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Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating nervous system disorders attributed to various conditions such as body aging, gene mutations, genetic factors, and immune system disorders. Prominent neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Insulin resistance refers to the inability of the peripheral and central tissues of the body to respond to insulin and effectively regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance has been observed in various neurodegenerative diseases and has been suggested to induce the occurrence, development, and exacerbation of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies have suggested that reversing insulin resistance may be a critical intervention for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Among the numerous measures available to improve insulin sensitivity, exercise is a widely accepted strategy due to its convenience, affordability, and significant impact on increasing insulin sensitivity. This review examines the association between neurodegenerative diseases and insulin resistance and highlights the molecular mechanisms by which exercise can reverse insulin resistance under these conditions. The focus was on regulating insulin resistance through exercise and providing practical ideas and suggestions for future research focused on exerciseinduced insulin sensitivity in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the onset of symptoms, typically occurring later in life, and significant deficits in cognitive functions including learning, memory, speech, and behavior. Ongoing research endeavors seek to explore methods for preventing and treating AD, as well as delving into the molecular mechanisms underlying existing and novel therapeutic approaches encompassing exercise, diet, and drug regimens for individuals with AD or those at risk of developing AD. Among these interventions, dietary interventions have garnered increasing attention due to their potential in addressing the disease. Eating is among the most fundamental of human daily activities, and controlled dietary practices, such as fasting, have gained prominence as essential clinical methods for disease prevention and treatment. Research findings indicate that fasting holds promise in effectively alleviating and improving the cognitive decline associated with age or as consequence of disease. The clinical efficacy of fasting in addressing AD and related disorders might be grounded in its influence on various molecular mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, glial cell activation, insulin resistance, autophagy regulation, nerve regeneration, the gut microbiome, and accumulations of amyloid-ß and tau proteins. The present study reviews possible molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic effects of fasting in patients with AD, as well as in models of the disorder, to establish a theoretical basis for using fasting as a viable approach to treat AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.2 is essential for cardiac and vessel smooth muscle contractility and brain function. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that malfunctions of CaV1.2 are involved in brain and heart diseases. Pharmacological inhibition of CaV1.2 is therefore of therapeutic value. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of CaV1.2 in the absence or presence of the antirheumatic drug tetrandrine or antihypertensive drug benidipine. Tetrandrine acts as a pore blocker in a pocket composed of S6II, S6III, and S6IV helices and forms extensive hydrophobic interactions with CaV1.2. Our structure elucidates that benidipine is located in the DIII-DIV fenestration site. Its hydrophobic sidechain, phenylpiperidine, is positioned at the exterior of the pore domain and cradled within a hydrophobic pocket formed by S5DIII, S6DIII, and S6DIV helices, providing additional interactions to exert inhibitory effects on both L-type and T-type voltage gated calcium channels. These findings provide the structural foundation for the rational design and optimization of therapeutic inhibitors of voltage-gated calcium channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is an allotetraploid (AACC, 2n = 38) crop, valued for its edible oil and protein content. seed yield and nutritional composition of rapeseed are influenced by its yield and oil quality traits. However, the genetic basis of yield-related and oil-quality traits remain ambiguous. A panel of 266 diversified oilseed rape accessions was genotyped using 223 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers covering all 19 chromosomes to identify significant markers associated with yield and quality traits. Twelve yield-related and six quality traits were investigated in two consecutive years (2014 and 2015), with three replications in two environments (Changshun, CS; and Qinghe, QH). Using the model GLM with population structure and kinship (Q + K), a total of 25 significant SSR markers (P < 0.001) were detected to be associated with these twelve yield-related and six quality traits, explaining 4.56%-19.17% of the phenotypic variation for each trait. Based on