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High temperatures can significantly impact wheat growth and grain yields during the grain-filling stage. In this study, we identified genes that respond to high-temperature stress during the grain-filling stage. We also identified and characterized 24 novel genes of the DOG1 gene family in hexaploid wheat. Motif analysis and conserved domain search revealed substantial similarities among TaDOG1 family members. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the evolutionary conservation of the TaDOG1 family across various plant species. Tissue-specific expression profiling indicated consistent patterns, with TaDOG1 genes predominantly expressed in stem tissues. Only TaDOG1 - 1 exhibited enhanced expression, particularly during hard dough and ripening stages. TaDOG1-1 and TaDOG1-7 exhibited increased expression under heat stress during the grain-filling stage, indicating their heat-responsive nature. Cis -element analysis revealed potential regulatory motifs, suggesting the involvement of TaDOG1-1 and TaDOG1-7 in stress tolerance mechanisms. Yeast two-hybrid screening revealed interacting proteins, including stress-responsive and grain development-associated proteins. To understand the biological function, we overexpressed TaDOG1-1 in Arabidopsis plants and observed enhanced thermotolerance under basal heat stress. Under heat stress, the transgenic plants exhibited increased biomass and elevated expression levels of heat-responsive genes. Furthermore, TaDOG1-1 –overexpressing plants showed improved survival rates under soil heat stress, along with a greater accumulation of antioxidant enzymes in leaves. In this study, the identification and functions of the DOG1 gene family provide valuable insights for developing genetic engineering strategies aimed at improving wheat yield under high-temperature stress. • 24 novel genes of the DOG1 gene family were identified and characterized in hexaploid wheat. • TaDOG1 genes exhibited distinct expression patterns in different tissues and response to high-temperature stress. • TaDOG1-1 -overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited significant thermotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated how presence affected consumer intention to participate in a social commerce site (i.e., the consumer participation intention of social commerce through the presence role), based on the stimulus-organism-response framework. An organism's internal states in the social commerce context were composed of two tiered states: presence and affect/cognition. For the benefit of parsimony, social presence and telepresence were chosen as dimensions of presence, and usefulness and enjoyment were chosen as affect and cognition variables. The analysis results showed that social presence and telepresence played mediating roles between stimuli (interactivity and vividness) and the sequent internal states (usefulness and enjoyment). Both usefulness and enjoyment significantly influenced the response of the organism (i.e., the consumer participation intention of social commerce). Therefore, it was demonstrated that the mediating role of presence was of great significance in the social commerce context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, the flavonoid and isoflavone contents in four checks with seed coat colour altered from yellow to black were determined, and their antioxidant activity was measured. Three anthocyanins (delphinidin-3-O- β-D-glucoside, D3G; cyanidin-3-O- β-D-glucoside, C3G; and petunidin-3-O- β-D-glucoside, Pt3G) were detected in the four checks, while their controls (cvs. 'Danbaek' and 'Daepung') were not found. Among them, D-16 derived from cv. 'Danbaek' showed the highest anthocyanin contents. The isoflavone contents of all checks showed lower levels compared to their controls. Among six isoflavones, glycitein was only detected in DP-39. To analyse the radical scavenging activities among the four checks, we conducted DPPH, FRAP and UWLA assays. Significant differences in antioxidant activities were obtainable in the four checks, which contained significant differences in levels of anthocyanins and isoflavones. Based on these results, gamma irradiation may change the isoflavone and anthocyanin contents of soybean. Our four checks selected in this study may be useful for breeding soybean varieties to alter their nutritional values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the mechanisms of adaptation and tolerance to ionizing radiation using chronic radiation in wheat. Materials and methods: We exposed wheat plants to chronic gamma irradiation (50 Gy) for 2, 4, and 6 weeks and measured various biological parameters. Results: Plant height was reduced by exposure to gamma irradiation; this effect increased with increasing exposure time. Photosynthetic pigment levels decreased with increasing exposure time, while anthocyanin levels significantly increased after exposure to gamma rays. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], ascorbate peroxidase [APX], catalase [CAT], and peroxidase [POD]) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased with increasing duration of exposure to gamma irradiation. Electron spin resonance (ESR) signals were strongly detected in wheat that was gamma-irradiated for two weeks and then gradually decreased with increasing exposure time. The expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (flavanone 3-hydroxylase [ F3H], dihydroflavonol reductase [ DFR], anthocyanin reductase [ ANS], and UDPG-flavonoid glucosyl transferase [ UFGT]) and sugar contents increased after exposure to gamma rays. Conclusions: This suggests that exposure to ionizing radiation according to increase of exposure time has led to efficient induction of anthocyanin and antioxidant enzyme activities. This study indicates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is eliminated by biosynthesis of anthocyanin and antioxidant enzymes. This study helps elucidate the biological effects of various durations of low-dose exposure to chronic gamma radiation in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Arabidopsis presumably has few sensors for gamma-rays and few signal transduction systems that respond to them. In an effort to assess their radiation sensitivity, wild-type (Ler) Arabidopsis plants were irradiated with various doses of gamma-rays at the vegetative (VE) and reproductive (RE) stages. 100Gy treatment induced the higher production of siliques during both the VE and RE stages compared with non-irradiation. Treatments at doses over 200Gy repressed shoot growth, and the plants perished under 800Gy treatment. The results of physiological analysis using electron spin resonance (ESR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that increased doses of gamma-rays induce greater ROS generation. To establish the gene expression profiles after gamma irradiation and for an analysis of the antioxidant response, we employed an oligonucleotide microarray system. Different responses of genes related with ROS scavenging and signal transduction pathways by a gamma irradiation were observed. At least 33 and 42 out of all genes with significantly altered expression were associated with ROS scavenging and signal transduction pathways having an induction or repression ratio cutoff of at least 2-fold, respectively. CAT3 (At1g20620), Ferritin1 (At5g01600), Blue copper binding protein (At5g20230), and AOX putative (At1g32350) were up-regulated regardless of dosage at the VE stage. Reactive oxygen species signaling genes encoding phospholipase, zinc finger protein, WRKY DNA-binding protein, and calcium binding protein were highly expressed, evidencing changes greater than 2-fold. Our transcriptomic profile of the responses of Arabidopsis genes to gamma irradiation