Comparative genomic analyses among closely related species can greatly enhance our understanding of plant gene and genome evolution. We report de novo-assembled AA-genome sequences for Oryza nivara , ...Oryza glaberrima , Oryza barthii , Oryza glumaepatula , and Oryza meridionalis . Our analyses reveal massive levels of genomic structural variation, including segmental duplication and rapid gene family turnover, with particularly high instability in defense-related genes. We show, on a genomic scale, how lineage-specific expansion or contraction of gene families has led to their morphological and reproductive diversification, thus enlightening the evolutionary process of speciation and adaptation. Despite strong purifying selective pressures on most Oryza genes, we documented a large number of positively selected genes, especially those genes involved in flower development, reproduction, and resistance-related processes. These diversifying genes are expected to have played key roles in adaptations to their ecological niches in Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Extensive variation in noncoding RNA gene numbers, function enrichment, and rates of sequence divergence might also help account for the different genetic adaptations of these rice species. Collectively, these resources provide new opportunities for evolutionary genomics, numerous insights into recent speciation, a valuable database of functional variation for crop improvement, and tools for efficient conservation of wild rice germplasm.
Significance Asian rice ( Oryza sativa ) is among the world’s most important crops. The genus Oryza has become a model for the study of plant genome structure, function, and evolution. We have undertaken de novo, full-genome sequence analysis of five diploid AA-genome species that are closely related to O. sativa . These species are native to quite different environments, representing four continents, thus exhibiting very different adaptations. Our studies identify specific genetic changes, in both gene copy number and the degree of diversifying natural selection, that indicate specific genes responsible for these adaptations, particularly in genes related to defense against pathogens and reproductive diversification. This genome discovery and comparative analysis provide a powerful tool for future Oryza study and rice improvement.
ABSTRACT Forbidden neon emission from jets of low-mass young stars can be used to probe the underlying high-energy processes in these systems. We analyze spectra of the jet of DG Tau obtained with ...the Very Large Telescope/X-Shooter spectrograph in 2010. Ne iii is clearly detected in the innermost 3″ microjet and the outer knot located at . The velocity structure of the inner microjet can be decomposed into the low-velocity component at km s−1 and the high-velocity component (HVC) at km s−1. Based on the observed Ne iii flux and its spatial extent, we suggest the origins of the Ne iii emission regions and their relation with known X-ray sources along the jet. The flares from the hard X-ray source close to the star may be the main ionization source of the innermost microjet. The fainter soft X-ray source at from the star may provide sufficient heating to help to sustain the ionization fraction against recombination in the flow. The outer knot may be reionized by shocks faster than 100 km s−1 such that Ne iii emission reappears and the soft X-ray emission at is produced. Velocity decomposition of the archival Hubble Space Telescope spectra obtained in 1999 shows that the HVC had been faster, with a velocity centroid of km s−1. Such a decrease in velocity may potentially be explained by the expansion of the stellar magnetosphere, changing the truncation radius and thus the launching speed of the jet. The energy released by magnetic reconnections during relaxation of the transition can heat the gas up to several tens of megakelvin and provide the explanation for on-source keV X-ray flares that ionize the neon microjet.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment modality for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Dextrose is a common osmotic agent used in PD solutions and its absorption may exacerbate diabetes ...mellitus, a common complication of ESRD. PD solutions also contain glucose degradation products (GDPs) that may lead to encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS), a severe complication of PD. A previous study showed that far-infrared (FIR) therapy improved a patient's gastrointestinal symptoms due to EPS. Due to limited literature on the matter, this study aims to investigate dialysate GDPs and peritoneal function in diabetic patients on PD. Thirty-one PD patients were enrolled and underwent 40 min of FIR therapy twice daily for six months. We demonstrated the effect of FIR therapy on the following: (1) decrease of methylglyoxal
= 0.02), furfural (
= 0.005), and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (
= 0.03), (2) increase of D/D0 glucose ratio (
= 0.03), and (3) decrease of potassium levels (
= 0.008) in both DM and non-DM patients, as well as (4) maintenance and increase of peritoneal Kt/V in DM and non-DM patients, respectively (
= 0.03). FIR therapy is a non-invasive intervention that can decrease dialysate GDPs in PD patients by improving peritoneal transport rate and solute removal clearance, while also maintaining dialysis adequacy.
Sarcopenia is defined as the disease of muscle loss and dysfunction. The prevalence of sarcopenia is strongly age-dependent. It could bring about disability, hospitalization, and mortality. The ...purpose of this study was to identify plasma metabolites associated with possible sarcopenia and muscle function to improve disease monitoring and understand the mechanism of muscle strength and function decline.
The participants were a group of healthy older adult who live in retirement homes in Asia (Taiwan) and can manage their daily lives without assistance. The participants were enrolled and divided into four groups: control (Con, n = 57); low physical function (LPF, n = 104); sarcopenia (S, n = 63); and severe sarcopenia (SS, n = 65) according to Asian countries that used Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. The plasma metabolites were used and the results were calculated as the difference between the control and other groups.
