Morphological comparison and molecular marker screening of three Skeletonema species found in Changjiang(Yangtze)River Basin

In our recent investigations of diatom diversity,we studied three species,namely,Skeletonema costatum,Skeletonema subsalsum,and Skeletonema potamos.Although they have been found frequently in Changjiang(Yangtze)River Basin,their morphological and molecular identification is difficult in taxonomy.Therefore,to integrate morphological and molecular biological approaches,we compared systematically their morphological characters and performed phylogenetic analysis.Twelve strains of Skeletonema were collected and isolated from Shanghai and Jiangsu,China,and their morphological characteristics were examined by light microscopy(LM)and the scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Based on morphological comparison,we determined that S.potamos is easy to distinguish from the other two species.The heavily silicified areolae,undulated or cleft distal ends of terminal fultoportula processes(TFPPs),absence of basal pores of fultoportula processes(FPPs),the rootlike protrusions of FPPs,and no interlocking connection are the stable characteristics that can be used to identify S.potamos.However,there are only two features that can distinguish S.costatum from S.subsalsum,namely the location of terminal rimoportulae(TRPs)and the distal shape of TFPPs.In addition,we amplified and sequenced nine common genetic markers from the strains,from which 101 sequences were obtained,constructed phylogenetic trees based on the nine genes and evaluated that seven genes can be used to identify S.potamos,and revealed that S.subsalsum is the closest known relative of S.costatum,and only ATP synthetase beta-subunit gene(atp B)is able to distinguish them from each other,which strongly support that it is an effective molecular marker for Skeletonema.This work provided a theoretical basis for the taxonomic study of Skeletonema.

改性钛酸钡/聚间苯二甲酰间苯二胺复合薄膜的制备与介电性能

通过在钛酸钡纳米颗粒表面羟基化处理后用十八烷基异氰酸酯进行化学接枝改性,然后将改性后的钛酸钡纳米粒子加入到聚间苯二甲酰间苯二胺(PMIA)浆液中,采用刮涂法制得耐高温的高性能PMIA介电复合薄膜。通过红外研究了复合粒子表面官能团变化;通过热重研究复合薄膜和复合粒子的热稳定性;利用X射线光电子能谱分析材料的元素成分和相关的化学键种类,表明十八烷基异氰酸酯成功地接枝到纳米钛酸钡表面;通过扫描电镜研究了复合薄膜的断面形貌,表明经过改性后的纳米钛酸钡改善了其与PMIA基体的相容性;通过宽频介电阻抗谱仪研究不同条件下复合薄膜的介电性能变化。结果表明,当改性钛酸钡纳米粒子质量分数为15%时,复合薄膜的介电常数是纯PMIA膜的5.4倍,同时保持了较低的介电损耗;同时,当温度到达120℃时,复合薄膜依然保持了良好的介电性能,能满足高温环境的应用要求。

Hypofibrinogenemia Caused by Hemocoagulase Injection:A Retrospective Study on Clinical Laboratory Findings

Objective Hemocoagulase injection based on the venom of Agkistrodon halys Pallas is widely used in the treatment of hemorrhagic disorders.This study aimed to characterize the clinical laboratory findings of hemocoagulase-induced hypofibrinogenemia as the associated adverse reaction of hemocoagulase injection.Methods Wie retrospectively enrolled 27 in-patients who were treated with hemocoagulase injection for hemoptysis and developed hypofibrinogenemia during the period of January 1,2015 to March 31,2018.Clinical data were collected and investigated,including clinical manifestations,hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters,dosage of hemocoagulase,the medication time,and the cryoprecipitate blood product infusion.Differences in fibrinogen,D-dimer,and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products(FDP)before,during,and after the application of hemocoagulase injection were analyzed statistically.Results Plasma fibrinogen level during medication of hemocoagulase injection decreased significantly compared to that before the treatment(F=1.80,P<0.001),with the average decrease of 2.28 g/L(0.63-3.9 g/L).After withdrawal,fibrinogen level increased significantly compared to that during the medication(F=l.20,P<0.001),but was still lower than that before the medication(F=0.59,P=0.03).The D-dimer level and the FDP level after withdrawal decreased significantly compared to the levels during the medication(F=0.83,P=0.002;Wilcoxon-test,Z=-4.54,P<0.001).Spearman's correlation analyses did not find either fibrinogen change during-before the administration or FDP change after-during the administration was associated with the dosage of hemo coagulase(r=-0.17,P=0.40;r=-0.28,P=0.15;respectively)and the time of recovery from hypofibrinogenemia(r=-0.45,P=0.05;r=0.13,P=0.61;respectively).Conclusion Monitoring both clotting and fibrinolysis parameters is essential in the management of hemoptysis patients treated with hemocoagulase injection.Clinicians should be aware of hypofibrinogenemia and consider discontinuation of the administration of hemocoagulase whenever necessary.

