Was extinction of New Zealand's avian megafauna an unavoidable consequence of human arrival?

Human overexploitation contributed strongly to the loss of hundreds of bird species across Oceania, including nine giant, flightless birds called moa. The inevitability of anthropogenic moa extinctions in New Zealand has been fiercely debated. However, we can now rigorously evaluate their extinction drivers using spatially explicit demographic models capturing species-specific interactions between moa, natural climates and landscapes, and human colonists.

A Review of the Psyllid Genus (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) from the Chinese Mainland with Phylogenetic Considerations and the Description of a New Species.

Kuwayama, 1908, constitutes an Old World genus of psyllids with 15 described species. Based on characters of immatures, was recently assigned to Ciriacreminae (Psyllidae). The genus is morphologically well circumscribed but species are currently difficult to identify as many descriptions lack detail and precision.

A Review on the Nomenclature and Taxonomy of the Old World Thread-Legged Bug Genus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae).

The nomenclatural and taxonomic issues regarding the thread-legged bug genera Kirkaldy, 1901 and Bergroth, 1903 are reviewed, and is concluded to be the valid name of the genus. A comprehensive review of is conducted, resulting in 18 new combinations and two new synonymies [ (Villiers, 1970) , (Ghate, Boyane & Joshi, 2019) , (Bergroth, 1903) , (McAtee & Malloch, 1926) , (Paiva, 1919) , (Lhoste, 1939) = Miller, 1956 , (Kulkarni & Ghate, 2016) , (Ribes, 1987) , (Lhoste, 1939) , (McAtee & Malloch, 1926) , (Villiers, 1972) , (Wygodzinsky, 1966) , (Wygodzinsky, 1966) , (Distant, 1906) , (Villiers, 1970) , (Horváth, 1910) , (Villiers, 1949) = Miller, 1954 , and (Rédei, 2005) ]. The bibliographies, diagnosis, and known distribution records are presented for all described species, and three new species [ (from Yunnan, China), (from Sabah, Malaysia), and (from Sulawesi, Indonesia)] are described.

Cracking the Code of Calcification: How Presence and Burden among Intracranial Arteries Influence Stroke Incidence and Recurrence.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerosis accounts for about 8% of all strokes in Western societies but the influence of arterial calcification on plaque instability is a topic on ongoing debate.

Purpose: Explore the association between the presence and burden of calcium in atherosclerotic plaques among intracranial arteries with the risk of clinical or silent stroke events through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, studies from PubMed and Embase were analyzed up to May 2024.

Behavioral Profiling in Zebrafish Identifies Insecticide-Related Compounds.

Pesticides, including insecticides, are indispensable for large-scale agriculture. Modulating chloride ion channels has proven highly successful as a mode of action (MoA) for insect management. Identifying new ligands for these channels affords opportunities for the potential development of new insecticide products.

Black Soldier Fly () Larvae as a Protein Substitute in Adverse Food Reactions for Canine Dermatitis: Preliminary Results Among Patients.

Can black soldier fly (BSF) larvae be a protein substitute for managing adverse food reactions (AFRs) in dogs, specifically those with dermatitis? We evaluated BSF larvae's safety, tolerance, and effectiveness as a novel protein source in dogs with AFRs. Sixteen dogs, including eight healthy controls and eight diagnosed with AFRs, were fed a diet containing BSF larvae for four weeks. Skin conditions, including dermatological lesions and Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) scores, and gastrointestinal signs, including relevant clinical signs, stool consistency, and hematological and biochemical parameters, were monitored.

Assessment of Attenuation in Pericarotid Fat among Patients with Carotid Plaque and Spontaneous Carotid Dissection.

Background And Purpose: Changes in perivascular fat density (PFD) and its association with inflammation have been topics of interest in both atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic vasculopathies. The objective of this study was to assess the PFD in patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (SICAD) or carotid atherosclerotic plaque, with and without intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective bicentric analysis of 130 patients (30 with SICAD and 100 with carotid atherosclerotic plaque) who underwent CT angiography was performed.

