Fusarium ear rot(FER),caused by Fusarium verticillioides,is a destructive fungal disease of maize.FER resistance is a complex,quantitatively inherited trait controlled by multiple minor-effect genes.In this study,we e...Fusarium ear rot(FER),caused by Fusarium verticillioides,is a destructive fungal disease of maize.FER resistance is a complex,quantitatively inherited trait controlled by multiple minor-effect genes.In this study,we employed two recombinant inbred line(RIL)populations with the common resistant parental line CML304 to identify FER-resistance loci.Initial QTL analysis identified 23 FER-resistance QTL,each explaining 5.21%-30.51%of the total phenotypic variation.Notably,one major QTL,qRfv2,on chromosome 2 was repeatedly detected,accounting for 11.92%-30.51%of the total phenotypic variation.qRfv2 was fine mapped to an interval of 1.01 Mb,flanked by the markers IDP8 and IDP10.qRfv2 is a semidominant resistance gene that could reduce the disease severity index(DSI)by 12.4%-20%,suggesting its potential for enhancing FER resistance in maize.Transcriptome analysis showed that 22 of the 28 annotated functional genes in the qRfv2 region displayed differential expression between parental lines in response to FER.One of the candidate genes,ZmLOX6,was validated to presumably provide a positive effect on FER resistance.Our study provides a basis for the potential cloning and application of FER resistance genes in maize breeding.展开更多
Kinship verification is a key biometric recognition task that determines biological relationships based on physical features.Traditional methods predominantly use facial recognition,leveraging established techniques a...Kinship verification is a key biometric recognition task that determines biological relationships based on physical features.Traditional methods predominantly use facial recognition,leveraging established techniques and extensive datasets.However,recent research has highlighted ear recognition as a promising alternative,offering advantages in robustness against variations in facial expressions,aging,and occlusions.Despite its potential,a significant challenge in ear-based kinship verification is the lack of large-scale datasets necessary for training deep learning models effectively.To address this challenge,we introduce the EarKinshipVN dataset,a novel and extensive collection of ear images designed specifically for kinship verification.This dataset consists of 4876 high-resolution color images from 157 multiracial families across different regions,forming 73,220 kinship pairs.EarKinshipVN,a diverse and large-scale dataset,advances kinship verification research using ear features.Furthermore,we propose the Mixer Attention Inception(MAI)model,an improved architecture that enhances feature extraction and classification accuracy.The MAI model fuses Inceptionv4 and MLP Mixer,integrating four attention mechanisms to enhance spatial and channel-wise feature representation.Experimental results demonstrate that MAI significantly outperforms traditional backbone architectures.It achieves an accuracy of 98.71%,surpassing Vision Transformer models while reducing computational complexity by up to 95%in parameter usage.These findings suggest that ear-based kinship verification,combined with an optimized deep learning model and a comprehensive dataset,holds significant promise for biometric applications.展开更多
The sensation of ear fullness is a prevalent symptom encountered in clinical practice at ear clinics.It can manifest in various conditions,including external auditory canal diseases,middle ear diseases,inner ear disea...The sensation of ear fullness is a prevalent symptom encountered in clinical practice at ear clinics.It can manifest in various conditions,including external auditory canal diseases,middle ear diseases,inner ear diseases,as well as non-ear related disorders such as autonomic nervous dysfunction and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.Despite extensive research efforts,the underlying mechanism of ear fullness remains complex and not fully elucidated.Furthermore,the mechanism of ear fullness varies depending on the specific anatomical site and associated disease pathology.In this article,we have conducted a comprehensive literature review to explore the mechanisms underlying ear fullness across different sites of the auditory conduction pathway.By focusing on these lesions and their correlation with ear fullness,we aim to provide an updated understanding on the etiology,diagnosis,and therapy for ear fullness-related diseases.展开更多
Planting density is a major limiting factor for maize yield,and breeding for density tolerance has become an urgent issue.The leaf structure of the maize ear leaf is the main factor that restricts planting density and...Planting density is a major limiting factor for maize yield,and breeding for density tolerance has become an urgent issue.The leaf structure of the maize ear leaf is the main factor that restricts planting density and yield components.In this study,a natural population of 201 maize inbred lines was used for genome-wide association analysis,which identified nine SNPs on chromosomes 2,5,8,9,and 10 that were significantly associated with ear leaf type structure.Further verification through qRT-PCR confirmed the association of five candidate genes with these SNPs,with the Zm00001d008651 gene showing significant differential expression in the compact and flat maize inbred lines.Enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)and Gene Ontology(GO)databasessuggested that this gene is involved in the glycolysis process.An analysis of the basic properties of this gene revealed that it encodes a stable,basic protein consisting of 593 amino acids with some hydrophobic properties.The promoter region contains stress and hormone(abscisic acid(ABA))related elements.The mutant of this gene increased the first ear leaf angle(eLA)and leaf angle of the first leaf below the first ear(bLA)by 4.96 and 0.97°,respectively,compared with normal inbred lines.Overall,this research sheds light on the regulatory mechanism of ear and leaf structures that influence density tolerance and provides solid foundational work for the development of new varieties.展开更多
Strip-till(ST),including straw mulching in the inter-row and localized fertilization in the intra-row,is a conservation tillage system for improving soil quality and crop growth.However,the yield advantage of maize un...Strip-till(ST),including straw mulching in the inter-row and localized fertilization in the intra-row,is a conservation tillage system for improving soil quality and crop growth.However,the yield advantage of maize under ST compared to conventional tillage(CT)remains unstable,and the strategies to increase maize yield under ST are unclear.This study aims to understand the physiological mechanism underlining maize yield formation under ST by comparing two maize cultivars,DKM753 and DK517,with contrasting yield performance in ST versus CT systems.Compared to CT,ST resulted in a 4.5%yield increase for DKM753 but a 5.6%decrease for DK517.These yield differences were primarily attributed to variations in grain number per ear(GN).During the rapid growth stage(V14-R3),i.e.,two weeks before and after silking,DKM753 showed a 6.7%increase in maximum growth rate(V_(max))and a 6.3%increase in average growth rate(V)under ST,whereas DK517 exhibited decline of 8.5%in V_(max) and 12.3%in V.Significant positive correlations are observed between V_(max) and V with GN under ST(R^(2)=0.79 and R^(2)=0.90,respectively).Enhanced dry matter accumulation in DKM753 under ST was attributed to increased leaf expansion rates,contributing to a larger photosynthate source.The straw mulching and localized nitrogen fertilization increased root-zone nitrogen availability at silking in ST compared to CT.DKM753 had a greater root system which made better use of the soil N and lead to an increased leaf nitrogen accumulation by 14.9%under ST.It is concluded that maize yield under the strip-till system is determined by grain number per ear,which can be increased by increasing nitrogen accumulation,plant growth,and ear development around silking stage.A sound root system can efficiently utilize soil nitrogen resources under the strip-till system,increasing plant nitrogen accumulation and thereby promoting plant growth.展开更多
