Foliated BF theories and Multipole symmetries

Due to the recent studies of the fracton topological phases, which host deconfined quasi-particle excitations with mobility restrictions, the concept of symmetries have been updated. Focusing on one of such new symmetries, multipole symmetries, including global, dipole, and quadruple symmetries, and gauge fields associated with them, we construct a new sets of $\mathbb{Z}_N$ $2+1d$ foliated BF theories, where BF theories of conventional topological phases are stacked in layers with couplings between them. By investigating gauge invariant non-local operators, we show that our foliated BF theories exhibit unusual ground state degeneracy depending on the system size; it depends on the greatest common divisor between $N$ and the system size. Our result provides a unified insight on UV lattice models of the fracton topological phases and other unconventional ones in view of foliated field theories.Comment: 32 pages, 5 figure

Strategies for Iron Mobilization and Uptake in Plant Roots(Minireview, Field Science Center, Environmental Crop Science)

Despite of its abundance in soil, iron (Fe) is still one of the most common nutrients limiting plant growth and development because it exists mostly in low-soluble form that is hardly available for plants. Therefore, plants have evolved two distinct uptake strategies, the reduction (Strategy I) mechanism and the chelation (Strategy II) mechanism. This paper reviews some recent studies in regard to both strategies that are important for iron acquisition, mobilization and uptake in plant roots. These key processes are believed to be relevant for the supply of Fe to plants as well as for supplying human nutritional needs.Alkaline soilIron nutritionMugineic acidStrategy IStrategy I

Essential role of autoactivation circuitry on Aurora B-mediated H2AX-pS121 in mitosis

Shimada, M., Goshima, T., Matsuo, H. et al. Essential role of autoactivation circuitry on Aurora B-mediated H2AX-pS121 in mitosis. Nat Commun 7, 12059 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1205

OsYSL16 plays a role in the allocation of iron

Graminaceous plants acquire iron by secreting mugineic acid family phytosiderophores into the rhizosphere and taking up complexes of iron and phytosiderophores through YSL (yellow stripe 1-like) transporters. Rice OsYSL15 is a transporter of the iron(III)-2′-deoxymugineic acid complex. OsYSL16 has 85 % similarity to both OsYSL15 and the iron(II)-nicotianamine transporter OsYSL2. In the present study, we show that OsYSL16 functionally complemented a yeast mutant defective in iron uptake when grown on medium containing iron(III)-deoxymugineic acid, but not when grown on medium containing iron(II)-nicotianamine. OsYSL16-knockdown seedlings were smaller than wild-type seedlings when only iron(III)chloride was supplied as an iron source. The iron concentration in shoots of OsYSL16-knockdown plants was similar to that of the wild type; however, they showed more severe chlorosis than wild-type plants under iron-deficient conditions. Furthermore, OsYSL16-knockdown plants accumulated more iron in the vascular bundles of the leaves. Expression of the OsYSL16 promoter fused to the β-glucuronidase gene showed that OsYSL16 is expressed in the root epidermis and vascular bundles of whole plants. The expression was typically observed around the xylem. In the vascular bundles of unelongated nodes, it was detected in the xylem of old leaves and the phloem of new leaves. Graminaceous plants translocate iron from the roots to old leaves mainly via the xylem and to new leaves mainly via the phloem. Our results suggest that OsYSL16 plays a role in the allocation of iron(III)-deoxymugineic acid via the vascular bundles. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11103-012-9930-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Low cadmium (LCD), a novel gene related to cadmium tolerance and accumulation in rice

The contamination of food crops by cadmium (Cd) is a major concern in food production because it can reduce crop yields and threaten human health. In this study, knockout rice plants (Oryza sativa) tagged with the gene trap vector pGA2707 were screened for Cd tolerance, and the tolerant line lcd was obtained. The lcd mutant showed tolerance to Cd on agar plates and in hydroponic culture during early plant development. Metal concentration measurements in hydroponically grown plants revealed significantly less Cd in the shoots of lcd plants compared with wild-type (WT) shoots. When cultured in the field in soil artificially contaminated with low levels of Cd, lcd showed no significant difference in the Cd content of its leaf blades; however, the Cd concentration in the grains was 55% lower in 2009 and 43% lower in 2010. There were no significant differences in plant dry weight or seed yield between lcd and wild-type plants. LCD, a novel gene, is not homologous to any other known gene. LCD localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and was expressed mainly in the vascular tissues in the roots and phloem companion cells in the leaves. These data indicate that lcd may be useful for understanding Cd transport mechanisms and is a promising candidate rice line for use in combating the threat of Cd to human health

