bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BCL2‐associated athanogene 6 exon24 contributes to testosterone synthesis and male fertility in mammals
Authors: Song Huibin , Chen Dake , Bai Rong , Feng Yue , Wu Shang , Wang Tiansu , Xia Xuanyan , Li Jialian , Miao Yi‐Liang , Zuo Bo , Li Fenge
Published: June 2022

Objectives

BCL2‐associated athanogene 6 (BAG6) plays critical roles in spermatogenesis by maintaining testicular cell survival. Our previous data showed porcine BAG6 exon24‐skipped transcript is highly expressed in immature testes compared with mature testes. The objective of this study is to reveal the functional significance of BAG6 exon24 in mammalian spermatogenesis.

Materials and Methods

CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to generate Bag6 exon24 knockout mice. Testes and cauda epididymal sperm were collected from mice. TMT proteomics analysis was used to discover the protein differences induced by Bag6 exon24 deletion. Testosterone enanthate was injected into mice to generate a high‐testosterone mice model. H&E staining, qRT‐PCR, western blotting, vector/siRNA transfection, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, transmission electron microscopy, TUNEL and ELISA were performed to investigate the phenotypes and molecular basis.

Results

Bag6 exon24 knockout mice show sub‐fertility along with partially impaired blood‐testis barrier, increased apoptotic testicular cell rate and abnormal sperm morphology. Endoplasmic reticulum stress occurs in Bag6 exon24‐deficient testes and sterol regulatory element‐binding transcription factor 2 is activated; as a result, cytochrome P450 family 51 subfamily A member 1 expression is up‐regulated, which causes a high serum testosterone level. Additionally, serine/arginine‐rich splicing factor 1 down‐regulates BAG6 exon24‐skipped transcripts in porcine Sertoli cells by binding to 35–51 nt on BAG6 exon24 via its N‐terminal RNA‐recognition domain.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal the critical roles of BAG6 exon24 in testosterone biosynthesis and male fertility, which provides new insights into the regulation of spermatogenesis and pathogenesis of subfertility in mammals.
1017. ASARUM SIEBOLDII FORMA MACULATUM: Aristolochiaceae
Authors: Moore Richard , King Christabel
Published: June 2022

Asarum sieboldii f. maculatum (Nakai) Yamaji is a low growing, deciduous rhizomatous herb endemic to South Korea. It is illustrated here with a painting, a line drawing and a photograph in the wild; its introduction, horticultural merits and cultivation are discussed. Recent research has shown that the plain‐leaved A. sieboldii Miq. and A. maculatum Nakai are conspecific, and the rank of forma has been chosen here to denote the plant with mottled leaves.
Transformation from lung adenocarcinoma to combined small cell carcinoma in pleural effusion after treatment with osimertinib
Authors: Frankel Diane , Kaspi Elise , Liprandi Agnès , Dales Jean‐Philippe , Roll Patrice
Published: June 2022

The transformation of lung adenocarcinoma to combined small cell lung cancer is a rare mechanism of acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This case describes this mechanism in a pleural effusion of a young patient treated with osimertinib for 18 months.
Linked color imaging improves visibility of colorectal serrated lesion by high color contrast to surrounding mucosa
Authors: Murakami Takashi , Kamba Eiji , Nomura Kei , Kurosawa Taro , Haga Keiichi , Fukushima Hirofumi , Takeda Tsutomu , Shibuya Tomoyoshi , Yao Takashi , Nagahara Akihito
Published: June 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to objectively evaluate the efficacy of linked color imaging (LCI) in diagnosing colorectal serrated lesions by utilizing visibility scores and color differences.

Methods

We examined 89 serrated lesions, including 36 hyperplastic polyps (HPs), 47 sessile serrated lesions (SSLs), and six traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs). Visibility changes were scored by six endoscopists as follows: 4, excellent; 3, good; 2, fair; and 1, poor. Furthermore, images obtained by white‐light imaging (WLI) or LCI were assessed using the CIELAB color space in the lesion and adjacent mucosa. We calculated the mean color values (L*, a*, and b*) measured at five regions of interest of the sample lesion and surrounding mucosa and derived the color difference (ΔE*).

Results

The visibility scores of both HPs and SSLs in LCI were significantly higher than that in WLI (HPs, 3.67/2.89, P < 0.001; SSLs, 3.07/2.36, P < 0.001). Furthermore, SSLs showed a significantly higher L* value and significantly lower a* and b* values in LCI than the adjacent mucosae (L*, 61.76/58.23, P = 0.016; a*, 14.91/17.58, P = 0.019; b*, 20.42/24.21, P = 0.007), while WLI produced no significant difference in any color value. A similar trend was apparent in HPs. In all serrated groups, LCI revealed significantly greater ΔE* values between the lesion and adjacent mucosa than WLI (HPs, 11.54/6.12; SSLs, 13.43/7.67; TSAs, 35.00/22.48).

