AIM:To demonstrate an improved surgical technique of whole piece consecutive internal limiting membrane(ILM) peeling without preservation of the epi-fovea to treat high myopic foveoschisis(MF).METHODS:A 23-gauge 3-por...AIM:To demonstrate an improved surgical technique of whole piece consecutive internal limiting membrane(ILM) peeling without preservation of the epi-fovea to treat high myopic foveoschisis(MF).METHODS:A 23-gauge 3-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed on 16 patients with high MF.A parallel arc line along the vascular arcades was scraped out with a curved membrane scraper DSP.Next,an ILM forceps was used to catch hold of the incisal edge of the ILM flap,and the action of releasing and separating was subsequently taken toward the direction of the macular fovea.Next,the ILM forceps was used to grasp the released area,and the whole area coherent ILM peeling covering the macular fovea was implemented thereafter.Finally,the ILM was folded backwards and peeled off in the arc direction.RESULTS:At the final visit,the average central macular thickness decreased remarkably from 423.76±177.67 to 178.24±66.21 μm.The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity of 1.37±0.59 was significantly alleviated to 0.74±0.59.CONCLUSION:The wide range of whole piece consecutive ILM peeling without preservation of the epifovea is proven to be effective and significantly reduced the occurrence of retinal tear and macular hole.展开更多
Flowering time is a key agronomic trait that directly affect the adaptation and yield of soybean.After whole genome duplications,about 75%of genes being represented by multiple copies in soybean.There are four TERMINA...Flowering time is a key agronomic trait that directly affect the adaptation and yield of soybean.After whole genome duplications,about 75%of genes being represented by multiple copies in soybean.There are four TERMINAL FLOWER 1(TFL1)genes in soybean,and the TFL1b(Dt1)has been characterized as the determinant of stem growth habit.The function of other TFL1 homologs in soybean is still unclear.Here,we generated knockout mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology and found that the tfl1c/tfl1d double mutants flowered significantly earlier than wild-type plants.We investigated that TFL1c and TFL1d could physically interact with the b ZIP transcription factor FDc1 and bind to the promoter of APETALA1a(AP1a).RNA-seq and q RT-PCR analyses indicated that TFL1c and TFL1d repressed the expressions of the four AP1 homologs and delayed the flowering time in soybean.The two genes play important roles in the regulation of flowering time in soybean and mainly act as the flowering inhibitors under long-day conditions.Our results identify novel components in the flowering-time regulation network of soybean and will be invaluable for molecular breeding of improved soybean yield.展开更多
Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medicatio...Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medication for the treatment of chronic HBV infection is interferon-α(IFNα) and nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs), including lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. IFNα is the most suitable for young patients with less advanced liver diseases and those infected with HBV genotype A. IFNα treatment significantly decreases the overall incidence of HBV-related HCC in sustained responders. However, side effects may limit its long-term clinical application. Orally administered NAs are typically implemented for patients with more advanced liver diseases. NA treatment significantly reduces disease progression of cirrhosis and therefore HCC incidence, especially in HBV e antigen-positive patients. NA-resistance due to the mutations in HBV polymerase is a major limiting factor. Of the NA resistance-associated mutants, A181 T mutant significantly increases the risk of HCC development during the subsequent course of NA therapy. It is important to initiate treatment with NAs that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, to counsel patients on medication adherence and to monitor virological breakthroughs. The recommended treatment for patients with chronic HCV infection is peg-IFN plus ribavirin that can decrease the occurrence of HCC in those who achieve a sustained virological response and have not yet progressed to cirrhosis. IFN-based treatment is reserved for patients with decompensated cirrhosis who are under evaluation of liver transplantation to reduce post-transplant recurrence of HCV. More effective therapeutic options such as direct acting antiviral agents will hopefully increase the response rate in difficult-totreat patients with HCV genotype 1. However, the risk of HCC remains in cirrhotic patients(both chronic HBV and HCV infection) if treatment is initiated after cirrhosis is established. Future research should focus on investigating new agents, especially for those patients with hepatic decompensation or post-transplantation.展开更多
6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), an enzyme producing fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate (F-2, 6-BP), serves as a switch to activate phosphofructokinase-1, and is a critical enzyme for endotheli...6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), an enzyme producing fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate (F-2, 6-BP), serves as a switch to activate phosphofructokinase-1, and is a critical enzyme for endothelial glycolysis, mediating circadian control of carcinogenesis. Also, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in the progression and prognosis of numerous cancers. However, the role and clinical significance of PFKFB3 and TAMs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not been elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between PFKFB3 expression, CD 163+ TAMs infiltration and tumor angiogenesis in OSCC by tissue microarray. Tissue microarrays containing 117 OSCC specimens and 56 matched paracarcinoma tissues were studied by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of PFKFB3, CD163 and CD31 were significantly increased in OSCC specimens as compared with normal oral mucosa (P<0.05), and PFKFB was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation and tumor size (P<0.05), and CD 163 was significantly correlated with areca nut chewing habit among OSCC tissues (P<0.05). Furthermore, Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that PFKFB3 was significantly correlated with both CD 163 and CD31 (P<0.05), meanwhile CD 163 was significantly correlated with CD31 (P<0.001), suggesting PFKFB3 may promote angiogenesis in tumor progression and metastases by regulating CD 163+ TAMs infiltration in OSCC.展开更多
