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RNA polymerase II--associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) regulates the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase primarily by modulating the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and FLOWERING LOCUS M [FLM, also known as MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING1 (MAF1)] at standard growth temperatures. However, the role of PAF1C in the regulation of flowering time at chilling temperatures (i.e., cold temperatures that are above freezing) and whether PAF1C affects other FLC-clade genes (MAF2--MAF5) remains unknown. Here, we showed that Arabidopsis thaliana mutants of any of the six known genes that encode components of PAF1C [CELL DIVISION CYCLE73/PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN, VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE2 (VIP2)/EARLY FLOWERING7 (ELF7), VIP3, VIP4, VIP5, and VIP6/ELF8] showed temperature-insensitive early flowering across a broad temperature range (10°C--27°C). Flowering of PAF1C-deficient mutants at 10°C was even earlier than that in flc, flm, and flc flm mutants, suggesting that PAF1C regulates additional factors. Indeed, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of PAF1C-deficient mutants revealed downregulation of MAF2--MAF5 in addition to FLC and FLM at both 10 and 23°C. Consistent with the reduced expression of FLC and the FLC-clade members FLM/MAF1 and MAF2--MAF5, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR assays showed reduced levels of the permissive epigenetic modification H3K4me3/H3K36me3 and increased levels of the repressive modification H3K27me3 at their chromatin. Knocking down MAF2--MAF5 using artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in the flc flm background (35S::amiR-MAF2--5 flc flm) resulted in significantly earlier flowering than flc flm mutants and even earlier than short vegetative phase (svp) mutants at 10°C. Wild-type seedlings showed higher accumulation of FLC and FLC-clade gene transcripts at 10°C compared to 23°C. Our yeast two-hybrid assays and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analyses revealed that MAF2--MAF5 directly interact with the prominent floral repressor SVP. Late flowering caused by SVP overexpression was almost completely suppressed by the elf7 and vip4 mutations, suggesting that SVP-mediated floral repression required a functional PAF1C. Taken together, our results showed that PAF1C regulates the transcription of FLC and FLC-clade genes to modulate temperature-responsive flowering at a broad range of temperatures and that the interaction between SVP and these FLC-clade proteins is important for floral repression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The Multidimensional Adolescent Functioning Scale (MAFS) is a 23-item, self-report questionnaire assessing psychosocial functioning in adolescents aged 12–17 years. It captures three domains of functioning: ‘general functioning’, ‘family-related functioning’, and ‘peer-related functioning’. The original English version has good psychometric properties. The aim of the current paper was to translate the MAFS to Dutch and to investigate the psychometric properties of this translation. Methods After translation, the Dutch MAFS was assessed in 397 adolescents aged 12–17 years, assessed at schools. Internal consistency, factor structure and correlations with other questionnaires assessing functioning, psychopathology and well-being were investigated. Results A hierarchical/bifactor model with a general factor that loads on all items (MAFS-general) and three group factors, loading respectively on the GF, FF and PF items, was found to describe the data best. Internal consistency of the MAFS total score (α = 0.87) was good and of the subscales (α = 0.74–0.80) acceptable. Comparable alphas were found in males and females. Correlations between MAFS subscales ranged from 0.33 to 0.43, indicating sufficient differentiation. The MAFS general factor score and group factor scores showed positive correlations with other measures of good functioning and well-being, and negative correlations with measures of psychopathology, supporting convergent and divergent validity. Conclusions The Dutch translation of the MAFS has adequate psychometric properties to assess three domains of functioning in adolescents from the general population aged 12–17 years. The MAFS is freely accessible in the Appendix and easy to administer.

