Single-Molecule Real-Time Transcript Sequencing Identified Flowering Regulatory Genes in Crocus Sativus

Background: Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is a valuable spice with medicinal uses in gynaecopathia and nervous system diseases. Identify flowering regulatory genes plays a vital role in increasing flower numbers, thereby resulting in high saffron yield. Results: Two full length transcriptome gene sets of flowering and non-flowering saffron crocus were established separately using the single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing method. A total of sixteen SMRT cells generated 22.85 GB data and 75,351 full-length saffron crocus unigenes on the PacBio RS II panel and further obtained 79,028 SSRs, 72,603 lncRNAs and 25,400 alternative splicing (AS) events. Using an Illumina RNA-seq platform, an additional fifteen corms with different flower numbers were sequenced. Many differential expression unigenes (DEGs) were screened separately between flowering and matched non-flowering top buds with cold treatment (1677), flowering top buds of 20 g corms and non-flowering top buds of 6 g corms (1086), and flowering and matched nonflowering lateral buds (267). A total of 62 putative flower-related genes that played important roles in vernalization (VRNs), gibberellins (G3OX, G2OX), photoperiod (PHYB, TEM1, PIF4), autonomous (FCA) and age (SPLs) pathways were identified and a schematic representation of the flowering gene regulatory network in saffron crocus was reported for the first time. After validation by real-time qPCR in 30 samples, two novel genes, PB.20221.2 (p = 0.004, r = 0.52) and PB.38952.1 (p = 0.023, r = 0.41), showed significantly higher expression levels in flowering plants. Tissue distribution showed specifically high expression in flower organs and time course expression analysis suggested that the transcripts increasingly accumulated during the flower development period. Conclusions: Full-length transcriptomes of flowering and non-flowering saffron crocus were obtained using a combined NGS short-read and SMRT long-read sequencing approach. This report is the first to describe the flowering gene regulatory network of saffron crocus and establishes a reference full-length transcriptome for future studies on saffron crocus and other Iridaceae plants

Mesoscale eddy modulation of subsurface chlorophyll maximum layers in the South China Sea

Subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) layers contribute considerably to the integrated biomass of the water column and can be strongly modulated by mesoscale eddies that are ubiquitous in the global ocean. The mechanisms of eddy-induced surface chlorophyll concentration have been extensively examined in the South China Sea (SCS). However, the potential impact of mesoscale eddies on SCM layers remains unclear. We examined the influence of mesoscale eddies on the depth, thickness and magnitude of SCM layers in the SCS using output from an eddy-permitting biological–physical coupled model over a 22-year period. Our study shows that nutrient distribution is largely driven by eddy dynamics, with cyclonic eddies enhancing the supply of inorganic nutrients in the upper layers by uplifting the thermocline, and downward displacement of the thermocline in anticyclonic eddies, reducing the nutrient supply into the euphotic zone from the depth. We found that anticyclonic (cyclonic) eddies are responsible for increased (decreased) SCM depth and decreased (increased) SCM magnitude; SCM thickness decreased in cyclonic eddies but slightly increased in anticyclonic eddies. The effects of mesoscale eddies depend on eddy amplitude. Maximal anomalies in depth, thickness and magnitude always occur near the center of eddies. Phytoplankton community structure at SCM layers is also affected by eddies, with more diatoms in cyclonic eddies and more coccolithophores in anticyclonic eddies. Our study will advance our understanding of mesoscale physical–biogeochemical interactions

31st Annual Meeting and Associated Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2016) : part two

Background The immunological escape of tumors represents one of the main ob- stacles to the treatment of malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 or CTLA-4 receptors represented a milestone in the history of immunotherapy. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors seem to be effective in specific cohorts of patients. It has been proposed that their efficacy relies on the presence of an immunological response. Thus, we hypothesized that disruption of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis would synergize with our oncolytic vaccine platform PeptiCRAd. Methods We used murine B16OVA in vivo tumor models and flow cytometry analysis to investigate the immunological background. Results First, we found that high-burden B16OVA tumors were refractory to combination immunotherapy. However, with a more aggressive schedule, tumors with a lower burden were more susceptible to the combination of PeptiCRAd and PD-L1 blockade. The therapy signifi- cantly increased the median survival of mice (Fig. 7). Interestingly, the reduced growth of contralaterally injected B16F10 cells sug- gested the presence of a long lasting immunological memory also against non-targeted antigens. Concerning the functional state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we found that all the immune therapies would enhance the percentage of activated (PD-1pos TIM- 3neg) T lymphocytes and reduce the amount of exhausted (PD-1pos TIM-3pos) cells compared to placebo. As expected, we found that PeptiCRAd monotherapy could increase the number of antigen spe- cific CD8+ T cells compared to other treatments. However, only the combination with PD-L1 blockade could significantly increase the ra- tio between activated and exhausted pentamer positive cells (p= 0.0058), suggesting that by disrupting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis we could decrease the amount of dysfunctional antigen specific T cells. We ob- served that the anatomical location deeply influenced the state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In fact, TIM-3 expression was in- creased by 2 fold on TILs compared to splenic and lymphoid T cells. In the CD8+ compartment, the expression of PD-1 on the surface seemed to be restricted to the tumor micro-environment, while CD4 + T cells had a high expression of PD-1 also in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, we found that the levels of PD-1 were significantly higher on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells into the tumor micro- environment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that the efficacy of immune check- point inhibitors might be strongly enhanced by their combination with cancer vaccines. PeptiCRAd was able to increase the number of antigen-specific T cells and PD-L1 blockade prevented their exhaus- tion, resulting in long-lasting immunological memory and increased median survival

