Denitrification and the controlling factors in Yunnan Plateau Lakes (China): Exploring the role of enhanced internal nitrogen cycling by algal blooms.

Denitrification plays an important role in nitrogen (N) removal in freshwater ecosystems. This internal process regulates the fluctuations of N concentration, especially for lakes with high nutrients concentrations and long residence time. Lakes in Yunnan plateau (southwestern China) provide typical cases, while studies in this region have been rare.

Association of Candidate Genes with Response to Heat and Newcastle Disease Virus.

Newcastle disease is considered the number one disease constraint to poultry production in low and middle-income countries, however poultry that is raised in resource-poor areas often experience multiple environmental challenges. Heat stress has a negative impact on production, and immune response to pathogens can be negatively modulated by heat stress. Candidate genes and regions chosen for this study were based on previously reported associations with response to immune stimulants, pathogens, or heat, including: , , , MHC-B (major histocompatibility complex, gene complex), , , , , , , , , , and .

Prognostic role of the systemic immune-inflammation index in brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma with different EGFR mutations.

The prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been shown in various types of cancers. We aimed to evaluate the predictive values in brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma with status of EGFR mutations. We, retrospectively, examined 310 patients with brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma with status of EGFR mutations.

Determination of Enantiomeric Excess by Solid-Phase Extraction Using a Chiral Metal-Organic Framework as Sorbent.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted considerable attention because of their fascinating structures and intriguing potential applications in diverse areas. In this study, we developed a novel method for determination of enantiomeric excess () of (±)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using a chiral MOF, [Co(l-tyr)](l-tyrCo), as sorbent. After optimization of the experimental conditions, a good linear relationship between the and the absorbance of the eluate (² = 0.

A Monolayer of Primary Colonic Epithelium Generated on a Scaffold with a Gradient of Stiffness for Drug Transport Studies.

Animal models are frequently used for in vitro physiologic and drug transport studies of the colon, but there exists significant pressure to improve assay throughput as well as to achieve tighter control of experimental variables than can be achieved with animals. Thus, development of a primary in vitro colonic epithelium cultured as high resistance with transport protein expression and functional behavior similar to that of a native colonic would be of enormous value for pharmaceutical research. A collagen scaffold, in which the degree of collagen cross-linking was present as a gradient, was developed to support the proliferation of primary colonic cells.

The microbial community structure change of an anaerobic ammonia oxidation reactor in response to decreasing temperatures.

In anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) systems, temperature may regulate the activity of functional bacteria (e.g., anammox bacteria) and the composition of the microbial population, ultimately determining the performance of the anammox reactor.

Achieving advanced nitrogen removal from low C/N wastewater by combining endogenous partial denitrification with anammox in mainstream treatment.

Successful application of mainstream anammox would be favorable for energy- and resource-efficient sewage treatment. This study presents a new strategy to achieve mainstream anammox, which combined with endogenous partial denitrification (EPD) for treating sewage wastewater. In this EPD-Anammox system, nitrite was stably produced by EPD with a nitrate-to-nitrite transformation ratio of 80%.

Free ammonia-based pretreatment enhances phosphorus release and recovery from waste activated sludge.

The recovery of phosphorus from waste activated sludge (WAS) was usually at low levels due to low phosphorus release. This study presents a novel, cost-effective and eco-friendly pretreatment method, e.g.

Rituximab plus Lenalidomide in Advanced Untreated Follicular Lymphoma.

Background: Rituximab plus chemotherapy has been shown to be effective in patients with advanced-stage, previously untreated follicular lymphoma; nevertheless, most patients will have a relapse. Combination immunotherapy with lenalidomide and rituximab is an immunomodulatory regimen that has shown promising activity in patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: We conducted this multicenter, international, phase 3 superiority trial to evaluate rituximab plus lenalidomide, as compared with rituximab plus chemotherapy, in patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma.

Effect of Cesarean Section on the Severity of Postpartum Hemorrhage in Chinese Women: The Shanxi Study.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the most adverse obstetric outcomes. Our aim is to detect the risks of multilevel PPH in different cesarean section (CS) groups [including nulliparous CS with indications, nulliparous CS without indications, repeat cesarean (RC), vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), cesarean after vaginal birth (CAVB)]. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, and the data on 127 145 women collected from January 2014 to May 2016 and from 35 tertiary hospitals in Shanxi province, China, were reviewed.

Neutrophils and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio: Inflammatory markers associated with intimal-media thickness of atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Cardiac-cerebral vascular diseases (CCVDs) are global health problems due to the characteristic of high mortality. It is found that atherosclerosis (AS), a main cause of CCVDs, is significantly relevant to the change of intimal and media thickness. Neutrophil count (NEU) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (N/L) are recognized possible risk factors for atherosclerosis (AS).

Improved methane production from waste activated sludge by combining free ammonia with heat pretreatment: Performance, mechanisms and applications.

Anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS) is often limited by low hydrolysis efficiencies and poor methane potentials. This work presents a novel pretreatment technology for WAS anaerobic digestion, i.e.

Polycarboxylate-directed semi-rigid pyridyl-amide-based various Ni complexes: electrochemical properties and enhancements of photocatalytic activities by calcination.

