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Hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) generally outperforms its inbred parents in yield and stress tolerance, a phenomenon termed heterosis, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. Here, we combined transcriptome, proteome, physiological, and heterosis analyses to examine the salt response of super hybrid rice Chaoyou1000 (CY1000). In addition to surpassing the mean values for its two parents (mid‐parent heterosis), CY1000 exhibited a higher reactive oxygen species scavenging ability than both its parents (over‐parent heterosis or heterobeltiosis). Nonadditive expression and allele‐specific gene expression assays showed that the glutathione S‐transferase gene OsGSTU26 and the amino acid transporter gene OsAAT30 may have major roles in heterosis for salt tolerance, acting in an overdominant fashion in CY1000. Furthermore, we identified OsWRKY72 as a common transcription factor that binds and regulates OsGSTU26 and OsAAT30. The salt‐sensitive phenotypes were associated with the OsWRKY72paternal genotype or the OsAAT30maternal genotype in core rice germplasm varieties. OsWRKY72paternal specifically repressed the expression of OsGSTU26 under salt stress, leading to salinity sensitivity, while OsWRKY72maternal specifically repressed OsAAT30, resulting in salinity tolerance. These results suggest that the OsWRKY72–OsAAT30/OsGSTU26 module may play an important role in heterosis for salt tolerance in an overdominant fashion in CY1000 hybrid rice, providing valuable clues to elucidate the mechanism of heterosis for salinity tolerance in hybrid rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Schrenkiella parvula, a leading extremophyte model in Brassicaceae, can grow and complete its lifecycle under multiple environmental stresses, including high salinity. Yet, the key physiological and structural traits underlying its stress‐adapted lifestyle are unknown along with trade‐offs when surviving salt stress at the expense of growth and reproduction. We aimed to identify the influential adaptive trait responses that lead to stress‐resilient and uncompromised growth across developmental stages when treated with salt at levels known to inhibit growth in Arabidopsis and most crops. Its resilient growth was promoted by traits that synergistically allowed primary root growth in seedlings, the expansion of xylem vessels across the root‐shoot continuum, and a high capacity to maintain tissue water levels by developing thicker succulent leaves while enabling photosynthesis during salt stress. A successful transition from vegetative to reproductive phase was initiated by salt‐induced early flowering, resulting in viable seeds. Self‐fertilization in salt‐induced early flowering was dependent upon filament elongation in flowers otherwise aborted in the absence of salt during comparable plant ages. The maintenance of leaf water status promoting growth, and early flowering to ensure reproductive success in a changing environment, were among the most influential traits that contributed to the extremophytic lifestyle of S. parvula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Haemoglobin H (Hb H) disease (intermediate status of α‐thalassemia) shows marked phenotypic variability from asymptomatic to severe anaemia. Apart from the combined β‐thalassemia allele ameliorating clinical severity, reports of genetic modifier genes affecting the phenotype of Hb H disease are scarce which bring inconvenience to precise diagnosis and genetic counselling of the patients. Here, we present a novel mutation (c.948C>A, p.S316R) in the PIP4K2A gene in a female Hb H disease patient who displayed moderate anaemia and a relatively high Hb H level. Haematological analysis in her family members revealed that individuals carrying this mutation have upregulated β‐globin expression, leading to a more imbalanced β/α‐globin ratio and more Hb H inclusion bodies in peripheral red blood cells. According to functional experiments, the mutant PIP4K2A protein exhibits enhanced protein stability, increased kinase activity and a stronger regulatory effect on downstream proteins, suggesting a gain‐of‐function mutation. Moreover, introduction of the S316R mutation into HUDEP‐2 cells increased expression of β‐globin, further inhibiting erythroid differentiation and terminal enucleation. Thus, the S316R mutation is a novel genetic factor associated with β‐globin expression, and the PIP4K2A gene is a new potential modifier gene affecting the α‐thalassemia phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Acclimation of root growth is vital for plants to survive salt stress. Halophytes are great examples of plants that thrive even under severe salinity, but their salt tolerance mechanisms, especially those mediated by root responses, are still largely unknown.We compared root growth responses of the halophyte Schrenkiella parvula with its glycophytic relative species Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress and performed transcriptomic analysis of S. parvula roots to identify possible gene regulatory networks underlying their physiological responses.Schrenkiella parvula roots do not avoid salt and experience less growth inhibition under salt stress. Salt‐induced abscisic acid levels were higher in S. parvula roots compared with Arabidopsis. Root transcriptomic analysis of S. parvula revealed the induction of sugar transporters and genes regulating cell expansion and suberization under salt stress. 