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It is important to explore characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the riverine system due to its critical role in the carbon cycle. This study investigated the distribution characteristics and sources of DOM based on excitation emission matrix three-dimensional fluorescence technology and parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) analysis at two rivers in northern China strongly impacted by human activities. The results show that the fluorescence intensity of terrestrial humic-like substances increased during summer in Haihe River. The intensity was significantly higher than in spring due to terrestrial detritus from runoff conveyance. The fluorescence intensity of protein-like substances in spring was the highest and decreased in summer. This feature of DOM in the Duliujian River was related to the increase in precipitation and surface runoff in the wet season and the rapid degradation of mixed DOM in the dry season. An analysis of HIX, BIX and FI showed a low degree of DOM humification and more endogenous contributions from microbial and phytoplankton degradation. Seasonal variations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric DOM (CDOM, a335, thereinto C1) suggest that chromophores, particularly terrestrial substances, regulate the temporal patterns of DOM in the two rivers. Combined with the analysis of the proportion of land use types in riparian buffers, tillage had a great impact on DOM content and hydrophobicity in Haihe River watershed. Domestic wastewater and industrial sewage discharge contribute more DOM to Duliujian River watershed, which was indicated by more abundant protein-like components (212.17 ± 94.63 QSU in Duliujian River;186.59 ± 238.72 QSU in Haihe River). This study highlights that different land use types resulted in distinctive sources and seasonal dynamics of DOM in rivers. Meanwhile, it should be considered that the estimation of carbon cycling should involve monitoring and evaluating anthropogenic inputs into rivers.

The type III-E CRISPR–Cas systems are newly identified adaptive immune systems in prokaryotes that use a single Cas7–11 protein to specifically cleave target RNA. Cas7–11 could associate with Csx29, a putative caspase-like protein encoded by the gene frequently found in the type III-E loci, suggesting a functional linkage between the RNase and protease activities in type III-E systems. Here, we demonstrated that target RNA recognition would stimulate the proteolytic activity of Csx29, and protein Csx30 is the endogenous substrate. More interestingly, while the cognate target RNA recognition would activate Csx29, non-cognate target RNA with the complementary 3′ anti-tag sequence inhibits the enzymatic activity. Csx30 could bind to the sigma factor RpoE, which may initiate the stress response after proteolytic cleavage. Combined with biochemical and structural studies, we have elucidated the mechanisms underlying the target RNA-guided proteolytic activity of Csx29. Our work will guide further developments leveraging this simple RNA targeting system for RNA and protein-related applications.

BACKGROUND With the addition of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to GVHD prophylaxis in patients undergoing transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCT), the incidence of cGVHD decreases. However, the optimal dose and timing of ATG remain undetermined. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this historical controlled trial, data from 85 patients who had hematological malignancies and underwent matched sibling donor (MSD)-PBSCT were used to analyze the effectiveness of rabbit ATG (rATG) for prophylaxis of GVHD. Forty patients received 5 mg/kg rATG used for days -5 to -2, and 45 patients did not receive ATG. RESULTS All patients had successful engraftment except for 2 in the non-ATG group, who had platelet engraftment failure. The 2-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in the ATG group versus non-ATG group was 19.3% (95% CI, 8.4-33.6%) versus 61.4% (95% CI, 45.4-73.9%) (P0.001), and in those with moderate to severe cGVHD it was 11.0% (95% CI, 3.4-23.6%) versus 31.8% (95% CI, 18.8-45.6%) (P=0.029), respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality and relapse (CIR) were 0% versus 15.5% (95% CI, 6.8-27.5%) (P=0.018), and 53.3% (95% CI, 35.6-68.1%) versus 26.7% (95% CI, 14.9-40.0%) (P=0.019), respectively. No differences were found in other survival outcomes. In the multivariate analysis, ATG was an independent protective factor for moderate to severe cGVHD (HR=0.314, 95% CI, 0.103-0.958, P=0.042), and was an independent poor risk factor for CIR (HR=2.337, 95% CI, 1.133-4.822, P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS ATG in our strategy was effective for prophylaxis of cGVHD, whereas the relapse rate was increased in patients with rATG.