Conclusion

Linked color imaging showed higher color contrast between serrated lesions and the surrounding mucosae compared with WLI, indicating improved visibility of colorectal serrated lesion using LCI.
The perception and experience of young researchers in doctoral programmes in the context of recent reforms in Kazakhstan
Authors: Yelibay Moldir , Karabassova Laura , Mukhatayev Zhussipbek , Yermukhambetova Assiya
Published: June 2022

Higher and doctoral education in Kazakhstan underwent a systemic reform since independence in 1990. Reforms have been determined by dynamic socio‐economic developments in Kazakhstan, the country's entry into the global market, and the need to increase the competitiveness of its human capital. Kazakhstan joined the Bologna Process and switched to a three‐cycle education system in 2010. However, the transition process did not happen smoothly. Doctoral education in the country is challenged by a low graduation rate of doctoral students. The purpose of the qualitative study on which this article reports was to explore doctoral students' perceptions of doctoral training and their experiences in Kazakhstani universities in the context of recent reforms.
Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy characterises the functional chemistry of soil organic carbon in agricultural soils
Authors: Wetterlind Johanna , Viscarra Rossel Raphael A. , Steffens Markus
Published: June 2022

Soil organic carbon (SOC) originates from a complex mixture of organic materials, and to better understand its role in soil functions, one must characterise its chemical composition. However, current methods, such as solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, are time‐consuming and expensive. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the visible, near infrared and mid‐infrared regions (vis–NIR: 350–2500 nm; mid‐IR: 4000–400 cm−1) can also be used to characterise SOC chemistry; however, it is difficult to know the frequencies where the information occurs. Thus, we correlated the C functional groups from the 13C NMR to the frequencies in the vis–NIR and mid‐IR spectra using two methods: (1) 2‐dimensional correlations of 13C NMR spectra and the diffuse reflectance spectra, and (2) modelling the NMR functional C groups with the reflectance spectra using support vector machines (SVM) (validated using 5 times repeated 10‐fold cross‐validation). For the study, we used 99 mineral soils from the agricultural regions of Sweden. The results show clear correlations between organic functional C groups measured with NMR and specific frequencies in the vis–NIR and mid‐IR spectra. While the 2D correlations showed general relationships (mainly related to the total SOC content), analysing the importance of the wavelengths in the SVM models revealed more detail. Generally, models using mid‐IR spectra produced slightly better estimates than the vis–NIR. The best estimates were for the alkyl C group (R2 = 0.83 and 0.85, vis–NIR and mid‐IR, respectively), and the O/N‐alkyl C group was the most difficult to estimate (R2 = 0.34 and 0.38, vis–NIR and mid‐IR, respectively). Combining 13C NMR with the cost‐effective diffuse reflectance methods could potentially increase the number of measured samples and improve the spatial and temporal characterisation of SOC. However, more studies with a wider range of soil types and land management systems are needed to further evaluate the conditions under which these methods could be used.

Highlights

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to characterise and model SOC functional chemistry.

NMR derived C functional groups could be modelled with vis‐NIR and mid‐IR diffuse reflectance spectra.

The methods allow for characterisation of SOC chemical composition on whole mineral soil samples.

The approach can improve the spatial and temporal characterisation of SOC composition.
Ultrasonic vocalizations in laboratory mice: strain, age, and sex differences
Authors: Caruso Angela , Marconi Maria Adelaide , Scattoni Maria Luisa , Ricceri Laura
Published: June 2022

Mice produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in different social contexts across lifespan. There is ethological evidence that pup USVs elicit maternal retrieval and adult USVs facilitate social interaction with a conspecific. Analysis of mouse vocal and social repertoire across strains, sex and contexts remains not well explored. To address these issues, in inbred (C57BL/6, FVB) and outbred (CD‐1) mouse strains, we recorded and evaluated USVs as neonates and during adult social encounters (male–female and female–female social interaction). We showed significant strain differences in the quantitative (call rate and duration of USVs) and qualitative vocal analysis (spectrographic characterization) from early stage to adulthood, in line with specific patterns of social behaviors. Inbred C57BL/6 mice produced a lower number of calls with less internal changes and shorter duration; inbred FVB mice displayed more social behaviors and produced more syllables with repeated internal changes; outbred CD‐1 mice had an intermediate profile. Our results suggest specific vocal signatures in each mouse strain, thus helping to better define socio‐communicative profiles of mouse strains and to guide the choice of an appropriate strain according to the experimental settings.
An obelisk‐shaped granitoid tower at Mt. Jizogadake in the Southern Alps of Japan: A 3‐D morphological study
Authors: Chigira Masahiro
Published: June 2022

