Sleep disturbance in Angelman syndrome patients.

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by abnormal expression of the maternal ubiquitin protein ligase E3A gene (UBE3A). As one of the most challenging symptoms and important focuses of new treatment, sleep disturbance is reported to occur in 70-80% of patients with AS and has a serious impact on the lives of patients and their families. Although clinical studies and animal model studies have provided some clues, recent research into sleep disorders in the context of AS is still very limited. It is generally accepted that there is an interaction between neurodevelopment and sleep; however, there is no recognized mechanism for sleep disorders in AS patients. Accordingly, there are no aetiologically specific clinical treatments for AS-related sleep disorders. The most common approaches involve ameliorating symptoms through methods such as behavioural therapy and symptomatic pharmacotherapy. In recent years, preclinical and clinical studies on the targeted treatment of AS have emerged. Although precision therapy for restoring the UBE3A level and the function of its signalling pathways is inevitably hindered by many remaining obstacles, this approach has the potential to address AS-related sleep disturbance.

Diphthamide deficiency promotes association of eEF2 with p53 to induce p21 expression and neural crest defects.

Diphthamide is a modified histidine residue unique for eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2), a key ribosomal protein. Loss of this evolutionarily conserved modification causes developmental defects through unknown mechanisms. In a patient with compound heterozygous mutations in Diphthamide Biosynthesis 1 (DPH1) and impaired eEF2 diphthamide modification, we observe multiple defects in neural crest (NC)-derived tissues. Knockin mice harboring the patient's mutations and Xenopus embryos with Dph1 depleted also display NC defects, which can be attributed to reduced proliferation in the neuroepithelium. DPH1 depletion facilitates dissociation of eEF2 from ribosomes and association with p53 to promote transcription of the cell cycle inhibitor p21, resulting in inhibited proliferation. Knockout of one p21 allele rescues the NC phenotypes in the knockin mice carrying the patient's mutations. These findings uncover an unexpected role for eEF2 as a transcriptional coactivator for p53 to induce p21 expression and NC defects, which is regulated by diphthamide modification.

Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma in women across life.

Background: The epidemiology and severity of asthma vary by sex and age. The diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma in female patients are quite challenging. However, there is hitherto no comprehensive and standardized guidance for female patients with asthma. Methods: Corresponding search strategies were determined based on clinical concerns regarding female asthma. Search terms included "sex hormones and lung development", "sex hormone changes and asthma", "hormones and asthma immune response", "women, asthma", "children, asthma", "puberty, asthma", "menstruation, asthma", "pregnancy, asthma", "lactation, asthma", "menopause, asthma", "obesity, asthma", and "women, refractory, severe asthma". Literature was retrieved from PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data with the search date of July 30, 2022 as the last day. This consensus used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation to evaluate the strength of recommendation and quality of evidence. Results: We collected basic research results and clinical evidence-based medical data and reviewed the effects of sex hormones, classical genetics, and epigenetics on the clinical presentation and treatment response of female patients with asthma under different environmental effects. Based on that, we formulated this expert consensus on the management of female asthma throughout the life cycle. Conclusions: This expert consensus on the management of asthma in women throughout the life cycle provides diagnosis, treatment, and research reference for clinical and basic medical practitioners.

Validation of an established TW3 artificial intelligence bone age assessment system: a prospective, multicenter, confirmatory study.

