Synergistic action of non-solvent induced phase separation in preparation of poly(vinyl butyral) hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation

A systematic study of air gap distance effects on the structure and properties of poly(vinyl butyral)hollow fiber membrane via thermally induced phase separation(TIPS)has been carried out.The results show that the hollow fiber membrane prepared at air gap zero has no skin layer; the pore size near the outer surface is larger than that near the inner surface; and the special pore channel-like structure near the outer surface is formed,which is quite different with the typical sponge-like structure caused by TIPS and the finger-like structure caused by non-solvent induced phase separation(NIPS),because of the synergistic action of non-solvent induced phase separation at air gap zero.The pore size gradually decreases from outer surface layer to the intermediate layer,but increases gradually from intermediate layer to the inner surface layer.With the increase of air gap distance,the pore size near the outer surface gets smaller and a dense skin layer is formed,and the pore size gradually increases from the outer surface layer to the inner surface layer.Water permeability of the hollow fiber membrane decreases with air gap distance,the water permeability decreases sharply from 45.50×10-7 to 4.52×10-7 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as air gap increases from 0 to 10 mm at take-up speed of 0.236 m/s,further decreases from 4.52×10-7 to 1.00×10-8 m3/(m2·s·kPa)as the air gap increases from 10 to 40 mm.Both the breaking strength and the elongation increase with the increase of air gap distance.The breaking strength increases from 2.25 MPa to 4.19 MPa and the elongation increases from 33.9% to 132.6% as air gap increases from 0 mm to 40 mm at take-up speed 0.236 m/s.

Synergistic Action of Clonorchiasis,HBV Infection and Alcohol Consumption on Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE It has been recognized that HBV infection and alcohol consumption are two important risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Recently, the role of clonorchiasis as a risk factor for HCC is controversial. We aimed to investigate whether these factors increase the risk of HCC in Guangxi, China. METHODS A hospital-based, case-control study of HCC was conducted from July 2005 to July 2007. We enrolled 500 consecutive patients with HCC as an experimental group and 500 patients without tumor in liver as a control group. The risk factors that the patients were exposed to were assessed. RESULTS Comparing the risks of developing the HCC, we found out the following results. The risk of developing HCC for the patients with clonorchiasis was 5 folds of that for the patients without clonorchiasis （OR = 5.0; 95% CI： 3.1-8.1）, and the risk for the patients with alcohol consumption was 3 folds of that for the patients without drinking alcohol （OR = 3.4; 95% CI： 2.3-4.9）, and similarly, the risk for the patients with HBV infection was 21 times of that for the patients without HBV infection （OR = 20.6; 95% CI： 14.3-29.7）. According to crossover analysis, there was significant interaction among clonorchiasis, HBV infection and alcohol consumption, with synergistic indices greater than 1. The etiologic fractions attributed to these interactions [EF （A × B）] are 0.7465, 0.5789 and 0.5506, respectively. CONCLUSION Clonorchiasis, HBV infection and heavy alcohol consumption are independent risk factors for developing HCC in our population in Guangxi, and as they can interact synergistically, the risk of developing HCC is increased. Data from this study may indicate new prevention strategies of developing HCC in high-risk individuals.

The interaction of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet using argon or argon plus hydrogen peroxide vapour addition with bacillus subtilis

This paper reports that an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, which uses argon or argon ＋ hydrogen peroxide vapour as the working gas, is designed to sterilize the bacillus subtilis. Compared with the pure argon plasma, the bacterial inactivation efficacy has a significant improvement when hydrogen peroxide vapour is added into the plasma jet. In order to determine which factors play the main role in inactivation, several methods are used, such as determination of optical emission spectra, high temperature dry air treatment, protein leakage quantification, and scanning electron microscope. These results indicate that the possible inactivation mechanisms are the synergistic actions of chemically active species and charged species.

Combination of telomerase antisense oligonucleotides simultaneously targeting hTR and hTERT produces synergism of inhibition of telomerase activity and growth in human colon cancer cell line

