Management of diabetes mellitus in very young children presents challenges due to variable insulin sensitivity, unpredictable carbohydrate intake, and low insulin requirements. An automated insulin delivery (AID) system addresses some of these challenges and can be used with diluted insulin where indicated. Retrospective case series of children aged <6 years with diabetes starting CamAPS FX AID with standard (U100) or diluted (U5 or U10) insulin at a single UK clinical centre between October 2020 and April 2022. AID was started for seven children with diluted insulin (median interquartile range [IQR] age 1.5 [0.6, 2.8] years, mean ± standard deviation HbA1c 83 ± 18 mmol/mol) and four with standard insulin (age 4.6 [3.9, 5.4] years, HbA1c 62 ± 13 mmol/mol). AID was started at a median (IQR) of 0.2 (0.1, 0.2) months post-diagnosis in the diluted group and 17.8 (7.7, 23.6) months in the standard group. At the most recent clinic visit (9.3 ± 4.8 months after starting AID in the diluted group and 12.0 ± 2.1 months in the standard group), time in target range (3.9-10.0 mmol/L) was 66.5 ± 6.8% and 54.0 ± 5.0%, respectively. Median time in hypoglycaemia (<3.9 mmol/L) was <4% in both groups. Glucose variability was 37.5 ± 4.2% in the diluted and 43.5 ± 4.7% in the standard group. There were no episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycaemia. AID with both standard and diluted insulin can be used to safely manage diabetes in very young children with low total insulin requirements.
The growing utility of xeno-nucleic acids (XNAs) lies in their ability to extend the reach of genetic chemistry beyond the limits imposed by natural polymers. XNAs, with their diverse chemical backbones, resist enzymatic degradation and yet retain the capacity for sequence-defined information, and have found broad applications in biotechnology. The approach described herein provides a systematic method for the transliteration between XNAs and DNAs. This article delineates the ligase-catalyzed oligonucleotide polymerization (LOOPER) process as applied to the transcription and reverse transcription of XNA libraries using T3 DNA ligase. Two complementary procedures are presented. Basic Protocol 1 details the assembly of XNA polymers through the ligase-mediated templated ligation of 5'-phosphorylated trinucleotide anticodons bearing XNA modifications, exemplified here by locked nucleic acids (LNAs). Basic Protocol 2 describes the reverse transcription of XNA sequences into cDNA using unmodified DNA 5'-phosphorylated trinucleotide anticodons. Together, these protocols enable a bidirectional exchange between DNA and chemically diverse XNA species, a prerequisite for the application of SELEX and other evolutionary methodologies to noncanonical backbones. This ligase-based framework dispenses with substrate biases that can often be present with polymerases, allowing high-fidelity transliteration (>95%) across a variety of modified nucleotides. © 2026 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Ligase-catalyzed oligonucleotide polymerization (LOOPER) for XNA synthesis Basic Protocol 2: Ligase-catalyzed oligonucleotide polymerization (LOOPER) for cDNA synthesis from XNA templates.
Most falls in older adults are due to tripping over objects. Older adults cross obstacles with greater toe clearance to prevent tripping, indicating obstacles may be more consequential when compared to young adults. The typical dowel rod used in obstacle crossing research is foreign and sometimes unrealistic compared to real-world obstacles. This study compared measures of obstacle crossing between young and older adults using four different obstacles. Thirty young (23 ± 4 years) and 30 older adults (69 ± 6 years) crossed four different obstacles: a branch, a parking curb, a dowel rod, and a puddle. Motion capture data was used to compute measures of toe clearance, approach/landing distances, and lower body joint kinematics. We analyzed different combinations of obstacles within the older adult group and between groups for each obstacle using analysis of variance tests with False Discovery Rate corrections applied to post-hoc comparisons. A total of 1196 young adult and 1233 older adult obstacle crossing trials were analyzed. Older individuals had greater clearance in leading toe vertical clearance across all obstacles, but only among the branch and dowel for trailing toe vertical clearance. The dowel produced the greatest leading toe vertical clearance in both groups. No differences were observed in approach/landing distances, crossing step length, or obstacle crossing speeds. Older adults crossed all obstacles with greater peak ankle dorsiflexion on the lead limb, and more trail limb peak ankle dorsiflexion for the branch and curb. Older adults exhibited higher toe clearance in both leading and trailing limbs during crossing compared to younger adults, likely from greater ankle dorsiflexion. By increasing toe clearance, older adults increase the margin of safety, decreasing the likelihood of contacting the obstacle and potentially falling. Collectively, these results better our understanding of how realistic obstacle crossing changes with age across different obstacles.
