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Founder parents have contributed significantly to the improvement of wheat breeding and production. In order to investigate the genetic characteristics of founder parents and widely planted cultivars, Mazhamai (M), Biyumai (B) and six sibling lines (BM1–6) derived from the cross M×B were phenotyped for eight yield-related traits over multiple years and locations and genotyped using the the wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. BM4 has been used as a founder parent, and BM1 has been widely planted, whereas BM2, 3, 5, and 6 have not been used extensively for breeding or planting in China. Phenotypic comparisons revealed that BM4 and BM1 displayed a better overall performance than the other sibling lines. BM1 showed higher thousand-grain weight than BM4, whereas BM4 exhibited lower coefficient of variation for most of the yield-related traits across different years and locations, indicating that BM4 was widely adaptable and more stable in different environments. SNP analysis revealed that BM4 and BM1 inherited similar proportions of the M genome but are dissimilar to BM2, 3, 5, and 6. Both BM1 and BM4 have specific alleles that differ from the other BM lines, and most of these alleles are concentrated in specific chromosomal regions that are found to associate with favorable QTLs, these SNPs and their surrounding regions may carry the genetic determinants important for the superior performance of the two lines. But BM4 has more genetic diversity than BM1 with more specific alleles and pleiotropic regions, indicating that the genome of BM4 may be more complex than the other sibling lines and has more favorable gene resources. Our results provide valuable information that can be used to select elite parents for wheat and self-pollinating crop breeding.

The type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices (T2SLs)-based 640 × 512 long wavelength infrared (LWIR) Focal Plane Array (FPA) detector with15 μm pitch and 50% cut-off wavelength of 10.5 μm demonstrates a peak quantum efficiency of 38.6% and peak detectivity of 1.65 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 W−1 at 8.1 μm, high pixel operability of 99.5% and low responsivity non-uniformity of 2.69% at 80 K. The FPA exhibits clear infrared imaging at 110 K and diffusion-limited dark current densities below Tennant’s ‘Rule07’ at temperature above 100 K, which is attributed to the efficient suppression of diffusion dark current and surface leak current by introducing M-structure barrier and double hetero-structure passivation layers.

The influence of the surface effect on the ferroelectric property of strained barium titanate film has been investigated. In this study, based on time-dependent Ginsburg-Landau-Devonshire thermodynamic theory, the surface effects have been simulated by introducing a surface constant, which leads to the strained BaTiO 3 film consisting of inner tetragonal core and gradient lattice strain layer. Further, surface effects produce a depolarization field which has a dominant effect on the ferroelectric properties of the films. The spontaneous polarization, dielectric properties and ferroelectric hysteresis loop of BaTiO 3 film are calculated under different boundary conditions. Theoretical and experimental results for strained BaTiO 3 film are compared and discussed.

BACKGROUND: Corona virus infective disease 2019(COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that first outbreak in humans in China in December 2020 and has subs

In this work, we present an artificial synapse based on side-gate graphene-field-effect-transistor (GFET) using biocompatible silver gel/polarized-aptamer as gate dielectric. The gate functions as the presynaptic membrane, while the drain works as postsynaptic membrane. Various synaptic plasticities, including short-term enhancement (STE), short-term depression (STD), long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD) and the transformation from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity have been emulated by the GFET artificial synapse. A model based on the function of a difference of two exponentials that is widely used to model the biological synapses is proposed, well fitting the behavior of the fabricated artificial synapses under different presynaptic spikes. With a fixed current of −1 μA applied to postsynaptic membrane, the excitatory-postsynaptic-potential-like spikes can be generated at postsynaptic membrane under the positive spikes applied to presynaptic membrane, suggesting the similarities between the artificial and biological synapses.

