Related Physiological Indexes Research Articles

Integrative leaf anatomy structure, physiology, and metabolome analyses revealed the response to drought stress in sainfoin at the seedling stage.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia) is a vital legume forage, and drought is the primary element impeding sainfoin growth. The anatomical structure, physiological indexes, and metabolites of the leaves of sainfoin seedlings with a drought-resistant line of P1 (DRL) and a drought-sensitive material of 2049 (DSM) were analyzed under drought (-1.0 MPa) with polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000). The leaf anatomy was studied by the paraffin section method. The related physiological indexes were measured by the hydroxylamine oxidation method, titanium sulfate colorimetric method, thiobarbituric acid method, acidic ninhydrin colorimetric method, and Coomassie brilliant blue method. The metabolomics analysis was composed of liquid chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results revealed that the thickness of the epidermis, palisade tissue, and sponge tissue of DRL were significantly greater than those of DSM. The leaves of DRL exhibited lower levels of superoxide anion (O2 •-) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with DSM, while proline (Pro) content and soluble protein (SP) content were significantly higher than those of DSM. A total of 391 differential metabolites were identified in two samples. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment showed that the primary differential metabolites were concentrated into the tyrosine metabolism; isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis; ubiquinone and other terpenoid quinone biosynthesis; neomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin biosynthesis; and anthocyanin biosynthesis metabolic pathways. Compared with DSM, DRL had more complete anatomical structure, lower active oxygen content, and higher antioxidant level. The results improved our insights into the drought-resistant mechanisms in sainfoin.

Effects of ethephon on heartwood formation and related physiological indices of Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen

IntroductionDalbergia odorifera T. Chen, known as fragrant rosewood, is a rare and endangered tree species. Studies have shown that plant growth regulators can effectively promote heartwood formation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethephon (ETH) on heartwood formation and the influence of ethephon and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the physiological characteristics in D. odorifera.MethodsD. odorifera branches underwent treatment with 2.5% plant growth regulators, including ETH, jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), H2O2, and inhibitors such as ascorbic acid (AsA) to inhibit H2O2 synthesis, and (S) -trans 2-amino-4 - (2-aminoethoxy) -3-butene (AVG) to inhibit ethylene synthesis. After a 14-day period, we conducted an analysis to evaluate the impact of these plant growth regulators on elongation distance, vessel occlusion percentage, and trans-nerol content. Additionally, the effects of ETH and H2O2 on endogenous plant hormones, H2O2 content, soluble protein content, and enzyme activity were investigated within 0-48 h of treatment.ResultsAfter treatment with ETH for 14 days, the extension distance of the heartwood material was 15 cm, while the trans-nerolol content was 15 times that of the ABA group. ETH and H2O2 promoted endogenous ethylene synthesis; Ethylene content peaked at 6 and 18 h. The peak ethylene content in the ETH group was 68.07%, 12.89%, and 20.87% higher than the initial value of the H2O2 group and ddH2O group, respectively, and 29.64% higher than that in the AVG group. The soluble protein content and activity of related enzymes were significantly increased following ETH treatment.DiscussionETH exhibited the most impact on heartwood formation while not hindering tree growth. This treatment effectively triggered the production of endogenous ethylene in plants and enhanced the activity of essential enzymes involved in heartwood formation. These findings serve as a valuable reference for future investigations into heartwood formation.

Integrated analysis of transcriptome, metabolome and physiology revealed the molecular mechanisms for elevated pH-mediated-mitigation of aluminum-toxicity in Citrus sinensis leaves

