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Certain metabolic interventions such as caloric restriction, fasting, exercise, and a ketogenic diet extend lifespan and/or health span. However, their benefits are limited and their connections to the underlying mechanisms of aging are not fully clear. Here, these connections are explored in terms of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (Krebs cycle, citric acid cycle) to suggest reasons for the loss of effectiveness and ways of overcoming it. Specifically, the metabolic interventions deplete acetate and likely reduce the conversion of oxaloacetate to aspartate, thereby inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and upregulating autophagy. Synthesis of glutathione may provide a high-capacity sink for amine groups, facilitating autophagy, and prevent buildup of alpha-ketoglutarate, supporting stem cell maintenance. Metabolic interventions also prevent the accumulation of succinate, thereby slowing DNA hypermethylation, facilitating the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, reducing inflammatory and hypoxic signaling, and lowering reliance on glycolysis. In part through these mechanisms, metabolic interventions may decelerate aging, extending lifespan. Conversely, with overnutrition or oxidative stress, these processes function in reverse, accelerating aging and impairing longevity. Progressive damage to aconitase, inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase, and downregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) emerge as potentially modifiable reasons for the loss of effectiveness of metabolic interventions., (© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Biology published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Aims: This cohort study investigated the association between treatment cessation and incidence/progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods: Data were extracted from electronic medical records at the University of the Ryukyu Hospital and the Tomishiro Central Hospital of Okinawa, Japan. We enrolled 417 diabetic patients without DR (N = 281) and with nonproliferative DR (N = 136) at the baseline. Treatment cessation was defined as failing to attend outpatient clinics for at least twelve months prior to the baseline. After a median follow-up of 7 years, we compared the incidence/progression rate of DR including nonproliferative and proliferative DR between patients with and without treatment cessation and calculated the odds ratio (OR) in the treatment cessation group using a logistic regression model. Results: The overall prevalence of treatment cessation was 13% in patients with T2DM. Characteristics of treatment cessation included relative youth (57 ± 11 years vs. 63 ± 12 years, P < 0.01). Treatment cessation was tightly associated with the incidence of DR (OR 4.20 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46–12.04, P < 0.01) and also incidence/progression of DR (OR 2.70 [1.28–5.69], P < 0.01), even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, duration of T2DM, and HbA1c level. Conclusions: By considering major confounding factors, the present study demonstrates an independent association between treatment cessation and incidence of DR in patients with T2DM, highlighting treatment cessation as an independent risk for DR in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on 19th century physician was part dispensary, part scientific laboratory. Topics include stethoscopes, bandages, syringes and medication, sat a urine testing kit—a battered leather case with vials of caustic chemicals, droppers, spirit lamps and charred test tubes; and regular use of this equipment, while the medical literature was full of letters pleading for more practical solutions.

Scientific knowledge about the ancestral genome of core eudicot plant kingdom can potentially have profound impacts on both basic and applied research, including evolution, genetics, genomics, ecology, agriculture, forestry, and global climate. To investigate which plant conserves best the core eudicots common ancestor genome, we compared Arcto-Tertiary relict Nyssaceae and 30 other eudicot plant families. The genomes of Davidia involucrata (a known living fossil), Camptotheca acuminata and Nyssa sinensis, one per existent genus of Nyssaceae, were performed comparative genomic analysis. We found that Nyssaceae originated from a single Nyssaceae common tetraploidization event (NCT)e autotetraploidization 28e31 Mya after the core eudicot common hexaploidization (ECH). We identified Nyssaceae orthologous and paralogous genes, determined its chromosomal evolutionary trajectory, and reconstructed the Nyssaceae most recent ancestor genome. D. involucrata genome contained the entire seven paleochromosomes and 17 ECH-generated eudicot common ancestor chromosomes and was the slowest in mutation among the analyzed 42 species of 31 plant families. Combing both its high retention of paleochromosomes and its low mutation rate, D. involucrata provides the best case in conservation of the core eudicot paleogenome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflorescence of Etlingera elatior forms tubular, true flowers in an acropetal sequence that blooms ostentatiously. The aromatic plant also produces excellent flavour and fragrance afforded by the presence of secretory structures capable of accumulating, storing, and releasing volatile compounds. However, there is a lack of botanical description of the flowering morphology and the type of secretory structures involved in plant-pollinator interactions. This study aims to describe the floral morphology, characterise the diverse micromorphology of the epidermal outgrowths in the true flower, and analyse their histochemical contents by scanning electron and light microscopes. Labellum defines the anthesis stage of the true flower: unveiling by petals at anthesis and furling inwards that closes the top part of the flower at post-anthesis. In addition to the floral advertisement accessory function demonstrated by the labellum, the closure provides additional exaptation of post-pollination protection to the flower. Both glandular trichomes and osmophores are involved in biochemical functions that release heterogeneous substances (mucilage, terpenes, and phenolic compounds) to help secure anthesis. Non-glandular trichomes, on the other hand, are structurally involved in the floral development by providing physical and mechanical protection to the flower by acting as glue to maintain the closed structure of the flower, connecting floral accessories, and forming a formidable barrier surrounding the ovary, the most important reproductive organ of the flower. Findings from the present study demonstrate that the presence of secretory structures coordinated with the flower's functional traits enhances the pollination mechanism. It is the maiden report for E. elatior on epidermal outgrowths and their participation in floral structure and development besides plant-pollinator interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nectar guide trichomes play crucial ecological roles in bee-pollinated flowers, as they serve as footholds and guides for foraging bees to access the floral rewards. However, the genetic basis of natural variation in