Phosphorus forms in sediments of the East China Sea and its environmental significance

By means of SEDEX, ASPILA and XRF, depth-dependent changes of different phosphorus forms in sediment cores from specific areas of the offshore Changjiang Estuary (Yangtze Estuary) in 1998 were analyzed. Results show that contents of total phosphorus (TP), organic-phosphorus (OP) and iron-phosphorus (Fe-P) decreased down-core, while those of absorbed-phosphorus (Ad-P) and calcium-phosphorus (Ca-P) increased. The distribution tendency of detritus-phosphorus (De-P) is not obvious. Results also show that TP, Fe-P and OP contents at Meso station of the Changjiang Estuary and Hangzhou Bay are higher than that of the other stations. This suggests that the pollutants carried by the Changjiang and the Qiantang rivers from inland have affected the natural environment in offshore area. TP, Fe-P and OP contents of each station become higher from bottom to top, indicating the amount of the terrestrial pollutants carried by the two rivers has been enhanced since the last 30-50 years. Ad-P, Ca-P, Fe-P and OP are all active phosphorus in sediments, and their re-cycling in sediment is closely related to each other.

The Physical Significance of the Synthetic Running Correlation Coefficient and Its Applications in Oceanic and Atmospheric Studies

In order to study the temporal variations of correlations between two time series,a running correlation coefficient(RCC)could be used.An RCC is calculated for a given time window,and the window is then moved sequentially through time.The current calculation method for RCCs is based on the general definition of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient,calculated with the data within the time window,which we call the local running correlation coefficient(LRCC).The LRCC is calculated via the two anomalies corresponding to the two local means,meanwhile,the local means also vary.It is cleared up that the LRCC reflects only the correlation between the two anomalies within the time window but fails to exhibit the contributions of the two varying means.To address this problem,two unchanged means obtained from all available data are adopted to calculate an RCC,which is called the synthetic running correlation coefficient(SRCC).When the anomaly variations are dominant,the two RCCs are similar.However,when the variations of the means are dominant,the difference between the two RCCs becomes obvious.The SRCC reflects the correlations of both the anomaly variations and the variations of the means.Therefore,the SRCCs from different time points are intercomparable.A criterion for the superiority of the RCC algorithm is that the average value of the RCC should be close to the global correlation coefficient calculated using all data.The SRCC always meets this criterion,while the LRCC sometimes fails.Therefore,the SRCC is better than the LRCC for running correlations.We suggest using the SRCC to calculate the RCCs.

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and its biological significance in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To explore the relationship between DNA methyltransferase 1 （DNMT1） and hepatitis B virus （HBV）-related hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） and its biological significance in primary HCC. METHODS： We carried out an immunohistochemical examination of DNMT1 in both HCC and paired nonneoplastic liver tissues from Chinese subjects. DNMT1 mRNA was further examined in HCC cell lines by real-time PCR. We inhibited DNMT1 using siRNA and detected the effect of depletion of DNMT1 on cell proliferation ability and cell apoptosis in the HCC celt line SMMC-7721. RESULTS： DNMT1 protein expression was increased in HCCs compared to histologically normal nonneoplastic liver tissues and the incidence of DNMT1 immunoreactivity in HCCs correlated significantly with poor tumor differentiation （P = 0.014）. There were more cases with DNMT1 overexpression in HCC with HBV （42.85%） than in HCC without HBV （28.57%）. However, no significant difference in DNMT1 expression was found in HBV-positive and HBV-negative cases in the Chinese HCC group. There was a trend that DNMT1 RNA expression increased more in HCC cell lines than in pericarcinoma cell lines and normal liver cell lines. In addition, we inhibited DNMT1 using siRNA in the SMMC-7721 HCC cell line and found depletion of DNMT1 suppressed cells growth independent of expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）, even in HCC cell lines where DNMT1 was stably decreased. CONCLUSION： The findings implied that DNMT1 plays a key role in HBV-retated hepatocellular tumorigenesis. Depletion of DNMT1 mediates growth suppression in SMMC-7721 cells.

