A long non-coding RNA functions as a competitive endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 by acting as a decoy for tae-miR6206.

Increasing evidence indicates a strong correlation between the deposition of cuticular waxes and drought tolerance. However, the precise regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near-isogenic lines, the glaucous line G-JM38 rich in cuticular waxes and the non-glaucous line NG-JM31. We identified 85,143 protein-coding mRNAs, 4,485 lncRNAs, and 1,130 miRNAs. Using the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and endogenous target mimic (eTM) prediction, we discovered that lncRNA35557 acted as an eTM for the miRNA tae-miR6206, effectively preventing tae-miR6206 from cleaving the NAC transcription factor gene TaNAC018. This lncRNA-miRNA interaction led to higher transcript abundance for TaNAC018 and enhanced drought-stress tolerance. Additionally, treatment with mannitol and abscisic acid (ABA) each influenced the levels of tae-miR6206, lncRNA35557, and TaNAC018 transcript. The ectopic expression of TaNAC018 in Arabidopsis also improved tolerance toward mannitol and ABA treatment, whereas knocking down TaNAC018 transcript levels via virus-induced gene silencing in wheat rendered seedlings more sensitive to mannitol stress. Our results indicate that lncRNA35557 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to modulate TaNAC018 expression by acting as a decoy target for tae-miR6206 in glaucous wheat, suggesting that non-coding RNA has important roles in the regulatory mechanisms responsible for wheat stress tolerance.

Characterization of the powdery mildew resistance locus in wheat breeding line Jimai 809 and its breeding application.

Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a severe disease that affects the yield and quality of wheat. Popularization of resistant cultivars in production is the preferred strategy to control this disease. In the present study, the Chinese wheat breeding line Jimai 809 showed excellent agronomic performance and high resistance to powdery mildew at the whole growth stage. To dissect the genetic basis for this resistance, Jimai 809 was crossed with the susceptible wheat cultivar Junda 159 to produce segregation populations. Genetic analysis showed that a single dominant gene, temporarily designated PmJM809, conferred the resistance to different Bgt isolates. PmJM809 was then mapped on the chromosome arm 2BL and flanked by the markers CISSR02g-1 and CIT02g-13 with genetic distances 0.4 and 0.8 cM, respectively, corresponding to a physical interval of 704.12-708.24 Mb. PmJM809 differed from the reported Pm genes on chromosome arm 2BL in origin, resistance spectrum, physical position and/or genetic diversity of the mapping interval, also suggesting PmJM809 was located on a complex interval with multiple resistance genes. To analyze and screen the candidate gene(s) of PmJM809, six genes related to disease resistance in the candidate interval were evaluated their expression patterns using an additional set of wheat samples and time-course analysis post-inoculation of the Bgt isolate E09. As a result, four genes were speculated as the key candidate or regulatory genes. Considering its comprehensive agronomic traits and resistance findings, PmJM809 was expected to be a valuable gene resource in wheat disease resistance breeding. To efficiently transfer PmJM809 into different genetic backgrounds, 13 of 19 closely linked markers were confirmed to be suitable for marker-assisted selection. Using these markers, a series of wheat breeding lines with harmonious disease resistance and agronomic performance were selected from the crosses of Jimai 809 and several susceptible cultivars. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-024-01467-8.

Proximal femoral tumor resection followed by joint prosthesis replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prognostic outcome of hip joint replacement after resection of proximal femoral tumors by reviewing original studies. METHODS: Two researchers independently searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from inception to July 17, 2022. Then, the literature was screened by inclusion criteria. The basic information, primary outcomes, and secondary outcomes were extracted for weighted combined analysis. The quality of the included literature was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: Twenty-four retrospective cohort studies comprising 2081 patients were included. The limb salvage rate was 98%. The survival rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 80, 72, 65, 64, and 55% for patients with primary tumors and the rate at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 44, 25, 17, 14, and 11% for patients with bone metastases, respectively. CONCLUSION: As chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment progressed, joint reconstruction after proximal femoral tumor resection improved patients' function and quality of life.

