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A Gram-staining negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain N-S-14

High temperature is one of the major abiotic stresses that limit edible mushroom growth and development. The understanding of physiological alterations in response to heat stress and the corresponding mechanisms involved is vital for the breeding of heat-resistant edible mushroom strains. Although trehalose functions as a protectant against abiotic stresses in fungi, the putative role of trehalose in thermotolerance remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found heat stress inhibited the growth of two Pleurotus pulmonarius strains, heat-sensitive and less-sensitive, and the inhibition was more significant for the sensitive strain. Heat stress leads to the increase of lipid peroxidation and intracellular trehalose accumulation, with a higher level in the heat-sensitive strain, and this effect is independent of exogenous trehalose application. In addition, a lower concentration of exogenous trehalose application in sensitive strain than in less-sensitive strain was found to alleviate the inhibition of mycelium growth and further increase the intracellular trehalose concentration by heat stress. Thus, the protective effects of trehalose were more remarkable in the sensitive strain. The activities of intracellular trehalose metabolic enzymes, i.e., trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, trehalose phosphorylase and neutral trehalase, were determined, and our data indicated that the changes of these enzymes activities in the sensitive strain were more beneficial to accumulate trehalose than that in the less-sensitive strain.

A Gram-staining negative, facultative anaerobic, motile and short rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain yh7-1T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Citrus sinenesis collected from the garden of Citrus sinenesis in Ailao Mountain, south-west China. Cells grew at 15–45 °C, pH 5.0–9.0 and were able to tolerate up to 1% (w/v) NaCl on R2A medium. The respiratory lipoquinone was Q-10 and the major cellular fatty acids contained summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c or C18:1 ω6c) and C18:0. Polar lipids in the cellular membrane were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.9 mol%. On basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain yh7-1T showed the highest similarities with Chthonobacter albigriseus KCTC 42450T (97.6%), Mongoliimonas terrestris KCTC 42635T (97.0%) and lower than 97.0% to other species. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain yh7-1T clustered with C. albigriseus KCTC 42450T. The ANI values ranged between 78.1 and 82.7% for C. albigriseus KCTC 42450T, M. terrestris KCTC 42635T and strain yh7-1T, which were lower than the prokaryotic species delineation threshold of 95.0–96.0%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between C. albigriseus KCTC 42450T, M. terrestris KCTC 42635T and strain yh7-1T indicated that the new isolate represents a novel genomic species. According to the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain yh7-1T should belong to the genus Chthonobacter, for which the name Chthonobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov. (type strain yh7-1T = CGMCC 1.17236T = CCTCC AB 2019258T = KCTC 82185T) is proposed.

The WD40 transcription factor family is a gene superfamily widely found in eukaryotes, which is closely related to plant growth and development regulation. It has been reported that the WD40 transcription factor was involved in the synthesis of anthocyanins, which is one of the vital components of safflower flavonoid compounds. In this study, 40 CtWD40 members in the safflower genome were identified though bioinformatics tools and gene expression analysis methods. According to the WD40 protein sequence and phylogenetic characteristics of Arabidopsis and other plants, the safflower CtWD40 family was classified into 7 subfamilies. Conservative motif analysis was used to reveal the specific conserved motifs and gene structures of each subfamily member, and there exist a certain degree of similarities in the conserved motifs and gene structure between the closely related family members. Subsequently, the search for cis-acting elements of gene promoters found CtWD40-specific promoter elements, revealing the metabolic pathways which may involve. Next, enrichment of function analysis was employed to analyze the functional categories and cellular localization of the CtWD40 protein. Furthermore, the interactions between CtWD40 proteins predicted its potential regulatory function. Finally, 19 members of the safflower CtWD40 subfamily were analyzed by qRT-PCR, the result showed the expression patterns of these members were different in diverse tissue and flowering period. This study provides a basis for the functional and expression research of the CtWD40 genes.

Objective: To observe the clinical application of olopatadine eye drops alone or combination with pranoprofen eye drops in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis (AC). The levels of serum immunoglobulin, histamine (HA) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were analyzed. Methods: A total of 90 AC patients were randomly divided into control group (n=45) and observation group (n=45) according to the lottery method. The control group was treated with olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops. On the basis of the control group, the observation group was treated with pranoprofen eye drops. The levels of serum immunoglobulin, HA and ECP were measured in all subjects. Results: There was no significant difference in serum immunoglobulin level between the observation group and the control group before treatment. After treatment, the levels of serum IgG, IgA and IgE in the observation group and the control group were significantly lower than those before treatment. And the observation group was significantly lower than the control group after treatment. There were no significant differences in serum HA and ECP levels between the observation group and the control group before treatment. After treatment, the levels of serum HA and ECP in the observation group and the control group were significantly lower than those before treatment. And the observation group was significantly lower than the control group after treatment. Conclusion: Compared with olopatadine eye drops, olopatadine eye drops combined with pranoprofen eye drops in the treatment of AC patients, can effectively reduce the serum immunoglobulin, HA and ECP levels, which may be the clinical treatment of AC patients Of the effective reference program.

