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Abstract: This paper considers bi-criteria scheduling on a single parallel-batch machine to minimizing two regular scheduling criteria that are non-decreasing in the job completion times. For minimizing the total weighted completion time and the makespan simultaneously, we prove that the problem is NP-hard in the ordinary sense and possesses a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. For minimizing the weighted total number of tardy jobs and the makespan simultaneously, we provide a pseudo-polynomial-time algorithm and a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. Furthermore, we identify that all Pareto-optimal solutions for and can be found in pseudo-polynomial time, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accurate design of the 2D metal–semiconductor (M–S) heterostructure via the covalent combination of appropriate metallic and semiconducting materials is urgently needed for fabricating high‐performance nanodevices and enhancing catalytic performance. Hence, the lateral epitaxial growth of M–S SnxMo1−xS2/MoS2 heterostructure is precisely prepared with in situ growth of metallic SnxMo1−xS2 by doping Sn atoms at semiconductor MoS2 edge via one‐step chemical vapor deposition. The atomically sharp interface of this heterostructure exhibits clearly distinguished performance based on a series of characterizations. The oxygen evolution photoelectrocatalytic performance of the epitaxial M–S heterostructure is 2.5 times higher than that of pure MoS2 in microreactor, attributed to the efficient electron–hole separation and rapid charge transfer. This growth method provides a general strategy for fabricating seamless M–S lateral heterostructures by controllable doping heteroatoms. The M–S heterostructures show increased carrier migration rate and eliminated Fermi level pinning effect, contributing to their potential in devices and catalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parent-of-origin gene expression and its role in seed development have drown a great attention in recent years. Genome-wide analysis has identified hundreds of candidate imprinted genes, a major type of parent-of-origin genes, in rice hybrid endosperms at the stage of 5 days after pollination (dap). However, the expression of these genes in early endosperm have been never confirmed due to technique limitations and the behavior of the imprinted genes in different rice hybridizations are still largely unknown. Results: Here, based on our elaborate technique established previously, the expression patterns of PcG genes in the early stages of endosperm development (within 3 dap), were comprehensively analyzed. We revealed that the free nucleus stage of endosperm development is critical for parent-of-origin gene analysis. The expression of the imprinted genes are highly dynamic, likely corresponding to the critical developmental events during this period. Hybridizations between Oryza sativa japonica and indica showed that the expression patterns of the same imprinted gene could be varied by crossing with different parental cultivars, indicative of their parent-dependent character. There are strong alleles that often showed predominant expression over other alleles regardless of the parental origin, which provides a possible explanation for the cultivar-dependent predominant phenotype in crop hybridizations. In addition, we found that the transcripts of the same gene behave differently, with imprinting or non-imprinting patterns, suggesting the existence of not only imprinted and non-imprinted genes but also imprinted or non-imprinted transcripts, which reveals new aspects of the genomic imprinting. Conclusions: These findings on the characters of parent-of-origin genes shed light on the understanding the real role of gene imprinting in endosperm development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polyploidy provides a means of interspecific genome transfer to incorporate preferable traits from progenitor to progeny. However, few studies on miRNA expression profiles of interspecific hybrids of B. napus (AnAnCnCn) and B. rapa (ArAr) have been reported. Results: Here, we apply small RNA sequencing to explore miRNA expression patterns between B. napus, B. rapa and their F1 hybrid. Bioinformatics analysis identified 376, 378, 383 conserved miRNAs and 82, 76, 82 novel miRNAs in B. napus, B. rapa and the F1 hybrid, respectively. Moreover, 213 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between B. napus, B. rapa and the F1 hybrid. The present study also shows 211 miRNAs, including 77 upregulated and 134 downregulated miRNAs, to be nonadditively expressed in the F1 hybrid. Furthermore, miRNA synteny analysis revealed high genomic conservation between the genomes of B. napus, B. rapa and their F1 hybrid, with some miRNA loss and gain events in the F1 hybrid. Conclusions: This study