Description: Background: DNA methylation is thought to be extensively involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including major psychosis. However, most studies focus on DNA methylation alteration at promoters of protein-coding genes, despite the poor correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. Methods: We analyzed differentially methylated regions and differentially expressed genes in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and normal subjects. Gene expression and DNA methylation were analyzed with RNA-seq and MeDIP-seq of post-mortem brain tissue (brain region BA9) cohort in five schizophrenia, seven bipolar disorder cases and six controls, respectively. Results: Here, we performed a large-scale integrative analysis using MeDIP-seq, coupled with RNA-seq, on brain samples from major psychotic and normal subjects and observed obvious discrepancy between DNA methylation and gene expression. We found that differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were distributed across different types of genomic elements, especially introns. These intronic DMRs were significantly enriched for diverse regulatory elements, such as enhancers and binding sites of certain transcriptional factors (e.g., Pol3). Notably, we found that parts of intronic DMRs overlapped with some intragenic miRNAs, such as hsa-mir-7-3. These intronic DMR-related miRNAs were found to target many differentially expressed genes. Moreover, functional analysis demonstrated that differential target genes of intronic DMR-related miRNAs were sufficient to capture many important biological processes in major psychosis, such as neurogenesis, suggesting that miRNAs may function as important linkers mediating the relationships between DNA methylation alteration and gene expression changes. Conclusions: Collectively, our study indicated that DNA methylation alteration could induce expression changes indirectly by affecting miRNAs and the exploration of DMR-related miRNAs and their targets enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying major psychosis.

Description: Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second-most common form of leukemia in children. Aberrant DNA methylation patterns are a characteristic feature of AML. GATA4 has been suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene regulated by promoter hypermethylation in various types of human cancers although the expression and promoter methylation of GATA4 in pediatric AML is still unclear. Methods: Transcriptional expression levels of GATA4 were evaluated by semi-quantitative and real-time PCR. Methylation status was investigated by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfate genomic sequencing (BGS). The prognostic significance of GATA4 expression and promoter methylation was assessed in 105 cases of Chinese pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients with clinical follow-up records. Results: MSP and BGS analysis showed that the GATA4 gene promoter is hypermethylated in AML cells, such as the HL-60 and MV4-11 human myeloid leukemia cell lines. 5-Aza treatment significantly upregulated GATA4 expression in HL-60 and MV4-11 cells. Aberrant methylation of GATA4 was observed in 15.0 % (3/20) of the normal bone marrow control samples compared to 56.2 % (59/105) of the pediatric AML samples. GATA4 transcript levels were significantly decreased in AML patients (33.06 ± 70.94; P = 0.011) compared to normal bone marrow/idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura controls (116.76 ± 105.39). GATA4 promoter methylation was correlated with patient leukocyte counts (WBC, white blood cells) (P = 0.035) and minimal residual disease MRD (P = 0.031). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly shorter overall survival time in patients with GATA4 promoter methylation (P = 0.014). Conclusions: Epigenetic inactivation of GATA4 by promoter hypermethylation was observed in both AML cell lines and pediatric AML samples; our study implicates GATA4 as a putative tumor suppressor gene in pediatric AML. In addition, our findings imply that GATA4 promoter methylation is correlated with WBC and MRD. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly shorter overall survival in pediatric AML with GATA4 promoter methylation but multivariate analysis shows that it is not an independent factor. However, further research focusing on the mechanism of GATA4 in pediatric leukemia is required.

Description: Latent heat thermal energy storage (TES) plays an important role in the advocation of TES in contrast to sensible energy storage because of the large storage energy densities per unit mass/volume possible at a nearly constant thermal energy. In the current study, a heat exchange device with a zigzag configuration containing multiple phase-change-materials (m-PCMs) was considered, and an experimental system was built to validate the model for a single PCM. A two-dimensional numerical model was developed using the ANSYS Fluent 14.0 software program. The energy fractions method was put forward to calculate the average Ste number and the influence of Re and Ste numbers on the discharge process were studied. The influence of phase change temperature among m-PCMs on the solidification process has also been studied. A new boundary condition was defined to determine the combined effect of the Re and Ste numbers on the discharging process. The modelling results show that for a given input power, the Ste (or Re) number has a significant impact on the discharging process; however, the period value of inlet velocity has almost no impact on it. Besides, the zigzag plate with m-PCMs has a good impact on the temperature shock as “filter action” in the discharging process.

