Distrontium lithium beryllium triborate, Sr2LiBeB3O8

Single crystals of distrontium lithium beryllium triborate, Sr2LiBeB3O8, were obtained by spontaneous nucleation from a high-temperature melt. In the Sr2Li[BeB3O8] structure, [BeB2O7]6− rings, made up from one BeO4 tetra­hedron and two BO3 triangles, are connected to each other by [BO3] triangles to form the smallest repeat unit {[BeB3O8]8−} and then form chains along the b axis. The Sr2+ cations are seven- or eight-­coordinated and Li+ cations are tetra-­coordinated and lie between the chains

Oxidation-induced Cu coating on steel surface

Abstract. Copper is accumulated in recycled steels and is difficult to be removed during steelmaking processes when steel scrap is used as steel sources. Meanwhile, copper characteristics are of importance both to human beings and to animals and plants. In this paper, integrated copper coating was observed on the surface of copper-containing steels when the steels were heated at around 1150℃. However, the copper was separately scattered in and under the surface rust after heating at 1000℃. The forming mechanisms of copper coating are discussed in detail. By choosing a proper descaling reagent, self-generated oxidation-induced copper coating appeared on the steel surface. The method proposed in this work is environmentally friendly for nontoxic chemicals being used. In addition, this provides a new concept for producing protective composite by oxidizing from the substrate directly and there is no bonding problem

Two \u3ci\u3eMagnaporthe\u3c/i\u3e appressoria-specific (MAS) proteins, MoMas3 and MoMas5, are required for suppressing host innate immunity and promoting biotrophic growth in rice cells

In the devastating rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, six Magnaporthe appressoria-specific (MAS) proteins are encoded by MoGAS1, MoGAS2 and MoMAS3–MoMAS6. MoGAS1 and MoGAS2 were previously characterized as M. oryzae virulence factors; however, the roles of the other four genes are unknown. Here, we found that, although the loss of any MAS gene did not affect appressorial formation or vegetative growth, ΔMomas3 and ΔMomas5 mutant strains (but not the others) were reduced in virulence on susceptible CO-39 rice seedlings. Focusing on ΔMomas3 and ΔMomas5 mutant strains, we found that they could penetrate host leaf surfaces and fill the first infected rice cell but did not spread readily to neighbouring cells, suggesting they were impaired for biotrophic growth. Live-cell imaging of fluorescently labelled MoMas3 and MoMas5 proteins showed that during biotrophy, MoMas3 localized to the apoplastic compartment formed between fungal invasive hyphae and the plant-derived extra-invasive hyphal membrane while MoMas5 localized to the appressoria and the penetration peg. The loss of either MoMAS3 or MoMAS5 resulted in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infected rice cells, resulting in the triggering of plant defences that inhibited mutant growth in planta. ΔMomas3 a nd ΔMomas5 biotrophic growth could be remediated by inhibiting host NADPH oxidases and suppressing ROS accumulation. Thus, MoMas3 and MoMas5 are novel virulence factors involved in suppressing host plant innate immunity to promote biotrophic growth

2-(4-tert-Butyl­phen­yl)-5-{3,4-dibutoxy-5-[5-(4-tert-butyl­phen­yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]-2-thienyl}-1,3,4-oxadiazole

In the title compound, C36H44N4O4S, the dihedral angles between the central thio­phene ring and the pendent oxadiazole rings are 12.7 (2) and 13.7 (2)°, and the dihedral angles between the oxadiazole rings and their adjacent benzene rings are 6.1 (2) and 17.5 (2)°. An intra­molecular C—H⋯O inter­action may help to establish the conformation

Effects of flavonoids extracted from the whole plant of Patrinia Villosa (Thunb) Juss in a rat model of chronic pelvic inflammation

Purpose: To investigate the effects of total flavonoids (PLV) extracted from the  whole plant of Patrinia Villosa (Thunb.) Juss (PTJ) in a rat model of chronic pelvic inflammation.Methods: An orthogonal test design was employed to optimize the extraction  conditions of PLV via reflux extraction by ethanol. Rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and PLV groups. An absorbable gelatin sponge with  pathogens was inserted into the cervix of the rat to establish a pelvic inflammatory model. The PLV groups were orally administered PLV at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg for eight days. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the determination of inflammatory cytokines in rat serum and the culture  supernatant of RAW264.7 cells. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) was employed to determine mRNA levels.Results: The optimum extraction conditions for PLV by orthogonal test were  obtained: extraction time (120 min), ratio of liquid to raw material (20 mL/g) and ethanol concentration (50 %). By treating with PLV, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β significantly decreased (p < 0.01), while IL-10 level significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the serum of chronic pelvic inflammatory rats and LPS-stimulated  macrophages. In addition, a similar trend was observed in the mRNA levels of LPS-stimulated macrophages treated with PLV.Conclusion: PLV showes significant anti-inflammatory effects on chronic pelvic inflammation. The potential mechanism is related to regulating the expression of inflammatory factorsKeywords: Patrinia Villosa (Thunb.) Juss, Total flavonoids, Chronic pelvic  inflammation, Inflammatory cytokine

Tuning the detection wavelength of quantum-well infrared photodetectors by single high-energy implantation

Single high-energy (0.9 MeV) proton implantation and rapid thermal annealing was used to tune the spectral response of the quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). In addition to the large redshift of the QWIPs’ response wavelength after implantation, either narrowed or broadened spectrum was obtained at different interdiffusion extent. In general, the overall device performance for the low-dose implantation was not significantly degraded. In comparison with the other implantation schemes, this single high-energy implantation is the most effective and simple technique in tuning the wavelength of QWIPs, thus, to achieve the fabrication of multicolor detectors.Partial financial support from Australian Research Council, Hong Kong Research Grants Council, and the Australian Agency for International Development ~AusAID! through IDP Education Australia under Australia–China Institutional Links Program (ACILP) is acknowledged