The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis highlights the pivotal role of early-life nutrition in shaping lifelong health and disease risk. Low birth weight (LBW) remains a major public health issue associated with increased susceptibility to metabolic and cardiovascular disease, underscoring the need for early nutritional interventions. We investigated whether dietary supplementation with soy protein isolate (SPI) during lactation could mitigate adverse developmental programming in a rat model of LBW induced by maternal calorie restriction. Dams received an SPI-supplemented diet during lactation, and offspring were evaluated for postnatal growth, circulating IGF-1 and corticosterone concentrations, and pituitary expression of Gas5 lncRNA, miR-23b, and Pomc. Stress responsiveness and glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity were also assessed. SPI supplementation restored postnatal growth and IGF-1 concentrations in female offspring, and in males, it normalized pituitary Gas5 lncRNA and Pomc mRNA expressions, reduced stress-induced corticosterone hypersecretion, and improved pituitary glucocorticoid sensitivity. These findings indicate that SPI intervention during lactation can partially reverse epigenetic dysregulation of the stress and somatotropic axes caused by fetal undernutrition. Nutritional modulation during lactation thus represents a critical window for early intervention in LBW offspring. SPI supplementation may enhance endocrine and metabolic resilience, providing a practical nutritional programming approach to reduce future disease risk, consistent with the DOHaD paradigm.

Smoking has been confirmed to induce systemic inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) and is associated with higher odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dietary antioxidants can reduce inflammation and OS. This study seeks to score the dietary antioxidant intake and then assess its impact on the association between smoking and COPD in adults. The data extracted from the 2007-2012 NHANES database were used. The Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score (DAQS) was evaluated by the total intake of vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, zinc, and magnesium in the daily diet. Smoking was used as the exposure variable, and COPD as the outcome variable. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the associations of DAQS with smoking and COPD, as well as their joint effects on the odds of COPD. The relationships between dietary antioxidant quality score, smoking status, and COPD were subsequently assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore associations between relevant covariates and smoking and COPD across DAQS strata. Current smoking was found to be linked to COPD (OR=4.06, 95% CI=3.14-5.27) in comparison to never smoking. Among smokers, significant associations were observed in both the medium-quality DAQS group (OR =3.48, 95% CI: 2.34-5.17) and the low-quality DAQS group (OR = 5.60, 95% CI: 3.58-8.76). In conclusion, high DAQS levels are inversely related to the odds of COPD in adult smokers. Our findings provide valuable insights for management strategies for COPD.

Alligatorweed, an invasive aquatic weed, has emerged as a major threat to sustainable crop production in various crop species. A two-year field study was conducted to investigate the impact of varied competition durations of alligatorweed on mungbean. The competition durations with alligatorweed included weed free conditions for first 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 weeks after crop emergence along with a full season weed free treatment and alternatively weedy conditions for the aforementioned durations along with a full season weedy treatment. Competition with alligatorweed led to significant uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), with maximum uptake observed in the full season weedy treatment with N, P and K up to 65, 19, 56 kg ha-1, respectively. Additionally, significant accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) including copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As) up to 20, 16, 30, 14 and 11 g ha-1, respectively, was observed. Full season weedy plots produced more alligatorweed biomass and caused reductions of up to 81% in mungbean yield components. Alligatorweed infestation resulted in significant mungbean grain yield losses of up to 44% during 2022 and 52% in 2023, respectively. Furthermore, the three-parameter log-logistic equations identified the period from 4.2 to 6.8 weeks after crop emergence (WACE) as the critical period of alligatorweed competition that could result in a 10% yield loss in mungbean. Hence, alligatorweed poses a significant threat to mungbean production due to its strong competitive ability. However, its potential for HM accumulation offers promising opportunities for phytoremediation in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.

The Bennettitales, a group of extinct gymnosperms, had outstanding species diversity throughout the Mesozoic and were abundant during the Jurassic. They were key components of terrestrial ecosystems, thriving in diverse climates and environmental conditions. However, a deeper understanding of the ecological strategies exhibited by this extinct lineage across time and space within a well-characterized geological context is still lacking for the region. Here, we examine bennettitalean assemblages from the Middle Jurassic Otlaltepec Formation (Otlaltepec Basin) and compare them with floras from two other rift basins (Tlaxiaco and Ayuquila) in low latitudes. Based on morphological features, we propose the new species Zamites ambigua, and identify the following additional taxa: Zamites lucerensis, Zamites oaxacensis, Zamites tribulosus, cf. Zamites diquiyui, Zamites sp. 1, Zamites sp. 2, Bennettitcarpus sp. 1, Bennettitcarpus sp. 2, and cf. Weltrichia xochitetlii, along with two types of gymnosperm foliage of uncertain affinities.

Our findings on bennettitalean diversity in the Otlaltepec Formation reveal the presence of foliage across all three basins in both time and space, indicating a generalist element among these rift environments. In contrast, other foliage and reproductive structures exhibit two distinct distributional patterns: some are confined to a single basin over time, while others appear only during specific intervals in each basin’s history. Our findings highlight that some Bennettitales exhibited ecological resilience, maintaining their morphology and distribution despite the shifting environmental conditions caused by tectonic activity. This suggests that certain generalist taxa persisted across varying moisture regimes and depositional settings, while others displayed more localized or temporally restricted distributions.

