C₂H <i>N</i> = 1 − 0 and N₂H⁺<i>J</i> = 1 − 0 observations of <i>Planck</i> Galactic cold clumps

Liu, X.-C.,Wu, Y.,Zhang, C.,Liu, T.,Yuan, J.,Qin, S.-L.,Ju, B.-G.,Li, L.-X. EDP Sciences 2019 Astronomy and astrophysics Vol.622 No.-

<P>A survey of C2H <I>N</I> = 1 − 0 and N2H<SUP>+</SUP><I>J</I> = 1 − 0 toward <I>Planck</I> Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) was performed using the Purple Mountain Observatory’s 13.7 m telescope. C2H and N2H<SUP>+</SUP> were chosen to study the chemical evolutionary states of PGCCs. Among 121 observed molecular cores associated with PGCCs, 71 and 58 are detected with C2H <I>N</I> = 1 − 0 and N2H<SUP>+</SUP><I>J</I> = 1 − 0, respectively. The detected lines of most sources can be fitted with a single component with compatible <I>V</I>LSR and line widths, which confirms that these PGCC cores are very cold (with gas temperatures 9-21 K) and quiescent while still dominanted by turbulence. The ratio between the column densities of C2H and N2H<SUP>+</SUP> (<I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>)) is found to be a good tracer for the evolutionary states of PGCC cores. Gas-grain chemical model can reproduce the decreasing trend of <I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>) as a function of time. The cores with the lowest abundances of N2H<SUP>+</SUP> (<I>X</I>[N2H<SUP>+</SUP>] < 10<SUP>−10</SUP>) are the youngest, and have nearly constant abundances of C2H. In evolved cores with <I>X</I>[N2H<SUP>+</SUP>] ~10<SUP>−9</SUP>, abundances of C2H drop quickly as the exhaustion of carbon atoms. Although these PGCC cores are in different evolutionary states, they are all quite young (< 5 × 10<SUP>5</SUP> yr) with <I>N</I>(C2H) > <I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>). Mapping observations are carried out toward 20 PGCC cores. The PGCC cores in Cepheus have lower <I>N</I>(C2H)/<I>N</I>(N2H<SUP>+</SUP>) and larger line widths compared with those in Taurus. This implies that PGCC cores in Taurus are less chemically evolved than those in Cepheus.</P>

Combining metabolic engineering and biocompatible chemistry for high-yield production of homo-diacetyl and homo-(S,S)-2,3-butanediol

Liu, J.,Chan, S.H.J.,Brock-Nannestad, T.,Chen, J.,Lee, S.Y.,Solem, C.,Jensen, P.R. Academic Press 2016 Metabolic engineering Vol.36 No.-

Biocompatible chemistry is gaining increasing attention because of its potential within biotechnology for expanding the repertoire of biological transformations carried out by enzymes. Here we demonstrate how biocompatible chemistry can be used for synthesizing valuable compounds as well as for linking metabolic pathways to achieve redox balance and rescued growth. By comprehensive rerouting of metabolism, activation of respiration, and finally metal ion catalysis, we successfully managed to convert the homolactic bacterium Lactococcus lactis into a homo-diacetyl producer with high titer (95mM or 8.2g/L) and high yield (87% of the theoretical maximum). Subsequently, the pathway was extended to (S,S)-2,3-butanediol (S-BDO) through efficiently linking two metabolic pathways via chemical catalysis. This resulted in efficient homo-S-BDO production with a titer of 74mM (6.7g/L) S-BDO and a yield of 82%. The diacetyl and S-BDO production rates and yields obtained are the highest ever reported, demonstrating the promising combination of metabolic engineering and biocompatible chemistry as well as the great potential of L. lactis as a new production platform.

