Effects of calcium oxide treatment at varying moisture concentrations on the chemical composition, in situ degradability, in vitro digestibility and gas production kinetics of anaerobically stored corn stover

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum conditions for calcium oxide (CaO) treatment of anaerobically stored corn stover by in situ and in vitro methods. Four ruminally cannulated, non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein cows were used to determine the in situ effective degradabilities of dry matter (ISDMD), organic matter (ISOMD), neutral detergent fibre (ISNDFD), in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD) and gas production in 72 h (GP72h ) of corn stover. A completely randomized design involving a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement was adopted. Ground corn stover was treated with different levels of CaO (3%, 5% and 7% of dry stover) at varying moisture contents (40%, 50% and 60%) and stored under anaerobic conditions for 15 days before analysis. Compared with untreated corn stover, the CaO-treated stover had increased ash and calcium (Ca) contents but decreased aNDF and OM contents. The moisture content, CaO level and their interaction affected (p < 0.01) the content of aNDF, ash and OM, and the ratio of aNDF/OM. The greatest ISDMD, ISOMD and ISNDFD were observed when stover was treated with 7% CaO and 60% moisture, while no differences (p > 0.01) in these in situ degradability parameters were observed between the stover treated with 5% CaO at 60% moisture content and those treated with 7% CaO at 60% moisture content. Corn stover treated with 5% CaO at 50% moisture had the maximum IVOMD and GP72 h among the treatments, and there was no difference (p > 0.01) between 50% and 60% moisture. Results from this study suggested that 5% CaO applied at 60% moisture could be an effective and economical treatment combination.

Association of TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese Hui population

Diabetes is one of costly chronic diseases. Previous studies across several ethnicities have shown that polymorphisms in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene were strongly associated with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In the present study, the association between the TCF7L2 gene and the susceptibility to T2DM in a Chinese Hui population was interrogated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and allelic specific PCR were employed for examining the TCF7L2 gene rs12255372 (G>T) and rs290487 (C>T), and rs7901695 (T>C) polymorphisms, respectively, in 109 healthy individuals and 111 subjects with T2DM who were of Chinese Hui descent and lived in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. The results showed that the genotypic frequency of rs290487 and the allelic frequency distributions of the rs7901695 and rs290487 loci were not significantly different between patients and controls in this population. However, both the genotypic and the allelic frequencies at rs12255372 exhibited statistical differences between the patients with T2DM and the unaffected cohort (P < 0.01). In addition, the frequency of the G allele at the rs12255372 locus in the patients was higher than that in healthy individuals (OR = 1.198, 95%CI = 1.097-1.307). These findings suggest that the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G>T) polymorphism might be one of the most important genetic factors associated with T2DM susceptibility, and that individuals in the Chinese Hui population who carry a G allele at this locus might be at risk to develop T2DM.

Correlation of plasma soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand, alpha fetoprotein A, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A with carotid plaque in patients with ischemic stroke

This study investigated the correlation of plama levels of inflammatory biomarkers [soluble cluster of differentiation 40 ligand (sCD40L), alpha fetoprotein A (fetuin-A), and pregnancy-associated protein A (PAPP-A)] with carotid plaque in patients with acute ischemic stroke. After undergoing color Doppler ultrasonography of the bilateral carotid arteries, 200 patients with acute ischemic stroke were grouped into plaque and non-plaque groups. The plaque group was further divided into stable and unstable plaque sub-groups by carotid plaque stability. Inter-group and -subgroup comparisons included demographic characteristics, current condition and medical history, and clinical laboratory and plama inflammatory biomarker data, and logistic regression explored the correlations between plama inflammatory biomarker levels and carotid plaques. Significantly higher sCD40L and fetuin-A levels were found in the plaque group than in the non-plaque group (all P < 0.05), with odds ratios (plaque vs non-plaque) of 6.372 and 4.101, respectively. Increased plama inflammatory biomarker levels were accompanied by a high risk of carotid plaque formation. Similarly, significantly higher plama sCD40L and PAPP-A levels were found in the unstable plaque subgroup than in the stable plaque subgroup (all P < 0.05), and the odds ratios (unstable vs stable) were 5.290 and 4.125, respectively. Increased plama inflammatory biomarker levels were accompanied by a high risk of carotid plaque instability. The study findings showed that plasma sCD40L, fetuin-A, and PAPP-A levels are associated with carotid plaque formation and instability. Fetuin-A and sCD40L might be predictors of carotid plaque formation, while PAPP-A and sCD40L might be predictors of carotid plaque instability.

Far upstream element-binding protein 1(FUBP1) expression differs between human colorectal cancer and non-cancerous tissue

Presented study aimed to detect the expression of far upstream element-binding protein 1 (FUBP1) in clinical samples of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and explore the correlations of their expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of CRC.The streptavidin-perosidase (SP) method of immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of FUBP1 in 34 cases of colorectal cancer and their surrounding surrounding normal tissue, 30 cases of adenoma tissue. Using fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the expression of FUBP1 mRNA was measured in colorectal cancer and its surrounding normal tissue from 32 patients. FUBP1 protein expression level was detected by the Western blot method in 32 pairs of colorectal cancer tissue and surrounding normal tissue, and 30 cases of adenoma tissue.The positive rate of FUBP1 was detected through histochemistry in colorectal carcinomas (82.3%) which was higher than that in colorectal adenomas (46.7%) and surrounding normal tissues (20.5%). The relative amount of FUBP1 mRNA by qPCR method in colorectal carcinoma tissues (0.2703±0.1118) was higher than that of surrounding normal tissues (0.1898±0.0635; P<0.05). The Western blot showed that FUBP1 was mainly expressed in colorectal carcinoma tissues (0.6499±0.1473),which barely expressed in adenoma tissues (0.3756±0.1377; P<0.05) and surrounding normal tissues (0.1675±0.0613; P < 0.05).FUBP1 expression differs among colorectal tissues, which is overexpressed in colorectal carcinoma tissue. Further studies are needed to explore the role of FUBP1 in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma.

Visualizing the mixed bonding properties of liquid boron with high-resolution x-ray Compton scattering

Bonding characteristics of liquid boron at 2500 K are studied by using high-resolution Compton scattering. An excellent agreement is found between the measurements and the corresponding Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. Covalent bond pairs are clearly shown to dominate in liquid boron along with the coexistence of diffuse pairs. Our study reveals the complex bonding pattern of liquid boron and gives insight into the unusual properties of this high-temperature liquid.

COI barcode based species-specific primers for identification of five species of stored-product pests from genus Cryptolestes (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)

Flat grain beetles of the genus Cryptolestes (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are one of the economically most important stored-product pests which feed on many kinds of agricultural products, especially grains. Nine of more than 40 described Cryptolestes species are recognized as stored-product pests and two of the pest species have a cosmopolitan distribution. Given the rapid growth in global trade of food products, ecological barriers to the spread of pests are easily overcome. Therefore, development of reliable systems for routine quarantine inspection and early infestation detection is vital. In the present study, we established a new rapid and accurate cytochrome c oxidase subunit I-based system for molecular identification of five common stored-product Cryptolestes species, namely, Cryptolestes capensis, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Cryptolestes pusilloides, Cryptolestes pusillus and Cryptolestes turcicus. Five species-specific primer pairs for traditional uniplex polymerase chain reaction assay are described and their specificity and sensitivity for the identification process is evaluated using larval samples of 12 different populations from three continents (Asia, Europe and North America).

