Different Narrow-Band Light Ranges Alter Plant Secondary Metabolism and Plant Defense Response to Aphids

Light of different wavelengths affects various physiological processes in plants. Short-wavelength radiation (like UV) can activate defense pathways in plants and enhance the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (such as flavonoids and glucosinolates) responsible for resistance against certain herbivorous insects. The intensity of light-induced, metabolite-based resistance is plant- and insect species-specific and depends on herbivore feeding guild and specialization. In this study, broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) plants were grown for 4 weeks in a climate chamber under conventional fluorescent tubes and were additionally treated with UV-B (310 nm), UV-A (365 or 385 nm), or violet (420 nm) light generated with UV-B tubes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The objective was to determine the influence of narrow bandwidths of light (from UV-B to violet) on plant secondary metabolism and on the performance of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (a specialist) and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (a generalist). Among flavonol glycosides, specific quercetin and kaempferol glycosides increased markedly under UV-B, while among glucosinolates only 4-methoxy-3-indolylmethyl showed a 2-fold increase in plants exposed to UV-B and UV-A. The concentration of 3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate in broccoli plants increased with UV-B treatment. Brevicoryne brassicae adult weights and fecundity were lower on UV-B treated plants compared to UV-A or violet light-treated plants. Adult weights and fecundity of M. persicae were increased under UV-B and UV-A treatments. When specific light wavelengths are used to induce metabolic changes in plants, the specificity of the induced effects on herbivores should be considered.     

Novel Furin Inhibitors with Potent Anti‐infectious Activity

New peptidomimetic furin inhibitors with unnatural amino acid residues in the P3 position were synthesized. The most potent compound 4‐guanidinomethyl‐phenylacteyl‐Arg‐Tle‐Arg‐4‐amidinobenzylamide (MI‐1148) inhibits furin with a K_i value of 5.5 pM . The derivatives also strongly inhibit PC1/3, whereas PC2 is less affected. Selected inhibitors were tested in cell culture for antibacterial and antiviral activity against infectious agents known to be dependent on furin activity. A significant protective effect against anthrax and diphtheria toxin was observed in the presence of the furin inhibitors. Furthermore, the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N1 avian influenza viruses and propagation of canine distemper virus was strongly inhibited. Inhibitor MI‐1148 was crystallized in complex with human furin. Its N‐terminal guanidinomethyl group in the para position of the P5 phenyl ring occupies the same position as that found previously for a structurally related inhibitor containing this substitution in the meta position, thereby maintaining all of the important P5 interactions. Our results confirm that the inhibition of furin is a promising strategy for a short‐term treatment of acute infectious diseases.     

Water condensation-based nanoparticle charging system: Physical and chemical characterization

Abstract

A water condensation-based ion charging system has been developed to enhance both the charging efficiency and the concentration of sub-20?nm particles. This NanoCharger consists of a bipolar ion source followed by a parallel plate water-based condensation system, an embedded ion scavenger, and an aerodynamic focusing stage. Sufficient numbers of ions are transported through the system to attach to the formed droplets. An ion scavenger removes the ions immediately after the droplet formation to minimize multiple charging. A subsequent cold-walled condensation stage removes most of the water vapor, lowering the dew point to below 16?°C, while a set of focusing nozzles concentrates the droplets into ～10% of the flow. The flow is then slightly heated to evaporate the droplets. The physical enhancement of electrical charging was evaluated in the laboratory using mobility-selected particles, and found to provide ～40-fold enhancement over bipolar charging for 6–15?nm particles. Chemical artifacts were evaluated through thermal desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Data comparing ion spectra for flow that passed through the NanoCharger to that obtained without it showed nearly equivalent ion spectra, indicating that no significant artifacts were introduced from the condensation–evaporation process.

