Detection and Discrimination of Tea Plant Stresses Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technique at a Canopy Level

Tea plant stresses threaten the quality of tea seriously. The technology corresponding to the fast detection and differentiation of stresses is of great significance for plant protection in tea plantation. In recent years, hyperspectral imaging technology has shown great potential in detecting and differentiating plant diseases, pests and some other stresses at the leaf level. However, the lack of studies at canopy level hampers the detection of tea plant stresses at a larger scale. In this study, based on the canopy-level hyperspectral imaging data, the methods for identifying and differentiating the three commonly occurred tea stresses (i.e., the tea leafhopper, anthrax and sun burn) were studied. To account for the complexity of the canopy scenario, a stepwise detecting strategy was proposed that includes the process of background removal, identification of damaged areas and discrimination of stresses. Firstly, combining the successive projection algorithm (SPA) spectral analysis and K-means cluster analysis, the background and overexposed non-plant regions were removed from the image. Then, a rigorous sensitivity analysis and optimization were performed on various forms of spectral features, which yielded optimal features for detecting damaged areas (i.e., YSV, Area, GI, CARI and NBNDVI) and optimal features for stresses discrimination (i.e., MCARI, CI, LCI, RARS, TCI and VOG). Based on this information, the models for identifying damaged areas and those models for discriminating different stresses were established using K-nearest neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF) and Fisher discriminant analysis. The identification model achieved an accuracy over 95%, and the discrimination model achieved an accuracy over 93% for all stresses. The results suggested the feasibility of stress detection and differentiation using canopy-level hyperspectral imaging techniques, and indicated the potential for its extension over large areas.     

基于SRAP分析的梨授粉品种亲缘关系对砀山酥梨石细胞含量的影响

利用SRAP分子标记,从88对引物中筛选出34对引物组合,分析砀山酥梨母本与授粉品种之间的亲缘关系,探讨梨授粉品种亲缘关系对砀山酥梨石细胞含量的影响。结果表明:授粉品种紫酥、鸭梨和马蹄黄与砀山酥梨亲缘关系较远,授粉品种华山、幸水和圆黄与砀山酥梨亲缘关系较近;砀山酥梨自然授粉果实石细胞含量为0.61%;选用紫酥、鸭梨和马蹄黄作授粉树时,果实石细胞含量分别为0.34%、0.33%、0.36%,低于自然授粉的砀山酥梨;选用华山、幸水和圆黄作授粉树时,果实石细胞含量分别为0.84%、0.70%、0.66%,高于自然授粉的砀山酥梨。选用与砀山酥梨亲缘关系较远的梨品种作授粉树可减少砀山酥梨石细胞含量,改善口感     

L-缬氨酸产生菌的选育及其发酵培养基的优化

以黄色短杆菌(Brevibacterium flavum)NJ-237为出发菌株,通过梯度传代适应性培养及同浓度药物平板富集培养的方式,逐步提高菌体的抗药物性能,获得了1株耐高糖和耐高浓度α-氨基丁酸(-αAB)的菌株NJ-2372。在单因素实验的基础上,利用响应面分析法对影响该菌株L-缬氨酸(L-Val)产量的3个重要因素玉米浆、生物素(VH)、硫胺素(VB1)的添加量进行优化。结果表明:当玉米浆、VH、VB1最佳添加量分别为11 g/L、35μg/L和101μg/L时,摇瓶发酵72 h,L-Val摇瓶发酵产量达到52.9 g/L。     

Single-molecule nanopositioning: structural transitions of a helicase-DNA complex during ATP hydrolysis

The conformational states of Escherichia coli Rep helicase undergoing ATP hydrolysis while bound to a partial-duplex DNA (pdDNA) were studied using single-molecule FRET. Crystallographic studies showed that Rep bound to single-stranded DNA can exist in open and closed conformations that differ in the orientation of the 2B subdomain. FRET measurements between eight Rep mutants donor-labeled at different residues and pdDNA acceptor-labeled at the junction were conducted at each of the four nucleotide states. The positions of donor-labeled residues, based on crystal structure, and FRET measurements between these donor molecules and the acceptor fluorophore at the DNA junction were used to predict the most likely position for the DNA junction using a triangulation algorithm. These predicted junction positions are compared with the crystal structure to determine whether the open or closed conformation is more consistent with the FRET data. Our data revealed that there are two distinct Rep-pdDNA conformations in the ATPγS and ADP states, an unexpected finding. The primary conformation is similar to that observed in nucleotide-free and ADP.Pi states, and the secondary conformation is a novel conformation where the duplex DNA and 2B subdomain moved as a unit by 13 Å relative to the rest of the protein. The primary conformation found in all nucleotide states is consistent with the closed conformation of the crystal structure however; the secondary conformation is a new conformation that has not been observed before. We discuss the possible implications of this newly observed conformation.     

