Multi-Band Terahertz Absorber at 0.1–1 THz Frequency Based on Ultra-Thin Metamaterial

Plasmonics - In this letter, we design a terahertz (THz) multi-band absorber comprised of four square open/closed loops and a ring wall resonant metamaterial with a high absorption rate for TE and...     

Putrescine enhances chilling tolerance of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) through modulating antioxidant systems

Seedlings of two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars, cv. Mawa (chilling-resistant) and cv. Moneymaker (chilling-sensitive) were used to investigate the effects of exogenous putrescine (Put) on chilling tolerance as well as on changes of physiological features and the fluctuation of free and conjugated endogenous polyamines (PAs) contents in the leaves under chilling stress. During chilling stress, accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was obviously detected in the leaves of both cultivars, but it was fewer in cv. Mawa. Meanwhile, d-arginine (d-Arg), a Put biosynthesis inhibitor caused more H₂O₂ accumulation in both cultivars, especially in cv. Moneymaker. By adding back Put to leaves, accumulation of H₂O₂ obviously reduced in two cultivars. Put was also involved in the increase of Fv/Fm and the decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) in two cultivars under chilling stress. Despite the two cultivars displaying differential behavior towards enzymic antioxidants, enzymes and components of the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle in responses to chilling stress, d-Arg treatment diminished the enzyme activities and antioxidant contents induced by chilling stress and its reversion was performed by adding Put in both cultivars. During chilling stress, free and conjugated endogenous PA contents increased in two cultivars. d-Arg treatment inhibited the increases, and exogenously applied Put enhanced the increases in two cultivars. These results suggested that Put played important roles in the tolerance of tomato against chilling stress, which was most likely achieved by modulating antioxidant system as well as increasing free and conjugated PAs.     

多种农药与次氯酸钠、高锰酸钾和高铁酸钾的反应活性

为探究4类,10种广泛使用的农药(苯氧羧酸类,芳香酸类,取代脲类和烟碱类)与3种氧化剂(次氯酸钠,高锰酸钾和高铁酸钾)的反应活性,本研究在温度(25±2)℃、pH值为8的条件下,分析10种农药分别与3种氧化剂NaClO、KMnO4、K2Fe O4在不同浓度下的反应活性,采用HPLC检测法,对比降解效能,探究氧化剂性质与有机物结构导致的反应活性的差异。实验结果表明,不同种类农药的结构性质对反应活性有重要影响,3种氧化剂的氧化降解能力有明显差异。苯氧羧酸类和芳香酸类农药结构较简单,并含有稳定的苯环或吡啶环结构,氧化降解较困难。取代脲类和烟碱类农药结构较复杂,氧化剂可攻击其不饱和官能团,反应活性较高。NaClO对取代脲类农药的降解率明显优于其他2种氧化剂,3种氧化剂对烟碱类农药的氧化降解效果依次为NaClO>KMn O4>K2Fe O4。研究多种农药与次氯酸钠、高锰酸钾和高铁酸钾的反应活性对降解去除水体中的农药残留对水环境的治理具有重要意义。     

Attenuation of CCl4-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice by Vaccinating against TGF-β1

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is the pivotal pro-fibrogenic cytokine in hepatic fibrosis. Reducing the over-produced expression of TGF-β1 or blocking its signaling pathways is considered to be a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatic fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of attenuating hepatic fibrosis by vaccination against TGF-β1 with TGF-β1 kinoids. Two TGF-β1 kinoid vaccines were prepared by cross-linking TGF-β1-derived polypeptides (TGF-β1²⁵–[41-65] and TGF-β1³⁰–[83-112]) to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Immunization with the two TGF-β1 kinoids efficiently elicited the production of high-levels of TGF-β1-specific antibodies against in BALB/c mice as tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. The antisera neutralized TGF-β1-induced growth-inhibition on mink lung epithelial cells (Mv1Lu) and attenuated TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation, α-SMA, collagen type 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression in the rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line, HSC-T6. Vaccination against TGF-β1 with the kinoids significantly suppressed CCl₄-induced collagen deposition and the expression of α-SMA and desmin, attenuated hepatocyte apoptosis and accelerated hepatocyte proliferation in BALB/c mice. These results demonstrated that immunization with the TGF-β1 kinoids efficiently attenuated CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis and liver injury. Our study suggests that vaccination against TGF-β1 might be developed into a feasible therapeutic approach for the treatment of chronic fibrotic liver diseases.     