Bioconversion of ginsenosides Rb₁, Rb₂, Rc and Rd by novel β-glucosidase hydrolyzing outer 3-O glycoside from Sphingomonas sp. 2F2: Cloning, expression, and enzyme characterization

Wang, L.,Liu, Q.M.,Sung, B.H.,An, D.S.,Lee, H.G.,Kim, S.G.,Kim, S.C.,Lee, S.T.,Im, W.T. Elsevier Science Publishers 2011 Journal of biotechnology Vol.156 No.2

A new β-glucosidase gene (bglSp) was cloned from the ginsenoside converting Sphingomonas sp. strain 2F2 isolated from the ginseng cultivating filed. The bglSp consisted of 1344bp (447 amino acid residues) with a predicted molecular mass of 49,399Da. A BLAST search using the bglSp sequence revealed significant homology to that of glycoside hydrolase superfamily 1. This enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using a pET21-MBP (TEV) vector system. Overexpressed recombinant enzymes which could convert the ginsenosides Rb<SUB>1</SUB>, Rb<SUB>2</SUB>, Rc and Rd to the more pharmacological active rare ginsenosides gypenoside XVII, ginsenoside C-O, ginsenoside C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> and ginsenoside F<SUB>2</SUB>, respectively, were purified by two steps with Amylose-affinity and DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and characterized. The kinetic parameters for β-glucosidase showed the apparent K<SUB>m</SUB> and V<SUB>max</SUB> values of 2.9+/-0.3mM and 515.4+/-38.3μmolmin<SUP>-1</SUP>mg of protein<SUP>-1</SUP> against p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucopyranoside. The enzyme could hydrolyze the outer C3 glucose moieties of ginsenosides Rb<SUB>1</SUB>, Rb<SUB>2</SUB>, Rc and Rd into the rare ginsenosides Gyp XVII, C-O, C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> and F<SUB>2</SUB> quickly at optimal conditions of pH 5.0 and 37<SUP>o</SUP>C. A little ginsenoside F<SUB>2</SUB> production from ginsenosides Gyp XVII, C-O, and C-Mc<SUB>1</SUB> was observed for the lengthy enzyme reaction caused by the side ability of the enzyme.

Studies on Filariasis in Kinmen (Quemoy) Islands, Republic of China

Fan,P.C.,Wang,Y.C.,Liu,J.C.,Lo,H.S.,Hsu,Y.P.,Yen,C.H.,Lin,C.C.,Hsu,S.T. INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE YONSEI UNIVERSITY 1974 YONSEI REPORTS ON TROPICAL MEDICINE Vol.5 No.1

