Search Results (15)

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most therapy-resistant human malignancies, yet the physiological limits of mitochondrial stress adaptation against which its remarkable resilience might be interpreted remain poorly defined. This opinion article proposes the developmental stress boundary framework, a hypothesis-generating model in which insect embryonic cells, particularly those of Drosophila melanogaster, serve as an experimentally tractable, non-malignant reference platform for quantitative mapping of mitochondrial stress tolerance. Within this framework, GBM stress tolerance may be interpreted not as the product of fundamentally novel adaptive mechanisms, but as a pathological displacement and long-term stabilization of conserved mitochondrial programs transiently engaged during normal embryonic development. The framework is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing models of glioblastoma biology. The proposed framework integrates four interconnected dimensions of mitochondrial adaptation—redox homeostasis, lipid metabolism and ferroptosis-like resistance, proteostasis, and metabolic flexibility—into a multidimensional physiological stress boundary that defines the limits of reversible cellular adaptation. Comparative evidence from developmental biology and glioblastoma research is consistent with the possibility that malignant cells expand these conserved adaptive programs beyond their normal physiological constraints, although this relationship has not yet been directly tested. The framework generates four testable predictions: (i) stress–response curves in GBM may be right-shifted relative to embryonic baselines while preserving their overall architecture; (ii) mesenchymal-like GBM states may exhibit the greatest displacement of stress tolerance; (iii) effective therapeutic strategies may require simultaneous compression of multiple adaptive dimensions to prevent compensatory responses; and (iv) pharmacodynamic biomarkers, including lipid peroxidation products and GSSG/GSH ratios, could provide early indicators of declining stress-buffering capacity during treatment. Establishing quantitative developmental baselines using insect embryonic systems, alongside complementary reference points such as tissue regeneration, may provide a conceptual and experimental basis for interpreting mitochondrial stress adaptation in glioblastoma. Rather than proposing a new explanatory model of glioblastoma biology, this framework seeks to provide a quantitative developmental reference against which mitochondrial stress adaptation in glioblastoma can be experimentally interpreted, tested, and, where necessary, revised. Full article

Reticulon-like proteins shape the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane network, yet the developmental and physiological roles of individual plant reticulon isoforms remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize an Arabidopsis RTNLB16 T-DNA allele, rtnlb16-1, that exhibits severe photoperiod-dependent growth retardation and chlorosis. Molecular analysis revealed that rtnlb16-1 is not a simple loss-of-function mutant: the T-DNA insertion deletes the 5′ region required for RTNLB16 splice variant 7, while a CaMV35S enhancer associated with the insertion drives overexpression of the remaining splice variants. This misexpression is enhanced under long-day photoperiods and reduced under continuous low light, paralleling the severity of the mutant phenotype and its partial rescue. RTNLB16.5-GFP localized mainly to the tubular ER network and punctate cell-boundary structures consistent with plasmodesmata-associated ER. Neither overexpression of RTNLB16 isoforms 1–6 nor CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of major RTNLB16 isoforms reproduced the rtnlb16-1 phenotype, supporting a model in which altered splice-variant stoichiometry, rather than simple loss or gain of function, underlies the developmental defects. Transcriptome profiling showed that rtnlb16-1 undergoes extensive photoperiod-dependent transcriptional reprogramming, including changes in defense, hormone-response, senescence, photosynthesis, and iron/redox-associated gene networks. Physiologically, rtnlb16-1 displayed enhanced recovery from dark-induced senescence, while both rtnlb16-1 and rtnlb16-2 showed reduced sensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid during germination. Together, these findings suggest that balanced expression of RTNLB16 splice variants is important for normal growth and for coordinating ER-associated stress, hormone, and senescence responses in Arabidopsis. Full article

