The DME demethylase regulates sporophyte gene expression, cell proliferation, differentiation, and meristem resurrection.

The flowering plant life cycle consists of alternating haploid (gametophyte) and diploid (sporophyte) generations, where the sporophytic generation begins with fertilization of haploid gametes. In Arabidopsis, genome-wide DNA demethylation is required for normal development, catalyzed by the DEMETER (DME) DNA demethylase in the gamete companion cells of male and female gametophytes. In the sporophyte, postembryonic growth and development are largely dependent on the activity of numerous stem cell niches, or meristems. Analyzing Arabidopsis plants homozygous for a loss-of-function dme-2 allele, we show that DME influences many aspects of sporophytic growth and development. dme-2 mutants exhibited delayed seed germination, variable root hair growth, aberrant cellular proliferation and differentiation followed by enhanced de novo shoot formation, dysregulation of root quiescence and stomatal precursor cells, and inflorescence meristem (IM) resurrection. We also show that sporophytic DME activity exerts a profound effect on the transcriptome of developing Arabidopsis plants, including discrete groups of regulatory genes that are misregulated in dme-2 mutant tissues, allowing us to potentially link phenotypes to changes in specific gene expression pathways. These results show that DME plays a key role in sporophytic development and suggest that DME-mediated active DNA demethylation may be involved in the maintenance of stem cell activities during the sporophytic life cycle in Arabidopsis.

Effects of Workplace Violence on Emotional Distress.

The current study assessed the effects of workplace violence (WPV) and fear related to WPV on community mental health (CMH) workers' emotional distress. This cross-sectional study used structural equation modeling (SEM) and comprised participants who were CMH workers in Korea. We used WPV questionnaires and the Korean version of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® item bank to evaluate emotional distress. SEM data from 763 workers revealed significant positive effects of WPV on anxiety (ß = 0.23, p = 0.009) and anger (ß = 0.26, p = 0.007), and significant positive effects of fear related to WPV on anxiety (ß = 0.21, p = 0.004) and anger (ß = 0.19, p = 0.002). Preventive measures significantly mediated the relationship between WPV and emotional distress and between fear related to WPV and emotional distress. Findings verified the relationship between WPV and workers' emotional distress and the mediating role of preventive measures. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(4), 24-32.].

Effects of Positive Psychotherapy for People with Psychosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study evaluates positive psychotherapy's effects on the well-being and psychiatric symptoms of people with psychosis. A systematic search was conducted using 10 electronic databases according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A meta-analysis was performed using the R 4.2.0 program to estimate the effect size. Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review and 14 in meta-analysis. Positive psychotherapy for people with psychosis had significant effects on subjective and psychological well-being and psychiatric symptoms. Further, country, age, and session were significant moderators. Thus, positive psychotherapy improves the well-being and psychiatric symptoms of people with psychosis.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Community Mental Health Workers.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to 1) investigate the prevalence of workplace violence and workers' emotional distress, 2) explore factors associated with workplace violence, and 3) assess workers' needs for preventive measures. A total of 763 community mental health workers participated in Korea. Among them, 85.85% of workers experienced workplace violence, including verbal (74.31%), emotional (66.45%), infectious (47.44%), informational (42.60%), sexual (32.50%), and physical (23.72%) abuse. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, occupation, certification, and working institution were significantly associated with workplace violence. Workplace violence affects workers' depression, anger, and anxiety negatively. The most-needed preventive measure is a two-person home visit.

Prescription rate and treatment patterns for allergic rhinitis from 2010 to 2018 in South Korea: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: There has been little investigation on how guidelines for allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment are applied in current clinical practice. We aimed to analyze prescription trends and patterns for AR treatment according to patient characteristics over a 9-year period in Korea. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service National Patient Sample from 2010 to 2018. We analyzed 1,719,194 patients with AR as the principal diagnosis. Prescription rates of antihistamines, steroids, and other drugs; combination prescriptions; and first-choice prescriptions were analyzed. RESULTS: The prescription rate of first-generation antihistamines decreased over the years (2010: 29.13; 2018: 23.41). By contrast, the prescription rate of systemic steroids (2010: 23.60; 2018: 28.70), nasal steroids (2010: 9.70; 2018: 14.67), and leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) (2010: 11.13; 2018: 26.56) increased. The prescription rate of steroids was lower in patients aged 0-5 years and ≥ 65 years than in other age groups and that of LTRAs was the highest in patients aged 0-5 years. The rate of combination prescribing antihistamines and nasal steroids increased (2010: 7.99; 2018: 12.09). The rate of first-choice prescriptions with antihistamines and nasal steroids also increased (2010: 4.72; 2018: 7.24). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed a decrease in antihistamine prescriptions, especially with first-generation, and an increase in steroid and LTRA prescriptions in patients with AR in Korea. Regarding prescription patterns, steroids were increasingly prescribed in combination with antihistamines. However, the trend was opposite in the 0-5 years and ≥ 65 years groups.