Background: In 2020, our center established a Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) artificial intelligence (AI) system using a convolutional neural network (CNN), which was built upon 9059 radiographs. However, the system, upon which our study is based, lacked a gold standard for comparison and had not undergone thorough evaluation in different working environments. Methods: To further verify the applicability of the AI system in clinical bone age assessment (BAA) and to enhance the accuracy and homogeneity of BAA, a prospective multi-center validation was conducted. This study utilized 744 left-hand radiographs of patients, ranging from 1 to 20 years of age, with 378 boys and 366 girls. These radiographs were obtained from nine different children's hospitals between August and December 2020. The BAAs were performed using the TW3 AI system and were also reviewed by experienced reviewers. Bone age accuracy within 1 year, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) were statistically calculated to evaluate the accuracy. Kappa test and Bland-Altman (B-A) plot were conducted to measure the diagnostic consistency. Results: The system exhibited a high level of performance, producing results that closely aligned with those of the reviewers. It achieved a RMSE of 0.52 years and an accuracy of 94.55% for the radius, ulna, and short bones series. When assessing the carpal series of bones, the system achieved a RMSE of 0.85 years and an accuracy of 80.38%. Overall, the system displayed satisfactory accuracy and RMSE, particularly in patients over 7 years old. The system excelled in evaluating the carpal bone age of patients aged 1-6. Both the Kappa test and B-A plot demonstrated substantial consistency between the system and the reviewers, although the model encountered challenges in consistently distinguishing specific bones, such as the capitate. Furthermore, the system's performance proved acceptable across different genders and age groups, as well as radiography instruments. Conclusions: In this multi-center validation, the system showcased its potential to enhance the efficiency and consistency of healthy delivery, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract Plus Rosiglitazone on Serum Leptin and Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract (MOLE) plus rosiglitazone (RSG) on glucose and lipid metabolism, serum leptin, and the Akt/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin signaling pathway in type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats. Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the RSG group, the low- and high-dose MOLE group, and the MOLE+RSG group. The normal group was fed a standard rat diet, while the other groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozomycin (STZ) (35 mg/kg) and fed a high-sugar and high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, the treatment outcomes were evaluated by measuring key parameters of blood glucose and lipid metabolism and the protein kinase B (AKT) / Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3ß) /ß-Catenin signaling pathway in the T2D rats. Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, free fatty acid (FFA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Compared with the model group, the RSG, low-dose MOLE, and high-dose MOLE groups displayed effective control of blood glucose, blood lipids, serum leptin, FFA, and TNF-α. The MOLE+RSG group surpassed the RSG group in regulating glucose, lipid metabolism, and serum leptin levels in T2D rats. In addition, the MOLE+RSG group also had superiority over the RSG group in activating the AKT/GSK3ß/ß-Catenin pathway. Conclusion: MOLE plus RSG can effectively reduce blood glucose and blood lipids in T2DM rats.

Recent advances of smart materials for ocular drug delivery.

Owing to the variety and complexity of ocular diseases and the natural ocular barriers, drug therapy for ocular diseases has significant limitations, such as poor drug targeting to the site of the disease, poor drug penetration, and short drug retention time in the vitreous body. With the development of biotechnology, biomedical materials have reached the "smart" stage. To date, despite their inability to overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks, a variety of smart materials have been widely tested to treat various ocular diseases. This review analyses the most recent developments in multiple smart materials (inorganic particles, polymeric particles, lipid-based particles, hydrogels, and devices) to treat common ocular diseases and discusses the future directions and perspectives regarding clinical translation issues. This review can help researchers rationally design more smart materials for specific ocular applications.

The associations between hematological parameters and the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension in children and adolescents: a prospective cohort study.

Uncontrolled pediatric hypertension may increase the risk of hypertension in adulthood. Several studies have reported an association between hematological parameters and blood pressure (BP) levels. However, epidemiologic evidence of this association in children and adolescents remains scarce. This study aims to explore the associations between hematological parameters and the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension in children and adolescents. This longitudinal study was conducted with 1368 participants aged 6-8 years from baseline visit to follow-up visit. Compared with participants from the normal blood pressure (BP) group, participants from the elevated BP group had significantly higher baseline red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) counts and hematocrit (Hct) levels (all P < 0.001). A multilevel linear mixed model was conducted to analyze the relationship between hematological parameters and BP levels. The results suggested that SBP, DBP and MAP increased significantly with a quartile increase of levels of hematological parameters (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, a multilevel mixed logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk of per interquartile range increase in hematological parameters on the incidence of prehypertension and hypertension. The risk of prehypertension and hypertension incidence increased by (1.34 (95%CIs: 1.20, 1.50)), (1.38 (95%CIs: 1.24,1.54)), (1.33 (95%CIs: 1.19,1.50)), (1.14 (95%CIs: 1.03,1.26)) fold with a one-quartile increase in levels of RBC, Hb, Hct and Fe, respectively (all P < 0.05). This longitudinal study showed that hematological parameters were positively associated with BP levels in healthy children and adolescents, which excluded the effect of antihypertensive drugs on BP levels that often appeared in adults.

