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Nostoc flagelliforme is a terrestrial cyanobacterium that can resist many types of stressors, including drought, ultraviolet radiation, and extreme temperatures. In this study, we identified the drought tolerance gene NfcrtO, which encodes a β-carotene ketolase, through screening the transcriptome of N. flagelliforme under water loss stress. Prokaryotic expression of NfcrtO under 0.6 mol/L sorbitol or under 0.3 mol/L NaCl stress significantly increased the growth rate of Escherichia coli. When NfcrtO was heterologously expressed in rice, the seedling height and root length of NfcrtO-overexpressing rice plants were significantly higher than those of the wild type (WT) plants grown on ½ Murashige and Skoog solid medium with 120 mmol/L mannitol at the seedling stage. Transcriptome analysis revealed that NfcrtO was involved in osmotic stress, antioxidant, and other stress-related pathways. Additionally, the survival rate of the NfcrtO-overexpression lines was significantly higher than that of the WT line under both hydroponic stress (24% PEG and 100 mmol/L H2O2) and soil drought treatment at the seedling stage. Physiological traits, including the activity levels of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, and the contents of proline, trehalose, and soluble sugar, were significantly improved in the NfcrtO-overexpression lines relative to those in the WT line under 20% PEG treatment. Furthermore, when water was withheld at the booting stage, the grain yield per plant of NfcrtO-overexpression lines was significantly higher than that of the WT line. Yeast two-hybrid analysis identified interactions between NfcrtO and Dna J protein, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, and pyrophosphate-energized vacuolar membrane proton pump. Thus, heterologous expression of NfcrtO in rice could significantly improve the tolerance of rice to osmotic stress, potentially facilitating the development of new rice varieties.

The preparation of an electroactive matrix for the immobilization of the bioprobe shows great promise to construct the label-free biosensors. Herein, the electroactive metal-organic coordination polymer has been in-situ prepared by pre-assembly of a layer of trithiocynate (TCY) on a gold electrode (AuE) through Au-S bond, followed by repetitive soaking in Cu(NO3)2 solution and TCY solutions. Then the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the thiolated thrombin aptamers were successively assembled on the electrode surface, and thus the electrochemical electroactive aptasensing layer for thrombin was achieved. The preparation process of the biosensor was characterized by an atomic force microscope (AFM), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and electrochemical methods. Electrochemical sensing assays showed that the formation of the aptamer-thrombin complex changed the microenvironment and the electro-conductivity of the electrode interface, causing the electrochemical signal suppression of the TCY-Cu2+ polymer. Additionally, the target thrombin can be label-free analyzed. Under optimal conditions, the aptasensor can detect thrombin in the concentration range from 1.0 fM to 1.0 μM, with a detection limit of 0.26 fM. The spiked recovery assay showed that the recovery of the thrombin in human serum samples was 97.2–103%, showing that the biosensor is feasible for biomolecule analysis in a complex sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Here we intended to investigate the changes in corneal endothelial cells and foveal thickness after phacoemulsification surgery on the eyes of diabetic and non-diabetic cataract patients.Material and Methods: A total of 120 cataract patients who were scheduled for phacoemulsification surgery and intraocular lens implantation were recruited and divided into 2 categories according to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Changes in integrity, endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), percentage of hexagonal cells (PHC), central corneal thickness (CCT), and central foveal thickness (CFT) were all recorded at preoperative day 1 and postoperative day 3, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months.Results: None of the recorded variables showed any difference between the nondiabetic and diabetic groups before surgery (p > 0.05). During the postoperative 6 months, ECD and PHC decreased and CV increased in both groups (all ptime < 0.05), whereas CCT and CFT fluctuated in both groups significantly (both ptime < 0.05), with their individual peaks at postoperative 1 week in the diabetic group. The groups differed significantly in ECD, PHC, and CV at each time point postoperatively (all pgroup < 