Behavior and controlling factors of methane adsorption in Jurassic continental shale,northeastern Sichuan Basin

The behavior and controlling factors of natural gas adsorption in the Jurassic continental shale in the northeastern Sichuan Basin are studied based on the organic geochemical features,mineral compositions and pore structure parameters through a series of experiments on samples from the shale.Results show that the total gas content of the shale measured on-site is 0.1-5.3 cm^(3)/g,with an average of 0.7 cm^(3)/g.The methane isothermal adsorption curves show a trend of increasing first and then decreasing,indicating an obvious excessive adsorption.The shale has a maximum adsorption capacity(V^(L))of 0.44-3.59 cm^(3)/g,with an average of 1.64 cm^(3)/g,lower than that of marine shale in the same basin.The organic matter content and pore structure characteristics are identified as the two main factors controlling the adsorption capacity of the shale.Micropores in the shale are the main storage space for gas to be adsorbed.Due to well developed shell laminae and interlayers in the shale,calcite plays a more important role than clay minerals in affecting the adsorption of gas to the rock.The formation temperature and water content also significantly inhibit the gas adsorption to the shale.Compared with marine shale in the basin,the Jurassic continental shale is more heterogeneous and lower in TOC values.Furthermore,with a more widely developed clayey shale lithofacies and shell limy shale lithofacies as well as relatively less developed organic pores and micropores,the continental shale is inferior to marine shale in terms of gas adsorption capacity.

Novel MIP gene mutation causes autosomal-dominant congenital cataract

●AIM:To identify disease-causative mutations in families with congenital cataract.●METHODS:Two Chinese families with autosomaldominant congenital cataract(ADCC)were recruited and underwent comprehensive eye examinations.Gene panel next-generation sequencing of common pathogenic genes of congenital cataract was performed in the proband of each family.Sanger sequencing was used to valid the candidate gene mutations and sequence the other family members for co-segregation analysis.The effect of sequence changes on protein structure and function was predicted through bioinformatics analysis.Major intrinsic protein(MIP)-wildtype and MIP-G29R plasmids were constructed and microinjected into zebrafish single-cell stage embryos.Zebrafish embryonic lens phenotypes were screened using confocal microscopy.●RESULTS:A novel heterozygous mutation(c.85G>A;p.G29R)in the MIP gene was identified in the proband of one family.A known heterozygous mutation(c.97C>T;p.R33C;rs864309693)in MIP was found in the proband of another family.In-silico prediction indicated that the novel mutation might affect the MIP protein function.Zebrafish embryonic lens was uniformly transparent in both wild-type PCS2+MIP and mutant PCS2+MIP.●CONCLUSION:Two missense mutations in the MIP gene in Chinese cataract families are identified,and one of which is novel.These findings expand the genetic spectrum of MIP mutations associated with cataracts.The functional studies suggest that the novel MIP mutation might not be a gain-of-function but a loss-of-function mutation.

Literature review and analysis of the application of health outcome assessment instruments in Chinese medicine

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the application of health assessment instruments in Chinese medicine. METHODS： According to a pre-defined search strategy, a comprehensive literature search for all articles published in China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted. The resulting articles that met the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for analysis. RESULTS： A total of 97 instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine have been used in fundamental and theoretical research, and 14 of these were also used in 29 clinical trials that were randomized controlled trials, or descriptive or cross-sectional studies. In 2 152 Chinese medicine-based studies that used instruments in their methodology, more than 150 questionnaires were identified. Among the identified questionnaires, 51 were used in more than 10 articles （0.5%）. Most of these instruments were developed in Western countries and few studies （4%） used the instrument as the primary evidence for their conclusions. CONCLUSION： Usage of instruments for health outcome assessment in Chinese medicine is increasing rapidly; however, current limitations include selection rationale, result interpretation and standardization, which must be addressed accordingly.

Hyperthermia inhibits hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of hyperthermia on hy-poxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and its mechanism. METHODS:Cells were treated with hyperthermia at 43 ℃ for 0.5 h, followed by incubation under hypoxic or normoxic conditions for 72 h. Cell morphology was observed. Expressions of E-cadherin and vimentin were determined by immunofluorescence assay or Western blot. The protein and mRNA expressions of Snail were also determined by Western blot and reverse transcrip-tion-polymerase chain reaction. Cell migratory capacity was evaluated. RESULTS:Hypoxia induced EMT in HepG2 cells, which was evidenced by morphological, molecular and func-tional changes, including the formation of a spindle shape and the loss of cell contact. The expression of E-cadherin was decreased but the expression of vimentin was increased; also, the migratory capability was increased by 2.2 ± 0.20-fold as compared with normoxia. However, those effects were inhibited by hyperthermia pretreatment. Furthermore, protein synthesis and mRNA expression of Snail in the cells were enhanced by hy-poxia as compared with normoxia, and also significantly inhibited by hyperthermia pretreatment. CONCLUSION:Hyperthermia may inhibit hypoxia-induced EMT in HepG2 HCC cells, and the mechanism may involve inhibition of induced expression of Snail.

Numerical simulation on dynamic behaviors of bubbles flowing through bifurcate T-junction in microfluidic device

Based on the volume of fluid(VOF) method, a numerical model of bubbles splitting in a microfluidic device with T-junction is developed and solved numerically. Various flow patterns are distinguished and the effects of bubble length,capillary number, and diameter ratio between the mother channel and branch are discussed. The break-up mechanism is explored in particular. The results indicate that the behaviors of the bubbles can be classified into two categories: break-up and non-break. Under the condition of slug flowing, the branches are obstructed by the bubbles that the pressure difference drives the bubbles into break-up state, while the bubbles that retain non-break state flow into an arbitrary branch under bubbling flow condition. The break-up of the short bubbles only occurs when the viscous force from the continuous phase overcomes the interfacial tension. The behavior of the bubbles transits from non-break to break-up with the increase of capillary number. In addition, the increasing of the diameter ratio is beneficial to the symmetrical break-up of the bubbles.

Sacro-anterior haemangiopericytoma: a case report

Haemangiopericytoma(HPC) is a rare vascular tumor with borderline malignancy, considerable histological variability, and unpredictable clinical and biological behavior. HPC can present a diagnostic challenge because of its indeterminate clinical, radiological, and pathological features. HPC generally presents in adulthood and is equally frequent in both sexes. HPC can arise in any site in the body as a slowly growing and painless mass. The precise cell type origin of HPC is uncertain. One third of HPCs occur in the head and neck areas. Exceptional cases of hemangioblastoma arising outside the head and neck areas have been reported, but little is known about their clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features. This study reports on a case of a large sacro-anterior HPC in a 65-year-old male.