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Increased urea is one of the common nitrogen forms polluting coastal waters and affecting nutrient dynamics. To investigate the effects of urea on sediment phosphorus (P) release, we carried out a 2-month mesocosm experiment with six targeted loadings of urea (0–0.6 mg N L−1 d−1). Results showed that: i) urea was rapidly transformed into ammonium and then nitrate (NO3−). ii) When nitrogen occurred as urea or ammonium, minor P release was observed. iii) After urea were mostly converted to NO3−, P release became clearer. iv) NO3− had a dual effect by promoting P release through decreasing sediment pH and increasing alkaline phosphatase activity or by inhibiting P release through improving sediment oxidation. v) The overall effects of urea on P release depended on the ultimate NO3− concentrations, being prominent when NO3− ≥ 11 mg N L−1. Our findings are of relevance when determining nitrogen reduction targets needed for combating eutrophication.

Subtree number index $\emph{STN}(G)$ of a graph $G$ is the number of nonempty subtrees of $G$. It is a structural and counting based topological index that has received more and more attention in recent years. In this paper we first obtain exact formulas for the expected values of subtree number index of random polyphenylene and spiro chains, which are molecular graphs of a class of unbranched multispiro molecules and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, we establish a relation between the expected values of the subtree number indices of a random polyphenylene and its corresponding hexagonal squeeze. We also present the average values for subtree number indices with respect to the set of all polyphenylene and spiro chains with $n$ hexagons., 16pages, 3 figures

Argonaute 2 (AGO2)-mediated role in plant defense against fungal pathogens remains largely unknown. In this study, integrated miRNAome and transcriptome analysis employing ago2 mutant was performed to reveal AGO2-associated miRNAs and defense responses against the devastating necrotrophic phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Both miRNAome and transcriptomes of S. sclerotiorum-inoculated ago2-1 mutant (ago2-Ss) and wild-type (WT-Ss) as well as mock-inoculated ago2-1 mutant (ago2) and wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis plants, were analyzed by sRNA and mRNA deep sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) of the comparisons WT-Ss/WT, ago2/WT, ago2-Ss/WT-Ss, and ago2-Ss/ago2 were identified. Furthermore, integration analysis for the DEMs and DEGs identified over 40 potential AGO2-dependent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-responsive (ATSR) DEM-DEG pairs involving modulation of immune recognition, calcium flux, redox homeostasis, hormone accumulation and signaling, cell wall modification and metal ion homeostasis. Data-mining result indicated that most of the DEMs were bound with AGO2. Moreover, Arabidopsis mutant analysis demonstrated that three ROS and redox homeostatasis related DEGs of identified DEM-DEG pairs, GSTU2, GSTU5, and RBOHF contributed to the AGO2-mediated defense against S. sclerotiorum. This work provides genome-wide prediction of miRNA–target gene pairs that are potentially associated with the AGO2-dependent resistance against S. sclerotiorum.

The behavior of the combustion gas jet in a Laval nozzle flow is studied by numerical simulations. The Laval nozzle is installed in an engine and the combustion gas comes out of the engine through the nozzle and then injects into the surrounding environment. First, the jet injection into the air is simulated and the results are verified by the theoretical solutions of the 1-D isentropic flow. Then the behavior of the gas jet in a submerged Laval nozzle flow is simulated for various water depths. The stability of the jet and the jet evolution with a series of expansion waves and compression waves are analyzed, as well as the mechanism of the jet in a deep water depth. Finally, the numerical results are compared with existing experimental data and it is shown that the characteristics of the water blockage and the average values of the engine thrust are in good agreement and the unfixed engine in the experiment is the cause of the differences of the frequency and the amplitude of the oscillation.

