Downwelling wind, tides, and estuarine plume dynamics

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 121 (2016): 4245–4263, doi:10.1002/2015JC011475.The estuarine plume dynamics under a downwelling-favorable wind condition were examined in the windy dry season of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) using the PRE primitive-equation Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM). The wind and tide-driven estuarine circulation had a significant influence on the plume dynamics on both local and remote scales. Specifically, the local effect of downwelling-favorable winds on the plume was similar to the theoretical descriptions of coastal plumes, narrowing the plume width, and setting up a vertically uniform downstream current at the plume edge. Tides tended to reduce these plume responses through local turbulent mixing and advection from upstream regions, resulting in an adjustment of the isohalines in the plume and a weakening of the vertically uniform downstream current. The remote effect of downwelling-favorable winds on the plume was due to the wind-induced estuarine sea surface height (SSH), which strengthened the estuarine circulation and enhanced the plume transport accordingly. Associated with these processes, tide-induced mixing tended to weaken the SSH gradient and thus the estuarine circulation over a remote influence scale. Overall, the typical features of downwelling-favorable wind-driven estuarine plumes revealed in this study enhanced our understanding of the estuarine plume dynamics under downwelling-favorable wind conditions.National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant Number: (41206005); Ocean Public Welfare Scientific Research Project, State Oceanic Administration of the People's Republic of China Grant Number: (201305019-3)2016-12-2

On developing data integration and mining platform for classical Chinese literature study

With advancement of data digitization hardware and software, we have witnessed many successful applications of computer-aided methodologies in literature study and analysis. Recently, the data integration and mining technique became an important research topic, as it is a critical yet challenging issue in the development of effective digital platform to facilitate various practical literature research tasks, such as categorization of large literature data, identification of authors or interested readers from given texts, etc. In this paper, we study the processing of Chinese classic literature data, discuss a group of related data processing techniques, and then provide a few general suggestions in effectively applying these techniques

Screening and identification of key chromatin regulator biomarkers for ankylosing spondylitis and drug prediction: evidence from bioinformatics analysis

Abstract Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of the most common immune-mediated arthritic diseases worldwide. Despite considerable efforts to elucidate its pathogenesis, the molecular mechanisms underlying AS are still not fully understood. Methods To identify candidate genes involved in AS progression, the researchers downloaded the microarray dataset GSE25101 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. They identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functionally enriched them for analysis. They also constructed a protein–protein interaction network (PPI) using STRING and performed cytoHubba modular analysis, immune cell and immune function analysis, functional analysis and drug prediction.The results showed that DEGs were mainly associated with histone modifications, chromatin organisation, transcriptional coregulator activity, transcriptional co-activator activity, histone acetyltransferase complexes and protein acetyltransferase complexes. Results The researchers analysed the differences in expression between the CONTROL and TREAT groups in terms of immunity to determine their effect on TNF-α secretion. By obtaining hub genes, they predicted two therapeutic agents, AY 11–7082 and myricetin. Conclusion The DEGs, hub genes and predicted drugs identified in this study contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of AS. They also provide candidate targets for the diagnosis and treatment of AS

Inhibitory Effect on the Hepatitis B Cells through the Regulation of miR-122-MAP3K2 signal pathway

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of regulation of miR-122-MAP3K2 signal pathway on the hepatitis B cells. We detected the content of MAP3K2 from patients with HBV blood serum samples and analyzed the correlation between content of MAP3K2 and copies of HBV-DNA. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to detect the function of cells from control group (wild type) and observer group (overexpresses miR-122). Secretion levels of HBsAg and MAP3K2 in the supernatant and level of MAP3K2 in cells were detected by ELISA and western blot, respectively. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between the copies of HBV-DNA and MAP3K2 in serum. In the assays involving detection of the number of HBV-DNA copies, the supernatant levels of HBsAg and MAP3K2, and the level of MAP3K2 in the cells, the rate of increase of these indicators significantly slowed as culture time. In conclusion, overexpression of miR-122 could inhibit the migration of hepatoblastoma cells; however, following transfection with miR-122, DNA synthesis and the secretion of HBsAg were inhibited. Overexpression of miR-122 can also downregulate MAP3K2. Consequently, we concluded that regulating the miR-122-MAP3K2 signaling pathway exerts an inhibitory effect in hepatitis B cells

