Foliar Spray with 24-Epibrassinolide Enhanced Strawberry Fruit Quality,Phytochemical Content,and Postharvest Life

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Activation of complex metabolic pathways and antioxidant activities is necessary for enhancing quality and health promoting capacity of food crops. Plant growth...     

IL-35, a double-edged sword in cancer

Interleukin 35 (IL-35), a cytokine mainly produced by regulatory T cells (Treg cells), is composed of an Epstein-Barr virus–induced gene 3 β-chain and an IL-12 p35 α-chain. IL-35 causes tumorigenicity in cancer, protects cancer cells against apoptosis, and facilitates cancer progression. However, a few reports have referred to its contradictory roles in cancer prevention. Therefore, the exact purpose of this cytokine in cancer development has become a fundamental question that needs to be answered. In this review, we explain the structure of IL-35 and its receptors and their different signaling pathways. Finally, the function of IL-35 in some cancers and the possible application of this cytokine in approaches for cancer therapy have been discussed.     

Highly Efficient Solar‐Driven Carbon Dioxide Reduction on Molybdenum Disulfide Catalyst Using Choline Chloride‐Based Electrolyte

Conversion of CO₂ to energy‐rich chemicals using renewable energy is of much interest to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle. However, the current photoelectrochemical systems are still far from being practically feasible. Here the successful demonstration of a continuous, energy efficient, and scalable solar‐driven CO₂ reduction process based on earth‐abundant molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) catalyst, which works in synergy with an inexpensive hybrid electrolyte of choline chloride (a common food additive for livestock) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) is reported. The CO₂ saturated hybrid electrolyte utilized in this study also acts as a buffer solution (pH ≈ 7.6) to adjust pH during the reactions. This study reveals that this system can efficiently convert CO₂ to CO with solar‐to‐fuel and catalytic conversion efficiencies of 23% and 83%, respectively. Using density functional theory calculations, a new reaction mechanism in which the water molecules near the MoS₂ cathode act as proton donors to facilitate the CO₂ reduction process by MoS₂ catalyst is proposed. This demonstration of a continuous, cost‐effective, and energy efficient solar driven CO₂ conversion process is a key step toward the industrialization of this technology.     

Evaluation of the 2013 Southeast Asian Haze on Solar Generation Performance

Pollution in Southeast Asia is a major public energy problem and the cause of energy losses. A significant problem with respect to this type of pollution is that it decreases energy yield. In this study, two types of photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays were used to evaluate the effect of air pollution. The performance of two types of solar arrays were analysed in this research, namely, two units of a 1 kWp tracking flat photovoltaic (TFP) and two units of a 1 kWp fixed flat photovoltaic arrays (FFP). Data analysis was conducted on 2,190 samples at 30 min intervals from 01^st June 2013, when both arrays were washed, until 30^th June 2013. The performance was evaluated by using environmental data (irradiation, temperature, dust thickness, and air pollution index), power output, and energy yield. Multiple regression models were predicted in view of the environmental data and PV array output. Results showed that the fixed flat system was more affected by air pollution than the tracking flat plate. The contribution of this work is that it considers two types of photovoltaic arrays under the Southeast Asian pollution 2013.     

Development of optical biosensor technologies for cardiac troponin recognition

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death among cardiovascular diseases. Among the numerous attempts to develop coronary marker concepts into clinical strategies, cardiac troponin is known as a specific marker for coronary events. The cardiac troponin concentration level in blood has been shown to rise rapidly for 4–10 days after onset of AMI, making it an attractive approach for a long diagnosis window for detection. The extremely low clinical sensing range of cardiac troponin levels consequently makes the methods of detection highly sensitive. In this review, by taking into consideration optical methods applied for cardiac troponin detection, we discuss the most commonly used methods of optical immunosensing and provide an overview of the various diagnostic cardiac troponin immunosensors that have been employed for determination of cardiac troponin over the last several years.     

Comparative Analysis of Peripheral Alkaline Phytase Protein Structures Expressed in E. coli

Background:

Degradation of phytic acid to inorganic phosphate in domestic animals’ diets requires thermostable phytase. Although Basillus subtilis phytase shows a potential to be degraded phytate complex in high temperature, the enzyme activities and yields need to be increased to make them possible for industrial application.

Methods:

The phytase gene from Bacillus subtilis DR8886 was isolated from Dig Rostam hot mineral spring in Iran and cloned into pET21(+) and pET32(+). Expression was induced with 1.5 mM IPTG and the proteins were purified.

Results:

The recombinant protein affected by thioredoxin (Trx) from pET32a-PhyC was estimated to constitute about 31% of the total soluble protein in the cells; its concentration was 3.5 µg/ml, and its maximal phytase activity was 15.9 U/ml, whereas the recombinant phytase from pET21a-PhyC was estimated to comprise about 19% of the total soluble protein; its concentration was 2.2 µg/ml, and its maximal phytase activity was 69 U/ml. The molecular masses of recombinant phytase with and without Trx were about 60 kDa and 42 kDa, respectively. Zymography confirmed that the recombinant enzymes were active. Although the concentration of the alkaline phytase expressed by pET32a was approximately 59% greater than that expressed by pET21, its phytase activity was approximately 77% less.

Conclusion:

This study showed that the peripheral gene (Trx) encoded by the pET32a (+) vector are the principal reason for the decrease in recombinant phytase enzyme activity.Key Words: Bacillus subtilis DR8806, PhyC Gene, Thioredoxin