Search Results (416)

The chicken spur is a bony structure located on the tarsometatarsus and extending posteriorly. Because its length increases with age, it has become an important indicator of rearing duration and a trait of interest in high-quality chicken breeding. The developmental pattern of the chicken spur and its underlying genetic mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, Nandan-Yao chickens were used to investigate spur growth and development. Phenotypic measurements and X-ray imaging were performed to characterize spur growth, and RNA sequencing was used to identify candidate genes associated with spur length. Candidate genes were further evaluated by tissue expression profiling and RNA interference. The results showed that spur length was not significantly associated with body weight, body size, or laying traits (p > 0.05). In roosters, sperm motility and ln(T/E2) were significantly higher in the long spur group than in the short spur group (p < 0.05). X-ray imaging and gene expression analysis indicated that the chicken spur is a bony structure that develops through an endochondral ossification pattern, with the ossification center appearing at approximately 15 weeks of age in Nandan-Yao chickens. TENM2 was identified as a key candidate gene associated with spur development, and functional analysis suggested that it may be involved in this process through the BMP signaling pathway. These findings provide a basis for understanding the developmental pattern and genetic mechanisms of chicken spur formation and support the potential breeding value of spur traits. Full article

Background: Short sleep and formula feeding during infancy are associated with increased risk of childhood obesity. Feeding practices and sleep arrangements vary during infancy and may also be dynamic, yet their impact on infant night sleep duration remains unclear. Understanding these relationships is crucial for formulating recommendations to support breastfeeding and address sleep concerns. Objective: We examined the association between feeding mode and parent-reported infant night sleep duration during the first postnatal year, while additionally evaluating night-weaning and bedsharing as contextual sleep-related practices. Methods: Infants in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (n = 193) were followed up at 3, 8, 13, 26, 39, and 52 weeks post-birth. Sleep and feeding questionnaires were answered at each visit. A multilevel growth model estimated infant night sleep duration trajectories by feeding mode (ordinal: exclusive formula, mixed, exclusive breastfeeding), night-weaning, and bedsharing as time-variant predictors. Maternal education and household income were covariates to account for differences in study attrition. Results: Infant night sleep duration followed a curvilinear trajectory, starting at 7.92 h (95% CI: 5.78, 10.06) and increasing by 0.40 h/month (95% CI: 0.21, 0.60), with a deceleration over time (0.02 h/month², p < 0.001). Each increase in levels of breast milk consumption was associated with an increase in infant night sleep duration (B = 0.87 h, p < 0.001), but the association weakened as the infant aged (B = −0.07 h/month, p < 0.001). Despite 59.7% of bedsharing infants being exclusively breastfed, bedsharing was not significantly associated with infant night sleep duration. Similarly, night-weaning was not significantly associated with infant night sleep duration. Conclusions: Breastfeeding is associated with longer infant night sleep duration, whereas bedsharing showed no association despite its correlation with breastfeeding. This research highlights the importance of breastfeeding in early life, not only for its developmental benefits but also for its relationship with infant night sleep duration, an essential component of healthy infant growth. Full article

To examine how host plant identity shapes the performance of the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), three sweet potato varieties (Qianshu 12, Qianshu 17, and Yushu 13) were evaluated under laboratory conditions, with maize (Xida 818) as a control. Development, survival, reproduction, and population parameters were assessed using an age-stage, two-sex life table approach. The results demonstrated that S. frugiperda completed its life cycle on all sweet potato varieties. The developmental period was significantly different in the larval stage. S. frugiperda fed with Yushu 13 had the longest pupal duration (9.97 d) and preadult duration (37.94 d). Reproductive performance was also reduced on sweet potato: adults reared on maize showed greater longevity and higher fecundity, whereas no significant differences were found between Qianshu 17 and Yushu 13. Survival patterns differed among host plants and developmental stages. Early instar survival was highest on Qianshu 12 but lowest on Yushu 13, and Qianshu 12 supported relatively higher survival from late larval stages to adulthood. Life table analysis further showed that larvae fed with three sweet potato varieties exhibited a lower net reproductive rate (R₀), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and longer mean generation time (T) compared to those fed with corn. Overall, although sweet potato can support the development of S. frugiperda, it constrains reproduction and population growth, indicating lower host suitability. Full article

