Additional file 1: of Naringin ameliorates the high glucose-induced rat mesangial cell inflammatory reaction by modulating the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Key summary points. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most serious chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and is a major cause of end stage kidney disease. The pathogenesis of DKD is complex and there are no effective measures to treat it currently.The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the NLRP3-inflammasome under high glucose conditions, the effects of naringin during these conditions, and elucidate the role of naringin in the pathogenesis of DKD. Our results confirmed that naringin can regulate the NLRP3-Caspase-1-IL-1β / IL-18 signaling pathway by the NLRP3 inflammasome, which can improve DKD by playing an anti-inflammatory role.This study provides new insights into the nephroprotective mechanism of naringin to improve DKD by anti-inflammatory responses. (DOCX 12 kb

The Preparation of BN-Doped Atomic Layer Graphene via Plasma Treatment and Thermal Annealing

We report a new method for the codoping of boron and nitrogen in a monolayer graphene film. After the CVD synthesis of monolayer graphene, BN-doped graphene is prepared by performing power-controlled plasma treatment and thermal annealing with borazine. BN-doped graphene films with various doping levels, which were controlled by altering the plasma treatment power, were found with Raman and electrical measurements to investigate exhibit p-doping behavior. Transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that the synthesized BN-doped graphene films have a sp² hybridized hexagonal structure. This approach to tuning the distribution and doping levels of boron and nitrogen in monolayer sp² hybridized BN-doped graphene is expected to be very useful for applications requiring large-area graphene with an opened band gap

Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂: A Novel Host Lattice for Sm³⁺-Doped Long-Persistent Phosphorescence Materials Emitting Reddish Orange Light

A novel host lattice disodium calcium ditin­(IV) trigermanium oxide Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂ was utilized for synthesizing long-persistent phosphorescence materials for the first time. Reddish orange long-persistent phosphorescence was observed in Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂:Sm³⁺ phosphors with persistence time more than 4.8 h. The phosphors were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction pathway in air atmosphere. A predominant cubic phase of Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂ was observed in all XRD patterns. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that the emission spectrum was composed of the peaks located at 566 (the strongest), 605, 664, and 724 nm. The results of the decay curves in terms of a biexponential model suggest that different defects appear in the crystal lattice. The defects acting as traps were investigated by thermoluminescence, which demonstrated that doping Sm³⁺ ions into the Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂ host has made the trap types abundant. Furthermore, the origin of the long-persistent phosphorescence has also been discussed. On the basis of the above results, Sm³⁺-doped Na₂CaSn₂Ge₃O₁₂ phosphors are considered to have potential practical applications

Additional file 4: of MicroRNA 157-targeted SPL genes regulate floral organ size and ovule production in cotton

Over-expressing GhmiR157 precursor suppressed reproductive organs development. (A) qRT-PCR of mature miR157 expression in floral buds. R.E.L., the relative expression levels calculated using HISTONE3 (AF024716) as a control. The error bars indicate the standard deviation of three biological replicates. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences at P < 0.05 based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Tukey’s multiple comparison test). (B-F) Images of flowers (B), stamens and stigmas (C), ovaries after removing the valves (D), 30 DPA bolls (E) and mature bolls (F). (G) The size of floral organs in WT and over-expressing GhmiR157 lines. Values are shown as the mean ± standard deviation. In each column, values with different letters are significantly different based on Tukey’s multiple comparison test (P < 0.05). OV12, 38, 33 and 35, independent 35S::GhmiR157 transgenic lines. WT, wild type (Gossypium hirsutum cv. YZ1). Control, nontransgenic plant segregated from 35S::GhmiR157 transgenic lines. (DOCX 400 kb

Multifunctional Homogeneous Lateral Black Phosphorus Junction Devices

We demonstrate a controllable doping technique of few-layer black phosphorus (BP) via surface charge transfer using an ionic liquid mixture of EMIM­(C₆H₁₁N₂⁺):TFSI­(C₂F₆NO₄S₂^–) [EMIM:TFSI, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis­(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide]. A wide range of hole carrier densities, from 10¹¹ cm^–2 (nondegenerate) to 10¹³ cm^–2 (degenerate), can be obtained by controlling the weight percentage of the ionic liquid mixture. The doping method we proposed in this paper can be applied to make a multifunctional homogeneous lateral p–n junction device. By doping a fraction of the BP sample and by applying a gate voltage to the other fraction of the BP, we obtain homogeneous lateral p⁺–p, p⁺–n, p⁺–n⁺ junction diodes in a single BP channel. The homogeneous lateral BP p⁺–p and p⁺–n junctions display ideal rectifying behavior and a much stronger photoresponse due to the built-in potential. Furthermore, at high positive gate voltages, the interband tunneling enables the homogeneous lateral p⁺–n⁺ junction transistors to provide both a negative differential resistance (NDR) and a negative transconductance (NTC) in the current–voltage characteristics at room temperature. On the basis of our results, it is possible to build novel devices utilizing the large NDR and NTC in BP such as amplifiers, oscillators, and multivalued logic systems

Plasma-Treated Thickness-Controlled Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus and Its Electronic Transport Properties

