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During the past two years, the entire world has been coping with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemics. The need for physical distancing, forced an accelerated digital transformation of the education sector. The emergency remote education (ERE) has been manifested differently across diverse countries in the world. In this paper, we bring a case study about students’ and teachers’ impressions and experiences regarding the changes that have happened due to pandemic conditions in university courses in informatics at a Swedish university. This research is conducted through a mix of quantitative and qualitative empirical data. These data have been collected through the students surveys, course logs, as well as teachers and ICT pedagogue interviews. The collected data have been analyzed through the technology-mediated learning (TML) theoretical framework. Based on the thematic analysis on the collected data, we have identified three main themes: a) Preparedness, b) Challenges with ERE and c) Opportunities with ERE. As a result, through analyzing data in the light of the ERE experiences that encompasses the educational process, affordance, and beliefs, knowledge, and practices, we provide a set of lessons-learned experiences and indicate the possible lines of actions when it comes to the learning design in the constrained pandemic situations.

Introduction: Chronic diets high in saturated fat (SF) and omega-6-fatty acids (O6FAs) elevate fasting triglycerides (TRGs) and glucose (GLU). Postprandial TRGs, GLU, and Metabolic Load Index (MLI) are better predictors of disease risk compared to fasting levels alone. Conversely, diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) may be cardioprotective. Unfortunately, many existing postprandial studies are not standardized to body weight and given in an amount individuals would typically consume in their daily lives; the MLI is not calculated, and varying types of fat content are not examined. Therefore, we sought to determine whether SF, O3FAs, or O6FAs altered postprandial TRGs, GLU, and MLI from a standardized mixed meal. Methods: Fifteen individuals (6 M and 9 F) visited the laboratory three times, separated by at least 48 h, to consume HFM smoothies with varying FA composition (SF, high O6FAs, and high O3FAs). The smoothies were standardized to 12 kcal/kg body weight, 63% total fat, and 0.72 g/kg sugar. TRGs and GLU were collected at baseline and at 2 h and 4 h postprandially; the MLI was calculated by summing the TRG and GLU responses at each time point. Results: There was a significant increase in TRGs across time points (p < 0.001). For TRGs, there was a trend toward a significant interaction between smoothie type and time (p = 0.06) due to the increase in TRGs in the SF compared to the O3FA smoothie. There was an increase in postprandial GLU that varied across smoothie types (p = 0.036). Taken together, the MLI was elevated in the SF smoothie compared to the O3FAs at 2 h (p = 0.041). Conclusion: A SF smoothie in the morning elevated the metabolic load compared to an O3FA smoothie. Mechanisms of action in the competing clearance of TRGs and GLU warrant further investigation.

Vascular wilt bacteria such as Pantoea stewartii, the causal agent of Stewart’s bacterial wilt of maize (SW), are destructive pathogens that are difficult to control. These bacteria colonize the xylem, where they form biofilms that block sap flow leading to characteristic wilting symptoms. Heritable forms of SW resistance exist and are used in maize breeding programs but the underlying genes and mechanisms are mostly unknown. Here, we show that seedlings of maize inbred lines with pan1 mutations are highly resistant to SW. However, current evidence suggests that other genes introgressed along with pan1 are responsible for resistance. Genomic analyses of pan1 lines were used to identify candidate resistance genes. In-depth comparison of P. stewartii interaction with susceptible and resistant maize lines revealed an enhanced vascular defense response in pan1 lines characterized by accumulation of electron-dense materials in xylem conduits visible by electron microscopy. We propose that this vascular defense response restricts P. stewartii spread through the vasculature, reducing both systemic bacterial colonization of the xylem network and consequent wilting. Though apparently unrelated to the resistance phenotype of pan1 lines, we also demonstrate that the effector WtsE is essential for P. stewartii xylem dissemination, show evidence for a nutritional immunity response to P. stewartii that alters xylem sap composition, and present the first analysis of maize transcriptional responses to P. stewartii infection.

