Circular RNA expression in turkey skeletal muscle satellite cells is significantly altered by thermal challenge.

Introduction: Understanding the genetic mechanisms behind muscle growth and development is crucial for improving the efficiency of animal protein production. Recent poultry studies have identified genes related to muscle development and explored how environmental stressors, such as temperature extremes, affect protein production and meat quality. Non-coding RNAs, including circular RNAs (circRNAs), play crucial roles in modulating gene expression and regulating the translation of mRNAs into proteins. This study examined circRNA expression in turkey skeletal muscle stem cells under thermal stress. The objectives were to identify and quantify circRNAs, assess circRNA abundance following RNAse R depletion, identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs), and predict potential microRNA (miRNA) targets for DECs and their associated genes. Materials and methods: Cultured cells from two genetic lines (Nicholas commercial turkey and The Ohio State Random Bred Control 2) under three thermal treatments: cold (33°C), control (38°C), and hot (43°C) were compared at both the proliferation and differentiation stages. CircRNA prediction and differential expression and splicing analyses were conducted using the CIRIquant pipeline for both the untreated and RNase R depletion treated libraries. Predicted interactions between DECs and miRNAs, as well as the potential impact of circRNA secondary structure on these interactions, were investigated. Results: A total of 11,125 circRNAs were predicted within the treatment groups, between both untreated and RNase R treated libraries. Differential expression analyses indicated that circRNA expression was significantly altered by thermal treatments and the genetic background of the stem cells. A total of 140 DECs were identified across the treatment comparisons. In general, more DECs within temperature treatment comparisons were identified in the proliferation stage and more DECs within genetic line comparisons were identified in the differentiation stage. Discussion: This study highlights the significant impact of environmental stressors on non-coding RNAs and their role in gene regulation. Elucidating the role of non-coding RNAs in gene regulation can help further our understanding of muscle development and poultry production, underscoring the broader implications of this research for enhancing animal protein production efficiency.

Rare CCND2 (p.Thr280Ile) Variant Associated With Infantile Spasms in a Patient With Megalencephaly-Polymicrogyria-Polydactyly-Hydrocephalus Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: This report describes a pediatric case of megalencephaly-polymicrogyria-polydactyly-hydrocephalus (MPPH) syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the AKT3, CCND2, or PIK3R2 genes. We present a patient with a rare CCND2 variant (c.839C>T, p.Thr280Ile), associated with infantile spasms, ventriculomegaly, polymicrogyria, and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). METHODS: A retrospective chart review and literature search were performed using PubMed. RESULTS: Our patient was found to have ventriculomegaly, grade 3 IVH, bilateral polymicrogyria, and restricted diffusion in the caudate nuclei prenatally. No polydactyly was observed. The patient developed infantile spasms at age 5 months. While high-dose prednisone treatment failed to control the spasms, they resolved with topiramate. By age 2 years, the patient continued to have significant developmental delays, including having poor tone and being nonverbal. CONCLUSION: MPPH syndrome remains a rare and challenging diagnosis, with fewer than 100 cases reported. This case highlights the importance of early genetic testing and neuroimaging in the diagnosis and management of MPPH. The unique presentation of IVH and restricted diffusion warrants further investigation into the syndrome's variable phenotypic spectrum. Early intervention and targeted therapy may help manage seizure activity and improve outcomes.

Protocol to establish turkey oviductal organoids as an in vitro model.

The study of reproductive function in turkey hens has been difficult due to the lack of a reliable, representative in vitro model for investigating profound physiological aspects. This article presents a protocol to establish turkey oviductal organoids, including steps for isolating turkey oviduct epithelial cells followed by seeding and maintaining 3D organoid cultures. We also detail procedures for organoid fixation for histological analysis. This organoid model could serve as a valuable in vitro tool for understanding the intricacies of turkey reproductive physiology.

More than labels: neural representations of emotion words are widely distributed across the brain.

