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In this work, poly( l -lactide)/poly( d -lactide)/nanocrystalline cellulose (PLLA/PDLA/NCC) stereocomplex blends were prepared using a solution blending method. The effect of NCC on the crystallization kinetics of symmetric PLLA/PDLA blend was systematically investigated. The incorporation of NCC significantly enhanced the formation of stereocomplex crystal (sc), as indicated by increasing the crystallization peak temperature and crystallinity of sc from approx. 143 °C and 24% to around 160 °C and 40%, respectively, during the non-isothermal crystallizing upon cooling at 10 °C/min. Meanwhile, the addition of NCC caused no influence on the crystal morphology and crystal form of sc in the PLLA/PDLA blend, as evidenced by the POM and WAXD results. The crystallization kinetics of the PLLA/PDLA/NCC blends was studied in detail by using the Dobreva and Gutzow model, the Avrami-Jeziorny equation and the well-known Avrami model. It was found that NCC showed high nucleating activity in the PLLA/PDLA blend. The half-life time of crystallization of the PLLA/PDLA blend was decreased by ca. 78% at 180 °C after the addition of 0.5 wt% NCC. In addition, POM tests showed that the nuclei density in the PLLA/PDLA blend during isothermally crystallizing at 180 °C was largely increased by the addition of NCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorothalonil is an important broad-spectrum fungicide with an annual application rate of above ten thousands of tons of its active ingredient on agricultural crops world-wide. The effect of procyanidolic oligomers on photo degradation of chlorothalonil was investigated under sunlight and artificial lights. Procyanidolic oligomers enhanced photodegradation of chlorothalonil in paddy, reservoir, pond and distilled waters for 1.8, 4.6, 2.7 and 22.8 fold, respectively, relative to the procyanidolic oligomers free control. The mechanism was evidenced as a radical reduction reaction by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Upon exposure to high-pressure mercury light, chlorothalonil produced 2,4,5-trichloro-1,3-dicyanobenzene, 2,5-dichloro-1,3-dicyanobenzene and 5-chloro-1,3-dicyanobenzene that were isolated, identified and characterized. Chlorothalonil underwent primarily step-wide photo reductive dechlorination in the presence of procyanidolic oligomers, which avoided the production of the highly toxic 4-hydroxy chlorothalonil. Procyanidolic oligomers possessed strong reductive property to photo reductive dechlorination. The results contributed to understanding of chlorothalonil phototransformation and high potential of using natural product procyanidolic oligomers as an additive to minimize aquatic toxicity and pollution of chlorothalonil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucommia ulmoides is an important traditional Chinese medicine and has been used as a tonic with a long history. Aucubin is an active component extracted from Eucommia ulmoides , which has liver-protection effects. However the mechanisms are still unclear. To investigate the inhibitory effects and the underlying mechanisms of aucubin on TGF-β1-induced activation of hepatic stellate cells and ECM deposition, Human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2 cells) were incubated with TGF-β1 to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of aucubin. Western blot was used to investigate the expression of α-SMA, Col I, Col III, MMP-2 and TIMP-1. ROS production was monitored using DCFH-DA probe, and NOX4 expression was detected by Real-time PCR. Results indicated that TGF-β1 stimulated the activation and ECM deposition of LX-2 cells. Compared with the control group, aucubin and aucubigenin both reduced the protein expression of α-SMA, Col I, Col III and MMP-2 in LX-2 cells. Aucubin and aucubigenin also suppressed the generation of ROS and down-regulated the NOX4 mRNA expression. Taken together, aucubin and aucubigenin both inhibit the activation and ECM deposition of LX-2 cells activated by TGF-β1. Aucubin and aucubigenin are potential therapeutic candidate drugs for liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under solvothermal conditions, a series of new uranyl coordination polymers based on 2-nitroterephthalic acid (H 2 ntp) and additional auxiliary ligands were successfully synthesized, which can be denoted as (UO 2)(ntp)(dm-phen) (1), (Hphen) 2 ∙[(UO 2)(ntp) 1.5 ] 2 (2), (Hphen) 2 ∙[(UO 2) 2 (ntp) 3 ]∙(H 2 O) 2 (3), and (Hphen) 2 ∙[(UO 2) 2 (ntp) 2.5 ] 2 ∙(H 2 O) 2 (4) (dm-phen = 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, phen = 4,7-phenanthroline). The characteristics of as-prepared compounds were revealed by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy and luminescent measurement. Furthermore, Compound 2 presents excellent sensitivity and selectivity to sense vitamin B 5 (VB 5) and Cr 2 O 7 2− anion as a dual-functional luminescent sensor in aqueous solution. 