Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are ubiquitous and abundant in stressful environments including heavy metal (HM) stress. However, our knowledge about the roles of DSE in improving HM tolerance of their ...host plants is poor. In this study, maize (
Zea mays L.) was inoculated with a HM tolerant DSE strain
Exophiala pisciphila H93 in lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils.
E. pisciphila H93 successfully colonized and formed typical DSE structures in the inoculated maize roots. Colonization of
E. pisciphila H93 alleviated the deleterious effects of excessive HM supplements and promoted the growth of maize (roots and shoots) under HM stress conditions, though it significantly decreased the biomass of inoculated maize under no HM stress. Further analysis showed that the colonization of
E. pisciphila H93 improved the tolerance of maize to HM by restricting the translocation of HM ions from roots to shoots. This study demonstrated that under higher HM stress, such a mutual symbiosis between
E. pisciphila and its host (maize) may be an efficient strategy to survive in the stressful environments.
►Effect of DSE (
E. pisciphila) on heavy metal tolerance of maize host was studied. ►DSE alleviated the deleterious effect of excessive heavy metals on maize. ►DSE restricted the transfer of heavy metals from the roots to shoots in maize. ►DSE colonization improved the tolerance of their host plants to heavy metals.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Close white dwarf binaries consisting of a white dwarf and an A-, F-, G-, or K-type main-sequence star, henceforth close WD+AFGK binaries, are ideal systems to understand the nature of type Ia ...supernovae progenitors and to test binary evolution models. In this work we identify 775 WD+AFGK candidates from TGAS (The Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution) and Gaia Data Release 2 (DR2), a well-defined sample of stars with available parallaxes, and we measure radial velocities (RVs) for 275 of them with the aim of identifying close binaries. The RVs have been measured from high-resolution spectra obtained at the Xinglong 2.16 m Telescope and the San Pedro Mártir 2.12 m Telescope and/or from available LAMOST DR6 (low-resolution) and RAVE DR5 (medium-resolution) spectra. We identify 23 WD+AFGK systems displaying more than 3 RV variation among 151 systems for which the measured values are obtained from different nights. Our WD+AFGK binary sample contains both AFGK dwarfs and giants, with a giant fraction ∼43%. The close binary fractions we determine for the WD+AFGK dwarf and giant samples are 24% and 15%, respectively. We also determine the stellar parameters (i.e., effective temperature, surface gravity, metallicity, mass, and radius) of the AFGK companions with available high-resolution spectra. The stellar parameter distributions of the AFGK companions that are members of close and wide binary candidates do not show statistically significant differences.
Phase change material slurries (PCS) can be employed in the refrigeration and air conditioning systems as both secondary refrigerant and cold energy storage media simultaneously, which benefits not ...only the system efficiency improvement by the high cold carry capacity but also the reduction of the environment-negative-impact gas emission. This paper reviews the previous researches and developments on the applications of PCS, including ice slurry, microencapsulated phase change material slurry (MPCS) as well as clathrate hydrate slurry (CHS), to the secondary loop refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The paper mainly focuses on the generation approaches and storage strategies of these slurries which are considered as the most important issues relevant to the application of PCS, while the flow and heat transfer characteristics of PCS in both tubes and heat exchangers are also summarized. Moreover, several application cases of PCS and the corresponding operation performances are presented.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Summary
Our objective was to investigate the associations between polymorphisms in Wnt pathway genes and peak bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in young Chinese men. Our study ...identified that
WNT5B
and
CTNNBL1
for both BMD and body composition, and
WNT4
and
CTNNB1
gene polymorphisms contribute to the variation in BMD and body composition in young Chinese men, respectively.
Introduction
Our objective was to investigate the associations between polymorphisms in
WNT4
,
WNT5B
,
WNT10B
,
WNT16
,
CTNNB1
, and
CTNNBL1
genes and peak bone mineral density (BMD), lean mass (LM), and fat mass (FM) in young Chinese men.
