Exploring the Impact of Visual Heat Conduction Paths on Thermal Conductivity of Polymer Composites and the Practical Applications.

The theory of heat conduction paths has been widely recognized and widely studied in the research about the thermal conductivity of thermal conductive polymer composites at present. Encapsulating polymer pellets with thermally conductive fillers and processing them into thermally conductive polymer composites is a simple and effective method for constructing heat conduction paths. It is meaningful to investigate the related heat conduction mechanism of this method. Otherwise, this approach can significantly preserve the performance of the polymer substrate, making it highly valuable for practical material applications. In this work, polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) pellets were encapsulated with thermal conductive fillers by physical absorption. Subsequently, the composite films containing heat conduction paths were fabricated using the encapsulated POE pellets through a heating press. Alumina (Al2O3), boron nitride (BN), and alumina/boron nitride hybrid (Al2O3/BN) fillers were used to prepare Al2O3@POE, BN@POE, and BN/Al2O3@POE composite films to investigate the influence of filler shapes on heat conduction path construction. The influence of the constitute and density of heat conduction paths on the thermal conductivity of composite films was analyzed by infrared thermal imaging, finite element analysis, and thermal resistance theory in detail. Owing to the reserved good adhesion and flexibility of the POE substrate, the composite films could be directly used as thermal interface materials for chip cooling, which presented a good heat dissipation effect. Furthermore, a series of integrated composite materials were prepared by the combination of encapsulated pellets with various functional films (copper foil, aluminum foil, and graphite sheet) through a one-pot heating press, exhibiting a good electromagnetic shielding effect. The performance of the composites and the corresponding preparation method demonstrate the strong significance of this research for practical applications.

A preoperative prediction model based on Lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio predicts postoperative anastomotic leakage in patients with colorectal carcinoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lymphocyte-C-reactive Protein Ratio (LCR) has been demonstrated as a promising new marker for predicting surgical and oncological outcomes in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, anastomotic leakage (AL) is also likely related to this inflammatory marker. Herein, we aimed to identify preoperative predictors of AL and build and develop a novel model able to identify patients at risk of developing AL. METHODS: We collected 858 patients with CRC undergoing elective radical operation between 2007 and 2018 at a single center were retrospectively reviewed. We performed univariable and multivariable analyses and built a multivariable model that predicts AL based on preoperative factors. Propensity adjustment was used to correct the bias introduced by non-random matching of the LCR. The model's performance was evaluated by using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUROCs), decision curve analysis (DCA), Brier scores, D statistics, and R2 values. RESULTS: Age, nutrition risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) score, tumor location and LCR, together with hemoglobin < 90 g/l, were independent predictors of AL. The models built on these variables showed good performance (internal validation: c-statistic = 0.851 (95%CI 0.803-0.965), Brier score = 0.049; temporal validation: c-statistic = 0.777 (95%CI 0.823-0.979), Brier score = 0.096). A regression equation to predict the AL was also established by multiple linear regression analysis: [Age(≥ 60 year) × 1.281] + [NRS2002(≥ 3) × 1.341] + [Tumor location(pt.) × 1.348]-[LCR(≤ 6000) × 1.593]-[Hemoglobin(< 90 g/L) × 1.589]-6.12. CONCLUSION: Preoperative LCR is an independent predictive factor for AL. A novel model combining LCR values, age, tumor location, and NRS2002 provided an excellent preoperative prediction of AL in patients with CRC. The nomogram can help clinical decision-making and support future research.

Type of Necrosis Influences Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After the First Transarterial Chemoembolization.

