Search

How the plasma membrane senses external heat-stress signals to communicate with chloroplasts to orchestrate thermotolerance remains elusive. We identified a quantitative trait locus, Thermo-tolerance 3 ( TT3 ), consisting of two genes, TT3.1 and TT3.2 , that interact together to enhance rice thermotolerance and reduce grain-yield losses caused by heat stress. Upon heat stress, plasma membrane–localized E3 ligase TT3.1 translocates to the endosomes, on which TT3.1 ubiquitinates chloroplast precursor protein TT3.2 for vacuolar degradation, implying that TT3.1 might serve as a potential thermosensor. Lesser accumulated, mature TT3.2 proteins in chloroplasts are essential for protecting thylakoids from heat stress. Our findings not only reveal a TT3.1-TT3.2 genetic module at one locus that transduces heat signals from plasma membrane to chloroplasts but also provide the strategy for breeding highly thermotolerant crops.

The one-dimensional (1D) ABX3-type perovskite [(CH3)3PCH2F]CdCl2Br (1) has been obtained on the basis of the design of an organic-inorganic hybrid. Strikingly, it experiences sequential phase transitions at around 295 and 336 K, respectively. Given the noticeable steplike dielectric anomalies in the vicinity of 295 K, 1 is identified as a promising dielectric-switchable material. According to the single-crystal structure analysis, the order-to-disorder transformation of the [(CH3)3PCH2F]+ cation is the main reason for the phase transitions and the change of space group from the orthorhombic Pnma (No. 62) to the hexagonal P63/m (No. 176). This design of a perovskite structure will inspire more advances in the ever-growing field of switchable functional materials.

In the last decade, hybrid materials have received widespread attention. In particular, hybrid lead halide perovskite-type semiconductors are very attractive owing to their great flexibility in band gap engineering. Here, by using precise molecular modifications, three one-dimensional perovskite-type semiconductor materials are designed and obtained: [Me3 PCH2 X][PbBr3 ] (X=H, F, and Cl for compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The introduction of a heavier halogen atom (F or Cl) to [Me4 P]+ increases the potential energy barrier required for the tumbling motion of the cation, hence achieving the transformation of the phase transition temperature from low temperature (192 K) to room temperature (285 K) and high temperature (402.3 K). Moreover, the optical band gaps reveal a broadening trend with 3.176 eV, 3.215 eV, and 3.376 eV along the H→F→Cl series, which is attributed to the formation of the structural distortion.

Reservoir sediment is an important sink for pollutants such as heavy metals. Under the changes in acid-base and redox conditions, there is a potential risk of heavy metals release into the water environment, which are transmitted through the food chain and threaten human health. Therefore, this study investigates the Qingliangshan Reservoir in the Meijiang River Basin, and conducts research concerning the contents and speciation of heavy metals in the sediments, potential ecological risks, and source apportionment. This study found that the content of heavy metals in the sediments of the reservoir area was in the order:Xitian tributarydam front and reservoir centerXintian-Baishui tributary. There is a large difference in the speciation of heavy metals in the sediments. Zn is mainly acid-soluble and in the residual state, Pb is mainly in an Fe/Mn oxide bound state, Cd is mainly in an acid-soluble state, and Cu, Ni, and Cr are in the residual state. Mainly, the percentage of bioavailable states are Cd(89%)Pb(76%)Zn(54%)Cu(43%)Ni(28%)Cr(10%). The geoaccumulation index method shows that the pollution degree of heavy metal elements in reservoir sediments is in the order CdPbZnCuCrNi, and the potential hazard ecological index method shows that the pollution degree of heavy metals is CdPbCuNiZnCr. The potential ecological risk of Cd in the reservoir sediments is the largest, and the biological impact is greatest. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis results show that heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in reservoir sediments are mainly from agricultural pollution, and Ni and Cr are mainly from natural background. Combined with the analysis of soil heavy metal content in the watershed, heavy metal pollution in the Qingliangshan Reservoir sediments originates from the effect of rainfall runoff and the use of agricultural chemical fertilizers before flooding in the upstream of the reservoir tributaries. There are significant spatial differences in heavy metal pollution in the sediments of the reservoir area. The Xintian-Baishui River recharge area is the least polluted, and it is closely related to the land use in the controlled watershed, which is mainly forest land, with fewer sources of pollution. The Xitian River replenishment area has the heaviest pollution. It controls many tea gardens and farmlands in the watershed, and the load of external fertilizer pollution is the largest. The pollution degree of heavy metals in front of the dam and the center of the reservoir area is between the two tributary replenishment areas, showing an obvious mixing effect.

