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Bamboo is a nontimber woody plant featuring a long vegetative stage and uncertain flowering time. Therefore, the genes belonging to flowering repressors might be essential in regulating the transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage in bamboo. The Short Vegetative Phase ( SVP) gene plays a pivotal role in floral transition and development. However, little is known about the bamboo SVP homologues. In this study, Phyllostachys violascens PvSVP1 is isolated by analysis of the P. edulis transcriptome database. Phylogenetic analysis shows that PvSVP1 is closely related to OsMADS55 (rice SVP homolog). PvSVP1 is ubiquitously expressed in various tissues, predominantly in vegetative tissues. To investigate the function of PvSVP1, PvSVP1 is overexpressed in Arabidopsis and rice under the influence of the 35S promoter. Overexpression of PvSVP1 in Arabidopsis causes early flowering and produces abnormal petals and sepals. Quantitative real-time PCR reveals that overexpression in Arabidopsis produces an early flowering phenotype by downregulating FLC and upregulating FT and produces abnormal floral organs by upregulating AP1, AP3 and PI expressions. Simultaneously, overexpression of PvSVP1 in rice alters the expressions of flowering-related genes such as Hd3a, RFT1, OsMADS56 and Ghd7 and promotes flowering under field conditions. In addition, PvSVP1 may be a nuclear protein which interacts with PvVRN1 and PvMADS56 on the yeast two-hybrid and BiFC systems. Our study suggests that PvSVP1 may play a vital role in flowering time and development by interacting with PvVRN1 and PvMADS56 in the nucleus. Furthermore, this study paves the way toward understanding the complex flowering process of bamboo.

Developing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated non-transgenic mutants in asexually propagated perennial crop plants is challenging but highly desirable. Here, we report a highly useful method using an Agrobacterium-mediated transient CRISPR/Cas9 gene expression system to create non-transgenic mutant plants without the need for sexual segregation. We have also developed a rapid, cost-effective, and high-throughput mutant screening protocol based on Illumina sequencing followed by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. Using tetraploid tobacco as a model species and the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene as a target, we successfully created and expediently identified mutant plants, which were verified as tetra-allelic mutants. We produced pds mutant shoots at a rate of 47.5% from tobacco leaf explants, without the use of antibiotic selection. Among these pds plants, 17.2% were confirmed to be non-transgenic, for an overall non-transgenic mutation rate of 8.2%. Our method is reliable and effective in creating non-transgenic mutant plants without the need to segregate out transgenes through sexual reproduction. This method should be applicable to many economically important, heterozygous, perennial crop species that are more difficult to regenerate.

The application of high-power DC equipment further increases the power supply scale of DC systems. But, it is difficult for a single converter to support high transmission power, so multiple converters must operate in parallel for efficient power transmission. In a parallel system comprising many IPOS phase-shifting full-bridge converters, current sharing can be realized via droop control. However, the stability of the parallel system using current-sharing control will appear poor in light load conditions, so it is necessary to analyze the stability of parallel systems in light load conditions. Firstly, a single IPOS phase-shifted full-bridge control system is modeled; on this basis, the state space model of the n-module paralleled IPOS phase-shifted full-bridge converters system is derived. Then, the influence of load power and the number of parallel IPOS phase-shifted full-bridge converters on the system stability is analyzed via eigenvalue analysis, and an optimal control strategy based on a particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. The control parameters are optimized for the parallel system of eight IPOS phase-shifted full-bridge converters. Finally, the above results are simulated to verify the accuracy of the stability analysis and the feasibility of the optimized control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitic oscillations in the rectifier diode voltage of phase-shifted-full-bridge (PSFB) converters limit their application in high-voltage and high-power situations. The conventional analysis method for parasitic oscillation in rectifier diode voltage in PSFB converters treats the filter inductor as a constant current source and fails to consider the impact of changes in filter inductor current on the rectifier diode's parasitic oscillation. Consequently, this approach does not apply when analyzing the rectifier diode voltage's parasitic oscillations in high-power PSFB converters employing an input-parallel output-series (IPOS) configuration with interleaved