Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CRISPR/Cas9‐based discovery of maize transcription factors regulating male sterility and their functional conservation in plants

Summary Identifying genic male‐sterility (GMS) genes and elucidating their roles are important to unveil plant male reproduction and promote their application in crop breeding. However, compared with Arabidopsis and rice, relatively fewer maize GMS genes have been discovered and little is known about their regulatory pathways underlying anther and pollen development. Here, by sequencing and analysing anther transcriptomes at 11 developmental stages in maize B73, Zheng58 and M6007 inbred lines, 1100 transcription factor (TF) genes were identified to be stably differentially expressed among different developmental stages. Among them, 14 maize TF genes (9 types belonging to five TF families) were selected and performed CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene mutagenesis, and then, 12 genes in eight types, including ZmbHLH51, ZmbHLH122, ZmTGA9‐1/‐2/‐3, ZmTGA10, ZmMYB84, ZmMYB33‐1/‐2, ZmPHD11 and ZmLBD10/27, were identified as maize new GMS genes by using DNA sequencing, phenotypic and cytological analyses. Notably, ZmTGA9‐1/‐2/‐3 triple‐gene mutants and ZmMYB33‐1/‐2 double‐gene mutants displayed complete male sterility, but their double‐ or single‐gene mutants showed male fertility. Similarly, ZmLBD10/27 double‐gene mutant displayed partial male sterility with 32.18% of aborted pollen grains. In addition, ZmbHLH51 was transcriptionally activated by ZmbHLH122 and their proteins were physically interacted. Molecular markers co‐segregating with these GMS mutations were developed to facilitate their application in maize breeding. Finally, all 14‐type maize GMS TF genes identified here and reported previously were compared on functional conservation and diversification among maize, rice and Arabidopsis. These findings enrich GMS gene and mutant resources for deeply understanding the regulatory network underlying male fertility and for creating male‐sterility lines in maize.
Global and local planarization of surface roughness by chemical vapor deposition of organosilicon polymer for barrier applications

Particulates and asperities on the surface of plastic substrates limit the performance of the current protective barrier coatings for flexible electronics. By applying a smoothing layer to the substrate, prior to barrier deposition, permeation is reduced. While application of smoothing layers from the liquid-phase application and curing of acrylate monomers is well known, reports of planarization achieved by vapor deposition are quite limited. In the current work, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a flexible smoothing layer, requiring no curing, is implemented in the same reactor chamber and from the same organosilicon monomer used for depositing the multilayer barrier stack. The process similarity between the smoothing and barrier layer deposition steps has the potential to lower the overall cost of the process and to improve interfacial properties, such as adhesion between the smoothing layer and the barrier stack. The current methods adapts and combines features of two well established methods for.
The Use of Classified Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper Imagery in the Characterization of Landscape Composition: a Case Study in Northern England

Abstract Earth-orbiting remote-sensing satellites are becoming increasingly used as sources of land cover data in land use planning and resource inventory. The present study compares land cover data derived from a maximum-likelihood classification of spectral reflectance data from the Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor with that obtained by field survey of a sample of 169 1-km2 grid squares in northern England. Selection of grid squares was stratified within classes of an environmental landscape classification. Landscapes included in the study ranged from coastal and urban, through pastoral and arable, to upland forestry, bogs and moorland. The land cover composition of Landsat and field cover maps was compared at the 1-km grid-square resolution. Results were interpreted with the aid of an a priori comparison of the definitions of the cover types recognized in the two survey methods. The study demonstrates that classified TM data can provide accurate estimates of the land cover composition of 1-km squares. Differences between the cover maps derived from Landsat and ground survey often reflected the subjectivity of cover type definitions, although mis-classification of pixels falling on complex boundaries and linear features was noted. The use of remotely-sensed data in land use research is discussed in light of the results and it is concluded that the Landsat cover classification tested in the present study has great potential in the fields of land use planning and environmental monitoring.
The recombinant Link module of human TSG-6 suppresses cartilage damage in models of osteoarthritis: a potential disease-modifying OA drug

