3D bioprinting technology provides programmable and customizable platforms to engineer cell‐laden constructs mimicking human tissues for a wide range of biomedical applications. However, the ...encapsulated cells are often restricted in spreading and proliferation by dense biomaterial networks from gelation of bioinks. Herein, a cell‐benign approach is reported to directly bioprint porous‐structured hydrogel constructs by using an aqueous two‐phase emulsion bioink. The bioink, which contains two immiscible aqueous phases of cell/gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) mixture and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), is photocrosslinked to fabricate predesigned cell‐laden hydrogel constructs by extrusion bioprinting or digital micromirror device‐based stereolithographic bioprinting. The porous structure of the 3D‐bioprinted hydrogel construct is formed by subsequently removing the PEO phase from the photocrosslinked GelMA hydrogel. Three different cell types (human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts) within the 3D‐bioprinted porous hydrogel patterns show enhanced cell viability, spreading, and proliferation compared to the standard (i.e., nonporous) hydrogel constructs. The 3D bioprinting strategy is believed to provide a robust and versatile platform to engineer porous‐structured tissue constructs and their models for a variety of applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug development, and personalized therapeutics.
An aqueous two‐phase emulsion bioink is developed to create bioprinted porous‐structured hydrogel constructs. Interconnected micropores within the bioprinted hydrogel constructs enhance the growth, spreading, and proliferation of encapsulated living cells.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
KEY MESSAGE : Twenty-two loci for soybean SW and candidate genes conditioning seed development were identified; and prediction accuracies of GS and MAS were estimated through cross-validation and ...validation with unrelated populations. Soybean (Glycine max) is a major crop for plant protein and oil production, and seed weight (SW) is important for yield and quality in food/vegetable uses of soybean. However, our knowledge of genes controlling SW remains limited. To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying the trait and explore marker-based breeding approaches, we conducted a genome-wide association study in a population of 309 soybean germplasm accessions using 31,045 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and estimated the prediction accuracy of genomic selection (GS) and marker-assisted selection (MAS) for SW. Twenty-two loci of minor effect associated with SW were identified, including hotspots on Gm04 and Gm19. The mixed model containing these loci explained 83.4 % of phenotypic variation. Candidate genes with Arabidopsis orthologs conditioning SW were also proposed. The prediction accuracies of GS and MAS by cross-validation were 0.75–0.87 and 0.62–0.75, respectively, depending on the number of SNPs used and the size of training population. GS also outperformed MAS when the validation was performed using unrelated panels across a wide range of maturities, with an average prediction accuracy of 0.74 versus 0.53. This study convincingly demonstrated that soybean SW is controlled by numerous minor-effect loci. It greatly enhances our understanding of the genetic basis of SW in soybean and facilitates the identification of genes controlling the trait. It also suggests that GS holds promise for accelerating soybean breeding progress. The results are helpful for genetic improvement and genomic prediction of yield in soybean.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The impact of knowledge transfer on foreign subsidiary performance has been a major focus of research on knowledge management in multinational enterprises (MNEs). By integrating the knowledge‐based ...view and the expatriation literature, this study examines the relationship between a multinational firm's knowledge (i.e. marketing and technological knowledge), its use of expatriates, and the performance of its foreign subsidiaries. We conceptualize that expatriates play a contingent role in facilitating the transfer and redeployment of a parent firm's knowledge to its subsidiary, depending on the location specificity of the organizational knowledge being transferred and the time of transfer. Our analysis of 1660 foreign subsidiaries of Japanese firms over a 15‐year period indicates that the number of expatriates relative to the total number of subsidiary employees (1) strengthened the effect of a parent firm's technological knowledge (with low location specificity) on subsidiary performance in the short term, but (2) weakened the impact of the parent firm's marketing knowledge (with high location specificity) on subsidiary performance in the long term. We also found that the expatriates' influence on knowledge transfer eventually disappeared. The implications for knowledge transfer research and the expatriate management literature are discussed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Background Tracheobronchial adenoid cystic carcinoma (TACC) is a rare tumour. About one-third of patients miss their chance of surgery or complete resection as it is mostly detected in the advanced ...stage; hence, photon radiotherapy (RT) is used. However, the outcomes of photon RT remain unsatisfactory. Carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is thought to improve the therapeutic gain ratio; however, the outcomes of CIRT in TACC are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects and toxicities of CIRT in patients with TACC. Methods The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) age 18-80 years; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 0-2; 3) histologically confirmed TACC; 4) stage III-IV disease; 5) visible primary tumour; and 6) no previous RT history. The planned prescription doses of CIRT were 66-72.6 GyE/22-23 fractions. The rates of overall survival (OS), local control (LC), and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment-induced toxicities and tumour response were scored according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, respectively. Results Eighteen patients with a median age of 48 (range 30-73) years were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 20.7 (range 5.8-44.1) months. The overall response rate was 88.2%. Five patients developed lung metastasis after 12.2-41.0 months and one of them experienced local recurrence at 31.9 months after CIRT. The rates of 2-year OS, LC, and PFS were 100, 100, and 61.4%, respectively. Except for one patient who experienced grade 4 tracheal stenosis, which was relieved after stent implantation, no other greater than or equai to3 grade toxicities were observed. Conclusions CIRT might be safe and effective in the management of TACC based on a short observation period. Further studies with more cases and longer observation are warranted. Keywords: Tracheobronchial carcinoma, Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Carbon ion radiotherapy
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Local recurrence in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) after carbon‐ion radiotherapy (CIRT) may partly attribute to low dose‐averaged linear energy transfer (LETd), despite high ...CIRT dose.
