The expression patterns of three VRN genes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in response to vernalization

Common wheat is a widely planted cereal in China, and vernalization is a crucial phase in wheat development. Although three major genes (VRN1, VRN2 and VRN3) are associated with the vernalization response, little is known about their expression profiles during wheat growth. In this study, we observed the spike differentiation process in spring wheat variety XC2 and winter wheat variety J841 and used qRT-PCR to analyze the expression patterns of three VRN genes in the leaves of these wheat varieties during development under vernalization versus non-vernalization treatment under long-day conditions. We also analyzed the expression patterns of VRN1 and VRN3 in the apical meristem. In both spring and winter wheat, the spikes remained at the single ridge state and did not differentiate under vernalization treatment. Spike differentiation completed one week earlier in XC2 spring wheat after vernalization treatment compared with non-vernalization conditions. Vernalization treatment significantly upregulated VRN1 and VRN3 expression in leaves under long-day conditions, whereas VRN2 expression was sharply reduced. The expression of VRN3 was low in shoot apical meristems, while VRN1 was highly expressed in shoot apical meristems when floral primordia began to differentiate and develop, suggesting that VRN1 functions independently in leaves and shoot apical meristems

Recyclable and Robust Optical Nanoprobes with Engineered Enzymes for Sustainable Serodiagnostics

Recyclable fluorescence assays that can be stored at room temperature would greatly benefit biomedical diagnostics by bringing sustainability and cost-efficiency, especially for point-of-care serodiagnostics in developing regions. Here, a general strategy is proposed to generate recyclable fluorescent probes by using engineered enzymes with enhanced thermo-/chemo-stability, which maintains an outstanding serodiagnostic performance (accuracy >95%) after 10 times of recycling as well as after storage at elevated temperatures (37 °C for 10 days). With these three outstanding properties, recyclable fluorescent probes can be designed to detect various biomarkers of clinical importance by using different enzymes

Multi-Channel Lanthanide Nanocomposites for Customized Synergistic Treatment of Orthotopic Multi-Tumor Cases

<p>Simultaneous photothermal ablation of multiple tumors is limited by unpredictable photo-induced apoptosis, caused by individual intratumoral differences. Here, a multi-channel lanthanide nanocomposite was used to achieve tailored synergistic treatment of multiple subcutaneous orthotopic tumors under non-uniform whole-body infrared irradiation prescription. The nanocomposite reduces intratumoral glutathione by simultaneously activating the fluorescence and photothermal channels. The fluorescence provides individual information on different tumors, allowing customized prescriptions to be made. This enables optimal induction of hyperthermia and dosage of chemo drugs, to ensure treatment efficacy, while avoiding overtherapy. With an accessional therapeutic laser system, customized synergistic treatment of subcutaneous orthotopic cancer cases with multiple tumors is possible with both high efficacy and minimized side effects.</p&gt

Multi-Channel Lanthanide Nanocomposites for Customized Synergistic Treatment of Orthotopic Multi-Tumor Cases

Simultaneous photothermal ablation of multiple tumors is limited by unpredictable photo-induced apoptosis, caused by individual intratumoral differences. Here, a multi-channel lanthanide nanocomposite was used to achieve tailored synergistic treatment of multiple subcutaneous orthotopic tumors under non-uniform whole-body infrared irradiation prescription. The nanocomposite reduces intratumoral glutathione by simultaneously activating the fluorescence and photothermal channels. The fluorescence provides individual information on different tumors, allowing customized prescriptions to be made. This enables optimal induction of hyperthermia and dosage of chemo drugs, to ensure treatment efficacy, while avoiding overtherapy. With an accessional therapeutic laser system, customized synergistic treatment of subcutaneous orthotopic cancer cases with multiple tumors is possible with both high efficacy and minimized side effects.</p

Conditions for the freezing phenomena of geometric measure of quantum discord for arbitrary two-qubit X states under non-dissipative dephasing noises

We study the dynamics of geometric measure of quantum discord (GMQD) under the influences of two local phase damping noises. Consider the two qubits initially in arbitrary X-states, we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for which GMQD is unaffected for a finite period. It is further shown that such results also hold for the non-Markovian dephasing process.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Heart rate variability and peripheral nerve conduction velocity in relation to blood lead in newly hired lead workers.

