Ammonium improved cell wall and cell membrane P reutilization and external P uptake in a putrescine and ethylene dependent pathway.

Ammonium promotes rice P uptake and reutilization better than nitrate, under P starvation conditions; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, ammonium treatment significantly increased putrescine and ethylene content in rice roots under P deficient conditions, by increasing the protein content of ornithine decarboxylase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase compared with nitrate treatment. Ammonium treatment increased rice root cell wall P release by increasing pectin content and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity, increased rice shoot cell membrane P release by decreasing phosphorus-containing lipid components, and maintained internal P homeostasis by increasing OsPT2/6/8 expression compared with nitrate treatment. Ammonium also improved external P uptake by regulating root morphology and increased rice grain yield by increasing the panicle number compared with nitrate treatment. The application of putrescine and ethylene synthesis precursor ACC further improved the above process. Our results demonstrate for the first time that ammonium increases rice P acquisition, reutilization, and homeostasis, and rice grain yield, in a putrescine- and ethylene-dependent manner, better than nitrate, under P starvation conditions.

A New Species in Pseudophialophora From Wild Rice and Beneficial Potential.

Wild rice (Oryza granulata) is a natural resource pool containing abundant unknown endophytic fungi species. There are few reports on the endophytic fungi in wild rice. Here, one isolate recovered from wild rice roots was identified as a new species Pseudophialophora oryzae sp. nov based on the molecular phylogeny and morphological characteristics. Fluorescent protein-expressing P. oryzae was used to monitor the fungal colonization pattern. Hyphae invaded the epidermis to the inner cortex but not into the root stele. The inoculation of P. oryzae promoted the rice growth, with the growth parameters of chlorophyll content, shoot height, root length, fresh shoot weight, fresh root weight and dry weight increasing by 24.10, 35.32, 19.35, 90.00, 33.3, and 79.17%, respectively. P. oryzae induced up-regulation of nitrate transporter OsPTR9 and potassium transporter OsHAK16 by 7.28 ± 0.84 and 2.57 ± 0.80 folds, promoting nitrogen and potassium elements absorption. In addition, P. oryzae also conferred a systemic resistance against rice blast, showing a 72.65 and 75.63% control rate in sterile plates and potting conditions. This systemic resistance was mediated by the strongly up-regulated expression of resistance-related genes NAC, OsSAUR2, OsWRKY71, EL5, and PR1α. Since P. oryzae can promote rice growth, biomass and induce systemic disease resistance, it can be further developed as a new biogenic agent for agricultural production, providing a new approach for biocontrol of rice blast.

Serum netrin-1 concentrations are associated with clinical outcome in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Netrin-1 is an axon guidance protein, which can inhibit inflammatory reaction and stabilize the blood-brain barrier to protect against experimental brain injury. We evaluated the concentration of netrin-1 in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and explored whether netrin-1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for ICH. METHODS: This study recruited a total of 126 ICH patients and 126 healthy controls. Netrin-1 concentration was determined using a commercially available human enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay kit. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and hematoma volume were used to assess hemorrhagic severity. An unfavorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale >2 at 90 days. RESULTS: ICH patients showed significantly lower serum netrin-1 concentrations than controls. Serum netrin-1 concentrations were strongly and inversely correlated with serum C-reactive protein concentrations, NIHSS score and hematoma volume. Multivariate analyses revealed that low netrin-1 concentration was associated with 90-day death, unfavorable outcome and overall survival after adjustment for other confounding variables. Under the receiver operating characteristic curve, serum netrin-1 remarkably discriminated patients at risk of 90-day death and unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Serum netrin-1 concentrations are decreased in patients with ICH, and the concentrations of netrin-1 were intimately associated with inflammation, hemorrhagic severity and clinical outcome of ICH.

[Driving Factors of the Significant Increase in Surface Ozone in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, China, During 2013-2018].