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common tumors. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the first choice of treatment for intermediate HCC and an important treatment option for advanced HCC. This retrospective study compared the prognosis between patients showing coagulative necrosis and patients showing liquefactive necrosis after the first TACE procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS We divided 171 patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage B or C HCC into 2 groups; a coagulative necrosis group (79 patients) and a liquefactive necrosis group (92 patients). The coagulative and liquefactive necroses were identified by computed tomography after the first TACE procedure. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to identify the differences in the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between the 2 groups, and the associated risk factors and safety of TACE were analyzed. RESULTS The median OS durations were 23.27±1.40 months and 8.83±2.15 months (P=0.004) and the median PFS durations were 9.33±0.96 months and 3.70±0.44 months (P=0.002) in the coagulative necrosis and liquefactive necrosis groups, respectively. Intrahepatic in situ progression, new intrahepatic metastasis, and extrahepatic progression occurred significantly earlier in the liquefactive necrosis group (P<0.05). Univariate analysis and multivariate analyses showed liquefactive necrosis was the main risk factor for OS. There was no significant difference in the hepatic function impairment or post-embolism syndrome after TACE. CONCLUSIONS After the first TACE procedure, the patients with liquefactive necrosis experienced recurrence and metastasis earlier and had a worse prognosis. Therefore, these patients should be considered for earlier administration of targeted therapies or immunotherapies after TACE.

Net micromineral requirements for maintenance and growth of ewe lambs at the latter fattening period.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the net micromineral (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) requirements for maintenance and growth of Dorper×Jinzhong crossbred ewe lambs at their latter fattening period. METHODS: Thirty 1/2 Dorper × 1/2 Jinzhong crossed F1 ewe lambs (35±0.5 kg of body weight [BW]) were used and divided into five groups in a randomized design for a comparative slaughter trial. At the beginning of the experiment, six lambs were randomly selected and slaughtered at 35 kg BW to determine their initial body composition. When their BWs reached 43 kg, another six lambs fed ad libitum were slaughtered to serve as an intermediate slaughter group. The retained eighteen lambs were randomly distributed into three groups and offered one type of feed at 100%, 65%, and 40% of the ad libitum intake. When the lambs fed ad libitum reached a BW of 50 kg, the three groups were slaughtered. The body composition (muscle, fat, bone, blood with viscera, skin, and wool) were weighted, ground, mixed, and subsampled for mineral content analysis. RESULTS: The net maintenance requirements of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were 0.017, 0.160, 0.004, and 0.067 mg/kg BW/d, respectively, and the net growth requirements per 100 grams of average daily gain ranged from 0.48 to 0.51 mg of Cu, 2.63 to 2.17 mg of Fe, 0.12 to 0.15 mg of Mn, and 2.07 to 2.00 mg of Zn, respectively, for Dorper × Jinzhong crossed ewes from 35 to 50 kg BW. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the micromineral requirements for both maintenance and growth of Dorper × Jinzhong crossbred ewe lambs were quite different from the recommendations of NRC (2007), except for Zn.

Nocardia yunnanensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from a soil sample.

A novel actinomycete strain, designated CFH S0054T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Xiaokongshan in Tengchong, Yunnan Province, in south-west PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CFH S0054T belonged to the genus Nocardia. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CFH S0054T was most closely related to Nocardia concava IFM 0354T (98.3 %), Nocardia inohanensis NBRC 100128T (97.9 %), Nocardia otitidiscaviarum NBRC 14405T (97.9 %) and Nocardia heshunensis CFH S0067T (97.8 %). Strain CFH S0054T contained C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 0 10-methyl (TBSA) and summed feature 3 as major cellular fatty acids and MK-8 (H4ω-cycl) as the major respiratory quinone. The polar lipid profile included phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and unknown phospholipids. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the whole-cell hydrolysates were arabinose, galactose, glucose, fructose, ribose and mannose. The genome of strain CFH S0054T was 7.9 Mbp with a G+C content of 68.4 mol%, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain CFH S0054T and N. concava IFM0354T were low (ANIm<87.7 % and ANIb=84.1 %). On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain CFHS0054T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardiayunnanensis sp. nov. is proposed, The type strain is CFH S0054T (DSM 46763T=JCM 30082T).

Gene cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel ß-mannanase from the endophyte Paenibacillus sp. CH-3.

