The Suwan population is a well-known maize germplasm that has greatly contributed to the development of maize breeding in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in southern China. Inbred lines ...derived from the Suwan population always contain stronger resistance and extensive adaptability in different environments. To evaluate the genetic character of inbred lines derived from the Suwan population, a panel including 226 inbred line derived from the Suwan population and temperate resources was assembled and genotyped by using MaizeSNP50 BeadChip, which contained 56,110 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. This panel contained 98 temperate inbred line and 128 lines derived from the Suwan population.
The results showed that high genetic diversity was found, with PIC and GD to be 0.67 and 0.60, respectively. In addition, two novel subgroups were identified, with representative inbred lines as HCL645 and Ki32, respectively. One acknowledged heterotic group of Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (SS) was also identified in this study. This study can provide some additional scientific evidence for heterotic group division and use in maize. Additionally, lower linkage disequilibrium (LD) levels and weaker genetic relationships were found, with an average LD level of 41.15 kb that varied from 3.5 to 96 kb. A total of 82.8% of paired relative kinships ranged from 0.05 to 0.28.
These results would not only facilitate maize breeding practices in tropical and subtropical regions, but also revealed that this panel can be used in dissecting the genetic basis of complex quantitative traits' variations by using genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
Adding gentamicin to silk fibroin enhances both the antibacterial performance and degradation rate of silk-based materials. The increased material degradation rate can affect the strength of early ...internal fixation, resulting in internal fixation failure. This study sought to adjust the gentamicin concentration to control the material degradation rate, thereby better meeting clinical application requirements. The in vitro degradation, water absorption rate, and expansion rate of silk-based materials containing different gentamicin concentrations were studied. A gentamicin-loaded silk-based screw was implanted into the femurs of New Zealand rabbits. Micro-computed tomography was used to measure the screw diameter, which was then used to calculate the degradation rate. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome. The in vitro results revealed increasing material degradation rates with increasing gentamicin concentration but no significant differences in water absorption rates with different gentamicin concentrations. The degradation rates of gentamicin-loaded (4 mg/g) silk-based rod-like materials were approximately 11.08% at three months in vitro and 9.4% in the animal experiment. The time for complete degradation was predicted from the fitting curve to be approximately 16 months. No inflammatory hyperplasia was observed in bone or soft tissue. The degradation and biocompatibility of the material containing 4 mg/g gentamicin meet clinical application requirements, and previous experimental results demonstrate good antibacterial performance of materials containing this gentamicin concentration.
Adding gentamicin to silk fibroin enhances both the antibacterial performance and degradation rate of silk-based materials. The increased material degradation rate can affect the strength of early ...internal fixation, resulting in internal fixation failure. This study sought to adjust the gentamicin concentration to control the material degradation rate, thereby better meeting clinical application requirements. The in vitro degradation, water absorption rate, and expansion rate of silk-based materials containing different gentamicin concentrations were studied. A gentamicin-loaded silk-based screw was implanted into the femurs of New Zealand rabbits. Micro-computed tomography was used to measure the screw diameter, which was then used to calculate the degradation rate. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome. The in vitro results revealed increasing material degradation rates with increasing gentamicin concentration but no significant differences in water absorption rates with different gentamicin concentrations. The degradation rates of gentamicin-loaded (4 mg/g) silk-based rod-like materials were approximately 11.08% at three months in vitro and 9.4% in the animal experiment. The time for complete degradation was predicted from the fitting curve to be approximately 16 months. No inflammatory hyperplasia was observed in bone or soft tissue. The degradation and biocompatibility of the material containing 4 mg/g gentamicin meet clinical application requirements, and previous experimental results demonstrate good antibacterial performance of materials containing this gentamicin concentration.
The objective of this study was to investigate variation and trends in dough rheological properties and flour quality traits in 330 Chinese wheat varieties. The dough rheological properties of ...development time (DT), stability time (ST), and farinograph quality number (FQN) were evaluated, as well as the flour quality traits of protein (PC), wet gluten content (WGC), and sedimentation value (SV). The coefficients of variation of DT (40.5%), ST (58.1%), and FQN (42.4%) were higher than those of PC (9.1%), WGC (10.1%), and SV (15.3%). Normal distributions were observed for the flour quality indices but not for the rheological parameters. SV was strongly correlated with the three rheological parameters and accordingly might be used as a primary indicator for dough rheological property evaluation. Our results showed that there has been marked improvement in dough rheological properties for Chinese wheat varieties released since 1986, while flour quality has remained stable.
Grouted sleeves (GSs) are a type of precast joint that can effectively connect steel rebars with excellent performance. However, the grouting debonding problem, which can occur due to the leakage of ...the glue plug, can seriously affect the properties of GSs. In this paper, a guided-wave-based structural health monitoring (SHM) method is used to detect debonding in GSs. The axisymmetric longitudinal mode is selected as the incident wave since it is sensitive to axial damage. Eight piezoelectrics (PZTs) are then symmetrically installed to actuate signals. The proposed samples are GSs with four different debonding sizes. First, the relationship between the arrival time of the first wave packet and the debonding size is explored through theoretical derivation. The arrival time decreases linearly with an increasing debonding size. A similar trend is observed when the relationship is verified via a numerical simulation and experimental results. This method will provide a reference for detecting debonding in similar GS multilayer structures.