Photochemical pollution, which is believed to be influenced by emission changes and meteorological factors, is presently quite serious in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, China. There is a need to ascertain the effectiveness of air quality management in the region based on long-term air quality trends independent from meteorological influences. We apply Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filtering, a technique used to separate different scales of motion in a time series, to analyze the time series of the maximum daily 8-hour running average for ozone (O3-8h) from 13 cities in the BTH region during 2013-2018, and also discuss trends and driving factors. Results of the KZ filtering revealed that the short-term, seasonal, and long-term components of the O3-8h accounted for 32.7%, 63.9%, and 3.4% of the total variance, respectively. The long-term component of the BTH region was much higher than of those reported by others for Berlin, Paris, and London, and was comparable to that of Los Angeles in the early 1990s and in the 4 years previous to our study. Although we found a lower long-term component than of those reported for Shanghai and Nanjing in the Yangtze River Delta, China, the BTH region had higher rates of increase that ranged from 2.31 to 7.12 µg·(m3·a)-1[mean 4.97 µg·(m3·a)-1]. Based on the linear fitting results-that had not been verified by experiments or model simulations-the average increase rates could be mainly attributed to emission changes (90.4%), which may be distinguished into two parts, the decrease of particulate matter (PM) (27.3%) and the emission of O3 precursors (63.1%). Decreases of PM2.5in Beijing, Langfang, Tianjin, and Hengshui were considered to be responsible for the increase at the levels of 50.8%, 32.5%, 36.7%, and 48.6%, respectively. This suggests that the rapid decrease in PM2.5 could be the most important factor in the increasing trend of O3 in some cities. We conclude that further decreases in the emission of O3 precursors are required to overcome the effect of decreasing PM2.5 causing an increase in O3.

Volatile compounds released by microalgae-water phase from Taihu Lake in China.

The spectrum of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released by the microalgae-water phase of Taihu Lake in China was examined, then release behaviors were studied using non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC, including a few polar organics) to describe the total amount of the released VOCs. Coupled dynamic headspace sampling with on-line monitoring of methane and NMHC was used to reflect the quasi-realtime release behavior of methane and NMHC by the microalgae-water phase. Alkanes, alkenes, oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) and volatile sulfide chemicals (VOSCs) were detected. Their relative contents over time varied markedly from the stationary to the apoptosis phase, with their release rates as described by NMHC estimated from 0.02 to 0.59 µgC/(h g). Methane was investigated simultaneously, and its release rate was found to be 0.05-3.96 µgC/(h g). The release rates of both NMHC and methane were found to relate to the culture phase of the microalgae.

Cerebral air embolism following an endoscopic variceal ligation: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral air embolism (CAE) is a rare but potentially devastating complication of endoscopic procedures. Only 3 cases, to our knowledge, have been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old female patient presented with hepatitis C virus-related hepatic cirrhosis, emergency endoscopy and endoscopic variceal ligation was performed in an awakened state. CAE occurred during procedure, the patient passed away the next day in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: CAE is a rare but potentially devastating complication in endoscopic procedures. We need more preventive tools and treatments.

[Statistical Characteristics of Urban Changzhou PM2.5 Based on k-means Analysis].

Statistical analysis methods was utilized to investigate the variations of monthly average concentrations of the six basic pollutants (SO2, NO2, CO, O3, PM2.5 and PM10) of six national standard monitoring sites from 2013 to 2014 in urban Changzhou. The results showed that, except for O3, SO2, NO2, CO, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were all high in winter and low in summer. The relationship between particulate matter and wind speed showed, with increasing wind speed, the concentration of PM2.5 reduced. However, the concentration variations of PM10 were complicated and when wind speed increased, its concentration started to go down and then elevated. Fast-cluster analysis (k-means) and the index of SWV & DIV were used to classify the six basic pollutants into four clusters, and then the relationship between gaseous pollutants and PM2.5in each cluster was emphatically discussed by statistical analysis method. Four clusters were assigned to fossil fuel combustion emissions (cluster1), O3 and secondary aerosols (cluster2), incomplete combustion emissions and regional haze (cluster3), urban city "background" (cluster4). Incomplete combustion cluster accounted for the smallest percentage of urban Changzhou and city "background" was cluster of urban Changzhou with the largest contribution. k-means analysis results also showed that PM2.5 had complex sources in urban Changzhou.

[Effect of Cu2+ on the water solubility enhancement of 4, 4'-dibromodiphenyl ethers by humic acid].

