BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of severe or very severe airflow limitation have a reduced pectoralis muscle area (PMA), which is associated with mortality. However, whether patients with COPD of mild or moderate airflow limitation also have a reduced PMA remains unclear. Additionally, limited evidence is available regarding the associations between PMA and respiratory symptoms, lung function, computed tomography (CT) imaging, lung function decline, and exacerbations. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the presence of PMA reduction in COPD and to clarify its associations with the referred variables. METHODS:This study was based on the subjects enrolled from July 2019 to December 2020 in the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) study. Data including questionnaire, lung function, and CT imaging were collected. The PMA was quantified on full-inspiratory CT at the aortic arch level using predefined -50 and 90 Hounsfield unit attenuation ranges. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the PMA and airflow limitation severity, respiratory symptoms, lung function, emphysema, air trapping, and the annual decline in lung function. Cox proportional hazards analysis and Poisson regression analysis were used to evaluate the PMA and exacerbations after adjustment. RESULTS:We included 1352 subjects at baseline (667 with normal spirometry, 685 with spirometry-defined COPD). The PMA was monotonically lower with progressive airflow limitation severity of COPD after adjusting for confounders (vs. normal spirometry; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] 1: β=-1.27, P=0.028; GOLD 2: β=-2.29, P<0.001; GOLD 3: β=-4.88, P<0.001; GOLD 4: β=-6.47, P=0.014). The PMA was negatively associated with the modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (β=-0.005, P=0.026), COPD Assessment Test score (β=-0.06, P=0.001), emphysema (β=-0.07, P<0.001), and air trapping (β=-0.24, P<0.001) after adjustment. The PMA was positively associated with lung function (all P<0.05). Similar associations were discovered for the pectoralis major muscle area and pectoralis minor muscle area. After the 1-year follow-up, the PMA was associated with the annual decline in the post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s percent of predicted value (β=0.022, P=0.002) but not with the annual rate of exacerbations or the time to first exacerbation. CONCLUSION:Patients with mild or moderate airflow limitation exhibit a reduced PMA. The PMA is associated with airflow limitation severity, respiratory symptoms, lung function, emphysema, and air trapping, suggesting that PMA measurement can assist with COPD assessment.

Obesity affects more than 20% of the world population and is a major risk factor for several skin disorders such as infection, delayed wound healing and psoriasis. Dermal white adipose tissue (DWAT) has been recognized as an important antimicrobial defense layer of the skin, but how obesity impacts this important element of skin innate immunity is unclear. Here, we used a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model, single-cell RNA-seq analyses and adipocyte lineage-tracing to better understand how obesity impacts the innate immune functions of DWAT and dermal adipocyte precursors. Mice fed a 60% high-fat diet for 6-months had marked adipocyte hypertrophy compared to standard diet and lineage-tracing showed that >95% of adipocytes at 6 m of DIO were new adipocytes formed 1 week after start of HFD feeding. DIO mice also showed a drastic change in dermal fibroblasts (dFB) subclusters including depletion of 3 adipogenic progenitor populations. Loss of these populations was associated with a lack of pathogen-triggered reactive adipogenesis, impaired cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide production and increased susceptibility to S. aureus infection. Culture of primary dermal adipocyte progenitors with mature adipocytes promoted a loss of antimicrobial function in the precursor population. This negative feedback from mature adipocytes was due to secretion of TGFβ, and administration of a TGFBR inhibitor or a PPARγ agonist reversed this inhibition in cultured adipocyte progenitors and restored the capacity in vitro and in vivo to initiate reactive adipogenesis and to kill S. aureus. Together, these results suggest that dysfunction of dermal innate immune defense function may explain several disorders associated with obesity and highlights TGFβ and PPARγ as targets for intervention.

