Resumption Of Growth Research Articles

Forecasting firm growth resumption post-stagnation

Our study forecasts the likelihood of firms resuming growth after periods of stagnation or declining sales. We employ machine learning methods, including Random Forest, LightGBM, and CatBoost, alongside logistic regression models. To address class imbalance, we incorporate oversampling techniques such as SMOTE, ADASYN, and SMOTEENN. We focus on two key indicators—Precision (predictive accuracy) and Recall (completeness of prediction)—to meet the needs of different investor groups. The performance of our models is evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F-score, and RocAUC, with Venkatraman's test applied for model comparison. Our key findings reveal that CatBoost achieves a predictive accuracy of 65–67 %, significantly outperforming random firm selection, which yields only 13–17 % accuracy. The combination of the CatBoost method with the SMOTEENN technique notably enhances Recall values, reaching 58–63 %, a critical metric for large investors and policymakers. Our study offers a methodological approach to better understand and forecast the trajectories of firms engaged in open innovation.

Predicting bacterial fitness in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with transcriptional regulatory network-informed interpretable machine learning.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis disease, the greatest source of global mortality by a bacterial pathogen. Mtb adapts and responds to diverse stresses such as antibiotics by inducing transcriptional stress-response regulatory programs. Understanding how and when these mycobacterial regulatory programs are activated could enable novel treatment strategies for potentiating the efficacy of new and existing drugs. Here we sought to define and analyze Mtb regulatory programs that modulate bacterial fitness. We assembled a large Mtb RNA expression compendium and applied these to infer a comprehensive Mtb transcriptional regulatory network and compute condition-specific transcription factor activity profiles. We utilized transcriptomic and functional genomics data to train an interpretable machine learning model that can predict Mtb fitness from transcription factor activity profiles. We demonstrated that this transcription factor activity-based model can successfully predict Mtb growth arrest and growth resumption under hypoxia and reaeration using only RNA-seq expression data as a starting point. These integrative network modeling and machine learning analyses thus enable the prediction of mycobacterial fitness under different environmental and genetic contexts. We envision these models can potentially inform the future design of prognostic assays and therapeutic intervention that can cripple Mtb growth and survival to cure tuberculosis disease.

Photosynthetic light requirement near the theoretical minimum detected in Arctic microalgae

Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on Earth, providing the main source of bioavailable energy, carbon, and oxygen via the use of sunlight. Despite this importance, the minimum light level sustaining photosynthesis and net growth of primary producers in the global ocean is still unknown. Here, we present measurements from the MOSAiC field campaign in the central Arctic Ocean that reveal the resumption of photosynthetic growth and algal biomass buildup under the ice pack at a daily average irradiance of not more than 0.04 ± 0.02 µmol photons m−2 s−1 in late March. This is at least one order of magnitude lower than previous estimates (0.3–5 µmol photons m−2 s−1) and near the theoretical minimum light requirement of photosynthesis (0.01 µmol photons m−2 s−1). Our findings are based on measurements of the temporal development of the under-ice light field and concurrent measurements of both chlorophyll a concentrations and potential net primary production underneath the sea ice at 86 °N. Such low light requirements suggest that euphotic zones where photosynthesis can occur in the world’s oceans may extend further in depth and time, with major implications for global productivity estimates.

Differential warming at crown scale impacts walnut primary growth onset and secondary growth rate.

