Abstract Selenium (Se) is a nutritionally important micronutrient for humans. The use of Se fertilizers is often the most feasible approach to precisely increase Se contents in rice grains, but the effects of common commercial Se fertilizers on producing Se-rich rice remain to be investigated. In this study, we compared the effects of liquid and granular Se fertilizers on the accumulation of Se and heavy metals in rice grains of four different varieties in field. Results showed that Se accumulation in rice grains was affected by the form of fertilizers, applied concentrations of Se fertilizers, and rice varieties. Liquid fertilizer displayed significantly higher Se transfer efficiency than granular fertilizer, whereas the granular fertilizer had a slightly higher effect on organic Se accumulation. More than 95.5% Se in grains were organic Se, with selenomethionine (SeMet) being the dominant one. The proportion of organic selenocysteine (SeCys2) in grains was significantly higher in treatments with liquid fertilizer. Both forms of fertilizers significantly reduced the accumulation of cadmium, lead, and arsenic. Collectively, our study provides a reference for producing Se-rich rice in a more competitive manner in practice.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Há relatos de que o NBAT1 está associado à progressão do câncer. Contudo, o significado clínico do NBAT1 no câncer de pulmão de células não pequenas (NSCLC) ainda não está claro. O objetivo da nossa pesquisa foi explorar se NBAT1 serve como biomarcador para o prognóstico de NSCLC. MÉTODOS A expressão de NBAT1 foi examinada por RT-PCR em amostras de tecido de 162 pacientes com NSCLC e comparada a amostras adjacentes não tumorais de pulmão. Em seguida, a associação entre a expressão do NBAT1 e os parâmetros clínico-patológicos foi avaliada. A análise de sobrevivência foi realizada utilizando o método Kaplan-Meier. A significância prognóstica da expressão do NBAT1 em pacientes com NSCLC foi explorada através de análises univariadas e multivariadas. RESULTADOS A expressão do NBAT1 foi claramente diminuída nos tecidos de NSCLC em comparação aos espécimes normais dos pulmões (p<0,01). Além disso, as análises de sobrevivência indicaram que pacientes com baixa expressão apresentavam uma diminuição drástica da sobrevivência global em cinco anos (p=0,008). CONCLUSÃO A expressão do NBAT1 pode contribuir para a progressão tumoral e um prognóstico negativo do NSCLC e pode ser um novo alvo de terapia no NSCLC.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Long noncoding RNA neuroblastoma-associated transcript 1 (NBAT1) has been reported to be involved in cancer progression. However, the clinical significance of NBAT1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. Our present research aimed to explore whether NBAT1 serves as a biomarker for NSCLC prognosis. METHODS The expression of NBAT1 was examined by RT-PCR in tissue samples of 162 NSCLC patients and was compared with the adjacent non-tumor lung specimens. Then the association between NBAT1 expression and clinical-pathological parameters was further evaluated. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic significance of NBAT1 expression in NSCLC patients was explored by the use of univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS NBAT1 expression was prominently decreased in NSCLC tissues compared with matched normal lung specimens (p < 0.01). Moreover, survival analyses indicated that patients with low expression displayed dramatically decreased 5-year overall survival (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS NBAT1 expression might contribute to tumor progression and poor prognosis of NSCLC and might be a new therapeutic target in NSCLC.

Abstract The mechanical properties and corrosion performance of the N10276 alloy welded joint were investigated with nano-hardness testing and electrochemical measurement. The results showed that solidification mode changes from equiaxed crystal to columnar crystal from the center of the weldment to the fusion zone. With the increase of immersion times, the diameter of capacitance arc and the impedance modulus increase, and the corrosion resistance of HAZ decreases. The strengthening effect of welded metal was more obvious than that of heat affected zone for the nickel-based welded joint and especially in coarse grained heat affected zone, the hardening resulted from overheating was not apparent. Nickel-based weld metal with high content of alloying elements were often segregated at interdendritic regions or precipitated in grain interior under nonequilibrium solidification, which differ from conventional low alloy steel welded joint.

A novel [FeII2L3]4+ metallo-organic helicate results from subcomponent self-assembly of a C3-symmetric triamine (4,4',4''- (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) trianiline), octahedral iron(II) and 2-formyl pyridine in CH3CN solution. The constitution of this supramolecular helicate was confirmed by ESI-MS and 1H NMR spectra. Different planar aromatic guests were selected to investigate host-guest interactions by shifts of 1H NMR signals. The results show that electron-rich aromatic molecules with matched size and symmetry, such as pyrene, are subject to be bound with the outstretched arms of the helicate ligand via aromatic p–p interactions.

