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Periodontitis involves chronic inflammation of the tissues around the teeth caused by plaque and the corresponding immune response. Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6) and AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) are known to be involved in inflammatory diseases, while signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) are related to inflammatory processes. Moreover, miRNA34a directly targets AXL to regulate the AXL expression. However, the specific roles of GAS6 and AXL in periodontitis remain unclear. This study was designed to explore the effect and mechanism of AXL on the expression of inflammatory cytokines induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis LPS) in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). The effects of different concentrations of P. gingivalis LPS on the expression of GAS6/AXL in hPDLCs were observed. Additionally, the effect of LPS on AXL was investigated by transfection of the miRNA34a inhibitor. AXL was knocked down or overexpressed to observe the release of inflammatory cytokines interleukin- (IL-) 8 and IL-6. The results showed that the expression levels of GAS6 and AXL decreased after P. gingivalis LPS infection. Transfection of a miR-34a inhibitor to hPDLCs demonstrated a role of miR-34a in the downregulation of AXL expression induced by LPS. Moreover, AXL knockdown or overexpression influencing the expression of IL-8 and IL-6 was investigated under LPS stimulation. AXL knockdown decreased the expression of STAT1 and SOCS1/3. Overall, these results demonstrate that AXL inhibits the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines in hPDLCs and that STAT1 and SOCS1/3 are involved in the regulation of inflammation by GAS6/AXL.

The phytohormones ethylene and jasmonate play important roles in the adaptation of rice plants to salt stress. However, the molecular interactions between ethylene and jasmonate on rice seminal root growth under salt stress are unknown. In this study, the effects of NaCl on the homeostasis of ethylene and jasmonate, and on rice seminal root growth were investigated. Our results indicate that NaCl treatment promotes ethylene biosynthesis by up-regulating the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, whereas NaCl-induced ethylene does not inhibit rice seminal root growth directly, but rather indirectly, by promoting jasmonate biosynthesis. NaCl treatment also promotes jasmonate biosynthesis through an ethylene-independent pathway. Moreover, NaCl-induced jasmonate reduces meristem cell number and cell division activity via down-regulated expression of Oryza sativa PLETHORA (OsPLT) and cell division-related genes, respectively. Additionally, NaCl-induced jasmonate inhibits seminal root cell elongation by down-regulating the expression of cell elongation-related genes. Overall, salt stress promotes jasmonate biosynthesis through ethylene-dependent and -independent pathways in rice seminal roots, and jasmonate inhibits rice seminal root growth by inhibiting root meristem cell proliferation and root cell elongation.

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that causes great harm to health and life, affecting the function of important organs and accompanied by a variety of secondary diseases, which need to be treated with drugs for a long time. P. ternata alone or combination with western medicine has played an important role in traditional Chinese medicine. Although P. ternata is used clinically to treat hypertension, its functional molecular mechanism and pharmacological mechanism have not been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, the potentially effective components, and targets of P. ternata in the treatment of hypertension were screened by the method of network pharmacology, and the mechanism of P. ternata in the treatment of hypertension was analyzed by constructing a component-target relationship network, PPI interaction network, targets’ function analysis, and molecular docking. In the study, 12 potentially effective components and 88 targets were screened, and 3 potential protein modules were found and analyzed after constructing a PPI network using targets. In addition, 10 targets were selected as core targets of the PPI network. After that, the targets were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, the molecular docking method is used to study the interaction between the targets and the active components. The above evidence shows that the mechanism of P. ternata in the treatment of hypertension is complicated, as it acts in many ways, mainly by affecting nerve signal transmission, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, calcium channels, and so on. The binding between targets and active components mainly depends on Pi bonds and hydrogen bonds. Using the method of network pharmacology and molecular docking to analyze the mechanism of P. ternata in the treatment of hypertension will help to provide a better scientific basis for the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, and will better help to improve the quality of P. ternata and point out its direction.

