Drastic Layer‐Number‐Dependent Activity Enhancement in Photocatalytic H2 Evolution over nMoS2/CdS (n ≥ 1) Under Visible Light

Exploiting noble‐metal‐free cocatalysts is of huge interest for photocatalytic water splitting using solar energy. As an efficient cocatalyst in photocatalysis, MoS₂ is shown promise as a low‐cost alternative to Pt for hydrogen evolution. Here we report a systematical study on controlled synthesis of MoS₂ with layer number ranging from ≈1 to 112 and their activities for photocatalytic H₂ evolution over commercial CdS. A drastic increase in photocatalytic H₂ evolution is observed with decreasing MoS₂ layer number. Particularly for the single‐layer (SL) MoS₂, the SL‐MoS₂/CdS sample reaches a high H₂ generation rate of ≈2.01 × 10^?3m h^?1 in Na₂S–Na₂SO₃ solutions and ≈2.59 × 10^?3m h^?1 in lactic acid solutions, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency of 30.2% and 38.4% at 420 nm, respectively. In addition to the more exposed edges and unsaturated active S atoms, valence band–XPS and Mott–Schottky plots analysis indicate that the SL MoS₂ has the more negative conduction band energy level than the H⁺/H₂ potential, facilitating the hydrogen reduction.     

Analysis of particle size reduction on overall surface area and enzymatic hydrolysis yield of corn stover

Particle size of lignocellulose materials is an important factor for enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. In this study, corn stover was milled and sieved into different size fractions from 1.42, 0.69, 0.34, to 0.21 mm, and the corresponding enzymatic hydrolysis yields were 24.69, 23.96, 25.34, and 26.97 %, respectively. The results indicate that the hydrolysis yield is approximately constant with changing corn stover particle sizes in the experimental range. The overall surface area and the inner pore size measurement show that the overall specific surface area was less than 2 % with the half reduction of particle size due to the greater inner pore surface area. The scanning electron microscope photographs gave direct evidence of the much greater inner pore surface area of corn stover particles. This result provided a reference when a proper size reduction of lignocellulose materials is considered in biorefining operations.     

ABORTED GAMETOPHYTE 1 is required for gametogenesis in Arabidopsis

In flowering plants, the male and female gametogenesis is a crucial step of sexual reproduction. Although many genes have been identi fied as being involved in the gametogenesis process, the genetic mechanisms underlying gametogenesis remains poorly understood. We reported here characterization of the gene, ABORTED GAMETOPHYTE 1(AOG1) that is newly identi fied as essential for gametogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. AOG1 is expressed predominantly in reproductive tissues including the developing pollen grains and ovules. The AOG1 protein shares no signi ficant amino acid sequence similarity with other documented proteins and is located mainly in nuclei of the cells. Mutation in AOG1 caused degeneration of pollen at the uninucleate microspore stage and severe defect in embryo sacs, leading to a signi ficant reduction in male and female fertility.Furthermore, the molecular analyses showed that the aog1 mutant signi ficantly affected the expression of several genes, which are required for gametogenesis. Our results suggest that AOG1 plays important roles in gameto genesis at the stage prior to pollen mitosis I(PMI)in Arabidopsis, possibly through collaboration with other genes.     

胆固醇结晶激活动脉粥样硬化斑块巨噬细胞NLRP3炎症体的途径

动脉粥样硬化既是胆固醇在血管壁聚集的疾病,也是发生在动脉壁的一种低强度慢性炎症形式。近年来有研究证实胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中具有重要作用。新的显微技术证实,胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的早期即已出现,并与早期炎症有关。胆固醇结晶通过诱发局部炎症,促进大的脂质核心形成;刺破纤维帽,导致斑块破裂进而促进动脉粥样硬化斑块的进展。在影响斑块进程中,NLRP3炎症体的激活对此发挥了重要的作用。NLRP3炎症体是研究最多最明确的炎症体,其与非炎症性疾病的发生发展密切相关。以胆固醇结晶激活NLRP3炎症体的途径作为研究靶点,为动脉粥样硬化的诊断和治疗提供了新的思路和方法。该文就胆固醇结晶在动脉粥样硬化斑块中激活巨噬细胞NLRP3炎症体的两种途径做一综述。     

