Myopia Control Efficacy of Spectacle Lenses with Dual-Index Aspherical Lenslets: A 1-Year Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To examine the myopia control efficacy, in terms of axial elongation, of a new myopia control spectacle lenses with Dual-Index Aspherical Lenslets (DIAL) embedded within the lens, compared with single-vision spectacle lenses (SVLs) over a 1-year period.

Design: A prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial.

Participants: Eighty children aged 8 to 13 years with myopia (spherical equivalent refraction [SER] between -0.

Identification of a novel genetic locus conferring virulence in the wheat tan spot pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis.

The ascomycete Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr) is the causal agent of tan spot, a common and economically important wheat disease worldwide. Three necrotrophic effectors (NEs), known as Ptr ToxA, Ptr ToxB, and Ptr ToxC, have been identified from the fungal pathogen as major virulence factors. The race 2 isolate 86-124 which produces Ptr ToxA is capable of causing disease on wheat lines that is insensitive to Ptr ToxA, suggesting the use of additional NEs during the infection.

Effects of Three Homogalacturonan-Type Pectins on Mice with Metabolic Syndrome.

Pectin, a class of dietary fiber, has received increasing attention in recent years for its ameliorative effects on metabolic diseases. However, the structural variability of pectin leads to differential effects on these diseases. The intrinsic mechanism by which pectin, derived from different sources, differentially influences metabolic syndrome by interacting with gut microbiota and host metabolism remains elusive and warrants thorough investigation.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography for Assessment of Erosions in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can accurately assess erosive disease in the hands, wrists, and feet in established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to compare CBCT with conventional radiography (CR) for the assessment of erosions in patients with early RA.

Methods: CBCT and CR of the hands, wrists, and feet of 17 patients with treatment-naive early RA were assessed at diagnosis and at the 6-month and 12-month follow-up.

Characterizing the seminal microbiota in mature rams managed on divergent planes of nutrition, and their male offspring.

Evidence suggests that there is a rich and diverse microbial community in the semen of mammals, which may be important in reproductive health and fertility. However, the composition of ram seminal microbiota remains under-characterized, with factors shaping it still largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to; 1) characterize the seminal microbiota of mature rams and their ram lambs using 16S rRNA gene sequencing; 2) evaluate whether managing the mature rams on divergent planes of nutrition can influence their seminal microbiota and that of their male offspring; and 3) compare the seminal microbiota between mature rams and ram lamb cohorts to identify age-related microbiota characteristics.

An Innovative Binding-Protein-Based dsRNA Extraction Method: Comparison of Cost-Effectiveness of Virus Detection Methods Using High-Throughput Sequencing.

Viral diseases represent a threat to global food production. Managing the impact of viruses on crop production requires the ability to monitor viruses, study their ecology and anticipate outbreaks. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sequencing is a well-established and reliable method of detecting viruses and studying virome-host interactions and ecology.

Genome-Wide Association Study for Belly Traits in Canadian Commercial Crossbred Pigs.

The improvement of carcass traits is a key focus in pig genetic breeding programs. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes linked to key carcass traits, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using whole-genome sequencing data from 1118 commercial pigs (Duroc sires and Yorkshire/Landrace F1 dams). This study focused on six phenotypes: iodine value, belly firmness, belly side fat, total side thickness (belly SThK), belly subcutaneous fat (Subq), and belly seam.

Assessing the Impact of the Methane Inhibitors 3-Nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) and Canola Oil on the Rumen Anaerobic Fungi.

Reducing enteric methane emissions is critical for improving the sustainability of ruminant livestock production. In this study, we investigated the impact of the methane inhibitors 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) and canola oil, fed both individually and in combination, on the anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) of the rumen. Eight ruminally cannulated Angus heifers were used in a replicated double 4 × 4 Latin square over 28-day periods with a 2 (control, 3-NOP) × 2 (control, canola oil) factorial arrangement.

Comparative analysis of the soil microbiome and carbohydrate content of (Sweetgrass) and other Poaceae grass tissues and associated soils.