The karst landforms in Guizhou are widely distributed, and the problem of soil arsenic (As) pollution is prominent in these areas because of the high environmental background levels. In order to study the distribution characteristics of As contents in agricultural soils with high background values of As, representative As polluted regions (typical karst region, semi-karst region) in southwestern Xingyi City of Guizhou Province were selected as the research objects, and the non-karst region served as the control group. Geostatistical analyses were then combined with GIS data to study the spatial variability and pollution conditions of As in agricultural soils. Furthermore, Moran's

Background levels of cadmium (Cd) in carbonate rock areas of Guizhou Province are high. In order to understand the characteristics of Cd in arable soils in these karst areas, the soils in the northern county of Luodian were selected as the study object. By comparing soils in non-karst areas, the distribution characteristics of soil Cd were studied by combining geostatistical analysis and GIS, and the potential ecological risk index and health risk were used to evaluate the potential level of risk to adults and children. The results show that the arable soil Cd content in this karst area is significantly higher than that in non-karst areas (

To clone bHLH( basic helix-loop-helix) gene from Carthamus tinctorius,analyze the expression level in different plant tissues and construct the plant expression vector. The bHLH1 gene was cloned by RT-PCR techniques,and the protein characteristics were analyzed by bioinformatics,and phylogenetic tree was constructed. The expression of bHLH1 gene in different tissues and the roots after inoculated by Fusarium oxysporum were analyzed using real time-PCR,and the plant expression vector p BASTA-bHLH1 was constructed. The obtained ORF sequence of bHLH1 gene was 897 bp,encoded a protein of 298 amino acids. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analyses showed that C. tinctorius bHLH1 had a certain homology with other species of amino acids,and was the most similar to the amino acid sequence of tobacco. Real-time PCR results showed significant differences,CtbHLH1 gene in red flower petals in different tissues and different flowering period had remarkable difference in expression level,its high amount expressed in petals,flowers third day after blossom expressed the highest quantity,at the end of the flowering the expression quantity is low. In addition,it is expressed in the root,and the expression in the stem and leaves is extremely low. The bHLH1 gene of C. tinctorius is successfully cloned,and the expression is analyzed. The plant expression vector p BASTA-bHLH is constructed.

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in abiotic and biotic stress responses in plants by transforming the diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid. However, there is no report on the characterization of soybean DGK genes in spite of the availability of the soybean genome sequence. In this study, we performed genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of the DGK gene family in the soybean genome. We identified 12 DGK genes (namely GmDGK1-12) which all contained conserved catalytic domains with protein lengths and molecular weights ranging from 436 to 727 amino acids (aa) and 48.62 to 80.93 kDa, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses grouped GmDGK genes into three clusters—cluster I, cluster II, and cluster III—which had three, four, and five genes, respectively. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant GmDGK gene expression levels in both leaves and roots coping with polyethylene glycol (PEG), salt, alkali, and salt/alkali treatments. This work provides the first characterization of the DGK gene family in soybean and suggests their importance in soybean response to abiotic stress. These results can serve as a guide for future studies on the understanding and functional characterization of this gene family.

This paper investigates mid-Holocene palaeo-vegetation and soil water in the Xi’an area of the southern Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). A well-dated (8.5–6.0 ka BP and 5.0–3.1 ka BP) loess-palaeosol (unit S0) was logged, sampled and analyzed at four sites in the Xi'an area of the southern CLP, from which we report soil micromorphological (type and occurrence of root pores), particle size and geochemical data (CaCO3 and Sr concentration) to: (i) infer changes in soil water content, (ii) infer the limits of gravity water and the types of hydrologic cycle, and (iii) reconstruct the palaeovegetation. Numerous woody plant root holes were identified (2–4 mm diameter) within the illuvial horizon underlying palaeosol S0, the morphology of which is consistent with those produced by woody plants. The clay-rich argillic horizon of palaeosol S0 was found to contain high concentrations of kaolinite, which in concert with the geochemical indices, indicates that soil gravity water attained a depth of 2.2–2.8 m, whilst soil water content was ~20–25%. This implies that pedogenic processes at this site were more intense during the mid- compared to late Holocene loessic soils elsewhere on the CLP, and ultimately attests to relatively wet climatic conditions (e.g. up to 800 mm yr−1 rainfall), the hydrologic cycle type of precipitation-soil water-groundwater, and the vegetation of deciduous broad-leaved forest. We propose that combined analyses of root-channel morphology and mobile element geochemistry can be used to infer changes in palaeo-hydrology and ultimately, the strength of the Asian Summer Monsoon.

A polydentate pyridyl derivative, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexa(2-pyridyl)-dipyrazino [2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline (HPDQ), exhibits a high-performance fluorescence response to La(3+) with an ∼65 nm redshifted emission wavelength and 38 fold enhanced intensity, in contrast to its weakened emission for other lanthanide ions. The final La(3+) coordination complex in solution has a stoichiometric ratio of 1 : 3 of ligand-to-metal, as testified by the Job's plot and single crystal structure analyses. The red shift of the luminescence emission as well as UV-vis absorption was rationalized in terms of the change of the electron structure as indicated by nuclear magnetic titration, electrochemical experiment and density functional theoretical calculation, while the significant enhancement of emission was attributed to the enhanced π conjugated extent of HPDQ caused by La(3+) coordination.

