Genetic dissection of the resistance to Rice stripe virus present in the indica rice cultivar 'IR24'

Rice stripe disease, caused by Rice stripe virus (RSV) and transmitted by the small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus Fallen), is one of the most serious viral diseases of rice in temperate East Asian production regions. Prior quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping has established that Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica 'IR24' carries positive alleles at the three loci qSTV3, qSTV7, and qSTV11-i. Here, we report an advanced backcross analysis based on three selected chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), each predicted to carry one of these three QTL. Three sets of BC(4)F(2:3) populations were bred from a cross between the critical CSSL and its recurrent parent Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica 'Asominori'. Both qSTV3 and qSTV11-i were detected in their respective population, but qSTV7 was not. An allelic analysis based on a known carrier of the major RSV resistance gene Stvb-i, which is located on chromosome 11, showed that qSTV11-i was not allelic with Stvb-i. A large mapping population was used to delimit the location of qSTV11-i to a 73.6-kb region. The de novo markers developed for this purpose will be useful as marker-assisted selection tools in efforts to introduce qSTV11-i into breeding programmes aiming to improve the level of RSV resistance.     

RNF151, a testis-specific RING finger protein, interacts with dysbindin

RING finger proteins play important roles in spermatogenesis. Here, we report that a novel RING finger protein RNF151, with a C3HC4-type RING finger domain, a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS), and a TRAF-type zinc finger domain, was exclusively expressed in the mouse testis and developmentally regulated during spermatogenesis. While RNF151 mRNA was present in round spermatids, its protein was expressed in elongating spermatids of the stage VIII-IX seminiferous tubules. The NLS together with the RING domain were necessary and sufficient for the nuclear localization of RNF151-EGFP in transfected cells. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified the physical interaction of mouse RNF151 and dysbindin, which was confirmed by the co-immunoprecipitation of the proteins and by their co-localization in intact cells. As dysbindin has lately been shown to be involved in membrane biogenesis and fusion, a key process for acrosome formation, we propose that RNF151 may play a role in acrosome formation.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a DHA and 10-hydroxycamptothecin conjugate

We have synthesized a conjugate of cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexenoic acid (DHA) and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), DHA-HCPT. The antitumor activity of DHA-HCPT was evaluated in vitro against L1210 leukemia cells and in experimental animal tumor models including L1210 leukemia, Lewis lung carcinoma, and colon 38 adenocarcinoma. DHA-HCPT showed a greatly improved antitumor efficacy compared to HCPT.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus Fallén) resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

F(2) and BC(1) populations derived from the cross between 02428 / Rathu Heenati were used to investigate small brown planthopper (SBPH) resistance. Using the F(2) population, three QTLs for antixenosis against SBPH were located on chromosomes 2, 5 and 6, and accounted for 30.75% of the phenotypic variance; three QTLs for antibiosis against SBPH were detected on chromosomes 8, 9 and 12. qSBPH5-c explaining 7.21% of phenotypic variance for antibiosis was identified on chromosome 5 using the BC(1) population. A major QTL, qSBPH12-a1, explained about 40% of the phenotypic variance, and a minor QTL, qSBPH4-a, was detected by the SSST method in both the F(2) and BC(1) populations. The QTLs indentified in the present study will be useful for marker assisted selection of SBPH resistance in rice.     

Porous Electrode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries – How to Prepare Them and What Makes Them Special

Numerous benefits of porous electrode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have been demonstrated, including examples of higher rate capabilities, better cycle lives, and sometimes greater gravimetric capacities at a given rate compared to nonporous bulk materials. These properties promise advantages of porous electrode materials for LIBs in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, portable electronic devices, and stationary electrical energy storage. This review highlights methods of synthesizing porous electrode materials by templating and template‐free methods and discusses how the structural features of porous electrodes influence their electrochemical properties. A section on electrochemical properties of porous electrodes provides examples that illustrate the influence of pore and wall architecture and interconnectivity, surface area, particle morphology, and nanocomposite formation on the utilization of the electrode materials, specific capacities, rate capabilities, and structural stability during lithiation and delithiation processes. Recent applications of porous solids as components for three‐dimensionally interpenetrating battery architectures are also described.     

Seasonal patterns of root and shoot interactions in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Aims Numerous studies have showed that the balance between negative and positive plant–plant interactions shifted along environmental gradients. But little is known how the positive or negative plant–plant interactions varied with temporal fluctuating habitat conditions and plant ontogenetic phases.Methods In a 2-year experiment, the four perennial grasses (Kobresia humilis, Stipa aliena, Elymus nutans and Saussurea superba) were grown under four interaction treatments (no root or shoot interaction, only shoot interaction, only root interaction, root and shoot interaction). Intensity of above- and belowground interactions is proposed to vary with the fluctuation of seasonal climatic conditions and soil available nutrients. Here we report measurements of above- and belowground interactions during entire growing season. Correlation between plant interaction intensity and seasonal soil available N as well as habitat climate conditions was also performed.Important findings Our experiment found that root interactions had negative effect on plant growth for the four species during growing season. However, both negative and positive shoot interactions occurred among the four species. Despite there being shoot facilitative effect for E. nutans and S. superba, the full interaction was negative, suggested that root interaction take more important role on plant growth than that of shoot interaction. The interaction between root and shoot effect varied as a function of species identity and growth phases. The weak correlation of plant interaction intensity to habitat environmental factors suggested that plant ontogenetic characteristics may be primary factors causing temporal variation in plant interaction.     

A technique for retrograde intubation in mice

Endrotracheal intubation is critical for some experimental studies in mice, but the animals' small size makes the procedure difficult. The authors describe a new, easily learned retrograde intubation method using angioplasty guide wire. They twice intubated anesthetized mice successfully with no airway complications caused by puncture of the trachea.     

陆地生态系统碳源与碳汇及其影响机制研究进展

全球碳循环研究中发现,目前已知碳源与碳汇不能达到平衡。存在一个很大的碳失汇。大气、海洋和陆地生态系统是人工源CO2的3个可能的容纳汇,其中陆地生态系统最复杂、最具不确定性,因此陆地生态系统碳源与碳汇研究是全球碳循环研究的核心问题之一。大气成分监测、CO2通量测定、森林资源清查以及模型模拟等方面的研究都表明,CO2施肥效应、氮沉降增加、污染、全球气候变化以及土地利用变化,是影响陆地生态系统碳储量的主要生态机制,但不确定在过去的10～100年以及未来哪一种机制起最主要的作用。