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Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) is a popular food from Allium species in East and Southeast Asia. Most Allium species possess characteristic aromas and have antimicrobial activity. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of root, leaf, and scape extracts of Chinese chive at different pH levels (3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, and 10.7) were compared. The most pronounced activity was produced by the scape extract, and the greatest activity was obtained at pH 5.0. HPLC and GC–MS analysis showed that the major active ingredient was 2-amino-5-methylbenzoic acid. The mechanism of action of Chinese chive scape extracts may involve the depression or disruption of cell membrane integrity, according to our results of the leakage of electrolytes and protein, as well as scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations.

This study was conducted in response to the current situation in our country in which neonicotinoid pesticides (NNIs) are used in large quantities and their concentration in surface water is gradually increasing. Based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD), the hazard quotient (HQ) and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) were used to compare single and mixture risks of NNIs in the surface water in China. The target and recommended values of NNIs in China's surface water quality supervision were also presented. The results showed that:① in the single acute hazard assessment, imidacloprid (IMI) was the most harmful insecticide, and in the single chronic hazard assessment, imidacloprid (IMI) and acetamiprid (ACE) were more harmful. Furthermore, insects were the most sensitive creatures. ② Hainan province was the region with the highest single acute and chronic hazard in the study area. ③ Based on the joint probability curves of five neonicotinoids, the probability in which 5% of species would be affected by long-term exposure was approximately 91.12%. Thus, the combined ecological risk of these five neonicotinoids cannot be ignored. ④ Based on the toxicity reference value from SSD and the combined results of HQ and PRA, the regulatory values of surface water quality in China were as follows:acetamiprid (ACE) 0.04 μg·L

AIM: To study the changes of serum IL-6, ADPN, Apelin, hs-CRP and VEGF levels in patients with RVO, and to explore their association with the occurrence and development of RVO from a molecular perspective.METHODS:Totally 72 cases of RVO, including 35 cases of central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)and 37 cases of branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO). They were divided into groups 1 and 2. 32 senile cataract patients were collected as control group. The time of onset, visual acuity, history of cardio cerebral vascular disease and Macular edema thickness were recorded. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression of IL-6, ADPN, Apelin, hs-CRP and VEGF in blood serum, which were closely related to inflammation and arteriosclerosis.RESULTS: The mean value of Apelin in group BRVO was 6.69(4.25, 10.52)ng/mL, and CRVO group was 7.12(3.78, 8.58)ng/mL, and the two groups were higher than those in control group 1.19(0.74, 1.49)ng/mL(PP>0.05). There was no significant difference between the experimental group and the control group.CONCLUSION:By comparing the levels of serum IL-6, ADPN, Apelin, hs-CRP and VEGF in 72 RVO patients and 32 senile cataract patients, Apelin was found to be higher than that in the control group. Apelin may be one of the related risk factors for RVO. The expression of ADPN, IL-6, hs-CRP, VEGF, RVO in acute stage no specificity.

To overcome the lengthy search time, massive space occupation, and overlong planned path of the traditional A* algorithm, this paper integrates the bidirectional search with the intelligent ant colony algorithm to obtain the heuristic function selection factor, and uses the factor to improve the evaluation function of the algorithm. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm achieved better dynamic navigation than the traditional A* algorithm both in search time and distance, featuring shorter path searching time and the algorithm running time. Therefore, the result of this research has effectively reduced the search time and enhanced the dynamic search.

Insect gut microbes have important roles in host feeding, digestion, immunity, development, and coevolution with pests. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), is a major migratory agricultural pest worldwide. The effects of host plant on the pest’s gut bacteria remain to be investigated to better understand their coevolution. In this study, differences in the gut bacterial communities were examined for the fifth and sixth instar larvae of S. frugiperda fed on leaves of different host plants (corn, sorghum, highland barley, and citrus). The 16S rDNA full-length amplification and sequencing method was used to determine the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria in larval intestines. The highest richness and diversity of gut bacteria were in corn-fed fifth instar larvae, whereas in sixth instar larvae, the richness and diversity were higher when larvae were fed by other crops. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant phyla in gut bacterial communities of fifth and sixth instar larvae. According to the LDA Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis, the host plants had important effects on the structure of gut bacterial communities in S. frugiperda. In the PICRUSt2 analysis, most predicted functional categories were associated with metabolism. Thus, the host plant species attacked by S. frugiperda larvae can affect their gut bacterial communities, and such changes are likely important in the adaptive evolution of S. frugiperda to host plants.

