[Coal-carbon-pollutant Coordinated Control of Coal Chemical Industry Under Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Constraints].

Under carbon peak and carbon neutrality constraints, the coal chemical industry should take stricter measures to tackle carbon reduction. Based on the intensity differences of five major coal and carbon reduction measures applied by the coal chemical industry, which include raw material structure adjustment, fuel structure adjustment, energy-saving technology transformation, terminal capture technology, and industrial structure adjustment, this study adopted the downstream sector demand method and project method, combined with the air pollution reduction model, to predict three scenarios (benchmark, policy, and enhancement) of coal chemical industry peak year and peak amount of coal consumption and carbon dioxide emission, associated with air pollutant reduction row effects. The results showed that coal consumption under the benchmark and policy scenarios of the coal chemical industry is expected to reach a peak in the late period of China's "14th Five-Year Plan", with peak values of 0.96 billion and 0.93 billion tons, respectively. By contrast, under the enhanced scenario, it is expected to peak in the early period of the "14th Five-Year Plan" with a value of 0.91 billion tons. The carbon peak will arrive in the late period of the "15th Five-Year Plan" under the benchmark scenario but in the early and late period of the "14th Five-Year Plan" under the policy and enhanced scenarios, with peak values of approximately 0.64 billion, 0.57 billion, and 0.55 billion tons, respectively. Controlling the construction scale of new coal chemical projects, tapping the space for raw material substitution, and speeding up the energy-saving technological transformation are important measures for coal and carbon control in the coal chemical industry. The implementation of coal and carbon reduction measures of the coal chemical industry will coordinately reduce air pollutant emissions, such as SO2, NOx, PM, and VOCs by 37, 43, 11, and 28 thousand tons per year after 2035.

A bibliometric analysis of cancer research funders and collaborators in Kenya: 2007-2017.

AIM: Cancer research is essential to the development and implementation of effective control strategies and interventions. In Kenya, cancer is the third leading cause of death. Country specific research conducted by local and international investigators can inform a national plan to address local needs across the cancer care continuum. This analysis aims to provide information about the trends and types of cancer research collaborations, funding, and outputs from 2007 to 2017, to understand gaps and opportunities to strengthen Kenya-led cancer research capacity. METHODS: This analysis included 243 studies from a previously published phase 1 scoping review of oncology research conducted and published in Kenya from 2007 to 2017. The citation metadata was drawn from the Web of Science and PubMed and normalized in Microsoft Excel. Using Sci2, a series of bibliometric network analyses were conducted to identify funding patterns, collaborations between authors and institutions, and the types of cancer research conducted in Kenya. Gephi and Excel provided descriptive analyses and graphs of the network. The analyses are categorized into three themes: article production, collaboration, and research topics. RESULTS: The bibliometric analysis found 5 US-based government agencies are funding cancer research in Kenya. Kenya-Kenya institutional collaborations were most common, and half of authors with the most co-authored publications were from Kenya. The publication trend showed a gradual increase from 2011 to 2014 with a subsequent drop through 2017. CONCLUSION AND POLICY SUMMARY STATEMENT: This study identifies the funders and most often published Kenyan authors and Kenyan-based institutions publishing oncology research in Kenya. It also identifies future areas to focus research and the importance of continuing to build the writing and publishing capacity on oncology research by Kenyans.

A Data-Based Approach to Evaluating Representation by Gender and Affiliation in Key Presentation Formats at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research.

The annual meeting of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) is a major forum for sharing new research and promoting the career development of participants. Because of this, evaluating representation in key presentation formats is critical. For the 3,257 presentations identified at the 2015-2017 SER annual meetings, we evaluated presenter characteristics, including gender, affiliation, subject area, and h-index, and representation in 3 highlighted presentation formats: platform talks (n = 382), invited symposium talks (n = 273), and chairing a concurrent contributed session or symposium (n = 188). Data were abstracted from SER records, abstract booklets, and programs. Gender was assessed using GenderChecker software, and h-index was determined using the Scopus application programming interface. Log-binomial models were adjusted for participant characteristics and conference year. In adjusted models, women were less likely than men to present an invited symposium talk (relative risk = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.45, 0.81) compared with all participants with accepted abstracts. Researchers from US public universities, US government institutions, and international institutions were less likely to present a symposium talk or to chair a concurrent contributed session or symposium than were researchers from US private institutions. The research areas that were most represented in platform talks were epidemiologic methods, social epidemiology, and cardiovascular epidemiology. Our findings suggest differences in representation by gender, affiliation, and subject area after accounting for h-index.

