Missing Link Research Articles

Are oligodendrocytes the missing link in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research?

Are oligodendrocytes the missing link in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research?

Corporate governance and SME performance: Is technological capability a missing link?

Purpose This paper aims to examine the role of technological capability in the relationship between corporate governance and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) performance. Design/methodology/approach Using panel data comprising 1,357 European SMEs from 2014 to 2020, this paper examines how technological capability acts as a mediator and moderator within the governance-performance nexus. Findings The results show a positive and significant link between corporate governance mechanisms and SME performance, as well as between technological capability and SME performance. In addition, this paper show that technological capability plays a crucial role in moderating and mediating the governance-performance relationship. Specifically, technological capability accentuates the positive effects of board size, the presence of outside directors and concentrated ownership on SME performance. Conversely, it attenuates the positive impacts of CEO duality and board gender diversity on SME performance. These results highlight corporate governance mechanisms and technological capability’s crucial role in significantly influencing SME performance. Practical implications The results suggest that SMEs should prioritize not only the implementation of effective corporate governance mechanisms but also the strategic utilization of technological innovations to boost performance. European policymakers are encouraged to enact supportive policies on technological innovation to strengthen the governance-performance dynamic. Originality/value This study contributes to the governance-performance literature by offering new insights into the critical role of technological capability, which has been previously explored in partial and fragmented ways.

Abstract 4139148: Mechanisms of Maternal Cardiovascular Disease Development in a Novel Mouse Model of Pregnancy-Induced Diabetes

Background: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) within 3 to 10 years following pregnancy. Endothelial dysfunction is a mechanism implicated in both hyperglycemia and CVDs, and it may constitute the missing link in this interaction. One reason for the lack of progress into the cardiovascular complications of GDM is the need for appropriate preclinical models that mimic human GDM. Also, the exact mechanisms mediating increased future cardiovascular risk in maternal with pregnancy-induced diabetes is unclear. Aim: To determine the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease in hormonal model of GDM. Methods: Sixteen week-old C57BL/6J female mice were treated with insulin receptor antagonist (S961) or saline (n=4) from the second trimester of pregnancy until delivery to develop a model of GDM. Glucose tolerance test was determined by glucometer and fasting insulin by colorimetry. Cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography (VEVO 3100) and pulse wave velocity was measured by Pulse Wave Doppler. Exercise tolerance test was performed on treadmill. Plasma endothelin-1 and nitrite were measured by ELISA and colorimetric assay. Aortic SIRT-1 was determined by western blot and aortic vascular reactivity was determined by wire myograph. Results: S961-induced GDM mice exhibit hyperglycemia (169.2 ± 3.6 vs. 105.5 ± 10.8mg/dL, P<0.004 ) and hyperinsulinemia (1.9 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1ng/ml , p<0.01 ) which mimics the condition observed in human GDM. Interestingly, S961-induced GDM mice went on to develop systolic and diastolic dysfunction, vascular stiffness (3.7 ± 0.1 vs. 3.1 ± 0.08m/s, p<0.005 ), exercise intolerance and increased thickness of the cardiac wall at 10 weeks post-delivery. Plasma ET-1 was elevated in our model during pregnancy (28.1 ± 1.7 vs. 5.2 ± 0.2pg/ml, p<0.002 ) and at 10 weeks post-delivery (19.9 ± 2.9 vs. 6.7 ± 0.7pg/ml, p<0.05 ). Circulating NO and aortic expression of sirtuin-1 (SIRT 1), that is involved in endothelial longevity is reduced in GDM mice. Additionally, vascular relaxation to acetylcholine was attenuated in S961-induced GDM mice. Conclusion: We have developed a novel mouse model of GDM similar to that observed in pregnant women by treatment with S961. Moreover, S961 treated mice develop cardiac dysfunction and vascular stiffness at 10 weeks post-delivery. Alterations in ET-1, SIRT 1, and NO levels may be responsible for the development of CVD in this model.