The Interplay Between Financial Literacy, Financial Risk Tolerance, and Financial Behaviour: The Moderator Effect of Emotional Intelligence.

Aim: This study aims to examine financial literacy's impact on individual investors' financial behaviour while also investigating the mediating role of financial risk tolerance and the moderator effect of emotional intelligence. Methods: The study collects time-lagged data from 389 financially independent individual investors from leading educational institutes in Pakistan. Data are analysed using SmartPLS (v 3.3.3) to test the measurement and structural models. Results: The findings reveal that financial literacy significantly impacts the financial behaviour of individual investors. In addition, financial risk tolerance partially mediates the relationship between financial literacy and financial behaviour. Besides, the study found a significant moderating role of emotional intelligence in the direct relationship between financial literacy and financial risk tolerance and an indirect relationship between financial literacy and financial behaviour. Discussion: The study examined a hitherto unexplored relationship between financial literacy and financial behaviour, mediated by financial risk tolerance and moderated by emotional intelligence.

Modified magnetic chitosan materials for heavy metal adsorption: a review.

Magnetic chitosan materials have the characteristics of both chitosan and magnetic particle nuclei, showing the characteristics of easy separation and recovery, strong adsorption capacity and high mechanical strength, and have received extensive attention in adsorption, especially in the treatment of heavy metal ions. In order to further improve its performance, many studies have modified magnetic chitosan materials. This review discusses the strategies for the preparation of magnetic chitosan using coprecipitation, crosslinking, and other methods in detail. Besides, this review mainly summarizes the application of modified magnetic chitosan materials in the removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater in recent years. Finally, this review also discusses the adsorption mechanism, and puts forward the prospect of the future development of magnetic chitosan in wastewater treatment.

Corpus Callosum Volumes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Sex-Associated Differences.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sex and corpus callosum (CC) volume in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) aged 2-4 years. This prospective study included 50 children with ASD and 50 typically developing (TD) children aged 2-4 years. Midsagittal slices of the CCs of the participants were divided into five subregions using FreeSurfer software. The PMCC, AMCC and TCC volumes were significantly higher in ASD participants than in TD participants, and results were significant in females with ASD rather than in males with ASD (all P < 0.05). In toddlers with ASD, the CC volumes were increased and more pronounced in females than in males. This could be due to overgrowth of axons or/and axonal pruning disorders.

Preparation, Antimicrobial Properties under Different Light Sources, Mechanisms and Applications of TiO2: A Review.

Traditional antimicrobial methods, such as antibiotics and disinfectants, may cause adverse effects, such as bacterial resistance and allergic reactions. Photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) have shown great potential in the field of antimicrobials because of their high efficiency, lack of pollution, and lack of side effects. This paper focuses on the antimicrobial activity of TiO2 under different light sources. To improve the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2, we can reduce electron-hole recombination and extend the photocatalytic activity to the visible light region by doping with different ions or compounds and compounding with polymers. We can also improve the surface properties of materials, increase the contact area with microorganisms, and further enhance the resistance to microorganisms. In addition, we also reviewed their main synthesis methods, related mechanisms, and main application fields to provide new ideas for the enhancement of photocatalytic microorganism performance and application popularization in the future.

Fulvivirga marina sp. nov. and Fulvivirga sediminis sp. nov., two novel Bacteroidetes isolated from the marine sediment.

