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Background: Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKKs) are significant components in the MAPK signal pathway and play essential roles in regulating plants against drought stress. To explore MAPKKK gene family functioning in cotton response and resistance to drought stress, we conducted a systematic analysis of GhMAPKKKs. Results: In this study, 157 nonredundant GhMAPKKKs (including 87 RAFs, 46 MEKKs and 24 ZIKs) were identified in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). These GhMAPKKK genes are unevenly distributed on 26 chromosomes, and segmental duplication is the major way for the enlargement of MAPKKK family. Furthermore, members within the same subfamily share a similar gene structure and motif composition. A lot of cis-elements relevant to plant growth and response to stresses are distributed in promoter regions of GhMAPKKKs. Additionally, these GhMAPKKKs show differential expression patterns in cotton tissues. The transcription levels of most genes were markedly altered in cotton under heat, cold and PEG treatments, while the expressions of some GhMAPKKKs were induced in cotton under drought stress. Among these drought-induced genes, we selected GhRAF4 and GhMEKK12 for further functional characterization by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method. The experimental results indicated that the gene-silenced cotton displayed decreased tolerance to drought stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was higher, but proline accumulation, relative leaf water content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were lower in the gene-silenced cotton, compared with those in the controls, under drought stress. Conclusion: Collectively, a systematic survey of gene structure, chromosomal location, motif composition and evolutionary relationship of MAPKKKs were performed in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). The following expression and functional study showed that some of them take important parts in cotton drought tolerance. Thus, the data presented here may provide a foundation for further investigating the roles of GhMAPKKKs in cotton response and resistance to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-varying (TV) nonlinear systems widely exist in various fields of engineering and science. Effective identification and modeling of TV systems is a challenging problem due to the nonstationarity and nonlinearity of the associated processes. In this paper, a novel parametric modeling algorithm is proposed to deal with this problem based on a TV nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (TV-NARX) model. A new class of multiple beta wavelet (MBW) basis functions is introduced to represent the TV coefficients of the TV-NARX model to enable the tracking of both smooth trends and sharp changes of the system behavior. To produce a parsimonious model structure, a locally regularized ultraorthogonal forward regression (LRUOFR) algorithm aided by the adjustable prediction error sum of squares (APRESS) criterion is investigated for sparse model term selection and parameter estimation. Simulation studies and a real application to EEG data show that the proposed MBW-LRUOFR algorithm can effectively capture the global and local features of nonstationary systems and obtain an optimal model, even for signals contaminated with severe colored noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SIMS U-Pb dating of Jiama intrusives brackets magmatic event related to Jiama porphyry-skarn mineralization in 1.3 Myr. • Zircon O-Hf isotopic compositions suggest Jiama ore-forming magmas were derived from melting of the newly formed Tibetan lower crust. • No significant magma mixing has been observed during the magmatic evolution from diorite to granite. The post-collisional Gangdese metallogenic belt with over 45 Mt Cu has attracted worldwide attention. We report the whole-rock geochemistry, zircon SIMS U–Pb geochronology, and in situ zircon Hf–O isotopic compositions of the Jiama deposit in the Gangdese belt. The intermediate to the felsic intrusive rocks are characterized by high SiO 2 (64.8 to 78.8 wt. %) and Al 2 O 3 (12.1 to 16.3 wt. %) contents, high Sr/Y ratios (43–74), showing the geochemical characteristics of adakites. Zircons from four intrusives yield U–Pb ages of 16.19 ± 0.20 Ma, 15.67 ± 0.32 Ma, 15.44 ± 0.16 Ma, and 14.90 ± 0.16 Ma, respectively, which brackets magmatic event related to mineralization in 1.3 Myr (16.19 to 14.90 Ma). Magmatic zircons have intermediate δ18O (+5.21 to + 7.18‰), and depleted Hf isotopic values (εHf(t) = 1.8 to 9.4). In combination of whole rock, plagioclase, and zircon geochemistry, we suggest the main ore-forming magma was derived from the remelting of the newly formed lower crust. During the whole journey of magma ascending from lower crust to the surface, no significant injection or mixing of mafic melt from different source has been observed. This is supported by three lines of evidence: 1) There is no clear reverse zonation in plagioclase, 2) the major and trace element compositions of continuous lithologies from diorite to granite shows no significant mixing, 3) there is no significant change of the zircon O and Hf isotope among different intrusions. Our study suggests that the formation of the giant porphyry deposits such as Jiama in post-collisional setting likely form in a short-term (<1.5 Myr) without significant magma mixing during magmatic evolution from diorite to granite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently isolated Fusarium population from maize in Belgium was identified as a new species, Fusarium temperatum. From a survey of Fusarium species associated with maize ear rot in nineteen provinces in 2009 in China, ten strains isolated from Guizhou and Hubei provinces were identified as F. temperatum. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the DNA sequences of individual translation elongation factor 1-alpha and β-tubulin genes revealed that the recovered isolates produced macroconidia typical of four-septate with a foot-shaped basal cell and belonged to F. temperatum that is distinctly different from its most closely related species F. subglutinans and others within Gibberella fujikuroi complex species from maize. All the strains from this newly isolated species were able to infect maize and wheat in field, with higher pathogenicity on maize. Mycotoxin determination of maize grains infected by the strains under natural field condition by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that among fifteen mycotoxins assayed, two mycotoxins fumonisin B1 and B2 ranging from 9.26 to 166.89 μg/g were detected, with massively more FB2 mycotoxin (2.8- to 108.8-fold) than FB1. This mycotoxin production profile is different from that of the Belgian population in which only fumonisin B1 was barely detected in one of eleven strains assayed. Comparative analyses of the F. temperatum and F. subglutinans strains showed that the highest fumonisin producers were present among the F. temperatum population, which were also the most pathogenic to maize. These results suggested a need for proper monitoring and controlling this species in the relevant maize-growing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four 2D coordination polymers (CPs) with different structures containing the multifunctional ligand 5-hydroxyisophthalate (5-OH-BDC2−), [Zn(5-OH-BDC)(btb)]·2H2O (1), [Cd(5-OH-BDC)(btp)(H2O)]·3H2O (2), [Cd(5-OH-BDC)(bth)2(H2O)]·H2O (3) and [Pb(5-OH-BDC)]·H2O (4) [btp=1, 3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propane, btb=1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butane, bth=1, 6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexane] were obtained. 