bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nicotinic Acid Improves Endurance Performance of Mice Subjected to Treadmill Exercise
Authors: Ringseis Robert , Gessner Denise K. , Beer Anna M. , Albrecht Yvonne , Wen Gaiping , Most Erika , Krüger Karsten , Eder Klaus
Published: April 2020

Recently, administration of nicotinic acid (NA) at a pharmacological dose was found to induce a similar change in the muscle´s contractile and metabolic phenotype as observed in response to endurance exercise. Thus, the hypothesis was tested that combined NA administration and endurance exercise promotes the adaptation of muscle to regular exercise and improves the endurance performance to a greater extent than exercise alone. Thus, 30 adult mice were randomly divided into three groups of 10 mice/group. The control and the exercise (EX) group received an adequate NA diet, while the EX + NA group received a high NA diet. Mice of the EX and the EX + NA group were subjected to a treadmill endurance exercise program five times/week during the experimental period of 42 days. At day 41, endurance performance was greater in the EX + NA group than in the control and the EX group (p < 0.05). Mice of the EX + NA group had a higher type IIA (+60%) and a lower type IIB (−55%) fiber percentage in gastrocnemius (GN) muscle than control mice (p < 0.05), while the type I fiber percentage in GN muscle tended to be increased (+100%) in the EX + NA group compared to the control group (p = 0.051). In the EX + NA group, glycogen concentration (+15%) and mRNA levels of two glycolytic (+70–80%) and two glycogenolytic enzymes (+80–120%) in GN muscle were increased compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a high NA diet induces changes in skeletal muscle fiber composition and improves endurance performance of mice subjected to regular endurance exercise.
A Multivariate Metabolomics Method for Estimating Platelet Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption Rates in Patients with Sepsis
Authors: McCann Marc R. , McHugh Cora E. , Kirby Maggie , Jennaro Theodore S. , Jones Alan E. , Stringer Kathleen A. , Puskarich Michael A.
Published: April 2020

Background: Sepsis-induced alterations in mitochondrial function contribute to organ dysfunction and mortality. Measuring mitochondrial function in vital organs is neither feasible nor practical, highlighting the need for non-invasive approaches. Mitochondrial function may be reflected in the concentrations of metabolites found in platelets and whole blood (WB) samples. We proposed to use these as alternates to indirectly estimate platelet mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (mOCR) in sepsis patients. Methods: We determined the relationships between platelet mOCR and metabolites in both platelets and WB, as measured by quantitative 1H-NMR metabolomics. The associations were identified by building multiple linear regression models with stepwise forward-backward variable selection. We considered the models to be significant with an ANOVA test (p-value ≤ 0.05) and a positive predicted-R2. Results: The differences in adjusted-R2 and ANOVA p-values (platelet adj-R2: 0.836 (0.0003), 0.711 (0.0004) vs. WB adj-R2: 0.428 (0.0079)) from the significant models indicate the platelet models were more associated with platelet mOCR. Conclusions: Our data suggest there are groups of metabolites in WB (leucine, acetylcarnitine) and platelets (creatine, ADP, glucose, taurine) that are associated with platelet mOCR. Thus, WB and platelet metabolites could be used to estimate platelet mOCR.
Nano Carbon Black-Based High Performance Wearable Pressure Sensors
Authors: Hu Junsong , Yu Junsheng , Li Ying , Liao Xiaoqing , Yan Xingwu , Li Lu
Published: April 2020

The reasonable design pattern of flexible pressure sensors with excellent performance and prominent features including high sensitivity and a relatively wide workable linear range has attracted significant attention owing to their potential application in the advanced wearable electronics and artificial intelligence fields. Herein, nano carbon black from kerosene soot, an atmospheric pollutant generated during the insufficient burning of hydrocarbon fuels, was utilized as the conductive material with a bottom interdigitated textile electrode screen printed using silver paste to construct a piezoresistive pressure sensor with prominent performance. Owing to the distinct loose porous structure, the lumpy surface roughness of the fabric electrodes, and the softness of polydimethylsiloxane, the piezoresistive pressure sensor exhibited superior detection performance, including high sensitivity (31.63 kPa−1 within the range of 0–2 kPa), a relatively large feasible range (0–15 kPa), a low detection limit (2.26 pa), and a rapid response time (15 ms). Thus, these sensors act as outstanding candidates for detecting the human physiological signal and large-scale limb movement, showing their broad range of application prospects in the advanced wearable electronics field.
PDMS Nano-Modified Scaffolds for Improvement of Stem Cells Proliferation and Differentiation in Microfluidic Platform
Authors: Hashemzadeh Hadi , Allahverdi Abdollah , Sedghi Mosslim , Vaezi Zahra , Tohidi Moghadam Tahereh , Rothbauer Mario , Fischer Michael Bernhard , Ertl Peter , Naderi-Manesh Hossein
Published: April 2020