Previous studies on the toxicity of the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have indicated the presence of multiple pathways of Cry1Ac toxicity in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. Consistently, the high-level resistance to Cry1Ac evolved in greenhouse populations of T. ni has been identified to be associated with an ABCC2 gene mutation and an additional yet-to-be-identified gene mutation. In this study, the second resistant trait to Cry1Ac in T. ni, Cry1Ac-R2, was genetically mapped by biphasic linkage analysis, using bulked segregant analysis by whole-genome sequencing (BSA-seq) and amplicon sequencing (Amp-seq). The Cry1Ac-R2 was localized in a 675-kb region on chromosome 9. Of the 37 genes in the Cry1Ac-R2 locus, 25 were expressed in the midgut of T. ni larvae. Among those midgut genes are a cluster of aminopeptidase N (APN) genes, including APN1 and APN6. Analysis of the dominance of Cry1Ac-R2 revealed that the dominance at a high dose of Cry1Ac could be significantly influenced by the genetic background of T. ni strains. The results from this study demonstrated that resistance to Cry1Ac in an insect may involve multiple gene mutations with various types of dominance, and the dominance can be influenced by the genetic background of an insect population. The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its insecticidal Cry proteins are widely used for insect control in agriculture and public health. Continuing success of Bt biotechnology requires a better understanding of the insect genes involved in the toxicity of Bt proteins and their mutations leading to Bt resistance. Cry1Ac is a major Bt protein used for Lepidoptera pest control, and resistance to Cry1Ac has occurred in field populations of insects, including the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. The results from this study confirmed that Cry1Ac resistance in an insect may involve multiple gene mutations and both dominant and recessive resistant traits. This study also revealed that the dominance of a resistance trait can be influenced by the genetic background of an insect population, which could complicate research data interpretation and may affect the efficacy of Bt toxins for control of different insect populations in the field.
Radiation therapy (RT) has emerged as a promising non-surgical approach for treating canine adrenal tumours. This multi-institutional, retrospective study describes clinical outcomes for 21 dogs having been prescribed a course of hypofractionated image-guided intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) entailing delivery of 25-35 Gy total in 5 fractions given over 5-15 days for an adrenal tumour. Diagnoses were based on imaging (abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography) and biochemical testing. All dogs had unilateral or bilateral irregular adrenal masses with evidence of vessel compression or invasion. Adrenal masses were incidentally identified in 11 dogs. The clinical diagnoses included pheochromocytoma (n = 13, 61.9%), adrenocortical adenocarcinoma (n = 2, 9.5%) and unspecified (n = 6, 28.6%). Among the 16 dogs with available follow-up imaging, the rates of partial response and stable disease were 37.5% (6/16) and 62.5% (10/16), respectively. Mild gastrointestinal side effects related to RT were reported in four dogs (19%). Early death that could have been attributable to tumour or complications of treatment occurred in two dogs (9.5%) at 21 and 52 days post-RT; one presenting with acute vomiting, and the other presenting with vomiting, tremors, and shock before death. Of the 15 deceased dogs, 4 (26.7%) died due to tumour-related causes and 11 died due to unknown (n = 2) or unrelated (n = 9) causes. The median overall survival time was 377 days, with a median follow-up time of 458 days for censored patients (n = 6). The one- and two-year survival rates were 59.4% and 34.7%, respectively. These data build upon prior published reports, demonstrating that RT can be associated with prolonged survival in dogs with adrenal tumours. Hypofractionated IMRT appears to offer a potential survival benefit even in dogs with major vessel invasion or comorbidities. Future research should focus on identifying risk factors for early death and determining which patient populations are most likely to benefit from RT.