An endophyte with high yield of ß-mannanase, designated as Paenibacillus sp. CH-3, was isolated from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) seeds. The ß-mannanase gene (manB) has been cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized. With an open reading frame of 984 bp, the manB gene encodes 327 amino acid residues, which belongs to GH family 5. The recombinant ß-mannanase (ManB) has an apparent molecular weight of 50.4 kDa with an optimal activity level at pH 7.0 and 45 °C, and it is stable in the range of pH 4-9. By optimizing, the temperature, isopropyl ß-d-thiogalactoside concentration, and induction time were 28 °C, 0.05 mM, and 12 H, respectively. The highest activity reached at 1,054.17 U/mL. In addition, ManB had Km values of 7.30, 8.69, and 27.17 mg/mL for locust bean gum (LBG), guar gum, and konjac glucomannan (KGM), respectively. Its catalytic efficiency (kcat /Km ) was 176.31 mL/(mg·Sec) for LBG, 116.69 mL/(mg·Sec) for guar gum, and 115.49 mL/(mg·Sec) for KGM. The products of glucomannans, which were hydrolyzed by ManB, mainly contain mannobiose, mannotetrose, and a higher manno-oligosaccharide. The characteristics of ManB revealed that it could be exploited as an effective additive in the animal feed industry.

Prevalence and Years of Life Lost due to Disability from Dental Caries among Children and Adolescents in Western China, 1990-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD) from dental caries among children and adolescents and the time trends over the past two decades in Sichuan province, the largest province in west China. METHODS: Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 (GBD2015), which systematically assessed the epidemiological characteristics of major diseases and their transitions by country and region from 1990 to 2015, we extracted the estimated results for China. We then used the Bayesian meta-regression method to estimate the sex- and age-specific prevalences and YLDs from dental caries among children and adolescents under 15 years old in Sichuan province and compared them with global and national indicators for the same period. RESULTS: In 2015, there were almost 6 million cases of dental caries in children and adolescents (aged < 15 years) in Sichuan province, accounting for 6% of the total cases in China. For children under 5 years, the prevalence of deciduous caries was 55.9%, and the YLDs value was 10.8 per 100,000, while it was 24.3% and 5.1 per 100,000 respectively among 5- to 14-year-olds; for those aged 5 to 14 years, the prevalence of permanent caries was 21.5%, and the YLDs value was 11.5 per 100,000. From 1990 to 2015, the prevalence of dental caries for children under 5 years increased substantially, by 16.2%, and the YLDs increased by 8.7%. Among those aged 5 to 14 years, the prevalence increased and the YLDs decreased. CONCLUSION: Dental caries remains a huge health burden in Western China. In contrast to the global and national data, the trend has increased rapidly over the past 25 years in this region. This work provides suggestions for the prevention and control for oral health in China with the policy of two-child.

Agromyces insulae sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a soil sample.

A novel Gram-reaction-positive, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated CFH S0483T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Catba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain is a member of the genus Agromyces and has highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Agromyces humatus DSM 16389T (97.3 %) and Agromyces ramosus DSM 43045T (97.1 %), and similarities < 97.0 % with type strains of other species of the genus Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T was able to grow at 10-37 °C, at pH 7.0-9.0 and tolerated NaCl up to 2.0 % (w/v). The whole-cell sugars were mannose, galactose, glucose and ribose. The isolate contained l-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, d-alanine, d-glutamic acid and glycine in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Strain CFH S0483T exhibited a menaquinone system with MK-12, and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain CFH S0483T was 71.6 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis, and low DNA-DNA hybridization values, strain CFH S0483T could not be classified into any recognized species of the genus Agromyces. Strain CFH S0483T is therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Agromyces, for which the name Agromyces insulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH S0483T ( = KCTC 39117T = CCTCC AB 2014301T).

Synthesis and evaluation of antifungal activity of C21-steroidal derivatives.

The antifungal activities of eleven C21-steroidal compounds isolated from Cynanchum wilfordii, together with thirty-six derivatives of caudatin and qingyangshengenin were evaluated on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and other five fungal strains by the mycelium growth rate method. Four derivatives 1k, 1y, 10d, and 10j exhibited much stronger inhibitions on growth of S. sclerotiorum with IC50 values of 0.0084, 0.0049, 0.0053, and 0.0034 µM, respectively.

Effect of Yb(3+) on the Crystal Structural Modification and Photoluminescence Properties of GGAG:Ce(3+).