14C‐labeled carbon partitioning analyses showed that S. parvula continued allocating carbon to roots from shoots under salt stress while carbon barely allocated to Arabidopsis roots. Further physiological investigation revealed that S. parvula roots maintained root cell expansion and enhanced suberization under severe salt stress.In summary, roots of S. parvula deploy multiple physiological and developmental adjustments under salt stress to maintain growth, providing new avenues to improve salt tolerance of plants using root‐specific strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most common and serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus. Our experiments aimed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) TUG1 in a human renal mesangial cell (HRMC) model of LN. Methods: Cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammatory damage. StarBase, TargetScan, and a luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and confirm the interactions between lncRNA TUG1, miR‐153‐3p, and Bcl‐2. We determined the lncRNA TUG1 and miR‐153‐3p levels in LPS‐induced HRMCs using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR). MTT and flow cytometry analyses were used to detect HRMC proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. In addition, the expression of the apoptosis‐related proteins Bax and Bcl‐2 was evaluated using western blot analysis and RT‐qPCR. Lastly, the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α) was assessed using ELISA. Results: miR‐153‐3p directly targeted lncRNA TUG1. The level of lncRNA TUG1 was remarkably lower and miR‐153‐3p expression was markedly higher in LPS‐treated HRMCs than in untreated cells. Transfection with TUG1‐plasmid relieved LPS‐induced HRMC injury, as evidenced by increased cell viability, inhibited apoptotic cells, reduced Bax expression, increased Bcl‐2 level, and reduced secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Importantly, these findings were reversed by miR‐153‐3p mimic. We also found that miR‐153‐3p directly targeted Bcl‐2 and negatively regulated Bcl‐2 expression in HRMCs. In addition, our findings suggest that miR‐153‐3p inhibitor relieved LPS‐induced HRMC injury via the upregulation of Bcl‐2. Conclusion: lncRNA TUG1 alleviated LPS‐induced HRMC injury through regulation of the miR‐153‐3p/Bcl‐2 axis in LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new multifactor analysis assessment strategy was developed for evaluating, optimizing, and comparing analytical techniques for acrylamide in frying oils. Based on five indices (absolute recovery, absolute matrix effect, the intensity of the full ion scan, and the precursor ion scan to m/z 184 and m/z 241), the proposed strategy was performed with radar analysis, relative contribution analysis, and the entropy‐weighted technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution analysis. Two novel methods based on quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction methodology and gel permeation chromatography–liquid–liquid extraction followed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry have been developed for the analysis of acrylamide in frying oils. Two methods were suitable for rapid and sensitive analysis of acrylamide in oils in different laboratories, with a limit of quantitation at 2 μg/kg, and the average recovery ranging from 92.5% to 107.8%, with relative standard deviations below 10%. When considering automation efficiency and matrix effects, gel permeation chromatography is the most efficient method, whereas the other method has an advantage when analyzing large samples. The developed methods were used in a pilot study to analyze frying oils with acrylamide content below 9.82 μg/kg, showing that the repeated frying process did not produce significant content of acrylamide in oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notably, as one of the endemic regions of thalassaemia,[8] more than 40% of Indian GPI deficiency patients are misdiagnosed as having -thalassaemia major, mainly due to the overlap of clinical phenotypes.[7] The patient in this study is a native of a region with a high incidence of thalassaemia, and she was also misdiagnosed with -thalassaemia intermedia, which deserves further consideration. GPI deficiency patients generally show macrocytosis (MCV>100 fL), whereas thalassaemia patients show microcytosis (MCV<80 fL).