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The process of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in soils has received widespread attention. Herein, long-term outdoor soil burial experiments were conducted to elucidate the community composition and functional interaction of soil microorganisms associated with metal corrosion. The results indicated that iron-oxidizing (e.g., Gallionella), nitrifying (e.g., Nitrospira), and denitrifying (e.g., Hydrogenophaga) microorganisms were significantly enriched in response to metal corrosion and were positively correlated with the metal mass loss. Corrosion process may promote the preferential growth of the abundant microbes. The functional annotation revealed that the metabolic processes of nitrogen cycling and electron transfer pathways were strengthened, and also that the corrosion of metals in soil was closely associated with the biogeochemical cycling of iron and nitrogen elements and extracellular electron transfer. Niche disturbance of microbial communities induced by the buried metals facilitated the synergetic effect of the major MIC participants. The co-occurrence network analysis suggested possible niche correlations among corrosion related bioindicators.

Cardiolipin (CL) is an anionic phospholipid located exclusively in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Its presence in blood indicates mitochondrial damage and release from injured cells. Here, we report the detection of CL-exposed brain-derived mitochondrial microparticles (mtMPs) at 17 547 ± 2677/μL in the peripheral blood of mice subjected to fluid percussion injury to the brain. These mtMPs accounted for 55.2% ± 12.6% of all plasma annexin V-binding microparticles found in the acute phase of injury. They were also released from cultured neuronal and glial cells undergoing apoptosis. The mtMPs synergized with platelets to facilitate vascular leakage by disrupting the endothelial barrier. The disrupted endothelial barrier allowed the release of mtMPs into the systemic circulation to promote coagulation in both traumatically injured and mtMP- or CL-injected mice, leading to enhanced fibrinolysis, vascular fibrin deposition, and thrombosis. This mtMP-induced coagulation was mediated by CL transported from the inner to the outer mitochondrial membrane and was blocked by the scavenging molecule lactadherin. The mtMP-bound CL was ∼1600 times as active as purified CL in promoting coagulation. This study uncovered a novel procoagulant activity of CL and CL-exposed mitochondria that may contribute to traumatic brain injury-associated coagulopathy and identified potential pathways to block this activity., (© 2016 by The American Society of Hematology.)

Y2O3:Tb3+ and Y2O3:Tb3+, Yb3+ samples were prepared by co-precipitation method. The morphology, microstructure and fluorescence spectra at room temperature of samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fluorescence spectrometer, The optimal process conditions of Y2O3:Tb3+ under different doping concentrations, annealing temperature, and pH value of the solution were obtained: Tb3+ concentration is 1.5%, annealing temperature is 1400 degrees C, an alkaline solution environment, and samples under 300 nm light excitation have the largest green light emission at 543 nm. The corresponding relation of Tb3+ ion level structure and transition properties and experimental spectra were analyzed in detail, and we explained the influence mechanism of process conditions and the fluorescence quenching process mainly effects luminous intensity of samples. The energy transfer from sensitizing ions Tb3+ to active ion Yb3+ was confirmed, it made the sample have considerable emitting light in the near-infrared region; the authors described the process of cooperation conversion luminescence between the two ions from the level transition angle, and also analyzed the system of fluorescence quenching process. Test results showed that the near infrared quantum cutting can effectively improve the luminous efficiency of doped ions, and will have broad application prospects in the silicon solar cells and other fields.

Objective: To describe the pregnant women's utilization of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome and its influencing factors., Methods: From October 2007 to December 2008, 4250 lying-in women in 54 hospitals were surveyed by stratified cluster sampling method in Zhejiang, Hunan and Sichuan, which located in Eastern, Central and Western China, respectively. Demographic characteristics, knowledge and health behaviors were collected by the questionnaire of lying-in women's utilization and influencing factors of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome. Whether to use prenatal screening was determined by the lying-in women's medical history. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze data., Results: Respondents' age was (26.92 ± 4.60) years old. The total utilization rate of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome was 40.0% (1696/4237), and screening utilization rates in Zhejiang, Hunan and Sichuan were 48.23% (682/1414), 41.73% (616/1476) and 29.55% (398/1347), respectively. Screening utilization rates of respondents with college degree or above and high school or below were 72.68% (697/959) and 30.46% (998/3276), respectively. Screening utilization rates of urban and rural respondents were 63.00% (952/1511) and 27.11% (732/2700), respectively. Screening utilization rates of respondents under 35 years old and over 35 years old were 41.40% (1645/3973) and 19.32% (51/264). All differences were significant (all P values < 0.05). A total of 79.14% (1419/1793) of respondents thought it was necessary to take prenatal screening for Down's syndrome, and 79.47% (1506/1895) of respondents received doctors' suggestions, 24.2% (654/2702) of respondents who heard of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome could figure out the main pathogenic factors, while 23.0% (621/2702) didn't know any factors; 77.8% (2102/2702) of respondents heard of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome, but 12.3% (259/2102) didn't know the appropriate gestational weeks to uptake the screening, 47.0% (988/2102) knew of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome through healthcare providers. Logistic regression analysis result demonstrated that living in Zhejiang (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.26 - 2.08), city residence (OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.63 - 2.60), with positive attitude to screening (OR = 5.00, 95%CI: 3.97 - 6.29), pregnant women's age below 35 years old (OR = 3.86, 95%CI: 2.53 - 5.89), receiving advices from healthcare providers (OR = 12.64, 95.0%CI: 9.97 - 16.02), college degree or above educational level (OR = 2.67, 95%CI: 2.03 - 3.50) were facilitating factors on utilization of prenatal screening for Down's Syndrome., Conclusion: Pregnant women's use of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome was not enough, and living in zhejiang, higher education level, rural respondents with age under 35 years old, receiving advice from healthcare providers or not and their attitude toward necessity were significant promotive factors of utilization of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

Sodium and aluminum fluorides coated BaF2 was synthesized by hydrothermal method. It was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectrophotometer, respectively. The analysis results indicated that sodium and aluminum fluorides existed in the form of sodium fluoride and sodium fluoroaluminate, which combined with BaF2 surface via chemical bonds, and exhibited coated structure. Fluorescence spectroscopy testing showed that there were two wide upconversion emission peaks with maxima at 304 and 324 nm under the excitation at 583 and 863 nm, respectively. Its phosphorescence life time was greater than 18.4 ms, and the emission intensity exhibited a rising process from the beginning and a decaying process after 15 ms. The luminescence mechanism was proposed according to the energy conversion process of the upconversion emission, the results showed that the upconversion emission belonged to the quantum confinement effect-interface light emission center radiative recombination.