Beyond Lambertian light trapping for large-area silicon solar cells:fabrication methods

Light trapping photonic crystal(PhC)patterns on the surface of Si solar cells provides a novel opportunity to approach the theoretical efficiency limit of 32.3%,for light-to-electrical power conversion with a single junction cell.This is beyond the efficiency limit implied by the Lambertian limit of ray trapping~29%.The interference and slow light effects are harnessed for collecting light even at the long wavelengths near the Si band-gap.We compare two different methods for surface patterning,that can be extended to large area surface patterning:1)laser direct write and 2)step-&-repeat 5×reduction projection lithography.Large area throughput limitations of these methods are compared with the established elec-tron beam lithography(EBL)route,which is conventionally utilised but much slower than the presented methods.Spec-tral characterisation of the PhC light trapping is compared for samples fabricated by different methods.Reflectance of Si etched via laser patterned mask was~7%at visible wavelengths and was comparable with Si patterned via EBL made mask.The later pattern showed a stronger absorbance than the Lambertian limit6.

Meiotic nuclear divisions 1(MND1)fuels cell cycle progression by activating a KLF6/E2F1 positive feedback loop in lung adenocarcinoma

Background:Considering the increase in the proportion of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD)cases among all lung cancers and its considerable contribution to cancer-related deaths worldwide,we sought to identify novel oncogenes to provide potential targets and facilitate a better understanding of the malignant progression of LUAD.Methods:The results from the screening of transcriptome and survival analyses according to the integrated Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)datasets and The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)data were combined,and a promising risk biomarker called meiotic nuclear divisions 1(MND1)was selectively acquired.Cell viability assays and subcutaneous xenograftmodelswere used to validate the oncogenic role ofMND1 in LUADcell proliferation and tumor growth.Aseries of assays,including mass spectrometry,co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP),and chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP),were performed to explore the underlying mechanism.Results:MND1 up-regulation was identified to be an independent risk factor for overall survival in LUAD patients evaluated by both tissue microarray staining and third party data analysis.In vivo and in vitro assays showed that MND1 promoted LUAD cell proliferation by regulating cell cycle.The results of the Co-IP,ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays validated that MND1 competitively bound to tumor suppressor Kruppel-like factor 6(KLF6),and thereby protecting E2F transcription factor 1(E2F1)from KLF6-induced transcriptional repression.Luciferase reporter and ChIP assays found that E2F1 activated MND1 transcription by binding to its promoter in a feedback manner.Conclusions:MND1,KLF6,and E2F1 form a positive feedback loop to regulate cell cycle and confer DDP resistance in LUAD.MND1 is crucial for malignant progression and may be a potential therapeutic target in LUAD patients.

Rapidly separating dissolving microneedles with sustained-release colchicine and stabilized uricase for simplified long-term gout management

Despite growing prevalence and incidence,the management of gout remains suboptimal.The intermittent nature of the gout makes the long-term urate-lowering therapy(ULT)particularly important for gout management.However,patients are reluctant to take medication day after day to manage incurable occasional gout flares,and suffer from possible long-term toxicity.Therefore,a safe and easy-tooperate drug delivery system with simple preparation for the long-term management of gout is very necessary.Here,a chitosan-containing sustained-release microneedle system co-loaded with colchicine and uricase liposomes were fabricated to achieve this goal.This microneedle system was confirmed to successfully deliver the drug to the skin and maintain a one-week drug retention.Furthermore,its powerful therapeutic potency to manage gout was investigated in both acute gouty and chronic gouty models.Besides,the drug co-delivery system could help avoid long-term daily oral colchicine,a drug with a narrow therapeutic index.This system also avoids mass injection of uricase by improving its stability,enhancing the clinical application value of uricase.In general,this two-drug system reduces the dosage of uricase and colchicine and improves the patient’s compliance,which has a strong clinical translation.