The CRISPR/Cas system was a defense system originally found in bacterial immune system against exogenous genetic material(such as phage virus). With the precision in its targeting function, CRISPR/Cas system has been developed into a highly efficient genome-editing tool that has been widely used in various fields of life science research and has achieved revolutionary progress. This paper reviews the relevant literature on the application of the CRISPR/Cas system in human eye diseases.

In this work, we solve the adaptive actuator backlash compensation control problem of uncertain nonlinear systems. A new generalized backlash model is first proposed, which takes both the actuator perturbation and unidentifiable coupling into account, and hence captures the practical backlash behavior more accurately. Nevertheless, such a model makes the adaptive control design difficult, where the most challenging one is that the unrecognizable coupling makes traditional compensation structure no more feasible. To address this issue, we propose an adaptive compensation control structure synthesizing neural networks learning and novel smooth backlash inverse model. With the established compensator and the iterative control design of compensator input, an adaptive neural controller is subsequently proposed to guarantee that all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded, and the tracking error converges to residual of zero asympotically. Simulation results are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.

The vigor of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and tea quality are strongly influenced by the abundance and forms of nitrogen, principally NO3&minus, NH4+, and amino acids. Mechanisms to access different nitrogen sources and the regulatory cues remain largely elusive in tea plants. A transcriptome analysis was performed to categorize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots and young leaves during the early response to four nitrogen treatments. Relative to the continuously nitrogen-replete control, the three nitrogen-deprived and resupplied treatments shared 237 DEGs in the shoots and 21 DEGs in the root. Gene-ontology characterization revealed that transcripts encoding genes predicted to participate in nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and translocation were among the most differentially expressed after exposure to the different nitrogen regimes. Because of its high transcript level regardless of nitrogen condition, a putative amino acid transporter, TEA020444/CsCAT9.1, was further characterized in Arabidopsis and found to mediate the acquisition of a broad spectrum of amino acids, suggesting a role in amino acid uptake, transport, and deposition in sinks as an internal reservoir. Our results enhance our understanding of nitrogen-regulated transcript level patterns in tea plants and pinpoint candidate genes that function in nitrogen transport and metabolism, allowing tea plants to adjust to variable nitrogen environments.

Nitrogen (N) is a macroelement with an indispensable role in the growth and development of plants, and tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an evergreen perennial woody species with young shoots for harvest. During senescence or upon N stress, autophagy has been shown to be induced in leaves, involving a variety of autophagy-related genes (ATGs), which have not been characterized in tea plant yet. In this study, a genome-wide survey in tea plant genome identified a total of 80 Camellia Sinensis autophagy-related genes, CsATGs. The expression of CsATG8s in the tea plant showed an obvious increase from S1 (stage 1) to S4 (stage 4), especially for CsATG8e. The expression levels of AtATGs (Arabidopsis thaliana) and genes involved in N transport and assimilation were greatly improved in CsATG8e-overexpressed Arabidopsis. Compared with wild type, the overexpression plants showed earlier bolting, an increase in amino N content, as well as a decrease in biomass and the levels of N, phosphorus and potassium. However, the N level was found significantly higher in APER (aerial part excluding rosette) in the overexpression plants relative to wild type. All these results demonstrated a convincing function of CsATG8e in N remobilization and plant development, indicating CsATG8e as a potential gene for modifying plant nutrient utilization.

