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Geothermal energy is a new renewable and clean energy source with low cost and wide distribution. In the process of production and reinjection of geothermal well system (mainly including facilities such as wellbore, downhole casing, wellhead device and surface pipe sink), due to various factors such as temperature, pressure, pH, flow velocity, degree of supersaturation, and presence of other salts and ions interfering in solution, precipitation is easily formed, resulting in the phenomenon of scaling in geothermal well system. This phenomenon can seriously affect the normal production operation of the geothermal well system, reduce the service life of the equipment, and cause a series of problems such as energy waste and economic loss. This paper presents a review of recent research progress on scaling and scale inhibition in geothermal well systems. The mechanism of scaling in geothermal well systems, as well as the main technical means of scale inhibition and removal currently adopted were introduced. The future research directions of scale inhibition and descaling in geothermal well systems are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of natural fracture will lead to lost circulation, which will be likely to cause economic losses and reduce drilling efficiency. In order to solve this problem, an oil-based pressure-bearing foam gel plugging agent for fractured shale was developed. The basic components such as foaming agent, foam stabilizer, and cross-linking agent were optimized and compounded, and the basic formula of the oil-based foam gel system was 0.6 % DSFA foaming agent + 0.3 % BPMO foaming agent + 0.5 % EPDM + 1.5 % SBS + 0.05 % rigid cross − linking agent DB + 0.02 % modified Si O 2 nanoparticles. Then, the performance of the oil-based foam gel plugging agent was evaluated through core plugging experiments, and the results showed that the prepared plugging agent had good stability and plugging performance with a plugging rate of about 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Macrophages are particularly abundant and play an important role throughout the tumor progression process, namely, tumor‐associated macrophages (TAM) in the tumor microenvironment. TAM can be polarized to disparate functional phenotypes, the M1 and M2 macrophages. M1‐like type macrophages are defined as pro‐inflammatory cells involved in killing cancer cells, while M2‐like type cells can specially promote tumor growth and metastasis, tissue remodeling and immunosuppression. In this study, we first found that integrin β3 was highly expressed on the surface of TAM, both in vivo and in vitro, that displayed the M2‐like characteristics. Under intervention of CYC or triptolide, the integrin β3 inhibitors, the M2 polarization of TAM could be inhibited. Moreover, in the cell model of M2 polarization, either blockade or knockout/knockdown of integrin β3 could also suppress macrophage M2 polarization, which suggested that the M2 polarization was dependent on integrin β3. Using knockdown of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγ), an M2 regulator, we found that expression and activation of PPARγ participated in M2 polarization that was mediated by integrin β3. Finally, to verify the activity of integrin β3 inhibitors on TAM in vivo, 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice were treated with CYC or triptolide; in response, the M1/M2 ratio of TAM was up‐regulated, while the infiltration of total lymphocytes into tumor tissue was not altered. In general, our study found a connection between integrin β3 and macrophage polarization, which provides a strategy for facilitating M2 to M1 repolarization and reconstructing the tumor immune microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn order to investigate the erosion-corrosion resistance of nano-SiO2/EP composite coating and TiO2/EP composite coating in a geothermal environment, the coatings were subjected to potentiodynamic polarization curve tests, AC impedance tests, weightlessness tests, under different immersion time in geothermal water. The micro-morphology of the coating after erosion-corrosion was observed to evaluate the protective effect of the modified EP coating on N80 steel. The result showed that the addition of nanoparticles can improve the corrosion resistance of EP coatings to a certain extent, and the optimum addition amount of nanoparticles is 3%. In geothermal water containing sand, the corrosion inhibition efficiency of EP coatings modified by nanoparticles was above 99.99% except for the 1 wt% SiO2/EP composite coating. When the nanoparticle content is 1 wt%, the protective effect of nano-SiO2/EP composite coating is better than that of TiO2/EP composite coating, but the protective effect is opposite when the nanoparticle content is 3% and 5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To prepare human cystatin C( CysC) recombinant protein and produce monoclonal antibodies with high affinity and specificity. Develop a competitive ELISA detection system to detect of CysC in human serum., Methods: The CysC gene sequence was found on NCBI. The optimized gene fragments were synthesized and the recombinant CysC protein was expressed in Escherichia coli then used to immunize Balb/c mice. The positive hybridoma cell lines were obtained by hybridoma cell fusion techniques and ascites monoclonal antibody was prepared and purified. Affinity of the antibody was measured by indirect ELISA. Then competitive ELISA detection system was established, and 52 cases of human serum samples were detected by the detection system., Results: Four stable cell lines secreting CysC monoclonal antibodies were obtained. Antibody Ab3 was used as a detection antibody and HRP labeling was performed. Its affinity constant was 4. 26 × 10~6L/mol. The linear range of detection was 0. 011-1. 924 μg/mL. The detection limit was 4. 598 ng/mL and IC_(50) was 0. 145 μg/mL. The established competitiveELISA serum detection system could accurately detect those 52 serum samples., Conclusion: The monoclonal antibody against CysC with high affinity and specificity has been successfully obtained. A reliable competitive ELISA serum detection system is established. The method provides a basis for the development of CysC rapid immunoassay kit.

PPARγ has emerged as a master regulator of macrophage polarization and is the molecular target of the thiazolidinedione drugs. Here we show that apigenin binds and activates PPARγ by acting as a modulator. Activation of PPARγ by apigenin blocks p65 translocation into nuclei through inhibition of p65/PPARγ complex translocation into nuclei, thereby decreasing NF-κB activation and favoringM2 macrophage polarization. In HFD and ob/ob mice, apigenin significantly reverses M1 macrophage into M2 and reduces the infiltration of inflammatory cells in liver and adipose tissues, as well as decreases the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby alleviating inflammation. Strikingly, apigenin reduces liver and muscular steatosis, decreases the levels of ALT, AST, TC and TG, improving glucose resistance obviously. Unlike rosiglitazone, apigenin does not cause significant weight gain, osteoporosis et al. Our findings identify apigenin as a modulator of PPARγ and a potential lead compound for treatment of metabolic disorders., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The importance of adhesins in pathogenicity has resulted in them being useful targets in the defense against bacterial infections. To produce edible vaccines against piglet diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), plants were genetically engineered to produce recombinant fimbrial adhesin FaeG. To evaluate the efficacy of the edible vaccine FaeG in mice, the soluble protein extracts were examined by about 15 microg recombinant FaeG for each oral immunization dose per mouse. After four doses of vaccination, both IgG and IgA antibodies specific to K88ad fimbriae were elicited in serum, and specific IgA antibodies were also evoked in feces of the immunized mice. Moreover, visible K88ad ETEC agglutination by the specific serum from the immunized mice was observed, implying the antibody was highly specific and effective. Results from an in vitro villous-adhesion assay further confirmed that serum antibodies of the immunized mice could inhibit K88ad ETEC from adhering to pig intestinal receptors, further demonstrating the oral immune efficacy of the plant-derived FaeG. This study provides a promising, noninvasive method for vaccinating swine by feeding supplements of transgenic plant. Moreover, the low cost and ease of delivery of this edible ETEC vaccine will facilitate its application in economically disadvantaged regions.