The conversion of sound vibration into electrical potential is a critical function performed by cochlear hair cells.Unlike the regenerative capacity found in various other cells throughout the body,cochlear sensory ce...The conversion of sound vibration into electrical potential is a critical function performed by cochlear hair cells.Unlike the regenerative capacity found in various other cells throughout the body,cochlear sensory cells lack the ability to regenerate once damaged.Furthermore,a decline in the quantity of these cells results in a deterioration of auditory function.Piezoelectric materials can generate electric charge in response to sound wave vibration,making them theoretically suitable for replacing hair cell function.This study explores an innovative approach using piezoelectric nanocomposite filaments,namely poly(vinylidene fluoride),poly(vinylidene fluoride)/barium titanate,and poly(vinylidene fluoride)/reduced graphene oxide,as self-powered acoustic sensors designed to function in place of cochlear hair cells.These flexible filaments demonstrate a unique ability to generate electricity in response to frequency sounds from 50 up to 1000 Hz at moderate sound pressure levels(60–95 dB),approaching the audible range with an overall acoustoelectric energy conversion efficiency of 3.25%.Serving as self-powered acoustic sensors,these flexible filaments hold promise for potential applications in cochlear implants,with a high sensitivity of 117.5 mV(Pa-cm^(2))^(-1).The cytocompatibility of these filaments was assessed through in vitro viability tests conducted on three cell lines,serving as a model for inner ear cells.展开更多
Background The middle ear pneumatic system(MEPS)supports pressure balance,essential for sound conduction.Its volume and surface area are key indicators of pneumatization and ventilation,yet their specific contribution...Background The middle ear pneumatic system(MEPS)supports pressure balance,essential for sound conduction.Its volume and surface area are key indicators of pneumatization and ventilation,yet their specific contributions to pressure regulation need further exploration.Objective To evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of parameters characterizing the MEPS,including volume(V),surface area(S),and surface-area-to-volume ratio(S/V),in normal ears.Materials and Methods We collected CT images of the temporal bone from 63 normal ears for this study.The volume(V),surface area(S),and surface-area-to-volume ratio(S/V)of the MEPS were measured and calculated using three-dimensional reconstruction technology.Statistical methods were used to process the data and determine the 95%reference range for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in the normal ear.At the same time,we analyzed the impact of differences in gender and the left and right sides on the measurements.Results The 95%reference values for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in normal ears were 1057.10~18239.16 mm²,609.16~9854.11 mm^(3),and 1.39~2.52 mm^(-1) respectively.There were no significant differences in the measurements between genders and between the left and right sides.Conclusions and Significance This study has established the 95%reference values for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in normal ears,which were 1057.10-18239.16 mm²,609.16-9854.11 mm^(3),and 1.39-2.52 mm^(-1) respectively.We found that while there is a wide variation in the V values among normal ears,there is less variability in the S/V values.This structural characteristic suggests that changes in the S/V value may have a more significant impact on the balance of middle ear pressure,and it provides important reference data for the construction and functional reconstruction of three-dimensional models of the MEPS.These findings may aid in diagnosing middle ear disorders,such as otitis media with effusion,and guide interventions to restore pressure balance.展开更多
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis(MS)is known to affect many sensory systems,yet most auditory research in MS has focused on the afferent pathways,with relatively few studies examining efferent function.The brainstem is a...BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis(MS)is known to affect many sensory systems,yet most auditory research in MS has focused on the afferent pathways,with relatively few studies examining efferent function.The brainstem is a common site for MS plaques,and the medial olivocochlear(MOC)system is located in the superior olivary complex(SOC)of the brainstem.The cochlear nuclei are also involved in the MOC reflex arc.Additionally,the temporal cortex can modulate the SOC and cochlear nucleus,so lesions in the brainstem or temporal cortex may affect the MOC reflex in MS.AIM To investigate efferent auditory system activity in patients with multiple sclerosis via the MOC reflex.METHODS The study included 50 patients with MS and 50 healthy controls.Patients with MS were divided into three subgroups according to cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings:Patients with brainstem lesions(Group 1,n=20);patients with temporal cortex lesions without brainstem involvement(Group 2,n=20);and patients without any lesions in the brainstem or temporal cortex(Group 3,n=10).Tympanometry,acoustic stapedial reflex thresholds,pure-tone audiometry,and transientevoked otoacoustic emission(TEOAE)tests(with and without contralateral noise)were performed for all participants.RESULTS There was no significant difference in pure-tone hearing thresholds or baseline TEOAE amplitudes between the MS and control groups,indicating normal cochlear function in patients with MS;however,MOC reflex suppression was significantly reduced in patients with MS compared to controls(P=0.021).In particular,Group 1(MS with brainstem lesions)showed the lowest mean suppression values,which was significantly lower than that of Group 2 and the control group(P=0.002).By contrast,Group 2 and Group 3 did not significantly differ from controls.Additionally,patients with MS exhibited a sex difference in MOC function:Male patients had significantly lower suppression compared to female patients both within Group 1 and in the MS group as a whole.CONCLUSION The findings indicate that the efferent auditory system(specifically the MOC reflex)is affected by MS.MOC reflex activity was most significantly decreased in patients with MS with brainstem lesions,while temporal cortex lesions alone did not appear to notably impair the MOC reflex.Diminished MOC activity may underlie various auditory difficulties in patients with MS(e.g.,hearing in noise),and loss of efferent suppression could contribute to symptoms such as hyperacusis or tinnitus in this population.Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between MOC dysfunction and auditory symptoms in MS,as well as the potential diagnostic value of MOC testing in MS.展开更多