Although emotion words such as "anger," "disgust," "happiness," or "pride" are often thought of as mere labels, increasing evidence points to language as being important for emotion perception and experience. Emotion words may be particularly important for facilitating access to the emotion concepts. Indeed, deficits in semantic processing or impaired access to emotion words interfere with emotion perception. Yet, it is unclear what these behavioral findings mean for affective neuroscience. Thus, we examined the brain areas that support processing of emotion words using representational similarity analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data (N = 25). In the task, participants saw 10 emotion words (e.g. "anger," "happiness") while in the scanner. Participants rated each word based on its valence on a continuous scale ranging from 0 (Pleasant/Good) to 1 (Unpleasant/Bad) scale to ensure they were processing the words. Our results revealed that a diverse range of brain areas including prefrontal, midline cortical, and sensorimotor regions contained information about emotion words. Notably, our results overlapped with many regions implicated in decoding emotion experience by prior studies. Our results raise questions about what processes are being supported by these regions during emotion experience.

Genome divergence and reproductive incompatibility among populations of Ganaspis near brasiliensis.

During the last decade, the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has spread from eastern Asia to the Americas, Europe, and Africa. This fly attacks many species of cultivated and wild fruits with soft, thin skins, where its serrated ovipositor allows it to lay eggs in undamaged fruit. Parasitoids from the native range of D. suzukii may provide sustainable management of this polyphagous pest. Among these parasitoids, host-specificity testing has revealed a lineage of Ganaspis near brasiliensis, referred to in this paper as G1, that appears to be a cryptic species more host-specific to D. suzukii than other parasitoids. Differentiation among cryptic species is critical for introduction and subsequent evaluation of their impact on D. suzukii. Here, we present results on divergence in genomic sequences and architecture and reproductive isolation between lineages of Ganaspis near brasiliensis that appear to be cryptic species. We studied five populations, two from China, two from Japan, and one from Canada, identified as the G1 vs G3 lineages based on differences in cytochrome oxidase l sequences. We assembled and annotated the genomes of these populations and analyzed divergences in sequence and genome architecture between them. We also report results from crosses to test reproductive compatibility between the G3 lineage from China and the G1 lineage from Japan. The combined results on sequence divergence, differences in genome architectures, ortholog divergence, reproductive incompatibility, differences in host ranges and microhabitat preferences, and differences in morphology show that these lineages are different species. Thus, the decision to evaluate the lineages separately and only import and introduce the more host-specific lineage to North America and Europe was appropriate.

A novel neurotropic microsporidium from the swamp guppy Micropoecilia picta from Grenada, West Indies.

A novel microsporidium was observed in wild swamp guppies Micropoecilia picta from Levera Pond within Levera National Park Grenada, West Indies. Initial observations indicated similarity with Pseudoloma neurophilia, an important pathogen in zebrafish Danio rerio. P. neurophilia exhibit broad host specifity, including members of the family Poecillidae, and both parasites infect the central nervous system. However, spore morphology and molecular phylogeny based on rDNA showed that the swamp guppy microsporidium (SGM) is distinct from P. neurophilia and related microsporidia (Microsporidium cerebralis and M. luceopercae). Spores of the SGM were smaller than others in the clade (3.6 µm long). Differences were also noted in histology; the SGM formed large aggregates of spores within neural tissues along with a high incidence of numerous smaller aggregates and single spores within the surface tissue along the ventricular spaces that extended submeninx, whereas P. neurophilia and M. cerebralis infect deep into the neuropile and cause associated lesions. Analysis of small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences showed that the SGM was <93% similar to these related microsporidia. Nevertheless, one of 2 commonly used PCR tests for P. neurophilia cross reacted with tissues infected with SGM. These data suggest that there could be other related microsporidia capable of infecting zebrafish and other laboratory fishes that are not being detected by these highly specific assays. Consequently, exclusive use of these PCR tests may not accurately diagnose other related microsporidia infecting animals in laboratory and ornamental fish facilities.