Drought is a critical issue for global agriculture making the development of drought-resilient crop varieties crucial. Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is a highly drought tolerant cereal crop with the potential to serve as a model for identifying drought-tolerant genes. Investigating drought-induced gene expression changes in S. bicolor can inform breeding strategies aimed at enhancing resilience in other crops in the Poaceae family. Our aim was to identify the genes and networks that are differentially expressed in drought stressed sorghum across multiple tissue types, not just leaves. Previously, we reported differences in phenotype in terms of biomass, photosynthetic traits and the concentration of specialized metabolites (dhurrin and phenolics) between well-watered and water-limited plants. Here, differential gene expression analysis was conducted for drought-stressed S. bicolor variety BTx623 using edgeR. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) were conducted to identify the over-represented functions of the differentially expressed genes and to identify clusters of genes that behave together as a response to drought, respectively. Gene expression changes were largely confined to the root (56 genes were found to be differentially expressed), with little differential expression in the leaves or sheaths and no significant differences in expression of key dhurrin pathway genes. Together, these results indicate that drought tolerance in the cultivated sorghum reference genotype BTx623 is associated primarily with root-specific transcriptional responses and provide a tissue-resolved baseline for future comparative analyses across sorghum genotypes and wild relatives differing in drought sensitivity and HCN potential.

The brazilwood tree Paubrasilia echinata is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List as a result of habitat loss and overexploitation. Phylogenomic analysis has identified five groups based on genotype, including the arruda-RJ lineage endemic to the state of Rio de Janeiro. We propose a prioritization classification protocol for Atlantic Forest fragments and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation for this species in Rio de Janeiro. We collated a total of 164 occurrence records of P. echinata from fieldwork during 2004–2024 and from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. We classified forest fragments containing the species as high, medium or low priority for conservation. The arruda-RJ lineage persists in 43 forest fragments in the coastal region, 30 of which are documented for the first time here. Most forest fragments are small and have an uneven population structure. Urbanization is the primary threat to the survival of this lineage. We documented protected areas in 33 fragments, and identified conservation opportunities. The greatest number of forest fragments is in the northern region where there are the most protected areas and the brazilwood populations hold the greatest local genetic diversity. We propose targeted conservation actions for P. echinata arruda-RJ in eight forest fragments identified as high priority and with the greatest potential for conservation of the lineage. We identified 25 fragments as medium priority and 10 fragments as low priority. Our approach is applicable to other lineages of P. echinata and is aligned with Global Biodiversity Framework targets.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a clinically important condition in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This study evaluated embryo morphology and morphokinetic parameters using time-lapse monitoring (TLM) and assessed embryo ploidy by preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in women with RPL compared with unexplained infertility (UEI) controls. A total of 190 patients (100 RPL, 90 UEI) and 1169 embryos (634 RPL, 535 UEI) cultured under TLM were analyzed. Clinical characteristics, embryo morphology, morphokinetics and ploidy status were compared between groups, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of aneuploidy. The euploidy rate was significantly lower in the RPL group than in controls (43.5% vs. 52.3%, p = 0.018). Group-wise analysis of all embryos revealed differences in selected morphokinetic parameters (t9 and tSC; p < 0.05). However, morphokinetic timing of euploid embryos did not differ between groups, suggesting that accelerated development alone was not associated with chromosomal abnormality. Embryo morphology was the strongest predictor of aneuploidy in both cohorts. Notably, direct uneven cleavage was associated with a 3.4-fold increased risk of aneuploidy specifically in the RPL group. Although embryos from RPL patients showed relatively faster developmental kinetics, morphokinetic speed alone did not predict chromosomal competence. Instead, embryo quality remained the key determinant of aneuploidy, while the association between direct cleavage and aneuploidy highlights the potential clinical value of TLM when combined with PGT-A. These findings support a complementary role for TLM in embryo assessment in RPL patients.

Studies frequently view Black populations as homogenous, disregarding important diversity within this population. Furthermore, nativity can be key to distinguishing health risks among this population. Yet few researchers have examined these distinctions using body roundness index (BRI), a measure of central adiposity. We assessed the relationship between nativity and BRI among non-Hispanic Black people in the United States (US) using cross-sectional data from the 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). BRI was calculated using height, weight, and waist circumference. Nativity was categorized as US-born and foreign-born. Multilinear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between BRI and nativity, controlling for demographic characteristics and Healthy Eating Index scores. The average age and BRI score of participants were 44.74 ± 0.46 and 5.36 ± 0.04, respectively. Among eligible participants (3341), 9.6% were foreign-born (n = 322). In multivariate regression models adjusting for covariates, men had significantly lower BRI scores than women (4.67 ± 0.04 versus 5.96 ± 0.05; β = −1.25; t61 = 24.60; P < 0.0001), and BRI increased with age (β = 0.02; t61 = 9.17; P < 0.0001). US-born Black people had significantly higher BRI scores compared to their foreign-born counterparts (5.40 ± 0.04 versus 5.00 ± 0.09; β = −0.36; t61 = −3.99; P = 0.0002). Results suggest that nativity is associated with central adiposity, with potential implications for cardiometabolic disease risk.