The effect of copper ions on the water solubility enhancement of 4,4'- dibromodiphenyl ethers (BDE-15) by a commercial humic acid (HA) has been studied using batch equilibrium technique at various pHs. The characteristics of HA-Cu complex were investigated with the aid of dynamic light scattering and Zeta potential measurements. The results showed that the interaction of BDE-15 with HA could be explained by partition according to the linear isotherms when HA were at lower level, while the non-linear isotherms were observed at higher level of HA. The capability of solubility enhancements was affected by the pH and the ratio of the concentration of copper ions and the concentration of HA. At low pH condition (pH 4.0), solubility enhancement of BDE-15 by HA was facilitated by Cu2+ at low concentration, but reduced by Cu2+ at high concentration. While the phenomenon was different at pH 6.0, and Cu2+ over all investigated concentration range promoted the capability of HA enhancing BDE-15 solubility and non-linear isotherms became more significant. The different effects of Cu2+ at pH 4.0 and 6.0 was mainly due to the dissociation of the HA functional groups as pH increased, thus affected the structure and size of HA-Cu complex.

[Water solubility enhancements of tetrabromobisphenol A by dissolved organic matters].

Water solubility enhancements by two types of dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from a local wastewater treatment plant and by a commercial humic acid (HA) have been studied for tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) using batch equilibrium technique, and the characteristics of DOM were studied with the aid of infrared and ultraviolet absorbance, elemental analysis, dialysis membranes and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the effectiveness of DOM in enhancing solute solubility appeared to be controlled by the structure and molecular size of DOM, the ionic strength of solution and the dissociation ratio of TBBPA. Langmuir Equation could fit the isotherms of the total influent DOM and effluent DOM, and their binding coefficients (Kdoc) are 1.19 x 10(5) L x kg(-1) and 1.27 x 10(5) L x kg(-1), respectively. The interaction of TBBPA with DOM (relative molecular weight > 1000) can be explained by partition according to the linear isotherms, while the nonideal binding behavior of the total DOM was caused by DOM (relative molecular weight < 1000) which contributed about 75 % to 80% of the total water solubility enhancement effect and had higher binding coefficients to TBBPA, about 55%, than those of DOM (relative molecular weight > 1000). The capability of solubility enhancements by the influent DOM and effluent DOM was greater than that of HA in which the high molecular weight DOM controlled the effect of solubility enhancement. In addition, it was also found that the capability of solubility enhancements was affected by the ionic strength of solutions. The capability of solubility enhancements was increased when the ionic strength was low, while it was decreased at higher ionic strength due to the aggregation and flocculation of DOM.

[Diagnostic significance of cytokeratin 19 and 20 expression on micrometastasis of colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To inquire into the diagnostic significance of cytokeratin 19(CK19) and cytokeratin 20(CK20) expression on hematogenous micrometastasis of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Forty-four patients with colorectal cancer were collected as colorectal cancer groups, and another 18 patients treated with abdominal surgical operations because of benign diseases were collected as benign disease group. Blood of all the patients was harvested from their portal and peripheral veins, and CK19 and CK20 levels in the blood were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: There were no positive expression of CK19 and CK20 in the portal and peripheral blood of all the patients in benign disease group. Of the colorectal cancer group, 34 patients(77.3%) appeared positive expressions of CK19 and/or CK20 in portal and peripheral blood, and there was significant difference in the expressions of CK19 and CK20 between the two groups(P<0.05). Within the colorectal cancer group, the positive expression rates of CK19 and CK20 in peripheral blood were 36.4% and 52.3%, and the rates in portal blood were 59.1% and 72.7%. The rates of portal blood were significantly higher than those of peripheral blood(P<0.05). The positive expression rate in patients at stage III( was significantly higher than that in patients at stage I( orII( (P<0.05). The postoperative metastasis and recurrence rate of colorectal cancer in patients with positive expression of CK19 and CK20 in peripheral blood was 61.5%, which was significantly higher than that(25.0%) in patients with positive expression in portal blood only(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with colorectal cancer, the expressions of CK19 and CK20, which are determined by RT-PCR in blood from portal and peripheral veins, are the sensitive and specific indexes for diagnosing hematogenous micrometastasis of the cancer.

[Sorption and desorption behaviors of tetrabromobisphenol A on fluvo-aquic soil].

