Analysis of candidate genes identified via genome-wide association analysis of sugar-related traits in maize kernels.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a globally significant crop, with its kernel sugar content playing a crucial role in determining nutritional quality and industrial applications. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying sugar-related traits in maize kernels through genome-wide association studies.

A metabolic roadmap of waxy corn flavor.

As well as being a popular vegetable crop worldwide, waxy corn represents an important amylopectin source, but little is known about its breeding history and flavor characteristics. In this study, through comparative-omic analyses between 318 diverse waxy corn and 507 representative field corn inbred lines we revealed that many metabolic pathways and genes exhibited selection characteristics during the breeding history of waxy corn, contributing to the divergence between waxy and field corn. We showed that waxy corn is not only altered in its glutinous property but also its sweetness, aroma, and palatability are all significantly affected.

Combining association with linkage mapping to dissect the phenolamides metabolism of the maize kernel.

Phenolamides are important secondary metabolites in plant species. They play important roles in plant defense responses against pathogens and insect herbivores, protection against UV irradiation and floral induction and development. However, the accumulation and variation in phenolamides content in diverse maize lines and the genes responsible for their biosynthesis remain largely unknown.

Multi-omics assists genomic prediction of maize yield with machine learning approaches.

Unlabelled: With the improvement of high-throughput technologies in recent years, large multi-dimensional plant omics data have been produced, and big-data-driven yield prediction research has received increasing attention. Machine learning offers promising computational and analytical solutions to interpret the biological meaning of large amounts of data in crops. In this study, we utilized multi-omics datasets from 156 maize recombinant inbred lines, containing 2496 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 46 image traits (i-traits) from 16 developmental stages obtained through an automatic phenotyping platform, and 133 primary metabolites.

Two teosintes made modern maize.

The origins of maize were the topic of vigorous debate for nearly a century, but neither the current genetic model nor earlier archaeological models account for the totality of available data, and recent work has highlighted the potential contribution of a wild relative, ssp. . Our population genetic analysis reveals that the origin of modern maize can be traced to an admixture between ancient maize and ssp.

A pan-Zea genome map for enhancing maize improvement.

Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is at the vanguard facing the upcoming breeding challenges. However, both a super pan-genome for the Zea genus and a comprehensive genetic variation map for maize breeding are still lacking.

ScCO-assisted fabrication and compressive property of poly (lactic acid) foam reinforced by in-situ polytetrafluoroethylene fibrils.

As an effective alternative for petrochemical-based polymers, bio-based poly (lactic acid) (PLA) foam has been anticipated to alleviate enormous environmental pollution caused by microplastics. However, some difficulties involved in PLA foaming process due to the inherently poor melt strength and crystallization properties. In this context, a small amount of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was incorporated into PLA matrix to solve the aforementioned issues.

Target-oriented prioritization: targeted selection strategy by integrating organismal and molecular traits through predictive analytics in breeding.

Genomic prediction in crop breeding is hindered by modeling on limited phenotypic traits. We propose an integrative multi-trait breeding strategy via machine learning algorithm, target-oriented prioritization (TOP). Using a large hybrid maize population, we demonstrate that the accuracy for identifying a candidate that is phenotypically closest to an ideotype, or target variety, achieves up to 91%.

Facile Fabrication of PBS/CNTs Nanocomposite Foam for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

In order to reduce the pollutants of environment and electromagnetic waves, environment friendly polymer foams with outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding are imminently required. In this paper, a kind of electromagnetic shielding, biodegradable nanocomposite foam was fabricated by blending poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) followed by foaming with supercritical CO . The crystallization temperature and melting temperature of PBS/CNTs nanocomposites with 4 wt % of CNTs increased remarkably by 6 °C and 3.

The genetic mechanism of heterosis utilization in maize improvement.

Background: In maize hybrid breeding, complementary pools of parental lines with reshuffled genetic variants are established for superior hybrid performance. To comprehensively decipher the genetics of heterosis, we present a new design of multiple linked F1 populations with 42,840 F1 maize hybrids, generated by crossing a synthetic population of 1428 maternal lines with 30 elite testers from diverse genetic backgrounds and phenotyped for agronomic traits.

Results: We show that, although yield heterosis is correlated with the widespread, minor-effect epistatic QTLs, it may be resulted from a few major-effect additive and dominant QTLs in early developmental stages.

ZEAMAP, a Comprehensive Database Adapted to the Maize Multi-Omics Era.

As one of the most extensively cultivated crops, maize (Zea mays L.) has been extensively studied by researchers and breeders for over a century. With advances in high-throughput detection of various omics data, a wealth of multi-dimensional and multi-omics information has been accumulated for maize and its wild relative, teosinte.

MaizeCUBIC: a comprehensive variation database for a maize synthetic population.

MaizeCUBIC is a free database that describes genomic variations, gene expression, phenotypes and quantitative trait locus (QTLs) for a maize CUBIC population (24 founders and 1404 inbred offspring). The database not only includes information for over 14M single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and 43K indels previously identified but also contains 660K structure variations (SVs) and 600M novel sequences newly identified in the present study, which represents a comprehensive high-density variant map for a diverse population. Based on these genomic variations, the database would demonstrate the mosaic structure for each progeny, reflecting a high-resolution reshuffle across parental genomes.