Tracheophytes Contain Conserved Orthologs of a Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor That Modulate ROOT HAIR SPECIFIC Genes.

ROOT HAIR SPECIFIC (RHS) genes, which contain the root hair-specific cis-element (RHE) in their regulatory regions, function in root hair morphogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that an Arabidopsis thaliana basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, ROOT HAIR DEFECTVE SIX-LIKE4 (RSL4), directly binds to the RHE in vitro and in vivo, upregulates RHS genes, and stimulates root hair formation in Arabidopsis. Orthologs of RSL4 from a eudicot (poplar [Populus trichocarpa]), a monocot (rice [Oryza sativa]), and a lycophyte (Selaginella moellendorffii) each restored root hair growth in the Arabidopsis rsl4 mutant. In addition, the rice and S. moellendorffii RSL4 orthologs bound to the RHE in in vitro and in vivo assays. The RSL4 orthologous genes contain RHEs in their promoter regions, and RSL4 was able to bind to its own RHEs in vivo and amplify its own expression. This process likely provides a positive feedback loop for sustainable root hair growth. When RSL4 and its orthologs were expressed in cells in non-root-hair positions, they induced ectopic root hair growth, indicating that these genes are sufficient to specify root hair formation. Our results suggest that RSL4 mediates root hair formation by regulating RHS genes and that this mechanism is conserved throughout the tracheophyte (vascular plant) lineage.

Molecular link between auxin and ROS-mediated polar growth.

Root hair polar growth is endogenously controlled by auxin and sustained by oscillating levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These cells extend several hundred-fold their original size toward signals important for plant survival. Although their final cell size is of fundamental importance, the molecular mechanisms that control it remain largely unknown. Here we show that ROS production is controlled by the transcription factor RSL4, which in turn is transcriptionally regulated by auxin through several auxin response factors (ARFs). In this manner, auxin controls ROS-mediated polar growth by activating RSL4, which then up-regulates the expression of genes encoding NADPH oxidases (also known as RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOG proteins) and class III peroxidases, which catalyze ROS production. Chemical or genetic interference with ROS balance or peroxidase activity affects root hair final cell size. Overall, our findings establish a molecular link between auxin and ROS-mediated polar root hair growth.

Adaptive 3D Model-Based Facial Expression Synthesis and Pose Frontalization.

Facial expressions are one of the important non-verbal ways used to understand human emotions during communication. Thus, acquiring and reproducing facial expressions is helpful in analyzing human emotional states. However, owing to complex and subtle facial muscle movements, facial expression modeling from images with face poses is difficult to achieve. To handle this issue, we present a method for acquiring facial expressions from a non-frontal single photograph using a 3D-aided approach. In addition, we propose a contour-fitting method that improves the modeling accuracy by automatically rearranging 3D contour landmarks corresponding to fixed 2D image landmarks. The acquired facial expression input can be parametrically manipulated to create various facial expressions through a blendshape or expression transfer based on the FACS (Facial Action Coding System). To achieve a realistic facial expression synthesis, we propose an exemplar-texture wrinkle synthesis method that extracts and synthesizes appropriate expression wrinkles according to the target expression. To do so, we constructed a wrinkle table of various facial expressions from 400 people. As one of the applications, we proved that the expression-pose synthesis method is suitable for expression-invariant face recognition through a quantitative evaluation, and showed the effectiveness based on a qualitative evaluation. We expect our system to be a benefit to various fields such as face recognition, HCI, and data augmentation for deep learning.

Relationship Between Sedentary Time and Sleep Duration Among Korean Adolescents.