In the current study, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacies of conventional ultrasound（US）, contrastenhanced US（CEUS）, combined US and CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） in detecting focal solid ...In the current study, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacies of conventional ultrasound（US）, contrastenhanced US（CEUS）, combined US and CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） in detecting focal solid breast lesions. Totally 117 patients with 120 BI-RADS category 4A-5 breast lesions were evaluated by conventional US and CEUS, and MRI, respectively. SonoVue was used as contrast agent in CEUS and injected as an intravenous bolus; nodule scan was performed 4 minutes after bolus injection. A specific sonographic quantification software was used to obtain color-coded maps of perfusion parameters for the investigated lesion, namely the time-intensity curve.The pattern of contrast enhancement and related indexes regarding the time-intensity curve were used to describe the lesions, comparatively with pathological results. Histopathologic examination revealed 46 benign and 74 malignant lesions. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US in detecting malignant breast lesions were 90.14%, 95.92%, and 92.52%, respectively. Meanwhile, CE-MRI showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 88.73%, 95.92%, and91.67%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for combined US and CEUS in discriminating benign from malignant breast lesions was 0.936, while that of MRI was 0.923, with no significant difference between them, as well as among groups. The time-intensity curve of malignant hypervascular fibroadenoma and papillary lesions mostly showed a fast-in/fast-out pattern, with no good correlation between them（kappa 〈0.20）. In conclusion, the combined use of conventional US and CEUS displays good agreement with MRI in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.展开更多
Flowering time is an important agronomic trait for soybean yield and adaptation. However, the genetic basis of soybean adaptation to diverse latitudes is still not clear. Four NIGHT LIGHT-INDUCIBLE AND CLOCK-REGULATED...Flowering time is an important agronomic trait for soybean yield and adaptation. However, the genetic basis of soybean adaptation to diverse latitudes is still not clear. Four NIGHT LIGHT-INDUCIBLE AND CLOCK-REGULATED 2(LNK2) homeologs of Arabidopsis thaliana LNK2 were identified in soybean. Three single-guide RNAs were designed for editing the four LNK2 genes. A transgene-free homozygous quadruple mutant of the LNK2 genes was developed using the CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9(CRISPR-associated protein 9). Under long-day(LD) conditions, the quadruple mutant flowered significantly earlier than the wild-type(WT). Quantitative real-time PCR(q RT-PCR)revealed that transcript levels of LNK2 were significantly lower in the quadruple mutant than in the WT under LD conditions. LNK2 promoted the expression of the legume-specific E1 gene and repressed the expression of FT2 a. Genetic markers were developed to identify LNK2 mutants for soybean breeding.These results indicate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of four LNK2 genes shortens flowering time in soybean. Our findings identify novel components in flowering-time control in soybean and may be beneficial for further soybean breeding in high-latitude environments.展开更多
Soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill] is a major plant source of protein and oil. An accurate and well-saturated molecular linkage map is a prerequisite for forward genetic studies of gene function and for modern breeding...Soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill] is a major plant source of protein and oil. An accurate and well-saturated molecular linkage map is a prerequisite for forward genetic studies of gene function and for modern breeding for many useful agronomic traits. Next-generation sequence data available in public databases provides valuable information and offers new insights for rapid and efficient development of molecular markers. In this study, we attempted to show the feasibility and facility of using genomic resequencing data as raw material for identifying putative In Del markers. First, we identified 17,613 In Del sites among 56 soybean accessions and obtained 12,619 primer pairs. Second, we constructed a genetic map with a random subset of 2841 primer pairs and aligned 300 polymorphic markers with the 20 consensus linkage groups(LG). The total genetic distance was 2347.3 c M and the number of mapped markers per LG ranged from 10 to 23 with an average of 15 markers. The largest and smallest genetic distances between adjacent markers were 52.3 c M and 0.1 cM, respectively. Finally, we validated the genetic map constructed by newly developed In Del markers by QTL analysis of days to flowering(DTF) under different environments. One major QTL(qDTF4) and four minor QTL(qDTF20, qDTF13, qDTF12,and q DTF11) on 5 LGs were detected. These results demonstrate the utility of the In Del markers developed in this work for map-based cloning and molecular breeding in soybean.展开更多
Unstable mechanical structure,low energy efficiency,and cooling requirements limit the application of conventional x-ray tubes based on filament as cathode in several academic areas.In this paper,we demonstrate a ligh...Unstable mechanical structure,low energy efficiency,and cooling requirements limit the application of conventional x-ray tubes based on filament as cathode in several academic areas.In this paper,we demonstrate a light-controlled pulsed x-ray tube using multialkali cathode as electron generator.The photocathode active area of the light controlled x-ray tube is 13.2 cm^(2)(41 mm in diameter),which provides high photoelectron-emitting efficiency up to 0.288 mA/lm in 460-nm LED and 2.37-mA maximum tube current.Furthermore,the modulation ability from 1 kHz to 100 kHz of the x-ray tube is tested.The results suggest that the light-controlled pulsed x-ray tube has easy modulation and short x-ray pulse properties and is promising to be the next generation x-ray tube with wide applications in medical radiation therapy as well as the calibration for detectors and scintillators.展开更多
The problem of finding the minimum spanning tree(MST)is one of the most studied and important combinatorial optimisation problems in graph theory.Several types of uncertainties exist in real-life problems,which make i...The problem of finding the minimum spanning tree(MST)is one of the most studied and important combinatorial optimisation problems in graph theory.Several types of uncertainties exist in real-life problems,which make it very hard to find the exact length of the arc.The neutrosophic set is an efficient tool to model and deal with the uncertainties in information due to inconsistent and indeterminate.In this study,the authors use triangular neutrosophic numbers to represent the edge weights of a neutrosophic graph for the MST problem in the neutrosophic environment.They call this problem a neutrosophic MST(NMST)problem.They formulate the NMST problem in terms of the linear programming model.Here,they introduce an algorithmic method based on a genetic algorithm for solving the NMST problem.They present the utility of triangular neutrosophic numbers as edge weights and their application in the electrical distribution network.展开更多
KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)is a promising anode material for potassium storage,but suffers from low conductivity and difficult balance between high capacity and good structural stability.Herein,the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene is us...KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)is a promising anode material for potassium storage,but suffers from low conductivity and difficult balance between high capacity and good structural stability.Herein,the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene is used as a multifunctional binder to fabricate the KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode by the traditional homogenizing-coating method.The MXene nanosheets,together with the conductive agent super P nanoparticles,construct a multiple conductive network for fast electron/ion transfer and high electrochemical kinet-ics.Moreover,the network ensures the structural stability of the KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode during the de-intercalation/intercalation of 4 K^(+)ions,which is beneficial for simultaneously achieving high capacity and good cycle performance.Therefore,the MXene-bonded KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 255.2 mAh/g at 50 mA/g,outstanding rate capability with 132.3 mAh/g at 2 A/g,and ex-cellent cycle performance with 151.6 mAh/g at 1 A/g after 2000 cycles.This work not only suggests a high-performance anode material for potassium-ion batteries,but also demonstrates that the MXene is a promising binder material for constructing conductive electrodes in rechargeable batteries.展开更多
While the industry has produced sugar-derived ethanol from the conventional method of fermentation for hundreds of years,other effective routes involving the direct transformation of carbohydrates still remain extreme...While the industry has produced sugar-derived ethanol from the conventional method of fermentation for hundreds of years,other effective routes involving the direct transformation of carbohydrates still remain extremely rare.Very recently,an innovative chemo-catalytic method driven by the aqueous-phase catalysis was created for the synthesis of cellulosic ethanol,making a great breakthrough in the common ways as it can theoretically utilize all of the carbon atoms in sugars with faster kinetics;up to now,results from the relevant studies have been accumulated to a certain extent,but the periodic conclusions in this field are unfortunately absent.For this reason,this work tries to offer an overview of the cellulosic ethanol produced by chemo-catalytic routes,highlighting the present knowledge in relation to the technical efficiency,catalytic mechanisms as well as practical applications.At first,the advanced progress on the increasing efficiency from a varied type of catalytic systems are extensively discussed,which involves the specific functions of hybrid components from different strategies;meanwhile,the general influences of processing conditions,such as the hydrothermal severity and aqueous environments,are also identified.Subsequently,possible mechanisms behind the chemo-catalytic processes are widely elaborated by analyzing a number of experimental cases associated with the reaction network and its kinetic models.After that,the actual effects of this technique on the real biomass are collected to identify the positive/negative interactions between multiple components,together with the potential solutions on the semi-continuous processes of pilot scale application.The techno-economic analysis(TEA)is also calculated and compared with other similar methods,such as fermentation and gasification.Finally,several proposals aimed at upgrading the whole chain of chemo-catalytic processes are clearly provided,which may function as a guideline for future studies on the production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic materials.展开更多
Photoperiod responsiveness is a key factor limiting the geographic distribution of cultivated soybean and its wild ancestor.In particular,the genetic basis of the adaptation in wild soybean remains poorly understood.I...Photoperiod responsiveness is a key factor limiting the geographic distribution of cultivated soybean and its wild ancestor.In particular,the genetic basis of the adaptation in wild soybean remains poorly understood.In this study,by combining whole-genome resequencing and genome-wide association studies we identified a novel locus,Time of Flowering 5(Tof5),which promotes flowering and enhances adaptation to high latitudes in both wild and cultivated soybean.By genomic,genetic and transgenic analyses we showed that Tof5 en-codes a homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana FRUITFULL(FUL).Importantly,further analyses suggested that different alleles of Tof5 have undergone parallel selection.The Tof5H1 allele was strongly selected by humans after the early domestication of cultivated soybean,while Tof5H2 allele was naturally selected in wild soybean,and in each case facilitating adaptation to high latitudes.Moreover,we found that the key flowering repressor E1 suppresses the transcription of Tof5 by binding to its promoter.In turn,Tof5 physically associates with the promoters of two important FLOWERING LOCUS T(FT),FT2a and FT5a,to upregulate their transcription and promote flowering under long photoperiods.Collectively,ourfindings provide insights into how wild soybean adapted to high latitudes through natural selection and indicate that cultivated soybean underwent changes in the same gene but evolved a distinct allele that was artificially selected after domestication.展开更多
Background：Several studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） and positron emission tomography （PET） have indicated that cognitive remediation therapy （CRT） might improve cognitive function by c...Background：Several studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） and positron emission tomography （PET） have indicated that cognitive remediation therapy （CRT） might improve cognitive function by changing brain activations in patients with schizophrenia.However,the results were not consistent in these changed brain areas in different studies.The present activation likelihood estimation （ALE） meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether cognitive function change was accompanied by the brain activation changes,and where the main areas most related to these changes were in schizophrenia patients after CRT.Analyses of whole-brain studies and whole-brain ＋ region of interest （ROI） studies were compared to explore the effect of the different methodologies on the results.Methods：A computerized systematic search was conducted to collect fMRI and PET studies on brain activation changes in schizophrenia patients from pre-to post-CRT.Nine studies using fMRI techniques were included in the meta-analysis.Ginger ALE 2.3.1 was used to perform meta-analysis across these imaging studies.Results：The main areas with increased brain activation were in frontal and parietal lobe,including left medial frontal gyrus,left inferior frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,and inferior parietal lobule in patients after CRT,yet no decreased brain activation was found.Although similar increased activation brain areas were identified in ALE with or without ROI studies,analysis including ROI studies had a higher ALE value.Conclusions：The current findings suggest that CRT might improve the cognition of schizophrenia patients by increasing activations of the frontal and parietal lobe.In addition,it might provide more evidence to confirm results by including ROI studies in ALE meta-analysis.展开更多
