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Activated carbon was synthesized by using cheap corn stalk as carbon source and ZnCl2 as activator by microwave assisted. Then sulfur-carbon composite materials was synthesized with elemental sulfur by using melting method. The composite was analyzed by surface area and porosity analyzer XRD,FESEM for structure and morphology, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and charge-discharge curve for electrochemical properties. Results showed that the activated carbon had specific surface area of 1 042. 2 m²/g and the total entrance of 0. 76 cm³/g. There were pores of different specifications distributed in internal acticated carbon and a large number of pores on activated carbon surface. The sulfur-carbon composite materials were tested when current density at 400 mA/g and scope of charge-discharge in 1.5 ~ 3 V, its initial specific discharge capacity was 608. 4 mAh/g, and capacity retention was 60% after 100 times, showing good electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the cloning and expression of OMP P2 gene of Haemophilus Parasuis (HPS) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot analysis, and DNA amplication.

The article presents a study on the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect Haemophilus parasuis (HPS) from a sick piglet's lung sample by amplifying OMP P2 gene of HPS.

Hollow-porous MnO 2 -graphene (GR) micro-nano spheres for supercapacitors were synthesized via a simple, quick and cost-effective strategy at room temperature. The crystal structure and morphology of the as-prepared materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The experimental results showed that the obtained pure MnO 2 and MnO 2 -GR composite has a typical birnessite-type MnO 2 structure with hollow-porous micro-nano spheres morphology. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the as-prepared samples were examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Surprisingly, the hollow-porous MnO 2 -5 wt.% GR micro-nano sphere displays a high specific capacitance (256.8 F g − 1 at 150 mA g − 1 ), excellent cycling stability, smaller equivalent series resistance and charge transfer resistance. The superior capacitive performance is related to its unique structure and poor crystallinity. Therefore, the hollow-porous MnO 2 -GR micro-nano sphere can be promising electrode materials for supercapacitors with enhanced properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries are developing towards the direction of high energy density, long cycle life, low cost and environment friendly. As a potential ‘green’ cathode material for lithium-ion power batteries in the 21st century, olivine-type lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) become more attractive recently for its high theoretical capacity (170mAhg−1), stable voltage plateau of 3.5V vs. Li/Li+, good stability both at room temperature and high temperature, excellent cycling performance, high safety, low raw material cost, no pollution, and rich source of raw materials, etc. This paper introduces the research progress in recent years on the structure and performance, synthesizing methods, carbon-coating, ion-doping and particle size control. Furthermore, the prospect of LiFePO4 cathode material for the lithium-ion batteries is reviewed. (i) Preparation process of LiFePO4 (including high temperature solid-phase method, sol–gel method, microwave method, hydrothermal method, carbothermal reduction method, spray pyrolysis method and other synthesis routes). (ii) Progress on modification of LiFePO4 (three modification strategies including carbon coating, metal particle or ion doping and the optimization of the particle size and morphology). (iii) Finally, the trend of research and development of LiFePO4 is also pointed out (the follow-up studies should be directed at the theoretical study and process improvement). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Z-type ferrites doped with La3+, Ba3− x La x Co2Fe24O41 (x=0.00–0.30), were prepared by sol–gel method. The effect of the substitution La3+ rare-earth ions for Ba2+ ions on the microstructure, complex permeability, permittivity and microwave absorption of the samples was investigated. The results show that the major phase of the ferrites changed to Z-phase when sintering temperature was 1250°C for 5h. With the increase of the substitution ratio of La3+ ions from 0.0 to 0.3, the lattice parameters a and c increased gradually, which resulted in the change of the particle shape and size. The data of magnetism showed that the addition of La3+ ions make the ferrite a better soft magnetic material due to increase of magnetization (σ s) and decrease of coercivity (H c). The La3+ ions doped in the ferrite not only improved complex permeability and complex permittivity, but also microwave absorbency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the important pathogens causing serious economic losses to swine industry worldwide. PRRSV is genetically and pathologically heterogenous. PRRSV NT0801 strain was isolated in a pig farm with clinical signs and had high pathogenesis in piglets. But its NSP2 gene did not have 30 amino acids deletion as highly pathogenic JXA1 strain. To elucidate the genetic characteristics of PRRSV NT0801 strain, the full-length genome of NT0801 isolate was sequenced and analyzed. The results showed that the genome of PRRSV NT0801 was 15439bp in length, including 29nt Poly(A) tail. Compared with the highly pathogenic JXA1 strain, it had the nucleotide sequence identity of 96.7%, amino acid sequence homology of 97.2% and 98.5% in GP3 and GP5, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NT0801 isolate was located between the traditional strain and the highly pathogenic strain. But no obvious recombination signal was observed, compared with other PRRSV isolates with different virulence. The alignment of amino acid sequence of NT0801 with other PRRSV isolates demonstrated that three out of nine sites, being consistent with the highly pathogenic strain, were different from those in highly pathogenic while same as those in traditional strains and JXA1 vaccine strain. And one out of 9 sites was same as that of JXA1 vaccine strain exclusively, two out of 9 sites were different from all the strains. These results indicated that PRRSV NT0801 strain is closely related to highly pathogenic PRRSV, although there has no 30 amino acids deletions in NSP2 region. The epidemic PRRSV strains variation results from the gene mutation. It should be useful for studying on the virulence genes located in different ORFs of PRRSV in the future.