The wheat grain number per spike (GNPS) is a major yield-limiting factor in wheat-breeding programs. Germplasms with a high GNPS are therefore valuable for increasing wheat yield potential. To investigate the molecular characteristics of young spike development in large-spike wheat germplasms with high GNPS, we performed gene and protein expression profiling analysis with three high-GNPS wheat lines (Pubing 3228, Pubing 3504 and 4844-12) and one low-GNPS control variety (Fukuho). The phenotypic data for the spikes in two growth seasons showed that the GNPS of the three large-spike wheat lines were significantly higher than that of the Fukuho control line. The Affymetrix wheat chip and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation-tandam mass spectrometry (iTRAQ-MS/MS) technology were employed for gene and protein expression profiling analyses of young spike development, respectively, at the floret primordia differentiation stage. A total of 598 differentially expressed transcripts (270 up-regulated and 328 down-regulated) and 280 proteins (122 up-regulated and 158 down-regulated) were identified in the three high-GNPS lines compared with the control line. We found that the expression of some floral development-related genes, including Wknox1b, the AP2 domain protein kinase and the transcription factor HUA2, were up-regulated in the high-GNPS lines. The expression of the SHEPHERD (SHD) gene was up-regulated at both the transcript and protein levels. Overall, these results suggest that multiple regulatory pathways, including the CLAVATA pathway and the meristem-maintaining KNOX protein pathway, take part in the development of the high-GNPS phenotype in our wheat germplasms.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is characterized as the incomplete resolution of emboli after pulmonary embolism (PE) and the subsequent fibrotic organization and remodeling of pulmonary vascular bed. It has been reported that abnormal fibrin probably contributes to the incomplete resolution of emboli. And there is evidence that free iron could convert fibrinogen into fibrin which is remarkably resistant to lysis. Thus, we hypothesized that persistent iron overload might participate in the development of CTEPH.A case-control study was conducted. Forty-five CTEPH patients were enrolled as cases, and 36 age and sex frequency-matched chronic PE patients without pulmonary hypertension were selected as controls. Levels of free iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin, sTfR/ferritin ratio, hepcidin-25, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate odds ratios.There was no difference of the levels of free iron, hepcidin-25, sTfR, ferritin, sTfR/ferritin ratio, TNF-α, and MDA between CTEPH patients and the controls. Levels of sTfR and ferritin in both groups were within the normal limits. Levels of IL-6 in CTEPH patients were significantly higher than that in the controls. A negative correlation was observed between hepcidin-25 and sTfR (Spearman's r=-0.438, P.001), and a positive correlation was observed between hepcidin-25 and ferritin (Spearman's r=0.503, P.001). In the univariate logistic regression model, there was no association observed between CTEPH and free iron, hepcidin-25, sTfR, ferritin, sTfR/ferritin ratio, TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA.CTEPH has no association with iron overload. The iron status evaluated by sTfR and ferritin is within the normal limits in this CTEPH population.

Introduction The natural history of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) under treatment is about a gradual resolution of the thrombi, and uncommonly, the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We hypothesized that ventilatory efficiency parameters during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) may be able to monitor the process and predict CTEPH. Methods 15 patients rehabilitated from acute PE (total resolution of thrombi), 44 patients with chronic PE (with residual thrombi), 66 patients with CTEPH, and 36 sedentary healthy controls performed incremental CPET. Results The lowest VE/VCO 2 was higher in CTEPH patients than that in chronic PE and rehabilitated patients (43.4L/min vs 29.9L/min vs 27.1L/min, p 2 slope (48.4L/min/L/min vs 29.9L/min/L/min vs 28.0L/min/L/min, p 2 ≥34.35L/min was the best predictor of CTEPH (OR 159.0, 95% CI 36.0-702.3, p 2 was higher in chronic PE patients compared with the controls (29.9L/min vs 26.5L/min, p Conclusions CTEPH is associated with weakened ventilatory efficiency. The lowest VE/VCO2 ratio has the best capability to predict CTEPH. Ventilatory inefficiency improves along with recovery of acute PE.

Background Exercise impairment is common in chronic left heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Exercise impairment degree is a strong predictor of clinical outcome. Our purpose was to evaluate differences in exercise capacity using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) in patients with chronic left and right heart failure, and determine which factors were related to exercise impairment. Methods 102 patients with class II/III New York Heart Association were involved in the study (41 with chronic left heart failure, 61 with chronic right heart failure secondary to PAH). All patients underwent CPX to evaluate exercise capacity. Results Patients with right heart failure had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ), peak VO 2 /kg ratio, peak oxygen uptake/heart rate (VO 2 /HR) ratio and increases in oxygen uptake/increase in work rate (ΔVO 2 /ΔWR) slope, and had higher minute ventilation/CO 2 production ratio and peak dead space volume/tidal volume during exercise. In patients with left heart failure, peak VO 2 /HR ratio was positively correlated with ΔVO 2 /ΔWR slope. However, VO 2 and VO 2 /HR ratio were positively correlated with ΔVO 2 /ΔWR slope in patients with right heart failure. Conclusions Compared with left heart failure, patients with right heart failure showed worse exercise capacity resulting from worse pulmonary and cardiovascular adaptation to exercise.