Tooth agenesis is a common developmental anomaly of the human dentition, ranging from hypodontia to oligodontia, yet its marked phenotypic variability remains insufficiently explained. This review synthesizes developmental and molecular evidence on epithelial–mesenchymal interactions during early odontogenesis and proposes a signaling-threshold framework for human tooth agenesis. We focus on the coordinated roles of Wnt/β-catenin, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathways and on recurrent disease-associated genes, including MSX1, PAX9, WNT10A, and AXIN2, as quantitative modulators of pathway activity rather than binary determinants of tooth identity. Within this framework, successful tooth initiation may depend on whether integrated signaling output exceeds a field-specific activation threshold within spatially graded developmental regions of the dental arch. Differences in signaling amplitude, duration, and transcriptional responsiveness may therefore account for distal tooth susceptibility, variable penetrance, arch asymmetry, and the broad clinical spectrum from mild hypodontia to severe oligodontia. By integrating molecular genetics with developmental field theory, this model provides a testable systems-level explanation for selective tooth absence and highlights priority directions for future functional and genotype–phenotype studies. Full article

Aspartate–glutamate carrier 1 (AGC1) deficiency is a rare neurometabolic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in SLC25A12. Clinically, it is characterized by early-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, often associated with hypomyelination and reduced brain N-acetylaspartate. AGC1 loss reduces malate–aspartate shuttle flux, limiting cytosolic NAD⁺ regeneration and impairing neuronal redox coupling, ATP supply, and aspartate-dependent biosynthesis during brain development. We integrate human genetics with mechanistic evidence from mammalian, Drosophila melanogaster, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae models to describe conserved transport principles and species-specific regulation underlying selective central nervous system vulnerability. We review the management of AGC1 deficiency, focusing on ketogenic therapy. Published reports show reproducible seizure reduction and, in some patients, improved myelination and N-acetylaspartate. However, these responses are heterogeneous and appear to depend on the timing, duration, and stability of ketosis. Preclinical evidence suggests that β-hydroxybutyrate may contribute to metabolic support in AGC1 deficiency. Prospective studies should test disease modification using standardized endpoints plus MRI/¹H-MRS and ketosis measures. Full article

Monolepta hieroglyphica Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (M. hieroglyphica) is widely distributed in China. Its larvae are soil pests that cause severe damage to the seeds and roots of economically important crops such as corn, cotton, and millet. This study investigated the effects of four temperatures (25, 28, 31, and 34 °C) on the survival rate, food consumption (3rd instar), pupation rate, emergence rate, biometric indices (weight and length), and antioxidant enzyme activity of immature M. hieroglyphica. High temperatures (31 °C and 34 °C) adversely affected developmental duration, survival rates, and feeding efficiency. The highest pupation rate, emergence rate, and biometric indices were observed at 28 °C, after which these metrics steadily declined as the temperature increased. Notably, emergence was completely inhibited at 34 °C, resulting in the absence of biometric data. These changes correspond with the temperature-dependent regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GST, and POD). This study identified the optimal temperature range and critical high-temperature threshold for immature M. hieroglyphica, providing key biological parameters for predicting population dynamics and outbreak risks under climate warming, and offering a scientific basis for precise monitoring and temperature-based integrated pest management strategies. Full article

Background: High quality pediatric sleep is shaped by multiple factors, including duration, restoration, and continuity. Multiple socio-ecological factors that are typically enforced by caregivers (e.g., bedtime routines) also determine the likelihood of attaining optimal pediatric sleep health. Consistent with the extant sleep literature on pre-pubertal children, this qualitative study targeted caregivers to identify factors influencing children’s sleep quality. Methods: Participants were recruited from Project G-SPACE, a US-based study exploring the influence of greenspace on sleep and mental health among elementary school-aged children. A racial, ethnic, and socio-economically diverse sample of caregivers (n = 21) participated in virtual semi-structured interviews about their perceptions of determinants of child sleep quality and behavior. Template-style thematic analysis was employed to synthesize the interviews. Results: Caregivers report that busy days for their children, especially characterized by high levels of physical activity, facilitate sleep continuity and good sleep quality. Sibling dynamics can be disruptive, resulting in poor sleep quality. To promote sleep health, parents employ rules regarding screentime, food/drink, and bed/wake time schedules, though the latter seems to be more flexible when children are not in school (e.g., weekends). Conclusions: Caregivers demonstrated great variability regarding implementing strategies to enhance their children’s sleep quality, suggesting that parents may be unsure of how to optimize the strategies they employ, which are most effective, or how to manage resistance from their children. Clinicians should discuss how to address these practical challenges with caregivers. Future research investigating the developmentally unique differences in determinants of sleep quality among elementary school-aged children is prudent. Full article

