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Endosperm as the storage organ of starch and protein in cereal crops largely determines grain yield and quality. Despite the fact that several pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins required for endosperm development have been identified in rice, the molecular mechanisms of many P-type PPR proteins in endosperm development remains unclear. Here, we isolated a rice floury endosperm mutant ppr5that developed small starch grains and an abnormal aleurone layer, accompanied by decreased starch, protein, and amylose contents. Map-based cloning combined with a complementation test demonstrated that PPR5encodes a P-type PPR protein that is localized to the mitochondria. The mutation in PPR5caused reduced splicing efficiency of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 4(nad4) gene intron 3 and reduced complex I assembly and activity. Loss of PPR5function greatly up-regulated expression of alternative oxidases (AOXs), reduced ATP production, and affected mitochondrial morphology. We demonstrate that PPR5, as a P-type PPR protein, is required for mitochondrial function and endosperm development by controlling the cis-splicing of mitochondrial nad4intron 3.

Acceleration of neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation of neural cells are critical for effective neural tissue regeneration. In addition to biochemical cues, biomaterials have proven to be a valuable tool for engineering neural cellular physiological processes. However, strategies with convenient potential spatiotemporal control are still desirable. We here design a novel Fe-doped TiO2nanorod film using hemoglobin as the Fe source to endow it with visible-light-responsive regulated surface hydroxyl groups (−OH), which was demonstrated as the central role in mediating cell–material interactions in our previous study. The acceleration of neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells might be attributed to the upregulated distinct terminal hydroxyl groups triggered by visible light. We also demonstrate that the actin cytoskeletal system plays a pivotal role during these processes, approved by the inhibition experiment results. This study therefore sheds light on the regulation of neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation of neural cells using a convenient spatiotemporal controllable strategy.

Lignin is an aromatic polymer that constitutes up to 30 wt% of woody biomass and is considered the largest source of renewable aromatics. Valorization of the lignin stream is pivotal for making biorefining sustainable. Monomeric units in lignin are bound via C–O and C–C bonds. The majority of existing methods for the production of valuable compounds from lignin are based on the depolymerization of lignin via cleavage of relatively labile C–O bonds within lignin structure, which leads to yields of only 36–40 wt%. The remaining fraction (60 wt%) is a complex mixture of high-molecular-weight lignin, generally left unvalorized. Here we present a method to produce additional valuable monomers from the high-molecular-weight lignin fraction through oxidative C–C bond cleavage. This oxidation reaction proceeds with a high selectivity to give 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ) from high-molecular-weight lignin in 18 wt% yield, thus increasing the yield of monomers by 32%. This is an important step to make biorefining competitive with petroleum-based refineries.

Nephrotoxicity is a known clinical complication of cisplatin that limits the use of this potent antitumor drug. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play complex roles in physiology and pathology. PDE4, which is a member of the PDE family, has four subtypes (PDE4A–PDE4D), and PDE4B plays an important role in inflammation. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effect of PDE4/PDE4B inhibition on renal function and inflammation in a cisplatin nephrotoxicity model. In mice, cisplatin enhanced mRNA and protein expression of PDE4B in renal tubules. After treatment with the PDE4 inhibitor cilomilast, cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, renal tubular injury, tubular cell apoptosis, and inflammation were all improved. Next, after silencing PDE4B in vivo, we observed a protective effect against cisplatin nephrotoxicity similar to that of the PDE4 inhibitor. In vitro, cisplatin-induced renal tubular cell death was strikingly ameliorated by the PDE4 inhibitor and PDE4Bknockdown along with the blockade of the inflammatory response. Considering the known roles of some cell survival pathways in antagonizing insults, we examined levels of PDE4-associated proteins sirtuin 1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phosphorylated AKT in cisplatin-treated renal tubular cells with or without cilomilast treatment. Strikingly, cisplatin treatment downregulated the expression of the above proteins, and this effect was largely abolished by the PDE4 inhibitor. Together, these findings indicate the beneficial role of PDE4/PDE4B inhibition in treating cisplatin nephrotoxicity, possibly through antagonizing inflammation and restoring cell survival signaling pathways.

