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Conventional methods for the detection of Vibrio parahemolyticus (VP) usually need tedious, labor-intensive processes, and have low sensitivity, which further limits their practical applications. Herein, we developed a simple and efficient colorimetry and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode immunosensor for sensitive detection of VP, by employing giant Au vesicles with anchored tiny gold nanowires (AuNW) as a smart probe. Due to the larger specific surface and special hollow structure of giant Au vesicles, silver staining would easily lead to vivid color change for colorimetric analysis and further amplify SERS signals. The t-test was further used to determine if two sets of data from colorimetry and SERS were significantly different from each other. The result shows that there was no significant difference between data from the two methods. Two sets of data can mutually validate each other and avoid false positive and negative detection. The designed colorimetry-SERS dual-mode sensor would be very promising in various applications such as food safety inspection, personal healthcare, and on-site environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new α-pyrone derivative 1, along with four known congeners 2, 3, 4 and 5, were isolated from the solid-substrate fermentation medium of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis microspore isolated from the branch of Taxus chinensis. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxic activities of the isolated α-pyrone derivatives against two tumor cell lines as well as compound 1's antimicrobial activity against three bacteria and three plant-pathogenic strains were evaluated. No antimicrobial activity was observed for compound 1. The cytotoxicity against Caski and HeLa tumor cell lines was insignificant. To our surprise, the known compound 4 showed significant gibberellin synergistic activity towards Distylium chinense seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper is based on an ethnobotanical investigation that focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by local Maonan people to treat human diseases in Maonan concentration regions. The Maonan people have relied on traditional medicine since ancient times, especially medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to document medicinal plants used by the Maonans and to report the status of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from June 2012 to September 2014 in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southwest China. In total, 118 knowledgeable informants were interviewed. Following statistically sampling method, eighteen villages from 5 townships were selected to conduct field investigations. Information was collected through the approache of participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, ranking exercises, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisals. Results: A total of 368 medicinal plant species were investigated and documented together with their medicinal uses by the Maonans, most of which were obtained from the wild ecosystems. The plants were used to treat 95 human diseases. Grinding was a widely used method to prepare traditional herbal medicines. There were significant relationships between gender and age, and between gender and informants' knowledge of medicinal plant use. Deforestation for agricultural purposes was identified as the most destructive factor of medicinal plants, followed by drought and over-harvest. Conclusions: The species diversity of medicinal plants used by the Maonans in the study area was very rich. Medicinal plants played a significant role in healing various human disorders in the Maonan communities. However, the conflicts between traditional inheriting system and recent socio-economic changes (and other factors) resulted in the reduction or loss of both medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Thus, conservation efforts and policies, and innovation of inheriting system are necessary for protecting the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Awareness is also needed to be raised among local Maonans focusing on sustainable utilization and management of both medicinal plants and traditional knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper is based on an ethnobotanical investigation that focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by local Maonan people to treat human diseases in Maonan concentration regions. The Maonan people have relied on traditional medicine since ancient times, especially medicinal plants. The aim of this study is to document medicinal plants used by the Maonans and to report the status of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge. Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from June 2012 to September 2014 in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southwest China. In total, 118 knowledgeable informants were interviewed. Following statistically sampling method, eighteen villages from 5 townships were selected to conduct field investigations. Information was collected through the approache of participatory observation, semi-structured interviews, ranking exercises, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisals. Results: A total of 368 medicinal plant species were investigated and documented together with their medicinal uses by the Maonans, most of which were obtained from the wild ecosystems. The plants were used to treat 95 human diseases. Grinding was a widely used method to prepare traditional herbal medicines. There were significant relationships between gender and age, and between gender and informants’ knowledge of medicinal plant use. Deforestation for agricultural purposes was identified as the most destructive factor of medicinal plants, followed by drought and over-harvest. Conclusions: The species diversity of medicinal plants used by the Maonans in the study area was very rich. Medicinal plants played a significant role in healing various human disorders in the Maonan communities. However, the conflicts between traditional inheriting system and recent socio-economic changes (and other factors) resulted in the reduction or loss of both medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Thus, conservation efforts and policies, and innovation of inheriting system are necessary for protecting the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Awareness is also needed to be raised among local Maonans focusing on sustainable utilization and management of both medicinal plants and traditional knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ketone functionalized luminescent terbium metal-organic framework has been realized for the highly selective and sensitive sensing of aniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new porphyrin-based microporous MOF, {Mn(II)0.5[Mn(II)4Cl(Mn(III)Cl-ttzpp)2(H2O)4]}·(DEF)20·(CH3OH)18·(H2O)12 (UTSA-57), has been constructed from {5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(2,3,4,5-tetrazolyl)phenyl]porphyrinato} manganese(III) chloride as the metalloligand. The MOF