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Abstract Background The risk of arrhythmia is usually assessed by the length of the corrected QT interval (QTc) when patients use antipsychotics. Prolonged QTc intervals are thought to increase the probability of malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and if we focus only on the QTc interval, we may be influenced by a single factor and make decisions that are not conducive to effective treatment. The index of cardiac electrophysiological balance (iCEB) is considered more valuable than the QTc for predicting drug-induced arrhythmias. It has been used in clinical practice, but no studies have observed changes in this index after the use of antipsychotics. Objective To investigate the changes in ventricular repolarization indices and the occurrence of arrhythmias in patients who have been using antipsychotic drugs for a long time, to compare the changes in iCEBc and QTc and to predict abnormal iCEBc values. Methods Patients with schizophrenia who had been hospitalized for more than 4 years and who were receiving atypical antipsychotics underwent a 12-lead synchronized electrocardiogram (ECG) every 2–4 weeks. The baseline data were measured at admission, defined as the baseline (time0), and the most obvious abnormal changes in ventricular depolarization and repolarization measured every 12 months were one-year follow-up (time1), two-year follow-up (time2), three-year follow-up (time3), and four-year follow-up (time4). Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for comparisons. The types and doses of drugs taken at 5 time points were recorded and converted into chlorpromazine equivalents for comparison. The incidence of arrhythmia during the observation cycle was recorded. Results The patients had been treated with antipsychotic medication for 4 years, and the duration of the QRS wave was longer in males than in females. TpTe, TpTe/QRS, TpTe/QT, TpTe/QTc, iCEB, and iCEBc increased significantly with hospital stay, while TpTe, TpTe/QRS, TpTe/QT, and TpTe/QTc exhibited more obvious changes in these indicators in female patients (P

Abstract Background Smartphone game addiction has emerged as a major public health problem in China and worldwide. In November 2019 and August 2021, the National Press and Publication Administration of China implemented two increasingly strict policies, as a means of preventing smartphone game addiction in adolescents aged 18 or below. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the policies on smartphone game play time, addiction, and emotion among rural adolescents in China. Methods We sent the questionnaire to rural adolescents through the online survey tool Questionnaire Star, a professional online survey evaluation platform. The questionnaire included demographic data, smartphone use survey, smartphone game addiction and emotion evaluation scales. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) measured adolescents’ smartphone game addiction. The Short Version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P) and Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC) measured emotion. According to SAS-SV score, the enrolled rural adolescents were divided into addiction group and non-addiction group. The t-test, Chi-square test, and repeated measure ANOVA assessed the effect of the policies on adolescents’ smartphone game addiction and emotion. Results Among enrolled 459 rural adolescents with a mean age of 14.36 ± 1.37years, 151 (32.90%) were in the addiction group and 308 (67.10%) were in the non-addiction group. Adolescents in the addiction group were older, more male, and higher grade. There were time and group effects between the two groups in playtime. After a year of policies implementation, the weekly game time dropped from 3.52 ± 1.89 h to 2.63 ± 1.93 h in the addiction group and from 2.71 ± 1.75 h to 2.36 ± 1.73 h in the non-addiction group. There were also time and group effects in SAS-SV and SASC scores, but not for SUPPS-P score. In the addiction group, the SAS-SV score dropped from 41.44 ± 7.45 to 29.58 ± 12.43, which was below the cut-off value for addiction, and the level of social anxiety was consistently higher than non-addiction group. Conclusions The playtime of rural adolescents spent on smartphone games has decreased significantly due to the restriction of the policies rather than the lack of addiction or social anxiety. The policies had practically significant effects in reducing smartphone game play time for rural adolescents in China.