[Distribution Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals in Typical Watersheds of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an extremely vulnerable area that is sensitive to human activities. In recent years, more and more human disturbances have been detected in this area. This study analyzed the spatial distribution and ecological risks of 7 heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in two regions, namely the Bailong River and Yellow River and their two tributaries (BY region) in Gannan and the Yarlung Zangbo River and its two tributaries (YZ region) in Tibet. In terms of spatial distribution, concentrations of the seven heavy metals were higher in the east and lower in the west of the BY region. The average concentrations all exceeded the background value of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, especially for Cd (4.50 times) and As (2.83 times). High Pb concentrations were mainly found in water, urban and rural residential land, and industrial and construction land. In the YZ region, heavy metal concentrations were lower along the river, while high-altitude areas exhibited higher heavy metal concentrations. The average concentrations of Ni, Zn, As, and Cd exceeded the background values of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, especially that of Cd (3.13 times), which mostly exhibited high values in water coverage areas. The geo-accumulation index method and the potential ecological risk index method show that the degree of As and Cd pollution was relatively high in the BY region in Gannan, with the greatest potential ecological risk occurring in the water coverage area. In the YZ region in Tibet, the degree of Cd pollution was high, with the highest potential ecological risk also occurring in the water coverage area. This study provides significant guidance for the environmental protection, sustainable development, and utilization of soil under different types of land use in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

[Economic Benefit of Air Quality Improvement During Implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in Beijing].

Air quality in Beijing has been improved significantly since the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan ('Action Plan'). To evaluate the effect of the Action Plan, the cost-of-illness, human capital, and market value approaches were used to estimate air quality improvement benefits including human health, agriculture, building materials, and cleanliness. The policy benefit through monetization was also evaluated, which can affirm the positive effect of air pollution prevention and control by local government. The results illustrated that:① Since the policy implementation, air quality in Beijing has improved significantly and the improvement efficiency had been growing steadily. From 2013 to 2017, air quality had reached -1.982, -1.893, 15.707, 15.264, and 22.330 billion yuan respectively, accounting for -0.85‰, -0.81‰, 6.68‰, 6.16‰, and 8.77‰ of GDP in the fiscal year. The total profit during the five years was 49.426 billion yuan, accounting for 4.11‰ of the 5-year total GDP; ② The total improvement benefit was mainly linked to reductions in health and cleaning costs, primarily associated with a reduction in particulate matter concentrations; and ③ The majority of 16 administrative regions in Beijing reached an ideal level of benefit during the late stages of policy implementation, including Yanqing, Miyun, Pinggu, Changping, Tongzhou, Shijingshan, and Chaoyang Districts, which have retained a positive improvement index for five years. In contrast, Chaoyang and Haidian Districts have benefited relatively little as a result of the exposure of high-density populations to atmospheric pollution. These research results demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in Beijing.

Trends in prenatal diagnosis: An analysis of 40 years of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms in publications.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the evolution of the field of prenatal diagnosis over the past four decades. METHOD: We analyzed the publications in the journal Prenatal Diagnosis from its inception in 1980 to 2019 using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to examine the major research topics and trends. The results were analyzed by 10-year intervals. RESULTS: Publications on prenatal cytogenetics, congenital anomalies and fetal imaging predominated during the first three decades, with a steady increase in molecular genetics over time. Publications on NIPT did not appear until the most recent decade and are likely under-counted because there was no MeSH term for NIPT until 2020. CONCLUSION: The topics covered in Prenatal Diagnosis articles have evolved considerably over the past four decades and reflect a response to advances in technology and widespread incorporation of prenatal screening and diagnosis into standard obstetric care. The strengths of this analysis are its objective nature, its use of the standard MeSH terms used for coding, and application of a novel cluster analysis to visualize trends. The analysis also pointed out the fact that MeSH terms in this sub-specialty area are often inconsistent due to manually coding based on individual subject matter expertise.

