Fanconi Anemia and Ubiquitination

Fanconi anemia （FA） is a rare recessive hereditary disease characterized clinically by congenital defects, progressive bone-marrow failure, and cancer predisposition. Cells from FA patients exhibit hypersensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, such as mitomycin C （MMC）. To date, at least 12 FA genes have been found deleted or mutated in FA cells, and 10 FA gene products form a core complex involved in FA/BRCA2 DNA repair pathway-FA pathway. The ubiquitin E3 ligase FANCL, an important factor of FA core complex, co-functions with a new ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2T to catalyze the monoubiquitination of FANCD2. FANCD2-Ub binds BRCA2 to form a new complex located in chromatin foci and then take part in DNA repair process. The deubiquitylating enzyme USP1 removes the mono-ubiquitin from FANCD2-Ub following completion of the repair process, then restores the blocked cell cycle to normal order by shutting off the FA pathway. In a word, the FANCD2 activity adjusted exquisitely by ubiquitination and/or deubiquitination in vivo may co-regulate the FA pathway involving in variant DNA repair pathway.

Estimation of structure crack propagation based on multiple factors correction

By deriving the stress concentration factor of theestimation approach for residual fatigue life’ an estimationapproach for structure crack propagation based on multiplefactors correction is proposed. Then’ the quantitativeexpression among the structure factor’ stress ratio’ loadingtype’ the manufacture processing factor and the crackpropagation is achieved. The proposed approach iimplemented in a case study for an instance structure’ and theinfluences of correction factors on the crack propagation areanalyzed. Meanwhile’ the probabilistic method based onWeibull distribution probability density function is selected toevaluate the precision of the corrected estimation approach’and the probability density of results is calculated by theprobability density function. It is shown that the resultsestimated by the corrected approach is more precise than thoseestimated by the fracture mechanics, and they are closer to thetest data.

In vitro characterization of two new doxorubicin liposomes modified with argine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide or glycine-argine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine pentapeptide

Aim Peptides as ligands have shown the active targeting properties to the receptors like integrins, a family of receptors over-expressed in cancers. The present study was to develop and characterize two peptides modified drug-containing liposomes. Methods Argine-glycine-aspartic acid （RGD） tripeptide and glycine-argine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine （GRGDS） pentapeptide were used for modifications on the doxorubicin-loaded sterically stabilized liposomes （SSL-doxorubicin） for the liposome preparation, RGD-SSL-doxorubicin and GRGDS-SSL-doxorubicin, respectively. Characterizations were performed by measurements of the encapsulation efficiency, particle size and zeta potential, release rates in a simulated in vivo environment, and cytotoxicity to ovarian cancer cells. Cell uptake was investigated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy methods. Results All encapsulation efficiencies of the liposomes were above 95%, and the modifications using RGD or GRGDS did not affect the final encapsulation efficiency. Average particle sizes of the liposomes Were in the range between 105.7 ± 3.5 nm and 130.5 ± 3.0 nm, and zeta potential values were between -3.3 ± 0.3 and -6.1 ± 0.3 mV. Approximately 2/5 of doxorubicin was released from liposomes before 12 h in the simulated in vivo environment containing fetal bovine serum. Inhibitory rates to cancer cells of the modified liposomes were slightly lower as compared to free doxorubicin. Similar phenomena were observed in the uptake measured by flow cytometry and confocal assay. After uptake applying various formulations on the cancer cells, doxorubicin was mainly distributed in the nuclei of SKOV-3 cells. Conclusion Two new doxorubicin-contained liposomes were successfully prepared and modified with argine-glycine-aspartic acid （RGD） tripeptide and glycine-argine-glycine- aspartic acid-serine （GRGDS） pentapeptide. In vitro characterization indicated that modifications did not alter significantly the properties of the sterically stabilized liposomes.