Argonaute 2 (AGO2)-mediated role in plant defense against fungal pathogens remains largely unknown. In this study, integrated miRNAome and transcriptome analysis employing ago2 mutant was performed to reveal AGO2-associated miRNAs and defense responses against the devastating necrotrophic phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Both miRNAome and transcriptomes of S. sclerotiorum-inoculated ago2-1 mutant (ago2-Ss) and wild-type (WT-Ss) as well as mock-inoculated ago2-1 mutant (ago2) and wild-type (WT) Arabidopsis plants, were analyzed by sRNA and mRNA deep sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) of the comparisons WT-Ss/WT, ago2/WT, ago2-Ss/WT-Ss, and ago2-Ss/ago2 were identified. Furthermore, integration analysis for the DEMs and DEGs identified over 40 potential AGO2-dependent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-responsive (ATSR) DEM-DEG pairs involving modulation of immune recognition, calcium flux, redox homeostasis, hormone accumulation and signaling, cell wall modification and metal ion homeostasis. Data-mining result indicated that most of the DEMs were bound with AGO2. Moreover, Arabidopsis mutant analysis demonstrated that three ROS and redox homeostatasis related DEGs of identified DEM-DEG pairs, GSTU2, GSTU5, and RBOHF contributed to the AGO2-mediated defense against S. sclerotiorum. This work provides genome-wide prediction of miRNA–target gene pairs that are potentially associated with the AGO2-dependent resistance against S. sclerotiorum.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are multifunctional non-coding short nucleotide molecules. Nevertheless, the role of miRNAs in the interactions between plants and necrotrophic pathogens is largely unknown. Here, we report the identification of the miRNA repertoire of the economically important oil crop oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and those involved in interacting with its most devastating necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. We identified 280 B. napus miRNA candidates, including 53 novel candidates and 227 canonical members or variants of known miRNA families, by high-throughput deep sequencing of small RNAs from both normal and S. sclerotiorum-inoculated leaves. Target genes of 15 novel candidates and 222 known miRNAs were further identified by sequencing of degradomes from the two types of samples. MiRNA microarray analysis revealed that 68 miRNAs were differentially expressed between S. sclerotiorum-inoculated and uninoculated leaves. A set of these miRNAs target genes involved in plant defense to S. sclerotiorum and/or other pathogens such as nucleotide binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) R genes and nitric oxygen and reactive oxygen species related genes. Additionally, three miRNAs target AGO1 and AGO2, key components of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Expression of several viral PTGS suppressors reduced resistance to S. sclerotiorum. Arabidopsis mutants of AGO1 and AGO2 exhibited reduced resistance while transgenic lines over-expressing AGO1 displayed increased resistance to S. sclerotiorum in an AGO1 expression level-dependent manner. Moreover, transient over-expression of miRNAs targeting AGO1 and AGO2 decreased resistance to S. sclerotiorum in oilseed rape. Our results demonstrate that the interactions between B. napus and S. sclerotiorum are tightly regulated at miRNA level and probably involve PTGS.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) rapidly triggers a hypersensitive response (HR) and non-host resistance in its non-host plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, we report that Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 blocks Xoo-induced HR in N. benthamiana when pre-infiltrated or co-infiltrated, but not when post-infiltrated at 4 h after Xoo inoculation. This suppression by A. tumefaciens is local and highly efficient to Xoo. The HR-inhibiting efficiency of A. tumefaciens is strain dependent. Strain C58C1 has almost no effect on Xoo-induced HR, whereas strains GV3101, EHA105 and LBA4404 nearly completely block HR formation. Intriguingly, these three HR-inhibiting strains employ different strategies to repress HR. Strain GV3101 displays strong antibiotic activity and thus suppresses Xoo growth. Comparison of the genotype and Xoo antibiosis activity of wild-type A. tumefaciens strain C58 and a set of C58-derived strains reveals that this Xoo antibiosis activity of A. tumefaciens is negatively, but not solely, regulated by the transferred-DNA (T-DNA) of the Ti plasmid pTiC58. Unlike GV3101, strains LBA4404 and EHA105 exhibit no significant antibiotic effect on Xoo, but rather abolish hydrogen peroxide accumulation. In addition, expression assays indicate that strains LBA4404 and EHA105 may inhibit Xoo-induced HR by suppression of the expression of Xoo type III secretion system (T3SS) effector genes hpa1 and hrpD6. Collectively, our results unveil the multiple levels of effects of A. tumefaciens on Xoo in N. benthamiana and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the bacterial antibiosis of A. tumefaciens and the non-host resistance induced by Xoo.

