Search Results (506)

HIV is primarily acquired in women at the female genital mucosa through heterosexual contact. Mucosal immune cells reside adjacent to, within, below, and distant from the epithelium that lines the surface of the female genital tract (FGT) mucosa. Innate immune cells play dual roles in HIV acquisition, both poised to rapidly recognize and respond to HIV, but are also capable of promoting HIV infection locally and distantly in the lymph nodes. In this review we emphasize recent human research on the roles of specific innate immune cells in HIV pathogenesis in the FGT, including dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils and innate lymphoid cells. We review how FGT mucosal dynamics, including anatomical compartmentalization, menstrual cycle regulation, reproductive history, menopause and chronological aging contribute to tissue conditioning of these cells and changes in HIV susceptibility in women throughout their lives. Full article

In 2024 and 2025, researchers investigated the breeding ecology of the Twite Linaria flavirostris in riparian shrubland habitats at an elevation of 3400 m in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. This species lays eggs from late June to mid-July, capitalizing on the region’s brief warm season. Nests are typically open-cup structures built in Hippophae spp. shrubs. The population predominantly exhibits monogamous mating, with a mean clutch size of 4.7 ± 0.49 (3~5). Incubation is performed solely by the female and lasts 11.52 ± 1.65 days. Both parents provision the nestlings, and the nestling period lasts 12.43 ± 2.39 days. Morphological measurements of nestling body mass and external organs all fit well to the Logistic growth curve equation. By fledging, tarsus length and bill length reach over 90% of adult values, conferring substantial terrestrial mobility. However, flight-related feathers, primaries and rectrices, remain markedly underdeveloped compared to adults, resulting in extremely poor flight capability; further post-fledging development is thus required. Based on reproductive outcomes from this single breeding season, a total of 121 eggs were laid, of which 81 successfully hatched, and ultimately 79 fledglings survived to leave the nest. The overall hatching success was 66.94%, fledging success (among hatchlings) was 97.53%, and overall offspring survival (from eggs to fledglings) was 65.29%. The apparent nesting success rate was 76.0%, based on a total of 50 nests monitored over two years. Daily nest survival rates were estimated using Mayfield’s method and program MARK, resulting in nest success probabilities of 0.587 and 0.219, respectively. Comparing populations across different geographic regions, the results indicate that Twites breeding in environments with higher levels of environmental stress produce smaller clutch sizes and larger eggs, and exhibit a prolonged nestling period. This life-history strategy likely represents an evolutionary adaptation to spatially variable environmental conditions. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan infecting approximately one-third of the global population, poses a significant yet underappreciated threat to reproductive health in both sexes. Although this parasite has long been linked to birth defects caused by infection during pregnancy, new research shows that it also reduces fertility in both sexes through different but related mechanisms. This review synthesizes knowledge on T. gondii-induced reproductive pathology across females and males, examining shared mechanistic themes while respecting tissue-specific differences, and evaluates emerging therapeutic strategies. In females, the parasite establishes persistent uterine reservoirs, triggers decidual immune dysregulation characterized by NK cell cytotoxicity, M1 macrophage polarization, Treg apoptosis, and inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, while disrupting estrogen and progesterone signaling through both host receptor modulation and intrinsic parasite steroidogenic enzymes (TgCYP450mt, TgMAPR, Tg-HSD). In males, T. gondii breaches the blood–testis barrier, induces germ cell and Leydig cell apoptosis via ER stress and caspase pathways, impairs sperm quality parameters across acute and chronic infection, and disrupts the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Conserved molecular mechanisms—including NLRP3 inflammasome activation, PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP-mediated ER stress, and oxidative stress—operate in both reproductive tissues. The parasite’s intrinsic steroidogenic capability and bidirectional hormonal manipulation represent a paradigm shift in understanding host–parasite interactions. Conventional antiparasitics face limitations due to poor reproductive sanctuary penetration. Immunomodulatory approaches targeting Trem2, Tim-3, and the NLRP3 inflammasome show promise, along with natural products including Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide and ginseng polysaccharide. Nanomedicine platforms and mRNA vaccine candidates offer new directions for overcoming tissue barrier limitations. Toxoplasma gondii represents a fundamental threat to fertility and pregnancy outcomes rather than merely a risk for congenital infection. Integrated therapeutic strategies addressing direct parasitism, immunopathology, and endocrine disruption are needed. Longitudinal cohort studies, strain-specific mechanistic comparisons, and clinical trials of immunomodulatory adjuncts are urgently required. Full article