The relationship between Holocene climate change and the evolution of civilizations, both in China and elsewhere, is of increasing research interest. Here we present the results of a study of the particle size, CaCO3 content, magnetic susceptibility, and soil microstructure of the Holocene paleosol and loess sequence at the sites of Luochuan and Lintong in the southern Chinese Loess Plateau. The results reveal that the paleosol in the late stage of the mid-Holocene is less developed than that in the early stage, and that the corresponding average annual precipitation was at least 100 mm higher than today, due to the enhancement of the summer monsoon. Climatic deterioration occurred in the middle stage of the mid-Holocene, during 6000–5000 yr BP, which was the coldest and driest stage. Four stages of monsoon change occurred in the study area during the Holocene: at 8500, 6000, 5000, and 3100 yr BP. They enable the following climatic subdivision of this interval: three cold and dry periods with enhanced winter monsoon and dust storm activity, and two warm humid periods with a strong summer monsoon and weak dust storm activity. The transformation of the monsoon climate since 3100 yr BP indicates that the modern interglacial period, compared with the last interglacial, is not typical and possesses some of the characteristics of cold and dry climates. The observed pattern of climate change since the mid-Holocene has substantially affected the development of civilization in the region. This is manifested by the frequent migration of ancient capitals caused by the onset of a cold and dry climate: the location of capitals shifted from high altitudes in the Loess Plateau to loess tableland areas on the lower altitude plains, including to the first terrace in the low-altitude plain and then to the moderately-high second terrace of the Wei River. Our results contribute to an improved understanding of the climatic drivers of human civilization in China and provide a basis for predicting future environmental changes in the region.

The fourth palaeosol (S4) of the Brunhes Epoch (780,000–0 years B.P.) at Shuangzhu, Tianjiapo, and Hejiacun in the Guanzhong Plain developed over about 40 ka and varies in thickness from 3.6 to 4.0 m. It consists of four horizons: the first (uppermost) is a well developed red–brown clay horizon (Bts), the second is a dark yellowish-brown weathering-cracked loess horizon (Cs) with red ferruginous argillans, the third is a yellowish-brown weathering-cracked loess horizon (Cl) without red ferruginous argillans, and the fourth consists of CaCO3 nodules (Ck). The two weathering-cracked loess horizons, which are a major feature differentiating a pedocomplex from a palaeosol, have not been found previously in Chinese palaeosol. The ferruginous clay argillans are composed of montmorillonite–illite with some kaolinite minerals. The pedocomplex suggests that a moist subtropical climate prevailed between 420,000 and 360,000 years in the southern parts of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Its profile is Bts–Cs–Cl–Ck–Co. When the pedocomplex was developed, the mean annual temperature and precipitation were about 16 °C and 1000 mm respectively, about 3 °C higher and 400 mm more than at present in the Guanzhong Plain. The removal depth of CaCO3 and the weathering-cracked loess layer indicate that the gravitational water reached a depth of at least 3.2 m, and the moisture content in S4 would have been sufficient to sustain forest development at that time. In the typical interglacial in which S4 was developed, the Qinling Mountains lost their function as the boundary between the subtropical and temperate zones of China, and water-bearing air masses resulting in rich rainfall could frequently reach the southern Loess Plateau.

Monosized nanoparticles of 57.3 nm were prepared by cationic emulsion polymerization using a polymerizable emulsifier DMHB. The adsorption of nanoparticles onto bamboo fibers was measured by conductometric titration. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity increased with increasing contact time until 120 min. The equilibrium data for nanoparticles adsorption onto bamboo fibers were well fitted to the Langmuir equation. Moreover, the monolayer adsorption capacity of nanoparticles in the concentration range (from 0.03 g/L to 0.6 g/L) studied, as calculated from Langmuir isotherm model at 25 °C, was found to be 38.61 mg/g of fibers. The SEM images showed that the nanoparticles form a uniform monolayer on bamboo fiber surfaces.

A more sensitive and accurate method for measuring very low concentration of cationic copolymer nanospheres is established by measuring the conductivity of cationic nanosphere dispersion. The effect of the nanosphere concentration on the conductivity was investigated during the adsorption process. The results indicate that the relationship between the concentration of nanospheres and bromide ions is coincidence with linear relation. At very low nanosphere concentrations, the conductivity increases with increasing the nanosphere concentration, exhibiting a linear relationship. However, the limiting molar conductivity of nanosphere decreases with increasing nanosphere concentration. The obtained adsorption data were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The SEM images show that the nanospheres form a uniform monolayer on cotton fiber surfaces. The saturated amount of the nanospheres on the cotton fibers is 63.49 mg/g.

A novel artificial receptor 1 containing the indolocarbazole-NH moieties as the recognition sites exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity toward F− over other typical anionic species in DMSO solution. Upon addition of F− into the solution, receptor 1 showed a remarkable ratiometric shift of the fluorescence maximum from 535 to 590 nm, and also a prominent color change from light yellow to orange, which was observable by the naked eye. The recognition properties of receptor 1 were investigated by 1H NMR, UV–vis, and fluorescence titration experiments, with the results suggesting a two-step strategy of binding with F−. In addition, the theoretical calculations were carried out to reveal the role of intramolecular charge transfer in the ratiometric fluorescence recognition process.

