Dissecting the genetic architecture of sunflower disc diameter using genome-wide association study.

Sunflower ( L.) plays an essential role in meeting the demand for edible oil worldwide. The yield of sunflower seeds encompasses several component traits, including the disc diameter.

Trends in racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in substance use disorders mortality in the United States, 2000-2019.

Background And Objectives: Substance use disorders (SUD) are a major public health concern in the United States. This study examined racial/ethnic and state-level disparities in SUD mortality in the United States from 2000 to 2019.

Methods: Age-standardized mortality rates for SUD were obtained for 5 racial/ethnic groups (White respondents, Black respondents, Latino, Asian-Pacific Islander [API], American Indian/Alaska Native [AIAN]) by state and sex from 2000 to 2019.

The visual experience dataset: Over 200 recorded hours of integrated eye movement, odometry, and egocentric video.

We introduce the Visual Experience Dataset (VEDB), a compilation of more than 240 hours of egocentric video combined with gaze- and head-tracking data that offer an unprecedented view of the visual world as experienced by human observers. The dataset consists of 717 sessions, recorded by 56 observers ranging from 7 to 46 years of age. This article outlines the data collection, processing, and labeling protocols undertaken to ensure a representative sample and discusses the potential sources of error or bias within the dataset.

Feeding limestone buffer to limit-fed dairy steers fed a high inclusion rate of distiller grains.

The study objective was to evaluate dietary limestone buffer inclusion rates for impacting nutrient digestibility and excretion when growing dairy cattle are fed high distiller grains with solubles (DDGS) limit-fed ration. The hypothesis was that feeding more limestone buffer would offset a low rumen pH when feeding a high DDGS inclusion rate. Five ruminally cannulated Holstein and Brown Swiss steers were used in a crossover design having 2-wk periods to evaluate high and low buffer inclusion rates when limit-fed.

Experimentally Elevated Levels of Testosterone Advance Daily Onset of Activity in Short-Day Housed Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Seasonal changes in sleep/wake cycles and behaviors related to reproduction often co-occur with seasonal fluctuations in sex hormones. Experimental studies have established that fluctuations in circulating testosterone mediate circadian rhythms. However, most studies are performed under constant lighting conditions and fail to investigate the effects of testosterone on the phenotypic output of circadian rhythms, that is, chronotype (daily activity patterns under light:dark cycles).

Evaluation of a Brief Three-Item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-3) Among Healthcare Workers.

Objectives: Sleep disorder is a growing public health concern that requires attentive assessment and treatment. However, the length of assessment tools for sleep disorders, including insomnia, hinders their use in both research and clinical settings. Brief assessment measures expedite assessment time, reducing respondent burden, and save resources, especially in resource-limited settings.

Influence of sire plane of nutrition and targeted body weight gain on ewe lamb growth, glucose metabolism, and ovarian reserve.

Rambouillet rams were managed on either a positive (POS; gain 12% body weight [BW]; n = 8), maintenance (MAINT; maintain BW; n = 8), or negative (NEG; lose 12% BW; n = 8) plane of nutrition before breeding. Rams were bred to ewes (n = 10 per ram) that were managed similarly throughout gestation, and lambs were fed a common diet postnatally. Two ewe lambs (7.

Hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence enhance remote phenotyping of grapevine rootstock influence on whole vine photosynthesis.

Rootstocks are gaining importance in viticulture as a strategy to combat abiotic challenges, as well as enhancing scion physiology. Photosynthetic parameters such as maximum rate of carboxylation of RuBP (V) and the maximum rate of electron transport driving RuBP regeneration (J) have been identified as ideal targets for potential influence by rootstock and breeding. However, leaf specific direct measurement of these photosynthetic parameters is time consuming, limiting the information scope and the number of individuals that can be screened.

Characterizing the Effect of Filament Moisture on Tensile Properties and Morphology of Fused Deposition Modeled Polylactic Acid/Polybutylene Succinate Parts.