In Brazilian eucalyptus farms, the brown looper caterpillar (Thyrinteina arnobia) causes severe defoliation and up to 40% reduction in biomass production. In controlling T. arnobia, transgenic eucalyptus event 1521K059 was developed to produce the Cry1Ab, Cry1Bb, and Cry2Aa pesticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. We performed bioassays with leaf material from eucalyptus events and the purified individual pesticidal proteins to establish susceptibility in T. arnobia larvae, and competition binding assays with the three Cry proteins and midgut brush border membrane vesicles of T. arnobia. The results from bioassays support high toxicity against T. arnobia for all three Cry proteins and that eucalyptus event 1521K059 is a high-dose event for T. arnobia. Lack of competition between the three Cry proteins supports that event 1521K059 is a pyramided trait. These observations support the high activity of eucalyptus event 1521K059 against T. arnobia larvae and a low risk of resistance evolution.
Previous research showed that certain noctuid moths were captured in Unitraps baited with the floral kairomone attractants phenylacetaldehyde and β-myrcene, but comparisons among traps with sex pheromones, floral attractants, and pheromones plus floral attractants was never tested. We compared these treatments in a 17-mo trial at a large agricultural experiment station in north-central Florida. Trap capture of moths to sex pheromone lures for fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) were compared to capture in traps baited with the volatile floral chemicals. Combination lures that included both female sex pheromone and floral volatiles were added to the trial to determine if there was synergistic attraction to traps. Pheromone lures for corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) were added as a treatment to document seasonality of this pest species in the region. Over the course of the study, we captured over 4,400 fall armyworm moths, with 69% (3,044) found in the pheromone-only traps and 31% (1,377) found in traps baited with the combination lures, suggesting floral attractants repelled fall armyworm moths. Conversely, we collected 912 soybean looper moths, with 32% (288) found in the pheromone-only traps and 68% (624) captured in traps with the combined lures, suggesting the floral attractants synergized soybean looper moth capture. These results suggest that the use of floral kairomone attractants for moth trapping can act as synergists or antagonists to either increase or decrease trap capture, depending on the species of interest.
The Telehealth Intervention Program for Older Adults (TIP-OA) was a volunteer-based phone support program for to older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. While volunteer-based phone programs can be effective in providing mental health support, there is limited data on the predictors of response to such interventions. This study aimed to examine clinical and demographic predictors of response to the TIP-OA intervention among older adults. This secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study included 82 TIP-OA users who expressed interest in the program’s research component, met inclusion criteria, and provided informed consent. Participants completed both baseline and 8-week assessments or had 4-week data carried forward using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. The intervention consisted of weekly supportive phone calls over eight weeks. Baseline mental health risk level was assessed by clinicians during intake and categorized as low, medium, or high based on symptom severity within specific symptom categories. Associations between baseline risk level and changes in stress (primary outcome), depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes) were examined. The primary outcome was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; scores ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (very often)). Secondary outcomes were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9; scores ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day)), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7; scores can range from 0 (not at all sure) to 3 (nearly every day)). At 8 -week follow-up assessment, participants with higher baseline risk levels showed greater reductions in stress (mean difference in Perceived Stress Scale reduction by 2.13, (F(1,77) = 2.82, p = 0.09, 95% CI [−0.46, 5.56]) and depression (t(73) = −1.92, p = 0.059; Std. beta = −0.43, 95% CI [−0.87, 0.02]). Additionally, not identifying as a visible minority predicted lower stress scores, while male gender and a university education level were associated with greater reductions in depression scores. TIP-OA participants with higher baseline mental health risk appeared to benefit more in terms of reductions in stress and depression. Non-minority status, male gender, and university education were also associated with better post-intervention outcomes in depression. Future studies should explore predictors of response in similar intervention programs through larger confirmatory studies. Registered on clinicaltrials.gov (clinical trial no.: #NCT04523610) on 16/07/2020.
