Fecundity and egg hatchability of Dastarcus helophoroides adults fed on different types of artificial diets

Both fecundities and egg hatchabilities were compared among three populations of Dastarcus helophoroides Fairmaire adults（Coleoptera： Bothrideridae） fed on three types of artificial diets（Diet of formula 1 composed of silkworm pupa powder, dried yeast powder,sucrose, peptone, egg yolk powder and poplar branch powder. Diet of formula 2 composed of silkworm pupa powder, dried yeast powder, sucrose, egg yolk powder,poplar branch powder, cricket powder, benzoic acid and distilled water. Diet of formula 3 composed of pine bark powder and Monochamus alternatus larva powder）. for90 days. The three diets showed no significant difference regarding the average number of eggs deposited by all D. helophoroides females（16622.3–23874.7）; the average number of eggs per female（1278.6–1836.5）; and the average number of eggs per female per day（14.2–20.4）.The number of eggs one cluster contained mainly（82.06–82.66 %） lied in 1–100 eggs, and the average number of eggs per cluster ranged from 61.7 to 63.1. In the first 10-day period, the number of eggs deposited by all females fed on formula 1 was significantly larger than that on formula 3. The eggs deposited in the last four 10-day periods were more than in the former five 10-day periods,on formula 3. There were no significant differences in hatchability of total eggs among the three artificial diets,and the average corrected egg hatchability ranged from82.85 to 84.78 %. No significant differences in the adult mortality and mean weight gain of D. helophoroides were found after feeding on three artificial diets. Our results suggest that D. helophoroides adults were not specialized on the diet, and the diet types might have little effect on fecundity and egg hatchability in D. helophoroides, as long as sufficient nutrition was supplied.

Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus Replication and Expression in Vitro and in Vivo by the Hammerhead Ribozymes Targeted Different Sites

Objective To develop an effective and specific medicine targeting hepatitis B virus(HBV) pregenome. Based on the identified accessible target sites for hammerhead ribozyme in our previous researches, a recombinant hepatitis delta virus(HDV) ribozyme was chosen and used to demonstrate the effective cleavage in vitro and in vivo. Methods Three hammerhead ribozymes for potential target sites(S, X and C genes) and co-expression plasmid(pTr-dB, pTdδ-dB, pTrX-dB and pTrC-dB) as well as four HDV-ribozyme chimera constructs with HBV(pTdXX, pTdXC, pTdSX and pTdSC) were severally chosen to validate the inhibition of the replication and expression of HBV. The co-expression plasmids(pTdδ and pTr-Db) in physiological saline were hydrodynamically injected to mice by tail vein. Results Compared with the group injected with pTr-dB in Huh-7 cell, hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) was reduced by 31% in the group injected with pTdδ-dB, by 54%, 26%, 72% and 97% in the group injected with recombinant-ribozymes pTdSX, pTdSC, pTdXC and pTdXX, respectively. The inhibiting effects of endogenous ribozymes RzX and RzC on the HBsAg expression were 66% and 57%, respectively. Compared with the positive control, the amount of HBsAg was decreased in mice injected with pTdXX through tail vein by 88% and 96% on the second day and the third day, respectively. HBsAg was undetectable on the 6th day and could not primitively be detected on the 9th day in the sera from all mice. HBV DNA was not detected in the sera of BALB/c mice injected with pTdXX-dB, pTrX-dB or replicating-defective plasmid pHBV, while HBV DNA replication in control group could be detected on the 6th day. While HBcAg could not be detected in liver tissues of mice injected with plasmid pTdXX-dB on the 3rd day. Conclusions Encoding regions of HBV S, C and X gene were the effective cleavage sites for hammerhead ribozyme in vitro and in vivo, which provides basis for further construction of therapeutic recombinant HDV and the development of targeting antiviral gene therapy.

Structure instability-induced high dielectric properties in[001]-oriented 0.68Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_3–0.33PbTiO_3 crystals

The structure evolution and origin of ultrahigh dielectric properties have been investigated in the low temperature range from 300 K to 5 K for [001]-oriented 0.68 Pb(Mg_(1/3)Nb_(2/3))O_3–0.33PbTiO_3(PMN–33 PT) crystal. The experimental results reveal that a short-range ordered monoclinic MAis the dominant phase at ambient temperature. As the temperature drops below 270 K, the MAtransforms into monoclinic MC, and the MCremains stable until 5 K. Although no phase transition occurs from 5 K to 245 K, polar nanoregions(PNRs) display visible changes. The instability of PNRs is suggested as responsible for the low temperature relaxation. The ultrahigh dielectric constant at room temperature is associated with the instability of local structure and phase transition. Our research provides an insight into the design of high-performance ferroelectric materials.