Microfluidics cell-based assays require strong cell-substrate adhesion for cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation. The intrinsic properties of PDMS, a commonly used polymer in microfluidics systems, regarding cell-substrate interactions have limited its application for microfluidics cell-based assays. Various attempts by previous researchers, such as chemical modification, plasma-treatment, and protein-coating of PDMS revealed some improvements. These strategies are often reversible, time-consuming, short-lived with either cell aggregates formation, not cost-effective as well as not user- and eco-friendly too. To address these challenges, cell-surface interaction has been tuned by the modification of PDMS doped with different biocompatible nanomaterials. Gold nanowires (AuNWs), superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), graphene oxide sheets (GO), and graphene quantum dot (GQD) have already been coupled to PDMS as an alternative biomaterial enabling easy and straightforward integration during microfluidic fabrication. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by corresponding methods. Physical cues of the nanostructured substrates such as Young’s modulus, surface roughness, and nanotopology have been carried out using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Initial biocompatibility assessment of the nanocomposites using human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) showed comparable cell viabilities among all nanostructured PDMS composites. Finally, osteogenic stem cell differentiation demonstrated an improved differentiation rate inside microfluidic devices. The results revealed that the presence of nanomaterials affected a 5- to 10-fold increase in surface roughness. In addition, the results showed enhancement of cell proliferation from 30% (pristine PDMS) to 85% (nano-modified scaffolds containing AuNWs and SPIONs), calcification from 60% (pristine PDMS) to 95% (PDMS/AuNWs), and cell surface marker expression from 40% in PDMS to 77% in SPION- and AuNWs-PDMS scaffolds at 14 day. Our results suggest that nanostructured composites have a very high potential for stem cell studies and future therapies.
Enhancement of Thermal Boundary Conductance of Metal–Polymer System
Authors: Sandell Susanne , Maire Jeremie , Chávez-Ángel Emigdio , Sotomayor Torres Clivia M. , Kristiansen Helge , Zhang Zhiliang , He Jianying
Published: April 2020

In organic electronics, thermal management is a challenge, as most organic materials conduct heat poorly. As these devices become smaller, thermal transport is increasingly limited by organic–inorganic interfaces, for example that between a metal and a polymer. However, the mechanisms of heat transport at these interfaces are not well understood. In this work, we compare three types of metal–polymer interfaces. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films of different thicknesses (1–15 nm) were spin-coated on silicon substrates and covered with an 80 nm gold film either directly, or over an interface layer of 2 nm of an adhesion promoting metal—either titanium or nickel. We use the frequency-domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) technique to measure the effective thermal conductivity of the polymer film and then extract the metal–polymer thermal boundary conductance (TBC) with a thermal resistance circuit model. We found that the titanium layer increased the TBC by a factor of 2, from 59 × 106 W·m−2·K−1 to 115 × 106 W·m−2·K−1, while the nickel layer increased TBC to 139 × 106 W·m−2·K−1. These results shed light on possible strategies to improve heat transport in organic electronic systems.
Properties and Composition of Magnetized Nuclei
Authors: Kondratyev V.N.
Published: April 2020

The properties and mass distribution of the ultramagnetized atomic nuclei which arise in heavy-ion collisions and magnetar crusts, during Type II supernova explosions and neutron star mergers are analyzed. For the magnetic field strength range of 0.1–10 teratesla, the Zeeman effect leads to a linear nuclear magnetic response that can be described in terms of magnetic susceptibility. Binding energies increase for open shell and decrease for closed shell nuclei. A noticeable enhancement in theyield of corresponding explosive nucleosynthesis products with antimagic numbers is predicted for iron group and r-process nuclei. Magnetic enrichment in a sampleof 44Ti corroborate theobservational results and imply a significant increase in the quantity of the main titanium isotope, 48Ti, in the chemical composition of galaxies. The enhancement of small mass number nuclides in the r-process peak may be due to magnetic effects.
A Study of the Properties of the QCD Phase Diagram in High-Energy Nuclear Collisions
Authors: Luo Xiaofeng , Shi Shusu , Xu Nu , Zhang Yifei
Published: April 2020

With the aim of understanding the phase structure of nuclear matter created in high-energy nuclear collisions at finite baryon density, a beam energy scan program has been carried out at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). In this mini-review, most recent experimental results on collectivity, criticality and heavy flavor productions will be discussed. The goal here is to establish the connection between current available data and future heavy-ion collision experiments in a high baryon density region.
Gluon Propagators in QC2D at High Baryon Density
Authors: Bornyakov Vitaly , Kotov Andrey , Nikolaev Aleksandr , Rogalyov Roman
Published: April 2020

We study the transverse and longitudinal gluon propagators in the Landau-gauge lattice QCD with gauge group S U ( 2 ) at nonzero quark chemical potential and zero temperature. We show that both propagators demonstrate substantial dependence on the quark chemical potential. This observation does not agree with earlier findings by other groups.
Changing the Drug Delivery System: Does it Add to Non-Compliance Ramifications Control? A Simulation Study on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Atypical Antipsychotic Drug
Authors: Elkomy Mohammed H.
Published: April 2020

