Quantification of gene expression while taking into account RNA alternative splicing.

Gene expression has been widely used in functional genomics research; however, the gene expressions quantified with different methods have been frequently inconsistent, thus challenging the conclusions from such research. Here we have addressed this issue, while taking into account RNA alternative splicing. We found that when a gene was subjected to RNA alternative splicing, it was impossible or difficult to properly quantify the expression of a transcript of the gene or its overall expression using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), Northern hybridization, microarray, or serial analysis of gene expression. Shot-gun RNA-seq was the most proper to quantify the expression of a transcript or a gene in such cases. Moreover, the expressions of individual transcripts quantified by shot-gun RNA-seq were highly reproducible (r = 0.90-0.98) between individuals. Therefore, shot-gun or full-length RNA-seq should be the method of choice to properly quantify the expression of a transcript or a gene.

Hydrogen cyanamide breaks grapevine bud dormancy in the summer through transient activation of gene expression and accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

BACKGROUND: Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) and pruning (P) have frequently been used to break dormancy in grapevine floral buds. However, the exact underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to address the early mode of action of these treatments on accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and expression of related genes in the dormancy breaking buds of grapevine in the summer. RESULTS: The budbreak rates induced by pruning (P), hydrogen cyanamide (HC), pruning plus hydrogen cyanamide (PHC) and water (control) after 8 days were 33, 53, 95, and 0 %, respectively. Clearly, HC was more effective in stimulating grapevine budbreak and P further enhanced its potency. In situ staining of longitudinal bud sections after 12 h of treatments detected high levels of ROS and nitric oxide (NO) accumulated in the buds treated with PHC, compared with HC or P alone. The amounts of ROS and NO accumulated were highly correlated with the rates of budbreak among these treatments, highlighting the importance of a rapid, transient accumulation of sublethal levels of ROS and RNS in dormancy breaking. Microarray analysis revealed specific alterations in gene expression in dormancy breaking buds induced by P, HC and PHC after 24 h of treatment. Relative to control, PHC altered the expression of the largest number of genes, while P affected the expression of the least number of genes. PHC also exerted a greater intensity in transcriptional activation of these genes. Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggests that alteration in expression of ROS related genes is the major factor responsible for budbreak. qRT-PCR analysis revealed the transient expression dynamics of 12 specific genes related to ROS generation and scavenge during the 48 h treatment with PHC. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that rapid accumulation of ROS and NO at early stage is important for dormancy release in grapevine in the summer, and the identification of the commonly expressed specific genes among the treatments allowed the construction of the signal transduction pathway related to ROS/RNS metabolism during dormancy release. The rapid accumulation of a sublethal level of ROS/RNS subsequently induces cell wall loosening and expansion for bud sprouting.

Describing force patterns: a method for classifying sit-to-stand movement in elderly people.

The main contribution of this study is that it examined the sit-to-stand movements of elderly people and then established an assessment method to supplement the existing Berg Balance Scale for the risk of falling in elderly individuals. 36 elderly adults (M age = 69.9 yr., SD = 4.0) volunteered to participate in this study. Three key points of the sit-to-stand movement were confirmed as aspects of the ground reaction force: the onset, maximum ground reaction force, and seat-off. Based on the characteristics indicated by the force data, the sit-to-stand movement sequences of those who were evaluated at low fall risk with a Berg Balance Scale score between 41 and 55 were classified into three patterns: typical-modal, multimodal, and incompetent-modal patterns. With this increased accuracy, medical practitioners can determine more clearly those participants who require further immediate medical consultation and those that are not at risk of falling.

Multipeak Coercive Electric-Field-Based Multilevel Cell Nonvolatile Memory With Antiferroelectric-Ferroelectric Field-Effect Transistors (FETs).

