Wednesday, May 04, 2022

Dog coronavirus jumps to humans, with a protein shift

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell University researchers have identified a shift that occurs in canine coronavirus that may provide clues as to how it transmits from animals to humans.

A new canine coronavirus was first identified in two Malaysian human patients who developed pneumonia in 2017-18. A group of other scientists isolated the canine coronavirus, sequenced it, and published their findings in 2021.

Now, a team led by researchers from Cornell and Temple University has identified a pattern that occurs in a terminus of the canine coronavirus spike protein – the area of the virus that facilitates entry into a host cell. This pattern shows the virus shifts from infecting both the intestines and respiratory system of the animal host to infecting only the respiratory system in a human host.

The researchers identified a change in the terminus – known as the N terminus – a region of the molecule with alterations also detected in another coronavirus, which jumped from bats to humans, where it causes a common cold.

“This study identifies some of the molecular mechanisms underlying a host shift from dog coronavirus to a new human host, that may also be important in the circulation of a new human coronavirus that we previously didn’t know about,” said Michael Stanhope, professor of public and ecosystem health at Cornell. First author, Jordan Zehr, is a doctoral student at Temple University. The paper was published in the journal Viruses.

In the study, the researchers used state-of-the-art molecular evolution tools to assess how pressures from natural selection may have influenced the canine coronavirus’ evolution.

The same variant of canine coronavirus found in Malaysia was also reported in 2021 in a few people in Haiti, who also had respiratory illness.

Stanhope believes more study is needed to understand if the viral shifts and jumps to humans occurred spontaneously in different parts of the world or if this coronavirus has been circulating for perhaps many decades in the human population without detection.

For additional information, see this Cornell Chronicle story.

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JOURNAL

Viruses

DOI

10.3390/v14050853

Dog owners’ concerns and experience accessing veterinary care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

New research indicates that the veterinary profession responded well during the COVID-19 pandemic despite many dog owners feeling concerned about the availability of veterinary care during this time due to service restrictions.

In the study published in Vet Record, investigators at Dogs Trust, a British animal welfare charity and humane society, analyzed surveys completed by dog owners in the UK in May (during the first nationwide lockdown) and October 2020. The team also examined diaries completed by dog owners in the UK or the Republic of Ireland in April–November 2020.

During the first stage of the nationwide lockdown, UK government advice about limiting service provision resulted in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Veterinary Association jointly issuing guidance to the profession regarding restricting non-emergency veterinary healthcare. Alongside this, in the initial months of the pandemic, veterinary healthcare availability worried 32.4% (1431/4922) of respondents. However, between late March and November, 99.5% (1,794/1,843) of those needing to contact a veterinarian managed to do so.

Over one-fifth of respondents (22.2%) experienced remote consultations during the early stages of the pandemic.

Delays and cancellations of procedures affected 28.0% (82/293) of dogs that owners planned to neuter and 34.2% (460/1346) of dogs that owners intended to vaccinate.

“The majority of the respondents thought that remote consultations were convenient. This method also enabled those who were shielding or unable to travel to the practice to access veterinary care,” said co–first author Sara C. Owczarczak-Garstecka, PhD. “It’s reassuring that despite owners’ fears about service restrictions, veterinary practices appear to have adapted well to unprecedented circumstances and responded to owners’ urgent care needs,” added co–first author Katrina E. Holland, PhD.

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.1681

Additional Information

About the Journal

Veterinary Record (branded as Vet Record) is the official journal of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and has been published since 1888. It contains news, opinion, letters, scientific reviews and original research papers and communications on a wide range of veterinary topics, along with disease surveillance reports, obituaries, careers information, business and innovation news and summaries of research papers in other journals. It is published on behalf of the BVA by Wiley.

