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Objective: To observe the evolution and outcomes of postoperative trigeminal neuropathy following surgery of tumor involving the trigeminal nerve. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted between October 2018 and February 2019 involving 25 patients with tumors confirmed to involve the trigeminal nerve during surgery by senior author. Pre- and postoperative trigeminal nerve function status and clinical data were recorded. Results: This study included 18 cases of meningioma and seven of trigeminal schwannoma. Among the meningioma cases, 55.6% of the patients reported facial sensory dysfunction before surgery, 33.3% presented ocular discomfort, and 5.6% had masticatory muscle atrophy. Postoperatively, all patients experienced facial paresthesia, 94.4% complained of eye dryness, and one (5.56%) exhibited keratitis. Additionally, one patient (5.56%) showed new-onset masticatory weakness. During follow-up, 50.0% of patients reported improvement in facial paresthesia, and one (5.56%) experienced deterioration. Eye dryness resolved in 35.3% of patients, and keratitis remission was observed in one patient. However, one patient (5.56%) developed neurotrophic keratitis. Overall, 55.6% of patients displayed mild masticatory weakness without muscle atrophy. In the cases of schwannoma, 28.6% of patients had facial paresthesia before surgery, 42.9% showed ocular discomfort, and one (14.3%) complained of masticatory dysfunction. Postoperatively, 85.7% of patients reported facial paresthesia and eye dryness, with one patient (16.7%) experiencing keratitis. During follow-up, 66.7% of patients demonstrated improvement in facial paresthesia, 28.6% showed eye dryness remission, and one patient (16.7%) recovered from keratitis. However, one patient (16.7%) developed new-onset neurotrophic keratitis. One patient (16.7%) experienced relief of masticatory dysfunction, but 42.9% reported mild deterioration. Another patient (14.3%) had facial anesthesia that had not improved. Conclusion: Postoperative trigeminal neuropathy is a common complication with a high incidence rate and poor recovery outcomes after surgery for tumors involving the trigeminal nerve. When trigeminal nerve damage is unavoidable, it is essential to provide a multidisciplinary and careful follow-up, along with active management strategy, to mitigate the more severe effects of postoperative trigeminal neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive mapping of environment is an important means for environment assessment and management. The selection of predictor variables (or environmental covariates) is the first and key step in predictive mapping. A number of machine learning and statistical models have been developed to select what and how many environmental covariates in a wide range of predictive mapping. Nevertheless, those models require a large amount of field data for model training and calibration, which can be problematic in applying to the areas with no or very limited field data available. To overcome the shortcoming, this paper proposes the most similar case method for selecting environmental covariates for predictive mapping. First, we describe the basic idea and the development procedures of the most similar case method; second, as an experimental test, we employ the proposed method to select the topographic covariates for inputting to the predictive soil mapping; third, we evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method in the designed experiment using the leave-one-out cross-validation method. In total, 191 evaluation cases are included in the experimental case base and the test results show that 58.7% of the topographic covariates originally used in each evaluation case are correctly selected by the proposed method, which suggests that the proposed most-similar-case method perform reasonably well even with a relatively limited size of the case base. The future work should include the selection of other types of environmental covariates (e.g., climate, organism, etc.) and the development of an automatic method to extract the existing application cases from literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the environmental history and its responses to palaeoclimatic changes since the start of the Holocene in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China by comparing the aeolian sandpalaeosol sequences and their palaeoclimatic proxies. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of the aeolian sandpalaeosol sedimentary sequences and a series of palaeoenvironmental proxies show that: (1) The large-scale dune landscape currently in the Kubuqi Sand Sea was formed during the Holocene in general; and the palaeosol was generally developed during the period of 4–2 ka, indicating conditions favorable for vegetation growth, soil development, and organic carbon accumulation due to increased precipitation or effective moisture and weakened aeolian activities; the large-scale expansion of dunes in the recent 2 ka is closely linked to human activities. The variable discharge of the Yellow River with diversions for irrigation may have resulted in a more consistent supply of aeolian particles for dune field expansion. (2) The dune landscape of the Hunshandake Sandy Land was likely formed around 12 ka, and before this, the western part of the Hunshandake Sandy Land would have been covered by a single large lake; it was obviously wetter than today in the sandy land during the period of 9.6–3 ka and the palaeosols were developed at the same time. But the aeolian activities have not been completely dormant in this long-lasting wetter epoch; because the Holocene wetter period was likely time-transgressive across the region. (3) The palaeosol of the Hulunbuir Sandy Land began to develop as early as 14.5 ka, probably continuing until the last 2 ka. The palaeosol development of various dune fields in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China is spatially heterogeneous, and even the palaeosol development time in different locations within each sandy land is inconsistent. During the middle Holocene (especially the 7.5–3.5 ka), all the sandy lands were stabilized in general and the intensity of aeolian activities was significantly weakened. The number of palaeoenvironmental records in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China has increased rapidly in the past decade, but the amount of published data still does not match the vast extent of the dune fields. It does require much more in-depth palaeoenvironmental studies for a full understanding of the relationship between aeolian activities and climate change in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of medical technology in China, new difficulties are gradually emerging in traditional medicine. Cervical cancer MRI image segmentation technology based on wireless network is one of the most famous means. But the traditional technology is not strong enough for information processing and analysis. Manual data processing alone may lead to errors in data processing and so on. Therefore, this research was aimed at the MRI image segmentation technology of cervical cancer based on wireless network, using depth learning algorithm to calculate and analyze. Through this kind of wireless network and the computer algorithm form, the data processing ability can be improved and increase the data processing ability be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a tube extrusion-shear-expanding (TESE) process was proposed to develop a high-performance magnesium alloy thin-walled