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Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) laminate structures manufactured using prepregs usually contain fiber discontinuities that result from the prepreg cutting for design and cost-efficiency. In...

Detection, monitoring and estimation of bioaerosol concentration have become increasingly important for several reasons, particularly for environmental quality monitoring and public health concerns...

Oocystis-like algae are diverse and found throughout the world. In this study, two new strains of algae with colonies resembling Oocystis were identified and successfully cultured in the laboratory...

The genus Hariotina was established in 1889 based on the type species Hariotina reticulata. This species was then transferred to Coelastrum by Senn (1899). The genus Hariotina was eventually restor...

Purpose LncRNAs are important regulators in cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of lncRNA PCAT18 in gastric cancer (GC). Patients and methods The level of PCAT18 in GC tissues and cells was determined by qRT-PCR. The cellular behaviors of GC cells with knockdown or overexpression of PCAT18 were respectively detected by CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, flow cytometry and Western blot. A GC mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of MGC-803 and HGC-27 cells with the knockdown or overexpression of PCAT18. The tumor size and weight were measured, and IHC was performed to determine ki-67 level. Predicted by bioinformatics software and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, PCAT18 was involved in miR-107/PTEN axis, thus, the expression of and relationship among PCAT18, miR-107 and PTEN pathway were explored in clinical cases and GC cell lines. Rescue assay was performed in GC cells by co-transfection with miR-107 mimic or PCAT18. The PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway was then detected by Western blot. Results PCAT18 was down-regulated in GC tissues and cells, and it had a significant diagnostic value for GC. The expression of PCAT18 was highly associated with tumor size, and PCAT18 was found to inhibit GC growth in vitro and in vivo. It was also found that PCAT18 was involved in PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through targeting miR-107. Conclusion PCAT18 inhibits the progression of GC via miR-107/PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, PCAT18 is possibly a promising target for treatment of GC.

The first complete chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence of Brachypodium sylvaticum was determined from Illumina HiSeq pair-end sequencing data in this study. The cpDNA is 136,392 bp in length, contains a large single-copy region (LSC) of 80,854 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 12,765 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions of 21,383 bp. The genome contains 130 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes, and 38 transfer RNA genes. Further phylogenomic analysis showed that B. sylvaticum and B. distachyon clustered in a unique clade in Brachypodium genus.

Many species belonging to the coccoid green algae genus Coelastrella are considered potential candidates for the large-scale production of natural pigments and biofuels. However, little is known ab...

The Chlorellaceae is a family in the order Chlorellales that includes mostly coccoid algae of minute sizes, and a portion of this family was separated into two sister groups (the Chlorella clade an...

Unicellular coccoid green algae are characterised by a high cryptic diversity, but such diversity is still poorly known, especially in terrestrial environments. The genus Jenufa, first described in 2011 from terrestrial habitats, currently includes three species: J. perforata, J. minuta and J. aeroterrestrica. We describe a new species, Jenufa lobulosa sp. nov. The type strain FACHB-2128 was isolated from sandstone surfaces in Nanning, Guangxi Province, a subtropical area in southwestern China, and the cultured material was examined using light and electron microscopy. It shared representative features of the genus: a parietal perforated chloroplast with several lobes, no pyrenoids, and asexual reproduction via autospores. However, J. lobulosa differed from congeners in the mean size of its vegetative cells and autosporangia, the number of autospores and cell wall thickness. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences showed that strain FACHB-2128 belonged to the Jenufa clade of the Chlo...

The first complete chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence of Kadsura heteroclita was determined from Illumina HiSeq pair-end sequencing data in this study. The cpDNA is 153,289 bp in length, contains a large single copy region (LSC) of 85,774 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 18,201 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions of 24,657 bp. The genome contains 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 37 transfer RNA genes. Further phylogenomic analysis showed that K. heteroclita and K. interior clustered in a clade in Schisandraceae family.

The first complete chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence of Litsea cubeba was determined from Illumina HiSeq pair-end sequencing data in this study. The cpDNA is 152,725 bp in length, contains a large single-copy region (LSC) of 93,673 bp, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,924 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions of 20,064 bp, each. The genome contains 126 genes, including 82 protein-coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNA genes, and 36 transfer RNA genes. The further phylogenomic analysis showed that L. cubeba and Litsea garrettii clustered in a clade in Lauraceae family.

The first complete chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence of Taiwania flousiana was determined from Illumina HiSeq pair-end sequencing data in this study. The cpDNA is 132,565 bp in length, contains a...

