Quasipucciniastrum agrimoniae, gen. et sp. nov. on Agrimonia (Rosaceae) from China.

A new rust genus, Quasipucciniastrum, typified by Q. agrimoniae sp. nov., is proposed based on distinct morphological characters and phylogenetic placement. This genus is characterised by its uredinial ostiolar peridial cells with rough surface and sessile, multicellular teliospores with apparently thickened apical wall. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) rDNA revealed that this genus is sister to the genus Cronartium (Cronartiaceae), but morphologically it is distinct from Cronartium in the sessile teliospores that are divided by vertical septa. Morphologically, Quasipucciniastrum should be compared to Pucciniastrum (Pucciniastraceae) in its multicellular teliospores, but they were phylogenetically distant.

Erratum: Relationship between gene expression and the accumulation of catechin during spring and autumn in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2015.11.][This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2015.11.].

Relationship between gene expression and the accumulation of catechin during spring and autumn in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.).

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) is an important commercial crop with remarkably high catechin concentrations. Tea is popular worldwide given the plant's health benefits. Catechins are the main astringent substance in tea and are synthesized mainly via the phenylpropanoid pathway. In this study, eight cultivars of tea plants harvested both in spring and autumn were used to investigate differences in catechin concentrations by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The expression levels of genes associated with catechin biosynthesis were investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the total catechin (TC) concentrations were significantly higher in tea plants harvested in autumn than in those harvested in spring, based on higher concentrations of epigallocatechin (EGC) in autumn tea (P<0.01). The expression of the genes phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H), dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) is closely related to the TC content of tea plants in both spring and autumn. Positive correlations between PAL, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), F3H, and DFR expression and EGC accumulation in autumn tea were identified, with correlation coefficients of 0.710, 0.763, 0.884, and 0.707, respectively. A negative correlation between ANS expression level and EGC concentrations in tea plants harvested in spring was noted (r=-0.732). Additionally, negative correlations between F3H and ANS expression levels and the catechin content were identified in spring tea, whereas the correlations were positive in autumn tea. Significant differences in the F3H and ANS expression levels between spring and autumn tea indicate that F3H and ANS are potentially key genes affecting catechin accumulation in tea plants.

[Analysis on coverage rate of primary immunization of measles vaccine among migrant children in Yiwu, Zhejiang province from 2007 to 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the coverage rate of primary immunization of measles containing vaccine (MCV1) among migrant children in Yiwu,Zhejiang province. METHODS: Household cluster sampling survey and probability proportion to size sampling method were adopted. A total of 967 migrant children born from 1st July 2007 to 1st July 2010 and their caregivers were selected as target population. Standard face-to-face interviews were conducted to investigate the subjects' knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) of immunization, MCV1 vaccination and determinants. Multi-variable weighted average score method was adopted to evaluate the result of our survey on KAP. Kaplan-Meier analysis was adopted to assess the coverage of MCV1 and Cox regression analysis was adopted to explore the influencing factors associated with the coverage of MCV1. RESULTS: Out of the 967 children, 104 were born in 2007, accounting for 10.8%; 301 were born in 2008, accounting for 31.1%; 343 were born in 2009, accounting for 35.5% and 219 were born in 2010, accounting for 22.6%. Among the surveyed caregivers, 71.9% (695/967) were mothers and 90.2% (872/976) were migrant from other provinces. According to the result of survey on KAP among caregivers, 56.2% (543/967) scored ≥ 4 points on knowledge, 75.8% (734/967) scored ≥ 4 points on attitude and 48.7% (471/967) scored ≥ 4 points on behavior. 86.6% (838/967) of surveyed caregivers' education levels were under junior middle school.85.9% (831/967) of the migrant children were born in hospitals.36.3% (351/967) of the surveyed families' household income were under 2000 yuan per month.32.7% (316/967) of surveyed caregivers waited less than 15 min for immunization for each time. Coverage rate of MCV1 was 85.9% (831/967; 95%CI: 83.7%-88.1%). The timely coverage rates at 8 months, 12 months, and 24 months were 58.8% (569/967; 95%CI: 55.5%-62.1%), 88.2% (853/967; 95%CI: 86.0%-90.4%) and 98.6% (953/967; 95%CI: 97.8%-99.4%), respectively. The average age of MCV1 immunization for each birth cohort between 2007 and 2010 were 10.4, 10.1, 10.1 and 9.3 month, respectively; without statistical significance (χ(2) = 0.722, P = 0.398). According to the analysis by Cox regression, the caregivers aged ≤ 25 years (24.3% (235/967), RR = 1.520 (95%CI: 1.280-1.800)), the caregivers' education level above college (2.8% (27/967), RR = 3.841 (95%CI: 2.287-6.451)), delivered in county-level hospital (49.4% (478/967), RR = 6.048 (95%CI: 4.311-8.485)), household income > 4000 yuan per month (21.7% (210/967), RR = 1.366 (95%CI:1.163-1.604)), the average score of attitude towards immunization ≥ 4 points (75.9%(734/967), RR = 2.613 (95%CI: 1.026-6.655)), the average waiting time for each vaccination ≤ 15 min (32.7% (316/967), RR = 2.116 (95%CI: 1.341-3.339)) were the important factors to improve the timely immunization coverage rate of MCV1 among migrant children. CONCLUSION: The coverage of MCV1 were obviously delayed among migrant children in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. We suggest that the investigation of migrant children should be strengthened and remind or recall mechanism for immunization should be established. Increasing the open days for immunization clinics and reducing the waiting time for vaccination could also improve the coverage and timeliness of the MCV vaccination.

