A complete set of chromosome substitution lines with genetic background of Chinese Spring (CS) were used to determine the effects of each chromosome on utilization efficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In each line, only one pair of chromosomes in CS genome was substituted by the corresponding one of donor Synthetic 6x. Under normal growth conditions supplied with enough inorganic nutrients, the dry mass per plant and the utilization efficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in plants varied largely among CS, Synthetic 6x, and the chromosome substitution lines (1A-7A, 1B-7B, and 1D-7D). Of these, 1A substituted by the chromosome 1A of Synthetic 6x (other lines are the same as 1A hereafter) had the highest plant dry mass and the accumulative amount of N and K, and 1B behaved to have the highest plant accumulative P amount. 1D and 4D had the lowest accumulative P amount and plant dry mass, respectively. 4B showed the lowest plant accumulative N and K. Thus, chromosome 1A of Synthetic 6x contains major genes endowing plant capacities of higher dry mass, accumulative N and K, whereas chromosome 1B of Synthetic 6x carries major genes improving plant accumulative P capacities. The lines, together with CS and the donor, could be classified into three groups including high-efficiency, mid-efficiency, and low-efficiency based on plant dry mass. Regression analysis suggested that there are significantly positive correlations between plant dry mass and the accumulated amount of N, P, and K. Further, there are positively significant correlations among the plant accumulative N amount and some plant traits and physiological parameters, as well as positively significant correlations between the accumulative amount of P and K and the photosynthetic rate (P n ).

Background HIV testing is a crucial starting point for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of HIV. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest global HIV/AIDS prevalence and mortality, yet HIV testing remains sub-optimal. Thus, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of HIV testing and associated factors among young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in Eswatini, a country with the highest HIV prevalence in the world. Methods Data were obtained from Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey between 2016 and 2017 (SHIMS 2), an internationally supported national survey aimed at combating HIV/AIDS. A total of 739 young adolescents aged 10 to 14 years were selected for the final analysis after deleting cases with missing values for the key variables. The effects of demographic characteristics, HIV knowledge, HIV risk perception, belief about HIV testing, perceived service accessibility, and parent-child sexual and reproductive health communication on lifetime HIV testing as an outcome variable, were explored using multivariable logistic regression. Results Only 52.0% of young adolescents reported “ever tested” for HIV in their lifetime. Age (OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.73–0.90), residence (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.43–0.74), and perceived service accessibility (OR = 3.10, (95% CI = 1.47–6.56) were identified as important factors associated with receiving HIV testing among young adolescents. Conclusions A low rate of HIV testing was identified among young adolescents in Eswatini compared to the intended global goal of HIV testing coverage. Our findings suggested the importance of young adolescent-friendly educational and environmental interventions needed to improve the prevalence of HIV testing by reducing misperceptions about the risk of HIV and alleviating environmental constraints to access to HIV services.

A transcript-derived fragment (TDF) showing up-regulated expression under low Pi stress and being identical to an uncharacterized phosphate transporter gene TaPT2-1 was cloned in wheat. TaPT2-1 was 2075 bp in length and encoded a 568-aa polypeptide. Transmembrane prediction analysis suggested that TaPT2-1 had 13 conserved transmembrane domains. TaPT2-1 shared much higher similarities to other four homologs from Arabidopsis thaliana, Solanum tuberosum, Capsicum frutescens, and Solanum melongena. The expression of TaPT2-1 was root specific and low Pi inducible, suggesting that it plays roles in roots and is involved in the Pi acquisition under Pi-starved condition. The promoter region of TaPT2-1 was cloned based on genome walk analysis. Several types of cis-regulatory elements, such as low Pi responding and tissue specific, were identified in TaPT2-1 promoter. The transgenic tobacco plants with the integrated TaPT2-1 promoter GUS were generated, and GUS histochemical staining analysis in the roots and leaves of the transgenic plants was performed. The results of GUS staining in roots and leaves under various Pi supply conditions were in accordance with the TaPT2-1 transcripts detected based on RT-PCR analysis. Taken together, the distinct expression of low Pi-induced and root-specific TaPT2-1 suggested that it could be used as the potential gene resource on generation of elite crop germplasms with high Pi use efficiency in the future.

Background and PurposeChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a multidimensional symptom cluster induced by neurotoxic chemotherapy agents among patients with cancer. A well-developed tool for assessing CIPN can help with the early detection and timely management of patients. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Assessment Tool (CIPNAT) in Korean women with breast cancer who were treated with chemotherapy.MethodsA psychometric analysis of the Korean version of CIPNAT was conducted with 207 patients with breast cancer who were treated with chemotherapy. Patients were assessed using the CIPNAT and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy-20 (CIPN-20). Analyses of internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity, and construct validity (based on structural and discriminant validity testing) were performed to evaluate the psychometric properties.ResultsThe Korean version of the CIPNAT had good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95; the item-total correlation coefficients ranged 0.34–0.76). The CIPNAT and CIPN-20 were moderately correlated (r = .67). Confirmatory factor analyses showed a four-factor structural model with acceptable model fit indices. Discriminant validity was supported by differences between individuals treated with and without taxane-based chemotherapy (p < .001).Implications for PracticeThe Korean version of the CIPNAT was a valid and reliable screening tool for identification of CIPN symptoms and functional interference in Korean women who received chemotherapy for breast cancer. The instrument can be useful for the timely and routine assessment of CIPN symptoms and functional limitations of patients with cancer by oncology nurses.

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