Traumatic brain injury heterogeneity affects cell death and autophagy.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) mechanism and severity are heterogenous clinically, resulting in a multitude of physical, cognitive, and behavioral deficits. Impact variability influences the origin, spread, and classification of molecular dysfunction which limits strategies for comprehensive clinical intervention. Indeed, there are currently no clinically approved therapeutics for treating the secondary consequences associated with TBI. Thus, examining pathophysiological changes from heterogeneous impacts is imperative for improving clinical translation and evaluating the efficacy of potential therapeutic strategies. Here we utilized TBI models that varied in both injury mechanism and severity including severe traditional controlled cortical impact (CCI), modified mild CCI (MTBI), and multiple severities of closed-head diffuse TBI (DTBI), and assessed pathophysiological changes. Severe CCI induced cortical lesions and necrosis, while both MTBI and DTBI lacked lesions or significant necrotic damage. Autophagy was activated in the ipsilateral cortex following CCI, but acutely impaired in the ipsilateral hippocampus. Additionally, autophagy was activated in the cortex following DTBI, and autophagic impairment was observed in either the cortex or hippocampus following impact from each DTBI severity. Thus, we provide evidence that autophagy is a therapeutic target for both mild and severe TBI. However, dramatic increases in necrosis following CCI may negatively impact the clinical translatability of therapeutics designed to treat acute dysfunction in TBI. Overall, these results provide evidence that injury sequalae affiliated with TBI heterogeneity is linked through autophagy activation and/or impaired autophagic flux. Thus, therapeutic strategies designed to intervene in autophagy may alleviate pathophysiological consequences, in addition to the cognitive and behavioral deficits observed in TBI.

Floral resources enhance fitness of the parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) but not biological control of its host Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae).

The diet of adult parasitoid wasps is vital for their survival and reproduction. However, the availability of food resources, such as plant nectar, can vary widely in cropping systems, potentially affecting parasitoid fitness and thereby biological control of pests. The egg parasitoid Hadronotus pennsylvanicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a potential biological control agent of the pistachio pest Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Coreidae). While H. pennsylvanicus is known to attack L. zonatus eggs in California, USA, parasitism rates in orchards are highly variable. Floral resource provisioning has the potential to enhance parasitoid longevity and thus improve parasitism rates, leading to reduced pest densities. Here, a combination of field and laboratory studies was used to assess the influence of flowering groundcovers on the reproductive fitness of H. pennsylvanicus and the abundance of L. zonatus. Evaluated groundcovers included oat (Avena sativa L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), white mustard (Sinapis alba L.), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). Under laboratory conditions, buckwheat and mustard provided the greatest benefit to female H. pennsylvanicus longevity. However, females provided a buckwheat diet produced the greatest number of offspring over the course of their lifetime. In field trials, flowering groundcovers did not influence the abundance of H. pennsylvanicus nor parasitism rates on L. zonatus. While the availability of floral resources can improve the reproductive fitness of H. pennsylvanicus, the use of groundcovers in pistachio did not enhance biological control of L. zonatus.

Examining gender differences in adolescent exposure to food and beverage marketing through go-along interviews.

This study explores how adolescents engage with unhealthy food and beverage marketing in online settings, from a gender perspective. Employing an online ethnography approach and using go-along interviews, we explored the experiences of adolescent boys and girls aged 13-17 as they navigated their online experiences with digital food and beverage marketing. Notable themes emerged, including the identification of predatory actions by food companies, the role of protective factors such as family, and the influence of social media influencers in shaping adolescent dietary preferences. Importantly, this research unearthed gender disparities in the participants' responses. Girls, in particular, exhibited a heightened awareness of the protective role played by their families, emphasized the influence of color in marketing strategies, recognized the significance of gender in marketing, and reported exposure to alcohol advertisements-findings that boys less frequently echoed. The study underscores the importance of adolescence as a critical phase in development, during which food companies target these impressionable individuals, driven by their independence and potential for brand loyalty. Moreover, it highlights the potential avenue of gender-specific marketing, offering valuable insights into the gendered dimensions of adolescents' food marketing experiences. By examining the interplay between digital food marketing and gender, this research addresses a critical gap in the literature, shedding light on how gender influences adolescents' perceptions, responses, and behaviors in the context of food marketing strategies. These findings have the potential to inform adolescents of the marketing techniques that target them and guide policymakers in developing and implementing evidence-based regulations aimed at safeguarding adolescents from exposure to unhealthy food marketing.

