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The most common hormonal and metabolic disease in early childhood is congenital hypothyroidism (CH). This study aimed to describe CH in large-scale birth cohort data and summarize the results of serum thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels in 2-yr-old children. Data were obtained from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), and we identified 171 children with CH detected in newborn screenings or medical records (170.5 per 100,000 population). Infants with CH are at higher risk of developing congenital diseases than those without CH. Of 171 children with CH, 20 (11.7%) were diagnosed with congenital heart defects, 33 (19.3%) had chromosomal or other congenital abnormalities, and 23 (13.5%) had Down syndrome. At the age of 2 yr old, the median and 95% reference range values for TSH and fT4 were 2.13 (0.78–5.52) µIU/mL and 1.2 (1.0–1.5) ng/dL, respectively. Moreover, boys had slightly higher TSH and fT4 levels than did girls. Data on the distribution of TSH and fT4 in 2-yr-old children should be useful for decreasing the misclassification of thyroid disorders in the pediatric population. Trial-off treatment and re-evaluation of thyroid function are needed to classify permanent congenital hypothyroidism and transient congenital hypothyroidism after 3 yr of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extracellular force has a profound effect on cell shape, cytoskeleton tension, and cell proliferation through the Hippo signaling effector Yki/YAP/TAZ, how intracellular force regulates these processes remains poorly understood. Here, we report an essential role for spectrin in specifying cell shape by transmitting intracellular actomyosin force to cell membrane. While activation of myosin II in Drosophila melanogaster pupal retina leads to increased cortical tension, apical constriction, and Yki-mediated hyperplasia, spectrin mutant cells, despite showing myosin II activation and Yki-mediated hyperplasia, paradoxically display decreased cortical tension and expanded apical area. Mechanistically, we show that spectrin is required for tethering cortical F-actin to cell membrane domains outside the adherens junctions (AJs). Thus, in the absence of spectrin, the weakened attachment of cortical F-actin to plasma membrane results in a failure to transmit actomyosin force to cell membrane, causing an expansion of apical surfaces. These results uncover an essential mechanism that couples cell shape, cortical tension, and Hippo signaling and highlight the importance of non–AJ membrane domains in dictating cell shape in tissue morphogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) is a nationwide, multicenter, prospective birth cohort investigation launched by the Ministry of Environment in Japan. The purpose of the JECS is to evaluate the influence of prenatal and postnatal exposures to environmental factors on the postnatal health of the children. In this study, we evaluated the allergic characteristics of parents within the JECS cohort. Methods: This study covered a wide geographical area and encompassed 15 regional centers. We obtained information regarding doctor diagnosed allergic diseases by using maternal and/or paternal self-administered questionnaires during the first trimester of pregnancy. Blood samples were also obtained from mothers and/or fathers to detect serum IgE concentrations. Results: The prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis, and food allergy were 10.9, 36.0, 15.7 and 4.8%, respectively, among 99,013 mothers; these prevalences among 49,991 fathers were 10.8, 30.3, 11.2 and 3.3%, respectively. Any positive antigen-specific IgE sensitization was found in 73.9% of mothers. The most abundant antigen sensitization in mothers was to Japanese cedar (55.6%), followed by Der p 1 (48%); only 1.0% of mothers were sensitized to egg white. Conclusions: This is the first epidemiological report on allergic disorders and allergen sensitization of parents during pregnancy among the Japanese general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess alcohol consumption and the associated development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are major public health challenges worldwide. Since patients with the severe stages of ALD no longer benefit from clinical therapies, early warning of ALD holds significant promise for increasing the cure rate of ALD. Herein, we develop a bicolor fluorescent nanoprobe for dynamically monitoring the conversion process of alcohol-induced fatty liver to steatohepatitis in vivo through simultaneous imaging of microRNA 155 and osteopontin mRNA, which are related to fatty liver and steatohepatitis, respectively. The fluorescence imaging results indicate that the nanoprobe can effectively differentiate alcohol-induced fatty liver and steatohepatitis. Moreover, the nanoprobe can monitor the transmutation process of alcohol-induced fatty liver to steatohepatitis and assess the remission effects of N-acetyl cysteine for alcohol-induced liver injury. We anticipate the developed nanoprobe and imaging method can provide new ways for early warning, treatments, and prognosis of ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a method that analyzes the quality of the cultivated cropland class mapped in the USA National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2006. The method integrates multiple geospatial datasets and a Multi Index Integrated Change Analysis (MIICA) change detection method that captures spectral changes to identify the spatial distribution and magnitude of potential commission and omission errors for the cultivated cropland class in NLCD 2006. The majority of the commission and omission errors in NLCD 2006 are in areas where cultivated cropland is not the most dominant land cover type. The errors are primarily attributed to the less accurate training dataset derived from the National Agricultural Statistics Service Cropland Data Layer dataset. In contrast, error rates are low in areas where cultivated cropland is the dominant land cover. Agreement between model-identified commission errors and independently interpreted reference data was high (79%). Agreement was low (40%) for omission error comparison. The majority of the commission errors in the NLCD 2006 cultivated crops were confused with low-intensity developed classes, while the majority of omission errors were from herbaceous and shrub classes. Some errors were caused by inaccurate land cover change from misclassification in NLCD 2001 and the subsequent land cover post-classification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to provide an updated analysis of childhood cancer mortality rates and long-term trends to 2013 to describe the current level of deaths and identify changes in recent decades. Methods: Data on number of deaths from cancer in children aged under 15 years were derived from Vital Statistics in Japan and the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database for comparison countries. Trends in mortality were examined by fitting a joinpoint regression model. Results: For all cancers combined, the mortality rate during 2010-2013 was 19.9 per 1,000,000 population for boys and 17.5 for girls in Japan. Mortality from all cancers combined decreased significantly from 1980 to 2003 for boys and from 1980 to 2001 for girls. Afterwards, the rates remained stable for both sexes. Mortality from leukemia declined over the entire study period by 4.6 % per year (p <0.05) in boys and 4.3 % per year (p <0.05) in girls. For central nervous system (CNS) tumors, a slight increase in mortality was observed for both sexes, with a statistically significant annual percent change (APC) of 0.5 % (p <0.05) for boys and 0.6 % (p <0.05) for girls. Conclusions: We provided updated information on recent trends of childhood cancer death. The establishment of a nationwide, childhood cancer registry is required in Japan. Moreover, trends in cancer mortality should be monitored continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since all of the organophosphorus pesticides (OPP) inhibit the cholinesterases with a common mechanism, it is still challenging to detect OPP selectively with inhibition-based biosensors. This study