bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tire appearance defect detection method via combining HOG and LBP features
Authors: Liu Hongbin , Jia Xinghao , Su Chenhui , Yang Hongjuan , Li Chengdong
Published: January 2023

Tire appearance defect detection based on machine vision is an effective technology to improve the tire production quality. The detection process can be completed by the way of non-destructive testing. Therefore, more and more researchers are paying attention to this technology. However, tires are characterized by single block colors and various defects. It is a great challenge to accurately detect tire appearance defects. To complete the task of detecting tire defects, this paper presents a novel tire appearance defect detection method via combining histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) and local binary pattern (LBP) features. First, we construct a tire image dataset to provide defective and normal tire images. Then, histogram of oriented gradients and local binary pattern features of tire images are, respectively, extracted and used to train the support vector machine (SVM) classifier. Finally, the support vector machine classifier calculates the prediction scores of the test images via combining the histogram of oriented gradients and local binary pattern features. These scores can be utilized to determine whether the test image is a defective or a normal tire image, and the goal of tire appearance defect detection is achieved. Conducted on the tire image dataset, our method has verified the effectiveness of detecting tire detects, and the mean accuracy is improved more than 1.6% than the algorithm that only uses the histogram of oriented gradients or local binary pattern feature. The experimental results demonstrate that the combination of HOG and LBP features can increase tire appearance defect detection accuracy.
Accurate unsupervised monocular depth estimation for ill-posed region
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Sun Jiameng , Qin Hao , Yuan Yuxing , Yu Jun , Su Yingying , Sun Zhiheng
Published: January 2023

Unsupervised monocular depth estimation is challenging in ill-posed regions, such as weak texture scenes, projection occlusion, and redundant error of detail information, etc. In this paper, in order to tackle these problems, an improved unsupervised monocular depth estimation method for the ill-posed region is proposed through cascading training depth estimation network and pose estimation network by loss function. Firstly, for the depth estimation network, a feature extraction network using asymmetric convolution is designed instead of traditional convolution, which strengthens the extraction of the feature information and improves the accuracy of the weak texture scenes. Meanwhile, a feature extraction network integrating multi-scale receptive fields with the structure of different scale convolution and dilated convolution stack is designed to increase the underlying receptive field of the depth estimation network, which strengthens the fusion ability of the network for multi-scale detail information, and improves the integrity of the model output details. Secondly, a pose estimation network using an attention mechanism is presented to strengthen the pose detail information of keyframes and suppress redundant errors of the pose information of non-keyframes. Finally, a loss function with minimum reprojection error is adopted to alleviate the occlusion problem of the projection process between adjacent pixels and enhance the quality of the output depth images of the model. The experiments demonstrate that our method achieves state-of-the-art performance on KITTI monocular datasets.
Extensive diet-induced atherosclerosis in scavenger receptor class B type 1-deficient mice is associated with substantial leukocytosis and elevated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in coronary artery endothelium
Authors: Fuller Mark T. , Dadoo Omid , Xiong Ting , Chivukula Pardh , MacDonald Melissa E. , Lee Samuel K. , Austin Richard C. , Igdoura Suleiman A. , Trigatti Bernardo L.
Published: January 2023

High levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Mice that lack genes involved in the clearance of LDL from the bloodstream, such as the LDL receptor and apolipoprotein E, are widely used models of experimental atherosclerosis. Conversely, mice that lack the HDL receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I, and therefore have disrupted HDL functionality, also develop diet-inducible atherosclerosis but are a seldom-used disease model. In this study, we compared atherosclerosis and associated phenotypes in scavenger receptor class B type I knockout mice with those of wild type, LDL receptor knockout, and apolipoprotein E knockout mice after 20 weeks of being fed an atherogenic diet containing sodium cholate. We found that while scavenger receptor class B type I knockout mice had substantially lower plasma cholesterol than LDL receptor and apolipoprotein E knockout mice, they developed atherosclerotic plaques with similar sizes and compositions in their aortic sinuses, and more extensive atherosclerosis in their descending aortas and coronary arteries. This was associated with elevated tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in scavenger receptor class B type I knockout mice compared to wild type and LDL receptor knockout mice, and lymphocytosis, monocytosis, and elevated vascular cell adhesion molecule expression in coronary artery endothelial cells compared to the other mice examined. We conclude that extensive atherosclerosis in arteries that are not generally susceptible to atherosclerosis in scavenger receptor class B type I knockout mice is driven by factors in addition to hypercholesterolemia, including inflammation, dysregulation of the immune system and increased sensitivity of endothelial cells in arteries that are normally resistant to atherosclerosis. Scavenger receptor class B type I knockout mice fed a cholate containing atherogenic diet may prove to be a useful model to study mechanisms of atherosclerosis and evaluate treatments that rely on intact LDL clearance pathways.
Maternal pre-eclampsia serum increases neurite growth and mitochondrial function through a potential IL-6-dependent mechanism in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells
Authors: Barron Aaron , Manna Samprikta , McElwain Colm J. , Musumeci Andrea , McCarthy Fergus P. , O’Keeffe Gerard W. , McCarthy Cathal M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a common and serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, which affects 3%–5% of first-time pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Prenatal exposure to PE is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in affected offspring, although the cellular and molecular basis of this increased risk is largely unknown.