The structural integrity of bogie frames is a critical factor in the safety and reliability of railway rolling stock, requiring advanced assessment methods to handle complex, multi-axial stress states. This research presents a robust numerical framework for the preliminary fatigue evaluation of a metro bogie frame, integrating high-fidelity Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with the Findley multi-axial fatigue criterion. The methodology overcomes the limitations of traditional uniaxial verification methods by employing a localized critical plane approach, implemented through a proprietary computational code. The investigation simulates a realistic operational scenario by superimposing a static vertical load of 15 tons per side with dynamic components derived from on-track accelerometric data. This integrated loading condition enables a precise reproduction of the “rotating” stress states typically encountered in service. Global structural analysis identified critical transverse welded joints as high-stress concentration zones, which were then subjected to a detailed multi-axial investigation. By correlating the extracted stress tensors with the resistance category included in the reference standard, over a regulatory life of 10 million cycles, a maximum cumulative damage index of 0.4602 was recorded. The results demonstrate that while the frame possesses adequate structural reserves, nearly half of its fatigue life is consumed in localized nodes. This methodology provides a reliable and computationally efficient tool for the structural health monitoring and development of innovative railway geometries, offering a superior predictive capability that remains scarcely utilized by major rolling stock manufacturers. Full article

Natural killer (NK) cells are effector cells of the innate immune system. The cytokine microenvironment influences NK cell function. Dysregulation of NK cell cytotoxicity can manifest in reproductive disorders and is also observed in tumor-transformed tissues. The search for immunotherapies capable of regulating NK cell activity is therefore relevant. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the TGFβ signaling pathway inhibitor and the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 7/12/13 inhibitor on the transcriptional profile of NK-92 cell line. In the study, the cytokines TGFβ1, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and TNFα, and the TGFβ receptor type 1 (TGFβR1) inhibitor LY3200882 and the CDK7/12/13 inhibitor THZ1 were used. The cells were cultured sequentially in the presence of inhibitors and cytokines, followed by assessment of the gene expression of NCR2, NCR3, AHR, NCAM1, B3GAT1, EOMES, GATA3, KLRC1, KLRC2, CCL5, IL10 and TBX21. We observed direct effects of the inhibitors on NK cells. LY3200882 increased the expression of KLRC1 and B3GAT1, and reduced NCAM1. THZ1 increased the expression of KLRC1, KLRC2, AHR and EOMES, while it reduced IL-10 and NCR2. IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and TNFα modified the gene expression of some phenotypic and cytotoxic receptors and transcription factors. TGFβ1 increased the expression of KLRC1, NCAM1, and B3GAT1. Blocking TGFβ-dependent signaling with LY3200882 abolished TGFβ1 effects. We assessed CD56 presence on NK-92 cell membrane and found its increase in the presence of LY3200882. After LY3200882 treatment, in the presence of TGFβ1 and choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3, the expression of CD56 receptor on NK cell membrane decreased. Pretreating NK cells with THZ1 decreased the expression of NCAM1, B3GAT1, and EOMES in the presence of TGFβ1. Thus, LY3200882 partially neutralized TGFβ1 effects on the expression of NK cell receptor genes. THZ1 followed by TGFβ1 treatment promoted NK cell transcriptional profile characteristic for CD56dim NK cells. Both LY3200882 and THZ1 affected the NK cell transcription even without cytokine treatment. The independent effects of synthetic inhibitors on NK cells, as well as their influence in the presence of tumor cells, should be considered. Full article

Brucellosis poses a persistent threat to livestock health in high-altitude pastoral regions of China, where harsh environments and semi-nomadic grazing increase transmission risk. Existing surveillance systems rely mainly on periodic serological testing and lack effective early warning capability. This study proposes an ensemble learning-based early warning framework integrating veterinary epidemiological indicators with environmental and herd-movement data. A total of 4826 herd-level records collected over five years (2019–2024) were analyzed, with an overall positivity rate of 11.4%. Multi-source data, including serological, clinical, reproductive, vaccination, meteorological, pasture-management, and herd-movement information (from GPS tracking and structured surveys), were integrated through epidemiology-guided feature engineering. To address class imbalance and temporal dynamics, Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) resampling and sliding time-window features were applied. The proposed ensemble model combines Random Forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM using a soft-voting strategy, with logistic regression as a baseline. Results show that the ensemble model outperforms single models, achieving an AUC of 0.86 and a PR-AUC of 0.65. After threshold optimization, sensitivity increased from 0.78 to 0.87. Under field conditions, the system provided herd-level early warnings with an average lead time of approximately 12 days before confirmed outbreaks, demonstrating its feasibility and practical value for proactive brucellosis surveillance in high-altitude pastoral systems. Full article

