Expression of fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes in developing endosperm of Jatropha curcas

BACKGROUND: Temporal and spatial expression of fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes are associated with the accumulation of storage lipids in the seeds of oil plants. In jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), a potential biofuel plant, the storage lipids are mainly synthesized and accumulated in the endosperm of seeds. Although the fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes in jatropha have been identified, the expression of these genes at different developing stages of endosperm has not been systemically investigated. RESULTS: Transmission electron microscopy study revealed that the oil body formation in developing endosperm of jatropha seeds initially appeared at 28 days after fertilization (DAF), was actively developed at 42 DAF and reached to the maximum number and size at 56 DAF. Sixty-eight genes that encode enzymes, proteins or their subunits involved in fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis were identified from a normalized cDNA library of jatropha developing endosperm. Gene expression with quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that the 68 genes could be collectively grouped into five categories based on the patterns of relative expression of the genes during endosperm development. Category I has 47 genes and they displayed a bell-shaped expression pattern with the peak expression at 28 or 42 DAF, but low expression at 14 and 56 DAF. Category II contains 8 genes and expression of the 8 genes was constantly increased from 14 to 56 DAF. Category III comprises of 2 genes and both genes were constitutively expressed throughout endosperm development. Category IV has 9 genes and they showed a high expression at 14 and 28 DAF, but a decreased expression from 42 to 56 DAF. Category V consists of 2 genes and both genes showed a medium expression at 14 DAF, the lowest expression at 28 or 42 DAF, and the highest expression at 56 DAF. In addition, genes encoding enzymes or proteins with similar function were differentially expressed during endosperm development. CONCLUSION: The formation of oil bodies in jatropha endosperm is developmentally regulated. The expression of the majority of fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes is highly consistent with the development of oil bodies and endosperm in jatropha seeds, while the genes encoding enzymes with similar function may be differentially expressed during endosperm development. These results not only provide the initial information on spatial and temporal expression of fatty acid and lipid biosynthetic genes in jatropha developing endosperm, but are also valuable to identify the rate-limiting genes for storage lipid biosynthesis and accumulation during seed development

A First Generation Microsatellite- and SNP-Based Linkage Map of Jatropha

Jatropha curcas is a potential plant species for biodiesel production. However, its seed yield is too low for profitable production of biodiesel. To improve the productivity, genetic improvement through breeding is essential. A linkage map is an important component in molecular breeding. We established a first-generation linkage map using a mapping panel containing two backcross populations with 93 progeny. We mapped 506 markers (216 microsatellites and 290 SNPs from ESTs) onto 11 linkage groups. The total length of the map was 1440.9 cM with an average marker space of 2.8 cM. Blasting of 222 Jatropha ESTs containing polymorphic SSR or SNP markers against EST-databases revealed that 91.0%, 86.5% and 79.2% of Jatropha ESTs were homologous to counterparts in castor bean, poplar and Arabidopsis respectively. Mapping 192 orthologous markers to the assembled whole genome sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana identified 38 syntenic blocks and revealed that small linkage blocks were well conserved, but often shuffled. The first generation linkage map and the data of comparative mapping could lay a solid foundation for QTL mapping of agronomic traits, marker-assisted breeding and cloning genes responsible for phenotypic variation

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe

Elliptic flow of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

The elliptic flow, v(2), of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays at forward rapidity (2.5 <y <4) is measured in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)= 2.76TeVwith the ALICE detector at the LHC. The scalar product, two- and four-particle Q cumulants and Lee-Yang zeros methods are used. The dependence of the v(2) of muons from heavy-flavour hadron decays on the collision centrality, in the range 0-40%, and on transverse momentum, p(T), is studied in the interval 3 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. A positive v(2) is observed with the scalar product and two-particle Q cumulants in semi-central collisions (10-20% and 20-40% centrality classes) for the p(T) interval from 3 to about 5GeV/c with a significance larger than 3 sigma, based on the combination of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The v(2) magnitude tends to decrease towards more central collisions and with increasing pT. It becomes compatible with zero in the interval 6 <p(T)<10 GeV/c. The results are compared to models describing the interaction of heavy quarks and open heavy-flavour hadrons with the high-density medium formed in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Pseudorapidity and transverse-momentum distributions of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The pseudorapidity (eta) and transverse-momentum (p(T)) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.5 is 5.31 +/- 0.18 and 6.46 +/- 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 <p(T) <20 GeV/c and vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Simulation Prédictive pour la Conception d'un Dispositif Robotique d'Aide à la Mobilité