Functional analysis of polyphenol oxidase 1 gene in common wheat.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity is a major cause of the undesirable brown color of wheat-based products. Ppo1, a major gene for PPO activity, was cloned based on sequence homology in previous studies; however, its function and regulation mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the function and genetic regulation of Ppo1 were analyzed using RNA interference (RNAi) and Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) technology, and superior mutants were identified. Compared with the control, the level of Ppo1 transcript in RNAi transgenic lines was drastically decreased by 15.5%-60.9% during grain development, and PPO activity was significantly reduced by 12.9%-20.4%, confirming the role of Ppo1 in PPO activity. Thirty-two Ppo1 mutants were identified in the ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized population, including eight missense mutations, 16 synonymous mutations, and eight intron mutations. The expression of Ppo1 was reduced significantly by 6.7%-37.1% and 10.1%-54.4% in mutants M092141 (G311S) and M091098 (G299R), respectively, in which PPO activity was decreased by 29.7% and 28.8%, respectively, indicating that mutation sites of two mutants have important effects on PPO1 function. Sequence and structure analysis revealed that the two sites were highly conserved among 74 plant species, where the frequency of glycine was 94.6% and 100%, respectively, and adjacent to the entrance of the hydrophobic pocket of the active site. The M092141 and M091098 mutants can be used as important germplasms to develop wheat cultivars with low grain PPO activity. This study provided important insights into the molecular mechanism of Ppo1 and the genetic improvement of wheat PPO activity.

Single Crystalline Transparent Conducting F, Al, and Ga Co-Doped ZnO Thin Films with High Photoelectrical Performance.

Transparent conductive film (TCF) is a material that integrates electrical conductivity and optical transparency. It is widely used as an electrode material in thin-film solar cells. However, considerable progress is needed to facilitate its high performance and low-cost preparation. In this study, a preparation scheme for AlF3 and GaF3 co-doped ZnO (FAGZO) thin films was designed and implemented by magnetron sputtering (MS). The mutual restraint between the electrical properties and the wide-spectrum transmission performance of ZnO films was resolved. First-principles calculations showed that the doped ZnO system had n-type conductivity and that the most stable structure was the FO-AlZn-GaZn system. The experimental results verified the theoretical predictions. Single crystalline ZnO transparent conducting films (ZnO-TCFs) of high quality were achieved by MS. After rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment, the mobility reached 49.6 cm2/V s, and the resistivity decreased to 3.82 × 10-4 Ω cm. The AT was 90% between 380 and 1200 nm. Furthermore, the application of the prepared FAGZO film in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been verified. Compared to the reference indium tin oxide film, the PSCs using the FAGZO film showed higher JSC and power conversion efficiency. These results demonstrate that MS combined with anion and cation co-doping provides an effective means of exploring high-quality and high-performance ZnO-TCFs.

How to mitigate the inhibitory effect of organizational inertia on corporate digital entrepreneurship?

As a novel way for incumbent firms to discover and utilize entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital era, corporate digital entrepreneurship (CDE) is significant for realizing digital transformation through dealing with organizational sclerosis and bureaucratization. Previous studies have identified the variables having positive effects on CDE and put forward practical solutions to promoting CDE. However, the majority of them have ignored the variables having negative effects on CDE and how to mitigate the inhibitory effects. In order to fill the research gap, this study investigates the causal relationship between organizational inertia (OI) and CDE and examines the moderating roles of internal factors such as digital capability (DC) and entrepreneurial culture (EC) as well as external factors such as institutional support (IS) and strategic alliance (SA). Based on multiple linear regression (symmetric) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (asymmetric) using survey data from 349 Chinese firms, the results demonstrate that OI has a significant negative effect on CDE. In addition, DC, EC, and SA play negative moderating roles in the relationship between OI and CDE, which means that they could reduce the inhibitory effect derived from OI when incumbent firms implement CDE. Moreover, dividing OI into three dimensions discovers that the moderating roles of DC, EC, and SA present different features. This study enriches the literature on corporate entrepreneurship and provides valuable practical implications for incumbent firms to achieve successful CDE by revealing how to overcome the inertia deeply embedded in organizations.

Genome-wide analysis of hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channel (OSCA) family members and their involvement in various osmotic stresses in Brassica napus.

