Up-regulation of lipid biosynthesis increases the oil content in leaves of Sorghum bicolor

Synthesis and accumulation of the storage lipid triacylglycerol in vegetative plant tissues has emerged as a promising strategy to meet the world's future need for vegetable oil. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a particularly attractive target crop given its high biomass, drought resistance and C₄ photosynthesis. While oilseed-like triacylglycerol levels have been engineered in the C₃ model plant tobacco, progress in C₄ monocot crops has been lagging behind. In this study, we report the accumulation of triacylglycerol in sorghum leaf tissues to levels between 3 and 8.4% on a dry weight basis depending on leaf and plant developmental stage. This was achieved by the combined overexpression of genes encoding the Zea mays WRI1 transcription factor, Umbelopsis ramanniana UrDGAT2a acyltransferase and Sesamum indicum Oleosin-L oil body protein. Increased oil content was visible as lipid droplets, primarily in the leaf mesophyll cells. A comparison between a constitutive and mesophyll-specific promoter driving WRI1 expression revealed distinct changes in the overall leaf lipidome as well as transitory starch and soluble sugar levels. Metabolome profiling uncovered changes in the abundance of various amino acids and dicarboxylic acids. The results presented here are a first step forward towards the development of sorghum as a dedicated biomass oil crop and provide a basis for further combinatorial metabolic engineering.

Genetic and DNA methylation changes in cotton (Gossypium) genotypes and tissues

In plants, epigenetic regulation is important in normal development and in modulating some agronomic traits. The potential contribution of DNA methylation mediated gene regulation to phenotypic diversity and development in cotton was investigated between cotton genotypes and various tissues. DNA methylation diversity, genetic diversity, and changes in methylation context were investigated using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) assays including a methylation insensitive enzyme (BsiSI), and the total DNA methylation level was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DNA methylation diversity was greater than the genetic diversity in the selected cotton genotypes and significantly different levels of DNA methylation were identified between tissues, including fibre. The higher DNA methylation diversity (CHG methylation being more diverse than CG methylation) in cotton genotypes suggest epigenetic regulation may be important for cotton, and the change in DNA methylation between fibre and other tissues hints that some genes may be epigenetically regulated for fibre development. The novel approach using BsiSI allowed direct comparison between genetic and epigenetic diversity, and also measured CC methylation level that cannot be detected by conventional MSAP.

Perianesthesia assessment: foundation of care

The preanesthesia assessment is an important tool for both the perianesthesia team and the patient. A complete and thorough preoperative assessment prepares the perianesthesia team to form the best possible patient care plan. By using the preanesthesia assessment as an opportunity to provide comprehensive teaching about the entire perianesthesia process, the patient is prepared and motivated for the best possible outcome.

Strategy to Assess, Develop, and Evaluate Critical Thinking

BACKGROUND

To care for patients with complex health problems, nurses need a strong knowledge base and critical thinking skills. Critical thinking enables the nurse to process and analyze information, solve clinical problems, and decide on actions to take. Teaching and evaluation, however, often focus on memorizing facts and details about clinical care rather than on critical thinking.

METHOD

Context-dependent test items are designed to evaluate critical thinking and may be used in orientation, in competency testing, and by preceptors and others who work with beginning nurses for formative evaluation and discussions with them. A context-dependent item presents introductory material to analyze and determine a course of action. The introductory material may be a clinical scenario, an issue nurses might face in their practice, patient data, graphs or flow sheets, and other types of material for analysis. Carefully planned questions for assessing critical thinking are then asked.

CONCLUSION

The article describes how to develop and use context-dependent items in nursing continuing education.

Perioperative assistants are a new resource

In the current health care environment, buzzwords such as redesign, reengineering, restructuring, right-sizing, customer service, diversity, quality, multiskilled workers, and unlicensed assistive personnel conjure up many notions about how perioperative nurses can meet the needs and wants of their patients. Unlicensed assistive personnel are becoming commonplace in our hospitals and have assumed a variety of positions and functions. This article describes a project that one hospital undertook to create unlicensed, multiskilled workers in the perioperative area.

Preparing for the future: perianesthesia orientation

A comprehensive orientation for RNs to perianesthesia nursing is essential for nurses who are new to the area because of the specialized skills and knowledge required. A massive restructuring of the existing orientation was undertaken to better prepare nurses for these challenges and to reduce costs. A competency-based orientation program was developed by the educator, the supervisors, and the preceptors. The concept of competency-based education is explored. The program development, implementation, and evaluation phases are highlighted. The results have been positive and rewarding with an improved outcome: a competent new perianesthesia care nurse.

Effect of antigen site and complement receptor status on the rate of cleavage of C3c antigen from red cell bound C3b

C3b was bound to human red cells when serum complement was activated by addition of antibodies directed against different red cell antigens, and the rate of cleavage to C3dg was determined by assay for loss of bound C3c antigens using radiolabeled monoclonal anti-C3c. When C3b was bound by antibodies to antigens on branched-chain glycoproteins, cleavage to C3dg occurred more rapidly than when C3b was bound by antibodies to antigens closer to the red cell lipid bilayer. The rate of cleavage to C3dg also correlated directly with the number of complement receptors (CR1) per red cell, reflecting their role as cofactors in the cleavage of iC3b by factor I. Thus, the life span of C3b/iC3b on human red cells, which may be important for determining the rate and mechanism of clearance of C3-coated red cells, appears to depend on the CR1 status of the red cells and the characteristics of the antigen sites around which complement is bound.

Granulocyte antibodies in leukaemic chronic lymphoproliferative disorders

The anti-granulocyte activity of serum from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and other lymphoproliferative disorders was investigated. Granulocyte-binding IgG was measured in 34 patients with CLL, 13 patients with hairy cell leukaemia, one patient with prolymphocytic leukaemia, two patients with Sézary cell leukaemia, and seven patients with chronic T-cell lymphocytosis who had a predominance of circulating large granular lymphocytes. Anti-granulocyte activity was absent in CLL and its variants, but present in the majority of granulocytopenic patients with chronic T-cell lymphocytosis. In one of these patients, granulocytopenia was associated with complement-activating IgG granulocyte antibody. Thus, antibody-mediated granulocyte injury appears to be an unusual occurrence in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, but is a frequent complication of chronic T-cell lymphocytosis.