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A set of 120 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) was developed from the newly assembled pear sequence and evaluated for polymorphisms in seven genotypes of pear from different genetic backgrounds. Of these, 67 (55.8 %) primer pairs produced polymorphic amplifications. Together, the 67 SSRs detected 277 alleles with an average of 4.13 per locus. Sequencing of the amplification products from randomly picked loci NAUPy31a and NAUpy53a verified the presence of the SSR loci. When the 67 primer pairs were tested on 96 individual members of eight species in the Rosaceae family, 61.2 % (41/67) of the tested SSRs successfully amplified a PCR product in at least one of the Rosaceae genera. The transferability from pear to different species varied from 58.2 % (apple) to 11.9 % (cherry). The ratio of transferability also reflected the closer relationships within Maloideae over Prunoideae. Two pear SSR markers, NAUpy43c and NAUpy55k, could distinguish the 20 different apple genotypes thoroughly, and UPGMA cluster analysis grouped them into three groups at the similarity level of 0.56. The high level of polymorphism and good transferability of pear SSRs to Rosaceae species indicate their promise for application to future molecular screening, map construction, and comparative genomic studies among pears and other Rosaceae species.

We report on the spectral features of the Si iv λ1402.77, C ii λ1334.53, and Mg ii h or k lines, formed in the layers from the transition region to the chromosphere, in three two-ribbon flares (with X, M, and C class) observed with IRIS. All three lines show significant redshifts within the main flare ribbons, which mainly originate from the chromospheric condensation during the flares. The average redshift velocities of the Si iv line within the main ribbons are 56.6, 25.6, and 10.5 km s−1 for the X-, M-, and C-class flares, respectively, which show a decreasing tendency with the flare class. The C ii and Mg ii lines show a similar tendency but with smaller velocities compared to the Si iv line. Additionally, the Mg ii h or k line shows a blue-wing enhancement in the three flares, in particular at the flare ribbon fronts, which is supposed to be caused by an upflow in the upper chromosphere due to the heating of the atmosphere. Moreover, the Mg ii h or k line exhibits a central reversal at the flare ribbons but turns to pure emission shortly after 1–4 minutes. Correspondingly, the C ii line also shows a central reversal but in a smaller region. However, for the Si iv line, the central reversal is only found in the X-class flare. As usual, the central reversal of these lines can be caused by the opacity effect. This implies that, in addition to the optically thick lines (C ii and Mg ii lines), the Si iv line can become optically thick in a strong flare, which is likely related to the nonthermal electron beam heating.

Sophora viciifolia Hance is an edible plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid, is one of the most abundant active ingredients in Sophora viciifolia Hance. Here, we study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the acute toxicity of sophocarpine from Sophora viciifolia Hance in mice. Sophocarpine (20, 40, and 80 mg/kgbw) significantly prolonged the delay period before a hot plate reaction occurred (all P<0.05), and the delay before a tail-flick response was induced by a warm bath (P<0.05; P<0.01). Sophocarpine (40, 80 mg/kg) resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of the writhing reaction induced by acetic acid in mice (P<0.05; P<0.001, respectively). Sophocarpine (80 mg/kg) reduced the total duration of a formalin-induced pain response (P<0.05). Sophocarpine prolonged the foot-licking latency of mice after the hot plate reaction, and this effect was antagonized by calcium chloride and enhanced by verapamil. Sophocarpine (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) significantly inhibited xylene-induced ear edema (P<0.01; P<0.001; P<0.001, respectively) and the penetration of acetic acid-induced dye into the peritoneal cavity (P<0.01; P<0.01; P<0.001, respectively). It also reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and prostaglandin E2 (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) and those of serum nitric oxide (P<0.05). The results of this study suggest that sophocarpine possesses certain analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, which may be related to calcium and inhibition of the secretion of inflammatory factors.