Methods: Here, we examined the effects of exposure to maternal serum from women with PE or a healthy uncomplicated pregnancy on the survival, neurite growth and mitochondrial function of neuronally differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, which are commonly used to study neurite growth. Neurite growth and mitochondrial function are two strongly linked neurodevelopmental parameters in which alterations have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Following this, we investigated the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels as a potential mechanism.

Results: Cells exposed to 3% (v/v) PE serum for 72 h exhibited increased neurite growth (p < 0.05), which was validated in the human neural progenitor cell line, ReNcell® VM (p < 0.01), and mitochondrial respiration (elevated oxygen consumption rate (p < 0.05), basal mitochondrial respiration, proton leak, ATP synthesis, and non-mitochondrial respiration) compared to control serum-treated cells. ELISA analysis showed elevations in maternal IL-6 in PE sera (p < 0.05) and placental explants (p < 0.05). In support of this, SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 3% (v/v) PE serum for 24 h had increased phospho-STAT3 levels, which is a key intracellular mediator of IL-6 signalling (p < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody blocked the effects of PE serum on neurite growth (p < 0.05), and exposure to IL-6 promoted neurite growth in SH-SY5Y cells (p < 0.01).

Discussion: Collectively these data show elevated serum levels of maternal IL-6 in PE, which increases neurite growth and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. This rationalizes the further study of IL-6 as a potential mediator between PE exposure and neurodevelopmental outcome in the offspring.
A vascular smooth muscle-specific integrin-α8 Cre mouse for lymphatic contraction studies that allows male-female comparisons and avoids visceral myopathy
Authors: Davis Michael J. , Kim Hae Jin , Li Min , Zawieja Scott D.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: The widely-used, tamoxifen-inducible, smooth muscle (SM)-specific Cre, Myh11-CreERT2, suffers from two disadvantages: 1) it is carried on the Y-chromosome and thus only effective for gene deletion in male mice, and 2) it recombines in both vascular and non-vascular SM, potentially leading to unwanted or confounding gastrointestinal phenotypes. Here, we tested the effectiveness of a new, SM-specific Cre, based on the integrin α8 promoter (Itga8-CreERT2), that has been recently developed and characterized, to assess the effects of Cav1.2 deletion on mouse lymphatic SM function.

Methods:Cav1.2 (the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel) is essential for lymphatic pacemaking and contraction and its deletion using either Myh11-CreERT2 or Itga8-CreERT2 abolished spontaneous lymphatic contractions. Mouse lymphatic contractile function was assessed using two ex vivo methods.

Results:Myh11-CreERT2; Cav1.2f/f mice died of gastrointestinal obstruction within 20 days of the first tamoxifen injection, preceded by several days of progressively poor health, with symptoms including weight loss, poor grooming, hunched posture, and reduced overall activity. In contrast, Itga8-CreERT2; Cav1.2f/f mice survived for >80 days after induction and were in normal health until the time of sacrifice for experimental studies. Cav1.2 deletion was equally effective in male and female mice.

Discussion: Our results demonstrate that Itga8-CreERT2 can be used to effectively delete genes in lymphatic smooth muscle while avoiding potentially lethal visceral myopathy and allowing comparative studies of lymphatic contractile function in both male and female mice.
Estimation of intrinsic water-use efficiency from δ13C signature of C3 leaves: Assumptions and uncertainty
Authors: Ma Wei Ting , Yu Yong Zhi , Wang Xuming , Gong Xiao Ying
Published: January 2023

Carbon isotope composition (δ13C) has been widely used to estimate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of plants in ecosystems around the world, providing an ultimate record of the functional response of plants to climate change. This approach relies on established relationships between leaf gas exchange and isotopic discrimination, which are reflected in different formulations of 13C-based iWUE models. In the current literature, most studies have utilized the simple, linear equation of photosynthetic discrimination to estimate iWUE. However, recent studies demonstrated that using this linear model for quantitative studies of iWUE could be problematic. Despite these advances, there is a scarcity of review papers that have comprehensively reviewed the theoretical basis, assumptions, and uncertainty of 13C-based iWUE models. Here, we 1) present the theoretical basis of 13C-based iWUE models: the classical model (iWUEsim), the comprehensive model (iWUEcom), and the model incorporating mesophyll conductance (iWUEmes); 2) discuss the limitations of the widely used iWUEsim model; 3) and make suggestions on the application of the iWUEmes model. Finally, we suggest that a mechanistic understanding of mesophyll conductance associated effects and post-photosynthetic fractionation are the bottlenecks for improving the 13C-based estimation of iWUE.
Nanozinc and plant growth-promoting bacteria improve biochemical and metabolic attributes of maize in tropical Cerrado
Authors: Jalal Arshad , Oliveira Carlos Eduardo da Silva , Bastos Andréa de Castro , Fernandes Guilherme Carlos , de Lima Bruno Horschut , Furlani Junior Enes , de Carvalho Pedro Henrique Gomes , Galindo Fernando Shintate , Gato Isabela Martins Bueno , Teixeira Filho Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPBs) could be developed as a sustainable strategy to promote plant growth and yield to feed the ever-growing global population with nutritious food. Foliar application of nano-zinc oxide (ZnO) is an environmentally safe strategy that alleviates zinc (Zn) malnutrition by improving biochemical attributes and storage proteins of grain.