The contribution of aluminum (Al)-pH-interaction-responsive metabolites and genes to Al-tolerance in Citrus leaves is still poorly understood. Seedlings of ‘Xuegan’ (Citrus sinensis) were supplied with nutrient solution at a pH of 4.0 or 3.0 and an Al concentration of 1 or 0 mM for 18 weeks. Thereafter, we investigated the impacts of Al-pH interactions on plant growth; Al concentrations in leaves and roots; and metabolome, transcriptome, and related physiological indices in leaves. Elevated pH ameliorated Al-toxicity-induced reduction of seedling (leaf) growth. Here, we screened 867 upregulated and 1041 downregulated genes, and 43 [eight primary metabolites (PMs) + 35 secondary metabolites (SMs)] and 28 downregulated (23 PMs + five SMs) in pH 3.0 + 1 mM Al-treated leaves (P3AL) vs. pH 3.0 + 0 mM Al-treated leaves (P3L); and 410 upregulated and 149 downregulated genes, and 75 upregulated (20 PMs + 55 SMs) and 32 downregulated (25 PMs + seven SMs) metabolites in pH 4.0 + 1 mM Al-treated leaves (P4AL) vs. pH 4.0 + 0 mM Al-treated leaves (P4L), implying that elevated pH ameliorated Al-toxic impacts on gene expression, but it enhanced the adaptability of metabolites to Al-stress. Further analysis suggested that raised pH-mediated-amelioration of leaf Al-stress involved the several aspects, including: (a) decreased accumulation of callose and low methylesterified pectin, increased accumulation of high methylesterified pectin, and enhanced cell wall stability; (b) less alterations of lipid metabolism and downregulation of PMs; (c) increased biosynthesis and accumulation of SMs; and (d) enhanced ability to maintain energy, phosphate and cell redox homeostasis, and less oxidative injury due to higher ability to maintain the balance between reactive oxygen species and aldehyde generation and detoxification. Some metabolic pathways such as glycolysis / gluconeogenesis and phenylpropanoid pathway; metabolites such as callose and phenolic compounds; and genes such as xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases, purple acid phosphatases, phytochelatin synthase 3, and cysteine synthase, might involve in raised pH-induced amelioration of leaf Al-stress. Also, some similarities and differences existed between leaves and roots in Al-pH-interaction-responsive metabolites and genes.

Effects of 10 Dwarfing Interstocks on Cold Resistance of ‘Tianhong 2’ Apple

The lack of dwarf stock with good cold resistance has affected the production of apples in northern China. Annual dormant branches of ‘Tianhong 2’ apple were grafted on 10 different dwarf interstocks (the rootstocks were the seedlings of Malus hupehensis var. Pingyiensis) as test materials. Among these 10 interstocks, Huang 6, 244, NO.1, 53, 24-5, ZC9-3, Jizhen 1 were newly developed by us (Apple Research Group of Hebei Agricultural University), and three interstocks with different degrees of cold resistance (GM256–with strongest cold resistance, SH40–with stronger cold resistance, M9–with poor cold resistance) were used as controls. The semi-lethal temperature (LT50) and related physiological indexes of the branches in the overwintering process were studied. Based on the comprehensive physiological indexes, the effects of 10 interstocks on cold resistance of the ‘Tianhong 2’ apple were analyzed. The results showed that the effects of 10 kinds of interstocks on the cold resistance of ‘Tianhong 2’ apple were quite different. The order of effects on cold resistance from strong to weak was as follow: GM256 > Huang 6 > 244 >NO.1> 53 > 24-5 > ZC9-3 >Jizhen 1 > SH40 > M9. The purpose of this study was to screen out the interstocks with strong cold resistance, in order to provide some basis for the selection and utilization of interstocks with strong cold resistance in apple cultivation to further promote the development of the apple industry in China.

