A new effective metric for dynamical robustness of directed networks

In this article, dynamical robustness of a directed complex network with additive noise is inverstigated. The failure of a node in the network is modeled by injecting noise into the node. Under the framework of mean-square stochastic stability, a new robustness metric is formulated to characterize the robustness of the network in terms of synchronization to the additive noise. It is found that the node dynamics plays a pivotal role in dynamical robustness of the directed network. Numerical simulations are shown for illustration and verification

Comparative studies on flavor substances of leaves and pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. at different harvest periods

Purpose: To study the transformation of the aroma components and pungent constituents of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (ZBM) leaves and pericarps at different periods, and to provide a basis for selecting an appropriate harvest time for the pericarps and leaves.Methods: Quantitative analysis of the pungent components of ZBM leaves and pericarps was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) while their aroma constituents were analyzed by headspace solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS).Results: HPLC analysis revealed that hydroxy-α-sanshool was the predominant pungent component in both the leaves and pericarps of different parts of ZBM at different harvest periods, followed by hydroxy- γ-sanshool and hydroxy-β-sanshool. During the growth of ZBM, the contents of pungent substances in the leaves declined gradually, while pungent substances in the pericarps increased. The results of HSSPME- GC-MS analysis showed that linalyl acetate, linalool and limonene were the major aroma components of the leaves and pericarps of ZBM at different harvest periods. During the growth of ZBM, the contents of monoterpenes in the leaves decreased gradually, whereas monoterpenes in the pericarps increased.Conclusion: These results suggest that the pungent and aroma components produced in ZBM at early developmental stages are stored in the leaves, and are gradually transferred to the pericarps at the final developmental stages. Thus, the leaves of ZBM can be used as a new source of food and medicine.Keywords: Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim., Pericarp, Pungent components, Aroma component

Differential Characteristics of Viral siRNAs between Leaves and Roots of Wheat Plants Naturally Infected with Wheat Yellow Mosaic Virus, a Soil-Borne Virus

RNA silencing is an important innate antiviral defense in plants. Soil-borne plant viruses naturally infect roots via soil-inhabiting vectors, but it is unclear how antiviral RNA silencing responds to virus infection in this particular tissue. In this study, viral small interfering RNA (siRNA) profiles from leaves and roots of wheat plants naturally infected with a soil-borne virus, wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV, genus Bymovirus), were analyzed by deep sequencing. WYMV siRNAs were much more abundant in roots than leaves, which was positively correlated with the accumulation of viral RNA. WYMV siRNAs in leaves and roots were predominantly 21- and 22-nt long and equally derived from the positive- and negative-strands of the viral genome. WYMV siRNAs from leaves and roots differed in distribution pattern along the viral genome. Interestingly, compared to siRNAs from leaves (and most other reports), those from roots obviously had a lower A/U bias at the 5′-terminal nucleotide. Moreover, the expression of Dicer-like genes upon WYMV infection were differently regulated between leaves and roots. Our data suggest that RNA silencing in roots may operate differently than in leaves against soil-borne virus invasion

Chlorophenyl thiophene silicon phthalocyanine: Synthesis, two-photon bioimaging-guided lysosome target, and in vitro photodynamic efficacy

The development of efficient photosensitizers with high singlet oxygen quantum yield, strong fluorescent emission, excellent photostability, and specific organelle targeting is in great demand for the enhancement of PDT treatment efficiency. This study designed and synthesized a new two-photon photosensitizer chlorophenyl thiophene axially substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine (CBT-SiPc). CBT-SiPc showed specific targeting of lysosomes in living cells and good biocompatibility. Furthermore, high 1O2 generation efficiency and high PDT efficiency in MCF-7 breast cancers under irradiation were also demonstrated. The novel CBT-SiPc showed great potential in the application of lysosome-targeted and two-photon bioimaging-guided photodynamic cancer therapy