Aims Accumulation of silicon (Si) is known to confer resistance in plants against abiotic and biotic stresses; however, questions remain about the underlying mechanisms of Si-mediated resistance against insect herbivores. We investigated the Si-mediated resistance mechanisms in rice against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, using the OsLsi1 mutant rice (cv. Nipponbare) lines deficient in Si uptake from the soil. Methods We...

A systematic chemical investigation of the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium limosum ZEN48 resulted in the isolation of four new indole-diketopiperazine alkaloids, limopiperazines A–D ( 1 – 4 ), alongside 16 known analogues ( 5 – 20 ). The structures of the new compounds were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculations, X-ray crystallography, and biogenetic considerations. Limopiper...

Although aging is a universal event, some individuals are able to achieve extreme longevity. The Long-Life Family Study (LLFS) enrolls participants from families enriched with long-lived individuals, serves as a valuable dataset for studying ageing phenotypes and identify potential intervention targets. We analyzed the association between age at blood draw and 16,284 RNAseq-based blood transcriptomic data from 2,167 LLFS parti...

Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) is a major insect pest of potato and development of resistant varieties is part of a strategy for management. Wild relatives of potato are resources for genetic improvement through breeding. Interspecies crosses to introgress CPB resistance will be facilitated with rapid and inexpensive selection methods. Solanum okadae is a novel source of feeding deterrence agains...

The microbial communities of sandy beaches are poorly described despite the biogeochemical importance and ubiquity of these ecosystems. Using metabarcoding of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes, we investigated the diversity, microhabitats (with or between sand grains) and intertidal distributions of microorganisms (including meiofauna) from pristine sandy beaches in British Columbia, Canada, and hypothesized that abiotic variations d...

Arctic sea ice loss has direct consequences for predators. Climate‐driven distribution shifts of native and invasive prey species may exacerbate these consequences. We assessed potential changes by modelling the prey base of a widely distributed Arctic predator (ringed seal; Pusa hispida ) in a sentinel area for change (Hudson Bay) under high‐ and low‐greenhouse gas emission scenarios from 1950 to 2100. All changes were relati...

Purpose To construct a pain classification model using binary logistic regression to calculate pain probability and monitor pain based on heart rate variability (HRV) and photoplethysmography (PPG) parameters. Methods Heat stimulation was used to simulate pain for modeling the pain generation process, and electrocardiography and PPG signals were recorded simultaneously. After signal analysis, statistical analysis was performed...

Improved nitrogen (N) use is key to future food security and environmental sustainability. While many regions still experience N shortages, agriculture is the leading global emitter of N 2 O due to losses exacerbated by N surpluses in other regions. In order to sustainably maintain or increase food production, farmers and their advisors need a comprehensive and actionable understanding of how nutrient management affects both y...

Mangroves are among the world's most carbon‐dense ecosystems, but they are threatened by rapid climate change and rising sea levels. The accumulation and decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) are closely tied to mangroves' carbon sink functions and resistance to rising sea levels. However, few studies have investigated the response of mangrove SOM dynamics to likely future environmental conditions. We quantified how mangr...