Plant neighbor detection and response strategies are important mediators of interactions among species. Despite increasing knowledge of neighbor detection and response involving plant volatiles, less ...is known about how soil-borne signaling chemicals may act belowground in plant-plant interactions. Here, we experimentally demonstrate neighbor detection and allelopathic responses between wheat and 100 other plant species via belowground signaling. Wheat can detect both conspecific and heterospecific neighbors and responds by increasing allelochemical production. Furthermore, we show that (-)-loliolide and jasmonic acid are present in root exudates from a diverse range of species and are able to trigger allelochemical production in wheat. These findings suggest that root-secreted (-)-loliolide and jasmonic acid are involved in plant neighbor detection and allelochemical response and may be widespread mediators of belowground plant-plant interactions.
The synthesis, reactions and medicinal applications of the 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring in solution and the solid phase were investigated. The physical and chemical properties of biosostere and the ...reactions of aromatic and heterocyclic hydrazides with triethyl orthoformate were also explored.
Salt stress can significantly affect plant growth and agricultural productivity. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are believed to play essential roles in plant growth, development, and responses to ...abiotic stresses. Here, we identify a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, salt tolerance receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 1 (STRK1), from rice (Oryza sativa) that positively regulates salt and oxidative stress tolerance. Our results show that STRK1 anchors and interacts with CatC at the plasma membrane via palmitoylation. CatC is phosphorylated mainly at Tyr-210 and is activated by STRK1. The phosphorylation mimic form CatCY210D exhibits higher catalase activity both in vitro and in planta, and salt stress enhances STRK1-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation on CatC. Compared with wild-type plants, STRK1-overexpressing plants exhibited higher catalase activity and lower accumulation of H2O2 as well as higher tolerance to salt and oxidative stress. Our findings demonstrate that STRK1 improves salt and oxidative tolerance by phosphorylating and activating CatC and thereby regulating H2O2 homeostasis. Moreover, overexpression of STRK1 in rice not only improved growth at the seedling stage but also markedly limited the grain yield loss under salt stress conditions. Together, these results offer an opportunity to improve rice grain yield under salt stress.
Naturally occurring naphthoquinones, usually in forms of botanical extracts, have been implicated with human life since ancient time, far earlier than their isolation and identification in modern ...era. The long use history of naphthoquinones has witnessed their functional shift from the original purposes as dyes and ornaments toward medicinal benefits. Hitherto, numerous studies have been carried out to elucidate the pharmacological profile of both natural and artificial naphthoquinones. A number of entities have been identified with promising therapeutic potential. Apart from the traditional effects of wound healing, anti‐inflammatory, hemostatic, antifertility, insecticidal and antimicrobial, etc., the anticancer potential of naphthoquinones either in combination with other treatment approaches or on their own is being more and more realized. The molecular mechanisms of naphthoquinones in cells mainly fall into two categories as inducing oxidant stress by ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation and directly interacting with traditional therapeutic targets in a non‐oxidant mechanism. Based on this knowledge, optimized agents with naphthoquinones scaffold have been acquired and further tested. Hereby, we summarize the explored biological mechanisms of naphthoquinones in cells and review the application perspective of promising naphthoquinones in cancer therapies.
The explored biological mechanisms of naphthoquinones in cellular and the application perspective of promising naphthoquinones in cancer therapies were reviewed.
Both COPD and emphysema are associated with an increased incidence of lung cancer, but the impacts of these comorbidities on lung cancer prognosis are still unclear. Herein, we conducted a ...meta‐analysis to clarify whether the presence of these comorbidities indicates poor survival in patients with lung cancer. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ASCO s and Cochrane library for articles published before 1 June 2015. Papers referenced by the obtained articles were also reviewed. Main outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients with lung cancer. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random‐effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Of 58 full texts reviewed, 26 met our inclusion criteria that were derived from 21 and seven studies examining the impacts of COPD and emphysema on survival of lung cancer, respectively. Meta‐analyses revealed that concomitant COPD was associated with poorer OS (HR, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.10–1.25, n = 20), which was independent of tumour staging, diagnostic criteria of COPD or location, and DFS (HR, 1.52; 95% CI: 1.04–2.23, n = 6) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 78%). The presence of emphysema in patients with lung cancer predicted worse OS (HR, 1.66; 95% CI: 1.25–2.22, n = 7), but not poorer DFS. The presence of COPD and emphysema are robust predictors of poor survival in patients with lung cancer. Early detection of these diseases should be taken into account for lung cancer surveillance and management.