Affecting Charges and Structures of {Bi6} Architectures by 12‐Electron Transition Metal Fragments

AbstractMolecules based on polyatomic bismuth substructures are currently attracting a lot of attention owing to this heavy and essentially non‐toxic element's uncommon chemical and physical properties, which include unprecedented bonding properties. Hexaatomic {Bi6} substructures that underly more complex cluster structures were recently reported to adopt different structures or exhibit different structural details as a consequence of the charge of the {Bi6} unit. This leads to either crown‐shaped cycles for a nominal Bi66− or differently distorted trigonal prisms for compositions close to Bi62−. It was predicted by quantum chemistry that Bi64− should adopt a distinctly distorted boat‐like shape, yet a corresponding compound has remained elusive. Here, we report a proof of this assumption by the synthesis of [K(crypt‐222)]2[Bi6{Zn(hmds)}2] ⋅ 1.5THF (1), comprising a bimetallic [Bi6{Zn(hmds)}2]2− cluster that fulfills the prediction for the geometric and electronic structure of the missing link (crypt‐222=4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo‐[8.8.8]hexa‐cosane, hmds=hexamethyldisilazanid). A detailed quantum chemical study shows how the nature of Lewis‐acidic transition metal complexes—in particular, 12‐electron fragments—control and fine‐tune the resulting {Bi6} architectures in accordance with the degree of electron‐withdrawal from the polybismuthide core.

Amyloid-beta metabolism in age-related neurocardiovascular diseases.

Epidemiological evidence suggests the presence of common risk factors for the development and prognosis of both cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, heart, and peripheral vascular diseases. Accumulation of harmful blood signals may induce organotypic endothelial dysfunction affecting blood-brain barrier function and vascular health in age-related diseases. Genetic-, age-, lifestyle- or cardiovascular therapy-associated imbalance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide metabolism in the brain and periphery may be the missing link between age-related neurocardiovascular diseases. Genetic polymorphisms of genes related to Aβ metabolism, lifestyle modifications, drugs used in clinical practice, and Aβ-specific treatments may modulate Aβ levels, affecting brain, vascular, and cardiac diseases. This narrative review elaborates on the effects of interventions on Aβ metabolism in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and peripheral heart or vascular tissues. Implications for clinical applicability, gaps in knowledge, and future perspectives of Aβ as the link among age-related neurocardiovascular diseases are also discussed.

The ‘photosynthetic C1 pathway’ links carbon assimilation and growth in California poplar

Although primarily studied in relation to photorespiration, serine metabolism in chloroplasts may play a key role in plant CO2 fertilization responses by linking CO2 assimilation with growth. Here, we show that the phosphorylated serine pathway is part of a ‘photosynthetic C1 pathway’ and demonstrate its high activity in foliage of a C3 tree where it rapidly integrates photosynthesis and C1 metabolism contributing to new biomass via methyl transfer reactions, imparting a large natural 13C-depleted signature. Using 13CO2-labelling, we show that leaf serine, the S-methyl group of leaf methionine, pectin methyl esters, and the associated methanol released during cell wall expansion during growth, are directly produced from photosynthetically-linked C1 metabolism, within minutes of light exposure. We speculate that the photosynthetic C1 pathway is highly conserved across the photosynthetic tree of life, is responsible for synthesis of the greenhouse gas methane, and may have evolved with oxygenic photosynthesis by providing a mechanism of directly linking carbon and ammonia assimilation with growth. Although the rise in atmospheric CO2 inhibits major metabolic pathways like photorespiration, our results suggest that the photosynthetic C1 pathway may accelerate and represents a missing link between enhanced photosynthesis and plant growth rates during CO2 fertilization under a changing climate.

HnRNPA2B1 deacetylation by SIRT6 restrains local transcription and safeguards genome stability.

Repair of double strand breaks (DSBs) by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is vital for ensuring genome integrity. DSB repair is accompanied by local transcriptional repression in the vicinity of transcriptionally active genes, but the mechanism by which RBPs regulate transcriptional regulation is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that RBP hnRNPA2B1 functions as a RNA polymerase-associated factor that stabilizes the transcription complex under physiological conditions. Following a DSB, hnRNPA2B1 is released from damaged chromatin, reducing the efficiency of RNAPII complex assembly, leading to local transcriptional repression. Mechanistically, SIRT6 deacetylates hnRNPA2B1 at K113/173 residues, enforcing its rapid detachment from DSBs. This process disrupts the integrity of the RNAPII complex on active chromatin, which is a pre-requisite for transient but complete repression of local transcription. Functionally, the overexpression of an acetylation mimic stabilizes the transcription complex and facilitates the functioning of the transcription machinery. hnRNPA2B1 acetylation status was negatively correlated with SIRT6 expression, and acetylation mimic enhanced radio-sensitivity in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that hnRNPA2B1 is crucial for transcriptional repression. We have uncovered the missing link between DSB repair and transcriptional regulation in genome stability maintenance, highlighting the potential of hnRNPA2B1 as a therapeutic target.

Enhancing ambidextrous green innovation: the role of green supply chain integration, knowledge capabilities and technology dynamism in manufacturing

PurposeIn the context of the environmental degradation challenge in manufacturing firms, greening the supply chain (SC) is the most widely endorsed method to mitigate the adverse repercussions of climate change. Based on organizational learning and resource dependence theories, the aim of this research is to know how green supply chain external integration (GSCEI) and green supply chain internal integration (GSCII) influence ambidextrous green innovation (AGI). It also examines the mediating roles of green absorptive capacity (GAC) and green knowledge integration capability (GKIC), as well as the moderating role of green technology dynamism (GTD).Design/methodology/approachTo assess the hypothesized model, data were obtained with 386 questionnaires from managers employed in manufacturing firms in Pakistan applying a cross-sectional approach. A partial least square structural equation modeling technique was implemented to evaluate the data.FindingsThe results revealed that GSCEI and GSCII substantially impact AGI. Moreover, GAC and GKIC serve as mediators between GSCEI and AGI. GAC and GKIC also intervene in the relationship between GSCII and AGI. GTD was significant as a moderator for the correlation between GSCEI and AGI. However, it does not moderate the relationship between GSCII and AGI.Practical implicationsThis research offers significant comprehension and an innovative approach for manufacturing organizations to curb environmental corrosion by stimulating AGI through green SC integration. It suggests to practitioners that integrating internal knowledge with external partners expands communication and collaboration to ensure that resources connected with environmental preservation flow smoothly.Originality/valueThis research is a valuable addition to the field, as it explores for the first time the missing link among the studied constructs. It opened the black box of how knowledge-related capabilities facilitate knowledge resources to elicit AGI, an area that has not yet been explored.

Structure-performance relationship in tailored poly(amide-sulfone) membranes for desalination

Poly(amide-sulfone)s were considered the missing link for water desalination membranes, owing to their exceptional properties resulting from the synergism effects of two amide and sulfone structures. To achieve this, a sulfone-based diamine was first synthesized by reacting 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone with 3-aminophenol. Subsequently, alternative copolymers of poly(amide-sulfone) were prepared via polycondensation reactions of the synthesized diamine monomer and various diacid chlorides including adipoyl dichloride, isophthaloyl dichloride, and terephthaloyl dichloride. The chemical structures were approved using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Porous membranes of the polymers as substrates were prepared by solution casting and phase-inversion method. To form thin film composite membranes, a thin polyamide layer was created through interfacial polymerization on the top surface of prepared substrates using m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride. After characterization, the performance of all membranes was assessed by evaluating pure water flux, NaCl rejection, and flux recovery ratio using a cross-flow filtration system. The impact of the amide group within the poly(amide-sulfone) substrate structure on thin-film efficiency was explored. Results, revealed that the structure significantly influenced membrane performance. Specifically, the highest pure water flux was 549.50 L.m−2.h−1. Also, NaCl rejection of 98.27 % and flux recovery ratio of 94.21 % were observed among them at pressure of 10 bar. This study provided valuable insights for developing novel poly(amide-sulfone) membranes tailored for desalination applications.

On Tour with Rachmaninoff: Analysing the Programmes from his 1924/25 Season

Abstract Sergei Rachmaninoff is widely regarded as one of the great pianists of the twentieth century. In a research project that has stretched over two decades, I have compiled data on Rachmaninoff’s performance career, comprising research in archives as well as published sources in Russian and English languages. The resulting Rachmaninoff Performance Diary has been publicly available online since 2011. A missing link in the data has been the complete programmatic details of over 1,080 solo recitals. In 2006, I discovered research that was apparently unrecognized in its completeness in an archive of the Library of Congress, undertaken and donated by Rachmaninoff’s sister-in-law, Dr Sophia Satina. In this article, I examine the details of the 1924/25 season, which was a critical time for Rachmaninoff: after the collapse of his personal fortune caused by the Russian Revolution, he at last had achieved sufficient success and financial security from his hectic touring to allow him to return to composition the following year, his ‘sabbatical’ break of 1926. From the data, a clearer picture emerges of how Rachmaninoff varied his repertoire in his many concert appearances and recording sessions, showing how frequency of performance and, in instances, apparent self-assessment of his own music, were key factors.

Exploring the health challenges of affected people in the 2023 Khoy earthquake: a content analysis

BackgroundAn earthquake has significant effects on health and livelihood of people. It is important to identify health needs and challenges of earthquake victims and use them to prepare for other possible earthquakes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explain the challenges and health needs of earthquake victims in Iran.MethodsThis was a qualitative study with 25 participation who were affected by the earthquake in Khoy City, and were selected using purposive sampling by snowball method technique in 2023. The study data was collected through open and semi-structured interviews. To analyze the data, the conventional content analysis with an inductive approach was used.ResultsThe results show two main categories. The main categories “Management as a missing link in unexpected events” includes 9 subcategories: “The challenge of access to emergency resources and health facilities”, “Feeling of abandonment in medical personnel”, “Weakness in the structural safety and infrastructure of the health system”, “Logistical challenges”, “Risk management training”, “Crisis response management challenges”, “Weakness in the intelligent relief system”, “Management of secondary incidents”, and “Need to provide medical services and disease prevention”. Also, the main categories “Emotional actions of people in crisis” consist of 5 subcategories: “Overexcitement”, “Psychological vulnerability of children”, “Physical complaints caused by stress”, “Confusion caused by the lack of reliable information sources” and “Negative effects of living together with several families”.ConclusionTo help deal with threats and other challenges in the earthquake crisis, countries should try to improve their capacity to manage natural disasters.

Syntax and the brain: language evolution as the missing link(ing theory)?

This paper provides proof of concept that neurolinguistic research on human language syntax would benefit greatly by expanding its scope to include evolutionary considerations, as well as non-propositional functions of language, including naming/nicknaming and verbal aggression. In particular, an evolutionary approach can help circumvent the so-called granularity problem in studying the processing of syntax in the brain, that is, the apparent mismatch between the abstract postulates of syntax (e.g. Tense Phrase (TP), Determiner Phrase (DP), etc.) and the concrete units of neurobiology (neurons, axons, etc.). First, we decompose syntax into its evolutionary primitives, identifying one of the earliest stages as a simple, flat combination of just one verb and one noun. Next, we identify proxies ("living fossils") of such a stage in present-day languages, including compounds and small clauses, lacking at least some layers of structure, e.g. TPs and DPs. These proxies of ancestral language have been subjected to fMRI neuroimaging experiments. We discuss the finding that less hierarchical small clauses, in contrast to full sentences with TPs and DPs, show reduced activation in the left Broca's area (BA) 44 and the right basal ganglia, consistent with the hypothesis that more recent, more elaborate syntax requires more connectivity in the Broca's-basal ganglia network, whose neuronal density has been significantly enhanced in recent evolution, implicating mutations in FOXP2 and other genes. We also discuss the finding that the processing of ancestral verb-noun compounds, which are typically used for (derogatory) naming and nicknaming, shows enhanced activation in the right fusiform gyrus area (BA 37), the area that is implicated in the processing of metaphoricity and imageability, but also in naming and face recognition, opening up an intriguing possibility that the enhanced face recognition in humans was facilitated by the early emergence of a simple syntactic strategy for naming. The considerations in this paper are consistent with the hypothesis of a gradual gene-culture co-evolution of syntax and the brain, targeting cortico-striatal brain networks. It is also of note that a sound grounding in neurobiology of language should in turn inform syntactic theories themselves.

Axiological reflection for nursing ethics education: The missing link in understanding value conflicts.

Texts from various areas of the world highlight the importance of moral values like compassion and integrity in healthcare. Such values are held in high esteem by healthcare organisations and are actively 'taught' within nursing ethics education to ensure their presence within the future workforce. With such an emphasis, it is easy to overlook that moral values are not the only values that people, including nurses, hold. Other personal values - which may or may not conflict with moral values - are simultaneously present within individuals. Therefore, moral behaviour cannot be predicted solely by the presence/absence of certain moral values. Instead, it depends on how these integrate into an individual's broader values system.Using Schwartz's axiological Theory of Basic Human Values as a framework, I argue that moral values are but one part of an individual's greater personal values spectrum, which also includes, for instance, hedonism, achievement, and power. Within this spectrum, values are ordered hierarchically, influencing behaviour based on relative priority. When a conflict arises between moral and other personal values, the prioritisation of moral values is a requirement for moral behaviour.I discuss how socialisation in suboptimal clinical practice environments can cause moral values to be deprioritised and argue that the development of practical reasoning skills is paramount to learning to balance one's values and guide decision-making. I advocate for the integration of (meta-)axiological reflection - characterised by introspection and aimed at developing a deeper understanding of one's personal values spectrum - within nursing ethics education. This involves exploring the origin, meaning, and perceived relative importance of one's different personal values. By incorporating specific reflective exercises, students can increase self-awareness/insight and enhance their ability to recognise situations where conflicts between their moral values and other personal values may occur, which is likely to benefit moral decision-making in clinical practice.

Regulation and Safety of Cosmetics: Pre- and Post-Market Considerations for Adverse Events and Environmental Impacts

Cosmetic products have been increasingly regulated, particularly in Europe. With the introduction of the cosmetic regulation in 2013, stricter quality standards were implemented, surpassing those set by the 1976 legislation. The primary objective of these regulations is to safeguard consumer safety during the use of cosmetic products. Despite these advancements, certain regulatory gaps remain, indicating the need for more effective measures to enhance human and environmental health protection. Considering the aforementioned, this work aims to provide an overview of the current Cosmetics Regulation, highlighting the weakest cornerstones that represent the missing link keeping the core objective from being achieved. While there is ongoing reliance on historical data from animal studies, efforts are actively underway to replace these methods with new new approach methodologies for risk assessment. Additionally, regulatory authorities continue to improve environmental considerations in the assessment process. These measures, along with enhanced surveillance systems, are gradually addressing existing gaps and contributing to a more robust regulatory framework that balances market access with consumer safety. Legally non-compliant—or perhaps compliant but unknowingly dangerous—products may be used by people who relativize them as inherently safe, leading to adverse events. Whether caused by an underlying disease or purely by the chemical’s toxicity, these may never come to the attention of the authorities as they are generally under-reported, making it unfeasible to implement corrective or preventive measures to address their root cause. To illustrate, non-compliant products that have been detected by the Portuguese authority, INFARMED, I. P., from January 2018 to September 2023 are discussed, which were found to be potentially dangerous to human health and, therefore, withdrawn from the market.

Social processes as the missing link: cross-sectionally testing a conceptual model on social mediators of early psychopathological development.

Research suggests that most mental health conditions have their onset in the critically social period of adolescence. Yet, we lack understanding of the potential social processes underlying early psychopathological development. We propose a conceptual model where daily-life social interactions and social skills form an intermediate link between known risk and protective factors (adverse childhood experiences, bullying, social support, maladaptive parenting) and psychopathology in adolescents - that is explored using cross-sectional data. N = 1913 Flemish adolescent participants (Mean age = 13.8; 63% girls) were assessed as part of the SIGMA study, a large-scale, accelerated longitudinal study of adolescent mental health and development. Self-report questionnaires (on risk/protective factors, social skills, and psychopathology) were completed during class time; daily-life social interactions were measured during a subsequent six-day experience-sampling period. Registered uncorrected multilevel linear regression results revealed significant associations between all risk/protective factors and psychopathology, between all risk/protective factors and social processes, and between all social processes and psychopathology. Social processes (social skills, quantity/quality of daily social interactions) were uniquely predicted by each risk/protective factor and were uniquely associated with both general and specific types of psychopathology. For older participants, some relationships between social processes and psychopathology were stronger. Unique associations between risk/protective factors and psychopathology signify the distinct relevance of these factors for youth mental health, whereas the broad associations with social processes support these processes as broad correlates. Results align with the idea of a social pathway toward early psychopathology, although follow-up longitudinal research is required to verify any mediation effect.

Conviviality in Nigerian higher education institutions: decolonizing the contents for cutting-edge research

Given the state of polity and lack of recognition, we argue that there is a myriad of problems in Nigerian higher education institutions (NHEIs). These problems have impeded the progress of academia across all the thirty-six states of the country. In addressing research, teaching, community service, and the impact of NHEIs, we seek the tool of conviviality. By conviviality, we mean the state of incompleteness that challenges every individual and group to be open-minded in their relationships, claims, being, belonging, and articulations of identities. The paper employs a critical lens to understand the indefatigable tool of conviviality among researchers, academics, and analysts for promoting cutting-edge research. This is done specifically to address, propose, and re-energise the missing link that exists in modern Nigerian higher education institutions.

