A study of the coupling relationship between concrete surface temperature and concrete surface emissivity in natural conditions.

Land surface emissivity (LSE) has already been recognized as a crucial parameter for the determination of land surface temperature (LST). There is an ill-posed problem for the retrieval of LST and LSE. And laboratory-based emissivity is measured in natural constant conditions, which is limited in the application in thermal remote sensing.

[Clinical characteristics of infants with allergic proctocolitis: a retrospective study of 96 cases].

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of hospitalized infants with allergic proctocolitis, and to provide a scientific basis for early diagnosis and effective treatment of allergic proctocolitis.

Methods: The clinical data of 96 infants with allergic proctocolitis between September 2011 and March 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Descriptive analysis was performed to assess the clinical characteristics of allergic proctocolitis.

MicroRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma.

Emerging evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) may be promising novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the results of current studies are still conflicting. Hence, we undertake the current meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the diagnostic potential of miRNAs in RCC.

Physical quenching in competition with the formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in DNA photolesion.

The potential energy profiles toward formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers CPD and the physical quenching after UV excitation were explored for the dinucleotide thymine dinucleoside monophosphate (TpT) using density functional theory (ωB97XD) and the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-ωB97XD). The ωB97XD functional that includes empirical dispersion correction is shown to be an appropriate method to obtain rational results for the current large reaction system of TpT. Photophysical quenching is shown to be predominant over the photochemical CPD formation.

Nonadiabatic reaction mechanisms of the O((3)P) with cyclopentene.

The reaction mechanism of the ground state oxygen atom O((3)P) with cyclopentene is investigated theoretically. The triplet and singlet potential energy surfaces are calculated at the CCSD(T)//MP2/6-311G(d,p) level and the minimum energy crossing points (MECPs) between the two surfaces are located by means of the Newton-Lagrange method, from which the complex nonadiabatic reaction pathways are revealed. Based on the theoretical results, the most probable reaction mechanism of O((3)P) with c-C5H8 is described, which agrees with the experimental results nicely, including the condensed phase experiment.

[Effects of deep plowing and mulch in fallow period on soil water and yield of wheat in dryland].

A field test was carried out in Qiujialing Village, Wenxi, Shanxi from 2009 to 2011 to study the soil water movement of 0-300 cm layer, yield formation and water use efficiency (WUE) of wheat with deep plowing and mulching the whole ground immediately (no mulch as control) 15 days and 45 days after harvest. The results indicated that deep plowing and mulch in fallow period could improve soil water storage of the 100-180 cm layer before sowing, the soil water storage efficiency in fallow period, and soil water storage from pre-wintering stage to booting stage. Compared with deep plowing 15 days after wheat harvest, deep plowing 45 days after wheat harvest did better in improving soil water storage and water use efficiency, as well as ear number and yield, which was more conducive in the year with more precipitation.

[Clinical effect of triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in children].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy combined with Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection among children in terms of Hp eradication rate and incidence of adverse events.

Methods: A prospective randomised controlled study was conducted on 240 children with a confirmed diagnosis of Hp infection. These patients were randomized into triple therapy (n=120) and probiotics groups (n=120).

Expression of IGFBP-6 in a proliferative vitreoretinopathy rat model and its effects on retinal pigment epithelial cell proliferation and migration.

Aim: To investigate the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-6 (IGFBP-6) in a proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) model and its effects on proliferation and migration in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

Methods: A PVR Wistar rat model was established by the intravitreal injection of RPE-J cells combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The expression levels of IGFBP-6 were tested by ELISA.

Epigenetic modification and inheritance in sexual reversal of fish.

Environmental sex determination (ESD) occurs in divergent, phylogenetically unrelated taxa, and in some species, co-occurs with genetic sex determination (GSD) mechanisms. Although epigenetic regulation in response to environmental effects has long been proposed to be associated with ESD, a systemic analysis on epigenetic regulation of ESD is still lacking. Using half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) as a model-a marine fish that has both ZW chromosomal GSD and temperature-dependent ESD-we investigated the role of DNA methylation in transition from GSD to ESD.

Expression of IGFBP‑6 in proliferative vitreoretinopathy rat models and its effects on retinal pigment epithelial‑J cells.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is one of the most common causes for failed retinal detachment surgeries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of insulin‑like growth factor‑binding protein‑6 (IGFBP‑6) in PVR using rat models and its effects on retinal pigment epithelial‑J (RPE‑J) cells. PVR Wistar rat models were administered intravitreal injection of RPE‑J cells (1x106/5 µl) combined with platelet‑rich plasma (1x107/5 µl).

Characterization of microRNA-29 family expression and investigation of their mechanistic roles in gastric cancer.

Increasing evidence shows that abnormal microRNAs (miRNAs) expression is involved in tumorigenesis. They might be the novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets in disease treatment. miR-29 family was previously reported to act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in diverse cancers.

Effect of subsoiling in fallow period on soil water storage and grain protein accumulation of dryland wheat and its regulatory effect by nitrogen application.

To provide a new way to increase water storage and retention of dryland wheat, a field study was conducted at Wenxi experimental site of Shanxi Agricultural University. The effect of subsoiling in fallow period on soil water storage, accumulation of proline, and formation of grain protein after anthesis were determined. Our results showed that subsoiling in fallow period could increase water storage in the 0-300 cm soil at pre-sowing stage and at anthesis stage with low or medium N application, especially for the 60-160 cm soil.

