Dissection of heterotic loci for grain yield using interconnected chromosome segment substitution lines in rice

Heterosis contributes greatly to crop production, but the genetic basis of heterosis is not fully understood.To identify heterotic loci(HLs) for grain yield, 12 yield traits were evaluated in four rice(Oryza sativa L.)mapping populations: one parental population of chromosome segment substitution lines derived from a cross between the japonica cultivar Nipponbare and indica cultivar 9311 and three connected test populations in either a homozygous 9311 genetic background or a heterozygous background. A total of 390 HLs were detected for the measured traits in two environments. The genetic bases of heterosis differed between the backcross and testcross populations. At least 10 HLs were confirmed in F1 hybrids between9311 and near-isogenic lines, each of which carried a heterotic locus of interest in the same 9311 background. All 10 showed overdominant or dominant effects on grain yield and yield components. Among them, three were verified as being associated with yield heterosis and colocalized in the same regions as those containing previously reported heterosis-associated genes. Five HLs were identified to be promising candidate loci that could be used to achieve more than 15% yield heterosis in several commercial rice hybrids. These findings suggest the potential of indica or japonica introgression for increasing yield in hybrid rice breeding programs.

Exosome-loaded extracellular matrix-mimic hydrogel with anti-inflammatory property Facilitates/promotes growth plate injury repair

Growth plate cartilage has limited self-repair ability,leading to poor bone bridge formation post-injury and ultimately limb growth defects in children.The current corrective surgeries are highly invasive,and outcomes can be unpredictable.Following growth plate injury,the direct loss of extracellular matrix(ECM)coupled with further ECM depletion due to the inhibitory effects of inflammation on the cartilage matrix protein greatly hinder chondrocyte regeneration.We designed an exosome(Exo)derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)loaded ECM-mimic hydrogel to promote cartilage repair by directly supplementing ECM and anti-inflammatory properties.Aldehyde-functionalized chondroitin sulfate(OCS)was introduced into gelatin methacryloyl(GM)to form GMOCS hydrogel.Our results uncovered that GMOCS hydrogel could significantly promote the synthesis of ECM due to the doping of OCS.In addition,the GMOCS-Exos hydrogel could further promote the anabolism of chondrocytes by inhibiting inflammation and ultimately promote growth plate injury repair through ECM remodeling.

A learning-based approach for efficient visualization construction

We propose an approach to underpin interactive visual exploration of large data volumes by training Learned Visualization Index(LVI).Knowing in advance the data,the aggregation functions that are used for visualization,the visual encoding,and available interactive operations for data selection,LVI allows to avoid time-consuming data retrieval and processing of raw data in response to user’s interactions.Instead,LVI directly predicts aggregates of interest for the user’s data selection.We demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach in application to two use cases of spatio-temporal data at different scales.

Optimal operation modes of photovoltaicbattery energy storage system based power plants considering typical scenarios

Recent advances in battery energy storage technologies enable increasing number of photovoltaic-battery energy storage systems(PV-BESS)to be deployed and connected with current power grids.The reliable and efficient utilization of BESS imposes an obvious technical challenge which needs to be urgently addressed.In this paper,the optimal operation of PV-BESS based power plant is investigated.The operational scenarios are firstly partitioned using a self-organizing map(SOM)clustering based approach.The revenue optimization model is adopted for the PV-BESS power plants to determine the optimal operational modes under typical conditions for a set of considerations,e.g.power generation revenue,assessing rewards/penalties as well as peak shaving/valley filling revenue.The solution is evaluated through a set of case studies,and the numerical result demonstrates the effectiveness of the suggested solution can optimally operate the BESS with the maximal revenue.