bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defense Surveillance System at the Interface: Response of Rice Towards Rhizoctonia solani During Sheath Blight Infection
Authors: Acharya Udita , Das Troyee , Ghosh Zhumur , Ghosh Anupama
Published: August 2022

Sheath blight of rice caused by necrotrophic plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most common fungal diseases of rice leading to significant yield loss. Among the defense responses exhibited by the host plants towards fungal infections, those functional within the apoplast contribute significantly. Here, we have studied apoplastic defense response of rice towards R. solani during sheath blight infection. The transcriptome of R. solani–infected rice plants was compared with that of uninfected rice, to identify the set of defense genes that undergo differential expression and code for proteins with a predicted N-terminal signal peptide. Significant changes in the stress-responsive, molecular signal perception, protein modification, and metabolic process pathways represented by a group of differentially expressed genes were observed. Our data also revealed two secreted protease inhibitors from rice that exhibit increased expression during R. solani infection and induce disease resistance when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Somatic ablation of IKKβ in liver and leukocytes is not tolerated in obese mice but hepatic IKKβ deletion improves fatty liver and insulin sensitivity
Authors: Silva Vagner Ramon R. , Molinaro Angela , Gaudi Andrea Usseglio , Fryk Emanuel , Sardi Claudia , Hammarlund Maria , Mjörnstedt Filip , Johansson Maria E. , Becattini Barbara , Jansson Per‐Anders , Solinas Giovanni
Published: August 2022

The kinase IKKβ controls pro‐inflammatory gene expression, and its activity in the liver and leukocytes was shown to drive metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity. However, it was also proposed that liver IKKβ signaling protects obese mice from insulin resistance and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by increasing XBP1s protein stability. Furthermore, mice lacking IKKβ in leukocytes display increased lethality to lipopolysaccharides. This study aims at improving our understanding of the role of IKKβ signaling in obesity. We induced IKKβ deletion in hematopoietic cells and liver of obese mice by Cre‐LoxP recombination, using an INF‐inducible system, or a liver‐specific IKKβ deletion in obese mice by adenovirus delivery of the Cre recombinase. The histopathological, immune, and metabolic phenotype of the mice was characterized. IKKβ deletion in the liver and hematopoietic cells was not tolerated in mice with established obesity exposed to the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) and exacerbated liver damage and ER‐stress despite elevated XBP1s. By contrast, liver‐specific ablation of IKKβ in obese mice reduced steatosis and improved insulin sensitivity in association with increased XBP1s protein abundance and reduced expression of de‐novo lipogenesis genes. We conclude that IKKβ blockage in liver and leukocytes is not tolerated in obese mice exposed to TLR3 agonists. However, selective hepatic IKKβ ablation improves fatty liver and insulin sensitivity in association with increased XBP1s protein abundance and reduced expression of lipogenic genes.
Imaging techniques for assessment of vascular involvement in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Frech Tracy M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose of review

Vascular assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is included in classification criteria for this disease, thus routinely used in the evaluation of patients in which this diagnosis is being considered. In this review, imaging techniques for assessment of vascular involvement in SSc hands and skin are discussed.

Recent findings

Longitudinal use of imaging techniques has important implications for understanding the progressive vasculopathy and fibrotic transition in SSc. Nailfold and oral capillaroscopy as well as laser speckle contrast analysis are established techniques for vascular functional assessment, but longitudinal use is challenged by equipment costs and clinical time constraints. Ultrasound techniques are well described but require technical training. Advances in mobile infrared thermography and optical coherence tomography could potentially provide a point-of-care, quantitative outcome measure in clinical trials and practice.

The equipment cost, technical training, data standardization, and invasiveness of vascular assessment techniques that quantify morphological (microangiopathy) and functional (blood flow reduction) are critical for implementation into SSc clinical trials and practice to understand progressive vasculopathy, such as wound development.
One-Year Outcomes of Standalone XEN Gel Stent Versus Nonpenetrating Deep Sclerectomy
Authors: Touboul Arnaud , Fels Audrey , Morin Adèle , Bensmail Djawed , Lachkar Yves
Published: August 2022

Précis:

The nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) procedure resulted in significantly more surgical success than the standalone XEN gel stent procedure without differences in safety profile.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to compare surgical success and safety profile of NPDS and XEN gel stent.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of 328 eyes of 282 patients who were scheduled for standalone XEN gel stent surgery (n=140) or NPDS (n=188) at Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph between January 2017 and December 2018 was conducted. Primary outcome measure was the proportion of surgical success 12 months after surgery. Complete and qualified surgical successes were defined by intraocular pressure (IOP)≤18 mm Hg and a reduction of IOP≥20% without or with hypotensive medication, respectively.