tube, and then a comparison was made with the direct extrusion (DE) process. The microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy tubes under different processes were tested and analyzed. Numerical simulations were conducted by using DEFORMTM-3D software to predict the effective stresses, forming loads, and effective strains during the forming of magnesium alloy tubes. Compared with DE process, the TESE process with high effective stresses, effective strains, and forming loads generates a severe plastic deformation of the tube, leading to a more obvious grain refinement effect on the fabricated tube with a tensile strength of around 293 MPa and an elongation of around 15%. The results show that the TESE process has obvious advantages. The critical shear force and dynamic recrystallization further refine the grains and weaken the basal texture strength. The comprehensive performance of magnesium alloy tube is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is related to EGFR mutations. Although the p.L858R point mutation in exon 21 and the in-frame deletion mutation in exon 19 are well known, efficacy of EGFR-TKI in patients with more than one EGFR mutation is not well understood. 799 NSCLC patients were screened for EGFR mutations. Of the 799 patients, 443 (55.4%) had mutations, out of which 22 (2.75%) had multiple complex mutations. Most multiple mutations (20/22) harbored common mutations such as the p.L858R point mutation in exon 21 and the in-frame deletion mutation in exon 19. 11 out of 22 patients who had multiple EGFR mutations underwent TKI therapy and primary end-points of progression free and overall survival were determined. Our analysis revealed that cases with multiple mutations had similar end-point outcomes as single mutation to TKI therapy. Report of these cases will be helpful in decision making for treatment of NSCLC patients harboring multiple EGFR mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose the analytical solution of nano-rod antennas utilizing a cylindrical harmonics expansion. By treating the metallic nano-rods as plasmonic cavities, we derive closed-form expressions for both the internal and the radiated fields, as well as the resonant condition and the radiation efficiency. With our theoretical model, we show that besides the plasmonic resonances, efficient radiation takes advantage of (a) rendering a large value of the rods' radius and (b) a central-fed profile, through which the radiation efficiency can reach up to 70% and even higher in a wide frequency band. Our theoretical expressions and conclusions are general and pave the way for engineering and further optimization of optical antenna systems and their radiation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA replication is essential for accurate transmission of genomic information from parental to daughter cells. DNA replication is licensed once per cell division cycle. This process is highly regulated by both positive and negative regulators. Over-replication, under-replication, as well as DNA damage in a cell all induce the activation of checkpoint control pathways such as ATM/ATR, CHK kinases, and the tumor suppressor protein p53, which provide 'damage controls' via either DNA repairs or apoptosis. This review focuses on accumulating evidence, with the emphasis on recently discovered Killin, that S-phase checkpoint control is crucial for a mammalian cell to make a life and death decision in order to safeguard genome integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azo–ZnO hybrid films were prepared by functionalizing the ZnO macropore films with azo pigment (1,1′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diylbis(diazene-2,1-diyl))dinaphthalen-2-ol). Scanning electronic microscopy, current–voltage, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and Kelvin probe were used to characterize these films. The oxygen sensing characteristics of hybrid films and pure ZnO film were measured under the irradiation of UV light. The results show that the sensitivity of hybrid film is about 500 times higher than that of pure ZnO film. The high sensitivity to oxygen of hybrid films is mainly attributed to the increasing of the photo-generated electron concentration. Enhanced photo-induced charge separation after functionalization is confirmed by the pattern of transient photovoltage. Our results demonstrate that the functionalization with azo pigment is a promising approach to enhance the oxygen sensitivity of ZnO under the irradiation of UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  We previously showed that cultured mouse cerebellar granule cells during incubation in glutamine-replete medium respond to 45 mM [K+]e after 20 and 60 min incubation with extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation which is mainly, but probably not exclusively, secondary to glutamate release and transactivation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. In the present study the response after 20 min was shown to be abolished by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition, whereas that at 60 min was PKC-independent. Addition of 50 μM glutamate to the cells caused ERK1/2 phosphorylation already after 5 min most of which was sensitive to PKC inhibition although a minor part was PKC inhibition-resistant. Exposure to [K+]e during incubation in glutamine-depleted medium caused no stimulated release of glutamate but a transactivation-independent ERK1/2 phosphorylation at 20 and 60 min. The response at 20 min was insensitive to PKC inhibition. The potential importance of these complex responses for synaptic plasticity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The reaction between Na and HF is a typical harpooning reaction which is of great interest due to its significance in understanding the elementary chemical reaction kinetics. This work aims to investigate the detailed reaction mechanisms of sodium with hydrogen fluoride and the adsorption of HF on the resultant NaF as well as the (NaF)4 tetramer. The results suggest that the reaction between Na and HF leads to the formation of sodium fluoride salt NaF and hydrogen gas. Na interacts with HF to form a complex HF···Na, and then the approaching of F atom of HF to Na results in a transition state H···F···Na. Accompanied by the broken of H-F bond, the bond forms between F and Na atoms as NaF, then the product NaF is yielded due to the removal of H atom. The resultant NaF can further form (NaF)4 tetramer. The interaction of NaF with HF leads to the complex NaF···HF; the form I as well as II of (NaF)4 can interact with HF to produce two complexes (i.e., (NaF)4(I-1)···HF, (NaF)4(I-2)···HF, (NaF)4(II-1)···HF and (NaF)4(II-2)···HF), but the form III of (NaF)4 can interact with HF to produce only one complex (NaF)4(III)···HF. These complexes were explored in terms of noncovalent interaction (NCI) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses. NCI analyses confirm the existences of attractive interactions in the complexes HF···Na, NaF···HF, (NaF)4(I-1)···HF, (NaF)4(I-2)···HF, (NaF)4(II-1)···HF and (NaF)4(II-2)···HF, and (NaF)4(III)···HF. QTAIM analyses suggest that the F···Na interaction forms in the HF···Na complex while the F···H hydrogen bonds form in NaF···HF, (NaF)4(I-1)···HF, (NaF)4(I-2)···HF, (NaF)4(II-1)···HF and (NaF)4(II-2)···HF, and (NaF)4(III)···HF complexes. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses were also applied to analyze the intermolecular donor-acceptor orbital interactions in these complexes. These results would provide valuable insight into the chemical reaction of Na and HF and the adsorption interaction between sodium fluoride salt and HF. Methods: The calculations were carried out at the M06-L/6-311++G(2d,2p) level of theory which were performed using the Gaussian16 program. Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations were carried out at the same level of theory to confirm that the obtained transition state was true. The molecular surface electrostatic potential (MSEP) was employed to understand how the complex forms. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and noncovalent interaction (NCI) analysis was used to know the topology parameters at bond critical points (BCPs) and intermolecular interactions in the complex and intermediate. The topology parameters and the BCP plots were obtained by the Multiwfn software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facial expression recognition has been widely used in lots of fields such as health care and intelligent robot systems. However, recognizing facial expression in the wild is still very challenging due to variations, light intensity, occlusions and the ambiguity of human emotion. When training samples cannot include all these environments, the classification can easily lead to errors. Therefore, this paper proposes a new heuristic objective function based on the domain knowledge so as to better optimize deep neural networks for facial expression recognition. Moreover, we take the specific relationship between the facial expression and facial action units as the domain knowledge. By analyzing the mixing relationship between different expression categories and then enlarging the distance of easily confused categories, we define a new heuristic objective function which can guide deep neural network to learn better features and then improve the accuracy of facial expression recognition. The experimental results verify the effectiveness, universality and the superior performance of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional machine learning models have mainly been used to study geological logging data of a single sample point, ignoring the fact that logging data has a strong spatial correlation. In this study, we use convolutional neural network to extract single-point features, structural features, and multidimensional features from logging data and compare the identification effects of lithology identification models based on the three features. The identification model based on the multidimensional feature extraction achieves 77.94% correctness in the test set, which is the best result among the identification models based on CNN and the three machine learning models. Based on this feature extraction model, the feature fusion modules in U-net and feature pyramid are added respectively to build two feature fusion models to combine the features extracted from different convolutional layers and improve the effectiveness of the model. The model also introduces attention mechanism to improve the role of useful features in the model training process. The identification accuracy of the two feature fusion models, U-CNN and P-CNN, reached 79.67% and 80.02% on the test set, respectively, which verified the effectiveness of the feature fusion models for lithology identification in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most malignant head and neck carcinomas with unique epidemiological features. In this study, we aimed to identify the novel NPC-related genes and biological pathways, shedding light on the potential molecular mechanisms of NPC. Methods: Based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, an integrated analysis of microarrays studies was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in NPC compared to normal control. The genes which were both differentially expressed and differentially methylated were identified. Functional annotation and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction were used to uncover biological functions of DEGs. Results: Two DNA methylation and five gene expression datasets were incorporated. A total of 1074 genes were up-regulated and 939 genes were down-regulated in NPC were identified. A total of 719 differential methylation CpG sites (DMCs) including 1 hypermethylated sites and 718 hypomethylated sites were identified. Among which, 11 genes were both DEGs and DMGs in NPC. Pathways in cancer, p53 signaling pathway and Epstein–Barr virus infection were three pathways significantly enriched pathways in DEmRNAs of NPC. The PPI network of top 50 DEGs were consisted of 191 nodes and 191 edges. Conclusions: Our study was helpful to elucidate the underlying mechanism of NPC and provide clues for therapeutic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor in response to the papers on MicroArray Quality Control (MAQC) study by Shi is presented.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a non-invasive radiomics model based on computed tomography (CT), with favorable sensitivity and specificity to predict EGFR mutation status in GGO-featured lung adenocarcinoma subsequently guiding the administration of targeted therapy. Methods: Clinical-pathological information and preoperative CT images of 636 lung adenocarcinoma patients (464, 100, and 72 in the training, internal, and external validation sets, respectively) that underwent GGO lesions resection were included. A total of 1476 radiomics features were extracted with gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT). Results: The established radiomics model containing 102 selected features showed an encouraging discrimination performance of EGFR mutation status (mutant or wild type), and the predictive ability was superior to that of the clinical model (AUC: 0.838 vs. 0.674, 0.822 vs. 0.730, and 0.803 vs. 0.746 for the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively). The combined radiomics plus clinical model showed no additional benefit over the radiomics model in predicting EGFR status (AUC: 0.846 vs. 0.838, 0.816 vs. 0.822, and 0.811 vs. 0.803, respectively, in three cohorts). Uniquely, this model was validated in a cohort of lung adenocarcinoma patients who have undertaken adjuvant EGFR-TKI treatment and harbored unresected GGOs during the medication, leading to a significantly improved potency of EGFR-TKIs (response rate: 25.9% vs. 53.8%, p = 0.006; before and after prediction, respectively). Conclusion: This presented radiomics model can be served as a non-invasive and time-saving approach for predicting the EGFR mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma presenting as GGO. Key Points: • We developed a GGO-specific radiomics model containing 102 radiomics features for EGFR mutation status differentiation. • An AUC of 0.822 and 0.803 in the internal and external validation cohorts, respectively, were achieved. • The radiomics model was utilized in clinical translation in an adjuvant EGFR-TKI treatment cohort with unresected GGOs. A significant improvement in the potency of EGFR-TKIs was achieved (response rate: 25.9% vs. 53.8%, p = 0.006; before and after prediction). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cases of arthroscopic surgery have increased over the past two decades, and arthroscopic shaver systems have become a commonly used orthopedic tool. Nevertheless, most shavers generally have problems such as the cutting edge is not sharp enough and easy to wear. This paper aims to discuss the structural characteristics of BJKMC's (Bojin◊ Kinetic Medical) novel arthroscopic shaver, the double serrated blade. The product's design and verification process are outlined. BJKMC's articular arthroscopy shaver has a "tube in a tube" structure, comprising a stainless steel outer sleeve and a rotating hollow inner tube. The outer sleeve and inner tube have corresponding suction and cutting windows, and there are serrated teeth on the inner and outer casing. To verify the design rationality, it was compared to Dyonics◊'s equivalent product, the Incisor◊ Plus Blade. The appearance, cutting tool hardness, metal pipe roughness, cutting tool wall thickness, tooth profile, and angle, overall structure, and the key dimensions were examined and compared. Compared with Dyonics◊'s Incisor◊ Plus Blade, BJKMC's Double Serrated Blade had a smoother working surface, harder and thinner blade head. Therefore, BJKMC's product may have satisfactory performance when it comes to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the AAPF* algorithm, an innovative approach that synergistically integrates the A-star search algorithm (A*) with the artificial potential field (APF) method. This algorithm is designed to enhance safety and ensure smoother global path planning for autonomous vehicles, particularly addressing vehicle cornering constraints. Initially, for augmenting the safety of autonomous vehicle, we implement an obstacle expansion strategy with a factor of 2 units, enhancing environmental adaptability. The study then delves into the classical A* algorithm, examining its core principles and characteristics, leading to the development of novel heuristic functions and search strategies that address the limitations inherent in the classic A* algorithm. Subsequently, we explore the APF algorithm, recognized for its excellence in obstacle avoidance in path planning. The paper culminates in the amalgamation of the APF’s repulsive field concept with the improved A* algorithm, crafting a comprehensive global planning algorithm tailored for autonomous vehicle path planning schemes. Experiments conducted in a simulated environment model validate the AAPF* algorithm’s efficacy in improving both the safety and smoothness, demonstrating its potential for real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of deep learning, Remote Sensing Image (RSI) semantic segmentation has produced significant advances. However, due to the sparse distribution of the objects and the high similarity between classes, the task of semantic segmentation in RSI is still extremely challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel semantic segmentation framework for RSI called HST-UNet that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing models and extract and recover the global and local features of RSI, which is a hybrid semantic segmentation model with Shunted Transformer as encoder and Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention Network (MSCAN) as decoder. Then, to better fuse the information from the Encoder and the Decoder and alleviate the ambiguity, we design a Learnable Weighted Fusion (LWF) module to effectively connect to the decoder features. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed HST-UNet outperforms the state-of-the-art methods, achieving F1 score/MIoU accuracy of 71.44%/83.00% on the ISPRS Vaihingen dataset and 77.36%/87.09% on ISPRS Potsdam dataset. The code will be available at https://github.com/HC-Zhou/HST-UNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol compounds can modify myofibrillar proteins to improve the quality of fish and surimi. Nevertheless, research into the precise mechanisms of interaction between phenolic substances and sea bass myofibrillar proteins is lacking. This study aimed to explore the interaction mechanism between five phenolic compounds (caffeic acid (CFA), gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (CHA), resveratrol (RES), and catechin (CAT)) with sea bass myofibrillar protein (MP). The results of UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy (namely, multi-spectroscopy) showed that all five phenolic compounds could spontaneously form new complexes with MP, with a binding molar ratio of 1:1. The interaction between CFA and MP is predominantly electrostatic, while the interaction between GA and MP is mainly hydrophobic. The rest of phenolic compounds and MP are mediated by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. And molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that CHA-myosin had the minimum root mean square deviation, while CFA-myosin had the smallest Rg value. In addition, the amino acid Lys-179 was the key residue for the interaction between five phenolic compounds and myosin. This study contributes to a better understanding of the interaction between phenolic compounds and sea bass MP, which could develop the processing of aquatic food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of high-efficient and low-cost heterostructure photocatalyst is crucial for hydrogen production in solar driven water splitting. Herein, g-C3N4-modified TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) with confined Pt nanoparticles were prepared via a facile two-step process. The results of structure characterizations by XRD, TEM, and XPS reveal that Pt nanoparticles with the average size of 2–3 nm are embedded in the inner cavity of the TiO2 nanotube, and amorphous g-C3N4 is attached to the outer wall of anatase TNTs. The as-prepared g-C3N4/TNTs@Pt ternary composite displays an enhanced visible light-induced absorbance capacity and improved charge carrier recombination rate than that of pure TNTs. The photocatalytic performance is evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water splitting by using methanol as sacrifice agent under solar light illumination. Compared with TNTs@Pt and g-C3N4/Pt photocatalysts, the as-prepared ternary nanocomposite exhibits the highest photocatalytic performance with a H2 evolution rate of 15.36 mmol h−1 g−1. A possible mechanism of photocatalytic H2 production over the ternary g-C3N4/TNTs@Pt composite is also proposed. This work not only provides a promising low-cost heterostructure candidate for water splitting, but also paves the way to rational design high-performance photocatalysts in solar-to-fuel conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper systematically investigated the interference of calcium and magnesium in protein measurement with a modified Lowry method first proposed by Frølund et al. (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 43:755-761, ). This interference has in the past been largely ignored resulting in variable and unreliable results when applied to natural water matrices. We discovered significant formation of calcium and magnesium precipitates that lead to a decline in light absorbance at 750 nm during protein determination. Underestimation of protein concentration (sometimes even yielding negative concentrations) and low experiment reproducibility were demonstrated at high concentrations of divalent cations (e.g., [Ca] over 1 mmol L). To eliminate interference from calcium and magnesium, two pretreatment strategies were established based on cation exchange and dialysis. These pretreatments were convenient and were found to be highly effective in removing calcium and magnesium in protein samples. By using the modified Lowry method with these pretreatments, proteins in standard solutions and in wastewater samples were successfully quantified with good reliability and reproducibility. In addition, we demonstrated that simultaneous quantification of humic substances with the modified Lowry method was not affected by the two pretreatments. These approaches are expected to be applicable to protein and humic substance determination in