Physical dormancy (PY), resulting from a water-impermeable seed coat, regulates germination timing in many angiosperms, including Dodonaea viscosa L. (Sapindaceae), a woody shrub widely distributed in tropical to warm temperate regions and coastal and inland habitats. Although PY has been previously documented in D. viscosa, the precise anatomical structure acting as the site for water entry, i.e., water gap, during dormancy release remains unclear. This study investigated the water gap’s morphology and function using microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and imbibition assays. It also evaluate the effects of liquid nitrogen (LN₂) freeze–thaw cycles on seed coat integrity, dormancy break, and viability. Seeds possess a distinct hilar slit, which opens in response to hot-water treatment and serves as the exclusive water gap. Imbibition experiments showed that treated seeds (hot water , 10s) increased nearly 100% in mass over seven days, while control seeds absorbed no water. Further, covering the hilar slit with Vaseline restricted water uptake, confirming the absence of water-gap complex. Because the water gap opening was a small circular structure without any lid-like covering, it is classified as Type II. Seeds subjected to one or more liquid nitrogen (LN₂) freeze–thaw cycles experienced extensive seed coat cracking and severe damage to the embryo and cotyledons, leading to reduced viability and little to no germination. These findings demonstrate that while hot-water treatment effectively breaks dormancy, LN₂ exposure causes extensive mechanical injury and is ineffective for dormancy alleviation in D. viscosa. Thus, cryopreservation of some PY should be considered with caution.

In low-prevalence settings, the epidemiological yield of screening strategies for controlling vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) outbreaks has not been fully established. We retrospectively analysed a prolonged VRE outbreak at a 536-bed tertiary-care hospital in Japan from 2010 to 2021 to evaluate sequential screening strategies across epidemic phases and to identify risk factors for VRE acquisition. Hospital-wide, admission-based, antimicrobial exposure-based, passive, and haemodialysis-targeted screening strategies were implemented over time. Screening yields were compared longitudinally, and a retrospective case–control study was performed using data from the initial hospital-wide screening phase. Molecular epidemiology was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In total, 169 VRE-positive patients were identified, including seven infections and 162 asymptomatic carriers. Hospital-wide screening in the early epidemic phase showed the highest positivity rate (0.91%), whereas targeted strategies consistently yielded lower rates (0.09–0.34%). Haemodialysis, specific oral care practices, and prior exposure to carbapenems, glycopeptides, and piperacillin/tazobactam were independently associated with VRE acquisition. PFGE revealed substantial genetic diversity, suggesting sustained nosocomial transmission with repeated introductions. Early broad-based screening may be epidemiologically efficient in the initial phase of VRE outbreaks in low-prevalence settings, followed by adaptive refinement for long-term control.

Prevailing narratives within the conservation decision-making literature argue conservation professionals should utilize rational, objective methods that do not engage emotion to make decisions. However, as conservation professionals are emotional beings, it is inevitable that emotion will be present during such processes. Perpetuated narratives and limited investigation into the involvement of conservation professionals’ emotion in decision-making processes mean the emotional selves of conservationists continue to be denied and unexplored, potentially hindering transformative change. To trouble these prevalent narratives, I investigate if and how conservationists’ emotion is involved in decision-making and whether external structures influence this involvement. Sixteen conservation professionals took part in this study. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, the diary method and a workshop, and were subjected to a thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate that conservationists’ emotion plays three roles within conservation decision-making processes: as a way of knowing, as a (de)motivator, and as a relationship shaper. These roles are not recognized or nurtured, and this is predominantly influenced by organizational culture. These findings indicate the need for conservation organizations to create healthy emotional cultures, to in turn enable professionals to acknowledge, and utilize, the roles of emotion within their work. Additionally, creating organizational cultures that encourage and enable the expression of, engagement with, and reflection on emotion could support conservationists to enact transformative change and transform the field of conservation itself.

Learning is crucial for humans and other animals to acquire knowledge, enhancing survival and reproduction. In particular, individual and social learning allow populations to accumulate knowledge across generations. Here, we examine how stochasticity in the production and social acquisition of knowledge influences the evolution of learning strategies and cumulative knowledge. Using a mathematical model where learning is stochastic, we show that learning stochasticity enhances cumulative knowledge by generating variability in knowledge levels. This allows selection to enhance population knowledge: individuals who acquire more knowledge by chance are more likely to survive and reproduce, and therefore to transmit their knowledge to the next generation. As knowledge accumulates, social learning exemplars tend to possess more of it, favoring greater time investment in social learning. Because social learning provides access to substantially more knowledge when learning is stochastic, selection also favors the evolution of greater investment into learning, at the expense of a fecundity cost. Moreover, when knowledge enhances fecundity but not survival, learning stochasticity favors learning from parents rather than other adults, because learning stochasticity increases uncertainty about exemplar knowledge, making parenthood a cue for possessing fecundity-enhancing knowledge. Finally, when learning occurs predominantly from parents, learning stochasticity itself is favored by selection.