Medium Optimization and Fermentation Kinetics for κ-Carrageenase Production by Thalassospira sp. Fjfst-332.

Effective degradation of κ-carrageenan by isolated sp. fjfst-332 is reported for the first time in this paper. It was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and morphological observation using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Retraction RETRACTION of "Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -308G>A polymorphism association with the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population" by H. Zhao, H.W. Zhang, T. Zhang and X.M. Gu - Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (2): gmr.15025866 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15025866.

The retracted article is: Zhao H, Zhang HW, Zhang T and Gu XM (2016). Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -308G>A polymorphism association with the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population. Genet.

Age-Associated Sirtuin 1 Reduction in Vascular Smooth Muscle Links Vascular Senescence and Inflammation to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Rationale: Uncontrolled growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is a life-threatening vascular disease without an effective pharmaceutical treatment. AAA incidence dramatically increases with advancing age in men. However, the molecular mechanisms by which aging predisposes individuals to AAAs remain unknown.

Opposing Control by Transcription Factors MYB61 and MYB3 Increases Freezing Tolerance by Relieving C-Repeat Binding Factor Suppression.

Cold acclimation is an important process by which plants respond to low temperature and enhance their winter hardiness. C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 (CBF1), CBF2, and CBF3 genes were shown previously to participate in cold acclimation in Medicago truncatula In addition, MtCBF4 is transcriptionally induced by salt, drought, and cold stresses. We show here that MtCBF4, shown previously to enhance drought and salt tolerance, also positively regulates cold acclimation and freezing tolerance.

[Concentration and Size Distribution of Bioaerosols in Indoor Environment of University Dormitory During the Plum Rain Period].

Bioaerosols of university dormitory can spread through air and cause a potential health risk for student staying in indoor environment. To quantify the characteristics of bioaerosols in indoor environment of university dormitory, concentration and size distribution of culturable bioaerosols were detected during the plum rain period, the correlations of culturable bioaerosol with concentration of particulate matter, the ambient temperature and relative humidity were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and finally the changes of size distribution of culturable bioaerosol caused by activities of students were detected. The results showed that the mean concentrations of culturable airborne bacteria and fungi were (2133 +/- 1617) CFUm' and (3111 +/- 2202) CFU x m(-3).

[Residue Characteristics of Perfluorinated Compounds in the Atmosphere of Shenzhen].

In order to explore the residual characteristics of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the atmosphere of Shenzhen, passive air samplers consisting of polyurethane foam (PUF) disks impregnated with XAD-4 power were deployed at 12 sites in Shenzhen from November 2014 to February 2015. Seven volatile and fifteen ionic PFCs were analyzed. The results indicated that ΣPFCs concentration ranged from 23.

Contribution of the Suppressor of Variegation 3-9 Homolog 1 in Dorsal Root Ganglia and Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn to Nerve Injury-induced Nociceptive Hypersensitivity.

Background: Peripheral nerve injury-induced gene alterations in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord likely participate in neuropathic pain genesis. Histone methylation gates gene expression. Whether the suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1), a histone methyltransferase, contributes to nerve injury-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity is unknown.

[Abundance of Toxic and Non-toxic Microcystis sp. in Lake Hongze and Its Correlation with Environmental Factors].

In the present study, the eutrophic level of 30 water samples collected from Lake hongze in August 2014 were analyzed, and the abundance of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis sp., together with their spatial distribution, was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR techniques. The results showed that the average concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus were 1.

[Mercury Distribution Characteristics and Atmospheric Mercury Emission Factors of Typical Waste Incineration Plants in Chongqing].

Waste incineration is one of the important atmospheric mercury emission sources. The aim of this article is to explore the atmospheric mercury pollution level of waste incineration industry from Chongqing. This study investigated the mercury emissions from a municipal solid waste incineration plant and a medical waste incineration plant in Chongqing.

[Correlation Analysis Between Characteristics of VOCs and Ozone Formation Potential in Summer in Nanjing Urban District].

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an important precursor of photochemical ozone pollution (O3) in the atmosphere. Their concentration variation directly affects the characteristics of the ozone pollution. The concentration, speciation of VOCs, ozone and its precursors in Nanjing were analyzed and measured using online gas detection systems in August 2013.

[Pollution Characteristics and Sources of Carbonaceous Aerosol in PM2.5 During Winter in Guanzhong Area].

To study the characteristics and sources of carbonaceous aerosol in PM2.5 during winter in Guanzhong area, PM2.5 samples were collected from December 2012 to February 2013 in Xi'an, Baoji, Weinan and Qinling, and then organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were analyzed following the thermal/optical reflection protocol.

Luminescence enhancement of (Sr M ) SiO :Eu phosphors with M (Ca /Zn ) partial substitution for white light-emitting diodes.

Eu -doped Sr SiO phosphor with Ca /Zn substitution, (Sr M ) SiO :Eu (M = Ca, Zn), was prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The structure and luminescence properties of Ca /Zn partially substituted Sr SiO :Eu phosphors were investigated in detail. With Ca or Zn added to the silicate host, the crystal phase could be transformed between the α-form and the β-form of the Sr SiO structure.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses of Swine Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Complexes and Prediction of the Epitope Map of Important Influenza A Virus Strains.

