Contaminant Removal of Domestic Wastewater by Constructed Wetlands： Effects of Plant Species

A comparative study of the efficiency of contaminant removal between five emergent plant species and between vegetated and unvegetated wetlands was conducted in small-scale （2.0 m×1.0 m×0.7 m, lengthxwidthxdepth） constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment in order to evaluate the decontaminated effects of different wetland plants. There was generally a significant difference in the removal of total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP）, but no significant difference in the removal of organic matter between vegetated and unvegetated wetlands. Wetlands planted with Canna indica Linn., Pennisetum purpureum Schum., and Phragmites communis Trin. had generally higher removal rates for TN and TP than wetlands planted with other species. Plant growth and fine root （root diameter ≤ 3 mm） biomass were related to removal efficiency. Fine root biomass rather than the mass of the entire root system played an important role in wastewater treatment. Removal efficiency varied with season and plant growth. Wetlands vegetated by P. purpureum significantly outperformed wetlands with other plants in May and June, whereas wetlands vegetated by P. communis and C. indica demonstrated higher removal efficiency from August to December. These findings suggest that abundance of fine roots is an important factor to consider in selecting for highly effective wetland plants. It also suggested that a plant community consisting of multiple plant species with different seasonal growth patterns and root characteristics may be able to enhance wetland performance.     

Leucine-rich repeat C4 protein is involved in nervous tissue development and neurite outgrowth, and induction of glioma cell differentiation

LRRC4, leucine-rich repeat C4 protein, has been identified in human （GenBank accession No. AF196976）, mouse （GenBank accession No. DQ177325）, rat （GenBank accession No. DQ119102） and bovine （GenBank accession No. DQ 164537） with identical domains. In terms of their similarity, the genes encoding LRRC4 in these four mammalian species are orthogs and therefore correspond to the same gene entity. Based on previous research, and using in situ hybridization, we found that LRRC4 had the strongest expression in hippocampal CA1 and CA2, the granule cells of the dentate gyrus region, the mediodoral thalamic nucleus, and cerebella Purkinje cell layers. Using a P19 cell model, we also found that LRRC4 participates in the differentiation of neuron and glia cells. In addition, extracellular proteins containing both an LRR cassette and immunoglobulin domains have been shown to participate in axon guidance. Our data from neurite outgrowth assays indicated that LRRC4 promoted neurite extension of hippocampal neurons, and induced differentiation of glioblastoma U251 cells into astrocyte-like cells, confirmed by morphology observation and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression.     

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶抑制剂LY294002对缺血缺氧心肌细胞的作用研究

目的:明确P13K/Akt信号通路在缺血缺氧心肌细胞损害中的作用。方法:建立心肌细胞缺血缺氧模型,施加磷脂酰肌醇3激酶抑制剂LY294002干预,观察心肌细胞活力、培养液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量及碘化丙啶(PI)染色阳性细胞比例的变化。结果:模拟缺血缺氧后细胞活力下降,LDH及PI染色阳性细胞比例显著增加。LY294002干预复合缺血缺氧后,细胞活力急剧下降,LDH含量及PI染色阳性细胞比例进一步显著增加(P<0.01)。结论:应用LY294002加重了缺血缺氧对心肌细胞的损伤效应,提示PI3K/Akt通路参与了缺血缺氧心肌细胞的内源性保护反应,减轻了缺血缺氧损害。     

人类免疫缺陷病毒/丙型肝炎病毒混合感染者免疫细胞和肝生化指标的分析

目的 探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒/丙型肝炎病毒(HIV/HCV)混合感染者的免疫淋巴细胞亚群和肝脏生化指标的特征。方法 检测并分析研究组(40例混合感染HIV/HCV的血友病患者)和对照组(12例单独感染HIV的血友病患者)若干相关实验室指标。结果两组(研究与对照)结果 差异显著的指标分别为:自然杀伤(NK)细胞9.26%±5.98%对12.19%±5.80%,P<0.05;CD4/CD8细胞比值0.39±0.21对0.53±0.24,P<0.05;CD3细胞74.99%±10.33%对68.42%±8.82%,P<0.05;CD8细胞52.28%±12.59%对43.58%±10.99%,P<0.05;丙氨酸氨酶(ALT)(48.59±40.21)U/L对(26.87±27.23)U/L,P<0.01;天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)(61.66±51.02)U/L对(34.17±30.24)U/L,P<0.001;谷氨酰转肽酶(GGT)(136.50±111.50)U/L对(43.88±36.17)U/L,P<0.001;甘胆酸(CG)(683.41±962.22)μg/L对(250.96±290.81)μg/L,P<0.001;透明质酸(HA)(180.94±196.69)ng/ml对(64.68±32.74)ng/ml,P<0.001;白/球蛋白(A/G)比值1.35±0.24对1.50±0.34,P<0.05。与单独HIV感染者比较,HIV/HCV混合感染者的NK细胞、CD4/CD8细胞比值和A/G比值显著降低,而ALT、AST、GGT、CG和HA的水平显著增加。结论 HIV/HCV混合感染可能加剧患者淋巴细胞亚群的不平衡,加重肝脏损伤和出现肝硬化趋势。     

