Phosphatidylserine translocation, cholesterol spatial distribution, and acrosome reaction reliably distinguish sperm capacitation from cryoinjury in bovine sperm.

Sperm capacitation is a critical process for successful fertilization, involving multiple regulated cellular changes. On the other hand, cryopreservation induces membrane changes that can mimic capacitation, potentially leading to misinterpretation of sperm function. Distinguishing true capacitation from cryoinjury remains challenging, as both share surface markers despite involving distinct mechanisms and impacts on fertilization.

Probability of Influenza A virus RNA detection at different pooling levels for commonly used sample types in swine breeding herds.

Pooling samples allows for efficient and cost-effective surveillance of endemic pathogens, enabling broader testing coverage and reducing diagnostic costs. Pooling swine samples for influenza A virus surveillance without negatively impacting sensitivity would depend on the sample type, cycle threshold (Ct value), and dilution level. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the probability of IAV reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-rtPCR) detection at different pooling levels in family oral fluids, udder wipes, and nasal wipes obtained from an endemic swine breeding herd.

Molecular characterization and isolation of contemporary porcine sapoviruses from swine farms in the United States.

Porcine sapovirus (PoSaV) is an emerging enteric pathogen in swine industry, primarily associated with diarrhea in weaning and post-weaning pigs. To date, eight genogroups of PoSaVs have been identified, with genogroup III (GIII) being the most prevalent worldwide. However, the isolation of field strains in various cell lines has achieved limited success, hindering progress in PoSaV research.

Associations between prepartum urine pH and periparturient blood calcium concentrations in multiparous Holstein cows.

Introduction: Metabolic alkalosis induced by prepartum diet cations impairs Ca homeostasis in the periparturient cow. Adding anions to prepartum diets reduces blood pH improving periparturient Ca homeostasis. Urine pH generally reflects blood pH and is practical to measure on farm.

Epidemiological and molecular retrospective analysis of porcine circovirus 3 in the US grower-finisher herd.

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) was identified in 2016 and has since been associated with reproductive failure, multisystemic inflammation, and subclinical infection in swine. Numerous countries have retrospectively detected the presence of PCV3 before its first clinical description in 2016. The reported detection rate of PCV3 has varied from 6.

Elucidating the Interfacial Barriers in Lanthanide Back-Extraction: From Water to Oil and Back Again.

Recovery of critical rare earth elements from complex mixtures has long been realized via solvent extraction, where ions in an aqueous phase are separated into an organic phase using amphiphilic ligands. While a great deal of effort has been placed on understanding this forward reaction, substantial knowledge gaps in the back-extraction process remain. This includes the mechanism of interfacial dissociation and transport back into a highly acidic aqueous phase for further processing.

Multi-trait ridge regression BLUP with GWAS improves genomic prediction for haploid induction ability of haploid inducers in maize.

Introduction: Ridge regression BLUP (rrBLUP) is a widely used model for genomic selection. Different genomic prediction (GP) models have their own niches depending on the genetic architecture of traits and computational complexity. Haploid inducers have unique trait performances, relevant for doubled haploid (DH) technology in maize ().

Complex reticulation in backbone subfamily relationships in Leguminosae.

Contradictory lines of evidence have made it difficult to resolve the phylogenetic history of the legume diversification era; this is true for the backbone topology, and for the number and timing of whole genome duplications (WGDs). By analyzing the transcriptomic data for 473 gene families in 76 species covering all six accepted legume subfamilies, we assessed the phylogenetic relationships of the legume backbone and uncovered evidence of independent whole genome duplications in each of the six legume subfamilies. Three subfamilies - Cercidoideae, Dialioideae, and Caesalpinioideae - bear evidence of an allopolyploid duplication pattern suggestive of ancient hybridization.

A General and Modular Approach to Solid-State Integration of Zero-Dimensional Quantum Systems.

Here, we present an all-electrical readout mechanism for quasi-0D quantum states (0D-QS), such as point defects, adatoms, and molecules, that is modular and general, providing an approach that is amenable to scaling and integration with other solid-state quantum technologies. Our approach relies on the creation of high-quality tunnel junctions via the mechanical exfoliation and stacking of multilayer graphene (MLG) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to encapsulate the target system in an MLG/hBN/0D-QS/hBN/MLG heterostructure. This structure allows for all-electronic spectroscopy and readout of candidate systems through a combination of coulomb and spin-blockade.

Genetic analysis of pigment production in the fungus Exophiala dermatitidis mutant strains obtained via nontargeted UV mutagenesis.

Exophiala dermatitidis is a polyextremotolerant black yeast species. E. dermatitidis produces 1,8 dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin via the Polyketide Synthase 1 (PKS1) pathway enabling it to survive harmful conditions.

Development of a bioassay method for larval western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is a serious pest of maize (Zea mays L.) in the United States. Because western corn rootworm larvae live in the soil, conducting an on-plant bioassay to screen novel management tools can be challenging.

Unsupervised machine learning for mass spectrometry imaging data analysis with isotope labeling.

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has emerged as a powerful tool for spatial metabolomics, but untargeted data analysis has proven to be challenging. When combined with isotope labeling (MSI), MSI provides insights into metabolic dynamics with high spatial resolution; however, the data analysis becomes even more complex. Although various tools exist for advanced MSI analyses, machine learning (ML) applications to MSI have not been explored.

