TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
PROBLEM: Sprague and Tatum (1942) introduced the concepts of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) to evaluate the breeding parents and F1 hybrid performance, respectively. Since then, the GCA was widely used in cross breeding for elite parent selection. However, the molecular basis of GCA remains to unknown.', 'We studied the transcriptomes of three varieties and threeF1 hybrids using RNA-Sequencing. Transcriptome sequence analysis revealed that the transcriptome profiles of the F1s were similar to the positive GCA-effect parent. Moreover, the expression levels of most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were equal to the parent with a positive GCA effect. Analysis of the gene expression patterns of gibberellic acid (GA) and flowering time pathways that determine plant height and flowering time in rice validated the preferential transcriptome expression of the parents with positive GCA effect. Furthermore, H3K36me3 modification bias in the Pseudo-Response Regulators (PRR) gene family was observed in the positive GCA effect parents and demonstrated that the phenotype and transcriptome bias in the positive GCA effect parents have been epigenetically regulated by either global modification or specific signaling pathways in rice.

SOLUTION: Is the phenotypic predisposition of the parent in F1 hybrid correlated with transcriptome preference of the positive general combining ability parent?

PROBLEM: Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is required for B lymphocyte and myeloid cell contributions to pathology in murine models of arthritis. Here, we examined the potential contributions of synovial Btk expression and activation to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).", 'Btk was detected by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis in synovial tissue from biologically naive RA (n=16) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (n=12) patients. Cell populations expressing Btk were identified by immunofluorescent double labelling confocal microscopy, quantitative (q-) PCR and immunoblotting. The effects of a Btk-specific inhibitor, RN486, on gene expression in human macrophages and RA synovial tissue explants (n=8) were assessed by qPCR, ELISA and single-plex assays.', 'Btk was expressed at equivalent levels in RA and PsA synovial tissue, restricted to B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and mast cells. RN486 significantly inhibited macrophage IL-6 production induced by Fc receptor and CD40 ligation. RN486 also reduced mRNA expression of overlapping gene sets induced by IgG, CD40 ligand (CD40L) and RA synovial fluid, and significantly suppressed macrophage production of CD40L-induced IL-8, TNF, MMP-1 and MMP-10, LPS-induced MMP-1, MMP-7 and MMP-10 production, and spontaneous production of IL-6, PDGF, CXCL-9 and MMP-1 by RA synovial explants.

SOLUTION: Does btk inhibition suppress agonist-induced human macrophage activation and inflammatory gene expression in RA synovial tissue explants?

PROBLEM: To investigate the relationship between follicular blood flow and the follicular fluid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and to determine which factor might be a better predictor of the outcome of IVF-ET.', 'Prospective study.', 'Academic research laboratory.', 'Forty-seven cycles of IVF (tubal factor, 25 cycles; male factor, 22 cycles) at the infertility clinic of Pusan National University Hospital from February 2002 to June 2002.', 'Follicular blood flow was estimated on the day of hCG administration. Each follicular fluid sample was collected at oocyte retrieval, and follicular fluid VEGF and NO concentrations were assessed.', 'Follicular blood flow and follicular fluid VEGF and NO concentrations according to the age of patients, the cause of infertility, and pregnancy rate.', 'Of 47 cycles, 18 (38.3%) cycles resulted in a pregnancy. Follicular blood flow was significantly higher in the pregnant group compared with the nonpregnant group, but there was no statistically significant difference in age and infertility cause. Follicular fluid concentrations of VEGF and NO did not show statistically significant differences in age, infertility cause, or pregnancy outcome. As the follicle size increases, the follicular blood flow and follicular fluid VEGF concentrations increased significantly but the follicular fluid NO concentrations decreased. There was no correlation between VEGF and NO concentrations in the follicular fluid by linear regression analysis.

SOLUTION:
Is follicular blood flow a better predictor of the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer than follicular fluid vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide concentrations?