Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) has the ability of selenium (Se) enrichment. Identification of selenides in Se-rich rapeseed products will promote the development and utilization of high value. By ...optimizing the Se species extraction process (protease type, extraction reagent, enzyme sample ratio, extraction time, etc.) and chromatographic column, an efficient, stable, and accurate method was established for the identification of Se species and content in rapeseed seedlings and flowering stalks, which were cultured by inorganic Se hydroponics. Five Se compounds, including selenocystine (SeCys2), methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenite (SeIV), and selenate (SeVI) were qualitatively and quantitatively identified. Organoselenium was absolutely dominant in both seedlings and flowering stalks among the detected rapeseed varieties, with 64.18–90.20% and 94.38–98.47%, respectively. Further, MeSeCys, a highly active selenide, predominated in rapeseed flowering stalks with a proportion of 56.36–72.93% and a content of 1707.3–5030.3 μg/kg. This study provides a new source of MeSeCys supplementation for human Se fortification.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary
Seed oil content is an important agronomic trait in rapeseed. However, our understanding of the regulatory processes controlling oil accumulation is still limited. Using two rapeseed lines ...(zy036 and 51070) with contrasting oil content, we found that maternal genotype greatly affects seed oil content. Genetic and physiological evidence indicated that difference in the local and tissue‐specific photosynthetic activity in the silique wall (a maternal tissue) was responsible for the different seed oil contents. This effect was mimicked by in planta manipulation of silique wall photosynthesis. Furthermore, the starch content and expression of the important lipid synthesis regulatory gene WRINKLED1 in developing seeds were linked with silique wall photosynthetic activity. 454 pyrosequencing was performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism for the difference in silique wall photosynthesis between zy036 and 51070. Interestingly, the results suggested that photosynthesis‐related genes were over‐represented in both total silique wall expressed genes and genes that were differentially expressed between genotypes. A potential regulatory mechanism for elevated photosynthesis in the zy036 silique wall is proposed on the basis of knowledge from Arabidopsis. Differentially expressed ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco)‐related genes were used for further investigations. Oil content correlated closely with BnRBCS1A expression levels and Rubisco activities in the silique wall, but not in the leaf. Taken together, our results highlight an important role of silique wall photosynthesis in the regulation of seed oil content in terms of maternal effects.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objectives
To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of cannulated internal fixation in patients who sustain femoral neck fracture (FNF) and risk factors influencing the outcomes.
Methods
This retrospective ...study analyzed data from 73 elderly patients aged ≥60 years old, hospitalized for FNF and treated with cannulated internal fixation between August 2008 and July 2016. The inclusion criteria were: (i) patients aged ≥60 years; (ii) patients with recent femoral neck fracture, with times of injury ranging from 12–72 h; and (iii) patients who underwent Garden II–IV closed reduction and internal fixation. Patients were classified based on the Garden fracture type and Pauwels angle. Clinical data and radiographs before and after the surgery were collected. Subsequently, surgery was performed with the patient in supine position, under general or lumbar epidural anesthesia. Closed reduction was performed until satisfactory fracture reduction quality was achieved. The weight of all included patients were <75 kg, and thus, minimal internal fixation was performed. The ischemic necrosis of the femoral head was diagnosed by considering the symptoms, signs, and radiological findings. Harris hip scores were used to evaluate postoperative recovery of hip function. Furthermore, relationships between Garden fracture type and necrosis rate of the femoral head, Pauwels angle and necrosis rate of the femoral head, Garden fracture type and Harris hip score, and age and Harris hip score were analyzed.
