Rhizosphere effects of moso bamboo and dominant tree species of secondary broadleaved forest on soil organic carbon mineralization.

The rhizosphere effect of plants affects soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. It is still unclear for the mechanism by which the rhizosphere effect of dominant plants in secondary broadleaved forest habitats invaded by moso bamboo affects SOC mineralization. Taking broadleaved tree species (Quercus glauca and Cunninghamia lanceolata) and moso bamboo, dominating respectively in uninvaded secondary broadleaved forest and bamboo forest formed after the invasion as test materials, we investigated rhizosphere effect of plants on the SOC mineralization in laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed that carbon mineralization rates of Phyllostachys edulis (PE), Quercus glauca (QG) and Cunninghamia lanceolata (CL) rhizosphere soils were 20%, 26%, and 21% higher than bulk soils, respectively. Carbon mineralization of bulk soils of QG and CL was 22% and 26% higher, while that of rhizosphere soils was 14% and 11% higher than PE, respectively. The contents of water-soluble organic carbon and organic carbon in rhizosphere soils of the three species were significantly higher than those of bulk soil, and the abundance of rhizosphere soil bacteria was higher than that of non-rhizosphere. The contents of microbial biomass carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, and total nitrogen were important factors influencing carbon mineralization in rhizosphere, while water-soluble organic carbon and microbial metabolic quotient were important factors influencing carbon mineralization in non-rhizosphere. On the whole, the rhizosphere effect increased total SOC mineralization, driving by changes in microbial biomass carbon, water-soluble organic carbon, and total nitrogen content. The results could provide a theoretical basis for plant-soil interaction on soil carbon cycling in bamboo invasion habitats.

Pharmacological interventions for preventing opioid-induced hyperalgesia in adults after opioid-based anesthesia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is an adverse event of prolonged opioid use that increases pain intensity. The optimal drug to prevent these adverse effects is still unknown. We aimed to conduct a network meta-analysis to compare different pharmacological interventions for preventing the increase in postoperative pain intensity caused by OIH. Methods: Several databases were searched independently for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing various pharmacological interventions to prevent OIH. The primary outcomes were postoperative pain intensity at rest after 24 h and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Secondary outcomes included pain threshold at 24 h after surgery, total morphine consumption over 24 h, time to first postoperative analgesic requirement, and shivering incidence. Results: In total, 33 RCTs with 1711 patients were identified. In terms of postoperative pain intensity, amantadine, magnesium sulphate, pregabalin, dexmedetomidine, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen plus dexmedetomidine, parecoxib, parecoxib plus dexmedetomidine, and S (+)-ketamine plus methadone were all associated with milder pain intensity than placebo, with amantadine being the most effective (SUCRA values = 96.2). Regarding PONV incidence, intervention with dexmedetomidine or flurbiprofen plus dexmedetomidine resulted in a lower incidence than placebo, with dexmedetomidine showing the best result (SUCRA values = 90.3). Conclusion: Amantadine was identified as the best in controlling postoperative pain intensity and non-inferior to placebo in the incidence of PONV. Dexmedetomidine was the only intervention that outperformed placebo in all indicators. Clinical Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record.php?, CRD42021225361.

SGLT2 inhibitors alleviated podocyte damage in lupus nephritis by decreasing inflammation and enhancing autophagy.

OBJECTIVES: The protective role of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in renal outcomes has been revealed by large cardiovascular outcome trials among patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on lupus nephritis (LN) and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. METHODS: We applied empagliflozin treatment to lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice to explore the renal protective potential of SGLT2 inhibitors. An SGLT2 knockout monoclonal podocyte cell line was generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: In MRL/lpr mice treated with empagliflozin, the levels of mouse anti-dsDNA IgG-specific antibodies, serum creatinine and proteinuria were markedly decreased. For renal pathology assessment, both the glomerular and tubulointerstitial damages were lessened by administration of empagliflozin. The levels of SGLT2 expression were increased and colocalised with decreased synaptopodin in the renal biopsy samples from patients with LN and MRL/lpr mice with nephritis. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin could alleviated podocyte injury by attenuating inflammation and enhanced autophagy by reducing mTORC1 activity. Nine patients with LN treated with SGLT2 inhibitors with more than 2 months of follow-up showed that the use of SGLT2 inhibitors was associated with a significant decrease in proteinuria from 29.6% to 96.3%. Moreover, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was relatively stable during the treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the renoprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibitors in lupus mice, providing more evidence for non-immunosuppressive therapies to improve renal function in classic autoimmune kidney diseases such as LN.

