Search Results (794)

Gastrodia elata Blume is an important medicinal orchid, yet its large-scale cultivation is increasingly threatened by fungal diseases. The 4-coumarate–CoA ligase (4CL) gene family directs a key step in phenylpropanoid metabolism and plant defence, but its composition and function in G. elata have not been investigated. We mined the G. elata genome for 4CL homologues, mapped their chromosomal locations, and analysed their gene structures, conserved motifs, phylogenetic relationships, promoter cis-elements and codon usage bias. Publicly available transcriptomes were used to examine tissue-specific expression and responses to fungal infection. Subcellular localisation of selected proteins was verified by transient expression in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Fourteen Ge4CL genes were identified and grouped into three clades. Two members, Ge4CL2 and Ge4CL5, were strongly upregulated in tubers challenged with fungal pathogens. Ge4CL2 localised to the nucleus, whereas Ge4CL5 localised to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Codon usage analysis suggested that Escherichia coli and Oryza sativa are suitable heterologous hosts for Ge4CL expression. This study provides the first genome-wide catalogue of 4CL genes in G. elata and suggests that Ge4CL2 and Ge4CL5 may participate in antifungal defence, although functional confirmation is still required. The dataset furnishes a foundation for functional characterisation and the molecular breeding of disease-resistant G. elata cultivars. Full article

Background: Addressing undernutrition and malnutrition requires a multi-pronged approach targeting different populations with appropriate interventions. Knowledge and perception (K&P) of Individuals and communities about nutrition to human health relationship/continuum is a prerequisite for addressing malnutrition in rural and mountain communities. Assessing K&P is essential for developing strategic interventions to up-scaling K&P of communities and achieving nutrition security. Homestead gardens are a proven intervention for achieving nutrition security for all family members of gardeners. Methods: This paper includes homestead gardeners from the Himalayan Mountain Region (HMR) as respondents. We developed a scale to assess the K&P of respondents, based on ratings from 20 judges. A total of 134 issues/items have been retained in the scale from macronutrients, micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins. A framework has also been developed and adopted for the study. A knowledge and perception index (KPI) has been developed based on the respondents’ responses. We have reviewed and analysed the national policy interventions for augmenting the K&P of the study community to achieve nutrition security. Results: The nutrition K&P of respondents are inadequate and far from the desirable level. Policy review and analysis indicate that the creation of K&P in the community to contribute to self and family nutrition security was previously highly neglected. Conclusions: The policy process of national, state, and county/district-level development sectors in developing countries under the HMR may take the initiative to ensure self-nutrition security by creating K&P of the community on nutrition issues. The designed scale is prudent requires testing and validation for measuring farmers’ K&P on nutrition, which may be adopted in future studies and policymaking not only nationally but also from an international perspective. Full article

The thalamus is an important sensory relay station. It integrates all somatic sensory pathways (excluding olfaction) and transmits information through thalamic relay neurons before projecting to the cerebral cortex via thalamocortical axons (TCAs). Emerging evidence has shown that FGF3, a member of the morphogen family, is an axon guidance molecule that repels TCAs away from the hypothalamus and into the internal capsule so that they subsequently reach different regions of the cortex. However, current studies on FGF-mediated axon guidance predominantly focus on phenomenological observations, with limited exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms. To address this gap, we investigated both direct and indirect downstream signaling pathways mediating FGF3-dependent chemorepulsion of TCAs at later developmental stages. Firstly, we used pharmacological inhibitors to identify the signaling cascade(s) responsible for FGF3-triggered direct chemorepulsion of TCAs, in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the PC-PLC pathway is required for FGF3 to directly stimulate the asymmetrical repellent growth of developing TCAs. Then, we found the FGF3-mediated repulsion can be indirectly induced by Slit1 because the addition of FGF3 in the culture media induced an increase in Slit1 expression in the diencephalon. Furthermore, by using downstream inhibitors, we found that the indirect repulsive effect of FGF3 is mediated through the PI3K downstream pathway of FGFR1. Full article

