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The ability of shape memory polymers to change shape upon external stimulation makes them exceedingly useful in various areas, from biomedical engineering to soft robotics. Especially, shape memory hydrogels (SMHs) are well-suited for biomedical applications due to their inherent biocompatibility, excellent shape morphing performance, tunable physiochemical properties, and responsiveness to a wide range of stimuli (e.g., thermal, chemical, electrical, light). This review provides an overview of the unique features of smart SMHs from their fundamental working mechanisms to types of SMHs classified on the basis of applied stimuli and highlights notable clinical applications. Moreover, the potential of SMHs for surgical, biomedical, and tissue engineering applications is discussed. Finally, this review summarizes the current challenges in synthesizing and fabricating reconfigurable hydrogel-based interfaces and outlines future directions for their potential in personalized medicine and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing methods that maximize species richness from acoustic recordings obtained from regional monitoring programs can increase detections of uncommon, rare, and cryptic species and provide key information on species status and distribution. Using data from regional bird monitoring in Yukon, Canada, we (1) compared the number of bird species detected (species richness) and the cost associated with four acoustic processing methods (Listening, Visual Scanning, Recognizer, and Recognizer with Validation) and (2) combined Listening and Recognizer with Validation information to increase detections of all bird species at the ecoregion scale. We used comprehensive Visual Scanning to detect all bird species on the recordings. We processed ~1% of the recordings using Listening and detected 56% of the bird community with 71.5 h of human effort. We used Recognizer (multispecies recognizer BirdNET) with Validation and detected 89% of the bird community with ~22% of the effort required for Visual Scanning (56 and 257 h, respectively). As an application of our approach, we combined Listening and Recognizer with Validation to process recordings from five northern ecoregions and found a 23%-63% increase in the number of bird species detected with little additional effort. Combining Listening and Recognizer with Validation can maximize species detections from large passive acoustic monitoring data sets. Key words: acoustic processing, BirdNET, birds, passive acoustic monitoring, regional monitoring, species richness, Introduction The use of passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) in avian ecology has been rapidly expanding since the 1990s (Shonfield and Bayne 2017; La Sorte et al. 2018; Gibb et al. [...]

To understand the response of freshwater organisms to rising environmental salinity, it is essential to investigate their osmoionic regulatory physiology. Our laboratory experiment investigated the transfer of Palaemon argentinus (Nobili, 1901) from 2[per thousand] (control condition) to concentrated salinity (15 and 25[per thousand]) for short- (6 h), medium- (48 h), and long-term (>504 h) acclimation periods. We measured relevant parameters in the shrimp's haemolymph, the time course of the response of branchial V-[H.sup.+]-ATPase (VHA), [Na.sup.+], [K.sup.+]--ATPase (NKA), carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, and muscle water content. Upon prolonged acclimation to 15[per thousand] (hyper-regulating condition), shrimp reached a new steady state of haemolymph osmolality by tightly adjusting ion concentrations to levels higher than the external medium. While NKA and CA activities recovered their pre-transfer levels, the downregulation of VHA suggests other functions rather than ion uptake after prolonged acclimation to 15[per thousand]. The activity of the three transport-related enzymes remained almost unchanged at the highest salinity (isosmotic condition), leading to increasing osmotic pressure and ion concentration after prolonged acclimation to 25[per thousand]. Although the freshwater shrimp studied here retains a certain degree of tolerance to high salinity, a common trait in palaemonid shrimps, our results highlight that 25[per thousand] represents a significant hypertonic challenge for this species. Keywords: carbonic anhydrase, gills, ionic regulation, [Na.sup.+], [K.sup.+]--ATPase, Palaemon argentinus, (V)-type H+--ATPase, Introduction Inland aquatic ecosystems from southern regions in South America as the ecoregion of the Pampas (Argentina), are vulnerable to increasing salinization due to human activities and global climate change [...]

Endotherm homeotherms deal with the energetic cost of maintaining a stable body temperature ([T.sub.b]) in ecosystems differing in ambient temperature ([T.sub.a]). In response, animals adjust some of their thermal energetics to meet the energy requirements of thermoregulation. Bats are small mammals with a geographical distribution that may include environments with different [T.sub.a]. Therefore, these animals should adjust their thermal energetics depending on the environmental characteristics of the habitats where they live. Using open-flow respirometry, we measured basal metabolic rate (BMR), thermal conductance (C'), lower and upper critical temperatures ([T.sub.LC] and [T.sub.UC]), and breadth of the thermoneutral zone ([TNZ.sub.b]) of the cave myotis (Myotis velifer (J.A. Allen, 1890)) living in a coniferous forest versus a tropical deciduous forest in central Mexico. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to measure thermal energetics at the intraspecific level in populations measured at the same time. Bats from the coniferous forest had lower BMR, C', [T.sub.LC], [T.sub.UC], and a wider [TNZ.sub.b]] than bats from the tropical deciduous forest. The results we found here are likely the consequence of the differences between the energy demands imposed by [T.sub.a], where the animals roost, and the [T.sub.a] and prey availability of their foraging areas. These differences may help individuals regulate their heat production and dissipation to maintain low thermoregulatory costs in the places they inhabit. Key words: Cave myotis, central Mexico, cool and warm environments, endotherms, respirometry, thermal energetics, Introduction Homeothermic endothermy has allowed animals to optimize their physiological processes regardless of changes in environmental conditions (Heinrich 1977; Crompton et al. 1978; Kemp 2006; Dell et al. 2011; Rolland [...]

