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Lodging is one of the main factors affecting the grain yield and mechanized harvesting in maize. Dissecting the genetic basis of lodging related traits can provide a theoretical basis for high yield and mechanized harvest breeding of maize. In this study, genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage analysis were combined to identify the significant loci interrelated with lodging related traits using 153 inbred lines from China and abroad. We detected 5, 14, 16, and 21 SNPs significant SNPs related to stem strength, plant height, ear height, and ear height-to-plant height ratio, respectively. Among these significant SNPs, the maximum effect value of a single site was 13.24. Twenty-one QTLs related to lodging related traits were identified by linkage analysis, which explaining the phenotypic variations of 3.86%-16.58% in F5 population constructed by KA105 and KB020. Further, we noticed that two QTL intervals were coincided with the candidate intervals of association analysis. Finally, GRMZM2G105391, GRMZM2G014119, and GRMZM2G341410 candidate genes related to cell wall biosynthesis, cell division and elongation were predicted by functional annotation for these candidate regions. These results can provide a new reference for further analysis of the genetic basis of lodging resistance in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of doubled CO2 concentration on non-structural carbohydrate metabolism of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. 'Jinyou No.1') seedlings under drought stress were investigated. Split plot design was deployed, with two levels of CO2 concentrations (ambient CO2 concentration, 380 μmol μ mol-1, and doubled CO2 concentration, 760±20 μ mol • mol-1) in the main plots, and three levels of water treatments (control, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress) simulated by PEG 6000 in the split-plots. The results showed that non-structural carbohydrates of cucumber leaves, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, and stachyose, increased with the doubling of CO2 concentration, which resulted in the decreased osmotic potential, improving the drought stress in cucumber seedlings. During the drought stress, sucrose synthase, soluble acid invertase and alkaline invertase started with an increase, and followed with a decline in the leaves. In the root system, however, soluble acid invertase and alkaline invertase increased gradually throughout the whole process, whereas sucrose phosphate synthase firstly increased and then decreased. The treatment of doubled CO2 enhanced the activity of sucrose synthase, but decreased the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase. The synergistic action of the two enzymes and invertase accelerated the decomposition of sucrose and inhibited the synthesis of sucrose, leading to the accumulation of hexose, which lowered the cellular osmotic potential and enhanced the water uptake capacity. In conclusion, doubled CO2 concentration could alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress and improve the drought tolerance of cucumber seedlings. Such mitigating effect on cucumber was more significant under severe drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of protein complexes in large interaction networks is crucial to understand principles of cellular organization and predict protein functions, which is one of the most important issues in the post-genomic era. Each protein might subordinate multiple protein complexes in the real protein-protein interaction networks. Identifying overlapping protein complexes front protein-protein interaction networks is a considerable research topic. As an effective algorithm on identifying overlapping module structures, clique percolation method (CPM) has a wide range of application in social networks and biological networks. However, CPM algorithm is recognition accuracy rate lowly and unfit to identifying protein complexes with middling scale when it applied in PPI networks. In this paper, an algorithm called CPM-DR for identifying protein complexes based on clique percolation and distance restriction is proposed. In this algorithm, the scale of protein complex is restricted by distance constraint to conquest the drawbacks in CPM. The experiment results show that CPM-DR algorithm can identify many well known protein complexes more effectively, precisely and comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of different light quality ratios on the growth and development of purple lettuce, we used LED intelligent light control console as light source to study the effects of adding different proportions of red and blue light (1:1, 2:1, 4:1 and 1:2) to the white light on photosynthetic characteristics and commercial quality of purple lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv 'Zhongshu Purple Lettuce'). The results showed that when the ratio of red to blue light was 4:1, the chlorophyll content, RuBP carboxylase activity, electron transport efficiency of photosynthesis, net photosynthetic rate and growth were all significantly higher than that in control and other treatments, whereas the nitrate content was the lowest. When the ratio of red to blue light was 1:2, the contents of soluble protein, vitamin C, secondary metabolites such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, and the contents of antioxidant capacity were significantly higher than those in the control and other treatments. We concluded that adding appropriate ratios of red to blue light to the white light could increase photosynthesis and improve commercial quality of purple lettuce.

