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Let μ M , D be the self-affine measure generated by an expanding integer matrix M ∈ M n (Z) and a finite digit set D ⊂ Z n . It is well known that the two measures μ M , D and μ M ~ , D ~ have the same spectrality if M ~ = B - 1 M B and D ~ = B - 1 D , where B ∈ M n (R) is a nonsingular matrix. This fact is usually used to simplify the digit set D or the expanding matrix M. However, it often transforms integer digit set D or integer expanding matrix M into real, which brings many difficulties to study the spectrality of μ M ~ , D ~ . In this paper, we introduce a similar transformation of general linear group G L n (p) for some self-affine measures, and discuss their spectral properties. This kind of similar transformation can keep the integer properties of D and M simultaneously, which leads to many advantages in discussing the spectrality of self-affine measures. As an application, we extend some well-known spectral self-affine measures to more general forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscularis macrophages, as the most abundant immune cells in the intestinal muscularis externa, exhibit tissue protective phenotype in the steady state. Owing to tremendous advances in technology, we now know the fact that muscularis macrophages are a heterogeneous population of cells which could be divided into different functional subsets depending on their anatomic niches. There is emerging evidence showing that these subsets, through molecular interactions with their neighbours, take part in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes in the gut. In this review, we summarize recent progress (particularly over the past 4 years) on distribution, morphology, origin and functions of muscularis macrophages and, where possible, the characteristics of specific subsets in response to the microenvironment they occupy, with particular emphasis on their role in muscular inflammation. Furthermore, we also integrate their role in inflammation-related gastrointestinal disorders, such as post-operative ileus and diabetic gastroparesis, in order to propose future therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let M = ρ − 1 I ∈ M n (R) be an expanding matrix with 0 < ∣ ρ ∣ < 1 and D ⊂ Z n be a finite digit set with 0 ∈ D and Z (m D) − Z (m D) ⊂ Z (m D) ∪ { 0 } ⊂ m − 1 Z n for a prime m, where Z (m D) := { x : ∑ d ∈ D e 2 π i ⟨ λ , x ⟩ = 0 } . Let μM,D be the associated self-similar measure defined by μ M , D (⋅) = 1 | D | ∑ d ∈ D μ M , D (M (⋅) − d) . In this paper, the necessary and sufficient conditions for L2(μM,D) to admit infinite orthogonal exponential functions are given. Moreover, by using the order theory of polynomial, we estimate the number of orthogonal exponential functions for all cases that L2(μM,D) does not admit infinite orthogonal exponential functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable electronics, as essential components of the Internet of Things (IoT), have attracted widespread attention, and the trend is to configure attractive wearable smart microsystems by integrating sensing, powering, and other functions. Herein, we developed an elastic hybrid triboelectric–electromagnetic microenergy harvester (named EHTE) to realize hybrid sensing and microenergy simultaneously. This EHTE is a highly integrated triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and electromagnetic nanogenerator (EMG). Based on the triboelectric–electromagnetic hybrid mechanism, an enhanced electrical output of the EHTE was achieved successfully, which demonstrates the feasibility of the EHTE for microelectronics powering. Moreover, with the merits of the EMG, the developed hybrid microenergy harvester integrated both active frequency sensing and passive inductive sensing capabilities. Specifically, the almost linear correlation of the electromagnetic outputs to the frequencies of the external stimulus endowed the proposed EHTE with an outstanding active frequency sensing ability. In addition, due to the unique structural configuration of the EMG (i.e., a conductive permanent magnet (PM), hybrid deformation layer, and flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) coil), an opportunity was provided for the developed EHTE to serve as a passive inductive sensor based on the eddy current effect (i.e., a form of electromagnetic induction). Therefore, the developed EHTE successfully achieved the integration of hybrid sensing (i.e., active frequency sensing and passive inductive sensing) and microenergy (i.e., the combination of electromagnetic effect and triboelectric effect) within a single device, which demonstrates the potential of this newly developed EHTE for wearable electronic applications, especially in applications of compact active microsystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of vegetation patches are alternately and randomly distributed in a timberline ecotone where the upper limit is the treeline and the lower limit is the timberline. However, most studies on timberline/treeline altitudinal distributions have simplified timberline or treeline as continuous curves and disregarded the fuzziness of timberline/treeline and the randomness of different vegetation patch distributions in a timberline ecotone. To study the altitudinal distribution characteristics of timberline and treeline from the perspective of uncertainty