-ffects of Plant Hormones on Accumulation of 133Cs in Sunflower （Helianthus annuus L.）

[Objective] This study was conducted to discuss a high efficient phytore- mediation technology for 133Cs pollution.[Method] The effects of 3 exogenous phyto- hormones on the uptake and accumulation of 133Cs in the seedlings of Helianthus annuus L., which is a kind of hyperaccumulator plant, was further studied in the pot experiments. [Result] The results indicated that the absorption, accumulation and translocation capacities of 133Cs of the sunflower plants could be improved signifi- cantly after the application of phytohormones. 133Cs contents were higher in leaves and flowers as compared with stems and roots. The accumulation capacities of phytohormones were in order of SA〉GA〉IAA. [Conclusion] The absorption capacity, translocation factor and bioaccumulation factor of 133Cs were maximum after the

Effect of Combined Treatments of Phytohormones and Chelating Agents on the Accumulation Capacity of Amaranth

[Objective] To explore a high efficient phytoremediation technology for soil pollution. [Method] Foliage application and root irrigation were carried out to study the influence on amaranth repair efficiency by using combined treatments of phytohor- mones （IAA, GA3 SA） and chelating agents （EDTA）. [Result] The combined treatment increased the biomass of amaranth under 133Cs, 88Sr, Cr stress The 133Cs, 88Sr, Cr enrich- ment in amaranth by root irrigation were obviously higher than that by foliage appli- cation. The phytoextraction efficiency of phytohormones and chelating agents from best to poor was as following： 100 mg/L SA＋1.5 mg/kg EDTA, 500 mg/L GA3＋1.5 mg/kg EDTA, 100 mg/L IAA＋1.5 mg/kg EDTA. [Conclusion] The most appropriate treatment was the combined treatment of 100 mg/L SA＋l.5mg/kg EDTA by soil irri- gation, which could make the total absorption doses of 133Cs, 88Sr, Cr per plant achieve the maximum.

Folic acid contributes to peripheral nerve injury repair by promoting Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and secretion of nerve growth factor

After peripheral nerve injury, intraperitoneal injection of folic acid improves axon quantity, increases axon density and improves electromyography results. However, the mechanisms for this remain unclear. This study explored whether folic acid promotes peripheral nerve injury repair by affecting Schwann cell function. Primary Schwann cells were obtained from rats by in vitro separation and culture. Cell proliferation, assayed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, was higher in cells cultured for 72 hours with 100 mg/L folic acid compared with the control group. Cell proliferation was also higher in the 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/L folic acid groups compared with the control group after culture for 96 hours. Proliferation was markedly higher in the 100 mg/L folic acid group compared with the 50 mg/L folic acid group and the 40 ng/L nerve growth factor group. In Transwell assays, the number of migrated Schwann cells dramatically increased after culture with 100 and 150 mg/L folic acid compared with the control group. In nerve growth factor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, treatment of Schwa nn cell cultures with 50, 100, and 150 mg/L folic acid increased levels of nerve growth factor in the culture medium compared with the control group at 3 days. The nerve growth factor concentration of Schwann cell cultures treated with 100 mg/L folic acid group was remarkably higher than that in the 50 and 150 mg/L folic acid groups at 3 days. Nerve growth factor concentration in the 10, 50, and 100 mg/L folic acid groups was higher than that in the control group at 7 days. The nerve growth factor concentration in the 50 mg/L folic acid group was remarkably higher than that in the 10 and 100 mg/L folic acid groups at 7 days. In vivo, 80 μg/kg folic acid was intraperitoneally administrated for 7 consecutive days after sciatic nerve injury. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of Schwann cells in the folic acid group was greater than that in the control group. We suggest that folic acid may play a role in improving the repair of peripheral nerve injury by promoting the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells and the secretion of nerve growth factors.

Effect of Land Cover Change on Soil Phosphorus Fractions in Southeastern Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

In the past 50 years, large areas of the Horqin sandy land were afforested to prevent desertification. Although the afforestation policy appears successful, many people now doubt whether it is suitable to plant trees with high density on the poor soils in semiarid regions. Little is known about the impacts of afforestation on the sandy soil properties, although the evaluation of these impacts is fundamental to judge the rationality of afforestation policy. Soil phosphorus （P） fractions, acid phosphomonoesterase activities, and other soil chemical properties were compared among five adjoining typical ecosystems on poor sandy soils in southeastern Horqin sandy land. The ecosystems studied are natural elm savanna, degraded grassland, Mongolian pine （Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica） plantation, Chinese pine （Pinus tabulaeformis） plantation, and mixed plantation of Mongolian pine and poplar （Populus simonii）. The results showed that organic P dominated soil P （47%-65%） was the principal source of available P. The degradation of elm savanna to grassland significantly reduced soil pH and resulted in an overall reduction in soil fertility, although slightly increased labile inorganic P. Grassland afforestation had no significant influence on soil pH, organic carbon, and total N but significantly reduced total P. Impacts of grassland afforestation on soil P fractions depended on tree species. Natural elm savanna had higher soil P conserving ability than artificial plantations. Therefore, with the aim of developing a sustainable ecosystem, we suggested that vegetations with low nutrient demand （particularly P） and efficient nutrient cycling would be more suitable for ecosystem restoration in the semiarid region.