Objectives: To investigate the role of endogenous TSG-6 in human osteoarthritis (OA) and assess the disease-modifying potential of a TSG-6-based biological treatment in cell, explant and animal models of OA. Methods: Knee articular cartilages from OA patients were analysed for TSG-6 protein and mRNA expression using immunohistochemistry and RNAscope, respectively. The inhibitory activities of TSG-6 and its isolated Link module domain (Link_TSG6) on cytokine-induced glycosaminoglycan loss in OA cartilage explants were compared. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-derived chondrocyte pellet cultures were used to determine the effects of Link_TSG6 and full-length TSG-6 on IL-1-, IL-1{beta}- or TNF-stimulated ADAMTS4, ADAMTS5 and MMP13 mRNA expression. Link_TSG6 was administered i.a. to the rat ACLTpMMx model and cartilage damage and tactile allodynia were assayed. Results: TSG-6 is predominantly associated with chondrocytes in regions of cartilage damage and its expression is negatively correlated with MMP13, the major collagenase implicated in OA progression. Link_TSG6 is more potent than full-length TSG-6 at dose-dependently inhibiting cytokine-mediated matrix breakdown in human OA cartilage explants; about 50% of donor cartilages, from 59 tested, were responsive to Link_TSG6 treatment. Similarly, Link_TSG6 displayed more potent effects in 3D pellet cultures, suppressing aggrecanase and collagenase gene expression. Link_TSG6 treatment reduced touch-evoked pain and dose-dependently inhibited cartilage damage in a rodent model of surgically-induced OA. Conclusions: Native TSG-6 is associated with a low catabolic chondrocyte phenotype in OA cartilage. Link_TSG6, which has enhanced chondroprotective activity compared to the full-length TSG-6 protein, demonstrates potential as a disease modifying OA drug (DMOAD) and warrants further investigation and development.
Haemophilia, state of the art and new therapeutic opportunities, a regulatory perspective

Haemophilia A and B are rare bleeding disorders. Over the past decades, they have been transformed from debilitating diseases to manageable conditions in the Western world. However, optimizing haemophilia care remains challenging in developing countries. Several challenges and unmet needs remain in the treatment of the haemophilia limiting the QoL of patients. These challenges are now being addressed by extended half‐life recombinant factors, rebalancing and substitution therapies. Gene therapy and genome editing show promise for a definite clinical cure. Here, we provide an overview of new therapeutic opportunities for haemophilia and their advances and limitations from a regulatory perspective. The database on human medicines from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was used and data from rare disease (orphan) designations and EPARs were retrieved for the analysis. Clinical trial databases were used to query all active studies on haemophilia. Gene therapy medicinal products based on AAV and lentiviral vectors are in development and clinical trials have reported substantial success in ameliorating bleeding tendency in haemophilia patients. The prospect of gene editing for correction of the underlying mutation is on the horizon and has considerable potential. With regard to the benefit of the gene therapy medicinal products, more long‐term efficacy and safety data are awaited. We are entering an era of innovation and abundance in treatment options for those affected by bleeding disorders, but issues remain about the affordability and accessibility to patients.
Family dynamics and implications for young people's 'struggles' in rural areas of post-conflict northern Uganda.

A growing literature on wartime social change has shown how changes in social institutions can have post-war effects, but there is limited knowledge on how such changes shape the lives of rural young people. The Acholi region in northern Uganda experienced two decades of armed conflict and forced displacement. Based on qualitative field research, this article analyses the role of family dynamics for the educational and livelihood trajectories of Acholi youth in rural areas, during and after the war. The article demonstrates how young people's opportunities during the war were directly affected by insecurity, and indirectly through the disruption of family life. At present, young people are still 'struggling': they work hard to respond to family obligations, which ultimately undermines their chances to progress. The social embeddedness of young people in family relations mediates the ability of young men and women to make use of opportunities in a context of underdevelopment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Tolerance of face coverings for children with autism spectrum disorder

Healthcare professionals and government officials have advised the use of personal protective equipment, such as face masks and face shields, to assist with limiting the spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19). Due to the prevalence of challenging behavior associated with other medical routines, the present study evaluated a treatment package composed of graduated exposure, prompts, reinforcement, and escape extinction on tolerance of wearing a face covering for up to 5 min for 12 children with ASD in a systematic replication of Cox et al. (2017) and Sivaraman et al. (2020). We also extended previous research by measuring generalization of face covering type (i.e., face shield) and the efficacy of a treatment extension for tolerating a face covering for up to 15 min during the participants' trial‐based instruction and play periods.
Living with diabetes alongside a severe mental illness: A qualitative exploration with people with severe mental illness, family members and healthcare staff

Diabetes is two to three times more prevalent in people with severe mental illness, yet little is known about the challenges of managing both conditions from the perspectives of people living with the co‐morbidity, their family members or healthcare staff. Our aim was to understand these challenges and to explore the circumstances that influence access to and receipt of diabetes care for people with severe mental illness.
Sexual differences in human cranial morphology: Is one sex more variable or one region more dimorphic?

