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Simple Summary: Laboratory and field observations were used to evaluate the compatibility of yellow sticky cards with augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi for control of orchard pests, particularly C. sasakii and G. molesta. Female T. dendrolimi showed stronger attraction to yellow and white than to red, green or blue. Yellow sticky cards trapped significant numbers of T. dendrolimi in the field, reducing biological control of C. sasakii as well as the number of lacewings naturally recruited to the orchard. Judicious use of yellow sticky cards in orchards is therefore recommended to avoid disruption of biological control, specifically removing them in May before peak flights of moth pests require releases of egg parasitoids. Integrated pest management relies upon mutual compatibility among pest control tactics. The fruit-boring moths Carposina sasakii and Grapholita molesta can be devastating pests of pome and stone fruit production. Trichogramma dendrolimi parasitizes the eggs of these pests, preventing their eclosion, but its efficacy can be reduced by other pest control tactics. We tested T. dendrolimi attraction to five colors, and moth attraction to six colors, in laboratory choice tests, and thereafter deployed yellow sticky cards in tandem with releases of T. dendrolimi in field trials in a pear orchard. Yellow sticky cards deployed at high density trapped T. dendrolimi and reduced their numbers post-release. They also trapped adult G. molesta, which appeared to compensate for reduced egg parasitism on this species, but not on C. sasakii, which had higher abundance in plots with yellow sticky cards. The cards also captured adult lacewings, likely reducing their numbers in the field, but did not capture large numbers of lady beetles. The results suggest that yellow sticky cards can be used at high density to control aphids, psyllids and leafhoppers in early spring (March and April) when natural enemies are in low numbers, then removed in May so as not to interfere with augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi that must be timed to coincide with peak flights of fruit-boring moths. This strategy should enhance the compatibility of yellow sticky cards with egg parasitoid releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wheat production has remained stable in the last 20 years, benefiting from increased grain yields despite decline in harvested wheat area. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of ca. 300 peer-reviewed studies worldwide to outline benefits of adding wheat to simple crop rotations (i.e., one to three rotational crops). We highlight the wheat's versatility for tactical in-season crop management (e.g., flexible sowing dates, crop type [winter vs spring], and nitrogen fertility) and strategic cropping system management (e.g., grazing and double-cropping) and provide evidence supporting the positive impact of wheat on the grain yield and yield stability of other rotational crops. The inclusion of wheat in simple cropping systems enhances agroecosystem diversity and improves resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) residue of wheat offers benefits and drawbacks on soil quality attributes, weed control, and climate change mitigation potential. The introduction of wheat to simple crop rotations can (i) interrupt pest population cycles by serving as a break crop; (ii) decrease N application requirements, thus reducing N losses, greenhouse gas emissions, soil acidification, and production costs; (iii) improve soil health and carbon sequestration; (iv) increase resource use-efficiency of the cropping system; (v) foment fauna population; and (vi) decrease variability in economic returns. This review highlights that wheat offers unique opportunities to increase diversification and foster more sustainable and resilient agroecosystems that will feed a growing global population while acting as a net carbon sink, helping to mitigate drivers of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological nitrogen (N) cycle on early Earth is enigmatic because of limited data from Archean (meta-)sediments and the potential alteration of primary biotic signatures. Here we further investigate unusual 15N enrichments reported in 2.7 Ga meta-sediments from the Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada, purportedly related to a 15N-enriched Archean atmosphere. Given that sediments from this region are contemporaneous with large-scale volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, we utilize Cu and Zn contents to trace the effects of hydrothermal circulation on N isotope fractionation. We show that high δ15Nbulk values as high as +23‰ are associated with Cu-Zn mineralization, whereas unmineralized organic-rich shales exhibit much lower δ15Nbulk and δ15Nkerogen values. Moreover, we find a large offset between δ15Nbulk and δ15Nkerogen of as much as 17‰ and relate this to the addition of organic-bound N during the late-stage emplacement of organic-rich veins. We conclude that the previously reported high δ15N values are most parsimoniously explained by biotic and abiotic mechanisms rather than a 15N-enriched atmosphere. Crucially, both mechanisms require the presence of NH4 + in hydrothermal fluids, supporting the hypothesis that hydrothermal discharge was an important nutrient source for Neoarchean marine life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood neurodegenerative diseases often pose a challenge to clinicians to diagnose because of the degree of genetic heterogeneity and variable presentations. Here, we present a child with progressive neurodegeneration consisting of spasticity, dystonia, and ataxia in which postmortem pathological analysis led to the diagnosis of interferon regulatory factor 2 binding protein like (IRF2BPL)-related disorder., Methods: Detailed postmortem gross and histological examination was conducted, and findings consistent with dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and included polyglutamine (polyQ) inclusions. Follow up testing for the CAG repeat expansion at ATN1 was non-diagnostic., Results: Subsequent exome sequencing reanalysis of the research exome identified a pathogenic de novo IRF2BPL variant. The IRF2BPL c.562C>T, p.(Arg188Ter) variant, distal to the polyQ repeat tract, results in variable mRNA levels depending on the cell type examined with decreased mRNA in the brain, as well as destabilization of the protein product and corresponding downstream molecular abnormalities in patient derived cells., Conclusion: We provide the first detailed pathological description for IRF2BPL-related disorder, termed NEDAMSS (neurodevelopmental disorder with regression, abnormal movements, loss of speech and seizures; Mendelian Inheritance in Man, 618088) and evidence for the inclusion of this condition in the differential diagnosis of spastic-ataxic neurodegenerative conditions, reminiscent of DRPLA. Although the individuals with NEDAMSS do not carry an expansion, the polyQ repeat tract may play a role in the pathological inclusions that would represent a novel disease mechanism for polyQ repeats. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society., (© 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.)