Well‐developed tors and associated boulder fields are present in exposed granitoid pluton, but their geomorphological origins have not been fully addressed. Although the tor‐like features are commonly attributed to the orthogonal joint system along which weathering proceeds and the weathering materials are removed, the majority of previous studies lack three‐dimensional (3‐D) morphological observations. One of the well‐known granitoid rock towers in Japan, namely, the obelisk at Mt. Jizogadake in the Japanese Southern Alps, was investigated using unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). A 3‐D observation of the granitoid obelisk found that it is shaped by columnar joints with an undulation along a long axis and irregularly shaped cross‐sections. Because of these features and intersection angles between the rock columns and exposure surfaces, the obelisk exhibits a peculiar morphology appearing as a heap of rock blocks when observed from the ground. The columnar jointing might have occurred in a marginal zone of the granitoid pluton due to faster cooling rates. The 3‐D observations also confirmed the columnar joints formation was predated by high‐angle, planar joints. The columnar joints divide the rock mass between those planar joints. This may imply that the high‐angle joints would have formed probably during cooling under the presence of tectonic and thermal stresses.
Site‐selective occupation and luminescence property investigation of Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+ phosphor for full‐spectrum LED
Authors: Li Zhuowei , Li Shanshan , Xin Shuangyu , Bian Qingfeng , Zhu Ge , Dong Bin
Published: June 2022

Cyan‐emitting phosphors have attracted widespread attention as an integral part to realize full‐spectrum lighting. Understanding the site occupation of luminescence centers is of great importance to design and clarify the luminescent mechanism for new cyan‐emitting phosphors. Here, we report a cyan‐emitting phosphor Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+ synthesized by the high‐temperature solid‐state method. The crystal structure is characterized by X‐ray diffraction and refined by the Rietveld method. The diffuse reflectance spectra, excitation/emission spectra, fluorescence decay curves, thermal stability, and related mechanism are systematically studied. The results show that Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+ crystallizes in a trigonal crystal system with space group R3c. Under excitation at 350 nm, a broadband cyan emission can be obtained at 500 nm with a half‐width of about 120 nm, which is caused by Eu2+ occupying five different sites in host, namely, Na2O12 (450 nm), (Ca3/Na1)O8 (485 nm), Ca2O8 (515 nm), Ca1O7 (565 nm), and (Ca4/Y)O6 (640 nm), respectively. Moreover, crystal structure, room and low temperature spectroscopy, and luminescence decay time are used to skillfully verify the site‐selective occupation of Eu2+. Finally, a full‐spectrum light‐emitting diode (LED) lamp is fabricated with an improved color rendering index (∼90.3), CCT (∼5492 K), and CIE coordinates (0.332, 0.318). The results show that Ca18Na3Y(PO4)14:Eu2+ has the potential to act as a cyan emission phosphor for full‐spectrum white LEDs.
The Financial Cost of Carbon
Authors: Bolton Patrick , Halem Zachery , Kacperczyk Marcin
Published: June 2022

Climate finance is first and foremost a risk‐management problem, which means three things for investors. First, prudent investors will seek to hedge climate change risk by reducing their exposure to this risk. Second, investors will demand compensation for holding this risk. Third, investors will engage with companies to urge them to reduce this risk if they are not adequately compensated for it.

For companies, the main implication of climate‐risk management by investors is that the companies with greater carbon emissions will have to pay a higher financial cost of carbon (FCC). In their new study described in this article, the authors undertake a comprehensive analysis of the risk compensation implications of exposing investors to carbon transition risk. They explore how corporate GHG emissions have affected the price‐to‐earnings (P/E) ratios of listed companies in Europe and the U.S. over the period 2016 to 2020. Their main finding is that financial markets are beginning to broadly discount companies whose high carbon emissions are viewed as subjecting them to higher levels of political and regulatory risk, and providing them with what amounts to a higher cost of capital.

Although price‐earnings ratios are generally lower for companies with higher emissions, the discount varies significantly by sector and across firm size, with larger companies experiencing the larger discounts. Although the carbon discount is similar in the U.S. and in Europe, the authors find significantly higher discounts in industries in Europe that are directly covered by carbon pricing through the EU ETS. They even find a small price discount on corporate debt for smaller issuers. Overall, what emerges is a clear pattern of investors' growing concern over climate risk, which translates into an increasingly material FCC for companies with high GHG emissions. This growing valuation discount for companies with high emissions should encourage them to progress further along their decarbonization path, which our results suggest have large financial as well as other social benefits.
Employee Value Added: A New Measure of Gain‐Sharing between Labor and Capital
Authors: O'Byrne Stephen F. , Rajgopal Shivaram
Published: June 2022

Most investors are aware of economic profit concepts that compare company profits with the opportunity cost of the capital used to generate those profits, but few investors try to compute similar value added measures for employees, or to assess whether employee value added is aligned with investor value added or whether such alignment is beneficial for investors. The fact that 85% of public companies do not report total employee pay suggests an opportunity for companies to improve both their disclosure practices and their ability to measure stakeholder outcomes and their alignment with shareholder interests.

In this article, the authors show how to estimate the following for U.S. public companies: employee pay (for those that don't already report it); average alternative or “market” pay; and employee value added, which is the aggregate after‐tax difference between actual and market pay. Reflecting the tendency of public companies to pay more than other private‐ and public‐sector “civilian” employers, the authors show that the aggregate employee value added at S&P 1500 companies in 2020 represented 30% of the total value added of investors and employees—a number that has been rising more or less steadily from zero since the early 1990s. The not so good news, however, is that the authors find little difference in employee value added between positive and negative EVA companies.

