Bimodal electricity generation and aromatic compounds removal from purified terephthalic acid plant wastewater in a microbial fuel cell

Wastewater of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) from a petrochemical plant was examined in a membrane-less single chamber microbial fuel cell for the first time. Time course of voltage during the cell operation cycle had two steady phases, which refers to the fact that metabolism of microorganisms was shifted from highly to less biodegradable carbon sources. The produced power density was 31.8 mW m^?2 (normalized per cathode area) and the calculated coulombic efficiency was 2.05 % for a COD removal of 74 % during 21 days. The total removal rate of different pollutants in the PTA wastewater was observed in the following order: (acetic acid) > (benzoic acid) > (phthalic acid) > (terephthalic acid) > (p-toluic acid). The cyclic voltammetry results revealed that the electron transfer mechanism was dominated by mediators which were produced by bacteria.     

An improved formulation of the zirconyl hematoxylin stain for acidic mucins

Zirconyl hematoxylin stains acidic mucins darkly and specifically using a solution of 100 mg hematoxylin, 5 ml ethanol, 5 ml 0.5% sodium iodate, 400 mg zirconyl chloride octahydrate, and 30 ml 25% aqueous glycerol. The stain is especially advantageous for studying goblet cells and Paget cells.     

Evolutionary significance of a middle Cambrian (Series 3) in situ occurrence of the pedunculate rhynchonelliform brachiopod Nisusia sulcata

Exceptionally preserved, silicified and articulated complete shells of the rhynchonelliform kutorginate brachiopod Nisusia sulcata are redescribed from the middle Cambrian (Series 3) Marjum Limestone, Utah. Cylindroid sausage‐like protrusions, emerging posteriorly between the valves, were originally interpreted as faecal in origin, but restudy under the SEM shows that these features represent silicified pedicles as they are attached in situ to other Nisusia. The Nisusia host most likely was alive at the time of attachment. Restudy of the pedicles of Nisusia provides new phylogenetic information on the anatomy of the earliest rhynchonelliforms. The silicified pedicles differ considerably from the pedicles of living crown group rhynchonelliforms in being strongly annulated, distally tapering, and were likely to have been rather more flexible. The Nisusia pedicles are more similar to the exceptionally preserved pedicles from other Cambrian rhynchonelliform brachiopods, including Kutorgina, Longtancunella and Alisina, but these emerge from the ventral apical foramen rather than from between the valves as in Nisusia. Although generally similar, these two types of pedicles are unlikely to represent homologous structures as Nisusia is provided with both an apical foramen (possibly larval attachment) and a posterior adult pedicle. The similarities may be explained by similar type of accretionary growth from two different types of epithelia. The Nisusia‐like pedicle appeared early within the kutorginates and rhynchonellates. The discovery of hollow spines in Nisusia sulcata further supports the generic assignation of the species.     

Identification of potential predictive markers of dexamethasone resistance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Response to dexamethasone (DEXA), as a hallmark drug in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is one of the pivotal prognostic factors in the prediction of outcome in ALL. Identification of predictive markers of chemoresistance is beneficial to selecting of the best therapeutic protocol with the lowest effect adverse. Hence, we aimed to find drug targets using the 2DE/MS proteomics study of a DEXA-resistant cell line (REH) as a model for poor DEXA responding patients before and after drug treatment. Using the proteomic methods, three differentially expressed proteins were detected, including voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), sorting Nexin 3 (SNX3), and prefoldin subunit 6 (PFDN6). We observed low expression of three proteins after DEXA treatment in REH cells. We subsequently verified low expression of resulted proteins at the mRNA level using the quantitative PCR method. These proteins are promising proteins because of their important roles in drug resistance and regulation of apoptosis (VDAC1), protein trafficking (SNX3), and protein folding (PFDN6). Additionally, mRNA expression level of these proteins was assessed in 17 bone marrow samples from children with newly diagnosed ALL and 7 non-cancerous samples as controls. The results indicated that independent of the molecular subtypes of leukemia, mRNA expression of VDAC1, SNX3, and PFDN6 decreased in ALL samples compared with non-cancerous samples particularly in VDAC1 (p?<?0.001). Additionally, mRNA expression of three proteins was also declined in high-risk samples compared with standard risk cases. These results demonstrated diagnostic and prognostic value of these proteins in childhood ALL. Furthermore, investigation of protein-protein interaction using STRING database indicated that these proteins involved in the signaling pathway of NR3C1 as dexamethasone target. In conclusion, our proteomic study in DEXA resistant leukemic cells revealed VDAC1, SNX3, and PFDN6 are promising proteins that might serve as potential biomarkers of prognosis and chemotherapy in childhood ALL.     

Motor training programs of arm and hand in patients with MS according to different levels of the ICF: a systematic review

Background

Breast cancer survivors, particularly those treated with chemotherapy, are at significantly increased risk for long-term cognitive and neurobiologic impairments. These deficits tend to involve skills that are subserved by distributed brain networks. Additionally, neuroimaging studies have shown a diffuse pattern of brain structure changes in chemotherapy-treated breast cancer survivors that might impact large-scale brain networks.