The E3 ligase TRIM7 has emerged as a critical player in viral infection and pathogenesis. However, the mechanism governing the TRIM7-substrate association remains to be defined. Here we report the crystal structures of TRIM7 in complex with 2C peptides of human enterovirus. Structure-guided studies reveal the C-terminal glutamine residue of 2C as the primary determinant for TRIM7 binding. Leveraged by this finding, we identify norovirus and SARS-CoV-2 proteins, and physiological proteins, as new TRIM7 substrates. Crystal structures of TRIM7 in complex with multiple peptides derived from SARS-CoV-2 proteins display the same glutamine-end recognition mode. Furthermore, TRIM7 could trigger the ubiquitination and degradation of these substrates, possibly representing a new Gln/C-degron pathway. Together, these findings unveil a common recognition mode by TRIM7, providing the foundation for further mechanistic characterization of antiviral and cellular functions of TRIM7.

Transfection efficiency was estimated to optimize the conditions for RNA interference (RNAi), including transfection time, validity, and nucleic acid concentration and type, using the EZ Trans Cell Reagent, a cationic polymer. An shRNA against GFP was designed and transfected into cells using the EZ transfection reagent. The shRNA significantly decreased the expression of GFP. In addition, pre-diluted transfection reagent at room temperature and small nucleic acids increased the transfection efficiency, which peaked at 24 h. Compared with circular nucleic acids, linear nucleic acids showed higher transfection efficiency and a higher genome integration rate. We optimized cationic polymer-mediated RNAi conditions, and our data will be useful for future RNAi studies.

Levamisole (LMS) and 4-phenylimidazole (PIZ), used as corrosion inhibitors of copper in sulfuric acid solution were explored by electrochemical tests, morphology analysis and theoretical calculation. At the concentration of 8 mM, the maximum corrosion inhibition efficiencies of LMS and PIZ are 99.03% and 95.84%, respectively. All test data found that LMS had better corrosion inhibition performance than PIZ. LMS is a cathodic corrosion inhibitor, while PIZ belongs to a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor. Electrochemical results indicate that the corrosion inhibition efficiency has the same trend when the concentration of corrosion inhibitor increases. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope were applied to research the surface morphology of copper samples under different conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model were utilized to explain adsorption means. What is more, Langmuir adsorption isotherm model indicates the coexistence of physisorption and chemisorption for the two inhibitors. Besides, the adsorption between LMS and copper is more prone to chemical adsorption. The mechanism of metallic copper and corrosion inhibitors was explored through quantum chemistry studies and molecular dynamics simulation.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most aggressive hematopoietic malignancies. Patients still suffer from refractory/relapsed disease after anthracycline-based therapy, which leads to a poor prognosis. N

In this study, an improved geographically and temporally weighted regression (IGTWR) model for the estimation of hourly PM2.5 concentration data was applied over central and eastern China in 2017, based on Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) data. A generalized distance based on the longitude, latitude, day, hour, and land use type was constructed. AHI aerosol optical depth, surface relative humidity, and boundary layer height (BLH) data were used as independent variables to retrieve the hourly PM2.5 concentrations at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The model fitting and cross-validation performance were satisfactory. For the model fitting set, the correlation coefficient of determination (R2) between the measured and predicted PM2.5 concentrations was 0.886, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 437,642 samples was only 12.18 µg/m3. The tenfold cross-validation results of the regression model were also acceptable; the correlation coefficient R2 of the measured and predicted results was 0.784, and the RMSE was 20.104 µg/m3, which is only 8 µg/m3 higher than that of the model fitting set. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the hourly PM2.5 concentration in 2017 were revealed. The model also achieved stable performance under haze and dust conditions.

