[Mixture Leaching Remediation Technology of Arsenic Contaminated Soil].

Soil contamination of arsenic pollution has become a severely environmental issue, while soil leaching is an efficient method for remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. In this study, batch tests were primarily conducted to select optimal mixture leaching combination. Firstly, five conventional reagents were selected and combined with each other.

Postnatal development of the electrophysiological properties of somatostatin interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice.

Somatostatin (SST)-positive interneurons in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) play important roles in neuronal diseases, memory and cognitive functions. However, their development in the ACC remains unclear. Using postnatal day 3 (P3) to P45 GIN mice, we found that most of the intrinsic membrane properties of SST interneurons in the ACC were developmentally mature after the second postnatal week and that the development of these neurons differed from that of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex.

A novel translocator protein 18 kDa ligand, ZBD-2, exerts neuroprotective effects against acute spinal cord injury.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) happens accidently and often leads to motor dysfunction due to a series of biochemical and pathological events and damage, either temporarily or permanently. Translocator protein 18 (TSPO) has been found to be involved in the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids which have multiple effects on neurons, but the internal mechanisms are not clear. N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(7,8-oxo-2-phenyl-9H-purin-9-yl) acetamide (ZBD-2), a newly reported ligand of TSPO, shows some neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemia in vivo and NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in vitro.

[Preparation of Visible-light-induced g-CN/BiS Photocatalysts for the Efficient Degradation of Methyl Orange].

Visible light responsive heterojunctions of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and BiS were successfully designed and constructed by a simple solvothermal process. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Under visible light irradiation, the as-prepared g-CN/BiS photocatalysts exhibited highly enhanced photochemical efficiency in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) compared with pure g-CN and BiS.

Tetranorlabdane Diterpenoids from the Deep Sea Sediment-Derived Fungus Aspergillus wentii SD-310.

Two new tetranorlabdane diterpenoids, asperolides D (1) and E (2), along with six related known congeners (3-8), were isolated and identified from the culture extract of the deep sea sediment-derived fungus Aspergillus wentii SD-310. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic interpretation, and the skeleton and absolute configurations of asperolides D (1) and E (2) were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against seven tumor cell lines and antibacterial activity against two human and eight aquatic pathogens.

Molecular Characterization and Sex Distribution of Chemosensory Receptor Gene Family Based on Transcriptome Analysis of Scaeva pyrastri.

Chemosensory receptors play key roles in insect behavior. Thus, genes encoding these receptors have great potential for use in integrated pest management. The hover fly Scaeva pyrastri (L.

Effect of coronary artery revascularization on in-hospital outcomes and long-term prognoses in acute myocardial infarction patients with prior ischemic stroke.

Objective: To investigate whether coronary artery revascularization therapies (CART), including percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), can improve the in-hospital and long-term outcomes for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with prior ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods: A total of 387 AMI patients with prior IS were enrolled consecutively from January 15, 2005 to December 24, 2011 in this cohort study. All patients were categorized into the CART group (n = 204) or the conservative medications (CM) group (n = 183).

Aspewentins D-H, 20-Nor-isopimarane Derivatives from the Deep Sea Sediment-Derived Fungus Aspergillus wentii SD-310.

Five new 20-nor-isopimarane diterpenoids, aspewentins D-H (1-5), along with a related known congener, aspewentin A (6), were isolated from the culture extract of Aspergillus wentii SD-310, a fungal strain obtained from a deep-sea sediment sample. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic interpretation, and the absolute configurations of compounds 1-5 were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis and TDDFT-ECD calculations. The isolated compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against nine human and aquatic pathogenic bacteria and four plant pathogenic fungi as well as for lethality against brine shrimp (Artemia salina).

Loss of MeCP2 in cholinergic neurons causes part of RTT-like phenotypes via α7 receptor in hippocampus.

Mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene cause Rett syndrome (RTT), an autism spectrum disorder characterized by impaired social interactions, motor abnormalities, cognitive defects and a high risk of epilepsy. Here, we showed that conditional deletion of Mecp2 in cholinergic neurons caused part of RTT-like phenotypes, which could be rescued by re-expressing Mecp2 in the basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons rather than in the caudate putamen of conditional knockout (Chat-Mecp2(-/y)) mice. We found that choline acetyltransferase expression was decreased in the BF and that α7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor signaling was strongly impaired in the hippocampus of Chat-Mecp2(-/y) mice, which is sufficient to produce neuronal hyperexcitation and increase seizure susceptibility.

Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Involvement of Both C and N Termini of Cryptochrome 1 in Its Regulation of Phytohormone-Responsive Gene Expression in Arabidopsis.

Cryptochromes (CRY) are blue-light photoreceptors that mediate various light responses in plants and animals. It has long been demonstrated that Arabidopsis CRY (CRY1 and CRY2) C termini (CCT1 and CCT2) mediate light signaling through direct interaction with COP1. Most recently, CRY1 N terminus (CNT1) has been found to be involved in CRY1 signaling independent of CCT1, and implicated in the inhibition of gibberellin acids (GA)/brassinosteroids (BR)/auxin-responsive gene expression.

Chermesins A-D: Meroterpenoids with a Drimane-Type Spirosesquiterpene Skeleton from the Marine Algal-Derived Endophytic Fungus Penicillium chermesinum EN-480.

