MOF-Derived Hierarchically Porous Carbon with Orthogonal Channels for Advanced Na-Se Batteries.

Na-Se batteries with high theoretical capacity and rich natural abundance are regarded as desirable substitutes for lithium-ion batteries in the predicament of scarce lithium resources. However, the huge volume expansion of Se and the shuttling effect of polyselenides hinder the development of Na-Se batteries. Herein, the hierarchically porous carbon encapsulated Se (Se/HPC) is successfully prepared by molten Se diffusing into the multi-scaled orthogonal channels of In-MOF derived carbon matrix.

Harmonized Database of Western U.S. Water Rights (HarDWR) v.1.

In the arid and semi-arid Western U.S., access to water is regulated through a legal system of water rights.

Structure-Function Analysis of SMAX1 Reveals Domains That Mediate Its Karrikin-Induced Proteolysis and Interaction with the Receptor KAI2.

Karrikins (KARs) are butenolides found in smoke that can influence germination and seedling development of many plants. The KAR signaling mechanism is hypothesized to be very similar to that of the plant hormone strigolactone (SL). Both pathways require the F-box protein MORE AXILLARY GROWTH2 (MAX2), and other core signaling components have shared ancestry.

Trends in nutrient-related pollution as a source of potential water quality damages: A case study of Texas, USA.

We examine long-run trends in surface water quality in Texas, USA, with a focus on nutrient pollution and its potential economic impacts. Using >2 million observations of total nitrogen, total phosphorous, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll a concentrations from water quality monitors in the state's 23 river sub-basins, we find that nutrient pollution may be a growing problem that is essentially statewide in scope. In addition, because economic impacts of nutrient pollution depend not just on observed water quality, but also on the typical uses of surface water resources that people value, we quantify the share of the state's surface water resources that does not meet common definitions of quality suitable for boating, fishing, swimming, and drinking, as well as the share that does not meet state regulatory standards for their designated uses.

Phosphoinositides control the localization of HOPS subunit VPS41, which together with VPS33 mediates vacuole fusion in plants.

The vacuole is an essential organelle in plant cells, and its dynamic nature is important for plant growth and development. Homotypic membrane fusion is required for vacuole biogenesis, pollen germination, stomata opening, and gravity perception. Known components of the vacuole fusion machinery in eukaryotes include SNARE proteins, Rab GTPases, phosphoinositides, and the homotypic fusion and vacuolar protein sorting (HOPS) tethering complex.

Wortmannin-induced vacuole fusion enhances amyloplast dynamics in Arabidopsis zigzag1 hypocotyls.

Gravitropism in Arabidopsis shoots depends on the sedimentation of amyloplasts in the endodermis, and a complex interplay between the vacuole and F-actin. Gravity response is inhibited in zigzag-1 (zig-1), a mutant allele of VTI11, which encodes a SNARE protein involved in vacuole fusion. zig-1 seedlings have fragmented vacuoles that fuse after treatment with wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and underscore a role of phosphoinositides in vacuole fusion.

Multiple vacuoles in impaired tonoplast trafficking3 mutants are independent organelles.

Plant vacuoles are essential and dynamic organelles, and mechanisms of vacuole biogenesis and fusion are not well characterized. We recently demonstrated that Wortmannin, an inhibitor of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K), induces the fusion of plant vacuoles both in roots of itt3/vti11 mutant alleles and in guard cells of wild type Arabidopsis and Fava bean. Here we used Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) to demonstrate that the vacuoles in itt3/vti11 are independent organelles.

Identification and expression analyses of BAMBI mediated by FSH in swine luteinizing granulosa cells.

Transforming growth factor-β and related growth factors are essential regulators for the development of follicles. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) was reported as a key factor participating in the transforming growth factor-β signal pathway. To investigate the role of BAMBI in porcine granulosa cells, the full length of the BAMBI was cloned from porcine ovarian cDNA.

Ectopic expression of RBP4 impairs the insulin pathway and inguinal fat deposition in mice.

A large body of evidence has linked retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) to systemic insulin resistance, but little is known about its function in fat deposition. This study aimed to confirm the involvement of RBP4 in inguinal fat deposition and insulin by intraperitoneal injection of adenovirus-mediated RBP4 to mice. Intraperitoneal injection of adenoviral vectors was validated as an efficient gene manipulation tool for over-expressing recombinant proteins in vivo.

Homotypic vacuole fusion requires VTI11 and is regulated by phosphoinositides.

Most plant cells contain a large central vacuole that is essential to maintain cellular turgor. We report a new mutant allele of VTI11 that implicates the SNARE protein VTI11 in homotypic fusion of protein storage and lytic vacuoles. Fusion of the multiple vacuoles present in vti11 mutants could be induced by treatment with Wortmannin and LY294002, which are inhibitors of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K).

Retinol binding protein 4 affects the adipogenesis of porcine preadipocytes through insulin signaling pathways.

Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), a novel cytokine, is mainly secreted by hepatocytes and adipocytes. RBP4 reportedly induces insulin resistance and RBP4 secretion is increased in the adipocytes of animals or humans with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, but its role in preadipocyte differentiation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of RBP4 on the differentiation of porcine preadipocytes into adipocytes.