these markers, BnaA03g23490D, BnaC09g46370D, BnaA07g37150D, BnaA01g32590D, and BnaC09g37280D were identified as pleiotropic genes controlling multiple traits. These candidate genes illustrated the potential for the genetic understanding of yield and oil quality traits. Most importantly, these significant markers can be used for marker-assisted breeding of oilseed rape in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple resistance and pH adaptation (Mrp) complexes are sophisticated cation/proton exchangers found in a vast variety of alkaliphilic and/or halophilic microorganisms, and are critical for their survival in highly challenging environments. This family of antiporters is likely to represent the ancestor of cation pumps found in many redox-driven transporter complexes, including the complex I of the respiratory chain. Here, we present the threedimensional structure of the Mrp complex from a Dietzia sp. strain solved at 3.0-Å resolution using the single-particle cryoelectron microscopy method. Our structure-based mutagenesis and functional analyses suggest that the substrate translocation pathways for the driving substance protons and the substrate sodium ions are separated in two modules and that symmetry-restrained conformational change underlies the functional cycle of the transporter. Our findings shed light on mechanisms of redox-driven primary active transporters, and explain how driving substances of different electric charges may drive similar transport processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEETs) are recently identified sugar transporters that can discriminate and transport di- or monosaccharides across a membrane following the concentration gradient. SWEETs play key roles in plant biological processes, such as pollen nutrition, nectar secretion, seed filling, and phloem loading. SWEET13 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSWEET13) is an important sucrose transporter in pollen development. Here, we report the 2.8-Å resolution crystal structure of AtSWEET13 in the inward-facing conformation with a substrate analog, 2'-deoxycytidine 5'-monophosphate, bound in the central cavity. In addition, based on the results of an in-cell transport activity assay and single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer analysis, we suggest a mechanism for substrate selectivity based on the size of the substrate-binding pocket. Furthermore, AtSWEET13 appears to form a higher order structure presumably related to its function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten fibre nets reinforced tungsten composites (Wf/W) containing four net layers were fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS), hot pressing (HP) and cold rolling after HP (HPCR), with the weight fraction of fibres being 17.4%, 10.5% and 10.5%, respectively. The relative density of the HPCRed samples is the highest (99.8%) while that of the HPed composites is the lowest (95.1%). Optical and scanning electron microscopy and electron back scattering diffraction were exploited to characterize the microstructure, while tensile and hardness tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples. It was found that partial recrystallization of fibres occurred after the sintering at 1800 °C. The SPSed and HPed Wf/W composites begin to exhibit plastic deformation at 600 °C with tensile strength (TS) of 536 and 425 MPa and total elongation at break (TE) of 11.6% and 23.0%, respectively, while the HPCRed Wf/W composites exhibit plastic deformation at around 400 °C. The TS and TE of the HPCRedWf/W composites at 400 °C are 784 MPa and 8.4%, respectively. The enhanced mechanical performance of the Wf/W composites over the pure tungsten can be attributed to the necking, cracking, and debonding of the tungsten fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The excessive staminate catkin thinning (emasculation) of proterandrous walnut is an important management measure for improving yield. To improve the excessive staminate catkin thinning efficiency, the model of quadratic polynomial regression equation and BP artificial neural network was developed. The effects of ethephon, gibberellin and mepiquat on shedding rate of staminate catkin of proterandrous walnut were investigated by modeling field test. Based on the modeling test results, the excessive staminate catkin thinning model of quadratic polynomial regression equation and BP artificial neural network was established, and it was validated by field test next year. The test data were divided into training set, validation set and test set. The total 20 sets of data obtained from the modeling field test were randomly divided into training set (17) and validation set (3) by central composite design (quadric rotational regression test design), and the data obtained from the next-year field test were divided into the test set. The topological structure of BP artificial neural network was 3-5-1. The results showed that the prediction errors of BP neural network for samples from the validation set were 1.355 0%, 0.429 1% and 0.353 8%, respectively; the difference between the predicted value by the BP neural network and validated value by field test was 2.04%, and