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Abstract Background and Aims Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones involved in many developmental processes as well as in plant–environment interactions. Their role was investigated in this study through the analysis of lilliputian1-1 (lil1-1), a dwarf mutant impaired in BR biosynthesis in maize (Zea mays). Methods We isolated lil1-1 through transposon tagging in maize. The action of lil1 was investigated through morphological and genetic analysis. Moreover, by comparing lil1-1 mutant and wild-type individuals grown under drought stress, the effect of BR reduction on the response to drought stress was examined. Key Results lil1-1 is a novel allele of the brassinosteroid-deficient dwarf1 (brd1) gene, encoding a brassinosteroid C-6 oxidase. We show in this study that lil1 is epistatic to nana plant1 (na1), a BR gene involved in earlier steps of the pathway. The lill-1 mutation causes alteration in the root gravitropic response, leaf epidermal cell density, epicuticular wax deposition and seedling adaptation to water scarcity conditions. Conclusions Lack of active BR molecules in maize causes a pleiotropic effect on plant development and improves seedling tolerance of drought. BR-deficient maize mutants can thus be instrumental in unravelling novel mechanisms on which plant adaptations to abiotic stress are based.

Nitrogen transformation in soil is a complex process and the soil microbial population can regulate the potential for N mineralization, nitrification and denitrification. Here we show that agricultural soils under standard agricultural N-management are consistently characterized by a high presence of gene copies for some of the key biological activities related to the N-cycle. This led to a strong NO.sub.3 .sup.- reduction (75%) passing from the soil surface (15.38 ± 11.36 g N-NO.sub.3 kg.sup.-1 on average) to the 1 m deep layer (3.92 ± 4.42 g N-NO.sub.3 kg.sup.-1 on average), and ensured low nitrate presence in the deepest layer. Under these circumstances the other soil properties play a minor role in reducing soil nitrate presence in soil. However, with excessive N fertilization, the abundance of bacterial gene copies is not sufficient to explain N leaching in soil and other factors, i.e. soil texture and rainfall, become more important in controlling these aspects.

Maize silks, the stigmatic portions of the female flowers, have an important role in reproductive development. Silks also provide entry points for pathogens into host tissues since fungal hyphae move along the surface of the silks to reach the site of infection, i.e., the developing kernel. The outer extracellular surface of the silk is covered by a protective hydrophobic cuticle, comprised of a complex array of long-chain hydrocarbons and small amounts of very long chain fatty acids and fatty alcohols. This work illustrates that two previously characterized cuticle-related genes separately exert roles on maize silk cuticle deposition and function. ZmMYB94 / FUSED LEAVES 1 ( ZmFDL1 ) MYB transcription factor is a key regulator of cuticle deposition in maize seedlings. The ZmGLOSSY2 ( ZmGL2 ) gene, a putative member of the BAHD superfamily of acyltransferases with close sequence similarity to the Arabidopsis AtCER2 gene, is involved in the elongation of the fatty acid chains that serve as precursors of the waxes on young leaves. In silks, lack of ZmFDL1 action generates a decrease in the accumulation of a wide number of compounds, including alkanes and alkenes of 20 carbons or greater and affects the expression of cuticle-related genes. These results suggest that ZmFDL1 retains a regulatory role in silks, which might be exerted across the entire wax biosynthesis pathway. Separately, a comparison between gl2-ref and wild-type silks reveals differences in the abundance of specific cuticular wax constituents, particularly those of longer unsaturated carbon chain lengths. The inferred role of ZmGL2 is to control the chain lengths of unsaturated hydrocarbons. The treatment of maize silks with Fusarium verticillioides conidia suspension results in altered transcript levels of ZmFDL1 and ZmGL2 genes. In addition, an increase in fungal growth was observed on gl2-ref mutant silks 72 hours after Fusarium infection. These findings suggest that the silk cuticle plays an active role in the response to F. verticillioides infection.

In higher plants, the outer surface of the aerial parts is covered by the cuticle, a complex lipid layer that constitutes a barrier against damages caused by environmental factors and provides protection against non-stomatal water loss. We show in this study that cuticle deposition, during the juvenile phase of in maize (Zea mays) plant development, and cuticle-dependent leaf permeability are controlled by the MYB transcription factor ZmMYB94/FUSED LEAVES1 (ZmFDL1). Biochemical analysis showed that in fdl1-1 mutant seedlings at the coleoptile stage both cutin and wax biosynthesis and deposition were altered. Among cutin compounds, ω-hydroxy fatty acids and polyhydroxy-fatty acids were specifically affected, while the reduction of epicuticular waxes, was mainly observed in primary long chain alcohols, and to a minor extent, long-chain wax esters. Transcriptome analysis allowed the identification of novel candidate genes involved in lipid metabolism and the assembly of a proposed pathway for cuticle biosynthesis in maize. Lack of ZmFDL1 affects the expression of genes located in different modules of the pathway and correspondence between gene transcriptional variations and biochemical defects have been highlighted. A decrease in cuticle-dependent leaf permeability was observed in maize seedlings exposed to drought as well as ABA treatment, which implies coordinated changes in the transcript levels of ZmFDL1 and associated genes. Overall, our results suggest that the response to water stress implies the activation of wax biosynthesis and the involvement of by both ZmFDL1 and ABA regulatory pathways.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers applied to agricultural soils result in the release of nitrogen, mainly nitrate (NO3-) in addition to nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3), into the environment. Nitrogen transformation in soil is a complex process and the soil microbial population can regulate the potential for N mineralization, nitrification and denitrification. Here we show that agricultural soils under standard agricultural N-management are consistently characterized by a high presence of gene copies for some of the key biological activities related to the N-cycle. This led to a strong NO3- reduction (75%) passing from the soil surface (15.38 ± 11.36 g N-NO3 kg-1 on average) to 1 m deep layer (3.92 ± 4.42 g N-NO3 kg-1 on average), and ensured low nitrate presence in the deepest layer. Under these circumstances the other soil properties play a minor role in reducing soil nitrate presence in soil. However, with excessive N fertilization, the abundance of bacterial gene copies is not sufficient to explain N leaching in soil and other factors, i.e. soil texture and rainfall, become more important in controlling these aspects.