Previous studies relating nervous activity to blood lead (BL) levels have limited relevance, because over time environmental and occupational exposure substantially dropped. We investigated the association of heart rate variability (HRV) and median nerve conduction velocity (NCV) with BL using the baseline measurements collected in the Study for Promotion of Health in Recycling Lead (NCT02243904). In 328 newly hired men (mean age 28.3 years; participation rate 82.7%), we derived HRV measures (power expressed in normalised units (nu) in the high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) domains, and LF/HF) prior to long-term occupational lead exposure. Five-minute ECG recordings, obtained in the supine and standing positions, were analysed by Fourier transform or autoregressive modelling, using Cardiax software. Motor NCV was measured at the median nerve by a handheld device (Brevio Nerve Conduction Monitoring System, NeuMed, West Trenton, NJ, USA). BL was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mean BL was 4.54 µg/dL (IQR 2.60-8.90 µg/dL). Mean supine and standing values of LF, HF and LF/HF were 50.5 and 21.1 nu and 2.63, and 59.7 and 10.9 nu and 6.31, respectively. Orthostatic stress decreased HF and increased LF (p&lt;0.001). NCV averaged 3.74 m/s. Analyses across thirds of the BL distribution and multivariable-adjusted regression analyses failed to demonstrate any association of HRV or NCV with BL. At the exposure levels observed in our study, autonomous nervous activity and NCV were not associated with BL. NCT02243904

Circulating biomarkers predicting longitudinal changes in left ventricular structure and function in a general population

Background Serial imaging studies in the general population remain important to evaluate the usefulness of pathophysiologically relevant biomarkers in predicting progression of left ventricular (LV) remodeling and dysfunction. Here, we assessed in a general population whether these circulating biomarkers at baseline predict longitudinal changes in LV structure and function. Methods and Results In 592 participants (mean age, 50.8 years; 51.4% women; 40.5% hypertensive), we derived echocardiographic indexes reflecting LV structure and function at baseline and after 4.7 years. At baseline, we measured alkaline phosphatase, markers of collagen turnover (procollagen type I, C‐terminal telopeptide, matrix metalloproteinase‐1) and high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T. We regressed longitudinal changes in LV indexes on baseline biomarker levels and reported standardized effect sizes as a fraction of the standard deviation of LV change. After full adjustment, a decline in LV longitudinal strain (−14.2%) and increase in E/e′ ratio over time (+18.9%; P≤0.019) was associated with higher alkaline phosphatase activity at baseline. Furthermore, longitudinal strain decreased with higher levels of collagen I production and degradation at baseline (procollagen type I, −14.2%; C‐terminal telopeptide, −16.4%; P≤0.029). An increase in E/e′ ratio over time was borderline associated with lower matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (+9.8%) and lower matrix metalloproteinase‐1/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 ratio (+11.9%; P≤0.041). Higher high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels at baseline correlated significantly with an increase in relative wall thickness (+23.1%) and LV mass index (+18.3%) during follow‐up (P≤0.035). Conclusions We identified a set of biomarkers predicting adverse changes in LV structure and function over time. Circulating biomarkers reflecting LV stiffness, injury, and collagen composition might improve the identification of subjects at risk for subclinical cardiac maladaptation

Electronic Structures of Cu/S Co-doped/Anatase TiO 2 by First-principles

ABSTRACT The structural parameters, band structures and density of states of anatase TiO2 co-doped with Cu and S were calculated by first-principles based on the density functional theory. The results indicate that the volumes of the co-doped TiO2 increase due to the lattice distortion. The calculated X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the crystal phase of TiO2 is still kept as anatase after Cu and S co-doping. The band gap of TiO2 broadened when S substitutes for Ti or O along with Cu substitutes for Ti. The calculated partial density of states shows that the impurity energy levels mainly come from the Cu 3d and S 3p orbital. The calculated results may provide some theoretical foundations for the photocatalytic activity enhancement of TiO2 co-doped with Cu and S

Search for heavy gauge W ′ bosons in events with an energetic lepton and large missing transverse momentum at √s = 13 TeV

A search is presented for W′ bosons in events with an electron or muon and large missing transverse momentum, using proton–proton collision data at √s=13 TeV collected with the CMS detector in 2015 and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb−1. No evidence of an excess of events relative to the standard model expectations is observed. For a W′ boson described by the sequential standard model, upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the product of the production cross section and branching fraction and lower limits are established on the new boson mass. Masses below 4.1 TeV are excluded combining electron and muon decay channels, significantly improving upon the results obtained with the 8 TeV data. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level on the product of the W′ production cross section and branching fraction are also derived in combination with the 8 TeV data. Finally, exclusion limits are set for the production of generic W′ bosons decaying into this final state using a model-independent approach