New selenoproteins identified in silico from the genome of Anopheles gambiae

Selenoprotein is biosynthesized by the incorporation of selenocysteine into proteins,where the TGA codon in the open reading frame does not act as a stop signal but is translated into selenocysteine.The dual functions of TGA result in mis-annotation or lack of selenoproteins in the sequenced genomes of many species.Available computational tools fail to correctly predict selenoproteins.Thus,we devel-oped a new method to identify selenoproteins from the genome of Anopheles gambiae computationally.Based on released genomic information,several programs were edited with PERL language to identify selenocysteine insertion sequence(SECIS)element,the coding potential of TGA codons,and cys-teine-containing homologs of selenoprotein genes.Our results showed that 11365 genes were termi-nated with TGA codons,918 of which contained SECIS elements.Similarity search revealed that 58 genes contained Sec/Cys pairs and similar flanking regions around in-frame TGA codons.Finally,7 genes were found to fully meet requirements for selenoproteins,although they have not been anno-tated as selenoproteins in NCBI databases.Deduced from their basic properties,the newly found se-lenoproteins in the genome of Anopheles gambiae are possibly related to in vivo oxidation tolerance and protein regulation in order to interfere with anopheles' vectorial capacity of Plasmodium.This study may also provide theoretical bases for the prevention of malaria from anopheles transmission.     

Differential expression of mimecan and thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 in colorectal adenoma and cancer: a proteomic study

Adenoma is the major precursor lesion of colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers worldwide. The elucidation of the molecular mechanism underlying adenoma is essential for early detection, prevention, and intervention of colorectal cancer. Using a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, we identified 27 differentially expressed proteins in adenoma, compared with matched normal mucosa and cancer tissue. Seventeen proteins were upregulated and six downregulated in adenoma when compared with the same proteins in individual-matched normal mucosa. Four were downregulated, but none upregulated in adenoma when compared with the same proteins in matched cancer tissue. Two novel proteins, mimecan and thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5), were further validated by Western blot in 8 colorectal adenomas and 19 cancers that were matched with normal mucosa. All adenoma and cancer tissues did not express mimecan, but all normal mucosa did (P < 0.01). In contrast, TXNDC5 was significantly upregulated in colorectal adenoma and cancer tissues as compared with that in normal mucosa (P < 0.05). This study clearly demonstrated that absence of mimecan and upregulation of TXNDC5 are involved in the early development of colorectal cancer. Thus, the differentially expressed proteins might serve as potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer detection and intervention.     

Damming river shapes distinct patterns and processes of planktonic bacterial and microeukaryotic communities

Planktonic bacterial and microeukaryotic communities play important roles in biogeochemical cycles, but their biogeographic patterns and community assembly processes in large damming rivers still remain unclear. In this study, 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA coding genes were used for sample sequencing analysis of planktonic bacterial and microeukaryotic communities in the upper Yangtze River. The upper Yangtze River was divided into dam-affected zones and river zones based on the influence of dams. The results showed that there were significant differences in the bacterial and microeukaryotic communities between the two zones and that dams significantly reduced the α-diversity of the bacterial communities. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that networks in the river zone were denser than those in the dam-affected zone. The relationships among species in bacterial networks were more complex than those in microeukaryotic networks. Dispersal limitation and ecological drift were the main processes influencing planktonic bacterial and microeukaryotic communities in the dam-affected zone respectively, whereas the role of deterministic processes increased in the river zone. Anthropogenic activities and hydraulic conditions affected suspended sediment and controlled microbial diversity in the river zone. These results suggest that dams impact planktonic bacteria more strongly than planktonic microeukaryotes, indicating that the distribution patterns and processes of the bacterial and microeukaryotic communities in large rivers are significantly different.     