In this work, four new NiII coordination polymers (CPs) based on a bi-methylene-bridged semi-rigid bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand and various polycarboxylates, namely, [Ni(4-bmbpd)(H2O)4]·(TPD) (1), [Ni2(4-bmbpd)2(1,3-BDC)2(H2O)4]·5H2O (2), [Ni2(4-bmbpd)2(MIP)2(H2O)2]·3H2O (3) and [Ni3(4-bmbpd)3(BTC)2(H2O)4]·4H2O (4) [4-bmbpd = N,N'-bis(4-methylenepyridin-4-yl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide, H2TPD = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, 1,3-H2BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H2MIP = 5-methylisophthalic acid and 1,3,5-H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid] have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, thermal gravimetric (TG) analyses, IR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). In complex 1, the μ2-bridging 4-bmbpd ligands connect adjacent NiII ions leading to a 1D [Ni-4-bmbpd]n wave-like chain, while the TPD anions act as discrete counter ions. Complexes 2 and 3 are similar 2D 4-connected grid networks derived from [Ni-4-bmbpd]n chains and [Ni-L]n (L = BDC or MIP) chains.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, lipase, high-density lipoprotein as a panel of factors to predict acute pancreatitis in pregnancy.

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy (APIP) is a rare but dangerous complication. APIP has common symptoms with acute abdomen. Assessment of an acute abdomen is more complicated during pregnancy because the gravid uterus could mask most of symptomatic signs.

Formation of arrays of planar, murine, intestinal crypts possessing a stem/proliferative cell compartment and differentiated cell zone.

A simple, in vitro intestinal model recapitulating key aspects of crypt architecture and physiology would facilitate our understanding the impact of drugs, foods and microbial metabolites on the intestine. To address the limitations of previously reported intestinal in vitro platforms, we developed a planar crypt array that replicated the spatial segregation and physiologic responses of primary mouse intestinal epithelial cells in the large intestine. Collagen was coated across an impermeable film possessing an array of microholes creating two regions of distinct stiffness and porosity (above and outside the microholes).

Effects of Blood Pressure in the Early Phase of Ischemic Stroke and Stroke Subtype on Poststroke Cognitive Impairment.

Background And Purpose: Blood pressure (BP) control in the early phase of stroke is controversial to reduce the risk of poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). This study was to investigate the impact of BP levels in the early phase of ischemic stroke and stroke subtype on PSCI.

Methods: Seven hundred and ninety-six patients with acute ischemic stroke were included.

Collaborative Method Performance Study of the Measurement of Nicotine, Its Metabolites, and Total Nicotine Equivalents in Human Urine.

Biomarkers of tobacco exposure have a central role in studies of tobacco use and nicotine intake. The most significant exposure markers are nicotine itself and its metabolites in urine. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the performance of laboratories conducting these biomarker measurements.

Bioaugmentation with Diaphorobacter polyhydroxybutyrativorans to enhance nitrate removal in a poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)-supported denitrification reactor.

A newly isolated and identified Diaphorobacter polyhydroxybutyrativorans strain (SL-205) was employed to enhance the denitrification performance of a laboratory-scale solid-phase denitrification (SPD) reactor using poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) as a carbon source, and dynamic variations in microbial communities in the reactor were investigated. Results indicated that bioaugmentation with strain SL-205 enabled rapid reactor startup and improved denitrification performance relative to the reactor inoculated with activated sludge. Illumina sequencing revealed that bioaugmentation also significantly increased Proteobacteria abundance along with increased influent nitrate loading.

Bioreactors for Cardiac Tissue Engineering.

The advances in biotechnology, biomechanics, and biomaterials can be used to develop organ models that aim to accurately emulate their natural counterparts. Heart disease, one of the leading causes of death in modern society, has attracted particular attention in the field of tissue engineering. To avoid incorrect prognosis of patients suffering from heart disease, or from adverse consequences of classical therapeutic approaches, as well as to address the shortage of heart donors, new solutions are urgently needed.

Nuclear Spin Attenuates the Anesthetic Potency of Xenon Isotopes in Mice: Implications for the Mechanisms of Anesthesia and Consciousness.

What We Already Know About This Topic: WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW: BACKGROUND:: Xenon is an elemental anesthetic with nine stable isotopes. Nuclear spin is a quantum property which may differ among isotopes. Xenon 131 (Xe) has nuclear spin of 3/2, xenon 129 (Xe) a nuclear spin of 1/2, and the other seven isotopes have no nuclear spin.

Genetics and Pathogenesis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. Gene-expression profiling has identified subgroups of DLBCL (activated B-cell-like [ABC], germinal-center B-cell-like [GCB], and unclassified) according to cell of origin that are associated with a differential response to chemotherapy and targeted agents. We sought to extend these findings by identifying genetic subtypes of DLBCL based on shared genomic abnormalities and to uncover therapeutic vulnerabilities based on tumor genetics.

Regulation of Vascular Calcification by Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone and Its Agonists.

Rationale: Vascular calcification (VC) is a marker of the severity of atherosclerotic disease. Hormones play important roles in regulating calcification; estrogen and parathyroid hormones exert opposing effects, the former alleviating VC and the latter exacerbating it. To date no treatment strategies have been developed to regulate clinical VC.