AIM: To investigate synergism of inhibition of telomerase activity and proliferation of human colon cancer cells by combination of telomerase antisense oligonucleotides (ASODNs) simultaneously targeting human telomerase RNA (hTR) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in vitro. METHODS: ASODN of hTR and ASODN of hTERT were transfected into human colon cancer SW480 cells by liposomal transfection reagents. Telomerase activity of SW480 cells was examined using telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA). Proliferation activity of SW480 cells was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The telomerase activity and cell survival rate in SW480 cells transfected with 0.2 μmol/L of ASODN of hTR or ASODN of hTERT for 24-72 h were significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner compared with those after treatment with sense oligonucleotides and untreated (telomerase activity: 24 h, 73%, 74% vs99%, 98%; 48 h, 61%, 55% vs98%, 99%; 72 h, 41%, 37% vs 99%, 97%; P<0.01; cell survival rate: 24 h, 88%, 86% vs594%, 98%; 48 h, 49%, 47% vs94%, 97%; 72 h, 44%, 42% vs92%, 96%; P<0.01). Moreover, the telomerase activity and the cell survival rate in SW480 cells treated by the combination of telomerase anti-hTR and anti-hTERT were more significantly suppressed than single anti-hTR or anti-hTERT (telomerase activity: 24 h, 59% vs 73%, 74%; 48 h, 43% vs61%, 55%; 72 h, 18% vs41%, 37%; P<0.01; cell survival rate: 24 h, 64% vs88%, 86%; 48 h, 37% vs49%, 47%; 72 h, 25% vs44%, 42%; P<0.01). Meanwhile, the apoptosis rates in the combination group were markedly increased compared with those in the single group (24 h, 18.0% vs7.2%, 7.4%; 48 h, 23.0% vs13.0%, 14.0%; 72 h, 28.6% vs 13.2%, 13.75; P<0.01). Cells in combination group were arrested at G0/G1 phase. CONCLUSION: Telomerase anti-hRT and anti-hTERT suppress telomerase activity, and inhibit growth of human colon cancer cells probably via induction of apoptosis and retardation of cell cycle. Additionally, combined use of telomerase ASODNs targeting both hTR and hTERT yields synergistic action selective for human colon cancer.

The Influence of Seasonal Snow on Soil Thermal and Water Dynamics under Different Vegetation Covers in a Permafrost Region

Seasonal snow is one of the most important influences on the development and distribution of permafrost and the hydrothermal regime in surface soil. Alpine meadow, which constitutes the main land type in permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, was selected to study the influence of seasonal snow on the temperature and moisture in active soil layers under different vegetation coverage. Monitoring sites for soil moisture and temperature were constructed to observe the hydrothermal processes in active soil layers under different vegetation cover with seasonal snow cover variation for three years from 2010 to 2012. Differences in soil temperature and moisture in areas of diverse vegetation coverage with varying levels of snow cover were analyzed using active soil layer water and temperature indices. The results indicated that snow cover greatly influenced the hydrothermal dynamics of the active soil layer in alpine meadows. In the snow manipulation experiment with a snow depth greater than 15 cm, the snow cover postponed both the freeze-fall and thawrise onset times of soil temperature and moisture in alpine LC(lower vegetation coverage) meadows and of soil moisture in alpine HC(higher vegetation coverage) meadows; however, the opposite response occurred for soil temperatures of alpine HC meadows,where the entire melting period was extended by advancing the thaw-rise and delaying the freeze-fall onset time of the soil temperature. Snow cover resulted in a decreased amplitude and rate of variation in soil temperature, for both alpine HC meadows and alpine LC meadows, whereas the distinct influence of snow cover on the amplitude and rate of soil moisture variation occurred at different soil layers with different vegetation coverages. Snow cover increased the soil moisture of alpine grasslands during thawing periods. The results confirmed that the annual hydrothermal dynamics of active layers in permafrost were subject to the synergistic actions of both snow cover and vegetation coverage.

Experimental study on low temperature performance of polymer drilling mud agents

Drilling fluid additives has a major impact on rheology behavior and other performances of the drilling fluid.The key to low temperature drilling fluids is choosing antifreeze and polymer agent which have a strong ability in resisting low temperature.On the basis of determining glycol as antifreeze agent,the low-temperature-performance and capacities of anti-collapse of regular validity mud agents have been studied,the mechanism of anti-caving of the partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide(PHPA),polypropylene potassium(KPA) and PAC-141 polymer additives have been also analyzed.A pilot study of compatibility between ethylene glycol and the polymers has educed that the polymers,ethylene glycol and inorganic salt are compatible,and they can significantly reduce the freezing point of drilling fluid.Anti-collapse ability of the drilling mud is the results of synergistic action among the agents.

Molecular Mechanism of Polysaccharides Extracted from Chinese Medicine Targeting Gut Microbiota for Promoting Health

The accumulating evidence revealed that gut microbiota plays an important role in pathological process of disease including obesity,type 2 diabetes mellitus,heart failure,and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.Polysaccharides extracted from Chinese medicine(CM)can not only alleviate pathological status but also promote health by anti-inflammatory,regulating immunity,lowering blood glucose and lipids,anti-cancer,and anti-oxidation.The alterations of gut microbiota composition and metabolism pathways are the potential mechanisms of CM polysaccharides treatment.In addition,they exert functions through gut-organ axis or play an indirect role by synergistic actions with other drugs or components mediated by gut microbiota.This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of CM polysaccharides interacted with intestinal microbial inhabitants as potential prebiotics forpromoting health.