nectar guide trichomes among species remains poorly understood. In this study, we performed genetic analysis of nectar guide trichome variation between two closely related monkeyflower (Mimulus) species, the bumblebee-pollinated Mimulus lewisii and self-pollinated M. parishii. We demonstrate that a MIXTA-like R2R3-MYB gene, GUIDELESS, is a major contributor to the nectar guide trichome length variation between the two species. The short-haired M. parishii carries a recessive allele due to non-synonymous substitutions in a highly conserved motif among MIXTA-like MYB proteins. Furthermore, our results suggest that besides GUIDELESS, additional loci encoding repressors of trichome elongation also contribute to the transition from bumblebee-pollination to selfing. Taken together, these results suggest that during a pollination syndrome switch, changes in seemingly complex traits such as nectar guide trichomes could have a relatively simple genetic basis, involving just a few genes of large effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was under taken during January, 2022-March, 2023 at the Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India to evaluate fifteen sugarcane clones including early and mid-late to identify clones with higher shelf life and tolerance to postharvest deterioration and delayed crop harvests. Juice quality parameters determined at 10th, 11th, 12th and 13thmonths of harvest/age and at different time lag intervals of staling (0, 24, 48, and 72 hours showed a linear increase in cane weight reduction regardless of crop age at harvest and staling periods after harvest. Juice extraction (%) also decreased over staling period and delayed crop harvests. Increase in cane weight loss and reduction in juice extraction was significant with increase in staling period. A progressive increase in brix (%), sucrose, purity and CCS in juice was observed up to 11th in early clones and up to 12th months of crop age in mid-late clones and thereafter decreased. Per cent brix (%) showed a linear trend at all time lag intervals of staling regardless of the clones studied. Brix (%) in juice progressively increased from 0 to 72 hours of staling. Sucrose, purity and CCS per cent declined at 48 hrs in early group and at 72 hrs in mid-late clones after harvest. Reduction in sucrose, purity and CCS was significant with increased staling periods. Among the clones 2003V46 (TC), 2016T 7, COA14328, COA20324, COA19322 and 2009V89 were found to be relatively more tolerant to delayed harvest and post-harvest deterioration compared to the popular standard CO86032 and other test clones studied. All these clones have also recorded higher cane yield and CCS yield at harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual wheelchair users rely on their upper limbs for independence and daily activities. The high incidence of upper limb injuries can be attributed to the significant muscular demands imposed by propulsion as a repetitive movement. People with spinal cord injury are at high risk for upper limb injuries, including neuromusculoskeletal pathologies and nociceptive pain, as human upper limbs are poorly designed to facilitate chronic weight-bearing activities, such as manual wheelchair propulsion. Comprehending the underlying biomechanical mechanisms of motor control and developing appropriate rehabilitation tasks are essential to deal with the effects of poor motor control on the performance of manual wheelchair users and prevent long-term upper limb disability, which can interrupt electrical signals between the brain and muscles. Functional electrical stimulation utilizes low-intensity electrical signals to artificially generate body movements by stimulating the damaged peripheral nerves of patients with impaired motor control. Therefore, this study investigates the central nervous system strategy to control human movements, which can be used for task-specific functional electrical stimulation rehabilitation therapy. To this aim, two degrees of freedom musculoskeletal model of the upper limb, including six muscles, is developed, and an optimal controller consisting of two separate optimal parts is proposed to track the desired trajectories in the joint space and estimate the optimal muscle activations regarding physiological constraints. The simulation results are validated with electromyography datasets collected from twelve participants. This study's primary advantages are generating optimal joint torques, accurate trajectory tracking, and good similarities between estimated and measured muscle activations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frank's sign (FS, earlobe crease) is known to be associated with many chronic diseases i.e. coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the presence and grade of FS in healthy, young-adult individuals aging between 18 and 25. Furthermore, to evaluate the relationship between FS and the chronic disease history of first-degree family members. 853 healthy people with a mean age of 20.09 years were imvolved in the research on a voluntary basis. Of 853 individuals, 85.3% (n:728) had no FS, whereas 14.7% (n:125) had. Of the 125 people observed FS, 41.6% (n:52) were female and 58.4% (n:73) were male. Of the 125 people diagnosed with FS, 32.8% (n:41) had no family history of any chronic disease, and 67.2% (n:84) had at least 1 family history of chronic disease as well. It was determined that there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) relationship between FS identified in healthy individuals and familial chronic disease history. In this study, while no FS was observed in 85.3% of the participants, grade 1 was detected in 12.4% (n:105), grade 2a in 1.9% (n:16), grade 2b in 0.2% (n:2), and grade 3 in 0.2% (n:2). To the best of our knowledge, this study investigated the relationship between the presence and grade of FS in the healthy, young, Turkish population and the presence/absence of chronic disease in the first-degree relatives of individuals for the very first time. As a result of larger studies, being aware of the presence of FS, especially in young healthy individuals, may help predict some chronic diseases, and caution may be taken to avoid these diseases at an early age in at-risk individuals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In most plant species, sepals-the outermost floral organs-provide a protective shield for reproductive organs. How the floral bud becomes sealed is unknown. In Arabidopsis, we identified a small region at the sepal tip that is markedly curved inward early on and remains curved even after anthesis. Through modelling and quantitative growth analysis, we find that this hook emerges from growth arrest at the tip at a stage when cortical microtubules align with growth-derived tensile stress. Depolymerizing microtubules specifically at young sepal tips hindered hook formation and resulted in open floral buds. Mutants with defective growth pattern at the tip failed to curve inwards, whereas mutants with enhanced alignment of cortical microtubules at the tip exhibited a stronger hook. We propose that floral buds are locked due to a stress-derived growth arrest event curving the sepal tip and forming a rigid hook early on during flower development., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Cotton