Using split plot and then-split plot design, effects of water-nitrogen coupling on photosynthesis and ultrastructure of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (Jinyou No.35) under CO 2 enrichment were investigated. The main plot had two CO 2 concentrations: ambient CO 2 concentration (400 μmol·mol -1 , A) and doubled CO 2 concentration (800±20 μmol·mol -1 , E). The split plot had two treatments: no drought stress (95% of field capacity, W) and drought stress (75% of field capacity, D). The then-split plot contained low nitrogen treatment (450 kg·hm -2 , N 1 ) and high nitrogen treatment (900 kg·hm -2 , N 2 ). The results showed that under the condition of drought and high nitrogen, increasing CO 2 enhanced the cucumber plant height, and no matter what kinds of water treatment, CO 2 enrichment increased the leaf area significantly under high nitrogen. Under the condition of normal irrigation, the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of high nitrogen treatment were higher than low nitrogen treatment, while it was under the drought condition. Elevated CO 2 enhanced the water use efficiency of cucumber leaf which increased with increasing nitrogen application rate. Under drought stress, cucumber adaxial surface porosity density was increased, and the CO 2 enrichment and high nitrogen significantly reduced the stomatal density. Increasing nitrogen application improved the number of chloroplast, and reduced that of starch grains. Drought stress decreased the number of chloroplast, but tended to promote the number of starch grains. Drought stress increased the chloroplast length and width, and the size of the starch grains, while high nitrogen reduced the length and width of the chloroplast and starch grains. CO 2 enrichment and high nitrogen increased grana thickness and layers (except ADN 2 ), and the slice layer of EDN 2 was significantly higher than that of ADN 2 . In conclusion, CO 2 enrichment and suitable water and nitrogen could promote the development of chloroplast thylakoid membrane system, significantly increase the thickness of grana and the number of grana lamella, and effectively improve the chloroplast structure of cucumber, which would benefit the photosynthesis of cucumber plants and ability to utilize CO 2 and water and nitrogen.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different DE values of malto-dextrin on Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus spray-dried powder. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the spray-dried powder, powder properties and microscopic morphology were determined, and then the moisture absorption isotherms and the glass transition temperature were used to predict its storage stability. The study showed that after adding malto-dextrin, the powder rate was increased; moisture content was decreased; Tg was increased; mobility got better; produced spherical microstructure; and Tg was increased with the decrease of DE value. The water activity-equilibrium moisture content (aw-EMC) relationship in GAB models showed, the moisture absorption of powder was increased with the rising of DE value; and the equilibrium moisture content-glass transition temperature (EMC-Tg) relationship in Gordon-Taylor models showed that, Tg was decreased with the increase of moisture content. As a result, the storage critical condition of the spray-dried powder was improved, and along with the decrease of DE value, the critical water activity and the critical water content were increased. Therefore, the smaller the DE value, the greater the stability of the spray-dried powder., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

The effects of doubled CO2 concentration on non-structural carbohydrate metabolism of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. 'Jinyou No.1') seedlings under drought stress were investigated. Split plot design was deployed, with two levels of CO2 concentrations (ambient CO2 concentration, 380 µmol . mol-1, and doubled CO2 concentration, 760±20 µmol . mol-1) in the main plots, and three levels of water treatments (control, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress) simulated by PEG 6000 in the split-plots. The results showed that non-structural carbohydrates of cucumber leaves, including glucose, fructose, sucrose, and stachyose, increased with the doubling of CO2 concentration, which resulted in the decreased osmotic potential, improving the drought stress in cucumber seedlings. During the drought stress, sucrose synthase, soluble acid invertase and al- kaline invertase started with an increase, and followed with a decline in the leaves. In the root system, however, soluble acid invertase and alkaline invertase increased gradually throughout the whole process, whereas sucrose phosphate synthase firstly increased and then decreased. The treatment of doubled CO2 enhanced the activity of sucrose synthase, but decreased the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase. The synergistic action of the two enzymes and invertase accelerated the decomposition of sucrose and inhibited the synthesis of sucrose, leading to the accumulation of hexose, which lowered the cellular osmotic potential and enhanced the water uptake capacity. In conclusion, doubled CO2 concentration could alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress and improve the drought tolerance of cucumber seedlings. Such mitigating effect on cucumber was more significant under severe drought stress.

