Observations of water transparency in China’s lakes from space

Water transparency, usually denoted by Secchi disk depth (SSD), represents the first-order description of water quality and has important implications for the diversity and productivity of aquatic life. In China, lakes supply freshwater and ecosystem services to nearly a billion people. Therefore, real time monitoring of lake transparency is of great significance. Moreover, understanding how and why transparency varies in space and time in response to different driving forces is needed to understand, manage, and predict lake water quality. Based on the time-saving and low-cost Google Earth Engine cloud platform, this study developed a new algorithm for quickly mapping SDDs in Chinese lakes. SDDs were retrieved for 412 Chinese lakes (> 20 km2) for the period 2000–2018. Results demonstrated that lake water depth spatially differentiated transparency. Deep lakes usually had high transparency and water depth explained 88.81 % of the spatial variations. With increasing catchment vegetation coverage and lake water depth, 70.15 % of lakes witnessed increasing transparency during 2000–2018. Of these 42.72 % were significant (p < 0.05). Transparency of deep lakes was generally determined by phytoplankton density not sediment resuspension. Minimum transparency occurred in summer. Future increases in lake water levels in response to factors such as climate change may contribute to further improvements in transparency. Management should focus on controlling eutrophication and increasing vegetation cover in catchments

A radical form of nitric oxide inhibits porcine circovirus type 2 replication in vitro

Abstract Background Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the causal agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), causing large economical losses of the global swine industry. Nitric oxide (NO), as an important signaling molecule, has antiviral activity on some viruses. To date, there is little information on the role of NO during PCV2 infection. Results We used indirect fluorescence assay (IFA), TCID50, real-time RT-qPCR and western blot assay to reveal the role of NO in restricting PCV2 replication. PCV2 replication was inhibited by a form of NO, NO • , whereas PCV2 was not susceptible to another form of NO, NO+. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the form of NO • has a potential role in the fight against PCV2 infection

BCP/PC mutation prevalence and their association with HBVreplication in HIV/HBV co?infected patients

AbstractThe high prevalence (14.3%) of HIV/HBV co-infections reported in west China makes it necessary to screen concurrent HBVinfection in HIV carriers. HBV B genotype was shown to be dominant in 54 cases of HIV/HBV co-infection, accountingfor 81.48% of the total. The total drug resistance rate observed was 3.70%. A1762T, G1764A and G1896A mutations werecommon mutations identified in the BCP/PC region. However, the prevalence of the G1896A mutation was significantly highamong the HBeAg negative HIV/HBV co-infected patients, and may be associated with high HBV replication. Mutationsin the PC region are related to the loss in synthesis of HBeAg and may accelerate HBV replication in HIV positive patients

Investigating the Potential of Using Waste Newspaper to Produce Environmentally Friendly Fiberboard

Waste newspapers (WNPs), composed of mostly wood fibers and small amounts of inorganic fillers and printing ink, are a low-cost, abundant, and readily available form of household waste. Urea formaldehyde (UF) resin is used routinely to produce wood-based panel boards even though it releases harmful formaldehyde. The best way of resolving this issue is to use formaldehyde-free adhesives from renewable resources. Kraft lignin, a readily available, low-cost, and renewable waste product from the pulping industry, is used mainly as a fuel. Kraft lignin has good bonding ability to wood-based panel boards and improves water resistance. In this research, fiberboards were produced using a dry-processing method from recycled WNPs and bonded with kraft lignin instead of UF. The physical and mechanical properties of the produced fiberboards were evaluated. The results showed that the hot press temperature and kraft lignin content remarkably influenced the physical and mechanical properties of the fiberboards. As the hot press temperature and kraft lignin content increased, the overall performance of the fiberboards improved accordingly. The results indicate that WNPs could be a potential sustainable resource for fiberboards production