theory, we constructed the timberline and treeline elevation cloud models in Mt. Namjagbarwa in east Himalayas. Subsequently, we established multiple linear regression models by using nine influencing factors, namely, aspect, slope, topographic relief, dryness index, average temperature in January and July, latitude, summit syndrome (represented by the vertical distance from the peak), and snow effect (represented by the nearest distance from the snow) as independent variables, and the elevations of timberline/treeline as dependent variables. Then we compared the contributions of the nine factors in timberline, treeline, and the core and peripheral areas of timberline and treeline. The results show that 1) the timberline/treeline elevation cloud model can represent the overall characteristics (especially the uncertainty) of the altitudinal distributions of the timberline/treeline well. The uncertainty of treeline's altitudinal distribution is higher than that of timberline (entropy and hyper entropy: 207.59 m and 70.36 m for treeline elevation cloud; entropy and hyper entropy: 191.17 m and 50.13 m for timberline elevation cloud). 2) The influence of climate and topography on timberline and treeline are similar. The average temperature in July has a significant negative correlation with the timberline/treeline elevation in Mt. Namjagbarwa, which is the most critical factor that affects timberline and treeline elevation, explaining the altitudinal distribution of 44.01% timberline and 46.74% treeline. However, the contributions of the nine factors in core and peripheral areas of timberline and treeline area are evidently different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of shaking table tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic response characteristics of a single-layer cylindrical reticulated shell (SLCRS) with three-dimensional column-top seismic isolation. The influence of infilled wall on the seismic and isolation performance of the structure was investigated. The dynamic response characteristics of structures with and without seismic isolation were compared to investigate the effects of seismic isolation. The dynamic responses of lower-frame models with and without an infilled wall were also compared to investigate the effects of the infilled wall on the seismic isolation. Results show that the three-dimensional column-top seismic isolation improved the seismic safety of infilled wall. At the same time, the three-dimensional column-top isolation bearing can significantly reduce the acceleration and stress of the structure. The excellent isolation performance of the three-dimensional isolation bearing promises outstanding application prospects for this isolation bearing in highly seismic areas. In addition, under a small earthquake, the acceleration of the second floor with the isolation bearing was unfavorably magnified. Therefore, the seismic performance of the acceleration-sensitive nonstructural components should be improved when the three-dimensional column-top seismic isolation is applied in the areas of low seismicity. The test data and conclusions obtained in the present study can provide theoretical and technical support for the actual engineering application of such three-dimensional seismic isolation bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Cauchy problem for the Davey-Stewartson equation The dichotomy between scattering and finite time blow-up shall be proved for initial data with finite variance and with mass-energy M(u0)E(u0) above the ground state threshold M(Q)E(Q). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Cauchy problem for the Davey-Stewartson equation The dichotomy between scattering and finite time blow-up shall be proved for initial data with finite variance and with mass-energy M(u0)E(u0) above the ground state threshold M(Q)E(Q). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the spectrality of Sierpinski-Moran measure defined as an infinite convolution measure: μ { M j } , { D j } = δ M 1 - 1 D 1 ∗ δ (M 1 M 2) - 1 D 2 ∗ ⋯ , where D n = { (0 , 0) t , (a n , 0) t , (0 , b n) t } ⊂ Z 2 and M n = diag (s n , t n) ∈ M 2 (Z) are 2 × 2 expanding diagonal matrices. Our goal is to investigate the existence of Fourier orthonormal basis for L 2 (μ { M n } , { D n } ) , i.e., find an exponential function system { e 2 π i ⟨ λ , x ⟩ } λ ∈ Λ forming an orthonormal basis for L 2 (μ { M n } , { D n } ) . Some sufficient conditions for this aim are given, and some spectra Λ are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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O-GlcNAc modification plays important roles in metabolic regulation of cellular status. Two homologs of O-GlcNAc transferase, SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY), which have O-GlcNAc and O-fucosyl transferase activities, respectively, are essential in Arabidopsis but have largely unknown cellular targets. Here we show that AtACINUS is O-GlcNAcylated and O-fucosylated and mediates regulation of transcription, alternative splicing (AS), and developmental transitions. Knocking-out both AtACINUS and its distant paralog AtPININ causes severe growth defects including dwarfism, delayed seed germination and flowering, and abscisic acid (ABA) hypersensitivity. Transcriptomic and protein-DNA/RNA interaction analyses demonstrate that AtACINUS represses transcription of the