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The aim of this study is to identify brain structures involved in the individual difference of nicotine susceptibility in rats with longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to intermittent intraperitoneal nicotine injection for 14 days using a mini-osmotic pump, followed by forced withdrawal for 14 days. Somatic withdrawal behavioral signs test was performed on day 0, 15, and 29 to quantify nicotine dependence. Correlation analyses between the withdrawal behavior score and structural MRI indices on day 1 (baseline scan) revealed that the severity of nicotine dependence was negatively correlated with the gray matter (GM) volumes in bilateral prelimbic cortex/left granular insular cortex and the white matter volume in bilateral thalamus, but positively correlated with the GM volumes in right hippocampal CA1/left thalamus. It is proposed that the aforementioned structural indices may be used as biomarkers for nicotine susceptibility, predicting the risk of nicotine dependence before individuals are exposed to nicotine.

Objective * To investigate the effect of exosomes (Exo) of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) overexpressing miR-124-1 gene on the regulation of transformation of M2 microglia (MG). Methods * BMMSCs of rats were isolated and cultured. BMMSCs-Exo were extracted. BMMSCs and BMMSCs-Exo were identified by flow cytometry, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Western blotting, respectively. MiR-124-1 gene was synthesized and its lentiviral vector was constructed. The expression changes of miR-124-1 gene in BMMSCs and BMMSCs-Exo were observed. BMMSCs-Exo overexpressing miR-124-1 gene (Exo/124-1) was co-cultured with HAPI microglia cell line activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cells from Exo group and EXO/124-1 group were collected, respectively. HAPI cells cultured with LPS only (LPS group) were compared with untreated HAPI cells (normal group). Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of M1 molecules [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and M2 molecules(CD206, IL-10) in HAPI cells. Results * BMMSCs and BMMSCs-Exo were successfully isolated, cultured and identified. Exo/124-1 significantly expressed miR-124-1 gene. BMMSCs-Exo could carry miR-124-1 gene, significantly down-regulating the expression of IL-6 (compared with the normal group and the LPS group, the down-regulation percentage were 55.71% and 73.04%, respectively at the gene level, and the percentages were 52.32% and 76.95%, respectively at the protein level) and TNF-α (compared with the normal group and the LPS group, the down-regulation percentage were 51.95% and 68.91%, respectively at the gene level, and 52.14% and 77.47%, respectively at the protein level) of HAPI cells tested by qPCR and Western blotting. Exo/124-1 up-regulated the expression of CD206 (compared with the normal group and the LPS group, the down-regulation percentage were 46.90% and 76.99%, respectively at the gene level, and 65.13% and 85.11%, respectively at the protein level) and IL-10 (compared with the normal group and the LPS group, the downregulation percentage were 43.09% and 72.36%, respectively at the gene level, and 55.19% and 78.18%, respectively at the protein level) in HAPI cells. Conclusion * BMMSCs-Exo can mediate miR-124-1 to regulate the polarization of HAPI cells to M2 type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes a comprehensive analysis on the correlation between the total score of the steel frame snowmobile event and the results of the starting stage and the sliding stage, the factors influencing the sports performance of the steel frame snowmobile athletes and the training strategies by using the research methods of literature review, mathematical statistics and so on. Results: 1) The starting and sliding stages are correlated with the competition time significantly (P<0.01); 2) The starting stage of men s skeleton athletes at the last three Winter Olympics and women's skeleton athletes at Sochi Winter Olympics have a positive impact on the competition time of 1.7 ~ 3.0 times. The sliding time have a positive impact on the competition time of 0.9 ~ 1.3 times in the last three Winter Olympics. Conclusions: 1) The influencing factors of sports performance in pushing are the effect of pushing-running and loading. The strategy of physical training is to improve the pushing-running speed through sprint and lower limb power training. The strategy of technique training is to improve the loading skill through decomposition and simulation training; 2) The influencing factors of sports performance in sliding are the sledding control scheme and sliding route. The strategy of technique training is to improve the control skill through proprioception and intelligence training. The strategy of tactical Gaining is to improve the sliding benefit through the planning and adjustment of the sliding route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the mechanical properties of cellulose films, chemical crosslinking was used to enhance cellulose films: A high strength cellulose film with a certain UV resistance was prepared by phase conversion with cellulose /DMAc-LiCl solution as casting solution and p-Xylylene dichloride as crosslinking agent, following etherification reaction for crosslinking in NaOH aqueous solution. The synthesized film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the content of crosslinking agent played a decisive role in the strength of cellulose film. With increasing the amount of crosslinking agent, the original amorphous structure of cellulose was destroyed and a new crystalline Wffflh higher degree of crystallization was formed. The mechanical properties test showed that the cellulose film with best mechanical properties could be prepared when the crosslinking agent was 1:0.125 (molar ratio of--OH : --Cl), the concentration of NaOH was 0.1 mol/L, and the reaction time was 3 h. The tensile strength of the plain film can be increased by 102%, the modulus of elasticity by 32% and the elongation at break by 210%. The mechanical strength of unmodified cellulose films irradiated by ultraviolet light decreased by 24.6%. With the increase of cross-linking agent content, the tensile strength of cellulose films decreased by 16.8%-2.45%. It was proved that the modified cellulose films had certain ultraviolet resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To suppress the quantization noise from Σ-Δ modulator, this paper proposed a frequency synthesizer based on multi-phase fractional divider. This structure can avoid glitch while consuming less power because all main block working on lower frequency. 50% duty cycle input also does not needed here. Through comparing, this technique can reduce 12 dB output phase noise of a 1 MHz bandwidth Σ-Δ fractional-N frequency synthesizer. This synthesizer is implemented in UMC 0.18 µm CMOS process, the post-layout simulation shows that it can meet the requirement of DVB-H system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a ring oscillator based fully integrated fractional-N frequency synthesizer suit for RF transceiver. MASH1-1-1 Σ-Δ modulation is implemented to randomize the fractional spur. Spectrum purity and power consumption is also considered during the circuit design. The synthesizer was implemented in TSMC 180 nm CMOS. The results indicate that 25 kHz frequency resolution could be achieved at a range of output frequency from 900 MHz to 1.4 GHz. When output frequency is 1.2 GHz, the phase noise is --106 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset and the settling time is 10 µs below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effect of heat treatment in air on the hydrogen permeation in/through Pd membrane, Pd membrane was deposited via the electroless plating method and the hydrogen permeation flux of Pd membrane before and after heat treatment in air at 573 K was measured. The membranes were characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and hydrogen permeation tests. The results show that Pd membrane is compact and defect-free and has a thickness of 5 μm. The hydrogen permeability of Pd membrane at 673 K, 723 K and 773 K are 3.62×10-9, 5.12×10-9 mol/(m·s·Pa0.5) and 6.80×10-9 mol/(m·s·Pa0.5), respectively. The membrane treated in air at 573 K has higher surface roughness, larger surface area and more dissociation adsorption sites than the as-deposited membrane, thus improving the hydrogen permeability of the Pd membrane. After heat treatment, the hydrogen permeability of Pd membrane at 673, 723 K and 773 K are 5.32×10-9, 6.44×10-9 mol/(m·s·Pa0.5) and 7.31×10-9 mol/(m·s·Pa0.5), respectively. The hydrogen permeability of such Pd membrane is 1.1-1.5 times higher than that of the as-deposited one.