At present, the utilization of workstation, storage, and server in an IC design house is not frequent, even the EDA license isn’t, either. If these various resources on the intranet can be integrated and effectively operated, the working efficiency will be enhanced. Therefore, how to manage these critical resources on the network is a major task to enhance the competition of an IC design house.In this research, the Grid Engine structuring a model of resource distribution can integrate the resources on the intranet to build a set of system and rule about resource distribution. Taken the IC design house as an example, a user can use the technology of the Sun Grid Engine for load sharing, batch scheduling, as well as integration of resources of software/hardware on the intranet like a single workstation. Therefore, the working efficiency will be enhanced under limited resources because of complete utilization of system resources. The results of research provides a set of model and structure for management of system resources to integrate resources on the intranet in an IC design house. A resource distribution model can be established by the system and rule of resource distribution. According to the adequate management of computing resources as well as scheduling, the corresponding hardware and software can provide the computing service. Ultimately, the efficiency in software utilization increases twice and efficiency in hardware utilization increase. Besides, the purchase package expense can be reduced.

Annually, around 850 liver transplantation is performed in Beijing, China. Recently, the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has affected nearly 200 countries worldwide. 2019-nCov can cause severe lung disease, multiple-organ damage, and significant mortalities. Liver transplant recipients, because of long-term oral immunosuppressant effects, may be more susceptible to 2019-nCoV infection and have a worse prognosis than the general population. It is urgent to set up guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 in liver transplant recipients. In this article, we reviewed the clinical aspects of 2019-nCoV infection, characteristics of liver transplant recipients, immunosuppressant usage, and potential drug interactions to provide recommendations to clinical staff managing liver transplant recipients during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Highly fluorescent, water-soluble and green Au nanoclusters (AuNCs) have been synthesized by one-step method with wool keratin as reducer and silk fibrion as stabilizer. Understanding of AuNCs syntheses mechanism and luminescent property is essential for the syntheses of biocompatible AuNCs. This report demonstrates the thiol groups’ dependent syntheses with wool keratin (WK) and silk fibroin (SF) solution with different component ratios. Significantly, it was found that the percentage of SF was critical in determining the size of AuNCs. Interestingly, the fibrils of SF, which is made of stick shaped β sheet crystals, contributes to the cage of AuNCs, while the WK dedicates the thiol groups to synthesize WK@AuNCs. Using the transmission electron microscopy, we show that the WK&SF@AuNCs can grow due to the degradation of protein or particle coalescence from the electron beam irradiation. Through the combination of these two processes, the dynamic growth of nanocrystals involves the variation of Au nanocrystals with a bimodal distribution.

A highly efficient fluorescence gold nanoclusters probe for copper (II) (Cu2+) ions among various ions has been prepared through wool keratin as chelating and reducing agent. The main features of fluorescent gold nanoclusters supported on wool keratin (AuNCs@WK) probe are the high fluorescence in aqueous solution, the simplicity of synthesis and the hypotoxicity for living cells. The fluorescence probe exhibits high stability of pHs and shows more sensitivity under acidic condition. Upon exposure to various metal irons, only AuNCs@WK system with Cu2+ ions shows a fluorescence turnoff response changing from red to blue under UV light, which lead to the dramatically decreased fluorescent intensity of AuNCs@WK at 690 nm. Moreover, the high sensitivity of AuNCs@WK around 1 µM meets the need of detection standards. The slope of Stern–Volmer plot at low concentration of Cu2+ ions is greater than it at high concentrations, which indicates the aggregated AuNCs are from small amounts to large numbers with the increasing concentration of Cu2+ ions. The design mechanism of AuNCs@WK probe is the coordination of reactive groups to produce the complex (wool keratin-Cu-wool keratin) at 1:2 between Cu2+ ions and fluorescence probe. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity in cells indicates that AuNCs@WK system is safe for the selective imaging of copper ions in living cells.