To further explore the relationship between employee and investor value added, the authors present a methodology for measuring four key dimensions of employee value added: alignment with investor value added; employee pay leverage; relative pay risk; and the employee pay premium for baseline performance (at zero investor value added). After illustrating those measures in a comparison between Costco and Walmart, the authors' analysis shows that a small number of companies like Costco treat employees more like equity holders with high alignment, but also higher pay risk and a lower pay premium at zero investor value added. The vast majority of U.S. companies appear to be more like Walmart than Costco in treating employees more like bond holders with low alignment with investors, but also lower pay risk and a higher pay premium for baseline performance (or zero investor value added).
How to Settle the Corporate Purpose Debate
Authors: Rappaport Alfred , Mauboussin Michael J.
Published: June 2022

The debate over the purpose of the public corporation has gone on for decades. The idea that companies should prioritize the interests of shareholders gained widespread acceptance in the 1980s. However, the tide turned in the last decade as a growing number of CEOs, boards, employees, customers, social activists, and investors support a move from corporate governance focused on shareholders to one that prioritizes the interests of stakeholders.

Shareholder and stakeholder advocates are unlikely to find common ground any time soon. This article presents four roadblocks responsible for the impasse: stakeholders and shareholder proponents interpret the law differently; companies adopt lofty purpose statements that seek to engage and motivate stakeholders but have little to say about the company's priorities; the meaning of stakeholder governance is ambiguous; and stakeholder advocates routinely display a complete misunderstanding of the concept of shareholder value.

The article concludes with three essential steps to promote transparency and a more efficient market for corporate governance that benefits both stakeholders and shareholders. Stakeholder and shareholder governance proponents, boards of directors, CEOs, and the investment community face two essential choices. They can allow the never‐ending corporate purpose debate to continue, or they can join forces to establish a transparent market for corporate governance.
The Magic of Finance Capitalism∗
Authors: Chew Don , Stewart Bennett
Published: June 2022

In this two‐part introduction to the book they are writing, two of the founding partners of New York corporate finance consulting firm Stern Stewart discuss the contribution of the principles and methods of corporate finance to the remarkable increase in U.S. social wealth during the past 40 years—that is, since the decade of the 1970s, when, as the authors maintain, the U.S. corporate governance system was on the verge of failure.
The Survivor Moms’ Companion Trauma‐Specific Perinatal Psychoeducation Intervention in a Community Outreach Program: An Open Pilot
Authors: Sperlich Mickey , Kabilamany Priscilla
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) confers significant risk during the childbearing year, including for maternal substance use, inadequate prenatal care, preterm birth, and impaired maternal‐infant bonding. Although several treatments are available for PTSD, few are specific to the perinatal period. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate outcomes of a PTSD‐ and pregnancy‐specific psychoeducational intervention, the Survivor Moms’ Companion (SMC).

Methods

The SMC includes psychoeducation with tutor support to address maternal posttraumatic stress, affect regulation, and interpersonal sensitivity. This open pilot was conducted in a large city in a mid‐Atlantic state within an organization that provides perinatal services via community health workers (CHWs). The majority of participants were aged 20 to 25 years and African American and had low levels of income and educational attainment. The SMC learning modules were supplied to participants by specially trained CHWs who provided weekly face‐to‐face support during 30‐to‐60‐minute tutoring sessions. Pretest‐to‐posttest analyses using multiple imputation methodology and paired‐samples t tests examined PTSD symptom counts and scores related to theorized mechanisms of affect dysregulation and interpersonal sensitivity. Nonparametric statistical tests examined clinically meaningful changes.

Results

Of 56 women who completed pretests, 38 (67.9%) completed the core dose of a minimum of 4 of 10 learning modules. Examination of intention‐to‐treat (n = 56) pretest‐to‐posttest scores revealed statistically significant improvements in PTSD symptoms (P < .001), affect regulation (depression [P < .001] and anger expression [P < .05]), and interpersonal sensitivity (P < .001). Per‐protocol analyses (n = 38) revealed significant changes from clinical to nonclinical range scores for PTSD (P < .01) and depression (P < .05).

Discussion

These findings suggest that a psychoeducational intervention with tutor support can be influential in fostering positive mental health changes in a high‐risk perinatal population. CHWs with intervention‐specific training can be effective at implementing a trauma‐specific intervention.
Asplit‐face, blind, randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid filler for the correction of atrophic facial scars
Authors: Siperstein Robyn , Nestor Elizabeth , Meran Suzanne , Grunebaum Lisa
Published: June 2022

Background

Hyaluronic acid fillers have been studied extensively for facial wrinkles; however, their efficacy for atrophic facial scars has yet to be analyzed in a prospective placebo‐controlled study.

Objective

To analyze the efficacy and safety of a hyaluronic acid filler for atrophic facial scars.

Methods & Materials

Fifteen subjects were randomized to receive up to 1 ml of VYC‐17.5 L on one cheek and up to 1 ml of saline on the other side, with an optional touch‐up treatment. Subjects were graded by a live blind evaluator using the Quantitative Global Scarring Grading System (QGSGS) (J Cosmet Dermatol. 2006;5:48), the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), and Canfield photo‐analysis.