Identification of a novel cuproptosis-related gene signature and integrative analyses in patients with lower-grade gliomas.

Background: Cuproptosis is a newly discovered unique non-apoptotic programmed cell death distinguished from known death mechanisms like ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. However, the prognostic value of cuproptosis and the correlation between cuproptosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) remain unknown. Methods: In this study, we systematically investigated the genetic and transcriptional variation, prognostic value, and expression patterns of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs). The CRG score was applied to quantify the cuproptosis subtypes. We then evaluated their values in the TME, prognostic prediction, and therapeutic responses in LGG. Lastly, we collected five paired LGG and matched normal adjacent tissue samples from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) to verify the expression of signature genes by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB). Results: Two distinct cuproptosis-related clusters were identified using consensus unsupervised clustering analysis. The correlation between multilayer CRG alterations with clinical characteristics, prognosis, and TME cell infiltration were observed. Then, a well-performed cuproptosis-related risk model (CRG score) was developed to predict LGG patients' prognosis, which was evaluated and validated in two external cohorts. We classified patients into high- and low-risk groups according to the CRG score and found that patients in the low-risk group showed significantly higher survival possibilities than those in the high-risk group (P<0.001). A high CRG score implies higher TME scores, more significant TME cell infiltration, and increased mutation burden. Meanwhile, the CRG score was significantly correlated with the cancer stem cell index, chemoradiotherapy sensitivity-related genes and immune checkpoint genes, and chemotherapeutic sensitivity, indicating the association with CRGs and treatment responses. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the CRG score was an independent prognostic predictor for LGG patients. Subsequently, a highly accurate predictive model was established for facilitating the clinical application of the CRG score, showing good predictive ability and calibration. Additionally, crucial CRGs were further validated by qRT-PCR and WB. Conclusion: Collectively, we demonstrated a comprehensive overview of CRG profiles in LGG and established a novel risk model for LGG patients' therapy status and prognosis. Our findings highlight the potential clinical implications of CRGs, suggesting that cuproptosis may be the potential therapeutic target for patients with LGG.

[Effects of nitrogen deposition and biochar application on soil N2O fluxes in a Moso bamboo plantation]. / 氮沉降和施生物质炭对毛竹林土壤N2O通量的影响.

In July 2019-July 2020, we conducted a field trial to examine the effects of nitrogen addition (60 kg N·hm-2·a-1), biochar application (10 t·hm-2), and their combination on soil N2O emission and the relationship between soil N2O emission and environmental factors in a typical Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) plantation in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province. Soil N2O flux of Moso bamboo plantation was measured by the static chamber-gas chromatography technique. The results showed that nitrogen addition treatment increased the annual cumulative N2O emission by 14.6%, while biochar application and the combination treatment reduced it by 20.8% and 10.6%, respectively. Soil N2O flux rate was significantly correlated with soil temperature, NO3--N concentration, urease and protease activities, and soil NH4+-N concentration across all treatments. In conclusion, under the background of nitrogen deposition, the application of biochar would have a significant reduction effect on soil N2O fluxes in Moso bamboo plantations.

[Effects of planting broadleaf trees and Moso bamboo on soil carbon mineralization and microbial community structure]. / ç§æ¤é˜”å¶æ ‘ç§å’Œæ¯›ç«¹å¯¹åœŸå£¤æœ‰æœºç¢³çŸ¿åŒ–ä¸Žå¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç¾¤è½ç»“æž„çš„å½±å“.

We conducted a pot experiment to investigate the effects of planting broadleaf tree species (i.e., Cinnamomum camphora, Schima superba, and Quercus glauca) and Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) on soil carbon mineralization and microbial community structure. The rates of soil carbon mineralization were measured via alkali trapping method. The structural and functional diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and real-time quantitative PCR techniques. The soil planted with Moso bamboo exhibited a significantly higher carbon mineralization rate and labile carbon content than those in the soils planted with broadleaf tree species. The underground biomass of Moso bamboo was higher than that of broadleaf tree species. The soil bacterial communities were more sensitive than fungal communities to the planting of different plant species . Moreover, soil fungal diversity of Moso bamboo was distinctly different from that of broadleaf tree species. Compared to the diversity of soil bacterial communities, the diversity of soil fungal communities was more closely related with soil pH, organic carbon content, and carbon mineralization. In comparison to the broadleaf tree species, the Moso bamboo planting could substantially increase soil organic carbon minera-lization, which was affected mainly by the soil fungal community structure.