Expression of miRNAs in turkey muscle satellite cells and differential response to thermal challenge.

Thermal stress alters the transcriptome and subsequent tissue physiology of poultry; thus, it can negatively impact poultry production through reduced meat quality, egg production, and health and wellbeing. The modulation of gene expression is critical to embryonic development and cell proliferation, and growing evidence suggests the role of non-coding RNAs (RNA:RNA interaction) in response to thermal stress in animals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of small regulatory RNAs that modulate gene expression through posttranscriptional interactions and regulate mRNAs, potentially altering numerous cellular processes. This study was designed to identify and characterize the differential expression of miRNAs in satellite cells (SCs) from the turkey pectoralis major muscle and predict important miRNA:mRNA interactions in these developing SCs under a thermal challenge. Small RNA sequencing was performed on RNA libraries prepared from SCs cultured from 1-week-old male Nicholas commercial turkeys (NCTs) and non-selected Randombred Control Line 2 turkeys during proliferation and differentiation at the control temperature (38°C) or under a thermal challenge (33°C or 43°C). A total of 353 miRNAs (161 known and 192 novel) were detected across the sequenced libraries. Expression analysis found fewer differentially expressed miRNAs in the SCs of NCT birds, suggesting that the miRNA response to heat stress has been altered in birds selected for their modern commercial growth traits. Differentially expressed miRNAs, including those with described roles in muscle development, were detected both among temperature treatments and between genetic lines. A prominent differential expression of miR-206 was found in proliferating turkey SCs with a significant response to thermal challenges in both lines. In differentiating SCs, isoforms of miR-1 had significant differential responses, with the expression of miR-206 being mainly affected only by cold treatment. Target gene predictions and Gene Ontology analysis suggest that the differential expression of miRNAs during thermal stress could significantly affect cellular proliferation and differentiation.

Prolonged repeated inseminations trigger a local immune response and accelerate aging of the uterovaginal junction in turkey hens.

Artificial insemination is a standard practice in the turkey breeder industry to ensure the production of fertile eggs. Even though hens are inseminated on a weekly basis, their fertility tends to decline after a few weeks of production. Avian species have a specialized structures called sperm storage tubules (SSTs), located in the uterovaginal junction (UVJ) of the oviduct. The ability of SSTs to store sperm is directly correlated with the fertility of the hen. The objective of the study was to examine changes in the transcriptome of the turkey hen's UVJ in response to the presence of sperm at three key stages of production. We hypothesized that repeated and prolonged exposure to sperm would alter the transcriptome of the UVJ. Samples were collected from virgin hens prior to the onset of lay, as well as from sham-inseminated (extender only) and semen-inseminated hens at early lay, peak lay, and late lay. Gene expression profiling of the UVJ was examined, and a differential expression analysis was conducted through pairwise comparisons between semen- and sham-inseminated groups at each production stage and across production stages. In the early laying stage, no significant gene expression changes were found between semen- and sham-inseminated groups. However, at peak lay, genes related to lipid biosynthesis, Wnt signaling, cell proliferation, and O-glycan biosynthesis were upregulated in the semen group, while the immune response and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction were downregulated. In the late lay stage, the transcription pathway was upregulated in the semen group, whereas the translation pathway was downregulated. The local immune response that was suppressed during peak lay was increased at the late laying stage. In the semen-inseminated group, the UVJ exhibited advanced aging at the late laying stage, evidenced by reduced telomere maintenance and translation processes. The results from this study provide valuable insights into the alteration of the UVJ function in response to the presence of sperm at different stages of production and throughout the production cycle. Targeting the modulation of local immune response and addressing aging processes after peak production could potentially prevent or delay the decline in fertility of turkey breeder hens.