BackgroundWhether the construction of broadband infrastructure can alleviate the problem of mismatched medical resources is crucial to the national information strategy, residents’ well-being, and social equity. However, the academic community lacks a comprehensive theoretical analysis and rigorous empirical research on this issue. ObjectiveThis study aims to construct a preliminary theoretical framework to scientifically assess the effects of broadband infrastructure development on the mitigation of health care resource mismatch from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, to explore the potential mechanisms of influence, and ultimately to develop several practical policy recommendations. MethodsWe first used a theoretical analysis to propose testable theoretical hypotheses and establish a preliminary theoretical framework. Then, based on balanced panel data from 300 cities from 2010 to 2021, a 2-way fixed effects difference-in-differences model was used for empirical testing. Mechanism tests, robustness analyses, and heterogeneity analyses were further conducted. ResultsThe research findings demonstrate that the Broadband China Policy significantly reduces the degree of mismatch in medical resources by primarily using innovation effects and integration effects, resulting in a reduction of 13.2%. In addition, the heterogeneity analysis reveals that the central and eastern regions, cities with large populations, and areas with a high proportion of young people benefit more significantly. ConclusionsThis study fully confirms, both theoretically and empirically, that broadband infrastructure construction can effectively reduce the mismatch of medical resources not only by expanding the existing literature on the impact of broadband on public services but also by providing valuable opportunities for policy makers to optimize the allocation of medical resources.

Because plant mechanical strength influences plant growth and development, the regulatory mechanisms underlying cell-wall synthesis deserve investigation. Rice mutants are useful for such research. We have identified a novel brittle culm 25 (bc25) mutant with reduced growth and partial sterility. BC25 encodes an UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase involved in cellulose synthesis and belongs to the UXS family. A single-nucleotide mutation in BC25 accounts for its altered cell morphology and cell-wall composition. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the thickness of the secondary cell wall was reduced in bc25. Monosaccharide analysis revealed significant increases in content of rhamnose and arabinose but not of other monosaccharides, indicating that BC25 was involved in xylose synthesis with some level of functional redundancy. Enzymatic assays suggested that BC25 functions with high activity to interconvert UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) and UDP-xylose. GUS staining showed that BC25 was ubiquitously expressed with higher expression in culm, root and sheath, in agreement with that shown by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. RNA-seq further suggested that BC25 is involved in sugar metabolism. We conclude that BC25 strongly influences rice cell wall formation.

IntroductionCortical neural progenitor cells possess the capacity to differentiate into both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. However, the precise proportions in which these progenitor cells differentiate remain unclear.MethodsHuman fetal prefrontal cortical tissues were collected at various fetal stages and cultured in vitro. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing techniques were employed to analyze the resulting neuronal cell types, cell proportions, and the expression levels of cell-type marker genes.ResultsThe culture of fetal prefrontal cortex tissues obtained at gestation weeks 11 and 20 predominantly consisted of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, respectively. This abrupt transition in cell proportions was primarily driven by the differential lineage specificity of neural progenitors in the fetal cortical tissues at distinct stages of fetal brain development. Additionally, it was observed that the transcriptional profiles of cultured fetal cortical tissues were strongly influenced by the presence of FGF2.DiscussionThis study presents a novel strategy to obtain excitatory and inhibitory neuronal cells from the culture of fetal cortical tissues. The findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying neurogenesis and provide an approach that might contribute to future research investigating the pathophysiology of various neural disorders.

PurposeThere is a lack of rigorous experimental evidence to verify the effects of bubble tea on body weight and mental health, especially whether it is an addictive thing.Materials and methodsMale adult C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to two groups, including the bubble-tea and the control group. The change in their body weight was calculated. Behavior tests include novel object recognition test (NORT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), conditioned place preference (CPP).ResultsThere was a significant time effect on weight change of the two groups (F = 36.83, P < 0.01). The bubble tea-treated mice spent significantly less time in the open arms, indicating an increase in anxiety (t = 2.39, P = 0.03). In FST, bubble tea treatment produced a significantly increased immobility time (186.58 ± 29.67 s) as compared to pure water treated group (112.50 ± 46.67 s) (t = −3.79, P < 0.01). Similarly, the immobility time in the TST was also significantly increased by bubble tea treatment (437.63 ± 27.72 s) compared to the treatment with pure water (340.24 ± 77.22 s) (t = −3.36, P < 0.01). We investigated the rewarding effects of bubble tea, using the CPP paradigm, which measures the rewarding properties of abused drugs. Independent-samples t-test revealed no significant difference between the two groups (t = −0.47, P = 0.65).ConclusionIn conclusion, we showed that long-term administration of bubble tea could not induce addictive behavior in mice. Meanwhile, the long-term effects of bubble tea on weight were also very limited. However, long-term consumption of bubble tea can lead to anxiety and depression-like behaviors and impair cognitive function in mice.