Results:

In total, 82 eyes were included in the XEN group and 124 eyes in the NPDS group. In the 1-eye analysis, rates of “complete success” and “qualified success” were, respectively, at the end of follow-up, 28.57% and 20.00% in the XEN group, and 42.72% and 16.50% in the NPDS group (P=0.17). Success probability plots based on the Kaplan-Meier estimate for overall surgical success demonstrated a median success probability time of 3.73 years for the NPDS group and 2.38 years for the XEN group (P<0.0001). After adjustment for confounding variables using Cox regression, the NPDS procedure was significantly more associated with surgical success than the XEN gel stent implantation (P<0.001). No difference was demonstrated in terms of reduction of antiglaucoma medications, needling procedures, or reoperations.

Conclusions:

The NPDS procedure may be more effective than the XEN gel stent in reducing IOP in patients with open angle glaucoma and may result in longer surgical success. However, a well-conducted prospective randomized study is required to confirm these results.
The Impact of Simulation-Based Trabeculectomy Training on Resident Core Surgical Skill Competency
Authors: Annoh Roxanne , Buchan John , Gichuhi Stephen , Philippin Heiko , Arunga Simon , Mukome Agrippa , Admassu Fisseha , Lewis Karinya , Makupa William , Otiti-Sengeri Juliet , Kim Min , MacLeod David , Burton Matthew J. , Dean William H.
Published: August 2022

Précis:

Simulation-based surgical education shows a positive, immediate, and sustained impact on core surgical skill competency in trabeculectomy among resident ophthalmologists in training.

Purpose:

To measure the impact of trabeculectomy, surgical simulation training on core surgical skill competency in resident ophthalmologists.

Materials and Methods:

This is a post hoc analysis of the GLAucoma Simulated Surgery trial, which is a multicenter, multinational randomized controlled trial. Resident ophthalmologists from 6 training centers in sub-Saharan Africa (in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa) were recruited according to the inclusion criteria of having performed zero surgical trabeculectomies and assisted in <5. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control arms using allocation concealment. The intervention was a 1-week intensive trabeculectomy surgical simulation course. Outcome measures were mean surgical competency scores in 8 key trabeculectomy surgical skills (scleral incision, scleral flap, releasable suturing, conjunctival suturing, sclerostomy, tissue handling, fluidity, and speed), using a validated scoring tool.

Results:

Forty-nine residents were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Baseline characteristics were balanced between arms. Median baseline surgical competency scores were 2.88/16 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.75–4.17] and 3.25/16 (IQR: 1.83–4.75) in the intervention and control arms, respectively. At primary intervention, median scores increased to 11.67/16 (IQR: 9.58–12.63) and this effect was maintained at 3 months and 1 year (P=0.0001). Maximum competency scores at primary intervention were achieved in the core trabeculectomy skills of releasable suturing (n=17, 74%), scleral flap formation (n=16, 70%), and scleral incision (n=15, 65%) compared with scores at baseline.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the positive impact of intensive simulation-based surgical education on core trabeculectomy skill development. The rapid and sustained effect of resident skill acquisition pose strong arguments for its formal integration into ophthalmic surgical education.
Patients with periodontitis are at a higher risk of stroke: A Taiwanese cohort study
Authors: Hsu Pei-Wei , Shen Yen-Wen , Syam Syamsiah , Liang Wen-Miin , Wu Trong-Neng , Hsu Jui-Ting , Fuh Lih-Jyh
Published: August 2022

Background:

This study aimed to investigate the risk of stroke incidence in patients with periodontitis.

Methods:

Data on patients diagnosed with periodontitis were collected from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and were matched (1:1) with patients without periodontitis between 2001 and 2010. A multivariable Cox survival model was used to predict stroke between patients with and without periodontitis, and the possibility of confounders. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used to explore the risk of stroke in the case and control groups. Diseases found during the follow-up period were analyzed to determine possible effects on the study. A total of 282,560 periodontitis and non-periodontitis patients were enrolled, with most subjects aged 40-59 years.

Results:

The overall cumulative incidence of stroke was 2.14 times higher in periodontitis than in non-periodontitis, and the highest HR was in the >80 years age group (HR=9.30; 95% CI, 7.06-12.26). The multivariate Cox model indicated that the adjusted HR (aHR) between the case and control was 2.03 (95% CI, 1.99-2.08), and a higher aHR was associated with hypertension. Atherosclerosis, atrial fibrillation, obesity, kidney disease, anxiety, and gout discovered during follow-up also showed a potential risk of stroke in patients with periodontitis.

Conclusion:

Therefore, this study suggests a high risk of stroke in patients with periodontitis.
Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in PICU Settings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chorafa Elisavet , Komatsiouli Vasiliki , Iosifidis Elias , Kourti Maria , Sdougka Maria , Roilides Emmanuel
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVES:

Development of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) is strategy for prevention and management of emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature on antimicrobial stewardship interventions in PICUs and analyzed approaches, structure, implementation, and outcomes of the ASPs.

