Strain engineering and photocatalytic application of single-layer ReS2_2

We present a theoretical study on the electronic, dynamical, and photocatalytic properties of single-layer ReS$_2$ under uniaxial and shear strains. The single-layer ReS$_2$ shows strong anisotropic responses to straining. It remains dynamically stable for a wide range of $x$-axial strain, but becomes unstable for 2\% $y$-axial compressive strain. The single-layer ReS$_2$ is calculated to be an indirect bandgap semiconductor, and there is an indirect$-$direct bandgap transition under 1$-$5\% $x$-axial tensile straining. The single-layer ReS$_2$ is predicted incapable of catalyzing the water oxidation reaction. However, 1$-$5\% $y$-axial tensile strain can enable the single-layer ReS$_2$ for overall photocatalytic water splitting. Besides, the single-layer ReS$_2$ can also catalyze the overall water splitting and be most efficient under acidic water solutions with pH=3.8

Research on the Development of Family Farms in Chongqing

Using the general train of thought of the type study, firstly has analyzed the current situation and problems of the development of family farm in Chongqing, and secondly explored the deep reasons for the problems, finally puts forward the corresponding countermeasures. The results indicates that: In recent years, the family farm in Chongqing develop rapidly, and has obtained certain achievements, but there are still some problems, such as the scale of family farm is small, low degree of organization, weak investment capacity, narrow financing channels, management level is not high, lack of talent, industry distribution area is not outstanding, policy benefit is not wide enough and other issues; the causes of these problems have the restriction of the natural environment, the restriction of land circulation, the restriction of the agricultural socialized service system and the restriction of family farmers’ comprehensive quality. Thus, according to the above restriction conditions, this paper puts forward the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions

EZH2 RIP-seq Identifies Tissue-specific Long Non-coding RNAs.

BackgroundPolycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) catalyzes histone methylation at H3 Lys27, and plays crucial roles during development and diseases in numerous systems. Its catalytic subunit EZH2 represents a key nuclear target for long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that emerging to be a novel class of epigenetic regulator and participate in diverse cellular processes. LncRNAs are characterized by high tissue-specificity; however, little is known about the tissue profile of the EZH2- interacting lncRNAs.ObjectiveHere we performed a global screening for EZH2-binding lncRNAs in tissues including brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney, intestine, spleen, testis, muscle and blood by combining RNA immuno- precipitation and RNA sequencing. We identified 1328 EZH2-binding lncRNAs, among which 470 were shared in at least two tissues while 858 were only detected in single tissue. An RNA motif with specific secondary structure was identified in a number of lncRNAs, albeit not in all EZH2-binding lncRNAs. The EZH2-binding lncRNAs fell into four categories including intergenic lncRNA, antisense lncRNA, intron-related lncRNA and promoter-related lncRNA, suggesting diverse regulations of both cis and trans-mechanisms. A promoter-related lncRNA Hnf1aos1 bound to EZH2 specifically in the liver, a feature same as its paired coding gene Hnf1a, further confirming the validity of our study. In addition to the well known EZH2-binding lncRNAs like Kcnq1ot1, Gas5, Meg3, Hotair and Malat1, majority of the lncRNAs were firstly reported to be associated with EZH2.ConclusionOur findings provide a profiling view of the EZH2-interacting lncRNAs across different tissues, and suggest critical roles of lncRNAs during cell differentiation and maturation

A cytoplasmic Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase SOD1 contributes to hyphal growth and virulence of Fusarium graminearum

AbstractSuperoxide dismutases (SODs) are scavengers of superoxide radicals, one of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. SOD-based ROS scavenging system constitutes the frontline defense against intra- and extracellular ROS, but the roles of SODs in the important cereal pathogen Fusarium graminearum are not very clear. There are five SOD genes in F. graminearum genome, encoding cytoplasmic Cu-Zn SOD1 and MnSOD3, mitochondrial MnSOD2 and FeSOD4, and extracellular CuSOD5. Previous studies reported that the expression of SOD1 increased during infection of wheat coleoptiles and florets. In this work we showed that the recombinant SOD1 protein had the superoxide dismutase activity in vitro, and that the SOD1-mRFP fusion protein localized in the cytoplasm of F. graminearum. The Δsod1 mutants had slightly reduced hyphal growth and markedly increased sensitivity to the intracellular ROS generator menadione. The conidial germination under extracellular oxidative stress was significantly delayed in the mutants. Wheat floret infection assay showed that the Δsod1 mutants had a reduced pathogenicity. Furthermore, the Δsod1 mutants had a significant reduction in production of deoxynivalenol mycotoxin. Our results indicate that the cytoplasmic Cu-Zn SOD1 affects fungal growth probably depending on detoxification of intracellular superoxide radicals, and that SOD1-mediated deoxynivalenol production contributes to the virulence of F. graminearum in wheat head infection