Device-to-device (D2D) communication is a promising wireless communication technology which can effectively reduce the traffic load of the base station and improve the spectral efficiency. The application of intelligent reflective surfaces (IRS) in D2D communication systems can further improve the throughput, but the problem of interference suppression becomes more complex and challenging due to the introduction of new links. Therefore, how to perform effective and low-complexity optimal radio resource allocation is still a problem to be solved in IRS-assisted D2D communication systems. To this end, a low-complexity power and phase shift joint optimization algorithm based on particle swarm optimization is proposed in this paper. First, a multivariable joint optimization problem for the uplink cellular network with IRS-assisted D2D communication is established, where multiple DUEs are allowed to share a CUE’s sub-channel. However, the proposed problem considering the joint optimization of power and phase shift, with the objective of maximizing the system sum rate and the constraints of the minimum user signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), is a non-convex non-linear model and is hard to solve. Different from the existing work, instead of decomposing this optimization problem into two sub-problems and optimizing the two variables separately, we jointly optimize them based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Then, a fitness function with a penalty term is established, and a penalty value priority update scheme is designed for discrete phase shift optimization variables and continuous power optimization variables. Finally, the performance analysis and simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is close to the iterative algorithm in terms of sum rate, but lower in power consumption. In particular, when the number of D2D users is four, the power consumption is reduced by 20%. In addition, compared with PSO and distributed PSO, the sum rate of the proposed algorithm increases by about 10.2% and 38.3%, respectively, when the number of D2D users is four.

The association of IFN-γ receptor 1 (IFNGR1) gene polymorphisms with tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility has not been systematically studied. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to assess their association. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was pooled by the random-effect model. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 12.0 software. Fourteen studies involved 7,699 TB cases and 8,289 controls were included in this meta-analysis. A significant association was found between the IFNGR1 rs2234711 polymorphism and TB susceptibility among Africans in dominant model (OR = 1.24, 95%CI:1.01–1.52), and among Asians in allele model (OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.79–0.99), homozygote model (OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.70–0.98) and additive model (OR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.83–0.97). In addition, a significant association was observed between the IFNGR1 rs7749390 polymorphism and TB susceptibility among Africans in allele model (OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.82–0.98). No significant association was found between the IFNGR1 rs1327474 polymorphism and TB susceptibility. In summary, IFNGR1 rs2234711 polymorphism was associated with increased TB susceptibility in Africans and decreased TB susceptibility in Asians, while IFNGR1 rs7749390 polymorphism was associated with decreased TB susceptibility in Africans.

