Gene Editing in Prunus Spp.: The Challenge of Adapting Regular Gene Transfer Procedures for Precision Breeding

Successfully gene editing (GE) in Prunus spp. has been delayed due to its woody nature presenting additional difficulties in both, proper regeneration protocols and designing efficient gene transfer techniques. The availability of adequate, single cell culture techniques for GE such as protoplast regeneration, is a limiting step for the genus and for this reason, the improvement of regular regeneration protocols and finding more efficient techniques for the delivery of the “editing reagents” seem to be a reasonable strategy to incorporate GE in the genus. During the last 10 years, we have focused our efforts optimizing some previous regeneration and gene transfer procedures for Japanese plum (P. salicina), sweet cherry (P. avium) and peach (P. persica) to incorporate them into a GE technology on these species. In parallel, delivery techniques for the CRISPR/Cas9 editing components, i.e., guide RNA (gRNA) and Cas9, have been developed with the aim of improving gene targeting efficiencies. In that line, using DNA virus-based replicons provides a significant improvement, as their replicational release from their carriers enables their enhanced expression. Here, we make a brief overview of the tissue culture and regeneration protocols we have developed for P. salicina, P. avium and P. persica, and then we proceed to describe the use of Bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV)-derived replicon vectors to express the editing reagents in vivo and to evaluate their editing capability on individuals derived from Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer experiments of these species. We show part of our characterization assays using new BeYDV-derived vectors harboring multiple gRNAs, the Cas9 gene, and the green fluorescent protein reporter gene. We also describe a dedicated genome analysis tool, by which gRNA pairs can be designed to address gene deletions of the target genes and to predict off-target sequences. Finally, as an example, we show the general results describing GE of the peach TERMINAL FLOWER 1 gene and some preliminary characterizations of these materials.

The Impact of Educational Policies in High Schools With a Sports Profile

The aim of this research is to identify and analyse the causes that have influenced the total number of student places and career paths of graduates of a sports-program high school. In this sociological research, the case study method was used, which had in the foreground the Sports Program Suceava High school, from Romania. The sampling comprised the high school grade students (XI-XII), registered from September 2015 to August 2019. The objectives of the study are to determine the main variables that have generated major changes in the total number of student places’ architecture and in graduate career choices. Socio-economic causes and educational policies justify the high flow of requests for transfer from this high school to other educational establishments, especially in the first year of training (IXth grade), but also to the school unit under consideration (frequent requests in the XIth grade). Unsustainable education policies, in relation to the requirements and exigencies of sport performance, but also the permissive legislation on operational transfer procedures, have a bearing on sporting performance, graduate career paths and, last but not least, on the ethical code (or it should have it) a sports-program high school. The psycho-intellectual development and psycho-behavioural development of sports students in an accessible school environment, tenderer and adapted to his own needs, can only be achieved through a continuous effort, in conjunction with a joint effort between school-parents-local authorities and institutions with legislative leverage.

Configuration as a Procedure of Intracultural Knowledge Transfer (Exemplified by the Dynamics of the Concept of Human in the Russian Linguistic Worldview)

Continuous development of technologies and globalization result in transfer of knowledge: knowledge about the world is transmitted between bearers of different linguocultures, as well as from generation to generation within one linguoculture. In the course of various transfer procedures, knowledge undergoes structural and qualitative changes. The nomenclature of possible transfer procedures and the essence of some procedures vary for different types of transfer. Configuration is one of the main procedures for knowledge transfer. Its implementation can be observed through structural changes in the units of knowledge transfer, such as works of art, terms, loanwords, etc. If a concept is considered as such a unit, configuration can be traced in the dynamics of the macrostructure, categorical structure and field description of the concept. Thus, the analysis of linguistic units representing a concept allows us to identify changes occurring in the minds of linguoculture-bearers over time. This paper aimed to study configuration as one of the main procedures of intracultural transfer of knowledge within the Russian worldview, with regard to everyday sphere of knowledge. The material of the research included representations of the concept of human in journalistic publications. The study is based on a complex methodology, including descriptive, comparative historical, and comparative methods, as well as statistical analysis and conceptual analysis. The research allowed us to identify the implementation of the configuration procedure in the course of knowledge transfer in the everyday sphere of knowledge, as well as to confirm its non-identity for the everyday and scientific spheres of knowledge by comparing our results with the data obtained earlier by other researchers. The study contributes to solving the problem of linguocultural transfer of knowledge and can be used in accomplishing many linguocognitive tasks.

