Genome-wide analysis reveals the spatiotemporal expression patterns of SOS3 genes in the maize B73 genome in response to salt stress

Background Salt damage is an important abiotic stress that affects the growth and yield of maize worldwide. As an important member of the salt overly sensitive (SOS) signal transduction pathway, the SOS3 gene family participates in the transmission of stress signals and plays a vital role in improving the salt tolerance of plants. Results In this study, we identified 59 SOS3 genes in the maize B73 genome using bioinformatics methods and genome-wide analyses. SOS3 proteins were divided into 5 different subfamilies according to the phylogenetic relationships. A close relationship between the phylogenetic classification and intron mode was observed, with most SOS3 genes in the same group sharing common motifs and similar exon-intron structures in the corresponding genes. These genes were unequally distributed on five chromosomes of B73. A total of six SOS3 genes were identified as repeated genes, and 12 pairs of genes were proven to be segmentally duplicated genes, indicating that gene duplication may play an important role in the expansion of the SOS3 gene family. The expression analysis of 10 genes that were randomly selected from different subgroups suggested that all 10 genes were significantly differentially expressed within 48 h after salt treatment, of which eight SOS3 genes showed a significant decline while Zm00001d025938 and Zm00001d049665 did not. By observing the subcellular localization results, we found that most genes were expressed in chloroplasts while some genes were expressed in the cell membrane and nucleus. Conclusions Our study provides valuable information for elucidating the evolutionary relationship and functional characteristics of the SOS3 gene family and lays the foundation for further study of the SOS3 gene family in the maize B73 genome.

Pengawasan Profesional Kepala Sekolah Dalam Meningkatan Mutu Pembelajaran

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan Pengawasan professional kepala sekolah dalam peningkatan mutu pembelajaran guru yang meliputi: (1) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah membantu guru mengatasi kesulitan mengajarnya dalam menyesuaikan dengan tuntutan perubahan baru di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo; (2) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah dalam melakukan penilaian terhadap sasaran program pengajaran yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan belajar peserta didik di MIM UnggulanKota Gorontalo; (3) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah dalam melakukan perbaikan program pengajaran yang telah direncanakan di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo; (4) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah melakukan program-program perubahan di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo; dan (5) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah melakukan evaluasi terhadap program-program pengajaran di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo.Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif dengan rancangan studi kasus yang berlokasi di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan: (1) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah membantu guru mengatasi kesulitan mengajarnya dalam menyesuaikan dengan tuntutan perubahan baru Di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo meliputi: membantu guru yang mengalami kesulitan mengajar (Menggabungkan ke group, sharing ilmu, penggunaan model, metode, dan teknik pemlelajaran), menyiapkan laptop dan LCD di kelas, penyediaan buku paket, pelatihan pembuatan video-video pembelajaran, mendesain pembelajaran yang menyenangkan, dan penyediaan jaringan listrik dan internet (WIFI) dan Indi Home; (2) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah dalam melakukan penilaian terhadap sasaran program pengajaran yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan belajar peserta didik Di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo meliputi: melakukan supervisi administrasi dan supervisi kelas, pemantauan melalui CCTV dan pemantauan langsung ke kelas, bimbingan khusus terhadap siswa-siswa yang memiliki bakat dan potensi untuk persiapan dalam mengikuti lomba; (.3) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah melakukan program-program perubahan di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo meliputi: bimbingan khusus bagi siswa yang orang tuanya ingin mengikutkan anaknya dalam bimbingan di bidang matematika, sains, tilawah, bimbingan khusus juga dilakukan bagi siswa-siswa yang memiliki keinginan sendiri, penilaian karakter siswa; (4) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah melakukan program-program perubahan di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo meliputi: kerjasama dengan sekolah, perguruan tinggi dan lembaga bimbingan belajar, raport digital, kultum setelah sholat Dzuhur, proaktif dalam mengikuti lomba-lomba, penilaian sikap berbasis IT melalui aplikasi Dojo Class, absensi online, group kelas, akun untuk guru, siswa, dan orang tua, dan program hafalan Qur’an juz 30; dan (5) upaya-upaya kepala sekolah melakukan evaluasi terhadap program-program pengajaran di MIM Unggulan Kota Gorontalo meliputi: rapat evaluasi dalam hal ini membahas tentang kendala terhadap program pengajaran yang telah direncanakan, dan kegiatan Problem Solving setiap hari Ju’mat.

