Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide, and diverse leaf shapes, including wavy leaves, are important commercial traits. In this study, we examined the genetics of ...wavy leaves using an F2 segregating population, and identified a major QTL controlling wavy leaves. The candidate region contained LsKN1, which has previously been shown to be indispensable for leafy heads in lettuce. Complementation tests and knockout experiments verified the function of LsKN1 in producing wavy leaves. The LsKN1∇ allele, which has the insertion of a transposon and has previously been shown to control leafy heads, promoted wavy leaves in our population. Transposition of the CACTA transposon from LsKN1 compromised its function for wavy leaves. High expression of LsKN1 up-regulated several key genes associated with cytokinin (CK) to increase the content in the leaves, whereas it down-regulated the expression of genes in the gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis pathway to decrease the content. Application of CK to leaves enhanced the wavy phenotype, while application of GA dramatically flattened the leaves. We conclude that the changes in CK and GA contents that result from high expression of LsKN1 switch determinate cells to indeterminate, and consequently leads to the development of wavy leaves.
A new design strategy for photoresponsive semiconducting polymer with tri‐stable semiconducting states is reported by simultaneous incorporation of tetra‐ortho‐methoxy‐substituted azobenzene (mAzo) ...and arylazopyrazole (pAzo) in the side chains. The trans‐to‐cis transformations for mAzo and pAzo groups can sequentially occur within the polymer thin film after sequential 560 and 365 nm light irradiation. Remarkably, the trans–cis isomerization of mAzo and pAzo groups can modulate the thin film crystallinity. Accordingly, the performances of the resulting field‐effect transistors (FETs) can be reversibly modulated, leading to tri‐stable semiconducting states after sequential 560, 365, and 470 nm light irradiation. Therefore, the device performance can be logically controlled by light irradiation at three different wavelengths. In addition, with light irradiation and device current as the input and output signals, the three‐value logic gate by using single FET device can be successfully mimicked.
Conjugated D–A polymers with two types of azo groups, for which trans–cis isomerization can sequentially occur with light irradiation at different wavelengths, in the side chains possess tri‐stable semiconducting states. As a consequence, the performance of the resulting field‐effect transistors can be logically controlled by light irradiation at three different wavelengths, mimicking three‐value logic gates.
Mine tailing dumps represent significant threats to ecological environments due to the presence of toxic substances. The present work investigated the relationship among microbial activity, the ...community, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and trace metals in soil surrounding gold mine tailings. Using microbial metabolic activity and high-throughput sequencing analysis, we found the trace metals Cd and Hg could be main factors influencing the microbial community. According to bacterial co-occurrence pattern analysis, the effects of total cadmium and total mercury on bacterial diversity are potentially mediated by influencing bacteria community in the keystone module II. Additionally, most of metal-resistant bacteria belong to Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and the metal tolerance suggested to be linked with various functions including replication, recombination and repair, as well as inorganic ion transport and metabolism based on PICRUSt2 analysis. We also found that metals generated by mining activity may trigger the co-selection of antibiotic resistance in the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria due to co-resistance or cross resistance. Additionally, PLS-PM analysis revealed that metals could indirectly affect ARGs by influencing bacterial diversity in gold mining areas.
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•Cd and Hg could be main factors influencing microbial community.•Most of metal-resistant bacteria belong to Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria.•The microbial mechanisms of adaptation to trace metals was investigated.•Trace metals generated from mining activity affect ARGs through was deciphered.
The immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is poor in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The factors related to poor immunogenicity to vaccination in KTRs are not well defined. Here, observational ...study demonstrated no severe adverse effects were observed in KTRs and healthy participants (HPs) after first or second dose of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine. Different from HPs with excellent immunity against SARS-CoV-2, IgG antibodies against S1 subunit of spike protein, receptor-binding domain, and nucleocapsid protein were not effectively induced in a majority of KTRs after the second dose of inactivated vaccine. Specific T cell immunity response was detectable in 40% KTRs after the second dose of inactivated vaccine. KTRs who developed specific T cell immunity were more likely to be female, and have lower levels of total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, and blood tacrolimus concentrations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that blood unconjugated bilirubin and tacrolimus concentration were significantly negatively associated with SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity response in KTRs. Altogether, these data suggest compared to humoral immunity, SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity response are more likely to be induced in KTRs after administration of inactivated vaccine. Reduction of unconjugated bilirubin and tacrolimus concentration might benefit specific cellular immunity response in KTRs following vaccination.
This paper studied the fixed-time prescribed performance torsional vibration suppression control for the transmission system with actuator faults. Firstly, a novel electromechanical coupling ...torsional vibration model was established on the basis of the Lagrangian equation with the dissipation term and Kirchhoff’s law, which considered the nonlinear damping, nonlinear stiffness and the mechanical-electrical coupling relationship. Subsequently, an asymmetric fixed-time predetermined performance function was introduced to ensure that the state errors can converge in a given region in the fixed time, and a torsional vibration suppression control strategy with actuator faults was designed. A stability analysis indicated that the designed torsional vibration system was stable, and the performances of the transformed states were preserved. Finally, the transmission system of the rolling mill was selected as a research object for simulation testing, and the results illustrate the validity of the proposed algorithm.
Abstract
Objective
The insula consists of functionally diverse subdivisions, and each division plays different roles in schizophrenia neuropathology. The current study aimed to investigate the ...abnormal patterns of dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) of insular subdivisions in schizophrenia and the effect of antipsychotics on these connections.