Sorption and desorption behaviors of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on fluvo-aquic soil were investigated using batch equilibrium experiments, and the effects of pH and ionic strength on the sorption were also evaluated. The results showed that the sorption process could be divided into the rapid sorption (0-24 h) and the slow sorption (24-48 h). The rapid sorption played the main role in the sorption of TBBPA and the sorption approached equilibrium at about 48 h. The nonlinear isotherm of TBBPA on the soil was observed, and the sorption behavior could be described by Freundlich model well. The amount of TBBPA sorption decreased with the increase in solution pH within the range of pH 6.0-8.0, and did not change significantly with the increase in solution pH when pH value was greater than 8.0. The amount of TBBPA sorption increased with the increase in ionic strength. In addition, the result of sorption-desorption revealed that desorption hysteresis of TBBPA, which suggested that the fluvo-aquic soil had high affinity with TBBPA.

Preventive effect of gelatinizedly-modified chitosan film on peritoneal adhesion of different types.

AIM: To comparatively study the preventive effect of gelatinizedly-modified chitosan film on peritoneal adhesions induced by four different factors in rats. METHODS: Chitosan was chemically modified by gelatinization, and made into films of 60 microm in thickness, and sterilized. Two hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, Sham-operation group (group A), wound-induced adhesion group (group B), purified talc-induced adhesion group (group C), vascular ligation-induced adhesion group (group D), and infection-induced adhesion group (group E), respectively. In each group, the rats were treated with different adhesion-inducing methods at the cecum of vermiform processes and then were divided into control and experimental subgroups. Serous membrane surface of vermiform processes were covered with the films in the experimental subgroups, and no films were used in the control subgroups. After 2 and 4 wk of treatments, the abdominal cavities were reopened and the adhesive severity was graded blindly according to Bhatia's method. The cecum of vermiform processes were resected for hydroxyproline (OHP) measurement and pathological examination. RESULTS: Adhesion severity and OHP level: After 2 and 4 wk of the treatments, in the experimental subgroups, the adhesions were significantly lighter and the OHP levels were significantly lower than those of the control subgroups in group B (2 wk: 0.199 +/- 0.026 vs 0.285 +/- 0.041 microg/mg pr, P < 0.001; 4 wk: 0.183 +/- 0.034 vs 0.276 +/- 0.03 microg/mg pr, P < 0.001), D (2 wk: 0.216 +/- 0.036 vs 0.274 +/- 0.040 microg/mg pr, P = 0.004; 4 wk: 0.211 +/- 0.044 vs 0.281 +/- 0.047 microg/mg pr, P = 0.003) and E (2 wk: 0.259 +/- 0.039 vs 0.371 +/- 0.040 microg/mg pr, P < 0.001; 4 wk: 0.242 +/- 0.045 vs 0.355 +/- 0.029 microg/mg pr, P < 0.001), but there were no significant differences in groups A (2 wk: 0.141 +/- 0.028 vs 0.137 +/- 0.026 microg/mg pr, P = 0.737; 4 wk: 0.132 +/- 0.031 vs 0.150 +/- 0.035 microg/mg pr, P = 0.225) and C (2 wk: 0.395 +/- 0.044 vs 0.378 +/- 0.043 microg/mg pr, P = 0.387; 4 wk: 0.370 +/- 0.032 vs 0.367 +/- 0.041 microg/mg pr, P = 0.853); Pathological changes: In group B, the main pathological changes were fibroplasias in the treated serous membrane surface and in group D, the fibroplasia was shown in the whole layer of the vermiform processes. In group E, the main pathological changes were acute and chronic suppurative inflammatory reactions. These changes were lighter in the experimental subgroups than those in the control subgroups in the three groups. In group C, the main changes were foreign body giant cell and granuloma reactions and fibroplasias in different degrees, with no apparent differences between the experimental and control subgroups. CONCLUSION: The gelatinizedly-modified chitosan film is effective on preventing peritoneal adhesions induced by wound, ischemia and infection, but the effect is not apparent in foreign body-induced adhesion.

Web multimedia information retrieval using improved Bayesian algorithm.

The main thrust of this paper is application of a novel data mining approach on the log of user's feedback to improve web multimedia information retrieval performance. A user space model was constructed based on data mining, and then integrated into the original information space model to improve the accuracy of the new information space model. It can remove clutter and irrelevant text information and help to eliminate mismatch between the page author's expression and the user's understanding and expectation. User space model was also utilized to discover the relationship between high-level and low-level features for assigning weight. The authors proposed improved Bayesian algorithm for data mining. Experiment proved that the authors' proposed algorithm was efficient.