| 1. |
- Guo, Jing, et al.
(author)
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Pulmonary toxicity and adjuvant effect of di-(2-exylhexyl) phthalate in ovalbumin-immunized BALB/c mice
- 2012
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In: PLOS ONE. - : PLOS. - 1932-6203. ; 7:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Asthma is a complex pulmonary inflammatory disease, which is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, variable airflow obstruction and inflammation in the airways. The majority of asthma is allergic asthma, which is a disease caused by type I hypersensitivity mediated by IgE. Exposures to a number of environmental chemicals are suspected to lead to asthma, one such pollutant is di-(2-ethylheyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP is a manufactured chemical that is commonly added in plastic products to make them flexible. Epidemiological studies have revealed a positive association between DEHP exposure and asthma prevalence.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The present study was aimed to determine the underlying role of DEHP exposure in airway reactivity, especially when combined with allergen exposure. The biomarkers include pulmonary histopathology, airway hyperresponsiveness (lung function), IgE, IL-4, IFN-γ and eosinophils. Healthy balb/c mice were randomly divided into eight exposure groups (n = 8 each): (1) saline control, (2) 30 µg/(kg•d) DEHP, (3) 300 µg/(kg•d) DEHP, (4) 3000 µg/(kg•d) DEHP, and (5) ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized group, (6) OVA-combined with 30 µg/(kg•d) DEHP, (7) OVA-combined with 300 µg/(kg•d) DEHP, and (8) OVA-combined with 3000 µg/(kg•d) DEHP. Experimental tests were conducted after 52-day DEHP exposure and subsequently one week of challenge with aerosolized OVA. The principal findings include: (1) Strong postive associations exist between OVA-combined DEHP exposure and serum total IgE (T-IgE), as well as histological findings. These positive associations show a dose-dependent low dose sensitive effect of DEHP. (2) IL-4, eosinophil recruitment and lung function are also indicators for adjuvant effect of DEHP.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggest that except the significant changes of immunological and inflammatory biomarkers (T-IgE, IL-4, IFN-γ and eosinophils), the pulmonary histological (histopathological examination) and physiological (lung function) data also support that DEHP may promote and aggravate allergic asthma by adjuvant effect.
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| 2. |
- Qi, Qibin, et al.
(author)
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FTO genetic variants, dietary intake and body mass index : insights from 177 330 individuals
- 2014
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 23:25, s. 6961-6972
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- FTO is the strongest known genetic susceptibility locus for obesity. Experimental studies in animals suggest the potential roles of FTO in regulating food intake. The interactive relation among FTO variants, dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) is complex and results from previous often small-scale studies in humans are highly inconsistent. We performed large-scale analyses based on data from 177 330 adults (154 439 Whites, 5776 African Americans and 17 115 Asians) from 40 studies to examine: (i) the association between the FTO-rs9939609 variant (or a proxy single-nucleotide polymorphism) and total energy and macronutrient intake and (ii) the interaction between the FTO variant and dietary intake on BMI. The minor allele (A-allele) of the FTO-rs9939609 variant was associated with higher BMI in Whites (effect per allele = 0.34 [0.31, 0.37] kg/m(2), P = 1.9 × 10(-105)), and all participants (0.30 [0.30, 0.35] kg/m(2), P = 3.6 × 10(-107)). The BMI-increasing allele of the FTO variant showed a significant association with higher dietary protein intake (effect per allele = 0.08 [0.06, 0.10] %, P = 2.4 × 10(-16)), and relative weak associations with lower total energy intake (-6.4 [-10.1, -2.6] kcal/day, P = 0.001) and lower dietary carbohydrate intake (-0.07 [-0.11, -0.02] %, P = 0.004). The associations with protein (P = 7.5 × 10(-9)) and total energy (P = 0.002) were attenuated but remained significant after adjustment for BMI. We did not find significant interactions between the FTO variant and dietary intake of total energy, protein, carbohydrate or fat on BMI. Our findings suggest a positive association between the BMI-increasing allele of FTO variant and higher dietary protein intake and offer insight into potential link between FTO, dietary protein intake and adiposity.
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| 3. |
- Wang, Zhaoming, et al.