Thermal preference and thermal performance are used to describe the thermal biology of an ectothermic organism through parameters, i.e., estimating locomotor performance by maximum running speed. In this study, we assessed the thermal preference and locomotor performance of the spider Mecicobothrium thorelli Holmberg, 1882, a wintry mygalomorph spider endemic to the native mountainous grasslands of central Argentina and Uruguay. The preferred temperatures of the 72.4% of the individuals were in the range of 10-20 [degrees]C. The highest frequencies of preferred temperatures were 10-15 [degrees] C in males and 15-20 [degrees]C in females. The sprint speed showed significant differences between all the temperatures evaluated and showed the highest speeds at 25 [degrees]C and the lowest at 3 [degrees]C. The optimal temperature was 26.09 [degrees]C, which was significantly higher than the preferred temperature in both males and females. We concluded that M. thorelli selects a wide range of temperatures and prefers to stay in medium and low temperatures, which are correlated with winter activity in the wild. However, the species showed maximum speed at higher temperatures, which implies that spiders would perform even better in nature and maximize their locomotion by being active during a warmer period. Key words: Mygalomorphae, thermal preference, Thermal Performance Curves, ecthoterms, spider, Mecicobothrium thorelli, 1. Introduction The biological processes of organisms depend on body temperature, which, in ectotherms, is ultimately associated with environmental temperature. Therefore, temperature has important effects on the critical functions that [...]

Integrative studies on intraspecific differences of digestive enzymes, energy reserves, and morphological/somatic traits in juveniles and adults of estuarine-dependent marine fish while inhabiting inside a coastal lagoon are lacking. This study was carried on juveniles and adults of Mugil liza Valenciennes, 1836 inhabiting inside Mar Chiquita Coastal Lagoon (Argentina). Both stages exhibited amylase, maltase, sucrase, lipase, trypsin, and aminopeptidase-N activities in the intestine, which were active over a wide range of pH and temperatures and exhibited Michaelis--Menten kinetics. Adults exhibited higher intestinal coefficient (31%), higher amylase (32%), and lower maltase (82%) and lipase activities (38%). Glycogen concentration in liver and muscle was similar, while free glucose concentration was higher in adults (772% and 400%, respectively). In adults, retroperitoneal fat (absent in juveniles) constituted the main triglycerides (TAG) storage site, while TAG concentration in liver and muscle was lower (86% and 80%, respectively) than that in juveniles. No differences were found in protein concentration in any storage organ. The results show that juveniles and adults exhibit a digestive and metabolic profile at the biochemical level and intraspecific differences in key components of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism that could support preparation for reproductive migration of adults outside the coastal lagoon. Key words: digestive enzymes, energy reserves, Mugil liza, fish, juveniles, adults, Introduction Estuaries and coastal lagoons are important areas for estuarine-dependent marine fishes, which can spend part or even their whole life cycle in these habitats (Nelson 2006; Gonzalez-Castro and Ghasemzadeh [...]

Many salmonid species are particularly susceptible to chronic and acute temperature changes caused by global warming. We aimed to study the differences in metabolic and transcriptomic responses of a chronic heat stress on a control and selected (absence of early sexual maturation and growth) line of brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814). We exposed individuals to different temperatures for 35 days (15, 17, and 19 [degrees]C). High temperature reduced the growth rate (in length) and the Fulton condition factor. Both maximal metabolic rate and the aerobic scope were higher in fish reared at 17 [degrees]C, while they decreased in fish maintained at 19 [degrees]C. The relative gene expression of cytochrome c oxidase was lower at 19 [degrees]C than at 15 [degrees]C. The relative gene expressions of both liver and gill hsp90 was higher at the highest temperature. The standard metabolic rate, while not affected by temperature, was higher for the control line over the selected line. Only in the control line, the relative expression of catalase and of receptor of insulin-like growth factor-1 increased at 19 [degrees]C. Our results showed that the selected line was able to cope more effectively with the oxidative stress caused by the rise in temperature. Key words: Salvelinus fontinalis, brook charr, chronic thermic stress, gene expression, respirometry, growth, genetic line, Introduction Recent climate change repercussions have been shown to affect several biomes and species worldwide (Williams et al. 2008; Crozier and Hutchings 2014; Stitt et al. 2014). These observed changes [...]