[Influence of Meteorological Factors on HFMD and Construction of Prediction Model in Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Sichuan Province from 2013 to 2019. To study the correlation between meteorological factors and the incidence of HFMD and construct a prediction model. METHODS: The HMFD surveillance data and meteorological data from 2013 to 2019 in Sichuan Province were collected through the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the China Meteorological data Network. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the relationship between HFMD incidence and meteorological factors. Multiple regression model and support vector regression (SVR) model were used to construct HFMD incidence prediction models respectively. RESULTS: A total of 615 840 cases of HFMD and 81 deaths were reported from 2013 to 2019. The average annual incidence rate was 107.31/105, and the mortality rate was 0.16/106. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the monthly incidence rate of HFMD was correlated with monthly average relative humidity (r=0.342), monthly average temperature (r=0.284), monthly average water vapor pressure (r=0.304) and monthly average days of precipitation (r=0.259). The prediction effect of the SVR model (R2=0.836) was better than the multiple regression model (R2=0.375). The SVR model provided a good fit to the monthly incidence of HFMD from 2013 to 2018, and can predict the peak incidence of HFMD in 2019. CONCLUSION: Relative humidity has the greatest influence on the incidence of HFMD. The fitting value of SVR model is in good agreement with the actual value, which is valuable in predicting the incidence of HFMD in Sichuan Province.

Advancing the Health of Populations Across the Life Course: 50 Years of Discoveries in the Division of Intramural Population Health Research.

In 2017, the Division of Intramural Population Health Research (DIPHR), within the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reached a significant milestone: 50 years in existence. DIPHR celebrated this anniversary with a scientific program that reviewed past accomplishments and reflected on future directions in support of promoting the health of populations across the life course. Extending from the scientific program, the impetus of this article is to contribute to archiving and consolidating the legacy of intramural population health research at NICHD over the past 50 years. We present a brief history of the origin and evolution of intramural population health research at NICHD. Next, we conduct an empirical assessment of the scientific impact and evolving scope of this research over the past five decades and present specific key discoveries emerging from topics spanning the life course: (1) reproductive health, (2) the health of pregnant women and fetuses, (3) the health of children, and (4) associated methodologies. We also explore the Division's service to the profession in the form of mentorship of the next generation of scientists in population health research. Finally, we conclude with thoughts about future directions of population health research and reaffirm the DIPHR's commitment to promoting the health and well-being of the many populations we serve, both locally and globally.

Length of Fellowship Training in Population Health Research and Long-term Bibliometric Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The length of research fellowships, the number of doctorates pursuing them, and the academic job market have changed dramatically in recent years. However, there is limited investigation on attributes of fellowships most relevant to future scientific achievement. We analyzed the association of a modifiable aspect of research training, fellowship length, with future achievement and differences across research discipline in the Division of Intramural Population Health Research (DIPHR), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health. METHODS: Demographics of 88 DIPHR trainees from 1998 to 2016 were collected from publicly available annual reports. Research performance metrics, including total publication count and H index through 2016, were collected via Scopus. We used linear regression models for associations between fellowship length, including both total exposure to research training and duration of postdoctoral training alone, and research performance adjusted for start year, publications at entry, branch (e.g., Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior), and mentor seniority. RESULTS: Each additional year of research training in DIPHR was associated with a 15% increase in H index (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.0, 28.4) and 21% more lifetime publications (95% CI = 3.0, 41.9). Results were similar, although attenuated, when evaluating postdoctoral training alone. Differences by discipline were observed, with the strongest positive associations in the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and Epidemiology Branches. CONCLUSIONS: Longer training at DIPHR was associated with improved measures of research performance, though this relationship varied by discipline. Additional research is needed to tailor training programs to optimize success of trainees.

Understanding the Value of International Research Networks: An Evaluation of the International Cancer Screening Network of the US National Cancer Institute.

PURPOSE: International research networks have the potential to accelerate scientific progress via knowledge sharing and collaboration. In 2018, the US National Cancer Institute evaluated the International Cancer Screening Network (ICSN), in operation since 1988. METHODS: ICSN hosts a biennial scientific meeting and scientific working groups. A survey was fielded to 665 ICSN participants, and a bibliometric analysis was conducted for ICSN publications. RESULTS: A total of 243 individuals completed the survey (36.5%). They reported that participating in the ICSN helped advance their knowledge of cancer screening research (75.7%), policy development (56%), and implementation (47.7%). Approximately three-quarters agreed that ICSN facilitated knowledge sharing and networking among researchers and implementers (79.9%) and those working on different continents (74.0%) and cancer sites (73.7%). More than half reported that participating helped them form new collaborations in screening implementation (58.0%) or research (57.6%). Most agreed that ICSN helped to advance screening research and evaluation (75.4%), effective screening practices (71.2%), and screening policies (60.9%). Many reported that participating informed advances in their own research (68.7%) and screening implementation (50.2%) and policies (49.4%) in their settings. Approximately two-thirds agreed that ICSN helped advance career development among current experts (66.6%) and train the next generation (62.2%). Half (51.4%) reported that participating advanced their own careers. The 20 ICSN publications included 75 coauthors. They were cited in 589 publications with more than 2,000 coauthors. CONCLUSION: Findings provide evidence of the influence of ICSN on international knowledge dissemination, collaboration, and advances in cancer screening research, implementation, and policies and highlight the potential value of longstanding international research networks.

