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CD4+T cells mediate the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Emerging research suggests that a Th17/regulatory T cell (Treg) imbalance plays a pivotal role in the development of renal IRI. The recently identified negative checkpoint T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain family 3 (Tim-3) inhibits the immune response by binding to its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9). However, the role of the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway in the regulation of CD4+T cell subsets in renal IRI remains unclear. In this study, the effect of the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway on Th17/Treg subsets in renal IRI was investigated using a mouse model. Renal IRI induced the expression of Gal-9 in renal tubular epithelial cells and increased the percentages of Tim-3+Th17 cells and Tim-3+Foxp3+Treg cells in the IR kidneys. The administration of rAAV9-Gal-9 suppressed kidney inflammation, reduced the mortality of mice with renal IRI, increased Foxp3+Treg cells, and reduced Th17 cells. In contrast, the blockade of Tim-3 in vivo with an anti-Tim-3 mAb aggravated renal inflammation, decreased Foxp3+Treg cells, and promoted Th17 cells. Thus, Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway activation may protect against renal IRI by inhibiting Th17 cell production and inducing Foxp3+Treg cell expansion. Our study suggests that the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway might become a target of immunotherapy in renal IRI.

Highlights • SARS and MERS coronaviruses infrequently caused neurological complications, symptoms delayed by 14-25 days. • SARS-CoV-2 neurological consequences are common with early presentation (1-2)days. • The therapeutic dosages of anticoagulants linked to high incidence of thrombotic complexities while methylprednisolone is associated with myopathy. • The pathogenesis of the COVID 19 ageusia/anosmia, myalgia and central nervous pathologies should be explored in the future the studies., Emerging Viral diseases are incredibly infectious and proficient in inducing pandemics. Unlike the previous emerging coronaviruses (ECoVs) which neurological complexities were uncommon, with neurological features exhibition at 14-25 days post-onset, yet with critical outcomes exhibiting > 50% mortality in central nervous(CNS) presenting pathologies. The COVID 19 neurological consequences occur more frequently even in mild cases, presenting with CNS involvement in up to 25%, musculoskeletal and peripheral manifestation(PNM). Through preceding ECoVs case reports, the PNM not linked to fatal outcomes, however, required, repeated neuro-imaging as notable CT and MRI changes appeared as late as 21 days while the likelihood of Cerebrospinal fluid to test positive for ECoV was 25%, only in the CNS presenting cases. Owing to 44-60% myalgia presentation, risk of the high inflammatory state, and coagulation cascade abnormalities reported in ECoVs, testing for C-reactive protein, serum creatine kinase, and D-dimer level is mandatory. Presently, there is no antiviral medication or vaccination for the ECoVs, early induction of antiviral drugs remains the backbone of management. Neurologically, the therapeutic dosages of anticoagulants are linked to the high incidence of thrombotic complexities, while methylprednisolone is associated with myopathy. Future studies expected to apply more neuro-imaging techniques for CNS exploration and further explore the pathogenesis of the COVID 19 myalgia, anosmia/ageusia reported in the majority of the initial cases.

Stellacyanin (SC) is a type I (blue) copper protein, which plays a crucial role in plant growth and stress response. However, the comprehensive analysis and functional research of SCs in the woody plant is still lacking. Here, a total of 74 SCs were collected and identified from Arabidopsis, papaya, grape, rice and poplar. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the gene structure, protein structure and evolutionary relationship of 74 genes, especially 19 SCs in Populus trichocarpa. Based on the RNA-seq data, expression pattern of SCs in poplar under cold, high temperature, drought and salt stress were further analyzed. Subsequently, a key candidate gene PtSC18 that strongly responded to drought stress was screened. Subcellular localization experiment exhibited that PtSC18 was localized in the nucleus and plasma membrane. Overexpression of PtSC18 enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis by improving water retention and reducing oxidative damage. Measurements of physiological indicators, including chlorophyll, H

The roles of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling in oocyte maturation attracts much attention in mammals, but its roles in fish are still largely unknown. Using zebrafish as a model, we demonstrated for the first time in fish that cGMP is involved in oocyte maturation, and its functional model in oocyte maturation is different from that of mammals. The intracellular cGMP could be regulated by nitric oxide (NO), we found that all three NO synthase enzymes and four soluble guanylyl cyclases (sGC) are expressed in the zebrafish ovary. Intriguingly, either the activation or inhibition of the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway in fully grown follicles could lead to oocyte maturation. During oocyte maturation, cGMP levels increased in the follicular cell layer but decreased in oocytes, while NO levels increased in follicular cells but remained constant in oocytes. Based on these findings in zebrafish, we propose a hypothetical model on the dual role of cGMP in oocyte maturation: in follicular cells the LH signal could increase the level of NO and cGMP which induces oocyte maturation, while in the oocyte the decreased cGMP level can also induce oocyte maturation. These findings help us to understand the molecular mechanism of fish oocyte maturation.