AIM: To investigate the effects of amnion epithelial cell(AEC)suspension liquid on the biological behavior of the rabbit's corneal epithelium, combined with the in vitro and in vivo experiments. METHODS: The rabbit's corneal epithelium were cultured in the lower chamber of transwell, and AEC suspension liquid was dropwised in the upper chamber. There was only culture medium in the upper chamber of the control group. The proliferation of rabbit's corneal epithelium was observed with CCK-8 automated colorimetry and the expression of PCNA was detected by immunocytochemistry. We used the scratch wound assay to detect the migration of corneal epithelial cell(CEC). The in vivo models were established by placing a 10mm diameter corneal trephine in the center of the cornea, within 1mol/L NaOH for 1min. We divided those into three groups: treatment group of AEC suspension liquid eye drop, AEC suspension liquid subconjunctival injection and the control group without any treatment. Using the slit-lamp biomicroscope and fluorescence staining to observe the cornea per week. After 28d we took the eyeballs with the HE staining. The expression of VEGF was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The activity of CEC with AEC treatment was much higher than the control group(PPIn vivo, the inflammation of the corneal and the CNV of the AEC group were all significantly reduced compared with the control group(PPCONCLUSION: AEC suspension liquid can promote the proliferation and migration of the rabbit's corneal epithelium. The potential of AEC suspension liquid as a therapy for acute corneal alkali burn.

The hoverfly,Eupeodes corollae,is a worldwide natural enemy of aphids and a plant pollinator. To provide insights into the biology of this species, we examined its population genetic structure by obtaining 1.15-GB random genomic sequences using next-generation sequencing and developing genome-wide microsatellite markers. A total of 79,138 microsatellite loci were initially isolated from the genomic sequences; after strict selection and further testing of 40 primer pairs in eight individuals, 24 polymorphic microsatellites with high amplification rates were developed. These microsatellites were used to examine the population genetic structure of 96 individuals from four field populations collected across southern to northern China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 13 with an average of 8.75; the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.235 to 0.768 and from 0.333 to 0.785, respectively. Population genetic structure analysis showed weak genetic differentiation among the four geographical populations ofE. corollae, suggesting a high rate of gene flow reflecting likely widespread migration ofE. corollaein China.

Peptide and protein drugs have the advantages of high biological activity and specificity, strong solubility and low toxicity, which have become the hot field of drug research and development. However, peptide and protein drugs generally have short half-life due to the rapid degradation of protease in the digestive system and blood and the rapid removal of kidney in vitro, which seriously limits the effectiveness of the drug. In order to prolong the half-life of peptide or protein drugs, improve their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, and realize the long-term effect of peptide or protein drugs. Various research institutions have carried out a lot of research, and successfully developed a variety of chemical modification, fusion protein, nanotechnology and so on.

Objective To investigate the expression of follicular helper T (Tfh) cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with liver transplantation (LT) and relevance to the prognosis. Methods Eleven liver transplant patients with stable liver function were enrolled in this study. The frequencies of Tfh subsets were examined by flow cytometry. The frequencies and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were monitored dynamically within one month after LT. Results The frequency of CD4+CXCR5+CXCR3–CCR6– Tfh2 subset in peripheral blood increased significantly after LT as compared with those before transplantation (P

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with liver failure of unknown etiology (LFUE). Methods Clinical data of 326 LFUE patients in 302 Hospital of PLA from January 2005 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Results LFUE accounted for 6.50% of the total liver failure, and its incidence was lower than that of HBV-related liver failure and alcohol-related liver failure. LFUE was presented mainly as subacute liver failure (39.88%), followed by acute-on-chronic liver failure (36.50%) and acute liver failure (23.62%), while other types of liver failure (known etiology) were presented mainly as acute-on-chronic liver failure (92.16%). Compared with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure, the deterioration of liver function in LFUE patients was worse (ALT, AST and TBIL were higher and PTA was lower), ALP and the average level of white blood cells were also much higher. LFUE occurred mainly in adult patients (≥18 years

Nitrogen (N) is a macroelement with an indispensable role in the growth and development of plants, and tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an evergreen perennial woody species with young shoots for harvest. During senescence or upon N stress, autophagy has been shown to be induced in leaves, involving a variety of autophagy-related genes (ATGs), which have not been characterized in tea plant yet. In this study, a genome-wide survey in tea plant genome identified a total of 80 Camellia Sinensis autophagy-related genes, CsATGs. The expression of CsATG8s in the tea plant showed an obvious increase from S1 (stage 1) to S4 (stage 4), especially for CsATG8e. The expression levels of AtATGs (Arabidopsis thaliana) and genes involved in N transport and assimilation were greatly improved in CsATG8e-overexpressed Arabidopsis. Compared with wild type, the overexpression plants showed earlier bolting, an increase in amino N content, as well as a decrease in biomass and the levels of N, phosphorus and potassium. However, the N level was found significantly higher in APER (aerial part excluding rosette) in the overexpression plants relative to wild type. All these results demonstrated a convincing function of CsATG8e in N remobilization and plant development, indicating CsATG8e as a potential gene for modifying plant nutrient utilization.