RNA polymerase II–associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) regulates the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase primarily by modulating the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and FLOWERING LOCUS M [FLM, also known as MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING1 (MAF1)] at standard growth temperatures. However, the role of PAF1C in the regulation of flowering time at chilling temperatures (i.e., cold temperatures that are above freezing) and whether PAF1C affects other FLC-clade genes (MAF2–MAF5) remains unknown. Here, we showed that Arabidopsis thaliana mutants of any of the six known genes that encode components of PAF1C [CELL DIVISION CYCLE73/PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN, VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE2 (VIP2)/EARLY FLOWERING7 (ELF7), VIP3, VIP4, VIP5, and VIP6/ELF8] showed temperature-insensitive early flowering across a broad temperature range (10°C–27°C). Flowering of PAF1C-deficient mutants at 10°C was even earlier than that in flc, flm, and flc flm mutants, suggesting that PAF1C regulates additional factors. Indeed, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of PAF1C-deficient mutants revealed downregulation of MAF2–MAF5 in addition to FLC and FLM at both 10 and 23°C. Consistent with the reduced expression of FLC and the FLC-clade members FLM/MAF1 and MAF2–MAF5, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR assays showed reduced levels of the permissive epigenetic modification H3K4me3/H3K36me3 and increased levels of the repressive modification H3K27me3 at their chromatin. Knocking down MAF2–MAF5 using artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in the flc flm background (35S::amiR-MAF2–5 flc flm) resulted in significantly earlier flowering than flc flm mutants and even earlier than short vegetative phase (svp) mutants at 10°C. Wild-type seedlings showed higher accumulation of FLC and FLC-clade gene transcripts at 10°C compared to 23°C. Our yeast two-hybrid assays and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analyses revealed that MAF2–MAF5 directly interact with the prominent floral repressor SVP. Late flowering caused by SVP overexpression was almost completely suppressed by the elf7 and vip4 mutations, suggesting that SVP-mediated floral repression required a functional PAF1C. Taken together, our results showed that PAF1C regulates the transcription of FLC and FLC-clade genes to modulate temperature-responsive flowering at a broad range of temperatures and that the interaction between SVP and these FLC-clade proteins is important for floral repression.

RNA polymerase II–associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) regulates the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase primarily by modulating the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and FLOWERING LOCUS M [ FLM , also known as MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING1 (MAF1)] at standard growth temperatures. However, the role of PAF1C in the regulation of flowering time at chilling temperatures (i.e., cold temperatures that are above freezing) and whether PAF1C affects other FLC -clade genes (MAF2 – MAF5) remains unknown. Here, we showed that Arabidopsis thaliana mutants of any of the six known genes that encode components of PAF1C [ CELL DIVISION CYCLE73/PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN , VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE2 (VIP2)/ EARLY FLOWERING7 (ELF7), VIP3 , VIP4 , VIP5 , and VIP6/ELF8 ] showed temperature-insensitive early flowering across a broad temperature range (10°C–27°C). Flowering of PAF1C-deficient mutants at 10°C was even earlier than that in flc , flm , and flc flm mutants, suggesting that PAF1C regulates additional factors. Indeed, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of PAF1C-deficient mutants revealed downregulation of MAF2–MAF5 in addition to FLC and FLM at both 10 and 23°C. Consistent with the reduced expression of FLC and the FLC -clade members FLM/MAF1 and MAF2–MAF5 , chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR assays showed reduced levels of the permissive epigenetic modification H3K4me3/H3K36me3 and increased levels of the repressive modification H3K27me3 at their chromatin. Knocking down MAF2–MAF5 using artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in the flc flm background (35S::amiR-MAF2–5 flc flm) resulted in significantly earlier flowering than flc flm mutants and even earlier than short vegetative phase (svp) mutants at 10°C. Wild-type seedlings showed higher accumulation of FLC and FLC -clade gene transcripts at 10°C compared to 23°C. Our yeast two-hybrid assays and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analyses revealed that MAF2–MAF5 directly interact with the prominent floral repressor SVP. Late flowering caused by SVP overexpression was almost completely suppressed by the elf7 and vip4 mutations, suggesting that SVP-mediated floral repression required a functional PAF1C. Taken together, our results showed that PAF1C regulates the transcription of FLC and FLC -clade genes to modulate temperature-responsive flowering at a broad range of temperatures and that the interaction between SVP and these FLC-clade proteins is important for floral repression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of