Allelic Variations in Phenology Genes of Eastern U.S. Soft Winter and Korean Winter Wheat and Their Associations with Heading Date

Wheat heading time is genetically controlled by phenology genes including vernalization (Vrn), photoperiod (Ppd) and earliness per se (Eps) genes. Characterization of the existing genetic variation in the phenology genes of wheat would provide breeding programs with valuable genetic resources necessary for the development of wheat varieties well-adapted to the local environment and early-maturing traits suitable for double-cropping system. One hundred forty-nine eastern U.S. soft winter (ESW) and 32 Korean winter (KW) wheat genotypes were characterized using molecular markers for Vrn, Ppd, Eps and reduced-height (Rht) genes, and phenotyped for heading date (HD) in the eastern U.S. region. The Ppd-D1 and Rht-D1 genes exhibited the highest genetic diversity in ESW and KW wheat, respectively. The genetic variations for HD of ESW wheat were largely contributed by Ppd-B1, Ppd-D1 and Vrn-D3 genes. The Rht-D1 gene largely contributed to the genetic variation for HD of KW wheat. KW wheat headed on average 14 days earlier than ESW wheat in each crop year, largely due to the presence of the one-copy vrn-A1 allele in the former. The development of early-maturing ESW wheat varieties could be achieved by selecting for the one-copy vrn-A1 and vrn-D3a alleles in combination with Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a photoperiod insensitive alleles

Deep optical imaging within complex scattering media

© 2020, Springer Nature Limited.Optical imaging has had a central role in elucidating the underlying biological and physiological mechanisms in living specimens owing to its high spatial resolution, molecular specificity and minimal invasiveness. However, its working depth for in vivo imaging is extremely shallow, and thus reactions occurring deep inside living specimens remain out of reach. This problem originates primarily from multiple light scattering caused by the inhomogeneity of tissue obscuring the desired image information. Adaptive optical microscopy, which minimizes the effect of sample-induced aberrations, has to date been the most effective approach to addressing this problem, but its performance has plateaued because it can suppress only lower-order perturbations. To achieve an imaging depth beyond this conventional limit, there is increasing interest in exploiting the physics governing multiple light scattering. New approaches have emerged based on the deterministic measurement and/or control of multiple-scattered waves, rather than their stochastic and statistical treatment. In this Review, we provide an overview of recent developments in this area, with a focus on approaches that achieve a microscopic spatial resolution while remaining useful for in vivo imaging, and discuss their present limitations and future prospects © 2020 Springer Nature Limited11Nsciescopu

Biomechanical Properties and Biocompatibility of a Non-Absorbable Elastic Thread

To date, extensive studies have been conducted to assess diverse types of sutures. But there is a paucity of data regarding biomechanical properties of commonly used suture materials. In the current experiment, we compared biomechanical properties and biocompatibility, such as tensile strength and elongation, the degree of bovine serum albumin (BSA) release, in vitro cytotoxicity and ex vivo frictional properties, between a non-absorbable elastic thread (NAT; HansBiomed Co. Ltd., Seoul, Korea) (NAT-R: NAT with a rough surface, NAT-S: NAT with a smooth surface) and the Elasticum® (Korpo SRL, Genova, Italy). The degree of tensile strength and elongation of Si threads was significantly higher in both the NAT-R and -S as compared with the Elasticum® (p < 0.05). Moreover, the degree of tensile strength and elongation of PET threads was significantly lower in both NAT-R and -S as compared with the Elasticum® (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the degree of tensile strength and elongation of braided Si/PET threads was significantly lower in NAT-S as compared with NAT-R and Elasticum® (p < 0.05). The degree of BSA release was significantly higher in the NAT-R as compared with Elasticum® and NAT-S throughout a 2-h period in the descending order (p < 0.05). The degree of cell viability was significantly higher in both NAT-R and -S as compared with Elasticum® (p < 0.05). The degree of coefficient of friction as well as the frictional force and strength was significantly higher in NAT-R as compared with NAT-S and Elasticum® (p < 0.05). NAT had a higher degree of biomechanical properties and biocompatibility as compared with Elasticum®. But further experimental and clinical studies are warranted to compare the efficacy, safety, and potential role as a carrier for drug delivery between NAT and Elasticum®

Label-free neuroimaging in vivo using synchronous angular scanning microscopy with single-scattering accumulation algorithm

© 2019, The Author(s).Label-free in vivo imaging is crucial for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of many important biological systems in their most native states. However, the applicability of existing modalities has been limited to either superficial layers or early developmental stages due to tissue turbidity. Here, we report a synchronous angular scanning microscope for the rapid interferometric recording of the time-gated reflection matrix, which is a unique matrix characterizing full light-specimen interaction. By applying single scattering accumulation algorithm to the recorded matrix, we removed both high-order sample-induced aberrations and multiple scattering noise with the effective aberration correction speed of 10,000 modes/s. We demonstrated in vivo imaging of whole neural network throughout the hindbrain of the larval zebrafish at a matured stage where physical dissection used to be required for conventional imaging. Our method will expand the scope of applications for optical imaging, where fully non-invasive interrogation of living specimens is critica

High-resolution adaptive optical imaging within thick scattering media using closed-loop accumulation of single scattering

Optical imaging deep in biological tissue is difficult due to multiple scattering and specimen induced aberrations of both the incident and reflected light. Here, Kang et al. develop an adaptive closed-loop algorithm to correct tissue aberrations in the presence of multiple scattering for deep tissue imaging

Label-free nanoscale optical metrology on myelinated axons in vivo

In the mammalian nervous system, myelin provides electrical insulation for the neural circuit by forming a highly organized, multilayered thin film around the axon fibers. Here, we investigate the spectral reflectance from this subcellular nanostructure and devise a new label-free technique based on a spectroscopic analysis of reflected light, enabling nanoscale imaging of myelinated axons in their natural living state. Using this technique, we demonstrate three-dimensional mapping of the axon diameter and sensing of dynamic changes in the substructure of myelin at nanoscale. We further reveal the prevalence of axon bulging in the brain cortex in vivo after mild compressive trauma. Our novel tool opens new avenues of investigation by creating unprecedented access to the nanostructural dynamics of live myelinated axons in health and disease

Phloroglucinol attenuates motor functional deficits in an animal model of Parkinson's disease by enhancing Nrf2 activity.

In this study, we investigated whether phloroglucinol (1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene) has therapeutic effects in cellular and animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is the second most common, chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease, and is clinically characterized with motor dysfunctions such as bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, gait impairment, and resting tremor. In the brains of PD patients, dopaminergic neuronal loss is observed in the Substantia nigra. Although the exact mechanisms underlying PD are largely unknown, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are thought to be critical factors that induce the onset of the disease. Here, phloroglucinol administration was shown to attenuate motor functional deficits evaluated with rota-rod and apomorphine-induced rotation tests in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced PD animal models. Moreover, phloroglucinol ameliorated the loss of synapses as assessed with protein levels and immunoreactivity against synaptophysin in the midbrain region of the 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. In addition, in SH-SY5Y cultures, the cytotoxicity of 6-OHDA was reduced by pre-treatment with phloroglucinol. The increase in the reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl formation and 8-hydroxyguanine caused by treatment with 6-OHDA was attenuated by phloroglucinol in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, phloroglucinol treatment rescued the reduced levels of nuclear Nrf2, antioxidant enzymes, i.e., catalase and glutathione peroxidase, in 6-OHDA-treated cells. Taken together, phloroglucinol has a therapeutic potential for treatment of PD

Phloroglucinol down-regulates lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and DNA base modification induced by 6-OHDA treatment in SH-SY5Y cells.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Lipid peroxidation was assayed by determination of 8-isoprostane levels. 8-Isoprostane levels were determined in the culture medium by use of a commercial enzyme immunoassay and were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (<b>B</b>) The amount of carbonyl formation in protein was determined using an ELISA kit and expressed as nM. (<b>C</b>) The 8-hydroxyguanine content in DNA was determined using a Bioxytech 8-OHdG-ELISA kit purchased from OXIS Health Products and was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cellular DNA was isolated using the DNAzol reagent and quantified using a spectrophotometer. (ANOVA, <i>post-hoc</i> by Duncan, * <i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01).</p

Phloroglucinol attenuates the 6-OHDA-mediated loss of antioxidant enzymes in SH-SY5Y cells and rat brains.

<p>(<b>A</b>) 50 µg of protein was added to 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7) containing 100 mM H₂O₂. The reaction mixture was incubated for 2 min at 37°C and the absorbance was monitored at 240 nm for 5 min. The change in absorbance over time was proportional to the breakdown of H₂O₂. The catalase activity was expressed as units/mg protein and one unit of enzyme activity was defined as the amount of enzyme required to breakdown 1 µM of H₂O₂. (<b>B</b>) Protein levels of catalase were evaluated with Western blotting in SH-SY5Y cells. (<b>C</b>) The harvested cells were suspended in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). The cells were centrifuged at 12,000× g for 30 min at 4°C to remove the tissue debris. Glutathione peroxidase activity was determined using the FR 17 assay kit according to the manufacturer's protocol. The enzyme reaction was assessed by adding the substrate, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and was recorded at 340 nm. The rate at which the absorbance (340 nm) decreased is directly proportional to the activity of glutathione peroxidase (expressed in mU/ml). (<b>D</b>) The protein levels of glutathione peroxidase in SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated with Western blotting in SH-SY5Y cells. (<b>E</b>) The protein levels of catalase in the ipsilateral midbrain region were assessed with Western blotting. (<b>F</b>) The protein levels of glutathione peroxidase in the ipsilateral midbrain region were assessed with Western blotting. (ANOVA, <i>post-hoc</i> by Duncan, * <i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01).</p

Phloroglucinol exerts protective effects against 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Cell viability was measured by an MTT assay. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with a range of different concentrations of 6-OHDA (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µM of 6-OHDA). The IC₅₀ was determined to be 90 µM 6-OHDA. (<b>B</b>) The cells were pre-treated with phloroglucinol (5, 10, 20, and 40 µg/ml) 1 h before treatment with 6-OHDA. The percentage of cell viability was measured compared to control. (ANOVA, <i>post-hoc</i> by Duncan, * <i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01). (<b>C</b>) Apoptotic bodies (arrows) were observed in cells stained with Hoechst 33342 dye and quantified by fluorescence microscopy. (ANOVA, <i>post-hoc</i> by Duncan, * <i>p</i><0.05, **<i>p</i><0.01).</p