Trees are exposed to significant spatio-temporal thermal variations, which can induce intracrown discrepancies in the onset and dynamics of primary and secondary growth. In recent decades, an increase in late winter and early spring temperatures has been observed, potentially accelerating bud break, cambial activation and their potential coordination. Intracrown temperature heterogeneities could lead to asymmetric tree shapes unless there is a compensatory mechanism at the crown level. An original warming experiment was conducted on young Juglans regia trees in a greenhouse. From February to August, the average temperature difference during the day between warmed and control parts was 4°C. The warming treatment advanced the date of budbreak significantly, by up to 14 days. Warming did not alter secondary growth resumption but increased growth rates, leading to higher xylem cell production (twice as many) and to an increase in radial increment (+80% compared to control). Meristems resumptions were asynchronous without coordination in response to temperature. Buds on warmed branches began to swell two weeks prior to cambial division, which was one week earlier than on control branches. A difference in carbon and water remobilisation at the end of bud ecodormancy was noted under warming. Overall, our results argue for a lack of compensatory mechanisms at the crown scale, which may lead to significant changes in tree architecture in response to intra-crown temperature heterogeneities.

Transphyseal Hemiepiphysiodesis: Is it Truly Reversible?

Although numerous studies reported the efficacy of percutaneous epiphysiodesis using transphyseal screws (PETS) in correcting angular knee deformities, many surgeons refrained from using it in younger children because of a lack of objective evidence of reversibility. Our hypothesis is that PETS is both truly reversible and effective. Twenty-one patients aged 8 to 13 years (36 lower limbs LL) with coronal plane knee deformity were enrolled into this prospective case series from January 2021 to September 2023. Besides the routine monitoring of PETS efficacy, low dose CT knee of 32 treated physes was done 6 months after screw removal. In addition, lower limb length, mechanical lateral distal femur angle (mLDFA), and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were recorded preoperatively and 6 to 17 months after screw removal for 24 LL to investigate physis behavior, technique reversibility, and resumption of bone growth after screw removal. The mean mechanical axis deviation (MAD) correction rate was 3.46mm/mo and 1.78mm/mo for genu valgum and genu varum patients, respectively. No physeal bony bars could be detected 6 months after screw removal for all patients. Out of 24 physis that underwent computerized radiography (CR) of the whole lower limb, 12 LL resumed their growth, 4 were stationary, while 8 were excluded due to inadequate calibration. A single physis showed rebound deformity, and another showed overcorrection in the genu valgum group. In addition to being a highly effective method of hemiepiphysiodesis, PETS was found to be reproducible, safe, and reversible when used in the juvenile and early adolescent pediatric population. IV-Prospective case series.

Does deacclimation reverse the changes in structural/physicochemical properties of the chloroplast membranes that are induced by cold acclimation in oilseed rape?

Winter crops acquire frost tolerance during the process of cold acclimation when plants are exposed to low but non-freezing temperatures that is connected to specific metabolic adjustments. Warm breaks during/after cold acclimation disturb the natural process of acclimation, thereby decreasing frost tolerance and can even result in a resumption of growth. This phenomenon is called deacclimation. In the last few years, studies that are devoted to deacclimation have become more important (due to climate changes) and necessary to be able to understand the mechanisms that occur during this phenomenon. In the acclimation of plants to low temperatures, the importance of plant membranes is indisputable; that is why the main aim of our studies was to answer the question of whether (and to what extent) deacclimation alters the physicochemical properties of the plant membranes. The studies were focused on chloroplast membranes from non-acclimated, cold-acclimated and deacclimated cultivars of winter oilseed rape. The analysis of the membranes (formed from chloroplast lipid fractions) using the Langmuir technique revealed that cold acclimation increased membrane fluidity (expressed as the Alim values), while deacclimation generally decreased the values that were induced by cold. Moreover, because the chloroplast membranes were penetrated by lipophilic molecules such as carotenoids or tocopherols, the relationships between the structure of the lipids and the content of these antioxidants in the chloroplast membranes during the process of the cold acclimation and deacclimation of oilseed rape are discussed.

