Two cold inducible genes encoding lipid transfer protein LTP4 from barley show differential responses to bacterial pathogens

The barley genesHvLtp4.2 andHvLtp4.3 both encode the lipid transfer protein LTP4 and are less than 1 kb apart in tail-to-tail orientation. They differ in their non-coding regions from each other and from the gene corresponding to a previously reportedLtp4 cDNA (nowLtp4.1). Southern blot analysis indicated the existence of three or moreLtp4 genes per haploid genome and showed considerable polymorphism among barley cultivars. We have investigated the transient expression of genesHvLtp4.2 andHvLtp4.3 following transformation by particle bombardment, using promoter fusions to the-glucuronidase reporter sequence. In leaves, activities of the two promoters were of the same order as those of the sucrose synthase (Ss1) and cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoters used as controls. Their expression patterns were similar, except thatLtp4.2 was more active thanLtp4.3 in endosperm, andLtp4.3 was active in roots, whileLtp4.2 was not. The promoters of both genes were induced by low temperature, both in winter and spring barley cultivars. Northern blot analysis, using theLtp4-specific probe, indicated thatXanthomonas campestris pv.translucens induced an increase over basal levels ofLtp4 mRNA, whilePseudomonas syringae pv.japonica caused a decrease. TheLtp4.3-Gus promoter fusion also responded in opposite ways to these two compatible bacterial pathogens, whereas theLtp4.2-Gus construction did not respond to infectio

Requirements analysis for automating product testing in aerospace manufacturing

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. The Aerospace Industry has been undertaking strategic changes towards digital manufacturing. One of the challenges is the lack of rationalisation for a cost-benefit analysis of automating certain manufacturing and assembly processes within a customer order. The rigidness and complexity of aerospace lifecycle, and tight industry restrictions does not leave much room for high risk innovations in manufacturing and production lines. This research addressed this problem by investigating an automation adoption scenario with BAE Systems, Electronic Systems, which is a UK based aeronautical systems integrator. This paper reports findings from the general manufacturing industry via an industrial survey. These findings are compared with original findings from an empirical study carried out with BAE Systems within the New Product Introduction team to automate product transportation logistics in an environmental test facility. The paper describes the challenges particularly related to skills, and labour workforce required to manipulate heavy standing products in and out of a production line and how their requirements can be addressed within an automation solution package. The solution includes key design factors related to intricate handling of aeronautic systems via the gripping interface design, and the rest of the operational issues surrounding the testing objectives such as transportation, and test setup. The findings are presented in the form of a requirements analysis for businesses looking to automate manually-intensive tasks in the future, and provide some insights into the lessons learnt in the development of the solution to benefit UK manufacturing tactics to some similar challenges.European Commission (improving the design of flexible and responsive manufacturing systems involving autonomous and Collaborative Robots (CoRoT, Project No: 99)), in collaboration with and co-sponsored by BAE Systems

Insight into the Molecular Evolution of Non-Specific Lipid Transfer Proteins via Comparative Analysis Between Rice and Sorghum

Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 9 kDa non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) genes from nine plant species. Each of the five classified types in angiosperms exhibited eight conserved cysteine patterns. The most abundant nsLTP genes fell into the type I category, which was particularly enriched in a grass-specific lineage of clade I.1. Six pairs of tandem copies of nsLTP genes on the distal region of rice chromosomes 11 and 12 were well-preserved under concerted evolution, which was not observed in sorghum. The transgenic promoter–reporter assay revealed that both rice and sorghum nsLTP genes of type I displayed a relatively conserved expression feature in the epidermis of growing tissue, supporting its functional roles in cutin synthesis or defence against phytopathogens. For type I, the frequent expression in the stigma and seed are indicative of functional involvement in pistil–pollen interactions and seed development. By way of contrast, several type V genes were observed, mainly in the vascular bundle of the rosette as well as the young shoots, which might be related with vascular tissue differentiation or defence signalling. Compared with sorghum, the highly redundant tissue-specific expression pattern among members of rice nsLTP genes in clade I.1 suggests that concerted evolution via gene conversion favours the preservation of crucial expression motifs via the homogenization of proximal promoter sequences under high selection constraints. However, extensive regulatory subfunctionalization might also have occurred under relative low selection constraints, resulting in functional divergence at the expression level

Effects of intra-articular SHINBARO treatment on monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats

BACKGROUND: SHINBARO is a refined herbal formulation used to treat inflamed lesions and bone diseases. This study aimed to investigate the anti-osteoarthritic activities of intra-articular administration of SHINBARO and determine its underlying molecular mechanism in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rat model. METHODS: Male Sprague–Dawley rats received a single intra-articular injection of MIA into the infrapatellar ligament of the right knee. Subsequently, the rats were treated with normal saline, SHINBARO, and diclofenac once daily for 21 days. Rats treated with normal saline, but not MIA, comprised the control group. Histological changes in the femur of the MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat model were observed by micro-computed tomography scanning and staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and safranin-O fast green. Serum levels of PGE(2) and anti-type II collagen antibodies in the MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat model were measured using commercial kits. Protein levels of inflammatory enzymes (iNOS, COX-2), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), and inflammatory mediators (NF-κB, IκB) in cartilaginous tissues were determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: Intra-articular administration of SHINBARO (IAS) at 20 mg/kg remarkably restrained the decrease in bone volume/total volume, being 28 % (P = 0.0001) higher than that in the vehicle-treated MIA group. IAS (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) treatment significantly recovered the mean number of objects values with increased percentage changes of 13.5 % (P = 0.147), 27.5 % (P = 0.028), and 44.5 % (P = 0.031), respectively, compared with the vehicle-treated MIA group. The serum level of PGE(2) in the IAS group at 20 mg/kg was markedly inhibited by 60.6 % (P = 0.0007) compared with the vehicle-treated MIA group, and the anti-collagen type II antibody level in the IAS group was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. IAS (20 mg/kg) effectively suppressed the induction of inflammation-mediated enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β). IAS treatment also downregulated the NF-κB level and increased the IκB-α level in the MIA- induced osteoarthritis rat model. CONCLUSION: SHINBARO inhibited PGE(2) and anti-type II collagen antibody production and modulated the balance of inflammatory enzymes, mediators, and cytokines in the MIA-induced osteoarthritis rat model. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13020-016-0089-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Détermination du champ électromagnétique dans un résonateur linéaire supraconducteur à HTC

In this paper, the electromagnetic field configuration in a linear SHTC resonator is described. Two areas are considered : 1) the superconducting strip, 2) the dielectric around the strip. The calculation is based on the current density given by Bowers [1, 2] for an infinite superconducting line. The current density in the resonator is defined by these relations and the resonance conditions.Cet article décrit la configuration du champ électromagnétique dans un résonateur linéaire SHTC. Deux domaines sont considérés : 1) dans le ruban supraconducteur, 2) dans le milieu diélectrique entourant le ruban. Ce calcul s'appuie sur la densité de courant donnée par Bowers [1, 2] pour une ligne infinie supraconductrice. La densité de courant dans le résonateur est définie par ces relations et les conditions de résonance

In Vivo Study of Entero- and Hepatotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized with Benzyldimethyl-[3-myristoylamine)-propyl]ammonium Chloride (Miramistin) to CBF1 Mice upon Enteral Administration

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most widely studied antimicrobial nanomaterials. However, their use in biomedicine is currently limited due to the availability of data that prove the nanosilver toxicity associated primarily with oxidative stress development in mammalian cells. The surface modification of AgNPs is a potent technique of improvement of their biocompatibility. The synthetic or natural compounds that combine zero or low toxicity towards human and animal organisms with inherent antimicrobial properties are the most promising stabilizing agents, their use would also minimize the risks of microorganisms developing resistance to silver-based materials. We used a simple technique to obtain 30–60 nm AgNPs stabilized with benzyldimethyl[3-myristoylamine)-propyl]ammonium chloride monohydrate (BAC)—a well-known active ingredient of many antibacterial drugs. The objective of the study was to assess the AgNPs-BAC entero- and hepatotoxicity to CBF1 mice upon enteral administration. The animals were exposed to 0.8–7.5 mg/kg doses of AgNPs-BAC in the acute and to 0.05–2.25 mg/kg doses of AgNPs-BAC in the subacute experiments. No significant entero- and hepatotoxic effects following a single exposure to doses smaller than 4 mg/kg were detected. Repeated exposure to the doses of AgNPs-BAC below 0.45 mg/kg and to the doses of BAC below 0.5 mg/kg upon enteral administration also led to no adverse effects. During the acute experiment, the higher AgNPs-BAC dose resulted in increased quantities of aminotransferases and urea, as well as the albumin-globulin ratio shift, which are indicative of inflammatory processes. Besides, the relative mass of the liver of mice was smaller compared to the control. During the subacute experiment, the groups treated with the 0.25–2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC had a lower weight gain rate compared to the control, while the groups treated with the 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC showed statistically significant variations in the blood serum transaminases activity, which indicated hepatosis. It should be noted that the spleen and liver of the animals from the groups treated with the 0.45 and 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC were more than two times smaller compared to the control. In the intestines of some animals from the group treated with the 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC small areas of hyperemia and enlarged Peyer’s patches were observed. Histological examination confirmed the initial stages of the liver and intestinal wall inflammation.</jats:p