flowering repressor FLC and mediates AS of ABH1 and HAB1, two negative regulators of ABA signaling. Proteomic analyses show AtACINUS's O-GlcNAcylation, O-fucosylation, and association with splicing factors, chromatin remodelers, and transcriptional regulators. Some AtACINUS/AtPININ-dependent AS events are altered in the sec and spy mutants, demonstrating a function of O-glycosylation in regulating alternative RNA splicing. AtACINUS is an Arabidopsis homolog of a mammalian splicing regulator and previously found to be O-GlcNAcyated. Here Bi et al. characterize the interactors and targets of AtACINUS, show it is required for development and stress responses and provide evidence that its O-glycosylation affects alternative splicing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: This study demonstrates that brassinosteroid is essential for seedling and shoot growth in moso bamboo. The shoot of moso bamboo is known to grow extremely fast. The roles of phytohormones in such fast growth of bamboo shoot remain unclear. Here we reported that endogenous brassinosteroid (BR) is a major factor promoting bamboo shoot internode elongation. Reducing endogenous brassinosteroid level by its biosynthesis inhibitor propiconazole stunted shoot growth in seedling stage, whereas exogenous BR application promoted scale leaf elongation and the inclination of lamina joint of leaves and scale leaves. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis identified hundreds of genes whose expression levels are altered by BR and propiconazole in shoots and roots of bamboo seedling. The data show that BR regulates cell wall-related genes, hydrogen peroxide catabolic genes, and auxin-related genes. Our study demonstrates an essential role of BR in fast growth bamboo shoots and identifies a large number of BR-responsive genes in bamboo seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: PSBR1 is a moso bamboo gene negatively regulated by brassinosteroid, which encodes a mitochondrial localized protein. Overexpression of PSBR1 leads to growth inhibition in various growth progresses in Arabidopsis. The young shoot of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is known as one of the fastest growing plant organs. The roles of phytohormones in the fast-growth of bamboo shoot are not fully understood. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of growth-promoting steroid hormones that play important roles in cell elongation and division. While BR related genes are highly enriched in fast-growing internodes in moso bamboo, the functions of BR in the fast-growth process is not understood at the molecular level. Here, we identified a poaceae specific gene, PSBR1 (Poaceae specific and BR responsive gene 1) from the moso bamboo genome. PSBR1 was highly expressed in the stem and leaves of bamboo seedling, and the elongating nodes of fast-growing bamboo shoot. PSBR1′s expression is increased by BR biosynthesis inhibitor propiconazole but decreased by BR treatment. PSBR1 encodes a novel protein that is localized to the mitochondria in tobacco and bamboo protoplast. The Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing PSBR1 show growth inhibition in both vegetative and reproductive stages. This study suggests that PSBR1 is a BR regulated mitochondrial protein in bamboo, which inhibits plant growth when overexpressed in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with conventional swallowing training on the swallowing function in brainstem stroke patients with cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction (CPD).Methods: Twenty-eight brainstem stroke patients with CPD were assigned randomly to an anodal tDCS group or a sham tDCS group. The patients received anodal tDCS or sham tDCS over the bilateral oesophageal cortical area combined with simultaneous catheter balloon dilatation and conventional swallowing therapy for 20 days. Swallowing function was assessed using the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and the functional dysphagia scale (FDS) and by measuring the pharyngoesophageal Segment Opening (PESO) before and immediately after the intervention.Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in the FDS, FOIS and PESO scores immediately after the intervention (all p < .005). However, compared with the sham stimulation group, the anodal tDCS group showed greater improvements in the FDS, FOIS and PESO scores immediately after the intervention (all p < .005).Conclusion: The bihemispheric anodal tDCS combined with simultaneous catheter balloon dilatation and conventional swallowing therapy effectively improves the swallowing function in patients with CPD caused by a brainstem stroke. tDCS may be an effective adjuvant therapy in CPD rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the long-term therapeutic effects of the Chinese medicine Jiannao Yizhi Formula (健脑益智方, JYF) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: Sixty mild-to-moderate AD participants were recruited and randomly allocated to the treatment (30 with JYF) and the control groups (30 with donepezil) for 6 months with the random numbers. The primary outcomes were scores of Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and Chinese Medicine Symptom Scale (CM-SS). The secondary outcomes were scores of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Safety assessments were conducted at baseline and the 6th