Results
The mean duration of surgery was 1 ± 0.17 h and blood loss for all the patients was approximately 15 mL. The included patients were followed up for 13–128 months, with an average follow‐up of 61 months. Among the included 73 patients, 65 (89.0%) exhibited satisfactory union, seven (9.6%) had femoral head necrosis, and one (1.4%) had nonunion. For seven patients with femoral head necrosis, there were two, two, and three patients classified as Garden IV, Garden III, and Garden II, respectively, and two and five patients classified as Pauwels II and Pauwels III, respectively. Among the seven cases, four underwent hip replacement. Garden fracture type was not significantly associated with femoral head necrosis (χ2 = 0.44, P > 0.05) or Harris score (χ2 = 1.43, P > 0.05). Patients with Pauwels I (0%) and II (4.3%) fractures exhibited a significantly lower necrosis rate than those with Pauwels III fractures (41.7%) (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Cannulated internal fixation was more suitable for older Chinese patients with Pauwels I/II fractures than those with Pauwels III fractures.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Eggshell translucency is a ubiquitous external eggshell quality problem caused by variations of eggshell ultrastructure or shell membrane. In previous studies, researchers have widely investigated ...this phenomenon with nutritional, environmental, and genetic perspectives in many breeds. However, most studies referring to phenotypic measurement of shell translucency have been performed using a relatively subjective two-, three-, or four-grading methods, which made it impossible to compare distribution of shell translucency among different breeds. In this study, we aimed to explore variations of translucent eggshell spots in different breeds and their distribution in blunt, middle, and sharp ends of eggshell using a relatively objective grayscale recognition method. We selected 45 eggs from each flock of pure lines, commercial strains, and Chinese local breeds (10 flocks, aged 60 to 70 wk), and stored them in a constant environment for 5 d. Then measured eggshell translucency using grayscale recognition method. Indicators of shell translucency included sum of spot areas on the whole eggshell (SUSA), sum area of the whole eggshell (SUSHA), RSS (ratio of SUSA to SUSHA), quantity of spots (QS), average spot area in eggshell (AAES), and diameter of spots in eggshell (DS). As results, in Hy-Line Brown, Brown-Egg Dwarf Layer, and Taihang (pink-shelled) breeds, phenotypic intensity of eggshell translucency was slight; in Rhode Island Red, Jingfen-1, and Dongxiang breeds, phenotypic intensity of eggshell translucency was relatively extensive; and in Jinghong-1, Hy-Line Sonia, White Leghorn, and Taihang (blue-shelled), phenotypic intensity of eggshell translucency was at an intermediate level. In general, the larger the RSS, the larger the QS, AAES, and DS. Of 3 ends for most breeds, eggshell translucency of blunt and sharp ends was usually greater than that of middle ends, and blunt ends seemed to have the most extensive eggshell translucency. Findings from this study could provide a reference for population selection to locate genes regulating shell translucency and to explore the physical structure mechanism for eggshell translucency formation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oil crop in the world, and increasing its oil content is a major breeding goal. The studies on seed structure and characteristics of different oil content ...rapeseed could help us to understand the biological mechanism of lipid accumulation, and be helpful for rapeseed breeding.
Here we report on the seed ultrastructure of an ultrahigh oil content rapeseed line YN171, whose oil content is 64.8%, and compared with other high and low oil content rapeseed lines. The results indicated that the cytoplasms of cotyledon, radicle, and aleuronic cells were completely filled with oil and protein bodies, and YN171 had a high oil body organelle to cell area ratio for all cell types. In the cotyledon cells, oil body organelles comprised 81% of the total cell area in YN171, but only 53 to 58% in three high oil content lines and 33 to 38% in three low oil content lines. The high oil body organelle to cotyledon cell area ratio and the cotyledon ratio in seed were the main reasons for the ultrahigh oil content of YN171. The correlation analysis indicated that oil content is significantly negatively correlated with protein content, but is not correlated with fatty acid composition.
Our results indicate that the oil content of YN171 could be enhanced by increasing the oil body organelle to cell ratio for some cell types. The oil body organelle to seed ratio significantly highly positively correlates with oil content, and could be used to predict seed oil content. Based on the structural analysis of different oil content rapeseed lines, we estimate the maximum of rapeseed oil content could reach 75%. Our results will help us to screen and identify high oil content lines in rapeseed breeding.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Synthesis, structure, and fullerene-binding property of azacalix6aromatics were systematically studied. By means of 3 + 3 and 2 + 2 + 2 fragment coupling protocols, a number of azacalix6aromatics ...containing different combinations of benzene, pyridine, and pyrimidine rings and various substituents on the bridging nitrogen atoms were synthesized conveniently in moderate to good yields. The resulting macrocycles adopt in the solid state symmetric and heavily distorted 1,3,5-alternate conformations depending on the aromatic building units, whereas, in solution, they exist as a mixture of conformers that undergo rapid interchanges relative to the NMR time scale. All macrocycles were able to form 1:1 complexes with C60 and C70 in toluene with the association constants up to 7.28 × 104 M–1. In the crystalline state, azacalix6aromatics form complexes with C60 and C70 with 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 stoichiometric ratios between host and guest. Azacalix6aromatics interact with fullerene by forming mainly the sandwich structure in which C60 or C70 is sandwiched by two macrocycles. X-ray molecular structures revealed that multiple π–π and CH−π interactions between concave azacalix6aromatics and convex fullerenes C60 and C70 contribute a joint driving force to the formation of host–guest complexes.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
This paper proposes a reversible data hiding scheme for gray level images. It exploits the high correlation among image block pixels to produce a difference histogram. Secret data is embedded based ...on a multi-level histogram shifting mechanism with reference to the integer median of each block. The image blocks are divided into four categories due to four corresponding embedding strategies, aiming at preserving the medians during data embedding. In decoder, the median pixels are retrieved first followed by the hidden data extraction, and the host image can be accurately recovered via an inverse histogram shifting mechanism after removing the secret data from the marked image. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our scheme and demonstrate that it outperforms several previous methods in terms of capacity and marked image’s quality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) severely limits therapeutic drug penetration into tumors and is associated with poor prognosis. Collagen is ...the most abundant matrix protein in the tumor ECM, which is the main obstacle that severely hinders the diffusion of chemotherapeutic drugs or nanomedicines.