Molecular cloning and characterization, and prokaryotic expression of the GnRH1 gene obtained from Jinghai yellow chicken

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) plays an important role in the control of reproductive functions. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of GnRH molecular variants in numerous species. In this study, the GnRH1 gene from Jinghai yellow chicken was cloned by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and transformed into BL21 (DE3) competent cells. The GnRH1 gene and amino acid sequences were subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The GnRH1 gene nucleotide sequence was discovered to be 352 bp long, containing a coding, promoter, and section of the 3'-regions. The GnRH1 gene shared 93, 81, 54, 58, 61, 76, 76, 59, 76, and 66% sequence identity with Meleagris gallopavo, Columba livia, Homo sapiens, Bos taurus, swines, Capra hircus, Ovis aries, Pantholops hodgsonii, Equus caballus, and Rattus norvegicus, respectively. The GnRH1 gene showed conserved domains. The GnRH1 protein was a secreted protein comprising 92 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 10205.6 Da and a theoretical pI of 5.67. Most of the amino acid residues were observed to be hydrophilic, indicating water solubility. The predicted secondary structures of proteins included α-helices (h; 23.08%), β-extensions (e; 10.92%), and random coils (c; 66.0%). The successful construction of prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-GnRH1 was confirmed by restriction and sequence analysis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the successful expression of recombinant plasmid in Escherichia coli BL21 (molecular weight = 25-28 kDa). Larger quantities of protein were expressed in supernatant, indicating greater expression in soluble form. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of the target protein.

Association of VDR polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Han and Hui populations

We investigated the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was conducted to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the rs1544410 (BsmI, G>A), rs757343 (Tru9I, G>A), rs731236 (TaqI, T>C), and rs739837 (BglI, G>T) loci of the VDR gene in 334 healthy individuals (Hui 115, Han 219) and 355 T2DM patients (Hui 154, Han 201) living in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. The genotypic frequency and allelic frequency distributions in the VDR gene showed no significant difference between T2DM patients and controls in the Chinese Hui population. However, statistical differences in the genotypic frequency at rs739837 and in the genotypic and allelic frequencies at rs1544410 were observed between T2DM patients and controls in the Chinese Han population (P < 0.05). Patient-control haplotype analyses using the SHEsis online haplotype analysis software showed that the G allele frequency of rs1544410 in the T2DM group was higher than that in the control group [odds ratio (OR) = 1.738, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.055-2.865], suggesting that the G allele is a risk factor of T2DM in the Chinese Han population. The frequency of haplotype GGCT between cases and controls was significantly different in both Chinese Hui [OR (95%CI) = 4.714 (1.04-21.36)] and Han populations [OR (95%CI) = 1.723 (1.03-2.883)] (P < 0.05), implying that the haplotype GGCT of the VDR gene is associated with susceptibility to T2DM in these ethnicities.

A and MdMYB1 allele-specific markers controlling apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) skin color and suitability for marker-assisted selection

Pre-selection for fruit skin color at the seedling stage would be highly advantageous, with marker-assisted selection offering a potential method for apple pre-selection. A and MdMYB1 alleles are allele-specific DNA markers that are potentially associated with apple skin color, and co-segregate with the Rf and Rni loci, respectively. Here, we assessed the potential application of these 2 alleles for marker-assisted breeding across 30 diverse cultivars and 2 apple seedling progenies. The red skin color phenotype was usually associated with the MdMYB1-1 allele and A(1) allele, respectively, while the 2 molecular markers provided approximately 91% predictability in the 'Fuji' x 'Cripps Pink' and 'Fuji' x 'Gala' progenies. The results obtained from the 30 cultivars and 2 progenies were consistent for the 2 molecular markers. Hence, the results supported that Rf and Rni could be located in a gene cluster, or even correspond to alleles of the same gene. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that red/yellow dimorphism is controlled by a monogenic system, with the presence of the red anthocyanin pigmentation being dominant. In addition, our results supported that the practical utilization of the 2 function markers to efficiently and accurately select red-skinned apple cultivars in apple scion breeding programs.

DNA barcoding of five common stored-product pest species of genus Cryptolestes (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)

Several species of the genus Cryptolestes Ganglbauer, 1899 (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) are commonly found in stored products. In this study, five species of Cryptolestes, with almost worldwide distribution, were obtained from laboratories in China, Czech Republic and the USA: Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens, 1831), Cryptolestes pusillus (Schönherr, 1817), Cryptolestes turcicus (Grouvelle, 1876), Cryptolestes pusilloides (Steel & Howe, 1952) and Cryptolestes capensis (Waltl, 1834). Molecular identification based on a 658 bp fragment from the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was adopted to overcome some problems of morphological identification of Cryptolestes species. The utility of COI sequences as DNA barcodes in discriminating the five Cryptolestes species was evaluated on adults and larvae by analysing Kimura 2-parameter distances, phylogenetic tree and haplotype networks. The results showed that molecular approaches based on DNA barcodes were able to accurately identify these species. This is the first study using DNA barcoding to identify Cryptolestes species and the gathered DNA sequences will complement the biological barcode database.

A novel regeneration of iron citrate solution by biooxidation of iron-oxidizing bacteria

Liquid phase oxidation process using chelated iron solution is among the most promising techniques for the hydrogen sulfide removal due to its double advantage of waste minimization and resource recovery. Regeneration of chelated iron is a core reaction in this process. Regeneration of chelated iron in acidic solution is very difficult. In this paper, a novel regeneration of iron citrate in acidic solution by biooxidation of iron-oxidizing bacteria was reported firstly. By using such a process, the influence of iron-oxidizing bacteria on the regeneration rate was investigated. The results demonstrated the regeneration rate with the new technology was increased significantly. The process may contribute to the biooxidation of iron-oxidizing bacteria. Application of this novel process increased the regeneration rate under the optimum conditions, suggesting the iron citrate regeneration process may be a feasible and economical method in application.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis of GH, GHR, and IGF-1 genes in minipigs

Tibetan (TB) and Bama (BM) miniature pigs are two popular pig breeds that are used as experimental animals in China due to their small body size. Here, we analyzed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in gene fragments that are closely related to growth traits [growth hormone (GH), growth hormone receptor (GHR), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1)] in these pig breeds and a large white (LW) control pig breed. On the basis of the analysis of 100 BMs, 108 TBs, and 50 LWs, the polymorphic distribution levels of GH, GHR, and IGF-1 were significantly different among these three pig breeds. According to correlation analyses between SNPs and five growth traits--body weight (BW), body length (BL), withers height (WH), chest circumference (CC), and abdomen circumference (AC)--three SNP loci in BMs and four SNP loci in TBs significantly affected growth traits. Three SNP sites in BMs and four SNP sites in TBs significantly affected growth traits. SNPs located in the GH gene fragment significantly affected BL and CC at locus 12 and BL at locus 45 in BMs, and also BW, WH, CC, and AC at locus 45 and WH and CC at locus 93 in TBs. One SNP at locus 85 in the BM GHR gene fragment significantly affected all growth traits. All indices were significantly reduced with a mixture of alleles at locus 85. These results provide more information regarding the genetic background of these minipig species and indicate useful selection markers for pig breeding programs.

