THE EFFECTS AFTER THINNING OF JAPANESE CEDAR AT XITOU

This study sat two experimental plots each for 400m2 ha of 40 years old Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation at National Taiwan University Experimental Forest Xitou Tract: Control (non-thinning) plot and 40% thinning plot. The original planting density was 2000 trees for each ha of all the experimental plots. After complete enumeration of all the experimental plots, measurements of photosynthesis were taken and multiplied by the total leaf area for each sample tree; then accounting for the number of trees in the forest, the percentage of the forest stand that could get the annual carbon sequestration of forest stand was. The results showed significant correlation between tree dominance and increment (R2>0.7) for non-thinning Japanese cedar, higher and bigger diameter trees showed more growth increment but stagnant for overtopped trees. After thinning, all the low-diameter trees have increase significantly in increment for 30-50%. The photosynthesis ability measured results shown that Japanese cedar photosynthetic efficiency have no significant differences after thinning, but due to the total leaf area growth, so that it could increase carbon sequestration efficiency by 22-38% after thinning

Genetic and transcriptional dissection of resistance to Claviceps purpurea in the durum wheat cultivar Greenshank.

Funder: Canadian Seed Growers' Association; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000071Funder: National Research Council of Canada: Canadian Wheat Improvement programFour QTL for ergot resistance (causal pathogen Claviceps purpurea) have been identified in the durum wheat cultivar Greenshank. Claviceps purpurea is a pathogen of grasses that infects flowers, replacing the seed with an ergot sclerotium. Ergot presents a significant problem to rye, barley and wheat, in particular hybrid seed production systems. In addition, there is evidence that the highly toxic alkaloids that accumulate within sclerotia can cross-contaminate otherwise healthy grain. Host resistance to C. purpurea is rare, few resistance loci having been identified. In this study, four ergot resistance loci are located on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 5A and 5B in the durum wheat cv. Greenshank. Ergot resistance was assessed through analysis of phenotypes associated with C. purpurea infection, namely the number of inoculated flowers that produced sclerotia, or resulted in ovary death but no sclerotia, the levels of honeydew produced, total sclerotia weight and average sclerotia weight and size per spike. Ergot testing was undertaken in Canada and the UK. A major effect QTL, QCp.aafc.DH-2A, was detected in both the Canadian and UK experiments and had a significant effect on honeydew production levels. QCp.aafc.DH-5B had the biggest influence on total sclerotia weight per spike. QCp.aafc.DH-1B was only detected in the Canadian experiments and QCp.aafc.DH-5A in the UK experiment. An RNASeq analysis, undertaken to identify wheat differentially expressed genes associated with different combinations of the four ergot resistance QTL, revealed a disproportionate number of DEGs locating to the QCp.aafc.DH-1B, QCp.aafc.DH-2A and QCp.aafc.DH-5B QTL intervals

Global epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): disease incidence, daily cumulative index, mortality, and their association with country healthcare resources and economic status

It has been 2 months since the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China. So far, COVID-19 has affected 85 403 patients in 57 countries/territories and has caused 2924 deaths in 9 countries. However, epidemiological data differ between countries. Although China had higher morbidity and mortality than other sites, the number of new daily cases in China has been lower than outside of China since 26 February 2020. The incidence ranged from 61.44 per 1 000 000 people in the Republic of Korea to 0.0002 per 1 000 000 people in India. The daily cumulative index (DCI) of COVID-19 (cumulative cases/no. of days between the first reported case and 29 February 2020) was greatest in China (1320.85), followed by the Republic of Korea (78.78), Iran (43.11) and Italy (30.62). However, the DCIs in other countries/territories were <10 per day. Several effective measures including restricting travel from China, controlling the distribution of masks, extensive investigation of COVID-19 spread, and once-daily press conferences by the government to inform and educate people were aggressively conducted in Taiwan. This is probably the reason why there was only 39 cases (as of 29 February 2020) with a DCI of 1 case per day in Taiwan, which is much lower than that of nearby countries such as the Republic of Korea and Japan. In addition, the incidence and mortality were correlated with the DCI. However, further study and continued monitoring are needed to better understand the underlying mechanism of COVID-19

Asymptomatic carrier state, acute respiratory disease, and pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Facts and myths

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (formerly known as the 2019 novel coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) in Wuhan, China in December 2019, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more than 75,000 cases have been reported in 32 countries/regions, resulting in more than 2000 deaths worldwide. Despite the fact that most COVID-19 cases and mortalities were reported in China, the WHO has declared this outbreak as the sixth public health emergency of international concern. The COVID-19 can present as an asymptomatic carrier state, acute respiratory disease, and pneumonia. Adults represent the population with the highest infection rate; however, neonates, children, and elderly patients can also be infected by SARS-CoV-2. In addition, nosocomial infection of hospitalized patients and healthcare workers, and viral transmission from asymptomatic carriers are possible. The most common finding on chest imaging among patients with pneumonia was ground-glass opacity with bilateral involvement. Severe cases are more likely to be older patients with underlying comorbidities compared to mild cases. Indeed, age and disease severity may be correlated with the outcomes of COVID-19. To date, effective treatment is lacking; however, clinical trials investigating the efficacy of several agents, including remdesivir and chloroquine, are underway in China. Currently, effective infection control intervention is the only way to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2

Therapeutic Potential of Extracts from Macaranga tanarius (MTE) in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a complication of diabetes that leads to end-stage kidney disease and is a major health burden worldwide. Prenylflavonoid compounds extracted from Macaranga tanarius (MTE) exhibit anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial properties. However, the effects of these compounds on diabetic nephropathy remain unclear. The effects of MTE on diabetic nephropathy were investigated in vitro by using mouse renal mesangial cells and in vivo by using a db/db knockout mouse model. No overt alteration in proliferation was observed in mouse renal mesangial cells treated with 0–1 μg/mL MTE. Western blot analysis indicated that MTE dose-dependently attenuated the expression of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen IV. Administration of MTE ameliorated renal albumin loss in db/db mice. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that MTE mitigated diabetes-induced fibronectin and collagen IV expression. Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) and trichrome staining also showed that administration of MTE reduced the renal fibrosis phenomenon. MTE significantly ameliorated diabetes-induced nephropathy

Combining Building Block Process With Computational Thinking Improves Learning Outcomes of Python Programming With Peer Assessment

The capability of computer programming language logic is one of the basics of technical education. How to improve students “interest in program logic design and help overcome students” fears of coding has become vital for educators. Cultivating practical talents with information technology application and basic programming development will become one of the important topics in the department of information related science. The objective of this research is to improve the ability of learning basic programming courses by using Zuvio interactive software. Zuvio employs the mathematical logic of computational thinking to analyze problems and enhance learners’ interest in learning programming skills through a graphical interface tool with building blocks. It uses innovative interactive teaching to use peer and self-assessment to study the content of the course. Zuvio improves the design ability of different groups of class learning Python programming. In line with the innovative teaching policy of the schools and the current stage of the learner’s learning model, learning effectiveness can be achieved. The research results were analyzed by midterm and final experimental group scores, and the progress of the experimental group’s scores was examined through descriptive statistics. The average and standard deviation of the assessment were used to analyze the progress of the experimental group students in the programming course. In the classroom, assessment criteria were set up as the basis for peer assessment scoring. After the midterm and final exams, the teacher assessment and peer assessment scores were analyzed for cognitive differences, and possible learning differences were analyzed. The students’ professional ability was examined to see if it met the professional standards required by the course, and whether innovative teaching methods could improve the learning outcomes of learners with different professional backgrounds in Python programming