Caterpillars and beetles are among the most economically damaging defoliating insects, and their economic damage is predicted to increase in the coming decades. Hence the use of genetically derived resistance to supplement other pest control strategies is warranted. In soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), a major determinant for resistance is the quantitative trait locus, QTL-M. Glyma07g14530, the gene underlying QTL-M, encodes a feeding-inducible flavonol 3-O-glycosyltransferase (F3GlcT or UGT78D2) that glucosylates kaempferol, as well as quercetin, myricetin, and isorhamnetin. The resistant allele has a premature stop codon in it, thus preventing the glucosylation and sequestration of flavonols in the vacuole, leading to a concomitant accumulation of proanthocyanidins and manifestation of resistance. Expressing the dominant (susceptible) allele in resistant plants restores susceptibility, and silencing the susceptible allele results in resistance. The discovery and characterization of GmF3GlcT helps clarify the role of flavonoids in resistance to leaf-chewing insects and facilitates the development of insect-resistant cultivars that ultimately can lower production costs and reduce insecticide applications.
Ketamine exerts potent but transient antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Combinations of ketamine and psychotherapy have attracted interest, but no trial has investigated a psychedelic model of ketamine-psychotherapy for TRD to our knowledge. This secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial (RCT) explores the therapeutic effects and experiential mechanisms of the Montreal Model of ketamine-psychotherapy for TRD, with or without music. A two-centre, single-blinded, RCT conducted in Montreal, Canada, between January 2021 and August 2022 (NCT04701866). Participants received ketamine-psychotherapy for TRD - six subanaesthetic infusions over 4 weeks and psychological support - with either music or matched non-music support during ketamine doses, as per random group assignments. The primary therapeutic outcome was the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, assessed by blinded raters. Psychedelic-like experiences, evaluated by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and Emotional Breakthrough Inventory, and their session-by-session relationships with depression were explored with multilevel, time-lagged covariate models with autoregressive residuals. Thirty-two participants with severe and highly comorbid TRD, including high rates of personality disorder and suicidality, received 181 ketamine infusions. Therapeutic outcomes and psychedelic experiences did not differ between music (n = 15) and non-music (n = 17) interventions. Both groups experienced significant reductions in clinician-rated and self-reported depression (d = 1.2 and d = 0.87, respectively; p < 0.001), anxiety (d = 0.8, p < 0.001) and suicidality (d = 0.4, p < 0.05) at 4 weeks, fully maintained at 8-week follow-up. Ketamine experiences were highly emotional and mystical. Converging analyses supported mystical-like ketamine experiences as mechanisms of its antidepressant effects. This trial found large and notably sustained benefits of ketamine-psychotherapy for severe TRD, with or without music, and psychedelic experiences of comparable intensity to those observed with psilocybin. Mystical-like experiences may particularly contribute to ketamine's immediate and persistent psychiatric benefits.
The objective was to determine the effect of electromagnetic field (EM) assisted freezing on thawing yield, shelf-life, and tenderness of beef striploins. Both striploins were collected from 12 USDA Choice carcasses, halved (N = 48), weighed, and probed. Striploin halves were randomly assigned to 0, 2, 4, or 8 kV EM and frozen under designated treatments in a walk-in freezer (-20 °C) for 24 h. Following freezing, frozen cores were taken for ice crystal size analysis, and halves were thawed, weighed, fabricated into steaks, and subjected to 10-day display. Swabs and purge were collected for aerobic plate count. Representative steaks were analyzed for instrumental and descriptive color measurements, muscle fiber spacing, Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF), purge and cooking loss, proximate analysis, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity, proteolysis, pH, and free calcium concentration. The 4 and 8 kV samples took longer to reach the targeted temperature than those from lower voltage and control (P < 0.05), but only 8 kV samples had lower purge loss (P < 0.01). The 4 kV samples showed the least discoloration and highest a*, b*, and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01). Proteolysis was lower in higher voltage treatments, and EM-treated samples showed higher free calcium concentration compared to control (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in other measurements mentioned above (P > 0.05). Although the improvements in reducing post-thaw purge loss at 8 kV and enhancing color stability at 4 kV are statistically significant but numerically small, the overall potential impact may be substantial when considered for commercial applications.
