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An overwhelming number of studies have reported the correlation of decreased abundance of butyrate-producing commensals with a wide range of diseases. However, the molecular-level mechanisms whereby gut butyrate causally affects the host mucosal immunity and pathogenesis were poorly understood, hindered by the lack of efficient tools to control intestinal butyrate. Here we engineered a facultative anaerobic commensal bacterium to delivery butyrate at the intestinal mucosal surface, and implemented it to dissect the causal role of gut butyrate in regulating host intestinal homeostasis in a model of murine chronic colitis. Mechanistically, we show that gut butyrate protected against colitis and preserved intestinal mucosal homeostasis through its inhibiting effect on the key pyroptosis executioner gasdermin D (GSDMD) of colonic epithelium, via functioning as an HDAC3 inhibitor. Overall, our work presents a new avenue to build synthetic living delivery bacteria to decode causal molecules at the host-microbe interface with molecular-level insights. • Microbiota-derived metabolite butyrate has intimate correlation with diseases. • A probiotic was engineered to delivery butyrate at the intestinal mucosal surface. • Causal role of gut butyrate in regulating host intestinal homeostasis was dissected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafine-grained Cu-5 vol%AlO nanocomposite rods were fabricated by a combination of high-energy mechanical milling of Cu and AlO powders and powder compact extrusion at 300, 500, 700 and 900 °C. The extruded rods were investigated to evaluate microstructures, mechanical properties, fracture behavior and electrical resistivity. It was found that the extrusion temperature has a pronounced effect on Cu grain growth, AlO particle coarsening and particle distribution. High-temperature extrusion leads to directional coarsening of certain grains. As such, a heterogeneous matrix structure of large elongated and equiaxed grains is created, and this unique matrix structure brings beneficial effects in tensile ductility and electrical resistivity. While AlO dispersions in the matrix improve the overall performance of the nanocomposite, an incorrect selection of the extrusion temperature may have detrimental effects on yield strength and resistivity. Tensile fractography investigation shows that the presence of AlO results in failures along grain boundaries. This study also provides a framework for modeling the mechanical and electrical properties of such complex matrix structures. Modeling tools/formulae can be used to predict mechanical/electrical properties via microscopic characteristics and hence can also be used to understand the effect of processing variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of minor additions (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 wt%) of Ti on the thermal stability of both Cu nanograins and Y 2 O 3 particles in nanostructured Cu-5 vol%Y 2 O 3 composite powder particles were investigated via 1 h isochronal annealing at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1000 °C. It was found that a small amount addition of 0.4 wt%Ti effectively inhibits the coarsening of the Y 2 O 3 particles during annealing at a very high homologous temperature of 0.87T m , where T m is the melting point of Cu, which, in turn, stabilizes Cu nanograins and retains the hardness value of the as-milled powder sample. However, this is in clear contrast with the significant decrease in hardness of the Ti-free and 0.2 wt%Ti doped milled powder samples annealed at the same condition, resulting from the coarsening of the Y 2 O 3 particles and growth of Cu nanograins. The energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry elemental analysis shows that the stabilizing mechanisms responsible for the improved thermal stability of the Y 2 O 3 particles are associated with the chemical reactions between Ti, O and Y 2 O 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we observed a strong strain rate dependence of tensile ductility for an ultrafine grained Cu-5vol%Al 2 O 3 nanocomposite prepared by powder compact extrusion. This dependency of tensile ductility of the material to strain rate, combined with detailed materials characterization, suggests that the strain at which nearly ideal plastic deformation occurs is associated with the magnitude of the flow stress. The measured apparent activation volume and observed alignment of Cu grains suggest that plastic deformation during this nearly perfect deformation stage is dominated by the co-operative grain boundary sliding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Three novel QTL for peroxidase activity were mapped, and gene-specific markers for TaPod-A1 were developed and validated using RILs derived from the Doumai/Shi 4185 cross and 281 wheat cultivars. TaPod-A1 is within one of the three QTL. Abstract: Peroxidase (POD) activity in grain is an important factor determining the color of flour and end-use products of wheat, such as noodles and steamed bread. Mapping QTL for POD activity, characterization of POD genes and development of gene-specific markers are important for molecular marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for POD activity in common wheat were mapped using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a Doumai/Shi 4185 cross grown in four environments and genotyped using the wheat 90 K iSelect assay. Three novel QTL for POD activity, QPod.caas- 3AL, QPod.caas- 4BS and QPod.caas- 5AS, were identified on chromosomes 3AL, 4BS and 5AS, explaining 5.3-21.2 % of phenotypic variance across environments. The full-length genomic DNA (gDNA) sequence of a POD gene, designated TaPod- A1, on chromosome 3A was characterized by homolog cloning and PCR verification. Two complementary dominant sequence-tagged site (STS) markers, POD-3A1 and POD-3A2, were developed based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between two alleles at the TaPod- A1 locus, amplifying 291- and 766-bp fragments in cultivars with lower and higher