Results

According to the blind evaluator, there was a significant reduction 90 days after the last treatment on the QGSGS for VYC‐17.5L compared with saline (−6.6 VYC‐17.5L vs −1.7 saline [t(28) = −4.3196,p = 0.008]). There was a smaller, but still significant reduction on the QGSGS for saline alone (10.4 to 8.6 [t(14) = −3.453,p = 0.004]). In addition, 93% (13/14) of subjects chose VYC‐17.5L over saline treatment and reported an improvement on the GAIS. There were no serious side effects and all minor side effects resolved by Day 30.

Conclusion

VYC‐17.5L achieved significant improvements in rolling atrophic scars as compared to saline, though saline also had modest improvements.
10‐year anniversary of the European Somnologist examination – A historic overview and critical appraisal
Authors: Grote Ludger , Pevernagie Dirk , Bruni Oliviero , Deboer Tom , Garcia‐Borreguero Diego , Hill Elizabeth A. , Penzel Thomas , Puertas F. Javier , Wiechmann Axel , Verspaandonk Margret , Paunio Tiina
Published: June 2022

The European Somnologist certification programme was developed by the European Sleep Research Society to improve patient care in sleep medicine by providing an independent evaluation of theoretical and practical knowledge. The examination of eligible experts plays a key role in this procedure. A process was started more than 15 years ago to create the European sleep medicine curriculum, eligibility criteria for certification, and sleep centre accreditation criteria. The process was characterised by interdisciplinary collaboration, consensus, and achieving new solutions. During the past 10 years, experience has been gained by the examination and certification of more than 1000 sleep medicine experts from more than 50 countries. The process has continuously been improved. However, as the programme was designed and administered mainly by medical experts in the field, systematic influence from teaching and pedagogic experts was partially underrepresented. The current critical appraisal pinpoints several missing links in the process – mainly as a missing constructive alignment between learning objectives, learning and teaching activities, and the final assessment. A series of suggestions has been made to further improve the ESRS certification programme.
Hepatitis delta virus infection prevalence, diagnosis and treatment in the Middle East: A scoping review
Authors: Lazarus Jeffrey V. , Al‐Rifai Ahmad , Sanai Faisal M. , Alghamdi Abdullah Saeed , Sharara Ala I. , Saad Motaz Fathy , van Selm Lena , Alqahtani Saleh A.
Published: June 2022

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is a global public health concern, especially because of its unique existence in the presence of hepatitis B virus infection. HDV infection is estimated to affect 12 million people globally. Having a clearer understanding of its prevalence in all regions of the world is essential for helping direct preventive and early interventional treatment. This mini‐review assessed the literature over the last 10 years to determine the prevalence, diagnostic means and treatment guidelines available for HDV in the Middle East. The search found limited data available in 21 articles, of which 18 were studies focused on Iran. Prevalence rates ranged dramatically among the countries, and none of the 12 countries included in the search had specific HDV guidelines. This review highlights the urgent need for more precise data for the Middle East region to help establish early diagnosis and treatment options for HDV.
Altered skin fungal and bacterial community compositions in tinea capitis
Authors: Tao Rong , Zhu Peiqiu , Zhou Yabin , Li Qian , Wan Zhe , Li Ruoyu , Wang Ruojun
Published: June 2022

Background

Tinea capitis is an infection of the scalp and hair shaft caused by dermatophytes that predominantly occurs in children. Skin fungal infections have been found to be associated with alterations in the overall bacterial and fungal communities. However, the scalp microbiome in tinea capitis have not been fully investigated.

Objectives

To investigate and compare the scalp bacterial and fungal microbiomes between children with tinea capitis and healthy children and between children and adults.

Methods

Skin samples were collected from the scalp. Bacterial and fungal community compositions were analysed by amplification sequencing of the V3‐V4 of 16S rDNA and ITS1‐5F, respectively.

Results

The predominant fungi detected using amplicon sequencing were consistent with the culture‐ or real‐time PCR‐positive pathogens in most samples. Children with tinea capitis had lower fungal and higher bacterial Shannon diversity than healthy children. A higher relative abundance of pathogenic fungi and significant alterations in the bacterial community in the lesional sites of tinea capitis than healthy scalps. Compared with adults, healthy children were characterised by higher Shannon diversities with significantly lower relative abundances of Malassezia and Cutibacterium and higher relative abundances of Candida and Streptococcus.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that tinea capitis was characterised by significant alterations in both fungal and bacterial communities and amplicon sequencing could be a complementary method for pathogen identification.
MSD2‐mediated ROS metabolism fine‐tunes the timing of floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lee Jinsu , Chen Huize , Lee Gisuk , Emonet Aurélia , Kim Sang‐Gyu , Shim Donghwan , Lee Yuree
Published: June 2022

The timely removal of end‐of‐purpose flowering organs is as essential for reproduction and plant survival as timely flowering. Despite much progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of floral organ abscission, little is known about how various environmental factors are integrated into developmental programmes that determine the timing of abscission.

