Chemical Environment-Induced Mixed Conductivity of Titanate as a Highly Stable Oxygen Transport Membrane

Coupling of two oxygen-involved reactions at the opposite sides of an oxygen transport membrane (OTM) has demonstrated great potential for process intensification. However, the current cobalt- or iron-containing OTMs suffer from poor reduction tolerance, which are incompetent for membrane reactor working in low oxygen partial pressure (pO₂). Here, we report for the first time a both Co- and Fe-free SrMg_0.15Zr_0.05Ti_0.8O_3−δ (SMZ-Ti) membrane that exhibits both superior reduction tolerance for 100 h in 20 vol.% H₂/Ar and environment-induced mixed conductivity due to the modest reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ in low pO₂. We further demonstrate that SMZ-Ti is ideally suited for membrane reactor where water splitting is coupled with methane reforming at the opposite sides to simultaneously obtain hydrogen and synthesis gas. These results extend the scope of mixed conducting materials to include titanates and open up new avenues for the design of chemically stable membrane materials for high-performance membrane reactors.

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A new both Co- and Fe-free titanate-based oxygen transport membrane is developed

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The membrane exhibits superior reduction tolerance in 20 vol.% H₂/Ar

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The membrane shows an environment-induced mixed conductivity

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The material is well suited for membrane reactor for coupling two reactions

Genetic association of DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes with milk yield and composition in dairy cattle

Previously, we identified by RNA sequencing that DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes were significantly differentially expressed between the mammary glands of lactating Holstein cows with extremely high and low milk protein and fat percentages; thus, these four genes are considered as promising candidates potentially affecting milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle. In the present study, we further verified whether these genes have genetic effects on milk traits in a Chinese Holstein population. By re-sequencing part of the non-coding and the entire coding regions of the DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes, a total of 35 SNPs and three insertions/deletions were identified, of which three were found in DDIT3, 12 in RPL23A, 16 in SESN2 and seven in NR4A1. Moreover, two of the insertions/deletions-g.125714860_125714872del and g.125714806delinsCCCC in SESN2-were novel and have not been reported previously. Subsequent single SNP analyses revealed multiple significant association with all 35 SNPs and three indels regressed against the dairy production traits (P-value = <0.0001-0.0493). In addition, with a linkage disequilibrium analysis, we found one, one, three, and one haplotype blocks in the DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 genes respectively. Haplotype-based association analyses revealed that some haplotypes were also significantly associated with milk production traits (P-value = <0.0001-0.0461). We also found that 12 SNPs and two indels (two in DDIT3, two in RPL23A, nine in SESN2 and one in NR4A1) altered the specific transcription factor binding sites in the promoter, thereby regulating promoter activity, suggesting that they might be promising potential functional variants for milk traits. In summary, our findings first determined the genetic associations of DDIT3, RPL23A, SESN2 and NR4A1 with milk yield and composition traits in dairy cattle and also suggested potentially causal variants, which require in-depth validation.

[Nasal endoscopic treatment in one case of infratemporal fossa hydatid invaded the orbit and skullbase]

PATIENT

male, 43 years old, Tibetan, married. Chief complaint: visual impairment of the left eye for one month. No significant abnormalities observed in nasal endoscopy. Sinus CT: the 47 mm×44 mm cystic low density shadows can be seen in the left infratemporal fossa, which is separated inside, and parts of the lesions have invaded into the orbit and skull base.

DIAGNOSIS

the left infratemporal fossa hydatid invaded the orbit and skull base. Under the guidance of general anesthesia navigation, the patient underwent sinusotomy on the left infratemporal fossa and the left eyesight recovered after operation. CT examination showed that the left temporal lobe tumor has been cleared.

[One case of the infratemporal fossa hydatid invading maxillary sinus]

Summary Male, 43 years old, Tibetan. Main reason: left eyesight impaired for one month. Nasal sinus CT: the 47 mm×44 mm cystic low density shadows can be seen in the left infratemporal fossa, the maxillary sinus cavity reduced under the pressurebase. The patient had the internal and external nasal endoscopic sinus resection of the left fossa.The patient's left eye sight recovered after the operation.Two weeks after the operation, the sinus was re-examined for CT, showing that the left inferior fossa was removed, but there was no significant difference in the maxillary sinus structure. Sixteen months after the operation, the CT showed that the left maxillary sinus is back to normal after absorbing the bone tissue.

Identification of key genes of papillary thyroid cancer using integrated bioinformatics analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify novel clinically relevant genes in papillary thyroid carcinoma from public databases.

METHODS

Four original microarray datasets, GSE3678, GSE3467, GSE33630 and GSE58545, were downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered from integrated data. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. The CentiScape pug-in was performed to scale degree. The genes at the top of the degree distribution (≥ 95% percentile) in the significantly perturbed networks were defined as central genes. UALCAN and The Cancer Genome Atlas Clinical Explorer were used to verify clinically relevant genes and perform survival analysis.

RESULT

225 commonly changed DEGs (111 up-regulated and 114 down-regulated) were identified. The DEGs were classified into three groups by GO terms. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed DEGs mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, focal adhesion and proteoglycans in cancer. DEGs' protein-protein interaction (PPI) network complex was developed; six central genes (BCL2, CCND1, FN1, IRS1, COL1A1, CXCL12) were identified. Among them, BCL2, CCND1 and COL1A1 were identified as clinically relevant genes.

CONCLUSION

BCL2, CCND1 and COL1A1 may be key genes for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Further molecular biological experiments are required to confirm the function of the identified genes.