ONCOLOGY PATIENTS' BELIEFS IN SUPPORTIVE CARE AND THEIR ADHERENCE

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

The Effects of pH Change through Liming on Soil N2O Emissions

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an overwhelming greenhouse gas and agricultural soils, particularly acidic soils, are the main source of its release to the atmosphere. To ameliorate acidic soil condition, liming materials are added as an amendment. However, the impact of liming materials has not been well addressed in terms of exploring the effect of soil pH change on N2O emissions. In the present study, a soil with pH 5.35 was amended with liming materials (CaMg(CO3)2, CaCO3, Ca(OH)2 and CaO) to investigate their effects on N2O emissions. The results indicate that application of liming materials reduced the magnitudes of N2O emissions. The maximum reduction of soil N2O emissions took place for Ca(OH)2 treatment when compared to the other liming materials, and was related to increasing soil pH. Mineral N, dissolved organic C, and microbial biomass C were also influenced by liming materials, but the trend was inconsistent to the soil pH change. The results suggest that N2O emission mitigation is more dependent on soil pH than C and N dynamics when comparing the different liming materials. Moreover, ameliorating soil acidity is a promising option to mitigate N2O emissions from acidic soilsThe authors would like to thank the funding bodies of the National Science Foundation of China (417501 10485), China Post-Doctoral Science Foundation (2017 M 622478), and National Key R&D Program (2017 YFD 0800102) for financially assisting the present researchS

Comparative analysis of microRNA profiles between wild and cultured Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari, Ixodidae) ticks

The miRNA profiles of a Haemaphysalis longicornis wild-type (HLWS) and of a Haemaphysalis longicornis cultured population (HLCS) were sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 platform combined with bioinformatics analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 15.63 and 15.48 million raw reads were acquired for HLWS and HLCS, respectively. The data identified 1517 and 1327 known conserved miRNAs, respectively, of which 342 were differentially expressed between the two libraries. Thirty-six novel candidate miRNAs were predicted. To explain the functions of these novel miRNAs, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed. Target gene function prediction identified a significant set of genes related to salivary gland development, pathogen-host interaction and regulation of the defence response to pathogens expressed by wild H. longicornis ticks. Cellular component biogenesis, the immune system process, and responses to stimuli were represented at high percentages in the two tick libraries. GO enrichment analysis showed that the percentages of most predicted functions of the target genes of miRNA were similar, as were certain specific categories of functional enhancements, and that these genes had different numbers and specific functions (e.g., auxiliary transport protein and electron carrier functions). This study provides novel findings showing that miRNA regulation affects the expression of immune genes, indicating a considerable influence of environment-induced stressful stimulation on immune homeostasis. Differences in the living environments of ticks can lead to differences in miRNAs between ticks and provide a basis and a convenient means to screen for genes encoding immune factors in ticks

Mutations in TUBB8 and Human Oocyte Meiotic Arrest

BACKGROUND Human reproduction depends on the fusion of a mature oocyte with a sperm cell to form a fertilized egg. The genetic events that lead to the arrest of human oocyte maturation are unknown. METHODS We sequenced the exomes of five members of a four-generation family, three of whom had infertility due to oocyte meiosis I arrest. We performed Sanger sequencing of a candidate gene, TUBB8, in DNA samples from these members, additional family members, and members of 23 other affected families. The expression of TUBB8 and all other β-tubulin isotypes was assessed in human oocytes, early embryos, sperm cells, and several somatic tissues by means of a quantitative reverse- transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction assay. We evaluated the effect of the TUBB8 mutations on the assembly of the heterodimer consisting of one α-tubulin polypeptide and one β-tubulin polypeptide (α/β-tubulin heterodimer) in vitro, on microtubule architecture in HeLa cells, on microtubule dynamics in yeast cells, and on spindle assembly in mouse and human oocytes. RESULTS We identified seven mutations in the primate-specific gene TUBB8 that were responsible for oocyte meiosis I arrest in 7 of the 24 families. TUBB8 expression is unique to oocytes and the early embryo, in which this gene accounts for almost all the expressed β-tubulin. The mutations affect chaperone-dependent folding and assembly of the α/β-tubulin heterodimer, disrupt microtubule behavior on expression in cultured cells, alter microtubule dynamics in vivo, and cause catastrophic spindle-assembly defects and maturation arrest on expression in mouse and human oocytes. CONCLUSIONS TUBB8 mutations have dominant-negative effects that disrupt microtubule behavior and oocyte meiotic spindle assembly and maturation, causing female infertility. (Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China and others.

Iron Metabolism Regulates p53 Signaling through Direct Heme-p53 Interaction and Modulation of p53 Localization, Stability, and Function

Iron excess is closely associated with tumorigenesis in multiple types of human cancers, with underlying mechanisms yet unclear. Recently, iron deprivation has emerged as a major strategy for chemotherapy, but it exerts tumor suppression only on select human malignancies. Here, we report that the tumor suppressor protein p53 is downregulated during iron excess. Strikingly, the iron polyporphyrin heme binds to p53 protein, interferes with p53-DNA interactions, and triggers both nuclear export and cytosolic degradation of p53. Moreover, in a tumorigenicity assay, iron deprivation suppressed wild-type p53-dependent tumor growth, suggesting that upregulation of wild-type p53 signaling underlies the selective efficacy of iron deprivation. Our findings thus identify a direct link between iron/heme homeostasis and the regulation of p53 signaling, which not only provides mechanistic insights into iron-excess-associated tumorigenesis but may also help predict and improve outcomes in iron-deprivation-based chemotherapy