Here, we investigated whether reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediators of various stress‐related signalling pathways, are involved in determining the timing of abscission and, if so, how they are integrated with the developmental pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana.

MSD2, encoding a secretory manganese superoxide dismutase, was preferentially expressed in the abscission zone of flowers, and floral organ abscission was accelerated by the accumulation of ROS in msd2 mutants. The expression of the genes encoding the receptor‐like kinase HAESA (HAE) and its cognate peptide ligand INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA), the key signalling components of abscission, was accelerated in msd2 mutants, suggesting that MSD2 acts upstream of IDA‐HAE. Further transcriptome and pharmacological analyses revealed that abscisic acid and nitric oxide facilitate abscission by regulating the expression of IDA and HAE during MSD2‐mediated signalling.

These results suggest that MSD2‐dependent ROS metabolism is an important regulatory point integrating environmental stimuli into the developmental programme leading to abscission.
Genome sequencing reveals chromosome fusion and extensive expansion of genes related to secondary metabolism in Artemisia argyi
Authors: Miao Yuhuan , Luo Dandan , Zhao Tingting , Du Hongzhi , Liu Zhenhua , Xu Zhongping , Guo Lanping , Chen Changjie , Peng Sainan , Li Jin Xin , Ma Lin , Ning Guogui , Liu Dahui , Huang Luqi
Published: June 2022

Artemisia argyi, as famous as Artemisia annua, is a medicinal plant with huge economic value in the genus of Artemisia and has been widely used in the world for about 3000 years. However, a lack of the reference genome severely hinders the understanding of genetic basis for the active ingredient synthesis of A. argyi. Here, we firstly report a complex chromosome‐level genome assembly of A. argyi with a large size of 8.03 Gb, with features of high heterozygosity (2.36%), high repetitive sequences (73.59%) and a huge number of protein‐coding genes (279 294 in total). The assembly reveals at least three rounds of whole‐genome duplication (WGD) events, including a recent WGD event in the A. argyi genome, and a recent burst of transposable element, which may contribute to its large genome size. The genomic data and karyotype analyses confirmed that A. argyi is an allotetraploid with 34 chromosomes. Intragenome synteny analysis revealed that chromosomes fusion event occurred in the A. argyi genome, which elucidates the changes in basic chromosome numbers in Artemisia genus. Significant expansion of genes related to photosynthesis, DNA replication, stress responses and secondary metabolism were identified in A. argyi, explaining the extensive environmental adaptability and rapid growth characteristics. In addition, we analysed genes involved in the biosynthesis pathways of flavonoids and terpenoids, and found that extensive gene amplification and tandem duplication contributed to the high contents of metabolites in A. argyi. Overall, the reference genome assembly provides scientific support for evolutionary biology, functional genomics and breeding in A. argyi and other Artemisia species.
Control of root‐to‐shoot long‐distance flow by a key ROS‐regulating factor in Arabidopsis
Authors: Jin Tianling , Wu Huiyan , Deng Zhuying , Cai Tingting , Li Junkai , Liu Zhangyong , Waterhouse Peter M. , White Rosemary G. , Liang Dacheng
Published: June 2022

Inter‐tissue communication is instrumental to coordinating the whole‐body level behaviour for complex multicellular organisms. However, little is known about the regulation of inter‐tissue information exchange. Here we carried out genetic screens for root‐to‐shoot mobile silencing in Arabidopsis plants with a compromised small RNA‐mediated gene silencing movement rate and identified radical‐induced cell death 1 (RCD1) as a critical regulator of root–shoot communication. RCD1 belongs to a family of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase proteins, which are highly conserved across land plants. We found that RCD1 coordinates symplastic and apoplastic movement by modulating the sterol level of lipid rafts. The higher superoxide production in rcd1‐knockout plants resulted in lower plasmodesmata (PD) frequency and altered PD structure in the symplasm of the hypocotyl cortex. Furthermore, the mutants showed increased lateral area of tracheary pits, which reduced axial movement. Our study highlights a novel mechanism through which root‐to‐shoot long‐distance signalling can be modulated both symplastically and apoplastically.
Secondary acrodermatitis enteropathica‐like skin findings in a case of methylmalonic acidemia
Authors: Chen Yusha , Li Zhongtao , Liu Chuangwen , Wang Sheng
Published: June 2022

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by decreased activity of methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase or metabolic disturbance of its coenzyme cobalamin, cutaneous manifestations are rare clinical signs in this disease. Herein, we describe a Chinese boy with MMA fed with a formula lacking branched‐chain amino acids presenting with erythroderma and acrodermatitis enteropathica‐like rash, a homozygous nonsense mutation c.742C>T (p.Gln248*) was identified in the MMAA gene. The pedigree exhibited a non‐Mendelian inheritance pattern which was attributed to maternal uniparental disomy on chromosome 4q26‐q34.1 of the proband, confirmed by chromosomal microarray analysis. Our case highlights the association between skin changes and nutritional deficiency due to therapeutic amino acid restrictions in MMA.
Rapid and cost‐effective detection of Fusarium euwallaceae from woody tissues
Authors: de Jager Mignon M. , Roets Francois
Published: June 2022