Correlation between periodontitis and atherosclerosis is well established, and the inherent mechanisms responsible for this relationship remain unclear. The biological function of growth arrest‐specific 6 (gas6) has been discovered in both atherosclerosis and inflammation. Inhibitory effects of gas6 on the expression of inflammatory factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P. gingivalis‐LPS) were reported in our previous research. Herein, the effects of gas6 on monocytes‐endothelial cells interactions in vitro and their probable mechanisms were further investigated. Gas6 protein in HUVECs was knocked down with siRNA or overexpressed with plasmids. Transwell inserts and co‐culturing system were introduced to observe chemotaxis and adhering affinity between monocytes and endothelial cells in vitro. Expression of gas6 was decreased in inflammatory periodontal tissues and HUVECs challenged with P. gingivalis‐LPS. The inhibitory effect of gas6 on chemotaxis and adhesion affinity between monocytes and endothelial cells was observed, and gas6 promoted Akt phosphorylation and inhibited NF‐κB phosphorylation. To our best knowledge, we are first to report that gas6 inhibit monocytes‐endothelial cells interactions in vitro induced by P. gingivalis‐LPS via Akt/NF‐κB pathway. Additionally, inflammation‐mediated inhibition of gas6 expression is through LncRNA GAS6‐AS2, rather than GAS6‐AS1, which is also newly reported., Schematic representation for mechanisms of bi‐directional regulation between gas6 and P gingivalis‐LPS in HUVECs. Expression of MCP‐1, IL‐8, ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin induced by P gingivalis‐LPS was inhibited by gas6 via Akt/NF‐κB pathway; Gas6 expression in HUVECs was inhibited by P gingivalis‐LPS through NF‐κB/GAS6‐AS2 pathway.

Medicinal plants produce important substrates for their adaptation and defenses against environmental factors and, at the same time, are used for traditional medicine and industrial additives. Plants have relatively little in the way of secondary metabolites via biosynthesis. Recently, the whole-genome sequencing of medicinal plants and the identification of secondary metabolite production were revolutionized by the rapid development and cheap cost of sequencing technology. Advances in functional genomics, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, pave the way for discoveries in secondary metabolites and related key genes. The multi-omics approaches can offer tremendous insight into the variety, distribution, and development of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Although many reviews have reported on the plant and medicinal plant genome, chemistry, and pharmacology, there is no review giving a comprehensive report about the medicinal plant genome and multi-omics approaches to study the biosynthesis pathway of secondary metabolites. Here, we introduce the medicinal plant genome and the application of multi-omics tools for identifying genes related to the biosynthesis pathway of secondary metabolites. Moreover, we explore comparative genomics and polyploidy for gene family analysis in medicinal plants. This study promotes medicinal plant genomics, which contributes to the biosynthesis and screening of plant substrates and plant-based drugs and prompts the research efficiency of traditional medicine.

Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis Franch.), a member of the Ranunculales, represents an important early-diverging eudicot lineage with diverse medicinal applications. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of C. chinensis. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses reveal the phylogenetic placement of this species and identify a single round of ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) shared by the Ranunculaceae. We characterize genes involved in the biosynthesis of protoberberine-type alkaloids in C. chinensis. In particular, local genomic tandem duplications contribute to member amplification of a Ranunculales clade-specific gene family of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 719. The functional versatility of a key CYP719 gene that encodes the (S)-canadine synthase enzyme involved in the berberine biosynthesis pathway may play critical roles in the diversification of other berberine-related alkaloids in C. chinensis. Our study provides insights into the genomic landscape of early-diverging eudicots and provides a valuable model genome for genetic and applied studies of Ranunculales., Coptis chinensis represents an early-diverging eudicot lineage with diverse medicinal applications. Here, the authors report its chromosome-scale genome assembly, infer a single ancient whole-genome duplication, and characterize the function of CYP719 in diversification of protoberberine-type alkaloids.

Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt is a traditional medicinal herb in southwestern China and has multiple pharmacological effects on bruise injuries and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A new drug with a good curative effect on RA has recently been developed from the extract of A. flaccida rhizomes, of which the main medicinal ingredients are triterpenoid saponins. Due to excessive exploitation, the wild population has been scarce and endangered in a few of its natural habitats and research on the cultivation of the plant commenced. Studies on the gene expressions related to the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins are not only helpful for understanding the effects of environmental factors on the medicinal ingredient accumulations but also necessary for monitoring the herb quality of the cultivated plants. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as a sensitive and powerful technique has been widely used to detect gene expression across tissues in plants at different stages; however, its accuracy and reliability depend largely on the reference gene selection. In this study, the expressions of 10 candidate reference genes were evaluated in various organs of the wild and cultivated plants at different stages, using the algorithms of geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, respectively. The purpose of this study was to identify the suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR detection in A. flaccida. The results showed that two reference genes were sufficient for RT-qPCR data normalization in A. flaccida. PUBQ and ETIF1a can be used as suitable reference genes in most organs at various stages because of their expression stabilitywhereas the PUBQ and EF1Α genes were desirable in the rhizomes of the plant at the vegetative stage.

Soil microorganisms are critical factors of plant productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Coptis chinensis Franch is one of the most important medicinal plants in China. Soil types and cropping systems influence the diversity and composition of the rhizospheric microbial communities. In the current study, we provide detailed information regarding the diversity and composition of the rhizospheric bacterial communities of the C. chinensis plants in continuously cropped fields and fallow fields in two seasons (i.e., winter and summer) using next-generation sequencing. The alpha diversity was higher in the five-year cultivated C. chinensis field (CyS5) and lower in fallow fields (NCS). Significant differences analysis confirmed more biomarkers in the cultivated field soil than in fallow fields. Additionally, the principal coordinate analysis (PcoA) of the beta diversity indices revealed that samples associated with the cultivated fields and fallow fields in different seasons were separated. Besides, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Gemmatimonadetes were the top bacterial phyla. Among these phyla, Proteobacteria were found predominantly and showed a decreasing trend with the continuous cropping of C. chinensis. A phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) revealed that the abundance of C and N functional genes had a significant difference between the soil samples from cultivated (CyS1, CyS3, and CyS5) and fallow (NCS) fields in two seasons (winter and summer). The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on UniFrac distances (i.e., unweighted and weighted) revealed the variations in bacterial community structures in the soil samples. This study could provide a reference for solving the increasingly severe cropping obstacles and promote the sustainable development of the C. chinensis industry.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains to be a familiar malignant tumor with poor prognosis and daunting impacts on global health. We planned to grab the latent impacts of microRNA-183 in regulating cell autophagy, thus to clarify its possible regulatory principle in GC. The miR-183 level in GC tissues and cell lines was investigated. The impacts of miR-183 dysregulation on cell biological performances including viability, apoptosis and autophagy of GC cell lines including SGC-7901 were detected. Also, cells were disposed with 3-methyladenine (3-MA, an autophagy inhibition) before dysregulation of miR-183 to further investigate the correlation between cell autophagy and viability or apoptosis. Furthermore, the regulatory mechanisms between miR-183 and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), silent mating type information regulation 1 (SIRT1) or PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were explored. miR-183 was under-expressed both in GC tissues and in cell lines. miR-183 mimic alone depressed SGC-7901 cell viability and enhanced cell apoptosis and autophagy, whereas miR-183 inhibitor exhibited opposite effects. Moreover, the impacts of miR-183 on SGC-7901 cell viability and apoptosis were mediated by affecting the activation of autophagy. Our results indicate that miR-183 is under-expressed in GC cells and depression of miR-183 may enhance GC cell viability and inhibit cell apoptosis by affecting the activation of cell autophagy. MALAT1-miR-183-SIRT1 axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway may be mechanisms to mediate autophagy in GC. miR-183 may serve as a towardly therapeutic target for GC.

This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) in the development of prostate cancer (PCa). The expression of SNHG12 in the serum of PCa patients as well as PCa cells was determined, and then we investigated whether SNHG12 could act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to mediate the development of PCa. Furthermore, the association between SNHG12 and activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was explored. SNHG12 expression was up-regulated in the serum of PCa patients as well as PCa cells. High expression of SNHG12 resulted in a poor prognosis of PCa patients. Moreover, suppression of SNHG12 inhibited viability and promoted apoptosis and autophagy of LNCaP cells. Furthermore, SNHG12 was found to act as a ceRNA to regulate the expression of Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) by sponging miR-195. Lastly, suppression of SNHG12 inhibited the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Our results revealed that up-regulation of SNHG12 promoted the viability and inhibited apoptosis and autophagy of PCa cells by regulating CCNE1 expression by sponging miR-195. Moreover, activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is a key downstream mechanism regulating SNHG12-mediated the development of PCa. Our findings provide an experimental basis for targeted therapy of PCa.