Physiological and behavioral traits of aquatic organisms are often highly dependent on environmental conditions, but genetic (family) effects often contribute to phenotypic variation. In this study, a series of physiological indices were used to assess the variability that exists among progeny of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) produced from eight different families. We designed a controlled experiment aimed to evaluate metabolic performance of age-0 lake sturgeon where growth, energy density, survival, metabolic rate, volitional swimming performance, and critical thermal maxima were quantified for fish reared under the same environmental conditions. We found a strong family effect for most metrics that were quantified and primarily influenced by the female. Furthermore, poor growth and survival within families were strongly correlated to low energy density levels and depressed routine metabolic rates at the yolk sac stage. Lastly, the quantification of energy density at the onset of exogenous feeding appeared to be an excellent predictor of future growth and survival. Our results suggest that the choice of female for production of progeny in conservation hatcheries will have significant impacts on the success of stock enhancement as a conservation strategy for lake sturgeon. Key words: lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, respirometry, early life history, conservation aquaculture, critical thermal maxima, Introduction Acipenseridae (i.e., sturgeons) are an ancient family of fish that are considered threatened or endangered throughout their native range primarily due to overharvesting and habitat alterations (Pikitch et al. [...]

In many freshwater ecosystems, carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) is increasing. Unknown are the risks that high C[O.sub.2] poses for freshwater organisms, especially fish. The objective of this study was to determine how C[O.sub.2] may influence the growth rate, metabolic rate, feeding rate, and volitional behaviour of young-of-year Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus, 1758)), brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814)), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)). For this study, fish stayed in control (1100 microatmospheres ([micro]atm)) or elevated (5236 [micro]atm) C[O.sub.2] levels for 15 days. During this time, metabolic rate and behavioural tests were conducted on alternating days for each treatment. Weight and length of each fish were taken on days 0, 7, and 15. There was no evidence that elevated C[O.sub.2] affected the growth rate, feeding rate, or behaviour in any of these species. The standard metabolic rate in Arctic charr differed based on C[O.sub.2] exposure. Therefore, salmonids can withstand short periods of elevated C[O.sub.2] under these conditions. By comparing closely related species, the implications of this work are more ecologically relevant and will also help industry quantify the effects of high C[O.sub.2] on young salmonids. Key words: Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, respirometry, aquaculture, climate change, Salmonidae, Introduction Freshwater acidification caused by rising C[O.sub.2] has been noted as a stressor for freshwater biota (Hasler et al. 2016a, 2018). High C[O.sub.2] and weak acidification in freshwater ecosystems are [...]

Many factors influence the structure of natural assemblages. Species interaction and environmental factors may generate deterministic patterns, whereas dispersal and ecological drift may generate stochastic patterns. We used pond systems to understand how deterministic and stochastic factors interact and influence tadpole assemblages at different spatial scales. We used variation partitioning and a co-occurrence analysis to evaluate how local environment heterogeneity, species interaction, and spatial variables affected species composition at local and regional scales in Brazilian savanna. Both deterministic and stochastic processes were important to explain tadpole distribution at regional scale, but with a greater contribution of stochastic factors. At local scales, environmental and niche traits were more important to explain tadpole distribution into the habitats. We demonstrate that in Brazilian Cerrado, species composition can be explained by the 'MacArthur paradox,' in which niche processes are important at local scales, whereas dispersal constraints and population processes lead to stochastic patterns in species distribution at large spatial scales. Key words: Anuran larvae, environmental heterogeneity, co-occurrence, geographical scale, community ecology, 1. Introduction Multiple factors and processes can influence the distribution patterns of biological communities (Leibold and Chase 2018), such as historical events, interspecific interactions (Elton 1927; MacArthur and Levins 1967), [...]

Allometric analyses of sexually selected structures have revealed many patterns of evolutionary and behavioural significance, for example, in weapons, ornaments, and genitalia. We investigated allometry of the baculum (penis bone) relative to body size in post-growth adults of three large mustelids: wolverine (Gulo gulo (Linnaeus, 1758)), northern river otter (Lontra canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758)), and sea otter (Erihydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758)). The baculum grew over a longer period than did body size. Correlations among bacular variables were positive in post-growth adults. No regression slopes expressed positive allometry (i.e., slope > 1 for linear variables). These trends point to the possibility that bacular size is adapted to the average size of the reproductive tract of sexually mature female northern river otters and possibly sea otters, and that pre-ejaculatory ('precopulatory') selection is highest in those species. Bacular size varied more than skull or limb-bone size, and bacular shape also varied greatly. Species differed in size and complexity of the urethral groove and bacular apex, suggesting functional differences in intromission. Substantial variation in bacular shape resulted from healed fractures, especially in sea otter. Knowledge of copulatory behaviour, age of breeding, female reproductive anatomy, and genitalic interactions during intromission is needed for comprehensive understanding of bacular anatomy, allometry, and variation for these species. Key words: allometry, baculum, Mustelidae, museum collections, os penis, sexual selection, Introduction Darwin (1871) noted that sexually selected traits of animals often are striking or extreme, and typically vary considerably within, and across, conspecific populations and related species. Innumerable studies have [...]