A natural variant of COOL1 gene enhances cold tolerance for high-latitude adaptation in maize.

Low temperature severely limits the growth, yield, and geographical distribution of maize (Zea mays L.). How maize adapts to cold climates remains largely unclear.

A bioluminescent reporter bioassay for in-process assessment of chimeric antigen receptor lentiviral vector potency.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy is a breakthrough in the field of cancer immunotherapy, wherein T cells are genetically modified to recognize and attack cancer cells. Delivery of the CAR gene is a critical step in this therapy and is usually achieved by transducing patient T cells with a lentiviral vector (LV). Because the LV is an essential component of CAR-T manufacturing, there is a need for simple bioassays that reflect the mechanism of action (MOA) of the LV and can measure LV potency with accuracy and specificity.

Generation and propagation of high fecundity gene edited fine wool sheep by CRISPR/Cas9.

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been widely utilized to enhance productive performance, increase disease resistance and generate medical models in livestock. The FecB allele in sheep is a mutation in the BMPRIB gene, recognized as the first major gene responsible for the high fecundity trait in sheep, leading to an increased ovulation rate in ewe. In this study, we employed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous-directed repair (HDR) to introduce a defined point mutation (c.

Combined Short-Long Axis Versus Medial Oblique Axis for Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation: A Prospective Single-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective(s): Previous literature suggested the advantage of combined short-long axis (CSLA) technique to avoid posterior wall puncture during internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation. The purpose of this study is to define the best ultrasound-guided IJV cannulation technique regarding the success rate in the first trial of insertion, time to successful central line placement, number of attempts, procedural complications, and operator satisfaction.

Design: Single-blinded, prospective randomized clinical trial.

Integrative assessment of mixture toxicity of household chemicals using the toxic unit approach and mode of action.

Household chemicals used daily are often combined, leading to inhalation exposure to mixtures. However, methods for assessing their toxic effects are limited. This study proposes an in vitro assay strategy for evaluating household chemical mixtures using benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), a common disinfectant.

Scutellarin inhibits pyroptosis via selective autophagy degradation of p30/GSDMD and suppression of ASC oligomerization.

Most of the pyroptosis inhibitors targeted Gasdermin D (GSDMD) are functioning by restraining GSDMD-N (p30) oligomerization. For the first time, this work discovered a pyroptosis inhibitor taking effect by degrading p30 and GSDMD. As the principal bioactive constituent in Erigeron breviscapus, scutellarin (SCU) assumes a pivotal role in the realm of anti-inflammatory processes.

"Cofactors" for Natural Products.

Cofactors are non-protein entities necessary for proteins to operate. They provide "functional groups" beyond those of the 20 canonical amino acids and enable proteins to carry out more diverse functions. Such a viewpoint is rarely mentioned, if at all, when it comes to natural products and is the theme of this Concept.

Selective G6PDH inactivation for Helicobacter pylori eradication with transformed polysulfide.

Alternative treatment for the highly prevalent Helicobacter pylori infection is imperative due to rising antibiotic resistance. We unexpectedly discovered that the anti-H. pylori component in garlic is hydrogen polysulfide (HS, n⩾2), not organic polysulfides.

Characterization for the Similarity Assessment Between the Proposed Biosimilar SB17 and Ustekinumab Reference Product Using State-of-the-Art Analytical Methods.

Background: SB17 is being developed as a biosimilar to ustekinumab reference product (RP), a human monoclonal antibody (IgG1 kappa immunoglobulin) that binds to the common p40 subunit of cytokines interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-12. Binding to this subunit prevents interaction with their receptor, resulting in modulation in the immune system responses that play a key role in inflammatory disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate structural, physicochemical, and biological similarity between ustekinumab RP and SB17 using various state-of-the-art analytical methods.

The Hoverfly Attracting Property of a Methyl Salicylate-Containing ()-β-Farnesene Analog (3e) and Potential Mechanism by Mediating the EcorOBP15 and EcorOR3.

