Science Letters:Transient expression of chicken alpha interferon gene in lettuce

We investigated the possibility of producing chicken alpha interferon （ChlFN-α） in transgenic plants. The cDNA encoding ChlFN-α was introduced into lettuce （Lactuca sativa L.） plants by using an agro-infiltration transient expression system. The ChlFN-a gene was correctly transcribed and translated in the lettuce plants according to RT-PCR and ELISA assays. Recombinant protein exhibited antiviral activity in vitro by inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus （VSV） replication on chicken embryonic fibroblast （CEF）. The results demonstrate that biologically active avian cytokine with potential pharmaceutical applications could be expressed in transgenic lettuce plants and that it is possible to generate interferon protein in forage plants for preventing infectious diseases of poultry.

Evaluation of polarization field in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well structures by using electroluminescence spectra shift

In order to investigate the inherent polarization intensity in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well(MQW) structures,the electroluminescence(EL) spectra of three samples with different GaN barrier thicknesses of 21.3 nm, 11.4 nm, and 6.5 nm are experimentally studied. All of the EL spectra present a similar blue-shift under the low-level current injection,and then turns to a red-shift tendency when the current increases to a specific value, which is defined as the turning point.The value of this turning point differs from one another for the three InGaN/GaN MQW samples. Sample A, which has the GaN barrier thickness of 21.3 nm, shows the highest current injection level at the turning point as well as the largest value of blue-shift. It indicates that sample A has the maximum intensity of the polarization field. The red-shift of the EL spectra results from the vertical electron leakage in InGaN/GaN MQWs and the corresponding self-heating effect under the high-level current injection. As a result, it is an effective approach to evaluate the polarization field in the InGaN/GaN MQW structures by using the injection current level at the turning point and the blue-shift of the EL spectra profiles.

Glass-forming ability, microhardness, corrosion resistance, and dealloying treatment of Mg60.xCu40Ndx alloy ribbons

The influence of Nd addition on the glass-forming ability (GFA), microhardness, and corrosion resistance of Mg60−xCu40Ndx(x = 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25, at%) alloys were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, Vickers-type hardness tests, and electrochemical methods. The results suggest that the GFA and microhardness of the amorphous alloys increase until the Nd content reaches 20at%. The corrosion potential and corrosion current density obtained from the Tafel curves indicate that the Mg35Cu40Nd25ternary alloy exhibits the best corrosion resistance among the investigated alloys. Notably, nanoporous copper (NPC) was synthesized through a single-step dealloying of Mg60−xCu40Ndx(x = 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25) ternary alloys in 0.04 mol·L−1H2SO4solution under free corrosion conditions. The influence of dealloying process parameters, such as dealloying time and temperature, on the microstructure of the ribbons was also studied using the surface diffusivity theory. The formation mechanism of dealloyed samples with a multilayered structure was also discussed. © 2017, University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Influence of carrier gas H2 flow rate on quality of p-type GaN epilayer grown and annealed at lower temperatures

In this work, we study the influence of carrier gas H2flow rate on the quality of p-type GaN grown and annealed at lower temperatures. It is found that the concentration of H atoms in Mg-doped GaN epilayer can effectively decrease with appropriately reducing the carrier gas H2flow rate, and a high-quality p-type GaN layer could be obtained at a comparatively low annealing temperature by reducing the carrier gas H2flow rate. Meanwhile, it is found that the intensity and wavelength of DAP peak are changed as the annealing temperature varies, which shows that the thermal annealing has a remarkable effect not only on the activation of acceptors but also on the compensation donors.

Influence of the lattice parameter of the AlN buffer layer on the stress state of GaN film grown on(111)Si

GaN films grown on(111)Si substrate with different lattice parameters of the AlN buffer layer by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition are studied.The stress states obtained by different test methods are compared and it is found that the lattice parameter of the AlN buffer layer may have a significant effect on the stress state in the initial stage of subsequent GaN film growth.A larger compressive stress is beneficial to improved surface morphology and crystal quality of GaN film.The results of further orthogonal experiments show that an important factor affecting the lattice parameter is the growth rate of the AlN buffer layer.This work may be helpful for realizing simple GaN-on-Si structures and thus reducing the costs of growth processes.