Effects of the thickness of the heat-treated wood specimen on water-soluble extractives and mechanical properties of merbau heartwood

Merbau wood has a disadvantage in outdoor applications because its water-soluble extractives readily leach out and stain adjacent materials. This study examined the thickness of the heat-treated wood specimen on water-soluble extractives and some mechanical properties. The results show that heat treatment is efficient at removing the water-soluble extractives of merbau heartwood and overcoming the leaching problem. The absorbance of UV light decreased in intensity when the duration of heating was increased from 1 hour to 5 hours. The dominant absorbance peak increased from the surface layer to the core layer. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of heat-treated samples showed significant reductions when the heating duration exceeded a certain point. The total loss of mass during heat treatment and water extraction verified that heat treatment removes the water-soluble extractives efficiently

Optimization of hinge configuration of furniture doors using finite element analysis

The maximum deformation and the stress state of furniture doors with different configurations of hinges were analyzed using finite element analysis with the ultimate purpose of optimizing the hinge configuration. The results showed that the maximum deformation decreased when the end distance ratio (Tp) also decreased. It was concluded that the end distance ratio (Tp) should not be greater than 1/8 when two hinges are mounted. The maximum deformation decreased when the number of mounted hinges was more than two. It is suggested that the number of mounted hinges is three when the dimensions of a furniture door are within normal values, considering the limitations in precision of processing and location. The maximum deformation was least when the middle hinge spacing ratio (Sp) was 1/3 and the mounting hinge number was four. The von Mises stress distribution was uniform within the door, and stress concentration only occurred in the vicinity of the mounted hinges. A material with high modulus of elasticity could contribute to minimizing the maximum deformation

EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE BENDING PERFORMANCE OF WOOD-BASED PANELS

The effect of temperature in the range from 25 ºC to 175 ºC on the bending performance of plywood and medium density fiberboard (MDF) has been studied with the ultimate purpose of optimizing the post-processing using radio frequency heating and improving the quality of the final products. Static 3-point bending tests were conducted on a universal testing machine inside a computer-controlled chamber. Results show that the bending strength (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of plywood and MDF decrease with the increase of the temperature from 25 ºC to 175 ºC. The bending strength of plywood and MDF decreases with the increase of the exposure time. However, the effects of exposure time on MOE of plywood and MDF are not obvious. Plywood and 2.6 mm thick MDF show a typical elasto-plastic behavior, while 12 mm thick MDF does not exhibit any plastic behavior. It is recommended that the post-processing procedure should be completed within 15 minutes for both MDF and plywood

Spatiotemporal Variability of Surface Phytoplankton Carbon and Carbon-to-Chlorophyll a Ratio in the South China Sea Based on Satellite Data