The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) Euwallacea fornicatus is an ambrosia beetle that poses a serious threat to hundreds of tree species in invaded countries. In its invaded range, it relies on a mutualistic fungus, Fusarium euwallaceae, for colony establishment and nutrition. Together, the beetle–fungus complex can cause Fusarium dieback disease that can lead to the death of highly susceptible hosts. The key to mitigation of the spread and control of PSHB is its rapid detection. Current identification relies on DNA extraction and sequencing of barcoding genes of the beetle and/or the fungus, which is expensive and time‐consuming. Often the beetle is not present in a sample, and isolation and purification of the fungus is needed before employing molecular procedures. Because PSHB has a strong association with its fungal symbiont, at least in its invaded range, and the fungus can infect trees without successful PSHB colony establishment, a molecular tool that can rapidly detect F. euwallaceae from infected wood would aid monitoring efforts. Here we developed a PCR amplification protocol that targets a species‐specific gene present in F. euwallaceae from within infected wood of various hosts without prior fungal isolation, DNA purification or sequencing. The technique can detect F. euwallaceae within minimal woody material (c.15 mg) and even from degraded samples of many hosts. Additionally, identification of F. euwallaceae using lysate prepared from mycelia provided a reliable secondary measure. This method drastically reduces the time and costs associated with the identification of F. euwallaceae from field samples.
Grasses and field crops reduce the concentration of resting spores of Plasmodiophora brassicae in soil under controlled conditions
Authors: Drury Sarah C. , Sedaghatkish Afsaneh , Gossen Bruce D. , McDonald Mary Ruth
Published: June 2022

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, dramatically reduces yields of brassica crops, and once present in a field, can persist in the soil for many years via long‐lived resting spores. Some nonhost crops can stimulate the germination of resting spores, which reduces clubroot inoculum because the pathogen cannot complete its life cycle in the absence of a living host. The effect of selected grasses and other field crops on the concentrations of spores in soil was assessed in two replicated and repeated short‐duration (8‐week) studies under controlled conditions. The spore concentration declined precipitously in the bare soil control relative to the initial spore concentration over the course of both studies. Cultivars of meadow bromegrass, smooth bromegrass and one cultivar of perennial ryegrass reduced the spore concentration compared to the bare soil control in both repetitions of one study, while two cultivars of perennial ryegrass did not reduce the spore concentration. In a second study, spring wheat, perennial ryegrass, barley and field pea reduced spores compared to the bare soil control, but soybean did not. Our hypothesis that larger root systems would produce larger reductions in spore numbers was not supported; there was no correlation between root weight and reduction in spore concentration. We conclude that perennial grasses, spring cereals and field pea can contribute to the reduction of clubroot spores in soil. The advantage of grass crops over annual crops for clubroot management is that movement of infested soil is minimized over the entire duration of the grass stand.
PpybZIP43 contributes to sucrose synthesis in pear fruits by activating PpySPS3 expression and interacts with PpySTOP1
Authors: Zhang Huping , Tao Xin , Fan Xianwei , Zhang Shaoling , Qin Gaihua
Published: June 2022

Sucrose is an important factor affecting sweetness and flavor in pear fruits, but the molecular mechanism of sucrose synthesis regulation is relatively unknown. Here, we characterized a transcription factor gene from pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. “Hosui”) fruits, PpybZIP43, and found that the transient overexpression of PpybZIP43 in pear fruits significantly increased the sucrose content and the relative expression level of sucrose phosphate synthase genes (PpySPS3 and PpySPS8). Subcellular localization analysis in tobacco leaves showed that PpybZIP43 was localized in the nucleus. Yeast one‐hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and dual‐luciferase reporter assays indicated that PpybZIP43 was able to activate the expression of PpySPS3 by binding specifically to the G‐box (CACGTG) element in the promoter. The protein–protein interaction assays using yeast two‐hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), firefly luciferase complementation imaging (LCI), and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) pull‐down demonstrated that PpybZIP43 could directly interact with PpySTOP1 to form a transcription complex. This study is helpful for understanding the molecular basis of sucrose synthesis and accumulation in pear fruits and provides candidate genes for breeding.
Speedometer‐reading performance of senior drivers with cognitive impairment: a comparison of analogue and digital speedometers
Authors: Peng Zhouyuan , Shimosaka Momoyo , Nishimoto Hiroyuki , Kinoshita Ayae
Published: June 2022

Background

With the deterioration of cognitive functions, the capability to obtain information with speed, one of the essential elements needed to perform safe driving, may be impacted. We aimed to compare the legibility of analogue and digital speedometers for senior drivers with cognitive impairment, and examined the demographic, cognitive, and driving‐related variables that predict their speedometer‐reading performance.

