Sparse recovery in bounded Riesz systems with applications to numerical methods for PDEs

We study sparse recovery with structured random measurement matrices having independent, identically distributed, and uniformly bounded rows and with a nontrivial covariance structure. This class of matrices arises from random sampling of bounded Riesz systems and generalizes random partial Fourier matrices. Our main result improves the currently available results for the null space and restricted isometry properties of such random matrices. The main novelty of our analysis is a new upper bound for the expectation of the supremum of a Bernoulli process associated with a restricted isometry constant. We apply our result to prove new performance guarantees for the CORSING method, a recently introduced numerical approximation technique for partial differential equations (PDEs) based on compressive sensing

Knockout of MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT PROTEIN 5 Genes Lead to Low Phytic Acid Contents in Oilseed Rape

Understanding phosphate uptake and storage is interesting to optimize the plant performance to phosphorus fluctuations. Phytic acid (PA) is the major source of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) in plants. Genetic analyses of PA pathway transporter genes (BnMRP5) and their functional characterization might provide clues in better utilizing the available phosphate resources. Furthermore, the failure to assimilate PA by monogastric animals results in its excess accumulation in manure, which ultimately causes groundwater eutrophication. As a first step toward breeding low PA mutants in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), we identified knockout mutants in PA biosynthesis and transporter genes. The obtained M3 single mutants of Bn.MRP5.A10 and Bn.MRP5.C09 were combined by crossing to produce double mutants. Simultaneously, crosses were performed with the non-mutagenized EMS donor genotype to reduce the background mutation load. Double mutants identified from the F2 progeny of direct M3 crosses and BC1 plants showed 15% reduction in PA contents with no significant differences in Pi. We are discussing the function of BnMRP5 paralogs and the benefits for breeding Bnmrp5 mutants in respect to low PA, yield, and stress tolerances

Circulating Levels of Interleukin-1 Family Cytokines in Overweight Adolescents

Objectives. Obesity and related diseases are dramatically increasing problems, particularly in children and adolescents. We determined circulating levels of different interleukin (IL)-1 family members in normal weight and overweight adolescents. Methods. Seventy male, Caucasian adolescents (13–17 years) were recruited. Thirty-five had a body-mass index (BMI) above the 90th age-specific percentile. IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and IL-18 were determined using multiplex-technology. Results. IL-18 concentrations were higher in the overweight group compared to normal weight (161.6 ± 40.7 pg/ml versus 134.7 ± 43.4 pg/ml, P = .009). Concentrations of circulating IL-1β levels were below the detection threshold. IL-18 (R2:0.355, P < .01) and IL-1ra (R2:0.287, P < .05) correlated with BMI, whereas IL-1α did not. Conclusions. Accumulating data indicate the importance of the endocrine function of adipose tissue for the pathophysiological consequences of obesity-related co-morbidities. Since IL-18 is involved in the pathogenesis of different cardiovascular diseases, we conclude that IL-18 may represent a link between obesity and related co-morbidities in children and adolescents

Ribonucleoparticle-independent transport of proteins into mammalian microsomes

There are at least two different mechanisms for the transport of secretory proteins into the mammalian endoplasmic reticulum. Both mechanisms depend on the presence of a signal peptide on the respective precursor protein and involve a signal peptide receptor on the cis-side and signal peptidase on the trans-side of the membrane. Furthermore, both mechanisms involve a membrane component with a cytoplasmically exposed sulfhydryl. The decisive feature of the precursor protein with respect to which of the two mechanisms is used is the chain length of the polypeptide. The critical size seems to be around 70 amino acid residues (including the signal peptide). The one mechanism is used by precursor proteins larger than about 70 amino acid residues and involves two cytosolic ribonucleoparticles and their receptors on the microsomal surface. The other one is used by small precursor proteins and relies on the mature part within the precursor molecule and a cytosolic ATPase

Impact of Short-Term Systemic Hypoxia on Phagocytosis, Cytokine Production, and Transcription Factor Activation in Peripheral Blood Cells

Hypoxia frequently associated with certain physiologic and pathologic conditions influences numerous cellular functions. Because the effects of short-term hypoxia are incompletely understood, we examined phagocytosis and cytokine production as well as the activation of the transcription factors HIF-1 and NFκB in peripheral blood cells of healthy volunteers exposed to an oxygen concentration equivalent to that found at a height of 5500 m. Furthermore, we analysed plasma HIF-1 and serum concentrations of various HIF-1-dependent genes. Results showed that short-term hypoxia increased phagocytosis in neutrophils without affecting monocyte phagocytosis. Hypoxia decreased basal TNFα concentration in monocytes and basal interferon γ concentration in CD4+ T lymphocytes. In contrast, plasma HIF and serum VEGF concentrations were not affected by hypoxia, although serum EPO concentration was raised. In PBMC, hypoxia increased cytosolic HIF-1 concentration without affecting nuclear HIF-1 concentration and led to a rise in the nuclear NFκB in PBMC. Our results show that short-term hypoxia affects immune functions in healthy individuals. Furthermore, we speculate that the effects of hypoxia are not due to HIF-1, but are caused by the activation of NFκB

