MADS-box encoding gene Tunicate1 positively controls maize yield by increasing leaf number above the ear.

The leaves above the ear serve as a major source of carbohydrates for grain filling in maize. However, increasing the number of leaves above the ear to strengthen the source and improve maize yield remains challenging in modern maize breeding. Here, we clone the causative gene of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with the number of leaves above the ear.

Investigating the protective effect of loganin in ovariectomy‑induced bone loss through network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Loganin, a major iridoid glycoside derived from , exerts strong anti-inflammatory property. The present study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of loganin to reduce estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss through a combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking and validation. First, the drug targets and structural interactions of loganin with osteoclasts on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) were predicted through network pharmacology and molecular docking.

An off-on fluorescence method for acid phosphatase assay based on the inner filter effect of MnO nanosheets on vitamin B.

Fluorescence analysis has attracted much attention due to its rapidity and sensitivity. The present work describes a novel fluorescence detection method for acid phosphatase (ACP) on the basis of inner-filter effect (IFE), where MnO nanosheets (MnO NSs) and vitamin B (VB) are served as absorbers and fluorophores, respectively. In the absence of ACP, the absorption band of MnO NSs overlaps well with the excitation band of VB, resulting in effective IFE and inhibition of VB fluorescence.

A modified electrode based on a 3D reduced graphene oxide and MoS composite for simultaneous detection of sunset yellow and tartrazine.

A 3D reduced graphene oxide (3DrGO) composite loaded with cauliflower-like MoS was prepared. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of 3DrGO and cauliflower-like MoS, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with the 3DrGO-MoS composite (3DrGO-MoS/GCE) displays high sensing performance for sunset yellow (SY) and tartrazine (TZ) at working potentials of 0.795 and 1.

Induction of perineural invasion in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by circular RNA RNF111.

Objective: Local recurrence, distant metastasis, and perineural invasion (PNI) viciously occur in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), resulting in a poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the mechanism by which circular RNA RNF111 (circ-RNF111) regulates PNI in SACC by targeting the miR-361-5p/high mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) axis.

Method: Circ-RNF111 and HMGB2 were highly expressed in SACC specimens, while miR-361-5p was underexpressed.

Convergent loss of anthocyanin pigments is controlled by the same MYB gene in cereals.

Loss of anthocyanin pigments is a common transition during cereal domestication, diversification, and improvement. However, the genetic basis for this convergent transition in cereal remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a chromosomal syntenic block across different species that contained R2R3-MYB genes (c1/pl1) responsible for the convergent decoloring of anthocyanins in cereals.

Transposon Insertion Drove the Loss of Natural Seed Shattering during Foxtail Millet Domestication.

Loss of seed shattering was a key step during cereal domestication, and it greatly facilitated seed harvest of the staple cereal foxtail millet (Setaria italica) because the cereal has very small seeds. However, the genetic basis for this loss has been largely unknown. Here, we combined comparative and association mapping to identify an 855-bp Harbinger transposable element insertion in the second exon of the foxtail millet gene shattering1 (sh1) that was responsible for the loss of seed shattering.

A gene regulatory network for tiller development mediated by Tin8 in maize.

The complex gene regulatory network underlying tiller development in maize remains largely unknown. Here we identified two major quantitative trait loci for tiller number, Tin8 on chromosome 8 and the previously known Tb1 on chromosome 1, in a population derived from a teosinte-maize cross. Map-based cloning and association mapping revealed that Tin8, corresponding to Zcn8 encoding a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding-related kinase, is down-regulated in transcription, which results in decreased tiller number.

Gene duplication drove the loss of awn in sorghum.

Loss of the awn in some cereals, including sorghum, is a key transition during cereal domestication or improvement that has facilitated grain harvest and storage. The genetic basis of awn loss in sorghum during domestication or improvement remains unknown. Here, we identified the awn1 gene encoding a transcription factor with the ALOG domain that is responsible for awn loss during sorghum domestication or improvement.

Opposite response of maize ZmCCT to photoperiod due to transposon jumping.

The new 4.2-kb transposable insertion in the intron of ZmCCT reversely responded relative to the known 5.1-kb transposable insertion to photoperiods between low- and high-latitude regions.

Fibulin-3 affects vascular endothelial function and is regulated by angiotensin II.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of fibulin-3 on vascular endothelial function, and to explore the relevant underlying mechanism with regard to the involvement of angiotensin II (AngII).

Methods: One hundred and eight patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 31 controls were included to measure the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Serum fibulin-3 and AngII were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay.

EFEMP1 as a Potential Biomarker for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy. Our previous study revealed an association between the level of epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) and the invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis of OS. However, the exact correlation between the serum EFEMP1 level and OS diagnosis and progression was unclear.

The tin1 gene retains the function of promoting tillering in maize.