is an irreplaceable economic crop currently domesticated in the human world for its extremely elongated fiber cells specialized in seed epidermis, which makes it of high research and application value. To date, numerous research on cotton has navigated various aspects, from multi-genome assembly, genome editing, mechanism of fiber development, metabolite biosynthesis, and analysis to genetic breeding. Genomic and 3D genomic studies reveal the origin of cotton species and the spatiotemporal asymmetric chromatin structure in fibers. Mature multiple genome editing systems, such as CRISPR/Cas9, Cas12 (Cpf1) and cytidine base editing (CBE), have been widely used in the study of candidate genes affecting fiber development. Based on this, the cotton fiber cell development network has been preliminarily drawn. Among them, the MYB-bHLH-WDR (MBW) transcription factor complex and IAA and BR signaling pathway regulate the initiation; various plant hormones, including ethylene, mediated regulatory network and membrane protein overlap fine-regulate elongation. Multistage transcription factors targeting CesA 4, 7, and 8 specifically dominate the whole process of secondary cell wall thickening. And fluorescently labeled cytoskeletal proteins can observe real-time dynamic changes in fiber development. Furthermore, research on the synthesis of cotton secondary metabolite gossypol, resistance to diseases and insect pests, plant architecture regulation, and seed oil utilization are all conducive to finding more high-quality breeding-related genes and subsequently facilitating the cultivation of better cotton varieties. This review summarizes the paramount research achievements in cotton molecular biology over the last few decades from the above aspects, thereby enabling us to conduct a status review on the current studies of cotton and provide strong theoretical support for the future direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of superior quality cotton varieties is the only way to meet the demand for the fast-growing textile sector. Fifty interspecific lines were screened to select the diverse lines for expression analysis. Comparative expression and promoter analysis were carried out to comprehend the role of fibre genes (APX1, ATP Synthase, and GhMYB 25-like) in three interspecific lines (SL-19, SL-79 and SL-369) and three Gossypium species (Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium arboreum & Gossypium anomalum). Among the interspecific lines, the maximum expression was noted in SL-19 for all fibre genes with varying levels at different fibre developmental stages while minimum fibre genes transcripts were present in SL-3.69. Among the species, maximum expression was noted in G. hirsutum while the minimum was noted in G. anomalum. The GhMYB25-like gene was involved in fibre initiation, showing its maximum expression at initial fibre development stages (0 & 5 DPA). APX1 and ATP synthase genes were involved in fibre elongation with more expression at 10 DPA & 15 DPA. Moreover, the identification of various important promoters in APX1, ATP synthase & GhMYB25-like genes was done which makes it an important tool for engineering extra-long fibre traits leading to the development of high-quality cotton varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding aging is a key biological goal. Precision gerontology aims to predict how long individuals will live under different treatment scenarios. Calorie and protein restriction (CR and PR) extend lifespan in many species. Using data from C57BL/6 male mice under graded CR or PR, we introduce a computational thermodynamic model for entropy generation, which predicted the impact of the manipulations on lifespan. Daily entropy generation decreased significantly with increasing CR level, but not PR. Our predictions indicated the lifespan of CR mice should increase by 13 to 56% with 10 to 40% CR, relative to ad libitum-fed animals. This prediction was broadly consistent with the empirical observation of the lifespan impacts of CR in rodents. Modeling entropy fluxes may be a future strategy to identify antiaging interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to understand the gene action for seed oil, seed protein, seed gossypol, seed cotton yield and fiber density through intra-hirsutum crosses. Combining ability and gene action were studied in eighteen hybrids involving six elite varieties as lines (females) and three fuzzless G. hirsutum accessions as testers (males) in Line x Tester analysis. This study revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action on all the traits studied including seed cotton yield. The elite general combiners identified were CO14 for seed oil and seed protein and CO17 and AKH98-81 for fiber per seed and fiber density. The best specific combiner was SVPR4 x AKH98-81 for seed oil, fiber density and seed cotton yield. A correlation study revealed a strong positive association of seed oil content, lint index, micronaire value, fiber per seed and seed fiber density traits with seed cotton yield. This study indicated the possibility of developing high-yielding hybrids with high seed oil, seed protein content and better fiber quality traits through heterosis breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting for 5%-15% of total daily energy expenditure, postprandial thermogenesis (PPT) refers to an acute increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR) in the hours after eating. This is largely explained by the energy costs of processing the macronutrients of a meal. Most individuals spend the majority of the day in the postprandial state, thus over one's lifetime even minor differences in PPT may possess true clinical significance. In contrast to RMR, research indicates that PPT may be reduced in the development of both prediabetes and type II diabetes (T2D). The present analysis of existing literature has found that this impairment may be exaggerated in hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies compared with food and beverage consumption studies. Nonetheless, it is estimated that daily PPT following carbohydrate consumption alone is approximately 150 kJ lower among individuals with T2D. This estimate fails to consider protein intake, which is notably more thermogenic than carbohydrate intake (20%-30% vs. 5%-8%, respectively). Putatively, dysglycemic individuals may lack the insulin sensitivity required to divert glucose toward storage--a more energy-taxing pathway. Accordingly, the majority of findings has associated an impaired PPT with a reduced "obligatory" energy output (i.e., the energy costs associated with nutrient processing). More recently, it has been reported that "facultative" thermogenesis [e.g., the energy costs associated with sympathetic nervous system (SNS) stimulation] may also contribute to any impairment in PPT among individuals with prediabetes and T2D. Further longitudinal research is required to truly ascertain whether meaningful changes in PPT manifest in the prediabetic state, before the development of T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elucidation of genetic architecture and molecular regulatory networks underlying complex traits remains a significant challenge in life science, largely due to the substantial background effects