Decitabine, a demethylating drug, is the first-line treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes and gains better overall survival, which is based on epigenetic mechanism. Activated by promoter demethylation, melanoma-associated antigens-A (MAGE-A), cancer-testis antigens are attractive targets for immunotherapy. Our purpose was to investigate whether decitabine could show anti-tumor effects for esophageal cancer and explore its mechanism. In addition, we aimed to examine its modulation for most MAGE-A members. The results showed the baseline expression were MAGE-A2, -3,-9, and -10 in Eca109 cells and decitabine (0.5 μM) could induce MAGE-A8 and -A4 whereas reduce MAGE-A9 and -A10. Moreover, decitabine (0.5 μM) inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasive ability by 15%, 34% and 47.2%, respectively and decreased expressions of NF-κB2 and MMP2. Our results demonstrated that low-dose decitabine induced the expression of MAGE-A8 and -A4, and inhibited cell invasion through decreasing expression of MMP2 and NF-κB2, which provides possibilities for combing decitabine with immunotherapy targeting MAGE-A to treat advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives We observed the pulmonary function and exercise capacity of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX). We evaluated and compared the two groups. Background Pulmonary abnormalities and decreased exercise capacity are common in IDCM and IPAH. Little is known about the differences in these two syndromes. Methods Sixty-three patients were involved the study, 23 with IDCM and 40 with IPAH. All patients underwent pulmonary function testing at rest and CPX. Results Patients with IPAH had a higher peak respiratory frequency (32.40 ± 7.88 vs 29.60 ± 6.50 b/min), peak dead space volume/tidal volume (29.33 ± 4.55 vs 26.30 ± 3.31%), peak end-tidal partial pressure of O 2 (125.18 ± 5.88 vs 115.17 ± 6.06 mm Hg), peak minute ventilation/CO 2 production (50.14 ± 13.26 vs 33.50 ± 6.80 L/min/L/min), and a lower peak oxygen uptake (1262.70 ± 333.34 vs 742.76 ± 194.72 ml/min), peak minute ventilation (38.20 ± 13.07 vs 45.33 ± 12.31 L), peak oxygen uptake/heart rate (5.11 ± 1.47 vs 9.43 ± 2.79 ml/b) and peak end-tidal partial pressure of CO 2 (23.73 ± 5.39 vs 35.30 ± 5.45 mm Hg) during exercise. Conclusions Compared to IDCM, patients with IPAH had worse pulmonary function and exercise capacity resulting from severe ventilation/perfusion mismatching and gas exchange abnormalities.

Recently, epidemiological and experimental studies have linked hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) to insulin resistance. However, whether HHcy impairs glucose homeostasis by affecting glycogenesis in the liver is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of HHcy on hepatic glycogen synthesis. Hyperhomocysteinemia was induced in mice by drinking water containing two percent methionine. Mice with HHcy showed an increase in the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase and a significant decrease in hepatic glycogen content and the rate of glycogen synthesis. The expression of TRB3 (tribbles-related protein 3) was up-regulated in the liver of mice with HHcy, concomitantly with the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and Akt. The knockdown of TRB3 by short hairpin RNA suppressed the dephosphorylation of these two kinases. Homocysteine induced an increase in the levels of hepatic cAMP and cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation, which in turn up-regulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-γ coactivator-1α and TRB3. The inhibition of PPAR-α by its inhibitor, MK886, or knockdown of PPAR-α by small interfering RNA significantly inhibited the expression of TRB3 induced by homocysteine. The current study demonstrates that HHcy impairs hepatic glycogen synthesis by inducing the expression of TRB3. These results provide a novel explanation for the development and progression of insulin resistance in HHcy.

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng is endemic to China and only distributed in Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi Province, China. In this study, 15 P. huashanica populations consisting of 450 individuals sampled across their main distribution were investigated by using the simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers. A total of 184 alleles were detected on 24 SSR loci, and the number of alleles on each locus ranged from 2 to15, with an average of 7.667. The total gene diversity (HT = 0.683) and the coefficient of population differentiation (GST = 0.125) showed that P. huashanica had a relatively high level of genetic variation, and the genetic variation was mainly distributed within the populations. The gene flow among the populations of P. huashanica (Nm = 1.750) was much less than that of the common anemophytes (Nm = 5.24). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the number of alleles as well as genetic diversity of the five populations of Huangpu valley decreased along with the increase of altitudes, but the correlation was not significant. Implications of these results for future P. huashanica collection, evaluation and conservation were discussed.

