A cellulose synthase-like protein governs the biosynthesis of alkaloids.

Decades of research on the infamous antinutritional steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) in Solanaceae plants have provided deep insights into their metabolism and roles. However, engineering SGAs in heterologous hosts has remained a challenge. We discovered that a protein evolved from the machinery involved in building plant cell walls is the crucial link in the biosynthesis of SGAs.

Clinical characteristics of patients requiring emergency hospitalization due to immune-related adverse events: a retrospective study.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, offering hope for various malignancies by enhancing the immune response against tumors. However, ICIs are associated with unique immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which differ significantly from conventional chemotherapy-induced toxicities. These irAEs, which affect more than 70% of patients and often escalate to severe grades, present substantial clinical management challenges and frequently necessitate emergency hospitalization.

Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology revised diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome: JSOG2024 criteria.

Japanese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit distinct body type characteristics, such that the rate of overweight/obese women is remarkably low. In addition, hyperandrogenism is relatively rare among Japanese PCOS patients. Therefore, these factors are considered in PCOS diagnostic criteria used in Japan.

[Patient Questionnaire Survey of"As-Needed"Medications to Relieve Side Effects and Anxiety for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy].

Patients undergoing outpatient cancer chemotherapy are prescribed"as-needed"medication(antiemetics, laxatives, and antibiotics)as a form of self-care for early response to side effects. We conducted a questionnaire survey to clarify whether prescribed"as-needed"medication contributes to the relief of patients' anxiety about cancer chemotherapy. We obtained responses from 80 breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy from 2019-2021".

Observational study on the identification of left atrial tachycardia circuits using Local Activation Time Histogram.

Background: Mapping of atypical atrial arrythmias arising in the left atrium is often challenging. The Local Activation Time (LAT) Histogram, a new function of the 3D color mapping system CARTO version 7, may help improve identification of atrial tachycardia circuits. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the LAT Histogram for identification of left atrial tachycardia circuits.

Ratoon rice research: Review and prospect for the tropics.

Context: With increasing labor shortage and production costs, water scarcity and climate change, there is increased interest in ratooning as a green, resource-efficient technology to boost sustainable rice production, especially in China. Since the performance of ratoon rice (regenerating a second crop from the stubble left in the fields after the main harvest) and the impact of agronomic practices on its yield have shown mixed results across the world, a better understanding is needed to determine under which conditions ratoon rice performs well.

Objective: The objectives are (i) to quantify variation in rice yield of main and ratoon crops, (ii) to assess genetic variation in and impact of agronomic practices on rice yield, focusing on the yield of ratoon crop and total yield (main and ratoon crops), and (iii) review of economic and environmental benefits of ratoon rice in comparison with single and double rice cropping.

Cut-off value for anti-Müllerian hormone in the diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome in the Japanese population.

Aim: To establish cut-off values for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) in the diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) applicable to the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) 2024 criteria and the Rotterdam/International Evidence-Based Guideline for the assessment and management of PCOS (IEBG) 2023 criteria based on a nationwide survey, respectively, taking into account age, assays, and structure of the diagnostic criteria.

Methods: Data were collected for 986 PCOS cases and 965 control cases using a national survey in Japan and used to establish cut-off values for AMH and AFC.

Results: Serum AMH levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to the control group.

Dynamic relationships among pathways producing hydrocarbons and fatty acids of maize silk cuticular waxes.

The hydrophobic cuticle is the first line of defense between aerial portions of plants and the external environment. On maize (Zea mays L.) silks, the cuticular cutin matrix is infused with cuticular waxes, consisting of a homologous series of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), aldehydes, and hydrocarbons.

Application of ethanol alleviates heat damage to leaf growth and yield in tomato.

Chemical priming has emerged as a promising area in agricultural research. Our previous studies have demonstrated that pretreatment with a low concentration of ethanol enhances abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and cassava. Here, we show that ethanol treatment induces heat stress tolerance in tomato ( L.

Integrated gene-free potato genome editing using transient transcription activator-like effector nucleases and regeneration-promoting gene expression by infection.

Genome editing is highly useful for crop improvement. The method of expressing genome-editing enzymes using a transient expression system in , called agrobacterial mutagenesis, is a shortcut used in genome-editing technology to improve elite varieties of vegetatively propagated crops, including potato. However, with this method, edited individuals cannot be selected.

Reinfusion of peritoneal fluid elevates the level of plasma D-dimer in patients with early-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the factors that affect the dynamics of blood D-dimer in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records from two hospitals and extracted data obtained during assisted reproductive technology and OHSS treatment. Blood D-dimer levels during hospitalization were plotted against body weight.