Differential in vivo tumorigenicity of diverse KRAS mutations in vertebrate pancreas: A comprehensive survey

Somatic activation of the KRAS proto-oncogene is evident in almost all pancreatic cancers, and appears to represent an initiating event. These mutations occur primarily at codon 12 and less frequently at codons 13 and 61. While some studies have suggested that different KRAS mutations may have variable oncogenic properties, to date there has been no comprehensive functional comparison of multiple KRAS mutations in an in vivo vertebrate tumorigenesis system. We generated a Gal4/UAS-based zebrafish model of pancreatic tumorigenesis in which the pancreatic expression of UAS-regulated oncogenes is driven by a ptf1a:Gal4-VP16 driver line. This system allowed us to rapidly compare the ability of 12 different KRAS mutations (G12A, G12C, G12D, G12F, G12R, G12S, G12V, G13C, G13D, Q61L, Q61R, and A146T) to drive pancreatic tumorigenesis in vivo. Among fish injected with one of five KRAS mutations reported in other tumor types but not in human pancreatic cancer, 2/79 (0.25%) developed pancreatic tumors, with both tumors arising in fish injected with A146T. In contrast, among fish injected with one of seven KRAS mutations known to occur in human pancreatic cancer, 22/106 (20.8%) developed pancreatic cancer. All eight tumorigenic KRAS mutations were associated with downstream MAPK/ERK pathway activation in preneoplastic pancreatic epithelium, while non-tumorigenic mutations were not. These results suggest that the spectrum of KRAS mutations observed in human pancreatic cancer reflects selection based upon variable tumorigenic capacities, including the ability to activate MAPK/ERK signaling.

Intra-aortic balloon pump treatment for patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction after reperfusion therapy

We evaluated the effects of an intra-aortic balloon pump on hemodynamics, brain natriuretic peptide concentration and cardiac function of patients with acute myocardial infarction, after reperfusion therapy. Sixty-three patients with acute anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were given an intra-aortic balloon pump (32 cases) or not (control group, 31 cases). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and cardiac index were measured with a Swan-Ganz catheter. The brain natriuretic peptide concentration was detected by immunochemiluminometric assay. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured by echocardiography. No difference in baseline was observed between the two groups on day 1 in the hospital. On day 5, mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of patients with the intra-aortic balloon pump were significantly lower, and cardiac index of was higher than that of the controls, whereas no differences in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter or left ventricular ejection fraction were observed between the two groups. On days 5 and 90, the brain natriuretic peptide concentration of the intra-aortic balloon pump patients was lower than that of the controls. On day 90, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was smaller in the intra-aortic balloon pump patients, but no difference in left ventricular ejection fraction was observed between the two groups. The intra-aortic balloon pump improved the hemodynamic index and cardiac function and decreased brain natriuretic peptide concentration in patients with acute anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Effectiveness of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for treatment of spinal cord injury

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and safety of transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells for functional repair of the spinal cord. An olfactory bulb was obtained from a 4- to 5-month-old aborted fetus, and it was digested into single olfactory ensheathing cells and then cultured and purified for 1 to 2 weeks. Under general anesthesia, these single-cell suspensions of olfactory ensheathing cells were injected into the corresponding spinal injury site with 0.45-mm-diameter injections. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale was used to evaluate spinal function. A total of 15 patients (12 men, 3 women; age range, 18-56 years; mean age, 40) were admitted for obsolete spinal injuries. Spinal functions of the 15 patients were observed and followed postoperatively for a period ranging from 2 weeks to 1 month. All the 15 patients exhibited improvements in spinal function, and the improvement tendencies continued. Twelve patients had obvious spinal function improvement, and three had slight improvement according to the ASIA scale, with an obvious difference between preoperation and postoperation measures (P < 0.05). No fevers, infections, functional deteriorations, or deaths were seen. Thus, transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells promoted spinal and neurofunctional recovery in patients with malignant spinal injuries, and this therapeutic method was safe.

Atomic-scale configurations of synchroshear-induced deformation twins in the ionic MnS crystal

Deformation twinning was thought as impossible in ionic compounds with rock-salt structure due to the charge effect on {111} planes. Here we report the presence and formation mechanism of deformation {111} twins in the rock-salt manganese sulphide (MnS) inclusions embedded in a hot-rolled stainless steel. Based on the atomic-scale mapping under aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, a dislocation-based mechanism involved two synchronized shear on adjacent atomic layers is proposed to describe the dislocation glide and consequently twinning formation. First-principles calculations of the energy barriers for twinning formation in MnS and comparing with that of PbS and MgO indicate the distinct dislocation glide scheme and deformation behaviors for the rock-salt compounds with different ionicities. This study may improve our understanding of the deformation mechanisms of rock-salt crystals and other ionic compounds.

Diversity of endophytic bacteria in Caragana microphylla grown in the desert grassland of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region of China

The diversity of endophytic bacteria in the sand-fixation plant Caragana microphylla was investigated by amplified rDNA restriction analysis and by sequence and phylogenetic comparisons of the 16S rRNA genes. A total of 24, 19, and 17 operational taxonomic units were identified from 16S rDNA libraries of the plant roots, stems and leaves, respectively. Homology analysis revealed a 92-100% identity of bacterial 16S rDNA sequences compared with those in the GenBank database. The bacteria identified by sequence homology fell into the following groups: α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria, bacilli, and uncultured bacterium. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the roots were colonized predominantly by Bradyrhizobiaceae, while bacteria from Burkholderiaceae and Sphingomonadaceae were predominant in the stems and leaves, respectively. Additionally, the endophytic bacterial community in leaves was more diverse than those in the roots and stems. Overall, the most abundant bacteria in all three tissues analyzed were from the Sphingomonadaceae and Burkholderiaceae families, although many bacterial populations were found in only a single tissue. These results suggest that the bacterial population of C. microphylla is diverse.

Associated analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms found on exon 3 of the IGF-1 gene with Tibetan miniature pig growth traits

The IGF-1 gene is an important regulating factor that has a growth-promoting effect on growth hormone. The IGF-1 gene promotes muscle cell differentiation in the muscle cell formation process. The IGF-1 gene also regulates the growth of skeletal muscle during skeletal muscle growth. In addition, the IGF-1 gene plays an important role in the formation of mammals and poultry embryos, and the process of postnatal growth. The IGF-1 gene has been implicated as a candidate gene for the regulation of pig growth traits. We analyzed exon 3 of the IGF-1 gene polymorphism in Tibetan miniature pigs (N = 128) by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing. One single nucleotide polymorphism (T40C) was found on exon 3 of the IGF-1 gene. Statistical analysis of genotype frequencies revealed that the T allele was dominant in Tibetan miniature pigs at the T40C locus. The association analysis showed that the IGF-1 mutation had an effect on the body weight, body length, and chest circumference of pigs aged 6-8 months. In addition, the IGF-1 mutation had an effect on body weight in pigs aged 9-11 months (P < 0.05). We speculated that the pigs with the TT genotype grow more rapidly compared to those with the TC genotype. The TC genotype of the Tibetan miniature pig has a smaller body type. This information provides a theoretical basis for the genetic background of Tibetan miniature pigs.

Polymorphisms of +2836 G>A in the apoE gene are strongly associated with the susceptibility to essential hypertension in the Chinese Hui population

In the present study, the correlation of polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene with the susceptibility of essential hypertension (EH) was investigated. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the apoE gene at the -491 A>T, +969 C>G, and +2836 G>A sites were determined in 221 non-EH individuals and 109 subjects with EH of Chinese Hui ethnicity using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results showed that neither the genotypic frequency nor the allelic frequency at the -491 A>T and +969 C>G sites exhibited a statistically significant difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in genotypic frequency and allelic frequency at the +2836 G>A site between EH patients and non-EH individuals (P < 0.01). In addition, a significantly higher frequency of the A allele at the +2836 G>A site was also detected in EH patients (83%) compared with controls (47.5%) (P < 0.01; OR = 4.82, 95%CI = 3.25-7.17); in contrast, the frequency of the G allele at the +2836 G>A site was significantly lower (17%) in the patient group in comparison with the non-EH cohorts (52.5%) (P < 0.01; OR = 0.21, 95%CI = 0.14-0.31). These results suggest that the polymorphism at the +2836 G>A site in the apoE gene is strongly correlated with the susceptibility to EH in the Chinese Hui ethnic population.