Aberrantly expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the process of breast cancer (BC). This research aims to dig the possible roles and regulatory mechanism of lncRNA protein disulfide isomerase family A member 3 pseudogene 1 (PDIA3P1) in BC. The mRNA level of PDIA3P both in BC tissues and in cells were determined, followed by the investigation of the effects of PDIA3P suppression on cell biological processes including the viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Furthermore, whether PDIA3P modulated the expression of integrin β1 (ITGB1) expression by competitively sponging miR-183 and then regulated the activation of FAK/PI3K/AKT/β-catenin pathway was explored. PDIA3P was discovered as up-regulated in BC tissues and cells. PDIA3P suppression markedly decreased cell viability, promoted apoptosis, and inhibited migration and invasion in MCF-7 cells. In addition, PDIA3P was found to be negatively interacting with miR-183, and PDIA3P regulated tumor growth and metastasis through negatively regulating miR-183. Moreover, ITGB1 was targeted by miR-183 and involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Lastly, PDIA3P suppression markedly inhibited the activation of FAK/PI3K/AKT/β-catenin pathway, which was significantly reversed after simultaneous inhibition of miR-183. Our results reveal that PDIA3P may forpromote BC development by sponging miR-183 to regulate ITGB1, thus inducing the activation of FAK/PI3K/AKT/β-catenin signals. PDIA3P may serve as a promising biomarker or target for the detection or treatment of BC.

Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt is a traditional medicinal herb in southwestern China and has multiple pharmacological effects on bruise injuries and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A new drug with a good curative effect on RA has recently been developed from the extract of A. flaccida rhizomes, of which the main medicinal ingredients are triterpenoid saponins. Due to excessive exploitation, the wild population has been scarce and endangered in a few of its natural habitats and research on the cultivation of the plant commenced. Studies on the gene expressions related to the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins are not only helpful for understanding the effects of environmental factors on the medicinal ingredient accumulations but also necessary for monitoring the herb quality of the cultivated plants. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as a sensitive and powerful technique has been widely used to detect gene expression across tissues in plants at different stages, however, its accuracy and reliability depend largely on the reference gene selection. In this study, the expressions of 10 candidate reference genes were evaluated in various organs of the wild and cultivated plants at different stages, using the algorithms of geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper, respectively. The purpose of this study was to identify the suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR detection in A. flaccida. The results showed that two reference genes were sufficient for RT-qPCR data normalization in A. flaccida. PUBQ and ETIF1a can be used as suitable reference genes in most organs at various stages because of their expression stabilitywhereas the PUBQ and EF1Α genes were desirable in the rhizomes of the plant at the vegetative stage.

Smoking is a well-recognized risk factor for oral mucosal and periodontal diseases. Nicotine is an important component of cigarette smoke. This study aims to investigate the impact of nicotine on the viability and inflammatory mediator production of an oral epithelial cell line in the presence of various inflammatory stimuli. Oral epithelial HSC-2 cells were challenged with nicotine (10−8–10−2 M) for 24 h in the presence or absence of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (10−7 M) for 24 h. The cell proliferation/viability was determined by MTT assay. Gene expression of interleukin (IL)-8, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, and β-defensin was assayed by qPCR. The production of IL-8 protein and cell surface expression of ICAM-1 was assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. Proliferation/viability of HSC-2 cells was unaffected by nicotine at concentrations up to 10−3 M and inhibited at 10−2 M. Nicotine had no significant effect on the basal expression of IL-8, ICAM-1, and β-defensin. At the same time, it significantly diminished P. gingivalis LPS or the TNF-α-induced expression levels of these factors. Within the limitations of this study, the first evidence was provided in vitro that nicotine probably exerts a suppressive effect on the production of inflammatory mediators and antimicrobial peptides in human oral epithelial cells.