Evaluating responses by ChatGPT to farmers' questions on irrigated lowland rice cultivation in Nigeria.

The limited number of agricultural extension agents (EAs) in sub-Saharan Africa limits farmers' access to extension services. Artificial intelligence (AI) assistants could potentially aid in providing answers to farmers' questions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of an AI chatbot assistant (ChatGPT) to provide quality responses to farmers' questions.

Intensifying rice production to reduce imports and land conversion in Africa.

Africa produces around 60% of the rice the continent consumes, relying heavily on rice imports to fulfill the rest of the domestic demand. Over the past 10 years, the rice-agricultural area increased nearly 40%, while average yield remained stagnant. Here we used a process-based crop simulation modelling approach combined with local weather, soil, and management datasets to evaluate the potential to increase rice production on existing cropland area in Africa and assess cropland expansion and rice imports by year 2050 for different scenarios of yield intensification.

Deep Learning Enables Instant and Versatile Estimation of Rice Yield Using Ground-Based RGB Images.

Rice ( L.) is one of the most important cereals, which provides 20% of the world's food energy. However, its productivity is poorly assessed especially in the global South.

Downregulation of a cluster of genes encoding nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family proteins in tomato with a mutated JRE4 transcription factor.

A group of anti-nutritional specialized metabolites called steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are produced in species such as tomato, potato, and eggplant. The transcription factor JASMONATE-RESPONSIVE ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 4 (JRE4) regulates many SGA biosynthesis genes in tomato and potato. Here we report that the expression of a cluster of genes encoding nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (NPF) members is downregulated in the loss-of-function tomato mutant, which has a low-SGA phenotype compared to the wild type.

Induced production of specialized steroids by transcriptional reprogramming in .

Plants produce specialized metabolites with defensive properties that are often synthesized through the coordinated regulation of metabolic genes by transcription factors in various biological contexts. In this study, we investigated the regulatory function of the transcription factor PhERF1 from petunia (), which belongs to a small group of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) family members that regulate the biosynthesis of bioactive alkaloids and terpenoids in various plant lineages. We examined the effects of transiently overexpressing in petunia leaves on the transcriptome and metabolome, demonstrating the production of a class of specialized steroids, petuniolides, and petuniasterones in these leaves.

Inorganic fertilizer use and its association with rice yield gaps in sub-Saharan Africa.

Where and which countries should receive higher priority for improving inorganic fertilizer use in rice fields in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)? This study addressed this question by assessing the spatial variation in fertilizer use and its association with rice yield and yield gap in 24 SSA countries through a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed papers, theses, and grey literature published between 1995 and 2021. The results showed a large variation in N, P, and K fertilizer application rates and rice yield and an opportunity for narrowing the yield gap by increasing N and P rates, especially in irrigated rice systems. We identified clusters of sites/countries based on nutrient input and yield and suggested research and development strategies for improving yields and optimizing nutrient use efficiencies.

Application of recombinant human pyruvate kinase in recombinase polymerase amplification.

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is an isothermal DNA amplification reaction at around 41°C using recombinase (Rec), single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB), strand-displacing DNA polymerase (Pol), and an ATP-regenerating enzyme. In this study, we attempted to use pyruvate kinase instead of creatine kinase (CK) that has been consistently used as an ATP-regenerating enzyme in RPA. Human pyruvate kinase M1 (PKM) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from the cells.

Genetic regulation and manipulation of nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco: strategies to eliminate addictive alkaloids.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a widely cultivated crop of the genus Nicotiana. Due to the highly addictive nature of tobacco products, tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease.

Estimating nutrient concentrations and uptake in rice grain in sub-Saharan Africa using linear mixed-effects regression.

Context Or Problem: Quantification of nutrient concentrations in rice grain is essential for evaluating nutrient uptake, use efficiency, and balance to develop fertilizer recommendation guidelines. Accurate estimation of nutrient concentrations without relying on plant laboratory analysis is needed in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where farmers do not generally have access to laboratories.

Objective Or Research Question: The objectives are to 1) examine if the concentrations of macro- (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, B, Cu) in rice grain can be estimated using agro-ecological zones (AEZ), production systems, soil properties, and mineral fertilizer application (N, P, and K) rates as predictor variables, and 2) to identify if nutrient uptakes estimated by best-fitted models with above variables provide improved prediction of actual nutrient uptakes (predicted nutrient concentrations x grain yield) compared to average-based uptakes (average nutrient concentrations in SSA x grain yield).