drive. This research paper introduces an innovative equivalent circuit model for analyzing the parasitic oscillations of rectifier diode voltage in IPOS high-power PSFB converters. The model takes into account the mutual influence of rectifier diode voltage oscillations between submodules under interleaved control, considering the influence of changes in filter inductor current on rectifier diode parasitic oscillation. Based on the circuit model, we explain the mechanism of multiple oscillations of the rectifier diode voltage and the reason for the high peak of the first oscillation. Consequently, the interplay of rectifier diode voltage oscillations in IPOS high-power k-module PSFB converters under interleaved control is analyzed. To mitigate the adverse effects of rectifier diode voltage parasitic oscillation, a buffering strategy involving the connection of a resistor capacitor diode (RCD) circuit in parallel after the rectifier bridge is adopted, considering the structure of the IPOS high-power PSFB converter. The study provides a detailed analysis of the circuit's operation mechanism upon incorporating the RCD buffer circuit and establishes the relationship between buffer capacitance, resistance, and spike voltage. Furthermore, a design method for buffer capacitors and discharge resistors in buffer circuits is presented. Finally, a 100 kW prototype is tested to verify the rectifier diode voltage oscillation mechanism of the IPOS high-power PSFB converter and the rationality of the buffer capacitor and discharge resistor design method under the interleaved drive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the grid‐connected interface device of wind and photovoltaic power generation, the voltage source converter (VSC) must pass the low voltage ride‐through (LVRT) test. However, existing literature demonstrates that under weak grid conditions, there is a possibility of severe fluctuations in the terminal voltage of VSC during transiting from the pre‐sag normal operation mode to the LVRT mode. Unfortunately, it will make VSC frequently enter and exit LVRT mode. In order to address the tricky problem of transient instability of VSC riding‐through severe grid voltage sag under the weak grid, in this paper, the full‐order large‐signal model of VSC is established first. Then, based on the established model, the analysis indicates VSC will face the risk of losing stability under the weak grid during LVRT due to current transients. By studying the impacts of low short circuit ratio (SCR) on the basin of attraction of the post‐sag equilibrium point, the intrinsic mechanism of VSC losing stability under weak grid conditions is revealed. Moreover, considering that the transient stability is related to the current control, the stability‐enhanced LVRT control ensuring both small‐signal stability and transient stability of VSC during LVRT is proposed. Finally, the correctness of the above theoretical analysis is verified by real‐time simulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standalone solar‐storage AC supply system is an efficient form of utilizing renewable energy. The solar‐storage supply system normally includes two types of converters, grid‐forming (GFM) and grid‐following (GFL) converters. Nevertheless, the incompatibility of the dynamic performance between the GFM and GFL converters due to different control schemes may introduce the transient instability risk to the solar‐storage supply system. To address this issue, it is extremely necessary to perform transient stability analysis and stability‐enhanced control for such a system. In this paper, a sixth‐order model of the dc‐link timescale for the solar‐storage supply system is developed, whose accuracy and applicability are verified by comparing with the detailed electromagnetic model. Based on the derived model, the analysis demonstrates that the solar‐storage supply system faces the potential risk of transient instability under large disturbances of sudden load variation, due to the mismatch of the transient response speeds between virtual excitation control of the GFM converter and dc voltage control of the GFL converter. The transient stability boundary of the system is quantitatively investigated, by depicting the basin of attraction of the post‐disturbance equilibrium point. Furthermore, from the perspective of improving the coordination of the transient behaviours between the GFM converter and the GFL converter, the parameters related to virtual excitation control and dc voltage control are designed to enhance the transient stability of the system. Time‐domain simulations and real‐time simulations are conducted to validate the theoretical analysis. DC–AC power convertors, microgrids, power system control, power system transient stability, renewable energy power conversion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatic mmbryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) is a kind of protein kinase widely distributed in plants. It plays a vital role in regulating plant immunity and responses to abiotic stress. The SERK gene family has not been systematically