Testing the automaticity features of the affect misattribution procedure: The roles of awareness and intentionality.

The affect misattribution procedure (AMP) is a measure of implicit evaluations, designed to index the automatic retrieval of evaluative knowledge. The AMP effect consists in participants evaluating neutral target stimuli positively when preceded by positive primes and negatively when preceded by negative primes. After multiple prior tests of intentionality, Hughes et al. (Behav Res Methods 55(4):1558-1586, 2023) examined the role of awareness in the AMP and found that AMP effects were larger when participants indicated that their response was influenced by the prime than when they did not. Here we report seven experiments (six preregistered; N = 2350) in which we vary the methodological features of the AMP to better understand this awareness effect. In Experiments 1-4, we establish variability in the magnitude of the awareness effect in response to variations in the AMP procedure. By introducing further modifications to the AMP procedure, Experiments 5-7 suggest an alternative explanation of the awareness effect, namely that awareness can be the outcome, rather than the cause, of evaluative congruency between primes and responses: Awareness effects emerged even when awareness could not have contributed to AMP effects, including when participants judged influence awareness for third parties or primes were presented post hoc. Finally, increasing the evaluative strength of the primes increased participants' tendency to misattribute AMP effects to the influence of target stimuli. Together, the present findings suggest that AMP effects can create awareness effects rather than vice versa and support the AMP's construct validity as a measure of unintentional evaluations of which participants are also potentially unaware.

Cortical and subcortical mapping of the allostatic-interoceptive system in the human brain: replication and extension with 7 Tesla fMRI.

The brain continuously anticipates the energetic needs of the body and prepares to meet those needs before they arise, a process called allostasis. In support of allostasis, the brain continually models the internal state of the body, a process called interoception. Using published tract-tracing studies in non-human animals as a guide, we previously identified a large-scale system supporting allostasis and interoception in the human brain with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla. In the present study, we replicated and extended this system in humans using 7 Tesla fMRI (N = 91), improving the precision of subgenual and pregenual anterior cingulate topography as well as brainstem nuclei mapping. We verified over 90% of the anatomical connections in the hypothesized allostatic-interoceptive system observed in non-human animal research. We also identified functional connectivity hubs verified in tract-tracing studies but not previously detected using 3 Tesla fMRI. Finally, we demonstrated that individuals with stronger fMRI connectivity between system hubs self-reported greater interoceptive awareness, building on construct validity evidence from our earlier paper. Taken together, these results strengthen evidence for the existence of a whole-brain system supporting interoception in the service of allostasis and we consider the implications for mental and physical health.

Alterations in Ferrisia gilli (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) phenology in California pistachios and potential impacts on controls.

The mealybug, Ferrisia gilli Gullan, attacks important crops such as almonds, grapes, and pistachios in California. In pistachios, F. gilli has 3 generations per year, and a single insecticide application timed to the presence of first instars of the first or second generation provided sufficient control. This strategy has, recently, become less effective, and here we tested the possible explanation that F. gilli life stages are smeared, with different life stages present concurrently, reducing the efficacy of a single pesticide application. We monitored F. gilli populations and their natural enemies in central California pistachio orchards from 2021 through 2022. We found the first generation of F. gilli was synchronous, but occurred 3 wk earlier than previously reported. Subsequent generations were smeared. Increased yearly temperatures are a likely explanation for the changes observed in phenology. Almost all natural enemies found were lacewings (n > 10,000). Parasitoids were recovered from pistachios in 2021 (n = 4) and 2022 (n = 164), most were hyperparasitoids. Based on these studies, recommendations are made to monitor F. gilli in early May rather than late May to better target insecticide applications for the first instars.