About Wiley

Wiley is a global leader in research and education, unlocking human potential by enabling discovery, powering education, and shaping workforces. For over 200 years, Wiley has fueled the world’s knowledge ecosystem. Today, our high-impact content, platforms, and services help researchers, learners, institutions, and corporations achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. Visit us at Wiley.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

JOURNAL

Veterinary Record

DOI

10.1002/vetr.1681

ARTICLE TITLE

Accessing veterinary healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods analysis of UK and Republic of Ireland dog owners’ concerns and experiences

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

4-May-2022

Do adult-to-child ratios and group sizes matter in early childhood education?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

An article in Campbell Systematic Reviews reveals that there are surprisingly few high-quality studies that have examined the effects of reducing adult/child ratios and group sizes on factors such as young children’s psychosocial adjustment, development, and well-being in early childhood education and care.

The review analyzed evidence from 12 studies, two of which were randomized control trials, representing eight different populations.

Although investigators noted that it’s not possible to draw any definitive conclusions, results tentatively suggest that fewer children per adult and smaller group sizes may increase process quality—defined as more positive adult/child and child/child interactions, less coercive and controlling adult interference, and less aggressive and more prosocial child behavior.

“Findings from the present review may be seen as a testimony to the urgent need for more contemporary high quality research exploring the effects of changes in adult/child ratio and group size in ECEC on measures of process quality and child outcomes,” said corresponding author Nina Thorup Dalgaard, PhD, of Vive, the Danish Center for Social Science Research.

“Despite the fact that most stakeholders agree that adult/child ratio and group size are important parameters, it is surprising that studies of the effects of changing these are on average 30 years old.”

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cl2.1239

Additional Information

About the Journal

Campbell Systematic Reviews is an open access journal prepared under the editorial control of the Campbell Collaboration. The journal publishes systematic reviews, evidence and gap maps, and methods research papers.

About Wiley

JOURNAL

Campbell Systematic Reviews

DOI

10.1002/cl2.1239

ARTICLE TITLE

Adult-to-child ratios and group sizes in early childhood education and care need more high-quality research

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

4-May-2022

New map may help conservation efforts for an endangered songbird

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WILEY

Researchers have developed and used a model to estimate the density of the golden-cheeked warbler, an endangered songbird that breeds in Ashe juniper and oak woodlands in central Texas. In a study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, the team created a warbler distribution map that identifies areas important for conservation of the species, indicating places where improvement and restoration of habitat may have the greatest benefit.

The model results indicated that management activities to increase warbler density should promote woodlands with high tree canopy cover, approximately 60–80% Ashe juniper composition, and tree heights higher than 3 meters.

“We conducted more than 1,800 point count surveys to determine the distribution of this iconic Texas species that breeds nowhere else in the world,” said lead author James M. Mueller, PhD, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The species is most abundant in areas with mature juniper-oak woodlands, but our model provides an important new understanding of the conditions where the species occurs in lower densities in associated shrublands such as in the more arid southwestern portion of its range."

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.22236

Additional Information

NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact:

About the Journal

The Journal of Wildlife Management publishes manuscripts containing information from original research that contributes to basic wildlife science. Suitable topics include investigations into the biology and ecology of wildlife and their habitats that has direct or indirect implications for wildlife management and conservation.

About Wiley

JOURNAL

Journal of Wildlife Management

DOI

10.1002/jwmg.22236

ARTICLE TITLE

Multi-scale species density model for conserving an endangered songbird

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

4-May-2022

Advertising source may drive experience for some Siri users

Reports and Proceedings

PENN STATE

May 2, 2022, NEW ORLEANS — Advertisements on a voice assistant like Alexa or Siri may be more effective if the assistant is viewed as the medium for the ad, not the source. However, user motives play a role in how these persuasive messages are received, according to a new study in the proceedings of the premier ACM Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (CHI 2022).

In 2017, Google faced backlash from Google Home users who felt that ad messages from the voice assistant (VA) were inappropriate. It seemed generating ad revenue on VAs — like that on search engines — was not feasible.

The study presented today says there still may be an opportunity to run effective ads on VAs. It found that ads are better received if the VA is a medium — like radio— and not the source of the ads.

