All-transRetinoic Acid Regulates Th1/Th2 Balance in CD4+T cells When GATA-3 is Deficient

The essential effect of vitamin A on immune function occurs through various mechanisms including direct effect on ThloTh2 balance modulation. However, it is unclear whether or not vitamin A can regulate Thl-Th2 balance under a strong Thl-polarizing condition. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to examine the effect of vitamin A metabolite allotrans retinoic acid （ATRA） on ThloTh2 differentiation in CD4~ T cells under GATA-3 deficiency, which can induce Thl-polarizing condition. In the present study, GATA-3 deficiency T cells were induced by siRNA and checked by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. GATA-3 deficiency CD4＋ T cells and normal CD4＋ T were treated for 48 h with or without ATRA.

Effect of Properties of Carbon Materials on Performance of VRLA Batteries

In the present study, the relationship between properties of different carbon materials and their impact on performance of VRLA （valve regulated lead acid） battery was studied. The material properties undertaken for the study are： surface area, conductivity and water absorption of the carbon. The electrode morphology revealed the uniform distribution of active material when high surface area carbon was added to NAM （negative active material）. The porosity of the plate also exhibited changes with respect to type of carbon materials added. The study further revealed that, the addition of high surface area carbon （-1,400 m^2/g） improves the charge acceptance of the battery with higher loading. Further improvement in charge acceptance was observed with addition of graphite to higher surface area carbon. Nevertheless, the float current of the battery got affected due to graphite loading and found there was no impact on shelf life of the battery in all the cases. The study demonstrates the need for customized ＂carbon formulation＂ to obtain the maximum performance out of the battery.

ORA59 and EIN3 interaction couples jasmonate-ethylene synergistic action to antagonistic salicylic acid regulation of PDF expression

Hormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid （SA） and jasmonic acid （JA）, and modulation of this interplay by ethylene （ET） in favor of JA signaling pathway in plant stress responses is well recognized, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the opposing function of two transcription factors, ethylene insensitive3 （EIN3） and EIN3-Like1 （EIL1）, in SA-mediated suppression and JA- mediated activation of PLANT DEFENSINI.2 （PDFI.2）. This functional duality is mediated via their effect on protein, not transcript levels of the PDF1.2 transcriptional activator octadecanoid-responsive Arabidopsis59 （ORA59）. Specifically, JA induces ORA59 protein levels independently of EIN3/EIL1, whereas SA reduces the protein levels dependently of EIN3/EIL1. Co-infiltration assays revealed nuclear co-localization of ORA59 and EIN3, and split- luciferase together with yeast-two-hybrid assays established their physical interaction. The functional ramification of the physical interaction is EIN3-dependent degradation of ORA59 by the 26S proteasome. These findings allude to SA-responsive reduction of ORA59 levels mediated by EIN3 binding to and targeting of ORA59 for degrada4tion, thus nominating ORA59 pool as a coordination node for the antagonistic function of ET/JA and SA.

Phosphatidic acid plays key roles regulating plant development and stress responses

Phospholipids, including phosphatidic acid （PA）, phosphatidylcholine （PC）, phosphatidylethanolamine （PE）, phosphatidylglycerol （PC）, phosphatidylserine （PS） and phosphoinositides, have emerged as an important class of cellular messenger molecules in various cellular and physiological processes, of which PA attracts much attention of researchers. In addition to its effect on stimulating vesicle trafficking, many studies have demonstrated that PA plays a crucial role in various signaling pathways by binding target proteins and regulating their activity and subcellular localization. Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms and target proteins underlying PA-mediated regulation of cellular signaling, development, hormonal responses, and stress responses in plants.

Arabidopsis small ubiquitin-related modifier protease ASP1 positively regulates abscisic acid signaling during early seedling development~~

The small ubiquitin-related modifier （SUMO） modification plays an important role in the regulation of abscisic acid （ABA） signaling, but the function of the SUMO protease, in ABA signaling, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the SUMO protease, ASPI positively regulates ABA signaling. Mutations in ASPI resulted in an ABA-insensitive phenotype, during early seedling develop- ment. Wild-type ASP1 successfully rescued, whereas an ASPI mutant （C577S）, defective in SUMO protease activity, failed to rescue, the ABA-insensitive phenotype of asp1-1. Expression of ABI5 and MYB3o target genes was attenuated in asp^-I and our genetic analyses revealed that ASP1 may function upstream of ABI5 and MYB3o.

An Advanced Prediction Mechanism to Analyse Pore Geometry Shapes and Identification of Blocking Effect in VRLA Battery System

The aim of this investigation is to define a model of an alternating current impedance response that can identify the state of health of a porous electrode due to the blocked diffusion effect. To identify and simulate different pore geometries, an analytical differential equations system was studied. Standard and low performance battery products were simulated by the model and validated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy （EIS） experimental data. The correlation between pore structure geometries and the related battery efficiency is also addressed. This investigation may clarify the possible reasons for low performance batteries. Identifying the benchmark pore geometry, parameters may be useful for the battery producers to improve the efficiency of their products. Various recovery methods are also included in this investigation to disperse the build-up of lead sulphate crystal that limits the electrolysis process in the low performance batteries.