This study investigates the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) consequences of shifting from Quetiapine fumarate immediate-release (IR) to extended-release (XR) formulation in non-adherent schizophrenia patients. Monte-Carlo simulations using population PK and PD models were implemented to predict the time course of plasma concentration and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores following the oral administration of 200 mg Seroquel® every 12 h and 400 mg Seroquel XR® every 24 h in patients experiencing dose delay, omission or doubling. Parameters were computed and their distributions were compared using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Dose irregularities with both formulations had different effects on plasma concentration and %reduction in BPRS scores from baseline. However, the odds ratio of getting a %reduction in BPRS below 14%, or plasma concentration exceeding 500 µg/L, were comparable for adherent and non-adherent patients. Plasma therapeutic concentration after treatment cessation was maintained for <24 h in 48% and 29.6% of patients, and a steady state recovery time of <48 h was achieved in 51% and 13.4% of patients on the IR and XR formulations, respectively. Monte-Carlo simulations predict that the risks associated with the IR dose irregularities are not worsened when the XR formulation is used instead. Non-adherence events involving a single dose of either formulation do not require rescue doses.
Oral Administration System Based on Meloxicam Nanocrystals: Decreased Dose Due to High Bioavailability Attenuates Risk of Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Authors: Nagai Noriaki , Ogata Fumihiko , Otake Hiroko , Kawasaki Naohito
Published: April 2020

Meloxicam (MLX) is widely applied as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, it takes far too long to reach its peak plasma concentration for a quick onset effect, and gastrointestinal toxicity has been observed in RA patients taking it. To solve these problems, we designed MLX solid nanoparticles (MLX-NPs) by the bead mill method and used them to prepare new oral formulations. The particle size of the MLX-NPs was approximately 20-180 nm, and they remained in the nano-size range for 1 month. The tmax of MLX-NPs was shorter than that of traditional MLX dispersions (MLX-TDs), and the intestinal penetration of MLX-NPs was significantly higher in comparison with MLX-TDs (P < 0.05). Caveolae-dependent endocytosis (CavME), clathrin-dependent endocytosis (CME), and micropinocytosis (MP) were found to be related to the high intestinal penetration of MLX-NPs. The area under the plasma MLX concentration-time curve (AUC) for MLX-NPs was 5-fold higher than that for MLX-TDs (P < 0.05), and the AUC in rats administered 0.05 mg/kg MLX-NPs were similar to rats administered the therapeutic dose of 0.2 mg/kg MLX-TDs. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect of the MLX-NPs was also significantly higher than that of MLX-TDs at the corresponding dose (P < 0.05), and the therapeutic effect of 0.2 mg/kg MLX-TDs and 0.05 mg/kg MLX-NPs in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rats showed no difference. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal lesions in AA rats treated repetitively with 0.05 mg/kg MLX-NPs were fewer than in rats receiving 0.2 mg/kg MLX-TDs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we demonstrate that MLX solid nanoparticles allow a quick onset of therapeutic effect and that three endocytosis pathways, CavME, CME, and MP, are related to the high absorption of solid nanoparticles. In addition, we found that MLX solid nanoparticles make it possible to reduce the amount of orally administered drugs, and treatment with low doses of MLX-NPs allows RA therapy without intestinal ulcerogenic responses to MLX. These findings are useful for designing therapies for RA patients.
Extended Pharmacopeial Characterization of Surfactant Aerosols Generated by a Customized eFlow Neos Nebulizer Delivered through Neonatal Nasal Prongs
Authors: Bianco Federico , Pasini Elena , Nutini Marcello , Murgia Xabier , Stoeckl Carolin , Schlun Martin , Hetzer Uwe , Bonelli Sauro , Lombardini Marta , Milesi Ilaria , Pertile Marisa , Minocchieri Stephan , Salomone Fabrizio , Bucholski Albert
Published: April 2020

The delivery of nebulized medications to preterm infants during Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) remains an unmet clinical need. In this regard, the effective delivery of nebulized surfactant has been particularly investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. In this work, we investigated the feasibility of delivering nebulized surfactant through various commercially available nasal prong types. We first performed a compendial characterization of surfactant aerosols generated by the eFlow Neos nebulizer, customized to be used in neonates, determining the amount of surfactant delivered by the device as well as the aerodynamic characteristics of surfactant aerosols. Additionally, we extended the compendial characterization by testing the effect of different nasal prong types on the estimated lung dose using a realistic Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) circuit that included a cast of the upper airways of a preterm neonate. The compendial characterization of surfactant aerosols delivered through different nasal prongs achieved relatively high delivered surfactant doses (in the range 63–74% of the nominal dose), with aerodynamic characteristics displaying mass median aerodynamic diameters ranging between 2.52 and 2.81 µm. Nevertheless, when using a representative in vitro setup mimicking NIV in a clinical setting, significant differences were observed in terms of the estimated lung dose accounting for up to two-fold differences (from 10% to 20% estimated lung deposition of the nominal dose) depending on the chosen nasal prong type. Considering that surfactant lung deposition rates are correlated with therapeutic efficacy, this study points out the relevance of choosing the appropriate NIV interface to maximize the lung dose of nebulized medications.
Perfecting Bodies: Who Are the Disabled in Andrew Niccol’s Gattaca?
Authors: Fahn Chia Wei
Published: April 2020

