Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant-and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions.Recently, there has been an increasing interest in ...Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant-and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions.Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of biochar as an adsorbent, soil ameliorant and climate mitigation approach in many types of applications.Metal-contaminated soil remediation using biochar has been intensively investigated in small-scale and pilot-scale trials with obtained beneficial results and multifaceted effects.But so far, the study and application of biochar in contaminated sediment management has been very limited, and this is also a worldwide problem. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that the same multiple benefits can also be realized with these sediments due to similar mechanisms for stabilizing contaminants. This paper provides a review on current biochar properties and its use as a sorbent/amendment for metal-contaminated soil/sediment remediation and its effect on plant growth, fauna habits as well as microorganism communities. In addition, the use of biochar as a potential strategy for contaminated sediment management is also discussed, especially as regards in-situ planning. Finally, we highlight the possibility of biochar application as an effective amendment and propose further research directions to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar as an amendment for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment.展开更多
AIM:To design and validate broad-range 16S rRNA primers for use in high throughput sequencing to classify bacteria isolated from the human foregut microbiome.METHODS:A foregut microbiome dataset was constructed using ...AIM:To design and validate broad-range 16S rRNA primers for use in high throughput sequencing to classify bacteria isolated from the human foregut microbiome.METHODS:A foregut microbiome dataset was constructed using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from oral,esophageal,and gastric microbiomes produced by Sanger sequencing in previous studies represented by 219 bacterial species.Candidate primers evaluated were from the European rRNA database.To assess the effect of sequence length on accuracy of classification,16S rRNA genes of various lengths were created by trimming the full length sequences.Sequences spanning various hypervariable regions were selected to simulate the amplicons that would be obtained using possible primer pairs.The sequences were compared with full length 16S rRNA genes for accuracy in taxonomic classification using online software at the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP).The universality of the primer set was evaluated using the RDP 16S rRNA database which is comprised of 433 306 16S rRNA genes,represented by 36 phyla.RESULTS:Truncation to 100 nucleotides(nt)downstream from the position corresponding to base 28 in the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene caused misclassification of 87(39.7%)of the 219 sequences,compared with misclassification of only 29(13.2%)sequences with truncation to 350 nt.Among 350-nt sequence reads within various regions of the 16S rRNA gene,the reverse read of an amplicon generated using the 343F/798R primers had the least(8.2%)effect on classification.In comparison,truncation to 900 nt mimicking single pass Sanger reads misclassified 5.0%of the 219 sequences.The 343F/798R amplicon accurately assigned 91.8%of the 219 sequences at the species level.Weighted by abundance of the species in the esophageal dataset,the 343F/798R amplicon yielded similar classification accuracy without a significant loss in species coverage(92%).Modification of the 343F/798R primers to 347F/803R increased their universality among foregut species.Assuming that a typicalpolymerase chain reaction can展开更多
The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base-Changhsingian Stage is defined at the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the conodont Clarkina wangi within the lineage from C. longicuspidata to C. wangi a...The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base-Changhsingian Stage is defined at the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the conodont Clarkina wangi within the lineage from C. longicuspidata to C. wangi at a point 88 cm above the base of the Changxing Limestone in the lower part of Bed 4 (base of 4α-2) at Meishan D section, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, South China. This level is consistent with the first appearance of Changhsingian index fusulinid Palaeofusulina sinensis and tapashanitid ammonoids. The speciation event from Clarkina longicuspidata to C. wangi occurs just above the flooding surface of the second parasequence in the Changxing Limestone. In addition, the boundary interval is clearly recognizable by the depletion of isotopic carbon ratios and the normal polarity zone appearing above the Late Wuchiapingian reversed polarity zone. Section C, about 300 m to the west of Section D, exposes more of the upper Longtan Formation. It clearly shows the transitional nature of deposition across the Longtan/Changxing formational boundary, and thus is described as a supplementary reference section.展开更多
Alcoholic hepatitis(AH)remains a common and life threatening cause of liver failure,especially when it is severe.Although the adjective"acute"is frequently used to describe this form of liver injury,it is us...Alcoholic hepatitis(AH)remains a common and life threatening cause of liver failure,especially when it is severe.Although the adjective"acute"is frequently used to describe this form of liver injury,it is usually subacute and has been developing for weeks to months before it becomes clinically apparent.Patients with this form of alcoholic liver disease usually have a history of drinking heavily for many years.While certain aspects of therapy,mainly nutritional support and abstinence are well established,significant debate has surrounded the pharmacologic treatment of AH,and many institutions practice widely varying treatment protocols. In recent years a significant amount of literature has helped focus on the details of treatment,and more data have accumulated regarding risks and benefits of pharmacologic treatment.In particular,the efficacy of pentoxifylline has become increasingly apparent,and when compared with the risks associated with prednisolone,has brought this drug to the forefront of therapy for severe AH.This review will focus on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis and pharmacologic therapies that should be applied during hospitalization and continued into outpatient management.We conclude that the routine use of glucocorticoids for severe AH poses significant risk with equivocal benefit,and that pentoxifylline is a better,safer and cheaper alternative.While the full details of nutritional support lie beyond the scope of this article,nutrition is a cornerstone of therapy and must be addressed in every patient diagnosed with AH. Finally,while traditional psychosocial techniques play a major role in post-hospitalization care of alcoholics, we hope to make the medical clinician realize his or her role in reducing recidivism rates with early and frequent outpatient visits and with the use of baclofen to reduce alcohol craving.展开更多
基金supported by the Science and Technology Project of Beijing (No. D161100000216001)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central University (No. 2014KJJCB23)the Youth Scholars Program of Beijing Normal University (No. 2014NT32)
文摘Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant-and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions.Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of biochar as an adsorbent, soil ameliorant and climate mitigation approach in many types of applications.Metal-contaminated soil remediation using biochar has been intensively investigated in small-scale and pilot-scale trials with obtained beneficial results and multifaceted effects.But so far, the study and application of biochar in contaminated sediment management has been very limited, and this is also a worldwide problem. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that the same multiple benefits can also be realized with these sediments due to similar mechanisms for stabilizing contaminants. This paper provides a review on current biochar properties and its use as a sorbent/amendment for metal-contaminated soil/sediment remediation and its effect on plant growth, fauna habits as well as microorganism communities. In addition, the use of biochar as a potential strategy for contaminated sediment management is also discussed, especially as regards in-situ planning. Finally, we highlight the possibility of biochar application as an effective amendment and propose further research directions to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar as an amendment for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment.
