center atom of the Y(n+1) clusters to form the Al-encapsulated Y(n) geometries for n>9. The calculated results manifest that doping of the Al atom contributes to strengthen the stabilities of the yttrium framework. In addition, the relative stability of Y(12)Al is the strongest among all different sized Y(n)Al clusters, which might stem from its highly symmetric geometry. Mulliken population analysis shows that the charges always transfer from Y atoms to Al atom in all different sized clusters. Doping of the Al atom decreases the average magnetic moments of most Y(n) clusters. Especially, the magnetic moment is completely quenched after doping Al in the Y(13), which is ascribed to the disappearance of the ininerant 4d electron spin exchange effect. Finally, the frontier orbitals properties of Y(n)Al are also discussed.

Computational investigation of TiSin (n=2-15) clusters by the density-functional theory.

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of TiSin (n=2-15) clusters with different spin configurations have been systematically investigated by using density-functional theory approach at B3LYP/LanL2DZ level. According to the optimum TiSin clusters, the equilibrium site of Ti atom gradually moves from convex to surface, and to a concave site as the number of Si atom increases from 2 to 15. When n=12, the Ti atom in TiSi12 completely falls into the center of the Si outer frame, forming metal-encapsulated Si cages, which can be explained by using 16-electron rule. On the basis of the optimized geometries, various energetic properties are calculated for the most stable isomers of TiSin clusters, including the average binding energy, the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, fragmentation energy, and the second-order difference of energy. It is found that at size n=6,8,12 the clusters are more stable than neighboring ones. According to the Mulliken charge population analysis, charges always transfer from Si atoms to Ti atom. Furthermore, the HOMO-LUMO gaps of the most stable TiSin clusters are usually smaller than those of Sin clusters.

Structure and stability of Al-doped boron clusters by the density-functional theory.

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of Bn and AlBn clusters, up to n=12, have been systematically investigated by using the density-functional approach. The results of Bn clusters are in good agreement with previous conclusions. When the Al atom is doped in Bn clusters, the lowest-energy structures of the AlBn clusters favor two-dimensional and can be obtained by adding one Al atom on the peripheral site of the stable Bn when n