Effects of Different Litchi Rootstocks on Phonological Phase and Fruit Qualities of Grafted Jingganghongnuo

Phonological period and fruit quality of Jingganghongnuo （JGHN） grafted on the rootstocks of Feizixiao （FZX）, Heiye （HY） and Huaizhi （HZ） respectively were recorded and comparatively studied from 2015 to 2017. The results showed that the whitish millets and flowering stage of JGHN grafted on FZX and HY rootstocks were respectively 3-17 days and 1-3 days earlier than those on HZ. While the fruit maturation stage was 5-7 days ahead of in the same comparative situation. Compared to fruits grafted on HZ, mean fruit weight of JGHN grafted on HY and FZX were 38.1% and 35.8% bigger respectively than that on HZ. In addition, more closely heart-shaped and brighter pericarp color of JGHN fruit were observed with rootstock of HZ than that with other two kinds of rootstocks. In terms of aborted-seed rates of JGHN, average value with rootstock FZX was 81.7%, which was 58.0% higher than that with HY, and 2.49 times of those with HZ. Vc content of JGHN grafted on HY and FZX were 30.47 and 25.86 mg/100 g respectively, significantly higher than that grafted on HZ. TSS and TA of JGHN grafted on HZ were 17.8% and 0.14%, both were obviously higher than that grafted on FZX and HY.

RhMYB108,an R2R3-MYB transcription factor,is involved in ethylene-and JA-induced petal senescence in rose plants

Rose(Rosa hybrida)plants are major ornamental species worldwide,and their commercial value greatly depends on their open flowers,as both the quality of fully open petals and long vase life are important.Petal senescence can be started and accelerated by various hormone signals,and ethylene is considered an accelerator of petal senescence in rose.To date,however,the underlying mechanism of signaling crosstalk between ethylene and other hormones such as JA in petal senescence remains largely unknown.Here,we isolated RhMYB108,an R2R3-MYB transcription factor,which is highly expressed in senescing petals as well as in petals treated with exogenous ethylene and JA.Applications of exogenous ethylene and JA markedly accelerated petal senescence,while the process was delayed in response to applications of 1-MCP,an ethylene action inhibitor.In addition,silencing of RhMYB108 alter the expression of SAGs such as RhNAC029,RhNAC053,RhNAC092,RhSAG12,and RhSAG113,and finally block ethylene-and JA-induced petal senescence.Furthermore,RhMYB108 was identified to target the promoters of RhNAC053,RhNAC092,and RhSAG113.Our results reveal a model in which RhMYB108 functions as a receptor of ethylene and JA signals to modulate the onset of petal senescence by targeting and enhancing senescence-associated gene expression.

Broad temperature adaptability of vanadium redox flow battery-part4:Unraveling wide temperature promotion mechanism of bismuth for V^(2+)/V^(3+) couple

Vanadium flow battery （VFB） is a fast going and promising system for large-scale stationary energy stor- age. However, drawbacks such as low power density and narrow temperature window caused by poor catalytic activity of graphite felt （GF） electrodes limit its worldwide application. In this paper, bismuth, as a low-cost, no-toxic and high-activity electrocatalyst, is used to modify the thermal activated GF （TGF） via a facile hydrothermal method. Bismuth can effectively inhibit the side reaction of hydrogen evolution in wide temperature range, while promoting the V2＋/V3＋ redox reaction. As a result, the VFB assembled with Bi/TGF as negative electrode demonstrates outstanding rate performance under the current density up to 400 mAcm-2, as well as a long-term stability over 600 charging/discharging cycles at a high cur- rent density of 150mA cm-2. Moreover, it also shows excellent temperature adaptability from -10 ℃ to 50 ℃ and high durability for life test at the temperature of 50 ℃.

P-doped electrode for vanadium flow battery with high-rate capability and all-climate adaptability

A phosphorous-doped graphite felt(PGF) is fabricated and examined as electrode for vanadium flow battery(VFB). P doping improves the electrolyte wettability of GF and induces more defect sites on its surface, resulting in significantly enhanced activity and reversibility towards VO2^+/VO2^+ and V^2+/V3^+couples. VFB with PGF electrode demonstrates outstanding performance such as high-rate capability under 50–400 mA cm^-2, wide-temperature tolerance at-20 °C–60 °C, and excellent durability over 1000 charge–discharge cycles. These merits enable PGF a promising electrode for the next-generation VFB,which can operate at high-power and all-climate conditions.

Core-shell lipid-polymeric nanoparticles for enhanced oral bioavailability and antihypertensive efficacy of KY5 peptide

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for death and disability, and hypertensive patients always need long-term oral antihypertensive drugs. Some bioactive peptides that extracted from animals or plants have shown excellent advantages on antihypertension. However, the oral delivery of these peptides is always failure on account of instability and poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Herein, we developed a core-shell lipid-polymeric nanoparticle for oral delivery of a highly efficient antihypertensive peptide KY5(KY5-CSs). KY5-CSs had a particle size of 216.7 ± 2.5 nm, with a narrow PDI of 0.07 ± 0.01.The zeta potential was-4.1 ± 0.1 m V. It exhibited good stability in 4 ℃ and possessed a controlled release behavior in gastrointestinal tract. The cellular uptake study proved that the lipid shell imparted unique capability of permeation across the mucus layer and internalization by Caco-2/HT-29 cells. In addition, KY5-CSs enhanced in situ intestinal absorption in SD rats. The pharmacokinetic studies and antihypertensive efficacy showed a superior oral absorption and antihypertensive effect of KY5-CSs than KY5-NPs. In conclusion, the core-shell lipid-polymeric nanoparticles will provide attractive potential for oral delivery of antihypertensive peptides.