SMFM Special Statement: State of the science on multifetal gestations: unique considerations and importance.

We sought to review the state of the science for research on multiple gestations. A literature search was performed with the use of PubMed for studies to quantify the representation of multiple gestations for a sample period (2012-2016) that were limited to phase III and IV randomized controlled trials, that were written in English, and that addressed at least 1 of 4 major pregnancy complications: fetal growth restriction or small-for-gestational-age fetus, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. Of the 226 studies that are included in the analysis, multiple pregnancies were most represented in studies of preterm delivery: 17% of trials recruited both singleton and multiple pregnancies; another 18% of trials recruited only multiple pregnancies. For trials that studied preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and gestational diabetes mellitus, 17%, 8%, and 2%, respectively, recruited both singleton and multiple gestations. None of the trials on these 3 topics were limited to women with a multiple pregnancy. Women with a multiple pregnancy are at risk for complications similar to those of women with singleton pregnancies, but their risk is usually higher. Also, the pathophysiologic condition for some complications differs in multiple gestations from those that occur in singleton gestations. Conditions that are unique to multiple pregnancies include excess placenta, placental crowding or inability of the uteroplacental unit to support the normal growth of multiple fetuses, or suboptimal placental implantation sites with an increased risk of abnormal placental location. Other adverse outcomes in multiple gestations are also influenced by twin-specific risk factors, most notably chorionicity. Although twins have been well represented in many studies of preterm birth, these studies have failed to identify adequate predictive tests (short cervical length established over 2 decades ago remains the single best predictor), to establish effective interventions, and to differentiate the underlying pathophysiologic condition of twin preterm birth. Questions about fetal growth also remain. Twin growth deviates from that of singleton gestations starting at approximately 32 weeks of gestation; however, research with long-term follow-up is needed to better distinguish pathologic and physiologic growth deviations, which include growth discordance among pairs (or more). There are virtually no clinical trials that are specific to twins for gestational diabetes mellitus or preeclampsia, and subgroups for multiple pregnancies in existing trials are not large enough to allow definite conclusions. Another important area is the determination of appropriate maternal nutrition or micronutrient supplementation to optimize pregnancy and child health. There are also unique aspects to consider for research design in multiple gestations, such as designation and tracking of the correct fetus prenatally and through delivery. The correct statistical methods must be used to account for correlated data because multiple fetuses share the same mother and intrauterine environment. In summary, multiple gestations often are excluded from research studies, despite a disproportionate contribution to national rates of perinatal morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. It is important to consider the enrollment of multifetal pregnancies in studies that target mainly women with singleton gestations, even when sample size is inadequate, so that insights that are specific to multiple gestations can be obtained when results of smaller studies are pooled together. The care of pregnant women with multiple gestations presents unique challenges; unfortunately, evidence-based clinical management that includes the diagnosis and treatment of common obstetrics problems are not well-defined for this population.

[Emission Reduction Benefits When Eliminating Yellow-label Vehicles in the Jing-jin-ji Region].

In order to evaluate policy implementation for yellow-label vehicles (namely, those that fail to meet the Chinese No.1 standard for exhaust emissions), and to compare the policy of an early elimination subsidy with traffic restrictions of these vehicles, the emission factor method was adopted to calculate the emission reduction resulting from the two policies in the Jing-jin-ji Region. The results showed that: ① The policies led to good emission reductions for the Jing-jin-ji Region. Since the implementation of the policies, the cumulative reductions of CO, HC, NOx, PM2.5, and PM10 have been 5003.2 kt, 397.9 kt, 318.2 kt, 9.6 kt, and 10.6 kt, respectively. ② The pollutants reduced most prominently were CO, HC, and NOx, which contributed greatly to the emission reductions and air pollution control. ③ The main motorcycle types for the CO and HC emission reductions were small gasoline-powered passenger vehicles and light duty gasoline-powered vehicles. Heavy duty diesel cars contributed the most to the emission reduction of NOx and particulate matters. ④ The emission reductions for CO, HC, and NOx were greater in densely populated urban areas in the Jing-jin-ji Region. The emission reductions of CO and HC in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang were more obvious than in other cities, and the emission reductions of NOx and particulate matters were more obvious in Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, and Handan. ⑤ Comparing the two policies of an early elimination subsidy and traffic restriction, the emission reduction of the former policy is continuous for a few years, and the effectiveness of reduction is significant in several years. However, the effectiveness of the latter policy decreases with time.