The fungal strain which could degrade -carotene was isolated and screened from the samples of tobacco collected from Yunnan Honghe. The strain was classified and identified with morphology of strain and ITS sequence analysis. The preliminary identification showed that the strain was Penicillium Sp.. The fermenting product with fruit fragrance was obtained by the degradation of -carotene with the strain Penicillium Sp.. The samples smell good and the degradation of -carotene was measured.

By retaining the quadrapyridyl receptor of polypyridylhexaazatriphenylene (a Cd(2+) sensor reported by us) and extending its chromophoric group with pyrene, a chemical sensor (1) was designed and synthesized in this work. This sensor exhibit selective off-on fluorescence response to Cd(2+) over other metal ions, and the detection limit is as low as 0.02 μM. The Cd(2+) sensing of 1 has high water toleration and can be carried out in the media with the water content up to 70%. Additionally, 1 was successfully applied to the in vivo imaging of intracellular Cd(2+) in living HaLa cells, and showed low cytotoxicity and cell membrane permeability in these experiments. These results suggest that 1 has potential application in the Cd(2+) analysis of environmental and biological samples.

PURPOSE This study aims to compare the incidence and severity of intra-articular adhesion under arthroscopy between patients with and without a history of joint puncture. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-nine patients with internal derangements of TMJ who underwent arthroscopic disc repositioning and suturing surgery from February 2008 to September 2008 were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether the patient had undergone joint puncture before surgery or not. The diagnosis of intra-articular adhesion was made according to the manifestation under arthroscopy. Incidence and severity of intra-articular adhesion between these 2 groups was compared. RESULTS The incidence of intra-articular adhesion in the patients with a history of puncture was 69.23%, which was higher than that in the patients without a history of puncture (24.36%). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence of severe adhesions in patients with a history of joint puncture was also higher than that in patients without a history of puncture (26.09% vs. 2.56%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Puncture may increase the risk of intra-articular adhesion in patients with internal derangement.

Two new compounds ( 1 and 2 ) based on indole were successfully synthesized and characterized. They display highly selective response to F − in aqueous DMSO medium and pure DMSO with remarkable color and fluorescent changes. Therefore, both receptors may serve as colorimetric sensors for F − by visual detection.

A new receptor based on a dibenzo-18-crown-6 derivative is successfully synthesized and characterized. This receptor reveals selective recognition toward Al3 + ion, along with colorimetric and fluorometric dual-signaling responses based on internal charge transfer (ICT). Also, it can serve as a highly selective chemodosimeter for Al3 + with naked-eye detection.

Two C2-symmetrical hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) derivatives, 2,3-diphenyl-6,7,10,11-tetra(pyridin-2-yl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline (1) and 2,3,6,7-tetraphenyl-10,11-di(pyridin-2-yl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline (2), were designed and synthesized by the condensation reaction of 1,2-diamines and 1,2-diketones. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibit sensitive, ratiometric and colorimetric fluorescence selectivity for Zn(2+) ion over alkali ions, alkaline earth ions and a wide range of transition metal ions upon excitation at 350 nm in acetonitrile/water. The interactions between 1 or 2 and Zn(2+) can be observed by naked eyes with an obvious color change of the solution from colorless to yellow. For fluorescence intensity of 2 toward Zn(2+), a good linearity (correlation coefficient R(2)=0.993) was established with a detection limit of 0.095 μM, which is more sensitive than that of 1 (0.2 μM). The binding modes of the free ligands 1 and 2 with Zn(2+) are discussed in context to their photophysical and electrochemical properties as well as single X-ray crystallographic structures of 1, 2 and 1-Zn.

Chicken β-defensin Gal-3 was recently identified member of a family of antimicrobial peptides. In this paper, the sequences of the chicken β-defensin Gal-3 gene was replaced with plant preferred codons by Polymerase Chain Reaction, and cloned into the plant expression vector p1390R, then transferred into alfalfa by Agrobacterium tumefacien- mediated method. PCR was performed by using the genomic DNA of transgenic alfalfa as template, which showed that Gal-3 has been transferred into alfalfa. Therefore, the suitable concentration of Hyg for screening transformants was 20 mg/L. The 4 trangenic plants were analyzed by Southern hybridization.

