Unlocking the Interaction Mechanism of CNTs and C-S-H on Enhancing Elastic and Viscoelastic Properties of Alite Paste.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have demonstrated potential in enhancing the elasticity and viscoelasticity of cementitious materials, yet the mechanisms underlying their influence on hydrates remain unclear. This study employs experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the impact of CNTs on alite hydration, spanning initial stages to the hardened state. Results show that CNTs exhibit a weak nucleation effect, which is thus not the primary factor contributing to the enhancement of mechanical properties.

Thermodynamics-guided design for lightweight aggregate production from waste glass and incinerated sewage sludge ash.

Recycling waste glass (WG) and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) in lightweight aggregate is a prospective approach for large-scale utilization of these municipal wastes. However, this application has been hindered by the poor process stability and performance control caused by the complex characteristics of WG and ISSA. To address this, this paper develops a thermodynamics-based framework for sintering process design of lightweight aggregate (LWA).

High-efficient stabilization and solidification of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash by synergy of alkali treatment and supersulfated cement.

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (IFA) designated as hazardous waste poses risks to environment and human health. This study introduces a novel approach for the stabilization and solidification (S/S) of IFA: a combined approach involving alkali treatment and immobilization in low-carbon supersulfated cement (SSC). The impact of varying temperatures of alkali solution on the chemical and mineralogical compositions, as well as the pozzolanic reactivity of IFA, and the removal efficiency of heavy metals and metallic aluminum (Al) were examined.

Effect of air pollution-controlled residue of a sewage sludge incinerator on the drying shrinkage and the pore structure of alkali-activated materials.

Recycling air pollution-controlled residues (APCR) generated from sewage sludge incinerators can be used for waste management, but the leaching of potentially toxic heavy metals from APCR poses environmental and human health issues. The present paper describes a procedure using APCR to produce alkali-activated materials and thereby realize their disposal. The effect of APCR on the compressive strength and drying shrinkage of the alkali-activated slag/glass powder was investigated.

Physicochemical and pozzolanic properties of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash with different pretreatments.

Swelling caused by gas generated from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) when it is mixed with alkali limits its uses. Besides, the leaching of anion salts and heavy metals contained in MSWIFA poses a high risk to environment. This study presents the feasibility of a one-step alkaline washing, one-step thermal quenching and two-step combination of alkaline washing and thermal quenching pretreatment methods in altering the key properties of MSWIFA for promoting its reusability.

[Study on MSO/GO-based determination method for trace amount of aqueous Hg2+].

Objective: To establish a highly sensitive fluorometric nanobiosensor for determination of aqueous mercury ions (Hg(2+)) using optimized mercury-specific oligonucleotide (MSO) probes and graphene oxide (GO).

Methods: The nanobiosensor was assembled by attaching the self-designed MSO(1) (5' end labeled with fluorophore carboxyfluorescein (FAM), denoted as FAM-MSO(1)) and MSO(2) to the surface of GO through strong non-covalent bonding forces. Upon the addition of Hg(2+), the formation of the T-Hg(2+)-T configuration desorbed the FAM-MSO(1) and MSO(2) from the surface of GO, resulting in a restoration of the fluorescence of FAM-MSO(1).

Induction of adhesion molecule expression in co-culture of human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils suppressed by puerarin via down-regulating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor κB pathways.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the expressions of adhesion molecules on human bronchial epithelial cells and neutrophils in co-culture system, assess the effects of puerarin on suppressing these adhesion molecules expressions, and explore the roles of two crucial signal-transduction elements p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in modulating adhesion molecules expressions.

Methods: Neutrophils and BEAS-2B cells (one human bronchial epithelial cell line) were co-cultured, and adhesion molecules expressions on cell surface were detected using flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of adhesion molecules were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR).

[A primary investigation on the isoniazid-induced alterations in efflux gene expression among the isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates].

Objective: To detect the changes on the expression of putative drug efflux genes caused by isoniazid-inducement in single resistance to the isoniazid Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) clinical isolates, for exploring the putative efflux genes which causing M. tuberculosis isoniazid resistance as well as the mechanism related to high expression of the putative efflux genes.

[Mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G mutation associated with nonsyndromic hearing loss in twenty-five Han Chinese pedigrees].

Mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555AG mutation is one of the important causes of aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic deafness. We report here the clinical, genetic and molecular characterization of 25 Chinese families carrying the A1555G mutation.Clinical and genetic characterizations of these Chinese families exhibited a wide range of penetrance, severity and age-at-onset of hearing impairment.

Aptasensors for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium.

Herein we reported the development of aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) based on label-free aptamers and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium. Target bacteria binding aptamers are adsorbed on the surface of unmodified AuNPs to capture target bacteria, and the detection was accomplished by target bacteria-induced aggregation of the aptasensor which is associated as red-to-purple color change upon high-salt conditions.

Brief Report: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in VKORC1 are risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus in Asians.

Objective: The increased risk of thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be partially explained by interrelated genetic pathways for thrombosis and SLE. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether 33 established and novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 genes involved in hemostasis pathways that have been associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the general population are risk factors for SLE among Asian subjects.

Methods: Patients in the discovery cohort were enrolled in 1 of 2 North American SLE cohorts.

Inhibition of sperm capacitation and fertilizing capacity by adjudin is mediated by chloride and its channels in humans.

Study Question: Does adjudin disrupt chloride ion (Cl⁻) ion transport function in human sperm and impede sperm capacitation and fertilizing ability in vitro?