An ultralow program/erase voltage ( |VP/E| = 4 V) is demonstrated by using an antiferroelectric-ferroelectric field-effect transistor (AFE-FE-FET) through a multipeak coercive E -field ( EC ) concept for a four-level stable state with outstanding endurance (>105 cycles) and data retention (>104 s at 65 °C). The mixture of ferroelectric (FE) and AFE domains can provide stable multistate and data storage with zero bias for multilevel cell (MLC) applications. HfZrO2 (HZO) with AFE-FE assembles an orthorhombic/tetragonal (o/t) phase composition and is achieved by [Zr] modulation in an HZO system. MLC characteristics not only improve high-density nonvolatile memory (NVM) but are also beneficial to neuromorphic device applications.

Reduction of breast tumor drug resistance by 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene for exhibition synergic chemotherapeutic effect.

Chemotherapy drugs have limited efficacy in breast cancer due to multidrug resistance generated by cancer cells against anticancer drugs. In this study, we developed a novel derivative, 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene (TG1) by modifying 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (THSG). In-vivo zebrafish embryo tests revealed that TG1 showed low toxicity. The equitoxic combination of DOX or DTX with TG1 in MCF-7/Adr reduced the IC50 of DOX or DTX, and the combination index (CI) showed strong synergistic effects in the 1:3 molar ratio of DTX: TG1 and 1:5 molar ratio of DOX: TG1. Moreover, fluorescence images confirmed the cellular uptake of DOX when combined with TG1 in MCF-7/Adr. Western blotting analysis indicated downregulation of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) after MCF-7/Adr treated with TG1. In conclusion, the combined therapy of DTX or DOX and TG1 increases drug efficacy via suppressing the p-glycoprotein efflux pump. These results suggest that TG1 may have potential use for breast cancer patients, especially those with multidrug resistance.

Evaluation of key points in the sit-to-stand movement using two force platforms.

Three key points of the sit-to-stand (STS) movement were confirmed as aspects of the ground reaction force (GRF): the onset, maximum GRF, and seat-off. 46 healthy subjects (M age = 22.2 yr., SD = 4.4) participated. During the STS movement, two vertical force platforms were used to measure the resultant GRF, defined as the whole-body force, and its two components, the buttock and leg GRFs. The onsets of the component GRFs identified the sequence of the important time points in the STS movement more precisely than the onset of the resultant GRF. Data showed that the maximum whole-body GRF, the maximum GRF of both legs, and seat-off appeared in sequence and not simultaneously.

Strategies for posture transfer adopted by elders during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit.

This study investigated whether three posture-transfer strategies, No support, Chair-arm, and Cane, were associated with the smallest hip-compressed angle and the smallest ankle-compressed angle during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit for 12 elders (M age = 81.3 yr., SD = 5.9) who volunteered to participate. Using an optoelectronic movement analyzer, the smallest compressed angles of the hip and ankle were measured during standing up and sitting down. The adopted strategies had significant effects on the smallest hip-compressed angle, but not the smallest ankle-compressed angle. Although cane use led to a larger trunk angular displacement than did chair-arm use, a cane can provide help during the whole transfer process. These two strategies may be seen as adaptive mechanisms to decrease risk of anterior disequilibrium.

Chemical constituents and anticancer activity of Curcuma zedoaria roscoe essential oil against non-small cell lung carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

In this study, we report that the essential oil obtained from Curcuma zedoaria Roscoe, known as zedoary, possesses efficient cytotoxic effects on non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells and causes cell apoptosis. Zedoary essential oil increased the sub-G1 population and the level of annexin-V binding and induced cleavage and activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and poly(ADP ribose) polymerase. Decreases in the levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were also observed following zedoary essential oil treatment. Notably, zedoary essential oil led to the release of AIF, endonuclease G, and cytochrome c into the cytosol and increased levels of p53 in H1299 cells. Our results indicate that zedoary essential oil slightly inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and enhanced the phosphorylation of JNK1/2 and p38. Zedoary essential oil also inhibited AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways in H1299 cells. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of zedoary essential oil significantly suppressed the growth of H1299 cells in vivo. In addition, potential active compounds were detected using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. 8,9-Dehydro-9-formyl-cycloisolongifolene, 6-ethenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-3,6-dimethyl-5-isopropenyl-trans-benzofuran, eucalyptol, and γ-elemene were found in zedoary essential oil. In summary, our findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying zedoary essential oil-induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells that are worthy of further study.