Abstract Background Grain size and weight are important target traits determining grain yield and quality in rice. Wild rice species possess substantial elite genes that can be served as an important resource for genetic improvement of rice. In this study, we identify and validate a novel QTL on chromosome 7 affecting the grain size and weight using introgression lines from cross of Oryza sativa and Oryza minuta. Results An introgression line ‘IL188’ has been achieved from a wild species Oryza minuta (2n = 48, BBCC, W303) into O. sativa japonica Nipponbare. The F2 and F2:3 populations derived from a cross between IL188 and Nipponbare were used to map QTLs for five grain size traits, including grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain length to width ratio (LWR), grain thickness (GT) and thousand grain weight (TGW). A total of 12 QTLs for the five grain traits were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. The QTL-qGL7 controlling GL on chromosome 7 was detected stably in the F2 and F2:3 populations, and explained 15.09–16.30% of the phenotypic variance. To validate the effect of qGL7, eight residual heterozygous line (RHL) populations were developed through selfing four F2:3 and four F2:4 plants with different heterozygous segments for the target region. By further developing SSR and Indel markers in the target interval, qGL7 was delimited to a ~ 261 kb region between Indel marker Y7–12 and SSR marker Y7–38, which also showed significant effects on grain width and thousand grain weight. Comparing with the reference genome of Nipponbare, stop or frameshift mutations in the exon of the three putative genes LOC_Os07g36830, LOC_Os07g36900 and LOC_Os07g36910 encoding F-box domain-containing proteins may be the candidate genes for qGL7. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the glume’s epidermal cells showed that the cell length and width of NIL-qGL7 IL188 was higher than NIL-qGL7 Nip, indicating that qGL7 increases grain size and weight by regulating cell expansion. Conclusions In this study, we detected 12 QTLs regulating grain size and weight using an introgression line from a cross between Oryza sativa and Oryza minuta. Of these loci, we confirmed and delimited the qGL7 to a ~ 261 kb region. Three putative genes, LOC_Os07g36830, LOC_Os07g36900 and LOC_Os07g36910 encoding F-box domain-containing proteins may be the candidate genes for qGL7. These results provide a basis for map-based cloning of the qGL7 gene and useful information for marker assisted selection in rice grain quality improvement.

BackgroundInternet addiction (IA) symptoms are common among adolescents and negatively impact their academic performance and development. These symptoms are also associated with lower quality of life (QOL) and increased suicidality. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of IA symptoms in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and their association with QOL.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in three general and four psychiatric hospitals in Anhui Province, China, from January to July 2021. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Center for Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Symptom Scale (CES-D), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) were utilized to examine IA, depressive symptoms, and QOL, respectively.ResultsIn a multicenter sample of 278 adolescents with MDD, the prevalence of IA symptoms in adolescents with MDD was 46.8% (95% CI: 40.9–52.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with more severe depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.08), those living in a rural area (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.15–3.27), and those with poor academic performance (OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.42–5.95) were more likely to have IA symptoms. After controlling for confounding factors, patients with IA symptoms had significantly poorer QOL in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains than those without IA symptoms.ConclusionIA symptoms are common in adolescents with MDD and appear to be associated with clinical symptoms. We could not infer a causal relationship between IA and depression because this was a cross-sectional study. Considering the positive association between IA symptoms and lower QOL, screening for IA symptoms should be conducted, and effective measures should be implemented for adolescents with MDD.

Grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight are key agronomic traits that determine grain yield in rice. However, the molecular mechanisms coordinately controlling these traits remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a major QTL, SMG3, that is responsible for grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight in rice, which encodes a MYB-like protein. The SMG3 allele from M494 causes an increase in the number of grains per panicle but produces smaller grain size and thousand grain weight. The SMG3 is constitutively expressed in various organs in rice, and the SMG3 protein is located in the nucleus. Microscopy analysis shows that SMG3 mainly produces long grains by increasing in both cell length and cell number in the length direction, which thus enhances grain weight by promoting cell expansion and cell proliferation. Overexpression of SMG3 in rice produces a phenotype with more grains but reduces grain length and weight. Our results reveal that SMG3 plays an important role in the coordinated regulation of grain size, grain number per panicle, and grain weight, providing a new insight into synergistical modification on the grain appearance quality, grain number per panicle, and grain weight in rice.

