Cloning and Functional Analysis of the MADS-box CiMADS9 Gene from Carya illinoinensis

AbstractA MADS-box gene, CiMADS9, was cloned from the male flowers of Carya illinoinensis by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The gene was 1 077bp with a 768bp open reading frame encoding 255 amino acids. Multiple sequence comparisons revealed that CiMADS9 is a typical MIKC-type MADS-box gene with a MADS-box domain and a K semi-conserved region. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CiMADS9 belongs to the AGL15 group of the MADS-box gene family. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the expression levels in reproductive organs (i.e., flowers and young fruits) were considerably higher than in vegetative tissues (i.e., leaves and branches). The highest expression levels were observed in male flowers. An overexpression vector for CiMADS9 was constructed and the gene was inserted into the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. CiMADS9 expression was confirmed in all transgenic lines. Compared with wild-type plants, transgenic A. thaliana plants overexpressing CiMADS9 exhibited delayed flowering and an increased number of leaves

Evidence for the Use of Acupuncture in Treating Parkinson's Disease: Update of Information From the Past 5 Years, a Mini Review of the Literature

Acupuncture is an alternative therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD), but its efficacy and safety are controversial. Our previous study, which reviewed the literature from 1974 to 2012, could not find enough evidence from rigorously designed randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) to make a conclusion about the efficacy of acupuncture. Recently, more RCTs and meta-analyses have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture. The aim of our current study is to provide updated information in brief on this topic. In this study, we analyzed and summarized seven RCTs and four meta-analyses. Although all included studies were not of high quality, we found that there has been a tremendous progress in acupuncture research in treating Parkinson's disease (PD) during the past 5 years, based on our experience and insights into the behavioral assessments of PD. First, the numbers of RCTs and meta-analyses based on RCTs are increasing. Second, non-motor symptoms are increasingly emphasized. Third, objective behavioral assessment tools are being employed. Although recent studies can provide limited evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture, we make the following recommendations for the future investigation: First, large, multicenter, well-designed RCTs should be organized for evaluation of the efficacy of acupuncture. Second, objective assessments using novel computerized technologies should be considered. Third, target symptoms should be selected and evaluated instead of only performing global evaluations. Fourth, attention should be paid to the efficacy of scalp acupuncture. Fifth, the safety of acupuncture should be evaluated and reported

Research hotspots and trend analysis of cell transplantation in traumatic spinal cord injury: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Background: A traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) can lead to severe nerve damage and disability. Cell transplantation therapy has shown great potential in the reconstruction of damaged spinal cords and promoting functional recovery. However, there is a lack of frontiers and futures analysis in the study of cell transplantation in TSCI.Methods: We used CiteSpace, VOSviewer and biblilometrix R package to perform bibliometric analysis on cell transplantation in TSCI from 2013 to 2023. Bibliometric records were extracted from English articles and reviews from the Web of Science core collection.Results: The bibliometric analysis included 284 papers published in 154 journals by 1,780 authors from 487 institutions in 41 countries and regions. The number of articles published in the past decade has fluctuated slightly, while the number of article citations has steadily increased. Mainland China and the United States are the leading countries and regions in this field, with the National Natural Science Foundation of China being the most funded foundation, and the United States being the country with the most funded articles. The University of Toronto in Canada is a prolific institution. Michael G. Fehlings has published the most articles, and D Michele Basso is the most cited author. Cell transplantation is the most published journal, and the Journal of Neurotrauma is the most cited journal. Cell and tissue engineering and clinical neurology are the basic disciplines in this field, and cutting-edge disciplines include developmental biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and materials science and multidisciplinary. This study also helps scholars understand the current hotspots and future trends in this field. Marrow stromal cells, glial progenitor, and cell therapy are current research hotspots in this field, while nerve regeneration, cell therapy, and the safety of transplantation of transplantation may be potential research directions in the future.Conclusion: Cell transplantation after TSCI is receiving increasing attention. Cell therapy is both the frontier and a possible future trend in TSCI research. In addition, glial progenitor and marrow stromal cells are also current research hotspots. Meanwhile, nerve regeneration and safety of transplantation may be potential research directions. These findings will help further deepen research on cell transplantation for TSCI in scientific work

Characterization and phylogenetic relationships analysis of the complete chloroplast genome of Carya ovata