1–3 were synthesised hydrothermally, while 4 was obtained under ambient condition. The adjacent (2D→2D) polycatenated 2D layers of 1 polythread in a parallel manner to form an unusual 2D→3D polythreaded framework. 2 contains an undulated 2D (4, 4) network and further extends into an “embracing” double-layer structure through the C–H···π and π···π stacking interactions. 3 exhibits a non-interpenetrating 2D (4, 4)-network. 4 exhibits a 2D double-layered binodal (4, 4)-net containing oblong nanochannels with symbol (4363)2. Reversible dehydration–rehydration is observed in 1, 2 and 4, which fall within the category of “recoverable collapsing” and “guest-induced re-formation” frameworks, while 3 exhibits irreversible dehydration–rehydration behaviour. The solid state fluorescent properties of 1–4 have been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the presence of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) pose serious threats to wheat production and food safety worldwide. DON, as a virulence factor, is crucial for the spread of FHB pathogens on plants. However, germplasm resources that are naturally resistant to DON and DON‐producing FHB pathogens are inadequate in plants. Here, detoxifying bacteria genes responsible for DON epimerization were used to enhance the resistance of wheat to mycotoxin DON and FHB pathogens. We characterized the complete pathway and molecular basis leading to the thorough detoxification of DON via epimerization through two sequential reactions in the detoxifying bacterium Devosia sp. D6‐9. Epimerization efficiently eliminates the phytotoxicity of DON and neutralizes the effects of DON as a virulence factor. Notably, co‐expressing of the genes encoding quinoprotein dehydrogenase (QDDH) for DON oxidation in the first reaction step, and aldo‐keto reductase AKR13B2 for 3‐keto‐DON reduction in the second reaction step significantly reduced the accumulation of DON as virulence factor in wheat after the infection of pathogenic Fusarium, and accordingly conferred increased disease resistance to FHB by restricting the spread of pathogenic Fusarium in the transgenic plants. Stable and improved resistance was observed in greenhouse and field conditions over multiple generations. This successful approach presents a promising avenue for enhancing FHB resistance in crops and reducing mycotoxin contents in grains through detoxification of the virulence factor DON by exogenous resistance genes from microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Well-crystallized one-dimensional (1D) SnO2 nanobelts were in situ prepared using a simple water-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The small Sn particles with Au-modifications were used as source materials instead of big size Sn grains to ensure the high yield of SnO2 belts. The Au layer was modified on the small Sn particles by treating Sn powders in HAuCl4 solution combined with the UV irradiation. The as-prepared SnO2 nanobelts were characterized by SEM, HRTEM, XRD, EDS and XPS. These results indicate that the growth temperature plays an important role in controlling the length-to-width ratio of nanobelts. The length-to-width ratio decreases with the growth temperature from 850°C to 1000°C. The nanobelts prepared at 850°C shows a single-crystalline tetragonal rutile phase with a high length-to-width ratio (approximately tens of microns in length and 40–70nm in width). However, below 850°C, nanobelts cannot be formed. The as-prepared nanobelts exhibited excellent sensing properties compared with SnO2 nanoparticles and high sensing selectivity towards NO2. The high sensing selectivity to NO2 is attributed to the oxygen vacancies presenting in the as-prepared nanobelts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fusarium graminearum clade species are among the main causative agents of Gibberella ear rot (GER) in maize and responsible for the various trichothecene mycotoxins accumulated in contaminated maize grains. In this study, a total of 620 isolates from diseased maize ears collected from 59 districts in 19 provinces throughout China, previously identified morphologically as Fusarium graminearum clade, was genetically characterized at the species level based on SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) and for their potential capability of mycotoxin production using the genetic chemotyping assay. The results showed that 359 isolates were F. asiaticum (SCAR 5), which consisted of 97% nivalenol (NIV)-chemotypes, 0.8% 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON)-producing isolates and 2.2% 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) producers, whereas the remaining 261 isolates were identified as F. graminearum sensu stricto (SCAR 1), all of which produced 15-ADON mycotoxins. This high proportion of NIV producers present in F. asiaticum is different from the chemotype patterns in F. asiaticum populations isolated from wheat and barley, where DON and its acetylated chemotypes were the predominant mycotoxins. Moreover, the majority of NIV producers (59.1%) and all the 3-ADON-producing strains were derived from the warmer regions in southern China, whereas most of the 15-ADON-producing strains (78.4%) were isolated from the colder regions in northern China. Our study is the first report of NIV chemotypes of F. asiaticum and 15-ADON chemotypes of F. graminearum sensu stricto that were associated with the GER of maize in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominant species of a biome can be regarded as its genuine indicator. Evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) in subtropical East Asia harbor high levels of species biodiversity and endemism and are vital to regional carbon storage and cycling. However, the historical assembly of this unique biome is still controversial. Fagaceae is the most essential family in East Asian subtropical EBLFs and its dominant species are vital for the existence of this biome. Here, we used the dominant Fagaceae species to shed light on the dynamic process of East Asian subtropical EBLFs over time. Our results indicate high precipitation in summer and low temperature in winter are the most influential climatic factors for the distribution of East Asian subtropical EBLFs. Modern East Asian subtropical EBLFs did not begin to appear until 23 Ma, subsequently experienced a long‐lasting development in the Miocene and markedly deteriorated at about 4 Ma, driven jointly by orogenesis and paleoclimate. We also document that there is a lag time between when one clade invaded the region and when its members become dominant species within the region. This study may improve our ability to predict and mitigate the threats to biodiversity of East Asian subtropical EBLFs and points to a new path for future studies involving multidisciplinary methods to explore the assembly of regional biomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A large number of isolates from the Fusarium graminearum clade representing all regions in China with a known history of Fusarium head blight (FHB) epidemics in wheat were assayed using PCR to ascertain their trichothecene mycotoxin chemotypes and associated phylogenetic species and geographical distribution. Of the 299 isolates assayed, 231 are from F. asiaticum species lineage 6, which produce deoxynivalenol and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON); deoxynivalenol and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON); and nivalenol and 4-acetylnivalenol (NIV) mycotoxins, with 3-AcDON being the predominant chemotype. Ninety-five percent of this species originated from the warmer regions where the annual average temperatures were above 15°C, based on the climate data of 30y during 1970–1999. However, 68 isolates within F. graminearum species lineage 7 consisted only of 15-AcDON producers, 59% of which were from the cooler regions where the annual average temperatures were 15°C or lower. Identification of a new subpopulation of 15-AcDON producers revealed a molecular distinction between F. graminearum and F. asiaticum that produce 15-AcDON. An 11-bp repeat is present in F. graminearum within their Tri7 gene sequences but is absent in F. asiaticum, which could be directly used for differentiating the two phylogenetic species of the F. graminearum clade. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline porous CdSe thin films with particle diameter of 6.0 and 8.0 nm were prepared by chemical deposition on SnO2 conducting glass substrates. The broadening of the excitonic transitions in the absorption spectrum due to the size distribution and an increase of bandgap energy compared with the bulk CdSe are observed. Electrolyte electroabsorption (EEA) spectrum measured in polysulfide solution exhibits the characteristic second derivative lineshape of the quantum-confined CdSe nanoparticles. A quadratic modulation voltage dependence of EEA signals indicates that the electrical field distribution of nanocrystalline porous CdSe thin films is different significantly from that of bulk CdSe thin films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we study the FCNC decay processes of B and B c meson, in which one invisible particle is emitted. Both the spin-0 and spin-1 cases are considered. The model-independent effective Lagrangian is introduced to describe the coupling between the light invisible boson and quarks. The constraints of the coupling coefficients are extracted by experimental upper limits of the missing energy in B meson decays. The bounds are used to predict the upper limits of branching fractions of corresponding B c decays, which are of the order of 10 - 6 or 10 - 5 when final meson is pseudoscalar or vector, respectively. The maximum branch ratios are achieved when m χ ≈ 3.5 –4 GeV, where m χ is the mass of the invisible particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow cytometry is an essential technique in single particle analysis and cell sorting for further downstream diagnosis, exhibiting high-throughput and multiplexing capabilities for many biological and biomedical applications. Although many hydrodynamic focusing-based microfluidic cytometers have been demonstrated with reduced size and cost to adapt to point-of-care settings, the operating conditions are not characterized systematically. This study presents the flow transition process in the hydrodynamic focusing mechanism when the flow rate or the Reynolds number increases. The characteristics of flow fields and mass transport were studied under various operating conditions, including flow rates and microchannel heights. A transition from the squeezed focusing state to the over-squeezed anti-focusing state in the hydrodynamic focusing regime was observed when the Reynolds number increased above 30. Parametric studies illustrated that the focusing width increased with the Reynolds number but decreased with the microchannel height in the over-squeezed state. The microfluidic cytometric analyses using microbeads and E. coli show that the recovery rate was maintained by limiting the Reynolds number to 30. The detailed analysis of the flow transition will provide new insight into microfluidic cytometric analyses with a broad range of applications in food safety, water monitoring and healthcare sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: MicroRNA‐like RNAs (milRNAs) post‐transcriptionally down‐regulate target genes. We investigated Fusarium graminearum (Fg) milRNA expression during fungal vegetative growth and infection of wheat. Small RNA sequencing identified 36 milRNAs from Fg, one of which, Fgmil‐2, had >100 transcripts per million in conidia, mycelia and infected wheat, with the highest expression in conidia and the lowest expression in colonized wheat tissue. Fgmil‐2 displays perfect homology to the 3ʹ‐untranslated region (3ʹ‐UTR) of an FgbioH1 messenger RNA that is involved in biotin biosynthesis. Poly(A) polymerase‐mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends combined with sequencing analysis demonstrated that cleavage at a specific site by FgDicer2 in the 3ʹ‐UTR of FgbioH1 transcripts generated the Fgmil‐2 precursor with a typical hairpin structure. Deletion of FgbioH1 or FgDicer2 genes abolished Fgmil‐2 biogenesis. FgbioH1 had an inversely correlated pattern of expression to that of Fgmil‐2 and FgDicer2. Deletion of FgbioH1 also showed that it is required for mycelial growth, virulence, mycotoxin biosynthesis and expression of biotin‐dependent carboxylase genes. This study reveals in Fg a novel mode of inversely correlated post‐transcriptional regulation in which Fgmil‐2 originates from its own target transcript, FgbioH, to govern biotin biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus flavus and the produced aflatoxins cause great hazards to food security and human health across all countries. The control of A. flavus and aflatoxins in grains during storage is of great significance to humans. In the current study, bacteria strain YM6 isolated from sea sediment was demonstrated effective in controlling A. flavus by the production of anti-fungal volatiles. According to morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, strain YM6 was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri. YM6 can produce abundant volatile compounds which could inhibit mycelial growth and conidial germination of A. flavus. Moreover, it greatly prevented fungal infection and aflatoxin production on maize and peanuts during storage. The inhibition rate was 100%. Scanning electron microscopy further supported that the volatiles could destroy the cell structure of A. flavus and prevent conidia germination on the grain surface. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed that dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) with a relative abundance of 13% is the most abundant fraction in the volatiles from strain YM6. The minimal inhibitory concentration of DMTS to A. flavus conidia is 200 µL/L (compound volume/airspace volume). Thus, we concluded that Pseudomonas stutzeri YM6 and the produced DMTS showed great inhibition to A. flavus, which could be considered as effective biocontrol agents in further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterioplasty with an autologous pericardial patch helps avoid having to perform pneumonectomy in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. However, a minimally invasive procedure for this technique has rarely been reported because the patch usually shrinks and recoils after retrieval, complicating the suturing procedure. We describe our experience with performing autologous pericardial patch arterioplasty without glutaraldehyde fixation using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a patient who received neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The pulmonary