Advances in modeling permeability and selectivity of the blood-brain barrier using microfluidics.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain by actively allowing the entry of ions and nutrients while limiting the passage of from toxins and pathogens. A healthy BBB has low permeability and high selectivity to maintain normal brain functions. Increased BBB permeability can result from neurological diseases and traumatic injuries.

Preserving isohydricity: vertical environmental variability explains Amazon forest water-use strategies.

Increases in hydrological extremes, including drought, are expected for Amazon forests. A fundamental challenge for predicting forest responses lies in identifying ecological strategies which underlie such responses. Characterization of species-specific hydraulic strategies for regulating water-use, thought to be arrayed along an 'isohydric-anisohydric' spectrum, is a widely used approach.

The impact of smoking on third-degree atrioventricular block outcomes: A propensity-matched analysis.

Background: Third-degree atrioventricular (AV) blocks are rare but cause significant symptoms and require immediate intervention. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is felt to be the most common etiology. Although smoking is a prominent risk factor for CAD, there is a paucity of data assessing the direct effect of smoking on third-degree AV block.

Impacts of development and adult sex on brain cell numbers in the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

The Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens, Diptera: Stratiomyidae) has been introduced across the globe, with numerous industry applications predicated on its tremendous growth during the larval stage. However, basic research on H. illucens biology (for example, studies of their central nervous system) are lacking.

Global COVID-19 lockdown highlights humans as both threats and custodians of the environment.

The global lockdown to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic health risks has altered human interactions with nature. Here, we report immediate impacts of changes in human activities on wildlife and environmental threats during the early lockdown months of 2020, based on 877 qualitative reports and 332 quantitative assessments from 89 different studies. Hundreds of reports of unusual species observations from around the world suggest that animals quickly responded to the reductions in human presence.

PuMA: A papillomavirus genome annotation tool.

High-throughput sequencing technologies provide unprecedented power to identify novel viruses from a wide variety of (environmental) samples. The field of 'viral metagenomics' has dramatically expanded our understanding of viral diversity. Viral metagenomic approaches imply that many novel viruses will not be described by researchers who are experts on (the genomic organization of) that virus family.

Mechanisms and Drivers for the Establishment of Life Cycle Complexity in Myxozoan Parasites.

It is assumed that complex life cycles in cnidarian parasites belonging to the Myxozoa result from incorporation of vertebrates into simple life cycles exploiting aquatic invertebrates. However, nothing is known about the driving forces and implementation of this event, though it fostered massive diversification. We performed a comprehensive search for myxozoans in evolutionary ancient fishes (Chondrichthyes), and more than doubled existing 18S rDNA sequence data, discovering seven independent phylogenetic lineages.

The efficiency and economic aspects of phytoremediation technology using Phalaris arundinacea L. and Brassica napus L. combined with compost and nano SiO fertilization for the removal of PAH's from soil.

The paper presents an evaluation of efficiency and economic potential of the phytoremediation technology, based on the use of energy crops (P. arundinacea L. and B.