Methods

In this context, the current study aimed to investigate the combined effect of seed inoculation with PGPBs and foliar nano-ZnO application on the growth, biochemical attributes, nutrient metabolism, and yield of maize in the tropical savannah of Brazil. The treatments consisted of four PGPB inoculations [i.e., without inoculation, Azospirillum brasilense (A. brasilense), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Pseudomonas fluorescens (P. fluorescens), which was applied on the seeds] and two doses of Zn (i.e., 0 and 3 kg ha−1, applied from nano-ZnO in two splits on the leaf).

Results

Inoculation of B. subtilis with foliar ZnO application increased shoot dry matter (7.3 and 9.8%) and grain yield (17.1 and 16.7%) in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons respectively. Inoculation with A. brasilense increased 100-grains weight by 9.5% in both crop seasons. Shoot Zn accumulation was improved by 30 and 51% with inoculation of P. fluorescens in 2019-20 and 2020-2021 crop seasons. Whereas grain Zn accumulation was improved by 49 and 50.7% with inoculation of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens respectively. In addition, biochemical attributes (chlorophyll a, b and total, carotenoids, total soluble sugar and amino acids) were improved with inoculation of B. subtilis along with foliar nano ZnO application as compared to other treatments. Co-application of P. fluorescens with foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains albumin (20 and 13%) and globulin (39 and 30%). Also, co-application of B. subtilis and foliar ZnO improved concentration of grains glutelin (8.8 and 8.7%) and prolamin (15 and 21%) in first and second seasons.

Discussion

Therefore, inoculation of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens with foliar nano-ZnO application is considered a sustainable and environmentally safe strategy for improving the biochemical, metabolic, nutritional, and productivity attributes of maize in tropical Savannah regions.
Regulatory mechanisms and metabolic changes of miRNA during leaf color change in the bud mutation branches of Acer pictum subsp. mono
Authors: Lin Baoli , Ma He , Zhang Kezhong , Cui Jinteng
Published: January 2023

Acer pictum subsp. mono is a colorful tree species with considerable ornamental and economic value. However, little is known about the metabolism and regulatory mechanism of leaf color change in A. p. subsp. mono. To reveal the molecular mechanism of leaf color change in A. p. subsp. mono, the present study examined the bud mutation branches and compared the metabolites of the red leaves (AR) of the bud mutation branches of A. p. subsp. mono with those of the green leaves (AG) of the wild-type branches. It was found that the chlorophyll and carotenoids content of the red leaves decreased significantly, while anthocyanins, and various antioxidant enzymes increased significantly compared with the green leaves. The glycosides cyanidin, pelargonidin, malvidin, petunidin, delphinidin, and peonidin were detected in AR by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The cyanidin glycosides increased, and cyanidin 3-O-glycoside was significantly upregulated. We analyzed the transcriptome and small RNA of A. p. subsp. mono leaves and detected 4061 differentially expressed mRNAs and 116 differentially expressed miRNAs. Through miRNA-mRNA association analysis, five differentially expressed modules were found; one miRNA targeted three genes, and four miRNAs targeted a single gene. Among them, miR160b, miR6300, and miR396g were found to be the key miRNAs regulating stable anthocyanin accumulation in A. p. subsp. mono leaves. By revealing the physiological response of leaf color change and the molecular regulatory mechanism of the miRNA, this study provides new insight into the molecular regulatory mechanism of leaf color change, thereby offering a foundation for future studies.
Transposable elements are associated with genome-specific gene expression in bread wheat
Authors: Bariah Inbar , Gribun Liel , Kashkush Khalil
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Recent studies in wheat emphasized the importance of TEs, which occupy ~85% of the wheat genome, as a major source of intraspecific genetic variation due to their recent activity and involvement in genomic rearrangements. The contribution of TEs to structural and functional variations in bread wheat genes is not fully understood.