Objective: To investigate the optimal surgical timing and treatment of congenital duplication of the thumb in children., Methods: A clinical study was performed on 154 fingers of the 132 patients (including 85 males, 47 females;mean age (1.53 +/- 2.47) years; ranged from 2 months to 13 years). Duplicated thumbs were surgically treated from December 2007 to February 2012. All patients underwent detailed physical examination and radiological assessment. Surgical methods should be selected according to the age, Wassel classification and deformity. The operation steps included resection of the most hypoplastic thumb, followed by skin flap plasty, tendon shift (transplantation) , reconstruction of collateral ligament and articular capsule. 11 cases over the age of 6 underwent osteotomy discretion as appropriate., Results: A total of 117 fingers of the 104 patients were followed up for an average 36. 7 months (range,6-55 months). We adopted upgrade Tada standard to evaluate the follow-up results as excellent in 77 thumbs, good in 21 thumbs, fair in 15 thumbs and poor in 4 thumbs. Three thumbs appeared secondary angular deformity 2 years after operation and one thumb appeared residual osteoepiphysis in the radial side of metacarpophalangeal joint 3 years after operation. The appearance and the function were almost normal after second operation., Conclusions: The optimal surgical timing of congenital duplication of thumb should be based on the appearance of thumb ossification center. The surgical timing of Wassel type- I and II should be chosen at 1. 5 years old when the ossification center of distal phalanx appears, Wassel type-III and IV should be chosen at 1 year old when the ossification center of proximal phalanx appears, Wassel type-V and VI should be chosen at 2. 5 years old when the ossification center of metacarpal appears, and Wassel type-VII should be chosen at 2. 5 years old. The surgical method should be selected on individualized principle. The key points are reconstruction of collateral ligament, tendon and articular capsule and correction of ulnar deviation (or radial deviation).