This paper will examine the impact of genetic technologies on the corporeal and economical aspects of human lives while emphasizing the ambiguity of disability under these subversive circumstances. In 2013, the world was introduced to CRISPR genetic editing technology, followed by the controversial announcement in 2018 from Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who claims to have genetically engineered twins that were born HIV-immune. The possible social outcome of genetic treatment leading to the alteration of human embryos to create physically and intellectually superior offspring, as well as its impact on the social treatment of disabled bodies, is clearly illustrated in Andrew Niccol’s directive debut Gattaca. Here, I will discuss Niccol’s utilization of disabled characters in interrogating the employment of disabled characters as a narrative vehicle to reflect upon social paradigms. I examine both the subversion and expansion of the social construct of disability in Gattaca’s narrative, emphasizing the film’s portrayal of economic differences as a disabling factor in a world of augmentative technology.
Melatonin: Awakening the Defense Mechanisms during Plant Oxidative Stress
Authors: Khan Adil , Numan Muhammad , Khan Abdul Latif , Lee In-Jung , Imran Muhammad , Asaf Sajjad , Al-Harrasi Ahmed
Published: April 2020

Melatonin is a multifunctional signaling molecule that is ubiquitously distributed in different parts of a plant and responsible for stimulating several physio-chemical responses to adverse environmental conditions. In this review, we show that, although plants are able to biosynthesize melatonin, the exogenous application of melatonin to various crops can improve plant growth and development in response to various abiotic and biotic stresses (e.g., drought, unfavorable temperatures, high salinity, heavy metal contamination, acid rain, and combined stresses) by regulating antioxidant machinery of plants. Current knowledge suggests that exogenously applied melatonin can enhance the stress tolerance of plants by regulating both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems. Enzymic antioxidants upregulated by exogenous melatonin include superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and enzymes involved in the ascorbate–glutathione cycle (ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione reductase), whereas levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as ascorbate, reduced glutathione, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phenolics are also higher under stress conditions. The enhanced antioxidant system consequently exhibits lower lipid peroxidation and greater plasma membrane integrity when under stress. However, these responses vary greatly from crop to crop and depend on the intensity and type of stress, and most studies to date have been conducted under controlled conditions. This means that a wider range of crop field trials and detailed transcriptomic analysis are required to reveal the gene regulatory networks involved in the between melatonin, antioxidants, and abiotic stress.
Research Progress on Plant Long Non-Coding RNA
Authors: Wu Ling , Liu Sian , Qi Haoran , Cai Heng , Xu Meng
Published: April 2020

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that were once considered “dark matter” or “transcriptional noise” in genomes are research hotspots in the field of epigenetics. The most well-known microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding, small molecular weight RNAs with lengths of 20–24 nucleotides that are highly conserved throughout evolution. Through complementary pairing with the bases of target sites, target gene transcripts are cleaved and degraded, or translation is inhibited, thus regulating the growth and development of organisms. Unlike miRNAs, which have been studied thoroughly, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of poorly conserved RNA molecules with a sequence length of more than 200 nucleotides and no protein encoding capability; they interact with large molecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, and regulate protein modification, chromatin remodeling, protein functional activity, and RNA metabolism in vivo through cis- or trans-activation at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. Research on plant lncRNAs is just beginning and has gradually emerged in the field of plant molecular biology. Currently, some studies have revealed that lncRNAs are extensively involved in plant growth and development and stress response processes by mediating the transmission and expression of genetic information. This paper systematically introduces lncRNA and its regulatory mechanisms, reviews the current status and progress of lncRNA research in plants, summarizes the main techniques and strategies of lncRNA research in recent years, and discusses existing problems and prospects, in order to provide ideas for further exploration and verification of the specific evolution of plant lncRNAs and their biological functions.
Feasible Production of Lignans and Neolignans in Root-Derived In Vitro Cultures of Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)
Authors: Anjum Sumaira , Komal Amna , Drouet Samantha , Kausar Humera , Hano Christophe , Abbasi Bilal Haider
Published: April 2020

Flax lignans and neolignans impart health benefits, particularly in treating different types of cancers, due to their strong phytoestrogenic and antioxidant properties. The present study enhances the comprehension on the biosynthesis of antioxidant lignans and neolignans in root-derived in vitro cultures of flax (both callus and adventitious root). The results presented here clearly showed that the adventitious root culture efficiently produced a higher amount of lignans (at day 40) and neolignans (at day 30) than callus culture of flax. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the accumulations of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG, 5.5 mg g−1 DW (dry weight)) and dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside (DCG, 21.6 mg/g DW) were 2-fold higher, while guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl alcohol ether glucoside (GGCG, 4.9 mg/g DW) and lariciresinol glucoside (LDG, 11.9 mg/g DW) contents were 1.5-fold higher in adventitious root culture than in callus culture. Furthermore, the highest level of total phenolic production (119.01 mg/L), with an antioxidant free radical scavenging activity of 91.01%, was found in adventitious root culture at day 40, while the maximum level of total flavonoid production (45.51 mg/L) was observed in callus culture at day 30 of growth dynamics. These results suggest that adventitious root culture can be a good candidate for scaling up to industrial level to commercially produce these pharmacologically and nutritionally valuable metabolites.
Optimized Extraction of Total Triterpenoids from Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and Comprehensive Analysis of Triterpenic Acids in Different Cultivars
Authors: Song Lijun , Zhang Li , Xu Long , Ma Yunjian , Lian Weishuai , Liu Yongguo , Wang Yonghua
Published: April 2020