To date, most neurophysiological dance research has been conducted exclusively with female participants in observational studies (i.e., participants observe or imagine a dance choreography). In this regard, the sex-specific acute neurophysiological effect of physically executed dance can be considered a widely unexplored field of research. This study examines the acute impact of a modern jazz dance choreography on brain activity and functional connectivity using electroencephalography (EEG). In a within-subject design, 11 female and 11 male participants were examined under four test conditions: physically dancing the choreography with and without music and imagining the choreography with and without music. Prior to the EEG measurements, the participants acquired the choreography over 3 weeks with one session per week. Subsequently, the participants conducted all four test conditions in a randomized order on a single day, with the EEG measurements taken before and after each condition. Differences between the male and female participants were established in brain activity and functional connectivity analyses under the condition of imagined dance without music. No statistical differences between sexes were found in the other three conditions (physically executed dance with and without music as well as imagined dance with music). Physically dancing and music seem to have sex-independent effects on the human brain. However, thinking of dance without music seems to be rather sex-specific. The results point to a promising approach to decipher sex-specific differences in the use of dance or music. This approach could further be used to achieve a more group-specific or even more individualized and situationally adapted use of dance interventions, e.g., in the context of sports, physical education, or therapy. The extent to which the identified differences are due to culturally specific attitudes in the sex-specific contact with dance and music needs to be clarified in future research.

Maize is one of the major crops in the world; however, diseases caused by various pathogens seriously affect its yield and quality. The maize Rp1-D21 mutant (mt) caused by the intragenic recombination between two nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins, exhibits autoactive hypersensitive response (HR). In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in Rp1-D21 mt compared to the wild type (WT). Genes involved in pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) were enriched among the DEGs. The salicylic acid (SA) pathway and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway were induced at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. The DAMs identified included lipids, flavones, and phenolic acids, including 2,5-DHBA O-hexoside, the production of which is catalyzed by uridinediphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferase (UGT). Four maize UGTs (ZmUGTs) homologous genes were among the DEGs. Functional analysis by transient co-expression in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that ZmUGT9250 and ZmUGT5174, but not ZmUGT9256 and ZmUGT8707, partially suppressed the HR triggered by Rp1-D21 or its N-terminal coiled-coil signaling domain (CCD21). None of the four ZmUGTs interacted physically with CCD21 in yeast two-hybrid or co-immunoprecipitation assays. We discuss the possibility that ZmUGTs might be involved in defense response by regulating SA homeostasis.

The purpose of the present study was to determine fasting and high-fat meal (HFM)-induced post-prandial systemic inflammation and airway inflammation (exhaled nitric oxide (eNO)) in older adults (OAs) compared to younger adults (YAs) before and after acute exercise. Twelve YAs (23.3 ± 3.9 y n = 5 M/7 F) and 12 OAs (67.7 ± 6 y, n = 8 M/4 F) completed two HFM challenges. After an overnight fast, participants underwent an HFM session or pre-prandial exercise (EX, 65% VO2Peak to expend 75% of the caloric content of the HFM) plus HFM (EX + HFM) in a randomized order. Systemic inflammatory cytokines were collected at 0, 3, and 6 h, while eNO was determined at 0, 2, and 4 h after the HFM (12 kcal/kg body weight: 61% fat, 35% CHO, 4% PRO). TNF-α was higher in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.005) and decreased across time from baseline to 6 h post-HFM (p = 0.007). In response to the HFM, IL-6 decreased from 0 to 3 h but increased at 6 h regardless of age or exercise (p = 0.018). IL-8 or IL-1β did not change over the HFM by age or exercise (p > 0.05). eNO was also elevated in OAs compared to YAs (p = 0.003) but was not altered by exercise (p = 0.108). There was a trend, however, towards significance post-prandially in OAs and YAs from 0 to 2 h (p = 0.072). TNF-α and eNO are higher in OAs compared to YAs but are not elevated more in OAs post-prandially compared to YAs. Primary systemic inflammatory cytokines and eNO were not modified by acute exercise prior to an HFM.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the larval form of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. In humans, E. alveolaris metacestode cells proliferate in the liver inducing a hepatic disorder that mimics liver cancer and can spread to other organs. From 1960 to 1972 mortality was at 70% and 94% after 5 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. Since then, studies have shown an increasing trend towards improving survival rates [1]. As AE is also spreading to new areas of Eastern Europe, researchers seek to better understand the clinical presentation of pathology, including asymptomatic forms. Clinical case; One 36-year-old woman from Peshkopia has been admitted to the Gastrohephatology department on 20.07.2011 with fatigue, anorexia, dull pain in right hypochondrium, mild epigastric pain, bloating, and weight loss. The epidemiological anamnesis showed that the patient lived in the village and had pets. On physical examination, the patient appeared severely ill with jaundice, massive hepatomegaly, massive mass in the mesogastric area, and anxiety. Laboratory examinations were as follows: Hb 11.1 g/dl, sediment 25 mm/h; leukocytes 6700/mm3; platelets 127000/mm3; prothrombin level 60%, uremia 12.7 mmol/l; creatinine 0.78 mmol /l; ALP 127 U/I; AST 15 U/I; ALT 37 U/I; GGT 131 U/I; bilirubin 3.7 mg/l, albumin 2.8 gr / l, total protein 8.1 gr / l, HbsAg negative, anti-HCV negative. Regarding serology, the titer of anti-echinococcal antibodies was positive (22, n = 11) Conclusions: Clinical presentation and radiologic imaging findings of disseminated alveolar echinococcosis can mimic metastatic malignancy, and diagnosis can be challenging in atypically advanced cases. As the incidence of human alveolar echinococcosis appears to be increasing and, physicians should be aware of alveolar echinococcosis, its epidemiology, and its clinical features.