Abstract Background Rice rooting ability is a complex agronomical trait that displays heterosis and plays an important role in rice growth and production. Only a few quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been identified by bi-parental population. More genes or QTLs are required to dissect the genetic architecture of rice rooting ability. Results To characterize the genetic basis for rice rooting ability, we used a natural rice population, genotyped by a 90 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, to identify the loci associated with rooting-related traits through the genome-wide association study (GWAS). Population structure analysis divided the natural population into two subgroups: indica and japonica. We measured four traits for evaluating rice rooting ability, namely root growth ability (RGA), maximum root length (MRL), root length (RL), and root number (RN). Using the association study in three panels consisting of one for the full population, one for indica, and one for japonica, 24 SNPs associated with rooting ability-related traits were identified. Through comparison of the relative expression levels and DNA sequences between germplasm with extreme phenotypes, results showed that LOC_Os05g11810 had non-synonymous variations at the coding region, which may cause differences in root number, and that the expression levels of LOC_Os04g09900 and LOC_Os04g10060 are closely associated with root length variation. Conclusions Through evaluation of the rice rooting ability-related traits and the association mapping, we provided useful information for understanding the genetic basis of rice rooting ability and also identified some candidate genes and molecular markers for rice root breeding.

Abstract Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a complex lung pathological lesion secondary to multiple factors and one of the most common chronic lung diseases. It has a poor prognosis, especially in preterm infants. However, effective therapies for this disease are lacking. Stem-cell therapy is a promising way to improve lung injury and abnormal alveolarization, and the human umbilical cord (hUC) is a good source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have demonstrated efficacy in other diseases. We hypothesized that intravenously administered allogeneic hUC-MSCs are safe and effective for severe BPD. Methods The MSC-BPD trial is a randomized, single-center, open-label, dose-escalation, phase-II trial designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of hUC-MSCs in children with severe BPD. In this study, 72 patients will be enrolled and randomly divided into two intervention groups and one control group. Patients in the intervention groups will receive a low dose of hUC-MSCs (n = 24; 2.5 million cells/kg) or a high dose of hUC-MSCs (n = 24; 5 million cells/kg) in combination with traditional supportive treatments for BPD. The patients in the control group (n = 24) will be treated with traditional supportive treatments alone without hUC-MSCs. The primary outcome measures will be cumulative duration of oxygen therapy. Follow-up assessments will be performed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post intervention, and the key outcome during follow-up will be changes on chest radiography. Statistical analyses will evaluate the efficacy of the hUC-MSC treatment. Discussion This will be the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenously administered hUC-MSCs in children with severe BPD. Its results should provide a new evidence-based therapy for severe BPD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03601416 . Registered on 26 July 2018.

The roles of tectonics and climate in the global increased erosion rates during the Quaternary have been the subject of active debate. The Three Rivers Region, strongly influenced by continental convergence between India and Eurasia and change in Asian monsoon climate, is an ideal place to study the interactions between tectonics and surface processes. Here we report new apatite (U-Th)/He data from an elevation transect that reveal a phase of rapid exhumation since ∼2.6 Ma in the Dulong batholith in the central Three Rivers Region, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Based on stream profile analysis and compiled thermochronological data in the region, we demonstrate that the tectonic uplift caused by the high-strain at the corner of Indian-Eurasia convergence is responsible for the enhanced exhumation in the central Three Rivers Region in the Quaternary. Our new results highlight that the continuous plate convergence towards the plateau interior has dominated the uplift and deformation in the southeastern Tibet in the Quaternary.

The centre of the potential well of the quantum-behaviour particle swarm optimization (QPSO) is restricted to the super rectangle which is made up of the local optimal position and the global optimal position. The information sharing mechanism among particles is single, and the algorithm has the problems of premature convergence and low optimization efficiency. To solve this problem, an improved QPSO algorithm is proposed, which integrates social learning and Lévy flights (LSL-QPSO). Firstly, the social learning strategy is used to update the non-optimal particle and improve the global search ability. Then, the Lévy flights strategy is introduced to overcome the shortcoming of the low efficiency of the optimal particle in the social learning mechanism, and further improve the convergence accuracy and search efficiency of the algorithm. Finally, four typical Benchmark functions are tested. The results show that the convergence accuracy, search efficiency and universality of the LSL-QPSO algorithm are ahead of QPSO and other similar QPSO improved algorithms.