Clinical significance of plasma D-dimer and von Willebrand factor levels in patients with ulcer colitis

AIM: To investigate the levels of D-dimer(DD) and von Willebrand factor(vWF) and the relationship between DD and vWF in ulcerative colitis(UC) patients. METHODS: A total of 29 plasma specimens were obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis (male 13, female 16) aged 21-47 years (33+/-11). Disease activity was assessed by Truelove-Writeria. Patients with a score of above 5 were regarded as having active colitis. Twenty healthy people(male 12, female 8) aged 19-53 years(31+/-14) served as normal controls. Blood samples were taken from an antecubital vein puncture. Blood(1.8 mL) was injected into the tubes containing sodium citrate (0.13 mmol/L). The plasma was obtained by centrifugation at 3000 r.min(-1) for 10 min, and stored at -80 degrees until assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: The mean plasma levels of DD and vWF in active UC patients were significantly higher than those of the controls (0.69+/-0.41 vs 0.27+/-0.11, P【0.01 143+/-46 vs 103+/-35, P【0.01). The mean plasma levels of DD in the patients with active disease were higher than those with inactive disease(0.69+/-0.41 vs 0.48+/-0.29 P【0.05). The levels of vWF were not different between active and inactive patients. DD levels were positively related to vWF levels( r =0.574, P【0.01). There was no significant difference between levels of DD and vWF and the scope of disease and sex of the patients. CONCLUSION: vWF is an important feature and a good marker of UC intravascular thrombus and endothelial cell dysfunction were found in UC patients and the combined test of DD and vWF is helpful to distinguish the activity of the UC patients.

Discussion of Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger Dilaton Black Hole Entropy

We discuss the entropy of the Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger dilaton black hole by using the thin film brick-wall model, and the entropy obtained is proportional to the horizon area of the black hole confirming the Bekenstein-Hawking＇s area-entropy formula. Then, by comparing with the original brick-wall method, we find that the result obtained by the thin film method is more reasonable avoiding some drawbacks, such as little mass approximation, neglecting logarithm term, and taking the term L^3 as a contribution of the vacuum surrounding the black hole, and the physical meaning of the entropy is more clearer.

Approximate Analytical Solutions for Scattering States of D-dimensional Hulthen Potentials

Using the exponential function transformation approach along with an approximation for the centrifugal potential, the radial Schr6dinger equation of D-dimensional Hulthen potential is transformed to a hypergeometric differential equation. The approximate analytical solutions of scattering states are attained. The normalized wave functions expressed in terms of hypergeometrie functions of scattering states on the ＂k/2π scale＂ and the calculation formula of phase shifts are given. The physical meaning of the approximate analytical solutions is discussed.

Dark Matter and Other Phenomena in the Framework of Banded Speed Cosmology

The descriptive capabilities of the banded speed cosmological model are shown. In particular, an in-depth analysis related to the actual physical meaning of Planck＇s unit is given in the framework of the banded distribution of physical quantities. From this analysis the richness and flexibility of the model＇s description capabilities is derived, with particular attention devoted to the ability of using the same relationships for describing both microcosm and macrocosm and also young and old universe. Finally the cited descriptive capabilities are used for deriving a very simple and intuitive explanation of the ＂darkness＂ of dark matter.

Genetic and molecular changes in ovarian cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer represents the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the developed world, and can be divided into five main histological subtypes: high grade serous, endometrioid, clear cell, mucinous and low grade serous. These subtypes represent distinct disease entities, both clinically and at the molecular level. Molecular analysis has revealed significant genetic heterogeneity in ovarian cancer, particularly within the high grade serous subtype. As such, this subtype has been the focus of much research effort to date, revealing molecular subgroups at both the genomic and transcriptomic level that have clinical implications.However, stratification of ovarian cancer patients based on the underlying biology of their disease remains in its infancy. Here, we summarize the molecular changes that characterize the five main ovarian cancer subtypes, highlight potential opportunities for targeted therapeutic intervention and outline priorities for future research.