2 is the first turn-on luminescent sensor for detecting VB 5 with a low detection limit (LOD) of 1.39 μM, and the experimental detection range was 10–90 μM. In addition, in the linear range of 50–450 μM, 2 also exhibits obvious luminescence quenching effect for Cr 2 O 7 2− anion with the LOD value of 7.27 μM. This work possesses potential application in detecting VB 5 in newborn calf serum and Cr 2 O 7 2− in river water samples. [Display omitted] • Four novel uranyl coordination polymers have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. • Compound 2 is the first luminescent probe to detect VB 5 with "turn-on" sensing method. • Compound 2 also have "turn-off" fluorescence sensing property of Cr 2 O 7 2−. • The mechanisms of 2 sensing VB 5 and Cr 2 O 7 2–are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids can sensitize and quench the photolysis of pesticides such as profenofos in surface water. Profenofos has been frequently detected in surface and underground water. The present study investigated the photolysis of profenofos under various conditions, including natural and artificial light illumination, with and without cyanidin-3- O -glucoside (Cy3G) and in pure and surface water. The degradation half-lives of profenofos in distilled water with 10 equivalents Cy3G of profenofos were 21.7 min, 9.5 h, 12.5 h and 180 h under high-pressure mercury light, UV, Xenon lamp and solar irradiation, respectively, while those without Cy3G were 8.1 min, 6.1 h, 8.2 h and 89.9 h, respectively. The photolysis rate of profenofos under sunlight and artificial light was reduced by 1.5–2.7 times due to Cy3G, compared to the Cy3G-free control. Under sunlight irradiation, the effects of Cy3G on profenofos photolysis were larger than those under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation. Cy3G also significantly reduced the photolysis rate of profenofos under different pH conditions and in natural water. In addition, Cy3G exhibited a significant capacity of scavenging hydroxyl radicals and quenching 1O 2 in water. The effect of Cy3G on profenofos photolysis was demonstrated through their interrelations in the natural environment. These findings can help understanding of the effect of flavonoids on profenofos photolysis and are of significance for predicting the degradation kinetics of profenofos and accurately assessing its potential biological impacts. [Display omitted] • Cyanidin-3- O -glucoside (Cy3G) decreased photolysis rate of profenofos. • Profenofos preferred photodegradation in high pH value with/or without Cy3G. • The photolysis rates of profenofos were lower in natural water than in distilled water. • Cy3G exhibited the capacity of scavenging hydroxyl radicals and 1O 2 in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescent unnatural amino acid, (7-hydroxycoumarin-4-yl)ethylglycine (HC), was site-specifically incorporated at the Phe69 site, close to the entrance of the selectivity filter of the NaK channel. Decreased fluorescence lifetime and elevated time-resolved anisotropy of NaK-F69HC in buffers with high K+/Na+ molar ratios indicated the K+ preference at the entrance of the NaK channel, consistent with previous crystal structure results of the NaK channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emotional recognition is a key aspect of mentalizing other people's minds. People with Williams syndrome (WS) are reported to be hypersocial and empathetic; however, few studies have investigated their emotion processing ability.Aims: This study aimed to examine emotion knowledge in people with WS and to further understand their emotion-related mentalizing ability.Methods and Procedures: Six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise) were tested by narrating scenarios targeting specific emotions. Participants with WS (n = 16, 8F/8 M, CA = 8.46, MA = 5.27) listened to each scenario and pointed to an emoticon displayed on a card. Correct percentages of each target emotion and replacement by other emotions were analyzed. Comparison groups comprised mental age-matched controls (n = 16, 8F/8 M, CA = 5.26) and chronological age-matched controls (n = 16, 8 F/8 M, CA = 8.31), sixth graders (n = 20, 10F/10M, CA = 12.04), and college students (n = 20, 10F/10M, CA = 20.03). All were Chinese-speaking participants with right handedness.Outcomes and Results: People with WS were delayed compared to the mental