Unionid mussels are imperiled worldwide. Understanding the impacts of thermal and hypoxia stress on larval (glochidia) and adult physiology is critical for understanding the potential impacts of climate change. We tested whether brood viability (proportion of glochidia competent to attach to a host) was correlated with oxygen demand (M[O.sub.2]), ability to regulate oxygen consumption (regulation index (RI)), and/or critical dissolved oxygen concentration (D[O.sub.crit]). We then examined the effects of temperature on M[O.sub.2], RI, and D[O.sub.crit]. The results were coupled with a previous study to estimate the fraction of brooding female oxygen demand comprised of glochidial respiration. We found little evidence that respiratory patterns of glochidia changed with declining brood viability, but strong evidence for decreasing glochidial RI and increasing D[O.sub.crit] with increasing temperatures. Glochidial respiration temperature coefficient ([Q.sub.10]) values were approximately 2-3 x those estimated for brooding females, indicating greater temperature sensitivity. The proportion of gravid female respiration comprised of glochidial respiration reached its maximum at temperatures (23-28 [degrees]C) coinciding with brood expulsion. These patterns suggest high temperatures may have deleterious effects on unionids by decreasing the hypoxia tolerance of glochidia, increasing the rate at which glochidia deplete energy reserves, and increasing the proportion of oxygen consumption by gravid females that is comprised of glochidial oxygen demand. Key words: glochidia respiration, unionid mussels, temperature, hypoxia, Ligumia subrostrata, pondmussel, Introduction Rising temperatures are of great ecological concern for present and future freshwater ecosystems (Kaushal et al. 2013). Factors such as climate change, altered flow regimes, riparian clearing, and thermal [...]