(author)
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Imputation and subset-based association analysis across different cancer types identifies multiple independent risk loci in the TERT-CLPTM1L region on chromosome 5p15.33
- 2014
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In: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 23:24, s. 6616-6633
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have mapped risk alleles for at least 10 distinct cancers to a small region of 63 000 bp on chromosome 5p15.33. This region harbors the TERT and CLPTM1L genes; the former encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase and the latter may play a role in apoptosis. To investigate further the genetic architecture of common susceptibility alleles in this region, we conducted an agnostic subset-based meta-analysis (association analysis based on subsets) across six distinct cancers in 34 248 cases and 45 036 controls. Based on sequential conditional analysis, we identified as many as six independent risk loci marked by common single-nucleotide polymorphisms: five in the TERT gene (Region 1: rs7726159, P = 2.10 × 10(-39); Region 3: rs2853677, P = 3.30 × 10(-36) and PConditional = 2.36 × 10(-8); Region 4: rs2736098, P = 3.87 × 10(-12) and PConditional = 5.19 × 10(-6), Region 5: rs13172201, P = 0.041 and PConditional = 2.04 × 10(-6); and Region 6: rs10069690, P = 7.49 × 10(-15) and PConditional = 5.35 × 10(-7)) and one in the neighboring CLPTM1L gene (Region 2: rs451360; P = 1.90 × 10(-18) and PConditional = 7.06 × 10(-16)). Between three and five cancers mapped to each independent locus with both risk-enhancing and protective effects. Allele-specific effects on DNA methylation were seen for a subset of risk loci, indicating that methylation and subsequent effects on gene expression may contribute to the biology of risk variants on 5p15.33. Our results provide strong support for extensive pleiotropy across this region of 5p15.33, to an extent not previously observed in other cancer susceptibility loci.
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| 4. |
- Wei, Ting, et al.
(author)
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Developed and developing world responsibilities for historical climate change and CO2 mitigation
- 2012
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In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 109:32, s. 12911-12915
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Cancun, in November 2010, the Heads of State reached an agreement on the aim of limiting the global temperature rise to 2 degrees C relative to preindustrial levels. They recognized that long-term future warming is primarily constrained by cumulative anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, that deep cuts in global emissions are required, and that action based on equity must be taken to meet this objective. However, negotiations on emission reduction among countries are increasingly fraught with difficulty, partly because of arguments about the responsibility for the ongoing temperature rise. Simulations with two earth-system models (NCAR/CESM and BNU-ESM) demonstrate that developed countries had contributed about 60-80%, developing countries about 20-40%, to the global temperature rise, upper ocean warming, and sea-ice reduction by 2005. Enacting pledges made at Cancun with continuation to 2100 leads to a reduction in global temperature rise relative to business as usual with a 1/3-2/3 (CESM 33-67%, BNU-ESM 35-65%) contribution from developed and developing countries, respectively. To prevent a temperature rise by 2 degrees C or more in 2100, it is necessary to fill the gap with more ambitious mitigation efforts.
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| 5. |
- Engström, Arne, 1953-, et al.
(author)
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Problems and Improvement of the Formulations of Mathematics Teaching Objectives : An Example from the Three Dimensional Mathematics Teaching Objectives in Junior High School
- 2014
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In: Journal of Mathematics Education. - Tianjin : Tianjin Normal University. - 1004-9894. ; 23:5, s. 23-26
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- On the basis of the theory of teaching objectives and the practice of mathematics teaching objectives formulating, we established a framework for analyzing mathematical teaching objectives. Based on this analytical framework, we analyzed the teaching mathematics objectives that formulated by junior school mathematics teachers from the whole structure and the specific formulations, and found some problems about formulations of mathematics teaching objectives. Finally we introduced the basic process and gave some examples about improving the quality of mathematics teqaching objectives.
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| 6. |
- Han, Lei, et al.