Prospective longitudinal comparative study of health-related quality of life in patients treated with radical prostatectomy or permanent brachytherapy for prostate cancer

To determine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) or permanent prostate brachytherapy (BT), third party-conducted QOL surveys were prospectively compared. Between 2004 and 2005, 37 patients underwent RRP and 36 were treated with BT. A QOL survey consisting of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), the University of California, Los Angeles, Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) was completed prospectively by a research coordinator at baseline, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The RRP patients scored well in general QOL except at 1 month after surgery, with their mental health better than at baseline by 6 months after surgery. Disease-specific QOL in RRP patients received a low score at 1 month for both urinary and sexual function, though urinary function rapidly recovered to baseline levels. BT patient QOL was not affected by the therapy except in the IPSS score. However, general and mental health scores in BT patients were inferior to those in RRP patients. This prospective study revealed differences in QOL after RRP and BT. These results will be helpful in making treatment decisions.</p

Ultrasound for Perioperative Lung Monitoring of Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery with One-Lung Ventilation

Background: The diagnostic efficacy of lung ultrasonography (LUS) has been widely investigated. However, the clinical value of LUS for perioperative monitoring has rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of LUS to assess lung aeration status after one-lung ventilation (OLV) using a validated scoring system. Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with OLV underwent a lung ultrasound examination just after induction of anesthesia and at the end of the surgery. After each lung ultrasound examination, a semiquantitative score, the LUS score, was calculated to assess lung aeration on the ventilated dependent side and the non-dependent side separately. The relationship between the LUS scores and various patient-related factors was also investigated. Results: Twenty-five patients were studied. All lung ultrasound examinations were successfully completed. LUS scores after OLV on the dependent side (median [IQR]: 2 [1–4]) increased significantly from baseline (1 [0–1.5], P < 0.001). Further, LUS scores on the non-dependent side (2 [1.5–3.5]) increased significantly from baseline (1 [0–1.5], P < 0.001). None of the factors analyzed was significantly correlated with LUS scores after OLV. Conclusion: LUS examination is possible after VATS with OLV on both sides of the thorax. Ultrasonography-measured lung aeration scores increased from baseline on both sides

From Leguminosae/Gramineae Intercropping Systems to See Benefits of Intercropping on Iron Nutrition

To achieve sustainable development with a growing population while sustaining natural resources, a sustainable intensification of agriculture is necessary. Intercropping is useful for low-input/resource-limited agricultural systems. Iron (Fe) deficiency is a worldwide agricultural problem owing to the low solubility and bioavailability of Fe in alkaline and calcareous soils. Here, we summarize the effects of intercropping systems on Fe nutrition. Several cases showed that intercropping with graminaceous plants could be used to correct Fe nutrition of Leguminosae such as peanut and soybean or fruits such as Psidium guajava L., Citrus, grape and pear in calcareous soils. Intercropping systems have strong positive effects on the physicochemical and biochemical characteristics of soil and the microbial community due to interspecific differences and interactions in the rhizosphere. Rhizosphere interactions can increase the bioavailability of Fe with the help of phytosiderophores. Enriched microorganisms may also facilitate the Fe nutrition of crops. A peanut/maize intercropping system could help us understand the dynamics in rhizosphere and molecular mechanism. However, the role of microbiome in regulating Fe acquisition of root and the mechanisms underlying these phenomena in other intercropping system except peanut/maize need further work, which will help better utilize intercropping to increase the efficiency of Fe foraging

Build-up functionalization of anti-EGFR × anti-CD3 bispecific diabodies by integrating high-affinity mutants and functional molecular formats

Designing non-natural antibody formats is a practical method for developing highly functional next-generation antibody drugs, particularly for improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatments. One approach is constructing bispecific antibodies (bsAbs). We previously reported a functional humanized bispecific diabody (bsDb) that targeted epidermal growth factor receptor and CD3 (hEx3-Db). We enhanced its cytotoxicity by constructing an Fc fusion protein and rearranging order of the V domain. In this study, we created an additional functional bsAb, by integrating the molecular formats of bsAb and high-affinity mutants previously isolated by phage display in the form of Fv. Introducing the high-affinity mutations into bsDbs successfully increased their affinities and enhanced their cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. However, there were some limitations to affinity maturation of bsDb by integrating high-affinity Fv mutants, particularly in Fc-fused bsDb with intrinsic high affinity, because of their bivalency. The tetramers fractionated from the bsDb mutant exhibited the highest in vitro growth inhibition among the small bsAbs and was comparable to the in vivo anti-tumor effects of Fc-fused bsDbs. This molecule shows cost-efficient bacterial production and high therapeutic potential