Bio-inspired surface manipulation of halloysite nanotubes for highperformance flame retardant polylactic acid nanocomposites

High-performance flame-retardant polylactic acid(PLA)bio-composites based on biobased fillers to meet usage requirements represents a promising direction for creating a sustainable world.Although flame retardant PLA composites have been reported extensively,it still remains a huge challenge to develop mechanically robust.The flame retardant PLA composites due to plastication effect of organic flame retardants and poor compatibility of organic fillers with the matrix lead to the severe deterioration in mechanical properties.In this work,a bio-inspired surface manipulation strategy for halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)was proposed via a facile and green self-assembly process.The structure and morphology of bio-inspired HNTs(b-HNTs)proved that biomass nanofillers(PA-NA-Fe)grew well both within the lumen and on the surface of HNTs.The growth of biomass on the inner and outer surfaces of HNTs was inspired from wooden towards enhancing the interface compatibility and imparting multi-properties to PLA biopolymer.Excellent mechanical properties(tensile,thermomechanical and anti-impact mechanical),great fire safety(heat release and smoke emission),thermostability and improved electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of this well-designed PLA nanocomposite were realized.The mechanisms of the enhanced performances of the PLA bio-composites by loading b-HNTs were proposed.This work presents a facile and environmentally-friendly bio-inspired modification strategy for HNTs to fabricate high-performance,multi-functional polymer composites,which is also suitable for surface modification of many other nanomaterials,including nanofibers,nanotubes,nanowires,and nanosheets.

Decoding the biochemical dialogue:metabolomic insights into soybean defense strategies against diverse pathogens

Soybean,a crucial global leguminous crop,confronts persistent threats from diverse pathogens,exerting a profound impact on global yields.While genetic dimensions of soybean-pathogen interactions have garnered attention,the intricate biochemical responses remain poorly elucidated.In this study,we applied targeted and untargeted liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry(LC-MS)metabolite profiling to dissect the complex interplay between soybeans and five distinct pathogens.Our analysis uncovered 627 idMS/MS spectra,leading to the identification of four main modules,encompassing flavonoids,isoflavonoids,triterpenoids,and amino acids and peptides,alongside other compounds such as phenolics.Profound shifts were observed in both primary and secondary metabolism in response to pathogenic infections.Particularly notable were the bidirectional changes in total flavonoids across diverse pathogenic inoculations,while triterpenoids exhibited a general declining trend.Noteworthy among the highly inducible total flavonoids were known representative antipathogen compounds(glyceollin I),backbone forms of isoflavonoids(daidzein,genistein,glycitein,formononetin),and newly purified compounds in this study(prunin).Subsequently,we delved into the biological roles of these five compounds,validating their diverse functions against pathogens:prunin significantly inhibited the vegetative growth and virulence of Phytophthora sojae;genistein exhibited a pronounced inhibitory effect on the vegetative growth and virulence of Phomopsis longicolla;daidzein and formononetin displayed significant repressive effects on the virulence of P.longicolla.This study underscores the potent utility of metabolomic tools,providing in-depth insights into plant-pathogen interactions from a biochemical perspective.The findings not only contribute to plant pathology but also offer strategic pathways for bolstering plant resistance against diseases on a broader scale.

准分子激光角膜上皮瓣下磨镶术后绷带镜断裂致角膜上皮剥脱一例

患者,男,21 岁,因“左眼疼痛、畏光、流泪、视物模糊半日”入院。患者4 d前曾在外院行准分子激光角膜上皮瓣下磨镶术(LASEK)。外院病历记载患者术后第2 天双眼视力1.0,双眼角膜透明、角膜瓣在位,角膜绷带镜完整,眼部检查未见明显异常。术后第3 天左眼无明显诱因下出现疼痛、畏光、流泪并伴视物不清,半日后至内蒙古医科大学附属医院就诊。

Strigolactone-gibberellin crosstalk mediated by a distant silencer fine-tunes plant height in upland cotton

Optimal plant height is crucial in modern agriculture, influencing lodging resistance and facilitating mechanized crop production. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fiber crop globally;however, the genetic basis underlying plant height remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study to identify a major locus controlling plant height (PH1) in upland cotton. This locus encodes gibberellin 2-oxidase 1A (GhPH1) and features a 1133-bp structural variation (PAVPH1) located approximately 16 kb upstream. The presence or absence of PAVPH1 influences the expression of GhPH1, thereby affecting plant height. Further analysis revealed that a gibberellin-regulating transcription factor (GhGARF) recognizes and binds to a specific CATTTG motif in both the GhPH1 promoter and PAVPH1. This interaction downregulates GhPH1, indicating that PAVPH1 functions as a distant upstream silencer. Intriguingly, we found that DWARF53 (D53), a key repressor of the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway, directly interacts with GhGARF to inhibit its binding to targets. Moreover, we identified a previously unrecognized gibberellin-SL crosstalk mechanism mediated by the GhD53-GhGARF-GhPH1/PAVPH1 module, which is crucial for regulating plant height in upland cotton. These findings shed light on the genetic basis and gene interaction network underlying plant height, providing valuable insights for the development of semi-dwarf cotton varieties through precise modulation of GhPH1 expression.