Unleashing the missing link between work-family conflict and affective commitment: implications for health professionals

PurposeElucidating on the theoretical framework of conservation of resource and social identity theories, we aim to explore the association between work-family conflict (bidirectional, i.e. work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC)) and affective commitment (AC) via emotional exhaustion (EE). Besides, the buffering effect of organizational identification (OI) in the bi-directional work-family conflict and EE relationship and perceived interactional justice (PIJ) between EE and AC were also tested.Design/methodology/approachA multi-time study was conducted in which data from 675 doctors working in different public hospitals across India were gathered at three-time intervals (T1, T2 and T3). The collected data were then analyzed using statistical software tools, namely AMOS 24 and SPSS v23.FindingsIt was indicated that WFC and FWC have a significant negative association with AC. EE was shown to mediate the relationship between bi-directional work-family conflict and AC. Additionally, OI buffered the relationship between WFC, FWC and EE. Moreover, PIJ was established as a moderating factor in the relationship between EE and AC.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new insight into the work-family conflict-AC relationship by examining it through the mediating role of EE. It offers a nuanced understanding by establishing the buffering effects of OI in the bi-directional WFC and EE. To our knowledge, this research represents the inaugural attempt to investigate the moderating influence of PIJ in the relationship between EE and AC.

How Does Shareholding by Passive Institutional Investors Impact the Corporate Governance of European Firms?

ABSTRACTResearch Question/IssueThe passive investment (PI) trend, characterized by the increasing inflow of investment funds into PI strategies, has resulted in an increase in the share of corporate ownership held via investments in PI strategies. This paper investigates this trend's consequential impact on European companies' corporate governance (CG).Research Findings/InsightsWe find that higher ownership by passive institutional investors (PIIs) is associated with fewer female directors, reduced independence in audit and nomination committees, and higher executive pay, negatively impacting CG. Nevertheless, our findings show that PIIs can increase the probability that a company has a policy regarding the adequate experience of board members and equal treatment of shareholders.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsWe hypothesize that the level of ownership could be the missing link connecting mixed theories about the impact of ownership by PIIs on the CG of companies they invest in. A curvilinear relationship between the two could allow conflicting theories to coexist in one framework. We find weak evidence for a curvilinear relationship, but this relationship may become more prevalent if PII ownership of European companies increases because of regulatory changes.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsSome critics have proposed limiting PII voting rights, but our findings suggest that the effect of PII ownership may become less negative beyond a certain level of ownership and that PIIs may play a positive role in enhancing board experience and shareholder equity policies. Restricting PIIs may not necessarily be beneficial for the CG of companies they invest in.

A scaffold protein manages the biosynthesis of steroidal defense metabolites in plants.

Solanaceae plants produce two major classes of valuable sterol derived natural products-steroidal glycoalkaloids and steroidal saponins-from a common cholesterol precursor. Attempts to heterologously produce these molecules have consistently failed, although the genes responsible for each biosynthetic step have been identified. Here we identify a cellulose synthase like protein, an unexpected biosynthetic component that interacts with the early pathway enzymes, enabling steroidal scaffolds production in plants. Moreover, knockout of this gene in black nightshade, Solanum nigrum resulted in plants lacking both steroidal alkaloids and saponins. Unexpectedly, these knockout plants also revealed that steroidal saponins deter serious agricultural insect pests. This discovery provides the missing link to engineer these high value steroidal molecules, and also pinpoints the ecological role for the steroidal saponins.

A Visualized Exploration of Educational Robotics Over Five Decades

With the swift development of information technologies, educational robotics has been widely used in education, generally leading to improved educational outcomes. While educational robotics has gained popularity and achieved success in education, few researchers have conducted bibliographic analyses in this field. This study complements this missing link by visualizing the top ten authors, organizations, countries, keywords, authors, and sources via VOSviewer. The clustering techniques in CitNetExplorer were used to cluster the publications, where citation networks and qualitative analyses were developed to discuss the topics including the learning outcomes, social and interactive skills, working memory, and higher-order skills in the educational robotics-based context. This study concludes that effective educational robotics can exert a positive influence on the learning outcomes and robotics can improve the development of proximal zones in human brains, conducive to the learning outcomes. Future researchers may focus their attention on robotic competitions, affective features, and evaluative and analytical frameworks to improve educational robotics-based educational effectiveness.