Analysis of localization effect in blue-violet light emitting InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells with different well widths

Four blue-violet light emitting InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well（MQW） structures with different well widths are grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. The carrier localization effect in these samples is investigated mainly by temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements. It is found that the localization effect is enhanced as the well width increases from 1.8 nm to 3.6 nm in our experiments. The temperature induced PL peak blueshift and linewidth variation increase with increasing well width, implying that a greater amplitude of potential fluctuation as well as more localization states exist in wider wells. In addition, it is noted that the broadening of the PL spectra always occurs mainly on the low-energy side of the PL spectra due to the temperature-induced band-gap shrinkage, while in the case of the widest well, a large extension of the spectral curve also occurs in the high energy sides due to the existence of more shallow localized centers.

A MOVPE method for improving InGaN growth quality by pre-introducing TMIn

We propose a metal organic vapor phase epitaxy(MOVPE) method of pre-introducing TMIn during the growth of uGa N to improve the subsequent growth of In Ga N and discuss the impact of this method in detail. Monitoring the MOVPE by the interference curve generated by the laser incident on the film surface, we found that this method avoided the problem of the excessive In Ga N growth rate. Further x-ray diffraction(XRD), photoluminescence(PL), and atomic force microscope(AFM) tests showed that the quality of In Ga N is improved. It is inferred that by introducing TMIn in advance, the indium atom can replace the gallium atom in the reactor walls, delivery pipes, and other corners. Hence the auto-incorporation of gallium can be reduced when In Ga N is grown, so as to improve the material quality.

Interference of Quinolinate Phosphoribosyltransferase Gene QPT Affects Agronomic Traits and Leaf Quality in Nicotiana tabacum L.

Quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase(QPRTase),a key enzyme in ensuring nicotinic acid is available for the synthesis of defensive pyridine alkaloids in Nicotiana species,also plays an important role in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD)biosynthesis.In this study,the morphological traits,the quality characteristics and photosynthetic parameters in QPT-overexpressing/interfering tobacco plants were investigated,respectively.Results showed that the interference of QPT gene not only reduced significantly the morphological traits including plant height,stem girth,leaf number and leaf length,etc.at 20 days after transplanting(DAT),but the flowering period was delayed 10-15 d in interfered tobaccos compared with the overexpressed,control and wild-type counterparts.However,at 40 DAT and 60 DAT,only three indexes(plant height,stem girth and leaf number)in QPT-interfering plants appeared significant difference in comparison with other three types of tobacco lines.Meanwhile,the determination results from nicotine,sugar,K+and Cl-content showed the nicotine content in interfered plants was always significantly lower than that in overexpressed plants,control and the wild-type ones respectively whatever toppling or not.At the same time,the toppling treatment also caused the increasement of K+content among the four different tobacco lines,but the maximum increase amplitude of K+content was found in QPT-overexpressing tobaccos while the minimum appeared in QPT-interfering plants.Finally,QPT-interference in transgenic tobaccos likewise affected the photosynthesis by reducing net photosynthetic rate(Pn),stomata conductance(Gs)and transpiration rate(Tr),while there was no significant difference between QPT-overexpressing plants and the controls and the wild-types.

Diversity of non-Laboulbenialean fungi on millipedes

New records are given for secondary capilliconidia of Basidiobolus from several species of millipedes(Diplopoda)belonging to three different orders.The anamorph‘Thaxteriola‟stage of Rhynchomyces is recorded(with doubt)from a Brazilian millipede belonging to the order Spirostreptida.An enigmatic fungus showing characteristics of Coreomycetopsis,Hormiscioideus and Antennopsis is recorded from two species of Danish millipedes of the order Julida.Peculiar structures,tentatively referred to fungi are recorded from several millipede orders where they occur between micro-scutes of the external cuticle.