Plant hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channel (OSCA) is a calcium permeable cation channel that responds to hyperosmotic stress and plays a pivotal role in plant growth, development and stress response. Through a genome-wide survey, 41 OSCA genes were identified from the genome of Brassica napus. The OSCA family genes were unevenly distributed over 14 chromosomes of B. napus and phylogenetic analysis separated the OSCA family into four clades. Motif analyses indicated that OSCA proteins in the same clade were highly conserved and the protein conserved motifs shared similar composition patterns. The OSCA promoter regions contained many hormone-related elements and stress response elements. Gene duplication analysis elucidated that WGD/segmental duplication was the main driving force for the expansion of OSCA genes during evolution and these genes mainly underwent purifying selection. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis of different tissues showed that OSCA genes are expressed and function mainly in the root. Among these genes, BnOSCA3.1a and BnOSCA3.1c had relatively high expression levels under osmotic stresses and cold stress and were highly expressed in different tissues. Protein interaction network analysis showed that a total of 5802 proteins might interact with OSCAs in B. napus, while KEGG/GO enrichment analysis indicated that OSCAs and their interacting proteins were mainly involved in plant response to abiotic stress. This systematic analysis of the OSCAs in B. napus identified gene structures, evolutionary features, expression patterns and related biological processes. These findings will facilitate further functional and evolutionary analysis of OSCAs in B. napus for breeding of osmotic-stress-resistant plants.

How improvisation drives lean search: The moderating role of entrepreneurial team heterogeneity and environmental uncertainty.

Although lean search is seen as an important action in lean startup, previous studies have less knowledge on how to realize it, especially in the face of traditional plans that cannot cope with sudden changes in the environment. To fill the research gap, this study investigates the effects of improvisation (exploitative, explorative, and ambidextrous improvisation) on lean search. Meanwhile, this research also discusses the moderating effects of entrepreneurial team heterogeneity and the environmental uncertainty to identify the boundary conditions of this relationship. Supported by the cross-sectional data from 203 Chinese startups, the results show that explorative and ambidextrous improvisation are positively associated with lean search. However, the effect of exploitative improvisation on lean search is unsupported. Additionally, technology uncertainty positively moderates the relationship between exploitative improvisation and lean search. Market uncertainty positively moderates the relationship between explorative improvisation and lean search. However, the entrepreneurial team heterogeneity negatively moderates the relationship between ambidextrous improvisation and lean search. These findings contribute to understanding how startups could conduct lean search in a rapidly changing environment, which provides theoretical guidance for improving the success rate of startups.

Intelligent Performance Evaluation of Urban Subway PPP Project Based on Deep Neural Network Model.

Neural network refers to an algorithmic mathematical model that imitates the behavioral characteristics of animal neural networks and performs distributed information processing. This kind of network depends on the complexity of the system and needs to adjust the internal node relationship, so as to achieve the purpose of processing information. With the continuous development of the economy, the transportation problem needs to be solved urgently, and the urban subway has emerged at the historic moment. The subway is a fast, large-capacity, electric-driven rail transit built in the city. The advantages of the subway provide conditions for the mitigation of urban traffic, due to the large number of cars, traffic jams, frequent accidents, and serious environmental pollution. In the city center, there are more cars and less space, and the parking lot is not commensurate with the number of cars, making parking difficult. This paper aims to study the intelligent performance evaluation of urban subway PPP projects based on deep neural network models. The subway project has a large investment, a long period, and a wide range, but the development time of the subway in China is relatively short. In order to promote the stable progress of subway projects, it is very necessary to conduct intelligent performance evaluation on subway projects. This paper compares and analyzes the basic characteristics of the PPP model and verifies the applicability and necessity of the PPP model in urban subway transportation projects. Through the investigation of relevant literature, this article puts forward the research content of the social impact assessment of subway projects. The experimental results of this paper show that, from the perspective of whether it is necessary to evaluate the performance of PPP projects, 65% of people think it is very necessary, and 22% think it is more necessary. 3% of people think it is unnecessary, and 10% of people hold an indifferent attitude. These data show that the intelligent performance evaluation of urban subway PPP projects has exploratory significance for urban infrastructure design and construction.

Cinobufagin inhibits tumor progression and reduces doxorubicin resistance by enhancing FOXO1-mediated transcription of FCGBP in osteosarcoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cinobufagin (Huachansu), an aqueous extract from the dried skin of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor (frog skin), is a biologically active ingredient of a traditional Chinese medicine cinobufacini that can treat multiple bone pathological conditions such as bone pain, bone tumors, and osteosarcoma. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to explore the roles and molecular mechanisms of cinobufagin underlying osteosarcoma development and doxorubicin (ADR) resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability, migration, and invasion were examined by CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays, respectively. RNA sequencing analysis was performed in MNNG/HOS cells treated with or without cinobufagin. The relationships of cinobufagin, forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), and Fc fragment of IgG binding protein (FCGBP) were examined by luciferase reporter, immunofluorescence (IF), RT-qPCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays together with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) analysis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker levels were examined through the Western blot assay. The function and molecular basis of cinobufagin in osteosarcoma were further investigated by mouse xenograft experiments. RESULTS: Cinobufagin reduced cell viability, weakened ADR resistance, and inhibited cell migration/invasion/EMT in osteosarcoma cells. Cinobufagin enhanced FOXO1-mediated transcription of downstream genes including FCGBP. FCGBP knockdown partly abrogated the effect of cinobufagin on osteosarcoma cell development. Cinobufagin inhibited the growth of mouse osteosarcoma xenografts in vivo. Cinobufagin reduced the expression of Ki-67 and MMP9 and facilitated caspase-3 expression in osteosarcoma xenografts. CONCLUSION: Cinobufagin suppressed tumor progression and reduced ADR resistance by potentiating FOXO1-mediated transcription of FCGBP in osteosarcoma.

