Multi-Color Two-Photon Microscopic Imaging Based on a Single-Wavelength Excitation

Two-photon probes with broad absorption spectra are beneficial for multi-color two-photon microscopy imaging, which is one of the most powerful tools to study the dynamic processes of living cells. To achieve multi-color two-photon imaging, multiple lasers and detectors are usually required for excitation and signal collection, respectively. However, one makes the imaging system more complicated and costly. Here, we demonstrate a multi-color two-photon imaging method with a single-wavelength excitation by using a signal separation strategy. The method can effectively solve the problem of spectral crosstalk by selecting a suitable filter combination and applying image subtraction. The experimental results show that the two-color and three-color two-photon imaging are achieved with a single femtosecond laser. Furthermore, this method can also be combined with multi-photon imaging technology to reveal more information and interaction in thick biological tissues

The Reversible Removal of SO2 by Amino Functionalized ZIF8 with 5-Aminotetrazole via Post-Synthesis Modification

The post-synthesis modification is a highly efficient method for the modification of Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, which has been used to synthesize MOF materials purposefully that cannot be prepared by direct synthesis and impregnation method. In this work, amino modified ZIF8 with 5-aminotetrazole was prepared by the post synthesis modification method and was employed to reversibly remove SO2 from flue gas. Based on the characterization and analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Brunner Emmet Teller (BET), it was found that the functionalized ZIF8 (Zn(5-ATZ)1.5) was a microporous material with a two-dimensional nano-layered structure. According to the SO2 adsorption experiments, the adsorption capacity of SO2 at the concentration of 1.6% vol can reach to 122 mg/g under the optimal conditions (25 °C, 2865 h−1). Five successive adsorption-desorption experiments exhibited that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 had excellent regeneration performance. The characterization results of Raman Spectra (Raman) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as the DFT simulation calculations revealed that SO2 mainly interacted with Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 by hydrogen bonds between O of SO2 and amino H in the Zn(5-ATZ)1.5, and the interaction of SO2 with amino N and 5-aminotetrazole N by forming a non-covalent charge transfer complex. This work suggested that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 is an excellent potential sorbent for SO2 removal

Estimation of Production Amount of Livestock and Poultry Manure and Environmental Impact Assessment in Guangxi

This study was intended to estimate production of major livestock and poultry manure and contaminant content, and find out current situation of manure pollution, so as to provide reference for pollution control of livestock and poultry breeding industry in Guangxi. Based on the related statistic data in 2010 and the excretion coefficient of different livestock and poultry, the manure and its contaminant production amount of main livestock and poultry in Guangxi were estimated. Then the annual livestock and poultry manure load of farmland and the loss of contaminant were also calculated to analyze the ecological pressure resulted from livestock and poultry breeding in Guangxi. Following results were obtained: in 2010, the production amount of the livestock and poultry manure in Guangxi was 9141.30×104 tons, including nutrient TN 42.07×104 tons and TP 13.62×104 tons; the annual livestock and poultry manure and N, P pure nutrient load of farmland was 21t/hm2, 98 kg/hm2, and 32 kg/hm2 respectively; the production amount of manure contaminants was BOD5 383.43×104 tons, CODCr 435.42×104 tons, and NH3-N 42.08×104 tons; according to 30% loss rate, the loss amount of CODCr and NH3-N was higher than the sum of industrial and life waste water. It was concluded that the livestock and poultry breeding industry had little impact on soil environment, but posed a grave threat to water environment

Cryopreservation of Yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) sperm

The germplasm of farmed Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in China has deteriorated since its introduction more than 40 years ago. The main aim of this study is to develop a sperm cryopreservation technique to assist the newly established program to manage this issue in China. This study investigated the factors important to the development of a non-programmable sperm cryopreservation technique in this species, including cryoprotectant agent [CPA; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), glycine, sucrose, glucose and trehalose], equilibration time, rack height and thawing temperature. A low post-thaw sperm fertilization rate of 27.67 ± 2.52% was produced with the parameters optimized with the permeable CPAs (DMSO, PG and EG) only: 6% DMSO, 10 min equilibration time, 5 cm rack height and 30 °C thawing temperature. This rate was further improved to 44.00 ± 2.00% by adding 3% glucose into 6% DMSO. This addition had also improved the integrities of post-thaw sperm DNA, plasma membrane and acrosome, mitochondrial membrane potential and activities of some enzymes. Results from this study also showed that the post-thaw sperm morphology and ultrastructure were intensively compromised. In addition, the sperm agglutination found in the newly spawned sperm might be one of the phenomena resulted from the so-called germplasm deterioration, especially in the stock used in this study. The further exacerbation of agglutination after cryopreservation would also compromise the post-thaw sperm performance. The sperm cryopreservation technique established in this study would provide a better option to assist in managing the genetic diversity of farmed Yesso scallops in China