Gadolinium gallium aluminum garnet (GGAG) is a very promising host for the highly efficient luminescence of Ce(3+) and shows potential in radiation detection applications. However, the thermodynamically metastable structure would be slanted against it from getting high transparency. To stabilize the crystal structure of GGAG, Yb(3+) ions were codoped at the Gd(3+) site. It is found that the decomposition of garnet was suppressed and the transparency of GGAG ceramic was evidently improved. Moreover, the photoluminescence of GGAG:Ce(3+),xYb(3+) with different Yb(3+) contents has been investigated. When the Ce(3+) ions were excited under 475 nm, a typical near-infrared region emission of Yb(3+) ions can be observed, where silicon solar cells have the strongest absorption. Basing on the lifetimes of Ce(3+) ions in the GGAG:Ce(3+),xYb(3+) sample, the transfer efficiency from Ce(3+) to Yb(3+) and the theoretical internal quantum efficiency can be calculated and reach up to 86% and 186%, respectively. This would make GGAG:Ce(3+),Yb(3+) a potential attractive downconversion candidate for improving the energy conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells.

18ß-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Derivatives Possessing a Trihydroxylated A Ring Are Potent Gram-Positive Antibacterial Agents.

The oleanane-type triterpene 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (1) was modified chemically through the introduction of a trihydroxylated A ring and an ester moiety at C-20 to enhance its antibacterial activity. Compounds 22, 23, 25, 28, 29, 31, and 32 showed more potent inhibitory activity against Streptomyces scabies than the positive control, streptomycin. Additionally, the inhibitory activity of the most potent compound, 29, against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was greater than that of the positive controls. The antibacterial mode of action of the active derivatives involved the regulation of the expression of genes associated with peptidoglycans, the respiratory metabolism, and the inherent virulence factors found in bacteria, as determined through a quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay.

Amycolatopsis xuchangensis sp. nov. and Amycolatopsis jiguanensis sp. nov., isolated from soil.

Two novel actinomycetes, designated strains CFH S0322T and CFH S01580T, were isolated from soil samples collected from Xuchang city and Ji Guan cave in Henan province, China, respectively. Their taxonomic positions were investigated by a polyphasic approach. The two isolates were Gram-reaction positive, non-motile, aerobic and catalase-positive actinomycetes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the two isolates are closely related to the members of the genus Amycolatopsis, sharing high similarities with Amycolatopsis magusensis KCTC 29056T (99.1 %, CFH S0322T) and Amycolatopsis nigrescens DSM 44992T (98.1 %, CFH S01580T), respectively. The major whole cell sugars of strains CFH S0322T and CFH S01580T were arabinose and galactose and the predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains CFH S0322T and CFH S01580T were 70.6 and 68.6 mol%, respectively. Morphological, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results suggest that strains CFH S0322T and CFH S01580T are representatives of two new species, for which the names Amycolatopsis xuchangensis sp. nov. and Amycolatopsis jiguanensis sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are CFH S0322T (=NBRC 110769T =KCTC 39516T) and CFH S01580T (=DSM 101526T =CCTCC AA 2015032T).

Prednisone lowers serum uric acid levels in patients with decompensated heart failure by increasing renal uric acid clearance.

Clinical studies have shown that large doses of prednisone could lower serum uric acid (SUA) in patients with decompensated heart failure (HF); however, the optimal dose of prednisone and underlying mechanisms are unknown. Thirty-eight patients with decompensated HF were randomized to receive standard HF care alone (n = 10) or with low-dose (15 mg/day, n = 8), medium-dose (30 mg/day, n = 10), or high-dose prednisone (60 mg/day, n = 10), for 10 days. At the end of the study, only high-dose prednisone significantly reduced SUA, whereas low- and medium-dose prednisone and standard HF care had no effect on SUA. The reduction in SUA in high-dose prednisone groups was associated with a significant increase in renal uric acid clearance. In conclusion, prednisone can reduce SUA levels by increasing renal uric acid clearance in patients with decompensated HF.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Viability by 3-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether 3-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography could provide a new way to assess myocardial viability in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Forty-five patients with MI underwent routine echocardiography, 2-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography, and 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography. Radionuclide myocardial perfusion/metabolic imaging was used as a reference standard to define viable and nonviable myocardia. RESULTS: Among 720 myocardial segments in 45 patients, 368 showed abnormal motion on routine echocardiography; 204 of 368 were categorized as viable on single-photon emission computed tomography/positron emission tomography (SPECT/PET), whereas 164 were defined as nonviable; 300 normal segments on SPECT/PET among 352 segments without abnormal motion on routine echocardiography were categorized as a control group. The radial, longitudinal, 3D, and area strain on 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography had significant differences between control and nonviable groups (P < .001), whereas none of the parameters had significant differences between control and viable groups. There were no significant differences in circumferential, radial, and longitudinal peak systolic strain from 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography between viable and nonviable groups. Although there was no significant difference in circumferential strain between the groups, radial and longitudinal strain from 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography decreased significantly in the nonviable group. Moreover, 3D and area strain values were lower in the nonviable segments than the viable segments. By receiver operating characteristic analysis, radial strain from 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography with a cutoff of 11.1% had sensitivity of 95.1% and specificity of 53.4% for viable segments; longitudinal strain with a cutoff of 14.3% had sensitivity of 65.2% and specificity of 65.7%; 3D strain with a cutoff of 17.4% had sensitivity of 70.6% and specificity of 77.2%; and area strain with a cutoff of 23.2% had sensitivity of 91.5% and specificity of 82.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography might have potential for detection of myocardial viability in patients with cardiac dysfunction due to MI.