Methods
Longitudinal study of the dFC of insular subdivisions was conducted in 42 treatment-naive first-episode patients with schizophrenia at baseline and after 8 weeks of risperidone treatment based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI).
Results
At baseline, patients showed decreased dFC variance (less variable) between the insular subdivisions and the precuneus, supplementary motor area and temporal cortex, as well as increased dFC variance (more variable) between the insular subdivisions and parietal cortex, compared with healthy controls. After treatment, the dFC variance of the abnormal connections were normalized, which was accompanied by a significant improvement in positive symptoms.
Conclusions
Our findings highlighted the abnormal patterns of fluctuating connectivity of insular subdivision circuits in schizophrenia and suggested that these abnormalities may be modified after antipsychotic treatment.
► Surface modification of Pd electrode by potentiostatic deposition of silver. ► Three-dimensional deposition of silver on the Pd substrate. ► Effect of the amount of the deposited silver on ...catalytic activity of Pd electrode. ► Improved activity of Ag-modified Pd electrodes for allyl alcohol oxidation.
The surface modification of Pd polycrystalline electrodes with silver and the electrocatalytic oxidation of allyl alcohol on Ag-modified Pd electrodes in alkaline solution have been investigated. Ag-modified Pd electrodes with different silver loadings were prepared by means of potentiostatic deposition of silver. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrate that Ag particles and cloud-like clusters of different sizes and shapes are formed on the Pd substrate, indicating three-dimensional deposition of silver, and that a large part of the Pd substrate is not covered by silver. The results of cyclic voltammetric measurement display that allyl alcohol oxidation on the Ag-modified Pd electrodes shows a slight negative shift in peak potential and a significant variation in peak current compared to those on Pd electrode. The peak current on the Ag-modified Pd electrodes is closely related to the amount of the deposited silver, much higher peak current than that on Pd electrode can be obtained. The results of chronoamperometric measurement show enhanced anti-poisoning ability of the Ag-modified Pd electrodes. Silver modification is found to be an effective method to improve electrocatalytic activity and stability of Pd electrode for allyl alcohol oxidation.
Inflammation and apoptosis are two important pathological causes of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The crosstalk between these two biological processes during IDD pathogenesis remains ...elusive. Herein, we discovered that chronic inflammation induced apoptosis through a cullin–RING E3 ligase (CRL)-dependent mechanism. Two cullin proteins, CUL4A and 4B, recruited DNA damage-binding protein 1 (DDB1), RING-box protein 1 (RBX1) and DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 6 (DCAF6) to assemble a CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase in intervertebral discs (IVDs) derived from IDD patients. The CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase ubiquitinated and degraded C-terminal-binding protein 1 and 2 (CtBP1/2), two homologues of transcriptional corepressors. The degradation of CtBP1/2 disassociated from the p300–forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) complex, inducing the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2)-binding component 3 (
BBC3
) and causing BBC3-dependent apoptosis. TSC01131, a small molecule that specifically targets CUL4–DDB1 interaction, could inhibit the ubiquitination of CtBP1/2 in vitro and in vivo, thereby decreasing the
BBC3
expression level and preventing apoptosis signalling. Using a mouse chronic inflammation model, we found that chronic inflammation could accelerate the IDD process through a conserved CRL4
DCAF6
-mediated mechanism. The administration of TSC01131 to mice could significantly improve the outcome of IDD. Collectively, our results revealed that inflammation-dependent CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase triggered apoptosis through the removal of CtBP-mediated transrepression. The blockage of the CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase by TSC01131 may represent a new therapeutic strategy for IDD treatment.
Key messages
CUL4A and CUL4B recruited DDB1, RBX1 and DCAF6 to assemble a CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase in human IDD biopsies.
The CRL4
DCAF6
E3 ligase ubiquitinated and degraded CtBP1/2, causing BBC3-dependent apoptosis.
A small molecule TSC01131 that specifically targets CUL4–DDB1 interaction could inhibit the ubiquitination of CtBP1/2, improving the outcome of IDD in a mouse model.
B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and cytochrome c (Cycs) are two important proteins relevant to cellular apoptosis. In this study, we characterized the functions of the promoter regions of two ...apoptosis-related genes, Bcl-2 and Cycs, in yellow catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. We obtained a 1989 bp Bcl-2 promoter and an 1830 bp Cycs promoter and predicted several key transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) on the promoters, such as Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3), forkhead box O (FOXO), metal-responsive element (MRE) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF-1α). Zinc (Zn) increased the activities of the Bcl-2 promoter but decreased the activities of the Cycs promoter. Metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1) and HNF-1α directly bound with Bcl-2 and Cycs promoters, and they positively regulated the activity of the Bcl-2 promoter but negatively regulated the activity of the Cycs promoter. Zn promoted the binding ability of HNF-1α to the Bcl-2 promoter but decreased its binding ability to the Cycs promoter. However, Zn had no significant effect on the binding capability of MTF-1 to the regions of Bcl-2 and Cycs promoters. Zn upregulated the mRNA and total protein expression of Bcl-2 but downregulated the mRNA and total protein expression of Cycs. At the same time, Annexin V–FITC/PI staining showed that Zn significantly reduced the apoptosis of primary hepatocytes. For the first time, our study provides evidence for the MRE and HNF-1α response elements on the Bcl-2 and Cycs promoters, offering new insight into the mechanism by which Zn affects apoptosis in vertebrates.
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