Advanced Electro-active Dry Adhesive Actuated by an Artificial Muscle Constructed from an Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Reinforced with Nitrogen-doped Carbon Nanocages

An advanced electro-active dry adhesive,which was composed of a mushroom-shaped fibrillar dry adhesive array actuated by an Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) artificial muscle reinforced with nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages (NCNCs),was developed to imitate the actuation of a gecko's toe.The properties of the NCNC-reinforced Nafion membrane,the electromechanical properties of the NCNC-reinforced IPMC,and the related electro-active adhesion ability were investigated.The NCNCs were uniformly dispersed in the 0.1 wt％ NCNC/Nafion membrane,and there was a seamless connection with no clear interface between the dry adhesive and the IPMC.Our 0.1 wt％ NCNC/Nafion-IPMC actuator shows a displacement and force that are 1.6-2 times higher than those of the recast Nafion-IPMC.This is due to the increased water uptake (25.39％) and tensile strength (24.5 MPa) of the specific 3D hollow NCNC-reinforced Nafion membrane,as well as interactions between the NCNCs and the sulfonated groups of the Nafion.The NCNC/Nafion-IPMC was used to effectively actuate the mushroom-shaped dry adhesive.The normal adhesion forces were 7.85 mN,12.1 mN,and 51.7 mN at sinusoidal voltages of 1.5 V,2.5 V,and 3.5 V,respectively,at 0.1 Hz.Under the bionic leg trail,the normal and shear forces were approximately 713.5 mN (159 mN·cm-2) and 1256.6 mN (279 mN·cm-2),respectively,which satisfy the required adhesion.This new electro-active dry adhesive can be applied for active,distributed actuation and flexible grip in robots.     

Corrigendum of Zhao et al. (2020): a revised infrageneric classification of Lepisorus (Polypodiaceae)

Here, we publish Lepisorus sect. Paragramma (Blume) C.F. Zhao, R. Wei & X.C. Zhang as a combinatio nova to replace the section name in Zhao et al. (2020), which was published as a status nova and turned out to be an invalid name, because we cited an incorrect basionym. A revised infrageneric classification of Lepisorus also is proposed.     

Insights into the discrepant luminescence for BaSiO3:Eu2+ phosphors prepared by solid‐state reaction and precipitation reaction methods

Two synthesis routes, solid‐state reaction and precipitation reaction, were employed to prepare BaSiO₃:Eu²⁺ phosphors in this study. Discrepancies in the luminescence green emission at 505 nm for the solid‐state reaction method sample and in the yellow emission at 570 nm for the sample prepared by the precipitation reaction method, were observed respectively. A detail investigation about the discrepant luminescence of BaSiO₃:Eu²⁺ phosphors was performed by evaluation of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL)/photoluminescence excitation (PLE), decay time and thermal quenching properties. The results showed that the yellow emission was generated from the BaSiO₃:Eu²⁺ phosphor, while the green emission was ascribed to a small amount of Ba₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ compound that was present in the solid‐state reaction sample. This work clarifies the luminescence properties of Eu²⁺ ions in BaSiO₃ and Ba₂SiO₄ hosts.     

SOCS2 Balances Metabolic and Restorative Requirements during Liver Regeneration

After significant injury, the liver must maintain homeostasis during the regenerative process. We hypothesized the existence of mechanisms to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury to maintain metabolic and synthetic function. A screen for candidates revealed suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2), an inhibitor of growth hormone (GH) signaling, was strongly induced after partial hepatectomy. Using genetic deletion and administration of various factors we investigated the role of SOCS2 during liver regeneration. SOCS2 preserves liver function by restraining the first round of hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy by preventing increases in growth hormone receptor (GHR) via ubiquitination, suppressing GH pathway activity. At later times, SOCS2 enhances hepatocyte proliferation by modulating a decrease in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) that allows GH release from the pituitary. SOCS2, therefore, plays a dual role in modulating the rate of hepatocyte proliferation. In particular, this is the first demonstration of an endogenous mechanism to limit hepatocyte proliferation after injury.     