focuses on the conversion of a typical inhibition biosensing to a selective substrate-like biosensing. The interaction of quinalphos with plant-esterase involves not only a decrease in enzyme activity but also a heterolytic bond cleavage of quinalphos. The leaving group eliminated from quinalphos is an ideal biomarker due to its specificity in most OPP. Thus, using 2- hydroxyquinoxaline (HQO), the leaving group of quinalphos, as the biomarker and meso-tetra (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphine (TPPS4) as an optical probe, quinalphos can be selectively detected. The molecular recognition between TPPS4 and HQO leads to a considerable sensitivity of tire detection. The spectral responses of TPPS4 show a linear dependence on quinalphos concentration in the presence of plant-esterase within the 0.01-1 mg kg-1 range. The detection limit is 0.01 mg kg-1, well below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) defined by European Union (0.05 mg kg-1) and China (0.2 mg kg-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed [3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction of imines and oxindole-derived enals was developed for rapid access to spirocylic oxindoles. In most cases, the desired spirocylic oxindole products were obtained in high yields and excellent enantioselectivities with less than 1 h of reaction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is most commonly encountered in the soft tissue or bone in children and young adults, and its involvement in the intestines is exceedingly rare. To the best of our knowledge, eighteen cases have been reported to date. The present study reports three cases of PNET arising in the mesentery and ileocecum in 59-and 22-year-old males and a 36-year-old female. Computed tomography revealed a solid mass in the lower abdomen, with areas of cystic changes. Microscopically, the tumors were composed of small round cells arranged in sheets and rosettes with scant cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei and a high mitotic rate. The tumor cells were immunopositive for CD99 and FLI1. EWS/FLI1 translocations were detected in all cases. Case 1 and case 2 underwent tumor resection without any preoperative radiotherapy, chemotherapy or biological therapy. Case 3 underwent tumor resection and received eight cycles of IAP chemotherapy (2.0 mg ifosfamide, 80 mg epirubicin, 30 mg cisplatin 30mg). Case 3 was followed up for 34 months until they succumbed to peritoneal recurrence, whereas the other cases were not followed up. The incidence of these small round-cell tumors in the intestinal system, their clinical and pathological features and differential diagnosis are discussed with a review of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of atmospheric conditions and processes in cities are fundamental to understanding the interactions between the urban surface and weather/climate, improving the performance of urban weather, air quality, and climate models, and providing key information for city end users (e.g., decision makers, stakeholders, public). In this paper, Shanghai's Urban Integrated Meteorological Observation Network (SUIMON) and some examples of intended applications are introduced. Its characteristics include being multipurpose (e.g., forecast, research, service), multifunction (e.g., high-impact weather, city climate, special end users), multiscale (e.g., macro/meso, urban, neighborhood, street canyon), multivariable (e.g., thermal, dynamic, chemical, biometeorological, ecological), and multiplatform (e.g., radar, wind profiler, ground based, satellite based, in situ observation/sampling). Underlying SUIMON is a data management system to facilitate exchange of data and information. The overall aim of the network is to improve coordination strategies and instruments, to identify data gaps based on science- and user-driven requirements, and to intelligently combine observations from a variety of platforms by using a data assimilation system that is tuned to produce the best estimate of the current state of the urban atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare malignancy in the breast. Neurofibromatosis Type 1 is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder associated with multiple neoplasms such as optic gliomas and peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The association of breast cancer with neurofibromatosis is very rare. We present a case of a metaplastic breast cancer in a patient with Type 1 neurofibromatosis. The patient presented with a palpable mass in her left breast with suspicious findings on mammogram and ultrasound. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy showed metaplastic breast carcinoma with metastasis to an axillary lymph node. This is the third case report in the English literature to show metaplastic breast carcinoma in a patient with Type 1 neurofibromatosis. In this report we review recent literature and discuss the association between these two entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop a prognostic model for the survival of pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) using parameters that are measured during routine clinical management. Methods: Demographic and clinical variables were evaluated in 1679 pediatric patients with RMS registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 1990 to 2010. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was developed to predict median, 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS). The Akaike information criterion technique was used for model selection. A nomogram was constructed using the reduced model after model selection, and was internally validated. Results: Of the total 1679 patients, 543 died. The 5-year OS rate was 64.5% (95% confidence interval (CI), 62.1-67.1%) and the 10-year OS was 61.8% (95%CI, 59.2-64.5%) for the entire cohort. Multivariate analysis identified age at diagnosis, tumor size, histological type, tumor stage, surgery and radiotherapy as significantly associated with survival (p < 0.05). The bootstrap-corrected c-index for the model was 0.74. The calibration curve suggested that the model was well calibrated for all predictions. Conclusions: This study provided an objective analysis of all currently available data for pediatric RMS from the SEER cancer registry. A nomogram based on parameters that are measured on a routine basis was developed. The nomogram can be used to predict 5- and 10-year OS with reasonable accuracy. This information will be useful for estimating prognosis and in guiding treatment selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of platycodin in liver complications of type 2 diabetes. All rats were randomly divided into two groups: The control group (normal diet) and the model group (a high-fat and high-sugar diet). The model group was injected with 2% streptozocin (25 mg/kg body weight) through the tail vein following 4 weeks of dieting. After a total of 8 weeks of dieting, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and liver function were examined. The high-fat and high-sugar diet was continued in the successful model rats, which were randomly divided into four groups and treated with the following doses of platycodins: The untreated, and 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight/day groups. Platycodins treatment lasted for 12 weeks. Platycodins treatment at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight/day reduced the FBG, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and liver index levels compared with the untreated group (P<0.05), while the high-density lipoprotein levels increased (P<0.05). Furthermore, FBG, GPT, TC and LDL levels were returned to the normal level. This dose also increased the expression of BMP-9 mRNA and BMP-9 protein, and reduced the expression of Smad-4 mRNA and Smad-4 protein. These findings indicate that platycodins can rectify disorders of blood glucose and lipid metabolism, improve liver index and protect liver function in liver complications of type 2 diabetes. The current study suggests that this therapeutic effect is mediated through the BMP-9/Smad-4 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partial differential equation describing one-dimensional flow in