the difference between the predicted value by the regression equation and validated value by field test was 3.12%; the prediction accuracy of BP neural network was over 1.0% higher than that of regression equation. The effective combination of quadratic polynomial stepwise regression and BP artificial neural network will not only help to determine the effect of independent parameter but also improve the prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens L. is a traditional medicinal plant in china. In recent years, with more and more attention is paid to the nutritional and health values of Perilla frutescens L., it has become a potential medicinal and edible crop. Two Perilla frutescens cultivars, Qisu No.1 (oil type) and Qisu No.3 (leaf and seed-using type), bred by Rapeseed Research Institute of Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, were used as test material for studying the effects of different planting density on the economic yield and agronomic characters of Perilla frutescens L. under moderate fertility level. The results showed the variation tendency of agronomic characters with the change of planting density was similar for the two Perilla frutescens cultivars. Among them, the plant height, main-stem nods, first effective branch length, first effective branch height, spikes per plant, and yield per plant were negatively related to the planting density; and main spike length and mainspike grains were positively related to the planting density. The effects of planting density on kilo-grain weight were not significant. The yield of the two cultivars all increased first and then decreased with the increase of planting density. The regression analysis of planting density versus yield of Perilla frutescens L. was performed for obtaining the regression equations (Qisu No.1: y=54.046 5+96.777 1x45.719 8x2, r=0.999 4; Qisu No.3: y=38.717 6+42.111 3x-16.757 7x2, r=0.999 8). Based on the regression equations, the optimal planting density for Qisu No.1 was 158 745 plants/hm2 with peak yield of 1 578.90 kg/hm2, and for Qisu No.3 was 188 745 plants/hm2 with peak yield of 977.55 kg/hm2. Under the optimal planting density, Qisu No.3 could also harvest 3 000 kg/hm2 of Perilla frutescens dry leaves and 2 400 kg/hm2 of Perilla frutescens stems. This research would provide an important reference for the promotion, high-yield cultivation and comprehensive utilization of Perilla frutescens L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) is the largest family of secondary active transporters and is present in all life kingdoms. Detailed structural basis of the substrate transport and energy-coupling mechanisms of these proteins remain to be elucidated. YajR is a putative proton-driven MFS transporter found in many Gram-negative bacteria. Here we report the crystal structure of Escherichia coli YajR at 3.15 Å resolution in an outward-facing conformation. In addition to having the 12 canonical transmembrane helices, the YajR structure includes a unique 65-residue C-terminal domain which is independently stable. The structure is unique in illustrating the functional role of "sequence motif A." This highly conserved element is seen to stabilize the outward conformation of YajR and suggests a general mechanism for the conformational change between the inward and outward states of the MFS transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexaploid wheat displays limited genetic variation. As a direct A and B genome donor of hexaploid wheat, tetraploid wheat represents an important gene pool for cultivated bread wheat. Many disease resistant genes express conserved domains of the nucleotide-binding site and leucine-rich repeats (NBS-LRR). In this study, we isolated a CC-NBS-LRR gene locating on chromosome 7B from durum wheat variety Italy 363, and designated it TdRGA-7Ba. Its open reading frame was 4014 bp, encoding a 1337 amino acid protein with a complete NBS domain and 18 LRR repeats, sharing 44.7% identity with the PM3B protein. TdRGA-7Ba expression was continuously seen at low levels and was highest in leaves. TdRGA-7Ba has another allele TdRGA-7Bb with a 4 bp deletion at position +1892 in other cultivars of tetraploid wheat. In Ae. speltoides, as a B genome progenitor, both TdRGA-7Ba and TdRGA-7Bb were detected. In all six species of hexaploid wheats (AABBDD), only TdRGA-7Bb existed. Phylogenic analysis showed that all TdRGA-7Bb type genes were grouped in one sub-branch. We speculate that TdRGA-7Bb was derived from a TdRGA-7Ba mutation, and it happened in Ae. speltoides. Both types of TdRGA-7B participated in tetraploid wheat formation. However, only the TdRGA-7Bb was retained in hexaploid wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and cost-effective technique for generating tunable all-optical delays in a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) by using the strain-tuning method is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The FBG imprinted in a common single-mode fiber, which is fixed to a strain-tuning setup, is adopted to implement the slow light system, and tunable delays of 0.97 ns and 0.92 ns can be realized by changing the strain and the light wavelength, respectively. The