Family capabilities shape the well-being of individuals and families, particularly in diverse sociocultural contexts. However, existing frameworks often fail to capture the complexities of family dynamics, particularly in South Africa. This limitation is addressed in this study by developing a new conceptual model, through an ethic of care lens, to understand family. A Human-Centered Design strategy is employed, utilizing workshops to gather and deductively interpret data. A sample of 53 participants is recruited from two communities in South Africa. The Listening Guide approach is used to analyze the data, alongside thematic analysis, to identify overarching themes. The findings reveal tangible needs (material and physical requirements), as well as intangible needs (emotional and psychological support). The relation between these needs and harms highlights how care is shaped in families. While families endeavor to meet intangible needs, many fail to communicate these intangible needs, which also leads to harm. This is exacerbated when the primary caregiver within the family, the ‘glue’, has needs for care that are not met. In addition, the findings reveal the interrelatedness of care in family dynamics among family members, and help to explore the boundaries, capacities, and capabilities of what families do and how they care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Grief in cancer patients represents a multidimensional psychological response encompassing anticipatory, existential, and identity-related distress. While the recent literature has examined grief in caregivers, family members, and even healthcare professionals, the psychological grief experienced by patients themselves following a cancer diagnosis remains comparatively understudied and insufficiently characterized in empirical research. This systematic review aims to evaluate observational studies that used validated psychometric instruments to measure grief in adult cancer patients and to synthesize findings on the significance of grief in this population. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO was conducted to identify observational studies that employed validated tools to assess grief among adult cancer patients. The inclusion criteria required the use of psychometrically validated grief instruments and the collection of quantitative data. Fifteen studies met eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. Results: Grief symptoms were consistently present at moderate to high levels across diverse cancer types, care settings, and geographic regions. Preparatory Grief in Advanced Cancer (PGAC) scores often exceeded thresholds associated with clinical concern, with correlations observed between grief and psychological variables such as anxiety (r = 0.63), depression (r = 0.637), hopelessness (r = 0.63), and dignity (r = 0.654). Demographic factors (e.g., younger age, female gender) and illness perceptions (e.g., identity centrality, stigma) further intensified grief. Grief was a predominant psychological concern even when general distress measures failed to capture its presence. Conclusions: Future research is essential to identify an effective public health strategy for addressing grief through structured screening conducted in primary care and outpatient medical settings, coupled with accessible referral pathways to community-based support groups and coordinated follow-up services to facilitate grief management. Full article

Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is an important deciduous fruit tree that requires a specific period of low-temperature accumulation to trigger spring flowering. The warmer winter caused by global warming has led to insufficient winter chilling, disrupting floral initiation and significantly reducing pear yields in Southern China. In this study, we integrated targeted phytohormone metabolomics, full-length transcriptomics, and proteomics to explore the regulatory mechanisms of dormancy in ‘Mixue’, a pear cultivar with an extremely low chilling requirement. Comparative analyses across the multi-omics datasets revealed 30 differentially abundant phytohormone metabolites (DPMs), 2597 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 7722 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Integrated proteomic and transcriptomic expression clustering analysis identified five members of the dormancy-associated MADS-box (DAM) gene family among dormancy-specific differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Phytohormone correlation analysis and cis-regulatory element analysis suggest that DAM genes may mediate dormancy progression by responding to abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and salicylic acid (SA). A dormancy-associated transcriptional regulatory network centered on DAM genes and phytohormone signaling revealed 35 transcription factors (TFs): 19 TFs appear to directly regulate the expression of DAM genes, 18 TFs are transcriptionally regulated by DAM genes, and two TFs exhibit bidirectional regulatory interactions with DAM. Within this regulatory network, we identified a novel pathway involving REVEILLE 6 (RVE6), DAM, and CONSTANS-LIKE 8 (COL8), which might play a critical role in regulating bud dormancy in the ‘Mixue’ low-chilling pear cultivar. Furthermore, lncRNAs ONT.19912.1 and ONT.20662.7 exhibit potential cis-regulatory interactions with DAM1/2/3. This study expands the DAM-mediated transcriptional regulatory network associated with bud dormancy, providing new insights into its molecular regulatory mechanisms in pear and establishing a theoretical framework for future investigations into bud dormancy control. Full article

