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Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common human pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The efficacy of anti-HCMV drugs such as ganciclovir, foscarnet and cidofovir is limited because of drug toxicities and frequent development of resistance. Here, we report an alternative anti-HCMV method using RNA silencing., Methods: Combinatorial use of second-generation short hairpin RNAs (shRNA-miRs) targeting various transcripts of HCMV and an RNA-silencing endonuclease Argonaute-2 (Ago2) expression vector were applied to inhibit replication of HCMV AD169. Normal human fetal lung MRC-5 fibroblasts were transfected with pSM30-shRNA-miRs harbouring single or multiple shRNA-miR cassettes with or without Ago2 and then infected with HCMV AD169. Production of small interfering RNA (siRNA) was quantified by reverse transcription PCR. Virus secretion was evaluated by plaque reduction assays., Results: The use of shRNA-miRs targeting a single HCMV gene suppressed HCMV AD169 viral titres by 50-70%. Polycistronic shRNA-miRs targeting UL46+UL122 and UL70+UL46+UL122 reached nearly 80% of inhibition. Coexpression of Ago2 with shRNA-miRs targeting UL46+UL122 and UL70+UL46+UL122 achieved a 95% reduction in viral maturation., Conclusions: Coexpression of Ago2 with shRNA-miRs enhanced the production of mature siRNAs and increased the efficiency of RNA silencing in the suppression of HCMV replication. This strategy may be universally applied to RNA interference-based therapies.

Biogenic Mn oxides exert important controls on trace metal cycling in aquatic and soil environments. A Mn-oxidizing bacterium Bacillus sp. WH4 was isolated from Fe-Mn nodules of an agrudalf in central China. The biogenic Mn oxides formed by mediation of this Mn oxidizing microorganism were identified as short-ranged and nano-sized Mn oxides. Cd adsorption isotherms, pH effect on adsorption and kinetics were investigated in comparison with an abiotic Mn oxide todorokite. Maximum adsorption of Cd to the biogenic Mn oxides and todorokite was 2.04 and 0.69 mmol g(-1) sorbent, respectively. Thus, the biogenic Mn oxides were more effective Cd adsorbents than the abiotic Mn oxide in the aquatic environment. The findings could improve our knowledge of biogenic Mn oxides formation in the environment and their important roles in the biogeochemical cycles of heavy metals.

Objectives: To study the surgical anatomy and approaches of intracranial oculomotor nerve (OMN) and inferior obliquus (IO), and the methods of their electrode implantation in dogs., Methods: The research was performed on 30 adult beagle dogs at Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical College, Shanghai, China from November 2007 to August 2008. All animals were subjected to a right transfrontotemperal approach to intracranial OMN, a transconjunctival route to IO, and the neuro-stimulating and recording electrode implantation under general anaesthesia. The OMN was stimulated and the electromyography of IO recorded and analyzed with the Powerlab System. The security and reliability of the implanted electrodes were investigated., Results: The surgical anatomy and approaches of both the OMN from its exit from midbrain to the entrance into cavernous sinus and the IO were described. Moreover, the implantation methods of OMN stimulating electrode and the electromyographic recording electrode of IO were displayed. The implanted electrodes were safe and reliable. Some electrophysiologic data of IO were obtained in the healthy dogs. Also, some perioperative precautions for intracranial and ophthalmic surgical procedures in dog were exhibited. The mortality rate of the dogs was 0%, and no operative complications were observed., Conclusion: With the data provided, these surgical approaches and the methods of electrode implantation offer a choice to construct an animal model for studying various aspects of OMN regeneration.

Manganese (Mn) oxides are common minerals in natural environments that may play an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of heavy metals. Increasing evidences have shown that Mn (II) oxidation is a microbially-mediated process, and the Mn oxidizing microorganisms are thus recognized as the major drivers of the global Mn cycle. The major pathway for bacterial Mn (II) oxidation is catalysed by a multicopper oxidizing enzyme family. The primary Mn (IV) biooxides are phyllomanganate-like minerals most similar to delta-MnO2 or acid birnessite. Manganese oxides are known to have high sorption capacities for a wide variety of metal ions and considered to be the important environmental oxidant to many metal ions. This paper reviewed the mechanisms of biogenic manganese oxides formation and their reactions with heavy metal ions in environment.

The stumbling block of employing Raman imaging in nanoscience and nanotechnology is the diffraction-limited spatial resolution. Several approaches have been employed to improve the spatial resolution, among which aperture and apertureless near-field Raman techniques are the most frequently used. In this letter, we report a new approach in doing near-field Raman imaging with spatial resolution of about 80 nm, by trapping and scanning a polystyrene microsphere over the sample surface in water. We have used this technique to resolve PMOS transistors with SiGe source drain stressors with poly-Si gates, as well as gold nanopatterns with excellent reproducibility.

Using a material and ionization balance analysis of anaerobic digestion process, a kinetic model of pH control in a batch anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste was established on the basis of substrate decay and microbial growth kinetics, and a corresponding computer soft ware was created. The optimal pH in different anaerobic digestion can be predicted by this model. Consequently the maximal methane production can be obtained in anaerobic system by controlling the pH in optimal value. Comparative experiments were conducted to validate the model. The experiments demonstrated that the methane production of anaerobic system under optimal pH was steadier than the same condition under uncontrolled pH, and the cumulative methane production had an average increment about 20%.

The quaternary mixed anion of rare earth with 2,3-dimethoxylbenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline has been synthesized from the water-ethanol solution. Elemental analysis shows that the complexes general formula is RE(2,3-DMOBA)2NO3Phen (RE = La, Nd, Eu, Dy). The complexes are characterized by IR, UV, TG-DTA analysis. Nu2 + nu5, nu2 + nu6 of NO3- are observed in 1772 and 1737 cm(-1) in IR spectra of complexes, it shows that NO3- group is in a bridging-chelating mode in which two O atoms chelate to RE3+ ions. UV spectra of ligand and complexes are different, it shows that ligand 2,3-dimethoxylbenzoate and 1,10-phenanthroline coordinate to RE3+ ions. Visible absorption spectra of Nd(2,3-DMOBA)2NO3Phen show that hypersensitive transition of neodymium.