Reactions to ads depended on whether the user was informationally motivated (one who asks about the weather or news) or socially motivated (one who uses VAs to cope with loneliness or just to chat).

Socially motivated users see VAs as “companions in their midst,” according to S. Shyam Sundar, James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory.

“There are many skills that have been added to VAs that are very social in nature,” Sundar said. “You can have a casual chat, ask them to tell a joke, thank them when they wish you ‘Good Morning,’ and so on.”

If the VA promotes a brand in the middle of such social exchanges, it is not so off-putting, according to Eugene Cho, assistant professor at the College of New Jersey, and lead author of the study, who worked with Sundar.

The researchers recruited 264 participants who were familiar with VAs for their experiment. They were provided two different scenarios in which a specific question was posed to Siri. They listened to Siri’s response to the question, which was followed by an ad related to the query.

Example: When a participant asked, “Siri, how do I make pumpkin spiced latte?” Siri responded with the recipe, followed by an advertisement for Starbucks and how to get a pumpkin spiced latte using the company’s app. Chosen randomly, some users heard the ad as a human spokesperson and others heard the voice of Siri directly relaying the ad.

Those with high informational motives responded negatively to ads when Siri was the source — versus the human spokesperson. On the other hand, social motives led to “higher social presence” when Siri delivered the ads.

“Motivations are linked to usage,” Cho said. “[For Google Home], maybe it wasn't the ad that was so bad. Maybe it was the content and the context that was the problem.”

These findings are particularly relevant to companies like Google whose main source of revenue comes from advertising.

“We understand that ads are inevitable to their business model,” Sundar said. “We want the way ads are delivered to be more human-centered and contextually relevant. Convert ads into a service. That’s how you can be both commercially viable and socially responsible.”

Sundar said advertising shouldn’t be a “sneak attack.” Through their research, the researchers are advocating a user-responsive approach that is more helpful and less deceiving.

According to Cho, companies that make VAs have the capability to learn about their users and provide an experience suitable to them. “Instead of running ads indiscriminately, they can personalize ad delivery based on user motivations,” she added.

Ancient roots of tungsten in western North America

V. Elongo; H. Falck; K.L. Rasmussen; L.J. Robbins; R.A. Creaser ...
Abstract: The highly irregular and localized distribution of tungsten deposits worldwide constitutes a supply challenge for basic industries such as steel and carbides. Over Earth’s history, tungsten has preferentially accumulated at paleocontinental margins formed during the breakup of supercontinents. Later crustal thickening of these paleogeographic regions and the magmas they produce are associated with large tungsten districts. However, all of the largest tungsten deposits in the modern North American Cordillera, which preserves over 3 b.y. of geologic record in a paleocontinental margin with abundant crustal magmatism, are limited to the narrow Canadian Tungsten Belt in northwestern Canada. We use neodymium isotopic compositions of scheelite (CaWO4) from the Canadian Tungsten Belt and the paleogeographic distribution of tungsten deposits in the North American Cordillera to constrain the factors that control tungsten distribution. We document that tungsten is specifically associated with materials that, on average, were derived from the mantle during the Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic. Weathering and erosion of the supercontinents Columbia and Rodinia favored pre-enrichment of tungsten in sediments. The orogenic heating of pre-enriched sediments produced reduced melts that were capable of efficiently scavenging tungsten and formed the largest deposits in North America.
View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/G49801.1/612990/Ancient-roots-of-tungsten-in-western-North-America

