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Agricultural systems are nitrogen (N) deficient throughout the world and N is the most important nutrient in realizing the maximum potential of the crop and sustainability of the environment. The production and utilization of the chemical N fertilizer (CNF) have played a great role in increasing crop yield and meeting the demand of population growth. However, with excessive input of chemical N fertilizers, nitrate N leaching and surface runoff seriously threat people health and pollute biological environments. Based on a large number of publications, this paper has comprehensively reviewed the importance of application of CNF, the problems caused by the excessive chemical N input, with attention mainly to the seriousness of nitrate N loss by leaching and runoff, factors affecting nitrate N leaching and runoff, methods for controlling nitrate leaching and runoff, and research needs in the future globally in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals and biogenic elements were analyzed from surface sediments and a 100 cm core collected from Jiaozhou Bay in July 2009, to determine how the environment has changed over the past 90 years due to increasing anthropogenic influences in this region. High concentrations of biogenic silica (BSi) represented the dominance of diatoms in the bay. Most metals were lower than the marine sediment quality guidelines; however, Hg, Zn, and Mn were at polluted levels. The vertical profiles of biogenic elements and metals in the sediment core suggest that the most significant environmental changes occurred since the 1990s, and three stages could be defined: (1) before 1950, characterized by low concentrations of biogenic elements and metals; (2) between 1950 and 1990, displaying an obvious increase of Hg and a slow increase of biogenic elements; (3) after 1990, reflected by a significant increase of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphate (TP), and most metals, but a decrease of BSi. Correlation and principal component analyses indicated that most metals originated from lithogenic sources, industrial and domestic discharges as well as maricultural activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hereditary protein S (PS) deficiency is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism. However, the correlation between PS and arterial thrombotic disease, such as cerebral thrombosis, is not clear. The present study focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke caused by a PS gene mutation in one family. The activity of antithrombin, protein C and PS in the plasma of the proband was measured, and the genes encoding PS were amplified and sequenced. The cellular localization and expression of PS were analyzed in HEK.293 cells. The proband was a 50.year.old male. Plasma PS activity of the proband was 38.9%, which was significantly decreased compared with normal levels. Sequencing analysis revealed a PROS1 c.1486_1490delGATTA mutation on exon 12. This frameshift mutation converts Asp496 in the precursor PS into the termination codon. In addition, the PROS1 mutation was correlated with low PS activity in the family. Functional tests revealed that the mutant protein aggregated in the cytoplasm and its secretion and expression decreased. In conclusion, protein S mutation appeared to be the primary cause of thrombosis in the family of the present study. However, the correlation between PS deficiency and ischemic stroke requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) of two raphidophyceae species Chattonella marina and Heterosigma akashiwo were investigated in response to P-limitation and subsequent addition of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP, NaH2PO4) and two dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) compounds: guanosine 5-monophosphate (GMP) and triethyl phosphate (TEP). APA levels increased greatly after P-starvation as the decrease of the cellular phosphorus quotes (Qp). C. marina responded to P-limitation quickly and strongly, with 10-fold increase in APA within 24 hr after P-starvation. The larger difference between maximal and minimal QP values in C. marina indicated its high capacity in P storage. APA of H. akashiwo was maximally enlarged about 2.5 times at 48 hr of P-starvation. After the addition of nutrients, cell numbers of C. marina increased in all treatments including the P-free culture, demonstrating the higher endurance of C. marina to P-limitation. However, those of H. akashiwo increased only in DIP and GMP cultures. APA increased only after the addition of the monophosphate ester GMP. The results suggest that quick responses of C. marina to P-limitation, high capacity in P storage as well as endurance for P-depletion provide this species an ecological advantage in phytoplankton community competition under DIP-limited conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the northern territory of China, the vast semiarid and subhumid regions referred to as dryland areas are stressed by two major constraints for crop production: shortage of water