This article describes a case study of the partnership between Healthy Birth Initiatives, a community-based organization (CBO) and Black-led public health nurse home visiting program, and the maternal health division of the Providence Health System located in the Pacific Northwest. This study’s purpose was to explore the formation, significance, and impact of this partnership from the perspectives of staff and leadership members from both organizations. We conducted a case study through qualitative interviews with staff, participant observation, and debrief of leadership meetings. We completed a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis of the data, followed by member checking with study participants and other key interest holders. Key facilitators of the CBO–health system partnership included the vital role of leaders in prioritizing the partnership; health system willingness to incorporate new information from the CBO to improve care; and health system utilization of resources to institutionalize changes that emerged from this partnership. Challenges to the CBO–health system partnership included CBO resource limitations; fragmented referral processes and information sharing; and the persistence required to nurture the relationship without formalized roles. This study contributes to the literature by offering staff perspectives on how a CBO–health system partnership formed, successes, early lessons learned, and practical suggestions for how to develop stronger alignment to provide culturally responsive patient-centered care to Black families. Full article

The type of non-professional or professional support received affects the quality of life of the patient and their caregivers. Social support is the type of interaction that is taken by the patient and his caregivers in a problematic, difficult, stressful, or critical situation. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of social support on the functioning of patients under nursing home care. Material and methods: The study included 148 chronically ill patients under home nursing care. The study used the diagnostic survey method; the research technique was a questionnaire containing basic data about the respondent and the Social Support Scale (SWS) by Krystyna Kmiecik-Baran. Results: The need to continue the causal treatment at home means that the main source of support for care beneficiaries are nurses who provide medical services at the patient’s home, supported by doctors and family members of the patient. According to patients’ subjective assessment of the support they received from nurses, patients rated the informational support provided by nurses highest at 14.3 points and emotional support at 13.3 points (SD 1.776). on a scale where the maximum score was 16 points. In the opinion of the surveyed patients, the value-added support provided was the lowest-rated category by patients, 9.74 points (SD 2.505). Instrumental support was also rated very poorly by the respondents (10.17 points (SD 2.069). In each category, there was no statistically significant difference at the p < 0.05 level in the respondents’ evaluation, which means that the expressed opinion on each type of support from the highest to the lowest evaluation: informational, emotional, instrumental, and evaluative—overlapped in the patient group and the family group. Conclusions: Patients under home care highly appreciated the support provided to them by the nursing staff. Social support for a chronically ill person who requires constant care and care by the nursing staff is a form of direct impact that relieves stress and tension, minimizes the effects of the disease, directly affects the course of treatment and care, and prevents stigmatization. Full article

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of kinship-based control, which serves as a mechanism of labour exploitation among Bangladeshi migrant workers in manufacturing and labour-intensive sectors in the Northern Emirates. The current study explores different case studies regarding participants dominated by familial control mechanisms that lead to Bangladeshi migrant workers finding themselves in vulnerable situations. This study incorporated an ethnographic research method. Data was gathered through participant observation, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The study includes different participant cases, including accounts from Bangladeshi migrant workers and their family members. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of twelve participants to understand the experiences of Bangladeshi migrant workers and analyzed using a thematic approach. The findings of this study reveal six major themes: moral blackmail, isolation within the family, moral obligation and silence, familial control structures, abuse framed as duty, and informal hierarchies. This study shows that the existing labour mechanism is challenging for Bangladeshi workers, requiring strict attention from the host country to address challenges related to cultural obligations, the minimum wage, restricted movement, and harsh working conditions. It is implied that Bangladesh must make policy changes to create protective migration policies, establish worker independence, and provide pre-departure welfare programmes. Educational programmes developed by NGOs and public officials must include widespread awareness initiatives to heighten the focus on migrants and their family members and break unsustainable cultural standards. The novel aspect of this study lies in the fact that it explores family-based labour exploitation, which is rarely studied in migration research. Full article

