Resistance to Grapevine leafroll associated virus-2 is conferred by post-transcriptional gene silencing in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus-2 (GLRaV-2) is an important component of the leafroll disease complex in grapevine. We have previously sequenced the GLRaV-2 genome and identified the coat protein (CP) gene. The objective of this study is to test the concept of pathogen-derived resistance against a closterovirus associated with grapevine leafroll disease. Because GLRaV-2 is capable of infecting Nicotiana benthamiana, we decided to test the concept on this herbaceous host. Thirty-seven T0 transgenic N.benthamiana plants expressing the GLRaV-2 CP gene were regenerated following Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Disease resistance was evaluated in greenhouse-grown T1 and T2 plants by mechanical inoculation with GLRaV-2. Although all the inoculated non-transgenic plants showed symptoms 2-4weeks post inoculation, various numbers of transgenic plants (16-100%) in 14 of 20 T1 lines tested were not infected. In these resistant plants, GLRaV-2 was not detectable by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Although virus resistance was confirmed in T2 progenies, the percentage of resistant plants was generally lower (0-63%) than that of the corresponding T1 lines (0-100%). Northern blot and nuclear run-off results showed that virus resistance in the transgenic plants was consistently associated with the low level of transgene RNA transcript suggesting a post-transcriptional gene silencing. The success of pathogen-derived resistance to GLRaV-2 in transgenic N.benthamiana plants represents the first step towards eventual control of the leafroll disease in grapevines using this strateg

Correlating Gravitational Waves with WW-boson Mass, FIMP Dark Matter, and Majorana Seesaw Mechanism

We study a minimal extension of the Standard Model by introducing three right-handed neutrinos and a new scotogenic scalar doublet, in which the mass splittings between neutral and charged components are responsible for the $W$-boson mass newly measured by the CDF collaboration. This model can not only generate non-vanishing Majorana neutrino masses via the interaction of right-handed neutrinos and scotogenic scalars, but also explain the Universe's missing matter in the form of FIMP dark matter. We also study the influence of the mass splitting on the first order electroweak phase transition, and find that it can further enhance the transition strength and thus induce gravitational waves during the phase transition, which may be detected in the forthcoming detectors such as U-DECIGO.Comment: References updated, accepted for publication in Science Bulleti

Effect of edaravone-urinary kallidinogenase combination treatment on acute cerebral infarction

Purpose: To investigate the curative effect of edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction and its effect on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL).Methods: One hundred and eighty patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) who were on admission from March 2015 to July 2016 participated in this study as research subjects. They were assigned to study group (59 patients) and control group (59 patients). Edaravone and conventional treatment were administered to the control group. In contrast, in addition to conventional treatment, the study group was given edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase. Clinical effects, neurological function and serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels in the two groups were determined.Results: The overall response of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Scores in the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were reduced in both groups, and modified Barthel index (MBI) of both groups remarkably increased, when compared to values before treatment. Improvements in NIHSS score and MBI of the study group were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels declined significantly in the two groups (p < 0.05), but post-treatment serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels of the study group were significantly reduced, relative to control values (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups.Conclusion: The use of edaravone in combination with urinary kallidinogenase in the treatment of ACI can significantly reduce serum IL-17 and hs-CRP levels without inducing severe adverse reactions.Keywords: Edaravone, Urinary kallidinogenase, Acute cerebral infarctio

Two-dimensional photonic crystals with anisotropic unit cells imprinted from poly(dimethylsiloxane) membranes under elastic deformation

We study structural symmetries of two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals with anisotropic unit cells, including square- and rectangular-lattices with orientationally modulated elliptic motifs, and a compound structure consisting of circles with sixfold rotational symmetry and elliptical lines with twofold symmetry, which are created through elastic deformation of a single elastomeric membrane with circular pores. We then investigate the photonic bandgap (PBG) properties of the corresponding 2D Si posts and their tolerance to the structural deviation. We find that in the compound structure the overall PBGs are dominated by the sublattice with a higher symmetry, while the total symmetry is determined by the one with a lower symmetry

Environmental distributions of benzo[a]pyrene in China:current and future emission reduction scenarios explored using a spatially explicit multimedia fate model

SESAMe v3.0, a spatially explicit multimedia fate model with 50 × 50 km(2) resolution, has been developed for China to predict environmental concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) using an atmospheric emission inventory for 2007. Model predictions are compared with environmental monitoring data obtained from an extensive review of the literature. The model performs well in predicting multimedia concentrations and distributions. Predicted concentrations are compared with guideline values; highest values with some exceedances occur mainly in the North China Plain, Mid Inner Mongolia, and parts of three northeast provinces, Xi'an, Shanghai, and south of Jiangsu province, East Sichuan Basin, middle of Guizhou and Guangzhou. Two potential future scenarios have been assessed using SESAMe v3.0 for 2030 as BaP emission is reduced by (1) technological improvement for coal consumption in energy production and industry sectors in Scenario 1 (Sc1) and (2) technological improvement and control of indoor biomass burning for cooking and indoor space heating and prohibition of open burning of biomass in 2030 in Scenario 2 (Sc2). Sc2 is more efficient in reducing the areas with exceedance of guideline values. Use of SESAMe v3.0 provides insights on future research needs and can inform decision making on options for source reduction

2-[4-(4-Methoxy­phen­yl)-5-(2-pyrid­yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]phenol

In the title compound, C20H16N4O2, the benzene rings of the 2-hydroxy­phenyl and 4-methoxy­lphenyl groups form dihedral angles of 64.02 (8) and 77.39 (7)°, respectively, with the mean plane of the triazole ring. The dihedral angle between the triazole ring mean plane and the pyridyl ring is 9.61 (8)°. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into zigzag chains propagating in [010]

N-[4-(β-d-Allopyranos­yloxy)benzyl­idene]methyl­amine

The title compound, C14H19NO6, was synthesized by the condensation reaction between hecilid (4-formyl­phenl-β-d-allopyran­oside) and methyl­amine in methanol. In the crystal structure, the pyran ring adopts a chair conformation and adjacent mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network

Multimodal imaging characteristics of adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy

AIM: To observe the multimodal imaging characteristics of adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy(AFVD). METHODS: Retrospective study. Six cases(11 eyes)of AFVD in Zhengzhou Second People Hospital from January 2015 to April 2018 were included. Amongst all of them, there were 2 men 3 eyes, 4 women 8 eyes, aged from 43-67 years(average 52.5±1.7 years). No abnormality was found in the anterior segment, intraocular pressure and electroretinogram(ERG). There was no family history. Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)was from 0.08-0.8, EOG was normal in 9 eyes, slightly decreased in 2 eyes. Fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA), fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and indolecyanine green angiography(ICGA)of the patients were examined and analyzed. RESULTS: The fundi of all patients showed less than 1PD vitelliform lesions, showing hypofluorescence in FFA and ICGA. In the late phase of FFA,fluorescence accumulated in the lesion in some patients. In B-scan of OCTA, there was vitelliform substance which deposited between the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium(RPE )layer. As the disease continues to progress, photoreceptor layer became thinner, RPE-Bruch layer became thinner or disappeared. In OCTA there was dark spot with strong reflection around it in choriocapillary layer. There was dark spot in En-face image. CONCLUSION: Multimodal imaging assist in diagnosing AFVD, reducing missed diagnosed and misdiagnosis, better understanding the pathogenesis, developing the treatment plan, judging prognosis