Aquaporin,beyond a transporter

Aquaporins(AQPs)are one of the most ancient superfamily proteins,which are essential for maintaining the fluid homeostasis of most organisms against various environments.Here,the latest findings for function of AQPs in cell signal transduction in plants are summarized.We also put forward several issues that still need to be addressed in the future.

Microstructure changing and moisture removing of lychee during microwave vacuum drying

Micrographs of lychee pericarp and pulp during microwave vacuum drying were tested and analyzed in order to illuminate the microstructure change of lychee and effect of the change on moisture removing in lychee.The results showed that the pericarp consisted of three parts:outer layer with cuticle,inter layer and inner layer.Outer layer and inter layer cells are easily destroyed than inner layer because of small and intact inner layer cells.Furthermore,micrographs showed that the moisture content of pulp keep constant with the temperature increasing at first 40 min due to the inner layer cells prevent the moisture removing from pulp.The long tubular structure of pulp cell would become break and lost over time,because the intercellular spaces reduced and the moisture removing was slow down in pulp.Meanwhile,the microstructure of lychee dried with temperature control was better than that without temperature control.

Plasticity of mycangia in Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles

Insects that depend on microbial mutualists evolved a variety of organs to transport the microsymbionts while dispersing. The ontogeny and variability of such organs is rarely studied, and the microsymbiont*s effects on the animal tissue development remain unknown in most cases. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae or Platypodinae) and their mutualistic fungi are an ideal system to study the animalfungus interactions. While the interspecific diversity of their fungus transport organ一 mycangia—is well-known, their developmental plasticity has been poorly described. To determine the ontogeny of the mycangium and the influence of the symbiotic fungus on the tissue development, we dissected by hand or scanned with micro-CT the mycangia in various developmental stages in five Xylosandrus ambrosia beetle species that possess a large, mesonotal mycangium: Xylosandrus amputatus. Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, Xylosandrus discolor, and Xylosandrus germanus. We processed 181 beetle samples from the United States and China. All five species displayed three stages of the mycangium development:(1) young teneral adults had an empty, deflated and cryptic mycangium without fungal mass;(2) in fully mature adults during dispersal, the promesonotal membrane was inflated, and most individuals developed a mycangium mostly filled with the symbiont, though size and symmetry varied;and (3) after successful establishment of their new galleries, most females discharged the bulk of the fun gal inoculum and deflated the mycangium. Experimental aposymbiotic individuals demonstrated that the pronotal membrane invaginated independently of the presence of the fungus, but the fungus was required for inflation. Mycangia are more dynamic than previously thought, and their morphological changes correspond to the phases of the symbiosis. Importantly, studies of the fungal symbionts or plant pathogen transmission in ambrosia beetles need to consider which developmental stage to sample. We provide illustrations of the different stages, including microphotography of dissections and micro-CT scans.

Unique Double Carbon Protection Structured Co₃O₄Anode for Lithium Ion Battery

In this study, novel Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co3O4/Carbon (C) composites with a double protective structure are synthesized through a solvothermal method and in-situ polymerization. The morphology and structure are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The loading content of active anode material Co3O4 in the composite is investigated by thermogravimetry, and the electrochemical properties of the composite are characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The SEM results show that the nano-sized spherical Co3O4 particle is adhered to the inner Carbon aerogel (CA). The HRTEM result indicates the thickness of the prepared Carbon (C) up to 40 nm. Nano-sheet is coated on the surface of the Co3O4 particle. Compared with the pure Co3O4 anode materials, the Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co3O4/Carbon (C) composites have better transport kinetics for both electron and lithium-ion in EIS testing results, which may contribute to its higher specific capacity and higher first coulomb efficiency. Due to the unique structure of the composite material with double protection against the volume expansion of Co3O4 when charged, the Carbon aerogel (CA)/Co3O4/Carbon (C) composite material exhibits better cycle stability with a discharge capacity of 1180 mAh/g after 50 cycles. Therefore, the double protection strategy is verified as an effective method to improve the electrochemical performance of transition metal oxide with carbon composite as an anode material in lithium battery.

Semi-elastic core-shell nanoparticles enhanced the oral bioavailability of peptide drugs

The rigidity of nanoparticles was newly reported to influence their oral delivery.Semi-elastic nanoparticles can enhance the penetration in mucus and uptake by epithelial cells.However,it is still challenging and unclear that the semi-elastic core-shell nanoparticles can enhance the oral bioavailability of peptide drugs.This study was for the first time to validate the semi-elastic coreshell poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)-lipid nanoparticles(LNPs)as the carrier of the oral peptide drug.The antihypertensive peptide Val-Leu-Pro-Val-Pro(VP5)loaded LNPs(VP5-LNPs)were prepared by a modified thin-film ultrasonic dispersion method.Uptake experiment was performed in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells and monito red by high content screening(HCS)and flow cyto metric(FCM).Pharmacokinetics of VP5-LNPs was carried out in Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats and analyzed by DAS 2.0.The optimal VP5-LNPs had an average particle size of 247.3±3.8 nm,zeta potential of-6.57±0.45 mV and excellent entrapment efficiency(EE)of 89.88%±1.23%.Transmission electron microscope(TEM)and Differential scanning calorimeter(DSC)further confirmed the core-shell structure.VP5-LNPs could increase the cellular uptake in vitro and have a 2.55-fold increase in AUC0-72 h,indicating a great promotion of the o ral bioavailability.The semi-elastic LNPs remarkably improved the oral availability of peptide and could be a promising oral peptide delivery system for peptide drugs in the future.