BACKGROUNDPatients with mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rarely receive medications, because they have few symptoms. We hypothesized that long-term use of tiotropium would improve lung function and ameliorate the decline in lung function in patients with mild or moderate COPD.METHODSIn a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that was conducted in China, we randomly assigned 841 patients with COPD of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 1 (mild) or 2 (moderate) severity to receive a once-daily inhaled dose (18 mu g) of tiotropium (419 patients) or matching placebo (422) for 2 years. The primary end point was the between-group difference in the change from baseline to 24 months in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1) before bronchodilator use. Secondary end points included the between-group difference in the change from baseline to 24 months in the FEV 1 after bronchodilator use and the between-group difference in the annual decline in the FEV 1 before and after bronchodilator use from day 30 to month 24.RESULTSOf 841 patients who underwent randomization, 388 patients in the tiotropium group and 383 in the placebo group were included in the full analysis set. The FEV 1 in patients who received tiotropium was higher than in those who received placebo throughout the trial (ranges of mean differences, 127 to 169 ml before bronchodilator use and 71 to 133 ml after bronchodilator use; P<0.001 for all comparisons). There was no significant amelioration of the mean (+/- SE) annual decline in the FEV 1 before bronchodilator use: the decline was 38 +/- 6 ml per year in the tiotropium group and 53 +/- 6 ml per year in the placebo group (difference, 15 ml per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1 to 31; P = 0.06). In contrast, the annual decline in the FEV 1 after bronchodilator use was significantly less in the tiotropium group than in the placebo group (29 +/- 5 ml per year vs. 51 +/- 6 ml per year; difference, 22 ml per year [95% CI, 6 to 37]; P = 0.006). The incidence of adverse events was generally similar in the two groups.CONCLUSIONSTiotropium resulted in a higher FEV 1 than placebo at 24 months and ameliorated the annual decline in the FEV 1 after bronchodilator use in patients with COPD of GOLD stage 1 or 2. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and others; Tie-COPD ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01455129.)

Electron microscopy has been applied widely to study the interaction of nanomaterials with proteins, cells and tissues at nanometre scale. Biological material is most commonly embedded in thermoset resins to make it compatible with the high vacuum in the electron microscope. Room temperature sample preparation protocols developed over decades provide contrast by staining cell organelles, and aim to preserve the native cell structure. However, the effect of these complex protocols on the nanomaterials in the system is seldom considered. Any artefacts generated during sample preparationmay ultimately interfere with the accurate prediction of the stability and reactivity of the nanomaterials. As a case study, we review steps in the room temperature preparation of cells exposed to silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) for transmission electron microscopy imaging and analysis. In particular, embedding and staining protocols, which can alter the physicochemical properties of AgNMs and introduce artefacts thereby leading to a misinterpretation of silver bioreactivity, are scrutinized. Recommendations are given for the application of cryogenic sample preparation protocols, which simultaneously fix both particles and diffusible ions. By being aware of the advantages and limitations of different sample preparation methods, compromises or selection of different correlative techniques can be made to draw more accurate conclusions about the data.

提出了一种用于级联结构(multi-stage noise shaping,MASH) Σ-△ADC的自适应算法,并给出了电路实现方式.该算法采用Σ-△ADC的输出估计输入信号幅度,在不改变噪声传输函数(noise transfer function,NTF)的前提下,通过改变调制器的缩放系数,得到自适应的信号传输函数(signal transfer function,STF),从而使输出信噪比(signal to noise ratio,SNR)在自适应范围内与输入信号幅度保持独立,并给出了具体的实现方法.另外,通过改变调制器最优系数适用范围的方法,将Σ-△ADC的量化范围提高至满幅.

Our previous study has proved that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is developed to treat type 2 diabetes, has a significant effect on neuroprotection against advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced neuronal insult in vitro models of diabetes-related Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated and it is not clear whether GLP-1 receptor mediates the down-regulation effects on AGE-induced AD-like changes in vivo. This study aims to explore the effect and mechanisms of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) against the AGE-dependent signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated that GLP-1RA could inhibit oxidative stress and repair mitochondrial damage in addition to decreasing tau hyperphosphorylation in PC12 cells treated with AGEs. Importantly, we first observed AGEs in the circulatory system could induce tau hyperphosphorylation after we injected AGEs (1μg/kg bodyweight) into the mice tail vein. We found GLP-1RA could promote mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant system via regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling pathway in vivo besides down-regulating the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) to reverse tau hyperphosphorylation directly. Collectively, our results suggest that GLP-1RA protects neurons against AGE-induced tau hyperphosphorylation via regulating GSK-3β and PGC-1α two cooperative signaling pathways.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death, is mostly precipitated by cardiometabolic risk and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CVD and kidney disease are closely interrelated and disease of one organ cause dysfunction of the other, ultimately leading to the failure of both organs. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at much higher risk of mortality due to CVD. Traditional CVD risk factors viz., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes do not account for the high cardiovascular risk in CKD patients and also standard clinical interventions for managing CVD that are successful in the general population, are ineffective to lower the death rate in CKD patients. Nontraditional factors, related to disturbed mineral and vitamin D metabolism were able to provide some explanation in terms of vascular calcification, for the increased risk of CVD in CKD. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, a bone-derived hormone that regulates vitamin D synthesis in renal proximal tubules and renal phosphate reabsorption, has been suggested to be the missing link between CKD and CVD. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is strongly related to the progress of CVD and its early diagnosis and treatment has significant positive effect on the outcomes of CVD in the affected patients. Besides this, non-dialysable protein-bound uraemic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate, produced by colonic microbes from dietary amino acids, appear to cause renal dysfunction. Thus, therapeutic approaches targeting colonic microbiota, have led to new prospects in early intervention for CKD patients. Intervention targets for preventing CVD events in CKD patients ideally should include control of blood pressure and dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, lowering proteinuria, correction of anemia, management of mineral metabolism abnormalities and life style changes including smoking cessation, decreased consumption of salt, and achievement of normal body mass index. Use of β-blockers, renin-angiotensin blockers, diuretics, statins, and aspirin are helpful in the early stages of CKD. In this review, we will address the biological, pathological and clinical relationship between CVD and CKD and their therapeutic management.