Small ubiquitin-related modifier paralogs are indispensable but functionally redundant during early development of zebrafish

The Small ubiquitin-related modifier （SUMO） conjugation to a variety of proteins regulates diverse cellular processes, including transcription, cell cycle regulation and maintenance of genome integrity. To investigate in vivo biological function of SUMO paralogs, we inactivated them in the early development of zebrafish. While zebrafish embryos deficient for all three SUMO paralogs, as Ubc9-deficient ones, displayed severe defects, loss of individual SUMO paralog was compatible with a normal development. SUMO-deficient embryos can be rescued by a single human or zebrafish SUMO. While key structural basic lysine residues and N-terminal unstructured stretch of SUMO are critical for in vivo rescue, the consensus Kll sumoylation site of SUMO2 is dispensable, implying that chain formation on this potential site is unessential for normal development. Inactivation of all three SUMOs triggered p53- dependent apoptosis and further inactivation of p53 restored normal zebrafish development. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that the dominant negative truncated form of p53, Δ113p53, significantly blunts SUMO depletion-induced p53 activity in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that SUMO paralogs are indispensable, but redundant, in the early development of zebrafish.

Peginterferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C virus infection

Pegylated interferon α (IFNα) in combination with ribavirin is currently recommended as a standard-of-care treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This combination therapy has drastically improved the rate of sustained virological response, specifically in difficult-to-treat patients. Recently, individualized treatment, such as response-guided therapy, is being developed based on host-, HCV- and treatment-related factors. Furthermore, modified regimens with currently available medications, novel modified IFNα and ribavirin or combinations with specifically targeted antiviral therapy for HCV agents, are currently being investigated. The purpose of this review is to address some issues and epoch-making topics in the treatment of chronic HCV infection, and to discuss more optimal and highly individualized therapeutic strategies for HCV-infected patients.

Thermal Fission Rate Calculated Numerically by Particles Multi-passing over SaddlePoint

Langevin simulation of the particles multi-passing over the saddle point is proposed to calculate thermal fission rate. Due to finite friction and the corresponding thermal fluctuation, a backstreaming exists in the process of the particle descent from the saddle to the scission. This leads to that the diffusion behind the saddle point has influence upon the stationary flow across the saddle point. A dynamical correction factor, as a ratio of the flows of multi- and first-overpassing the saddle point, is evaluated analytically. The results show that the fission rate calculated by the particles multi-passing over the saddle point is lower than the one calculated by the particle firstly passing over the saddle point, and the former approaches the results at the scission point.

Instantaneous Bethe-Salpeter Equation and Its Exact Solution

We present an approach to solve Bethe-Salpeter (BS) equations exactly withoutany approximation if the kernel of the BS equations exactly is instantaneous, and take positroniumas an example to illustrate the general features of the exact solutions. The key step for theapproach is from the BS equations to derive a set of coupled and well-determined integrationequations in linear eigenvalue for the components of the BS wave functions equivalently, which maybe solvable numerically under a controlled accuracy, even though there is no analytic solution. Forpositronium, the exact solutions precisely present corrections to those of the correspondingSchrodinger equation in order υ~1 (υ is the relative velocity) for eigenfunctions, in order υ~2for eigenvalues, and the mixing between S and D components in J~(PC) = 1~(--) states etc.,quantitatively. Moreover, we also point out that there is a questionable step in some existentderivations for the instantaneous BS equations if one is pursuing the exact solutions. Finally, weemphasize that one should take the O(υ) corrections emerging in the exact solutions into accountaccordingly if one is interested in the relativistic corrections for relevant problems to the boundstates.

Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC3, interaction with environmental exposure and risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer

AIM： TO evaluate the association between poly- morphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399GIn and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk for chronic gastritis and gastric cancer, in a Southeastern Brazilian population. METHODS： Genotyping by PCR-RFLP was carried out on 202 patients with chronic gastritis （CG） and 160 patients with gastric cancer （GC）, matched to 202 （Cl） and 150 （C2） controls, respectively. RESULTS： No differences were observed among the studied groups with regard to the genotype distribution of XRCC1 codons 194 and 399 and of XRCC3 codon 241. However, the combined analyses of the three variant alleles （194Trp, 399Gin and 241Met） showed an increased risk for chronic gastritis when compared to the GC group. Moreover, an interaction between the polymorphic alleles and demographic and environmental factors was observed in the CG and GC groups. XRCC1 194Trp was associated with smoking in the CG group, while the variant alleles XRCC1 399Gin and XRCC3 241Met were related with gender, smoking, drinking and Hpylori infection in the CG and GC groups. CONCLUSION： Our results showed no evidence of a rela-tionship between the polymorphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer in the Brazilianpopulation, but the combined effect of these variants may interact to increase the risk for chronic gastritis, considered a premalignant lesion. Our data also indicate a gene-environment interaction in the susceptibility to chronic gastritis and gastric cancer.

Cu(Ⅱ),Ni(Ⅱ)Complexation with Acid Alizarine Blue B in the Presence of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide

The coordination reactions of Cu（Ⅱ） and Ni（Ⅱ） with acid alizarine blue B （AABB） in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide （CTAB） micelle were investigated using the microsurface adsorptionspectral correction technique （MSASC）. The aggregation of AABB on CTAB followed the Langmuir isothermal adsorption law. The enrichment of AABB on CTAB sensitized the complexation between Cu（Ⅱ） or Ni（Ⅱ）and AABB. The binding ratio of AABB to CTAB was 1：2.5, and monomeric aggregate, AABB2CTAB5, was formed with an adsorption constant of 5.95×10^5 at 20 ℃ or 2.48×10^5 at 40 ℃. In the ternary complexation, the ratio of AABB：Cu and AABB：Ni were 1：1 and 1：2.5, respectively. Two types of aggregates, Cu2.AABB2·CTAB80 and Ni5.AABB2.CTAB80, were formed.

Quantum Dissipative Threshold and Its Effect on Decay of Metastable State

The coupling between system and reservoir is considered to be linear in the coordinates of the bath but nonlinear in the system's coordinate. A dissipative threshold is observed at finite temperatures due to nonlinear dissipation. The quantum decay rate of a metastable state including higher-order expanded terms of the coupling form function is proposed, which can be strongly decreased at finite temperatures when the quantum dissipative threshold is added to the saddle point of the potential.

Multi-component opportunistic maintenance optimization for wind turbines with consideration of seasonal factor

Aiming at wind turbines,the opportunistic maintenance optimization is carried out for multi-component system,where minimal repair,imperfect repair,replacement as well as their effects on component’s effective age are considered.At each inspection point,appropriate maintenance mode is selected according to the component’s effective age and its maintenance threshold.To utilize the maintenance opportunities for the components among the wind turbines,opportunistic maintenance approach is adopted.Meanwhile,the influence of seasonal factor on the component’s failure rate and improvement factor’s decrease with the increase of repair’s times are also taken into account.The maintenance threshold is set as the decision variable,and an opportunistic maintenance optimization model is proposed to minimize wind turbine’s life-cycle maintenance cost.Moreover,genetic algorithm is adopted to solve the model,and the effectiveness is verified with a case study.The results show that based on the component’s inherent reliability and maintainability,the proposed model can provide optimal maintenance plans accordingly.Furthermore,the higher the component’s reliability and maintainability are,the less the times of repair and replacement will be.

Resolving Insolubilia： Intemal Inconsistency and the Reform of Naive Set Comprehension --An Addendum

A further reformulation of Naive Set Comprehension related to that proposed in ＂Resolving Insolubilia： Internal Inconsistency and the Reform of Naive Set Comprehension＂ （2012） is possible in which contradiction is averted not by excluding sets such as the Russell Set but rather by treating sentences resulting from instantiation of such sets as the Russell Set in their own descriptions as invalid. So the set of all sets that are not members of thernselves in this further revision is a valid set but the claim that that set is or is not a member of itself is not validly expressible. Such an approach to set comprehension results in a set ontology co-extensive with that permitted by the Naive Set Comprehension Principle itself. This approach （that may be called Revised Set Comprehension Ⅱ） has as strong a claim to consistency as that formulated in ＂Resolving Insolubilia： Internal Inconsistency and the Reform of Naive Set Comprehension.＂

