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Abstract Background Nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NBS-LRR)-encoding genes comprise the largest class of plant disease resistance genes. The 149 NBS-LRR-encoding genes and the 58 related genes that do not encode LRRs represent approximately 0.8% of all ORFs so far annotated in Arabidopsis ecotype Col-0. Despite their prevalence in the genome and functional importance, there was little information regarding expression of these genes. Results We analyzed the expression patterns of ~170 NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes in Arabidopsis Col-0 using multiple analytical approaches: expressed sequenced tag (EST) representation, massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS), microarray analysis, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR, and gene trap lines. Most of these genes were expressed at low levels with a variety of tissue specificities. Expression was detected by at least one approach for all but 10 of these genes. The expression of some but not the majority of NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes was affected by salicylic acid (SA) treatment; the response to SA varied among different accessions. An analysis of previously published microarray data indicated that ten NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes exhibited increased expression in wild-type Landsberg erecta (Ler) after flagellin treatment. Several of these ten genes also showed altered expression after SA treatment, consistent with the regulation of R gene expression during defense responses and overlap between the basal defense response and salicylic acid signaling pathways. Enhancer trap analysis indicated that neither jasmonic acid nor benzothiadiazole (BTH), a salicylic acid analog, induced detectable expression of the five NBS-LRR-encoding genes and one TIR-NBS-encoding gene tested; however, BTH did induce detectable expression of the other TIR-NBS-encoding gene analyzed. Evidence for alternative mRNA polyadenylation sites was observed for many of the tested genes. Evidence for alternative splicing was found for at least 12 genes, 11 of which encode TIR-NBS-LRR proteins. There was no obvious correlation between expression pattern, phylogenetic relationship or genomic location of the NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes studied. Conclusion Transcripts of many NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes were defined. Most were present at low levels and exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns. Expression data are consistent with most Arabidopsis NBS-LRR-encoding and related genes functioning in plant defense responses but do not preclude other biological roles.

Both increasing environmental issues and the lack of fossil resources have increased the importance of wood-based natural fiber composites. Therefore, high performance, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly bio-based wood adhesives are highly desirable. We developed a new biomass adhesive based on aminated cellulose (AC) and oxidized sucrose (OS), and reinforced it with an activated wood interface to improve its bonding performance. To this end, the natural wood interface (NWI) was customized with an epoxy group to produce the epoxy-functionalized wood interface (EFWI), one end of which is tethered to the wood surface. The epoxy group at the other end reacts with the amino group of AC, resulting in hydrophobicity and forming new covalent bonds in the adhesive layer, such as -Si-O-Si-, -Si-O-C-, -C-N-C-, and -O-C-C- bonds. Characterization of the adhesive interface is realized by FTIR, 13C NMR, XPS, XRD, and SEM. Dry and wet shear strengths are also investigated by tensile shear strength measurements in China National Standards (GB/T 9846-2015). Results show that OS-AC adhesives have better dry and wet shear strengths at EFWI in comparison with those on NWI, reaching 2.52 and 1.48 MPa, respectively. Thus, the construction of a functionalized wood adhesive interface dramatically enhances the bonding strength and water resistance of biomass adhesives. This study provides new insights for developing renewable, low cost, and green bio-based wood adhesives by chemical modification of the wood interface. Schematic diagram for the design and construction of strong wood bonding via chemical bond between epoxy-functionalized wood surface and cross-linked OS-AC bio-based adhesive. [Display omitted] • Biomass adhesive based on cellulose-sucrose cross-linked network was developed. • Bonding performance was reinforced with functionalized wood interface. • OS-AC adhesive has better shear strengths at EFWI in comparison with that on NWI. • Functionalized wood interface enhances the water resistance of the biomass adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Crossed aphasia (CA), usually referred to as an acquired language disturbance, is caused by a lesion in the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to the dominant hand, and the exact mechanism is not clear. The development of handedness is influenced by education and training and the impact of habitualization, while language is more susceptible to the impact of speech habits, and it is not absolutely accurate to judge cerebral language dominance by the degree of hand preference.Methods: We describe a case of CA after right hemispheric stroke in a right-handed patient with atypical language dominance and attempt to analyze the mechanism of CA based on functional imaging methods, including arterial spin labeling (ASL) and positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI).Results: Brain MRI at 24 h after admission showed a large cerebral infarction in the right cerebral hemisphere, including the posteroinferior part of Broca’s area in the right frontal lobe, the right temporal lobe, and the right occipital lobe. The patient exhibited a non-fluent aphasia on a standard language test (the Aphasia Battery of Chinese [ABC]) performed on the 7th day after onset. Thus, atypical language dominance was suspected. One week after admission, ASL imaging showed high perfusion in the infarct core zone and low perfusion in the left cerebellar hemisphere. Two months later, PET/MRI demonstrated low metabolism in the posterior frontal lobe, temporal lobe, temporal occipital junction area, and the right basal ganglia.Conclusion: The findings suggest that the patient has right-sided cerebral language dominance, or that both hemispheres have linguistic functions. Not all patients show linguistic capabilities on the side opposite hand preference. The language dominance should be predicted by a combination of clinical manifestations and functional imaging techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) have been regarded as promising large-scale energy storage technologies, due to their low cost and high safety. However, the dendrite growth and side reactions on the Zn metal anode hinder their practical application. Herein, the cotton textiles-based separators with easily-fabricated and cost-effective features are demonstrated for AZBs. By complexing inorganic fluoperovskite NaZnF 3 and organic Nafion layers, the as-fabricated separator (CT@NZF@N) can regulate the zinc plating/stripping behavior, which will reduce the zinc nucleation overpotential and lower the charge transfer resistance, thus achieving a highly reversible Zn plating/stripping process with corrosion-free and dendrite-free behavior. Consequently, the zinc symmetric cell with CT@NZF@N separator exhibits prolonged cycle life up to 300 h (0.5 mA cm−2, 0.5 mAh cm−2) in a mild ZnSO 4 electrolyte. Moreover, the functional separator also enables V 2 O 5 //Zn battery significantly improved rate capability and cyclability. This work provides an appealing strategy for designing reliable, efficient, and cost-effective separators for high-performance AZBs. [Display omitted] • The NaZnF 3 and Nafion-decorated cellulose-based separators were fabricated. • The separators can regulate the zinc deposition behaviour in aqueous electrolyte. • The separators enable the V 2 O 5 //Zn battery improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]