Dye-sensitized solar cells based on highly catalytic CNTs/TiCT MXenes composite counter electrode.

Establishing stable and efficient Pt-free counter electrodes (CEs) is an important challenge for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TiCT MXene, with its high catalytic activity and conductivity, has gained attention as a CE in DSSCs. The focus of this paper is on the preparation of TiCT decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite electrode materials (CNTs/TiCT), and testing their performance as CEs in DSSCs.

Suppression of the SLC7A11/glutathione axis causes ferroptosis and apoptosis and alters the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

SLC7A11 is a unit of the glutamate cystine antiporter Xc system. It functions to import cystine for glutathione biosynthesis and maintains the redox balance in cells. Sorafenib inhibits the transporter activity of SLC7A11.

Dynamically tunable vortex four-wave mixing in a six-level system.

We investigate the orbital angular momentum of vortex light in a six-level atomic system with a closed loop. We find that a vortex light field via four-wave mixing (FWM) is sensitive to the relative phase of the driving fields due to forming a closed loop configuration. Thus, it could periodically tune the phase and intensity of the vortex FWM field by adjusting the relative phase of the driving fields.

polysaccharide-zinc complex modulates the immune response and alleviates LPS-induced intestinal inflammation inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

polysaccharide-zinc (EP-Zn), a kind of polysaccharide-zinc complex, has been shown to improve the immune response and reduce the inflammatory factors in weaned piglets. Yet, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulating activity and anti-inflammatory mechanism of EP-Zn in mice.

Seasonal Changes in Root-Associated Fungal Microbiota Drive N and P Cycling in Terrestrial Ecosystem.

In terrestrial ecosystems, mycorrhizal roots play a key role in the cycling of soil carbon (C) and other nutrients. The impact of environmental factors on the mycorrhizal fungal community has been well studied; however, the seasonal variations in the root-associated fungal microbiota affected by environmental changes are less clear. To improve the understanding of how environmental factors shape the fungal microbiota in mycorrhizal roots, seasonal changes in root-associated fungi were investigated.

Epigenetic Regulation of Amyloid-beta Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease.

Senile plaques (SPs) are one of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and they are formed by the overproduction and aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides derived from the abnormal cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanisms during Aβ metabolism is of great importance to elucidate AD pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic modulation-including DNA methylation, non-coding RNA alterations, and histone modifications-is of great significance in regulating Aβ metabolism.

Fullerenol as a photoelectrochemical nanoprobe for discrimination and ultrasensitive detection of amplification-free single-stranded DNA.

Traditional approaches for nucleic acids detection require prior amplification of target genes, while nanomaterials-aided DNA biosensors are very magnificent but still suffer from the nanomaterial acquirement and limited sensitivity (above picomolar level). Herein, fullerenol C(OH), a representative fullerene derivative, was employed as a photoelectrochemical (PEC) nanoprobe to achieve discrimination and ultrasensitive detection of amplification-free single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) down to sub-femtomolar level. The bonded hydroxyl groups with intense density endowed fullerenol to directly recognize and capture ssDNA-AuNPs via the hydrogen bonding interactions (H-bonds), leading to a sharply decreased photocurrent with quenching efficiency up to 85%, which could be attributed to the photo-generated electrons on the conduction band of fullerenol (-4.

Typical gene expression profile of pseudorabies virus reactivation from latency in swine trigeminal ganglion.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) establishes a lifelong latent infection in swine trigeminal ganglion (TG) following acute infection. Increased corticosteroid levels, due to stress, increases the incidence of reactivation from latency. Muscle injection combined with intravenous deliver of the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone (DEX) consistently induces reactivation from latency in pigs.

Development of a Real-Time TaqMan PCR Method for Absolute Quantification of the Biocontrol Agent .

has been used as an effective biocontrol agent for the management of the pinewood nematode, . Tools for monitoring the colonization and parasitism patterns of are required for the development of highly effective biocontrol strategies. Because the TaqMan PCR technique is effective for quantification of species in environmental samples, a real-time PCR-based methodology was developed for absolute quantification of via internal standard addition and extrapolation of DNA quantity to hyphal length.