Sensitive analysis of glycans by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry is significantly hampered by the lack of chromogenic or fluorescent groups on the glycan structures, as well as, their poor ionization properties. In the present, a heterobifunctional chromogenic reagent 3-amino-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline-5-ketone (PAP) bearing amino and active methylene groups, which readily reacts with reducing glycans, was used for detection of the pre-column-labeled glycans via high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS). The PAP derivatives with active methylene and amino groups were obtained via reductive amination in acidic medium and condensation of an active PAP methylene group with the reducing end of glycans in alkaline medium, respectively, and the PAP derivatives could be further functionalized, e.g., via glycan microarray preparation. The conditions for the two reaction modes were optimized, the HPLC separation method of PAP derivatives was investigated, and the PAP derivatives of some glycans derived from biological samples were obtained and analyzed by ESI-MS and LC-MS. Using this new reagent, reducing glycans can be selectively derivatized by different reaction mechanisms, having great importance for functional glycomics studies.

The constituents and content of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Qilian Mountain watershed were characterized with a spectroscopic technique, especially 3-DEEM fluorescence assisted by parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis. The level of DOM in the surrounding area of Qinghai lake (thereafter the lake in this article specifically refers to Qinghai Lake)was highest at 9.45 mg C·L−1 and about 3 times less (3.09 mg C·L−1) in a cropland aquatic regime (the lowest value). In general, DOM was freshly autochthonously generated by plankton and plant debris, microorganisms and diagenetic effects in the aquatic environment (FI > 1.8). Component 1 (humic acid-like) and 3 (fulvic acid-like) determined the humification degree of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The spatial variation of sulfate and nitrate in the surrounding water regime of the lake revealed that organic molecules were mainly influenced by bacterial mediation. Mineral disintegration was an important and necessary process for fluorescent fraction formation in the cropland water regime. Exceptionally, organic moiety in the unused land area was affected by anespecially aridclimate in addition to microbial metabolic experience. Salinity became the critical factor determining the distribution of DOM, and the total normalized fluorescent intensity and CDOM level were lower in low-salinity circumstances (0.2–0.5 g·L−1) with 32.06 QSU and 1.38 m−1 in the grassland area, and higher salinity (0.6~0.8 g·L−1) resulted in abnormally high fluorescence of 150.62 QSU and absorption of 7.83 m−1 in the cropland water regime. Climatic conditions and microbial reactivity controlled by salinity were found to induce the above results. Our findings demonstrated that autochthonous inputs regulated DOM dynamics in the Qilian Mountains watershed of high altitude.

Light pollution, a phenomenon in which artificial nighttime light (NTL) changes the form of brightness and darkness in natural areas such as protected areas (PAs), has become a global concern due to its threat to global biodiversity. With ongoing global urbanization and climate change, the light pollution status in global PAs deserves attention for mitigation and adaptation. In this study, we developed a framework to evaluate the light pollution status in global PAs, using the global NTL time series data. First, we classified global PAs (30,624) into three pollution categories: non-polluted (5974), continuously polluted (8141), and discontinuously polluted (16,509), according to the time of occurrence of lit pixels in/around PAs from 1992 to 2018. Then, we explored the NTL intensity (e.g., digital numbers) and its trend in those polluted PAs and identified those hotspots of PAs at the global scale with consideration of global urbanization. Our study shows that global light pollution is mainly distributed within the range of 30°N and 60°N, including Europe, north America, and East Asia. Although the temporal trend of NTL intensity in global PAs is increasing, Japan and the United States of America (USA) have opposite trends due to the implementation of well-planned ecological conservation policies and declining population growth. For most polluted PAs, the lit pixels are close to their boundaries (i.e., less than 10 km), and the NTL in/around these lit areas has become stronger over the past decades. The identified hotspots of PAs (e.g., Europe, the USA, and East Asia) help support decisions on global biodiversity conservation, particularly with global urbanization and climate change.