The Effect of Big Data Analytics Capability on Competitive Performance: The Mediating Role of Resource Optimization and Resource Bricolage.

Although big data analytics capability (BDAC) leads to competitive performance, the mechanism of the relationship is still unclear. To narrow the research gap, this paper investigates the mediating roles of two forms of resource integration (resource optimization and resource bricolage) in the relationship between two forms of BDAC [big data analytics (BDA) management capability and BDA technology capability] and competitive performance. Supported by Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and the cross-sectional survey data from 219 Chinese enterprises, the results show that the resource bricolage plays a significantly mediating role in the relationships between BDA management capability and competitive performance as well as in the relationship between BDA technology capability and competitive performance. Furthermore, the mediating effect in the former relationship is stronger than that in the latter relationship. Additionally, BDA technology capability only has a direct effect on resource bricolage, while BDA management capability has a stronger effect on resource optimization than that on resource bricolage. Finally, resource bricolage has a stronger impact on competitive performance than resource optimization. These findings contribute to understanding how enterprises could apply different forms of BDAC to other kinds of resource integration to achieve outstanding competitive performance.

The Source of SMEs' Competitive Performance in COVID-19: Matching Big Data Analytics Capability to Business Models.

Literature notes that firms are keen to develop big data analytics capability (BDAC, e.g. big data analytics (BDA) management and technology capability) to improve their competitive performance (e.g. financial performance and growth performance). Unfortunately, the extant literature has limited understanding of the mechanisms by which firms' BDAC affects their competitive performance, especially in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using resource capability as the theoretical lens, this paper specifically examines how BDAC influences SMEs' competitive performance via the mediating role of business models (BMs). Also, this study explores the moderating effect of COVID-19 on the relationship between BDAC and BMs. Supported by Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and data from 242 SMEs in China, this study finds the mediating roles of infrastructure and value attributes of BMs in enhancing the relationship of BDAC on competitive performance. Furthermore, the improvement of financial performance comes from the matching of BDA management capability with infrastructure attributes of BMs, while the improvements in growth come from the matching of BDA management capability and BDA technology capability with value attributes of BMs. The result also confirms the positive moderating effects of COVID-19 on the relationship of BDA management capability and value attributes of BMs. This study enriches the integration of BDAC and BMs literature by showing that the match between BDAC and BMs is vital to achieve competitive performance, and it is helpful for managers to adopt an informed BDA strategy to promote widespread use of BDAs and BMs.

Posttranscriptional inhibition of γ-adducin promotes the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells.

OBJECTIVE: The expression of cytoskeleton-related protein γ-adducin (ADD3) was abnormally reduced in some tumors. Functional experiments demonstrated that it could inhibit the malignant progression of lung cancer and glioma, whereas the involvement of ADD3 in osteosarcoma was not clear. This study aimed to investigate the role of ADD3 in osteosarcoma and its upstream regulatory mechanisms. METHODS: ADD3 was knocked down by siRNA transfection and the expression level of ADD3 was determined using quantitative real-time PCR assay and Western blot. CCK-8 assay and colony formation were performed to detect the capacity of cell proliferation. Transwell assay and PI and Annexin V-FITC staining were used to determine cell migration and apoptosis, respectively. Luciferase reporter experiment was performed to investigate the interaction between ADD3 and miR-23b-3p. RESULTS: Based on gene silencing assays, we showed that knockdown of ADD3 suppressed apoptosis and promoted the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells, revealing inhibitory effects of ADD3 in osteosarcoma. Luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that miR-23b-3p could bind to the 3'-UTR of ADD3. Upregulation of miR-23b-3p not only inhibited the expression of ADD3, but also released the tumor suppressive role of ADD3 on the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that ADD3 functioned as a tumor suppressor gene during osteosarcoma development. The abnormal upregulation of miR-23b-3p targeted the expression of ADD3 and resulted in accelerated osteosarcoma cell proliferation and migration. Thus, the miR-23b-3p/ADD3 axis contributes to the development of osteosarcoma and ADD3 is a key driver of malignancy.