••A review of grout defect detection techniques for grouted splice sleeves (GSSs) is presented.••The causes and types of grout defects are summarized.••The principles, detection mechanisms, and ...advantages and disadvantages of various detection techniques are analyzed and compared.••A concept of full life cycle monitoring of grout defects for GSSs is introduced.••The future prospects of grout defect detection for GSSs are discussed.
At present, grouted splice sleeves are widely used in assembly-type building connections due to their exceptional structural performance. However, various grout defects may arise, including grout leakage, interfacial debonding, internal voids, reinforcement eccentricity, and poor grout, as a result of the combined impact of human, environmental, technical, and equipment risks. These defects can lead to a decrease in the load-bearing capacity and durability of the structure. Therefore, it is crucial to develop efficient detection methods for grouted splice sleeves to ensure grout quality. This study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the defect detection techniques for grouted splice sleeves.
First, the typical applications and types of grout defects in grouted splice sleeves are reviewed. Various detection methods are categorized into direct and indirect detection (mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves) methods, and their current application status and detection principles are systematically summarized. Direct detection methods employ tools that can directly contact the grout defects themselves, while the equipment used in mechanical wave- and electromagnetic wave-based detection methods cannot directly touch the grout but rather is placed outside the steel sleeve or concrete protective layer to indirectly measure grout defects. Furthermore, a systematic comparison and in-depth analysis of the advantages and disadvantages, detection targets, and presentation modes of various detection techniques are conducted.
The findings of this study can help guide researchers and engineers in the development and application of grout defect detection techniques for grouted splice sleeves.
Past research on illicit drug use and desistance has primarily been conducted in western countries, relied on quantitative data, and given little attention to potential gender differentiation. ...Utilizing qualitative data, we explore gender differences in how illicit drug users perceive the onset of use, whether or not they connect this to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and why they quit. The work is based on a sample of 24 informants from Yunnan. Women link onset of use to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and report quitting primarily for their children. Men found support from their families helpful in ending illicit drug use. This adds qualitative support to theoretical work done by Wu and colleagues, Zhang, and Zhang and Demant who argue that familial attachment is critical in desistance. Utilizing a gendered lens, we gain and nuanced understanding of illicit drug use and links to ACEs which may better inform intervention programs.
Tartary buckwheat tea (TBT) is becoming increasingly popular for its unique flavor and health benefits. However, there is little information regarding the differences in nutritional quality among ...different kinds of TBT. Two kinds of TBT samples, whole grain tea (WGT) and whole plant tea (WPT), were collected from markets in China. The content of their nutritional compositions, including protein, amino acids, starch, fat, fatty acids, and flavonoids, as well as aroma compounds, were determined. Antioxidant and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities were also evaluated. WPT showed higher levels of protein and fat relative to WGT, but the content of essential amino acids and fatty acids was lower. WPT contained more total flavonoids with quercetin as the predominant flavonoid (81%), while rutin was the principal flavonoid compound (86%) in WGT. GC‐MS analysis indicated that there were some differences in the aroma compound profile between WGT and WPT, though 14 aroma compounds were identified in both of them with 3‐ethyl‐2,5‐dimethyl‐pyrazine as the predominant compound. In addition, WPT showed superior antioxidant and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities than WGT. However, the total flavonoid content determined in tea soup was decreased by 60% and 98% compared with that in the alcohol extracts of WGT and WPT, respectively. The antioxidant and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities of tea soup were also lowered, especially for WPT. The differences between 2 kinds of TBT might be due to the variety of raw materials and processing methods. Diversified plant materials and scientific processing technologies should be taken into account to develop a nutritional and healthy TBT product.
Practical Application
WPT contained higher protein and total flavonoids, and demonstrated superior antioxidant and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activities. However, the dissolution rate of flavonoids in the tea soup of WPT was extremely low, this was due to the water insolubility of its primary flavonoid quercetin, which comes from the conversion of rutin. Processing methods, such as hydrothermal treatment, should be applied to inhibit the conversion of rutin into quercetin and to develop a nutritional and healthy TBT product.
Background and objectives
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a promising nutritious cereal known for its rich nutrition and diverse physiological activities. In order to further investigate the ...profiles and physiological activities of phenolic compounds from quinoa, the composition of free and bound phenolic extracts from white, red, and black quinoa were analyzed, as well as their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antitumor activities.
Findings
Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) ranged from 514.03 to 1,409.54 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100g and 177.49 to 407.75 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/100 g, respectively. TPC existed mainly in bound form in red and black quinoa, but free form in white quinoa. Eight individual phenolic acids were detected, with the total acids amount ranging from 86.21 to 188.76 µg/g. Protocatechuic acid was the dominant phenolic acid both in red and black quinoa. Red quinoa showed the highest TPC and TFC, while black quinoa had the highest phenolic acids concentration. Red quinoa also showed the best ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Positive correlations were found among antioxidant activity and phenolic components. Besides, phenolics from red and black quinoa showed better anti‐inflammatory and antitumor activity by down‐regulating the NO production and inhibiting the proliferation of MCF‐7 cells.
Conclusions
Quinoa seed is rich in phenolic components, especially the red and black one. Higher phenolic contents in red and black quinoa can be responsible for their superior antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antitumor activities. With potential health benefits, quinoa phenolics may be used as ingredients for functional food.
Significance and novelty
Findings of this study revealed useful information on phenolics and bioactivity of quinoa for its cultivation and breeding with functional oriented purpose. The results could be also applied in health food industry for quinoa material selection and processing.