PREPARATION OF MACROPOROUS TIO2 BY STARCH MICROSPHERES TEMPLATE WITH ASSISTANCE OF SUPERCRITICAL CO2

In this work a green route is reported to prepare a TiO2 macroporous network using corn starch microspheres flake as a bio-template. The starch microspheres prepared by emulsion technology were used as a template into which precursor tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) was permeated using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a forceful carrier or infiltration media, resulting in the formation of an organic/inorganic hybrid material; then the coated template was gelled and dried during the scCO2-coating and the depressurization processes, followed by removal of the template by calcination at 700°C; finally, TiO2 inverse-opals-like material reversely replicating the starch microspheres template was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen sorption measurements, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the products were the inverse replicas from their templates. The obtained TiO2 inverse opals-like material showed a wide dispersion of pore sizes from mesopores to macropores – a few nanometers to several micrometers –with the BET surface area up to 103 m2/g, and a predominantly anatase crystalline phase. In addition, the wall thickness of the macropores varied with tunable pressure for closed cells or open-cell foams. So this facile and environmentally friendly process for the preparation of high-surface area, thermally-stable, metal-oxide catalysts and supports by a starch microsphere templating approach may have widespread potential applications in catalysis, absorbents, photoelectric materials, and so on

Rhizosphere microbial characteristics of pioneer plant Oxyria sinensis Hemsl. in abandoned Pb-Zn mining area

Oxyria sinensis has the characteristics of drought resistance, barren resistance, pollution resistance and clonal reproduction, and has the potential to be developed as a restoration plant (pioneer plant) for vegetation restoration and heavy metal pollution control in mining wasteland. In this study, the rhizosphere microbial communities of the pioneer plant O. sinensis growing in a lead-zinc mine wasteland and the rhizosphere microbial communities of O. sinensis growing in adjacent non-mining areas were studied by field investigation. There were significant differences in the composition of microbial communities between the rhizosphere soil of O. sinensis and the bare soil. There were significant differences in the composition of soil microbial communities between the non-mining area control and the lead-zinc mine wasteland. Compared with the non-mining area control, the rhizosphere soil of O. sinensis in the lead-zinc mine wasteland had a unique microbial community. The dominant bacteria were Nitrospirae, Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Ascomycota and Kickxellomycota. Further gene function prediction showed that the metabolic pathway sequences related to heavy metal ion transport, heavy metal resistance and repair in the rhizosphere soil of O. sinensis were more abundant than those in the control. The dominant ecological functional groups of fungi in the rhizosphere soil of O. sinensis were saprophytic flora and pathological flora. Plenodomus, Surfurifusis, Sphingomonas, Filobasidium and Articulospora were enriched in the rhizosphere soil of O. sinensis in the abandoned land of lead-zinc mining area, and had high tolerance to heavy metals in the soil, indicating that O. sinensis can recruit heavy metal-tolerant microbial groups to promote its survival and adaptation in the abandoned land of the mining area

Study on the spatial distribution pattern of Cx40 gap junctions in the atria of patients with coronary heart disease

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between atrial fibrillation and atrial dilation and the spatial distribution pattern of connexin 40 in the atria of patients with coronary heart disease. Methods: Twenty-six patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass graft were investigated and were divided into three groups according to the left atrial size and rhythm, atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation (AF+AD), sinus rhythm and left atrial dilation (SR+AD) and sinus rhythm as control group SR. The spatial distribution patterns of Cx40 were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy assay. Results: No significant differences were observed in the size and density of Cx40 gap junction in the right atrium among all three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the size of Cx40 disk area in termination links and in lateral abutment in left atrium was markedly larger in AF+AD group and SR+AD group than those of the controls (p < 0.01). A comparison of size and density of Cx40 gap junction in the left atrium in the AF+AD group and SR+AD group did not show significant differences. Conclusions: The present study has shown altered gap junction distribution in coronary heart disease resulting from atrial dilation and atrial fibrillation. A decrease in the size and density of Cx40 gap junction was observed in patients with atrial dilation, which could be an important factor in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. (Cardiol J 2008; 15: 50-56

Nurse role and mechanism of Coriaria nepalensis in abandoned land of Pb-Zn mining area