adopts the rare scu topology with one-dimensional square nanotube-like channels of about 20 Å. UTSA-57a exhibits permanent porosity and displays moderately high performance for C2H2/CH4 separation at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the research on rare earth metals has expanded to the field of microbiology. In China, the production of Vitamin C is through mixed culture fermentation, which transforms L-sorbose to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KGA), the precursor of Vitamin C. In this study we compared the yields of 2-KGA by an acid-producing strain of Ketogulonigenium vulgare that was co-cultured with different companion bacterial strains in the presence of four light rare earth elements, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, and samarium at selected concentrations. We found that all of the tested rare earth elements had a promoting effect on 2-KGA production at concentration up to 5 mM. At or above 10 mM, the yield of 2-KGA was reduced. When cultured separately with 5 mM of given rare earth elements, the growth of two companion bacterial strains (Bacillus megaterium 25-B and B. subtilis A9) were both significantly reduced, while that of the K. vulgare strain was enhanced. © 2014 Friends Science Publishers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasensitive sandwich-type label-free electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor based on sombrero model for the detection of neurotensin (NT) in human serum and urine was developed. Graphene-hyaluronate-luminol (G-HYluminol) composite was coated on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode to build the ECL immunosensor, which gave in-situ ECL signals by luminol. A secondary NT unlabelled antibody was used to form the final sandwich immunocomplex as a sombrero model, facilitating reduction of the ECL intensity to improve the sensitivity of detection significantly. Results showed that the inhibition of ECL intensity increased with the logarithm of NT concentration within a wide linear range from 0.001 pg cm-3to 100 pg cm-3. In addition, specificity, stability, reproducibility, regeneration and application were satisfactory. Therefore, this developed ECL immunosensor has a potential for practical detection of NT and NT-like peptides with small molecular weight in the clinical diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three isostructural interwoven 3,4-connected mesoporous metal-organic frameworks of pto-a topology (UTSA-28-Cu, UTSA-28-Zn, and UTSA-28-Mn) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Because of their metastable nature, their gas sorption properties are highly dependent on the metal ions and activation profiles. The most stable, UTSA-28a-Cu, exhibits promising gas storage and separation capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular mechanism of the extrathymic generation of adaptive, or inducible, CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (iTregs) remains incompletely defined. We show that exposure of splenic CD4+CD25+Foxp3- cells to IL-2, but not other common -chain cytokines, resulted in Stat5 phosphorylation and induced Foxp3 expression in ~10% of the cells. Thus, IL-2/Stat5 signaling may be critical for Foxp3 induction in peripheral CD4+CD25-+Foxp3- iTreg precursors. In this study, to further define the role of IL-2 in the formation of iTreg precursors as well as their subsequent Foxp3 expression, we designed a two-step iTreg differentiation model. During the initial "conditioning" step, CD4+CD25-Foxp3- naive T cells were activated by TCR stimulation. Inhibition of IL-2 signaling via Jak3-Stat5 was required during this step to generate CD4+CD25+Foxp3- cells containing iTreg precursors. During the subsequent Foxp3-induction step driven by cytokines, IL-2 was the most potent cytokine to induce Foxp3 expression in these iTreg precursors. This two-step method generated a large number of iTregs with relatively stable expression of Foxp3, which were able to prevent CD4+CD45RBhigh cell-mediated colitis in Rag1-/- mice. In consideration of this information, whereas initial inhibition of IL-2 signaling upon T cell priming generates iTreg precursors, subsequent activation of IL-2 signaling in these precursors induces the expression of Foxp3. These findings advance the understanding of iTreg differentiation and may facilitate the therapeutic use of iTregs in immune disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A test strip, based on DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles for Hg2+ detection, has been developed, optimized and validated. The developed colorimetric mercury sensor system exhibited a highly sensitive and selective response to mercury. The measurement principle is based on thymine一Hg2+一thymine (T一Hg2+一T) coordination chemistry and streptavidin–biotin interaction. A biotin-labeled and thiolated DNA was immobilized on the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) surface through a self-assembling method. Another thymine-rich DNA, which was introduced to form DNA duplexes on the AuNPs surface with thymine一Hg2+一thymine (T一Hg2+一T) coordination in the presence of Hg2+, was immobilized on the nitrocellulose membrane as the test zone. When 一Hg2+一 ions were introduced into this system, they induced the two strands of DNA to intertwist by forming T一Hg2+一T bonds resulting in a red line at the test zone. The biotin-labeled and thiolated DNA-functionalized AuNPs could be captured by streptavidin which was immobilized on the nitrocellulose membrane as the control zone. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit for Hg2+ was 3 nM, which is lower than the 10 nM, maximum contaminant limit defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water. A parallel analysis of Hg2+ in pool water samples using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry showed comparable results to those obtained from the strip test. Therefore, the results obtained in this study could be used as basic research for the development of Hg2+ detection, and the method developed could be a potential on-site screening tool for the rapid detection of Hg2+ in different water samples without special instrumentation. All experimental variables that influence the test strip response were optimized and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progression from the androgen-sensitive to androgen-insensitive (or castration-resistant) stage is the major obstacle for sustained effectiveness of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. The androgen receptor (AR) and its splice variants play important roles in regulating the transcription program essential for castration resistance. Here, we report the identification of a novel AR splice variant, designated as AR8, which is up-regulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. AR8 is structurally different from other known AR splice variants because it lacks a DNA binding domain and therefore, unlikely functions as a transcription factor on its own. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that AR8 was primarily localized on the plasma membrane, possibly through palmitoylation of two cysteine residues within its unique C-terminal sequence. Mutation of these putative palmitoylation sites in AR8 led to loss of its plasma membrane localization. In addition, we demonstrated that overexpression of AR8 in prostate cancer cells promoted association of Src and AR with the EGF receptor in response to EGF treatment and enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of AR. Conversely, specific knockdown of AR8 expression in prostate cancer cells compromised EGF-induced Src activation and AR phosphorylation. This effect was accompanied with attenuation of proliferation and increased apoptosis in prostate cancer cells cultured in androgen-depleted medium. We also showed that AR8 was required for optimal transcriptional activity of AR in response to treatment of both androgen and EGF. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the membrane-associated AR8 isoform may contribute to castration resistance by potentiating AR-mediated proliferative and survival responses to hormones and growth factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sorption by solid materials is one of the most important processes that affect the fate of hydrophobic organic pollutants in aquatic systems. Current studies focus on the sorption of hydrophobic pollutants by single natural solid material, whereas few studies compared the sorption behaviors of different solids. Furthermore, natural aquatic environment is a complex system where hydrophobic pollutants coexist with many other pollutants, but only limited studies reported the effects of coexisting components on the sorption. Here we studied the sorption of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) by three common solids in natural water, i.e., biofilms, suspended particles and sediments. The effects of typical coexisting heavy metals on the sorption were also examined. The results show that the sorption is described by a dual-mode sorption model. Compared with sediments, more DDTs were sorbed by biofilms and suspended particles. Coexisting Pb, Cd and Cu increased the sorption of DDTs on sediments while decreasing the sorption on biofilms slightly, with little effect on the sorption on suspended particles. The different sorption behaviors of the solids were mainly determined by the composition of the solids: more organics were observed in biofilms and suspended particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a highly-sensitive polymeric membrane ion selective electrode for determination of tetracycline was constructed by using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) particles as quasi-ionophore. The water-compatible MIP particles targeting tetracycline were synthesized with tetracycline as a template molecule, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator and lanthanum ion as a mediator. Benefited from the distinctive performance of the quasi-ionophore and the optimized composition of the membrane and the inner filling solution, the lower detection limit of the electrode was decreased to about 1 × 10 mol/l. It exhibited a good electrode slope 59.8 mV/decade near the theoretical Nernstian one, with a wide linear working range from 2.0 × 10 to 1.0 × 10 mol/l. Due to the specific recognition of tetracycline by the MIP particles, the selectivity coefficients for routine interferences were less than 10. The fabricated electrode should be used in pH 2-4, response time of which was less than 200 s when the concentration of tetracycline was higher than 1.0 × 10 mol/l and no more than 30 min at the concentration of 1.0 × 10 mol/l. Finally, the proposed highly-sensitive ion selective electrode has been successfully applied to the determination of tetracycline in aqueous samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome c (cyt- c) entrapped in agarose hydrogel was electrostatically bound to the edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode (EPPGE), and then stable agarose-cyt- c/EPPGE was prepared. Direct electrochemistry between cyt- c and the EPPGE was monitored by protein film voltammetry. The effects of ionic strength, pH and exterior substances on the direct electrochemistry, and electrocatalytic properties of cyt- c were also studied. Results show that the electrochemical behavior of heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) in cyt- c is quasireversible. Its electrochemical performance is the best when the concentration of supporting electrolyte phosphate buffer solution is 0.2 mol/l and pH is 7.0, and greatly inhibited by exterior metal ions. Catalytic reduction of oxygen could also be achieved at the agarose-cyt- c/EPPGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose  This study evaluated the performance of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) in predicting post-transplant survival in a cohort of Chinese patients, and compared its predictive ability with that of the Child-Pugh score. Methods  The study enrolled 117 adult Chinese patients undergoing liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver diseases from January 1998 to January 2007 to evaluate the baseline characteristics and outcomes. Results  In a median follow-up duration of 90 weeks (range 0.2–373 weeks), 30 patients died. The 3-month and 1-year mortality rates of recipients in group 1 (MELD score 38) 91.7% and 91.7%, respectively. A statistical difference was observed in the mortality rates between the three groups (P P Conclusions  Both the MELD and Child-Pugh score are valid models to predict the short-term or mediumterm outcome of Chinese recipients undergoing liver transplantation for benign end-stage liver diseases. The MELD is superior to the Child-Pugh score in predicting the 3-month mortality post-transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polyketide, 2-(7′-hydroxyoxooctyl)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzeneacetic acid ethyl ester ( 1), together with three known compounds dothiorelone A ( 2), B ( 3), and C ( 4) were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. ZSU-H76 obtained from the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. Primary bioassays showed that 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against HEp-2 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 25 and 30 μg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new isoprenyl phenyl ether, 3-hydroxy-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyloxy)benzoic acid methyl ester ( 1), together with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid ( 2), 2-hydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid ( 3), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid ( 4) were isolated from Mangrove fungus (No. B60) from the South China Sea. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. In the preliminary bioassay, compound 1 exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. Compound 1 also inhibited cytotoxicity to the hepG2 cell line with an IC50 value of 10.0 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-performance liquid chromatography assay is described for the determination of rivanol in human plasma. Solid-phase extraction cartridges are used to extract plasma samples. Separation is done by using a C18 column. The mobile phase is a mixture of methanol–0.05% sodium dodecylsulfonate (70:30, v/v, pH 3), with the flow rate at 1.0 mL/min. UV detection of rivanol is at 272 nm. The calibration curve is linear in the concentration range of 1 x 10–8 mol/L to 1 x 10–5 mol/L with linear correlation coefficient r equal to 0.9998. The limit of detection for the assay is 3 x 10–9 mol/L, corresponding to 1.1 ng/mL. Precision, expressed as the within- and between-day coefficient of variation, is 3.3–8.1% and 4.1–9.5%, respectively, at plasma control samples of 5 x 10–8, 5 x 10–7, and 5 x 10–6 mol/L. And the recovery ranges from 94.8% to 107.2%. The selectivity of the method is confirmed. Plasma samples are stable for at least 15 days if they are stored lightproof at –20°C. This method is simple, sensitive, and accurate, and it allows for the determination ng rivanol in human plasma. It could be applied to assessing its plasma level in women receiving an intra-amniotic injection of rivanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Etk/Bmx, a member of the Tec family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, has been implicated in the regulation of various cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility, and apoptosis. Here, we report the identification of Tec family kinases as the potential interacting proteins of the tumor suppressor p53 by an Src homology 3 domain array screening. Etk is physically associated with p53 through its Src homology 3 domain and the proline-rich domain of p53. Induction of p53 expression by DNA damage inhibits Etk activity in several cell types. Down-regulation of Etk expression by a specific small interfering RNA sensitizes prostate cancer cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, suggesting that inhibition of Etk activity is required for apoptosis in response to DNA damage. We also show that Etk primarily interacts with p53 in the cytoplasm and that such interaction leads to bidirectional inhibition of the activities of both proteins. Overexpression of Etk in prostate cancer cells results in inhibition of p53 transcriptional activity and its interaction with the mitochondrial protein BAK and confers the resistance to doxorubicin. Therefore, we propose that the stoichiometry between p53 and the Tec family kinases in a given cell type may determine its sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new griseofulvin derivative, 7-chloro-2',5,6-trimethoxy-6'-methylspiro(benzofuran-2(3H),1'-(2) cyclohexene)3,4'-dione (1), together with the known 2-acetyl-7-methoxybenzofuran (2), was isolated from the marine-derived mangrove endophytic fungus Sporothrix sp. (No. 4335). The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal–organic framework [Cu3(m-TATB)2Py(CH3OH)2] (1) constructed of a triazine-based trigonal-planar ligand, 3,3′,3″-s-triazine-2,4,6-triyltribenzoate (m-H3TATB), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1features three-dimensional (3D) channels and cavities together, and exhibits high carbon dioxide sorption at normal pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new magnesium metal—organic framework (MOF) based on an asymmetrical ligand, biphenyl-3,4',5-tricarboxylate (H3BPT), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. MOF Mg3(BPT)2(H2O)4 (1) consists of 1D hexagonal nanotube-like channels and exhibits pronounced hydrogen-sorption hysteresis at medium pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify renal microcirculatory perfusion in braindead donors using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and to establish an accurate, noninvasive, and convenient index for predicting delayed graft function (DGF) post-transplantation. Methods: In total, 90 brain-dead donor kidneys (training group, n=60; validation group, n=30) examined between August 2020 and November 2022 were recruited in this prospective study. CEUS was performed on the kidneys of brain-dead donors 24 hours before organ procurement and time-intensity curves were constructed. The main measures were arrival time, time to peak, and peak intensity of the kidney segmental arteries, cortex, and medulla. Recipients were divided into DGF and non-DGF groups according to early post-transplant graft function. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess diagnostic performance. Results: The arrival time of the kidney segmental artery and cortex and the time interval between the time to peak of the segmental artery and cortex were identified as independent factors associated with DGF by multivariate stepwise regression analysis. A new index for the joint prediction model of three variables, the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography/Kidney Donor Profile index (CEUS-KDPI), was developed. CEUS-KDPI showed high accuracy for predicting DGF (training group: AUC, 0.91; sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.3%; validation group: AUC, 0.84; sensitivity, 75.0%; specificity, 92.3%). Conclusion: CEUS-KDPI accurately predicted DGF after kidney transplantation. CEUS may be a potential noninvasive tool for bedside examinations before organ procurement and may be used to predict early renal function after kidney transplants kidneys from donors after brain death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe a tobacco cessation intervention using personalized mobile phone text messages based on behaviour change theory and to assess why the intervention was effective. Methods We conducted a two-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in five cities in China from April to July 2021. We recruited daily or weekly smokers aged 18 years or older. The 90-day intervention was delivered using a mobile phone chat application. At different stages of quitting, intervention group participants received personalized text messages based on analyses of the strength of their intention to quit, their motivation to quit and their self-reported success at quitting. Control group participants received non-personalized text messages. The primary outcome was the biochemically verified 6-month abstinence rate. Secondary outcomes were changes in scores on the components of protection motivation theory. All analyses were by intention to treat. Findings We randomly assigned 722 participants to intervention or control groups. Biochemically verified continuous abstinence at 6 months was 6.9% (25/360) in the intervention group and 3.0% (11/362) in the control group. Smokers who received the personalized intervention had lower scores on intrinsic rewards of smoking and response costs of quitting in the protection motivation theory analysis. These two variables were also determinants of sustained abstinence, thus explaining why the intervention group had a higher quitting rate. Conclusion The study confirmed the psychological determinants of long-term abstinence from smoking and provided a framework to explore why such an intervention is effective. This approach may be applicable to the development or analysis of interventions targeting other health behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations of heavy metal pollution in the overlying water and surface sediments of the Tiaozi River, a tributary of the Liao River, which is one of the seven major rivers and one of the most heavily-polluted rivers in China. Water and sediment samples were collected over four seasons, analyzed for heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd, and Zn), and assessed with an integrated water quality index (WQI) and a geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Results indicated that the maximum concentrations of all the metals in water and sediments occurred in winter and the minimum in summer. Assessment of the pollution indicated that the water was uncontaminated by heavy metals, but the sediments were slightly contaminated with Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn. Therefore, the pollution of Cu, Ni, Cd, and Zn in the Tiaozi River Basin should be taken into account during the formation of regional management strategies for the water environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking a strategy for triggering the cryptic natural product biosynthesis to yield novel compounds in the plant-associated fungus Xylaria sp., the effect of culture conditions on metabolite production was investigated. A shift in the production of five known cytochalasin-type analogues 1-5 to six new α-pyrone derivatives, xylapyrones A-F (compounds 6-11), from a solid to a liquid medium was observed. These compounds were identified by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS data. Compounds 1-3 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 and Caski cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 25 to 63 μM and compounds 4-11 were found to be inactive, with ICY50 values >100 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under LC-TOF-MS fraction-guided analysis, then-butanol was extracted fromBidens pilosa. Three bioactivity isomers compounds, including methyl 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinate (1), methyl 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (2), and methyl 4,5-dicaffeoyl quinate (3) were successfully isolated by countercurrent chromatography (CCC) with two phase solvent system composed of chloroform-methanol-water-n-buthanol (4:3:2:0.5, v/v) elution. Their purities were 93.7%, 82.4%, and 91.8% determined by HPLC. HR-ESI-MS and NMR was used to confirm their structures. This is the first time the isolation of geometrical isomers of methyl dicaffeoyl quinates by CCC has been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental method of measuring acoustic surface radiation resistance is developed. The principle of the method is based on obtaining source velocity and field pressure generated by the source. To measure surface radiation resistance, measuring probe was developed and measuring system was set up. Then, major factors that affect measurement accuracy is discussed and great improvements are got. After that, experiments of measuring baffled circular piston were conducted to analyze its applicable frequency range. To verify actual application effect, experiments of measuring the tube and cylinder heads of a diesel engine were performed. The results show that this measuring system can obtain resistance values in the frequency range from 460 to 1900 Hz with high precision. The measuring sys-tem has features of simple operation, convenient use, and high accuracy. Therefore, it can be used to determine surface resistance matrix of various structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new 2(5H)-furanone-type derivatives, pestalafuranones F-J (compounds 3-7), together with two known compounds, pestalafuranones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract from the fermentation broth of the endophytic fungus Nigrospora sp. BM-2 in a hypersaline medium. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated by EIMS, HREIMS and NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-7 exhibited no cytotoxic activities against the MDA-MB-231 and Caski cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deregulation of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase ETK/BMX has been reported in several solid tumors. In this report, we demonstrated that ETK expression is progressively increased during bladder cancer progression. We found that downregulation of ETK in bladder cancer cells attenuated STAT3 and AKT activity whereas exogenous overexpression of ETK had opposite effects, suggesting that deregulation of ETK may attribute to the elevated activity of STAT3 and AKT frequently detected in bladder cancer. The survival, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells were significantly compromised when ETK expression was knocked down by a specific shRNA. In addition, we showed that ETK localizes to mitochondria in bladder cancer cells through interacting with Bcl-XL and regulating ROS production and drug sensitivity. Therefore, ETK may play an important role in regulating survival, migration and invasion by modulating multiple signaling pathways in bladder cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry analysis on tissue microarrays containing 619 human bladder tissue samples shows that ETK is significantly upregulated during bladder cancer development and progression and ETK expression level predicts the survival rate of patients with cystectomy. Taken together, our results suggest that ETK may potentially serve as a new drug target for bladder cancer treatment as well as a biomarker which could be used to identify patients with higher mortality risk, who may be benefited from therapeutics targeting ETK activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new xanthone derivative, 3,5,8-trihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4,4-trihydro-2 H,6 H-pyrano[3,2- b]-xanthen-6one ( 1), together with three known compounds, 5,8-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2 H,6 H-pyrano[3,2- b]xanthen6-one ( 2), cyclo-( N- O-methyl-L-Trp-L-Ile-D-Pip-L-2-amino-8-oxo-decanoyl) ( 3), and cyclo-(Phe-Tyr) ( 4), was isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus No. ZSU-H16 obtained from the South China Sea coast. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against KB and KBV 200 cells with IC50 values greater than 50 μg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new naphtho- γ-pyrone, 5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-2-benzyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]-pyran-4-one ( 1), together with three known compounds 5,7-dihydroxy-2-methylbenzopyran-4-one ( 2), 3,5-dihydroxy-2,7dimethylbenzopyran-4-one ( 3) and cyclo(Tyr-Tyr) ( 4) were isolated from the mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. ZSU-H26 obtained from the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. Primary bioassays showed that 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against HEp-2 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 10 and 8 μg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a temperature-sensitive conductive hybrid hydrogel is prepared by in situ polymerization on MWCNT reinforced PNIPAM/CMCS hydrogels. MWCNT and PANI combined the PNIPAM/CMCS matrix with physical and chemical crosslinking that improved the stiffness and elasticity of hydrogel. Due to good mechanical stretch ability, high electrical conductivity, thermal responsiveness and pH sensitivity, this hydrogel has potential in the application of wearable devices, temperature sensitive sensor and pH detector. Polymer hydrogels with stimulus-response characteristics with good electrical properties have great potential in electrical, electrochemical, and biomedical devices. Here, a temperature sensitive conductive hybrid hydrogel is prepared using in-situ polymerized polyaniline (PANI) on PNIPAM/CMCS/MWCNT hydrogel substrate. The network of physical and chemical crosslinking endows the PNIPAM/CMCS/MWCNT/PANI hydrogel with highly porous structures, which greatly enhances the mechanical properties and enhances the stability. The hybrid hydrogel as a strain sensor shows high sensitivity (gauge factor 3.603) and outstanding linear dependence of sensitivity on strain. The hybrid hydrogels can be used to construct highly sensitive temperature alertor based on circuit disconnection caused by volume shrinkage at high temperatures. Moreover, the hybrid hydrogels can also be used as pH sensor to monitor changes of acid and alkali in the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new compound, β-sitosterylglucoside-3′- O-linoleate, named balanoinvolin, and three known compounds coniferin, methylconiferin, and 4- O- β-D-glucopyranosylconiferyl aldehyde, were isolated from Balanophora involucrate Hook. f. and their structures were determined by MS and 1D/2D NMR spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and practical transition-metal-free radical ­coupling reaction of sulfonyl hydrazides mediated by NIS/K2S2O8 has been developed to afford a variety of biological activity thiosulfonates in moderate to excellent yields. Compared to a known approach for the synthesis of thiosulfonates from sulfonyl hydrazides, this strategy features high yields, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate scope. The mechanistic studies revealed that the procedure undergoes via a radical cross-coupling process for the construction of S–S bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity and reproducibility are two major concerns to improve the performance and extend the range of practical applications of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A theoretical report reveals that hot spots formed by gold nanoparticles with a tip-to-tip configuration would generate the maximum electric field enhancement because of the lightning rod effect. In our present study, we constructed a giant vesicle consisting of anchored tiny gold nanowires to provide a high density of sharp tip-to-tip nanogaps for SERS application. The tiny gold nanowires were directly grown and anchored onto the surfaces of polystyrene (PS) microspheres by a seed-mediated method. Then, the removal of PS microspheres by tetrahydrofuran led to the formation of the giant gold vesicles with hierarchical cage structures, providing the sharp tips and high density of hot spots for improving SERS performance. Compared with the nonwire structure (island and inhibited nanoparticle), giant gold vesicles with tiny wires showed a higher SERS enhancement factor (9.90 × 107) and quantitative SERS analysis in the range of 10-4 to 10-7 M. In addition, the large-scale giant gold vesicle array on the silica substrate resulted in a high reproducibility of SERS signals with the variation of intensities less than 7.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) contaminated wastewater has posed a great threat to the safety of water resources. In this study, air stripping was employed to remove and recover NH4-N from acetylene purification wastewater (APW) in a polyvinylchloride manufacturing plant. Investigated parameters were initial APW pH, air flow rate, APW temperature and stripping time. The NH4-N removal by air stripping has been modeled and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLa) of the stripping process has been calculated from the model equation obtained. In addition, the ability of H2SO4 solution to absorb the NH3 stripped was also investigated. The results indicated that under the experimental conditions, the APW temperature and its initial pH had significant effects on the NH4-N removal efficiency and the KLa, while the effects of other factors were relatively minor. The removal efficiency and residual concentration of NH4-N were about 91% and 12 mg/L, respectively, at the optimal operating conditions of initial APW pH of 12.0, air flow rate of 0.500 m³/(h⋅L), APW temperature of 60 °C and stripping time of 120 min. One volume of H2SO4 solution (0.2 mol/L) could absorb about 93% of the NH3 stripped from 54 volumes of the APW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylene purification wastewater (APW) usually contains high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N), which is generated during the production of acetylene in a polyvinylchloride manufacturing plant. In this study, a struvite precipitation method was selected to remove NH4-N from the APW. Laboratory-scale batch experiments were performed to investigate the effects of the initial APW pH, phosphate (PO43-) concentration, magnesium (Mg2+) concentration, and sources of PO43- and Mg2+ on NH4-N removal. The results indicated that the initial APW pH had a significant effect on the removal of NH4-N, while the other factors had relatively minor effect. The NH4-N could be effectively removed at an optimum initial APW pH of 9.5, when Na2HPO4∙12H2O and MgSO4∙7H2O were both applied to NH4-N at a ratio of 1.2. Under these conditions, the efficiency of removal of NH4-N, total nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand were 85%, 84% and 18%, respectively. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the precipitates were dominated by struvite. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the precipitates showed a typical morphology of stick-like and prismatic crystals with coarse surface. The energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis indicated that the precipitates contained P, O, Mg and Ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous changes in pulmonary hemodynamic properties in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) and portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) have not been fully characterized in large animal models of HPS and PoPH. Beagle dog models of HPS and PoPH were induced by chronic common bile duct ligation and Sephadex microspheres, respectively. The model was validated by catheter examination and pathological analyses, and the hemodynamic characteristics of the models were observed. The results revealed that the cross-sectional area of the blood vessel was significantly increased in HPS models, but it was significantly decreased in the PoPH models. Furthermore, the resistance of pulmonary circulation was elevated in models of HPS, but it was decreased in models of PoPH. The present findings renew the traditional view that pulmonary hypertension is due to the enhanced