Accumulation of nanoplastics in human cells as visualized and quantified by hyperspectral imaging with enhanced dark-field microscopy.

Nanoplastic (NP) pollution is receiving increasing attention regarding its potential effects on human health. The identification and quantification of intracellular NPs are prerequisites for an accurate risk assessment, but appropriate methods are lacking. Here we present a label-free technique to simultaneously visualize and quantify the bioaccumulation of NPs based on hyperspectral imaging with enhanced dark-field microscopy (HSI-DFM).

Four undescribed pyrethrins from seeds of Pyrethrum cinerariifolium and their aphidicidal activity.

Four undescribed pyrethrins C-F (1-4) as well as four known pyrethrins (5-8) were isolated from seeds of Pyrethrum cinerariifolium Trev. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated by UV, HRESIMS, and NMR (H and C NMR, H-H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY), among which the stereostructure of compound 4 was determined by calculated ECD. Furthermore, compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their aphidicidal activities.

[Effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on the excitability of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in dorsal and ventral hippocampus in mice].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on electrophysiological characteristics of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) and ventral hippocampus (vHPC) in mice, and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the plasticity of hippocampal neurons and memory regulation after PTSD. Male C57Thy1-YFP/GAD67-GFP mice were randomly divided into PTSD group and control group. Unavoidable foot shock (FS) was applied to establish PTSD model.

Potential effects of Ag ion on the host by changing the structure of its gut microbiota.

Silver (Ag) can change the structure of the gut microbiota (GM), but how such change may affect host health is unknown. In this study, mice were exposed to silver acetate daily for 120 days. During this period, Ag accumulation in the liver was measured, its effects on GM structure were analyzed, and potential metabolic changes in liver and serum were examined.

Changes in Gut Microbiota Structure: A Potential Pathway for Silver Nanoparticles to Affect the Host Metabolism.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most widely used NPs. Their adverse effects on either the host or its gut microbiota (GM) have been examined. Nevertheless, whether the GM plays any role in AgNP toxicity to the host remains unclear.

Characterization of an autonomous pathway complex that promotes flowering in Arabidopsis.

Although previous studies have identified several autonomous pathway components that are required for the promotion of flowering, little is known about how these components cooperate. Here, we identified an autonomous pathway complex (AuPC) containing both known components (FLD, LD and SDG26) and previously unknown components (EFL2, EFL4 and APRF1). Loss-of-function mutations of all of these components result in increased FLC expression and delayed flowering.

A label-free technique to quantify and visualize gold nanoparticle accumulation at the single-cell level.

Despite their wide bioapplications, potential health risks of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) remain unclear. As a determinant of their risks, AuNP accumulation within a cell population is subject to cell-to-cell heterogeneity. Methods to simultaneously quantify and visualize intracellular AuNPs at the single-cell level are, however, lacking.

The CCR4-NOT complex component NOT1 regulates RNA-directed DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing by facilitating Pol IV-dependent siRNA production.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are responsible for establishing and maintaining DNA methylation through the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway in plants. Although siRNA biogenesis is well known, it is relatively unclear about how the process is regulated. By a forward genetic screen in Arabidopsis thaliana, we identified a mutant defective in NOT1 and demonstrated that NOT1 is required for transcriptional silencing at RdDM target genomic loci.

A Pre-mRNA-splicing factor is required for RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis.

Cytosine DNA methylation is a stable epigenetic mark that is frequently associated with the silencing of genes and transposable elements (TEs). In Arabidopsis, the establishment of DNA methylation is through the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. Here, we report the identification and characterization of RDM16, a new factor in the RdDM pathway.

Folate polyglutamylation is involved in chromatin silencing by maintaining global DNA methylation and histone H3K9 dimethylation in Arabidopsis.

DNA methylation and repressive histone Histone3 Lysine9 (H3K9) dimethylation correlate with chromatin silencing in plants and mammals. To identify factors required for DNA methylation and H3K9 dimethylation, we screened for suppressors of the repressor of silencing1 (ros1) mutation, which causes silencing of the expression of the RD29A (RESPONSE TO DESSICATION 29A) promoter-driven luciferase transgene (RD29A-LUC) and the 35S promoter-driven NPTII (NEOMYCIN PHOSPHOTRANSFERASE II) transgene (35S-NPTII). We identified the folylpolyglutamate synthetase FPGS1 and the known factor DECREASED DNA METHYLATION1 (DDM1).

[Study on testing methods of Al content of polyimide hybrid films with Al2O3].

The inorganic particles hybrid polyimide films are newly emerging advanced materials with excellent corona-resistant and have been widely used in frequency control motor. The Al2O3/PI hybrid films with different Al2O3 contents were prepared by superfine aluminum power treated by coupling agent and polyamide acid (PAA). Qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis on the inorganic content to it were conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscope (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), Gravimetric method, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG/air atmosphere).

[Characterization of inorganic nano-alundum composite film of polyimide].

The key to the study on the regularity about the mechanical, thermology and electricities property of the inorganic nano-mingled organic composition thin film is to understand the incorporated quantity, the particle size and distribution of nano-inorganic matter in the membrane quickly and accurately. In the present paper, the chemical structure, surface morphology and the actual content of nano-Al2O3 of the nano Al2O3-composite film of polyimide were characterized by X-ray atomic fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic forced microscope (AFM). The results are that the organic phase of PI and the inorganic phase of Al2O3 formed a complex composite hybrid system of bond-to-bond pattern, the nano-Al2O3 particles in the film of PI are dispersed homogeneously, and the diameter of the particle is smaller than 50 nm; the weight content of Al2O3 is 7.