3,3′,4,4′,5-Pentachlorobiphenyl influences mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in granulosa cells

3,3′,4,4′,5-Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB126) is a persistent organic environmental pollutant which can affect various biological activities of organisms, such as immunity, neurological function, and reproduction. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PCB126 on granulosa cells (GCs). GCs were collected from ovaries in PMSG-treated mice, after 24 hours culture. GCs were then incubated with 10 pg/mL, 100 pg/mL, and 10 ng/mL of PCB126 for another 24 hours. Following these steps, exposed GCs were collected for further experimentation. Our data showed that the number of GCs in the 10 ng/mL PCB126 decreased. Meanwhile, pyknotic nuclei and condensed chromatin increased, while the apoptotic cells in the 10 ng/mL PCB126 group were significantly increased. Furthermore, the expression of the apoptotic executive protein caspase-3 increased after PCB126 treatment. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and Bim related to the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway were also influenced to different degrees. Thus, our data suggested that PCB126 affect the GCs apoptosis, and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was involved in this process.     

Design and synthesis of a new fluorescent probe for cascade detection of Zn2+ and H2PO4− in water and targeted imaging of living cells

Design and synthesis of new fluorescence probes with good water‐solubility is of great importance to better understanding the significant role of ions which are related to biology and the environment. As important ions, zinc ion (Zn²⁺) and dihydrogen phosphate ion (H₂PO₄^?) display essential roles in living systems, and quantitative detection of these ions in water is still a challenge. In order to consider the significant role of the galactose moiety in the design of a water‐soluble fluorescence sensor, herein, we have developed a novel probe, Gal‐AQTF, for the cascade detection of Zn²⁺ and H₂PO₄^? with excellent selectivity in water. Through the introduction of the galactose moiety onto the sensor AQTF, which has been reported earlier by us, the water‐solubility, cell compatibility and targeting ability were enhanced. Gal‐AQTF has been successfully applied in the imaging of the living cells of HepG2 and A549, and illustrated good selectivity for the HepG2 cells which overly express the asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor.     

Cytogeography and chromosomal variation of the endemic East Asian herb Lycoris radiata

Information on the spatial distribution of cytotypes and karyotype variation in plants is critical for studies of the origin and evolution of polyploid complexes. Here, the spatial distribution of cytological races and intraspecific variation in the karyotype of Lycoris radiata, an endemic species to East Asia, is investigated. Conventional karyotype analysis methods were used to determine ploidy level and karyotypical characteristics in 2,420 individuals from 114 populations of L. radiata nearly covering the whole distribution areas in China. Of 114 populations studied, 52 (45.61%), 58 (50.88%), and 4 (3.51%) are diploid, triploid, and mixoploid populations, respectively, with 1,224, 1,195, and 1 individuals being diploid, triploid, and tetraploid, respectively. The triploid possesses a much wider distribution range than the diploid, with the former almost occupying the entire range of this complex species in East Asia and the latter distributing in the middle and east regions of China. Triploids tend to occur at high altitudes, and the relationship between the ploidy and altitude is significantly positive but low (r² = 0.103, p < 0.01). About 98.6% of examined bulbs have a common karyotype consisting of 22 or 33 acrocentric (A) chromosomes. Some aberrant chromosomes which should be generated from A‐type chromosome have been found including metacentrics (m), small metacentrics (m′), and B‐type chromosome. The results can provide a fundamental cytogeographic data for further studies on the evolutionary origins and adaptive divergences of polyploids, especially the triploid, within L. radiata using molecular and/or ecological methods in the future.     

Axial resolution enhancement of light‐sheet microscopy by double scanning of Bessel beam and its complementary beam

The side lobes of Bessel beam will create significant out‐of‐focus background when scanned in light‐sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM), limiting the axial resolution of the imaging system. Here, we propose to overcome this issue by scanning the sample twice with zeroth‐order Bessel beam and another type of propagation‐invariant beam, complementary to the zeroth‐order Bessel beam, which greatly reduces the out‐of‐focus background created in the first scan. The axial resolution can be improved from 1.68 μm of the Bessel light‐sheet to 1.07 μm by subtraction of the two scanned images across a whole field‐of‐view of up to 300 μm × 200 μm × 200 μm. The optimization procedure to create the complementary beam is described in detail and it is experimentally generated with a spatial light modulator. The imaging performance is validated experimentally with fluorescent beads as well as eGFP‐labeled mouse brain neurons.      