Scientific validation of the interventions used for the treatment of various ailments in Ayush systems of medicine (ASM) is currently an emerging field. The stakeholders hesitate to promote the traditional knowledge to resolve the current health issues without exploring the scientific rationale and rigorous experimentation. It seems that scientific validation of traditional approaches has become a roadblock for the translation of the aged old experiences and wisdom into clinical practice. This systematic review has been done to study the evolving research trends, existing policy, current regulatory mechanism and publication criteria for the research meant for scientific validation of ASM. This review is based on the analysis of the published clinical trials, ethical and regulatory guidelines published between 2001 and 2022. The major databases were searched such as Medline, AYUSH Research Portal, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science. The analysis showed that the trends for scientific validation studies had continuously been on the rise in the past two decades. The guidelines for validation studies, safety studies, good clinical practices and ethical guidelines for biomedical research had been framed for research in ASM. We observed that there were no defined minimum standards for an intervention to be declared scientifically validated so that the research could be directional. Our study concludes that the concept of scientific validation of traditional approaches has not been comprehensively defined so far. As a result, scientific validation studies are not conducted in such a direction leading to achieve the set targets in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes is caused by a complex combination of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors, which contributes to its rising global incidence. a-amylase is a critical pharmaceutical target for reducing postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Because of the numerous side effects associated with synthetic anti-diabetic drugs, the use of natural substances for diabetes management has grown in popularity in recent years. Methods: In this study, potential a-amylase inhibitors were identified using virtual screening approaches, with a focus on bioactive compounds derived from Zingiber officinale. A comprehensive screening of 383 compounds was performed against the a-amylase active site. Following that, 14 compounds were identified as having greater binding energy efficacy than the control compounds. Results: The compounds LTS0006138, LTS0117761, LTS0176515, LTS0102243, and LTS0018665 exhibited notable interactions with the catalytic residues of a-amylase in this study, particularly by forming hydrogen bonds with multiple residues within the enzyme. Furthermore, an analysis of the molecular properties and descriptors of these five compounds showed promising drug-like properties. Conclusion: These compounds show promise as potential novel a-amylase inhibitors; nevertheless, further experimental validation is required to optimize their potency as a-amylase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell culture is a vital method in biological and biomedical research. The global cell culture market, valued at around USD 26.54 billion in 2023, is projected to surpass USD 63.60 billion by 2032. While two-dimensional cell culture has led to significant advancements in biology, its simplicity does not accurately reflect the complex in vivo environment. This can result in misleading data with limited predictive value for in vivo applications, prompting increased interest in three-dimensional (3D) cultivation methods. The 3D cell culture mimics the behavior and organization of cells in vivo by emulating the extracellular matrix (ECM), providing better insights into 3D interactions among cells and between cells and the matrix, thus reconstructing their natural microenvironment. In this review we will outline the various types of 3D models (include spheroids, organoids, bio-printed structures, and tissue chips). Subsequently, we will examine the methodologies employed to develop 3D culture systems (include four category methods). Lastly, the practical applications and challenges of these 3D models will be addressed. The future research will likely concentrate on incorporating cutting-edge technologies to improve the reproducibility and applicability of 3D models in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports of low replicability and translatability of biomedical research have called the value of animal models into question. The problems are real, but abandoning animal research is not the solution. Rather, improving the translatability of model-based research requires attention to relevant differences between humans and models, and to attributes of the models themselves that are essential to both robust science and effective translation. One is biological plasticity, the responsiveness of individual organisms to complex and variable environments. Though under-represented in model systems (for both historical and practical reasons), plasticity is central to human biology. While there are good reasons to minimize environmentally-induced variation in model-based research, doing so may undermine its translatability by eliding the kinds of external influences that are critical to human development, health, and disease. Accounting for plasticity can strengthen both the replicability and the translatability of model-based studies; this paper identifies strategies for doing so at each stage of the research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisms increase in size over time (age) due to excess assimilation over metabolic (respiration) energy demands. Most organisms reach a maximum size with increasing age as gain and loss balance. The von Bertalanffy length-at-age relationship, which is commonly used in fishery assessment calculations, imposes such a maximum size. However, some fished species, such as ocean quahogs, Arctica islandica, are long lived and continue to grow at old age. The Tanaka age-at-length relationship has continued growth at old age, but is rarely used in stock assessment models. A modified form of the von Bertalanffy model is presented, which mimics the continued growth at old age of the Tanaka model by allowing the growth parameter (K) to decline with age. This form is suitable for inclusion in stock assessment models based on von Bertalanffy. The proposed model matches Tanaka curves with precision appropriate for the scatter of data used to fit the curves. The observations of ocean quahog length at age and growth rate from New Jersey and Georges Bank demonstrate the ability of the modified von Bertalanffy relationship to represent continued growth at old age for this fished species. Simulated data generated with continued growth at old age were fit with the Stock Synthesis model (SS3). Results comparing traditional and modified growth relationships showed that the original von Bertalanffy model can reasonably approximate modest nonasymptotic growth as long as the number of observations is sufficient to constrain the parameter values. KEY WORDS: Arctica islandica, shellfish fisheries, length-at-age, growth model, ocean quahog, Bertalanffy growth, INTRODUCTION Most organisms increase in size over time in response to excess assimilated energy above metabolic demands, often termed scope for growth (Barilleet al. 1997, Munroeet al. 2013, Sanders et [...]

Animal personality can be defined as behavioral individual consistency across contexts and time, and sociability may facilitate it. Boldness and exploration can be considered as social conflictive behaviors and in lizards, social scent can either diminish or promote social conflicts. We studied boldness and exploration in Liolaemus albiceps Lobo and Laurent, 1995 and Liolaemus coeruleus Cei and Ortiz, 1983, and tested whether Liolaemus albiceps, a lesser aggressive species, presents higher individual consistency in a socially nonconflictive behavior, such as escape (boldness). We also expect Liolaemus coeruleus, a more aggressive species, to present higher individual consistency in exploration, which is socially more conflictive behavior. We exposed lizards to their own conspecifics and control scent treatments. We calculated the repeatability for boldness and exploration, analyzed their correlation, and tested for behavioral plasticity. Boldness and exploration were repeatable in Liolaemus albiceps at species level, with females showing highly repeatable boldness, and males, highly repeatable exploration. Liolaemus coeruleus exhibited no significant repeatability for either behavior. There was no correlation between these two behaviors, and both species showed plasticity. Liolaemus albiceps individuals were bolder and explored less under conspecific scents. Liolaemus coeruleus individuals explored less in presence of their own scents than novelty scents, and presented interindividual variation in plasticity. A peaceful lifestyle may favor behavioral consistency within individuals, whereas a more aggressive lifestyle may constrain within and among individual consistency in a chemical communication context. However, individual differences in plasticity could counterbalance this constraint. Key words: behavioral types, plasticity, repeatability, Squamata, Introduction Animal personality can be defined as those consistent individual differences in the same behavior across distinct contexts, situations, and times (Dall et al. 2004; Dingemanse et al. 2010; Reale [...]