ObjectiveTinnitus is a prevalent hearing disorder, which could have a devastating impact on a patient’s life. Functional studies have revealed connectivity pattern changes in the tinnitus brains that suggested a change of network dynamics as well as topological organization. However, no studies have yet provided evidence for the topological network changes in the gray matter. In this research, we aim to use the graph-theoretical approach to investigate the changes of topology in the tinnitus brain using structural MRI data, which could provide insights into the underlying anatomical basis for the neural mechanism in generating phantom sounds.MethodsWe collected 3D MRI images on 46 bilateral tinnitus patients and 46 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Brain networks were constructed with correlation matrices of the cortical thickness and subcortical volumes of 80 cortical/subcortical regions of interests. Global network properties were analyzed using local and global efficiency, clustering coefficient, and small-world coefficient, and regional network properties were evaluated using the betweenness coefficient for hub connectivity, and interregional correlations for edge properties. Between-group differences in cortical thickness and subcortical volumes were assessed using independent sample t-tests, and local efficiency, global efficiency, clustering coefficient, sigma, and interregional correlation were compared using non-parametric permutation tests.ResultsTinnitus was found to have increased global efficiency, local efficiency, and cluster coefficient, indicating generally heightened connectivity of the network. The small-world coefficient remained normal for tinnitus, indicating intact small-worldness. Betweenness centrality analysis showed that hubs in the amygdala and parahippocampus were only found for tinnitus but not controls. In contrast, hubs in the auditory cortex, insula, and thalamus were only found for controls but not tinnitus. Interregional correlation analysis further found in tinnitus enhanced connectivity between the auditory cortex and prefrontal lobe, and decreased connectivity of the insula with anterior cingulate gyrus and parahippocampus.ConclusionThese findings provided the first morphological evidence of altered topological organization of the brain networks in tinnitus. These alterations suggest that heightened efficiency of the brain network and altered auditory-limbic connection for tinnitus, which could be developed in compensation for the auditory deafferentation, leading to overcompensation and, ultimately, an emotional and cognitive burden.

The japonica rice in Northeast China is famous because of its high quality. Eating and cooking qualities (ECQs) are the most important factors that determine cooked rice quality. However, the genetic basis of ECQ of japonica varieties in Northeast China needs further study. In this study, 200 japonica varieties that are widely distributed in Northeast China were collected to evaluate the physicochemical indices of grain ECQs. The distribution of each trait was concentrated without large variations. Correlation analysis indicated that gel consistency (GC) had a significantly negative correlation with gelatinization temperature (GT). By integrating various analyses including kinship calculation, principal component analysis (PCA), linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, and original parent investigation, we found that the japonica varieties in Northeast China exhibited a narrow genetic basis. An association study for grain ECQs was performed and eight quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected. ALK was the major locus that regulated GT and also significantly affecting GC. Through the linkage disequilibrium (LD) and expression pattern analysis, one possible candidate gene (LOC_Os02g29980) was predicted and required further research for validation. Additionally, a different allele of Wx was identified in the variety CH4126, and ALK was not fixed in these japonica varieties. These results further elucidate the genetic basis of ECQs of japonica varieties in Northeast China and provide local breeders some assistance for improving ECQs of rice grain in rice breeding.

Seed dormancy is an important agronomic trait affecting grain yield and quality because of pre-harvest germination and is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. However, our knowledge of the factors controlling seed dormancy remains limited. To better reveal the molecular mechanism underlying this trait, a genome-wide association study was conducted in an indica-only population consisting of 453 accessions genotyped using 5,291 SNPs. Nine known and new significant SNPs were identified on eight chromosomes. These lead SNPs explained 34.9% of the phenotypic variation, and four of them were designed as dCAPS markers in the hope of accelerating molecular breeding. Moreover, a total of 212 candidate genes was predicted and eight candidate genes showed plant tissue-specific expression in expression profile data from different public bioinformatics databases. In particular, LOC_Os03g10110, which had a maize homolog involved in embryo development, was identified as a candidate regulator for further biological function investigations. Additionally, a polymorphism information content ratio method was used to screen improvement footprints and 27 selective sweeps were identified, most of which harbored domestication-related genes. Further studies suggested that three significant SNPs were adjacent to the candidate selection signals, supporting the accuracy of our genome-wide association study (GWAS) results. These findings show that genome-wide screening for selective sweeps can be used to identify new improvement-related DNA regions, although the phenotypes are unknown. This study enhances our knowledge of the genetic variation in seed dormancy, and the new dormancy-associated SNPs will provide real benefits in molecular breeding.

