Tail Tales: How Ecological Context Mediates Signal Effectiveness in a Lizard.

Animal signals are complex, comprising multiple components influenced by ecological factors and viewing perspectives that together impact their overall effectiveness. Our study explores how these factors affect the efficacy of multi-component signals in the Qinghai toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus vlangalii. Using 3D animations, we simulated natural environments to evaluate how tail coiling and tail lashing-two primary tail displays-vary in effectiveness from both conspecific and predator perspectives under different ecological conditions.

The endocuticle structural glycoprotein AgSgAbd-2-like is required for cuticle formation and survival in the melon aphid Aphis gossypii.

Cuticular proteins are essential for cuticle formation, molting, and survival in insects. However, functional analysis of cuticular proteins in the melon aphid has been limited. In this study, we identified an endocuticle structural glycoprotein (ESG) AgSgAbd-2-like in the melon aphid Aphis gossypii, which is a member of the RR-1 subfamily of the CPR (cuticular protein containing the conserved Rebers-Riddiford motif) chitin-binding proteins.

Single-Larva RNA Sequencing Reveals That Red Sea Urchin Larvae Are Vulnerable to Co-Occurring Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia.

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions have been increasing rapidly in recent years, driving pH and oxygen levels to record low concentrations in the oceans. Eastern boundary upwelling systems such as the California Current System (CCS) experience exacerbated ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) due to the physical and chemical properties of the transported deeper waters. Research efforts have significantly increased in recent years to investigate the deleterious effects of climate change on marine species, but have not focused on the impacts of simultaneous OAH stressor exposure.

Insights into the subdaily variations in methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide fluxes from upland tropical tree stems.

Recent studies have shown that stem fluxes, although highly variable among trees, can alter the strength of the methane (CH) sink or nitrous oxide (NO) source in some forests, but the patterns and magnitudes of these fluxes remain unclear. This study investigated the drivers of subdaily and seasonal variations in stem and soil CH, NO and carbon dioxide (CO) fluxes. CH, NO and CO fluxes were measured continuously for 19 months in individual stems of two tree species, Eperua falcata (Aubl.

Cyto-Genotoxic Assessment of Sulfoxaflor in Allium cepa Root Cells and DNA Docking Studies.

Sulfoxaflor (SFX) is an insecticide that is commonly used for the control of sap-feeding insects. Since SFX is extensively applied globally, it has been implicated in the substantial induction of environmental toxicity. Therefore, in this study, Allium cepa roots have been employed to elucidate the potential cytogenotoxic effects of SFX in non-target cells by examination of mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and DNA damage.

Halophyte-based crop managements induce biochemical, metabolomic and proteomic changes in tomato plants under saline conditions.

Halophytes display distinctive physiological mechanisms that enable their survival and growth under extreme saline conditions. This makes them potential candidates for their use in saline agriculture. In this research, tomato (Solanum lycopersium Mill.

Effects of Webcam Access to Preterm Infants in NICUs on Parental Psychological Strain.

Aim: To investigate whether webcam access for parents of infants in neonatal intensive care units influences parental postpartum depression and stress experiences.

Methods: Parents whose infants had a birth weight below 1500 g and who were admitted to one of the four participating tertiary care hospitals were eligible to participate in the study. The study followed the structure of a multi-centre cross-over pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

New connective tissue structure of the wrist area - research on fetal material.

The correct function of the upper limb depends on the cooperation and coordination of the muscular and skeletal systems as well as the connective tissue elements present in it. Connective tissue forms fascia, connective tissue membranes and ligaments. Connective tissue mostly develops from the mesenchyme.

Understanding glucose metabolism and insulin action at the blood-brain barrier: Implications for brain health and neurodegenerative diseases.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective, semipermeable barrier critical for maintaining brain homeostasis. The BBB regulates the transport of essential nutrients, hormones, and signaling molecules between the bloodstream and the central nervous system (CNS), while simultaneously protecting the brain from potentially harmful substances and pathogens. This selective permeability ensures that the brain is nourished and shielded from toxins.

Enhancing quality and yield of recombinant secretory IgA antibodies in Nicotiana benthamiana by endoplasmic reticulum engineering.

The production of complex multimeric secretory immunoglobulins (SIgA) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves is challenging, with significant reductions in complete protein assembly and consequently yield, being the most important difficulties. Expanding the physical dimensions of the ER to mimic professional antibody-secreting cells can help to increase yields and promote protein folding and assembly. Here, we expanded the ER in N.

High Nutritional Conditions Influence Feeding Plasticity in Pristionchus pacificus and Render Worms Non-Predatory.

Developmental plasticity, the ability of a genotype to produce different phenotypes in response to environmental conditions, has been subject to intense studies in the last four decades. The self-fertilising nematode Pristionchus pacificus has been developed as a genetic model system for studying developmental plasticity due to its mouth-form polyphenism that results in alternative feeding strategies with a facultative predatory and non-predatory mouth form. Many studies linked molecular aspects of the regulation of mouth-form polyphenism with investigations of its evolutionary and ecological significance.

Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis.

Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012-2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We (i) synthesised information from a literature review; (ii) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; (iii) hosted an in-person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and (iv) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources.

Multi-Targeting Macrocyclic Peptides as Nanomolar Inhibitors of Self- and Cross-Seeded Amyloid Self-Assembly of α-Synuclein.