Wood, as a typical natural material, is crucial to extend its service lifetime through preservative treatments against both biological and abiotic processes. Conventional wood protective treatment methods have major disadvantages by utilization of toxic chemicals. In this study, a physical treatment approach against wood biodeterioration was tested via the carbonization treatment technique. Both Pinus sylvestris and poplar were systematically prepared under different conditions of carbonization treatments to analyze the mechanism of carbonization protective treatment and then the performance against biodeterioration. Variations of nitrogen contents, thiamine (Vitamin B1), inorganic salts, pH, moisture content and the mass loss of wood were investigated after the different carbonization treatments. Indigenous wood decay fungi were destroyed by the carbonization treatments to decrease the opportunity for initiation of destruction from inside the wood. The results also illustrated that significant change of pH and moisture content in wood were also remarkable, but the wood nitrogen contents, thiamine (Vitamin B1) and inorganic salt were not influenced much after carbonization treatments. Since the indigenous microflora and also their favourable conditions for growth were eliminated or further restricted, further protection can be extended for the service life of wood against fungal colonization and biodeterioration under selective conditions.

An unknown compound dominant in the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction of the solvent extract of a Dominican amber sample was isolated and purified using column chromatography and preparative gas chromatography. 1D and 2D NMR analyses allowed its structure to be assigned as 15- nor- cleroda-3,12-diene. The bridgehead methyl group (CH 3 at C-19) has a 13 C chemical shift of 19.6 ppm, typical for a trans -decalin framework (Nogueira, 2001), indicating the diterpenoid has a trans A/B ring structure. ROESY correlations indicate that the methyl groups at C-19, C-20 were axial and the C-17 methyl group was equatorial, while the H-10 and H-8 were axial and on the other side of Ring B. Taken together, a 5 R ,8 R ,9 S ,10 R -configuration for the new nor-clerodadiene can be established. The absolute configuration of 5 R ,8 R ,9 S ,10 R was further confirmed by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of this diterpenoid. The identified diene appears to originate from a Hymenaea species ( Fabaceae ). Non-oxidative decarboxylation of cleroda-3,13-diene-15-oic acid (kovalenic acid) present in Hymenaea species or oxidative decarboxylation of 3-cleroden-15-oic acid in Dominican amber are considered to be the two viable pathways leading to the formation of the identified 15- nor -cleroda-3,12-diene, although the former pathway is more likely.

Developing active and durable catalysts for water splitting is challenging, especially at high current density. Herein, unique volcano-like FeIr alloy self-supported on nickel foam (NF) is prepared by hydrothermal process. It only needs overpotentials of 220.0 and 25.6 mV for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER, HER) at ± 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, and both of them can keep for 124 h at ± 1,000 mA cm−2. For overall water splitting, 1.51 and 1.75 V are needed to reach 10 and 500 mA cm−2, and it can work at 500 mA cm−2 for 100 h in 30 wt% KOH solution at 60 °C. This can be due to the self-supporting volcano-like FeIr alloy structure, which can enhance the HER/OER intrinsic activity, and it is good for bubbles release to improve the stability. Thus, this work provides a strategy for developing efficient catalyst towards water splitting.

This study synthesized the Forsythia@carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in one-pot method with a natural anti-wood rot fungus activity. Chinese herbal medicine-Forsythia was used as a raw material, and the environmental-friendly fluorescent Forsythia@CQDs was prepared through microwave treatment. The antifungal test against two fungi (G. trabeum, C. versicolor) demonstrated that the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of Forsythia@CQDs was about 1% of the MIC of Forsythia suspense extract. The weight loss rate of wood samples treated by Forsythia@CQDs was as low as 1 (±0.5)%. The antifungal property was equivalent to that of the traditional chemical preservative Ammoniacal Copper Quats (ACQ). The leachability test results of wood preservatives showed that Forsythia@CQDs had a higher fixation rate in wood than Forsythia, and even exceeded ACQ preservatives. Also, its easily-detectable fluorescence effect could track the distribution of preservatives in the wood. This research indicates that Chinese herbal medicine@CQDs-derived environmentally-protective wood preservatives can be an improvement of standard chemical preservatives.

