Cellulose separation from ramie bone by one step process with green hydrogen peroxide-citric acid.

Ramie bone (RB), an agricultural waste generated in the textile industry, is a vastly productive renewable natural resource with the potential to be used as a source of cellulose. In this study, ramie bone cellulose (RB-CE) was obtained in one step using a simple and ecologically friendly hydrogen peroxide-citric acid (HPCA) treatment procedure that avoided the use of halogenated reagents and strong acids while also streamlining the treatment processes. Various analytical methods were used to investigate the chemical composition and structure, crystallinity, morphology, thermal properties, surface area and hydration properties of cellulose separated at different treatment temperatures. HPCA successfully removed lignin and hemicellulose from RB, according to chemical composition analysis and FTIR. RB-CE had a type I cellulose crystal structure, and the crystallinity improved with increasing treatment temperature, reaching 72.51 % for RB-CE90. The RB-CE showed good thermal stability with degradation temperatures ranging from 294.2 °C to 319.1 °C. Furthermore, RB-CE had a high water/oil binding capacity, with RB-CE90 having WHC and OBC of 9.68 g/g and 7.24 g/g, respectively. The current work serves as a model for the environmentally friendly and convenient extraction of cellulose from biomass, and the cellulose obtained can be employed in the field of food and composite materials.

Structured postoperative handover protocol improves efficiency and quality of interdisciplinary communication and nursing care in surgical intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured postoperative handover protocol for postoperative transfer to the SICU. This study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in a comprehensive teaching hospital in China. Patients who were transferred to the SICU after surgery were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group underwent postoperative structured handover protocol, and the control group still applied conventional oral handover. A total of 101 postoperative patients and 50 clinicians were enrolled. Although the intervention group did not shorten the handover duration (6.18 ± 1.66 vs 5.94 ± 1.91; P = 0.505), the handover integrity was significantly improved, mainly reflected in fewer information omissions (1.44 ± 0.97 vs 0.67 ± 0.62; P < 0.001), fewer additional questions raised by ICU physicians (1.06 ± 1.04 vs 0.24 ± 0.43; P < 0.001) and fewer additional handovers via phone call (16% vs 3.9%; P = 0.042). The total score of satisfaction of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (76.44 ± 7.32 vs 81.24 ± 6.95; P = 0.001). With respect to critical care, the incidence of stage I pressure sore within 24 h was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (20% vs 3.9%, P = 0.029). Structured postoperative handover protocol improves the efficiency and quality of interdisciplinary communication and clinical care in SICU.Trial registration This study was registered in China on January 8th, 2022 at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200055400).

Relating bacterial dynamics and functions to greenhouse gas and odor emissions during facultative heap composting of four kinds of livestock manure.

Although facultative heap composting is widely used in small and medium-sized livestock farms in China, there are few studies on greenhouse gas (GHG) and odor emissions from this composting system. This study focused on GHG and odor emissions from facultative heap composting of four types of livestock manure and revealed the relationship between the gaseous emissions and microbial communities. Results showed that pig, sheep, and cow manure reached high compost maturity (germination index (GI) > 70%), whereas chicken manure had higher phytotoxicity (GI = 0.02%) with higher electrical conductivity and a lower carbon/nitrogen ratio. The four manure types significantly differed in the total GHG emission, with the following pattern: pig manure (308 g CO2-eq·kg-1) > cow manure (146 g CO2-eq·kg-1) > chicken manure (136 g CO2-eq·kg-1) > sheep manure (95 g CO2-eq·kg-1). Bacterium with Fermentative, Methanotrophy and Nitrite respiratory functions (e.g. Pseudomonas and Lactobacillus) are enriched within the pile so that more than 90% of the GHGs are produced in the early (days 0-15) and late (days 36-49) composting periods. CO2 contributed more than 90% in the first 35 d, N2O contributed 40-75% in the late composting period, and CH4 contributed less than 8.0%. NH3 and H2S emissions from chicken and pig manure were 4.8 times those from sheep and cow manure. Overall, the gas emissions from facultative heap composting significantly differed among the four manure types due to the significant differences in their physicochemical properties and microbial communities.