Mindin, a secreted, highly conserved extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, exerts a broad spectrum of effects on the innate immune system. However, its function in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is not well established, and its upstream regulation mechanisms remain unclear. Contrary to previous reports, this study used two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits to show that the serum level of mindin was significantly decreased in CRC patients and that this decreased level is more significantly associated with the early stages of the disease. To explore the regulation of mindin, we used a bioinformatics approach to predict potential transcription factors and determined that early growth response factor (Egr)-1 directly regulates mindin expression at the transcriptional level using dual luciferase, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) DNA and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) methods. Egr-1 regulates mindin mRNA and protein expression in CRC cells, and the protein expression of both Egr-1 and mindin was significantly decreased in tumor lesions of patients compared with adjacent control tissues. Mindin is essential for Egr-1-mediated inhibition of endothelial cell tube formation, and mindin inhibits endotheliocyte proliferation, migration and angiogenic sprouts in vitro . Overexpression of mindin suppressed xenograft tumor growth by blocking angiogenesis instead of directly suppressing CRC cell proliferation. Mechanically, mindin inhibits the hypoxia-induced HIF-1a and VEGFA protein expression in CRC cells and the phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 in endothelial cells. The results suggest that the serum level of mindin can be used as a novel biomarker for early detection of CRC and that the Egr-1/mindin axis is a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of angiogenesis in CRC development.

Objective: To determine the effects of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pre-pregnancy obesity on macrosomia and large for gestational age (LGA). Study Design: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 587 GDM women and 478 non-GDM women from 2012 to 2013. We collected their data of the pre-pregnancy weight, sociodemographic data, medical histories, clinical treatment, and followed-up the outcomes of delivery including birth weight. Multiple logistic regression models were used to test associations between pre-pregnant obesity and macrosomia/LGA and between GDM and macrosomia/LGA. Result: Of 1065 women we studied, obese women had 4.17 times and 2.27 times increased risk of developing macrosomia (95% CI: 2.52 to 6.91) and LGA (95% CI: 1.60 to 3.21), respectively, than non-obese women after adjustment for maternal age, gestational weeks and GDM. We did not find GDM is a risk factor for macrosomia or LGA after GDM treatment. Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy obesity accounts for a high prevalence of macrosomia. Interventions that focus on pre-pregnancy obesity have the potential to reach far more women at risk of macrosomia.

Study design: Prospective study. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterise risk factors for poor surgical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods: The prospective study included 110 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for CSM. Surgical outcomes were evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. JOA recovery rate <50% was defined as poor surgical outcome. Relationship between outcome and various clinical and imaging predictors was examined. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, we identified risk factors associated with poor outcome. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to acquire cutoff values for the continuous variables found to be independently associated with poor outcome. Results: Forty-two patients (38.2%) had a recovery rate of <50%. Logistic regression, with poor outcome as dependent variable, showed independent risks associated with increased age (odds ratio (ORs)=1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01–1.15, P =0.021), symptom duration (OR=4.01, 95% CI=1.95–8.23, P =0.000) and signal intensity ratio (SIR, OR=4.24, 95% CI=1.61–11.20, P =0.003). The cutoffs with the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity were set at 63.1 years of age, 9 months of symptom duration and 1.455 for SIR. The presence of ⩾2 out of three factors (age ⩾63.1 years, symptom duration ⩾9 months and SIR ⩾1.455) gave an overall OR of 33.15 (95% CI=4.11–267.37, P =0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that advanced age, long-term CSM symptoms and high preoperative SIR are risk factors for poor outcome of surgery in patients with CSM.

Following the SARS outbreak, extensive surveillance was undertaken globally to detect and identify coronavirus diversity in bats. This study sought to identify the diversity and prevalence of coronaviruses in bats in the Australasian region. We identified four different genotypes of coronavirus, three of which (an alphacoronavirus and two betacoronaviruses) are potentially new species, having less than 90% nucleotide sequence identity with the most closely related described viruses. We did not detect any SARS-like betacoronaviruses, despite targeting rhinolophid bats, the putative natural host taxa. Our findings support the virus-host co-evolution hypothesis, with the detection of Miniopterus bat coronavirus HKU8 (previously reported in Miniopterus species in China, Hong Kong and Bulgaria) in Australian Miniopterus species. Similarly, we detected a novel betacoronavirus genotype from Pteropus alecto which is most closely related to Bat coronavirus HKU9 identified in other pteropodid bats in China, Kenya and the Philippines. We also detected possible cross-species transmission of bat coronaviruses, and the apparent enteric tropism of these viruses. Thus, our findings are consistent with a scenario wherein the current diversity and host specificity of coronaviruses reflects co-evolution with the occasional host shift.