Effect of Specimen Geometry on the Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy Evaluated by Two-Dimensional Diffusion-Trapping Coupled Model

The hydrogen diffusion process in ferritic steel during thermal desorption tests was simulated using the finite element method based on the two-dimensional diffusion-trapping coupled model. This model was first verified by experimental data to obtain a physically meaningful combination of trap/lattice parameters. Then, the effect of specimen geometry was studied by varying the height of cylindrical specimens with other parameters fixed at constant values. Simulation of desorption spectra with different specimen geometries indicates that the measurement of hydrogen concentration is not affected by the change in specimen geometry due to the mass conservation law, for original thermal desorption spectra (TDS), which are, however, unlikely to be detected in traditional experiments due to the necessity of specimen transfer procedures. Considering the hydrogen escape during rest time (specimen preparation/transfer/evacuation), the measured TDS curves are expected to be strongly dependent on the specimen geometry. The effect of specimen geometry on desorption spectra is more pronounced for smaller specimens, resulting in the dramatic decrease in peak flux and the increased error of Kissinger method in the determination of trap deactivation energy. The present study may contribute to better understanding and more reliable interpretation of the TDS curves by considering the size effect.

Functional Evaluation of Levator Scapulae Tendon to Supraspinatus in Adult Brachial Plexus Injuries

Introduction Brachial plexus injuries are severe life-altering injuries. The surgical method to restore shoulder abduction in adult upper brachial plexus injuries involves the usage of nerve grafts and nerve transfers targeting the suprascapular and/or the axillary nerve. When the primary nerve surgery has been unsuccessful or recovery has been incomplete or with a late presentation, muscle transfer procedures are needed to provide or improve shoulder abduction. Levator scapulae to supraspinatus is a transfer to improve shoulder abduction in posttraumatic brachial plexus injuries. Material and Methods The study included 13 patients with the age ranging from 17 to 47 years with a mean age of 30 years. All these patients had preop shoulder abduction of Medical Research Council (MRC) grade ≤3. All had a minimum of MRC grade 4 of active elbow flexion. Eleven patients had primary surgery. Only patients with a minimum of 1 year postoperative follow-up were included. All 13 patients underwent levator scapulae transfer only. Results All patients had a stable shoulder postoperatively. The average increase in active shoulder abduction was from 6.15°(median: 0°) preoperatively to 61.92°(median: 60°), with an average gain in shoulder abduction of 49.61°(median: 50°). Conclusions Transfer of levator scapulae tendon to the supraspinatus is an option to improve shoulder abduction in posttraumatic brachial plexus. In conditions where supraspinatus alone is not functioning, levator scapulae is the best available transfer, considering its strength and maintaining the form of the shoulder unlike trapezius transfer. In patients with previous surgery where supraspinatus has recovered partially but not functionally significant, this tendon transfer can be considered for the augmentation of the existing shoulder abduction.