Pothole-like depressions in the chamber floor of the Sudbury Igneous Complex, Canada
S.Yu. Chistyakova; R.M. Latypov
Abstract: The magmatic stratigraphy of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (Canada) is thought to have resulted from closed-system differentiation of an initially homogeneous impact melt sheet. The topography of its upward-growing chamber floor is therefore thought to have been planar and subhorizontal. However, we report on the discovery of a large pothole-like depression (~300 m in depth and ~550 m in width) in the chamber floor of this complex. The depression has been revealed through two-dimensional mapping of igneous layering that is defined by systematic vertical changes in cumulus assemblages and bulk rock chemistry. Although the formation of the depression by syn- to post-magmatic folding and/or slumping of chamber floor cumulates cannot be completely excluded, we favor an alternative explanation that follows from the recent recognition that the Sudbury Igneous Complex melt sheet crystallized concurrently from the floor and roof inward. The roof sequence was subsequently disrupted and collapsed as large discrete blocks onto the floor sequence. This may have resulted in local irregularities in topography of the upward-growing chamber floor so that crystal deposition onto and between the neighboring blocks produced pothole-like depressions. The phenomenon of physical disruption of roof sequences appears to provide a reasonable explanation for the common lack of the rocks that grew from the roof downward in layered intrusions.
View article: https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article-abstract/doi/10.1130/G49928.1/613388/Pothole-like-depressions-in-the-chamber-floor-of

GEOLOGY articles are online at https://geology.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent . Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.

https://www.geosociety.org

Study fills knowledge gaps about surgery outcomes for Inuit in Canada

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL

A team of Canadian researchers, including Inuit and other Indigenous researchers, have published the first study of Inuit surgical outcomes today in CMAJ Open. The study used data from The Ottawa Hospital, which is the quaternary care provider to the Qikiqtani-Qikiqtaaluk Region, home to half of the Nunavut Inuit population.

After matching Inuit with non-Inuit patients who had similar surgeries, age, and medical conditions, the researchers found that Nunavut Inuit were 25% more likely to experience serious complications after surgery. The study found the death or complication rate among the general population to be 16%.

The team had previously found that little research has been done on Indigenous Peoples’ outcomes after of surgery in Canada, and none about Inuit patients.

The researchers think these poorer outcomes may be due to barriers in accessing timely and culturally appropriate healthcare, causing Nunavut Inuit to arrive at surgery with more advanced disease which increases their risk of complications.

“We know from past research that the healthier you are when you walk into an operating room, the likelier you are to have good outcomes. Many Nunavut Inuit patients experience chronic health conditions, poor access to healthcare services, and delayed surgical care,” said Dr. Jason McVicar, lead author on the study and a Métis anesthesiologist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. “Our study establishes a baseline for Inuit surgical outcomes that can be used to determine whether policy changes are having a real impact.”

The research team looked at outcomes one month after surgery for all inpatient surgeries at The Ottawa Hospital between 2011 and 2018, not including obstetric or cardiac surgeries. Nunavut Inuit patients made up 928 (0.9%) of the 98,701 surgeries.

Nunavut Inuit patients who had elective surgeries and cancer surgeries were respectively 58% and 63% more likely to have complications compared to non-Inuit patients. There was no difference in outcomes after emergency surgery between Inuit and non-Inuit patients.

Compared to non-Inuit patients, Nunavut Inuit had higher rates of hospital readmission, greater length of stay, higher cost of hospital care, and a greater chance of being sent to long-term care or other assisted living facility instead of going home after surgery.

“We’re seeing the impact of colonization in our operating rooms,” said Dr. Donna Kimmaliardjuk, study author and Inuk cardiac surgeon at Eastern Health, St. John’s. “To improve surgical outcomes for Inuit we need to start at the beginning, and work in partnership with Nunavut Inuit organizations to improve Inuit health and healthcare access. Some communities only have nursing station or a doctor two days a month, and that’s not enough to catch problems early.”

The researchers also showed for the first time that Inuit and non-Inuit patients coming for surgery had different baseline health characteristics. Inuit patients were on average eight years younger than non-Inuit patients, and had a different distribution of chronic diseases and conditions.

The researchers were able to identify Nunavut Inuit in this study thanks to a code in their Nunavut health card number that indicates they are an Inuit Land Claim Beneficiary. Indigenous identity data isn’t routinely collected by healthcare organizations, making this kind of research difficult. For example, patients from the large urban Inuit population in Ottawa could not be identified as Inuit in this study, because their Inuit identity is not collected in health data.