Triterpenoid compounds are one of the main functional components in jujube fruit. In this study, the optimal process for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of total triterpenoids from jujube fruit was determined using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions were as follows: temperature of 55.14 °C, ethanol concentration of 86.57%, time of 34.41 min, and liquid-to-solid ratio of 39.33 mL/g. The triterpenoid yield was 19.21 ± 0.25 mg/g under optimal conditions. The triterpenoid profiles and antioxidant activity were further analyzed. Betulinic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid were the dominant triterpenoid acids in jujube fruits. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the major triterpenic acids and antioxidant activities. The variations of triterpenoid profiles and antioxidant activity within the jujube fruits and the degree of variation were evaluated by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), respectively. The results provide important guidance for the quality evaluation and industrial application of jujube fruit.
Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of MYB Transcription Factor Family in Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana
Authors: Tan Lin , Ijaz Usman , Salih Haron , Cheng Zhihao , Ni Win Htet Nwe , Ge Yu , Azeem Farrukh
Published: April 2020

MYB transcription factors (TFs) make up one of the most important TF families in plants. These proteins play crucial roles in processes related to development, metabolism, and stimulus-response; however, very few studies have been reported for the characterization of MYB TFs from banana. The current study identified 305 and 251 MYB genes from Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, respectively. Comprehensive details of MYBs are reported in terms of gene structure, protein domain, chromosomal localization, phylogeny, and expression patterns. Based on the exon–intron arrangement, these genes were classified into 12 gene models. Phylogenetic analysis of MYBs involving both species of banana, Oryza sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana distributed these genes into 27 subfamilies. This highlighted not only the conservation, but also the gain/loss of MYBs in banana. Such genes are important candidates for future functional investigations. The MYB genes in both species exhibited a random distribution on chromosomes with variable densities. Estimation of gene duplication events revealed that segmental duplications represented the major factor behind MYB gene family expansion in banana. Expression profiles of MYB genes were also explored for their potential involvement in acetylene response or development. Collectively, the current comprehensive analysis of MYB genes in both species of banana will facilitate future functional studies.
In Arabidopsis thaliana Heterosis Level Varies among Individuals in an F1 Hybrid Population
Authors: Mehraj Hasan , Kawanabe Takahiro , Shimizu Motoki , Miyaji Naomi , Akter Ayasha , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Fujimoto Ryo
Published: April 2020

Heterosis or hybrid vigour is a phenomenon in which hybrid progeny exhibit superior yield and biomass to parental lines and has been used to breed F1 hybrid cultivars in many crops. A similar level of heterosis in all F1 individuals is expected as they are genetically identical. However, we found variation in rosette size in individual F1 plants from a cross between C24 and Columbia-0 accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. Big-sized F1 plants had 26.1% larger leaf area in the first and second leaves than medium-sized F1 plants at 14 days after sowing in spite of the identical genetic background. We identified differentially expressed genes between big- and medium-sized F1 plants by microarray; genes involved in the category of stress response were overrepresented. We made transgenic plants overexpressing 21 genes, which were differentially expressed between the two size classes, and some lines had increased plant size at 14 or 21 days after sowing but not at all time points during development. Change of expression levels in stress-responsive genes among individual F1 plants could generate the variation in plant size of individual F1 plants in A. thaliana.
Incidence and Molecular Identification of Apple Necrotic Mosaic Virus (ApNMV) in Southwest China
Authors: Shi Wensen , Yao Rundong , Sunwu Runze , Huang Kui , Liu Zhibin , Li Xufeng , Yang Yi , Wang Jianmei
Published: April 2020

Apple mosaic disease has a great influence on apple production. In this study, an investigation into the incidence of apple mosaic disease in southwest China was performed, and the pathogen associated with the disease was detected. The results show that 2869 apple trees with mosaic disease were found in the Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou Provinces, with an average incidence of 9.6%. Although apple mosaic virus (ApMV) is widespread in apples worldwide, the diseased samples were negative when tested for ApMV. However, a novel ilarvirus (apple necrotic mosaic virus, ApNMV) was identified in mosaic apple leaves which tested negative for ApMV. RT-PCR analysis indicated that ApNMV was detected in 322 out of 357 samples with mosaic symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis of coat protein (CP) sequences of ApNMV isolates suggested that, compared with ApMV, ApNMV was closer to prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV). The CP sequences of the isolates showed the diversity of ApNMV, which may enable the virus to adapt to the changeable environments. In addition, the pathology of mosaic disease was observed by microscope, and the result showed that the arrangement of the tissue and the shape of the cell, including the organelle, were seriously destroyed or drastically changed.
Impact of Fungal Endophyte Colonization of Maize (Zea mays L.) on Induced Resistance to Thrips- and Aphid-Transmitted Viruses
Authors: Kiarie Simon , Nyasani Johnson O. , Gohole Linnet S. , Maniania Nguya K. , Subramanian Sevgan
Published: April 2020

