Mind the Gap: A Neural Network Framework for Imputing Genotypes in Non-Model Species.

Reduced representation sequencing (RRS) has proven to be a cost-effective solution for sequencing subsets of the genome in non-model species for large-scale studies. However, the targeted nature of RRS approaches commonly introduces large amounts of missing data, leading to reduced statistical power and biased estimates in downstream analyses. Genotype imputation, the statistical inference of missing sites across the genome, is a powerful alternative to overcome the caveats associated with missing sites.

A Narrative Review of Invasive Candidiasis in the Intensive Care Unit.

species is the most common cause of invasive fungal infection in the critically ill population admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Numerous risk factors for developing invasive candidiasis (IC) have been identified, and some, like the breach of protective barriers, abound within the ICU. Given that IC carries a significant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare cost burden, early diagnosis and treatment have become an essential topic of discussion.

Early allelopathic input and later nutrient addition mediated by litter decomposition of invasive affect native plant and facilitate its invasion.

Litter decomposition is essential for nutrient and chemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Previous research on litter decomposition has often underestimated its impact on soil nutrient dynamics and allelopathy. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study involving both field and greenhouse experiments to examine the decomposition and allelopathic effects of the invasive L.

A global analysis of plant nutrient limitation affected by atmospheric nitrogen and phosphorous deposition.

Uncovering the response of plant functional types (PFTs) to nutrient limitation caused by atmospheric deposition is critical for assessing the health of terrestrial ecosystems under climate change conditions. However, it remains unclear how atmospheric deposition and underlying ecological factors affect PFTs globally. To address this, we compiled a global dataset of four PFTs, i.

Improving resistance to lepidopteran pests and herbicide using Sanming dominant genic male sterile rice ( L.).

In order to improve both resistance to lepidopteran pests and resistance to the herbicide imazethapyr in mainstay varieties of the Huang-Huai rice region, Sanming dominant genic male sterile (S-DGMS) rice was used as a platform to facilitate the pyramiding of functional genes and the replacement of the genomic background. Twelve novel lines were developed, each carrying a crystal toxin gene conferring resistance to lepidopteran pests and the allele conferring resistance to herbicide imazethapyr in the background of a mainstay variety. The genomic background of the 12 novel lines was examined using 48 specified molecular markers, and each line carried less than two polymorphic markers relative to the corresponding mainstay variety.

Sky High or Grounded: Nest Site Selection of Herons and Egrets in a Mixed-Species Colony.

Resource partitioning is crucial for the coexistence of colonial herons, as it allows multiple species to share the same habitat while minimising competition. This study took advantage of a natural experiment in 2006 and 2007 when Black-crowned Night Herons were prevented from breeding at Lake Fetzara in the first year due to the presence of a feral cat. This event provided valuable insight into the spatial and temporal dynamics of nest site selection among coexisting heron species, which consisted of Cattle Egrets (), Little Egrets () and Squacco Herons ().

Hyperactive delta isoform of PI3Kinase enables long distance regeneration of adult rat corticospinal tract.

Neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) lose regenerative potential with maturity, leading to minimal corticospinal tract (CST) axon regrowth after spinal cord injury (SCI). In young rodents, knockdown of PTEN, which antagonises PI3K signalling by hydrolysing PIP3, promotes axon regeneration following SCI. However, this effect diminishes in adults, potentially due to lower PI3K activation leading to reduced PIP3.

Root and mycorrhizal nutrient acquisition strategies in the succession of subtropical forests under N and P limitation.

Background: Nutrient limitation is a universal phenomenon in terrestrial ecosystems. Root and mycorrhizal are critical to plant nutrient absorption in nutrient-limited ecosystems. However, how they are modified by N and P limitations with advancing vegetation successions in karst forests remains poorly understood.

Diet-related quality of life may directly and indirectly affect health-related quality of life through protein intake and frailty in patients with osteoporosis: Results from a prospective cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to examine the direct and indirect associations between diet-related quality of life (DRQOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with osteoporosis.

Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted using data from a 1-year prospective cohort survey of 532 consecutive patients with osteoporosis. The DRQOL was assessed using a short version of the Diet-Related Quality of Life Scale.

Climate drives the long-term ant male production in a tropical community.

Forecasting insect responses to environmental variables at local and global spatial scales remains a crucial task in Ecology. However, predicting future responses requires long-term datasets, which are rarely available for insects, especially in the tropics. From 2002 to 2017, we recorded male ant incidence of 155 ant species at ten malaise traps on the 50-ha ForestGEO plot in Barro Colorado Island.

Evaluation of windproof and sand fixation effect of protective system in the Desert oasis ecotone of Mingsha Mountain Dunhuang.

The Desert oasis ecotone (DOE) protects the oasis from wind and sand intrusion, thereby playing a crucial role in controlling desertification. However, there is limited knowledge about how DOE functions in windproof and sand-fixation. Therefore this study employs a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanner to monitor surface accumulation and erosion, and through field observations, collects data on wind profiles, grain size, and sand transport rates to uncover the role of DOE in aeolian sand protection.

Annual migrations, vertical habitat use and fidelity of Atlantic bluefin tuna tracked from waters off the United Kingdom.

