New Approaches and Markers for Identifying Secondary Biogenic Coalbed Gas

According to the adsorption-desorption characteristics of coalbed gas and analysis of various experimental data, this paper proposes that the generation of secondary biogenic gas （SBG） and its mixing of with the residual thermogenic gas at an early stage inevitably lead to secondary changes of the thermogenic gas and various geochemical additive effects. Experimental results also show that the fractionation of the carbon isotope of methane of coal core desorption gas changes very little; the δ13C1 value of the mixed gas of biogenic and thermogenic gases is between the δ13C1 values of the two ＂original＂ gases, and the value is determined by the carbon isotopic compositions and mixing proportions of the two ＂original＂ methanes. Therefore this paper proposes that the study on the secondary changes of the thermogenic gas and various additive effects is a new effective way to study and identify SBG. Herein, a systematic example of research on the coalbed gas （Huainan coalbed gas） is further conducted, revealing a series of secondary changes and additive effects, the main characteristics and markers of which are： （1） the contents of CO2 and heavy-hydrocarbons decrease significantly; （2） the content of CH4 increases and the gas becomes drier; （3） the δ13C and δD values of methane decrease significantly and tend to have biogenetic characteristics; and （4） the values of 513C2 and δ13Cc02 grow higher. These isotopic values also change with the degradation degrees by microbes and mixing proportions of the two kinds of gases in different locations. There exists a negative correlation between the △13C1 It＇S δ13Cco2 values. The δ13Cc2-c1 values obviously become higher. The distributions of the △δ^13Cco2-C1 values are within certain limits and show regularity. There exist a positive correlation between the N2 versus Ar contents, and a negative correlation between the N2 versus CH4 contents, indicating the down forward infiltration of the surface water containing air. These are important markers of the generation and existence of SBG .

Jisuikang, a Chinese herbal formula, increases neurotrophic factor expression and promotes the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury

The Chinese medicine compound, ]isuikang, can promote recovery of neurological function by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, scavenging oxygen free radicals, and effectively improving the local microenvironment after spinal cord injury. However, the mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we established a rat model of acute spinal cord injury using a modified version of Allen＇s method. Jisuikang （50, 25, and 12.5 g/kg/d） and prednis- olone were administered 30 minutes after anesthesia. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor scale scores and the oblique board test showed improved motor function recovery in the prednisone group and moderate-dose Jisuikang group compared with the other groups at 3-7 days post-injury. The rats in the moderate-dose Jisuikang group recovered best at 14 days post-injury. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmis- sion electron microscopy showed that the survival rate of neurons in treatment groups increased after 3-7 days of administration. Further, the structure of neurons and glial cells was more distinct, especially in prednisolone and moderate-dose Jisuikang groups. Western blot assay and immunohistochemistry showed that expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in injured segments was maintained at a high level after 7-14 days of treatment. In contrast, expression of nerve growth factor （NGF） was down-regulated at 7 days after spinal cord injury. Re- al-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that expression of BDNF and NGF mRNA was induced in injured segments by prednisolone and Jisuikang. At 3-7 days after injury, the effect of prednisolone was greater, while 14 days after injury, the effect of moder- ate-dose Jisuikang was greater. These results confirm that Jisuikang can upregulate BDNF and NGF expression for a prolonged period after spinal cord injury and promote repair of acute spinal cord injury, with its effect being similar to prednisolone.