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DNA repair is a primary defense mechanism against damage caused by exogenous and endogenous sources. We examined the associations between bladder cancer and 7 polymorphisms from 5 genes involved in the maintenance of genetic stability (MMR: MLH1-93G>A; BER: XRCC1--77T>C and Arg399Gln; NER:XPC Lys939Gln and PAT +/-; DSBR:ATM G5557A and XRCC7 G6721T) in 302 incident bladder cancer cases and 311 hospital controls. Genotyping was done using a polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The homozygous variant of XRCC7 G6721T (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.36; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.13-4.92) was associated with increased bladder cancer risk. In an analysis of combined genotypes, the combination of XRCC1Arg399Gln (Gln allele) with XRCC1-77 T/T led to an increase in risk (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.10-2.36). Moreover, when the XPCLys939Gln (Gln allele) (nucleotide excision repair [NER]) was present together with XRCC7 (T allele) (double strand break repair [DSBR]), the bladder cancer risk dramatically increased (OR: 4.42; 95% CI: 1.23-15.87). Our results suggest that there are multigenic variations in the DNA repair pathway involved in bladder cancer susceptibility, despite the existence of ethnic group differences.

Precise synthesis of well-controlled metal nanoparticles on various supports is one of the most challenging issues in their applications for the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. We herein propose an effective method to generate small Ni nanoparticles at a high loading content of 20 wt% with homogeneous dispersion on Al2O3 regardless of low-temperature or high-temperature reduction. MIL-Al (110) was selected as the host for the fabrication of Ni nanoparticles with the size mainly at ∼5 nm after reduction at 600 or 800 °C. Conventional Al2O3 loaded Ni with the same amount shows a different behavior, that is, the particle size of Ni nanoparticles increases from 12.5 ± 1.8 nm after reduction at 600 °C to 20.0 ± 2.4 nm after reduction at 800 °C. The formation of a surface NiAl2O4 spinel structure on the Ni/Al2O3 sample and the inherent confinement effect from pristine MIL-110 (Al) contribute to the stabilization of small Ni nanoparticles with a high loading content under different reduction conditions. These results will open a possibility of rationally designing and fabricating highly dispersed metal nanoparticles on certain supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the Ag3PO4 modified with graphene quantum dots composites (GQDs-Ag3PO4) were synthesized via a facile precipitation method to further improve the photocatalytic performance of Ag3PO4. Interestingly, these GQDs-Ag3PO4 exhibited improved visible light photocatalytic performance for the degradation of rhodamine B than pure Ag3PO4. The composite with GQDs weight percentage of 0.48 showed the most excellent performance, which was completely almost 11.25 times than that of pure Ag3PO4. Furthermore, this composite also showed excellent photocatalytic performance for the photodegradation of para-chlorophenol, levofloxacin and negatively charged aromatic dye methyl orange. The remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic performance should be attributed to the larger surface area, the enhanced light absorption property and the effective suppression of electron-hole recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The immobilization of denitrifying bacteria by PVA in seawater was studied, and the effects of pH and temperature on the nitrogen removal efficiency of immobilized ball were investigated. Results showed in the appropriate environment, the nitrogen removal efficiency of immobilized balls was lower than those not immobilized denitrifying bacteria. However, when the environment was not suitable for the growth of denitrifying bacteria (eg. pH5.0, temperature 10), the immobili°C zed ball could increase the nitrogen removal efficiency compared with those not immobilized due to their protect effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]