New Species of Empidinae (Diptera) from San Rossore National Park, Italy, with the First Report on Leg Polymorphism in the Genus Meigen and Their DNA Barcoding Evidence.

Altogether three species of Empidinae are described from San Rossore National Park, Italy: () Barták sp. nov., Barták sp.

Thermal Melanism in (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae).

Thermal polymorphism, usually represented by thermal melanism (darker coloration in cooler habitats), is a well-known phenomenon in animals. In Cetoniinae, several species in captivity tend to become darker after several generations of breeding, which is probably caused by a lower temperature than is typical for their native habitats. is a beetle species occurring in Somaliland.

Assessing Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Western Honey Bees in the Czech Republic Using 22 Microsatellite Loci.

To date, no study has been conducted to investigate the diversity in honeybee populations of in the Czech Republic. Between 2022 and 2023, worker bees were collected from colonies distributed throughout the Czech Republic in 77 districts, and their genetic differences were examined using 22 microsatellite loci. The samples were obtained from hives ( = 3647) and through the process of capture on flowers ( = 553).

Exploring How Adipose Tissue, Obesity, and Gender Influence the Immune Response to Vaccines: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.

Vaccines represent an essential tool for the prevention of infectious diseases. Upon administration, a complex interaction occurs between the vaccine formulation and the recipient's immune system, ultimately resulting in protection against disease. Significant variability exists in individual and population responses to vaccination, and these differences remain the focus of the ongoing research.

MK-8776 and Olaparib Combination Acts Synergistically in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells, Demonstrating Lack of Adverse Effects on Liver Tissues in Ovarian Cancer PDX Model.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells critically depend on PARP1 and CHK1 activation for survival. Combining the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) olaparib with a CHK1 inhibitor (MK-8776, CHK1i) produced a synergistic effect, reducing cell viability and inducing marked oxidative stress and DNA damage, particularly in the HepG2 cells. This dual treatment significantly increased apoptosis markers, including γH2AX and caspase-3/7 activity.

Autonomous Defense Based on Biogenic Nanoparticle Formation in Daunomycin-Producing .

Daunomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for the treatment of leukemia, but its toxicity toward healthy dividing cells limits its clinical use and its production by fermentation. Herein, we describe the development of a specialized cultivation medium for daunomycin production, including a shift to oil rather than sugar as the primary carbon source. This achieved an almost threefold increase in daunomycin yields, reaching 5.

Editorial for the Special Issue on Micromachined Acoustic Transducers for Audio-Frequency Range.

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) refer to miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements that are fabricated through microelectronic processes [...

Genomic Rewilding of Domestic Animals: The Role of Hybridization and Selection in Wolfdog Breeds.

: The domestication of the grey wolf () and subsequent creation of modern dog breeds have significantly shaped the genetic landscape of domestic canines. This study investigates the genomic effects of hybridization and breeding management practices in two hybrid wolfdog breeds: the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CSW) and the Saarloos Wolfdog (SAW). : We analyzed the genomes of 46 CSWs and 20 SAWs, comparing them to 12 German Shepherds (GSHs) and 20 wolves (WLFs), which served as their ancestral populations approximately 70-90 years ago.

Visceral Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Vascular Complications in a Rat Model with Severe Dyslipidemia: Sex Differences and PAI-1 Tissue Involvement.

We investigated the sex-dependent effects of inflammatory responses in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), as well as hematological status, in relation to cardiovascular disorders associated with prediabetes. Using male and female hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rats-a nonobese prediabetic model featuring dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance-we found that HHTg females exhibited more pronounced hypertriglyceridemia than males, while HHTg males had higher non-fasting glucose levels. Additionally, HHTg females had higher platelet counts, larger platelet volumes, and lower antithrombin inhibitory activity.

Cathelicidins: Opportunities and Challenges in Skin Therapeutics and Clinical Translation.

Cathelicidins are a group of cationic, amphipathic peptides that play a vital role in the innate immune response of many vertebrates, including humans. Produced by immune and epithelial cells, they serve as natural defenses against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. In humans, the cathelicidin LL-37 is essential for wound healing, maintaining skin barrier integrity, and combating infections.

Wild Boar Attacks on Hunting Dogs in Czechia: The Length of the Hunting Season Matters.

Hunting dogs are exposed to the risk of injury in driven hunts, an often-used method for managing growing wild boar numbers. This study investigated the impact of increased hunting pressure-both across the hunting season and within individual hunting events-on the risk of wild boar attacks on hunting dogs, i.e.

An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of First-Line Triplet vs. Doublet Therapies for Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer.

: The addition of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with or without docetaxel (Doc), is currently recommended for metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Recently, the ARANOTE trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of Darolutamide + ADT in this setting. We aimed to update a network meta-analysis (NMA) of these combination therapies.

Axillary Overtreatment in Patients with Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in the Current Era of Targeted Axillary Dissection.

Background: In the current era of targeted axillary dissection (TAD), there are still cases where axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is indicated, but histopathological examination confirms the regression of nodal metastases (ypN0). In this situation, ALND may represent undesirable overtreatment.

Methods: A retrospective study at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre was conducted based on a prospectively maintained database.

Beneficial Effect of Fenofibrate in Combination with Silymarin on Parameters of Hereditary Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Disorders in an Animal Model of Metabolic Syndrome.