The researchers want to reassure Inuit patients who need surgery at The Ottawa Hospital that surgery is still very safe and that they will receive the best possible care.

“Nunavut Inuit patients should expect the same world-class care we all want for our loved-ones,” said Dr. McVicar. “The surgical procedure itself is not any different between an Inuk and a non-Inuk patient. However, we know travelling to the South involves language barriers, culture shock, racism and isolation from friends and family. That's why there are resources in place to support Nunavut patients coming to Ottawa for surgery.”

This study is part of a larger research program at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa to better understand Indigenous Peoples’ experience of surgery in Canada. While this study looked at outcomes one month after surgery, the team’s next step is to use Nunavut health data to look at outcomes one year after surgery.

“The journey that leads to surgery is a saga that happens over years or decades,” said Dr. Nadine Caron, study author, general surgeon in Prince George and co-director of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health at the University of British Columbia. “Our study only looked at one month of these patients’ care journeys. More research is needed to understand the complicated care journeys Nunavut Inuit patients must take across multiple healthcare systems in order to reduce barriers to care.”

The research team is also looking at the possibility of expanding the kinds of surgeries that can be done in Nunavut, so patients can receive care closer to home. The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa already have partnerships with general surgery teams in Iqaluit that provide expertise, resources, and training to support surgeries that can be done in territory.

CAPTION

The patient referral pathway from Qikiqtani-Qikiqtaaluk Region to Ottawa

CREDIT

CMAJ

Resources:

Resources at The Ottawa Hospital for Indigenous patients
Appointment and travel management, discharge planning and access to translators for appointments from Ottawa Health Services Network Inc
Culturally-appropriate accommodation, transportation and food services offered by Larga Baffin.
Surgical care stories of Inuit Nunavut patients Saila Kipanek and Joellie Qaunaq at The Ottawa Hospital

Funding and support: This study was funded by The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization Innovation Fund and the Canadian Anesthesia Research Foundation. All research at The Ottawa Hospital is also enabled by generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Data was provided by The Ottawa Hospital Data Warehouse.

Full Reference: Postoperative Outcomes for Nunavut Inuit at a Canadian Tertiary Care Centre: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Jason A. McVicar, Jenny Hoang-Nguyen, Justine O’Shea, Caitlin Champion, Chelsey Sheffield, Jean Allen, Donna May Kimmaliardjuk, Alana Poon, Dylan Bould, Jason W. Nickerson, Nadine R. Caron, Daniel I. McIsaac. CMAJ Open. May 3, 2022. https://doi.org/10.9778/cmajo.20210108

About The Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s top learning and research hospitals, where excellent care is inspired by research and driven by compassion. As the third-largest employer in Ottawa, our support staff, researchers, nurses, physicians, and volunteers never stop seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, attracts some of the most influential scientific minds from around the world. Backed by generous support from the community, we are committed to providing the world-class, compassionate care we would want for our loved ones. www.ohri.ca

About the University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

Media Contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca

JOURNAL

CMAJ Open

DOI

10.9778/cmajo.20210108

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Postoperative outcomes for Nunavut Inuit at a Canadian tertiary care centre: A retrospective cohort study

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

3-May-2022

Hormonal teamplay in trees

In poplars, two plant hormones boost each other in defense against pathogenic fungi

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL ECOLOGY

Melamspora larici-populina — IMAGE: RUST-INFECTED BLACK POPLAR (POPULUS NIGRA). view more
CREDIT: CHHANA ULLAH, MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR CHEMICAL ECOLOGY

In contrast to previous assumptions, the defense hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid do not always suppress each other in regulating plant chemical defenses against pests and pathogens. In trees, the interplay of both hormones can actually increase plant resistance. This is the conclusion researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology draw in a new study on poplars. The scientists showed that higher levels of jasmonic acid were also detectable in poplars that had been modified to produce increased levels of salicylic acid or that had been treated with salicylic acid. Plants that had higher concentrations of both hormones were also more resistant to the rust fungus Melamspora larici-populina, with no negative effect on growth. Knowledge of the positive interaction of these hormones involved in plant resistance could help to better protect poplars and other trees against pathogens.