Discovery of tertiary amide derivatives incorporating benzothiazole moiety as anti-gastric cancer agents in vitro via inhibiting tubulin polymerization and activating the Hippo signaling pathway.

On the basis and continuation of our previous studies on anti-tubulin and anti-gastric cancer agents, novel tertiary amide derivatives incorporating benzothiazole moiety were synthesized and the antiproliferative activity was studied in vitro. Preliminary structure activity relationships (SARs) were explored according to the in vitro antiproliferative activity results. Some of compounds could significantly inhibit the proliferation of three cancer cells (HCT-116, MGC-803 and PC-3 cells) and compound F10 exhibited excellent antiproliferative activity against HCT-116 cells (IC50 = 0.182 µM), MGC-803 cells (IC50 = 0.035 µM), PC-3 cells(IC50 = 2.11 µM) and SGC-7901 cells (IC50 = 0.049 µM). Compound F10 effectively inhibited tubulin polymerization (IC50 = 1.9 µM) and bound to colchicine binding site of tubulin. Molecular docking results suggested compound F10 could bind tightly into the colchicine binding site of ß-tubulin. Moreover, compound F10 could regulate the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. Compound F10 activated Hippo signaling pathway from its very beginning MST1/2, as the result of Hippo cascade activation YAP were inhibited. And then it led to a decrease of c-Myc and Bcl-2 expression. Further molecular experiments showed that compound F10 arrested at G2/M phase, inhibited cell colony formatting and induced extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis in MGC-803 and SGC-7901 cells. Collectively, compound F10 was the first to be reported as a new anticancer agent in vitro via inhibiting tubulin polymerization and activating the Hippo signaling pathway.

Hydrangea-Like CuS with Irreversible Amorphization Transition for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Storage.

Metal sulfides have been intensively investigated for efficient sodium-ion storage due to their high capacity. However, the mechanisms behind the reaction pathways and phase transformation are still unclear. Moreover, the effects of designed nanostructure on the electrochemical behaviors are rarely reported. Herein, a hydrangea-like CuS microsphere is prepared via a facile synthetic method and displays significantly enhanced rate and cycle performance. Unlike the traditional intercalation and conversion reactions, an irreversible amorphization process is evidenced and elucidated with the help of in situ high-resolution synchrotron radiation diffraction analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The oriented (006) crystal plane growth of the primary CuS nanosheets provide more channels and adsorption sites for Na ions intercalation and the resultant low overpotential is beneficial for the amorphous Cu-S cluster, which is consistent with the density functional theory calculation. This study can offer new insights into the correlation between the atomic-scale phase transformation and macro-scale nanostructure design and open a new principle for the electrode materials' design.

Synergistic effect of uniform lattice cation/anion doping to improve structural and electrochemical performance stability for Li-rich cathode materials.

There has been extensive research into lithium-rich layered oxide materials as candidates for the nextgeneration of cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries, due to their high energy density and low cost; however, their poor cycle life and fast voltage fade hinder their large-scale commercial application. Here, we propose a novel cation/anion (Na+/PO4 3-) co-doping approach to mitigate the discharge capacity and voltage fade of a Co-free Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 cathode. Our results show that the synergistic effect of cation/anion doping can promote long cycle stability and rate performance by inhibiting the phase transformation of the layered structure to a spinel or rock-salt structure and stabilizing the well-ordered crystal structure during long cycles. The co-doped sample exhibits an outstanding cycle stability (capacity retention of 86.7% after 150 cycles at 1 C) and excellent rate performance (153 mAh g-1 at 5 C). The large ionic radius of Na+ can expand the Li slab to accelerate Li diffusion and the large tetrahedral PO4 3- polyanions with high electronegativity stabilize the local structure to improve the electrochemical performance.

Dual Elements Coupling Effect Induced Modification from the Surface into the Bulk Lattice for Ni-Rich Cathodes with Suppressed Capacity and Voltage Decay.

