Adaptive evolution of invasive fall armyworms to maize with potential involvement of Cytochrome P450 genes.

Background: An invasion occurs when introduced species establish and maintain stable populations in areas outside of their native habitat. Adaptive evolution has been proposed to contribute to this process. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the major pest insects infesting maize in both invaded and native areas.

Binding kinetics of quaternary ammonium ions in Kcv potassium channels.

Kcv channels from plant viruses represent the autonomous pore module of potassium channels, devoid of any regulatory domains. These small proteins show very reproducible single-channel behavior in planar lipid bilayers. Thus, they are an optimum system for the study of the biophysics of ion transport and gating.

Deep learning to capture leaf shape in plant images: Validation by geometric morphometrics.

Plant leaves play a pivotal role in automated species identification using deep learning (DL). However, achieving reproducible capture of leaf variation remains challenging due to the inherent "black box" problem of DL models. To evaluate the effectiveness of DL in capturing leaf shape, we used geometric morphometrics (GM), an emerging component of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) toolkits.

ADP-ribose hydrolases: biological functions and potential therapeutic targets.

ADP-ribosylation (ADPRylation), which encompasses poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation, is an important post-translational modification catalysed by the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzyme superfamily. The process involves writers (PARPs) and erasers (ADP-ribose hydrolases), which work together to precisely regulate diverse cellular and molecular responses. Although the PARP-mediated synthesis of ADP-ribose (ADPr) has been well studied, ADPr degradation by degrading enzymes deserves further investigation.

Polyoxazolines with Cholesterol Lipid Anchor for Fast Intracellular Delivery.

Due to the increasing challenges posed by the growing immunity to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), there is growing interest in innovative polymer-based materials as viable alternatives. In this study, the advantages of lipids and polymers are combined to allow efficient and rapid cytoplasmic drug delivery. Specifically, poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) is modified with a cholesteryl hemisuccinate group as a lipid anchor (CHEMSPOx).

Rfam 15: RNA families database in 2025.

The Rfam database, a widely-used repository of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) families, has undergone significant updates in release 15.0. This paper introduces major improvements, including the expansion of Rfamseq to 26,106 genomes, a 76% increase, incorporating the latest UniProt reference proteomes and additional viral genomes.

Beyond the Surface: Interconnection of Viscosity, Crystal Growth, and Diffusion in GeSe Glass-Former.

The knowledge of viscosity behavior, crystal growth phenomenon, and diffusion is important in producing, processing, and practical applications of amorphous solids prepared in different forms (bulk glasses and thin films). This work uses microscopy to study volume crystal growth in GeSe bulk glasses and thermally evaporated thin films. The collected growth data measured over a wide temperature range show a significant increase in crystal growth rates in thin films.

Combining Infrared Refraction and Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy.

We have specified and obtained a ZnSe prism with an unconventional face angle cut to 30°. This prism, with internal incidence angles ranging from 30° to 48°, allows users to record internal reflection spectra below the critical angle and attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra above the critical angle without the need to change optics or move or replace the sample. We demonstrate its capabilities using 102 spectra of benzyl benzoate taken with - and -polarization at different angles of incidence.

Understanding the intricate impacts and mechanism of actions of adaptogens on reproductive function.

Adaptogens, comprising plants and mushrooms, modulate the immune system, energy balance, and various physiological processes, including reproduction. Despite their potential benefits, the impact of adaptogens on reproductive function remains understudied. This review examines the effects of common adaptogens on male and female reproductive functions, highlighting their regulation of neuro-endocrine-immune interactions crucial for reproduction.

Tailored Permeation Through ≈1 nm Thick Carbon Nanomembranes by Subtle Changes in Their Molecular Design.

Due to their nanoscale thickness (≈1 nm) and exceptional selectivity for permeation of gases, nanomembranes made of 2D materials possess high potential for energy-efficient nanofiltration applications. In this respect, organic carbon nanomembranes (CNMs), synthesized via electron irradiation-induced crosslinking of aromatic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), are particularly attractive, as their structure can be flexibly tuned by choice of molecular precursors. However, tailored permeation of CNMs, defined by their molecular design, has not been yet demonstrated.

Multiplex electrochemical aptasensor for the simultaneous detection of linomycin and neomycin antibiotics.

The escalating use of antibiotics across diverse sectors, including human healthcare, agriculture, and livestock, has led to their pervasive presence in the environment, raising concerns about their impact on ecosystems and human health. Traditional detection methods, reliant on high-performance liquid chromatography and immuno-assays, face challenges of complexity, cross-reactivity, and limited specificity. Aptamer-based biosensors offer a promising alternative, leveraging the specificity, stability, and cost-effectiveness of aptamers.

Inducing novel endosymbioses by implanting bacteria in fungi.

Endosymbioses have profoundly impacted the evolution of life and continue to shape the ecology of a wide range of species. They give rise to new combinations of biochemical capabilities that promote innovation and diversification. Despite the many examples of known endosymbioses across the tree of life, their de novo emergence is rare and challenging to uncover in retrospect.

Game-Based Assessment of Peripheral Neuropathy Combining Sensor-Equipped Insoles, Video Games, and AI: Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: Detecting peripheral neuropathy (PNP) is crucial in preventing complications such as foot ulceration. Clinical examinations for PNP are infrequently provided to patients at high risk due to restrictions on facilities, care providers, or time. A gamified health assessment approach combining wearable sensors holds the potential to address these challenges and provide individuals with instantaneous feedback on their health status.

Decoding Information Flow and Sensory Pollution: A Systematic Framework for Understanding Species Interactions.

Information transmission among species is a fundamental aspect of natural ecosystems that faces significant disruption from rapidly growing anthropogenic sensory pollution. Understanding the constraints of information flow on species' trophic interactions is often overlooked due to a limited comprehension of the mechanisms of information transmission and the absence of adequate analytical tools. To fill this gap, we developed a sensory information-constrained functional response (IFR) framework, which accounts for the information transmission between predator and prey.

Glucosinolate structural diversity shapes recruitment of a metabolic network of leaf-associated bacteria.

Host defenses can have broader ecological roles, but how they shape natural microbiome recruitment is poorly understood. Aliphatic glucosinolates (GLSs) are secondary defense metabolites in Brassicaceae plant leaves. Their genetically defined structure shapes interactions with pests in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, and here we find that it also shapes bacterial recruitment.