The function of plant hormones or phytohormones is to coordinate the growth and development of plants. Moreover, they also control plant immune responses to microbial pathogens such as pathogenic fungi. Until now, there has been a broad consensus in science that the signaling pathways of the defense hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid act in opposite directions. Thus, if plants produce more salicylic acid, this would inhibit the production of jasmonic acidand vice versa. Scientists have repeatedly shown this negative interplay in studies of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) and many other annual herbs. "Contrary to the assumption that the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid hormone signaling pathways work in an opposite manner, we had already observed in our earlier studies on poplar trees that both of these hormones increase in response to infection by pathogenic fungi. Therefore, the main research question was to determine the interaction between these two defense hormones in poplar," Chhana Ullah, first author of the publication, explains the starting point of the current study.

To study experimentally how salicylic acid levels affect the formation of jasmonic acid, the scientists genetically modified experimental plants of black poplar (Populus nigra) native to Germany so that they produced higher amounts of salicylic acid than control plants. In another experiment, they applied salicylic acid to the poplar leaves of genetically unmodified plants. "We manipulated salicylic acid levels in poplar by genetic engineering and direct chemical application, after which we conducted extensive chemical analyses of the plants with and without fungal infection. This allowed us to separate the effects of salicylic acid from other factors and show that it directly stimulates jasmonic acid production," explains Chhana Ullah.

Plants that contained high levels of salicylic acid also had higher concentrations of jasmonic acid. In addition, these plants produced more antimicrobial substances, known as flavonoids, even if there was no infection with a pathogen. Further comparative studies with plants that produced high levels of salicylic acid and control plants that had each been infected with the rust fungus Melamspora larici-populina showed that high levels of salicylic acid made poplars more resistant to fungal attack.

Surprisingly, higher fungal resistance due to increased defenses did not negatively affect plant growth, as had been observed in Arabidopsis and other annual herbs. In Arabidopsis, either salicylic acid or jasmonic acid takes control of the immune response, while the other hormone is suppressed. Salicylic acid is produced in higher amounts after attack by biotrophic pathogens that do not kill plant tissue and feed on living plant material, while jasmonic acid is increased after attack by insects or necrotrophic pathogens that feed on dead plant tissue. "The negative interplay between the defense hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in plants like Arabidopsis enables the plant to prioritize protection against one kind of enemy. Small herbs like Arabidopsis may benefit from such a narrow focus because they lack the resources to defend against different kinds of enemies at once. This may also be the reason why Arabidopsis plants reduce their growth rate when in a defense mode," says Jonathan Gershenzon, head of the Department of Biochemistry where the study was conducted.

In contrast to annual herbs such as thale cress, resources are usually less limited for trees and other woody plants. Moreover, because of their long lifespan, trees are often attacked simultaneously by different enemies, such as fungal and bacterial pathogens, leaf-eating caterpillars, and wood-destroying insects. They may have evolved to use the salicylic and jasmonic acid signaling pathways together for defense. The greater availability of resources in long-living woody plants may also be the reason why high concentrations of salicylic acid do not affect plant growth in poplars.

The researchers were surprised to find that high levels of salicylic acid in poplars did not activate so-called pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, although these are established markers for the salicylic acid signaling pathway in Arabidopsis. "However, we found that the magnitude of PR gene induction was positively correlated with the susceptibility of poplar to rust. Apparently, the activation of PR genes in poplar is not regulated by salicylic acid signaling, but by a different mechanism," Chhana Ullah explains.