Preparing efficient and stable catalysts is one of the most urgent problems for water splitting. Herein, IrNi-FeNi3 hybrid self-supported on nickel foam with unique nanosheets and 1.218 wt.% Ir-loading is synthesized via hydrothermal method. In 1.0 M KOH, ultralow overpotentials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER, η20 = 240.0 mV, η1000 = 330.0 mV) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, η10 = 31.1 mV, η1000 = 288.8 mV) are needed. Only 1.47 V is required for overall water splitting to arrive at 10 mA cm−2, indicating superior activity. For overall water splitting, it also demonstrates good stability with negligible declines after testing for 100 h at 500 mA cm−2 in 6.0 M KOH at 60 ℃, which is close to the practical application. The unique self-supported nanosheets structure on nickel foam can expose more active sites and the hybridization of IrNi with FeNi3 can promote the intrinsic activity of catalyst. Therefore, this work proposes an industrially promising catalyst for water splitting.

There are a number of effective treatments for osteoporosis but most are in the antiresorptive class of compounds. Abaloparatide-SC is a new osteoanabolic agent, which increased bone mineral density and lowered the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures in the phase 3 ACTIVE trial. The objective of this report is to describe the effects of abaloparatide-SC 80 μg on bone histology and histomorphometry in iliac crest bone biopsies from this trial in which participants were randomized to receive blinded daily subcutaneous injections of placebo or abaloparatide-SC 80 μg/d or open-label teriparatide 20 μg/d for 18 months. Iliac crest bone biopsies were obtained between 12 and 18 months. Qualitative histological analysis of biopsies from abaloparatide-SC-treated patients revealed normal bone microarchitecture without evidence of adverse effects on mineralization or on the formation of normal lamellar bone. There were no bone marrow abnormalities, marrow fibrosis nor was there presence of excess osteoid or woven bone. There were few significant differences among the three treatment groups in a standard panel of static and dynamic histomorphometric indices. The mineral apposition rate was higher in the teriparatide-treated group than in the placebo-treated group. The eroded surface was lower in the abaloparatide-SC-treated group than in the placebo-treated group. Cortical porosity was higher in both the abaloparatide-SC- and the teriparatide-treated groups than in the placebo-treated group. We conclude that histological and histomorphometric analysis of iliac crest bone biopsies from subjects who were treated for up to 18 months with abaloparatide-SC showed no evidence of concern for bone safety. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01343004.

Over the last five decades, runoff from the Loess Plateau has greatly decreased because of changes in the climate and intensive human activities. Comprehending and distinguishing the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on runoff is essential to adapt water-resource management and soil-and-water conservation projects to climate change. In this study, we used a technique involving integrated climate elasticity and eight Budyko-based methods to assess the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on runoff changes during high-flow and low-flow seasons in 17 catchments across the Loess Plateau during the period of 1961–2013. The results showed that, on average, runoff in the high-flow season exhibited a significant downward trend in 15/17 catchments, with an average decrease of 0.63 mm/yr. In contrast, the decrease was 0.29 mm/yr for the low-flow season. We also found that changes in runoff were more sensitive to variations in precipitation than variations in potential evapotranspiration, in both high-flow and low-flow seasons. The quantitative contributions from climate change and human activities as calculated by the eight Budyko-based methods were relatively similar during the high-flow season, but varied across catchments in the low-flow season. The results showed that, during the high-flow season, human activities had a greater impact on runoff changes than climate change, accounting for about 73% of the total decrease. However, in the low-flow season, which exhibits significantly increased potential evapotranspiration ( p

In this work, FeIr bimetallic alloy self-supported on nickel foam is prepared by hydrothermal method, with average particle size of 2.17 nm and the Ir-loading is only 0.936 wt.%. It displays ultralow overpotentials for OER (200 mV) and HER (16.6 mV) at 20 mA cm−2 in alkaline media, which is superior to the ever reported HER catalysts. For overall water splitting, it only needs 1.48 V to derive a current density of 10 mA cm−2, and it also demonstrates an outstanding long-term stability with an ignorable decline in performance after testing 504 h at the current density of 150 mA cm−2. The excellent performance is ascribed to the ultrasmall FeIr alloy, the 3D conductive substrate, and the ethylene-glycol ligand environment facilitates highly efficient HER through hydrogen spillover. Thus, this work undoubtedly provides a promising method for developing ultralow-loading noble metal catalysts with excellent performance at large current density for overall water splitting.

