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Browsing by Author "Wang, Jie"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Characterizing resistance in flue-cured tobacco to Globodera tabacum solanacearum
    Wang, Jie (Virginia Tech, 1996)
    Resistance to Globodera tabacum solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco was characterized in vitro, in the greenhouse, and field. The objectives of this study included evaluation of hatching of G. t. solanacearum as stimulated by root exudate, penetration and development of G. t. solanacearum on roots, and the effects of G. t. solanacearum on growth, yield, and quality of flue-cured tobacco. Root exudate from resistant (NC 567) and susceptible (K 326) flue cured tobacco cultivars had similar effects on hatching of G. t. solanacearum. Dilution of root exudate reduced hatching and hatching appeared to increase with increased temperature. More swollen and flask shaped nematodes developed in roots of K 326 than those of NC 567. Resistance reduced development of vermiform juveniles to swollen nematodes in NC 567. However, development of swollen nematodes to flask shaped nematodes was similar for both cultivars. Resistance to G. t. solanacearum was effective at 17, 22, 27, and 31°C. Infection by G. t. solanacearum suppressed number of leaves, plant height, fresh weight of leaves, and feeder roots. Reduction in fresh leaf weight at 11 weeks after transplanting was greater for the susceptible cultivar, K 326, than for the resistant cultivar, NC 567. However reduction in fresh feeder root weight and increases in the ratio of leaf weight to feeder root weight at 11 weeks after transplanting between both cultivars. Yield and grade index of cured leaves were negatively correlated with area under curves of total nematode population densities per gram of feeder root. The rate parameters of regression models suggested that the two cultivars responded similarly to infection by G. t. solanacearum in yield and quality reduction. However, K 326 had a higher yield potential in the absence of nematodes.
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    Reduced Firing of Nucleus Accumbens Parvalbumin Interneurons Impairs Risk Avoidance in DISC1 Transgenic Mice
    Zhou, Xinyi; Wu, Bifeng; Liu, Wenhao; Xiao, Qian; He, Wei; Zhou, Ying; Wei, Pengfei; Zhang, Xu; Liu, Yue; Wang, Jie; He, Jufang; Zhang, Zhigang; Li, Weidong; Wang, Liping; Tu, Jie (2021-06-18)
    A strong animal survival instinct is to approach objects and situations that are of benefit and to avoid risk. In humans, a large proportion of mental disorders are accompanied by impairments in risk avoidance. One of the most important genes involved in mental disorders is disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), and animal models in which this gene has some level of dysfunction show emotion-related impairments. However, it is not known whether DISC1 mouse models have an impairment in avoiding potential risks. In the present study, we used DISC1-N terminal truncation (DISC1-N-TM) mice to investigate risk avoidance and found that these mice were impaired in risk avoidance on the elevated plus maze (EPM) and showed reduced social preference in a three-chamber social interaction test. Following EPM tests, c-Fos expression levels indicated that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) was associated with risk-avoidance behavior in DISC1-N-TM mice. In addition, in vivo electrophysiological recordings following tamoxifen administration showed that the firing rates of fast-spiking neurons (FS) in the NAc were significantly lower in DISC1-N-TM mice than in wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, in vitro patch clamp recording revealed that the frequency of action potentials stimulated by current injection was lower in parvalbumin (PV) neurons in the NAc of DISC1-N-TM mice than in WT controls. The impairment of risk avoidance in DISC1-N-TM mice was rescued using optogenetic tools that activated NAcPV neurons. Finally, inhibition of the activity of NAcPV neurons in PV-Cre mice mimicked the risk-avoidance impairment found in DISC1-N-TM mice during tests on the elevated zero maze. Taken together, our findings confirm an impairment in risk avoidance in DISC1-N-TM mice and suggest that reduced excitability of NAcPV neurons is responsible.
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    Spontaneous incorporation of gold in palladium-based ternary nanoparticles makes durable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction
    Wang, Deli; Liu, Sufen; Wang, Jie; Lin, Ruoqian; Kawasaki, Masahiro; Rus, Eric; Silberstein, Katherine E.; Lowe, Michael A.; Lin, Feng; Nordlund, Dennis; Liu, Hongfang; Muller, David A.; Xin, Huolin L.; Abrun, Hector D. (Nature Publishing Group, 2016-06-01)
    Replacing platinum by a less precious metal such as palladium, is highly desirable for lowering the cost of fuel-cell electrocatalysts. However, the instability of palladium in the harsh environment of fuel-cell cathodes renders its commercial future bleak. Here we show that by incorporating trace amounts of gold in palladium-based ternary (Pd6CoCu) nanocatalysts, the durability of the catalysts improves markedly. Using aberration-corrected analytical transmission electron microscopy in conjunction with synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy, we show that gold not only galvanically replaces cobalt and copper on the surface, but also penetrates through the Pd–Co–Cu lattice and distributes uniformly within the particles. The uniform incorporation of Au provides a stability boost to the entire host particle, from the surface to the interior. The spontaneous replacement method we have developed is scalable and commercially viable. This work may provide new insight for the large-scale production of non-platinum electrocatalysts for fuel-cell applications.