Draft genome sequence of the glasshouse-potato aphid Aulacorthum solani.

Aulacorthum solani is a worldwide agricultural pest aphid capable of feeding on a wide range of host plants. This insect is a vector of plant viruses and causes injury to crops including stunted growth from the loss of phloem. We found that the publicly available genome for A.

Convergent evolution and predictability of gene copy numbers associated with diets in mammals.

Convergent evolution, the evolution of the same or similar phenotypes in phylogenetically independent lineages, is a widespread phenomenon in nature. If the genetic basis for convergent evolution is predictable to some extent, it may be possible to infer organismic phenotypes and the capability of organisms to utilize new ecological resources based on genome sequence data. While repeated amino acid changes have been studied in association with convergent evolution, relatively little is known about the potential contribution of repeated gene copy number changes.

Protein hydrogel formation from chicken processing By-Products: Exploring applications in food.

Chicken processing by-products, such as meat left over on bones, skin, frames and connective tissues, are great sources of functional proteins that offer significant potential for value-added applications, contributing to both waste reduction and environmental sustainability. By transforming the recovered proteins from by-products into hydrogels, new materials can be developed for use in various industries, including food. However, understanding the chemical composition of these by-products and optimizing hydrogel production techniques are critical to producing hydrogels with desirable properties.

Fermentation of American elderberry juice yields functional phytochemicals for spray dried protein-polyphenol ingredients.

American elderberry juice (EBJ) and fermented elderberry juice (EBF) were spray dried using two different carriers: S. cerevisiae yeast (SC), used for juice fermentation and as encapsulating agent, and pea protein, to produce protein-polyphenol ingredients. The spray drying (SD) performance (solids recovery, SR; phenolic retention, PR) and quality attributes (physicochemical and functional properties, phytochemical content and bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion) of eight treatments of spray dried elderberry particles were determined.

Self-Enhancement in Latin America: Is It Linked to Interdependence?

Although individuals of Latin American heritage ( in short) are considered interdependent, they also value traits like uniqueness and positivity, like individuals of European American cultural heritage, who are considered independent. It remains unclear whether this inclination toward positivity extends to a bias in self-perception known as self-enhancement. Moreover, if Latin Americans are indeed self-enhancing, it is uncertain how these tendencies align with their interdependent cultural orientation.

Development of a bioavailability-based acute effects assessment method for nickel.

This study aimed to develop a bioavailability-based effects assessment method for nickel (Ni) to derive acute freshwater environmental thresholds in Europe. The authors established a reliable acute freshwater Ni ecotoxicity database covering 63 different freshwater species, and the existing acute Ni bioavailability models for invertebrates were revised. A single average invertebrate bioavailability model was proposed, in which the protective effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on Ni2+ toxicity were integrated as a single-site competition effect at the Ni biotic ligand.

Methylmercury in subarctic amphibians: environmental gradients, bioaccumulation, and estimated flux.

Rapid warming in polar regions is causing large changes to ecosystems, including altering environmentally available mercury (Hg). Although subarctic freshwater systems have simple vertebrate communities, Hg in amphibians remains unexplored. We measured total Hg (THg) in wetland sediments and methylmercury (MeHg) in multiple life-stages (eggs to adults) of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and larval boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) from up to 25 wetlands near Churchill, Manitoba (Canada), during the summers of 2018-2019.

Plantar sensation associates with gait instability in older adults.

Background: Advanced age brings a loss of plantar sensation, represented, for example, as higher sensation thresholds in standardized testing. This is thought to contribute to an increased risk of falls among older adults - an intuitive premise that has yet to be fully investigated, especially in the context of walking balance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between plantar sensation and the instability elicited by a suite of walking balance perturbations that differ in direction and context in a cohort of n = 28 older adults (73.

Enhanced detection of mild cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease: a hybrid model integrating dual biomarkers and advanced machine learning.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline and memory loss. Early diagnosis is the most effective strategy to slow the disease's progression. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is frequently viewed as a crucial stage before the onset of AD, making it the ideal period for therapeutic intervention.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis interplay.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasingly prevalent cardiovascular conditions, particularly among the elderly population. These two conditions share common risk factors and often coexist, leading to a complex interplay that alters the clinical course of each other. The pathophysiology of HFpEF is multifaceted and intricately linked, with atrial disease serving as a common pathophysiological pathway.

Masquelet technique combined with concentrated growth factors for the reconstruction of rabbit mandibular marginal bone defect.

Objective: Both the Masquelet technique (MT) and concentrated growth factors (CGF) reduce early graft loss and improve bone regeneration. This study aims to explore the efficacy of combining MT with CGF for mandibular defect repair by characterizing the induced membrane and assessing in vivo osteogenesis.

