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The regulation of gene expression plays an essential role in both the phenotype and adaptation of plants. Transcriptome sequencing enables simultaneous identification of exonic variants and quantification of gene expression. Here, we sequenced the leaf transcriptomes of 287 rice accessions from around the world and obtained a total of 177 853 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms after filtering. Genome-wide association study identified 44 354 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), which regulate the expression of 13 201 genes, as well as 17 local eQTL hotspots and 96 distant eQTL hotspots. Furthermore, a transcriptome-wide association study screened 21 candidate genes for starch content in the flag leaves at the heading stage. HS002 was identified as a significant distant eQTL hotspot with five downstream genes enriched for diterpene antitoxin synthesis. Co-expression analysis, eQTL analysis, and linkage mapping together demonstrated that bHLH026 acts as a key regulator to activate the expression of downstream genes. The transgenic assay revealed that bHLH026 is an important regulator of diterpenoid antitoxin synthesis and enhances the disease resistance of rice. These findings improve our knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression variation and complex regulatory networks of the rice genome and will facilitate genetic improvement of cultivated rice varieties.

As one of the core aging processes, cellular senescence is associated with tumorigenesis, growth, and immune modulation in cancers. Nevertheless, the prognosis of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains to be further evaluated.The transcriptome and corresponding clinical datasets of SAGs in patients with HNSCC were downloaded from public databases. A new prognostic SAGs signature was established with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator discussion. Patients with HNSCC were fallen into two risk groups based on each sample's risk mark and the cutoff point. The survival analysis was extended to determine the predictive accuracy of the SAGs signature. Furthermore, the evaluation of SAGs signature was made according to clinicopathological characteristics, survival state, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and efficacy of immunotherapy.41 SAGs were recognized and adopted to establish the forecast signature. The survival analysis indicated that patients with HNSCC in the high-senescent score group had significantly reduced overall survival compared with those in the low-senescent score group. It was certified that the risk score of SAGs signature was a separate predicting agent for HNSCC applying Cox regression analysis. According to functional analysis, some immune-associated pathways were increased in the low-senescent score group significantly. High-senescent score group was correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics, given less the infiltration of inflammatory cells state and worse immunotherapeutic effect.A new SAG signature predicting result and response to immunotherapy of HNSCC was identified. Cellular senescence may be a hidden target for HNSCC.

This study was to evaluate and compare the polyphenols contents, antioxidant capacities, and α‐glucosidase inhibitory abilities of extractable and nonextractable polyphenols (EP and NEP) in Mopan persimmon. The results showed that total phenols content of NEP was 5 times higher than that of EP, and the hydrolyzed NEP compounds displayed higher antioxidant capacity than EP in vitro by DPPH, ORAC assays. Meanwhile, NEP also exhibited inhibition capacity of α‐glucosidase and were higher than that of acarbose. In addition, an in vitro model of gastrointestinal digestion was used for the release of NEP, the polyphenols content and ORAC values were obviously increased in gastric digestion stage. The result indicated that NEP in Mopan persimmon, which has often been overlooked and discarded in the past, possessed higher polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity than EP., Both EP and NEP in Mopan persimmon were evaluated for antioxidant and anti‐α‐glucosidase capacities. The NEP are the main contributor to the antioxidant capacity of Mopan persimmon. The NEP exhibited higher anti‐α‐glucosidase capacity than acarbose. Gastric digestion played a key role in the release of NEP.