The white mould disease, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum , is one of the most important diseases in the vital oil crop Brassica napus . Nevertheless, the defense mechanisms of B. napus against S. sclerotiorum are poorly understood. In this study, we performed comparative quantitative proteomics analyses to reveal B. napus defense mechanisms against S. sclerotiorum . The proteomes of B. napus leaves inoculated with S. sclerotiorum wild-type strain 1980 and nonpathogenic mutant strain Ep-1PB as well as empty agar plug as the control were analyzed using TMT label-based quantitative analysis technique. A total of 79, 299 and 173 proteins consistently differentially expressed between Ep-1PB- and mock-inoculated leaves, 1980- and mock-inoculated leaves, as well as 1980- and Ep-1PB-inoculated leaves, respectively, were identified. The differential expression of 12 selected proteins was confirmed by qRT-PCR analyses. The Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction prediction analyses revealed that redox homeostasis, lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and defense-related proteins such as defensin and defensin-like proteins and cyanate lyase, contribute to defense against S. sclerotiorum . Our results provide new insights into molecular mechanisms that may be involved in defense responses of B. napus to S. sclerotiorum . Significance The Sclerotinia white mould disease is one of the most important diseases in the significant oil crop Brassica napus . Nevertheless, the defense mechanisms of B. napus against S. sclerotiorum are still largely unknown to date. In this study, we addressed this issue by performing TMT label-based comparative quantitative analyses of the proteomes of B. napus leaves inoculated with S. sclerotiorum wild-type strain 1980 and nonpathogenic mutant strain Ep-1PB as well as empty agar plug as the control. Through comparative analyses on 79, 299, and 173 proteins that are consistently differentially expressed in between Ep-1PB-inoculated and the control leaves, 1980-inoculated and the control leaves, as well as 1980-inoculated and Ep-1PB-inoculated leaves, respectively, we revealed that redox homeostasis, lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and defense-related proteins such as defensin and defensin-like proteins as well as cyanate lyase, contribute to B. napus defenses against S. sclerotiorum . Notably, the potential role of lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and cyanate lyase in B. napus defense against S. sclerotiorum are not reported previously but rather unveiled for the first time in this study. The current study represents the most extensive analysis of the protein profile of B. napus in response to S. sclerotiorum inoculation and includes for the first time the results from comparison between plants inoculated with the wild-type strain and a nonpathogenic mutant strain of S. sclerotiorum . Collectively, our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of interactions between B. napus and S. sclerotiorum .

It has been reported in several pathosystems that disease resistance can vary in leaves at different stages. However, how general this leaf stage-associated resistance is, and the molecular mechanism(s) underlying it, remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of leaf stage on basal resistance, effector-triggered immunity (ETI) and nonhost resistance, using eight pathosystems involving the hosts Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum, and N. benthamiana and the pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). We show evidence that leaf stage-associated resistance exists ubiquitously in plants, but with varying intensity at different stages in diverse pathosystems. Microarray expression profiling assays demonstrated that hundreds of genes involved in defense responses, phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, and calcium signaling, were differentially expressed between leaves at different stages. The Arabidopsis mutants sid1, sid2-3, ein2, jar1-1, aba1 and aao3 lost leaf stage-associated resistance to S. sclerotiorum, and the mutants aba1 and sid2-3 were affected in leaf stage-associated RPS2/AvrRpt2

In the present work, the collapse regimes of the cavitation occurring on the submerged vehicles navigating with deceleration were numerically investigated. A homogeneous equilibrium cavitation model was combined with the pressure–velocity–density coupling algorithm to simulate the cavitating flows. The cavity is induced to collapse by the deceleration after fluctuation, and the first collapse releasing most of the energy is followed by a series of secondary ones. The collapse process can be classified into two types: periodic oscillation and damped oscillation. In each type the evolution of the total mass of vapor in cavity is found to have strict correlation with the pressure oscillation in the far field. The two types are different in the intensity and the bandwidth of the pressure peaks. By defining the equivalent radius of cavity, we introduce the specific kinetic energy of collapse and demonstrate that its change-rate is in good agreement with the pressure disturbance. It is also found that the drag presents corresponding oscillations. Through comparative analysis on the velocity field and the stress distribution along the body, it indicates that the collapse can produce extremely high pressure instantaneously. We numerically investigated the influence of the angle of attack on the collapse regime. The result shows that when the vehicle decelerates, an asymmetric-focusing effect of the pressure induced by collapse occurs on its pressure side. We analytically proved such an asymmetric-focusing effect using the potential flow theory. The mathematical model and method we proposed show capability in reflecting the evolution of the pressure difference between both sides of the vehicle.

