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Suitable plant height (PH) and ear height (EH) can improve the efficiency of nutrient utilization and lodging resistance, which is of great significance for stable and high yield in maize. In this study, an association panel including 854 maize inbred lines used to analyze the PH, EH, and the ratio of EH to PH (EH/PH) in four environments, and genome-wide association study (GWAS) was then conducted using 2795 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers distributed uniformly throughout maize genome. A total of 81 SNP loci (P < 0.0001) were identified by using FarmCPU model, among which 35 SNPs were significantly associated with PH, with phenotypic variation explained (PVE) ranging from 0.020% to 6.225%; 31 SNPs were significantly associated with ear height, and PVE was from 0.026% to 3.060%; 24 SNPs were significantly associated with EH/PH, and the PVE ranged from 0.032% to 6.636%. 15 stable SNPs that were repeatedly detected in multiple environments for specific trait were further identified, among which six loci were reported for the first time in this study, and the remaining nine loci located in the previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) or/and no more than 2 Mb with the known SNPs related with PH and EH traits. A total of 83 genes were annotated in the confidence intervals of the 15 stable SNPs, and the most likely candidate genes were further predicted according to the gene functional annotations and comparison with previous reports. The candidate genes were mainly involved in hormone synthesis and signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, cell division regulation and so on. Finally, six major SNP loci and one locus that affected PH, EH, and EH/PH simultaneously were identified. This study can provide genetic loci for molecular marker-assisted selection in maize breeding and provide valuable information for fine mapping and cloning of PH and EH related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf angle (LA) is one of the important components of the canopy structure in maize, which can directly affect the distribution of light and CO2 in the canopy and the light capture efficiency of the population, thus affecting the yield of maize. In order to analysis the genetic basis of maize LA traits, an association panel including 854 maize inbred lines was used to analyze the first (ULA1), second (ULA2), and third (ULA3) upper leaf angle of ears in five environments, and then 2795 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers distributed on 10 chromosomes of maize genome were used for genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of LA traits based on FarmCPU (fixed and random model circulating probability unification) model. Eighty-one significant SNP associations were identified, among which 26, 27, and 28 significant SNPs associated with ULA1, ULA2, and ULA3, and phenotypic variation explained (PVE) for each SNP was 0.03%--9.68%, 0.06%--9.30%, and 0.01%--8.23%, respectively. We further identified 17 heigh-confidence SNPs repeatedly detected for specific trait, among which three loci were firstly reported in this study, 14 loci located within the intervals that had been previously mapped, and nine SNPs were associated with more than one LA trait. Seven SNPs with PVE > 5% were classified as major SNPs, and thus nine germplasms combining the seven elite alleles with small LAs were isolated. Through searching the candidate regions of the 17 high-confidence SNPs, a total of 131 candidate genes were predicated, and a key gene DRL1 known to regulate LA of maize that located 70 kb downstream of PZE-101039301 on chromosome 1 was also identified as one of candidate genes. In summary, the genetic loci and candidate genes identified by this study will be useful for revealing the genetic mechanism of maize LA traits, and provide clues for cloning LA correlated genes. The identified elite alleles and germplasm resources can be used to increase maize yield by molecular marker-assisted selection of LA traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seam floor 12-2 in Kailuan Donghuantuo Mine was an example to investigate the discharge of water-rich aquifer for fulfilling entire and efficient drainage in coal-bearing strata. The aquifer features were comprehensively analyzed according to its spatial distribution of hydrogeological parameter, control effect of geological structure, water burst features of exposed spots of aquifer and its supply conditions of aquifer. It is concluded that water-rich zone is upper -500 level and there is a good hydraulic connection along bedding, and three sub-water-rich units are zoned along the strike. Numerical simulation method was used to have predicted out discharge effect of exposed water burst spots and strong run-off area in the target time period. According this, three centers of discharge of water and drilling layout were determined. After practicing the layout of discharge of water, successfully, the aquifer was whole intensively drained in the target time period; it ensured that the first mining face of seam floor 12-2 was normally mined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

{P 6 Mo 18 } poly(oxometalate) (POM) clusters have huge steric hindrance and limited active oxygen atoms, which make them difficult to combine with metal-organic units to form three-dimensional (3D) porous structures. Therefore, functionalization of such POMs has always been a bottleneck that is difficult to break through. In this study, {P 6 Mo 18 } POM was successfully grafted on a lock-like metal-organic chain to generate a multiporous coordination polymer, [{Na(H 2 O)(H 2 btb)}{Cu 4 I (H 2 O)(pz) 5 Cl}{H 2 Sr⊂P 6 Mo 2 V Mo 16 VI O 73 }]·3H 2 O ( 1 ) (pz = pyrazine; btb = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazole) butane). Meanwhile, a zero-dimensional (0-D) control compound with only btb ligands as counterions, (H 4 btb)[H 4 Sr⊂P 6 Mo 2 V Mo 16 VI O 73 ]·3H 2 O ( 2 ), was also obtained via a hydrothermal reaction. Compound 1 represents the first basket-type 3D poly(oxometalate) metal-organic framework (POMOF) assembly, which possesses interpenetrating pores and complex topology. 1 -GO-CPE displays improved supercapacitor (SC) performance (the specific capacitance of 929.4 F g -1 at a current density of 3 A g -1 with 94.1% of cycle efficiency after 5000 cycles) compared with 2 -GO-CPE and most reported POMOF electrode materials, which may be due to the outstanding redox capability of basket-POM, introduction of metal-organic chains, intersecting pores, and excellent conductivity of graphene. An asymmetric SC device with 1 -GO-CPE as the negative electrode exhibits an energy density of 29.7 Wh kg -1 with a power density of 3148.2 W kg -1 and long-lasting cycling life. In addition, 1 -GO-GCE as an electrochemical sensor responds to dopamine (DA) at a voltage of 0.40 V and shows lower detection limits (0.19 μM (signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) = 3)), higher selectivity, and good reproducibility in the linear range of 0.56 μM to 0.24 mM. The ability to accurately detect the content of DA in biological samples further proves the feasibility of the sensor in practical applications.

In insects, the mode of Cry1A toxins action has been studied in detail and many receptors that participate in the process are known. Recent evidence has revealed that an ABC transporter (ABCC2) is involved in conferring resistance to Cry1A toxins and that ABCC2 could be a receptor of Cry1A. However, it is not known whether Cry1Ca interacts with the same receptor proteins as Cry1A. In this study, we report the cloning of an ABC transporter gene, SeABCC2b, from the midgut of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) larvae, and its expression in Sf9 cells for a functional analysis. The addition of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac to Sf9 cell culture caused swelling in 28.5% and 93.9% of the SeABCC2-expressing cells, respectively. In contrast, only 7.4% and 1.3% of the controls cells swelled in the presence of Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac. Thus, SeABCC2b-expressing Sf9 cells had increased susceptibility to Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac. Similarly, S. exigua cadherin (SeCad1b) expressed in Sf9 cells caused 47.1% and 1.8% of the SeCad1b-expressing cells to swell to Cry1Ca and Cry1Ac exposure. Therefore, Sf9 cells expressing SeCad1b were more sensitive to Cry1Ca than Cry1Ac. Together, our data suggest that SeABCC2b from S. exigua mediates Cry1Ac cytotoxicity and, in conjunction with SeCad1b, contributes to enhance Cry1Ca toxicity in Sf9 cells., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)