Capturing the Value of Biomedical Research.

Assessing the real-world impact of biomedical research is notoriously difficult. Here, we present the framework for building a prospective science-centered information system from scratch that has been afforded by the Sidra Medical and Research Center in Qatar. This experiment is part of the global conversation on maximizing returns on research investment.

Scientific Integrity Principles and Best Practices: Recommendations from a Scientific Integrity Consortium.

A Scientific Integrity Consortium developed a set of recommended principles and best practices that can be used broadly across scientific disciplines as a mechanism for consensus on scientific integrity standards and to better equip scientists to operate in a rapidly changing research environment. The two principles that represent the umbrella under which scientific processes should operate are as follows: (1) Foster a culture of integrity in the scientific process. (2) Evidence-based policy interests may have legitimate roles to play in influencing aspects of the research process, but those roles should not interfere with scientific integrity. The nine best practices for instilling scientific integrity in the implementation of these two overarching principles are (1) Require universal training in robust scientific methods, in the use of appropriate experimental design and statistics, and in responsible research practices for scientists at all levels, with the training content regularly updated and presented by qualified scientists. (2) Strengthen scientific integrity oversight and processes throughout the research continuum with a focus on training in ethics and conduct. (3) Encourage reproducibility of research through transparency. (4) Strive to establish open science as the standard operating procedure throughout the scientific enterprise. (5) Develop and implement educational tools to teach communication skills that uphold scientific integrity. (6) Strive to identify ways to further strengthen the peer review process. (7) Encourage scientific journals to publish unanticipated findings that meet standards of quality and scientific integrity. (8) Seek harmonization and implementation among journals of rapid, consistent, and transparent processes for correction and/or retraction of published papers. (9) Design rigorous and comprehensive evaluation criteria that recognize and reward the highest standards of integrity in scientific research.

Relationships between water status and photosystem functionality in a chlorolichen and its isolated photobiont.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Drought tolerance was greater in the whole lichen than in its isolated photobiont. Cell turgor state has an influence on the functionality of photosynthetic process in lichens. Irreversible thermodynamics is widely used to describe the water relations of vascular plants. However, poikilohydrous organisms like lichens and aeroterrestrial microalgae have seldom been studied using this approach. Water relations of lichens are generally addressed without separate analysis of the mycobiont and photobiont, and only few studies have correlated changes in photosynthetic efficiency of dehydrating lichens to accurate measurements of their water potential components. We measured water potential isotherms and chlorophyll a fluorescence in the lichen Flavoparmelia caperata harvested in different seasons, as well as in its isolated photobiont, the green alga Trebouxia gelatinosa, either exposed to water stress cycles or fully hydrated. No significant seasonal trends were observed in lichen water relations parameters. Turgor loss point and osmotic potential of the whole thallus were significantly lower than those measured in the photobiont, while differences between the water stressed photobiont and controls were not significant. Dehydration-induced drop of F v/F m was correlated with turgor loss, revealing that the photosynthetic activity of lichens partly depends on their turgor level. We provided one of the first quantitative evidences of the influence that turgor status could exert on the functionality of photosynthetic processes in lichens.

Desiccation tolerance and lichenization: a case study with the aeroterrestrial microalga Trebouxia sp. (Chlorophyta).

MAIN CONCLUSIONS: A comparative study of isolated vs. lichenized Trebouxia sp. showed that lichenization does not influence the survival capability of the alga to the photo-oxidative stress derived from prolonged desiccation. Coccoid algae in the Trebouxia genus are the most common photobionts of chlorolichens but are only sporadically found in soil or bark outside of a lichen. They all appear to be desiccation tolerant, i.e. they can survive drying to water contents of below 10%. However, little is known about their longevity in the dry state and to which extent lichenization can influence it. Here, we studied the longevity in the dry state of the lichenized alga (LT) Trebouxia sp. in the lichen Parmotrema perlatum, in comparison with axenically grown cultures (CT) isolated from the same lichen. We report on chlorophyll fluorescence emission and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production before desiccation, after 15-45 days in the dry state under different combinations of light and air humidity and after recovery for 1 or 3 days in fully hydrated conditions. Both the CT and the LT were able to withstand desiccation under high light (120 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1) for 14 h per day), but upon recovery after 45 days in the dry state the performance of the CT was better than that of the LT. By contrast, the quenching of excess light energy was more efficient in the LT, at high relative humidities especially. ROS production in the LT was influenced mostly by light exposure, whereas the CT showed an oxidative burst independent of the light conditions. Although lichenization provides benefits that are essential for the survival of the photobiont in high-light habitats, Trebouxia sp. can withstand protracted periods of photo-oxidative stress even outside of a lichen thallus.

Drought-induced xylem cavitation and hydraulic deterioration: risk factors for urban trees under climate change?

