Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 170 in total

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  1. Amino-Functionalized MXene Nanosheets Doped with Ce(III) as Potent Nanocontainers toward Self-Healing Epoxy Nanocomposite Coating for Corrosion Protection of Mild Steel
    Haddadi SA, Hu S, Ghaderi S, Ghanbari A, Ahmadipour M, Pung SY, et al.
    ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2021 Sep 08;13(35):42074-42093.
    PMID: 34428889 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c13055
    MXene sheets, as new 2D nanomaterials, have been used in many advanced applications due to their superior thin-layered architecture, as well as their capability to be employed as novel nanocontainers for advanced applications. In this research, intercalated Ti3C2 MXene sheets were synthesized through an etching method, and then they were modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Cerium cations (Ce3+) as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor were encapsulated within Ti3C2 MXene sheets to fabricate novel self-healing epoxy nanocomposite coatings. The corrosion protection performance (CPP) of Ce3+-doped Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets (Ti3C2 MXene-Ce3+) in a 3.5 wt % sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was studied on bare mild steel substrates using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The self-healing CPP of epoxy coatings loaded with 1 wt % undoped and doped Ti3C2 MXene was evaluated using EIS, salt spray, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The introduction of Ti3C2 MXene-Ce3+ into the corrosive solution and artificially scribed epoxy coating enhanced the total impedance from 717 to 6596 Ω cm2 and 8876 to 32092 Ω cm2, respectively, after 24 h of immersion compared to the control samples.
  2. Fulltext Characterization and Kinetic Studies of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Polymer Inclusion Membrane for the Malachite Green Extraction
    Soo JAL, Makhtar MMZ, Shoparwe NF, Otitoju TA, Mohamad M, Tan LS, et al.
    Membranes (Basel), 2021 Aug 31;11(9).
    PMID: 34564493 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11090676
    Textile industry effluent contains a high amount of toxic colorants. These dyes are carcinogenic and threats to the environment and living beings. In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) was used as the based polymer for PIMs with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (B2EHP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as the carrier and plasticizer. The fabricated PIMs were employed to extract the cation dye (Malachite Green; MG) from the feeding phase. PIMs were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle, water uptake, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ions exchange capacity. The performance of the PIMs was investigated under various conditions such as percentage of carrier and initial dye concentration. With permeability and flux values of 0.1188 cm/min and 1.1913 mg cm/min, PIM produced with 18% w/w PVDF-co-HFP, 21% w/w B2EHP, 1% w/w DOP and 40% w/w THF and was able to achieve more than 97% of MG extraction. The experimental data were then fitted with a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, and the calculated R2 value was ~0.99. This shows that the data has a good fit with the PSO model. PIM is a potential alternative technology in textile industry effluent treatment; however, the right formulation is crucial for developing a highly efficient membrane.
  3. Nutrient fluxes across sediment-water interface in Bohai Bay Coastal Zone, China
    Mu D, Yuan D, Feng H, Xing F, Teo FY, Li S
    Mar Pollut Bull, 2017 Jan 30;114(2):705-714.
    PMID: 27802871 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.056
    Sediment cores and overlying water samples were collected at four sites in Tianjin Coastal Zone, Bohai Bay, to investigate nutrient (N, P and Si) exchanges across the sediment-water interface. The exchange fluxes of each nutrient species were estimated based on the porewater profiles and laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed significant differences between the two methods, which implied that molecular diffusion alone was not the dominant process controlling nutrient exchanges at these sites. The impacts of redox conditions and bioturbation on the nutrient fluxes were confirmed by the laboratory incubation experiments. The results from this study showed that the nutrient fluxes measured directly from the incubation experiment were more reliable than that predicted from the porewater profiles. The possible impacts causing variations in the nutrient fluxes include sewage discharge and land reclamation.
  4. Fulltext Hydrocephaly Analysis Supported by Computerized Tomography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
    Zhang T, Zhou Y, Su G, Shi D, Gopinath SCB, Lakshmipriya T, et al.
    J Anal Methods Chem, 2019;2019:5872347.