Effects of the different waxy proteins on starch biosynthesis, starch physicochemical properties and Chinese noodle quality in wheat.

Noodles are an important food in Asia. Wheat starch is the most important component in Chinese noodles. Loss of the waxy genes leads to lower activity of starch synthesis enzymes and decreased amylose content that further affects starch properties and noodle quality. To study the effects of different waxy (Wx) protein subunits on starch biosynthesis and processing quality, the high-yielding wheat cultivar Jimai 22 was treated with the mutagen ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) to produce a population of Wx lines and chosen 7 Wx protein combinations. The amylose content increased but swelling power decreased as the number of Wx proteins increased. Both GBSS activity and gene expression were the lowest for the waxy mutant, followed by the mutants with 1 Wx protein. The combinations of these mutant alleles lead to reductions in both RNA expression and protein levels. Noodles made from materials with 2 Wx protein subunits had the highest score, which agreed with peak viscosity. The influence of the Wx-B1 protein on amylose synthesis and noodle quality was the highest, whereas the influence of Wx-A1 protein was the lowest. Mutants with lower amylose content caused by the absence of 1 subunit, especially the Wx-B1 subunit, had superior noodle quality. Additionally, the identified mutant lines can be used as intermediate materials to improve wheat quality. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-022-01292-x.

Identification and Evaluation of Wheat-Aegilops bicornis Lines with Resistance to Powdery Mildew and Stripe Rust.

Wheat pathogens, especially those causing powdery mildew and stripe rust, seriously threaten yield worldwide. Utilizing newly identified disease resistance genes from wheat relatives is an effective strategy to minimize disease damage. In this study, chromosome-specific molecular markers for the 3Sb and 7Sb chromosomes of Aegilops bicornis were developed using PCR-based landmark unique gene primers for screening wheat-A. bicornis progenies. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to further identify wheat-A. bicornis progenies using oligonucleotides probes Oligo-pSc119.2-1, Oligo-pTa535-1, and Oligo-(GAA)8. After establishing A. bicornis 3Sb and 7Sb chromosome-specific FISH markers, Holdfast (common wheat)-A. bicornis 3Sb addition, 7Sb addition, 3Sb(3A) substitution, 3Sb(3B) substitution, 3Sb(3D) substitution, 7Sb(7A) substitution, and 7Sb(7B) substitution lines were identified by the molecular and cytological markers. Stripe rust and powdery mildew resistance, along with agronomic traits, were investigated to evaluate the breeding potential of these lines. Holdfast and Holdfast-A. bicornis progenies were all highly resistant to stripe rust, indicating that the stripe rust resistance might derive from Holdfast. However, Holdfast-A. bicornis 3Sb addition, 3Sb(3A) substitution, 3Sb(3B) substitution, and 3Sb(3D) substitution lines showed high resistance to powdery mildew while Holdfast was highly susceptible, indicating that chromosome 3Sb of A. bicornis carries previously unknown powdery mildew resistance gene(s). Additionally, the transfer of the 3Sb chromosome from A. bicornis to wheat significantly increased tiller number, but chromosome 7Sb has a negative effect on agronomic traits. Therefore, wheat germplasm containing A. bicornis chromosome 3Sb has potential to contribute to improving powdery mildew resistance and tiller number during wheat breeding.

Has breeding altered the light environment, photosynthetic apparatus, and photosynthetic capacity of wheat leaves?

Whether photosynthesis has improved with increasing yield in major crops remains controversial. Research in this area has often neglected to account for differences in light intensity experienced by cultivars released in different years. Light intensity is expected to be positively associated with photosynthetic capacity and the resistance of the photosynthetic apparatus to high light but negatively associated with light-utilization efficiency under low light. Here, we analyzed the light environment, photosynthetic activity, and protein components of leaves of 26 winter wheat cultivars released during the past 60 years in China. Over time, light levels on flag leaves significantly decreased due to architectural changes, but photosynthetic rates under high or low light and the resistance of the photosynthetic apparatus to high light remained steady, contrary to expectations. We propose that the difference between the actual and expected trends is due to breeding. Specifically, breeding has optimized photosynthetic performance under high light rather than low light. Moreover, breeding selectivity altered the stoichiometry of several proteins related to dynamic photosynthesis, canopy light distribution, and photoprotection. These results indicate that breeding has significantly altered the photosynthetic mechanism in wheat and its response to the light environment. These changes likely have helped increase wheat yields.

