Knockdown of the atypical protein kinase genes GhABC1K2-A05 and GhABC1K12-A07 make cotton more sensitive to salt and PEG stress

Activity of bc1 complex kinase(ABC1K)is an atypical protein kinase(aPK)that plays a crucial role in plant mitochondrial and plastid stress responses,but little is known about the responses of ABC1Ks to stress in cotton(Gossypium spp.).Here,we identified 40 ABC1Ks in upland cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)and found that the Gh ABC1Ks were unevenly distributed across 17 chromosomes.The GhABC1K family members included 35 paralogous gene pairs and were expanded by segmental duplication.The GhABC1K promoter sequences contained diverse cis-acting regulatory elements relevant to hormone or stress responses.The qRT-PCR results revealed that most Gh ABC1Ks were upregulated by exposure to different stresses.Gh ABC1K2-A05 and Gh ABC1K12-A07 expression levels were upregulated by at least three stress treatments.These genes were further functionally characterized by virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS).Compared with the controls,the Gh ABC1K2-A05-and Gh ABC1K12-A07-silenced cotton lines exhibited higher malondialdehyde(MDA)contents,lower catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities and reduced chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents under NaCl and PEG stress.In addition,the expression levels of six stress marker genes(Gh DREB2A,Gh SOS1,Gh CIPK6,Gh SOS2,Gh WRKY33,and Gh RD29A)were significantly downregulated after stress in the Gh ABC1K2-A05-and Gh ABC1K12-A07-silenced lines.The results indicate that knockdown of Gh ABC1K2-A05 and Gh ABC1K12-A07 make cotton more sensitive to salt and PEG stress.These findings can provide valuable information for intensive studies of Gh ABC1Ks in the responses and resistance of cotton to abiotic stresses.

Lipolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation Is Associated with Alzheimer-Like Amyloidogenic Axonal Pathology and Dendritic Degeneration in Rats

Chronic neuroinflammation is thought to play an etiological role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is characterized pathologically by amyloid and tau formation, as well as neuritic dystrophy and synaptic degeneration. The causal relationship between these pathological events is a topic of ongoing research and discussion. Recent data from transgenic AD models point to a tight spatio-temporal link between neuritic and amyloid pathology, with the obligatory enzyme for β-amyloid (Aβ) production, namely β-secretase-1 (BACE1), being overexpressed in axon terminals undergoing dystrophic change. However, the axonal pathology inherent with BACE1 elevation seen in transgenic AD mice may be secondary to increased soluble Aβ in these genetically modified animals. Further, it is unclear whether the inflammation seen in AD is the result of , or the cause of neuritic dystrophy. Here we explored the occurrence of AD-like axonal and dendritic pathology in adult rat brains affected by LPS-induced chronic neuroinflammation. Unilateral intracerebral LPS injection induced prominent inflammatory response in glial cells in the ipsilateral cortex and hippocampal formation. BACE1 protein levels were elevated in the ipsilateral hippocampal lysates in the LPS-treated animals relative to controls. BACE1 immunoreactive dystrophic axons appeared in the LPS-treated ipsilateral cortex and hippocampal formation, colocalizing with increased β-amyloid precursor protein and Aβ antibody (4G8) immunolabeling. Quantitative Golgi studies revealed reduction of dendritic branching points and spine density on cortical layer III and hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in the LPS-treated ipsilateral cerebrum. These findings suggest that Alzheimer-like amyloidogenic axonal pathology and dendritic degeneration occur in wildtype mammalian brain in partnership with neuroinflammation following LPS injection.