This study aims to investigate the impact of middle ear effusion(MEE)on sound transmission in the human ear and its potential diagnostic significance.Firstly,the material properties of specific structures were adjuste...This study aims to investigate the impact of middle ear effusion(MEE)on sound transmission in the human ear and its potential diagnostic significance.Firstly,the material properties of specific structures were adjusted based on the existing human ear finite element(FE)model,and the accuracy of the model was validated using experimental data.Secondly,six FE models were developed to simulate varying degrees of MEE by systematically altering the material properties of the middle ear cavity(MEC)at different anatomical locations.Finally,the effects of these six FE models,representing varying degrees of MEE,on sound transmission characteristics and energy absorption(EA)rate in the human ear were systematically analyzed.When the degree of MEE is less than 50%of the MEC volume,its impact on the sound transmission characteristics of the human ear remains minimal,resulting in an estimated hearing loss of approximately 3 dB,with EA rate remaining close to normal levels.Once the effusion exceeds 50%of the MEC volume,a significant deterioration in acoustic transmission is observed,accompanied by a flattening of the EA curve and a drop in EA rates to below 20%.When the effusion completely fills the MEC,the maximum hearing loss reaches 46.47 dB,and the EA rate approaches zero across the entire frequency range.These findings provide theoretical insights into the biomechanical effects of MEE on human auditory transmission and offer a reference for clinical diagnosis and evaluation.展开更多
PurposeThe study aimed to investigate the otology-specific and general health-related quality of life(HRQoL)after cochlear implantation,and scrutinize the variables associated with them.MethodsThe Ear Outcome Survey-1...PurposeThe study aimed to investigate the otology-specific and general health-related quality of life(HRQoL)after cochlear implantation,and scrutinize the variables associated with them.MethodsThe Ear Outcome Survey-16(EOS-16),which assesses ear-specific symptoms and quality of life(QoL),was administered before and after cochlear implantation along with the post-operative administration of the 15D questionnaire that evaluates general HRQoL.The authors investigated post-implantation changes in the EOS-16 total scores and its category responses,examining their relationship with pre-and post-operative hearing levels,speech perception in noise,and the follow-up period length(time elapsed since cochlear implantation).ResultsThere were positive changes noted for the hearing,need for care,and QoL categories of the EOS-16 after implantation.The length of the follow-up period was a significant factor associated with improvements in subjective outcome measures.Changes in self-perceived hearing and HRQoL post-implantation seem independent of pre-and post-implantation hearing performance.ConclusionThese results suggest that while patients regain their hearing abilities shortly after implant activation,their subjective hearing-related benefits and QoL improve over time.展开更多
Maize(Zea mays L.)is a monoecious grass species with separate male and female inflorescences which form the tassel and ear,respectively.The mature ear inflorescences usually bear hundreds of grains,so they directly in...Maize(Zea mays L.)is a monoecious grass species with separate male and female inflorescences which form the tassel and ear,respectively.The mature ear inflorescences usually bear hundreds of grains,so they directly influence maize grain production and yield.Here,we isolated a recessive maize mutant,tasselseed2016(ts2016),which exhibits pleiotropic inflorescence defects and reduced grain yield.These defects include the loss of determinacy and identity in meristems and floral organs,as well as a lack of the lower floret abortion in maize ear,and a smaller grain size.Using map-based cloning and allelic testing,we identified and confirmed the microRNA gene MIR172e as the target gene controlling these related traits.Furthermore,our evidence uncovered a new potential miR172e/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING197(EREB197)regulatory module which controls lower floret abortion in maize ear.Transcriptome analysis revealed that the mutation of MIR172e represses multiple biological processes,particularly the flower development and hormone-related pathways in maize ear.We also found that a mutation in the DNA sequence of MIR172e affects RNA transcription,resulting in elongation blockage at the mutant site.Our results reveal the function and molecular mechanism of MIR172e in maize inflorescences and grain yield,and this study deepens our knowledge of maize inflorescence development.展开更多
In the thousand-year-old mural of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang,a special symbol tells the story of exchanges among civilisations.Three Rabbits Sharing Three Ears depicts three rabbits chasing each other,with each two sh...In the thousand-year-old mural of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang,a special symbol tells the story of exchanges among civilisations.Three Rabbits Sharing Three Ears depicts three rabbits chasing each other,with each two sharing one ear.It is said that its earliest version appeared in Dunhuang in the 6th century,and it had travelled across the desert along the ancient Silk Road,over mountains and rivers,leaping onto British ceramic tiles,integrating into Egyptian pottery and jumping cross the clock faces of German churches.展开更多
The female inflorescence,or ear,of maize develops no branch meristem(BM),which differs from the male inforescence,or tassel.While the mutations of some well documented genes,such as fea2/3/4 and ramosa1/2/3,can cause ...The female inflorescence,or ear,of maize develops no branch meristem(BM),which differs from the male inforescence,or tassel.While the mutations of some well documented genes,such as fea2/3/4 and ramosa1/2/3,can cause the branched architecture of ears in maize,such mutations also change the normal phenotypic performance of the tassels.In the present study,a natural maize mutant with branched ears,named branched ear1(be1),was characterized.be1 shows several branched ears at the base of the central ear with unchanged architecture of the tassels.Besides,both the branched and central ears of be1 possess regularly arranged kerels.The phenotypic characteristics of be1 differ completely from those reported mutants of fasciated ears or RAMOSA-like ears in maize.An SEM survey at the very early development stage showed that meristems with three protrusions,similar to the BM in tassels,were present during the development of the branched ears in be1.Gene mapping and sequence alignment suggested that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1(TB1)was the candidate gene of BE1.Further verification showed that a be1-specific 31 bp deletion at the downstream of BE1 led to statistically reduced expression of this gene in the immature ear,which serves as the potential causal reason for the branched ears of be1.CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing downstream of TB1 complemented the phenotypic architecture of branched ears,suggesting that TB1 was the target of BE1,and it was named as Zm TB1be1.The results of the present study implied a novel function of TB1 in female inforescence development,rather than shaping the plant architecture in maize.Meanwhile,further functional dissection of ZmTB1be1might shed new light on TB1,the most famous domestication related gene in maize.展开更多