In eastern Africa, Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is caused by the co-infection of maize plants with Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) (Tombusviridae: Machlomovirus) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) (Potyviridae: Potyvirus). With the disease being new to Africa, minimal effective management strategies exist against it. This study examined the potential of 10 fungal isolates to colonize maize plants and induce resistance against MCMV and SCMV. Maize seeds were soaked in fungal inoculum, sown and evaluated for endophytic colonization. Fungus-treated plants were challenge-inoculated with SCMV and/or MCMV to assess the effects of fungal isolates on the viruses in terms of incidence, severity and virus titers over time. Isolates of Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma atroviride and Hypocrea lixii colonized different plant sections. All plants singly or dually-inoculated with SCMV and MCMV tested positive for the viruses by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Maize plants inoculated by T. harzianum and Metarhizium. anisopliae resulted in up to 1.4 and 2.7-fold reduced SCMV severity and titer levels, respectively, over the controls but had no significant effect on MCMV. The results show that both T. harzianum and M. anisopliae are potential candidates for inducing resistance against SCMV and can be used for the integrated management of MLN.
Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Rare and Endangered Species—Eryngium maritimum L. and E. alpinum L.
Authors: Kikowska Małgorzata , Kalemba Danuta , Dlugaszewska Jolanta , Thiem Barbara
Published: April 2020

In the present study, the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the organs of Eryngium maritimum and E. alpinum were analyzed by GC-FID-MS. The dominant constituents assessed in the essential oil of E. maritimum were germacrene D (45.2%) in the fruits; hexadecanoic acid (18.5%), menthol (16.8%), and menthone (10.9%) in the roots; 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde (11.3%) and germacrene D (10.5%) in the leaves; 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde (11.3%) in the shoot culture. In the case of E. alpinum, the main components of the leaf oil were: β-elemenone (10.3%), germacrone (5.8%), two selinadienes (7.1% and 6.7%), and 1,8-cineole (5.3%), which were not found in the oil from shoot culture, whereas the shoot culture oil was dominated by hexadecanoic acid (15.5%), spathulenol (7.5%), (E)-β-farnesene (4.9%), germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1α-ol (4.7%), and falcarinol (4.3%). The essential oils obtained from E. maritimum fruits and leaves of the intact plants, measured by the broth microdilution method, were the most active against T. mentagophytes and S. aureus. Moreover, the essential oil of leaves had the moderate activity against C. albicans and E. coli. The results showed that the chemical compositions of the essential oils differed decidedly between the two studied species and between the organs. Furthermore, the essential oil of E. maritimum may play an important role as antimicrobial agent.
Pomegranate as a Potential Alternative of Pain Management: A Review
Authors: Guerrero-Solano José Antonio , Jaramillo-Morales Osmar Antonio , Velázquez-González Claudia , De la O-Arciniega Minarda , Castañeda-Ovando Araceli , Betanzos-Cabrera Gabriel , Bautista Mirandeli
Published: April 2020

The use of complementary medicine has recently increased in an attempt to find effective alternative therapies that reduce the adverse effects of drugs. Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) has been used in traditional medicine for different kinds of pain. This review aims to explore the scientific evidence about the antinociceptive effect of pomegranate. A selection of original scientific articles that accomplished the inclusion criteria was carried out. It was found that different parts of pomegranate showed an antinociceptive effect; this effect can be due mainly by the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, or fatty acids. It is suggested in the literature that the mechanisms of action may be related to the activation of the L-arginine / NO pathway, members of the TRP superfamily (TRPA1 or TRPV1) and the opioid system. The implications for the field are to know the mechanisms of action by which this effect is generated and thus be able to create alternative treatments for specific types of pain, which help alleviate it and reduce the adverse effects produced by drugs. The results propose that pomegranate and secondary metabolites could be considered in the treatment of inflammatory, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain.
Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Production of Biomass, Polyphenolics and Steviol Glycosides in Adventitious Root Cultures of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.)
Authors: Ahmad Ashfaq , Ali Haider , Khan Habiba , Begam Almas , Khan Sheraz , Ali Syed Shujait , Ahmad Naveed , Fazal Hina , Ali Mohammad , Hano Christophe , Ahmad Nisar , Abbasi Bilal Haider
Published: April 2020