that arise from epistasis and gene-environment interactions. The chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) is an ideal material for genetic and molecular dissection of complex traits due to its near-isogenic properties; yet a comprehensive analysis, from the basic identification of substitution segments to advanced regulatory network, is still insufficient. Here, we developed two cotton CSSL populations on the Gossypium hirsutum background, representing wide adaptation and high lint yield, with introgression from G. barbadense, representing superior fibre quality. We sequenced 99 CSSLs that demonstrated significant differences from G. hirsutum in fibre, and characterized 836 dynamic fibre transcriptomes in three crucial developmental stages. We developed a workflow for precise resolution of chromosomal substitution segments; the genome sequencing revealed substitutions collectively representing 87.25% of the G. barbadense genome. Together, the genomic and transcriptomic survey identified 18 novel fibre-quality-related quantitative trait loci with high genetic contributions and the comprehensive landscape of fibre development regulation. Furthermore, analysis determined unique cis-expression patterns in CSSLs to be the driving force for fibre quality alteration; building upon this, the co-expression regulatory network revealed biological relationships among the noted pathways and accurately described the molecular interactions of GhHOX3, GhRDL1 and GhEXPA1 during fibre elongation, along with reliable predictions for their interactions with GhTBA8A5. Our study will enhance more strategic employment of CSSL in crop molecular biology and breeding programmes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Pharmacist's involvement in optimizing medication adherence among diabetic patients has been implemented for over a decade. Diabetes Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (DMTAC) was set up to educate diabetic patients, monitor treatment outcomes, and manage drug-related problems. While evidence shows that pharmacist-led DMTAC was effective in reducing HbA1c, there was limited data regarding the impact of different intervention types and default to follow-up on glycemic control. Aim: To assess the impact DMTAC on glycemic control and the difference in glycemic control between hospital and health clinic settings as well as defaulter and non-defaulter. In addition, the impact of pharmacist's interventions, DMTAC follow-up frequencies, and duration of diabetes on glycemic control were also determined. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among diabetes patients under DMTAC care between January 2019 and June 2020 in five hospitals and 23 primary health clinics. Patients' demographics data, treatment regimens, frequencies of DMTAC visits, defaulter (absent from DMTAC visits) and types of pharmacists' intervention were retrieved from patients' medical records and electronic database. HbA1c was collected at baseline, 4–6 months (post-1), and 8–12 months (post-2). Results: We included 956 patients, of which 60% were females with a median age of 58.0 (IQR: 5.0) years. Overall, the HbA1c reduced significantly from baseline (median: 10.2, IQR: 3.0) to post-1 (median: 8.8, IQR: 2.7) and post-2 (median: 8.3, IQR: 2.6%) (p < 0.001). There were 4317 pharmacists' interventions performed, with the majority being dosage adjustment (n = 2407, 55.8%), followed by lab investigations (849, 19.7%), drugs addition (653, 15.1%), drugs discontinuation (408, 9.5%). Patients treated in hospitals received significantly more interventions than those treated in primary health clinics (p < 0.001). We observed significantly less reduction in HbA1c in DMTAC follow-up defaulters than non-defaulters after 1 year (− 1.02% vs. − 2.14%, p = 0.001). Frequencies of DMTAC visits (b: 0.19, CI: 0.079–0.302, p = 0.001), number of dosage adjustments (b: 0.83, CI: 0.015–0.151, p = 0.018) and number of additional drugs recommended (b: 0.37, CI: 0.049–0.691, p = 0.024) had positive impact on glycemic control whereas duration of diabetes (b: − 0.0302, CI: − 0.0507, − 0.007, p = 0.011) had negative impact. Conclusion : Glycemic control improved significantly and sustained up to one year among patients in pharmacists-led DMTAC. However, DMTAC defaulters experienced poorer glycemic control. Considering more frequent visits and targeted interventions by pharmacists at DMTAC resulted in improved HbA1c control, these strategies should be taken into account for future program planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the main source of natural fiber for the textile industry. Cotton fibers are unicellular trichomes that emerge from the epidermal cells of the seed. In cultivated cotton species, seed trichomes differentiate into two distinct types, spinnable lint, and short fuzz. The main priority for cotton growers is fiber yield, whereas the textile industry also demands better fiber quality characteristics, such as length, uniformity, strength, maturity, and optimal fineness. However, it is a major challenge for breeders to improve fiber quality while maintaining yield, because of the observed negative correlation between yield and fiber quality traits. Recent technical advances in sequencing and bioinformatics have facilitated the assembly of reference quality genomes of multiple cotton species, bringing a new era for cotton genomics. Available genomic resources will help genetically dissect the agronomic and fiber quality traits of cotton and identify gene variants that can be used for cotton improvement through breeding or biotechnology. Here, we review recent progress in the sequencing of genomes of cotton species and approaches in molecular genetics and genomics for the improvement of cotton fiber quality traits. We discuss progress in the understanding of each stage of cotton fiber development and the remaining challenges. Core Ideas: Recent progress in sequencing has facilitated assembly of reference quality genomes of multiple cotton species.Available genomic resources will help genetically dissect the agronomic and fiber quality traits of cotton.Genomics‐assisted breeding can be instrumental in developing superior cotton varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of cotton varieties are presently available in Ethiopia, all of which differ in adaptability, yield potential, and agronomic characteristics. It is important that producers should be aware of both the superior and poor characteristics of each variety to produce the most suitable ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic, yield, and fiber quality performances of improved cotton varieties under irrigation conditions in cotton producing farms in Weyto and Sille areas of Ethiopia. The combined analysis of variance revealed significant (P = 0.01) differences among the varieties for plant height, boll number per plant, boll weight, seed cotton yield, ginning out-turn, lint yield, micronaire, fiber length, and fiber strength. There was no significant interaction effect of variety by location (V*L) and variety by environment (V*Y*L) for economically most important traits (seed cotton yield, lint yield, fiber length, and fiber strength). The highest seed cotton yield (4.35 t ha-1) was recorded for Deltapine-90 cotton