A global meta-analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon and nitrogen losses during livestock manure composting: Influencing factors and mitigation strategies.

The management of manure composting contributes to alleviate the global greenhouse effect. To improve our understanding of this process, we conducted a meta-analysis of 371 observations from 87 published studies in 11 countries. The results showed that the difference in nitrogen content in feces significantly affected the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient losses of subsequent composting, with NH3-N, CO2-C, and CH4-C losses all increasing with its rise. Windrow pile composting (especially compared to trough composting) had lower GHG emissions and nutrient loss. C/N ratio, aeration rate, and pH value significantly affected NH3 emission, and a decrease in the latter two can reduce it by 31.8 % and 42.5 %, respectively. Decreasing the moisture content or increasing the turning frequency could decrease CH4 by 31.8 % and 62.6 %, respectively. The addition of biochar or superphosphate had a synergistic emission reduction. The emission reduction of N2O and CH4 by biochar was more prominent (44 % and 43.6 %), while superphosphate on NH3 (38.0 %) was better. And the latter was more suitable if added in 10-20 % of dry weight. Dicyandiamide was the only chemical additive (59.4 %) with better N2O emission reduction performance. Microbial agents with different functions had certain effects on NH3-N emission reduction, while the mature compost had a certain effect on N2O-N emissions (67.0 %). In general, N2O had the highest contribution to the greenhouse effect during composting (74.22 %).

Overcoming the Trade-Off between C2 H2 Sorption and Separation Performance by Regulating Metal-Alkyne Chemical Interaction in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Designing porous materials for C2 H2 purification and safe storage is essential research for industrial utilization. We emphatically regulate the metal-alkyne interaction of PdII and PtII on C2 H2 sorption and C2 H2 /CO2 separation in two isostructural NbO metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Pd/Cu-PDA and Pt/Cu-PDA. The experimental investigations and systematic theoretical calculations reveal that PdII in Pd/Cu-PDA undergoes spontaneous chemical reaction with C2 H2 , leading to irreversible structural collapse and loss of C2 H2 /CO2 sorption and separation. Contrarily, PtII in Pt/Cu-PDA shows strong di-σ bond interaction with C2 H2 to form specific π-complexation, contributing to high C2 H2 capture (28.7 cm3 g-1 at 0.01 bar and 153 cm3 g-1 at 1 bar). The reusable Pt/Cu-PDA efficiently separates C2 H2 from C2 H2 /CO2 mixtures with satisfying selectivity and C2 H2 capacity (37 min g-1 ). This research provides valuable insight into designing high-performance MOFs for gas sorption and separation.

Erratum to "A two-microRNA signature predicts the progression of male thyroid cancer".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1515/biol-2021-0099.].

Effects of dicyandiamide, phosphogypsum and superphosphate on greenhouse gas emissions during pig manure composting.

This study investigated the effects of dicyandiamide, phosphogypsum and superphosphate on greenhouse gas emissions and compost maturity during pig manure composting. The results indicated that the addition of dicyandiamide and phosphorus additives had no negative effect on organic matter degradation, and could improve the compost maturity. Adding dicyandiamide alone reduced the emissions of ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) by 9.37 %, 9.60 % and 31.79 %, respectively, which was attributed that dicyandiamide effectively inhibited nitrification to reduce the formation of N2O. Dicyandiamide combined with phosphogypsum or superphosphate could enhance mitigation of the total greenhouse gas (29.55 %-37.46 %) and NH3 emission (18.28 %-21.48 %), which was mainly due to lower pH value and phosphoric acid composition. The combination of dicyandiamide and phosphogypsum exhibited the most pronounced emission reduction effect, simultaneously decreasing the NH3, CH4 and N2O emissions by 18.28 %, 38.58 % and 36.14 %, respectively. The temperature and C/N content of the compost were significantly positively correlated with greenhouse gas emissions.

NR4A3 fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in cytologic and surgical specimens of acinic cell carcinoma.

Acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC) may pose a diagnostic challenge, particularly on small biopsies and fine needle aspiration (FNA) because of its variable histology including potential high-grade transformation and its mimickers. Immunoreactivity with circumferential membranous staining for DOG1 can support the diagnosis of AciCC but is not entirely specific. A novel rearrangement t(4;9)(q13;q31) leading to up-regulation of nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 3 (NR4A3) has been described in AciCC, is potentially detectable by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and may be useful in the evaluation for AciCC. Using NR4A3 Dual Color Break Apart Probe (ZytoVision, Germany) FISH was performed on AciCCs from 3 large academic institutions. NR4A3 rearrangement was defined as positive signal patterns in 15% of tissue interphase nuclei. Fifty-two AciCCs including 47 resections and 5 FNAs (including 5 paired FNA/resections) were analyzed. Five non-AciCC salivary gland tumors and 2 sialadenitis cases were used as controls. Eight AciCCs (15%; 8/52) failed FISH testing. FISH was positive in 23 AciCCs (sensitivity 59%, 23/39) with 100% concordance between 5 matched resection/FNAs (3 were positive for FISH and 2 were negative). FISH was negative in all non-AciCCs (specificity: 100%, 0/7). NR4A3 FISH has a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 100% in detecting AciCC, which suggests that NR4A3 rearrangement-driven up-regulation is a recurrent, specific oncogenic event in AciCC, consistent with prior results. Hundred percent concordance between matched FNA/resection samples validates its potential utility on cytology samples.

Composting temperature directly affects the removal of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in livestock manure.

The high antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) contents in livestock manure pose a potential risk to environment and human health. The heap composting with an ambient temperature and thermophilic composting are two methods for converting livestock manure into fertilizer. This study investigated the variations in ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and revealed potential mechanisms for ARGs removal using the two composting methods. The ARGs abundance were enriched by 44-fold in heap composting, among them, the macrolide-resistance genes increased significantly. On the contrary, the ARGs were removed by 92% in thermophilic composting, among them, tetracycline-resistance genes decreased by 97%. The bacterial hosts of ARGs were associated with the variations of ARGs and MGEs. The tetO was correlated with the most diverse bacteria in heap composting, and Bacteroidetes was the major host bacteria. While tetT was correlated with the most diverse bacteria in thermophilic composting, and Proteobacteria was the major host bacteria. Structural equation models showed that the enrichment of ARGs in heap composting was mainly correlated with bacterial communities, whereas, the removal of ARGs in thermophilic composting was directly affect by MGEs. Composting temperature directly affected the variations in ARGs. Higher and lower temperatures significantly decreased and increased, respectively, ARGs and MGEs abundance levels.

ASF1B: A Possible Prognostic Marker, Therapeutic Target, and Predictor of Immunotherapy in Male Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common malignant endocrine tumor worldwide. Several studies have documented that male patients with TC have a higher rate of metastasis and disease recurrence than female patients. However, the mechanism underlying this observation is not completely clear. The goal of our research was to investigate the potential key candidate genes and pathways related to TC progression in male patients at the molecular level. METHODS: A total of 320 samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Hub genes were screened out using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Survival analysis was used to identify hub genes associated with disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression (ESTIMATE) data were used to assess the relationship between hub genes and immune cell infiltration. The molecular mechanism and biological functions of hub genes were explored using RT-qPCR, Western blot, Cell Counting Kit-8 Assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assays, and scratch assays. RESULTS: Forty-seven hub genes were identified, and the survival analysis demonstrated that anti-silencing function 1B (ASF1B) was the sole independent risk factor for poor DFS in male TC patients. Possible associations between the results from the ESTIMATE analysis showed that the ASF1B expression level was related to the ESTIMATE score, immune score, and T-cell regulatory (Treg) infiltration level. Through in vitro cell function experiments, we verified that knockdown of ASF1B inhibited KTC-1 cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and blocked cell cycle. The silencing of ASF1B reduced protein kinase B (AKT), phospho-AKT (p-AKT), and forkhead box p3 (FOXP3) in KTC-1 cells. Moreover, FOXP3 overexpression markedly restored the cell migration, invasion, and proliferation abilities repressed by ASF1B knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that ASF1B can be considered a prognostic marker, therapeutic target, and predictor of immunotherapy response in male thyroid cancer patients. However, further in-depth studies are required to validate this finding.