Injection of phase transition from a layered to rock-salt phase into the bulk lattice and side reactions on the interfacial usually causes structure degradation, quick capacity/voltage decay, and even thermal instability. Here, a self-formed interfacial protective layer coupled with lattice tuning was constructed for Ni-rich cathodes by simultaneous incorporation of Zr and Al in a one-step calcination. The migration energy between Zr and Al from the surface into the bulk lattice induces dual modifications from the surface into the bulk lattice, which effectively decrease the formation of cation mixing, the degree of anisotropic lattice change, and the generation of microcracks. With the stabilization role provided by the doped Zr-Al ions and protective function endowed by the surface layer, the modified cathode material exhibits significantly enhanced capacity and voltage retention. Specifically, the capacity retention for the modified cathode material reaches 99% after 100 cycles at 1 C and 25 °C in a voltage range of 3.0-4.3 V, which outperformed that for the pristine cathode (70%). The declination values of the average voltage for the modified cathode are only 0.025 and 0.097 V after 100 cycles at 1 C in voltage ranges of 3.0-4.3 and 2.8-4.5 V, respectively, which are much lower than those for the pristine cathode (0.230 and 0.405 V). The synchronous accomplishment of modification from the surface into the bulk lattice for Ni-rich materials with multiple elements in a one-step calcination process would provide some referenced value for the preparation of other cathode materials.

[Effects of different tea plantation ages on soil microbial community structure and diversity]. / æ¤èŒ¶å¹´é™å¯¹åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç¾¤è½ç»“æž„åŠå¤šæ ·æ€§çš„å½±å“.

We investigated the effects of tea plantation age on soil microbial community structure and diversity with surface and subsurface soil samples (0-20 and 20-40 cm) from tea plantation at different ages (0, 20, 25, 38 and 48 years). We analyzed soil bacterial and fungal communities by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and real-time quantitative PCR techniques. The results showed that soil physicochemical properties changed significantly after planting tea. The contents of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus increased at first, and gradually decreased with the increases of tea plantation age. The contents of organic carbon and total nitrogen in the topsoil were significantly higher than those in the subsoil. Moreover, soil bacterial community composition varied across tea plantation age. Bacterial diversity index decreased with increasing tea plantation age. The composition and diversity of soil fungal communities did not show a clear relationship with the tea plantation age. Overall, soil bacterial communities was more sensitive to the tea plantation age than fungal communities. With the increases of tea plantation age, the ratio of soil fungi to bacteria showed increasing trend. Soil microbial community in the tea plantation changed from a "bacterial type" with low fungi/bacteria ratio (F/B) to a "fungal type" with high F/B.

Deciphering an Abnormal Layered-Tunnel Heterostructure Induced by Chemical Substitution for the Sodium Oxide Cathode.

Demands for large-scale energy storage systems have driven the development of layered transition-metal oxide cathodes for room-temperature rechargeable sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Now, an abnormal layered-tunnel heterostructure Na0.44 Co0.1 Mn0.9 O2 cathode material induced by chemical element substitution is reported. By virtue of beneficial synergistic effects, this layered-tunnel electrode shows outstanding electrochemical performance in sodium half-cell system and excellent compatibility with hard carbon anode in sodium full-cell system. The underlying formation process, charge compensation mechanism, phase transition, and sodium-ion storage electrochemistry are clearly articulated and confirmed through combined analyses of in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction and ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy as well as operando X-ray diffraction. This crystal structure engineering regulation strategy offers a future outlook into advanced cathode materials for SIBs.

[Microbial biodiversity in rhizospheric soil of Torreya grandis 'Merrillii' relative to cultivation history]. / ä¸åŒç§æ¤å¹´é™é¦™æ¦§æ ¹é™ åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©å¤šæ ·æ€§.

To examine the effects of different cultivation history (5 a,10 a, and 15 a) on soil microbial communities, we used Illumina sequencing to investigate the diversity and structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities from Torreya grandis 'Merrillii' fields. The results showed that bacterial Shannon index, the richness estimators Chao1 and ACE were lower in soil in 15 year-old stand than those in other cultivation histories, while Simpson index showed no significant variation. Results from bacterial community NMDS showed that cultivation history played a vital role in driving the changes of soil bacteria communitiy structure. The bacterial communities in 5 and 10 year-old stand had the similar composition. The variations of bacterial richness and diversity as well as community structure (comprised basically of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi) were significantly correlated with soil organic matters, soil C/N, and total nitrogen. The fungi richness estimators of Chao1 and ACE were significantly decreased with increasing cultivation history. Shannon and Simpson indices were significantly higher in soil with 10 year-old stand than soils with other cultivation history. Fungal NMDS could be clustered in the same era. Fungal communities were comprosed of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Zygomycota. Changes in fungal richness/diversity and community structure were mainly controlled by the variation of soil organic matter. In conclusion, the predominant factors affecting soil microbial communities were the cultivation history, soil C/N, total nitrogen and organic matter, respectively.