a hydraulic pipeline with linear resistance can be approximated and solved numerically using different modal approaches. Modal models can be obtained either by using rational transfer functions (RTF) in the Laplace domain solution or by using separation of variables (SOV) techniques. The pipeline models have four possible input-output configurations: pressure inputs at both ends, flow rate inputs at both ends, and the two cases of mixed inputs. In this paper, modal bond graph representations for pipeline sections are reviewed, and new bond graphs are proposed for combinations of solution method and input-output configurations not yet presented in the literature. This includes bond graph representations for the two mixed input cases developed using the SOV technique, and bond graphs for the other two cases, pressure inputs or flow rate inputs, constructed on the basis of RTF solutions. Through numerical simulations of hydraulic single lines, the obtained models are compared to alternative models already established in the literature. It is shown that the modal models developed by the RTF and SOV methods have the same accuracy when the same number of modes is used. For both of these approaches, correction methods to maintain a high accuracy when truncating high-order modes are described, and also adapted to the bond graph form. Finally, simulation results for various line configurations are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination of carbohydrate to metal ions is important because it may be involved in many biochemical processes. The synthesis and characterization of several novel lanthanide-erythritol complexes (TbCl3·1.5C4H10O4·H2O (TbE(I)), Pr(NO3)3·C4H10O4·2H2O (PrEN), Ce(NO3)3·C4H10O4·2H2O (CeEN), Y(NO3)3·C4H10O4·C2H5OH (YEN), Gd(NO3)3·C4H10O4·C2H5OH (GdEN)) and Tb(NO3)3·C4H10O4·C2H5OH (TbEN) are reported. The structures of these complexes in the solid state have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Erythritol is used as two bidentate ligands or as three hydroxyl group donor in these complexes. FTIR spectra indicate that two kinds of structures, with water and without water involved in the coordination sphere, were observed for lanthanide nitrate-erythritol complexes. FIR and THz spectra show the formation of metal ion-erythritol complexes. Luminescence spectra of Tb-erythritol complexes have the characteristics of the Tb ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mild, simple, and efficient method for the synthesis of thiiranes from epoxides using a catalytic amount of silica chloride under solvent-free conditions has been developed. Experimental simplicity, simple work-up procedure, and solvent-free reaction conditions are important features of the present protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine changes in the age-specific prevalence of overweight and obesity in Japanese children between 2000 and 2005 and compare Japanese centile curves with international ones. Design: A large, Japanese, representative cross-sectional growth study. Setting: Japan. Subjects: Japanese children aged 5-17 years, including 669 986 subjects in 2000, 670 143 in 2001, 668 760 in 2002, 670 785 in 2003, 669 120 in 2004 and 668 234 in 2005. Main outcome measure: BMI (weight/height²). Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 5-17 years decreased from 2000 to 2005 in both males and females, according to the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Obesity Taskforce. For each year, the centile curves were drawn so that at age 17 years they passed through respectively 24.46 kg/m² and 24.70 kg/m2 for males, and 29.41 kg/m2 and 29.69 kg/m² for females, which are the BMI values at age 17 years from the international reference curves. Conclusions: The study results indicate that centile curves can change according to the time of observation, thus suggesting that international reference curves therefore need to be regularly revised while including more data from a larger range of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell-quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-DRC-qMS) coupled on-line with anion exchange chromatography (AEC) has been developed for the quantification of selenium-tagged proteins in human plasma. Methane was employed as a reaction gas in the dynamic reaction cell to achieve the determination of 80Se free of spectroscopic interference from 40Ar2+ and 79BrH+. Five selenium species including selenoprotein P (SelP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), selenoalbumin (SeAlb), and two unknown selenospecies (U1 and U2) in a pooled plasma sample from five healthy people were separated using AEC, and the distribution of selenium in SelP, GPx, SeAlb, U1 and U2 (about 45.5%, 19.1%, 15.1%, 2.9% and 8.1%) was determined by ICP-DRC-qMS using species-unspecific isotope dilution (80Se/77Se). Based on the detection limit (DL) of selenium (0.54 ng mL−1), we estimated that the DLs for SelP and GPx were 0.59 pmol mL−1 and 1.7 pmol mL−1, respectively. Through the stoichiometry of the selenium atom in the selenium-tagged proteins, SelP (2.7 ± 0.1 μg mL−1) and GPx (5.4 ± 0.2 μg mL−1) were successfully quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model describing the bark/air partitioning of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was established taking into consideration the accumulation processes of POPs from air into bark and compound-, species-, and site-specific air-to-bark accumulation factors. It allows the assessment of the concentrations of atmospheric POPs based on those recorded in tree bark. The spatial distribution of atmospheric POPs including 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ18PAHs), 5 organic chlorinated pesticides (Σ5OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (Σ10PCBs), and 17 brominated flame retardants (Σ17BFRs) were investigated by analyzing 163 bark samples from 68 sites across mainland China. The atmospheric POPs were estimated to be 4.1-399 ng/m³ air, and 11.3-553, 4.5-130, and 0.9-624 pg/m³ air with geometric means of 71 ng/m³ air, and 99,26, and 25 pg/m³ air for Σ18PAHs, Σ5OCPs, Σ10PCBs, and Σ17BFRs, respectively, based on those recorded in the tree barks of 5.1-1770, 0.05-12.9, 0.21-21 .6, and 0.02-48.3 ng/g bark on dry weight basis, with geometric means of 295, 1.47, 3.12, and 2.79 ng/g bark. These results generally indicated that contamination by atmospheric POPs is more serious in eastern and mid China than that in western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative thermodiffusion interface (TDI) was designed and constructed for the effective online coupling of capillary gas chromatography (cGC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Pb2+, (CH3)3Pb+, (C2H5)3Pb+, Hg2+, CH3Hg+ and C2H5Hg+ were derived as Pb(C4H9)4, (CH3)3PbC4H9, (C2H5)3PbC4H9, (C4H9)2Hg, CH3HgC4H9, and C2H5HgC4H9 when bulyl magnesium bromide was employed as a derivatization reagent for a proof-of-concept study, avoiding the loss of their species specific information. All these derivatives together with the neutral fully saturated (CH3)4Pb and (C2H5)4Pb could be quantitatively separated within 7 min using a 15 m long capillary column, allowing the determination and speciation of organic and inorganic Pb and Hg species in a single run. The method detection limits (3σ) for Me4Pb, Et4Pb, Me3Pb3+, Pb2+, MeHg+, EtHg+, and Hg2+ are 0.07, 0.06, 0.04, 7.0, 0.09, 0.1, and 0.2 pg g-1, respectively. Moreover, tri-n-propyl-lead chloride was synthesized and used as an alternative internal standard for the accurate and simultaneous specialion analysis of Pb and Hg in complicated environmental and biological samples for the first time. This cGC-TDI-ICPMS method was validated by analyzing Pb and Hg species in certified reference materials and then was applied to simultaneous speciation analysis of Pb and Hg in real. life samples. It is expected that these approaches can be extended to the speciation of other organometaffic compounds after suitable modifications and so will aid in monitoring the occurrence, pathways, toxicity, and/or biological effects of these compounds in the environment and in organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been known that metal ions and saccharides are involved in many