Influence of solid solution temperature on microstructures and corrosion properties of CoNiCrMo alloy were investigated by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electronic differential system. The corrosion resistance of CoNiCrMo alloy in 0.9%NaCl aqueous solution was also investigated. The results indicated that with the increase of solution treatment temperature, the dendrites of CoNiCrMo alloy gradually disappeared. Thus, the corrosion resistance of the alloy decreased. When the solution temperature is 1200ºC, the dendrites almost disappeared and most carbide dissolved, and begins to spheroidization. The corrosion resistance of CoNiCrMo alloy treated at 1000ºC for 1h is the highest than the one at 1100 ºC and 1200ºC. Its self-corrosion potential is -424mV and self-corrosion current density is 1.02×10-8A/cm2.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Estudar os fatores que afetam a regeneração hepática após hepatectomia. MÉTODOS A capacidade de regeneração hepática de 117 pacientes foi analisada com a tecnologia de reconstituição 3D e foram estudados os fatores relacionados. RESULTADOS Não houve diferença estatística significante entre o volume de ressecção hepática simulada e a ressecção atual. Todos os fígados apresentaram diferentes graus de regeneração após cirurgia. Idade, gênero e indicadores sanguíneos não tiveram impacto na regeneração hepática, enquanto que tempo de cirurgia, perda sanguínea intraoperatória, tempo de bloqueio do fluxo sanguíneo e diferentes formas de ressecção mostraram impacto significante na regeneração do órgão. Além disso, condições patológicas dos pacientes, incluindo hepatite e fibrose hepática, tiveram impacto significante na regeneração hepática. CONCLUSÃO O modelo de reconstituição 3D é um bom modelo para calcular o volume do fígado. Idade, gênero, indicadores sanguíneos e bioquímicos não tiveram impacto na regeneração hepática, mas indicadores operatórios e condição patológica dos pacientes mostraram influência na regeneração do órgão.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To study factors affecting the liver regeneration after hepatectomy METHODS With 3D reconstitution technology, liver regeneration ability of 117 patients was analysed, and relative factors were studied. RESULTS There was no statistically difference between the volume of simulated liver resection and the actual liver resection. All livers had different degrees of regeneration after surgery. Age, gender and blood indicators had no impact on liver regeneration, while surgery time, intraoperative blood loss, blood flow blocking time and different ways of liver resection had a significant impact on liver regeneration; In addition, the patients’ own pathological status, including, hepatitis and liver fibrosis all had a significant impact on liver regeneration. CONCLUSION 3D reconstitution model is a good model to calculate liver volume. Age, gender, blood indicators and biochemistry indicators have no impact on liver regeneration, but surgery indicators and patients’ own pathological status have influence on liver regeneration.

A novel helicate complex [FeII2L3]4+ resulted from subcomponent self-assembly of a C3-symmetric triamine, 2-formylpyridine and octahedral iron(II) in CH3CN, which was confirmed by ESI-MS measurement. After the addition of selected planar aromatic molecules in CD3CN solution, shifts of 1H NMR signals of the helicate were investigated. The results revealed that the size, functional group and symmetry of guest molecules remarkably influence the interaction patterns.

Abstract Engyodontium album is a widespread pathogen that causes different kinds of dermatoses and respiratory tract diseases in humans and animals. In spite of its perniciousness, the basic genetic and molecular background of this species remains poorly understood. In this study, the mitochondrial genome sequence of E. album was determined using a high-throughput sequencing platform. The circular mitogenome was found to be 28,081 nucleotides in length and comprised of 17 protein-coding genes, 24 tRNA genes, and 2 rRNA genes. The nucleotide composition of the genome was A+T-biased (74.13%). Group-II introns were found in the nad1, nad5, and cob genes. The most frequently used codon of protein-coding genes was UAU. Isoleucine was identified as the most common amino acid, while proline was the least common amino acid in protein-coding genes. The gene-arrangement order is nearly the same when compared with other Ascomycota mitogenomes. Phylogenetic relationships based on the shared protein-coding genes revealed that E. album is closely related to the Cordycipitaceae family, with a high-confidence support value (100%). The availability of the mitogenome of E. album will shed light on the molecular systematic and genetic differentiation of this species.