Physiological Characteristics of Root Regeneration in Rice Seedlings

The rapid development of new roots in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) is crucial for shortening the returning green time of seedlings and accelerating tillering. Root regeneration plays an important role in enabling seedlings to resume normal growth and produce effective spikes after root injury. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in new root production and the growth of seedlings of different varieties after root cutting in addition to the key physiological factors. We utilized hydroponics to set up four different time treatments to observe the occurrence of root systems in various rice seedling varieties after root cutting; we also measured related physiological indexes to further analyze the results. This study found that changes in aboveground nutrient, energy, and hormone levels in seedlings are critical for the growth of new roots after cutting. A morphological analysis showed that the root germination force of Zhongzao 39 (ZZ39) was stronger than Jiazao 311 (JZ311) before shearing and weaker after shearing. Physiological and biochemical analyses revealed that both ZZ39 and JZ311 experienced a decrease in their aboveground nitrogen and phosphorus content after root cutting. Soluble sugar content and starch content were found to decrease to their lowest levels after two days of root shearing. Furthermore, both varieties showed a significant increase in aboveground indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content after two days of root shearing, and the IAA content in new roots was also higher. The results indicate that higher levels of hormones in seedlings with cut roots can enhance the transportation of nutrients and carbohydrates from the stems and leaves to the roots, leading to improved growth and the production of new roots. Additionally, the accumulation of IAA in damaged roots can also positively impact this process. This study found significant differences in the regeneration of rice seedling roots after cutting depending on the variety. We identified key physiological characteristics that affect new root generation, which provides a scientific basis for identifying strong root regeneration varieties and developing cultivation measures to promote new root growth in rice.

STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ANXIETY DISORDER -- BASED ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF INDIVIDUAL REHABILITATION

STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF ANXIETY DISORDER -- BASED ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF INDIVIDUAL REHABILITATION

Physiological adaptability of three gramineae plants under various vegetation restoration models in mining area of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Large-scale coal mining activities on the QTP have affected the natural grassland ecosystem which will take decades to recover. Therefore, looking for an effective vegetation restoration method is the most effective way to restore the ecosystem. In this study, we explored the effects of three vegetation restoration modes (coal mine spoils planting (CK), organic fertilizer planting (OF), and cover soil planting (CS)) on the five cold-resistance related physiological indices of three native Gramineae plants (Elymus nutans, Poa crymophila and Festuca sinensis) growing in three different habitats (shady slope, sunny slope, and flat slope). The higher contents of soluble sugar (SS) in the Elymus nutans (213.46 mg/g) and Festuca sinensis (202.84 mg/g) were recorded under the CS treatment in the sunny slope habitat. The FP contents of Elymus nutans (421.31 μg/g), Poa crymophila (310.06 μg/g), and Festuca sinens (288.45 μg/g) were higher under the CK treatment in the flat ground habitat. The higher (P < 0.05) content of chlorophyll (Chl) was recorded in the Elymus nutans (2.13 mg/g) under the CS treatment in the sunny slope habitat compared to the other two plants. We observed lower MDA contents in the Elymus nutans (3.19 nmol/g) and Festuca sinensis (3.56 nmol/g) under the CK treatment growing in the shady slope habitat. In the shady slope habitat, the H2O2 contents of Elymus nutans (15.86 μmol/g), Poa crymophila (6.78 μmol/g), and Festuca sinensis (8.76 μmol/g) under the CS treatment were significantly lower compared to other treatments. Based on membership function method, the low-temperature adaptability order of the three restoration plants from strong to weak was Elymus nutans > Festuca sinensis > Poa crymophila. While the effectiveness order of the three vegetation restoration models in alpine mining areas from good to bad was CS > OF > CK. This study will provide a theoretical and guiding significance to evaluate the effectiveness of different restoration methods, formulate optimal restoration strategies and guide the sustainable restoration of the damaged ecosystems of the alpine mining areas.

Identification and characterization of CsSRP43, a major gene controlling leaf yellowing in cucumber.