Soybean(Glycine max) is an important legume crop that was domesticated in temperate regions.Soybean varieties from these regions generally mature early and exhibit extremely low yield when grown under inductive short-...Soybean(Glycine max) is an important legume crop that was domesticated in temperate regions.Soybean varieties from these regions generally mature early and exhibit extremely low yield when grown under inductive short-day(SD) conditions at low latitudes. The long-juvenile(LJ) trait, which is characterized by delayed flowering and maturity,and improved yield under SD conditions, allowed the cultivation of soybean to expand to lower latitudes. Two major loci control the LJ trait: J and E6. In the current study, positional cloning, sequence analysis, and transgenic complementation confirmed that E6 is a novel allele of J, the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana EARLY FLOWERING 3(ELF3). The mutant allele e6^(PG), which carries a Ty1/Copia-like retrotransposon insertion, does not suppress the legume-specific flowering repressor E1, allowing E1 to inhibit Flowering Locus T(FT) expression and thus delaying flowering and increasing yields under SD conditions. The e6^(PG)allele is a rare allele that has not been incorporated into modern breeding programs.The dysfunction of J might have greatly facilitated the adaptation of soybean to low latitudes. Our findings increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the LJ trait and provide valuable resources for soybean breeding.展开更多
Hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） is generated in many metabolic processes. As a signaling molecule, H2O2 plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as environmental stress response. In Arabidopsis, there...Hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） is generated in many metabolic processes. As a signaling molecule, H2O2 plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as environmental stress response. In Arabidopsis, there are three catalase genes, CAT1, CAT2, and CAT3. The encoded catalases are predominately peroxisomal pro- teins and are critical for scavenging H2O2. Since CAT1 and CAT3 are linked on chromosome 1, it has been almost impossible to generate cat1/3 and cats1/2/3 mutants by traditional genetic tools. In this study, we constructed cat1/3 double mutants and cat1/22/3 triple mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the role of catalases. The cat1/ 2/3 triple mutants displayed severe redox disturbance and growth defects under physiological conditionscompared with wild-type and the cat2/3 double mutants. Transcriptome analysis showed a more profound tran- scriptional response in the cat1/2/3 triple mutants compared to the cat2/3 mutants. These differentially expressed genes are involved in plant growth regulation as well as abiotic and biotic stress responses. In addition, expression of OXI1 （OXIDATIVE SIGNAL INDUCIBLE 1） and several MAPK cascade genes were changed dramatically in the catalase triple mutant, suggesting that H2O2 produced in peroxisomes could serve as a peroxisomal retrograde signal.展开更多
Plants experiencing hypoxia(a shortage of oxygen)are unable to maintain aerobic respiration,which leads to an energy and carbohydrate deficit.The pervasive and rapid accumulation of ethylene is an early and reliable r...Plants experiencing hypoxia(a shortage of oxygen)are unable to maintain aerobic respiration,which leads to an energy and carbohydrate deficit.The pervasive and rapid accumulation of ethylene is an early and reliable response to hypoxic stress(Sasidharan and Voesenek 2015),producing an uptick in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS).This in turn triggers apoptosis in root cortex cells,eventually leading to the formation of lysigenous aerenchyma,a tissue from which ethylene is readily lost(Loreti et al.2016).In plants exposed to prolonged waterlogging,group VII ethylene response factors operate to activate the suite of genes required to establish anaerobic metabolism(Gibbs et al.2011);some of these genes are also modulated by ROS(Narsai et al.2011;Sasidharan and Voesenek 2015).The transcriptional activation of genes encoding group VII ethylene response factors is regulated by the hypoxia response attenuator 1(HRA1)protein(Pucciariello and Perata 2017).A link between the oxygen sensing and ROS signaling has been established involving the hypoxia‐responsive universal stress protein 1(HRU1),which interacts with the respiratory burst oxidase homolog D(RBOHD)(Gonzali et al.2015).Salinity also tends to induce ROS production(You and Chan 2015).展开更多
Oct4 is mainly expressed in embryonic stem cells(ESCs),germline stem cells,and embryonal carcinoma cells(ECCs)and plays an indispensable role in maintaining the pluripotency and self-renewal of these pluripotent stem ...Oct4 is mainly expressed in embryonic stem cells(ESCs),germline stem cells,and embryonal carcinoma cells(ECCs)and plays an indispensable role in maintaining the pluripotency and self-renewal of these pluripotent stem cells.Akt serine/threonine kinase,a wellestablished anti-apoptosis and cell survival factor,has also been implicated as an important regulator of stemness.Emerging evidence indicated that Oct4 is reciprocally connected to Akt via a number of routes,and moreover,a direct interaction between Oct4 and Akt has recently been revealed.These components collectively form the Akt–Oct4 regulatory circuit.In this review,we summarize our current knowledge about the Akt–Oct4 regulatory circuit in ESCs and discuss its alterations in ECCs that may underlie the tumorigenesis of pluripotent stem cells.展开更多
文摘AIM:To demonstrate an improved surgical technique of whole piece consecutive internal limiting membrane(ILM) peeling without preservation of the epi-fovea to treat high myopic foveoschisis(MF).METHODS:A 23-gauge 3-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed on 16 patients with high MF.A parallel arc line along the vascular arcades was scraped out with a curved membrane scraper DSP.Next,an ILM forceps was used to catch hold of the incisal edge of the ILM flap,and the action of releasing and separating was subsequently taken toward the direction of the macular fovea.Next,the ILM forceps was used to grasp the released area,and the whole area coherent ILM peeling covering the macular fovea was implemented thereafter.Finally,the ILM was folded backwards and peeled off in the arc direction.RESULTS:At the final visit,the average central macular thickness decreased remarkably from 423.76±177.67 to 178.24±66.21 μm.The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity of 1.37±0.59 was significantly alleviated to 0.74±0.59.CONCLUSION:The wide range of whole piece consecutive ILM peeling without preservation of the epifovea is proven to be effective and significantly reduced the occurrence of retinal tear and macular hole.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32022062,32001503)the Science and Technology Innovation Team of Soybean Modern Seed Industry in Hebei(21326313D)。
