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In order to study the influence rule of HVDC grounding electrode interference on the cathodic area and anodic area of the pipeline systematically,the Zheneng Jinliwen pipeline was taken as the research object to establish a HVDC interference model using CatPro software based on the real soil structure.The pipe-to-ground current density was calculated under conditions involving different ground polarity,interference current and soil resistivity,and the ranges of the cathodic area and anodic area of the pipeline under such conditions were analyzed.Results showed that after the locations of the grounding electrode and the pipeline were determined,the demarcation point between the cathodic area and anodic area of the pipeline resulting from HVDC interference was fixed and not affected by external conditions.

This study characterizes a cryptic (pro)phage-related sequence within the Caldibacillus debilis GB1 genome, designated CBP1.CBP1 is a Siphoviridae-like genome highly related to GBVS1 from Geobacillus sp. 6k51. The CBP1genome is a 37,315 bp region containing 69 putative ORFs with a GC content of 42% flanked on both sides by host DNA integrated into the main bacterial chromosome (contig 16). Bioinformatic analyses identified cassettes of genes within the CBP1 genome that were similar in function, yet distinct in sequence, from genes previously identified in GBVS1. All of CBP1 genes had less than 60% amino acid sequence identity with GBVS1by tBLASTx, with the exception of the TMP repeat gene. CBP1 possessed all the necessary genes to undergo a temperate/lytic phage life cycle, including excision, replication, structural genes, DNA packaging, and cell lyses. Proteomic analysis of CBP1 revealed the expression of 5 proteins. One of the expressed proteins was a transcriptional regulator protein homologous to the bacteriophage λ repressor protein (cI) expressed in high amounts from the CBP1 region, consistent with a lysogenic phage in a repressed state. The CBP1 protein expression profile during host growth provides unique insight into thermophilic Siphoviridae-like phages in the repressed state within their host cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal pathogens represent major problems for human health and agriculture. As eukaryotic organisms, fungi share some important features with mammalian cells. Therefore, current anti-fungal antibiotics often can not distinguish between fungi and mammalian cells, resulting in serious side effects in mammalian cells. Accordingly, there is strong impetus to develop antifungal alternatives that are both safe and effective. The E1 family of colicin are channel-forming bacteriocins produced by Escherichia coli, which are bactericidal only to E. coli and related species. To target the channel-forming domain of colicin to fungal cell membrane, we engineered a sexual mating pheromone of Candida albicans, α-factor pheromone to colicin Ia. A peptide was constructed consisting of an α mating pheromone of C. albicans fused to the channel-forming domain of colicin Ia to create a new fusion protein, pheromonicin-CA (PMC-CA). Indirect immunolabeling showed that the PMC-CA bound to fungal cells and inhibited growth in the laboratory and field. In the field, the protective activity of pheromonicin against rice blast disease was significantly greater, on a molar basis, than that of triazoles, tricyclazole or isoprothiolane. These results suggest that fusion peptides may be of value as fungicidal agents under agricultural conditions.