Hypertriglyceridemia has serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, nephropathy, and others. Fenofibrate is an effective hypolipidemic drug, but its benefits for ameliorating disorders associated with hypertriglyceridemia failed to be proven in clinical trials. To search for possible causes of this situation and possibilities of their favorable influence, we tested the effect of FF monotherapy and the combination of fenofibrate with silymarin on metabolic disorders in a unique model of hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats (HHTg).

Persistent Health and Cognitive Impairments up to Four Years Post-COVID-19 in Young Students: The Impact of Virus Variants and Vaccination Timing.

The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection are becoming increasingly evident in recent studies. This repeated cross-sectional study aimed to explore the long-term health and cognitive effects of COVID-19, focusing on how virus variants, vaccination, illness severity, and time since infection impact post-COVID-19 outcomes. We examined three cohorts of university students ( = 584) and used non-parametric methods to assess correlations of various health and cognitive variables with SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 severity, vaccination status, time since infection, time since vaccination, and virus variants.

Intraspecific Morphometric Variation in a New Species of Thélohan 1892 (Cnidaria) from the South Atlantic Ocean: An Ecomorphological Study Using Geometric Morphometrics.

A new species of (Ceratomyxidae, Myxosporea) was found infecting the gall bladder of the Argentine croaker Berg 1895 (Sciaenidae, Perciformes) from the Argentine sea. Using an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphological, bioecological, and molecular analyses, we provide evidence that clearly differentiates this species from known taxa and formally describe as a new species. This study is the first to apply landmark-based geometric morphometrics (GM) in myxozoan research, providing a detailed analysis of conspecific morphometric variation of ceratomyxid myxospores, examining their natural variation within and among different ceratomyxids infecting the gall bladder of .

The Germination and Growth of Two Strains of in Selected Hot Dishes After Cooking.

The aim of this study was to assess the germination and growth of two strains of following the artificial inoculation of six selected hot dishes with spores which were then stored at temperatures of 40, 50, and 60 °C for 0.5, 1.0, 2.

Perspectives and Limitations of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Corneal Injuries and Retinal Diseases.

The eye represents a highly specialized organ, with its main function being to convert light signals into electrical impulses. Any damage or disease of the eye induces a local inflammatory reaction that could be harmful for the specialized ocular cells. Therefore, the eye developed several immunoregulatory mechanisms which protect the ocular structures against deleterious immune reactions.

Structural and Dynamical Response of Lipid Bilayers to Solvation of an Amphiphilic Anesthetic.

The structural response of 1,2-dimyristoyl-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC)/water bilayers to addition and subsequent solvation of a small amphiphilic molecule - an anesthetic benzyl alcohol - was studied by means of solid-state NMR (H NMR, P NMR) spectroscopy and low-angle X-ray diffraction. The sites of binding of this solute molecule within the bilayer were determined - the solute was shown to partition between several sites in the bilayer and the equilibrium was shown to be dynamic and dependent on the level of hydration and temperature. At the same time, it was shown that solubilization of benzyl alcohol reached a solubility limit and was terminated when the ordering profile of DMPC hydrocarbon chains adopted finite limiting values throughout the whole chain.

Smart oxygen monitoring in hospitals: a pilot study during COVID-19.

During 2020-2021, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in hospital safety, with oxygen-related fires and explosions occurring at twice the usual rate. This highlighted insufficient preparedness for increased oxygen therapy demands and the associated risks of oxygen-enriched atmospheres. This study aimed to develop and test a smart monitoring system to detect increased oxygen concentrations in hospital environments, mitigating the risk of fires.

Natural repeated backcrosses lead to triploidy and tetraploidy in parthenogenetic butterfly lizards (Leiolepis: Agamidae).

Obligatory parthenogenesis in vertebrates is restricted to squamate reptiles and evolved through hybridisation. Parthenogens can hybridise with sexual species, resulting in individuals with increased ploidy levels. We describe two successive hybridisations of the parthenogenetic butterfly lizards (genus Leiolepis) in Vietnam with a parental sexual species.

Evidence of genetic determination of annual movement strategies in medium-sized raptors.

Most species of migrating birds use a combination of innate vector-based orientation programs and social information to facilitate accurate navigation during their life. A number of various interspecies hybridisations have been reported in birds. The traits of parents are expressed in hybrids in typical ways which are either intermediate, combined or heterotic.

Stable laser-acceleration of high-flux proton beams with plasma collimation.

Laser-plasma acceleration of protons offers a compact, ultra-fast alternative to conventional acceleration techniques, and is being widely pursued for potential applications in medicine, industry and fundamental science. Creating a stable, collimated beam of protons at high repetition rates presents a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate the generation of multi-MeV proton beams from a fast-replenishing ambient-temperature liquid sheet.

Randomised feasibility study of an intestinal adsorbent in acute diarrhoea in The Gambia.

Background: Diarrhoea remains a leading cause of death in children. An intestinal adsorbent may reduce diarrhoea duration and severity.

Methods: Randomised controlled feasibility trial with two phases: phase 1 (0-4 hours and double-blind) and phase 2 (up to 5 days and open-label).

Cytotoxic Stilbenoids, Hetero- and Homodimers of Homoisoflavonoids from .

An activity-guided isolation study on the EtOH extract prepared from the bulbs of yielded four new phenolic compounds, including a new stilbenoid (), a new homoisoflavonoid derivative (), a new homoisoflavonoid dimer (), and an unprecedented homoisoflavone-stilbene heterodimer (), together with six known (-) analogs. Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and theoretical NMR and ECD calculations. Compounds and are unique in their scaffolds.