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Chrysanthemum L. (Asteraceae-Anthemideae) is a genus with rapid speciation. It comprises about 40 species, most of which are distributed in East Asia. Many of these are narrowly distributed and habitat-specific. Considerable variations in morphology and ploidy are found in this genus. Some species have been the subjects of many studies, but the relationships between Chrysanthemum and its allies and the phylogeny of this genus remain poorly understood. In the present study, 32 species/varieties from Chrysanthemum and 11 from the allied genera were analyzed using DNA sequences of the single-copy nuclear CDS gene and seven cpDNA loci (psbA-trnH, trnC-ycf6, ycf6-psbM, trnY-rpoB, rpS4-trnT, trnL-F, and rpL16). The cpDNA and nuclear CDS gene trees both suggest that 1) Chrysanthemum is not a monophyletic taxon, and the affinity between Chrysanthemum and Ajania is so close that these two genera should be incorporated taxonomically; 2) Phaeostigma is more closely related to the Chrysanthemum+Ajania than other generic allies. According to pollen morphology and to the present cpDNA and CDS data, Ajania purpurea is a member of Phaeostigma. Species differentiation in Chrysanthemum appears to be correlated with geographic and environmental conditions. The Chinese Chrysanthemum species can be divided into two groups, the C. zawadskii group and the C. indicum group. The former is distributed in northern China and the latter in southern China. Many polyploid species, such as C. argyrophyllum, may have originated from allopolyploidization involving divergent progenitors. Considering all the evidence from present and previous studies, we conclude that geographic and ecological factors as well as hybridization and polyploidy play important roles in the divergence and speciation of the genus Chrysanthemum.

Background Polyploid species often originate recurrently. While this is well known, there is little information on the extent to which distinct allotetraploid species formed from the same parent species differ in gene expression. The tetraploid yarrow species Achillea alpina and A. wilsoniana arose independently from allopolyploidization between diploid A. acuminata and A. asiati ca. The genetics and geography of these origins are clear from previous studies, providing a solid basis for comparing gene expression patterns of sibling allopolyploid species that arose independently. Results We conducted comparative RNA-sequencing analyses on the two Achillea tetraploid species and their diploid progenitors to evaluate: 1) species-specific gene expression and coexpression across the four species; 2) patterns of inheritance of parental gene expression; 3) parental contributions to gene expression in the allotetraploid species, and homeolog expression bias. Diploid A. asiatica showed a higher contribution than diploid A. acuminata to the transcriptomes of both tetraploids and also greater homeolog bias in these transcriptomes, possibly reflecting a maternal effect. Comparing expressed genes in the two allotetraploids, we found expression of ca. 30% genes were species-specific in each, which were most enriched for GO terms pertaining to “defense response”. Despite species-specific and differentially expressed genes between the two allotetraploids, they display similar transcriptome changes in comparison to their diploid progenitors. Conclusion Two independently originated Achillea allotetraploid species exhibited difference in gene expression, some of which must be related to differential adaptation during their post-speciation evolution. On the other hand, they showed similar expression profiles when compared to their progenitors. This similarity might be expected when pairs of merged diploid genomes in tetraploids are similar, as is the case in these two particular allotetraploids.

Fluorescent imaging has been expanded, as a non-invasive diagnostic modality for cancers, in recent years. Fluorescent probes in the near-infrared window can provide high sensitivity, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio, without the use of ionizing radiation. Some fluorescent compounds with low molecular weight, such as rhodamine B (RhB) and indocyanine green (ICG), have been used in fluorescent imaging to improve imaging contrast and sensitivity; however, since these probes are excreted from the body quickly, they possess significant restrictions for imaging. To find a potential solution to this, this work investigated the synthesis and properties of novel macromolecular fluorescent compounds. Herein, water-soluble dextran fluorescent compounds (SD-Dextran-RhB) were prepared by the attachment of RhB and sulfadiazine (SD) derivatives to dextran carrier. These fluorescent compounds were then characterized through IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, UV, GPC, and other methods. Assays of their cellular uptake and cell cytotoxicity and fluorescent imaging were also performed. Through this study, it was found that SD-Dextran-RhB is sensitive to acidic conditions and possesses low cell cytotoxicities compared to normal 293 cells and HepG2 and HeLa tumor cells. Moreover, SD-Dextran-RhB demonstrated good fluorescent imaging in HepG2 and HeLa cells. Therefore, SD-Dextran-RhB is suitable to be potentially applied as a probe in the fluorescent imaging of tumors.

