Report on IAMAS Activity since 2015 and the IAPSO-IAMAS-IAGA Scientific Assembly--Good Hope for Earth Sciences

Three associations of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics （IUGG）--International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans （IAPSO）, International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences （IA- MAS） and International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy （IAGA）--held their joint Scientific Assembly over 27 August-1 September in Cape Town, South Africa. This was the first full IAMAS assembly to be held in Africa （Figs. 1 ＆ 2）.

Purification and Activation In Vitro of MoFe Protein from a nifE Deleted Mutant Strain of Azotobacter vinelandii

The Deltanif E MoFe protein (Deltanif E Av1) was obtained by a chromatography on DE52, Sephacryl S-300 and Q-Sepharose columns from the unheated crude extract of nifE-deleted mutant strain (DJ35) of Azotobacter vinelandii Lipmann. The analysis by SDS-PAGE showed that the Delta nif EAv1 was similar to OP MoFe protein (Av1) of A. vinelandii in the kinds and molecular weights of subunits (alpha and beta subunit). When complemented with nitrogenase Fe protein (M), the A nif EAv1 had hardly any proton-reduction activity, but could be significantly activated by FeMoco extracted from OP Av1. After the Delta nif E Av1 was treated with an excess o-phenanthroline (o-phen) and chromatographied on Sephadex G-25 column under atmosphere of Ar, Delta nif E Av1(C) was obtained. In the presence of both Av2 and MgATP regeneration system, the Delta nif EAv1(C), rather than A nif EAv1, was significantly activated in vitro by a reconstituent solution containing Mn which composed of KMnO4, ferric homocitrate, Na2S, Na2S2O4 (DT) and dithiothreitol (DTT). But in the absence of MgATP or Av2, the activation of Delta nifE Av1(C) did not happen. It indicates that activation of Delta nif EAv1 by RS-Mn requires the pretreatment with o-phen and the simultaneous presence of Av2 and MgATP.

Surface modification of polypropylene non-woven fibers with TiO_2 nanoparticles via layer-by-layer self assembly method:Preparation and photocatalytic activity

Polypropylene（PP） meltblown fibers were coated with titanium dioxide（Ti O2） nanoparticles using layer-by-layer（Lb L） deposition technique. The fibers were first modified with 3layers of poly（4-styrenesulfonic acid）（PSS） and poly（diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride）（PDADMAC） to improve the anchoring of the Ti O2 nanoparticle clusters. PDADMAC, which is positively charged, was then used as counter polyelectrolyte in tandem with anionic Ti O2 nanoparticles to construct Ti O2/PDADMAC bilayer in the Lb L fashion. The number of deposited Ti O2/PDADMAC layers was varied from 1 to 7 bilayer, and could be used to adjust Ti O2 loading. The Lb L technique showed higher Ti O2 loading efficiency than the impregnation approach. The modified fibers were tested for their photocatalytic activity against a model dye, Methylene Blue（MB）. Results showed that the Ti O2 modified fibers exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity efficiency similar to that of Ti O2 powder dispersed in solution. The deposition of Ti O23 bilayer on the PP substrate was sufficient to produce nanocomposite fibers that could bleach the MB solution in less than 4 hr.Ti O2-Lb L constructions also preserved Ti O2 adhesion on substrate surface after 1 cycle of photocatalytic test. Successive photocatalytic test showed decline in MB reduction rate with loss of Ti O2 particles from the substrate outer surface. However, even in the third cycle, the Ti O2 modified fibers are still moderately effective as it could remove more than 95% of MB after 8 hr of treatment.

Magnetogenetics: remote non-invasive magnetic activation of neuronal activity with a magnetoreceptor

Current neuromodulation techniques such as optogenetics and deep-brain stimulation are transforming basic and translational neuroscience. These two neuro- modulation approaches are, however, invasive since surgical implantation of an optical fiber or wire electrode is required. Here, we have invented a non-invasive magnetogenetics that combines the genetic targeting of a mag- netoreceptor with remote magnetic stimulation. The noninvasive activation of neurons was achieved by neuronal expression of an exogenous magnetoreceptor, an iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein 1 （Iscal）. In HEK-293 cells and cultured hippocampal neurons expressing this magnetoreceptor, application of an external magnetic field resulted in membrane depolarization and calcium influx in a reproducible and reversible manner, as indicated by the ultrasensitive fluorescent calcium indicator GCaMP6s.Moreover, the magnetogenetic control of neuronal activity might be dependent on the direction of the magnetic field and exhibits on-response and off-response patterns for the external magnetic field applied. The activation of this magnetoreceptor can depolarize neurons and elicit trains of action potentials, which can be triggered repetitively with a remote magnetic field in whole-cell patch-clamp recording. In transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing this magnetoreceptor in myo-3-specific muscle cells or mec-4- specific neurons, application of the external magnetic field triggered muscle contraction and withdrawal behavior of the worms, indicative of magnet-dependent activation of muscle cells and touch receptor neurons, respectively. The advantages of magnetogenetics over optogenetics are its exclusive non-invasive, deep penetration, long-term continuous dosing, unlimited accessibility, spatial uniformity and relative safety. Like optogenetics that has gone through decade-long improvements, magnetogenetics, with continuous modification and maturation, will reshape the current landscape of neuromodulation toolboxes and will have a broad range of applications to basic and translational neuroscience as well as other biological sciences. We envision a new age of magnetogenetics is coming.