[[7], [9]] Co-inheritance thalassaemia mutation led to the MCV value (80.8 fL) of this patient being close to the lower limit of reference, interfering with the diagnosis based on red-cell parameters. Abbreviations AD autosomal dominant ALP alkaline phosphatase AR autosomal recessive CNSHA chronic non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia G6PD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase GPI glucose-6-phosphate isomerase HHA hereditary haemolytic anaemia HS hereditary spherocytosis IBIL indirect bilirubin LDH lactate dehydrogenase MCV mean cell volume RBC red blood cell TBIL total bilirubin WES whole-exome sequencing Hereditary haemolytic anaemia (HHA) encompasses a diverse group of disorders with high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity characterized by varying degrees of anaemia and haemolysis, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, etc.[[1]] HHA is divided into three categories: red blood cell (RBC) membranopathy, RBC enzymopathy and haemoglobinopathy. Identification of haemolytic anaemia caused by glucose phosphate isomerase deficiency in a thalassaemia-endemic region: Correction of misdiagnosis and consideration of the cause of misdiagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

Increasing soil salinization largely impacts crop yield worldwide. To deal with salinity stress, plants exhibit an array of responses, including root system architecture remodelling. Here, we review recent progress in physiological, developmental and cellular mechanisms of root growth responses to salinity. Most recent research in modulation of root branching, root tropisms, as well as in root cell wall modifications under salinity stress, is discussed in the context of the contribution of these responses to overall plant performance. We highlight the power of natural variation approaches revealing novel potential pathways responsible for differences in root salt stress responses. Together, these new findings promote our understanding of how salt shapes the root phenotype, which may provide potential avenues for engineering crops with better yield and survival in saline soils. This review highlights recent research on the effect of soil salinity on root growth modulation. We discuss root architecture plasticity, root tropisms and root cell wall modifications under salinity stress in Arabidopsis thaliana and several crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color tuning is a fascinating and indispensable property in various applications. Thus far, a variety of reconfigurable approaches have been implemented to achieve color change. However, it is still a challenge to enable continuous color tuning over the entire hue range in a simple, stable, and rapid manner without changes in configuration and material properties. Here, an all‐optical continuously tunable plasmonic pixel scheme is demonstrated via a modular design approach to realize polarization‐controlled full color tuning by breaking the intrinsic symmetry of the unit cell layout. The polarization‐controlled full color tunable plasmonic pixels consist of three different types of color modules corresponding to three subtractive primary colors. Without changing the structural properties or surrounding environment, the structural colors can be continuously and precisely tuned across all hues by illuminating linearly polarized light with different polarization directions. Meanwhile, the plasmonic pixels can be flexibly customized for various color tuning processes through the appropriate choice of component modules and the elaborate design of module layouts. Furthermore, the color tuning is extended to achromatic colors with the utilization of a single module or the introduction of a black module. The proposed plasmonic pixels hold considerable potential to function as next‐generation color pixels integrated with liquid‐crystal polarizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Re‐activation of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) has been proved to be an effective strategy for the treatment of β‐haemoglobinopathies. In this study, we identified TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) as a new potential regulator of HbF by integrating public data sets with quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in β‐thalassaemia patients. Significant negative correlation was observed between the expression of TEAD4 and HbF levels in β‐thalassaemia patients. Functional validations of TEAD4 inhibition in both β‐thalassaemia CD34+ cells and HUDEP‐2 cells indicated that depletion of TEAD4 led to a significant increase of HbF. Finally, we identified a binding motif of TEAD4 on γ‐globin gene promoters; its disruption consistently led to de‐repression of HbF. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TEAD4 could act as a transcriptional inhibitor of the γ‐globin gene through direct binding on its promoter. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of TEAD4 on the regulation of HbF, which may benefit patients with β‐haemoglobinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of observation capabilities has expanded the scale of new data available for time domain astronomy research, and the accumulation of observational data continues to accelerate. However, traditional data analysis methods are difficult to fully tap the potential scientific value of all data. Therefore, in the current and future research on light curve analysis, it is inevitable to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist in data analysis in order to obtain as many candidates as possible with scientific research goals. This survey reviews important developments in light curve analysis over the past years, summarizes the basic concepts in machine learning and their applications in light curve analysis and concludes perspectives and challenges for light curve analysis in the near future. The full exploration of light curves of variable celestial objects relies heavily on new techniques derived from promotion of machine learning and deep learning in the astronomical big data era. This article is categorized under:Technologies > Machine LearningTechnologies > Artificial Intelligence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive activation of pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages following acute myocardial infarction (MI) aggravates adverse cardiac remodelling and heart dysfunction. There are two break points in the tricarboxylic acid cycle of M1 macrophages, and aspartate‐arginosuccinate shunt compensates them. Aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) is an inhibitor of aspartate aminotransferase in the aspartate‐arginosuccinate shunt. Previous studies showed that manipulating macrophage metabolism may control macrophage polarization and inflammatory response. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effects of AOAA on macrophage metabolism and polarization and heart function after MI. In vitro, AOAA inhibited lactic acid and glycolysis and enhanced ATP levels in classically activated M1 macrophages. Besides, AOAA restrained pro‐inflammatory M1 macrophages and promoted anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype. In vivo, MI mice were treated with AOAA or saline for three consecutive days. Remarkably, AOAA administration effectively inhibited the proportion of M1 macrophages and boosted M2‐like phenotype, which subsequently attenuated infarct size as well as improved post‐MI cardiac function. Additionally, AOAA attenuated NLRP3‐Caspase1/IL‐1β activation and decreased the release of IL‐6 and TNF‐α pro‐inflammatory cytokines and reciprocally increased IL‐10 anti‐inflammatory cytokine level in both ischaemic myocardium and M1 macrophages. In conclusion, short‐term AOAA treatment significantly improves cardiac function in mice with MI by balancing macrophage polarization through modulating macrophage metabolism and inhibiting NLRP3‐Caspase1/IL‐1β pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revealed the potential biomarker and pathway of gelanxinning capsule on rat model with coronary heart disease, which aims to clarify holistic therapeutic effect and predict quality‐markers of gelanxinning capsule. Ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry based on metabolomics technique was used to find the biomarkers and related metabolic pathways of coronary heart disease model, which evaluates the intervention effect of gelanxinning capsule. Using serum pharmacochemistry of traditional Chinese medicine and Pearson correlation analysis, effective ingredients in serum is analyzed to characterize the activity of gelanxinning capsule on coronary heart disease under valid state. A total of 20 biomarkers from coronary heart disease were identified and 12 of them were regulated by gelanxinning capsule treatment, which is mainly involved in sphingolipid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. With the high sensitivity liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry technology, a total of 46 compounds from gelanxinning capsule were identified in vitro and 25 of them were absorbed in blood. The correlation analysis of serum biomarkers and absorbed components was used to find 11 compounds as quality‐markers to be responsible for the efficacy of gelanxinning capsule. This strategy was successfully applied to screening of potential mechanism and quality‐markers from herbal medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For the rational utilization and the quantitative quality control of the Stephania yunnanensis Lo, an HPLC‐DAD method was developed for the quantitative and simultaneous determination of five alkaloids in rat plasma (stepharine, sinomenine, palmatine, isocorydine and tetrahydropalmatine), which were the main active chemical constituents of this plant and belong to four kinds of isoquinoline‐type alkaloids (protoberberine, morphine, aporphine and protaporphine alkaloids). The contents of five alkaloids ranged from 0.09 to 2.32% (w/w). The method validation was tested for the linearity (r2 > 0.9975), precision (intra‐day RSD < 4.8% and inter‐day RSD < 4.9%), extraction recovery (85.49 ± 2.29% to 99.21 ± 1.48%) and stability (98.5 ± 5.3% to 101.2 ± 3.4%). We developed an HPLC‐DAD method to simultaneously measure these alkaloids in rat plasma after oral administration of the extract of this plant to rats. The results supported the hypothesis that isoquinoline alkaloids were the compounds responsible for the main