Purpose: To compare noise exposure levels measured by dosimeter and sound level meter for textile workers. Subjects and Methods: Personal noise exposure data during a workday were collected by SH-126 dosimeter, and were translated computer to be stored and analyzed. Sound level meter was used to measure one minute-weighted sound pressure level (L Aeq.1min) in working position of workplace. Results: The eight hours-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq.8h) of textile worker during workday was stable. In each group, the variance of LAeq.8h among workers was bigger than that among shift workdays. The L Aeq.1min and LAeq.8h were same or very near in lower 94 dB(A) groups. In over 94 dB(A) groups, the LAeq.8h was higher than L Aeq.1min. The maximum difference arrives 4.6 dB(A). Conclusion: This investigation showed dosimeter could be used to measure the real active noise exposure for each textile worker. 1 INTRODUCTION Textile noise is one kind of typical continuous industrial noise. In general, the noise level in factories was measured by sound level meter with netted sampling method in each workshop. In textile factory, the workers had to move their working place and change the distance between their head and equipment. It suggests personal noise exposure might not be same as those measured by sound level meter. This paper uses a new kind of dosimeter to measure the personal noise exposure in two textile factories, and compares the results measured by dosimeter and sound level meter. 2 MATERIAL AND METHODS SH-126 dosimeters, portable computer and SH126.exe software were applied to measure noise exposure levels for textile workers in a textile factory in Zhengzhou, Henan province and a textile factory in Anhui province of China. The SH-126 dosimeter was produced by Henyang equipment company and Institute of Acoustic Science of China, which fits for standard II of sound level meter. A 1/4” microphone was fixed in collar of worker with a cable connecting to dosimeter. The system will follow with the worker during his/her working period. The equipment measures A weighted sound pressure level every 0.2 second. The data were fed into F201 table, a group of electric memory with 201 cells, in the equipment. The F201 table is a frequency table to store distribution of sound pressure levels during a defined period, for example ten minutes. The equipment has sixty groups of F201 table. If defining every ten minutes to use one F201 table, the equipment can continue to work ten hours. All saved data could be fed into computer by a cable and SH126 software. The data were saved and/or analyzed in computer. By SH126 software, eight hours-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq.8hr) could be calculated. The workers, who wearied dosimeter, were ordered to note personal activity record for the observed period. The record could be compared with LAeq.8hr to check if the working procedure is under normal. The software also could draw histogram to show dynamic changes of noise exposure during working period. Copyright SFA InterNoise 2000 2 HS 5670, a digital sound level meter, was applied to measure sound pressure level in the textile factory by netted sampling at ear level of workers in each workshop. Each measuring position collected one minute-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq.1min). In this investigation, a group of workers was defined as working in one workshop, using same equipment and doing same job. Six groups of workers in Zhengzhou and one group of weavers in Anhui were included in the investigation. The workers of Zhengzhou came from three workshops using either new or old kind equipment. The weavers of Anhui just used old kind equipment, 1511 loom. Table 1 showed six groups from Zhengzhou textile factory and equipment the workers used. Three to five workers were selected from one group to measure their noise exposure by dosimeter. There were three kinds of shift work in the factories. Morning shift was from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, afternoon shift from 4:00 pm to 0:00 am, night shift from 0:00 am to 8:00 am. Each selected worker was randomly carried dosimeter one time in one shift work cycle. All three shifts would be covered for each worker during investigative period. The weavers of Anhui just collected noise data by dosimeters at afternoon shift. All data, both those collected from dosimeter and sound level meter, were summarized with mean and standard deviation for each group. Significance of measured noise levels between dosimeter and sound level meter was treated by t-test. Group Type Name of Equipment Weaver A group New ZA205i Loom Weaver C group Old 1511 Loom Spinning B group New FA507A Spun Yarn Spinning D group Old 1301 Spun Yarn Pre-spinning B group New A454 Coarse Sand Pre-spinning D group Old 1251 Coarse Sand Table 1: Groups of textile workers and their textile equipment in Zhengzhou textile factory. 