To meet the urgent need of society for advanced photocatalytic materials, novel visible light driven heterostructured composite was constructed based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and fibrous TiO2. The g-C3N4/TiO2 (CNT) composite was prepared through electrospinning technology and followed calcination process. The state of the g-C3N4 and fibrous TiO2 was tightly coupled. The photocatalytic performance was measured by degrading the Rhodamine B. Compared to commercial TiO2 (P25®) and electrospun TiO2 nanofibers, the photocatalytic performance of CNT composite was higher than them. The formation of CNT heterostructures and the enlarged specific surface area enhanced the photocatalytic performance, suppressing the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers while broadening the absorption range of light spectrum. Our studies have demonstrated that heterostructured CNT composite with an appropriate proportion can rational use of visible light and can significantly promote the photogenerated charges transferred at the contact interface between g-C3N4 and TiO2.

In recent years, with the rapid development of stem cells science, mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have become a research hotspot. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)are MSCs that derived from bone marrow with some advantages, such as the potential of multi-directional differentiation, low immunogenicity, promoting damage repair and stable performance. The study by many scholars found that BMSCs are promising special cells in the field of medicine, and BMSCs have been widely used in almost every system in treatment of disease. For treatment of corneal disease, ophthalmology scholars found that BMSCs have already become a kind of seed cells with clinical and science value. BMSCs brought promising to the patients who have complex corneal disease. In this paper, we introduce the function of BMSCs on the treatment of corneal injury and corneal allograft rejection.

Tencel fabrics were treated with low pressure plasma with air for different treatment time. The samples were tested their thickness and calculated each mean value of fabrics treated with different time. The result indicated that samples became thicker with the prolonged plasma treatment time. The samples were also divided into two groups and tore along warp and weft direction, respectively, to measure the influence of plasma treatment time on the tearing strength. The result of the measurement implied that the tearing strength of samples treated 1 minute by plasma decreased dramatically, when they were compared with the untreated ones. However, the decrease of the tearing strength became slight when the plasma treatment increased to 5, 10 and 20 minutes.

Kroy-processed and original wool fabric were successfully modified by TiO2/SiO2 70:30 sol with the stabilization of 60g/L 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). In order to explore the influence of Kroy-process on TiO2/SiO2 sol treatment, self-cleaning property of original and Kroy-processed wool samples coated with TiO2/SiO2 sol were investigated by a Color Measuring & Matching System. In addition, the contact angles of four kinds of wool fabric (original wool, Kroy-processed wool, TiO2/SiO2 coated original wool and TiO2/SiO2 coated Kroy-processed wool) were respectively evaluated to achieve the effect of Kroy-process on the hydrophilicity of wool fabric. The results revealed that the applying of Kroy-process is conducive to the coating of TiO2/SiO2 sols on wool fabric. The total color difference ∆E of coated wool increased 42% from 30.35 to 43.09 after the application of Kroy-process. Besides, the hydrophilicity of wool fabric was enhanced since the contact angle of Kroy-processed wool decreased to 133.5° while original wool was 140.3°. Furthermore, coated samples with Kroy-process had lower value of contact angle as compared with coated original wool fabric.