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has achieved remarkable clinical benefit in melanoma. However, our understanding of biomarkers that predict response to ICB remained obscure. Here we systematically analyzed the association between somatic mutations profile and clinicopathologic information from 336 melanoma patients treated by ICB (CTLA-4/PD-1). We identified eight new significantly mutated genes including COL5A1, SEMA3E, COL28A1, DGKG, RAPGEF5, GLDN, NCF2 and RCAN2. A mutational signature featured by enrichment of T > C mutations was identified to be associated with immune resistance (logistic regression model, OR, 2.59 [95%CI, 1.07 to 7.00], P = .043). High neoantigen quality was associated with prolonged immunotherapy survival (log-rank test, P = .009). This association remained significant after controlling for age, gender, stage and hypermutation (Cox proportional hazards model, HR, 0.56 [95%CI, 0.38 to 0.82], P = .003). Our findings shed new insights on biomarkers that are useful to predict melanoma patients who may benefit from ICB treatment; however, these biomarkers need to be validated in future studies.

This article begins with a clarification of the chronology of the ‘Great Leap Forward’ in Chinese higher education following the 1999 decision to expand. It then provides an in-depth examination of the leapfrogging story by focusing on why universities commonly adopted a development strategy that stressed it was better ‘to become larger and more comprehensive’. The author argues that this strategy and its associated ‘abnormal’ university behavior, particularly in cases where local universities ignored the Ministry of Education directives to slow down enrollment expansion in 2000–2005, were driven by two incentives: (1) to attain a higher bureaucratic rank or status; and (2) to obtain more government funds and more tuition. These two incentives were shaped by the bureaucratic control and management system, and the government funds allocation system respectively. The article concludes with a discussion of the larger implications of this study.

A number of 100 Pu-erh tea samples from the 2013 harvest in Yunnan Province (China) were analysed for 74 pesticides. A total of 11 pesticides were detected. At least one pesticide was detected in 56% of the samples. None of these samples contained the 74 monitored pesticides at concentrations above the Chinese maximum residual levels. Imidacloprid, bifenthrin and acetamiprid were most frequently found, with percentages of 53%, 46% and 31%, respectively. These were also the top three pesticides with maximum concentrations of 140, 246 and 672 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Residual levels of the monitored pesticides showed no significant correlation with the production time or area of Pu-erh tea. Whereas a high incidence of pesticide residues was detected in Pu-erh tea, the contamination levels observed do not pose any serious health risks.

Gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was applied to study the mass spectral fragmentation of phthalate esters. The base peaks of phthalate esters with alkyl side chains (except dimethyl phthalate) were m/z 149, indicating that their fragmentation pathways were similar. The base peaks of benzyl butyl phthalate and dibutoxyethyl phthalate were also at m/z 149. Because of the presence of benzyl groups and butoxy groups in the side chains, their mass spectral fragmentation pathways were different from those of phthalate esters with alkyl side chains. The base peaks of dimethyl phthalate and diphenyl phthalate were m/z 163 and m/z 225, respectively, which corresponded to the fragments produced by α-cleavage of their molecular ion peaks. The base peaks of dimethoxyethyl phthalate and diethoxyethyl phthalate were m/z 59 and m/z 72, respectively, which corresponded to fragments produced by McLafferty rearrangement of their molecular ions. The fragmentation pathways provide fundamental information for the d...

Party control over higher education in reform-era China has been a relatively neglected topic in the extant literature. Seeking to remedy this neglect, this article focuses on an aspect of the topic that has remained unstudied in Western scholarship: namely, the post-1989 regime's efforts to strengthen and professionalize political education (PE) in universities by intensifying the ‘disciplinary construction’ of PE. The article finds that these efforts have been partially successful in meeting the regime's objectives. The training of PE teachers has been considerably professionalized; PE courses have become more attractive and effective; and more students tend to accept the Party-sponsored views and policies taught in PE courses, and to support Party leadership.

Ulota crispa (Hedw.) Brid., as the type species, has existed since the establishment of the genus Ulota Mohr. and is one of the most common and widespread species within this genus. Although it exh...

China's central government has historically taken the leading role in financing the country's mining industry. After 1998, a market-oriented financing system began to develop. Bank loans, corporate bonds, trusts, project financing, and finance leases have been employed to fund the Chinese mining industry. In addition, in recent years private equity investment and initial public offerings or new shares issued by companies on the stock exchange's primary market have been used frequently by mining enterprises. More private equity funds have emerged in the aftermath of the global finance crisis. The Tianjin Equity Exchange established a mining board to get financing for small and medium-size mining enterprises. Nevertheless, the stock market in China still does not provide enough financing opportunities for small and medium-size mining enterprises. This article suggests that the Growth Enterprises Market of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange should establish a mining exchange in order to support the sector's develop...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Nematophagous fungus Esteya vermicola CBS 115803 was determined using the PacBio RS II sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 47,282bp in length with a GC content of 24.85%. Annotated genes including 14 conserved protein-coding genes, the large and the small rRNA subunit (rnl and rns) and 27 tRNAs. The phylogenetic analysis showed that E. vermicola had close genetic relationship with the genus Sporothrix.

