Photosynthetic characteristics of summer maize under different planting patterns and the responses to nitrogen application of previous crop / Características fotossintéticas do milho verão sob diferentes padrões de plantio e as respostas à aplicação de nitrogênio da cultura anterior

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important grain crops in the North China Plain. Management practices affect the photosynthetic characteristics and the production of summer maize. This two-year (2014-2015) study examined the effects of different planting patterns and the application of nitrogen to previous winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the photosynthetic characteristics, yield and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of summer maize. Field experiments used a two-factor split-plot design with three replicates at Taian, Shandong Province, China (36°09' N, 117°09' E). The experiments involved two planting patterns(ridge planting, RP; and uniform row planting, UR) and two nitrogen application levels of previous winter wheat (N1, 112.50 kg ha-1; N2, 225.00 kg ha-1). The results indicated that the application of nitrogen on previous crop and ridge planting of the following crop had significant effects on the photosynthetic characteristics and yields of summer maize. Compared with UR, this study found that RP increased the chlorophyll content index (CCI), leaf area index (LAI), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), dry matter (DM), yield and grain RUE by 4.1%, 6.3%, 5.2%, 6.4%, 8.9% and 9.4%, respectively. The CCI, LAI, Pn, yield, and grain RUE of N2 were 9.7%, 3.3%, 3.7%, 10.0% and 10.1% higher than those of N1, respectively. RP combined with the application of nitrogen on previous crop of winter wheat could increase the CCI, LAI, Pn, DM, ultimately increasing the grain yield and RUE of the following summer's maize. It was concluded that previous crop nitrogen application and RP pattern treatment resulted in optimal cropping conditions for the North China plain.

O milho (Zea mays L.) é uma das culturas de grãos mais importantes da Planície do Norte da China. Práticas de manejo afetam as características fotossintéticas e a produção do milho verão. Este estudo de dois anos (2014-2015) examinou os efeitos de diferentes padrões de plantio e a aplicação de nitrogênio ao trigo de inverno anterior (Triticum aestivum L.) sobre as características fotossintéticas, produtividade e eficiência de uso de radiação (RUE) do milho verão. Experimentos de campo usaram um delineamento em parcelas subdivididas de dois fatores com três repetições em Taian, província de Shandong, China (36°09' N, 117°09' E). Os experimentos envolveram dois padrões de plantio (ridge planting, RP; e uniform row planting, UR) e dois níveis de aplicação de nitrogênio do trigo de inverno anterior (N1, 112,50 kg ha-1; N2, 225,00 kg ha-1). Os resultados indicaram que a aplicação de nitrogênio na cultura anterior e no plantio RP da cultura seguinte teve efeitos significativos nas características fotossintéticas e na produtividade do milho verão. Comparado com o plantio UR, este estudo concluiu que RP aumentou o índice de conteúdo de clorofila (CCI), índice de área foliar (LAI), taxa fotossintética líquida (Pn), matéria seca (DM), produtividade e RUE de grãos em 4,1%, 6,4%, 5,2%, 6,4%, 8,9% e 9,4%, respectivamente. Os valores de CCI, LAI, Pn, produtividade e RUE de N2 foram 9,7%, 3,3%, 3,7%, 10,0% e 10,1% superiores aos de N1, respectivamente. RP combinada com a aplicação de nitrogênio na safra anterior de trigo de inverno poderia aumentar os valores de CCI, LAI, Pn, DM, aumentando o rendimento de grãos e RUE do milho do verão seguinte. Concluiu-se que a aplicação prévia de nitrogênio na colheita e o tratamento com padrão RP resultaram em condições ótimas de cultivo para a planície do norte da China.

Prediction of genetic risk factors of atherosclerosis using various bioinformatic tools.

The aim of this study was to identify potential markers of atherosclerosis development in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients. GSE13985 microarray data, generated using blood samples from 5 FH patients and 5 matched controls, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FH and controls were identified and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Module and hub proteins were screened in this network. The module genes were subjected to a gene ontology (GO) analysis, and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis was also performed. A total of 394 genes, including 125 up- and 269 down-regulated genes, were differentially expressed. Ribosomal proteins L9 (RPL9), L35 (RPL35), and S7 (RPS7) were designated as hub nodes in the PPI network. The DEGs were found to be significantly enriched in ribosomal and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Ribosomal protein genes were found to be involved in the ribosomal pathway. The cytochrome-c oxidase (COX) genes COX subunit VIIa polypeptide 2 (COX7A2), COX subunit VIIb (COX7B), COX subunit VIIc (COX7C), and COX subunit VIc (COX6C) were enriched in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Module analysis and GO enrichment analysis identified ribosomal proteins as important regulators of FH. Ribosomal and oxidative phosphorylation pathways may be closely associated with atherosclerosis development. Ribosomal protein genes and cytochrome-coxidase genes may be potential therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.