A comparison of the molecular mechanisms underpinning high-intensity, pulsed polychromatic light and low-intensity UV-C hormesis in tomato fruit

Postharvest treatment of tomato fruit with high-intensity, pulsed polychromatic light (HIPPL) has previously been shown to induce delayed ripening and disease resistance comparable to that of low-intensity UV-C (LIUV). Little, however, is known of the mechanisms underpinning postharvest HIPPL hormesis in tomato fruit. Expression of genes involved in plant hormone biosynthesis, defence, secondary metabolism and ripening were monitored 24 h post treatment (24 HPT), 10 d post treatment (10 DPT) and 12 h post inoculation with Botrytis cinerea (12 HPI). All genes monitored were constitutively expressed and changes in expression profiles following treatment were highly similar for both HIPPL and LIUV treatments. Expression of pathogenesis-related proteins P4, β-1,3,-Glucanase and Chitinase 9 and a jasmonate biosynthesis enzyme (OPR3), were significantly upregulated at 10 DPT and 12 HPI. Both treatments significantly downregulated the expression of polygalacturonase and flavonol synthase at 10 DPT and 12 HPI. Ethylene biosynthesis enzyme ACO1 and β-carotene hydroxylase were significantly upregulated at 24 HPT, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) was significantly upregulated at 12 HPI. Both HIPPL and LIUV treatments stimulate defence responses that are mediated by salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene. This may lead to broad range resistance against both necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens as well as abiotic stresses and herbivorous pests. Following inoculation with B. cinerea only PAL showed indication of a gene priming response for HIPPL- and LIUV-treated fruit

Special Education Researchers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Reported Use of Open Science Practices

Despite calls for open science reforms in special education research, little is known about the perceptions or practices of special education researchers regarding open science. In this study, we modified the Open Science Survey to conduct a preliminary examination of the knowledge, attitudes, perceived norms, and behaviors of 155 special education researchers for three open practices: posting preprints, sharing data, and preregistering studies. Respondents reported favorable attitudes toward each of the practices, but low levels of implementation knowledge. Multiple linear regression revealed that knowledge, attitudes, career stage, and methodological preference significantly predicted intent to engage in these open practices. We provide recommendations from these findings to inform efforts to increase open science uptake in the field

sj-docx-1-rse-10.1177_07419325241237268 – Supplemental material for Special Education Researchers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Reported Use of Open Practices

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-rse-10.1177_07419325241237268 for Special Education Researchers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Reported Use of Open Practices by Jesse I. Fleming, Sarah Emily Wilson, Daniel Espinas, Wilhelmina van Dijk and Bryan G. Cook in Remedial and Special Education</p

Comparative Study of the Ecotoxicological and Histopathological Impacts of Effluent, Sludge Water, and Commonly Used Inorganic Fertilizers on Juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Wastewater treatment systems, designed to treat domestic wastes, produce effluents and sludge that are high in organic matter and nutrient content. These effluents and sludge are now being used as organic fertilizers because such nutrients and organic matter are vital to plant growth. However, without proper treatment, these substances may eventually find their way into bodies of water through run off and/or infiltration with potentially dangerous consequences. This study, therefore, investigated the potential toxic effects of effluents and sludge produced from wastewater treatment facilities against commonly used inorganic fertilizers to an aquatic species. Toxicity tests (expressed as mean 96-hr LC50 in mg/L) and histopathological examinations of the liver were conducted using juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to varying concentrations of effluent, sludge, and inorganic fertilizers (i.e., urea and complete fertilizer) to assess both acute and sublethal effects. The results of the acute toxicity tests show concentrations (expressed as mean 96-hr LC50 in mg/L or ppm) arranged in decreasing order of toxicity to tilapia: complete fertilizer 14-14-14 (1,396 ppm) \u3e urea (16,152 ppm) \u3e sludge (145,900 ppm) \u3e effluent (465,000 ppm). Histopathological examinations of liver tissues showed that exposure to the two inorganic fertilizers resulted to blood congestion and degeneration in comparison to those exposed to the sludge. Furthermore, results for fishes exposed to the lowest concentrations of the effluent also showed alterations in the liver tissue. These results demonstrate that the sludge and effluent are less toxic by several orders of magnitude than the inorganic fertilizers. It is suggested that further chronic toxicity and histopathological studies be done to determine their long-term impacts to receiving aquatic organisms to establish their potential for agricultural applications