Forest soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) is an important continuous process of water cycle. In this study, we analyzed hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope compositions of the precipitation, atmospheric water vapor, soil water, branch water, and leaf water to explain the characteristics of the continuous process and the associated controlling factors in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest. The results showed that the regression equations between hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes were森林的土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)是陆地重要的水循环连续界面过程。本研究通过分析亚热带常绿阔叶林的降水、大气水汽、土壤水、叶片水的同位素组成,探讨森林SPAC系统水分的氢氧同位素组成特征以及植物蒸腾与叶片性状和环境因子的关系。结果表明: 研究区大气降水、土壤水、竹柏枝条水、竹柏叶片水和大气水汽的δD-δ

Guizhi Gancao Decoction (GGD) is a well-known traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and arrhythmia. However, the mechanism by which GGD contributes to the amelioration of cardiac injury remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective role of GGD against myocardial I/R injury and its possible mechanism. Consistent with the effect of the positive drug (Trimetazidine, TMZ), we subsequently validated that GGD could ameliorate myocardial I/R injury as evidenced by histopathological examination and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Moreover, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay demonstrated that GGD suppressed myocardial apoptosis, which may be related to the upregulation of Bcl-2, PPARα, and PPARγ and downregulation of Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9. Pretreatment with GGD attenuated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- (IL-) 6, and IL-1β in serum by inhibiting Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling pathway. These results indicated that GGD exhibits cardioprotective effects on myocardial I/R injury through inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, which led to reduced inflammatory response and the subsequent cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

An organic-inorganic perovskite compound [(CH3)4P][Cd(SCN)3] (1) and its fluorine-substituted product [(CH3)3PCH2F][Cd(SCN)3] (2) exhibit ferroelastic phase transitions above room temperature. The very close van der Waals radii of H and F atoms ensure isomorphism of the crystal structures. However, the higher phase transition temperature, stronger ferroelastic spontaneous strain value and dielectric properties of 2 can possibly be explained by differences in the electronegativity between F and H atoms.

In the present study,non-targeted metabolomics technique was used to screen potentially susceptibility biomarkers in patients with mild liver function abnormalities during long-term use of Chinese herbal compound. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,we collected 7 cases of patients with abnormal liver function during the period of complete taking Chinese herbal medicine( 60 days),and 18 cases of patients with normal liver function in re-examination from the reproductive medicine center in our hospital. Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry( UPLC-Q-TOF/MS~E) technique combined with Progenesis QI software was used to analyze the differential biomarkers in serum of patients with wild liver function abnormalities and normal liver function. 11 potential biomarkers such as bilirubin,pantothenic acid,hippuric acid,sphingomyelin,palmitic acid,and oleic acid were tentatively identified. Metabolic disorders in patients with herbal-induced mild liver abnormality were mainly related to two pathways: pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism. It could provide a reference for the early warning of mild liver function abnormalities of patients that may be caused by long-term use of Chinese medicine compound in clinical application,and will lay a foundation for further understanding the endogenous substance changes in different levels of liver injury.

An organic-inorganic perovskite compound [(CH

Reservoir regulation is one of the effective ways to improve water quality. However, when water quality requirement is considered, reservoir operation is complicated due to tidal regimes in the tidal rivers. The study was carried out in the tidal river reach between Dongjiang Hydro-Project and Shilong in Dongjiang River. To evaluate the effect of reservoir regulation on water quality, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model combined with water quality has been developed. Under the scenarios of differrent flood discharge from the Shima River and different release discharge of Dongjiang Hydro-Project, water quality is simulated using the two-dimensional model. NH3-N and COD concentrations are taken as the major indicators for water quality. Results indicate that (1) water quality is related to the tidal fluctuation, NH3-N and COD concentrations increase at flood tide and decrease at ebb tide; (2) There is no obvious over-limit of COD concentration, NH3-N concentration is found as the main pollution impacts water quality at water intake; (3) flood discharge from Shima River flows back to the upper reach of water intake during higher high tidal period, NH3-N concentration non-compliance occurs, flood tide is the main factor which impacts water quality; (4) reservoir regulation of Dongjiang Hydro-Project causes a significant improvement on water quality, release discharge of Dongjiang Hydro-Project is determined to insure the water supply safety, which keeps tidal-induced backwater always flowing to lower reach of the water intake. The study provides a hydrodynamic perspective on water quality improvement due to reservoir regulation in the tidal river.