DATA SOURCES:

PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched for studies published from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2020, reporting interventions on judicious use of antimicrobials in PICUs (last search performed February 28, 2021).

DATA SELECTION:

Studies that evaluated an intervention in a PICU setting or both in PICU and other settings and reported separate results for PICU were eligible for full-text review. Studies that had implemented stewardship in the entire hospital, including the PICU, but without presenting dedicated PICU data were excluded from the analysis.

DATA EXTRACTION:

The strategy of intervention, structure of ASP team, implementation, and outcomes were assessed with a checklist tool for all studies included in the analysis. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias in Nonrandomized studies of Interventions tool.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Thirteen articles were found: 11 that applied ASP in PICUs, and two at hospital level. All PICU-dedicated ASPs applied a multimodal intervention combining strategies simultaneously; audit with feedback (6/11) and facility-specific clinical practice guidelines (7/11) were the most common strategies. A multidisciplinary team was formulated in all ASPs except for three biomarker-based interventions. Six of 11 studies included techniques to enhance behavior change and one implemented a behavior-based intervention. Antibiotic consumption was evaluated in all ASPs, cost in three of 11, antibiotic resistance in one of 11, length of hospitalization in six of 11, and mortality in eight of 11. All hospital-wide ASPs used audit with feedback in addition to facility-specific clinical practice guidelines and assessed antimicrobial consumption, expenditures, length of stay, and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of ASPs in PICUs is limited, and few programs follow all of the currently available recommendations.
The Humanistic Approach to Aging and the Plastic Surgeon’s Role
Authors: Hwang Kun
Published: August 2022

The humanistic approach, including literature and arts, could be a tool for understanding the patient’s mindset and establishing the surgeon’s role. Dorian Gray syndrome, derived from a novel written by Oscar Wilde is a disease with three diagnostic criteria: body dysmorphic disorder, narcissistic regression, and denial of the maturation process. Suppressing patients’ quest for youth is not possible by psychiatric methods. Title of “No Country for Old Men,” written by Cormac McCarthy, was derived from the poem “Sailing to Byzantium,” which William Butler Yeats. Yeats desires to sail to Byzantium, which is a “land for old men,” and articulates the appearance that he desires. In a novel titled “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” by James Joyce, Stephen Dedalus found perfect beauty in a girl. Joyce described the morphology of a “perfect beauty.” A Korean writer, Lee Ok, wrote an essay entitled “Questions to the Mirror,” which compares the external appearance of young and old faces. He asks the mirror; the mirror replies and comforts him. A painting “Old Man and Death,” made by Joseph Wright is derived from Aesop’s fables: old man never wants to die despite of exhaustion. “The Fountain of Youth” created by Lucas Cranach was based on the belief that certain baths might heal and rejuvenate. As Harold Gillies who operated until the age of 78, aging makes plastic surgeons more experienced and wiser than when they were young because surgery is a brain job, not a job for the hands.
The Possibility of Internal Carotid-Cavernous Fistula After Maxillary Fracture
Authors: Zhang Chao , Tianjia Zhang , Lv Hui , Zhang Lei
Published: August 2022

The authors first reported a 42-year-old female patient with carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) that occurred after maxillary fractures. She developed unilateral exophthalmos, bulbar conjunctival hyperemia, and complained of tinnitus after the operation, and was diagnosed as internal CCF through computerized tomography and Digital Substraction Angiography. After the diagnosis, the internal carotid artery was embolized with a coil under general anesthesia. The treatment effect was satisfactory but the vision of the affected side was eventually lost due to the long course of congestion. Although patients with maxillary fractures can safely undergo surgery, some unexpected complications may occur in trauma, such as internal CCF. Therefore, each patient must be subjected to accurate posttraumatic examinations and inquiries to discover possible clinical complications. Patients with exophthalmos, tinnitus, and conjunctival hyperemia may be accompanied by internal CCF. Once diagnosed, appropriate treatment such as embolization should be carried out in time to eliminate further serious sequelae.
Modelling predicts differences in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell signalling due to biological variability
Authors: Tserunyan Vardges , Finley Stacey D.
Published: August 2022

In recent decades, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have been successfully used to generate engineered T cells capable of recognizing and eliminating cancer cells. The structure of CARs typically includes costimulatory domains, which enhance the T-cell response upon antigen encounter. However, it is not fully known how those co-stimulatory domains influence cell activation in the presence of biological variability. In this work, we used mathematical modelling to elucidate how the inclusion of one such costimulatory molecule, CD28, impacts the response of a population of CAR T cells under different sources of variability. Particularly, we demonstrate that CD28-bearing CARs mediate a faster and more consistent population response under both target antigen variability and kinetic rate variability. Next, we identify kinetic parameters that have the most impact on cell response time. Finally, based on our findings, we propose that enhancing the catalytic activity of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase can result in drastically reduced and more consistent response times among heterogeneous CAR T-cell populations.
Nowcasting and forecasting COVID-19 waves: the recursive and stochastic nature of transmission
Authors: Albani V. V. L. , Albani R. A. S. , Massad E. , Zubelli J. P.
Published: August 2022

