Germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (GT) in different taxonomic groups.

<p>(A) GP and GT of seeds from seven families; (B) GP and GT of seeds from five seed size groups; (C) GP and GT of seeds from four dispersal mode groups; (D) GP and GT of seeds from three habitats. Bars (mean±SE) that do not share a letter represent significantly different values at <i>P</i><0.05 level (Turkey multiple comparison test). Different lowercase letters and capital letters indicate significant difference of GP and GT, respectively.</p

Results of two-way ANOVAs showing the independent effects of one of two main factors that have significant effects in one-way ANOVAs and interaction effects on germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (GT) due to phylogenetic group (P), life form (LF), seed size (SS), dispersal mode (DM), onset of flowering (OF), duration of flowering (DF), temperature (T) and habitat (H). <i>R²</i> is the proportion of variance explained by each factor (Only significant interaction terms are shown).

<p>Results of two-way ANOVAs showing the independent effects of one of two main factors that have significant effects in one-way ANOVAs and interaction effects on germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (GT) due to phylogenetic group (P), life form (LF), seed size (SS), dispersal mode (DM), onset of flowering (OF), duration of flowering (DF), temperature (T) and habitat (H). <i>R²</i> is the proportion of variance explained by each factor (Only significant interaction terms are shown).</p

Multi-factorial ANOVAs for the independent effects of each main factor and their associations.

<p>Dependent variable is mean germination time (GT). For each main factor, <i>R²</i> is the proportion of the Type III sum of squares attributed to the main effect. The proportion of the variance explained by each class variable independent of others examined by the difference between the <i>R²</i> of the complete model and the <i>R²</i> of the model from which this class variable has been deleted.</p

Effects of temperature on germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (GT).

<p>Bars (mean±SE) that do not share a letter represent significantly different values at <i>P</i><0.05 level (Turkey multiple comparison test).</p

Effects of temperature treatments on seed mortality during germination.

<p>Bars (mean±SE) that do not share a letter represent significantly different values at <i>P</i><0.05 level (Turkey multiple comparison test).</p

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<p>Induction and secretion of acid phosphatases (APases) is considered to be an important strategy for improving plant growth under conditions of low inorganic phosphate (Pi). Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs), are an important class of plant APases that could be secreted into the rhizosphere to utilize organic phosphorus (Po) for plant growth and development. To date, only a few members of the PAP family have been identified in soybean. In this paper, we identified a secreted PAP in soybean, GmPAP14, and investigated its role in utilizing external phytate, the main form of organic phosphorus in the soil. An analysis of its expression and promoter showed that GmPAP14 was mainly expressed in the root and was strongly induced following Po treatment, during which its expression expanded from meristematic to maturation zones and root hairs. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that GmPAP14 had a relatively high phytase activity. Furthermore, GmPAP14 overexpression increased secreted APase activities and phytase activities, leading to the improved use of external plant phytate, higher phosphorus content, and increased shoot weight. Thus, these results confirmed that GmPAP14 is an important gene induced in response to Po, and that it predominantly participates in utilizing external Po to enhance plant growth and development.</p

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<p>Induction and secretion of acid phosphatases (APases) is considered to be an important strategy for improving plant growth under conditions of low inorganic phosphate (Pi). Purple acid phosphatases (PAPs), are an important class of plant APases that could be secreted into the rhizosphere to utilize organic phosphorus (Po) for plant growth and development. To date, only a few members of the PAP family have been identified in soybean. In this paper, we identified a secreted PAP in soybean, GmPAP14, and investigated its role in utilizing external phytate, the main form of organic phosphorus in the soil. An analysis of its expression and promoter showed that GmPAP14 was mainly expressed in the root and was strongly induced following Po treatment, during which its expression expanded from meristematic to maturation zones and root hairs. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that GmPAP14 had a relatively high phytase activity. Furthermore, GmPAP14 overexpression increased secreted APase activities and phytase activities, leading to the improved use of external plant phytate, higher phosphorus content, and increased shoot weight. Thus, these results confirmed that GmPAP14 is an important gene induced in response to Po, and that it predominantly participates in utilizing external Po to enhance plant growth and development.</p

Bacterial survival data of MICs and IC50s tests.

Staphylococcus aureus is the main culprit, causing a variety of severe clinical infections. At the same time, clinics are also facing the severe situation of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, effective strategies to address this problem may include expanding the antimicrobial spectrum by exploring alternative sources of drugs or delaying the development of antibiotic resistance through combination therapy so that existing antibiotics can continue to be used. Plumbagin (PLU) is a phytochemical that exhibits antibacterial activity. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro antibacterial activity of PLU. We selected five antibiotics with different mechanisms and inhibitory activities against S. aureus to explore their interaction with the combination of PLU. The interaction of combinations was evaluated by the Bliss independent model and visualized through response surface analysis. PLU exhibited potent antibacterial activity, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against S. aureus of 1.73 μg/mL and 4 μg/mL, respectively. Synergism was observed when PLU was combined with nitrofurantoin (NIT), ciprofloxacin (CPR), mecillinam (MEC), and chloramphenicol (CHL). The indifference of the trimethoprim (TMP)-PLU pairing was demonstrated across the entire dose-response matrix, but significant synergy was observed within a specific dose region. In addition, no antagonistic interactions were indicated. Overall, PLU is not only a promising antimicrobial agent but also has the potential to enhance the growth-inhibitory activity of some antibiotics against S. aureus, and the use of the interaction landscape, along with the dose-response matrix, for analyzing and quantifying combination results represents an improved approach to comprehending antibacterial combinations.</div

Gold Nanoparticle Size and Shape Effects on Cellular Uptake and Intracellular Distribution of siRNA Nanoconstructs

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) show potential for transfecting target cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA), but the influence of key design parameters such as the size and shape of the particle core is incomplete. This paper describes a side-by-side comparison of the <i>in vitro</i> response of U87 glioblastoma cells to different formulations of siRNA-conjugated gold nanoconstructs targeting the expression of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) based on 13 nm spheres, 50 nm spheres, and 40 nm stars. 50 nm spheres and 40 nm stars showed much higher uptake efficiency compared to 13 nm spheres. Confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that all three formulations were localized in the endosomes at early incubation times (2 h), but after 24 h, 50 nm spheres and 40 nm stars were neither in endosomes nor in lysosomes while 13 nm spheres remained in endosomes. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed that the 13 nm spheres were enclosed and dispersed within endocytic vesicles while 50 nm spheres and 40 nm stars were aggregated, and some of these NPs were outside of endocytic vesicles. In our comparison of nanoconstructs with different sizes and shapes, while holding siRNA surface density and nanoparticle concentration constant, we found that larger particles (50 nm spheres and 40 nm stars) showed higher potential as carriers for the delivery of siRNA

MIC and IC₅₀ against <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> of PLU and five antibiotics.

MIC and IC50 against S. aureus of PLU and five antibiotics.</p