This is the first systematic review evaluating Black Sea plankton as biosensor organisms for Biological Early Warning Systems (BEWS)—real-time monitoring approaches that detect sublethal behavioral or physiological responses to pollutants before irreversible ecosystem damage occurs. The systematic literature review was guided by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, ensuring methodological transparency and applicability. A total of 140 publications from databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases) were included in the final analysis. We assess nine native planktonic taxa as candidates for automated video-based water quality monitoring, using a multi-criteria framework encompassing biological sensitivity, technical detectability, and practical feasibility. Three species emerge as the most suitable candidates: Aurelia aurita as a universal indicator (sensitive to copper, surfactants, petroleum, and microplastics; its large size enables standard video detection); Acartia tonsa for trace contamination (reproductive toxicity at metal concentrations 4–33× below regulatory standards); and Mnemiopsis leidyi for metal-specific discrimination (bioluminescent responses: 650% Zn, 430% Cu, and 350% Hg at 0.001 mg/L). Analysis of 140 publications reveals critical gaps: 33% of species lack toxicological data, 95% of studies test single toxicants despite natural mixture exposure, and microplastic methodology varies 1000-fold in particle size. Threshold analysis suggests planktonic sublethal stress at “safe” concentrations under current standards, suggesting inadequate protection of marine food webs. A complementary monitoring approach integrating these species with computer vision algorithms offers autonomous early-warning capability for Black Sea environmental management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Osteoarthritis has been increasingly described as associated with systemic inflammation, raising the question of how it would affect fertility in young women with or without reproductive hormone administration. We studied oogenesis in mice with collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) as a model system with fewer ethical limitations after estradiol (E2) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment. Methods: Oocytes have been isolated from mice subjected to various treatment regimens. The meiotic spindle, the chromatin, and the actin cap were fluorescently labeled and analyzed. Results: In addition to reduced maturation rates, specific oocyte abnormalities were registered when CIOA, FSH, or E2 were applied in isolation. Combined treatments showed that the spindle, chromatin, and actin cytoskeleton parameters were differently affected in oocytes from groups with CIOA treated by estradiol and those treated with FSH. Enlarged spindles, ooplasmic tubulin asters, aligned metaphases, and predominantly normal actin caps, often with an actin halo, were typical for groups with CIOA combined with estradiol. The groups with CIOA and FSH had slightly enlarged spindles, unaligned metaphases with degenerated chromatin surrounded by a cloud of depolymerized tubulin, and small actin caps. Conclusions: Our results show that experimental osteoarthritis with or without exogenous reproductive hormones negatively affects oogenesis, presumably due to systemic inflammatory factors making the ovarian microenvironment less capable of supporting oocyte maturation. Estradiol supplementation does not benefit oogenesis. FSH treatment induced cytoskeletal and chromatin abnormalities that presumably disturb the fertilization and development potential of affected oocytes. These data can have implications for assisted reproduction in cases of patients with osteoarthritis. Full article

Getah virus (GETV), a mosquito-borne virus capable of infecting multiple economically important animal species, poses a potential epidemic risk. In May 2024, one pig farm from Heyuan, Guangdong Province, China, suffered reproductive disorders in sows and diarrhea in newborn piglets. Out of the six blood samples that were collected, three tested strongly positive for GETV, yielding a positivity rate of 50%. Moreover, a GETV strain (designated GDHYLC2024) was successfully isolated and identified. The viral titer of GDHYLC2024 was 10^7.687 TCID₅₀/mL in Vero cells. Its genome was composed of 11,688 bases in length. Interestingly, compared with GDHYLC23, it had no unique 32-nucleotide repeat insertion in 3′ non-coding region. However, phylogenetic analysis showed that GDHYLC2024 and GDHYLC23 clustered in genotype III. Animal infection experiments demonstrated that the GDHYLC2024 strain was highly pathogenic to 4-day-old piglets, which caused obvious clinical symptoms including fever, depression, anorexia, periorbital edema, ataxia, and three deaths out of a total of five individuals in the infection group. This study reported re-emergence of GETV in the same region of Guangdong Province, China. The above findings suggest that GETV continuously poses a threat to farm pig’s health and has genetic diversity. Full article