There are several types of capitulum in the Asteraceae due to different combinations of florets varying in corolla shape and stamen development. Previous studies have shown that the formation of ray florets on a radiate capitulum may be related to the parallel co-option of -like genes among independent Asteraceae lineages. The present work tests that hypothesis and attempts to shed light on the pattern of evolution of the Asteraceae capitulum and floral heteromorphism under the regulation of -like genes. In this study, the evolutionary history of -like genes in the Asterales was reconstructed and their expression patterns were examined in species representing different capitulum types and several major Asteraceae lineages. To clarify the role of CYC2d clade genes in morphogenesis of ray flowers, overexpression of was conducted in . Our results show that there are six -like members in the Asteraceae; they are results of five duplication events starting from a single-copy gene in the common ancestor of the Goodeniaceae-Calyceraceae-Asteraceae group and completing before the divergence of the subfamily Carduoideae of Asteraceae. Spatial expression pattern of each of the Asteraceae -like members is conserved across the family. All the six members contribute to the development of the complexity of a capitulum: To form a ray floret, either or plays an essential role, while represses the development of dorsal corolla lobes and stamens of the floret. In sum, the developmental program of making a ray flower is conserved involving functionally divergent -like genes. Based on extensive species sampling, this study provides an overview of the mode of regulation of -like genes that patterns the capitulum architectures and their transitions.

Understanding the roles played by geography and ecology in driving species diversification and in the maintenance of species cohesion is the central objective of evolutionary and ecological studies. The multi-phased orogenesis of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and global climate changes over late-Miocene has profoundly influenced the environments and evolution of organisms in this region and the vast areas of Asia. In this study, we investigate the lineage diversification of Chrysanthemum -group in subtribe Artemisiinae (tribe Anthemideae, Asteraceae) likely under the effects of climate changes during this period. Using DNA sequences of seven low-copy nuclear loci and nrITS and the coalescent analytical methods, a time-calibrated phylogeny of subtribe Artemisiinae was reconstructed with emphasis on Chrysanthemum -group. The monophyletic Chrysanthemum- group was well resolved into two major clades corresponding to Chrysanthemum and Ajania , two genera which can be well identified by capitulum morphology but have been intermingled in previous plastid and ITS trees. Within Chrysanthemum , a later divergence between Ch. indicum -complex and Ch. zawadskii -complex can be recognized. The time frames of these sequential divergences coincide with the late Cenozoic uplift of the Northern QTP and the concomitant climatic heterogeneity between eastern and inland Asia. Reconstruction of historical biogeography suggested the origin of Chrysanthemum -group in Central Asia, followed by eastward migration of Chrysanthemum and in situ diversification of Ajania . Within Chrysanthemum , Ch. indicum -complex and Ch. zawadskii -complex exhibited contemporary distributional division, the former in more southern and the latter in more northern regions. The geographic structure of the three lineages in Chrysanthemum -group have been associated with the niche differentiation, and environmental heterogenization in Asia interior.

A tumor-targeting fluorescent probe has attracted increasing interest in fluorescent imaging for the noninvasive detection of cancers in recent years. Sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives (SN-2NI, SD-NI) were synthesized by the incorporation of N-butyl-4-ethyldiamino-1,8-naphthalene imide (NI) into sulfonamide (SN) and sulfadiazine (SD) as the tumor-targeting groups, respectively. These derivatives were further characterized by mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV), and a fluorescence assay. In vitro properties, including cell cytotoxicity and the cell uptake of tumor cells, were also evaluated. Sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives possessed low cell cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanoma cells. Moreover, SN-2NI and SD-NI can be taken up highly by B16F10 cells and then achieve good green fluorescent images in B16F10 cells. Therefore, sulfonamide-containing naphthalimide derivatives can be considered to be the potential probes used to target fluorescent imaging in tumors.

Quaternary climatic oscillations greatly influenced the distribution and pattern of biodiversity in the Northern Hemisphere. Here we examine how such oscillations in South East Asia may have affected the demographic and evolutionary history of a polyploid plant complex associated with semi-dry habitats. We analyzed plastid and nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variation within the Chrysanthemum indicum complex (Asteraceae), which comprises diploid and polyploid plants distributed throughout China. In total, 368 individuals from 47 populations across the geographical range of the complex were analyzed. We show that the relatively widespread tetraploid form of C. indicum expanded its range southward in the Pleistocene, possibly during the most recent or previous glacial period when conditions became drier and forests retreated in southern China. In marked contrast, diploid and other polyploid members of the complex failed to expand their ranges at these times or have since undergone range contractions in contrast to tetraploid C. indicum. We conclude that hybridization and gene flow between taxa occurred frequently during the evolutionary history of the complex, causing considerable sharing of chlorotypes and ITS types. Nevertheless, taxa within ploidy levels could be largely distinguished according to chlorotype and/or ITS type.