文摘Flowering time is a key agronomic trait that directly affect the adaptation and yield of soybean.After whole genome duplications,about 75%of genes being represented by multiple copies in soybean.There are four TERMINAL FLOWER 1(TFL1)genes in soybean,and the TFL1b(Dt1)has been characterized as the determinant of stem growth habit.The function of other TFL1 homologs in soybean is still unclear.Here,we generated knockout mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology and found that the tfl1c/tfl1d double mutants flowered significantly earlier than wild-type plants.We investigated that TFL1c and TFL1d could physically interact with the b ZIP transcription factor FDc1 and bind to the promoter of APETALA1a(AP1a).RNA-seq and q RT-PCR analyses indicated that TFL1c and TFL1d repressed the expressions of the four AP1 homologs and delayed the flowering time in soybean.The two genes play important roles in the regulation of flowering time in soybean and mainly act as the flowering inhibitors under long-day conditions.Our results identify novel components in the flowering-time regulation network of soybean and will be invaluable for molecular breeding of improved soybean yield.
基金Supported by National Natural Scientific Foundation of China,No.81025015 and 91129301
文摘Antiviral treatment is the only option to prevent or defer the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus(HBV) or hepatitis C virus(HCV). The approved medication for the treatment of chronic HBV infection is interferon-α(IFNα) and nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs), including lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. IFNα is the most suitable for young patients with less advanced liver diseases and those infected with HBV genotype A. IFNα treatment significantly decreases the overall incidence of HBV-related HCC in sustained responders. However, side effects may limit its long-term clinical application. Orally administered NAs are typically implemented for patients with more advanced liver diseases. NA treatment significantly reduces disease progression of cirrhosis and therefore HCC incidence, especially in HBV e antigen-positive patients. NA-resistance due to the mutations in HBV polymerase is a major limiting factor. Of the NA resistance-associated mutants, A181 T mutant significantly increases the risk of HCC development during the subsequent course of NA therapy. It is important to initiate treatment with NAs that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, to counsel patients on medication adherence and to monitor virological breakthroughs. The recommended treatment for patients with chronic HCV infection is peg-IFN plus ribavirin that can decrease the occurrence of HCC in those who achieve a sustained virological response and have not yet progressed to cirrhosis. IFN-based treatment is reserved for patients with decompensated cirrhosis who are under evaluation of liver transplantation to reduce post-transplant recurrence of HCV. More effective therapeutic options such as direct acting antiviral agents will hopefully increase the response rate in difficult-totreat patients with HCV genotype 1. However, the risk of HCC remains in cirrhotic patients(both chronic HBV and HCV infection) if treatment is initiated after cirrhosis is established. Future research should focus on investigating new agents, especially for those patients with hepatic decompensation or post-transplantation.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81702708 and No.81873717).
文摘6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), an enzyme producing fructose 2, 6-bisphosphate (F-2, 6-BP), serves as a switch to activate phosphofructokinase-1, and is a critical enzyme for endothelial glycolysis, mediating circadian control of carcinogenesis. Also, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in the progression and prognosis of numerous cancers. However, the role and clinical significance of PFKFB3 and TAMs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not been elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the correlation between PFKFB3 expression, CD 163+ TAMs infiltration and tumor angiogenesis in OSCC by tissue microarray. Tissue microarrays containing 117 OSCC specimens and 56 matched paracarcinoma tissues were studied by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of PFKFB3, CD163 and CD31 were significantly increased in OSCC specimens as compared with normal oral mucosa (P<0.05), and PFKFB was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation and tumor size (P<0.05), and CD 163 was significantly correlated with areca nut chewing habit among OSCC tissues (P<0.05). Furthermore, Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that PFKFB3 was significantly correlated with both CD 163 and CD31 (P<0.05), meanwhile CD 163 was significantly correlated with CD31 (P<0.001), suggesting PFKFB3 may promote angiogenesis in tumor progression and metastases by regulating CD 163+ TAMs infiltration in OSCC.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu University(14KJB320003)
文摘In the current study, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacies of conventional ultrasound（US）, contrastenhanced US（CEUS）, combined US and CEUS and magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） in detecting focal solid breast lesions. Totally 117 patients with 120 BI-RADS category 4A-5 breast lesions were evaluated by conventional US and CEUS, and MRI, respectively. SonoVue was used as contrast agent in CEUS and injected as an intravenous bolus; nodule scan was performed 4 minutes after bolus injection. A specific sonographic quantification software was used to obtain color-coded maps of perfusion parameters for the investigated lesion, namely the time-intensity curve.The pattern of contrast enhancement and related indexes regarding the time-intensity curve were used to describe the lesions, comparatively with pathological results. Histopathologic examination revealed 46 benign and 74 malignant lesions. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US in detecting malignant breast lesions were 90.14%, 95.92%, and 92.52%, respectively. Meanwhile, CE-MRI showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 88.73%, 95.92%, and91.67%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for combined US and CEUS in discriminating benign from malignant breast lesions was 0.936, while that of MRI was 0.923, with no significant difference between them, as well as among groups. The time-intensity curve of malignant hypervascular fibroadenoma and papillary lesions mostly showed a fast-in/fast-out pattern, with no good correlation between them（kappa 〈0.20）. In conclusion, the combined use of conventional US and CEUS displays good agreement with MRI in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.