The performance of enhanced coagulation for treating slightly polluted raw water combining polyaluminum chloride with variable charge soil

The feasibility and effectiveness of treating pollutants in slightly polluted raw water by variable charge soil and polyaluminum chloride (PAC) was investigated. Removal efficiencies of turbidity, phenol, aniline, algae and heavy metals (Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and Pb(2+)) were used to evaluate the coagulation performance. The results indicated that the addition of variable charge soil as a coagulant aid is advantageous due to the improvement of removal efficiencies. The tests also demonstrated that the presence of variable charge soil increased the removal of turbidity rather than adding residuary turbidity. The use of variable charge soil produced settleable flocs of greater density and bigger size. The main mechanism involved in the PAC coagulation was supposed to be sweep flocculation as well as charge-neutralization. Variable charge soil played a promoted aid role by adsorption in the enhanced coagulation process. It is concluded that the enhanced coagulation by PAC and variable charge soil, as coagulant and adsorbent, is more effective and efficient than traditional coagulation.

Isolation and characterization of two VpYABBY genes from wild Chinese Vitis pseudoreticulata

The establishment of abaxial-adaxial polarity is an important feature of the development of lateral organs in plants. Members of the YABBY gene family may be specific to seed-plant-specific transcriptional regulators that play critical roles in promoting abaxial cell fate in the model eudicot, Arabidopsis thaliana. However, recent study has shown that the roles of YABBY genes are not conserved in the development of angiosperms. The establishment of abaxial-adaxial polarity has not been studied in perennial fruit crops. Grapes are an important fruit crop in many regions of the world. Investigating YABBY genes in grapevines should help us to discover more about the key genetic and molecular pathways in grapevine development. To understand the characterization of YABBY genes in grapevines, two YABBY genes, VpYABBY1 (GenBank accession No. KC139089) and VpYABBY2 (GenBank accession No. KC139090), were isolated from the wild Chinese species Vitis pseudoreticulata. Both of these encode YABBY proteins. Sequence characterization and phylogenetic analyses show that VpYABBY1 is group classified into the FIL subfamily while VpYABBY2 is a member of the YAB2 subfamily of Arabidopsis thaliana. Subcellular localization analysis indicates that VpYABBY1 and VpYABBY2 proteins are localized in the nucleus. Tissue specific expressional analysis reveals that VpYABBY1 is expressed strongly in young leaves of grape but only weakly in the mature leaves. Meanwhile, VpYABBY2 is expressed in grape stems, flowers, tendrils, and leaves. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically expressing VpYABBY1 caused the partial abaxialization of the adaxial epidermises of leaves, behaving similarly to those over-expressing FIL or YAB3 with abaxialized lateral organs. By contrast, ectopic expression of VpYABBY2 in Arabidopsis did not cause any alteration in the adaxial-abaxial polarity. Sequence characterization and phylogenetic analysis revealed that VpYABBY1 and VpYABBY2 are group-classified into two different subfamilies. They have diverged functionally in the control of lateral organ development. VpYABBY1 may have a function in leaf development, while VpYABBY2 may play a specific role in carpel development and grape berry morphogenesis. It is further possible that during the evolution of different species, YABBY family members have preserved different expression regulatory systems and functions.

Critical evaluation of transcription factor Atf2 as a candidate modulator of alcohol preference in mouse and human populations

In prior work, congenic strains carrying the DBA/2Igb (D2) region of chromosome 2 (Chr2) for alcohol preference were bred onto a C57BL/6Ibg (B6) background and as predicted were found to reduce voluntary consumption. Subsequently, interval-specific congenic recombinant strains (ISCRS) were generated and also tested. These ISCRS strains reduced the quantitative trait loci (QTL) interval to a comparatively small 3.4 Mb region. Here, we have exploited an integrative approach using both murine and human populations to critically evaluate candidate genes within this region. First, we used bioinformatics tools to search for genes relevant to alcohol preference within the QTL region. Second, we searched for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within exons of every gene in this region. Third, we conducted follow-up microarray analyses to identify differentially expressed genes between the B6 and ISCRS strains in mice from each group. Fourth, we analyzed correlations between the expression level of candidate genes and phenotypes of alcohol preference in a large family of BXD recombinant inbred strains derived from B6 and D2. Finally, we evaluated SNP segregation in both BXD mouse strains and in humans who were heavy alcohol drinkers or non-drinkers. Among several potential candidate genes in this region, we identified activating transcription factor 2 (Atf2) as the most plausible gene that would influence alcohol preference. However, the candidacy of Atf2 was only weakly supported when we used a genetic network approach and by focused reanalysis of genome-wide association study data from European-American and African-American populations. Thus, we cannot conclude that Atf2 plays a role in the regulation of the QTL of mouse Chr2.

A validation of the use of names to screen for risk of chronic hepatitis B in Victoria, Australia, 2001 to 2010

The burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is increasing in Australia, particularly in those born in the Asia-Pacific region, and nearly half are undiagnosed. Primary care clinicians have a key role in diagnosing CHB, however identification of patients at risk is hindered by lack of awareness and limited information on country of birth in patient records. This study evaluates the potential of a validated list of names associated with Asian country of birth as a screening tool to predict risk of CHB, by comparing it with surveillance records for all people diagnosed with CHB or salmonellosis in Victoria from 2001 to 2010, and analysed using standard screening tools. Name list match was associated with CHB notification, with over 60% of cases having one name matching the list (sensitivity), and nearly one third matching both given name and surname; less than 15% and 2% of salmonellosis notifications matched for one name and both names, respectively (false positives). These results show that more than half of notified cases of CHB would have been identified by this name list, and that it could be used in support of initiatives to improve diagnosis of patients with diseases associated with country of birth when limited information is available.

Heterotopic central nervous system tissue arising in the palatopharyngeal region associated with cleft palate: case report

We present a rare case of heterotopic central nervous system tissue that arose in the palatopharyngeal region in a 4-year girl with a cleft palate.

Potential role of Atp5g3 in epigenetic regulation of alcohol preference or obesity from a mouse genomic perspective

The mitochondrial ATP synthase, subunit c, isoform 3 gene (Atp5g3) encodes subunit 9, the subunit of the multisubunit enzyme that catalyzes ATP synthesis during oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. According to the Ensembl database, Atp5g3 in mice is located on chromosome 2 between 73746504 and 73749383 bp, within the genomic regions of two sets of quantitative trait loci - alcohol preference and body weight. Both of those traits are more influenced by epigenetic factors than many other traits are. Using currently available phenotype and gene expression profiles from the GeneNetwork database, we obtained correlations between Atp5g3 and alcoholism- and obesity-relevant phenotypes. The correlation in expression levels between Atp5g3 and each of its 12 partner genes in the molecular interaction are different in various tissues and genes. Transcriptome mapping indicated that Atp5g3 is differentially regulated in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and liver. Owing to a lack of known polymorphisms of Atp5g3 among three relevant mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), and BALB/ cJ, the molecular mechanism for the connection between Atp5g3 and alcoholism and body weight requires further investigation.