Earthquakes are rupture-like processes that propagate along tectonic faults and cause seismic waves. The propagation speed and final area of the rupture, which determine an earthquake’s potential impact, are directly related to the nature and quantity of the energy dissipation involved in the rupture process. Here, we present the challenges associated with defining and measuring the energy dissipation in laboratory and natural earthquakes across many scales. We discuss the importance and implications of distinguishing between energy dissipation that occurs close to and far behind the rupture tip, and we identify open scientific questions related to a consistent modeling framework for earthquake physics that extends beyond classical Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics. Earthquakes are rupture-like processes that propagate along tectonic faults and cause seismic waves. Here, the authors present the challenges associated with defining and measuring the energy dissipation in laboratory and natural earthquakes across many scales.

Background and Objectives: Robotic surgery represents one of the most significant innovations in the field of surgery, offering new opportunities for the treatment of complex pathologies that require greater accuracy and precision. It is a technology that has become widely used in general, urologic, gynecologic, and cardio-thoracic surgery, but has a limited evidence in the head and neck region. This review explores the use of robotic surgery in orbital pathology, focusing on its applications, benefits, and limitations. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional search method was performed in multiple databases to answer the following question: “What are the applications of robotic surgery in the management of orbital pathologies?” Studies were carefully reviewed by two simultaneous researchers, and, in case of disagreement, a third researcher was engaged. Care was taken to identify the surgical hardware (robotic station) used to perform the surgical procedure. Results: Out of 491 records, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These included cadaveric, preclinical, in vitro, and early clinical investigations assessing robotic approaches for fronto-orbital advancement, tumor resection, orbital decompression, and other surgical procedures such as lacrimal gland dissection and biopsy, medial and lateral orbital wall dissections, enucleation, and lid-sparing orbital exenteration. The robotic systems evaluated included the Da Vinci Xi, Da Vinci SP, Medineering Robotic Endoscope Guiding System, and a modular multi-arm concentric tube robot, each with specific advantages and limitations. Conclusions: Robotic surgery provides significant advantages for orbital pathologies such as improved precision, visualization, and tissue preservation, with reduced complications and faster recovery, although some limitations still exist. Future advancements, such as smaller instruments and AI integration, promise to improve outcomes, making robotic surgery more effective in treating orbital conditions.

IntroductionPatient-reported outcomes (PROs) are the gold standard to describe subjective symptoms. Nurses can be successfully involved in collecting symptom information, because of their direct relationship with the patient. In order to improve clinical management of outpatients receiving active anti-cancer treatment, we introduced in routine clinical practice an assessment of patient-reported symptoms and toxicities, starting from January 2018. Our hypothesis was that this could help to better control symptoms, improving patients’ quality of life (QoL).MethodsEligible patients were receiving an active anti-cancer treatment, as outpatients. Patients included in the control group (treated in 2017) underwent “usual” visits (group A), while patients treated in 2018, before each visit received a questionnaire by a dedicated nurse, in order to provide information about symptoms and toxicities (group B). Primary objective was the comparison of QoL changes, measured by EORTC QLQ-C30.ResultsA total of 211 patients have been analyzed (119 group A; 92 group B). After 1 month, mean change from baseline of global QoL was − 1.68 in group A and + 2.54 in group B (p = 0.004, effect size 0.20). Group B showed significantly better mean changes for fatigue, pain, and appetite loss. Proportion of patients obtaining a clinically significant improvement in global QoL score was higher in group B (32.6%) compared to group A (19.3%, p = 0.04). Patients’ satisfaction with questionnaire was high.ConclusionIntroduction of PROs in clinical practice, thanks to an active role of nurses, was feasible, produced high patients’ satisfaction and a significant QoL improvement, compared to the traditional modality of visit.

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, despite advances in lipid-lowering and antithrombotic therapies. Increasing evidence highlights the pivotal role of inflammation in all stages of atherosclerosis, from plaque formation to rupture. Colchicine, a well-known anti-inflammatory drug traditionally used in gout and pericarditis, has emerged as a promising agent in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular outcomes with low-dose colchicine, especially in patients with stable CAD and following myocardial infarction. This review provides an updated overview of the pathophysiological rationale for colchicine use in atherosclerosis, summarizes key clinical trial data, and discusses potential mechanisms, safety considerations, and future directions.