Forecasting Beijing Transportation Hub Areas’s Pedestrian Flow Using Modular Neural Network

Along with the increasing proportion of urban public transportation trip, pedestrian flow in transportation hub areas increased. For effectively improving the emergency handling ability of related management apartments and preventing the incident of pedestrian congestion, this paper studied the method of pedestrian flow forecast in Beijing transportation hub areas. Firstly, 34 typical sidewalks in Beijing transportation hub areas were surveyed to obtain 2200 valid data. Secondly, correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between pedestrian flow and its influential factors. 11 significant influential factors were extracted. Thirdly, forecasting model was established with modular neural network. The surveyed pedestrian flow sample was fuzzy clustered according to the regional land use where the transportation hub existed. Then, membership function based on the distance measure was constructed. Through fuzzy discrimination, online selection for the subnetwork of the information can be achieved. Consequently, the self-adaptation of the neural network on information processing was improved. Finally, this paper tested the pedestrian flow sample of a transportation hub in Beijing. It was concluded that the accuracy of pedestrian flow forecasting model using modular neural network was higher than other neural network models. There was also improvement in the adaptability to environment

A high serum creatine kinase (CK)-MB-to-total-CK ratio in patients with pancreatic cancer: a novel application of a traditional marker in predicting malignancy of pancreatic masses?

Abstract Background The finding that some benign pancreatic masses mimic the imaging appearance of carcinomas poses a challenge for pancreatic surgeons. Preoperative markers that assist in the diagnosis are critical under this circumstance. Abnormal serum creatine kinase (CK) isozyme levels were reported in cancer patients, and this study aimed to explore the potential value of the CK-MB-to-total-CK ratio (CK ratio) in differentiating pancreatic cancer (PC) from benign masses when combined with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Methods A total of 190 patients primarily diagnosed with pancreatic masses were retrospectively reviewed and assigned to the PC group and the benign pancreatic mass (BPM) group. Sixty-eight controls were enrolled for comparison. Levels of preoperative parameters, including total serum CK, CK-MB, absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, albumin, and CA19-9, were recorded as well as pathological information. A logistic regression model was established to assess the application value of the combination of CA19-9 and the CK ratio in diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the markers. Results The CK ratio was significantly elevated in the PC group compared with the BPM group (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, a CK ratio greater than 0.220 was a statistically significant variable for predicting malignancy of pancreatic masses (P=0.001). Patients with stage III/IV PC had a higher CK ratio than those with stage I/II PC (P<0.01). Combined detection of CA19-9 and the CK ratio produced an increased Youden index (0.739 vs. 0.815) with improved sensitivity (82.2% vs. 89.8%). Conclusions The CK ratio is elevated in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and is an independent factor predicting pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The CK ratio augments the diagnostic capacity of CA19-9 in detecting malignancy

In situ measurement of the transport processes of corrosive species through a mortar layer by FTIR-MIR

National Natural Science Foundation of China [50731004, 21021002]; National High Key Technology R&D Program of China [2007BAB27B04]Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Multiple Internal Reflection mode (FTIR-MIR) has been applied for the first time to in situ follow the transport process of corrosive species through a mortar layer and their accumulation at the internal reflection element (IRE)/mortar interface. The kinetic processes of H(2)O and SO(4)(2-) transport through the mortar specimens with different curing time were studied. The results indicated that H(2)O and SO(4)(2-) presented different transport behavior through the mortar layer. Adding Na(2)SO(4) into distilled water resulted in a slower transport rate of H(2)O. And the curing time of mortar had a significant effect on its permeability. The in situ FTIR-MIR measurement was proved to be able to provide reliable information on the interface and the transport process through mortar. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The role of UV-B radiation and precipitation on straw decomposition and topsoil C turnover

In arid and semi-arid area, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation plays a mainly positive role in litter decomposition. In subtropical area, however, the role of UV-B radiation remains uncertain due to the interference of precipitation. To evaluate the potential contribution of precipitation to the role of UV-B radiation, we exposed 84 bags of rice straw to ambient and reduced UV-B radiation, with and without water addition after each precipitation event, on the roof of a building at Huazhong Agricultural University (Wuhan, China). Additionally, the indirect effects of UV-B radiation on soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were investigated by placing 70-g soil samples beneath 5-g straw bags with precipitation treatments. Mass loss, DOC and water extractable phenols (WEP) were monitored over 228 days. Subsequently, microbial facilitation was studied, by incubating straw and soil samples exposed for the longest period (228 days) in the laboratory at 25 °C, and by afterwards analyzing their CO2–C emission. Our results demonstrated that UV-B radiation did not significantly affect straw mass loss, but induced an increase in straw DOC, WEP and CO2–C emission by 20.6%, 10.7% and 20.4%, respectively, under dry conditions. Whereas, combined with precipitation, the effects of UV-B radiation on straw DOC, WEP and CO2–C emission were negligible. Only a small decrease in soil DOC (9.9%) and CO2–C (4.0%) was observed. Furthermore, UV-B radiation interacted significantly with precipitation during straw decomposition. These results indicate that for dry conditions UV-B radiation accelerates straw decomposition by increasing DOC content. For wet conditions, however, the effects of UV-B radiation on straw decomposition are balanced out and even negative on topsoil C turnover