studied in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). In this study, we identified six PeSERK genes and classified them into four groups in moso bamboo. PeSERKs of each group shared a highly similar distribution of conserved domains. Cis-element analysis indicated that many stress and hormone response elements are distributed on the promoters of PeSERKs. Moreover, we analyzed the chromosomal locations and synteny of PeSERKs. A collinear gene pair, PeSERK1 and PeSERK3, shared a high similarity, 93%, and the expression analysis showed similar expression patterns. Compared to PeSERK3, PeSERK1 had a higher expression in all tissues examined and all stages of shoot development. PeSERK3 was expressed mainly in leaf sheaths but with a low expression in other tissues. The expressions of PeSERKs were analyzed in seedlings under abiotic and hormone treatments using qRT-PCR. Except for PeSERK1 and PeSERK3, the expressions of most genes were downregulated or had no big difference at 0 h of drought treatment. Under drought treatment, PeSERK1 and PeSERK3 had a similar expression trend of increasing first and then decreasing. However, the expression level of PeSERK3 was higher than PeSERK1 after 3 h of drought treatment. PeSERK3 might play a more vital role in the drought stress response than PeSERK1. This study provides a theoretical basis for the further study of the SERK response to stress conditions in moso bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrocalamus farinosus is one of the essential bamboo species mainly used for food and timber in the southwestern region of China. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of D. farinosus is sequenced, assembled, and the phylogenetic relationship analyzed. The cp genome has a circular and quadripartite structure, has a total length of 139,499 bp and contains 132 genes: 89 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs and 35 tRNAs. The repeat analyses showed that three types of repeats (palindromic, forward and reverse) are present in the genome. A total of 51 simple sequence repeats are identified in the cp genome. The comparative analysis between different species belonging to Dendrocalamus revealed that although the cp genomes are conserved, many differences exist between the genomes. The analysis shows that the non-coding regions were more divergent than the coding regions, and the inverted repeat regions are more conserved than the single-copy regions. Moreover, these results also indicate that rpoC2 may be used to distinguish between different bamboo species. Phylogenetic analysis results supported that D. farinosus was closely related to D. latiflorus. Furthermore, these bamboo species' geographical distribution and rhizome types indicate two evolutionary pathways: one is from the tropics to the alpine zone, and the other is from the tropics to the warm temperate zone. Our study will be helpful in the determination of the cp genome sequences of D. farinosus, and provides new molecular data to understand the Bambusoideae evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, a late mediator of lethality in sepsis, can induce acute inflammatory lung injury. Here, we identify the critical role of [alpha]-chemokine receptors in the HMGB1-induced inflammatory injury and show that [alpha]-chemokine receptor inhibition increases survival in sepsis, in a clinically relevant time frame. Intratracheal instillation of recombinant HMGB1 induces a neutrophilic leukocytosis, preceded by alveolar accumulation of the [alpha]-chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and accompanied by injury and increased inflammatory potential within the air spaces. To investigate the role of [alpha]-chemokine receptors in the injury, we instilled recombinant HMGB1 (0.5 [micro]g) directly into the lungs and administered a subcutaneous [micro]-chemokine receptor inhibitor, Antileukinate (200 [micro]g). [alpha]-Chemokine receptor blockade reduced HMGB1-induced inflammatory injury (neutrophils: 2.9 [+ or -] 3.2 vs. 8.1 [+ or -] 2.4 x [10.sup.4] cells; total protein: 120 [+ or -] 48 vs. 311 [+ or -] 129 [micro]g/ml; reactive nitrogen species: 2.3 [+ or -] 0.3 vs. 3.5 [+ or -] 1.3 [micro]M; and macrophage migration inhibitory factor: 6.4 [+ or -] 4.2 vs. 37.4 [+ or -] 15.9 ng/ml) within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, indicating that HMGB1-induced inflammation and injury are [alpha]-chemokine mediated. Because HMGB1 can mediate late septic lethality, we administered Antileukinate to septic mice and observed increased survival (from 58% in controls to 89%) even when the inhibitor treatment was initiated 24h after the induction of sepsis. These data demonstrate that [alpha]-chemokine receptor inhibition can reduce HMGB1-induced lung injury and lethality in established sepsis and may provide a novel treatment in this devastating disease. acute lung injury; [alpha]-chemokines; polymorphonuclear neutrophils

