Fluorescence recovery assay for the detection of protein-DNA binding

We report a novel and straightforward fluorescence recovery assay which enables the detection of protein-DNA interactions and simultaneously determines relative binding affinities of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins for a variety of DNA sequences in a multiplexed format. The detection of protein-DNA binding is accomplished by monitoring fluorescence recovery during exonuclease digestion of DNA sequences that are modified with fluorophore-quencher pairs. Retardation of fluorescence recovery occurs with binding of the protein to the putative DNA binding element, which arrests exonuclease digestion. The assay detects protein-DNA binding in a homogeneous solution simply, quickly, and reliably without using radioisotopes. Multiplexing is possible by labeling different DNA sequences with spectrally distinct dyes, allowing simultaneous analysis of experimental and control binding reactions in the same mixture.     

Synthesis of MoS2 and MoO2 for their applications in H2 generation and lithium ion batteries: a review

Abstract

Scientists increasingly witness the applications of MoS₂ and MoO₂ in the field of energy conversion and energy storage. On the one hand, MoS₂ and MoO₂ have been widely utilized as promising catalysts for electrocatalytic or photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in aqueous solution. On the other hand, MoS₂ and MoO₂ have also been verified as efficient electrode material for lithium ion batteries. In this review, the synthesis, structure and properties of MoS₂ and MoO₂ are briefly summarized according to their applications for H₂ generation and lithium ion batteries. Firstly, we overview the recent advancements in the morphology control of MoS₂ and MoO₂ and their applications as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions. Secondly, we focus on the photo-induced water splitting for H₂ generation, in which MoS₂ acts as an important co-catalyst when combined with other semiconductor catalysts. The newly reported research results of the significant functions of MoS₂ nanocomposites in photo-induced water splitting are presented. Thirdly, we introduce the advantages of MoS₂ and MoO₂ for their enhanced cyclic performance and high capacity as electrode materials of lithium ion batteries. Recent key achievements in MoS₂- and MoO₂-based lithium ion batteries are highlighted. Finally, we discuss the future scope and the important challenges emerging from these fascinating materials.     

煤系高岭土超细煅烧工艺革新探讨

淮北煤系高岭土蕴藏量丰富,开发超细煅烧高岭土是其发展的主要方向之一,本文从现有生产工艺出发探讨工艺革新改造之法。     

Biomimetic Robust Starch Composite Films with Super-Hydrophobicity and Vivid Structural Colors

The starch composite films (SCFs) will be one of the best alternative packaging materials to petroleum based plastic films, which mitigates white pollution and energy consumption. However, weak mechanical stability, water resistance, and dyeability has hindered the application of SCFs. Herein, a bioinspired robust SCFs with super-hydrophobicity and excellent structural colors were prepared by fiber-reinforcement and assembling SiO₂/Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) amorphous arrays on the surface of SCFs. The properties of the designed SCFs were investigated by various methods including scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), a tensile test, contact angle (CA) test, and an optical test. The results showed that the obtained SCFs possessed a higher tensile strength (55.17 MPa) attributed to the formed abundant hydrogen bonds between the molecular chains of the starch, cellulose fiber, and polyvinyl alcohol. Benefiting from the nanostructure with rough surface which were modified by materials with low surface free energy, the contact angle and sliding angle of the film reached up to 154° and 2°, respectively. The colors which were produced by the constructive interference of the coherent scattered light could cover all of the visible regions by tuning the diameters of the SiO₂ nanoparticles. The strategy in the present study not only reinforces the mechanical strength and water resistance of SCFs but also provides an environmentally friendly way to color the them, which shows unprecedented application potential in packaging materials of the starch composite films.     

Investigation of Nitrite Production Pathway in Integrated Partial Denitrification/Anammox Process via Isotope Labelling Technique and the Relevant Microbial Communities

In this study,the nitrogen removal performance of partial denitrificaiton/anammox(PDA) process was investigated by using an UASB reactor.High total nitrogen(TN) removal efficiency(91.97%) was achieved at an influent nitrogen loading rate of 0.64 kg/(m³·d).Anammox bacteria did execute the function of converting nitrate to nitrite in PDA system according to ¹⁵N isotope labeling experiments and the contribution was approximately 36.3%.Candidatus＿Brocadia,Candidatus＿Kuenenia an...     

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies a Rice Panicle Blast Resistance Gene,Pb2, Encoding NLR Protein

Rice blast is one of the main diseases in rice and can occur in different rice growth stages. Due to the complicated procedure of panicle blast identification and instability of panicle blast infection influenced by the environment, most cloned rice resistance genes are associated with leaf blast. In this study, a rice panicle blast resistance gene, Pb2, was identified by genome-wide association mapping based on the panicle blast resistance phenotypes of 230 Rice Diversity Panel 1 (RDP1) accessions with 700,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A genome-wide association study identified 18 panicle blast resistance loci (PBRL) within two years, including 9 reported loci and 2 repeated loci (PBRL2 and PBRL13, PBRL10 and PBRL18). Among them, the repeated locus (PBRL10 and PBRL18) was located in chromosome 11. By haplotype and expression analysis, one of the Nucleotide-binding domain and Leucine-rich Repeat (NLR) Pb2 genes was highly conserved in multiple resistant rice cultivars, and its expression was significantly upregulated after rice blast infection. Pb2 encodes a typical NBS-LRR protein with NB-ARC domain and LRR domain. Compared with wild type plants, the transgenic rice of Pb2 showed enhanced resistance to panicle and leaf blast with reduced lesion number. Subcellular localization of Pb2 showed that it is located on plasma membrane, and GUS tissue-staining observation found that Pb2 is highly expressed in grains, leaf tips and stem nodes. The Pb2 transgenic plants showed no difference in agronomic traits with wild type plants. It indicated that Pb2 could be useful for breeding of rice blast resistance.     

Design study of APS-U-type hybrid-MBA lattice for mid-energy DLSR

In recent years,a new generation of storage ring-based light sources,known as diffraction-limited storage rings(DLSRs),whose emittance approaches the diffractio...