First Report of Lily Blight and Wilt Caused by Fusarium tricinctum in China

Lily (Lilium spp.) is one of the most well-known horticultural crops, and plays an important economic role in China. In September 2011, wilted plants were observed on Lilium oriental hybrid cultivar 'Sorbonne' growing in Longde County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. Disease symptoms included wilting, stem and root rot, brown spots of bulbs and then bulbs rotting and spalling from the basal disc, plus a progressive yellowing and defoliation of the leaves from the base. Diseased plants were sampled from fields. Small pieces of symptomatic bulbs, stems, and roots from 10 different plants were surface disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s, 3% sodium hypochlorite for 5 min, and then washed three times in sterilize distilled water. The tissues were placed onto Martin Agar (2) at 25°C for 7 days. Nine isolates with morphology similar to Fusarium were obtained from the diseased tissues. Isolates were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA) and carnation leaf agar (CLA) and incubated at 25°C. Seven were identified as Fusarium oxysporum and one was F. solani, which have been reported as pathogens of lily in China (1). The other isolate, when grown on PDA, rapidly produced dense, white aerial mycelium that became pink with age and formed red pigments in the medium. On CLA, macroconidia with three to five septate were abundant, relatively slender, and curved to lunate. Microconidia were abundant, oval or pyriform, and one to two celled. Chlamydospores were in chains with smooth exine. The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and a portion of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) gene of the fungus were amplified, with universal primers ITS1/ITS4 and EF1/EF2 primers respectively (3) and sequenced. In addition, the β-tubulin gene (β-tub) of the fungus was amplified with modified primers Btu-F-F01 (5'-CAGACMGGTCAGTGCGTAA-3') and Btu-F-R01 (5'-TCTTGGGGTCGAACATCTG-3') (4). BLASTn analysis showed that the ITS sequences of the isolate (GenBank Accession No. JX989827) had 98.9% similarity with those of F. tricinctum (EF611092, JF776665, and HM776425) and the EF-1α sequences of the isolate (JX989828) had 98.1% similarity with those of F. tricinctum (EU744837 and JX397850). The β-tub sequences of the isolate (JX989829) had 99.0% similarity with those of F. tricinctum (EU490236 and AB587077). The isolate was tested for pathogenicity. Two-month-old 'Sorbonne' seedlings were inoculated by placing 5 ml of conidial suspension (about 10⁶ conidia per ml) over the roots of plants in each pot. Control plants were treated with sterile water in the same way. Plants were placed in a greenhouse at 22 to 25°C with a 15-h photoperiod. There were eight plants per pot and three replicates for each treatment. After 3 weeks, 87.5% of the inoculated plants exhibited browning of the root tips, root rot, and yellowing of the leaves, while control plants were symptomless. The pathogen was reisolated from the infected roots and identified as F. tricinctum, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt of lily caused by F. tricinctum. This information will provide guidance for the control of lily wilt disease and add information useful for the production of lilies. References: (1) C. Li and J. J. Li. Acta Phytopathol. Sin. (in Chinese) 26:192, 1995. (2) J. P. Martin. Soil Sci. 38:215, 1950. (3) K. O'Donnell et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95:2044, 1998. (4) M. Watanabe et al. BMC Evol. Biol. 11:322. 2011.

First Report of Crown Gall, Caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens on Soapberry (Sapindus delavayi) in China

Soapberry (Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk.,) plants are widely grown as shade trees in the subtropical to tropical regions of China. In July 2011, large, aerial galls were observed on the above-ground trunks of 5-year-old soapberry plants in two commercial nursery gardens located in Zhejiang Province. Disease incidence was estimated to be 75%. The galls varied in weight from 2 to 24 g and in texture from soft and spongy to hard, and in some cases, the galls completely girdled the trunk. The trees with galls exhibited poor growth compared with healthy trees. Isolations from the grinded and macerated galls yielded nearly pure white, circular, and glistening bacterial colonies on Roy Sauer medium (2). Six random colonies from different galls were selected for bacterial identification, and showed the same morphological, physiological, and biochemical characters and 16S rDNA sequences. All six isolates (isolate SD01 to SD06) were gram negative, rod-shaped bacteria. Carbon source utilization testing with the Biolog GN Bacterial Identification System (version 3.50) confirmed the bacteria as Agrobacterium tumefaciens with a similarity of 0.90. The most-parsimonious tree from the maximum parsimony analysis (PHYLIP package, version 3.68, 500 replicates) of bacterial 16S rDNA gene sequences showed that A. tumefaciens SD01 (GenBank Accession No. JX997939) clustered phylogenetically most closely (99.5% similarity) with A. tumefaciens C58 (AE007870.2). Pathogenicity was confirmed by injecting 3- to 5-week old tomato and sunflower plants and 2-year-old soapberry with approximately 5 μl of the bacterial suspension (10⁸ CFU/ml) in sterile, distilled water. Sterile distilled water was used as a negative control. Ten plants of each treatment were inoculated. Inoculated plants were then transferred to a greenhouse at 25°C. Typical tumors developed at the inoculation sites on tomatoes and sunflower plants 3 weeks after inoculation and on soapberry 6 weeks after inoculation. No symptoms were observed on the control plants. The bacteria that were readily reisolated from the inoculated plants exhibited the same morphological, physiological characters and 16S rDNA sequence as the original culture and were confirmed as A. tumefaciens, fulfilling Koch's postulates. A. tumefaciens is endemic to China and has a very wide host range (1). However, crown gall of soapberry has never been found in China and other countries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. tumefaciens on soapberry plants in China. References: (1) M. A. Escobar and A. M. Dandekar. Trends Plant Sci. 8:380, 2003. (2) L. W. Moore et al. Page 17 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. N. W. Schaad et al., eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001.

Population structure of the blood clam (Tegillarca granosa) in China based on microsatellite markers

The blood clam, Tegillarca granosa, is widely cultivated in China. We isolated 6 microsatellite loci from T. granosa and used them to investigate genetic diversity and population structure of 5 widely distributed populations of blood clam collected from eastern and southeastern China. The allele number per locus varied from 4 to 9, and the polymorphism information content value was 0.301 to 0.830. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.304 to 0.460 and 0.556 to 0.621, respectively; the population from Yueqing had the smallest observed heterozygosity. In the neighbor-joining tree, Shandong, Fenghua and Yueqing populations clustered together, and there was geographic divergence between Shandong and Guangxi populations. Some microsatellite loci that were isolated from these mainland China samples were not found in blood clams collected from Malaysia.

Polymorphisms of rs1799983 (G>T) and rs1800780 (A>G) of the eNOS gene associated with susceptibility to essential hypertension in the Chinese Hui ethnic population

We investigated a possible association of polymorphism of the eNOS gene and essential hypertension in the Chinese Hui population; polymorphisms of rs2070744 (T>C), rs1799983 (G>T), rs1800780 (A>G), and rs3918181 (A>G) loci of the eNOS gene were examined. We found that the genotypic frequencies at rs1799983 and rs1800780 loci differed significantly between patients with essential hypertension and control cohorts. The allelic frequency of the rs1799983 locus also differed significantly between essential hypertension patients and non-essential hypertension controls in this population. Additionally, the G allele of the rs1799983 locus was less frequent in the essential hypertension patients than in controls, with an odds ratio (OR) value of 3.851 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 2.236-6.631]. This is an indication of a protective factor of essential hypertension in Chinese Hui people. Haplotype analysis using the 4 SNPs revealed 15 haplotypes. Haplotype frequencies of CGAG, TTAG, TGGG, TTGG, and TTGA were significantly different in essential hypertension patients compared to non-essential hypertension controls. Individuals with haplotypes CGAG [χ² = 7.371, OR (95%CI) = 0.352 (0.161-0.770)] and TGGG [χ² = 6.180, OR (95%CI) = 0.600 (0.400- 0.899)] appear less likely to have essential hypertension. However, Chinese Hui with the haplotype TTAG are at risk to develop essential hypertension [χ² = 10.816, OR (95%CI) = 2.689 (1.466-4.932)]. We conclude that polymorphism of the eNOS gene is associated with susceptibility to essential hypertension in the Chinese Hui population.