Delayed polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) apoptosis exacerbates acute lung injury. To reach the alveolar spaces, PMNs must migrate across both pulmonary endothelial and epithelial cell layers. We hypothesized that transmigration across the endothelium-epithelium bilayer suppresses PMN apoptosis and sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. PMNs freshly isolated from normal volunteers were allowed to migrate across polycarbonate membranes alone or membranes coated with a bilayer of human lung endothelial and epithelial cells. After migration toward different chemoattractants (IL-8, formy1-Met-Leu-Phe, or leukotriene [B.sub.4]), PMN apoptosis and caspase activities were assessed by annexin V, histology, and enzymatic assays, respectively. Messenger RNA and specific protein expression in three receptor ligand-mediated, apoptosis-inducing pathways (Fas, TNF-[alpha], and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) were further examined by gene array, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and Western blot analyses. The data demonstrated that transbilayer migration suppressed PMN apoptosis, and this effect was not chemoattractant type specific. Kinetic analyses further showed that the delay of apoptosis was sustained to at least 18 h. Transbilayer migration caused significant decreases in caspase (-3, -8, and -9) activities. The changes in apoptosis-related gene expression support the survival role of transbilayer migration. Furthermore, the reduced apoptosis was correlated with downregulation of Fas ligand and TNF receptor 1 expression. Our data reveal that migration across a lung endothelium-epithelium bilayer suppresses PMN apoptosis. The decreased activity and/or expression of proapoptotic proteins may provide possible targets for the regulation of inappropriate delay in PMN apoptosis during lung inflammation and injury. neutrophils; chemotaxis; interleukin-8

Physiological anti-inflammatory mechanisms can potentially be exploited for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Here we report that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine inhibits HMGB1 release from human macrophages by signaling through a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Nicotine, a selective cholinergic agonist, is more efficient than acetylcholine and inhibits HMGB1 release induced by either endotoxin or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-[alpha]). Nicotinic stimulation prevents activation of the NF-[kappa]B pathway and inhibits HMGB1 secretion through a specific 'nicotinic anti-inflammatory pathway' that requires the [alpha]7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ([alpha]7nAChR). In vivo, treatment with nicotine attenuates serum HMGB1 levels and improves survival in experimental models of sepsis, even when treatment is started after the onset of the disease. These results reveal acetylcholine as the first known physiological inhibitor of HMGB1 release from human macrophages and suggest that selective nicotinic agonists for the [alpha]7nAChR might have therapeutic potential for the treatment of sepsis., Author(s): Hong Wang [1, 5]; Hong Liao [1, 5]; Mahendar Ochani [2]; Marilou Justiniani [1]; Xinchun Lin [3]; Lihong Yang [2]; Yousef Al-Abed [1]; Haichao Wang [4]; Christine Metz [1]; [...]

Abstract Background MIF is a critical mediator of the host defense, and is involved in both acute and chronic responses in the lung. Neutralization of MIF reduces neutrophil accumulation into the lung in animal models. We hypothesized that MIF, in the alveolar space, promotes neutrophil accumulation via activation of the CD74 receptor on macrophages. Methods To determine whether macrophage CD74 surface expression contributes MIF-induced neutrophil accumulation, we instilled recombinant MIF (r-MIF) into the trachea of mice in the presence or absence of anti-CD74 antibody or the MIF specific inhibitor, ISO-1. Using macrophage culture, we examined the downstream pathways of MIF-induced activation that lead to neutrophil accumulation. Results Intratracheal instillation of r-MIF increased the number of neutrophils as well as the concentration of macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC) in BAL fluids. CD74 was found to be expressed on the surface of alveolar macrophages, and MIF-induced MIP-2 accumulation was dependent on p44/p42 MAPK in macrophages. Anti-CD74 antibody inhibited MIF-induced p44/p42 MAPK phosphorylation and MIP-2 release by macrophages. Furthermore, we show that anti-CD74 antibody inhibits MIF-induced alveolar accumulation of MIP-2 (control IgG vs. CD74 Ab; 477.1 ± 136.7 vs. 242.2 ± 102.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05), KC (1796.2 ± 436.1 vs. 1138.2 ± 310.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and neutrophils (total number of neutrophils, 3.33 ± 0.93 × 104 vs. 1.90 ± 0.61 × 104, p < 0.05) in our mouse model. Conclusion MIF-induced neutrophil accumulation in the alveolar space results from interaction with CD74 expressed on the surface of alveolar macrophage cells. This interaction induces p44/p42 MAPK activation and chemokine release. The data suggest that MIF and its receptor, CD74, may be useful targets to reduce neutrophilic lung inflammation, and acute lung injury.