biochemical processes. In this paper, metal nitrates were used as reactants to detect the coordination structures of the hydroxyl groups of galactitol in different environments. Three novel crystal structures and FT-IR spectra of metal nitrate-galactitol complexes of La(NO3)3∙C6H14O6∙4H2O, 2Ca(NO3)2C6H14O6H2O, and Sr(NO3)2C6H14O6 were examined in an effort to clarify the structural factors that control metal ion interactions with saccharides in aqueous and biological systems. The coordination structures of galactitol with alkaline earth and lanthanide nitrates in the solid state were compared using FT-IR, Raman, and X-ray diffraction techniques to extensively discuss the coordination rules of different kinds of metal ions. Results provided a model of the coordination sites found in sugars and showed that the introduction of NO3- made the coordination modes of galactitol more diverse and complex than those of the corresponding chloride complexes. Specifically, new coordination modes of galactitol and complicated topology networks were found in 2Ca(NO3)2.C6H14O6H2O and Sr(NO3)2C6H14O6. FI-IR results are consistent with the crystal structures and thus provide the possibility of using the similarity of IR spectra to speculate about unknown structures when the compounds are difficult to prepare as single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several surveys in Japan have indicated that most terminally ill Japanese patients would prefer to die at home or in a homelike setting. However, there is a great disparity between this stated preference and the reality, since most Japanese die in hospital. We report here national changes in home deaths in Japan over the last 5 decades. Using prefecture data, we also examined the factors in the medical service associated with home death in Japan. Methods: Published data on place of death was obtained from the vital statistics compiled by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. We analyzed trends of home deaths from 1951 to 2002, and describe the changes in the proportion of home deaths by region, sex, age, and cause of death. Joinpoint regression analysis was used for trend analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify secular trends in home deaths, and the impact of age, sex, year of deaths and cause of deaths on home death. We also examined the association between home death and medical service factors by multiple regression analysis, using home death rate by prefectures in 2002 as a dependent variable. Results: A significant decrease in the percentage of patients dying at home was observed in the results of joinpoint regression analysis. Older patients and males were more likely to die at home. Patients who died from cancer were less likely to die at home. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that home death was related to the number of beds in hospital, ratio of daily occupied beds in general hospital, the number of families in which the elderly were living alone, and dwelling rooms. Conclusion: The pattern of the place of death has not only been determined by social and demographic characteristics of the decedent, but also associated with the medical service in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the interactions between metal ions and carbohydrates. Coordination behavior of neutral erythritol to Ca(II) and lanthanide ions; Coordination structures observed for calcium and lanthanide chloride and nitrates.

A high level of PD-L1 in cancer cells promotes tumor immune escape and inhibits tumor immunotherapy. Although PD-L1 gene expression is upregulated by multiple pathways, its gene transcriptional repression is still unclear. Here we found that loss of PPARa, one of the peroxisome-proliferatoractivated receptors (PPARs) family members, promoted colorectal tumor immune escape. Mechanistically, PPARa directly bound to the PD-L1 promoter resulting in its gene transcriptional repression, which in turn increased T cell activity, and PPARa agonist enhanced this event. However, ERK induced PPARa-S12 phosphorylation leading to blockade of PPARamediated PD-L1 transcriptional repression, and the combination of ERK inhibitor with PPARa agonist significantly inhibited tumor immune escape. These findings suggest that the ERK-PPARa pathway inhibited PD-L1 gene transcriptional repression and promoted colorectal tumor immune escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although the beta-2 receptor agonist (B2 RA) is occasionally prescribed in the prenatal period for women with preterm labor, few studies have referred to the long-term effects of intrauterine exposure to B2 RA on fetus. We examined the association between intrauterine exposure to B2 RA and asthma in the offspring. Methods We obtained data from a hospital-based birth cohort study conducted in Tokyo, Japan. The outcomes of interest were three indicators, consisting of current wheeze, current asthma, and ever asthma at 5 years of age, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between intrauterine B2 RA exposure and outcomes. To evaluate dose-dependent risk, we categorized children into three groups according to both the cumulative dose and duration (days) and conducted trend analysis. Results Of 1158 children, 94 (8.1%) were exposed to B2 RA in utero, and 191 (16.5%), 111 (9.6%), and 168 (14.5%) children experienced current wheeze, current asthma, and ever asthma, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, we found an increased risk of current asthma caused by B2 RA exposure with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.04 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-4.05). Trend analysis showed that B2 RA exposure in utero was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of current asthma in terms of both cumulative dose and duration ( P values for trend were .015 and .017, respectively). These results were similar to those for other outcome measures. Conclusion Exposure to B2 RA in utero could be a risk for childhood asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative information on a targeted analyte in a complex biological system is the most basic premise for understanding its involved mechanisms, and thus precise diagnosis of a disease if it is a so-called biomarker. Here, we designed and synthesized a neodymium (Nd)-cored tag [1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-trisacetic acid (DOTA)-Nd complex together with a light-harvesting antenna aminofluorescein (AMF, ?[sub ex/em] = 494/520 nm), AMF-DOTA-Nd] with duplex signals, second near-infrared (NIR) window luminescence (?[sub em] = 1065 nm, 2.5 µs), and stable isotopic mass ([sup 142]Nd). AMF-DOTA-Nd covalently linked with a urea-based peptidomimetic targeting group, 2-[3-(1,3-dicarboxypropyl)-ureido]pentanedioic acid (DUPA)-8-Aoc-Phe-Phe-Cys (DUPAaFFC) (DUPAaFFC-AMF-DOTA-Nd), allowing us to detect and quantify prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and its splice variants (total PSMA, tPSMA), which was set as an example of targeted biomarkers in this study, using NIR and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) with the limit of detection (LOD) (3s) of 0.3 ng/mL. When it was applied to the analysis of 80 blood samples from prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients as well as healthy volunteers, we found that 320 and 600 ng/mL tPSMA could be recommended as the threshold values to differentiate BPH from PCa and for the diagnosis of PCa. Moreover, PSMA-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were counted using ICPMS being from 134 to 773 CTCs in the PCa blood samples of the Gleason score from 6 to 9 when the cell membrane-spanning mPSMA was tagged. Such a methodology developed could be expected to be applicable to other clinic-meaningful biomolecules and their host CTCs in liquid biopsy, when other specific targeting groups are modified to the NIR Nd tag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COVID-19-associated cough is a common acute and persistent symptom after SARS-CoV-2 infection, affecting thousands of patients physically and mentally. Fu’s subcutaneous needling (FSN) has been used for cough clinical, and this study aimed to examine the effect of FSN on COVID-19-associated cough. Methods: Patients