Paralipsa gularis (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a storage pest native to Southeast Asia that has since spread to Northern Europe, North America, and other parts of Asia. In recent years, it has become an increasingly destructive pest in maize agroecosystems along the China–Southeast Asia border region, causing severe damage. Temperature is a key environmental factor influencing insect development, fecundity, and distribution, yet its effects on P. gularis remain unclear. In this study, we used an age-stage two-sex life table to evaluate the effects of temperature on the development duration, survival, and fecundity of P. gularis. We also determined the developmental threshold temperatures and effective accumulated temperatures for each life stage and developed a predictive model of developmental duration. Our results showed that temperature significantly affected the development duration across all stages, as well as larval and pupal survival rates and adult fecundity. Temperatures of 15–20 °C and 33–35 °C were unsuitable for population development, whereas 23–30 °C was optimal. At 15 and 35 °C, P. gularis failed to reach the pupal stage; at 33 °C, only a very few individuals reached adulthood. Between 18 and 30 °C, the development duration of each stage decreased with increasing temperature, with larval development ranging from 69.81 to 14.92 days. The optimal temperature was 28 °C, at which the insects exhibited high body weight, survival rate, intrinsic rate of natural increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproduction rate (R₀). The developmental threshold temperatures for eggs, larvae, pupae, and the overall generation were 17.33, 14.03, 11.72, and 13.11 °C, respectively, and the effective accumulated temperatures were 33.49, 242.51, 116.26, and 524.93 degree-days, respectively. This study provides a scientific basis and technical support for predicting population dynamics under varying climatic conditions and for developing effective control strategies for P. gularis. Full article

The chemical control of Leguminivora glycinivorella (Mats.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) has been a major threat to the soybean industry in China over the years. Therefore, we need to develop green, safe, and environmentally friendly alternatives for pest control. Amine hormones, such as melatonin, represent an adjunct strategy for the green control of L. glycinivorella. We aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin on the development, survival, reproduction, nutrient accumulation, and cold tolerance of L. glycinivorella and to provide insights into the role of melatonin in insect adaptive regulation. Newly hatched L. glycinivorella larvae were fed on soybean pods immersed in solutions with different concentrations of exogenous melatonin. The developmental duration of larvae and pupae, survival rate, pupation rate, adult eclosion rate, body weight and length of larvae and pupae, nutrient composition of mature larvae, adult reproductive parameters, and supercooling and freezing points were measured. With increasing melatonin concentrations, the developmental durations of larvae and pupae were significantly prolonged, while the larval survival rate, pupation rate, and adult eclosion rate significantly decreased. The body weight and length of both larvae and pupae declined with increasing melatonin concentrations, reaching the lowest values in the 200 mg/L group. Melatonin treatment significantly reduced protein and lipid contents in mature larvae but significantly increased glycogen content. Reproductive parameters, including pre-oviposition period, oviposition period, fecundity, and female adult longevity, all decreased significantly with increasing melatonin concentrations. Additionally, melatonin treatment significantly lowered the supercooling point and freezing point of mature larvae. Exogenous melatonin significantly inhibits the growth, development, survival, reproduction, and nutrient metabolism of L. glycinivorella, yet enhances its low-temperature tolerance, suggesting that melatonin may serve as a potential tool for population management of L. glycinivorella through its dual regulatory role in insect physiology. Full article

Pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are rare malignancies that differ fundamentally from their adult counterparts in molecular drivers, histology, and clinical behavior. While adult GI cancers are frequently driven by recurrent oncogenic mutations, pediatric tumors often exhibit pathway-level dysregulation involving developmental signaling networks. Among these, the RAS/MAPK pathway emerges as a central convergent axis integrating growth factor signaling, developmental programs, inflammatory cues, and post-translational regulatory mechanisms. Increasing evidence suggests that aberrant phosphorylation dynamics result from imbalanced kinase activation and phosphatase-mediated signal attenuation, which contribute to sustained MAPK signaling in pediatric GI malignancies, even in the absence of canonical RAS or RAF mutations. This review synthesizes current knowledge on RAS/MAPK signaling in pediatric GI cancers, emphasizing the role of kinase–phosphatase imbalance, signal duration, and regulatory failure in shaping oncogenic outcomes. We highlight how altered phosphorylation control may influence tumor differentiation, therapeutic responsiveness, and resistance mechanisms, and discuss emerging opportunities for targeting signaling dynamics rather than single genetic lesions. This signaling-centric framework provides a biologically grounded rationale for functional biomarker-driven precision therapy in pediatric GI malignancies. Full article