Stable single-site organonickel catalyst preferentially hydrogenolyses branched polyolefin C-C bonds.

Current methods of processing accumulated polyolefin waste typically require harsh conditions, precious metals or high metal loadings to achieve appreciable activities. Here we examined supported, single-site organonickel catalysts for polyolefin upcycling. Chemisorption of Ni(COD) (COD, 1,5-cyclooctadiene) onto Brønsted acidic sulfated alumina (AlS) yields a highly electrophilic Ni(I) precatalyst, AlS/Ni(COD), which is converted under H to the active AlS/NiH catalyst.

Nonparametric Density Estimation for Data Scattered on Irregular Spatial Domains: A Likelihood-Based Approach Using Bivariate Penalized Spline Smoothing.

Accurately estimating data density is crucial for making informed decisions and modeling in various fields. This paper presents a novel nonparametric density estimation procedure that utilizes bivariate penalized spline smoothing over triangulation for data scattered over irregular spatial domains. Our likelihood-based approach incorporates a regularization term addressing the roughness of the logarithm of density using a second-order differential operator.

Platelet-rich plasma-contained drug delivery systems to treat orthopedic injuries.

Orthopedic disorders affecting bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and other tissues are prevalent among outpatients, often caused by trauma, sports, or tumor removal. Surgical intervention is common but may yield unsatisfactory results due to limited regenerative capacity and poor blood supply. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous biocomponent, has been clinically applied in tissue regeneration and repair, yet it faces challenges such as unclear mechanisms, side effects, and uncontrollable release.

Cognitive Reserve Disrupts Cognitive Decline from White Matter Hyperintensities.

Previous research examining the contribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) to cognitive decline has focused on overall lesion burden. A new approach, afforded by the Lesion Quantification Toolkit (LQT), measures localized connectivity disruption from WMHs to better estimate their impact on cognition. This methodology shifts the focus from lesion volume to the level of network disruption between brain regions.

Nurses' attitudes about RSV vaccination for pregnant women and infants: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for pregnant women and infants became available in 2023 in the United States. However, the uptake of these vaccines has been low. Nurses play an important role in provider-patient vaccine communication.

Methanobactin rapidly facilitates biliary copper excretion in a Wilson disease rat model visualised by Cu PET/MRI.

Background And Purpose: Methanobactins are peptides with high copper affinity and potential to treat Wilson disease. We examined how two methanobactins (ARBM101 and MB-OB3b) affected copper handling in the LPP Atp7b Wilson disease rat model, compared to penicillamine or saline, by Cu positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging. Heterozygotes served as controls.

Identification of candidate gene networks affecting the number of somatic cells count and milk production in Iranian Holstein cows using Genome-wide association study.

One of the most powerful tools for identifying genomic regions associated with various phenotypes is GWAS. Identifying genes influencing milk production traits in Iranian Holstein dairy cows is crucial to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying these traits and improving future milk production. Therefore, using a single-step GWAS, this study aimed to identify genomic regions, genes, and pathways associated with milk yield (MY), milk fat percentage (FP), milk protein percentage (PP), and somatic cell count (SCC) traits in the Iranian Holstein cattle population.

Duplicating the mold: Branching of fungal hyphae.

A defining feature of filamentous fungi is the ability to form branched hyphae that facilitate the efficient colonization of ecological niches. Two distinct branching patterns have been recognized in fungal hyphae; apical branching and lateral branching. The use of physiological approaches and image analysis has generated sufficient data to enable the development of robust models that predict branching behavior.

Peripheral transcriptional responses to experimental SARS-CoV-2 inoculation in North American elk cows and calves.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a health risk for humans and other domestic and wildlife species. Recently, North American elk have been identified as seropositive for SARS-CoV-2, thus posing a potential threat to humans and other mammals. In this work, we characterized the peripheral transcriptomic response to experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection in calves and adult elk at different time points.

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of a resistance exercise training to treat major depression via cerebrovascular mechanisms (RESIST Trial).

Background: Many adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) do not engage in treatment and may also not respond when current frontline treatments are completed. Resistance exercise training (RET) is an understudied behavioral treatment option, which may help with MDD management through improving cerebral blood flow that is commonly impaired in adults with MDD. The purpose of this study is to use gold-standard research methods to determine the validity (clinical efficacy) of RET for treating MDD and to determine potential cerebrovascular pathways through which RET might improve MDD symptoms.

The 'ins' and 'outs' of amidines in β-sheet folding and fibril disaggregation.

Amidines are a relatively unexplored isostere of the amide bond, offering unique electronic properties and hydrogen-bonding behavior. This study presents the first systematic investigation of amidines within folded β-sheet structures. Using CD, NMR, and aggregation assays, we find that amidines are well tolerated when acting as hydrogen-bond donors but disrupt β-sheet folding when serving as hydrogen-bond acceptors.

Early Identification of Individual Nursery Pigs at Risk of Requiring Health Treatment Using Machine Learning.

Infectious disease is a major concern in the swine industry, impacting production as well as animal welfare. In this research, a prediction model for early identification of late nursery pigs within a batch that are at higher risk of requiring health treatments in a dynamic disease environment was developed based on early daily data on feeding and drinking and body weight. For this purpose, a unique dataset was used consisting of 21 batches of up to 75 late nursery pigs that were entered into a natural polymicrobial disease challenge barn to develop and evaluate the prediction models.