SNP-based QTL mapping and identification of panicle structure-related genes in rice.

Rice is a staple crop providing a significant portion of the global food supply. It is then crucial to develop strategies for breeding high-yield cultivars to meet global food security challenges, including the UN's zero-hunger goal. In this study, QTL mapping was employed to pinpoint key genomic regions linked to traits influencing rice yield, with a focus on panicle structure-a critical determinant of grain number.

Stoichiometric Study on Ion Composition of a Precursor in Chemical Bottom-Up Synthesis for Peroxo-Titanate.

Layered alkali titanates of the lepidocrocite type are gaining enormous interest in various fields owing to their unique properties. These materials are mainly synthesized through a hydrothermal alkali treatment. However, this method uses a highly concentrated alkali solution, which has high environmental impacts and is therefore unsuitable for mass synthesis.

Effects of Cation Exchange in Rhodamine B Photocatalytic Degradation Using Peroxo-Titanate Nanotubes.

Lepidocrocite-type layered sodium titanate (NaHTiO) is widely used in environmental remediation because of its large specific surface area, formed by anisotropic crystal growth, and its ability to store and exchange cations between layers. Additionally, peroxo-titanate nanotubes (PTNTs), which are tubular titanates with peroxy groups, exhibit visible-light absorption capabilities, rendering them suitable for photocatalytic applications under visible light irradiation. However, because of cation exchange reactions, the Na concentration and pH of the solution can fluctuate under aqueous conditions, affecting the photocatalytic performance of the PTNTs.

3D spatiotemporally scalable in vivo neural probes based on fluorinated elastomers.

Electronic devices for recording neural activity in the nervous system need to be scalable across large spatial and temporal scales while also providing millisecond and single-cell spatiotemporal resolution. However, existing high-resolution neural recording devices cannot achieve simultaneous scalability on both spatial and temporal levels due to a trade-off between sensor density and mechanical flexibility. Here we introduce a three-dimensional (3D) stacking implantable electronic platform, based on perfluorinated dielectric elastomers and tissue-level soft multilayer electrodes, that enables spatiotemporally scalable single-cell neural electrophysiology in the nervous system.

QTL mapping and improvement of pre-harvest sprouting resistance using weedy rice.

The stability of cultivation and production in terms of crop yield has been threatened by climate change due to global warming. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a threat to crops, especially staple foods, including rice, because of reductions in yield and quality. To address the problem of precocious germination before harvest, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for PHS using F RILs populations derived from weedy rice in Korea.

Identification of Potential QTLs Related to Grain Size in Rice.

Rice is a major crop, providing calories and food for most of the world's population. Currently, the global population is rapidly increasing, and securing a yield of rice that can satisfy everyone is an ongoing challenge. The yield of rice can be increased by controlling 1000-grain weight as one of the important determining factors.

Application of a Novel Quantitative Trait Locus Combination to Improve Grain Shape without Yield Loss in Rice ( L. spp. ).

Grain shape is one of the key factors deciding the yield product and the market value as appearance quality in rice ( L.). The grain shape of cultivars in Korea is quite monotonous because the selection pressure of rice breeding programs works in consideration of consumer preference.

A facile bottom-up method for synthesis of peroxo-potassium titanate nanoribbons and visible light photocatalytic activity derived from a peroxo-titanium bond.

Low-dimensional titanate nanostructures are gaining attention as a promising material for various photocatalytic applications. However, these conventional titanium oxide-based materials cannot utilize visible light because of their wide bandgap, and their synthesis generally requires high-alkali (10 mol L) and high-temperature (160-200 °C) conditions. Here, we report facile bottom-up synthesis for the visible light-activated peroxo-titanate nanoribbon (PTNR).

Characterization and QTL Mapping of a Major Field Resistance Locus for Bacterial Blight in Rice.

Bacterial blight (BB) disease, caused by pv. (), is among the major factors that can cause rice yields to decrease. To address BB disease, researchers have been looking for ways to change pesticides and cultivation methods, but developing resistant cultivars is the most effective method.

Identification of QTL Combinations that Cause Spikelet Sterility in Rice Derived from Interspecific Crosses.

Background: The exploitation of useful genes through interspecific and intersubspecific crosses has been an important strategy for the genetic improvement of rice. Postzygotic reproductive isolation routinely occurs to hinder the growth of pollen or embryo sacs during the reproductive development of the wide crosses.

