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Understanding the population genetic structure and demographic dynamics of important agricultural pest insects is very important in studying insecticide resistance and control strategies. The plant bug Adelphocoris fasciaticollis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the main insect pests on cotton in Northern China. We studied large-scale genetic structure and genetic diversity patterns and explored the demographic history. We also employed a phylogeographical approach on A. fasciaticollis samples using sequence data from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (ncDNA). MtDNA showed a significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances, but ncDNA did not support this correlation. Both datasets revealed that A. fasciaticollis populations had experienced recent expansion and lacked a geographical structure. One reason for lack of a genetic structure is a high level of gene flow among the populations. We suggest that the strong flight capability of A. fasciaticollis has been aided by the East Asian monsoon and cold fronts to accelerate the rate of range expansion. In addition, decreased insecticide usage and disturbances from human activities may all have contributed to population expansion. The low effective population number was based on two datasets. It is suggested that the host crop use, local climate conditions, and the recent population expansion might be the main influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we developed a novel proteomic research strategy named antigen-subtracted 2-DE/MS strategy and applied it to comparative proteomic analysis of anti-benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-transformed human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE-C) and its parental cell line (16HBE) G0/G1 cells. Following pre-purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, rabbit antibodies against 16HBE G0/G1 cells were coupled with protein A/G PLUS-agarose under the maximal coupling rate of about 50%. The agarose-antibody complex was then used in immunoprecipitation known as antigen subtraction. When the mass ratio of antibody to the sample was 2.5-3:1, the subtraction rates for 16HBE and 16HBE-C G0/G1 cell proteins were 44 and 34%, respectively. Both subtracted and unsubtracted samples were then subjected to the 2-DE resolution. In 16HBE-subtracted 2-DE maps, 315 protein spots were subtracted and 49 new protein spots were detected, whereas in 16HBE-C-subtracted 2-DE maps, 287 protein spots were subtracted and 33 new protein spots were detected. Taken together, antigen subtraction results in 65 new protein spots being allowed to be detected, therefore, makes it possible to get more information of the samples. Finally, 4 protein spots only detected in 16HBE-C-subtracted 2-DE maps were analyzed by the Q-TOF MS/MS, and successfully identified as U6 snRNA-associated Sm-like protein LSm3, 60S acidic ribosomal protein P1, Peroxiredoxin-6 and 60S acidic ribosomal protein P2. These proteins are involved in carcinogenesis, oxidation stress and protein synthesis. In conclusion, the antigen-subtracted 2-DE/MS strategy could reduce the complexities of protein samples and therefore, improve the resolution for the sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new ferrous molybdophosphates, (H2enMe)7FeII[Mo(HPO4)2(PO4)6(OH)6O24]·7H2O 1 and (H2enMe)6FeII[Mo(HPO4)4(PO4)4(OH)6O24]·4H2O 2 (enMe = 1,2-propanediamine), have been synthesized from an identical starting mixture through hydrothermal reactions using temperature as the only independent variable, and thoroughly characterized by IR, TG, single crystal X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The structures of both 1 and 2 are built from the building blocks of the formula, {FeII[Mo6P4O31]2}, consisting of a network of MO6 (M = Fe, Mo) octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra linked through their vertices as anions, and protonated 1,2-propanediamine as cations, respectively. The most important aspect is that the non-hydrogen atomic ratio of Mo, Fe, P, O in the anions of 1 and 2 is the same, but the protonation of the PO4 groups is different in 1 and 2. Less protonation of the PO4 groups in 1 obtained at high temperature results in the anion carrying more charges and gives rise to more H2enMe cations per [FeII(P8Mo)] unit compared with that in 2 obtained at low temperature, and as a consequence, different interpenetrating hydrogen-bonded network structures are formed in the two different compounds in terms of packing efficiency and the system energy minimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble and stable CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution with glutathione (GSH) as the stabilizer. GSH is employed by nature to detoxify heavy metal ions. As a result of specific interaction, the fluorescence intensity of GSH-capped QDs is selectively reduced in the presence of Cr(VI). Under the optimum conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity decreases linearly with the Cr(VI) concentration in the range from 0.01 to 1.00 µg mL−1, and the detection limit is 0.008 µg mL−1. The luminescence response of the QDs to ions markedly depended on the particle size, and a new strategy for tuning the selectivity of luminescent QDs to certain ions without changing the capping layer of the QDs can be achieved by changing the crystallite size of the QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  A new reduced ferrous molybdophosphate composite solid of the formula, [(C10H14N2)H]4[FeII 10MoV 24(H2PO4)4(HPO4)12(PO4)4(H2O)16(OH)16O44]?12H2O, has been synthesized from a reaction mixture of MoO3, FeSO4?7H2O, C2H2O4?2H2O, nicotine, H3PO4, and H2O under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal data: monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 24.4349(124), b = 12.9935(66), c = 14.7281(74) ?, ß = 104.87(1) ?, V = 4520(4) ?3, Z = 2, R 1  = 0.0874, wR 2  = 0.2179. The structure is built from the building blocks of the formula, {FeII[Mo6P4O31]2}, consisting of a network of MO6 (M = Fe, Mo) octahedral and PO4 tetrahedral linked through their vertices. The connectivity of the building blocks with two pairs of face-sharing dinuclear Fe(II) clusters of the formula of [FeII 2(H2O)4O5] on which a phosphate group is hanging gives rise to one-dimensional chains with eight-membered apertures. The remarkable hydrogen bonded interactions between the chains form a unique and interesting framework with three-dimensional intersecting tunnels where the protonated nicotine molecules as structuring templates and crystallization water molecules are situated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) suffer high relapse rates during long-term treatment, but factors that predict relapse outcomes are not well established. In the present study, we aimed to identify predictive factors for treatment resistance and disease relapse in a Chinese IgG4-RD cohort. Methods: This study enrolled 102 patients newly diagnosed with IgG4-RD. Disease prognosis was determined by evaluating disease activity and dosage of glucocorticoids. Predictive factors for refractory and relapsed disease were identified by univariate analysis and Cox regression. Results: Among the 102 patients, 78 cases received medical treatment with regular follow-up (21 [6-111] months). During the follow-up period, 55 (70.5%) patients sustained clinical remission, and 23 (29.5%) patients suffered refractory or relapsed disease. The relapse rate of the patients with IgG4-RD was significantly higher among patients who stopped taking medicine than among those who continued treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) + immunosuppressor (IM). Serum TNF-α ≥ 13 pg/mL, sIL-2R ≥ 1010 U/mL, total cholesterol < 3.55 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein < 2.0 mmol/L, IgG ≥ 20.2 g/L, and drug withdrawal were predictive factors for refractory and relapsed IgG4-RD. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that both sIL-2R and TNF-α were independent risk factors for refractory and relapsed disease. The combination of GC and IM treatment was an independent protective factor against refractory and relapsed IgG4-RD. Conclusions: High serum levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α may be informative risk factors for refractory and relapsed IgG4-RD. Our data suggest that a combination treatment of GC along with IM may be protective against refractory and relapsed IgG4-RD. Key Points • High sIL-2R and TNF-α levels are informative risk factors for refractory and relapsed IgG4-related disease. • Combination treatment of GC with IM protects against refractory and relapsed IgG4-related disease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on disaccharide structure code (DSC) for the representation of constituent oligosaccharides from glycosaminoglycans. Each DSC includes four alphanumeric characters that indicate the actual substituents and isomeric properties of each component sugar. Larger structures can be easily represented by the formation of concatamers.