The Tencel fabrics were treated by the atmospheric pressure plasma with air for different length of time and dyed with the C.I. Reactive Black 5 at 1%, 5% and 10% o.m.f. The effect of the prolonged plasma treatment time was characterized by both the weight loss and the whiteness index analyses, which implied that with the increase of the plasma treatment time, the treated fabrics were lighter and yellower than the untreated ones. The contact angle decreased dramatically from 139° to instantly spread. The results of SEM showed that, with the prolonged treatment time, more significant crater-like surface morphology on the fiber of Tencel samples was formed. Compared with untreated samples, the values of dye bath exhaustion and total fixation effect were higher. But they did not increase with the prolonged plasma treatment time. With the prolonged storage time after the plasma treatment, the result to ageing effect indicated that the values of dye bath exhaustion and total fixation effect reduced. The Integ values for characterizing the coloring effect were evaluated by the CIE system of color measurement. In most cases, the Integ values reached the highest ones when the plasma treatment time was 10 or 20 min. When the concentration of the dye bath was low (at 1% o.m.f.), the longer plasma treatment time was, the higher the Integ value was. However, if the fabrics after plasma treatment were stored for 21 days, the longer plasma treatment time did not cause the larger Integ value. When the concentration was 1%, the Integ value increased with the weight loss increasing, which was different from the values of fabrics with 5% and 10% concentration. If the dyeing concentration was low, the fixation had a more significant effect on the color fastness to wet rubbing; in contrast, if the dyeing concentration was high, the surface roughness had a more important effect on it.

Objective To optimize conditions for hypothermic preservation of rat hepatocyte spheroids without freezing in order to facilitate the application of biological artificial liver. Methods Rat hepatic cells were isolated by a two-step perfusion method, and hepatocyte spheroids formed after 48 hours of rocking culture in serum free medium (SFM). Spheroids were then maintained in rocking culture at 37℃ (control condition), or cold stored at 4℃ for 24 or 48 hours in four different cold storage solutions: SFM alone; SFM+1mmol/L deferoxamine (Def ); SFM+1μmol/L cyclosporin A (CsA); and SFM+1mmol/L Def+1μmol/L CsA. After culturing for another 4 or 5 days, survival rate, changes in ultrastructure, and the production of albumin and urea were observed. Results Cold-induced injury could be reduced significantly by the addition of the iron chelators Def and CsA. The function and structure of hepatocyte spheroids stored in SFM+Def+CsA or SFM+Def for 24 hours were similar to those in control conditions. But the function was significantly reduced after hypothermic preservation in SFM alone. After cold storage for 48 hours, the ultrastructure of hepatocyte spheroids obviously changed and the number of dead cells increased. The survival rate of hepatocyte spheroids stored in SFM+Def+CsA or SFM+Def was significantly higher than that stored in SFM or SFM+CsA(P0.05). Conclusions Hepatocyte spheroids tolerate 24 hours of cold storage with stable viability and function. Hypothermic preservation increases the availability of cell-based therapy for liver diseases. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2014.12.02

The Catsper channel is a sperm-specific, Ca2+-permeable, pH-dependent, and low voltage-dependent channel that is essential for the hyperactivity of sperm flagellum, chemotaxis towards the egg, capacitation and acrosome reaction. All of these physiological events require calcium entry into sperm cells. Remarkably, Catsper genes are exclusively expressed in the testis during spermatogenesis, and are sensitive to ion channel-induced pH change, such as NHEs, Ca2+ATPase, K+ channel, Hv1 channel and HCO3 − transporters. Furthermore, the Catsper channel is regulated by some physiological stimulants, such as progesterone, cyclic nucleotides (e.g., cAMP, cGMP), zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins and bovine serum albumin (BSA). All of these factors normally stimulate Ca2+ entry into sperm through the Catsper channel. In addition, the Catsper channel may be a potential target for male infertility treatment or contraception. This review will focus on the structure, functions, regulation mechanisms and medicinal targets of the Catsper channel.

