Potato is among one of the most important food crops, yet maintaining plant productivity in this drought-sensitive crop has become a challenge. Competition for scarce water resources and the continued effects of global warming exacerbate current constraints on crop production. While plants’ response to drought in above-ground tissues has been well documented, the regulatory cascades in developing tubers have been largely unexplored. Using the commercial Canadian cultivar ‘Vigor’, plants were subjected to a drought treatment under high-tunnels causing a 4 ℃ increase in canopy temperature when compared to the well-watered control. Tubers were sampled for RNAseq and metabolite analysis. Approximately 2600 genes and 3898 transcripts were differentially expressed by at least four-fold in drought-stressed potato tubers, with 75 % and 69 % being down-regulated respectively. A further 229 small RNAs were implicated in gene regulation during drought. The comparison of protein homologues between Solanum tuberosum L. and Arabidopsis thaliana L. indicates that downregulated genes are associated with phenylpropanoid, carotenoid and patatin biosynthesis. This suggests that there are nutritive implications to drought stress occurring during the potato tuber bulking phase in sensitive cultivars.

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is an important fruit crop worldwide. Mutation of Arabidopsis thaliana ROOTY (RTY) results in increased endogenous auxin levels and root and shoot growth, but the effects of this gene in strawberry remain unclear. Here, we heterologously expressed Arabidopsis rty in strawberry plants and examined the effects of rty expression on the hormonal and physiological properties of the plants. Heterologous expression of rty induced IAA accumulation and increased the production of adventitious roots as well as trichomes on the abaxial leaf surface of the transgenic plants. Furthermore, the transgenic strawberry plants had increased ABA accumulation and stomatal closure. The transgenic strawberry plants exhibited enhanced water use efficiency and a reduced water loss rate. Additionally, peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly higher in the transgenic plants than in the untransformed controls, and the transgenic plants were more drought tolerant than the wild-type plants. Our results suggest that transgenic approaches can be used to overcome the inherent trade-off between plant growth and drought tolerance by enhancing water use efficiency and reducing water loss rate under water shortage conditions. This study provides the basis for future genetic modifications of strawberry to improve drought tolerance.

One standout observation regarding the clinical epidemiology in the current COVID-19 pandemic is the relatively low incidence and generally mild presentation of the infections in children (Ludvigsson, 2020)⁠. Indeed, only 230 pediatric cases with 3 neonates have been reported in China through February 6 2020 (Lu & Shi, 2020)⁠ with a total of only 9 infected and hospitalized cases identified between December 8 2019 and February 6 2020 out of a total of 31,211 cases of COVID-19 reported (Wei et al., 2020). Moreover the course in infants and children was mild with infection rarely progressing to lower respiratory tract infections (Hong et al., 2020), and no deaths have been reported in this age group (Lu & Shi, 2020)⁠.Since SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious, it is anomalous that the infection rate is so low in infants and children given the high risk of inevitable close contact they have with adults. So far, several theories to explain this anomaly include lack of nicotine exposure in children, and reduced expression of ACE2 cell surface receptors needed by SARS-CoV-2 to gain entry to host at younger ages (Song et al., 2012).Here we postulate another possibility for lower incidence and milder disease is high lactoferrin content in breast or some infant formula feedings.Lactoferrin (Lf), which is highly concentrated in human milk as well as often added to modern infant formulas has demonstrable broad-range antiviral properties (Wakabayashi et al., 2014) including against SARS-CoV, which uses the same ACE2 surface receptor to invade hosts as SARS-CoV2 (Lang et al., 2011), thus, it is not inconceivable that nutritional lactoferrin in breast milk or infant formula contributed to reduced incidence as well as milder course of COVID-19 in infants and young children. This intriguing possibility can be assessed by carefully noting the feeding history of pediatric COVID-19 cases.Author list:

Abstract

Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) is a culturally important and imperiled anadromous fish with a parasitic ocean phase. Biological uncertainties challenge restoration efforts and life-history research is needed to explain observed trait variation and inform management actions. Using two new whole genome assemblies and genotypes from 7,716 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci in 518 individuals from across the species range, we identified four large regions of high genomic divergence (on chromosomes 01, 02, 04, and 22). We genotyped a subset of 302 broadly distributed SNPs in 2,145 individuals for genotype-by-phenotype trait associations for adult body size, sexual maturity, migration distance and timing, adult swimming ability, and larval growth. Body size traits were strongly associated with SNPs on chromosomes 02 and 04. Moderate associations also implicated SNPs on chromosome 01 as being associated with variation in female maturity. Using genotypic frequencies of candidate SNPs for female maturity and body size, we extrapolated a heterogeneous spatiotemporal distribution of these traits based on independent datasets of larval and adult collections. These maturity and body size results guide future studies to validate these predicted phenotypic distributions across the geographic range and elucidate factors driving regional optimization of these traits for fitness.