UNRAVELING THE USE OF PESTICIDES IN THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST MESOREGIONS OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL: A COMPRE-HENSIVE ANALYSIS OF MARKET CHARACTERISTICS AND DYNAMICS

Pesticides have the function of protecting agricultural crops through phytosanitary treatments, helping increase productivity to feed an ever-growing population. They exist in a globally competitive market, where pesticide companies, resellers, and agricultural cooperatives are responsible for the sales and distribution to the final consumer, in this case the farmer. In this context, this research aims to characterize the agricultural pesticide sector and the agricultural marketing system in the Northwest and Southwest Mesoregions of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This research consisted of a bibliographic research followed by a field survey of 40 companies, including owners and pesticides resale managers (32) and agricultural cooperatives (8). The results show a marketing system aimed at Rio Grande do Sul conducted mainly through the sale of supplier companies to resellers and agricultural cooperatives, which resell them to the farmer. The tendency of the agricultural pesticides market is to stabilize, even with the decline of the sector in Brazil in successive years, with a current resumption of growth, much of it driven by national and multinational supplier companies that invest in countries like Brazil.

The Structure and Function of the Bacterial Osmotically Inducible Protein Y

The ability to adapt to osmotically diverse and fluctuating environments is critical to the survival and resilience of bacteria that colonize the human gut and urinary tract. Environmental stress often provides cross-protection against other challenges and increases antibiotic tolerance of bacteria. Thus, it is critical to understand how E. coli and other microbes survive and adapt to stress conditions. The osmotically inducible protein Y (OsmY) is significantly upregulated in response to hypertonicity. Yet its function remains unknown for decades. We determined the solution structure and dynamics of OsmY by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which revealed that the two Bacterial OsmY and Nodulation (BON) domains of the protein are flexibly linked under low- and high-salinity conditions. In-cell solid-state NMR further indicates that there are no gross structural changes in OsmY as a function of osmotic stress. Using cryo-electron and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we show that OsmY attenuates plasmolysis-induced structural changes in E. coli and improves the time to growth resumption after osmotic upshift. Structure-guided mutational and functional studies demonstrate that exposed hydrophobic residues in the BON1 domain are critical for the function of OsmY. We find no evidence for membrane interaction of the BON domains of OsmY, contrary to current assumptions. Instead, at high ionic strength, we observe an interaction with the water channel, AqpZ. Thus, OsmY does not play a simple structural role in E. coli but may influence a cascade of osmoregulatory functions of the cell.

Abstract PO1-05-08: Enhanced ER+ tumor growth inhibition of fulvestrant from effective oral delivery yielding elevated plasma concentrations