A two-microRNA signature predicts the progression of male thyroid cancer.

In various cancers, microRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed, including thyroid cancer (TC). In recent years, the incidence of TC has increased annually around the world. Compared with female patients, male TC patients are more likely to have a postoperative recurrence and lymph node metastasis, and hence need second treatments. However, the molecular biological processes underlying this phenomenon are not understood. Therefore, we collected data on miRNA expression and clinical information of male TC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified between male TC tissues and matched normal tissues. The Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate Cox regressions, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to assess the association between miRNAs and the disease-free survival of male TC patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) enrichment analyses were then used to explore the function of miRNA target genes. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of the miRNA biomarker to predict survival in female TC patients. As a result, a total of 118 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, including 25 upregulated and 93 downregulated miRNAs. Among them, miR-451a and miR-16-1-3p were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors for the disease-free survival rate. The target genes of miR-451a and miR-16-1-3p were identified, and functional analysis showed that these genes were enriched in 25 Go and KEGG accessions, including cell signal transduction, motor adhesion, phagocytosis, regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, etc. Neither miR-451a and miR-16-1-3p, nor a prediction model based on both miRNAs effectively predicted survival in female TC patients. In conclusion, both miR-451a and miR-16-1-3p may play important roles in the processes of male TC. The two-miRNA signature involving miR-1258 and miR-193a may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for male TC patients.

Does ethical leadership boost nurses' patient-oriented organizational citizenship behaviours? A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To examine the relationships between perceived ethical leadership, perceived interactional justice climate, and patient-oriented organizational citizenship behaviour. DESIGN: A cross-sectional non-experimental design was employed. METHODS: The convenience sampling was adopted. Data were collected in July and August 2018. A total of 738 nurses were recruited from eight Chinese hospitals. The survey included instrument scales of ethical leadership, interactional justice climate, and patient-oriented organizational citizenship behaviour. SPSS version 22 was used to compute means, standard deviations, and intercorrelations. The partial least squares structural equation modelling was chosen to estimate the path coefficients of the relationships. RESULTS: Relationships among perceived ethical leadership, perceived interactional justice climate, and organizational citizenship behaviours were statistically significant. Perceived interactional justice climate mediated the relationship between perceived ethical leadership and nurses' organizational citizenship behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Ethical leadership is related to interactional justice climate, which, in turn, increases nurses' organizational citizenship behaviour. Nurse leaders are encouraged to exhibit ethical behaviours and to create justice climate. Ethical leadership scale can be used to select, train, and evaluate the nurse supervisors and managers. IMPACT: Hospital administrators are encouraged to recruit and promote those with both moral compass and leadership potential to nursing leadership positions. Nursing managers should create a justice climate in their hospitals. Hospital administrators could use ethical leadership scale to develop ethical leadership training programmes.

The Cytochrome bd Complex Is Essential for Chromate and Sulfide Resistance and Is Regulated by a GbsR-Type Regulator, CydE, in Alishewanella Sp. WH16-1.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria are a group of microorganisms that use sulfate as an electron acceptor. These bacteria are useful in the bioremediation of heavy metal pollution since they can reduce/precipitate metals. Previously, we identified the Alishewanella strain WH16-1 from soil of a copper and iron mine and determined that it can reduce sulfate and chromate and that it was tolerant to many heavy metals. In this study, we investigated the chromate reduction mechanism of strain WH16-1 through Tn5 transposon mutagenesis. A cytochrome bd (cytbd) Tn5 mutant was generated (Δcytbd), and a detail analysis showed that the following: (1) gene cydE (coding for a GbsR-type regulator) was co-transcribed with the two subunits coding genes of the Cytochrome bd complex (Cytbd), namely, cydA and cydB, based on RT-PCR analysis, and similar gene arrangements were also found in other Alteromonadaceae family strains; (2) the chromate resistance level was dramatically decreased and chromate reduction efficiency also decreased in strain Δcytbd compared to the wild-type and a complemented strain (Δcytbd-C); (3) Cytbd could catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 according to the analyses of H2O2 decomposition ability, cellular H2O2 contents, H2O2 inhibition zone, and H2O2 sensitivity tests; (4) surprisingly, chromate was not an inducer of the expression of Cytbd, but sulfate induced expression of Cytbd, and sulfate/sulfide resistance levels were also decreased in the Δcytbd strain; (5) the addition of sulfate enhanced the chromate resistance level and reduction efficiency; (6) Cytbd expression was repressed by CydE and derepressed by sulfate based on an in vivo bacterial one hybrid system and in vitro EMSA tests; and (7) DNA footprinting and short-fragment EMSA tests revealed two binding sites of CydE in its promoter region. All these results showed that Cytbd is negatively regulated by CydE and derepressed by sulfate. In addition, Cytbd contributes to the resistance of sulfate and sulfide, and sulfide could be used as a reductant to reduce chromate. Moreover, Cytbd is essential to decompose H2O2 to decrease cellular oxidative stress. Thus, the regulation and function of Cytbd may explain why sulfate could enhance chromate reduction.