Result: In this study, we investigated the genetic relationship between the hybrid breakdown of the population and transferred resistance genes derived from wide crosses using a near-isogenic population composed of 225 lines.

High-Throughput Magnetic Actuation Platform for Evaluating the Effect of Mechanical Force on 3D Tumor Microenvironment.

Accurately replicating and analyzing cellular responses to mechanical cues is vital for exploring metastatic disease progression. However, many of the existing platforms for applying mechanical stimulation seed cells on synthetic substrates. To better recapitulate physiological conditions, a novel actuating platform is developed with the ability to apply tensile strain on cells at various amplitudes and frequencies in a high-throughput multi-well culture plate using a physiologically-relevant substrate.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Resveratrol α-Glucoside by Amylosucrase of .

Glycosylation of resveratrol was carried out by using the amylosucrase of , and the glycosylated products were tested for their solubility, chemical stability, and biological activities. We synthesized and identified these two major glycosylated products as resveratrol-4'--α-glucoside and resveratrol-3--α-glucoside by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis with a ratio of 5:1. The water solubilities of the two resveratrol--glucoside isomers (-piceid isomers) were approximately 3.

Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of dye molecules by TiC-MXenes.

MXenes, a new class of 2D materials, have recently attracted increasing attention as promising adsorbents for environmental remediation. It has been previously demonstrated that MXenes can successfully capture selected organic dyes from aqueous media; however, to date, the adsorption performance of MXenes for a wide variety of dyes in simulated real-life aquatic environments other than clean laboratory deionized (DI) water has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we systematically investigated the adsorption performance of delaminated TiC-MXenes for six different organic dyes in aquatic media at different pH levels and ionic strengths.

Bulk Nanoencapsulation of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) via Spontaneous Spreading of a UV-Curable Prepolymer.

Phase change materials (PCMs) have received considerable attention for various latent heat storage systems for efficient thermal energy utilization. Herein, a facile and fast method for the bulk nanoencapsulation of organic PCMs is proposed, based on the thermodynamically spontaneous spreading phenomenon of three immiscible liquid phases. In this approach, a complete engulfing of PCM nanodroplets (core phase) by immiscible prepolymer droplets (coating phase), both of which are bulk-dispersed in another immiscible medium (continuous phase), is thermodynamically driven by the relation between the surface energies of the core, coating, and continuous phases.

Effects of Fractal Electrode Geometry in Charge Injection Capacity of TiN Microelectrodes.

Microelectrodes are basic tools for investigating small-scale brain dynamics. Noble metals such as gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and iridium oxide (IrO) have been used as an electrode material because of their biocompatibility and good charge transfer capability. Their main charge transfer mechanism is the Faradaic process with redox reactions.

Enhancing Visible Light Absorption of Yellow-Colored Peroxo-Titanate Nanotubes Prepared Using Peroxo Titanium Complex Ions.

Visible light-activated yellow titanate nanotubes (TNTs) modified by peroxo groups were directly synthesized via a facile chemical reaction route using peroxo titanium complex ions as a precursor. Obtained peroxo-modified TNTs (PTNTs) possessed a cylindrical-shaped tubular morphology with an outer diameter of approximately 10 nm. The peroxo titanium functional group (Ti-O-O) was formed between the interlayers of the lepidocrocite-type titanate crystal that was the base structure of TNTs, with the interlayer distance estimated at approximately 10.

A pickering emulsion stabilized by chlorella microalgae as an eco-friendly extrusion-based 3D printing ink processable under ambient conditions.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is actively utilized in various industrial fields because it facilitates effective and customizable fabrication of complex structures. An important processing route for 3D printing is the extrusion of inks in the form of colloidal suspensions or emulsions, which has recently attracted considerable attention because it allows for selection of a wide range of printing materials and is operable under ambient processing conditions. Herein, we investigate the 3D printability of complex fluids containing chlorella microalgae as an eco-friendly material for 3D printing.

Yield Stress Enhancement of a Ternary Colloidal Suspension via the Addition of Minute Amounts of Sodium Alginate to the Interparticle Capillary Bridges.