The team of scientists led by Chhana Ullah still has to find out exactly how the molecular mechanism of the positive interaction between salicylic acid and jasmonic acid works in poplar. They also want to know which role PR genes play in poplar and other woody plants. What is certain, however, is that a fundamental knowledge of the positive interaction between salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in poplar and other related trees could make an important contribution to better protecting these plants from pest infestation and disease. Or, as Jonathan Gershenzon notes: "Poplars are known as the trees of the people for their diversified uses by humans, hence the genus name Populus: the Latin name for people. Incredibly fast-growing, poplars are cultivated as short-rotation woody crops and are extremely important of the pulp and paper industry. They are also desirable for biofuels." Improving their protection therefore serves us all.

CAPTION

Chhana Ullah characterizing transgenic high salicylic acid poplar lines.

CREDIT

Anna Schroll

JOURNAL

New Phytologist

DOI

10.1111/nph.18148

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Lack of antagonism between salicylic acid and jasmonate signaling pathways in poplar

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

30-Apr-2022

Student satisfaction in flipped classroom is built on guidance, pedagogy, and a safe atmosphere

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN FINLAND

Students are satisfied with flipped classroom when they have systematic guidance on the teaching approach in use, comprehensive understanding of both the content being taught and the discipline more generally, and a safe learning atmosphere conducive to conversation. Teachers also need to pay attention to the students’ technological skills and their own contact teaching skills, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland.

In traditional higher education teaching, the student attends a lecture where the teacher gives an oral presentation to teach about a particular subject. After the lecture, the student goes home to complete the assignments given by the teacher and reads the study materials to get ready for an exam. In flipping, i.e., the flipped classroom approach, it is the other way round. The principle in implementing the flipped classroom model is to give the student pre-class materials, which the student independently goes through in the requested manner, and deeper learning on the content is then achieved collaboratively in class with the teacher and fellow students.

Flipping has become increasingly popular internationally in recent years and the learning outcomes, while partly contradictory, have been good. Growing popularity has also led to more research on flipping, however, this is the first time that the success of the flipped classroom approach has been studied from the perspective of student satisfaction. The study involved more than 400 Finnish higher education students.

“Our study showed that it is highly important to explain the approach in use to the students at the beginning of the course. In other words, they need information on the teaching method, the study method and the intended learning outcomes. Another important factor is to guide the students in managing their time and to promote self-regulation,” says Erkko Sointu, Professor of Special Education at the University of Eastern Finland and the lead author of the study published by an international team of researchers.

The students also need concrete evidence of the theories drawn from their discipline.

“The teacher should also take into account the technological skills of their students. One of the key factors in contact teaching is to create a safe atmosphere for the students to ask things, question the contents discussed and find explanations during the class collaboratively with their teacher and fellow students,” Sointu says.

Tips for successful teaching in the post-COVID-19 era

Though the research data was compiled during the academic year 2016–2017, the findings are highly relevant in our current situation. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised discussion on the challenges of distance learning and studying remotely, including the teachers and students getting tired of working alone. There is a lot of debate on the pros and cons of returning to “normal education”.

“We have seen the first real step towards blended teaching and learning during the time of the coronavirus pandemic. A better understanding of flipping and its key factors gained through our study provides teachers with the tools they need to successfully implement contact, distance and hybrid teaching.”

By taking account of the key factors, teachers are able to support the learning and well-being of students and apply the best practices of distance and contact teaching.

“My colleagues and I have started referring to flipping as cherry-picking as, rather than sitting in lectures listening to the teacher’s monologues, the flipped classroom approach gives students the opportunity to time- and place-independent study, to prepare for contact teaching using pre-class materials and technology, and then to deepen their knowledge in class.”

JOURNAL

Higher Education

ARTICLE TITLE

Preliminary evidence of key factors in successful flipping: predicting positive student experiences in flipped classrooms.

Precipitation helped drive distribution of Alaska dinosaurs

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS

Precipitation more than temperature influenced the distribution of herbivorous dinosaurs in what is now Alaska, according to new research published this month.