different research fields, in cases where the modified Lowry method is sensitive to divalent cation concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enolase is a crucial enzyme involved in the glycolytic pathway and gluconeogenesis in parasites. It also has been reported to function as a plasminogen receptor and may be involved in tissue invasion. In this study, the biochemical properties of the enolase of Spirometra mansoni (Smenolase) were investigated. The Smenolase gene was found to cluster closely with the enolase genes of Clonorchis sinensis and Echinococcus granulosus, and some functional motifs were identified as conserved. Smenolase was confirmed to be a component of the secretory/excretory products (ESPs) and a circulating antigen of spargana. Recombinant Smenolase expressed in vitro was able to bind to human plasminogen. Smenolase was detected in the eggs, testicles, and vitellaria of adult worms and the tegument of spargana. The transcription level of Smenolase was highest at the gravid proglottid stage. When spargana were cultured with glucose of different concentration in vitro, it was observed that the expression levels of Smenolase in the low-glucose groups were consistent with that of Smenolase in vivo. These results indicate that Smenolase is a critical enzyme involved in supplying energy to support the development and reproduction of the parasite, and it may also play a role in sparganum invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-dimensional structure of a Co doped ZnO nanofibre has been successfully fabricated by a relatively simple electrospinning technique and characterized by means of SEM, XRD and surface photocurrent spectrum. We found that this fibre exhibits novel photoelectric gas sensitivity to oxygen gas under the illumination of a 500 W Xe lamp with a fast response. The microscopic process is discussed in detail. These results should be valuable for designing a new type of gas sensor for use at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ocular motor dysfunction is one of the most common postoperative complications of petroclival meningioma. However, its incidence, recovery rate, and independent risk factors remain poorly explored. Methods: A prospective analysis of 31 petroclival meningiomas was performed. Operative approaches were selected by utilizing a new 6-region classification of petroclival meningiomas we proposed. Two scores were used to evaluate the functions of the oculomotor and abducens nerves. Pearson correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify independent risk factors for intraoperative oculomotor and abducens nerve injury. Results: Postoperative new-onset dysfunctions in the pupillary light reflex and eye/eyelid movements as well as abducens paralysis were detected in eight (25.8%), ten (32.3%) and twelve (38.7%) cases, respectively. Their corresponding recovery rates after 6 months of follow-up were 75% (6/8), 80% (8/10), and 83.3% (10/12), respectively, and their mean times to start recovery were 4.03, 2.43, and 2.5 months, respectively. Tumor invasion into the suprasellar region/sphenoid sinus was the only risk factor for dysfunctions in both the pupillary light reflex (p = 0.001) and eye/eyelid movements (p = 0.002). Intraoperative utilization of the infratrigeminal interspace was the only risk factor for dysfunction in eyeball abduction movement (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Dysfunctions of the oculomotor and abducens nerves recovered within 6 months postoperatively. Tumor extension into the suprasellar region/sphenoid sinus was the only risk factor for oculomotor nerve paralysis. Eye/eyelid movements were more sensitive than the pupillary light reflex in reflecting nerve dysfunctions. Intraoperative utilization of the infratrigeminal interspace was the only risk factor for abducens nerve paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic emission signals are relevant to the process of rock failure. In this paper, acoustic emission waveform signals during rock loading are acquired through uniaxial compression test of granite in laboratory. Short-time Fourier transform is used to analyze the acoustic emission signals during rock fracture to obtain the peak frequency. Based on the peak frequency of acoustic emission, four types of acoustic emission signals are classified by using fuzzy C-means method. The parameters of different types of acoustic emission signals are analyzed, which include ring count, duration, amplitude and energy. Meanwhile, the progressive propagation of surface cracks in rock specimens is quantitatively analyzed by digital image correlation (DIC) technology. The result shows that different types of acoustic emission signals correspond to different strength of rock fracture. Before rock fracture, high-count, long-duration and high-energy precursory characteristic signals appear intensively. The event density Den t = 1 is taken as the early warning threshold of rock fracture through the quantitative analysis of acoustic emission signal. The present results of the research show the usefulness of the DIC and acoustic emission techniques in experiment of that type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic reperfusion (I/R) contributes to deleterious cardiac remodeling and heart failure. The deacetylase SIRT1 has been shown to protect the heart from I/R injury. We examined the mechanism whereby I/R injury represses SIRT1 transcription in the myocardium. There was accumulation of trimethylated histone H3K9 on the proximal SIRT1 promoter in the myocardium in mice following I/R injury and in cultured cardiomyocytes exposed to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R). In accordance, the H3K9 trimethyltransferase SUV39H1 bound to the SIRT1 promoter and repressed SIRT1 transcription. SUV39H1 expression was up-regulated in the myocardium in mice following I/R insults and in H/R-treated cardiomyocytes paralleling SIRT1 down-regulation. Silencing SUV39H1 expression or suppression of SUV39H1 activity erased H3K9Me3 from the SIRT1 promoter and normalized SIRT1 levels in cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, SUV39H1 deficiency or inhibition attenuated I/R-induced infarction and improved heart function in mice likely through influencing ROS levels in a SIRT1-dependent manner. Therefore, our data uncover a novel mechanism for SIRT1 trans-repression during cardiac I/R injury and present SUV39H1 as a druggable target for the development of therapeutic strategies against ischemic heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive central nervous system tumor in adults. Due to GBM cell invasiveness and resistance to chemotherapy, current medical interventions are not satisfactory, and the prognosis for GBM is poor. It is necessary to investigate the underlying mechanism of GBM metastasis and drug resistance so that more effective treatments can be developed for GBM patients. sushi repeat-containing protein, X-linked 2 (SRPX2) is a prognostic biomarker in many different cancer cell lines and is associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. SRPX2 overexpression promotes interactions between tumor and endothelial cells, leading to tumor progression and metastasis. We hypothesize that SRPX2 also contributes to GBM chemotherapy resistance and metastasis. Our results revealed that GBM tumor samples from 42 patients expressed higher levels of SRPX2 than the control normal brain tissue samples. High-SRPX2 expression levels are correlated with poor prognosis in those patients, as well as resistance to temozolomide in cultured GBM