In current study, the effect of gibberellic acid was tested for production of biomass, polyphenolics and Steviol glycosides in adventitious root cultures of Stevia rebaudiana. Adventitious cultures were induced from the roots of in vitro grown plantlets on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing combination of gibberellic acid (GA3; 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 0.5 mg/L). Initially, a known mass of inoculum roots were shifted into suspension media augmented with various GA3 concentrations. The growth behavior of adventitious roots was recorded every 3 days for a period of 30 days. Maximum biomass biosynthesis (13.12 g/flask) was noticed in exponential phase on 27th day in the suspension containing 2.0 mg/L of GA3. Other GA3 concentrations also displayed optimum patterns of biomass accumulation as compared to the control. Adventitious roots were investigated for total phenolic content (TPC) and production (TPP), total flavonoid content (TFC) and production (TFP), and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-based antioxidant potential. Maximum phenolics (TPC 9.84 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g-dry weight (DW)) and TPP (147.6 mg/L), TFC (5.12 mg Quercitin equivalent (QE)/g-DW) and TFP (76.91 mg/L) were observed in 2.0 mg/L GA3 treated cultures. The same concentration of gibberellic acid enhanced antioxidant activity (77.2%). Furthermore, maximum stevioside (7.13 mg/g-DW), rebaudioside-A (0.27 mg/g-DW) and dulcoside-A (0.001 mg/g-DW) were observed in roots exposed to 2.0 mg/L GA3. This is the first report on the application of GA3 on biomass accumulation and secondary metabolite production in S. rebaudiana. The current study will be helpful to scale up the adventitious root cultures in bioreactors for the production of biomass and pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites.
Pathological and Epidemiological Characterization of First Outbreak of Daylily Rust in Europe and Evaluation of Puccinia hemerocallidis Resistance in Hemerocallis Cultivars
Authors: Ramos Madalena , Carvalho Rita , Soares da Silva Elsa , Ramos Ana Paula , Talhinhas Pedro
Published: April 2020

Daylily rust—caused by Puccinia hemerocallidis—was confined to Eastern Asia until the disease was reported in Oceania, Africa, the Americas and Portugal in the 21st century. Although information on rust resistance of American cultivars is available, little is known about the resistance of European bred cultivars, threating the ornamental sector if the fungus spreads to other European countries. Aiming to provide tools to address this, we analyzed the Portuguese pathogens and characterized rust resistance in a selection of cultivars, while optimizing disease rating scales. Morphologic, genetic and cytogenomic characterization of four isolates reveals narrow diversity and raises the question whether the pathogen may have originated in North- or Central America. Daily records of multiple symptomatologic parameters enabled a detailed disease progress analysis, discriminating cultivars according to their resistance levels and revealing susceptibility as the most common state. Among the tested cultivars, 12 out of 17 began to show symptoms between 6–8 dai and were classified as susceptible. Cultivars ‘Stella d’Oro’, ‘Bitsy’ and ‘Cherry Tiger’ behaved as moderately resistant although the occurrence of late sporulation on leaves suggests incomplete resistance and challenges common rating scales. The identification of resistance sources in European breeding lines is crucial for the sustainable future of daylilies.
Separation of New Coumarin Glycosides from Toddalia asiatica Using Offline Two-Dimensional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Li Yan , Sun Shi-Wei , Zhang Xiao-Yi , Liu Yang , Liu Xiao-Hong , Zhang Shuang , Wang Wei , Wang Jin , Wang Wei
Published: April 2020

Coumarins and flavonoids are the major constituents of Toddalia asiatica. The separation and purification of ingredients from T. asiatica is an important procedure to acquire high-purity compounds for subsequent pharmacological investigation to discover leading compounds. In the present work, an offline two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was successfully established for the separation of high-purity glycosides from T. asiatica. Based on the separation results obtained with two different chromatographic stationary phases, a phenyl-bonded silica-based reversed-phase column was employed as the first HPLC preparation, and three fractions were obtained from the sample. Then, the fractions were isolated and purified on an octadecyl-bonded silica-based reversed-phase column to obtain high-purity compounds in the second HPLC separation. As a result, three coumarin glycosides, including two undescribed and one known, along with one known flavonoid glycoside with more than 98% purity were isolated from the sample. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic evidence derived from optical rotation, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Two-dimensional HPLC with different stationary phases has the potential to be an efficient method for the separation of high-purity compounds from T. asiatica.
Nematicidal Amendments and Soil Remediation
Authors: Ntalli Nikoletta , Adamski Zbigniew , Doula Maria , Monokrousos Nikolaos
Published: April 2020

The intensification of agriculture has created concerns about soil degradation and toxicity of agricultural chemicals to non-target organisms. As a result, there is great urgency for discovering new ecofriendly tools for pest management and plant nutrition. Botanical matrices and their extracts and purified secondary metabolites have received much research interest, but time-consuming registration issues have slowed their adoption. In contrast, cultural practices such as use of plant matrices as soil amendments could be immediately used as plant protectants or organic fertilizers. Herein, we focus on some types of soil amendments of botanical origin and their utilization for nematicidal activity and enhancement of plant nutrition. The mode of action is discussed in terms of parasite control as well as plant growth stimulation.
Silicon and Plant–Animal Interactions: Towards an Evolutionary Framework
Authors: Katz Ofir
Published: April 2020