We propose a parsimonious, yet effective, susceptible–exposed–infected–removed-type model that incorporates the time change in the transmission and death rates. The model is calibrated by Tikhonov-type regularization from official reports from New York City (NYC), Chicago, the State of São Paulo, in Brazil and British Columbia, in Canada. To forecast, we propose different ways to extend the transmission parameter, considering its estimated values. The forecast accuracy is then evaluated using real data from the above referred places. All the techniques accurately provided forecast scenarios for periods 15 days long. One of the models effectively predicted the magnitude of the four waves of infections in NYC, including the one caused by the Omicron variant for periods of 45 days using out-of-sample data.
A toolbox for the retrodeformation and muscle reconstruction of fossil specimens in Blender
Authors: Herbst Eva C. , Meade Luke E. , Lautenschlager Stephan , Fioritti Niccolo , Scheyer Torsten M.
Published: August 2022

Accurate muscle reconstructions can offer new information on the anatomy of fossil organisms and are also important for biomechanical analysis (multibody dynamics and finite-element analysis (FEA)). For the sake of simplicity, muscles are often modelled as point-to-point strands or frustra (cut-off cones) in biomechanical models. However, there are cases in which it is useful to model the muscle morphology in three dimensions, to better examine the effects of muscle shape and size. This is especially important for fossil analyses, where muscle force is estimated from the reconstructed muscle morphology (rather than based on data collected
in vivo
). The two main aims of this paper are as follows. First, we created a new interactive tool in the free open access software Blender to enable interactive three-dimensional modelling of muscles. This approach can be applied to both palaeontological and human biomechanics research to generate muscle force magnitudes and lines of action for FEA. Second, we provide a guide on how to use existing Blender tools to reconstruct distorted or incomplete specimens. This guide is aimed at palaeontologists but can also be used by anatomists working with damaged specimens or to test functional implication of hypothetical morphologies.
Molecular-level investigation of plasticization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in supercritical carbon dioxide via molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Sun Fayu , Dedong Hu , Fei Li , Weiqiang Wang , Zhaotao Gao , Zhuo Zhang
Published: August 2022

The current study aims to use the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method to discuss the glass transition behaviour and fractional free volume (
FFV
) of the pure polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the plasticized PET induced by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO
2
) sorption. The adsorption concentration reproduced through sorption relaxation cycles (SRC) was firstly estimated and in an order of magnitude with the known experimental results available in the reported literature. The
FFV
induced by SC-CO
2
in PET polymer changes regularly, which is proportional to the capacity of SC-CO
2
adsorption with the changes in temperature and pressure. The glass transition temperature (
T
g
) was further estimated to be almost identical to the known experimental values and shows a gradually decreasing tendency with the increase of pressure. Meanwhile, the plasticization of PET polymer studied by radial distribution functions showed that CO
2
molecules occupying the sorption sites on the PET backbone promoted plasticization by increasing the fluidity of the PET backbone chain.
Beyond preferential attachment: falling of stars and survival of superstars
Authors: Somin Shahar , Altshuler Yaniv , ‘Sandy’ Pentland Alex , Shmueli Erez
Published: August 2022

Numerous studies over the past decades established that real-world networks typically follow preferential attachment and detachment principles. Subsequently, this implies that degree fluctuations monotonically increase while rising up the ‘degree ladder’, causing high-degree nodes to be prone for attachment of new edges and for detachment of existing ones. Despite the extensive study of node degrees (absolute popularity), many domains consider node ranks (relative popularity) as of greater importance. This raises intriguing questions—what dynamics are expected to emerge when observing the ranking of network nodes over time? Does the ranking of nodes present similar monotonous patterns to the dynamics of their corresponding degrees? In this paper, we show that surprisingly the answer is not straightforward. By performing both theoretical and empirical analyses, we demonstrate that preferential principles do not apply to the temporal changes in node ranking. We show that the ranking dynamics follows a non-monotonous curve, suggesting an inherent partition of the nodes into qualitatively distinct stability categories. These findings provide plausible explanations to observed yet hitherto unexplained phenomena, such as how superstars fortify their ranks despite massive fluctuations in their degrees, and how stars are more prone to rank instability.
Critical rates of climate warming and abrupt collapse of ecosystems
Authors: Kaur Taranjot , Sharathi Dutta Partha
Published: August 2022

