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The gene, indole-3-butyric acid ( IBA)- RESPONSE ( IBR) 3, is thought to participate in peroxisomal β-oxidation of IBA to indole-3-acetic acid. Here we show that IBR3 may also play a role in Arabidopsis thaliana defence response to microbial pathogens. IBR3 is up-regulated during infection by virulent Pseudomonas syringae pv . tomato ( Pst) DC3000 bacteria. Although mutant ibr3-4 did not show a pathogen phenotype, lines overexpressing IBR3 demonstrated enhanced susceptibility to Pst DC3000. Increased susceptibility phenotypes of IBR3 overexpressors were correlated with defective SA defence signalling and impairment of pattern-triggered immunity ( PTI) activation. Notably, reactive oxygen species production was reduced in IBR3 overexpressors after treatment with the microbe-associated molecular patterns flg22 and efl26. Later PTI responses, such as accumulation of FRK1 transcripts and callose deposition were also reduced in transgenics overexpressing IBR3 after inoculation with the Type III secretion system deficient bacterial mutant Pst DC3000 hrcC or treatment with flg22 or elf26. Importantly, overexpression of IBR3 did not affect indole-3-acetic acid content or auxin-responsive gene expression. These results suggest a novel role for IBR3 in A. thaliana defence response against bacterial pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously we identified anterior localization of hunchback ( Aphb) m RNA in oocytes and early embryos of the parthenogenetic and viviparous pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, suggesting that the breaking of anterior asymmetry in the oocytes leads to the formation of the anterior axis in embryos. In order to study posterior development in the asexual pea aphid, we cloned and analysed the developmental expression of caudal ( Apcad), a posterior gene highly conserved in many animal phyla. We found that transcripts of Apcad were not detected in germaria, oocytes and embryos prior to the formation of the blastoderm in the asexual (viviparous) pea aphid. This unusual expression pattern differs from that of the existing insect models, including long- and short-germ insects, where maternal cad m RNA is passed to the early embryos and forms a posterior-anterior gradient. The first detectable Apcad expression occurred in the newly formed primordial germ cells and their adjacent blastodermal cells during late blastulation. From gastrulation onward, and as in other insects, Apcad m RNA is restricted to the posteriormost region of the germ band. Similarly, in the sexual (oviparous) oocytes we were able to identify anterior localization of Aphb m RNA but posterior localization of Apcad was not detected. This suggests that cad-driven posterior development is not conserved during early embryogenesis in asexual and sexual pea aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes miniaturized bandpass filters with double-folded substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) resonators using multilayer low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology. Formed by inserting a metal plate with two orthogonal slots into the cavity, the double-folded SIW resonator is used for the circuit size reduction with its footprint about a quarter of the conventional TE101 mode. With LTCC technology, there is more flexibility to organize the cavities of filters because of the 3-D arrangement. The vertically stacked cavities are coupled by "L"- or "U"-shaped slots, and if arranged horizontally, by an inductive window on the common sidewall or a suspended stripline between the cavities. Through experimental measurements and simulations at both the Ka- V-bands, it has been demonstrated that the proposed filter has compact sizes and good frequency responses. The area of the fully stacked Chebyshev filter has 88% size reduction in comparison with a three-pole planar waveguide filter, while the vertically stacked quasi-elliptic filter has 74% size reduction in comparison with a four-pole planar waveguide filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional coronary risk factors explain only part of the variation in the incidence of cases of coronary heart disease. Recently H. pylori genomic material has been demonstrated in the coronary arteries of myocardial infarct. In searching for additional coronary risk factors, the potential role of H. pylori infection deserves to be investigated. To clarify if H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, a series of patients admitted to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for coronary angiography were recruited prospectively. Cases (N = 165) were defined as those who had at least one coronary artery lesion occupying at least 50% of the luminal diameter on coronary angiography. Patients who had normal coronary angiography were selected as controls (N = 127). Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, and socioeconomic status were measured in both of the patients and controls. Stored serum specimens from both groups were tested for the presence of serum IgG antibody to H. pylori using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; 69.1% of the cases and 77.2% of the controls were seropositive for H. pylori (odds ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.38–1.16, P = 0.12). After adjustment for age, gender, cardiovascular risk factors, and socioeconomic class, this remained nonsignificant (odds ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.32–1.09, P = 0.09). H. pylori seropositivity was not associated with several coronary risk factors in either cases or controls. The proportion of H. pylori-positive patients was higher among the cases with triple vessel disease (77.5%) than those with double vessel disease (67.3%) and single vessel disease (65.7%); however, the differences were not statistically significant (odds ratio 0.57, 95% CI 0.23–1.4, P = 0.19). In this study no increase was found in H. pylori seropositivity in subjects with coronary artery disease. This minor association suggests that previous H. pylori infection, reflecting the early childhood environment, may not be important in determining the risk of coronary heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of citrus extracts (CEs) supplement in diet or in drinking water on the abilities of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory of layers in late laying period. Ninety 68-week-old Lohmann layers were employed and random divided into 5 treatment groups: basal diet (C), 1 kg basal diet + 0.5 g CEs (P-0.5), 1 kg basal diet + 1 g CEs (P-1), 1 L drinking water + 0.5 mL CEs (W-0.5), and 1 L drinking water + 1 mL CEs (W-1). Each group had 3 replicates with 18 layers. The blood and liver were collected on day-1, week 5 and week 7 in trial period for measuring serum biochemistry value, anti-oxidative capacity and gene expression alteration associate with inflammatory factors. The results showed that the biochemistry value and anti-oxidative capacity were no significantly difference between all groups. The inflammatory factors IFNA 3 and IL 6 in all groups were lower than control in week 5, and only in group P-0.5 was significantly higher than other groups in week 7 (P < 0.05). NFKB1A in groups supplemented CEs either in diet or in drinking water were significantly higher than control group in week 5 (P < 0.05), while no difference among all groups in week 7. It's benefit to CEs supplement in dietary on anti-inflammation for laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to explore the effects of citrus extracts (CEs) supplement in diet or in drinking water on laying performance and egg quality of layers in late laying period. Ninety 68-week-old Lohmann layers were employed and random divided into 5 treatment groups: basal diet (C), supplemented with 0.5 g CEs per kg basal diet (P-0.5), supplemented with 1 g CEs per kg basal diet (P-1), supplemented with 0.5 mL CEs per L drinking water (W-0.5), and supplemented with 1 mL CEs per L drinking water (W-1). Each group had 3 replicates with 18 layers. The egg quality was measured on the day-1,7, 21, 35 and 49 in 7-week trial period, and the egg weight, laying rate and feed consumption were recorded at the same time. The results showed that group P-1 had a higher weight of eggshell than control (P = 0.027) and group W-0.5 (P = 0.028). The egg weight in group P-0.5 was significantly higher than control (P = 0.027) while the group W-0.5 was lowest (P = 0.0001). The egg production rate in group P-1 was significantly higher than control (P = 0.0051) and group W-1 (P = 0.036). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]