Reduced expression of α-tocopherol-associated protein is associated with tumor cell proliferation and the-increased risk of prostate cancer recurrence

Aim： To examine the impact and prognostic significance of α-tocopherol associated protein （TAP） expression in a series of prostate cancer patients. Methods： Tissues from 87 patients underwent radical prostatectomy were examined for TAP expression by immunohistochemistry. The relationships of the staining results, the clinic pathological characteristics and the recurrence times were analyzed. Results： Compared with the adjacent areas of normal and benign glands, immunoreactivity of TAP was reduced in areas of prostate cancer. A lower TAP-positive cell number per mm^2 of the largest cancer area （defined as TAP-PN） was associated with higher clinical stage （r = -0.248, P = 0.0322）. Inverse associations were found among the TAP-PN and positive lymph nodes （r = -0.231, P = 0.0325）, preoperative prostatespecific antigen （PSA） levels （r = -0.423, P = 0.0043）, tumor size （r = -0.315, P = 0.0210） and elevated tumor cell proliferation, which was indicated by the staining of Ki-67 （r = -0.308, P = 0.0026）. TAP-PN was a significant predictor of recurrence univariately （P = 0.0006）, as well as multivariately, adjusted for known markers including preoperative PSA, clinical stage, Gleason score, surgical margin, extra-prostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node metastasis （P = 0.0012）. Conclusion： Reduced expression of TAP was associated with the cell proliferation status of prostate cancer, adverse pathological parameters and the increased risk of recurrence.

PdS修饰的ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合材料用于可见光催化硫醇偶联制备二硫化物同时产氢

二硫化物及其衍生物是生物、医药和工业合成的重要中间体,不仅在蛋白质功能化和药物传递系统中发挥着重要作用,而且在橡胶硫化剂、农药和抗氧化剂的生产中广泛应用.在传统合成策略中,有毒或昂贵的试剂通常被用于硫醇的偶联,且该过程存在反应条件苛刻、选择性低和反应时间长等问题.相比之下,光催化技术能够通过S-S偶联,将硫醇选择性地转化为二硫化物同时产氢,构建一种由光催化析氢和选择性有机合成相结合的光氧化还原体系.该双功能光催化反应体系能够充分利用光生电子和空穴的能量,同时获得绿色的清洁燃料和高价值的精细化学品,从而满足经济和社会可持续发展的目标.本文采用简便的水热法和原位沉积法成功合成了PdS助催化剂修饰的ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合光催化剂.在可见光照射下,二元PdS-ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合材料可以高效地催化硫醇进行选择性脱氢偶联,充分利用高能电子和空穴,同时获得清洁的氢能源以及增值的二硫化物.研究表明,PdS作为一种高效的氧化型助催化剂,不仅可以有效地从ZnIn_(2)S_(4)半导体中捕获光生空穴,促进光生载流子的分离和转移,而且能作为硫醇氧化的活性反应位点,从而显著提高ZnIn_(2)S_(4)的光催化性能.3%PdS-ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合材料具备最佳的光催化活性,其双(4-甲氧基苯基)二硫化物和氢气的产量分别是ZnIn_(2)S_(4)的8.4和10.7倍.此外,二硫化物在该光催化反应过程中表现出优异的选择性(>99.0%).循环活性实验以及催化反应前后的X射线光电子能谱结果表明,二元PdS-ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合材料具有良好的光催化稳定性.PdS-ZnIn_(2)S_(4)可以有效地催化多种具有不同取代基的硫醇的脱氢偶联,生成相应的S-S目标产物,说明了二元PdS-ZnIn_(2)S_(4)复合材料在光催化硫醇转化中的普适性.此外,原位傅里叶变换红外光谱揭示了反应物在催化剂表面的动态变化.通过电子顺磁共振光谱技术对反应过程中的自由基中间体进行原位监测,确认了硫中心自由基是硫醇氧化偶联过程中关键的自由基中间体.综上,本文为以绿色可持续的方式同时获得清洁太阳能燃料和具有高附加值的化学品提供了参考.