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, has developed a high level of resistance to thiamethoxam, a second generation neonicotinoid insecticide that has been widely used to control this pest. In this study, we assessed the level of cross-resistance, the activities of detoxifying enzymes, and the expression profiles of 23 glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes in a thiamethoxam-resistant ant and -susceptible strain of Bemisia tabaci Q. The thiamethoxam-resistant strain showed a moderate level of cross-resistance to another nicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid, a low level of cross-resistance to acetamiprid and nitenpyram, and no significant cross-resistance to abamectin and bifenthrin. Among detoxifying enzymes, only GSTs had significantly higher activity in the resistant strain than in the susceptible strain. Seven of 23 GST genes were over-expressed in the resistant strain relative to the susceptible strain. Using the technology of RNA interference to knockdown a GST gene (GST14), the results showed that silencing GST14 increased the mortality of whiteflies to thiamethoxam in Bemisia tabaci.

Pesticides pollution has caused serious environmental problems in recent years, and mounting evidence has shown that more and more insecticides have serious risk in human health. Emamectin Benzoate formally regarded as a highly safety insecticide based on its exclusive targets, but the cytotoxicity to human lung was ignored for a long time. In the present study, bioassay experiments were used to assess the toxicity of the Emamectin Benzoatein on human non-target cells including cell viability assay, DNA damage assay, flow cytometer assay and western blotting assay. The results indicated that Emamectin Benzoatecan cause the inhibition of the proliferation, cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-3/9 and increase Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which means it induced the cytotoxicity on 16HBE cells associated with the mitochondrial apoptosis. Besides, the DNA damge caused by the Emamectin Benzoate suggest it has a potential genotoxic effect on human lung cells.

A ready-to-use L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) colorimetric strip based on polyaniline (PANI)/polyamide 66 (PA 66) nanofiber/net (NFN) membrane with spider-web-like structure was fabricated through a facile bend electrospinning/netting process. Introduction of PANI component into the membrane turns the strip undergoes a brilliant brown-to-green color transition within 30 min upon incubation with L-AA. Moreover, ascribing to the three-dimensional microscopic structural, continuous pore channels, and distinctive nano-nets structure, the color change that is caused by 50 ppb L-AA can be easily perceived by naked eyes. Furthermore, RGB (red-green-blue) digital parameters that obtained from photographs of the strips were automatically read out via an iPhone. Subsequently, the parameters were converted into a color-difference map and processed statistically through principal component analysis, then used to elaborate standard curve. Combining the map and curve, we realized a method for assaying and quantifying L-AA concentration in real food samples, which avoids the time-consuming sample preparation, expensive laboratory techniques, and specialized personnel needed to carry out conventional analytical methods.

Sensitive glycomics analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) is of great importance but significantly hampered by their low ionization efficiency and labile sialic acid moieties. Chemical derivatization offers a viable way to improve both the ionization efficiency and analytical sensitivity of the glycans in MS analysis by altering their hydrophobicity or charge property. Here we employed Girard's reagent T (GT) for on-target derivatization (GTOD) of reducing glycan under mild acid condition to form stable hydrazones at room temperature, allowing rapid and sensitive identification of neutral and sialylated glycans in positive-ion mode as only permanently positive charged molecular ions without multiple ion adducts by MALDI-TOF-MS. The MS signal intensities of lactose, sialylated N-glycans derived from bovine fetuin and neutral N-glycans derived from RNaseB and ovalbumin were boosted by 7.44, 9.13, 12.96 and 13.47 folds on average (n = 3), respectively. More importantly, after GTOD strategy, unwanted desialylation of sialylated glycans during MS was suppressed. The detection limit of the assay is desirable since the nanogram of N-glycans derived from 0.16 μg ovalbumin could be detected. The assay demonstrated good stability (RSD≤2.95%, within 10 days), reliable reproducibility (RSD = 2.96%, n = 7) and a desirable linear dynamic range from 78 nmol/mL to 10 μmol/mL. The strategy has been successfully applied to MS analysis of reducing glycans from human milks, neutral and sialylated O-, N-glycans from glycoproteins, and reducing glycans derived from glycosphingolipids, presenting neater [M] + signals which allow detection of more low-abundance glycans and assignation of Neu5Ac vs. Neu5Gc or fucose vs. hexose in glycans due to the absence of the ambiguous interpretation from multiple peaks (ion adducts [M+Na] + and [M+K] + ). Moreover, the GTOD assay prevents desialylation during MALDI-TOF-MS profiling and enables distinct linkage-specific characterization of terminal sialic acids of N-glycans derived from human serum protein when combines with an esterification.