Mining activities, while providing a huge material base for human society, have also caused great damage to the ecosystem. A large amount of mine waste is in urgent need of treatment and remediation. Phytoremediation, as a green and low-cost way of mine site restoration, has been researched by a large number of scholars. Ecological restoration, as a suitable alternative to phytoremediation, has also received extensive attention from scholars too. Field survey revealed that a native plant, Coriaria nepalensis, adapted to the abandoned sites of Pb-Zn mines for its adaptability to pollution and extreme habitats and its improvement of the surrounding microenvironment, with its formation of plant communities may contribute to the natural recovery of the abandoned sites of mines. For this reason, the present study was conducted on the nurse plant, C. nepalensis, which was naturally colonized in the abandoned land of the Pb-Zn mine in Mine Town, Huize County. The specific results of the study are as follows: Coriaria nepalensis promotes the stabilization of the soil structure under the canopy, and the local resources of the soil increase and the “fertilizer island” effect appears: (1) Improvement of physical properties: Compared with the herbaceous sample, the soil bulk density of the Coriaria nepalensis is significantly lower than that of the herbaceous sample. (2) Improve soil nutrition: the organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents of the inter-root soil of the Coriaria nepalensis in large multi-diversity sites were higher than those of the herbaceous sample sites. (3) Reducing the toxicity of soil heavy metals to plants: although the total amount of heavy metals and the effective state of the Coriaria nepalensis were significantly higher than that of the herbaceous samples, the diversity and biomass of the plants under the Coriaria nepalensis were not affected, but were higher instead, which indicated that the Coriaria nepalensis mitigated the stress and toxicity of the heavy metals to the plants under the canopy, and allowed the plants to colonize and grow under the canopy. (4) Coriaria nepalensis in Pb-Zn mine abandoned sites can regulating soil microbial community structure, thus enabling plant community succession in degraded environments. Ascomycetes, Mycobacteriophages, Ascomycetes, and Stramenophages with higher abundance. (5) Coriaria nepalensis microbial community structure and increases the abundance of functions associated with nitrogen cycling and stress tolerance. There were higher abundances of bacterial functions related to nitrogen fixation, nitrate reduction, nitrogen respiration, nitrate respiration; and higher abundances of stress-tolerant, parthenogenetic anaerobic, biofilm-forming, aerobic, mobile protozoa-containing, and Gram-negative bacteria in the Coriaria nepalensis. In sum: C. nepalensis can have a nurse effect on its sub-canopy plants by improving microhabitat soil properties and regulating soil microbial community structure in abandoned sites of Pb-Zn mines, thus enabling plant community succession in degraded environments

Genome-Wide and Differential Proteomic Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus and Aflatoxin B1 Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Guangxi, China

Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure can cause liver damage as well as increase the probability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To investigate the underlying genetic changes that may influence development of HCC associated with HBV infection and AFB1 exposure, HCC patients were subdivided into 4 groups depending upon HBV and AFB1 exposure status: (HBV(+)/AFB1(+), HBV(+)/AFB1(-), HBV(-)/AFB1(+), HBV(-)/AFB1(-)). Genetic abnormalities and protein expression profiles were analyzed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization and isobaric tagging for quantitation. A total of 573 chromosomal aberrations (CNAs) including 184 increased and 389 decreased were detected in our study population. Twenty-five recurrently altered regions (RARs; chromosomal alterations observed in ≥10 patients) in chromosomes were identified. Loss of 4q13.3-q35.2, 13q12.1-q21.2 and gain of 7q11.2-q35 were observed with a higher frequency in the HBV(+)/AFB1(+), HBV(+)/AFB1(-) and HBV(-)/AFB1(+) groups compared to the HBV(-)/AFB(-) group. Loss of 8p12-p23.2 was associated with high TNM stage tumors (P = 0.038) and was an unfavorable prognostic factor for tumor-free survival (P=0.045). A total of 133 differentially expressed proteins were identified in iTRAQ proteomics analysis, 69 (51.8%) of which mapped within identified RARs. The most common biological processes affected by HBV and AFB1 status in HCC tumorigenesis were detoxification and drug metabolism pathways, antigen processing and anti-apoptosis pathways. Expression of AKR1B10 was increased significantly in the HBV(+)/AFB1(+) and HBV(-)/AFB1(+) groups. A significant correlation between the expression of AKR1B10 mRNA and protein levels as well as AKR1B10 copy number was observed, which suggest that AKR1B10 may play a role in AFB1-related hepatocarcinogenesis. In summary, a number of genetic and gene expression alterations were found to be associated with HBV and AFB1- related HCC. The possible synergistic effects of HBV and AFB1 in hepatocarcinogenesis warrant further investigations