The finding, published April 2 in the journal Geosciences, discusses the distribution of hadrosaurids and ceratopsids — the megaherbivores of the Late Cretaceous Period, 100.5 million to 66 million years ago.

The work can help scientists project what the Arctic region might look like in the years ahead if the climate turns similarly warm and wet.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute geology professor Paul McCarthy, who is also chair of the UAF Department of Geosciences, is co-author of the research paper written by Anthony Fiorillo of Southern Methodist University in Texas. McCarthy has been studying the region’s ancient past for many years.

“The reason we've been looking at Cretaceous environments up here is because Earth was in a greenhouse state at that point in time, and it offers the potential to provide analogs to what we might see, eventually, if global warming continues,” McCarthy said.

“We can't simulate the rates of change, which are likely to have been totally different in the Cretaceous,” he said. “But we can simulate what an ice-free coast would look like and also see how rivers and floodplains would respond to spring snowmelt from the mountains if everything's not frozen. And we can look at the distribution of plants and animals.”

McCarthy, a sedimentologist and a fossil soils specialist, led the analysis of the depositional environments and ancient soils of three rock formations: the fossil-rich Prince Creek Formation along the Colville River in northern Alaska, the Lower Cantwell Formation in the Central Alaska Range and the Chignik Formation on the Alaska Peninsula.

The three formations are close enough to one another on the geologic time scale to allow for a climate comparison, according to the research paper. They all contain Late Cretaceous rocks that were deposited approximately 83 million to 66 million years ago.

Fossilized plants and animals and ancient footprints get most of the public attention, but fossil soil has equally important information to offer through its preserved features, mineral composition and chemical makeup.

“We can look at microscopic features preserved in the fossil soil samples and relate that to modern soil types to get an idea of where they formed,” McCarthy said. “Are we looking at deserts? Are we looking at tropical rainforest or temperate forest? Or grasslands?”

“Fossil soil also preserves pollen grains that can tell us something about the composition of the local vegetation,” he said. “And it contains clay minerals, organic matter and the iron-carbonate mineral siderite, all of which can be used to determine precipitation and temperature using stable isotopic methods.”

From that, paleontologists can learn about the distribution of Alaska’s dinosaurs.

Through analysis at UAF and elsewhere, scientists studying the three Alaska formations found a correlation between the amount of precipitation and the distribution of hadrosaurids and ceratopsids. They also found a lesser correlation between temperature and the distribution of those two groups of dinosaurs.

Hadrosaurids, the duck-billed family of dinosaurs, preferred climates that were wetter and had a narrower annual temperature range. Adults weighed about 3 tons and reached about 30 feet in length. Their percentage dominance over the ceratopsids in the three studied formations increased in the more-favorable climate.

Ceratopsids, a family with beaks and horns, preferred a milder and drier climate but never became dominant in percentage over the hadrosaurids in the three formations. Triceratops is perhaps the best known ceratopsid, at a length of about 25 to 30 feet and weighing 4.5 to 5.5 tons.

The finding for greater influence of precipitation than temperature was based in part on prior research that looked at dinosaur teeth from the Prince Creek Formation, including teeth of hadrosaurids and ceratopsids. That study was led by Celina A. Suarez of the University of Arkansas and included work by McCarthy.

Results from that dental study, authors of the new paper write, suggest that ceratopsids preferred the drier, better-drained regions of the Late Cretaceous Arctic landscape and that hadrosaurids preferred wetter regions of the landscape.

Others involved in the Geosciences paper include Yoshitsugu Kobayashi of the Hokkaido University Museum at Hokkaido University in Japan and Marina B. Suarez of the University of Kansas.

CONTACTS:

Paul McCarthy, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, 907-474-6894, pjmccarthy@alaska.edu

Rod Boyce, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, 907-474-7185, rcboyce@alaska.edu

JOURNAL

Geosciences

DOI

10.3390/geosciences12040161

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Cretaceous Dinosaurs across Alaska Show the Role of Paleoclimate in Structuring Ancient Large-Herbivore Populations