[Color-tunable nano-material alpha-NaYF4 : Yb, Er, Tm prepared by microemulsion-hydrothermal method].

NaYF4 : Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+ nanoparticles were prepared by microemulsion-hydrothermal method. Crystal phase, morphology and structure of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The luminescence properties were studied by up-conversional fluorescence spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of as-prepared samples were in agreement with the PDF # 77-2042 of cubic NaYF4. SEM images of the particles showed that the samples were cotton-like spherical in shape and which were assembled by smaller nano-particles. The average size was 120 nm, while the shape was regular and the particle size was homogeneous. Under the excitation of 980 nm, the as-prepared particles could emit blue (438 and 486 nm), green (523 and 539 nm) and red (650 nm) light simultaneously. It can be seen from the color coordinates figure (CIE) that when doping concentration ratio of Tm3+ and E3+ increased from 0 to 2, the whole emitting light color of samples movedto green region. While the ratio was 1 : 1, pseudo white light was obtained. As the ratio changed from 2 to 7, the luminous color was moved to red region.

[Influence of Bi3+ doping on properties of CaMoO4 : Eu3+ phosphors].

Europium doped CaMoO4 and bismuth co-doped CaMoO4 : Eu3+ phosphors were prepared via microemulsion-hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology and luminescence properties of samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD patterns of as-prepared samples were in agreement with the PDF # 29-0351 of CaMoO4, which indicated that the phosphor possessed tetragonal crystal structure. SEM images showed that the samples were basically flake in shape and their average size was 1.5-2.5 microm. The critical molar concentration of activator (Eu3+) in CaMoO4 : Eu3+ was 5%, and the predominant peak of CaMoO4 : Eu3+ located at 616 nm, corresponding to the 5D0 -->7 F2 electronic dipole transition of Eu3+. The photoluminescence color can be tuned from orange-yellow (0.514, 0.537) to white (0.339, 0.333) by adjusting the doping concentrations of Eu3+ ions. To enhance the red emission intensity of Eu3+, Bi3+ was used to co-dope CaMoO4 : Eu3+ as sensitizers. When the concentration of Bi3+ is 3%, luminescence intensity was maximum. The chromaticity coordinates (CIE) varied from orange (0.497, 0.347) to red (0.585, 0.349) with increasing the content of Bi3+.

[Research progress in Raman spectra and its test sample pretreatment].

It is generally accepted that Raman spectroscopy is an advanced method with simple operation, small amount of specimens needed as well as rapid on-line screening, detection and identification. However, in the technology of determination, sample preparation is also an significant factor during analysis process. It would affect the accuracy and precision of the results, and normally involved complicated procedure. Developing a rapid and effective sample preparation method coupled with Raman detective technology is a method worth study. In the present paper, the simply basic principle, the origin and development of generating Raman spectra were introduced, some Raman technology, such as the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy and the sample preparation were discussed.

[Detection and analysis of several kinds of oils with Raman spectrum].

Applying Raman spectrometry to detect several kinds of oils such as petrol, diesel oil, naphtha and KHF (aviation fuel hydro treating), the authors can explore the regular laws existing among these oils. The authors detected 150 cases of oils using Raman spectrometer developed by ourselves with 785 nm excitation wavelength miniature portable, and dealed with these spectra-paragraphs of the oils on level and SNV (normalization method) methods. The spectrograms of four categories of oils including petrol, diesel oil, naphtha and KHF and also the additives of them have different characteristics and rules. According to the alkenes peak's location and intensity we can distinguish petrol and naphtha, and then screen out some unqualified petrol. Raman spectrometry is very simple and has advantages that it needs a small amount of oil samples, at the same time, it also has no damage to test samples. The spectra-paragraphs show that different kinds of samples have different character on location and intensity of Raman peak. The Raman spectrometry method has great potential on establishing a rapid oil screening detection and identification method.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) root under waterlogging stress by digital gene expression profile.