We aimed to compare the efficacy of californium (Cf)-252 neutron intracavitary brachytherapy (NIBT) monotherapy with NIBT plus external beam radiotherapy (ERBT) in the treatment of stage IB1 cervical cancer.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show promising prospect as the photocatalysts with advantages of exceptional light adsorption capabilities, large specific surface area, and adjustable band structure. However, COFs usually suffer from severe recombination of photogenerated carriers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design effective COF-based heterostructures to enhance the separation of carriers. In this work, a porphyrin-based COF with electron donor-acceptor structure is synthesized viacondensation polymerization by using 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-aminophenyl) porphyrin (TAPPP) and N, N, N, N-tetra(4-aldehydephenyl)-1, 4-phenylenediamine as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. Subsequently, ZnIn2S4(ZIS) are successfully in-situgrown on the surface of porphyrin-based COF, forming a novel core-shell structure. The in-situ synthesized ZIS with positive charges can be easily adsorbed on the negatively charged sites of the COF’s surface via the electrostatic interaction. This organic/inorganic hybrid COF-ZIS heterostructure exhibits a superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) rate of 695 μmol g−1h−1, approximately three times higher than that of ZIS. The construction of COF-ZIS heterostructure played an important role in enhancing the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, which provided more electrons at the surface of ZIS to take part in proton reduction. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra confirm the charge carriers transfer mode in the COF-ZIS heterostructure via an S-scheme mechanism. Moreover, upon loading Pt as the cocatalyst, the heterostructure achieves an effective PHE rate of 2711 μmol g−1h−1along with an exceptional stability. Additionally, the COF-ZIS heterostructure reaches up to 2.45% of apparent quantum efficiency at 400nm. Notably, the average lifetime of the COF-ZIS heterostructure increases by 43.2% and 98.9% compared to that of ZIS and COF individually, as observed through single-particle fluorescence spectroscopy. This work gives valuable inspiration into the building of donor-acceptor COF-based S-scheme heterostructures to achieve highly effective green energy conversion by aligning band structures.

Heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, is commonly observed in rice crosses. The hybridization of rice species or subspecies exhibits robust hybrid vigor, however, the direct harnessing of this vigor is hindered by reproductive isolation. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing reproductive isolation in inter-subspecific and inter-specific hybrids. This review encompasses the genetic model of reproductive isolation within and among Oryza sativaspecies, emphasizing the essential role of mitochondria in this process. Additionally, we delve into the molecular intricacies governing the interaction between mitochondria and autophagosomes, elucidating their significant contribution to reproductive isolation. Furthermore, our exploration extends to comprehending the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive isolation and speciation in rice. Building on these advances, we offer a forward-looking perspective on how to overcome the challenges of reproductive isolation and facilitate the utilization of heterosis in future hybrid rice breeding endeavors.

Aerosols from the chemical absorption systems, which use organic amine solutions as absorbents to capture CO2in the flue gas, may pollute the atmosphere and damage the ecosystem. Based on the chemical absorption platform, this study focuses on investigating the formation mechanism and emission characteristics of aerosols in chemical absorption systems. The aerosols generated under standard operating conditions were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Additionally, controlled experiments were conducted to demonstrate the impact of heterogeneous reactions on aerosol generation. In addition, the effects of practical operating parameters on aerosol emissions were explored and evaluated. The results showed that the emission of aerosols in the flue gas increased significantly after the chemical absorption platform. Most of the aerosols generated in the chemical absorption platform are submicron particles of below 1 μm, with a few micron-sized particles. Aerosol generation is significantly influenced by the presence of CO2, which is mainly attributed to heterogeneous reactions. Increasing the liquid-to-gas ratio and the absorbent concentration enhances the heterogeneous reaction, which leads to an increase in aerosol emissions. Lower flue gas temperatures and CO2loading inhibit the occurrence of heterogeneous reactions, thus reducing aerosol emissions. According to the results of the maximum emission reduction rate, it was found that the absorbent concentration had the greatest degree of influence on aerosol emissions, the maximum emission reduction rate could reach close to 50%, and the CO2loading had the most minor influence on aerosol emissions, which was only 13%.