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Potential of MicroRNAs for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (also termed hepatocarcinoma) is the third cancer-related cause of death worldwide. To our knowledge, markers such as α-fetoprotein display poor performance in the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of hepatocarcinoma. MicroRNAs are an evolutionarily conserved class of small noncoding single-stranded RNA typically consisting of 18–24 nucleotides. They have been reported to act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes via reversely regulating gene expression. Recent evidence has revealed that microRNAs, especially in body fluids such as the blood and urine, display important diagnostic and prognostic potential for hepatocarcinoma. Here, we reviewed currently available data on microRNAs and hepatocarcinoma, with emphasis on the biogenesis and function of microRNAs and their potential diagnostic and prognostic value for hepatocarcinoma. We also discussed the clinical utility perspectives of microRNAs in hepatocarcinoma and possible challenges

The LAMOST Survey of Background Quasars in the Vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies -- II. Results from the Commissioning Observations and the Pilot Surveys

We present new quasars discovered in the vicinity of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies with the LAMOST during the 2010 and 2011 observational seasons. Quasar candidates are selected based on the available SDSS, KPNO 4 m telescope, XSTPS optical, and WISE near infrared photometric data. We present 509 new quasars discovered in a stripe of ~135 sq. deg from M31 to M33 along the Giant Stellar Stream in the 2011 pilot survey datasets, and also 17 new quasars discovered in an area of ~100 sq. deg that covers the central region and the southeastern halo of M31 in the 2010 commissioning datasets. These 526 new quasars have i magnitudes ranging from 15.5 to 20.0, redshifts from 0.1 to 3.2. They represent a significant increase of the number of identified quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33. There are now 26, 62 and 139 known quasars in this region of the sky with i magnitudes brighter than 17.0, 17.5 and 18.0 respectively, of which 5, 20 and 75 are newly-discovered. These bright quasars provide an invaluable collection with which to probe the kinematics and chemistry of the ISM/IGM in the Local Group of galaxies. A total of 93 quasars are now known with locations within 2.5 deg of M31, of which 73 are newly discovered. Tens of quasars are now known to be located behind the Giant Stellar Stream, and hundreds behind the extended halo and its associated substructures of M31. The much enlarged sample of known quasars in the vicinity of M31 and M33 can potentially be utilized to construct a perfect astrometric reference frame to measure the minute PMs of M31 and M33, along with the PMs of substructures associated with the Local Group of galaxies. Those PMs are some of the most fundamental properties of the Local Group.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, AJ accepte

CpG-binding protein CFP1 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation by regulating BST2 transcription

Epigenetic alterations have been functionally linked to ovarian cancer development and occurrence. The CXXC zinc finger protein 1 (CFP1) is an epigenetic regulator involved in DNA methylation and histone modification in mammalian cells. However, its role in ovarian cancer cells is unknown. Here, we show that CFP1 protein is highly expressed in human ovarian cancer tissues. Loss of CFP1 inhibited the growth of human ovarian cancer cells, promoted apoptosis, and increased senescence. CFP1 knockdown resulted in reduced levels of SETD1 (a CFP1 partner) and histone H3 trimethylation at the fourth lysine residue (H3K4me3). RNA-sequencing revealed that deletion of CFP1 resulted in mRNA reduction of bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2). Bioinformatics analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that CFP1 binds to the promoter of BST2 and regulates its transcription directly. Overexpression of BST2 rescued the growth inhibitory effect of CFP1 loss. Furthermore, depletion of cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases 4 (CRL4) components ROC1 or CUL4A had significantly inhibited the expression of CFP1 and BST2 similar to MLN4924 treatment that blocked cullin neddylation and inactivated CRL4s. In conclusion, CFP1 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating the transcription of BST2, and the expression of CFP1 was affected by CRL4 ubiquitin ligase complex