Conspecific Crop-Weed Introgression Influences Evolution of Weedy Rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) across a Geographical Range

Introgression plays an important role in evolution of plant species via its influences on genetic diversity and differentiation. Outcrossing determines the level of introgression but little is known about the relationships of outcrossing rates, genetic diversity, and differentiation particularly in a weedy taxon that coexists with its conspecific crop.Eleven weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) populations from China were analyzed using microsatellite (SSR) fingerprints to study outcrossing rate and its relationship with genetic variability and differentiation. To estimate outcrossing, six highly polymorphic SSR loci were used to analyze >5500 progeny from 216 weedy rice families, applying a mixed mating model; to estimate genetic diversity and differentiation, 22 SSR loci were analyzed based on 301 weedy individuals. Additionally, four weed-crop shared SSR loci were used to estimate the influence of introgression from rice cultivars on weedy rice differentiation. Outcrossing rates varied significantly (0.4~11.7%) among weedy rice populations showing relatively high overall Nei's genetic diversity (0.635). The observed heterozygosity was significantly correlated with outcrossing rates among populations (r²  =  0.783; P<0.001) although no obvious correlation between outcrossing rates and genetic diversity parameters was observed. Allelic introgression from rice cultivars to their coexisting weedy rice was detected. Weedy rice populations demonstrated considerable genetic differentiation that was correlated with their spatial distribution (r²  =  0.734; P<0.001), and possibly also influenced by the introgression from rice cultivars.Outcrossing rates can significantly affect heterozygosity of populations, which may shape the evolutionary potential of weedy rice. Introgression from the conspecific crop rice can influence the genetic differentiation and possibly evolution of its coexisting weedy rice populations

Demonstration of Berry Phase in Optical Spectroscopy

In this paper we demonstrate that the observed phase shift of the RF signal and its intensity dependence under extreme low pump and probe laser field conditions are dominated by Berry phase effect in optical spectroscopy with good adiabatic approximation, which provides all features' agreements between the theoretical and the experimental results

Application of anastomosis with dacryocystotomy and retrograde intubation in treatment of traumatic lacrimal canaliculi laceration

AIM: To discuss the application of anastomosis in traumatic lacrimal canaliculi laceration. <p>METHODS: Totally 21 patients of which nasal end can not be found out were treated with anastomosis combined dacryocystotomy and retrograde intubation. <p>RESULTS: All the patients were followed up postoperatively for 1 year to 2 years. The total effective rate was 95.2%.<p>CONCLUSION: The anastomosis with dacryocystotomy and retrograde intubation is a affirmative and available method in treatment of traumatic lacrimal canaliculi laceration

Quantum Interference Effects in Molecular Y- and Rhomb-Type Systems

In this paper we report the first observation of molecular population trapping in four level systems. Constructive and destructive quantum interferences between two sum-frequncy two-photon transitions in Y- and rhomb-type four-level systems, respectively, im sodium molecules have been experimentally achieved by using only one laser source. Their energy level schemes are featured by the extremely near-resonant enhancement of the equal-frequency two-photon transitions, sharing both the initial and the intermediate levels for the Y-type, and sharing both the initial and the final levels for the rhomb-type systems. Their novel spectral effects are to show seriously restrained Doppler-free UV peak at the nominal location of the induced two-photon transition with visible fluorescence in rhomb-type schems, and to show a strong extra UV peak but null visible fluorescence in the middle between the two dipole allowed two-photon transitions

Safety and efficacy of etomidate and propofol anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy: A double-blind randomized clinical study

The aim of the present study is to compare the safety, efficacy and cost effectiveness of anesthetic regimens by compound, using etomidate and propofol in elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy. A total of 200 volunteers (65–79 years of age) scheduled for gastroscopy under anesthesia were randomly divided into the following groups: P, propofol (1.5–2.0 mg/kg); E, etomidate (0.15-0.2 mg/kg); P+E, propofol (0.75–1 mg/kg) followed by etomidate (0.075-0.1 mg/kg); and E+P, etomidate (0.075-0.01 mg/kg) followed by propofol (0.75–1 mg/kg). Vital signs and bispectral index were monitored at different time points. Complications, induction and examination time, anesthesia duration, and recovery and discharge time were recorded. At the end of the procedure, the satisfaction of patients, endoscopists and the anesthetist were evaluated. The recovery (6.1±1.2 h) and discharge times (24.8±2.8 h) in group E were significantly longer compared with groups P, P+E and E+P (P<0.05). The occurrence of injection pain in group P+E was significantly higher compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). In addition, the incidence of myoclonus and post-operative nausea and vomiting were significantly higher in group P+E compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference among the four groups with regards to the patients' immediate, post-procedure satisfaction (P>0.05). Furthermore, there was no difference in the satisfaction of anesthesia, as evaluated by the anesthetist and endoscopist, among the four groups (P>0.05). The present study demonstrates that anesthesia for gastroscopy in elderly patients can be safely and effectively accomplished using a drug regimen that combines propofol with etomidate. The combined use of propofol and etomidate has unique characteristics which improve hemodynamic stability, cause minimal respiratory depression and less side effects, provide rapid return to full activity and result in high levels of satisfaction

Increased MicroRNA-146a Levels in Plasma of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are thought to serve as crucial regulators of gene expression. Dysregulated expression of miRNAs has been described in various diseases and may contribute to related pathologic processes. Our aim was to examine circulating miRNA-146a levels in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (new-T2DM) patients from a Chinese Han population. Methodology/Principal Findings Circulating miRNA-146a was extracted from plasma samples of 90 new-T2DM patients and 90 age- and sex-matched controls. Quantitative PCR assessment revealed that circulating miRNA-146a levels were significantly elevated in new-T2DM patients compared with controls. Participants in the highest tertile of circulating miRNA-146a levels showed a notably higher risk for new-T2DM (crude OR 4.333, 95% CI, 1.935 to 9.705, P = 0.001) than persons in the lowest tertile. Controlling for known risk factors and some biochemical indicators did not attenuate the aforementioned association. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves generated for miRNA-146a revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.725 (95% CI, 0.651 to 0.799, P < 0.001). Moreover, higher circulating miRNA-146a levels were significantly associated with higher plasma heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) concentrations (β coefficient = 0.131, P < 0.001) and lower HOMA-beta (β coefficient = -0.153, P = 0.015). Conclusions/Significance: We found that circulating miRNA-146a levels were significantly elevated in new-T2DM patients compared with healthy controls. Whether expression of circulating miRNA-146a holds predictive value for T2DM warrants further investigations

Computational Understanding of the Selectivities in Metalloenzymes

Metalloenzymes catalyze many different types of biological reactions with high efficiency and remarkable selectivity. The quantum chemical cluster approach and the combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods have proven very successful in the elucidation of the reaction mechanism and rationalization of selectivities in enzymes. In this review, recent progress in the computational understanding of various selectivities including chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity, in metalloenzymes, is discussed