In the age of climate warming, comprehension of ecosystems’ future is one of the pressing challenges to humanity. While most studies on climate warming focus on the ‘magnitude of change’ of the Earth’s temperature, the ‘rate’ at which it is increasing cannot be ruled out. Rapid warming has already caused sudden ecosystem transitions at numerous biodiversity hot spots; a mechanistic understanding of such transitions is crucial. Here, we study a slow–fast consumer–resource ecosystem interacting in rapid warming scenarios. Employing geometric singular perturbation theory, we find that while a gradual change in mean temperature may accord population persistence, a critical warming rate can drive the resource’s sudden collapse, termed a warming-induced abrupt transition. This further triggers the bottom-up effect, resulting in the extinction of the consumer. The difference between the optimum temperature of the resource’s growth rate and the habitat temperature is crucial in deciding the critical rate of warming. Consequently, species inhabiting extreme temperature regions are more susceptible to warming-induced collapse than those within intermediate temperature ranges. We find that stochastic fluctuations in the system can advance warming-induced transitions, and the efficacy of generic early warning signals to anticipate sudden transitions is challenged.
Unsteady solute dispersion in the presence of reversible and irreversible reactions
Authors: Das Prosanjit , Sarifuddin  , Rana Jyotirmoy , Kumar Mandal Prashanta
Published: August 2022

In an unsteady pulsatile non-Newtonian fluid past a tube with a thin wall layer, the dispersion of a narrow uniform slug of injected solute over a cross-section is examined. At the interface between the mobile fluid phase and the immobile wall phase, both irreversible and reversible reactions have been adopted. The Carreau–Yasuda model is used to describe the fluid’s rheology. The impacts of fluid rheology and reaction parameters on the concentration profiles in the fluid- and wall-phases and the three transport coefficients,
viz
, the depletion coefficient

(

K
0

)

, the convection coefficient

(

K
1

)

, the dispersion coefficient

(

K
2

)

in the fluid phase are predicted numerically. A considerable shift in the behaviour of

K
1

and

K
2

with a higher reaction rate may be observed in the transient stage. The axial dispersion of mobile-phase concentration in the unsteady Carreau–Yasuda II fluid model is significantly larger than in Poiseuille and steady Carreau–Yasuda II fluid models, and flow pulsatility on the immobile-phase concentration is prominent upstream at a longer time. In addition, the peak value of the mobile-phase section-mean concentration is consistently lower than in other fluid models. This study could help researchers to understand the drug delivery in blood vessels and pulmonary mechanical ventilation.
Agromyces cavernae sp. nov., a novel member of the genus Agromyces isolated from a karstic cave in Shaoguan
Authors: Fang Bao-Zhu , Gao Lei , Jiao Jian-Yu , Zhang Zi-Tong , Li Meng-Meng , Mohamad Osama Abdalla Abdelshafy , Ahmed Iftikhar , Li Li , Liu Yong-Hong , Li Wen-Jun
Published: August 2022

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated SYSU K20354T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Shaoguan city, Guangdong province, southern China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive and non-motile. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and phylogenetic analysis, strain SYSU K20354T was most closely related to

Agromyces humatus

JCM 14319T, and shared the highest sequence identity of 98.3 % based on NCBI database. In addition, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose, mannose and ribose. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-12, while the major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, three unknown glycolipids, three unknown phospholipids and two unknown lipids. The draft genome size of strain SYSU K20354T was 3.96 Mbp with G+C content of 69.7 mol%. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain SYSU K20354T and

A. humatus

JCM 14319T were 90.3 and 55.6 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU K20354T represents a novel species of the genus

Agromyces

, for which the name Agromyces cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU K20354T (=KCTC 49499T= CGMCC 4.7691T).
Haplotype mining panel for genetic dissection and breeding inEucalyptus
Authors: Candotti Julia , Christie Nanette , Ployet Raphael , Mostert-O’Neill Marja M. , Reynolds S. Melissa , Neves Leandro Gomide , Naidoo Sanushka , Mizrachi Eshchar , Duong Tuan A. , Myburg Alexander A.
Published: August 2022

To improve our understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in plants, a comprehensive analysis of gene variants is required.Eucalyptusis an important forest plantation genus that is highly outbred. Trait dissection and molecular breeding in eucalypts currently relies on biallelic SNP markers. These markers fail to capture the large amount of haplotype diversity in these species and thus multi-allelic markers are required. We aimed to develop a gene-based haplotype mining panel forEucalyptusspecies. We generated 17 999 oligonucleotide probe sets for targeted sequencing of selected regions of 6 293 genes implicated in growth and wood properties, pest and disease resistance and abiotic stress responses. We identified and phased 195 834 SNPs using a read-based phasing approach to reveal SNP-based haplotypes. A total of 8 915 target regions (at 4 637 gene loci) passed tests for Mendelian inheritance. We evaluated the haplotype panel in fourEucalyptusspecies (E. grandis,E. urophylla,E. dunniiandE. nitens) to determine its ability to capture diversity across eucalypt species. This revealed an average of 3.13 to 4.52 haplotypes per target region in each species and 33.36% of the identified haplotypes were shared by at least two species. This haplotype mining panel will enable the analysis of haplotype diversity within and between species and provide multi-allelic markers that can be used for genome-wide association studies and gene-based breeding approaches.