The hoverflies Episyrphus balteatus and Eupeodes corollae (Diptera: Muscomorpha: Syrphidae) are important natural aphid predators. We obtained mitochondrial genome sequences from these two species using methods of PCR amplification and sequencing. The complete Episyrphus mitochondrial genome is 16,175 bp long while the incomplete one of Eupeodes is 15,326 bp long. All 37 typical mitochondrial genes are present in both species and arranged in ancestral positions and directions. The two mitochondrial genomes showed a biased A/T usage versus G/C. The cox1, cox2, cox3, cob and nad1 showed relatively low level of nucleotide diversity among protein-coding genes, while the trnM was the most conserved one without any nucleotide variation in stem regions within Muscomorpha. Phylogenetic relationships among the major lineages of Muscomorpha were reconstructed using a complete set of mitochondrial genes. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses generated congruent topologies. Our results supported the monophyly of five species within the Syrphidae (Syrphoidea). The Platypezoidea was sister to all other species of Muscomorpha in our phylogeny. Our study demonstrated the power of the complete mitochondrial gene set for phylogenetic analysis in Muscomorpha.

Liver failure is a life-threatened serious disease with many complications and high mortality rate. Stem cells have been applied to replacement therapy, gene therapy and tissue engineering for its capacity of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. To investigate the bioactivity of the peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells (PBHSC) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, we isolated CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure and healthy controls. After cultured it in serum-free medium (SFEM), we studied the bioactivity of CD34+ cells by observing the morphology, recording growth curve, detecting cell cycle and cell apoptosis. CD34+ cells and culture solution were collected at the time points of 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 14 days, and the levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in culture solution were detected by ELISA. Also, the expressions of pyruvate kinase muscle isoenzyme 2 (PKM2), integrin-β1 and liver-type pyruvate kinase (LPK) were detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Our results showed the bioactivity of CD34+ cells from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure was identified to be similar with that from healthy controls. HGF, MMP-9, TNF-α and IL-6 were found in cell culture medium. RT-PCR and immunofluorescence results indicated that PKM2, Integrin-β1 expressed on CD34+ cells from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. In conclusion, bioactivity of CD34+ cells of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure was demonstrated to be normal, which could secrete HGF, MMP-9, TNF-α and IL-6, promote the growth of hepatocytes, and differentiate along a direction to hepatocyte lineage.

Wnt5a is a representative Wnt ligand that regulates multiple cellular functions through the Wnt5a non-classical pathway. Although Wnt5a has been implicated in various pathological conditions, its role in cancer is ambiguous and might involve methyl modifications, distinct mRNA isoforms, as well as different downstream pathways. Therefore, it is an essential factor in cancers' progression (invasion, migration, proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition), and a potential biomarker for prognosis and treatment.

La1-xSrxMO3 nanoparticles have attracted increasing interest to material sciences due to their tunable Curie temperature (Tc), superparamagnetic nature and electrical properties, which could be utilized in magnetic hyperthermia treatment. However, La1-xSrxMO3 nanoparticles are toxity to biomolecules and very sensitive to oxidation because of their higher chemical reactivity. The surface modification could enhance stability, dispersibility and compatibility of La1-xSrxMO3 nanoparticles. This review article will introduce the progress on the synthesis and surface modification of La1-xSrxMO3 nanoparticles in recent years, and then give the perspectives of outlook.

The polymer-laced Cu-ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by one-pot non-aqueous nanoemulsion method with the use of PEO-PPO-PEO as the surfactant, C14H29CH(OH)CH2OH as the reducing agent, octyl ether as the solvent, Zn (acac)2 and Cu (acac)2 as precursors. The Morphology and structure of nanoparticles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectrometry (PL) were employed to valuate the optical properties of the nanoparticles. The Cu-ZnO nanoparticles with well defined optical properties are promising for optical, catalytic and biomedical applications.

FeAu/ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by nanoemulsion process with the use of poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (propylene glycol)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) as the surfactant. The characterization of the FeAu/ZnO nanoparticles was performed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, showing that the polymer-laced nanoparticles reveal high crystallinity, excellent dispersibility and well defined optical performance. The process of solvent dispersion-collection of FeAu/ZnO nanoparticles indicates that the nanoparticles possess good magnetic property for applications.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with liver failure. Methods The clinical data of 623 elderly patients with liver failure from Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2013 in 302 Hospital of Chinese PLA were collected, and other 3791 young adult patients with liver failure during the same period were also collected as control group. The etiology and prognosis of elderly patients with liver failure were analyzed retrospectively. Results Elderly patients with liver failure accounted for 13.21% of the total number of liver failure patients in 2003, and 16.01% in 2013. The most frequent causes leading to liver failure were, in order of frequency, hepatitis B(68.06%), unknown causes (7.22%), hepatitis C (5.30%), hepatitis E (4.98%) and drug (4.65%). Acute or chronic liver failure (85.23% vs 90.56%) was the main type in the two groups. HEV infection-induced liver failure in elderly patients was the predominant cause of acute and subacute liver failure, accounting for 33.33% and 33.80% respectively in acute and subacute liver failure patients, which were significantly higher than that in the young adult group (7.77% and 12.94% respectively, P

