Accurate Control Multiple Active Sites of Carbonaceous Anode for High Performance Sodium Storage: Insights into Capacitive Contribution Mechanism

Heteroatom doping is widely recognized as an appealing strategy to break the capacitance limitation of carbonaceous materials toward sodium storage. However, the concrete effects, especially for heteroatomic phase transformation, during the sodium storage reaction remain a confusing topic. Here, a novel hypercrosslinked polymerization approach is demonstrated to fabricate pyrrole/thiophene hypercrosslinked microporous copolymer and further give porous carbonaceous materials with accurately regulated N/S dual doping corresponding to starting feeding ratios. Significantly, the N doping contributes to the conductivity and surface wettability, while the S doping is bridged to build stable active sites, which can be electrochemically converted into mercaptan anions via faraday reaction and further enhancing reversible capacities. Meanwhile, the abundant S doping can also conduce to the expanded interlayer spacing to shorten the ions diffusion distance, thus optimizing the reaction kinetic. As a result, the N_0.2S_0.8‐micro‐dominant porous carbon delivers the highest reversible capacity of 521 mAh g^?1 at 100 mA g^?1 and excellent cyclic stability over 2000 cycles at 2000 mA g^?1 with a capacity decay of 0.0145 mAh g^?1 per cycle. This work is anticipated to provide an in‐depth understanding of capacitance contribution and illuminate the heteroatomic phase transformation during sodium storage reactions for doping carbonaceous anodes.     

Development and evolution of the tetrapod skull–neck boundary

The origin and evolution of the vertebrate skull have been topics of intense study for more than two centuries. Whereas early theories of skull origin, such as the influential vertebral theory, have been largely refuted with respect to the anterior (pre‐otic) region of the skull, the posterior (post‐otic) region is known to be derived from the anteriormost paraxial segments, i.e. the somites. Here we review the morphology and development of the occiput in both living and extinct tetrapods, taking into account revised knowledge of skull development by augmenting historical accounts with recent data. When occipital composition is evaluated relative to its position along the neural axis, and specifically to the hypoglossal nerve complex, much of the apparent interspecific variation in the location of the skull–neck boundary stabilizes in a phylogenetically informative way. Based on this criterion, three distinct conditions are identified in (i) frogs, (ii) salamanders and caecilians, and (iii) amniotes. The position of the posteriormost occipital segment relative to the hypoglossal nerve is key to understanding the evolution of the posterior limit of the skull. By using cranial foramina as osteological proxies of the hypoglossal nerve, a survey of fossil taxa reveals the amniote condition to be present at the base of Tetrapoda. This result challenges traditional theories of cranial evolution, which posit translocation of the occiput to a more posterior location in amniotes relative to lissamphibians (frogs, salamanders, caecilians), and instead supports the largely overlooked hypothesis that the reduced occiput in lissamphibians is secondarily derived. Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of axial patterning and its regulation in amniotes support the hypothesis that the lissamphibian occipital form may have arisen as the product of a homeotic shift in segment fate from an amniote‐like condition.     

Intra-strain biological and epidemiological characterization of plum pox virus

Plum pox virus (PPV) is one of the most important plant viruses causing serious economic losses. Thus far, strain typing based on the definition of 10 monophyletic strains with partially differentiable biological properties has been the sole approach used for epidemiological characterization of PPV. However, elucidating the genetic determinants underlying intra-strain biological variation among populations or isolates remains a relevant but unexamined aspect of the epidemiology of the virus. In this study, based on complete nucleotide sequence information of 210 Japanese and 47 non-Japanese isolates of the PPV-Dideron (D) strain, we identified five positively selected sites in the PPV-D genome. Among them, molecular studies showed that amino acid substitutions at position 2,635 in viral replicase correlate with viral titre and competitiveness at the systemic level, suggesting that amino acid position 2,635 is involved in aphid transmission efficiency and symptom severity. Estimation of ancestral genome sequences indicated that substitutions at amino acid position 2,635 were reversible and peculiar to one of two genetically distinct PPV-D populations in Japan. The reversible amino acid evolution probably contributes to the dissemination of the virus population. This study provides the first genomic insight into the evolutionary epidemiology of PPV based on intra-strain biological variation ascribed to positive selection.     

