Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a mitogen-activated protein kinase gene in the Antarctic yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa AN5

Molecular Biology Reports - The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play important roles in various signaling transduction networks of biotic and abiotic stress responses. However,...     

Strategies for Dendrite‐Free Anode in Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc Ion Batteries

Ongoing interest is focused on aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) for mass‐production energy storage systems as a result of their affordability, safety, and high energy density. Ensuring the stability of the electrode/electrolyte interface is of particular importance for prolonging the cycling ability to meet the practical requirements of rechargeable batteries. Zinc anodes exhibit poor cycle life and low coulombic efficiency, stemming from the severe dendrite growth, and irreversible byproducts such as H₂ and inactive ZnO. Great efforts have recently been devoted to zinc anode protection for designing high‐performance ZIBs. However, the intrinsic origins of zinc plating/striping are poorly understood, which greatly delay its potential applications. Rather than focusing on battery metrics, this review delves deeply into the underlying science that triggers the deposition/dissolution of zinc ions. Furthermore, recent advances in modulating the zinc coordination environment, uniforming interfacial electric fields, and inducing zinc deposition are highlighted and summarized. Finally, perspectives and suggestions are provided for designing highly stable zinc anodes for the industrialization of the aqueous rechargeable ZIBs in the near future.     

Foldable Semitransparent Organic Solar Cells for Photovoltaic and Photosynthesis

Semitransparent organic solar cells (ST‐OSCs) have attracted extensive attention for their potential greenhouse applications. Conventional ST‐OSCs are typically based on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes which suffer from mechanical brittleness. Therefore, alternatives for ITO are required for realization of foldable‐flexible ST‐OSCs (FST‐OSCs). Herein, flexible poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrodes are prepared as ITO alternatives via polyhydroxy compound (xylitol) microdoping and acid treatment. As a result, flexible opaque OSCs based on PBDB‐T‐2F:Y6 photoactive system yield a high efficiency of 14.20%. The desirable optical properties of modified PEDOT:PSS electrodes in the visible light region and PBDB‐T‐2F:Y6 photoactive layer in the near‐infrared region facilitate the fabrication of FST‐OSCs with over 10% efficiency and 21% average visible light transmittance. Those FST‐OSCs also display excellent mechanical stability against bending and folding due to the xylitol doping, where over 80% of the initial efficiency can still be maintained even after 1000 folding cycles. Meanwhile, parallel comparisons between plants grown under direct sunlight with a FST‐OSCs roof and those under direct sunlight yield very similar results in terms of branch sturdiness and hypertrophic leaves. The results pave the way for realizing high‐performing FST‐OSCs based on PEDOT:PSS electrodes that could utilize visible light for plant growth and infrared light for power generation.     

Discovery and optimization of novel 4-phenoxy-6,7-disubstituted quinolines possessing semicarbazones as c-Met kinase inhibitors

A novel series of N¹-(3-fluoro-4-(6,7-disubstituted-quinolin-4-yloxy)phenyl)-N⁴-arylidenesemicarbazide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their c-Met kinase inhibition and cytotoxicity against A549, HT-29, MKN-45 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines in vitro. Several potent compounds were further evaluated against three other cancer cell lines (U87MG, NCI-H460 and SMMC7721). Most of compounds tested exhibited moderate to excellent activity. The studies of SARs identified the most promising compound 28 (c-Met IC₅₀ = 1.4 nM) as a c-Met kinase inhibitor. In this study, a promising compound 28 was identified, which displayed 2.1-, 3.3-, 48.4- and 3.6-fold increase against A549, HT-29, U87MG and NCI-H460 cell lines, respectively, compared with that of Foretinib.     

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜在花粉研究中的应用

激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（Laser scanning confocal microscope,LSCM）是普通光学显微镜、激光、计算机及其相应的软件技术结合的产物,能实现连续光学切片和生物三维结构重组及动态分析.作为一种先进的技术手段,LSCM技术已经为花粉生物学的研究提供了有价值的新资料,大大地推动了植物生殖生物学的发展.本文综述了LSCM技术在花粉粒形态（形状、大小及三维重建）、花粉的内部结构（如细胞骨架）、花粉的遗传学、花粉的发育、花粉的萌发、花粉自发荧光特性、孢粉研究等方面中的应用,并指出了LSCM的不足之处,最后提出了LSCM技术在花粉研究中的应用展望.未来LSCM技术应该与多光子技术、活细胞工作站技术相结合使用,才能更准确地进行花粉动态研究的实时监测.     

Maternal Treadmill Exercise Reduces the Neurotoxicity of Prenatal Sevoflurane Exposure in Rats via Activation of p300 Histone Acetyltransferase

Neurochemical Research - Repeated or prolonged use of general anesthetics in pregnant women may disturb the neurodevelopment of infants. Compelling evidence indicates that maternal exercise during...