    PMID: 31662948 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5872347
    Hydrocephalus is widely known as "hydrocephaly" or "water in the brain," a building up of abnormal cerebrospinal fluid in the brain ventricles. Due to this abnormality, the size of the head becomes larger and increases the pressure in the skull. This pressure compresses the brain and causes damage to the brain. Identification by imaging techniques on the hydrocephalus is mandatory to treat the disease. Various methods and equipment have been used to image the hydrocephalus. Among them, computerized tomography (CT) scan and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are the most considered methods and gives accurate result of imaging. Apart from imaging, cerebrospinal fluid-based biomarkers are also used to identify the condition of hydrocephalus. This review is discussed on "hydrocephalus" and its imaging captured by CT scan and NMR to support the biomarker analysis.
  5. Fulltext Roles of Carotenoids in Invertebrate Immunology
    Tan K, Zhang H, Lim LS, Ma H, Li S, Zheng H
    Front Immunol, 2019;10:3041.
    PMID: 32010132 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03041
    Carotenoids are biologically active pigments that are well-known to enhance the defense and immunity of the vertebrate system. However, in invertebrates, the role of carotenoids in immunity is not clear. Therefore, this study aims to review the scientific evidence for the role of carotenoids in invertebrate immunization. From the analysis of published literatures and recent studies from our laboratory, it is obvious that carotenoids are involved in invertebrate immunity in two ways. On the one hand, carotenoids can act as antioxidant enzymes to remove singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radicals, and hydroxyl radicals, thereby reducing SOD activity and reducing the cost of immunity. In some organisms, carotenoids have been shown to promote SOD activity by up-regulating the expression of the ZnCuSOD gene. Carotenoids, on the other hand, play a role in the expression and regulation of many genes involved in invertebrate immunity, including thioredoxins (TRX), peptidoglycan recognition receptor proteins (PGRPs), ferritins, prophenoloxidase (ProPO), vitellogenin (Vg), toll-like receptor (TLRs), heat shock proteins (HSPs), and CuZnSOD gene. The information in this review is very useful for updating our understanding of the progress of carotenoid research in invertebrate immunology and to help identify topics for future topics.
  6. Starch granules as Pickering emulsifiers: Role of octenylsuccinylation and particle size
    Li S, Li C, Yang Y, He X, Zhang B, Fu X, et al.
    Food Chem, 2019 Jun 15;283:437-444.
    PMID: 30722895 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.01.020
    The present study aimed at investigating the effects of octenylsuccinylation and particle size on the emulsifying properties of starch granules as Pickering emulsifiers. Starch spherulites (1-5 μm), native rice starch (5-10 μm), waxy maize starch (10-20 μm) and waxy potato starch (20-30 μm) were modified with octenylsuccinic anhydride. Results showed that octenylsuccinylation caused a significant increase in the contact angle, and there was a weak positive linear correlation with the emulsifying capacity of the starch granules. After octenylsuccinylation, smaller particles of octenylsuccinate-starch granules exhibited better emulsifying properties with smaller droplet size and lower creaming index. Overall, both octenylsuccinylation and particle size have important effects on the emulsifying properties of starch granules as Pickering stabilizers. This study could be useful in the design and development of starch-based Pickering emulsifiers, and provide potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
  7. Comparative profiling of ovarian and testicular piRNAs in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain
    Waiho K, Fazhan H, Zhang Y, Li S, Zhang Y, Zheng H, et al.
    Genomics, 2020 01;112(1):323-331.
    PMID: 30807818 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2019.02.012
    PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are abundantly found in germ cells and involved in gametogenesis and gonadal development. Information on the regulatory roles of piRNAs in crustacean reproduction, however, is scarce. Thus, we identified gonadal piRNAs of mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Of the 115,491 novel piRNAs, 596 were differentially expressed. Subsequently, 389,887 potential piRNA-target genes were predicted. The expression of 4 piRNAs and 9 genes with high piRNA interactions were validated with the inclusion of additional immature specimens, including LRP2 that is involved in growth and reproduction, MDN1 in ribosome biogenesis pathway and gametogenesis, and PRKDC, a DNA repair gene involved in gonadal differentiation and maturation. KEGG analysis further revealed the involvement of predicted piRNA target genes in gametogenesis- and reproduction-related pathways. Our findings provide baseline information of mud crab piRNAs and their differential expression between testes and ovaries suggests that piRNAs play an essential role in regulating gametogenesis and gonadal development.
