Rice sHsp genes: genomic organization and expression profiling under stress and development

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Heat shock proteins (Hsps) constitute an important component in the heat shock response of all living systems. Among the various plant Hsps (i.e. Hsp100, Hsp90, Hsp70 and Hsp20), Hsp20 or small Hsps (sHsps) are expressed in maximal amounts under high temperature stress. The characteristic feature of the sHsps is the presence of α-crystallin domain (ACD) at the C-terminus. sHsps cooperate with Hsp100/Hsp70 and co-chaperones in ATP-dependent manner in preventing aggregation of cellular proteins and in their subsequent refolding. Database search was performed to investigate the sHsp gene family across rice genome sequence followed by comprehensive expression analysis of these genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 40 α-crystallin domain containing genes in rice. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 23 out of these 40 genes constitute sHsps. The additional 17 genes containing ACD clustered with Acd proteins of <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Detailed scrutiny of 23 sHsp sequences enabled us to categorize these proteins in a revised scheme of classification constituting of 16 cytoplasmic/nuclear, 2 ER, 3 mitochondrial, 1 plastid and 1 peroxisomal genes. In the new classification proposed herein nucleo-cytoplasmic class of sHsps with 9 subfamilies is more complex in rice than in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Strikingly, 17 of 23 rice sHsp genes were noted to be intronless. Expression analysis based on microarray and RT-PCR showed that 19 sHsp genes were upregulated by high temperature stress. Besides heat stress, expression of sHsp genes was up or downregulated by other abiotic and biotic stresses. In addition to stress regulation, various sHsp genes were differentially upregulated at different developmental stages of the rice plant. Majority of sHsp genes were expressed in seed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We identified twenty three sHsp genes and seventeen Acd genes in rice. Three nucleocytoplasmic sHsp genes were found only in monocots. Analysis of expression profiling of sHsp genes revealed that these genes are differentially expressed under stress and at different stages in the life cycle of rice plant.</p

GBParsy: A GenBank flatfile parser library with high speed

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>GenBank flatfile (GBF) format is one of the most popular sequence file formats because of its detailed sequence features and ease of readability. To use the data in the file by a computer, a parsing process is required and is performed according to a given grammar for the sequence and the description in a GBF. Currently, several parser libraries for the GBF have been developed. However, with the accumulation of DNA sequence information from eukaryotic chromosomes, parsing a eukaryotic genome sequence with these libraries inevitably takes a long time, due to the large GBF file and its correspondingly large genomic nucleotide sequence and related feature information. Thus, there is significant need to develop a parsing program with high speed and efficient use of system memory.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a library, GBParsy, which was C language-based and parses GBF files. The parsing speed was maximized by using content-specified functions in place of regular expressions that are flexible but slow. In addition, we optimized an algorithm related to memory usage so that it also increased parsing performance and efficiency of memory usage. GBParsy is at least 5 - 100× faster than current parsers in benchmark tests.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>GBParsy is estimated to extract annotated information from almost 100 Mb of a GenBank flatfile for chromosomal sequence information within a second. Thus, it should be used for a variety of applications such as on-time visualization of a genome at a web site.</p

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE MOVEMENT PATTERNS OF STROKE PATIENTS USING AN AQUA-REHABILITATION PROGRAM

This study analyzed the effect of a BK Aquatic Protocol (aqua-rehabilitation program) on the gait patterns of stroke patients. Seven subjects were divided into three stages on the basis of initial assessment of motor ability. The program varied on the basis of motor ability group. The subjects exercised three times a week for 12 weeks. Each exercise bout lasted 50 minutes. The BK Aquatic Protocol (as the motor skills improved, the graded exercise program appropriately changed) was followed. Four digital camcorders were used to obtain the kinematics of the patients’ gait before and after participation in the aqua-rehabilitation program. Several positive kinematic changes occurred in the gait patterns of the stroke patients from pre- to post test in association with the intervention of the aqua-rehabilitation program

The Effects of Athletes’ Imposter Syndrome Tendency on Achievement Goal Orientation and Regulatory Focus

