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In order to further improve the seeding performance of the maize seed-metering device, a pressure-holding precision seed-metering device for maize was designed. The seed-metering device is made up of several seed rowing modules, which effectively solves the problems of inconvenient disassembly and complex maintenance of the current maize seed-metering device. The working principle of the device was introduced, and the mechanical and kinematic analysis of the maize seeds during the seeding operation was carried out. The orthogonal test was carried out with the installation diameter of seed-metering device's guide plate, torsion spring's wire diameter and seed-metering device's rotational speed as the test factors, the single-seeding rate, missed-seeding rate and multiple-seeding rate as the indexes, and the relationship between different test factors on the performance of seed-metering device was obtained. By optimizing the model, the best performance of the seed-metering device was obtained when the installation diameter of the guide plate was 92.32 mm, the wire diameter of the torsion spring was 1.59 mm, and the rotational speed of the seed-metering device was 0.41 r/s. At this time, the single-seed rate was 93.08%, the missed-seeding rate was 3%, and the multiple-seeding rate was 3.9%, which met the requirements of the industry standard.

Patriarchal societies have evolved over a long period of time to become the prevailing system in today’s society and maintain a relatively balanced state. During the 21th century, more and more people pay attention to the social question of gender, especially in Southeast Asian countries. In the history of most countries, most of them were patriarchal societies. The authors chose China as the main research object. The groups which are affected by the patriarchal society is not only female, but also males. However, patriarchy ultimately puts men in a dominant position in society and women in a position of inferiority and subordination, so it has certain effects on both men and women. Because of the foundation laid by the patriarchal society, it is a system that is difficult to overthrow, and therefore, radical feminism has emerged in the process of women protesting and fighting for their rights, and at the same time, it has certain effects on society.

The effectiveness of iron is reduced in saline conditions, which can easily lead to iron deficiency and inhibit photosynthesis in rice. In this study, 4-week-old Fe-deficient rice seedlings were treated under saline sodic stress (50 mM) to different concentrations (0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.6%, and 3.2%) of foliar iron fertilizer (FeEDDHA). Differences in prompting fluorescence and the MR

Combined elemental deficiencies are more complex and insidious physiological metabolic responses than single elemental stresses. To determine the effects of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and their deficient combinations on photosynthetic characteristics of rice seedlings, we investigated their effects on dry weight, chlorophyll (Chl) content, rapid photosynthetic carbon assimilation CO2 responses, and Chl fluorescence in four-week-old rice (CB9 and BJ1 cultivars) seedlings. The results showed that the dry matter, maximum carboxylation efficiency (Vc,max), and maximum electron transfer efficiency (Jmax) of seedlings were all reduced to different degrees under the element deficiency treatments. JIP-test analysis showed that the decrease in the concentration of active PSII reaction centers (RC/ABS) under -Zn treatment was the main reason for the inhibition of performance index PIABS. The -P treatment reduced RC/ABS and inhibited electron transfer (ψEo). Primary photochemical reactions (φPo) of -P-Zn treated seedlings were also inhibited compared to the -P treatment. The -Fe and -Fe-Zn treatments inhibited photosynthesis most severely, which not only reduced RC/ABS but also severely inhibited φPo and ψEo. Notably, the -P-Fe and -P-Fe-Zn treatments of the CB9 improved the RC/ABS, alleviating the limitation of Fe deficiency. These results help enhance the understanding of the complex relationship between nutrient balance and photosynthesis, especially for P, Fe, Zn, and their combined deficiency.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is involved in the regulation of protein aggregation and neuroinflammation, but its role in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains controversial. In this study, Hdac6−/− mice were generated by CRISPR-Cas9 technology for exploring the effect of HDAC6 on the pathological progression of PD. We found that male Hdac6−/− mice exhibit hyperactivity and certain anxiety. In the acute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mice, though motor injury was slightly alleviated by HDAC6 deficiency, dopamine (DA) depletion in the striatum, the decrease in the number of DA neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and the reduction in DA neuronal terminals were not affected. In addition, activation of glial cells and the expression of α-synuclein, as well as the levels of apoptosis-related proteins in the nigrostriatal pathway, were not changed in MPTP-injected wild-type and Hdac6−/− mice. Therefore, HDAC6 deficiency leads to moderate alterations of behaviors and Parkinson’s disease pathology in mice.