3 RESULTS Figure 1 showed a typical dynamic changes of noise exposure levels by every ten minutes during morning shift for a weaver. The weaver went into workshop at 8:00 am to start her routine work. The noise exposure level increased fast to more that 100 dB(A). Then, it kept the levels until near 16:00 pm, end of her routine work. The figure showed the noise levels had little changes during working period, which fits for continuous noise exposure feature. By the same way, it was confirmed in other groups of workers to show the same kind of noise exposure future during their routine work. Figure 1: Dynamic changes of noise exposure levels during a morning shift for a weaver. Table 2 showed results of noise exposure in a typical group. Four spinning workers were selected to measure L Aeq.8hr at morning, afternoon and night shifts. It showed the L Aeq.8h among different shifts were very nearly, less than ± 0.2dB(A). And the LAeq.8h among workers were little more than shifts about ± 2dB(A). Table 3 compared all six groups to show the same trends for noise exposure deviation among shifts and workers. Copyright SFA InterNoise 2000 3 shift worker 1 worker 2 worker 3 worker 4 total morning 97.0 92.8 97.0 96.5 95.8±2.0 afternoon 96.7 95.8 99.2 94.7 96.2±2.2 night 96.7 94.3 97.7 95.1 96.0±1.5 total 96.8±0.1 94.3±1.5 98.0±1.1 95.4±1.0 96.1±2.7 Table 2: Noise exposure (LAeq.8h) deviation among shift working days and among spinning workers (spinning D group). Table 3 summarized the results both LAeq.1min by sound level meter and LAeq.8h by dosimeters. It showed LAeq.1min and LAeq.8h were same or very near in lower 94 dB(A) groups. In over 94 dB(A) groups, the LAeq.8h was higher than LAeq.1min. It showed a trend that difference of LAeq.8h and LAeq.1min was bigger in higher noise exposure groups. The maximum difference arrived 4.6 dB(A). The table 4 compares noise levels between two groups of weaver from two cities and two textile factories, who using same equipment (1511 loom). The results measured by same method (LAeq.8h or LAeq.1min) were not significantly different between the two groups of weavers. It suggested that the noise exposure levels of weavers at different factories was very nearly if using same equipment. And the data (LAeq.8h) measured by dosimeter were significantly higher than those (LAeq.1min) measured by sound level meter. Group LAeq.1min LAeq.8h measured by dosimeter LAeq.8h morning afternoon night worker 1 worker 2 worker 3 worker 4 worker 5 Weaver A 97.6 98.7 98.9 99.2 98.1 97.7 102.0 98.6 96.5 − Weaver C 100.8 105.4 105.7 105.5 104.9 104.7 107.3 102.5 106.5 100.7 Spinning B 96.7 99.8 98.6 101.5 99.3 100.6 100.9 97.5 100.2 − Spinning D 94.4 96.1 95.8 96.2 96.0 96.8 94.3 98.0 95.4 − Prespinning B 88.0 89.0 88.9 89.4 88.9 86.6 90.0 90.6 − − Prespinning D 93.4 93.4 91.1 93.6 93.1 93.9 93.6 92.6 − − Table 3: Comparison of noise exposure level measured by sound level meter (LAeq.1min) and dosimeter (LAeq.8h) among six groups of textile workers. Notes: LAeq.1min was measured by sound level meter with netted sampling method. Place of factory N LAeq.8h n LAeq.1min Zhengzhou 12 105.4±2.2** 11 100.8±0.5 Anhui 6 104.3±0.5** 16 101.3±0.8 Table 4: Comparison LAeq.8h and LAeq.1min between weavers of Zhengzhou and Anhui, who using type 1511 loom equipment (** compared with LAeq.1min data of same factory, P<0.01). 4 CONCLUSION Dosimeter is one kind of equipment to measure personal noise exposure data near subject ear. In this investigation, SH-126 dosimeter can collect 144,000 noise data during eight hours. So many data can keep us to get stable L Aeq.8h. Data in the paper confirm the stability of LAeq.8h. In this paper, we change object of noise measurement from environment to workers. This change lets the noise data easier to connect with health issue. In general, it says that the distribution of noise level in one textile workshop is homogeneous. By this reason, the noise level in fixed positions of workshop will be same as the level measured near ear of workers. This investigation found that noise levels from the two ways were same at lower 94dB(A) workshops, but not same at over 94dB(A) workshops. Unfortunately, we still can not explain what induces above difference. Copyright SFA InterNoise 2000 4 For health issue, we are interested in noise exposure for group of workers, who worked in noisy environment. Unfortunately, it is impossible to measure noise exposure data for everyone and every workdays. In this paper, we design a method to sample workers and workdays in one group of workers. We found that it can detect mean level of noise exposure for one group of workers. It also can assess levels and deviations of noise exposure among workers and workdays. By Zhengzhou data, it suggests that the deviation among workers is important in textile noise assessment, and the deviation among shifts of workday is too small to be minded. By this experience, we just measure afternoon shift workday in Anhui to explore any potential difference between two weaver groups. An interesting result showed that the LAeq.8h or L Aeq.1min were ver