The human ear has been substantiated as a viable nonintrusive biometric modality for identification or verification.Among many feasible techniques for ear biometric recognition,convolutional neural network(CNN)models ...The human ear has been substantiated as a viable nonintrusive biometric modality for identification or verification.Among many feasible techniques for ear biometric recognition,convolutional neural network(CNN)models have recently offered high-performance and reliable systems.However,their performance can still be further improved using the capabilities of soft biometrics,a research question yet to be investigated.This research aims to augment the traditional CNN-based ear recognition performance by adding increased discriminatory ear soft biometric traits.It proposes a novel framework of augmented ear identification/verification using a group of discriminative categorical soft biometrics and deriving new,more perceptive,comparative soft biometrics for feature-level fusion with hard biometric deep features.It conducts several identification and verification experiments for performance evaluation,analysis,and comparison while varying ear image datasets,hard biometric deep-feature extractors,soft biometric augmentation methods,and classifiers used.The experimental work yields promising results,reaching up to 99.94%accuracy and up to 14%improvement using the AMI and AMIC datasets,along with their corresponding soft biometric label data.The results confirm the proposed augmented approaches’superiority over their standard counterparts and emphasize the robustness of the new ear comparative soft biometrics over their categorical peers.展开更多
Hereditary hearing loss(HHL),a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function,significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society.To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and e...Hereditary hearing loss(HHL),a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function,significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society.To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and evaluate therapeutic outcomes,appropriate animal models are necessary.Pigs have been extensively used as valuable large animal models in biomedical research.In this review,we highlight the advantages of pig models in terms of ear anatomy,inner ear morphology,and electrophysiological characteristics,as well as recent advancements in the development of distinct genetically modified porcine models of hearing loss.Additionally,we discuss the prospects,challenges,and recommendations regarding the use pig models in HHL research.Overall,this review provides insights and perspectives for future studies on HHL using porcine models.展开更多
Ear differentiation,grain development and their interaction with factors in the growing environment,such as temperature,solar radiation and precipitation,greatly influence grain number and grain weight,and ultimately ...Ear differentiation,grain development and their interaction with factors in the growing environment,such as temperature,solar radiation and precipitation,greatly influence grain number and grain weight,and ultimately affect summer maize production.In this study,field experiments involving different sowing dates were conducted over three years to evaluate the effects of temperature factors,average solar radiation and total precipitation on the growth process,ear differentiation,fertilization characteristics,grain filling and yield of summer maize varieties with different growth durations.Four hybrids were evaluated in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain(HHHP),China from 2018 to 2020 with five different sowing dates.The results showed that the grain yield formation of summer maize was strongly impacted by the environment from the silking(R1)to milking(R3)stage.Average minimum temperature(AT_(min))was the key environmental factor that determined yield.Reductions in the length of the growing season(r=–0.556,P<0.01)and the total floret number on ear(R^(2)=0.200,P<0.001)were found when AT_(min) was elevated from the emerging(VE)to R1 stage.Both grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.520,P<0.001)and the floret abortion rate on ear(R^(2)=0.437,P<0.001)showed quadratic relationships with AT_(min) from the R1 to physiological maturity(R6)stage,while the number of days after the R1 stage(r=–0.756,P<0.01)was negatively correlated with AT_(min).An increase in AT_(min) was beneficial for the promotion of yield when it did not exceeded a certain level(above 23°C during the R1–R3 stage and 20–21°C during the R1-R6 stage).Enhanced solar radiation and precipitation during R1–R6 increased the grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.562,P<0.001 and R^(2)=0.229,P<0.05,respectively).Compared with short-season hybrids,full-season hybrids showed much greater suitability for a critical environment.The coordinated regulation of AT_(min),ear differentiation and grain development at the pre-and post-silking stages improved maize yield by increasing total floret number and grain-filling rate,and by reducing the floret abortion rate on ear.展开更多
The identification of individuals through ear images is a prominent area of study in the biometric sector.Facial recognition systems have faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to mask-wearing,prompting the...The identification of individuals through ear images is a prominent area of study in the biometric sector.Facial recognition systems have faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to mask-wearing,prompting the exploration of supplementary biometric measures such as ear biometrics.The research proposes a Deep Learning(DL)framework,termed DeepBio,using ear biometrics for human identification.It employs two DL models and five datasets,including IIT Delhi(IITD-I and IITD-II),annotated web images(AWI),mathematical analysis of images(AMI),and EARVN1.Data augmentation techniques such as flipping,translation,and Gaussian noise are applied to enhance model performance and mitigate overfitting.Feature extraction and human identification are conducted using a hybrid approach combining Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory(Bi-LSTM).The DeepBio framework achieves high recognition rates of 97.97%,99.37%,98.57%,94.5%,and 96.87%on the respective datasets.Comparative analysis with existing techniques demonstrates improvements of 0.41%,0.47%,12%,and 9.75%on IITD-II,AMI,AWE,and EARVN1 datasets,respectively.展开更多
Hearing loss and deafness,as a worldwide disability disease,have been troubling human beings.However,the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells,which are largely...Hearing loss and deafness,as a worldwide disability disease,have been troubling human beings.However,the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells,which are largely uncharacterized in depth.Recently,with the development and utilization of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq),researchers have been able to unveil the complex and sophisticated biological mechanisms of various types of cells in the auditory organ at the single-cell level and address the challenges of cellular heterogeneity that are not resolved through by conventional bulk RNA sequencing(bulk RNAseq).Herein,we reviewed the application of scRNA-seq technology in auditory research,with the aim of providing a reference for the development of auditory organs,the pathogenesis of hearing loss,and regenerative therapy.Prospects about spatial transcriptomic scRNA-seq,single-cell based genome,and Live-seq technology will also be discussed.展开更多
基金financially funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004205)the China Agricultural University-Syngenta Project.
