A major vernalization-independent QTL for tiller angle on chromosome arm 2BL in bread wheat

Tiller angle(TA)strongly influences plant architecture and grain yield in cereals.However,the genetic basis of TA in wheat is largely unknown.We identified three TA-related quantitative trait loci(QTL).One of them was QTa.sau-2 B-769,a major QTL localized on chromosome arm 2 BL.QTa.sau-2 B-769 was detected in seven environments,explaining 18.1%–51.1%of phenotypic variance.We developed a linked Kompetitive Allele-Specific Polymerase chain reaction(KASP)marker,KASP-AX-108792274,to further validate this locus in three additional populations in multiple environments.QTa.sau-2 B-769 increased TA by up to 24.9%in these populations.There were significant and positive correlations between TA and flag leaf angle(FLANG).However,TA was not correlated with plant height or anthesis date,suggesting that expression of QTa.sau-2 B-769 is independent of vernalization.Traes CS2 B01 G583800,a gene known to be involved in leaf angle regulation,was identified as the most likely candidate gene for QTa.sau-2 B-769.These results enrich our understanding of the mechanisms regulating wheat TA at maturity and may support precise mapping and cloning of gene(s)underlying QTa.sau-2 B-769.

Multivariate relationships between microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanisms in laser powder bed fusion of Al-Mn-Sc alloy:towards improved fatigue performance

The effects of direct aging treatment(at 300℃ for 5 hours)on selective laser melted(SLMed)Al-4.5Mn-1.5Mg-0.9Sc-0.2Zr alloy were investigated in this work,with the microstructure,fatigue behaviors,and fracture characteristics examined to determine the primary cause of fatigue crack source.The results revealed that the microstructure of the investigated alloy comprised fine equiaxed and columnar grains.Upon aging treatment,a significant number of nano-scaled Al3(Sc,Zr)precipitates were dispersed within the grains,leading to a substantial increase in strengths.The yield strength improved from 431 MPa to 568 MPa,representing an increase of more than 32%,while the fatigue strength improved from 180 MPa to 220 MPa after aging treatment.Nevertheless,the fracture toughness decreased significantly from 25.1 MPa·√m to 12.3 MPa·√m.The results of the fatigue fracture characteristics indicate that the Mn-rich phase and the formation of defects such as pores and poor powder fusion are the sources of fatigue cracking.Although direct aging treatment can significantly increase the yield strength,decrease the rate of fatigue crack propagation,and thus improve the fatigue performance,it deteriorates the fracture toughness,and thus shortens the fatigue life of the alloy as well.

Recent advances in the translation of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics science for drug discovery and development

Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics(DMPK) is an important branch of pharmaceutical sciences.The nature of ADME(absorption,distribution,metabolism,excretion) and PK(pharmacokinetics) inquiries during drug discovery and development has evolved in recent years from being largely descriptive to seeking a more quantitative and mechanistic understanding of the fate of drug candidates in biological systems.Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade,not only in the characterization of physiochemical properties of drugs that influence their ADME,target organ exposure,and toxicity,but also in the identification of design principles that can minimize drug-drug interaction(DDI) potentials and reduce the attritions.The importance of membrane transporters in drug disposition,efficacy,and safety,as well as the interplay with metabolic processes,has been increasingly recognized.Dramatic increases in investments on new modalities beyond traditional small and large molecule drugs,such as peptides,oligonucleotides,and antibody-drug conjugates,necessitated further innovations in bioanalytical and experimental tools for the characterization of their ADME properties.In this review,we highlight some of the most notable advances in the last decade,and provide future perspectives on potential major breakthroughs and innovations in the translation of DMPK science in various stages of drug discovery and development.

Effects of direct aging treatment on microstructure,mechanical properties and residual stress of selective laser melted AlSi10Mg alloy

Direct aging treatment is an important post-processing procedure,yet little research has been done on how it balances the mechanical properties and the stress removal for selective laser melted(SLMed)AlSi10Mg alloys.Here,we proposed a typical direct aging treatment on SLMed AlSi10Mg alloys,and studied the effects on their microstructure,properties and residual stress evolution.The results indi-cate that the as-built microstructure is mainly composed of fine cellularα-Al and reticulated Si phases,and some pre-existing precipitates and dislocations are found in these cells.The direct aging treatment promotes the precipitation of nano-scaled Si phases and preserves a network-like Si structure.Therefore,the strength of the peak-aged alloy increases while the ductility decreases.As the aging temperature in-creases from 160 to 200℃,aging hardening behavior was accelerated significantly.Aging at 160℃ for 4-9 h removes 32.0%-43.0%of the residual stress,which is attributed to the decomposition of the su-persaturatedα-Al matrix,the precipitation of the nano-Si phase and the exposure of low-angle grain boundaries(LAGBs).Considering the overal alloy performance obtained,over-aging at 160℃ for 4 h is the optimized heat treatment regime.Under this condition,the yield strength(YS),ultimate tensile strength(UTS)and elongation(EL)of the alloy in the transverse and longitudinal direction are 309.5 MPa,464.4 MPa and 8.3%and 286.4 MPa,464.9 MPa and 5.1%,respectively.

Eligibility of C-BIOPRED severe asthma cohort for type-2 biologic therapies

To the Editor:Patients with severe persistent asthma experience greater morbidity with more impairment in quality of life despite higher use of health care resources and being treated with existing asthma treatments such as inhaled corticosteroids and b-agonists,and sometimes oral corticosteroid(OCS)therapy.Type-2(T2)high asthma has been identified as a phenotype that responds to targeted T2 biologic therapies such as anti-IgE,anti-interleukin(IL)5,or anti-IL5Ra and anti-IL4Ra monoclonal antibodies,which are currently available in Europe and North America,and are currently introduced in the rest of the world.[1]

Forming process and numerical simulation of making upset on oil drill pipe

The flow stress behavior of grade G-105 steel （API standard） for oil drill pipe in hot compressive deformation was studied by isothermal compression tests on Gleeble- 1500 thermal-mechanical machine. Referring to established empirical formulas, the constitutive equation of the flow stress for G-105 steel was obtained. For the grade G- 105 oil drill pipe （φ114.3× 10.92 mm）, through proper design of the die and applying suitable process parameters, and using coupled rigid viscoplastic thermo-mechanical finite element method, the forming process of making upset on oil drill pipe was numerically simulated. The simulation results show that the internal transition section of the oil drill pipe is not only continuous and smooth but also long （up to about 220-250 mm）.