pharmacological activities for anti‐inflammatory and analgesic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Strigolactones (SLs) are rhizosphere signalling molecules exuded by plants that induce seed germination of root parasitic weeds and hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhiza. They are also phytohormones regulating plant architecture. MORE AXILLARY GROWTH 1 (MAX1) and its homologs encode cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes that catalyse the conversion of the strigolactone precursor carlactone to canonical strigolactones in rice (Oryza sativa), and to an SL‐like compound in Arabidopsis. Here, we characterized the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) MAX1 homolog, SlMAX1. The targeting induced local lesions in genomes method was used to obtain Slmax1 mutants that exhibit strongly reduced production of orobanchol, solanacol and didehydro‐orobanchol (DDH) isomers. This results in a severe strigolactone mutant phenotype in vegetative and reproductive development. Transient expression of SlMAX1 – together with SlD27, SlCCD7 and SlCCD8 – in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that SlMAX1 catalyses the formation of carlactonoic acid from carlactone. Plant feeding assays showed that carlactone, but not 4‐deoxy‐orobanchol, is the precursor of orobanchol, which in turn is the precursor of solanacol and two of the three DDH isomers. Inhibitor studies suggest that a 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase is involved in orobanchol biosynthesis from carlactone and that the formation of solanacol and DDH isomers from orobanchol is catalysed by CYPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of the study was to explore the possible role of the 5-HT2A-1438G/A polymorphism in the susceptibility to anorexia nervosa (AN) in the Chinese Han population. Methods The -1438G/A polymorphism of 249 female AN patients, 228 matched healthy controls, and 198 trios was genotyped using SNaP shot assay. Psychopathological traits of eating-disordered behaviors in AN subjects were examined using the Chinese version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Results Neither the case-control analysis nor the transmission disequilibrium test revealed significant associations between the -1438G/A polymorphism and AN ( P > .05). However, AA homozygote patients with AN had lower weight and shape concern scores of the EDE-Q6.0 than those of GA heterozygotes ( P < .05). Discussion Our findings suggested that female AN patients with 5-HT2A −1438AA genotype may be characterized by less severe eating-disordered psychopathological traits in the Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intent on developing efficient proton exchange membranes used for direct methanol fuel cells as well as hydrogen fuel cells, a series of membranes based on sulfonated polyetheretherketone and sulfonated polyphosphazene-graft copolymers is prepared by cross-linking reaction because the former material has good enough mechanical property, while the latter is excellent in the proton transfer. The cross-linked membranes combine the advantages of the two kinds of polymers. Among them, the membrane poly[(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)(4-methylphenoxy)phosphazene]-g-poly {(styrene)11-r-[4-(4-sulfobutyloxy)styrene]33-sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)75 (CF3-PS11-PSBOS33-SPEEK75) shows a proton conductivity at 0.143 S cm−1 under fully hydrated conditions at 80 °C and performs tensile strength about five times as much as did the sulfonated polyphosphazene membrane CF3-PS11-PSBOS33. Further doping of sulfonated single-walled carbon nanotubes (S-SWCNTs) into the cross-linked membranes on the screening of additives gives composite membrane CF3-PS11-PSBOS33-SPEEK75-SWCNT possessing proton conductivity of 0.196 S cm−1, even higher than that of Nafion 117 and a tensile strength comparable to that of Nafion 117. However, this significance of the composite membrane in the proton conduction is not observed in the test with a H2/air fuel cell when it shows a maximal power density of 280 mW cm−2 at 80 °C, whereas 294 mW cm−2 is observed for CF3-PS11-PSBOS33-SPEEK75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strigolactones ( SL) contribute to drought acclimatization in shoots, because SL-depleted plants are hypersensitive to drought due to stomatal hyposensitivity to abscisic acid ( ABA). However, under drought, SL biosynthesis is repressed in roots, suggesting organ specificity in their metabolism and role. Because SL can be transported acropetally, such a drop may also affect shoots, as a systemic indication of stress., We investigated this hypothesis by analysing molecularly and physiologically wild-type ( WT) tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum) scions grafted onto SL-depleted rootstocks, compared with self-grafted WT and SL-depleted genotypes, during a drought time-course., Shoots receiving few SL from the roots behaved as if under mild stress even if irrigated. Their stomata were hypersensitive to ABA (likely via a localized