Objective To investigate the effect of exosomes (Exo) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) overexpressing miR-124-1 by regulating M2 polarization of microglia (MG) on stroke. Methods Rat BMMSCs were isolated and cultured. Then BMMSCs-Exo were extracted, and flow cytometry, Western blotting and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to identify the BMMSCs and BMMSCs-Exo, respectively. Thirty rats were randomized into sham operation group (sham group), model group (middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, MCAO/R), Exo transplantation group (Exo group), transplantation group of Exo transfected with empty lentivirus (Exo-Elv group) and transplantation group of Exo transfected with124-1 lentivirus (Exo/124-1 group), with 6 rats in each group. In 1 and 14 d after modeling, the corresponding agents were transplanted into the right lateral ventricle of rats in each transplantation group, while the rats of Sham group and MCAO/R group were given the injection of the same dose of normal saline. At 2 h and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 d after modeling, modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was employed to evaluate neurologic deficit, and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed to measure cerebral infarct volume. The expression of TNF-α (M1 molecule) and CD206 (M2 molecule) in the MG in the brain tissue at 28 d at both mRNA and protein levels were detected. Results BMMSCs and BMMSCs-Exo were successfully obtained and identified. MiR-124-1 was significantly expressed in Exo/124-1 rats. All rats (except those from the sham operation group) had neurological deficit after modeling. From 7 d to 28 d after modeling, the mNSS was significantly lower in the Exo/124-1 group than the MCAO/R group (P