variety. The lint yields obtained from the cotton varieties ranged between 1.02 t ha-1 and 1.70 t ha-1. It is concluded that Weyto is more suitable for cotton production than Sille since all varieties showed better performances for economically important traits at this location. This implies that future cotton research should focus on developing varieties having diverse genetic bases, high yielding potential and fiber quality merits to enhance cotton productivity and meet the demand of manufacturing industries in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare professionals caring for chronically ill patients increasingly want to provide patient-centered care (PCC). By understanding each individual patient journey, they can significantly improve the quality of PCC. A patient journey consists of patient interactions, so-called touchpoints, with healthcare professionals distributed over three periods: pre-service, service, and post-service period. The aim of this study was to ascertain chronically ill patients' needs for digital alternatives for touchpoints. Specifically, we aimed to explore which digital alternatives patients would like to see implemented into their patient journey to help healthcare professionals providing PCC. Methods: Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted either face-to-face or via Zoom. Participants were included if they had visited the department of internal medicine and had received treatment for either arteriosclerosis, diabetes, HIV, or kidney failure. The interviews were analyzed utilizing a thematic analysis approach. Results: The results suggest that the patient journey of chronically ill patients is a continuous cycle. Furthermore, the results showed that chronically ill patients would like to see digital alternatives for touchpoints implemented into their patient journey. These digital alternatives consisted of video calls, digitally checking in before a physical appointment, digitally self-monitoring one's medical condition and personally uploading monitoring results into the patient portal, and viewing their own medical status in a digital format. Particularly, patients who were familiar with their healthcare professional(s) and were in a stable condition mostly opted for digital alternatives. Conclusion: In the cyclical patient journey, digitalization can help put the wishes and needs of the chronically ill patients at the center of care. It is recommended that healthcare professionals implement digital alternatives for touchpoints. Most chronically ill patients consider digital alternatives to lead to more efficient interactions with their healthcare professionals. Furthermore, digital alternatives support patients to be better informed about the progress of their chronical illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lint yields and their underlying yield components can be substantially influenced by genotype and environment. Thus, the objectives of the current study were to quantify genotypic and environmental contributions to lint yield, yield components, and fiber quality in multi‐site variety trials conducted in Arkansas over a 19‐year period, to identify the traits most strongly associated with lint yield, and to quantify long‐term trends in the aforementioned traits. Annual assessments included lint yield, seeds per hectare (SPH), intra‐boll yield components, and fiber quality parameters. Production environment accounted for a higher percentage of all yield variability in 15 out of 19 years. However, four years were identified in which genotypic contributions were greater than environmental contributions. Genotype was a dominant driver of variability in lint percent, lint index, seed score, seed index, fibers per seed, fiber density, fiber length, strength, and uniformity. Production environment was the dominant driver of variability in SPH, and micronaire. Correlations between yield components and yield varied substantially from year to year, even when genotype was the primary yield driver. A regression function that utilized lint index and SPH was a stronger and more consistent indicator of genotypic variation in lint yield than any single yield component. Finally, long‐term trends show that lint percent has increased significantly over the past 19 years, whereas seed index has declined 19.6% for cotton varieties with the highest lint yields. Core Ideas: Production environment was the main factor influencing lint yield variability, seeds per hectare, and micronaire.Genotype was dominant driver of variability in lint index, seed score, seed index, fiber density, and fibers per seed.A two‐trait function was developed that was a strong predictor of genotypic variability in yield.Lint index has increased significantly (5.3%) over the past 19 years.Seed index for the highest‐yielding genotypes has decreased 19.6% in 19 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese mahogany (Toona sinensis) is of considerable medical and economic importance, and its genome has been deciphered. However, the process underlying its polyploidy is unclear, and the chromosomal evolutionary trajectory is poorly understood. Here, by reanalysing the T. sinensis genome, we found evidence of a tetraploidization event (T. sinensis special tetraploidization, TST) that occurred approximately 15e17 million years ago (MYA) after the core eudicot-common hexaploidization (ECH or gamma) event. We characterized the synonymous nucleotide substitution rates (Ks values) of collinear genes and found that T. sinensis genes affected by the TST evolve at a slower rate than Acer yangbiense genes. Furthermore, we identified homologous genes related to polyploidization and speciation and constructed multiple alignments with different reference genomes. Notably, the significant balance of gene retention and loss characterized in the two TST-derived subgenomes suggests an autopolyploid nature of the TST. Moreover, we deduced the chromosomal karyotypes of the two subgenomes and identified 7 chromosomal fusions that have shaped the T. sinensis genome; more information is available on a newly constructed karyotype platform (http://www.cgrpoee.top/Toona_sinensis/index.html). The T. sinensis genome preserves the ancestral chromosome structure of dicotyledons well and could serve as a good reference for understanding genomic changes in other Meliaceae and Sapindales plants. In addition, we verified that tandem duplication and the ECH have promoted the expansion of terpene synthase (TPS) genes; conversely, the TST seems to have inhibited expansion of these genes. This present effort has clarified the polyploidy events of the T. sinensis genome, filled gaps in the history of karyotype evolution, and laid a solid foundation for further genomic studies in the Meliaceae research community and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton fiber provides the predominant plant textile in the world, and it is also a model for plant cell wall biosynthesis. The development of the single-celled cotton fiber takes place across several overlapping but discrete stages, including fiber initiation, elongation, the transition from elongation to secondary cell wall formation, cell wall thickening, and maturation and cell death. During each stage, the developing fiber undergoes a complex restructuring