Metagenomic insights into the environmental adaptation and metabolism of Candidatus Haloplasmatales,one archaeal order thriving in saline lakes

The KTK 4A-related Thermoplasmata thrives in the sediment of saline lakes; however, systematic research on its taxonomy, environmental adaptation and metabolism is lacking. Here, we detected this abundant lineage in the sediment of five artificially separated ponds (salinity 7.0%–33.0%) within a Chinese soda-saline lake using culture-independent metagenomics and archaeal 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The phylogenies based on the 16S rRNA gene, and 122 archaeal ubiquitous single-copy proteins and genome-level identity analyses among the metagenome-assembled genomes demonstrate this lineage forming a novel order, Candidatus Haloplasmatales, comprising four genera affiliated with the identical family. Isoelectric point profiles of predicted proteomes suggest that most members adopt the energetically favourable ‘salt-in’ strategy. Functional prediction indicates the lithoheterotrophic nature with the versatile metabolic potentials for carbohydrate and organic acids as well as carbon monoxide and hydrogen utilization. Additionally, hydrogenase genes hdrABC-mvhADG are linked with incomplete reductive citrate cycle genes in the genomes, suggesting their functional connection. Comparison with the coupling of HdrABC-MvhADG and methanogenesis pathway provides new insights into the compatibility of laterally acquired methanogenesis with energy metabolism in the related order Methanomassiliicoccales. Globally, our research sheds light on the taxonomy, environmental adaptative mechanisms, metabolic potentials and evolutional significance of Ca. Haloplasmatales.     

近20年内蒙古鄂托克旗草地降水利用效率时空演变的驱动力量化

降水利用效率(PUE)是评价干旱半干旱地区草地生产力与降水关系的有效指标。为进一步探究气候变化和人类活动对草地PUE的驱动机理,本研究采用改进的CASA模型估算了2001—2020年鄂托克旗草地净初级生产力(NPP),结合同期降水量的空间插值数据获取了研究区草地PUE,利用简单线性回归和分段线性回归分析了PUE的时空演变特征及其空间格局对6类气候因子的响应,并引入基于偏导数的量化分析方法定量评估了气候变化和人类活动对PUE动态的相对贡献。结果表明: 鄂托克旗草地PUE多年均值为0.748 g C·m^-2·mm^-1,年际波动呈显著下降趋势,下降速率为0.014 g C·m^-2·mm^-1·a^-1;PUE在空间上西低东高,沿气温、降水、相对湿度、日照时数和ET₀的增长梯度呈显著的单峰分段线性模式,而沿风速梯度表现为先快后慢的持续显著增长模式;研究区94.3%的草地表现为PUE衰减态势,且有43.6%为严重衰减,这一突出问题是气候变化和人类活动共同作用导致的,二者的贡献分别为-1.162×10^-2和-0.240×10^-2 g C·m^-2·mm^-1·a^-1,而气候变化是首要驱动力,其中降水是关键气候驱动因子。     

Long noncoding RNA FOXD3-AS1 promotes colon adenocarcinoma progression and functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate SIRT1 by sponging miR-135a-5p

More and more documents have proved that the abnormal expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are correlated with the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). lncRNA FOXD3-AS1 has been reported in glioma for its oncogenic property. According to the survival analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database, FOXD3-AS1 upregulation implied lower survival rate of patients with CRC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed the overexpression of FOXD3-AS1 in both CRC tissues and cells. The Kaplan–Meier method demonstrated the prognostic value of FOXD3-AS1 for patients with CRC. To explore the effect of FOXD3-AS1 on CRC progression, loss-of-function experiments were carried out, whose results indicated that knockdown of FOXD3-AS1 suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, inhibited cell cycle and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo experiments affirmed that FOXD3-AS1 affected tumor growth. FOXD3-AS1 expression was enriched in the cytoplasm of CRC cells. Mechanism experiments revealed that FOXD3-AS1 served as a competing endogenous RNA to upregulate SIRT1 by sponging miR-135a-5p. In addition, SIRT1 silencing also restrained cell proliferation and motility. Rescue assays revealed the biological function of FOXD3-AS1/miR-135a-5p/SIRT1 axis in CRC progression. In conclusion, FOXD3-AS1 promotes CRC progression by regulating miR-135a-5p/SIRT1 axis, shedding lights on the way to CRC treatments.