Rapid evolution of traits and of plasticity may enable adaptation to climate change, yet solid experimental evidence under natural conditions is scarce. Here, we imposed rainfall manipulations (+30%, control, -30%) for ten years on entire natural plant communities in two Eastern Mediterranean sites. Additional sites along a natural rainfall gradient and controlled selection analyses assessed whether potential responses were adaptive. In both sites, our annual target species Biscutella didyma consistently evolved earlier phenology and higher reproductive allocation in dry plots. This response was adaptive, as it aligned with theory, corresponding trait shifts along the natural rainfall gradient, and selection analyses under differential watering in the greenhouse. However, another seven candidate traits did not evolve, and there was little support for evolution of plasticity. Our results provide compelling evidence for rapid adaptive evolution under climate change; yet, they also call attention to potential constraints for full adaptation.

Fitness equalizing mechanisms, such as trade-offs, are recognized as one of the main factors promoting species coexistence in community ecology. However, they have rarely been explored in microbial communities. Although microbial communities are highly diverse, the coexistence of their multiple taxa is largely attributed to niche differences and high dispersal rates, following the principle “everything is everywhere, but the environment selects”. We use a dynamical stochastic model based on the Theory of Island Biogeography to study highly diverse microbial communities over time across three different systems (soils, alpine lakes, and shallow saline lakes). Here we report for the first time a colonization-persistence trade-off in natural microbial communities. We conclude that this trade-off is mainly driven by rare taxa, which are occasional and more likely to follow independent colonization/extinction dynamics. Our work also emphasizes the fundamental value of dynamical models for understanding temporal patterns and processes in highly diverse communities.

From the date of unravelling the sequence of pandemic phenomena causing novel coronavirus (named SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), there have been limited but key molecular and structural advancements made a great impact in COVID 19 research and in the development of therapeutics in a right direction. The solving the structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and its interactions with ACE2/CD26 are the two major findings were proposing the possible mode of SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell. Following unravelling the camouflaging glycan shied novel incorporation of Furin cleavage site underlines the district features of a novel coronavirus from the previous. Taking these key molecular and structural advancements, we developed the structural model of the SARS-CoV-2 interacting with human host proteins for adhesion and virulence for easy and scientific understanding for the general reader.

we were designed heterogonous Fe3O4-Au nanocomposite with average size of 27 nm that synthesized by Foeniculum vulgare seeds extract to photodegrade methyl orange, imipenem and imatinib dye/drugs under UV-visible light irradiation. Physicochemical properties of biogenic nanocomposite were characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, SEM, EDX and X-ray elemental mapping. The complete degradations of methyl orange, imipenem and imatinib are about 95% after 2100 s, 91% after 1200 s and 93% after 1500 s, respectively under UV light irradiation, whereas under visible light irradiation are about 87% after 4200s and 88% after 4800s for imipenem and imatinib, respectively. In addition, antimicrobial activity was screened by biogenic Fe3O4-Au nanocomposite vs. Estaphilu and Bacillus subtilis and E. coli. Remarkable zone of inhibition was observed for Bacillus subtilis in 25mg/mL concentration of nanocomposites. Photocatalysts that have antimicrobial properties in addition to their unique photocatalytic properties have the potential of being no longer polluting the environment.