minimum group velocity can be 2.4 × 107 m/s in the FBG, which is 8% of the light speed in vacuum. Experimental results agree well with the theory. The technique provides a very feasible way to control the light group velocity in fiber systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water transport through the cell membranes is regulated largely by a family of proteins known as aquaporins (AQPs). In this study, six novel aquaporin genes, TaAQP1~TaAQP6, were isolated from the common wheat Triticum aestivum L. var. Changle 5. These six TaAQPs share common features with other plant AQPs. Three of them (TaAQP2, 3, and 4) phylogenetically belong to plant PIP2 group, and the other three resemble proteins from PIP1(TaAQP1), TIP1(TaAQP6), and TIP2 (TaAQP5) groups, respectively. The subcellular localization assay, determined by onion epidermal cell transient expression system, indicated that TaAQP6 is a membrane-associated protein. Transformation of TaAQP6 into Xenopus oocytes demonstrated that it facilitated water uptake, suggesting that this TaAQP is an active membrane-associated protein. The expression of TaAQP6 was upregulated in shoots of wheat seedlings, but downregulated in roots under polyethylene glycol (PEG) stress. In split-root experiment, the amount of TaAQP6 transcripts decreased in dry roots (cultured in PEG solution), but increased in wet roots (cultured in water), and remained unchanged in shoots. It is interesting to note that the osmolality changes of different pans in PEG-treated and split-root seedlings were related to the expression of TaAQP6. Taken together, we proposed that TaAQP6 participates in internal water redistribution of wheat seedlings during osmotic stress by regulating outflow of water from water-rich organs to the parts with poor water status under water deficit condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable progress has been made in understanding the function of receptor-like kinase (RLK) genes in model plants. However, much less is known about these genes in crop species. Here we report the characterization of three new wheat RLK genes ( TaRLK-R1, 2 and 3). The primary structure of the putative proteins TaRLK-R1, 2 and 3 contained a signal peptide, a cysteine-rich extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a predicted intracellular kinase domain. The fusions between TaRLK-R1, 2 or 3 and the green fluorescence protein (GFP) were targeted to the plasma membrane; such targeting required the signal peptide, extracellular domain and transmembrane domain. Transcription of TaRLK-R1, 2 and 3 was found mainly in the green organs, and was regulated by light. Transcript levels of TaRLK-R1, 2 and 3 increased during the hypersensitive reaction (HR) to stripe rust fungus. In addition, the TaRLK-R3 transcript level was also upregulated by abiotic stresses. Further experiments revealed that the recombinant kinase domain of TaRLK-R3 exhibited auto-phosphorylation activity in vitro. Knocking down the transcript levels of TaRLK-R1, 2 or 3 individually or all together by virus-induced gene silencing compromised the wheat HR to stripe rust fungus. The demonstration of TaRLK-R1, 2 and 3 as positive contributors in the wheat HR to stripe rust fungus suggests a new direction for further functional studies of this important family of RLK genes, and may facilitate the breeding of wheat varieties resistant to stripe rust disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese economic miracle has been fuelled in large part by a flood of foreign investment. For a variety of reasons, airport infrastructure construction has yet to experience the kinds of foreign investment supplied to China's manufacturing sectors. For this, and other reasons, China's airport sector faces urgent and massive investment needs to ensure that under-investment in aviation infrastructure does not cause a bottleneck stifling continued GDP growth. This paper discusses the core economic and demographic fundamentals of the Chinese aviation infrastructure, which shows high levels of unmet demand and profound shortages of infrastructure to meet that demand, all of which strongly suggest that aviation infrastructure presents attractive investment opportunities, and will continue to do so for many years to come. The paper also documents a variety of legal, administrative and political challenges that must be addressed for investors to realise the full potential that investing in this developing sector presents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which reported the breeding procedure of two Triticum aestivum-Agropyron intermedium translocation lines carrying the Triticum timopheevii cytoplasm and characterization of their chromosome constitutions by genomic in situ hybridization. Reasons for using the Agropyron intermedium on wheat breeding program and genetics research; Materials and methods; Results.

Provides information on a study which examined the roles and relationships between chromosome engineering of pollen wheat and gene engineering on crop improvement. Principles and procedures of chromosome engineering of pollen wheat; Details on the creation of alien translocation; Discussion on alien gene mapping.