Background Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a novel gaseous mediator, has been recognized as an important neuromodulator and neuroprotective agent in the nervous system. The present study was undertaken to study the effects of exogenous H2S on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury of spinal cord and the underlying mechanisms. Methods The effects of exogenous H2S on I/R injury were examined by using assessment of hind motor function, spinal cord infarct zone by Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Autophagy was evaluated by expressions of Microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 which were determined by using Quantitative Real-Time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results Compared to I/R injury groups, H 2 S pretreatment had reduced spinal cord infarct zone, improved hind motor function in rats. Quantitative Real-Time PCR or Western blotting results showed that H2S pretreatment also downregulated miR-30c expression and upregulated Beclin-1 and LC3II expression in spinal cord. In vitro, miR-30c was showed to exert negative effect on Beclin-1 expression by targeting its 3’UTR in SY-SH-5Y cells treated with Oxygen, Glucose Deprivation (OGD). In rat model of I/R injury, pretreatment of pre-miR-30c or 3-MA (an inhibitor for autophagy) can abrogated spinal cord protective effect of H2S. Conclusion H2S protects spinal cord and induces autophagy via miR-30c in a rat model of spinal cord hemia-reperfusion injury.

Cardiovascular diseases rank as the leading cause of death worldwide and are a major contributor to disability, posing a significant threat to human health. Organoids offer a partial simulation of the structure and function of the tissue of origin. It is a promising model that can supplement the disadvantages of two-dimensional culture and animal models. Due to the complexity of heart development, the research of cardiac organoids is still maturing. The advancement of technology has helped address certain challenges, but it has also unveiled new issues and complexities. This paper summarizes the application of organoids technology in the cardiovascular field, the common construction methods of cardiac organoids, and the latest progress of cardiac organoids in the fields of disease model construction, cardiac development research, drug research, and regenerative medicine. The future development and challenges of cardiac organoids are also addressed.

This study aimed to evaluate reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire (IPA-C) for people with stroke. The English version of the IPA (IPA-E) was translated into the Chinese version using the protocol for linguistic validation of patient-reported outcome instruments. In total, 421 patients diagnosed with first-ever stroke participated in this study. A cross-sectional study with a test-retest subsample was conducted. Three reliability evaluation methods were used to assess the reliability of IPA-C. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated by calculating the Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability. Split-half reliability was recorded using the Guttman split-half coefficient. Item reliability was assessed using test-retest reliability. Validity content and construct validity were used to assess the IPA-C validity. IPA-E consists of five domains: autonomy indoors, family role, autonomy outdoors, social life and relationships, and work and education opportunities. In this study, the domain 'work and educational opportunities' and the item 'My chances of having an intimate relationship are' were excluded from the analysis. Because they were not applicable to most participants. So, the first part (IPA-C-I), contained 25 items across 4 subscales (Autonomy Indoors, Family Role, Autonomy Outdoors, Social Life and Relationships). The second part (IPA-C-II), the experience of problems, contains further 7 questions, which are 7 domains (mobility, self-care, activities, economic management, leisure, social life and relationships, and helping others). The Cronbach's alphas of the IPA-C-I was 0.962, IPA-C-II was 0.823, and 0.968 (autonomy indoors), 0.966 (Family role), 0.870 (Autonomy outdoors), 0.913 (Social life and relationships). The Guttman Split-Half Coefficient of the IPA-C-I was 0.792. Item reliabilities estimated from the test-retest ranged from 0.915 to 0.975. The overall content validity index was 0.949. Four factors emerged from the 25 items, accounting for 82.918% of the variance with item loadings above 0.40. The IPA-C can be considered a valid and reliable instrument for assessing participation and autonomy in patients with stroke. Later, researchers could choose IPA-C as a good tool to evaluate perceived participation and problems in stroke patients. However, in patients with a variety of diagnoses and other cultural backgrounds, further assessment of psychometric properties is needed.