VEGF promotes cardiac stem cells differentiation into vascular endothelial cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Recent research suggested that cardiac stem cells (CSCs) may have the clinical application for cardiac repair. However, their characteristics and the regulatory mechanisms of their growth and differentiation have not been fully investigated. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, VEGF-A) is a major regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis.

Enzymatic assay for Cu(II) with horseradish peroxidase and its application in colorimetric logic gate.

We report an ultrasensitive and colorimetric assay for Cu(II) via enzymatic amplification strategy. The enzymatic activity of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is strongly inhibited by Cu(I), which can be used indirectly to assay Cu(II). The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.

[Clinical application of single-balloon enteroscopy in children with small intestinal bleeding].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value and safety of single-balloon electronic enteroscopy in children with small intestinal bleeding.

Methods: Seventy children with clinically suspected small intestinal bleeding, including 38 males and 32 females aged 4-13 years, underwent single-balloon enteroscopy under general anesthesia. Twenty-six cases underwent the procedure through the mouth, 32 cases through the anus, and 12 cases through both.

Three unusual sesquineolignans from Alpinia conchigera.

Three unusual sesquineolignans conchignans A, B, and C, together with two known compounds vanillin and phloroglucinol, were isolated from the whole plants of Alpinia conchigera. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques.

Mechanism of the deamination reaction of isoguanine: a theoretical investigation.

Mechanisms of the deamination reactions of isoguanine with H2O, OH(-), and OH(-)/H2O and of protonated isoguanine (isoGH(+)) with H2O have been investigated by theoretical calculations. Eight pathways, paths A-H, have been explored and the thermodynamic properties (ΔE, ΔH, and ΔG), activation energies, enthalpies, and Gibbs energies of activation were calculated for each reaction investigated. Compared with the deamination reaction of isoguanine or protonated isoguanine (isoGH(+)) with water, the deamination reaction of isoguanine with OH(-) shows a lower Gibbs energy of activation at the rate-determining step, indicating that the deamination reaction of isoguanine is favorably to take place for the deprotonated form isoG(-) with water.

A bispecific protein capable of engaging CTLA-4 and MHCII protects non-obese diabetic mice from autoimmune diabetes.

Crosslinking ligand-engaged cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) to the T cell receptor (TCR) with a bispecific fusion protein (BsB) comprised of a mutant mouse CD80 and lymphocyte activation antigen-3 (LAG-3) has been shown to attenuate TCR signaling and to direct T-cell differentiation toward Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in an allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Here, we show that antigen-specific Tregs can also be induced in an antigen-specific setting in vitro. Treatment of non-obese diabetic (NOD) female mice between 9-12 weeks of age with a short course of BsB elicited a transient increase of Tregs in the blood and moderately delayed the onset of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Formation of guanine-6-sulfonate from 6-thioguanine and singlet oxygen: a combined theoretical and experimental study.

As an end metabolism product of the widely used thiopurine drugs, 6-thioguanine (6-TG) absorbs UVA and produces (1)O2 by photosensitization. This unusual photochemical property triggers a variety of DNA damage, among which the oxidation of 6-TG itself by (1)O2 to the promutagenic product guanine-6-sulfonate (G(SO3)) represents one of the major forms. It has been suspected that there exists an initial intermediate, G(SO), prior to its further oxidation to G(SO2) and G(SO3), but G(SO) has never been observed.

One-pot quantitative hydrolysis of lignocelluloses mediated by black liquor.

Black liquor from the kraft process facilitates quantitative biomass hydrolysis converting cellulose and hemicellulose into organic acids such as lactic acid (~50%), and lignin into small molecular aromatics, without gasification and black tar formation. Oxygen transfer between lignin and carbohydrates may be the mechanism. With this method, three tons of lignocellulosic biomass can potentially produce up to one ton of lactic acid, and one ton of small molecular aromatics.

An integrated genome-wide approach to discover tumor-specific antigens as potential immunologic and clinical targets in cancer.

Tumor-specific antigens (TSA) are central elements in the immune control of cancers. To systematically explore the TSA genome, we developed a computational technology called heterogeneous expression profile analysis (HEPA), which can identify genes relatively uniquely expressed in cancer cells in contrast to normal somatic tissues. Rating human genes by their HEPA score enriched for clinically useful TSA genes, nominating candidate targets whose tumor-specific expression was verified by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

Consecutive reaction mechanism for the formation of spore photoproduct in DNA photolesion.

We have explored the potential energy profiles of TpT dinucleotides toward formation of a DNA photolesion product, spore photoproduct (SP), along the S(0), S(1), and T(1) states, by means of density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory. Together with the spin density analysis, the consecutive mechanism for the SP formation can be established. The detailed reaction pathways have been revealed.

[Research progress in causes of persistent or chronic diarrhea in children].

The disease course of children with persistent or chronic diarrhea lasts from two weeks to two months or over. Diarrhea is a clinical syndrome caused by a group of multiple etiologies. This paper reviews common causes of persistent or chronic diarrhea in children, including intestinal infections, nonspecific inflammatory bowel diseases, food allergy, lactose intolerance, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, neural regulation abnormality, immunodeficiency disease, malnutrition, Celiac disease and zinc deficiency.