Review: Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection

The original strategies developed by Helicobacter pylori to persistently colonise its host and to deregulate its cellular functions make this bacterium an outstanding model to study host‐pathogen interaction and the mechanisms responsible for bacterial‐induced carcinogenesis. During the last year, significant results were obtained on the role of bacterial factors essential for gastric colonisation such as spiral shape maintenance, orientation through chemotaxis and the formation of bacteria clonal population islands inside the gastric glands. Particularities of the H pylori cell surface, a structure important for immune escape, were demonstrated. New insights in the bacterial stress response revealed the importance of DNA methylation‐mediated regulation. Further findings were reported on H pylori components that mediate natural transformation and mechanisms of bacterial DNA horizontal transfer which maintain a high level of H pylori genetic variability. Within‐host evolution was found to be niche‐specific and probably associated with physiological differences between the antral and oxyntic gastric mucosa. In addition, with the progress of CryoEM, high‐resolution structures of the major virulence factors, VacA and CagT4SS, were obtained. The use of gastric organoid models fostered research revealing, preferential accumulation of bacteria at the site of injury during infection. Several studies further characterised the role of CagA in the oncogenic properties of H pylori, identifying the activation of novel CagA‐dependent pathways, leading to the promotion of genetic instabilities, epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and finally carcinogenesis. Recent studies also highlight that microRNA‐mediated regulation and epigenetic modifications, through DNA methylation, are key events in the H pylori‐induced tumorigenesis process.     

三级串联垂直潜流人工湿地的脱氮性能及微生物学特征

探究了3种水力负荷(HLR)下三级串联垂直潜流人工湿地(T-VFCWs)对农村生活污水的处理效果,并解析了系统中的氮素转化机制。结果表明: 当系统HLR由0.10增至0.20 m³·m^-2·d^-1时,T-VFCWs始终保持着对农村生活污水高效的处理效果,系统出水水质满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918—2002)一级A标准。T-VFCWs中顺次连接的3个VFCW单元(标记为V-1、V-2和V-3)在限氧环境下因其进水水质的差异可形成各自不同的氮素转化途径,并通过协同作用实现系统的高效脱氮。当T-VFCWs在试验期间连续运行时,V-1、V-2和V-3中主要的脱氮途径分别为短程硝化/反硝化作用、基于亚硝化的全程自养脱氮(CANON)作用和反硝化作用,上述3单元对进水中总氮(TN)和NH₄⁺-N去除的贡献率分别为(51.3±4.4)%和(63.7±2.6)%、(30.9±4.8)%和(35.5±4.5)%、(17.8±5.0)%和(0.8±0.1)%。该研究可为组合式人工湿地的研发及工程化应用提供科学依据和技术支撑。     

不同训练方式对大鼠骨骼肌纤维类型转化和CaMK II/MEF2传导途径的影响*

目的: 探讨间歇速度训练和耐力训练对大鼠骨骼肌纤维类型转化及钙调蛋白激酶/肌细胞增强因子2(CaMK II/MEF2)信号传导通路的影响。方法: 成年雄性SD大鼠(8周龄)18只,随机分成间歇速度训练组(IST),耐力训练组(ET),设空白组(C),每组6只,IST组采用75 m/min×1 min、20 m/min×1 min的交替训练6次,跑台坡度15,持续时间12 min/d;ET组采用速度30 m/ min、跑台坡度7、持续时间90 min/d的耐力训练。干预8周后,分别取小鼠右侧胫骨前肌、比目鱼肌,酶联免疫吸附法检测骨骼肌琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性,ATP酶染色法观察I、Ⅱ型肌纤维面密度、数密度变化情况,SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳技术观察骨骼肌MHC亚型百分比含量、骨骼肌mRNA表达谱测序分析及qRT-PCR技术检测CaN、CaMKII、MEF2水平。结果: 相比C组,ET组SDH活性显著上升,LDH活性降低(P＜0.05);IST组胫骨前肌中LDH活性值升高(P＜0.01)。ET组胫骨前肌MHCIIa%升高,MHCIIb%降低(P＜0.05),比目鱼肌MHCI% 和MHCIIa%升高,MHCIIb%均降低(P＜0.05)。相比IST组,ET组胫骨前肌MHCIIx%升高(P＜0.05)。相比C组,ET组胫骨前肌 I、II 型纤维纤维密度上升,IST组II型纤维纤维密度提高,IST组、ET组比目鱼肌I型纤维纤维密度上升(P＜0.05)。相比C组,ET组骨骼肌CaN、CaMKII、MEF2 mRNA表达水平增高,IST组CaN、CaMKII、MEF2 mRNA表达水平下降(P＜0.01)。Illumina高通量测序筛选骨骼肌纤维转化相关因子及关联分析,运动干预促使骨骼肌纤维转化相关因子表达变化富集于TGF-β/Smad3、CaN/MEF2、AdipoQ等信号通路,而耐力训练显著提高骨骼肌纤维转化、干细胞功能相关信号通路的富集。结论: 耐力训练促进向氧化型肌纤维转化(慢肌),而间歇速度训练向酵解型肌纤维转化(快肌),并伴随着CaMK II/MEF2传导途径中CaN、CaMKII、MEF2基因的高表达。     