食用菌厉眼蕈蚊Lycoriella ingenua在温度逆境下的存活率

以食用菌重要害虫-厉眼蕈蚊属的Lycoriella ingenua为研究对象,研究了不同逆境温度下各虫态存活率的差异。结果表明温度对不同虫态存活率的影响存在显著性差异。成虫和蛹对高温具有一定适应性,卵对高温的适应性最低但具有一定的低温耐受力。在35-40℃高温下,相同暴露时间,各虫态的存活率随温度的升高而降低,但成虫的存活率均高于其它虫态。38℃下全部死亡的暴露时间分别为:成虫48 h,蛹24 h,幼虫12 h,卵2h。在40℃达到全部死亡的暴露时间分别为:成虫24 h、蛹12 h、卵和幼虫0.5 h。低温处理下,各虫态随着暴露时间的延长存活率逐渐降低。5℃低温下,相同暴露时间,成虫存活率均高于其它虫态,但在0℃低温下暴露24 h后全部死亡,显著高于其它虫态;幼虫在低温下取食活动减弱,5℃下暴露24 h后停止取食,相同暴露时间下随着温度的降低存活率下降;蛹对0℃的耐受力高于成虫和幼虫,暴露4 h后可以正常羽化,48 h后全部死亡;卵对短时间的低温具有一定耐受力,但随着暴露时间的延长存活率降低幅度大。     

Bioconversion of Gibberellin Fermentation Residue into Feed Supplement and Organic Fertilizer Employing Housefly (Musca domestica L.) Assisted by Corynebacterium variabile

The accumulation of a considerable quantity of gibberellin fermentation residue (GFR) during gibberellic acid A3 (GA3) production not only results in the waste of many resources, but also poses a potential hazard to the environment, indicating that the safe treatment of GFR has become an urgent issue for GA3 industry. The key to recycle GFR is converting it into an available resource and removing the GA3 residue. To this end, we established a co-bioconversion process in this study using house fly larvae (HFL) and microbes (Corynebacterium variabile) to convert GFR into insect biomass and organic fertilizer. About 85.5% GA3 in the GFR was removed under the following optimized solid-state fermentation conditions: 60% GFR, 40% rice straw powder, pH 8.5 and 6 days at 26°C. A total of 371g housefly larvae meal and 2,064g digested residue were bio-converted from 3,500g raw GFR mixture contaning1, 400g rice straw in the unit of (calculated) dry matter. HFL meal derived from GFR contained 56.4% protein, 21.6% fat, and several essential amino acids, suggesting that it is a potential alternative animal feed protein source. Additionally, the digested GFR could be utilized as an organic fertilizer with a content of 3.2% total nitrogen, 2.0% inorganic phosphorus, 1.3% potassium and 91.5% organic matter. This novel GFR bio-conversion method can mitigate potential environmental pollution and recycle the waste resources.     

Advancing Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Variations of Soil Nutrients in the Water Level Fluctuation Zone of China’s Three Gorges Reservoir Using Self-Organizing Map

The ~350 km² water level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) of China, situated at the intersection of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, experiences a great hydrological change with prolonged winter inundation. Soil samples were collected in 12 sites pre- (September 2008) and post submergence (June 2009) in the WLFZ and analyzed for soil nutrients. Self-organizing map (SOM) and statistical analysis including multi-way ANOVA, paired-T test, and stepwise least squares multiple regression were employed to determine the spatio-temporal variations of soil nutrients in relation to submergence, and their correlations with soil physical characteristics. Results showed significant spatial variability in nutrients along ~600 km long shoreline of the TGR before and after submergence. There were higher contents of organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate (NO3-) in the lower reach and total phosphorus (TP) in the upper reach that were primarily due to the spatial variations in soil particle size composition and anthropogenic activities. Submergence enhanced soil available potassium (K), while significantly decreased soil N, possibly due to the alterations of soil particle size composition and increase in soil pH. In addition, SOM analysis determined important roles of soil pH value, bulk density, soil particle size (i.e., silt and sand) and nutrients (TP, TK, and AK) on the spatial and temporal variations in soil quality. Our results suggest that urban sewage and agricultural runoffs are primary pollutants that affect soil nutrients in the WLFZ of TGR.     

Over-Expression of Calpastatin Inhibits Calpain Activation and Attenuates Post-Infarction Myocardial Remodeling

Background

Calpain is activated following myocardial infarction and ablation of calpastatin (CAST), an endogenous inhibitor of calpains, promotes left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of transgenic over-expression of CAST on the post-infarction myocardial remodeling process.

Method

We established transgenic mice (TG) ubiquitously over-expressing human CAST protein and produced MI in TG mice and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) littermates.

Results

The CAST protein expression was profoundly upregulated in the myocardial tissue of TG mice compared with WT littermates (P < 0.01). Overexpression of CAST significantly reduced the infarct size (P < 0.01) and blunted MI-induced interventricular hypertrophy, global myocardial fibrosis and collagen I and collagen III deposition, hypotension and hemodynamic disturbances at 21 days after MI. Moreover, the MI-induced up-regulation and activation of calpains were obviously attenuated in CAST TG mice. MI-induced down-regulation of CAST was partially reversed in TG mice. Additionally, the MI-caused imbalance of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors was improved in TG mice.

Conclusions

Transgenic over-expression of CAST inhibits calpain activation and attenuates post-infarction myocardial remodeling.