Sweetgrass () is a culturally and environmentally significant perennial grass to many Indigenous Peoples; however, little is known about the potential of Sweetgrass as a contributor to soil health, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. Here, a team of transdisciplinary experts from academia, a non-governmental organization, and a First Nation community collaborated to investigate the structural composition of the rhizomes, stems, and leaves of greenhouse-grown Sweetgrass in comparison to other Poaceae grass members found in a nearby field. The data shows that the monosaccharide composition of was evenly distributed throughout the three tissues, and that cellulose was the predominant polysaccharide followed by glucuronoararbinoxylans.

Invited review: Interactions between prolactin and local regulation of the mammary gland.

Biological mechanisms exist to adjust milk output to demand. Experiments where different milking frequencies were used within the mammary gland have shown that milk production is only increased in the frequently milked half during a unilateral increase in milk frequency. Similarly, cessation of milking or mastitis of one quarter will induce the involution process in that quarter only.

Identification of targetable vulnerabilities of PLK1-overexpressing cancers by synthetic dosage lethality.

Chromosomal instability (CIN) drives tumor heterogeneity, complicating cancer therapy. Although Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) overexpression induces CIN, direct inhibition of PLK1 has shown limited clinical benefits. We therefore performed a genome-wide synthetic dosage lethality (SDL) screen to identify effective alternative targets and validated over 100 candidates using in vivo and in vitro secondary CRISPR screens.

Soil Carbon Saturation: What Do We Really Know?

Managing soils to increase organic carbon storage presents a potential opportunity to mitigate and adapt to global change challenges, while providing numerous co-benefits and ecosystem services. However, soils differ widely in their potential for carbon sequestration, and knowledge of biophysical limits to carbon accumulation may aid in informing priority regions. Consequently, there is great interest in assessing whether soils exhibit a maximum capacity for storing organic carbon, particularly within organo-mineral associations given the finite nature of reactive minerals in a soil.

Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway contributes to the anti-renal cell carcinoma effects of deoxyelephantopin.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common kidney cancer. Despite advances in treatment, current therapeutic strategies are often limited by side effects, drug resistance, and low response rates, necessitating alternatives for RCC treatment. Deoxyelephantopin (DEO), a sesquiterpene lactone from Elephantopi Herba, has demonstrated anticancer properties in multiple cancer models; however, its effects on RCC remain unknown.

Characterization of wheat oligo-tiller mutant ot2 and fine mapping of the mutant gene Taot2.

Tiller number is a crucial determinant of grain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and identifying functional alleles can enhance our understanding of wheat tiller development. Here, we describe the ot2 wheat mutant, which exhibits a 91% reduction in tiller number compared to the wild type and displays inhibited tiller bud differentiation from the 2-3 leaf stage.

Differential expression analysis of soybean pod tissue between Canadian environments identifies differences in sulfur-containing amino acid-related gene expression.

Soybean seeds are rich in oil and protein; however, the seed composition is influenced by genotype and environment. For years, it has been observed that soybeans grown in western Canada have lower seed protein concentration (by ∼1%-5% total seed weight) than those grown in eastern Canada. In this study, soybean seeds harvested from five varieties were grown in four different locations in Canada (east and west growing regions) and analyzed using RNA-sequencing.

Yield of hybrid rye silage and its use as a replacement for barley silage on feed intake, growth performance, and carcass quality of growing and finishing steers.

This study compared the yield of barley and hybrid rye when harvested for silage, and evaluated the effects of replacing barley silage (BARS) with hybrid rye silage (HRS) on dry matter intake (DMI), growth, and carcass characteristics of feedlot steers. The whole-plant hybrid rye (late milk) and barley (soft dough) were each harvested from 3 replicate 7.85-ha plots in 2022 and 2023 and ensiled (n = 3/treatment/yr).

Ecotoxicological implications of increased antidepressant concentrations in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin, 2018-2023.