Bamboo is an important model plant to study the molecular mechanisms of rapid shoot growth and flowering once in a lifetime. However, bamboo research about protein functional characterization is largely lagged behind, mainly due to the lack of gene transformation platforms. In this study, a protoplast transient gene expression system in moso bamboo has been first established. Using this reliable and efficient system, we have generated a set of multicolored fluorescent markers based on the targeting sequences from endogenous proteins, which have been validated by their comparative localization with Arabidopsis organelle markers, in a combination with pharmaceutical treatments. Moreover, we further demonstrated the power of this multicolor marker set for rapid, combinatorial analysis of the subcellular localization of uncharacterized proteins, which may play potential functions in moso bamboo flowering and fast growth of shoots. Finally, this protoplast transient gene expression system has been elucidated for functional analysis in protein–protein interaction by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and co-immunoprecipitation analysis. Taken together, in combination with the set of moso bamboo organelle markers, the protoplast transient gene expression system could be used for subcellular localization and functional study of unknown proteins in bamboo and will definitely promote rapid progress in diverse areas of research in bamboo plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NAC (NAM, AFAT and CUC) proteins play necessary roles in plant response to environmental stresses. However, the functional roles of NAC genes in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), an essential economic perennial woody bamboo species, are not well documented. In this study, we retrieved 152 PeNAC genes from the moso bamboo V2 genome, and PeSNAC-1 was isolated and functionally characterized. PeSNAC-1 was localized in the nucleus and had no transactivation activity in yeast. PeSNAC-1 extremely expressed in rhizome and young roots (0.1 and 0.5 cm) and was significantly induced by drought and salt treatments but repressed by abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate and high temperature (42 °C) in moso bamboo. Under water shortage and salinity conditions, survival ratios, F v /F m values, physiological indexes such as activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase and contents of malondialdehyde, H2O2 and proline were significantly higher in transgenic rice than the wild type, which suggests enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress in PeSANC-1 overexpressed plants. Transcript levels of Na+/H+ antiporter and Na + transporter genes (OsSOS1 , OsNHX1 and OsHKT1;5), ABA signaling and biosynthesis genes (OsABI2 , OsRAB16 , OsPP2C68 , OsLEA3-1 , OsLEA3 , OsNCED3 , OsNCED4 and OsNCED5) and ABA-independent genes (OsDREB1A , OsDREB1B and OsDREB2A) were substantially higher in transgenic as compared with the wild type. Moreover, protein interaction analysis revealed that PeSNAC-1 could interact with stress responsive PeSNAC-2/4 and PeNAP-1/4/5 in both yeast and plant cells, which indicates a synergistic effect of those proteins in regulating the moso bamboo stress response. Our data demonstrate that PeSNAC-1 likely improved salt and drought stress tolerance via modulating gene regulation in both ABA-dependent and independent signaling pathways in transgenic rice. In addition, PeSNAC-1 functions as an important positive stress regulator in moso bamboo, participating in PeSNAC-1 and PeSNAC-2/4 or PeSNAC-1 and PeNAP-1/4/5 interaction networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves and roots harbor taxonomically diverse bacterial assemblages which enhance plant growth and performance by increasing nutrient supply and resistance to stress. An extensive investigation of bacterial diversity and composition between leaf and root microbiota of 15 bamboo species differing in rhizome types, lifeforms and sampling sites were conducted by high-through sequencing. The alpha diversity between leaf and root microbiota was not significantly different, whereas, their beta diversity differed remarkably. Niche specialization mainly in species from Actinobacteria was detected which prefer to colonize in roots than leaves. Community structure of leaf microbiota was highly resembled, however, the phylogeny inferred by host's chloroplast data was incongruent with microbiota dendrogram, indicating that phylosymbiosis didn't occur in bamboos and their associated microbiota. Large overlap in functional profiling of leaf and root-associated microbiota was found. Accordingly, we proposed that environmental conditions, structural variation and physiological differences between leaves and roots worked collaboratively for divergence of bamboo microbiota. This study confers to a robust knowledge of bamboo-microbe interaction and provides a list of bacterial lineages for investigation into specific plant–microbe interaction information of which could be used to enhance agricultural and forest productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The YABBY gene family plays a vital role in the polarity development of lateral organs. Here, we isolated a BoYABBY1 (BoYAB1) gene from Bambusa oldhamii and encodes for 167aa protein. This gene contains a zinc-finger motif in its N terminus and a YABBY domain in its C terminus. Based on multiple sequence alignment, BoYAB1 was shown closely related to OsYAB1 from rice with a sequence identity of 88.76%. Expression analysis (RT-qPCR) and in-situ hybridisation results revealed that the preferential