Securing maize reproductive success under drought stress by harnessing CO2 fertilization for greater productivity.

Securing maize grain yield is crucial to meet food and energy needs for the future growing population, especially under frequent drought events and elevated CO2 (eCO2) due to climate change. To maximize the kernel setting rate under drought stress is a key strategy in battling against the negative impacts. Firstly, we summarize the major limitations to leaf source and kernel sink in maize under drought stress, and identified that loss in grain yield is mainly attributed to reduced kernel set. Reproductive drought tolerance can be realized by collective contribution with a greater assimilate import into ear, more available sugars for ovary and silk use, and higher capacity to remobilize assimilate reserve. As such, utilization of CO2 fertilization by improved photosynthesis and greater reserve remobilization is a key strategy for coping with drought stress under climate change condition. We propose that optimizing planting methods and mining natural genetic variation still need to be done continuously, meanwhile, by virtue of advanced genetic engineering and plant phenomics tools, the breeding program of higher photosynthetic efficiency maize varieties adapted to eCO2 can be accelerated. Consequently, stabilizing maize production under drought stress can be achieved by securing reproductive success by harnessing CO2 fertilization.

Characterization of underutilized root starches from eight varieties of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) grown in China.

Ramie root is an underutilized starch source. In this study, eight ramie varieties were investigated for starch properties. Starch content ranged from 18.6% to 50.1% in dry root. Starches from different varieties showed similar morphology including ellipsoidal, spherical and truncated granules with size D[4,3] from 10.1 to 14.1 µm. Starch had amylose content from 20.8% to 28.5%. All ramie varieties had B-type starches with relative crystallinity from 24.8% to 27.1%, ordered degree from 0.724 to 0.897 and lamellar thickness from 9.1 to 9.6 nm. Starches had gelatinization peak temperature from 70.5 to 73.8 °C and enthalpy from 14.9 to 15.8 J/g. Starches had swelling power and water solubility from 27.9 to 31.9 g/g and from 11.7% to 15.5%, respectively, at 95 °C, and exhibited different pasting properties with breakdown viscosity from 36 to 377 mPa s and setback viscosities from 1295 to 1863 mPa s. Starch pastes exhibited pseudoplastic behavior and different rheological properties. Native, gelatinized and retrograded starches had resistant starch from 81.7% to 83.9%, from 1.7% to 5.1% and from 5.6% to 13.3%, respectively. The eight varieties were divided into 3 groups according to starch properties. This study is helpful for selecting suitable ramie variety as starch source.

The role of iron homeostasis in remodeling immune function and regulating inflammatory disease.

The essential trace element iron regulates a wide range of biological processes in virtually all living organisms. Because both iron deficiency and iron overload can lead to various pathological conditions, iron homeostasis is tightly regulated, and understanding this complex process will help pave the way to developing new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory disease. In recent years, significant progress has been made with respect to elucidating the roles of iron and iron-related genes in the development and maintenance of the immune system. Here, we review the timing and mechanisms by which systemic and cellular iron metabolism are regulated during the inflammatory response and during infectious disease, processes in which both the host and the pathogen compete for iron. We also discuss the evidence and implications that immune cells such as macrophages, T cells, and B cells require sufficient amounts of iron for their proliferation and for mediating their effector functions, in which iron serves as a co-factor in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling, mitochondrial respiration, posttranslational regulation, and epigenetic modification. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting ferroptosis, iron homeostasis and/or iron metabolism with respect to conferring protection against pathogen infection, controlling inflammation, and improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Sequence determination of a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan-like polysaccharide from melanin-free ink of the squid Ommastrephes bartrami by negative-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy.

A non-sulfated polysaccharide was isolated from the ink sac of squid Ommastrephes bartrami after removal of the melanin granules. The carbohydrate sequence of this polysaccharide was assigned by negative-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with collision-induced dissociation of the oligosaccharide fractions produced by partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide. The structural determination was completed by NMR for assignment of anomeric configuration and confirmation of linkage information and it was unambiguously identified as a glycosaminoglycan-like polysaccharide containing a glucuronic acid-fucose (GlcA-Fuc) disaccharide repeat in the main chain and a N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) branch at Fuc position 3: -[3GlcAbeta1-4(GalNAcalpha1-3)Fucalpha1](n)-. Partial hydrolysis of the polysaccharide to obtain several oligosaccharide fractions with different numbers of the repeating unit assisted the assignment. In the negative-ion tandem mass spectrometric analysis, the unique (0,2)A type fragmentation was important to establish the presence of a 4-linked fucose in the main polysaccharide chain and a GalNAc branch at the Fuc position-3 of the disaccharide repeat.

[Analysis of volatile compounds in bighead carp by microwave. Distillation and solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and olfactometry].

A technique for the analysis of flavour compounds from fish muscle employing microwave distillation (MD), solid phase microextraction ( SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and olfactometry is described, and 53 compounds responsible for the aroma of bighead carp were identified from NIST 02 MS data base. The extraction of microwave distillation was developed by optimizing the flow rate of carrier gas, heating time and power. Solid phase microextraction procedure was optimized by using different kinds of fiber for the qualitative determination of the volatile compounds observed in the headspace of microwave distillation, including extraction time, temperature, magnetic stirring speed and desorption time in GC-MS equipment. Furthermore, a simple data acquisition and processing system was developed by using human nose as a sensitive detector for the identification of flavour arid off-flavour key compounds in fish tissue. The result showed that the components associated with fish flavour were mostly 6 - 9 carbon aldehydes, ketones and alcohols. According to the olfactory analysis, these compounds were characterized by grassy, fishy, earthy or muddy odors separately, and their synergistic actions were forming the distinct fishy and earthy odors of bighead carp. The rapid method developed by this study may be applied to quantitative analysis of the volatileoff-flavour compounds in fresh-water fish.

Determination of biogenic amines in squid and white prawn by high-performance liquid chromatography with postcolumn derivatization.

A simple method was developed for the determination of biogenic amines in aquatic food products using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with postcolumn automatic o-phthalaldehyde derivatization and fluorescence detection. The linearity, repeatability, and recovery of the method for seven amines (tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, agmatine, spermidine, and spermine) were evaluated. This optimized method was applied to detect biogenic amines in squid and white prawn during refrigerated storage. Sensory analysis, pH value, and total volatile base nitrogen value were combined to evaluate the freshness quality of these two raw materials. Agmatine and cadaverine in squid, cadaverine, and putrescine in white prawn were the most obviously changed amines during the storage at two different temperatures, and these biogenic amines could be the effective quality indicators for the freshness of the raw aquatic materials.

[Radioactive seed implantation in treatment of oral and maxillofacial malignancy].

OBJECTIVE: To treat oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors with radioactive seed implantation and observe the therapeutic results and side effects. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with oral and maxillofacial malignancy were treated by radioactive seeds implanting (operation and seed implantation or seed implantation only). The treatment plans were designed before implanting by treatment plan system (TPS). All patients were followed up for 6 - 36 months with an average of 14 months and the results evaluated. RESULTS: In 3 patients treated only by seed implantation, the tumor size reduced obviously and the symptoms alleviated in 2 patients with advanced disease, and the tumor got complete remission in one patient with tongue cancer. In the other 33 patients who were implanted after operation, no recurrence was seen in the target area, but recurrence or lymph node metastasis was found outside the target area in 3 patients. There were no unusual complaint and external radiotherapeutic side effects except for skin hyperemia occurred in 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Radioactive seed implantation is very effective for preventing recurrence and metastasis of oral and maxillofacial malignancy.