1972年 7月 1日부터 1973年 6月 30日까지 1年間 中華民國 臺?省 金門鳥에서 絲狀 症에 關한 調査硏究를 實施한 바 다음과 같은 結果를 얻었다. 1. 金門鳥 55村落에 居住하는 20,018 住民을 對象으로 調査한 바 血中 microfilariae (mf.) 兩性率은 8.8%였고 血液 20立方mm當 mf농도는 16.2였으며 絲狀 感染으로 因 臨床例 는 19.2%였다. 金門鳥 駐屯 軍人 2,428名에서 mf.양성율은 0.1%, mf. 감염농도는 20立方mm當 26.3이었으며 臨床例는 없었다. mf.感染濃度 및 臨床例에 있어 확실히 女性보다는 男性에서 高率을 보였으나 mf.陽性率은 兩性間에 差異가 없었다. mf.陽性率과 臨床例는 年齡의 增加와 一致하였으나 mf. 감렴농도는 年齡의 증가와 無關하였다. 2. 金文鳥 駐屯 軍人에 있어 주둔 其間과 絲狀 感染과는 關係가 없었으며 駐屯基地와 村落과의 距離와도 無關하였다. 軍人들은 모기에 물리지 않도록 잘 保護되어 있었고 주둔지역은 完全히 住民들과 격리되어 있었다. 3. 51村落으로부터의 血液檢査를 받은 1,470名의 絲狀 感染陽性者 中에서 臨床病勢르 보인 例는 19.2%였으며 女性보다는 男性에서 約 5倍가 많았다. 男性에 있어서의 大部分의 臨床例는 生殖器에 症狀을 보였는데 其中 10%는 象皮症을 가진 例는 2名뿐이었다. 4. 43村落의 家屋內에서 잡힌 모기는 4屬 14種(Culex 10種, Aedes 2種, Anopheles 1種, Armigeres 1種)이었으며 이들中 Cules P. fatigans와 Armigeres subalbatus가 大部分이었으나 其他 12種은 매우 적었다. Culcx mimesticus, C. (L) vorax, C. fuscocephala 및 Acdes nocturnus등 의 4新種은 처음으로 發見되었다. Culex p.fatigans는 現存「반크롭트」 絲狀 만을 옮기는 媒介昆 으로 알려져 있다. 治療前 8個 村落으로부터 잡은 438마리의 Culex p. fatigans에서 幼 을 內包하고 있는 모기는 1마리 平均 5.9마리의 絲狀 幼 을 갖고 있는 셈이었으며 全體 感染率은 11.9%, 感染期 幼 을 가진 모기는 10.5%이었다. 上記 8個 村落 住民을 治癒한 後의 樣狀은 治療前과 아주 달라서 모기 1마리當 平均 2.1마리의 幼 을 갖고 있었고 全體感染率은 2.2%, 感染期幼 內包率은 0.09%였다. 平均 pH가 7.4(6.4∼8.0)인 8個處의 모기 産卵場所에서 잡힌 모기 幼 은 모두 11種이었다. 有機燐劑의 一種인 Sumithion을 1平方m當 0.2gm의 농도로 모기 産卵場所 水面에 撒布하였던바 모든 모기 幼 에 對한 殺 果가 좋았다. 5. 總 1.590名의 絲狀 感染者에게 成人當 總量 5gm의 diethylcarbamazine을 10∼12日 間 服用시켜 보았다. 治療率은 80.6%, mf. 減少率은 96.9%였고 反應率는 67.2%였다. 여러 가지 副作用은 있었으나 一般的으로 輕微하였으며 患者가 참을 수 있었으므로 最高用量으로 投藥했을 경우에도 大部分 거절 하지 않았다. 8個 部落에서 捕獲된 Culex P. fatigans의 絲狀 幼 全體感染率, 感染期幼 內包率 및 感染濃度는 患者治療前에 各各 11.9%, 10.5%, 5.9였는데 治療後에는 2.2%, 0.09%, 2.1로 떨어져서 diethylcarbamazine은 microfilariae에 對한 殺충효果가 높을 뿐 아니라 絲狀충 만延을 組止시키는데 좋은 藥劑라고 思料된다 The present investigation is a serial study on “Filariasis in Kinmen (Quemoy) Islands”, which was performed from July 1, 1972 to June 30, 1973. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Parasitological investigation: Of 20,018 Kinmen Chinese in 55 villages examined, the microfilariae (mf.) rate of 8.8%, mf. density of 16.2 per 20cmm blood and clinical rate 19.2% were found: the corresponding figures for a total of 2,428 military personnel were 0.1%, 29.3 and 0.0% respectively. The mf. density and clinical rate were obviously higher in the males than in the females, but no difference was found for the microfilarial rate. The mf. rate and clinical rate were correspondingly increased with age, but there was no difference in mf. density. 2. Transmission of filariasis: It seems no any relation to the length of stationing of the Chinese troops on Kinmen Islands, and also no relation to the distance between the villages and camps; because the servicemen are well protected from the mosquito bites and bites and the camps are completely isolated, to and off limit to the villagers, though they have common places of entertainment. 3. Clinical investigation: Of 1,470 filarial carriers in 51 villages examined physically, the clinical rate of 19.2% was detected. It was about 5 times higher in males than in females. In the males, most of the cases the trouble in their reproductive organs, and 10% had elephantiasis; but in the females, the lymph nodes enlargement and chyluria were more common, only 2 cases had elephantiasis. The clinical rates increased corresponding with age. 4. Entomological investigation: Fourteen(14) species of 4 genera (10 Culex, 2 Aedes, 1 Anopheles and 1 Armigeres) of household mosquitoes were collected from indoor resting sites of 43 villages on kinmen Islands, in which, Cules P. fatigans and Armigeres subalbatus were the most common species, but the remaining 12 species are faily rare. Four (4) new species: Culex mimeticus, C. (L) vorax, C, fucocephala and Aedes noturnvs were found for the first time. Culex p.fatigans is still the only vector. in transmission of bancroftian filariasis. The infection rate of 11.9%, infective rate of 10.5% and 5.9 filarial larvae per infected mosquito were detected in 438 Culex p. fatigans from 8 villages before treatment. The corresponding figures were much lower in the above same villages after treatment (2.2%, 0.09% and 2.1). Eleven (11) species of moswquito larvae were collected from 8 kinds of breeding sites; where, the pH value of 7.4(ranged 6.4∼8.0) was measured. “Sumithion”is one of the organophosphorous compounds, which was first used on the water surface with the dosage of 0.2gm per square meter.A high insecticidal effect against different species of mosquito larvae was observed. 5. Chemotherapy of filariasis: Of 1.590 filarial carriers scheme, with a total does of 5 gm of diethylcarbamazine per adult case for a period of 10∼12 days schedule was performed. The cure rate of 80.6%, mf. reduction tate of 96.9% and reaction rate of 67.2% were found. Although many kinds of side effects were encountered, they were usually mild or transient and could be tolerated by the patients, thus there was almost no refused to the administration of the drug even if the drug was increased to the maximum dosage. The natural infection rate, infective rate and filarial larval density of Culex P. fatigans in 8 villages were found much higher before control measure (11.9%, 10.5% and 5.9%) than after control (2.2%, 0.09% and 2.1). It showed that diethylcarbamazine is a powerful microfilaricidal drug in eliminating the filarial infection and reducing this transmission.

