Cell Contractile Force-Mediated Morphodynamical Tissue Engineering via 4D Printed Degradable Hydrogel Scaffolds.

Tissue morphogenesis is a critical aspect tissue development. Recent advances in four-dimensional (4D) cell scaffolds have shown promise for modeling morphogenic processes. While current 4D systems often rely on external stimuli, they tend to overlook the role of intrinsic cell-generated forces, such as cell contractile forces (CCFs), in driving tissue morphogenesis.

Evaluation of the sensitivity of a federally endangered freshwater mussel (Venustaconcha trabalis) to selected chemicals.

Protection of critically endangered species requires identification of factors limiting their survival and growth. Previous studies have demonstrated that unionid mussels are sensitive to some chemicals, and the sensitivity was similar among different taxonomic families and tribes of mussels. However, common species of mussels were generally used in these previous studies; little is known about the sensitivity of endangered and threatened mussels relative to common species.

Effect of copper mill waste material on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton diversity and abundance.

Copper (Cu) stamp mill mining in North America from the early 1900s produced a pulverized ore by-product now known as stamp sands (SS). In a mining operation near the city of Gay (Michigan, USA), SS were originally deposited near a Lake Superior beach, but erosion and wave action have moved many SS into beaches and reefs that are critical spawning and nursery areas for native fish (e.g.

Progesterone Promotes Anti-Anxiety/Depressant-like Behavior and Trophic Actions of BDNF in the Hippocampus of Female Nuclear Progesterone Receptor, but Not 5α-Reductase, Knockout Mice.

Progestogens' anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects and mechanisms are not well-understood. Progestogens are hypothesized to have anti-anxiety and anti-depressive effects on behavior, independent of actions at nuclear progestin receptors (NPRs) and dependent on allopregnanolone (5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one; 3α,5α-THP), a 5α-reduced, neuroactive metabolite of progesterone (P). Adult c57 mice in behavioral estrus (proestrus; pro) showed more anti-anxiety-like and anti-depressant-like behavior and higher levels of estradiol (E), P, and allopregnanolone in the hippocampus/amygdala complex.

A RE-EVALUATION OF ZYGOCOTYLE (DIGENEA, PARAMPHISTOMOIDEA) BASED ON NEW GENETIC DATA SUPPORTS ITS SYNONYMIZATION WITH WARDIUS.

The Zygocotylidae Ward, 1917 is a compact family of amphistome digeneans that until now comprised 2 genera, each represented by a single species: Zygocotyle lunata (Diesing, 1836) Stunkard, 1916 and Wardius zibethicus Barker and East, 1915 in Barker 1915. Despite highly similar morphology, these genera are separated based on the presence (Zygocotyle) or absence (Wardius) of posterolateral projections (=lappets) on the ventral sucker and esophageal bulb. In the present study, we generated partial large ribosomal subunit (28S), internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences of Z.