Chemistry of materials 34(5), 2333-2341 (2022). doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.1c04220, Polymer film capacitors are ubiquitous in modern electronics and electric systems, but the relatively low working temperatures of polymer dielectrics limit their application in next-generation capacitors. The currently reported high-temperature polymer dielectrics rely on the construction of nanocomposites with wide band gap fillers and cross-linked networks to achieve high breakdown strength and high efficiencies. However, generating the optimal chain structure with intrinsic great high-temperature capacitive properties using a one-component polymer is still challenging. Herein, a giant discharged energy density in neat polymer has been demonstrated in a series of linear poly(arylene ether amide) (PNFA) at 150 °C, which greatly surpass all the current free-standing dielectric polymer films measured in 10 Hz. The maximum discharged energy density with efficiency above 90% of the PNFA is 2.7 J cm–3, which is about 3 times that of the state-of-the-art commercial high-temperature polymer films. The architectures of the amorphous polymers have been identified by synchrotron X-ray diffraction combined with density functional theory calculations. The origins of superior high-temperature capacitive properties are traced to the increased packing density by the curly-packed chain structure. In addition, the reported polymer could be produced using existing industrial-grade processes, which are economical and practical for large-scale applications., Published by American Chemical Society, Washington, DC

The enhanced NLO properties of tetra (C60)–LaPc are mainly attributed to a combination of different NLO performances of C60 and LaPc, but also to the contribution of the PET/ET process in a D–π–A molecular system.

Background Acute kidney injury is a serious complication of morbidity and mortality with critically ill patients in short and long-term. Severe trauma patients especially followed infection will induce acute kidney injury. Methods C57BL and C57BL background CD200 deficiency mice were applied to undergoing the operation of cecal ligation and puncture following hemorrhage. The model was used to simulate the process of shock patients followed infection, which associated with acute kidney injury clinically. Blood and kidney tissues were harvested 24 h after hemorrhage/cecal ligation and puncture. CD200 expression on neutrophils and monocytes in blood was stained and measured via flow cytometry analysis. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Cytokines and counterpart RNA expression were detected via ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. The severity of kidney injury was assessed by pathologists. The protein level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and high mobility group 1 was measured via western blot. Outcome CD200 expression was elevated on neutrophils and monocytes in blood. Furthermore, the severity of kidney injury of histology, assessed by pathologists, was much aggravated on acute kidney injury and even exacerbated on CD200 deficiency mice. The levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were all increased in CD200 deficiency mice. Cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-α increased in acute kidney injury and even aggravated in CD200 deficiency mice, but IL-10 was demonstrated the reversed trend. The consistent trend of RNA expression of cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10 was corroborated via RT-PCR. As western blot demonstrated, the protein level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin was increased and high mobility group 1 decreased in CD200 deficiency mice. Conclusion CD200 may be involved in the development of hemorrhage/cecal ligation and puncture associated acute kidney injury. It may be speculated that CD200 plays a protective effect in acute kidney injury potentially through inhibiting neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and activating high mobility group 1 signaling pathway.