Updated consensus guidelines on the management of Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a genetic condition caused by SHANK3 haploinsufficiency and characterized by a wide range of neurodevelopmental and systemic manifestations. The first practice parameters for assessment and monitoring in individuals with PMS were published in 2014; recently, knowledge about PMS has grown significantly based on data from longitudinal phenotyping studies and large-scale genotype-phenotype investigations. The objective of these updated clinical management guidelines was to: (1) reflect the latest in knowledge in PMS and (2) provide guidance for clinicians, researchers, and the general community. A taskforce was established with clinical experts in PMS and representatives from the parent community. Experts joined subgroups based on their areas of specialty, including genetics, neurology, neurodevelopment, gastroenterology, primary care, physiatry, nephrology, endocrinology, cardiology, gynecology, and dentistry. Taskforce members convened regularly between 2021 and 2022 and produced specialty-specific guidelines based on iterative feedback and discussion. Taskforce leaders then established consensus within their respective specialty group and harmonized the guidelines. The knowledge gained over the past decade allows for improved guidelines to assess and monitor individuals with PMS. Since there is limited evidence specific to PMS, intervention mostly follows general guidelines for treating individuals with developmental disorders. Significant evidence has been amassed to guide the management of comorbid neuropsychiatric conditions in PMS, albeit mainly from caregiver report and the experience of clinical experts. These updated consensus guidelines on the management of PMS represent an advance for the field and will improve care in the community. Several areas for future research are also highlighted and will contribute to subsequent updates with more refined and specific recommendations as new knowledge accumulates.

Rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle at its distal musculotendinous junction: conservative treatment and outcomes in 11 dogs.

CASE HISTORY: Medical records from three veterinary referral centres and a university veterinary teaching hospital in Australia and the USA were reviewed to identify dogs with a diagnosis of distal gastrocnemius musculotendinous junction rupture (DGMJR) that were treated without surgery between 2007 and 2020. CLINICAL AND IMAGING FINDINGS: All dogs (n = 11) presented with unilateral, pelvic limb lameness and bruising, swelling or pain on palpation at the distal musculotendinous junction. The diagnosis was confirmed with ultrasound or MRI in six dogs; radiographs were used to excluded stifle and tarsus pathology in four dogs; and five dogs were diagnosed on physical examination findings. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: All dogs were managed conservatively, either with complete confinement alone (n = 10; median 9 weeks), external coaptation alone (n = 1), or a combination of both (n = 4). Sporting dogs (n = 7) were completely confined (median 22 weeks) for longer periods than companion dogs (n = 3; median 5 weeks).A good to excellent outcome was achieved for all cases in this cohort. The seven sporting dogs achieved an excellent outcome; returning to their previous level of sport, with complete resolution of lameness and recovery of a normal tibiotarsal stance. The four companion dogs achieved a good outcome; returning to their previous level of activity but with persistently increased tibiotarsal standing angle compared to the contralateral limb. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Conservative treatment represents a viable treatment option for dogs with a rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle at its distal musculotendinous junction.

Reproductive biology of overwintering leaffooted bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in California.

Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) is a polyphagous insect pest attacking a wide variety of crops. In California's Central Valley, it is now the dominant leaffooted bug on almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates. Leptoglossus zonatus pest status depends largely on overwintering adult survival and reproductive potential, which determines its population size in spring and early summer when nut crops are particularly susceptible to bug damage. Here, we investigated the overwintering reproductive biology of L. zonatus in laboratory and field experiments to gain information about its ovary development, time of mating, and the impact of low temperatures on egg hatch. With dissections of laboratory-reared L. zonatus, we established a baseline for ovarian development and determined that the size of the spermathecal reservoir is larger in mated than in unmated females. Dissections and behavioral experiments of field-collected material provided evidence of mating events before dispersal from overwintering sites. Laboratory trials showed that temperature significantly impacted L. zonatus egg hatch. Leptoglossus zonatus reproductive biology presented provides valuable information on its population dynamics and dispersal from overwintering sites, and will contribute to the development of monitoring and management tools.

A comparison of candidate banker plants for management of pests in lettuce.

