Brassinosteroid signaling directs formative cell divisions and protophloem differentiation in Arabidopsis root meristems.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) trigger an intracellular signaling cascade through its receptors BR INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1), BRI1-LIKE 1 (BRL1) and BRL3. Recent studies suggest that BR-independent inputs related to vascular differentiation, for instance root protophloem development, modulate downstream BR signaling components. Here, we report that protophloem sieve element differentiation is indeed impaired in bri1 brl1 brl3 mutants, although this effect might not be mediated by canonical downstream BR signaling components. We also found that their small meristem size is entirely explained by reduced cell elongation, which is, however, accompanied by supernumerary formative cell divisions in the radial dimension. Thus, reduced cell expansion in conjunction with growth retardation, because of the need to accommodate supernumerary formative divisions, can account for the overall short root phenotype of BR signaling mutants. Tissue-specific re-addition of BRI1 activity partially rescued subsets of these defects through partly cell-autonomous, partly non-cell-autonomous effects. However, protophloem-specific BRI1 expression essentially rescued all major bri1 brl1 brl3 root meristem phenotypes. Our data suggest that BR perception in the protophloem is sufficient to systemically convey BR action in the root meristem context

Characterization of a wheat HSP70 gene and its expression in response to stripe rust infection and abiotic stresses

Members of the family of 70-kD heat shock proteins (HSP70 s) play various stress-protective roles in plants. In this study, a wheat HSP70 gene was isolated from a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library of wheat leaves infected by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. The gene, that was designated as TaHSC70, was predicted to encode a protein of 690 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 73.54 KDa and a pI of 5.01. Further analysis revealed the presence of a conserved signature that is characteristic for HSP70s and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that TaHSC70 is a homolog of chloroplast HSP70s. TaHSC70 mRNA was present in leaves of both green and etiolated wheat seedlings and in stems and roots. The transcript level in roots was approximately threefold less than in leaves but light–dark treatment did not charge TaHSC70 expression. Following heat shock of wheat seedlings at 40°C, TaHSC70 expression increased in leaves of etiolated seedlings but remained stable at the same level in green seedlings. In addition, TaHSC70 was differentially expressed during an incompatible and compatible interaction with wheat-stripe rust, and there was a transient increase in expression upon treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (ET) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments had no influence on TaHSC70 expression. These results suggest that TaHSC70 plays a role in stress-related responses, and in defense responses elicited by infection with stripe rust fungus and does so via a JA-dependent signal transduction pathway

Shutdown of an offshore wind power plant without using a brake to meet the required ramp rate in various storm-driven conditions

This paper proposes an offshore WPP (wind power plant) shutdown algorithm that does not use a braking system and meets the required ramp rate in the grid code in various storm-driven conditions. The proposed algorithm determines the number of WGs (wind generators) to shut down simultaneously to achieve this requirement without using brakes. Based on the storm speed and direction measured at a WM (wind mast) installed several kilometers away from the WPP, the storm-arrival time from the WM to each WG is calculated. Then, an arrival-ordered sequence is generated for the WGs based on these storm-arrival times. The WGs are grouped in a predetermined number to shut down simultaneously. The shutdown start- and end-times of the WGs are determined by considering the storm-arrival time and the shutdown duration time. The algorithm re-calculates the storm-arrival times and the shutdown start- and end-times of the WGs if the storm speed and/or direction change. The various test results demonstrate that the algorithm successfully shuts down the WPP without using a brake by meeting the required ramp rate even when the storm speed and direction change

Pathogenicity and Immune Response of Starry Flounder, Platichthys stellatus, Infected with Vibrio anguillarum

Vibrio anguillarum is the aetiological agent of vibriosis, a disease affecting many marine fish species. The occurrence of vibriosis in starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus, grown in an aquaculture farm has demonstrated the urgent need for information on pathogenic infection and immune response for efficient disease management. This is the first study to report Vibrio anguillarum isolation and infection in starry flounder. We evaluated immune responses, serum biochemical parameters, and cumulative mortality of the fish by experimentally challenging healthy fish. The expression levels of five immune genes (TNF, TNFR, IL-6, MHCII, and CXC) were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The transcriptional levels of the genes encoding tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TNF receptor (TNFR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), the major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II), and a chemokine (CXC) in the head-kidney of V. anguillarum infected fish were significantly upregulated compared with control fish and biochemical indices including the alanine aminotransferase, total serum protein, and glucose levels of infected fish differed significantly from those of control. Additionally, Starry flounder infected with V. anguillarum at 1.67 × 106 and 1.67 × 108CFU/mL showed 53%, and 100% mortality, respectively. This study furthers our understanding of the immune and serum biochemical alterations, and mortality induced by bacterial infections, depending on pathogen concentration. This may advance strategies for control of V. anguillarum in cultured starry flounde

Burden of major gastrointestinal bleeding among oral anticoagulant-treated non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients

BackgroundGastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is the most common type of major bleeding associated with oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment. Patients with major bleeding are at an increased risk of a stroke if an OAC is not reinitiated.MethodsNon-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients initiating OACs were identified from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare data and four US commercial claims databases. Patients who had a major GI bleeding event (hospitalization with primary diagnosis of GI bleeding) while on an OAC were selected. A control cohort of patients without a major GI bleed during OAC treatment was matched to major GI bleeding patients using propensity scores. Stroke/systemic embolism (SE), major bleeding, and mortality (in the CMS population) were examined using Cox proportional hazards models with robust sandwich estimates.ResultsA total of 15,888 patients with major GI bleeding and 833,052 patients without major GI bleeding were included in the study. Within 90 days of the major GI bleed, 58% of patients discontinued the initial OAC treatment. Patients with a major GI bleed had a higher risk of stroke/SE [hazard ratio (HR): 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-1.74], major bleeding (HR: 2.79, 95% CI: 2.64-2.95), and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.23-1.36) than patients without a major GI bleed.ConclusionPatients with a major GI bleed on OAC had a high rate of OAC discontinuation and significantly higher risk of stroke/SE, major bleeding, and mortality after hospital discharge than those without. Effective management strategies are needed for patients with risk factors for major GI bleeding

