STMGraph: spatial-context-aware of transcriptomes via a dual-remasked dynamic graph attention model.

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technologies enable dissecting the tissue architecture in spatial context. To perceive the global contextual information of gene expression patterns in tissue, the spatial dependence of cells must be fully considered by integrating both local and non-local features by means of spatial-context-aware. However, the current ST integration algorithm ignores for ST dropouts, which impedes the spatial-aware of ST features, resulting in challenges in the accuracy and robustness of microenvironmental heterogeneity detecting, spatial domain clustering, and batch-effects correction.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD): Insights from human clinical studies and the mouse AD models.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a debilitating neurocognitive disorder with an unclear underlying mechanism. Recent studies have implicated gut microbiota dysbiosis with the onset and progression of AD. The connection between gut microbiota and AD can significantly affect the prevention and treatment of AD patients.

Mixed-methods to explore barriers to the use of food security initiatives in a historically black college and university (HBCU).

Background: To assess students' use and perception of the initiatives to tackle food insecurity (FI) in a Texas historically black college and university (HBCU).

Methods: HBCU students > 18 years (288 students). A mixed-methods approach involving an online survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted among the students and major stakeholders to evaluate the prevalence of FI, and gain insights into the challenges to accessing, utilizing and effectively implementing food security (FS) initiatives.

COVID-19 effects on horses in-transition: A survey analysis of United States equine industry perspectives.

The welfare of unwanted horses presents a significant concern for the equine industry. However, there is a lack of research on how unwanted horses are affected by major crises. The drastic changes that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic presented ample opportunity to investigate how unwanted horses are impacted by challenging circumstances.

Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape.

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely.

Altered luteal expression patterns of genomic and non-genomic progesterone receptors in bitches at different reproductive states.

The binding of steroid hormones to their specific receptors is necessary to exert their effects on target cells. Progesterone (P), a steroid hormone, carries out its effects through both genomic and non-genomic (the cell membrane-associated) receptors. This study aimed to ascertain luteal expression patterns of genomic and non-genomic progesterone receptors in bitches in physiological (early dioestrus and early pregnant) and pathological (pyometra) reproductive states.

The silicon regulates microbiome diversity and plant defenses during cold stress in L.

Introduction: With climate change, frequent exposure of bioenergy and food crops, specifically soybean ( L.), to low-temperature episodes is a major obstacle in maintaining sustainable plant growth at early growth stages. Silicon (Si) is a quasi-essential nutrient that can help to improve stress tolerance; however, how Si and a combination of cold stress episodes influence plant growth, plant physiology, and microbiome diversity has yet to be fully discovered.

Alterations in Alzheimer's disease microglia transcriptome might be involved in bone pathophysiology.

Aging is a major risk factor for multiple chronic disorders in the elderly population, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Osteoporosis. AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss. In addition to dementia, several studies have shown that AD patients experience an increased rate of musculoskeletal co-morbidities, such as osteoporosis.

Re-Envisioning the Culture of Undergraduate Biology Education to Foster Black Student Success: A Clarion Call.

The purpose of this paper is to present an argument for why there is a need to re-envision the underlying culture of undergraduate biology education to ensure the success, retention, and matriculation of Black students. The basis of this argument is the continued noted challenges with retaining Black students in the biological sciences coupled with existing research that implicates science contexts (i.e.

Type 2-resistant starch and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 8826 result in additive and interactive effects in diet-induced obese mice.

Little is known about how combining a probiotic with prebiotic dietary fiber affects the ability of either biotic to improve health. We hypothesized that prebiotic, high-amylose maize type 2-resistant starch (RS) together with probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB8826 (LP) as a complementary synbiotic results in additive effects on the gut microbiota in diet-induced obese mice and other body sites. Diet-induced obese C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet adjusted to contain RS (20% by weight), LP (10 cells every 48 hours), or both (RS+LP) for 6 weeks.

Facilitated Adsorption of Mercury(II) and Chromium(VI) Ions over Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes.

By considering the importance of water and its purity, herein, a powerful adsorbent has been developed for the adsorption of two toxic contaminants that commonly exist in water, viz., divalent mercury and hexavalent chromium. The efficient adsorbent, CNTs-PLA-Pd, was prepared by covalent grafting polylactic acid to carbon nanotubes and subsequent deposition of palladium nanoparticles.

Eating with peel or not: Investigation of the peel consumption situation and its nutrition, risk analysis, and dietary advice in China.

Nutritious, balanced, tasty and easy to eat, fruit is an indispensable health food for consumers. With consumers' increasing respect for the concept of health, green and nutrition, the peel, which has higher nutritional value compared to the pulp, is gradually being emphasized in the consumption process. The suitability of fruit peels for consumption is influenced by various factors, such as the amount of pesticide residues, nutrient content, ease of peeling, and fruit texture, but there is a lack of relevant studies to guide consumers' scientific intake of fruit peels.

Florfenicol and Florfenicol Amine Quantification in Bull Serum and Seminal Plasma by a Single Validated UHPLC-MS/MS Method.

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the amphenicols class that inhibits protein synthesis by binding to bacteria's ribosomal subunits. This drug is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infectious diseases in cattle, swine, poultry, and fish. The proposed method uses a quick protein precipitation with acetonitrile for the extraction of florfenicol and florfenicol amine in serum and seminal plasma, followed by analysis in UHPLC-MS/MS for their simultaneous quantification.