not only provides useful resources for exploring global miRNA expression patterns and genome structure but also facilitates genetic research on the roles of miRNAs in genomic interactions of Brassica allopolyploids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our previous study has revealed that T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis-inducing factor 1 (Tiam1) overexpression are significantly associated with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). However, the influence of Tiam1 in the radioresistance of LSCC and its mechanism have never been elucidated. Materials and Methods: Western blotting was used to confirm the relationship between Tiam1 and the JNK/ATF-2 signaling pathway. To explore the specific functions of Tiam1 and JNK/ATF-2 signaling pathway on the proliferation and apoptosis of LSCC after radiation, cloning formation assay and flow cytometry were conducted in vitro, and the experiments on a xenograft mouse model and TUNEL assay were performed in vivo. Results: Western blotting indicated that Tiam1 can regulate the JNK/ATF-2 signaling pathway through the influence of the activity of JNK and ATF-2. Up-regulation of Tiam1 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of LSCC after radiation both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the down-regulation of the JNK/ATF-2 signaling pathway reduced the radioresistance of LSCC caused by Tiam1 up-regulation. Conclusion: These results suggest that the up-regulation of Tiam1 expression can promote the radioresistance of LSCC through activation of the JNK/ATF-2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brassica napus is an important oilseed crop that offers a considerable amount of biomass for global vegetable oil production. The establishment of an efficient genetic transformation system with a convenient transgenic-positive screening method is of great importance for gene functional analysis and molecular breeding. However, to our knowledge, there are few of the aforementioned systems available for efficient application in B. napus. Results: Based on the well-established genetic transformation system in B. napus, five vectors carrying the red fluorescence protein encoding gene from Discosoma sp. (DsRed) were constructed and integrated into rapeseed via Agrobacterium-mediated hypocotyl transformation. An average of 59.1% tissues were marked with red fluorescence by the visual screening method in tissue culture medium, 96.1% of which, on average, were amplified with the objective genes from eight different rapeseed varieties. In addition, the final transgenic-positive efficiency of the rooted plantlets reached up to 90.7% from red fluorescence marked tissues, which was much higher than that in previous reports. Additionally, visual screening could be applicable to seedlings via integration of DsRed, including seed coats, roots, hypocotyls and cotyledons during seed germination. These results indicate that the highly efficient genetic transformation system combined with the transgenic-positive visual screening method helps to conveniently and efficiently obtain transgenic-positive rapeseed plantlets. Conclusion: A rapid, convenient and highly efficient method was developed to obtain transgenic plants, which can help to obtain the largest proportion of transgene-positive regenerated plantlets, thereby avoiding a long period of plant regeneration. The results of this study will benefit gene functional studies especially in high-throughput molecular biology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Drought is an abiotic stress that affects plant growth, and lipids are the main economic factor in the agricultural production of oil crops. However, the molecular mechanisms of drought response function in lipid metabolism remain little known. In this study, overexpression (OE) of different copies of the drought response genes LEA3 and VOC enhanced both drought tolerance and oil content in Brassica napus and Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, seed size, membrane stability and seed weight were also improved in OE lines. In contrast, oil content and drought tolerance were decreased in the AtLEA3 mutant (atlea3) and AtVOC‐RNAi of Arabidopsis and in both BnLEA‐RNAi and BnVOC‐RNAi B. napus RNAi lines. Hybrids between two lines with increased or reduced expression (LEA3‐OE with VOC‐OE, atlea3 with AtVOC‐RNAi) showed corresponding stronger trends in drought tolerance and lipid metabolism. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed the mechanisms of drought response gene function in lipid accumulation and drought tolerance. Gene networks involved in fatty acid (FA) synthesis and FA degradation were up‐ and down‐regulated in OE lines, respectively. Key genes in the photosynthetic system and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism were up‐regulated in OE lines and down‐regulated in atlea3 and AtVOC‐RNAi lines, including LACS9,LIPASE1,PSAN,LOX2 and SOD1. Further analysis of photosynthetic and ROS enzymatic activities confirmed that the drought response genes LEA3 and VOC altered lipid accumulation mainly via enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and reducing ROS. The present study provides a novel way to improve lipid accumulation in plants, especially in oil production crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica napus is one of the most important oilseed crops in the world and Plasmodiophora brassicae is a serious threat causing yield reduction. CRb and PbBa8.1 resistance genes are known to be highly effective against P. brassicae race 4. Here, we combined two clubroot resistance (CR) genes through marker-assisted selection (MAS) and developed CR homozygous lines. The CR parental and pyramided lines were crossed with genetically male sterile (GMS) plants to generate heterozygous lines. In order to confirm their differences on resistance, the parental and generated lines were inoculated with 9 P. brassicae field isolates in the greenhouse and resistant test also evaluated in different naturally infested fields. The CR pyramiding lines exhibited high levels of resistance to the most isolates than line containing any single resistance gene; comparatively, the homozygous lines demonstrated a higher resistance than the heterozygous. The genetic variation among P. brassicae isolates was analyzed through simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker and significant divergences were recorded among the 9 tested field isolates and the result was consistent with data acquired from the greenhouse and natural field experiments. This study will certainly provide a novel molecular strategy for the breeding of the durable CR B. napus varieties in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Transcription coupled repair (TC-NER) is a subpathway of nucleotide excision repair triggered by stalling of RNA polymerase at DNA lesions. It has been suspected that transcriptional misincorporations of certain nucleotides opposite lesions that result in irreversible transcription stalling might be important for TC-NER. However, the spectra of nucleotide misincorporations opposite UV photoproducts and how they are implicated in transcriptional stalling and TC-NER in the cell remain unknown. Rad26, a low abundant yeast protein, and its human homolog CSB have been proposed to facilitate TC-NER in part by positioning and stabilizing stalling of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at DNA lesions. Here, we found that substantial AMPs but no other nucleotides are transcriptionally misincoporated and extended opposite UV photoproducts and adjacent bases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rad26 does not significantly affect either the misincorporation or extension of AMPs. At normally low or moderately increased levels, Rad26 promotes error-free transcriptional bypass and TC-NER of UV photoproducts. However, Rad26 completely loses these functions when it is overexpressed to ~ 1/3 the level of RNAPII molecules. Also, Rad26 does not directly displace RNAPII but constitutively evicts Spt5, a key transcription elongation factor and TC-NER repressor, from the chromatin. Our results indicate that transcriptional nucleotide misincorporation is not implicated in TC-NER, and moderate eviction of Spt5 and promotion of error-free transcriptional bypass of DNA lesions by Rad26 facilitates TC-NER. Graphical Abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Rad26 was proposed to facilitate TC-NER in part by positioning and stabilizing RNAPII at DNA lesions. • Only AMPs are transcriptionally misincoporated and extended opposite UV photoproducts in the cell. • Only at low or moderate levels can Rad26 promote transcriptional bypass of UV photoproducts and TC-NER. • Rad26 does not directly displace RNAPII but evicts Spt5 from the chromatin. • Rad26 facilitates TC-NER by moderately evicting Spt5 and promoting transcriptional lesion bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Dissecting QTLs for flowering time of rapeseed in multiple environments, including the winter, the semi-winter and the spring rape area. • Fifty-five consensus QTLs were identified after combining phenotype and genomic data, including 12 environment-stable QTLs and 43 environment-specific QTLs. Importantly, six major QTLs for flowering time were identified, of which two were considered environment-specific QTLs in spring ecological condition and four were considered environment-stable QTLs in winter and semi-winter ecological conditions. • A putative flowering regulatory network was constructed, including the photoperiod, circadian clock, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin pathways. • Multiple copies of genes led to functional difference among the different copies of homologous genes, which also increased