Collaboration is increasingly treated as a core capability in contemporary working life, yet leadership-development research suggests that developmental efforts often remain too generic, weakly contextualized, and insufficiently connected to the conditions under which participants must learn and perform. This theory-informed exploratory study examines how Norwegian union representatives define, operationalize, and reflect on collaborative capability development within a semester-long university course. The study adopts a qualitative document design based on 25 written course reports produced by Parat union representatives enrolled in the course Collaboration for the Future Working Life at Kristiania University of Applied Sciences in autumn 2025. The reports are analyzed as structured reflective development documents using cross-case thematic analysis. Conceptually, the article draws on collaboration research, leadership development, self-directed learning, self-leadership, and job demands–resources theory. The findings indicate that participants conceptualized collaborative capability as a multidimensional professional capability combining dialogic competence, trust-building, psychological safety, role-based bridge-building, assertive boundary-setting, and self-regulation under pressure. Development was typically organized through iterative practice cycles of self-evaluation, feedback, goal setting, monitoring routines, micro-practices for attention and stress regulation, environmental redesign, implementation, reflection, and adjustment. At the same time, the reports suggest that collaborative development was constrained by time pressure, emotional exposure, cumulative role demands, and fluctuating energy. Reported outcomes were typically incremental, including clearer communication, increased awareness of triggers, stronger boundary-setting, more sustainable role professionalism, and improved presence under strain. The article contributes a bounded, context-sensitive account of collaborative capability development as a self-directed, self-regulated, and resource-sensitive process of professional becoming. It further develops two connected practical–theoretical models: the Performance Pyramid, which clarifies the developmental architecture from identity awareness to energy and capability regulation and performance enactment, and the Self-Leadership Wheel of Becoming, which functions as an operational scaffold for self-evaluation, goal setting, feasible program design, implementation, reflection, and revision. Rather than presenting these models as universally validated, the article positions them as heuristic and processual contributions for understanding and supporting capability development in collaboration-intensive roles. Full article

Understanding how socioemotional concerns evolve during emerging adulthood is central to research on young people’s psychological adaptation. This study examines temporal shifts in university students’ communication-related concerns across twelve consecutive cohorts (2014–2025) at a European university. Using a repeated cross-sectional mixed-method design, the study analyses nearly 800 student-generated questions from 543 first- and second-year students collected at the beginning of a communication psychology course. Inductive thematic coding, combined with χ² tests and trend analyses, identified temporal patterns in thematic frequencies. Results show a significant increase in concerns related to emotion regulation, stress management, and conflict resolution, alongside a decline in abstract self-development and understanding others. These findings suggest a shift from exploratory, cognitively oriented priorities toward more pragmatic, emotionally grounded coping concerns among emerging adults. From a developmental perspective, early university adaptation increasingly centers on self-regulation and interpersonal boundary management. The study demonstrates how reflective data can serve as indicators of changing socioemotional needs, contributing to research on young people’s adaptation, wellbeing, and developmental processes during the transition to adulthood. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is highly heterogeneous in symptom onset and severity, comorbidities, and treatment responsiveness, challenging the notion of a single pathogenic mechanism. Increasing evidence indicates that some individuals with ASD exhibit prominent peripheral physiological alterations, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction, gut microbial dysbiosis, immune imbalance, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial/energy metabolic vulnerability. In this context, gut-derived metabolites—particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—have emerged as plausible modulators of the neurodevelopmental milieu through the expanded gut–immune–metabolic–brain axis. This review synthesizes: (i) SCFAs’ biogenesis and physiological roles, (ii) context- and developmental stage-dependent effects, (iii) the clinical heterogeneity of reported microbiome and SCFA alterations in ASD, and (iv) propionate as a frequently discussed candidate signal and the interpretive boundaries of preclinical evidence. Human studies show substantial inter-study variability in SCFA alterations (increases, decreases, or no differences), influenced by factors such as sample type (stool vs. blood), GI symptoms, diet, medication exposure, and analytical variability. Accordingly, SCFAs should not be treated as universal ASD biomarkers but rather as context-dependent metabolic signals relevant under specific clinical and biological conditions. Building on this premise, we propose the conceptual framework of “metabolic ASD” representing a metabolically informed dimension of biological variability in which peripheral metabolic–immune perturbations may contribute to neurodevelopmental vulnerability. To avoid premature causal claims, we outline design requirements for future research, including stratified study designs, longitudinal cohorts, and integrative multi-layer analyses. Ultimately, metabolic ASD should be positioned as a testable precision medicine research framework rather than a universal etiological model. Full article