Knockout of a highly GC-rich gene in Burkholderia pyrrocinia by recombineering with freeze-thawing transformation

Genetic transformation is a valuable and essential method that provides powerful insights into the gene function of microorganisms and contributes to the construction of engineered bacteria. Here, we developed a novel genetic transformation system to easily knock out a highly GC-rich gene (74.71% GC) from Burkholderia pyrrocinia JK-SH007, a biocontrol strain of poplar canker disease. This system revealed a reliable selectable marker (trimethoprim resistance gene, Tmp) and a simplified, efficient transformation method (6,363.64 CFU/μg, pHKT2) that was developed via freeze-thawing. The knockout recombineering of B. pyrrocinia JK-SH007 was achieved through a suicide plasmid with a three-fragment mutagenesis construct. The three-fragment cassette for mutagenesis was generated by overlap extension and touchdown PCRs and composed of Tmp flanked by GC-rich upstream and downstream fragments from B. pyrrocinia JK-SH007. The mutant strain (ΔBpEG), which was verified by PCR, lost 93.3% of its ability to degrade carboxymethyl cellulose over 40 days. Overall, this system may contribute to future research on B. pyrrocinia traits.     

拟南芥转录因子HB22与CRY1相互作用研究

通过酵母双杂交的方法,从拟南芥转录因子库中筛选出了6个与CRY1相互作用的转录因子.为了测定其中的HB22与CRY1相互作用的强度,采用了ONPG与CPRG两种方法对其β-半乳糖苷酶活性进行了分析.结果显示在蓝光光强为50μmol/m2s,孵育时间为4 h的情况下,蓝光与暗处理情况下的β-半乳糖苷酶活性比值分别为1.668和2.18.进一步设置蓝光处理时间及光强梯度实验数据显示,在蓝光光强为50μmol/m2s孵育时间为3 h时,二者相互作用强度达到最高.说明HB22与CRY1的相互作用具有蓝光响应.对蓝光处理不同时间的野生型col-4与cry1缺失突变体的材料进行HB22基因的定量PCR分析,发现拟南芥cry1缺失突变体中该基因的表达量比野生型中高,在蓝光处理2 h时,缺失突变体中表达量为野生型中的6倍左右.说明CRY1可能介导蓝光抑制HB22基因表达.     

Optimal Design of a Series of GSTR's Performing Reversible Reactions Catalyzed by Soluble Enzymes: A Theoretical Study

The condition for the minimum overall reactor volume of a given number of CSTR's in series is theoretically determined for a reversible, single reactant-single product (Uni-Uni) enzyme catalyzed reaction. The reactor network is assumed to operate in steady-state, isothermal conditions with a single phase and a constant activity of biocatalyst. The method is based on a mathematical analysis of the discrete substrate concentration profile along the CSTR's assuming complete micromixing. The algebraic equations describing the critical loci are obtained for the general case, the mathematical proof that these equations define a minimum is presented, and an exact solution arising from an asymptotic situation is found. An approximate analytical method of optimization based on the aforementioned critical behavior is reported and its validity and usefulness discussed. The formulae introduced can be used in more general situations as tools for getting the approximate range where the optimal overall volume of the series of CSTR's lies. Hence, the reasoning developed is important for the preliminary CSTR design and relevant in the initial steps of the more involved methods of numerical optimization. Finally, the enzymatic conversion of fumarate to L-malate is examined as a model system in order to assess the usefulness and applicability of the analysis developed.     

Modelling drug elution from stents: effects of reversible binding in the vascular wall and degradable polymeric matrix

Today the most popular approach for the prevention of the restenosis consists in the use of the drug eluting stents. The stent acts as a source of drug, from a coating or from a reservoir, which is transported into and through the artery wall. In this study, the behaviour of a model of a hydrophilic drug (heparin) released from a coronary stent into the arterial wall is investigated. The presence of the specific binding site action is modelled using a reversible chemical reaction that explains the prolonged presence of drug in the vascular tissue. An axi-symmetric model of a single stent strut is considered. First an advection–diffusion problem is solved using the finite element method. Then a simplified model with diffusion only in the arterial wall is compared with: (i) a model including the presence of reversible binding sites in the vascular wall and (ii) a model featuring a drug reservoir made of a degradable polymeric matrix. The results show that the inclusion of a reversible binding for the drug leads to delayed release curves and that the polymer erosion affects the drug release showing a quicker elution of the drug from the stent.