Zeugodacus tau Walker (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a quarantine pest of cucurbit crops in China. In recent years, the damage it has caused to Trichosanthes kirilowii (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae) has increased, but evidence for host adaptation and population growth on this plant remains limited. We investigated the suitability of T. kirilowii as a host plant for Z. tau, compared with the known suitable host Cucurbita moschata, by examining adult olfactory preference, oviposition choice, and demographic performance using an age–stage, two-sex life table. Females preferred T. kirilowii significantly more than C. moschata in cases of both peeled and unpeeled fruits, whereas males showed no significant difference. Oviposition was also higher on T. kirilowii and further increased on peeled fruit. Developmental duration, total longevity, ovipositing days, oviposition period, and hatching rate did not differ between the two host species. However, Z. tau reared on T. kirilowii exhibited significantly shorter APOP and TPOP, along with higher fecundity and increased pupal weight. Life table parameters indicated higher intrinsic (r = 0.1028 ± 0.0040 d⁻¹) and finite rates of increase (λ = 1.1083 ± 0.0044 d⁻¹) on T. kirilowii, whereas R₀ was similar and mean generation time was shortened by 11.61 d. A 100-day projection predicted 11,980 adults from T. kirilowii compared to 1231 from C. moschata. Overall, T. kirilowii is a highly suitable host that supports the rapid population growth of Z. tau. Full article

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most serious disease affecting citrus production worldwide, and its management relies on controlling its vector, Diaphorina citri. Although Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) is widely used in biological control programmes, Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Shafee et al.) has been proposed as a complementary agent; both species were reported in Colombia in 2016, yet their interaction dynamics under local conditions remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the development, morphometry, and interaction patterns of both parasitoids under controlled rearing conditions using a shared host population. Three treatments were established: non-parasitised nymphs, nymphs exposed to D. aligarhensis, and nymphs exposed to T. radiata, with parasitoids allowed to oviposit for 24 h. Developmental duration and morphometric traits were recorded daily. T. radiata completed its life cycle in less time (~11.7 days) than D. aligarhensis (~14.4 days) and than non-parasitized nymphs (~17 days). Morphometric traits were consistent with previously reported ranges, and this study provides the first detailed characterisation of the immature stages of D. aligarhensis in Colombia. Particularly, events of multiparasitoidism and superparasitoidism were documented under standardised conditions, demonstrating that both species can exploit the same host simultaneously. These findings offer new insights into parasitoid interaction dynamics and establish a biological foundation for developing integrated biological control strategies against D. citri. Full article

Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is a phytozoophagous crop pest. While the effects of plant-based diets on its development and reproduction have been extensively studied, the combined effects of plant- and prey-based diets on these traits remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of plant-only, prey-only, and mixed plant–prey diets on A. lucorum nymphal survival and development, as well as adult longevity and fecundity, under controlled laboratory conditions. The results demonstrate that diet composition significantly affected nymphal survival and developmental progression. Nymphs fed exclusively on prey (Aphis gossypii Glover or Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) nymphs) failed to complete juvenile development. Although a diet of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) eggs alone enabled some individuals to reach adulthood, survival rates were significantly lower than those in mixed-diet treatments. Mixed feeding markedly improved nymphal survival, with the highest rates observed in groups fed green beans + H. armigera eggs and cotton leaves + B. tabaci nymph combinations (both 64.45%). The developmental duration was also influenced. Mixed diets, particularly green beans + H. armigera eggs, significantly shortened each instar and the total developmental time (11.04 ± 0.17 d), whereas a diet of cotton leaves alone prolonged development (19.45 ± 0.24 d). Adult longevity and reproductive output were likewise diet-dependent. The longest lifespans were recorded in adults fed green beans alone or green beans + H. armigera eggs, while the shortest lifespan was observed for those fed only cotton leaves. Successful oviposition was only achieved following four dietary treatments: green beans alone, green beans + H. armigera eggs, H. armigera eggs alone, and cotton leaves + H. armigera eggs. Among these, the green bean + H. armigera egg diet yielded the best reproductive performance, featuring the shortest pre-oviposition period (5.82 ± 0.60 d), the longest oviposition period (19.41 ± 1.68 d), and the highest mean fecundity per female (238.35 ± 25.51 eggs). This underscores the reproductive advantage of a mixed plant–prey diet. This study clarifies how dietary conditions shape the survival, development, and reproduction of A. lucorum, highlighting its strong reliance on nutritional quality for key life-history traits. These findings offer valuable insights into the ecological adaptations underlying the feeding behavior of this insect. Full article