Multi-functional CoNiAu nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via nanoemulsion method with the use of PEO-PPO-PEO as the surfactant, C14H29CH(OH)CH2OH as the reducing agent, Ni (acac)2, Co (acac)2 and Au (ac)3 as precursors. The characterization of the CoNiAu nanoparticles was performed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and UV-vis near IR spectrophotometer (UV-vis). The XRD and TEM analysis confirm the formation and structure of the nanoparticles. The UV-vis and VSM measurements display the optical and magnetic properties of the CoNiAu nanoparticles at the room temperature. The CoNiAu nanoparticles with the well defined optical and magnetic properties are promised for optical, magnetic, catalytic and biomedical applications.

The hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, is a worldwide natural enemy of aphids and a plant pollinator. To provide insights into the biology of this species, we examined its population genetic structure by obtaining 1.15-GB random genomic sequences using next-generation sequencing and developing genome-wide microsatellite markers. A total of 79,138 microsatellite loci were initially isolated from the genomic sequences; after strict selection and further testing of 40 primer pairs in eight individuals, 24 polymorphic microsatellites with high amplification rates were developed. These microsatellites were used to examine the population genetic structure of 96 individuals from four field populations collected across southern to northern China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 13 with an average of 8.75; the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.235 to 0.768 and from 0.333 to 0.785, respectively. Population genetic structure analysis showed weak genetic differentiation among the four geographical populations of E. corollae, suggesting a high rate of gene flow reflecting likely widespread migration of E. corollae in China.

Nowadays, the development of anticancer drugs has attracted increasingly attention. Here, a Strandberg-type phosphomolybdate hybrid [Zn(HL)2(H2O)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23] 2H2O (1) (HL = 2-acetylpyrazine-thiosemicarbazone) and its nanocomposite Fe3O4@1 were synthesized and structurally characterized. The synthesized Fe3O4@1 was more cytotoxic with an IC50 value of 18.20 ± 2.80 μg ml−1 against the hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells than that of Fe3O4 (IC50 > 100 μg ml−1) and 1 (IC50 = 28.13 ± 4.76 μg ml−1). A synergistic effect involving Fe3O4 nanoparticles and 1 could probably explain the improved growth-inhibiting properties. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) indicated that the Fe3O4@1 showed magnetic behavior.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi penetrate the cortical cells of the roots of vascular plants, and are widely distributed in soil. The formation of these symbiotic bodies accelerates the absorption and utilization of mineral elements, enhances plant resistance to stress, boosts the growth of plants, and increases the survival rate of transplanted seedlings. We studied the effects of various arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi on the growth and development of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Several species of AM, such as Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices, and a mixture of fungi (G. mosseae, G. intraradices, G. cladoideum, G. microagregatum, G. caledonium and G. etunicatum) were used in our study. Licorice growth rates were determined by measuring the colonization rate of the plants by the fungi, plant dry biomass, phosphorus concentration and concentration of secondary metabolites. We established two cloned strains of licorice, clone 3 (C3) and clone 6 (C6) to exclude the effect of genotypic variations. Our results showed that the AM fungi could in fact increase the leaf and root biomass, as well as the phosphorus concentration in each clone. Furthermore, AM fungi significantly increased the yield of certain secondary metabolites in clone 3. Our study clearly demonstrated that AM fungi play an important role in the enhancement of growth and development of licorice plants. There was also a significant improvement in the secondary metabolite content and yield of medicinal compounds from the roots.