The heading date is a vital factor in achieving a full rice yield. Cultivars with particular flowering behaviors have been artificially selected to survive in the long-day and low-temperature conditions of Northeast China. To dissect the genetic mechanism responsible for heading date in rice populations from Northeast China, association mapping was performed to identify major controlling loci. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three genetic loci, Hd1, Ghd7, and DTH7, using general and mixed linear models. The three genes were sequenced to analyze natural variations and identify their functions. Loss-of-function alleles of these genes contributed to early rice heading dates in the northern regions of Northeast China, while functional alleles promoted late rice heading dates in the southern regions of Northeast China. Selecting environmentally appropriate allele combinations in new varieties is recommended during breeding. Introducing the early indica rice’s genetic background into Northeast japonica rice is a reasonable strategy for improving genetic diversity.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the only cereal crop that possesses the ability to germinate under flooded or other oxygen-deficient conditions. Rapid elongation of the coleoptile is a perfect response to flooding during germination, with coleoptile length differing among various rice varieties. Despite multiple studies have uncovered valuable information concerning this trait by focusing on the physiological metabolism of oxygen stress, the underlying genetic mechanism still remains unknown. In the present study, we screened coleoptile lengths of 432 indica varieties germinated in two environments (normal and flooded) and found more variation existing in flooded coleoptile length (FCL) rather than in normal coleoptile length (NCL). With the phenotypic data of NCL, FCL and FTI (flooding tolerance index), a genome-wide association study was performed by using 5291 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. We detected 2, 11, and 9 significant SNPs under a mixed linear mode for NCL, FCL, and FTI, respectively. Of these SNPs, five were shared by FCL and FTI. Haplotype and phenotype effect analysis on the highest ranking locus indicated one of the two haplotypes contributed to coleoptile elongation remarkably. To better understand the controlling gene of this locus, reported expression profile data was applied. We focused on LOC_Os06g03520, a candidate gene which was highly induced by anoxia (∼507 fold). Sequence analysis in 51 varieties demonstrated Hap.2 associated perfectly with flooding tolerance. Further studies on this gene may help explore the molecular mechanism of rice flooding tolerance during germination. We believe our discoveries may conduce to isolating major genes and aid the improvement of flooding tolerance in modern breeding programs.

Wheat bran, an important by-product of the cereal industry, is rich in potentially health-promoting phenolic compounds. The phenolics are mainly esterified to the cell wall polysaccharides. In our previous paper, wheat bran was destarched and deproteinated by α-amylase, protease and amyloglucosidase successively and further hydrolyzed using Bacillus subtilis xylanases, and the enzymatic hydrolysates from wheat bran (EHWB) showed good scavenging activity in vitro. The aim of this study is to further characterize the antioxidant potential of EHWB against various systems, both ex vivo and in vivo, namely, rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation systems induced by Fe2+/H2O2 and Fe3+-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)/dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), copper- and 2,2’-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation systems, and alloxan-induced in vivo lipid peroxidation in mice. EHWB inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes induced by Fe2+/H2O2 and Fe3+-ADP/NADPH in a concentration-dependent manner with 90.3 and 87 % inhibition of lipid peroxidation at 50 mg/L, respectively, which were similar to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 20 mg/L. The antioxidant potential of EHWB at a concentration ranging from 10 to 20 mg/L in the nonenzymatic system was more effective than in the enzymatic system. EHWB strongly inhibited in vitro copper- and AAPH-mediated oxidation of LDL in a concentration- and time-dependent manner with 52.41 and 63.03 % inhibition at 20 mg/L, respectively, which were similar to that of ascorbate at 10 mg/L. EHWB significantly decreased the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum and liver of alloxan-treated mice compared with the control. These results demonstrated that EHWB might be efficient in the protection of food products and humans against free radical-induced oxidative damage.