Draft genomic sequence of a chromate- and sulfate-reducing Alishewanella strain with the ability to bioremediate Cr and Cd contamination.

Alishewanella sp. WH16-1 (= CCTCC M201507) is a facultative anaerobic, motile, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from soil of a copper and iron mine. This strain efficiently reduces chromate (Cr(6+)) to the much less toxic Cr(3+). In addition, it reduces sulfate (SO4 (2-)) to S(2-). The S(2-) could react with Cd(2+) to generate precipitated CdS. Thus, strain WH16-1 shows a great potential to bioremediate Cr and Cd contaimination. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the draft genome and comparative genomic results among strain WH16-1 and other Alishewanella strains. The genome comprises 3,488,867 bp, 50.4 % G + C content, 3,132 protein-coding genes and 80 RNA genes. Both putative chromate- and sulfate-reducing genes are identified.

Description of two marine amphisiellid ciliates, Amphisiella milnei (Kahl, 1932) Horváth, 1950 and A. sinica sp. nov. (Ciliophora: Hypotrichia), with notes on their ontogenesis and SSU rDNA-based phylogeny.

The morphology and taxonomy of two marine Amphisiella species, isolated from mariculture waters in northern China, were investigated using standard techniques. One species corresponds well with the original description of the poorly known Amphisiella milnei (Kahl, 1932) Horváth, 1950 by remarkable characteristics, inter alia, (i) the additional cirri between the left frontal cirrus and the buccal cirrus, and (ii) ring-shaped structure in the anterior and posterior body portion (posterior one sometimes lacking). The detailed description of the cirral pattern and an informative ontogenetic stage first reveal that the additional cirri, which are uniformly absent in all congeners, originate from the frontal-ventral transverse cirral anlage I. The other species represents a new species of Amphisiella, A. sinica sp. nov. It is distinguished from its most closely related congener A. annulata (Kahl, 1928) Borror, 1972 by having numerous ring-shaped structures with a shallow brim more or less densely centralised at both ends of the body. Brief notes on the cell division and phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence for both organisms are also supplied in order to get further understanding of their systematic positions. The molecular information indicates that both organisms belong to two separate clades and confirms that the genus Amphisiella might be polyphyletic.

A sarcoidosis-like granuloma reaction in the lymph nodes of a patient with lung squamous cancer: from stasis to the invasive phase with FGFR1 gene amplification.

BACKGROUND: Granulomatous inflammation is considered an immune mechanism against infection or certain non-neoplastic conditions. Sarcoidosis-like granuloma reactions (SGRs) in primary tumors or in regional lymph nodes are occasionally observed; however, they are rare in lung cancer. CASE REVIEW: In this study, we reported on a case of squamous lung cancer with swollen mediastinal lymph nodes, similar to sarcoidosis. He was misdiagnosed as benign lymph node SGRs or tuberculosis for 2 years. Reexamination of the lymph node by immunohistochemistry confirmed the malignant disease. The lung cancer appeared to remain in the stasis phase for 2 years and then burst to stage IV with the amplification of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Although tumor-induced draining lymph node granulomatous reactions are rare, they did exist in some of the patients. In this case, differential diagnoses with malignant granulomas should be performed carefully to avoid the misdiagnosis of a benign disease. The biological significance of such a granulomatous response in inducing tumor remission or in shielding tumor cells from host lymphocytes remains obscure.