In vivo infection of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus by the fungus Esteya vermicola.

Background: As the causal agent of pine wilt disease, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a serious pathogen of forest pine trees. Esteya vermicola is a nematophagous fungus of B. xylophilus and exhibits great potential as a biological control agent.

Comparative understanding of metal hyperaccumulation in plants: a mini-review.

Hyperaccumulator plants are ideal models for investigating the regulatory mechanisms of plant metal homeostasis and environmental adaptation due to their notable traits of metal accumulation and tolerance. These traits may benefit either the biofortification of essential mineral nutrients or the phytoremediation of nonessential toxic metals. A common mechanism by which elevated expression of key genes involved in metal transport or chelation contributes to hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance was proposed mainly from studies examining two Brassicaceae hyperaccumulators, namely Arabidopsis halleri and Noccaea caerulescens (formerly Thlaspi caerulescens).

[TLR4/NF-kappaB p65 signaling pathway mediates protective effect of triptolide on endothelium in rats with endotoxemia].

The aim of this paper was to observe the effect of triptolide( TP) on cardiovascular function and its possible mechanism by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide in rats with endotoxemia. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided intonormal group( NC group),endotoxemia model group( LPS group),TP low concentration intervention group( LPS + TP-L group,25 μg·kg~(-1)),TP middle concentration intervention group( LPS+TP-M group,50 μg·kg~(-1)),TP high concentration intervention group( LPS+TP-H group,100 μg·kg~(-1)) and polymyxin B group( LPS+PMX-B group,0. 2 mg·kg~(-1)).

[Advances in mechanisms of nutrient exchange between mycorrhizal fungi and host plants].

Mycorrhizae, formed through the colonization of soil mycorrhizal fungi into the roots of host plants, are common symbiosis in the terrestrial ecosystems. The establishment of mycorrhizae is mainly based on the bidirectional nutrient exchanges between the symbiotic partners. Mycorrhizal fungi can absorb mineral nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from soil and transport them to the host plants for their growth.

p-n-Sensitized Heterostructure CoO/Fullerene with Highly Efficient Photoelectrochemical Performance for Ultrasensitive DNA Detection.

Significantly sensitized architectures meeting the requirements of high photoelectric conversion efficiency and promising photocurrent intensity are extremely desirable, but challenges in sensitizer development and efficiency in photoelectrochemical (PEC) fields remain. In this paper, the p-type metal oxide semiconductor CoO was attached as an effective photosensitizer to n-type fullerene C in view of appropriately matched energy band levels to form the highlighted p-n-sensitized heterostructure CoO/fullerene, with facilitated charge separation and accelerated carrier mobility. Compared with traditional p-n heterostructure, the p-n-sensitized heterostructure CoO/fullerene illustrated a wider range for light absorption with further enhanced light-harvesting capability, thereby leading to more exceptional PEC performance containing remarkably promoted photoelectric conversion efficiency and improved photocurrent intensity.

Establishment of a fluorescent PCR melting curve method for detecting asthma susceptibility using gene SNP typing.

To develop a detection method for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of bronchial asthma (BA) susceptibility genes (, and ) based on fluorescence PCR melting curves. Peripheral blood samples from 33 patients with BA were collected. DNA was extracted, and positive plasmids were constructed.

Storage of Airy wavepackets based on electromagnetically induced transparency.

The research of Airy beams has attained much attention due to their unique characteristics. Coherent control of Airy beams is important for further light beam manipulation and information processing. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the storage and retrieval of 2D Airy wavepackets in a solid-state medium driven by electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT).

[Characteristics of soil organic carbon mineralization in low altitude and high altitude forests in Wuyi Mountains, southeastern China].