Extraction and virulence analysis of melanin from Fonsecaea monophora

Objective To construct a mouse model of footpad inoculation with Fonsecaea monophora (F.monophora) melanin, and to analyze the differences in the virulence of F.monophora melanin from different sources. Virulence of F.monophora melanin and its influencing factors were also assessed. Methods F.monophora melanin was extracted by chemical digestion and acid-base method, and a mouse model of footpad melanin inoculation was constructed. Mice were divided into PBS group, chemical digestion group, acid-base group, and synthetic melanin group. The severity of mouse footpad swelling was measured. HE staining was performed to observe inflammatory cell infiltration and semi-quantitative analysis was performed. Results F.monophora melanin was successfully extracted. The chemical digestion method preserved the spatial morphology of melanin in the cell wall. In comparison to acid-base method, melanin extracted with chemical digestion method induced stronger and long-lasting footpad swelling, and more intense inflammatory reaction. Aggregation of neutrophils and macrophages was observed one day after injection of melanin. Seven days after injection of melanin, infiltration of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes was observed. However, synthetic melanin group did not cause significant footpad swelling nor infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes although a small number of macrophages were seen. Conclusions The extracted F.monophora melanin can induce dramatic, inflammatory responses in mouse footpads. The complex spatial structure of melanin is associated with virulence, and synthetic melanin cannot mimic the virulence effects of F.monophora. Melanin extracted with chemical digestion method has advantages for study of fungal melanin virulence

On developing data integration and mining platform for classical Chinese literature study

Conference Name:9th International Conference on Computer Science and Education, ICCCSE 2014. Conference Address: Vancouver, BC, Canada. Time:August 22, 2014 - August 24, 2014.With advancement of data digitization hardware and software, we have witnessed many successful applications of computer-aided methodologies in literature study and analysis. Recently, the data integration and mining technique became an important research topic, as it is a critical yet challenging issue in the development of effective digital platform to facilitate various practical literature research tasks, such as categorization of large literature data, identification of authors or interested readers from given texts, etc. In this paper, we study the processing of Chinese classic literature data, discuss a group of related data processing techniques, and then provide a few general suggestions in effectively applying these techniques

Comprehensive Quality and Bioactive Constituent Analysis of Celery Juice Made from Different Cultivars

Celery juice is rich in bioactive constituents, has good health properties, and is becoming much more popular, with its demand continuing to rise. The results of this study show that celery juice from Chinese cultivars contains more bioactive constituents, whereas celery cultivars from the United States and European countries have a higher juice yield. Compared with the other juices, the juices of five cultivars may taste sweeter, and the juices of three cultivars had a higher antioxidant capacity. The juices of six cultivars (three with the highest antioxidant capacity and three with the lowest antioxidant capacity) were selected to analyze bioactive constituents by LC/MS and GC/MS. A total of 71 phenolic acids, 38 flavonoids, 18 coumarins, 41 terpenoids, and 11 phthalides were detected in the juices of the six celery cultivars. The contents of 14 compounds had a more than 10-fold difference among these celery juices. This study first evaluated the comprehensive quality of the juices made from 26 celery cultivars and then analyzed the differences in bioactive constituents in the juices of6 celery cultivars. These findings provide information for the further study on the health functions of celery juice and can also guide celery juice production and celery breeding

Deletion C-terminal thioesterase abolishes melanin biosynthesis, affects metabolism and reduces the pathogenesis of Fonsecaea monophora.

Dematiaceous Fonsecaea monophora is one of the major pathogens of chromoblastomycosis. It has been well established that melanization is catalyzed by the type I polyketide synthase (PKS) in F. monophora. Multidomain protein Type I PKS is encoded by six genes, in which the last enzyme thioesterase (TE) catalyzes the cyclization and releases polyketide. Two PKS genes AYO21_03016 (pks1) and AYO21_10638 have been found in F. monophora and both PKS loci have the same gene arrangement but the TE domain in AYO21_10638 is truncated at 3'- end. TE may be the key enzyme to maintain the function of pks1. To test this hypothesis, we constructed a 3'-end 500 bp deletion mutant of AYO21_03016 (Δpks1-TE-C500) and its complemented strain. We profiled metabolome of this mutant and analyzed the consequences of impaired metabolism in this mutant by fungal growth in vitro and by pathogenesis in vivo. Compared with wild-type strain, we found that the mutant repressed pks1 expression and other 5 genes expression levels were reduced by more than 50%, perhaps leading to a corresponding melanin loss. The mutant also reduced sporulation and delayed germination, became vulnerable to various environmental stresses and was less resistance to macrophage or neutrophil killings in vitro, and less virulence in mice footpad model. Metabolomic analysis indicated that many metabolites were remarkably affected in Δpks1-TE-C500, in particular, an increased nicotinamide and antioxidant glutathione. In conclusion, we confirmed the crucial role of C-terminal TE in maintaining fully function of pks1 in F. monophora. Deletion of TE negatively impacts on the synthesis of melanin and metabolites that eventually affect growth and virulence of F. monophora. Any potential inhibitor of TE then could be a novel antifungal target for drug development