Chermesins A-D (1-4), four new spiromeroterpenoids containing a drimane-type sesquiterpene skeleton, were isolated and identified from the culture extract of Penicillium chermesinum EN-480, an endophytic fungus obtained from the inner tissue of the marine red alga Pterocladiella tenuis. The structures of these new spiromeroterpenoids were elucidated based on detailed spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments and by ECD data. This is the first report of the crystal structures of spiromeroterpenoids that contain a drimane-type sesquiterpene skeleton with a rare cyclohexa-2,5-dienone unit, which resulted in the unambiguous assignment of their relative and absolute configurations.

TCDD-Induced Activation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Inhibits Th17 Polarization and Regulates Non-Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in Asthma.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor of the bHLH/PAS family, has recently been demonstrated to regulate T cell differentiation. Whether AhR activation participates in allergic airway inflammation remains unknown. In the current study, using a non-eosinophilic asthma model, we demonstrate that 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin (TCDD), a potent AhR ligand, reduced the airway infiltration of neutrophils, airway hyperresponsiveness and Th17 cytokine expression.

Selectively driving cholinergic fibers optically in the thalamic reticular nucleus promotes sleep.

Cholinergic projections from the basal forebrain and brainstem are thought to play important roles in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and arousal. Using transgenic mice in which channelrhdopsin-2 is selectively expressed in cholinergic neurons, we show that optical stimulation of cholinergic inputs to the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) activates local GABAergic neurons to promote sleep and protect non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. It does not affect REM sleep.

A new phenolic enamide and a new meroterpenoid from marine alga-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium oxalicum EN-290.

Ten secondary metabolites (1-10) including a new phenolic enamide, methyl (Z)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-formamidoacrylate (1), and a new meroterpenoid, 15-hydroxydecaturin A (2), were characterized from the EtOAc extracts of the marine alga-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium oxalicum EN-290. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments and the absolute configuration of compound 2 was confirmed by electronic circular dichroism quantum calculations. Compound 1 showed potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus with an MIC value of 2.

Comparing the diagnostic utility of sacroiliac spectral CT and MRI in axial spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To compare the clinical value of sacroiliac spectral CT and MRI in diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: 137 patients with low back pain and suspected axial SpA were recruited. 76 patients were diagnosed with axial SpA, and 49 patients were diagnosed with non-specific low back pain (nLBP).

Candidate chemosensory genes identified in Colaphellus bowringi by antennal transcriptome analysis.

Background: Since chemosensory genes play key roles in insect behaviour, they can potentially be used as new targets for pest control. The cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi, is a serious insect pest of cruciferous vegetables in China and other Asian countries. However, a systematic identification of the chemosensory genes expressed in the antennae has not been reported.

Characterization of a Newly Isolated Marine Fungus Aspergillus dimorphicus for Optimized Production of the Anti-Tumor Agent Wentilactones.

The potential anti-tumor agent wentilactones were produced by a newly isolated marine fungus Aspergillus dimorphicus. This fungus was derived from deep-sea sediment and identified by polyphasic approach, combining phenotypic, molecular, and extrolite profiles. However, wentilactone production was detected only under static cultures with very low yields.

[The Study of Infrared Spectra of Acetophenone Molecule].

By implying the density functional theory method, the geometry of acetophenone molecular is fully optimized at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) level and the frequency is also calculated at the same level. The infrared spectrum and complete vibrational modes of acetophenone molecular are attained. Meanwhile, the infrared spectrum is obtained by experimental measurements.

A novel diagnostic method (spectral computed tomography of sacroiliac joints) for axial spondyloarthritis.

Background/purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of spectral computed tomography (CT) of sacroiliac joints for axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 125 patients with low back pain (LBP) suspected of having SpA. Each patient underwent sacroiliac joint spectral CT examination.

Citrifelins A and B, Citrinin Adducts with a Tetracyclic Framework from Cocultures of Marine-Derived Isolates of Penicillium citrinum and Beauveria felina.

Citrifelins A (1) and B (2), two citrinin adducts possessing a unique tetracyclic framework, were characterized from a coculture of marine-derived fungal isolates of Penicillium citrinum and Beauveria felina. Neither fungus produced these compounds when cultured alone under the same conditions. The structures of these adducts were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of TDDFT-ECD calculations.

Assessment of liver fat content using quantitative ultrasonography to evaluate risks for metabolic diseases.

Objective: The ultrasound quantitative method for liver fat content (LFC) is a recent established method for non-invasive assessment of liver steatosis. Its use in clinical practice is further explored by investigating the quantitative relationships between LFC measured by quantitative ultrasonography and metabolic diseases in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population.

Methods: Liver fat content was measured by the quantitative ultrasound method in 4,916 participants from the Shanghai Changfeng Community Study.

Effect of Calcium Ions on Dewaterability of Enzymatic-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion Sludge.

Waste-activated sludge (WAS) solubilized remarkably after enzymatic-enhanced anaerobic digestion, but its dewaterability was deteriorated. In this study, a novel method was performed to improve the dewaterability of enzymatic-enhanced anaerobic digestion sludge by adding CaCl2 (0.01~1.

Calpain-Dependent ErbB4 Cleavage Is Involved in Brain Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Death.

Disturbance of neuregulin-1β/ErbB4 signaling is considered to be associated with brain ischemia, but the mechanisms of this disruption are largely unknown. In the present study, we provide evidence that degradation of ErbB4 is involved in neuronal cell death in response to ischemia. Our data showed that the application of neuregulin-1β provided significant protection against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neuronal death as detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.