Loess-paleosol sequences are good archives for research on paleoclimate over the last 2.5 million years and even earlier. Magnetic susceptibility of loess-paleosol sequences has been used extensively as a proxy for paleoclimate interpretations. Magnetic minerals in loess/paleosols are of lithogenic (allochthonous) origin or pedogenic (authigenic) origin. It is of great significance for loess magnetism to separate magnetic signals of them and investigate its magnetite or maghemite that mainly contributes to magnetic susceptibility enhancement in paleosol. Though the combination of CBD (Citrate-Bicarbonate-Dithionite) procedure with loess magnetism sheds light on these questions, the CBD method is still debated and its mechanism unclear. To better understand the effects of CBD method on magnetic minerals, CBD treatment were made to loess/paleosol samples from Western Sichuan plateau, Tianshan mountains and Kurtak, Siberia and non-aeolian samples from Subtropics in this work. Magnetic parameters, including low-field magnetic susceptibility, frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic curves (J-T curves), were measured before and after the CBD treatment. Changes in magnetic mineralogy, magnetic concentration and magnetic domain were analyzed. The results suggest that the CBD method is not apparently selective in dissolving various magnetic minerals, and the dissolving quantity is controlled by grain size distribution if the temperature and duration are given. The CBD method can efficiently remove fine grains which have higher ration of surface to volume, and dissolve a rim from the outside of the coarse grains resulting in finer grain size. There are multiple possibilities of changes in magnetic susceptibility after CBD treatment. The CBD method can be used to obtain magnetic signal of pedogenic original. It is not advisable to use the method to separate lithogenic and pedogenic magnetic minerals in loess from arid or over-wet areas.

A new ditopic ion pair receptor 1 containing two biindole moieties and a bis-benzocrown ether unit shows a remarkable color switching (ON- and -OFF) function induced by anion (F(-)) and cation (K(+)) recognition. The ditopic receptor 1 binds in a cooperative fashion to HSO(4)(-) in the presence of 1·K(+) and acts as a selective ditopic receptor to recognize ion pairs with a wavelength-ratiometric manner.

Deforestation to reclaim land often triggers severe soil erosion in the Guizhou Karst Plateau. Cs-137 dating of the deposited sediments in the karst depression bottom was used to estimate soil losses by surface erosion since deforestation started in 1979 on hillslopes in the Shirenzhai catchment, Puding County, Guizhou Province. The catchment has a drainage area of 0.054 km(2). The average Cs-137 contents of the top and peak layers in five cores of the depression bottom (with an area of 2652 m(2)), collected in 2009, were 2.35 and 7.25 Bq kg(-1), respectively. The medium depths in the depression (which ranged between 84 cm and 113.5 cm with a mean value of 92.1 cm) showed the presence of sediments deposited in 1979. The total volume and weight of the deposited sediments since 1979 were estimated to be 1965 m(3) and 2496 t, respectively. The depression bottom can be treated as a temporary impoundment and its sediment trapping efficiency was estimated to be 0.7. The relevant average soil erosion rate on the hillslopes was 2315 t km(-2) yr(-1) since 1979. The mean Cs-137 inventory of the five cores was 7693 Bq m(-2), which was similar to 10 times the local reference inventory of 782 Bq m(-2). The total Cs-137 activity of the sediments in the bottom was 20.4x10(6) Bq, and the relevant Cs-137 inventory loss from the hillslopes was 358 Bq m(-2) (since 1954), which accounted for 45.8% of the reference inventory. As soil erosion was not severe before and after the period of deforestation and following cultivation in 1979-1990, the erosion rates on the hillslopes could potentially reach 7000 t km(-2) yr(-1).

Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) is a very common mineral at the earth’s surface and also an important material for making music and video tapes. Maghemite is usually synthesized from magnetite under oxidizing conditions after a few hours or a few days below a temperature of 300°C. The magnetic property of thermal instability and the chemical action after heating is an important character for maghemite. That is, it will become hematite in certain proportion after being heated above 250°C. Maghemite is therefore actually unable to have its Curie temperature measured. But late using synthetic sample, maghemite was further found partially thermal stable with a measurable Curie temperature ∼645°C. During our thermally magnetic experiments for a set of synthetic magnetite, we found that extra fined grain size (pseudo single domain (PSD) and small multi-domain (MD), mainly 1–10 μm) magnetite was formed to a completely thermally stable maghemite. This maghemite can also be produced by heating the same powder up to 700°C in an oven and keeping this temperature for 10 min, then cooling it down. When the generated maghemite by these two ways is heated from room temperature to 700°C, it shows almost fully reversible, or thermally stable. We used X-ray powder diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy to confirm the identity of this maghemite and compared its magnetic hysteresis, high temperature magnetization, low temperature thermal demagnetization, and low temperature susceptibility with those of the original preheated magnetite. Such quickly oxidized maghemite by heating to high temperature implies some types of maghemite formed in certain natural condition can carry a thermal remnant magnetization (TRM). Four types of maghemite were characterized and discussed according to their thermal stability. Among them, partially stable and fully thermally stable maghemite after heating should possess capability of carrying TRM. There is possibly a compensation of synthetizing maghemite between heating temperature and heating duration. The thermal stability of maghemite may be affected by a few factors, such as its purity (stoichiometry), heating temperature and duration. The grain size may be one of important factors. Maghemite might be similar to magnetite, having various magnetic properties corresponding to its grain size categories such as superparamagnetic (SP), single domain (SD) and MD. Low temperature measurement for PSD fine grain of synthetic magnetite shows a phenomenon of Verwey transition “suppressed”, its fundamental causes could be that the core diameter of oxidized magnetite is actually reach or approach SD size, so that its Verwey transition is shown “suppressed”.