Molecular dynamics method was used to establish composite wall/inorganic nanopores of three pore sizes, three shale oil systems, five CO2-cosolvent systems, and pure CO2 system. The process of CO2-cosolvent displacement of crude oil in shale nanopores and carbon storage was simulated and the influencing factors of displacement and storage were analyzed. It is shown that the attraction of the quartz wall to shale oil increases with the degree of hydroxylation. The higher the degree of quartz hydroxylation, the more difficult it is to extract the polar components of shale oil. Nanopore size also has a great impact on shale oil displacement efficiency. The larger the pore size, the higher the shale oil displacement efficiency. The closer the cosolvent molecules are to the polarity of the shale oil, the higher the mutual solubility of CO2 and shale oil. The more the non-polar components of shale oil, the lower the mutual solubility of CO2 and shale oil with highly polar cosolvent. Ethyl acetate is more effective in stripping relatively high polar shale oil, while dimethyl ether is more effective in stripping relatively low polar shale oil. Kerogen is highly adsorptive, especially to CO2. The CO2 inside the kerogen is not easy to diffuse and leak, thus allowing for a stable carbon storage. The highest CO2 storage rate is observed when dimethyl ether is used as a cosolvent, and the best storage stability is observed when ethyl acetate is used as a cosolvent.

CT scanning and core flooding experiments were combined to investigate the change in microscopic pore structure of low-permeability reservoir rocks due to the water sensitivity effect. Water sensitivity experiments were conducted for low-permeability reservoirs using different permeability core plugs to study the pore throat radius distribution, coordination number, pore structure variation, physical property parameter variation, and effects on the seepage capacity. The comparison plates of the limit injection-production spacing were drawn. The results indicate that the pore throat damage increases while the mean coordination number decreases with the reduction of permeability, which leads to a higher flow resistance and a stronger damage to the microscopic pore structure. These combined effects lead to an increase in the starting pressure gradient. In addition, the damage extent of reservoir throats is much larger than that of pores in the reservoir. Moreover, the swelling of clay minerals and the particle migration mostly present in the pore space due to the water sensitivity effect, which would hardly influence the whole pore structure and distribution feature of the core plug. Furthermore, according to the limit injection-production spacing plates, the limit injection-production spacing of the Xingouzuizu Formation low-permeability reservoir decreases by 153 m, which is caused by the effect of water sensitivity. The injection-production well spacing must be adjusted by the infill well, which can be used to improve the injected water swept volume. This research could provide certain practical guidance for the development adjustment of low-permeability reservoirs featuring the water sensitivity effect under a long period of waterflooding.

Purification of styrene by ultraviolet (UV)-biofiltration was studied in this paper. The light source and the biofilm carrier were ozone producing lamp at 185 nm and the peat, palm fiber, porous acticarbon, respectively. Styrene inlet concentration was controlled between 320-583 mg x m(-3), and the removal efficiency remained above 95% after stabilization. The UV converted styrene into more soluble and biodegradable intermediates, such as alcohol, aldehyde and acid, thus the performance of biofilter can be improved. In the stable operation stage, the variation of inlet concentration did not affect the removal efficiency when the total residence time (TRT) was long, however, the inlet concentration obviously affected the removal efficiency when the TRT decreased. The removal load of coupling system increased linearly with increasing inlet load, and the removal efficiency was higher than 95% under a TRT of 102 s. When TRT was 68 s and the inlet load was low, the variation of removal load complied with the law described above, but it gradually deviated from the straight line and tended to stabilized at a certain value when the inlet load became higher than 30 g x (m3 x h)(-). If considering the fluctuation of styrene concentration only, the contribution rate of ultraviolet photolysis to styrene removal was greater than that of the biofilter, and the removal effect could be restored on the fourth day, after closing the system for ten days and restarting.

