Role of leptin in the regulation of food intake in fasted mice

Leptin is well acknowledged as an anorexigenic hormone that plays an important role in feeding control. Hypothalamic GABA system plays a significant role in leptin regulation on feeding and metabolism control. However, the pharmacological relationship of leptin and GABA receptor is still obscure. Therefore, we investigated the effect of leptin or combined with baclofen on the food intake in fasted mice. We detected the changes in hypothalamic c‐Fos expression, hypothalamic TH, POMC and GAD67 expression, plasma insulin, POMC and GABA levels to demonstrate the mechanisms. We found that leptin inhibit fasting‐induced increased food intake and activated hypothalamic neurons. The inhibitory effect on food intake induced by leptin in fasted mice can be reversed by pretreatment with baclofen. Baclofen reversed leptin's inhibition on c‐Fos expression of PAMM in fasted mice. Therefore, these results indicate that leptin might inhibit fasting‐triggered activation of PVN neurons via presynaptic GABA synaptic functions which might be partially blocked by pharmacological activating GABA‐B. Our findings identify the role of leptin in the regulation of food intake.     

Nature of FeSe2/N‐C Anode for High Performance Potassium Ion Hybrid Capacitor

Potassium ion hybrid capacitors have great potential for large‐scale energy devices, because of the high power density and low cost. However, their practical applications are hindered by their low energy density, as well as electrolyte decomposition and collector corrosion at high potential in potassium bis(fluoro‐sulfonyl)imide‐based electrolyte. Therefore, anode materials with high capacity, a suitable voltage platform, and stability become a key factor. Here, N‐doping carbon‐coated FeSe₂ clusters are demonstrated as the anode material for a hybrid capacitor, delivering a reversible capacity of 295 mAh g^?1 at 100 mA g^?1 over 100 cycles and a high rate capability of 158 mAh g^?1 at 2000 mA g^?1 over 2000 cycles. Meanwhile, through density functional theory calculations, in situ X‐ray diffraction, and ex situ transmission electron microscopy, the evolution of FeSe₂ to Fe₃Se₄ for the electrochemical reaction mechanism is successfully revealed. The battery‐supercapacitor hybrid using commercial activated carbon as the cathode and FeSe₂/N‐C as the anode is obtained. It delivers a high energy density of 230 Wh kg^?1 and a power density of 920 W kg^?1 (the energy density and power density are calculated based on the total mass of active materials in the anode and cathode).     

Conductive Hole‐Selective Passivating Contacts for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Defect state passivation and conductivity of materials are always in opposition; thus, it is unlikely for one material to possess both excellent carrier transport and defect state passivation simultaneously. As a result, the use of partial passivation and local contact strategies are required for silicon solar cells, which leads to fabrication processes with technical complexities. Thus, one material that possesses both a good passivation and conductivity is highly desirable in silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells. In this work, a passivation‐conductivity phase‐like diagram is presented and a conductive‐passivating‐carrier‐selective contact is achieved using PEDOT:Nafion composite thin films. A power conversion efficiency of 18.8% is reported for an industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cell with a back PEDOT:Nafion contact, demonstrating a solution‐processed organic passivating contact concept. This concept has the potential advantages of omitting the use of conventional dielectric passivation materials deposited by costly high‐vacuum equipment, energy‐intensive high‐temperature processes, and complex laser opening steps. This work also contributes an effective back‐surface field scheme and a new hole‐selective contact for p‐type and n‐type silicon solar cells, respectively, both for research purposes and as a low‐cost surface engineering strategy for future Si‐based PV technologies.     