Amyloid self-assembly of α-synuclein (αSyn) is linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has recently emerged as a risk factor for PD. Cross-interactions between their amyloidogenic proteins may act as molecular links.

Redistribution of soil water by mature trees towards dry surface soils and uptake by seedlings in a temperate forest.

Hydraulic redistribution is considered a crucial dryland mechanism that may be important in temperate environments facing increased soil drying-wetting cycles. We investigated redistribution of soil water from deeper, moist to surface, dry soils in a mature mixed European beech forest and whether redistributed water was used by neighbouring native seedlings. In two experiments, we tracked hydraulic redistribution via (1) H labeling and (2) O natural abundance.

Unifying biology of neurodegeneration in lysosomal storage diseases.

There are currently at least 70 characterised lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) resultant from inherited single-gene defects. Of these, at least 30 present with central nervous system (CNS) neurodegeneration and overlapping aetiology. Substrate accumulation and dysfunctional neuronal lysosomes are common denominator, but how variants in 30 different genes converge on this central cellular phenotype is unclear.

Social isolation increases impulsive choice with minor changes on metabolic function in middle-aged rats.

The effects of social isolation (SI) during middle age remain unclear, so we tested the hypothesis that SI would lead to an increase in impulsive choice (IC), anxiety-like behavior, and metabolic dysfunction in middle-aged rats. Male and female rats were housed individually or in groups of four with same-sex housing mates at 11 months of age. Two months later, IC behavior was assessed using a delay-discounting task and anxiety-like behavior through a novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) task.

There Goes the Neighbourhood-A Multi-City Study Reveals Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens Commonly Occupy Urban Green Spaces.

Introduction: Humans acquire tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) from infected ticks contacted during outdoor activities. Outdoor activity is at its highest in urban green spaces, where the presence of tick populations has increasingly been observed. Consequently, more insight into factors influencing the presence of ticks therein is needed.

Anatomical mapping of neural lineages expressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 receptor using a modified and combined PACT and CUBIC protocol for rapid tissue clearance.

Aim: Tissue clearance is a rapidly evolving technology that allows for the three-dimensional imaging of intact biological tissues. Preexisting tissue-clearing techniques, such as Passive Clarity Technique (PACT) and Clear Unobstructed Brain Imaging Cocktails and Computational Analysis (CUBIC), clear tissues adequately but have distinct disadvantages, such as taking extensive time to clear tissues and degradation of endogenous tissue fluorescence. We developed a new tissue-clearing technique combining PACT and CUBIC protocols to map the neural lineages expressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor.

Combined application of methyl jasmonate and Bacillus subtilis LLCG89 suppresses blue and green mold of lemon (Citrus limon L.).

Background: Bacillus species produce antimicrobial lipopeptides (LPs) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induces resistance in harvested fruits against postharvest pathogens. However, there is limited evidence of the combined efficacy of Bacillus LPs and MeJA to suppress postharvest diseases.

Results: This study presents the combined effect of Bacillus LPs and MeJA to suppress P.

digitalMALDI: A Single-Particle-Based Mass Spectrometric Detection System for Biomolecules.

The development of a real-time system for characterizing individual biomolecule-containing aerosol particles presents a transformative opportunity to monitor respiratory conditions, including infections and lung diseases. Existing molecular assay technologies, although effective, rely on costly reagents, are relatively slow, and face challenges in multiplexing, limiting their use for real-time applications. To overcome these challenges, we developed digitalMALDI, a laser-based mass spectrometry system designed for single-particle characterization.

Insights Into the Reproduction and Maturity of the Spinetail Devil Ray (Mobula mobular).

Little is known about the reproductive biology of the endangered spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular). Here, we describe the reproductive behavior, estimates of age, size at maturity, embryonic development in the uterine cavity, and the morphology of a neonate produced by a male and female ray kept in Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN for 7.5 years.

Phosphorus-Nitrogen Heterocycles Derived from Chelating N-Donor Ligands: Historical Advances, Recent Highlights, and Outlook.

The exploration of phosphorus-nitrogen heterocycles derived from chelating N-donor ligands is an area of research that has lagged behind the development of similar heterocycles based on other main group elements, most notably boron. The fact that phosphorus and nitrogen are both group 15 elements and that their compounds are most commonly viewed as Lewis bases likely contributes to this observation. However, through judicious ligand design and creative use of phosphorus sources that render phosphorus as Lewis acidic and/or electron poor, a variety of heterocyclic architectures are possible.

MicroRNA in neuroexosome as a potential biomarker for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a complication of chronic inflammation caused by HIV infection that impairs cognitive and motor functions. HAND can occur at any age, regardless of the duration of infection, even in people living with HIV (PLWH) whose blood viral load is controlled by antiretroviral therapy. The diagnosis of HAND requires a battery of neuropsychological tests, which is time-consuming and burdensome, limiting its effectiveness for screening PLWH.

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) commonly co-occurs with obesity, medical comorbidities, and psychiatric symptoms. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for co-occurring obesity and PCOS. While the incidence of PCOS declines substantially after bariatric surgery, the condition is still present for a subset of women.

Application of Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Elucidation of Relevant Mechanisms.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific intestinal disease of unknown etiology, with high incidence rates worldwide. At present, Western medicine treatments have been associated with more adverse effects and poor efficacy. Chinese medicine (CM) is commonly used as an adjuvant treatment for the unique advantages in regulating immune function, repairing intestinal mucosa, and alleviating intestinal inflammation.