The increased worldwide commercial cultivation of transgenic crops during the past 20 years is accompanied with potential effects on the soil microbial communities, because many rhizosphere and ...endosphere bacteria play important roles in promoting plant health and growth. Previous studies reported that transgenic plants exert differential effects on soil microbial communities, especially rhizobacteria. Thus, this study compared the soybean root-associated bacterial communities between a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase -transgenic soybean line (ZUTS31 or simply Z31) and its recipient cultivar (Huachun3 or simply HC3) at the vegetative, flowering, and seed-filling stages. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) V4 hypervariable region amplicons via Illumina MiSeq and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) were performed. Our results revealed no significant differences in the overall alpha diversity of root-associated bacterial communities at the three developmental stages and in the beta diversity of root-associated bacterial communities at the flowering stage between Z31 and HC3 under field growth. However, significant differences in the beta diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities were found at the vegetative and seed-filling stages between the two groups. Furthermore, the results of next generation sequencing and qPCR showed that the relative abundances of root-associated main nitrogen-fixing bacterial genera, especially Bradyrhizobium in the roots, evidently changed from the flowering stage to the seed-filling stage. In conclusion, Z31 exerts transitory effects on the taxonomic diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities at the vegetative and seed-filling stages compared to the control under field conditions. In addition, soybean developmental change evidently influences the main symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterial genera in the roots from the flowering stage to the seed-filling stage.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The duration of viral shedding is central to guide the decisions of isolation precautions and antiviral treatment. However, studies regarding the risk factors associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 ...shedding and the impact of Lopinavir/Ritonavir (LPV/r) treatment on viral shedding remain scarce.
Data were collected from all SARS-CoV-2 infected patients who were admitted to isolation wards and had reverse transcription polymerase chain-reaction conversion at the No.3 People's Hospital of Hubei province between 31 January and 09 March 2020. We compared clinical characteristics and SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding between patients initiated with LPV/r treatment and those without. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the risk factors associated with prolonged viral shedding.
Of 120 patients, the median age was 52 years, 54 (45%) were male and 78 (65%) received LPV/r treatment. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection from symptom onset was 23 days (IQR, 18-32 days). Older age (odd ratio OR 1.03, 95% confidence interval CI 1.00-1.05, p=0.03) and the lack of LPV/r treatment (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.10-5.36, p=0.029) were independent risk factors of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding. Patients who initiated LPV/r treatment within 10 days from symptom onset, but not initiated from day 11 onwards, had significantly shorter viral shedding duration compared with those without LPV/r treatment (median 19 days
28.5 days, Log-rank p<0.001).
Older age and the lack of LPV/r treatment were independently associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in patients with COVID-19. Earlier administration of LPV/r treatment could shorten viral shedding duration.
Abstract
Pitaya (
Hylocereus
) is the most economically important fleshy-fruited tree of the Cactaceae family that is grown worldwide, and it has attracted significant attention because of its ...betalain-abundant fruits. Nonetheless, the lack of a pitaya reference genome significantly hinders studies focused on its evolution, as well as the potential for genetic improvement of this crop. Herein, we employed various sequencing approaches, namely, PacBio-SMRT, Illumina HiSeq paired-end, 10× Genomics, and Hi-C (high-throughput chromosome conformation capture) to provide a chromosome-level genomic assembly of ‘GHB’ pitaya (
H. undatus
, 2n = 2x = 22 chromosomes). The size of the assembled pitaya genome was 1.41 Gb, with a scaffold N50 of ~127.15 Mb. In total, 27,753 protein-coding genes and 896.31 Mb of repetitive sequences in the
H. undatus
genome were annotated. Pitaya has undergone a WGT (whole-genome triplication), and a recent WGD (whole-genome duplication) occurred after the gamma event, which is common to the other species in Cactaceae. A total of 29,328 intact LTR-RTs (~696.45 Mb) were obtained in
H. undatus
, of which two significantly expanded lineages, Ty1/copia and Ty3/gypsy, were the main drivers of the expanded genome. A high-density genetic map of F1 hybrid populations of ‘GHB’ × ‘Dahong’ pitayas (
H. monacanthus
) and their parents were constructed, and a total of 20,872 bin markers were identified (56,380 SNPs) for 11 linkage groups. More importantly, through transcriptomic and WGCNA (weighted gene coexpression network analysis), a global view of the gene regulatory network, including structural genes and the transcription factors involved in pitaya fruit betalain biosynthesis, was presented. Our data present a valuable resource for facilitating molecular breeding programs of pitaya and shed novel light on its genomic evolution, as well as the modulation of betalain biosynthesis in edible fruits.
Selective laser melting (SLM) is one type of additive manufacturing which produces metal parts by powder bed fusion. Since the materials undergo repeated and sharp heating/cooling cycles, the SLMed ...parts have unique microstructures. The relations among SLM processing parameters, resultant microstructures, and mechanical properties have been investigated by many researchers. However, the wear performance of SLMed materials under various contact conditions has not been carried out until recently. This paper is a presentation of previous and recent research related to wear performance. This is a crucial aspect if SLM is to be expanded to produce friction pairs. Wear rates and mechanisms of the SLMed materials under dry, boundary lubrication, cavitation erosion, and corrosion conditions are discussed and compared with conventionally processed (CP) materials. SLMed materials benefit from fine grains and high hardness, which have higher wear resistance than CP materials. Moreover, a unique tribo-layer on the surface of the SLMed part is found to protect the bulk material under boundary lubrication conditions. An optimized combination of processing parameters increases part density, which further improves the wear resistance. Future work includes studying the influence of pores on the deforming and lubricating behaviors from dry conditions to different lubrication regimes. The final target is to actively control the processing parameters to obtain desirable material properties for improving wear performance.
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