Search

The purpose of this article is to study the effect of positive antisperm antibody (AsAb) in seminal plasma on acrosomal enzyme activity, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and superxide dismutase (SOD) activity of spermatozoa. A total of 40 infertility patients with positive AsAb in seminal plasma were selected as experimental group, and 40 fertile males were selected as control group. Based on the changes in absorbance, the acrosomal enzyme activity was detected by the BAEE/ADH method, the NOS activity was detected by the redoxreaction assay, and SOD level was measured with xanthine oxidase method. Compared with the control group, acrosomal enzyme activity of spermatozoa of the experimental group was significantly decreased ( P < 0.01), NOS activity was apparently increased ( P < 0.01), and the SOD level in seminal plasma was significantly decreased ( P < 0.01). The infertility caused by positive AsAb in seminal plasma may be related to the changes in the acrosomal enzyme of spermatozoa and the SOD and NOS activities in seminal plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumber is a typical monoecious having separate male and female flowers on the same plant, and sex expression in cucumber is mainly determined by three major genes: F/f, M/m and A/a. Gynoecy plays an important role in cucumber hybrid breeding, and the use of gynoecious lines as maternal parents ensures high productivity. This study aimed to identify a co-dominant marker linked to Female (F) locus to distinguish homozygous and heterozygous gynoecious lines for efficient selection of gynoecy in cucumber breeding. Firstly, we analyzed a 50-kb genomic sequence of five gynoecious and five monoecious inbred lines to detect the polymorphism linked to F locus. A pair of specific primers, Cs-BCAT-F/Cs-BCAT-R, based on an In/Del polymorphism at 3′-UTR of branched-chain amino acid transaminase (BCAT) gene was designed to examine the polymorphism in gynoecious and monoecious parents, their F1 hybrids and two F2 segregating populations. The PCR fragments amplified with Cs-BCAT-F/Cs-BCAT-R co-segregated with sexual phenotypes in the F2 populations, behaving as a co-dominant marker with two alleles: F (gynoecious) and f (monoecious). When we further verified the consistency of the co-dominant marker using additional 55 diverse inbred lines, it can explain ~90 % of accessions. Linkage analysis also showed that the gene which enhances the number of female flowers co-segregated with the co-dominant marker on the long arm of chromosome 6. This is the first report for the development of F locus-specific co-dominant marker which can distinguish perfectly homozygous and heterozygous gynoecious, and it could be used in marker-assisted selection in cucumber breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyzed high-voltage isolating switch responses varying wind speed and direction. • Calculated shape coefficients and validated empirical formula. • Compared dynamic and static responses of high-voltage isolating switches. • Breaking wind speed of insulator was 46.7 m/s at worst wind attack angle. In recent years, typhoons have caused extensive damage to high-voltage isolating switches. To analyze the wind-resistance performance of isolating switches under typhoon, we used the fluid–structure coupling method to calculated the shape coefficients of the isolating switch. The static and dynamic responses of isolating switches under typhoon were also analyzed. Results show that the root of conducting rods and that of porcelain vase bore a high stress. The responses and shape coefficients varied considerably for different wind attack angles, and the most unfavorable wind attack angle was 180°. Comparing with response under static wind load, the dynamic response was more severe. At 180° angle of attack, the vibration frequency was 3.167 Hz, which is close to the first-order natural vibration frequency. The breaking wind speed of the insulator was 46.7 m/s. This research could serve as a reference for the wind resistance design and provide early risk warning for isolating switches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature membrane concentrated landfill leachate is one of the most recalcitrant wastewaters due to its high pollutant concentration, poor biodegradability, and stable organic structure. In this study, a heterogeneous electro-Fenton system was constructed using a Fe-loaded needle coke composite electrode as a cathode to treat the membrane concentrated landfill leachate from a local closed landfill. The reaction conditions were evaluated and optimized by the response surface method based on Box-Behnken design. A second-order polynomial model with COD removal rate as the response and initial pH, plate spacing, and applied voltage as independent variables were established. After treatment by the heterogeneous electro-Fenton process with the needle coke composite cathode under the optimal conditions of applied voltage 10 V, initial pH 3.6, and the plate spacing 1.4 cm, the COD and color removal rates of the membrane concentrate were up to 71.9% and 99.8%, respectively, and the biodegradability was significantly improved with the BOD 5 /COD increasing from 0.003 to 0.379. Various spectral analyses of the wastewater before and after electro-Fenton treatment with the needle coke composite cathode demonstrated that most of the macromolecular organic pollutants in the landfill leachate concentrate including aromatic compounds, simple aromatic protein compounds, soluble microbial by-products, and humic acid were significantly degraded. As a result, the electro-Fenton technique with the needle coke composite cathodes is one of the cost-effective options for treating membrane concentrated landfill leachate. [Display omitted] • The mature MCLL was treated effectively by a heterogeneous EF process. • Fe-loaded needle coke cathode exhibited an excellent heterogeneous EF catalysis. • 125 times increase in biodegradability of MCLL was obtained by EF treatment. • 3D-EEM was used to study the change process of organic matter in MCLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid and reproducible method that has been widely applied for the identification of bacteria and fungi. However, this technique has not yet been applied in clinical laboratories for parasitology, such as for the study of the protozoan Leishmania. By using MALDI-TOF MS, mass spectra database entries (MSPs) were created with 7 World Health Organization reference strains in order to establish a rapid method for Leishmania species identification. Furthermore, cluster analysis was performed with 18 Chinese Leishmania isolates. The MSPs of Leishmania corresponded well with our past identification results, and the dendrogram analysis result was more or less similar to that of the phylogenetic analysis performed by multi-locus sequence typing. MALDI-TOF MS is a promising method that offers both rapidity and efficiency for the identification and dendrogram analysis of Leishmania species. 1、 The MSPs of Leishmania corresponded well with our past identification results2、 The dendrogram analysis result was more or less similar to that of the phylogenetic analysis performed by multi-locus sequence typing3、 MALDI-TOF MS is a promising method that offers both rapidity and efficiency for the identification and dendrogram analysis of Leishmania species. [Display omitted] • Leishmaniasis is still common in many Neglected tropical diseases, which underlines the fact that rapid identification and easy phylogenetic analysis for Leishmania have clinical and epidemiology value to guide prevention and treatment. In this work, we evaluated the identification performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for Leishmania and we also find out that this method is helpful in dendrogram analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]