  8. Fulltext Effect of sonic hedgehog on motor neuron positioning in the spinal cord during chicken embryonic development
    Yang C, Li S, Li X, Li H, Li Y, Zhang C, et al.
    J Cell Mol Med, 2019 05;23(5):3549-3562.
    PMID: 30834718 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14254
    Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a vertebrate homologue of the secreted Drosophila protein hedgehog and is expressed by the notochord and floor plate in the developing spinal cord. Sonic hedgehog provides signals relevant for positional information, cell proliferation and possibly cell survival, depending on the time and location of expression. Although the role of SHH in providing positional information in the neural tube has been experimentally proven, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, in ovo electroporation was employed in the chicken spinal cord during chicken embryo development. Electroporation was conducted at stage 17 (E2.5), after electroporation the embryos were continued incubating to stage 28 (E6) for sampling, tissue fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde and frozen sectioning. Sonic hedgehog and related protein expressions were detected by in situ hybridization and fluorescence immunohistochemistry and the results were analysed after microphotography. Our results indicate that the ectopic expression of SHH leads to ventralization in the spinal cord during chicken embryonic development by inducing abnormalities in the structure of the motor column and motor neuron integration. In addition, ectopic SHH expression inhibits the expression of dorsal transcription factors and commissural axon projections. The correct location of SHH expression is vital to the formation of the motor column. Ectopic expression of SHH in the spinal cord not only affects the positioning of motor neurons, but also induces abnormalities in the structure of the motor column. It leads to ventralization in the spinal cord, resulting in the formation of more ventral neurons forming during neuronal formation.
  9. Fulltext Curcumin-Based Photodynamic Sterilization for Preservation of Fresh-Cut Hami Melon
    Lin Y, Hu J, Li S, Hamzah SS, Jiang H, Zhou A, et al.
    Molecules, 2019 Jun 27;24(13).
    PMID: 31252525 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132374
    Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are the main sources of foodborne illness outbreaks with implicated pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. This study aimed at investigating the influence of two key parameters (concentration of curcumin and illumination time) on the effects of curcumin-based photodynamic sterilization on the preservation of fresh-cut Hami melons. The results indicated that illumination with 50 μmol/L curcumin for 60 min using a blue LED lamp reduced the total aerobic microorganism count by ~1.8 log CFU/g in fresh-cut Hami melons. Besides this, the effects of photodynamic sterilization on the soluble solids content, color, water content, firmness, and sensory indices of the fresh-cut Hami melons were also evaluated. Compared to the control group, photodynamic sterilization can effectively delay the browning rate and maintain the luminosity, firmness, water content, and soluble solids content of fresh-cut Hami melon. The sensory quality was indeed preserved well after 9 days of storage in a fridge. These results showed that photodynamic sterilization is an effective and promising technology to prolong the shelf life of fresh-cut Hami melons.
  10. Fulltext Synthesis and Thermal Properties of Resorcinol-Furfural Thermosetting Resin
    Liu J, Xuan D, Chai J, Guo D, Huang Y, Liu S, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2020 May 05;5(17):10011-10020.
    PMID: 32391489 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00365
    A mild and effective synthesis of resorcinol-furfural (RF) thermosetting resin was proposed with ethanol as a distinctive solvent, which, as a usually neglected factor, was shown to not only help form a homogeneous reaction system but also observably reduce the energy barriers between the early intermediates and transition states in addition reactions by explicit solvent effects, drawn from theoretical calculation conclusions. Besides, the para-additions on aromatic rings were more dominant than ortho-additions with the same reactants, which affected the final link types of monomers verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance tests. The prepared resin can be assigned to a relatively fast gel speed and a high residual mass (65.25%) after pyrolysis in a N2 atmosphere by adjusting the molar ratios of F to R, and the curing of that was a complex reaction, with a curing temperature around 149 °C and an activation energy of about 49.11 kJ mol-1 obtained by the Kissinger method.
  11. Fulltext CNPase, a 2',3'-Cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, as a Therapeutic Target to Attenuate Cardiac Hypertrophy by Enhancing Mitochondrial Energy Production
    Tan KS, Wang D, Lu Z, Zhang Y, Li S, Lin Y, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2021 Oct 06;22(19).