Thermal stress, encountered frequently in aquaculture, affects diverse physiological processes and behavior of fish; however, the mechanism underlying these effects may vary among species. Half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) widely inhabits Asian coastal waters and has been intensively cultured in China. In this study, the transcriptomes of three tissues (gill, liver and muscle) of half-smooth tongue sole stressed at temperatures up to 35°C were profiled and compared with those of the fish living at a normal temperature of 25°C. Of 105,228 transcripts, 23,213 were annotated in GO terms, and 718, 1236 and 561 were found to express differentially in gill, liver and muscle from control, respectively. Of the differentially expressed genes, 119 were shared by all three tissues. Tissue-overlapping transcripts and the pathways and functions they defined may underline the primary response of fish to thermostressing. High temperature may cause directly protein mis-folding and hypoxia. Cells suffering thermostress either survive hypoxia or are eliminated by immune system. High temperature may have interacted indirectly through HSPs with HIF-1 and JAKs/STATs signaling pathways. The former up-regulates the expression of hypoxia inducible genes while the later up-regulates the expression of genes associating with insulin and NOD-like receptors signaling pathways. Insulin pathway functions to sustain homeostasis of sugar and lipids, aiding to survive cells, while NOD-like receptors signaling pathway strengthens immune, apoptotic and inflammatory responses, helping to survive cells. These understandings may help improve our culturing practice, the culture performance of half-smooth tongue sole and its breeding.

The performance of the Version 06B monthly Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) as well as three satellite precipitation products, including the Version 7 monthly TRMM Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA 3B43), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks–Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) is evaluated on multiple temporal scales over a typical agriculture area in China (Huanghuaihai Plain) from 2015 to 2017. The results show that four satellite-based precipitation products have good agreement with rain gauge measurements at annual scale (mean CC: 0.92, mean RMSE: 205.52 mm, mean RB: 6.57%) and on a seasonal scale (mean CC: 0.88, mean RMSE: 67.04 mm, mean RB: 9.57%) but perform relatively poorly on a monthly scale with mean CC of 0.83. All satellite precipitation products can capture the spatial distribution pattern of rain gauge that performs adequately in spring and winter both with a mean CC of 0.95. However, except for IMERG V06B (CC: 0.90, RMSE: 86.99 mm, RB: 6.62%), other satellite precipitation datasets showed poor performance in summer with a mean CC of 0.76 and a mean RMSE of 133.88 mm. Overall, the IMERG V06B product has the best performance on the monthly, seasonal and annual scales over the Huanghuaihai Plain. The reason is that IMERG V06B, with higher spatiotemporal resolution and improvement of retrieval algorithm, can obtain more detailed precipitation information. In addition, GPM carries the first spaceborne Ku/Ka-band Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) and a multi-channel GPM Microwave Imager (GMI), which makes it easier to detecting light rainfall and snowfall. The results also show that the performance of IMERG V06B at each individual gauge station is better than those of other products with lower RMSEs and higher CCs. Moreover, the relatively high probability of detection (POD) and low false alarm ratio (FAR) of the IMERG V06B product over most ranges of precipitation thresholds also indicated the good light rainfall and snowfall detection capability over the Huanghuaihai Plain. However, the performance of satellite-based precipitation products is affected by local climate and topography, which lead to poor performances in summer and early autumn due to heavy rainfall over the Huanghuaihai Plain. Therefore, the estimation accuracy of satellite-based precipitation products in different regions needs to be improved in the future. This study will contribute to the improvement of satellite retrieval algorithm and provide guidance in agricultural production and natural hazard prevention in the Huanghuaihai Plain.