PURPOSE This study aimed to verify the influence of imposter syndrome tendencies in athletes on their achievement goal orientation, and regulatory focus. METHODS Data collected from 413 athletes through surveys were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 and AMOS version 21.0 to assess reliability and validity, conduct independent sample t-tests, perform correlation analysis, and conduct multiple regression analyses. RESULTS The findings revealed significant sex-based differences in imposter syndrome tendencies, achievement goal orientation, and regulatory focus. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between sub-factors of imposter syndrome, achievement goal orientation, and regulatory focus. Imposter syndrome tendencies had varying effects on achievement goal orientation, with the discount factor significantly influencing approach orientation, the fake factor significantly affecting avoidance orientation, and fear factors significantly impacting self-avoidance. Additionally, imposter syndrome tendencies influenced regulatory focus, as the discount factor significantly affected both promotion focus and prevention focus, while fake and fear factors significantly influenced prevention focus. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores the importance of athletes' imposter syndrome tendencies as significant contributors to psychological variables related to motivation, including achievement goal orientation and regulatory focus

Application of cellular sprayed concrete into two-lift concrete

Two-lift concrete paving involves placing two layers of concrete \u27wet-on-wet\u27 instead of the traditional method of using a single homogeneous layer of concrete. The thick bottom layer offers the opportunity to optimize the use of local aggregates, recycled materials to produce an economical, durable, and sustainable pavement system with the most desirable surface characteristics like improved skid resistance and reduced noise provided by the high-quality surface of the high-performance concrete. The time between placing layers is often no more than 30 minutes. Perhaps the challenge involved in the construction of two-layer concrete systems includes the additional costs and logistics required for two plants to produce different concrete mixtures and two slip-form paver for paving both of bottom and top layers. A very simple and economic method for remixing an ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) into a high performance concrete (HPC) at a job site was developed, which is called \u27Cellular sprayed concrete\u27. Cellular sprayed concrete is produced by incorporating a preformed foam and fine powders in a ready mixed concrete and is conveyed under pressure through a pneumatic hose or pipe and projected into place at high velocity, with simultaneous compaction. This method can solve the problem of two batch plants and two pavers in 2LCP construction. \u27Cellular sprayed concrete\u27 enable utilizing a single batch plant for constructing 2-lift concrete pavement instead of 2 batch plants. This paper describes an extra ordinary application of sprayed concrete into concrete pavement

KIN-4/MAST kinase promotes PTEN-mediated longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans via binding through a PDZ domain

PDZ domain-containing proteins (PDZ proteins) act as scaffolds for protein-protein interactions and are crucial for a variety of signal transduction processes. However, the role of PDZ proteins in organismal lifespan and aging remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that KIN-4, a PDZ domain-containing microtubule-associated serine-threonine (MAST) protein kinase, is a key longevity factor acting through binding PTEN phosphatase in Caenorhabditis elegans. Through a targeted genetic screen for PDZ proteins, we find that kin-4 is required for the long lifespan of daf-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor mutants. We then show that neurons are crucial tissues for the longevity-promoting role of kin-4. We find that the PDZ domain of KIN-4 binds PTEN, a key factor for the longevity of daf-2 mutants. Moreover, the interaction between KIN-4 and PTEN is essential for the extended lifespan of daf-2 mutants. As many aspects of lifespan regulation in C. elegans are evolutionarily conserved, MAST family kinases may regulate aging and/or age-related diseases in mammals through their interaction with PTEN.11Ysciescopu

Simultaneous fabrication of line defects-embedded periodic lattice by topographically assisted holographic lithography

We have demonstrated simultaneous fabrication of designed defects within a periodic structure. For rapid fabrication of periodic structures incorporating nanoscale line-defects at large area, topographically assisted holographic lithography (TAHL) technique, combining the strength of hologram lithography and phase-shift interference, was proposed. Hot-embossing method generated the photoresist patterns with vertical side walls which enabled phase-shift mask effect at the edge of patterns. Embossing temperature and relief height were crucial parameters for the successful TAHL process. Periodic holes with a diameter of 600 nm at a 1 μm-pitch incorporating 250 nm wide line-defects were obtained simultaneously