Wheat bran was destarched and deproteinated by α-amylase, protease and amyloglucosidase successively, and further hydrolyzed using Bacillus subtilis xylanases. The yield of enzymatic hydrolysates from wheat bran (EHWB) was 1.84 %. The total phenolics were 0.3712 g of ferulic acid equivalents per gram of EHWB. The antioxidant potency of EHWB was evaluated using different assays, such as iron ion chelation, reducing power, scavenging activity against 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reactive oxygen species under in vitro conditions. EHWB exhibited an effective ferrous ion chelating activity and strong reducing power. It also showed a high DPPH radical scavenging activity (89.4 %) at 5.0 mg/mL, which was comparable to that of the synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene. EHWB also exerted a marked scavenging effect on ·OH with an EC50 value of 0.46 mg/mL, which was lower than that of mannitol (1.03 mg/mL), a classical hydroxyl radical scavenger, and obvious antioxidant activities toward O2·- and H2O2.

The system x˙=(A+ϵQ(t))x, where A is a constant matrix whose eigenvalues are not necessarily simple and Q is a quasiperiodic analytic matrix, is considered. It is proved that, for most values of the frequencies, the system is reducible.

It is shown that there are plenty of hyperbolic-elliptic invariant tori, thus quasiperiodic solutions for a class of nonlinear wave equations.

Wild species of Oryza are extremely valuable sources of genetic material that can be used to broaden the genetic background of cultivated rice, and to increase its resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Until recently, there was no sequence information for the BBCC Oryza genome; therefore, no special markers had been developed for this genome type. The lack of suitable markers made it difficult to search for valuable genes in the BBCC genome. The aim of this study was to develop microsatellite markers for the BBCC genome. We obtained 13,991 SSR-containing sequences and designed 14,508 primer pairs. The most abundant was hexanuclelotide (31.39%), followed by trinucleotide (27.67%) and dinucleotide (19.04%). 600 markers were selected for validation in 23 accessions of Oryza species with the BBCC genome. A set of 495 markers produced clear amplified fragments of the expected sizes. The average number of alleles per locus (Na) was 2.5, ranging from 1 to 9. The genetic diversity per locus (He) ranged from 0 to 0.844 with a mean of 0.333. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.290, and ranged from 0 to 0.825. Of the 495 markers, 12 were only found in the BB genome, 173 were unique to the CC genome, and 198 were also present in the AA genome. These microsatellite markers could be used to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships among different Oryza genomes, and to construct a genetic linkage map for locating and identifying valuable genes in the BBCC genome, and would also for marker-assisted breeding programs that included accessions with the AA genome, especially Oryza sativa.

Drainage basins delineate the Earth's land surface into individual water collection units. Basin shape and river sinuosity determine water and sediment dynamics, affecting landscape evolution and connectivity between ecosystems and freshwater species. However, a high-resolution global dataset for the boundaries and geometry of basins is still missing. Using a 90-meter resolution digital elevation model, we measured the areas, lengths, widths, aspect ratios, slopes, and elevations for basins greater than 50 km2 globally. Additionally, we calculated the lengths and sinuosities of the longest river channels within these 0.67 million basins. We built a new global dataset, Basin90m, to present the basins and rivers, as well as their morphological metrics. To highlight the use cases of Basin90m, we explored differences between the nine stream orders, spatial distribution of drainage systems, and correlations between morphological metrics, such as Hack's law. By comparing with HydroSHEDS, Goole Earth images, and a few other datasets, we have demonstrated the high accuracy of Basin90m. Basin90m, available in Shapefile format, can be used in various GIS platforms, including QGIS, ArcGIS, and GeoPandas. Basin90m has substantial application prospects in geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]