Mutants are crucial to extending our understanding of genes and their functions in higher plants. In this study a spontaneous cucumber mutant, yf, showed yellow color leaves, had significant decreases in related physiological indexes of photosynthesis characteristics, and had more abnormal chloroplasts and thylakoids. Inheritance analysis indicated that the yellow color of the leaf was controlled by a recessive nuclear locus, yf. A candidate gene, CsSRP43, encoding a chloroplast signal recognition particle 43 protein, was identified through map-based cloning and whole-genome sequence analysis. Alignment of the CsSRP43 gene homologs between both parental lines revealed a 7-kb deletion mutation including the promoter region and the coding sequence in the yf mutant. In order to determine if the CsSRP43 gene was involved in the formation of leaf color, the CRISPR/Cas9-mediate system was used to modify CsSRP43 in the 9930 background; two independent transgenic lines, srp43-1 and srp43-2, were generated, and they showed yellow leaves with abnormal chloroplasts and thylakoids. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes associated with the photosynthesis-related pathway were highly enriched between srp43-1 and wild type, most of which were significantly downregulated in line srp43-1. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and biomolecular fluorescence complementation assays were used to confirm that CsSRP43 directly interacted with LHCP and cpSRP54 proteins. A model was established to explain the molecular mechanisms by which CsSRP43 participates in the leaf color and photosynthesis pathway, and it provides a valuable basis for understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms of leaf color in cucumber.

The soybean TGA transcription factor GmTGA13 plays important roles in the response to salinity stress.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important oil, food and economic crop in the world. High salinity severely affects the growth and yield of soybean. Overexpressing a specific anti-retroviral transcription factor by biotechnology is an effective way to cultivate new stress-tolerant varieties of soybean. TGA transcription factor is a subfamily of bZIP and plays an important role in abiotic stress responses. A TGA subfamily gene GmTGA13 was cloned and the gene expression, subcellular localization and transcriptional activity were measured. Through the Ag. tumefaciens mediated flower dip method and the Ag. rhizogenes mediated transformation of soybean hairy roots, the transgenic Arabidopsis and the 'combination' soybean plants of overexpressing GmTGA13 were obtained. The two types of transgenic plants were treated with salt stress respectively, and the related physiological indexes were determined. Furthermore, the expression levels of five abiotic stress responsive genes were analyzed in GmTGA13 overexpression hairy roots. GmTGA13 gene was highly expressed in roots and significantly induced by saline stress in soybean. GmTGA13 encoded a nuclear localization protein and had transcriptional activation activity. Overexpression of GmTGA13 enhanced the saline stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis and the 'combination' soybean plants. Furthermore, overexpression of GmTGA13 enhanced the expression of the stress responsive genes in transgenic soybean hairy roots. In conclusion, overexpression of GmTGA13 is beneficial to the absorption of K+ and Ca2+ by the cell, thereby regulating the ion homeostasis in the cell balance. GmTGA13 enhanced salt resistance of plants by regulating the expression of many stress-responsive genes.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals candidate genes for male sterility in Prunus sibirica.

BackgroundThe phenomenon of male sterility widely occurs in Prunus sibirica and has a serious negative impact on yield. We identified the key stage and cause of male sterility and found differentially expressed genes related to male sterility in Prunus sibirica, and we analyzed the expression pattern of these genes. This work aimed to provide valuable reference and theoretical basis for the study of reproductive development and the mechanisms of male sterility in Prunus sibirica.MethodThe microstructures of male sterile flower buds and male fertile flower buds were observed by paraffin section. Transcriptome sequencing was used to screen genes related to male sterility in Prunus sibirica. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed to verify the transcriptome data.ResultsAnther development was divided into the sporogenous cell stage, tetrad stage, microspore stage, and pollen maturity stage. Compared with male fertile flower buds, in the microspore stage, the pollen sac wall tissue in the male sterile flower buds showed no signs of degeneration. In the pollen maturity stage, the tapetum and middle layer were not fully degraded, and anther development stopped. Therefore, the microspore stage was the key stage for anther abortion , and the pollen maturity stage was the post stage for anther abortion. A total of 4,108 differentially expressed genes were identified by transcriptome analysis. Among them, 1,899 were up-regulated, and 2,209 were down-regulated in the transcriptome of male sterile flower buds. We found that “protein kinase activity”, “apoptosis process”, “calcium binding”, “cell death”, “cytochrome c oxidase activity”, “aspartate peptidase activity”, “cysteine peptidase activity” and other biological pathways such as “starch and sucrose metabolism” and “proteasome” were closely related to male sterility in Prunus sibirica. A total of 331 key genes were preliminarily screened.ConclusionThe occurrence of male sterility in Prunus sibirica involved many biological processes and metabolic pathways. According to the results of microstructure observations, related physiological indexes determination and transcriptome analysis, we reveal that the occurrence of male sterility in Prunus sibirica may be caused by abnormal metabolic processes such as the release of cytochrome c in the male sterile flower buds, the imbalance of the antioxidant system being destroyed, and the inability of macromolecular substances such as starch to be converted into soluble small molecules at the correct stage of reproductive development, resulting in energy loss. As a result, the tapetum cannot be fully degraded, thereby blocking anther development, which eventually led to the formation of male sterility.

