North Koefoed (arrowjacket4)

The limited availability of nitrogen (N) is a fundamental challenge for many crop plants. We have hypothesized that the relative crop photosynthetic rate (P) is exponentially constrained by certain plant-specific enzyme activities, such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NADP-G3PDH), 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) kinase, and chloroplast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cpFBPase), in Triticum aestivum and Oryza sativa. We conducted a literature search to compile information from previous studies on C3 and C4 crop plants, to examine the photosynthetic rate responses to limited leaf [N] levels. We found that in Zea mays, NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), PEP carboxykinase (PCK), and Rubisco activities were positively correlated with P. A positive correlation was also observed between both phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and Rubisco activity with leaf [N] in Sorghum bicolor. Key enzyme activities responded differently to P in C3 and C4 plants,y affects Pmax . These results highlight the need to further study these physiological and biochemical processes, to better predict how crops will respond to eCO2 concentrations and limited [N].Agricultural researchers are embracing remote sensing tools to phenotype and monitor agriculture crops. Specifically, large quantities of data are now being collected on small plot research studies using Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS, aka drones), ground systems, or other technologies but data processing and analysis lags behind. One major contributor to current data processing bottlenecks has been the lack of publicly available software tools tailored towards remote sensing of small plots and usability for researchers inexperienced in remote sensing. To address these needs we created plot shapefile maker (R/UASplotshpcreate) an open source R function which rapidly creates ESRI polygon shapefiles to the desired dimensions of individual agriculture research plots areas of interest and associates plot specific information. Plotshpcreate was developed to utilize inputs containing experimental design, field orientation, and plot dimensions for easily creating a multi-polygon shapefile of an entire small plot experiment. Output shapefiles are based on the user inputs geolocation of the research field ensuring accurate overlay of polygons often without manual user adjustment. The output shapefile is useful in GIS software to extract plot level data tracing back to the unique IDs of the experimental plots. Plotshpcreate is available on GitHub (https//github.com/andersst91/UAStools).[This corrects the article DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01940.].Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that involves multiple organs and disproportionality affects females, especially African Americans from 15 to 44 years of age. SLE can lead to end organ damage including kidneys, lungs, cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric systems, with cardiovascular complications being the primary cause of death. Usually, SLE is diagnosed and its activity is assessed using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SLICC/ACR), and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) Scales, which unfortunately often occurs after a certain degree of systemic involvements, disease activity or organ damage already exists. There is certainly a need for the identification of early biomarkers to diagnose and assess disease activity as well as to evaluate disease prognosis and response to treatment earlier in the course of the disease. Here we review advancements made in the area of sphingolipidomics as a diagnostic/prognostic tool for SLE and its co-morbidities. We also discuss recent reports on differential sphingolipid metabolism and blood sphingolipid profiles in SLE-prone animal models as well as in diverse cohorts of SLE patients. In addition, we address targeting sphingolip