Soybeans, one of the most important legumes, face multiple stresses including drought and herbivory. But the potential transfer of the interactive effects of these stressors onto the transgenerational plants has not been understood. We hypothesised that progeny from stressed parents will have enhanced ecophysiology and defence traits through priming, affecting fitness. Experimental plants were derived from seeds of drought (D), drought and herbivory interaction (D × H), herbivory (H) and well-watered (WW) treatments imposed on parental generation. The findings revealed significant transgenerational effects of D, D × H, H and WW treatments; D × H treatment had negative impacts on seed germination and seedling vigour. The percent change in leaf and root nitrogen and protein content in seedling roots and leaves in D × H compared to D revealed possible remobilisation of nutrients in transgenerational seedlings. The transgenerational effects due to D × H persisted throughout the growing period reducing physiological parameters including net photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance. But the trichomes were significantly induced indicating potential tradeoff for strengthened defences confirmed by soybean looper bioassays. And the tradeoff between defence and morpho-physiology also led to negative effects on yield and fitness. Taken together, transgenerational induction, offers opportunities for developing resilient crops under multiple stressors like drought and herbivory.
The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa is globally recognized for its exceptional biodiversity and endemism, but despite extensive floral studies, its phytophagous insect fauna remains poorly studied. Here, we employ an integrative taxonomic approach including macro- and micro-photography, micro-CT scanning, scanning electron microscopy, and multigene molecular phylogenetics to describe a recently discovered, morphologically and genetically distinct lineage of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from the CFR, comprising a new genus, Fynbosia Englund, Staude & Sihvonen, gen. nov. and two new species, F. horingaria Englund, Staude & Sihvonen, sp. nov. and F. unicaria Englund, Staude & Sihvonen, sp. nov. Morphological and molecular evidence support the placement of Fynbosia gen. nov. within the subfamily Larentiinae but suggest no close affiliation to any described tribe. The new genus appears to be endemic to the CFR's montane fynbos and renosterveld vegetation types, which may act as ecological islands that foster speciation. The discovery underscores the overlooked insect diversity of the region and the urgent need for more comprehensive surveys. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of geometrid diversity and highlight the value of integrative taxonomy and non-destructive imaging in documenting rare and cryptic lineages.
