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Single-mode microwave-induced tungsten wire discharge was conducted to investigate discharge phenomena in Ar, N 2 , NO, and their mixtures, as well as the effects of parameters, including diameter and number of tungsten wire, initial NO concentration, total gas flow rate, and microwave power, on NO conversion. The discharge phenomena verified that intense discharge could be observed in pure Ar or N 2 , but the discharge was considerably weakened in gas mixtures. The results of NO conversion showed that the increases of the tungsten wire diameter (0.1–0.12 mm), the tungsten wire number (1–3 wires), and microwave power (400–700 W), or the decreases of the total gas flow rate (2–0.5 L/min), and the initial NO concentration (800–200 ppm) could effectively lead to the increase of NO conversion. A maximum NO conversion of 91.5% can be achieved under the optimal conditions in the examined range. Besides, spectral analysis showed that W, O, and N ions were found in the discharge zone. After reactions, depositions were found on the inner surface of reaction tube, and the results of EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer) tests show that the depositions were composed of W, O, and N. Therefore, a portion of NO was inferred to be consumed by tungsten ions through the formation of tungsten oxides and tungsten nitrides.

Single-mode microwave-induced tungsten wire discharge was conducted to investigate discharge phenomena in Ar, N , NO, and their mixtures, as well as the effects of parameters, including diameter and number of tungsten wire, initial NO concentration, total gas flow rate, and microwave power, on NO conversion. The discharge phenomena verified that intense discharge could be observed in pure Ar or N , but the discharge was considerably weakened in gas mixtures. The results of NO conversion showed that the increases of the tungsten wire diameter (0.1-0.12 mm), the tungsten wire number (1-3 wires), and microwave power (400-700 W), or the decreases of the total gas flow rate (2-0.5 L/min), and the initial NO concentration (800-200 ppm) could effectively lead to the increase of NO conversion. A maximum NO conversion of 91.5% can be achieved under the optimal conditions in the examined range. Besides, spectral analysis showed that W, O, and N ions were found in the discharge zone. After reactions, depositions were found on the inner surface of reaction tube, and the results of EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer) tests show that the depositions were composed of W, O, and N. Therefore, a portion of NO was inferred to be consumed by tungsten ions through the formation of tungsten oxides and tungsten nitrides.

Background Rice blast disease is one of the most destructive diseases of rice worldwide. We previously cloned the rice blast resistance gene Pid2 , which encodes a transmembrane receptor-like kinase containing an extracellular B-lectin domain and an intracellular serine/threonine kinase domain. However, little is known about Pid2 -mediated signaling. Results Here we report the functional characterization of the U-box/ARM repeat protein OsPUB15 as one of the PID2-binding proteins. We found that OsPUB15 physically interacted with the kinase domain of PID2 (PID2K) in vitro and in vivo and the ARM repeat domain of OsPUB15 was essential for the interaction. In vitro biochemical assays indicated that PID2K possessed kinase activity and was able to phosphorylate OsPUB15. We also found that the phosphorylated form of OsPUB15 possessed E3 ligase activity. Expression pattern analyses revealed that OsPUB15 was constitutively expressed and its encoded protein OsPUB15 was localized in cytosol. Transgenic rice plants over-expressing OsPUB15 at early stage displayed cell death lesions spontaneously in association with a constitutive activation of plant basal defense responses, including excessive accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, up-regulated expression of pathogenesis-related genes and enhanced resistance to blast strains. We also observed that, along with plant growth, the cell death lesions kept spreading over the whole seedlings quickly resulting in a seedling lethal phenotype. Conclusions These results reveal that the E3 ligase OsPUB15 interacts directly with the receptor-like kinase PID2 and regulates plant cell death and blast disease resistance.

In greenhouse vegetable production, reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) effectively mitigates soil-borne diseases, yet its impact on the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) has not been adequately examined. This study investigated the distribution of soil aggregates and the organic carbon retention mechanism following intensive RSD treatment. Greenhouse experiments, including control (CK), wheat straw (RSD), and wheat straw with chemical fertilizer (RSD + NP) treatments, indicated augmentation in the formation of macro-aggregates (>2 mm and 0.25–2 mm) under RSD, particularly in the RSD + NP treatment. Silty clay particles transform into macro- and micro-aggregates. Fourier infrared spectroscopy highlighted the augmentation of carbon-containing functional groups in SOC, with aliphatic carbon accumulating in macro-aggregates and aromatic carbon in silt clay. Laboratory culture experiments employing different C/N ratios (RSD1 with wheat straw, RSD2 with kiwifruit branches) underscored the beneficial impact of low C/N ratio organic matter on coarse and fine macro-aggregate content, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, and reduced silt clay. Low C/N ratios enhance SOC retention in large aggregates, while high ratios stabilise micro-aggregate carbon. This research underscores the severe degradation in continuous greenhouse cropping systems and emphasises RSD’s dual benefits—disease prevention and improved SOC retention. Implementing RSD requires careful consideration of organic material choices, specifically their C/N ratios, as a pivotal factor influencing SOC dynamics.

HtrA2/Omi is a mammalian mitochondrial serine protease, and was found to have dual roles in mammalian cells, not only acting as an apoptosis-inducing protein but also maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis. PDZ domain is one of the most important protein-protein interaction modules and is involved in a variety of important cellular functions, such as signal transduction, degradation of proteins, and formation of cytoskeleton. Recently, it was reported that the PDZ domain of HtrA2/Omi might regulate proteolytic activity through its interactions with ligand proteins. In this study, we rapidly characterized the binding properties of HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain by validation screening of the PDZ ligand library with yeast two-hybrid approach. Then, we predicted its novel ligand proteins in human proteome and reconfirmed them in the yeast two-hybrid system. Finally, we analyzed the smallest networks bordered by the shortest path length between the protein pairs of novel interactions to evaluate the confidence of the identified interactions. The results revealed some novel binding properties of HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain. Besides the reported Class II PDZ motif, it also binds to Class I and Class III motifs, and exhibits restricted variability at P^sup -3^, which means that the P^sup -3^ residue is selected according to the composition of the last three residues. Seven novel ligand proteins of HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain were discovered, providing significant clues for further clarifying the roles of HtrA2/Omi. Moreover, this study proves the high efficiency and practicability of the newly developed validation screening of candidate ligand library method for binding property characterization of peptide-binding domains.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

2021年4—7月，在哈尔滨兆麟公园采用定点观察法、瞬时扫描法对繁殖期鸳鸯（Aix galericulata）日行为模式的时间分配和节律在不同性别、不同阶段、成幼间的差异进行研究，主要观察记录静栖、站立、游走、理羽、觅食、警戒、打斗和飞行等行为，累积观察726 h，共获得173 246条有效数据。结果表明：（1）在日行为时间分配上，不同性别、不同阶段（卵期和雏期）及成幼间存在显著差异（p<0.05）。静栖是卵期、雏期成年雌雄个体的优势行为，雄性站立和打斗行为显著高于雌性，雌性觅食行为显著高于雄性。卵期游走、觅食行为显著高于雏期，雏期站立、理羽行为显著高于卵期。成幼优势行为存在显著差异，静栖为成体的主要行为，而幼体为游走和觅食；成体用于静栖、站立和理羽的时间显著高于幼体，而幼体用于游走、觅食的时间显著高于成体。（2）在行为活动节律上，不同性别、不同阶段及成幼间表现的方式不同。不同性别、不同阶段（卵期和雏期）主要行为节律趋于一致，均表现为早、午和晚3个觅食峰值，觅食中或觅食后会有站立、理羽、警戒和游走行为，晨食后有明显的静栖高峰，雌性个体下午出现静栖小峰值，期间伴有游走和飞行行为，雄性打斗行为偏多，卵期打斗行为波动较大，并与雏期呈互补的螺旋结构。成幼间行为节律存在显著差异，觅食、静栖、站立、理羽和游走行为全时段基本均有发生，幼体除觅食外均有1个明显峰值，但成体活动的峰值不明显（觅食除外）。基于分析结果，建议兆麟公园在鸳鸯卵期和雏期要视性别、成幼给与不同的管理方式。