Methods
Using SNPscan
TM
kits, 51 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the 6 genes were genotyped in a total of 1214 subjects from 399 Chinese nuclear families. BMD, total lean mass (TLM), and total fat mass (TFM) were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The associations between the 51 SNPs and peak BMD and body composition including the TLM, percentage lean mass (PLM), TFM, percentage fat mass (PFM), and the body mass index (BMI) were analyzed through quantitative transmission disequilibrium tests (QTDTs).
Results
For peak BMD, we found significant within-family associations of rs2240506, rs7308793, and rs4765830 in the
WNT5B
gene and rs10917157 in the
WNT4
gene with the lumbar spine BMD (all
P
< 0.05). We detected an association of rs11830202, rs3809269, rs1029628, and rs6489301 in the
WNT5B
gene and rs2293303 in the
CTNNB1
gene with body composition (all
P
< 0.05). For the
CTNNBL1
gene, six SNPs (rs6126098, rs6091103, rs238303, rs6067647, rs8126174, and rs4811144) were associated with peak BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, or total hip (all
P
< 0.05). Furthermore, two of the six SNPs (rs8126174 and rs4811144) were associated with body composition.
Conclusions
This study identified
WNT5B
and
CTNNBL1
for peak BMD and body composition in males from the Han Chinese ethnic group, and the results suggest a site-specific gene regulation. The
WNT4
and
CTNNB1
gene polymorphisms contribute to the variation in peak BMD and body composition, respectively.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
To study the effects of application of salicylic acid (SA) on the antioxidant system and photosystem II (PS II) in wheat seedlings we used two different experiments. The first method was carried out ...by immersing roots in Hoagland’s nutrient solution containing 0, 0.25, or 2.5 mM SA, and the second method was performed by spraying two-week-old seedlings with the same SA concentrations. After 24 h, chlorophyll fluorescence, thylakoid membrane proteins, antioxidant enzyme activities, and reactive oxygen species were measured. The low concentration of SA caused a significant increase in the antioxidant enzyme activities. However, the treatment with 2.5 mM SA resulted in an increase in the non-photochemical quenching coefficient and a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities, the quantum yield of PS II photochemistry, and the photochemical quenching, especially in the first method of application. All these results indicate that the effects of SA on PS II and the antioxidative defense system were dependent on the concentration used and the method of application.
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FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Abstract Background The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the necessity of nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods Medline, Embase and the ...Cochrane Library were searched. Only prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared subjects with and without nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression after gastrectomy were eligible in this meta-analysis. Time to flatus, time to first oral intake, length of hospital stay, reinsertion rate, anastomotic leakage, pulmonary complications, morbidity and mortality were evaluated. Results Eight studies finally fulfilled the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis enrolled 1141 patients, 570 randomized to routine decompression and 571 randomized to no decompression. Time to first oral intake was significantly shorter in the non-decompression group ( WMD = 0.53, 95% CI : 0.28 to 0.77; p < 0.001). Additionally, subjects with nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression experienced a longer hospital stay ( p = 0.001). Time to flatus, anastomotic leakage, reinsertion rates, pulmonary complications, morbidity and mortality rates were similar between the two groups. Conclusion Nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression does not facilitate the recovery of bowel function or reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Therefore, routine nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression is unnecessary after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Asymptomatic patients, together with those with mild symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may play an important role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ...transmission. However, the dynamics of virus shedding during the various phases of the clinical course of COVID-19 remains unclear at this stage.
A total of 18 patients found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay and admitted to Chongqing University Central Hospital between 29 January and 5 February 2020 were enrolled into this study. Medical data, pulmonary computed tomographic (CT) scan images and RT-PCR results were periodically collected during the patients' hospital stay. All participants were actively followed up for 2 weeks after discharge.
A total of nine (50%) asymptomatic patients and nine (50%) patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 were identified at admission. Six patients (66.7%) who were asymptomatic at admission developed subjective symptoms during hospitalization and were recategorized as being presymptomatic. The median duration of virus shedding was 11.5, 28 and 31 days for presymptomatic, asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients, separately. Seven patients (38.9%) continued to shed virus after hospital discharge. During the convalescent phase, detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and RNA were simultaneously observed in five patients (27.8%).