month of treatment. Serum levels of acetylcholine (Ach), amyloid-β protein 42 (Aβ42), and the microtubule-associated protein tau (Tau) were also determined by enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay. Results: Fifty-one participants were included in the final analyses (JYF n=27; donepezil n=24). Compared with baseline, both JYF and donepezil increased the MoCA and MMSE scores and decreased the ADAS-Cog and CM-SS scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Both drugs increased the serum levels of Ach and decreased the serum levels of Aβ42 and Tau (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in these variables between the two groups, which showed that JYF was not inferior to donepezil. No obviously significant changes were observed in the ADL. No severe adverse events were observed in both groups. Conclusion: The effect and safety of JYF for the treatment of AD were not inferior to those of donepezil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow drum (Nibea albiflora) is a commercially important marine fish, which is widely distributed in the coastal waters of China, Japan and Korea. Wild yellow drum resources have dramatically declined due to overfishing and ocean pollution. Genetic data can contribute to biodiversity conservation and protection. And molecular markers can play important roles in genetic breeding and aid in germplasm preservation in fish. In this study, 11 tissues (brain, heart, liver, kidney, muscle, head kidney, skin, fin, spleen, gonad and air bladder) were collected for pooled RNA sequencing. The unigenes were assembled using Trinity and EvidentialGene, and were then aligned to nr, nt, Swiss-Prot GO, KEGG, and KOG for annotation. Molecular markers (e.g. simple sequence repeat, SSR and single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP) were detected using MIcroSAtellite identification tool (MISA) and Genome Analysis Tool Kit (GATK). All clean reads were assembled into 109,209 transcripts, and 31,183 unigenes were generated after pruning and classifying, ranging from 201 to 19,857 bp in length (1230 bp in average), and 26,728 (85.7%) assembled unigenes had significant hits in public databases. Total of 27 and 103 unigenes were respectively identified as involved in growth- and immune-related pathways in the N. albiflora transcriptome. In addition, we identified a considerable quantity of molecular markers, including 11,484 SSRs and 56,186 SNPs. The growth- and immune-relevant genes and the molecular markers identified here provided a meaningful reference gene set and laid a foundation for future genetic selection and breeding for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the draft genome of the reference inbred line of maize ( Zea mays L. spp. mays cv. B73) was published so that, using this specific corn variety, molecular analyses of physiological processes became possible. However, the morphology and developmental patterns of B73 maize, compared with that of the more frequently used hybrid varieties, have not yet been analyzed. Here, we describe organ development in seedlings of B73 maize and in those of six other hybrid cultivars, and document significant morphological as well as quantitative differences between these varieties of Z. mays. In a second set of experiments, we used etiolated seedlings of B73 maize to analyze the effect of blue light (BL) on the patterns of proteins in the tip vs. growing region of this sheath-like organ. By using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE), coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, we detected, in the microsomal fraction of maize coleoptile tips, rapid changes in the abundance of protein spots of maize phototropin 1 and several metabolic enzymes. In the sub-apical (growing) region of the coleoptile, proteomic changes were less pronounced. These results suggest that the tip of the coleoptile of B73 maize may serve as a unique model system for dissecting BL responses in a light-sensitive plant organ of known function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effects of Huannao Yicong Formula (还脑益聪方, HYF) on learning and memory and it's regulating effect on γ-secretase related anterior pharynx defective 1 (APH-1), presenilin enhancer-2 (PEN-2) signaling pathway, so as to discuss and further clarify the mechanism of HYF on Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Sixty APP/PS1 transgenic mice, randomly allocated into 4 groups, the model group, the donepezil group (0.65 mg/kg), HYF low-dose group (HYF-L, 5.46 g/kg) and HYF high-dose group (HYF-H, 10.92 g/kg), 15 for each group. Another 15 C57BL/6J mice with the same age and same genetic background were allocated into the control group, proper dosage of drugs or distilled water were given by intragastric administration once daily for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of administration, the learning and memory abilities of mice in each group was evaluated by the morris water maze test, amyloid precursor protein (APP), Aβ and Aβ levels in hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, γ-secretase was detected by dual luciferase assaying, the levels of APH-1a, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and PEN-2 and their mRNA expression was measured by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: HYF can ameliorate learning and memory deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by decreasing the escape latency, improving the number of platform crossing and swimming speed ( P<0.01, P<0.05). HYF can decrease the levels of APP, Aβ, Aβ and the activity of γ-secretase in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease model mice. HYF can down-regulate the levels of CREB and PEN-2 and the expression of their mRNA. Conclusion: HYF can improve the learning and memory ability by inhibiting the activity of γ-secretase through the CREB/PEN-2 signaling pathway, and this may be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of HYF in Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High expression of connexins was found in a variety of cancers, but their role is still controversial. We investigated whether connexin43 (Cx43) contributed to bladder carcinogenesis through MAPK activation. In this study, we found that Cx43 expression was significantly increased in bladder cancer tissues and cell line. Overexpression of Cx43 in bladder cancer 5637 cells increased cell proliferation, promoted cell cycle progression, and inhibited apoptosis. Western blot showed that JNK and ERK pathways were dramatically activated in Cx43-overexpressed cells. Conversely, knockdown of Cx43 inhibited cell proliferation by increasing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest, concomitant with inhibition of JNK and ERK signaling. In addition, JNK and ERK pathways were also activated in bladder cancer tissues. In conclusion, abnormal high expression and cytoplasmic localization of Cx43 contributed to bladder cancer. Inhibition of Cx43 activity could be a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing the progression of bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizothorax prenanti ( S. prenanti), one of the important endemic commercial fish in China, is mainly distributing in the upstream of the River Yangtze and the tributaries. The wild population is facing serious challenges of germplasm degeneration due to the overfishing, water pollution and construction of hydropower stations; therefore, it is very urgent to develop genetic resource of S. prenanti to protect the wild population. In this study, we used Illumina Hiseq2500 sequencing to develop single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in S. prenanti. From 37,785 unigenes with functional annotation, 857,535 putative SNPs were identified. Among them, 33 SNPs from immune-related genes were randomly selected and 20 loci exhibited significant polymorphisms in genotyping by Sequenom MassARRAY. As far as our best knowledge, this is the first report about the SNP markers development in S. prenanti based on Illumina RNA sequencing. These SNP markers should not only be useful for population conversation, but also for construction of genetic linkage map and economic performance improvement of S. prenanti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shoot of grass coleoptiles consists of the mesocotyl, the node, and the coleoptile (with enclosed primary leaf). Since the 1930s, it is known that auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA), produced in the tip of the coleoptile, is the central regulator of turgor-driven organ growth. Fifty years ago, it was discovered that antibiotics that suppress protein biosynthesis, such as cycloheximide, inhibit auxin (IAA)-induced cell elongation in excised sections of coleoptiles and stems. Based on such inhibitor studies, the concept of 'growth-limiting proteins (GLPs)' emerged that was subsequently elaborated and modified. Here, we summarize the history of this idea with reference to IAA-mediated shoot elongation in maize ( Zea mays) seedlings and recent studies on the molecular mechanism underlying auxin action in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, the analysis of light-induced inhibition of shoot elongation in intact corn seedlings is discussed. We propose a concept to account for the GLP-mediated epidermal wall-loosening process in coleoptile segments and present a more general model of growth regulation in intact maize seedlings. Quantitative proteomic and genomic studies led to a refinement of the classic 'GLP concept' to explain phytohormone-mediated cell elongation at the molecular level (i.e., the recently proposed theory of a 'central growth regulation network,' CGRN). Novel data show that mesocotyl elongation not only depends on auxin but also on brassinosteroids (BRs). However, the biochemical key processes that regulate the IAA/BR-mediated loosening of the expansion-limiting epidermal wall(s) have not yet been elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of DACH1 in osteosarcoma as well as its relationship with cell proliferation and angiogenesis in the tumor. DACH1 expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining in the serial sections of the osteosarcoma. The microvessel density (MVD) was counted by CD34 immunohistochemical staining, and immunohistochemical staining of PCNA staining showed the cell proliferation. The impacts of DACH1 expression on tumor proliferation and angiogenesis were evaluated by statistics. The DACH1 had different expression patterns in different osteosarcoma. Conventional osteosarcoma showed stronger DACH1 staining (conventional vs. parosteal: P = 0.037; conventional vs. periosteal: P = 0.028) and more PCNA-positive tumor cells than parosteal and periosteal osteosarcoma (conventional vs. parosteal: P = 0.041; conventional vs. periosteal: P = 0.045), the difference was significant. In addition, conventional osteosarcoma showed more cytoplasmic staining of DACH1 than parosteal and periosteal (conventional vs. parosteal: P = 0.023; conventional vs. periosteal: P = 0.030). Parosteal and periosteal osteosarcoma showed no significant difference in DACH1 expression and cell proliferation index. On the other hand, DACH1 different expression patterns showed significantly different impacts on angiogenesis. In spite of the different subtypes of osteosarcoma, the MVD showed a significant difference in cytoplasmic and nuclear expression patterns of DACH1 (nuclear expression vs. cytoplasmic expression: 5.72 ± 1.19 vs. 9.65 ± 1.24, P = 0.042). Moreover, in the conventional osteosarcoma, the MVD also showed a significant difference in DACH1 cytoplasmic and nuclear staining (nuclear expression vs. cytoplasmic expression: 5.58 ± 0.71 vs. 13.65 ± 1.30, P = 0.019). However, the DACH1 expression intensity showed no significant different impacts on MVD of all kinds of osteosarcoma. DACH1 had different expression patterns and intensity. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of DACH1 might play different roles in cell proliferation and angiogenesis of osteosarcoma. Cytoplasmic DACH1 might promote cell proliferation and be associated with angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant GSK3-like kinases are key regulators that modulate a broad range of physiological processes such as cell growth, stomatal and flower development, responses for abiotic and biotic stress, and carbohydrate metabolism. Arabidopsis Shaggy/GSK3-like kinases (AtSK) consist of ten members that are classified into four subfamilies (I∼IV). Only one of these Arabidopsis GSK3s, BIN2 (also named AtSK21), has been characterized by biochemical and genetic studies. BIN2 acts as a negative regulator in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling that controls cell growth and differentiation. Recent studies suggest that at least seven AtSKs are involved in BR signaling. However, specificities for the substrates and the functional differences of each member of the family remain to be determined. Here we report structural characteristics and distinct function of AtSK12 compared with BIN2. AtSK12 has a longer N-terminal extension, which is absent in BIN2. Transgenic plants overexpressing the AtSK12 mutant carrying deletion of Nterminal region display more severe dwarf phenotypes than those of the wild-type AtSK12. Microscopic analysis reveals that N-terminal-deleted AtSK12 accumulates in the nucleus. This implies that structural difference in the Nterminal region of AtSK members contributes to their subcellular localization. In contrast to BIN2, overexpression of AtSK12 does not cause a stomatal cluster. Furthermore, we show that YODA MAPKKK, which controls stomatal development, interacts with BIN2 but not with AtSK12. Our results suggest that AtSK12 mediates BR-regulated cell growth but not stomatal development while BIN2 regulates both processes. Our study provides evidence that different GSK3 members can have overlapping but non-identical functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) play an important role in the neovascularization of tumors. Hypoxia is emphasized as an important promoter of angiogenesis. However, little is known about genome-wide transcriptional regulation of ECFCs under hypoxic conditions. In this study, gene expression profiles in ECFCs were evaluated under hypoxic conditions for 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, using Affymetrix U133 plus 2.0 chip microarray. 1,103 hypoxia-regulated genes were filtered, with 379 (0.693 %) genes up-regulated and 724 (1.32 %) genes down-regulated. Most of the up-regulated genes were involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation, or metabolic processes, while most of the down-regulated genes were involved in cell adherence, cell cycle, DNA and mRNA metabolic processes, multi-cellular organism development, protein metabolic processes, response to stress, signal transduction, or transport. This expression profile is ECFC-specific, because it is significantly different from those of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells under hypoxic conditions. Moreover, hypoxia-regulated apoptosis in ECFCs is mainly related with the mitochondrial pathway (p53-BAX-Caspase-9) and the death receptor pathway (FAS-Caspase-8-Caspase-3). MAPK pathway is activated in ECFCs under hypoxic conditions. The differentially expressed genes of ECFCs were identified under hypoxic conditions, and related with cell apoptosis, cell cycle and MAPK pathways, shedding light on the mechanism of angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial tobacco wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most destructive soil-borne diseases worldwide. One strategy to improve the resistance to bacterial wilt is to make use of plant varieties expressing wilt resistance genes. To characterize the genetics of wilt resistance and to identify relevant molecular markers for use in plant breeding, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting tobacco bacterial wilt resistance were mapped in the F and F progeny produced from two crosses between the wilt-resistant breeding lines Enshu and Yanyan97 and the susceptible