Direct access to millions of mutations by whole genome sequencing of an oilseed rape mutant population

Induced mutations are an essential source of genetic variation in plant breeding. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis has been frequently applied, and mutants have been detected by phenotypic or genotypic screening of large populations. In the present study, a rapeseed M2 population was derived from M1 parent cultivar 'Express' treated with EMS. Whole genomes were sequenced from fourfold (4×) pools of 1988 M2 plants representing 497 M2 families. Detected mutations were not evenly distributed and displayed distinct patterns across the 19 chromosomes with lower mutation rates towards the ends. Mutation frequencies ranged from 32/Mb to 48/Mb. On average, 284 442 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) per M2 DNA pool were found resulting from EMS mutagenesis. 55% of the SNPs were C → T and G → A transitions, characteristic for EMS induced ('canonical') mutations, whereas the remaining SNPs were 'non-canonical' transitions (15%) or transversions (30%). Additionally, we detected 88 725 high confidence insertions and deletions per pool. On average, each M2 plant carried 39 120 canonical mutations, corresponding to a frequency of one mutation per 23.6 kb. Approximately 82% of such mutations were located either 5 kb upstream or downstream (56%) of gene coding regions or within intergenic regions (26%). The remaining 18% were located within regions coding for genes. All mutations detected by whole genome sequencing could be verified by comparison with known mutations. Furthermore, all sequences are accessible via the online tool 'EMSBrassica' (http://www.emsbrassica.plantbreeding.uni-kiel.de), which enables direct identification of mutations in any target sequence. The sequence resource described here will further add value for functional gene studies in rapeseed breeding

Elevated Plasma Levels of Interleukin-12p40 and Interleukin-16 in Overweight Adolescents

Introduction. Obesity during adolescence is an increasing problem for both the individual and health care systems alike. In Western world countries, childhood adiposity has reached epidemic proportions. It is known that elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines can be found in the plasma of obese patients. In this study, we sought to determine the relation between IL-12p40, IL-12p70, and Interleukin-16 (IL-16) in overweight adolescents. Materials and Methods. Seventy-nine male Caucasian adolescents aged 13-17 years were included in this study. Thirty-seven of them had a body mass index (BMI) above the 90th age-specific percentile. Il-12p40, IL-12p70, and IL-16 were measured from plasma using Luminex multiplex technology. Results. Both IL-12p40 and IL- 16 concentrations were significantly increased in overweight subjects compared to normal weight controls (IL-12p40: 1086.6 pg/mL +/- 31.7 pg/mL SEM versus 1228.6 pg/mL +/- 43.5 pg/mL SEM;IL-16 494.0 pg/mL +/- 29.4 pg/mL SEM versus 686.6 pg/mL +/- 52.5 pg/mL SEM, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, resp.). No differences were found for IL-12p70. Conclusions. Based on these results, we believe that the increased levels of IL-12p40 and IL-16 are associated with an ongoing inflammatory response in obese individuals and could lead to the development of disease conditions related to obesity

Elevating seed oil content in a polyploid crop by induced mutations in SEED FATTY ACID REDUCER genes

Plant-based oils are valuable agricultural products, and seed oil content (SOC) is the major yield component in oil crops. Increasing SOC has been successfully targeted through the selection and genetic modification of oil biosynthesis. The SOC in rapeseed declined during the seed maturation and eventually caused the final accumulated seed oil quantity. However, genes involved in oil degradation during seed maturity are not deeply studied so far. We performed a candidate gene association study using a worldwide collection of rapeseed germplasm. We identified SEED FATTY ACID REDUCER (SFAR) genes, which had a significant effect on SOC and fatty acid (FA) composition. SFAR genes belong to the GDSL lipases, and GDSL lipases have a broad range of functions in plants. After quantification of gene expression using RNA-seq and quantitative PCR, we used targeted (CRISPR-Cas mediated) and random (chemical) mutagenesis to modify turnover rates of seed oil in winter rapeseed. For the first time, we demonstrate significant increase of SOC in a crop after knocking out members of the BnSFAR4 and BnSFAR5 gene families without pleiotropic effects on seed germination, vigour and oil mobilization. Our results offer new perspectives for improving oil yield by targeted mutagenesis