Shared Flashbulb Memories lead to Identity Fusion: Recalling the Defeat in the Brexit Referendum Produces Strong Psychological Bonds among Remain Supporters

Identity fusion – a visceral feeling of oneness with a group – is thought to result from the sharing of emotional, often dysphoric, experiences. In this pre-registered longitudinal study, we address the impact of flashbulb memories of learning about the outcome of the Brexit referendum on both identity fusion and social identification. As predicted, the visceral quality of people’s flashbulb memories had a transformative effect on personal identity via processes of personal reflection and this, in turn, led to identity fusion via perceived sharedness with the group. Sharing personally transformative memories in this way did not lead to social identification, suggesting that perceived sharedness is key to identity fusion but not to social identification. Understanding how emotional public events impact personal identities and how they produce peculiar forms of group alignment have important implications for explaining and managing societal threats such as polarization and forms of political and religious extremism.

Norwegian nursing students’ experiences of theoretical and clinical studies in Tanzania: A descriptive qualitative study

Internationalization has been a priority in higher education for several decades. No studies reporting nursing students’ learning experiences from both theoretical and clinical studies in Africa were identified. The study aimed to describe learning experiences of Norwegian nursing students after participating in a study-abroad program that includes theoretical and clinical studies in Tanzania. A qualitative descriptive design was chosen. Five group interviews were carried out from 2013–2016. The students entered new ground; they were in a challenging learning process but most of all they experienced personal and professional growth. The students increased their cultural competence, enabling them to meet patients and relatives from foreign cultures more open-mindedly. Being part of a student group, sharing experiences and reflecting on these are crucial for personal and professional growth. Returning home and experiencing a kind of ‘reverse culture shock’ underlines the importance of debriefing shortly after return to their home university.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase genes related to the Fusarium head blight response in wheat

Background Lignin is one of the main components of the cell wall and is directly associated with plant development and defence mechanisms in plants, especially in response to Fusarium graminearum (Fg) infection. Caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) is the main regulator determining the efficiency of lignin synthesis and composition. Although it has been characterized in many plants, to date, the importance of the CCoAOMT family in wheat is not well understood. Results Here, a total of 21 wheat CCoAOMT genes (TaCCoAOMT) were identified through an in silico genome search method and they were classified into four groups based on phylogenetic analysis, with the members of the same group sharing similar gene structures and conserved motif compositions. Furthermore, the expression patterns and co-expression network in which TaCCoAOMT is involved were comprehensively investigated using 48 RNA-seq samples from Fg infected and mock samples of 4 wheat genotypes. Combined with qRT-PCR validation of 11 Fg-responsive TaCCoAOMT genes, potential candidates involved in the FHB response and their regulation modules were preliminarily suggested. Additionally, we investigated the genetic diversity and main haplotypes of these CCoAOMT genes in bread wheat and its relative populations based on resequencing data. Conclusions This study identified and characterized the CCoAOMT family in wheat, which not only provided potential targets for further functional analysis, but also contributed to uncovering the mechanism of lignin biosynthesis and its role in FHB tolerance in wheat and beyond.

New sphenodontian (Reptilia: Lepidosauria) from a novel Late Triassic paleobiota in western North America sheds light on the earliest radiation of herbivorous lepidosaurs

Herbivory is a common ecological function among extant lepidosaurs, but little is known about the origin of this feeding strategy within Lepidosauria. Here we describe a sphenodontian (Lepidosauria) from the Late Triassic of western North America, Trullidens purgatorii n. gen. n. sp., that reveals new aspects of the earliest radiation of herbivorous lepidosaurs. This taxon is represented by an isolated lower jaw with robust structure bearing transversely widened dentition and extensive wear facets, suggesting a masticatory apparatus specialized for herbivory. An unusual ‘incisor-like’ tooth is present at the anterior end of the jaw; a unique feature among lepidosaurs, this tooth is convergent with the incisors of extant rodents and lagomorphs. Phylogenetic analyses support the placement of this taxon within opisthodontian sphenodontians, a group sharing derived cranio-dental morphologies specialized for herbivory. The new taxon was recovered in a recently discovered and unnamed series of Upper Triassic strata in southeastern Colorado, USA, exposed in Canyons incised by the Purgatoire River and its tributaries. These strata comprise a dominantly red-bed sequence of conglomerates, sandstones, and siltstones deposited in a fluvio-lacustrine setting, preserving a Late Triassic biota of invertebrate and vertebrate ichnofossils, plant macrofossils, bony fish, temnospondyl amphibians, and reptiles. We use aetosaur osteoderms as biostratigraphic links to the nearby Chinle Formation of Arizona, USA, establishing a middle Norian age for these strata. The presence of an opisthodontian from western equatorial Pangaea in the Norian Stage reveals a near-global radiation of this clade across the Pangaean supercontinent during the Late Triassic. UUID: http://zoobank.org/A737c03f-863a-488e-a860-5cc914548774.