0.05). Furthermore, the diabetic group had improved CFT during the postoperative 1 month and higher CCT during the 6 months postoperatively than the nondiabetic group (all pgroup < 0.05). The time and group interactions were significant for ECD, CV, PHC, CCT and CFT (all pgroup × time < 0.05).Conclusions: The diabetic group had more changes in corneal endothelial cells and foveal thickness than the nondiabetic group postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel consumption for industrial development, SO 2 gas emissions are increasing year by year and have become a focal point of air pollution. Membrane separation method photo-responsive materials and MOFs have attracted more and more attention in a variety of fields. This is because the membrane separation method uses less energy and is an uncomplicated process; MOFs have superior gas adsorption capabilities; and the photo-responsive materials are controllable. In this study, mixed matrix membranes are prepared using Uio-66-NH 2 and photo-responsive materials CE-Azo-Uio-66 as fillers and Pebax as base membranes. By improving the dissolution-diffusion mechanism for SO 2 gas molecules, SO 2 /N 2 gas separation is accomplished. More channels for the mass transport of SO 2 gas through the membrane can be created by MOFs increased porosity and larger specific surface area. Secondly, the SO 2 adsorption and dissolution-diffusion mechanism of the mixed matrix membrane are strengthened by the grafted SO 2 affinity groups on the MOF. Moreover, Pebax/CE-Azo-Uio-66 membranes is not only significantly more permeation selective than Pebax/Uio-66-NH 2 membranes, but also shows photo-responsive characteristic. The SO 2 permeability and selectivity of Pebax/CE-Azo-Uio-66 mixed matrix membranes at CE-Azo-Uio-66 content of 20 % are increased by 191 % and 179 %, respectively, compared to pure Pebax membranes. It is also found that the SO 2 permeability and SO 2 /N 2 selectivity of the membranes show regularly reversible changes at the UV–Vis photoconversion conditions of Pebax/CE-Azo-Uio-66-20 % membranes, indicating the photo-responsive characteristics of mixed matrix membranes that include Azo groups. The SO 2 permeability of the Pebax/CE-Azo-Uio-66 membrane is increased by 1300 Barrer and the SO 2 /N 2 selectivity is increased by 350 when the light source is changed from UV to Vis light, achieving a controlled separation of SO 2 /N 2. Besides, the addition of MOF particles significantly enhances the mechanical properties and stability of the membrane. [Display omitted] • Preparation of Pebax/CE-Azo-Uio-66 membranes for flue gas desulfurization. • Grafted Uio-66 has good interfacial compatibility with Pebax 1657. • Overcoming the Trade-off effect for simultaneous improvement in permeability selectivity. • The thermal stability and mechanical strength of the membrane are improved significantly. • The membrane separation process possesses dynamic photo-responsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Here we intended to investigate the changes in corneal endothelial cells and foveal thickness after phacoemulsification surgery on the eyes of diabetic and non-diabetic cataract patients., Material and Methods: A total of 120 cataract patients who were scheduled for phacoemulsification surgery and intraocular lens implantation were recruited and divided into 2 categories according to the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Changes in integrity, endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), percentage of hexagonal cells (PHC), central corneal thickness (CCT), and central foveal thickness (CFT) were all recorded at preoperative day 1 and postoperative day 3, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months., Results: None of the recorded variables showed any difference between the nondiabetic and diabetic groups before surgery ( p > 0.05). During the postoperative 6 months, ECD and PHC decreased and CV increased in both groups (all p time < 0.05), whereas CCT and CFT fluctuated in both groups significantly (both p time < 0.05), with their individual peaks at postoperative 1 week in the diabetic group. The groups differed significantly in ECD, PHC, and CV at each time point postoperatively (all p group < 0.05). Furthermore, the diabetic group had improved CFT during the postoperative 1 month and higher CCT during the 6 months postoperatively than the nondiabetic group (all p group < 0.05). The time and group interactions were significant for ECD, CV, PHC, CCT and CFT (all p group × time < 0.05)., Conclusions: The diabetic group had more changes in corneal endothelial cells and foveal thickness than the nondiabetic group postoperatively., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.