When a high-speed cavitated weapon moves under water, the flow properties are important issues for the sake of the trajectory predication and control. In this paper, a single-fluid multiphase flow method coupled with a natural cavitation model is proposed to numerically simulate the free moving phase of an underwater supercavitated vehicle under the action of the external thrust. The influence of the cavitator's deflection angle ranging from −3° to 3° on the cavity pattern, the hydrodynamics and the underwater trajectory is investigated. Based on computational results, several conclusions are qualitatively drawn by an analysis. The deflection angle has very little effect on the cavity pattern. When the deflection angle increases, the variation curves of the vertical linear velocity, the lift coefficient and the pitching moment coefficient become flatter. In the phase of the second natural cavitation, at a same time, the greater the deflection angle is, the lower the drag and the lift coefficients will be and the higher the pitching moment coefficient becomes. At the finishing time of the free moving phase, when the deflection angle lies in the small range of −1° −1°, the position of the center of mass and the pitching angle of the vehicle are more close to each other. However, when the deflection angle is less than −1° or greater than 1°, the position of the center of mass and the pitching angle change greatly. If a proper deflection angle of the cavitator is adopted, the underwater vehicle can navigate in a pseudo-fixed depth.

Economical nanocomposites based on π-stacking of N-acetyl glycosyl rhodamine B to graphene oxide (GO) are simply prepared. These "sweet" GO-materials are proven to be admirable for the fluorogenic recognition of specific intercellular sugar-based ligand-glycoprotein receptor interactions of interest.

Quadratic and cubic Non-Linear Eddy-Viscosity Models (NLEVMs) at low Reynolds number ( Re ) correction were introduced into the present Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) framework, to provide better numerical treatment about the anisotropic turbulence stress in cavitating flows, which have large density ratio and large-scaled swirling flow structures. The applications of these NLEVMs were carried out through a self-developed cavitation code, coupled with a cavitation model based on the transport equation of liquid phase. These NLEVMs were firstly validated by the benchmark of disk supercavity, and found able to obtain more accurate capture of the hydrodynamic properties than the linear models. One of such models was further applied on the cavitation problem of submerged vehicles. Ultimately, the supercavitating flows around an especially designed underwater vehicle were predicted using the cubic k – ɛ turbulence model, and its cavitation behaviors were studied.

RNA silencing is an important mechanism to regulate gene expression and antiviral defense in plants. Nevertheless, RNA silencing machinery in the important oil crop Brassica napus and function in resistance to the devastating fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum are not well-understood. In this study, gene families of RNA silencing machinery in B. napus were identified and their role in resistance to S. sclerotiorum was revealed. Genome of the allopolyploid species B. napus possessed 8 Dicer-like (DCL), 27 Argonaute (AGO), and 16 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) genes, which included almost all copies from its progenitor species B. rapa and B. oleracea and three extra copies of RDR5 genes, indicating that the RDR5 group in B. napus appears to have undergone further expansion through duplication during evolution. Moreover, compared with Arabidopsis, some AGO and RDR genes such as AGO1, AGO4, AGO9, and RDR5 had significantly expanded in these Brassica species. Twenty-one out of 51 DCL, AGO, and RDR genes were predicted to contain calmodulin-binding transcription activators (CAMTA)-binding site (CGCG box). S. sclerotiorum inoculation strongly induced the expression of BnCAMTA3 genes while significantly suppressed that of some CGCG-containing RNA silencing component genes, suggesting that RNA silencing machinery might be targeted by CAMTA3. Furthermore, Arabidopsis mutant analyses demonstrated that dcl4-2, ago9-1, rdr1-1, rdr6-11, and rdr6-15 mutants were more susceptible to S. sclerotiorum, while dcl1-9 was more resistant. Our results reveal the importance of RNA silencing in plant resistance to S. sclerotiorum and imply a new mechanism of CAMTA function as well as RNA silencing regulation.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) rapidly triggers a hypersensitive response (HR) and non‐host resistance in its non‐host plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Here, we report that Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 blocks Xoo‐induced HR in N. benthamiana when pre‐infiltrated or co‐infiltrated, but not when post‐infiltrated at 4 h after Xoo inoculation. This suppression by A. tumefaciens is local and highly efficient to Xoo. The HR‐inhibiting efficiency of A. tumefaciens is strain dependent. Strain C58C1 has almost no effect on Xoo‐induced HR, whereas strains GV3101, EHA105 and LBA4404 nearly completely block HR formation. Intriguingly, these three HR‐inhibiting strains employ different strategies to repress HR. Strain GV3101 displays strong antibiotic activity and thus suppresses Xoo growth. Comparison of the genotype and Xoo antibiosis activity of wild‐type A. tumefaciens strain C58 and a set of C58‐derived strains reveals that this Xoo antibiosis activity of A. tumefaciens is negatively, but not solely, regulated by the transferred‐DNA (T‐DNA) of the Ti plasmid pTiC58. Unlike GV3101, strains LBA4404 and EHA105 exhibit no significant antibiotic effect on Xoo, but rather abolish hydrogen peroxide accumulation. In addition, expression assays indicate that strains LBA4404 and EHA105 may inhibit Xoo‐induced HR by suppression of the expression of Xoo type III secretion system (T3SS) effector genes hpa1 and hrpD6. Collectively, our results unveil the multiple levels of effects of A. tumefaciens on Xoo in N. benthamiana and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the bacterial antibiosis of A. tumefaciens and the non‐host resistance induced by Xoo.

