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The utilization of fly ash is of great significance for the sustainable development of waste resource utilization and environmental protection. In this study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to investigate physicochemical properties and archaea composition in rhizosphere fly ash, respectively. The results showed that heavy metal elements in rhizosphere fly ash could be transported and accumulated in the taproot, fibrous root, stem and leaf of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge. Meanwhile, the contents of P, K, Mg, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and the organic matter in rhizosphere fly ash increased after planting X. sorbifolia, suggesting that planting X. sorbifolia can increase the fertility of fly ash. The planting of X. sorbifolia decreased the number of archaea (Operational Taxonomic Units) OTU and species abundance of fly ash. But the abundance of beneficial archaea such as Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota increased after planting X. sorbifolia. In the potential phenotypes predicted by BugBase, the number of aerobic, mobile element containing, facultatively anaerobic, biofilm forming, potentially pathogenic decreased. anaerobic, gram-negative, gram-positive, stress tolerant amount increased. These results indicated that planting X. sorbifolia has positive effect on the utilization of fly ash by phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiological role of cumulus cells (CC) surrounding oocytes is particularly important for normal cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes. However, removal of CC from oocytes is inevitable for some embryo manipulation techniques, such as germinal vesicle (GV) transfer, somatic cell haploidization, and oocyte cryopreservation. The present study was designed to determine an optimal method to culture porcine denuded oocytes (DO). The results indicated CC from cumulus-oocyte complexes at the GV stage (GVCC) or at the metaphase II stage, and mural granulosa cells could not improve the maturation of DO. However, GVCC could enhance the development of matured porcine DO after fertilization; the percentage of blastocysts was increased from 1.1 to 17.2% (P < 0.05), and the relative value of the x-axis and y-axis of spindles was also increased (P < 0.05). Coculture with GVCC had no effect on the distribution of mitochondria and cortical granules. The results contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms by which CC promote oocyte maturation and contribute to optimization of protocols for in vitro maturation of DO. Key words: coculture cell monolayer, cortical granule, maturation, mitochondria, oocyte, spindle doi: 10.2527/jas.2009-2714

