Honeybees (Apis mellifera) modulate dance communication in response to pollution by imidacloprid

Zhang Zu Yun,Li Zhen,Huang Qiang,Yan Wei Yu,Zhang Li Zhen,Zeng Zhi Jiang 한국응용곤충학회 2020 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.23 No.2

Imidacloprid, one of the most commonly used insecticides, is highly toxic to honeybees and other beneficial insects. Imidacloprid is a chloronicotinyl insecticide, which has a highly specific affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the honeybee’s nervous system. So it may interfere with dance behavior and memory formation. We found the waggle dances were modulated in honeybees fed sucrose water containing imidacloprid (pesticide group) compared to those fed normal sucrose water (control group). In our data, dancers of the pesticide group significantly increased the variance of divergence angle and the return phases in waggle dances than the control group. And the dance followers in pesticide group significantly increased the variance of crop content than the control group. Furthermore, four learning and memory related genes were significantly regulated at the gene expression levels between pesticide and control group. Our data revealed that the sublethal dose of imidacloprid impaired the honeybees’ learning and memory and resulted in cognitive disorder. The dancers may adjust their recruitment behavior leading to the observed reduced number of followers. We conclude that modulation of in-hive communication serves to protect the colony from foraging toxic food.

The Site-Directed A184S Mutation in the HTH Domain of the Global Regulator IrrE Enhances Deinococcus radiodurans R1 Tolerance to UV Radiation and MMC Shock

( Chen Zhang ),( Zhengfu Zhou ),( Wei Zhang ),( Zhen Chen ),( Yuan Song ),( Wei Lu ),( Min Lin ),( Ming Chen ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.12

IrrE is a highly conserved global regulator in the Deinococcus genus and contributes to survival from high doses of UV radiation, ionizing radiation, and desiccation. Drad-IrrE and Dgob-IrrE from Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus gobiensis I-0 each share 66% sequence identity. However, Dgob-IrrE showed a stronger protection phenotype against UV radiation than Drad-IrrE in the D. radiodurans irrE-deletion mutant (ΔirrE), which may be due to amino acid residues differences around the DNA-binding HTH domain. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a Drad-IrrE A184S single mutant, which has been characterized and compared with the ΔirrE mutant complemented strain with Drad-irrE, designated ΔirrE-E. The effects of the A184S mutation following UV radiation and mitomycin C (MMC) shock were determined. The A184S mutant displayed significantly increased resistance to UV radiation and MMC shock. The corresponding A184 site in Dgob-IrrE was inversely mutated, generating the S131A mutant, which exhibited a loss of resistance against UV radiation, MMC shock, and desiccation. qPCR analysis revealed that critical genes in the DNA repair system, such as recA, pprA, uvrA, and ddrB, were remarkably induced after UV radiation and MMC shock in the ΔirrE-IE and A184S mutants. These data suggested that A184S improves the ability against UV radiation and MMC shock, providing new insights into the modification of IrrE. We speculated that the serine residue may determine the efficiency of DNA binding, leading to the increased expression of IrrE-dependent genes important for protection against DNA damage.

Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition of osteoblasts induced by Fam20c knockout

Geng Ya-Wei,Zhang Zhen,Jin Han,Da Jun-Long,Zhang Kai,Wang Jian-Qun,Guo Yu-Yao,Zhang Bin,Li Ying 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.2

Background: Fam20c is intimately related to tissue development and diseases. At present, it has been reported that Fam20c regulates the mineralization of osteoblasts, but there are few reports on other effects. Objective: To study the effect of Fam20c on osteoblasts by knocking out the Fam20c gene. Methods: Fam20c knockout osteoblasts were constructed by transfecting mouse osteoblasts with lentivirus. The proliferation, migration and mineralization of Fam20c knockout cells were detected by CCK-8, scratch test and alizarin red staining assays. The subcellular structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RT-PCR was used to detect the differential expression of mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET)-related marker genes and core transcription factors. The differential expression of MET-related proteins was detected by immunofluorescence or Western blot. Transcriptome analysis of Fam20c knockout osteoblasts was performed, and real-time PCR was used to verify transcriptome analysis related to MET. Results: The proliferation ability of osteoblasts was not significantly changed after Fam20c deletion, but the migration ability and mineralization ability were significantly weakened. There were tight junctions between Fam20c knockout cells. The expression of mesenchymal cell marker genes and core transcription factors was significantly decreased, and the expression of epithelial cell marker genes was significantly increased. The expression of mesenchymal cell marker proteins was significantly decreased, and the expression of epithelial cell marker proteins was significantly increased. Multiple signalling molecules and pathways involved in MET have changed. Conclusions: Knockdown of Fam20c resulted in MET. Fam20c affects the transcription of key factors in osteoblast MET.