Background Nowadays, Radix Polygoni Multiflori (RPM, Heshouwu in Chinese) from different geographical origins were used in clinic. In order to characterize the chemical profiles of different geographical origins of RPM samples, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) combined with chemometrics (partial least squared discriminant analysis, PLS‑DA) method was applied in the present study. Methods The chromatography, chemical composition and MS information of RPM samples from 18 geographical origins were acquired and profiled by UPLC-QTOF/MS. The chemical markers contributing the differentiation of RPM samples were observed and characterized by supervised PLS‑DA method of chemometrics. Results The chemical composition differences of RPM samples derived from 18 different geographical origins were observed. Nine chemical markers were tentatively identified which could be used as specific chemical markers for the differentiation of geographical RPM samples. Conclusions UPLC-QTOF/MS method coupled with chemometrics analysis has potential to be used for discriminating different geographical TCMs. Results will help to develop strategies for conservation and utilization of RPM samples. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13020-017-0155-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Micro-inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenol with anti-fibrosis activity in hypertensive renal damage model. In SHR renal damage model, RSV treatment blunted the increase in urine albumin excretion, urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), attenuated the decrease in creatinine clearance rate (CCR). The glomerular sclerosis index (1.54±0.33 compared with 0.36±0.07) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (1.57±0.31 compared with 0.19±0.04) were significantly higher in SHRs compared with Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs), which were significantly lower by RSV treatment. The increases in mesangium accumulation and the expression of renal collagen type I (Col I), fibronectin (Fn), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in SHR were also reduced by RSV treatment. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) expression was increased in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the SHR kidneys, which was significantly decreased by RSV treatment. Furthermore, the protein level of IκB-α significantly decreased in the kidneys of the SHR when compared with the WKYs. RSV treatment partially restored the decreased IκB-α level. In SHR kidney, increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) were observed. These changes were attenuated by RSV treatment. No changes in blood pressure were detected between SHR group and SHR + RSV group. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that RSV treatment may significantly attenuate renal damage in the SHR model of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The renal protective effect is associated with inhibition of IL-6, ICAM-1 and MCP-1 expression via the regulation of the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which suggesting that micro-inflammation may be a potential therapeutic target of hypertensive renal damage.

Triptolide as a main active ingredient ofTripterygium wilfordiiis known to be exerting anti-inflammatory, marked immunosuppressive, and podocyte-protective effects. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of triptolide in kidney disease. Rat glomerular mesangial cells were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control group, (2) TGF-β1 (10 μg/mL) group, and (3) triptolide group (triptolide 10 μg/L + TGF-β1 10 μg/L). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) control group, (2) chronic serum sickness glomerulonephritis model group, and (3) triptolide (0.2 mg/kg·d) group. Reverse transcription PCR was used to assess Ski and Smad3 mRNA expression in the mesangial cells and renal tissues. Western blotting was used to determine Ski and Smad3 protein expressions. Laser confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the subcellular localization of Smad3 and Ski proteins in the mesangial cells. Triptolide inhibited the TGF-β1-induced proliferation of mesangial cells. It significantly upregulated Ski protein expression and downregulated Smad3 mRNA and protein expressions in a time-dependent manner. Laser confocal fluorescence microscopy detected high Smad3 fluorescence intensity in the cytoplasm and low Smad3 and high Ski fluorescence intensity in the nucleus. By upregulating Ski protein expression triptolide decreased the extent of fibrosis by affecting the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

In this paper, a novel measurement technology for ultra-low frequency vibration using orthogonal homodyne interferometer is introduced. The system can calculate the real-time velocity and the acceleration process accurately, and the target displacement under test can reach one meter. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed method can realize real-time absolute calibration for the transducer undergoing the effects of ultra-low frequency and large amplitude.