age-matched group but differed from the chronological age-matched group in emotion processing. The 6th graders showed different patterns from college students, suggesting that development of emotion processing takes time.Conclusions and Implications: These findings suggest (1) a gap in the maturation of emotion knowledge between people with WS and typically developing controls, (2) a nonequivalent chronological emotion-related mentalizing ability in people with WS, and (3) developmental changes in emotion processing from childhood to adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triketone herbicides can be transformed to high toxic xanthenediones in water. In this work, bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) was synthesized and used for degradation of tembotrione (TEM), a triketone herbicide. BiOCl increased the photolytic efficiencies of TEM in distilled water 12.3–36.9 times under different light irradiation and 0.68 and 0.43 times in tap water and pond water under high pressure mercury light (HPML), respectively. Attributed to the strong absorption induced by the BiOCl catalyst, HPML exhibited the highest TEM transformation kinetics. Fulvic acid in water significantly reduced the transformation. Reactive species 1O 2 , O 2 •− and h+ formed in the BiOCl catalysis system were confirmed to play an important role in TEM degradation. TEM underwent Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and avoided the formation of highly toxic intermediates. The findings helps in understanding of TEM transformation and utilization of BiOCl to effectively reduce aquatic toxicity and pollution of TEM. • Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) catalyzes photolysis of tembotrione. • h +, 1O 2 , and O 2 •− attribute to the photocatalysis. • BiOCl altered the photolysis pathway of tembotrione. • Photolysis of tembotrione catalyzed by BiOCl led no toxic xanthenedione generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The metamafic rocks can be classified into high-Fe and low-Fe groups, and the former is similar to N-MORB and the latter is similar to E-MORB. • The high-Fe and low-Fe groups may have been derived from different parts of a mantle plume. • The Tarim Craton, North China Craton, and North Australia Craton may potentially dominated by the same superplume. In the Mesoproterozoic, there was an epic transition on Earth, the final breakup of the Columbia supercontinent. Understanding the dynamic mechanism responsible for the final breakup of Columbia supercontinent is crucial for establishing Earth's evolution that includes geology, environment and life. However, there is little research on what drove the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent. Here we focus on this issue by integrating new zircon U-Pb ages, Lu-Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemical data for metamafic rocks from the Oulongbuluke Block in the southeast of Tarim Craton. These data show that the protoliths of these metamafic rocks were emplaced at ca. 1.37–1.35 Ga and were divided into high-Fe and low-Fe groups. The high-Fe and low-Fe groups show geochemical character similar to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) and enriched mid-ocean ridge basalt (E-MORB), respectively. The high-Fe group was formed by high degree (7%-9%) partial melting of spinel-phase lherzolite mantle source, whereas the low-Fe group was derived from low degree (5%-6%) partial melting of spinel-phase lherzolite mantle source. We propose that the high-Fe and low-Fe groups may have been derived from magmas from different parts of a mantle plume. The formation of the 1.37–1.35 Ga metamafic rocks in the Oulongbuluke Block may be related to the separation of the Tarim Craton into North and South Tarim cratons, which resulted in the opening of the initial Middle Tarim Ocean Basin. By comparison with the plume-induced Yanliao Rift of North China Craton and McArthur Basin of North Australia Craton, we present that these three cratons may potentially dominated by a superplume, forming circular rift zone and radiating dykes. This superplume triggered the continuous extension to most parts of Columbia and led to the final breakup of the Columbia supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermostability of nitrilase from different microorganisms varies widely and is closely related to conserved sequences. In this study, a semi-rational design based on sequence analysis was performed to improve the thermostability and specific activity of the regioselective nitrilase from Acidovorax facilis ZJB09122. Using thermostable nitrilases from thermophilic microorganisms as templates, consensus sites 