N-alkane shape distinctive microbial patterns in Kuroshio Extension.

Marine microorganisms are primary drivers of the elemental cycling. The interaction between heterotrophic prokaryotes and biomarker (n-alkane) in Kuroshio Extension (KE) remains unclear. Here, we categorize KE into three characteristic areas based on ocean temperatures and nutrient conditions: Cold Water Area (CWA), Mixed Area (MA), and Warm Water Area (WWA). A total of 49 samples were collected during two-year voyage to identify the source of n-alkane and associated degrading microorganisms. Total n-alkane concentrations (Σn-Alk) in surface water (SW) spanned from 1,308 ng L-1 to 1,890 ng L-1, it was significantly higher (Tukey-Kramer test, p < 0.05) in MA than CWA and WWA. The Σn-Alk in surface sediments (SS) gradually increased from north to south, ranging from 5,982 ng g-1 to 37,857 ng g-1. Bacteria and algae were the primary sources of n-alkane in both SW and SS. Proteobacteria was the most widely distributed among three areas. The presence of Rhodobacteraceae with alkB was the primary reason affecting n-alkane concentrations in SW. The Gammaproteobacteria with alkB and alkR chiefly affected n-alkane concentrations in SS. In summary, n-alkane s serve as an energy source for particular microorganisms, shaping the unique oceanographic patterns.

Scopoletin inhibits PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airway, and airway remodeling and the proliferation mechanism of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is of great significance to combat this disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess possible effects of scopoletin on asthma and the potential signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ASMCs were treated PDGF-BB and scopoletin and subjected to cell viability detection by CCK-8 assay. Cell migration of ASMCs was determined by a wound closure assay and transwell assay. The protein level of MMP2, MMP9, calponin and α-SMA were measured using western blot. The levels of NF-κB signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Scopoletin inhibited proliferation of PDGF-BB - induced ASMCs. Also it suppressed the migration and invasion of PDGF-BB - induced ASMCs. We further showed that Scopoletin regulated phenotypic transition of ASMCs. Mechanically, Scopoletin inhibited proliferation and invasion of ASMCs by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: We therefore thought Scopoletin could serve as a promising drug for the treatment of asthma.

Simulation study on the structure of rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer and nanoparticle mixture within slit.

Self-assembly structures of rod-coil-rod ABA triblock copolymer and nanoparticle mixture within a slit are simulated by dissipative particle dynamics method. Results show that the structures are dependent on the rigidity of the rod block kθ, the interaction between the rod block and slit a(wA), the fraction of rod block f(A), and the slit height H. With an increase in kθ, we observe a transition from parallel lamellae to hexagonal cylinders. While with the increase in a(wA), the parallel lamellae at small kθ and hexagonal cylinders at large kθ change to perpendicular lamellae at large a(wA) close to a(As). At last, we present a phase diagram of structure with respect to f(A) and H at large kθ.

Dissipative particle dynamics simulations on self-assembly of rod-coil-rod triblock copolymers in a rod-selective solvent.

Self-assembly of rod-coil-rod ABA triblock copolymers in a rod-selective solvent is investigated by using dissipative particle dynamics simulations. The morphologies of the self-assembled aggregates are dependent on the number of copolymers in the aggregate and the rod length of the copolymer. We observe vesicles at short rod block and bowl-like aggregates at slightly longer rod block. In the vesicle region near the phase boundary, metastable bowl-like aggregates can be observed and be transformed into vesicles by annealing process. A transition from the bowl-like structure to the vesicle is observed by increasing the solvophobicity of the mid-coil block. In this study, the difference between the self-assembly of fully flexible ABA triblock copolymer and that of rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer is also discussed.

Ultrasound of urinary system and urinary screening in 14 256 asymptomatic children in China.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics of urinary system diseases and the role of the ultrasound screening and urinalysis screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in asymptomatic children in China. METHODS: Between September 2008 and November 2008, 14 256 children excluding those with obvious symptoms and signs were enrolled in our study. All the subjects accepted ultrasound and urinary screening. A case-control study was performed to evaluate the relative risk of having stones in those children exposed to melamine formula. RESULTS: Of the enrolled children, 6.10% (869 of 14 256) showed abnormalities, of which 409 (2.87%) were established by ultrasound, 572 (4.01%) by urinalysis and 112 (0.79%) by both ultrasound screening and urinalysis. The abnormalities included congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract, urinary stones and/or hydronephrosis, leucocyturia and haematuria and/or proteinuria. Children exposed to melamine formula were 5.17 times as likely to have kidney stones as children exposed to no-melamine formula (95% confidence interval, 3.28-8.14; P < 0.001); the probability of kidney stones in melamine-fed infants were 6.28 times as likely as those no melamine-fed (95% confidence interval, 3.71-10.65; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography and urinalysis could complement each other and play important roles in the early diagnosis of anomalies of the urinary system, but urinalysis is a more cost-effective screening tool for CKD in children in China. Exposure to melamine-contaminated formula associated with urinary stones, especially in infants, was significantly higher than the control group.