文摘Fusarium ear rot(FER),caused by Fusarium verticillioides,is a destructive fungal disease of maize.FER resistance is a complex,quantitatively inherited trait controlled by multiple minor-effect genes.In this study,we employed two recombinant inbred line(RIL)populations with the common resistant parental line CML304 to identify FER-resistance loci.Initial QTL analysis identified 23 FER-resistance QTL,each explaining 5.21%-30.51%of the total phenotypic variation.Notably,one major QTL,qRfv2,on chromosome 2 was repeatedly detected,accounting for 11.92%-30.51%of the total phenotypic variation.qRfv2 was fine mapped to an interval of 1.01 Mb,flanked by the markers IDP8 and IDP10.qRfv2 is a semidominant resistance gene that could reduce the disease severity index(DSI)by 12.4%-20%,suggesting its potential for enhancing FER resistance in maize.Transcriptome analysis showed that 22 of the 28 annotated functional genes in the qRfv2 region displayed differential expression between parental lines in response to FER.One of the candidate genes,ZmLOX6,was validated to presumably provide a positive effect on FER resistance.Our study provides a basis for the potential cloning and application of FER resistance genes in maize breeding.
文摘Kinship verification is a key biometric recognition task that determines biological relationships based on physical features.Traditional methods predominantly use facial recognition,leveraging established techniques and extensive datasets.However,recent research has highlighted ear recognition as a promising alternative,offering advantages in robustness against variations in facial expressions,aging,and occlusions.Despite its potential,a significant challenge in ear-based kinship verification is the lack of large-scale datasets necessary for training deep learning models effectively.To address this challenge,we introduce the EarKinshipVN dataset,a novel and extensive collection of ear images designed specifically for kinship verification.This dataset consists of 4876 high-resolution color images from 157 multiracial families across different regions,forming 73,220 kinship pairs.EarKinshipVN,a diverse and large-scale dataset,advances kinship verification research using ear features.Furthermore,we propose the Mixer Attention Inception(MAI)model,an improved architecture that enhances feature extraction and classification accuracy.The MAI model fuses Inceptionv4 and MLP Mixer,integrating four attention mechanisms to enhance spatial and channel-wise feature representation.Experimental results demonstrate that MAI significantly outperforms traditional backbone architectures.It achieves an accuracy of 98.71%,surpassing Vision Transformer models while reducing computational complexity by up to 95%in parameter usage.These findings suggest that ear-based kinship verification,combined with an optimized deep learning model and a comprehensive dataset,holds significant promise for biometric applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant numbers 82071057,82101229]Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province Project[Grant 2021BCA144]。
文摘The sensation of ear fullness is a prevalent symptom encountered in clinical practice at ear clinics.It can manifest in various conditions,including external auditory canal diseases,middle ear diseases,inner ear diseases,as well as non-ear related disorders such as autonomic nervous dysfunction and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.Despite extensive research efforts,the underlying mechanism of ear fullness remains complex and not fully elucidated.Furthermore,the mechanism of ear fullness varies depending on the specific anatomical site and associated disease pathology.In this article,we have conducted a comprehensive literature review to explore the mechanisms underlying ear fullness across different sites of the auditory conduction pathway.By focusing on these lesions and their correlation with ear fullness,we aim to provide an updated understanding on the etiology,diagnosis,and therapy for ear fullness-related diseases.
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Project of Heilongjiang Province,China(2022ZX02B01)。
文摘Planting density is a major limiting factor for maize yield,and breeding for density tolerance has become an urgent issue.The leaf structure of the maize ear leaf is the main factor that restricts planting density and yield components.In this study,a natural population of 201 maize inbred lines was used for genome-wide association analysis,which identified nine SNPs on chromosomes 2,5,8,9,and 10 that were significantly associated with ear leaf type structure.Further verification through qRT-PCR confirmed the association of five candidate genes with these SNPs,with the Zm00001d008651 gene showing significant differential expression in the compact and flat maize inbred lines.Enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)and Gene Ontology(GO)databasessuggested that this gene is involved in the glycolysis process.An analysis of the basic properties of this gene revealed that it encodes a stable,basic protein consisting of 593 amino acids with some hydrophobic properties.The promoter region contains stress and hormone(abscisic acid(ABA))related elements.The mutant of this gene increased the first ear leaf angle(eLA)and leaf angle of the first leaf below the first ear(bLA)by 4.96 and 0.97°,respectively,compared with normal inbred lines.Overall,this research sheds light on the regulatory mechanism of ear and leaf structures that influence density tolerance and provides solid foundational work for the development of new varieties.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1500705)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U19A2035)for financial support。
文摘Strip-till(ST),including straw mulching in the inter-row and localized fertilization in the intra-row,is a conservation tillage system for improving soil quality and crop growth.However,the yield advantage of maize under ST compared to conventional tillage(CT)remains unstable,and the strategies to increase maize yield under ST are unclear.This study aims to understand the physiological mechanism underlining maize yield formation under ST by comparing two maize cultivars,DKM753 and DK517,with contrasting yield performance in ST versus CT systems.Compared to CT,ST resulted in a 4.5%yield increase for DKM753 but a 5.6%decrease for DK517.These yield differences were primarily attributed to variations in grain number per ear(GN).During the rapid growth stage(V14-R3),i.e.,two weeks before and after silking,DKM753 showed a 6.7%increase in maximum growth rate(V_(max))and a 6.3%increase in average growth rate(V)under ST,whereas DK517 exhibited decline of 8.5%in V_(max) and 12.3%in V.Significant positive correlations are observed between V_(max) and V with GN under ST(R^(2)=0.79 and R^(2)=0.90,respectively).Enhanced dry matter accumulation in DKM753 under ST was attributed to increased leaf expansion rates,contributing to a larger photosynthate source.The straw mulching and localized nitrogen fertilization increased root-zone nitrogen availability at silking in ST compared to CT.DKM753 had a greater root system which made better use of the soil N and lead to an increased leaf nitrogen accumulation by 14.9%under ST.It is concluded that maize yield under the strip-till system is determined by grain number per ear,which can be increased by increasing nitrogen accumulation,plant growth,and ear development around silking stage.A sound root system can efficiently utilize soil nitrogen resources under the strip-till system,increasing plant nitrogen accumulation and thereby promoting plant growth.
