Key MessageQTLs controlling the concentrations elements in rice grain were identified in two mapping populations. The QTLs were clustered such that most genomic regions were associated with more than one element.AbstractIn this study, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting the concentrations of 16 elements in whole, unmilled rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain were identified. Two rice mapping populations, the ‘Lemont’ × ‘TeQing’ recombinant inbred lines (LT-RILs), and the TeQing-into-Lemont backcross introgression lines (TILs) were used. To increase opportunity to detect and characterize QTLs, the TILs were grown under two contrasting field conditions, flooded and irrigated-but-unflooded. Correlations between the individual elements and between each element with grain shape, plant height, and time of heading were also studied. Transgressive segregation was observed among the LT-RILs for all elements. The 134 QTLs identified as associated with the grain concentrations of individual elements were found clustered into 39 genomic regions, 34 of which were found associated with grain element concentration in more than one population and/or flooding treatment. More QTLs were found significant among flooded TILs (92) than among unflooded TILs (47) or among flooded LT-RILs (40). Twenty-seven of the 40 QTLs identified among the LT-RILs were associated with the same element among the TILs. At least one QTL per element was validated in two or more population/environments. Nearly all of the grain element loci were linked to QTLs affecting additional elements, supporting the concept of element networks within plants. Several of the grain element QTLs co-located with QTLs for grain shape, plant height, and days to heading; but did not always differ for grain elemental concentration as predicted by those traits alone. A number of interesting patterns were found, including a strong Mg–P–K complex.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00122-013-2207-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An efficient three dimensional (3D) finite element method numerical model is proposed for superconducting coated conductors. The model is based on the T–A formulation and can be used to tackle 3D computational challenges for superconductors with high aspect ratios. By assuming a sheet approximation for the conductors, the model can speed up the computational process. The model has been validated by established analytical solutions. Two examples with complex geometries, which can hardly be simulated by the 2D model, are given. The model could be used to characterise and design large-scale applications using superconducting coated conductors, such as high field magnets and other electrical devices.

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Serum response factor (SRF) is a key regulator of smooth muscle differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA) is a co-activator of SRF that can induce expression of SRF-dependent, smooth musclespecific genes and actin/Rho-dependent genes, but not MAPKregulated growth response genes. How MRTFA and SRF discriminate between these sets of target genes is still unclear. We hypothesized that SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, containing Brahma-related gene 1 (Brg1) or Brahma (Brm), may play a role in this process. Results from Western blotting and qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that dominant negative Brg1 blocked the ability of MRTFA to induce expression of smooth muscle-specific genes, but not actin/Rhodependent early response genes, in fibroblasts. In addition, dominant negative Brg1 attenuated expression of smooth muscle-specific genes in primary cultures of smooth muscle cells. MRTFA overexpression did not induce expression of smooth muscle-specific genes in SW13 cells, which lack endogenous Brg1 or Brm. Reintroduction of Brg1 or Brm into SW13 cells restored their responsiveness to MRTFA. Immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Brg1, SRF, and MRTFA form a complex in vivo, and Brg1 directly binds MRTFA, but not SRF, in vitro. Results from chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that dominant negative Brg1 significantly attenuated the ability of MRTFA to increase SRF binding to the promoters of smooth muscle-specific genes, but not early response genes. Together these data suggest that Brg1/Brm containing SWI/ SNF complexes play a critical role in regulating expression of SRF/MRTFA-dependent smooth muscle-specific genes but not SRF/MRTFA-dependent early response genes.There are many clinical diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and asthma that involve abnormal differentiation of smooth muscle cells. An important pathological process that occurs in these diseases is the disruption of the balance between differentiation and proliferation of smooth muscle cells (1-4). Serum response factor (SRF) 4 has been shown to play an essential role in regulating smooth muscle differentiation, proliferation, and migration through its interaction with various accessory proteins (5). Smooth muscle-specific genes, such as SM ␣-actin, SM MHC, 130-kDa MLCK, SM22␣, and telokin, are activated by SRF-myocardin, SRF/MRTFA, SRF/GATA6/ CRP2, or SRF/Nkx complexes (6 -21). The immediate early growth factor responsive genes, such as c-fos and egr1 are regulated by SRF/ELK-1 (ets) complexes (22-24). The later early response genes, such as SRF itself and vinculin, that are actin/ Rho-dependent, are regulated by SRF-MRTFA complexes (16,25,26). Myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTFA, or Mkl1, MAL, BSAC) is a unique co-activator of SRF in that it is involved in the regulation of multiple SRF-dependent gene families (reviewed in Ref. 27). MRTFA has been reported to induce SRF-dependent, smooth muscle-specific genes such as telokin, SM22␣, and SM ␣-act...

Conductor on round core (CORC) cable wound with high temperature superconductors (HTS) is an important cable concept for high current density applications. The design of CORC cable makes the understanding of its electromagnetic performance -for example its AC losses -challenging. This paper presents a thorough study for CORC cables by combining experimental and numerical methods. In particular, the paper focuses on understanding how the cable structure influences the magnetization losses and on how these can be reduced. A novelty of this paper lies in the use of a new T-A formulation, which, for the first time, is employed for 3D modelling of CORC cable with real geometry. The use of the new T-A formulation in finite element software enables the study of how the winding direction and multiple-layer structure affect the magnetization losses of CORC cables. Moreover, influence of striation in CORC cable is studied as an effective way to reduce its losses. The CORC cable with striated tapes shows a significant magnetization loss reduction at high magnetic fields, in comparison to its un-striated counterpart. At low magnetic fields, tape striation leads to a loss rise when the number of filaments is low, then the loss drops with the further increase of filaments, but this loss reduction is much weaker than that at high fields. The paper provides an efficient tool for investigating the electromagnetic behaviour of CORC cables, which can provide valuable guidance in designing CORC cables with minimized losses for high energy physics and energy conversion applications. c c par per b par per c J J J B