Comparison between Flexor Carpi Radialis and Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon Transfer for Fingers’ Extension in High Radial Nerve Palsy

The hand grip is severely impaired following high radial nerve palsy due to loss of extension of the wrist, metacarpo- phalangeal joint of fingers and thumb. If radial nerve does not show neural recovery following conservative or surgical repair during the optimum time, tendon transfer is considered the standard treatment. To evaluate and compare the clinical outcome between flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpiulnaris tendon transfer for fingers’ extension in high radial nerve palsy. This randomized controlled trial study was carried out in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka over a period of two years from January 2013 to December 2014. A total of 30 patients with high radial nerve palsy were recruited, 15 patients were gone through Flexor Carpi Radialis tendon transfer procedure (FCR group) and the rest 15 patients were gone through Flexor Carpi Ulnaris tendon transfer procedure(FCU group). The patients were followed up for 12 weeks after surgical intervention. Out of all patients, 86.7% male were encountered in each group. The mean age was found 31.07±9.14 years in FCR group and 33.60±10.79 years in FCU group. Humerus fracture was remained a major cause of radial nerve palsy in both FCR and FCU groups (26.7% vs. 33.3%). In final follow-up at 12th week, no extension deficit was observed at MCP joint (93.3% vs. 80.0%, p>0.05).The end result of surgical intervention was found satisfactory equally in both the groups (86.7%). In case of high radial nerve palsy, both FCR and FCU tendon transfer procedures are effective forfingers’ extension at MCP joint. Bangladesh Med J. 2019 Sep; 48 (3): 9-15

Effects of the Onset of Differential Reinforcer Quality on Skill Acquisition

Differential reinforcement of a target response is a necessary component of stimulus control transfer procedures. Recent research has further considered the timing (i.e., onset) of differential reinforcement of unprompted correct responding. To date, the onset of differential reinforcement has been inconsistently controlled in studies comparing skill acquisition programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. The current study serves as a systematic replication of prior comparative research to examine the effects of immediate and delayed differential reinforcement onset on the efficiency of acquisition for three individuals with developmental disabilities. The delayed onset of differential reinforcement required the fewest number of exposures to mastery per target across all comparisons. These findings failed to replicate those of prior research on differential reinforcement onset, possibly due to differences in participant characteristics, target tasks, or other required procedural modifications. Considerations for future research on differential reinforcement procedures in skill acquisition programs are described.

Forming of Innovative Resources in the Context of Ensuring Sustainable Development of Regions

The problem of the formation of innovative resources in the context of sustainable development of the Russian Federation regions is an actual area of research, since the scientific discussion has determined that it is advisable to include innovative and institutional factors in the sustainable development triad. The key components of sustainable development, ensuring economic growth in the era of the sixth technological order are clarified and described. It has been established that modern innovative transformation in the context of sustainable development implies the introduction of IT technologies with a high degree of robotization of the production process, as well as the enhancement of information transfer procedures and the use of a large flow of information. Pursuant to the results of the study of the theory of innovative development, as well as the analysis and assessment of the Russian experience of innovation activity and the formation of innovation policy, the architecture of the strategy for the region innovative development has been substantiated. Requirements for the current modern strategy of region innovative development for sustainable development are formulated

Management of the Pre-hospital Emergency Transport Strategy During the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epidemicin Zhuzhou City, China

<B>Objective：</B>Summarize the experience of transporting patients in the pre-hospital emergency center of our hospital from January 20, 2020 to May 2020 during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Zhuzhou City, and formulate a series of transport strategies.<BR><B>Methods:</B>During the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, review the relevant experience of the medical staff and drivers in the pre-hospital emergency center of Zhuzhou Central Hospital to improve the procedures for the transfer of patients during the epidemic. <BR><B>Results：</B>As of the time when patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia in our city are cleared, none of the medical staff in the pre-hospital emergency center of Zhuzhou Central Hospital has been infected, and the city’s patients in need of pre-hospital emergency treatment have been treated in an orderly manner. In conjunction with our hospital’s epidemic prevention and control expert team, combined with the actual situation in the region, we jointly formulated a series of transfer procedures for Zhuzhou Central Hospital to comply with the region during the epidemic.<BR><B>Conclusion：</B>During the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, all patients received by the pre-hospital emergency center of our hospital were transferred in a timely and safe manner, and a series of transfer procedures were developed.