Development and characterization of a continuous cell line (EL) from the liver of European eel Anguilla anguilla

In the present study, a new hepatic tissue‐origin cell line from European eel Anguilla anguilla has been developed and characterized. This cell line designated EL has been maintained in Leibovitz L‐15 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum over 72 months, and subcultured more than 90 times. The EL cell line consisted predominantly of fibroblast‐like cells, which could survive over 100 days in vitro, and could grow at 15–32°C. The optimum temperature for growth was 27°C. The chromosome analysis revealed a modal diploid karyotype of 2n = 38. The origin of this cell line was confirmed by the 18S recombinant (r)RNA sequencing. The susceptibility test indicated significant cytopathic effects in the EL cells with regard to the Rana grylio virus and the Herpesvirus anguillae. The viral replication was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction analysis. Following poly (I:C) exposure, the expression levels of the immune‐related molecules interferon regulatory factor‐7 (irf7) and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) were downregulated in EL cells, whereas the expression levels of the rf3 and the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) were upregulated. All four genes were significantly upregulated following inflammation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These data suggested the application of EL cell line for viral identification, as well as for immunodiagnosis and pharmacological targeting.     

(Z)-3-Hexenol Induces Tea Defense against Ectropis grisescens in the Field

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - The tea geometrid Ectropis grisescens is an important pest of tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). It feeds on the new leaves and tender...     

Quorum Sensing System Used as a Tool in Metabolic Engineering

Quorum sensing (QS) is a ubiquitous cell–cell communication mechanism in microbes that coordinates population‐level cell behaviors, such as biofilm production, virulence, swarming motility, and bacterial persistence. Efforts to engineer QS systems to take part in metabolic network regulation represent a promising strategy for synthetic biology and pathway engineering. Recently, design, construction, and implementation of QS circuits for programmed control of bacterial phenotypes and metabolic pathways have gained much attention, but have not been reviewed recently. In this article, the architectural organizations and genetic contributions of the naturally occurring QS components to understand the mechanisms are summarized. Then, the most recent progress in application of QS toolkits to develop synthetic networks for novel cell behaviors creation and metabolic pathway engineering is highlighted. The current challenges in large‐scale application of these QS circuits in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering fields are discussed and future perspectives for further engineering efforts are provided.     

Rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine and other candidates: Molecular and cellular mechanisms

Major depressive disorder takes at least 3 weeks for clinical anti‐depressants, such as serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors, to take effect, and only one‐third of patients remit. Ketamine, a kind of anaesthetic, can alleviate symptoms of major depressive disorder patients in a short time and is reported to be effective to treatment‐resistant depression patients. The rapid and strong anti‐depressant‐like effects of ketamine cause wide concern. In addition to ketamine, caloric restriction and sleep deprivation also elicit similar rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects. However, mechanisms about the rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects remain unclear. Elucidating the mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant effects is the key to finding new therapeutic targets and developing therapeutic patterns. Therefore, in this review we summarize potential molecular and cellular mechanisms of rapid anti‐depressant‐like effects based on the pre‐clinical and clinical evidence, trying to provide new insight into future therapy.     

不同水肥一体化方式对苹果氮素吸收利用特性及产量和品质的影响

以‘嘎啦/八棱海棠’为试材,借助¹⁵N同位素示踪技术,研究了撒施(T₁)、滴灌施氮(T₂)和渗灌施氮(T₃)对嘎啦苹果氮素吸收利用、分配特性和产量品质的影响,以期进一步完善苹果园水肥一体化技术,挖掘提高氮素利用率的途径。结果表明: T₃处理苹果叶片的叶面积、叶绿素和氮含量显著高于T₁和T₂处理。各时期土壤矿化氮(N_min)含量在20~40 cm土层表现为T₃＞T₂＞T₁处理,在0~20 cm土层表现为T₂＞T₃＞T₁处理。同一器官的Ndff值(树体各器官从肥料中吸收到的¹⁵N占该器官全氮量的比例)在各时期均以T₃处理最高,T₂其次,T₁处理最低。果实成熟期的树体¹⁵N利用率表现为T₃＞T₂＞T₁处理,其中T₃处理的树体¹⁵N利用率为24.2%,分别是T₂和T₁处理的1.19和1.65倍。果实成熟期T₁处理的¹⁵N分配率在营养器官最高,T₂处理在贮藏器官最高,T₃处理在生殖器官最高。各处理的单果重、产量、可溶性固形物、硬度、可溶性糖及糖酸比均以T₃处理最高,T₂其次,T₁处理最低。渗灌施氮处理显著促进了嘎啦苹果树体叶片生长和氮素利用,并提高了果实产量和品质。