Background: Lepidopteran pest control in agriculture has become heavily dependent on cultivars that express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins as 'plant-incorporated protectants'. However, populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) in Brazil appear resistant to the Bt traits currently available in commercial soybean cultivars., Results: This study evaluated S. frugiperda life history when feeding on three different Bt soybean cultivars. Cultivars expressing Cry1Ac + Cry1F and Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 + Cry1Ac Bt toxins caused 100% larval mortality in S. frugiperda. Both non-Bt and Cry1Ac-expressing soybean induced transgenerational effects that increased the survival of subsequent generations. A Cry1Ac soybean diet reduced the generation time (T) of S. frugiperda relative to non-Bt soybean, resulting in shorter generation time and more rapid population growth., Conclusion: The implications of these results revealed how diet can alter aspects of insect life history and biology, and have important implications for sustainable management of S. frugiperda on soybean. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The stink bugs Acrosternum arabicum Wagner and Brachynema germari Kolenati (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) damage developing pistachio nuts in Iran. Ooencyrtus egeria Huang and Noyes (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizes eggs of both species, alternating between them seasonally. We compared the biological and life history attributes of O. egeria reared for 3 generations on each host species with those that had been transferred to the alternate host for 2 generations. We also tested female responses to host egg density. Eggs of B. germari were parasitized at higher rates and yielded faster wasp development, heavier female progeny with greater fecundity, and a more female-biased sex ratio, than eggs of A. arabicum. Rearing on A. arabicum did not diminish wasp fitness on B. germari, and the F1 progeny of wasps switched to A. arabicum inherited some beneficial parental effects from rearing on B. germari. Regardless of host species, females parasitized fewer eggs in 8 h as density increased from 10 to 30 eggs, but progeny sex ratio (% female) increased. The anomalous response to host density appears to arise from a combination of behavioral and egg load constraints. Females mature only 10-12 eggs per day. Carefully inspect egg clusters before selecting the most suitable eggs for oviposition, a more time-consuming process for large clusters. Our results indicate that rearing O. egeria on eggs of A. arabicum, which are more convenient and cost-effective to produce than those of B. germari, will not diminish its performance on B. germari following augmentative release, beyond a slight reduction in female fecundity., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Increasing evidence suggests that the muscle stem cell (MuSC) pool is heterogeneous. In particular, a rare subset of PAX7-positive MuSCs that has never expressed the myogenic regulatory factor MYF5 displays unique self-renewal and engraftment characteristics. However, the scarcity and limited availability of protein markers make the characterization of these cells challenging. Here, we describe the generation of StemRep reporter mice enabling the monitoring of PAX7 and MYF5 proteins based on equimolar levels of dual nuclear fluorescence. High levels of PAX7 protein and low levels of MYF5 delineate a deeply quiescent MuSC subpopulation with an increased capacity for asymmetric division and distinct dynamics of activation, proliferation, and commitment. Aging primarily reduces the MYF5 Low MuSCs and skews the stem cell pool toward MYF5 High cells with lower quiescence and self-renewal potential. Altogether, we establish the StemRep model as a versatile tool to study MuSC heterogeneity and broaden our understanding of mechanisms regulating MuSC quiescence and self-renewal in homeostatic, regenerating, and aged muscles., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests Except S.C.S., all authors are or were employees of Société des Produits Nestlé SA., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction/background: Bladder exstrophy epispadias complex (BEEC) is a rare congenital anomaly of unknown etiology, although, genetic and environmental factors have been associated with its development. Variants in several genes expressed in the urogenital pathway have been reported as causative for bladder exstrophy in human and murine models. The expansion of next-generation sequencing and molecular genomics has improved our ability to identify the underlying genetic causes of similarly complex diseases and could thus assist with the investigation of the molecular basis of BEEC., Objective: The objective was to identify the presence of rare heterozygous variants in genes previously implicated in bladder exstrophy and correlate them with the presence or absence of bladder regeneration in our study population., Patients and Methods: We present a case series of 12 patients with BEEC who had bladder biopsies performed by pediatric urology during bladder neck reconstruction or bladder augmentation. Cases were classified as "sufficient" or "insufficient" (n = 5 and 7, respectively) based on a bladder volume of greater than or less than 40% of expected bladder size. Control bladder tissue specimens were obtained from patients (n = 6) undergoing biopsies for conditions other than bladder exstrophy. Whole exome sequencing was performed on DNA isolated from the bladder specimens. Based on the hypothesis of de novo mutations, as well as the potential implications of autosomal dominant conditions with incomplete penetrance, each case was evaluated for autosomal dominant variants in a set of genes previously implicated in BEEC., Results: Our review of the literature identified 44 genes that have been implicated in human models of bladder exstrophy. Our whole exome sequencing data analysis identified rare variants in two of these genes among the cases classified as sufficient, and seven variants in five of these genes among the cases classified as insufficient., Conclusion: We identified rare variants in seven previously implicated genes in our BEEC specimens. Additional research is needed to further understand the cellular signaling underlying this potentially genetically heterogeneous embryological condition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Jelin, Sopko, Sobreira, Boyadjiev, Wohler, Morrill, Witmer, Michaud, Valle, Gearhart and Dicarlo.)