Constructing a Protective Pillaring Layer by Incorporating Gradient Mn4+ to Stabilize the Surface/Interfacial Structure of LiNi0.815Co0.15Al0.035O2 Cathode.

Nickel-rich layered oxides are regarded as very promising materials as cathodes for lithium-ion batteries because of their environmental benignancy, low cost, and high energy density. However, insufficient cycle performance and poor thermotic characteristics induced by structural degradation at high potentials and elevated temperatures pose challenging hurdles for nickel-rich cathodes. Here, a protective pillaring layer, in which partial Ni2+ ions occupy Li slabs induced by gradient Mn4+, is integrated into the primary particle of LiNi0.815Co0.15Al0.035O2 to stabilize the surface/interfacial structure. With the stable outer surface provided by the enriched Mn4+ gradient concentration and the pillar effect of the NiO-like phase, Mn-incorporated quaternary cathodes show enhanced structural stability and improved Li+ diffusion as well as lithium-storage properties. Compared with the severe capacity fade of a pure layered structure, the cathode with gradient Mn4+ exhibits more stable cycling behavior with a capacity retention of 80.0% after 500 cycles at 5.0 C.

Proteomic analysis of developing wheat grains infected by powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici).

Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici (Bgt) infection greatly interferes with the normal source-sink relationships and always causes tremendous loss of yield and quality in wheat. To better understand the impact of this pathogen on grain development, proteome characterization during grain development in susceptible wheat cultivar Xinong 979 infected by powdery mildew was investigated by 2-DE and tandem MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Identification of 111 differentially expressed protein spots representing 85 unique proteins and six expression patterns showed a chronological description of wheat grain formation. Comparative proteome profiles indicated that 43 protein spots displayed significant abundance change, which is mainly involved in stress/defense responses, primary metabolism, and storage protein. The down-regulation of defense response-related proteins including alpha-purothionin, lactoylglutathione lyase, and alpha-amylase inhibitor CM16 in infected grains compared to control during seed filling might be related to the susceptibility of wheat to Bgt, while the enhanced expression of beta-amylase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and the down-regulation of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase in infected grains probably resulted in the negative effects on yield formation. Our data reveal the complex grain metabolism mechanisms and defense responses during compatible interactions of wheat and Bgt, and provide valuable information for further understanding of the underlying molecular processes which can possibly yield novel strategies for breeding resistant cultivars and protection strategies in the field.

[Effects of Phyllostachys edulis cultivation on soil bacterial and fungal community structure and diversity]. / æ¯›ç«¹ç§æ¤å¯¹åœŸå£¤ç»†èŒå’ŒçœŸèŒç¾¤è½ç»“æž„åŠå¤šæ ·æ€§çš„å½±å“.

This study examined how soil bacterial and fungal communities responded to the cultivation history of Moso bamboo in Anji and Changxing counties, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China. Soil samples (0-20 and 20-40 cm) were taken from bamboo plantations subjected to different cultivation histories and analyzed the community structures of soil bacterial and fungal by PCR-DGGE methods. It was found that soil bacterial and fungal communities varied greatly with the development of bamboo plantations which converted from Masson pine forest or formed via invading adjacent broadleaf shrub forest. Soil bacterial community structures exhibited a greater response to bamboo cultivation time than fungal community, but bacteria structure of surface soil displayed an ability of resiliency to disturbance and the tendency to recover to the original state. The cultivation time, sampling site and soil layer significantly affected the biodiversity of soil bacteria and fungi, especially the latter two factors. Redundancy analysis (RDA) of soil properties and bacteria or fungi communities showed that there were no accordant factors to drive the alteration of microbial structure, and the first two axes explained less than 65.0% of variance for most of the sampling sites and soil layers, indicating there existed soil parameters besides the five examined that contributed to microbial community alteration.

[Effects of different fertilization regimes on soil fungal communities under Phyllostachys violascens stand]. / 不同施肥模式对雷竹林土壤真菌群落特征的影响.