Same-sex sexual behavior is an enigma in behavioral ecology as it does not result in reproduction. Previous studies on the evolution of same-sex sexual behavior have primarily focused on factors such as recognition mechanisms, resource constraints, and challenges in securing an opposite-sex partner, while overlooking the investigation into active same-sex sexual behavior without environmental stress. Here, through experimentation, we investigated the stability of same-sex pairs in tandem running, the mating behavior of pairs that form same-sex tandem runs, and the occurrence of same-sex sexual behavior (SSB) when opposite-sex partners are available. Results indicated that while the stability of same-sex tandems is lower than that of opposite-sex tandems, both males and females are capable of expressing sex-specific behaviors typical of the opposite sex and forming same-sex tandems. Notably, SSB was observed not only in same-sex pairing contexts but also when individuals had the autonomy to choose between same-sex and opposite-sex partners. These results demonstrate that same-sex sexual behavior in termites is not a behavioral response to environmental stress (e.g., the absence of opposite-sex partners) but rather an actively expressed behavior. These findings highlight the role of sex role plasticity in the evolution of same-sex sexual behavior, providing a new mechanistic perspective for understanding same-sex sexual behavior in social insects. Full article

Seed priming is a simple, economical, and sustainable technique capable of enhancing crop resilience to abiotic stresses. A plastic greenhouse experiment was conducted on the durum wheat cultivar, Karim, sown in a 375 L volume container under semi-controlled conditions. Plots were arranged in a completely randomized design regarding treatments (control, salinity) and priming agents (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA; gibberellic acid, GA₃; and salicylic acid, SA). Some physiological, biochemical, and morphometric traits were analyzed at vegetative and reproductive stages. The obtained results demonstrated that salinity stress reduced plant growth and the SPAD index, hampered photosynthetic efficiency through disrupted PSII integrity and energy management in the electron transfer chain, and significantly affected ear filling (EF) and grain caliber (marked by mean weight of 100 grains, MW100G). However, seed hormonal priming allowed the alleviation of salinity stress effects on durum wheat growth and yield. Although IAA and GA₃ have shown significant potential in improving durum wheat tolerance to salinity, SA was found to be the most effective priming agent. It promotes the biosynthesis of chlorophyll pigments, restores the functional integrity of PSII, enhances photosynthetic efficiency, increases plant growth, and stimulates ear filling and wheat grain development. The principal component analysis demonstrated the interdependence of the vegetative and reproductive traits and presents SA as the most effective treatment that brings plants close to control conditions, despite the salinity. Full article

The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is an important aquaculture species in the Philippines, but it exhibits reproductive dysfunctions in captivity due to the absence of natural spawning cues and culture-induced stress. In hatcheries, sperm collection often requires sacrificing male breeders, limiting breeding program applications, and threatening genetic diversity. This study evaluated and optimized hormonal induction protocols to enhance spermiation and fertilization success in male C. gariepinus. Two experimental trials were conducted under controlled hatchery conditions. In Trial 1, human chorionic gonadotropin combined with a dopamine antagonist (hCG + DA; 5000 IU·kg⁻¹ BW + 5 mg·kg⁻¹ BW) and Ovaprim (1.0 mL·kg⁻¹ BW) significantly increased circulating testosterone and estradiol levels, spermiation index, and fertilization outcomes (embryo viability, hatching, and larval survival). In Trial 2, medium to low doses of hCG + DA (3000–5000 IU·kg⁻¹ BW + 5 mg·kg⁻¹ BW) and Ovaprim (0.75–1.0 mL·kg⁻¹ BW) yielded the best performance in terms of hormone levels, spermiation index, and fertilizing capabilities. The presence of a dopamine antagonist (DA) likely contributed to the efficacy of the treatments, since dopamine suppresses the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (dopaminergic inhibition), and DA counteracts this effect, increasing LH and FSH levels necessary for gametogenesis. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of optimized hormonal protocols to mitigate reproductive dysfunctions in male C. gariepinus in aquaculture settings. Further studies should refine dose combinations, assess the long-term health of broodstock, and evaluate cost-effectiveness to support sustainable broodstock management and genetic conservation. Full article