Moisture absorption into hygroscopic/hydrophilic materials used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) can diminish desired mechanical properties. Sensitivity to moisture is dependent on material properties and environmental factors and needs characterization. In this article, moisture sensitivity of four grades of polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and four different ratios of PLA/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blended filaments were characterized through FDM printed American society for testing and materials (ASTM-D638) test samples after conditioning the filaments at different relative humidity levels.

Machine learning analysis of a large set of homopolymers to predict glass transition temperatures.

Glass transition temperature of polymers, Tg, is an important thermophysical property, which sometimes can be difficult to measure experimentally. In this regard, data-driven machine learning approaches are important alternatives to assess Tg values, in a high-throughput way. In this study, a large dataset of more than 900 polymers with reported glass transition temperature (T) was assembled from various public sources in order to develop a predictive model depicting the structure-property relationships.

AGR2 knockdown induces ER stress and mitochondria fission to facilitate pancreatic cancer cell death.

Anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) is often overexpressed in many human cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Elevated AGR2 expression is known to play a critical role in tumor development, progression, and metastasis and positively correlates with poor patient survival. However, the relationship between AGR2 expression and tumor growth is not fully understood.

Silicon dioxide and selenium nanoparticles enhance vase life and physiological quality in black magic roses.

In contemporary floriculture, particularly within the cut flower industry, there is a burgeoning interest in innovative methodologies aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal and prolonging the postharvest longevity of floral specimens. Within this context, the application of nanotechnology, specifically the utilization of silicon and selenium nanoparticles, has emerged as a promising approach for augmenting the qualitative attributes and extending the vase life of cut roses. This study evaluated the impact of silicon dioxide (SiO-NPs) and selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in preservative solutions on the physio-chemical properties of 'Black Magic' roses.

Analysis of soft rot population diversity in US potato growing regions between 2015 and 2022.

Introduction: Soft rot (SRP) bacteria are globally dispersed pathogens that cause significant economic loss in potato and other crops. Our understanding of the SRP species diversity has expanded in recent years due to advances and adoption of whole-genome sequence technologies. There are currently 34 recognized SRP species that belong to the and genera.

The Alpha-7 Nicotinic Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator PNU120596 Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Cognitive Impairment by Regulating the PPAR-α Signaling Pathway in Mice.

Background And Objective: The brain α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) has a critical role in the pathophysiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) involving neuroinflammation. The α7 nAChR stimulation has been shown to modulate the anti-inflammatory effects of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) via its endogenous ligands in the brain. The present study determined the effects of α7 nAChR modulator PNU120596 on PPAR-α, an inhibitor of κB (IκB) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in an inflammatory mouse model of MDD induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Optimizing Nutritional Decisions: A Particle Swarm Optimization-Simulated Annealing-Enhanced Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach for Personalized Meal Planning.

Background/objective: Nutritionists play a crucial role in guiding individuals toward healthier lifestyles through personalized meal planning; however, this task involves navigating a complex web of factors, including health conditions, dietary restrictions, cultural preferences, and socioeconomic constraints. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) offers a valuable framework for structuring these multi-faceted decisions but inconsistencies can hinder its effectiveness in pairwise comparisons.

Methods: This paper proposes a novel hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-Simulated Annealing (PSO-SA) algorithm to refine inconsistent AHP weight matrices, ensuring a consistent and accurate representation of the nutritionist's expertise and client preferences.

Intakes of Lean Proteins and Processed Meats and Differences in Mental Health between Rural and Metro Adults 50 Years and Older.

Mental health disparities exist between rural and metro areas of the United States. Differences in dietary intake may contribute to these disparities. We examined differences in dietary intake and mental health between those 50 years and older ( = 637) living in rural counties to those living in metro counties in North Dakota and the relationship between dietary intake to days with depression or anxiety.

A New Variant of Avian Encephalomyelitis Virus Associated with Neurologic Signs in Turkey Poults.

Avian encephalomyelitis (AE) is a disease caused by the avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) of the genus Tremovirus in the family Picornaviridae. Recently, cases of turkey poults showing neurological signs were submitted to the veterinary diagnostic laboratories at South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota. The affected birds were showing nervous neurological signs such as tremors, inability to stand, torticollis, and wing drop.