The quantification of cranial sexual dimorphism (CSD) among modern humans is relevant in evolutionary studies of morphological variation and in a forensic context. Despite the abundance of quantitative studies of CSD, few have specifically examined intra‐sex variability. Here we quantify CSD in a geographically homogeneous sample of adult crania, which includes Italian individuals from the 19th and 20th centuries. Cranial morphology is described with 92 3D landmarks analyzed using Procrustean geometric morphometrics (PGMM). Size and shape variables are used to compare morphological variance between sexes in the whole cranium and four individual regions. The same variables, plus Procrustes form, are used to quantify average sex differences and explore classification accuracy. Our results indicate that: (a) as predicted by Wainer's rule, males present overall more variance in size and shape, albeit this is statistically significant only for total cranial size; (b) differences between sexes are dominated by size and to a lesser extent by Procrustes form; (c) shape only accounts for a minor proportion of variance; (d) the cranial base shows almost no dimorphism for shape; and (e) facial Procrustes form is the most accurate predictor of skeletal sex. Overall, this study suggests developmental factors underlying differences in CSD among cranial regions; stresses the need for population‐specific models that describe craniofacial variation as the basis for models that facilitate the estimation of sex in unidentified skeletal remains; and provides one of the first confirmations of “Wainer's rule” in relation to sexual dimorphism in mammals specific to the human cranium.
Osmotic Potential, Sucrose Level, and Activity of Sucrose Metabolic Enzymes in Tall Fescue in Response to Deficit Irrigation

Effects of deficit irrigation applied to home lawns, used as means of water conservation, are an important issue. However, the impact of deficit irrigation on sucrose metabolism in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is unknown and important because sucrose is the dominant form of carbohydrate transported to developing plant organs. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on leaf water content, osmotic potential (cS), sucrose level, and the activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14), sucrose synthase (SS; EC 2.4.1.13), and acid invertase (AI; EC 3.2.1.26) in tall fescue leaves. Sods of 'Falcon II' tall fescue were established in polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubes (10 cm diameter · 40 cm long) filled with a mixture of sand and fritted clay (9:1 (v:v)) and then placed in growth chambers. Reference evapotranspiration rate (ETo (millimeters of water per day)) was determined by weighing the PVC tubes containing well-watered turfgrass every 3 days to determine water loss on a daily basis as ETo. Deficit irrigation treatments were applied as follows: well-watered control, mild drought stress (60% ETo), and severe drought stress (20% ETo). Leaf water content was lower at 6, 12, and 20 days of treatment for the 20% ETo treatment and 20 days after treatment began for the 60% ETo treatment. Compared with the well- watered control, cSwas lower in the 60% ETo treatment on all three measurement dates. Sucrose was higher at 8 and 14 days after treatment began in the 60% ETo treatment and on all three measurement dates in the 20% ETo treatment relative to the well-watered control. No difference in sucrose level was observed between the 20% ETo and 60% ETo irrigation regimes at 8 and 14 days of treatment. Beginning 14 days after treatment, tall fescue had a higher level of SPS in the 60% ETo and 20% ETo treatments compared with the well-watered treatment. Tall fescue receiving60% or20% ETohad alower levelof AIactivity onallmeasurement dates.Results suggest thatthe decrease in cSwas accompaniedbyhigher sucroselevels, whichwere theresult ofthe increased levelof SPSandSS activityand a decline in AI activity.
Zirconia crowns for children: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND Preformed metal crowns (PMCs) have been the restoration of choice for paediatric dentistry. However, PMCs have a non-aesthetic appearance, which has become a point of concern. Recently, prefabricated zirconia crowns (PZCs) have been increasingly used as an aesthetic restorative material for primary teeth, as they have pleasing properties. AIM This systematic review summarises the clinical results for PZCs in primary dentitions, including their wear on the opposing dentition, retention, fracture resistance, parental satisfaction, gingival health, and cementation materials. MATERIALS & METHODS Electronic database searches were conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Clinical trials, observational studies, and case reports/series were included. The quality of the studies was analysed using the Cochrane tool and the domain-based evaluation for Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions. RESULTS The search retrieved 166 references, of which 14 studies were included for qualitative analyses. The risk of bias varied from low to unclear. The included studies indicated that PZCs appear to be a good alternative to PMCs. CONCLUSION PZCs are retentive, and are not associated with accelerated wear on the opposing dentition. They also exhibit a high fracture resistance, and are satisfying to parents and compatible with gingival health. However, there is inconclusive evidence with regard to cementation materials.
REMOVAL AND DEGRADATION OF ATRAZINE AND METOLACHLOR BY VEGETATIVE FILTER STRIPS ON CLAY LOAM SOIL