Methods

Here, publicly available RNA-Seq databases of bread wheat were integrated to identify TE insertions within gene bodies (exons\ introns) and assess the impact of TE insertions on gene expression variations of homoeologs gene groups. Overall, 70,818 homoeologs genes were analyzed: 55,170 genes appeared in each one of the three subgenomes (termed ABD), named triads; 12,640 genes appeared in two of the three subgenomes (in A and B only, termed AB; or in A and D only, termed AD; or in B and D only, termed BD);, named dyads; and 3,008 genes underwent duplication in one of the three subgenomes (two copies in: subgenome A, termed AABD; subgenome B, termed ABBD; or subgenome D, termed ABDD), named tetrads.

Results

To this end, we found that ~36% of the 70,818 genes contained at least one TE insertion within the gene body, mostly in triads. Analysis of 14,258 triads revealed that the presence of TE insertion in at least one of the triad genes (7,439 triads) was associated with balanced expression (similar expression levels) between the homoeolog genes. TE insertions within the exon or in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of one or more of the homoeologs in a triad were significantly associated with homoeolog expression bias. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant correlation between the presence\absence of TEs insertions belonging to six TE superfamilies and 17 TE subfamilies and the suppression of a single homoeolog gene. A significant association was observed between the presence of TE insertions from specific superfamilies and the expression of genes that are associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses.

Conclusion

Our data strongly indicate that TEs might play a prominent role in controlling gene expression in a genome-specific manner in bread wheat.
Visualizing changes of metabolites during iron deficiency chlorosis in field-grown pear leaves using micro-Raman spectral imaging
Authors: Gao Zhen , Zhao Chunjiang , Dong Daming , Liu Songzhong , Wen Xuelin , Gu Yifan , Jiao Leizi
Published: January 2023

Owing to iron chlorosis, pear trees are some of the most severely impacted by iron deficiency, and they suffer significant losses every year. While it is possible to determine the iron content of leaves using laboratory-standard analytical techniques, the sampling and analysis process is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it does not quickly and accurately identify the physiological state of iron-deficient leaves. Therefore, it is crucial to find a precise and quick visualization approach for metabolites linked to leaf iron to comprehend the mechanism of iron deficiency and create management strategies for pear-tree planting. In this paper, we propose a micro-Raman spectral imaging method for non-destructive, rapid, and precise visual characterization of iron-deficiency-related metabolites in pear leaves. According to our findings, iron deficiency significantly decreased the Raman peak intensities of chlorophylls and lipids in leaves. The spatial distributions of chlorophylls and lipids in the leaves changed significantly as the symptoms of iron insufficiency worsened. The technique offers a new, prospective tool for rapid recognition of iron deficiency in pear trees because it is capable of visual detection of plant physiological metabolites induced by iron deficiency.
Reproductive development of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and its wild relatives provides insights into their evolutionary biology
Authors: Sokoloff Dmitry D. , Malyshkina Raisa A. , Remizowa Margarita V. , Rudall Paula J. , Fomichev Constantin I. , Fesenko Aleksey N. , Fesenko Ivan N. , Logacheva Maria D.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Understanding the complex inflorescence architecture and developmental morphology of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is crucial for crop yield. However, most published descriptions of early flower and inflorescence development in Polygonaceae are based on light microscopy and often documented by line drawings. In Fagopyrum and many other Polygonaceae, an important inflorescence module is the thyrse, in which the primary axis never terminates in a flower and lateral cymes (monochasia) produce successively developing flowers of several orders. Each flower of a cyme is enclosed together with the next-order flower by a bilobed sheathing bract-like structure of controversial morphological nature.

Methods

We explored patterns of flower structure and arrangement in buckwheat and its wild relatives, using comparative morphology, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microtomography.

Results

Our data support interpretation of the sheathing bract as two congenitally fused phyllomes (prophylls), one of which subtends a next-order flower. In tepal-like bract, a homeotic mutant of F. esculentum, the bilobed sheathing bract-like organ acquires tepal-like features and is sometimes replaced by two distinct phyllomes. Wild representatives of F. esculentum (ssp. ancestrale) and most cultivars of common buckwheat possess an indeterminate growth type with lateral thyrses produced successively on the primary inflorescence axis until cessation of growth. In contrast, determinate cultivars of F. esculentum develop a terminal thyrse after producing lateral thyrses. In contrast to F. esculentum, the occurrence of a terminal thyrse does not guarantee a determinate growth pattern in F. tataricum. The number of lateral thyrses produced before the terminal thyrse on the main axis of F. tataricum varies from zero to c. 19.