This study aimed to distinguish between cholesterol and neoplastic gallbladder polyps using dynamic contrast-enhanced CT.The dataset retrospectively comprised 222 cases, including 106 cases of cholesterol polyps and 116 cases of neoplastic polyps (59 adenoma and 57 adenocarcinoma). The perception and Hounsfield units (HUs) of the polyps and gallbladder bile were assessed by contrast-enhanced CT, and the polyp to bile ratio (PBR) was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUCs) analyses were used to assess the diagnostic value of the diameter and PBR for neoplastic polyps.The diameter of cholesterol polyps was significantly smaller than that of neoplastic polyps. The proportion of perceived cholesterol polyps in the plain and arterial phases of CT were significantly lower than those of neoplastic polyps (P0.001). On the contrary, the CT values of gallbladder bile of cholesterol polyps were always significantly higher than those of neoplastic polyps (P0.001). The median PBR values of cholesterol polyps were significantly lower than those of neoplastic polyps (P≤0.001). ROC analysis showed that diameter and a plain phase PRB had better diagnostic value for neoplastic polyps. Polyp diameter ≥11.95mm and the plain phase PBR ≥1.48 were the optimal cut-off values for diagnosis of neoplastic polyps. Combining a diameter≥12 mm and a PBR in the plain phase ≥ 1.48 further improved neoplastic polyp diagnostic specificity and positive likelihood ratio (10.453).PBR in contrast-enhanced CT scanning is a new and convenient index for identifying cholesterol and neoplastic gallbladder polyps.

Mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1), a histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase, exerts its enzymatic activity by interacting with menin and other proteins. It is unclear whether inhibition of the MLL1-menin interaction influences epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), renal fibroblast activation, and renal fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of disrupting MLL1-menin interaction on those events and mechanisms involved in a murine model of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), in cultured mouse proximal tubular cells and renal interstitial fibroblasts. Injury to the kidney increased the expression of MLL1 and menin and H3K4 monomethylation (H3K4me1); MLL1 and menin were expressed in renal epithelial cells and renal interstitial fibroblasts. Inhibition of the MLL1-menin interaction by MI-503 administration or siRNA-mediated silencing of MLL1 attenuated UUO-induced renal fibrosis, and reduced expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin. These treatments also inhibited UUO-induced expression of transcription factors Snail and Twist and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) while expression of E-cadherin was preserved. Moreover, treatment with MI-503 and transfection with either MLL siRNA or menin siRNA inhibited TGF-β1-induced upregulation of α-SMA, fibronectin and Snail, phosphorylation of Smad3 and AKT, and downregulation of E-cadherin in cultured renal epithelial cells. Finally, MI-503 was effective in abrogating serum or TGFβ1-induced transformation of renal interstitial fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that targeting disruption of the MLL1-menin interaction attenuates renal fibrosis through inhibition of partial EMT and renal fibroblast activation.

The construction of molecules with effective photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer (PET) and energy transfer (ET) processes is critical for the enhancement of the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. A novel D-π-A type compound, namely tetra (C

ACS applied materials & interfaces 14(37), 42531 - 42540 (2022). doi:10.1021/acsami.2c12590, In energy storage and transportation systems, polymer dielectrics are widely applied in smart grids, electric vehicles, and power conditioning owing to their incomparable power density and high reliability. However, the dielectric constant (ε) and breakdown strength (Eb) normally cannot be increased simultaneously, which results in insufficient discharged energy density especially at high temperatures. In this work, enhanced Eb and high energy density are archived in multilayer polymer nanocomposites by introducing cross-linked dielectric transition layers. Specifically, the sandwiched composite achieves a huge discharge energy density of 4.64 J cm$^{–3}$ with a charged–discharged efficiency of 84% at 150 °C and 500 MV m$^{–1}$. The formation of cross-linked dielectric transition layers between layers of the multilayer nanocomposite could effectively restrain the growth of the electrical tree and greatly increase the Eb. This work presents a strategy for designing high-performance multilayered dielectric polymer nanocomposites by introducing cross-linked dielectric transition layers to reduce the loss from interlayer interfaces., Published by Soc., Washington, DC