POD activities, respectively. The two gene-specific markers were mapped on chromosome 3AL using a set of Chinese Spring (CS) nulli-tetrasomic lines, and ditelosomic lines 3AL and 3AS. QTL analysis indicated that QPod.caas- 3AL co-segregated with the gene-specific markers POD-3A1 and POD-3A2. POD-3A1 and POD-3A2 were verified on 281 wheat cultivars and advanced lines, and showed significant ( P < 0.05) associations with POD activities. POD-3A1 and POD-3A2 may be useful as markers for improving color attributes in wheat breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing technology for high-throughput acquisition of phenotypic values of field plant height is of great significance in plant height monitoring of wheat varieties (lines). Based on the UAV, mounted with high-resolution digital cameras, a low-altitude remote sensing platform was built to obtain images of the Berkut/Worrakatta recombinant inbred lines (RIL) wheat population (297 lines). The optimal digital surface model (DSM) for plant height extraction was constructed by combining the actual wheat plant heights measured in the field. Using a wheat 50K SNP chip, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed for field plant height of the RIL population using UAV plant height data to detect the locus related to plant height. We verified the effectiveness of QTL analysis using the UAV plant height data. The results of the DSM plant height extraction method showed that the plant height extraction models during the entire growth period had a highly significant correlation (p < 0.001); the measured plant height correlated with the predicted plant height, with prediction model accuracy R2 = 0.7527 and verification model accuracy R2 = 0.8214. QTL analysis was conducted on the manually and UAV-measured plant height traits. For the manually measured plant height phenotypes, one locus related to plant height was detected on wheat chromosome 6A and explained 13.12% of phenotypic variation. For the UAV-measured phenotypes, one locus related to plant height was also detected on wheat chromosome 6A and explained 9.62% of phenotypic variation. The QPH.xjau-6A locus on chromosome 6A, which featured in the results of the two measurement methods, is a stable locus, indicating that the mapping results obtained using the actual plant height values were in good agreement with those obtained using the UAV extracted values. Three candidate genes related to plant height were screened: they encode protein kinase, NAC domain protein, and cytochrome P450, respectively. Therefore, this study provided reference information for monitoring plant phenotype and growth of wheat and also for the extraction of plant height for wheat breeding in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genetic and kernel texture relationships between Puroindoline b-2 variants 2 and 3 have not been fully established in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here, 480 F2 plants, derived from three hard spring wheat populations were used to test the segregation of Puroindoline b-2 (Pinb-2) variants 2 and 3. Chi-square analysis indicated that Pinb-2 variants 2 and 3 in all three F2 populations segregated as a single bi-allelic locus, with segregation ratios fitting a 1:2:1 ratio. Using 448 of the 480 plants derived from these three F2 populations, the average SKCS hardness index of plants homozygous for Pinb-2 variant 2 vs. those homozygous for variant 3 was not significantly different (67.5 vs. 67.9). Results indicated that plants with Pina-D1b/Pinb-D1a were on average 10.0 Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS) hardness index units harder than those carrying the Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1b haplotype. In conclusion, Pinb-2 variants 2 and 3 are allelic and exert little effect on kernel texture in hard-kernel T. aestivum germplasm. Further, the designation of Pinb-2v2 and Pinb-2v3 should be changed to Pinb-B2a and Pinb-B2b, respectively. We propose that Pinb-2 variants 1 and 4 of Chinese Spring be designated Pinb-D2a and Pinb-A2a, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Kernel texture is a major factor influencing the classification and end use properties of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and is mainly controlled by the Puroindoline a ( Pina) and Puroindoline b ( Pinb) genes. Recently, a new puroindoline gene, Puroindoline b- 2 ( Pin b- 2), was identified. In this study, 388 wheat cultivars and advanced breeding lines from the U.S. Pacific Northwest were investigated for frequencies of Puroindoline D1 alleles and Pinb- 2 variants 2 and 3. Results indicated that Pinb- D1b (74.0%) was the predominant genotype among hard wheats ( N = 196), the only other hard allele encountered was Pina- D1b (26.0%). Across all varieties, Pinb- 2v3 was the predominant genotype (84.5%) compared with Pinb- 2v2 (15.5%). However, among 240 winter wheat varieties (124 soft white, 15 club, 68 hard red and 33 hard white varieties), all carried Pinb- 2v3. Among spring wheats, Pinb- 2v2 and Pinb- 2v3 frequencies were more variable (soft white 25.0:75.0, hard red 58.2:41.8 and hard white 40.0:60.0, respectively). Kernel texture variation was analyzed using 247 of the 388 wheat varieties grown in multi-location factorial trials in up to 7 crop years. The range of variety means among the four groups, soft winter, soft spring, hard winter and hard spring, was on the order of 15-25 single kernel characterization system (SKCS) Hardness Index. The least significant difference for each of these trials ranged from 2.8 to 5.6 SKCS Hardness Index. Observations lead to the conclusion that Pinb- 2 variants do not exert a prominent effect on kernel texture, however, Pinb- 2 variants do identify features of wheat germ plasm structure in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity is an important factor determining the color of flour and end-use products of wheat. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) for LOX activity in common wheat were mapped using 71 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from a Zhongyou 9507 × CA9632 cross, and SSR markers. Two QTL, QLpx.caas.1AL and QLpx.caas- 4B, were identified on chromosomes 1AL and 4B, closely associated with LOX activity. The SSR loci Xwmc312 and Xgwm251 proved to be diagnostic and explained 13.4-25.2% of the phenotypic variance for the 1AL locus and 14.3-27.0% for the 4B locus across four environments. The SSR markers Xgwm251 and Xwmc312 were validated across 198 Chinese wheat cultivars and advanced lines and showed highly significant ( P < 0.01) association with LOX activity. We further established a multiplexed PCR with SSR marker combination Xwmc312/Xgwm251 to test these wheat cultivars and advanced lines. The results suggested that the marker combination Xwmc312/Xgwm251 is efficient and reliable for evaluating LOX activity and can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for targeting flour color attributes to noodle and other wheat-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The performance of hybrid polymer/metal oxide photovoltaic devices based on poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) and oriented ZnO nanorods is studied. The ZnO nanorods on indium tin oxide-coated glass were prepared by hydrothermal method, where the length and the defect concentration of ZnO nanorods were controlled by the reaction time (T r) for nanorod growth. Increasing T r results in longer ZnO nanorods and higher defect concentration. Results show that both photocurrent and electron lifetime have strong dependence on the nanorod length (i.e., growth time) due to the exponential attenuation of incident light intensity in the device, offering a peak conversion efficiency of 0.337% under 1.5 AM illumination for T r =120min. Combinational analyses of the data in this experiment and the previous data for the electrodeposited ZnO nanorods provide the insights into the dependence of the device performance on the intrinsic property of the ZnO nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, ZnO nanorods surface was functionalized with poly(1-methoxy-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV), offering a hybrid nanocomposite (MEH-PPV∼ZnO) that was directly applied for the preparation of active layer in hybrids photovoltaic devices. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photophysical properties showed that the conjugated polymer chains intimately contact with the inorganic semiconductors. The performance of the resulting photovoltaic devices was investigated by current–voltage (J–V) characteristics and intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS). The photovoltaic performance was greatly enhanced via direct application of the nanocomposites as the active layer in photovoltaic devices, giving an optimized device performance of a short-circuit current density of 0.19mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.59V and a fill factor of 0.43, with a power conversion efficiency of about 0.30% under 470nm monochromatic illumination (15.8mW/cm2) that was 50% higher than that of the device based on the simple blend of two components. In addition, intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS) response curves revealed that a longer electron lifetime in the MEH-PPV∼ZnO bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices leads to a higher open-circuit voltage of the devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, TiO2 nanorods surface was functionalized with poly(1-methoxy-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV), offering a hybrid nanocomposite (MEH-PPV–TiO2 NRs) that was directly applied for the preparation of active layer in hybrids photovoltaic devices. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photophysical properties verified that the intimately contact between the polymer chains and TiO2 nanorods, by removing the surfactants originally on the TiO2 nanorod surfaces. The performance of the MEH-PPV–TiO2 NRs photovoltaic devices was investigated by current–voltage (J–V) characteristics and intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), in comparison to the device based on the blend (MEH-PPV/TiO2 NRs) that was prepared by a conventional mixing process. Results showed that the device performance of the MEH-PPV–TiO2 NRs composite was greatly enhanced, and the power conversion efficiency under monochromic illumination (470nm, 15.8mW/cm2) was improved by –30% with respect to the device based on the MEH-PPV/TiO2 NRs counterpart, giving an optimized device performance of a short-circuit current density of 0.45mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.65V and a power conversion efficiency of 0.10% under simulated AM1.5 illumination (100mW/cm2). It was also demonstrated that there was a suitable concentration (ca. 17mg/mL) of the hybrid dispersion for the fabrication of effective devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schnieder) was used to identify genes regulated by wound–water stress. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was performed using cDNAs prepared from wounded parts of leaves under drying stress as a tester and cDNAs from unstressed parts of leaves as a driver. A forward-subtracted cDNA library was constructed and positive clones were confirmed by differential screening, resulting in 1344 clones as wound–water stress induced. After sequencing and trimming, 838 sequences were further analyzed. Sequence assembly analysis generated 385 unique ESTs. By referring to NCBI database and the functional categories of Arabidopsis thaliana proteins, 139 ESTs in 13 main categories were annotated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was used to evaluate the functions of the ESTs and the pathways in which they are involved. Ninety-six genes were identified by KEGG Orthology (KO) identifier. These genes are involved in 63 pathways. Some pathways, such as energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, translation, and MAPK signaling pathway, are associated with wound–water stress. The results from this study are useful in understanding the genetic regulation process under wound–water stress in jojoba. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Grain hardness is an important end-use quality parameter of bread wheat, and one of the most important characters for quality improvement. The objective of this study was to further understand the function of puroindolines and the underlying mechanism in the formation of kernel texture. The highly efficient expression vector pUBPa harboring puroindoline a (Pina) was introduced into the bread wheat cultivar Zhongyou 9507-60 via biolistic transformation and transgenic plants were obtained. The integration of the foreign Pina gene was confirmed by PCR and genomic DNA Southern blot analysis. The levels of friabilin on the surface of water-washed starch granules varied among the transgenic lines. SDS-PAGE analysis of Triton X-114 extracted protein showed that the PINA protein was absent in three transgenic lines, indicating that the endogenous Pina gene most likely had been co-suppressed by the over-expression of the Pina transgene. SKCS kernel hardness and scanning electron microscopy analysis further confirmed the changes of kernel texture in these lines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dexamethasone (Dex) has been widely used as a potent anti-inflammatory, antishock, and immunosuppressive agent. However, high dose or long-term use of Dex is accompanied by side effects including skeletal muscle atrophy, whose underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. A number of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play key roles in skeletal muscle atrophy. Previous studies showed significantly increased miR-322 expression in Dex-treated C2C12 myotubes. In our study, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was required for Dex to increase miR-322 expression in C2C12 myotubes. miR-322 mimic or miR-322 inhibitor was used for regulating the expression of miR-322. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and insulin receptor (INSR) were identified as target genes of miR-322 using luciferase reporter assays and played key roles in Dex-induced muscle atrophy. miR-322 overexpression promoted atrophy in Dex-treated C2C12 myotubes and the gastrocnemius muscles of mice. Conversely, miR-322 inhibition showed the opposite effects. These data suggested that miR-322 contributes to Dex-induced muscle atrophy via targeting of IGF1R and INSR. Furthermore, miR-322 might be a potential target to counter Dex-induced muscle atrophy. miR-322 inhibition might also represent a therapeutic approach for Dex-induced muscle atrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High strength has always been pursued in binary Al–Mg and 5xxx series Al alloys. However, these alloys usually provide medium strength due to lack of multiple strengthening methods. Here, this study reports on multiple strengthening effects existing in a binary ultrafine-grained (UFG) Al-7.5at.%Mg alloy prepared by mechanical alloying and hot extrusion. Different strengthening mechanisms, in particular, dispersoid strengthening and stacking fault strengthening, are analyzed and evaluated in terms of their respective contribution to the 511 MPa yield strength of the alloy. The strengthening analysis proves that the concurrent generation of nanoscale dispersoids and stacking faults (SFs) can be used as a new microstructural design in developing novel Al–Mg-based alloys with higher strength and enhanced ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) can greatly scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. SOD activity is highly related to plant stress tolerance that can be improved by overexpression of SOD genes. Identification of SOD activity-related loci and potential candidate genes is essential for improvement of grain quality in wheat breeding. However, the loci and candidate genes for relating SOD in wheat grains are largely unknown. In the present study, grain SOD activities of 309 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the 'Berkut' × 'Worrakatta' cross were assayed by photoreduction method with nitro-blue tetrazolium (NBT) in four environments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) of SOD activity were identified using inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) with the genotypic data of 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Results: Six QTL for SOD activity were mapped on chromosomes 1BL, 4DS, 5AL (2), and 5DL (2), respectively, explaining 2.2 ~ 7.4% of the phenotypic variances. Moreover, QSOD.xjau-1BL, QSOD.xjau-4DS, QSOD.xjau-5 A.1, QSOD.xjau-5 A.2, and QSOD.xjau-5DL.2 identified are likely to be new loci for SOD activity. Four candidate genes TraesCS4D01G059500, TraesCS5A01G371600, TraesCS5D01G299900, TraesCS5D01G343100LC, were identified for QSOD.xjau-4DS, QSOD.xjau-5AL.1, and QSOD.xjau-5DL.1 (2), respectively, including three SOD genes and a gene associated with SOD activity. Based on genetic effect analysis, this can be used to identify desirable alleles and excellent allele variations in wheat cultivars. Conclusion: These candidate genes are annotated for promoting SOD production and inhibiting the accumulation of ROS during plant growth. Therefore, lines with high SOD activity identified in this study may be preferred for future wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic stresses to wheat worldwide, with negative effects on wheat growth and yield. Assessing genetic variation and drought stress tolerance of key agronomic and physiological traits of spring wheat and screening germplasm resources for higher drought tolerance and yield stability are a prerequisite for developing new, better-adapted spring wheat varieties. This study evaluated nine important agronomic and physiological traits in 152 spring wheat cultivars under non-stress (NS) and drought-stress (DS) conditions. Under DS conditions, grain yield per plot (GYP) and grain weight per spike (GWE) were significantly reduced by 33.8% and 31.7%, and their drought-tolerance indexes (DIs) were only 0.66 and 0.69, respectively, indicating that GYP and GWE are the most susceptible traits to drought stress. The SPAD value of flag leave at flowering stage decreased by 13.9% under DS conditions, and the DI of SPAD was 0.86. In addition, DI-SPAD was significantly positively correlated with DIs of plant height (PH), grain number per spikelet (GPS), grain number per spike (GNS), GWE and GYP, indicating that the drought tolerance and yield of wheat are closely related to chlorophyll retention. Six wheat germplasm accessions were identified for their ability to sustain grain yield and improve drought tolerance simultaneously. These results provide insights into the genetic co-variation between grain yield and drought stress tolerance and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new wheat cultivars with excellent drought tolerance and high yields in the presence and absence of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This report documents the first sequence analysis of the entire M1, M2, and M3 genome segments of the muscovy duck reovirus (DRV) S14. The complete sequence of each of the three M gene segments was determined. The M1 genome segment was 2283 nucleotides in length and was predicted to encode μA protein of 732 residues. The Escherichia coli expressed M1 transcripts generated a 108kDa protein, as expected for μA. A cleavage product of μA, μA1, could be detected by Western blotting with duck anti-reovirus and mouse anti-μA polyclonal serum. μA was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasma and nucleus of transfected Vero cells, which provides evidence that μA might be functional related to the mammalian reovirus (MRV) μ2. The M2 gene was 2155 nucleotides in length and was predicted to encode μB major outer capsid protein of 676 amino acids. The M3 genome segment was 1996 nucleotides in length and was predicted to encode a μNS protein of 635 amino acids. It was unexpectedly found that 5′-termini of the M1 and M2 genes ended with 5′-ACUUUU and 5′-UCUUUU, respectively, instead of 5′-GCUUUU, which is present on most mRNAs of other avian reoviruses (ARV). The UCAUC 3′-terminal sequences of the S14 M1, M2, and M3 genome segments are shared by DRV, ARV, and MRV. Alignment of the DRV μA-, μB-, and μNS-encoding genes with ARV revealed 72.9–73.9%, 67.1–69.6%, and 69.4–70.8% nucleotide identity, respectively. The amino acid sequence homology between DRV and ARV ranged from 85.3 to 86.2% (μA), 75.0 to 76.5% (μB), and 78.4 to 79.8% (μNS). Phylogenetic analyses of the M1, M2, M3, and S-class [Kuntz-Simon, G., Le Gall-Recule, G., de Boisseson, C., Jestin, V., 2002. Muscovy duck reovirus σC protein is a typically encoded by the smallest genome segment. J. Gen. Virol. 83, 1189–1200; Zhang, Y., Liu, M., Hu, Q.L., Ouyang, S.D., Tong, G.Z., 2006a. Characterization of the σC-encoding gene from muscovy duck reovirus. Virus Genes 36, 169–174; Zhang, Y., Liu, M., Ouyan, S.D., Hu, Q.L., Guo, D.C., Han, Z., 2006b. Detection and identification of avian, duck, and goose reoviruses by RT-PCR: goose and duck reoviruses aggregated the same specified genogroup in Orthoreovirus Genus II. Arch. Virol. 151, 1525–1538] genome segments suggests that DRV and ARV share a recent common ancestor and that the two lineages have subsequently undergone host dependent evolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Drought is a major concern among abiotic stresses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Breeding resistant cultivars are the most effective means to manage drought stress. F6 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the cross of Berkut/Worrakatta were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for drought tolerance at germination stage under treatment of PEG6000 using the wheat 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Twenty-eight linkage groups were constructed, covering a length of 2220.26 cM. Eighteen QTL were detected based on the drought tolerance coefficients and D-value, explaining 2.7–6.5% of the phenotypic variances, in which 15 were likely to be novel. Three QTL, QGR.xjau-5AS, QCL.xjau-5AS and QD.xjau-5AS for GR, CL and D-value, respectively, at physical positions of 11.70–20.61 Mb between markers AX-111258240 and AX-94458300 on chromosome 5AS accounted for 3.4–4.8% of the phenotypic variances. Three QTL, QGP.xjau-5DL, QSH.xjau-5DL and QD.xjau-5DL for GP, SH and D-value, respectively, were flanked by markers AX-94524442 and AX-110998507 at 560.42–567.39 Mb on chromosome 5DL, accounting for 4.4–6.5% of the phenotypic variances. In addition, the candidate genes TraesCS5A02G022100, TraesCS5B02G014200 and TraesCS5D02G563900 were predicted. Based on transcriptional expression data, the results showed that the expression level of TaGATAs-5A, TaUbox-5B and TaGSTP-5D changed with the increase of treatment time under drought stress in tolerant and sensitive varieties. These are interesting targets in mining drought tolerance genes and the improvement of drought tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniature pigs are regarded as ideal organ donors for xenotransplantation into humans. Elucidating the formation mechanism of miniature pigs is important. The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) is crucial in the regulation of cell proliferation and organismal growth. According to our previous research, the IGF-1R expression levels between large and miniature pigs showed different profiles in liver and muscle tissues. Here, five synonymous mutations of IGF-1R in the coding sequence (CDS) of intracellular domain (ICD) between large and miniature pigs were analysed by constructing expression vectors of two haplotypes and named pcDNA3.1-LP (with the CDS of IGF-1R ICD of Large White pigs, LP group) and pcDNA3.1-BM (with the CDS of IGF-1R ICD of Bama Xiang pigs, BM group). The IGF-1R of the BM group was expressed lower than that of the LP group in transcription, translation and autophosphorylation levels. The IGF-1R of the BM group also down-regulated the protein levels of p-AKT/p-ERK than that of the LP group. PK-15 and C2C12 cell proliferation were detected to further understand the function of the haplotype. Results showed that the proliferation viability of PK-15 and C2C12 cells weakened in the BM group. Moreover, the mRNA and protein stabilities of the BM group were higher than those of the LP group. Our data indicated that two haplotypes of IGF-1R CDS in ICD between large and miniature pigs altered IGF-1R expression and down-regulated AKT and ERK signalling pathways at translation levels, resulting in an inhibitory effect on PK-15 and C2C12 cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothalamic gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) controls the activity of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and plays a key role in the reproductive performance of animals. In this study, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely g.991T > C, g.1041T > C g.3424T > C, g.3462C > A and g.3463Inde A, were detected in the GnRH gene of 162 water buffaloes by Sanger sequencing. Each SNP was associated with more than two sperm quality traits of ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, post‐thaw sperm motility and sperm abnormality. g.3424T > C and g.3462C > A were related to these four traits and had a remarkable effect on ejaculate volume. The three other SNPs were related to sperm concentration, post‐thaw sperm motility and sperm abnormality. Moreover, six haplotypes (H1: TCCAI, H2: CTTC‐, H3: TCCCI, H4: CTTA‐, H5: CCTA‐ and H6: CTCC‐) composed of five SNPs comprising seven different combined genotypes were generated by linkage disequilibrium analysis. Statistics followed by one‐way ANOVA indicated that water buffaloes with the haplotype combination H1H1 had the highest genotypic frequency, and those with the H4H4 haplotype combination had the highest ejaculate volume. The sperm concentration of those with haplotype combination H1H5 was higher than that of the other genotypes. In summary, our study showed a remarkable association between the SNPs of GnRH and sperm quality traits of Chinese water buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reprocessable and degradable lignin-derived epoxy vitrimers were prepared via imine chemistry. • Acid degradable epoxy vitrimers with imine bonds were synthesized from vanillin. • The self-healing ability was achieved without using catalysts or expensive hardener. • The mechanical properties were at the same level of E51 epoxy thermosets. • The mechanical properties of vitrimers were not deteriorated after three recycles. The preparation of vanillin-based epoxy thermosets has attracted great attention in recent years, however, most of them could not be reprocessed once after curing procedures. In the present work, a vanillin-based epoxy vitrimer (Van-Ep/IPDA) with dynamic imine covalent bonds was prepared by curing mono-glycidyl structure of vanillin (Van-Ep) with isophorone diamine (IPDA) hardener, which simultaneously exhibits the excellent reprocessability and acid degradable behavior. The mechanical properties of Van-Ep/IPDA vitrimers and cured bisphenol A (E51) epoxy are kept at the same level, which the Young's modulus, elongation and tensile strength at break of Van-Ep/IPDA vitrimers reach 2.30 GPa, 4.4% and 65.0 MPa, respectively. Importantly, compared with these of original vitrimers, all reprocessed Van-Ep/IPDA vitrimers exhibit the same level of mechanical properties even after three times of hot pressing. Thanks to the imine structure, epoxy vitrimers also exhibit degradable property under acid solution. This facile approach of imine chemistry for preparing vanillin-based epoxy vitrimers sets up an important framework for designing sustainable polymer materials with excellent reprocessability and degradability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We identified 21 new and stable QTL, and 11 QTL clusters for yield-related traits in three bread wheat populations using the wheat 90 K SNP assay.Abstract: Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield-related traits and closely linked molecular markers is important in order to identify gene/QTL for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in wheat breeding. The objectives of the present study were to identify QTL for yield-related traits and dissect the relationships among different traits in three wheat recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from crosses Doumai × Shi 4185 (D × S), Gaocheng 8901 × Zhoumai 16 (G × Z) and Linmai 2 × Zhong 892 (L × Z). Using the available high-density linkage maps previously constructed with the wheat 90 K iSelect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, 65, 46 and 53 QTL for 12 traits were identified in the three RIL populations, respectively. Among them, 34, 23 and 27 were likely to be new QTL. Eighteen common QTL were detected across two or three populations. Eleven QTL clusters harboring multiple QTL were detected in different populations, and the interval 15.5-32.3 cM around the Rht-B1 locus on chromosome 4BS harboring 20 QTL is an important region determining grain yield (GY). Thousand-kernel weight (TKW) is significantly affected by kernel width and plant height (PH), whereas flag leaf width can be used to select lines with large kernel number per spike. Eleven candidate genes were identified, including eight cloned genes for kernel, heading date (HD) and PH-related traits as well as predicted genes for TKW, spike length and HD. The closest SNP markers of stable QTL or QTL clusters can be used for MAS in wheat breeding using kompetitive allele-specific PCR or semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR assays for improvement of GY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is privotal in the regulation of animal growth and is a single-chain globular protein composed of B, C, A, and D regions, of which the C region is involved in maintaining high affinity binding to the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R). Purpose In this study, significant expression differences between large pigs and miniature pigs were detected and only one synonymous SNP (c.258G>A) in the C region of the coding sequence of IGF1 gene was screened. The aim of this manuscript was to clear the function of the SNP and clarify the mechanism of its influnce. Methods The