Specific inhibition of FAK signaling attenuates subchondral bone deterioration and articular cartilage degeneration during osteoarthritis pathogenesis

Osteoarthritis (OA), a disease of the entire joint, is characterized by abnormal bone remodeling and coalescent degradation of articular cartilage. We have previously found that elevated levels of H-type vessels in subchondral bone correlate with OA and that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is critical for H-type vessel formation in osteoporosis. However, the potential role of FAK in OA remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the p-FAK level was dramatically elevated in subchondral bone following anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in rats. Specific inhibition of FAK signaling with Y15 in subchondral bone resulted in the suppression of subchondral bone deterioration and this effect was mediated by H-type vessel-induced ectopic bone formation. Further, articular cartilage degeneration was also alleviated after Y15 treatment. In vitro, the p-FAK level was significantly elevated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from vehicle-treated ACLT rats as compared to that in MSCs from sham controls and Y15-treated ACLT rats. Elevated p-FAK level in MSCs promoted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, as demonstrated from the high VEGF level in the blood, subchondral bone, and conditioned medium (CM) of MSCs from vehicle-treated ACLT rats. The CM of MSCs from vehicle-treated ACLT rats might promote the angiogenesis of endothelial cells and the catabolic response of chondrocytes through the FAK-growth factor receptor-bound protein 2-mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated expression of VEGF. The effect of the CM from MSCs of Y15-treated ACLT rats or that treated with a VEGF-neutralizing antibody on vessel formation and the catabolic response was lowered. Thus, the specific inhibition of FAK signaling may be a promising avenue for the prevention or early treatment of OA.     

The impact of cytomegalovirus infection on clinical severity and outcomes in kidney transplant recipients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), but its impact on clinical severity and outcomes in KTRs with PJP is unknown. We reviewed 1994 medical records of KTRs from January 1997 to March 2019. PJP or CMV infection was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction or culturing using blood or respiratory specimens. We divided patients into PJP and PJP+CMV groups, and evaluated the clinical severity and outcomes. Fifty two patients had PJP (2.6%) in the whole study cohort. Among patients with PJP, 38 (73.1%) had PJP alone and 14 (26.9%) had combined PJP and CMV co-infection. The PJP+CMV group showed worse laboratory findings (serum albumin and C-reactive protein, P = 0.010 for both) and higher requirement of continuous renal replacement therapy than the PJP group (P = 0.050). The pneumonia severity was worse in the PJP+CMV group than in the PJP group (P < 0.05), and CMV infection was a high risk factor of pneumonia severity (odds ratio 16.0; P = 0.002). The graft function was worse in the PJP+CMV group (P < 0.001), and the incidence of graft failure was higher in the PJP+CMV group than in the PJP group (85.7% vs 36.8%; P < 0.001). Mortality was double in the PJP+CMV group than in the PJP group, but not statistically significant (21.4% vs 10.5%; P = 0.370). Our results show that approximately one in four patients with PJP after kidney transplantation develops CMV with increased clinical severity and risk of graft failure. The possibility of increased clinical severity and worse clinical outcomes by CMV co-infection should be considered in KTRs with PJP.     

1980-2018年海南岛土地利用与生态系统服务价值时空变化

以海南岛为研究区,利用1980-2018年5期土地利用数据,借助ArcGIS技术,综合运用价值当量因子法、生态系统服务变化指数（Ecological Services Change Index,ESCI）、空间统计分析等方法,探究了海南岛土地利用与生态系统服务价值（Ecosystem Services Values,ESV）的时空变化特征。结果表明：（1）林地是海南岛自然生态系统的主体,占62%以上,林地面积先升高后降低;建设用地增加迅猛,特别是在2010年以后,增长率高达122.46%,其次水域增长率为20.94%。土地利用主要呈现出草地转为林地,耕地、林地转为建设用地或水域的变化特征。（2）1980-2018年海南岛ESV总体表现为先增加后降低的变化趋势,净增加51.59亿元,增长率为2.56%。其中林地ESV占比最高,达70%以上;单项ESV以水文调节、气候调节为主,两者占总ESV的50%以上。（3）在空间分布上,海南岛ESV存在着明显的中部高、四周低的空间分异特征,在时间序列上高值区进一步萎缩、低值区逐渐扩展。（4）1980-2018年海南岛5个时期的ESV及其变化在空间分布上具有显著的正向自相关性;ESV增值热点区集中分布在大广坝水库等库区、海南岛东北部水产养殖场等地,ESV损失冷点区主要出现在海口和三亚等重要城区、洋浦经济开发区以及旅游资源丰富的沿海地区。     

祁连山中部低海拔地区青海云杉径向生长的气候响应机制

利用生理模型开展树木径向生长的气候响应机制研究对理解树木生长的生理机制、预估气候变化情景下森林生态系统的变化、提供森林保护管理的建议有重要意义。以祁连山中部低海拔地区青海云杉树轮记录为依据,利用Vaganov-Shashkin模型模拟青海云杉(Picea crassifolia)的径向生长,探讨青海云杉径向生长的生理机制。结果表明:降水对祁连山中部低海拔地区青海云杉径向生长起着决定性作用,5—8月份的降水直接影响当年青海云杉的径向生长,9月份的降水量影响翌年青海云杉的径向生长。根据本研究结果,水分是限制青海云杉径向生长的主要因子,建议青海云杉人工林种植时,可在5—8月份对青海云杉增加灌溉量。     

Crystal structure of C-terminal truncated apolipoprotein A-I reveals the assembly of high density lipoprotein (HDL) by dimerization

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) plays important structural and functional roles in plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) that is responsible for reverse cholesterol transport. However, a molecular understanding of HDL assembly and function remains enigmatic. The 2.2-? crystal structure of Δ(185-243)apoA-I reported here shows that it forms a half-circle dimer. The backbone of the dimer consists of two elongated antiparallel proline-kinked helices (five AB tandem repeats). The N-terminal domain of each molecule forms a four-helix bundle with the helical C-terminal region of the symmetry-related partner. The central region forms a flexible domain with two antiparallel helices connecting the bundles at each end. The two-domain dimer structure based on helical repeats suggests the role of apoA-I in the formation of discoidal HDL particles. Furthermore, the structure suggests the possible interaction with lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and may shed light on the molecular details of the effect of the Milano, Paris, and Fin mutations.