Hydrology and hydrological extremes under climate change scenarios in the Bosque watershed, North-Central Texas, USA.

This study evaluates hydrology and hydrological extremes under future climate change scenarios. The climate change scenarios were developed from multiple Global Circulation Models (GCMs), Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios, and statistical downscaling techniques. To ensure hydrological model robustness, the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was calibrated and validated using the Differential Split Sample Test (DSST) approach.

Androgen receptor signaling and pyrethroids: Potential male infertility consequences.

Infertility is a global health concern inflicting a considerable burden on the global economy and a severe socio-psychological impact. Approximately 15% of couples suffer from infertility globally, with a male factor contribution of approximately 50%. However, male infertility remains largely unexplored, as the burden of infertility is mostly assigned to female people.

Modeling impacts of projected land use and climate changes on the water balance in the Baro basin, Ethiopia.

In terms of land use and climate, the world is changing at an unprecedented rate and these changes have a significant influence on our water resources. This study was conducted to examine the individual and combined potential impacts of land use and climate change on the water balance of the Baro basin in Ethiopia for the baseline period (1985-2002) and near-future period (2023-2040) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The plausible land use scenarios considering current (CUR), business as usual (BAU), and further expansion of altitudinal forest and watershed management practices (CON), as well as climate change scenarios from regional climate model outputs (RCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.

An Analysis of the Structural Relationship between Thyroid Hormone-Signaling Disruption and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers: Potential Implications for Male Infertility.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a common class of anthropogenic organobromine chemicals with fire-retardant properties and are extensively used in consumer products, such as electrical and electronic equipment, furniture, textiles, and foams. Due to their extensive use, PBDEs have wide eco-chemical dissemination and tend to bioaccumulate in wildlife and humans with many potential adverse health effects in humans, such as neurodevelopmental deficits, cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, dysfunction of reproductive system, and infertility. Many PBDEs have been listed as chemicals of international concern under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from leaf extract on growth and antioxidant properties of mustard ().

Background: The sustainability of crop production is impacted by climate change and land degradation, and the advanced application of nanotechnology is of paramount importance to overcome this challenge. The development of nanomaterials based on essential nutrients like zinc could serve as a basis for nanofertilizers and nanocomposite synthesis for broader agricultural applications and quality human nutrition. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using pecan (Carya illinoinensis) leaf extract and investigate their effect on the growth, physiology, nutrient content, and antioxidant properties of mustard (Brassica juncea).

Photovoltaic panels have altered grassland plant biodiversity and soil microbial diversity.

Introduction: Human concerns about fossil fuel depletion, energy security and environmental degradation have driven the rapid development of solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation. Most of the photovoltaic power generation plants are concentrated in desert, grassland and arable land, which means the change of land use type. However, there is still a gap in the research of the PV panel layout on grassland plant species diversity and ecological function.

Activation of apoplastic sugar at the transition stage may be essential for axillary bud outgrowth in the grasses.

Shoot branches develop from buds in leaf axils. Once formed from axillary meristems, the buds enter a transition stage before growing into branches. The buds may transition into dormancy if internal and environmental factors limit sucrose supply to the buds.

Sperm signatures of fertility and freezability.

Apart from traditional semen examination parameters, there is not yet a set of functional markers for accurate determination of bull fertility and sperm freezability or cryopreservability, which are vital for production of food animals to feed the world. Therefore, reliable biomarkers are needed to objectively analyze semen quality and predict male fertility. Rapid developments in animal biotechnology have led to significant progress in developing science-based solutions for global problems in food animal production.

Indoor Vegetable Production: An Alternative Approach to Increasing Cultivation.

As the world's population is increasing exponentially, human diets have changed to less healthy foods resulting in detrimental health complications. Increasing vegetable intake by both rural and urban dwellers can help address this issue. However, these communities often face the challenge of limited vegetable supply and accessibility.

Elevated Adsorption of Lead and Arsenic over Silver Nanoparticles Deposited on Poly(amidoamine) Grafted Carbon Nanotubes.

An efficient adsorbent, CNTs-PAMAM-Ag, was prepared by grafting fourth-generation aromatic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and successive deposition of Ag nanoparticles. The FT-IR, XRD, TEM and XPS results confirmed the successful grafting of PAMAM onto CNTs and deposition of Ag nanoparticles. The absorption efficiency of CNTs-PAMAM-Ag was evaluated by estimating the adsorption of two toxic contaminants in water, viz.

Contributions of seminal plasma proteins to fertilizing ability of bull sperm: A meta-analytical review.

Seminal plasma is a dynamic, intricate combination of fluids from the testicles, epididymides, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate, containing molecules that modulate sperm functions, post-fertilization events, and the female reproductive tract physiology. Significant variations in sperm parameters and fertility status of bulls relate to differences in the seminal plasma proteome. In this framework, a meta-analytical study was conducted examining 29 studies (published between 1990 and 2021) to ascertain the effects of seminal fluid proteins on parameters associated with bull fertility and the influence of distinct methodologies on such effects.

Rural Farmers' Cognition and Climate Change Adaptation Impact on Cash Crop Productivity: Evidence from a Recent Study.

The world faces a once-in-a-century transformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adversely affecting farmers' employment, production practices, and livelihood resilience. Meanwhile, climate change (CC) is a crucial issue limiting agricultural production worldwide. Farmers' lives, severely affected by extreme weather conditions, are resulting in the reduced production of major economic crops.