Developing a plant microbial fuel cell by planting water spinach in a hanging-submerged plant pot system.

To plant crops (especially dry crops such as water spinach) with concomitant electricity recovery, a hanging-submerged-plant-pot system (HSPP) is developed. The HSPP consists of a soil pot (anodic) partially submerged under the water surface of a cathode tank. The microbial communities changed with conditions were also investigated.

Key factors affecting carbon prices from a time-varying perspective.

For humankind to sustain a livable atmosphere on the planet, many countries have committed to achieving carbon neutralization. Countries mainly reduce carbon emissions by regulations through a carbon tax or by establishing a carbon market using economic stimuli. In this paper, we use the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method to select the key determinants of a carbon market and then use the Markov switching vector autoregression (MSVAR) model to study the market's driving factors and analyze its time-varying characteristics.

PhoPQ two-component regulatory system plays a global regulatory role in antibiotic susceptibility, physiology, stress adaptation, and virulence in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, an opportunistic pathogen, is ubiquitously present in various environments, signifying its high capability of environmental adaptation. Two-component regulatory system (TCS) is a powerful implement to help organisms to survive in different environments. In clinic, treatment of S.

Flavonoid glycosides from the nectar of Lindl.

The nectar of Lindl. contains sugar, amino acids and other nutritional components, suggesting that it could be developed for food and food additives. To understand the effects of the nectar on human health, we investigated its chemical constituents.

Electro-activation of O on MnO/graphite felt for efficient oxidation of water contaminants under room condition.

The activation of oxygen (O) under room condition is highly desirable for oxidative removal of organic pollutants in water. Herein, we report a graphite felt (GF)-supported α-MnO catalyst which is active for activating O with assistance of an anodic electric field. The electro-assisted catalytic wet air oxidation (ECWAO) process on MnO/GF is able to rapidly degrade a variety of dyes, pharmaceutics and personal care products (PPCPs) under room condition.

Male density, a signal for population self-regulation in Alligator sinensis.

The regulation of population density is suggested to be indirect and occurs with a time-lag effect, as well as being female centred. Herein, we present a quantitative analysis on the precise, timely and male-dominated self-regulation of Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis) populations. Analysis of 31 years of data revealed gender differences in regulation patterns.

[Materiamedica literature study on medicinal properties and utility of four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines].

In order to explore the correlation between the medicinal properties，efficacy and application in the same genetic relationship，explain the scientific connotation of the medicinal properties and effects of traditional Chinese medicines(TCM)，promote the academic development of the theory of traditional Chinese medicines，and provide reference for the research and development of the traditional Chinese medicines of a same genus. In this paper, a literature study of ancient and modern works of Chinese herbal medicine was conducted to investigate the correlation between the properties, meridians tropism, efficacy and application of Alpinia officinarum， A. katsumadai， Galangae Fructus and Alpinae Oxyphyllae Fructus, four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines．The results showed that the similar properties of these four kinds of Alpinia Chinese medicines included that they were acrid, warm,and mainly getting into the spleen and stomach channels; the similar efficacies included that dispelling cold，relieving pain，warming stomach，anti-nausea，anti-diarrheal，reinforcing spleen to promote digestion and other effects; in application aspects, the similarities were that they were all mainly used in treatment of catching cold or spleen deficiency induced by abdominal pain，vomiting，diarrhea,diet indigestion, etc.

Emerging roles of hsa_circ_0005075 targeting miR-431 in the progress of HCC.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that play key roles in the pathogenesis of diseases and are associated with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previous reports have shown the circRNA hsa_circ_0005075 is highly expressed in HCC tissues, but its function is unknown. In this study, we confirmed circ_0005075 is significantly increased in HCC tissues and cell lines.

Effects of Population Bottleneck and Balancing Selection on the Chinese Alligator Are Revealed by Locus-Specific Characterization of MHC Genes.

Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is an endangered freshwater crocodilian endemic to China, which experienced a severe bottleneck about 30 years ago. In this study, we developed locus-specific primers to investigate the polymorphism of 3 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci in 3 Chinese alligator populations, in combination with 6 neutral microsatellite markers as a contrast. We found the genetic trace for the bottleneck effect on the endangered Chinese alligator: the low allelic diversity (2 alleles at each locus), the low nucleotide substitution rate (no more than 0.

NLRC5 promotes cell proliferation via regulating the AKT/VEGF-A signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.

NLRC5, a newly found member of the NLR family and the largest member of nucleotide-binding, has been reported to regulate immune responses and is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the mechanisms and signaling pathways of NLRC5 in HCC progression. Increased expression of NLRC5, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were found in human HCC tissue.

Cryptolepine derivative-6h inhibits liver fibrosis in TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells by targeting the Shh pathway.