Caterpillars of moths and butterflies represent some of the most destructive agricultural pests and have become increasingly resistant to synthetic chemical insecticides. Manuka essential oil is known to be a potent alternative to synthetic insecticides, but its potential to control caterpillar pests remains underexplored. We evaluated the toxicity of manuka essential oil and its components against third-instar larvae of Trichoplusia ni and Chrysodeixis includens. We also evaluated their potential phytotoxic effects against cabbage, soybean, and corn. Manuka essential oil and one of its four fractions (fraction 2) were toxic to the two lepidopteran pests with fraction 2 being more toxic than the whole essential oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed leptospermone, isoleptospermone, and flavesone to be the major components of fraction 2. Flavesone and manuka essential oil had similar toxicity to both caterpillar species, whereas leptospermone, isoleptospermone and grandiflorone, a triketone of manuka leaves, were more toxic to both caterpillar species than the whole essential oil. The median lethal dose (LD50) values (μg/larva) for manuka essential oil, fraction 2, leptospermone, isoleptospermone, flavesone, and grandiflorone against T. ni were 50, 25, 20, 20, 45 and 18, respectively and 42, 32, 28, 20, 41, and 14, respectively against C. includens. Manuka essential oil and its constituents were phytotoxic to cabbage, soybean, and corn, with cabbage and corn being the most and the least affected plants, respectively. These findings demonstrate that manuka essential oil and its components are promising biopesticides, but improved delivery systems are needed to reduce phytotoxicity. Published 2026. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
The sunflower looper, Rachiplusia nu (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has evolved practical resistance to the Cry1Ac toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) expressed in soybean in Brazil and neighboring countries. In view of this, the use of chemical or biological insecticides is required for their control. In 2023, a bioinsecticide based on Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV: Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus) was registered for the control of R. nu in Brazil. To support the use of this new insecticide, we conducted diet-overlay bioassays to characterize the baseline susceptibility of Brazilian populations of R. nu to AcMNPV and establish a diagnostic concentration for resistance monitoring. Additionally, we evaluated cross-resistance between AcMNPV and Cry1Ac by testing AcMNPV in both Cry1Ac-susceptible and -resistant populations of R. nu. The tested field populations of R. nu were susceptible to AcMNPV. The LC50 of AcMNPV ranged from 1.9 × 107 to 7.9 × 107 occlusion bodies (OBs)/mL, indicating a low (< 4.2-fold) interpopulation variation in susceptibility. The diagnostic concentration of AcMNPV established, based on the calculated LC99 (1.6 × 109 OBs/mL), caused > 97% mortality in field populations of R. nu. No cross-resistance was detected between AcMNPV and Cry1Ac Bt toxin in this species. These findings indicate that the AcMNPV-based bioinsecticide may be a valuable tool in integrated management programs to control R. nu and that the diagnostic concentration determined here is suitable for resistance monitoring.
Transgenic animals are invaluable tools in genetic studies, disease modeling, drug discovery, and biotechnology. However, the low efficiency of transgenic animal generation can be an obstacle to their application. Here, we report the generation of transgenic mice using PBatase, the piggyBat transposase from the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). PBatase exhibits detectable transposition activity in fertilized mouse eggs within a limited concentration range, although the overall activity was lower than that of PBase, the piggyBac transposase from the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). Transgenic animals carrying low transgene copy numbers were successfully generated with high efficiency using PBatase, and the transgene was subsequently transmitted to the next generation. This technique will be useful for the generation of transgenic animals carrying single copies of a transgene.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill, many new types of intoxicating cannabis products (ICPs) are widely sold throughout the United States. However, there is little information on popular brands, which is essential for understanding associated risks, marketing strategies, and major industry players who may oppose effective public health legislation. The current study identified popular ICP brands in vape shops across the U.S. In November-December 2023, telephone surveys were conducted for 520 vape shops across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Google Maps was used to locate 10 vape shops per state/territory. Shops were asked about the availability of THC products and popular brands. Responses were dual-coded, and descriptive statistics were used to describe popular ICP brands. Vape shops in 48 states/territories reported selling ICPs. Overall, 74% of shops surveyed sold ICPs. Among these, 62% (N = 273) provided information about brands (N = 188 unique brands; average 2.4 per shop). The top ten brands identified were Torch (12.7%), Mellow Fellow (9.7%), Cake (8.4%), Modus (8.0%), Delta Extrax (7.6%), Hidden Hills (7.6%), Looper (7.2%), Urb (7.2%), Ghost (6.3%), and Space Gods (6.3%). This is the first study to systematically document popular brands of ICPs sold in vape shops nationwide. Findings suggest substantial competition in the market including many popular brands. These brands provide a foundation for future research assessing the characteristics of products from these brands and use prevalence, the nature of the industries producing these products, and industry dynamics over time, all of which can help inform regulatory efforts.