Expression and clinical significance of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in breast cancer and precancerous lesions

Objective： The aim of our study was to observe the expressions and clinical Significance of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in breast cancer and precancerous lesions, and analyze the relationship between the expressions and clinicopathological features in breast cancer. Methods： Immunhistochemical UltraSensitiveTM S-P method was employed to detect the expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in 128 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas, 89 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ and 57 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia, 53 cases of usual ductal hyperplasia breast tissues were selected as a control group. The express of E-cadherin, β-catenin and their relationship with mult biological parameters including histological grade, region lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and recurrence on files were also assessed. Results： （1） The staining patterns character of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex： In UDH breast tissues, E-cadherin and a-catenin were expressed on cell membrane of ductal and acinic cells, showing cellular contour and border among cells. The abnormal expression of the three proteins occurred in breast invasive ductal carcinomas, ductal carcinoma in situ and atypical ductal hyperplasia tissues, showing cytoplasmic or nuclear staining, decrease and loss of cytomembrane staining. （2） The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in invasive ductal carcinomas were 53.91%, 65.63% and 81.25%, which were significantly higher than that in ductal carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal hyperplasia, usual ductal hyperplasia tissues （P 〈 0.01）. Compared with usual ductal hyperplasia breast tissues group, the abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex were significantly decreased （P 〈 0.01） in the breast cancer group. However, there was no significance of the abnormal expression rate between ductal carcinoma in situ and atypical ductal hyperplasia tissues groups （X2 = 0.76, P = 0.38; x2 = 0.14, P = 0.70; x2 = 0.81, P = 0.37; X2 = 2.19, P = 0.14） （P 〉 0.05）. （3） There was a significantly difference in the mean E-cadherin, β-catenin and E- cadherin-catenins complex frequency between estrogen receptor ＆ progesterone receptor positive IDC group and negative group, epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 （HER2/neu） positive and negative groups, Ki-67 proliferation index 〈 14% and 〉 14% groups, histological grade （I ＋ II） and grade III invasive ductal carcinomas groups, with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and recurrence groups （P 〈 0.05） and without groups （P 〈 0.05）. However, there was no difference in the mean E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex frequency between age （_〈 50 years vs 〉 50 years）, tumor diameter （〈 2 cm vs 〉 2 cm） （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： In breast cancer, the expressions of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex are abnormally decreased and are correlated with pathology grade, differentiation disturbance and metastasis. E- cadherin and β-catenin may be as the predictors for prognosis. Combined detection may improve accuracy and sensitivity of predicting metastasis and prognosis of breast Cancer.

NEUTROPHILIC TRANSIENT ACIDIFICATION AND SUPEROXIDE PRODUCTION IN PERITONEAL DIALYSATE

Aim. To elucidate whether an inhibited superoxide production(O 2 ) of neutrophils induced by commercial lactate based peritoneal dialysates(PDS) could be corrected after a transient intracellular acidosis. Methods. The intracellular pH([pHi]) of human neutrophils incubatd in PDS was monitored with a spectrofluorometer with a pH sensitive dye (BCECF AM). Neutrophilic O 2 stimulated by zymosan was determined in PDS with the superoxide dismutase inhibitable ferricytochrome c reduction, using a spectrophotometer. Results. The severe intracellular acidosis induced within 5 min by PDS at an extracellular pH of 5.2 could be promptly and completely recovered by a neutralization of the pH of media. However, O 2 by neutrophils exposed to the PDS for as little as 5 min was drastically and persistently inhibited, even the acidic [pHi] of cells had been fully returned for 1h. Conclusions. The intracellular acidification of cells in the initial phase could be transient and reversible, but impaired cell functions, at least in part including O 2 generating system, might be consistent and irreversible in the early stage of the cellular acidosis in the peritoneal cavity of CAPD patients. The findings above may be of particular importance in both clinic and cell biology.