Homeologue expression bias occurs when one progenitor copy of a gene is expressed at a higher level than the other in allopolyploids. Morphological variation, including differences in flower colour, exists between natural and synthetic allopolyploids of Nicotiana tabacum and their progenitors. In this study, we use a comparative transcriptomic approach to investigate gene expression differences as well as homeologue bias in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (FBP) in these accessions. We do not observe reciprocal homeologue bias between dark and light pink allopolyploids, but the production of light pink flowers is correlated with high FLAVONOL SYNTHASE:DIHYDROFLAVONOL-4-REDUCTASE (FLS:DFR) ratio at 60% of anthesis length due to delayed activation of DFR in these accessions. We do find that natural allopolyploids have stronger homeologue bias than synthetic allopolyploids in both FBP genes and across the transcriptome. While there is no overall subgenome dominance, there is a bias towards expression of N. tomentosiformis homeologues in FBP genes; however, the magnitude of this bias is reduced in allopolyploids compared to the progenitors, suggesting that N. sylvestris homeologues play an active role in the development of flower colour in N. tabacum allopolyploids. In addition, synthetic allopolyploids tend to exhibit trans regulation of homeologues whereas natural allopolyploids often have evolved cis -regulatory differences between homeologues since their origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Leaf Blight, Northern Leaf Blight, and Gray Leaf Spot, caused by ascomycete fungi, are among the most important foliar diseases of maize worldwide. Previously, disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) for all three diseases were identified in a connected set of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations designed for the identification of disease resistance QTL. Some QTL for different diseases co-localized, indicating the presence of multiple disease resistance (MDR) QTL. The goal of this study was to perform an independent test of several of the MDR QTL identified to confirm their existence and derive a more precise estimate of allele additive and dominance effects. Twelve F2:3 family populations were produced, in which selected QTL were segregating in an otherwise uniform genetic background. The populations were assessed for each of the three diseases in replicated trials and genotyped with markers previously associated with disease resistance. Pairwise phenotypic correlations across all the populations for resistance to the three diseases ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 and were all significant at the alpha level of 0.01. Of the 44 QTL tested, 16 were validated (identified at the same genomic location for the same disease or diseases) and several novel QTL/disease associations were found. Two MDR QTL were associated with resistance to all three diseases. This study identifies several potentially important MDR QTL and demonstrates the importance of independently evaluating QTL effects following their initial identification.

Abstract Background The hypersensitive defense response (HR) in plants is a fast, localized necrotic response around the point of pathogen ingress. HR is usually triggered by a pathogen recognition event mediated by a nucleotide-binding site, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein. The autoactive maize NLR gene Rp1-D21 confers a spontaneous HR response in the absence of pathogen recognition. Previous work identified a set of loci associated with variation in the strength of Rp1-D21-induced HR. A polygalacturonase gene homolog, here termed ZmPGH1, was identified as a possible causal gene at one of these loci on chromosome 7. Results Expression of ZmPGH1 inhibited the HR-inducing activity of both Rp1-D21 and that of another autoactive NLR, RPM1(D505V), in a Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression assay system. Overexpression of ZmPGH1 in a transposon insertion line of maize was associated with suppression of chemically-induced programmed cell death and with suppression of HR induced by Rp1-D21 in maize plants grown in the field. Conclusions ZmPGH1 functions as a suppressor of programmed cell death induced by at least two autoactive NLR proteins and by two chemical inducers. These findings deepen our understanding of the control of the HR in plants.