Reads mapped ratio of MED/Q and MEAM1/B with each other. (DOCX 13Â kb)

Identification and analysis of the orthologous genes between MED/Q and MEAM1/B. (DOCX 15Â kb)

Genes involved in B vitamin biosynthesis in Candidatus Hamiltonella defense. (DOCX 51Â kb)

Gene ontology of PSG in MED/Q and MEAM1/B (FDR

Background Sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED/Q and MEAM1/B, are two economically important invasive species that cause considerable damages to agriculture crops through direct feeding and indirect vectoring of plant pathogens. Recently, a draft genome of B. tabaci MED/Q has been assembled. In this study, we focus on the genomic comparison between MED/Q and MEAM1/B, with a special interest in MED/Q’s genomic signatures that may contribute to the highly invasive nature of this emerging insect pest. Results The genomes of both species share similarity in syntenic blocks, but have significant divergence in the gene coding sequence. Expansion of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and UDP glycosyltransferases in MED/Q and MEAM1/B genome is functionally validated for mediating insecticide resistance in MED/Q using in vivo RNAi. The amino acid biosynthesis pathways in MED/Q genome are partitioned among the host and endosymbiont genomes in a manner distinct from other hemipterans. Evidence of horizontal gene transfer to the host genome may explain their obligate relationship. Putative loss-of-function in the immune deficiency-signaling pathway due to the gene loss is a shared ancestral trait among hemipteran insects. Conclusions The expansion of detoxification genes families, such as P450s, may contribute to the development of insecticide resistance traits and a broad host range in MED/Q and MEAM1/B, and facilitate species’ invasions into intensively managed cropping systems. Numerical and compositional changes in multiple gene families (gene loss and gene gain) in the MED/Q genome sets a foundation for future hypothesis testing that will advance our understanding of adaptation, viral transmission, symbiosis, and plant-insect-pathogen tritrophic interactions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4448-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Syntenic alignment between MED/Q and MEAM1/B genome. (DOCX 16Â kb)

With the aim to develop pH-paper-like lead ion (Pb2+) sensing materials, we demonstrate a colorimetric strip, which relies on a SiO2 nanoparticle (NP) decorated polydiacetylene embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane (PAN NFM), that undergoes a brilliant blue-to-red color transition as well as ‘Turn-On’ fluorescence upon incubation with Pb2+. The introduction of an amino acid (glycine) headgroup into a supramolecularly assembled 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid results in a Pb2+-induced chromic conjugated polymer that is quickly photopolymerizable, rapidly responsive to Pb2+ and specifically identifiable. Moreover, the SiO2 NPs are certified as an efficient sensitivity promoter when their content reaches 0.5 wt% in the strip. With this understanding, the color change that is caused by 0.24 μM Pb2+ at ambient temperature can be easily perceived by the naked eye, which indicates the superiority of our strip compared with previous approaches, and it is also noteworthy that a fluorescent signal could also be produced in 2 min. Furthermore, RGB (red-green-blue) digital parameters obtained from images of the strips and automatic read outs via a smartphone were processed statistically through principal component analysis and then used to elaborate the standard curve and quantify Pb2+ concentration. This methodology for assaying and quantifying Pb2+ avoids time-consuming sample preparation, expensive laboratory techniques, and specialized personnel required to carry out conventional analytical methods.