Objective: To study the risk factors of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP)., Methods: Forty-six newborn infants with OBPP were recruited between January 1997 and December 2009 from Technical Appraisement Center for Medical Malpractice of Shandong province as OBPP group. In the control group, 138 newborn infants delivered in the same time, same hospital and same gender were collected, with a ratio of 1:3. All the cases were analyzed retrospectively. The newborn, maternal, childbirth data and working experience of midwives were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis., Results: (1) External pelvimetries of the two groups were normal. All were singleton newborns by vaginal deliveries with cephalic presentation. Twenty-two newborns had left unilateral palsies, and the other 24 had right unilateral palsies. The numbers of the whole, upper and fore arm type were 17, 26 and 3, respectively. The maternal age, gravidity, parity and gestational weeks were higher in OBPP group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The maternal antepartum body mass index (BMI) [(29.5 ± 2.4) kg/m(2)], height of the uterus [(34.9 ± 2.4) cm] and abdominal circumference [(105 ± 6) cm] in OBPP group were higher than those in the control group [(26.1 ± 2.5) kg/m(2), (33.7 ± 2.2) cm and (99 ± 5) cm, respectively] (P < 0.05). The newborn birth weight in OBPP group [(4390 ± 489) g] was significantly higher than the control group [(3404 ± 360) g] (P < 0.01). The working experience of midwives in OBPP group [(5.2 ± 2.3) years] was less than the control group [(8.9 ± 5.4) years] (P < 0.01). (3) There was a higher proportion of instrumental delivery (28.3% vs. 3.6%), uterine atony (28.3% vs. 6.5%), prolonged second stage (8.7% vs. 0.7%) and fetal malposition (10.9% vs. 2.9%) in the OBPP group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) Univariate logistic analysis showed that the P values of maternal age, antepartum BMI, height of uterus, abdominal circumference, newborn birth weight, gravidity, second stage duration, instrumental delivery, fetal malposition, uterine atony and working experience of midwives were all less than 0.10. And the working experience of midwives was a protective factor. (5) The factors listed above were taken as variables, selected stepwise regression for multivariate logistic regression analysis. Boundary value was 0.10. It showed that the antepartum BMI (OR = 1.733) and newborn birth weight (OR = 1.004) were related to OBPP (P < 0.10). The significance of maternal antepartum BMI was higher than birth weight., Conclusions: The maternal antepartum BMI is the most important risk factor for OBPP, and the newborn birth weight is the other risk factor. The working experience of midwives is a protective factor.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of inducing differentiation of the human amniotic mesenchymal cells (hAMCs) into osteoblasts in vitro, so as to provide the seed cells for bone tissue engineering., Methods: The hAMCs were isolated from abandoned human amnion and cultured in osteogenic media to induce the osteogenic differentiation in vitro. After hAMCs were induced by osteogenic media for 15 days, morphological observation, immunocytochemistry and western blot were used to study the cellular morphology and expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen, osteopontin and osteocalcin., Results: The primary cultured hAMCs had long spindle shape or irregular shape, which were distributed evenly. The cells were usually suheultured in 5 or 7 days. After subculture, the cells became larger. After cultured by osteogenic media for 15 days, the hAMCs were detected to express ALP, osteocalcin and osteopontin, and secrete type I collagen., Conclusions: The hAMCs are isolated, cultured and amplified easily in vitro. The induced differentiated cells by osteogenic media have typical osteoblast morphological and functional characteristics, which can be used as seed cells for bone tissue engineering.

Objective: To explore the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on the fluidity of hepatic plasma membrane, glutathione concentration in liver, hepatic estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in pregnant rats with ethinylestradiol and progesterone induced intrahepatic cholestasis., Methods: sixty clean SD pregnant rats were selected and divided into three groups at random. Since the 13th day of pregnancy after taking blood, normal group was injected subcutaneously with refined vegetable oil 2.5 ml x kg(-1) x d(-1). Control group and treatment group were injected subcutaneously with the solution of progesterone 75 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 17-alpha-ethynylestradio 1.25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) till the 17th day. Since the 17th day control group, normal group were fedwish 0.9% natriichloridi solution 5 ml x kg(-1) x d(-1); Treatment group was fedwish UDCA 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) every day. On the 21th day, all rats were killed. Then the livers were collected for study. Membrane fluidity was measured by fluorescence polarization using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as a probe. Glutathione concentration was measured by 5,5'-dithionbis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors were measured by flow cytometry., Results: (1) Hepatic plasma membrane fluidity and glutathione (GSH) concentration: significantly lower level of GSH concentration and higher fluorescence polarization (P) were detected in control group (GSH: 1.13 +/- 0.03, P: 0.149 +/- 0.008) in comparison with normal group (GSH: 2.11 +/- 0.07, P: 0.132 +/- 0.004, P < 0.05). However, Significantly higher level of GSH concentration and lower fluorescence polarization were detected in treatment group (GSH: 1.82 +/- 0.04, P: 0.141 +/- 0.006) in comparison with control group (P < 0.05). The level of GSH concentration and fluorescence polarization were no difference between treatment group and normal group. Hepatic estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR): The expression of ER and PR in control group (ER: 89.4 +/- 8.4, PR: 112.3 +/- 11.6) were higher than that of other two groups (P < 0.05). The expression of ER and PR in treatment group (ER: 56.4 +/- 7.5, PR: 70.1 +/- 9.3) were lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). But there was no difference between treatment group and normal group (ER: 39.5 +/- 7.3, PR: 59.6 +/- 7.4; P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Ursodeoxycholic acid may be effective drug in treatment intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.