of genome-wide gene expression change and physiological/biosynthetic processes, which ultimately generate a strikingly elongated and nearly pure cellulose product that forms the basis of the global cotton industry. Here, we provide an overview of this developmental process focusing both on its temporal as well as evolutionary dimensions. We suggest potential avenues for further improvement of cotton as a crop plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichomes are epidermal outgrowths on plant shoots. Their roles in protecting plants against herbivores and in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites have long been recognized. Recently, studies are increasingly showing that trichomes also play important roles in water absorption and metal detoxication, with these roles having important implications for ecology, the environment, and agriculture. However, these two functions of trichomes have been largely overlooked and much remains unknown. In this review, we show that the trichomes of 37 plant species belonging to 14 plant families are involved in water absorption, while the trichomes of 33 species from 13 families are capable of sequestering metals within their trichomes. The ability of trichomes to absorb water results from their decreased hydrophobicity compared to the remainder of the leaf surface as well as the presence of special structures for collecting and absorbing water. In contrast, the metal detoxication function of trichomes results not only from the good connection of their basal cells to the underlying vascular tissues, but also from the presence of metal‐chelating ligands and transporters within the trichomes themselves. Knowledge gaps and critical future research questions regarding these two trichome functions are highlighted. This review improves our understanding on trichomes. Summary statement: The ability of trichomes to absorb water and detoxify metals has important implications for plant growth, ecology, the environment, and agriculture. This review discusses the occurrence, mechanisms, and consequences of water absorption and metal detoxication by trichomes. Critical future research directions regarding these two functions of trichomes are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of climate change resilient crops is conducive to meeting the increasing threat of supporting the growing world population. Polyploidy occupies an important position in angiosperm evolution, as a key factor that shapes plant biodiversity, growth vigor, environmental adaptation, and emerging chemical compounds. In this review, we outlined the development and application of creating new allopolyploids using sexual and asexual approaches and their potential benefits and problems. We described how polyploidization caused strict genome modification at cytogenetic, genetic, and epigenetic levels with emphasis on the latest update on genome assembly of newly synthesized allopolyploids. Despite the success in creating new allopolyploids in many genera, it occasionally gave rise to undesirable traits to impact the utilization of newly synthetic allopolyploids. Recent developments in the de novo domestication of wild species through genome editing provide a route to create new crops to secure the global food supply. Following the strategy, de novo improvement of newly synthetic allopolyploids using genome editing could be galvanized to rapidly improve newly synthesized allopolyploids to meet agriculture demands and enable plant breeders to keep pace with global changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an important oilseed and edible legume, are widely grown worldwide. The R2R3-MYB transcription factor, one of the largest gene families in plants, is involved in various plant developmental processes and responds to multiple stresses. In this study we identified 196 typical R2R3-MYB genes in the genome of cultivated peanut. Comparative phylogenetic analysis with Arabidopsis divided them into 48 subgroups. The motif composition and gene structure independently supported the subgroup delineation. Collinearity analysis indicated polyploidization, tandem, and segmental duplication were the main driver of the R2R3-MYB gene amplification in peanut. Homologous gene pairs between the two subgroups showed tissue specific biased expression. In addition, a total of 90 R2R3-MYB genes showed significant differential expression levels in response to waterlogging stress. Furthermore, we identified an SNP located in the third exon region of AdMYB03-18 (AhMYB033) by association analysis, and the three haplotypes of the SNP were significantly correlated with total branch number (TBN), pod length (PL) and root-shoot ratio (RS ratio), respectively, revealing the potential function of AdMYB03-18 (AhMYB033) in improving peanut yield. Together, these studies provide evidence for functional diversity in the R2R3-MYB genes and will contribute to understanding the function of R2R3-MYB genes in peanut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Poaceae, or grasses, include many agriculturally important cereal crops such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Barley is a widely grown cereal crop used for stock feed, malting and brewing. Abiotic stresses, particularly global warming, are the major causes of crop yield losses by affecting fertility and seed set. However, effects of heat stress on reproductive structures and fertility in barley have not been extensively investigated. In this study we examined three commercial European spring barley varieties under high temperature conditions to investigate the effects on floret development. Using a combination of fertility assays, X-ray micro computed tomography, 3-dimensional modelling, cytology and immunolabelling, we observed that male reproductive organs are severely impacted by increased temperature, while the female reproductive organs are less susceptible. Importantly, the timing of stress relative to reproductive development had a significant impact on fertility in a cultivar-dependent manner, this was most significant at pollen mitosis stage with fertility ranged from 31.6-56.0% depending on cultivar. This work provides insight into how heat stress, when applied during male pollen mother cell meiosis and pollen mitosis, affects barley fertility and seed set, and also describes complementary invasive and non-invasive techniques to investigate floret development. This information will be used to identify and study barley cultivars that are less susceptible to heat stress at specific stages of floral development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Xyloglucan, an important hemicellulose, plays a crucial role in maintaining cell wall structure and cell elongation. However, the effects of xyloglucan on cotton fiber development are not well understood. GhMUR3 encodes a xyloglucan galactosyltransferase that is essential for xyloglucan synthesis and is highly expressed during fiber elongation. In this study, we report that GhMUR3 participates in cotton fiber development under the regulation of GhMYB30. Overexpression GhMUR3 affects the fiber elongation and cell wall thickening. Transcriptome showed that the expression of genes involved in secondary cell wall synthesis was prematurely activated in OE-MUR3 