Significance Statement

We developed a haplotype sequencing panel forEucalyptustargeting 8915 regions at 4637 gene loci associated with growth and wood properties, pest and disease resistance and abiotic stress response providing a genome-wide, multi-allelic, gene centric genotyping resource for eucalypts. We tested the panel in fourEucalyptusspecies (E. grandis,E. dunnii,E. nitensandE. urophylla) and found an average of 3.65 haplotypes per target region per species, and 9.98 across all four species.
Operation of Carbon-Concentrating Mechanisms in Cyanobacteria and Algae requires altered poising of the Calvin-Benson cycle
Authors: Treves Haim , Lucius Stefan , Feil Regina , Stitt Mark , Hagemann Martin , Arrivault Stéphanie
Published: August 2022

Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae make a major contribution to global photosynthetic productivity. To cope with the low availability of CO2 in aqueous systems they deploy inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). These concentrate CO2 in microcompartments that contain Rubisco (carboxysomes in cyanobacteria; pyrenoids in green algae). The rest of the Calvin-Benson cycle (CBC) is located outside these microcompartments. We hypothesized that this physical separation requires modified poising of the CBC. Hence, Rubisco is physically separated from the other CBC enzymes outside these microcompartments. To test the hypothesis that this physical separation requires appropriate poising of the CBC, we profiled CBC metabolites under ambient CO2 in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and three eukaryotic algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella ohadii). Comparison with recently reported profiles for a large set of terrestrial plants revealed that cyanobacteria and green algae have very distinctive CBC metabolite profiles, with low levels of pentose phosphates and, especially, high levels of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and 3-phosphoglycerate. We propose that large pools of the substrate and product of Rubisco are required to generate concentration gradients that drive movement into and out of the microcompartments. These observations raise questions about how CBC regulation was modified during the evolution of algal CCMs and their subsequent loss in terrestrial plants, and highlight that operation of CCMs requires co-evolution of the CBC.

Highlight

CBC metabolite profiles in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis and in three eukaryotic green algae at ambient CO2 concentration are very different to those in terrestrial plants, probably reflecting the operation of a carboxysome- or pyrenoid-based carbon concentrating mechanism.
Phosphorylation of tyrosine 90 in SH3 domain is a new regulatory switch controlling Src kinase
Authors: Koudelková Lenka , Brůhová Zuzana , Sztacho Martin , Pavlík Vojtěch , Pánek Dalibor , Gemperle Jakub , Brábek Jan , Rösel Daniel
Published: August 2022

The activation of Src kinase in cells is strictly controlled by intramolecular inhibitory interactions mediated by SH3 and SH2 domains. They impose structural constraints on the kinase domain holding it in a catalytically non-permissive state. The transition between inactive and active conformation is known to be largely regulated by the phosphorylation state of key tyrosines 416 and 527. Here we identified that phosphorylation of tyrosine 90 reduces binding affinity of the SH3 domain to its interacting partners, opens the Src structure, and renders Src catalytically active. This is accompanied by an increased affinity to the plasma membrane, decreased membrane motility and slower diffusion from focal adhesions. Phosphorylation of tyrosine 90 controlling SH3-medited intramolecular inhibitory interaction, analogical to tyrosine 527 regulating SH2-C-terminus bond, enables SH3 and SH2 domains to serve as cooperative but independent regulatory elements. This mechanism allows Src to adopt several distinct conformations of varying catalytic activities and interacting properties, enabling it to operate not as a simple switch but as a tunable regulator functioning as a signaling hub in a variety of cellular processes.
Virtual mentoring and coaching for school leaders participating in virtual professional learning communities
Authors: Irby Beverly J. , Pashmforoosh Roya , Tong Fuhui , Lara-Alecio Rafael , Etchells Matthew J. , Rodriguez Linda , Prickett Christopher , Zhao Yingying
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study was conducted in the United States of America to identify what practices virtual mentor-coaches perceived to be effective in virtual mentoring and coaching (VMC) within virtual professional learning communities (VPLCs). The authors also sought to determine the ways in which virtual mentor-coaches provided VMC for school leaders within VPLCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a phenomenological approach in our research, describing the lived experiences of practicing virtual mentor-coaches as they engaged in VMC. Data analysis included video analysis and systematic coding of interview data.

Findings

An in-depth analysis of interview and video data showed that virtual mentor-coaches support school leaders in developing and transforming school leaders' leadership for building teachers' instructional capacity. The authors identified a VMC process model within VPLCs, including four steps as follows: (1) presentation, (2) collaboration, (3) reflection and (4) action plan.