The objective of the study was to understand the genetic contribution of introduced varieties to Chinese wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) breeding at the genomic level. A total of 44 representative accessions, consisting of 11 introduced parents from the 1950s to the 1970s and 33 Chinese modern varieties that were released in different years, were evaluated using 363 microsatellite markers. The introduced accessions contained 76.3% of the alleles presented in the Chinese varieties examined. Comparing the genetic diversity of grouped accessions based on their origins and released ages, the exotic group had the largest average allele number per locus (3.9), followed by the 1980s group (3.5), and the 1960s and the 1970s groups had the smallest value (2.9 and 3.0, respectively). Analysis of genetic distance among groups showed an accordant result to that on allelic diversity. According to the allelic frequency, 33 loci of introduced varieties were selected preferentially and transmitted to Chinese accessions, and the allelic frequencies at these loci were all larger than 70%. These loci played an important role in the improvement of wheat varieties in China. The objective of the study was to understand the genetic contribution of introduced varieties to Chinese wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) breeding at the genomic level. A total of 44 representative accessions, consisting of 11 introduced parents from the 1950s to the 1970s and 33 Chinese modern varieties that were released in different years, were evaluated using 363 microsatellite markers. The introduced accessions contained 76.3% of the alleles presented in the Chinese varieties examined. Comparing the genetic diversity of grouped accessions based on their origins and released ages, the exotic group had the largest average allele number per locus (3.9), followed by the 1980s group (3.5), and the 1960s and the 1970s groups had the smallest value (2.9 and 3.0, respectively). Analysis of genetic distance among groups showed an accordant result to that on allelic diversity. According to the allelic frequency, 33 loci of introduced varieties were selected preferentially and transmitted to Chinese accessions, and the allelic frequencies at these loci were all larger than 70%. These loci played an important role in the improvement of wheat varieties in China.

The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the two Cu-40Ni-20Cr alloys prepared by conventional casting(CA) and mechanical alloying(MA) with the different grain sizes was studied by using open-circuit potential(OCP), potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) methods in solutions containing chloride ions. The results show that the free corrosion potentials of the two alloys move towards negative values, corrosion currents increase and therefore corrosion rates become faster with the increase of chloride ion concentrations. EIS plots of CACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy are composed of single capacitive loop, while EIS plots of MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy are composed of double capacitive loops in solution containing lower chloride ion concentrations. EIS plots of the two alloys have Warburg impedance with the increase of chloride ion concentrations. Corrosion rates of MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy become faster than those of CACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy obviously in solutions containing the same chloride ion concentrations because MACu-40Ni-20Cr alloy is able to produce large concentrations of grain boundaries in the course of reduction in grain size by mechanical alloying.

Published work has shown that endothelin-1-induced contractility of bovine retinal pericytes is reduced after culture in high concentrations of glucose. The purpose of the present study was to establish the profile of endothelin-1-induced calcium transients in pericytes and to identify changes occurring after culture in high concentrations of glucose. Glucose had no effect on basal levels of cytosolic calcium or on endothelin-1-induced calcium release from intracellular stores. However, influx of calcium from the extracellular medium after endothelin-1 stimulation was reduced in pericytes that had been cultured in 25 mm d-glucose. L-type Ca2+ currents were identified by patch clamping. The L-type Ca2+ channel agonist, (−)-Bay K8644, caused less influx of calcium from the extracellular medium in pericytes that had been cultured in 25 mm d-glucose than in those cultured with 5 mm d-glucose. However, 3-O-methylglucose, a nonmetabolizable analogue of glucose which can cause glycation, had similar effects to those of high concentrations of glucose. The results suggest that reduced function of the L-type Ca2+ channel that occurs in bovine retinal pericytes after culture in high concentrations of d-glucose is probably due to glycation of a channel protein.

Forty tumor specimens from patients with ovarian cancer were studied for amplification of the c- myc oncogene relative to chromosome 8 centromere number using dual-color FISH. Interphase cytogenetic analysis showed amplification of the c- myc oncogene in 40% (16/40) of tumors using the standard oncogene:centromere ratio method of analysis. Eleven of these showed moderate amplification of c- myc , and 5 samples showed high amplification. Eight of the sixteen (50%) amplified tumors were polysomic centromere 8 as were 14 of the 24 (58%) non-amplified tumors. In previously reported work with these samples, the oncogene HER-2/ neu , the chromosome 17 centromere, and the tumor suppressor gene p53 had been studied. When using the standard oncogene:centromere ratio criteria, 5 samples had amplification of both the c- myc and the HER-2/ neu oncogenes, 5 samples had HER-2/ neu amplification but not c- myc , 11 samples had c- myc amplification but not HER-2/ neu , and 19 samples had neither oncogene amplified. The p53 gene was found to be deleted in 22.5% (9/40) of samples. The loss of the p53 gene did not appear to have any clinical correlation. The presence of an extra centromere 8 also did not appear to have any clinical correlation. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve for those patients who have c- myc amplification, while not statistically significant, appears to show a trend toward poorer survival. The survival curve for patients whose tumors have HER-2/ neu amplification shows no clinical significance. It is of great interest, however, that the Kaplan–Meier plot of survival for patients whose tumors have amplification of both c- myc and HER-2/ neu shows a significant difference ( P = 0.047). The median survival times of the doubly amplified patient group and the non-doubly amplified groups were 12 and 43 months, respectively. This is the first study of the oncogene c- myc using FISH. The results suggest that the amplification of c- myc may indicate a poorer patient survival and that the amplification of both c- myc and HER-2/ neu in combination may be a better prognostic indicator of poor patient survival.