Characterization of Synonymous Codon Usage Bias in the Pseudorabies Virus US1 Gene

In the present study, we examined the codon usage bias between pseudorabies virus （PRV） US1 gene and the USl-like genes of 20 reference alphaherpesviruses. Comparative analysis showed noticeable disparities of the synonymous codon usage bias in the 21 alphaherpesviruses, indicated by codon adaptation index, effective number of codons （ENc） and GC3s value. The codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene was phylogenetically conserved and similar to that of the USl-like genes of the genus Varicellovirus of alphaherpesvirus, with a strong bias towards the codons with C and G at the third codon position. Cluster analysis of codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene with its reference alphaherpesviruses demonstrated that the codon usage bias of USl-like genes of 21 alphaherpesviruses had a very close relation with their gene functions. ENc-plot revealed that the genetic heterogeneity in PRV US1 gene and the 20 reference alphaherpesviruses was constrained by G＋C content, as well as the gene length. In addition, comparison of codon preferences in the US1 gene of PRV with those ofE. coli, yeast and human revealed that there were 50 codons showing distinct usage differences between PRV and yeast, 49 between PRV and human, but 48 between PRV and E. coil Although there were slightly fewer differences in codon usages between E.coli and PRV, the difference is unlikely to be statistically significant, and experimental studies are necessary to establish the most suitable expression system for PRV US1. In conclusion, these results may improve our understanding of the evolution, pathogenesis and functional studies of PRV, as well as contributing to the area of herpesvirus research or even studies with other viruses.

Molecular Properties of the Epstein-Barr virus BFRF3 Gene

We report the results of cloning,expression,subcellular localization analysis,and molecular properties of the Epstein-Barr virus （EBV） BFRF3 gene,using several bioinformatics tools.Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the encoding protein of EBV BFRF3 gene （designated BFRF3） has a conserved Herpes_capsid domain,which was found to be closely related to the gammaherpesvirus capsid protein family,and is highly conserved among its counterparts.

The dynamics of the risk perception on a social network and its effect on disease dynamics

The perceived infection risk changes individual behaviors,which further affects the disease dynamics.This perception is influenced by social communication,including surveying their social network neighbors about the fraction of infected neighbors and averaging their neighbors’perception of the risk.We model the interaction of disease dynamics and risk perception on a two-layer random network that combines a social network layer with a contact network layer.We found that if information spreads much faster than disease,then all individuals converge on the true prevalence of the disease.On the other hand,if the two dynamics have comparable speeds,the risk perception still converges to a value uniformly on the network.However,the perception lags behind the true prevalence and has a lower peak value.We also study the behavior change caused by the perception of infection risk.This behavior change may affect the disease dynamics by reducing the transmission rate along the edges of the contact network or by breaking edges and isolating the infectious individuals.The effects on the basic reproduction number,the peak size,and the final size are studied.We found that these two effects give the same basic reproduction number.We find edge-breaking has a larger effect on reducing the final size,while reducing the transmission rate has a larger effect on reducing the peak size,which is true for both scale-free and Poisson networks.

Strong exciton-photon interaction and lasing of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors

Two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenide(TMDC)semiconductors not only hold great promises for the development of ultra-thin optoelectronic devices with low-energy consumption,but also provide ideal platforms to explore and tailor light-matter interaction,e.g.,the exciton-photon interaction,at the atomic level,due to their atomic thickness,large exciton binding energy,and unique valley properties.In recent years,the exciton-photon interactions in TMDC semiconductor microcavities,including the strong exciton-photon coupling and lasing,have drawn increasing attention,which may open up new application prospects for transparent,on-chip coherent,and quantum light sources.Herein,we review the research progresses of strong exciton-photon interaction and lasing of TMDC semiconductors.First,we introduce the electronic structure,exciton,and emission properties of semiconducting TMDCs in the weak exciton-photon coupling regime.Next,the progresses on strong exciton-photon interaction and exciton-polaritons of these TMDCs are discussed from the aspects of photophysics,materials and fabrications,spectroscopies,and controls.Further,the progresses on TMDC lasers are introduced in the aspects of cavity types and materials,and finally,the challenges and prospects for these fields are discussed.

Perovskite quantum dot lasers

Owing to the excellent properties of perovskite quantum dots(QDs),such as an easy synthesis process,high photoluminescence quantum yields,high defect tolerance,and tunable bandgap with different elements,laser actions have been widely conducted.Over the past few years,several approaches have been used for successfully creating perovskite QD lasers.In this review,we summarize the progress of perovskite QD lasers from the aspects of laser theory,characteristics and applications of QD lasers,advantages of perovskite materials for lasers,factors influencing the QD laser threshold,two-photon pumped QD lasers,and perovskite QD laser stability.At the same time,aiming at existing problems,possible solutions and prospects are presented.