Background: LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD/AS2) transcription factors integrate developmental and hormonal signals during organogenesis. As a high-value fruit tree crop, blueberries’ rooting ability underpins their vegetative propagation and field performance, yet a genome-wide view of the LBD repertoire and its roles in blueberry has been lacking. Results: We cataloged 153 non-redundant LBD genes (VcLBD) by homology search against the GDV RefTrans V1 genome and domain validation, substantially exceeding counts reported for other fruit crops. Phylogeny resolved the family into the canonical Class I/II and seven subclades, with extensive lineage-specific expansion supported by synteny: 72.31% of loci arose from whole-genome/segmental and tandem duplication. Gene structures were highly heterogeneous (2–24 exons) but conserved within clades; motif profiling (MEME/InterPro) recovered the signature LOB cysteine block, GAS module and a leucine-zipper-like motif with clade-specific combinations. Promoter scanning identified 38 cis-element types, including hormone- (auxin, cytokinin, GA, JA/MeJA, ABA, SA), stress- and meristem-associated motifs, indicating broad regulatory inputs. Public transcriptomes revealed pronounced tissue–stage specificity with a root-centered bias; qRT-PCR across eight organs/stages validated four archetypal expression programs (higher expression in roots, flowers, fruits in stage 1, or mature fruit, respectively), including floral/early-fruit enrichment (e.g., VcLBD39/40) and ripening-associated induction. Hormone assays demonstrated differential responsiveness: IAA up-regulated VcLBD6/16b/33c/40e/41, whereas 6-BA suppressed VcLBD16b/33c/39a/39c/40e and induced VcLBD41/46h; ACC and MeJA produced gene-specific induction or repression. During adventitious rooting (0/4/7/10 DAC), 30 VcLBDs were differentially expressed, forming three temporal patterns. VcLBD16b reaches its peak expression during the early stages of adventitious root development and exhibits a strong response to auxin. VcLBD11 shows dynamic changes synchronized with cytokinin activity, while VcLBD33/40 is associated with primordia growth and vascular-related processes. Conclusions: We identified and characterized 153 VcLBD genes, profiled their transcripts across multiple blueberry tissues, defined stages of adventitious root development, and evaluated hormone responsiveness for representative members. Together, these results establish a foundation for dissecting VcLBD regulatory mechanisms and functions, particularly in organ growth and adventitious rooting. Full article

Based on comprehensive interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data and quantitative analysis of basin-boundary fault activity in the Nanpu Sag, this study employs subsidence history backstripping and equilibrium profile techniques to reconstruct the structural evolution of the main profile. The results indicate that the Cenozoic evolution of the Nanpu Sag can be divided into a syn-rift stage and a post-rift stage, with the syn-rift stage further subdivided into Rift I and Rift II episodes. During Rift I, tectonic activity was primarily controlled by the NE- and NEE-trending Xinanzhuang Fault, Shabei Fault, and No. 2 Fault Zone, which formed under a NW–SE extensional stress regime and governed the development of NE- or NEE-trending faults and associated sedimentary subsidence centers. In Rift II, tectonic activity was dominated by a southward-curved normal fault system, composed of the Xinanzhuang, Gaoliu, and Baigezhuang faults, as well as the Shabei Fault, reflecting the influence of a near N–S ex-tensional stress field. The progressive southward migration of the Sag’s subsidence center over time—from the Linque sub-sag in the third section of the Shahe Formation to the Caofeidian sub-sag in the Dongying Formation—and noting, coupled with the pronounced left-lateral strike-slip characteristics of the Baigezhuang Fault and No. 4 Fault, and regional tectonic evolution analysis of the Bohai Bay Basin, support the proposal that a strike-slip extension mechanism—characterized by lateral strike-slip and forward extension—constitutes the fundamental developmental model of the Nanpu Sag. This study deepens the understanding of the tectonic evolution of the Nanpu Sag and provides new insights in-to the dynamic mechanisms governing the formation of similar Sags in the Bohai Bay Basin. Full article

The LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) gene family encodes plant-specific transcription factors that play vital roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, also serves as an important model organism for monocot functional genomics. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genomic survey of the OsLBD gene family in Oryza sativa ssp. japonica using the latest genomic sequence data. A total of 35 members of this family were identified through systematic characterization of their gene structures, conserved domains, phylogenetic relationships, and chromosomal distributions. Our analysis indicated that the expansion of OsLBD genes may have resulted mainly from segmental duplication, with these duplicated genes exhibiting diverse evolutionary fates ranging from functional conservation to expression divergence. Phylogenetic analysis further classified the OsLBD genes into two major groups: Class I and Class II. Expression profiling across various developmental stages demonstrated dynamic spatiotemporal regulation, with certain genes exhibiting tissue-specific expression, particularly in reproductive tissues. Furthermore, a comprehensive co-expression analysis of OsLBD genes and their co-regulators revealed multiple modules with tissue-specific roles in pollen cell wall synthesis and endosperm glycogen biosynthesis. Promoter analysis identified several cis-regulatory elements associated with hormone responses, stress adaptation, and developmental processes, consistent with the observed expression patterns under phytohormone treatments. Comparative genomics revealed a higher degree of synteny between rice and barley than between rice and Arabidopsis, highlighting the evolutionary conservation within the Poaceae family. This study provides a foundational framework for understanding the biological functions of OsLBD genes in rice and identifies promising candidate genes involved in vegetative and reproductive growth, development, and stress responses. Full article

LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) genes encode plant specific transcription factors that regulate various developmental processes and abiotic stresses. In this study, we characterized RrLBD40 from Rosa rugosa as a nucleus-localized transcription factor harboring a conserved LOB domain. We generated RrLBD40-overexpressing Rosa rugosa plants and compared them with control plants in terms of physiological indices, root architecture, and Na⁺ homeostasis. The results showed that RrLBD40 overexpression significantly increased peroxidase activity and reduced malondialdehyde content in the roots, indicating enhanced antioxidant capacity under salt stress. Furthermore, RrLBD40 overexpression markedly promoted root growth and development, a similar phenotype consistently observed in RrLBD40 transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Propidium iodide staining and analysis of the Na⁺ flux rates of root tips revealed that the barrier function of the Casparian strip was compromised in both the RrLBD40-overexpression and control plants under salt stress. This disruption of endodermal selectivity permitted Na⁺ influx into the vascular cylinder. Furthermore, neither plants exhibited significant Na⁺ efflux capacity. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that RrLBD40 enhances salt tolerance in Rosa rugosa by primarily promoting root growth and development, rather than modulating Na⁺ homeostasis. Full article

In this study, the LBD (Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain) gene family, a group of plant-specific transcription factors critical for plant growth and development as well as metabolic regulation, was comprehensively characterized in rice. We identified 36 LBD genes using multi-source genomic data and systematically classified them into Class I (31 genes) and Class II (5 genes). Analysis of their physicochemical properties revealed significant variations in amino acid length, molecular weight, isoelectric points, and hydropathicity. Motif analysis identified conserved LOB domains and other motifs potentially linked to functional diversity. Cis-acting element analysis indicated the involvement of these genes in various biological processes, including light response, hormone signaling, and stress response. Expression profiling demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns, with several genes, such as XM_015770711.2, XM_015776632.2, and XM_015792766.2, showing relatively high expression in rice roots, implying their important role in root development. Transcriptome data further supported the involvement of specific genes in responses to phytohormones such as jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA), as well as environmental stresses like cold and drought. Notably, XM_015770711.2, XM_015776632.2, and XM_015772758.2 may contribute to the regulation of rice environmental adaptability by mediating ABA and JA signaling pathways, respectively. In conclusion, this study identified members of the LBD gene family through the screening of two rice gene databases, and performed a comprehensive analysis of their physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships, and expression profiles under various conditions. These findings provided valuable insights for further functional studies of LBD genes. Moreover, this study provides a foundation for targeting LBD genes to enhance stress resilience (e.g., drought/cold tolerance) and root architecture optimization. The LBD gene family possesses dual values in both stress resistance regulation and developmental optimization. The construction of its multidimensional functional map lays the theoretical and resource foundation for the precise design of high-yield and stress-resistant varieties. Full article

From a surgical point of view, quantification cannot always be achieved in the developmental deformity in hip joints, but finite element analysis can be a helpful tool to compare normal joint architecture with a dysplastic counterpart. CT scans from the normal right hip of an 8-year-old boy and the dysplastic left hip of a 12-year-old girl were used to construct our geometric models. In a three-dimensional model construction, distinctions were made between the cortical bone, trabecular bone, cartilage, and contact nonlinearities of the hip joint. The mathematical model incorporated the consideration of the linear elastic and isotropic properties of bony tissue in children, separately for the cortical bone, trabecular bone, and articular cartilage. Hexahedral elements were used in Autodesk Inventor software version 2022 (“Ren”) for finite element analysis of the two hips in the boundary conditions of the single-leg stance. In the normal hip joint on the cartilaginous surfaces of the acetabulum, we found a kidney-shaped stress distribution in a 471,672 mm² area. The measured contact pressure values were between 3.0 and 4.3 MPa. In the dysplastic pediatric hip joint on a patch of 205,272 mm² contact area, the contact pressure values reached 8.5 MPa. Furthermore, the acetabulum/femur head volume ratio was 20% higher in the dysplastic hip joint. We believe that the knowledge gained from the normal and dysplastic pediatric hip joints can be used to develop surgical treatment methods and quantify and compare the efficiency of different surgical treatments used in children with hip dysplasia. Full article

