Tuning Surface Potential Polarization to Enhance N Affinity for Ammonia Electrosynthesis.

Electrocatalytic N reduction reaction (NRR) to synthesize ammonia is a sustainable reaction that is expected to replace Haber Bosch process. Laminated BiWO has great potential as an NRR electrocatalyst, however, the effective activity requires that the inert substrate is fully activated. Here, for the first time, success is achieved in activating the BiWO basal planes with NRR activity through Ti doping.

Two Novel Frameshift Mutations in the Gene Underlie Non-Syndromic Polydactyly in Chinese Families.

Polydactyly is characterized by multiple distinct heterogeneous phenotypes, the etiologies of which involve several genes. This study aimed to explore the genetic defects and further clarify the molecular mechanism of polydactyly in several Chinese families. Three families with diverse phenotypes of non-syndromic polydactyly were analyzed: two were cases of familial disease, whereas one was sporadic.

Nucleus Pulposus-Targeting Nanocarriers Facilitate Mirna-Based Therapeutics for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a common cause of low back pain. Understanding its molecular mechanisms is the basis for developing specific treatment. To demonstrate that miR-22-3p is critical in the regulation of IDD, miRNA microarray analyses are conducted in conjunction with in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Subaxial lordosis loss and influence factors after posterior atlantoaxial fusion.

Unlabelled: Cervical sagittal balance is an important evaluation index of cervical physiological function and surgical efficacy. Subaxial kyphosis after atlantoaxial fusion is negatively associated with worse clinical outcomes and higher incidence of lower cervical disk degeneration.

Objectives: This study aimed to confirm the factors that influence subaxial lordosis loss after posterior atlantoaxial fusion.

LEAFY COTYLEDON 2: A Regulatory Factor of Plant Growth and Seed Development.

Transcription factors are key molecules in the regulation of gene expression in all organisms. The transcription factor LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2), which belongs to the DNA-binding protein family, contains a B3 domain. The transcription factor is involved in the regulation of important plant biological processes such as embryogenesis, somatic embryo formation, seed storage protein synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and other important biological processes.

Thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis-associated myelopathy: A case report.

Rationale: The thoracic spine is stabilized in the anteroposterior direction by the rib cage and the facet joints, thus thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis is very uncommon. Here, we report a rare case of thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis in which the lower thoracic region was the only region involved.

Patient Concerns: We present the case of a 56-year-old Chinese female who suffered from thoracic degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Evaluation of Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) and open fenestration discectomy (OFD) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: Patients in our hospital with LDH who received PTED (n = 71) and OFD (n = 39) from 2013 to 2014 were retrospectively studied. Patient information, including age, gender, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for low back pain and leg pain, body weight, height, Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), and recurrence, was collected.

Punicalagin ameliorates wear-particle-induced inflammatory bone destruction by bi-directional regulation of osteoblastic formation and osteoclastic resorption.

Periprosthetic osteolysis (PPO) and subsequent aseptic loosening are the main causes of implant failure and revision surgery. Emerging evidence has suggested that wear-particle-induced chronic inflammation, osteoblast inhibition and osteoclast formation at the biointerface of implant materials are responsible for PPO. Punicalagin (PCG), a polyphenolic compound molecularly extracted from pomegranate rinds, plays a critical role in antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities.

Mechanisms of Silicon-Mediated Amelioration of Salt Stress in Plants.

Silicon (Si), the second most predominant element in the earth crust consists of numerous benefits to plant. Beneficial effect of Si has been apparently visible under both abiotic and biotic stress conditions in plants. Supplementation of Si improved physiology and yield on several important agricultural and horticultural crops.

Pod shattering resistance associated with domestication is mediated by a NAC gene in soybean.

Loss of seed dispersal is a key agronomical trait targeted by ancient human selection and has been regarded as a milestone of crop domestication. In this study, in the legume crop soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Evolution of double positive autoregulatory feedback loops in CYCLOIDEA2 clade genes is associated with the origin of floral zygomorphy.

Members of the CYCLOIDEA2 (CYC2) clade of the TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PCF transcription factor genes are widely involved in controlling floral zygomorphy, a key innovation in angiosperm evolution, depending on their persistently asymmetric expression in the corresponding floral domains. However, it is unclear how this asymmetric expression is maintained throughout floral development. Selecting Primulina heterotricha as a model, we examined the expression and function of two CYC2 genes, CYC1C and CYC1D.

VEGF expression in mesenchymal stem cells promotes bone formation of tissue-engineered bones.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo vascularization and bone formation activity of tissue-engineered bone constructed using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transfected with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The expression of VEGF165 in rat bone marrow MSCs was confirmed using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The MSCs were cultured together with nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen (NHAC) to form tissue-engineered bone.