Chiral spirocyclic compounds have attracted the attention of scholars and scientists owing to their potential applications in the pharmaceutical industry as either active pharmaceutical ingredients, catalysts in synthesizing active enantiomers, or as surface modifiers on silica particles to resolve entantiomers. In this study, five spiro compounds of 3,9-diphenyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]-undecane(1), 3,9-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]-undecane(2), 3,9-(4-methylphenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]-undecane(3), 4,4′-(2,4-8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undccane-3,9-diyl)dibenzoic acid(4) and 3,9-di(4-formyl-phenyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-spiro[5.5]-undecane(5) were synthesized by grinding pentaerythritol with benzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-methylbenzaldehyde, 4-carboxybenzaldehyde or tcrephthalaldehyde monoacetal in the presence of InBr3 under solvent-free conditions. A normal phase HPLC method was successfully developed to resolve entantiomers of compounds 1–5 on a chiral column. Specific optical rotation of R or S enlantiomers(1) was determined and the corresponding configurations were proposed based on Lowe's rule.

Urban environmental problems are of increasing concern. Lanzhou is a large industrial city in Northwest China. Street dust samples representing different temporal and spatial scales were collected for magnetic properties study. Magnetic measurements indicate a high concentration of magnetic minerals in Lanzhou street dust, dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD) magnetite. The concentration of magnetic materials is distinctly high in winter and spring, low in autumn. Similarly, higher concentrations associated with heavy industry, concentrated residential development, and vehicular traffic suggest mixed contributions of magnetic material from both anthropogenic and natural sources. x If and SOFT% are effective magnetic parameters that denote seasonal differences among magnetic properties in street dust, convenient and economical methods for monitoring street dust pollution.

The magnetic susceptibility (MS) of Chinese loess showing a general proportional relationship to pedogenic grade has been widely recognized and used for reconstruction of paleoclimate by Quaternary scientists. The in-situ pedogenic enhancement of ferrimagnetic content is normally believed to be the main reason for the increase of susceptibility in soil units. However, this pattern of high magnetic susceptibility in palaeosols, and low values in loess, are not replicated in some loess deposits. Siberian loess deposits display a completely opposite susceptibility behavior: high values in loess and low values in palaeosols. This inverse relationship has been explained by the idea that magnetic susceptibility is reflecting the magnitude of an aeolian ferrimagnetic component of consistent mineralogy, the grain size of which is related to average wind velocity. Our magnetic study of Siberian samples in this paper suggests that there are notable differences in magnetic properties between Siberian loess and developed palaeosols, not only in magnetic grain-size and concentration but also in magnetic mineralogy. This evidence is difficult to explain fully through variation in wind strength alone, but implies that the low magnetic susceptibility values in the Siberian paleosol units are a reflection, at least in part, of the alteration of the ferrimagnetic content by post-depositional processes. The Loess Plateau is a very arid area where potential evaporation is always higher than precipitation; pedogenesis occurs under dry oxidising conditions. The Siberian Kurtak region is located on the edge of the tundra where it is always wet and saturation during interglacials will lead to a reducing pedogenic environment. Ferrimagnetic minerals under this condition will be destroyed, resulting in lower magnetic susceptibility. Therefore, great care should be taken when using susceptibility values for paleoclimatic reconstruction.

Flavonol synthase (FLS) is one of the key enzymes in flavonoids metabolic pathways. In this study, middle sequence was obtained from Carthamus tinctorius transcriptome sequencing results. Full-length cDNAs of FLS was cloned from petals of C. tinctorius to FLS by using RT-PCR and RACE technology. Its full-length cDNA was 1,201 bp, with an open reading frame of 1,101 bp and 336 encoded amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis showed that, FLS gene encoded amino acids in C. tinctorius were highly homologous with amino acids in congeneric Compositae species, especially Rudbeckia laciniata. The pBASTA-FLS plant expression vector was successfully built by the molecular biology method, which lays a foundation for further studying biology functions of the gene and biosynthesis mechanism of flavonoids.