Background: Understanding the anatomical structure of the human kidney, particularly its zonal and segmental organization, is crucial for both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in surgical procedures. That is why the purpose of the article was to study the variants of the zonal and segmental structure of human kidneys. Methods: 116 corrosive preparations of the arterial system of the human kidney served as the material for the study. The authors identified their extra-organ branches: a) the number of arterial vessels in the kidney hilum; b) the topographic and anatomical features of the renal artery trunks. In a 3D projection, zones of local zonal blood supply to areas of the renal parenchyma were identified, depending on the di- and trichotomic variants of the division of the main renal artery, A. renalis (I). Results: It was found that some lines of the passage of the zones of natural divisibility of the kidneys with different variants of the division of A. renalis (I). There were from 5 to 7 (6 ± 1) segments in the kidneys on average. It is possible that if a four-zone blood supply system with corresponding zones of natural kidney divisibility is found in the kidneys, where the zones mostly don’t coincide with the boundaries of the passage of segments in their classical version, the number of segments will be even greater. Conclusion: The results of the conducted study show that considering the generally accepted zones and boundaries of the passage of segments with zones of natural divisibility, which were not previously considered, the kidneys have an individual segmental structure, which requires revision. The authors believe that the generally accepted classical five-segment kidney model is outdated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular corrosion casting is an old method that has found application by anatomists for a long time. Initially, the viscosity of casting media was very high and thus the technique failed to cast the entire circulatory system from the arterial injection site through small arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, small veins and caval veins. Casting media soon were improved and thus enabled casting of the entire circulatory system. Examination of these vascular casts under the light microscope does not allow a thorough analysis with high resolution. Only when in 1971 Murakami applied Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM. to study vascular corrosion casts a breakthrough was achieved and for the first time, microvascular networks, too, were able to be analysed with a spatial resolution high enough to study the surface of the casts also termed injection replicas. and a depth of focus high enough to examine a large field of view enabling to reliably trace individual vessels either over very short or over extremely long distances. Scanning electron microscopy SEM. is a tool with great potential for morphological research. The images generated via SEM have great resolution and a high depth of focus, which gives SEM micrographs pseudo three-dimensionality. Adversely, the high depth of focus prevents accurate dimensional or spatial measurements of imaged microstructures from either the SEM video-display, printed micrographs or from photonegatives. Macroscopic objects are viewed close up using binocular vision. Binocular vision is also used in microscopy where stereophotogrammetry and related techniques applying stereo paired images, and a variety of hardware tools calculate the third dimension z-coordinate. using the parallax. Morphometric SEM 3D analysis is currently used to analyse i. the geometry of microvascular trees in terms of vascular parameters i.e., diameters, interbranching distances, branching angles and intervascular distances. and ii. to determine bifurcation indices, asymmetry and area ratios given in arterial bifurcations respectively in venous mergings. Moreover, it allows to generate anaglyphic 3D images and to calculate optimality principles underlying the construction and maintenance of such delicate vascular networks i.e. principles of minimal lumen volume, minimal pumping power, minimal lumen surface and minimal endothelial shear force. Aim: The main goal of the method is to characterize microvascular networks in human and animal tissues in order to demonstrate their anatomical situations and to reflect onto their physiological conditions. These methods enable not only to qualitatively describe but also to quantitatively explore the microvascularisation by means of three-dimensional morphometry and thus to compare different developmental stages and progress of disease. Conclusions: The combination of the techniques described above allows a thorough study of microvascular networks in healthy- and pathologic tissues and organs. This enables i. to enhance the knowledge of vascular- / anatomical situations and development, ii. to compare the physiological conditions in health and different pathologies and iii. to gain insights and to develop therapeutical strategies in various clinical pictures, which are critically dependent on a proper functioning vascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptomics is one of the largest areas of research in biological sciences. Aside from RNA expression levels, the significance of RNA spatial context has also been unveiled in the recent decade, playing a critical role in diverse biological processes, from subcellular kinetic regulation to cell communication, from tissue architecture to tumor microenvironment, and more. To systematically unravel the positional patterns of RNA molecules across subcellular, cellular, and tissue levels, spatial transcriptomics techniques have emerged and rapidly became an irreplaceable tool set. Herein, we review and compare current spatial transcriptomics techniques on their methods, advantages, and limitations, as well as applications across a wide range of biological investigations. This review serves as a comprehensive guide to spatial transcriptomics for researchers interested in adopting this powerful suite of technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Family Commelinaceae is considered one of the largest families in the plant kingdom, comprising 41 genera and 731 species. The biodiversity in Maha Sarakham Province plays a significant role in the daily lives of its inhabitants. It’s used as local food, vegetables, medicinal and ornamental plants, rituals, natural dyes, traditional cosmetics, and construction materials. This study aimed to determine Commelinaceae’s diversity, conservation status and traditional uses in Maha Sarakham Province, northeastern Thailand. Seven genera with 26 species of Commelinaceae were collected between January and December 2021 in field surveys. The genus diversity was Murdannia (7 species), Cyanoyis and Tradescantea (5 species each), Commelina (4 species), Callisia (3 species), Amischotolype and Floscopa (1 species each). Callisia repens, Callisia fragrans, and Tradescantia spathacea are popular ornamental species with varied leaf colour. Commelinaceae is significantly distributed in the Kantharawichai District in four ecosystems: deciduous dipterocarp forest (13 species), mixed deciduous forest (4 species), river basin (5 species) and 11 species in home gardens. This study reported 15 native (57.69%) and 11 cultivated species (42.31%) grouped into non-common species (50%) and common species (50%). The phenology is presented from June to September. The conservation status of five species is Least Concern (LC). The study revealed that 16 species from the research area are used for food, ornamental (9 species), rituals (1 species), medicine (4 species), and other purposes (8 species). This study provides important biological resource data on Commelinaceae; to our knowledge, this is the first biodiversity survey of the family [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) are major contributors to the coral reef crises across the Indo-Pacific region. Until recently, CoTS throughout the Indo-Pacific were regarded to be a single species, Acanthaster planci. However, genetic and morphological analyses demonstrated that there are at least four distinct species: Acanthaster benziei in the Red Sea, Acanthaster mauritiensis and A. planci in the Indian Ocean, and Acanthaster cf. solaris in the western Pacific. Acanthaster cf. ellisii in the eastern Pacific needs more taxonomic attention. Here, we review the biological knowledge for each species adapting a pragmatic geographical species definition and using a systematic literature review complemented with more focused searches for individual species. The vast majority of CoTS research (88%) was conducted on A. cf. solaris, with much of this research undertaken on the Great Barrier Reef or in Japan. Many studies of A. cf. solaris are focused on monitoring or documenting incidences of outbreaks, though there is a solid base of knowledge on larval, juvenile and adult ecology derived from field and laboratory experiments. By contrast, most of the published studies on the four remaining species simply document cases of population outbreaks. The major taxonomic bias in CoTS research constitutes a significant limitation for understanding and managing these species for two reasons. First, even for A. cf. solaris, which is the most studied species, limited fundamental knowledge of their biology and ecology constrains understanding of the drivers of outbreaks and hinders corresponding management actions for prevention and control of these events. Second, understanding and management of other species are predicated on the assumption that all CoTS species have similar biology and behaviour, an unsatisfying assumption for ecosystem management., Author(s): Sven Uthicke [sup.1] , Morgan S. Pratchett [sup.2] , Omri Bronstein [sup.3] , Juan José Alvarado [sup.4] , Gert Wörheide [sup.5] [sup.6] [sup.7] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/03x57gn41, grid.1046.3, 0000 [...]