Carya ovata is a slow-growing, long-lived deciduous species that belongs to section Carya of genus Carya. In this study, we de novo assembled the complete chloroplast genome of C. ovata, and analyzed its phylogenetic relationship. The circular genome was 160,765 bp in length, comprising a large single-copy region (89,975 bp), a small single-copy region (18,788 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,001 bp each). The chloroplast genome was predicted to contain 131 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 40 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Overall, the GC content of the chloroplast genome was 36.16%. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. ovata was closely related to C. illinoinensis, a representative of section Apocarya within the genus Carya

Zhonghua-Renmin-Gongheguo-Guowuyuan-gongbao

The notion of identity-based online/offline encryption (IBOOE) was recently introduced by Guo, Mu and Chen in FC 2008. In an IBOOE system, the encryption is split into online and offline phases. The offline phase is performed prior to the arrival of a message and the recipient\u27s public key (or,identity). The online phase is performed very efficiently after knowing the message and public key. The IBOOE scheme is particularly useful for devices that have very low computation power since partof computation is conducted while the device is not busy. In this paper, we extend the notion of IBOOE to the hierarchical identity-based online/offline encryption (HIBOOE), and propose a selective-ID secure HIBOOE scheme from Boneh, Boyen and Goh\u27s HIBE, where the online phase in HIBOOE is very efficient

Metabolic profiling revealed the organ-specific distribution differences of tannins and flavonols in pecan

Carya illinoinensis is rich in phenolic metabolites such as tannins and flavonols, but both the composition and the distribution of these nutritional constituents in most pecan organs were still unclear. In this experiment, a comprehensive qualification and quantification of phenolic metabolites in eight organs of pecan were conducted for the first time. Ninety-seven phenolic metabolites were identified, in which twelve were identified for the first time in pecan, including a series of ellagitannins with high molecular weight. Hydrolysable tannin was the dominant kind of phenolic metabolites in pecan. The metabolic profiles of tannins in pecan were extended. Thirty-three phenolic metabolites were quantified, among them the highest content was ellagic acid pentose in testa. From this experiment, we can see that the distribution of phenolic metabolites in pecan was organ-specific, tannins tend to accumulate in pecan testa with both diverse structures and high contents, while flavonols tend to accumulate in organs such as branch, bark, or leaf. Among all organs, testa contained the highest content of phenolics, which might play important roles in protecting pecan kernel from diseases and insects. A massive phenolic metabolites' matrix in different pecan organs was built in this experiment, which should be useful for related researches in the future and help provide a theoretical basis for using these organs as functional foods

Dynamic Changes in Phenolics and Antioxidant Capacity during Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) Kernel Ripening and Its Phenolics Profiles

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) kernels have a high phenolics content and a high antioxidant capacity compared to other nuts—traits that have attracted great interest of late. Changes in the total phenolic content (TPC), condensed tannins (CT), total flavonoid content (TFC), five individual phenolics, and antioxidant capacity of five pecan cultivars were investigated during the process of kernel ripening. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadruple time-of-flight mass (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was also used to analyze the phenolics profiles in mixed pecan kernels. TPC, CT, TFC, individual phenolics, and antioxidant capacity were changed in similar patterns, with values highest at the water or milk stages, lowest at milk or dough stages, and slightly varied at kernel stages. Forty phenolics were tentatively identified in pecan kernels, of which two were first reported in the genus Carya, six were first reported in Carya illinoinensis, and one was first reported in its kernel. The findings on these new phenolic compounds provide proof of the high antioxidant capacity of pecan kernels

Metabolic profiling revealed the organ‐specific distribution differences of tannins and flavonols in pecan

Carya illinoinensis is rich in phenolic metabolites such as tannins and flavonols, but both the composition and the distribution of these nutritional constituents in most pecan organs were still unclear. In this experiment, a comprehensive qualification and quantification of phenolic metabolites in eight organs of pecan were conducted for the first time. Ninety-seven phenolic metabolites were identified, in which twelve were identified for the first time in pecan, including a series of ellagitannins with high molecular weight. Hydrolysable tannin was the dominant kind of phenolic metabolites in pecan. The metabolic profiles of tannins in pecan were extended. Thirty-three phenolic metabolites were quantified, among them the highest content was ellagic acid pentose in testa. From this experiment, we can see that the distribution of phenolic metabolites in pecan was organ-specific, tannins tend to accumulate in pecan testa with both diverse structures and high contents, while flavonols tend to accumulate in organs such as branch, bark, or leaf. Among all organs, testa contained the highest content of phenolics, which might play important roles in protecting pecan kernel from diseases and insects. A massive phenolic metabolites' matrix in different pecan organs was built in this experiment, which should be useful for related researches in the future and help provide a theoretical basis for using these organs as functional foods