expression vectors contained A allele and G allele were constructed, and the expression assays of the two groups were determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting, then the stability assays of the mRNA and protein were carried out under the inhibitation of actinomycin D and cycloheximide, respectively. At last, the binding affinity of IGF1-G and IGF1-A with IGF1R were indicated by co-immunoprecipitation and double immunofluorescence labeling methods, the conformation difference was detected by differential immunodetection. Results The IGF1-G expressed higher than IGF1-A in both transcription and translation levels, and the mRNA and protein stabilities of IGF1-G were lower than IGF1-A ( P  < 0.05). Furthermore, the relative binding affinity of GG-genotype IGF1 with IGF1R was significantly higher than that of the AA-genotype IGF1 ( P  < 0.05), and there was a difference in the conformation of the IGF1 with two genotypes. Conclusion Our findings indicated the synonymous mutation altered the IGF1 gene expression and confirmed the synonymous mutation affected the IGF1 folding and the interactions with the IGF1R preliminarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gossypium barbadense (Sea Island, Egyptian or Pima cotton) cotton has high fiber quality, however, few studies have investigated the genetic basis of its traits using molecular markers. Genome complexity reduction approaches such as genotyping-by-sequencing have been utilized to develop abundant markers for the construction of high-density genetic maps to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Results: The Chinese G. barbadense cultivar 5917 and American Pima S-7 were used to develop a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population with 143 lines. The 143 RILs together with their parents were tested in three replicated field tests for lint yield traits (boll weight and lint percentage) and fiber quality traits (fiber length, fiber elongation, fiber strength, fiber uniformity and micronaire) and then genotyped using GBS to develop single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A high-density genetic map with 26 linkage groups (LGs) was constructed using 3557 GBS SNPs spanning a total genetic distance of 3076.23 cM at an average density of 1.09 cM between adjacent markers. A total of 42 QTLs were identified, including 24 QTLs on 12 LGs for fiber quality and 18 QTLs on 7 LGs for lint yield traits, with LG1 (9 QTLs), LG10 (7 QTLs) and LG14 (6 QTLs) carrying more QTLs. Common QTLs for the same traits and overlapping QTLs for different traits were detected. Each individual QTLs explained 0.97 to 20.7% of the phenotypic variation. Conclusions: This study represents one of the first genetic mapping studies on the fiber quality and lint yield traits in a RIL population of G. barbadense using GBS-SNPs. The results provide important information for the subsequent fine mapping of QTLs and the prediction of candidate genes towards map-based cloning and marker-assisted selection in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MADS-box genes encode transcription factors with key roles in plant growth and development. A comprehensive analysis of the MADS-box gene family in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has not yet been conducted, and our understanding of their roles in stress is rather limited. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the MADS-box gene family in wheat. A total of 180 MADS-box genes classified as 32 Mα, 5 Mγ, 5 Mδ, and 138 MIKC types were identified. Evolutionary analysis of the orthologs among T. urartu, Aegilops tauschii and wheat as well as homeologous sequences analysis among the three sub-genomes in wheat revealed that gene loss and chromosomal rearrangements occurred during and/or after the origin of bread wheat. Forty wheat MADS-box genes that were expressed throughout the investigated tissues and development stages were identified. The genes that were regulated in response to both abiotic stresses (i.e., phosphorus deficiency, drought, heat, and combined drought and heat) and biotic stresses (i.e., Fusarium graminearum, Septoria tritici, stripe rust and powdery mildew) were detected as well. A few notable MADS-box genes were specifically expressed in a single tissue and those showed relatively higher expression differences between the stress and control treatment. The expression patterns of considerable MADS-box genes differed from those of their orthologs in Brachypodium, rice, and Arabidopsis. Collectively, the present study provides new insights into the possible roles of MADS-box genes in response to stresses and will be valuable for further functional studies of important candidate MADS-box genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in stems play an important role in buffering grain yield in wheat against biotic and abiotic stresses; however, knowledge of genes controlling WSC is very limited. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a high-density 90K SNP array to better understand the genetic basis underlying WSC, and to explore marker-based breeding approaches. WSC was evaluated in an association panel comprising 166 Chinese bread wheat cultivars planted in four environments. Fifty two marker-trait associations (MTAs) distributed across 23 loci were identified for phenotypic best linear unbiased estimates (BLUEs), and 11 MTAs were identified in two or more environments. Liner regression showed a clear dependence of WSC BLUE scores on numbers of favorable (increasing WSC content) and unfavorable alleles (decreasing WSC), indicating that genotypes with higher numbers of favorable or lower numbers of unfavorable alleles had higher WSC content. In silico analysis of flanking sequences of trait-associated SNPs revealed eight candidate genes related to WSC content grouped into two categories based on the type of encoding proteins, namely, defense response proteins and proteins triggered by environmental stresses. The identified SNPs and candidate genes related to WSC provide opportunities for breeding higher WSC wheat cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annealing usually softens Al–Mg based alloys due to grain coarsening. This work shows that annealing induces strengthening in bulk ultrafine-grained Al and Al-(2.5, 5 and 7.5) at.