supply and deficiency of nutrients in soil. Low precipitation and its uneven distribution have resulted in soil water, surface water and groundwater deficit, and made crops being under water stress in most cases. As a direct result, except for a few places that can conduct irrigation, most regions remain rainfed agriculture. In addition to shortage of water supply, serious wind and water erosion derived from sparse vegetation coverage, windy climate and frequent rainstorms plus human activities have led to serious soil degradation and nutrient stress. Deficiency of N can be found everywhere and that of P occurs at least in one third of the arable lands, this leading to low productivity. However, the limited water resources have not been fully used and the nutrient use efficiency by crops is very low, both having a certain potential for use and a large room for improvement. Management of water and nutrients are extremely important not only for crop production, but for environmental concern in these areas. Water and nutrients have great interactions that may gain either positive or negative effects on crop production, depending on crop growth stages, amounts, combinations and balance. In the dryland areas, the effect of nutrients and that of water are often limited to each other. Remarkable variations in precipitation from year to year significantly influence soil water and nutrient status, and so do the nutrient input effect. Nutrient input may obtain a good harvest in one year while a poor harvest in another. Considering the precipitation changes and taking effective measures to regulate nutrient supply, crops may not suffer from water limitation in a dry year and from nutrient deficiency in a wet year, and in this way we cannot lose the opportunity to obtain good harvest in both dry and wet year. Nutrient input is the key for crop production. Roots are essential for taking up water and nutrients to support crop growth, and the significance of roots becomes even more important on drylands, since the topsoil is often dry and nutrients are often unavailable, and plants need to extend their roots into deep layer to obtain available nutrients in the moist soil. It has been found that in most cases, crop yield is highly correlated with crop root mass almost in a linear shape. Addition of organic fertilizers can enhance soil organic matter, raise soil water storage capacity, reduce soil bulk density, and therefore create good conditions for root penetration into deep layer. Both organic and chemical fertilizer can provide nutrients for forming strong root system and for roots having a higher capacity to absorb nutrients and water, improve root activities such as raising the root synthetic ability of amino acids by rational N fertilization. Different nutrients have different functions on root growth and its distribution. Nutrient input is also essential for improvement of plant physiological activities. Regulating plant water status and osmotic pressure, increasing the activity of nitrate reductase in plant leaves and raising photosynthesis and transpiration intensity whereas decreasing evaporation constitute some important aspects. All these benefit plants in optimization of the use efficiency of water and nutrients. Experimental results show that the osmotic regulation effect is higher with fertilization. The increase of N-supply level reduces disorder of N metabolism, in plants deficient in water and increases plant resistance to drought. Under water stress, rational N supply could make wheat leaves to have high activity of nitrate reductase, high levels of proteins, and better water status. Bleeding sap amount increase per plant by N fertilization provides evidence that water intake by plants is increased.… [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggest that Stat3, a transcription factor that mediates cytokine signaling, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Complete Stat3 gene knockout is embryonic lethal; therefore, we crossed Stat3+/− mice with Stat3 mutant mice (SA/SA) that lack full Stat3 activity. This strategy generated Stat3SA/− mice (25% activity) and Stat3SA/+ mice (75% activity), which were made diabetic using streptozotocin in order to define the role of Stat3 in diabetic kidney disease. While the glomerular number was not different between these two groups of mice, the diabetic SA/− mice had significantly less proteinuria, mesangial expansion, glomerular cell proliferation, and macrophage infiltration than the diabetic SA/+ mice. The reduction in Stat3 activity did not affect glomerular hyperfiltration seen after the induction of diabetes, as it was increased to the same degree in both groups of mice. Phosphorylation of Stat3 was markedly increased in the glomeruli of diabetic SA/+ mice compared to diabetic SA/− mice. The expression of inflammatory markers, IL-6, MCP-1, and activated NF-κB; type IV collagen, TGF-β, and ICAM-1 mRNA; or type IV collagen and TGF-β protein, were all found to be significantly less in glomeruli isolated from diabetic SA/− mice, as compared with diabetic SA/+ mice. Our study shows