Longer sedentary time and insufficient sleep are common and potentially serious problems among adolescents and have substantially adverse effects on their physical and mental health. In this school-based study, we conducted an ecological momentary assessment using actigraphy to examine the within-subject association between sedentary time and sleep duration among 80 Korean adolescents aged 12-17. Objectively measured sedentary time and sleep duration were recorded over 5 days; participants also completed a self-reported questionnaire and sleep logs. Using a generalized estimating equation, analysis revealed that daily sedentary time was significantly and negatively associated with sleep duration (ß = -.36, p = .028). Additionally, the interaction between age and sedentary time significantly affected sleep duration (ß = .03, p = .012). These findings suggest the need for school-based interventions that aim to reduce sedentary time and thereby improve sleep duration, helping adolescents, especially younger ones, to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Agreement Between Parent Proxy Reports and Self-Reports of Adolescent Emotional Distress.

Parents' recognition of adolescents' emotional distress is a significant determinant of early detection and treatment of mental disorders. However, there is dearth of research exploring parent-adolescent agreement regarding adolescents' emotional distress. This cross-sectional, school-based study compared parents' proxy reports and self-reports of adolescent's emotional distress among 289 parent-adolescent dyads in Korea. Findings revealed low agreement between adolescents' and parents' reports of depression, anxiety, and anger, with an average polychoric r of .25 to .27. The agreement was particularly low for high school students, boys, and father-adolescent dyads. Additionally, parents tended to underestimate adolescents' emotional distress symptoms; a significant percentage of adolescents experiencing symptoms were rated in the normal range by parents, particularly high school students experiencing anger. Interventions are needed to help adolescents learn to manage and express their negative emotions. Moreover, parent education programs that improve parents' recognition of emotional distress and appropriate help-seeking behaviors are needed.

Staff perceptions of barriers to physical restraint-reduction in long-term care: a meta-synthesis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To critically review the existing qualitative studies to identify, from the perspective of staff, the barriers to physical restraint reduction in long-term geriatric care facilities. BACKGROUND: Despite the adverse physical and psychosocial effects, physical restraints are still used frequently in many geriatric long-term care facilities around the world. There is, however, no study that synthesises the existing qualitative literature regarding the barriers to the restraint reduction from the perspective of facility staff. DESIGN/METHODS: The metastudy research process guided this qualitative synthesis. Five electronic databases were searched, and ten studies were included in this metastudy. RESULTS: Five themes were identified through metasynthesis of the findings: concern about and responsibility for safety, unclear and inconsistent definitions of restraint and restraint-free care, difficulties in the transition from acceptance to removal, noninvolvement in decision-making to remove restraint and insufficient resources and education. CONCLUSION: A concept analysis of physical restraint is sorely needed, and future studies should explore the prevalence of restraint, the effects of education for staff and family on restraint reduction, and success stories related to restraint-free care. More research is needed regarding the restraint reduction effectiveness and cost issues. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Physical restraints, commonly used in many geriatric long-term care facilities, result in many negative effects and ethical issues. To achieve success in reducing physical restraint use, governmental policies and long-term care institutions should underpin staff efforts with legal, educational and practical support.

Predictors of valid engagement with a video streaming web study among asian american and non-Hispanic white college students.

The study purpose was to determine the predictors of watching most of a Web-based streaming video and whether data characteristics differed for those watching most or only part of the video. A convenience sample of 650 students (349 Asian Americans and 301 non-Hispanic whites) was recruited from a public university in the United States. Study participants were asked to view a 27-minute suicide awareness streaming video and to complete online questionnaires. Early data monitoring showed many, but not all, watched most of the video. We added software controls to facilitate video completion and defined times for a video completion group (≥26 minutes) and video noncompletion (<26 minutes) group. Compared with the video noncompletion group, the video completion group included more females, undergraduates, and Asian Americans, and had higher individualistic orientation and more correct manipulation check answers. The video noncompletion group skipped items in a purposeful manner, showed less interest in the video, and spent less time completing questionnaires. The findings suggest that implementing software controls, evaluating missing data patterns, documenting the amount of time spent completing questionnaires, and effective manipulation check questions are essential to control potential bias in Web-based research involving college students.

Technology-based interactive communication simulation addressing challenging communication situations for nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based interventions for nursing students addressing challenging communication situations involving geriatric patients and end-of-life care are limited. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of technology-based interactive communication simulations on nursing students' communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, compassion, and program satisfaction. METHOD: A randomized controlled repeated-measures design was used with third- and fourth-year nursing students enrolled in five nursing colleges located in five regions in Korea as participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either a technology-based interactive communication simulation or an attention control group. Changes in communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, compassion, and program satisfaction were assessed using three self-reported measures and communication skills were measured by the raters. Statistical analyses included descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, t-tests, and a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: Eighty students participated in one of the two programs, and 77 in the four-week follow-up test. The intervention group indicated significant improvements in communication knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and compassion, as well as higher program satisfaction compared with the attention control group. Communication skills as assessed by raters also showed significant change at all assessment time points. CONCLUSION: The technology-based interactive communication simulation program is effective in improving communication skills among nursing students managing geriatric patients and end-of-life care.