Remarks on Definitions of Perturbation in General Relativity

There are two kinds of definitions of perturbation of physical quantities in the framework of general relativity： one is direct, the other is geometrical. Correspondingly, there are two types of gauge transformation related with these two definitions. The passive approach is based on the property of general covariance, and the active one is through the action of Lie-derivative. Although under a proper coordinate choice, the two approaches seem to agree with each other, they are different in nature. The geometrical definition of relativistic perturbation and the active approach for gauge transformation are more rigorous in mathematics and less confusing in physical explanation. The direct definition, however, seems to be plagued with difficulties in physical meaning, and the passive approach is more awkward to use, especially for high-order gauge transformations.

Objective Reduction Solutions to Higher-Order Boussinesq System in (2+1)-Dimensions

With the help of an objective reduction approach （ORA）, abundant exact solutions of （2＋1）-dimensional higher-order Boussinesq system （including some hyperboloid function solutions, trigonometric function solutions, and a rational function solution） are obtained. It is shown that some novel soliton structures, like single linearity soliton structure, breath soliton structure, single linearity y-periodic solitary wave structure, libration dromion structure, and kink-like multisoliton structure with actual physical meaning exist in the （2＋1）-dimensional higher-order Boussinesq system.

Clinical significance of Smac expression on non-small cell lung cancers

Objective:The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical significance of Smac(second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase) expression on non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:The expression of Smac was evaluated on RNA and protein level in tumor tissues.The expression of Smac mRNA was examined by RT-PCR in 59 samples of tumor tissues and matched normal lung tissues.The expression of Smac protein was examined by IHC in 213 cancer tissues.Results:The positive rate of Smac mRNA was found in 59.3% of cancer tissues,but only in 30.5% of matched normal tissues(P<0.05).The positive rate of Smac protein was 76.5%.The expression of Smac in stage II disease was significantly higher than that in stage I disease(P=0.001).The survival of patients with Smac overexpression was significantly shorter than those who were negative.Conclusion:Smac might be involved in the progression of NSCLC,the biologic significance of Smac in primary lung cancer needs further study.

Quantum Mechanical Image of Matrices' LDU Decomposition

For classical transformation （q1,q2） → （Aq1 ＋ Bq2, Cq1 ＋ Dq2）, where AD - CB ≠ 1, we find its quantum mechanical image by using LDU decomposition of the matrix （A B C D ）. The explicit operators L, D, and U axe derived and their physical meaning is revealed, this also provides a new way for disentangling some exponential operators.

Significance of stromal-1 and stromal-2 signatures and biologic prognostic model in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Objective:Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma(DLBCL)is a heterogeneous group of tumors with different biological and clinical characteristics that have diverse clinical outcomes and response to therapy.Stromal-1 signature of tumor microenvironment of DLBCL represents extracellular matrix deposition and histiocytic infiltrate,whereas stromal-2 represents angiogenesis that could affect tumor progression.Methods:The aim of the present study is to assess the significance of stromal-1 signature using SPARC-1 and stromal-2 signature using CD31 expression and then finally to construct biologic prognostic model(BPM)in 60 cases of DLBCL via immunohistochemistry.Results:Microvessel density(P<0.05)and SPARC percentage of expression(P<0.001)were higher in DLBCL,including germinal and nongerminal cases,compared with reactive follicular hyperplasia.High microvessel density was significantly associated with splenic involvement(P=0.008),high mitotic count(P=0.045),and presence of capsular invasion(P=0.035).Percentage of SPARC expression was significantly associated with splenic involvement(P=0.03).Constructing BPM showed that 42 cases(70%)were of low biologic score(0–1)and 18 cases(30%)were of high biologic score(2–3).Low BPM cases showed less probability for splenic involvement(P=0.04)and a higher rate of complete response to therapy compared with high score cases(P=0.08).Conclusions:The DLBCL microenvironment could modulate tumor progression behavior since angiogenesis and SPARC positive stromal cells promote dissemination by association with spleen involvement and capsular invasion.Biologic prognostic models,including modified BPM,which considered cell origin of DLBCL and stromal signature pathways,could determine DLBCL progression and response to therapy.