Practical implications

VMC for school leaders participating in VPLCs is regarded as a transformative model which provides encouragement, reflection and support for instructional leadership actions.

Originality/value

Key steps and components of an effective VMC highlighted in the current research offer practical guidance for future virtual mentor-coaches in conducting and implementing VMC within VPLCs.
Strengthened rule of law to reduce corruption: evidence from Asia-Pacific countries
Authors: Mohd-Rashid Rasidah , Mehmood Waqas , Ooi Chai-Aun , Che Man Siti Zakiah , Ong Chui Zi
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Rule of law is essential in reducing corruption in a country. This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to corruption in 41 of the most competitive countries in the Asia-Pacific region by focusing on judicial effectiveness, property rights and government integrity. The moderating role of regulatory quality was also considered in the attempt to explain the association among rule of law and corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used pooled ordinary least squares regression and generalized method of moments-dynamic panel for the robustness test on data of 41 Asia-Pacific countries spanning from 2013 to 2021.

Findings

Property rights and government integrity were found to be negatively significant in explaining corruption. In contrast, the interaction between rule of law and regulatory quality had a significant positive association with corruption. The findings bring to light Asia-Pacific countries’ need for more effective control of corruption.

Practical implications

The authorities should work towards enhancing the countries’ image as corruption-free nations by creating a stable economic and political environment and preserving macroeconomic stability through strengthened rule of law.

Originality/value

Previous research looked at The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Asian countries, but little attention was given to Asia-Pacific countries in examining the relationship between rule of law and corruption.
Relationship coordination between successor and top management team in family business under the background of social embeddedness: a case study of trans-generational entrepreneurship
Authors: Wang Fei Fei , Wu Jiong , Gong Xiaoxian
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Aiming at the key issue of interpersonal interaction process between successors and top management teams in the context of family business trans-generational entrepreneurship, this paper aims to explore the motivation, action and results of interpersonal conflict between these two subjects mentioned above.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses grounded theoretical research methods based on the research objects of three family businesses with both inheritance and transformation needs.

Findings

Motivation difference, mediation mode and relationship utilization, that is, the successor and top management team take the goal-orientation, interest orientation and rational tendency as the starting point for relationship coordination. Then it mediates the interpersonal conflicts through compromise, collaboration and compliance, and ultimately provide successors with resources, opportunities, capabilities and motivation advantages to promote trans-generational entrepreneurship. Second, the path of relationship coordination comes from the background of social embedding, that is, the motivation difference comes from the embedding of motivation seeking, the mediation mode comes from the embedding of mediation elements and the relationship utilization comes from the embedding of relationship optimization. The research conclusions not only provide a theoretical framework for family businesses to solve the problems of interpersonal conflicts faced by family businesses but also have practical guiding significance for the trans-generational entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

There are two theoretical contributions in this study. First, the research starting point of social embeddedness theory from the perspective of interpersonal relationships at the microlevel is revised. Since Granovetter (Granovetter, 1985) put forward the theory of social embeddedness, its research scope has been gradually expanded, but the mainstream research in the past focused on analyzing the social network embeddedness of enterprises to obtain social capital from the macro- and meso-level (Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998). In fact, this may deviate from the essential interpretation of Granovetter’s theory of social embeddedness, while this study returns to the study of interpersonal relationships. Second, a theoretical model of relationship coordination for successors and top management team is put forward in general. On the basis of the motivation, action and result of interpersonal interaction between the successor and top management team, the interpersonal coordination action path and embedded logic during trans-generational entrepreneurship of family businesses are revealed, which enriched the research scope of social embedded theory in family business.
Can individualism/collectivism paradigm explain disparate roles for intermediaries in an organizational justice model of police compliance with agency rules?
Authors: Peacock Robert Patrick , Kutnjak Ivkovich Sanja , Wu Yuning , Sun Ivan , Pavlović Vinogradac Valentina , Vinogradac Marijan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper examines whether dissimilarities in societal cultures impact the path by which a key component of organizational culture—supervisory procedural justice (SPJ)—influences police officer compliance with police agency rules.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilized structural equation modeling across a data set of 1,189 Croatian and Taiwan police officers to test whether a societal value (individualism/collectivism) impacts the role of three intermediary variables (trust in the public, job satisfaction and pro-organization initiative) in a procedural justice model of officer compliance with the rules.