Discussion

The nine stages of early flower development formally recognized here and our outline of basic terminology will facilitate more standardized and readily comparable descriptions in subsequent research on buckwheat biology. Non-trivial relative arrangements of tepals and bracteoles in Fagopyrum and some other Polygonaceae require investigation using refined approaches to mathematical modelling of flower development. Our data on inflorescence morphology and development suggest contrasting evolutionary patterns in the two main cultivated species of buckwheat, F. esculentum and F. tataricum. The genus Fagopyrum offers an excellent opportunity for evo-devo studies related to inflorescence architecture.
Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on peel greasiness, yellowing, and related gene expression in postharvest ‘Yuluxiang’ pear
Authors: Li Dan , Li Xueling , Cheng Yudou , Guan Junfeng
Published: January 2023

‘Yuluxiang’ pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis) commonly develop a greasy coating and yellowing during storage. In this study, 1.0 μL L–1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was applied to ‘Yuluxiang’ pear to investigate its effects on fruit quality, peel wax composition, greasiness index, chlorophyll content, and the expression pattern of related genes during storage at ambient temperature (25°C). The results showed that 1-MCP treatment maintained higher fruit firmness and chlorophyll content, decreased respiration rate, and postponed the peak of ethylene production rate, lowered the greasy index of the peel. The main wax components of peel accumulated during storage, the principal ones being alkenes (C23, C25, and C29), fatty acids (C16, C18:1, and C28), aldehydes (C24:1, C26:1, and C28:1), and esters (C22:1 fatty alcohol-C16 fatty acid, C22:1 fatty alcohol-C18:1 fatty acid, C22 fatty alcohol-C16 fatty acid, C22 fatty alcohol-C18:1 fatty acid, C24:1 fatty alcohol-C18:1 fatty acid, and C24 fatty alcohol-C18:1 fatty acid), and were reduced by 1-MCP. 1-MCP also decreased the expression of genes associated with ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction (ACS1, ACO1, ERS1, ETR2, and ERF1), chlorophyll breakdown (NYC1, NOL, PAO, PPH, and SGR), and wax accumulation (LACS1, LACS6, KCS1, KCS2, KCS4, KCS10L, KCS11L, KCS20, FDH, CER10, KCR1, ABCG11L, ABCG12, ABCG21L, LTPG1, LTP4, CAC3, CAC3L, and DGAT1L). There were close relationships among wax components (alkanes, alkenes, fatty acids, esters, and aldehydes), chlorophyll content, greasiness index, and level of expression of genes associated with wax synthesis and chlorophyll breakdown. These results suggest that 1-MCP treatment decreased the wax content of ‘Yuluxiang’ pear and delayed the development of peel greasiness and yellowing by inhibiting the expression of genes related to the ethylene synthesis, signal transduction, wax synthesis, and chlorophyll degradation.
Nondestructive 3D phenotyping method of passion fruit based on X-ray micro-computed tomography and deep learning
Authors: Lu Yuwei , Wang Rui , Hu Tianyu , He Qiang , Chen Zhou Shuai , Wang Jinhu , Liu Lingbo , Fang Chuanying , Luo Jie , Fu Ling , Yu Lejun , Liu Qian
Published: January 2023

Passion fruit is a tropical liana of the Passiflora family that is commonly planted throughout the world due to its abundance of nutrients and industrial value. Researchers are committed to exploring the relationship between phenotype and genotype to promote the improvement of passion fruit varieties. However, the traditional manual phenotyping methods have shortcomings in accuracy, objectivity, and measurement efficiency when obtaining large quantities of personal data on passion fruit, especially internal organization data. This study selected samples of passion fruit from three widely grown cultivars, which differed significantly in fruit shape, size, and other morphological traits. A Micro-CT system was developed to perform fully automated nondestructive imaging of the samples to obtain 3D models of passion fruit. A designed label generation method and segmentation method based on U-Net model were used to distinguish different tissues in the samples. Finally, fourteen traits, including fruit volume, surface area, length and width, sarcocarp volume, pericarp thickness, and traits of fruit type, were automatically calculated. The experimental results show that the segmentation accuracy of the deep learning model reaches more than 0.95. Compared with the manual measurements, the mean absolute percentage error of the fruit width and length measurements by the Micro-CT system was 1.94% and 2.89%, respectively, and the squares of the correlation coefficients were 0.96 and 0.93. It shows that the measurement accuracy of external traits of passion fruit is comparable to manual operations, and the measurement of internal traits is more reliable because of the nondestructive characteristics of our method. According to the statistical data of the whole samples, the Pearson analysis method was used, and the results indicated specific correlations among fourteen phenotypic traits of passion fruit. At the same time, the results of the principal component analysis illustrated that the comprehensive quality of passion fruit could be scored using this method, which will help to screen for high-quality passion fruit samples with large sizes and high sarcocarp content. The results of this study will firstly provide a nondestructive method for more accurate and efficient automatic acquisition of comprehensive phenotypic traits of passion fruit and have the potential to be extended to more fruit crops. The preliminary study of the correlation between the characteristics of passion fruit can also provide a particular reference value for molecular breeding and comprehensive quality evaluation.
Their C-termini divide Brassica rapa FT-like proteins into FD-interacting and FD-independent proteins that have different effects on the floral transition
Authors: Lee Areum , Jung Haemyeong , Park Hyun Ji , Jo Seung Hee , Jung Min , Kim Youn-Sung , Cho Hye Sun
Published: January 2023