Research purpose. This paper aims at identifying and evaluating the means of communication used and the perceived barriers from employees of the banking system in Albania. The following research questions were formulated: (a) What are the means of communication used in vertical and horizontal communications? (b) Which mean is preferred and valued as the most effective? (c) Which are the barriers that hinder the effective communication flow in these organizations?

Abstract Background Polyploidy has played a major role in angiosperm evolution. Previous studies have examined polyploid phenotypes in comparison to their extant progenitors, but not in context of predicted progenitor phenotypes at allopolyploid origin. In addition, differences in the trends of polyploid versus diploid evolution have not been investigated. We use ancestral character-state reconstructions to estimate progenitor phenotype at allopolyploid origin to determine patterns of polyploid evolution leading to morphology of the extant species. We also compare trends in diploid versus allopolyploid evolution to determine if polyploidy modifies floral evolutionary patterns. Results Predicting the ancestral phenotype of a nascent allopolyploid from reconstructions of diploid phenotypes at the time of polyploid formation generates different phenotype predictions than when extant diploid phenotypes are used, the outcome of which can alter conclusions about polyploid evolution; however, most analyses yield the same results. Using ancestral reconstructions of diploid floral phenotypes indicate that young polyploids evolve shorter, wider corolla tubes, but older polyploids and diploids do not show any detectable evolutionary trends. Lability of the traits examined (floral shape, corolla tube length, and corolla tube width) differs across young and older polyploids and diploids. Corolla length is more evolutionarily labile in older polyploids and diploids. Polyploids do not display unique suites of floral characters based on both morphological and color traits, but some suites of characters may be evolving together and seem to have arisen multiple times within Nicotiana, perhaps due to the influence of pollinators. Conclusions Young polyploids display different trends in floral evolution (shorter, wider corolla tubes, which may result in more generalist pollination) than older polyploids and diploids, suggesting that patterns of divergence are impacted by the early consequences of allopolyploidy, perhaps arising from genomic shock and/or subsequent genome stabilization associated with diploidization. Convergent evolution in floral morphology and color in Nicotiana can be consistent with pollinator preferences, suggesting that pollinators may have shaped floral evolution in Nicotiana.

Our investigation consists to evaluate the effects that microwave heating (5 min at 1100 W) and conventional heating (18 min at 180 °C and 20 min at 250 °C) have on margarine and butter samples. The finally experimental results showed oxidations of margarine and butter samples during conventional heating which is in contrast with microwave heating for both treated samples used ratio of characteristic FTIR absorbances used as indicator of oxidation level. Significant increases in intensity of FTIR vibrations which corresponding with imine group in region from 1690-1640 cm–1 were compared after conventional oven heating, showing that there do not have any increase intensity in this region of spectra. Otherwise, microwave heating different impact has on evaporation of polar ingredients such as water in margarine samples compare with several butter which contain low level of water but evaporation is happened easy which is coming from different type of interaction of between microwave and water and this type of energy can’t be transfer all in water molecule and to initiate evaporation. Therefore, the degradation of margarine and butter samples can be accurately measured using FTIR spectroscopy as a green, sensitive and not expensive method of analysis