cells. Up-regulating SRPX2 expression in cultured GBM cell lines facilitated invasiveness and migration of GBM cells, while down-regulating SRPX2 through RNA interference was inhibitory. These results suggest that SRPX2 plays an important role in GBM metastasis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the processes that facilitate GBM metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. EMT marker expression was decreased in SRPX2 down-regulated GBM cells, and MAPK signaling pathway marker expression was also decreased when SRPX2 is knocked down in GBM-cultured cells. Blocking the MAPK signaling pathway inhibited GBM metastasis but did not inhibit cell invasion and migration in SRPX2 down-regulated cells. Our results indicate that SRPX2 facilitates GBM metastasis by enhancing the EMT process via the MAPK signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three complexes based on fluconazole, {[Cd(HFlu)(bptc)]·4.5HO} ( 1), {[Cd(HFlu)(OH-BDC)]·8HO} ( 2), {[Mn(HFlu)(OH-BDC)]·8HO} ( 3). (HFlu = fluconazole; Hbptc = 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid; OH-HBDC = 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 is a 1D loop-containing chain with a large number of free water molecules, which are further interconnected via O-H···O and O-H···N hydrogen bonds to form a 3D supramolecular framework. Complex 2 and 3 are both a 1D tubular structure with the distorted dinuclear cadmium rectangular shaped cavity and a large number of free water molecules are accommodated in the 1D tubular structure. The photoluminescent properties of the coordination polymers have also been investigated. Graphical Abstract: Three 1-D complexes based on fluconazole have been reported, together with their photoluminescent properties. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity analysis of thermal equilibrium parameters in the reservoir module of MIKE 11 model was conducted for the Wuxikou Reservoir in Jiangxi Province of China in order to apply the module to the environmental impact assessment to accurately predict water temperature of reservoirs. Results showed that radiation parameter A and evaporation-first parameter were much more sensitive than other parameters. The values of the radiation parameter A ranged from 0.10 to 0.34. The values of evaporation-first parameter varied from 0 to 10. The sensitivity of solar absorption parameters was less than that of evaporation parameter, of which light attenuation values ranged from 0.5 to 0.7, and this parameter would not impact model results if it was more than 2. Constants in Beer's law ranged from 0.2 to 0.7. Radiation parameter B was not more sensitive than evaporation parameter and its reasonable range was higher than 0.48. The fitting curves showed consistent changing tendency for these parameters within the reasonable ranges. Additionally, all the thermal equilibrium parameters had much more important effects on surface water temperature than deep water temperature. Moreover, if no observed data could be obtained, the local empirical value would be used to input to the MIKE 11 model to simulate the changes in the discharged outflow-water temperature qualitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pondering of new promising transparent conductors to replace the cost rising tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), metal nanowires have been widely concerned. Herein, we demonstrate an approach for successful synthesis of long and fine Cu nanowires (NWs) through a novel catalytic scheme involving nickel ions. Such Cu NWs in high aspect ratio (diameter of 16.2 ± 2 nm and length up to 40 mm) provide long distance for electron transport and, meanwhile, large space for light transmission. Transparent electrodes fabricated using the Cu NW ink achieve a low sheet resistance of 1.4 Ohm/sq at 14% transmittance and a high transparency of 93.1% at 51.5 Ohm/sq. The flexibility and stability were tested with 100-timebending by 180° and no resistance change occurred. Ohmic contact was achieved to the p- and n-GaN on blue light emitting diode chip and bright electroluminescence from the front face confirmed the excellent transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrosarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis that is unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy. The regulatory mechanisms for the rapid proliferation of chondrosarcoma cells and the particular aggressiveness of this sarcoma remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on growth and apoptosis of chondrosarcoma cells. The chondrosarcoma cell lines, SW1353 and CRL-7891, were cultured with and without EGCG. The MTT assay was used to test the cytotoxicity of EGCG. Flow cytometry and DAPI staining were used to observe cell apoptosis caused by EGCG. To explore the effect of EGCG on the Indian Hedgehog signaling pathway and apoptosis-related proteins, RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PTCH and Gli-1 in the Indian Hedgehog signaling pathway. Meanwhile, expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 were also evaluated by Western blot analysis. EGCG effectively inhibited cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis of SW1353 and CRL-7891. EGCG inhibited the human Indian Hedgehog pathway, down-regulated PTCH and Gli-1 levels, and induced apoptosis as confirmed by DAPI staining followed by flow cytometry. Protein expression levels of caspase-3 were unchanged in response to EGCG treatment in chondrosarcoma cells; however, the expression levels of Bcl-2 were significantly decreased and the levels of Bax were significantly increased. Our findings demonstrate that EGCG is effective for growth inhibition of a chondrosarcoma cell lines in vitro, and suggest that EGCG may be a new therapeutic option for patients with chondrosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently shown that fluoxetine, a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has low micromolar affinity for the 5-HT2C receptor (but not for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors) in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. This was determined as phosphorylation (stimulation) of extracellular-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) by transactivation-mediated phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, followed by conventional EGF receptor signaling (Li et al., Psychopharmacology 194:333–334, ). Paroxetine has an identical effect. The present study shows that chronic fluoxetine treatment with even higher affinity (EC50 = 0.5–2.0 µM) upregulates Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), which releases arachidonic acid from the sn-2 position of membrane-bound phospholipid, without effect on secretory PLA2 (sPLA2) and intracellular PLA2 (iPLA2). This demonstration replicates the fluoxetine-induced cPLA2 upregulation in rat brain shown by Rao et al. (Pharmacogenomics J 6:413–420, ) and provides the new information that upregulation (1) occurs in astrocytes, (2) is evoked by stimulation of 5-HT2B receptor, and (3) requires transactivation-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Similar upregulation of cPLA2 in intact brain in response to 5-HT2-mediated signaling by elevated serotonin levels and/or an SSRI during antidepressant treatment may explain the repeatedly reported ability of SSRIs to normalize regional decreases which occur in brain metabolism during major depression, since (1) arachidonic acid strongly stimulates glucose metabolism in cultured astrocytes (Yu et al., J Neurosci Res 64:295–303, ) and (2) plasma concentrations of