Operation mechanism of constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment and electricity generation: A review.

Constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells (CWL-MFCs) are eco-friendly and sustainable technology, simultaneously implementing contaminant removal and electricity production. According to intensive research over the last five years, this review on the operation mechanism was conducted for in-depth understanding and application guidance of CWL-MFCs. The electrochemical mechanism based on anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction is the core for improved treatment in CWL-MFCs compared to CWLs. As the dominant bacterial community, the abundance and gene-expression patterns of electro-active bacteria responds to electrode potentials and contaminant loadings, further affecting operational efficiency of CWL-MFCs. Plants benefit COD and N removal by supplying oxygen for aerobic degradation and rhizosphere secretions for microorganisms. Multi-electrode configuration, carbon-based electrodes and rich porous substrates affect transfer resistance and bacterial communities. The possibilities of CWL-MFCs targeting at recalcitrant contaminants like flame retardants and interchain interactions among effect components need systematic research.

Expression of Long Noncoding RNA LIPCAR Promotes Cell Proliferation, Cell Migration, and Change in Phenotype of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

BACKGROUND The long noncoding RNA LIPCAR is a type of transcription product (>200 nucleotides long). Recent studies demonstrated that LIPCAR is a potential biomarker in cardiovascular disease and can predict survival in patients with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the present study explored the role of LIPCAR in the regulation of proliferation, migration, and change in phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated with 20 g/mL oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) or 20 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) for 24 h, then the expression levels of LIPCAR were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay. LIPCAR-overexpressing plasmids were transfected into VSMCs. After transfection, cell proliferation and migration were measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays, respectively. The levels of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) a molecular marker of the contractile VSMC phenotype, were measured using Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. Protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) were assessed by Western blot. The level of tissue factor (TF) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Treatment with PDGF-BB or ox-LDL significantly increased levels of LIPCAR in VSMCs. Overexpression of LIPCAR markedly promoted cell proliferation and migration. Further, upregulation of LIPCAR increased CDK2, p21, PCNA, MMP2, MMP9, VEGF-A, Ang-2, and TF expression and decreased p21 expression. In addition, LIPCAR significantly decreased a-SAM expression. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data suggest that overexpression of LIPCAR promotes cell proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Epidemiological survey of echinococcosis in Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

BACKGROUND: The echinococcosis is prevalent in 10 provinces /autonomous region in western and northern China. Epidemiological survey of echinococcosis in China in 2012 showed the average prevalence of four counties in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is 4.23%, much higher than the average prevalence in China (0.24%). It is important to understand the transmission risks and the prevalence of echinococcosis in human and animals in TAR. METHODS: A stratified and proportionate sampling method was used to select samples in TAR. The selected residents were examined by B-ultrasonography diagnostic, and the faeces of dogs were tested for the canine coproantigen against Echinococcus spp. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The internal organs of slaughtered domestic animals were examined by visual examination and palpation. The awareness of the prevention and control of echinococcosis among of residents and students was investigated using questionnaire. All data were inputted using double entry in the Epi Info database, with error correction by double-entry comparison, the statistical analysis of all data was processed using SPSS 21.0, and the map was mapped using ArcGIS 10.1, the data was tested by Chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test. RESULTS: A total of 80 384 people, 7564 faeces of dogs, and 2103 internal organs of slaughtered domestic animals were examined. The prevalence of echinococcosis in humans in TAR was 1.66%, the positive rate in females (1.92%) was significantly higher than that in males (1.41%), (χ2 = 30.31, P < 0.01), the positive rate of echinococcosis was positively associated with age (χ2trend = 423.95, P < 0.01), and the occupational populations with high positive rates of echinococcosis were herdsmen (3.66%) and monks (3.48%). The average positive rate of Echinococcus coproantigen in TAR was 7.30%. The positive rate of echinococcosis in livestock for the whole region was 11.84%. The average awareness rate of echinococcosis across the region was 33.39%. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of echinococcosis is found across the TAR, representing a very serious concern to human health. Efforts should be made to develop an action plan for echinococcosis prevention and control as soon as possible, so as to control the endemic of echinococcosis and reduce the medical burden on the population.

Mechanism of TLR-4/NF-κB pathway in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury of mouse.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and NF-κB and to discuss the mechanism of TLR-4/NF-κB pathway in the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury of mouse. METHODS: TLR-4 mutant mice and wild homozygous mice were divided into the model group and sham group. Mice in the model group were given the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery for the modeling, while mice in the sham group were not given the ligation after threading. The cardiac muscle tissues were collected for the morphological observation. The immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of NF-κB, Western blot was used to detect the expression of TLR-4 and ELISA to detect the expression of serum inflammatory factors. RESULTS: The expression of NF-κB in TLR-4 null mice after the myocardial ischemia reperfusion was significantly lower than that in wild homozygous mice. For the model group and sham group, the expression of TLR-4 in wild homozygous mice was all significantly higher than that in TLR-4 null mice, while the expression of TLR-4 in TLR-4 null mice in the model group was significantly higher than that in sham group, with the statistical difference (P < 0.05). The expression of inflammatory factors in TLR-4 null mice and wild homozygous mice in the model group was significantly higher than that in sham group. The expression of all factors in group A with TLR-4 null was significantly lower than that in group B with wild homozygous type, with the statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TLR-4/NF-κB pathway is closely related to the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, which plays its role through the release of inflammatory cytokines.

Cardioprotective Effects of Tannic Acid on Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Injury in Rats: Further Insight into 'French Paradox'.

Tannic acid (TA) is a polyphenolic compound, which has shown diverse pharmacological effects with antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic and antibactericidal properties. However, cardioprotective effects of TA have not been reported. To investigate the protective effects of TA, rats were administered TA for 7 days and then intoxicated with isoproterenol (ISO). Myocardial ischemia injury was indicated by changes in electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns, morphology and cardiac marker enzymes. Furthermore, protein expression levels of c-fos, c-jun, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), cleaved-caspase-3 and -9 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and activities of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were detected by Western blot. Pretreatment with TA ameliorated changes in morphology and ECG, reduced activities of marker enzymes, suppressed overexpression of apoptosis-related proteins, upregulated expression of antioxidants. Moreover, TA pretreatment contributed to the decrease in ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, as well as reduced expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3 and -9. TA displayed cardioprotective effects, which may be attributed to lowering of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, c-fos and c-jun expression and inhibition of NF-κB activation, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. These findings provide further insight into the 'French paradox' and the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of TA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Coherence transfer between atomic ground states by the technique of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage.

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate that the atomic coherence can be completely transferred or arbitrarily contributed among the different levels in a four-level atomic (tripod) scheme by a group of coupled pulse sequences. This technique can be applied to the information conversion in slow-light storage, quantum logical gates, and so on, which is based on the atomic coherence effect.

Optical information transfer between two light channels in a Pr(3+):Y(2)SiO(5)crystal.

We experimentally demonstrate light storage and release in a four-level double-lambda atomic system of a Pr (3+):Y(2)SiO(5) crystal. Based on the technique of light storage, we realize optical information transfer between two light channels. The coherent optical information of a probe pulse stored in the crystal can be selectively released into two different light channels by varying the frequency and propagation direction of the switch-on control field.