Antidepressants are only partially metabolized and then eliminated in urine and feces. Since waste water treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, antidepressants and their metabolites eventually reach the environment. Antidepressants are among the most prescribed drugs in the world, and their prescription rates increased dramatically following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first single-cell sequencing of reveals genetic diversity and clonal dynamics.

Clubroot, caused by the obligate Chromist pathogen , is an important disease of brassica crops but little is known about its reproductive biology. We enzymatically removed cell walls from dormant spores to generate protoplasts, enabling the first single-cell sequencing of with DNA free from host and soil microbial contamination. Analysis of 4,000 protoplasts from a single root showed moderate genetic diversity, with 2-5 distinct genotypes.

Supervised soil salinity estimation and mapping for potential crop cultivation based on multi-date SAR Sentinel-1A imagery: a case study in the wet coast of Jiangsu Province, China.

Remote sensing of soil salinity is essential for selecting suitable salt-tolerant crops and improving soil management. Previous research focused mainly on arid regions. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data are crucial for wet coasts due to frequent cloudiness, but significant changes in soil moisture and vegetation impede the soil salinity assessment accuracy.

Enhancing the breeding gene pool of wheat using accessions in gene banks as demonstrated by the Watkins collection.

This study demonstrates an approach to identify accessions carrying desirable alleles affecting traits of breeding interest, paving the way for the development of environmentally resilient cultivars. Recent advances in genome technology have opened opportunities to explore old germplasm collections for accessions possessing traits valuable in cultivar development. This study analyzed genotypic and phenotypic data from the pre-Green Revolution Watkins collection, to find loci linked to climate adaptation and rust resistance (leaf, stem, and stripe) using genome scans and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-level fixation index (FST) analysis.

Developing PCR-based assays for detecting Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) in plants, seeds, and its aphid vector, .

Pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV) poses a major threat to global pulse production. This virus, transmitted through seeds, can spread within fields via insect vectors, especially pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), in a non-persistent manner. To mitigate the risks associated with PSbMV, it is crucial to plant virus-free seeds, detect the virus at an early stage, and implement effective control measures for the vectors, given that most commercial pulse cultivars are vulnerable to the virus.

Structural Dynamics, Gut Microbiota Modulation, and Immunological Impacts of Shiitake Mushroom β-Glucan during In Vitro Intestinal Fermentation.

This study investigated the structure-function relationship of shiitake β-glucan (SBG) through simulated digestion and colonic fermentation. SBG, composed of β-(1 → 3)-linked glucan backbones with β-(1 → 6)-linked side chains, exhibited notable resistance to enzymatic and acidic degradation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. During in vitro colonic fermentation, 59% of carbohydrates were consumed within 48 h, with a significant pH reduction and a 1.

Bespoke plant glycoconjugates for gut microbiota-mediated drug targeting.

The gut microbiota of mammals possess distinctive metabolic pathways with untapped therapeutic potential. Using molecular insights into dietary fiber metabolism by the human gut microbiota, we designed a targeted drug delivery system, called GlycoCaging, that is based on bespoke glycoconjugates of a complex plant oligosaccharide. GlycoCaging of exemplar anti-inflammatory drugs enabled release of active molecules triggered by specific glycosidases of autochthonous gut bacteria.

A Potential Role of EFR3A in Human Disease States.

EFR3A is a conserved peripheral membrane protein required for the plasma membrane localization of the phosphatidylinositol-4 kinase (PI4KIIIα/PI4KA) complex and for regulating the responsiveness of G-protein-coupled receptors. Additionally, it was implicated in several other potentially unrelated physiological functions. In metazoan organisms, is ubiquitously co-expressed with its paralog which shares similar biological roles.

Heterogeneity in recombination rates and accessory gene co-occurrence distinguish phylogroups.

Unlabelled: (class Gammaproteobacteria) is a ubiquitous, ecologically widespread, and metabolically versatile species. It is also an opportunistic pathogen that causes a variety of chronic and acute infections in humans. Its ability to thrive in diverse environments and exhibit a wide range of phenotypes lies in part on its large gene pool, but the processes that govern inter-strain genomic variation remain unclear.