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This study assessed the influence of information literacy training on graduate students' self-rated ability to search using academic databases and the internet to find information, as well as their objective information literacy skills through a survey in 2017 at the University of Windsor. After controlling for a comprehensive set of covariates, there was not a statistically significant difference in self-rated searching ability between students with training and those without any training. However, the trained students' average objective assessment scores in the five dimensions of information literacy were significantly higher than those of students without any training at the significant level [alpha]=0.05.

Background The growth habit (GH), also named the branching habit, is an important agronomic trait of peanut and mainly determined by the lateral branch angle (LBA). The branching habit is closely related to peanut mechanized farming, pegging, yield, and disease management. Objectives However, the molecular basis underlying peanut LBA needs to be uncovered. Methods In the present study, an erect branching peanut mutant, eg06g, was obtained via 60Co γ-ray-radiating mutagenesis of a spreading-type peanut cultivar, Georgia-06G (G06G). RNA-seq was performed to compare the transcriptome variation of the upper sides and lower sides of the lateral branch of eg06g and G06G. Results In total, 4908 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 5833 DEGs were identified between eg06g and G06G from the lower sides and upper sides of the lateral branch, respectively. GO, KEGG, and clustering enrichment analysis indicated that the carbohydrate metabolic process, cell wall organization or biogenesis, and plant hormone signal transduction were mainly enriched in eg06g. Conclusions Further analysis showed that the genes involved in starch biosynthesis were upregulated in eg06g, which contributed to amyloplast sedimentation and gravity perception. Auxin homeostasis and transport-related genes were found to be upregulated in eg06g, which altered the redistribution of auxin in eg06g and in turn triggered apoplastic acidification and activated cell wall modification-related enzymes, leading to tiller angle establishment through the promotion of cell elongation at the lower side of the lateral branch. In addition, cytokinin and GA also demonstrated synergistic action to finely regulate the formation of peanut lateral branch angles. Collectively, our findings provide new insights into the molecular regulation of peanut LBA and present genetic materials for breeding peanut cultivars with ideotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Frozen shoulder (FS) is a painful and debilitating condition affecting the shoulder joint. When patients fail to improve after conservative treatments, operative treatments including arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) are recommended. However, the comparison between these two interventions remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ACR and MUA for refractory FS. Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies until December 10, 2023. Meta‐analyses were conducted using Manager V.5.3.3. Pooled effect sizes were expressed as the weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of eight comparative studies with 768 patients were included. Compared with MUA, ACR had statistically better Δ VAS (WMD, −0.44; 95% CI, −0.71 to −0.18; I2 = 6%; p = 0.001) at over 12‐month follow‐up, which did not reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Other outcomes regarding pain relief, function, and range of motion (ROM) improvements were not statistically different between the two groups at different follow‐up timepoints. Compared with the MUA group, the ACR group had a significantly higher rate of severe complications (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.01 to 16.94; I2 = 0%; p = 0.05), but comparable rates of mild complications and additional intervention. Conclusions: In treating refractory FS, ACR demonstrated comparable pain relief, functional and ROM improvements, rates of mild complications and additional intervention but a higher risk of severe complications to MUA during short‐term follow‐up periods. Notably, ACR exhibited statistically superior improvement in the long‐term pain relief compared to the MUA group, although it did not reach the MCID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) constitute extensive enzyme superfamilies in the plants, playing pivotal roles in a multitude of biosynthetic and detoxification pathways essential for growth and development, such as the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. However, CYPs have not yet been systematically studied in the cultivated peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), a globally significant cash crop. This study addresses this knowledge deficit through a comprehensive genome-wide analysis, leading to the identification of 589 AhCYP genes in peanuts. Through phylogenetic analysis, all AhCYPs were systematically classified into 9 clans, 43 gene families. The variability in the number of gene family members suggests specialization in biological functions. Intriguingly, both tandem duplication and fragment duplication events have emerged as pivotal drivers in the evolutionary expansion of the AhCYP superfamily. Ka/Ks analysis underscored the substantial influence of strong purifying selection on the evolution of AhCYPs. Furthermore, we selected 21 genes encoding 8 enzymes associated with the flavonoid pathway. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments unveiled stage-specific expression patterns during the development of peanut testa, with discernible variations between pink and red testa. Importantly, we identified a direct correlation between gene expression levels and the accumulation of metabolites. These findings offer valuable insights into elucidating the comprehensive functions of AhCYPs and the underlying mechanisms governing the divergent accumulation of flavonoids in testa of different colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AhFAD2 is a key enzyme catalyzing the conversion of oleic acid into linoleic acid. The high oleic acid characteristic of peanut mainly comes from the homozygous recessive mutation of AhFAD2A and AhFAD2B genes (aabb). However, even in high-oleic-acid varieties with the aabb genotype, the oleic acid content of seeds with different maturity varies significantly. Therefore, in addition to AhFAD2A and AhFAD2B, other FAD2 members or regulators may be involved in this process. Which FAD2 genes are involved in the regulatory processes associated with seed maturity is still unclear. In this study, four stable lines with different genotypes (AABB, aaBB, AAbb, and aabb) were used to analyze the contents of oleic acid and linoleic acid at different stages of seed development in peanut. Three new AhFAD2 genes (AhFAD2–7, AhFAD2–8, and AhFAD2–9) were cloned based on the whole-genome sequencing results of cultivated peanuts. All peanut FAD2 genes showed tissue preference in expression; however, only the expression level of AhFAD2-7 was positively correlated with the linoleic acid concentration in peanut seeds. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of oleic acid accumulation by maturity, and AhFAD2-7 plays an important role in the maturity dependent accumulation of oleic acid and linoleic acid in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress could inhibit the growth and development of crops and negatively affect yield and quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the physiological responses of different asparagus cultivars to salt stress. Twenty days old seedlings ofasalt-tolerant Apollo andasalt-sensitive cultivar JL1 were subjected to 0 (CK) and120 mM NaCl stress for 20 d. Their changes in growth, ion contents, antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression were analyzed. Salt stress significantly inhibited the growth of both cultivars, and JL1 showed a greater decrease than Apollo. The root development of Apollo was promoted by 120 mM NaCl treatment. The Na+ content in roots, stems, and leaves of both cultivars was increased under salt stress, while K+ content and K+/Na+ decreased. The salt-tolerant cultivar Apollo showed less extent of increase in Na+ and decrease in K+ content and kept a relatively high K+/Na+ ratio to compare with JL1. The contents of proline, soluble sugar and protein increased in Apollo, while thesesubstances changed differently in JL1 under salt stress. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were gradually increased under salt stress in Apollo, while the corresponding enzyme activities in JL1 were decreased at the late stage of salt stress. The expression of SOD, POD, and CAT genes of both cultivars changed in a similar way to the enzyme activities. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased slightly in Apollo, while increased significantly in JL1. At the late stage of salt stress, Apollomaintained a relatively high K+/Na+, osmotic adjustment ability and antioxidant defense capability, and therefore exhibited higher tolerance to salt stress than that of JL1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed size is a key factor affecting crop yield and a major agronomic trait concerned in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) breeding. However, little is known about the regulation mechanism of peanut seed size. In the present study, a peanut small seed mutant1 (ssm1) was identified through irradiating peanut cultivar Luhua11 (LH11) using 60Coγ ray. Since the globular embryo stage, the embryo size of ssm1 was significantly smaller than that of LH11. The dry seed weight of ssm1 was only 39.69% of the wild type LH14. The seeds were wrinkled with darker seed coat. The oil content of ssm1 seeds were also decreased significantly. Seeds of ssm1 and LH11 were sampled 10, 20, and 40 days after pegging (DAP) and were used for RNA-seq. The results revealed that genes involved in plant hormones and several transcription factors related to seed development were differentially expressed at all three stages, especially at DAP10 and DAP20. Genes of fatty acid biosynthesis and late embryogenesis abundant protein were significantly decreased to compare with LH11. Interestingly, the gene profiling data suggested that PKp2 and/or LEC1 could be the key candidate genes leading to the small seed phenotype of the mutant. Our results provide valuable clues for further understanding the mechanisms underlying seed size control in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]