lines. In addition, GhMYB30 was identified as a key regulator of GhMUR3 by Y1H, Dual-Luc, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) assays. GhMYB30 directly bound the GhMUR3 promoter and activated GhMUR3 expression. Furthermore, DAP-seq of GhMYB30 was performed to identify its target genes in the whole genome. The results showed that many target genes were associated with fiber development, including cell wall synthesis-related genes, BR-related genes, reactive oxygen species pathway genes, and VLCFA synthesis genes. It was demonstrated that GhMYB30 may regulate fiber development through multiple pathways. Additionally, GhMYB46 was confirmed to be a target gene of GhMYB30 by EMSA, and GhMYB46 was significantly increased in GhMYB30-silenced lines, indicating that GhMYB30 inhibited GhMYB46 expression. Overall, these results revealed that GhMUR3 under the regulation of GhMYB30 and plays an essential role in cotton fiber elongation and secondary wall thickening. Additionally, GhMYB30 plays an important role in the regulation of fiber development and regulates fiber secondary wall synthesis by inhibiting the expression of GhMYB46., (© 2023 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Levulinic acid (LA) was discovered in 1875 by heating candy with concentrated acid. Since then, it has been generated in a variety of ways from commercial sugars and their products in-cluding glucose, fructose, cellulose, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF), maleic anhydride and furfuryl alcohol. However, the concern of food security has led to search for sustainable feedstock for the production of LA such as biomass. Although the use of biomass as substrate for LA synthesis offer various advantages, however, the shift to a bioeconomy remains difficult due to the several contributing variables that must be addressed, as detailed in this review. Various catalysts, including homogeneous, heterogeneous, and ionic liquids, have been employed in the development of an ecologically acceptable and lucrative method for producing LA from biomass. This study examines the literature on LA production from 1875 to 2021, what has been accomplished, and what ongoing obstacles exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: It is well established that intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and blood 25(OH) D levels have an impact on bone mineral density (BMD). There are few Indian statistics relevant to the aforementioned finding. In this study, we looked at the correlations between intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum 25(OH)D levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of patients from India. Methodology: Individuals with low BMD at the hip or lumbar spine, whether or not they had fragility fractures, underwent clinical evaluations and laboratory tests. From BMD-DEXA, hip and spine T-scores were generated (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). The associations between serum 25(OH) D, iPTH, and BMD were examined using multivariate regression models. Results: A total of 102 patients were enrolled in the study, with a male to female ratio of 38:64 and a mean age of 62.5 6.4 years. Osteopenia affected 44 people. There was osteoporosis in 58 individuals. Serum 25(OH)D and iPTH levels were, respectively, mean values of 21.3 0.5 ng/ml and 53.1 22.3 pg/ml. Vitamin D deficiency was confirmed in 84.3% of patients by blood 25(OH)D levels that were below 30 ng/ml (normal range: 30-74 ng/ml). 25(OH) D levels and BMD at the hip or lumbar spine did not correlate (P = 0.473 and 0.353, respectively). iPTH levels, male gender, body mass index (BMI), and age were discovered to be significant predictors of BMD at both the hip and lumbar spine. BMD and Tscore were considerably decreased in patients with increased BMI. Conclusion: There was no correlation between serum 25(OH) D levels and BMD among our group of patients with poor BMD. However, at serum 25(OH) D concentrations below 30 ng/ml, there is a negative connection between iPTH and 25(OH) D. A substantial inverse relationship between BMD at the hip and lumbar spine and serum iPTH levels was observed. Our results highlight the crucial part that parathyroid hormone plays in the health and metabolism of bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectopic thyroid is a rare condition most often found at the base of the tongue, lingual thyroid (LT). The majority of patients are asymptomatic. Recently, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as an option for definitive treatment. Here, we present a 20-year-old patient with symptomatic LT, treated with TORS-assisted surgery without adverse events and with depletion of symptoms. We advocate TORS as a very promising means to be considered when encountering the rare condition of symptomatic LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wellbore scaling is a complex and one of the common problems encountered during the depletion of an oilfield. Many studies have been conducted on general scale mechanisms, scale predictions, and removal measurements. However, the detailed study of the scaling characteristics and mechanisms in Huanjiang oilfield is limited. The objective of this work is to investigate the scaling mechanisms and characteristics to provide guidance for scale inhibitor selection, synthesis, and testing in the Huanjiang oilfield. Ion chromatography (IC) was used to test the composition of 100 water samples, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized to analyze the composition of 120 wellbore scale samples that were collected from the Huanjiang oilfield. The results show that the water types of formation and groundwater are CaCl2 and Na2SO4, respectively. The oil wells produced from Chang 4 + 5 , Chang 6, and Chang 8 reservoir layers in the development of Yanchang group are mainly calcium-based scale (CaCO3 and CaSO4), supplemented by wax deposition scale, corrosion scale, and NaCl and KCl crystal scale. In contrast, the oil wells in Yan'an group (Yan 6, Yan 7, Yan 8, Yan 9, and Yan 10 reservoir layers) are mainly wax deposition scale and corrosion scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the health-related quality of life and associated factors among type 2 diabetic patients in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2019. Patients and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 415 type 2 diabetic patients coming to receive their routine outpatient follow-up service during the study period, from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2019, in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northern Ethiopia. The EQ-5D-3L instrument was used to assess the patients' self-reported health status and a multivariable ordinal logistic regression model was used to determine the independent factors associated with the health-related quality of life and P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Results: The total mean quality of life score was 0.73 ± 0.23 with the total quality-adjusted life year of 2172.60 per life years and an average of 7.4 years of follow-up with type 2 diabetic treatments. Quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients with level two and three anxious patients were 77% and almost three times more likely to be affected than level one anxious patients (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.23– 1.86) and (AOR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.24– 2.84) respectively. Older age, occupational status, lower monthly income, long waiting time, and presence of diabetic complications were significantly associated with impaired health-related quality of life. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a relatively low health status among type 2 diabetic patients. Quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients was mostly affected in the anxiety and depression component. It could be worthwhile if hospitals assign psychiatric professionals for the regular and effective counseling of diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane bagasse is an inexpensive and eco-friendly natural biosorbent for the removal of various organic pollutants. The adsorption of Remazol Brilliant Violet-5R (RBV-5R) dye on sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was studied. Biosorbent was characterized using EDX and FTIR. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as pH, biosorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contact time, adsorption with shaking and without shaking, and the temperature, was optimized. At pH 6, maximum biosorption of 92.22% was achieved using 0.15 g of SCB. The equilibrium was attained within 30–40 min for the removal of RBV-5R. The initial dye concentration of 10 µg/mL was determined as an optimum concentration for maximum removal of RBV-5R at 30 °C. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applied, and it was found that the biosorption of RBV-5R follows Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Kinetic studies were also carried out and it was found that the proposed method followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.98). From desorption study, it was found that maximum desorption in the increasing order was obtained using ethanol, methanol, and 0.2 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The biosorption study was applied to actual textile waste effluent to pave way for the practical usage of this technology on a larger scale and the results were found effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the potential effect of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising on consumers' behavioral intentions in relation to a medical issue. Using an online experiment, 1295 people were randomized to two information conditions. One group watched an advertisement for a hypothetical cold sore medicine, while a second (control) group did not view the advertisement, before both groups answered questions on symptoms. The responses were analyzed based on group allocation and the respondents' experience with cold sores. Results indicate that those who viewed the advertisement were more likely to choose the product, and the advertisement had larger effects based on consumer experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide-spread chronic metabolic disease that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin levels or when the body fails to effectively use the secreted pancreatic insulin, eventually resulting in hyperglycemia. Systematic glycemic control is the only procedure at our disposal to prevent diabetes long-term complications such as cardiovascular disorders, kidney diseases, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Glycated albumin (GA) has recently gained more and more attention as a control biomarker thanks to its shorter lifespan and wider reliability compared to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), currently the "gold standard" for diabetes screening and monitoring in clinics. Various techniques such as ion exchange, liquid or affinity-based chromatography and immunoassay can be employed to accurately measure GA levels in serum samples; nevertheless, due to the cost of the lab equipment and complexity of the procedures, these methods are not commonly available at clinical sites and are not suitable to home monitoring. The present review describes the most up-to-date advances in the field of glycemic control biomarkers, exploring in particular the GA with a special focus on the recent experimental analysis techniques, using enzymatic and affinity methods. Finally, analysis steps and fundamental reading technologies are integrated into a processing pipeline, paving the way for future point-of-care testing (POCT). In this view, we highlight how this setup might be employed outside a laboratory environment to reduce the time from measurement to clinical decision, and to provide diabetic patients with a brand-new set of tools for glycemic self-monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because cotton is the most important fiber crop, the differentiation and development mechanism of cotton fiber cells has been a hot topic in cotton research. NAC (for NAM, ATAF, and CUC2) is a class of plant‐specific transcription factor families that regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Previously, we identified 33 differentially expressed NAC genes in upland cotton based on fiber‐related transcriptome profiling. In this study, we conducted chromosome localization, systematic evolution, and gene structural analysis of 242 NAC genes genome‐wide based on a high‐quality reference genome of upland cotton. In addition, the expression pattern analysis of 16 differentially expressed GhNACs was carried out by RT–PCR using ovules at early fiber initiation stages of n2 recessive naked seed mutant (n2NSM) and Xuzhou142 fuzzless–lintless mutant (Xu142fl). The results showed that GhNAC230 and GhNAC115 were most closely related to AtSND1 and downregulated in ovules of Xu142fl compared with n2NSM. Quantitative RT–PCR (qRT–PCR) analysis of GhNAC230 demonstrated its gradual accumulation from −1 days postanthesis (DPA) to 1 DPA in n2NSM and further confirmed its downregulated expression in 1 DPA ovules of Xu142fl compared to n2NSM. The current study predicted a pair of NAC genes that might be key candidate genes that are crucial for lint fiber development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is a key global fiber crop. However, yield potential is limited by the presence of endemic and introduced pests and diseases. The introduction of host plant resistance (HPR), defined as the purposeful use of resistant crop cultivars to reduce the impact of pests and diseases, has been a key breeding target for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) cotton breeding program. The program has seen success in releasing cultivars resistant to Bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and Cotton bunchy top. However, emerging biotic threats such as Black root rot and secondary pests, are becoming more frequent in Australian cotton production systems. The uptake of tools and breeding methods, such as genomic selection, high throughput phenomics, gene editing, and landscape genomics, paired with the continued utilization of sources of resistance from Gossypium germplasm, will be critical for the future of cotton breeding. This review celebrates the success of HPR breeding activities in the CSIRO cotton breeding program and maps a pathway for the future in developing resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]