Microscopic analysis of soils has attracted wide attention, but at present, the analysis of particle shape of soft clay is still scarce. In this paper, the fractal dimension of particle aspect ratio, roundness and roughness is studied by selecting typical soil samples in Tianjin Port area. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The average aspect ratio of clay, silty clay and silt is 1.56, 1.58 and 1.65, respectively, which shows that the smaller the soil particles are, the smaller the aspect ratio of the whole soil sample is; (2) The average roundness of clay, silty clay and silt are 0.91, 0.89 and 0.88, respectively, which indicates that the smaller the soil particles are, the closer the roundness of the whole soil sample is to 1, the closer the soil particles are to the circle. (3) The smaller the soil particles are, the smoother the surface of the particles is, and the smaller the soil particles are, the more obvious the correlation is.

The solubilities and the physicochemical properties including density, viscosity, refractive index, conductivity, and pH of the aqueous ternary system (LiCl + Li2SO4 + H2O) at T = 308.15 K and p = 0.1 MPa were determined using the isothermal evaporation method, and the metastable phase diagram and the physicochemical property diagram versus composition of liquid phase solution for the system at 308.15 K were plotted. In the metastable phase diagram of the ternary system at 308.15 K, there is one invariant point, two univariant curves, and three crystallization zones corresponding to lithium sulfate monohydrate (Li2SO4·H2O), lithium chloride monohydrate (LiCl·H2O) and (Li2SO4·H2O + LiCl·H2O). It belongs to the hydrate type I, and neither double salts nor solid solution were found. On the basis of Pitzer ion-interaction theory of the electrolytes and the chemical equilibrium HMW model, Pitzer single-salt parameter of lithium chloride at 308.15 K was fitted, and the single-salt parameters of lithium sulfate, mixing ion-pair θ Cl , SO 4 , and the Debye–Huckel limiting slope AΦ at 308.15 K were obtained according to the temperature-dependent equation of parameters presented in the literatures. And then, the solubilities on the ternary system (LiCl + Li2SO4 + H2O) at 308.15 K were calculated. A comparison shows that the calculated solubility agrees well with the experimental data.

A three-dimensional numerical simulation of a vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) process for aqueous NaCl solution was conducted to understand the vapor and liquid distribution in the hollow fiber membrane module. This understanding is critical for membrane module design as well as heat and mass transfer enhancement. Computational fluid dynamics were used to simulate the VMD process using FLUENT software, and the mixture model and standard k–ϵ model were used to describe the turbulent flow. The vapor and liquid distribution along the entire membrane module were simulated. The membrane thickness, feed temperature, pressure, parameters on the boundary layer, and cross-section in the VMD process were also studied. It was shown that the pressure change and liquid volume fraction change were mainly in membrane silk. The vapor and liquid were found to be distributed inside the membrane silk and shell, respectively. Most of the changes in pressure, temperature, and phase transition occur on the boundary layer in the membrane silk.

Under complicated electromagnetism environment, it is effective to raise the effect of anti-interference by networking the radar sets of different frequencies and systems. This paper built the nonlinear programming model of quantitative analysis by researching the problems of radar net anti-interference effect, and blended the thought of simulated annealing algorithm with genetic algorithm for improvement to solve models and give the anti-interference strategies of radar net.

The effect of liquid viscosity on hydrodynamics and bubble behaviour of an external-loop airlift reactor within air–water system were studied by an electrical conductivity probe. Carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) was used to change liquid viscosity (1.00–51.25 cP). Gas holdup increased with superficial gas velocity increasing, as well as bubble Sauter diameter and bubble rise velocity. With liquid viscosity increasing, average gas holdup increased first then decreased, while bubble Sauter diameter was opposite, with critical viscosity µl ≈ 3.7 cP. The cross-sectional average bubble Sauter diameter increased obviously after µl > 3.7 cP, and its size distribution was wider within the higher viscosity. Bubble rise velocity increased significantly and nearly unchanged after µl > 10.3 cP. Gas holdup first increased then remained unchanged with the axial height increasing. The radial profile of local gas holdup presented a central peak distribution, and the value at inlet was smaller than that at the higher position. Average gas holdup was correlated greatly with superficial gas velocity and liquid viscosity.