Members of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like clade of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) induce flowering by associating with the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor FD and forming regulatory complexes in angiosperm species. However, the molecular mechanism of the FT–FD heterocomplex in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is unknown. In this study, we identified 12 BrPEBP genes and focused our functional analysis on four BrFT-like genes by overexpressing them individually in an FT loss-of-function mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana. We determined that BrFT1 and BrFT2 promote flowering by upregulating the expression of floral meristem identity genes, whereas BrTSF and BrBFT, although close in sequence to their Arabidopsis counterparts, had no clear effect on flowering in either long- or short-day photoperiods. We also simultaneously genetically inactivated BrFT1 and BrFT2 in Chinese cabbage using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, which revealed that BrFT1 and BrFT2 may play key roles in inflorescence organogenesis as well as in the transition to flowering. We show that BrFT-like proteins, except for BrTSF, are functionally divided into FD interactors and non-interactors based on the presence of three specific amino acids in their C termini, as evidenced by the observed interconversion when these amino acids are mutated. Overall, this study reveals that although BrFT-like homologs are conserved, they may have evolved to exert functionally diverse functions in flowering via their potential to be associated with FD or independently from FD in Brassica rapa.
Responses of photosystem to long-term light stress in a typically shade-tolerant species Panax notoginseng
Authors: Cun Zhu , Xu Xiang-Zeng , Zhang Jin-Yan , Shuang Sheng-Pu , Wu Hong-Min , An Tong-Xin , Chen Jun-Wen
Published: January 2023

Photosynthetic adaptive strategies vary with the growth irradiance. The potential photosynthetic adaptive strategies of shade-tolerant species Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen to long-term high light and low light remains unclear. Photosynthetic performance, photosynthesis-related pigments, leaves anatomical characteristics and antioxidant enzyme activities were comparatively determined in P. notoginseng grown under different light regimes. The thickness of the upper epidermis, palisade tissue, and lower epidermis were declined with increasing growth irradiance. Low-light-grown leaves were declined in transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (Cond), but intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and net photosynthesis rate (Pn) had opposite trends. The maximum photo-oxidation P700+ (Pm) was greatly reduced in 29.8% full sunlight (FL) plants; The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) in 0.2% FL plants was significantly lowest. Electron transport, thermal dissipation, and the effective quantum yield of PSI [Y(I)] and PSII [Y(II)] were declined in low-light-grown plants compared with high-light-grown P. notoginseng. The minimum value of non-regulated energy dissipation of PSII [Y(NO)] was recorded in 0.2% FL P. notoginseng. OJIP kinetic curve showed that relative variable fluorescence at J-phase (VJ) and the ratio of variable fluorescent FK occupying the FJ-FO amplitude (Wk) were significantly increased in 0.2% FL plants. However, the increase in Wk was lower than the increase in VJ. In conclusion, PSI photoinhibition is the underlying sensitivity of the typically shade-tolerant species P. notoginseng to high light, and the photodamage to PSII acceptor side might cause the typically shade-tolerant plants to be unsuitable for long-term low light stress.
Development of a set of novel binary expression vectors for plant gene function analysis and genetic transformation
Authors: Wang Xiuyuan , Teng Chong , Wei Huitian , Liu Shuang , Xuan Hongzhuan , Peng Wentao , Li Qianqian , Hao Hongyan , Lyu Qingya , Lyu Shanhua , Fan Yinglun
Published: January 2023

With the advent of multiple omics and Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) technology, genome-scale functional analysis of candidate genes is to be conducted in diverse plant species. Construction of plant binary expression vectors is the prerequisite for gene function analysis. Therefore, it is of significance to develop a set of plant binary expression vectors with highly efficient, inexpensive, and convenient cloning method, and easy-to-use in screening of positive recombinant in Escherichia coli. In this study, we developed a set of plant binary expression vectors, termed pBTR vectors, based on Golden Gate cloning using BsaI restriction site. Foreign DNA fragment of interest (FDI) can be cloned into the destination pBTR by one-step digestion–ligation reaction in a single tube, and even the FDI contains internal BsaI site(s). Markedly, in one digestion–ligation reaction, multiple FDIs (exemplified by cloning four soybean Glyma.02g025400, Glyma.05g201700, Glyma.06g165700, and Glyma.17g095000 genes) can be cloned into the pBTR vector to generate multiple corresponding expression constructs (each expression vector carrying an FDI). In addition, the pBTR vectors carry the visual marker, a brightness monomeric red fluorescent protein mScarlet-I, that can be observed with the unaided eye in screening of positive recombinants without the use of additional reagents/equipment. The reliability of the pBTR vectors was validated in plants by overexpression of AtMyb75/PAP1 in tomato and GUSPlus in soybean roots via Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation, promoter activity analysis of AtGCSpro in Arabidopsis via A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation, and protein subcellular localization of the Vitis vinifera VvCEB1opt in tobacco, respectively. These results demonstrated that the pBTR vectors can be used in analysis of gene (over)expression, promoter activity, and protein subcellular localization. These vectors will contribute to speeding up gene function analysis and the process of plant molecular breeding.
Social exchange theory: Systematic review and future directions
Authors: Ahmad Rehan , Nawaz Muhammad Rafay , Ishaq Muhammad Ishtiaq , Khan Mumtaz Muhammad , Ashraf Hafiz Ahmad
Published: January 2023