with COVID-19-associated cough were enrolled and received FSN treatment once a day for three days. Then, the response rates after the first treatment, defined as the proportion of participants whose cough intensity visual analogue scale (VAS) was reduced by at least 50%, were compared with each assessment time after FSN treatment. Cough evaluation test (CET) score, fatigue scale-14 (FS-14), and adverse events were assessed. Results: One hundred and fifty-four patients completed the study. The rapid response rates increased to 24.02, 66.88, and 85.06% after each FSN treatment respectively, and up to 90.90% till the follow-up. Compared with the post-first FSN treatment, the response rates showed significant differences with each postFSN treatment (P < 0.001). Compared with the baseline, the VAS score, the CET score, and the FS-14 score were all significantly reduced after three times FSN treatments, and those reductions persisted until the follow-up (P < 0.001). A correlation between pre-post intervention change of CET score and FS-14 score was significant (P < 0.001). There were no adverse events happened in the study. Conclusions: FSN rapidly alleviated COVID-19-associated cough intensity, improved the quality of life, and reduced fatigue of patients. Cough relief was the primary benefit of FSN, and a certain correlation was found between cough relief and fatigue alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-abundance tyrosine phosphorylation is crucial to not only normal but also aberrant life processes. We designed and synthesized a photocleavable magnetic nanoparticle-based gallium tag for tagging and enrichment as well as UV-release of the phosphate-bearing molecules/ions in cells. HPLC/71Ga species-unspecific isotope dilution (71Ga-SUID) ICPMS was subsequently developed for specific and absolute quantification of phosphotyrosine (pY) under the assistance of a protein tyrosine phosphatase-IB (PTP-1B). pY quantification was thus achieved via determination of Ga in the Ga-phosphate complexes that come exclusively from the Ga-tagged pY. In this way, the method detection limit of pY reached down to 30 amol with the RSD lower than 5.70% (n = 5 at pmol level). Feasibility of this proposed method was validated using VNQIGTLSEpYTK, VNQIGTLpSEpYTK, and extracellular regulated protein kinase 1 peptide (-pTEpY-) standards with the recovery of more than 96% (n = 5). It was applied to the absolute quantification of pY in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, indicating that pY increased by 1.60 nmol (61.1%) in 3.0 X 106 MCF-7 cells after 100 nM insulin stimulation. We believe that, not limited to pY quantification, this element-tagging and protease-specific reaction mediated ICPMS methodology will pave a simple path for ever more applications of ICPMS to the studies of quantitative protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) when suitable element-tags are designed and specific proteases are available toward targeted PTMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objectives of this study were to evaluate and model the probability of melanoma-specific death and competing causes of death for patients with melanoma by competing risk analysis, and to build competing risk nomograms to provide individualized and accurate predictive tools.Methods: Melanoma data were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results program. All patients diagnosed with primary non-metastatic melanoma during the years 2004-2007 were potentially eligible for inclusion. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) was used to describe the probability of melanoma mortality and competing risk mortality. We used Gray's test to compare differences in CIF between groups. The proportional subdistribution hazard approach by Fine and Gray was used to model CIF. We built competing risk nomograms based on the models that we developed.Results: The 5-year cumulative incidence of melanoma death was 7.1 %, and the cumulative incidence of other causes of death was 7.4 %. We identified that variables associated with an elevated probability of melanoma-specific mortality included older age, male sex, thick melanoma, ulcerated cancer, and positive lymph nodes. The nomograms were well calibrated. C-indexes were 0.85 and 0.83 for nomograms predicting the probability of melanoma mortality and competing risk mortality, which suggests good discriminative ability.Conclusions: This large study cohort enabled us to build a reliable competing risk model and nomogram for predicting melanoma prognosis. Model performance proved to be good. This individualized predictive tool can be used in clinical practice to help treatment-related decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abnormal pH values in the organelles are closely associated with inappropriate cellular functions and many diseases. Monitoring subcellular pH values and their variations is significant in biological processes occurring in living cells and tissues. Herein, we develop a series of ratiometric fluorescence nanoprobes for quantification and imaging of pH values with a single-wavelength excitation in cytoplasm, lysosomes, and mitochondria. The nanoprobes consist of mesoporous silica nanoparticles assembled with aminofluorescein as the recognition unit for pH measurement and ethidium bromide as reference fluorophore. Further conjugation of subcellular targeting moiety enables the nanoprobes to specifically target lysosome and mitochondria. Confocal fluorescence imaging demonstrated that the nanoprobes could effectively monitor the pH fluctuations from 5.0 to 8.3 in living cells by ratio imaging with 488 nm excitation. Subcellular pH determination and imaging in lysosome and mitochondria could also be achieved in different conditions. The current method can offer a general strategy to determine subcellular analytes and investigate the interactions in biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] This study was conducted to construct a super-high yield population of Japnica rice in cold regions of North China and to explore its characteristics. [Method] The super rice variety Longjing 21 was selected as the experimental material. Different row spacing (two levels), plant spacing(three levels) and seedling number per hill (three levels) were designed in field trials. Then, the growth stages, dry matter accumulation, leaf area, yield and yield components of these different treatments were measured. [Result] Rice yield had significantly negative correlation with plant spacing and row spacing, but no significant correlation with seedling number per hill. Rice yield was mainly affected by plant spacing, and less affected by seedling number per hill. The best recommended specifications for plant spacing of super rice variety Longjing 21 were 24 cm for row spacing, 12 cm for plant spacing and five seedlings per hill, and the expected yield was 10 473.0 kg/hm2. The increased number of total spikelets (4.5×108hm2or more) in populations was the major reason for high yield. Super-high yield populations had fewer tillers at the early growth stage and achieved the expected number of productive tillers at critical leaf-age (June 25), and tiller number peaked at jointing stage (July 6) and was about 1.2 times of the expected number. The percentage of productive tillers in total tillers of super-high yield population was more than 85% at heading stage. At middle growth stage (from jointing to heading stage), the dry matter accumulation, leaf area index (LAI) at heading stage, effective leaf area, spikelet number of population, spikelet number per leaf area unit (cm2), and culm-sheath weight per stem of super-high yield population were significantly higher than those of other populations. At late growth stage (from heading to maturity stage), the leaf area decreasing rate of super-high yield population was significantly smaller than that of other populations. At late growth stage (from heading to maturity stage), the leaf area decreasing rate, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, biomass accumulation, number of filled grains per leaf area unit (cm2) and grain weight per leaf area unit (cm2) of high-yield population were significantly higher than those of other populations. Output and translocation of dry matter (weight per stem and sheath and total filling rate at maturity) from heading to milky stage of super-high yield population were significantly higher than those of other populations. [Conclusion] The characteristics of superhigh yield rice in cold region of North China are enriching the amount of actual filling of sink through improving photosynthetic efficiency from heading to maturity stage on the basis of enough panicle numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival outcome for middle ear cancer and to construct prognostic models to provide patients and clinicians with more accurate estimates of individual survival probability. Methods: Patients diagnosed with middle ear cancer between 1983 and 2011 were selected for the study from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program. We used the Kaplan-Meier product limit method to describe overall survival and cause-specific survival. Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to model the relationships between patient characteristics and prognosis. Nomograms for predicting overall survival and cause-specific survival were built using the Cox models established. Results: The entire cohort comprised 247 patients with malignant middle ear cancer. Median duration of follow-up until censoring or death was 25 months (range, 1-319 months). Five-year overall survival and cause-specific survival were 47.4% (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 41.2% to 54.6%) and 58.0% (95% CI, 51.6% to 65.3%), respectively. In multivariable analysis, age, histological subtype, stage, surgery and radiotherapy were predictive of survival. The bootstrap corrected c-index for model predicting overall and cause-specific survival was 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. Calibration plots showed that the predicted survival reasonably approximated observed outcomes. Conclusion: The models represent an objective analysis of all currently available data. The resulting models demonstrated good accuracy in predicting overall survival and cause-specific survival. Nomograms should thus be considered as a useful tool for predicting clinical prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the metabolic pathways of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is a key issue in the evaluation of their cytotoxicity after they enter the biota. In order to obtain more information concerning the metabolic pathways of PBDEs, we developed a strong electron-withdrawing pentafluorobenzoyl (PFBoyl) derivatization capillary gas chromatography/electron capture negative ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC/ECNI-qMS). PFBoyl esterification greatly improves separation of the metabolites of PBDEs such as hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs) and bromophenols (BPs) metabolites in rat liver microsomes (RLMs). On the other hand, the strong electron-withdrawing property of PFBoyl derivatized on OH-PBDEs and/or BPs makes cleavage of the ester bond on ECNI easier resulting in higher abundance of the structure-informative characteristic fragment ions at a high m/z region, which facilitate the identification of OH-PBDEs metabolites. Subsequent quantification can be performed by monitoring not only 79Br- (or 81Br-) but also their characteristic fragment ions, achieving more accurate isotope dilution quantification using GC/ECNI-qMS. These merits allow us to identify totally 12 metabolites of BDE-47, a typical example of PBDEs, in the RLMs in vitro incubation systems. In addition to the already known metabolites of BDE-47, one dihydroxylated 3,6-di-OH-BDE-47 and one dihydroxylated 3,5-di-OH-tetrabrominated dioxin were found. Moreover, the second hydroxylation took place on the same bromophenyl ring, where the first hydroxyl group was located, and was further confirmed via the identification of the dihydroxylated 2',6'-di-OH-BDE-28 of an asymmetric 2'-OH-BDE-28. This methodological development and its subsequent findings of the metabolic pathways of BDE-47 provided experimental evidence for understanding its dioxin-like behavior and endocrine disrupting risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrites and axons are two major neuronal compartments with differences that are critical for neuronal functions. To learn about the differential regulation of dendritic and axonal development, we conducted a genetic screen in Drosophila and isolated the dendritic arbor reduction 1 (dar1) mutants, which display defects in dendritic but not axonal growth. The dar1 gene encodes a novel transcription regulator in the Krüppellike factor family. Neurons lacking dar1 function have severely reduced growth of microtubule- but not F-actin-based dendritic branches. In contrast, overexpression of Dar1 dramatically increased the growth of microtubule-based dendritic branches. Our results suggest that Dar1 promotes dendrite growth in part by suppressing the expression of the microtubule-severing protein Spastin. Our study thus uncovers a novel transcriptional program for microtubule regulation that preferentially controls dendrite growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient synthesis of 14-substituted-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes and 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes has been accomplished by the one-pot condensation of β-naphthol or dimedone and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions in the presence of SiO2-Cl as a heterogeneous catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative protcomics requires novel analytical methodology to fill the gap related to absolute protein abundance in different physiological conditions. In this paper, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study for absolute protein quantification. l,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-l,4,7-trisacetic acid-10-maleimidoethylacetamide (MMA-DOTA) loaded with Eu was used to label lysozyme, insulin, and ribonu-clease A, and they were subsequently quantified using HPLC coupled with 153Eu spccies-unspccific isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). Labeling procedures were optimized using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) based on the labeling efficiency and specificity of the three intact proteins, which suggested that 10-fold or higher MMA-DOTA to cysteine sulphydryl rates at pH from 6.8 to 7.6 and 47 °C for 40 min were optimal conditions for the conjugation of the reduced-form proteins and that a 5-fold excess of Eu with respect to the DOTA present in the MMA-DOTA-conjugated proteins and pH 5.8 are optimal for Eu labeling. Subsequently, these three MMA-DOTA-Eu-labeled proteins were digested with trypsin, and the tryptic peptides were quantified via HPLC coupled with 153Eu species-unspecific isotope dilution ICPMS. The results for the protein studied indicated that not only could 100% digestion efficiency not be achieved but also the resulting peptides needed a chromatographic separation at higher resolution. On the other hand, the labeled intact proteins were quantified without tryptic digestion. The average recovery was found to be 97.9% in six independent experiments, and the precision was evaluated to be 5.8% at the 10 pmol L-1 level. The detection limits (3σ) were determined to be 0.819, 1.638, and 0.819 fmol for lysozyme, the A chain of insulin, and ribonuclease A, respectively, using ICPMS with a normal concentric pneumatic nebulizer. These results demonstrated that high-quality absolute protein quantification could be achieved through labeling the intact proteins but not the tryptic peptides, implying that intact proteins may be more feasible and practical targets than tryptic peptides for ICPMS-based absolute protein quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, molecular mass spectrometry is preferred by many for relative quantification but is not appropriate for “absolute” quantification of proteins. In this article we demonstrate a proof of concept for the absolute quantitative analysis of proteins viaCH3Hg+labeling and integrated application of molecular and elemental mass spectrometry. The smallest size of CH3Hg+among monoalkyl mercurials and the specific and covalent interaction with sulfhydryl (–SH) in proteins results in forming a simple complex of CH3Hg+:–SH = 1:1 when all –SH are exposed, as confirmed by ESI-MS. Based on the known number of –SH per protein, the absolute protein concentration can be obtained viaHg determination using ICP-MS, in which CH3HgCl could be simply used as an external standard. When bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A, lysozyme and insulin, which have an increasing number of various disulfide linkages in their molecules, were taken as model proteins, their corresponding absolute detection limits (3σ) reached 0.6, 1.2 and 0.4 pmol, respectively. These characteristics may be expected to provide an alternative approach for absolute protein quantification, especially specific biomarker determination, in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica chinensis L. was chosen and exposed to different concentrations of Cd exposure to evaluate its Cd-accumulating capacity and its potential cellular defensive mechanisms. Cd accumulation in the shoots and roots of B. chinensis was up to 1348.3±461.8 and 3761.0±795.0 mg per killogram of dry weight, respectively, under 200 µmol/L of Cd exposure. Increasing Cd accumulation in the plant was accompanied by rapid accumulation of phytochelatins (PCs), and the sequestration of Cd by PCs provided a primary cellular mechanism for Cd detoxification and tolerance of B. chinensis. Furthermore, malondialdehyde formation, hydrogen peroxide content and antioxidative enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were observed in the shoots of Cd-stressed B. chinensis. Increasing enzyme activities in response to concentrations of 5 to 50 µmol/L Cd showed an efficient defense against oxidative stress, suggesting that the antioxidative system was a secondary defensive mechanism. These resulted in reduced free Cd damage and enhanced Cd accumulation and tolerance. Glutathione plays a pivotal role in these two detoxification pathways. In general, these results suggested that PCs and the antioxidative system are synergistic in combatting Cd-induced oxidative stress and that they play important roles in Cd detoxification of B. chinensis, and also give a deep understanding of the natural defensive mechanisms in plants under heavy metal stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in vitro synthesized Cd-phytochelatin (PC) complexes and in vivo Cd–PC complexes in Cd-stressed Brassica chinensis, which has been identified as a Cd hyperaccumulator, were characterized using SEC-ICP-MS and ESI-MS/MS. The PCs (n = 1–5) obtained from Cd-stressed B. chinensis together with CdCl2 were used to synthesize the in vitro Cd–PC complexes, and the formation of CdGS1–2, (CdGS)2, Cd1–2PC2, Cd1–3PC3, Cd1–3PC4 and Cd1–3PC5 was observed. In addition, for the first time, in vivo CdPC3 and CdPC4 complexes, as well as Cd-free PCs (n = 2–5) and desGlu-PC3 were detected in the extracts of Cd-stressed B. chinensis and confirmed by means of their corresponding isotopic peak distribution and MS/MS spectra. Nitrogen saturated ammonium bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.8), instead of Tris-HCl and phosphate buffer, was used as a suitable mobile phase in order to stabilize the Cd–PC complexes and effectively avoid possible oxidation of PC analogues during SEC fractionation. Results obtained in this study give definite evidence elucidating the important roles which PCs play in plant defensive mechanisms to Cd stress. SEC-ICP-MS and ESI-MS/MS were demonstrated as powerful and promising techniques for screening and identifying the in vivo metallopeptides, with accurate isotopic distribution assignment, in metal toxicological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new vapor generation system for mercury (Hg) species based on the irradiation of mercaptoethanol (ME) with UV was developed to provide an effective sample introduction unit for atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). Preliminary investigations of the mechanism of this novel vapor generation system were based on GC–MS and FT–IR studies. Under optimum conditions, the limits of determination for inorganic divalence mercury and methyl mercury were 60 and 50 pg mL−1, respectively. Certified reference materials (BCR 463 tuna fish and BCR 580 estuarine sediment) were used to validate this new method, and the results agreed well with certified values. This new system provides an attractive alternative method of chemical vapor generation (CVG) of mercury species compared to other developed CVG systems (for example, the traditional KBH4/NaOH–acid system). To our knowledge, this is the first systematic report on UV/ME-based Hg species vapor generation and the determination of total and methyl Hg in environmental and biological samples using UV/ME–AFS. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we report a method for direct vapor generation of mercury species on nano TiO2 under UV irradiation in the presence of a formic acid and sodium formate mixture as a hole scavenger. A novelly designed UV/TiO2 photocatalysis reaction device (UV/TiO2 PCRD) was used as an effective sample introduction unit and an interface for mercury species determination by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and speciation by HPLC-AFS for the first time. The detection limits of 10, 20, 30 and 70 pg mL−1 of mercury chloride, methylmercury chloride, ethylmercury chloride and phenylmercury chloride, respectively, were achieved by AFS using flow injection mode. Compared with the traditional KBH4/NaOH-HCl system, UV/TiO2 PCRD is a superior alternative for online vapor generation of Hg species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative normalization method was developed for evaluating atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution level when using tree bark as a passive sampling medium. Perylene (PER), which mainly stems from natural biogenic processes, was proposed as a "natural internal compound" (NIC) of atmospheric PAHs accumulation processes from air into the bark, and a concentration ratio of target PAH to PER (RPAH/PER) was used to minimize the uncertainty in the evaluation of atmospheric PAHs pollution level. Systematic investigation of the effects of intrinsic bark characteristics and extrinsic seasonal meteorological conditions on the partition processes of atmospheric PAHs indicated that RPAH/PER is as an alternative index as compared to bark mass concentration (BMCPAH, ng/g dry bark), lipid mass concentration (LMCPAH, ng/g lipid of bark), and area mass concentration (AMCPAH, ng/m² surface area of bark) for the evaluation of atmospheric PAHs pollution and that it allows more flexible sampling of tree barks. Clearly, the methodology should be expected to be useful for the objective evaluation of atmospheric pollution levels of other persistent organic pollutants when using tree bark and other passive sampling media if corresponding NICs are found in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study was conducted to construct high-yielding, high-quality, and high-light-efficiency population structures of different types of rice varieties. [ Methods] The effects of plant spacing, row spacing and seedling number allocation on stems and tillers, leaf area and dynamic traits of high-yielding rice populations (more than 9 750 kg/hm2 ) and low-yielding populations (less than 9 750 kg/hm2 ) were studied by two kinds of representative rice varieties with different tiller ability and panicle sizes in cold regions. [Results] Decreasing the plant and row spacing and increasing the number of planted seedlings per hole advanced the heading date and made the number of stems and tillers in the population increase. The impact on the super rice variety with fewer tillers and heavier panicles was greater than that of conventional variety with more tillers and lighter panicles. The stems and tillers of the high-yielding high-quality populations grew steadily in the early stage of development, until an appropriate number of panicles was reached at the critical leaf age for productive tillers (June 25 ), and the peak seedlings should appear in the jointing stage (July 9) with a small number ( that value of Longjing 21, the super rice variety with fewer tillers and heavier panicles, was about 1. 