Deep Penetration Microscopic Imaging with Non-Diffracting Airy Beams

We report a deep penetration microscopic imaging method with a non-diffracting Airy beam. The direct mapping of volume imaging in free space shows that the axial imaging range of the Airy beam is approximately 4 times that of the traditional Gaussian beam along the axial direction while maintaining a narrow lateral width. Benefiting from its non-diffracting property, the microscopic imaging with Airy beam illumination can acquire image structures through turbid medium and capture a volumetric image in a single frame. We demonstrate the penetration ability of the Airy microscopic imaging through a strongly scattering environment with 633 nm and 780 nm lasers. The performances of the volumetric imaging method were evaluated using HeLa cells and isolated mouse kidney tissue. The thick sample was scanned layer by layer in the Gaussian mode, however, in the Airy mode, the three-dimensional (3D) structure information was projected onto a two-dimensional (2D) image, which vastly increased the volume imaging speed. To show the characteristics of the Airy microscope, we performed dynamic volumetric imaging on the isolated mouse kidney tissue with two-photon

A Survey Report on Sugarcane Production in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2013

In order to fully understand sugarcane production in Guangxi in 2013, the sample survey combined with data collection and field survey was carried out in sugarcane production areas in Nanning, Hechi, Liuzhou, Chongzuo, Baise and Laibin from May 28 to June 36 in 2013. It was found that the sugarcane growing area in Guangxi in 2013 declined compared with that in 2012; the rate of emergence remained the same as previous year, and as for the plant number of plant crop and ratoon crop per hectare, there was a decline of 4000 and 2000 seedlings respectively compared with the figure in 2012; borer damage rate declined on the whole while the incidence of sugarcane smut increased. Due to the growth in the cost of planting, the growers were less enthusiastic for management. According to the findings, the fertilization and sugarcane field management should be accelerated; borer prevention work was also required, so as to reduce borer damage and dieback rate; the planting structure of varieties had to be adjusted and the cultivated area of "Guitang" as a fine sugarcane variety should also be enlarged; meanwhile other active measures needed to be taken to prevent and control the outburst of pest attack in local areas

Single-cell and spatiotemporal transcriptomic analyses reveal the effects of microorganisms on immunity and metabolism in the mouse liver

The gut-liver axis is a complex bidirectional communication pathway between the intestine and the liver in which microorganisms and their metabolites flow from the intestine through the portal vein to the liver and influence liver function. In a sterile environment, the phenotype or function of the liver is altered, but few studies have investigated the specific cellular and molecular effects of microorganisms on the liver. To this end, we constructed single-cell and spatial transcriptomic (ST) profiles of germ-free (GF) and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mouse livers. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) revealed that the ratio of most immune cells was altered in the liver of GF mice; in particular, natural killer T (NKT) cells, IgA plasma cells (IgAs) and Kupffer cells (KCs) were significantly reduced in GF mice. Spatial enhanced resolution omics sequencing (Stereo-seq) confirmed that microorganisms mediated the accumulation of Kupffer cells in the periportal zone. Unexpectedly, IgA plasma cells were more numerous and concentrated in the periportal vein in liver sections from SPF mice but less numerous and scattered in GF mice. ST technology also enables the precise zonation of liver lobules into eight layers and three patterns based on the gene expression level in each layer, allowing us to further investigate the effects of microbes on gene zonation patterns and functions. Furthermore, untargeted metabolism experiments of the liver revealed that the propionic acid levels were significantly lower in GF mice, and this reduction may be related to the control of genes involved in bile acid and fatty acid metabolism. In conclusion, the combination of sc/snRNA-seq, Stereo-seq, and untargeted metabolomics revealed immune system defects as well as altered bile acid and lipid metabolic processes at the single-cell and spatial levels in the livers of GF mice. This study will be of great value for understanding host-microbiota interactions