Additional file 1: of Triptolide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in human endothelial cells: involvement of NF-κB pathway

Supplementary Data. Figure S1. Full-length Western blots for Figure 5A, the effects of triptolide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes in the protein levels of phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The blots show p-IκBα (A) with blots stripped and reprobed to detect β-actin (B). The blots are presented individually for each staining, intact without splicing. Figure S2. Full-length Western blots for Figure 5C, the effects of triptolide on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced changes in the protein levels of IκBα in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The blots show IκBα (A) with blots stripped and reprobed to detect β-actin (B). The blots are presented individually for each staining, intact without splicing. (DOCX 705 kb

Table_1_Cell Wall Invertase and Sugar Transporters Are Differentially Activated in Tomato Styles and Ovaries During Pollination and Fertilization.XLSX

Flowering plants depend on pollination and fertilization to activate the transition from ovule to seed and ovary to fruit, namely seed and fruit set, which are key for completing the plant life cycle and realizing crop yield potential. These processes are highly energy consuming and rely on the efficient use of sucrose as the major nutrient and energy source. However, it remains elusive as how sucrose imported into and utilizated within the female reproductive organ is regulated in response to pollination and fertilization. Here, we explored this issue in tomato by focusing on genes encoding cell wall invertase (CWIN) and sugar transporters, which are major players in sucrose phloem unloading, and sink development. The transcript level of a major CWIN gene, LIN5, and CWIN activity were significantly increased in style at 4 h after pollination (HAP) in comparison with that in the non-pollination control, and this was sustained at 2 days after pollination (DAP). In the ovaries, however, CWIN activity and LIN5 expression did not increase until 2 DAP when fertilization occurred. Interestingly, a CWIN inhibitor gene INVINH1 was repressed in the pollinated style at 2 DAP. In response to pollination, the style exhibited increased expressions of genes encoding hexose transporters, SlHT1, 2, SlSWEET5b, and sucrose transporters SlSUT1, 2, and 4 from 4 HAP to 2 DAP. Upon fertilization, SlSUT1 and SlHT1 and 2, but not SlSWEETs, were also stimulated in fruitlets at 2 DAP. Together, the findings reveal that styles respond promptly and more broadly to pollination for activation of CWIN and sugar transporters to fuel pollen tube elongation, whereas the ovaries do not exhibit activation for some of these genes until fertilization occurs.HighlightsExpression of genes encoding cell wall invertases and sugar transporters was stimulated in pollinated style and fertilized ovaries in tomato.</p

Presentation_1_Cell Wall Invertase and Sugar Transporters Are Differentially Activated in Tomato Styles and Ovaries During Pollination and Fertilization.PPTX

Flowering plants depend on pollination and fertilization to activate the transition from ovule to seed and ovary to fruit, namely seed and fruit set, which are key for completing the plant life cycle and realizing crop yield potential. These processes are highly energy consuming and rely on the efficient use of sucrose as the major nutrient and energy source. However, it remains elusive as how sucrose imported into and utilizated within the female reproductive organ is regulated in response to pollination and fertilization. Here, we explored this issue in tomato by focusing on genes encoding cell wall invertase (CWIN) and sugar transporters, which are major players in sucrose phloem unloading, and sink development. The transcript level of a major CWIN gene, LIN5, and CWIN activity were significantly increased in style at 4 h after pollination (HAP) in comparison with that in the non-pollination control, and this was sustained at 2 days after pollination (DAP). In the ovaries, however, CWIN activity and LIN5 expression did not increase until 2 DAP when fertilization occurred. Interestingly, a CWIN inhibitor gene INVINH1 was repressed in the pollinated style at 2 DAP. In response to pollination, the style exhibited increased expressions of genes encoding hexose transporters, SlHT1, 2, SlSWEET5b, and sucrose transporters SlSUT1, 2, and 4 from 4 HAP to 2 DAP. Upon fertilization, SlSUT1 and SlHT1 and 2, but not SlSWEETs, were also stimulated in fruitlets at 2 DAP. Together, the findings reveal that styles respond promptly and more broadly to pollination for activation of CWIN and sugar transporters to fuel pollen tube elongation, whereas the ovaries do not exhibit activation for some of these genes until fertilization occurs.HighlightsExpression of genes encoding cell wall invertases and sugar transporters was stimulated in pollinated style and fertilized ovaries in tomato.</p

Hole Extraction Enhancement for Efficient Polymer Solar Cells with Boronic Acid Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes doped Hole Transport Layers

Boronic acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (bf-MWCNTs) were synthesized via a facile low temperature process and introduced in PEDOT:PSS as the composite hole transport layer (HTL), which improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of polymer solar cells (PSCs). The devices utilized PCDTBT:PC₇₁BM active layers had achieved an optimal PCE of 6.953%, leading to 28% enhancement comparing to the device based on pristine PEDOT:PSS HTL. The PEDOT:PSS:bf-MWCNTs composite HTLs exhibited remarkable enhancement on hole mobility and electrical conductivity, which were beneficial to the hole extraction and transport on interface. Meanwhile, the work function (WF) of HTLs had an increase after bf-MWCNTs doping, which was matched with the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the donor material, further improving the hole transport. Therefore, the incorporation of bf-MWCNTs efficiently improved the hole extraction and transport from active layer to the electrode