Data sharing in PLOS ONE: An analysis of Data Availability Statements.

A number of publishers and funders, including PLOS, have recently adopted policies requiring researchers to share the data underlying their results and publications. Such policies help increase the reproducibility of the published literature, as well as make a larger body of data available for reuse and re-analysis. In this study, we evaluate the extent to which authors have complied with this policy by analyzing Data Availability Statements from 47,593 papers published in PLOS ONE between March 2014 (when the policy went into effect) and May 2016. Our analysis shows that compliance with the policy has increased, with a significant decline over time in papers that did not include a Data Availability Statement. However, only about 20% of statements indicate that data are deposited in a repository, which the PLOS policy states is the preferred method. More commonly, authors state that their data are in the paper itself or in the supplemental information, though it is unclear whether these data meet the level of sharing required in the PLOS policy. These findings suggest that additional review of Data Availability Statements or more stringent policies may be needed to increase data sharing.

Research evaluation support services in biomedical libraries.

Objective: The paper provides a review of current practices related to evaluation support services reported by seven biomedical and research libraries. Methods: A group of seven libraries from the United States and Canada described their experiences with establishing evaluation support services at their libraries. A questionnaire was distributed among the libraries to elicit information as to program development, service and staffing models, campus partnerships, training, products such as tools and reports, and resources used for evaluation support services. The libraries also reported interesting projects, lessons learned, and future plans. Results: The seven libraries profiled in this paper report a variety of service models in providing evaluation support services to meet the needs of campus stakeholders. The service models range from research center cores, partnerships with research groups, and library programs with staff dedicated to evaluation support services. A variety of products and services were described such as an automated tool to develop rank-based metrics, consultation on appropriate metrics to use for evaluation, customized publication and citation reports, resource guides, classes and training, and others. Implementing these services has allowed the libraries to expand their roles on campus and to contribute more directly to the research missions of their institutions. Conclusions: Libraries can leverage a variety of evaluation support services as an opportunity to successfully meet an array of challenges confronting the biomedical research community, including robust efforts to report and demonstrate tangible and meaningful outcomes of biomedical research and clinical care. These services represent a transformative direction that can be emulated by other biomedical and research libraries.

The Changing Face of Epidemiology: Gender Disparities in Citations?

BACKGROUND: Female biomedical scientists tend to publish fewer articles as last author than their male colleagues and accrue fewer citations per publication. We seek to understand whether epidemiology follows this pattern. METHODS: We gathered aggregate information on the current gender distribution of epidemiology departments (n = 29 of 71 surveyed), societies (n = 4 of 8), and journal editorial boards (n = 6 of 6) using two online surveys and publicly available online information. Bibliometric data from 4,149 articles published between 2008 and 2012 in six high-impact epidemiology journals were drawn from Web of Science and PubMed. RESULTS: We observed a higher prevalence of female than male doctoral students and epidemiology faculty, particularly at lower faculty ranks. A total of 54% of society members were female. Among editorial boards, all current and emeritus editors-in-chief were male and board membership was largely male (64%). Females were more likely to be first authors, but less likely to be last authors. There were no differences in accrued citations at the 50th percentile by first or last author gender. However, articles with male first and last authors tend to accrue more citations (5.7 citations, 95% CI: 2.1, 9.4), mostly driven by the most highly cited articles. This disparity is not fully explained by potential confounders, including seniority. CONCLUSIONS: We found a greater number of female epidemiologists in early-career positions and further evidence of potential gender disparity in publication metrics in epidemiology. If epidemiology continues to be practiced by a majority of women, it remains to be seen if these patterns will change over time.

Data literacy training needs of biomedical researchers.

OBJECTIVE: The research investigated topic priorities for data literacy training for biomedical researchers and staff. METHODS: An electronic survey was used to assess researchers' level of knowledge related to data literacy skills and the relevance of these skills to their work. RESULTS: Most respondents did not have any formal training in data literacy. Respondents considered most tasks highly relevant to their work but rated their expertise in tasks lower. CONCLUSION: Among this group, researchers have diverse data literacy training needs. Librarians' expertise makes them well suited to provide such training.