accumulation of BoYAB1 was in the stamen and carpel primordia of flower buds. Ectopic expression of BoYAB1 in Arabidopsis thaliana caused late flowering, narrow while curled leaves, and the curl was pointed towards the abaxial side. Further assays indicated that the observed phenotypic differences were associated with the expression level of exogenous BoYAB1 gene in transgenic plants. These results suggested that the BoYAB1 gene might be involved in leaf development and regulation of flowering time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-controlled three-phase three-leg inverters are widely applied in various occasions. The inverters are generally switched to the current-controlled mode to limit the fault currents when short-circuit faults happen. Under symmetrical fault, the inverter can be controlled as a symmetrical, three-phase current source. However, the voltage limiting will happen under asymmetrical fault. As a result, the fault phase currents will be distorted and cannot be completely controlled. Considering that the voltage limiting is mainly caused by large load impedance of healthy phase under asymmetrical fault, the voltage limiting is avoided by paralleling the virtual impedance with the output filter capacitor in this paper. As a result, the current limiting loop is not broken and the fault phase currents can be effectively controlled. The implementation of virtual impedance in control system and the influence of virtual impedance on the stability of system are also analyzed in detail in this paper. The theoretical results are validated by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of lateral buds on the underground rhizome in moso bamboo is essentially the early stage of the development of aboveground branching, which is regulated by Phosphatidyl-Ethanolamine Binding Protein (PEBP) family genes, but it is unknown whether the PEBP family genes are involved in the activation and development of lateral buds underground. By scanning the whole-genome sequence of moso bamboo, we identified 25 PhePEBP family genes and amplified their full-length open reading frames (ORFs). A sequence analysis revealed that they are composed of four exons and three introns, except for PheFT10 , which contains six exons and five introns. PheFT10 underwent alternative splicing, resulting in at least four transcripts (PheFT10α, PheFT10β, PheFT10γ and PheFT10δ). Although PhePEBP genes are generally expressed at low levels and show dramatically organ-specific expressions, the transcription levels of most PhePEBP genes, including the transcripts of PheFT10 , change with plant age. Together with the observation that the expression of PhePEBP family genes can be regulated by plant hormones and drought, our data suggest that PhePEBP family genes might be involved in the activation of lateral buds and seedling growth. Particularly, PheFT9 , PheTFL2 and PheTFL8 may play vital roles during the activation of dormant buds based on the analysis of amino acid substitution and expression profile. These findings provide insights for in-depth exploration of the biological functions of the PhePEBP family genes in regulating the activation of dormant bud and the development of seedling in moso bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo are woody grass species containing important economic and ecological values. Lei bamboo (Phyllostachys violascens) is a kind of shoot-producing bamboo species with the highest economic yield per unit area. However, identifying different varieties of Lei bamboo based on morphological characteristics is difficult. Microsatellites play an important role in plant identification and genetic diversity analysis and are superior to other molecular markers. In this study, we identified 18,356 expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) loci in Lei bamboo transcriptome data. A total of 11,264 primer pairs were successfully designed from unigenes of all EST-SSR loci, and 96 primer pairs were randomly selected and synthesized. A total of 54 primer pairs were used for classifying 16 Lei bamboo varieties and 10 different Phyllostachys species. The number of polymorphism alleles among the 54 primer pairs ranged from 3 to 12 for P. violascens varieties and 3 to 20 for Phyllostachys. The phylogenetic tree based on polymorphism alleles successfully distinguished 16 P. violascens varieties and 10 Phyllostachys species. Our study provides abundant EST-SSR resources that are useful for genetic diversity analysis and molecular verification of bamboo and suggests that SSR markers developed from Lei bamboo are more efficient and reliable than ISSR, SRAP or AFLP markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-phase three-leg inverter is one of the most popular topologies for inverters. When short-circuit fault occurs, the inverter is generally switched to the current-controlled mode from voltage-controlled mode to limit the fault currents. In this situation, the inverter becomes equivalent to a symmetric, three-phase, positive sequence current source. However, the voltage limiting may occur under asymmetrical fault. In this paper, a closed-loop model based on time-domain is originally developed as a means to investigate the fault current characteristics under asymmetrical fault. Based on the proposed model, a more intuitive insight into fault currents is presented as follows. 1) The positive sequence fundamental component of three-phase currents can still track the symmetric current references. 