Magnetically separable sulfur-doped SnFe₂O₄/graphene nanohybrids for effective photocatalytic purification of wastewater under visible light

Jia, Y.,Wu, C.,Lee, B.W.,Liu, C.,Kang, S.,Lee, T.,Park, Y.C.,Yoo, R.,Lee, W. Elsevier Scientific Pub. Co 2017 Journal of hazardous materials Vol.338 No.-

In this report, magnetically recoverable sulfur-doped SnFe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>4</SUB>/graphene (S-SFO/GR) nanohybrids have been successfully developed via a facile solvothermal method. The characterizations on the structural, morphology, and optical properties of the nanohybrids indicate that S-SFO particles are successfully embedded on the GR nanosheets. The photocatalytic activity has been evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of chlorotetracycline under visible light irradiation. Among the composites with various mass ratios, the quasi-first-order rate constant of the nanohybrids formed with 9wt% S in SFO and 15wt% GR (9S-SFO/GR-15) can reach as high as 1.83min<SUP>-1</SUP>, which is much higher than that of SFO (0.68min<SUP>-1</SUP>) and SFO/GR (0.91min<SUP>-1</SUP>), confirming the important role of S and GR for the photocatalytic process. The combination of the three components of S, SFO, and GR has enhanced the visible light absorption capability and inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole. The 9S-SFO/GR-15 nanohybrids can be recovered easily by a magnet and reused for five times with remained photocatalytic efficiency about 70%. A possible catalytic mechanism explaining the efficient photocatalytic performances of the prepared nanohybrids has been proposed.

Fine mapping and identification of candidate genes for the sy-2 locus in a temperature-sensitive chili pepper (Capsicum chinense)

Liu, L.,Venkatesh, J.,Jo, Y. D.,Koeda, S.,Hosokawa, M.,Kang, J. H.,Goritschnig, S.,Kang, B. C. Springer Science + Business Media 2016 Theoretical and applied genetics Vol.129 No.8

<P>The sy - 2 temperature-sensitive gene from Capsicum chinense was fine mapped to a 138.8-kb region at the distal portion of pepper chromosome 1. Based on expression analyses, two putative F-box genes were identified as sy - 2 candidate genes. Seychelles-2 ('sy-2') is a temperature-sensitive natural mutant of Capsicum chinense, which exhibits an abnormal leaf phenotype when grown at temperatures below 24 A degrees C. We previously showed that the sy-2 phenotype is controlled by a single recessive gene, sy-2, located on pepper chromosome 1. In this study, a high-resolution genetic and physical map for the sy-2 locus was constructed using two individual F-2 mapping populations derived from a cross between C. chinense mutant 'sy-2' and wild-type 'No. 3341'. The sy-2 gene was fine mapped to a 138.8-kb region between markers SNP 5-5 and SNP 3-8 at the distal portion of chromosome 1, based on comparative genomic analysis and genomic information from pepper. The sy-2 target region was predicted to contain 27 genes. Expression analysis of these predicted genes showed a differential expression pattern for ORF10 and ORF20 between mutant and wild-type plants; with both having significantly lower expression in 'sy-2' than in wild-type plants. In addition, the coding sequences of both ORF10 and ORF20 contained single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) causing amino acid changes, which may have important functional consequences. ORF10 and ORF20 are predicted to encode F-box proteins, which are components of the SCF complex. Based on the differential expression pattern and the presence of nonsynonymous SNPs, we suggest that these two putative F-box genes are most likely responsible for the temperature-sensitive phenotypes in pepper. Further investigation of these genes may enable a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of low temperature sensitivity in plants.</P>

