A NAC-EXPANSIN module enhances maize kernel size by controlling nucellus elimination

Maize early endosperm development is initiated in coordination with elimination of maternal nucellar tissues. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we characterize a major quantitative trait locus for maize kernel size and weight that encodes an EXPANSIN gene, ZmEXPB15. The encoded β-expansin protein is expressed specifically in nucellus, and positively controls kernel size and weight by promoting nucellus elimination. We further show that two nucellus-enriched transcription factors (TFs), ZmNAC11 and ZmNAC29, activate ZmEXPB15 expression. Accordingly, these two TFs also promote kernel size and weight through nucellus elimination regulation, and genetic analyses support their interaction with ZmEXPB15. Importantly, hybrids derived from a ZmEXPB15 overexpression line have increased kernel weight, demonstrates its potential value in breeding. Together, we reveal a pathway modulating the cellular processes of maternal nucellus elimination and early endosperm development, and an approach to improve kernel weight

NICE 2023 Zero-shot Image Captioning Challenge

In this report, we introduce NICE project\footnote{\url{https://nice.lgresearch.ai/}} and share the results and outcomes of NICE challenge 2023. This project is designed to challenge the computer vision community to develop robust image captioning models that advance the state-of-the-art both in terms of accuracy and fairness. Through the challenge, the image captioning models were tested using a new evaluation dataset that includes a large variety of visual concepts from many domains. There was no specific training data provided for the challenge, and therefore the challenge entries were required to adapt to new types of image descriptions that had not been seen during training. This report includes information on the newly proposed NICE dataset, evaluation methods, challenge results, and technical details of top-ranking entries. We expect that the outcomes of the challenge will contribute to the improvement of AI models on various vision-language tasks.Comment: Tech report, project page https://nice.lgresearch.ai

Identification of Crack Length and Angle at the Center Weld Seam of Offshore Platforms Using a Neural Network Approach

The reconstruction algorithm for the probabilistic inspection of damage (RAPID) is aimed at localizing structural damage via the signal difference coefficient (SDC) between the signals of the present and reference conditions. However, tomography is only capable of presenting the approximate location and not the length and angle of defects. Therefore, a new quantitative evaluation method called the multiple back propagation neural network (Multi-BPNN) is proposed in this work. The Multi-BPNN employs SDC values as input variables and outputs the predicted length and angle, with each output node depending on an individual hidden layer. The cracks of different lengths and angles at the center weld seam of offshore platforms are simulated numerically. The SDC values of the simulations and experiments were normalized for each sample to eliminate external interference in the experiments. Then, the normalized simulation data were employed to train the proposed neural network. The results of the simulations and experimental verification indicated that the Multi-BPNN can effectively predict crack length and angle, and has better stability and generalization capacity than the multi-input to multi-output back propagation neural network

Video 1_v1_Modified mandible traction with wires to treat neonatal Pierre Robin sequence: A case report.mp4

BackgroundPierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a congenital craniofacial deformity characterized by micrognathia, glossoptosis and airway obstruction. Some affected neonates are born with severe life-threatening upper airway obstruction that requires surgery. If without timely treatment, it is possible to cause not only organ damage and developmental abnormalities but also early newborn mortality.Case presentationIn this report, a 51-hours-old neonate was diagnosed with PRS, who had severe upper airway obstruction and required surgery. We performed the modified mandible traction with wires at four days old and achieved a satisfactory result in improving airway obstruction. No other complications were observed except for mild local infection. No overlap of other more complex syndromes was found, such as ocular abnormalities, hearing loss, other skeletal abnormalities, cardiac abnormalities or other atypical abnormalities. At the present follow-up until 2 years old, there were no significant differences in the maxillofacial appearance, teeth growth, breathing, feeding, growth and development between the patient and normal children.ConclusionThe modified mandible traction with wires can safely and effectively resolve micrognathia, the key to treating PRS, which is minimally invasive, simple and provides immediate relief of airway obstruction with no long term complications compared with other surgical methods. This report aims to provide more evidence of the successful treatment of neonatal PRS micrognathia by modified mandible traction with wires.</p

Assessment of the Effects of Structural Modification of <i>Gastrodia elata</i> Polysaccharide on Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Using Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Gastrodia elata (“Tian Ma” in Chinese) is used as a food and medical ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, to enhance the anti-breast cancer activity of Gastrodia elata polysaccharide (GEP), GEPs were modified via sulfidation (SGEP) and acetylation (AcGEP). The physicochemical properties (such as solubility and substitution degree) and structural information (such as molecular weight Mw and radius of gyration Rg) of GEP derivatives were determined by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled online with multiangle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (dRI) detectors (AF4-MALS-dRI). The effects of the structural modification of GEP on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of MCF-7 cell were studied systematically. The ability of MCF-7 cell for the uptake of GEP was studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The results suggested that the solubility and anti-breast cancer activity of GEP were enhanced and the average Rg and Mw of GEP decreased after chemical modification. The AF4-MALS-dRI results showed that the chemical modification process simultaneously caused the degradation and aggregation of GEPs. The LSCM results revealed that more SGEP can enter the MCF-7 cell interior compared with AcGEP. The results indicated that the structure of AcGEP could play a dominating role in antitumor activity. The data obtained in this work can be used as a starting point for investigating the structure-bioactivity of GEPs

Dual Functional Mesoporous Silica Colloidal Electrolyte for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries

Dual functional mesoporous silica (mSiO2) colloidal electrolytes are promising to protect lithium anode and accelerate the reaction kinetics on cathode for lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs). In this work, we achieved a significantly extended battery life (from 55 to 328 cycles) of LOB by using mSiO2 with a concentration of 80 mg L-1 in the colloidal electrolyte, compared with the one using conventional LiClO4/DMSO electrolyte. The rate performance and full-discharge capacity are also dramatically enhanced. The as-synthesized mSiO2 has a special ordered hexagonal mesoporous structure, with a high specific surface area of 1016.30 m2 g-1, which can form a stable colloid after mixing with 1.0 M LiClO4/DMSO. The side reactions of Li stripping/plating are suppressed, thus the cycling life performance of LOB is enhanced by relieving the attack of superoxide intermediates. The co-deposition of mesoporous mSiO2 and Li2O2 also effectively accelerated the decomposition of the discharge product by promoting the mass transfer at the cathode. This investigation of suppressing side reactions using non-aqueous electrolytes will shed a new light on the design and development of novel lithium metal batteries