The Yellow River Delta wetland, located at the southern coast of Bohai Gulf, provides important ecosystem services such as flood control, water purification, biodiversity conservation, nutrient removal and carbon sequestration, shoreline stabilization, tourism attraction and wetland products maintains in the Yellow River Delta. This study assessed how agricultural activities in a reclamation wetland changed soil pH, soil electric conductivity, soil nutrient and soil particle size as compared to natural vegetation by using a combination of field experiments and lab analysis. The vegetation type included adjacent alfalfa field (Medicago sativa), cotton field (Gossypium spp.), Chinese tamarisk shrub (Tamarix chinensis), and reed marsh (Phragmites sage). The results indicated that the soil pH was higher (pH > 8) in alfalfa field and cotton field, and alfalfa field and reed marsh had significant function in reducing soil salt content, soil electric conductivity of alfalfa field at 0–30 cm were 140.38 ± 14.36, 114.48 ± 14.36, 125.30 ± 11.37 μs/cm. The effect of different vegetation types on soil nutrient was significant (P 0.05), the sand content of Chinese tamarisk shrub soils in 0–10 cm was the highest, the next was alfalfa field and cotton field, and the content of silt and clay in reed marsh was higher than the others. The correlation and significant degree between soil particle size and soil nutrient was related with vegetation types, and soil organic matter was significantly positively correlated with soil silt and clay content on the alfalfa field. The results demonstrated that wetland cultivation was one of the most important factors influencing on the nutrient fate and reserves in soil, which could lead to rapid nutrient release and slow restoration through abandon cultivation. Consequently, compared with cotton field, alfalfa field is more favorable to sustainable management of wetland cultivation in the Yellow River Delta. It should be considered in wetland restoration projects planning.

Objective To study the effects and mechanisms of the imbalance in B cell-expressed nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (NTPDase 1)-induced ADP degradation on graft injury during acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Methods The acute AMR animal model was established in male NTPDase 1-wild-type Balb/c nude mice. The levels of NTPDase 1 in B cells and NTPDase1 mRNA in grafted skin, changes in platelet activation markers and average platelet velocities were determined by luciferin/luciferase enzymatic, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, flow cytometry and inverted microscope. The pathological changes in grafted skin were observed by electron microscopy. The effects of pretreatment with different doses of exogenous NTPDase 1 on platelet activation and graft injury were studied. Results The expression of B-cell NTPDase 1 was significantly increased at 30 min after the induction of acute AMR and restored to baseline levels after 7 days. The levels of NTPDase 1 mRNA in grafted skin were decreased at 30 min after the induction of acute AMR. After the induction of acute AMR, the levels of platelet activation markers increased significantly, whereas the average platelet velocity significantly decreased. After pretreatment with exogenous NTPDase 1, the expression of platelet activation markers significantly decreased, the average velocity of platelets increased significantly, and the necrosis of grafted skin and inflammatory reaction significantly reduced. Conclusions An imbalance in the NTPDase 1-induced degradation of extracellular ADP may be a major cause of graft injury in acute AMR. Pretreatment with exogenous NTPDase 1 may effectively inhibit platelet activation and protect grafted skin.

Cisplatin can induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells through the mitochondrial death pathway, and dysregulation of this pathway contributes to cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Here we show that cisplatin induces mitochondrial proteins such as Smac/DIABLO, Cytochrome c, and HrtA2/Omi release to the cytosol and apoptosis in cisplatin-sensitive, but not -resistant ovarian cancer cells. Bax translocation to mitochondria is required for mitochondrial protein release and cisplatin-induced apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells. Hsp70 is highly expressed in cisplatin-resistant cells. Hsp70 promotes chemoresistance, in part, by blocking Bax translocation to the mitochondria and mitochondrial protein release to cytosol in human ovarian cancer cells.

It is an important project for present tectonics, to precisely research the time and space of detachment formation in the lithosphere, in geological history. According to collect a lot of collected data of on the magmatic source depths for of Eastern China during Yanshanian (205–135 Ma) and Sichuanian (135–52 Ma) tectonic stages, it is a suitable to roughly determine the local tectonic detachment, partial decoupling decoupling, and interaction between spheres in the lithosphere or at the bottom of the lithosphere. The results showed that the tectonic detachment, partial decoupling decoupling, and interaction between spheres were are exhibited and concentrated at the intersections among among the middle crust, Moho discontinuity, and regional main faults of Eastern China. During the Yanshanian and Sichuanian tectonic stages, however, obvious detachment or migration in those stages at the bottom of the lithosphere does not exist obvious detachment or migration in those stages. The violent magmatic area of Eastern China during the Jurassic and Cretaceous are mainly distributed east to of the boundary of Dahingganling–western Shanxi–Wulingshan–Siwandashan, and to the west to of this boundary the magmatism was is very weak. The authors propose that there was is a continental type of lithosphere at the west to of that boundary, and oceanic-continental transition type of lithosphere (continental crust with oceanic lithospheric mantle) at to the east to of that boundary. The lithosphere transformation and thinning of in Eastern China, in the Jurassic probably resulteded neitherfrom from the mantle plume, un-rooting, upsurge of heat mantle materials, and continental rifting,, nor directly from the subduction of the Pacific plate.

