Natural variation for sulfate content in Arabidopsis thaliana is highly controlled by APR2

Most agronomic traits of importance, whether physiological (such as nutrient use efficiency) or developmental (such as flowering time), are controlled simultaneously by multiple genes and their interactions with the environment. Here, we show that variation in sulfate content between wild Arabidopsis thaliana accessions Bay-0 and Shahdara is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus that results in a strong interaction with nitrogen availability in the soil. Combining genetic and biochemical results and using a candidate gene approach, we have cloned the underlying gene, showing how a single-amino acid substitution in a key enzyme of the assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase, is responsible for a decrease in enzyme activity, leading to sulfate accumulation in the plant. This work illustrates the potential of natural variation as a source of new alleles of known genes, which can aid in the study of gene function and metabolic pathway regulation. Our new insights on sulfate assimilation may have an impact on sulfur fertilizer use and stress defense improvement.     

Osteoclast-poor human osteopetrosis due to mutations in the gene encoding RANKL

Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis is usually associated with normal or elevated numbers of nonfunctional osteoclasts. Here we report mutations in the gene encoding RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-KB ligand) in six individuals with autosomal recessive osteopetrosis whose bone biopsy specimens lacked osteoclasts. These individuals did not show any obvious defects in immunological parameters and could not be cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, exogenous RANKL induced formation of functional osteoclasts from their monocytes, suggesting that they could, theoretically, benefit from exogenous RANKL administration.     

Regulation of long-distance transport of mitochondria along microtubules

Mitochondria are cellular organelles of crucial importance, playing roles in cellular life and death. In certain cell types, such as neurons, mitochondria must travel long distances so as to meet metabolic demands of the cell. Mitochondrial movement is essentially microtubule (MT) based and is executed by two main motor proteins, Dynein and Kinesin. The organization of the cellular MT network and the identity of motors dictate mitochondrial transport. Tight coupling between MTs, motors, and the mitochondria is needed for the organelle precise localization. Two adaptor proteins are involved directly in mitochondria-motor coupling, namely Milton known also as TRAK, which is the motor adaptor, and Miro, which is the mitochondrial protein. Here, we discuss the active mitochondria transport process, as well as motor–mitochondria coupling in the context of MT organization in different cell types. We focus on mitochondrial trafficking in different cell types, specifically neurons, migrating cells, and polarized epithelial cells.     

3-D Design and Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Flow in the Laser Rapid Prototyping Coaxial Powder Delivery System

The metal powder direct and rapid prototyping technology is one of the most developing methods in the laser rapid prototyping technique. The coaxial powder delivery system is the key technique. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new type of coaxial powder delivery system and simulate the metal powder and shield gas flow in the powder nozzle. 2-D and 3-D model of the new coaxial powder delivery system are established. Then gas-solid two-phase flow model and the k-ε turbulent model are selected to simulate the flow of metal powder in powder nozzle. The Euler-Lagrange method is used in the simulating computation. The results show that the new coaxial powder delivery system has stable performance, uniform powder flux, high cooling efficiency, and long useful life.     

Intracellular NAD(H) levels control motility and invasion of glioma cells

Oncogenic transformation involves reprogramming of cell metabolism, whereby steady-state levels of intracellular NAD⁺ and NADH can undergo dramatic changes while ATP concentration is generally well maintained. Altered expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme of NAD⁺-salvage, accompanies the changes in NAD(H) during tumorigenesis. Here, we show by genetic and pharmacological inhibition of NAMPT in glioma cells that fluctuation in intracellular [NAD(H)] differentially affects cell growth and morphodynamics, with motility/invasion capacity showing the highest sensitivity to [NAD(H)] decrease. Extracellular supplementation of NAD⁺ or re-expression of NAMPT abolished the effects. The effects of NAD(H) decrease on cell motility appeared parallel coupled with diminished pyruvate-lactate conversion by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and with changes in intracellular and extracellular pH. The addition of lactic acid rescued and knockdown of LDH-A replicated the effects of [NAD(H)] on motility. Combined, our observations demonstrate that [NAD(H)] is an important metabolic component of cancer cell motility. Nutrient or drug-mediated modulation of NAD(H) levels may therefore represent a new option for blocking the invasive behavior of tumors.     

3-D Design and Numerical Simulation of Two-Phase Flow in the Laser Rapid Prototyping Coaxial Powder Delivery System

The metal powder direct and rapid prototyping technology is one of the most developing methods in the laser rapid prototyping technique. The coaxial powder delivery system is the key technique. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new type of coaxial powder delivery system and simulate the metal powder and shield gas flow in the powder nozzle. 2-D and 3-D model of the new coaxial powder delivery system are established. Then gas-solid two-phase flow model and the k-? turbulent model are selected to simulate the flow of metal powder in powder nozzle. The Euler-Lagrange method is used in the simulating computation. The results show that the new coaxial powder delivery system has stable performance, uniform powder flux, high cooling efficiency, and long useful life.     

玻璃微球敏化乳化炸药爆速特性

建立了乳化炸药实验室制备工艺，并自制了玻璃微球敏化的乳化炸药试样，通过对试样的爆速测试，研究了乳化炸药爆速与其密度及玻璃微球含量等因素的关系，分析了这种工业炸药爆速的特点，结果表明，这种乳化炸药的爆速随其密度的增大而增大到最大值后逐渐降低，直到被压死。     

基于AHP的秀山县生物资源可持续发展力评价

为了实现秀山县生物资源的可持续性发展,构建了秀山县生物资源的经济发展系统、社会发展系统、生物资源基础系统、可持续发展实施系统4项准则层和人均GDP等21项指标的评价体系。运用AHP层次分析方法,两两比较得出判断矩阵,进而算出各项指标权重,通过多目标加权函数方法,最终得出秀山县可持续发展力得分为6.79,处于可持续发展力一般的阶段。通过评价结果,分析了秀山县生物资源可持续发展的主要问题,提出了生物资源可持续发展的建议与对策。