Herbivory and water availability interact to shape the adaptive landscape in the perennial forb, Boechera stricta.

Abiotic and biotic factors interact to influence phenotypic evolution; however, identifying the causal agents of selection that drive the evolution and expression of traits remains challenging. In a field common garden, we manipulated water availability and herbivore abundance across three years, and evaluated clinal variation in functional traits and phenology, plasticity, local adaptation, and selection using diverse accessions of the perennial forb, Boechera stricta. Consistent with expectations, drought stress exacerbated damage from herbivores.

Co-delivery of neurotrophic factors and a zinc chelator substantially promotes axon regeneration in the optic nerve crush model.

Traumatic optic neuropathies cause the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and axon degeneration. This is a result of the blockage of neurotrophic factor (NTF) supply from the brain and a vicious cycle of neurotoxicity, possibly mediated by increased levels of retinal Zn . Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are two NTFs that are known to support RGC survival and promote axon regeneration.

Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma: A Contemporary Review.

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare aggressive tumor often diagnosed at advanced stage. SNMM is associated with a greater than 50% rate of recurrence and a disease-specific 5 year survival rate of less than 25%. Sinonasal anatomy may contribute to difficulty in early detection; SNMM is usually asymptomatic until bulky and polypoidal.