Progress in Optimization of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

This review archives the achievements made in the last two decades and presents a brief outline of some significant factors influencing the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Sorghum bicolor. Recently, progress in successful transformation has been made for this particular monocot crop through direct DNA delivery method and indirect method via Agrobacterium. However, lower transformation rate still proved to be a bottleneck in genetic modification of sorghum. An efficient Agrobacterium transformation system could be attained by optimizing the preliminary assays, comprising of explant source, growth media, antibiotics, Agrobacterium strains and agro-infection response of callus. The selection of competent strains for genetic transformation is also one of the key factors of consideration. Successful transformation is highly dependent on genome configuration of selected cultivar, where non-tannin genotype proved the best suited. Immature embryos from the field source have higher inherent adaptation chances than that of the greenhouse source. A higher concentration of Agrobacterium may damage the explant source. Utilization of anti-necrotic treatments and optimized tissue culture timeframe are the adequate strategies to lower down the effect of phenolic compounds. Appropriate selection of culture media vessels at different stages of tissue culture may also assist in a constructive manner. In conclusion, some aspects such as culture environment with medium composition, explant sources, and genotypes play an indispensable role in successful Agrobacterium-mediated sorghum transformation system

A SOA Modernization Method Based on Tollgate Model

A modernization method based on tollgate model is a kind of legacy system modernization by means of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). On the basis of reverse engineering on the legacy system, we can wrap the slices of the target system into a few services according to certain granularity; the small granularity services or the large granularity services which are composed of the small ones and unwrapped parts will be provided after the encapsulation of the legacy system's code on business level. These services can he mapped to the enterprise's small or large business processes. So we can state that the granularity of services which are derived from the legacy system is variable. After the transformation of legacy system, its service set can be described in a blueprint.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000275528800059&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Computer Science, Information SystemsComputer Science, Software EngineeringEngineering, Electrical & ElectronicEICPCI-S(ISTP)

The Functions and Applications of RGD in Tumor Therapy and Tissue Engineering

Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic (RGD), is the specific recognition site of integrins with theirs ligands, and regulates cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The RGD motif can be combined with integrins overexpressed on the tumor neovasculature and tumor cells with a certain affinity, becoming the new target for imaging agents, and drugs, and gene delivery for tumor treatment. Further, RGD as a biomimetic peptide can also promote cell adherence to the matrix, prevent cell apoptosis and accelerate new tissue regeneration. Functionalizing material surfaces with RGD can improve cell/biomaterial interactions, which facilitates the generation of tissue-engineered constructs. This paper reviews the main functions and advantages of RGD, describes the applications of RGD in imaging agents, drugs, gene delivery for tumor therapy, and highlights the role of RGD in promoting the development of tissue engineering (bone regeneration, cornea repair, artificial neovascularization) in recent years

Aqueous humor monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 predicted long-term visual outcome of proliferative diabetic retinopathy undergone intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and vitrectomy.

PurposeWe aim to investigate the risk factors associated with the prognosis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) after a sequential treatment of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).MethodsIn this cohort study, 63 eyes from 55 patients (21 females) diagnosed with PDR, who needed PPV for non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage or fibrovascular membrane proliferation were enrolled. All the eyes underwent IVB followed by PPV. Anterior chamber tap was performed at the beginning of both procedures to evaluate the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1.ResultsForty-seven patients (54 eyes) were followed over six months, averaging 12±5 (6-19) months. The concentration of VEGF significantly decreased after IVB (PConclusionsMCP-1 was a predictor for the unfavorable visual outcome of PDR after IVB pretreatment and PPV

Systematic Investigations of the ZF-HD Gene Family in Tobacco Reveal Their Multiple Roles in Abiotic Stresses

Zinc finger homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcription factors play significant roles in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. In this study, 32 ZF-HD genes identified in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genome were divided into six groups according to phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis and tomato ZF-HD members. An examination of gene structures and conserved motifs revealed the relatively conserved exon/intron structures and motif organization within each subgroup. In addition, various stress-related elements are found in the promoter region of these genes. The expression profiling analysis revealed that NtZF-HD genes expressed in different tissues and could be induced by several abiotic stresses. Notably, NtZF-HD21 was highly expressed in response to the drought treatments. Subcellular localization analysis and a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiment were performed to investigate the potential functions of NtZF-HD21. The subcellular localization indicated that NtZF-HD21 is a nuclear protein. Furthermore, gene silencing of the NtZF-HD21 gene reduced the drought resistance of tobacco. These findings provide insights for further biological functional analyses of the NtZF-HD genes in tobacco

Systematic investigations of the ZF-HD gene family in Tobacco reveal their multiple roles in abiotic stresses

peer reviewedZinc finger homeodomain (ZF-HD) transcription factors play significant roles in plant growth and responses to environmental stresses. In this study, 32 ZF-HD genes identified in the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) genome were divided into six groups according to phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis and tomato ZF-HD members. An examination of gene structures and conserved motifs revealed the relatively conserved exon/intron structures and motif organization within each subgroup. In addition, various stress-related elements are found in the promoter region of these genes. The expression profiling analysis revealed that NtZF-HD genes expressed in different tissues and could be induced by several abiotic stresses. Notably, NtZF-HD21 was highly expressed in response to the drought treatments. Subcellular localization analysis and a virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiment were performed to investigate the potential functions of NtZF-HD21. The subcellular localization indicated that NtZF-HD21 is a nuclear protein. Furthermore, gene silencing of the NtZF-HD21 gene reduced the drought resistance of tobacco. These findings provide insights for further biological functional analyses of the NtZF-HD genes in tobacco

Sustained growth of high mountain lakes in the headwaters of the Syr Darya River, Central Asia

The continuous rise in summer temperature and consequent glacier wastage have led to a significant loss of frozen water resources in the mountain headwaters of the major river systems in Central Asia. High mountain lakes in the headwaters of the Syr Darya River serve as sensitive indicators of climate change in the region. In this study, lakes in the headwaters of the Syr Darya River are examined using a Landsat image series. A total of 959 lakes covering a total area of 328.39 +/- 5.51 km(2) were identified in 2015, of which 91% were distributed in the larger Naryn River basin, and the remaining lakes were in the smaller Kara Darya River basin. During the period of the 1990s to 2015, a clear expansion trend in both lake area (+ 6.64 km(2)) and number of lakes (+ 205) was observed. Glacial lakes contributed 69% of the increase in the number of lakes. Among the four lake types, proglacial lakes showed the fastest area expansion with an average relative growth rate of 94% from the 1990s to 2015, 5-8 times that of the other three lake types: nonglacial lakes, unconnected-fed lakes and unconnected-nonfed lakes. Lake Petrov was the fastest growing glacial lake (+ 0.05 km(2) yr(-1)) during the past century and will continue to expand as its supply glacier continues to retreat. The continuous expansion and potential outburst risk of the Lake Petrov poses a serious threat to downstream toxic tailing ponds of the Kumtor Gold Mine. Lake Song Kol, the largest natural lake in this region, presented a steady status during 1972-2017. The warming climate-caused acceleration of glacial melt is thought to be the primary reason for the lake enlargements in this region. The lake inventory prepared here is valuable baseline dataset for the evaluation of water resources in the Syr Darya River drainage basin and for the potential risk and hazard assessments of glacial lake outburst floods