The finite volume method based on a multiphase model is adopted to solve the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, which takes into account the effects of fluid compressibility, viscosity, gravity, medium mixture and energy transfer of water and combustion gas. The program Fluent User Define Function (UDF) module combined with the dynamic mesh method is employed to simulate the coupling flow field of combustion gas, water field and trajectory of projectile. The results show that the volume of gas cavity at the bottom of projectile and tail pressure will fluctuate after bottom of the projectile leaving the launch tube. The cause of the fluctuation is analyzed and its effects on the trajectory of projectile are presented. The numerical and experimental results agree well with each other.

To apply the measurements of model experiment in water tunnel to the actual sailing condition, it is necessary to know accurately the strut effect and its rule. In the present work, the corresponding interferences of one-side strut and two-side strut on the natural cavitating flows around a submerged vehicle in water tunnel were investigated numerically, using the homogeneous equilibrium two-phase model coupled with a natural cavitation model. The numerical simulation results show that the strut types have distinct effects on the hydrodynamic properties. For the same given upstream velocity and downstream pressure, the existence of the strut leads to an increment of natural cavitation number, reduces the low-pressure region and depresses the pressure on the vehicle surface near the sides of strut. In the case of given cavitaiton number, the influences of the two-side strut on the drag and lift coefficients are both enhanced along with the increment of attack angle, however the influence of the one-side strut gradually gets stronger on the drag coefficient but weaker on the lift coefficient contrarily. In addition, based on the present numerical results, a correction method by introducing the sigmoidal logistic function is proposed to eliminate the interference from the foil-shaped strut.

Based on a suite of CFD code, a homogeneous, multiphase, Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes solver coupled with a transport cavitation model and a local linear low-Reynolds-number k − e turbulence model closure was used to simulate the ventilated cavitating flows around a wedge hydrofoil. The gas leakage regimes at the aft of ventilated cavities were investigated. Three gas leakage regimes were observed, and corresponding to each regime, ventilated cavities exhibited a different morphology. The numerical results were compared to corresponding experimental results in qualitative manner. It was found that the general characteristics of the gas leakage regimes and cavity morphology were very reasonably predicted.

A series of novel di- and tripeptidyl epoxyketone derivatives composed of β-amino acids were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their proteasome inhibitory activities and anti-proliferation activities against two multiple myeloma cell lines RPMI 8226 and NCI-H929 and normal cells (peripheral blood mononucleated cells). Among these tested compounds, tripeptidyl analogues showed much more potent activities than dipeptides, and four tripeptidyl compounds exhibited proteasome inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.97 ± 0.05 to 1.85 ± 0.11 μM. In addition, all the four compounds showed anti-proliferation activities with IC50 values at low micromolar levels against two multiple myeloma cell lines and weak activities against normal cells. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was performed to verify the proteasome inhibition induced by compounds 21d and 21e. All the experimental results validated that the β-amino acid building block has the potential for the development of proteasome inhibitors.

A series of novel tripeptidyl epoxyketone derivatives constructed from β-amino acid were designed, synthesized and evaluated as proteasome inhibitors. All target compounds were tested for their proteasome inhibitory activities and selected compounds were tested for their anti-proliferation activities against two multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines RPMI 8226 and NCI-H929. Among them, eleven compounds exhibited proteasome inhibitory rates of more than 50% at the concentration of 1 μg/mL and nine compounds showed anti-proliferation activities with IC50 values at low micromolar level. Compound 20h displayed the most potent proteasome inhibitory activities (IC50: 0.11 ± 0.01 μM) and anti-proliferation activities with IC50 values at 0.23 ± 0.01 and 0.17 ± 0.02 μM against two tested cell lines. Additionally, the poly-ubiquitin accumulation in the western blot analysis supported that proteasome inhibition in a cellular system was induced by compound 20h. All these experimental results confirmed that β-amino acid can be introduced as a building block for the development of proteasome inhibitors.