Background: This case highlights challenges in the assessment and management of the “difficult airway” patient in the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic era. Methods: A 60-year-old male with history of recent TORS resection, free flap reconstruction and tracheostomy for p16+ squamous cell carcinoma presented with stridor and dyspnea one month after decannulation. Careful planning by a multidisciplinary team allowed for appropriate staffing and personal protective equipment, preparations for emergency airway management, evaluation via nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, and COVID testing. The patient was found to be COVID negative and underwent imaging which revealed new pulmonary nodules and a tracheal lesion. Results: The patient was safely transorally intubated in the operating room. The tracheal lesion was removed endoscopically and tracheostomy was avoided. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of careful and collaborative decision making for the management of head and neck cancer and other “difficult airway” patients during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Abstract: Dominance hierarchies have been visually represented in several ways, but most leave it difficult to quickly understand complex interactions between multiple entities in a community. Here we propose a new way to visually represent the hierarchy of dominance between entities in such systems called an “agonistic diagram”. We demonstrate this method using data from nectar-feeding bird communities in Australia and America, then using data from inquiline ants, European Badgers, and urban cats. The advantages of using agonistic diagrams are: (1) that the agonistic diagram can be compared visually with other interaction diagrams in related fields, like mutualism, and (2) that the analytical tools used in other fields can be used to assess agonistic networks. Thus, agonistic networks can be quantified in new ways, making it possible to obtain with relatively minor changes, automated agonistic diagrams from the computational programs and ecological metrics that are currently used to understand mutualistic interactions. This includes metrics of nestedness, modularity, and robustness, the identity of core and peripheral species, and the effects of extinction on networks, among other information.

What is precision medicine? No standard definition is found. Sometimes described as High Definition Medicine which is: “the dynamic assessment , management, and understanding of an individual’s health measured at (or near) its most basic units.” The impetus for this venture was advanced and stimulated by biogenetics, the study of how genes and their products affect health but also contribute to disease or resistance to cure. Medicine is an epistemology: a way of knowing, perceiving, remembering, finding out, proving, inferring, wondering, reflecting, a conceptual knowing relying upon observations fitted to disease concepts.

Acute basilar artery occlusions (BAO) that are not quickly recanalised may leave the patient with severe motor detriment. Efficacies of current treatments remain unclear. In our case of a 47-year-old-man presenting with quadriparesis, MRI demonstrated bilateral pontine infarct. A year after mechanical thrombectomy, he was fully ambulant.

5 KEY POINTSIn an outbreak, early healthcare personnel segregation should be considered to ensure that the provision of essential services may continue if a single team is quarantinedEstablishing a sustainable PPE usage guideline for healthcare workers early in the outbreak is of paramount importanceDesign and simulation of work processes for emergency airway creation should be considered in every otolaryngology department dealing with the COVID-19 outbreakScreening and postponement of non-urgent patient follow-ups frees up manpower and resourcesThe use of videoconferencing aids in restoring essential department activities and telemedicine may be a useful tool to explore in otolaryngology clinicsWord count: 1494

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Neuroprotection is an important strategy for ischemic stroke treatment. Cajaninstilbene acid (CSA), a unique stilbenoid with a styryl group, is a potential neuroprotective agent. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect and molecular mechanism of CSA against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damages. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The ischemic stroke was modeled by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) in SH-SY5Y cells and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was used to induce oxidative stress in cells. The signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blotting and inhibitor blocking. KEY RESULTS CSA possessed significant neuroprotective activity, as evidenced by the reduced cell death in OGD/R or t-BHP injured cells, and decreased infarct volume and neurological deficits in MCAO/R rats. Further studies indicated that the protective effect was achieved via the antioxidant activity of CSA, which decreased the oxidative stress and its related mitochondrial dysfunction in cells. Notably, Nrf2 was activated in cells and MCAO/R rats by CSA, and the inhibition of Nrf2 by brusatol weakened CSA-mediated neuroprotection. Furthermore, after applying a series of kinase inhibitors, CSA-induced Nrf2 activation was markedly inhibited by BML-275 (an AMPK inhibitor), implying that AMPK was the dominant kinase to regulate the Nrf2 pathway for CSA’s neuroprotective effects with enhanced AMPK phosphorylation observed both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION CSA exerted neuroprotection via activating AMPK/Nrf2 pathway to reduce I/R-induced cellular oxidative stress and mitochondrial disfunction. CSA could be a potential neuroprotective drug candidate for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused my Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects peripheral nervous system and extremities and is prevalent in tropical countries. Treatment for leprosy with multidrug regimens is very effective compared to monotherapy especially in multibacillary cases. The three major antileprosy drugs currently in use are 4, 4’-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS, dapsone), rifampicin, and clofazimine. During multidrug therapy, the potent antibiotic rifampicin induces the metabolism of dapsone, which results in decreased plasma half-life of dapsone and its metabolites. Furthermore, rifampicin induces its own metabolism and decreases its half-life during monotherapy. Rifampicin upregulates several hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes, especially cytochrome P450 (CYP) family that in turn induce the metabolism of dapsone. Clofazimine lacks significant induction of any drug-metabolizing enzyme including CYP family and does not interact with dapsone metabolism. Rifampicin does not induce clofazimine metabolism during combination treatment. Administration of dapsone in the acetylated form (acedapsone) can release the drug slowly into circulation up to 75 days and could be useful for the effective treatment of paucibacillary cases along with rifampicin. This review summarizes the major aspects of antileprosy drug metabolism and drug interactions and the role of cytochrome P450 family of drug metabolizing enzymes, especially CYP3A4 during multidrug regimens for the treatment of leprosy.