the complexity of the flowering regulatory networks. Abstract Flowering time is an important agronomic trait that is highly influenced by the environment. To elucidate the genetic mechanism of flowering time in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), a genome-wide QTL analysis was performed in a doubled haploid population grown in winter, semi-winter and spring ecological conditions. Fifty-five consensus QTLs were identified after combining phenotype and genomic data, including 12 environment-stable QTLs and 43 environment-specific QTLs. Importantly, six major QTLs for flowering time were identified, of which two were considered environment-specific QTLs in spring ecological condition and four were considered environment-stable QTLs in winter and semi-winter ecological conditions. Through QTL comparison, 18 QTLs were colocalized with QTLs from six other published studies. Combining the candidate genes with their functional annotation, in 49 of 55 consensus QTLs, 151 candidate genes in B. napus corresponding to 95 homologous genes in Arabidopsis thaliana related to flowering were identified, including BnaC03g32910D (CO), BnaA02g12130D (FT) and BnaA03g13630D (FLC). Most of the candidate genes were involved in different flowering regulatory pathways. Based on re-sequencing and differences in sequence annotation between the two parents, we found that regions containing some candidate genes have numerous non-frameshift InDels and many non- synonymous mutations, which might directly lead to gene functional variation. Flowering time was negativly correlated with seed yield and thousand seed weight based on a QTL comparison of flowering time and seed yield traits, which has implications in breeding new early-maturing varieties of B. napus. Moreover, a putative flowering regulatory network was constructed, including the photoperiod, circadian clock, vernalization, autonomous and gibberellin pathways. Multiple copies of genes led to functional difference among the different copies of homologous genes, which also increased the complexity of the flowering regulatory networks. Taken together, the present results not only provide new insights into the genetic regulatory network underlying the control of flowering time but also improve our understanding of flowering time regulatory pathways in rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous reports show that SIRT6 serves as a critical modulator of the development of multiple malignancies as well as other disorders. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unknown. Thus, we elucidated the effects of SIRT6 on the survival of NPC cells, and modulation of cell death.Methods: We found that expression of SIRT6 is downregulated in ten human NPC specimens as well as in the human NPC cell lines, 5-8 F and CNE1, as compared with that in healthy tissues and normal nasopharyngeal NP69 cells. The MTT assay and colony formation assay revealed that upregulation of SIRT6 impaired the proliferation, as well as the survival of 5-8 F and CNE1 cells. The TUNEL assay, annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, and flow cytometry were performed to detect apoptosis. The results revealed that the expression of SIRT6 resulted in increased apoptosis.Results: Western blotting results showed that SIRT6 overexpression decreased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels, whereas it promoted an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved caspase-3 levels. Moreover, NF-κB levels were markedly reduced in cells expressing SIRT6, whereas they were increased in cells transfected with shRNA-SIRT6. Recovery of NF-κB expression was found to counter the suppressive influence of SIRT6 on NPC cell survival, whereas, NF-κB knockdown increased apoptosis of NPC cells.Conclusion: Thus, the findings of our study offer insight into the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of NPC and may lead to the development of new and innovative strategies for the treatment of NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PHT was proposed to synchronously enhance dewaterability and biostimulants recovery from ADS. • Lignins/CRAM and proteins/aliphatic-like structure dominated in ADS-derived DOMs. • CHON compounds possessed highest reactivity due to carbonyl-related reactions. • DOM 160 containing high levels of N&O heterocyclic compounds showed phytotoxicity. • 200 °C was suggested to enhance ADS dewaterability and biostimulants recovery. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrothermal temperature on molecular reaction pathways and the plant growth of dissolved organic matters (DOMs) in anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) via post-hydrothermal treatment (PHT). ADS-derived DOMs mainly comprise lignins/carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules-like and proteins/aliphatic-like compounds featured with enriched N 1-2 O 6-7 and O 8-10 fragments. With the increase in the hydrothermal (HT) temperature, the relative abundance of the compounds with < 7O atoms in DOMs gradually increased in HT-treated samples. Furthermore, based on Fourier transforms ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS)-based reactomics, we found that CHON compounds possessed the highest reactivity, and that reaction of carbonyl (loss of glyoxal (−C 2 H 2 O 2)) with unique reaction precursors possessed the largest number of high-frequency reactions at different HT temperatures. Consequently, DOM 160 contained higher levels of N&O heterocyclic compounds and acetic acid, inhibiting pakchoi growth, and causing an increase in superoxide dismutase activity in the roots. However, DOM 200 comprised a higher content of amino acids and humic/fulvic acids, increasing indole-3-acetic acid concentration and H+-ATPase activity in the pakchoi roots, thus exhibiting higher plant activity. Overall, the best HT temperature for ADS dewaterability and the recovery of organic matter was found to be 200 °C. These findings proposed a promising approach for synchronously recycling biostimulants, deep dewatering of ADS via PHT, and further improving the carbon–neutral operation of wastewater treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in combination with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in hypopharynx and cervical esophagus reconstruction. A total of five patients were treated with this surgical method to reconstruct hypopharynx and cervical esophagus in Second Xiangya Hospital between January 2012 and April 2013. Four of them had hypopharyngeal carcinoma with laryngeal and cervical esophageal invasion, while the fifth patient with hypopharyngeal cancer had developed scars and atresia after postoperative radiotherapy. The defect length after hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal resection was 6-8 cm, and was repaired by a combination of ADM and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap by our team. Interestingly, the four patients had primary healing and regained their eating function about 2-3 weeks after surgery, the fifth individual suffered from pharyngeal fistula, but recovered after dressing change about 2 months. Postoperative esophageal barium meals revealed that the pharynx and esophagus were unobstructed in all five patients. Xenogeneic ADM in combination with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for hypopharynx and cervical esophagus reconstruction is a simple, safe and effective method with fewer complications. Nevertheless, according to the defect length of the cervical esophagus, the patients need to strictly follow the medical advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study is to present our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with carotid artery rupture (CAR) due to foreign body ingestion. A total of nine admissions with CAR due to foreign body ingestion were recorded in Second Xiangya Hospital between 1969 and 2011. The carotid artery was sutured with muscle flap coverage in six cases, ligated in three cases. We retrospectively compared different surgical procedures of the patients and their clinical outcomes. Results show that CAR was found in all of these nine cases in imaging examinations or surgery. Among these six patients treated by suture of the carotid artery, five patients had a complete recovery without any complications, one patient underwent common carotid artery (CCA) ligation after suture surgery, but finally died of massive hemorrhage due to uncontrollable infection with carotid artery erosion. Among these three patients treated only by CCA ligation, one patient had no complications, one patient had hemiplegia, and one patient died of severe cerebral edema. Hence, timely diagnosis and open surgery are important for the patients of CAR due to foreign body ingestion. Suture of the carotid artery with muscle flap coverage is a better method compared with ligation of the carotid artery in the treatment of CAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Model for motorcycle is established with the motorcycle dynamics software BikeSim, and the simulations on motorcycle ride comfort are conducted under two conditions of B-grade road stochastic and pulse excitations. Then with minimizing the acceleration root-mean-square values of both pitching and vertical vibrations as objectives, the characteristic parameters of suspension as design variables, and iSIGHT as platform integrating BikeSim and MATLAB, a multi-objective optimization is performed with Pareto frontier obtained. The results of comparison between the curves and data of pitching and vertical vibrations before optimization and related simulation results before optimization indicate that the ride comfort of motorcycle is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 4 DOFs dynamics model for a car with semi-active