Distribution Characteristics, Concentrations, and Sources of Cd and Pb in Laoxiawan Channel Sediments from Zhuzhou, China.

Twenty sediment cores encompassing surface (0-20 cm) and deeper (50-60 cm) sediment layers were retrieved from the 3000 m-long Laoxiawan Channel, which receives industrial effluents from Zhuzhou City (China). Analytical results showed that cadmium (Cd) concentrations ranged between 115.7-1126.7 and 108.8-2059.3 mg/kg while lead (Pb) values ranged between 234-3000 and 145-4292 mg/kg in the surface and bottom sediments, respectively. The results also indicated that high levels of Cd and Pb were present in the vicinity of the channel mouth and confluence area. Indices for potential ecological risk and geo-accumulation were used to evaluate the environmental effects and intensity of heavy metal pollution over time. High concentrations of Cd and Pb in the bottom sediments of Laoxiawan Channel were mainly associated with wastewater discharge (10(6) m(3)/year). Thus, the Laoxiawan Channel may be an important metal contaminant source for the Xiang River.

Cecembia rubra sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring sediment.

A Gram-staining negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YIM 78110(T), was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Hehua hot spring in Tengchong, Yunnan province, south-west China. The taxonomic status of strain YIM 78110(T) was confirmed by a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain YIM 78110(T) belongs to the genus Cecembia, displaying 96.8% and 94.7% sequence similarity with the two most closely related type strains, Cecembia calidifontis RQ-33(T) and Cecembia lonarensis LW9T, respectively. The low value of DNA-DNA hybridization (52.3 ± 2.3%) between strain YIM 78110(T) and its closest neighbour, Cecembia calidifontis RQ-33(T), indicated that this new isolate represented a different genomic species in the genus Cecembia. The temperature for growth ranged from 30 to 50 °C. The pH for growth ranged from pH 4.0 to 10.0, with NaCl tolerance of 0.5-6.0% (w/v). The predominant menaquinone of strain YIM 78110(T) was MK-7 and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0 and C15:0. The DNA G+C content was 47.1 mol%. On the basis of physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic analyses, it is proposed that strain YIM 78110(T) represents a novel species of the genus Cecembia, for which the name Cecembia rubra sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 78110(T) ( = CCTCC AB2013287(T) = DSM 28057(T)).

Bioactive Limonoid Constituents of Munronia henryi.

Fourteen new limonoids, munronins A-N (1-14), and eight known limonoids (15-22) were isolated from the whole plants of Munronia henryi. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and the structure of 8 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 represents the first limonoid found with a novel 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moiety produced by incorporating C-11 and C-14 via an oxygen atom. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) activity and in vitro cytotoxicity against the human cancer HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW-480 cell lines. Among them, compounds 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 20 showed significant anti-TMV activity, with IC50 values in the range 19.6-44.4 µg/mL. Compounds 1 and 18 exhibited cytotoxic effects for all five cancer cell lines, with IC50 values between 0.4 and 4.8 µM.