that Stat3 plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation and abnormal matrix synthesis at an early stage of DN.Kidney International (2009) 76, 63–71; doi:10.1038/ki.2009.98; published online 8 April 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sediment trap study was conducted at Daya Bay, South China Sea, to investigate the relationships between encystment and population dynamics of Scrippsiella trochoidea from December 1999 to January 2001. A dense bloom of S. trochoidea occurred during the study period from August to September 2000, with the maximum cell number of 3.18 × 104 cells mL−1. Two morphotypes of cysts, one with a thick calcareous wall (calcified cyst) and another without the obvious calcareous cover (non-calcified cyst), were observed during this investigation. The morphological and excystment characteristics of these two cyst types were studied as well. Mass encystments of S. trochoidea, with the maximum of 3.05 × 105 cysts m−2 d−1 for calcified cyst, and 1.54 × 107 cysts m−2 d−1 for non-calcified cyst, coincided with the maximum abundance of the vegetative cells. Encystment caused the transfer of a total of 2.24–4.49 × 108 cells m−2 vegetative cells from the water column to the sea bottom during the bloom and resulted in a considerable loss of the bloom population. High assemblages of cysts of S. trochoidea were detected in the surface sediments as well. This rich ‘seed bed’ in the surface sediments caused by the high efficiency of encystment after blooms acting as a benthic reservoir for future vegetative population, together with the short dormant period (15–26 days) and high germination rate (50–90%), may explain the repeated occurrence of S. trochoidea blooms in Daya Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is an important pathway for fertilizer nitrogen (N) loss from soil and is also a major source of air and environmental pollution. On calcareous soils in North China Plain, application of N fertilizer in the form of urea under intensive cropping with winter wheat (Triticum aestvum L.) and summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation can lead to serious NH3 loss. The objective of this study was to compare a modified vented-chamber method with the traditional closed-chamber method to measure NH3 volatilization loss under laboratory and field conditions and to determine in situ NH3 volatilization in the field from surface broadcast urea at 0, 120, 240, and 360 kg N ha−1 rates to each crop (for winter wheat, one-half at sowing and the other half at the elongation growth stage; for summer maize, one-half at the 3-leaf and the other half at the 10-leaf growth stage) in a winter wheat and summer maize rotation at the northern edge of North China Plain from October 1998 to September 1999. Urea was surface applied after irrigation before sowing, or prior to irrigation during the growing season. Compared to the closed chamber method, the vented chamber method was found to be simpler in structure, easier to operate, more suitable for in situ determination of NH3 volatilization in the field, and had higher recovery of emitted NH3 (99.5 vs. 70.8%). For surface broadcast urea after first irrigation prior to sowing of winter wheat, the NH3 volatilization rate reached, a maximum on the second to fifth day after application. Total NH3 loss from soil during the October 8 to November 18, 1998, period was 2.9, 4.8, 10.5, and 35.7 kg N ha−1 at the 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha−1 rates, respectively. When urea was top-dressed prior to irrigation at the elongation growth stage of the winter wheat in midspring, NH3 loss was relatively low (i.e., 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, and 2.7 kg N ha−1 at 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha−1 rates, respectively). The NH3 loss from urea for the entire winter wheat–growing season accounted for 2.1, 3.6, and 9.5% of the applied N at 120, 240, and 360 kg N ha−1 rates, respectively. For summer maize where urea was top-dressed at the 3-leaf and 10-leaf growth stages, the NH3 volatilization rate increased more quickly and maximized on the first or second day after N application. During the summer maize–growing season, total NH3 loss from urea accounted for 5.6, 4.8, and 4.9% of the applied N at 120, 240, and 360 kg N ha−1 rates, respectively. Based on the results of this study, total NH3 loss was estimated to range from 163,000 to 477, 200 Mg of N from soil in a winter wheat–summer maize rotation in North China Plain. Of these, about 68,400 to 382,600 Mg of N loss were from the N fertilizer surface applied as urea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of the A20–B19 disulfide bond in the structure, activity and folding of proinsulin, a human proinsulin (HPI) mutant [A20, B19Ala]-HPI was prepared. This mutant, together with another proinsulin mutant previously constructed with an A19Tyr deletion, which can also be taken as shifted mutant of the A20–B19 disulfide bond, were studied for their in vitro refolding, oxidation of free thiol groups, circular dichroism spectra, antibody