High-throughput tag-sequencing (Tag-seq) analysis based on the Solexa Genome Analyzer platform was applied to analyze the gene expression profiling of cucumber plant at 5 time points over a 24h period of waterlogging treatment. Approximately 5.8 million total clean sequence tags per library were obtained with 143013 distinct clean tag sequences. Approximately 23.69%-29.61% of the distinct clean tags were mapped unambiguously to the unigene database, and 53.78%-60.66% of the distinct clean tags were mapped to the cucumber genome database. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed that most of the genes were down-regulated in the waterlogging stages, and the differentially expressed genes mainly linked to carbon metabolism, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species generation/scavenging, and hormone synthesis/signaling. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using nine genes independently verified the tag-mapped results. This present study reveals the comprehensive mechanisms of waterlogging-responsive transcription in cucumber.

Rapid authentication of olive oil adulteration by Raman spectrometry.

The authentication of olive oil and its adulteration with lower priced oils are still serious problems in the olive oil industry. In this study, a method based on the intensity ratio of the Raman spectroscopy vibration bands, especially on the intensity ratio of the cis ( ==C-H) and cis (C=C) bonds normalized by the band at 1441 cm(-1) (CH(2)), was established to authenticate genuine/fake olive oil. These intensity ratios of the vibration bands given in the form of a two-dimensional chart allow first the discrimination between the various grades of olive oil and the seed oils and then the detection of olive oil fraud by the line of y = 0.7, which is observed under most experiments and dot charts. This method can reliably distinguish the genuine olive oils from the olive oils containing 5% (volume percentage) or more of other edible oils, such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, or corn oil. Compared to the traditional principal component analysis method, this method is more intuitive, more precise, and easier to use. Moreover, this method also has the advantages of simplicity efficiency and has no need for sample preprocessing, being especially suitable for on-site testing in field applications.

Genetic and heterosis analysis for important agronomic traits of Chinese vegetable mustard (Brassica juncea) in different environments.

Genetic effects and genotype by environment (GE) interaction effects for some important agronomic traits of Chinese vegetable mustard were analyzed by using a genetic model including additive, dominance, additive x additive effects and their interaction effects with the environment. Four variations of Chinese vegetable mustard as parental lines and their F(1s), F(2s) were evaluated in two locations. It was revealed that the agronomic traits of Chinese vegetable mustard were mainly controlled by genetic effects except plant weight (PW) and leaf weight (LW) were observed to be more affected by GE interaction effects. Among the genetic effects, additive effects took the main proportion for tiller number (TN), leaf number (LN), leaf breadth (LB) and LW; dominance effects were the main components of PW, leaf length (LL), root weight (RW) and plant height (PH); additive x additive effects were the main components of plant breadth (PB). Among the GE interaction effects, additive x environment interaction effects mainly affected LB, LW and RW, while PW, LL, PH and PB were mainly controlled by dominance x environment interaction effects. Besides, additive x additive x environment interaction was the main factor, which controlled TN and LN of Chinese vegetable mustard. For heterosis analyses, TN, LN, LB and LW of Chinese vegetable mustard showed positive H(PM) and negative H(PB). The other traits showed positive H(PM) and H(PB). Heterosis arising from GE interaction was found to varying degree for different environments. It was shown that genetic heterosis and GE interaction effects were important factors for agronomic traits in Chinese vegetable mustard.

Simultaneous determination of nandrolone, testosterone, and methyltestosterone by multi-immunoaffinity column and capillary electrophoresis.

A multitarget antibody immunoaffinity column was proposed for the purification and enrichment of nandrolone, testosterone, and methyltestosterone from urine. Nandrolone-3-site substituted antigen was designed and synthesized and the polyclonal antibody was prepared with immunizing rabbits. The stationary phase of the immunoaffinity column was synthesized by covalently bonding the antibodies specific to nandrolone, testosterone, and methyltestosterone onto CNBr-actived Sepharose 4B. The analytes of interest were extracted with a methanol/water mixture in one step. The immunoaffinity column showed high affinity and high selectivity to a class of structurally related compounds. The elution was then transferred to a micellar electrokinetic CE system with a running buffer of sodium borate and sodium cholate for separation and determination. Recoveries of the three steroids from complex matrix were 88-94% with RSD values less than 5.2%. Optimization of the immunoaffinity column purification was achieved and the feasibility of the technique for the analysis of steroid hormone was discussed. The results indicated that the combination of multi-immunoaffinity column and CE was an effective technique, which was rapid, simple, and sensitive for the assay of steroids.