Apparent differential phenotypic responses by kelp forest grazers to disease-driven removal of sea star predators.

The potential for aquatic gastropods to display phenotypic plasticity in response to predator cues is well documented. However, long-term phenotypic responses to predator exposure are difficult to evaluate at large scales in the field. Thus, the extent to which comparatively dilute predator cues experienced by natural snail populations influence morphometric development and whether energetic costs associated with defensive morphology have allometric impacts on other life-history characteristics is unclear.

Waveform geometry dictating optimal cruising in animals.

For sustained swimming and flights, vertebrates and insects oscillate their propulsors periodically within a narrow range of Strouhal number (St), a dimensionless quantity describing the rate and density of the motion, suggesting a close relationship between the range and cruising optimality. The persistence of this range across size and fluids has puzzled biologists and engineers, resulting in multiple interpretations of its cause. Here, we propose that the optimal St range is largely constrained by power output efficiency of the trailing edge of the caudal fin.

MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Mechanistic Understanding of Superior Methylene Blue Adsorption Capacity in a Novel g-CN Modified Amorphous Na-Ca-Mg Silicate Adsorbent: Insights from Multinuclear Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

Silicate-based adsorbents offer significant advantages over traditional materials, particularly due to their superior thermal and chemical stability, enhanced regenerability, and the ability to endure more rigorous operating conditions. In this study, an amorphous Na-Ca-magnesium silicate adsorbent (SAAM) and its g-CN-modified counterpart (gCN-SAAM) were synthesized via alkali activation and a subsequent thermal process, respectively. The g-CN modification resulted in a novel hybrid adsorbent with a remarkable methylene blue (MB) adsorption capacity of 420 mg g, four times higher than the unmodified sample, setting a new benchmark.

Sun protection behaviors, healthcare access, and smoking among melanoma survivors.

Purpose: Based on current clinical practice guidelines, melanoma survivors should be advised on the need for sun protection and regular healthcare, as well as smoking cessation, but differences from adults without cancer history are unclear.

Methods: We pooled data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006, 2009-2018), matching 249 melanoma survivors with 498 adults without a cancer history. Adjusted prevalence odds ratios (aPOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Sexual dimorphism of MASLD-driven bone loss.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is highly prevalent with major risk of progression to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Recently, osteoporosis and bone fracture have emerged as sexually-dimorphic comorbidities of MASLD yet the mechanisms of this bone loss are unknown. Herein, we address these knowledge gaps using DIAMOND mice which develop MASLD, MASH, and HCC via Western diet exposure.

Deeper insights into the stability of oxylipins in human plasma across multiple freeze-thaw cycles and storage conditions.

Oxylipins are signaling lipids derived from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In lipidomic studies, human plasma may be subjected to various storage conditions and freeze-thaw cycles, which may impact the analysis of these compounds. In this study, we used liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to examine the influence of up to five freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) on free and total (mostly esterified) oxylipins in human plasma and the influence of temperature and storage duration (4 °C for up to 120 h and -20 °C and -80 °C for 1-98 days) in the presence or absence of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on extracted oxylipins stored in LC-MS amber vials.

A new bot fly species of Cuterebra (Diptera: Oestridae) from Ecuador.

A new species of cuterebrine rodent bot fly, Cuterebra yanayacui sp. nov., is described from the cloud forest of Ecuador, and it is argued that the species mimics a range of aculeate hymenopterans, including euglossine orchid bees of the genera Eufriesea Cockerell and Eulaema Lepeletier and bumble bees of the subgenus Cullumanobombus Vogt.

The Dolicholatiridae and Fasciolariidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea.

We describe one species of Dolicholatiridae and 30 species of Fasciolariidae from the Miocene of the Central Paratethys Sea. The first records of the family Dolicholatiridae and of the Fasciolariidae genus Takashius are documented from the Neogene of Europe, and we describe a first Miocene radiation of the extant Mediterranean Fusininae Pseudofusus. The Dolicholatiridae Dulaiania nov.

Avenues towards reconciling wild and managed bee proponents.