Examining the variations of soil organic carbon mineralization at different altitudes is crucial for better understanding of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. We selected the low altitude and high altitude broad-leaved forest soils in Wuyi Mountains as the research object, and incubated them under particular annual average temperature (17 and 9 ℃, respectively) in laboratory to investigate the difference of SOC mineralization characteristics. The results showed that the cumulative SOC mineralization had no significant difference between forest soils at low and high altitude in a 126-day incubation period under ambient temperature.

Optically Tunable Gratings Based on Coherent Population Oscillation.

We theoretically study the optically tunable gratings based on a L-type atomic medium using coherent population oscillations from the angle of reflection and transmission of the probe field. Adopting a standing-wave driving field, the refractive index of the medium as well as the absorption are periodically modified. Consequently, the Bragg scattering causes the effective reflection.

An Uncommon Carboxyl-Decorated Metal-Organic Framework with Selective Gas Adsorption and Catalytic Conversion of CO.

A new three-dimensional (3D) framework, [Ni(btzip)(H btzip)]⋅2 DMF⋅2 H O (1) (H btzip=4,6-bis(triazol-1-yl)isophthalic acid) as an acidic heterogeneous catalyst was constructed by the reaction of nickel wire and a triazolyl-carboxyl linker. Framework 1 possesses intersected 2D channels decorated by free COOH groups and uncoordinated triazolyl N atoms, leading to not only high CO and C H adsorption capacity but also significant selective capture for CO and C H over CH and CO in 273-333 K. Moreover, 1 reveals chemical stability toward water.

Lysobacter zhanggongensis sp. nov. Isolated from a Pit Mud.

The Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated ZGLJ7-1, was isolated from a pit mud. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain ZGLJ7-1 was related to the genus Lysobacter and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of Lysobacter arseniciresistens ZS79 (97.4%).

Construction of Highly Porous Pillared Metal-Organic Frameworks: Rational Synthesis, Structure, and Gas Sorption Properties.

Different from the conventional method to construct pillared-layer metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by using mixed bipyridyl and dicarboxylate ligands, herein, we present a new approach to build pillared-layer frameworks based on the pyridyldicarboxylate ligands which were predesigned with a certain shape. As exemplified, the ligands of 3-(2',5'-dicarboxyphenyl)benzoic acid (Hdbba) and 3-(2',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)pyridine acid (Hdcpy) were selected and employed to construct three pillared-layer MOFs, [Zn(dbba)(bipy)(DMF)]·3DMF·4HO (1) (bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine), and a pair of crystal polymorphs of [Zn(dcpy)]·1.5DMF·1.

Porous MOF with Highly Efficient Selectivity and Chemical Conversion for CO.

A new Co(II)-based MOF, {[Co(tzpa)(OH)(HO)]·DMF} (1) (Htzpa = 5-(4-(tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)isophthalic acid), was constructed by employing a tetrazolyl-carboxyl ligand Htzpa. 1 possesses 1D tubular channels that are decorated by μ-OH groups, uncoordinated carboxylate O atoms, and open metal centers generated by the removal of coordinated water molecules, leading to high CO adsorption capacity and significantly selective capture for CO over CH and CO in the temperature range of 298-333 K. Moreover, 1 shows the chemical stability in acidic and basic aqueous solutions.

Controlling transverse shift of the reflected light via high refractive index with zero absorption.

We present a theoretical investigation on controlling the transverse shift while most of the researches are on longitudinal Goos-Hänchen shift. A two-layer system is considered. The refractive index of the first layer is fixed.

[Role of changes in sodium pump activity and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the ischemia/reperfusion induced injury of isolated hearts].

Objective: To investigate the roles of change in sodium pump activity and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of the isolated rat hearts.

Methods: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (=10 each):normal control group (NC), I/R group (I/R), ouabain-I/R group (OUA-I/R), anti-digoxin antiserum-I/R group (Anti-Dig-I/R), PP2 (Src kinase inhibitor)-ouabain-I/R group (PP2-OUA-I/R),U73122 (PLC inhibitor)-ouabain-I/R group (PP2-OUA-I/R). The isolated rat hearts were perfused on the Langendorff apparatus.