In order to investigate the effect of fertilization on soil fungal community of Phyllostachys violascens stand, we characterized the abundance and community structure of soil fungi using the methods of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and real-time quantitative PCR. The experimental treatments included blank control (CK), chemical fertilizer (CF), organic manure (M), mixture of chemical fertilizer and organic manure (CFM) and mixture of chemical fertilizer and organic manure plus mulching (CFMM). The results showed that fungal community structure and diversity were markedly affected by different fertilization regimes. In 0-20 cm soil layer, CF and CFMM treatments resulted in a significant reduction of Shannon and evenness indices. Soil fungi under CK, M, CFMM treatments in 0-20 cm soil layer and CK, CF, CFMM treatments in 20-40 cm soil layer formed independent community structures. Soil fungal abundance showed significantly positive correlation with the concentrations of soil total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus and available nitrogen concentrations were the main factors that influenced the variation of fungal community composition. The above findings indicated that 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil layers had different characteristics in response to different fertilization regimes under P. violascens stand. The soil fungal community in the 0-20 cm layer was mainly affected by soil organic matter, while that in the 20-40 cm layer was sensitive to the input of chemical fertilizer. The effect of fertilization on the diversity of fungal community mainly occurred in the 0-20 cm soil layer.

Identification of vernalization responsive genes in the winter wheat cultivar Jing841 by transcriptome sequencing.

This study aimed to identify vernalization responsive genes in the winter wheat cultivar Jing841 by comparing the transcriptome data with that of a spring wheat cultivar Liaochun10. For each cultivar, seedlings before and after the vernalization treatment were sequenced by Solexa/Illumina sequencing. Genes differentially expressed after and before vernalization were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.001 and |log2 (fold change)|>1 as cutoffs. The Jing841-specific DEGs were screened and subjected to functional annotation using gene ontology (GO) database. Vernalization responsive genes among the specific genes were selected for validation by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and the expression change over the time was investigated for the top 11 genes with the most significant expression differences. A total of 138,062 unigenes were obtained. Overall, 636 DEGs were identified as vernalization responsive genes including some known genes such as VRN-1 and COR14a, and some unknown contigs. The qRT-PCR validated changes in the expression of 18 DEGs that were detected by RNA-seq. Among them, 11 genes displayed four different types of expression patterns over time during the 30-day-long vernalization treatment. Genes or contigs such as VRN-A1, COR14a, IRIP, unigene1806 and Cl18953. Contig2 probably have critical roles in vernalization.

Gender Differences in Sleep Disturbance among Elderly Koreans: Hallym Aging Study.

Sleep is an important component in our lives as it is necessary throughout one's entire life span. This study was conducted to elucidate whether there are gender differences in sleep quality and what factors can affect sleep quality in community-dwelling elderly Koreans. A total of 382 subjects (175 males and 207 females) were recruited among elderly aged 45 or over who participated in the 2010 Hallym Aging Study (HAS). They were invited to a general hospital and were evaluated for socioeconomic status, smoking history, and various clinical measures. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A higher score indicates poorer subjective sleep quality, (PSQI global score > 5 suggests sleep disturbance). After adjusting for potential covariates, our results show that alcohol increases the odds for poor sleep (odds ratio [OR] = 3.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-10.10) in males. In females, lack of exercise was the major risk factor of poor sleep as they are 4.46 times more likely to suffer from low sleep quality than those who exercise regularly (95% CI=1.56-13.75). Stress was also a risk factor for poor sleep. It was 5.60 times higher in the "always have stress" group than the "do not have stress" group (95% CI = 1.54-20.34). Thus, alcohol consumption is associated with men's sleep quality, while exercise and stress level affect women's.

[Effects of Phyllostachys edulis invasion of native broadleaf forest on soil fungal community].

To investigate variation of soil fungal community in response to invasion of Phyllostachys edulis into native broadleaf forest, we characterized the community structure and the abundance of fungi in soil under bamboo (BB), mixture forest of bamboo and broadleaf (MF) and broadleaf forest (BL) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and real-time quantitative PCR. The results showed that the most obvious difference in the soil fungal community structure was observed between the BB and BF stands, followed by that between the MF and BL. Shannon index and evenness index of soil fungi were higher in the MF than in the BB and BL. pH and NH4+-N content were the most important environmental gradients on the distribution of fungal community under BB, while NO3(-)-N content significantly affected the distribution of the fungal community under BL. The abundance of fungi in BL was significantly higher than that in BB and MF, and the fungi abundance showed a negative correlation with soil pH but a positive correlation with NO3(-)-N content. These results implied that heterotrophic nitrification driven by fungi could occur in soil of BL, and this process might be changed by the bamboo invasion.