Biocathode microbial fuel cell for efficient electricity recovery from dairy manure

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a new biological method for generating electricity directly from biodegradable compounds. Efficiency of MFCs using manure as substrate is generally low. This study proposed a new design by incorporating biocathodes into a three-chamber MFC, which yielded maximum power densities much higher than those reported in literature. The new design placed cylindrical anode chamber for easy stirring and two symmetrical cathodic chambers with reduced anode-cathode distance. The biocathodes were applied to reduce charge transfer resistance. Additionally, biocathode microbial community was cultured to enrich favorable microorganisms. With external loading of 100 Ω, the power densities for new biocathode MFC using 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% total solids diary manure reached 7.85±1.0 W m(-3), 7.84±1.20 W m(-3), 8.15±0.20 W m(-3), 7.60±0.97 W m(-3) and 5.63±0.97 W m(-3), respectively. The pH drop as a result of manure hydrolysis limited the power output. To provide detailed information of the microbial community in the biocathode MFC, the 454-pyrosequencing technique was adopted. The Firmicutes, γ-, β-, α- and δ-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the major groups on the anode, while γ-, β-, and α-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the predominant groups on the cathode.     

Developmentally regulated alternative splicing of densin modulates protein-protein interaction and subcellular localization

Densin is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and PDZ domain (LAP) protein family that binds several signaling molecules via its C-terminal domains, including calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). In this study, we identify several novel mRNA splice variants of densin that are differentially expressed during development. The novel variants share the LRR domain but are either prematurely truncated or contain internal deletions relative to mature variants of the protein (180 kDa), thus removing key protein–protein interaction domains. For example, CaMKIIα coimmunoprecipitates with densin splice variants containing an intact C-terminal domain from lysates of transfected HEK293 cells, but not with variants that only contain N-terminal domains. Immunoblot analyses using antibodies to peptide epitopes in the N- and C- terminal domains of densin are consistent with developmental regulation of splice variant expression in brain. Moreover, putative splice variants display different subcellular fractionation patterns in brain extracts. Expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused densin splice variants in HEK293 cells shows that the LRR domain can target densin to a plasma membrane-associated compartment, but that the splice variants are differentially localized and have potentially distinct effects on cell morphology. In combination, these data show that densin splice variants have distinct functional characteristics suggesting multiple roles during neuronal development.     

Diversity and Abundance of Nitrate Assimilation Genes in the Northern South China Sea

Marine heterotrophic microorganisms that assimilate nitrate play an important role in nitrogen and carbon cycling in the water column. The nasA gene, encoding the nitrate assimilation enzyme, was selected as a functional marker to examine the nitrate assimilation community in the South China Sea (SCS). PCR amplification, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) screening, and phylogenetic analysis of nasA gene sequences were performed to characterize in situ nitrate assimilatory bacteria. Furthermore, the effects of nutrients and other environmental factors on the genetic heterogeneity of nasA fragments from the SCS were evaluated at the surface in three stations, and at two other depths in one of these stations. The diversity indices and rarefaction curves indicated that the nasA gene was more diverse in offshore waters than in the Pearl River estuary. The phylotype rank abundance curve showed an abundant and unique RFLP pattern in all five libraries, indicating that a high diversity but low abundance of nasA existed in the study areas. Phylogenetic analysis of environmental nasA gene sequences further revealed that the nasA gene fragments came from several common aquatic microbial groups, including the Proteobacteria, Cytophaga–Flavobacteria (CF), and Cyanobacteria. In addition to the direct PCR/sequence analysis of environmental samples, we also cultured a number of nitrate assimilatory bacteria isolated from the field. Comparison of nasA genes from these isolates and from the field samples indicated the existence of horizontal nasA gene transfer. Application of real-time quantitative PCR to these nasA genes revealed a great variation in their abundance at different investigation sites and water depths.     

Hypothermic Machine Perfusion Reduces Delayed Graft Function and Improves One-Year Graft Survival of Kidneys from Expanded Criteria Donors: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Expanded criteria donors (ECDs) are currently accepted as potential sources to increase the donor pool and to provide more chances of kidney transplantation for elderly recipients who would not survive long waiting periods. Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) is designed to mitigate the deleterious effects of simple cold storage (CS) on the quality of preserved organs, particularly when the donor is in a marginal status.

Methods

We compared the transplant outcomes in patients receiving ECD kidneys with either HMP or CS graft preservation. Articles from the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched and all studies reporting outcomes from HMP versus CS methods of kidney preservation were included in this meta-analysis. The parameters analyzed included the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF), primary non-function (PNF) and one-year graft and patient survival.

Results

A total of seven studies qualified for the review, involving 2374 and 8716 kidney grafts with HMP or CS preservation respectively, all from ECD donors. The incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) was significantly reduced with an odd ratio(OR) of 0.59 (95% CI 0.54–0.66, P<0.001) and one-year graft survival was significantly improved with an OR of 1.12 (95% CI 1.03–1.21, P = 0.005) in HMP preservation compared to CS. However, there was no difference in the incidence of PNF (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.21–1.40, P = 0.20), and one-year patient survival (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94–1.02, P = 0.36) between HMP and CS preservation.