showed that plants evidenced altered expressions of many signal transduction and antioxidant genes, as have been seen with other environmental stresses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two novel monomers, containing diazoketo functional groups, cholic acid 3-diazo-3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-oxo-propyl ester methacrylate (CDEOPE-MA) and 2-diazo-6-hydroxy-3-oxo-hexanoic acid ethyl ester methacrylate (DHOHEE-MA), were designed and synthesized for biomolecular patterning applications. The polymers were synthesized by radical copolymerization of CDEOPE-MA, DHOHEE-MA, and γ-butyrolacton-2-yl methacrylate. The patternability of the synthesized photoresist polymers were characterized by their lithographic evaluation. Introduction of cholate-monomer (CDEOPE-MA) seems to enhance the film formability as well as film stability in aqueous medium. DNA oligonucleotide patterning study was performed to demonstrate the applicability of this system for biomolecular patterning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A major challenge in developing an e-negotiation system (ENS) is that the system should fit into the context which varies with negotiation cases. To mitigate context dependency, we propose to separate e-negotiation protocols from ENS and adopt a component-oriented approach. In this paper, we present a framework for e-negotiation protocols that implements this approach. The framework has been tested by developing several ENSs of which two had been tested in laboratory negotiation experiments with more than 100 participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfavourable environmental conditions, such as drought, freezing and high salinity, are major limiting factors of plant productivity. Plants perceive and respond adaptively to such ‘abiotic stress’ conditions, and the adaptive process is controlled mainly by the phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA). The hormone, whose level increases under various stress conditions, functions as a signal to trigger adaptive responses that include changes in gene expression patterns. We have recently reported transcription factors that regulate the ABA-responsive gene expression. As ABA mediates adaptation to several common abiotic stresses, we investigated whether the transcription factors are involved in various stress responses. Here, we report that over-expression of ABF3, one of the factors, confers tolerance to chilling, freezing, high temperature and oxidative stress in addition to drought. Our results indicate that ABF3 is involved in multiple stress responses, and that it may be a useful genetic resource for the engineering of plant stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly[(methacrylic acid tert-butyl cholate ester)-co-(γ-butyrolactone-2-yl methacrylate)] was synthesized and evaluated as a new 193-nm chemically amplified photoresist. This polymer showed good thermal stability up to 240 °C and had a good transmittance at 193 nm. This material showed good resistance to CF4-reactive ion etching. The resist patterns of 0.15 μm feature size were obtained at a dose of 11 mJ cm-2 using an argon fluoride excimer laser stepper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Di- and triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(dl-valine-co-dl-leucine) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydride (NCA)s of dl-valine and dl-leucine initiated by amine-terminated PEOs. The resulting block copolymers were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, DSC, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Differential scanning calorimeter revealed that the melting temperature of triblock copolymer was lower than that of diblock copolymer and the study of WAXD patterns of triblock copolymer indicated that PEO segments are stretched during the copolymerization as shown in the formation of complex. The self-assembly behaviors of these di- and triblock copolymers in the aqueous solution showed various forms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present paper describes a novel class of norbornene-based copolymers containing 7,7-dimethyloxepan-2-one acid labile groups. Poly(3-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ylhydroxymethyl)-7,7-dimethyloxepan-2-one-co-5-((2-decahydronaphthyl)oxycarbonyl)-norbornene-co-5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid-co-maleic anhydride) was synthesized and evaluated as a potential chemically amplified resist for ArF lithography. The 7,7-dimethyloxepan-2-one group of the matrix polymer was readily cleaved and the carboxylic acid functionality was formed by acid-catalyzed ring-opening reaction in the exposed region after post-exposure bake. The resist patterns of 0.12 μm feature size were obtained at a dose of 10 mJ cm−2 with a conventional developer, 2.38 wt% tetramethylammonium hydroxide aqueous solution, using an ArF excimer laser stepper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA, or THC in the decarboxylated form), synthesized by cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa L.), is a cannabinoid that can be used as a therapeutic drug but is a dangerous psychoactive compound. Cannabis grown for industrial fiber hemp must contain little THCA to prevent misuse. Many attempts to develop new cultivars with low THCA contents have therefore been made. It is time-consuming and expensive to determine THCA in cannabis plant tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography, so we attempted to develop a simple and quick method for selected cultivars with low THCA contents. The diagnostic device, which is an immunoassay based on the principle of competitive binding of drug metabolites, was initially developed for human drug testing in urine. We aim to determine whether the diagnostic device can be applied to natural cannabinoids from cannabis plant. The devices were not suitable for aqueous extracts with methanol contents >20 %. The test (T) line on each device was less intense for leaf and flower extracts than the negative control (water). The THCA contents of water extracted leaves determined by HPLC and calculated based on the cannabidiolic acid contents were 7.5 and 15 μg mL−1 for SuperwomanS1 and Spectrum303 cultivars, respectively. When THCA and THC standards were loaded onto Abon devices, the T line disappeared at the THCA concentration 20 μg mL−1 and the THC concentration 1 μg mL−1, respectively. Using extracts of 0.2 g fresh leaves, SuperwomanS1 and Spectrum303 will give faint and strong T lines, respectively, indicating that the devices could be used to test cannabis tissue THCA contents against the international regulatory limit (≤ 0.3 % w/w). The results indicated that the THCA contents of cannabis tissues at the flowering stage can readily be estimated using drug diagnostic devices, making it convenient for cannabis growers and breeders to semi-quantify THCA. • THCA and THC in hemp plant tissues were determined by HPLC and diagnostic devices. • THCA contents were 0.12 % and 0.09 % in fresh leaves and 0.21 % and 0.39 % in dry flowers. • Fresh leaves contained 7.26 and 12.03 times more THCA in methanol than water extracts. • Device detection limit was ≤20 µg mL−1 THCA and 1 µg mL−1 THC in standards. • Diagnostic devices can be used to compare THC levels of hemp plants to regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes of the F-box family play specific roles in protein degradation by post-translational modification in several biological processes, including flowering, the regulation of circadian rhythms, photomorphogenesis, seed development, leaf senescence, and hormone signaling. F-box genes have not been previously investigated on a genome-wide scale; however, the establishment of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) reference