ORA59 and EIN3 interaction couples jasmonate-ethylene synergistic action to antagonistic salicylic acid regulation of PDF expression

Hormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid （SA） and jasmonic acid （JA）, and modulation of this interplay by ethylene （ET） in favor of JA signaling pathway in plant stress responses is well recognized, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the opposing function of two transcription factors, ethylene insensitive3 （EIN3） and EIN3-Like1 （EIL1）, in SA-mediated suppression and JA- mediated activation of PLANT DEFENSINI.2 （PDFI.2）. This functional duality is mediated via their effect on protein, not transcript levels of the PDF1.2 transcriptional activator octadecanoid-responsive Arabidopsis59 （ORA59）. Specifically, JA induces ORA59 protein levels independently of EIN3/EIL1, whereas SA reduces the protein levels dependently of EIN3/EIL1. Co-infiltration assays revealed nuclear co-localization of ORA59 and EIN3, and split- luciferase together with yeast-two-hybrid assays established their physical interaction. The functional ramification of the physical interaction is EIN3-dependent degradation of ORA59 by the 26S proteasome. These findings allude to SA-responsive reduction of ORA59 levels mediated by EIN3 binding to and targeting of ORA59 for degrada4tion, thus nominating ORA59 pool as a coordination node for the antagonistic function of ET/JA and SA.

High-performance lung-targeted bio-responsive platform for severe colistin-resistant bacterial pneumonia therapy

Polymyxins are the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant(MDR)Gram-negative bacterial infections.However,this last resort has been threatened by the emergence of superbugs carrying the mobile colistin resistance gene-1(mcr-1).Given the high concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP-3)in bacterial pneumonia,limited plasma accumulation of colistin(CST)in the lung,and potential toxicity of ionic silver(Ag+),we designed a feasible clinical transformation platform,an MMP-3 high-performance lung-targeted bio-responsive delivery system,which we named“CST&Ag@CNMS”.This system exhibited excellent lung-targeting ability(>80%in lungs),MMP-3 bio-responsive release property(95%release on demand),and synergistic bactericidal activity in vitro(2-4-fold minimum inhibitory concentration reduction).In the mcr-1+CST-resistant murine pneumonia model,treatment with CST&Ag@CNMS improved survival rates(70%vs.20%),reduced bacteria burden(2-3 log colony-forming unit[CFU]/g tissue),and considerably mitigated inflammatory response.In this study,CST&Ag@CNMS performed better than the combination of free CST and AgNO3.We also demonstrated the superior biosafety and biodegradability of CST&Ag@CNMS both in vitro and in vivo.These findings indicate the clinical translational potential of CST&Ag@CNMS for the treatment of lung infections caused by CST-resistant bacteria carrying mcr-1.

Imaging-Guided Cancer Therapy Based on Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles

In recent years,magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs)have received great attention within the field of biomedicine,especially for cancer therapy.This is because MNPs have many excellent physical and chemical properties to provide sufficient imaging information along with satisfactory therapeutic efficacy.Moreover,by virtue of various modification strategies,the obtained multifunctional MNPs can further achieve synergized multimodal cancer theranostic,which is worthy of further study.In this review,we summarize the recent developments in imaging-guided strategies and synergistic cancer therapy based on multifunctional MNPs.Then,we discuss the challenge and perspective of the next generation of MNPs-based imaging-guided cancer therapy,hoping to provide guidance in potential applications.

Latest research progress of marine microbiological corrosion and biofouling, and new approaches of marine anti-corrosion and anti-fouling

Marine resources and industry have become one of the most important pillars in economic development all over the world.However,corrosion of materials is always the most serious problem to the infrastructure and equipment served in marine environment.Researchers have found that microbiologically influenced corrosion(MIC)and marine bio-fouling are two main mechanisms of marine corrosions due to the complicated marine environment and marine organisms.This article summarized the latest research progress about these two mechanisms and indicated that both MIC and marine bio-fouling are closely related to the biofilms on material surfaces formed by the marine microorganisms and their metabolites.As a result,to prevent the occurrence of MIC and bio-fouling,it is important to control the microorganisms in biofilms or prevent the adhesion and formation of biofilms.The traditional method of using chemical bactericide or antifoulant faces the problems of pollution and microorganism resistance.This article introduced four research approaches about the new tendency of applying new materials and technologies to cooperate with traditional chemicals to achieve better and longer effects with lower environment pollution through synergistic actions.Finally,some future research tendencies were proposed for whole marine anti-corrosion and anti-fouling areas.