Balanced time perspective and aggression in left-behind children: The mediating role of self-esteem.

Left-behind children refer to children who have been separated from their parents for a long period of time because one or both parents have gone to work in cities and towns, and who stay in their hometowns or board with relatives in rural China. This study investigated the association between time perspective and aggression among left-behind children and examined the potential mediating role of self-esteem. The initial cross-sectional study (Study 1) involved a sample of 549 middle school students (M = 13.

Vacuum-assisted black liquor-recycling enhances the sugar yield of sugarcane bagasse and decreases water and alkali consumption.

Black liquor (BL) remains a critical problem during alkaline pretreatment. To solve this issue, a novel pretreatment strategy termed vacuum-assisted black liquor-recycling pretreatment, was established to pretreat sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Firstly, SCB was pretreated with 2% NaOH at 121 °C for 1 h under vacuum conditions.

Enhanced enzymatic saccharification of sugarcane bagasse pretreated by sodium methoxide with glycerol.

Sodium methoxide (CHONa) with glycerol pretreatment (CWGP) was performed to improve the enzymatic digestibility of sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the CWGP parameters for pretreating SCB from the perspective of total fermentable sugar yield (TFSY) and total fermentable sugar concentration (TFSC). Under the optimal CWGP conditions, 0.

Vacuum-assisted alkaline pretreatment as an innovative approach for enhancing fermentable sugar yield and decreasing inhibitor production of sugarcane bagasse.

Sodium hydroxide pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse under vacuum conditions was established and evaluated in this study. Compared to pretreatment under conventional moderate pressure conditions, only half of the total phenolic compounds and less than half of the formic acid were produced under vacuum conditions, while the yield of total fermentable sugar was significantly increased by 31.38%.

Association of Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 gene polymorphisms with Graves' disease in Chinese Cantonese population.

Graves' disease (GD) is a common polygenic multifactorial autoimmune disease. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play critical roles in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. This study investigated the association of TLR7 and TLR8 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility of GD.

Direct fermentation of amorphous cellulose to ethanol by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae coexpressing Trichoderma viride EG3 and BGL1.

Direct ethanol fermentation from amorphous cellulose was achieved using an engineered industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. Two cellulase genes endoglucanase (eg3) and β-glucosidase (bgl1) were obtained from Trichoderma viride and integrated into the genome of S. cerevisiae.

Polymorphisms in TLR1, TLR6 and TLR10 genes and the risk of Graves' disease.

Graves' disease (GD) is postulated to be caused by the combined effects of susceptibility genes and environmental triggers. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a role in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses in mammalians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential association of polymorphisms in TLR1, TLR6 and TLR10 genes with GD in Chinese Cantonese population.

Ethanol production from xylan-removed sugarcane bagasse using low loading of commercial cellulase.

Xylan was always extracted as the feedstock for xylooligosaccharides production. The xylan-removed residue may contain high content of cellulose and thus had a possibility to be converted into ethanol. After soaked in 12% of NaOH at room temperature overnight, solubilization of cellulose, xylan, and lignin was 4.

Association of TLR4 and TLR5 gene polymorphisms with Graves' disease in Chinese Cantonese population.

Graves' disease (GD) is postulated to be caused by the combined effects of susceptibility genes and environmental triggers. Toll like receptors (TLRs) play a role in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses in mammalians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential association of TLR4 and TLR5 gene polymorphisms with GD in Chinese Cantonese population.

One-pot simultaneous saccharification and fermentation: a preliminary study of a novel configuration for cellulosic ethanol production.

Combination of size reduction and mild alkali pretreatment may be a feasible way to produce bioethanol without rinsing and detoxifying the solid substrate. Based on that, a fermentation configuration named one-pot SSF in which pretreatment and fermentation steps were integrated was developed. Additionally, the effect of laccase on fermentation performance was investigated.

Synergism of cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase on hydrolyzing sugarcane bagasse resulting from different pretreatment technologies.

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) resulting from different pretreatments was hydrolyzed by enzyme cocktails based on replacement of cellulase (Celluclast 1.5 L:Novozym 188=1FPU:4pNPGU) by xylanase or pectinase at different proportions. Lignin content of NaOH pretreated SCB and hemicellulose content of H2SO4 pretreated SCB were the lowest.

Solvent extraction of antioxidants from steam exploded sugarcane bagasse and enzymatic convertibility of the solid fraction.

Solvent extraction of steam exploded lignocellulosic biomass may be a potential way to obtain antioxidative extracts and to enhance the enzymatic convertibility of the solid residue. Boiling solvent extraction (BSE) showed higher solid and phenolic yields than room temperature extraction. Solubilities of phenolics and sugars were higher in anhydrous ethanol (AE) and deionized water (DW) than in ethyl acetate under each individual extraction condition.

Identification and characterization of a novel thermostable gh-57 gene from metagenomic fosmid library of the Juan de Fuca Ridge hydrothemal vent.

