Simultaneous saccharification and ethanol fermentation at high corn stover solids loading in a helical stirring bioreactor

The higher ethanol titer inevitably requires higher solids loading during the simultaneous enzymatic saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using lignocellulose as the feedstock. The mixing between the solid lignocellulose and the liquid enzyme is crucially important. In this study, a bioreactor with a novel helical impeller was designed and applied to the SSF operation of the steam explosion pretreated corn stover under different solids loadings and different enzyme dosages. The performances using the helical impeller and the common Rushton impeller were compared and analyzed by measuring rheological properties and the mixing energy consumption. The results showed that the new designed stirring system had better performances in the saccharification yield, ethanol titer, and energy cost than those of the Rushton impeller stirring. The mixing energy consumption under different solids loadings and enzyme dosages during SSF operation were analyzed and compared to the thermal energy in the ethanol produced. A balance for achieving the optimal energy cost between the increased mixing energy cost and the reduced distillation energy cost at the high solids loading should be made. The potentials of the new bioreactor were tested under various SSF conditions for obtaining optimal ethanol yield and titer. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010. 105: 718–728. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Metformin attenuates trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification via inhibition of Bone Morphogenetic Protein signalling

AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an intracellular sensor of energy homoeostasis that is activated under energy stress and suppressed in energy surplus. AMPK activation leads to inhibition of anabolic processes that consume ATP. Osteogenic differentiation is a process that highly demands ATP during which AMPK is inhibited. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) signalling pathway plays an essential role in osteogenic differentiation. The present study examines the inhibitory effect of metformin on BMP signalling, osteogenic differentiation and trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification. Our results showed that metformin inhibited Smad1/5 phosphorylation induced by BMP6 in osteoblast MC3T3‐E1 cells, concurrent with up‐regulation of Smad6, and this effect was attenuated by knockdown of Smad6. Furthermore, we found that metformin suppressed ALP activity and mineralization of the cells, an event that was attenuated by the dominant negative mutant of AMPK and mimicked by its constitutively active mutant. Finally, administration of metformin prevented the trauma‐induced heterotopic ossification in mice. In conjuncture, AMPK activity and Smad6 and Smurf1 expression were enhanced by metformin treatment in the muscle of injured area, concurrently with the reduction of ALK2. Collectively, our study suggests that metformin prevents heterotopic ossification via activation of AMPK and subsequent up‐regulation of Smad6. Therefore, metformin could be a potential therapeutic drug for heterotopic ossification induced by traumatic injury.     

单蚤属一新种记述(蚤目：角叶蚤科)

单蚤属一新种记述（蚤目：角叶蚤科）张荣广,吴德强,李宝肃（甘肃省地方病防治研究所兰州７３００３０）在鉴定甘肃省单蚤属Ｍｏ。ｏｐ。ｙｌｌｕ。Ｋｏｌｅｎａｔｉ,１８５７的跳蚤时,发现在形态上与花鼠单蚤Ｍｏｎｏｐｓｙｌｌｕ。。ｎｄａｇ。ｓＲｏｔｌｉｓｃｈｌ...     

鼎湖山南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林C贮量分布

在对1hm 2永久样地调查的基础上结合优势树种C含量的实测值, 对鼎湖山南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林的C贮量及其空间和种群分布特点进行了分析,结果表明 (1)鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林现存C贮量为89.75t@hm -2 ,其中, 干、枝、叶、根分别占总量的53.09%、25.36%、2.64%和18.31%; (2)数量上小径级个体占有绝对优势,1hm 2样地内 DBH ＜20cm的个体占总数的95%,个体数量随径级的增加而迅速减少,而C贮量的径级分布则大致呈"M"形; (3)根据树木高度分为4个层次,即Ⅰ层( h ≥20m),Ⅱ层(10＜ h ≤20m),Ⅲ层(5< h ≤10m)和Ⅳ层( h ＜5m), 各亚层之间C贮量与该层次的高度呈正相关,占总C贮量的比例依次为53.97%、31.37%、 11.26%和3.40%.在垂直方向上,干、枝、根C贮量变化与总C贮量的变化趋势大体一致 ,叶的C贮量则以Ⅱ层最大; (4)优势种群对季风常绿阔叶林C贮量贡献排序为 锥栗 C astanopsis chinensis＞荷木Schima superba＞黄果厚壳桂Cryptocarya concinna＞厚壳桂 Cryptocarya chinensis＞肖蒲桃Acmena acuminatissima＞黄杞Engelhardtia roxburghi ana＞白颜树Gironniera subaequalis＞臀形果Pygeum topengii＞橄榄Canarium album＞窄叶半枫荷Pterospermum lanceaefolium＞华润楠Machilus chinensis＞鸭脚木Scheffler a octophylla＞韶子Nephelium chryseum.成熟度较高的种群 C贮量较高,起主导作用.     

