Research on Linked Data and Co-reference Resolution

This project report details work carried out in collaboration between the University of Southampton and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, focussing on an RDF dataset of academic authors and publications. Activities included the conversion of the dataset to produce Linked Data, the identification of co-references in and between datasets, and the development of an ontology mapping service to facilitate the integration of the dataset with an existing Semantic Web application, RKBExplorer.com

Auxin response factor 2 (ARF2) plays a major role in regulating auxin-mediated leaf longevity

Auxin regulates a variety of physiological and developmental processes in plants. Although auxin acts as a suppressor of leaf senescence, its exact role in this respect has not been clearly defined, aside from circumstantial evidence. It was found here that ARF2 functions in the auxin-mediated control of Arabidopsis leaf longevity, as discovered by screening EMS mutant pools for a delayed leaf senescence phenotype. Two allelic mutations, ore14-1 and 14-2, caused a highly significant delay in all senescence parameters examined, including chlorophyll content, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, membrane ion leakage, and the expression of senescence-associated genes. A delay of senescence symptoms was also observed under various senescence-accelerating conditions, where detached leaves were treated with darkness, phytohormones, or oxidative stress. These results indicate that the gene defined by these mutations might be a key regulatory genetic component controlling functional leaf senescence. Map-based cloning of ORE14 revealed that it encodes ARF2, a member of the auxin response factor (ARF) protein family, which modulates early auxin-induced gene expression in plants. The ore14/arf2 mutation also conferred an increased sensitivity to exogenous auxin in hypocotyl growth inhibition, thereby demonstrating that ARF2 is a repressor of auxin signalling. Therefore, the ore14/arf2 lesion appears to cause reduced repression of auxin signalling with increased auxin sensitivity, leading to delayed senescence. Altogether, our data suggest that ARF2 positively regulates leaf senescence in Arabidopsis

Melanin biopolymer synthesis using a new melanogenic strain of Flavobacterium kingsejongi and a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli expressing 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase from F. kingsejongi

Background Melanins are a heterologous group of biopolymeric pigments synthesized by diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes and are widely utilized as bioactive materials and functional polymers in the biotechnology industry. Here, we report the high-level melanin production using a new melanogenic Flavobacterium kingsejongi strain and a recombinant Escherichia coli overexpressing F. kingsejongi 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD). Results Melanin synthesis of F. kingsejongi strain was confirmed via melanin synthesis inhibition test, melanin solubility test, genome analysis, and structural analysis of purified melanin from both wild-type F. kingsejongi and recombinant E. coli expressing F. kingsejongi HPPD. The activity of F. kingsejongi HPPD was demonstrated via in vitro assays with 6 × His-tagged and native forms of HPPD. The specific activity of F. kingsejongi HPPD was 1.2 ± 0.03 μmol homogentisate/min/mg-protein. Bioreactor fermentation of F. kingsejongi produced a large amount of melanin with a titer of 6.07 ± 0.32 g/L, a conversion yield of 60% (0.6 ± 0.03 g melanin per gram tyrosine), and a productivity of 0.03 g/L·h, indicating its potential for industrial melanin production. Additionally, bioreactor fermentation of recombinant E. coli expressing F. kingsejongi HPPD produced melanin at a titer of 3.76 ± 0.30 g/L, a conversion yield of 38% (0.38 ± 0.03 g melanin per gram tyrosine), and a productivity of 0.04 g/L·h. Conclusions Both strains showed sufficiently high fermentation capability to indicate their potential as platform strains for large-scale bacterial melanin production. Furthermore, F. kingsejongi strain could serve as a model to elucidate the regulation of melanin biosynthesis pathway and its networks with other cellular pathways, and to understand the cellular responses of melanin-producing bacteria to environmental changes, including nutrient starvation and other stresses.publishe

The genetically programmed rhythmic alteration of diurnal gene expression in the aged Arabidopsis leaves

The circadian clock regulates the daily pattern of temporal gene expression. In Arabidopsis, aging is associated with a shortening of the endogenous period of circadian rhythms under circadian conditions. However, the functional link between the circadian clock and aging under diurnal conditions and its physiological relevance remain elusive. In this study, we investigate and characterize the effect of aging on the waveforms of rhythmic gene expression patterns under light/dark cycles. Our analysis revealed that the diurnal rhythmic patterns of core clock genes undergo significant rhythmic alteration with phase shift and change of waveforms in aged plants compared to younger plants. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that this age-dependent rhythmic alteration occurs not only in core clock genes but also globally. Due to the rhythmic alteration patterns of the diurnal rhythmic gene expression, aged plants experience subjectively a shorter day and longer night. We also observed that genetic mutants of core clock component genes exhibited broadly yet distinctively altered changes in diurnal rhythmic gene expression patterns as aging progresses. Collectively, our findings support that age-dependent rhythmic alteration of diurnal gene expression rhythms reprograms the timetable of daily gene expression, leading to the physiological changes required for plant senescence. Copyright © 2024 Jung, Kim, Lee, Kang, Kim, Kim, Lim and Nam.TRUEsciescopu

Spontaneous Lead Breakage in Implanted Spinal Cord Stimulation Systems

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has become an established clinical option for treatment of refractory chronic pain. Current hardware and implantation techniques for SCS are already highly developed and continuously improving; however, equipment failures over the course of long-term treatment are still encountered in a relatively high proportion of the cases treated with it. Percutaneous SCS leads seem to be particularly prone to dislocation and insulation failures. We describe our experience of lead breakage in the inserted spinal cord stimulator to a complex regional pain syndrome patient who obtained satisfactory pain relief after the revision of SCS

Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Fetus with 46,XY/46,X,-Y,+der(Y)t(Y;1)(q12;q12) Mosaicism : A Case Report

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is often associated with major anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomal abnormalities are usually detected in 9.5% to 34% of fetuses with CDH prenatally diagnosed and the defect has also been reported in association with multiple syndromes such as Pallister-Killian syndrome, Fryns syndrome, Di George syndrome and Apert syndrome. Among the chromosomal abnormalities associated with CDH, trisomy 21, 18, and 13 are most common. Association with complex chromosomal aberrations such as mosaicism has also been reported. However, CDH presented in a fetus with Y-autosome translocation is extremely rare. Herein, we reported a case of fetus with 46,XY/46,X,-Y,+der(Y)t(Y;1)(q12;q12) mosaicism who presented with CDH diagnosed by ultrasonography at 19 weeks' gestation

Clinical Experiences of Transforaminal Balloon Decompression for Patients with Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a commonly treated with epidural injections of local anesthetics and corticosteroids, however, these therapies may relieve leg pain for weeks to months but do not influence functional status. Furthermore, the majority of patients report no substantial symptom change over the repeated treatment. Utilizing balloon catheters, we successfully treated with three patients who complained persistent symptoms despite repeated conventional steroid injections. Our results suggest that transforaminal decompression using a balloon catheter may have potential in the nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis by modifying the underlying pathophysiology