The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a highly destructive agricultural and ornamental crop pest. It damages host plants through both phloem feeding and vectoring plant pathogens. Introductions of B. tabaci are difficult to quarantine and eradicate because of its high reproductive rates, broad host plant range, and insecticide resistance. A total of 791 Gb of raw DNA sequence from whole genome shotgun sequencing, and 13 BAC pooling libraries were generated by Illumina sequencing using different combinations of mate-pair and pair-end libraries. Assembly gave a final genome with a scaffold N50 of 437 kb, and a total length of 658 Mb. Annotation of repetitive elements and coding regions resulted in 265.0 Mb TEs (40.3%) and 20 786 protein-coding genes with putative gene family expansions, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on orthologs across 14 arthropod taxa suggested that MED/Q is clustered into a hemipteran clade containing A. pisum and is a sister lineage to a clade containing both R. prolixus and N. lugens. Genome completeness, as estimated using the CEGMA and Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs pipelines, reached 96% and 79%. These MED/Q genomic resources lay a foundation for future ‘pan-genomic’ comparisons of invasive vs. noninvasive, invasive vs. invasive, and native vs. exotic Bemisia, which, in return, will open up new avenues of investigation into whitefly biology, evolution, and management.

To analyze the opioid binding protein/cell adhesion molecule-like (OPCML) methylation status at different stages of malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells induced by Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) and to explore the effect of OPCML methylation in the process of malignant transformation.Cells were harvested at different stages (the 10th generation, the 20th generation and the 30th generation). To verify the Methylation chip result of OPCML methylation status in the process of malignant transformation, we detected it by methylation-specific-PCR (MSP); Real-time fluorescence Quantitative PCR (qPCR) were applied to measure the gene expression levels of OPCML at different transformed stage, and compared with the control groups (treated with DMSO).Based on the result of methylation chip, the gene of OPCML methylation occurred in all stages, which was consistent to the result of MSP; qPCR showed that the levels of gene expression decreased in the 20th generation and 30th generation.Methylation status of OPCML gene promoter could be considered as a stable and specific biomarker in the transformation process.

Dear Editor: Ulcerate colitis (UC), the main type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is an unexplained immune-mediated intestinal mucosal inflammation with higher cancer risk. Because of an interaction between inflammation and coagulation in the disease progression, hypercoagulative state is often seen in patients of UC. Endothelial cell damage plays an important role in the activation of coagulation system in patients with UC, while protein C (PC) system, a well-characterized anticoagulant system located on the vascular endothelial cell surface, which consists of protein S (PS), endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), PC, protein C inhibitor, and thrombomodulin (TM), is a mediator of endothelial function. Recent studies indicated that PC system plays an important role in regulating intestinal homeostasis both in human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and animal models of colitis. Therefore, we speculate that the imbalance of PC system may be one of the pathogenesis of UC patients. Our in vivo study verified that the degree of inflammation was negatively correlated with the PC activity, and mouse colonic macrophages and mucosa microvascular endothelial cells are suggested as the major mediators involved. Until today, it is unclear why PC system changed, and how macrophages and mucosa microvascular endothelial cells interact with each other in UC pathology, so it is important to investigate the changes and mechanisms of PC system, and to find new drug target. Further research in vitro revealed that TNF-α and IL-6 levels were increased in the supernatant of macrophages from dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mice colonic tissue, and these conditions were only seen in CD14+CD64+ subtype macrophages. In addition, after incubation of TNF-α or IL-6 with colonic mucosal microvascular endothelial cells, the activity of PC system was inhibited, manifested as decreased APC activity, and downregulated expression of EPCR. Furthermore, β-arrestin-pJNK MAPK expressions were upregulated by real-time PCR and Western blot. Taken together into account, due to complex UC mechanism, its pathogenesis is unclear, and there is little research about colonic mucosal microvascular, especially the study for PC system changes in the pathogenesis of UC is rare. In our study, we found that in DSS-induced mouse colitis, colonic CD14+CD64+ macrophages produced more inflammatory cytokines, which result in inhibited PC pathway via mucosal microvascular endothelial cells, and β-arrestin-pJNK MAPK signal pathway may involved. Therefore, enhancing the activity of PC system provides a major theoretical and clinical significance to find new drug target for the treatment of UC.