Bladder exstrophy epispadias complex (BEEC) encompasses a spectrum of conditions ranging from mild epispadias to the most severe form: omphalocele-bladder exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects (OEIS). BEEC involves abnormalities related to anatomical structures that are proposed to have a similar underlying etiology and pathogenesis. In general, BEEC, is considered to arise from a sequence of events in embryonic development and is believed to be a multi-etiological disease with contributions from genetic and environmental factors. Several genes have been implicated and mouse models have been generated, including a knockout model of p63, which is involved in the synthesis of stratified epithelium. Mice lacking p63 have undifferentiated ventral urothelium. MNX1 has also been implicated. In addition, cigarette smoking, diazepam and clomid have been implied as environmental factors due to their relative association. By in large, the etiology and pathogenesis of human BEEC is unknown. We performed de novo analysis of whole exome sequencing (WES) of germline samples from 31 unrelated trios where the probands have a diagnosis of BEEC syndrome. We also evaluated the DECIPHER database to identify copy number variants (CNVs) in genes in individuals with the search terms "bladder exstrophy" in an attempt to identify additional candidate genes within these regions. Several de novo variants were identified; however, a candidate gene is still unclear. This data further supports the multi-etiological nature of BEEC., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Impaired skeletal muscle stem cell (MuSC) function has long been suspected to contribute to the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy (MD). Here, we showed that defects in the endothelial cell (EC) compartment of the vascular stem cell niche in mouse models of Duchenne MD, laminin α2-related MD, and collagen VI-related myopathy were associated with inefficient mobilization of MuSCs after tissue damage. Using chemoinformatic analysis, we identified the 13-amino acid form of the peptide hormone apelin (AP-13) as a candidate for systemic stimulation of skeletal muscle ECs. Systemic administration of AP-13 using osmotic pumps generated a pro-proliferative EC-rich niche that supported MuSC function through angiocrine factors and markedly improved tissue regeneration and muscle strength in all three dystrophic mouse models. Moreover, EC-specific knockout of the apelin receptor led to regenerative defects that phenocopied key pathological features of MD, including vascular defects, fibrosis, muscle fiber necrosis, impaired MuSC function, and reduced force generation. Together, these studies provide in vivo proof of concept that enhancing endogenous skeletal muscle repair by targeting the vascular niche is a viable therapeutic avenue for MD and characterized AP-13 as a candidate for further study for the systemic treatment of MuSC dysfunction.

We introduce a mathematical model of cultural evolution to study cultural traits that shape how individuals exchange information. Current theory focuses on traits that influence the reception of information (receiver traits), such as evaluating whether information represents the majority or stems from a trusted source. Our model shifts the focus from the receiver to the sender of cultural information and emphasizes the role of sender traits, such as communicability or persuasiveness. Here, we show that sender traits are probably a stronger driving force in cultural evolution than receiver traits. While receiver traits evolve to curb cultural transmission, sender traits can amplify it and fuel the self-organization of systems of mutually supporting cultural traits, including traits that cannot be maintained on their own. Such systems can reach arbitrary complexity, potentially explaining uniquely human practical and mental skills, goals, knowledge and creativity, independent of innate factors. Our model incorporates social and individual learning throughout the lifespan, thus connecting cultural evolutionary theory with developmental psychology. This approach provides fresh insights into the trait-individual duality, that is, how cultural transmission of single traits is influenced by individuals, who are each represented as an acquired system of cultural traits.