Background: Anemone flaccida Fr. Shmidt (Ranunculaceae), commonly known as ‘Di Wu’ in China, is a perennial herb with limited distribution. The rhizome of A. flaccida has long been used to treat arthritis as a tradition in China. Studies disclosed that the plant contains a rich source of triterpenoid saponins. However, little is known about triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis in A. flaccida. Results: In this study, we conducted the tandem transcriptome and proteome profiling of a non-model medicinal plant, A. flaccida. Using Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing and iTRAQ technique, a total of 46,962 high-quality unigenes were obtained with an average sequence length of 1,310 bp, along with 1473 unique proteins from A. flaccida. Among the A. flaccida transcripts, 36,617 (77.97%) showed significant similarity (E-value < 1e-5) to the known proteins in the public database. Of the total 46,962 unigenes, 36,617 open reading frame (ORFs) were predicted. By the fragments per kilobases per million reads (FPKM) statistics, 14,004 isoforms/unigenes were found to be upregulated, and 14,090 isoforms/unigenes were down-regulated in the rhizomes as compared to those in the leaves. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, all possible enzymes involved in the triterpenoid saponins biosynthetic pathway of A. flaccida were identified, including cytosolic mevalonate pathway (MVA) and the plastidial methylerythritol pathway (MEP). Additionally, a total of 126 putative cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and 32 putative UDP glycosyltransferases were selected as the candidates of triterpenoid saponins modifiers. Among them, four of them were annotated as the gene of CYP716A subfamily, the key enzyme in the oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, based on RNA-Seq and proteome analysis, as well as quantitative RT-PCR verification, the expression level of gene and protein committed to triterpenoids biosynthesis in the leaf versus the rhizome was compared. Conclusion: A combination of the de novo transcriptome and proteome profiling based on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing platform and iTRAQ technique was shown to be a powerful method for the discovery of candidate genes, which encoded enzymes that were responsible for the biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites in a non-model plant. The transcriptome data of our study provides a very important resource for the understanding of the triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis of A. flaccida.

In this paper, we propose a novel differentiated domain protection (DDP) scheme to address survivability in multi-domain optical networks. Survivable routing in multi-domain networks is a challenging algorithmic problem because it requires choosing links that provide adequate protection both between domains and within domains that may offer different protection services. To satisfy the survivability requirements of different domains, DDP considers differentiated protection schemes, i.e., dedicated protection, shared protection, or no protection in different domains. In order to respect the principle of transparent management in multiple domains, DDP abstracts a multi-domain optical network to a virtual topology graph (VTG) for solving routing between domains. Simulation results show that DDP, unlike traditional schemes, can provide trade-off between protection methods and also allows better resource utilization.

In this paper, we investigate the problem of failure tolerated multicast requests in survivable networks and propose a new heuristic algorithm called segment protection with load balancing (SPLB) to address the single-link failure. In order to obtain better performances, in SPLB first we consider the techniques of cross-sharing and self-sharing to improve the resource utilization ratio, second we propose a segment protection routing algorithm to overcome the trap problem, and third we design a load balancing method to reduce the blocking probability. Compared with conventional algorithm, SPLB performs better performances. Simulation results meet our expectation.

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., named "Cangzhu" in China, which belongs to the Asteraceae family. In some countries of Southeast Asia (China, Thailand, Korea, Japan etc.) its rhizome, commonly called rhizoma atractylodis, is used to treat many diseases as it contains a variety of sesquiterpenoids and other components of medicinal importance. Despite its medicinal value, the information of the sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome analysis of different tissues of non-model plant A. lancea by using short read sequencing technology (Illumina). We found 62,352 high quality unigenes with an average sequence length of 913 bp in the transcripts of A. Lancea. Among these, 43,049 (69.04%), 30,264 (48.53%), 26,233 (42.07%), 17,881 (28.67%) and 29,057(46.60%) unigenes showed significant similarity (E-value