Bees are crucial for food security and biodiversity. However, managed bees are increasingly considered drivers of wild bee declines, leading to stakeholder conflicts and restrictive policies. We propose avenues to reconcile wild and managed bee proponents and point out knowledge gaps that hinder the development of evidence-based policies.

Semi-rational engineering of leucine dehydrogenase for enhanced L-tert-leucine production.

Leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH) is a promising enzyme for the industrial production of L-tert-leucine (L-Tle), but its catalytic activity toward trimethylpyruvate (TMP) requires enhancement. In this study, we employed a semi-rational design approach involving homology modeling of LeuDH from Exiguobacterium sibiricum (EsiLeuDH) and molecular docking with TMP to predict potential mutation sites. These sites were tested using an alanine scanning strategy to assess their impact on enzymatic activity, followed by site-saturation mutagenesis and iterative saturation mutagenesis.

Using load to improve tendon/ligament tissue engineering and develop novel treatments for tendinopathy.

Tendon and ligament injuries are highly prevalent but heal poorly, even with proper care. Restoration of native tissue function is complicated by the fact that these tissues vary anatomically in terms of their mechanical properties, composition, and structure. These differences develop as adaptations to diverse mechanical demands; however, pathology may alter the loads placed on the tissue.

An ergometer dataset to measure muscle bioenergetics with magnetic resonance techniques.

Applying magnetic resonance methods to measure the metabolic response in exercise poses a technical challenge because the construction of the ergometer must use non-magnetic components and assess work in the confined space of a magnet bore. The present report details the fabrication of a non-magnetic ergometer for use in a standard Siemens 3 Tesla (T) spectrometer. Using the ergometer, researchers can measure the P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) signals during leg muscle exercise and exercise recovery.

Label- and slide-free tissue histology using 3D epi-mode quantitative phase imaging and virtual hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Histological staining of tissue biopsies, especially hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, serves as the benchmark for disease diagnosis and comprehensive clinical assessment of tissue. However, the typical formalin-fixation, paraffin-embedding (FFPE) process is laborious and time consuming, often limiting its usage in time-sensitive applications such as surgical margin assessment. To address these challenges, we combine an emerging 3D quantitative phase imaging technology, termed quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM), with an unsupervised generative adversarial network pipeline to map qOBM phase images of unaltered thick tissues (i.

Time-Multiplexed Miniaturized Two-Photon Microscopy.

We propose a time-multiplexed miniaturized two-photon microscope (TM-MINI2P), enabling a two-fold increase in imaging speed while maintaining a high spatial resolution. Using TM-MINI2P, we conducted high-speed in-vivo calcium imaging in mouse cortex.

Simultaneous Dual-region Functional Imaging in Miniaturized Two-photon Microscopy.

We demonstrate simultaneous dual-region in-vivo imaging of brain activity in mouse cortex through a miniaturized spatial-multiplexed two-photon microscope platform, which doubles the imaging speed. Neuronal signals from the two regions are computationally demixed and extracted.

Alternative splicing of transcript mediates the response of circadian clocks to temperature changes.

Circadian clocks respond to temperature changes over the calendar year, allowing organisms to adjust their daily biological rhythms to optimize health and fitness. In , seasonal adaptations are regulated by temperature-sensitive alternative splicing (AS) of () and () genes that encode key transcriptional repressors of clock gene expression. Although () gene encodes the critical activator of circadian gene expression, AS of its transcripts and its potential role in temperature regulation of clock function have not been explored.

Controlled oligomerization of [1.1.1]propellane through radical polarity matching: selective synthesis of SF- and CFSF-containing [2]staffanes.

Selectivity in radical chain oligomerizations involving [1.1.1]propellane - i.

Mitigating methane emissions in grazing beef cattle with a seaweed-based feed additive: Implications for climate-smart agriculture.

The ruminant livestock sector considerably contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the effectiveness of pelleted bromoform-containing seaweed () (Brominata) as an enteric methane (CH) inhibitor in grazing beef cattle. The primary objective was to assess the impact of this antimethanogenic additive on enteric CH emissions under real-world farm conditions.