Traditional ancient Egyptian medicine: A review

The ancient Egyptians practiced medicine with highly professional methods. They had advanced knowledge of anatomy and surgery. Also, they treated a lot of diseases including dental, gynecological, gastrointestinal, and urinary disorders. They could diagnose diabetes and cancer. The used therapeutics extended from different plants to include several animal products and minerals. Some of these plants are still used in the present day. Fortunately, they documented their life details by carving on stone, clay, or papyri. Although a lot of these records have been lost or destroyed, the surviving documents represent a huge source of knowledge in different scientific aspects including medicine. This review article is an attempt to understand some information about traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, we will look closely at some basics, sources of information of Egyptian medicine in addition to common treated diseases and therapeutics in this great civilization.     

Suppression of histone deacetylase 1 by JSL-1 attenuates the progression and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma via the TPX2/Snail axis

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are entwined with the pathogenesis of various cancers and potentially serve as promising therapeutic targets. Herein, we intend to explore the potential role of HDAC1 inhibitor (JSL-1) in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and to highlight the molecular basis of its function. As shown by bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical detection, high HDAC1 expression was witnessed in CC tissues relative to matched controls from patients with cholecystitis. The molecular network that HDAC1 silencing reduced the enrichment of HDAC1 and Snail on the TPX2 promoter was identified using immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Both short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of HDAC1 and JSL-1 treatment exhibited anti-proliferative, anti-migration and anti-invasion effects on CC cells through downregulation of TPX2. The in vivo xenograft model was developed in nude mice. Consistently, the anti-tumorigenic and anti-metastatic properties of shRNA against HDAC1 and HDAC1 inhibitor were validated in the in vivo settings. Taken together, our data supported the notion that HDAC1 inhibitor retards the initiation and development of CC via mediating the TPX2/Snail axis, highlighting the anti-tumor molecular network functioned in CC.Subject terms: Cancer, Diseases     

Dry pretreatment of lignocellulose with extremely low steam and water usage for bioethanol production

Two rarely noticed but important parameters of the dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of lignocellulose biomass, the feedstock filling ratio to the pretreatment reactor and the solids/liquid presoaking ratio, were extensively studied. The effects of the two parameters on the steam consumption, waste water generation, and pretreatment efficiency were investigated. At the full filling ratio and high solids/liquid presoaking ratio, this “dry” pretreatment method provided at least the following advantages: (1) the steam consumption was significantly reduced; (2) no aqueous acid containing waste water was generated; (3) high solids content of the pretreated materials were obtained and the consequent saccharification and fermentation was carried out at high solids loading easily. This method was applied to various lignocellulose feedstocks successfully and provided a practical means to produce ethanol economically feasible.     

Effects of 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field on DNA damage and expression of heat shock protein 70 in human lens epithelial cells

To investigate the DNA damage, expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and cell proliferation of human lens epithelial cells (hLEC) after exposure to the 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field (RF) of a global system for mobile communications (GSM). An Xc-1800 RF exposure system was used to employ a GSM signal at 1.8 GHz (217 Hz amplitude-modulated) with the output power in the specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1, 2 and 3 W/kg. After 2 h exposure to RF, the DNA damage of hLEC was accessed by comet assay at five different incubation times: 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min, respectively. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to determine the expression of Hsp70 in hLECs after RF exposure. The proliferation rate of cells was evaluated by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation on days 0, 1 and 4 after exposure. The results show that the difference of DNA-breaks between the exposed and sham-exposed (control) groups induced by 1 and 2 W/kg irradiation were not significant at any incubation time point (P > 0.05). The DNA damage caused by 3 W/kg irradiation was significantly increased at the times of 0 and 30 min after exposure (P < 0.05), a phenomenon that could not be seen at the time points of 60, 120 or 240 min (P > 0.05). Detectable mRNA as well as protein expression of Hsp70 was found in all groups. Exposure at SARs of 2 and 3 W/kg for 2 h exhibited significantly increased Hsp70 protein expression (P < 0.05), while no change in Hsp70 mRNA expression could be found in any of the groups (P > 0.05). No difference of the cell proliferation rate between the sham-exposed and exposed cells was found at any exposure dose tested (P > 0.05). The results indicate that exposure to non-thermal dosages of RF for wireless communications can induce no or repairable DNA damage and the increased Hsp70 protein expression in hLECs occurred without change in the cell proliferation rate. The non-thermal stress response of Hsp70 protein increase to RF exposure might be involved in protecting hLEC from DNA damage and maintaining the cellular capacity for proliferation.