Objective: To explore the correlation between Beijing genotype (Beijing family) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance., Methods: A computer retrieval of Medline, Embase, SCI, EBSCO, CNKI, Weipu and Wanfang databases from 1990 to 2010 was conducted. A total of 525 articles exploring the relationship of Beijing genotype of MTB and drug resistance were found through literature search. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a Meta-subgroup analysis was conducted in Beijing genotype of MTB and drug resistance., Results: A total of 38 articles were selected, including 22 articles on isoniazid resistance, 24 articles on rifampin resistance, 19 articles on ethambutol resistance, 18 articles on ethambutol resistance, 26 articles on multi-drug resistance (MDR). Meta-subgroup analysis showed that in China, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: rifampin (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.13 - 2.31), ethambutol (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.16 - 2.40), MDR (OR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.20 - 2.68); in Russia, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 4.82, 95%CI: 3.19 - 7.29), rifampin (OR = 4.84, 95%CI: 3.84 - 6.10), ethambutol (OR = 3.32, 95%CI: 2.51 - 4.40), MDR (OR = 5.42, 95%CI: 3.36 - 8.74); in Vietnam, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.55 - 2.91), rifampin (OR = 4.71, 95%CI: 3.01 - 7.36), ethambutol (OR = 3.78, 95%CI: 1.63 - 8.77), MDR (OR = 4.21, 95%CI: 1.58 - 11.18); in other countries, there was an association between Beijing genotype and resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and MDR: isoniazid (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.19 - 2.42), rifampin (OR = 2.48, 95%CI: 1.92 - 3.19), ethambutol (OR = 3.04, 95%CI: 2.13 - 4.33), MDR (OR = 2.36, 95%CI: 1.52 - 3.68)., Conclusion: Beijing genotype of MTB was positively associated with three kinds of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol) and MDR, and the relationship intensity was different in different countries.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of combination of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue and pioglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, on diabetic db/db mice., Methods: Thirty-five 8-week old male db/db mice were divided into control group (n = 8), pioglitazone group (n = 9), liraglutide group (n = 9) and combined therapeutic group (n = 9), which was given normal saline 0.1 ml, 2/d, pioglitazone 24 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) (feed contained 0.02% pioglitazone) + normal saline 0.1 ml, 2/d, liraglutide 300 mg/kg, 2/d, and pioglitazone 20 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) (feed contained 0.02% pioglitazone) + liraglutide 300 mg/kg, 2/d, respectively. Liraglutide were given at 8:00 and 16:00 via subcutaneous injection after having been diluted with sterilized normal saline. Effect on glucose, lipid metabolism and islet β-cell preservation were assessed after 4 weeks. Oneway ANOVA was adopted for statistical analysis., Results: Combination therapy displayed promising anti-hyperglycemic [glycosylated hemoglobin A1c: (4.5 ± 0.6)% vs. (7.3 ± 0.4)%, P < 0.001]. Glucose tolerance were improved assessed by area under curve (AUC) of glucose by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) [(1814 ± 91) mmol×min×L(-1) vs. (4042 ± 183) mmol×min×L(-1), P < 0.001]; insulin release response to glucose were also preserved as AUC of insulin by IPGTT was higher [(1639 ± 372) µg×min×L(-1) vs.(834 ± 201) µg×min×L(-1)]. Combination therapy also reduced circulated free fatty acids and TG [(202.0 ± 20.4) µmol/L vs. (272.5 ± 21.7) µmol/L, (0.81 ± 0.28) mmol/L vs. (1.35 ± 0.21) mmol/L], and increased plasma adiponectin [(16.7 ± 2.0) mg/L vs. (10.2 ± 1.8) mg/L]. All P value < 0.05. Islet immunohistochemistry showed that combination therapy significantly increased insulin positive area were [(59.5 ± 1.5)% vs. (22.4 ± 1.5)%] and ratio of Brdu positive β-cells was three folds than vehicle-treated mice [(2.4 ± 0.5)% vs. (0.8 ± 0.3)%], both greater than each single treatment. Combined therapy significantly improved islet β cell/α cell distribution, which led to islet recovery., Conclusions: Combined therapy improves glucose and lipid metabolism, preserves islet β-cell function and stimulates β-cell proliferation, greater than either liraglutide or pioglitazone treatment alone.

Objective: To analyze the expression of genes in the Slit/Robo signaling pathway, and the methylation status of their promoters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines., Methods: Genomic DNA and total RNA were isolated from 9 HCC cell lines of different metastatic ability (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/PRF/5, SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, LM3, LM6) and a control cell line L-02. The expression profiles of Slit1, Slit2, Slit3, Robo1, and Robo3 were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The methylation status of the promoters was detected by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP)., Results: The promoters of Slit1, Slit2 and Slit3 genes were almost methylated in all the HCC cell lines. The Slit1 and Slit3 RNAs were not detected in most of the cell lines. Furthermore, the mRNA Slit2 was decreased gradually as the metastatic potential of the cell lines increased. As the candidate ligand of the Slit2 gene, Robo1 was frequently methylated in HCC cell lines whereas its mRNA was detected in all of these cells except SMMC-7721, BEL-7402 and L-02. Robo3 was unmethylated in HCC cell lines while its mRNA was not detected in these HCC cell lines., Conclusion: The hypermethylation status of Slit/Robo signaling pathway related genes is a universal event in the HCC. The hypermethylation status of Slit1, Slit2, Slit3 genes associated with the loss of expression or reduced expression. Those data suggest that Slit/Robo pathway may play a significant role in the progress or metastasis of HCC.