Social exchange theory (SET) is one of the most influential theories in social sciences, which has implications across various fields. Despite its usefulness being a typical social transaction, there is a need to look at it from the lens of psychological transactions to further its evolution and to identify future directions. After generally reviewing 3,649 articles from the Social Science Citation Index and Scopus, a total of 46 articles were selected for final review using a comprehensive systematic review approach. We have highlighted the need for further research in psychological transactions, reciprocity principles, exchange relations, and the impact of various factors on the exchange process. Among other exchange rules (social, economic, and psychological) and transactions (social, economic, and psychological), this research provides an elevation platform for the less explored exchange rules in psychological transactions. Among other theories in the social sciences, social exchange theory is a theory that shadows many other theories under its umbrella.
Sino-India difference in collectivism and its association with cultural heritage concerning argumentation
Authors: Ren Xiaopeng , Kuai Dongqin
Published: January 2023

Cross-cultural studies from a global perspective contend that China and India are both collectivistic cultures. However, it remains unclear whether and why China and India differ in their collectivism. This study examines whether the cultural heritage concerning argumentation explains why Chinese people are more collectivistic than Indians. Convenient samples were taken from online surveys (NChina = 398, NIndia = 418), and 186 participants from the United States were included in the contrast group. In multiple methods conducted here, the Chinese respondents scored higher in holistic thought, compatriotism, nepotism, familism, and self-interdependence than the Indian respondents, while scoring lower in assertiveness and argumentativeness. Although China and India were more collectivistic than the United States, these findings support the hypothesis that Chinese people are more collectivistic than Indians. The study extended our knowledge of individualism–collectivism beyond east–west comparison.
The ZuCo benchmark on cross-subject reading task classification with EEG and eye-tracking data
Authors: Hollenstein Nora , Tröndle Marius , Plomecka Martyna , Kiegeland Samuel , Özyurt Yilmazcan , Jäger Lena A. , Langer Nicolas
Published: January 2023

We present a new machine learning benchmark for reading task classification with the goal of advancing EEG and eye-tracking research at the intersection between computational language processing and cognitive neuroscience. The benchmark task consists of a cross-subject classification to distinguish between two reading paradigms: normal reading and task-specific reading. The data for the benchmark is based on the Zurich Cognitive Language Processing Corpus (ZuCo 2.0), which provides simultaneous eye-tracking and EEG signals from natural reading of English sentences. The training dataset is publicly available, and we present a newly recorded hidden testset. We provide multiple solid baseline methods for this task and discuss future improvements. We release our code and provide an easy-to-use interface to evaluate new approaches with an accompanying public leaderboard: www.zuco-benchmark.com.
Cognitive emotion regulation for improved mental health: A chain mediation study of Chinese high school students
Authors: Xue Meijuan , Cong Beile , Ye Yiduo
Published: January 2023

High school is a critical time for individual development, during which significant physical and mental changes related to puberty occur. Therefore, high school students’ mental health requires more attention from schools, families, and society. Our study explored high school students’ present status and family functioning characteristics, psychological capital, cognitive-emotion regulation, and life satisfaction by surveying 917 students in China. Data were analysed using independent sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, regression analysis, structural equation modelling, and path analysis. Our results showed that family function was positively correlated with life satisfaction, psychological capital, and positive emotion regulation strategies. Negative emotion regulation strategies were inversely correlated with these variables. The variable of cognitive emotion regulation has two dimensions, positive and negative. Cognitive-emotional regulation and psychological capital had sequential mediating effects between family function and life satisfaction. The results of this study offer new explanations for the mechanisms of family functioning on life satisfaction, how family functioning affects life satisfaction via cognitive-emotional regulation and psychological capital, and have some implications for family parenting. It also provides critical theoretical and practical guidance for schools to emphasise the use of positive cognitive-emotional regulation and the development of students’ psychological capital levels in teaching and learning, thereby improving individual life satisfaction further. These findings highlight the importance of considering emotion regulation strategies and psychological capital when determining students’ life satisfaction, and ensuring a healthy family environment.
Self-regulated learning: A key factor in the effectiveness of online learning for second language learners
Authors: Yu Bo
Published: January 2023