The half-metallicity of Heusler alloy is quite sensitive to high pressure and disorder. Therefore, we systematically studied the half-metallic nature, magnetism and thermomechanical properties of FeCrTe and FeCrSe Heusler alloys under high pressure using ab initio calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The ground state lattice constants for FeCrTe and FeCrSe alloys are 5.93 and 5.57 Å, consistent with available theoretical results. The formation energy, cohesive energy and elastic constant confirmed the thermodynamically and mechanical stability of both compounds. The FeCrTe and FeCrSe alloys showed half-metallic character with the band gap of 0.68 and 0.58 eV at 0 Gpa pressure respectively and magnetic moments of 2.01 µB for both alloys using GGA approximation. The elastic properties have been scrutinized and found that FeCrTe is ductile and FeCrSe is brittle at 0 Gpa pressure. Under pressure, FeCrSe turn into brittle above 10 Gpa pressure. Moreover, the average sound velocity Vm, Debye temperature ƟD and heat capacity CV were predicted under pressure. These outcomes would advantage in integrating Fe-based half-Heusler alloys in spintronic devices.

The fracture of compressor blade’s tenon is a concrete problem in the operation of ironmaking plant. A systematic research on the fracture failure of the tenon of X20Cr13 blade has been carried out in this paper. Systematic research consists of two parts: comprehensive analysis and simulation analysis. Comprehensive analysis includes macroscopic analysis, metallographic structure analysis, SEM characterization, EDS characterization, mechanical property analysis, chemical composition analysis, hardness analysis and assembly structure analysis. The simulation analysis includes heat treatment simulation analysis, static stress software simulation analysis and resonance damage calculation analysis. The comprehensive analysis shows that the performance, chemical composition and hardness of blade are not the cause of failure. The cracks of blade tenon have the obvious fatigue crack characteristics. The fretting wear can produce the failure source which leads to the occurrence and development of cracks. A large number of M23C6 carbides with large particle size appeared in the metallographic structure and distributed unevenly and intensively along the grain boundary. These carbides not only damage the continuity of matrix structure but also create conditions for the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. Improper assembly of blades can also lead to excessive local stress. The simulation analysis further confirmed that the stress at the root of blade tenon is too large and the possibility of failure caused by resonance is eliminated. Improper heat treatment is also one of the causes of fracture. Based on the research conclusion, this paper also puts forward some constructive suggestions for this engineering problem.

Obstetrical view of COVID-19:

Analysis of population genetic data often includes the search for genomic re- gions with signs of recent positive selection. One of the approaches involves the concept of Extended Haplotype Homozygosity and its associated statistics. These statistics presume that haplotypes are phased and some of them that variants are polarized. Here we assess the consequences if one of the two con- ditions is not fulfilled. We find that phasing information is indispensable for the accurate estimation of within-population statistics and, if sample sizes are small, for cross-population statistics, too. Ancestry information, in contrast, is of lesser importance for both. We make use of a publicly available update of our R package rehh which, among other features, incorporates the adapted statistics presented here.

Processing and visualising trends in the binary data obtained from fragment analysis methods in molecular biology can be a time-consuming, and often cumbersome process. Scoring and processing binary data (from methods such as AFLPs, ISSRs, and RFLPs) entails complex workflows that require a high level of computational and/or bioinformatic skills. The application presented here (BinMat) is a free, open-source, and user-friendly R Shiny program that automates the analysis pipeline on one platform. BinMat is presented as a Graphical User Interface (GUI) via the Shiny package in R that is available online across different operating systems. It is also available as an R package. BinMat consolidates replicate sample pairs in a dataset into consensus reads, produces summary statistics, and allows the user to visualise their data as ordination plots and clustering trees without having to use multiple software programs and input files, or rely on previous programming experience.

