Parental legacy and regulatory novelty in Brachypodium diurnal transcriptomes accompanying their polyploidy

Polyploidy is a widespread phenomenon in eukaryotes that can lead to phenotypic novelty and has important implications for evolution and diversification. The modification of phenotypes in polyploids relative to their diploid progenitors may be associated with altered gene expression. However, it is largely unknown how interactions between duplicated genes affect their diurnal expression in allopolyploid species. In this study, we explored parental legacy and hybrid novelty in the transcriptomes of an allopolyploid species and its diploid progenitors. We compared the diurnal transcriptomes of representative Brachypodium cytotypes, including the allotetraploid Brachypodium hybridum and its diploid progenitors Brachypodium distachyon and Brachypodium stacei. We also artificially induced an autotetraploid B. distachyon. We identified patterns of homoeolog expression bias (HEB) across Brachypodium cytotypes and time-dependent gain and loss of HEB in B. hybridum. Furthermore, we established that many genes with diurnal expression experienced HEB, while their expression patterns and peak times were correlated between homoeologs in B. hybridum relative to B. distachyon and B. stacei, suggesting diurnal synchronization of homoeolog expression in B. hybridum. Our findings provide insight into the parental legacy and hybrid novelty associated with polyploidy in Brachypodium, and highlight the evolutionary consequences of diurnal transcriptional regulation that accompanied allopolyploidy.

Genetic Engineering Strategies for Euglena gracilis and Its Industrial Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals: A Review

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted at the 2015 United Nations Summit are globally applicable goals designed to help countries realize a sustainable future. To achieve these SDGs, it is necessary to utilize renewable biological resources. In recent years, bioeconomy has been an attractive concept for achieving the SDGs. Microalgae are one of the biological resources that show promise in realizing the "5F"s (food, fiber, feed, fertilizer, and fuel). Among the microalgae, Euglena gracilis has the potential for achieving the "5F"s strategy owing to its unique features, such as production of paramylon, that are lacking in other microalgae. E. gracilis has already been produced on an industrial scale for use as an ingredient in functional foods and cosmetics. In recent years, genetic engineering methods for breeding E. gracilis have been researched and developed to achieve higher yields. In this article, we summarize how microalgae contribute toward achieving the SDGs. We focus on the contribution of E. gracilis to the bioeconomy, including its advantages in industrial use as well as its unique characteristics. In addition, we review genetic engineering-related research trends centered on E. gracilis, including a complete nuclear genome determination project, genome editing technology using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and the development of a screening method for selecting useful strains. In particular, genome editing in E. gracilis could be a breakthrough for molecular breeding of industrially useful strains because of its high efficiency.

Viscosity measurements in pulsed magnetic fields by using a quartz-crystal microbalance

Viscosity measurements in combination with pulsed magnetic fields are developed by use of a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM). When the QCM is immersed in liquid, the resonant frequency, f₀, and the quality factor, Q, of the QCM change depending on (ρη)^0.5, where ρ is the mass density and η the viscosity. During the magnetic-field pulse, f₀ and Q of the QCM are simultaneously measured by a ringdown technique. The typical resolution of (ρη)^0.5 is 0.5%. As a benchmark, the viscosity of liquid oxygen is measured up to 55 T.

Subjective Evaluation of Denture Adhesives: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Many reports show that denture adhesives improve the retention and stability of dentures. However, few randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of denture adhesives.

OBJECTIVE

This 10-center randomized controlled trial with parallel groups involving 200 edentulous patients wearing complete dentures aimed to evaluate the effects of short-term use of cream and powder denture adhesives.

METHODS

Patients were allocated into 2 cream- and powder-type adhesive groups and 1 control group. Intervention groups were treated with the 2 adhesives (1 each), and the control group received saline solution. Adhesive or control was applied to the denture-mucosal surface for 4 d, and data at baseline and after day 4 of intervention (i.e., 8 meals) were obtained. Patient satisfaction was evaluated with a 100-mm visual analog scale. Oral health-related quality of life was measured with the Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients. Perceived chewing ability was evaluated by a questionnaire regarding ease of chewing and swallowing food. Between-group comparisons were performed with Kruskal-Wallis tests with the Mann-Whitney U test adjusted by Bonferroni correction. Within-group comparisons of pre- and postintervention measurements were performed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Intention-to-treat analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences for general satisfaction or Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients. However, significant differences in satisfaction with various denture functions with cream- and powder-type adhesives were seen in pre- and postintervention comparisons (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also observed for perceived chewing ability of hard foods (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that although denture adhesives do not invariably improve denture function, they do affect subjective evaluations and possibly chewing of hard foods. Therefore, the effects of denture adhesive use are insufficient to resolve any fundamental dissatisfaction with dentures ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01712802 ).

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The results of this study suggest that denture adhesives should be applied under certain conditions; however, an appropriate diagnosis is important before application. These practice-based data provide information to establish evidence-based guidelines for applying denture adhesives.

Phonon Magnetochiral Effect

The magnetochiral effect (MCE) of phonons, a nonreciprocal acoustic propagation arising due to symmetry principles, is demonstrated in the chiral-lattice ferrimagnet Cu_{2}OSeO_{3}. Our high-resolution ultrasound experiments reveal that the sound velocity differs for parallel and antiparallel propagation with respect to the external magnetic field. The sign of the nonreciprocity depends on the chirality of the crystal in accordance with the selection rule of the MCE. The nonreciprocity is enhanced below the magnetic ordering temperature and at higher ultrasound frequencies, which is quantitatively explained by a proposed magnon-phonon hybridization mechanism.

Search for K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] and K_{L}→π^{0}X^{0} Decays at the J-PARC KOTO Experiment

A search for the rare decay K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] was performed. With the data collected in 2015, corresponding to 2.2×10^{19} protons on target, a single event sensitivity of (1.30±0.01_{stat}±0.14_{syst})×10^{-9} was achieved and no candidate events were observed. We set an upper limit of 3.0×10^{-9} for the branching fraction of K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] at the 90% confidence level (C.L.), which improved the previous limit by almost an order of magnitude. An upper limit for K_{L}→π^{0}X^{0} was also set as 2.4×10^{-9} at the 90% C.L., where X^{0} is an invisible boson with a mass of 135  MeV/c^{2}.

Diagnostic features of acquired dermal melanocytosis of the face and extremities

Acquired dermal melanocytosis of the face and extremities (ADMFE) is an unusual form of acquired dermal melanocytosis (ADM). In this paper, we report a case of ADMFE and review the published literature. Our review highlights several clinical differences between ADMFE and ADM: (i) more frequent involvement of the nasal alae in ADMFE than in ADM, (ii) less frequent involvement of the cheeks in ADMFE than in ADM, (iii) limbs affected in all cases of ADMFE but in few cases of ADM, and (iv) frequent involvement of conjunctiva and/or gingiva in ADMFE but very rare involvement in ADM. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that ADMFE is clinically distinct from the classic form of ADM, and gaining an understanding of its phenotype will enable accurate diagnosis and early intervention by Q-switched laser therapy, which should benefit those patients with disease-related cosmetic issues.