Clinical parameters, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hand grip strength (HGS), gait speed (GS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin, and hematocrit were significantly different between the control and LPF groups. Metabolite patterns of LPF, S, and SS were explored in our study. Plasma kynurenine (KYN) and acylcarnitines (C0, C4, C6, and C18:1-OH) were identified with higher concentrations in older Taiwanese adults with possible sarcopenia and S compared to the Con group. After multivariable adjustment, the data indicate that age, BMI, and butyrylcarnitine (C4) are more important factors to identify individuals with low physical function and sarcopenia.
This metabolomic study raises the importance of acylcarnitines on muscle mass and function. It suggests that age, BMI, BUN, KYN, and C4/Cr can be important evaluation markers for LPF (AUC: 0.766), S (AUC: 0.787), and SS (AUC: 0.919).
An unprecedented asymmetric catalytic (4 + 2) annulation reaction of aryl-substituted γ-methylidene-δ-valerolactones (GMDVs) with isatin-derived para-quinone methides (p-QMs) has been developed under ...the catalysis of palladium(0) and (S,S,S)-(−)-Xyl-SKP, offering a new approach for the diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of chiral cyclohexadienone-fused cyclohexyl spirooxindoles. Significantly, three highly congested contiguous tetrasubstituted carbon atoms embedded in bispirocyclic skeleton, of which two are vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers, are forged in an effective and selective manner (up to 99% yield, up to 95% ee, >20/1 dr). The current reaction represents the first exploration of enantioselective catalytic (4 + 2) annulation forming the six-membered carbocycles in the chemistry of both GMDVs and p-QMs.
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher risk of vascular complications. This retrospective cohort study aimed to analyze the differences in the risk of arteriovenous ...fistula or graft (AVF/AVG) dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with and without SLE from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Database over a 10-year period. AVF/AVG dysfunction is defined as the occurrence of the first episode of intervention after vascular access creation. A total of 1366 HD patients with SLE had higher incidence rates of AVF/AVG dysfunction than 4098 non-SLE HD patients in the following 4 periods: (1) after 1 year (incidence rates = 15.21% and 13.01%, respectively; subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) = 1.16; P = 0.007), (2) 1st-to-10th-year period (15.36% and 13.25%; SHR = 1.16; P = 0.007), (3) 5th-to-10th-year period (11.91% and 8.1%; SHR = 1.42; P = 0.003), and (4) overall period (23.53% and 21.66%; SHR = 1.09; P = 0.027). In conclusion, there were significantly higher incidence rates of AVF/AVG dysfunction in SLE patients during the long-term follow-up period. Vascular access function should be monitored regularly by clinical examinations, especially after 1 year and during 5 to 10 years, to improve AVF/AVG patency and dialysis adequacy in SLE patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.
A novel strategy based on Cu-catalyzed (4+1) cascade annulation of terminal alkynes as one-carbon synthons with 2-(tosylmethyl)anilines has been developed for the expeditious synthesis of ...2,3-disubstituted indoles, in which in situ generations of aza-o-quinone methides and alkynyl-copper(I) species are involved. This annulation provides an effective method for the assembly of synthetically and structurally interesting 2,3-disubstituted indoles.
Clonorchis sinensis, a fluke dwelling in the intrahepatic bile ducts causes clonorchiasis, which affect about 15 million people wide-distributed in eastern Asia. During C. sinensis infection, ...worm-host interaction results in activation of patterns recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and further triggers immune responses, which determines the outcome of the infection. However, the mechanisms by which pathogen-associated molecules patterns from C. sinensis interact with TLRs were poorly understood. In the present study, we assumed that the molecules from C. sinensis may regulate host immune responses via TLR2 signaling pathway.
In the present study, we have identified a ~34 kDa CsHscB from C. sinensis which physically bound with TLR2 as demonstrated by molecular docking and pull-down assay. We also found that recombinant CsHscB (rCsHscB) potently activates macrophage to express various proteins including TLR2, CD80, MHCII, and cytokines like IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10, but rCsHscB failed to induce IL-10 in macrophages from Tlr2-/- mice. Moreover, ERK1/2 activation was required for rCsHscB-induced IL-10 production in macrophages. In vivo study revealed that rCsHscB triggered a high production of IL-10 in the wild-type (WT) but not in Tlr2-/- mice. Consistently, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was also attenuated in Tlr2-/- mice compared to the WT mice, after the treatment with rCsHscB.
Our data thus demonstrate that rCsHscB from C. sinensis interacts with TLR2 to be endowed with immune regulatory activities, and may have some therapeutic implications in future beyond parasitology.
PDF
![THE [Ne iii] JET OF DG Tau ...](http://api.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/image/issn/XR4PS5YY4K/0004-637X_1538-4357/small "THE [Ne iii] JET OF DG Tau AND ITS IONIZATION SCENARIOS")