151, 223, 250, 169 and 280 were found to have effects on the thermostability and enzyme activity. A triple mutant AcN-T151V/C223A/C250G (AcN-T) was obtained with 15.9% higher activity and 2.1-fold longer half-life at 50 °C compared with the parent AcN-M. The optimal reaction temperature was 55 °C and the product tolerance was also improved. It was found that site 250 close to the catalytic active center plays a key role in the thermostability of nitrilase, and this role is universal among homologous nitrilases. On the other hand, sites 151 and 223 mainly affect enzyme activity, and this role is not universal. [Display omitted] • Thermostability and activity of regioselective nitrilase A. facilis ZJB09122 was improved. • Mutant AcN-T151V/C223A/C250G has 15.9% higher activity and 2.1-fold longer half-life. • Semi-rational design was performed using consensus sequence analysis and conserved site substitution. • Site 250 have a critical and universal effect on the thermostability of homologous nitrilases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum scattering dynamics calculations are carried out for the exchange and abstraction processes in the D(2S)+DS(2Î) reaction by the time-dependent wave-packet (TDWP) method. These calculations are based on the high-quality ab initio potential energy surface of the reacting system. The reaction probabilities and integral cross sections are obtained in the collision energy (Ecol) range of 0.0âE"2.0 eV for the reactant DS initially in the ground state and the first vibrationally excited state. We take the Coriolis coupling (CC) effect into account and present the comparison between the CC and the centrifugal sudden (CS) approximation calculation. The dynamics results show that the initial vibrational excitation of DS enhances both abstraction and exchange processes except that it has little effect on the abstraction cross section in the high energy region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trend of winter - type rapeseed breeding was analyzed using 595 rapeseed lines participated official regional trials from 2001 to 2009. Results showed that the entry number in the trials had increased 6 times, and the number of breeding units increased 7. 5 times. Conventional inbred lines had been replaced by hybrid lines, which accounted for 77. 90% of the total materials. The pollination control systems used in breeding program shifted from CMS (cytoplasmic male - sterility) to CMS - combined GMS (genic male sterility). After 2003, there was a balance of GMS and CMS utilization. The backbone parents in breeding program were changed from exotic cultivars to native elite cultivars, such as Zhongyou 821, Zhongshuang 4, and Zhongshuang 9 ,etc. Polima and Shaan 2A were two useful CMS parents, and the most GMS parents were recessive GMS. During the year 2001 to 2009, the average yield in trials increased from 2 158. 28kg/hm2 to 2 457.01kg/hm2. Seed oil content increased from 39.94% to 42. 14% ,with a total increase of 5. 51%. An average proportion of low - erucic - acid lines reached 91. 47% among qualified low - erucic - acid entries (seed erucic acid <1 %). In summary, the investigation results demonstrated that a remarkable progress was achieved in breeding capability, yield and quality, enhancement and utilization of breeding materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the genetic diversity and population structure of wild Brassica oleracea, 80 accessions of European B. oleraceain 7 geographic populations were analyzed. 14 representative materials as cultivated B. oleracea, B. napus and B. rapa were used as references. Chloroplast DNA was examined using 10 specific SSR primers which generated 8 polymorphic bands. According to these bands and markers, 94 materials were divided into 3 groups as B. oleracea (cultivated and wild ones), B. napus and B. rapa. They were also divided into 6 haplotypes including 2 wild B. oleracea, 3 B. napus and one B. rapa. Nuclear DNA was analyzed using 6 specific SRAP primers which generated 75 polymorphic bands. Cluster and genetic structure analys is showed that 7 eco-geographical groups of wild B. oleracea group F, D and G were clustered into 3 independent subclasses. E fell in to G subclass, while A, B, C group were mixed with each other. The Nei's genome diversity index(H) and Shannon's index (S) of wild B. oleracea were 0.3013 and 0.4611 respectively. Analys is of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the variance of intra-population components was 80%, and that of inter-population was 20%.It suggested that the European wild B. olerace a tested had rich genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]