genome sequence enabled a genome-based examination of the F-box genes to be conducted in the present study. In total, 1796 F-box genes were detected in the wheat genome and classified into various subgroups based on their functional C-terminal domain. The F-box genes were distributed among 21 chromosomes and most showed high sequence homology with F-box genes located on the homoeologous chromosomes because of allohexaploidy in the wheat genome. Additionally, a synteny analysis of wheat F-box genes was conducted in rice and Brachypodium distachyon. Transcriptome analysis during various wheat developmental stages and expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR revealed that some F-box genes were specifically expressed in the vegetative and/or seed developmental stages. A genome-based examination and classification of F-box genes provide an opportunity to elucidate the biological functions of F-box genes in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical and numerical analysis on contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) was carried out in this work. Based on the analytical model, the time-dependent transferred charge and the relationship between the transferred charge and accelerated velocity were numerically analyzed. The approach used here is the general interpretation of the contact-mode TENG for the time-dependent transferred charge, which can be used as a guidance for a practical design of the TENG system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural shape of the interface between a metal and dielectric material in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is an important factor that can improve the device performance. Many interfacial structures have been developed to improve the TENG performance. However, there have been very few studies on the numerical interpretation of various types of contact interfaces. For various interfacial structures on which uniform triboelectric charge density is distributed, the surface charge density (in-plane, out-of-plane, and total) is systematically analyzed to predict the quantity of the transferred charges on the bottom metal under a short-circuit condition. In this work, a numerical study is conducted using a finite element method. The numerical results confirm that the increase in the quantity of the transferred charges collected on the bottom metal via electrostatic induction is related to the increase in the area of the surface structures (i.e., surface enlargement effect due to the formation of complex interfacial morphology). The estimated magnitude of the transferred charges shows the following decreasing trend for the various structural shapes: rectangle > cylinder > pyramid > cone > flat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an analytical model of triboelectric charge density and transferred charge density for simple contact-mode triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) is constructed. The model comprises the characteristics of triboelectric materials, such as dielectric constants and work function, and structural parameters such as the thickness of the dielectric material and the separation distance between the metal and dielectric. The model presented in this paper is the analytical interpretation of the metal to dielectric contact-mode TENG and is intended to serve as a guideline for the design of TENGs in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we present a theoretical approach to calculate transferred charges in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) by embedding triboelectric materials with different dielectric constants. The influence of the effective dielectric constant and work function (as a function of dielectric constant) of the composite material is discussed numerically. Two cases are considered separately: averaged surface density of statesand. As a result, structural parameters, including both separation distance and composite material thickness, are dependent only for the case of. These findings can guide the design rules for TENG structures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Silicon-containing photoresists are gaining increasing interest for bilayer resist systems due to their high oxygen plasma resistance. Bilayer resist materials based on a nonchemically amplified resist system were prepared by copolymerization of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-containing monomer, 2-(2-diazo-3-oxobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate (DOBEMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and styrene. A series of POSS-containing resists with varying POSS contents were synthesized to optimize the dry etch resistance and selectivity. Upon UV irradiation, the resist film produced high resolution negative tone patterns. A bilayer pattern can be fabricated readily by pattern transfer of a thin silicon-containing top layer into a thick crosslinked organic bottom layer by anisotropic O 2 reactive ion etching. Finally, potential of the POSS-containing resist as an etch mask has been established by successful transfer of patterns into a silicon substrate through dry etching in CF 4 /O 2 plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering is indicative of the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase, a critical event in the life cycle of plants. In this study, we performed whole genome resequencing by Illumina HiSeq to identify changes in flowering genes using an early-flowering phenotype of soybean mutant line Josaengserori (JS) derived from Korean landrace, Seoritae (SR), and we obtained mapped reads of 131,769,690 and 167,669,640 bp in JS and SR, respectively. From the whole genome sequencing results between JS and SR, we identified 332,821 polymorphic SNPs and 65,178 indels, respectively. Among these, 30 flowering genes were in SNPs and 25 were in indels. Among 30 flowering genes detected in SNPs, Glyma02g33040, Glyma06g22650, Glyma10g36600, Glyma13g01290, Glyma14g10530, Glyma16g01980, Glyma17g11040, Glyma18g53690, and Glyma20g29300 were non-synonymous substitutions between JS and SR. Changes in Glyma10g36600 ( GI), Glya02g33040 ( AGL18), Glyma17g11040 ( TOC1), and Glyma14g10530 ( ELF3) in JS affected the expression of GmFT2a and resulted in early flowering. These results provide insight into the regulatory pathways of flowering in soybean mutants and help to improve our knowledge of soybean mutation breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Gamma rays (GR) induce significant changes in the structure and expression of genes involved in the regulation of diverse biochemical and physiological processes.Arabidopsisplants exhibit different growth and development patterns in response to exposure to GR. The effects on gene expression of different radiation doses of GR (100 and 800 Gy) administered toArabidopsisplants were examined at the reproductive stage. Materials and methods:We irradiated 26-day-old plants with three replications [developmental stages 5.1–6.0, according to Boyes et al. (2001)] using a GR irradiator (60 Co,ca. 150 TBq capacity, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Ontario, Canada) at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Plants were treated with 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 1200, 1600, or 2000 Gy, and the doses were made from varying the distance to the source. Results:We conducted a high-throughput screening analysis and detected 883 GR-responsive genes that showed significant changes; these were involved in several putative metabolic pathways related to biotic stress. Additionally, five overrepresentedcis-regulatory elements were identified in the 1-kb upstream regions of GR-responsive genes by using motif enrichment analysis. We also detected three GR-responsive genes associated with stamen development and confirmed their co-regulation with functionally interacting genes. Conclusions:This finding suggests that a network-based analysis is a viable approach to identify significant GR-responsive genes associated with the reproductive stage ofArabidopsis. Our results provide further insights into the complex biological systems involved in the response to different doses of GR in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-throughput phenotyping was performed for cross combinations of pepper lines. • Utility of HTP with imaging tools for evaluation of combining ability was assessed. • Heterosis in plant volume was evaluated by a customized 3D volumetric analysis. • F 1 lines with different cytoplasm were classified by hyperspectral image analysis. Compared with the substantial amount of genomics data generated in recent years, phenotypic data availability for crops is largely restricted in spectrum and quantity. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) platforms have been developed to overcome this limitation, not only by enhancing the speed and accuracy of phenotyping but also by expanding the range of evaluable traits through integration of various imaging systems. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging enables non-destructive estimation of plant volume and structure. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) generates reflectance data for a broad range of wavelengths that are associated with diverse physiological traits. We performed a pilot study to apply 3D and HSI for investigation of heterosis and cytoplasmic effects that have been evaluated previously based on manually analyzable traits. The plant volumes estimated from 3D images by a customized pipeline quantitatively showed heterosis in three cross combinations between genetically distant pepper (Capsicum annuum) accessions. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from HSI reflectance data also showed differences between parental and F 1 lines. The cytoplasmic effects investigated by comparison of F 1 lines derived from reciprocal crosses was subtle and thus was not detected in plant volume or NDVI values. However, the difference between F 1 lines was detected in a subset of cross combinations at a specific developmental stage based on reflectance for wavelength ranges selected as the most relevant. The results showed the potential utility of HSI data recorded throughout the plant life-span for analysis of cytoplasmic effects. The present study demonstrated the applicability of a HTP platform integrated with 3D and HSI systems for evaluation of combining ability in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diazoketo-functionalized alkoxysilane compound was synthesized, and its self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formation was studied on glass and silicon substrates. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to follow the photoreaction in this system, which proved that carboxylic groups were generated from diazoketo groups in the surface of the substrate. Photopatterning of biotin/streptavidin on the diazoketo-functionalized SAM shows the potential of this novel platform for biomolecular patterning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New photo-curable blends of electroluminescent polymeric hosts and charge-transporting dopants were designed for photo-patterning and avoiding phase separation during the process. Oxetane-functionalized polyfluorene derivatives, aryl amines, and aromatic oxadiazoles were synthesized. Through a standard photolithographic process, 5-μm line and space patterns of the electroluminescent material on silicon substrate were produced. Devices constructed from the photo-curable blends showed better color purity of blue emission and more excellent device performances compared with those of the pure polyfluorene derivative. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Proton ions are expected to be used as a discriminative radiation source to induce different kinds of mutations than those produced by γ-rays and carbon ions; however, there is little systemic information about radiosensitivity in plants. We analyzed the LD30, LD50, and RD50 values in response to proton ions and γ-rays using 20 plant species. Plant seeds were irradiated, and growth responses were measured one month after planting, except for cymbidium, for which in vitro rhizomes were irradiated. The rhizomes were analyzed at six and nine months after subculturing. Resistance to proton ions and γ-rays was observed in Chinese cabbage, watermelon, and melon, while Japanese atractylodes, naked barley, and lentil were susceptible. Plants belonging to the Brassicaceae and Cucurbitaceae families were highly resistant to radiation, and plants belonging to the Compositae and Poaceae families were highly susceptible. In addition, plants with genome sizes greater than 8,000 Mbp were highly sensitive to radiation, but there was no clear relationship between radiosensitivity and genome size in plants with genomes smaller than 2,500 Mbp. The biological effectiveness of proton ions was greater than that of γ-rays in 16 plant species, indicating that they could be used as a discriminative radiation source to induce mutations compared with γ-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a globally important grain legume providing a stable source of dietary protein, was one of the earliest plant cytogenetic models. However, the lack of draft genome annotations and unclear structural information on mRNA transcripts have impeded its genetic improvement. To address this, we sequenced faba bean leaf transcriptome using the PacBio single-molecule long-read isoform sequencing platform. We identified 28,569 nonredundant unigenes, ranging from 108 to 9669 bp, with a total length of 94.5 Mb. Many unigenes (3597, 12.5%) had 2–20 isoforms, indicating a highly complex transcriptome. Approximately 96.5% of the unigenes matched sequences in public databases. The predicted proteins and transcription factors included NB-ARC, Myb_domain, C3H, bHLH, and heat shock proteins, implying that this genome has an abundance of stress resistance genes. To validate our results, we selected WCOR413-15785, DHN2-12403, DHN2-14197, DHN2-14797, COR15-14478, and HVA22-15 unigenes from the ICE-CBF-COR pathway to analyze their expression patterns in cold-treated samples via qRT-PCR. The expression of dehydrin-related genes was induced by cold stress. The assembled data provide the first insights into the deep sequencing of full-length RNA from faba bean at the single-molecule level. This study provides an important foundation to improve gene modeling and protein prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin wound healing is essential for recovery from injury, and delayed or impaired wound healing is a severe therapeutic challenge. Keratinocytes, a major component of the epidermis, play crucial roles in reepithelialization during wound healing including cell proliferation. Recent studies have shown that compounds from natural products have candidates for healing skin injury. Isoegomaketone (IK), isolated from leaves of Perilla frutescens var. crispa (Lamiaceae), has various bioactivities. However, the effect of IK on cutaneous wound healing processes has not been studied yet. In this study, we demonstrated that IK exhibits therapeutic wound healing effects using the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Notably, IK promoted cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and treatment with 10 μM IK upregulated these processes by approximately 1.5-fold after 24 h compared with the control. IK induced the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway and cell cycle progression to the S and G2/M phases. Thus, this study demonstrates