2) The magnitude of fault phase currents (ignoring the harmonics) will vary between 1 and $\sqrt 3 $ times of magnitude of current limiting references. Based on the conclusion, although the magnitudes of fault phase currents can be reduced by adopting smaller current limiting references, the actual magnitudes of fault phase currents will still vary in a range depending on the load impendence of healthy phase. Therefore, the reliable action of the protection devices is greatly affected and the selective protection cannot be realized. Furthermore, in order to achieve completely controllable fault currents under asymmetrical fault, two alternative current limiting strategies are presented with reverse current limiting references, and with current limiting references based on the introduced phase angle regulation. The theoretical results are validated by simulations and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was reported that the activity of NiR (nitrite reductase) enzyme encoded by theNiRgene was correlated with the regeneration ability in rice. To testify the function ofNiRgene in bamboo, seven bamboo species whose calli had different differentiation rate were chosen to analyse their NiR enzyme activity. The results showed that bamboo NiR enzymatic activity had a certain correlation with the regeneration capacity. ANiRgene namedDhNiRfromDendrocalamus hamiltoniiwith high regeneration capacity was cloned. Sequence analysis revealed that the ORF ofDhNiRwas 1779bp encoding 592 amino acids. Overexpression ofDhNiRin rice reduced the time of shoot differentiation and increased the transformation rate, suggesting thatDhNiRmight play an important role in the regeneration ability of bamboo, and can be applied in regeneration and gene transformation of bamboo and other plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

14-3-3 Proteins are a family of highly conserved regulatory molecules expressed in all eukaryotic cells and regulate a diverse set of biological responses in plants. However, their functions in flowering of Phyllostachys violascens are poorly understood. In this study, four non∈ Pv14-3-3 genes from P. violascens were identified and named PvGF14b, PvGF14c, PvGF14e, and PvGF14f. qRT-PCR analyses revealed that PvGF14b and PvGF14e exhibited widely expressed in all tested bamboo tissues. PvGF14b was highest expression in root and lowest in immature leaf. Whereas PvGF14c and PvGF14f showed tissue-specific expression. PvGF14c was mainly expressed in immature and mature leaves. PvGF14f was highest expression in mature leaves. These four genes were not significantly differentially expressed in mature leaf before bamboo flowering and during flower development. PvGF14b and PvGF14c were not induced by circadian rhythm. PvGF14c displayed subcellular localization in the cytoplasm and PvFT in nucleus and cytoplasm. Yeast two-hybrid screening and bimolecular fluorescence complementation confirmed the interaction between PvGF14c and PvFT. The overexpression of PvGF14b, PvGF14c, and PvGF14e significantly delayed flowering time in transgenic Arabidopsis under long-day condition. These findings suggested that at least three PvGF14 genes are involved in flowering and may act as a negative regulator of flowering by interacting with PvFT in bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callus induction and plant regeneration ofMniochloa abersendvia lateral shoots were conducted in this study. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.0 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was effective for compact callus induction. Remarkably, calli on the MS medium with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D yielded the highest folds of proliferation (8.01), and showed a high potential capacity to differentiate 1 year after subculture. In addition, the compact calli possessed 100% differentiation rate and generated more shoots that were green and strong in 1.0 mg/L kinetin and 1.0 mg/L NAA. Vigorous roots were generated in the 1/2MS supplemented with 0.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid, and the resultant plantlets exhibited 90% survival rate after they were hardened and transplanted. The established regeneration system ofM. abersendprovides a promising platform for bamboo gene function study. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since its conception, the quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI) has been extensively studied, especially in renewable energy applications fields due to its ability to withstand shoot-through and provide continuous current. However, research thus far has only explored symmetric qZSI/ZSI impedance network with large inductances and capacitances. By utilizing next-gen wideband-gap devices at high-switching frequency, the impedance network can be significantly reduced. However, the reduced qZS impedance network will result in abnormal operation modes, in addition to frequency resonances, in several kilohertz range. Thus, this paper first thoroughly explains the occurrence of the abnormal states, analyzes the effects of the abnormal states on the frequency resonance, and then proposes a control method to suppress the resonance that result from the reduced impedance network. A 1-kW prototype is built and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the analysis and proposed control method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