Long-term virus shedding was documented in patients with mild symptoms and in asymptomatic patients. Specific antibody production to SARS-CoV-2 may not guarantee virus clearance after discharge. These observations should be considered when making decisions regarding clinical and public health, and when considering strategies for the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Development of rotary eddy current dampers (ECD) with enhanced damping density.•Dynamic characterization of rotary ECD using numerical and experimental approach at low and high speeds.•Achievement ...of a damping density as high as fluid viscous dampers for rotary ECD.•Nonlinear and limiting feature of force-speed curve of rotary ECD.
Eddy current dampers (ECD) are promising devices for vibration control of dynamic systems, but their application in civil structures is very limited due to a low damping density. This study describes the development and dynamic characterization of a large-scale rotary ECD with enhanced performance for structural applications. The rotary ECD consists of a conductive rotor, a stator with permanent magnets, and a set of ball screw which converts the linear motions across the damper into rotations of rotor. The torque at different rotating speeds is evaluated by using a 2-D analytical method considering the reaction magnetic field caused by eddy currents. Laboratory experiments are conducted to validate the numerical results obtained for a simple eddy current torque generator and a large-scale ECD. It is shown that the analytical model agrees with nonlinear finite-element simulations, but is higher than the test results. The large-scale rotary ECD achieves a high damping density up to 24.9 MN·s/m4 at a low speed. Moreover, the damping force of rotary ECD is highly nonlinear and self-limiting as a function of rotating speeds; it first increases with speeds and after reaching a maximum at a critical speed it decreases for higher speeds. Numerical simulation on seismic control of a SDOF system and a 5-DOF system showed that the rotary ECD performs as well as the fluid viscous dampers having the same secant damping coefficients. Finally, effects of changing design parameters on force-speed curve are studied in details.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which outbroke in December 2019 is highly contagious with a low cure rate. In view of this, there is an urgent need to find a more appropriate therapeutic ...scheme against COVID-19. The study aimed to investigate whether lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in combination with other pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs has a better therapeutic effect on COVID-19.
Totally 47 patients with COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Rui'an People's Hospital between January 22 and January 29, 2020 were collected. The patients were divided into the test group and the control group according to whether they had been treated with LPV/r or not during hospitalization. Patients in the test group were treated with LPV/r combined with adjuvant medicine, while those in the control group were just treated with adjuvant medicine. The changes of body temperature, blood routine and blood biochemistry between the two groups were observed and compared.
Both groups achieved good therapeutic effect with the body temperature of patients decreased gradually from admission to the 10th day of treatment. But the body temperature of patients in the test group decreased faster than that of the control group. Blood routine indexes showed that compared with the control group, the abnormal proportion of white blood cells, lymphocytes and C-reactive protein of the test group could be reduced to some extent. Blood biochemical indexes exhibited that the proportion of patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the test group were lower than the control group. The number of days for nCoV-RNA turning negative after treatment was significantly decreased in the test group than that in the control group.
Compared with the treatment of pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs alone, the combination treatment with LPV/r and adjuvant drugs has a more evident therapeutic effect in lowering the body temperature and restoring normal physiological mechanisms with no evident toxic and side effects. In view of these conclusions, we suggested that the use of LPV/r combined with pneumonia-associated adjuvant drugs in the clinical treatment for patients with COVID-19 should be promoted.
Plant lectins, a group of highly diverse carbohydrate‐binding proteins of non‐immune origin, are ubiquitously distributed through a variety of plant species, and have recently drawn rising attention ...due to their remarkable ability to kill tumour cells using mechanisms implicated in autophagy. In this review, we provide a brief outline of structures of some representative plant lectins such as concanavalin A, Polygonatum cyrtonema lectin and mistletoe lectins. These can target autophagy by modulating BNIP‐3, ROS‐p38‐p53, Ras‐Raf and PI3KCI‐Akt pathways, as well as Beclin‐1, in many types of cancer cells. In addition, we further discuss how plant lectins are able to kill cancer cells by modulating autophagic death, for therapeutic purposes. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive perspective concerning plant lectins as promising new anti‐tumour drugs, with respect to autophagic cell death in future cancer therapeutics.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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