Findings

The study found that, despite a strong statistical similarity in the individual attitudes of Croatian and Taiwan police officers, the intermediary variables in the model significantly differed between the two countries. Most notably, the role of trust in the public and pro-organization initiative supported past research suggesting that collectivist versus individualistic societal cultures lead to divergent organizational attitudes and policing outcomes.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to compare the impact of societal values on a model of SPJ on officer compliance with agency rules.
Glomerular cell cross talk in diabetic kidney diseases
Authors: Dong Ruixue , Xu Youhua
Published: August 2022

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a severe microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. It is the leading inducement of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD), and its global incidence has been increasing at an alarming rate. The strict control of blood pressure and blood glucose can delay the progression of DKD, but intensive treatment is challenging to maintain. Studies to date have failed to find a complete cure. The glomerulus's alterations and injuries play a pivotal role in the initiation and development of DKD. A wealth of data indicates that the interdependent relationship between resident cells in the glomerulus will provide clues to the mechanism of DKD and new ways for therapeutic intervention. This review summarizes the significant findings of glomerular cell cross talk in DKD, focusing on cellular signaling pathways, regulators, and potential novel avenues for treating progressive DKD.
Ageing in place and loneliness of older adults in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yang Fang , Wang Huiguang , Wu Qi , Gao Yourong
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study examined loneliness experiences of older adults and the relationship between ageing in place and their loneliness from the social resources perspective of social capital in Shanghai, China.

Methods

We used the purposive sampling method and conducted face‐to‐face individual interviews for 21 older adults who were widowed or living alone. A semi‐structured interview was carried out based on a pilot‐tested interview guide, and the interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Results

Older adults expressed a feeling of ‘lonely pain’, and themes identified included lack of intimacy and companionship, fear of declining health, loss and death, and a sense of disconnection from the external world. In the context of ageing in place, they mobilised the social capital embedded in the community to cope with loneliness by obtaining support, participating in activities and experiencing the trust and reciprocity that results from social networks. However, inadequate ageing in place services cannot fully alleviate the risk of loneliness for older adults, especially for those who are widowed or living alone.

Conclusions

The social capital embedded in the context of ageing in place in Shanghai partially helps older adults deal with loneliness, and future ageing in place policy and services should be improved to make older adults who wish to stay at home or in a familiar community live safely, autonomously and not feel lonely.
Synoptic CT scan reporting of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to align with international consensus guidelines on surgical resectability: a Victorian pilot
Authors: Pilgrim Charles H. C. , Maciejewska Anna , Ayres Nadia , Ellis Sam , Goodwin Mark , Zalcberg John R. , Haydon Andrew
Published: August 2022

Background

Non‐metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is classified as resectable (R), borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA). International Consensus Guidelines on these definitions exist, but have not been integrated into everyday Australian practice. The anatomical features on CT imaging lend themselves to synoptic reporting which should enhance completeness, comparability and consistency.

Methods

We developed and tested a synoptic report for PDAC derived from the International Consensus Guidelines at two metropolitan pancreatic cancer services to standardize CT reporting in the region. Consecutive scans with suspected PDAC discussed at multidisciplinary meetings were reported using the template between October 2020 and September 2021. A purpose‐built database captured data regarding resectability and image‐quality parameters.

Results

Ninety‐five scans were reviewed, 57.9% (N = 55) of which conformed to high‐quality pancreatic CT protocols. Of suboptimal scans, meaningful synoptic reports were able to be issued for a further 24/40 (due to metastases in 9, and unequivocal resectability status in 15). Of 79 classifiable scans, 20% were metastatic, 51% deemed resectable, 16% locally advanced and 13% borderline resectable.

Discussion

PDAC lends itself to synoptic reporting given the specific anatomical considerations that classify resectability. This relies, however, on high‐quality CT imaging and it was surprising that over 40% of scans reviewed were of suboptimal quality. Despite this, resectability status according to the International Consensus Guidelines was designated for 83% of scans. Optimal treatment algorithms for LA, BR and resectable disease vary widely underscoring the critical importance of accurately differentiating these anatomic subtypes of PDAC, and thus support further implementation of a synoptic report of this nature.
The link between nascent entrepreneurs' role identity aspirations and their opportunity exploration and exploitation activities
Authors: Roelandt Jolien , Rijssegem Laurence , Andries Petra
Published: August 2022

Although nascent entrepreneurs' opportunity exploration and exploitation activities are crucial for later venture evolution and performance, it is unclear why some nascent entrepreneurs engage more in these new venture creation activities than others. Building upon role identity theory, this study advances a nascent entrepreneur's various role identity aspirations as drivers of these activities. In particular, we argue that inventor, founder, and developer role identity aspirations are linked differently to the range of opportunity exploration and exploitation activities nascent entrepreneurs undertake.

We use a two‐stage Poisson model with sample selection correction on a random sample of 1582 inhabitants of Flanders, Belgium. The first stage estimates an individual's probability to engage in nascent entrepreneurship. The second stage tests the relationships between an individual's role identity aspirations and the range of exploration and exploitation activities undertaken, conditional on being a nascent entrepreneur, which holds for 162 individuals in our sample. We find that while some role identity aspirations are related to the range of opportunity exploration activities undertaken, others primarily affect the range of exploitation activities. Our findings have important implications for literature on new venture creation and entrepreneurial opportunities, for identity literature, and for nascent entrepreneurs wanting to start a venture.