A new moss species, Homaliodendron pulchrum, from China, is delimited by its distinct morphology and biogeography. The new species has oblong–spathulate to obovate leaves and an indistinct double costa, which is unique within the genus. Distribution of this new species is restricted to three localities in southwestern and southern China. The new species is described and illustrated and a key to the species of Homaliodendron in Eastern Asia is provided. The systematic position of H. pulchrum is revealed to be sister to H. montagneanum by molecular evidence based on the parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of nad5 and rps4 sequences.

A laboratory incubation experiment using soil columns was conducted to study the effects of monocalcium phosphate (MCP) and potassium chloride (KCl) on soil pH changes in fertilizer microsites with two Chinese soils. Mixtures of two fertilizers at two rates (0 and 0.26 g per column) were added to the surface of soil cylinders. The results shown that both fertilizers significantly decreased soil pH after 7 d and 28 d, which declined with time and distance from fertilizer site. Compared with KCl alone, the soil pH decrease close to the fertilizer site induced by applied KCl was slowed down in the acidic red soil by MCP addition but was promoted in the calcareous soil. Compared with MCP alone, the application of KCl with MCP had greater effects of reducing pH in both soils. The magnitude and extent of soil pH changes were mostly contributed by KCl in the KCl plus MCP treatment.

The peptide hormone insulin not only regulates metabolic pathways, but also proliferative signaling pathways. Insulin regulates cell proliferation, protein synthesis and gene expression in most, if not all, mammalian tissues. Extensive recent studies have shown that insulin also plays an important role in the regulation of pancreatic islet β-cell function. In the development of peripheral insulin resistance leading to an increased demand for insulin production, increase in β-cell mass by compensatory hyperplasia and hypertrophy of β-cells and insulin output is a crucial mechanism to maintain euglycemia. Indeed, impaired insulin signaling in the β-cells and increased β-cell apoptosis are associated with the onset of diabetes in obese insulin resistant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies using gene knockout approaches in mice have further demonstrated that the insulin signaling in the β-cells is critical for mediating insulin action on them to maintain appropriate mass and insulin production. It is conceivable that insulin resistance, which is usually associated with the compensatory mechanism of hyperinsulinemia, occurring in the β-cells could be a major contributor leading to increased rate of β-cell death and declined β-cell mass. It is hypothesized that a strategy to improve intra-islet insulin action via enhancing β-cell responsiveness could be a considerable benefit in the prevention and treatment of T2DM.

A numerical tool, Thermoflow, is developed for simulating the three-dimensional incompressible viscous flow and heat transfer on unstructured meshes. It is based on a cell-centered, collocated fini...

Three-dimensional mixed-convection flow in a horizontal rectangular duct at low Reynolds numbers has been investigated numerically. Multiple strip heat sources are flush-mounted on the bottom surface, modeling integrated circuit chips on printed circuit boards, and the fluid considered is air. According to the stability diagram presented, four different flow patterns might exist. The discontinuous thermal boundary condition on the bottom makes the longitudinal rolls expand and shrink periodically, and also helps in the generation of transverse rolls. The steady transverse rolls were found even at subcritical Rayleigh numbers for relatively low Reynolds numbers. The implications of these observations to the cooling of electronic equipment are discussed.

Excessive loss of functional pancreatic β-cell mass, mainly due to apoptosis, is a major factor in the development of hyperglycemia in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D). In T1D, β-cells are destroyed by immunological mechanisms. In T2D, while metabolic factors are known to contribute to β-cell failure and subsequent apoptosis, mounting evidence suggests that islet inflammation also plays an important role in the loss of β-cell mass. Therefore, it is of great importance for clinical intervention to develop new therapies. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a major neurotransmitter, is also produced by islet β-cells, where it functions as an important intraislet transmitter in regulating islet-cell secretion and function. Importantly, recent studies performed in rodents, including in vivo studies of xenotransplanted human islets, reveal that GABA exerts β-cell regenerative effects. Moreover, it protects β-cells against apoptosis induced by cytokines, drugs, and other stresses, and has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities. It ameliorates the manifestations of diabetes in preclinical models, suggesting potential applications for the treatment of diabetic patients. This review outlines the actions of GABA relevant to β-cell regeneration, including its signaling mechanisms and potential interactions with other mediators. These studies increase our understanding of the regenerative processes of pancreatic β-cells, and help pave the way for the development of regenerative medicine for diabetes.