bloodstream was temporarily controlled by an endoscopic tourniquet placed at the pulmonary artery proximal to the ligamentum arteriosum as well as at the inferior pulmonary vein. A pericardial patch harvested anterior to the phrenic nerve was used to repair the hemi-circumferential pulmonary artery defect. Patch angioplasty was performed using a running suture with a 5–0 nonabsorbable monofilament thread, with the epicardial layer facing inside. No graft-related complications including stenosis occurred during the follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hickory genus (Carya) contains ca. 17 species distributed in subtropical and tropical regions of eastern Asia and subtropical to temperate regions of eastern North America. Previously, the phylogenetic relationships between eastern Asian and eastern North American species of Carya were not fully confirmed even with an extensive sampling, biogeographic and diversification patterns had thus never been investigated in a phylogenetic context. We sampled 17 species of Carya and 15 species representing all other genera of the Juglandaceae as outgroups, with eight nuclear and plastid loci to reconstruct the phylogeny of Carya. The phylogenetic positions of seven extinct genera of the Juglandaceae were inferred using morphological characters and the molecular phylogeny as a backbone constraint. Divergence times within Carya were estimated with relaxed Bayesian dating. Biogeographic analyses were performed in DIVA and LAGRANGE. Diversification rates were inferred by LASER and APE packages. Our results support two major clades within Carya, corresponding to the lineages of eastern Asia and eastern North America. The split between the two disjunct clades is estimated to be 21.58 (95% HPD 11.07-35.51) Ma. Genus-level DIVA and LAGRANGE analyses incorporating both extant and extinct genera of the Juglandaceae suggested that Carya originated in North America, and migrated to Eurasia during the early Tertiary via the North Atlantic land bridge. Fragmentation of the distribution caused by global cooling in the late Tertiary resulted in the current disjunction. The diversification rate of hickories in eastern North America appeared to be higher than that in eastern Asia, which is ascribed to greater ecological opportunities, key morphological innovations, and polyploidy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight ( FHB) in wheat and other small grain cereals is a globally devastating disease caused by toxigenic Fusarium pathogens. Controlling FHB is a challenge because germplasm that is naturally resistant against these pathogens is inadequate. Current control measures rely on fungicides. Here, an antibody fusion comprised of the Fusarium spp.-specific recombinant antibody gene CWP2 derived from chicken, and the endochitinase gene Ech42 from the biocontrol fungus Trichoderma atroviride was introduced into the elite wheat cultivar Zhengmai9023 by particle bombardment. Expression of this fusion gene was regulated by the lemma/palea-specific promoter Lem2 derived from barley; its expression was confirmed as lemma/palea-specific in transgenic wheat. Single-floret inoculation of independent transgenic wheat lines of the T3 to T6 generations revealed significant resistance (type II) to fungal spreading, and natural infection assays in the field showed significant resistance (type I) to initial infection. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed marked reduction of mycotoxins in the grains of the transgenic wheat lines. Progenies of crosses between the transgenic lines and the FHB-susceptible cultivar Huamai13 also showed significantly enhanced FHB resistance. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the tissue-specific expression of the antibody fusion was induced by salicylic acid drenching and induced to a greater extent by F. graminearum infection. Histochemical analysis showed substantial restriction of mycelial growth in the lemma tissues of the transgenic plants. Thus, the combined tissue-specific and pathogen-inducible expression of this Fusarium-specific antibody fusion can effectively protect wheat against Fusarium pathogens and reduce mycotoxin content in grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] TPS1 and TPS2 are essential for trehalose biosynthesis in F. graminearum. [•] TPS2 is essential for cell polarity, sporulation and sexual development. [•] TPS2 is required for virulence, mycotoxin biosynthesis and cell wall biosynthesis. [•] Loss of TPS2 causes changed expression of 1885-specific genes. [•] TPS1 is dispensable for development and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a quasi‐continuous ratio gradient alloy steel (GAS) with a 24CrNiMo high‐strength low‐alloy steel matrix for high‐speed railway brake discs is fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The composition of GAS is X% 24CrNiMo + (1–X)% wear‐resistant stainless steel (WSS), in which X is 100, 65, 35, and 0. The relationship between the microstructure and the corrosion resistance is intensively studied by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and potentiodynamic electrochemical equipment. With the increase in the content of WSS, the low angle grain boundaries of the GAS increases, and the microstructure refines and the texture intensity decreases. The passivation film of the external WSS strengthening layer is dense; the corresponding corrosion potential and corrosion current density are −0.109 V and 2.08 × 10−8 A cm−2, respectively. The corrosion current density is about 1% of the substrate 24CrNiMo, and the corrosion resistance of the material is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Functional characterization of a Myo2 gene in F. graminearum. [•] Myo2 is essential for septation and sexual development. [•] Myo2 is required for virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis. [•] Time-lapse imaging of septation process in Δmyo2 mutant and wild-type. [•] Lively monitoring of GFP-tagged Myo2 in hyphal and conidial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fusarium and its poisonous mycotoxins are distributed worldwide and are of particular interest in agriculture and food safety. A simple analytical method to detect pathogens is essential for forecasting diseases and controlling mycotoxins. This article describes a proposed method for convenient and sensitive detection of Fusarium pathogens that uses the fusion of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and alkaline phosphatase (AP). A highly reactive scFv antibody specific to soluble cell wall-bound proteins (SCWPs) of F. verticillioides was selected from an immunized chicken phagemid library by phage display. The antibody was verified to bind on the surface of ungerminated conidiospores and mycelia of F. verticillioides. The scFv–AP fusion was constructed, and soluble expression in bacteria was confirmed. Both the antibody properties and enzymatic activity were retained, and the antigen-binding capacity of the fusion was enhanced by the addition of a linker. Surface plasmon resonance measurements confirmed that the fusion displayed 4-fold higher affinity compared with the fusion''s parental scFv antibody. Immunoblot analyses showed that the fusion had good binding capacity to the components from SCWPs of F. verticillioides, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that the detection limit of the fungus was below 10−2 μgmL−1, superior to the scFv antibody. The fusion protein was able to detect fungal concentrations as low as 10−3 mgg−1 of maize grains in both naturally and artificially contaminated samples. Thus, the fusion can be applied in rapid and simple diagnosis of Fusarium contamination in field and stored grain or in food. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Transcription factors play a central role in cell biology through binding to target DNA elements and regulating gene expression. In this study, we used the p53 tumour suppressor as a model transcription factor to develop an imaging based assay to measure DNA binding. The assay utilizes fluorescence imaging microscopy to detect labelled p53 bound to DNA coated on microbeads. We demonstrate the ability to multiplex the assay by interrogating simultaneous binding to variant DNA sequences present on tractable beads. Additionally, the assay measures activation of p53 for increased DNA binding by a known peptide in addition to reactivation of mutant p53 by a small molecule. It may therefore be adaptable to a high-content imaging screen for compounds capable of restoring the function of mutant p53 associated with cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: One homochiral 1D coordination polymer [Cu(ATIBDC)(2,2′-bipy)]·3H2O·CH3OH (1) and three achiral 1D coordination polymers: [Cd(ATIBDC)(2,2′-bipy)(H2O)]·3H2O (2), [Cd(ATIBDC)(phen)(H2O)]·4H2O (3), and [Mn(ATIBDC)(phen)2]·5H2O (4) have been synthesized and characterized (H2ATIBDC=5-amino-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid, 2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipyridine, and phen=1,10-phenanthroline). Extended high dimensional network architectures are further constructed with the help of weak secondary interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, aromatic stacking, and halogen bonding (C–I…π and C–I…N/O). Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with chiral space group P2(1) and exhibits a right-handed 21 helical chain structure. The homochirality of 1 was confirmed by CD spectrum. Interestingly, two new configurations of decameric water cluster are found in 3 and 4. The acyclic tetrameric cluster (H2O)3(CH3OH) in 1 and (H2O)4 in 2 array into highly ordered helical infinite chains. Thermal stabilities of all the complexes have been studied. Solid state fluorescent properties of the Cd(II) complexes have been explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Natural resistance of wheat against Fusarium head blight (FHB) is inadequate and new strategies for controlling the disease are required. Chitin synthases that catalyze chitin biosynthesis would be an ideal target for antifungal agents. In this study, a class I chitin synthase gene (CHS1) from Fusarium asiaticum, the predominant species of FHB pathogens on wheat in China, was functionally disrupted via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Specific disruption of the CHS1 gene resulted in a 58% reduction of chitin synthase activity, accompanied by decreases of 35% in chitin content, 22% in conidiation, and 16% in macroconidium length. The Δchs1 mutant strain had a growth rate comparable to that of the wild-type on PDA medium but had a 35% increase in the number of nuclear cellulae and exhibited a remarkably increased sensitivity to osmosis stresses. Electron microscopy revealed substantial changes occurring in cell wall structures of the macroconidium, ascospore, and mycelium, with the most profound changes in the mycelium. Furthermore, the Δchs1 mutant displayed significantly reduced pathogenicity on wheat spikes and seedlings. Re-introduction of a functional CHS1 gene into the Δchs1 mutant strain restored the wild-type phenotype. These results reveal an important in vivo role played by a CHS1 gene in a FHB pathogen whose mycelial chitin could serve as a target for controlling the disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels are associated with elevated blood pressure. However, the causal association between Hcy levels and the risk of hypertension remains ambiguous. Taking the study design effect into consideration, this study aimed to investigate this issue through a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Data were obtained from the Beijing Health Management Cohort study, which conducted routine health check-ups from 2012 to 2017. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the cross-sectional analysis, and a quadratic inference function approach was performed for the longitudinal analysis. A total of 30 376 subjects (mean age = 50.0 years) were included in the cross-sectional analysis, and a subgroup of 3913 subjects without hypertension at baseline was included in the longitudinal analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of hypertension increased with Hcy levels in the cross-sectional analysis using the traditional definition of hypertension (OR = 1.262, 95% CI: 1.155-1.378, Q2 vs Q1; OR = 1.458, 95% CI: 1.335-1.593, Q3 vs Q1; OR = 1.520, 95% CI: 1.388-1.664, Q4 vs Q1) and the 2017 hypertension definition (OR = 1.159, 95% CI: 1.067-1.259, Q2 vs Q1; OR = 1.328, 95% CI: 1.221-1.445, Q3 vs Q1; OR = 1.328, 95% CI: 1.217-1.449, Q4 vs Q1). The longitudinal analysis showed that hypertension risk increased in the third quartile of Hcy (OR = 1.268, 95% CI: 1.030-1.560, Q3 vs Q1). Elevated total plasma Hcy may be used as a predictive biomarker for hypertension. Attention should be paid to gender-specific mechanisms when issuing precise precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of gold nanorods was assessed following coating with various charged or uncharged ligands, mostly peptides. Highly stable monodispersed gold nanorods were obtained by coating CTAB-stabilized gold nanorods with a pentapeptide with C-terminal ethylene glycol units (peptide-EG). UV–vis spectroscopy of these nanorods suspended in saline solutions indicated no signs of aggregation, and they were easily purified using size-exclusion chromatography. A more stringent measure of nanorod stability involved observing changes in the UV–vis absorbance of gold nanorods subjected to etching with cyanide. The λ max absorbance of peptide-EG coated nanorods red-shifted in etchant solution. The hypothesis that changes in the nanorod aspect ratio led to this red-shift was confirmed by TEM analysis, which showed pit formation along the transverse axis. The etching process was followed in solution using nanoparticle tracking analysis. The red-shift was shown to occur while the particles remained mono-dispersed, and so was not due to aggregation. Adding both etchant solution and peptide-EG to the nanorods was further shown to allow modulation of the Δλ max red-shift and increase the etchant resistance of peptide-EG nanorods. Thus, very stable gold nanorods can be produced using the peptide-EG coating approach and their optical properties modulated with etchant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reconstructed a phylogenetic tree of Chinese vascular plants (Tracheophyta) using sequences of the chloroplast genes atpB, matK, ndhF, and rbcL and mitochondrial matR. We produced a matrix comprising 6098 species and including 13 695 DNA sequences, of which 1803 were newly generated. Our taxonomic sampling spanned 3114 genera representing 323 families of Chinese vascular plants, covering more than 93% of all genera known from China. The comprehensive large phylogeny supports most relationships among and within families recognized by recent molecular phylogenetic studies for lycophytes, ferns (monilophytes), gymnosperms, and angiosperms. For angiosperms, most families