Kisspeptin Is Upregulated at the Maternal-Fetal Interface of the Preeclamptic-like BPH/5 Mouse and Normalized after Synchronization of Sex Steroid Hormones.

Insufficient invasion of conceptus-derived trophoblast cells in the maternal decidua is a key event in the development of early-onset preeclampsia (PE), a subtype of PE associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Kisspeptins, a family of peptides previously shown to inhibit trophoblast cell invasion, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of early-onset PE. However, a role of kisspeptin signaling during the genesis of this syndrome has not been elucidated.

The Host Adapted Fungal Pathogens of Genus Utilize Genic Regional Centromeres.

Centromeres are genomic regions that coordinate accurate chromosomal segregation during mitosis and meiosis. Yet, despite their essential function, centromeres evolve rapidly across eukaryotes. Centromeres are often the sites of chromosomal breaks which contribute to genome shuffling and promote speciation by inhibiting gene flow.

Effect of storage temperature and produce type on the survival or growth of on peeled rinds and fresh-cut produce.

Whole and fresh-cut produce are minimally processed and susceptible to microbial contamination. This study evaluated the survival or growth of on peeled rinds, and fresh-cut produce at different storage temperatures. Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, including cantaloupe, watermelon, pear, papaya, pineapple, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, bell pepper, and kale (25 g pieces) were spot inoculated with 4 log CFU/g of and stored at 4 or 13°C for 6  days.

Potassium ion channels as a molecular target to reduce virus infection and mortality of honey bee colonies.

Declines in managed honey bee populations are multifactorial but closely associated with reduced virus immunocompetence and thus, mechanisms to enhance immune function are likely to reduce viral infection rates and increase colony viability. However, gaps in knowledge regarding physiological mechanisms or 'druggable' target sites to enhance bee immunocompetence has prevented therapeutics development to reduce virus infection. Our data bridge this knowledge gap by identifying ATP-sensitive inward rectifier potassium (K) channels as a pharmacologically tractable target for reducing virus-mediated mortality and viral replication in bees, as well as increasing an aspect of colony-level immunity.

Learning about Our Vices from Devices: A Model of Individual Learning with an Application to Consumer Food Waste.

The proliferation of personal, household and workplace sensors and devices has created individual environments rich with purposeful and incidental feedback capable of altering behavior. We formulate an empirical learning model suitable for understanding individual behavioral responses in such environments. We estimate this model using data collected about the joint personal decisions of food selection, intake, and waste during a study in which users photographed their meal selections and plate waste over the course of a week with a cell phone.

On the usefulness of mock genomes to define heterotic pools, testers, and hybrid predictions in orphan crops.

The advances in genomics in recent years have increased the accuracy and efficiency of breeding programs for many crops. Nevertheless, the adoption of genomic enhancement for several other crops essential in developing countries is still limited, especially for those that do not have a reference genome. These crops are more often called orphans.

Efficacy and Profitability of Fungicides for Managing Frogeye Leaf Spot on Soybean in the United States: A 10-Year Quantitative Summary.

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS), caused by , is an economically important disease of soybean in the United States. Data from 66 uniform fungicide trials (UFTs) conducted from 2012 to 2021 across eight states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) were gathered and analyzed to determine the efficacy and profitability of the following fungicides applied at the beginning pod developmental stage (R3): azoxystrobin + difenoconazole (AZOX + DIFE), difenoconazole + pydiflumetofen (DIFE + PYDI), pyraclostrobin (PYRA), pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxad + propiconazole (PYRA + FLUX + PROP), tetraconazole (TTRA), thiophanate-methyl (TMET), thiophanate-methyl + tebuconazole (TMET + TEBU), and trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole (TFLX + PROT). A network meta-analytic model was fitted to the log of the means of FLS severity data and to the nontransformed mean yield for each treatment, including the nontreated.

Body size predicts the rate of contemporary morphological change in birds.

Variation in evolutionary rates among species is a defining characteristic of the tree of life and may be an important predictor of species' capacities to adapt to rapid environmental change. It is broadly assumed that generation length is an important determinant of microevolutionary rates, and body size is often used as a proxy for generation length. However, body size has myriad biological correlates that could affect evolutionary rates independently from generation length.

Establishment of bovine trophoblast stem cells.

Here, we report that a chemical cocktail (LCDM: leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF], CHIR99021, dimethinedene maleate [DiM], minocycline hydrochloride), previously developed for extended pluripotent stem cells (EPSCs) in mice and humans, enables de novo derivation and long-term culture of bovine trophoblast stem cells (TSCs). Bovine TSCs retain developmental potency to differentiate into mature trophoblast cells and exhibit transcriptomic and epigenetic (chromatin accessibility and DNA methylome) features characteristic of trophectoderm cells from early bovine embryos. The bovine TSCs established in this study will provide a model to study bovine placentation and early pregnancy failure.

Bovine blastocyst-like structures derived from stem cell cultures.