Two novel, designated strains 29W222T and 2943T, were isolated from the marine sediment from Aoshan Bay, Jimo, PR China. Growth was observed at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) for strain 29W222T, and pH 5.5-8.5 (pH 7.0) for strain 2943T. Both strains displayed growth in 0.5-6 % NaCl with an optimum at 1 % for 29W222T; 0.5 % for 2943T. Both strains grew optimally at 33 °C. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that 29W222T and 2943T represented members of the genus Fulvivirga and strain 29W222T was most closely related to Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T (97.9 % sequence similarity) and Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T (95.0 %), and 2943T to Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T (95.7 %) and Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T (94.8 %). The genomic DNA G+C contents of 29W222T and 2943T were 39.9 and 37.7 mol%, respectively. The results of chemotaxonomic analysis indicated that the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7), and the major fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0 for both strains. Average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity values between strain 29W222T and Fulvivirga kasyanovii KMM 6220T were 78.9 and 83.6 %, respectively; the corresponding values between 2943T and Fulvivirga imtechensis AK7T were 69.8 and 63.6 %, respectively. Therefore, strains 29W222T and 2943T represent to two novel species of the genus Fulvivirga, for which the names Fulvivirga marina sp. nov. (29W222T=KCTC 62848T=MCCC 1K05194T) and Fulvivirga sediminis sp. nov. (2943T=KCTC 62847T= MCCC 1K05144T) are proposed, respectively.

Novel compound heterozygous variant of TOE1 results in a mild type of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 7: an expansion of the clinical phenotype.

The target of EGR1 protein 1 (TOE1) is a 3-exonuclease belonging to the Asp-Glu-Asp-Asp deadenylase family that plays a vital role in the maturation of a variety of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Bi-allelic variants in TOE1 have been reported to cause a rare and severe neurodegenerative syndrome, pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 7 (PCH7) (OMIM # 614,969), which is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, developmental delay, and ambiguous genitalia. Here, we describe the case of a 5-year-6-month-old female Chinese patient who presented with cerebral dysplasia, moderate intellectual disability, developmental delay, and dystonia. Trio whole-exome sequencing revealed two previously unreported heterozygous variants of TOE1 in the patient, including a maternal inherited splicing variant c.237-2A > G and a de novo missense variant c.551G > T, p.Arg184Leu. TA clone sequencing showed trans status of the two variants, indicating the missense variant occurred on the paternal strand in the patient. Clinical features of the patient were mostly concordant with previous reports but brain deformities (enlarged lateral ventricle and deepened cerebellum sulcus without microcephaly and reduced cerebellar volume) were less severe than in typical PCH7 patients. Moreover, the patient had no gonadal malformation, which is common and variable in patients with PCH7. In summary, we report the case of a Chinese patient with atypical PCH7 caused by a novel TOE1 compound variant. Our work suggests that variations in the TOE1 gene can lead to highly variable clinical phenotypes.

Clinical Profiles and Genetic Spectra of 814 Chinese Children With Short Stature.