High Temperature and Abscisic Acid Modified the Profile of Anthocyanins in Grape （Vitis vinifera L,）

The predicted increase of temperature by effect of climatic change （1.5 ℃ to 4.5 ℃）, will affect some berry components. Anthocyanins and flavonols concentration are responsible of wine color. The level of anthocyanin is affected by light intensity, temperature, sugars, growth regulators and vineyard management. Abscisic acid （ABA） increases the synthesis of anthocyanin in grape. The object of study was to evaluate the effect of different temperature in berries in vitro, of two cultivars combined with ABA treatments. The treatments were control （C, water） and ABA treatment （1,000 ppm） and temperature： 25, 33 and 40 ℃. In Cabemet Sauvignon, 25 and 33 ~C did not affect anthocyanin total concentration but 40 ℃ produced a 30% decrease in anthocyanin. ABA treatment increased anthocyanin vs. C at 25 and 33 ℃, mainly due to glucosylated forms. But ABA ＋ 40 ℃ showed a 44-60% decrease in all anthocyanins forms compounds. Response of Malbec to the highest temperature （40 ℃）, at the end of ripening, was different; higher temperature produced only slight decrease of total anthocyanins concentration （decrease of 7%）. Combination of temperature ＋ ABA at 20℃ and 33℃ increased anthocyanin. But ABA ＋ 40℃ decreased glucosylated and cumarylated forms of anthocyanin.

Decontamination of Potential Toxic Elements in Sewaged Soils by Inorganic Amendments

This study investigated the feasibility of using some natural clay minerals available in Egypt like kaolinite, bentonite, also using of iron oxide, rock phosphate and mixture of these types to minimize the rate of Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn desorption from sewage soils and to evaluate the effect of these mixtures on Zn equivalent constant values before and after remediation. The obtained results indicated that all mixtures used were minimizing the rate of potential toxic elements （PTE＇s） release from sewage soils compared to control treatment. According to the decreasing order of different treatments, data indicated that application of the mixture treatment of bentonite, kaolinite and rock phosphate （RP） in sewage soils becomes the best treatment compared to other treatments used. However, the lowest and save Zn equivalent constant value which represents the hazard indicator in the study was observed in sewage soil treated with the mixture of bentonite and RP. The kinetic constants of Elovich, modified Freundlich and Hoerl equations, the best fitted models, were significantly decreased compared to control treatments with different percent of minimization according to type of pollutants and remediation material used. To understand the mechanisms of PTE＇s retained in treated sewage soil, distribution study was applied which showed that different pollutants studied were removed to hardly available form different mechanisms of PTE＇s undergo in treated sewage soils were discussed in the study.

Nitrogen Mineralization of Prunings of Six N_2-Fixing Hedgerow Species in a Dry Valley of the Jinsha River

A litterbag experiment of 12 weeks was conducted to study nitrogenmineralization process of prunings of six nitrogen-fixing hedgerowspecies in a dry valley of the Jinsha River. Prunigns wereincorporated into soil or used as mulch. The results indicated thatpruning N of the six hedgerow species was mineralized fast in thefirst week and then decreased slowly in the rest of the study period.When prunings were incorporated into soil, the amount of nitrogenmineralized by the end of the first week accounted for 69.9/100,58.2/100, 54.5/100, 43.0/100, 29.6/100 and 20.6/100 of the total N inprungins of Desmodium rensonii, Tephrosia candida, Leucaenaleucoephala, Albizia yunnanensis, Acacia dealbata, and Acaciamearnsii, respectively.

Genetic interactions and modifi er genes in Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder that occurs in 1:5000 live births. It is characterised by an absence of enteric neurons along a variable region of the gastrointestinal tract. Hirschsprung's disease is classified as a multigenic disorder, because the same phenotype is associated with mutations in multiple distinct genes. Furthermore, the genetics of Hirschsprung's disease are highly complex and not strictly Mendelian. The phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance observed in Hirschsprung' s disease also suggests the involvement of modifier genes. Here, we summarise the current knowledge of the genetics underlying Hirschsprung's disease based on human and animal studies, focusing on the principal causative genes, their interactions, and the role of modif ier genes.