The effectiveness of filter strips, with and without vegetation, in removing dissolved atrazine and metolachlor in runoff was investigated using aluminum tilted beds set at 1% slope on Cullen clay loam soil. Runon containing atrazine and metolachlor was applied on the up-slope end of the simulated filter strips. Water samples from surface runoff, lateral subsurface movement, and leachates as well as filter strip soil samples were collected and herbicide concentrations determined. The filter strips reduced the amount of dissolved atrazine and metolachlor in runoff by about 6% of the amount applied. The absence or presence of switchgrass did not affect the amount of herbicide filtered. About 56 to 82% of the runon volume leached through the 30-cm soil depth of the filter strips. In the leachate, about 72 to 88% of the amount of applied herbicide was filtered or adsorbed to the soil. The presence of switchgrass reduced the amount of runoff volume and increased the amount of leachate volume. In total, about 53 to 73% of the amount of herbicide applied was removed by the filter strips. The primary mode of dissolved herbicide removal in applied runon was by infiltration and soil adsorption mechanisms. Soil herbicide concentrations were greatest at the 0 to 10 cm depth, decreased to less than 50 μg kg−1 over a 7-week period. In the filter strip soil, the presence of switchgrass significantly increased the degradation rate of metolachlor, but not atrazine. Infiltration of runoff into the filter strips is key to reducing dissolved herbicides from moving offsite. The presence of surface connected macropores is important in facilitating this process on heavier textured soils.
Interconnection of iron and osmotic stress signaling in plants - Is FIT a regulatory hub to cross-connect abscisic acid responses?

Osmotic stresses like salinity and drought have deleterious effects on uptake and translocation of essential mineral nutrients. Iron (Fe) is an important micronutrient that regulates many processes in plants. Plants have adopted various molecular and physiological strategies for Fe acquisition from soil and transport to and within plants. Dynamic Fe signaling in plants tightly regulates iron uptake and homeostasis. This way, Fe nutrition is adjusted to growth and stress conditions, and Fe deficiency-regulated transcription factors such as FER-LIKE IRON DEFICIENCY-INDUCED TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR (FIT) act as regulatory hubs in these responses. Here, we review and analyze the expression of the various components of the Fe signaling during osmotic stresses. We discuss common players in the Fe and osmotic stress signaling. Furthermore, this review focuses on exploring a novel and exciting direct connection of regulatory mechanisms of Fe intake and acquisition with ABA-mediated environmental stress cues like salt/drought. We propose a model how environmental stress affects Fe uptake and acquisition and vice versa at molecular-physiological level in plants.
Melanocytic lesions with blue naevus‐like (dendritic) morphology: an update with an emphasis on histopathological, immunophenotypic, and molecular features

An accurate diagnosis of melanocytic lesions requires a thorough histopathological evaluation accompanied by appropriate correlation with clinical examination findings. Although most melanocytic lesions can readily be classified as one of the defined diagnostic entities according to well‐established diagnostic criteria, a subset of melanocytic lesions, particularly those with blue naevus‐like (pigmented dendritic) morphology, have notoriously constituted an enduring challenge for pathologists. These lesions are rare and often show histological ambiguities, with features of both benignity and malignancy, thereby making accurate risk assessment and prediction of their biological behaviours difficult on histological grounds alone. Herein, we outline a practical and systematic approach for the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions with dendritic morphology, with a particular focus on histological and immunophenotypic features that help to distinguish one entity from another. In this review, we provide the most current knowledge on these melanocytic lesions in the literature and our experience with these rare entities, and we discuss the utility of molecular techniques as an ancillary tool, especially in histologically ambiguous and/or borderline lesions.
RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s): genomics and biological functions

Abstract G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-classical DNA or RNA secondary structures that have been first observed decades ago. Over the years, these four-stranded structural motifs have been demonstrated to have significant regulatory roles in diverse biological processes, but challenges remain in detecting them globally and reliably. Compared to DNA G4s (dG4s), the study of RNA G4s (rG4s) has received less attention until recently. In this review, we will summarize the innovative high-throughput methods recently developed to detect rG4s on a transcriptome-wide scale, highlight the many novel and important functions of rG4 being discovered in vivo across the tree of life, and discuss the key biological questions to be addressed in the near future.
“We Ask for More Than We Give Back”: Negotiating the Boundaries of Informal Childcare Arrangements

There is an assumption that childcare services and workplace flexibility policies enable a seamless shift between childcare and work. Similarly, there is an assumption that informal care arrangements will be relatively seamless as the norm of reciprocity is assumed to bind families together through the bonds of love and affection. Monetary exchange for this work is seen to demean the caring relationship, but this does not mean “costs” are absent. Drawing on the work of Viviana Zelizer, this article examines how parents negotiate informal care arrangements, identifying the “payments” that differentiate family from friend care. The analysis focuses on parents working nonstandard and variable hours who were part of a broader project examining childcare flexibility, which also involved childcare providers and policymakers. This article identifies the relational work involved in the maintenance of informal care relationships and how they are negotiated when parents “ask for more than they give. ”