Summary Answer: In this study the results indicate that adjudin is a potent blocker of Cl⁻ channels: disrupting Cl⁻ ion transport function results in a decline in sperm capacitation and fertilizing ability in humans in vitro.

What Is Known Already: Although our previous studies have demonstrated that adjudin exerts its effect by disrupting sertoli-germ cell adhesion junctions, most notably apical ectoplasmic specialization by targeting testin and actin filament bundles that disrupts the actin-based cytoskeleton in sertoli cells, it remains unclear whether adjudin impedes Cl⁻ ion transport function in the human sperm.

Study Design, Size And Duration: Semen samples were obtained from 45 fertile men (aged 25-32).

[Detection of mercury (II) ions (Hg(2+)) in water by a nanobiosensor].

Objective: To develop a nanobiosensor for rapid colorimetric detecting Mercury (II) Ions (Hg(2+)) in water by mercury-specific oligonucleotides (MSOs) probe and gold nanoparticles.

Methods: The nanobiosensor was assembled by adsorbing the optimized MSOs on the surface of gold nanoparticles. A direct colorimetric probe of Hg(2+) which relied on the T-T mismatches in DNA duplexes was used to selectively and strongly capture Hg(2+).

[Spectrum and frequency of mitochondrial 12S rRNA variants in the Chinese subjects with nonsynrdomic hearing loss in Zhejiang Province].

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are one of the important causes of deafness. In particular, the 12S rRNA gene is the hot spots for mutations associated with both aminoglycoside ototoxicity and nonsyndromic deafness. In this report, a total of 318 Chinese pediatric hearing-impaired subjects were recruited from otology clinics in the Zhejiang Province, China.

[Mutations in mitochondrial DNA associated with hypertension].

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are one of the molecular bases of hypertension. Among these, the tRNAMet A4435G, tRNAMet/tRNAGln A4401G, tRNAIle A4263G, T4291C and A4295G mutations have been reported to be associated with essential hypertension. These mutations alter the structure of the corresponding mitochondrial tRNAs and cause failures in tRNA metabolism.

Gene expression using the PALM system.

The PALM Robot MicroBeam laser microdissection system can isolate specified cells from complex tissues section, in a rapid and precise manner. Combined with other methods, PALM may be used for gene expression elucidating the role of specialized cell type in physiological and pathological activity. This chapter describes the application of the PALM MicroBeam system to isolate RNA from cells in a complex tissue for subsequent gene expression analysis.

[HIV-1 infection affects the expression of host cell factor TSG101 and Alix].

To investigate the effects of HIV-1 infection on the expression of host factors TSG101 (Tumor Susceptibility Gene 101) and Alix (ALG-2-interacting protein X). HIV-1 infectious clone pNL4-3 was used to infect TZM-bl, PM1, Jurkat cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Twenty-four hours post-infection, the infected or uninfected cells were harvested respectively for extraction of total RNAs and total cellular proteins, which were subsequently used in RT-PCR and Western-blotting respectively to quantify TSG101 and Alix, respectively.

[Effect of hepatocyte growth factor gene transfection on biological features of lymphoma cells].

Objective: To investigate the biological effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on HGF gene-transfected Raji cells.

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from human hepatic tissue, HGF gene cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, and then cloned into vector pVITRO2-mcs to construct recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pVITRO2-mcs-HGF. The recombinant vector was transfected to Raji cells, and the stably transfected cells were selected by homomycin B in serial passages, and confirmed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, ELISA, immunocytohistochemistry.

CFTR is essential for sperm fertilizing capacity and is correlated with sperm quality in humans.

Background: Our previous studies have demonstrated the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is important for capacitation and male fertility in mouse and guinea pig spermatozoa. However, the exact function of CFTR on human sperm fertilizing capacity, and correlation with sperm quality has not been established. The present study may shed light on some unexplained male infertility, and on a possible new method for diagnosis of male infertility and strategy for male contraception.

[Mitochondrial D-Loop gene polymorphisms in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct nucleotide sequencing were used to analyze the mitochondrial D-loop gene of 199 Zhejiang patients with T2DM and 102 controls and the relationship between D-Loop gene variations and the main clinical symptoms. The mitochondrial D-Loop gene was a hypervariable area and np73A-G, np263A-G, np16223C-T, and np16519T-C were four high variations, and 29 unreported new variations were found. np193A-G, np234A-G, and np16108C-T were related to diabetes mellitus with family history.

[Growth inhibition of human leukemia cell line U937 by all-trans retinoic acid and its mechanism].

Objective: To study the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on U937 cell growth and its mechanism.

Methods: Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), expressions of cell cycle associated protein and the p27 related protein were detected by Western blot. The binding of P27 and Skp2 was detected by immunoprecipitation.

[The clinical significance of real-time fluorescence PCR quantification of hepatocyte growth factor mRNA expression in acute leukemia].

Objective: To detect quantitatively hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA expressions of bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs) in acute leukemia (AL) and investigate its clinical significance.

Methods: Total mRNA of quantitated bone marrow MNCs isolated from 67 de novo AL cases was extracted and then cDNA was synthesized. Expression of HGF mRNA was quantified absolutely using real-time fluorescence quantification PCR (FQ-PCR).

[Expression variation and significance of Skp2 and p27(kip1) during the proliferation of Jurkat cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression variation and significance of Skp2 and p27(kip1) during the proliferation of lymphoma cell line Jurkat cells.

Methods: The binding of p27(kip1) and Skp2 in Jurkat cells were detected by immunoprecipitation. Jurkat cells were treated with serum starvation and release synchronization.