Geometrical dot gain represents a fundamental physical phenomenon influencing tonal reproduction in halftone printing, particularly in offset and flexographic processes. However, a formally defined analytical framework capable of determining the tonal conditions of equal geometrical dot gain, particularly for hybrid screening design and tonal consistency optimization, has not yet been clearly established. In this study, a geometrical analytical model is formulated to determine the transition points of equal geometrical dot gain between AM and FM screening. Two analytical approaches were applied. The first compares the total contour length of halftone elements in both screening technologies, while the second relates the AM dot diameter to predefined FM microdot sizes. Calculations were performed for eight AM screen rulings (120–340 lpi) and six FM microdot diameters (20–50 μm) under predefined geometrical conditions (2540 dpi output resolution and circular dot shape). The results indicate that transition points predominantly occur within the highlight tonal region and systematically shift toward higher tonal percentages with increasing screen ruling. Both analytical procedures, although conceptually different, yield identical results, confirming the internal consistency of the model. The analytically determined transition points provide a geometrically justified basis for defining switching zones in hybrid and XM screening systems, enabling improved tonal stability and more consistent screening transitions. Full article

The brown trout (Salmo trutta) is a commercially and ecologically significant salmonid fish, yet its hepatic cellular and functional dynamics throughout the reproductive cycle remain poorly characterised, particularly in males. This study investigated seasonal and sex-specific liver plasticity across four reproductive stages: spawning capable (December), regressing (March), regenerating (July), and developing (November). We quantified mRNA and protein abundance of key oestrogen-responsive targets—vitellogenin (VtgA) and zona pellucida (ZP) proteins—alongside cell turnover markers, caspase 3 (Casp3) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). These molecular endpoints were integrated with stereological analyses to estimate hepatocyte, nuclear, and cytoplasmic volumes. Results revealed stage-dependent mobilisation and transient hepatic retention of reproductive proteins; females exhibited stronger vitellogenic signatures and more pronounced seasonal shifts than males. Although VtgA and ZP mRNA levels peaked during the developing and spawning-capable stages, males maintained low but consistent levels throughout the cycle, indicating constitutive hepatic oestrogen sensitivity. Regarding cell turnover, PCNA protein data indicated heightened proliferative activity during the spawning-capable and regressing stages. In contrast, while Casp3 mRNA levels remained stable across all stages, protein detection suggested a post-transcriptional increase in apoptotic signalling during the developing phase, consistent with controlled tissue remodelling rather than extensive cell loss. Stereological data confirmed enlarged hepatocyte and nuclear volumes during periods of high secretory and proliferative demand. Overall, these findings demonstrate significant stage-dependent and sex-specific plasticity in brown trout liver, providing a robust reference framework for ecological monitoring, endocrine disruption assessments, and studies of teleost reproductive physiology. Full article

Heat stress is one of the main factors limiting the efficiency and sustainability of dairy production in tropical and subtropical regions, impairing animal welfare, as well as productive and reproductive performance. Among mitigation technologies, evaporative cooling stands out as a widely adopted strategy in intensive production systems. However, there are still no consolidated metrics capable of quantifying, in a comparative and regionalized manner, the theoretical potential for using this technique under different climatic conditions. In this context, the objective of this study was to develop an innovative modeling-based metric to estimate the potential for evaporative cooling based on thermal environment indices and heat transfer principles. Sixteen-year time series of hourly meteorological data from three Brazilian municipalities located in major dairy-producing regions [Uberlândia (MG), Luziânia (GO), and Uruguaiana (RS)], encompassing representative tropical and subtropical conditions, were used to calculate the Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) and to develop the metric termed Radiant Heat Load Reduction under Evaporative Cooling (ΔRHL). Based on the results obtained, THI values were found to frequently exceed the thermal comfort thresholds between September and April, corresponding to the warmest period of the year in Brazil. However, the relationship between the intensity of heat stress and the theoretical potential for evaporative cooling varied significantly among the locations, indicating that the potential efficiency of evaporative cooling is strongly dependent on regional climatic conditions and is more consistent in subtropical environments. It is concluded that the proposed metric constitutes an innovative tool for the spatial and temporal quantification of the potential efficiency of evaporative cooling, with applicability in decision support and in the planning of thermal mitigation strategies in intensive dairy production systems. Full article