Discrete frequency-bin entanglement generation via cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in Sagnac interferometer

Discrete frequency-bin entanglement is an essential resource for applications in quantum information processing. In this Letter, we propose and demonstrate a scheme to generate discrete frequency-bin entanglement with a single piece of periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide in a modified Sagnac interferometer. Correlated two-photon states in both directions of the Sagnac interferometer are generated through cascaded second-order optical nonlinear processes. A relative phase difference between the two states is introduced by changing the polarization state of pump light, thus manipulating the two-photon state at the output of the Sagnac interferometer. The generated two-photon state is sent into a fiber polarization splitter, then a pure discrete frequency-bin entangled two-photon state is obtained by setting the pump light. The frequency entanglement property is measured by a spatial quantum beating with a visibility of $96.0 \pm 6.1\%$. The density matrix is further obtained with a fidelity of $98.0 \pm 3.0\%$ to the ideal state. Our demonstration provides a promising method for the generation of pure discrete frequency-bin entanglement at telecom band, which is desired in quantum photonics

MOESM6 of Seasonal and diurnal patterns of non-structural carbohydrates in source and sink tissues in field maize

Additional file 6: Table S3. Details of the three maize hybrids used in the 2016 season

MOESM4 of Seasonal and diurnal patterns of non-structural carbohydrates in source and sink tissues in field maize

Additional file 4: Figure S3. Diurnal changes of starch (solid line) and total soluble carbohydrates (TSC, short dash line) concentrations in the rest of the plants at different growth periods. (A) Older expanded leaves but the 7th leaf at 7th leaf stage, (B) Unexpanded leaves at 7th leaf stage, (C) Older expanded leaves but the 13th leaf at 13th leaf stage, (D) Unexpanded leaves at 13th leaf stage, (E) Whole leaves but the ear leaves at 28 days after pollination, and (F) Whole stems but ear stems at 28 days after pollination

MOESM7 of Seasonal and diurnal patterns of non-structural carbohydrates in source and sink tissues in field maize

Additional file 7: Figure S4. Diurnal changes of light intensity and temperature during the sampling days. Lines shown were fitted by ß-spline. Abbreviations: V7, the 7th leaf expanded stage; V13, the 13th leaf expanded stage; 28 DAP, 28 days after pollination

MOESM2 of Seasonal and diurnal patterns of non-structural carbohydrates in source and sink tissues in field maize

Additional file 2: Figure S2. Seasonal changes of the above ground biomass in the 2015 season (n = 3). Abbreviations: DM, dry matter; DAS, days after sowing

DataSheet_1_Serum Anti-BRAT1 is a Common Molecular Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Cancers and Atherosclerosis.docx

Atherosclerosis (AS) and cancers are major global causes of mortality and morbidity. They also share common modifiable pathogenesis risk factors. As the same strategies used to predict AS could also detect certain cancers, we sought novel serum antibody biomarkers of cancers in atherosclerotic sera sampled by liquid biopsy. Using serological antigen identification by cDNA expression cloning (SEREX) and western blot, we screened and detected the antigens BRCA1-Associated ATM Activator 1 (BRAT1) and WD Repeat Domain 1 (WDR1) in the sera of patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Amplified luminescence proximity homogeneous assay-linked immunosorbent assay (AlphaLISA) established the upregulation of serum BRAT1 antibody (BRAT1-Abs) and WDR1 antibody (WDR1-Abs) in patients with AS-related diseases compared with healthy subjects. ROC and Spearman’s correlation analyses showed that BRAT1-Abs and WDR1-Abs could detect AS-related diseases. Thus, serum BRAT1-Abs and WDR1-Abs are potential AS biomarkers. We used online databases and AlphaLISA detection to compare relative antigen and serum antibody expression and found high BRAT1 and BRAT1-Abs expression in patients with GI cancers. Significant increases (> 0.6) in the AUC for BRAT1-Ab vs. esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer suggested that BRAT1-Ab exhibited better predictive potential for GI cancers than WDR1-Ab. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between BRAT1-Ab groups (P = 0.12). Nevertheless, a log-rank test disclosed that the highest serum BRAT1-Ab levels were associated with poor ESCC prognosis at 5–60 weeks post-surgery. We validated the foregoing conclusions by comparing serum BRAT1-Ab and WDR1-Ab levels based on the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients with ESCC. Multiple statistical approaches established a correlation between serum BRAT1-Ab levels and platelet counts. BRAT1-Ab upregulation may enable early detection of AS and GI cancers and facilitate the delay of disease progression. Thus, BRAT1-Ab is a potential antibody biomarker for the diagnosis of AS and GI cancers and strongly supports the routine clinical application of liquid biopsy in chronic disease detection and diagnosis.</p