Ocean warming poses a significant threat to the growth and survival of marine cold-water species. This study focused on Ophiopholis mirabilis, a representative cold-water Ophiuroid species, prevalent in the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM), which has been at risk of warming and frequent heat waves in recent decades. Despite the risks, the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of O. mirabilis to warming stress remain poorly understood. In this study, we sampled O. mirabilis specimens from the YSCWM (121.82°E, 38.28°N, 52 m depth), and conducted transcriptome analysis on their arm tissues under three temperature conditions to investigate their molecular response to elevated temperatures. The results showed that 1104 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), four significant profiles, 23 transcription factor genes from nine different families, and one functional protein interaction network were identified. Under one week of heat exposure, upregulated DEGs primarily participated in immune defense systems, tissue remodeling and repair, and energy metabolism, suggesting the potential activation of inflammatory responses under increased temperature. Notably, heat shock proteins and co-chaperones were downregulated, and the protein folding and binding were negatively regulated under high temperature, indicating unique molecular responses to heat stress in cold-water species. In addition, O. mirabilis exhibited regulation of the apoptotic system by reducing the expression of key genes after one-week increased temperature. This study enhances our understanding of the acclimatization strategies employed by O. mirabilis in response to climate change, and provides underlying data for studying the molecular mechanisms of marine cold-water species to ocean warming., Author(s): Xiaomei Liao [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jing Mo [sup.1] , Qian Zhang [sup.1] , Yue Dong [sup.1] , Yixuan Li [sup.1] , Wenge Shi [sup.1] , Xuelei Zhang [sup.1] [sup.2] [...]