By using shoot tips as explants, various media and culture conditions for callus induction and proliferation, shoot differentiation, root induction and plantlet transplantation to develop an efficient and reliable regeneration system with Dendrocalamus hamiltonii were tested. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3 mg/l 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1 mg/l benzyladenine (BA), 500 mg/l glutamine, 500 mg/l proline, and 500 mg/l casein hydrolysate yielded the best rates of callus induction and granular-compact callus induction. MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA, 0.3 mg/l kinetin and 0.3 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid conferred the highest differentiation rate of calli. The maximum rooting rate was obtained in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid, and the roots were long and thick. All hardened plantlets survived after transfer to an equal ratio mixture of peat, vermiculite and perlite. The regeneration system of D. hamiltonii developed is efficient and provides a useful tool for genetic transformation in bamboo species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the novel kinin B1 receptor antagonist BI113823 on postinfarction cardiac remodeling and heart failure, and to determine whether B1 receptor blockade alters the cardiovascular effects of an angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor in rats. Methods and results Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to permanent occlusion of the left coronary artery. Cardiovascular function was determined at 6 weeks postinfarction. Treatment with either B1 receptor antagonist (BI113823) or an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril) alone or in combination significantly reduced the heart weight-to-body weight and lung weight-to-body weight ratios, and improved postinfarction cardiac function as evidenced by greater cardiac output, the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (± dP/dtmax), left ventricle ejection fraction, fractional shorting, better wall motion, and attenuation of elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Furthermore, all three treatment groups exhibited significant reduction in cardiac interstitial fibrosis, collagen deposition, CD68 positive macrophages, neutrophils, and proinflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α and IL-1β), compared to vehicle controls. Conclusion The present study shows that treatment with the novel kinin B1 receptor antagonist, BI113823, reduces postinfarction cardiac remodeling and heart failure, and does not influence the cardiovascular effects of the ACE inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboos are versatile multipurpose forest products that are so important economically that they are often referred to as 'green gold'. With the development of modern gardens, bamboos have become one of the main garden plants because of their unique aesthetic beauty. However, flowering usually causes bamboo to die. To explore the genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie the transition from the vegetative to reproductive stage in bamboos, two FT-like genes, PvFT1 and PvFT2, were identified in a bamboo species ( Phyllostachys violascens). The cDNA sequences of PvFT1 and PvFT2 consisted of 962 bp and 890 bp, respectively, and each encodes 178 amino acids. These two proteins belonged to the PEBP family and contained a Tyr residue that is critical to differentiate FT and TFL1. Like other florigen, PvFT1 is expressed only in the leaves and reached its highest level 20 to 30 days before flowering. It's transcript is not detected in those plants that never flowered, while PvFT2 mRNA is observed only in spikelet. PvFT1 transcript accumulation was diurnally expressed with a peak at dusk. Constitutive expression of full-length PvFT1 in rice cause early flowering relative to wild-type and in vitro, 50 % of shooting plants displayed structures that resembled floral organs. Our results suggested that PvFT1 might be a candidate gene for florigen and played a role in the induction of bamboo flowering, while PvFT2 might be involved in the development of floral organs. This information could lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in bamboo flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered sabiporide, a selective Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor on whole body protection from severe sepsis in rats. Methods: Series 1: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Animals received treatment of vehicle or sabiporide (10 mg/kg, p.o.). The experiment was terminated 20 h after CLP. Series 2: At 20 h after CLP, the necrotic cecum was excised and the abdominal cavity was washed. The animals were then returned to their cages. The experiment was terminated 7 d after CLP. Results: Series 1: Compared with vehicle treatment, administration of sabiporide prevented hemodynamic derangement and improved cardiac function as evidenced by improved arterial pressure, left ventricle systolic pressure, ±dp/dt max, ejection fraction and fractional shorting, attenuated left ventricle end-diastolic pressure elevation, and wall motion abnormality. Furthermore, administration of sabiporide attenuated intestinal mucosal hyperpermeability and reduced accumulation of abdominal ascites. In addition, treatment with sabiporide also reduced plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, cardiac troponin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea, and lactate, and attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the liver and gut. Series 2: Administration of sabiporide improved the 7-day survival rate after CLP in rats (42% in vehicle group versus 75% in sabiporide group). Conclusions: Administration of sabiporide improved cardiovascular performance, lessened the inflammatory response, tissue hypoperfusion and multiorgan injury, and most importantly reduced mortality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]