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor (EphA2) on the expression of VEGF protein, a pro-angiogenic factor, via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN) in vitro., Methods: SCCHN Tu686 cells were transfected with EphA2 overexpression vector pEGFP-N1-EphA2. Western blot was used to detect the expression of p38 MAPK and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to assay of VEGF. SB203580 as a inhibitor of p38 MAPK signaling pathway was used., Results: The expression of VEGF protein was significantly up-regulated in Tu686 cells transfected with EphA2 overexpression vector (535.31 ± 45.71) pg/ml, when compared with Tu686 cells transfected with empty vector (400.99 ± 33.50) pg/ml and Tu686 cells with no transfection (385.30 ± 33.50) pg/ml (F = 17.091, P < 0.01). The expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK was obviously increased in Tu686 cells with EphA2 overexpression. SB203580 inhibited the expressions of VEGF and phosphorylated p38 MAPK proteins in Tu686 cells with EphA2 overexpression., Conclusion: EphA2 can regulate the expression of VEGF protein and stimulate p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: To analyze the long-term safety of implantation of iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens (IOL) Verisyse for the treatment of high myopia., Methods: One hundred and eighteen eyes of 59 cases implanted Verisyse for high myopia in Eye Center of Tongren Hospital from Jan. 2005 to Jan. 2007 were followed up for 48 to 72 months, mean time period was (56.2 ± 16.9) months. There were 32 male cases (64 eyes) and 27 female cases (54 eyes). Age ranged from 22 to 39 years old, mean (26.6 ± 7.5) years. The uncorrected vision acuity was 0.02 - 0.08, and the best corrected vision acuity was 0.3 - 1.0. The visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure, corneal endothelium and the distance between Verisyse to corneal and lens was measured separately, and the complications were also observed. The results were treated with analysis of paired-samples t test and Fisher exact probability test. A difference at P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant., Results: The complications included the dislocation of Verisyse into anterior chamber in 8 cases (8 eyes, 6.78%), retina detachment in 2 cases (2 eyes, 1.69%), corneal endothelium lost more than 1000/mm(2) in 6 cases (7 eyes, 5.93%), corneal edema in 1 case (1 eye, 0.84%). Pre-operative mean corneal endothelium density was (2821 ± 117)/mm(2), and it was (2249 ± 654)/mm(2) after surgery. There was no significant difference (t = 1.112, P = 0.09) between pre- and post-operative data. Post-operative uncorrected vision improved 5 to 8 lines than that of pre-operation. Post-operative corrected vision improved 1 to 3 lines than that of pre-operation except 1 case (1 eye) developed corneal decompensation and 2 cases (2 eyes) developed retina detachment. SE showed no significant difference in long-term after operation compared with 3 months after surgery (t = 0.641, P = 0.21). The mean intraocular pressure was (16.4 ± 3.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). The distance between anterior surface of IOL and endothelium was (2.468 ± 0.342) mm, distance between posterior surface of IOL and lens was (0.652 ± 0.176) mm, and distance between edge of IOL and peripheral endothelium was (1.728 ± 0.213) mm except eyes occurred Verisyse dislocation. Verisyse dislocation occurred more commonly when the iris was not perfectly crapped in the loop, and the difference was significant (P = 0.000). No glaucoma occurred., Conclusions: Implantation of Verisyse can correct high myopia effectively. But it damages corneal endothelium in some cases. This complication may be related to the unstable position of Verisyse in the anterior chamber. So we should pay more attention to the safety of this kind of phakic IOL clinically.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic procedures and their efficiencies for the treatment of congenital microphthalmos during or after the developing period., Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Eighteen cases with congenital microphthalmos, aged less than 12 years, underwent self inflating osmotic hydrogel expanders. Among them, 11 cases were treated by implantation with sphere self-inflating hydrogel expanders into the retrobulbar space and 5 cases had implantations into the conjunctival socket. The remaining 2 cases were treated with implantation of injectable self-inflating hydrogel pellet expanders. Twenty eight cases with congenital microphthalmos, aged more than 12 years, accompanied with other deformities, were treated with proper reconstruction surgery. Fourteen cases were treated with medial canthoplasty, 12 cases were treated with medial and lateral canthoplasty, 3 cases were treated with ptosis correction and medial or lateral canthoplasty and 2 cases with socket reconstruction. T-test was used for the comparison between groups., Results: Sixteen cases obtained satisfactory results without any complications. In one case, the hydrogel expanders migrated inferiorly in the orbit and underwent adjustment. In another case, although the hydrogel expander prolapsed from the socket, the socket was still expanded. In the developing period, the length of palpebral fissure was (15.83 ± 1.87) mm before the operation, and that made much wider after the operation (18.67 ± 1.74) mm. There were statistically significant differences between them (t = -4.029, P = 0.01). The height of palpebral fissure was (1.33 ± 0.67) mm and (6.00 ± 0.58) mm before and after the operation, respectively, which were statistically significant (t = -5.813, P = 0.00). Patients who aged more than 12 years and underwent eyelids and eye socket reconstruction, also obtained satisfactory appearance., Conclusion: Patients with congenital microphthalmos could obtain the development of orbit and satisfactory appearance by reconstruction treatment according to different period of development.

