Benchmarking of a time-saving and scalable protocol for the extraction of DNA from diverse viromes.

The virome, composed of viruses inhabiting diverse ecosystems, significantly influences microbial community dynamics and host health. The phenol-chloroform DNA extraction protocol for viromes, though effective, is time-intensive and requires the use of multiple toxic chemicals. This study introduces a streamlined, scalable protocol for DNA extraction using a commercially-available kit as an alternative, assessing its performance against the phenol-chloroform method across human fecal, mouse fecal, and soil samples.

Temporal drivers of abundance and community structure of scyphozoan jellyfish in tropical coastal waters.

Population blooms of scyphozoan jellyfish in tropical shallow water regions can fuel localized fisheries but also negatively impact human welfare. However, there is a lack of baseline ecological data regarding the scyphozoans in the region, which could be used to manage a fast-growing fishery and mitigate potential impacts. Thus, this study aims to investigate the temporal factors driving the distribution of scyphozoan community along the environmental gradients under different monsoon seasons, rainfall periods, moon phases, and diel-tidal conditions in the Klang Strait located in the central region along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where bloom events are increasing.

Demography and homing behavior in the poorly-known Philippine flat-headed frog (Anura: Bombinatoridae).

The flat-headed frog, , is a poorly known, riverine species, endemic to the province of Palawan in the Philippines. We applied capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods to follow individuals at two sites (Malbato and San Rafael) in the island of Busuanga over 10 months in 2022-2023. We used passive internal transponders (PITs) to mark adult and subadults and single-colored visual internal elastomers (VIEs) for cohorts of juveniles.

Acaricidal and insecticidal activities of entomopathogenic nematodes combined with rosemary essential oil and bacterium-synthesized silver nanoparticles against camel tick, and wax moth, .

An innovative approach to ticks and insect pests management is necessary to mitigate the challenges posed by the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides, which can lead to resistance development and environmental pollution. Despite their great potential, biological control agents have significant manufacturing, application, and stability limitations. Currently, using phytochemicals, biosynthesized nanoparticles, and bioagents to get rid of arthropods might be a good alternative that would make farmers less worried about residues and resistance.

Enhancing soybean germination and vigor under water stress: the efficacy of bio-priming with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and gum arabic.

Seed priming can significantly enhance the tolerance of soybean against different environmental stresses by improving seed water uptake and modulating stress-response mechanisms. In particular, seed priming with sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and gum Arabic (GA) can support seeds to withstand extreme conditions better, promoting more consistent germination and robust seedling establishment, which is crucial for achieving stable agricultural yields. The present study investigated the effects of seed priming using a combination of SCMC and GA (10% CG) on the germination, growth, and biochemical responses of six soybean varieties under drought and flooding stress conditions.

High Intelectin-1 Expression Associated with Aggressive Tumor Behavior and Worse Survival in Rectal Cancer.

Background: Multimodal treatment involving preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the current standard of care for rectal cancer. Despite advancements, the risk of recurrence, metastasis, and decreased survival remains high. This study aims to evaluate potential biomarkers to stratify prognosis in patients with rectal cancer undergoing preoperative CRT and surgery.

scRNA-seq reveals elevated interferon responses and TNF-α signaling via NFkB in monocytes in children with uncomplicated malaria.

Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, disproportionately impacting sub-Saharan Africa. Disease phenotypes associated with infection can vary widely, from asymptomatic to life-threatening. To date, prevention efforts, particularly those related to vaccine development, have been hindered by an incomplete understanding of which factors impact host immune responses resulting in these divergent outcomes.

Vulnerability of peatland fires in bengkalis regency during the ENSO El nino phase using a machine learning approach.

Peatland fires are increasingly becoming a concern as a recurring environmental issue in Indonesia, particularly along the east coast of Sumatra Island, in Bengkalis Regency. Therefore, the development of a peatland fire prediction model is necessary. This study aims to identify peatland fire vulnerability in Bengkalis Regency using burn area from MODIS 2019.

The Dyson equalizer: adaptive noise stabilization for low-rank signal detection and recovery.

Detecting and recovering a low-rank signal in a noisy data matrix is a fundamental task in data analysis. Typically, this task is addressed by inspecting and manipulating the spectrum of the observed data, e.g.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated With Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in the Western Libyan Patients.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide in both men and women. Accordingly, we retrospectively reviewed the effects of various risk factors on coronary angiographic outcomes. Data were collected from the catheter lab through Tripoli University Hospital records, whereas the team reviewed clinical data and coronary artery diagrams for 1 year from 01/04/2019 to 31/03/2020.

Quantitative peripheral live single T-cell dynamic polyfunctionality profiling predicts lung cancer checkpoint immunotherapy treatment response and clinical outcomes.

Background: Predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), e.g., programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumor proportional score (TPS), remain limited in clinical applications.

Fuel for thought: targeting metabolism in lung cancer.

For over a century, we have appreciated that the biochemical processes through which micro- and macronutrients are anabolized and catabolized-collectively referred to as "cellular metabolism"-are reprogrammed in malignancies. Cancer cells in lung tumors rewire pathways of nutrient acquisition and metabolism to meet the bioenergetic demands for unchecked proliferation. Advances in precision medicine have ushered in routine genotyping of patient lung tumors, enabling a deeper understanding of the contribution of altered metabolism to tumor biology and patient outcomes.