The soybean looper (SBL) is one of the most damaging insect pests of soybean and other economically important crops worldwide. Although temperature has been reported to be a critical predictor of pest growth and development, very little is known about how temperature variations influence SBL population dynamics, which may aid in predicting SBL population outbreaks and dispersal. To examine this, we analysed the life table parameters of SBL by the age-stage, two-sex method under different temperature conditions. We also performed comparative analysis of antioxidant enzymes and total protein concentration from SBL larvae to unfold the enzymatic stress levels. Life table analysis revealed a significant extension in the developmental periods, and oviposition performance was adversely affected under extreme (extended) temperature conditions. Additionally, temperature stress elevated the antioxidant level, which negatively affected the growth and development of SBL, resulting in reduced plant damage. Population projections over an 80-day timescale simulation indicated that total SBL numbers would be significantly reduced during extreme temperature events compared to optimal temperatures. Overall, our findings suggest that extreme thermal stress had a negative effect on SBL growth and population progression, which could be used to meticulously predict SBL outbreaks and facilitate the development of a more efficient and sustainable management strategy.
Since the dawn of the space age in 1957, humanity has achieved the remarkable feat of exploring all the planets in our Solar System with robotic spacecraft. This glimpse into the diversity of space environments that make up our Solar System has revealed that no two planetary systems are identical; however, each planet harbors key clues in working toward a more unified and predictive understanding of the basic structure and dynamics of all planetary, and even exosolar, magnetospheres. A common feature found in all strongly magnetized planets are regions of trapped, high-energy charged particles called radiation belts. Dedicated missions studying the radiation belts encompassing Earth have led to major space physics discoveries over the past several decades, but Earth's magnetosphere exists in a relatively small swath of the parameter space found in our Solar System. To expand that parameter space, we present a mission concept that was reported in the recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Decadal Survey to expand the frontiers of Heliophysics in the 2024-2033 decade. The mission concept is called COMPASS, short for Comprehensive Observations of Magnetospheric Particle Acceleration, Sources, and Sinks. COMPASS is a mission dedicated to the exploration of Jupiter's radiation belts, with an unprecedented suite of instruments covering i) particle species from thermal plasma to 10 tens of MeV electrons and relativistic protons and heavy ions; ii) comprehensive magnetic and electric fields and waves; and iii) dedicated X-ray imaging. COMPASS will enable the scientific community to test existing hypotheses and make new discoveries of how Jupiter's radiation belts are sourced, accelerated, and lost within such a complex system.
Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is characterized by neutropenia, recurrent infections, and an increased leukemia risk. Multiple genetic defects that underlie SCN have been identified, but a genetic diagnosis is still lacking in a significant proportion of patients. In this study, we report 4 independent pedigrees with heterozygous variants in LCP1. Variants c.740-1G>T and c.740-20_744del produced the same alternatively spliced RNA product, causing an in-frame deletion (p.A247_E254del). Variant c.509C>T in the third pedigree produced p.S170L, and variant c.806T>C in the fourth pedigree produced p.L269P. Affected individuals suffered from neutropenia, poor or complete lack of response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment, and variable degrees of lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and monocytopenia. Patients with A247_E254del and p.L269P presented with tetraploid cells in the bone marrow, indicative of disturbed cytokinesis. In one of these kindreds, 2 individuals developed acute leukemia. G-CSF nonresponsiveness and defective cell cycling were repaired upon correction of the LCP1 A247_E254del variant in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, supporting the monogenic origin of the disease. Indicative of their gain-of-function effect, both the A247_E254del and S170L variants increased F-actin bundling and the formation of abnormal protrusions. Single-cell transcriptome analysis of A247_E254del bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) showed deregulation of signaling pathways that control mitosis in multilineage and lymphoid-primed HSPC subsets. We concluded that activating LCP1 variants cause a new hematopoietic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance. Depending on the consequences of the LCP1 variants in terms of protein structure, patients may suffer from G-CSF refractory severe neutropenia, lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, monocytopenia, and defective cytokinesis.