IK as a potential candidate to upregulate wound healing that may provide therapeutic benefits to patients with delayed wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy using ionizing radiation is a major therapeutic modality for advanced human lung cancers. However, ionizing radiation itself can induce malignant behaviors such as cancer cell migration and invasion, leading to local recurrence or distal metastasis. Therefore, safer and more effective agents that inhibit the metastatic behaviors of cancer cells in radiotherapy are needed. As a part of our ongoing search for new radiotherapy enhancers from medicinal herbs, we isolated the following triterpenoids from the ethanol extract of Centella asiatica: asiatic acid (1), madecassic acid (2), and asiaticoside (3). These compounds inhibited the ionizing radiation-induced migration and invasion of A549 human lung cancer cells at noncytotoxic concentrations. These results suggest that triterpenoids 1–3 isolated from C. asiatica are candidate natural compounds to enhance the effect of radiotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ionizing radiation has been used for developing new cultivars of diverse plant species, including Cymbidium orchid species. The effects of the total dose on mutation induction have been investigated; however, there is relatively little research on the influence of the dose rate or irradiation duration. Materials and methods: Thus, we analyzed the effects of the total dose and irradiation duration on the growth of Cymbidium hybrid RB001 protocorm-like bodies (PLBs). We completed a genotyping-by-sequencing analysis to compare the induced SNPs among five γ-irradiated populations with similar growth responses (LD50) to γ-rays. Results: The optimal time to assess the effects of the γ-irradiation was at 6 months after the treatment. On the basis of the survival rate of γ-irradiated PLBs, the optimal doses (LD50) for each irradiation duration were estimated: 1 h, 16.1 Gy; 4 h, 23.6 Gy; 8 h, 37.9 Gy; 16 h, 37.9 Gy; and 24 h, 40.0 Gy. The estimated optimal doses were duration-dependent at irradiation durations shorter than 8 h, but not at irradiation durations exceeding 8 h. A SNP comparison revealed a lack of significant differences among the mutations induced by γ-irradiations. Conclusions: These results indicate the irradiation duration affects PLB growth in response to γ-rays. Moreover, the mutations induced by a short-term treatment may be similar to those induced by a treatment over a longer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf color is an important agronomic trait in flowering plants, including orchids. However, factors underlying leaf phenotypes in plants remain largely unclear. A mutant displaying yellow leaves was obtained by the γ-ray-based mutagenesis of a Cymbidium orchid and characterized using RNA sequencing. A total of 144,918 unigenes obtained from over 25 million reads were assigned to 22 metabolic pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. In addition, gene ontology was used to classify the predicted functions of transcripts into 73 functional groups. The RNA sequencing analysis identified 2,267 differentially expressed genes between wild-type and mutant Cymbidium sp. Genes involved in the chlorophyll biosynthesis and degradation, as well as ion transport, were identified and assayed for their expression levels in wild-type and mutant plants using quantitative real-time profiling. No critical expression changes were detected in genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. In contrast, seven genes involved in ion transport, including two metal ion transporters, were down-regulated, and chlorophyllase 2, associated with chlorophyll degradation, was up-regulated. Together, these results suggest that alterations in chlorophyll metabolism and/or ion transport might contribute to leaf color in Cymbidium orchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functional and evolutionary characteristics of pepper FT -like genes were analyzed. • Ten PEBP family genes including six FT -like genes were determined in pepper. • Two of pepper FT -like genes promoted flowering while two delayed it in Arabidopsis. • Evolution of pepper FT -like genes involved genomic rearrangements and duplications. • Our results provide useful information for manipulation of flowering in pepper. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like genes play crucial and antagonistic roles in flowering induction in plants. We analyzed the functional and evolutionary characteristics of pepper FT -like genes. According to their similarity to an FT ortholog of tomato, 10 phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein family genes were retrieved from the pepper genome. Phylogenetic analysis placed the proteins encoded by six of these genes (CaFT1–CaFT6) into an FT-like clade. Comparative genomic analysis showed that four of pepper FT -like genes (CaFT1, CaFT2, CaFT3, CaFT4) have orthologous counterparts in other three solanaceous crops (tomato, potato, and tobacco). CaFT5 , which is unique to pepper, was inferred to have arisen by genomic rearrangement followed by duplication of CaFT2. Interestingly, CaFT6 , which has been nominated as a pepper FT ortholog, was located in a genomic region not syntenic to the loci of FT orthologs in other crops and was clustered with two other FT -like genes. This result implies the involvement of a unique evolutionary process in the origin of CaFT6. Pepper FT -like genes were mostly expressed in leaves, and their protein products interacted with FLOWERING LOCUS D. When they were overexpressed in Arabidopsis, flowering was promoted by two genes (CaFT6 and CaFT4) and delayed by two others (CaFT1 and CaFT3). The expressions of CaFT6 and CaFT4 were also negatively related to flowering time in pepper accessions implying that they act as flowering promoter genes. The conserved and unique characteristics of pepper FT- like genes provide insights into the dynamic evolution of FT -like genes and useful information for manipulation of FT- like genes to improve the productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Jacalin-related lectins in plants are important in defense signaling and regulate growth, development, and response to abiotic stress. We characterized the function of a rice mannose-binding jacalin-related lectin (OsJAC1) in the response to DNA damage from gamma radiation. Results: Time- and dose-dependent changes of OsJAC1 expression in rice were detected in response to gamma radiation. To identify OsJAC1 function, OsJAC1-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis plants were generated. Interestingly, OsJAC1 overexpression conferred hyper-resistance to gamma radiation in these plants. Using comparative transcriptome analysis, genes related to pathogen defense were identified among 22 differentially expressed genes in OsJAC1-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines following gamma irradiation. Furthermore, expression profiles of genes associated with the plant response to DNA damage were determined in these transgenic lines, revealing expression changes of important DNA damage checkpoint and perception regulatory components, namely MCMs, RPA, ATM, and MRE11. Conclusions: OsJAC1 overexpression may confer hyper-resistance to gamma radiation via activation of DNA damage perception and DNA damage checkpoints in Arabidopsis, implicating OsJAC1 as a key player in DNA damage response in plants. This study is the first report of a role for mannose-binding jacalin-related lectin in DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Soybean seeds contain 18–24% lipids, which are made up of 85% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Two of these (linoleic and linolenic acids) comprise essential fatty acids that are not synthesized in humans and animals. Linolenic acid plays a vital role in the maintenance of brain function and is a source of docosahexaenoic acid for retinal and nerve tissue, with its physiological functions being a focus of attention. RESULTS: We developed mutant soybean populations via gamma irradiation of Korean cultivars Danbaek and Daepung and evaluated the linolenic acid content of 78 and 154 M9 mutant progenies. We selected the four mutant lines with the highest linolenic acid contents based on 2 years of investigation of fatty acids. The selected mutant lines had linolenic acid contents that were 33.9% to 67.7% higher than those of the original cultivars and exhibited increased fatty acid desaturase (FAD) gene expression levels during seed development. We also identified nucleotide polymorphisms of FAD genes in the four mutant lines. CONCLUSION: The present study found that linolenic acid content is related to significantly increased expression levels of the FAD3C and FAD3D genes in the endoplasmic reticulum, which was uncovered by radiation mutation breeding of soybean. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Gamma-rays and carbon ions are frequently used for mutation breeding in diverse plant species, whereas proton ions have been rarely used for this purpose. This study assessed the potential of proton ions for plant mutation breeding. Materials and methods: We compared the effects of radiation on creeping bentgrass seeds with γ-rays, proton ions, and carbon ions on seed germination, plant growth parameters, and DNA fragmentation. Results and conclusions: The lethal dose 50 (LD50) doses based on seed germinability were 115.9 Gy (γ-rays), 225.1 Gy (proton ions), and 57.7 Gy (carbon ions). Threshold doses for survival were 150 Gy (γ-rays), 150 Gy (proton ions), and 25 Gy (carbon ions). Suppression of plant growth was displayed at 100 Gy (γ-rays), 25 Gy (proton ions), and 25 Gy (carbon ions). Similar patterns of decreasing head DNA percentage were observed for γ-rays and proton ions. Carbon ions induced the lowest frequency of DNA fragmentation. The biological effects of the ionizing radiation types on creeping bentgrass are summarizable as follows: germination, carbon ions (C)>γ-rays (G)>proton ions (P); survival, C > P = G; growth, C ≥ P > G; DNA fragmentation, G ≥ P > C. These results indicate that proton ions are useful as a physical mutagen in plant mutation breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aims were to determine the optimal gamma ray dose for faba bean (Vicia faba) and to identify genetic variation and indel mutation frequency among mutants using target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) markers. Materials and methods: Seeds from 10 elite lines were irradiated with gamma rays (50–700 Gy), and germination, survival rate, and representative morphological traits were measured. The extent of DNA damage was investigated using comet assays, and TRAP markers were used to evaluate genetic variation, genetic diversity, and mutation frequencies. Results: Germination percentages significantly decreased at doses >100 Gy. Survival percentages and morphological traits decreased with elevation in dose. The comet assays revealed that high irradiation doses decreased head DNA levels. Phylogenetic and principal component analysis of 555 individual faba bean plants resolved eight major groups. Genetic variation between controls and mutants was limited to within groups. Mutation frequencies were associated with gamma dose in each mutant line. Conclusions: The optimal gamma dose was 100–150 Gy on the basis of survival percentage and morphological response analysis. The TRAP markers distinguished mutant lines and showed association between mutation frequency and gamma doses. This study will be useful for faba bean mutation breeding and may be applicable to other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Wheat grain is recognized as a rich source of nutrients, including proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants. In recent years, the focus of wheat breeding has been to increase the content of bioactive compounds to improve human health and prevent diseases. RESULTS: Five novel wheat mutant lines with variable seed color were developed using gamma irradiation of hexaploid wheat inbred line K4191 (purple seed color). The total anthocyanin contents of three mutant lines (L47, L167 and L925) were significantly higher than those of wild‐type lines, including K4191 and 'Keumkang' (white seed color). L925 showed the highest total anthocyanin content, and cyanidin‐3‐glucoside was presented as the most predominant anthocyanin. Compared with 'Keumkang', the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes was significantly up‐regulated in purple seed mutant lines. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in L925 extracts. The expression of a few antioxidant‐related genes and total anthocyanin content were positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. These data suggest that anthocyanins and phenolic compounds in wheat grains contribute to the antioxidant potential. CONCLUSION: Purple grain color is associated with higher anthocyanin accumulation and antioxidant capacity in wheat. Wheat mutants developed in this study may serve as a valuable source of antioxidants. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), a new target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, degrades incretins such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. DPP-IV inhibitors shorten the inactivation of GLP-1, permitting the incretin to stimulate insulin release, thereby combating hyperglycemia. In our ongoing search for new DPP-IV inhibitors from medicinal plants and foods, three flavonol glycosides (1–3) were isolated from the seeds of Lens culinaris Medikus (Fabaceae) and tested for their DPP-IV–inhibitory activity. We demonstrated for the first time, that compounds 1–3 inhibited DPP-IV activity in a concentration-dependent manner in our in vitro bioassay system. In addition, molecular docking experiments of compounds 1–3 within the binding pocket of DPP-IV were conducted. All investigated compounds readily fit within the active sites of DPP-IV, in low-energy conformations characterized by the flavone core structure having optimal electrostatic attractive interactions with the catalytic triad residues of DPP-IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unicellular green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis has the highest content of the natural antioxidant, astaxanthin. Previously, it was determined that astaxanthin accumulation in H. pluvialis could be induced by blue-wavelength irradiation; however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. The present study aimed to compare the transcriptome of H. pluvialis, with respect to astaxanthin biosynthesis, under the monochromatic red (660 nm) or blue (450 nm) light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. Among a total of 165,372 transcripts, we identified 67,703 unigenes, of which 2245 and 171 were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to blue and red irradiation, respectively. Interestingly, expressional changes of blue light receptor cryptochromes were detected in response to blue and/or red LED irradiation in H. pluvialis, which may directly and indirectly regulate astaxanthin biosynthesis. In accordance with this observation, expression of the BKT and CHY genes, which are part of the downstream section of the astaxanthin biosynthetic pathway, was significantly upregulated by blue LED irradiation compared with their expression under control white irradiation. Contrastingly, they were downregulated by red LED irradiation. Our transcriptome study provided molecular insights that highlighted the different