cultivar TI448A. A linkage map containing 118 loci in 24 linkage groups was constructed for 236 lines from the Enshu×TI448A cross, and a linkage map containing 96 loci in 24 linkage groups was constructed for 264 lines from the Yanyan97×TI448A cross. The wilt resistance of the progeny was examined in field trials conducted in Xuancheng, China, in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The disease severity was assessed on stems using separate rating scales. Mapmaker/EXP 3.0 and Mapmaker/QTL 1.1 were used to identify the qBWR- 3a, qBWR- 3b, qBWR- 5a and qBWR- 5b QTLs in linkage group 3 and 5; these four loci were strongly associated with resistance and explain 9.00, 19.70, 17.30, and 17.40 % of the variance in resistance, respectively. The close linkage of the markers PT20275 and PT30229 was detected in both the TI448A×Enshu and TI448A×Yanyan97 crosses, and this linkage group could be used to select individual resistant plants. These findings suggest that one strategy to combat bacterial wilt could be to exploit the resistance genes of the Enshu and Yanyan97 strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassinosteroid and gibberellin promote many similar developmental responses in plants; however, their relationship remains unclear. Here we show that BR and GA act interdependently through a direct interaction between the BR-activated BZR1 and GA-inactivated DELLA transcription regulators. GA promotion of cell elongation required BR signalling, whereas BR or active BZR1 suppressed the GA-deficient dwarf phenotype. DELLAs directly interacted with BZR1 and inhibited BZR1-DNA binding both in vitro and in vivo. Genome-wide analysis defined a BZR1-dependent GA-regulated transcriptome, which is enriched with light-regulated genes and genes involved in cell wall synthesis and photosynthesis/chloroplast function. GA promotion of hypocotyl elongation requires both BZR1 and the phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs), as well as their common downstream targets encoding the PRE-family helix-loop-helix factors. The results demonstrate that GA releases DELLA-mediated inhibition of BZR1, and that the DELLA-BZR1-PIF4 interaction defines a core transcription module that mediates coordinated growth regulation by GA, BR and light signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth is coordinately regulated by environmental and hormonal signals. Brassinosteroid (BR) plays essential roles in growth regulation by light and temperature, but the interactions between BR and these environmental signals remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Here, we show that direct interaction between the dark- and heat-activated transcription factor phytochrome-interacting factor 4 (PIF4) and the BR-activated transcription factor BZR1 integrates the hormonal and environmental signals. BZR1 and PIF4 interact with each other in vitro and in vivo, bind to nearly 2,000 common target genes, and synergistically regulate many of these target genes, including the PRE family helix-loop-helix factors required for promoting cell elongation. Genetic analysis indicates that BZR1 and PIFs are interdependent in promoting cell elongation in response to BR, darkness or heat. These results show that the BZR1-PIF4 interaction controls a core transcription network, enabling plant growth co-regulation by the steroid and environmental signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BiSe has been predicted to be a three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) with Dirac fermions residing on the two-dimensional (2D) surface. Unique transport properties such as high carrier mobility due to the suppressed backscattering are expected for the Dirac fermions. In order to eliminate the contribution of the bulk carriers, therefore, to place the Fermi level in the band gap of BiSe, we first introduce various amounts of Ca dopants into the crystal to realize the bulk insulating state. Then by avoiding uncontrolled heating and electron beam irradiation in the nanofabrication process, we maintain the insulating state in thin devices. By sweeping the gate voltage, we have observed a conductivity minimum that is expected for the Dirac fermions in the band gap of 3D TIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants must coordinate the regulation of biochemistry and anatomy to optimize photosynthesis and water-use efficiency. The formation of stomata, epidermal pores that facilitate gas exchange, is highly coordinated with other aspects of photosynthetic development. The signalling pathways controlling stomata development are not fully understood, although mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling is known to have key roles. Here we demonstrate in Arabidopsis that brassinosteroid regulates stomatal development by activating the MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) YDA (also known as YODA). Genetic analyses indicate that receptor kinase-mediated brassinosteroid signalling inhibits stomatal development through the glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)-like kinase BIN2, and BIN2 acts upstream of YDA but downstream of the ERECTA family of receptor kinases. Complementary in vitro and in vivo assays show that BIN2 phosphorylates YDA to inhibit YDA phosphorylation of its substrate MKK4, and that activities of downstream MAPKs are reduced in brassinosteroid-deficient