CONTEXT: Data and studies based on exome sequencing for the genetic evaluation of short stature are limited, and more large-scale studies are warranted. Some factors increase the likelihood of a monogenic cause of short stature, including skeletal dysplasia, severe short stature, and small for gestational age (SGA) without catch-up growth. However, whether these factors can serve as predictors of molecular diagnosis remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of the associated risk factors and their exome sequences for screening. METHODS: We defined and applied factors that increased the likelihood of monogenic causes of short stature in diagnostic genetic tests based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 814 patients with short stature and at least 1 other factor. RESULTS: Pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in genes, copy number variations, and chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 361 patients. We found P/LP variants among 111 genes, and RASopathies comprised the most important etiology. Short stature combined with other phenotypes significantly increased the likelihood of a monogenic cause, including skeletal dysplasia, facial dysmorphism, and intellectual disability, compared with simple severe short stature (<-3 SD scores). We report novel candidate pathogenic genes, KMT2C for unequivocal growth hormone insensitivity and GATA6 for SGA. CONCLUSION: Our study identified the diagnostic characteristics of NGS in short stature with different risk factors. Our study provides novel insights into the current understanding of the etiology of short stature in patients with different phenotypes.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Psychological Effects of Overactive Bladder in Chinese University Students.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) in young adults and to explore the influence of OAB on mental health. METHODS: Between October 2019 and January 2020, 14,010 anonymous questionnaires were distributed to freshmen at 2 universities in Henan, China. The students came from all over the country. The questionnaire included general items and information necessary to calculate the overactive bladder symptom score, the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Self-Esteem Scale (SES) score, and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score. The relationships between the prevalence of OAB and its risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OAB was 6.0%, with 4.3% of participants characterized as having dry OAB and 1.7% as having wet OAB. The prevalence of mild OAB was 5.5%, and that of moderate OAB was 0.5%; no severe OAB was observed. Higher prevalence rates of OAB were found among women, respondents with constipation, and respondents with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) (P <0.05). Compared to healthy controls, the OAB group exhibited a higher mean SDS score (52.12±8.986 vs. 47.71±9.399, P<0.001) and mean PSQI score (5.28±2.486 vs. 4.27±2.431, P<0.001), but a lower mean SES score (27.78±3.599 vs. 29.57±4.109, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: OAB significantly affects the mental health of young adults. Female sex, constipation, and PNE are risk factors for OAB.

Whole transcriptome analysis and critical gene regulatory network analysis during Schistosoma japonicum infection and praziquantel treatment in mice / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions and identify the critical gene regulatory network during Schistosoma japonicum infections and praziquantel treatment using whole transcriptome sequencing. Methods A total of 110 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group, the infection group and the treatment group. Mice in the infection treatment and the control group were infected with S. japonicum cercariae via the abdomen, and liver specimens were sampled from 10 mice 3, 6, 8 weeks post-infection. Praziquantel treatment was given to mice in the treatment group 8 weeks post-infection, and liver specimens were sampled from 10 mice 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks post-treatment. Total RNA was isolated from mouse liver specimens, and the transcriptome library was constructed for highthroughput whole transcriptome sequencing. The significant differentially expressed genes were subjected to functional annotations, Gene Ontology (GO) terms enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Correlation analysis of liver specimens was performed using R Corrplot and Himsc functions, and the lncRNAmiRNA-mRNA interaction network analysis was performed using R MixOmics and Himsc functions. Results There were 1 176 differentially expressed miRNAs, 5 270 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 2 682 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the infection group and the control group, 1 289 differentially expressed miRNAs, 7 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 69 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the treatment group and the infection group, and 1 210 differentially expressed miRNAs, 4 456 differentially expressed mRNAs, and 2 016 differentially expressed lncRNAs between the treatment group and the control group. Correlation analysis showed a higher correlation of gene expression between the treatment group and the control group. Principal component analysis showed obvious separate clustering between the infection group and the treatment group. The differentially expressed genes with significant relevance were significantly enriched in 24 GO terms, including arachidonic acid metabolic process, xenobiotic catabolic process, unsaturated fatty acid metabolic process, xenobiotic metabolic process, long-chain fatty acid metabolic process, and 8 KEGG metabolic pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, retinol metabolism, and steroid hormone biometabolism. Conclusions There were 23 mRNAs including Cyp2b9 and 14 lncRNAs including Rmrpr in the core position of the gene regulatory network, which may play a critical role in S. japonicum infections and praziquantel treatment, and 9 miRNAs including miR-8105 may serve as potential molecular markers for diagnosis of S. japonicum infections.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Psychological Effects of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis in Chinese Young Adults.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and effects of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) on physical and mental health in young adults in mainland China. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect information including the sociodemographic characteristics, history of PNE, family history, daytime voiding symptoms, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). A total of 22,500 university students from 23 provinces and 368 cities in mainland China were included. RESULTS: In total, 21,082 questionnaires were collected, and 20,345 of them qualified for statistical analysis. The PNE prevalence was 1.17%, and the distribution of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) and nonmonosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE) was 66.1% and 33.9%, respectively. In total, 28% of respondents with PNE reported bedwetting daily, 31.6% between 1 and 7 times weekly, and 40.4% between 1 and 4 times monthly; 80% of PNE cases had no history of treatment. The prevalence of PNE in patients with a family history, frequency, urgency, urinary incontinence, and recurrent urinary tract infections was significantly higher than in those without these conditions (P<0.001). PNE was significantly correlated with the PSQI total score (sleep quality) (P=0.011). The SES score was lower and the SDS was higher (P<0.001) in the PNE group than in those without PNE. CONCLUSION: In mainland China, the PNE prevalence among young adults was found to be high, and PNE had significant effects on physical and mental health. Risk factors included a family history, daytime voiding symptoms, and lack of treatment.