To develop a method for determination of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) in the air of workplace by high-performance liquid chromatography.2, 4-D was collected by ultrafine glass filters, desorbed by methanol, separated by a C18 column, and detected by a UV detector. Identification and quantification of 2, 4-D were performed by retention time and peak areas, respectively.The linear range of the test was 2∼200 µg/ml; the elution efficiency was 94.6%- 95.9%; the limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.034 µg/ml (injection volume of 20 µl eluant); the lower limit of quantification (S/N = 10) was 0.11 µg/ml; the minimum detectable concentration was 0.011 mg/m(3); the minimum quantifiable concentration was 0.037 mg/m(3) (with sampled air volume of 45 L).This method is convenient and simple in sample collection and preparation, and satisfies all methodological requirements. Therefore, this method is useful for the determination of 2, 4-D in the air of workplace.

Due to the absorptive and scattering nature of water, the characteristic of underwater image is different with it in the air. Underwater image is characterized by their poor visibility and noise. Getting clear original image and image processing are two important problems to be solved in underwater clear vision area. In this paper a new approach technology is presented to solve these problems. Firstly, an inhomogeneous illumination method is developed to get the clear original image. Normal illumination image system and inhomogeneous illumination image system are used to capture the image in same distance. The result shows that the contrast and definition of processed image is get great improvement by inhomogeneous illumination method. Secondly, based on the theory of photon transmitted in the water and the particularity of underwater target detecting, the characters of laser scattering on underwater target surface and spatial and temporal characters of oceanic optical channel have been studied. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, we studied how the parameters of water quality and other systemic parameters affect the light transmitting through water at spatial and temporal region and provided the theoretical sustentation of enhancing the SNR and operational distance.

SORL1 was shown to be genetically associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) in a large-scale genome- wide association study (GWAS) involving clinically verified subjects. Here, we attempted to replicate the association of SORL1 in Japanese neuropathologically characterized brain donor subjects (LOAD, 213; control, 370) through a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic study involving 19 SNPs: 11 SNPs were selected from the initial study reported by Rogaeva et al. (2007), and the other eight were from our GWAS. Among these SNPs, five exhibited a significant association with LOAD after multiple test correction (p < 2.63E-03 (= 0.05/19)), which was supported by means of multiple logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender, and carrier status of the APOE4 allele. Three of these SNPs (rs985421, rs12364988 (Rogaeva's SNP 7), and rs4598682) were encompassed by a 5' linkage disequilibrium (LD) region, and the remaining two (rs3781834 and rs3781836) by a 3' LD region. Strong LD among SNPs was observed within each LD region, implying that there are two genomic regions showing association with LOAD in SORL1. Case-control haplotype analysis demonstrated that some haplotypes are associated with LOAD in both LD regions. Our replication study strongly supports the preceding evidence that SORL1 is likely one of the genes associated with LOAD.

The Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were successfully prepared on glass substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using CZTS target. The laser incident energy was varied from 3 J·cm -2 to 6 J·cm -2 at the interval of 1 J·cm -2 , and its influence on chemical composition, crystal structure, morphology and band gap of CZTS thin films was investigated by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) absorption spectra, respectively. The result of EDS indicated that these CZTS thin films were Cu-rich and S-poor. The XRD study showed CZTS thin films exhibited strong preferential orientation of grains along (112) direction. The band gap of CZTS thin films was 1.72, 1.37, 1.25 and 1.11 eV corresponding to incident laser energy of 3, 4, 5 and 6 J·cm -2 .

Flourescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and mesotetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) photosensitizers is studied by two-photon excitation fluorescent spectroscopy with 800nm femtosecond laser pulses. Evident transfer results are obtained in both the steady-state and time-resolved experiments. A slight peak shift to the red region in the emission of the CdSe QDs is observed after addition of TPP, which is speculated to be caused by energy transfer from QDs of small size to larger. An efficiency of about 0.3 accounts for the non-radiative energy transfer is estimated with the time-resolved method.