Abstract Fulvestrant has been a backbone of endocrine therapy (ET) for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) for over 20 years due to its nanomolar potency, purely antagonistic behavior, and well-tolerated adverse event (AE) profile. It remains the only selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) approved in ER+/HER2- mBC regardless of ESR1 mutation status. While ESR1 mutations reduce fulvestrant binding affinity, they do not implicitly lead to acquired resistance as with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and can be overcome by increasing exposure.1 Further, preclinical evidence suggests that higher exposure to fulvestrant correlates with higher efficacy in rodents.2 Unfortunately, fulvestrant is currently delivered at its maximum feasible dose due to its poor solubility and a lack of effective drug delivery technologies. In response, several novel oral SERDs have been brought into clinical development to improve upon the efficacy of fulvestrant. However, multiple have failed to prove superior to fulvestrant in its intramuscular (IM) injection formulation and improvements from elacestrant (EMERALD) and camizestrant (SERENA-2) are largely attributed to patients with ESR1 mutations after prior ETs. Therefore, enabling higher exposure of fulvestrant could prolong progression-free survival and improve quality of life for ET-naïve mBC patients and those that have progressed on ETs. VeraMorph has leveraged a proprietary oral drug delivery technology to overcome the limitations of fulvestrant’s poor solubility and potentially help mitigate acquired resistance by improving exposure via daily oral dosing. The oral dosages, which consist of a novel polymer-based soft gummy, stabilize fulvestrant in simulated intestinal media up to 5 mg/mL without influencing fulvestrant permeability or causing cytotoxic effects. Pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of oral fulvestrant in rodents have demonstrated maximum plasma concentrations up to 450 ng/mL, a level roughly 20 times that of the average exposure from the monthly IM formulation in clinical settings. PK studies also demonstrated that oral exposure increased with a roughly dose-proportional relationship, with a reduction in AUC from day 1 to day 8 upon repeat dosing. In a cell-derived xenograft (CDX) study utilizing ER+ MCF-7 tumors implanted in athymic nude mice, once daily dosing via oral gavage of oral fulvestrant at 125 mg/kg was able to achieve a statistically significant 55% reduction in tumor growth by day 42 relative to a 50 mg/kg dose of the IM formulation delivered subcutaneously once per week, which was determined to create an equivalent exposure to the monthly IM human dose in separate studies. Oral fulvestrant yielded no observed adverse effects up to 125 mg/kg in both the 42-day CDX study in mice or an 8-day safety study in rats. Further, onset of action and acquired resistance are being tested by monitoring cell viability (via the MTT assay) with MCF-7 cells exposed to time profiles of fulvestrant exposure resembling oral and monthly intramuscular delivery. The study demonstrated that oral dosing reaches minimal cell viability 1-2 weeks faster than IM dosing. Also, preliminary data suggests that the onset of acquired resistance (as demonstrated by a resumption of cell growth) may occur faster from the steady exposure of IM dosing relative to the modulation of daily oral dosing. These results suggest that oral fulvestrant has the potential to finally realize the full potential of fulvestrant as an effective ET for metastatic breast cancer with a well-tolerated AE profile, enhanced efficacy, and reduced susceptibility to acquired resistance with applicability across all mBC patients. 1 Brett JO, Spring LM, Bardia A, Wander SA (2021) Breast Cancer Research, 23(1):1–15. 2 Wardell SE, et. al. (2020) Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 179(1):67–77. Citation Format: Doug Godfrin, Matthew Butchbach. Enhanced ER+ tumor growth inhibition of fulvestrant from effective oral delivery yielding elevated plasma concentrations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-05-08.

Performance Enhancement of Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution through Coalescence-Induced Bubble Dynamics.

The evolution of electrogenerated gas bubbles during water electrolysis can significantly hamper the overall process efficiency. Promoting the departure of electrochemically generated bubbles during (water) electrolysis is therefore beneficial. For a single bubble, a departure from the electrode surface occurs when buoyancy wins over the downward-acting forces (e.g., contact, Marangoni, and electric forces). In this work, the dynamics of a pair of H2 bubbles produced during the hydrogen evolution reaction in 0.5 M H2SO4 using a dual platinum microelectrode system is systematically studied by varying the electrode distance and the cathodic potential. By combining high-speed imaging and electrochemical analysis, we demonstrate the importance of bubble-bubble interactions in the departure process. We show that bubble coalescence may lead to substantially earlier bubble departure as compared to buoyancy effects alone, resulting in considerably higher reaction rates at a constant potential. However, due to continued mass input and conservation of momentum, repeated coalescence events with bubbles close to the electrode may drive departed bubbles back to the surface beyond a critical current, which increases with the electrode spacing. The latter leads to the resumption of bubble growth near the electrode surface, followed by buoyancy-driven departure. While less favorable at small electrode spacing, this configuration proves to be very beneficial at larger separations, increasing the mean current up to 2.4 times compared to a single electrode under the conditions explored in this study.

PsmiR159b-PsMYB65 module functions in the resumption of bud growth after endodormancy by affecting the cell cycle in tree peony.