Innovative dielectric materials with high-temperature resistance and outstanding dielectric properties have attracted tremendous attention in advanced electronical fields. Polyimide(PI) is considered a promising candidate for the modern electronic industry due to its excellent dielectric properties and comprehensive properties. However, the limited-adjustable range of dielectric constant and the difficulty to obtain a high dielectric constant restrict the application of PI as high dielectric materials. Herein, a novel diamine monomer (2,2'-bis((methylsulfonyl)methyl)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine (BSBPA)) containing a rigid biphenyl structure and high dipolar sulfonyl pendant groups is designed for high dielectric polyimides. The rigid biphenyl and polar sulfonyl pendant groups can reasonably optimize the molecular structure and orientational polarization of polyimides to improve their dielectric properties and thermal properties. Moreover, the effect of different bridge linkages on the dielectric properties is studied by using the different dianhydrides. Thus, the PI-BSBPA films especially the DSDA-BSBPA film (DSDA: 3,3',4,4'-diphenylsulfonetetracarboxylic dianhydride) achieve great thermal properties (T

Lysine demethylase 6B (KDM6B) is a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylase that serves as a key mediator of gene transcription. Although KDM6B has been reported to modulate neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke, its role in ischemic brain injury is yet to be well elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to thoroughly demonstrate the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of KDM6B on neurological function and astrocyte response in post-ischemic brain injury. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO) mouse models were constructed, while the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model was developed in astrocytes to mimic injury conditions. KDM6B was upregulated post-MCAO in mice and in astrocytes following the induction of OGD/R. Silencing of KDM6B resulted in suppressed neurological deficit, reduced cerebral infarction volume, attenuated neuronal cell apoptosis, and disrupted inflammation. Dual-luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays revealed that KDM6B inhibited H3K27 trimethylation in the interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) promoter region, resulting in the upregulation of IRF4 expression, which in turn bound to the Notch2 promoter region to induce its downstream factor SRY-related high-mobility group box 9 (SOX9). SOX9 knockdown reversed the effects of KDM6B overexpression on ischemia-triggered brain damage. Based on these findings, we concluded that KDM6B-mediated demethylation of IRF4 contributes to aggravation of ischemic brain injury through SOX9 activation., Graphical Abstract, This study highlights a molecular mechanism underlying the neurological dysfunction that KDM6B-mediated demethylation of IRF4 aggravates ischemic brain injury through Notch2-induced SOX9 activation. Of importance, the study suggests KDM6B as a promising target for the treatment of brain ischemia.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs)‐derived exosomes in ischaemia/reperfusion (IR)‐induced damage, and the role of oridonin in the treatment of IR. Exosomes were isolated from BMMSCs. Western blot analysis was done to examine the expression of proteins including CD63, CD8, apoptotic‐linked gene product 2 interacting protein X (AliX), Beclin‐1, ATG13, B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2), apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1 (Apaf1) and Bcl2‐associated X (Bax) in different treatment groups. Accordingly, the expression of CD63, CD81 and AliX was higher in BMMSCs‐EXOs and IR + BMMSCs‐EXOs + ORI groups compared with that in the BMMSCs group. And BMMSCs‐derived exosomes inhibited the progression of IR‐induced myocardial damage, while this protective effect was boosted by the pre‐treatment with oridonin. Moreover, Beclin‐1, ATG13 and Bcl‐2 were significantly down‐regulated while Apaf1 and Bax were significantly up‐regulated in IR rats. And the presence of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes partly alleviated IR‐induced dysregulation of these proteins, while the oridonin pre‐treatment boosted the effect of these BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. The inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by hypoxia/reperfusion (HR) were mitigated by the administration of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. Meanwhile, HR also induced down‐regulation of Beclin‐1, ATG13 and Bcl‐2 expression and up‐regulation of Apaf1 and Bax, which were mitigated by the administration of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. And oridonin pre‐treatment boosted the effect of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. In conclusion, our results validated that BMMSCs‐derived exosomes suppressed the IR‐induced damages by participating in the autophagy process, while the pre‐treatment with oridonin could boost the protective effect of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes.