Impact of E-genes on Soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr]) Development, Senescence and Yield

Genetic improvement of a number of crops including soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr]) has been associated with stay-green. Research on stay green genes has focused primarily on genes involved with photosynthesis and chlorophyll degradation. The current study explores the impact of a group of developmental genes, known as the E gene series, on the rate of soybean leaf senescence. The objective of this experiment was to determine the role of E-genes in the control of leaf senescence in soybean. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots were two photoperiods imposed following R1; i) natural day length (Amb) and ii) incandescent day length extension of 3 hours (Amb+3). The split plots were five E-gene near-isogenic lines (NILs), planted on different dates to obtain synchronous flowering. Phenology, photosynthesis, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) and fluorescence measurements were taken including, dark adapted photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR), and leaf chlorophyll concentration (SPAD). Leaf tissues were also analyzed for gene expression patterns among Harosoy isolines. Yield parameters like dry matter accumulation, harvest index and grain yields were recorded. The leaf net photosynthesis was more closely related to ETR than to SPAD values, suggesting that visual observation of stay-green may not be as effective in evaluating functional senescence as measurement of ETR. Cultivars with the dominant E1 allele maintained functional photosynthesis for longer, such that full senescence was delayed by 10-15 days in these cultivars. This phenomenon was observed under both photoperiod treatments and irrespective of the genetic background (Clark and Harosoy) in which the alleles appeared. Maintenance of functional photosynthesis by the E1 dominant allele can be attributed to maintenance of high ETR, and Fv/Fm, as well as delayed decline in leaf chlorophyll concentrations. Expression of senescence related genes were delayed in the isoline which had delayed leaf senescence phenotype. Consistent with the effect on leaf senescence, the dominant alleles also reduced the rate of phenological development, such that R5 occurred later in genotypes with dominant alleles and under the Amb+3 treatment. Cultivars with the dominant E1 allele under extended photoperiod treatment accumulated more biomass and had decreased apparent harvest index which caused no change in grain yields. The dominant E allele may delay leaf senescence directly or indirectly, through its delay of reproductive development

Forming a Metal Matrix Nanocomposite (MMNC) with Fully Dispersed and Deagglomerated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTS)

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with their exceptional properties will facilitate the Metal matrix composites (MMC) to exhibit good mechanical properties, thermal and electrical conductivities, corrosion resistance, etc. The critical factor that holds the development of the Metal matrix Nanocomposites (MMNC) by using CNTs is the tendency of CNTs to form clusters (agglomerations) due to their high Van der Waals attractions. Due to this factor, low density and other properties of the CNTs, there has been a delay in harnessing their ultimate potential.Existing literature in contemporary times from the works of few researches in Nanocomposites shows the prevalence of using surfactants / dispersing agents for dispersing CNTs in the metal matrix. But the addition of these dispersing agents will form inclusions in the metal thus closing the avenue for developing ballistic electrical conductors and high purity MMNCs. Also the vol% of CNTs is limited to 1% in many cases and further increase reduces the mechanical strength. The reason for decreasing the strength is attributed to the agglomeration of CNTs and their disorderly alignment.In this work we developed a process where total dispersion and deagglomeration of CNTs up to 5 vol% is achieved without the addition of any surfactants / dispersing agents in the Magnesium Metal matrix. The process developed in this work can be applied to other metals with proper process parameters to develop various MMNCs with exceptional properties relative to the base metal. This process will open doors for the future works for developing high strength, High electrical and thermal conductive Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

Classification of EEG signals on standing, walking and running dataset using LSTM-RNN

Undoubtedly one of the most important strands of the brain-computer interface (BCI) method is an alternate communication method via brain signals. BCI converts electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from a perception of activity in the brain into user action utilising software and hardware. BCI has piqued the interest of researchers in a wide range of disciplines, such as cognitive science, deep learning, pattern matching, drug treatment medicine, etc. Patients suffering from neuro and cognitive disorders can be assisted through BCI, potentially enabling communication via gestures or just mental imagination. In this paper, a novel combination of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) for extracting the best features and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) based Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is adopted for classifying the EEG signals acquired during standing, walking and running on a treadmill. The dataset used is freely downloaded from Open Science Framework repository. The proposed DWT-LSTMRNN method delivers 96.7% accuracy while classifying four different signals, and thus has the potential to be investigated further on BCI competition datasets that will pave way for a real-time application

FedCSIS - Semantic interoperability for infectious diseases reporting system

The healthcare setting is multifaceted, comprised of many different components including private, governmental, and regulatory agencies. There is always a necessity of timely and reliable information exchange among these agencies especially on Infectious Disease information due to their criticali-ty. The heterogeneity of the systems used by these agencies has led us into designing and developing an interoperable solution to exchange data effectively among several independent yet collaborating health authorities at both state and national levels. This research work articulates the efforts put into achieving an interoperable Infectious Diseases Reporting System that incorporates ontology-based semantic rules to align different infectious disease coding standards and to deploy Web services for collecting data from remote sources. This effort is a first step towards achieving a policy-based interoperable Infectious disease monitoring system which can be used across different yet collaborating regulatory agencies

Semantic interoperability for infectious diseases reporting system

The healthcare setting is multifaceted, comprised of many different components including private, governmental, and regulatory agencies. There is always a necessity of timely and reliable information exchange among these agencies especially on Infectious Disease information due to their criticali-ty. The heterogeneity of the systems used by these agencies has led us into designing and developing an interoperable solution to exchange data effectively among several independent yet collaborating health authorities at both state and national levels. This research work articulates the efforts put into achieving an interoperable Infectious Diseases Reporting System that incorporates ontology-based semantic rules to align different infectious disease coding standards and to deploy Web services for collecting data from remote sources. This effort is a first step towards achieving a policy-based interoperable Infectious disease monitoring system which can be used across different yet collaborating regulatory agencies. © 2011 Polish Info Processing Soc

Clearance of senescent macrophages ameliorates tumorigenesis in KRAS-driven lung cancer

The accumulation of senescent cells in the tumor microenvironment can drive tumorigenesis in a paracrine manner through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Using a new p16-FDR mouse line, we show that macrophages and endothelial cells are the predominant senescent cell types in murine KRAS-driven lung tumors. Through single cell transcriptomics, we identify a population of tumor-associated macrophages that express a unique array of pro-tumorigenic SASP factors and surface proteins and are also present in normal aged lungs. Genetic or senolytic ablation of senescent cells, or macrophage depletion, result in a significant decrease in tumor burden and increased survival in KRAS-driven lung cancer models. Moreover, we reveal the presence of macrophages with senescent features in human lung pre-malignant lesions, but not in adenocarcinomas. Taken together, our results have uncovered the important role of senescent macrophages in the initiation and progression of lung cancer, highlighting potential therapeutic avenues and cancer preventative strategies

Late-Stage Metastatic Melanoma Emerges through a Diversity of Evolutionary Pathways

Understanding the evolutionary pathways to metastasis and resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in melanoma is critical for improving outcomes. Here, we present the most comprehensive intrapatient metastatic melanoma dataset assembled to date as part of the Posthumous Evaluation of Advanced Cancer Environment (PEACE) research autopsy program, including 222 exome sequencing, 493 panel-sequenced, 161 RNA sequencing, and 22 single-cell whole-genome sequencing samples from 14 ICI-treated patients. We observed frequent whole-genome doubling and widespread loss of heterozygosity, often involving antigen-presentation machinery. We found KIT extrachromosomal DNA may have contributed to the lack of response to KIT inhibitors of a KIT-driven melanoma. At the lesion-level, MYC amplifications were enriched in ICI nonresponders. Single-cell sequencing revealed polyclonal seeding of metastases originating from clones with different ploidy in one patient. Finally, we observed that brain metastases that diverged early in molecular evolution emerge late in disease. Overall, our study illustrates the diverse evolutionary landscape of advanced melanoma.SIGNIFICANCE: Despite treatment advances, melanoma remains a deadly disease at stage IV. Through research autopsy and dense sampling of metastases combined with extensive multiomic profiling, our study elucidates the many mechanisms that melanomas use to evade treatment and the immune system, whether through mutations, widespread copy-number alterations, or extrachromosomal DNA.See related commentary by Shain, p. 1294. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1275.</p

Late-Stage Metastatic Melanoma Emerges through a Diversity of Evolutionary Pathways

UNLABELLED: Understanding the evolutionary pathways to metastasis and resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in melanoma is critical for improving outcomes. Here, we present the most comprehensive intrapatient metastatic melanoma dataset assembled to date as part of the Posthumous Evaluation of Advanced Cancer Environment (PEACE) research autopsy program, including 222 exome sequencing, 493 panel-sequenced, 161 RNA sequencing, and 22 single-cell whole-genome sequencing samples from 14 ICI-treated patients. We observed frequent whole-genome doubling and widespread loss of heterozygosity, often involving antigen-presentation machinery. We found KIT extrachromosomal DNA may have contributed to the lack of response to KIT inhibitors of a KIT-driven melanoma. At the lesion-level, MYC amplifications were enriched in ICI nonresponders. Single-cell sequencing revealed polyclonal seeding of metastases originating from clones with different ploidy in one patient. Finally, we observed that brain metastases that diverged early in molecular evolution emerge late in disease. Overall, our study illustrates the diverse evolutionary landscape of advanced melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE: Despite treatment advances, melanoma remains a deadly disease at stage IV. Through research autopsy and dense sampling of metastases combined with extensive multiomic profiling, our study elucidates the many mechanisms that melanomas use to evade treatment and the immune system, whether through mutations, widespread copy-number alterations, or extrachromosomal DNA. See related commentary by Shain, p. 1294. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1275