in Angiosperm Phylogeny Group IV are supported as monophyletic, except for a paraphyletic Dipterocarpaceae and Santalaceae. The infrafamilial relationships of several large families and monophyly of some large genera are well supported by our dense taxonomic sampling. Our results showed that two species of Eberhardtia are sister to a clade formed by all other taxa of Sapotaceae, except Sarcosperma. We have made our phylogeny of Chinese vascular plants publically available for the creation of subtrees via SoTree (), an automated phylogeny assembly tool for ecologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing interest in integrating a regional tree of life with community assembly rules in the ecological research. This raises questions regarding the impacts of taxon sampling strategies at the regional versus global scales on the topology. To address this concern, we constructed two trees for the nitrogen-fixing clade: (i) a genus-level global tree including 1023 genera; and (ii) a regional tree comprising 303 genera, with taxon sampling limited to China. We used the supermatrix approach and performed maximum likelihood analyses on combined matK, rbcL, and trnL-F plastid sequences. We found that the topology of the global and the regional tree of the N-fixing clade were generally congruent. However, whereas relationships among the four orders obtained with the global tree agreed with the accepted topology obtained in focused analyses with more genes, the regional topology obtained different relationships, albeit weakly supported. At a finer scale, the phylogenetic position of the family Myricaceae was found to be sensitive to sampling density. We expect that internal support throughout the phylogeny could be improved with denser taxon sampling. The taxon sampling approach (global vs. regional) did not have a major impact on fine-level branching patterns of the N-fixing clade. Thus, a well-resolved phylogeny with relatively dense taxon sampling strategy at the regional scale appears, in this case, to be a good representation of the overall phylogenetic pattern and could be used in ecological research. Otherwise, the regional tree should be adjusted according to the correspondingly reliable global tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant germplasm resources with natural resistance against globally important toxigenic Fusarium are inadequate. CWP2, a Fusarium genus-specific antibody, confers durable resistance to different Fusarium pathogens that infect cereals and other crops, producing mycotoxins. However, the nature of the CWP2 target is not known. Thus, investigation of the gene coding for the CWP2 antibody target will likely provide critical insights into the mechanism underlying the resistance mediated by this disease-resistance antibody., Immunoblots and mass spectrometry analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis gels containing cell wall proteins from Fusarium graminearum ( Fg) revealed that a glyoxal oxidase ( GLX) is the CWP2 antigen. Cellular localization studies showed that GLX is localized to the plasma membrane., This GLX efficiently catalyzes hydrogen peroxide production; this enzymatic activity was specifically inhibited by the CWP2 antibody. GLX-deletion strains of Fg, F. verticillioides ( Fv) and F. oxysporum had significantly reduced virulence on plants. The GLX-deletion Fg and Fv strains had markedly reduced mycotoxin accumulation, and the expression of key genes in mycotoxin metabolism was downregulated., This study reveals a single gene-encoded and highly conserved cellular surface antigen that is specifically recognized by the disease-resistance antibody CWP2 and regulates both virulence and mycotoxin biosynthesis in Fusarium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) have unique mutation patterns, and some of these mutations may be used to predict prognosis or guide patient treatment. Mutation profiling before and during treatment often requires repeated tumor biopsies, which is not always possible. Recently, cell-free, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) isolated from blood plasma has been shown to contain genetic mutations representative of those found in the primary tumor tissue DNA (tDNA), and these samples can readily be obtained using non-invasive techniques. However, there are still no standardized methods to identify mutations in ctDNA. In the current study, we used a targeted sequencing approach with a semi-conductor based next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform to identify gene mutations in matched tDNA and ctDNA samples from 42 advanced-stage NSCLC patients from China. We identified driver mutations in matched tDNA and ctDNA in EGFR, KRAS, PIK3CA, and TP53, with an overall concordance of 76%. In conclusion, targeted sequencing of plasma ctDNA may be a feasible option for clinical monitoring of NSCLC in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fumonisins produced by Fusarium pathogens are mycotoxins present in maize and other grains in the field as well as during storage worldwide and pose a serious threat to humans and domestic animals. Fumonisin B consists of different chemotypes, and fumonisin B (FB) is the most predominant fumonisin found in food/feed commodities. Recombinant antibody can be deployed to analyze the fumonisin toxicological mechanism and develop a simple and cost-effective method for the detection of fumonisins, which is vitally important for monitoring and preventing fumonisins from entering food/feed chains. In this study, FB conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used to immunize mice, from which RNA was isolated to construct a recombinant antibody library. Successive panning of the library by phage display was used to select monoclonal phage clones reactive to FB conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Subsequent phage ELISA and sequencing analyses revealed four different reactive scFv antibodies specific to FB. Soluble expression and ELISA analysis showed that one scFv antibody, FBMA1, had the highest reactivity and could be purified from bacterial cells in large quantities. Surface plasmon resonance measurements further revealed that the FBMA1 scFv antibody had a binding kinetics of K = 1.89 × 10 M. Molecular modeling and docking analyses suggested that the FBMA1 antibody shaped a proper cavity to embed the whole FB molecule and that a steady-state complex was formed relying on intermolecular forces, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic force and hydrophobic interactions. Thus, the scFv antibody can be applied for mechanistic studies of intermolecular interactions and fumonisin toxicity, and for the development of an immunoassay for fumonisin-contaminated food/feed samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Fusarium seedling blight (FSB) of wheat, caused by Fusarium pathogens, are devastating diseases worldwide. We report the expression of RNA interference (RNAi) sequences derived from an essential Fusarium graminearum (Fg) virulence gene, chitin synthase (Chs) 3b, as a method to enhance resistance of wheat plants to fungal pathogens. Deletion of Chs3b was lethal to Fg; disruption of the other Chs gene family members generated knockout mutants with diverse impacts on Fg. Comparative expression analyses revealed that among the Chs gene family members, Chs3b had the highest expression levels during Fg colonization of wheat. Three hairpin RNAi constructs corresponding to the different regions of Chs3b were found to