Oral Anticoagulants for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with High Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding

IMPORTANCE: Many patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are at a high risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to conditions including older age; stage III to V chronic kidney disease (CKD); HAS-BLED (hypertension, kidney or liver disease, stroke history, prior bleeding, unstable international normalized ratio, age >65, drug or alcohol use) score of 3 or greater; corticosteroid, antiplatelet or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use; or GI conditions. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of stroke and/or systemic embolism (SE) and major bleeding (MB) among patients with NVAF and high risk of GI bleeding who received non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs those who received warfarin. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with NVAF who were 75 years and older; had stage III to V CKD; had an HAS-BLED score of 3 or greater; used corticosteroids, antiplatelets, or NSAIDs; or had GI conditions. Data were collected from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and 4 commercial insurance databases between January 1, 2012, and September 30, 2015. Data analysis was conducted from January 2012 to September 2015. EXPOSURES: New prescription for apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or warfarin between January 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015 (identification period). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Six propensity score–matched cohorts were created to compare between study drugs. For the primary objective, Cox models were used to estimate stroke and/or SE and MB hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: A total of 381 054 patients (187 489 [49.2%] women) with NVAF and at least 1 high-risk GI bleeding factor were identified (HAS-BLED score ≥3: 284 527 [74.7%]; aged ≥75 years: 252 835 [66.4%]; corticosteroid, antiplatelet, or NSAID therapy: 107 675 [28.3%]; prior GI bleeding conditions: 74 818 [19.6%]; and stage III-V CKD: 56 892 [14.9%]). All NOACs were associated with a lower risk of stroke and/or SE vs warfarin (apixaban: HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.52-0.68; dabigatran: HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.88; rivaroxaban: HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.73-0.86). Compared with warfarin, apixaban and dabigatran were associated with a lower risk of MB (apixaban: HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63; dabigatran: HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.86), while rivaroxaban was associated with a higher risk (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.16). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study of patients with NVAF and high risk of GI bleed, NOACs were associated with lower rates of stroke and/or SE, but NOACs had varying risks of MB compared with warfarin. These results may help inform treatment options in this patient population

Apparatus for a Search for T-violating Muon Polarization in Stopped-Kaon Decays

The detector built at KEK to search for T-violating transverse muon polarization in K+ --> pi0 mu+ nu (Kmu3) decay of stopped kaons is described. Sensitivity to the transverse polarization component is obtained from reconstruction of the decay plane by tracking the mu+ through a toroidal spectrometer and detecting the pi0 in a segmented CsI(Tl) photon calorimeter. The muon polarization was obtained from the decay positron asymmetry of muons stopped in a polarimeter. The detector included features which minimized systematic errors while maintaining high acceptance.Comment: 56 pages, 30 figures, submitted to NI

Deep level emission of ZnO nanoparticles deposited inside UV opal

The temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals deposited inside the ultraviolet (UV) opal were studied. ZnO was grown in the voids between FCC packed silicon dioxide spheres using spray pyrolysis under ultrasonic vibration in the solution containing a zinc nitrate precursor. The ZnO nanoparticles inside opal matrix with UV photonic band-gap exhibit suppression of the excitonic emission and enhancement of the deep level emission. Suppression of the excitonic lines is due to the inhibition of spontaneous emission, while enhancement and broadening of the DL emission in the green spectral region is due to Purcell effect. The infiltration of ZnO inside the photonic crystal may be a useful technique to increase its emission efficiency in the selected spectral region.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Anticoagulants Among Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Active Cancer

BACKGROUND Patients with cancer are more likely to develop nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Currently there are no definitive clinical trials or treatment guidelines for NVAF patients with concurrent cancer. OBJECTIVES This subgroup analysis of the ARISTOPHANES study compared the risk of stroke/systemic embolism (stroke/SE) and major bleeding (MB) among NVAF patients with active cancer who were prescribed non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or warfarin. METHODS A retrospective observational study was conducted in NVAF patients with active cancer who newly initiated apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or warfarin from January 1, 2013, through September 30, 2015, with the use of Medicare and 4 U.S. commercial claims databases. Cox models were used to estimate the risk of stroke/SE and MB in the pooled propensity score–matched cohorts. RESULTS A total of 40,271 patients were included, with main cancer types of prostate (29%), female breast (17%), genitourinary (14%), and lung (13%). Compared with warfarin, apixaban was associated with a lower risk of stroke/SE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45-0.78) and MB (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.50-0.68); dabigatran and rivaroxaban had similar risks of stroke/SE (dabigatran: HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.54-1.41]; rivaroxaban: HR: 0.82 [95% CI: 0.62-1.08]) and MB (dabigatran: HR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.57-1.01]; rivaroxaban: HR: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.85-1.06]). Risks of stroke/SE and MB varied among NOAC-NOAC comparisons, while consistent treatment effects were seen for all treatment comparisons across key cancer types. CONCLUSIONS Among this cohort of NVAF patients with active cancer, the risk of stroke/SE and MB varied among oral anticoagulants and were consistent across cancer types