(author)
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Two Isomeric Magnesium Metal-Organic Frameworks with [24-MC-6] Metallacrown Cluster
- 2013
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In: Crystal Growth & Design. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1528-7483 .- 1528-7505. ; 13:5, s. 1807-1811
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two novel Mg-based metal-organic framework isomers with the formula [Mg-2(HCO2)(2)(NH2-BDC)-(DMF)(2)](n) (NH2-BDC = 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) have been synthesized based on a 6-connected [24-MC-6] metallacrown secondary building unit (SBU), which display a two-dimensional (2D) 3(6) net (1) and three-dimensional primitive rhombohedral net (2) derived from a different extended orientation of SBU, respectively. The 2D framework of 1 exhibits relevant thermal stability, solvents stability, high CO2 adsorption, and strong luminescent properties.
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| 7. |
- Shao, Qimiao, et al.
(author)
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Hindgut Innate Immunity and Regulation of Fecal Microbiota through Melanization in Insects
- 2012
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In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 287:17, s. 14270-14279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many insects eat the green leaves of plants but excrete black feces in an as yet unknown mechanism. Insects cannot avoid ingesting pathogens with food that will be specifically detected by the midgut immune system. However, just as in mammals, many pathogens can still escape the insect midgut immune system and arrive in the hindgut, where they are excreted out with the feces. Here we show that the melanization of hindgut content induced by prophenoloxidase, a key enzyme that induces the production of melanin around invaders and at wound sites, is the last line of immune defense to clear bacteria before feces excretion. We used the silkworm Bombyx mori as a model and found that prophenoloxidase produced by hindgut cells is secreted into the hindgut contents. Several experiments were done to clearly demonstrate that the blackening of the insect feces was due to activated phenoloxidase, which served to regulate the number of bacteria in the hindgut. Our analysis of the silkworm hindgut prophenoloxidase discloses the natural secret of why the phytophagous insect feces is black and provides insight into hindgut innate immunity, which is still rather unclear in mammals.
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| 8. |
- Xiong, Dehua, et al.
(author)
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Enhanced Performance of p-Type Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Ultrasmall Mg-Doped CuCrO2 Nanocrystals
- 2013
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In: ChemSusChem. - : Wiley. - 1864-5631 .- 1864-564X. ; 6:8, s. 1432-1437
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Herein, we present ultrasmall delafossite-type Mg-doped CuCrO2 nanocrystals prepared by using hydrothermal synthesis and their first application as photocathodes in efficient p-type dye-sensitized solar cells. The short-circuit current density (J(sc)) is notably increased by approximately 27% owing to the decreased crystallite size and the enhanced optical transmittance associated with Mg doping of the CuCrO2 nanocrystalline sample. An open-circuit voltage (V-oc) of 201mV, J(sc) of 1.51mAcm(-2), fill factor of 0.449, and overall photoconversion efficiency of 0.132% have been achieved with the CuCr0.9Mg0.1O2 dye photocathode sensitized with the P1 dye under optimized conditions. This efficiency is nearly threetimes higher than that of the NiO-based reference device, which is attributed to the largely improved V-oc and J(sc). The augmentation of V-oc and J(sc) can be attributed to the lower valance band position and the faster hole diffusion coefficient of CuCr0.9Mg0.1O2 compared to those of the NiO reference, respectively, which leads to a higher hole collection efficiency.
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| 9. |
- Xu, Chao, et al.
(author)
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Interface layer formation in solid polymer electrolyte lithium batteries : an XPS study
- 2014
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In: JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-7488. ; 2:20, s. 7256-7264
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The first characterization studies of the interface layer formed between a Li-ion battery electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) are presented here. SPEs are well known for their electrochemical stability and excellent safety, and thus considered good alternatives to conventional liquid/gel electrolytes in high-energy density battery devices. This work comprises studies of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation in SPE-based graphite|Li cells using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). SPEs based on high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) salt are studied. Large amounts of LiOH are observed, and the XPS results indicate a correlation with moisture contamination in the SPEs. The water contents are quantitatively determined to be in the range of hundreds of ppm in the pure PEO as well as in the polymer electrolytes, which are prepared by a conventional SPE preparation method using different batches of PEO and at different drying temperatures. Moreover, severe salt degradation is observed at the graphite-SPE interface after the 1st discharge, while the salt is found to be more stable at the Li-SPE interface or when using LiTFSI-based liquid electrolyte equivalents.
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