Dans cette thèse, nous avons proposé une méthodologie pour aider dans la conception d'un exosquelette robotique. En effet, le travail principal est d'aider le concepteur à sélectionner les comportements dynamiques adéquats des mouvements induit par un exosquelette pour une personne à mobilité réduite. En ajustant les paramètres de chaque actionneur, les tâches de mouvement humain peuvent être assistées par l'application d'une aide à la mobilité robotisée via une interaction hommerobot. Il n'y aura qu'un seul groupe de paramètres d'actionneurs les plus appropriés créés par optimisation pour une locomotion humaine particulière. Sur la base des résultats optimisés, nous sommes en mesure d'interpréter l'interaction homme-robot pour proposer une conception de variables de contrôle pour une tâche de mouvement spécifiée. La première étape de cette méthode consiste à mettre en œuvre la modélisation neuromusculosquelettique (NMS) et la simulation, pour mieux décrire les caractéristiques dynamiques humaines. Cette étape peut illustrer les natures physiologiques du corps humain sous la forme de «Actionneur Musculaire - Accélération -Trajectoire» pendant une période de mouvement. Par exemple, on peut rechercher la fonction des muscles dans l'actionnement de la locomotion humaine grâce à une simulation de la poursuite de trajectoire. En outre, des cas de simulation ont été créés pour évaluer de nouveaux mouvements et adaptations à différentes conditions. La mise en œuvre de la simulation prédictive le rend possible: ce quiconstitue également la deuxième étape de notre étude. Pour réaliser les prédictions, elles doivent d'abord formuler notre problèmes de contrôle optimal puis le résoudre par des algorithmes numériques. Une interface de programmation applicable (API) àOpenSim-Matlab a été utilisée pour intégrer un solveur numérique et discrétiser les problèmes et résoudre les processus. Ces propositions ont été validées via une étude de cas d'aide à la mobilité robotique, le système humainESTA. ESTA est un exosquelette conçu pour compenser les degrés de liberté (DOF) du bras de l'utilisateur. L'humanoïde NMS a été modélisé comme un membre supérieur d'un côté. Les effets d'interaction entre l'humain et le dispositif ont été considérés comme les actionneurs virtuels équivalents qui fournissent des forces et moments ajustés pour des articulations humaines particulières. Un problème de contrôle optimal a été formulé pour représenter les simulations prédictives. Ensuite, nous avons également testé une variété de variables de contrôle optimales afin de prédire les situations «What if» . Des données expérimentales ont été collectées pour valider les systèmes ainsi que pour fixer les trajectoires référencées aux prédictions. Les résultats montrent que notre méthode pour proposer un modèle d'actionnement pour un exosquelette robotique est prometteuse et permet de préciser le mouvement humain par une tâche donnée.In this thesis, we have proposed a methodology on design of the robotic exoskeleton. The main work is to help the designer to select adequate dynamical behaviors of the movements induced by an exoskeleton for a person with reduced mobility. Hence by adjusting the parameters for each actuator, the human motion tasks can be assisted by the robotic mobilityaid application via human-device interaction. There is only one group of the most suitable actuator parameters created via optimization for a particular human locomotion. Based on the optimized results, we are able to interpret the human-device interaction as well as to propose the design of control variables for a specified motion task. The first stage of this method consists of the implementation of the neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) modeling and simulation, which is for better describing the human dynamical characteristics. This stage can illustrate the physiological natures of human bodies in the form of 'Muscular ActuatorAcceleration-Trajectory' during a period of motion. For instance, one can search the function of muscles in actuating human locomotion through a motion-tracking simulation. Besides, the 'what if' cases were created to evaluate novel movements and adaptions to different conditions. The implementation of predictive simulation makes it feasible : which also constitutes thesecond stage of our study. To fulfill the predictions, we have to formulate our problems as optimal control processes and then solve them by numerical algorithms. Here, an OpenSimMatlab applicable programming interface (API) was modeled to embed a numerical solver and discretize the problems and solve the processes. These propositions have been validated via a case-study of robotic mobility-aid, the human-ESTA system. ESTA is an exoskeleton designed for compensating degrees-of-freedom (dofs) of the user's arm. The NMS humanoid was modeled as one-side upper extremity limb. Interaction effects between the human and device were considered as the equivalent virtual actuators which provide adjusted forces and moments for particular human joints. An optimal control problem was set to represent the predictive simulations. We also tested a variety of the optimal control variables in order to predict the 'what if' situations. Experimental data were collected for validating the systems as well as setting the referred trajectories to the predictions. Results showthat our method for proposing an actuating pattern for a robotic exoskeleton is promising and allowed to specify the human movement for a given task