We have previously demonstrated that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist ameliorated neurodegenerative changes in rat models of diabetes-related Alzheimer's disease (AD), and protected neurons from glucose toxicity in vitro. Herein, we investigated the effects of GLP-1 receptor mediates on cell toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are associated with glucose toxicity, and the molecular mechanism in PC12 cells and the primary hippocampal neurons. Our study demonstrated that the similar protection effects of GLP-1 existed in PC12 cells treated with glucose-bovine serum albumin (BSA) in hyperglycemic conditions or with glycoaldehyde-BSA alone. Additionally, glucose-BSA alone did not induce significant cytotoxicity in PC12 cells, but resulted in tau hyperphosphorylation in primary hippocampal neurons in 24h. And we found that GLP-1 could reduce cell tau phosphorylation induced by high glucose or glucose-BSA. Furthermore, our data in the present study suggested that GLP-1 regulated tau phosphorylation induced by AGEs through a signaling pathway involving glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), similarly to the GSK-3β inhibitor, lithium chloride. Our findings suggest that GLP-1 can protect neurons from diabetes-associated AGE insults in vitro, and provide new evidence for a potential therapeutic value of GLP-1 receptor agonist in the treatment of AD especially diabetes-related AD.

has been demonstrated as a tumour-suppressor in different malignancies including prostate cancer.As an endogenous small RNA, miR-146a regulates several gene expressions at the post-transcriptional level.Previous studies indicate that miR-146a is highly expressed in normal prostate tissue and significantly down-regulated in prostate cancer tissue and even worse in castrationresistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tissues.Over-expression of miR-146a in prostate cancer cell lines results in a marked reduction of cell proliferation, invasion and tumorigenesis.However, the regulating mechanism of miR-146a expression in the different stages of prostate cancer remains unclear.Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a critical regulator in prostate cancer development and progression, is predicted to be a direct target of miR-146a and binds to the promoter region of miR-146a, which is partly confirmed by the inverse expressions of miR-146a and YY1 in prostate cancer.Therefore, we hypothesize that YY1-miR-146a-YY1 regulatory circuitry contributes to prostate cancer and may serve as a future intervention target.

ObjectivesGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that Zbed3 is associated with T2DM. To date, no report has demonstrated a relationship between Zbed3 and insulin resistance in humans, however. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Zbed3 protein is secreted and identify any associations between Zbed3 and insulin resistance in cross-sectional and interventional studies.MethodsWe found that Zbed3 protein was secreted in an in vitro secretion study. Plasma Zbed3 levels were determined in an ELISA and were compared with various parameters related to insulin resistance in subjects with NGT, IGT and nT2DM. EHC was performed in healthy subjects. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression of Zbed3.ResultsZbed3 was detected in an analysis of in vitro secretion in both conditioned medium and lysates of HEK-293T cells transfected with an overexpressed vector. In a clinical study, there were significantly higher levels of circulating Zbed3 in IGT and nT2DM relative to NGT. Zbed3 levels were positively correlated with BMI, WHR, FAT%, blood pressure, FBG, TG, HbA1c, FIns and HOMA-IR and inversely correlated with HDL-C. Increasing levels of Zbed3 were independently associated with IGT and T2DM. Zbed3 mRNA and protein in muscle and fat were significantly elevated in both db/db mice and T2DM patients. Moreover, there was a concentration-dependent effect of glucose on Zbed3 release, whereas insulin exhibited an inhibitory effect on Zbed3 levels. Zbed3 suppressed insulin-induced IR and Akt phosphorylation.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the Zbed3 protein may be a cytokine associated with insulin resistance in humans that is influenced by glucose and insulin levels.