Liver fibrosis is a worldwide problem with a significant morbidity and mortality. Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (family Periplocaceae) is widely used in West African countries for the treatment of malaria, as well as for some other diseases. However, the role of C.

Clinical outcomes associated with evolving treatment modalities and radiation techniques for base-of-tongue carcinoma: thirty years of institutional experience.

Curative treatment for base-of-tongue squamous cell carcinoma (BOT SCC) has evolved over time; however, comparative outcomes analysis for various treatment strategies is lacking. The authors reviewed the evolution of treatment modality and radiotherapy (RT) technique for 231 consecutive BOT SCC patients at our institution between 1981 and 2011. Treatment modalities included definitive chemoradiotherapy (chemoRT) (42%), definitive RT (33%), surgery followed by RT (20%), and surgery alone (5%).

Silver nanoparticles and growth factors incorporated hydroxyapatite coatings on metallic implant surfaces for enhancement of osteoinductivity and antibacterial properties.

Research on incorporation of both growth factors and silver (Ag) into hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on metallic implant surfaces for enhancing osteoinductivity and antibacterial properties is a challenging work. Generally, Ag nanoparticles are easy to agglomerate and lead to a large increase in local Ag concentration, which could potentially affect cell activity. On the other hand, growth factors immobilization requires mild processing conditions so as to maintain their activities.

[Efficacy evaluation of treating cervical spondylopathy with the Discover artificial cervical disc prosthesis].

Objective: To explore the clinical and radiological outcomes of Discover artificial cervical disc arthroplasty and the range of motion status on adjacent segments for cervical spondylosis causing radiculopathy or myelopathy.

Methods: A total of 18 consecutive patients underwent cervical arthroplasty with the Discover artificial cervical disc at our hospital. Clinical and radiological follow-ups were conducted.

[Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of non-pulmonary vein foci ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term results of non-pulmonary veins (PV) trigger ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Eighty-six patients [48 men, mean age (52.3 ± 10.

Genome analysis and signature discovery for diving and sensory properties of the endangered Chinese alligator.

Crocodilians are diving reptiles that can hold their breath under water for long periods of time and are crepuscular animals with excellent sensory abilities. They comprise a sister lineage of birds and have no sex chromosome. Here we report the genome sequence of the endangered Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) and describe its unique features.

Phosphatidylserine enhances osteogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells via ERK signal pathways.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) has been demonstrated to promote bone mineralization. It has also been used in bone repairing biomaterials as a functional molecule. However, the effect of PS on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is not clear.

[Minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures and posterior ligamentous complex injuries].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw for the management of neurologically intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and posterior ligamentous complex injuries.

Methods: In the study, 35 patients were reviewed,including 20 males and 15 females, with an average age of 34.1 years (18 to 52), and the mean follow-up for 25.

Reversal of endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes using a conditioned medium of human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cells.

Background: The potential clinical application of bone marrow or peripheral blood-derived progenitor cells for cardiovascular regeneration in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited by their functional impairment. We sought to determine the mechanisms of impaired therapeutic efficacy of peripheral blood-derived progenitor cells in type 2 DM patients and evaluated the use of cell-free conditioned medium obtained from human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial-like cells (ESC-ECs) to reverse their functional impairment.

Methods: The angiogenic potential of late outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) and cytokine profile of the conditional medium of proangiogenic cells (PACs) derived from peripheral blood-mononuclear cells of healthy control and DM patients and ESC-ECs was compared by in vitro tube formation assay and a multiplex bead-based immunoassay kit, respectively.

[Early treatment of large soft-tissue wounds with intermittent vacuum sealing drainage].

Objective: To evaluate the early clinical efficacy of large soft-tissue wounds with intermittent vacuum sealing drainage.

Methods: From March 2009 to June 2010, the study group was comprised of 56 patients treated with intermittent vacuum sealing drainage. There were 47 males and 9 females with a mean age of 37.

Rise and fall of anti-obesity drugs.

Although it is not generally a life-threatening disease, obesity is becoming a major health problem worldwide. It can be controlled by means of drugs, and, consequently, these are required to be safe as well as effective. In this paper, we summarize the fate of various drugs that have been introduced for clinical use in the treatment of obesity.

[Treatment of lumbar disc herniation by modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with a pedicle screw system].

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Methods: Forty-six cases of lumbar disc herniation were treated by modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. There were 32 males and 14 females with a mean age of 47 years old (range: 27 - 65).

Temperature effects on CO adsorption/desorption at Pt film electrodes: an electrochemical in situ infrared spectroscopic study.

The effects of temperature, CO(ad) surface coverage, and electrode potential on the desorption of CO(ad) from Pt film electrodes in 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) have been investigated by electrochemical in situ FTIR spectroscopy under an attenuated-total-reflection configuration (EC-FTIRS). The major findings are: (i) When theta(rel)>or= 0.