Nutritional evaluation of whole soybean curd made from different soybean materials based on amino acid profiles

Objectives:Amino acid profiles of whole soybean curds(WSCs)and conventional soybean curds(CSCs)were comparatively studied to 1.,evaluate their nutritional value and 2.,study the suitable soybean material to fabricate WSCs.Materials and Methods:Nine types of soybean materials were selected to make WSCs and CSCs.Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score(PDCAAS)and principal component analysis were selected to perform the comparative analysis of amino acid profiles of the products.Results:Total contents of amino acids in WSCs and CSCs were 41.24-54.87 mg/g and 27.77-36.82 mg/g.Content ranges of essential amino acids were 13.59-19.38 mg/g and 8.46-11.76 mg/g for WSCs and CSCs.The essential amino acid pattern of WSCs was basically close to amino acid pattern spectrum requirements except valine and sulfur amino acids.As a limiting amino acid,methionine represented less than 0.4 for PDCAAS in all soybean curds except WSCs made from relay-cropping Nandou12 and Nandou25.Conclusions:The overall quality of amino acids in WSCs was higher than that in CSCs,indicating that WSCs indeed exhibited higher nutritional value than CSCs from the viewpoint of amino acid profile.WSCs with the high nutritional value could be made using Nandou25 and relay-cropping Nandou12 as materials.

3D平视技术在玻璃体切割联合白内障手术中的应用

目的:比较3D平视技术与显微镜目镜下行玻璃体切割联合白内障手术的疗效和安全性。方法:回顾性系列病例研究。收集2018年9月至2021年6月于徐州市第一人民医院眼科行玻璃体切割联合白内障手术的患者48例(48眼)的临床资料。根据手术时观察系统不同分为3D平视技术组和显微镜目镜组,每组24例(24眼)。比较2组患者术眼手术持续时间及术中并发症等情况。术后随访3个月,评估术眼手术前后最佳矫正视力(BCVA)、术后解剖复位率和术后并发症发生率情况。数据采用t检验、卡方检验及Fisher确切概率法进行分析。结果:显微镜目镜组、3D平视技术组的手术时间依次为(64.4±19.8)min和(63.1±18.5)min,差异无统计学意义(t=-0.27,P=0.089)。术后1、3个月,显微镜目镜组和3D平视技术组术眼BCVA均较术前明显提高,且术后3个月BCVA均优于术后1个月,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后1、3个月复查时,同一时间点2组BCVA比较差异均无统计学意义。2组术中出血率、后囊膜破裂率、气体注入率和硅油注入率及术后出现角膜水肿、前房反应、高眼压及低眼压率差异均无统计学意义。随访3个月时显微镜目镜组和3D平视技术组均未出现术后并发症。结论:3D平视技术下的玻璃体切割联合白内障手术可以达到与显微镜目镜下同样的治疗效果,且安全性好,可在临床上进行推广。

Estimating the quarantine failure rate for COVID-19

Quarantine is a crucial control measure in reducing imported COVID-19 cases and community transmissions.However,some quarantined COVID-19 patients may show symptoms after finishing quarantine due to a long median incubation period,potentially causing community transmissions.To assess the recommended 14-day quarantine policy,we develop a formula to estimate the quarantine failure rate from the incubation period distribution and the epidemic curve.We found that the quarantine failure rate increases with the exponential growth rate of the epidemic curve.We apply our formula to United States,Canada,and Hubei Province,China.Before the lockdown of Wuhan City,the quarantine failure rate in Hubei Province is about 4.1%.If the epidemic curve flattens or slowly decreases,the failure rate is less than 2.8%.The failure rate in US may be as high as 8.3%-11.5%due to a shorter 10-day quarantine period,while the failure rate in Canada may be between 2.5%and 3.9%.A 21-day quarantine period may reduce the failure rate to 0.3%-0.5%.