The genome of Medicago polymorpha provides insights into its edibility and nutritional value as a vegetable and forage legume

Medicago polymorpha is a nutritious and palatable forage and vegetable plant that also fixes nitrogen. Here, we reveal the chromosome-scale genome sequence of M. polymorpha using an integrated approach including Illumina, PacBio and Hi-C technologies. We combined PacBio full-length RNA-seq, metabolomic analysis, structural anatomy analysis and related physiological indexes to elucidate the important agronomic traits of M. polymorpha for forage and vegetable usage. The assembled M. polymorpha genome consisted of 457.53 Mb with a long scaffold N50 of 57.72 Mb, and 92.92% (441.83 Mb) of the assembly was assigned to seven pseudochromosomes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that expansion and contraction of the photosynthesis and lignin biosynthetic gene families, respectively, led to enhancement of nutritious compounds and reduced lignin biosynthesis in M. polymorpha. In addition, we found that several positively selected nitrogen metabolism-related genes were responsible for crude protein biosynthesis. Notably, the metabolomic results revealed that a large number of flavonoids, vitamins, alkaloids, and terpenoids were enriched in M. polymorpha. These results imply that the decreased lignin content but relatively high nutrient content of M. polymorpha enhance its edibility and nutritional value as a forage and vegetable. Our genomic data provide a genetic basis that will accelerate functional genomic and breeding research on M. polymorpha as well as other Medicago and legume plants.

Effects of salinity on sprouting and growth of three submerged macrophytes

AbstractMany freshwater ecosystems are facing salinity stress, but limited information is available about its effects on submerged macrophytes. Here, we assessed the effects of salinity on sprouting and growth of three submerged macrophytes—Potamogeton crispus, Hydrilla verticillata and Myriophyllum spicatum. We conducted experiments in the lab and the outdoor platform to test for the sprouting and growth responses of selected macrophytes to a gradient of salinity (0.32–10,000 mg Cl− L−1). Sprouting rate, biomass and other related physiological indices were measured in all treatments. We found that lower salinity (100 mg Cl− L−1) increased the turion sprouting rate, and higher salinity (greater than or equal to 5,000 mg Cl− L−1) significantly inhibited the sprouting of P. crispus turions. M. spicatum appeared to have higher tolerance of salinity than H. verticillata. The optimum salinity for the growth of H. verticillata and M. spicatum was 500–1,000 mg Cl−L−1 and 100–500 mg Cl− L−1, respectively. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) differed in salinity levels between submerged macrophytes, and higher SOD activity was observed in M. spicatum. This study helped clarify how physiological response mechanisms affecting sprouting and growth of submerged macrophytes are inhibited under high salinity and suggested that SOD plays an important role in the resistance to oxidative stress induced by salinity.

Rice Yield and Physiological Characteristics Under Different Panicle Nitrogen Application Timings in Northeast China

Optional nitrogen (N) application management plays an important role in high yield of rice. The results of this study indicated that the grain yield and related physiological indexes were significantly affected by panicle N application timings for conventional japonica rice and hybrid japonica rice. Increasing the number of panicles is an effective method for improving rice yield in Northeast, China. In addition, delaying the timing of spikelet-protecting fertilizer application appropriately might be of great benefit for improving the yield potential of rice.