Abstract Background A G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the noncoding region of C9orf72 is the major genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (c9FTD/ALS). Putative disease mechanisms underlying c9FTD/ALS include toxicity from sense G4C2 and antisense G2C4 repeat-containing RNA, and from dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins unconventionally translated from these RNA products. Methods Intracerebroventricular injections with adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding 2 or 149 G4C2 repeats were performed on postnatal day 0, followed by assessment of behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes. Results Relative to control mice, gliosis and neurodegeneration accompanied by cognitive and motor deficits were observed in (G4C2)149 mice by 6 months of age. Recapitulating key pathological hallmarks, we also demonstrate that sense and antisense RNA foci, inclusions of poly(GA), poly(GP), poly(GR), poly(PR), and poly(PA) DPR proteins, and inclusions of endogenous phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) developed in (G4C2)149 mice but not control (G4C2)2 mice. Notably, proteins that play a role in the regulation of stress granules – RNA-protein assemblies that form in response to translational inhibition and that have been implicated in c9FTD/ALS pathogenesis – were mislocalized in (G4C2)149 mice as early as 3 months of age. Specifically, we observed the abnormal deposition of stress granule components within inclusions immunopositive for poly(GR) and pTDP-43, as well as evidence of nucleocytoplasmic transport defects. Conclusions Our in vivo model of c9FTD/ALS is the first to robustly recapitulate hallmark features derived from both sense and antisense C9orf72 repeat-associated transcripts complete with neurodegeneration and behavioral impairments. More importantly, the early appearance of persistent pathological stress granules prior to significant pTDP-43 deposition implicates an aberrant stress granule response as a key disease mechanism driving TDP-43 proteinopathy in c9FTD/ALS.

Southern Leaf Blight (SLB), Northern Leaf Blight (NLB), and Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) caused by Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Setosphaeria turcica, and Cercospora zeae-maydis respectively, are among the most important diseases of corn worldwide. Previously, moderately high and significantly positive genetic correlations between resistance levels to each of these diseases were identified in a panel of 253 diverse maize inbred lines. The goal of this study was to identify loci underlying disease resistance in some of the most multiple disease resistant (MDR) lines by the creation of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations in multiple disease susceptible (MDS) backgrounds. Four MDR lines (NC304, NC344, Ki3, NC262) were used as donor parents and two MDS lines (Oh7B, H100) were used as recurrent parents to produce eight BC3F4:5 CSSL populations comprising 1,611 lines in total. Each population was genotyped and assessed for each disease in replicated trials in two environments. Moderate to high heritabilities on an entry mean basis were observed (0.32 to 0.83). Several lines in each population were significantly more resistant than the MDS parental lines for each disease. Multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) for disease resistance were detected for each disease in most of the populations. Seventeen QTL were associated with variation in resistance to more than one disease (SLB/NLB: 2; SLB/GLS: 7; NLB/GLS: 2 and 6 to all three diseases). For most populations and most disease combinations, significant correlations were observed between disease scores and also between marker effects for each disease. The number of lines that were resistant to more than one disease was significantly higher than would be expected by chance. Using the results from individual QTL analyses, a composite statistic based on Mahalanobis distance (Md) was used to identify joint marker associations with multiple diseases. Across all populations and diseases, 246 markers had significant Md values. However further analysis revealed that most of these associations were due to strong QTL effects on a single disease. Together, these findings reinforce our previous conclusions that loci associated with resistance to different diseases are clustered in the genome more often than would be expected by chance. Nevertheless true MDR loci which have significant effects on more than one disease are still much rarer than loci with single disease effects.

Abstract Pathogenic mutations in the tau gene (microtubule associated protein tau, MAPT) are linked to the onset of tauopathy, but the A152T variant is unique in acting as a risk factor for a range of disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In order to provide insight into the mechanism by which A152T modulates disease risk, we developed a novel mouse model utilizing somatic brain transgenesis with adeno-associated virus (AAV) to drive tau expression in vivo, and validated the model by confirming the distinct biochemical features of A152T tau in postmortem brain tissue from human carriers. Specifically, TauA152T-AAV mice exhibited increased tau phosphorylation that unlike animals expressing the pathogenic P301L mutation remained localized to the soluble fraction. To investigate the possibility that the A152T variant might alter the phosphorylation state of tau on T152 or the neighboring T153 residue, we generated a novel antibody that revealed significant accumulation of soluble tau species that were hyperphosphorylated on T153 (pT153) in TauA152T-AAV mice, which were absent the soluble fraction of TauP301L-AAV mice. Providing new insight into the role of A152T in modifying risk of tauopathy, as well as validating the TauA152T-AAV model, we demonstrate that the presence of soluble pT153-positive tau species in human postmortem brain tissue differentiates A152T carriers from noncarriers, independent of disease classification. These results implicate both phosphorylation of T153 and an altered solubility profile in the mechanism by which A152T modulates disease risk.