Materials And Methods: Three experimental groups were compared: negative control (NC), MT, and Masquelet combined with CGF (MTC).

Multiplexed single-cell imaging reveals diverging subpopulations with distinct senescence phenotypes during long-term senescence induction.

Cellular senescence is a phenotypic state that contributes to the progression of age-related disease through secretion of pro-inflammatory factors known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Understanding the process by which healthy cells become senescent and develop SASP factors is critical for improving the identification of senescent cells and, ultimately, understanding tissue dysfunction. Here, we reveal how the duration of cellular stress modulates the SASP in distinct subpopulations of senescent cells.

Rapid human oogonia-like cell specification via transcription factor-directed differentiation.

The generation of germline cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represents a milestone toward in vitro gametogenesis. Methods to recapitulate germline development beyond primordial germ cells in vitro have relied on long-term cell culture, such as 3-dimensional organoid co-culture for ~four months. Using a pipeline with highly parallelized screening, this study identifies combinations of TFs that directly and rapidly convert hiPSCs to induced oogonia-like cells (iOLCs).

Associations of inferior frontal sulcal hyperintensities on brain MRI with cerebral small vessel disease, cognitive function, and depression symptoms.

Inferior frontal sulcal hyperintensities (IFSH) observed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI have been proposed as indicators of elevated cerebrospinal fluid waste accumulation in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, to validate IFSH as a reliable imaging biomarker, further replication studies are required. The objective of this study was to investigate associations between IFSH and CSVD, and their potential repercussions, i.

Effects of surgical approach and downstaging in esophageal adenocarcinoma patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a 2010-2020 National Cancer Database (NCDB) study.

Background: Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation (nCRT) has been shown to improve survival in patients with Esophageal Adenocarcinoma (EAC). The objective of this study is to assess the patient characteristics associated with tumor downstaging in a large national database. Additionally, we evaluated surgical approach and change in clinical versus pathological staging as predictors of patient survival.

Sex-specific association between maternal childhood adversities and offspring's weight gain in a Brazilian cohort.

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to negative health and developmental outcomes in offspring. However, whether maternal ACEs influence infant weight gain in the first months of life, and if this effect differs by infant sex, remains unclear. This study included 352 full-term newborns from low-risk pregnancies and their mothers in low-income settings in Brazil.

Association between symptom characteristics and disease severity in patients suspected of coronary artery disease.

Background: Discrepancies often exist between patient-reported symptoms and diagnostic test findings in patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objectives: To quantify the association between patient-reported symptoms and the diagnosis of severe stenosis in patients with suspected obstructive CAD.

Methods: Two large-scale cohorts of patients with new-onset symptoms suggestive of obstructive CAD were evaluated.

Malperfusion in Patients with Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: This study describes in detail the clinical burden of malperfusion associated with acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) in a large, national cohort and the effect of treatment strategy on outcomes.

Methods: All patients undergoing repair of ATAAD between 2017 and 2020 in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were studied. Malperfusion was defined using STS definitions based on imaging or surgeon's evaluation.

Engineered alginate-polyethyleneimine and sludge-aluminosilicate biochar composites for greywater treatment: Performance evaluation and models for designing pilot-scale systems.

Greywater, originating from kitchen sinks and toilets, constitutes 75-80 % of the domestic wastewater produced in homes and can be reclaimed for non-potable uses. This study synthesized novel sludge-derived aluminosilicates and alginate-polyethyleneimine (PEI) biochar composites. The aluminosilicates offer a sustainable approach to sludge management, while alginate-polyethyleneimine presents a green biochar modification approach.

Development of a health equity tool in resuscitation sciences and application to current research in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest.

Background: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is increasingly used for adults with cardiac arrest (CA) refractory to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). Concerns exist that adding ECPR could worsen health inequities, defined as differences in health outcomes that are unfair or unjust. Current guidelines do not explicitly address this issue.

Therapeutic novelties in acute heart failure and practical perspectives.

Acute Heart Failure (AHF) is a leading cause of death and represents the most frequent cause of unplanned hospital admission in patients older than 65 years. Since the past decade, several randomized clinical trials have highlighted the importance and pivotal role of certain therapeutics, including decongestion by the combination of loop diuretics, the need for rapid goal-directed medical therapies implementation before discharge, risk stratification, and early follow-up after discharge therapies. Cardiogenic shock, defined as sustained hypotension with tissue hypoperfusion due to low cardiac output and congestion, is the most severe form of AHF and mainly occurs after acute myocardial infarction, which can progress to multiple organ failure.