Chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) for removal of carbon and nutrients from municipal wastewater treatment plants: a case study of Shanghai.

With Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment (CEPT) as the short-term process, the capacity of Bailonggang Wastewater Treatment Plant accounts for almost 25% of the total capacity of wastewater treatment in Shanghai, China. However, shortly after this plant was placed in operation in 2004, it was found that the effluent of CEPT couldn't meet the new national discharge criteria. Although the removal of phosphate is almost 80%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) in the effluent is frequently found to exceed the standards.

A simplified method for identifying the Panax ginseng cultivar Gumpoong based on 26S rDNA.

Molecular identification of PANAX GINSENG (Korean ginseng) cultivars is very important for their management. We have developed a simple and reliable method for specific identification of the superior cultivar "Gumpoong." The 26S rDNA was targeted for our molecular analysis, and a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified between Gumpoong and the other cultivars within the sequence data.

ADS-J1 inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry by interacting with the gp41 pocket region and blocking fusion-active gp41 core formation.

We previously identified a small-molecule anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (anti-HIV-1) compound, ADS-J1, using a computer-aided molecular docking technique for primary screening and a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a secondary screening method. In the present study, we demonstrated that ADS-J1 is an HIV-1 entry inhibitor, as determined by a time-of-addition assay and an HIV-1-mediated cell fusion assay. Further mechanism studies confirmed that ADS-J1 does not block gp120-CD4 binding and exhibits a marginal interaction with the HIV-1 coreceptor CXCR4.

A PCR-based SNP marker for specific authentication of Korean ginseng (panax ginseng) cultivar "Chunpoong".

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been developed as a horticultural crop due to the increasing demand in the world market. "Chunpoong" is an economically important cultivar with superior quality and high yield among nine cultivars of Korean ginseng. The aim of this work was to develop a simple technique for specific authentication of Chunpoong using DNA method.

Molecular identification of oriental medicinal plant Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge ('Jimo') by multiplex PCR.

Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Jimo) is one of the most popular and valuable plant species in many countries, including China, Korea, and Japan. The current commercial products such as Sagan, Chog-chag-yag, and Shig-ban-pung which are most similar to Jimo roots, were used for more reliable authentication method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the trnL-F region has been proved to be an appropriate method for the identification of species in the A.

[Effects of grafting on photosynthesis of sweet pepper seedlings under low temperature and weak light intensity].

Sweet pepper 'Chifengtexuan' seedlings were grafted onto 'Weishi' and 'Buyeding' rootstocks, treated with low temperature (8 degrees C/ 5 degrees C) and weak light intensity (100 micromol x m(-2) s(-1)) for 7 days, and then recovered under normal conditions (25 degrees C/ 18 degrees C, PFD 550-600 micromol x s(-1)) for 3 days to study the variations of their gas exchange parameters, carboxylation efficiency, and fluorescence parameters, with the own-rooted 'Chifengtexuan' seedlings as the control. The results showed that on the 3rd day of low temperature and weak light intensity stress, the photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and carboxylation efficiency (CE) of both own-rooted and grafted seedling leaves decreased more than 50%, and after then, the Pn and Gs tended to stable while CE decreased continually. The intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) declined first, but enhanced after the 4th day of the stress.

Fermentable hexose production from corn stalks and wheat straw with combined supercritical and subcritical hydrothermal technology.

Lignocellulosic wastes, including corn stalks and wheat straw, were pretreated and hydrolyzed with combined supercritical and subcritical hydrothermal technology. Soluble sugars were collected by pre-washing the crushed materials before hydrolysis. The effects of solid-liquid ratio, temperature, and reaction time on oligosaccharide production were investigated and the optimum supercritical conditions were found to be 20 mg/2.

[Surgical therapy for massive deep skin and soft tissue injuries].

Objective: To explore the methods of repair of massive deep skin and soft tissue injuries.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with deep skin and soft tissue injuries were hospitalized from July 2006 to January 2008. Among them, 23 cases were caused by burn, 17 cases by electric injury, 7 cases by hot crush injury, 6 cases by avulsion injury, and 3 cases due to other reasons (including traffic accident, crush injury, soft tissue infection respectively).

[The nasal development after one-staged correction of nose deformity and unilateral complete cleft lip in infancy].

Objective: To introduce one-staged correction of nasal deformity and unilateral complete cleft lip in infancy and to observe the nasal development after the operation.

Methods: The unilateral complete cleft lip and nasal deformity were corrected in one stage in27 cases. They were followed up for several years.

[Hydrothermal pretreatment of canteen waste for grease removal and digestibility improvement].

Canteen waste was hydrothermal pretreated to investigate the characters of degreasing, hydrolysis and digestibility by biochemical methane assays. Liquidization and hydrolysis were enhanced in hydrothermal pretreatment. pH of hydrolysate decreased, and SCOD and VFA increased significantly followed by increasing hydrothermal temperature.

Clinical study of 39 Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.

Background: There are few studies on the clinical profile of Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of ARVD/C patients from China, particularly to define the features of electrocardiograph and treatment outcomes.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients hospitalized in Fu Wai Cardiovascular Hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included.

Life-cycle assessment of the municipal solid waste management system in Hangzhou, China (EASEWASTE).

With the purpose of assessing the environmental impacts and benefits of the current municipal solid waste management system and two modified systems, EASEWASTE, a life-cycle-based model, was used to evaluate the waste system of Hangzhou city in China. An integrated model was established, including waste generation, collection, transportation, treatment, disposal and accompanying external processes. The results showed that CH(4) released from landfilling was the primary pollutant contributing to global warming, and HCl and NH(3) from incineration contributed most to acidification.

