Conservation benefits of a large marine protected area network that spans multiple ecosystems.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely implemented tools for long-term ocean conservation and resource management. Assessments of MPA performance have largely focused on specific ecosystems individually and have rarely evaluated performance across multiple ecosystems either in an individual MPA or across an MPA network. We evaluated the conservation performance of 59 MPAs in California's large MPA network, which encompasses 4 primary ecosystems (surf zone, kelp forest, shallow reef, deep reef) and 4 bioregions, and identified MPA attributes that best explain performance.

Biomarkers.

Background: Previous studies have shown that higher levels of the synaptic protein NPTX2, measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), are associated with lower risk of progression from normal cognition to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia. Among those with MCI or dementia, higher NPTX2 levels have been associated with decreased atrophy in AD-vulnerable brain regions. It is not known, however, whether NPTX2 levels influence brain atrophy among cognitively unimpaired participants.

Single-cell analysis of lung epithelial cells reveals age and cell population-specific responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in ciliated cells.

Introduction: The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to evade antiviral immune signaling in the airway contributes to the severity of COVID-19 disease. Additionally, COVID-19 is influenced by age and has more severe presentations in older individuals. This raises questions about innate immune signaling as a function of lung development and age.

Rickettsia parkeri forms extensive, stable contacts with the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Upon invasion into the host cell, a subset of bacterial pathogens resides exclusively in the cytosol. While previous research revealed how they reshape the plasma membrane during invasion, subvert the immune response, and hijack cytoskeletal dynamics to promote their motility, it was unclear if these pathogens also interacted with the organelles in this crowded intracellular space. Here, we examined if the obligate intracellular pathogen Rickettsia parkeri interacts with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a large and dynamic organelle spread throughout the cell.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Intention Is Consistently Associated with Breastfeeding Duration Among WIC-Participating Women.

Background/objective: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides breastfeeding support to participating women in low-income households. This study aimed to determine the relationships between prenatal maternal and household characteristics and breastfeeding duration, as well as whether these characteristics modify associations of prenatal breastfeeding intention with breastfeeding duration.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of pregnant respondents to Los Angeles County (LAC), California, WIC surveys conducted between 2005 and 2020 (n = 1014).