Abstract The dechlorination efficiency of zinc oxide dust using microwave roasting was investigated capitalizing on the different microwave absorbing capacities of the compounds such as chlorine, lead, and zinc oxide. The associated dechlorination reactions were discussed in detail and the effect of all the influencing parameters such as the air flow rate, steam flow rate, the roasting temperature, roasting duration, and the mixing rate were assessed to identify the optimal conditions. The results indicated that a near 93% dechlorination of zinc oxide dust could be achieved, which would satisfy the requirements of the wet smelting electrolysis process. The optimal process parameters were identified to be an air flow of 300 L/h, a steam flow of 8 mL/min, a stirring speed of 60 rpm, a roasting temperature of 650 ºC, and a roasting duration of 60 min. Water vapor has an enhanced effect on dechlorination by microwave roasting.

Abstract In this research, the effect of different citric acid concentrations, ammonia concentration, temperature, leaching time, stirring speed and liquid-to-solid ratio on the zinc leaching from low-grade zinc oxide ore in a NH3-H3C6H5O7-H2O system were studied. The results showed that the zinc leaching rate is only 4.7% when the citric acid concentration is 0 M, and the leaching efficiency of Zn increased with increasing citric acid concentration. Under the conditions: citric acid concentration of 1.0 M, ammonia concentration of 6 M, temperature of 25 °C, leaching time of 60 min, stirring speed of 300 rpm and the starting solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:5, 81.2% of Zn is leached. The mineralogical changes of the low-grade zinc oxide ores during the processes were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy associated with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). From the evidence we deduced that citric ions complexed with zinc ions, forming a Zn-citrate complex. As a result, the zinc leaching rate was improved without the risk of pollution or pretreatment. This makes it as a good choice for a more ecological treatment of hemimorphite.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the causative agent of tuberculosis, still causes higher mortality than any other bacterial pathogen until now. With the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB) strains, it becomes more important to search for alternative targets to develop new antimycobacterial drugs. Lupulone is a compound extracted from Hops (Hurnulus lupulus), which exhibits a good antimicrobial activity against M. tuberculosis with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 10 µg/mL, but the response mechanisms of lupulone against M. tuberculosis are still poorly understood. In this study, we used a commercial oligonucleotide microarray to determine the overall transcriptional response of M. tuberculosis H37Rv triggered by exposure to MIC of lupulone. A total of 540 genes were found to be differentially regulated by lupulone. Of these, 254 genes were upregulated, and 286 genes were downregulated. A number of important genes were significantly regulated which are involved in various pathways, such as surface-exposed lipids, cytochrome P450 enzymes, PE/PPE multigene families, ABC transporters, and protein synthesis. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed for choosed genes to verified the microarray results. To our knowledge, this genome-wide transcriptomics approach has produced the first insights into the response of M. tuberculosis to a lupulone challenge.

YKL-40 has been identified as a growth factor in connective tissue cells and also a migration factor in vascular smooth muscle cells. To a large extent, the increase of serum YKL-40 is attributed to liver fibrosis and asthma. However, the relationship of the expression and clinical/prognostic significance of YKL-40 to the splenomegaly of patients with portal hypertension is unclear. In the present study, the expression of YKL-40 was studied by immunohistochemistry in 48 splenomegaly tissue samples from patients with portal hypertension and in 14 normal spleen specimens. All specimens were quickly stored at -80°C after resection. Primary antibodies YKL-40 (1:150 dilution, rabbit polyclonal IgG) and MMP-9 (1:200 dilution, rabbit monoclonal IgG) and antirabbit immunoglobulins (HRP K4010) were used in this study. The relationship of clinicopathologic features with YKL-40 is presented. The expression of YKL-40 indicated by increased immunochemical reactivity was significantly up-regulated in splenomegaly tissues compared to normal spleen tissues. Overexpression of YKL-40 was found in 68.8% of splenomegaly tissues and was significantly associated with Child-Pugh classification (P = 0.000), free portal pressure (correlation coefficient = 0.499, P < 0.01) and spleen fibrosis (correlation coefficient = 0.857, P < 0.01). Further study showed a significant correlation between YKL-40 and MMP-9 (correlation coefficient = -0.839, P < 0.01), indicating that YKL-40 might be an accelerator of spleen tissue remodeling by inhibiting the expression of MMP-9. In conclusion, YKL-40 is an important factor involved in the remodeling of spleen tissue of portal hypertension patients and can be used as a therapeutic target for splenomegaly.