The Red Clay unit of northern China is a widespread Miocene–Pliocene (7.2–2.5 Ma) aeolian deposit that underlies much of the Quaternary loess–paleosol sequence in the central Loess Plateau. It comprises a sequence of highly developed soils and interbedded layers of less weathered loess-like material, here referred to as reddish loess. In common with the loess–paleosol alternations of the overlying Quaternary deposits, the soil–reddish loess alternations are interpreted to represent climatic fluctuations, in this case between warm-humid and relatively dry-cool conditions. However, while magnetic susceptibility variations in the Quaternary deposits provide a good proxy for pedogenic intensity, in the Red Clay the relationship is less clear and magnetic susceptibility data are in conflict with other measures of pedogenesis. In an attempt to resolve this issue, we have investigated a Red Clay section and overlying loess–paleosol sequence at Xifeng and have supplemented these data with samples from the Red Clay at Lingtai. Our study indicates that the Red Clay and loess–paleosol sequence have a common magnetic mineralogy comprising magnetite, maghemite and hematite (and possibly goethite), and that both sequences show a good correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the magnitude of the superparamagnetic (SP) component. This implies that susceptibility enhancement in the Red Clay is strongly related to the magnitude of the SP content, a component that is widely recognised as having a pedogenic origin in Quaternary deposits. Further support for a correlation between pedogenesis and magnetic susceptibility in the Red Clay is provided by a good correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the Rb:Sr ratio, an independent weathering index. However, differences in the magnetic mineralogy of the two units are also evident. The minimum magnetic susceptibility of the Red Clay is less than half the value of the overlying Quaternary deposits at locations such as Xifeng and Lingtai, while the maximum SP content is (relatively) larger than for the Quaternary deposits. While we cannot discount the possibility that the former difference is a reflection of different parent materials for the two units, climate may also be a contributory factor in explaining these differences. Precipitation is a major control on magnetic enhancement in paleosols [Maher and Thompson (1995) Quat. Res. 44, 383–391; Liu et al. (1995) Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 113, 243–248], but soil anoxia and iron oxide dissolution occur if moisture exceeds some critical level. Soil moisture is therefore a critical factor in determining whether the correlation between pedogenesis and magnetic susceptibility in loess deposits is positive (central Loess Plateau, China; magnetic enhancement), negative (Alaska; Siberia; magnetic destruction) or uncertain (Pakistan; Argentina; New Zealand; cycles of enhancement and destruction). While our results indicate a generally positive correlation between pedogenesis and magnetic susceptibility in the Red Clay, they also imply that a more thorough paleoclimatic interpretation can only be achieved using complementary, but independent techniques. More work is required to deconvolve the climatic record of the Red Clay, but the reward may be the extension of the record of paleomonsoon evolution back into the Pliocene and late Miocene.

The two new indole derivatives (III) and (IV) display highly selective response to fluoride anions in aqueous DMSO and pure DMSO medium with remarkable color and fluorescence changes.

By retaining the quadrapyridyl receptor of polypyridylhexaazatriphenylene (a Cd(2+) sensor reported by us) and extending its chromophoric group with pyrene, a chemical sensor (1) was designed and synthesized in this work. This sensor exhibit selective off-on fluorescence response to Cd(2+) over other metal ions, and the detection limit is as low as 0.02 μM. The Cd(2+) sensing of 1 has high water toleration and can be carried out in the media with the water content up to 70%. Additionally, 1 was successfully applied to the in vivo imaging of intracellular Cd(2+) in living HaLa cells, and showed low cytotoxicity and cell membrane permeability in these experiments. These results suggest that 1 has potential application in the Cd(2+) analysis of environmental and biological samples.

The in situ pedogenic enhancement of ferrimagnetic content provides the well-established patterns of magnetic susceptibility variation within mid- to low-latitude loess deposits such as those of China and Central Europe. However, this pattern of high magnetic susceptibility in palaeosols, and lower values in unweathered loess, is not replicated in the higher-latitude loess deposits of Alaska and Siberia. In these localities the relationship is inverted, with high values in loess, and low values in palaeosols. This inverse relationship has been explained by the idea that magnetic susceptibility is reflecting the magnitude of an aeolian ferrimagnetic component of consistent mineralogy, the grain size of which is related to average wind velocity. However, the results of the magnetic study presented in this paper suggest that there are differences in magnetic properties between Alaskan loess and palaeosols, not only in magnetic grain size and concentration but also in magnetic mineralogy. This complicates the simple hypothesis of a `wind velocity’ signal by introducing an additional factor into the climatic signal. In contrast to the enhancement of susceptibility observed in palaeosols of the Loess Plateau, China, we suggest that the low magnetic susceptibility values in the Alaskan palaeosol units are a reflection, at least in part, of the alteration of the ferrimagnetic content by post-depositional processes associated with waterlogging (i.e. gleying) of the soils.

Maghaemite and magnetite, common ferrimagnetic minerals in surficial soils, have physical properties which are similar except for the thermal instability of the former. Utilising this exception, a study of thermomagnetic properties has been made to systematically separate these two magnetic components in loess and palaeosol samples from the upper parts of the Luochuan section of the central Chinese Loess Plateau. This investigation has shown that although maghaemite (thermally unstable component) occurs in greater amounts in palaeosols (MS=0.0187 Am2 kg−1±1.1%) than in loess units (MS=0.0156 Am2 kg−1±1.1%), in relative terms its contribution to the ferrimagnetic component of magnetisation is higher in the loess units (ΔMS (%)=32.2±2.0) than the soils (ΔMS (%)=23.5±3.7). Such an observation suggests that much of the maghaemite component originates in the aeolian source area, with some addition of pedogenic maghaemite occurring in the palaeosols.

The synthesis, characterization and ion binding properties of a new ditopic ratiometric receptor (1), based on 2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)phenol and crown ether moieties, have been described. The ditopic ratiometric receptor has been studied in sensing both F(-) and Zn(2+) ions, exhibiting different fluorescent colour changes from cyan green to blue/black observable by the naked eye under UV-light. The addition of Zn(2+) to the solution of 1 induced the formation of a 2 : 2 ligand-metal complex 1-Zn(2+), which displays a remarkable blue shift of the emission maxima of 1 from 455 nm to 400 nm due to the inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. The sensing processes were monitored by fluorescence/absorption titrations, and further confirmed by Job's plot and (1)H NMR titrations. The crystal structure of 1-Zn(2+) reveals that 1 binds Zn(2+) in four-coordinated modes. Furthermore, 1 is cell permeable and may be applied to detect trace Zn(2+) and F(-) during the development of a living organism.