suspension is established, a LQG controller for semi-active suspension is designed by applying optimal control theory, and a simulation on system model is conducted under Matlab/Simulink environment. With body vertical acceleration, pitch angular acceleration, suspension dynamic deflection, tire dynamic displacement and suspension control force as the performance evaluation indicators of vehicle LQG control, the weighting coefficient for each indicator is determined with both analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and improved analytic hierarchy process (IAHP) respectively. The results show that compared with passive suspension, adopting semi-active suspension can effectively enhance the ride comfort of vehicle, and compared with AHP, using IAHP can more easily determine weighting coefficients, resulting in handier design of LQG controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription-coupled repair (TCR) and global genomic repair (GGR) are two pathways of nucleotide excision repair (NER). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rad26 is important but not absolutely required for TCR. Rpb4, a nonessential RNA poly- merase II (Pol II) subunit that forms a subcomplex with Rpb7, and the Spt4-Spt5 complex, a transcription elongation factor, have been shown to suppress Rad26-independent TCR. The Pol Il-associated factor 1 complex (PafiC) has been shown to func- tion in transcription elongation, 3'-processing of mRNAs, and posttranslational modification of histones. Here we show that PafiC plays a marginal role in facilitating Rad26-dependent TCR but significantly suppresses Rad26-independent TCR. The suppression of Rad26-independent TCR is achieved by cooper- ating with Spt4-Spt5. We propose a model that, in the absence of Rad26, a lesion is "locked" in the active center of a Pol II elon- gation complex, which is stabilized by the coordinated interac- tions of Rpb4-Rpb7, Spt4-Spt5, and PafiC with each other and with the core Pol II. We also found that PafiC facilitates GGR, especially in internucleosomal linker regions. The facilitation of GGR is achieved through enabling monoubiquitination of his- tone H2B lysine 123 by Brel, which in turn permits di- and trim- ethylation of histone H3 lysine 79 by Doti. To our best knowl- edge, among the NER-modulating factors documented so far, PafiC appears to have the most diverse functions in different NER pathways or subpathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is characterized by the turnover of zygote development from maternal to zygotic control, and has been extensively studied in animals. A majority of studies have suggested that early embryogenesis is maternally controlled and that the zygotic genome remains transcriptionally inactive prior to the MZT. However, little is known about the MZT in higher plants, and its timing and impact remain uncharacterized. Here, we constructed cDNA libraries from tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum) egg cells, zygotes and two-celled embryos for gene expression profiling analysis, followed by RT-PCR confirmation. These analyses, together with experiments using zygote microculture coupled with transcription inhibition, revealed that a marked change in transcript profiles occurs approximately 50 h after fertilization, and that the MZT is initiated prior to zygotic division in tobacco. Although maternal transcripts deposited in egg cells support several early developmental processes, they appear to be insufficient for zygotic polar growth and subsequent cell divisions. Thus, we propose that de novo transcripts are probably required to trigger embryogenesis in later zygotes in tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transcription coupled repair (TCR) is a nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway that is dedicated to repair in the transcribed strand of an active gene. The genome overall NER is called global genomic repair (GGR). Elc1, the yeast homolog of the mammalian elongation factor elongin C, has been shown to be a component of a ubiquitin ligase complex that contains Rad7 and Rad16, two factors that are specifically required for GGR. Elc1 has also been suggested to be present in another ubiquitin ligase complex that lacks Rad7 and Rad16 and is involved in UV-induced ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation of RNA polymerase II. Here we show that elc1 deletion increases UV sensitivity of TCR-deficient cells but does not affect the UV sensitivity of otherwise wild type and GGR-deficient cells. Cells deleted for elc1 show normal NER in the transcribed strand of an active gene but have no detectable NER in the non-transcribed strand. Elc1 does not affect UV-induced mutagenesis when TCR is operative, but plays an important role in preventing the mutagenesis if TCR is defective. Furthermore, the levels of Rad7 and Rad16 proteins are not significantly decreased in elc1 cells, and overexpression of Rad7 and Rad16 individually or simultaneously in elc1 cells does not restore repair in the non-transcribed strand of an active gene. Our results suggest that Elc1 has no function in TCR but plays an important role in GGR. Furthermore, the role of Elc1 in GGR may not be subsidiary to that of Rad7 and Rad16. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved DNA repair mechanism capable of removing a variety of helix-distorting DNA lesions. A specialized NER pathway, called transcription coupled NER (TC-NER), refers to preferential repair in the transcribed strand of an actively transcribed gene. To be distinguished from TCR-NER, the genome-wide NER process is termed as global genomic NER (GG-NER). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GG-NER is dependent on Rad7, whereas TC-NER is mediated by Rad26, the homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B protein, and by Rpb9, a non-essential subunit of RNA polymerase II. Tfb5, the tenth subunit of the transcription/repair factor TFIIH, is implicated in one group of the human syndrome trichothiodystrophy. Here, we show that Tfb5 plays different roles in different NER pathways in yeast. No repair takes place in the non-transcribed strand of a gene in tfb5 cells, or in both strands of a gene in rad26 rpb9 tfb5 cells, indicating that Tfb5 is essential for GG-NER. However, residual repair occurs in the transcribed strand of a gene in tfb5 cells, suggesting that Tfb5 is important, but not absolutely required for TC-NER. Interestingly, substantial repair occurs in the transcribed strand of a gene in rad7 tfb5 and rad7 rpb9 tfb5 cells, indicating that, in the absence of GG-NER, Tfb5 is largely dispensable for Rad26 mediated TC-NER. Furthermore, we show that no repair takes place in the transcribed strand of a gene in rad7 rad26 tfb5 cells, suggesting that Tfb5 is required for Rpb9 mediated TC-NER. Taken together, our results indicate that Tfb5 is partially dispensable for Rad26 mediated TC-NER, especially in GG-NER deficient cells. However, this TFIIH subunit is required for other NER pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• UV mutagenesis results from tranlesion synthesis by error-prone DNA polymerases. • How chromatin structures regulate UV mutagenesis remains poorly understood. • Histone H4 mutations in the nucleosomal LRS domain can attenuate UV mutagenesis. • The attenuation is due to compromised actions of DNA polymerases ζ and η. • Rad6 and Rad5 are implicated in the attenuation but Rad18 is not. UV is a significant environmental agent that damages DNA. Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a DNA damage tolerance pathway that utilizes specialized DNA polymerases to replicate through the damaged DNA, often leading to mutagenesis. In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA is organized into chromatin that is composed of nucleosomes. To date, if and/or how TLS is regulated by a specific nucleosome feature has been undocumented. We found that mutations of multiple histone H4 residues mostly or entirely embedded in the nucleosomal LRS (loss of ribosomal DNA-silencing) domain attenuate UV mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The attenuation is not caused by an alteration of ubiquitination or sumoylation of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), the modifications well-known to regulate TLS. Also, the attenuation is not caused by decreased chromatin accessibility, or by alterations of methylation of histone H3 K79, which is at the center of the LRS surface. The attenuation may result from compromised TLS by both DNA polymerases ζ and η, in which Rad6 and Rad5 are but Rad18 is not implicated. We propose that a feature of the LRS is recognized or accessed by the TLS machineries either during/after a nucleosome is disassembled in front of a lesion-stalled replication fork, or during/before a nucleosome is reassembled behind a lesion-stalled replication fork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal phase control still remains a challenge for the precise synthesis of 2D layered metal dichalcogenide (LMD) materials. The T′ phase structure has profound influences on enhancing electrical conductivity, increasing active sites, and improving intrinsic catalytic activity, which are urgently needed for enhancing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Theoretical calculations suggest that metastable T′ phase 2D Sn1−xWxS2 alloys can be formed by combining W with 1T tin disulfide (SnS2) as a template to achieve a semiconductor‐to‐metallic transition. Herein, 2D Sn1−xWxS2 alloys with varying x are prepared by adjusting the molar ratio of reactants via hydrothermal synthesis, among which Sn0.3W0.7S2 displays a maximum of concentration of 81% in the metallic phase and features a distorted octahedral‐coordinated metastable 1T′ phase structure. The obtained 1T′‐Sn0.3W0.7S2 