With the further development of Internet technology, online learning has become an important way for learners in the digital age. As an important learning strategy, self-regulated learning plays an important role in e-learning. Whether learners can succeed in the network learning environment largely depends on their online self-regulating learning ability. This research reviews the theories and models of self-regulated learning, and analyzes the influences of individual factors and external factors on second language self-regulated learning in the online learning environment. And some implications in learning and teaching are given, as well as suggestions for future research.
Prosociality and health: Identification with all humanity is a replicable predictor of prosocial motivation for health behaviors
Authors: Cortes Barragan Rodolfo , Meltzoff Andrew N.
Published: January 2023

The acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic may have passed, but the pandemic remains a major worldwide health concern that demands continued vigilance. Are there individual differences that predict the motivation to continue to wear masks and to create physical distance in public? Previous research conducted early in the pandemic had suggested that a particular social identity—identification with all humanity—is one underlying factor that contributes to people’s cooperation with health behavior guidelines. This highlights that the pandemic is not only an issue to be tackled with the tools of immunology and epidemiology. It also requires the tools from psychology—to measure the representations people have about themselves and others and how these representations drive values and decisions related to health. Here we report work on U.S. respondents that examined whether individuals’ level of identification with all humanity predicts their prosocial health behaviors aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. In 3 convergent studies (total N = 1,580), we find that identification with all humanity predicted the prosocial motivation to wear masks and to engage in physical distancing when in public without a mask. The results were obtained while controlling for a host of covariates, including demographics, educational attainment, and Big Five personality dimensions. We find that some people have a marked drive to care for the health of strangers, which is significantly linked to their concern for all humanity rather than being restricted to their care for their community or country. Discussion focuses on this social identification with humanity and its enduring, replicable role in predicting the motivation to engage in prosocial health behaviors. We note key implications for theories in social and developmental psychology as well as for research that may lead to practical applications for lessening the human toll of the current and future pandemics.
School victimization and Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents: The mediating roles of life satisfaction and loneliness
Authors: Shi Xinxin , Wang Rulin
Published: January 2023

The present study investigated the possibility of life satisfaction and loneliness mediating the link between school victimization and Internet addiction. A total of 3,363 middle/high school students (45% males; Mage = 15.67 years old, SD = 1.58) completed a series of self-report questionnaires, which included school victimization, life satisfaction, loneliness, and Internet addiction. The findings demonstrated a positive relationship between school victimization and Internet addiction. In addition, life satisfaction and loneliness mediated the link between school victimization and Internet addiction. Overall, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the association between school victimization and Internet addiction. They also extended the GST, providing suggestions for preventing and managing adolescents’ Internet addiction.
Spiritually grounded character: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Ford Tom , Lipson Josh , Miller Lisa
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The relationship between personal spirituality and character strengths has not been adequately explored. We investigate this relationship in an adult sample via latent profile analysis.

Methods

Seven-hundred and sixty-three individuals aged 18 to 68years completed a survey of personal spirituality (e.g., Delaney Spirituality Scale), character strengths and virtues (e.g., VIA Inventory), flourishing (i.e., general wellbeing; PERMA Profiler), and various demographic variables (e.g., age, race, sexual orientation, yearly income, education level, religiosity, importance of spirituality and religion, and religious attendance). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identity profiles of individuals based on their reported levels personal spirituality and character strengths (i.e., VIA virtues).

Results

A best-fitting model consisting of four distinct, non-overlapping profiles emerged. In every profile, the degree of personal spirituality was consistently associated with strengths of character. Profiles that exhibited high levels of spirituality and character also reported greater levels of flourishing. Furthermore, profiles high in spirituality and character were associated with the observance of formal religion, report of high levels of spiritual and religious importance, and report of frequent attendance of religious services.

Discussion

These findings suggest that spirituality and character go hand in hand, that higher levels of the conjoint spirituality and character or “spiritually grounded character” correspond to greater wellbeing and may be generated or supported by a formal religious identification, practice, and community.
Cross-level research on the impact of self-serving leadership on employee innovation behavior: The roles of workplace anxiety and team psychological safety
Authors: Liu Liangcan , Wan Zhitao , Wang Li
Published: January 2023

Employee innovative behavior is significant in maintaining an organization's sustainable development. This study explored the impact of team psychological safety and workplace anxiety on the association between self-serving leadership and employee innovation behavior by synthesizing social information processing theory, conservation of resources theory, and ego depletion theory. We conducted a hierarchical linear model analysis using three-wave paired data collected from 86 leaders and 392 employees. The research results showed that self-serving leadership is negatively correlated with employee innovation behavior. Meanwhile, team psychological safety and workplace anxiety mediated this relationship. In addition, team psychological safety mitigates the impact of workplace anxiety on employee innovation behavior and the indirect impact of self-serving leadership on employee innovation behaviorviaworkplace anxiety. These findings have a number of theoretical and practical implications in the domains of self-serving leadership and employee innovation behavior.