A Genetic Linkage Map Construction for Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Li Bin Wei,Hai Yang Zhang,Yong Zhan Zheng,Hong Mei Miao,Tian Zhen Zhang,Wang Zhen Guo 한국유전학회 2009 Genes & Genomics Vol.31 No.2

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops with high seed oil quality. The first sesame genetic linkage map based on F2 segregating population of an intraspecific cross between two cultivars was constructed. Using three types of PCR-based markers, 284 polymorphic loci including 10 EST-SSR marker, 30 AFLP marker and 244 RSAMPL marker, respectively, had been screened. Subsequently, a total of 220 molecular markers were mapped in 30 linkage groups covering a genetic length of 936.72 cM, and the average distance between markers was 4.93 cM. In this map, the linkage groups contained from 2 to 33 loci each and ranged in distance from 6.44 cM to 74.52 cM. Based on map information, sesame genome length was estimated to be approximately 1,232.53 cM, and genome coverage of this map was about 76.0%. As a starting point of sesame genome study, the genetic linkage map will be hopeful to tag traits of breeding interest and further aid in the sesame molecular breeding. Furthermore, RSAMPL marker had been also appreciated in this paper, for its first usage in genetic map construction and higher utilization potential in some crop species lacking much genome information.

Comparative Study between ZOOMit and Conventional Intravoxel Incoherent Motion MRI for Assessing Parotid Gland Abnormalities in Patients with Early- or Mid-Stage Sjögren’s Syndrome

Zhou Qing-Qing,Zhang Wei,Yu Yu-Sheng,Li Hong-Yan,Wei Liang,Li Xue-Song,He Zhen-Zhen,Zhang Hong 대한영상의학회 2022 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.23 No.4

Objective: To compare the reproducibility and performance of quantitative metrics between ZOOMit and conventional intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of early- and mid-stage Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 52.0 ± 10.8 years; male:female, 2:20) with early- or mid-stage SS and 20 healthy controls (46.9 ± 14.6 years; male:female, 7:13) were prospectively enrolled in our study. ZOOMit IVIM and conventional IVIM MRI were performed simultaneously in all individuals using a 3T scanner. Quantitative IVIM parameters - including tissue diffusivity (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) - inter- and intra-observer reproducibility in measuring these parameters, and their ability to distinguish patients with SS from healthy individuals were assessed and compared between ZOOMit IVIM and conventional IVIM methods, appropriately. MR gland nodular grade (MRG) was also examined. Results: Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility was better with ZOOMit imaging than with conventional IVIM imaging (ZOOMit vs. conventional, intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.897–0.941 vs. 0.667–0.782 for inter-observer reproducibility and 0.891–0.968 vs. 0.814–0.853 for intra-observer reproducibility). Significant differences in ZOOMit f, ZOOMit D*, conventional D*, and MRG between patients with SS and healthy individuals (all p < 0.05) were observed. ZOOMit D* outperformed conventional D* in diagnosing early- and mid-stage SS (area under receiver operating curve, 0.867 and 0.658, respectively; p = 0.002). The combination of ZOOMit D*, MRG, and ZOOMit f as a new diagnostic index for SS, increased diagnostic area under the curve to 0.961, which was higher than that of any single parameter (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Considering its better reproducibility and performance, ZOOMit IVIM may be preferred over conventional IVIM MRI, and may subsequently improve the ability to diagnose early- and mid-stage SS.

Posttranscriptional deregulation of Src due to aberrant miR34a and miR203 contributes to gastric cancer development

Qiang Hao,Xiao Zhao Lu,Nan Nan Liu,Xiao Chang Xue,Meng Li,Cun Zhang,Xin Qin,Wei Na Li,Zhen Shu,Bin Song,Qing Wang,Li Qiang Song,Wei Zhang,Ying Qi Zhang 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2013 BMB Reports Vol.46 No.6

Optimization of Emergency Braking Pedestrian Collision Avoidance for Autonomous Vehicle Fusing the Fuzzy Neural Network with the Genetic Algorithm

Wei Yang,Zhen Zhang,Kongming Jiang,Qian Lei,Ketong Zong 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2022 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.20 No.7

In order to improve braking performance of the intelligent vehicle, a pedestrian collision avoidance control model for autonomous emergency braking pedestrian (AEB-P) system based on the fuzzy neural network (FNN) and genetic algorithm (GA) theory is proposed. In this research, we construct a backpropagation (BP) feedforward FNN-GA model for the AEB-P system. Aiming to solve the problem that initial training parameters of the FNN model generate randomly, they are optimized by fusing the fuzzy neural network with GA. Simulation results show that training epochs reduce from 800 to 60 and training error changes from [−0.06, +0.06] to [−0.04, +0.04] after optimization. Moreover, the maximum model error lessens from 0.058 to 0.0351 and sample total error decreases from 0.0179 to 0.0068. At last, the proposed scheme is applied to the China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) simulation test scenarios. Output curves of vehicle distance, velocity, and deceleration become smoother and the maximum error decreases from 0.51 m/s2 to 0.26 m/s2 , which verifies the proposed FNN-GA control strategy for AEB-P system is effective and reliable.