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the approaches to up‐modulate the CIRT LETd and to evaluate the corresponding oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) reduction.
Methods
10 LAPCs that had been irradiated by CIRT with 67.5 Gy (RBE) in 15 fractions were selected. Their original plans were taken as the control plan for the LETd and OER investigations. Our considerations for up‐modulating LETd were: (1) to deliver high doses to gross tumor volume core (GTVcore), while keeping dose constraints of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in tolerance; (2) to put more Bragg‐peak (BP) within the modulated targets; (3) to increase the BP density, high doses were necessary; (4) CIRT LETd could be effectively increased to small volumes; and (5) simultaneous integrated boost technique (SIB) could achieve the aforementioned tasks. The LETd and the corresponding OER distributions of each type of SIB plan were evaluated.
Results
We delivered up to 100 Gy (RBE) to GTVcore using SIB. The mean LETd of GTV increased significantly by 21.3% from 47.8 to 58.0 keV/μm (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the mean OER of GTVcore decreased by 6.6%, from 1.51 to 1.41 (p < 0.05). The GI LETdS in all modulated plans were not more than those in the original plans.
Conclusions
SIB could effectively increase CIRT LETd to LAPC, thus producing reduced OER, which may effectively overcome the radioresistance of LAPCs.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Seed sugar composition, mainly including fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose, is an important indicator of soybean
(L.) Merr. seed quality. However, research on soybean sugar ...composition is limited. To better understand the genetic architecture underlying the sugar composition in soybean seeds, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a population of 323 soybean germplasm accessions which were grown and evaluated under three different environments. A total of 31,245 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequencies (MAFs) ≥ 5% and missing data ≤ 10% were selected and used in the GWAS. The analysis identified 72 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with individual sugars and 14 with total sugar. Ten candidate genes within the 100 Kb flanking regions of the lead SNPs across six chromosomes were significantly associated with sugar contents. According to GO and KEGG classification, eight genes were involved in the sugar metabolism in soybean and showed similar functions in Arabidopsis. The other two, located in known QTL regions associated with sugar composition, may play a role in sugar metabolism in soybean. This study advances our understanding of the genetic basis of soybean sugar composition and facilitates the identification of genes controlling this trait. The identified candidate genes will help improve seed sugar composition in soybean.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Achieving appropriate maturity in a target environment is essential to maximizing crop yield potential. In soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr., the time to maturity is largely dependent on developmental ...response to dark periods. Once the critical photoperiod is reached, flowering is initiated and reproductive development proceeds. Therefore, soybean adaptation has been attributed to genetic changes and natural or artificial selection to optimize plant development in specific, narrow latitudinal ranges. In North America, these regions have been classified into twelve maturity groups (MG), with lower MG being shorter season than higher MG. Growing soybean lines not adapted to a particular environment typically results in poor growth and significant yield reductions. The objective of this study was to develop a molecular model for soybean maturity based on the alleles underlying the major maturity loci: E1, E2, and E3.
We determined the allelic variation and diversity of the E maturity genes in a large collection of soybean landraces, North American ancestors, Chinese cultivars, North American cultivars or expired Plant Variety Protection lines, and private-company lines. The E gene status of accessions in the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection with SoySNP50K Beadchip data was also predicted. We determined the E allelic combinations needed to adapt soybean to different MGs in the United States (US) and discovered a strong signal of selection for E genotypes released in North America, particularly the US and Canada.
The E gene maturity model proposed will enable plant breeders to more effectively transfer traits into different MGs and increase the overall efficiency of soybean breeding in the US and Canada. The powerful yet simple selection strategy for increasing soybean breeding efficiency can be used alone or to directly enhance genomic prediction/selection schemes. The results also revealed previously unrecognized aspects of artificial selection in soybean imposed by soybean breeders based on geography that highlights the need for plant breeding that is optimized for specific environments.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Soybean (Glycine max) is a photoperiod-sensitive and self-pollinated species. Days to flowering (DTF) and maturity (DTM), duration of flowering-to-maturity (DFTM) and plant height (PH) are crucial ...for soybean adaptability and yield. To dissect the genetic architecture of these agronomically important traits, a population consisting of 309 early maturity soybean germplasm accessions was genotyped with the Illumina Infinium SoySNP50K BeadChip and phenotyped in multiple environments. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using a mixed linear model that involves both relative kinship and population structure.
The linkage disequilibrium (LD) decayed slowly in soybean, and a substantial difference in LD pattern was observed between euchromatic and heterochromatic regions. A total of 27, 6, 18 and 27 loci for DTF, DTM, DFTM and PH were detected via GWAS, respectively. The Dt1 gene was identified in the locus strongly associated with both DTM and PH. Ten candidate genes homologous to Arabidopsis flowering genes were identified near the peak single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with DTF. Four of them encode MADS-domain containing proteins. Additionally, a pectin lyase-like gene was also identified in a major-effect locus for PH where LD decayed rapidly.
This study identified multiple new loci and refined chromosomal regions of known loci associated with DTF, DTM, DFTM and/or PH in soybean. It demonstrates that GWAS is powerful in dissecting complex traits and identifying candidate genes although LD decayed slowly in soybean. The loci and trait-associated SNPs identified in this study can be used for soybean genetic improvement, especially the major-effect loci associated with PH could be used to improve soybean yield potential. The candidate genes may serve as promising targets for studies of molecular mechanisms underlying the related traits in soybean.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