The spatiotemporal variability of phytoplankton biomass has been widely studied because of its importance in biogeochemical cycles. Chlorophyll a (Chl-a)&mdash;an essential pigment present in photoautotrophic organisms&mdash;is widely used as an indicator for oceanic phytoplankton biomass because it could be easily measured with calibrated optical sensors. However, the intracellular Chl-a content varies with light, nutrient levels, and temperature and could misrepresent phytoplankton biomass. In this study, we estimated the concentration of phytoplankton carbon&mdash;a more suitable indicator for phytoplankton biomass&mdash;using a regionally adjusted bio-optical algorithm with satellite data in the South China Sea (SCS). Phytoplankton carbon and the carbon-to-Chl-a ratio (&theta;) exhibited considerable variability spatially and seasonally. Generally, phytoplankton carbon in the northern SCS was higher than that in the western and central parts. The regional monthly mean phytoplankton carbon in the northern SCS showed a prominent peak during December and January. A similar pattern was shown in the central part of SCS, but its peak was weaker. Besides the winter peak, the western part of SCS had a secondary maximum of phytoplankton carbon during summer. &theta; exhibited significant seasonal variability in the northern SCS, but a relatively weak seasonal change in the western and central parts. &theta; had a peak in September and a trough in January in the northern and central parts of SCS, whereas in the western SCS the minimum and maximum &theta; was found in August and during October&ndash;April of the following year, respectively. Overall, &theta; ranged from 26.06 to 123.99 in the SCS, which implies that the carbon content could vary up to four times given a specific Chl-a value. The variations in &theta; were found to be related to changing phytoplankton community composition, as well as dynamic phytoplankton physiological activities in response to environmental influences; which also exhibit much spatial differences in the SCS. Our results imply that the spatiotemporal variability of &theta; should be considered, rather than simply used a single value when converting Chl-a to phytoplankton carbon biomass in the SCS, especially, when verifying the simulation results of biogeochemical models

Progress in Collaborative Improvement of High Quality, Yield, and Disease Resistance Breeding of Approved Rice Varieties in Guangdong from 2004 to 2022

This article succinctly outlines the requirements for rice quality in Guangdong Province and the role of government regulatory policies in advancing high-quality rice breeding. By collecting the regional trial data of 1 101 rice varieties approved by Guangdong Province from 2004 to 2022, the number of varieties meeting the national or ministerial standards approved in each year were counted, and the progress of high-quality rice breeding in Guangdong was evaluated from the perspectives of quality index, resistance and yield. From 2004 to 2022, 106 varieties (combinations) meeting the quality of national standard (ministerial standard) (9.63% of all approved varieties) level Ⅰ and 320 varieties (combinations) reaching the quality of national standard (ministerial standard) (29.06%) level Ⅱ were approved by Guangdong. Notably, early season varieties exhibited lower quality rates compared with late season varieties. For rice quality traits, early-season trial varieties displayed lower compliance rates in the quality of national standard (ministerial standard) level Ⅱ, with chalkiness and chalky grain rate of 41.8% and 43.5%, respectively; the amylose content compliance rate in early-season trial varieties was only 37.32%, indicating that key improvements should be conducted in these three areas for new variety breeding. The average yield of rice varieties with quality meeting national standard level Ⅱ or above has consistently risen, indicating synergistic improvements in yield and rice quality during the high-quality rice breeding in Guangdong. Varieties meeting the national standard (ministerial standard) level Ⅱ or above also showed promising resistance rates against rice blast disease (85% at medium resistance or above) and bacterial blight disease (22.2% at medium resistance or above). Generally, while the percentage of hybrid rice varieties meeting high-quality standards is increasing, there is still a notable gap compared to conventional rice breeding. The proportion of high-quality rice varieties in Guangdong has been steadily growing, with a positive trend in "excellent, abundant and resistant" varieties. However, further optimization is possible. To cultivate high-quality rice varieties with double resistances, efforts should be put to enhance resistance to bacterial wilt disease. The evaluation and utilization of specific germplasm resources like local varieties should be increased to diversify the genetic background. This approach helps avoid variety homogenization, improves disease and stress resistance and strengthens the synergy between traditional and molecular breeding, enhancing overall breeding efficiency

Improving the Facility Soil by Combining Soil Amendment with Agronomic Measures

[Objectives] To study the remediation methods of secondary salinization and cadmium pollution in facility soil. [Methods] Two kinds of soil amendments, potassium fulvic acid and limestone powder, were selected to be applied alone or combined together to plant maize to carry out field experiments. Their effects on watermelon yield, watermelon cadmium content, soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and water-soluble salts were studied. [Results] The application of potassium fulvic acid, limestone powder and their combined application increased the yield and soluble solids of watermelon to different degrees. The contents of seven heavy metals including cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead, mercury and chromium in the watermelon of all treatments were all lower than the food safety limit stipulated in the national standard. During the harvest period of maize seedlings, all treatments could increase soil pH and decrease soil cadmium availability. In particular, 3 000 kg/ha of limestone powder and 1 500 kg/ha of potassium fulvic acid had the best effect on reducing soil available cadmium content. In reducing soil available cadmium content, there were significant differences between single application of amendment and combined application treatments. In addition, compared with the control CK, all treatments decreased soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and water-soluble salt content. [Conclusions] Potassium fulvic acid, limestone powder and their combined application can increase the yield of watermelon, and can significantly reduce the available cadmium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and water-soluble salt content in the facility soil of maize cultivation