Identification of Fetal Inflammatory Cells in Eosinophilic/T-cell Chorionic Vasculitis Using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization.

Eosinophilic/T-cell chorionic vasculitis (ETCV) is an inflammatory lesion of placental fetal vessels. In contrast to acute chorionic vasculitis, inflammation in ETCV is seen in chorionic vessel walls opposite the amnionic surface. It is not known whether inflammation in ETCV consists of maternal cells from the intervillous space or fetal cells migrating from the vessel. We used fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to differentiate fetal versus maternal cells in ETCV. Placentas with ETCV, previously identified for a published study, were used. Infant sex in each case was identified using the electronic medical record. For male infants, 3-µm sections were cut from archived tissue blocks from placentas involving ETCV and stained with fluorescent X- and Y-chromosome centromeric probes. A consecutive hematoxylin/eosin-stained section was used for correlation. FISH analysis was performed on 400 interphase nuclei at the site of ETCV to determine the proportion of XX, XY, X, and Y cells. Of 31 ETCV cases, 20 were female and 10 were male (1 sex not recorded). Six of 10 cases with male infants had recuts with visible ETCV. In these 6 cases the average percentages (ranges) of XY cells, X-only cells, and Y-only cells in the region of inflammation were 81 (70-90), 11 (6-17), and 8 (2-14), respectively. There was a 2:1 female:male infant ratio in ETCV. Similar to acute chorionic vasculitis, the inflammation in ETCV is of fetal origin. It is still unknown, however, whether the stimulus for ETCV is of fetal or maternal origin.

Comparison of droplet digital PCR and conventional quantitative PCR for measuring EGFR gene mutation.

Early detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, particularly EGFR T790M mutation, is of clinical significance. The aim of the present study was to compare the performances of amplification refractory mutation system-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-qPCR) and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) approaches in the detection of EGFR mutation and explore the feasibility of using ddPCR in the detection of samples with low mutation rates. EGFR gene mutations in plasmid samples with different T790M mutation rates (0.1-5%) and 10 clinical samples were detected using the ARMS-qPCR and ddPCR approaches. The results demonstrated that the ARMS-qPCR method stably detected the plasmid samples (6,000 copies) with 5 and 1% mutation rates, while the ddPCR approach reliably detected those with 5% (398 copies), 1% (57 copies), 0.5% (24 copies) and 0.1% (average 6 copies) mutation rates. For the 10 clinical samples, the results for nine samples by the ARMS-qPCR and ddPCR methods were consistent; however, the sample N006, indicated to be EGFR wild-type by ARMS-qPCR, was revealed to have a clear EGFR T790M mutation with seven copies of mutant alleles in a background of 6,000 wild-type copies using ddPCR technology. This study demonstrates the feasibility of applying the ddPCR system to detect EGFR mutation and identified the advantage of ddPCR in the detection of samples with a low EGFR mutation abundance, particularly the secondary EGFR T790M resistance mutation, which enables early diagnosis before acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors becomes clinically detectable.

Two New Species of Zoothamnium (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) from Korea, with New Observations of Z. parahentscheli Sun et al., 2009.

Three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium arcuatum n. sp., Z. grossi n. sp., and Z. parahentscheli Sun et al., 2009, were collected from an estuary of the Taehwagang River, Korea. All these species were investigated based on live observations and silver staining, and their small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was also sequenced. Zoothamnium arcuatum can be identified by a goblet-shaped colony, double-layered peristomial lip, and abstomally shortened row 3 of infundibular polykinety 3 (P3). Zoothamnium grossi is morphologically characterized by an alternately branched stalk with the lowest secondary stalk diverging from the main part of colony, asymmetrically bell-shaped zooids, and three short, parallel ciliary rows in P3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three Zoothamnium species described in this paper clustered with other members of the family Zoothamniidae, as expected.