Using natural enemies provides a sustainable method to control major agricultural pests. Hoverflies are significant natural enemies of aphids and efficient pollinators. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), including ()-β-farnesene (EBF) and methyl salicylate (MeSA), are key olfactory cues mediating hoverflies behavior.

IoT-based prediction model for aquaponic fish pond water quality using multiscale feature fusion with convolutional autoencoder and GRU networks.

The Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart solutions have been developed to predict water quality and they are becoming an increasingly important means of providing efficient solutions through communication technologies. IoT systems are used for enabling connection between various devices based on the ability to gather and collect information. Furthermore, IoT systems are designed to address the environment and the automation industry.

DNA and spores from coprolites reveal that colourful truffle-like fungi endemic to New Zealand were consumed by extinct moa (Dinornithiformes).

Mycovores (animals that consume fungi) are important for fungal spore dispersal, including ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi symbiotic with forest-forming trees. As such, fungi and their symbionts may be impacted by mycovore extinction. New Zealand (NZ) has a diversity of unusual, colourful, endemic sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi, most of which are ECM.

Reducing Plate Waste in Latvian Schools: Evaluating Interventions to Promote Sustainable Food Consumption Practices.

Food waste (FW) threatens food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency, with about one-third of global food production lost or wasted. Schools play a crucial role in addressing FW, representing lost resources and missed educational opportunities. The present research assessed three interventions to reduce plate waste (PW) in Rezekne City schools, namely (S1) a plate waste tracker, (S2) an awareness and educational campaign, and (S3) organizational changes, including larger plates, extended lunch breaks, and teacher supervision.

Cirsii Herba glycoprotein promotes macrophage M1 polarization through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways via interaction with TLR4.

The present study aimed to extract and purify the glycoprotein from Cirsii Herba (CHPs), and investigate its immunomodulatory activity and molecular mechanism in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results showed that CHPs contained 14.

Growing contribution to radiative forcing from China's on-farm nitrous oxide emissions requires more attention.

Agricultural systems are important emission sources of non-CO greenhouse gases (GHGs), including the relatively short-lived GHG methane (CH). As a pivotal emitter, China's CH emissions have received wide attention. For the first time, this study applied an indicator of radiative forcing-based climate footprint (RFCF) to compare the climate impacts of China's on-farm non-CO GHG emissions including CH and nitrous oxide (NO).

A weight of evidence review on the mode of action, adversity, and the human relevance of xylene's observed thyroid effects in rats.

Xylene substances have wide industrial and consumer uses and are currently undergoing dossier and substance evaluation under Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) for further toxicological testing including consideration of an additional neurotoxicological testing cohort to an extended one-generation reproduction toxicity (EOGRT) study. New repeated dose study data on xylenes identify the thyroid as a potential target tissue, and therefore a weight of evidence review is provided to investigate whether or not xylene-mediated changes on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis are secondary to liver enzymatic induction and are of a magnitude that is relevant for neurological human health concerns. Multiple published studies confirm xylene-mediated increases in liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, and liver enzymatic induction the oral or inhalation routes, including an increase in uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity, the key step in thyroid hormone metabolism in rodents.

An Outline on benzimidazole Containing Marketed Drugs with Proton Pump Inhibitor and H Receptor Antagonist Activities.

Heterocyclic compounds are increasingly used in medicinal chemistry because they are the main components of many biological processes and materials. Benzimidazole remains the core center of the heterocyclic chemical group, with essential traits such as six-five-member connected rings and two nitrogen atoms at the 1,3 position in a six-membered benzene and five-membered imidazole- fused ring system. Molecules with benzimidazole derivatives serve important functions as therapeutic agents and have shown excellent results in clinical and biological research.

The efficient separation of bioactive components from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver using membrane filtration technology and its mechanisms in preventing alcoholic liver disease.

The efficient extraction and purification of active components from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (EUO) are crucial for their utilization. The structure and properties of the prepared EUO leaf polysaccharides (ELPs) and extractum (ELE) were comprehensively characterized in this study, and the intervention mechanism of the EUO polysaccharides and extractum in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) were investigated. The yield of EUO extractum was 24.