Ontogenetic shift in biomass allocation and functional traits of leaves and seeds in a resprouting aridland shrub.

Ontogeny-driven variation in plant functional traits is considered the core component of a plant's life-history strategy. However, how vegetative and reproductive traits covary to mediate growth and reproduction throughout the life history of resprouts is largely unknown. Here, the leaf and seed biomass allocation (SBA), nutrient contents and morphological and physiological traits of leaves and seeds were investigated during different life history stages of Caragana korshinskii Kom resprouts aged 1-13 years in a common garden.

Roots go through rapid hydraulic recovery following moderate water stress.

Background And Aims: Plant dehydration and rehydration cycles are universal phenomena in natural environments, especially in arid environments. Once a moderate water stress is relieved, the plant hydraulic system can recover, but the recovery process across roots, stems and leaves remains unknown. We examined the recovery dynamics of plant hydraulics and photosynthetic activity following moderate water stress in one herbaceous plant (Glycine max) and one woody shrub (Caragana korshinskii).

Stomatal and Hydraulic Redundancy Allows Woody Species to Adapt to Arid Environments.

Functional redundancy is considered a pivotal mechanism for maintaining the adaptability of species by preventing the loss of key functions in response to dehydration. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the redundancy of leaf hydraulic systems along aridity gradients. Here, photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g) and leaf hydraulic conductance (K) during dehydration were measured in 20 woody species from a range of aridity index (AI) conditions and growing in a common garden to quantify stomatal redundancy (SR), the extent of stomatal opening beyond the optimum required for maximum photosynthesis (A), leaf hydraulic redundancy (HR), and the extent of leaf hydraulic conductance (K) beyond the optimum required for maximum g (g).

Higher Flower Hydraulic Safety, Drought Tolerance and Structural Resource Allocation Provide Drought Adaptation to Low Mean Annual Precipitation in Caragana Species.

Determining the differences in flower hydraulic traits and structural resource allocation among closely related species adapted to low mean annual precipitation (MAP) can provide insight into plant adaptation to arid environments. Here, we measured the maximum flower hydraulic conductance (K), water potential at induction 50% loss of K (P), flower pressure-volume parameters, dry mass of individual flowers and structural components (vexillum, wings, keels, stamens and sepals) of six Caragana species growing in regions ranging from 110 to 1400 mm MAP. Compared with species from high-MAP environments, those from low-MAP environments presented lower K, more negative P, osmotic potential at full turgor (π) and turgor loss points (π), and a greater bulk modulus of elasticity (ε).

Palmitoyl transferases act as potential regulators of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and glioma progression.

High immune-cell infiltration in glioblastomas (GBMs) leads to immunotherapy resistance. Emerging evidence has shown that zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cyc-type (ZDHHC) palmitoyl transferases participate in regulating tumor progression and the immune microenvironment. In the present study, a large cohort of patients with gliomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Rembrandt databases was included to perform omics analysis of ZDHHCs in gliomas.

Ethylene, not ABA, is closely linked to the recovery of gas exchange after drought in four Caragana species.

Drought is a cyclical phenomenon in natural environments. During dehydration, stomatal closure is mainly regulated by abscisic acid (ABA) dynamics that limit transpiration in seed plants, but following rehydration, the mechanism of gas exchange recovery is still not clear. In this study, leaf water potential (ψ ), stomatal conductance (g ), leaf hydraulic conductance (K ), foliar ABA level, ethylene emission rate in response to dehydration and rehydration were investigated in four Caragana species with isohydric (Caragana spinosa and C.

[TALEN-mediated MYH9 Knock-down and its influence on cell cycle and apoptosis of MGC803 cell line].

Objective: To construct a MYH9 gene knockout model in MGC803 cell line using transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and observe its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis.

Methods: According to FastTALE(TM) TALEN Kit, we designed TALEN pairs and constructed the plasmids targeting to MYH9 gene. After detecting their activity in MGC803 cells by plasmid transfection, DNA sequencing, RT-PCR and western blot, we selected the monoclonal cells and studied the changes in the cell cycle and apoptosis.

Evaluation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned circulating tumor cells in patients with resectable gastric cancer: Relevance to therapy response.

Aim: To evaluate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in gastric cancer patients.

Methods: We detected tumor cells for expression of four epithelial (E(+)) transcripts (keratins 8, 18, and 19 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule) and two mesenchymal (M(+)) transcripts (Vimentin and Twist) by a quantifiable, dual-colorimetric RNA-in situ hybridization assay. Between July 2014 and October 2014, 44 patients with gastric cancer were recruited for CTC evaluation.

[Salvage surgical approach for patients with post-radiation local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate salvage surgical approaches and efficacy for post-radiation local recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Thirteen patients with post-radiation local recurrent NPC underwent salvage surgical treatment by routes as transpalatal approach, nasal medial swing approach, maxillary swing approach and infratemporal fossa approach. All cases were followed up for 2 to 5 years.