Isolation and Functional Characterization of a Salt-Responsive Calmodulin-Like Gene MpCML40 from Semi-Mangrove Millettia pinnata

Salt stress is a major increasing threat to global agriculture. Pongamia (Millettia pinnata), a semi-mangrove, is a good model to study the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to the saline environment. Calcium signaling pathways play critical roles in the model plants such as Arabidopsis in responding to salt stress, but little is known about their function in Pongamia. Here, we have isolated and characterized a salt-responsive MpCML40, a calmodulin-like (CML) gene from Pongamia. MpCML40 protein has 140 amino acids and is homologous with Arabidopsis AtCML40. MpCML40 contains four EF-hand motifs and a bipartite NLS (Nuclear Localization Signal) and localizes both at the plasma membrane and in the nucleus. MpCML40 was highly induced after salt treatment, especially in Pongamia roots. Heterologous expression of MpCML40 in yeast cells improved their salt tolerance. The 35S::MpCML40 transgenic Arabidopsis highly enhanced seed germination rate and root length under salt and osmotic stresses. The transgenic plants had a higher level of proline and a lower level of MDA (malondialdehyde) under normal and stress conditions, which suggested that heterologous expression of MpCML40 contributed to proline accumulation to improve salt tolerance and protect plants from the ROS (reactive oxygen species) destructive effects. Furthermore, we did not observe any measurable discrepancies in the development and growth between the transgenic plants and wild-type plants under normal growth conditions. Our results suggest that MpCML40 is an important positive regulator in response to salt stress and of potential application in producing salt-tolerant crops.     

In Vitro Characterization of Human CD24hiCD38hi Regulatory B Cells Shows CD9 Is Not a Stable Breg Cell Marker

Regulatory B (Breg) cells are endowed with immune suppressive functions. Various human and murine Breg subtypes have been reported. While interleukin (IL)-10 intracellular staining remains the most reliable way to identify Breg cells, this technique hinders further essential functional studies. Recent findings suggest that CD9 is an effective surface marker of murine IL-10 competent Breg cells. However, the stability of CD9 and its relevance as a unique marker for human Breg cells, which have been widely characterized as CD24^hiCD38^hi, have not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that CD9 expression is sensitive to in vitro B cell stimulations. CD9 expression could either be re-expressed or downregulated in purified CD9-negative B cells and CD9-positive B cells, respectively. We found no significant differences in the Breg differentiation capacity of the CD9-negative and CD9-positive B cells. Furthermore, CD9-positive B cells co-express CD40 and CD86, suggesting their nature as B cell activation or co-stimulatory molecules, rather than regulatory ones. Therefore, we report the relatively unstable CD9 as a distinct surface molecule, indicating the need for further research for a more reliable marker to purify human Breg cells.     

Mechanisms of Nausea and Vomiting: Current Knowledge and Recent Advances in Intracellular Emetic Signaling Systems

Nausea and vomiting are common gastrointestinal complaints that can be triggered by diverse emetic stimuli through central and/or peripheral nervous systems. Both nausea and vomiting are considered as defense mechanisms when threatening toxins/drugs/bacteria/viruses/fungi enter the body either via the enteral (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract) or parenteral routes, including the blood, skin, and respiratory systems. While vomiting is the act of forceful removal of gastrointestinal contents, nausea is believed to be a subjective sensation that is more difficult to study in nonhuman species. In this review, the authors discuss the anatomical structures, neurotransmitters/mediators, and corresponding receptors, as well as intracellular emetic signaling pathways involved in the processes of nausea and vomiting in diverse animal models as well as humans. While blockade of emetic receptors in the prevention of vomiting is fairly well understood, the potential of new classes of antiemetics altering postreceptor signal transduction mechanisms is currently evolving, which is also reviewed. Finally, future directions within the field will be discussed in terms of important questions that remain to be resolved and advances in technology that may help provide potential answers.     

型材产生壁厚偏差的原因及解决方法

就型材生产过程中产生壁厚偏差的原因进行了分析，并就解决偏差的方法进行了探讨。     

仪表视窗注射模设计

分析了电器仪表视窗的工艺性,介绍了电器仪表视窗注射模具的结构设计,并对采用公差带来计算成型零件尺寸的方法进行了初步的探讨,可以在一定程度上预测模具的使用寿命。     

分布式系统可靠性研究的问题和挑战

分布式系统中软件可靠性是应用软件的发布者和用户关心的重要问题。针对大规模分布式应用,包括电子政务、电子商务、多媒体服务和端到端的自动化解决方案,已经产生了各种各样的模型来评价或预测其可靠性,但是这些系统的可靠性问题依然存在。相反,为了确保分布式系统的可靠性,要求在预测或评价整个系统可靠性之前,检查与企业分布式应用相关的每一个单个构件或因素的可靠性,且实现透明的错误检测和错误恢复机制为用户提供无缝交互。因此,文章从检查单个构件可靠性的角度,提出了在分布式系统上运行的应用软件可靠性的问题和挑战。     

基于容差关系的不完备信息系统的属性约简

粗糙集理论是一种处理不确定性知识的有效工具,属性约简是其核心内容之一,然而对于属性值有缺省的不完备信息系统,基于等价关系的经典粗糙集理论已经不再适用。由于容差关系下的不完备信息系统的属性约简的定义与经典粗糙集的属性约简定义相似,可以用容差关系对粗糙集理论进行扩充。文中通过定义容差关系下的可辨识矩阵,运用可辨识方法,得到了一种属性约简算法;接着分析了算法的不足之处,并且在此基础上提出了增加约简效率的改进型算法;最后通过一个数值例子,说明了该算法是合理的和有效的。     

Product and process parameters determination for quality and cost

The purpose of this study is to conduct a concurrent product and process parameters determination for further cost reduction and quality enhancement. The process design-related parameters, such as process mean, process tolerance and product design-related parameters, such as product tolerance, are considered simultaneously in the proposed approach. To reflect the response from these three key controllable characteristics: process mean, process tolerance and product tolerance, the key measurement score, which is the sum of the mean cost, tolerance cost, quality loss and failure cost, is used to evaluate the present model. Two examples are provided for demonstrating the application of single and multiple quality characteristics.     

压痕残余应力对氮化硅基复合材料阻力曲线行为的影响

通过压痕小裂纹直接量测法获得了ＴｉＣ，ＴｉＮ／Ｓｉ３Ｎ４复合材料的阻力曲线，采用更具合理性的指数经验公式拟合处理实验数据，初步探讨了Ｋ∞，Ｋ＾＊Ｒ，ΔＣ，等参数的物理意义。对压痕残余应力消除前 实验结果进行比较，发现压痕残余应力的消除，提高了材料的极限断裂韧性值Ｋ＾＊Ｒ，却大大减少了裂纹稳态生长的容限，使得材料的脆性行为更为突出。     

开封引黄灌区灌溉条件下稻田土壤盐分阈值研究

结合各生育期水稻耐盐度、各处理实际种前初始土壤含盐量和对应生育期最高的土壤含盐量,分析了各灌溉处理条件下的稻田土壤含盐量在水稻各生育期的动态变化规律和允许初始土壤含盐量阈值.结果表明:控制灌溉及控制灌溉加淋洗条件下,各水稻生育期土壤含盐量均有不同程度降低,随着淋洗水量的增加土壤含盐量逐渐降低,并获得了不同灌溉方式下的允许稻田初始土壤含盐量阈值.此结论对实际应用有指导意义.