An optimum medium designed and verified for alcohol vinegar fermentation

In this article, a novel formula of nutrient salt for alcohol vinegar production was derived based on mass conservation theory of carbon source, nitrogen source and inorganic ions. Series of semicontinuous fermentations were successfully carried out in a Frings 10 L fermentation tank. The average acetification rate of semi-continuous fermentation was 2 g acetic acid/L*h within about 12 h, average stoichiometric yield was 94%, and then fed-batch trial for high concentration vinegar fermentation was successfully conducted. Both of these confirmed that this method applied was cost-effective. If this method is adopted in industry scale, vinegar manufacturers will reduce production cost significantly.Key words: Formula, alcohol vinegar, fermentation nutrient

Anti-Tumor Effect of Cactus Polysaccharides on Lung Squamous Carcinoma Cells (SK-MES-1)

Background: Cactus polysaccharides are the active components of Opuntia dillenii which have been used extensively in folk medicine. In thisstudy, we investigate the anti-tumor effect of cactus polysaccharides on lung squamous carcinoma cells SK-MES-1.Materials and Methods: The inhibitory effect of Cactus polysaccharides on lung squamous carcinoma cells were detected by MTT assay. Cellcycle was determined by flow cytometry and cell apoptosis was determined by AnnexinV assay. Western-blotting was applied to detect P53 andPTEN protein expression in the cells treated with cactus polysaccharides.Results: Results showed that different concentrations of wild cactus polysaccharides prevent SK-MES-1 cells growth and induces S phase arrest.The data also revealed that cactus polysaccharides cause apoptosis in SK-MES-1 cells determined by Annexin-V assay. Furthermore, cactuspolysaccharides induced growth arrest and apoptosis may be due to the increase of P53 and phosphatase and tension homolog deleted onchromosome ten (PTEN) protein.Conclusion: Cactus polysaccharides have anti-tumor activity on lung squamous carcinoma cells.Key words: Cactus polysaccharides, Lung squamous carcinoma, Anti-tumor effect, P53, PTEN Abbreviations: PTEN :phosphatase and tension homolog deleted on chromosome ten; NSCLC: Non-small-cell lung cancer; FBS :Phosphate buffered saline; MTT:3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; PBS: Phosphate buffered saline; DMSO:Dimethyl sulfoxide; PI: Propidium iodide

Real-time counting of single electron tunneling through a T-shaped double quantum dot system

Real-time detection of single electron tunneling through a T-shaped double quantum dot is simulated, based on a Monte Carlo scheme. The double dot is embedded in a dissipative environment and the presence of electrons on the double dot is detected with a nearby quantum point contact. We demonstrate directly the bunching behavior in electron transport, which leads eventually to a super-Poissonian noise. Particularly, in the context of full counting statistics, we investigate the essential difference between the dephasing mechanisms induced by the quantum point contact detection and the coupling to the external phonon bath. A number of intriguing noise features associated with various transport mechanisms are revealed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Arabidopsis AtVPS15 is essential for pollen development and germination through modulating phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate formation

Arabidopsis thaliana phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (AtVPS34) functions in the development and germination of pollen by catalyzing the biosynthesis of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P). In yeast, Vps15p is required for the membrane targeting and activity of Vps34. The expression of Arabidopsis thaliana VPS15 (AtVPS15), an ortholog of yeast Vps15, is mainly detected in pollen grains and pollen tubes. To determine its role in pollen development and pollen tube growth, we attempted to isolate the T-DNA insertion mutants of AtVPS15; however, homozygous lines of atvps15 were not obtained from the progeny of atvps15/+ heterozygotes. Genetic analysis revealed that the abnormal segregation is due to the failure of transmission of the atvps15 allele through pollen. Most pollen grains from the atvps15/+ genotype are viable, with normal exine structure and nuclei, but some mature pollen grains are characterized with unusual large vacuoles that are not observed in pollen grains from the wild AtVPS15 genotype. The germination ratio of pollen from the atvps15/+ genotype is about half when compared to that from the wild AtVPS15 genotype. When supplied with PI3P, in vitro pollen germination of the atvps15/+ genotype is greatly improved. Presumably, AtVPS15 functions in pollen development and germination by regulating PI3P biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Single-Cell Profiling Reveals the Origin of Phenotypic Variability in Adipogenesis

Phenotypic heterogeneity in a clonal cell population is a well-observed but poorly understood phenomenon. Here, a single-cell approach is employed to investigate non-mutative causes of phenotypic heterogeneity during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into fat cells. Using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy and flow cytometry, adipogenic gene expression, insulin signaling, and glucose import are visualized simultaneously with lipid droplet accumulation in single cells. Expression of adipogenic genes PPARγ, C/EBPα, aP2, LP2 suggests a commitment to fat cell differentiation in all cells. However, the lack of lipid droplet in many differentiating cells suggests adipogenic gene expression is insufficient for lipid droplet formation. Instead, cell-to-cell variability in lipid droplet formation is dependent on the cascade responses of an insulin signaling pathway which includes insulin sensitivity, kinase activity, glucose import, expression of an insulin degradation enzyme, and insulin degradation rate. Increased and prolonged insulin stimulation promotes lipid droplet accumulation in all differentiating cells. Single-cell profiling reveals the kinetics of an insulin signaling cascade as the origin of phenotypic variability in drug-inducible adipogenesis

Controllable Synthesis of Single-Crystalline CdO and Cd(OH)2Nanowires by a Simple Hydrothermal Approach

Single-crystalline Cd(OH)2 or CdO nanowires can be selectively synthesized at 150 °C by a simple hydrothermal method using aqueous Cd(NO3)2 as precursor. The method is biosafe, and compared to the conventional oil-water surfactant approach, more environmental-benign. As revealed by the XRD results, CdO or Cd(OH)2 nanowires can be generated in high purity by varying the time of synthesis. The results of FESEM and HRTEM analysis show that the CdO nanowires are formed in bundles. Over the CdO-nanowire bundles, photoluminescence at ~517 nm attributable to near band-edge emission of CdO was recorded. Based on the experimental results, a possible growth mechanism of the products is proposed

CO concentration and temperature measurements in a shock tube for Martian mixtures by coupling OES and TDLAS

CO concentration and gas temperature distribution are diagnosed behind a strong shock wave simulating the Martian atmosphere entry processes by coupling optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS). The strong shock wave (6.31 +/- A 0.11 km/s) is established in a shock tube driven by combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. Temperature of the shock-heated gas is inferred through a precise analysis of the high temporal and spatial resolution experimental spectral of CN violet system (B (2) I pound (+) -> X (2) I pound (+), Delta v = 0 sequence) using OES. A CO absorption line near 2,335.778 nm is utilized for detecting the CO concentration using scanned-wavelength direct absorption mode with 50 kHz repetition rate. Combined with temperature results from OES, CO concentration in the thermal equilibrium region is derived. The current experimental results are complementary for determining an accurate rate coefficient of CO2 dissociation and validation relevant chemical kinetics models in Mars atmosphere entry processes