mutants but increased by treatment with either brassinosteroid or GSK3-kinase inhibitor. Our results indicate that brassinosteroid inhibits stomatal development by alleviating GSK3-mediated inhibition of this MAPK module, providing two key links; that of a plant MAPKKK to its upstream regulators and of brassinosteroid to a specific developmental output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usual quantum mechanics describes the mass eigenstates. To describe the proper-time eigenstates, a duality theory of the usual quantum mechanics was developed. The time interval is treated as an operator on an equal footing with the space interval, and the quantization of the spacetime intervals between events is obtained. As a result, one can show that there exists a zero-point time interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of green-colored cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). A tissue culture procedure was optimized to induce callus formation from hypocotyl explants and subsequent differentiation into the embryogenic type. Callus formation could be induced by growing explants on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and kinetin. Among the four genotypes studied, embryogenic calli and plant regeneration were observed only in var. G9803. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of G9803 with the fiber-specific expansin gene GhExpl was achieved based on the establishment of these tissue culture methods. A total of 32 individual regenerants resistant to kanamycin were generated within 7 mo., with a transformation frequency of 17.8%. Transformation was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and RT-PCR. These results represent the first step towards genetic manipulation of the colors and fiber quality of green-colored cottons by biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constant strain rate compression tests at the temperature 900∼1100 °C and the strain rate 10−3∼20 s−1 and the interpass time 300∼1000 s of double stage interrupted tests were carried out for a microalloyed steel containing 0.024 % Nb, 0.016 % Ti, 1.39 % Mn and 0.15%C, to investigate its dynamic (DRX), static (SRX) and metadynamic recrystallization (MDRX) and precipitation behavior. Softening curves were determined by the offset method and back extrapolation method. It was found that the SRX and MDRX process have different Avrami exponent n and apparent activation energy Q. For the former n=1, Q=359 kJ/mol, while for the later n=0.57, Q=259 kJ/mol. Influences of temperature, prestrain and strain rate on the kinetics of SRX process were discussed and a mathematical model was furtherly constructed. Finally, the precipitation-time-temperature (PTT) curve was determined by the stress relaxation tests, and the influence of precipitation on the SRX process was also discussed. Direct microstructural evidence for precipitation during and after deformation was obtained by transmission electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear-optical-based quantum information processing has attached much attention since photon is an ideal medium for transmitting quantum information remotely. Until now, there are some important works in quantum state remote preparation, the method for reconstructing quantum state deterministically via linear optics. However, most of the methods are protocols to prepare single-qubit states remotely via linear-optical elements. In this article, we investigate the methods to prepare two-qubit hybrid states remotely. We present a deterministic remote state preparation scheme for an arbitrary two-qubit hybrid state via a hyperentangled Bell state, resorting to linear-optical elements only. The sender rotates the spatial-mode state and polarization state of the hyperentangled photon respectively in accordance with his knowledge of the two-qubit hybrid state, and the receiver can reconstruct the original two-qubit hybrid state by applying appropriate recovery operations. Moreover, we discuss the remote state preparation scheme for the two-qubit hybrid state via partially hyperentangled Bell state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon light-induced nuclear translocation, phytochrome (phy) sensory photoreceptors interact with, and induce rapid phosphorylation and consequent ubiquitin-mediated degradation of, transcription factors, called PIFs, thereby regulating target gene expression and plant development. Nevertheless, the biochemical mechanism of phy-induced PIF phosphorylation has remained ill-defined. Here we identify a family of nuclear protein kinases, designated Photoregulatory Protein Kinases (PPK1-4; formerly called MUT9-Like Kinases (MLKs)), that interact with PIF3 and phyB in a light-induced manner in vivo. Genetic analyses demonstrate that the PPKs are collectively necessary for the normal light-induced phosphorylation and degradation of PIF3. PPK1 directly phosphorylates PIF3 in vitro, with a phosphosite pattern that strongly mimics the light-induced pattern in vivo. These data establish that the PPKs are directly involved in catalysing the photoactivated-phy-induced phosphorylation of PIF3 in vivo, and thereby are critical components of a transcriptionally centred signalling hub that pleiotropically regulates plant growth and development in response to multiple signalling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]