The spectral characteristic of remotely sensed image is mainly the results of integrative effects on spectrum from heterogeneous ground reflectors. Investigating its spatial distribution characteristics may be helpful for image interpreting and modeling based on remote sensing technique. In the present study, spatial heterogeneity of remotely sensed multispectral TM image across a hilly area in late October was studied by the combination of statistical method and multifractal analysis. The results showed that distribution of digital number (DN) values of visible spectra (0.45-0.69 microm) had statistical scale-invariance. The generalized fractal dimension function D(q) suggested that distribution of TM 2 (0.52-0.60 microm) DN values was monofractal type, whereas DN values of TM 1 (0.45-0.52 microm) and TM 3 (0.63-0.69 microm) had multifractal distribution characteristics. The parameters (alpha(max)-alpha(min)) and [f(a(max))-f(alpha(min))] of multifractal spectra further indicated that TM 3 DN values had the high est spatial heterogeneity and most abundant information, followed by TM 1, while the extremely narrow spectrum of TM 2 DN values showed its relatively low spatial heterogeneity and information capacity.

Objective: To research the molluscicidal effect, active components, thermal stability and light stability of endophyte LL3026 (Colletotrichum sp.) from Buddleia lindleyana, Methods: The molluscicidal effect of LL3026 against Oncomelania hupensis was determined as referring to the WHO guidelines for laboratory molluscicidal test, and the control experiments were performed with 1 mg/L niclosamide or dechlorinated tap water. The active components from LL3026 were extracted by different polar solvents. The thermal stability and light stability of its extracellular moiety was examined at different temperature (30-100 degrees C), different time (30-150 min) and different illumination time (1-9 d)., Results: Immersion test showed that the LC50 values for the LL3026 broth were 50.11, 3.43, and 1.55 mg/L for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The ether extract of LL3026 broth showed the best molluscicidal activity compared with other fractions. Treated with 25 mg/L ether extract for 24, 48, and 72 h, the mortality of O. hupensis was 100%. The molluscicidal activity of LL3026 broth had no change at 80 degrees C for 120 min, and the snail mortality was 100%. A 48-h exposure to LL3026 broth which placed in an artificial climate box with 3 600 1x illumination for 9 d resulted in 86.7% snail mortality., Conclusion: The fractions extracted from endophyte LL3026 isolated from B. lindleyana shows molluscicidal effect to O. hupensis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of exogenous hPDGF-A and hBD(2) in gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant adenovirus vector expressing hPDGF-A/hBD(2) genes was constructed and packaged into virion. Primary isolated and cultured BM-MSCs were transfected by using hPDGF-A hBD(2), then the expressions of exogenous hPDGF-A/hBD(2) were detected by immunocytochemical staining in vitro. The conditioned medium (serum-free cultured supernatant of BM-MSCs transfected with recombinant adenovirus) collected from gene-modified BM-MSCs was applied to scratch wound on monolayer cells of multipotential cell line 10T1/2 in order to confirm the stimulative effect of hPDGF-A on cell migration. Gene-modified BM-MSCs were topically transplanted on wound of rats with radiation and skin excision combined injury. The distribution of BM-MSCs and expression of hPDGF-A/hBD(2) on the wound was observed by fluorescent microscopy and immunohistochemical staining respectively. The results indicated that the rat BM-MSCs transfected with recombinant adenovirus could express the EGFP in vitro. The immunofluorescent cytochemistry assay showed that the gene-modified BM-MSCs expressed the hPDGF-A and hBD(2). The scratch test confirmed that the percentage of healing area of wound in cultured supernatant group of gene-modified BM-MSCs was significant higher than that in control group on 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours (p < 0.05). The fluorescence microscopy of exogenous gene-modified BM-MSCs transplanted on wound revealed that the gene-modified BM-MSCs could higher express exogenous genes of EGFP at least within 2 weeks. The immunohistochemistry staining of wound indicated that the expression of exogenous genes began from day 3, reached to peak on day 7, and still visible on day 21 even though the expression became weak because of the possible dilution of the exogenous genes during cell division. It is concluded that efficient expression of exogenous hPDGF-A/hBD(2) in gene-modified BM-MSCs are demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo, which suggests that the molecular mechanism underlying chronic wound-healing accelerated by the strategy combining cell therapy with gene therapy.