has high intrinsic electrical conductivity, lattice distortion, and defects, showing a prominently improved HER catalytic performance. Metallic Sn0.3W0.7S2 coupled with carbon black exhibits at least a 215‐fold improvement compared to pristine SnS2. It has excellent long‐term durability and HER activity. This work reveals a general phase transition strategy by using T phase materials as templates and merging heteroatoms to achieve synthetic metastable phase 2D LMDs that have a significantly improved HER catalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether partial laryngectomy is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the effect of different partial laryngectomy methods on OSA. Method: A prospective study was carried out involving 40 patients who underwent supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) (24) or vertical partial laryngectomy (VPL) (16) for carcinoma of the larynx. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation determined by polysomnography (PSG), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score, and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated in patients before surgery, on the day of tracheal tube removal and three months later. In patients who developed apnea, laryngoscopy, Muller's test, computer tomography (CT) and dynamic sleep magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to assess the location of airway stenosis and collapse. Results: The AHI (P<0.001) increased and the lowest oxygen saturation (P<0.001), ESS score (P<0.001) and BMI (P=0.017) decreased after extubation compared with before surgery. Three months after extubation, the same changes were found in AHI (P<0.001) and the lowest oxygen saturation (P<0.001), but the ESS score (P<0.001) increased compared with that preoperatively. The AHI in the SCPL group was significantly higher than that in the VPL group post-operatively (P=0.010), while the miniSpO2 in the SCPL group was lower than that of the VPL group (P=0.022). Laryngoscopy showed that the patients with partial excision of the larynx had a narrowed retropalatal and retrolingual space post-operatively. Muller's test showed the collapse of the retropalatal and retrolingual space, and the CT scan showed that the tongue root was positioned lower in the SCPL group. Compared with the retropalatal and retrolingual space in the expiratory phase according to dynamic sleep MRI, the space in the inspiratory phase was clearly decreased. Conclusion: Laryngeal function preservation surgery for laryngeal cancer results in the occurrence of OSA by altering the anatomical structure of the larynx and pharynx. OSA was more severe in patients undergoing SCPL than in patients undergoing VPL. The effect of partial laryngectomy on OSA may be related to the surgical method used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield of rapeseed is directly and indirectly influenced by silique-related traits, the genetic dissection, and improvement of the silique-related traits are thus the most important research project in rapeseed. Seven silique-related traits, including seed number per silique (SPS), silique length (SL), silique width (SW), silique thickness (ST), silique volume (SV), silique density (SD), and thousand seed weight (TSW) were further analyzed through quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping based on a high-density genetic linkage map in KN population. A total of 273 identified QTLs were integrated into 230 consensus QTLs, in which 84.78% of consensus QTLs were considered to be environment-specific QTLs and 15.22% of consensus QTLs were considered to be environmentally stable expression QTLs. Two major QTLs, including cqSW.C6-5 for SW and cqSPS.C6-3 for SPS were identified on C06. According to QTLs integrated from different silique traits, 48 unique QTLs were identified with pleiotropy that involved in 2–5 silique-related traits. In addition, 185 epistatic locus pairs were identified with the PV ranging from 0.96 to 15.98%. QTL comparison were made between the KN population and other mapping populations, a total of 164 QTLs for silique-related traits (48 for SPS, 31 for SL, 7 for SD, and 78 for TSW) from nine previously reported researches were aligned to the Brassica napus reference genome, in which 23 QTLs were considered as new QTLs (8 for SD, 4 for SL, 7 for SPS, 4 for TSW). More importantly, cqSPS.C6-3 for SPS might be a novel major QTL. Furthermore, 82 candidate genes in B. napus corresponding to 48 candidate genes in Arabidopsis thaliana were identified, which were involved in transcription factors, enzymes, protein structure units, phytohormone response factors, and transporters, etc. These findings not only provided more comprehensive insights into the genetic basis for silique-related traits but also new cues for improving silique and increasing seed yield in B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]