Herbivory can increase plant fitness via reduced interspecific competition-evidence from models and mesocosms.

Herbivores are generally considered to reduce plant fitness. However, as in natural communities they often feed on several competing plant species, herbivores can also increase plant fitness by reducing interspecific competition among plants. In this study, we developed a testable model to predict plant fitness in the presence of an interspecific competitor and a herbivore that feeds on both plant species.

Thermal Conductivity of Liquid -1,2-Dichloroethene (R-1130(E)): Measurement and Modeling.

The thermal conductivity of liquid -1,2-dichloroethene (R-1130(E)) was measured at temperatures ranging from 240 K to 340 K and pressures up to 25 MPa using a transient hot-wire instrument. A total of 447 thermal conductivity data points were measured along six isotherms. Each isotherm includes data at nine pressures, which were chosen to be at equal density increments starting at a pressure of 0.

Optimized Spheroid Model of Pancreatic Cancer Demonstrates Influence of Macrophage-T Cell Interaction for Intratumoral T Cell Motility.

Background: Most spheroid models use size measurements as a primary readout parameter; some models extend analysis to T cell infiltration or perform caspase activation assays. However, to our knowledge, T cell motility analysis is not regularly included as an endpoint in imaging studies on cancer spheroids.

Methods: Here, we intend to demonstrate that motility analysis of macrophages and T cells is a valuable functional endpoint for studies on molecular interventions in the tumor microenvironment.

Continuous Epidural Versus Non-Epidural Pain Management After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy: A Real-Life, High-Case-Load Center Experience.

: Esophagectomy is a key component of esophageal cancer treatment, with minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) increasingly replacing open esophagectomy (OE). Effective postoperative pain management can be achieved through various analgesic modalities. This study compares the efficacy of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) with non-TEA methods in managing postoperative pain following MIE.

BETA CELL DYSFUNCTION OCCURS INDEPENDENTLY OF INSULITIS IN TYPE 1 DIABETES PATHOGENESIS.

During type 1 diabetes (T1D) progression, beta cells become dysfunctional and exhibit reduced first-phase insulin release. While this period of beta cell dysfunction is well established, its cause and underlying mechanism remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, live human pancreas tissue slices were prepared from autoantibody-negative organ donors without diabetes (ND), donors positive for one or more islet autoantibodies (AAb+), and donors with T1D within 0-4 years of diagnosis (T1D+).