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1. The changes in plant and soil C pools and their C : N stoichiometry control grassland N retention under elevated N inputs

   https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2517  

   Yang, Sen; Liu, Weixing; Guo, Lulu; Wang, Chengzhang; Deng, Meifeng; Peng, Ziyang; Liu, Lingli (March 2022, Ecological Applications)
2. A Mini‐Review of Microstructural Control during Composite Fiber Spinning

   https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.6350  

   Xu, Weiheng; Jambhulkar, Sayli; Ravichandran, Dharneedar; Zhu, Yuxiang; Lanke, Shantanu; Bawareth, Mohammed; Song, Kenan (December 2021, Polymer International)

   From wool to Kevlar, one-dimensional (1D) fiber has experienced the transition from clothing materials to structural applications in the past centuries. However, the recent advancements in tooling engineering and manufacturing processes have attracted much attention from both academia and industry to fabricate novel, versatile fibers with unique microstructures and unprecedented properties. This mini-review focuses on the fabrication techniques of porous, coaxial, layer-by-layer, and segmented fibers with continuous solution and melt fiber spinning methods. In each section of this review article, the unique structure-related applications, including intelligent devices, healthcare devices, energy storage systems, wearable electronics, and sustainable products, are discussed and evaluated. Finally, the combination of additive manufacturing (AM) for 1D fiber patterning in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) devices, in addition to challenges in the reviewed fiber microstructures, is briefly introduced in the conclusion section. 

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3. occTest : An integrated approach for quality control of species occurrence data

   https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13847  

   Serra‐Diaz, Josep M; Borderieux, Jeremy; Maitner, Brian; Boonman, Coline_C F; Park, Daniel; Guo, Wen‐Yong; Callebaut, Arnaud; Enquist, Brian J; Svenning, Jens‐C; Merow, Cory (July 2024, Global Ecology and Biogeography)

   Abstract AimSpecies occurrence data are valuable information that enables one to estimate geographical distributions, characterize niches and their evolution, and guide spatial conservation planning. Rapid increases in species occurrence data stem from increasing digitization and aggregation efforts, and citizen science initiatives. However, persistent quality issues in occurrence data can impact the accuracy of scientific findings, underscoring the importance of filtering erroneous occurrence records in biodiversity analyses. InnovationWe introduce an R package, occTest, that synthesizes a growing open‐source ecosystem of biodiversity cleaning workflows to prepare occurrence data for different modelling applications. It offers a structured set of algorithms to identify potential problems with species occurrence records by employing a hierarchical organization of multiple tests. The workflow has a hierarchical structure organized in testPhases(i.e. cleaning vs. testing)that encompass different testBlocksgrouping differenttestTypes(e.g.environmental outlier detection), which may use differenttestMethods(e.g.Rosner test, jacknife,etc.). Four differenttestBlockscharacterize potential problems in geographic, environmental, human influence and temporal dimensions. Filtering and plotting functions are incorporated to facilitate the interpretation of tests. We provide examples with different data sources, with default and user‐defined parameters. Compared to other available tools and workflows, occTest offers a comprehensive suite of integrated tests, and allows multiple methods associated with each test to explore consensus among data cleaning methods. It uniquely incorporates both coordinate accuracy analysis and environmental analysis of occurrence records. Furthermore, it provides a hierarchical structure to incorporate future tests yet to be developed. Main conclusionsoccTest will help users understand the quality and quantity of data available before the start of data analysis, while also enabling users to filter data using either predefined rules or custom‐built rules. As a result, occTest can better assess each record's appropriateness for its intended application. 

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4. Genetic control of photoprotection and photosystem II operating efficiency in plants

   https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18980  

   Sahay, Seema; Grzybowski, Marcin; Schnable, James C.; Głowacka, Katarzyna (May 2023, New Phytologist)

   Summary Photoprotection against excess light via nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) is indispensable for plant survival. However, slow NPQ relaxation under low light conditions can decrease yield of field‐grown crops up to 40%.Using semi‐high‐throughput assay, we quantified the kinetics of NPQ and photosystem II operating efficiency (ΦPSII) in a replicated field trial of more than 700 maize (Zea mays) genotypes across 2 yr. Parametrized kinetics data were used to conduct genome‐wide association studies.For six candidate genes involved in NPQ and ΦPSII kinetics in maize the loss of function alleles of orthologous genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) were characterized: two thioredoxin genes, and genes encoding a transporter in the chloroplast envelope, an initiator of chloroplast movement, a putative regulator of cell elongation and stomatal patterning, and a protein involved in plant energy homeostasis.Since maize and Arabidopsis are distantly related, we propose that genes involved in photoprotection and PSII function are conserved across vascular plants. The genes and naturally occurring functional alleles identified here considerably expand the toolbox to achieving a sustainable increase in crop productivity. 

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5. Post‐transcriptional control of the essential enzyme MurF by a small regulatory RNA in Brucella abortus

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mmi.15207  

   King, Kellie A.; Benton, Angela H.; Caudill, Mitchell T.; Stoyanof, S. Tristan; Kang, Lin; Michalak, Pawel; Lahmers, Kevin K.; Dunman, Paul M.; DeHart, Tanner G.; Ahmad, Saadman S.; et al (December 2023, Molecular Microbiology)

   Abstract Brucella abortusis a facultative, intracellular, zoonotic pathogen that resides inside macrophages during infection. This is a specialized niche whereB. abortusencounters various stresses as it navigates through the macrophage. In order to survive this harsh environment,B. abortusutilizes post‐transcriptional regulation of gene expression through the use of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). Here, we characterize aBrucellasRNAs called MavR (forMurF‐andvirulence‐regulating sRNA), and we demonstrate that MavR is required for the full virulence ofB. abortusin macrophages and in a mouse model of chronic infection. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies revealed that a major regulatory target of MavR is MurF. MurF is an essential protein that catalyzes the final cytoplasmic step in peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis; however, we did not detect any differences in the amount or chemical composition of PG in the ΔmavRmutant. A 6‐nucleotide regulatory seed region within MavR was identified, and mutation of this seed region resulted in dysregulation of MurF production, as well as significant attenuation of infection in a mouse model. Overall, the present study underscores the importance of sRNA regulation in the physiology and virulence ofBrucella. 

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