Conclusions

HMP was associated with a reduced incidence of DGF and an with increased one-year graft survival, but it was not associated with the incidence of PNF and one-year patient survival.     

Impact of Functional Constipation on Health-Related Quality of Life in Preschool Children and Their Families in Xi’an,China

Aim

Functional constipation (FC) is one of the common diseases among children. The aim of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in preschool children diagnosed with FC and the impact of the condition on affected families.

Methods

In this cross-sectional, case-control study, 152 children aged 3–6 years with FC, 176 healthy children aged 3–6 years without FC, and their primary caregivers were selected. Chinese versions of the PedsQL^TM 4.0 Generic Core Scale and the Family Impact Module (FIM) were used to assess childhood HRQOL and the impact of FC on family members, respectively. HRQOL scores were compared between children with FC and healthy children. In addition, a multiple step-wise regression with demographic variables of children and their caregivers, family economic status, duration and symptoms of FC, as independent variables, was used to determine factors that influenced HRQOL in children and had impacted caregivers.

Results

Scores of physical, emotional, social and school functions, and summary scales were significantly lower in children with FC than in healthy children (p < 0.05). Physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and communication scores for caregivers, as well as daily activities and relationships for families of children with FC, were significantly lower than those of caregivers and families with healthy children (p < 0.05). Children’s ages, duration of FC, symptoms of FC, the child-caregiver relationship, family economic status, and caregiver education level emerged as the main factors influencing HRQOL in children, caregivers, and family members.

Conclusions

FC had a significant impact on HRQOL of affected children and their caregivers, as well as their family functions. Social characteristics of children and caregivers, duration and symptoms of FC and family economic status significantly affected HRQOL of children and caregivers, as well as family functions of children with FC.     

滦河流域河岸带入侵植物分布特征及其与环境的关系

根据滦河流域河岸带56个样点的植被调查,研究入侵植物种类,其组成特征、空间分布,及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明: 滦河流域河岸带共记录入侵植物26种,属12科19属,其中菊科和苋科植物为优势科,占入侵植物总数的50%,一年生植物占总数的73.1%,反枝苋、大狼杷草、小藜是出现频数最高的3种植物;样点的入侵种数、入侵强度与海拔呈显著负相关;人类活动强度对入侵植物分布有显著影响,人口密集、交通便利、人类活动频繁的平原区,水库众多的浅山区,以及中游段旅游业发达的承德市周边山区是入侵植物集中分布的区域;人口分布较稀的高原地区只出现几种宽生态幅的入侵物种.总体上,滦河流域河岸带入侵等级高的植物主要分布在400 m以下的中低海拔地区,除反枝苋外,其他高等级入侵物种尚未扩散进入高海拔地区.     

微藻生物质成分检测方法评述

不断发展的微藻产业需要统一可信的生物质检测方法体系来评估微藻研究、培养及生产中的各种生物质指标。对目前常用的微藻生物质组成的检测方法进行综述及评估,以期推动微藻产业的生物质分析平台标准化。     

A 3D Homochiral MOF [Cd2(d‐cam)3]•2Hdma•4dma for HPLC Chromatographic Enantioseparation

Up to now, some chiral metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have been reported for enantioseparation in liquid chromatography. Here we report a homochiral MOF, [Cd2(d‐cam)3]·2Hdma·4dma, used as a new chiral stationary phase for high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation. Nine racemates of alcohol, naphthol, ketone, and base compounds were used as analytes for evaluating the separation properties of the chiral MOF packed column. Moreover, some effects such as mobile phase composition, column temperature, and analytes mass for separations on this chiral column also were investigated. The relative standard deviations for the resolution values of run‐to‐run and column‐to‐column were less than 2.1% and 3.2%, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the homochiral MOF offered good recognition ability, which promotes the application of chiral MOFs use as stationary phase for enantioseparation. Chirality 28:340–346, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High efficient multisites genome editing in allotetraploid cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) using CRISPR/Cas9 system

Gossypium hirsutum is an allotetraploid with a complex genome. Most genes have multiple copies that belong to At and Dt subgenomes. Sequence similarity is also very high between gene homologues. To efficiently achieve site/gene‐specific mutation is quite needed. Due to its high efficiency and robustness, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 system has exerted broad site‐specific genome editing from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. In this study, we utilized a CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate two sgRNAs in a single vector to conduct multiple sites genome editing in allotetraploid cotton. An exogenously transformed gene Discosoma red fluorescent protein2(DsRed2) and an endogenous gene GhCLA1 were chosen as targets. The DsRed2‐edited plants in T0 generation reverted its traits to wild type, with vanished red fluorescence the whole plants. Besides, the mutated phenotype and genotype were inherited to their T1 progenies. For the endogenous gene GhCLA1, 75% of regenerated plants exhibited albino phenotype with obvious nucleotides and DNA fragments deletion. The efficiency of gene editing at each target site is 66.7–100%. The mutation genotype was checked for both genes with Sanger sequencing. Barcode‐based high‐throughput sequencing, which could be highly efficient for genotyping to a population of mutants, was conducted in GhCLA1‐edited T0 plants and it matched well with Sanger sequencing results. No off‐target editing was detected at the potential off‐target sites. These results prove that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is highly efficient and reliable for allotetraploid cotton genome editing.