Urban trees help towns to cope with climate warming by cooling both air and surfaces. The challenges imposed by the urban environment, with special reference to low water availability due to the presence of extensive pavements, result in high rates of mortality of street trees, that can be increased by climatic extremes. We investigated the water relations and xylem hydraulic safety/efficiency of Quercus ilex trees growing at urban sites with different percentages of surrounding impervious pavements. Seasonal changes of plant water potential and gas exchange, vulnerability to cavitation and embolism level, and morpho-anatomical traits were measured. We found patterns of increasing water stress and vulnerability to drought at increasing percentages of impervious pavement cover, with a consequent reduction in gas exchange rates, decreased safety margins toward embolism development, and increased vulnerability to cavitation, suggesting the occurrence of stress-induced hydraulic deterioration. The amount of impermeable surface and chronic exposure to water stress influence the site-specific risk of drought-induced dieback of urban trees under extreme drought. Besides providing directions for management of green spaces in towns, our data suggest that xylem hydraulics is key to a full understanding of the responses of urban trees to global change.

Lack of the ventral anterior homeodomain transcription factor VAX1 leads to induction of a second pituitary.

The pituitary gland is an endocrine organ that is developmentally derived from a fold in the oral ectoderm and a juxtaposed fold in the neural ectoderm. Here, we show that the absence of Vax1, a homeodomain transcription factor known for its role in eye and optic chiasm development, causes the rostral oral ectoderm to form an ectopic fold that eventually develops into a separate second pituitary with all the pituitary cell types and neuronal fibers characteristic of the normal pituitary. The induction of the second pituitary is associated with a localized ectopic expression of Fgf10, a gene encoding a growth factor known to recruit oral ectodermal cells into the pituitary. Interestingly, there are rare cases of pituitary duplications in humans that are also associated with optic nerve dysplasia, suggesting that VAX1 might be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Seasonal acclimation in the epiphytic lichen Parmelia sulcata is influenced by change in photobiont population density.

CO2 gas exchange, radial growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content and photobiont density of an epiphytic population of Parmelia sulcata were monitored every 2 months during 1 year in a temperate deciduous forest of Central Italy, to verify possible seasonal variations. Light response curves of south-exposed thalli, built up in the laboratory at 6 and 27°C at optimal thallus hydration, showed that CO2 gas exchange changed significantly during the year, with a maximum for gross photosynthesis in December at both temperatures. Photoinhibition phenomena occurred in early spring, immediately before tree leaves sprouted. The principal component analysis of CO2 gas exchange parameters clearly separated the months with from the months without tree canopy cover. Radial growth, measured on marginal lobes of north- and south-exposed thalli, was the highest in December, and the lowest in April. Photobiont density, measured in lobes of south- and north-exposed thalli with a sedimentation chamber, also changed during the year: the number of photobionts was highest in June and December, and lowest in April, although no significant change in cell size and Chl content per cell was evident throughout the year. South-exposed thalli had slightly, but constantly higher photobiont density both on a weight and an area basis. The acclimation of lichen photosynthesis and Chl content to seasonal temperature and light changes should partially be re-visited on the basis of the significant variation in photobiont population density. This phenomenon still awaits, however, a satisfactory explanation, although it is probably related to the seasonal change in nutrient availability.

An account of American Academy of Microbiology reforms and pandemic operations.

Change is an inevitable part of any organization if it wants to adapt and strive in a changing environment. That was what the American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) did from 2019-2023 when it transformed itself into a scientific think tank at ASM while maintaining the high standard of an honorific community of scholars. Here, we report on the recent history of the Academy and the changes that have taken place during this period. With the contribution of many thougtful leaders, the Academy refreshed its commitment to promote excellence and uphold its high values.

Heat shock treatments: a new safe approach against lichen growth on outdoor stone surfaces.

The control of lichen growth, particularly important in the field of stone conservation of outdoor monuments, largely depends on the use of biocides, that may be dangerous for the users, the environment and the substratum. A new, alternative approach is proposed, which makes the most of a poorly known peculiarity of poikilohydrous organisms: they are thermo-tolerant (up to 65-70 °C) when dry, but thermo-sensitive when wet. The efficacy of thermal treatments (range: 20-55 °C), in parallel to the application of three biocides, was verified in the laboratory with six epi- and endolithic lichens. Chlorophyll a fluorescence emission was checked in treated and nontreated samples of all the species, whereas histochemical observations with a dead cell stain were carried out on one of them. The feasibility of the thermal treatments in the field was verified with a seventh species. The results confirm that a 6 h treatment at 55 °C is sufficient to kill the lichens if they are kept fully hydrated. At 40 °C the organisms are damaged: in this case biocides at concentrations 10× lower than in normal applications can profitably be used. The new protocol is simple, the field equipment cheap, and the negative effects associated with standard biocide treatments are absent.

Future perspectives in melanoma research. Meeting report from the "Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA. Naples, December 6th-7th 2010".