Sweet maize and popcorn retain tillering growth habit during maize diversification. However, the underlying molecular genetic mechanism remains unknown. Here, we show that the retention of maize tillering is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus (QTL), tin1, which encodes a C2H2-zinc-finger transcription factor that acts independently of tb1.

A Large Transposon Insertion in the Promoter Increases Stalk Strength in Maize.

Stalk lodging, which is generally determined by stalk strength, results in considerable yield loss and has become a primary threat to maize () yield under high-density planting. However, the molecular genetic basis of maize stalk strength remains unclear, and improvement methods remain inefficient. Here, we combined map-based cloning and association mapping and identified the gene underlying a major quantitative trait locus for stalk strength in maize.

Genetic Architecture of domestication- and improvement-related traits using a population derived from Sorghum virgatum and Sorghum bicolor.

The genetic basis of domestication and improvement remains largely unknown in sorghum as a typical multiple-origins species. In this study, the F and F populations derived from a cross between Sorghum virgatum and domesticated sorghum were used to study the genetic architecture of domestication- and improvement-related traits. We found that human selection had greatly reshaped sorghum through the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) with large genetic effects in the traits of harvest, plant architecture and grain taste including the reduction of shattering, few branches, short plant stature and the removal of polyphenols from seed.

krn1, a major quantitative trait locus for kernel row number in maize.

Kernel row number is a fundamental component of maize (Zea mays) yield and an important target for maize breeding. The revolutionary transition from the two-rowed teosinte to maize with increased kernel row numbers dramatically enhanced yields during domestication. Kernel row number is controlled by many quantitative trait loci (QTLs), however most genes responsible for these QTLs remain uncharacterised and the molecular genetic mechanisms are unknown.

QTL mapping in a maize F population using Genotyping-by-Sequencing and a modified fine-mapping strategy.

Maize possesses a tremendous genetic diversity, most of which is deposited in a large number of landraces. However, the genetic basis of local diversity from maize landrace remains largely unknown. Traditional fine mapping of the causal gene for complex trait, based on the transition from the quantitative trait locus (QTL) to a single qualitative gene through backcrossing or the construction of heterogeneous inbred family (HIF), has achieved great success in model crop rice.

A new allele of the Brachytic2 gene in maize can efficiently modify plant architecture.

The applications of semi-dwarf genes such as sd1 and Rht1 in rice and wheat resulted in the first "green revolution" in the 1960s. However, such semi-dwarf genes that can efficiently reduce plant stature and have few negative yield traits have not yet been identified in maize. In this study, a new allele of Brachytic2 gene (qpa1) encoding P-glycoprotein was rapidly fine-mapped using a modified method.

The genetic architecture of nodal root number in maize.

The maize nodal root system plays a crucial role in the development of the aboveground plant and determines the yield via the uptake of water and nutrients in the field. However, the genetic architecture of the maize nodal root system is not well understood, and it has become the 'dark matter' of maize genetics. Here, a large teosinte-maize population was analyzed, and high-resolution mapping revealed that 62 out of 133 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), accounting for approximately half of the total genetic variation in nodal root number, were derived from QTLs for flowering time, which was further validated through a transgenic analysis and a genome-wide association study.

Load balancing for multi-threaded PDES of stochastic reaction-diffusion in neurons.

Stochastic simulation of chemical reactions and diffusion in a neuron helps to provide a realistic view of the molecular dynamics within a neuron. We developed a multi-threaded PDES simulator, Neuron Time Warp-Multi Thread, suitable for the stochastic simulation of reaction and diffusion in a neuron. In this paper we make use of Q-Learning and Simulated Annealing to determine the parameters for a dynamic load balancing algorithm and for dynamic window control.

Parallel Stochastic Discrete Event Simulation of Calcium Dynamics in Neuron.

The intra-cellular calcium signaling pathways of a neuron depends on both biochemical reactions and diffusions. Some quasi-isolated compartments (e.g.

Multithreaded Stochastic PDES for Reactions and Diffusions in Neurons.

Cells exhibit stochastic behavior when the number of molecules is small. Hence a stochastic reaction-diffusion simulator capable of working at scale can provide a more accurate view of molecular dynamics within the cell. This paper describes a parallel discrete event simulator, Neuron Time Warp-Multi Thread (NTW-MT), developed for the simulation of reaction diffusion models of neurons.

Fibulin-3 may improve vascular health through inhibition of MMP-2/9 and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Fibulin-3 has been suggested to function in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, however its role remains unclear in hypertensive vascular remodeling. In the current study, 10 Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (control group) and 30 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used. SHRs were randomized into three groups: The placebo group, intravenous (I.

Parallel Domestication of the Heading Date 1 Gene in Cereals.

Flowering time is one of the key determinants of crop adaptation to local environments during domestication. However, the genetic basis underlying flowering time is yet to be elucidated in most cereals. Although staple cereals, such as rice, maize, wheat, barley, and sorghum, have spread and adapted to a wide range of ecological environments during domestication, it is yet to be determined whether they have a common genetic basis for flowering time.