Bud endodormancy in perennial plants is a sophisticated system that adapts to seasonal climatic changes. Growth-promoting signals such as low temperature and gibberellins (GAs) are crucial for facilitating budbreak following endodormancy release (EDR). However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying GA-mediated budbreak in tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) remain unclear. In tree peony, the expression of PsmiR159b among three differentially expressed miR159 members was inhibited with the prolonged chilling, and overexpression of PsMIR159b delayed budbreak, whereas silencing PsmiR159b promoted budbreak after dormancy. PsMYB65, a downstream transcription factor in the GA pathway, was induced by prolonged chilling and exogenous GA3 treatments. PsMYB65 was identified as a target of PsmiR159b, and promoted budbreak in tree peony. RNA-seq of PsMYB65-slienced buds revealed significant enrichment in the GO terms regulation of 'cell cycle' and 'DNA replication' among differentially expressed genes. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that PsMYB65 directly bound to the promoter of the type-D cyclin gene PsCYCD3;1. Dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that PsMYB65 positively regulate PsCYCD3;1 expression, suggesting that miR159b-PsMYB65 module contributes to budbreak by influencing the cell cycle. Our findings revealed that the PsmiR159b-PsMYB65 module functioned in budbreak after dormancy by regulating cell proliferation, providing valuable insights into the endodormancy release regulation mechanism.

Polar accumulation of pyoverdin and exit from stationary phase.

Pyoverdin is a water-soluble metal-chelator synthesized by members of the genus Pseudomonas and used for the acquisition of insoluble ferric iron. Although freely diffusible in aqueous environments, preferential dissemination of pyoverdin among adjacent cells, fine-tuning of intracellular siderophore concentrations, and fitness advantages to pyoverdin-producing versus nonproducing cells, indicate control of location and release. Here, using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to track single cells in growing microcolonies of Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, we show accumulation of pyoverdin at cell poles. Accumulation occurs on cessation of cell growth, is achieved by cross-feeding in pyoverdin-nonproducing mutants and is reversible. Moreover, accumulation coincides with localization of a fluorescent periplasmic reporter, suggesting that pyoverdin accumulation at cell poles is part of the general cellular response to starvation. Compatible with this conclusion is absence of non-accumulating phenotypes in a range of pyoverdin mutants. Analysis of the performance of pyoverdin-producing and nonproducing cells under conditions promoting polar accumulation shows an advantage to accumulation on resumption of growth after stress. Examination of pyoverdin polar accumulation in a multispecies community and in a range of laboratory and natural species of Pseudomonas, including P. aeruginosa PAO1 and P. putida KT2440, confirms that the phenotype is characteristic of Pseudomonas.

Indukce organogeneze a multiplikace korkovníku amurského (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) v in vitro podmínkách

Amurk cork tree (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) is known for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, cholagogue, and antibacterial properties, and it is also a potential source of industrial cork. Shoot organogenesis and subsequent plant multiplication of Amur cork tree were established from mature seeds of trees growing on research plots in the Czech Republic. Germination percentage was increased by mechanical disruption of the seed coat, the highest number of germinated plants was achieved within 8–10 weeks of culture on MS medium containing 2 mg.l-1 BAP and 0,2 mg.l-1 NAA. Within 4 weeks of transfer to the multiplication medium containing 2 mg.l-1 BAP and 0,2 mg.l-1 NAA, chlorosis and reduced growth were observed in all cultured microcuttings. Lowering the BAP concentration to 0,4 mg.l-1 led to a resumption of growth, the newly emerging shoots and leaves were vital and the multiplication rate was around 90%. Our developed plant regeneration method may be useful in future studies on ex vitro establishment of in vitro derived plants.

Different metabolic adaptation strategies after overwintering in Eutrema sp. and Arabidopsis accessions under field conditions in Germany.