of responses of H. pluvialis to red and blue irradiation, especially for astaxanthin biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(−)-Epicatechin-3,5- O -digallate (ECDG) from Orostachys japonicus A. Berger was examined for inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. The results showed that the IC 50 value was achieved with nanomolar concentrations. Through the enzyme kinetic analysis, ECDG was shown to act as a competitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase by binding to the receptor active site. Fluorescence-quenching measurements showed that ECDG and the enzyme may have a one-to-one reaction with low quenching ( K sv ) and binding constants. A molecular docking study was performed to evaluate the receptor-ligand complex. Asn236 was found to be particularly important for hydrogen bond formation during the molecular dynamics simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to identify phytochemicals with inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. Nine compounds 1-9 were isolated from the tubers of Apios americana. This is the first report of aromadendrin 5-methyl ether (1) being isolated from the Apios species. Among them, compounds 2 and 8 showed inhibitory activity toward tyrosinase. Based on a Dixon plot, the potential Ki values of competitive inhibitors 2 and 8 were calculated as 10.3 ± 0.8 µM and 44.2 ± 1.7 µM, respectively. An IC50 value of 13.2 ± 1.0 µM was calculated for the slow-binding inhibitor 2 after preincubation with tyrosinase. Additionally, the predicted binding sites between the receptor and ligand, as well as secondary structure changes, in the presence of 2 were examined by molecular simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and novel method was developed to fabricate a nanoporous template by using a bilayer system composed of a silicon-containing block copolymer top layer and a dually responsive photoresist bottom layer. The dually responsive bottom layer became cross-linked by heating. The cross-linked polymer was mechanically hard and insoluble in common solvents. The block copolymer pattern was transferred to the bottom layer by oxygen reactive ion etching. High-aspect-ratio nanopore arrays were generated. The cross-linked bottom layer became soluble again by chain scission upon exposure to UV light. Therefore, the template with a highly orientated array of cylindrical nanopores could be easily removed by dipping in an aqueous base solution. This versatile template of nanoporous structures could be used to create freestanding 1D nanostructures of a variety of functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:Exposure to ionizing radiation induces plant defenses by regulating the expression of response genes. Thesystemic acquired resistance deficient 1(SARD1) is a key gene in plant defense response. In this study, the function ofOryza sativaSARD1 (OsSARD1) was investigated after exposure of seeds/plants to ionizing radiation, jasmonic acid (JA) or salicylic acid (SA). Materials and methods:Rice seeds exposed to two types of ionizing radiations (gamma ray [GR] and ion beam [IB]) were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to identify the genes that are altered in response to ionizing radiation. Then, OsSARD1-overexpressing homozygousArabidopsisplants were generated to assess the effects ofOsSARD1in the response to irradiation. The phenotypes of these transgenic plants, as well as control plants, were monitored after GR irradiation at doses of 200 and 300 Gray (Gy). Results:TheOsSARD1transcript was strongly downregulated after exposure to GR and IB irradiation. Previous phylogenetic analysis showed that theArabidopsisSARD1 (AtSARD1) protein is closely related toArabidopsiscalmodulin-binding protein 60g (AtCBP60g), which is known to be required for activation of SA biosynthesis. In this study, phylogenetic analysis showed that OsSARD1 was grouped with AtSARD1. TheOsSARD1gene was induced after exposure to SA and JA. The biological phenotype of OsSARD1-overexpressingArabidopsisplants was examined. OsSARD1-overexpressing plants displayed resistance to GR; in comparison with wild-type plants, the height and weight of OsSARD1-overexpressing plants were significantly greater after GR irradiation. In addition, OsSARD1 protein was abundantly accumulated in the nucleus. Conclusions:The results indicate thatOsSARD1plays an important role in the regulation of the defense responses to GR and IB irradiation and exhibits phytohormone induced expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. have been used as an herbal tea and in traditional medicine, and the plant has been developed to produce horticultural cultivars of various colors and shapes. In this study, a new chrysanthemum cultivar with dark purple petals (C. morifolium cv. ARTI-Dark Chocolate; ADC) was developed by radiation-induced mutation breeding of its original cultivar with purple striped white petals (C. morifolium cv. Noble Wine, NW). The phenolic profile and antioxidant property of ADC were investigated and compared with NW and the commercially available medicinal herb, C. morifolium with yellow petals (CM), in order to find a scientific support to produce a new source of natural antioxidant. Flavonoid and phenolic acid profiles of the ethanol extracts of the three flowers were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESIMS), while antioxidant properties were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Among the tested flowers, ADC possessed the strongest antioxidant capacity and the highest phenolic contents. Flavonoids (acacetin, apigenin, luteolin, acacetin-7-O-β-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-β-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-β-glucoside, and linarin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and mixture of 1,4-, 1,5-, and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids) were identified and quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to attracting pollinators and protecting plants from photooxidative damages, carotenoids play important roles in signaling related to plant development and physiological changes through their cleaved derivatives, apocarotenoids. Yellow chrysanthemum flower petals [ Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ramat.)] are the result of a deleted or suppressed carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene ( CmCCD4a ). Therefore, investigating the global gene expression patterns in chrysanthemum mutants producing yellow petals represents an appropriate strategy to analyze the effects of signaling mediated by carotenoid derivatives. We compared the transcriptomes of chrysanthemum cultivars producing white petals with purple stripes (‘Noble Wine’) and its mutant producing yellow petals with purple stripes (‘ARTI-Yellow Star’). Read mapping and polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that CmCCD4a is absent in the ARTI-Yellow Star genome, while at least three CmCCD4a gene family members are actively transcribed in ‘Noble Wine’ plants. These results indicate that the deletion of CmCCD4a may be responsible for the development of yellow petals in ARTI-Yellow Star flowers. During comparisons of gene expression patterns between Noble Wine and ARTI-Yellow Star, we detected numerous significantly up-regulated plastid protein-coding genes as well as significantly or mildly up-regulated carotenoid biosynthesis genes in ARTI-Yellow Star plants. The up-regulated plastid protein-coding genes belong to a broad range of functional categories related to translation, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species scavenging, oxidative phosphorylation, transcription, processing, terpenoid metabolism, and chlorophyll metabolism. Our results present a possible relationship between CmCCD4a