Molecular and genetic dissection of the USDA rice mini-core collection using high-density SNP markers.

Molecular tools and knowledge of crop germplasm are vital for their effective utilization. In this study, we developed 40,866 high-quality and well distributed SNPs for a rice mini-core collection (RMC) developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The high-quality SNPs clustered the USDA-RMC into five subpopulations (Ind, indica; Aus, aus; Afr, African rice; TeJ, temperate japonica; TrJ, tropical japonica) and one admixture (Adm). This classification was further confirmed by phylogenetic and principal component analyses. The rice ARO (aromatic) subpopulation of previous studies was re-assigned with Adm and the WD (wild-type) subpopulation was re-defined to the Afr subpopulation because most of its accessions are African cultivated rice. The Aus and Ind subpopulations had a substantially wider genetic variation than the TrJ and TeJ subpopulations. The genetic diversities were much larger between the Ind or Aus subpopulation and the TrJ or TeJ subpopulation than between the Afr subpopulation and the Ind, Aus, TrJ or TeJ subpopulation. Comparative agronomic trait analysis between the subpopulations also supported the genetic structure and variation of the RMC, and suggested the existence of extensive variation in the genes controlling agronomic traits among them. Furthermore, analysis of ancestral membership of the RMC accessions revealed that reproductive barrier or wide incompatibility existed between the Indica and Japonica groups, while gene flow occurred between them. These results provide high-quality SNPs and knowledge of genetic structure and diversity of the USDA-RMC necessary for enhanced rice research and breeding.

Probing Multidimensional Mechanical Phenotyping of Intracellular Structures by Viscoelastic Spectroscopy.

Mechanical phenotyping of complex cellular structures gives insight into the process and function of mechanotransduction in biological systems. Several methods have been developed to characterize intracellular elastic moduli, while direct viscoelastic characterization of intracellular structures is still challenging. Here, we develop a needle tip viscoelastic spectroscopy method to probe multidimensional mechanical phenotyping of intracellular structures during a mini-invasive penetrating process. Viscoelastic spectroscopy is determined by magnetically driven resonant vibration (about 15 kHz) with a tiny amplitude. It not only detects the unique dynamic stiffness, damping, and loss tangent of the cell membrane-cytoskeleton and nucleus-nuclear lamina but also bridges viscoelastic parameters between the mitotic phase and interphase. Self-defined dynamic mechanical ratios of these two phases can identify two malignant cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa-HPV18+, SiHa-HPV16+) whose membrane or nucleus elastic moduli are indistinguishable. This technique provides a quantitative method for studying mechanosensation, mechanotransduction, and mechanoresponse of intracellular structures from a dynamic mechanical perspective. This technique has the potential to become a reliable quantitative measurement method for dynamic mechanical studies of intracellular structures.

Magnetic biohybrid micromotors with high maneuverability for efficient drug loading and targeted drug delivery.

Recent progress of untethered mobile micromotors has shown immense potential for targeted drug delivery in vivo. However, designing a wireless micromotor with high maneuverability and biocompatibility and achieving controlled drug release with high efficiency at a specific position remains a great challenge. Herein, we present a pine pollen-based micromotor (PPBM) and demonstrate its potential application as a cargo carrier for targeted drug delivery. These multifunctional biohybrid micromotors were massively and inexpensively fabricated by the encapsulation of magnetic particles (Fe3O4) and medicine into the two hollow air sacs of pine pollen, via vacuum loading. PPBMs successfully inherit the intrinsic functionalities of pine pollen: structural uniformity, morphological stability, biocompatibility, autofluorescence (AF) and physicochemical robustness. Under an external magnetic field, the loaded Fe3O4 enables individual and swarm PPBMs to propel precisely in complex biological fluids. Capitalizing on the magnetic nanoparticle aggregation phenomenon under a powerful magnetic field, controlled release of the therapeutic cargo is achieved using a fluid field generated by the rotating magnetic agglomerate. The biohybrid micromotors reported here turn natural pine pollen into active and controllable cargo carriers for biomedical applications.