Copyright © 2018 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Pseudo-Starvation Driven Energy Expenditure Negatively Affects Ovarian Follicle Development

In the present investigation, we examined whether a change in whole body energy fluxes could affect ovarian follicular development, employing mice ectopically expressing uncoupling protein 1 in skeletal muscle (UCP1-TG). Female UCP1-TG and wild-type (WT) mice were dissected at the age of 12 weeks. Energy intake and expenditure, activity, body weight and length, and body composition were measured. Plasma insulin, glucose, leptin, plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) levels were analyzed and ovarian follicle and corpus luteum numbers were counted. IGF1 signaling was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for the activation of insulin receptor substrate 1/2 (IRS1/2) and AKT. UCP1-TG female mice had increased energy expenditure, reduced body size, maintained adiposity, and decreased IGF1 concentrations compared to their WT littermates, while preantral and antral follicle numbers were reduced by 40% and 60%, respectively. Corpora lutea were absent in 40% of the ovaries of UCP1-TG mice. Phospho-IRS1, phospho-AKT -Ser473 and -Thr308 immunostaining was present in the granulosa cells of antral follicles in WT ovaries, but faint to absent in the antral follicles of UCP1-TG mice. In conclusion, the reduction in circulating IGF1 levels due to the ectopic expression of UCP1 is associated with reduced immunostaining of the IRS1-PI3/AKT pathway, which may negatively affect ovarian follicle development and ovulation.     

高密度二维地震采集技术在S西部应用研究

工区表层地震地质条件复杂。近地表多为流沙,干燥、疏松,能量衰减快;深层地震地质条件为砂泥岩薄互层,反射能量较弱。区域目的层储层薄,在纵横向上物性变化大。总体工区资料品质受潜水面影响较大,古河道和古湖盆发育区低降速层较厚,可达100m以上,资料视主频极低;为获取品质良好的地震资料,在该区进行了高密度二维地震资料采集技术研究,采集的资料品质较以往有了较大的提高。主要目标反射层能连续追踪、层间反射内幕清晰,资料的频宽提高了10Hz左右,能满足岩性解释的需要,提高了天然气勘探的精确度。     

氧气在混凝土中扩散系数的确定

以大量实际工程调查结果为基础，通过理论分析与经验模式的对比，建立了二氧化碳在混凝土中的扩散系数与混凝土抗压强度的关系；进而利用氧气扩散与二氧化碳扩散的关系，给出了氧气在混凝土中的扩散系数与混凝土抗压强度的函数关系。     

项目计划内在稳健性与其影响因素关系分析

针对资源约束项目计划的内在稳健性受多种因素影响的问题,本研究采用16种优先规则,对Kolisch的j30算例集中的480个算例分别制定项目计划,计算出各项目计划的最少关键序列总数、资源使用效率及项目计划工期比项目最短工期长出的百分比L,并通过仿真得到各项目计划的内在稳健性值;同时应用多元统计方法,建立项目计划内在稳健性与各影响因素之间的回归方程。统计检验结果表明,回归方程是显著有效的,最少关键序列数、资源使用效率与内在稳健性呈负相关,项目计划的工期比项目的最短工期长出的百分比L与内在稳健性呈正相关;交叉项检验结果表明,关键序列较多时,L的增大可以有效地提高项目计划的稳健性,这与实际状况一致。该研究可为具有稳健性项目计划的制定、预测和控制提供决策依据。     

Comparing Google Scholar and ISI Web of Science for Earth Sciences

In order to measure the degree to which Google Scholar can compete with bibliographical databases, search results from this database is compared with Thomson’s ISI WoS (Institute for Scientific Information, Web of Science). For earth science literature 85% of documents indexed by ISI WoS were recalled by Google Scholar. The rank of records displayed in Google Scholar and ISI WoS, is compared by means of Spearman’s footrule. For impact measures the h-index is investigated. Similarities in measures were significant for the two sources.     

Reading from computer screen versus reading from paper: does it still make a difference?

Four experiments were conducted to test whether recent developments in display technology would suffice to eliminate the well-known disadvantages in reading from screen as compared with paper. Proofreading speed and performance were equal for a TFT-LCD and a paper display, but there were more symptoms of eyestrain in the screen condition accompanied by a strong preference for paper (Experiment 1). These results were replicated using a longer reading duration (Experiment 2). Additional experiments were conducted to test hypotheses about the reasons for the higher amount of eyestrain associated with reading from screen. Reduced screen luminance did not change the pattern of results (Experiment 3), but positioning both displays in equal inclination angles eliminated the differences in eyestrain symptoms and increased proofreading speed in the screen condition (Experiment 4). A paper-like positioning of TFT-LCDs seems to enable unimpaired reading without evidence of increased physical strain.

Practitioner Summary: Given the developments in screen technology, a re-assessment of the differences in proofreading speed and performance, well-being, and preference between computer screen and paper was conducted. State-of-the-art TFT-LCDs enable unimpaired reading, but a book-like positioning of screens seems necessary to minimise eyestrain symptoms.