Methods

We therefore applied graph theoretical analysis to compare the gray matter structural networks of female breast cancer survivors with a history of chemotherapy treatment and healthy age and education matched female controls.

Results

Results revealed reduced clustering coefficient and small-world index in the brain network of the breast cancer patients across a range of network densities. In addition, the network of the breast cancer group had less highly interactive nodes and reduced degree/centrality in the frontotemporal regions compared to controls, which may help explain the common impairments of memory and executive functioning among these patients.

Conclusions

These results suggest that breast cancer and chemotherapy may decrease regional connectivity as well as global network organization and integration, reducing efficiency of the network. To our knowledge, this is the first report of altered large-scale brain networks associated with breast cancer and chemotherapy.     

Effect of genotype,induction medium,carbohydrate source,and polyethylene glycol on embryogenesis in maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.) anther culture

This study conducted two experiments involving in vitro anther culture of Zea mays L. The first experiment tested 46 maize genotypes, including inbred lines, single and three-way cross hybrids, and line A188 as control, in three different induction basal media (IMSS, N6 and YPm) for their androgenic responses. The results showed that the embryos were established 2–3 weeks after the anthers of the few responsive genotypes were cultured. Most responsive genotypes produced embryos in at least one of the three basal media; therefore, genotype is more important than the type of medium for androgenesis in maize. The mean number of anthers that developed to embryo ranged from 19 embryos per Petri dish in YPm medium for the cross (DH5 × DH7) genotype to 0 for some maize genotypes. In the second experiment, this research reports for the first time the effect of carbohydrates and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a non-metabolized osmoticum on the embryogenesis anther culture of maize. The genotype DH5 × DH7 was used for this experiment, and the media were varied by altering sucrose, maltose, and PEG concentrations. Results showed that the maximum embryogenesis (32 embryos per Petri dish) was obtained by YPm basal medium supplemented with 60 gl^?1 sucrose + 0.0125 M PEG and 30 gl^?1 sucrose + 30 gl^?1 maltose + 0.0125 M PEG. The lowest rate of embryogenesis was observed in YPm basal medium with 60 gl^?1 maltose and 0.0125 or 0.025 M PEG. Sucrose or a high concentration of maltose was found to be necessary for embryogenesis in anther culture of maize. Therefore, the addition of low levels of PEG and/or different sugars in the experimental design appeared to improve the protocol currently available in the world, especially for anther embryo yield and haploid plant regeneration in maize.     

INDUCTION OF ERYTHROID MATURATION BY DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE IN FRIEND LEUKEMIC CELLS

Enhancement of the erythroid maturation in Friend virus-induced leukemic cells has been examined in vitro by the treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Although the cell growth was inhibited in the medium containing 2% DMSO, many cells remained viable for a week. By the 3rd day of the culture, the cells treated with DMSO became more strongly agglutinated by phytohemagglutinin than the cells incubated without DMSO. Mouse erythrocyte membrane-specific antigens were also detectable at the 4th day. At the 8th day of the culture hemoglobin synthesis was apparently demonstrated in the cells treated with DMSO, which could not be seen in the untreated cells. Maturation or differentiation along the erythroid pathway in Friend leukemic cells by DMSO is discussed on these markers.     

Evaluation of<Emphasis Type="Italic">in Vitro</Emphasis> antifungal activity of<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Benzylsalicylamide derivatives

A series of 65 derivatives of N-benzylsalicylamide was tested against eight potentially human pathogenic fungi by microdilution broth method modified according to M27-A standard. The majority of these compounds showed only weak in vitro antifungal activity. The most significant effect was observed against filamentous fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Absidia corymbifera, and Aspergillus fumigatus while yeasts, in general, were less susceptible. N-(4'-Chlorobenzyl) salicylamides, N-(3',4'-dichlorobenzyl)-salicylamides, and partially N-benzylsalicylamides exhibited relatively high in vitro antifungal activity. The most efficient derivatives had MIC < or = 7.8 mumol/L against T. mentagrophytes. Regression analysis suggested an indirect relationship between MIC values and lipophilicity (log P).     

Use of cervicovaginal fluid for the identification of biomarkers for pathologies of the female genital tract

Cervicovaginal fluid has an important function in the homeostasis and immunity of the lower female genital tract. Analysis of the cervicovaginal fluid proteome may therefore yield important information about the pathogenesis of numerous gynecological pathologies. Additionally, cervicovaginal fluid has great potential as a source of biomarkers for these conditions.     

NaCl-preferring NZB/B1NJ mice and NaCl-avoiding CBA/J mice have similar amiloride inhibition of chorda tympani responses to NaCl

Integrated chorda tympani nerve responses to NaCl were studied in two mouse strains, an NaCl-preferring NZB/B1NJ and an NaCl-avoiding CBA/J. The NaCl responses of both strains had similar magnitude and were suppressed by amiloride to a similar extent. This suggests that peripheral gustatory responsiveness to NaCl is not the only mechanism underlying mouse strain variation in NaCl acceptance.