Mackinnonjacobs9570

Water availability is a main limiting factor for plant growth, development and distribution throughout the world. Stomatal movement mediated by abscisic acid (ABA) is particularly important for drought adaptation, but the molecular mechanisms in trees are largely unclear. Here, we isolated an ABA-responsive element binding factor PeABF3 in Populus euphratica. PeABF3 was preferentially expressed in the xylem and young leaves, and was induced by dehydration and ABA treatments. PeABF3 showed transactivation activity and located in the nucleus. To study its functional mechanism in poplar responsive to drought stress, the transgenic triploid white poplars (P. tomentosa 'YiXianCiZhu B385') overexpressing PeABF3 (oxPeABF3) were generated. PeABF3 overexpressing significantly enhanced stomatal sensitivity to exogenous ABA. When subjected to drought stress, oxPeABF3 maintained higher photosynthetic activity and promoted cell membrane integrity, resulting in increased water-use efficiency (WUE) and enhanced drought tolerance compared to WT (wild-type) controls. Moreover, yeast one-hybrid assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that PeABF3 activated the expression of PeADF5 (Actin-Depolymerizing Factor-5) by directly binding to its promoter, promoting actin cytoskeleton remodeling and stomatal closure in poplar under drought stress. Taken together, our results indicate that PeABF3 enhances drought tolerance via promoting ABA-induced stomatal closure by directly regulating the PeADF5 expression.It is well known that cadmium (Cd) pollution inhibits plant growth, but how this metal impacts leaf growth processes at the cellular and molecular level is still largely unknown. In the current study, we show that Cd specifically accumulates in the meristematic tissue of the growing maize leaf, while Cd concentration in the elongation zone rapidly declines as the deposition rates diminish and cell volumes increase due to cell expansion. A kinematic analysis shows that, at the cellular level, a lower number of meristematic cells together with a significantly longer cell cycle duration explain the inhibition of leaf growth by Cd. Flow cytometry analysis suggests an inhibition of the G1/S transition, resulting in a lower proportion of cells in the S phase and reduced endoreduplication in expanding cells under Cd stress. Lower cell cycle activity is also reflected by lower expression levels of key cell cycle genes (putative wee1, cyclin-B2-4, and minichromosome maintenance4). Cell elongation rates are also inhibited by Cd, which is possibly linked to the inhibited endoreduplication. Taken together, our results complement studies on Cd-induced growth inhibition in roots and link inhibited cell cycle progression to Cd deposition in the leaf meristem.Sexual dimorphism occurs regarding carbon and nitrogen metabolic processes in response to nitrogen supply. Differences in fixation and remobilization of carbon and allocation and assimilation of nitrogen between sexes may differ under severe defoliation. Tanespimycin The dioecious species Populus cathayana was studied after two defoliation treatments with two N levels. Males had higher capacity of carbon fixation because of higher gas exchange and fluorescence traits of leaves after severe long-term defoliation under deficient N. Males had higher leaf abscisic acid, stomatal conductance, and leaf sucrose phosphate synthase activity increasing transport of sucrose to sinks. Males had a higher carbon sink than females, because under N-deficient conditions, males accumulated more than 131.10% and 90.65% root starch than males in the control, whereas females accumulated more than 40.55% and 52.81%, respectively, than females in the control group. Males allocated less non-protein N (NNon-p) to leaves, having higher nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), higher glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and higher leaf GDH expression, even after long-term severe defoliation under deficient N. Females had higher leaf jasmonic acid concentration and NNon-p. The present study suggested that females allocated more carbon and nitrogen to defense chemicals than males after long-term severe defoliation under deficient N.

Bacillus cereus has been reported as a foodborne pathogen worldwide. Although food processing technologies to inactivate the pathogen have been developed for decades, foodborne outbreaks related to B. cereus have occurred. In the present review, foodborne outbreaks, germination, inactivation, and detection of B. cereus are discussed, along with inactivation mechanisms. B. cereus outbreaks from 2003 to 2016 are reported based on food commodity, number of cases, and consequent illnesses. Germination before sporicidal treatments is highlighted as an effective way to inactivate B. cereus, because the resistance of the pathogen increases significantly following sporulation. Several germinants used for B. cereus are listed, and their efficacies are compared. Finally, recently used interventions with sporicidal mechanisms are identified, and rapid detection methods that have been developed are discussed. Combining two or more interventions, known as the hurdle technology concept, is suggested to maximize the sporicidal effect. Further study is needed to ensure food safety and to understand germination mechanisms and sporicidal resistance of B. cereus.

Delays in transfer for discharge-ready patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) are increasingly described and contribute to strained capacity.

To describe the epidemiological features and health care costs attributable to potentially avoidable delays in ICU discharge in a large integrated health care system.

This population-based cohort study was performed in 17 adult ICUs in Alberta, Canada, from June 19, 2012, to December 31, 2016. Participants were patients 15 years or older admitted to a study ICU during the study period. Data were analyzed from October 19, 2018, to May 20, 2020.

Avoidable time in the ICU, defined as the portion of total ICU patient-days accounted for by avoidable delay in ICU discharge (eg, waiting for a ward bed).

The primary outcome was health care costs attributable to avoidable time in the ICU. Secondary outcomes were factors associated with avoidable time, in-hospital mortality, and measures of use of health care resources, including the number of hours in the ICU and the number of days of hospitalization.