基金financial support received from Deakin University through the Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship(2022)partially funded by the European Union–Next-Generation EU via the Italian Ministry of University and Research(MUR),PRIN 2022 Program(PROMISE project,CUP 153D23004700006)+1 种基金support from the Australian National Fabrication Facility(ANFF)the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres.
文摘The conversion of sound vibration into electrical potential is a critical function performed by cochlear hair cells.Unlike the regenerative capacity found in various other cells throughout the body,cochlear sensory cells lack the ability to regenerate once damaged.Furthermore,a decline in the quantity of these cells results in a deterioration of auditory function.Piezoelectric materials can generate electric charge in response to sound wave vibration,making them theoretically suitable for replacing hair cell function.This study explores an innovative approach using piezoelectric nanocomposite filaments,namely poly(vinylidene fluoride),poly(vinylidene fluoride)/barium titanate,and poly(vinylidene fluoride)/reduced graphene oxide,as self-powered acoustic sensors designed to function in place of cochlear hair cells.These flexible filaments demonstrate a unique ability to generate electricity in response to frequency sounds from 50 up to 1000 Hz at moderate sound pressure levels(60–95 dB),approaching the audible range with an overall acoustoelectric energy conversion efficiency of 3.25%.Serving as self-powered acoustic sensors,these flexible filaments hold promise for potential applications in cochlear implants,with a high sensitivity of 117.5 mV(Pa-cm^(2))^(-1).The cytocompatibility of these filaments was assessed through in vitro viability tests conducted on three cell lines,serving as a model for inner ear cells.
基金supported by the[National Natural Science Foundation of China]under Grant[number 12172082][Catch up with and surpass technology projects]under Grant[number 2022LCJSGC24]。
文摘Background The middle ear pneumatic system(MEPS)supports pressure balance,essential for sound conduction.Its volume and surface area are key indicators of pneumatization and ventilation,yet their specific contributions to pressure regulation need further exploration.Objective To evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of parameters characterizing the MEPS,including volume(V),surface area(S),and surface-area-to-volume ratio(S/V),in normal ears.Materials and Methods We collected CT images of the temporal bone from 63 normal ears for this study.The volume(V),surface area(S),and surface-area-to-volume ratio(S/V)of the MEPS were measured and calculated using three-dimensional reconstruction technology.Statistical methods were used to process the data and determine the 95%reference range for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in the normal ear.At the same time,we analyzed the impact of differences in gender and the left and right sides on the measurements.Results The 95%reference values for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in normal ears were 1057.10~18239.16 mm²,609.16~9854.11 mm^(3),and 1.39~2.52 mm^(-1) respectively.There were no significant differences in the measurements between genders and between the left and right sides.Conclusions and Significance This study has established the 95%reference values for the S,V,and S/V of the MEPS in normal ears,which were 1057.10-18239.16 mm²,609.16-9854.11 mm^(3),and 1.39-2.52 mm^(-1) respectively.We found that while there is a wide variation in the V values among normal ears,there is less variability in the S/V values.This structural characteristic suggests that changes in the S/V value may have a more significant impact on the balance of middle ear pressure,and it provides important reference data for the construction and functional reconstruction of three-dimensional models of the MEPS.These findings may aid in diagnosing middle ear disorders,such as otitis media with effusion,and guide interventions to restore pressure balance.
文摘BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis(MS)is known to affect many sensory systems,yet most auditory research in MS has focused on the afferent pathways,with relatively few studies examining efferent function.The brainstem is a common site for MS plaques,and the medial olivocochlear(MOC)system is located in the superior olivary complex(SOC)of the brainstem.The cochlear nuclei are also involved in the MOC reflex arc.Additionally,the temporal cortex can modulate the SOC and cochlear nucleus,so lesions in the brainstem or temporal cortex may affect the MOC reflex in MS.AIM To investigate efferent auditory system activity in patients with multiple sclerosis via the MOC reflex.METHODS The study included 50 patients with MS and 50 healthy controls.Patients with MS were divided into three subgroups according to cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings:Patients with brainstem lesions(Group 1,n=20);patients with temporal cortex lesions without brainstem involvement(Group 2,n=20);and patients without any lesions in the brainstem or temporal cortex(Group 3,n=10).Tympanometry,acoustic stapedial reflex thresholds,pure-tone audiometry,and transientevoked otoacoustic emission(TEOAE)tests(with and without contralateral noise)were performed for all participants.RESULTS There was no significant difference in pure-tone hearing thresholds or baseline TEOAE amplitudes between the MS and control groups,indicating normal cochlear function in patients with MS;however,MOC reflex suppression was significantly reduced in patients with MS compared to controls(P=0.021).In particular,Group 1(MS with brainstem lesions)showed the lowest mean suppression values,which was significantly lower than that of Group 2 and the control group(P=0.002).By contrast,Group 2 and Group 3 did not significantly differ from controls.Additionally,patients with MS exhibited a sex difference in MOC function:Male patients had significantly lower suppression compared to female patients both within Group 1 and in the MS group as a whole.CONCLUSION The findings indicate that the efferent auditory system(specifically the MOC reflex)is affected by MS.MOC reflex activity was most significantly decreased in patients with MS with brainstem lesions,while temporal cortex lesions alone did not appear to notably impair the MOC reflex.Diminished MOC activity may underlie various auditory difficulties in patients with MS(e.g.,hearing in noise),and loss of efferent suppression could contribute to symptoms such as hyperacusis or tinnitus in this population.Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between MOC dysfunction and auditory symptoms in MS,as well as the potential diagnostic value of MOC testing in MS.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52275296)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.