3D yolk-shell NiGa2S4 microspheres confined with nanosheets for high performance supercapacitors

Liu, S.,Kim, K.,Yun, J.,Kundu, A.,Sankar, K. V.,Patil, U.,Ray, C.,ChanJun, S. Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Vol.5 No.13

<P>Recent advances in the development of two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenides (2D TMCs) have opened up new avenues for supercapacitor applications. However, they still suffer from limited specific capacitance and poor rate capability due to their poor interfacial properties and simple geometry. Here, we propose a facile strategy for the synthesis of yolk-shell NiGa2S4 microspheres comprising crumpled nanosheets supported on nickel foam. The robust structure not only highly facilitates the electron and charge transportation but also efficiently alleviates the volume expansion during redox reactions, contributing to excellent electrochemical behaviors in terms of specific capacitance and rate capability. Significantly, an asymmetric supercapacitor based on the prepared NiGa2S4 as the positive electrode and N, S-codoped graphene/Fe2O3 (N, S-G/Fe2O3) as the negative electrode delivers a high energy density of 43.6 W h kg(-1) at a power density of 961 W kg(-1) and retains an energy density of 22.2 W h kg(-1) even at 15 974 W kg(-1). These impressive results may provide a new perspective to develop high energy and power density storage systems for practical applications.</P>

Expression Analysis of the Mx Gene and Its Genome Structure in Chickens

Yin, C.G.,Du, L.X.,Li, S.G.,Zhao, G.P.,Zhang, J.,Wei, C.H.,Xu, L.Y.,Liu, T.,Li, H.B. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.7

Among the known interferon-induced antiviral mechanisms, the Mx pathway is one of the most powerful pathways. The Mx protein has direct antiviral activity and inhibits a wide range of viruses by blocking an early stage of the viral replication cycle. Cloning, characterization, and expression of Mx in vivo and in vitro have been conducted. The chicken Mx gene spans 21 kb and is made up of 14 exons and 13 introns, of which the promoter region was analyzed. The real-time PCR results showed that Mx expression was increased in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) after 12- and 24-h induction with polyI: C. Induction of Mx expression by poly I: C in vivo revealed tissue-specific patterns among the chicken tissues tested. A trace expression of Mx was detected in healthy chicken liver tissues from adult chickens without inducement; the expression levels in the liver, heart, and gizzard were higher than in the muscle and kidney. This is the first report to demonstrate the expression of a glutathione-S-transferase-tagged-Mx fusion protein of 75 KDa, as well as the biological activity tested by SDS-PAGE and western blotting.

Regulation of heme oxygenase-1 gene by peptidoglycan involves the interaction of Elk-1 and C/EBP α to increase expression

Hung, C.-C.,Liu, X.,Kwon, M.-Y.,Kang, Y.-H.,Chung, S.W.,Perrella, M.A. AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2010 American Journal of Physiology: Lung cellular and Vol.298 No.6

Antibacterial activities of the novel silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Cordyceps militaris extract

J.L. S anchez Llamazares,Chong-Chong Liu,C.F. S anchez-Vald es,Hui Xu,Hongyan Su,Xianhao Cheng 한국물리학회 2016 Current Applied Physics Vol.16 No.9

With the development of aquaculture, there is an urgent demand for an alternative antibacterial agent to reduce the drug resistance and environmental pollution caused by the abuse of antibiotics. Recently, as promising antimicrobial agents, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized via organisms has received much attention. Cordyceps militaris, a valuable edible and medicinal fungus, is rich in a variety of biologically active substances. So, it is of interest to biosynthesis a new antimicrobial agent of AgNPs with the aid of C. militaris. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized using the cell filtrate of C. militaris mycelium as reducing agents. The formation of AgNPs was first confirmed by the surface plasmon resonance illustrated in UVevisible spectrophotometer. X-ray diffraction analysis further confirmed that the AgNPs were composed of highly crystalline Ag. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that most the AgNPs were in spherical shape with mean diameter about 15 nm. Moreover, the synthesized AgNPs exhibited superior antibacterial activities against the all the aquatic as well as clinical pathogenic bacteria. Besides, the prepared AgNPs were proven to be highly stable, even after long-term storage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that the C. militaris extract could facilitate the synthesis of AgNPs.