Isolation and Identification of Pathogenicity Mutant of Curvularia lunata via Restriction Enzyme-Mediated Integration

In this report, 156 hygromycin-resistant mutants were generated via restriction enzyme-mediated insertional (REMI) mutagenesis. All mutants were subjected to a bioassay on detached leaves. Five mutants (T4, T39, T71, T91, and T135) showed reduced symptom development, whereas one mutant (T120) did not exhibit any symptoms on the leaves compared with the wild type. The pathogenicity of these mutants was further assayed through the spray inoculation of whole seedlings. The results demonstrated that the pathogenicity of the T4, T39, T71, T91, and T135 mutants was reduced, whereas the T120 mutant lost its pathogenicity. Southern blot analysis revealed that the plasmids were inserted at different sites in the genome with different copy numbers. Flanking sequences approximately 550, 860, and 150 bp were obtained from T7, T91, and T120, respectively through plasmids rescue. Sequence analysis of the flanking sequences from T7 and T91 showed no homology to any known sequences in GenBank. The flanking sequence from the T120 mutant was highly homologous to MAPKK kinases, which regulates sexual/asexual development, melanization, pathogenicity from Cochliobolus heterostrophus. These results indicate that REMI and plasmids rescue have great potential for finding pathogenicity genes.

Using biochemical system to improve cinnabar dissolution

In order to evaluate the leaching of cinnabar, a chemobiological reactor system with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for cinnabar dissolution was investigated. The results demonstrated cinnabar dissolution had relation to bioprocess of A. ferrooxidans and iron concentration tightly. The optimal dilution rate and iron concentration were 0.4/h and 2-3 g/L in chemobiological reactor. The process may be contributed to the indirect catalyzing of ferric iron generated with A. ferrooxidans and direct adherence oxidation function. This research shows the new microbiological technique may be a feasible and economical method in application.

Use of a whole-slide imaging system to assess the presence and alteration of lymphatic vessels in joint sections of arthritic mice

We investigated the presence and alteration of lymphatic vessels in joints of arthritic mice using a whole-slide imaging system. Joints and long bone sections were cut from paraffin blocks of two mouse models of arthritis: meniscal-ligamentous injury (MLI)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) and TNF transgene (TNF-Tg)-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MLI-OA mice were fed a high fat diet to accelerate OA development. TNF-Tg mice were treated with lymphatic growth factor VEGF-C virus to stimulate lymphangiogenesis. Sections were double immunofluorescence stained with anti-podoplanin and alpha-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The area and number of lymphatic capillaries and mature lymphatic vessels were determined using a whole-slide imaging system and its associated software. Lymphatic vessels in joints were distributed in soft tissues mainly around the joint capsule, ligaments, fat pads and muscles. In long bones, enriched lymphatic vessels were present in the periosteal areas adjacent to the blood vessels. Occasionally, lymphatic vessels were observed in the cortical bone. Increased lymphatic capillaries, but decreased mature lymphatic vessels, were detected in both OA and RA joints. VEGF-C treatment increased lymphatic capillary and mature vessel formation in RA joints. Our findings suggest that the lymphatic system may play an important role in arthritis pathogenesis and treatment.

QSAR of acute toxicity of halogenated phenol to green fluorescent protein by using density functional theory

A novel approach was established to predict toxicity of environmental pollutants by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as bio-marker. In the approach, recombinant Escherichia coli was constructed to express GFP. The toxicity values (-lgEC (50)) of 14 halogenated phenols to recombinant E. coli with GFP gene were measured. And optimized calculation was carried out at B3LYP/6-31G* level using density functional theory method. Based on the MTLSER model, the obtained parameters were taken as theoretical descriptors to establish the novel QSAR model for predicting -lgEC (50) (R (2) = 0.922). The model includes two variables (standard entropy (S (θ)) and the most negative atomic net charges of the molecule (q (-))). The results of cross-validation test (q (2) = 0.868) indicate the model of this study has optimum stability, which shows that it is feasible to predict to toxicity of chemistry utilizing recombinant E. coli with GFP gene.

Effects of methionine hydroxy copper supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of methionine hydroxy Cu [(HMTBA)(2)-Cu] supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows. Thirty lactating Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized block design: (1) Cu sulfate only (S): 12 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) per kilogram of concentrate; (2) Cu sulfate and (HMTBA)(2)-Cu (SM): 6 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) and 6 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate; or (3) (HMTBA)(2)-Cu only (M): 12 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate. The level of dietary Cu was determined according to the NRC (2001) requirement. This experiment lasted for 120 d, with the first 20 d for adaptation and with sample and data collection beginning on d 21. The milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield of cows in the SM treatment tended to increase compared with those in the S and M treatments. Cows fed SM also tended to have higher NDF and ADF apparent digestibility values than did cows fed S or M. Plasma Cu concentration significantly increased for the SM treatment compared with the S and M treatments. Cows fed S had higher plasma K concentration than did cows in the other 2 treatments. In conclusion, replacing one-half of the dietary Cu sulfate with (HMTBA)(2)-Cu increased plasma Cu concentration and tended to improve the neutral and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility values and the lactation performance of lactating dairy cattle.

Co-expression of VpROMT gene from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata with VpSTS in tobacco plants and its effects on the accumulation of pterostilbene

Plant secondary metabolites, such as stilbenes, have fungicidal potential and have been found in several plant species. Stilbenes in grapevine, such as resveratrol and pterostilbene, have recently attracted much attention, they are not only helping the plant to fight against pathogen attack, but they are also being widely used as ingredients of fungicide, anti-inflammatory drugs, antioxidant, and anti-infective agents. However, resveratrol O-methyltransferase gene, related with the synthesis of pterostilbene from resveratrol, has not been characterized effectively from Chinese wild Vitis pseudoreticulata. In this study, a candidate of resveratrol O-methyltransferase gene designated as VpROMT was isolated from a powdery mildew-resistant Chinese wild V. pseudoreticulata 'Baihe-35-1', and characterization studies were performed. Expression studies showed that VpROMT was predominantly expressed in developing roots yet not found in the leaves, stems, nor tendrils when the plants are not challenged. Results of qRT-PCR showed that VpROMT was rapidly induced by Erysiphe necator in V. pseudoreticulata and by methyl-jasmonate, UV-irradiation in suspension culture cells of Vitis romanetii. The expression level varies in different tissues of grapevine, which MeJA and UV-C treatment significantly upregulated the expression of VpROMT gene while UV-B treatment failed to. Co-expression of VpROMT and grapevine stilbene synthase (VpSTS) gene leads to the accumulation of pterostilbene in leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) indicating that VpROMT was able to catalyze the biosynthesis of pterostilbene from resveratrol in over-expression transgenic tobacco plants.

Size control and catalytic activity of highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles supported on porous glass beads

This paper presents a novel in situ method to prepare monodispersed palladium nanoparticles supported on porous glass beads with an egg-shell structure at room temperature. This method integrates two processes of ion exchange and reduction in one step just by changing the solvent from water to alcohol. The monodispersed Pd nanoparticles around 3.75 nm in diameter with a face-centered cubic structure have been successfully prepared. The adsorption capacity for palladium reached 55.00 ± 0.55 mg/g in ethanol, which was 26 times larger than that in water. These Pd nanoparticles supported on porous glass beads showed an excellent catalytic performance through the hydrogenation of cyclohexene. In addition, this in situ method was also successfully applied to prepare monodispersed silver and gold nanoparticles supported on porous glass beads. Overall, this facile method provided an alternative for preparing a supported nanoparticle catalyst in a green way.

Persistence of covalent bonding in liquid silicon probed by inelastic x-ray scattering

Metallic liquid silicon at 1787 K is investigated using x-ray Compton scattering. An excellent agreement is found between the measurements and the corresponding Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. Our results show persistence of covalent bonding in liquid silicon and provide support for the occurrence of theoretically predicted liquid-liquid phase transition in supercooled liquid states. The population of covalent bond pairs in liquid silicon is estimated to be 17% via a maximally localized Wannier function analysis. Compton scattering is shown to be a sensitive probe of bonding effects in the liquid state.

