Baseline Characteristics of Eligible Studies.

a<p>the two populations were treated as two separate studies; b: disagreement of HWE for Lys939Gln polymorphism; HB: hospital-based studies; CB: community-based studies.</p

Meta-Analysis Results of XPC PAT Polymorphism.

<p>OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence intervals; NA: not available; *significant association.</p

Forrest plot of XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism (GlnGln vs. LysLys/LysGln) by ethnicity.

<p>Forrest plot of XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism (GlnGln vs. LysLys/LysGln) by ethnicity.</p

Association of XPC Polymorphisms and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C gene (XPC) is a key member of nucleotide excision repair pathway and plays an important role in human DNA repair system. It is reported that several common polymorphisms of XPC are associated with susceptibility to lung cancer. However, the conclusion is still elusive.</p><p>Method</p><p>This meta-analysis was performed to determine the relationship between XPC polymorphisms (Lys939Gln, Ala499Val, and PAT) and lung cancer risk. Published literatures were identified by searching online databases and reference lists of relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the association strength. Publication bias were detected by Egger’s and Begg’s test.</p><p>Result</p><p>After strict screening, we identified 14 eligible studies in this meta-analysis, including 5647 lung cancer cases and 6908 controls. By pooling all eligible studies, we found that the homozygote Gln939Gln genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer in Asian population (GlnGln vs LysLys, OR = 1.229, 95% CI: 1.000–1.510; GlnGln vs LysLys/LysGln, OR = 1.257, 95% CI: 1.038–1.522). As for the PAT polymorphism, in Caucasian population, we found carriers of the −/− genotype were associated significantly reduced risk of lung cancer in homozygote comparison model (−/− vs +/+, OR = 0.735, 95% CI: 0.567–0.952).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>In this meta-analysis we found that Gln939Gln genotype was associated with significantly increased risk of lung cancer in Asian population; the PAT −/− genotype significantly reduced susceptibility to lung cancer in Caucasian population; while the XPC Ala499Val polymorphism was not associated with lung cancer risk.</p></div

True and False Chirality in Chiral Magnetic Nanoparticles

Determining the true or false chirality of a system is essential for the design of advanced chiral materials and for improving their applications. Typically, a magnetic field would cause false optical activity in the chiral material system, thus confusing the true chirality’s influence. Here, we provide a simple way to uncover the true and false chirality in chiral ferrimagnetic nanoparticles (FNPs) by using the gel as a rigid frame. The remnant local magnetic field of the FNP gel can be easily adjusted by an external magnetic field or by controlling the concentration of the FNPs. Moreover, the potential application of the FNP gel is detected by induced magnetic circularly polarized luminescence. This work provides deep insight into the true and false chirality in magnetic nanosystems and offers a strategy to construct new optic elements with an adjustable local magnetic field

Meta-analysis results of XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism.

<p>OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence intervals; *significant association.</p

Flow Diagram of study selection.

<p>*the two populations in Chang JS’s study were treated as 2 separate studies.</p

Forrest plot of XPC PAT polymorphism (−/− vs. +/+) by ethnicity.

<p>Forrest plot of XPC PAT polymorphism (−/− vs. +/+) by ethnicity.</p

Catalyzing Cascade Production of Methyl Levulinate from Polysaccharides Using Heteropolyacids H_<i>n</i>PW₁₁MO₃₉ with Brønsted/Lewis Acidic Sites

A series of Lewis acid metals monosubstituted phosphotungstic acids H_<i>n</i>PW₁₁MO₃₉ (HPWM, M = Cu^II, Zn^II, Cr^III, Fe^III, Sn^IV, Ti^IV, and Zr^IV; for Ti and Zr, the number of oxygen is 40) was evaluated in direct production of methyl levulinate (ML) from cellulosic biomass in a cascade reaction. One of the solid catalysts, H₅PW₁₁TiO₄₀ (HPWTi), was found to be highly efficient for generation of ML from mono- or polysaccharides, reaching 51.3% ML yield directly from cellulose. And under microwave-assistance, the efficiency could be improved to a 62.6% ML yield within 2 h, which was almost the best result so far among reported solid catalysts. Identification of the reaction intermediates and the products provided some insight into the reaction mechanism and showed the requirement of certain Brønsted/Lewis acid ratio as 2.84/1 for HPWM. Moreover, the different metals in catalysts profoundly affected the Lewis or total acidity, and therefore, the catalytic activity and selectivity to ML or methyl glucosides (MG). HPWTi acted as a heterogeneous catalyst after being calcinated at 200 °C and showed high recyclability with minor loss of performance

Identification of <i>CkSNAP33</i>, a gene encoding synaptosomal-associated protein from <i>Cynanchum komarovii</i>, that enhances Arabidopsis resistance to <i>Verticillium dahliae</i>

<div><p>SNARE proteins are essential to vesicle trafficking and membrane fusion in eukaryotic cells. In addition, the SNARE-mediated secretory pathway can deliver diverse defense products to infection sites during exocytosis-associated immune responses in plants. In this study, a novel gene (<i>CkSNAP33</i>) encoding a synaptosomal-associated protein was isolated from <i>Cynanchum komarovii</i> and characterized. CkSNAP33 contains Qb- and Qc-SNARE domains in the N- and C-terminal regions, respectively, and shares high sequence identity with AtSNAP33 from <i>Arabidopsis</i>. <i>CkSNAP33</i> expression was induced by H₂O₂, salicylic acid (SA), <i>Verticillium dahliae</i>, and wounding. Arabidopsis lines overexpressing CkSNAP33 had longer primary roots and larger seedlings than the wild type (WT). Transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed significantly enhanced resistance to <i>V</i>. <i>dahliae</i>, and displayed reductions in disease index and fungal biomass, and also showed elevated expression of <i>PR1</i> and <i>PR5</i>. The leaves of transgenic plants infected with <i>V</i>. <i>dahliae</i> showed strong callose deposition and cell death that hindered the penetration and spread of the fungus at the infection site. Taken together, these results suggest that <i>CkSNAP33</i> is involved in the defense response against <i>V</i>. <i>dahliae</i> and enhanced disease resistance in Arabidopsis.</p></div