基金supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFD0101305)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31930083,31901568,31801384,31725021,and 31771815)。
文摘Flowering time is an important agronomic trait for soybean yield and adaptation. However, the genetic basis of soybean adaptation to diverse latitudes is still not clear. Four NIGHT LIGHT-INDUCIBLE AND CLOCK-REGULATED 2(LNK2) homeologs of Arabidopsis thaliana LNK2 were identified in soybean. Three single-guide RNAs were designed for editing the four LNK2 genes. A transgene-free homozygous quadruple mutant of the LNK2 genes was developed using the CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9(CRISPR-associated protein 9). Under long-day(LD) conditions, the quadruple mutant flowered significantly earlier than the wild-type(WT). Quantitative real-time PCR(q RT-PCR)revealed that transcript levels of LNK2 were significantly lower in the quadruple mutant than in the WT under LD conditions. LNK2 promoted the expression of the legume-specific E1 gene and repressed the expression of FT2 a. Genetic markers were developed to identify LNK2 mutants for soybean breeding.These results indicate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of four LNK2 genes shortens flowering time in soybean. Our findings identify novel components in flowering-time control in soybean and may be beneficial for further soybean breeding in high-latitude environments.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31430065, 31571686, 31371643, 31071445)National Key Research and Development Program (2016YFD0100401)+4 种基金“Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA08030108)the Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding of Chinese Academy of Sciences“One-hundred Talents” Startup Funds from Chinese Academy of SciencesScientific Research Foundation for Returned Chinese Scholars of Heilongjiang Province, China (LC201417)the Science Foundation for Creative Research Talents of Harbin Science and Technology Bureau, China (2014RFQYJ046)
文摘Soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merrill] is a major plant source of protein and oil. An accurate and well-saturated molecular linkage map is a prerequisite for forward genetic studies of gene function and for modern breeding for many useful agronomic traits. Next-generation sequence data available in public databases provides valuable information and offers new insights for rapid and efficient development of molecular markers. In this study, we attempted to show the feasibility and facility of using genomic resequencing data as raw material for identifying putative In Del markers. First, we identified 17,613 In Del sites among 56 soybean accessions and obtained 12,619 primer pairs. Second, we constructed a genetic map with a random subset of 2841 primer pairs and aligned 300 polymorphic markers with the 20 consensus linkage groups(LG). The total genetic distance was 2347.3 c M and the number of mapped markers per LG ranged from 10 to 23 with an average of 15 markers. The largest and smallest genetic distances between adjacent markers were 52.3 c M and 0.1 cM, respectively. Finally, we validated the genetic map constructed by newly developed In Del markers by QTL analysis of days to flowering(DTF) under different environments. One major QTL(qDTF4) and four minor QTL(qDTF20, qDTF13, qDTF12,and q DTF11) on 5 LGs were detected. These results demonstrate the utility of the In Del markers developed in this work for map-based cloning and molecular breeding in soybean.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.61901470 and U1931138)the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA15020501-04)+1 种基金the CAS“Light of West China”Program(Grant No.XAB2018A07)the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of China(Grant No.SKLIPR2021).
文摘Unstable mechanical structure,low energy efficiency,and cooling requirements limit the application of conventional x-ray tubes based on filament as cathode in several academic areas.In this paper,we demonstrate a light-controlled pulsed x-ray tube using multialkali cathode as electron generator.The photocathode active area of the light controlled x-ray tube is 13.2 cm^(2)(41 mm in diameter),which provides high photoelectron-emitting efficiency up to 0.288 mA/lm in 460-nm LED and 2.37-mA maximum tube current.Furthermore,the modulation ability from 1 kHz to 100 kHz of the x-ray tube is tested.The results suggest that the light-controlled pulsed x-ray tube has easy modulation and short x-ray pulse properties and is promising to be the next generation x-ray tube with wide applications in medical radiation therapy as well as the calibration for detectors and scintillators.
基金This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Research on the Precision Evaluation Model of Goaf Pressure Relief Gas Drainage Based on LSTM Regression no.(51804248)Science and Technology Project of State Grid Zizang Electric Power Co.,Ltd(SGXZJY00JHJS2000008)Research Technology Service of Multi Energy Complimentary Demonstration Application。
文摘The problem of finding the minimum spanning tree(MST)is one of the most studied and important combinatorial optimisation problems in graph theory.Several types of uncertainties exist in real-life problems,which make it very hard to find the exact length of the arc.The neutrosophic set is an efficient tool to model and deal with the uncertainties in information due to inconsistent and indeterminate.In this study,the authors use triangular neutrosophic numbers to represent the edge weights of a neutrosophic graph for the MST problem in the neutrosophic environment.They call this problem a neutrosophic MST(NMST)problem.They formulate the NMST problem in terms of the linear programming model.Here,they introduce an algorithmic method based on a genetic algorithm for solving the NMST problem.They present the utility of triangular neutrosophic numbers as edge weights and their application in the electrical distribution network.