Rapid and high-capacity loading of IgG monoclonal antibodies by polymer brush and peptides functionalized microspheres.

Fast-throughput and cost reduction of current purification platforms are becoming increasing requests during antibody manufacture. The macroporous-matrix absorbents have presented extensive potentiality in improving operational throughput during purification of macromolecule. And meanwhile the peptide ligand has become a promising alternative to recombinant protein ligands for cost reduction of chromatographic purification. Therefore, here we designed a functionalized microspheres resin with both macroporous matrix of polymerized glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PGMA-EDMA) and peptide ligand of hexapeptide (FYEILH). In order to circumvent the steric effect of peptides and amplify the binding sites on macroporous matrix, the peptide ligand was coupled on a liner PGMA polymer brushes grafted on microspheres. Comparing to the conventional agarose-matrix resin and the general peptide-grafted microspheres, the functionalized microspheres presented excellent permeability and high capacity to rapid loading hIgG by maintaining a stable level of dynamic binding capacity at fast flow rate above 110 column volume per hour (cv/h) and very short residence time below 0.5 min. Such functionalized microspheres provide a facile and broadly applicable strategy to develop the attractive candidate for rapid and cost-reduced purification of antibody.

Synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic degradation of Ag3PO4/AgBr/hydroxyapatite ternary nanocomposites prepared from oyster shells.

In this paper, a new type of Ag3PO4/AgBr/hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite was successfully prepared from oyster shells and silver nitrate by a hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron spin resonance and other precision instruments, and their catalytic activity was characterized by visible light degradation of methylene blue (MB). The experimental results show that the Ag3PO4/AgBr/HAP photocatalyst has a nanoscale rod-like structure and excellent photodegradation performance. Although the content of Ag3PO4 or AgBr had a significant effect on the reaction activity, the effects did not all positively correlate, and only the appropriate ratio could produce an improved catalytic effect. The catalytic performance of the 1:1-Ag3PO4/AgBr/HAP composite was the best: complete degradation of MB was achieved within 40 min, and the reaction rate was 15 times that of Ag3PO4/AgBr. In the process of photocatalytic degradation, ˙O2- and h+ are the main active species involved in the reaction, and the synergistic catalysis of Ag3PO4, AgBr and HAP promotes the degradation rate.

Aeromicrobium piscarium sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of Collichthys lucidus.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, whitesmoke-coloured and aerobic bacterium, designated strain Co35T, was isolated from the intestine of Collichthys lucidus collected from the Jiangmen Guangdong Chinese White Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve. Strain Co35T was able to grow at 15-35 °C (optimal 28 °C), at pH 7.0-8.5 (optimal 8.0) and with 0-9 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal 0.5-1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Co35T was a member of the genus Aeromicrobium within the family Nocardioidaceae. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain Co35T was 68.4 mol%. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone 9 (MK-9), and the major fatty acids included 10-methyl C18 : 0. The polar lipids were found to consist of phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1-2) and two unidentified glycolipids (GL1-2). On the basis of its phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and genomic characteristics presented in this study, strain Co35T represents a novel species in the genus Aeromicrobium, for which the name Aeromicrobium piscarium sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Co35T (=KCTC 49280T=MCCC 1K03754T).