Effect of fertilizers on Cd accumulation and subcellular distribution of two cosmos species (<i>Cosmos sulphureus</i> and <i>Cosmos bipinnata</i>)

<p>Addition of fertilizer amendments is regarded as an ideal approach to enhancing phytoextraction. However, there is little information available on the influence of common fertilizers on Cd accumulation of two newly reported Cd accumulators, <i>Cosmos sulphureus</i> and <i>Cosmos bipinnata (C. sulphureus</i> and <i>C. bipinnata)</i>. The effects of N (CO(NH₂)₂), NP (CO(NH₂)₂ + Ca(H₂PO₄)₂), and NPK (CO(NH₂)₂ + Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ + KCl) fertilizers on Cd accumulation and subcellular distribution of <i>C. sulphureus</i> and <i>C. bipinnata</i> were studied in a 70-d pot experiment. The results showed that Cd uptake of C. <i>sulphureus</i> and C. <i>bipinnata</i> with NPK fertilizer was significantly higher than control, N, and NP fertilizers, especially 3.8- and 4.7-fold higher than control (<i>p < 0.05</i>). Compared with C. <i>bipinnata</i>, C. <i>sulphureus</i> achieved higher biomass and Cd uptake in aboveground parts under fertilizer treatments, especially NPK fertilizer. The Cd subcellular distribution revealed that segregation of Cd to Cd-rich granules (MRG) might play an important role in Cd detoxification in both species. <i>C. sulphureus</i> is more likely than <i>C. bipinnata</i> to separate the Cd in MRG and reduce the partition in the heat-denatured protein fraction, especially with NPK fertilizer. Therefore, C. <i>sulphureus</i> combined with NPK fertilizers could be an effective method to remediate Cd-polluted farmland soils in China.</p

Improved Rate and Cycling Performances of Electrodes Based on BiFeO₃ Nanoflakes by Compositing with Organic Pectin for Advanced Rechargeable Na-Ion Batteries

Advanced rechargeable Na-ion battery is favored by researchers owing to its relatively low-priced and earth-abundant resource. In this work, BiFeO₃ nanoflakes by compositing with organic pectin as an outstanding anode material for rechargeable Na-ion batteries were fabricated by an improved hydrothermal process for the first time. We found that the BiFeO₃/pectin nanoflakes as anode hold long life and excellent charge–discharge performance with reversible capacity of 450 mAh g^–1, which can retain 100% capacity after 100 charge–discharge cycles. It is inferred that the excellent performance of Na-ion batteries is contributed to viscoelastic pectin among BiFeO₃ crystal lattices. The organic pectin can play a buffer role in the process of BiFeO₃ crystal lattices expansion when Na ions inserted, indicating the BiFeO₃/pectin nanoflakes are not easily degenerated as anode in Na-ion battery. This work provides great potential for fabricating low-priced and high power density Na-ion batteries for electronic equipment applications

Convenient Three-Dimensional Cell Culture in Supermolecular Hydrogels

A convenient three-dimensional cell culture was developed by employing high swelling property of hybrid hydrogels coassembled from C₂-phenyl-based supermolecular gelators and sodium hyaluronate. Imaging and spectroscopic analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra confirm that the hybrid gelators can self-assemble into nanofibrous hydrogel. The high swelling property of dried gel ensures cell migration and proliferation inside bulk of the hydrogels, which provides a facial method to study disease models, the effect of drug dosages, and tissue culture in vitro

Protective effect of cell transplantation in liver function.

<p>Blood samples of normal and experimental rats were collected and serum levels of albumin (ALB), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT) were tested before (CCl₄ 6w) and after (CCl₄ 10w) cell transplantation. (n = 6/group; *p<0.05).</p

Increased sinusoidal blood vessel density by transplanted cells.

<p>(A) Representative views of immunohistological staining of CD31 in HD group, RD group and PBS group (Scale bars: 150 µm). Number of CD31 positive vessels counted from immunohistological staining. Five views in each sample with three samples in each group were analyzed. (B) Expression of Ang-1, Tie-2, VEGF-A and VEGFR-2 analyzed by qRT-PCR. Each sample was repeated three times with three samples from each group. *p<0.05.</p

Antifibrogenic effect of cell transplantation measured by immunohistology and qRT-PCR analyses.

<p>(A) Immunohistochemical staining of collagen type I (Col I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) before (CCl₄ 6w) and after (CCl₄ 10w) cell transplantation (Scale bars: 100 µm). (B) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of fibrosis related markers α₂-procollagen, fibronectin, α-SMA, TGF-β,PDGF-B, PDGFR, MMP-2 and TIMP-2. Each sample was repeated three times with three samples from each group. *p<0.05; n.s: p>0.05.</p

Promotion of liver regeneration by transplanted cells.

<p>(A) The liver weights and liver/body weight ratios at 4 weeks post-treatment. (B) Representative views of immunohistological staining of Ki-67 in HD group, RD group and PBS group (Scale bars: 150 µm). Percentage of Ki-67 positive cells calculated from immunohistological staining. Five views from each sample with three samples in each group were analyzed. (C) Expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) analyzed by qRT-PCR. Each sample was repeated three times with three samples from each group. *p<0.05.</p

Biomechanical properties of repaired cornea postoperatively at 6 months (n = 6 in each group).

<p>*<i>P</i> < 0.05 compared with normal cornea.</p

Surgical procedures involving the creation of corneal stromal defects by lamellar keratoplasty (LKP), followed by repair using transplantation of acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS) sheets with keratocytes.

<p>Surgical procedures involving the creation of corneal stromal defects by lamellar keratoplasty (LKP), followed by repair using transplantation of acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS) sheets with keratocytes.</p

Antifibrogenic effect of cell transplantation in liver fibrosis.

<p>(A) Representative structural changes in livers were detected by hematoxylin & eosin (HE), picric acid-sirius red (PSR) and Masson staining (Scale bars: 100 µm). (B) Quantitative analyses of liver fibrosis were performed from PSR and Masson staining. Five views from each sample with three samples in each group were analyzed. *p<0.05.</p