A conceptual wearable monitoring system for physiological indices and clothing microclimate measurement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate physiological indices related to comfort and health condition, based on which corresponding electronic equipment are selected and applied. A wearable monitoring system using sensor and liquid crystal display (LCD) techniques are then designed. Sensors are used to collect and transmit recording required signals from the wearer. A microcomputer with the type of AT89C52 is used to record and analyze the collected data. LCD is applied to display the health and comfort condition of the wearer. Design/methodology/approach A novel wearable monitoring system for the measurement of physiological indices and clothing microclimate is proposed in this study in order to monitoring both health and comfort condition of the wearer. Findings The proposed system provides reference for the application of sensor and display technologies in the field of smart clothing, which can be further applied to infant and child care, health care, home entertainment, military and industry. Originality/value This paper, first, investigated a framework of a wearable monitoring system considering both comfort and health condition and summarized the related physiological indices. The requirements of both comfort and health condition monitoring are analyzed to select appropriate electronic elements.

The variation of berry development and DNA methylation after treatment with 5-azaC on ‘Kyoho’ grape

DNA methylation has been proved to function in fruit ripening. The different concentrations of azacitidine (5-azaC), an inhibitor of methyltransferase, were sprayed on ‘Kyoho’ grape berries to explore the changes of DNA methylation, the effect of 5-azaC on berry ripening, and the relationship between DNA methylation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism during the grape berry development. The results showed that the treatment of 100 μM 5-azaC could promote the berry ripening of ‘Kyoho’ 20 days earlier than the control. The assessment of methylation by methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) markers after the treatment of 100 μM 5-azaC, demonstrated that the methylation rate of the treatment was all lower than the control at any berry development periods. 5-azaC treatments influenced the ROS metabolic activities and related physiological indexes of berries. The sucrose and soluble solid content of 5-azaC-treated berries were significantly higher than control at 75 dpa. The change trend of H2O2 content of the control was similar with the 100 μM 5-azaC treatment. All treatments enhanced rates of superoxide anion (O2−) production. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in treated berries were higher than the control and had significant difference with the control at 35 dpa. The results demonstrated that 5-azaC could accelerate grape berries ripening, and there was a connection between ROS metabolism and DNA methylation during the grape berry development.