This study aims to provide insights into how physical activity is associated with sleep patterns in youth populations, in particular, Slovak adolescents, and how gender (boys vs. girls) and age (≤16 vs. ≥18) moderate this relationship, using an extreme-group comparison approach that excludes 17-year-olds to enhance contrast between developmental stages. Using a cross-sectional design, self-reported data were collected from 2504 (100%) high school students (aged 15–19; 45.6% boys, 54.4% girls) using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Participants aged 17 years were excluded from age-stratified analysis to create clearer separation between early/mid and late adolescence. The primary outcome was global sleep quality (PSQI > 5). Secondary outcomes included sleep duration and PSQI component scores. All other analyses (age- and gender-stratified comparisons and interaction models) were predefined as exploratory and hypothesis-generating to examine potential effect modification. Age-stratified analyses among girls showed that, within the low PA group, good sleep was reported by 37.7% of younger girls (≤16) and 28.6% of older girls (≥18). Among older girls, the proportion reporting good sleep increased to 49.8% in the high PA group (χ² = 29.16, p < 0.001). No consistent associations between PA and sleep quality were observed among boys; however, significant association was identified among younger boys (≤16 years), which was not observed in older boys. Logistic regression revealed a modest interaction between age and PA level in predicting sleep quality among girls (β = 0.346, p = 0.049), suggesting small age-dependent variation in the association. This effect should be interpreted cautiously given its borderline statistical significance. Component-level PSQI analyses showed that girls experienced higher rates of sleep disturbances (χ² = 91.40, p < 0.001), longer sleep latency (χ² = 26.71, p < 0.001), and greater daytime dysfunction (χ² = 79.90, p < 0.001). These findings provide region-specific evidence from Central and Eastern Europe and underscore the need for age- and gender-sensitive public health strategies targeting both physical activity promotion and better sleep outcomes, given their observed associations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sufficient sleep quantity/quality in infancy is crucial for healthy development, so it is important to identify early associated predictive factors. Research findings highlight salient endogenous (infant temperament) and exogenous (breastfeeding) influences, though no known studies have examined nuanced and interactive relations among these variables from early to late infancy/toddlerhood. Thus, the current study examined the main and interaction effects of these variables on infant sleep at 6 and 14 months while controlling for prenatal cortisol exposure. Methods: Data from a subsample (n = 79) of the Infant Development and Healthy Outcomes in Mothers Study were used, including prenatal maternal saliva samples assayed for cortisol and maternal questionnaires that included retrospective reporting of infant temperament, sleep quality and quantity, and breastfeeding frequency. Results: Multiple linear regression results include a statistically significant negative relation between prenatal maternal cortisol area under the curve and 6-month infant sleep quantity. A greater breastfeeding frequency at 6 months was associated with decreased 6-month sleep quality via conditional but not interaction effects. Greater 6-month infant Surgency was associated with better sleep quality at 14 months. There were no statistically significant interaction effects. Conclusions: The findings suggest that maternal psychophysiological stress has a significant influence on infant sleep duration, while research should further investigate the role of infant temperament and breastfeeding in shaping infant sleep quality. Significant conditional effects highlight patterns that should be re-examined with a larger sample to determine whether infant temperament may buffer against negative associations between breastfeeding frequency and infant sleep quality in early and late infancy in a developmental stage-consistent manner. Future replication studies should include a multi-method, longitudinal assessment of all key study variables, as well as a larger, more sociodemographically diverse sample of maternal–infant dyads. Full article