Functional analysis of rubber tree receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase HbBIK1 in plant root development and immune response

Tree Genetics & Genomes - The correct name of the 3rd Author is presented in this paper.     

Activity of a novel‐designed antimicrobial peptide and its interaction with lipids

A new antimicrobial peptide l‐RW containing double amphipathic binding sequences was designed, and its biological activities were investigated in the present study. L‐RW showed antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains but low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells and low hemolytic activity to red blood cells, which makes it a potential and promising peptide for further development. Microscale thermophoresis (MST), a new technique, was applied to study the antimicrobial peptide–lipid interaction for the first time, which examined the binding affinities of this new antimicrobial peptide to various lipids, including different phospholipids, mixture lipids and bacterial lipid extracts. The results demonstrated that l‐RW bound preferentially to negatively charged lipids over neutral lipids, which was consistent with the biological activities, revealing the important role of electrostatic interaction in the binding process. L‐RW also showed higher binding affinity for lipid extract from Staphyloccocus aureus compared with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, which were in good agreement with the higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus than P. aeruginosa and E. coli, suggesting that the binding affinity is capable to predict the antibacterial activity to some extent. Additionally, the binding of l‐RW to phospholipids was also performed in fetal bovine serum solution by MST, which revealed that the components in biological solution may have interference with the binding event. The results proved that MST is a useful and potent tool in antimicrobial peptide–lipid interaction investigation. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐Abundance and Low‐Cost Metal‐Based Cathode Materials for Sodium‐Ion Batteries: Problems,Progress, and Key Technologies

Recently, room‐temperature stationary sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have received extensive investigations for large‐scale energy storage systems (EESs) and smart grids due to the huge natural abundance and low cost of sodium. The SIBs share a similar “rocking‐chair” sodium storage mechanism with lithium‐ion batteries; thus, selecting appropriate electrodes with a low cost, satisfactory electrochemical performance, and high reliability is the key point for the development for SIBs. On the other hand, the carefully chosen elements in the electrodes also largely determine the cost of SIBs. Therefore, earth‐abundant‐metal‐based compounds are ideal candidates for reducing the cost of electrodes. Among all the high‐abundance and low‐cost metal elements, cathodes containing iron and/or manganese are the most representative ones that have attracted numerous studies up till now. Herein, recent advances on both iron‐ and manganese‐based cathodes of various types, such as polyanionic, layered oxide, MXene, and spinel, are highlighted. The structure–function property for the iron‐ and manganese‐based compounds is summarized and analyzed in detail. With the participation of iron and manganese in sodium‐based cathode materials, real applications of room‐temperature SIBs in large‐scale EESs will be greatly promoted and accelerated in the near future.     

Msps governs acentrosomal microtubule assembly and reactivation of quiescent neural stem cells

The ability of stem cells to switch between quiescence and proliferation is crucial for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Drosophila quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) extend a primary cellular protrusion from the cell body prior to their reactivation. However, the structure and function of this protrusion are not well established. Here, we show that in the protrusion of quiescent NSCs, microtubules are predominantly acentrosomal and oriented plus‐end‐out toward the tip of the primary protrusion. We have identified Mini Spindles (Msps)/XMAP215 as a key microtubule regulator in quiescent NSCs that governs NSC reactivation via regulating acentrosomal microtubule growth and orientation. We show that quiescent NSCs form membrane contact with the neuropil and E‐cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, localizes to these NSC‐neuropil junctions. Msps and a plus‐end directed motor protein Kinesin‐2 promote NSC cell cycle re‐entry and target E‐cadherin to NSC‐neuropil contact during NSC reactivation. Together, this work establishes acentrosomal microtubule organization in the primary protrusion of quiescent NSCs and the Msps‐Kinesin‐2 pathway that governs NSC reactivation, in part, by targeting E‐cad to NSC‐neuropil contact sites.     

梨树弃枝粉碎还田对梨园土壤理化性质和梨生长的影响

以梨树品种'金蜜梨'为对象,于2017-2018年进行梨树枝条粉碎覆盖还田试验,设置不还田(0 kg·plant-1,对照)、低量还田(4 kg· plant-1)、常规量还田(8 kg·plant-1)和高量还田(12 kg· plant-1)4个施用量处理,考察不同施用量处理对梨园土壤矿质元素含量、土壤微生物数量、...