Successful overwintering is a prerequisite for high fitness in temperate perennials and winter annuals and is highly dependent on increased freezing tolerance and timely balancing of deacclimation with growth resumption in spring. To assess fitness costs associated with overwintering and elucidate metabolic mechanisms underlying winter survival and the switch from acclimated freezing tolerance to growth resumption, we performed a comparative field study using 14 Eutrema salsugineum accessions, E. halophilum, E. botschantzevii and 11 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions differing in freezing tolerance. Winter survival and reproductive fitness parameters were recorded and correlated with phenological stage and metabolite status during growth resumption in spring. The results revealed considerable intraspecific variation in winter survival, but survival rates of the extremophyte Eutrema were not inherently better. In both Eutrema and A. thaliana, improved winter survival was associated with reduced reproductive fitness. Metabolic analysis by GC-MS revealed intrinsic differences in the primary metabolism of the two genera during deacclimation. Eutrema contained higher levels of several amino and chlorogenic acids, while Arabidopsis had higher levels of several sugars and sugar conjugates. In both genera, increased levels of several soluble sugars were associated with increased winter survival, whereas myo-inositol has different roles in overwintering of Eutrema and A. thaliana. In addition, differences in amino acid metabolism and polyhydroxy acids levels after winter survival were found. The results provide strong evidence for a trade-off between increased winter survival and reproductive fitness in both Eutrema and Arabidopsis and document inherent differences in their metabolic strategies to survive winter.

Stem growth phenology, not canopy greening, constrains deciduous tree growth.

Canopy phenology is a widely used proxy for deciduous forest growth with various applications in terrestrial ecosystem modeling. Its use relies on common assumptions that canopy greening and stem growth are tightly coordinated processes, enabling predictions on the timing and the quantity of annual tree growth. Here, we present parallel observations of canopy and stem growth phenology and annual stem increment in around 90 deciduous forest trees with diffuse-porous (Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus, Carpinus betulus) or ring-porous (Quercus robur × petraea) wood anatomy. These data were collected in a mixed temperate forest at the Swiss-Canopy-Crane II site, in 4years with strongly contrasting weather conditions. We found that stem growth resumption lagged several weeks behind spring canopy greening in diffuse-porous but not in ring-porous trees. Canopy greening and stem growth resumption showed no or only weak signs of temporal coordination across the observation years. Within the assessed species, the seasonal timing of stem growth varied strongly among individuals, as trees with high annual increments resumed growth earlier and also completed their main growth earlier. The length of main growth activity had no influence on annual increments. Our findings not only challenge tight temporal coordination of canopy and stem growth phenology but also demonstrate that longer main growth activity does not translate into higher annual increments. This may compromise approaches modeling tree growth and forest productivity with canopy phenology and growth length.

Solar and Climatic Factors Affecting Tree-Ring Growth of Mountain Birch (Betula pubescens) beyond the Northern Timberline on Kola Peninsula, Northwestern Russia

A 105-year chronology (AD 1917–2021) was developed from mountain birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) from beyond the coniferous treeline on the Kola Peninsula in Northwestern Russia (68.86 N, 34.69 E). A total of 22 trees were cored, including the oldest living mountain birch of 105 years old. The highest correlations occurred for the May temperature (r = 0.39, p < 0.01) and July sunshine duration (r = −0.39, p < 0.05). The increase in radial growth in May seemed to be caused by snowmelt giving rise to soil temperature, which can lead to a resumption in radial growth after winter dormancy. The negative correlation with the July sunshine duration seemed to be connected to changes in the spectral composition of solar radiation in the red to far-red ratio in the end of the polar day in July. The application of wavelet coherency revealed a significant (>95%) connection between the radial growth of B. pubescens, and solar activity in frequency bands encompassed the main solar cycles: 5.5 years (the second harmonic of the Schwabe cycle), 11 years (the Schwabe cycle) and 22 years (the Hale cycle). The results show that the northernmost birch trees in Europe are suited for tree-ring research. This allows us to expand the area of dendrochronological research further beyond the conifer treeline above the Polar Circle.