Molecular mapping of resistance gene to English grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) in Triticum durum wheat line C273

The English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), is one of the most important insect pests causing substantial yield losses in wheat production in China and other grain-growing areas in the world. The efficient utilization of wheat genes for resistance to English grain aphid (EGA) provides an efficient, economic and environmentally sound approach to reduce the yield losses. In the present study, the wheat line C273 (Triticum durum AABB, 2n = 4x = 28), is resistant to EGA in greenhouse and field tests. To identify the resistance gene, designated RA-1 temporarily, C273 was crossed with susceptible genotype Poland 305 (T. polonicum, AABB, 2n = 4x = 28). The F(1), F(2) and F(2:3) lines were tested with EGA in the field and greenhouse. The results indicated that RA-1 is a single dominant gene, closely linked to the microsatellite markers (SSR) Xwmc179, Xwmc553 and Xwmc201 on chromosome 6AL at genetic distances of 3.47, 4.73 and 7.57 cM, respectively. The three SSR markers will be valuable in marker-assisted selection for resistance to EGA as well as for cloning this gene in the future.

Polymorphisms of the TIM-1 gene are associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Hui minority ethnic population

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is known to be associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the association of four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the TIM-1 gene with susceptibility to RA in a Chinese Hui ethnic minority group. Using RFLP or sequence specific primer-PCR, 118 RA patients and 118 non-arthritis control individuals were analyzed for the -1637A>G, -1454G>A, -416G>C, and -232A>G SNPs in the TIM-1 gene. The polymorphisms -232A>G and -1637A>G in the promoter region of TIM-1 were found to be associated with susceptibility to the RA gene in the Hui population, while -416G>C and -1454G>A SNPs were not. Of these, the polymorphism of -232A>G is inconsistent with that found in a Korean population, suggesting that genetic variations of the TIM-1 gene contribute to RA susceptibility in different ways among different populations. Based on haplotype analysis, individuals with haplotypes AGCA (Χ(2) = 22.0, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) >1), AGCG (Χ(2) = 18.16, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) >1) and AGGA (Χ(2) = 5.58, P < 0.05, OR (95%CI) >1) are at risk to develop RA in the Chinese Hui population; those with the GAGA (Χ(2) = 7.44, P < 0.01, OR (95%CI) <1) haplotype may have a decreased likelihood of RA. GGCA and GGCG are more common in both RA and non-RA subjects. We conclude that -1637A>G and -232A>G polymorphisms of TIM-1 are associated with susceptibility to RA in the Chinese Hui population.

Body measurements of Chinese males in dynamic postures and application

It is generally accepted that there is a relationship between body dimensions, body movement and clothing wearing ease design, and yet previous research in this area has been neither sufficient nor systematic. This paper proposes a method to measure the human body in the static state and in 17 dynamic postures, so as to understand dimensional changes of different body parts during dynamic movements. Experimental work is carried out to collect 30 measurements of 10 male Chinese subjects in both static and dynamic states. Factor analysis is used to analyse body measurement data in a static state, and such key measurements describe the characteristics of different body figures. Moreover, one-way ANOVA is used to analyse how dynamic postures affect these key body measurements. Finally, an application of the research results is suggested: a dynamic block patternmaking method for high-performance clothing design.

NMR imaging of chitosan and carboxymethyl starch tablets: swelling and hydration of the polyelectrolyte complex

The hydration and swelling properties of the tablets made of chitosan, carboxymethyl starch, and a polyelectrolyte complex of these two polysaccharides have been studied by NMR imaging. We studied the effect of pH and ionic strength on the swelling of the tablets and on the diffusion of fluid into the tablets in water and simulated physiological fluids. The pH value of the fluids exerts a more significant effect than their ionic strengths on the swelling of the tablets. The tablets are compared also with those made of cross-linked high amylose starch. The formation of complex helps to keep the integrity of the tablets in various media and render a slow and restricted swelling similar to that of the tablets of the cross-linked high amylase starch, which is significantly lower than the swelling of chitosan and of carboxymethyl starch. The capacities to modulate the release rate of drugs in different media are discussed by comparing the matrices and evaluating the preparation process of the complex. A sustained release of less soluble drugs such as aspirin in gastrointestinal fluids can be provided by the complex, due to the ionic interaction and hydrogen bonding between the drug and the biopolymer complex.

Promoter hypermethylation of cyclooxygenase-2 gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in various types of human malignancies including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, a subset of ESCC either do not express COX-2 or show low level of expression. It is well established that promoter methylation is a major mechanism that mediates transcriptional silencing of COX-2 in gastric and colorectal cancer, but the data on ESCC are very limited. In this study, we attempted to determine whether COX-2 expression was also regulated by promoter methylation in human ESCC cell lines. We examined the methylation status of the COX-2 promoter in five human ESCC cell lines (EC109, EC9706, KYSE 410, KYSE 150, TE-1) using bisulfite sequencing analysis. Western blot analysis was used to determine COX-2 expression. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine COX-2 mRNA level. Prostaglandin (PG) E(2) was detected by ELISA. The promoter was densely methylated in TE-1 and KYSE 150, which had a low level of COX-2 expression and less methylated in other three cell lines (EC109, EC9706, KYSE 410), with high level of COX-2 expression. Treatment with 5-aza-deoxycytidine (5-aza-DC), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, demethylated the promoter and upregulated COX-2 expression, as well as PGE(2) production in TE-1 and KYSE 150. However, no such effects were observed in EC109. COX-2 protein was negative, but mRNA was positive in TE-1. After treatment with 5-aza-DC, both COX-2 mRNA and protein level had increased. These findings suggest that the promoter methylation may be one of the mechanisms that regulate COX-2 expression in ESCC.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in individuals for physical examination in West China Hospital, China

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the major cause of chronic hepatitis,cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The global epidemiological scenario of HBV infection has been changing rapidly over the last two decades due to an effective immunization programme initiated by the World Health Organization. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HBV in apparently adult people who were taken health examination in our Hospital.

METHODS

A cross-sectional seroprevalence analysis of hepatitis B virus infection was performed in 12037 adult residents (aged > or =18 years) in Chengdu, who visited Health Examination Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University for routine medical check-up during the period from March to December 2008. A structured medical form was used to collect data on demographic characteristics and risk factors. ELISA was used to test sera for HBV markers. Descriptive and logistic regression models were used for analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 12,037 urban residents were involved. Prevalence of positive HBsAg was 6.1%, lower than the level of national seroepidemiological survey in (7.18%). Among HBsAg negative people, anti-HBs and anti-HBc was 60.2% and 13.6% respectively. There was a maximum between 18 to 29 years of age (61.8%) in anti-HBs positive people. Multivariate conditional logistic regressive analysis showed that, except for blood and vertical transmission, factors of male gender (OR, 1.876; 95% CI, 1.519-2.316; P < 0.001) and alcohol intake (OR, 0.689; 95% CI, 0.571-0.832; P < 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of positive HBsAg.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the medical examination people in Chengdu, HBsAg positive rate was lower than the national general population, the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B has been changed, because of vacination policies to the newborn; therefore, the necessity to continue to carry on the vaccination program.