We fabricate CrP4 single crystal under high pressure and high temperature at 5 GPa and 1373 K. The comprehensive physical properties including electronic transport, magnetic properties, specific heat, Hall, thermal Seebeck and thermal conductivity are reported here. The resistivity shows a good metallic conductivity and T2.7 law relation in the low temperature, which indicates a weak correlation of electrons. It is interesting to note that CrP4 shows large magnetoresistance (MR) of 500% under T = 2 K and B = 9 T, and the MR does not reach saturation until 9 T. The mechanism of large MR in CrP4 is interpreted as the Fermi surface anisotropy. The Hall measurement shows that there is only one single type of carriers in CrP4 with holes. CrP4 exhibits paramagnetic behavior observed from the magnetic susceptibility measurement. Though CrP4 exhibits high electrical conductivity, unexpected low thermal conductivity is observed at low temperature, which is due to the zigzag chain of CrP6 octahedra along the c-axis. Low thermal conductivity is useful to design thermoelectric materials or devices by properly doping in CrP4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report detailed investigations of the structure, magnetic properties, electronic transport, and specific heat in Mn-based antiperovskite compounds Mn3Cu0.5Zn0.5N. Most strikingly, there are several fascinating features: (i) The magnetoresistance at 30 kOe (40 kOe) exceeds ~1% (~2%) over a temperature span of ~70K (~25 K) from 5 to 140 K; (ii) magnetoresistance fluctuates at temperatures of 100-200 K, including an obvious sign reversal from negative to positive at ~140 K. Analysis of the specific heat reveals that the magnetoresistance reversal may originate from the reconstruction of the Fermi surface accompanying an antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of high-mobility group nucleosome-binding domain 5 (HMGN5) in colorectal cancer tissues, to explore the function of HMGN5 on the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells, and to further study the molecular mechanism of HMGN5 in the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were harvested from 40 patients with CRC. The expression of HMGN5 was detected via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the relation between HMGN5 and clinical indexes of CRC patients was further analyzed. The CRC HT29 and HCT116 cell lines with high expression levels of HMGN5 were selected, and the HMGN5 knockdown model was established. The functions of HMGN5 on CRC cells were stated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell migration assay. Then, the association between HMGN5 and fibroblast growth factor 12 (FGF12) was further explored via Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and reverse assay. RESULTS: The qRT-PCR showed that HMGN5 expression was significantly rising in cancer tissues compared to the control group. The incidence rate of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis was higher in higher expression HMGN5 group than the lower expression HMGN5 group. The results of cell function experiments revealed that silence of HMGN5 could suppress the proliferation and migration of HT29 and HCT116. In addition, it was found using qRTPCR that knockdown of HMGN5 could significantly down-regulate the expressions of FGF12, FGFR, PI3K and AKT in HT29 and HCT116 cells. The targeted binding relation between HMGN5 and FGF12 was also indicated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The consequence of qRTPCR manifested that FGF12 expression markedly rose in CRC tissues, which had a positive correlation with HMGN5. Moreover, reverse assay indicated that the inhibitory effect of HMGN5 knockdown on the malignant progression of CRC could be reversed by recombinant FGF12, indicating once again that there is a mutual regulatory effect between HMGN5 and FGF12. CONCLUSIONS: HMGN5 can increase the proliferative and migrative capacity of CRC cells via targeted binding to FGF12. In addition, clinical data analyses demonstrate that HMGN5 is intimately related to the incidence rate of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis in patients with CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever increasing development of traffic volume, traffic safety has attracted wide attention, among which rear end collision is a very common accident. In order to avoid rear end collision, this study investigated the braking protection of automobiles. An automobile brake protection system was designed based on real-time laser pulse ranging. First, the laser ranging technology and the brake protection system designed were briefly introduced. Then, the laser receiving and transmitting module and the time interval measuring module were designed, the braking process of the automobile was briefly introduced, and the safety distance of automobile automatic braking was put forward. The simulation experiment of the system found that the system could effectively control the speed within 1.6 seconds, with a braking distance of 20 m and a system error of 0.06 to 0.14 m, which verified the reliability of the system. Laser pulse real-time ranging technology was applied to automobile brake protection and its value was proved, which provides some theoretical support for the popularization of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orthorhombic SrIrO3 perovskite was synthesized under 5 GPa and 1000 °C. It is paramagnetic below about 170 K and transfers to an unknown magnetism under higher temperature. A band type metal to insulator transition caused by a pseudogap was observed at about 44 K. Interestingly a positive magnetoresistance, i.e., resistance increased with applying magnetic field, was observed in the orthorhombic SrIrO3 perovskite below about 170 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-doped TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of ∼70 nm were fabricated with electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the nanofibers possess pure anatase structure. The obtained nanofibers exhibit evident room temperature ferromagnetism through magnetic measurement. The photoluminescence of the Co-doped TiO2 nanofibers is composed of two emission bands attributed to self-trapped excitons and oxygen vacancies, different from that of pure TiO2 nanofibers which only includes emission due to self-trapped excitons. Photoluminescence intensity due to oxygen vacancies vary with annealing atmosphere and Co concentration, and the ferromagnetic moment increases with the increment of oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu3+-doped TiO2 films were prepared on silicon substrates by sol-gel method. Anatase and rutile phases appear when the samples were heat treated in oxygen atmosphere at 500 and 900 °C, respectively. Photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated under the excitation of 325 nm He–Cd laser. Visible PL peaking at 543, 598, 620, 665, and 694 nm are founded which are ascribed to 5D1→7F1, 5D0→7Fj(j=1,2,3,4) transitions of Eu3+ ions and the PL intensities reach maximum when the sample was heat treated at 700 °C. Compared with the PL spectra of pure TiO2, energy transfer from self-trapped exciton state to rare-earth ions is considered to exist in Eu3+-doped TiO2 system. After the sample was heat treated at higher temperatures than 700 °C, the PL intensity of Eu3+ ions decreases obviously, while near-infrared PL (815 nm) was detected which is due to the defect states associated with Ti3+ ions. Through the analysis of excitation and emission mechanism, we conclude that visible and near-infrared PLs are two competitive processes and energy back transfer from Eu3+ ions to TiO2 host is responsible for the decrease of visible PL intensity and the increase of near-infrared PL intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser melting (SLM) was used to form 316L stainless steel. Furthermore, as-built samples were subjected to two solution treatments at 1050°C for 2 hours followed by air cooling, and 1150°C for 2 hours followed by water cooling. Microstructural characteristics and grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) are determined and tested by optical metallography, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), etc. The results showed that the as-built specimens consist of columnar crystal with the molten pool boundaries. After heat treatment, the molten pool boundaries and the dendrites disappears, the austenite grains grow, and the grain is mainly composed of columnar crystals that grow parallel to the direction of heat flow after HT at 1050°C, and there is an obvious texture in the <101> direction. After solution treatment at 1150°C, the grain is mainly composed of equiaxed grains, and the texture is no longer obvious. The small angle grain boundaries at 0 to 10° after 1050oC solution treatment account for about 80% of the total grain boundaries, S3 CSL is the most in low-SCSL. Compared with the solution treatment at 1050°C, the grain growth was obvious at 1150°C, the content of low-SCSL increased obviously, the grain boundary energy of low-SCSL was lower than that of the random boundary, the corrosion resistance was enhanced. The small angle grain boundary of the sample cross-section decreases, the large angle grain boundary increases and the twin crystals appear, in which the increase of the large angle grain boundary is the most obvious with the difference of the misorientation angle of 60°, which is mainly <111>/60° twin boundaries, which belongs to the S3 CSL boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Accounting for 25% of all the cancers and 20% of the cancer-related mortality, lung cancer is one of the devastating types of cancers. Due to an increase in the incidence of lung cancer and limited treatment options, there is a pressing need to look for novel drug options and to identify potential therapeutic targets. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been considered to be important therapeutic targets due to their plethora of cellular roles. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic potential of UCA1 in lung cancer and also attempted to examine the underlying mechanism through UCA1 exerts its growth inhibitory effects on cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantitative Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to perform the expression analysis. The CCK-8 assay was used to monitor the growth of the cells. The AO/EB assay was used to check apoptosis and flow cytometry was used for cell cycle distribution. The wound heal and transwell assays were used to monitor the cell migration and invasion. RESULTS: It was found that the lncRNA UCA was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in the lung cancer cells and silencing of UCA1 could inhibit the proliferation of the SK-MES-1 lung cancer cells via induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, UCA1 silencing could also suppress the migration and invasion of the SK-MES-1 cells. The LncRNA UCA1 was also found to upregulate the expression of miR-143, and overexpression of miR-143 could also suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the SK-MES-1 lung cancer cells. Both UCA1 silencing and miR-143 overexpression could cause a significant decrease in the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1). Therefore, it is concluded that UCA1 regulates the growth of the SK-MES-1 lung cancer by inhibition of MAPK1 via miR-143 upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: UCA1, as well as miR-143, may be essential therapeutic targets for the management of lung cancer and warrant further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study that presented the magnetic properties of iron/palladium multilayers prepared by ultrahigh vacuum electron-beam evaporation. Experimental procedure; Results and discussion.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is one of the deadliest cancers responsible for significant mortality and morbidity across the globe. The unavailability of efficient treatments, lack of reliable biomarkers and potent therapeutic targets, limit the treatment of lung cancer. In this study, we explored the potential of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) as the therapeutic target for lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression analysis was carried out by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability was monitored by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. The 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), annexin-V/Propidium iodide staining and comet assays were used to detect apoptosis. Boyden chamber and wound heal assays were used for cell to asses cell invasion and migration respectively. Protein expression was determined by immunoblotting. RESULTS: The expression of lncRNA UCA1 was determined by qRT-PCR in six different types of lung cancer cell lines. It was observed that lncRNA UCA1 was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in all the lung cancer cell lines. To investigate the role of lncRNA UCA1 in lung cancer, its expression was suppressed by transfection of the lung cancer NCI-H23 cells by si-UCA1. The results showed that suppression of lncRNA UCA1 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the viability of NCI-H23 cancer cells via induction of the apoptosis. Furthermore, the lncRNA UCA1 suppression (p < 0.05) significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of the NCI-H23 lung cancer at least in part via inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1). Additionally, the suppression of MAPK1 exhibited similar effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the NCI-H23 cells as that of UCA1 silencing. Finally, the co-suppression of lncRNA UCA1 and MAPK1 exhibited synergistic effects on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that lncRNA UCA1 could be an important therapeutic target for curbing lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the Cu interlayer on the exchange bias in FeMn/Cu/Co trilayers has been investigated. It is found that a thin interlayer can lower the strength of the exchange coupling between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers. The temperature dependencies of the left and right coercivities show an entirely different behavior, and they are very similar, when the Cu is thin, to those of a FeMn/Co bilayer with a very thin antiferromagnetic layer. With increasing the thickness of the Cu interlayer, the bias field decreases in most cases, but at low temperature it still remains large even when the Cu thickness is as thick as 1.8 nm. When the temperature is lower than 150 K, the dependence of the exchange bias on the Cu interlayer thickness exhibits a fluctuation behavior. This behavior disappears gradually with increasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunneling giant magnetoresistance (MR) of the Fe-Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] nanogranular films has been observed over a wide range of Fe volume fraction x and it took a maximum of 4.4% at room temperature for the film with x=0.45 at H=10 kOe. Furthermore, the field dependence of MR of the samples is well described by the form proportional to the square of the magnetization. Moreover, an estimate of the magnetic anisotropy energy density K[sub u] increases with the decrease of x, yielding a value 2 orders of magnitude greater than the value for bulk Fe when x=0.23. The Bloch's law, M[sub S](T)=M[sub S0](1-BT[sup b]), can also hold for all the samples but with nonbulk parameters dependent on the Fe volume fraction. These results reveal a percolation effect on the magnetic properties, as well as the conductance, in such nanogranular films. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which discussed magnetism and microstructure of compositionally modulated disordered iron/tantalum films. Preparation of the multilayer films; Analysis of the series of samples.

Focuses on a study on the effects of magnetoannealing on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in Fe[subx]Ag[100-x] granular films. Introduction to GMR effect in magnetic multilayers; Experimental procedures; Discussion on the change of GMR as a function of iron content in the as-sputtered silver-iron thin films.

Presents a study that investigated the causes of coercivity enhancement and the coercivity instability of acicular cobalt ferrite particles containing 0-9.2 wt percent Fe&sup2+; ions under the influence of magnetic field and temperature by means of transverse magnetic field annealing torque, and Mössbauer experiments. Methodology; Results of the study; Conclusions.

Presents studies on both the electronic and magnetic properties of LaCo[sub13] and La(Fe[subx]Al[sub1-x])sub[sub13] intermetallic compounds by cluster model calculations within the scheme of density-functional theory. Some properties of all the calculated clusters; Binding energy curves versus radial bond distance for cobalt, iron and aluminum and iron and aluminum clusters.

Presents information on a study that examined the effects of annealing on the properties of magnetic granular CoCu alloy ribbons that were prepared by the melt-spun method. Research method; Results and discussion.