基金support by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U2004212).
文摘KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)is a promising anode material for potassium storage,but suffers from low conductivity and difficult balance between high capacity and good structural stability.Herein,the Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene is used as a multifunctional binder to fabricate the KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode by the traditional homogenizing-coating method.The MXene nanosheets,together with the conductive agent super P nanoparticles,construct a multiple conductive network for fast electron/ion transfer and high electrochemical kinet-ics.Moreover,the network ensures the structural stability of the KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode during the de-intercalation/intercalation of 4 K^(+)ions,which is beneficial for simultaneously achieving high capacity and good cycle performance.Therefore,the MXene-bonded KTi_(2)(PO_(4))_(3)electrode delivers a reversible capacity of 255.2 mAh/g at 50 mA/g,outstanding rate capability with 132.3 mAh/g at 2 A/g,and ex-cellent cycle performance with 151.6 mAh/g at 1 A/g after 2000 cycles.This work not only suggests a high-performance anode material for potassium-ion batteries,but also demonstrates that the MXene is a promising binder material for constructing conductive electrodes in rechargeable batteries.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFB4201804)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52236010)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2242022R10058)Jiangsu Provincial DoubleInnovation Doctor Program(No.JSSCBS20220178)
文摘While the industry has produced sugar-derived ethanol from the conventional method of fermentation for hundreds of years,other effective routes involving the direct transformation of carbohydrates still remain extremely rare.Very recently,an innovative chemo-catalytic method driven by the aqueous-phase catalysis was created for the synthesis of cellulosic ethanol,making a great breakthrough in the common ways as it can theoretically utilize all of the carbon atoms in sugars with faster kinetics;up to now,results from the relevant studies have been accumulated to a certain extent,but the periodic conclusions in this field are unfortunately absent.For this reason,this work tries to offer an overview of the cellulosic ethanol produced by chemo-catalytic routes,highlighting the present knowledge in relation to the technical efficiency,catalytic mechanisms as well as practical applications.At first,the advanced progress on the increasing efficiency from a varied type of catalytic systems are extensively discussed,which involves the specific functions of hybrid components from different strategies;meanwhile,the general influences of processing conditions,such as the hydrothermal severity and aqueous environments,are also identified.Subsequently,possible mechanisms behind the chemo-catalytic processes are widely elaborated by analyzing a number of experimental cases associated with the reaction network and its kinetic models.After that,the actual effects of this technique on the real biomass are collected to identify the positive/negative interactions between multiple components,together with the potential solutions on the semi-continuous processes of pilot scale application.The techno-economic analysis(TEA)is also calculated and compared with other similar methods,such as fermentation and gasification.Finally,several proposals aimed at upgrading the whole chain of chemo-catalytic processes are clearly provided,which may function as a guideline for future studies on the production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic materials.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.32090065 and 32001508 to L.D.,32090064 and 31725021 to F.K.,31930083 to B.L,31901568 to Q.C,32022062 to S.Lu.,32001502 to Y,Z)and also supported by the Major Program of Guangdong Basic and Applied FResearch(grant no.2019B030302006 to F.K.andB.L).
文摘Photoperiod responsiveness is a key factor limiting the geographic distribution of cultivated soybean and its wild ancestor.In particular,the genetic basis of the adaptation in wild soybean remains poorly understood.In this study,by combining whole-genome resequencing and genome-wide association studies we identified a novel locus,Time of Flowering 5(Tof5),which promotes flowering and enhances adaptation to high latitudes in both wild and cultivated soybean.By genomic,genetic and transgenic analyses we showed that Tof5 en-codes a homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana FRUITFULL(FUL).Importantly,further analyses suggested that different alleles of Tof5 have undergone parallel selection.The Tof5H1 allele was strongly selected by humans after the early domestication of cultivated soybean,while Tof5H2 allele was naturally selected in wild soybean,and in each case facilitating adaptation to high latitudes.Moreover,we found that the key flowering repressor E1 suppresses the transcription of Tof5 by binding to its promoter.In turn,Tof5 physically associates with the promoters of two important FLOWERING LOCUS T(FT),FT2a and FT5a,to upregulate their transcription and promote flowering under long photoperiods.Collectively,ourfindings provide insights into how wild soybean adapted to high latitudes through natural selection and indicate that cultivated soybean underwent changes in the same gene but evolved a distinct allele that was artificially selected after domestication.