Olfaction has been extensively studied in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. This species uses its sense of smell to find blood hosts and other resources, contributing to its impact as a vector for human pathogens. Two major families of protein-coding genes, the odorant receptors (Ors) and the ionotropic receptors (Irs), provide the mosquito with sensitivities to distinct classes of volatile compounds in the antennae. Individual tuning receptors in both families require co-receptors for functionality: Orco for all Ors, and Ir8a for many Irs, especially ones that are involved in carboxylic acid detection. In Drosophila melanogaster, disruptions of Orco or Ir8a impair receptor function, tuning receptor expression, and membrane localization, leading to general anosmia. We reasoned that Orco and Ir8a might also be important for coordinated chemosensory receptor expression in the antennal sensory neurons of Ae. aegypti. To test this, we performed RNAseq and differential expression analysis in wildtype versus Orco^−/− and Ir8a^−/− mutant adult female antennae. Our analyses revealed Or and Ir tuning receptors are broadly under-expressed in Orco^−/− mutants, while a subset of tuning Irs are under-expressed in Ir8a mutants. Other chemosensory and non-chemosensory genes are also dysregulated in these mutants. Furthermore, we identify differentially expressed transcription factors including homologs of the Drosophila melanogaster Mip120 gene. These data suggest a previously unknown pleiotropic role for the Orco and Ir8a co-receptors in the coordination of expression of chemosensory receptors within the antennae of Ae. aegypti by participating in a feedback loop involving amos and members of the MMB/dREAM complex. Full article

In this work, using the weight function technique, we introduce a new family of fourth-order iterative methods optimal in the sense of Kung and Traub for scalar equations, generalizing Jarratt’s method. Through Taylor series expansions, we confirm that all members of this family achieve fourth-order convergence when derivatives up to the fourth order are bounded. Additionally, a stability analysis is performed on quadratic polynomials using complex discrete dynamics, enabling differentiation among the methods based on their stability. To demonstrate practical applicability, a numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed family. Extending our findings to Banach spaces, we conduct local convergence analyses on a specific subfamily containing Jarratt’s method, requiring only boundedness of the first derivative. This significantly broadens the method’s applicability to more general spaces and reduces constraints on higher-order derivatives. Finally, additional examples validate the existence and uniqueness of approximate solutions in Banach spaces, provided the initial estimate lies within the locally determined convergence radius obtained using majorizing functions. Full article

Facing severe depopulation and aging, rural Japanese communities—particularly marginal settlements (genkai shūraku)—increasingly require revitalization strategies that integrate local culture and elder well-being. This study examines the Ōsawa Engawa Café, a community-led initiative in a mountainous tea-growing village, as a site of ikigai-zukuri—the active creation of life purpose among elderly residents. With the use of a mixed-methods approach, including spatial analysis, household surveys, and interviews, Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) decision tree analysis was applied to identify factors shaping distinct household café operational states: Operating, Discontinued, and Never Operated. Qualitative findings reveal that support from local leaders, experts, and the government enabled the Ōsawa Engawa café’s launch. Broad household participation, often guided by elderly women, sustained the initiative by sharing local culture—such as engawa (verandas), Zairai tea (native variety), and omotenashi (hospitality)—thereby nurturing residents’ ikigai through daily engagement. Complementing these insights, the CHAID analysis revealed a hierarchy of influential factors: high-frequency support from out-migrated family members was the strongest predictor of continued operation; in the absence of such support, co-resident family cooperation proved essential; where both were lacking, agricultural engagement distinguished households that discontinued from those that never operated. Practically, the Ōsawa model offers a replicable, bottom-up strategy that activates the Rural Cultural Landscape (landscapes shaped by traditional rural life and culture, RCL) through community engagement grounded in cultural practices and elderly ikigai-zukuri, contributing to sustainable rural livelihoods. Theoretically, this study reframes ikigai-zukuri as a key socio-cultural pillar of community resilience in aging rural areas. Fostering such culturally embedded, purpose-driven initiatives is essential for building vibrant, adaptive rural communities in the face of demographic decline. However, the study acknowledges that the Ōsawa model’s success is rooted in its specific socio-cultural context, and its replication in other cultural settings may be limited without contextual adaptation. Full article