    PMID: 34639145 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910806
    Heart failure is the end-stage of all cardiovascular diseases with a ~25% 5-year survival rate, and insufficient mitochondrial energy production to meet myocardial demand is the hallmark of heart failure. Mitochondrial components involved in the regulation of ATP production remain to be fully elucidated. Recently, roles of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) in the pathophysiological processes of heart diseases have emerged, implicated by evidence that mitochondrial CNPase proteins are associated with mitochondrial integrity under metabolic stress. In this study, a zebrafish heart failure model was established, by employing antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, which recapitulates heart failure phenotypes including heart dysfunction, pericardial edema, ventricular enlargement, bradycardia, and premature death. The translational implications of CNPase in the pathophysiological process of heart failure were tested in a pressure overload-induced heart hypertrophy model, which was carried out in rats through transverse abdominal aorta constriction (TAAC). AAV9-mediated myocardial delivery of CNPase mitigated the hypertrophic response through the specific hydrolysis of 2'-3'-cyclic nucleotides, supported by the decrease of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, the integrity of mitochondrial ultrastructure, and indicators of heart contractility in the AAV9-TAAC group. Finally, the biometrics of a mitochondrial respiration assay carried out on a Seahorse cellular energy analyzer demonstrated that CNPase protects mitochondrial respiration and ATP production from AngII-induced metabolic stress. In summary, this study provides mechanistic insights into CNPase-2',3'-cyclic nucleotide metabolism that protects the heart from energy starvation and suggests novel therapeutic approaches to treat heart failure by targeting CNPase activity.
  12. Clone, expression and plasminogen binding property of three fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases from Clonorchis sinensis
    Li S, Lu BP, Feng J, Zhou JJ, Xie ZZ, Liang C, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):852-863.
    PMID: 33612738 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.852
    Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FbA), a well characterized glycometabolism enzyme, has been found to participate in other important processes besides the classic catalysis. To understand the important functions of three fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases from Clonorchis sinensis (CsFbAs, CsFbA-1/2/3) in host-parasite interplay, the open reading frames of CsFbAs were cloned into pET30a (+) vector and the resulting recombinant plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) for expression of the proteins. Purified recombinant CsFbAs proteins (rCsFbAs) were approximately 45.0 kDa on 12% SDS-PAGE and could be probed with each rat anti-rCsFbAs sera by western blotting analysis. ELISA and ligand blot overlay indicated that rCsFbAs of 45.0 kDa as well as native CsFbAs of 39.5 kDa from total worm extracts and excretory-secretory products of Clonorchis sinensis (CsESPs) could bind to human plasminogen, and the binding could be efficiently inhibited by lysine analog ε-aminocaproic acid. Our results suggested that as both the components of CsESPs and the plasminogen binding proteins, three CsFbAs might be involved in preventing the formation of the blood clot so that Clonorchis sinensis could acquire enough nutrients from host tissue for their successful survival and colonization in the host. Our work will provide us with new information about the biological function of three CsFbAs and their roles in hostparasite interplay.
  13. Human health risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals in the five major river basins, China
    Dai C, Li S, Duan Y, Leong KH, Tu Y, Zhou L
    Sci Total Environ, 2021 Dec 20;801:149730.
    PMID: 34467938 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149730
    Pharmaceuticals in aquatic environment have raised wide attention in recent years due to their potential adverse effects and bioaccumulation in biota. China has been a major producer and consumer of pharmaceuticals, however, the potential human health risk of these chemicals is yet to be determined in China. In this study, we evaluated available exposure data for twenty pharmaceuticals in surface waters from Chinese five major river basins (the Yangtze, Haihe, Pearl, Songliao, and Yellow River Basins), and human health risk assessment was performed. Based on the concentration data and risk data, we conducted research on the source, cause, and control measures of the pharmaceuticals. The twenty pharmaceuticals were found to be ubiquitous in China with median concentrations between 0.09 and 304 ng/L. The estimated daily intake of pharmaceuticals from drinking water and eating fish was calculated. The intake via drinking water was significantly lower than that via eating fish. The risk quotients via water intake and fish consumption ranged from 0 to 17.2, with estrogen and sulfapyridine highest among the twenty pharmaceuticals. High risks of exposure were mainly in North China, including the Haihe and Songliao River Basins. This is the first analysis in Chinese major river basins that has filled the gaps in the research on the human health risks of pharmaceuticals. The results of the study provide basic information of pharmaceutical intake from drinking water and eating fish in China and provide insights into the risk management guidance of pharmaceuticals, and will facilitate the optimization of health advisories and policy making.