We designed a collagenase-functionalized biomimetic drug-loaded Au nanoplatform that combined ECM degradation, active targeting, immune evasion, near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered drug release, and synergistic antitumor therapy and diagnosis into one nanoplatform. PDAC tumor cell membranes were extracted and coated onto doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded Au nanocages, and then collagenase was added to functionalize the cell membrane through lipid insertion. We evaluated the physicochemical properties, in vitro and in vivo targeting, penetration and therapeutic efficacy of the nanoplatform.
Upon intravenous injection, this nanoplatform efficiently targeted the tumor through the homologous targeting properties of the coated cell membrane. During penetration into the tumor tissue, the dense ECM in the PDAC tissues was gradually degraded by collagenase, leading to a looser ECM structure and deep penetration within the tumor parenchyma. Under NIR irradiation, both photothermal and photodynamic effects were produced and the encapsulated chemotherapeutic drugs were released effectively, exerting a strong synergistic antitumor effect. Moreover, this nanoplatform has X-ray attenuation properties that could serve to guide and monitor treatment by CT imaging.
This work presented a unique and facile yet effective strategy to modulate ECM components in PDAC, enhance tumor penetration and tumor-killing effects and provide therapeutic guidance and monitoring.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The prognosis of femoral neck fractures is affected by factors including age and type of fracture. This study aimed to explore the associations among postsurgical outcomes of internal fixation for ...femoral neck fracture (healing rate, necrosis rate, and joint function score) and age and type of fracture.
We retrospectively analyzed 297 cases of femoral neck fracture treated with internal fixation between February 2008 and October 2018. The postoperative femoral neck nonunion rate (a measure of healing) and femoral head necrosis rate were determined by x-ray and computed tomography. The Harris hip score (a measure of joint function and pain) was calculated. The effects of age and fracture type on these factors were analyzed.
There was no significant difference in the rate of femoral head necrosis and postoperative joint function scores among the different age groups. There was a significant difference in the postoperative rate of femoral head necrosis by Garden (P = .001) and Pauwels (P = .01) fracture types. No significant differences were noted for the Harris hip score for fractures characterized by the Pauwels classification (P = .09). However, the Harris hip scores differed significantly among groups for fractures categorized by the Garden classification (P = .001).
Fracture type but not age is closely related to femoral head necrosis and Harris hip score after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures.
Seed yield and oil content are two important agricultural characteristics in oil crop breeding, and a lot of functional gene research is being concentrated on increasing these factors. In this study, ...by differential gene expression analyses between rapeseed lines (zy036 and 51070) which exhibit different levels of seed oil production, BnGRF2 (Brassica napus growth-regulating factor 2-like gene) was identified in the high oil-producing line zy036. To elucidate the possible roles of BnGRF2 in seed oil production, the cDNA sequences of the rapeseed GRF2 gene were isolated. The Blastn result showed that rapeseed contained BnGRF2a/2b which were located in the A genome (A1 and A3) and C genome (C1 and C6), respectively, and the dominantly expressed gene BnGRF2a was chosen for transgenic research. Analysis of 35S-BnGRF2a transgenic Arabidopsis showed that overexpressed BnGRF2a resulted in an increase in seed oil production of >50%. Moreover, BnGRF2a also induced a >20% enlargement in extended leaves and >40% improvement in photosynthetic efficiency because of an increase in the chlorophyll content. Furthermore, transcriptome analyses indicated that some genes associated with cell proliferation, photosynthesis, and oil synthesis were up-regulated, which revealed that cell number and plant photosynthesis contributed to the increased seed weight and oil content. Because of less efficient self-fertilization induced by the longer pistil in the 35S-BnGRF2a transgenic line, Napin-BnGRF2a transgenic lines were further used to identify the function of BnGRF2, and the results showed that seed oil production also could increase >40% compared with the wild-type control. The results suggest that improvement to economically important characteristics in oil crops may be achieved by manipulation of the GRF2 expression level.
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