The intestinal tract of herbivorous arthropods provides a microhabitat for a group of protistan and fungal endosymbionts known as trichomycetes. Many hosts are the aquatic immature stages of insects. One understudied group is mosquito larvae with only six trichomycete species reported from the mosquito gut, but Smittium culicis Manier and Zancudomyces culisetae Y. Wang, Tretter, Lichtw. & M.M. White are globally distributed and common in these insects. Mosquitoes are mostly found in standing freshwater habitats, but there are species that are found in brackish water pools common in salt marshes. No trichomycetes are reported from salt marsh mosquitoes. A new species, Legerioides culicicola, is described from mosquito larvae from freshwater sources in Nova Scotia (NS) and Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, and Smittium gronthidium Strongman & M.M. White is reported for the first time in this host. Smittium culicis is reported from salt marsh mosquitoes from collections in the same provinces in Eastern Canada. Information on the prevalence of mosquito trichomycetes is presented for sites in NS and PEI. Key words: insect gut fungi, Kickxellomycotina, lentic habitats, salt marsh, Smittium culicis Le tractus intestinal des arthropodes herbivores constitue un microhabitat pour un groupe d'endosymbiontes protistes et fongiques connus sous le nom de trichomycetes. De nombreux hotes sont les stades immatures aquatiques d'insectes. Les larves de moustiques constituent un groupe peu etudie, seules six especes de trichomycetes ayant ete signalees dans l'intestin des moustiques, mais Smittium culicis Manier et Zancudomyces culisetae Y. Wang, Tretter, Lichtw. & M.M. White sont distribuees dans le monde entier et sont communes chez ces insectes. Les moustiques se trouvent principalement dans des habitats d'eau douce stagnante, mais certaines especes se trouvent dans des bassins d'eau saumatre communs dans les marais sales. Aucun trichomycete n'a ete signale chez les moustiques des marais sales. Une nouvelle espece, Legerioides culicicola, est decrite a partir de larves de moustiques provenant de sources d'eau douce en Nouvelle-Ecosse (N.-E.) et a l'lle-du-Prince-Edouard (l'I.-P.-E.), au Canada, et Smittium gronthidium Strongman & M.M. White est signale pour la premiere fois dans cet hote. Smittium culicis est signale sur des moustiques de marais sales provenant de collections dans les memes provinces de l'Est du Canada. Des informations sur la prevalence des trichomycetes des moustiques sont presentees pour des sites en N.-E. et a 1T.-P.-E. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : champignons de l'intestin des insectes, Kickxellomycotina, habitats lentiques, marais sales, Smittium culicis, Introduction Trichomycetes are composed of fungal and protistan species that are common, obligate colonizers of the intestinal tract of freshwater, marine, and some terrestrial arthropods (Lichtwardt 1986; Lichtwardt et al. [...]

Bay scallops (Argopecten irradiuns conemtricus Say. 1822) exhibit a strong association with seagrass habitat from the time of larval settlement, but alternative habitats, such as macroalgae species, may also serve as important habitats for this species. The association of Florida bay scallops with the percent cover of observed seagrass, macroalgal species, and several substrate types (e.g., mud, shell, and rocks) was examined to determine whether a variety of seagrass and macroalgal species significantly influences the abundance of bay scallops in Florida. Sampling occurred at eight study sites along the Gulf coast of Florida, from Tampa Bay in the south to St. Andrew Bay in the north. SCUBA divers used a point-intercept approach along a transect to assess habitat type and percent cover, in addition to recording bay scallop abundance. Generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape were used to model bay scallop abundance as a function of habitat type. Across all sites, bay scallop abundance was positively correlated with percent cover of seagrass and negatively correlated with bare substrate, such as mud and sand. Five out of the 13 habitat types observed in association with bay scallops in this study were significant factors in models of bay scallop abundance including Acetabularia spp. (J.V. Lamouroux. 1812), Cmderpa spp. (J.V. Lamouroux, 1809), Gracilaria spp. (Greville, 1830), Syringadium filiforme (Kiitz, 1860), and Thalassia testudinum (Koenig. 1805). The two most important habitat variables were T. testudinum and Gracilaria spp., and there was an observed threshold response of bay scallop abundance to these habitat variables at low to medium percent cover. This is the first study to identify the importance of both seagrass and several macroalgal species for Florida bay scallops and suggests that bay scallop restoration efforts may benefit from restoring seagrass and macroalgae. KEY WORDS: Argopecten irradians concentricus, bay scallop, Florida, habitat, macroalgae, Thalassia. seagrass, GAMLSS, INTRODUCTION Bay scallops (Argopecten irradians Say. 1822) are found in coastal, benthic habitats ranging from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Laguna Madre, Texas (Fay et al. 1983). Commercial bay scallop fisheries [...]

The starvation tolerance of the moonsnail Laguncula pulchella was examined under nonfeeding conditions in the laboratory using individuals at the early stages of development, which comprised subadults ( KEY WORDS: Laguncula pulchella, naticid gastropod, nonfeeding experiment, early survival, carnivore, INTRODUCTION Starvation can influence the feeding behavior and growth of marine molluscs. For example, the scavenging gastropod Nassarius fraterculus tends to eat conspecifics as starvation progresses (Zhang & Goshima 2013). [...]