A rapid particle concentration method in a sessile droplet has been developed using asymmetric surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation on a substrate upon which the droplet is placed. Due to the asymmetry in the SAW propagation, azimuthal bulk liquid recirculation (acoustic streaming) is generated. Once the local particle concentration is sufficiently high within a particular streamline of the acoustic streaming convective flow, shear-induced migration gives rise to an inward radial force that concentrates the particles at the centre of the droplet. In this paper, a SAW device consists of a 0.75-mm thick, 127.68 degrees Y-X-axis-rotated cut, X-propagating LiNbO3 for a substrate and an interdigital transducer electrode (IDT) with 25 straight finger pairs in a simple repeating pattern, 12 mm aperture, and a wavelength of lambda=440 microm was patterned on the substrate. The IDT was then driven with a sinusoidal signal at the resonance frequency f0 of 8.611 MHz. To investigate the effect of particle type and size on the concentration process, three types of particles were used in this study, including fluorescent particles (1 microm), polystyrene microspheres (3, 6, 20, 45 microm), and living yeast cells (10-20 microm). Different RF powers were applied ranging from 120 to 510 mW. The concentration processes occurs within 2 to 20 s, depending on the particle size, type and input radio frequency (RF) power, much faster than currently available particle concentration mechanisms due to the large convective velocities achieved using the SAW device. Moreover, this concentration method is efficient, concentrating the particles into an aggregate one-tenth the size of the original droplet. Most importantly, bioparticles can also be concentrated by this method; we have verified that yeast cells are not lysed by the SAW radiation during concentration. By using the rapid concentration process described in this work, the breadth of applications and measurement sensitivity of SAW biosensor systems should be greatly enhanced.

BackgroundPlants involved in highly complex and well-coordinated systems have evolved a considerable degree of developmental plasticity, thus minimizing the damage caused by stress. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as key regulators in gene regulation, developmental processes and stress tolerance in plants.ResultsIn this study, soybean miRNAs associated with stress responses (drought, salinity, and alkalinity) have been identified and analyzed in combination with deep sequencing technology and in-depth bioinformatics analysis. One hundred and thirty three conserved miRNAs representing 95 miRNA families were expressed in soybeans under three treatments. In addition, 71, 50, and 45 miRNAs are either uniquely or differently expressed under drought, salinity, and alkalinity, respectively, suggesting that many miRNAs are inducible and are differentially expressed in response to certain stress.ConclusionOur study has important implications for further identification of gene regulation under abiotic stresses and significantly contributes a complete profile of miRNAs in Glycine max.

Soybean is an important legume crop that displays the classic shade avoidance syndrome (SAS), including exaggerated stem elongation, which leads to lodging and yield reduction under density farming conditions. Here, we compared the effects of two shade signals, low red light to far-red light ratio (R:FR) and low blue light (LBL), on soybean status and revealed that LBL predominantly induces excessive stem elongation. We used CRISPR-Cas9-engineered Gmcry mutants to investigate the functions of seven cryptochromes (GmCRYs) in soybean and found that the four GmCRY1s overlap in mediating LBL-induced SAS. Lightactivated GmCRY1s increase the abundance of the bZIP transcription factors STF1 and STF2, which directly upregulate the expression of genes encoding GA2 oxidases to deactivate GA 1 and repress stem elongation. Notably, GmCRY1b overexpression lines displayed multiple agronomic advantages over the wild-type control under both dense planting and intercropping conditions. Our study demonstrates the integration of GmCRY1-mediated signals with the GA metabolic pathway in the regulation of LBL-induced SAS in soybean. It also provides a promising option for breeding lodging-resistant, high-yield soybean cultivars in the future.

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1. Process-level understanding of new particle formation in wintertime Beijing was obtained based on measurement performed by state-of-the-art instruments. 2. The analysis of sulfuric acid cluster composition and budget showed that sulfuric acid-base clustering initiated new particle formation. 3. Condensable organic vapors were characterized and demonstrated to have a crucial influence on the growth of newly formed particles.