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To provide the information needed for a detailed monitoring of crop types across the European Union (EU), we present an advanced 10-metre resolution map for the EU and Ukraine with 19 crop types for 2022, updating the 2018 version. Using Earth Observation (EO) and in-situ data from Eurostat's Land Use and Coverage Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) 2022, the methodology included 134,684 LUCAS Copernicus polygons, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, land surface temperature and a digital elevation model. Based on this data, two classification layers were developed using a Random Forest machine learning approach: a primary map and a gap-filling map to address cloud-covered gaps. The combined maps, covering 27 EU countries, show an overall accuracy of 79.3% for seven major land cover classes and 70.6% for all 19 crop types. The trained model was used to derive the 2022 map for Ukraine, demonstrating its robustness even in regions without labelled samples for model training., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Despite its convenience and precision, CRISPR-based gene editing approaches still suffer from off-target effects and low efficiencies, which are partially rooted in Cas9, the nuclease component of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. In this study, we showed how mouse genome editing efficiency can be improved by constitutive and inheritable expression of Cas9 nuclease. For this goal, a transgenic mouse line expressing the Cas9 protein (Cas9-mouse) was generated. For in vitro assessment of gene editing efficiency, the Cas9-mice were crossed with the EGFP-mice to obtain mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) expressing both EGFP and Cas9 (MEF Cas9-EGFP ). Transfection of these cells with in vitro transcribed (IVT) EGFP sgRNA or phU6-EGFP sgRNA plasmid led to robust decrease of Mean Fluorescent Intensity (MFI) to 8500 ± 1025 a.u. and 13,200 ± 1006 a.u. respectively. However, in the control group, in which the MEF EGFP cells were transfected with a pX330-EGFP sgRNA plasmid, the measured MFI was 16,800 ± 2254 a.u. For in vivo assessment, the Cas9-zygotes at two pronuclei stage (2PN) were microinjected with a phU6-Hhex sgRNA vector and the gene mutation efficiency was compared with the wild-type (WT) zygotes microinjected with a pX330-Hhex sgRNA plasmid. The analysis of born mice showed that while the injection of Cas9-zygotes resulted in 43.75% Hhex gene mutated mice, it was just 15.79% for the WT zygotes. In conclusion, the inheritable and constitutive expression of Cas9 in mice provides an efficient platform for gene editing, which can facilitate the production of genetically-modified cells and animals., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2021.)

Background: Adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland (AdCASG) is a rare and malignant tumor of the salivary glands. Albeit, metastatic lesions occur anecdotally in the choroid plexus and most rarely in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). We report the first case of metastatic AdCASG to the choroid plexus of the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle located in CPA, emphasizing the clinical presentation and neuroradiologic findings., Case Description: A 40-year-old man was referred with signs of increased intracranial pressure and a unilateral hearing problem. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a pear-shaped, vividly enhancing tumor in the left CPA. The tumor was a metastatic AdCASG. Gross total resection of the lesion was followed by a conventional radiotherapy lead in a 5-year tumor-free control interval., Conclusions: Metastatic lesions to the choroid plexus may show a pedunculated shape in magnetic resonance imaging. It is hypothesized that tumor seeding may occur through the veins, lymphatics, and nerve sheaths in the skull base region. Tissue specimen is necessary to confirm such rare pathology., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Animal models possess undeniable utility for progress on biomedical research projects and developmental and disease studies. Transgenic mouse models recreating specific disease phenotypes associated with β-hemoglobinopathies have been developed previously. However, traditional methods for gene targeting in mouse using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are laborious and time consuming. Recently, CRISPR has been developed to facilitate and improve genomic modifications in mouse or isogenic cell lines. Applying CRISPR to gene modification eliminates the time consuming steps of traditional approach including selection of targeted ESC clones and production of chimeric mouse. This study shows that microinjection of a plasmid DNA encoding Cas9 protein along with dual sgRNAs specific to Hbb-bs gene (hemoglobin, beta adult s chain) enables breaking target sequences at exons 2 and 3 positions. The injections led to a knockout allele with efficiency around 10% for deletion of exons 2 and 3 and 20% for indel mutation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This clinical case report describes the treatment of Class II tendency in a patient using fixed functional appliance therapy. The appliance used was the fixed flat bite plane, consisting of an incisal acrylic located palatal to the maxillary anteriors that connected to maxillary first molar bands via heavy-gauge wires. The case reviewed involves a white male, age twelve, four months at the beginning of treatment. The patient exhibited a Class II end on molar relationship skeletal pattern with an ANB of 3 degrees and corresponding incisal overjet of 2mm, with 90% overbite. At the conclusion of treatment, fixed functional bite plane therapy resulted in improved overbite, molar canine class I relationship. The results of this case suggest use of the fixed appliance can be successful in improving function, esthetics and increased stability of post treatment both dentally and skeletally in the Class II tendency patient with severe overbite with minimal patient compliance.

A total of 1619 patients, 502 males and 1117 females, ranging in age from 6.5 to 32 years old were examined. The study used a full set of radiographs, panographs, lateral cephalogram and study models to find the highest prevalence of congenitally missing teeth in class II malocclusion patients and a significant amount of missing maxillary teeth in Class III malocclusion patients.