Rhodococcus agglutinans sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a soil sample.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore forming strain, designated CFH S0262(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from Catba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. A polyphasic approach was used to study the taxonomic position of this new isolate. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain CFH S0262(T) belongs to the genus Rhodococcus and clustered with Rhodococcus soli DSD51W(T), Rhodococcus hoagii NBRC 103062(T), Rhodococcus defluvii Call(T) and Rhodococcus kunmingensis YIM 45607(T) (98.7, 98.5, 97.9 and 97.6% similarities, respectively). Strain CFH S0262(T) could grow in the presence of NaCl (0-4%, optimum 0-3%), at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at 10-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C). The predominant menaquinones of strain CFH S0262(T) were identified as MK-8 (H2) and MK-8 (H4). The major fatty acids (≥10%) were found to be C(16:0) and C(18:1)ω9c. The polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, a glycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 71.4 mol%. Based on a comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, in combination with low values of DNA-DNA hybridization between strain CFH S0262(T) and its closest neighbours, it is proposed that strain CFH S0262(T) represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus agglutinans sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain CFH S0262(T) (=CCTCC AB2014297(T)=KCTC 39118(T)).

Sinomonas halotolerans sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a soil sample.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated CFH S0499(T), was isolated from a soil sample collected from Catba island in Halong Bay, Vietnam. The cells were observed to be Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-motile, curved rods. The strain was found to grow optimally at 28 °C and pH 7.0. Growth was found to occur at 0-7 % NaCl. Chemotaxonomically, the peptidoglycan type was determined to be of the A3α type, with glutamic acid, glycine, alanine and lysine as the major cell wall amino acids. The whole cell sugars were found to contain mannose, galactose, glucose, ribose and rhamnose. The polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, glycolipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C16:0 and the predominant respiratory quinone as MK-9 (H2), with a minor amount of MK-10 (H4) and MK-8 (H2). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 71.8 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CFH S0499(T) should be assigned to the genus Sinomonas and is closely related to members of the species Sinomonas atrocyanea DSM 20127(T) (98.3 %), Sinomonas soli CW 59(T) (98.28 %), Sinomonas flava CW 108(T) (98.26 %), Sinomonas mesophila MPLK 26(T) (97.5 %) and Sinomonas notoginsengisoli SYP-B 575(T) (95.8 %). DNA-DNA hybridizations showed low values (49.1-54.5 %) between strain CFH S0499(T) and its four closest neighbours. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, strain CFH S0499(T) is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Sinomonas, for which the name Sinomonas halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed, with CFH S0499(T) as the type strain (=CCTCC AB2014300(T) = KCTC 39116(T)).

[Interaction of Cucurbit[8]uril with ß-Indoleacetic Acid and Methylviologen].

The interaction between Q[8] with ß-indoleacetic acid and the methylviologen was studied in aqueous solution with electronic absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in details. The authors explored the mode of action, action site and thermodynamic properties of the host-guest system. The electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy data showed that the Q[8]/IAA system and Q[8]/MV²âº system informed 1:1 inclusion complexes in aqueous solution. ITC results showed that the changes of Gibbs free energy and enthalpy are all negative, it suggested that complex formation was spontaneous and exothermic reaction. Moreover, ITC results for the Q [8] and IAA with MV²âº indicate that the association constants of the Q[8]-IAA and Q[8]-MV²âº complexes were (3.22 ± 0.96) x 105 L · mol⁻¹ and (3.90 ± 0.91) x 106 L · mol⁻¹, respectively. Therefore, the interaction between Q[8] and IAA with the MV²âº was a competitive process. This likely occurs because the MV²âº and IAA molecules attempt to occupy the Q[8] cavity, which reduces the fluorescence and absorption spectra intensity of Q[8]-IAA because of the formation of a new inclusion complex between Q[8] and IAA with MV²âº. In addition, with the addition of MV²âº to a Q[8]/IAA complex, 1H NMR results showed that the indole moieties of ß-indoleacetic acid and bipyridyl group of methylviologen can be incorporated into Q[8] cavities because of electronic transfer MV²âº with PQ in a Q[8] cavity with ternary complexes. These results provides the potential applications for the supramolecular self-assembly in cucurbit[n]urils field.