Anti-tumor effect of polysaccharides from rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn on cervical cancer

Purpose: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of polysaccharides from Curculigo orchioides (PDC) on cervical cancer and the possible mechanisms involved.Methods: A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize extraction conditions for PDC. The anti-tumor effect of PDC on cervical cancer was investigated in vivo in mice injected with Hela cells. The parameters measured were tumor volume and weight. In vitro anti-tumor effects of PDC were assessed by measuring expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9 and P53 proteins in Hela cells via ELISA assay. Thymus and spleen indices were calculated for assessment of PDC effect on immune function.Results: The optimum extraction conditions predicted by the response surface methodology (RSM) were: extraction time = 1.58 h, ratio-of-water-to-sample = 30.05 mL/g and extraction number = 1.95. PDC showed significant anti-tumor effect on cervical cancer in mice. It significantly increased thymus and spleen indices in mice; and significantly up-regulated expressions of caspase-3, caspase-9 and P53 proteins in HeLa cells.Conclusion: PDC has significant anti-tumor effect on cervical cancer in vivo and in vitro, most probably through mechanisms involving enhancement on immune function and induction of apoptosis.Keyword: Curculigo orchioides, Polysaccharides, Cervical cancer, HeLa cells, Apoptosi

(S)-1-Hydroxy­propan-2-aminium (2R,3R)-3-carb­oxy-2,3-dihydroxy­propanoate monohydrate

The chiral title compound, C4H10NO+·C4H5O6 −·H2O, is a hydrated mol­ecular salt in which the tartaric acid has transferred one proton to the (S)-2-amino­propan-1-ol mol­ecule. The crystal structure is stabilized by a three-dimensional network of N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of the starting materials

2,2′-Dimethyl-1,1′-[2,2-bis­(bromo­methyl)propane-1,3-di­yl]dibenzimidazole hemihydrate

The title compound, C21H22Br2N4·0.5H2O, contains two benzimidazole groups which may provide two potential coordination nodes for the construction of metal–organic frameworks. The mean planes of the two imidazole groups are almost perpendicular, with a dihedral angle of 83.05 (2)°, and adjacent mol­ecules are linked into a one-dimensional chain by π–π stacking inter­actions between imidazole groups of different mol­ecules [centroid-to-centroid distances of 3.834 (2) and 3.522 (2) Å]

Ultrasound cavitation induced nucleation in metal solidification: an analytical model and validation by real-time experiments

Microstructural refinement of metallic alloys via ultrasonic melt processing (USMP) is an environmentally friendly and promising method. However, so far there has been no report in open literature on how to predict the solidified microstructures and grain size based on the ultrasound processing parameters.In this paper, an analytical model is developed to calculate the cavitation enhanced undercooling and the USMP refined solidification microstructure and grain size for Al-Cu alloys. Ultrafast synchrotron X-ray imaging and tomography techniques were used to collect the real-time experimental data for validating the model and the calculated results. The comparison between modeling and experiments reveal that there exists an effective ultrasound input power intensity for maximizing the grain refinement effects for the Al-Cu alloys, which is in the range of 20-45 MW/m2. In addition, a monotonous increase in temperature during USMP has negative effect on producing new nuclei, deteriorating the benefit of microstructure refinement due to the application of ultrasound

Xuebijing Improves Intestinal Microcirculation Dysfunction in Septic Rats by Regulating the VEGF-A/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore whether Xuebijing (XBJ) can improve intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis and its mechanism. METHODS: A rat model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). A total of 30 male SD rats were divided into four groups: sham group, CLP group, XBJ + axitinib group, and XBJ group. XBJ was intraperitoneally injected 2 h before CLP. Hemodynamic data (blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded. The intestinal microcirculation data of the rats were analyzed via microcirculation imaging. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the rats. Histological analysis and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the injury of small intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and small intestinal mucosa in rats. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in the small intestine was analyzed via Western blotting. RESULTS: XBJ improved intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in septic rats, alleviated the injury of small intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and small intestinal mucosa, and reduced the systemic inflammatory response. Moreover, XBJ upregulated the expression of VEGF-A, p-PI3K/total PI3K, and p-Akt/total Akt in the rat small intestine. CONCLUSION: XBJ may improve intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in septic rats possibly through the VEGF-A/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway