Dynamic Translational Landscape Revealed by Genome-Wide Ribosome Profiling under Drought and Heat Stress in Potato.

The yield and quality of potatoes, an important staple crop, are seriously threatened by high temperature and drought stress. In order to deal with this adverse environment, plants have evolved a series of response mechanisms. However, the molecular mechanism of potato's response to environmental changes at the translational level is still unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptome- and ribosome-profiling assays with potato seedlings growing under normal, drought, and high-temperature conditions to reveal the dynamic translational landscapes for the first time. The translational efficiency was significantly affected by drought and heat stress in potato. A relatively high correlation (0.88 and 0.82 for drought and heat stress, respectively) of the fold changes of gene expression was observed between the transcriptional level and translational level globally based on the ribosome-profiling and RNA-seq data. However, only 41.58% and 27.69% of the different expressed genes were shared by transcription and translation in drought and heat stress, respectively, suggesting that the transcription or translation process can be changed independently. In total, the translational efficiency of 151 (83 and 68 for drought and heat, respectively) genes was significantly changed. In addition, sequence features, including GC content, sequence length, and normalized minimal free energy, significantly affected the translational efficiencies of genes. In addition, 28,490 upstream open reading frames (uORFs) were detected on 6463 genes, with an average of 4.4 uORFs per gene and a median length of 100 bp. These uORFs significantly affected the translational efficiency of downstream major open reading frames (mORFs). These results provide new information and directions for analyzing the molecular regulatory network of potato seedlings in response to drought and heat stress.

COMPARISON OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS TO IMPROVE HEARING AFTER OBLITERATION OF THE MASTOID CAVITY.

BACKGROUND: Indications for removal of mastoid air cells and obliterating the mastoid cavity vary considerably from surgeon to surgeon. Various obliteration techniques have been recommended to eliminate open cavity problems. Here we investigated the difference between natural and synthetic filling materials to improve hearing after obliteration of the mastoid cavity. SETTING: Academic tertiary care medical centers (Al-Azhar and Ain-Shams University Hospitals). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study included 60 patients divided into 2 equal groups. METHODS: The study was conducted over 6 years from 2008-14. The mean follow-up time was 3.5 years. RESULTS: We found that serviceable hearing (≤30 dB) was obtained after surgery in 52 patients (86.6%). In cases where natural materials were used in reconstruction, the average gain in AC was 25.5 dB and in BC it was 1.1 dB, while in cases where synthetic materials were used the average gain in AC was 26 dB and in BC it was 0.5 dB. There was significant improvement in the mean postoperative AC compared to the mean preoperative AC. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the use of natural and synthetic materials in improving postoperative hearing. CONCLUSIONS: Both natural and synthetic materials help in improvement of hearing after obliteration of the mastoid cavity. There is no statistically significant difference between the materials.

Sperm quality, birth rates and the environment in Flanders (Belgium).

The relationship between fertility and pollution is unclear. We evaluated sperm quality of 562 candidate donors (years 1977-2004), births rates (births), pollutants, and the number of females in reproductive age (NFRA, 20-39 years) in Flanders. Total sperm count did not change significantly with time. Births correlated with sperm morphology (r=0.60, P=0.0027). Continuing decline in sperm morphology with time is confirmed, statistically unrelated to pollutants. Grade A sperm motility declined (1977-1992) with gradual incomplete recovery thereafter. Multiple regression analysis (1995-2002) indicated dioxin (negative association) as the only independent variable for grade A motility (r-adjusted co-efficient of determination "r-adjusted"=0.76, P=0.008). Births and pollution were positively associated but births were only dependent on NFRA (r-adjusted=0.91, P<0.001). Our results suggest a relation between dioxin and sperm motility, partially reversible upon reduction of environmental dioxin. Though significantly correlated with sperm morphology, births are primarily associated with demographic factors.