Objective: To profile the methylation alterations of CpG islands in hetpatocellular carcinoma cell lines., Methods: A global analysis of DNA methylation using the Human CpG-island 12K Array (HCGI12K) from Canada University Health Network was performed on nine human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/RPF/5/RPF/5, SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, HCCLM3, HCCLM6) and a control cell line Chang's liver. Metastatic potential related alterations were also screened in MHCC97 series cell lines (MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, HCCLM3, HCCLM6), using MHCC97-L, a cell line with low metastatic potential, as control. To screen the key genes which are hypermethylation or hypomethylation in the HCC cell lines compared with the normal liver cell line by normalization processing and cluster analysis of microarray data. Two randomly selected genes was analyzed by methylation specific PCR to verify the chip results., Results: By a standard of methylation alteration ratio > or = 2 or < or = 0.5, fifty-eight CpG island cloning sites and sixty-six upstream or downstream tumor-related genes were identified. The genes were oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and their ligand genes, apoptosis-related genes, cell proliferation and differentiation genes, cell cycle-related gene and cell signaling pathway key genes such as Wnt, ras, and FGF pathway-related genes. The methylation specific PCR results were consistent with those obtained by chips., Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that there are a series of CpG island methylation alterations in HCC cell lines. The expression of many oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and other key genes may be up- or down-regulated, respectively, because of their CpG island hypomethylation or hypermethylation accordingly. It may provide a basis for screening HCC biological markers by CpG island methylation profilling.

Objective: To study survivin expression in human hepatoma cells and the effects of survivin siRNA on the malignant phenotypes of human hepatocellular cell line HCCLM6., Methods: Four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines were used. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure and compare their survivin expressions. The siRNA expression vector pshRNA-survivin targeting the mRNA of survivin and vector pGPU6/GFP/Neo-NC (as a control) were constructed, and then transfected into HCCLM6 cells. FQ-PCR was used to quantify the mRNA levels of survivin. The malignant phenotypes of transfected HCCLM6 cells, including invasive activities and adhesive capabilities, were analyzed., Results: Survivin expression gradually increased with the increase of the invasion and metastasis behaviors of the four HCC cell lines (P<0.05). The expression of survivin was highest in cell line HCCLM6. Survivin mRNA level was decreased by 93.500%+/-3.117% after the pshRNA-survivin transfection. The cell adhesion rates significantly decreased in the cells transfected with pshRNA-survivin (cell adhesion rates were 11.403%+/-1.256% vs 32.545%+/-1.367%, t=20.732, P<0.01). The migrating number of HCCLM6 cells (13.5+/-0.9) transfected with pshRNA-survivin was also significantly decreased (t=14.5, P<0.01) as compared with the control group (32.6+/-1.4)., Conclusion: The expression of survivin in HCC might have a close relationship to their invasion and metastasis properties. Sequence-specific shRNA can significantly reduce the survivin expression in the HCCLM6 cell line. Suppression of survivin expression in HCCLM6 cells transfected with pshRNA-survivin can reduce their invasive and adhesive capabilities.

Molecular analysis of community structure can help diagnose problems in malfunctioning full-scale wastewater treatment system. A lab-scale A1-A2-O fixed biofilm system with highly efficient nitrification (NH3-N removal at 95. 2%) was set up as a reference for an industrial system with poor performance of nitrification (NH3-N removal efficiency at -106%) for treating coking wastewater. Composition of nitrifying bacteria of biofilm samples in aerobic reactors of the two systems was compared by 16S rDNA clone library analysis. The composition of clone library of the lab-scale system indicate Nitrosomonas europaea-Nitrosoccus mobilis cluster and sublineage I of Nitrospira genus are dominant ammonia and nitrite oxidizers in this process respectively. However, there were no clones related to nitrifying bacteria in clone library of the industrial system which suggested low abundance of nitrifying bacteria in this system. Further, Real-Time PCR with Taqman probe revealed that 16S rDNA copy number of Nitrospira in aerobic reactor of the lab-scale system was 3.4 x 10(6)/microg DNA of biofilm which is 300 times higher than that in the industrial system. The absence of Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira in the industrial system leads to poor performance of nitrification. Building up of a high population level of Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira in aerobic reactor is the key to improve efficiency of nitrification of the industrial system.

Objective: To explore the affection factors to expansion degree of seeds of Plantaginis caused by different processing methods., Method: Determination of expansion degree and analysis by gel chromatography., Result: The values of expansion degree were decreased and the structures of polysaccharides were changed for the processed products compared with their crude seeds., Conclusion: The polysaccharies in seeds of Plantaginis were degraded after toasted without additive and roasted with salt, which further affected the expansion degree.