Metabolomics analysis reveals differences in evolution between maize and rice.

Metabolites are the intermediate and final products of metabolism, which play essential roles in plant growth, evolution and adaptation to changing climates. However, it is unclear how evolution contributes to metabolic variation in plants. Here, we investigated the metabolomics data from leaf and seed tissues in maize and rice.

CUBIC: an atlas of genetic architecture promises directed maize improvement.

Background: Identifying genotype-phenotype links and causative genes from quantitative trait loci (QTL) is challenging for complex agronomically important traits. To accelerate maize gene discovery and breeding, we present the Complete-diallel design plus Unbalanced Breeding-like Inter-Cross (CUBIC) population, consisting of 1404 individuals created by extensively inter-crossing 24 widely used Chinese maize founders.

Results: Hundreds of QTL for 23 agronomic traits are uncovered with 14 million high-quality SNPs and a high-resolution identity-by-descent map, which account for an average of 75% of the heritability for each trait.

Modified kissing balloon inflation associated with better results after Culotte stenting for bifurcation lesions: A bench test.

Background: Main vessel (MV) stent deformation and overstretch caused by classical kissing balloon inflation (C-KBI) using two balloons with a longer overlapping in the MV for bifurcation lesions has caused a widespread concern.

Purpose: This bench study tested our hypothesis that mini-KBI (M-KBI) with a shorter protrusion of side branch (SB) balloon would ascertain a better result after Culotte stenting.

Methods: Twenty-four coronary stents were deployed using Culotte approach in twelve bifurcation models with a bifurcation angle of 45°, 3.

Genome assembly of a tropical maize inbred line provides insights into structural variation and crop improvement.

Maize is one of the most important crops globally, and it shows remarkable genetic diversity. Knowledge of this diversity could help in crop improvement; however, gold-standard genomes have been elucidated only for modern temperate varieties. Here, we present a high-quality reference genome (contig N50 of 15.

The genetic architecture of amino acids dissection by association and linkage analysis in maize.

Amino acids are both constituents of proteins, providing the essential nutrition for humans and animals, and signalling molecules regulating the growth and development of plants. Most cultivars of maize are deficient in essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan. Here, we measured the levels of 17 different total amino acids, and created 48 derived traits in mature kernels from a maize diversity inbred collection and three recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations.

Maize orthologs of rice GS5 and their trans-regulator are associated with kernel development.

Genome information from model species such as rice can assist in the cloning of genes in a complex genome, such as maize. Here, we identified a maize ortholog of rice GS5 that contributes to kernel development in maize. The genome-wide association analysis of the expression levels of ZmGS5, and 15 of its 26 paralogs, identified a trans-regulator on chromosome 7, which was a BAK1-like gene.

Effect of Intracoronary Plus Low-Dose Intravenous Tirofiban in Elderly Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: To investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose tirofiban in elderly patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: One hundred and four patients aged 70 years and above undergoing PPCI for AMI were divided into control (n=52) and study (n=52) groups. All patients received bolus intracoronary injection of tirofiban (10μg/kg), which was followed by intravenous infusion at 0.

Enhanced external counterpulsation inhibits endothelial apoptosis via modulation of BIRC2 and Apaf-1 genes in porcine hypercholesterolemia.

Objectives: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) could improve endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of carotid artery and restore imbalance of nitric oxide and endothein-1 in patients with coronary artery disease. Our study was designed to test the hypothesis that long-term EECP may protect vascular endothelial cells from apoptosis by modifying apoptosis-related gene expression.

Methods: Eighteen male Yorkshire pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: usual diet (Normal), high cholesterol diet (HC) and high cholesterol diet plus EECP (HC+EECP).

Low-dose nesiritide improves renal function in heart failure patients following acute myocardial infarction.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of low-dose nesiritide on renal function and major cardiac events in patients with acute decompensated heart failure following acute myocardial infarction. Sixty patients were randomized into nesiritide (loading dose 0.5 microg/kg, maintenance dose 0.

Enhanced external counterpulsation promotes growth cytokines-mediated myocardial angiogenesis in a porcine model of hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) improves ischemia in patients with refractory angina pectoris, but the mechanism remains unclear. To explore the mechanisms of EECP action, we detected progenitor cells presenting any of the following markers CD34(+), CD29(+), and CD106(+).

Methods: Growth cytokines-mediated progenitor cell mobilization and associated angiogenesis potential were assessed in a porcine model of hypercholesterolemia.

[Effect of external counterpulsation on morphological damage of endomembrane and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in the carotid arteries in hypercholesterolemic pigs].

Objective: To explore the effect of long-term enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on morphological damage of endomembrane and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of the carotid arteries of hypercholesterolemic pigs.

Methods: Eighteen male infant pigs were randomly divided into three groups according to the contents of their diet: the normal control group (n=6), the high-cholesterol feeding control group (n=6) and EECP group (n=6). Porcine model of hypercholesterolemia was reproduced by feeding animals with high-cholesterol diet.