Two hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) derivatives, 2,3,6,7-tetramethyl-10,11-di(pyridin-2-yl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline ( 1 ) and 2,3-dimethyl-6,7,10,11-tetra(pyridin-2-yl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline ( 2 ), were designed and synthesized. Both 1 and 2 exhibited high off–on fluorescent selectivity for Cd 2+ over many other metal ions, and the detection limits were determined to be 0.6 and 5.0 μM, respectively. The stoichiometry and coordination mode of blue fluorescent 1 -Cd 2+ and cyan fluorescent 2 -Cd 2+ were determined with fluorescence titration fit, Job's plot analysis, 1 H NMR titration and X-ray crystallography, and the fluorescence enhancement mechanism was analyzed with density functional theory calculation.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for perforation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods Consecutive 1845 patients (2524 joints) diagnosed as internal derangement (ID) of TMJ were collected from April 2003 to March 2010 in our department. All the patients were examined by MRI and treated by arthroscopy or open surgeries. The findings of interpreting MRI were recorded as positive, suspicious and negative according to the MRI radiographic criteria. After comparing the findings of MRI with those of arthroscopy or open surgeries, the numbers of true positive, true negative, false positive and false negative were obtained. Through SPSS16.0, receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was made with 1-specificity as abscissa and the sensitivity as ordinate, and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. According to the area, the diagnostic value of MRI was evaluated. Results Arthroscopic or open surgeries findings confirmed that 207 joints had disc perforation among all joints. MRI findings showed 189 joints were positive, 197 joints suspicious, and 2138 joints negative. The true positive accuracy of MRI findings was 102/189 while true negative accuracy was 2075/2138. 42 of the 197 suspicious joints had perforation. The area under the ROC curve was 0.808 (0.77, 0.85), P Conclusion We concluded that MRI proved to be a good modality to diagnose disc perforation of TMJ, and the diagnostic result of disc perforation by MRI had certain guiding significance in our clinical work.

Nested polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to study the molecular diverstiy and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from microhabitats of three different vegetation types in karst ecosystem, Southwest China. We found molecular diversity in all three microhabitat types was high. The highest values of biodiversity index (4.06) and species abundance (68) were found in the shrubland soil surface, and the lowest values (3.16 and 29, respectively) were found in the secondary forest rocky crevice. The average values of biodiversity index and species abundance of the nine microhabitats studied were 3.67 and 48, respectively. The index value was higher than those in other areas of China; the possible reason might be the intricate karst ecological system structure, diverse plant species and a long-term mutual adaptation process. The AMF molecular diversity of different microhabitat types showed significant differences. The highest similarity index was only 0.45, which means the spatial heterogeneity of microhabitat types had significant influence on AMF molecular diversity. Glomus was the dominant genus in the karst area and should be a candidate for ecological restoration in karst areas. All together, our research provided an empirical, scientific basis for rational exploitation of AMF in karst ecosytem and rocky desertification restoration. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, molecular diversity, karst, microhabitat.

The valences of metal ions were found to play key roles in controlling the formation and structures of discrete coordination architectures in a copper and disk-shaped hexa-monodentate ligand system. When Cu(I) and Cu(II) ions react with a polydentate ligand HPDQ, a hexanuclear "double-decker" like discrete "LM(3)M(3)L" coordination architecture (CuI)(6)(HPDQ)(2)(CHCl(3))(8) (complex 1), and a "LM(3)L + LM(3)" composite structure complex (Cu(NO(3))(2))(6)(HPDQ)(3) (complex 2) are formed, respectively.

To observe the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor's monoclonal antibody(MAB225) on radiosensitivity of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell.Bi-fluorescence stain ,MTT test and fluorescence flow cytometry(FCM) were used to observe the apoptosis rate and radiosensitizing effect for MAB225 on ACC-2 cell.SPSS11.0 software package was used for data analysis.Through bi-fluorescence stain, MTT test and fluorescence flow cytometry(FCM),it was found that MAB225 combined with radiation treatment produced a 3-fold induction of apoptosis rate, whereas exposure to radiation alone induced apoptosis only 1 fold, compared to the control group.MAB225 enhanced radiosensitivity and decreased survival rates of ACC-2 cell in vitro after radiation.

A polypyridyl ligand, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakis(2-pyridyl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline (HPDQ), was found to have excellent fluorescent selectivity for Cd(2+) over many other metal ions (K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ag(+), Hg(2+), Zn(2+), and Cr(3+)) based on the intramolecular charge-transfer mechanism, which makes HPDQ a potential fluorescence sensor or probe for Cd(2+). An obvious color change between HPDQ and HPDQ + Cd(2+) can be visually observed by the naked eye. The structure of the complex HPDQ-Cd has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculation results on the HPDQ and HPDQ-Cd complexes could explain the experimental results.