% Mg samples fabricated by mechanical alloying and rapid powder extrusion. Experimental investigation of the microstructure of the annealed samples reveals that the annealing promotes in-situ formation of nanoscale dispersoids which strongly suppresses grain growth and recrystallization. The in-situ formed nanodispersoids warrant high thermal stability of the ultrafine-grained matrix microstructure and improve the strength of the as-extruded samples while maintaining their good ductility. The present findings offer an exciting pathway in developing thermally stable ultrafine-grained Al–Mg based alloys with a notable combination of high strength and good ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The σB/σC-encoding genes of muscovy duck reovirus (DRV) S12 strain were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The σC-encoding gene of DRV showed only 21–22% identity to that of avian reovirus (ARV) at both nucleotide and amino acid level. The σB-encoding gene of DRV comprised 1163bp with one open reading frame (ORF). The ORF comprised 1104bp and encoded 367 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 40.44kDa. A zinc-binding motif and a basic amino acid motif were found within the predicted amino acid sequence of σB. The identities between the S12 and ARV were 59.3–64.0% and 60.9–62.5%, respectively, at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the σB-encoding gene sequence indicated that S12 separated as a distinct virus relative to other avian strains. The expressed σB/σC fusion proteins in E. coli could be detected, approximately 45 and 50kDa, respectively, by duck anti-reovirus polyclonal serum. In addition, an ELISA (σB–σC-ELISA) using the expressed σB–σC proteins as coating antigen for detection of antibodies to DRV in ducks was developed. In comparison with the virus neutralization test and agar gel immuno-diffusion test (AGID), the σB–σC-ELISA showed perfect specificity and sensitivity. The σB–σC-ELISA did not react with the antisera to other duck pathogens, implying that these two proteins were specific in recognition of DRV antibodies. Taken together, the results demonstrated that σB–σC-ELISA was a sensitive and accurate method for detecting antibodies to DRV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The kidney of miniature pigs has been considered the most likely potential kidney source for patients needing kidney transplantation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is involved in regulating the growth of miniature pigs and inducing growth of kidneys. There are evidences showing that the SNPs in the 3′UTR of a gene may affect the gene expression by affecting the binding to a miRNA target site. In this study, one SNP (rs34142920) was screened in the IGF-1 3′UTR between 2 different body types of porcine breeds, Bama Xiang (BX) pigs, a miniature pig breed, and Large White (LW) pigs by sequencing. The secondary structure of the IGF-1 3′UTR mRNA containing the SNP in BX pigs is different from that of LW pigs. We then verified that there was a porcine miRNA (miR-new14) binding to this SNP in the 3′UTR of IGF-1 via cotransfecting the 3′UTR from the 2 breeds and miR-new14. We further found that the SNP downregulated mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1 by affecting the binding of miR-new14. To understand the function of miR-new14 in porcine kidney (PK-15) cells and its mechanism, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis assays were employed and results showed that proliferation viability of PK-15 cells was weakened and the apoptotic percentage of PK-15 cells was higher in the miR-new14 group. Porcine miRNA reduced the mRNA expression of AKT/ERK and protein levels of p-AKT/p-ERK. These results suggested that the expression of IGF-1 is influenced by this SNP and miR-new14 and that miR-new14 may suppress cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in PK-15 cells through regulating AKT and ERK signaling pathways, in which IGF-1 is involved. • One SNP was screened in IGF-1 3′UTR between Bama Xiang pigs and Large White pigs. • The SNP downregulated IGF-1 expression by affecting the binding of miR-new14. • miR-new14 suppressed cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis of PK-15 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabinoxylan (AX) is an important component of dietary fiber, and exerts significant effects on the processing quality and nutritional value of flour. Feruloyl arabinoxylan (FAX) is a major factor influencing the functional properties of AX. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for FAX content using a high-density SNP platform. FAX content was evaluated in 256 wheat varieties (two populations) in four environments. Results showed that 83 and 33 marker-trait associations (MTAs) for FAX content were identified, explaining 6.7–9.2% and 10.2–21.2% phenotypic variation in the two populations. Two and three MTAs were repeatedly detected in at least two environments. Five MTAs were detected in both populations. Linear regression indicated a clear dependence of FAX content on the number of favorable alleles, indicating that QTL pyramiding would be an effective approach to modify FAX content. Associated with these significant MTAs, five candidate genes: isoflavone reductase, carnitine dehydrogenase, acylamino acid releasing enzyme, glucose isomerase, and GMP synthase were found to be involved in FAX biosynthesis. Lastly, our study contributes important information for genetic improvement of wheat quality and contributes to developing marker-assisted selection. • 83 and 33 marker-trait associations (MTAs) for FAX content were identified by GWAS. • 5 MTAs were detected in both populations. • 5 varieties in each of 2 populations had more favorable alleles and higher FAX content. • 5 candidate genes were found to be involved in FAX biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]