Understanding the mechanisms of blastocyst formation and implantation is critical for improving farm animal reproduction but is hampered by a limited supply of embryos. Here, we developed an efficient method to generate bovine blastocyst-like structures (termed blastoids) via assembling bovine trophoblast stem cells and expanded potential stem cells. Bovine blastoids resemble blastocysts in morphology, cell composition, single-cell transcriptomes, in vitro growth, and the ability to elicit maternal recognition of pregnancy following transfer to recipient cows.

Functional interactions between potassium-chloride cotransporter (KCC) and inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels in the insect central nervous system.

The K/Cl cotransporter (KCC) is the primary mechanism by which mature neurons maintain low intracellular chloride (Cl) concentration and has been shown to be functionally coupled to the GABA-gated chloride channels (GGCC) in Drosophila central neurons. Further, pharmacological inhibition of KCC has been shown to lead to acute toxicity of mosquitoes that highlights the toxicological relevance of insect KCC. Yet, gaps in knowledge remain regarding physiological drivers of KCC function and interactions of ion flux mechanisms upstream of GGCC in insects.

Meta-Analytic Modeling of the Severity-Yield Relationships in Soybean Frogeye Leaf Spot Epidemics.

Frogeye leaf spot (FLS), caused by , is an important foliar disease affecting soybean in the United States. A meta-analytic approach including 39 fungicide trials conducted from 2012 to 2021 across eight states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee) was used to assess the relationship between FLS severity and soybean yield. Correlation and regression analyses were performed separately to determine Fisher's transformation of correlation coefficients (Z), intercept (β) and slope (β).

Physico-chemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of yogurt as affected by various ingredients.

l-Glutamine, quercetin, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, licorice root, maitake mushrooms, and zinc orotate have been reported to help treat leaky gut. The purpose of this research was to explore the impact of these functional ingredients on the physico-chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of yogurt. The milk from same source was equally divided into 9 pails and the 8 ingredients were randomly assigned to the 8 pails.

Mechanical and Tribological Performance of HDPE Matrix Reinforced by Hybrid Gr/TiO NPs for Hip Joint Replacement.

Hip joint collapse is a very common health problem. Many cases need a joint replacement, so nano-polymeric composites are an ideal alternative solution. Due to its mechanical properties and wear resistance, HDPE might be considered a suitable alternative to frictional materials.

Immune genotypes, immune responses, and survival in a wild bird population.

Individuals vary in their immune genotype, inbreeding coefficient f, immune responses, survival to adulthood, and adult longevity. However, whether immune genes predict survival or longevity, whether such relationships are mediated through immune responses, and how f affects immune genotype remain unclear. We use a wild song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) population in which survival to adulthood, adult longevity, and f were measured precisely, and in which immune responses have previously been assessed.

Ice-Crystal-Templated "Accordion-Like" Cellulose Nanofiber/MXene Composite Aerogels for Sensitive Wearable Pressure Sensors.

Exfoliated MXene nanosheets are integrated with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) to form composite aerogels with high electric conductivity. The combination of CNFs and MXene nanosheets forms a unique "accordion-like" hierarchical architecture with MXene-CNF pillared layers through ice-crystal templating. Benefiting from the special "layer-strut" structure, the MXene/CNF composite aerogels have low density (50 mg/cm), excellent compressibility and recoverability, as well as superior fatigue resistance (up to 1000 cycles).

Tcf21 marks visceral adipose mesenchymal progenitors and functions as a rate-limiting factor during visceral adipose tissue development.

Distinct locations of different white adipose depots suggest anatomy-specific developmental regulation, a relatively understudied concept. Here, we report a population of Tcf21 lineage cells (Tcf21 LCs) present exclusively in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) that dynamically contributes to VAT development and expansion. During development, the Tcf21 lineage gives rise to adipocytes.

UAV imagery data and machine learning: A driving merger for predictive analysis of qualitative yield in sugarcane.

Predicting sugarcane yield by quality allows stakeholders from research centers to industries to decide on the precise time and place to harvest a product on the field; hence, it can streamline workflow while leveling up the cost-effectiveness of full-scale production. °Brix and Purity can offer significant and reliable indicators of high-quality raw material for industrial processing for food and fuel. However, their analysis in a relevant laboratory can be costly, time-consuming, and not scalable.

Genetic Characterization of the Partial Disease Resistance of Rice to Bacterial Panicle Blight and Sheath Blight by Combined QTL Linkage and QTL-seq Analyses.

Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) and sheath blight (SB) are major diseases of rice and few cultivars have shown a high level of resistance to these diseases. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population developed from the U.S.

African American Perceptions of Service Provided by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education: A Qualitative Exploration.

Objective: To assess African Americans' satisfaction with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) in Louisiana.

Methods: African American facilitators conducted 5 focus group discussions with 25 African American SNAP-Ed participants according to issues identified by African American SNAP-Ed implementers in Louisiana. Focus group discussion transcripts were coded independently using inductive and in vivo coding by 2 members of the research team.