A novel glycoside hydrolases family 57 gene (gh-57) was found from a metagenomic fosmid library constructed from a black smoker chimney sample 4143-1 from the Mothra hydrothermal vent at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Sequence and homology analysis using BLAST revealed that it had high similarity to gh-57 family. Conserved domain research revealed that the novel gh-57 contained a Glyco-hydro-57 domain and five conserved regions, including two putative catalytic residues Glu¹⁵⁴ and Asp²⁶³.

Rupture of plasma membrane under tension.

We present a study on the rupture behavior of single NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts under tension using micropipette aspiration. Membrane rupture was characterized by breaking and formation of an enclosed membrane linked to a tether at the cell apex. Three different rupture modes, namely: single break, initial multiple breaks, and continuous multiple breaks, were observed under similar loading condition.

Adhesion dynamics of porcine esophageal fibroblasts on extracellular matrix protein-functionalized poly(lactic acid).

Effective attachment of esophageal cells on biomaterials is one important requirement in designing engineered esophagus substitute for esophageal cancer treatment. In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was subjected to surface modification by coupling extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on its surface to promote cell adhesion. Two typical ECM proteins, collagen type I (COL) and fibronectin (FN), were immobilized on the PLA surface with the aid of glutaraldehyde as a cross linker between aminolyzed PLA and ECM proteins.

Characterization of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus 38.7 k protein, which contains a conserved BRO domain.

Homology analysis revealed that Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) 38.7 k protein has 22-83% amino acid identities with Ecotropis obliqua NPV, Mamestra configurata MNPV, Helicoverpa armigera SNPV, H. zea SNPV, S.

Identification of the apoptosis inhibitor gene p49 of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Baculoviruses possess two types of genes that suppressed apoptosis, p35 and inhibitor of apoptosis (iap). Computer-assisted analysis indicated that Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) ORF55 (designated as the p49 gene) display 79 and 31% amino acid identity with Spodoptera littoralis (Spli)MNPV P49 and Autographa californica (Ac)MNPV P35, respectively, Splt MNPV putative P49 contains a peptide cleavage site TVTDG recognized by death caspases. In marker rescue assay, Splt-p49 was able to suppress apoptosis induced by infection of a mutant AcMNPV deficient in p35 and rescue the mutant virus replication from apoptosis in Sf-9 cells.

Characterization of gp41 gene of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) gp41 gene is 993 bp long and the protein encoded by this gene has 6-66% amino acid identities with other known baculovirus GP41 proteins. Slgp41 transcripts were detected from 12 to 96 h post-infection (p.i.

Characterization of bro-a gene of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) ORF120 (designated as the bro-a gene) is a member of the unique multigene family called the baculovirus repeated ORFs (bro) family. Computer-assisted analysis revealed that BRO-A does not contain the conserved Bro-N domain in its N-terminus, but contains a single-stranded DNA binding motif near its C-terminus. Transcriptional analysis indicated that bro-a transcript initiated within a baculovirus consensus early start site motif (ATCAGT).

Characterization of bro-b gene of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) ORF125 (designated as the bro-b gene) is a member of the unique multigene family called the baculovirus repeated ORFs (bro) family. Computer-assisted analysis revealed that BRO-B contains a conserved Bro-N domain in its N-terminus and a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding motif in the middle region. In vitro the bro-b gene transcription was present at 12 h post-infection (p.

Characterization of a chitin-binding protein GP37 of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus.

The GP37 amino acid sequence of Spodoptera litura multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) was compared with other baculovirus GP37, entomopoxvirus fusolin, the enhancing factor of Pseudaletia separata entomopoxvirus, and Alteromonas sp. chitin-binding protein 1. In these proteins, five 'conserved regions' previously reported constitute a chitin-binding domain.

[Cloning and expression of a novel ubiquitin fusion gene Uba256].

Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) Uba256 gene is the only Ub-gp37 fusion gene in the genome of insect viruses. With the specific primers designed for Uba256 gene that was reported recently, the coding regions of Uba256, N-terminal ubiquitin and C-terminal GP37 that lacking the signal sequence, were amplified from SpltMNPV genomic DNA by PCR. The Uba256 coding region was expressed using the expression vector pBV220, and a band of 38 kD was detected with Western blot analysis, indicating that ubiquitin-GP37 fusion protein did not undergo post-transcriptional processing in E.

Characterization of a novel ubiquitin-fusion gene Uba256 from Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) Uba256 gene, encoding ubiquitin fused to GP37 protein of 256 amino acids was determined. The first 76 amino acids of the SpltMNPV ubiquitin showed 78-88, 77 and 81-84% amino acid sequence identity to baculovirus, Melanoplus sanguinipes entomopoxvirus and eukaryotes ubiquitins, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpltMNPV GP37 protein was similar to other baculovirus GP37 proteins and to entomopoxvirus fusolin proteins.