Objective: To get the preliminary genotype and allele frequency distributions of GATA30F04, GATA23B10, D18S847, GATA83B04 and GATA167A05 loci in Chinese Han population in Chengdu area, and to validate more short tandem repeat (STR) systems for forensic application., Methods: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to this study. Five STRs (GATA30F04, GATA23B10, D18S847, GATA83B04 and GATA167A05) were amplified from DNA samples, which were extracted with Chelex-100 method from EDTA-blood of 100 unrelated individuals. The PCR products were analyzed by PAG vertical electrophoresis., Results: No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed. The expected heterozygosities observed were 0.694, 0.918, 0.836, 0.889 and 0.880 for GATA30F04, GATA23B10, D18S847, GATA83B04 and GATA167A05 respectively. The discriminating powers were 0.697, 0.901, 0.875, 0.900 and 0.891., Conclusion: The last four loci in this study are useful markers for genetics purposes in individual identification and paternity test.

Objective: To obtain population genetic data of loci D11S4951, D11S4957, GATA193H05, D2S2951, and D6S2421 in Han population in Chengdu area and to validate the value of their forensic application., Methods: Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes from unrelated individuals. DNAs were extracted with Chelex-100 and were analyzed by PCR and horizontal PAGE followed by silver staining., Results: Alleles 7, 10, 8, 6 and 8 were found in 5 STR loci, respectively. No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg balance were observed. The heterozygosities observed were 0.743, 0.772, 0.833, 0.650 and 0.800, respectively. The chances of exclusion were 0.497, 0.549, 0.662, 0.356 and 0.599, and the discrimination powers were 0.863, 0.912, 0.947, 0.829 and 0.931., Conclusion: All of the five loci studied may be useful markers for individual identification and paternity testing.

Objective: To understand the allele structure and genetic polymorphisms at five STR loci in Chengdu Han population, to obtain a preliminary database and to analyze the value in forensic medicine., Methods: EDTA-blood specimens were collected from unrelated individuals. The DNA of samples was extracted with Chelex-100 method. And then the PCR amplification, PAGE horizontal electrophoresis and gel silver staining were performed for analyzing the polymorphisms of five STR loci in Chengdu Han population., Results: In the five STR loci,10, 7, 5, 7 and 7 alleles were found respectively. The observed heterozygosity of 83%, 80%, 64%, 66% and 77% and discrimination power of 95.44%, 91.0%, 84.3%, 86.1% and 86.8% were identified for the five STR loci respectively. All loci obeyed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium., Conclusion: The five STR loci display the high discrimination power. The obtained data are desirable for forensic analysis and benefiting to the research of the population genetics.

Objective: To explore the method of primary culture for endometriotic cells and to find out the differences in morphological manifestations among endometriotic cells and eutopic endometrial cells sampled from patients with endometriosis and endometriosis-free women., Methods: Endometriotic and eutopic endometrial cells were cultured by modified method of primary culture. The endometriotic cell types were observed and differentiated under optical and electron microscopes., Results: The success rates for culture of eutopic endometrial cells from endometriosis-free women and patients with endometriosis were 91.67% and 93.75% respectively. The success rate for culture of endometriotic cells was 75.00%. The size of endometriotic glandular cells was similar to those of eutopic endometrial glandular cells from endometriosis-free women and patients with endometriosis. The chromatin was manifold and the nucleus was augmented in the endometriotic glandular cells. The endometriotic stromal cells were smaller than the eutopic endometrial stromal cells from endometriosis-free women and patients with endometriosis. Many tiny villi and protuberances on plasma membrane could be seen in the endometriotic stromal cells., Conclusion: The success rate for culture of endometriotic cells can be elevated through improving the method of primary culture. The ultrastructures of endometriotic glandular and stromal cells are obviously different from those of eutopic endometrial glandular and stromal cells from endometriosis-free women and patients with endometriosis.