AIM:To develop a Methanoculleus-specific real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay with high coverage and specificity for the analysis of methanogenic populations in anaerobic digestion.METHODS AND RESULTS:A Methanoculleus-specific primer/probe set for RT-qPCR was designed in this study based on all Methanoculleus 16S rRNA gene sequences in Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) according to TaqMan chemistry. The newly designed primer/probe set was shown to have high coverage and specificity by both in silico and experimental analyses. Amplification efficiency of the Methanoculleus-specific primer/probe set was determined to be ideal for RT-qPCR applications. Subsequent field testing on anaerobic digesters showed that results from RT-qPCR were consistent with those from clone library analysis, validating the accuracy of the RT-qPCR assay.CONCLUSIONS:The Methanoculleus-specific RT-qPCR assay designed in this study can serve as a rapid and effective tool for the quantification of Methanoculleus populations in anaerobic digestion.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY:Methanoculleus populations represent important members of archaeal communities in methanogenic processes, necessitating the need to develop effective tools to monitor Methanoculleus population abundance. The RT-qPCR developed in this study provides an essential tool for the quantification of Methanoculleus populations in anaerobic digestion and for the understanding of the functions of these methanogens in anaerobic biotransformation.

Despite voluminous research on the acid oxidation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), there is a distinct lack of experimental results showing distributions of functional groups at the nanometre length scale. Here, functional peaks have been mapped across individual multi-walled CNTs with low-dose, monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Density functional theory simulations show that the EELS features are consistent with oxygenated functional groups, most likely carboxyl moieties.

Over the last few years, electronic nose (E-nose) technology has enhanced the possibility of exploiting information on aroma to assess fruit ripening stage and storage life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of E-nose for monitoring the changes in volatile production occurring at different ripeness stages and storage life for 'Mopan' persimmon, using a specific electronic nose device with 10 different metal oxide sensors (portable E-nose, PEN 3). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were used to investigate whether the E-nose was able to distinguish among the different ripeness stages (physiology-ripe, full-ripe and over-ripe) and storage stages. The obtained results proved that E-nose could distinguish among the ripeness states and storage states of 'Mopan' persimmon. The E-nose was able to detect the differences in volatile profile of 'Mopan' persimmon better when using LDA. On the other hand, the separation of controlled freezing point storage and common cold storage for 'Mopan' persimmon at 45 d was achieved by using both PCA and LDA. Some sensors in E-nose have a very important influence on the current recognition pattern of E-nose. A subset of only a few sensors in E-nose can be chosen to explain all the variance and the current result could be used in further studies to optimize the number of sensors.

Increasing resistance to agrochemicals by insects and plant pathogens and the loss of weed and disease control agents are factors that drive the need to search for new natural product derived plant protestants and agrochemicals. Bio-prospecting natural products allows discovery of new agrochemicals for pest management and chemistry found from plants used worldwide in traditional medicines have not been evaluated as potential bio-pesticides or new plant growth regulators. Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens is a traditional Chinese medicine plant used for treating traumatic injury and fractures. Preliminary evaluations of P. viburnoides var. glabrescens was completed in 2012 for antifungal and herbicidal activity. N-Butanol extract from P. viburnoides var. glabrescens was shown to be active at higher concentrations to Agrostis (monocot) and less active against lettuce (dicots). Several pure compounds were separated by chromatography from n-butanol extract of P. viburnoides var. glabrescens. The pure compound skimmin in the active fractions obtained from n-butanol extract was identified. These fractions and skimmin showed phytotoxic activity against Iceberg lettuce and Agrostis seeds in primary research. Skimmin possessed high seed germination inhibition of monocot species and moderate seed germination inhibition against the dicot species. Therefore, we began a more in-depth evaluation of 8 pure compounds obtained from the active n-butanol extract of P. viburnoides and skimmin. Following natural product leads offers an efficient approach to discovering and optimizing new herbicides for weed management. Due to the continuing development of chemical resistance in agriculture, discovery of new herbicides is an important research objective. Natural product based herbicides with low mammalian and environmental toxicity will help guarantee food safety and sustainability of U.S. and Chinese agriculture.