Large-scale experiments were carried out to investigate the detonation performance of a 1600- m3 ternary cloud consisting of aluminum powder, fuel droplets, and vapor, which were dispersed by a central explosive in a cylindrically stratified configuration. High-frame-rate video cameras and pressure gauges were used to analyze the large-scale explosive dispersal of the mixture and the ensuing blast wave generated by the detonation of the cloud. Special attention was focused on the effect of the descending motion of the charge on the detonation performance of the dispersed ternary cloud. The charge was parachuted by an ensemble of apparatus from the designated height in order to achieve the required terminal velocity when the central explosive was detonated. A descending charge with a terminal velocity of 32 m/s produced a cloud with discernably increased concentration compared with that dispersed from a stationary charge, the detonation of which hence generates a significantly enhanced blast wave beyond the scaled distance of 6m/kg1/3 . The results also show the influence of the descending motion of the charge on the jetting phenomenon and the distorted shock front.

Different bursting patterns and the generation principles are investigated in a generalized parametrically forced van der Pol-Duffing system. Six bursting patterns induced by the bifurcation delay, namely bursting of “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” form, bursting of symmetric “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” form, bursting of “delayed pitchfork/delayed sup-Hopf” form via “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” hysteresis loop, bursting of symmetric “delayed pitchfork/delayed sup-Hopf” form via “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” hysteresis loop, bursting of “delayed pitchfork/delayed sup-Hopf/Homoclinic” form via “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” hysteresis loop and bursting of symmetric “delayed pitchfork/delayed sup-Hopf/Homoclinic” form via “delayed pitchfork/pitchfork” hysteresis loop, are analyzed. First, considering the parametrically forced term as a slow-changing state variable, a time invariant continuous smooth system is exhibited. Then, with the help of the calculation of the characteristic equation and bifurcation map, the critical conditions of pitchfork bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation and Homoclinic bifurcation are presented. In addition, two bifurcation delay behaviors named supercritical Hopf bifurcation delay and pitchfork bifurcation delay are proposed. Based on that, the generation mechanisms of the bursting dynamics triggered by the bifurcation delay phenomenon are revealed. The present study shows that the delayed dynamical behaviors act a crucial part in the generation of different bursting oscillations, since the delay dynamics occurs in distinct parameter intervals, which results in distinct repetitive excited state forms. Finally, the numerical simulations are provided to support the correctness of the results proposed in the paper.

Hendra virus (HeV) is an important emergent virus in Australia known to infect horses and humans in certain regions of the east coast. Whilst pteropid bats (\"flying foxes\") are considered the natural reservoir of HeV, which of the four mainland species is the principal reservoir has been a source of ongoing debate, particularly as shared roosting is common. To help resolve this, we sampled a colony consisting of just one of these species, the grey-headed flying fox, (Pteropus poliocephalus), at the southernmost extent of its range. Using the pooled urine sampling technique at approximately weekly intervals over a two year period, we determined the prevalence of HeV and related paramyxoviruses using a novel multiplex (Luminex) platform. Whilst all the pooled urine samples were negative for HeV nucleic acid, we successfully identified four other paramyxoviruses, including Cedar virus; a henipavirus closely related to HeV. Collection of serum from individually caught bats from the colony showed that antibodies to HeV, as estimated by a serological Luminex assay, were present in between 14.6% and 44.5% of animals. The wide range of the estimate reflects uncertainties in interpreting intermediate results. Interpreting the study in the context of HeV studies from states to the north, we add support for an arising consensus that it is the black flying fox and not the grey-headed flying fox that is the principal source of HeV in spillover events to horses.