We report a direct experimental observation of the torque-driven active reorientation of glucose-fueled flasklike colloidal motors to a glucose gradient exhibiting a positive chemotaxis. These streamlined flasklike colloidal motors are prepared by combining a hydrothermal synthesis and a vacuum infusion and can be propelled by an enzymatic cascade reaction in the glucose fuel. Their flasklike architecture can be used to recognize their moving posture, and thus the dynamic glucose-gradient-induced alignment and orientation-dependent motility during positive chemotaxis can be examined experimentally. The chemotactic mechanism is that the enzymatic reactions inside lead to the glucose acid gradient and the glucose gradient which generate two phoretic torques at the bottom and the opening respectively, and thus continuously steer it to the glucose gradient. Such glucose-fueled flasklike colloidal motors resembling the chemotactic capability of living organisms hold considerable potential for engineering active delivery vehicles in response to specific chemical signals.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is sweeping the world since the end of 2019. The titer change of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 needs to be further clarified, the clinical and preventive value of antibodies still needs to be further investigated. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established by coating with SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein and used to detect serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in coronavirus disease 2019 patients to evaluate the pattern of changes of antibodies. The specificity of the ELISA for detection SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG were 96% (144/150) and 100% (150/150), respectively. The sensitivity of ELISA was 100% (150/150) for IgM, and 99.3% (149/150) for IgG. SARS-CoV-2-SP-IgM and SP-IgG antibodies could be detected on Day 1 of hospitalization in 12.5% patients, and SP-IgM began to decrease after reaching its peak at around 22-28 days, and become negative at Month 3 in 30% patients and negative at Month 7 in 79% of these patients after onset; IgG reached its peak around Day 22-28 and kept at a high level within the longest observation period for 4 months, it dropped very sharply at 7 months. The positive rates of SP-IgM and SP-IgG were higher than those of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on Day 7 and 4. The established indirect ELISA has good specificity and sensitivity. IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 appeared almost simultaneously in the early stage, and the level of IgG antibodies could not maintain a high plateau in the observation period of 7 months. Our data will help develop the diagnosis and vaccine of SARS-CoV-2.

The problem of state estimation with a destination constraint using the noisy prior information of the destination is investigated. With the utilisation of constraint information in estimation system, the estimation accuracy can be significantly enhanced. A projection-based constrained state estimation method is proposed to address this problem. In this method, the unscented Kalman filter is employed to obtain the unconstrained estimation. The Taylor series expansion is adopted to deal with the non-linearity of the destination constraint and the projection method is used to project the unconstraint estimate onto the constraint surface. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the new approach.

Wetland degradation is a source of anxiety and is more severe in cold regions than other areas. The soil seed bank acts as a propagule source for revegetation to affiliate the restoration of degraded wetlands. However, the effects of this approach are controversial and depend on the traits of the seed bank and its interactions with the environment. The seed bank in an alpine fen meadow was studied to determine its exact role in revegetation. The surveyed shore of a Tibetan lake, Gahai Lake, was divided into three sites under different levels of grazing pressure. Each site was separated into six transects along a water-depth gradient to collect soil cores to determine the pattern of biodiversity through a germination experiment in a greenhouse. After an analysis of heterogeneity-related diversity, partitioning of 58 discovered species indicated that 39.5 could be contributed to beta-diversity, which was mainly contributed to water depth. Overgrazing (0.607 sheep unit/acre, November—March) decreased seed bank diversity in many respects, especially through decreasing spatial heterogeneity and homogenizing biota. A lightly grazed, well-protected site had not only the highest beta-diversity and species abundance but also the highest inter-site species turnover rate compared with other sites under moderate grazing intensity. Despite the lack of target species, the seed bank serves as (i) a species-rich pool; (ii) an extant legacy seed source for sustaining heterogeneity and floristic diversity; and (iii) an ecological indicator, and its effect can be reinforced by appropriate grazing practices (multiple intensity) and hydrological modifications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To compare the efficacy of automated breast volume scanning (ABVS) with that of conventional ultrasonography in the detection of breast cancer lesions.In a retrospective study, patients aged 18-78 years who had breast cancer, had undergone screening using ABVS and conventional ultrasonography, and provided a biopsy sample at a center in Changsha, China, between July 22, 2011, and September 20, 2014, were identified. Results of ultrasonography and ABVS were compared.A total of 417 lesions were detected among 300 patients. Ultrasonography detected 326 lesions, whereas ABVS detected all 417 (P0.001). ABVS detected all 32 malignant lesions and ultrasonography detected 31 (P=0.158). Conventional ultrasonography identified microcalcifications in only two cases, whereas ABVS reported these in eight cases (P0.001).ABVS detects significantly more breast lesions than conventional ultrasonography does.