Methods

A total of 50 senior drivers with cognitive impairment were investigated and asked to complete an office‐based speedometer‐reading test using an iPad. Two general types of speedometers (analogue and digital) were tested in this study.

Results

The age of the participants ranged from 61 to 92 years (mean (SD), 79.10 (6.973)), and 29 were male. The mean (SD) score of the Mini‐Mental State Examination was 22.48 (6.089). The median (QL, QU) scores of the analogue and digital speedometer‐reading tests were 4 (4, 5.25) and 6 (6), respectively. Based on the result of the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, the score of the digital speedometer‐reading test was significantly higher than that of the analogue one (Z = 4.399, P < 0.001). The results of multiple linear regression analyses show that the scores of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (β = 0.358, P = 0.025), and the trail‐making test‐A (β = −0.443, P = 0.006) predicted the digital speedometer‐reading performance, and they together explain 54.7% of the total variance.

Conclusions

A digital speedometer was found to be easier for absolute value reading for senior drivers with cognitive impairment, compared to an analogue speedometer. Senior drivers with subjective cognitive decline may also have impairments in obtaining the speed information through an analogue speedometer. General cognitive function and attention may influence the speed‐reading performance on the digital speedometer.
Psychological tendencies of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Badarnee Muhammad , Tirosh Irit , Kreitler Shulamith
Published: June 2022

A bulk of studies showed an association between stressful events and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) but failed to identify specific psychological tendencies that contribute to the patients' vulnerability to stress. The purpose of this paper is to identify psychological tendencies specific to JIA that would unravel characteristic sources of stress. The study is based on the cognitive orientation model of health, which enables us to identify these kinds of tendencies in terms of four belief types (beliefs about self, general beliefs, beliefs about norms, and goals) that refer to specific themes. This is a case‐control‐cohort study that included a sample of 36 patients (mean age = 12.44 years, SD = 2.97, 21 females) and 41 matched controls (mean age = 13.15 years, SD = 2.01, 22 females). The JIA cognitive‐orientation questionnaire was administered, and relevant medical parameters were recorded. The belief types differentiated between the two groups, and the patients were characterized using six themes. Examples of the themes are being over‐sensitive, striving for success, and not fulfilling duties well. The themes differentiated between the participants' groups with an accuracy of 89.1%. The likelihood of the patients being characterized by the themes is 3.24–9.35 times more than the controls. The psychological tendencies of JIA were discussed as generators of stress (e.g., being over‐sensitive) and cognitive conflicts (e.g., the contradiction between striving for success versus not fulfilling duties well). Also, the suggested reflections of these tendencies in the health workers' and patients' relationships, such as egalitarian interaction, and non‐formal communication style, were described.
Examining access to health insurance and health care along the life course to shed light on interactions between farm households’ social needs, social policy and the farm business
Authors: Becot Florence A. , Inwood Shoshanah M.
Published: June 2022

Rural studies scholars have highlighted the important role farm households play in propping up the farm business along the life course. Yet, little is known about how challenges facing farm households impact the farm business and how social safety nets may interact with household and business development trajectories. We use the example of US farm households’ access to health insurance and health care to develop empirical insights into these research gaps. We draw on a life course conceptual framework integrating the European and US literature and conduct bivariate analysis using age categories as the dependent variable on a primary dataset of 1,114 surveyed farm families. Difficulties meeting health care needs affected respondents at any age. Variations in trade‐offs between consumption, savings and investments as farm households make health‐related decisions hint at compounding effects over the life course on farm structure and transition timing. With biggest differences between households under and over 65 years of age (the threshold for universal public coverage), our findings highlight the importance of considering how social policies shape farm families’ (in) ability to meet their social needs and the connections to farm persistence.
The effects of attitudes on household energy behavior. A study of climate change concern, responsibility, and awareness in European societies
Authors: Verachtert Sari
Published: June 2022

Objective

Several attempts in environmental research have been made to investigate which factors are crucial for people to act pro‐environmentally. Yet, research results remain rather inconsistent, especially across countries. The present article aims to explore whether climate change attitudes and household energy use are associated with European citizens, independent of the country.

Methods

This cross‐national study uses items from the recent European Social Survey 2016 “climate change and energy” module measuring people's attitudes to climate change and energy preferences at the European level by using a multilevel analysis.

Results

I found that at the individual level, both climate change concern, responsibility, and awareness are important to explain variance in energy‐saving behavior, although in different ways. The results suggest that using only variables directly related to attitudes is too limited to explain household energy behavior. The present study indicates that gender, income, and education have a significant impact on behavior. At the country level, GDP and unemployment rate seem to predict less in relation to household energy behavior.

Conclusion

Climate change attitudes seem to have an impact on people's energy‐saving behavior, even after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics. However, it is important to distinguish between different measures of household energy behavior.
The HLA‐B*07:457 allele identified in a volunteer donor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Baek In‐Cheol , Choi Eun‐Jeong , Kim Hyoung‐Jae , Kim Tai‐Gyu
Published: June 2022

HLA‐B*07:457 differs from HLA‐B*07:02:01:01 in codon 117 in exon 3.