Search

Erwinia pyrifoliae, the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen responsible for black shoot blight, exhibits symptoms similar to E. amylovora(fire blight), though with distinct molecular characteristics. Given its prevalence primarily in South Korea and the availability of only nine assembled genomes, there is a lack of high-quality genome sequences and annotated genetic information for E. pyrifoliae. We present the sequencing and assembly of a Korean E. pyrifoliaestrain, YKB12327, isolated from a diseased apple tree branch, using a combination of long Oxford Nanopore Technologies and short Illumina sequence reads. This genome comprises a circular chromosome and three plasmid sequences, totaling 4,061,634 bp. Annotation of YKB12327 identifies 3123 coding sequence protein-coding genes, 22 rRNA genes (5S, 16S, and 23S), and 76 tRNA genes. Our sequence data will enrich the current E. pyrifoliaegenome resources and facilitate in understanding its evolution, diversity and structural variations, as well as the molecular basis of pathogenesis.

ABSTRACTOver the years over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as Netflix and Hulu have attracted a lot of customers and caused serious disruptions in the media and advertising industry. This paper examines the underlying cause of such a disruption by using big data from one of the leading multi-system operators (MSO) in the US, which provides cable TV, phone and Internet services to multiple communities. More specifically, the dataset allows us to model the behaviour of 267,276 unique households, who collectively watched 270,718 unique programs and examine the effects of online video consumption, different genres, and use of additional cable services on cord shaving. The findings suggest the most important predictors of cord shaving are video on demand and time spent watching different genres, especially live sports and news. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of the research for content distributors, content providers, and advertisers.

A high-performance and durable electroosmotic (EO) pump is developed by using electropolymerized PANI:PSS/C electrodes. PANI:PSS was electrochemically synthesized on the carbon fiber paper using cyclic voltammetry and characterized by a variety of physicochemical methods including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). There was a linear relationship with a regression coefficient R2≥ 0.97 between the applied potential and the peak current (Ipeak), maximum flow rate (Qmax), maximum pressure (Pmax), respectively. The EO pump built with PANI:PSS/C electrodes, with an active area of 1.0 cm2, generated the maximum stall pressure of 122 kPa and the maximum flow rate of 203 ul min−1at 4 V by using deionized (DI) water as a working fluid. The EO pumps assembled with PANI:PSS/C electrodes showed much better overall performances than those made with the bare carbon paper and exhibited good long-term stability without substantial decay for 5 days of continuous operation even at a high potential of 4 V.

Ir(NHC) (NHC, N-heterocyclic carbene)-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of sustainable ethylene glycol and various bioalcohols can produce industrially valuable α-hydroxy acids (AHAs). This study is the first to report the sustainable synthesis of higher CnAHAs, in addition to glycolic acid (C2AHA) and lactic acid (C3AHA). This catalytic system can be recycled to the seventh cycle while maintaining good yields. A reaction mechanism, including facile dehydrogenation of each alcohol and fast cross-coupling of dehydrogenated aldehydes forming products, was proposed based on 18O- and 2H-labeling experiments and electron spray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and NMR spectral analyses.

Platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity. There is growing evidence concerning a positive relationship between oxidative stress and bone loss, suggesting that PtNP could protect against bone loss by modulating oxidative stress. Intragastric administration of PtNP reduced ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss with a decreased level of activity and number of osteoclast (OC) in vivo. PtNP inhibited OC formation by impairing the receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand (RANKL) signaling. This impairment was due to a decreased activation of nuclear factor-?B and a reduced level of nuclear factor in activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFAT2). PtNP lowered RANKL-induced long lasting reactive oxygen species as well as intracellular concentrations of Ca2+oscillation. Our data clearly highlight the potential of PtNP for the amelioration of bone loss after estrogen deficiency by attenuated OC formation.

The SCARECROW (SCR) gene in Arabidopsis is required for asymmetric cell divisions responsible for ground tissue formation in the root and shoot. Previously, we reported that Zea mays SCARECROW (ZmSCR) is the likely maize ortholog of SCR. Here we describe conserved and divergent aspects of ZmSCR. Its ability to complement the Arabidopsisscr mutant phenotype suggests conservation of function, yet its expression pattern during embryogenesis and in the shoot system indicates divergence. ZmSCR expression was detected early during embryogenesis and localized to the endodermal lineage in the root, showing a gradual regionalization of expression. Expression of ZmSCR appeared to be analogous to that of SCR during leaf formation. However, its absence from the maize shoot meristem and its early expression pattern during embryogenesis suggest a diversification of ZmSCR in the patterning processes in maize. To further investigate the evolutionary relationship of SCR and ZmSCR, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using Arabidopsis, rice and maize SCARECROW-LIKE genes (SCLs). We found SCL23 to be the most closely related to SCR in both eudicots and monocots, suggesting that a gene duplication resulting in SCR and SCL23 predates the divergence of dicots and monocots.

Simultaneous detection of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, and norfloxacin in eggs by a combination of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was studied. Lipid matrices that have been considered to result in poor extraction and isolation of fluoroquinolones in eggs were removed first by SFE with supercritical CO2alone, and then the fluoroquinolones were extracted by SFE with supercritical CO2containing 20% (v/v) methanol for HPLC analysis. A time-course study of the extraction of lipid matrices of eggs suggested that the SFE method successfully removed the matrices within 20 min. When the fluoroquinolones added to control eggs were extracted by SFE, the extraction efficiency was similar to that by the solvent extraction method, giving the recovery percentages from 83 to 96% in a 40 min-extraction time. The fluoroquinolones extracted from eggs by SFE were analyzed simultaneously by HPLC equipped with a fluorescence detector with detection sensitivity at about 10 ppb for the detection limit. The standard calibration profiles of fluoroquinolones showed linear responses to HPLC, showing more than 0.995 for the mean r2value. This is the first report of the simultaneous measurement of fluoroquinolones in eggs by a combination of SFE and HPLC. Using the SFE method allowed us to avoid extensive sample preparation such as solvent extraction and chromatographic cleanup that are basically required in extraction of fluoroquinolones.

Sleep is a unique behavioral state that affects body functions and memory. Although previous studies suggested stimulation methods to enhance sleep, a new method is required that is practical for long-term and unconstrained use by people. In this study, we used a novel closed-loop vibration stimulation method that delivers a stimulus in interaction with the intrinsic heart rhythm and examined the effects of stimulation on sleep and memory. Twelve volunteers participated in the experiment and each underwent one adaptation night and two experimental conditions—a stimulation condition (STIM) and a no-stimulation condition (SHAM). The heart rate variability analysis showed a significant increase in the normalized high frequency and the normalized low frequency significantly decreased under the STIM during the slow-wave sleep (SWS) stage. Furthermore, the synchronization ratio between the heartbeat and the stimulus significantly increased under the STIM in the SWS stage. From the electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral analysis, EEG relative powers of slow-wave activity and theta frequency bands showed a significant increase during the STIM in the SWS stage. Additionally, memory retention significantly increased under the STIM compared to the SHAM. These findings suggest that the closed-loop stimulation improves the SWS-stage depth and memory retention, and further provides a new technique for sleep enhancement.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) detection in human serum and bioequivalence (BE) of two commercial DDB tablets was evaluated in 14 normal male subjects. The most suitable extracting solvent for DDB in serum was evaluated among dichloromethane, ether, ethylacetate, hexane, and pentane. Pentane:ether (9:1) mixture showed good extraction recovery of DDB from serum and also excluded serum components, which interfere the peak of DDB when assayed. HPLC conditions were as follows: UV absorbance detector, 280 nm; column, μ-Bondapak C