Basal ABA signaling balances transpiration and photosynthesis.

The balance between the CO2 entry for photosynthesis and transpiration water loss is crucial for plant growth, and ABA signaling can affect this equilibrium. To test how ABA balances plant growth and environmental adaptation, we performed molecular genetics studies in the biotech crop Nicotiana benthamiana under well-watered or drought conditions. Studies on ABA signaling in crops are complicated by the multigenic nature of the PYR/PYL/RCAR ABA receptor family and its functional redundancy, which is particularly challenging in polyploid plants. We have generated a pentuple pyl mutant in the allotetraploid Nicotiana benthamiana through CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. The pentuple mutant is impaired in 2 NbPYL1-like and 3 NbPYL8-like receptors, affecting the regulation of transpiration and several ABA-dependent transcriptional processes. RNA-seq and metabolite analysis revealed that the synthesis of galactinol, an essential precursor for the osmoprotective raffinose family of oligosaccharides, is ABA-dependent and impaired in the mutant under osmotic stress. In contrast, our results show that, under well-watered conditions, partial inactivation of ABA signaling leads to higher CO2 entry and photosynthesis in the mutant than in WT. Photosynthesis analyses revealed an increased CO2 diffusion capacity mediated by higher stomatal and mesophyll conductances, and higher substomatal CO2 concentration in the pentuple mutant. RNA-seq analyses revealed that genes associated with cell wall loosening (e.g., expansins) and porosity were strongly downregulated by ABA in WT. In summary, a partial relief of the ABA control on transpiration mediated by ABA receptors positively affects photosynthesis when water is not limited, at the expense of reduced water use efficiency.

Ophthalmology Optical Coherence Tomography Databases for Artificial Intelligence Algorithm: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Imaging plays a pivotal role in eye assessment. With the introduction of advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), the focus has shifted to imaging datasets in ophthalmology. While disparities and health inequalities hidden within data are well-documented, the ophthalmology field faces specific challenges to the creation and maintenance of datasets. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal pathologies, making it valuable for AI applications. This review aims to identify and compare the landscape of publicly available optical coherence tomography databases for AI applications. METHODS: We conducted a literature review on OCT and AI articles with publicly accessible datasets, using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The review retrieved 183 articles, and after full-text analysis, 50 articles were included. From the included articles were identified 8 publicly available OCT datasets, focusing on patient demographics and clinical details for thorough assessment and comparison. RESULTS: The resulting datasets encompass 154,313 images collected from Spectralis, Cirrus HD, Topcon 3D, and Bioptigen devices. These datasets included normal exams, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic maculopathy, among others. Comprehensive demographic information is available in one dataset and the USA is the most represented population. DISCUSSION: Current publicly available OCT databases for AI applications exhibit limitations, stemming from their non-representative nature and the lack of comprehensive demographic information. Limited datasets hamper research and equitable AI development. To promote equitable AI algorithmic development in ophthalmology, there is a need for the creation and dissemination of more representative datasets.

Representaciones sociales acerca de la donación de órganos en enfermeros de una unidad de paciente crítico / Social representations by nurses working at a critical patient unit care about organ donations / Representações sociais dos profissionais de enfermagem da unidade do paciente crítico adulto em relação à doação de órgãos

Chile posee una de las tasas más bajas de donación de órganos a nivel mundial, llegando a siete donantes efectivos por millón de habitantes. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer las representaciones sociales de los enfermeros en una unidad de cuidados críticos en relación a la donación de órganos. Se trata de un estudio de tipo cualitativo y se utilizó Teoría Fundada como enfoque teórico - metodológico. Se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad, que luego fueron transcritas y codificadas. En el análisis de las entrevistas se formaron códigos, luego se agruparon según semánticas por categorías, y se reagruparon para formar las familias o supra categorías correspondientes. En base a los discursos emergieron once categorías. Posteriormente se llegó a la formación de tres familias: sentimientos sobre la donación de órganos, conociendo la donación de órganos y gestión del proceso de donación de órganos. Se pudo determinar que el proceso de donación de órganos es complejo, presentando diversas causas expresadas por los profesionales, las que aparentemente en ocasiones condicionan una respuesta por parte de los familiares del donante. Las experiencias de los enfermeros generan sentimientos de diversa índole con respecto a la donación de órganos; sin embargo, reconocen su importancia, visualizándola como una posibilidad de sobrevida.

Chile has one of the lowest organ donation rates in the world, seven donors per million. The aim of this research is to understand the social representations of nurses working in a critical care unit in relation to organ donation. This research is a qualitative study with a Grounded Theory perspective. Data from interviews with professional nurses was collected, transcribed and coded. Data was then grouped into eleven categories in three main families: the feelings about organ donation, organ donation knowledge and the management of the process of organ donation. It was determined that the organ procurement process is complex due to various reasons expressed by the professionals interviewed, which sometimes condition the response given by the donor's relatives. Nurses has different feelings about organ donation; however, they recognize its importance, viewing it as a chance of survival

Chile tem uma das mais baixas taxas de doação de órgãos no mundo, atingindo 7 doadores efetivos por milhão de habitantes. O objetivo desta pesquisa é compreender as representações sociais de enfermeiros em unidade de cuidados intensivos em relação à doação de órgãos. Esta pesquisa corresponde a um estudo qualitativo e Teoria foi usada Fundado como abordagem teórico - metodológica. entrevistas, que foram então transcritas codificado realizada. Na análise de entrevistas com códigos aspectos importantes foram formados, em seguida, eles foram agrupados de acordo com as categorias semânticas, e reagrupadas para formar famílias ou acima categorias correspondentes. Com base nos discursos emergiram onze categorias. Posteriormente, ele deu à formação de 3 famílias: sentimentos de doação de órgãos, doação de órgão conhecer e gestão de processos de doação de órgãos. Em conclusão, foi determinado que o processo de captação de órgãos é complexo, apresentando várias razões expressas por profissionais que, aparentemente, por vezes, determinam uma resposta por parentes do doador. As experiências de enfermeiros gerar sentimentos de vários tipos sobre a doação de órgãos, no entanto, eles reconhecem a sua importância, vendo-a como uma chance de sobrevivência