Molecular cloning of HSP70 in Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and comparison with that of other mycoplasmas

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a bacterial species that specifically affects ovine and goat, is the cause of ovine infectious pleuropneumonia. We cloned, sequenced and analyzed heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) (dnaK) gene of M. ovipneumoniae. The full length open reading frame of the M. ovipneumoniae HSP70 gene consists of 1812 nucleotides, with a G+C content of 34.16%, encoding 604 amino acids. Comparative analysis with the HSP70 sequences of 15 Mycoplasma species revealed 59 to 87% DNA sequence identity, with an amino acid sequence identity range of 58 to 94%. M. ovipneumoniae and M. hyopneumoniae shared the highest DNA and amino acid sequence identity (87 and 94%, respectively). Based on phylogenetic analysis, both the DNA and amino acid identities of M. ovipneumoniae with other mycoplasmal HSP70 were correlated with the degree of relationship between the species. The C-terminus of the HSP70 was cloned into a bacterial expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant C-terminal portion of HSP70 protein strongly reacted with convalescent sera from M. ovipneumoniae-infected sheep, based on an immunoblotting assay. This indicates that HSP70 is immunogenic in a natural M. ovipneumoniae infection and may be a relevant antigen for vaccine development.

Vascular risk factors promote conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease

OBJECTIVE

Growing evidence suggests that vascular risk factors (VRF) contribute to cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of VRF on the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia.

METHODS

A total of 837 subjects with MCI were enrolled at baseline and followed up annually for 5 years. The incidence of AD dementia was investigated. A mixed random effects regression model was used to analyze the association between VRF and the progression of MCI assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination and instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify the association between VRF and dementia conversion, and to examine whether treatment of VRF can prevent dementia conversion.

RESULTS

At the end of the follow-up, 298 subjects converted to AD dementia, while 352 remained MCI. Subjects with VRF had a faster progression in cognition and function relative to subjects without. VRF including hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular diseases, and hypercholesterolemia increased the risk of dementia conversion. Those subjects with MCI in whom all VRF were treated had a lower risk of dementia than those who had some VRF treated. Treatment of individual VRF including hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia was associated with the reduced risk of AD conversion.

CONCLUSION

VRF increased the risk of incident AD dementia. Treatment of VRF was associated with a reduced risk of incident AD dementia. Although our findings are observational, they suggest active intervention for VRF might reduce progression in MCI to AD dementia.

Chinese ischemic stroke subclassification

Accurate classification of stroke has significant impact on patient care and conduction of stroke clinical trials. The current systems such as TOAST, SSS-TOAST, Korean TOAST, and A–S–C–O have limitations. With the advent of new imaging technology, there is a need to have a more accurate stroke subclassification system. Chinese ischemic stroke subclassification (CISS) system is a new two step system aims at the etiology and then underlying mechanism of a stroke. The first step classify stroke into five categories: large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), including atherosclerosis of aortic arch and intra-/extracranial large arteries, cardiogenic stroke, penetrating artery disease, other etiology, and undetermined etiology. The second step is to further classify the underlying mechanism of ischemic stroke from the intracranial and extracranial LAA into the parent artery (plaque or thrombosis) occluding penetrating artery, artery-to-artery embolism, hypoperfusion/impaired emboli clearance, and multiple mechanisms. Although clinical validation of CISS is being planned, CISS is an innovative system that offers much more detailed information on the pathophysiology of a stroke.

The noggin2 gene of Gekko japonicus (Gekkonidae) is down-regulated in the spinal cord after tail amputation

The cDNA encoding noggin2 protein was obtained from the brain and spinal cord cDNA library of Gekko japonicus. The size of the noggin2 transcript and its expression in different tissues were analyzed by Northern blot analysis. In situ hybridization revealed positive hybridization signals in both gray and white matter of the spinal cord. Changes in noggin2 expression in the spinal cord after tail amputation were examined by real-time PCR. The noggin2 was expressed in the normal spinal cord and down-regulated three days after tail amputation, reaching the lowest level at two weeks, during the time course when we followed the expression levels. We concluded that the expression of noggin2 is affected by the process of spinal cord injury and regeneration.

Bioengineered skin in diabetic foot ulcers

OBJECTIVE

Bioengineered skin (BS) has been shown to play an important role in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Whether BS in the therapy of DFU can improve the outcomes still remains uncertain. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness and safety of BS in the treatment of patients with DFUs.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Comprehensive search strategies of various electronic databases were used for this study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety between BS and conventional treatment (CT) in patients with DFU, and only randomized controlled trials were adopted in our review. Search terms included 'bioengineered skin', 'tissue-engineering skin', 'human-tissue graft', 'human-skin device', 'living-skin equivalent' and 'diabetic foot', 'diabetic ulcer', 'diabetic wound'. Analysis outcomes included complete wound closure, complications, ulcer recurrence and adverse severe events (ASEs).

RESULTS

Seven randomized controlled trials on BS vs. CT were included, and 880 participants met inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis showed a significant effectiveness and safety advantages for BS treatment compared to CT for patients with DFUs. In analysis of complications, only statistically significant difference of infection was noted. And no included trials reported ASEs related to these treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the meta-analysis, patients with DFUs may benefit from the BS because of its high effectiveness and safety and reduced risk for infections in comparison to CT.

Effect of dietary crude protein level on visceral organ mass, cellularity, and the protein expression of ATP synthase, Na+/K+-ATPase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and ubiquitin in feedlot steers

Twenty-four steers [initial body weight (BW) = 510 ± 4.9 kg] predominately of Angus breeding were used to determine the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) level [8.5, 10.7, 12.3 or 14.5%, dry matter (DM) basis; high-moisture-corn-based diets] on visceral mass, cellularity, and protein expression of ATP synthase, Na+/K+-ATPase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ubiquitin. Steers were on dietary treatment for 28 d. Kidney, liver, and reticulorumen weights (g) increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increased dietary CP. Lung weight (g; g kg-1 BW) linearly increased (P < 0.05) with increased CP. Ruminal and small intestinal DNA concentration, and the ratios of RNA:DNA and protein:DNA in small intestine were affected quadratically by increased dietary CP (P < 0.05). Hepatic ATP synthase expression was affected quadratically with an increase when dietary CP increased from 8.5 to 10.7%, and a decrease when dietary CP increased from 10.7 to 14.5% (P < 0.05). Renal ATP synthase expression decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and small intestine mucosal Na+/K+-ATPase expression increased linearly (P = 0.05) with increased CP. These results indicate that increasing dietary CP increases liver, kidney, lung, and rumen masses, and differentially influences expression of proteins influencing energy utilization and efficiency in liver, kidney, and small intestine.Key words: Dietary crude protein, visceral organ mass, cellular energy metabolism, steer

Effect of dietary corn silage inclusion on visceral organ mass, cellularity, and the protein expression of ATP synthase, Na+/K+-ATPase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and ubiquitin in feedlot steers

Twenty-four steers (initial body weight = 535 ± 5.0 kg) predominately of Angus breeding were used to determine the effect of dietary corn silage inclusion [20, 40, 60, or 80% of dry matter (DM)] on visceral mass, cellularity, and the protein expression of ATP synthase, Na+/K+-ATPase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and ubiquitin. Steers were fed at similar energy levels (2.1 × NEm requirement). There were no significant treatment effects on specific visceral organ weights. Hepatic Na+/K+-ATPase expression linearly increased (P = 0.01) and ruminal Na+/K+-ATPase expression linearly decreased (P = 0.01) with increasing corn silage inclusion. Hepatic PCNA expression was quadratically affected (P = 0.05) with a decrease when corn silage inclusion increased from 20 to 60%, and an increase when corn silage inclusion increased from 60 to 80%. Renal ATP synthase (P = 0.02) and ubiquitin expression (P = 0.01) were quadratically affected in a similar pattern with an increase when corn silage inclusion increased from 20 to 60%, and a decrease when corn silage inclusion increased from 60 to 80%. These results indicate that different dietary corn silage inclusions, at similar dietary energy intake, may alter rumen, liver, and kidney energy expenditure, at least in part, through changes in specific metabolism rather than mass. Key words: Corn silage inclusion, visceral organ mass, cellular energy metabolism, steer