Biomedical Data Sharing and Reuse: Attitudes and Practices of Clinical and Scientific Research Staff.

BACKGROUND: Significant efforts are underway within the biomedical research community to encourage sharing and reuse of research data in order to enhance research reproducibility and enable scientific discovery. While some technological challenges do exist, many of the barriers to sharing and reuse are social in nature, arising from researchers' concerns about and attitudes toward sharing their data. In addition, clinical and basic science researchers face their own unique sets of challenges to sharing data within their communities. This study investigates these differences in experiences with and perceptions about sharing data, as well as barriers to sharing among clinical and basic science researchers. METHODS: Clinical and basic science researchers in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institutes of Health were surveyed about their attitudes toward and experiences with sharing and reusing research data. Of 190 respondents to the survey, the 135 respondents who identified themselves as clinical or basic science researchers were included in this analysis. Odds ratio and Fisher's exact tests were the primary methods to examine potential relationships between variables. Worst-case scenario sensitivity tests were conducted when necessary. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: While most respondents considered data sharing and reuse important to their work, they generally rated their expertise as low. Sharing data directly with other researchers was common, but most respondents did not have experience with uploading data to a repository. A number of significant differences exist between the attitudes and practices of clinical and basic science researchers, including their motivations for sharing, their reasons for not sharing, and the amount of work required to prepare their data. CONCLUSIONS: Even within the scope of biomedical research, addressing the unique concerns of diverse research communities is important to encouraging researchers to share and reuse data. Efforts at promoting data sharing and reuse should be aimed at solving not only technological problems, but also addressing researchers' concerns about sharing their data. Given the varied practices of individual researchers and research communities, standardizing data practices like data citation and repository upload could make sharing and reuse easier.

Analysis of acidic endogenous phytohormones in grapes by using online solid-phase extraction coupled with LC-MS/MS.

Phytohormones play important roles in regulating numerous plant physiological and developmental processes, even during the postharvest storage period. In order to determine the functions and changes of gibberellins acid (GA3), indoleacetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), indolebutyric acid (IBA) and jasmonic acid (JA) in grape berries during storage, an ultrasensitive method based on direct injection online solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed. Grape berries were extracted with cold methanol. After centrifugation, the supernatants were concentrated with a vacuum centrifugal concentrator and injected into an online solid-phase extraction column. After the cleanup procedure, the analytes were determined by LC-MS/MS. The results showed that the linearity of the proposed method was 10-210 µg kg(-1) for ABA, 20-200 µg kg(-1) for IBA, 15-320 µg kg(-1) for IAA, 20-320 µg kg(-1) for GA3 and 3.0-90.0 µg kg(-1) for JA. The limits of detection of the method were 0.71, 2.79, 0.94, 0.39 and 0.57 µg kg(-1), respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of endogenous phytohormones in grape berries during the postharvest storage period.

Lycopene and the LXRα agonist T0901317 synergistically inhibit the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells via the PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway.

In our previous study, we demonstrated that lycopene can inhibit the proliferation of androgen-dependent prostate LNCaP cancer cells through the activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)-liver X receptor alpha (LXRα)-ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) pathway. However, it is still unclear whether lycopene possesses similar effects in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC-3. As lycopene inhibited the proliferation of both cell types to a similar extent, we chose DU145 cells for most of the subsequent studies. We show that lycopene significantly increased protein and mRNA expression of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 and cholesterol efflux (i.e., decreased cellular cholesterol and increased cholesterol in culture medium). Lycopene (10 µM) in the presence of a specific antagonist of PPARγ (GW9662) or of LXRα (GGPP) restored the proliferation of DU145 cells and significantly suppressed lycopene-induced protein and mRNA expression of PPARγ and LXRα and cholesterol efflux. Liver X receptor α knockdown by siRNA against LXRα significantly promoted the proliferation of DU145 cells, whereas si-LXRα knockdown followed by incubation with lycopene (10 µM) restored the proliferation to the control level. Furthermore, lycopene in combination with the LXRα agonist T0901317 exhibited synergistic effects on cell proliferation and protein expression of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1. These results demonstrate that lycopene can inhibit DU145 cell proliferation via PPARγ-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway and that lycopene and T0901317 exhibit synergistic effects.