[Effects of salicylic acid on the leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities of cucumber seedlings under low temperature and light intensity].

In order to elucidate the regulation functions of salicylic acid (SA) on the photosynthesis of cucumber under low temperature and light intensity, the seedlings of cucumber 'Jinyou 3' under low temperature and light intensity were foliar-sprayed with different concentration SA, and the leaf gas exchange parameters, photochemical efficiency, MDA content, and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. The results showed that under low temperature and light intensity, the leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), actual photochemical efficiency of PS II (PhiPSII), and maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm) of the seedlings all decreased but the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) increased, suggesting that nonstomatal limitation was the main cause of the decrease of Pn under low temperature and light intensity stress. Low temperature and light intensity also led to the increase of leaf malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the decrease of catalase (CAT) activity, and the decrease after an initial increase of peroxidase (POD) activity.

Combined supercritical and subcritical process for cellulose hydrolysis to fermentable hexoses.

A combined supercritical and subcritical process for pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosic waste has been proposed. Batch experiments and kinetic analysis were performed to investigate the secondary hydrolysis of cellulose in subcritical water as well as the feasibility of combining the whole process. A 60 mg amount of microcrystalline cellulose and 2.

Molecular identification of the Korean ginseng cultivar "Chunpoong" using the mitochondrial nad7 intron 4 region.

Background And Aims: Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is one of the most important medicinal plants in the Orient. Among the nine cultivars of Korean ginseng, "Chunpoong" commands a much greater market value and has been planted widely.

Materials And Methods: A rapid and reliable method for discriminating the Chunpoong cultivar was developed by exploiting a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the mitochondrial nad7 intron 4 region of nine Korean ginseng cultivars using universal primers.

[Anaerobic digestibility enhancement of sorted organic waste by alkaline hydrothermal pretreatment].

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) of fallen leaf and model kitchen garbage were tested after alkaline hydrothermal pretreatment to investigate the effects of thermal-chemical treatment on the digestibility of waste. pH of hydrolysate decreased after pretreatment, and organics were solubilized acceleratedly and hydrolyzed into low molecular products. Different optimum hydrothermal conditions were obtained for different waste.

Complex t(2;21;8)(p12;q22;q22): a variant t(8;21) in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M2).

Acute myeloid leukemia with maturation (AML-M2 based on the French-American-British classification) is often accompanied by typical chromosomal changes such as t (8;21)(q22;q22). We report a case of a 31-year-old female with a positive RUNX1/CBFA2T1 (alias AML1/ETO) fusion gene and a karyotype with a t(2;21;8)(p12;q22;q22). Although variant translocations involving chromosome region 2p12 have never been reported before, we suppose this translocation may be responsible for the clinical manifestation and prognosis of this case.

[Protective effect of Tongxinluo Ultramicro-pulverization on experimental myocardial infarction of rats].

Objective: To study the effects of Tongxinluo ultramicro-pulverization (TXLU) on experimental myocardial infarction and platelet aggregation of rats, investigate its mechanisms on ischemia heart disease and offer a reference to clinical usage.

Method: Rats were separated randomly into 7 groups: sham, model, diltiazem (0.15 mg x kg(-1)), TXL(1.

Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of pallidal GABAB receptor activation and blockade on haloperidol-induced akinesia in rats.

The globus pallidus plays an important role in movement regulation. Morphological studies have revealed GABA(B) receptor expression in the globus pallidus. To investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of pallidal GABA(B) receptors on haloperidol-induced akinesia, microinjection and extracellular recordings were performed in the present study.

N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)retinamide increases dihydroceramide and synergizes with dimethylsphingosine to enhance cancer cell killing.

Fenretinide [N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR)] is cytotoxic in many cancer cell types. Studies have shown that elevation of ceramide species plays a role in 4-HPR cytotoxicity. To determine 4-HPR activity in a multidrug-resistant cancer cell line as well as to study ceramide metabolism, MCF-7/AdrR cells (redesignated NCI/ADR-RES) were treated with 4-HPR and sphingolipids were analyzed.

[1,2,6-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose inhibits gp41-mediated HIV envelope fusion with target cell membrane].

Objective: To observe the inhibitory effect of 1,2,6-Tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (TGGP) from Balanophora japonica Makino on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry into the host cells and explore the mechanisms.

Methods: TGGP was purified from Balanophora japonica Makino by n-hexane and ethyl acetate extraction and column chromatography. The inhibitory activity of TGGP on HIV gp41 six-helix bundle formation was measured with ELISA, N-PAGE and SE-HPLC, and the inhibitory effect of TGGP on HIV envelope grlycoprotein-induced cell-cell fusion was detected using a non-infectious cell-based assay.

[Surgical treatment of multiple pressure scores].

Objective: To summarize the methods and results of the surgical treatment of patients with multiple pressure sores.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with 56 multiple pressure sores, hospitalized from January 2001 to May 2007, were treated with transfer of various skin flaps together with skin grafting. The pressure sores were respectively located in sacrococcygeal region (21 wounds), ischial tuberosity (14 wounds), greater trochanter of femur (13 wounds) and other sites (8 wounds).

[The mechanistic rote of KCNH2 gene L413P and L559H mutations in long QT syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the molecular pathogenesis for two novel mutations L413P and L559H of KCNH2 found in Chinese patients with long QT syndrome.

Methods: L413P and L559H mutant constructs were generated by site-directed mutagenesis using human wild-type (WT) pcDNA3-HERG cDNA as a template. WT and mutant constructs were transiently transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells using lipofectamine method.