Application of Y(sl(2)) Algebra for Entanglement of Two-Qubit System

We construct the transition operators in terms of the generators of the general Yangian and the reduced Yangian. By acting these operators on a two-qubit pure state, we find that the entanglement degrees of the states are all decreased from the certain values to zero for the reduced Yangian algebra, which makes the state disentangled. This result sheds new light on the physical meaning of Y （sl（2） ） in quantum information.

Clinical significance of HBME-1,Galectin-3,and CK19 expression and the status of BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance of the expression of proteins human bone marrow endothelial cell markers(HBME-1), Galectin-3, and cytokeratin19(CK19), as well as the status of v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1(BRAF) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods Immunohistochemical staining was performed in 82 specimens each of PTC and papillary benign lesions to detect the expression of HBME-1, Galectin-3, and CK19. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and gene sequencing were performed on 60 specimens each of PTC and papillary benign lesions to detect the status of BRAF mutation. Results The positive expression ratios of HBME-1, Galectin-3, and CK19 in PTC were 98.8%, 97.6% and 100% respectively, which were significantly higher than the expressions in papillary benign lesions(P < 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between the expression of these makers and the clinicopathological features of PTC. The sensitivity of co-expression of HBME-1 and CK19 or HBME-1 and Galectin-3 as diagnostic criteria of PTC was 99.9%, with a specificity of 95.4%. BRAF mutation was detected in 40 of 60 PTC(66.7%) specimens. There was a statistical difference in BRAF mutations between PTC and papillary benign lesions(P < 0.05); there were no associations between BRAF mutation and the clinicopathological features of PTC. Conclusion Combined immunohistochemical staining of HBME-1, Galectin-3, and CK19 can further improve the sensitivity and specificity of differential diagnosis of PTC. BRAF mutation is a significant genetic event, which may have diagnostic value for PTC.

Clinical implications and prognostic value of five biomarkers in endometrial carcinoma

Objective： The aim was to identify the relationship between ER, PR, P53, Ki-67, PTEN, the association with clinicopathological parameters and the correlation with survival. Methods： We studied 190 cases of primary endornetrial carcinoma in which ER, PR, Ki-67, P53, PTEN antigens were investigated with the use of immunohistochemical methods. To evaluate the correlations among immunohistochemical staining and the age, menopause status, histological type, FIGO stage, grading, depth of invasion, lymph nodes involvement and serum tumor marker. Survival analysis was assessed within single and combined biomarkers types. Results： The percentage of Ki-67 and P53 positive endometrial tumors was signifi- cantly higher in ER negative vs ER positive tumors （both P = 0.000）. The same trend was evident in PR positive and nega- tive group. The percentage of PTEN positive tumors was significantly higher in PR positive versus PR negative tumors （P = 0.021） but was no difference in different ER status. ER and PR status were significant predictors with FIGO staging, grading and recurrence. There was no clear association between PTEN positivity and clinicopathological parameters except more relevance with endometrioid histotype （P = 0.013）. Positive Ki-67 or P53 was found to be strictly related to more aggressive features. There was statistically significant difference in different status of P53 and Ki-67 in survival time. Conclusion： ER and PR positive tumors showed a statistically significant association with better clinical outcome, PR has more significant influ- ence on prognosis. The percentage of positive Ki-67 or P53 was significantly higher in hormone-independent group versus in hormone-dependent group and combined Ki-67 and P53 may have more effect on prognosis in former group.

A Micro-Mechanism Model for Porous Media

Based on the tortuous-expanding path/channel model,a micro-mechanism model for porous media is developed.The proposed model is expressed as a function of tortuosity,porosity,resistance coefficient,and fluid properties.Every parameter in the proposed model has clear physical meaning.The results show that the model predictions are ingood agreement with those from the existing experimental data.

Matlab Methods for Roots of Characteristic Equation of Cylindrical Bessel Equation Eigenvalue Problems on General Interval

Root of characteristic equation for cylindrical Bessel equation eigenvalue problems on general interval is of great real physical importance at engineering and physical. First, the characteristic equation of cylindrical Bessel equation eigenvalue problem on general interval is given, second, by mean of compared method, we obtaining roots of characteristic equation with Matlab program is discussed.