Understanding the spatial ecology of commercially exploited species is vital for their conservation. Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, ABT) are increasingly observed in northeast Atlantic waters, yet knowledge of these individuals' spatial ecology remains limited. We investigate the horizontal and vertical habitat use of ABT (158 to 241 cm curved fork length; CFL) tracked from waters off the United Kingdom (UK) using pop-up satellite archival tags (n = 63).

Functional assessment of cancer therapy - head & neck (FACT-HN) translation and validation in Serbian.

This study aimed to translate and validate the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head & Neck (FACT-HN) in a Serbian-speaking population, assessing its psychometric properties and utility in evaluating the quality of life in head and neck cancer patients. The research focuses on determining the translated questionnaire's reliability, validity, and cultural relevance. A total of 106 Serbian-speaking head and neck cancer patients completed the translated FACT-HN, along with other validated instruments, including the EORTC QLQ-C30, EORTC QLQ-HN43, CES-D, and GAD-7.

Daily accumulation of marine litter in a clam culture area in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The health of humans, the economy, and the marine ecology are all seriously threatened by marine litter. Therefore, quantifying the scope of the issue is gaining more and more attention. Studying beach litter accumulation is one of the approaches to investigating its flows into the marine environment.

miRNA-target complementarity in cnidarians resembles its counterpart in plants.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulators that activate silencing mechanisms by annealing to mRNA transcripts. While plant miRNAs match their targets with nearly-full complementarity leading to mRNA cleavage, miRNAs in most animals require only a short sequence called 'seed' to inhibit target translation. Recent findings showed that miRNAs in cnidarians, early-branching metazoans, act similarly to plant miRNAs, by exhibiting full complementarity and target cleavage; however, it remained unknown if seed-based regulation was possible in cnidarians.

Subtilisin-like protease 4 regulates cold tolerance through cell wall modification in rice.

Rice is susceptible to cold temperatures, especially during the seedling stage. Despite extensive research into the cold tolerance mechanisms of rice, the number of cloned genes remains limited. Plant subtilisin-like proteases (SUBs or SBTs) are protein-hydrolyzing enzymes which play important roles in various aspects of plant growth as well as the plant response to biotic and abiotic stress.

Exosomes derived from hUC-MSCs exhibit ameliorative efficacy upon previous cesarean scar defect via orchestrating β-TrCP/CHK1 axis.

Previous cesarean scar defect (PCSD), also acknowledged as the myometrium of uterus defects, which commonly results in myometrial discontinuity between the uterine and cervical cavity. Current literatures have indicated the efficacy of MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) for diverse refractory disease administration, yet the feasibility of MSC-Exos for PCSD treatment is largely obscure. In this study, we took advantage of the in vivo myofibrotic model for mimicking the typical manifestation of PCSD and the assessment of fertility.

Natural and anthropogenic factors controlling organic carbon storage in riverine wetlands along South Korea's four rivers.

This study explores carbon sequestration in South Korea's riverine wetlands, focusing on the four major rivers: Han, Yeongsan, Geum, and Nakdong. Field data from the Yeongsan River wetland, including 3D topography surveys, grainsize analyses, and loss-on-ignition measurements, were used to assess carbon stocks and their environmental drivers. The Yeongsan River was selected as a representative site due to its geomorphological, hydrological, and climatic similarities with the other three major rivers, which influence sediment transport and carbon dynamics.

Relationship between wind speed and plant hydraulics at the global scale.

Wind is an important ecological factor for plants as it can increase evapotranspiration and cause dehydration. However, the impact of wind on plant hydraulics at a global scale remains unclear. Here we compiled plant key hydraulic traits, including water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity (P), xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity (K), leaf area to sapwood area ratio (A/A) and conduit diameter (D) with 2,786 species-at-site combinations across 1,922 woody species at 469 sites worldwide and analysed their correlations with wind speed.

Empathy is associated with older adults' social behaviors and verbal emotional expressions throughout the day.

Empathy plays a crucial role in promoting older adults' interpersonal experiences, but it remains unclear how these benefits of empathy occur. To address this gap, we examined associations between empathy and how older adults behave and express emotions during their daily interpersonal encounters. Participants included 268 adults aged 65+ (46% men, n = 124) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study.

Short-term warming supports mineral-associated carbon accrual in abandoned croplands.

Effective soil organic carbon (SOC) management can mitigate the impact of climate warming. However, the response of different SOC fractions to warming in abandoned croplands remains unclear. Here, categorizing SOC into particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon (POC and MAOC) with physical fractionation, we investigate the responses of POC and MAOC content and temperature sensitivity (Q) to warming through a 3-year in situ warming experiment (+1.

Parasites specific to centipedes form a new major lineage of terrestrial gregarines.

Gregarines from the families Dactylophoridae and Trichorhynchidae parasitize exclusively centipedes and have a distinct morphology among other terrestrial eugregarines, but their evolutionary relationships have not yet been studied with molecular methods. Here we obtain rDNA operon sequences for the dactylophorids and trichorhynchids. We describe a new species Trichorhynchus efeykini sp.

Choice of props for courtship dancing in estrildid finches.

Among the diverse sexual signals used by birds, the possible signaling functions of non-bodily objects during mating/courting displays remain unexplained. It is unclear whether such object-holding gestures are purely ritualistic or serve as an advertisement of an extended phenotype to potential mates. Estrildid finches (family Estrildidae) are characterized by mutual courtship, during which either a male or female will hold nesting material (usually grass stems or straw) in the beak while singing and dancing toward the opposite sex.