  14. New Determination Method of Two Bioactive Saponins in Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl. by Quantitative Analysis of Multi-Components by Single-Marker
    Zhang X, Chen X, Jin J, Gong M, He Q, Li S, et al.
    J Chromatogr Sci, 2021 Oct 29;59(10):941-948.
    PMID: 33728454 DOI: 10.1093/chromsci/bmab028
    Capilliposide B (CPS-B) and Capilliposide C (CPS-C), as the key components in Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl., increasingly aroused the interest and research concern of many researchers due to the good bioactivities. Nowadays, the reference standards of CPS-B and CPS-C yield were very limited. Due to the deficit of reference standards, the determination could be difficult to carry out, and the quality control and evaluation would be restrained afterwards. To solve this urgent problem, a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS) method was proposed and established based on high-performance liquid-chromatography tandem evaporative light-scattering detector. In this QAMS method, the content of the two bioactive components could be calculated by buddlejasaponin IV, which is applied as an external standard and readily obtained. And the methodological experiments were evaluated and indicated accuracy, stability and feasibility of this QAMS method. Therefore, in this study, this built method would properly meet the requirement of determination of CPS-B, CPS-C and quality control of the L. capillipes Hemsl. plant.
  15. Hepatocellular BChE as a therapeutic target to ameliorate hypercholesterolemia through PRMT5 selective degradation to restore LDL receptor transcription
    Wang D, Tan KS, Zeng W, Li S, Wang Y, Xu F, et al.
    Life Sci, 2022 Mar 15;293:120336.
    PMID: 35065166 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120336
    AIMS: Individuals with nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis (NAFLD) have a worse atherogenic lipoprotein profile and are susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. The MEK-ERK signaling cascades are central regulators of the levels of LDL receptor (LDLR), a major determinant of circulating cholesterol. It is elusive how hepatic steatosis contributes to dyslipidemia, especially hypercholesterolemia.

    MAIN METHODS: The effects of BChE on signaling pathways were determined by immunoblotting in a BChE knockout hepatocyte cell line. DiI-LDL probe was used to explore the effect of BChE expression on LDL internalization. Co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS were used to explore the interacting proteins with BChE. Finally, a hepatocyte-restricted BChE silencing mouse model was established by AAV8-Tbg-shRNA, and the hypercholesterolemia was induced by 65% kcal% high-fat, high-sucrose diet feeding.

    MAIN FINDINGS: Here we demonstrate that butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) governs the LDL receptor levels and LDL uptake capacity through the MEK-ERK signaling cascades to promote Ldlr transcription. BChE interacts and co-localizes with PRMT5, a protein methylation modifier controlling the ERK signaling. PRMT5 regulates LDLR-dependent LDL uptake and is a substrate of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). BChE deficiency induces the PRTM5 degradation dependent on CMA activity, possibly through facilitating the HSC70 (Heat shock cognate 71 kDa) recognition of PRMT5. Remarkably, in vivo hepatocyte-restricted BChE silencing reduces plasma cholesterol levels substantially. In contrast, the BChE knockout mice are predisposed to hypercholesterolemia.

    SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, these findings outline a regulatory role for the BChE-PRMT5-ERK-LDLR axis in hepatocyte cholesterol metabolism, and suggest that targeting liver BChE is an effective therapeutic strategy to treat hypercholesterolemia.

  16. The Microbial Composition of Penaeid Shrimps' Hepatopancreas Is Modulated by Hemocyanin
    Zheng Z, Aweya JJ, Bao S, Yao D, Li S, Tran NT, et al.
    J Immunol, 2021 12 01;207(11):2733-2743.