enhancement of SL synthesis in shoots). Exogenous SL also enhanced stomata sensitivity to ABA., As the partial shift of SL synthesis from roots to shoots mimics what happens under drought, a reduction of root-produced SL might represent a systemic signal unlinked from shootward ABA translocation, and sufficient to prime the plant for better stress avoidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We investigated the interfacial properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) carrying UV-crosslinkable pendant quaternized stilbazole (styrylpyridinium), PVA-SbQ. The extent and dynamics of PVA-SbQ cyclodimerization reactions and crosslinking induced by UV irradiation were monitored in situ and in real time by quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM). Sensograms reflecting time-dependent changes in density and viscoelasticity of crosslinking films followed a Boltzmann sigmoidal model, depending on precursor film composition and irradiation power. The shifts in QCM frequency and energy dissipation upon PVA-SbQ cyclodimerization correlated with three photo-crosslinking phases involving soft-to-rigid transitions, namely, induction (initiation), main crosslinking (interaction), and termination. PVA-SbQ films crosslinked to different degree were used as protein carriers and a slower release profile was determined for the films that underwent more extensive crosslinking. Overall, this study demonstrates for the first time the dynamics of PVA-SbQ crosslinking and its impact in system viscoelasticity and protein release. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 345-355 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The close affinity between Edmontosaurus and Shantungosaurus is corroborated on the basis of the following shared features: an occipital condyle deflected strongly posteroventrally; a posterodorsally reflected, lip-shaped oral margin of the premaxilla, with a deep, oval concavity at the anteromedial corner of the bone; a well-demarcated posterodorsal margin of the deeply excavated circumnarial fossa formed by a prominent arched ridge along the entire posterior half of the lateroventral border of the nasal; an anteroposteriorly broad jugal process of the postorbital; a strongly concave dorsal surface of the paired frontals; seven teeth per alveolus in the middle of the dentary tooth row; and a circular distal blade of the pubis that is much more expanded ventrally than dorsally. A revised phylogenetic analysis of Hadrosauroidea recovers a sister taxon relationship between Edmontosaurus and Shantungosaurus. Kerberosaurus is recovered as the sister taxon to the clade formed exclusively by these two genera. The clade Edmontosaurini could be defined as the least inclusive clade containing Kerberosaurus and Edmontosaurus, which is currently composed of the genera Kerberosaurus, Edmontosaurus, and Shantungosaurus. Zhuchengosaurus and Huaxiaosaurus, both from the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group in Zhucheng, are interpreted as junior synonyms of Shantungosaurus. Kundurosaurus is likewise considered a junior synonym of Kerberosaurus. The strict consensus tree together with biogeographic information indicates that the clade Edmontosaurini originated in Asia and subsequently dispersed into North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination of Striga spp. (witchweeds), one of the world's most destructive parasitic weeds, cannot be induced by light but is specifically induced by strigolactones. It is not known whether Striga uses the same components for strigolactone signaling as host plants, whether it has endogenous strigolactone biosynthesis and whether there is post-germination strigolactone signaling in Striga., Strigolactones could not be detected in in vitro grown Striga, while for host-grown Striga, the strigolactone profile is dominated by a subset of the strigolactones present in the host., Branching of in vitro grown Striga is affected by strigolactone biosynthesis inhibitors. Sh MAX2, the Striga ortholog of Arabidopsis MORE AXILLARY BRANCHING 2 ( At MAX2) - which mediates strigolactone signaling - complements several of the Arabidopsis max2-1 phenotypes, including the root and shoot phenotype, the High Irradiance Response and the response to strigolactones. Seed germination of max2-1 complemented with Sh MAX2 showed no complementation of the Very Low Fluence Response phenotype of max2-1., Results provide indirect evidence for Sh MAX2 functions in Striga. A putative role of Sh MAX2 in strigolactone-dependent seed germination of Striga is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Jasmonates are plant signalling molecules that play key roles in defence against insects and certain pathogens, among others by controlling the biosynthesis of protective secondary metabolites. In Catharanthus roseus, the AP2/ERF-domain transcription factor ORCA3 controls the jasmonate-responsive expression of several genes encoding enzymes involved in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis. ORCA3 gene expression is itself induced by jasmonate. The