Progress in understanding the molecular basis of melanoma has made possible the identification of molecular targets with important implications in clinical practice. In fact, new therapeutic approaches are emerging from basic science and it will be important to implement their rapid translation into clinical practice by active clinical investigation. The first meeting of Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA, organized by Paolo A. Ascierto (INT, Naples, Italy) and Francesco Marincola (NIH, Bethesda, USA) took place in Naples, on 6-7 December 2010. This international congress gathered more than 30 international and Italian faculty members and was focused on recent advances in melanoma molecular biology, immunology and therapy, and created an interactive discussion across Institutions belonging to Government, Academy and Pharmaceutical Industry, in order to stimulate new approaches in basic, translational and clinical research. Four topics of discussion were identified: New pathways in Melanoma, Biomarkers, Clinical Trials and New Molecules and Strategies.

p66(ShcA) adaptor molecule accelerates ES cell neural induction.

SHC genes codify for a family of adaptor molecules comprising four genes. Previous data have implicated the Shc(s) molecules in stem cell division and differentiation. Specifically, the p66(ShcA) isoform has been found to contribute to longevity and resistance from oxidative stress. Here we report that p66(ShcA) is up-regulated during in vitro neural induction in embryonic stem cells. p66(ShcA) over-expression in ES cells reduces GSK-3beta kinase activation and increases beta-catenin stabilization and its transcriptional activity. p66(ShcA) over-expression results in ES cells undergoing an anticipated neural induction and accelerated neuronal differentiation. Similar effects are obtained in human ES cells over-expressing p66(ShcA). This study reveals a role for p66(ShcA) in the modulation of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and in ES cell neuralization which is consistent between mouse and human.

Ozone and desiccation tolerance in chlorolichens are intimately connected: a case study based on two species with different ecology.

Tropospheric ozone (O3) causes severe damage to many vascular plants but not to lichens. It was recently suggested that this may be due to their high levels of natural defences against the oxidative bursts associated to their fluctuating water content. In this study, the combined effects of watering regime (with or without a daily spray of distilled water), air relative humidity (20 ± 5 vs. 80 ± 5% RH) and O3 (250 vs. 0 ppb, 5 h day-1 for 2 weeks) were monitored in two chlorolichens with different ecology, Parmotrema perlatum and Xanthoria parietina. Modulated chlorophyll a fluorescence (Chl a F), superoxide anion radical (O2•-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, antioxidant content and enzyme activity of the ascorbate/glutathione cycle were measured after exposure and, for Chl a F, after 1 and 2 days of recovery. The species differed in the antioxidant profile (ascorbate was higher in X. parietina, glutathione in P. perlatum), and in the activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes, more intense in the hygrophilous P. perlatum than in the meso-xerophilous X. parietina. O3 slightly modified Chl a F parameters related to the controlled dissipation, with reduction of Fm, Fv/Fm (both species) and ETR (in P. perlatum), and increase in NPQ and qN (in X. parietina). It also influenced, particularly in P. perlatum, the content of H2O2, glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) (but not that of O2•- and AsA + DHA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and dehydroascorbate reductase. These parameters, however, were more heavily affected by water availability. The hypothesis that lichens are O3-tolerant thanks to the constitutive antioxidant systems, intimately related to their poikilohydric life-style, is thus confirmed.

Species-specific reversal of stem xylem embolism after a prolonged drought correlates to endpoint concentration of soluble sugars.

Recent reports on tree mortality associated with anomalous drought and heat have raised interest into processes underlying tree resistance/resilience to water stress. Hydraulic failure and carbon starvation have been proposed as main causes of tree decline, with recent theories treating water and carbon metabolism as interconnected processes. We subjected young plants of two native (Quercus pubescens [Qp] and Prunus mahaleb [Pm]) and two invasive (Robinia pseudoacacia [Rp] and Ailanthus altissima [Aa]) woody angiosperms to a prolonged drought leading to stomatal closure and xylem embolism, to induce carbon starvation and hydraulic failure. At the end of the treatment, plants were measured for embolism rates and NSC content, and re-irrigated to monitor recovery of xylem hydraulics. Data highlight different hydraulic strategies in native vs invasive species under water stress, and provide physiological explanations for species-specific impacts of recent severe droughts. Drought-sensitive species (Qp and Rp) suffered high embolism rates and were unable to completely refill xylem conduits upon restoration of water availability. Species that better survived recent droughts were able to limit embolism build-up (Pm) or efficiently restored hydraulic functionality after irrigation (Aa). Species-specific capacity to reverse xylem embolism correlated to stem-level concentration of soluble carbohydrates, but not to starch content.

ASM Journals Eliminate Impact Factor Information from Journal Websites.

Many scientists attempt to publish their work in a journal with the highest possible journal impact factor (IF). Despite widespread condemnation of the use of journal IFs to assess the significance of published work, these numbers continue to be widely misused in publication, hiring, funding, and promotion decisions (1, 2).

ASM Journals Eliminate Impact Factor Information from Journal Websites.

Many scientists attempt to publish their work in a journal with the highest possible journal impact factor (IF). Despite widespread condemnation of the use of journal IFs to assess the significance of published work, these numbers continue to be widely misused in publication, hiring, funding, and promotion decisions (1, 2).