Identification of four prognostic LncRNAs for survival prediction of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background As the fifth most common cancer worldwide, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is also the third most common cause of cancer-related death in China. Several lncRNAs have been demonstrated to be associated with occurrence and prognosis of HCC. However, identification of prognostic lncRNA signature for HCC with expression profiling data has not been conducted yet. Methods With the reuse of public available TCGA data, expression profiles of lncRNA for 371 patients with HCC were obtained and analyzed to find the independent prognostic lncRNA. Based on the expression of lncRNA, we developed a risk score model, which was evaluated by survival analysis and ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. Enrichment analysis was performed to predict the possible role of the identified lncRNA in HCC prognosis. Results Four lncRNAs (RP11-322E11.5, RP11-150O12.3, AC093609.1, CTC-297N7.9) were found to be significantly and independently associated with survival of HCC patients. We used these four lncRNAs to construct a risk score model, which exhibited a strong ability to distinguish patients with significantly different prognosis (HR = 2.718, 95% CI [2.103–3.514], p = 2.32e−14). Similar results were observed in the subsequent stratification survival analysis for HBV infection status and pathological stage. The ROC curve also implied our risk score as a good indicator for 5-year survival prediction. Furthermore, enrichment analysis revealed that the four signature lncRNAs may be involved in multiple pathways related to tumorigenesis and prognosis. Discussion Our study recognized four lncRNAs to be significantly associated with prognosis of liver cancer, and could provide novel insights into the potential mechanisms of HCC progression. Additionally, CTC-297N7.9 may influence the downstream TMEM220 gene expression through cis-regualtion. Nevertheless, further well-designed experimental studies are needed to validate our findings

TiO2-Based Nanoheterostructures for Promoting Gas Sensitivity Performance: Designs, Developments, and Prospects

Gas sensors based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) have attracted much public attention during the past decades due to their excellent potential for applications in environmental pollution remediation, transportation industries, personal safety, biology, and medicine. Numerous efforts have therefore been devoted to improving the sensing performance of TiO2. In those effects, the construct of nanoheterostructures is a promising tactic in gas sensing modification, which shows superior sensing performance to that of the single component-based sensors. In this review, we briefly summarize and highlight the development of TiO2-based heterostructure gas sensing materials with diverse models, including semiconductor/semiconductor nanoheterostructures, noble metal/semiconductor nanoheterostructures, carbon-group-materials/semiconductor nano- heterostructures, and organic/inorganic nanoheterostructures, which have been investigated for effective enhancement of gas sensing properties through the increase of sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, decrease of optimal work temperature and response/recovery time, and minimization of detectable levels

Efficacy and Safety of Polymyxins for the Treatment of <i>Acinectobacter baumannii</i> Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Multi-drug resistance among <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> increases the need for polymyxins. We conducted a meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of polymyxins for the treatment of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> infection.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CNKI, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database up to November 1, 2013, to identify published studies, and we searched clinical trial registries to identify completed unpublished studies. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were considered for inclusion. Data were extracted on clinical response, microbiological response, mortality, length of stay and adverse events.</p><p>Results</p><p>12 controlled studies, comparing 677 patients, were included. Although clinical (odds ratio 1.421, 95% confidence interval 0.722–2.797) and microbiological (OR 1.416, 95% CI 0.369–5.425) response rates favored the polymyxins group, these differences were not significant. Treatment with polymyxins vs. controls did not affect hospital mortality (OR 0.506, 95% CI 0.101–2.536), lengths of hospital stay (standard mean difference −0.221, 95% CI 0.899–0.458) or nephrotoxicity (OR 1.192, 95% CI 0.436–3.261). The combination of polymyxins with other antibiotics achieved similar clinical response rates to its monotherapy regimen (OR 0.601, 95% CI 0.320–1.130).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Our results suggest that polymyxins may be as safe and as efficacious as standard antibiotics for the treatment of <i>A. baumannii</i> infection. There is no strong evidence that combination regimen of polymyxins is superior to monotherapy regimen.</p></div

Flow diagram of included studies.

<p>Flow diagram of included studies.</p

The length of stay in hospital of patients when polymyxins were compared with other antibiotics in <i>Acinectobacter baumannii</i> infection.

<p>The length of stay in hospital of patients when polymyxins were compared with other antibiotics in <i>Acinectobacter baumannii</i> infection.</p

The efficacy and safety of polymyxins monotherapy compared with combination treatment in <i>Acinectobacter baumannii</i> infection.

<p>The efficacy and safety of polymyxins monotherapy compared with combination treatment in <i>Acinectobacter baumannii</i> infection.</p