文摘This study aims to investigate the impact of middle ear effusion(MEE)on sound transmission in the human ear and its potential diagnostic significance.Firstly,the material properties of specific structures were adjusted based on the existing human ear finite element(FE)model,and the accuracy of the model was validated using experimental data.Secondly,six FE models were developed to simulate varying degrees of MEE by systematically altering the material properties of the middle ear cavity(MEC)at different anatomical locations.Finally,the effects of these six FE models,representing varying degrees of MEE,on sound transmission characteristics and energy absorption(EA)rate in the human ear were systematically analyzed.When the degree of MEE is less than 50%of the MEC volume,its impact on the sound transmission characteristics of the human ear remains minimal,resulting in an estimated hearing loss of approximately 3 dB,with EA rate remaining close to normal levels.Once the effusion exceeds 50%of the MEC volume,a significant deterioration in acoustic transmission is observed,accompanied by a flattening of the EA curve and a drop in EA rates to below 20%.When the effusion completely fills the MEC,the maximum hearing loss reaches 46.47 dB,and the EA rate approaches zero across the entire frequency range.These findings provide theoretical insights into the biomechanical effects of MEE on human auditory transmission and offer a reference for clinical diagnosis and evaluation.
文摘PurposeThe study aimed to investigate the otology-specific and general health-related quality of life(HRQoL)after cochlear implantation,and scrutinize the variables associated with them.MethodsThe Ear Outcome Survey-16(EOS-16),which assesses ear-specific symptoms and quality of life(QoL),was administered before and after cochlear implantation along with the post-operative administration of the 15D questionnaire that evaluates general HRQoL.The authors investigated post-implantation changes in the EOS-16 total scores and its category responses,examining their relationship with pre-and post-operative hearing levels,speech perception in noise,and the follow-up period length(time elapsed since cochlear implantation).ResultsThere were positive changes noted for the hearing,need for care,and QoL categories of the EOS-16 after implantation.The length of the follow-up period was a significant factor associated with improvements in subjective outcome measures.Changes in self-perceived hearing and HRQoL post-implantation seem independent of pre-and post-implantation hearing performance.ConclusionThese results suggest that while patients regain their hearing abilities shortly after implant activation,their subjective hearing-related benefits and QoL improve over time.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province,China(232300421260)the Tackling Key Problems in Science and Technology of Henan Province,China(222102110465,to LZ and 232102111097,to YS)the Open Project Program(SKL-KF202214)。
文摘Maize(Zea mays L.)is a monoecious grass species with separate male and female inflorescences which form the tassel and ear,respectively.The mature ear inflorescences usually bear hundreds of grains,so they directly influence maize grain production and yield.Here,we isolated a recessive maize mutant,tasselseed2016(ts2016),which exhibits pleiotropic inflorescence defects and reduced grain yield.These defects include the loss of determinacy and identity in meristems and floral organs,as well as a lack of the lower floret abortion in maize ear,and a smaller grain size.Using map-based cloning and allelic testing,we identified and confirmed the microRNA gene MIR172e as the target gene controlling these related traits.Furthermore,our evidence uncovered a new potential miR172e/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING197(EREB197)regulatory module which controls lower floret abortion in maize ear.Transcriptome analysis revealed that the mutation of MIR172e represses multiple biological processes,particularly the flower development and hormone-related pathways in maize ear.We also found that a mutation in the DNA sequence of MIR172e affects RNA transcription,resulting in elongation blockage at the mutant site.Our results reveal the function and molecular mechanism of MIR172e in maize inflorescences and grain yield,and this study deepens our knowledge of maize inflorescence development.
文摘In the thousand-year-old mural of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang,a special symbol tells the story of exchanges among civilisations.Three Rabbits Sharing Three Ears depicts three rabbits chasing each other,with each two sharing one ear.It is said that its earliest version appeared in Dunhuang in the 6th century,and it had travelled across the desert along the ancient Silk Road,over mountains and rivers,leaping onto British ceramic tiles,integrating into Egyptian pottery and jumping cross the clock faces of German churches.
基金supported by the Special Key Project for Technological Innovation and Application Development in Chongqing,China(CSTB2022TIAD-KPX0011)the Special Fund for Youth Team of the Southwest Universities,China(SWU-XJPY202306)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing,China(cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0583)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Southwest University,China(S202210635326)。
文摘The female inflorescence,or ear,of maize develops no branch meristem(BM),which differs from the male inforescence,or tassel.While the mutations of some well documented genes,such as fea2/3/4 and ramosa1/2/3,can cause the branched architecture of ears in maize,such mutations also change the normal phenotypic performance of the tassels.In the present study,a natural maize mutant with branched ears,named branched ear1(be1),was characterized.be1 shows several branched ears at the base of the central ear with unchanged architecture of the tassels.Besides,both the branched and central ears of be1 possess regularly arranged kerels.The phenotypic characteristics of be1 differ completely from those reported mutants of fasciated ears or RAMOSA-like ears in maize.An SEM survey at the very early development stage showed that meristems with three protrusions,similar to the BM in tassels,were present during the development of the branched ears in be1.Gene mapping and sequence alignment suggested that TEOSINTE BRANCHED1(TB1)was the candidate gene of BE1.Further verification showed that a be1-specific 31 bp deletion at the downstream of BE1 led to statistically reduced expression of this gene in the immature ear,which serves as the potential causal reason for the branched ears of be1.CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing downstream of TB1 complemented the phenotypic architecture of branched ears,suggesting that TB1 was the target of BE1,and it was named as Zm TB1be1.The results of the present study implied a novel function of TB1 in female inforescence development,rather than shaping the plant architecture in maize.Meanwhile,further functional dissection of ZmTB1be1might shed new light on TB1,the most famous domestication related gene in maize.