    PMID: 34670821 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100746
    Aquatic organisms have to produce proteins or factors that help maintain a stable relationship with microbiota and prevent colonization by pathogenic microorganisms. In crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates, relatively few of these host factors have been characterized. In this study, we show that the respiratory glycoprotein hemocyanin is a crucial host factor that modulates microbial composition and diversity in the hepatopancreas of penaeid shrimp. Diseased penaeid shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), had an empty gastrointestinal tract with atrophied hepatopancreas, expressed low hemocyanin, and high total bacterial abundance, with Vibrio as the dominant bacteria. Similarly, shrimp depleted of hemocyanin had mitochondrial depolarization, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and dysregulation of several energy metabolism-related genes. Hemocyanin silencing together with ROS scavenger (N-acetylcysteine) treatment improved microbial diversity and decreased Vibrio dominance in the hepatopancreas. However, fecal microbiota transplantation after hemocyanin knockdown could not restore the microbial composition in the hepatopancreas. Collectively, our data provide, to our knowledge, new insight into the pivotal role of hemocyanin in modulating microbial composition in penaeid shrimp hepatopancreas via its effect on mitochondrial integrity, energy metabolism, and ROS production.
  17. Structural properties and hydrolysability of recycled poplar residues (Populus L.): Effects of two-step acetic acid and sodium sulphite pre-treatment
    Chu J, Li S, Chen N, Wen P, Sonne C, Ma NL
    Chemosphere, 2022 Mar;291(Pt 1):132679.
    PMID: 34718007 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132679
    Poplar trees rapidly yield wood and are therefore suitable as a biofuel feedstock; however, the quality of poplar is modest, and the profitability of poplar cultivation depends on the efficiency of the harvesting process. This study offers a simple and sustainable technique to harvest lignocellulosic resources from poplar for bioethanol production. The proposed two-step pretreatment method increased the surface lignin content and decreased the surface polysaccharide content. The cellulose content increased to 54.9% and the xylan content decreased to 6.7% at 5% AC. The cellulose yield of poplar residues (Populus L.) reached 65.5% by this two-step acetic acid (AC) and sodium sulphite (SS) treatment method. Two-step pretreatment using 5% AC and 4% SS obtained a recovery of nearly 80% of the total available fermentable sugar. The surface characterization showed a higher porosity in treated samples, which improved their hydrolysability. This method decreased the amount of lignin in plant biomass, making it applicable for further wood resource recovery or waste recycling for biorefinery purposes at very low costs.
  18. Fulltext Comparative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Elevated Capacity for Photosynthesis in Polyphenol Oxidase Expression-Silenced Clematis terniflora DC. Leaves
    Chen X, Yang B, Huang W, Wang T, Li Y, Zhong Z, et al.
    Int J Mol Sci, 2018 Dec 05;19(12).
    PMID: 30563128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123897
    Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) catalyzes the o-hydroxylation of monophenols and oxidation of o-diphenols to quinones. Although the effects of PPO on plant physiology were recently proposed, little has been done to explore the inherent molecular mechanisms. To explore the in vivo physiological functions of PPO, a model with decreased PPO expression and enzymatic activity was constructed on Clematis terniflora DC. using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology. Proteomics was performed to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the model (VC) and empty vector-carrying plants (VV) untreated or exposed to high levels of UV-B and dark (HUV-B+D). Following integration, it was concluded that the DEPs mainly functioned in photosynthesis, glycolysis, and redox in the PPO silence plants. Mapman analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly involved in light reaction and Calvin cycle in photosynthesis. Further analysis illustrated that the expression level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, the content of chlorophyll, and the photosynthesis rate were increased in VC plants compared to VV plants pre- and post HUV-B+D. These results indicate that the silence of PPO elevated the plant photosynthesis by activating the glycolysis process, regulating Calvin cycle and providing ATP for energy metabolism. This study provides a prospective approach for increasing crop yield in agricultural production.
  19. Fulltext Cenozoic Rotation History of Borneo and Sundaland, SE Asia Revealed by Paleomagnetism, Seismic Tomography, and Kinematic Reconstruction
    Advokaat EL, Marshall NT, Li S, Spakman W, Krijgsman W, van Hinsbergen DJJ
    Tectonics, 2018 Aug;37(8):2486-2512.