and receptor binding activities and sensitivity to trypsin digestion in comparison with native proinsulin. The results indicate that deletion of the A20–B19 disulfide bond results in a large decrease in the α-helix content of the molecule and higher sensitivity to tryptic digestion. Both the deletion and shift mutations, especially the latter, cause a great decrease in the biological activity of proinsulin analogues. The folding yields of HPI analogues were much lower than that of HPI. And the shift mutant, [ΔA19Tyr]-HPI, was scarcely refolded correctly in vitro and its refolding yield was extremely low. These results suggest that the A20–B19 disulfide bond plays an important role in the structural stabilization and folding of the insulin precursor. By summarizing the refolding studies on proinsulin, a possible folding pathway is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To investigate the possible similarity of the proinsulin folding process with insulin-like growth factor I, two swap-like human proinsulin mutant proteins [A7,A11Ser]-HPI and [A11Ser,A12Cys]-HPI were prepared. Their in vitro refolding yields, oxidation of free thiol groups, circular dichroism spectra, antibody and receptor binding activities and sensitivity to trypsin digestion were studied and compared with both native HPI and [A6,A11Ser]-HPI. The results indicate that the shift mutation in the disulfide bond caused more conformational change and a greater decrease in biological activity than the deletion mutation on the proinsulin molecule. However, the shift of the intra-A chain disulfide bond had little effect on the refolding rate of the molecule. In vitro refolding yields of HPI analogues with shift or deletion mutations in the region of the [A6–A11,A7–B7] disulfide bonds were almost as high as that of wild type HPI suggesting that the region of the [A6–A11,A7–B7] disulfide bonds possesses some flexibility as is found in the corresponding region of insulin-like growth factor I. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Relaxin is a small 6 kD two-chain peptide member of the insulin superfamily that is principally produced in the corpus luteum of the ovary and which plays a key role in connective tissue remodeling during parturition. Like insulin, it is produced on the ribosome as preprohormone that undergoes oxidative folding and subsequent proteolytic processing to yield the mature insulin-like peptide. In contrast to the now considerable insight into insulin chain folding and oxidation, comparatively little is known about the folding pathway of relaxin. A series of synthetic pairwise serine substituted relaxin A-chain cysteine analogues was prepared, and their oxidation behavior was studied both on their own and in the presence of native relaxin B-chain. It was observed that native S-reduced A-chain oxidized rapidly to a bicyclic product, whereas individual formation of each of the intramolecular disulfide bonds between Cys[sup 11] and Cys[sup 24] and the native Cys[sup 10] and Cys[sup 15] was considerably slower. Curiously, the non-native, isomeric Cys[sup 11]-Cys[sup 15] disulfide bond formed most rapidly, although circular dichroism spectroscopy analysis showed this product to be devoid of secondary structure. This suggested that it may in fact be an intermediate in the subsequent formation of the native Cys[sup 10]-Cys[sup 15] intramolecular disulfide. Combination of the native A-chain with the B-chain proceeded rapidly as compared with the A-chain analogue that lacked the intramolecular disulfide bond suggesting that this latter element is required as a first step in the folding process. It is therefore probable that relaxin is generated from its constituent A- and B-chains in a stepwise organization manner similar to that of insulin chain combination and folding. Further studies showed that the efficiency of combination of A-chain to B-chain was not markedly influenced by reaction temperature and that a reasonable yield of relaxin could be obtained on combination of... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literatures on the improvement of cognitive impairment after sleep deprivation (SD) by acupuncture in the past 10 years were analyzed comprehensively in this review. It was found that the acupuncture could regulate neurotransmitter disorder caused by SD bidirectionally, and reduce inflammation and stress response. Moreover, acupuncture could improve cognitive function of body by regulating levels of gene proteins. The findings reflected the characteristics of multi-target and bidirectional action of the acupuncture. However, the research on mechanism of acupuncture in treating SD is still in the initial stage, and the experimental researches are in dominance. Moreover, there are still some disadvantages in the researches, such as the insufficient accuracy of results caused by small sample size of the experiment, and great heterogeneity caused by different research schemes, etc. Thus, it is predicted that such mechanism research can be increased in the future, so as to promote the further development of clinical acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of nobiletin on human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and also to explore possible related molecular events. Methods: Isolated human osteoarthritic chondrocytes were stimulated with IL-1β. The effect of nobiletin (75, 150 or 300 µg) on chondrocyte viability was assessed. Furthermore, the effect on NO production was determined using Griess reagent while the levels of IL-6 and PGE2 were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The influence of nobiletin on the expression of COX-2, iNOS and proteins of PI3/Akt, NF-κB and MAPK cascades were also assessed. Results: Nobiletin (75, 150 and 300 μg) significantly (p < 0.05) improved the viability of chondrocytes, and remarkably reduced the levels of NO, IL-6 and PGE2. The expression levels of COX-2 and iNOS both at mRNA and protein levels were strikingly reduced by nobiletin, in a dose-dependent way. In addition, nobiletin caused marked (p < 0.05) down-regulation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. IL-1β- induced activation of PI3/Akt, and JNK, ERK and p38 MAPK cascades were significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by nobiletin with 300 µg dose exhibiting maximum effects. Conclusion: Inflammatory cytokines are critically involved in the pathogenesis of OA. Significant suppression of cytokines and modulation of PI3/Akt and MAPK signalling cascades by nobiletin suggests its potent anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the crystal structure of the title complex, [Cd(C2N3)2(C8H10N4)] n or [Cd(dca)2(bim)] n, where dca is dicyanamide and bim is 1,2-bis­(imidazol-1-yl)ethane, each CdII atom is in a distorted octa­hedral environment. Four N atoms from four dca ligands occupy the equatorial positions, and two N atoms from two bim ligands occupy the axial positions. Each CdII atom is situated at a center of symmetry, and a twofold axis runs through the mid-points of the bim exocyclic C—C bond and the Cd⋯Cd vector. The structure consists of chains in which neighboring CdII atoms are connected through one bim and two end-to-end dca bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) protein Nef to induce cytoskeleton changes in infected host cells is a key event in viral replication. In renal podocytes, we found that Nef induced loss of stress fibers and increased lamellipodia, pathological changes leading to proteinuria in HIV-associated nephropathy. These morphological changes were mediated by Nef-induced Rac1 activation and RhoA inhibition. We identified a new interaction between Nef and diaphanous interacting protein (DIP), a recently described regulator of Rho and Rac signaling. We found that the Src homology 3 binding domain of DIP and the Nef PXKP motif were required for this interaction. Nef also interacts with Vav2 in podocytes. DIP and Vav2 both interact directly with Nef in a competitive manner. DIP interacts with p190RhoGAP, and intact DIP was required for Nef-induced phosphorylation of p190RhoGAP. DIP also interacts with Vav2, and although DIP enhanced base- line phosphorylation of Vav2, it was not required for Nef-induced Vav2 activation. In Nef-infected podocytes, Src kinase induces phosphorylation of DIP, p190RhoGAP, and Vav2, leading to RhoA inhibition and Rac1 activation. Inhibition of the Nef-induced signaling pathway by using a dominant negative of either Src or DIP or siRNA for DIP or p190RhoAGAP restored RhoA activity and stress fiber formation in Nef-infected podocytes, whereas siRNA for Vav2 reduced Rac1 activity and formation of lamellipodia. We conclude that in HIV-infected podocytes, Nef, through the recruitment of DIP and p190RhoAGAP to Nef-Src complex, activates p190RhoAGAP and down-regulates RhoA activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of our research was to evaluate the relationship involving left ventricular ejection fraction, low density lipoprotein, B-type natriuretic peptide, Troponin I and coronary flow reserve, and to determine the predictors of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with coronary microvascular disease and obstructive coronary artery disease, and in patients with coronary microvascular disease. Results: The mean age was 58.5 ± 12.5 years. In patients with obstructive coronary disease and coronary microvascular disease we found low density lipoprotein-c had significant inverse relationship with left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular ejection fraction also had significant negative relationship with B-type natriuretic peptide, and Troponin-I. While a significant direct relationship turned out to be observed linking left ventricular ejection fraction with coronary flow reserve. Left ventricular ejection fraction had significant negative relationship with low density lipoprotein, and B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease only. Age, blood pressure, lipid levels, red cell distribution width, glycated hemoglobin, symptoms, New York heart association classification, alcohol drinking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, troponin levels and