Diagnostic value of bone marrow cell morphology in visceral leishmaniasis-associated hemophagocytic syndrome:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis related-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(VL-HLH)is a hemophagocytic syndrome caused by Leishmania infection.VL-HLH is rare,especially in nonendemic areas where the disease is severe,and mortality rates are high.The key to diagnosing VL-HLH is to find the pathogen;therefore,the Leishmania must be accurately identified for timely clinical treatment.CASE SUMMARY We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data,laboratory examination results,and bone marrow cell morphology of two children with VL-HLH diagnosed via bone marrow cell morphology at Kunming Children’s Hospital of Yunnan,China.Both cases suspected of having malignant tumors at other hospitals and who were unresponsive to treatment were transferred to Kunming Children’s Hospital.They are Han Chinese girls,one was 2 years old and the other one is 9 mo old.They had repeated fevers,pancytopenia,hepatosplenomegaly,hypertriglyceridemia,and hypofibrinogenemia over a long period and met the HLH-2004 criteria.Their HLH genetic test results were negative.Both children underwent chemotherapy as per the HLH-2004 chemotherapy regimen,but it was ineffective and accompanied by serious infections.We found Leishmania amastigotes in their bone marrow via morphological examination of their bone marrow cells,which showed hemophagocytic cells;thus,the children were diagnosed with VL-HLH.After being transferred to a specialty hospital for treatment,the condition was well-controlled.CONCLUSION Morphological examination of bone marrow cells plays an important role in diagnosing VL-HLH.When clinically diagnosing secondary HLH,VL-HLH should be considered in addition to common pathogens,especially in patients for whom HLH-2004 chemotherapy regimens are ineffective.For infants and young children,bone marrow cytology examinations should be performed several times and as early as possible to find the pathogens to reduce potential misdiagnoses.

The Temperature Dropped to Normal When Rash Had Appeared For 12 Hours: An Atypical Case of Measles in Adult

A twenty-eight-year-old male patient with five-day's fever(the highest body tempreture reached 39.4℃) and 10-hour's rash(first on face) presented to the department of emergency for "drug rash", at that time his temperature was 38.6℃. Two hours later, his temperature fell to normal. Then this patient's entire body rash increased significantly and lasted for 13 hours. Serum measles antibody Ig M(+) confirmed the measles diagnosis. He had received measles vaccine as a baby. Clinicians should be aware of this atypical clinical manifestation of adult measles. If this kind of patients were misdiagnosed as drug rash and given corticosteroid, measles disease may be aggravated. Specific serum measles antibody testing may be the only reliable method for differential diagnosis, but the earliest time point for examining the antibodies of measles still needs precise research.

Proteomic Analysis of the Response of Liangyoupeijiu(Super High-Yield Hybrid Rice) Seedlings to Cold Stress

Liangyoupeijiu is a super high-yield hybrid rice. Despite its advantages with respect to yield and grain quality, it is sensitive to cold, which keeps it from being widely cultivated. We subjected Liangyoupeijiu seedlings to 4 ℃ cold treatment, then extracted the leaf proteins. After 2-D gel electrophoresis separation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, a series of differentially displayed proteins were identified. Some metabolism-associated proteins were found among the downregulated proteins, such as carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, transketolase 1, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The upregulated proteins included both stress-resistance proteins such as nucleoside diphosphate kinase I and proteins that are negative for rice growth, such as FtsH-like protein, plastid fusion and/or translocation factor （Pftf） and actin. Our results indicate that cold may inhibit Liangyoupeijiu growth through decreasing metabolic activity and damaging cell structure.

Xiaoyao San,a Chinese herbal formula,ameliorates depression-like behavior in mice through the AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway in hypothalamus