基金funded by WAQF at King Abdulaziz University,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.
文摘The human ear has been substantiated as a viable nonintrusive biometric modality for identification or verification.Among many feasible techniques for ear biometric recognition,convolutional neural network(CNN)models have recently offered high-performance and reliable systems.However,their performance can still be further improved using the capabilities of soft biometrics,a research question yet to be investigated.This research aims to augment the traditional CNN-based ear recognition performance by adding increased discriminatory ear soft biometric traits.It proposes a novel framework of augmented ear identification/verification using a group of discriminative categorical soft biometrics and deriving new,more perceptive,comparative soft biometrics for feature-level fusion with hard biometric deep features.It conducts several identification and verification experiments for performance evaluation,analysis,and comparison while varying ear image datasets,hard biometric deep-feature extractors,soft biometric augmentation methods,and classifiers used.The experimental work yields promising results,reaching up to 99.94%accuracy and up to 14%improvement using the AMI and AMIC datasets,along with their corresponding soft biometric label data.The results confirm the proposed augmented approaches’superiority over their standard counterparts and emphasize the robustness of the new ear comparative soft biometrics over their categorical peers.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFA0805902,2022YFF0710703)National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201257)+1 种基金Science and Technology Innovation Project of Xiongan New Area (2022XAGG0121)Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by the China Association for Science and Technology (2019QNRC001)。
文摘Hereditary hearing loss(HHL),a genetic disorder that impairs auditory function,significantly affects quality of life and incurs substantial economic losses for society.To investigate the underlying causes of HHL and evaluate therapeutic outcomes,appropriate animal models are necessary.Pigs have been extensively used as valuable large animal models in biomedical research.In this review,we highlight the advantages of pig models in terms of ear anatomy,inner ear morphology,and electrophysiological characteristics,as well as recent advancements in the development of distinct genetically modified porcine models of hearing loss.Additionally,we discuss the prospects,challenges,and recommendations regarding the use pig models in HHL research.Overall,this review provides insights and perspectives for future studies on HHL using porcine models.
基金supported by Key Technology Research and Development Program of Shandong Province,China(2021LZGC014-2)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172115)the National Modern Agriculture Industry Technology System,China(CARS02-21)。
文摘Ear differentiation,grain development and their interaction with factors in the growing environment,such as temperature,solar radiation and precipitation,greatly influence grain number and grain weight,and ultimately affect summer maize production.In this study,field experiments involving different sowing dates were conducted over three years to evaluate the effects of temperature factors,average solar radiation and total precipitation on the growth process,ear differentiation,fertilization characteristics,grain filling and yield of summer maize varieties with different growth durations.Four hybrids were evaluated in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain(HHHP),China from 2018 to 2020 with five different sowing dates.The results showed that the grain yield formation of summer maize was strongly impacted by the environment from the silking(R1)to milking(R3)stage.Average minimum temperature(AT_(min))was the key environmental factor that determined yield.Reductions in the length of the growing season(r=–0.556,P<0.01)and the total floret number on ear(R^(2)=0.200,P<0.001)were found when AT_(min) was elevated from the emerging(VE)to R1 stage.Both grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.520,P<0.001)and the floret abortion rate on ear(R^(2)=0.437,P<0.001)showed quadratic relationships with AT_(min) from the R1 to physiological maturity(R6)stage,while the number of days after the R1 stage(r=–0.756,P<0.01)was negatively correlated with AT_(min).An increase in AT_(min) was beneficial for the promotion of yield when it did not exceeded a certain level(above 23°C during the R1–R3 stage and 20–21°C during the R1-R6 stage).Enhanced solar radiation and precipitation during R1–R6 increased the grain-filling rate(R^(2)=0.562,P<0.001 and R^(2)=0.229,P<0.05,respectively).Compared with short-season hybrids,full-season hybrids showed much greater suitability for a critical environment.The coordinated regulation of AT_(min),ear differentiation and grain development at the pre-and post-silking stages improved maize yield by increasing total floret number and grain-filling rate,and by reducing the floret abortion rate on ear.
文摘The identification of individuals through ear images is a prominent area of study in the biometric sector.Facial recognition systems have faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to mask-wearing,prompting the exploration of supplementary biometric measures such as ear biometrics.The research proposes a Deep Learning(DL)framework,termed DeepBio,using ear biometrics for human identification.It employs two DL models and five datasets,including IIT Delhi(IITD-I and IITD-II),annotated web images(AWI),mathematical analysis of images(AMI),and EARVN1.Data augmentation techniques such as flipping,translation,and Gaussian noise are applied to enhance model performance and mitigate overfitting.Feature extraction and human identification are conducted using a hybrid approach combining Convolutional Neural Networks(CNN)and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory(Bi-LSTM).The DeepBio framework achieves high recognition rates of 97.97%,99.37%,98.57%,94.5%,and 96.87%on the respective datasets.Comparative analysis with existing techniques demonstrates improvements of 0.41%,0.47%,12%,and 9.75%on IITD-II,AMI,AWE,and EARVN1 datasets,respectively.
基金supported by grants from National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1101300,2021YFA1101800,2020YFA0112503)Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Science(XDA16010303)+3 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82030029,81970882,and 92149304)Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province(2021YFS0371)Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program(JCYJ20190814093401920,JCYJ20210324125608022)Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering,Fudan University(SKLGE-2104).
文摘Hearing loss and deafness,as a worldwide disability disease,have been troubling human beings.However,the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells,which are largely uncharacterized in depth.Recently,with the development and utilization of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq),researchers have been able to unveil the complex and sophisticated biological mechanisms of various types of cells in the auditory organ at the single-cell level and address the challenges of cellular heterogeneity that are not resolved through by conventional bulk RNA sequencing(bulk RNAseq).Herein,we reviewed the application of scRNA-seq technology in auditory research,with the aim of providing a reference for the development of auditory organs,the pathogenesis of hearing loss,and regenerative therapy.Prospects about spatial transcriptomic scRNA-seq,single-cell based genome,and Live-seq technology will also be discussed.
