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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in regulating numerous functions in organisms. Among the key regulators of ROS production are NADPH oxidases, primarily referred to as respiratory burst oxidase homologues (RBOHs). However, our understanding of whether and how pathogens directly target RBOHs has been limited. In this study, we revealed that the effector protein RipBJ, originating from the phytopathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum, was present in low‐ to medium‐virulence strains but absent in high‐virulence strains. Functional genetic assays demonstrated that the expression of ripBJ led to a reduction in bacterial infection. In the plant, RipBJ expression triggered plant cell death and the accumulation of H2O2, while also enhancing host defence against R. solanacearum by modulating multiple defence signalling pathways. Through protein interaction and functional studies, we demonstrated that RipBJ was associated with the plant's plasma membrane and interacted with the tomato RBOH known as SlWfi1, which contributed positively to RipBJ's effects on plants. Importantly, SlWfi1 expression was induced during the early stages following R. solanacearum infection and played a key role in defence against this bacterium. This research uncovers the plant RBOH as an interacting target of a pathogen's effector, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms of plant defence. Summary Statement: This study demonstrates that a tomato plasma membrane‐bound NADPH oxidase is a direct interactor of a bacterial effector protein to mediate plant defence, providing important new information on the interplay between this devastating pathogen and its host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the consistency between objective indicators and subjective perceptions of quality of life in a ranking of survey data for cities and counties in Taiwan. Data used for analysis included the Statistical Yearbook of Hsiens and Municipalities and the Survey on Living Conditions of Citizens in Taiwan, both given for the year 2000. The Quality of life was examined in seven domains: medical services, domestic finances, work, education, leisure, public safety, and environmental quality. Subjective and objective rankings for each domain of quality of life for 23 areas (some areas are cities and some are counties) are compared. Analysis by means of nonparametric correlation coefficients indicates that there is no significant correlation between objective indicators and subjective perceptions, except in Education and Environmental Quality. Objective indicators of Environmental Quality (air pollution and garbage) are positively correlated with subjective satisfaction with residential environment. But inexplicably, higher levels of literacy and educational achievement are negatively correlated with satisfaction with the educational system. It may be considered that disparity in either average objective conditions or in average subjective perceptions may not adequately depict quality of life differences.

This paper examines the scalability of intimacy permissiveness measures in Taiwan by using island-wide survey data. Among models for scaling analysis, the Guttman scaling model and two latent class models--the latent-distance model and Goodman's scale model--were employed to examine the scalability of the scale measures. The data were drawn from the 2002 Taiwan Social Change Survey (Questionnaire No. 2), conducted by Academia Sinica. A total of 1983 completed interviews were obtained. This study found that the measures of intimacy permissiveness scale (IPS) were able to form a reasonable Guttman-type scale based on three scaling models. In order to understand whether the attitudinal patterns of Taiwanese toward premarital intimacy permissiveness, particularly the existence of sexual double standards, are consistent with those suggested by the previous literature, we conducted multinomial logistic regression of socio-demographic variables on the scale. Gender and age differences were found consistent with previous studies and mostly reconfirmed the appropriateness of the measures of IPS designed for the Taiwan Social Change Survey.

Pei-Shan Liao (**) ABSTRACT This paper uses the interactional community approach to examine the effects of community attachment and quality of life on migration intention in rural Pennsylvania and Taiwanese [...]

ABSTRACT The hand delivery of self-administered questionnaires has been presented as an alternative for reducing non-coverage error associated with the mail method at lower cost than face-to-face interviews. This research [...]

AbstractEnvironmental problems such as climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss affect humans globally. The International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) recently released its 4th survey on environmental behavior and attitudes, measuring individuals’ views on various environmental topics. The most recent data were collected between 2020 and 2023 in 28 countries worldwide. This introduction offers an overview of the development of the questionnaire, its content, and the data collection process. It also includes some descriptive results on attitudes toward climate change, behaviors that directly impact climate change, trust in various social and political institutions, the appreciation of nature, as well as nationalism and environmentalism. It concludes with an outlook on the substantive papers in this special issue, which address different relevant environmental topics and analyze the individual and national factors influencing specific environmental views and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]