2,172 research outputs found
Nonlinear dynamics of the interface of dielectric liquids in a strong electric field: Reduced equations of motion
The evolution of the interface between two ideal dielectric liquids in a
strong vertical electric field is studied. It is found that a particular flow
regime, for which the velocity potential and the electric field potential are
linearly dependent functions, is possible if the ratio of the permittivities of
liquids is inversely proportional to the ratio of their densities. The
corresponding reduced equations for interface motion are derived. In the limit
of small density ratio, these equations coincide with the well-known equations
describing the Laplacian growth.Comment: 10 page
Functional validation of a novel isoform of Na<SUP>+</SUP>/H<SUP>+</SUP> antiporter from Pennisetum glaucum for enhancing salinity tolerance in rice
Salt stress is an environmental factor that severely impairs plant growth and productivity. We have cloned a novel isoform of a vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter from Pennisetum glaucum (PgNHX1) that contains 5 transmembrane domains in contrast to AtNHX1 and OsNHX1 which have 9 transmembrane domains. Recently we have shown that PgNHX1 could confer high level of salinity tolerance when overexpressed in Brassica juncea. Here, we report the functional validation of this antiporter in crop plant rice. Overexpression of PgNHX1 conferred high level of salinity tolerance in rice. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing PgNHX1 developed more extensive root system and completed their life cycle by setting flowers and seeds in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. Our data demonstrate the potential of PgNHX1 for imparting enhanced salt tolerance capabilities to salt-sensitive crop plants for growing in high saline areas
An optically stimulated superconducting-like phase in K3C60 far above equilibrium Tc
The control of non-equilibrium phenomena in complex solids is an important
research frontier, encompassing new effects like light induced
superconductivity. Here, we show that coherent optical excitation of molecular
vibrations in the organic conductor K3C60 can induce a non-equilibrium state
with the optical properties of a superconductor. A transient gap in the real
part of the optical conductivity and a low-frequency divergence of the
imaginary part are measured for base temperatures far above equilibrium Tc=20
K. These findings underscore the role of coherent light fields in inducing
emergent order.Comment: 40 pages, 23 figure
Global analyses of TetR family transcriptional regulators in mycobacteria indicates conservation across species and diversity in regulated functions
BACKGROUND: Mycobacteria inhabit diverse niches and display high metabolic versatility. They can colonise both humans and animals and are also able to survive in the environment. In order to succeed, response to environmental cues via transcriptional regulation is required. In this study we focused on the TetR family of transcriptional regulators (TFTRs) in mycobacteria. RESULTS: We used InterPro to classify the entire complement of transcriptional regulators in 10 mycobacterial species and these analyses showed that TFTRs are the most abundant family of regulators in all species. We identified those TFTRs that are conserved across all species analysed and those that are unique to the pathogens included in the analysis. We examined genomic contexts of 663 of the conserved TFTRs and observed that the majority of TFTRs are separated by 200Â bp or less from divergently oriented genes. Analyses of divergent genes indicated that the TFTRs control diverse biochemical functions not limited to efflux pumps. TFTRs typically bind to palindromic motifs and we identified 11 highly significant novel motifs in the upstream regions of divergently oriented TFTRs. The C-terminal ligand binding domain from the TFTR complement in M. tuberculosis showed great diversity in amino acid sequence but with an overall architecture common to other TFTRs. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mycobacteria depend on TFTRs for the transcriptional control of a number of metabolic functions yet the physiological role of the majority of these regulators remain unknown. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1696-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
Biodiesel production from camelina oil: Present status and future perspectives
Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz is an oilseed crop with favorable potentials for biodiesel production, such as the high plant yield, high oil content in the seed, high net energy ratio, and low oil production cost. This review paper deals with the present state and perspectives of biodiesel production from camelina oil. First, important issues of camelina seed pretreatment and biodiesel production are reviewed. Emphasis is given to different biodiesel technologies that have been used so far worldwide, the economic assessment of the camelina oil biodiesel (COB) production, the camelina-based biorefineries for the integrated biodiesel production, the COB life cycle analysis, and impact human health and ecosystem. Finally, the perspectives of COB production from the techno-economic and especially genetic engineering points of view are discussed
WNT signaling regulates self-renewal and differentiation of prostate cancer cells with stem cell characteristics
Prostate cancer cells with stem cell characteristics were identified in human prostate cancer cell lines by their ability to form from single cells self-renewing prostaspheres in non-adherent cultures. Prostaspheres exhibited heterogeneous expression of proliferation, differentiation and stem cell-associated makers CD44, ABCG2 and CD133. Treatment with WNT inhibitors reduced both prostasphere size and self-renewal. In contrast, addition of Wnt3a caused increased prostasphere size and self-renewal, which was associated with a significant increase in nuclear Î’-catenin, keratin 18, CD133 and CD44 expression. As a high proportion of LNCaP and C4-2B cancer cells express androgen receptor we determined the effect of the androgen receptor antagonist bicalutamide. Androgen receptor inhibition reduced prostasphere size and expression of PSA, but did not inhibit prostasphere formation. These effects are consistent with the androgen-independent self-renewal of cells with stem cell characteristics and the androgen-dependent proliferation of transit amplifying cells. As the canonical WNT signaling effector Î’-catenin can also associate with the androgen receptor, we propose a model for tumour propagation involving a balance between WNT and androgen receptor activity. That would affect the self-renewal of a cancer cell with stem cell characteristics and drive transit amplifying cell proliferation and differentiation. In conclusion, we provide evidence that WNT activity regulates the self-renewal of prostate cancer cells with stem cell characteristics independently of androgen receptor activity. Inhibition of WNT signaling therefore has the potential to reduce the self-renewal of prostate cancer cells with stem cell characteristics and improve the therapeutic outcome.Peer reviewe
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Drought and High Temperature Stress in Sorghum: Physiological, Genetic, and Molecular Insights and Breeding Approaches
Sorghum is one of the staple crops for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and
South Asia (SA). The future climate in these sorghum production regions is likely to have unexpected
short or long episodes of drought and/or high temperature (HT), which can cause significant
yield losses. Therefore, to achieve food and nutritional security, drought and HT stress tolerance
ability in sorghum must be genetically improved. Drought tolerance mechanism, stay green, and
grain yield under stress has been widely studied. However, novel traits associated with drought
(restricted transpiration and root architecture) need to be explored and utilized in breeding. In sorghum,
knowledge on the traits associated with HT tolerance is limited. Heat shock transcription
factors, dehydrins, and genes associated with hormones such as auxin, ethylene, and abscisic acid
and compatible solutes are involved in drought stress modulation. In contrast, our understanding
of HT tolerance at the omic level is limited and needs attention. Breeding programs have exploited
limited traits with narrow genetic and genomic resources to develop drought or heat tolerant lines.
Reproductive stages of sorghum are relatively more sensitive to stress compared to vegetative
stages. Therefore, breeding should incorporate appropriate pre-flowering and post-flowering tolerance
in a broad genetic base population and in heterotic hybrid breeding pipelines. Currently, more
than 240 QTLs are reported for drought tolerance-associated traits in sorghum prospecting discovery
of trait markers. Identifying traits and better understanding of physiological and genetic mechanisms
and quantification of genetic variability for these traits may enhance HT tolerance. Drought
and HT tolerance can be improved by better understanding mechanisms associated with tolerance
and screening large germplasm collections to identify tolerant lines and incorporation of those traits
into elite breeding lines. Systems approaches help in identifying the best donors of tolerance to be
incorporated in the SSA and SA sorghum breeding programs. Integrated breeding with use of highthroughput
precision phenomics and genomics can deliver a range of drought and HT tolerant genotypes
that can improve yield and resilience of sorghum under drought and HT stresses
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