arachidonic acid in depressed patients are linearly correlated with regional brain glucose metabolism (Elizabeth Sublette et al., Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 80:57–64, ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of salvia miltiorrhizae on the expressions of TLR4 protein in the liver of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and obstructive jaundice (OJ), and explore the protective mechanism of salvia miltiorrhizae on the liver of rats. A total of 288 mice was used in SAP- ( n = 108) and OJ-associated experiments ( n = 180). The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control and treated group. Based on the different time points after operation, these groups were subdivided into 3, 6 and 12 h subgroups (SAP rats, n = 12) or 7, 14, 21 and 28 days subgroups (OJ rats, n = 15). At the corresponding time points after operation, blood and liver specimens were collected to determine the contents of endotoxin and TNF-α in the blood as well as the expression levels of TLR4 protein in the liver. Compared with the corresponding model control group, though the number of dead SAP or OJ rats in the treated group declined, no statistical difference was noted; The levels of plasma endotoxin in SAP (at 6 and 12 h) or OJ rats in the treated group decreased significantly ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively); The levels of serum TNF-α in SAP (at 12 h) or OJ rats (on 14 days) declined ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively); The staining intensity as well as the product of staining intensity and positive rate of TRL4 protein only significantly declined on 7 and 28 days in OJ rats ( P < 0.01). On 7 days, treated group in positive rate of TLR4 protein were significantly lower than that in model control group ( P < 0.01). The pathological changes in different treated groups of SAP and OJ rats were improved. Salvia miltiorrhizae is able to reduce the levels of plasma endotoxin and inhibit effectively the expressions of TLR4 protein in the liver of SAP or OJ rats, thereby decreasing inflammatory reaction and exerting protective effect on liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the interaction between allicin and omeprazole and to observe the effects of allicin on CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 activity in healthy Chinese male volunteers with different CYP2C19 genotypes. Eighteen subjects (six CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1, four CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2, two CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*3, and six CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2) were enrolled in a two-phase randomized crossover trial. In each phase, all subjects received placebo or a 180 mg allicin capsule once daily for 14 consecutive days. The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole (20 mg orally on day 15) was determined for up to 12 h following administration by high-performance liquid chromatography. In carriers of the CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2 or *3 genotype, allicin treatment increased the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of omeprazole by 49.7 ± 7.2 ( p < 0.001) and 54.2 ± 9.2% ( p < 0.001), and increased the area under the plasma time–concentration curve ( $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ ) of omeprazole by 48.1 ± 9.0 ( p = 0.001) and 73.6 ± 26.7% ( p < 0.001), respectively. The ratio of $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ of 5-hydroxyomeprazole to omeprazole (a marker for CYP2C19 activity) decreased significantly ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). However, no pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly changed by allicin in CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2. The Cmax and $${\text{AUC}}_{\left( {0 - \infty } \right)} $$ of omeprazole sulfone were unchanged in all three genotypes. Allicin reduced the metabolism of omeprazole by inhibiting CYP2C19 activity in individuals with the CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*1 and CYP2C19*1/ CYP2C19*2 or *3 genotypes, but not in those with the CYP2C19*2/ CYP2C19*2 genotype. Allicin did not significantly affect the activity of CYP3A4 in all subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common biological effects by all three conventional anti-bipolar drugs, the lithium ion (Li+), carbamazepine, and valproic acid, are important because identical effects may provide information about the pathophysiology of affective disorders. It has been reported that chronic treatment with either drug in vivo down-regulates the turnover of arachidonic acid in brain. This reaction is catalyzed by Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), the expression of which was down-regulated by Li+ or carbamazepine but not by valproic acid; expression of two other PLA subtypes, iPLA2 and sPLA2 was unaffected. cPLA2 is amply expressed in astrocytes, and in the present study, effects of 1–4 weeks of treatment with clinically relevant concentrations of each of the three anti-bipolar drugs on cPLA2, iPLA2, and sPLA2 mRNA and protein expression were determined in primary cultures of mouse astrocytes by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting. Two or more weeks treatment with Li+ concentrations below 2 mM, carbamazepine or valproic acid up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of cPLA2, but had no effect on iPLA2 and sPLA2, showing enzyme specificity. The effect occurred more rapidly at higher than lower concentrations but also tended to end after 4 weeks at the higher concentrations. Two millimolar Li+ caused an initial increase of cPLA2 followed by a decrease after 3 and 4 weeks. Topiramate had no effect, indicating specificity for anti-bipolar drugs. Both up- and down-regulation of cPLA2 gene expression are involved in the mechanisms of action of anti-bipolar drugs; astrocytes are a target for these drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MGSA/GRO protein is endogenously expressed in almost 70% of the melanoma cell lines and tumors, but not in normal melanocytes. We have previously demonstrated that over-expression of human MGSA/GROα, β or γ in immortalized murine melanocytes (melan-a cells) enables these cells to form tumors in SCID and nude mice. To examine the possibility that the MGSA/GRO effect on melanocyte transformation requires expression of other genes, differential display was performed. One of the mRNA's identified in the screen as overexpressed in MGSA/GRO transformed melan-a clones was the newly described M-Ras or R-Ras3 gene, a member of the Ras gene superfamily. Over-expression of MGSA/GRO upregulates M-Ras expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, and this induction requires an intact glutamine-leucine-arginine (ELR)-motif in the MGSA/GRO protein. Western blot examination of Ras expression revealed that K- and N-Ras proteins are also elevated in MGSA/GRO-expressing melan-a clones, leading to an overall increase in the amount of activated Ras. MGSA/GRO-expressing melan-a clones exhibited enhanced AP-1 activity. The effects of MGSA/GRO on AP-1 activation could be mimicked by over-expression of wild-type M-Ras or a constitutively activated M-Ras mutant in control melan-a cells as monitored by an AP-1-luciferase reporter, while expression of a dominant negative M-Ras blocked AP-1-luciferase activity in MGSA/GRO-transformed melan-a clones. In the in vitro transformation assay, over-expression of M-Ras mimicked the effects of MGSA/GRO by inducing cellular transformation in control melan-a cells, while over-expression of dominant negative M-Ras in MGSA/GROα-expressing melan-a-6 cells blocked transformation. These data suggest that MGSA/GRO-mediated transformation requires Ras activation in melanocytes. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4647–4659 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncogenic mutations in ras lead to constitutive activation of downstream signaling pathways that modulate the activities of transcription factors. In turn, these factors control the expression of a subset of genes responsible for neoplastic cell transformation. Recent studies suggest that transcription factor NF-κB contributes to cell transformation by inhibiting the cell death signal activated by oncogenic Ras. In this study, inhibition of NF-κB activity by forced expression of a super-repressor form of IκBα, the major inhibitor of NF-κB, markedly decreased the growth rate, saturation density and tumorigenicity of oncogenic H-Ras transformed rat embryo fibroblasts. Such clonally isolated cells overexpressing IκBα super-repressor not only were viable but also exhibited no sign of spontaneous apoptosis. Inhibition of NF-κB in these cells was functionally demonstrated by both the loss of cytokine induced DNA binding activity and a profoundly increased sensitivity to cell death in response to TNF-α treatment. In contrast, inhibition of NF-κB activity in non-transformed fibroblasts had minimal effect on growth, but rendered the cells resistant to a subsequent transformation by H-ras oncogene. Similar results were also obtained with rat intestinal epithelial cells harboring an inducible ras oncogene. Taken together, these findings suggest that NF-κB activity is essential for abnormal cell proliferation and tumorigenicity activated by the ras oncogene and highlight an alternative functional role for NF-κB in oncogenic Ras-mediated cell transformation that is distinct from its anti-apoptotic activity. Oncogene (2000) 19, 841–849. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the ras oncogenes have been linked to many different cancers. In contrast to the extensive body of knowledge related to the genetics of ras activation, relatively little is known of the transcriptional events triggered by ras. In previous work we have used differential display to identify Mob-1, a member of α-chemokine family, as one of the immediate transcriptional targets following Ras activation. Here, we provide additional experimental evidence to support this finding by the use of an inducible H-ras expression system, the treatment of Ras farnesyl transferase inhibitor and activation of endogenous Ras by serum growth factors. We further demonstrate that IP-10, the human homolog of Mob-1, is overexpressed in the majority of colorectal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-structured Ag/MnO2-cordierite molded catalysts were prepared by hydrothermal method and applied to the catalytic oxidation of VOCs. Catalytic activities of Ag/MnO2-cordierite were evaluated by 1000 ppm of toluene, ethyl acetate and chlorobenzene degradation respectively at the air atmosphere, and their physicochemical properties were characterized through multiple techniques containing XRD, SEM, TEM, H2-TPR and XPS. It is found that nanorod Ag/MnO2-cordierite molded catalyst showed prominent catalytic activity for VOCs decomposition and the T90 for toluene, ethyl acetate and chlorobenzene are 275 °C, 217 °C and 385 °C respectively under the space velocity of 10,000 h−1. High valence manganese oxide, more active lattice oxygen proportion and superior low-temperature reducibility were the great contributors to the high activity of the catalyst with nanorod morphology. Studies of space velocity and catalytic stability over nanorod Ag/MnO2-cordierite molded catalyst have confirmed the good catalytic performance, excellent mechanical strength and satisfied anti-toxicity to Cl at higher space velocity, which indicates that this molded catalyst have promise for industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was used to modify spherical silica to fabricate core-shell POSS@SiO2 microspheres. The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared experiments, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis. The material was also used as a stationary phase for HPLC separation. The POSS@SiO2 column exhibits a reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) retention mechanism. The column efficiency of alkylbenzenes reaches 67,200 plates·m−1. The POSS@SiO2 column was also utilized for separation of basic anilines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Compared with the commercial C8 column, the POSS@SiO2 column exhibits enhanced separation selectivity. The column was also used for the separation of synthetic cytokinins 6-benzylaminopurine and 6-furfurylaminopurine in bean sprout after extraction. In addition, the methacrylate groups on the surface of the POSS@SiO2 microsphere were further functionalized so as to facilitate the fabrication of versatile stationary phases with various separation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional wastewater purification technologies consume large amounts of energy, while the abundant chemical energy and nutrient resources contained in sewage are wasted in such treatment processes. A microbial nutrient recovery cell (MNRC) has been developed to take advantage of the energy contained in wastewater, in order to simultaneously purify wastewater and recover nutrient ions. When wastewater was circulated between the anode and cathode chambers of the MNRC, the organics (COD) were removed by bacteria while ammonium and phosphate (NH4+-N and PO43−-P) were recovered by the electrical field that was produced using in situ energy in the wastewater without additional energy input. The removal efficiencies from wastewater were >82% for COD, >96% for NH4+-N, and >64% for PO43−-P in all the operational cycles. Simultaneously, the concentrations of NH4+ and PO43− in the recovery chamber increased to more than 1.5 and 2.2 times, respectively, compared with the initial concentrations in wastewater. The MNRC provides proof-of-concept as a sustainable, self-driven approach to efficient wastewater purification and nutrient recovery in a comprehensive bioelectrochemical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins belong to a large family of transcriptional factors, some of which are thought to be involved in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stimuli. In this work, we cloned a novel bZIP gene from rice, designated OsbZlPl, which is inducible in response to infection with Magnaporthe grisea. Sequence analysis showed that the deduced protein had a potential nuclear localization signal and 2 possible acidic activation domains. Results of transient expression experiments demonstrated that OsbZlPl is localized in the nucleus. The ability of OsbZlPl to activate the transcription of the reporter gene was also determined in yeast. Northern blotting analysis showed that OsbZlPl was constitutively expressed in the roots and strongly induced in rice leaves in response to infection with both the compatible race MS220 and incompatible race 131 of M. grisea. Furthermore, OsbZlPl expression could be rapidly induced in leaves treated with salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid. These results indicate that the OsbZlPl may function as a transcription factor and may play a role in salicylic acid-dependent signal transduction pathway for defense of rice against pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]