Nursing students' experiences regarding physical restraint use in long-term care facilities: A qualitative descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Despite many harmful effects, physical restraints are still used in long-term care facilities. Most existing studies have focused on staff. Nursing students observe staff's use of restraints during gerontological nursing practicums, but there are few studies on nursing students' experiences regarding restraint use in long-term care settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences with physical restraint use in order to enhance nursing education and improve care quality in long-term care facilities. METHODS: Using convenience sampling method, three nursing schools from three provinces were recruited. Twenty-six senior undergraduate nursing students who had taken a gerontological nursing practicum course participated in this study. A qualitative descriptive method was utilized to provide a clear account of the students' experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified, which included overuse of restraints, ambivalent response to restraints, becoming accustomed to restraints, and lack of education regarding restraints. Students frequently observed the use of various restraints, which elicited both negative and positive responses, ultimately leading to their desensitization to the overuse of restraints. They expressed a lack of knowledge and educational needs regarding restraint reduction. CONCLUSION: Nursing students encountered the overuse of various restraints, exhibited ambivalent responses, and became desensitized to this practice in long-term care facilities. They perceived a lack of education and educational needs regarding restraint reduction. This study adds important new knowledge to existing literature and provides important insights into restraint use in long-term care facilities. Future studies need to develop and evaluate educational programs for restraint-free and person-centered care targeting nursing students. Long-term care facilities should offer organizational support and implement continuous mandatory training to promote restraint-free care.

The effect of integrative Korean medicine treatment on symptomatic lumbar facet joint cysts: A case series.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal treatment for facet joint cysts (FJCs) has remained controversial. Despite a higher success rate than the conservative option, surgical treatments may pose risks of postoperative complications and comorbidities may make the surgical approach difficult. Thus, this study reports four cases of pain amelioration and resorption of FJCs through noninvasive integrative Korean Medicine treatment. METHODS: For intervention, four patients with symptomatic FJCs underwent integrative Korean medicine treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manual therapy; after completion of the series of treatment sessions, patients were re-examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Pain disappeared within 2 months for all four patients; the amelioration of pain was sustained for more than 6 months. Furthermore, the disappearance of FJCs was confirmed by MRI after a certain period from the time of pain disappearance. CONCLUSIONS: This study reported the effectiveness of non-invasive, integrative Korean medicine treatment for patients with FJCs; this method shows promise as a conservative treatment option for patients with FJCs.

A dose-dependent bimodal switch by homologous Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors.

Combinatorial interactions between different regulators diversify and enrich the chance of transcriptional regulation in eukaryotic cells. However, a dose-dependent functional switch of homologous transcriptional repressors has rarely been reported. Here, we show that SHY2, an auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) repressor, exhibits a dose-dependent bimodal role in auxin-sensitive root-hair growth and gene transcription in Arabidopsis, whereas other Aux/IAA homologs consistently repress the auxin responses. The co-repressor (TOPLESS [TPL])-binding affinity of a bimodal Aux/IAA was lower than that of a consistently repressing Aux/IAA. The switch of a single amino acid residue in the TPL-binding motif between the bimodal form and the consistently repressing form switched their TPL-binding affinity and transcriptional and biological roles in auxin responses. Based on these data, we propose a model whereby competition between homologous repressors with different co-repressor-binding affinities could generate a bimodal output at the transcriptional and developmental levels.

Liquid-based fine needle aspiration biopsy of papillary thyroid carcinoma: logistic regression analysis with conventional and new cytomorphologic features.

OBJECTIVE: The morphological interpretation of liquid-based preparation (LBP) remains a diagnostic challenge due to altered cytomorphology with technical reason. Only a few published accounts of the cytopathological features needed for diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) on an LBP exist. We utilized the SurePath LBP system to evaluate conventional and newly recognized cytomorphologic features on histologically confirmed PTC to identify their potent diagnostic significance compared to benign follicular neoplasm (BFN). STUDY DESIGN: One-hundred and three cases of PTC and 84 BFNs were collected using preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsies. We evaluated and compared 16 cytomorphologic findings in PTC and BFN using an LBP. RESULTS: Among the conventional criteria, papillary structures, fewer background colloids and macrophages, hobnail patterns (54.4% in PTC vs. 10.7% in BFN; p < 0.001) and swirling architecture (14.6% in PTC vs. 0% in BFN; p < 0.001; positive predictive value 100.0%) were significant diagnostic findings for PTC compared to BFN. The hobnail pattern was shown as a newly recognized strong diagnostic parameter for PTC (odds ratio 50.157, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The identified distinctive cytological criteria may be helpful in cases where conventional criteria for PTC are insufficient. Furthermore, application of these findings, along with classical criteria, may enhance the diagnostic accuracy of PTC by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

[Determinants of Problem Drinking by Regional Variation among Adult Males in Single-Person Households: Geographically Weighted Regression Model Analysis].

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify regional differences in problem drinking among adult males in single-person households and predict the determinants. METHODS: This study used data from the 2019 Community Health Survey. Geographically weighted regression analysis was performed on 8,625 adult males in single-person households who had been consuming alcohol for the past year. The Si-Gun-Gu was selected as the spatial unit. RESULTS: The top 10 regions for problem drinking among adult males in single-person households were located in the Jeju-do and Jeollanam-do areas near the southern coast, whereas the bottom 10 regions were located in the Incheon and northern Gyeonggi-do areas. Smoking, economic activity, and educational level were common factors affecting problem drinking among this population. Among the determinants of regional disparities in problem drinking among adult males in single-person households, personal factors included age, smoking, depression level, economic activity, educational level, and leisure activity, while regional factors included population and karaoke venue ratio. CONCLUSION: Problem drinking among adult males in single-person households varies by region, and the variables affecting each particular area differ. Therefore, it is necessary to develop interventions tailored to individuals and regions that reflect the characteristics of each region by prioritizing smoking, economic activity, and educational level as the common factors.

Technology-based interactive communication simulation for Korean nurses: A randomized controlled repeated-measures design.

BACKGROUND: Effective and standardized technology-based communication simulations addressing diverse clinical situations for novice nurses are limited. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the efficacy of the Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses on communication competency (knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and clarity), compassion, and assertiveness among novice nurses. DESIGN: We used a randomized controlled repeated-measures design. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention (Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses) or attention control group and completed the assigned program, the questionnaire thrice (i.e., before, immediately after, and four weeks after the program), and the e-simulation twice (i.e., immediately after and four weeks after the program). SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Korean nurses with six months to two years of experience recruited from five secondary and tertiary hospitals participated in the study at a private, quiet place of their choice. METHODS: The intervention comprises two simulation cases across different formats: (1) an interactive communication simulation for various clinical situations followed by a tailored debriefing; and (2) a video showing a conflict between a nurse and caregiver and between nurses, followed by a self-reflection activity. Communication skills and clarity were also evaluated by raters. Data analyses included descriptive analyses, t-tests, chi-square tests, and a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: In total, 142 nurses (73 in the intervention and 69 in the attention control groups) participated in the programs, and 128 participated through the four-week follow-up. Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses significantly improved communication knowledge and self-efficacy and compassion among novice nurses compared to the attention control program, and its effects were maintained for four weeks. The group difference in communication skills and clarity evaluated by the raters was also significant. CONCLUSION: Technology-based Interactive Communication Simulation for Nurses is effective in enhancing the communication competence of novice nurses. Future studies should analyze assertiveness in Korean healthcare settings.

COG-imposed Golgi functional integrity determines the onset of dark-induced senescence.

Plant survival depends on dynamic stress-response pathways in changing environments. To uncover pathway components, we screened an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized transgenic line containing a stress-inducible luciferase construct and isolated a constitutive expression mutant. The mutant is the result of an amino acid substitution in the seventh subunit of the hetero-octameric conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex of Arabidopsis thaliana. Complementation studies verified the Golgi localization of cog7, and stress tests established accelerated dark-induced carbon deprivation/senescence of the mutant compared with wild-type plants. Multiomics and biochemical analyses revealed accelerated induction of protein ubiquitination and autophagy, and a counterintuitive increased protein N-glycosylation in senescencing cog7 relative to wild-type. A revertant screen using the overexpressor (FOX)-hunting system established partial, but notable rescue of cog7 phenotypes by COG5 overexpression, and conversely premature senescence in reduced COG5 expressing lines. These findings identify COG-imposed Golgi functional integrity as a main player in ensuring cellular survival under energy-limiting conditions.