different concentrations of ovarian peptides Amphiregulin (AREG) or Neuregulin-I (NRG-I) or Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a) on in vitro maturation of ovine oocytes collected from different sizes of ovarian follicles. Oocytes isolated from different ovarian follicles (large antral follicles (LAFs>4mm), medium antral follicles (MAFs<1 mm) and small antral follicles (SAFs,1-4mm)] were cultured with medium supplemented with different concentrations viz. 0 (control), 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 ng of either AREG or NRG-I or TNF-a in a carbon dioxide incubator for 24 h. Maturation rate assessment was done based on the degree of expansion (cumulus expansion score) and extrusion of the first polar body. The maturation rate of oocytes was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups exposed to 50 ng, 100 ng and150 ng of AREG in oocytes isolated from LAFs; 100 ng and150 ng of AREG in oocytes isolated from both MAFs and SAFs. The maturation rate of oocytes isolated from LAFs, MAFs and SAFS was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the groups exposed to 25 ng, 50 ng, 100 ng and 150 ng of NRG-I; 50 ng,100 ng and 150ng of NRG-I, respectively. The maturation rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the oocytes cultured with 25 ng of TNF-a in oocytes isolated from both LAFs and MAFs and 5 ng and 10 ng of TNF-a in oocytes isolated from SAFs. The results indicated growth factors AREG/NRG-I/TNF-a improved the oocytes maturation in-vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated phosphorus (P) from manure application field (MAF) soils transported to surface waters is a concern throughout the world because of P's role in eutrophication. Our goal was to determine why the common labile extractants alkaline-buffered sodium bicarbonate (Olsen), ammonium bicarbonate–diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and dilute acid–fluoride (Mehlich III) produce different values given the same soil sample. Ten sites within a dairy MAF were sampled by genetic horizons from fine, mixed, Thermic, Udic Paleustalf (Windthorst) map units. In addition to determining plant labile P, soluble and total P were determined. All P pools decreased with depth, but concentrations between the labile P were variable. Mehlich III extracted more plant labile P at neutral and slightly alkaline pH values. Mehlich III also dissolved more carbonates. The fraction of labile P that Mehlich III extracts in excess of Olsen and DTPA warrants further characterization of carbonate associated P to assess its role in plant nutrition and environmental quality regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Multidimensional Adolescent Functioning Scale (MAFS) is a 23-item, self-report questionnaire assessing psychosocial functioning in adolescents aged 12-17 years. It captures three domains of functioning: 'general functioning', 'family-related functioning', and 'peer-related functioning'. The original English version has good psychometric properties. The aim of the current paper was to translate the MAFS to Dutch and to investigate the psychometric properties of this translation.Methods: After translation, the Dutch MAFS was assessed in 397 adolescents aged 12-17 years, assessed at schools. Internal consistency, factor structure and correlations with other questionnaires assessing functioning, psychopathology and well-being were investigated.Results: A hierarchical/bifactor model with a general factor that loads on all items (MAFS-general) and three group factors, loading respectively on the GF, FF and PF items, was found to describe the data best. Internal consistency of the MAFS total score (α = 0.87) was good and of the subscales (α = 0.74-0.80) acceptable. Comparable alphas were found in males and females. Correlations between MAFS subscales ranged from 0.33 to 0.43, indicating sufficient differentiation. The MAFS general factor score and group factor scores showed positive correlations with other measures of good functioning and well-being, and negative correlations with measures of psychopathology, supporting convergent and divergent validity.Conclusions: The Dutch translation of the MAFS has adequate psychometric properties to assess three domains of functioning in adolescents from the general population aged 12-17 years. The MAFS is freely accessible in the Appendix and easy to administer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumors are influenced by the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. Using patient samples and atomic force microscopy, we found that tissue stiffness is higher in liver metastases than in primary colorectal tumors. Highly activated metastasis-associated fibroblasts increase tissue stiffness, which enhances angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Drugs targeting the renin-angiotensin system, normally prescribed to treat hypertension, inhibit fibroblast contraction and extracellular matrix deposition, thereby reducing liver metastases stiffening and increasing the anti-angiogenic effects of bevacizumab. Patients treated with bevacizumab showed prolonged survival when concomitantly treated with renin-angiotensin inhibitors, highlighting the importance of modulating the mechanical microenvironment for therapeutic regimens., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)