Fusarium verticillioides is a globally prevalent phytopathogenic fungus responsible for multiple diseases in maize and a major producer of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1), a highly toxic fungal secondary metabolite (FSM). The histone code, which includes reversible modifications such as acetylation and methylation, plays a critical role in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression. In fungi, di- and tri-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2/3) serves as a key epigenetic mark associated with heterochromatin formation and transcriptional repression. In this study, we identified and characterized a putative heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family member in F. verticillioides, designated FvHP1, based on conserved domain architecture and phylogenetic analyses. FvHP1 retains essential residues required for H3K9me2/3 recognition, supporting its functional conservation within the HP1 protein family. Phenotypic analysis of the ΔFvHP1 mutant revealed impaired vegetative growth, reduced conidiation and virulence, and altered FB1 mycotoxin production. Additionally, the accumulation of red pigment in the mutant was linked to the deregulation of secondary metabolism, specifically the overproduction of fusarubin-type naphthoquinones, such as 8-O-methylnectriafurone. These results support the role of FvHP1 in facultative heterochromatin-mediated repression of sub-telomeric biosynthetic gene clusters, including the pigment-associated PGL1 cluster. Our findings provide new insights into the epigenetic regulation of fungal pathogenicity and metabolite production, as well as the first evidence of a functional HP1 homolog in F. verticillioides. Full article

Hendra virus (HeV) is a highly pathogenic member of the Henipavirus genus (family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales), for which all basic replication processes are located in the cytoplasm. The HeV matrix (M) protein plays essential roles in viral assembly and budding at the plasma membrane, but also undergoes dynamic nuclear and nucleolar trafficking, accumulating in nucleoli early in infection, before relocalising to the plasma membrane. We previously showed that M targets sub-nucleolar compartments—the fibrillar centre (FC) and dense fibrillar component (DFC)—to modulate rRNA biogenesis by mimicking a process occurring during a nucleolar DNA-damage response (DDR). Here, we show that M protein sub-nucleolar localisation is regulated by ubiquitination, which controls its redistribution between the FC-DFC and granular component (GC). The mutagenesis of a conserved lysine (K258) reported to undergo ubiquitination, combined with the pharmacological modulation of ubiquitination, indicated that a positive charge at K258 is required for M localisation to the FC-DFC, while ubiquitination regulates subsequent egress from the FC-DFC to the GC. M proteins from multiple Henipaviruses exhibited similar ubiquitin-dependent sub-nucleolar trafficking, indicating a conserved mechanism. These findings reveal a novel mechanism regulating viral protein transport between phase-separated sub-nucleolar compartments and highlight ubiquitination as a key modulator of intra-nucleolar trafficking. Full article

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient required for plants to perform various metabolic functions, and plant responses to Zn deficiency have been extensively studied. However, excessive levels of Zn in soil can induce toxic effects in plants, posing a substantial challenge to global agricultural productivity. Consequently, elucidating the response mechanisms of crop plants to excessive Zn toxicity is currently of great significance. In this study, seedlings of maize inbred line B73 were exposed to excessive Zn treatment, and transcriptomic profiling of the roots was conducted at 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h post-treatment. In addition to changes in the expression of genes encoding zinc-regulated, iron-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP), metal tolerance protein (MTP), and yellow stripe-like (YSL) transporter family members involved in Zn transport, we observed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in the phenylpropanoid–lignin metabolic pathway across all treatment stages, including the early (2 and 6 h), middle (12 and 24 h), and late (48 h) stages of Zn treatment. Among the 11 core structural enzyme-encoding genes involved in monolignols biosynthesis from phenylalanine in this pathway, the expression of eight of them was altered by Zn treatment. Additionally, genes encoding peroxidase (POD), which are responsible for the polymerization of monolignols into lignin, demonstrated extensive changes across all treatment stages, particularly at the late stage. The expression levels of these key enzyme genes were further validated using quantitative real-time PCR. Correspondingly, the activity of POD enzymes and the lignin content both significantly increased in Zn treated roots. These findings suggest that the phenylpropanoid–lignin metabolic pathway plays a crucial role in maize root responses to excessive Zn stress. Full article