Unlabelled: The lack of a peptide-swine leukocyte antigen class I (pSLA I) complex structure presents difficulties for the study of swine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immunity and molecule vaccine development to eliminate important swine viral diseases, such as influenza A virus (IAV). Here, after cloning and comparing 28 SLA I allelic genes from Chinese Heishan pigs, pSLA-3*hs0202 was crystalized and solved. SLA-3*hs0202 binding with sβ2m and a KMNTQFTAV (hemagglutinin [HA]-KMN9) peptide from the 2009 pandemic swine H1N1 strain clearly displayed two distinct conformations with HA-KMN9 peptides in the structures, which are believed to be beneficial to stimulate a broad spectrum of CTL immune responses.

[The influence of continuous venovenous hemofiltration on parameter measurement by the transpulmonary thermodilution technique].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) on measurement of transpulmonary thermodilution parameters.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted. Fifty-six patients who received CVVH and hemodynamic monitoring at the same time admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from July 2012 to July 2014 were enrolled.

[Effect of Aeration Strategies on Emissions of Nitrogenous Gases and Methane During Sludge Bio-Drying].

The data on nitrogen gas (NH3, N2O, NO) emissions during sludge bio-drying process in China is scarce, especially NO due to its unstable chemical property. In this study, effect of two aeration modes on emissions of methane and nitrogenous gas was compared during the continuous aerated turning pile sludge bio-drying process at full scale. In these two aeration strategies, the one currently used in the plant was set as the control, and the other was set as the test in which the aeration was used for oxygen supply, pile temperature control, and moisture removal in the start-up, middle and final stages, respectively.

Prevalence of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Using High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Angiography in the General Population: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background And Purpose: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of stroke, but little is known about its epidemiology. We studied the prevalence of ICAS and its association with vascular risk factors using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography in a US cardiovascular cohort.

Methods: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study recruited participants from 4 US communities from 1987 to 1989.

[Enhanced Performance of Rolled Membrane Electrode Assembly by Adding Cation Exchange Resin to Anode in Microbial Fuel Cells].

The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with an anode-membrane-cathode structure ban reduce the distance between anode and cathode to improve the power of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Here in order to further promote the performance of MFCs, a novel MEA was constructed by rolling-press method without noble metal material, and the Ohmic resistance decreased to 3-5 Ω. The maximum power density was 446 mW x m(-2) when acetate was used as the substrate.

[Emission of PCDD/Fs from Crematories and Its Influencing Factors].

To analysis the influencing factors for the emssions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) as structure of crematory, air pollution control device (APCD) and funeral objects, etc, we collected and measured the PCDD/Fs emissions in flue gas from 13 crematories in China. Then we proposed some supervision suggestions on measures of pollution control and management. The results indicated that the emission levels of PCDD/Fs (as the toxic equivalent concentration, TEQ) was ranged in a large gap from 0.

Nitrogen Use Efficiency Is Mediated by Vacuolar Nitrate Sequestration Capacity in Roots of Brassica napus.

Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crop plants is an important breeding target to reduce excessive use of chemical fertilizers, with substantial benefits to farmers and the environment. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), allocation of more NO3 (-) to shoots was associated with higher NUE; however, the commonality of this process across plant species have not been sufficiently studied. Two Brassica napus genotypes were identified with high and low NUE.

Smad4 Deficiency in Smooth Muscle Cells Initiates the Formation of Aortic Aneurysm.

Rationale: Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening cardiovascular disorder caused by the predisposition for dissection and rupture. Genetic studies have proved the involvement of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway in aortic aneurysm. Smad4 is the central mediator of the canonical TGF-β signaling pathway.

Rapid cloning and bioinformatic analysis of spinach Y chromosome-specific EST sequences.

The genome of spinach single chromosome complement is about 1000 Mbp, which is the model material to study the molecular mechanisms of plant sex differentiation. The cytological study showed that the biggest spinach chromosome (chromosome 1) was taken as spinach sex chromosome. It had three alleles of sex-related X,X(m) and Y.

[Effect of Water and Sediment Regulation on the Transport of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Lower Yellow River].

Both natural processes and human activities in river basins have important impacts on the transport of riverine organic carbon (OC). Better understanding of the riverine OC transport processes is critical for the studies of global carbon cycling. Suspended particulate matters collected from the Lijin Station in the lower Yellow River during the water and sediment regulation ( WSR) period in 2012 (19 June-20 July) were analyzed for grain size, particulate OC (POC) and stable carbon isotopic ratios (delta13C) to investigate-the sources, composition, abundance of POC and the effect of WSR on the transport of POC.

Germline Mutations in Predisposition Genes in Pediatric Cancer.

Background: The prevalence and spectrum of predisposing mutations among children and adolescents with cancer are largely unknown. Knowledge of such mutations may improve the understanding of tumorigenesis, direct patient care, and enable genetic counseling of patients and families.

Methods: In 1120 patients younger than 20 years of age, we sequenced the whole genomes (in 595 patients), whole exomes (in 456), or both (in 69).

Comparison of Life Tables of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions.

The ladybird Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.) is an important aphidophagous predator in Asia. In order to mass rear predators for biological control, it is valuable to identify the features of populations that are affected by variations in field conditions.

Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia: Clinical and genetic analyses of 110 patients.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the clinical and genetic features of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) in a large population and to analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation of PKD.

Methods: We analyzed clinical manifestations and conducted PRRT2 screening in 110 patients with PKD. Clinical data were compared between 91 probands with and without PRRT2 mutations.