Renal fibrosis is a key pathological phenomenon of chronic kidney disease (CKD) contributing to the progressive loss of renal function. UK383,367 is a procollagen C proteinase inhibitor that has been selected as a candidate for dermal antiscarring agents, whereas its role in renal fibrosis is unclear. In the present study, UK383,367 was applied to a CKD mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and cell lines of renal tubular epithelial cells (mouse proximal tubular cells) and renal fibroblast cells (NRK-49F cells) challenged by transforming growth factor-β1. In vivo, bone morphogenetic protein 1, the target of UK383,367, was significantly enhanced in UUO mouse kidneys and renal biopsies from patients with CKD. Strikingly, UK383,367 administration ameliorated tubulointerstitial fibrosis as shown by Masson’s trichrome staining in line with the blocked expression of collagen type I/III, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin in the kidneys from UUO mice. Similarly, the enhanced inflammatory factors in obstructed kidneys were also blunted. In vitro, UK383,367 pretreatment inhibited the induction of collagen type I/III, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin in both mouse proximal tubular cells and NRK-49F cells treated with transforming growth factor-β1. Taken together, these findings indicate that the bone morphogenetic protein 1 inhibitor UK383,367 could serve as a potential drug in antagonizing CKD renal fibrosis by acting on the maturation and deposition of collagen and the subsequent profibrotic response and inflammation.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has become the main cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide, but the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies on DN remains unsatisfactory. Recent research has reported the involvement of metabolic rearrangement in the pathological process of DN, and of all the disturbances in metabolism, mitochondria serve as key regulatory hubs. In the present study, high-resolution mass spectrometry-based nontarget metabolomics was used to uncover the metabolic characteristics of the early diabetic kidney with or without the inhibition of mitochondrial activity. At first, we observed a moderate enhancement of mitochondrial complex-1 activity in the diabetic kidney, which was completely normalized by the specific mitochondrial complex-1 inhibitor rotenone (ROT). Meanwhile, metabolomics data indicated an overactivated pentose phosphate pathway, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, and tricarboxylic acid cycle, which were strikingly corrected by ROT. In addition, ROT also strikingly corrected imbalanced redox homeostasis, possibly by increasing the ratio of antioxidant metabolites glutathione and NADPH against their oxidative form. In agreement with the improved metabolic status and oxidative response, ROT attenuated glomerular and tubular injury efficiently. Fibrotic markers (fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen type I, and collagen type III), inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and ICAM-1), and oxidative stress were all markedly blocked by ROT. In vitro, ROT dose dependently attenuated high glucose-induced proliferation and extracellular matrix production in mesangial cells. Collectively, these findings revealed that the overactivation of mitochondrial activity in the kidney could contribute to metabolic disorders and the pathogenesis of early DN.

Photoinduced charge carrier separation derived by magnetic fields has attracted increasing attention for its ability to wireless regulate powder photocatalysts. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNT) were used as network conductors to link ZnIn2S4nanosheets. The electron highway in CNT spontaneously enhanced the photoinduced charge carrier transfer between ZnIn2S4nanosheets. The photocatalytic H2evolution rate of the 3 wt % CNT-ZIS composite increased to ∼210 % compared to that of pure ZIS under 300 W xenon lamp illumination. Additionally, in a magnetic field with relative motion, the Lorenz force on photoinduced electrons and holes suppressed their recombination, while the motional electromotive force along CNT accelerated the electron transfer to surface active sites. Therefore, the photocatalytic H2evolution rate further increased to 290 %. The spontaneous and passive photoinduced charge carrier separation in CNT-ZnIn2S4network composites under a magnetic field contributed to enhanced photocatalysis. Moreover, CNT-based network semiconductor composites can be mass-produced at low cost. Magnetic field-enhanced photocatalysis can be universally achieved without limitation caused by intrinsic band structures.

Downregulation of aquaporins (AQPs) in obstructive kidney disease has been well demonstrated with elusive mechanisms. Our previous study indicated that mitochondrial dysfunction played a crucial role in this process. However, it is still uncertain how mitochondrial dysfunction affected the AQPs in obstructive kidney disease. This study investigated the role of mitochondria-derived oxidative stress in mediating obstruction-induced downregulation of AQPs. After unilateral ureteral obstruction for 7 days, renal superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2; mitochondria-specific SOD) was reduced by 85%. Meanwhile, AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, and AQP4 were remarkably downregulated as determined by Western blotting and/or quantitative real-time PCR. Administration of the SOD2 mimic manganese (III) tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP) significantly attenuated AQP2 downregulation in line with complete blockade of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances elevation, whereas the reduction of AQP1, AQP3, and AQP4 was not affected. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/prostaglandin (PG) E2pathway has been well documented as a contributor of AQP reduction in obstructed kidney; thus, we detected the levels of COX-1/2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1) in kidney and PGE2secretion in urine. Significantly, MnTBAP partially suppressed the elevation of COX-2, mPGES-1, and PGE2. Moreover, a marked decrease of V2receptor was significantly restored after MnTBAP treatment. However, the fibrotic response and renal tubular damage were unaffected by MnTBAP in obstructed kidneys. Collectively, these findings suggested an important role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in mediating AQP2 downregulation in obstructed kidney, possibly via modulating the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE2/V2receptor pathway.