LncRNAs play an indispensable role in the process of M1 macrophage via regulating the development of macrophages and their responses to bacterial pathogens and viral infections. However, there are few studies on the lncRNA-mediated functions and regulatory mechanisms of M2 macrophage polarization. In this study, we found a number of differentially expressed lncRNAs between human monocyte derived M0 and M2 macrophages according to array analysis and qRT-PCR validation. The lncRNA RP11-389C8.2 (we named lnc-M2 in this study) was observed to be highly expressed in M2 macrophages. In Situ Localization and Quantification Analysis showed that lnc-M2 was expressed in the nucleus and cytosolic compartments of M2 macrophages. Notably, lnc-M2 knockdown enhanced the phagocytic ability of M2 macrophages. Ulteriorly, the results of RNA-Protein interaction experiments indicated that protein kinase A (PKA) was a lnc-M2 associated RNA-binding protein (RBP). Western blot showed that p-CREB, a well-known key downstream transcription factor of PKA, was lowly phosphorylated in lnc-M2-silencing M2 macrophages. Furthermore, we found that transcriptional factor STAT3 promoted lnc-M2 transcription along with the up-regulation of epigenetic histone modification markers at the lnc-M2 promoter locus, indicating that STAT3 activated lnc-M2 and eventually facilitated the process of M2 macrophage differentiation via the PKA/CREB pathway. Collectively, our date provide evidence that the transcription factor STAT3 can promote the transcription of lnc-M2 and facilitated the process of M2 macrophage differentiation via the PKA/CREB pathway. This study highlights a novel mechanism underlying the M2 macrophage differentiation.

Rationale, aims and objectives Clinical skills are important for medical students and doctors for their everyday work and faculties are expected to teach and assess clinical skills and other competencies that medical students should have at the beginning of their career. Among competencies required for a young doctor to begin with his or her career are several clinical skills. The aim of our study was to evaluate in a low-stakes formative assessment the clinical skills level improvement of finishing medical students prior to and after their 9-week Internal medicine clerkship. Method 88 final year medical students participated in the study prior and after their 9-week Internal medicine clerkship. On the first day and on their last day of clerkship, they were assessed in three different clinical skills – history taking, venipuncture and rectal examination. Clinical skills were performed on artificial simulators (model of an arm and a prostate and rectal examination simulator). Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) was used to evaluate students. Assessors used a prepared checklist for each clinical skill. Results A significant improvement was detected in total OSCE (p=0.001), history taking (p=0.001) and rectal examination results (p=0.023) on the second testing. Moreover, reduction of time needed to complete the task was also detected in all clinical skills. Conclusion Final year medical students have a lot of practical skills and are well prepared for the clinical environment. They are prepared to perform tested clinical skills on their own, without supervision. As there is still room for improvement, additional activities should be considered to improve performance in the clinical skill. In addition, there is less evidence on assessment of clinical skills progress so further activities should be considered.

1. Bitterlings are small freshwater fish that use long ovipositors to place eggs in host mussels and have morphological adaptations to increase larval survival. The most well-known adaptations are the minute tubercles on the skin surface of larvae, which are developed in early-stage larvae with weak swimming ability and disappear in free-swimming larvae before they leave the host mussel. 2. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of the developmental stages of Rhodeus pseudosericeus larvae, their morphological and physiological characteristics, their migration inside mussels, and the development of minute tubercle are presented as direct evidence of the morphological function of the minute tubercles. These tubercles began to develop 1 day after hatching (formation stage), grew for 2–5 days (growth stage), reached the peak height after 6–7 days (peak stage), abruptly reduced in height after 8–10 days (abrupt reduction stage), and went through a final gradual reduction (reduction stage) until completely disappearing 27 days after hatching (disappearance stage). 3. The larvae remained in the mussels’ interlamellar space of the gill demibranchs until 10 days after hatching, and began to migrate to mussels’ suprabranchial cavity 11 days after hatching. At this time, the larvae had clear components of heart rate and caudal fin began to develop. At 24 days after hatching, the minute tubercles had almost disappeared, and some individuals were observed swimming out of the mussels. 4. The experiment results herein presented prove that the minute tubercles are a first direct evidence that the bitterling larvae are morphologically adapted to prevent premature ejection from the mussel.