Non-invasive estimation of root zone soil moisture from coarse root reflections in ground-penetrating radar images

Plant and Soil - Root zone soil moisture is an important component in water cycling through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. However, its measurement in the field remains a challenge,...     

Modification and evaluation of the Carba NP test by use of paper strip for simple and rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterobacteriaceae</Emphasis>

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates have now emerged worldwide. We therefore modified the phenotypic Carba NP test by use of a filter paper strip for easily and rapidly identifying CPE in routine laboratory. A collection of 56 CPE and carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas spp. isolates (including 28 NDM-1, 11 IMP-14a, 1 IMP-1, 1 IMP-4, 1 IMP-9, 1 IMP-15, 4 VIM-2, 1 VIM-1, 1 IMP-14a with VIM-2, 3 OXA-48, 3 OXA-181 and 1 KPC-2 producers) and 41 non-CPE isolates (including 19 ESBL, 7 pAmpC, 3 AmpC, 9 ESBL with pAmpC and 3 non-ESBL & non-AmpC producers) as confirmed by the PCR methods were tested by the paper strip method using pharmaceutical imipenem/cilastatin as a substrate. Bacterial colonies of each isolate were applied directly on filter paper strips dropped with either imipenem-phenol red (test strip) or phenol red solution alone (control strip). The reaction was read within 5 min. This test failed to detect 3 OXA-181, 2 OXA-48 and 3 IMP-14a producers (85.7 % sensitivity), whereas no false positives were seen (100 % specificity). Further evaluation of the paper strip test in 267 CPE screening-positive isolates from three hospitals by their medical technologists showed 92.0 % sensitivity (100 % for NDM producers) and 100 % specificity compared with the PCR methods. Because of its ease, rapidness and cost effective, the paper strip test has a potential for routine CPE testing in low-resource laboratories particularly in areas with high prevalence of NDM enzymes, leading to appropriate antimicrobial therapy and infection control strategy.     

Gene expression profiles in different stem internodes reveal the genetic regulation of primary and secondary stem development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula platyphylla</Emphasis>

Secondary growth of stems is an important process for the radial increase of trees. To gain an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying stem development from primary to secondary growth and to provide information for molecular research and breeding in Betula platyphylla (birch), the gene expression profiles of material from the first, third, and fifth internodes (IN) of 3-month-old seedlings were analyzed. Compared with the first IN, 177 genes were up-regulated and 157 genes down-regulated in the third IN; in the fifth IN, 180 genes were up-regulated and 275 genes were down-regulated. The expressions of 24 genes were up-regulated and 6 genes were down-regulated in the fifth IN relative to the third IN. The differentially expressed genes were annotated as having roles in cambium, xylem, and phloem development and formation; including cell wall expansion, cellulose biosynthesis, lignin biosynthesis and deposition, xylem extension, cell wall modification, and growth hormone responses. The expressions of genes related to cell wall expansion and cellulose biosynthesis in the primary cell wall were down-regulated in the third and fifth IN relative to the first IN. Genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, xylem extension, and cellulose synthesis in the secondary cell wall were up-regulated in the third and fifth IN relative to the first IN. These results described the patterns of gene expression during stem development in birch and provided candidate genes for further functional characterization.     

Four putative entomopathogenic fungi of armoured scale insects on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis> in Australia

This study led to the discovery of four putative entomopathogenic fungi of armoured scale insects on citrus trees in coastal New South Wales. Two of these species belong in Podonectria as P. coccicola (Ellis & Everh.) Petch (syn. Tetracrium coccicola (Höhn.) Ellis & Everh.) and P. novae-zelandiae Dingley. Members of this genus are grown in culture for the first time. Formerly placed in the Pleosporales, Tubeufiaceae, or more recently in the Tubeufiales, these species are herein placed in the new family Podonectriaceae fam. nov., Pleosporales. Another species is placed in the Hypocreales, Bionectriaceae as Clonostachys coccicola (J.A. Stev.) H.T. Dao comb. nov. (basionym Tubercularia coccicola J.A. Stev., syn. Nectria tuberculariae Petch). The fourth species is Myriangium citri Henn. (Myriangiales, Myriangiaceae). Each fungal species is characterized and the phylogenetic placement confirmed by molecular analyses of the ITS and 28 s rDNA regions. In addition, their biology is noted, including location of the fungi within tree canopies.