In order to investigate the effect of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCR4 on the proliferation of megakaryocytic line-HEL cells co-cultured with human umbilical cord blood-derived stromal cells (hUCBSCs) and to further elucidate the mechanism of SDF-1/CXCR4-mediated functions, the HEL cells were co-cultured with hUCBSCs or human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), the suspended HEL was used as control. The concentrations of SDF-1 in supernatant of hUCBSCs and hBMSCs were detected by ELISA assay. The expression of CXCR4 membrane-bound protein of HEL cells was detected by laser confocal scanning microscopy and flow cytometry, and the expression of CXCR4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The result showed that the concentrations of SDF-1 in different groups were the same at the early stage of culturing. But at 6 days after seeding, the concentrations of SDF-1 increased significantly in the hUCBSCs group, even though the passage was done. By means of laser confocal microscopy, the expression of CXCR4 protein and also red dots of fluorescence could be detected in cytoplasm of HEL cells co-cultured with hUCBSCs. However, there was no significant differences of the CXCR4 mRNA level between different groups (p > 0.05). It is concluded that hUCBSCs may play important roles in secreting high level of SDF-1 and regulating megakaryocyte expression of CXCR4.

To understand the differences of the clinical research of acupuncture at home and abroad in methodological design and implementation, so as to provide reference for exploring acupuncture clinical study design program suitable to China. Reading clinical research literature of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of stroke at home and abroad and analyze and probe the methodological design and implementation. The results indicate that clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion abroad has advantages in the randomized, controlled and double blind, etc. We should adopt the advantages of Chinese medicine, enrich and perfect research design program which can be approved by modern medicine and properly reflect the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on stroke.

PCR-DGGE was applied to analyze the microbial communities in rotating drum biofilter (RDB) for nitric oxide denitrifying removal under anaerobic conditions. The 16S rRNA genes (V3 region) were amplified with two universal primers (338F-GC and 518R). These amplified DNA fragments were separated by parallel DGGE. The DGGE profiles of biofilm samples from different sections of RDB are similar and about sixteen types of microorganisms are identified in the biofilm samples. These results show that microbial diversity of RDB firstly increases but then decreases with the addition of Cu II (EDTA) and the increase of NO removal efficiency. However, the change of microbial community is not significant during the process. Eight major bands of 16S rRNA genes fragments from DGGE profiles of biofilm samples were further eluted from gel, re-amplified, cloned and sequenced. The sequences of these fragments were compared with the database in GeneBank (NCBI). The gene analysis of 16S rRNA showed that the major populations are Cytopahga-Flexibacteria-Bacteroides (CFB) group Bacteroides, beta -Proteobacterium, gamma-Proteobacterium and Clostridium sp.. In addition, denitrification is related with band G-5, G-6 and G-8. G-5 is affiliated with gamma-Proteobacterium. Both G-6 and G-8 are affiliated with beta-Proteobacterium.

Objective: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of casein kinase I gamma 2 (CSNK1G2) gene and children with familial febrile convulsions., Methods: The study samples were collected from unrelated Chinese Han population of Hebei province, including a cohort of 53 children with familial febrile convulsions(FC) and a control cohort of 101 individuals. Genotypes of SNPs rs2074882, rs740423, rs2277737, rs4806825, rs1059684 were typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism., Results: The frequencies of the five SNPs complied well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in FC group and normal group. The distribution of genotype and frequencies of alleles of the SNPs rs740423, rs2277737, rs1059684 in familial febrile convulsions group was significantly different from that in control group. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes and frequencies of alleles at SNP rs2074882 between two groups. Analysis on rs4806825 was not made owing to its less allele frequency., Conclusion: These data indicate that SNPs rs740423, rs2277737, rs1059684 of CSNK1G2 gene may contribute to familial febrile convulsions in children.