In Vivo Phosphorylation of the Cytosolic Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Isozyme G6PD6 in Phosphate-Resupplied Arabidopsis thaliana Suspension Cells and Seedlings.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) catalyzes the first committed step of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP). Our recent phosphoproteomics study revealed that the cytosolic G6PD6 isozyme became hyperphosphorylated at Ser12, Thr13 and Ser18, 48 h following phosphate (Pi) resupply to Pi-starved (-Pi) Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures. The aim of the present study was to assess whether G6PD6 phosphorylation also occurs in shoots or roots following Pi resupply to -Pi Arabidopsis seedlings, and to investigate its relationship with G6PD activity. Interrogation of phosphoproteomic databases indicated that N-terminal, multi-site phosphorylation of G6PD6 and its orthologs is quite prevalent. However, the functions of these phosphorylation events remain unknown. Immunoblotting with an anti-(pSer18 phosphosite-specific G6PD6) antibody confirmed that G6PD6 from Pi-resupplied, but not -Pi, Arabidopsis cell cultures or seedlings (i.e., roots) was phosphorylated at Ser18; this correlated with a significant increase in extractable G6PD activity, and biomass accumulation. Peptide kinase assays of Pi-resupplied cell culture extracts indicated that G6PD6 phosphorylation at Ser18 is catalyzed by a Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (CDPK), which correlates with the 'CDPK-like' targeting motif that flanks Ser18. Our results support the hypothesis that N-terminal phosphorylation activates G6PD6 to enhance OPPP flux and thus the production of reducing power (i.e., NADPH) and C-skeletons needed to establish the rapid resumption of growth that ensures Pi-resupply to -Pi Arabidopsis.

Selectivity of atrazine to forage grasses through dose-response curve

This research aimed to evaluate the selectivity of atrazine applied in forage pre-emergence: Panicum maximum cv. Massai, Panicum maximum cv. Zuri and Panicum maximum cv. Tamani and Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã. A randomized block design was adopted, applying eight doses (8D, 4D, 2D, D, 1/2D, 1/4D, 1/8D and no dose, where D is the dose of atrazine 2,000 g ha- 1) with four replications each, in plastic vases with a capacity of four liters. The evaluation was performed visually, with scores from 0 to 100, where 0 was considered absence of injuries and 100 the death of the plant at 15, 30 and 60 days after application (DAA) and dry mass at 60 DAA. For each experiment, the data were submitted to analysis of variance with application of the F test. When the F test was significant, the atrazine doses were adjusted to log-logistic non-linear regression models. It can be concluded that Panicum maximum cv. Massai shows phytotoxicity at a dose of 2,000 g ha-1 with subsequent growth resumption at 30 and 60 DAA.

Genetic evidence for differential functions of figla and nobox in zebrafish ovarian differentiation and folliculogenesis

FIGLA and NOBOX are important oocyte-specific transcription factors. Both figla-/- and nobox-/- mutants showed all-male phenotype in zebrafish due to increased dominance of the male-promoting pathway. The early diversion towards males in these mutants has precluded analysis of their roles in folliculogenesis. In this study, we attenuated the male-promoting pathway by deleting dmrt1, a key male-promoting gene, in figla-/- and nobox-/- fish, which allows a sufficient display of defects in folliculogenesis. Germ cells in figla-/-;dmrt1-/- double mutant remained in cysts without forming follicles. In contrast, follicles could form well but exhibited deficient growth in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/- double mutants. Follicles in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/- ovary could progress to previtellogenic (PV) stage but failed to enter vitellogenic growth. Such arrest at PV stage suggested a possible deficiency in estrogen signaling. This was supported by lines of evidence in nobox-/-;dmrt1-/-, including reduced expression of ovarian aromatase (cyp19a1a) and level of serum estradiol (E2), regressed genital papilla (female secondary sex characteristics), and more importantly the resumption of vitellogenic growth by E2 treatment. Expression analysis suggested Nobox might regulate cyp19a1a by controlling Gdf9 and/or Bmp15. Our discoveries indicate that Figla is essential for ovarian differentiation and follicle formation whereas Nobox is important for driving subsequent follicle development.

Transport capacity is uncoupled with endodormancy breaking in sweet cherry buds: physiological and molecular insights

Transport capacity is uncoupled with endodormancy breaking in sweet cherry buds: physiological and molecular insights