Objective Depression and metabolic disorders have overlapping psychosocial and pathophysiological causes.Current research is focused on the possible role of adiponectin in regulating common biological mechanisms.Xiaoyao San(XYS),a classic Chinese medicine compound,has been widely used in the treatment of depression and can alleviate metabolic disorders such as lipid or glucose metabolism disorders.However,the ability of XYS to ameliorate depression-like behavior as well as metabolic dysfunction in mice and the underlying mechanisms are unclear.Methods An in vivo animal model of depression was established by chronic social defeat stress(CSDS).XYS and fluoxetine were administered by gavage to the drug intervention group.Depression-like behaviors were analyzed by the social interaction test,open field test,forced swim test,and elevated plus maze test.Glucose levels were measured using the oral glucose tolerance test.The involvement of certain molecules was validated by immunofluorescence,histopathology,and Western blotting.In vitro,hypothalamic primary neurons were exposed to high glucose to induce neuronal damage,and the neuroprotective effect of XYS was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 assay.Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to evaluate the influences of XYS on adiponectin receptor 1(AdipoR1),adenosine 5’-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK),acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase(ACC)and other related proteins.Results XYS ameliorated CSDS-induced depression-like behaviors and glucose tolerance impairment in mice and increased the level of serum adiponectin.XYS also restored Nissl bodies in hypothalamic neurons in mice that exhibited depression-like behaviors and decreased the degree of neuronal morphological damage.In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that XYS increased the expression of AdipoR1 in hypothalamic neurons.Conclusion Adiponectin may be a key regulator linking depression and metabolic disorders;regulation of the hypothalamic AdipoR1/AMPK/ACC pathway plays an important role in treatment of depression by XYS.

Green Synthesis of Polyimides and Their CNT Based Nanohybrid ShishKebabs through Reaction-induced Crystallization of Nylon-salt-type Monomers in Glycerol

A green approach to the synthesis and morphological control of high performance polyimides and their nanohybrid shish-kebabs in glycerol through reaction-induced crystallization of nylon-salt-type monomers was reported. Crystalline polyimide nanoplates can be observed by direct polycondensation of pyromellitic acid with various kinds of aliphatic or aromatic diamines. With the existence of carbon nanotuhes, the polyimides can be successfully decorated on the surface of CNTs through a reaction-induced hetero-epitaxial crystallization process, and resulted in novel polyimide/CNT nanohybrid shish-kebabs （NHSKs） structures. The morphologies of the NHSKs can be fine-tuned through changing the concentration of monomers or the reaction temperature, especially through the introduction of dynamic imine chemistry, the formation process of NHSKs can be attributed to a soft epitaxy mechanism. Thus a green approach for the synthesis of high performance polyimides and their CNT based nanohybrid structures was explored, which should be of great value for their applications in high performance reinforced nanocomposites.

Effect of droplet superficial velocity on mixing efficiency in a microchannel

In this study, droplet characteristics including droplet length and formation time, and mixing efficiency in droplets were investigated via the volume of fluid(VOF) method coupled with a user defined scalar(UDS) model. A cross-shaped junction with a square cross-section was designed and used for droplet formation. An initial arrangement which differed from that of a conventional operation was adopted. Results show that when the droplet superficial velocity is constant, the exchange between the dispersed phase velocity and the continuous phase velocity has a marginal effect on the droplet formation time.However, the exchange has a great effect on droplet length. These findings provide a valuable guide for future operation of droplet formation. In addition, the results show that the mixing efficiency in the droplet forming stage can be classified into time-dominated and length-dominated regimes according to the droplet superficial velocity. When a droplet flows in a microchannel,a higher droplet superficial velocity increases mixing efficiency due to the faster inner circulation and shorter droplet length.

Regulation and Expression of Tagln2 in Early Rabbit Pregnant Uterus

Objective To examine the expression and regulation of Tagln2 gene in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy. Methods In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of Tagln2 mRNA in rabbit uterus during early pregnancy and their regulation under pseudopregnancy and hormonal treatment. Results In situ hybridization analysis revealed Tagln2 mRNA expression in a spatiotemporally regulated pattern in early pregnant uterus. Tagln2 mRNA was highly expressed in the uterine epithelium from days 2 to 4. A low expression level was detected in the glandular epithelium near the myometrium on days 5 and 6. On days 7.0 and 7.25, Tagln2 expression was upregulated at implantation sites and mainly expressed in luminal epithelium and blastocyst at the anti-mesometrial and lateral sides. On day 8, Tagln2 expression was mainly detected in fusion area and glandular epithelium at anti-mesometrial sides, and became stronger in trophectoderm and luminal epithelium at mesometrial side. Tagln2 expression was not detected in inter-implantation sites from days 6 to 8 of pregnancy and from days 6 to 8 of peudopregnancy. In the ovariectomized rabbit uteri, Tagln2 expression was upregulated by either estrogen or progesterone. Conclusion Tagln2 was highly expressed in the endometrium at implantation sites and need actived embryo, upregulated by steroid hormones.