Overview of Stachybotrys(Memnoniella)and current species status

Stachybotrys(asexual Hypocreales)has a worldwide distribution.This genus inhabits substrates rich in cellulose and is closely related to Memnoniella.Classification of species has previously been based on morphology,with conidial characters being considered as important.This study reevaluates Stachybotrys and Memnoniella,which is shown to include at least seven species-groups;while Memnoniella is a synonym of Stachybotrys.The sexual genera Ornatispora and Melanopsamma are also synonyms of Stachybotrys.With the exception of Stachybotrys subsimplex,species formed a wellsupported monophyletic group in LSU data analysis belonging to Stachybotriaceae.Seventy-four accepted Stachybotrys species are discussed,while eight species are considered to belong to other genera or are doubtful in this paper and a key to these species provided.Twelve new combinations and 1 nomina nova is proposed.The status of Stachybotrys species on health,as human or animal pathogens,in indoor environments,and use as biocontrol agents and compound discovery are also discussed.

Transient expression of organophosphorus hydrolase to enhance the degrading activity of tomato fruit on coumaphos

We constructed an expression cassette of the organophosphorus pesticide degrading （opal） gene under the control of the E8 promoter. Then opd was transformed into tomato fruit using an agroinfiltration transient expression system. β-Glucuronidase （GUS） staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, wavelength scanning, and fluorescent reaction were performed to examine the expression of the opd gene and the hydrolysis activity on coumaphos of organo- phosphorus hydrolase （OPH） in tomato fruit. The results show that the agroinfiltrated tomato fruit-expressed OPH had the maximum hydrolysis activity of about 11.59 Uhng total soluble protein. These results will allow us to focus on breeding transgenic plants that could not only enhance the degrading capability of fruit and but also hold no negative effects on pest control when spraying organophosphorus pesticides onto the seedlings in fields.

Acoustic topological adiabatic passage via a level crossing

Stimulated adiabatic passage has been extensively studied to achieve robust and selective population transfer in quantum systems. Recently, the quantum-classic analogy has been rapidly developing and can be considered responsible for the implementation of the adiabatic transfer of sound energy in cavity chain systems. In this article, we investigate the adiabatic transfer of sound energy between two topological end states in the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger(SSH) cavity chain, which can be considered to be the acoustic analog of the quantum chirped-pulse excitation. The topological adiabatic passage in SSH cavity chain has two categories. When the single-cavity resonance frequencies on the sublattices A and B in the SSH cavity chain do not switch their spectrum positions, the topologically protected adiabatic evolution results in the returning passage of the sound excited in one end cavity. When a level crossing with single-cavity resonance frequencies on the sublattices A and B exhibits switch in the frequency spectrum, acoustic energy is observed to be topologically pumped between the two end cavities of the SSH chain.

Comparative transcriptome and co-expression analysis reveal key genes involved in leaf margin serration in Perilla frutescens

Objective:In this study,we aimed to identify the genes involved in leaf margin serration in Perilla frutescens.P.frutescens(Family:Lamiaceae)is widely grown in Asian countries.Perilla leaf is the medicinal part stipulated in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.There are mainly two types of perilla leaves:one with serrated leaf margin which is the phenotype described in the pharmacopoeia and the other with smooth leaf margin.Methods:Transcriptome sequencing,co-expression analysis,and qRT-PCR analysis of six perilla tissues sampled from two different phenotypes(serrated and smooth leaves)were performed.Results:Forty-three differentially expressed genes(DEGs),which may potentially regulate leaf shape,were identified through de novo transcriptome sequencing between the two groups.Genes involved in leaf shape regulation were identified.Simultaneously,we validated five DEGs by qRT-PCR,and the results were consistent with the transcriptome data.In addition,1186 transcription factors(TFs)belonging to 45 TF families were identified.Moreover,the co-expression network of DEGs was constructed.Conclusion:The study identified the key genes that control leaf shape by comparing the transcriptomes.Our findings also provide basic data for further exploring P.frutescens,which can help study the mechanism of leaf shape development and molecular breeding.