    PMID: 30333679 DOI: 10.1029/2018TC005010
    SE Asia comprises a heterogeneous assemblage of fragments derived from Cathaysia (Eurasia) in the north and Gondwana in the south, separated by suture zones representing closed former ocean basins. The western part of the region comprises Sundaland, which was formed by Late Permian-Triassic amalgamation of continental and arc fragments now found in Indochina, the Thai Penisula, Peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra. On Borneo, the Kuching Zone formed the eastern margin of Sundaland since the Triassic. To the SE of the Kuching Zone, the Gondwana-derived continental fragments of SW Borneo and East Kalimantan accreted in the Cretaceous. South China-derived fragments accreted to north of the Kuching Zone in the Miocene. Deciphering this complex geodynamic history of SE Asia requires restoration of its deformation history, but quantitative constraints are often sparse. Paleomagnetism may provide such constraints. Previous paleomagnetic studies demonstrated that Sundaland and fragments in Borneo underwent vertical axis rotations since the Cretaceous. We provide new paleomagnetic data from Eocene-Miocene sedimentary rocks in the Kutai Basin, east Borneo, and critically reevaluate the published database, omitting sites that do not pass widely used, up-to-date reliability criteria. We use the resulting database to develop an updated kinematic restoration. We test the regional or local nature of paleomagnetic rotations against fits between the restored orientation of the Sunda Trench and seismic tomography images of the associated slabs. Paleomagnetic data and mantle tomography of the Sunda slab indicate that Sundaland did not experience significant vertical axis rotations since the Late Jurassic. Paleomagnetic data show that Borneo underwent a ~35° counterclockwise rotation constrained to the Late Eocene and an additional ~10° counterclockwise rotation since the Early Miocene. How this rotation was accommodated relative to Sundaland is enigmatic but likely involved distributed extension in the West Java Sea between Borneo and Sumatra. This Late Eocene-Early Oligocene rotation is contemporaneous with and may have been driven by a marked change in motion of Australia relative to Eurasia, from eastward to northward, which also has led to the initiation of subduction along the eastern Sunda trench and the proto-South China Sea to the south and north of Borneo, respectively.
  20. First Report of Angiopsora paspalicola Causing Leaf Rust on Paspalum conjugatum in Malaysia
    Khoo YW, Gao L, Khaw YS, Tan HT, Li S, Chong KP
    Plant Dis, 2023 May 25.
    PMID: 37227434 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-23-0109-PDN
    Paspalum conjugatum (family Poaceae), locally known as Buffalo grass, is a perennial weed that can be found in rice field, residential lawn, and sod farm in Malaysia (Uddin et al. 2010; Hakim et al. 2013). In September 2022, Buffalo grass with rust symptoms and signs were collected from the lawn located in Universiti Malaysia Sabah in the province of Sabah (6°01'55.6"N, 116°07'15.7"E). The incidence was 90%. Yellow uredinia were observed primarily on the abaxial surface of the leaves. As the disease progressed, leaves were covered with coalescing pustules. Microscopic examination of pustules revealed the presence of urediniospores. Urediniospores were ellipsoid to obovoid in shape, contents in yellow, 16.4-28.8 x 14.0-22.4 μm and echinulate, with a prominent tonsure on most of the spores. A fine brush was used to collect yellow urediniospores, and genomic DNA was extracted based on Khoo et al. (2022a). The primers Rust28SF/LR5 (Vilgalys and Hester 1990; Aime et al. 2018) and CO3_F1/CO3_R1 (Vialle et al. 2009) were used to amplify partial 28S ribosomal RNA (28S) and cytochrome c oxidase III (COX3) gene fragments following the protocols of Khoo et al. (2022b). The sequences were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers OQ186624- OQ186626 (985/985 bp) (28S) and OQ200381-OQ200383 (556/556 bp) (COX3). They were 100% similar to Angiopsora paspalicola 28S (MW049243) and COX3 (MW036496) sequences. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood based on the combined 28S and COX3 sequences indicated that the isolate formed a supported clade to A. paspalicola. Koch's postulates were performed with spray inoculations of urediniospores suspended in water (106 spores/ml) on leaves of three healthy Buffalo grass leaves, while water was sprayed on three additional Buffalo grass leaves which served as control. The inoculated Buffalo grass were placed in the greenhouse. Symptoms and signs similar to those of the field collection occurred after 12 days post inoculation. No symptoms occurred on controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. paspalicola causing leaf rust on P. conjugatum in Malaysia. Our findings expand the geographic range of A. paspalicola in Malaysia. Albeit P. conjugatum is a host of the pathogen, but the host range of the pathogen especially in Poaceae economic crops need to be studied. Weed management could be an effective way to eliminate inoculum sources of A. paspalicola.
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