Screening of significant biomarkers related with prognosis of liver cancer by lncRNA-associated ceRNAs analysis

This study aimed to identify significant biomarkers related to the prognosis of liver cancer using long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) analysis. Differentially expressed mRNA and lncRNAs between liver cancer and paracancerous tissues were screened, and the functions of these mRNAs were predicted by gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses. A ceRNA network consisting of differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs was constructed. LncRNA FENDRR and lncRNA HAND2-AS1 were hub nodes in the ceRNA network. A risk score assessment model consisting of eight genes (PDE2A, ESR1, FBLN5, ALDH8A1, AKR1D1, EHHADH, ADRA1A, and GNE) associated with prognosis were developed. Multivariate Cox regression suggested that both pathologic_T and risk group could be regarded as independent prognostic factors. Furthermore, a nomogram model consisting of pathologic_T and risk group showed a good prediction ability for predicting the survival rate of liver cancer patients. The nomogram model consisting of pathologic_T and a risk score assessment model could be regarded as an independent factor for predicting prognosis of liver cancer.     

Biotransformation of menadione to its prenylated derivative MK-3 using recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis>

Prenylated quinones, especially menaquinones, have significant physiological activities, but are arduous to synthesize efficiently. Due to the relaxed aromatic substrate specificity and prenylation regiospecificity at the ortho- site of the phenolic hydroxyl group, the aromatic prenyltransferase NovQ from Streptomyces may be useful in menaquinone synthesis from menadione. In this study, NovQ was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris. After fermentation optimization, NovQ production increased by 1617%. Then the different effects of metal ions, detergents and pH on the activity of purified NovQ were investigated to optimize the prenylation reaction. Finally, purified NovQ and cells containing NovQ were used for menadione prenylation in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Menaquinone-1 (MK-1) was detected as the only product in vitro with γ,γ-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and menadione hydroquinol substrates. MK-3 at a concentration of 90.53 mg/L was detected as the major product of whole cell catalysis with 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol and menadione hydroquinol substrates. This study realized whole cell catalysis converting menadione to menaquinones.     

Mapping QTLs and meta-QTLs for two inflorescence architecture traits in multiple maize populations under different watering environments

Drought significantly affects the architectural development of maize inflorescence, which leads to massive losses in grain yield. However, the genetic mechanism for traits involved in inflorescence architecture in different watering environments, remains poorly understood in maize. In this study, 19 QTLs for tassel primary branch number (TBN) and ear number per plant (EN) were detected in 2 F_2:3 populations under both well-watered and water-stressed environments by single environment mapping with composite interval mapping (CIM); 11/19 QTLs were detected under water-stressed environments. Moreover, 21 QTLs were identified in the 2 F_2:3 populations by joint analysis of all environments with a mixed linear model based on composite interval mapping (MCIM), 11 QTLs were involved in QTL × environment interactions, seven epistatic interactions were identified with additive by additive/dominance effects. Remarkably, 12 stable QTLs (sQTLs) were simultaneously detected by single environment mapping with CIM and joint analysis through MCIM, which were concentrated in ten bins across the chromosomes: 1.05_1.07, 1.08_1.10, 2.01_2.04, 3.01, 4.06, 4.09, 5.06_5.07, 6.05, 7.00, and 7.04 regions. Twenty meta-QTLs (mQTLs) were detected across 19 populations under 51 watering environments using a meta-analysis, and 34 candidate genes were predicted in corresponding mQTLs regions to be involved in the regulation of inflorescence development and drought resistance. Therefore, these results provide valuable information for finding quantitative trait genes and to reveal the genetic mechanisms responsible for TBN and EN under different watering environments. Furthermore, alleles for TBN and EN provide useful targets for marker-assisted selection to generate high-yielding maize varieties.