Capillary suspensions are ternary solid-liquid-liquid systems produced via the addition of a small amount of secondary fluid to the bulk fluid that contained the dispersed solid particles. The secondary fluid could exert strong capillary forces between the particles and dramatically change the rheological properties of the suspension. So far, research has focused on capillary suspensions that consist of additive-free fluids, whereas capillary suspensions with additives, particularly those of large molecular weight that are highly relevant for industrial purposes, have been relatively less studied.

Effects of Annealing Temperature on the Crystal Structure, Morphology, and Optical Properties of Peroxo-Titanate Nanotubes Prepared by Peroxo-Titanium Complex Ion.

This study addresses the effects of annealing temperatures (up to 500 °C) on the crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of peroxo groups (-O-O-) containing titanate nanotubes (PTNTs). PTNTs, which possess a unique tubular morphology of layered-compound-like hydrogen titanate structure (approximately 10 nm in diameter), were synthesized using peroxo-titanium (Ti-O-O) complex ions as a precursor under very mild conditions-temperature of 100 °C and alkali concentration of 1.5 M-in the precursor solution.

Polyelectrolyte-grafted TiC-MXenes stable in extreme salinity aquatic conditions for remediation of contaminated subsurface environments.

MXenes, an emerging class of two-dimensional materials, are recently gaining significant attention for numerous environmental applications owing to their superior hydrophilicity and unique surface functionalities, which are suitable for adsorptive removal of various aqueous contaminants. However, it has recently been shown that MXenes have poor colloidal stability in both synthetic or natural waters containing small amounts of salt ions, which will limit the potential uses of MXenes in remediation of subsurface environments that might sometimes contain considerable amounts of salt ions, and other relevant environmental applications. Herein, we develop TiC-MXenes grafted with highly salt-resistant polyelectrolytes (PEs), MXene--PEs, which are colloidally stable in extreme salinity aquatic environments and have low adsorption to soil mineral substrates.

Fabrication and evaluation of activated carbon-Pt microparticle based glutamate biosensor.

As one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the brain and the spinal cord, glutamate plays many important roles in the nervous system. Precise information about the level of glutamate in the extracellular space of living brain tissue may provide new insights on fundamental understanding of the role of glutamate in neurological disorders as well as neurophysiological phenomena. Electrochemical sensor has emerged as a promising solution that can satisfy the requirement for highly reliable and continuous monitoring method with good spatiotemporal resolution for characterization of extracellular glutamate concentration.

QTL mapping for pre-harvest sprouting resistance in japonica rice varieties utilizing genome re-sequencing.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) leads to serious economic losses because of reductions in yield and quality. To analyze the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PHS resistance in japonica rice, PHS rates on panicles were measured in 160 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between the temperate japonica varieties Odae (PHS resistant) and Unbong40 (PHS susceptible) under two different environmental conditions-field (summer) and greenhouse (winter) environments. Genome re-sequencing of the parental varieties detected 266,773 DNA polymorphisms including 248,255 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 18,518 insertions/deletions.

A Systematic Investigation on the Properties of Silica Nanoparticles "Multipoint"-Grafted with Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate--acrylic Acid) in Extreme Salinity Brines and Brine-Oil Interfaces.

Nanoparticles (NPs) may have great potential for various subsurface applications, including oil and gas recovery, reservoir imaging, and environmental remediation. One of the important challenges for these downhole applications is to achieve colloidal stability in subsurface media at high salinity and high temperature. It has been previously shown that several functional NPs "multipoint"-grafted with anionic poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate--acrylic acid; AMPS--AA) exhibited remarkable colloidal stabilities in specific environments mimicking the harsh subsurface aquatic media, such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) brine.

Improving the Glossiness of Cooked Rice, an Important Component of Visual Rice Grain Quality.

Background: Rice is one of the few cereals consumed as a whole grain, and therefore the appearance of the final milled product, both before and after cooking, strongly influences the consumer's perception of product quality. Matching consumer preference for rice grain quality is a key component of rice variety development programs, as the quality drives demand, which in turn drives variety adoption, market price, and profitability. The quality of cooked rice is normally evaluated indirectly, through measurement of key elements driving quality as well as more directly by sensory evaluation, but remains a complex trait conditioned by the genetic complexity of factors driving quality, changes wrought by environment, and the complexity of consumer preferences.