Real-Time Contour-Error Estimation Methods for Three-Dimensional Free-Form Parametric Curves in Contour-Following Tasks

Zhen-yuan Jia,De-Ning Song,Jian-Wei Ma,Xiao-Xuan Zhao,Ning Zhang 한국정밀공학회 2018 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.19 No.2

It is crucial to control the contour error in curved contour-following tasks caused by reasons such as servo delay and external disturbance. Contour-error estimation plays as a precondition for its further control. Existing methods can hardly keep well estimation accuracy for high-speed following of free-form curves with sharp corners, especially for three-dimensional curves. Consequently, this paper presents three high-precision real-time contour-error estimation methods for spatial free-form parametric curved contour following. By generating and updating the backstepping point according to the tangential tracking error, a multiple tangential approximation method is presented first. Then, a spatial circular approximation method is given by means of approximating the actual-position nearby region of the desired contour with a spatial circle. Finally, via modification of the Newton method so as to improve its stability without sacrificing of its fast convergence property, an initial value regeneration-based Newton algorithm is proposed for contour-error estimation. All of the presented methods take both estimation precision and calculation burden into consideration, and possess their own advantages. Using these algorithms, the contour error can be rapidly estimated in vector form with a high accuracy. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and the superiority of the presented algorithms.

Disc cutters’ layout design of the full-face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) using a cooperative coevolutionary algorithm

Wei Sun,Junzhou Huo,Jing Chen,Zhen Li,Xu Zhang,Li Guo,Haifeng Zhao,Yu Zhao 대한기계학회 2011 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.25 No.2

In rock TBM design the disc cutters’ layout design of the full-face rock tunnel boring machine (TBM) is one of the key technologies. However, there are few published papers in literatures for various reasons. In this paper, based on the engineering technical requirements and the corresponding cutter head’s structure design requirements, a nonlinear multi-objective disc cutters’ layout mathematical model with complex constraints and the corresponding multi-stage solution strategy are presented, in which the whole disc cutters’ layout design process is decomposed into the disc cutters’ spacing design and the disc cutters’ plane layout design. A numerical simulation method based on the FEM theory is adopted to simulate the rock chipping process induced by three TBM disc cutters to determine the optimal cutter spacing. And a cooperative coevolutionary genetic algorithm (CCGA) is adopted to solve the disc cutters’ plane layout design problem. Finally, a disc cutters’ layout design instance of the TBM is presented to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The computational results show that the proposed method can be used to solve the disc cutters’ layout design problem of the TBM and provide various layout schemes within short running times for the engineers to choose from.

Reference gene selection for RT-qPCR analysis in two invasive whiteflies after the acquisition of vectored or non-vectored viruses

Zhen-Hong Lv,Hui-Peng Pan,Wei Zhang,Tian-Bo Ding,Dong Chu 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.1

Custom reference gene selection is essential for reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) in different species of insects and various experiment conditions. In this study, 14 candidate referencegenes (HSP40, HSP20, HSP70, HSP90, v-ATPase, RPL29, EF-1, SDHA, Actin, PPIA, GAPDH, MyosinL,NADH, and γ-tubulin) were analyzed using five different programs including ΔCt method, BestKeeper, geNorm,NormFinder, and ReFinder to validate their use as reference genes in two invasive whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci Band Q, after acquiring the vectored virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), or ingesting the non-vectoredvirus, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), respectively. The results showed that HSP40, v-ATPase, and EF-1 werethe most stable genes in B. tabaci B (B. tabaci B feeding on the healthy, TYLCV- and TSWV-infected tomatoplant), PPIA, SDHA, and RPL29 were the most stable genes in B. tabaci Q (B. tabaci Q feeding on the healthy,TYLCV- and TSWV-infected tomato plant). In addition, EF-1, RPL29, and HSP20 were the most stable referencegenes in B. tabaci B and Q. These findings provide the basis for future RT-qPCR-based studies on whitefly-virus interactions. Meanwhile,this report may set a precedent for reference gene selection in insects after the ingestion of non-vectored viruses.