2 times the expected panicle number, and that of the conventional variety with more tillers and lighter panicles, Kongyu 131, was about 1. 1 times the expected panicle number). The populations gradually declined since then, until reaching an appropriate number of panicles at the heading stage. The high-yielding high-quality populations had a higher leaf area index at the heading stage. The value of Longjing 21, the super rice variety with fewer tiller and heavier panicles, reached about 6. 0, and that of Kongyu 131, the conventional variety with more tillers and lighter panicles, reached about 4. 5. The values decreased thereafter. At the maturation stage, the leaf area index of Longjing 21 remained above 2. 5, and that of Kongyu 131 remained above 2. 0. [Conclusions ] This study has an important guiding role and significance for their high-yielding and high-quality supporting cultivation in cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the water-saving technologies and standards in large-scale mechanized production of paddy fields, the water-saving effects and cost-benefit situations of paddy field steeping, seedling transplanting and different land preparation methods were studied. The results showed that the suitable water layer height for the closing period of mechanized operation was 10 cm, which could save water, facilitate weed control, and lead to better effect and the highest yield. The treatment with a water layer height of 1 cm(Huadashui) for the seedling planting operation achieved better quality of seedling transplanting, lower vacancy rate and higher yield and was water-saving. From the perspective of saving water and taking into account the cost of land preparation, the method of steeping and beating the field was better than the method of plowing in autumn and rotary tillage and harrowing in spring, but it was very prone to lodging. From the perspective of high yield creation, the method of plowing in autumn and rotary tillage and harrowing in spring was significantly better than the method of steeping and beating the field. In order to reduce the cost of land preparation, it is recommended to change the way of plowing in autumn and rotary tillage and hallowing in spring to plowing in autumn and rotary tillage in spring or plowing and hallowing in spring to reduce the cost of one time of rotary tillage, and to simultaneously realize deeper plough layer, which is conducive to preventing lodging and obtaining high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although potato extract, derived from various methods, exhibits anticancer, antiviral and anti-parasite activities in vitro and in vivo, the bioactivity of potato solution remains unclear using the freeze-thaw extraction method granted by the State Intellectual Property Office of China. In the present study, a potato freeze-thaw solution (PFTS) was fed to mice with ascites tumor that were pre-treated with cyclophosphamide. The numbers of peripheral white blood cells (WBCs), macrophage phagocytosis, lymphocyte transformation and survival of mice were measured. While mice injected with cyclophosphamide exhibited decreased counts of peripheral WBCs, treatment of the cyclophosphamide-injected mice with PFTS for 10 days significantly increased the number of peripheral WBCs and reversed WBC counts to the normal level, a comparable effect to that of Ganoderma lucidum. In addition, treatment with PFTS for 20 days significantly enhanced peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis and lymphocyte transformation. Lastly, PFTS was noticed to prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice when compared with that of control mice. Collectively, these data suggested that PFTS, at least in part, enhances immune function and possesses antitumor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elimination/[3+2] cycloaddition reactions of simple enals and unprotected isatins with haloamides have been developed. This transformation provides rapid access to highly functionalized oxazolidin-4-ones that are represented in bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence has established that periodontitis was an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CAD). Porphyromonus gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major periodontal pathogen, has already been shown to have a significant role in the inflammatory response of CAD in vivo. The aim of the present study was to identify whether P. gingivalis heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60) induced the dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. HUVECs were stimulated with a range of P. gingivalis HSP60 concentrations (1, 10 and 100 ng/l) at different time-points. The levels of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 (caspase-3) were measured using western blot analysis. The apoptotic rate of HUVECs was detected using flow cytometry. P. gingivalis HSP60 at a concentration of 10 ng/l significantly decreased the expression levels of VE-cadherin and eNOS protein at 24 h stimulation, whereas no difference in these proteins was identified following a low dose of P. gingivalis HSP60 (1 ng/l). P. gingivalis HSP60 at 100 ng/l significantly downregulated the expression levels of VE-cadherin and eNOS protein at 12 h in HUVECs. However, the cleavage of caspase-3 showed an opposing change at different concentrations. Consistently, P. gingivalis HSP60 induced apoptosis of HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicated that P. gingivalis HSP60 may induce dysfunction and apoptosis in HUVECs via downregulating the expression levels of VE-cadherin and eNOS, and promoting the cleavage of caspase-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An N-heterocycliccarbene-catalyzed highly enantioselective [3+ 3] annulation reaction of N-hydroxyphthalimide(NHPI) 3,3-disubstituted acrylates and N-Ts ketimines was developed.In most cases, the desired chiral dihydropyridinone products bearingan all carbon quaternary stereogenic center could be obtained in goodyields with excellent enantioselectivities (>99% ee’s),whichdemonstrated the NHPI acrylates as a kind of excellent substrate inNHC-catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids 1 (ELOVL1) is a ubiquitously expressed gene that belongs to the ELOVL family and regulates the synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and sphingolipids, from yeast to mammals. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central regulator of cell metabolism and is associated with fatty acids synthesis. In this study, we cloned the cDNA that encodes Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) ELOVL1 (GenBank Accession number KF549985) and investigated its expression in 10 tissues. ELOVL1 cDNA was 840 bp, encoding a deduced protein of 279 amino acids, and ELOVL1 mRNA was expressed in a wide range of tissues. Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin decreased ELOVL1 expression and fatty acids synthesis in Cashmere goat fetal fibroblasts. These data show that ELOVL1 expression is regulated by mTORC1 and that mTORC1 has significant function in fatty acids synthesis in Cashmere goat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coupled separation system involving a mechanical vapor recompression heat pump (MVRHP) and double-effect distillation (MED) was proposed. In a case of separating N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC)/water mixture, four distillation schemes (i.e., conventional distillation, top MVRHP distillation, double-effect distillation, and double-effect distillation with double MVRHP) were conceptually constructed and simulated by using Aspen Plus with the binary interaction parameters of the NRTL thermodynamic model. We evaluated these four schemes to choose the best one with the goal of the minimum total annual cost (TAC). Compared to the conventional distillation, the TACs for double-effect distillation with double MVRHPs, top MVRHP distillation, and double-effect distillation were decreased by 47.76, 32.23, and 5.45%, respectively. It indicates that the double-effect distillation with double MVRHPs has obvious advantages over the other three distillation schemes in terms of economic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]