GhbZIP30-GhCCCH17 module accelerates corm dormancy release by reducing endogenous ABA under cold storage in Gladiolus.

Gladiolus hybridus is one of the most popular flowers worldwide. However, its corm dormancy characteristic largely limits its off-season production. Long-term cold treatment (LT), which increases sugar content and reduces abscisic acid (ABA), is an efficient approach to accelerate corm dormancy release (CDR). Here, we identified a GhbZIP30-GhCCCH17 module that mediates the antagonism between sugars and ABA during CDR. We showed that sugars promoted CDR by reducing ABA levels in Gladiolus. Our data demonstrated that GhbZIP30 transcription factor directly binds the GhCCCH17 zinc finger promoter and activates its transcription, confirmed by yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase (Dual-LUC), chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). GhCCCH17 is a transcriptional activator, and its nuclear localisation is altered by surcose and cytokinin treatments. Both GhbZIP30 and GhCCCH17 positively respond to LT, sugars, and cytokinin treatments. Silencing GhbZIP30 or GhCCCH17 resulted in delayed CDR by regulating ABA metabolic genes, while their overexpression promoted CDR. Taken together, we propose that the GhbZIP30-GhCCCH17 module is involved in cold- and glucose-induced CDR by regulating ABA metabolic genes.

A nanocomposite consisting of ZnO decorated graphene oxide nanoribbons for resistive sensing of NO2 gas at room temperature.

A composite prepared from zinc oxide and graphene oxide nanoribbons (ZnO/GONR) is demonstrated to enable improved room temperature (RT) detection of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Low-cost hydrothermal synthesis is used to construct the composite. The properties of the resistive sensor, including the sensitivity, response and recovery times, repeatability and selectivity, were investigated in the NO2 concentration range from 1 to 50 ppm at RT. The sensor, typically operated at a voltage of 5 V, exhibits a low detection limit of 1 ppm, a fast response-recovery time, and excellent repeatability which outperforms that of pure ZnO sensors. The sensing mechanism is explained in terms of a redox reaction between NO2 and oxygen anions on the surface of the ZnO/GONR composite. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the NO2 sensing mechanisms on the surface of the ZnO/GONR composite and overall improved NO2 gas-sensing performance.

Electrodeposition of Pd-Pt Nanocomposites on Porous GaN for Electrochemical Nitrite Sensing.

In recent years, nitrite pollution has become a subject of great concern for human lives, involving a number of fields, such as environment, food industry and biological process. However, the effective detection of nitrite is an instant demand as well as an unprecedented challenge. Here, a novel nitrite sensor was fabricated by electrochemical deposition of palladium and platinum (Pd-Pt) nanocomposites on porous gallium nitride (PGaN). The obtained Pd-Pt/PGaN sensor provides abundant electrocatalytic sites, endowing it with excellent performances for nitrite detection. The sensor also shows a low detection limit of 0.95 µM, superior linear ampere response and high sensitivity (150 µA/mM for 1 to 300 µM and 73 µA/mM for 300 to 3000 µM) for nitrite. In addition, the Pd-Pt/PGaN sensor was applied and evaluated in the determination of nitrite from the real environmental samples. The experimental results demonstrate that the sensor has good reproducibility and long-term stability. It provides a practical way for rapidly and effectively monitoring nitrite content in the practical application.

Positive KI67 and periodic acid-schiff mandates wider range of excision in scrotal extramammary Paget's disease.

BACKGROUND: Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) of the scrotum is a rare disease that requires surgical excision. A positive margin is related to recurrence and poorer prognosis. We aimed to investigate the expression of Ki67 and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) in a biopsy sample and to evaluate their predictive value in true margin status. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with noninvasive scrotal EMPD were included. Immunohistochemical staining of Ki67 and PAS was reviewed and compared statistically with the margin status of intraoperative frozen section examination (FSE). RESULTS: Seventeen of 64 patients had a positive margin discovered at the first FSE. Expression of Ki67 was not significantly different between positive and negative margin status (p = .16). Expression of PAS was higher in samples with positive margins (p = .05). The incidence of positive margins was significantly higher in the double-positive group than in the double-negative group (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Positive expression of both factors in a biopsy sample requires wider excision to ensure negative margins.

Gender differences in acute toxicity, toxicokinetic and tissue distribution of amphotericin B liposomes in rats.

Amphotericin B (AmB), an effective polyene drug with broad spectrum antifungal activity, is used for serious fungal infections. Liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) is a lipid dosage form, which has a significantly improved toxicity profile compared with conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate (DAmB). This study focused on verifying the gender differences in the acute toxicity of LAmB and further exploring its causes. Acute toxicity study of LAmB and DAmB were performed in rats, and toxicity responses and mortality of different sexes were observed and recorded. Concentrations of AmB in rat plasma and tissues were determined by a fully validated UPLC-MS/MS assay. The results demonstrated that LAmB showed significant gender differences in acute toxicity, with more severe toxic symptoms and higher mortality for female rats at different doses, but the same differences were not observed for DAmB under the same condition. To explore the cause of differences, toxicokinetic and tissue distribution studies were performed and the results showed that female animals had higher drug exposure, longer half-life and lower plasma clearance compared to male rats, and the drug was mostly distributed in the liver and kidneys, in which female rats displayed a significant higher concentration than that of male rats.

A ZnO/porous GaN heterojunction and its application as a humidity sensor.

A heterojunction of ZnO/porous GaN (ZnO/PGAN) was fabricated and directly applied to a diode-type humidity sensor. ZnO disks were loaded onto PGAN using a spraying process. The structure and surface morphology of the ZnO/PGAN were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The heterojunction displayed an excellent diode nature, which was investigated using photoluminescence spectra and I-V characteristics. The excellent transport capability of ZnO/PGAN contributes to enhanced electron transfer, and hence results in high sensitivity and quick response/recovery properties under different relative humidity (RH) levels. In the range of 12-96% RH, a fast sensing response time as low as 7 s and a recovery time of 13 s can be achieved. The simple design of a ZnO/PGAN based humidity sensor highlights its potential in various applications.