基金This study was supported by the grants from the National Nature Science Foundation of China
文摘Background：Several studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging （fMRI） and positron emission tomography （PET） have indicated that cognitive remediation therapy （CRT） might improve cognitive function by changing brain activations in patients with schizophrenia.However,the results were not consistent in these changed brain areas in different studies.The present activation likelihood estimation （ALE） meta-analysis was conducted to investigate whether cognitive function change was accompanied by the brain activation changes,and where the main areas most related to these changes were in schizophrenia patients after CRT.Analyses of whole-brain studies and whole-brain ＋ region of interest （ROI） studies were compared to explore the effect of the different methodologies on the results.Methods：A computerized systematic search was conducted to collect fMRI and PET studies on brain activation changes in schizophrenia patients from pre-to post-CRT.Nine studies using fMRI techniques were included in the meta-analysis.Ginger ALE 2.3.1 was used to perform meta-analysis across these imaging studies.Results：The main areas with increased brain activation were in frontal and parietal lobe,including left medial frontal gyrus,left inferior frontal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus,right postcentral gyrus,and inferior parietal lobule in patients after CRT,yet no decreased brain activation was found.Although similar increased activation brain areas were identified in ALE with or without ROI studies,analysis including ROI studies had a higher ALE value.Conclusions：The current findings suggest that CRT might improve the cognition of schizophrenia patients by increasing activations of the frontal and parietal lobe.In addition,it might provide more evidence to confirm results by including ROI studies in ALE meta-analysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31725021)funded by the Major Program of Guangdong Basic and Applied Research(2019B030302006)。
文摘Soybean(Glycine max) is an important legume crop that was domesticated in temperate regions.Soybean varieties from these regions generally mature early and exhibit extremely low yield when grown under inductive short-day(SD) conditions at low latitudes. The long-juvenile(LJ) trait, which is characterized by delayed flowering and maturity,and improved yield under SD conditions, allowed the cultivation of soybean to expand to lower latitudes. Two major loci control the LJ trait: J and E6. In the current study, positional cloning, sequence analysis, and transgenic complementation confirmed that E6 is a novel allele of J, the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana EARLY FLOWERING 3(ELF3). The mutant allele e6^(PG), which carries a Ty1/Copia-like retrotransposon insertion, does not suppress the legume-specific flowering repressor E1, allowing E1 to inhibit Flowering Locus T(FT) expression and thus delaying flowering and increasing yields under SD conditions. The e6^(PG)allele is a rare allele that has not been incorporated into modern breeding programs.The dysfunction of J might have greatly facilitated the adaptation of soybean to low latitudes. Our findings increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the LJ trait and provide valuable resources for soybean breeding.
基金funded by the Foundation for Taishan Scholar from the People’s Government of Shandong Province (tshw20130962)National Natural Science Foundation of China (31470352, 31670073, and 31600204)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2014CM002 and ZR2016CB05)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M612333)Research in the Zhao Laboratory was supported by the National Science Foundation (IOS-0721192 and IOS-1322796)
文摘Hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） is generated in many metabolic processes. As a signaling molecule, H2O2 plays important roles in plant growth and development, as well as environmental stress response. In Arabidopsis, there are three catalase genes, CAT1, CAT2, and CAT3. The encoded catalases are predominately peroxisomal pro- teins and are critical for scavenging H2O2. Since CAT1 and CAT3 are linked on chromosome 1, it has been almost impossible to generate cat1/3 and cats1/2/3 mutants by traditional genetic tools. In this study, we constructed cat1/3 double mutants and cat1/22/3 triple mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the role of catalases. The cat1/ 2/3 triple mutants displayed severe redox disturbance and growth defects under physiological conditionscompared with wild-type and the cat2/3 double mutants. Transcriptome analysis showed a more profound tran- scriptional response in the cat1/2/3 triple mutants compared to the cat2/3 mutants. These differentially expressed genes are involved in plant growth regulation as well as abiotic and biotic stress responses. In addition, expression of OXI1 （OXIDATIVE SIGNAL INDUCIBLE 1） and several MAPK cascade genes were changed dramatically in the catalase triple mutant, suggesting that H2O2 produced in peroxisomes could serve as a peroxisomal retrograde signal.
基金This research was supported by funding granted by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(31425022)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31730081)a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.
文摘Plants experiencing hypoxia(a shortage of oxygen)are unable to maintain aerobic respiration,which leads to an energy and carbohydrate deficit.The pervasive and rapid accumulation of ethylene is an early and reliable response to hypoxic stress(Sasidharan and Voesenek 2015),producing an uptick in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS).This in turn triggers apoptosis in root cortex cells,eventually leading to the formation of lysigenous aerenchyma,a tissue from which ethylene is readily lost(Loreti et al.2016).In plants exposed to prolonged waterlogging,group VII ethylene response factors operate to activate the suite of genes required to establish anaerobic metabolism(Gibbs et al.2011);some of these genes are also modulated by ROS(Narsai et al.2011;Sasidharan and Voesenek 2015).The transcriptional activation of genes encoding group VII ethylene response factors is regulated by the hypoxia response attenuator 1(HRA1)protein(Pucciariello and Perata 2017).A link between the oxygen sensing and ROS signaling has been established involving the hypoxia‐responsive universal stress protein 1(HRU1),which interacts with the respiratory burst oxidase homolog D(RBOHD)(Gonzali et al.2015).Salinity also tends to induce ROS production(You and Chan 2015).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31271465)
文摘Oct4 is mainly expressed in embryonic stem cells(ESCs),germline stem cells,and embryonal carcinoma cells(ECCs)and plays an indispensable role in maintaining the pluripotency and self-renewal of these pluripotent stem cells.Akt serine/threonine kinase,a wellestablished anti-apoptosis and cell survival factor,has also been implicated as an important regulator of stemness.Emerging evidence indicated that Oct4 is reciprocally connected to Akt via a number of routes,and moreover,a direct interaction between Oct4 and Akt has recently been revealed.These components collectively form the Akt–Oct4 regulatory circuit.In this review,we summarize our current knowledge about the Akt–Oct4 regulatory circuit in ESCs and discuss its alterations in ECCs that may underlie the tumorigenesis of pluripotent stem cells.