Herbivory is fundamental in ecology, being a major driver of ecosystem structure and functioning. Plant Si and phytoliths play a significant antiherbivory role, the understanding of which and of its evolutionary context will increase our understanding of this phenomenon, its origins, and its significance for past, extant, and future ecosystems. To achieve this goal, we need a superdisciplinary evolutionary framework connecting the role of Si in plant–herbivore interactions, in global processes, and in plant and herbivore evolution. To do this properly, we should acknowledge and incorporate into our work some basic facts that are too often overlooked. First, there is great taxonomic variance both in plant Si contents, forms, and roles, but also in herbivore responses, dietary preferences, and in fossil evidence. Second, species and their traits, as well as whole ecosystems, should be seen in the context of their entire evolutionary history and may therefore reflect not only adaptations to extant selective factors but also anachronistic traits. Third, evolutionary history and evolutionary transitions are complex, resulting in true and apparent asynchronisms. Fourth, evolution and ecology are multiscalar, in which various phenomena and processes act at various scales. Taking these issues into consideration will improve our ability to develop this needed theoretical framework and will bring us closer to gaining a more complete understanding of one of the most exciting and elusive phenomena in plant biology and ecology.
Diversity, Function and Regulation of Cell Surface and Intracellular Immune Receptors in Solanaceae
Authors: Kim Jong Hum , Castroverde Christian Danve M.
Published: April 2020

The first layer of the plant immune system comprises plasma membrane-localized receptor proteins and intracellular receptors of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein superfamily. Together, these immune receptors act as a network of surveillance machines in recognizing extracellular and intracellular pathogen invasion-derived molecules, ranging from conserved structural epitopes to virulence-promoting effectors. Successful pathogen recognition leads to physiological and molecular changes in the host plants, which are critical for counteracting and defending against biotic attack. A breadth of significant insights and conceptual advances have been derived from decades of research in various model plant species regarding the structural complexity, functional diversity, and regulatory mechanisms of these plant immune receptors. In this article, we review the current state-of-the-art of how these host surveillance proteins function and how they are regulated. We will focus on the latest progress made in plant species belonging to the Solanaceae family, because of their tremendous importance as model organisms and agriculturally valuable crops.
Herbicide Resistance in Plants
Authors: Beckie Hugh J
Published: April 2020

Herbicide resistance in weeds is perhaps the most prominent research area within the discipline of weed science today. Incidence, management challenges, and the cost of multiple-resistant weed populations are continually increasing worldwide. Crop cultivars with multiple herbicide-resistance traits are being rapidly adopted by growers and land managers to keep ahead of the weed resistance tsunami. This Special Issue of Plants comprises papers that describe the current status and future outlook of herbicide resistance research and development in weedy and domestic plants, with topics covering the full spectrum from resistance mechanisms to resistance management. The unifying framework for this Special issue, is the challenge initially posed to all of the contributors: what are the (potential) implications for herbicide resistance management?
Aquatic Plants, Landoltia punctata, and Azolla filiculoides as Bio-Converters of Wastewater to Biofuel
Authors: Miranda Ana F. , Kumar N. Ram , Spangenberg German , Subudhi Sanjukta , Lal Banwari , Mouradov Aidyn
Published: April 2020

The aquatic plants, Azolla filiculoides, and Landoltia punctate, were used as complementing phytoremediators of wastewater containing high levels of phosphate, which simulates the effluents from textile, dyeing, and laundry detergent industries. Their complementarities are based on differences in capacities to uptake nitrogen and phosphate components from wastewater. Sequential treatment by L. punctata followed by A. filiculoides led to complete removal of NH4, NO3, and up to 93% reduction of PO4. In experiments where L. punctata treatment was followed by fresh L. punctata, PO4 concentration was reduced by 65%. The toxicity of wastewater assessed by shrimps, Paratya australiensis, showed a four-fold reduction of their mortality (LC50 value) after treatment. Collected dry biomass was used as an alternative carbon source for heterotrophic marine protists, thraustochytrids, which produced up to 35% dry weight of lipids rich in palmitic acid (50% of total fatty acids), the key fatty acid for biodiesel production. The fermentation of treated L. punctata biomass by Enterobacter cloacae yielded up to 2.14 mol H2/mole of reduced sugar, which is comparable with leading terrestrial feedstocks. A. filiculoides and L. punctata can be used as a new generation of feedstock, which can treat different types of wastewater and represent renewable and sustainable feedstock for bioenergy production.
Comparison of Read Mapping and Variant Calling Tools for the Analysis of Plant NGS Data
Authors: Schilbert Hanna Marie , Rempel Andreas , Pucker Boas
Published: April 2020

High-throughput sequencing technologies have rapidly developed during the past years and have become an essential tool in plant sciences. However, the analysis of genomic data remains challenging and relies mostly on the performance of automatic pipelines. Frequently applied pipelines involve the alignment of sequence reads against a reference sequence and the identification of sequence variants. Since most benchmarking studies of bioinformatics tools for this purpose have been conducted on human datasets, there is a lack of benchmarking studies in plant sciences. In this study, we evaluated the performance of 50 different variant calling pipelines, including five read mappers and ten variant callers, on six real plant datasets of the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Sets of variants were evaluated based on various parameters including sensitivity and specificity. We found that all investigated tools are suitable for analysis of NGS data in plant research. When looking at different performance metrics, BWA-MEM and Novoalign were the best mappers and GATK returned the best results in the variant calling step.