B-type natriuretic peptide were the predictors for left ventricular ejection fraction in coronary microvascular disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the crystal structure of the title complex, poly[μ-1,4-bis­(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane-di-μ-1,5-dicyanamido-cadmium(II)], [Cd(C2N3)2(C8H12N6)] n or [Cd(dca)2(btb)] n, where dca is dicyanamide and btb is 1,4-bis­(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane, each CdII atom occupies a center of symmetry and is in a six-coordinated distorted octa­hedral environment. Four N atoms from four dca ligands fill the equatorial positions, and two N atoms from two btb ligands occupy the axial positions. The dca ligands adopt an end-to-end coordination mode and link the CdII atoms to form a 12-membered Cd(dca)2Cd ring, and neighboring rings extend along the b axis to form a [Cd(dca)2] n chain. The btb ligands, acting as bridging bidentate ligands, link the CdII atoms of adjacent one-dimensional [Cd(dca)2] n chains, forming a rhombic two-dimensional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective blockade of Kv1.3 channels in effector memory T (TEM) cells was validated to ameliorate autoimmune or autoimmune-associated diseases. We generated the antibody directed against one peptide of human Kv1.3 (hKv1.3) extracellular loop as a novel and possible Kv1.3 blocker. One peptide of hKv1.3 extracellular loop E3 containing 14 amino acids (E314) was chosen as an antigenic determinant to generate the E314 antibody. The E314 antibody specifically recognized 63.8KD protein stably expressed in hKv1.3-HEK 293 cell lines, whereas it did not recognize or cross-react to human Kv1.1(hKv1.1), Kv1.2(hKv1.2), Kv1.4(hKv1.4), Kv1.5(hKv1.5), KCa3.1(hKCa3.1), HERG, hKCNQ1/hKCNE1, Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 proteins stably expressed in HEK 293 cell lines or in human atrial or ventricular myocytes by Western blotting analysis and immunostaining detection. By the technique of whole-cell patch clamp, the E314 antibody was shown to have a directly inhibitory effect on hKv1.3 currents expressed in HEK 293 or Jurkat T cells and the inhibition showed a concentration-dependence. However, it exerted no significant difference on hKv1.1, hKv1.2, hKv1.4, hKv1.5, hKCa3.1, HERG, hKCNQ1/hKCNE1, L-type Ca2+ or voltage-gated Na+ currents. The present study demonstrates that the antibody targeting the E314 peptide of hKv1.3 pore region could be a novel, potent and specific hKv1.3 blocker without affecting a variety of closely related Kv1 channels, KCa3.1 channels and functional cardiac ion channels underlying central nervous systerm (CNS) disorders or drug-acquired arrhythmias, which is required as a safe clinic-promising channel blocker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which investigated the nuclear genetic variability in the colony of the spotted seal in the Liaodong Gulf, China. To detect the population reduction of spotted seal and compare it with other seal species, several statistical methods were applied. Study findings indicated that the population of Liaodong Gulf spotted seal suffered a decrease in genetic variability and population reduction over the last several decades.

Background. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) techniques have occupied an important position in the intensive care units (ICU). Serum proteome alteration and protein removal in this process are not clear. Since it has a poor understanding of mechanism of the treatment, there is a specific need of proteomics research for CRRT. The aim of this research was to study the serum proteome alterations of severe sepsis patients in the treatment of CRRT. Improved knowledge of proteome alteration could lead to the development of more efficient treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Graphene molecules, hexafluorotribenzo[a,g,m]coronene with ncarbon alkyl chains (FTBC-Cn, n = 4, 6, 8. 12) and Janus-type "double-concave" conformation, are used to fabricate self-assembly on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface. The structural dependence of the self-assemblies with molecular conformation and alkyl chain is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculation. An interesting reverse face "up-down" way is observed in FTBC-C4 assembly due to the existence of hydrogen bonds. With the increase of the alkyl chain length and consequently stronger van der Waals interaction, the molecules no longer take alternating "up-down" orientation in their self-assembly and organize into various adlayers with lamellar, hexagonal honeycomb, and pseudohoneycomb structures based on the balance between intermolecular and molecule-substrate interactions. The results demonstrate that the featured "double-concave" molecules are available block for designing graphene nanopattern. From the results of scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurement, it is found that the electronic property of the featured graphene molecules is preserved when they are adsorbed on solid surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]