We established a simple method for the preparation of DNA template from a single oocyte or early embryo by KOH/DTT-Triton X disintegration. The PCR amplification efficiency of DNA template prepared by this method was compared with that prepared by TE-proteinase K. Single oocyte, 2-cell embryo, 8-cell embryo, morula or blastocyst were separately treated by KOH/DTT-Triton X, then the DNA template was directly used to amplify mitochondrial DNA segment by PCR. The overall PCR success rate of the 3 pairs of primers was 100% (70/70), while the overall PCR success rate of single oocyte treated by TE-proteinase K was 92.9% (65/70). Difference between the two results was significant (P<0.05), and the PCR false positive rates in both groups were 0. The designed KOH/DTT-Triton X disintegrate method was efficient to the preparation of DNA template of a single early embryo. It needed only one cycle of PCR amplification to get clear aimed DNA stripe and the efficiency was high enough to meet the need of early embryonic genetic material detection.

Peripheral nerve injury induces upregulation of the calcium channel alpha2delta-1 structural subunit in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and dorsal spinal cord of spinal nerve-ligated rats with neuropathic pain, suggesting a role of the calcium channel alpha2delta-1 subunit in central sensitization. To investigate whether spinal dorsal horn alpha2delta-1 subunit upregulation derives from increased DRG alpha2delta-1 subunit and plays a causal role in neuropathic pain development, we examined spinal dorsal hornalpha2delta-1 subunit expression with or without dorsal rhizotomy in spinal nerve-ligated rats and its correlation with tactile allodynia, a neuropathic pain state defined as reduced thresholds to non-noxious tactile stimulation. We also examined the effects of intrathecal alpha2delta-1 antisense oligonucleotides on alpha2delta-1 subunit expression and neuropathic allodynia in the nerve-ligated rats. Our data indicated that spinal nerve injury resulted in time-dependentalpha2delta-1 subunit upregulation in the spinal dorsal horn that correlated temporally with neuropathic allodynia development and maintenance. Dorsal rhizotomy diminished basal level expression and blocked injury-induced expression of the spinal dorsal hornalpha2delta-1 subunit and reversed injury-induced tactile allodynia. In addition, intrathecal alpha2delta-1 antisense oligonucleotides blocked injury-induced dorsal horn alpha2delta-1 subunit upregulation and diminished tactile allodynia. These findings indicate that alpha2delta-1 subunit basal expression occurs presynaptically and postsynaptically in spinal dorsal horn. Nerve injury induces mainly presynaptic alpha2delta-1 subunit expression that derives from increased alpha2delta-1 subunit in injured DRG neurons. Thus, changes in presynaptic alpha2delta-1 subunit expression contribute to injury-induced spinal neuroplasticity and central sensitization that underlies neuropathic pain development and maintenance.

Objective: To evaluate the value in diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology and rapid histopathologic examination during operation of a pancreatic mass., Methods: Both fine needle aspiration cytology and rapid histopathologic examination were performed during the operation of 56 patients with pancreatic mass., Results: The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative cytologic examination were 94.6%, 95.3% and 92.3%, as compared with 92.9%, 90.7% and 100% in rapid paraffin section intraoperative examination., Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration is rapid, practical and safe. It is able to improve the diagnosis, pathologic grade and histological origin of pancreatic tumor when combined with rapid histopathologic examination.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the change of cGMP-PDE and cAMP-PDE activity in a rat lung model of asthma. METHODS: cGMP-PDE and cAMP-PDE activity were determined by HPLC. RESULTS: Both cAMP-PDE activity and cGMP-PDE activity in the lung tissue of antigen-challenged rats were higher than that from the normal rats (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: In the rat lung model of asthma, cyclic nucleotides phosphodiesterase activity was elevated. This may be significant in the pathogenesis of asthma.