Life sciences: genetics, neuroscience, ecology and molecular biology.
Researchers tracked homologous mouse chromosomes as they paired during meiosis, the specialized cell division that produces reproductive cells. The chromosomes moved from widely separated positions to close alignment in three stages, with DNA breaks and recombination helping drive the transitions.
A five-year-old child developed repeated right-sided tension pneumothorax after receiving a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus. A contrast study showed an abnormal connection between the shunt and the bronchial tree; chest drainage and repositioning the shunt were followed by rapid improvement.
A tsunami in Japan created new habitats where freshwater and marine sticklebacks hybridized. Genomic monitoring over nine years found that marine DNA was rapidly removed from most of the hybrid population, including regions linked to reproductive isolation.
Agricultural lime is generally counted as a source of carbon dioxide, but a study of the Mississippi River Basin finds that it acted as a net carbon sink over the past century. River records indicate that about 90% of the lime’s ideal carbon-removal potential was realized, equivalent to approximately 0.44 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide.
Researchers created a high-resolution map of genetic regulation in the human prefrontal cortex using 5.6 million nuclei from 1,384 donors. The atlas revealed cell-specific regulation of genes linked to brain disorders that bulk-tissue studies had not detected.
A study in fruit flies finds that restricting protein early in development can extend adult lifespan. The effect involves Lsp2, a storage protein that carries part of the larval nutritional history into adulthood and influences protein production.
Researchers analyzed more than 6.3 million nuclei from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 1,494 donors, including people with eight brain disorders and neurotypical controls. The atlas shows shared cellular changes across diseases, as well as disease- and stage-related differences in Alzheimer’s disease.
Different parenting styles in two stickleback types may help keep them genetically distinct. The study found that hybrid fathers showed poorly regulated care, which coincided with lower survival among the offspring they raised.
A study of routine hoof-trimming records from Southern Italian dairy farms found that lesions were more common on cows’ hind feet, especially the outer hind claw. Digital dermatitis was the most frequently recorded lesion among 11,408 lesions.
A letter in Neural Computation extends the Thousand Brains Theory to explain how long-range connections in the neocortex may help the brain build models of objects and the world. It also outlines how the ideas could inform artificial intelligence, while presenting predictions for future experiments rather than new experimental results.
A review of research on vagus-nerve stimulation found reports of lower inflammatory activity and fewer pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatic diseases. The studies also reported possible reductions in pain, fatigue and disease activity, although their small size and differing methods limit the conclusions.
A combined microwave-drying and cold-plasma treatment preserved the color and sensory quality of Turkish stuffed pasta, known as mantı, during 30 days of storage. The researchers also found that the treatment affected the retention of different minerals in different ways.
Researchers tested a flexible dry in-ear EEG sensor in 15 healthy adults and compared its recordings with standard scalp electrodes. The ear sensor recorded brain responses that closely resembled signals from a nearby temporal scalp site, particularly during auditory tasks.
A study used chemical imaging to compare Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown on a laboratory surface and on mouse lung tissue. Biofilms on lung explants showed greater production and deeper tissue penetration of pyocyanin, a phenazine involved in biofilm activity and host interactions.
Certain Streptomyces bacteria improved maize growth when plants were grown with limited water in a greenhouse experiment. The effects varied among the four bacterial isolates, and further testing is needed before they can be considered for field use.