Sharing happy stories increases interpersonal closeness mediated by enhancing interpersonal brain synchronization

Our lives revolve around sharing stories with others. Expressing emotion (i.e., happy and sad) is an essential characteristic of sharing stories and could enhance the similarity of story comprehension across speaker–listener pairs. The Emotions as Social Information Model (EASI) suggests that emotional communication may influence interpersonal closeness, but the effect of sharing emotional (happy/sad) stories on interpersonal closeness remains poorly understood. Here, one speaker watched emotional videos and communicated the content of the videos to thirty-two listeners (happy/sad/neutral group). Both speaker and listeners’ neural activities were recorded using EEG. After listening, we assessed the interpersonal closeness between the speaker and listeners. Compared to the sad group, sharing happy stories showed a better recall quality and a higher rating of interpersonal closeness.Meanwhile, the happy group showed higher interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and temporal cortex (specifically TPJ) than the sad group. Moreover, such IBS mediated the relationship between the quality of sharing stories and interpersonal closeness, and happy emotion moderated this mediation model. The magnitude of IBS differentiated high interpersonal closeness from low interpersonal closeness. Exploratory analysis using support vector regression showed that the IBS could also predict the ratings of interpersonal closeness in left-out subjects. These results suggest that IBS could serve as an indicator of whether sharing emotional stories facilitate interpersonal closeness. These findings improve our understanding of sharing emotional information among individuals that guide behaviors during interpersonal interactions.

Environmental Microbial Contamination during Cystic Fibrosis Group-Based Psychotherapy

Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) exposes patients to the risk of developing anxiety and depression, with therapeutic compliance reduction, hospitalization increase, and quality of life and health outcomes deterioration. As pulmonary infections represent the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CF, environmental contamination due to droplet dispersion and the potential transmission from environment to such patients should be prevented. Therefore, in-person contact, including group-based psychotherapy, are strongly discouraged. Nevertheless, group sharing of disease-related experiences represents a way to recover the inner resources essential for dealing with a chronic pathology. Keeping in mind the guidelines for infection control, the aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of the dissemination of microorganisms in a restricted environment where patients with CF attend group psychotherapy sessions. Five patients, selected according to their microbiological status, attended 32 group-based psychological/psychoanalytic meetings. Before each session, they were asked to observe the infection control recommendations. Microbiological environmental monitoring (MEM) has been performed to evaluate both air and surface contamination. As reported, a strict observation of standard precautions allows one to avoid environmental contamination by pathogens of the CF respiratory tract. Although infection control guidelines discourage group-based psychological/psychoanalytic interventions, our observations report the feasibility and safety of group psychotherapy when strict precautions are taken.

Allies Welcomed to Advance Racial Equity (AWARE) Faculty Seminar Series: Program Design and Implementation

Introduction: In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, White faculty in our department began to express the desire to gain a greater understanding of structural racism and racial inequity. To facilitate this learning, support allyship, and mitigate the emotional labor and taxation that frequently falls on faculty of color to respond to these appeals, we developed AWARE (Allies Welcomed to Advance Racial Equity), a faculty seminar series primarily designed for and led by a majority White faculty to tackle the topics of structural racism, Whiteness, and Anti-racist action. Methods: We developed a 6-session seminar series, identifying 5 White faculty as lecturers and a cadre of Black and White volunteer facilitators, to lead 60-minute sessions comprised of lecture, facilitated small group reflection, and large group sharing, that reviewed key topics/texts on structural racism, Whiteness, and Anti-racism. Results: Attendance ranged from 26 to 37 participants at each session. About 80% of faculty participated in at least 1 session of the program. The majority of participants (85%) felt “more empowered to influence their current environment to be more inclusive of others” and were “better equipped to advocate for themselves or others.” Most (81%) felt “more connected to their colleagues following completion of the program.” Ultimately, faculty thought highly of the program upon completion with 26/27 (96%) stating they would recommend the program to a colleague. Discussion: We offer a reproducible model to improve departmental climate by engaging in the shared labor of educating our colleagues and communities about structural racism, Whiteness, and Anti-racism to create a point of entry into reflection, dialogue, and deliberate actions for change.