基金Supported by(in part)Grants UH2CA140233 from the Human Microbiome Project of the NIH Roadmap Initiative and National Cancer InstituteR01AI063477 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases+1 种基金DE-11443 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial ResearchU19DE018385 from the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research
文摘AIM:To design and validate broad-range 16S rRNA primers for use in high throughput sequencing to classify bacteria isolated from the human foregut microbiome.METHODS:A foregut microbiome dataset was constructed using 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from oral,esophageal,and gastric microbiomes produced by Sanger sequencing in previous studies represented by 219 bacterial species.Candidate primers evaluated were from the European rRNA database.To assess the effect of sequence length on accuracy of classification,16S rRNA genes of various lengths were created by trimming the full length sequences.Sequences spanning various hypervariable regions were selected to simulate the amplicons that would be obtained using possible primer pairs.The sequences were compared with full length 16S rRNA genes for accuracy in taxonomic classification using online software at the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP).The universality of the primer set was evaluated using the RDP 16S rRNA database which is comprised of 433 306 16S rRNA genes,represented by 36 phyla.RESULTS:Truncation to 100 nucleotides(nt)downstream from the position corresponding to base 28 in the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene caused misclassification of 87(39.7%)of the 219 sequences,compared with misclassification of only 29(13.2%)sequences with truncation to 350 nt.Among 350-nt sequence reads within various regions of the 16S rRNA gene,the reverse read of an amplicon generated using the 343F/798R primers had the least(8.2%)effect on classification.In comparison,truncation to 900 nt mimicking single pass Sanger reads misclassified 5.0%of the 219 sequences.The 343F/798R amplicon accurately assigned 91.8%of the 219 sequences at the species level.Weighted by abundance of the species in the esophageal dataset,the 343F/798R amplicon yielded similar classification accuracy without a significant loss in species coverage(92%).Modification of the 343F/798R primers to 347F/803R increased their universality among foregut species.Assuming that a typicalpolymerase chain reaction can
文摘The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base-Changhsingian Stage is defined at the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the conodont Clarkina wangi within the lineage from C. longicuspidata to C. wangi at a point 88 cm above the base of the Changxing Limestone in the lower part of Bed 4 (base of 4α-2) at Meishan D section, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, South China. This level is consistent with the first appearance of Changhsingian index fusulinid Palaeofusulina sinensis and tapashanitid ammonoids. The speciation event from Clarkina longicuspidata to C. wangi occurs just above the flooding surface of the second parasequence in the Changxing Limestone. In addition, the boundary interval is clearly recognizable by the depletion of isotopic carbon ratios and the normal polarity zone appearing above the Late Wuchiapingian reversed polarity zone. Section C, about 300 m to the west of Section D, exposes more of the upper Longtan Formation. It clearly shows the transitional nature of deposition across the Longtan/Changxing formational boundary, and thus is described as a supplementary reference section.
文摘Alcoholic hepatitis(AH)remains a common and life threatening cause of liver failure,especially when it is severe.Although the adjective"acute"is frequently used to describe this form of liver injury,it is usually subacute and has been developing for weeks to months before it becomes clinically apparent.Patients with this form of alcoholic liver disease usually have a history of drinking heavily for many years.While certain aspects of therapy,mainly nutritional support and abstinence are well established,significant debate has surrounded the pharmacologic treatment of AH,and many institutions practice widely varying treatment protocols. In recent years a significant amount of literature has helped focus on the details of treatment,and more data have accumulated regarding risks and benefits of pharmacologic treatment.In particular,the efficacy of pentoxifylline has become increasingly apparent,and when compared with the risks associated with prednisolone,has brought this drug to the forefront of therapy for severe AH.This review will focus on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis and pharmacologic therapies that should be applied during hospitalization and continued into outpatient management.We conclude that the routine use of glucocorticoids for severe AH poses significant risk with equivocal benefit,and that pentoxifylline is a better,safer and cheaper alternative.While the full details of nutritional support lie beyond the scope of this article,nutrition is a cornerstone of therapy and must be addressed in every patient diagnosed with AH. Finally,while traditional psychosocial techniques play a major role in post-hospitalization care of alcoholics, we hope to make the medical clinician realize his or her role in reducing recidivism rates with early and frequent outpatient visits and with the use of baclofen to reduce alcohol craving.