Objective: To determine normal left ventricular (LV) twist characteristics in different age groups and assess changes between neonates and the elderly. Methods: Short-axis left ventricle images at basal and apical levels were acquired in 274 healthy volunteers (aged 15 days to 72 years) by two-dimensional echocardiography, and were analyzed off-line using Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) software to obtain LV twist measurements. The peak apical rotation (PAr), peak basal rotation (PBr), peak LV twist (Ptw), peak LV twist normalized by LV length (PtwN), peak untwisting velocity (PutwV), and isovolumic untwisting% (Iutw%) were measured. Results: LV twist values vary with age. Ptw was higher in older volunteers. PtwN varied inconsistently with age. PutwV and Iutw% were lower in the young and old with a peak in mid–age ranges. Conclusions: STE is an effective noninvasive method to assess LV twist. Age-related differences in LV twist may reflect maturation and adaptive modulation of LV torsional biomechanics from neonate to the elderly. (Echocardiography 2010;27:1205-1210)

This paper proposes an optimal regional pole placement approach for sun tracking control of high-concentration photovoltaic systems. A static output feedback controller is designed to minimize an LQG cost function with a sector region pole constraint. The problem cannot be solved by LMI approach since it is a non-convex optimization problem. Based on the barrier method, we instead solve an auxiliary minimization problem to obtain an approximate solution. Simulation results show the benefit of our approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The putative CCDC106 protein was previously identified as a p53-interacting partner by automated yeast two-hybrid screening, but its sequence and function have not been validated experimentally. Here, we identified three variant transcripts of the CCDC106 gene; these transcripts differ in their second exons due to the use of different splice acceptor site, but encode an identical protein of 280 residues. A bipartite nuclear localisation signal at residues 151–164 mediates the nuclear localisation of CCDC106. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed the colocalisation of endogenous CCDC106 and p53 protein in nuclei. The in vivo interaction between CCDC106 and p53 was confirmed by a co-immunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CCDC106 promotes the degradation of p53 protein and inhibits its transactivity.Structured summaryMINT-7681390: CCDC106 (uniprotkb:Q9BWC9) physically interacts (MI:0915) with p53 (uniprotkb:P04637) by anti tag co-immunoprecipitation (MI:0007)MINT-7681212: p53 (uniprotkb:P04637) and CCDC106 (uniprotkb:Q9BWC9) colocalise (MI:0403) by fluorescence microscopy (MI:0416)

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in mobile ad hoc networks. In a mobile ad hoc network, each mobile node can freely move around and the network is dynamically constructed by collections of mobile nodes without using any existing network infrastructure. Compared to static networks, it faces many problems such as the inefficiency of routing algorithms. Also, the number of control packets in any routing algorithm increases as the mobile speed or the number of mobile nodes increases. Most of the current routing protocols in ad hoc networks broadcast the control packets to the entire network. Therefore, by reducing the number of control packets, the efficiency of the network routing will be improved. If we know where the destination is, we can beam our search toward that direction. However, without using global positioning systems, how can we do this? Define the range nodes as the 1-hop or 2-hop neighbors of the destination node. In this paper, we propose using the range nodes to direct our searches for the destination. It can be combined with the existing routing protocols to reduce the control overhead. We show through simulations that AODV and DSR combined with the range node method outperforms the original AODV and DSR routing protocols in terms of control packets overhead. We also show that the delay introduced in find range nodes is insignificant. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are currently considered powerful candidates for cell therapy in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. However, it is not known when and how NSCs begin to differentiate functionally. Recent reports suggest that classical neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (Ach) are involved in the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells, suggesting that neurotransmitters play an important regulatory role in development of the central nervous system (CNS). We have shown by calcium imaging and immunochemistry that proliferation and differentiation are enhanced by M2 muscarinic Ach receptors (mAchR) expressed on the NSC surface and on their neural progeny. Moreover, atropine, an mAchR antagonist, blocks the enhancement and inhibits the subsequent differentiation of NSCs. Further understanding of this neural-nutrition role of Ach might elucidate fetal brain development, the brain's response to injury, and learning and memory.

The growth and characterization of an n-GaP/i-GaNP/p+ -GaP thin film heterojunction synthesized using a gas-source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method, and its application for efficient solar-driven water oxidation is reported. The TiO2 /Ni passivated n-GaP/i-GaNP/p+ -GaP thin film heterojunction provides much higher photoanodic performance in 1 m KOH solution than the TiO2 /Ni-coated n-GaP substrate, leading to much lower onset potential and much higher photocurrent. There is a significant photoanodic potential shift of 764 mV at a photocurrent of 0.34 mA cm-2 , leading to an onset potential of ≈0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 0.34 mA cm-2 for the heterojunction. The photocurrent at the water oxidation potential (1.23 V vs RHE) is 1.46 and 7.26 mA cm-2 for the coated n-GaP and n-GaP/i-GaNP/p+ -GaP photoanodes, respectively. The passivated heterojunction offers a maximum applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) of 1.9% while the ABPE of the coated n-GaP sample is almost zero. Furthermore, the coated n-GaP/i-GaNP/p+ -GaP heterojunction photoanode provides a broad absorption spectrum up to ≈620 nm with incident photon-to-current efficiencies (IPCEs) of over 40% from ≈400 to ≈560 nm. The high low-bias performance and broad absorption of the wide-bandgap GaP/GaNP heterojunctions render them as a promising photoanode material for tandem photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells to carry out overall solar water splitting.