Plant transcription factors are involved in different developmental pathways. NAC transcription factors (No Apical Meristem, Arabidopsis thaliana Activating Factor, Cup-shaped Cotyledon) act in various processes, e.g., plant organ formation, response to stress, and defense mechanisms. In Antirrhinum majus, the NAC transcription factor CUPULIFORMIS (CUP) plays a role in determining organ boundaries and lip formation, and the CUP homologs of Arabidopsis and Petunia are involved in flower organ formation. Orchidaceae is one of the most species-rich families of angiosperms, known for its extraordinary diversification of flower morphology. We conducted a transcriptome and genome-wide analysis of orchid NACs, focusing on the No Apical Meristem (NAM) subfamily and CUP genes. To check whether the CUP homologs could be involved in the perianth formation of orchids, we performed an expression analysis on the flower organs of the orchid Phalaenopsis aphrodite at different developmental stages. The expression patterns of the CUP genes of P. aphrodite suggest their possible role in flower development and symmetry establishment. In addition, as observed in other species, the orchid CUP1 and CUP2 genes seem to be regulated by the microRNA, miR164. Our results represent a preliminary study of NAC transcription factors in orchids to understand the role of these genes during orchid flower formation. Full article

Lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors involved in various transcriptional regulation processes. We identified a total of 37 GbLBD genes in ginkgo, and based on gene structure and phylogenetic analysis, the GbLBD gene family was classified into class I (33, with the largest number of Id genes (16)) and class II (4). The ginkgo LBD gene was also analyzed regarding its chromosomal distributions, gene duplications, promoters, and introns/exons. In addition, gene expression profiling and real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of 14 GbLBD genes differed in six different tissues and three developmental stages. The GbLBD gene of class II were highly expressed relative to the class I gene in all tissues and developmental stages, while class Id gene were generally at low levels or were not expressed, especially in seed developmental stages. The expression pattern analysis of cold/drought treatment and IAA/ABA hormone treatment showed that abiotic stress treatment could significantly induce the expression of GbLBD gene, of which class II genes played a key role in stress treatment. Our study provides a solid foundation for further evolutionary and functional analysis of the ginkgo LBD gene family. Full article

The plant specific LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB)-domain (LBD) proteins belong to a family of transcription factors that play important roles in plant growth and development, as well as in responses to various stresses. However, a comprehensive study of LBDs in Brassica napus has not yet been reported. In the present study, 126 BnLBD genes were identified in B. napus genome using bioinformatics analyses. The 126 BnLBDs were phylogenetically classified into two groups and nine subgroups. Evolutionary analysis indicated that whole genome duplication (WGD) and segmental duplication played important roles in the expansion of the BnLBD gene family. On the basis of the RNA-seq analyses, we identified BnLBD genes with tissue or developmental specific expression patterns. Through cis-acting element analysis and hormone treatment, we identified 19 BnLBD genes with putative functions in plant response to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. This study provides a comprehensive understanding on the origin and evolutionary history of LBDs in B. napus, and will be helpful in further functional characterisation of BnLBDs. Full article

In oral language, syntactic structure is cued in part by phrasal metrical hierarchies of acoustic stress patterns. For example, many children’s texts use prosodic phrasing comprising tightly integrated hierarchies of metre and syntax to highlight the phonological and syntactic structure of language. Children with developmental language disorders (DLDs) are relatively insensitive to acoustic stress. Here, we disrupted the coincidence of metrical and syntactic boundaries as cued by stress patterns in children’s texts so that metrical and/or syntactic phrasing conflicted. We tested three groups of children: children with DLD, age-matched typically developing controls (AMC) and younger language-matched controls (YLC). Children with DLDs and younger, language-matched controls were poor at spotting both metrical and syntactic disruptions. The data are interpreted within a prosodic phrasing hypothesis of DLD based on impaired acoustic processing of speech rhythm. Full article