Agricultural systems are often lacking in resources for natural enemies. Providing alternative prey can help natural enemies persist through periods of low pest abundance, although this approach has been rarely commercially implemented in open field crops. In this study, we tested the potential of eight plant species to provide alternative prey to natural enemies in lettuce fields over a 2-yr period. Results showed that the tested plants would not act as sources of the lettuce aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri Mosley (Hemiptera: Aphididae), the primary lettuce pest. Of the banker plants tested, barley contained high numbers of non-lettuce aphids and appeared to provide reliable habitat for hoverfly larvae. However, lettuce aphids were present on lettuce early in the season, and may have dwarfed any effects of nonlettuce aphids on natural enemy populations. Numbers of hoverfly larvae were also high in lettuce, but did not appear to track numbers of non-lettuce aphids on banker plants. In contrast, numbers of lacewing larvae were highest on plants containing high numbers of non-lettuce aphids, and predatory hemipterans appeared to be associated with numbers of thrips on banker plants. Although barley showed promise as a source of alternative aphids, it did not appear to improve pest control in the adjacent crop.

Differential effects of temperature and mTOR and Wnt-planar cell polarity pathways on syndecan-4 and CD44 expression in growth-selected turkey satellite cell populations.

Satellite cells (SCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of muscle stem cells. Thermal stress during the first week after hatch alters proliferation, myogenesis, and adipogenesis of SCs of turkey pectoralis major (p. major) muscle via mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site family/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) pathways. Pivotal genes in mTOR and Wnt/PCP pathways are mTOR and frizzled-7 (Fzd7), respectively. The objective of this study was to determine the differential effects of thermal stress on SDC4 and CD44 expression in turkey p. major muscle SCs and how the expression of SDC4 and CD44 is modulated by the mTOR and Wnt/PCP pathways. Satellite cells were isolated from the p. major muscle of 1-week-old faster-growing modern-commercial (NC) turkeys and slower-growing historic Randombred Control Line 2 (RBC2) turkeys, and were challenged with hot (43°C) and cold (33°C) thermal stress for 72 h of proliferation followed by 48 h of differentiation. The NC line SCs were found to contain a lower proportion of SDC4 positive and CD44 negative (SDC4+CD44-) cells and a greater proportion of SDC4 negative and CD44 positive (SDC4-CD44+) cells compared to the RBC2 line at the control temperature (38°C) at both 72 h of proliferation and 48 h of differentiation. In general, at 72 h of proliferation, the proportion of SDC4+CD44- cells decreased with heat stress (43°C) and increased with cold stress (33°C) relative to the control temperature (38°C) in both lines, whereas the proportion of SDC4-CD44+ cells increased with heat stress and decreased with cold stress. In general, the expression of SDC4 and CD44 in the NC SCs showed greater response to both hot and cold thermal stress compared to the RBC2 cells. Knockdown of mTOR or Fzd7 expression increased the proportion of SDC4+CD44- cells while the proportion of SDC4-CD44+ cells decreased during differentiation with line differences being specific to treatment temperatures. Thus, differential composition of p. major muscle SCs in growth-selected commercial turkey may be resulted, in part, from the alteration in SDC4 and CD44 expression. Results indicate differential temperature sensitivity and mTOR and Wnt/PCP pathway responses of growth-selected SC populations and this may have long-lasting effect on muscle development and growth.

Closer view of antennal sensory organs of two Leptoglossus species (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coreidae).

Detailed description of antennal sensory organs of Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae) and a comparison with L. zonatus (Dallas, 1852) are presented. A novel approach that combines the advantages of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to detail micromorphological structures. A simplified classification system for sensilla that eliminates the subjective aspects of morphology, such as their shape, is proposed. Fourteen sensory organs have been classified into three main groups: (a) aporous sensilla with a flexible socket, (b) porous sensilla with a flexible socket and (c) porous sensilla with an inflexible socket. A large variety of sensory organs (nine types) with olfactory functions are described. The antennal sensory organs have been recognized as one of the factors responsible for the evolutionary success of Leptoglossus spp. and their status as important pests and invasive species.