Objective: To explore the effects of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) pioglitazone on proliferation and differentiation of human preadipocytes. Methods: Omental adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from 15 patients who were undergoing elective open-abdominal surgery. The primary culture and differentiated induction of human preadipo-cytes were performed, and the human preadipo-cytes were treated with pioglitazone at different concentrations at proper moments. Dynamic morphological changes of the human preadipo-cytes were observed, and their proliferation and differentiation were assessed with Colorimetric MTT Assay and Oil Red 0 Staining. Results: After 24 hours and 72 hours with pioglitazone, 0.1umol/L (µmol/ml) pioglitazone increased the MTT values of the human preadipocytes by 25.3% and 34.8﹪, respectively (P＜0.05), while 1µmol/L pioglitazone by 27.4% and 26.6% (P＜0.05), compared with the control group without pioglitazone. The human preadipocytes with pioglitazone cumulated more adipose in the endochylema than those without pioglitazone obviously. 0.1µmol/L pioglitazone increased the differentiation degree of the human preadipocytes differentiated for 8-10 days by 44.81% arid 1umo1/L pioglitazone by 53.76% (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Thiazolidinediones pioglitazone may significantly promote the proliferation and differentiation of the human omental preadipocytes.

14-3-3 proteins are evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitous proteins that function in a wide variety of biological processes. Here we define a new role for C. elegans 14-3-3 proteins in life span regulation. We identify two C. elegans 14-3-3 proteins as interacting proteins of a major life span regulator, the C. elegans SIR2 ortholog, SIR-2.1. Similar to sir-2.1, we find that overexpression of either 14-3-3 protein (PAR-5 or FTT-2) extends life span and that this is dependent on DAF-16, a forkhead transcription factor (FOXO), another important life span regulator in the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, we show that both 14-3-3 proteins are co-expressed with DAF-16 and SIR-2.1 in the tissues critical for life span regulation. Finally, we show that DAF-16/FOXO also physically interacts with the 14-3-3 proteins. These results suggest that C. elegans 14-3-3 proteins can regulate longevity by cooperating with both SIR-2.1 and DAF-16/FOXO.

The conserved SIR2 protein regulates life span in both yeast and worms: in both organisms overexpression of SIR2 can extend life span and in Caenorhabditis elegans this life span extension is dependent on the forkhead transcription factor, DAF-16. Here, we have done extensive genetic analysis with sir-2.1(ok434), a null mutant of C. elegans sir-2.1, the closest homolog to yeast Sir2p and human SIRT1 to further elucidate its function in life span regulation. sir-2.1(ok434) mutants show a slight decrease in life span as well as sensitivity to various stresses. Our genetic analysis suggests that sir-2.1 is required for life span extension by caloric restriction, independent of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. Importantly, analysis with unc-13 mutants indicates that sir-2.1 and daf-16 have overlapping and distinct roles in life span regulation. Our expression analysis shows that sir-2.1 has overlapping and distinct expression pattern compared with daf-16, consistent with the results from our genetic data. Our data defines a central role for C. elegans SIR2 in regulation of life span by caloric restriction and demonstrates that sir-2.1 and daf-16 have both overlapping and distinct functions in regulation of C. elegans life span.

The composition and structure of chromate conversion coating of aluminum and its alloys were investigated using IBA, XPS, AES, IR. X-ray diffraction and DTA. It was found that the major component of these coatings is CrOOH · n H 2 O and the composition of the major part of the coatings is independent of film thickness. The Cr(VI) exists only in the outer layer of the coatings. Electron and X-ray diffraction measurements show that these coatings are amorphous. XPS, IR and X-ray diffraction spectra indicate that crystalline Cr 2 O 3 is formed when the films are heated.