We report the preparation of thickness-controlled few-layer black phosphorus (BP) films through the modulated plasma treatment of BP flakes. Not only does the plasma treatment control the thickness of the BP film, it also removes the chemical degradation of the exposed oxidized BP surface, which results in enhanced field-effect transistor (FET) performance. Our fabricated BP FETs were passivated with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) immediately after the plasma etching process. With these techniques, a high field-effect mobility was achieved, 1150 cm²/(V s), with an <i>I</i>_on/<i>I</i>_off ratio of ∼10⁵ at room temperature. Furthermore, a fabricated FET with plasma-treated few-layer BP that was passivated with PMMA was found to retain its <i>I</i>–<i>V</i> characteristics and thus to exhibit excellent environmental stability over several weeks

DataSheet_1_Transcriptome analysis reveals that jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling is associated with the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in Dipsacus asperoides.docx

Dipsacus asperoides is a perennial herb, the roots of which are abundant in asperosaponin VI, which has important medicinal value. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides remains unclear. In present study, a comprehensive investigation of asperosaponin VI biosynthesis was conducted at the levels of metabolite and transcript during root development. The content of asperosaponin VI was significantly accumulated in two-leaf stage roots, and the spatial distribution of asperosaponin VI was localized in the xylem. The concentration of asperosaponin VI gradually increased in the root with the development process. Transcriptome analysis revealed 3916 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 146 transcription factors (TFs) during root development in D. asperoides. In addition, α-linolenic acid metabolism, jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, JA signal transduction, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were prominently enriched. Furthermore, the concentration of JA gradually increased, and genes involved in α-linolenic acid metabolism, JA biosynthesis, and triterpenoid biosynthesis were up-regulated during root development. Moreover, the concentration of asperosaponin VI was increased following methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment by activating the expression of genes in the triterpenoid biosynthesis pathway, including acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (DaAACT), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (DaHMGCS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (DaHMGCR). We speculate that JA biosynthesis and signaling regulates the expression of triterpenoid biosynthetic genes and facilitate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI. The results suggest a regulatory network wherein triterpenoids, JA, and TFs co-modulate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides.</p

Table_1_Transcriptome analysis reveals that jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling is associated with the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in Dipsacus asperoides.xlsx

Dipsacus asperoides is a perennial herb, the roots of which are abundant in asperosaponin VI, which has important medicinal value. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides remains unclear. In present study, a comprehensive investigation of asperosaponin VI biosynthesis was conducted at the levels of metabolite and transcript during root development. The content of asperosaponin VI was significantly accumulated in two-leaf stage roots, and the spatial distribution of asperosaponin VI was localized in the xylem. The concentration of asperosaponin VI gradually increased in the root with the development process. Transcriptome analysis revealed 3916 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 146 transcription factors (TFs) during root development in D. asperoides. In addition, α-linolenic acid metabolism, jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, JA signal transduction, sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were prominently enriched. Furthermore, the concentration of JA gradually increased, and genes involved in α-linolenic acid metabolism, JA biosynthesis, and triterpenoid biosynthesis were up-regulated during root development. Moreover, the concentration of asperosaponin VI was increased following methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment by activating the expression of genes in the triterpenoid biosynthesis pathway, including acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (DaAACT), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (DaHMGCS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase (DaHMGCR). We speculate that JA biosynthesis and signaling regulates the expression of triterpenoid biosynthetic genes and facilitate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI. The results suggest a regulatory network wherein triterpenoids, JA, and TFs co-modulate the biosynthesis of asperosaponin VI in D. asperoides.</p

pH of Aerosols in a Polluted Atmosphere: Source Contributions to Highly Acidic Aerosol

Acidity (pH) plays a key role in the physical and chemical behavior of PM_2.5. However, understanding of how specific PM sources impact aerosol pH is rarely considered. Performing source apportionment of PM_2.5 allows a unique link of sources pH of aerosol from the polluted city. Hourly water-soluble (WS) ions of PM_2.5 were measured online from December 25th, 2014 to June 19th, 2015 in a northern city in China. Five sources were resolved including secondary nitrate (41%), secondary sulfate (26%), coal combustion (14%), mineral dust (11%), and vehicle exhaust (9%). The influence of source contributions to pH was estimated by ISORROPIA-II. The lowest aerosol pH levels were found at low WS-ion levels and then increased with increasing total ion levels, until high ion levels occur, at which point the aerosol becomes more acidic as both sulfate and nitrate increase. Ammonium levels increased nearly linearly with sulfate and nitrate until approximately 20 μg m^–3, supporting that the ammonium in the aerosol was more limited by thermodynamics than source limitations, and aerosol pH responded more to the contributions of sources such as dust than levels of sulfate. Commonly used pH indicator ratios were not indicative of the pH estimated using the thermodynamic model

Standard curve of real-time FQ-PCR amplification.

<p>Serial 10-fold dilutions of standard DEV DNA from 5.25×10¹⁰ to 10² copies were amplified in this process. Amplification efficiency (E) was 99.8%. The standard curve equations was <i>C</i>t = −3.328×lg [virus copies/5.25]+40.138 (R² = 0.997).</p