peripheral resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine the effect of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, vorinostat (SAHA), on renal function in a calcium oxalate crystal mouse model, and to investigate the mechanism underlying the renoprotective effect of SAHA. Calcium oxalate crystal formation was induced in 8 week-old male C57BL/6 mice by administering 100 mg/kg glyoxylate for 7 days. A total of 24 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group and the following experimental groups: 50 mg/kg normal saline + 100 mg/kg glyoxylate; 50 mg/kg dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + 100 mg/kg glyoxylate; and 50 mg/kg SAHA + 100 mg/kg glyoxylate. The mice in each of the experimental groups were injected with the saline, DMSO or SAHA into their abdominal cavities 6 h prior to the glyoxylate injection. The mice were sacrificed after 7 days, following which blood and urine samples were collected. The kidneys were harvested to analyze the levels of calcium concentrations and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase. Immunohistochemical staining and semi-quantitative analyses were performed to detect the expression levels of osteopontin (OPN) and CD44. Renal tubular cell apoptosis was detected using a TUNEL assay. The concentrations of calcium and malondialdehyde were significantly decreased in the SAHA group, and calcium oxalate crystals in the kidney tissue and the expression levels of OPN and CD44 in the SAHA group were lower, compared with the other experimental groups. SAHA significantly reduced the urinary excretion of KIM.1 and renal tubular cell apoptosis. In conclusion, SAHA reduced calcium oxalate crystal deposition and protected against kidney injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dyes derived from plants have an extensive history of use for coloring food and clothing in Dong communities and other indigenous areas in the uplands of China. In addition to use as coloring agents, Dong communities have historically utilized dye plants for their value for enhancing the nutritive, medicinal and preservative properties of foods. However, the persistence of plant-derived dyes and associated cultural practices and traditional knowledge is threatened with rapid socio-economic change in China. Research is needed to document the ethnobotany of dye plants in indigenous communities towards their conservation and potential commercialization as a sustainable means of supporting local development initiatives. Methods: Semi-structured surveys on plants used for coloring agents and associated traditional knowledge were conducted in fifteen Dong villages of Tongdao County in Hunan Province of South Central China during 2011-2012. Transect walks were carried out with key informants identified from semi-structured surveys to collect samples and voucher specimens for each documented plant species for taxonomic identification. Results: Dong households at the study sites utilize the flowers, bark, stems, tubers and roots of 13 plant species from 9 families as dyes to color their customary clothing and food. Out of the documented plants, a total of 7 are used for coloring food, 3 for coloring clothing and 3 for both food and clothing. Documented plants consist of 3 species that yield black pigments, 3 for brownish red / russet pigments, 3 for red pigments, 2 for dark blue pigments and 2 for yellow pigments. In addition to dyes, the plants have multiple uses including medicinal, ornamental, sacrificial, edible, and for timber. Conclusions: The use of dyes derived from plants persists at the study sites for their important role in expressing Dong cultural identity through customary clothing and food. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety of dye plants, their efficacy in enhancing food items and their commercial potential. Conservation policies and management plans are called for to preserve these ethnobotanical resources in a sustainable manner that supports local livelihoods while maintaining cultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deregulation of androgen receptor (AR) splice variants has been implicated to play a role in prostate cancer development and progression. To understand their functions in prostate, we established a transgenic mouse model (AR3Tg) with targeted expression of the constitutively active and androgen-independent AR splice variant AR3 (a.k.a. AR-V7) in prostate epithelium. We found that overexpression of AR3 modulates expression of a number of tumor-promoting autocrine/paracrine growth factors (including Tgfβ2 and Igf 1) and expands prostatic progenitor cell population, leading to development of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. In addition, we showed that some epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes are up-regulated in AR3Tg prostates, suggesting that AR3 may antagonize AR activity and halt the differentiation process driven by AR and androgen. This notion is supported by our observations that the number of Ck5+/Ck8+ intermediate cells is increased in AR3Tg prostates after castration, and expression of AR3 transgene in these intermediate cells compromises prostate epithelium regeneration upon androgen replacement. Our results demonstrate that AR3 is a driver of prostate cancer, at least in part, through modulating multiple tumor-promoting autocrine/paracrine factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephantopus scaber is an ethnomedicinal plant used by the Zhuang people in Southwest China to treat headaches, colds, diarrhea, hepatitis, and bronchitis. A new δ-truxinate derivative, ethyl, methyl 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-δ-truxinate (1), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the entire plant, along with 4 known compounds. The antioxidant activity of these 5 compounds was determined by ABTS radical scavenging assay. Compound 1 was also tested for its cytotoxicity effect against HepG2 byMTT assay (IC50 = 60μM), and its potential anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and antitumor bioactivities were predicted using target fishing method software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and HCV genotype 1 is the most prevalent genotype and is resistant to current standard therapy. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telaprevir-based therapy for chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Methods: We included randomized controlled trials with no year or language restriction. All data were analyzed using a random-effects model by Review Manager v5.0. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving sustained virologic response (SVR), and the secondary outcomes were HCV relapse rate, incidence of severe adverse events (SAEs), and discontinuation due to adverse events. Results: The proportion of achieving SVR was significantly higher in the telaprevir group (odds ratio [OR] = 3.40 [1.92, 6.00], P<0.0001; I² = 87%) regardless of a patients' previous treatment status. It was also significantly higher in the 24-week and 48-week treatment groups (OR = 4.52 [2.08, 9.81], P<0.001; I² = 85%, and OR = 4.05 [1.56, 10.56], P = 0.004; I² = 92%, respectively), while it was comparable in the 12-week treatment group (OR = 1.32 [0.63, 2.75], P = 0.46; I² = 35%). In addition, the HCV relapse rate was significantly reduced in the telaprevir group (OR = 0.28 [0.16, 0.49], P<0.001; I² = 76%). However, the incidence of SAE (OR = 1.56 [1.15, 2.10], P = 0.004; I² = 0%) and study discontinuation due to adverse events (OR = 2.24 [1.43, 3.50], P<0.001; I² = 37%) were significantly higher in the telaprevir group. Conclusion: Despite its higher incidence of SAEs and discontinuation due to adverse events, telaprevir-based therapy can increase the proportion of achieving SVR in both previously treated and untreated chronic HCV-1 infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarize the experience with salvage liver transplantation (SLT) for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after primary hepatic resection in a single center. Methods: A total of 376 adult patients with HCC underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, between 2004 and 2008. Among these patients, 36 underwent SLT after primary liver curative resection due to intrahepatic recurrence. During the same period, one hundred and fortyseven patients with HCC within Milan criteria underwent primary OLT (PLTW group), the intra-operative and post-operative parameters were compared between these two groups. Furthermore, we compared tumor recurrence and patient survival of patients with SLT to 156 patients with HCC beyond Milan criteria (PLTB group). Cox Hazard regression was made to identify the risk factors for tumor recurrence. Results: The median interval between initial liver resection and SLT was 35 months (1-63 months). The intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05) and transfusion volume (P<0.05) were larger in the SLT group than in the PLTW group. The operation time was longer in the SLT group (P<0.05). The post-operative complications incidence, tumor recurrence rate, patients' survival rate, and tumor-free survival rate were comparable between these two groups (all P>0.05). When compared to those patients with HCC beyond Milan criteria undergoing primary OLT, patients undergoing SLT achieved a better survival and a lower tumor recurrence. Cox Proportional Hazards model showed that vascular invasion, including macrovascular and microvascular invasion, as well as AFP level >400 IU/L were risk factors for tumor recurrence after LT. Conclusions: In comparison with primary OLT, although SLT is associated with increased operation difficulties, it provides a good option for patients with HCC recurrence after curative resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies in the past have shown that perforin expression is up-regulated during acute renal rejection, which provided hopes for a non-invasive and reliable diagnostic method to identify acute rejection. However, a systematic assessment of the value of perforin as a diagnostic marker of acute renal rejection has not been performed. We conducted this meta-analysis to document the diagnostic performance of perforin mRNA detection and to identify potential variables that may affect the performance. Methodology/Principal Findings: Relevant materials that reported the diagnostic performance of perforin mRNA detection in acute renal rejection patients were extracted from electronic databases. After careful evaluation of the studies included in this analysis, the numbers of true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative cases of acute renal rejection identified by perforin mRNA detection were gathered from each data set. The publication year, sample origin, mRNA quantification method and housekeeping gene were also extracted as potential confounding variables. Fourteen studies with a total of 501 renal transplant subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The overall performance of perforin mRNA detection was: pooled sensitivity, 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.78 to 0.88); pooled specificity, 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.82 to 0.90); diagnostic odds ratio, 28.79 (95% confidence interval: 16.26 to 50.97); and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curves value, 0.9107±0.0174. The univariate analysis of potential variables showed some changes in the diagnostic performance, but none of the differences reached statistical significance. Conclusions/Significance: Despite inter-study variability, the test performance of perforin mRNA detected by polymerase chain reaction was consistent under circumstances of methodological changes and demonstrated both sensitivity and specificity in detecting acute renal rejection. These results suggest a great diagnostic potential for perforin mRNA detection as a reliable marker of acute rejection in renal allograft recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inadequate liver regeneration (LR) is still an unsolved problem in major liver resection and small-for-size syndrome post-living donor liver transplantation. A number of microRNAs have been shown to play important roles in cell proliferation. Herein, we investigated the role of miR-26a as a pivotal regulator of hepatocyte proliferation in LR. Methodology/Principal Findings: Adult male C57BL/6J mice, undergoing 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), were treated with Ad5-anti-miR-26a-LUC or Ad5-miR-26a-LUC or Ad5-LUC vector via portal vein. The animals were subjected to in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Serum and liver samples were collected to test liver function, calculate liver-to-body weight ratio (LBWR), document hepatocyte proliferation (Ki-67 staining), and investigate potential targeted gene expression of miR-26a by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. The miR-26a level declined during LR after 70% PH. Down-regulation of miR-26a by anti-miR-26a expression led to enhanced proliferation of hepatocytes, and both LBWR and hepatocyte proliferation (Ki-67+ cells %) showed an increased tendency, while liver damage, indicated by aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (T-Bil), was reduced. Furthermore, CCND2 and CCNE2, as possible targeted genes of miR-26a, were up-regulated. In addition, miR-26a over-expression showed converse results. Conclusions/Significance: MiR-26a plays crucial role in regulating the proliferative phase of LR, probably by repressing expressions of cell cycle proteins CCND2 and CCNE2. The current study reveals a novel miRNA-mediated regulation pattern during the proliferative phase of LR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A luminescent mixed lanthanide metal-organic framework approach has been realized to explore luminescent thermometers. The targeted self-referencing luminescent thermometer Eu0.0069Tb0.9931-DMBDC (DMBDC = 2, 5-dimethoxy-1, 4-benzenedicarboxylate) based on two emissions of Tb3+ at 545 nm and Eu3+ at 613 nm is not only more robust, reliable, and instantaneous but also has higher sensitivity than the parent MOF Tb-DMBDC based on one emission at a wide range from 10 to 300 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]