Porous materials have specific properties, such as high surface area, high permeability, lightweight, and low thermal conductivity. In foaming process of thermoplastics, high melt viscosity is indispensable. Neither poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nor poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) has sufficient melt viscosity. In this manuscript, Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was employed to improve the foaming performance PLA/PBS blends. Mechanical tests were undertaken to compare the performance change of PLA/PBS foams before and after reinforcement of OMMT. The compression feature of PLA/PBS foams was discussed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopes were performed to investigate the interaction between OMMT and PLA/PBS foams and the influence of OMMT on cell structure. The results indicated that OMMT can improve the effect of foaming markedly. With 3 wt % OMMT, The compressive strength, flexural strength, and impact strength raised up to 9.2 MPa, 14.0 MPa, and 31.2 kJ/m2, respectively, and the average size of cells changed from 475.6 to 261.4 µm. FT-IR, TGA, and XRD analysis suggested that CTAC has inserted into the Na-MMT platelets and OMMT platelets are more likely to be intercalated or completely separated in PLA/PBS matrix. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40773.

Experimental plant reproductive biology has recently emerged as a new form of experimental embryology characterized by the direct experimental isolation and manipulation of reproductive cells and protoplasts. This work is fostered by current multidisciplinary trends in the sciences and serves to deepen our knowledge about the control of reproductive processes by providing novel in vitro material. The techniques of experimental plant reproductive biology also show great potential in providing new means for biotechnology, leading to significant refinements in plant breeding in higher plants that may eventually permit direct reproductive cell engineering. Recent achievements by our research group in experimental manipulation and biological studies of pollen protoplasts, generative cells, sperm cells, and embryo sacs are reviewed, and some ideas about future developments in this new area are presented. During the last two decades, plant embryology has undergone rapid and profound changes that have promoted its integration with other related sciences and increased its experimental nature. The initial product of this is the multidisciplinary field known as plant reproductive biology which incorporates the techniques of plant tissue culture with floral organogenesis. During the course of this development at the tissue level, a parallel trend has occurred at the cellular level that integrates techniques of plant cell culture with the isolation of the male and female gametes, their precursor cells, and gametophytes. We tentatively call this new branch of experimental embryology "experimental plant reproductive biology." Two major features characterize experimental plant reproductive biology. The first is the modification of culture techniques from the level of organ and tissue culture to that of cell and protoplast manipulation. The techniques previously adopted for culturing the flower, anther, ovary, ovule, nucellus, endosperm, and embryo, as summarized in the book Experimental Embryology in Vascular Plants (Johri, 1982), are designed primarily for organ and tissue manipulation. Although these techniques are still valu

alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) are responsible for excitotoxicity induced by ischemic injury in hippocampal CA1 neurons, whereas the molecular mechanisms responsible for their neurotrophic activities are much less studied. Here, we examined the neuroprotective effect of positive modeulation of AMPARs by coapplication of AMPA with PEPA, an allosteric potentiator of AMPARs. We showed that coapplication of AMPA with PEPA protected hippocampal CA1 neurons from brain ischemia-induced death. Coapplication of AMPA with PEPA could prevent downregulated expression of GluR2 subunit caused by ischemia and increase BDNF expression via Lyn-ERK1/2-CREB signaling. Furthermore, TrkB receptor-mediated PI3K/Akt signal pathway was activated after coapplication of AMPA with PEPA, which was related to MAPK pathway and protected CA1 neurons against ischemic insults through depression of JNK3 activity, release of cytochrome c to cytosol and depression of capase-3 activity. Our results revealed that positive modulation of AMPARs could exert neuroprotective effects and the possible signaling pathways underlied.