Background Calmodulin (CaM) is a major calcium sensor in all eukaryotes. It binds calcium and modulates the activity of a wide range of downstream proteins in response to calcium signals. However, little is known about the CaM gene family in Solanaceous species, including the economically important species, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and the gene silencing model plant, Nicotiana benthamiana. Moreover, the potential function of CaM in plant disease resistance remains largely unclear. Results We performed genome-wide identification of CaM gene families in Solanaceous species. Employing bioinformatics approaches, multiple full-length CaM genes were identified from tomato, N. benthamiana and potato (S. tuberosum) genomes, with tomato having 6 CaM genes, N. benthamiana having 7 CaM genes, and potato having 4 CaM genes. Sequence comparison analyses showed that three tomato genes, SlCaM3/4/5, two potato genes StCaM2/3, and two sets of N. benthamiana genes, NbCaM1/2/3/4 and NbCaM5/6, encode identical CaM proteins, yet the genes contain different intron/exon organization and are located on different chromosomes. Further sequence comparisons and gene structural and phylogenetic analyses reveal that Solanaceous species gained a new group of CaM genes during evolution. These new CaM genes are unusual in that they contain three introns in contrast to only a single intron typical of known CaM genes in plants. The tomato CaM (SlCaM) genes were found to be expressed in all organs. Prediction of cis-acting elements in 5' upstream sequences and expression analyses demonstrated that SlCaM genes have potential to be highly responsive to a variety of biotic and abiotic stimuli. Additionally, silencing of SlCaM2 and SlCaM6 altered expression of a set of signaling and defense-related genes and resulted in significantly lower resistance to Tobacco rattle virus and the oomycete pathogen, Pythium aphanidermatum. Conclusions The CaM gene families in the Solanaceous species tomato, N. benthamiana and potato were identified through a genome-wide analysis. All three plant species harbor a small set of genes that encode identical CaM proteins, which may manifest a strategy of plants to retain redundancy or enhanced quantitative gene function. In addition, Solanaceous species have evolved one new group of CaM genes during evolution. CaM genes play important roles in plant disease resistance to a variety of pathogens.

Quadratic and cubic non-linear eddy-viscosity turbulence Models (NLEVM) with low Reynolds number correction were employed to provide better treatment about the anisotropic turbulence stresses in cavitating flows, in which large density ratio and swirling structures consist. These models were carried out through a self-developed computer code, and were validated by the case of the cavity over disk cavitator. It was proven that, the nonlinear models could effectively eliminate the non-physical numerical oscillation of the cavity profile which was usually caused by linear models. It had also been experimentally proved that the computed cavity shapes and pressure inside the cavity were accurately captured by these nonlinear models. One of such nonlinear models was further applied on the simulation of the cavitating flows around submerged vehicles. The numerical results were compared with experiment data to investigate the influence of the vehicle’s head and the after-body on the characteristics of the cavity. Ultimately, the cavitating flows around an especially designed complex underwater vehicle were predicted using the cubic k–ε turbulence model. The corresponding cavitation behaviors were studied to provide a beneficial experience for the research in future.

When a cavitated body moves in shallow water, both flexible free surface and rigid bottom wall will produce great influence on the cavity pattern and hydrodynamics to change the motion attitude and stability of the body. In this paper, a single-fluid multiphase flow method coupled with a natural cavitation model was employed to study the effects of two kinds of boundaries on the natural cavitating flow around a two-dimensional symmetry wedge in shallow water. Within the range of the cavitation number for computation (0.05 ~ 2.04), the cavity pattern would be divided into three types, namely, stable type, transition type and wake-vortex type. The shape of the free surface is fairly similar to that of the cavity's upper surface with well right-and-left symmetry. However, when the immersion depth and the cavitation number are decreasing, the symmetry of the cavity shape is destroyed due to the influence of bottom wall effects. When the cavitation number is less than about 0.1, with the immersion depth going down, free surface effects exerts a stronger influence on the drag coefficient of this 2D wedge, whereas wall effects bring a stronger influence on the lift coefficient.