Challenges in estimating species' age from phylogenetic trees.

Aim: Species age, the elapsed time since origination, can give insight into how species longevity might influence eco-evolutionary dynamics, which has been hypothesized to influence extinction risk. Traditionally, species' ages have been estimated from fossil records. However, numerous studies have recently used the branch lengths of time-calibrated phylogenies as estimates of the ages of extant species.

Slow-Release Pharmaceutical Implants in Ecotoxicology: Validating Functionality across Exposure Scenarios.

Pharmaceutical contaminants have spread in natural environments across the globe, endangering biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and public health. Research on the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals is growing rapidly, although a majority of studies are still conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. As such, there is an urgent need to understand the impacts of pharmaceutical exposures on wildlife in complex, real-world scenarios.

Contrasting Seasonal Distribution Patterns of Two Boreal Aerial Hawking Bat Species in Finland.

Climate change poses significant consequences for temperate bat species, potentially altering their distribution ranges and generating novel interactions among species sharing similar ecological niches. Recent observations suggest distribution range expansion in the Palearctic aerial hawking bat, , prompting an investigation into its interaction with , a northern Palearctic species overlapping with the previous in many ecological characteristics. This study examines the spatiotemporal variations between the two boreal bat species to form an evidence-based background onto which future research on, e.

Frugivore Traits Predict Plant-Frugivore Interactions Using Generalized Joint Attribute Modeling.

Under an adaptive hypothesis, the reciprocal influence between mutualistic plants and frugivores is expected to result in suites of matching frugivore and plant traits that structure fruit consumption. Recent work has suggested fruit traits can represent adaptations to broad groups of functionally similar frugivores, but the role of frugivore traits and within-species variation in structuring fruit consumption is less understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we assess the presence of reciprocal trait matching for the mutualistic ecological network comprising of bats that feed on and disperse seeds.

Prediction of Current and Future Distributions of (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Under Climate Change Scenarios.

The consequences of climate change, accelerated by anthropogenic activities, have different effects on different ecosystems, and the severity of these effects is predicted to increase in the near future. The number of studies investigating how forest ecosystems respond to these changes is increasing. However, there remains a significant gap in research concerning how saproxylic organisms-one of the key contributors to the healthy functioning of these fragile ecosystems-will respond to the consequences of climate change.

Interspecific Variations in Interplant Communication and Ecological Characteristics in Trees.

Plants evolve diverse communication systems in adapting to complex and variable environments. Here, we examined the relationship between plant architecture, population density and inter-plant communication within tree species. We tested the hypothesis that trees of species with complex architecture or high population density (high population density: HPD) communicate among conspecifics via volatiles.

C-Phycocyanin and Phycocyanobilin as a Novel Adjuvant in Hepatitis B Vaccine.

Background: Vaccine adjuvants are components that enhance immune responses to an antigen. Given the importance of adjuvants, research on novel adjuvants with higher efficacy and fewer adverse effects remains crucial. ( sp.

Inhibitory Effects of L. Extract on the Female Hormones Based on Bioautography-HPTLC-MS.

Background: Hormonal imbalances related to women's health, physical activity, and fluctuations are prevalent metabolic disorders in several nations and have significantly impacted women's health for an extended period. The application of individual or combined botanical extracts in traditional, alternative, and complementary medicine is employed to manage and alleviate these issues.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the suppressive properties of horehound ( L.

Therapeutic Potential of Crocin and Nobiletin in a Mouse Model of Dry Eye Disease: Modulation of the Inflammatory Response and Protection of the Ocular Surface.

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition characterized by ocular surface inflammation, tear film instability, and corneal epithelial damage. Current treatments often provide temporary relief without addressing the underlying inflammatory mechanisms.

Objectives: This study examined the therapeutic potential of crocin and nobiletin, two naturally derived compounds with well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in a mouse model of DED induced by lacrimal gland excision (LGE).

Time-Dependent Molecular Changes Following MDMA-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

The increasing recreational use of ecstasy (MDMA) poses significant risks to human health, including reports of fatal renal failure due to its adverse renal effects. While MDMA-induced renal toxicity might result from systemic effects, there is also substantial evidence of direct harm to renal tissues by MDMA or its metabolites. The precise mechanisms underlying renal toxicity remain unclear.

Efficacy of Clindamycin in Preventing Abortion and Vertical Transmission of (PRU Strain) Infection in Pregnant BALB/c Mice.

Background: transmission can occur during pregnancy if the mother contracts the infection for the first time. Treatment strategies include the use of antimicrobial medications and providing supportive care. Spiramycin is commonly used to treat toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and to hinder the disease's transmission.

In Vivo Gastroprotective Upshots of the Novel Schiff Base CdCl2 (C14H21N3O2) Compound by Bax/HSP-70 Signaling and Inflammatory Cytokines.

Background: Synthesis of the original Schiff base CdCl (CHNO) compound (Schiff base complex) displays an extensive range of bioactivities and was predictably utilized to treat several syndromes.

Purpose: The goal of the existing experiment is to evaluate the gastroprotective effects of a novel Schiff base CdCl₂ (C14H21N3O2) compound in alcohol-induced gastric ulcers in rats by examining its antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and modulation of key molecular markers, including heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) proteins.

Methods: Five groups of rats were utilized in the current study.