Temporal expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of gibberellins in birch (Betula platyphylla)

Gibberellins (GAs) are a large family of endogenous plant growth regulators. Bioactive GAs influence nearly all processes during plant growth and development. In the present study, we cloned and identified 10 unique genes that are potentially involved in the biosynthesis of GAs, including one BpGGDP gene, two BpCPS genes, one BpKS gene, two BpKO genes, three BpGA20ox genes and one BpGA2ox gene. The temporal expression of these 10 genes in birch was analyzed during a one-year growth cycle by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results show that their expression patterns were individually distinct throughout the one-year growth cycle. Three BpGA20ox genes, which are potential limiting factors of bioactive GA biosynthesis, displayed differential expression patterns during the course of the experiment. This study provides insights into the roles of genes involved in the biosynthesis of GAs during the early development of birch.Key words: Betula platyphylla Suk, gene expression, gibberellins, real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Versatile Like a Seahorse Tail: A Bio-Inspired Programmable Continuum Robot For Conformal Grasping

Compliant grasping is an important function of continuum robots that interact with humans and/or unpredictable environments. However, the existing robots often have cross-sections that remain constant along their length. This causes the robots to exhibit poor grasping ability, especially when dealing with objects with diverse curvatures. Here, inspired by the high adaptability of seahorse tails in grasping, we proposed a cable-driven continuum robot with tapered tensegrity, capable of conformally grasping objects with various curvatures. To characterize the effects of the tapering on the robot’s kinematics, we derived a mechanical model using multi-body dynamic framework for both predicting the configuration and developing a control strategy for cables. Theoretical predictions indicate that the curvature of each unit can be regulated by altering the length of the cables, allowing the robot to conform to objects with curvatures ranging from 1.48 m-1 to 28.21 m-1. We further employed a continuum robot and tested the control strategy that can be used for grasping floating objects when the curvature of the objects is used as the input. Our robotic design, which presents an example of embedded physical intelligence, can inspire in situ characterization techniques for collecting marine debris

Astragaloside IV liposomes ameliorates adriamycin-induced nephritic syndrome in rats

Background: Radix Astragali was one of the main compositions of ‘Modified Danggui Buxue Decoction’  used for treatment of various kidney diseases. Astragaloside IV was the active composition of Radix Astragali. Astragaloside IV liposomes were used for the treatment of adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN) rats. The aim of the study was to study the effect of astragaloside IV liposomes on AN rats, and to test through  regulating the expression of nephrin, integrins and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in renal  tissues.Methods: The rats were given a single tail intravenous injection of adriamycin (6 mg/kg) within 1 week,  and then divided into four groups including normal, model, benazepril and astragaloside IV liposomes group. They were all orally administered dosage of benazepril and astragaloside IV liposomes once daily for 8 weeks.Results: Astragaloside IV liposomes significantly reduced the proteinuria of AN rats at 28, 42 and 56 days. astragaloside IV liposomes could increase the mRNA and protein expression of nephrin, integrin α3, down-regulate the expression of ILK to alleviate the podocyte damage and restore glomerular selective filtration function.Conclusions: Astragaloside IV liposomes could enhance renal function and protect podocyte to  ameliorate the adriamycin-induced nephritic syndrome.Key words：Astragaloside IV, Liposomes, Ardiamycin-induce nephropathy, Podocyt

The DArk Matter Particle Explorer mission

The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), one of the four scientific space science missions within the framework of the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a general purpose high energy cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observatory, which was successfully launched on December 17th, 2015 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The DAMPE scientific objectives include the study of galactic cosmic rays up to $\sim 10$ TeV and hundreds of TeV for electrons/gammas and nuclei respectively, and the search for dark matter signatures in their spectra. In this paper we illustrate the layout of the DAMPE instrument, and discuss the results of beam tests and calibrations performed on ground. Finally we present the expected performance in space and give an overview of the mission key scientific goals.Comment: 45 pages, including 29 figures and 6 tables. Published in Astropart. Phy

Plasma optical shutter in ultraintense laser-foil interaction

We report on a plasma optical shutter to reduce the intensity level of a nanosecond-duration pedestal of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) using an ultrathin foil. The foil is ionized by the ASE prepulse and forms an expanding underdense preplasma, which enables the main laser pulse transmission, leading to an enhancement in temporal contrast. When such a plasma shutter is placed in front of a main target of interest, the preplasma profiles observed are similar to that produced from a single-layer reference target irradiated by a high-contrast laser, and can be finely tuned by varying the shutter thickness. Proton beams with significantly reduced divergence and higher flux density were measured experimentally using the double-foil design. The reduction in beam divergence is a characteristic signature of higher contrast laser production as a combined consequence of less target deformation and flatter sheath-acceleration field, as supported by the two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations. The plasma shutter holds the promise to enhance the laser contrast and manipulate the preplasma conditions for application in high-field-physics experiments