ORCA3 promoter contains an autonomous jasmonate-responsive element (JRE) composed of a quantitative sequence responsible for the high level of expression and a qualitative sequence that acts as an on/off switch in response to methyl-jasmonate (MeJA). Here, we identify the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor CrMYC2 as the major activator of MeJA-responsive ORCA3 gene expression. The CrMYC2 gene is an immediate-early jasmonate-responsive gene. CrMYC2 binds to the qualitative sequence in the ORCA3 JRE in vitro, and transactivates reporter gene expression via this sequence in transient assays. Knock-down of the CrMYC2 expression level via RNA interference caused a strong reduction in the level of MeJA-responsive ORCA3 mRNA accumulation. In addition, MeJA-responsive expression of the related transcription factor gene ORCA2 was significantly reduced. Our results show that MeJA-responsive expression of alkaloid biosynthesis genes in C. roseus is controlled by a transcription factor cascade consisting of the bHLH protein CrMYC2 regulating ORCA gene expression, and the AP2/ERF-domain transcription factors ORCA2 and ORCA3, which in turn regulate a subset of alkaloid biosynthesis genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, the meristem has to maintain a separate population of pluripotent cells that serve two main tasks, i.e., self‐maintenance and organ initiation, which are separated spatially in meristem. Prior to our study, WUS and WUS‐like WOX genes had been reported as essential for the development of the SAM. In this study, the consequences of gain of WOX1 function are described. Here we report the identification of an Arabidopsis gain‐of‐function mutant wox1‐D, in which the expression level of the WOX1 (WUSCHEL HOMEOBOX 1) was elevated and subtle defects in meristem development were observed. The wox1‐D mutant phenotype is dwarfed and slightly bushy, with a smaller shoot apex. The wox1‐D mutant also produced small and dark green leaves, and exhibited a failure in anther dehiscence and male sterility. Molecular evidences showed that the transcription of the stem cell marker gene CLV3 was down‐regulated in the meristem of wox1‐D but accumulated in the other regions, i.e., in the root‐hypocotyl junction and at the sites for lateral root initiation. The fact that the organ size and cell size in leaves of wox1‐D are smaller than those in wild type suggests that cell expansion is possibly affected in order to have partially retarded the development of lateral organs, possibly through alteration of CLV3 expression pattern in the meristem. An S‐adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) protein, SAMDC1, was found able to interact with WOX1 by yeast two‐hybrid and pull‐down assays in vitro. HPLC analysis revealed a significant reduction of polyamine content in wox1‐D. Our results suggest that WOX1 plays an important role in meristem development in Arabidopsis, possibly via regulation of SAMDC activity and polyamine homeostasis, and/or by regulating CLV3 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A universal platform for the efficient intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules with minimal trauma to the cells is highly desirable for biological research and clinical applications. Moreover, such a platform should include the ability to harvest the "engineered" cells, for particular in vitro or ex vivo conditions. Herein, a broadly applicable platform is presented with integrated multifunctions based on silicon nanowire arrays (SiNWAs) modified with a sugar‐responsive polymer containing phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups. Due to the synergistic effects of the specific recognition of PBA groups by sialic acid and "nanoenhancement" by the SiNWAs, this system shows a high capture capacity for both surface adherent and suspension cells overexpressing sialic acid on the membrane. Under appropriate near‐infrared irradiation, the photothermal properties of SiNWAs endow this system with high efficiency to deliver biomacromolecules into the captured cells by a membrane disruption mechanism. The cells thus "engineered" can be harvested simply by treatment with a nontoxic sugar solution, thereby maintaining good viability for subsequent applications. This method appears to have strong potential for the intracellular delivery of diverse biomacromolecules into both surface adherent and suspension cells, including hard‐to‐transfect suspension T cells, and may open up new pathways for engineering living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title reaction of dibenziodonium triflates with arylboronic acids offers a straightforward access to a range of o-tetraaryls (III), (V), and (VII). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound (IIIa) can be further alkylated by using allyl or benzyl bromide to give the corresponding disubstituted products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction is performed under solvent free conditions and the catalyst can be recycled without significant loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]