Prolonged Saturation Exposure Alters Human Gut Microbiota: A Case Report

PURPOSEProlonged saturation exposure induces digestive disorders, affecting health related life quality of divers. The diversity of the gut microbiota has been associated with various health parameters. Therefore, we hypothesized that prolonged saturation diving would result intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in human. In this case report, the feces of elite divers were collected after a saturation diving mission to examine the gut microbiome.METHODTwo elite male divers were recruited for this study. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Naval Medical Research Institute. Exclusion criteria included having antibiotic treatment within previous month, drinking alcoholic within one week, or suffering from any gastrointestinal or immunological disease. During the entire experiment, divers were provided the same diet and living condition. Divers were compressed to depth of 300 m with helium‐oxygen, and held for 24 hours to saturation. During the saturation stay, they made an excursion diving to 330 m undersea, then surfaced after a 15‐day decompression. Their feces were collected within 24 hours before compression (0–1, 0–2), immediately (1–1, 1–2) and a one‐month recovery after decompression (2–1, 2–2). The fecal microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Principal coordinates analysis was applied to detect the differences of gut microbiota compositions of all samples. The similarity of all gut microbiota compositions were analyzed, and presented in the Heatmap.RESULTSPre‐mission (one week before mission) physical examination was applied. Diver 1: age 26, 56 kg, BMI 20.5; Diver 2: age 30, 74 kg, BMI 23.9. The gut microbiota composition and diversity baseline of two divers were no different. Shown in Venn diagram of diver 1, 49 genera were shared by samples of all three periods, while 6 in 0‐1, 13 in 1‐1 and 18 in 2‐1 were unique. And in diver 2, 49 genera were found in samples of all periods, while 7 in 0‐2, 9 in 1‐2 and 12 in 2‐2 were not overlapped. The relative abundances of gut flora in each sample were presented in phylum and genus levels. The major alteration of gut microbiota occurred in phylum of Firmicutes. The relative abundances of Terrisporobacter genus, in which some species were related to infections, turned from 0.047±0.032% before compression, to 4.293±3.381% after decompression, then drop to 0.077±0.052. On the contrary, the genus of Ruminococcaceae, which have several beneficial bacteria, took 0.496±0.087% of microflora before compression, decreased to 0.015±0.009%, and increased to 0.747±0.005% after recovery. Significant changes of some nutrients and energy metabolism related microbes were found in both saturation exposure and recovery. Despite the variation of the microbiota relative abundances, 0‐2 and 1‐2, as well as 2‐1 and 2‐2, showed notable similarity. Meanwhile, after living together for nearly two months, the mircrobiota compositions tended to be similar.CONCLUSIONIn our study, saturation exposure or recovery remarkably influenced divers' gut flora. As the change pattern of some pathogens, divers may be vulnerable to infectious diseases or digestive disorders during saturation exposure. Compositions of nutrients and energy metabolism related microbes were changed notably, but presented large interpersonal variations. Analysis of related physiological indices and further studies are needed in order to illustrate the effects of saturation exposure on divers' microbiota and health.Support or Funding InformationFound: PLA Youth Training Project for Medical Science (16QNP022), Major Logistics Projects of PLA ( AHJ11J004, AWS16J033), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31471135, 31701040), Shanghai Sailing Program (17YF1418000) and Chenguang Program (16CG57).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Nano-silver modifies the vase life of cut herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) flowers.

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a popular high-grade cut flower because of higher ornamental value. However, its short flowering time severely restricts the production and application of cut P. lactiflora flowers. In this study, nano-silver (NS) was applied to prolong the vase life of cut P. lactiflora flowers. Under the NS treatment, related physiological indices including relative electrical conductivity (REC), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion free radical (O2·-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and free proline contents, and protective enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX) all increased in cut P. lactiflora flowers except soluble protein. Meanwhile, NS treatment increased relative water uptake (RWU) and Ag+ distribution. Moreover, the observation of microstructures indicated that the stem-ends without NS treatment were blocked by microbes which were identified as Alternaria sp. and Phoma sp., and NS effectively inhibited their growth by antibacterial efficacy observation. Additionally, three aquaporin genes (AQPs) including two plasma membrane intrinsic protein genes (PlPIP1;2, PlPIP2;1) and one NOD26-like intrinsic protein gene (PlNIP) were isolated, PlPIP1;2, and PlPIP2;1 that were induced by NS treatment took common effects on maintaining the water balance of cut P. lactiflora flowers. Consequently, the vase life of cut P. lactiflora flowers was prolonged and flower fresh weight together with flower diameter was well kept because of these above factors. These results would provide a theoretical basis for prolonging the vase life and improving the ornamental quality of cut P. lactiflora flowers with NS application.

A study on JA- and BTH-induced resistance of Rosa rugosa ‘Plena’ to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa)

Different concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA) and benzothiadiazole (BTH) were sprayed on 2-year-old Rosa rugosa‘Plena’ seedlings. The induced resistance of JA and BTH to Sphaerotheca pannosa (Wallr.) and the changes of their related physiological indices were investigated. Results showed that JA and BTH treatments had inhibitory impacts on S. pannosa infection. The optimal concentration of JA and BTH was 0.5 mmol/L for the disease-resistance induction of the leaves, its inductive effect was up to 66.36% for BTH and 54.49% for JA. Our results confirmed that exogenous JA and BTH significantly improved R. rugose ‘Plena’ resistance to S. pannosa. When treated with JA and BTH, activities of the three defense enzymes (POD, PPO, and PAL) increased significantly. Contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin also increased significantly. It is inferred from these results that exogenous JA and BTH could improve the resistance of R. rugose ‘Plena’ to S. pannosa through enhancing activities of the defensive enzymes and accumulation of secondary metabolites in the leaves.

Clinical research on the application of family-based symptoms self-management program in myocardial infarction patients

Objective To explore the effects of family-based symptoms self-management program on quality of life, psychology, physiologic function and other rehabilitation indexes in myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Methods A total of 146 myocardial infarction patients from Nanjing Gaochun People′s Hospital, the Branch of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were selected by convenience sampling from January 2013 to January 2016. They were divided into control group (n=72, routine health education provided by cardiovascular specialist nurse, three times a week, 12 weeks) and experimental group (n=74, family-based symptoms self-management program, 12 weeks) with the random number table. And then, the quality of life, psychology, physiologic function and other rehabilitation indexes were compared between two groups. Results The scores of four dimensions on physical activity, diet, concerns over medication and medical side effects of the myocardial infarction dimensional assessment scale (MIDAS) in experimental group were lower than those in control group with significant differences (t=53.31, 60.90, 71.89, 24.69; P<0.05) . The scores of two dimensions on anxiety and depression of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group (t=36.76, 30.05; P<0.05) . The total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure, body mass index and preprandial blood glucose in experimental group were lower than those in control group with significant differences (t=31.86, 29.34, 36.28, 35.34, 33.55, 31.86; P<0.05) . Compared with control group, the family-based symptoms self-management program could effectively reduce the readmission rate of myocardial infarction patients, the incidence of complications, quit smoking rate and increase the exercise time weekly with significant differences (χ2/t=5.13, 4.00, 4.78, 38.90; P<0.05) . Conclusions The family-based symptoms self-management program for 12 weeks can improve the quality of life of MI patients, relieve anxiety and depression and debase the levels of MI related physiological indexes and other rehabilitation indexes. Key words: Quality of life; Psychology; Physiology; Myocardial infarction; Family; Self-management program

TaNAC29, a NAC transcription factor from wheat, enhances salt and drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.

BackgroundNAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors play important roles in plant biological processes, including phytohormone homeostasis, plant development, and in responses to various environmental stresses.MethodsTaNAC29 was introduced into Arabidopsis using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated floral dipping method. TaNAC29-overexpression plants were subjected to salt and drought stresses for examining gene functions. To investigate tolerant mechanisms involved in the salt and drought responses, expression of related marker genes analyses were conducted, and related physiological indices were also measured. Expressions of genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).ResultsA novel NAC transcription factor gene, designated TaNAC29, was isolated from bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Sequence alignment suggested that TaNAC29 might be located on chromosome 2BS. TaNAC29 was localized to the nucleus in wheat protoplasts, and proved to have transcriptional activation activities in yeast. TaNAC29 was expressed at a higher level in the leaves, and expression levels were much higher in senescent leaves, indicating that TaNAC29 might be involved in the senescence process. TaNAC29 transcripts were increased following treatments with salt, PEG6000, H2O2, and abscisic acid (ABA). To examine TaNAC29 function, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing TaNAC29 were generated. Germination and root length assays of transgenic plants demonstrated that TaNAC29 overexpression plants had enhanced tolerances to high salinity and dehydration, and exhibited an ABA-hypersensitive response. When grown in the greenhouse, TaNAC29-overexpression plants showed the same tolerance response to salt and drought stresses at both the vegetative and reproductive period, and had delayed bolting and flowering in the reproductive period. Moreover, TaNAC29 overexpression plants accumulated lesser malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, while had higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities under high salinity and/or dehydration stress.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that TaNAC29 plays important roles in the senescence process and response to salt and drought stresses. ABA signal pathway and antioxidant enzyme systems are involved in TaNAC29-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0644-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.