Description: Understanding runoff generation and dynamics is the basis for water resource management, while water isotopic ratios are a potential tool for studying the mechanism on a large scale. In this paper, spatial variations of δ18O and δD of river water and their sources within a large region of the Tarim River were investigated. The results showed obvious spatial variations of both water isotope values along the river flow direction, and significant seasonal variation occurred within the river water isotopes. This indicated that different proportions of rain and melt water entering river water should lead to spatial variation, and for mid-stream and downstream regions, the transformation relationship between surface water and groundwater should consider less input of melt water. Furthermore, we quantitatively determine the ratio of different water sources using the stable isotope mass balance method and other stable tracer elements. Results showed the contribution of ice-snowmelt water varied from 14.97% to 40.85%, that of rain varied from 9.04% to 54.80%, and that of groundwater varied from 15.34% to 58.85%, and they also showed that baseflow is a factor connecting melt water and groundwater, which meant the Hotan River and the Yarkand River are melt water–dependent rivers, and seasonal precipitation is the main water supply source of baseflow in the Aksu River and the Kaidu River.

Description: Vibroarthrographic (VAG) signals are used as useful indicators of knee osteoarthritis (OA) status. The objective was to build a template database of knee crepitus sounds. Internships can practice in the templa...

Description: Comparative mapping of 5S and 45S rDNA by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique is an excellent tool to determine cytogenetic relationships among closely related species.

Description: Background: We investigated the epidemiological and clinical data of all hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in a sentinel hospital of Shenzhen, China from 2009 to 2011. Methods: HFMD cases diagnosed in our institution were assessed from 2009 to 2011. Both epidemiological and clinical features were analyzed retrospectively. All the fatal cases were reported. Results: A total of 12132 patients were diagnosed with HFMD, of which 2944 (24.3%) were hospitalized. Of the 2944 hospitalized patients, the highest proportion of diagnosed cases were admitted in May and July (989/2944, 33.6%). In 2009 all severe HFMD cases were diagnosed with enterovirus 71 (EV71). In 2010 and 2011, some of the severe HFMD were diagnosed with Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). Incidence was highest in 0-4-year old children, with males being predominant. There were sporadic cases with HFMD the whole year except in February. All cases were cured in 2009. Six deaths were reported during 2010 and 2011. Conclusions: EV71 can cause severe complications and deaths in our region. HFMD is an important public health problem in Shenzhen in spite of stringent measures taken in preschool centers. A high degree of vigilance should be maintained over the disease situation.

Description: Sensors, Vol. 18, Pages 2271: Inversion of Rice Biophysical Parameters Using Simulated Compact Polarimetric SAR C-Band Data Sensors doi: 10.3390/s18072271 Authors: Xianyu Guo Kun Li Yun Shao Zhiyong Wang Hongyu Li Zhi Yang Long Liu Shuli Wang Timely and accurate estimation of rice parameters plays a significant role in rice monitoring and yield forecasting for ensuring food security. Compact-polarimetric (CP) synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a good compromise between the dual- and quad-polarized SARs, is an important part of the new generation of Earth observation systems. In this paper, the ability of CP SAR data to retrieve rice biophysical parameters was explored using a modified water cloud model. The results showed that S1 was superior to other CP variables in rice height inversion with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.92 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 5.81 cm. RL was the most suitable for inverting the volumetric water content of the rice canopy, with an R2 of 0.95 and a RMSE of 0.31 kg/m3. The m-χ decomposition produced the highest accuracies for the ear biomass: R2 was 0.89 and RMSE was 0.17 kg/m2. The highest accuracy of leaf area index (LAI) retrieval was obtained for RH (right circular transmit and horizontal linear receive) with an R2 of 0.79 and a RMSE of 0.33. This study illustrated the capability of CP SAR data with respect to retrieval of rice biophysical parameters, especially for height, volumetric water content of the rice canopy, and ear biomass, and this mode may offer the best option for rice-monitoring applications because of swath coverage.

Description: Minerals, Vol. 8, Pages 102: Large-Scale Consumption and Zero-Waste Recycling Method of Red Mud in Steel Making Process Minerals doi: 10.3390/min8030102 Authors: Guoshan Ning Bo Zhang Chengjun Liu Shuai Li Yun Ye Maofa Jiang To release the environmental pressure from the massive discharge of bauxite residue (red mud), a novel recycling method of red mud in steel making process was investigated through high-temperature experiments and thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that after the reduction roasting of the carbon-bearing red mud pellets at 1100–1200 °C for 12–20 min, the metallic pellets were obtained with the metallization ratio of ≥88%. Then, the separation of slag and iron achieved from the metallic pellets at 1550 °C, after composition adjustment targeting the primary crystal region of the 12CaO·7Al2O3 phase. After iron removal and composition adjustment, the smelting-separation slag had good smelting performance and desulfurization capability, which meets the demand of sulfurization flux in steel making process. The pig iron quality meets the requirements of the high-quality raw material for steel making. In virtue of the huge scale and output of steel industry, the large-scale consumption and zero-waste recycling method of red mud was proposed, which comprised of the carbon-bearing red mud pellets roasting in the rotary hearth furnace and smelting separation in the electric arc furnace after composition adjustment.

Description: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a global health dilemma with high morbidity and mortality. Human males absent on the first (hMOF) (a histone acetyltransferase) is responsible for DNA damage repair, tumorigen...