silence Chs3b in transgenic Fg strains. Co-expression of these three RNAi constructs in two independent elite wheat cultivar transgenic lines conferred high levels of stable, consistent resistance (combined type I and II resistance) to both FHB and FSB throughout the T3 to T5 generations. Confocal microscopy revealed profoundly restricted mycelia in Fginfected transgenic wheat plants. Presence of the three specific short interfering RNAs in transgenic wheat plants was confirmed by Northern blotting, and these RNAs efficiently downregulated Chs3b in the colonizing Fusarium pathogens on wheat seedlings and spikes. Our results demonstrate that host-induced gene silencing of an essential fungal chitin synthase gene is an effective strategy for enhancing resistance in crop plants under field test conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling toxigenic Fusarium graminearum (FG) is challenging. A bacterial strain (S76-3, identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) that was isolated from diseased wheat spikes in the field displayed strong antifungal activity against FG. Reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses revealed that S76-3 produced three classes of cyclic lipopeptides including iturin, plipastatin and surfactin. Each class consisted of several different molecules. The iturin and plipastatin fractions strongly inhibited FG; the surfactin fractions did not. The most abundant compound that had antagonistic activity from the iturin fraction was iturin A (m/z 1043.35); the most abundant active compound from the plipastatin fraction was plipastatin A (m/z 1463.90). These compounds were analyzed with collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry. The two purified compounds displayed strong fungicidal activity, completely killing conidial spores at the minimal inhibitory concentration range of 50 µg/ml (iturin A) and 100 µg/ml (plipastatin A). Optical and fluorescence microscopy analyses revealed severe morphological changes in conidia and substantial distortions in FG hyphae treated with iturin A or plipastatin A. Iturin A caused leakage and/or inactivation of FG cellular contents and plipastatin A caused vacuolation. Time-lapse imaging of dynamic antagonistic processes illustrated that iturin A caused distortion and conglobation along hyphae and inhibited branch formation and growth, while plipastatin A caused conglobation in young hyphae and branch tips. Transmission electron microscopy analyses demonstrated that the cell walls of conidia and hyphae of iturin A and plipastatin A treated FG had large gaps and that their plasma membranes were severely damaged and separated from cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted a cross sectional study to investigate the quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer patients after treatment for one year and identify factors which may facilitate improvements in health care for breast cancer. Methods: A total of 154 patients of breast cancer were collected from The First Affiliated Hospital of Harerbin Medical University during May 2008 and May 2010, and they were divided into three groups. The quality of life was assessed by Functional assessment of cancer therapy- breast (FACT-B) version 4, and a semi-structured interview was used to investigate the information and rehabilitation needs of the breast cancer patients. Results: Group II had the best social well-being, functional well-being and Total FACT-G among the three groups. Group III had the best physical well-being, emotional well-being, breast specific subscales, total FACT-B and TOI among the three groups. Higher PWB scores were significantly correlation with lower tumor stage; increased SWB scores were significantly correlated with education and occupation, and lower EWB scores were correlated with younger aged women and higher tumor stage (< 40 years). The semistructured investigation showed all of them want to receive tumor markers detection and PET scan to prevent recurrence. 56% of these patients were worried about symptoms. 42% of the patients reported they had restriction in sexual relationship, and 57% wanted to improve their body image and reconstruction surgery. Conclusions: Breast cancer patients should be followed up for their quality of life and provided effective therapy for their physical and psychological problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Porous crystalline SnO2 thin films were electrodeposited from an oxygen-saturated acid aqueous solution of SnCl2 containing different amounts of butyl rhodamine B (BRhB) at 70°C. BRhB can not only be dissolved in the acid deposition solution due to its amidocyanogen substitute, where HCl was added to suppress hydrolysis of SnCl2, but also be adsorbed on the surface of SnO2 through its carbonate substitute. Therefore, it was used as a structure-directing agent to control the growth of SnO2 crystals and then the crystalline structure and surface morphology of the deposited film. The electrodeposited thin films show porous morphology and rutile-type SnO2 crystalline structure due to the effects of BRhB on the growth, and these structural features can be adjusted by changing the added amount of BRhB. The SnO2 thin film electrodeposited with addition of BRhB exhibits electrocatalytic characteristic enhancement on oxidation of phenol due to its porous structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the physical model of low voltage Direct-current (DC) glow discharge in cross field is established. Based on the magneto-hydrodynamic method (MHD), the mathematical expression of steady-state plasma physical parameters under cross field condition is derived, and the influence of magnetic field on low-pressure glow plasma physical parameters is analyzed. The theoretical results show that the magnetic field can effectively increase the electron density and ion density of plasma at low pressure. The magnetic field can increase the glow discharge current, and the introduction of the magnetic field makes the plasma concentrate to the discharge center. The effects of parallel field and cross field on glow discharge are compared by experiments. The experimental results show that the cross field has more influence on the glow plasma density than the parallel field, and the experimental results are consistent with the theoretical results. The main research highlights of this paper are as follows: • The analytical form of plasma parameters of flat plate DC glow discharge in transverse magnetic field is derived. • The influence of cross field on plasma parameters is more obvious than that of parallel field. • The cross field is easier to produce glow at lower pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The highly active DON-degrading bacterial strain Devosia sp. D6-9 was isolated. • Strain D6-9 catabolized DON via epimerization to form 3-keto-DON and 3- epi -DON. • A dehydrogenase and two reductases are responsible for DON detoxification in D6-9. • Three recombinant enzymes efficiently degraded DON present in wheat grains. • Residues S497, E499, and E535 in QDDH are essential for DON-oxidizing activity. The Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is typically controlled by fungicides. Here, we report DON detoxification using enzymes from the highly active Devosia strain D6-9 which degraded DON at 2.5 μg/min/108 cells. Strain D6-9 catabolized DON to 3-keto-DON and 3- epi -DON, completely removing DON in wheat. Genome analysis of three Devosia strains (D6-9, D17, and D13584), with strain D6-9 transcriptomes, identified three genes responsible for DON epimerization. One gene encodes a quinone-dependent DON dehydrogenase QDDH which oxidized DON into 3-keto-DON. Two genes encode the NADPH-dependent aldo/keto reductases AKR13B2 and AKR6D1 that convert 3-keto-DON into 3- epi -DON. Recombinant proteins expressed in E sch e richia coli efficiently degraded DON in wheat grains. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that residues S497, E499, and E535 function in QDDH's DON-oxidizing activity. These results advance potential microbial and enzymatic elimination of DON in agricultural samples and lend insight into the underlying mechanisms and molecular evolution of DON detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an effective BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 p - n heterojunction was established via a precipitation conversion method at ambient temperature. The light response of the hybrid was broadened for 16 nm compared with that of Bi 2 O 2 CO 3. More importantly, the charge transfer in BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 heterojunction was greatly promoted as evidenced by photocurrent, ESI and PL results. So the photocatalytic ability of BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 was greatly improved towards degradation of organic pollutants. The sample of Br amount of 0.094 wt% showed the optimal photoactivity for RhB degradation, with a rate constant k of 14.8 times as much as that of Bi 2 O 2 CO 3. The reason is ascribed to the established built-in electrical field and resulted band matching between BiOBr and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3. Based on the results, the migration mechanism of photoinduced charges at the interface of the heterojunction was put forward. This work provides a useful perspective in design and fabrication of Bi(III)-based heterostructure with an enhanced photocatalytic activity. Effective BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 p - n heterojunction was facilely constructed by precipitation conversion at room temperature. The hybrid exhibited obviously boosted photocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation due to the formation of built-in electrical field and resulted band matching between BiOBr and Bi 2 O 2 CO 3. Image 1 • BiOBr/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 p - n heterojuntion was facilely constructed by precipitation conversion. • The decoration of trace BiOBr on Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 surface greatly improves the charge mobility. • The heterojuntion exhibits an enhanced photoactivity of 14.8 folds than bare Bi 2 O 2 CO 3. • The reconstruction and migration of carriers in the heterojuntion interface was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichothecenes are the most common mycotoxins contaminating small grain cereals worldwide. The C12,13 epoxide group in the trichothecenes was identified as a toxic group posing harm to humans, farm animals, and plants. Aerobic biological de-epoxidation is considered the ideal method of controlling these types of mycotoxins. In this study, we isolated a novel trichothecene mycotoxin-de-epoxidating bacterium, Desulfitobacterium sp. PGC-3-9, from a consortium obtained from the soil of a wheat field known for the occurrence of frequent Fusarium head blight epidemics under aerobic conditions. Along with MMYPF media, a combination of two antibiotics (sulfadiazine and trimethoprim) substantially increased the relative abundance of Desulfitobacterium species from 1.55% (aerobic) to 29.11% (aerobic) and 28.63% (anaerobic). A single colony purified strain, PGC-3-9, was isolated and a 16S rRNA sequencing analysis determined that it was Desulfitobacterium. The PGC-3-9 strain completely de-epoxidated HT-2, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol and 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol, and efficiently eliminated DON in wheat grains under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The strain PGC-3-9 exhibited high DON de-epoxidation activity at a wide range of pH (6–10) and temperature (15–50 °C) values under both conditions. This strain may be used for the development of detoxification agents in the agriculture and feed industries and the isolation of de-epoxidation enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of food with Aspergillus flavus and subsequent aflatoxins is considered as one of the most severe safety problems in the world. The application of microorganisms and the produced bio-active compounds is considered as the most promising method for controlling foodborne pathogens and mycotoxins contamination both in pre- and post-harvest. Vt-7, identified as Enterobacter asburiae , was able to completely inhibit the growth of Aspergillus flavus (AF) and other seven important fungal pathogens by the production of volatiles. Additionally, it can also significantly inhibited AF infection on peanuts in storage, down-regulated the gene expression of aflatoxin biosynthesis and eventually prevented aflatoxins production. Scanning electron microscope further proved that Vt-7 volatiles prevented conidia germination of AF on peanut surface, and severely destroyed the conidia structure. Gas chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry revealed that two abundant compounds (1-Pentanol and Phenylethyl Alcohol) were involved in the volatile profiles. They showed great antagonistic activity against AF with minimal inhibitory concentration at 200 μL/L. Therefore, E. asburiae Vt-7, and volatiles 1-Pentanol and Phenylethyl Alcohol were effective agents in controlling AF and aflatoxins in peanut during storage. They will provide novel strategies for the application of microbe and bio-active compounds against fungal pathogens and mycotoxins in food and grains during storage. • E.asburiae Vt-7 greatly inhibited the growth of AF and other seven fungal pathogens. • Vt-7 volatile prevented AF infection and AFT production in peanuts during storage. • Antifungal volatiles from Vt-7 were proved as phenylethyl alcohol and 1-pentanol. • MIC for phenylethyl alcohol and 1-pentanol against AF was 200 μL/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solutions and their evolutions of the quark gap equation are studied within the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, which is a basic issue for studying the QCD phase structure and locating the possible critical end point. It is shown that in the chiral limit case of the vacuum, chiral symmetry will hold if the coupling strength G is small, then the system only has the Wigner solution at M=0. If increasing G, two symmetric minima will appear as the positive and “negative” Nambu solutions, however, the solution M=0 now corresponds to a maximum instead of a minimum of the thermodynamical potential, so is not a physically stable state anymore (we call it “pseudo-Wigner solution”). Besides, it is shown that as the current quark mass m increases, the pseudo-Wigner solution will become negative, and disappear together with the negative Nambu solution if m is large enough. Similar things happen if we increase the temperature or quark chemical potential μ. Some interesting phenomenon is, from some μ a second local minimum will show up. As μ increases gradually, it will be stabler than the Nambu solution, survives even the Nambu solution disappears, and approaches m, which are just the features of the Wigner solution we expect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]