This article uses an original three-phase approach for empirical assessment and comparative evaluation of the efficiency of university technology transfer. It is based on analysis of inputs and outputs of a disclosure phase followed by a value-add phase and a final license phase, using a multidimensional framework. The objective is to find university Technology Transfer Office (TTO) efficiency and effectiveness patterns for each phase as well as overall TT processes. A network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model was used to analyze and describe the complicated TT operational processes using Association of University Technology Managers data collected from 90 US university TTOs for the period 2007-2013. It was concluded that the sampled TTOs were most inefficient in their value-add (2nd) phase and that the average overall efficiency as well as the efficiency of disclosure (1st) and license (3rd) phases decreased during the last five years of data analyzed. In addition, in line with other studies, analysis supports the contention that the presence of medical school does not increase TT efficiency or effectiveness. The present research's contributions focus on three areas: (1) Analysing and modelling TTO valorization and commercialization process with a UML activity diagram to provide a clear picture of TT procedures and processes; (2) Proposing a three-phase DEA framework showing input/output indicators closely related to each phase of processes rather than a black box or separated activities; (3) Offering a strategy to conduct empirical studies on TTO's operational efficiency thereby helping to better understand future research operational problems.

In the protective glass manufacturing industry for cell phones, the raw glass pieces need to be ground to the desired thickness with a grinder, which requires precise glass handling by human workers leading to a bottleneck in the production line. A low cost glass loading system with an industrial robot and web cameras is proposed to support human workers. Due to the hardware limitations, the precision and speed cannot be guaranteed. A two step approach is implemented to overcome these limitations. The glass is detected with non-linear geometry regression in data acquired by a web camera. After being picked up, the glass is placed accurately into the desired equally sized slot with an image-based visual servo and a dual-rate Unscented Kalman Filter.

Electron spinning polarization has now attracted extensive attention due to its significant effect on improving catalysis. However, only a few photocatalysts possess the electron spinning modification property. How to endow nonmagnetic semiconductors with spintronic properties to realize spinning-regulated photocatalysis enhancement is a great challenge. Herein, based on the diluted magnetic semiconductor concept, we proposed a novel strategy to endow photocatalysts a spinning tunable property. In this work, a diluted magnetic semiconductor photocatalyst with spin polarization was constructed by only doping magnetic ions into CdS/MoS2. The spin polarization with a higher ferromagnetic property was detected in CdS and MoS2of the Ni-doped CdS/MoS2diluted magnetic semiconductor photocatalyst. The magnetic field-derived spin polarization reduced the charge recombination in CdS, and improved the interface transfer efficiency between CdS and MoS2, which resulted in a 3.89-fold improvement of the photocatalytic hydrogen production under an external magnetic field. This work provides a new strategy to endow nonmagnetic semiconductors with spin-regulated photocatalytic performance by constructing diluted magnetic semiconductor photocatalysts.

The nuclear pregnane X receptor protects against bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice.

PXR is crucial for protecting against AKI by targeting the AKR1B7/mitochondrial metabolism axis.

Grain size is a major determinant of grain yield in cereal crops. qSW5/GW5, which exerts the greatest effect on rice grain width and weight, was fine-mapped to a 2,263-bp/21-kb genomic region containing a 1,212-bp deletion, respectively. Here, we show that a gene encoding a calmodulin binding protein, located ∼5 kb downstream of the 1,212-bp deletion, corresponds to qSW5/GW5. GW5 is expressed in various rice organs, with highest expression level detected in young panicles. We provide evidence that the 1,212-bp deletion affects grain width most likely through influencing the expression levels of GW5. GW5 protein is localized to the plasma membrane and can physically interact with and repress the kinase activity of rice GSK2 (glycogen synthase kinase 2), a homologue of Arabidopsis BIN2 (BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE2) kinase, resulting in accumulation of unphosphorylated OsBZR1 (Oryza sativa BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1) and DLT (DWARF AND LOW-TILLERING) proteins in the nucleus to mediate brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive gene expression and growth responses (including grain width and weight). Our results suggest that GW5 is a novel positive regulator of BR signalling and a viable target for genetic manipulation to improve grain yield in rice and perhaps in other cereal crops as well.

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