and regulation of plastid protein-coding genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical model of a compressed piezoelectric ZnO rod is presented using two approximations. In one approximation, the total volume of the model system is maintained a constant, i.e., when a compressive force is applied vertically on the ZnO system, it is allowed to be deformed in the lateral direction. In the second approximation, the top potential of the ZnO rod is used as a constant initially. Later, this is approximated as a function of the radius after obtaining the first solution to observe the radial effects on the ZnO system potential. In the model used in this study, a ZnO rod of 880 nm in diameter and 700 nm in length was compressed by a tensile force of 107N/m2. The scaled magnitude of the potential (a two-dimensional contour map) shows a radial distribution of the potential. The radial effects are directly reflected on the piezoelectric potential and the device design is required to minimize such a potential variation to achieve better uniform device performance and efficiency [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysanthemum is one of the most popular ornamental plants, whose petal colors are primarily determined by pigments including flavonoids/anthocyanins and carotenoids. To develop chrysanthemum cultivars with various petal colors, mutation breeding targeting alteration of pigmentation pattern has been performed. A radiation-induced mutant line, ‘ARTI-purple’, showed a flower color altered from the original bright pink to purple. In this study, we used suppression subtractive hybridization to analyze transcripts and characterize the differential gene expression of chrysanthemum petals between the mutant ‘ARTI-purple’ and its wild-type Chrysanthemum × morifolium cultivar ‘Argus’. One hundred and seventy-six genes were identified ( e- value ≤ 1e − 5) and classified based on sequence homology to genes with known or putative functions. The genes were categorized functionally by gene ontology analysis and their tentative pathways were confirmed using the TAIR database. The analyses revealed that these genes were related to carbohydrate metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and lipid metabolism. Six genes in a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway which included the largest number of differentially expressed genes were selected for validation by quantitative PCR, and most of them showed higher expression levels compared with the wild-type. In addition, we isolated two novel clones (PC06E06 and PC08C09) having glutathione S -transferase (GST) family conserved domains and one clone (PC02G08) having a Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family conserved domain based on analysis using conserved domain database (CDD). The expressions of PC08C09 and PC02G08 were upregulated in ‘ARTI-purple’, which implies that anthocyanin accumulation pattern might be altered in mutant. In this study, we identified several differentially expressed genes between ‘Argus’ and ‘ARTI-purple’. The analysis suggested that several metabolic genes as well as glutathione S -transferases and MATEs might be involved in the control of flower pigmentation in chrysanthemum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach for fabricating ultrahigh-density sub-10 nm TiO 2 nanosheet arrays with high aspect ratios by incorporating the spacer-defined double-patterning process with nanoline templates via atom layer deposition (ALD) was demonstrated. A nanoline template can be fabricated readily by pattern transfer from a thin silicon-containing block copolymer film into a thick crosslinked organic polymer layer. The excellent thermal stability of the crosslinked organic template allowed the high-temperature ALD process to deposit the TiO 2 thin film conformally on the nanoline template. After the template was removed using dry etching and calcination, a highly crystalline anatase TiO 2 nanosheet array with a length of several micrometers was obtained. The thickness of the resulting TiO 2 nanosheet could be controlled below half the space of the originally defined nanoline template by incorporating the spacer-defined double-patterning process using ALD. This facile and scalable method could be a useful technique for fabricating ultrahigh-density arrays of various inorganic nanosheets with high aspect ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A lipoxygenase-free soybean mutant line (H70) induced by gamma ray was selected and its detailed information about the lipoxygenase was analyzed by comparison of DNA sequence. Abstract: Soybean seeds contain three lipoxygenase enzymes, which induce a beany or grassy flavor. The elimination of lipoxygenases can reduce the poor stability and off-flavors of soybean oil and protein products. In this study, we selected a soybean mutant (H70) in which the three lipoxygenases had been mutated using gamma rays. To obtain detailed information about the lipoxygenase, we investigated the sequences of the Lox1, Lox2 and Lox3 genes in H70 compared to the original cultivar, Hwanggum. Comparisons of the sequences of the Lox1 and Lox2 genes in H70 with those in a line with normal lipoxygenase (HG) showed that the mutations in these genes affected a highly conserved group of six histidine residues necessary for enzymatic activity. Lox1 in H70 contained a 74 bp deletion in exon 8, creating a stop codon that prematurely terminates translation. A single point mutation (T-A) in exon 8 of Lox2 changed histidine (H532, one of the iron-binding ligands essential for Lox2 activity) to glutamine. The mutation in the Lox3 gene in H70 was a single-point mutation in exon 6 (A-G), which changed the amino acid from histidine to arginine. This amino acid alteration in Lox3 was located in the N-terminal barrel, which might play a role in molecular recognition during catalysis and/or proteolysis. These results suggest that gene analysis based on DNA sequencing could be useful for elucidating the lipoxygenase content in soybean mutant lines. Additionally, the soybean mutant line selected in this study could be used to develop soybean cultivars with improved flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Counterfeiting is conducted in almost every industry, and the losses caused by it are growing as today’s world trade continues to increase. In an attempt to provide an efficient method to fight such counterfeiting, we herein demonstrate anti-counterfeit nanoscale fingerprints generated by randomly distributed nanowires. Specifically, we prepare silver nanowires coated with fluorescent dyes and cast them onto the surface of transparent PET film. The resulting non-repeatable patterns characterized by the random location of the nanowires and their fluorescent colors provide unique barcodes suitable for anti-counterfeit purposes. Counterfeiting such a fingerprint pattern is impractical and expensive; the cost of replicating it would be higher than the value of the typical target item being protected. Fingerprint patterns can be visually authenticated in a simple and straightforward manner by using an optical microscope. The concept of generating unique patterns by randomness is not limited to the materials shown in this paper and should be readily applicable to other types of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel interface imaging process is proposed for high resolution patterning. [•] This process utilizes the thin imaging layer for high resolution. [•] The thickness of the imaging layer can be controlled by acid penetration depth. [•] High aspect ratio patterns were obtained by the anisotropic reactive ion etching. [•] Post-exposure delay problems of chemically amplified resist systems can be solved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]