Developmental Dynamics Research Articles

Morphological characteristics, developmental dynamics, and gene temporal expressions across various development stages of Aphis gossypii sexual female

BackgroundAphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a worldwide polyphagous phloem-feeding agricultural pest, and it can produce offspring by sexual or asexual reproduction. Compared with dozens of generations by parthenogenesis, sexual reproduction is performed in only one generation within one year, and little is known about the sexual reproduction of A. gossypii. In this study, sexual females of A. gossypii were successfully obtained through a previously established induction platform, and the morphological characteristics, developmental dynamics, and temporal gene expression were examined. Subsequently, signaling pathways potentially involved in regulating the growth, development, and reproduction of sexual females were investigated.ResultsThe morphological observation showed that from the 1st instar nymph to adult, sexual females exhibited a gradually deepened body color, an enlarged body size, longer antennae with a blackened end, and obviously protruding cauda (in adulthood). The anatomy found that the ovaries of sexual females developed rapidly from the 2nd instar nymph, and the embedded oocytes matured in adulthood. In addition, time-course transcriptome analysis revealed that gene expression profiles across the development of sexual females fell into 9 clusters with distinct patterns, in which gene expression levels in clusters 1, 5, and 8 peaked at the 2nd instar nymphal stage with the largest number of up-regulated genes, suggesting that the 2nd instar nymph was an important ovary development period. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that a large number of genes in the sexual female adult were enriched in the TGF-beta signaling pathway and Forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway, highlighting their important role in sexual female adult development and reproduction.ConclusionThe morphological changes of the sexual female at each developmental stage were revealed for the first time. In addition, time-course transcriptomic analyses suggest genes enriched in the TGF-beta signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway probably contribute to regulating the development and oocyte maturation of sexual females. Overall, these findings will facilitate the regulating mechanism research in the growth and development of sexual females by providing candidate genes.

Comparative analysis of community composition and network structure between phyllosphere endophytic and epiphytic fungal communities of Mussaenda pubescens.

The phyllosphere constitutes a critical habitat for microorganisms, exerting profound influences on host vitality, developmental dynamics, reproductive functions, and stress resilience. However, the diversity and network structure of endophytic and epiphytic fungal communities within this microecosystem have not been thoroughly explored. In this investigation, high-throughput sequencing technologies were employed to assess the diversity, community composition, and network structure of endophytic and epiphytic fungal communities associated with Mussaenda pubescens across six geographically distinct locations in Southeast China. The results revealed significant differences in community composition and diversity between endophytic and epiphytic fungi, with pronounced geographical variation observed within these phyllosphere fungal communities. Network analysis indicated that epiphytic fungal networks possess enhanced complexity compared with their endophytic counterparts, although the latter exhibit greater network stability. Moreover, stochastic processes were identified as pivotal in shaping the composition of these fungal communities. This research substantially enriches our comprehension of the diversity and organizational mechanisms of phyllosphere fungal communities, providing novel insights into the modalities of species coexistence and the stability of community equilibrium within ecosystems.IMPORTANCEThis study employs high-throughput sequencing technologies to explore the fungal communities within the phyllosphere of Mussaenda pubescens across Southeast China, offering significant insights into plant mycobiome. It demonstrates geographical variations in these fungal communities, with epiphytic fungi exhibiting more complex interaction networks compared with the endophytic fungi. Crucially, the research indicates that stochastic processes play a substantial role in the composition of fungal communities. These findings enhance our comprehension of plant-associated microecosystems and underscore the intricate interplay of randomness in maintaining ecosystem stability and diversity.

Preservation of the Author’s Tonality as a Tool for Evaluating Translation Quality

Introduction. This paper examines the methodology of text analysis using phono-semantic assessment based on the “VAAL-mini” program. The study includes an analysis of the original text and its translation to identify the author's tonality and its [non]preservation in the translation. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the application of psycholinguistic methods in the interpretation of V.P. Belyanin and the use of quantitative text analysis methods. The novelty of the research lies in employing the domestic linguistic computer program “VAAL-mini” as a tool capable of categorizing emotional elements of the text. Methodology and sources. The methodological foundation of the research is a psycholinguistic approach to assessing the quality of translation, which justifies the significance of the author category in the interpretation and translation of fiction texts. It also allows for an examination of how translation affects the perception and emotional response of the reader, as well as how accurately the translator conveys the cognitive and emotional aspects of the original text. The primary research method proposed is a quantitative method using the computer program “VAAL-mini”, which is capable of categorizing the emotional elements of the text. The material for the study is the novel by P. Suskind “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” and its translation into Russian by E.V. Vengerova. Results and discussion. The literature review conducted allows for tracing the current state of psycholinguistics as per Belyanin and its developmental dynamics. In accordance with the identified concept, we performed a comprehensive analysis of P. Suskind's work “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” and its Russian translation. The results of this analysis help to gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and lexical components of the text, as well as to assess the quality of the translation. The integration of a psycholinguistic approach with modern quantitative analysis methods-using corresponding computer programs enables a more comprehensive understanding of the studied work. Conclusion. As a result of the analysis based on determining the type of text using the linguistic application VAAL-mini, findings were obtained that refuted the external (qualitative) impression of stylistic and emotional equivalence between Süskind's original text and E.V. Vengerova's translation of the novel. This result demonstrates the viability of the proposed methodology for assessing translation quality.

Tracking adolescent students’ educational pathways to university through school engagement, parental expectations, and student aspirations

Although improvements have been made in terms of enhancing the number of students that enrol in higher education, the long-term educational pathways of adolescents to university studies are understudied. This calls for further research into the mechanisms that underpin the long-term educational pathways of adolescents who study at university versus those who do not. The present study examines an innovative model that tracks adolescents’ educational pathways to university in England through the developmental dynamics of emotional school engagement, parental educational expectations, and adolescent aspirations. The data came from 9173 adolescents (51.63% female) from six waves of the Next Steps cohort study in England. The data were analysed using longitudinal structural equation modelling and cross-lagged panel modelling. The results of random-intercept cross-lagged panel modelling revealed positive within-person reciprocal relations between emotional engagement, parental educational expectations, and adolescent university aspirations only between specific ages. Latent regression analysis showed that greater levels of sustained parental expectations, emotional school engagement, and adolescent university aspirations were linked to greater likelihood of pursuing university-entrance exams (A-Levels, age 17). Sustained engagement had only an indirect effect on university attendance via university-entrance exams and educational persistence (age 18). Sustained high parental educational expectations were the most direct and robust predictor of adolescents’ university attendance. The findings underscore a synergistic effect between sustained parental expectations, emotional school engagement, and adolescent university aspirations as the mechanisms that lead adolescents to university studies.

Baseline Raman Spectral Fingerprints of Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae.

As a highly sensitive vibrational technique, Raman spectroscopy (RS) can provide valuable chemical and molecular data useful to characterise animal cell types, tissues and organs. As a label-free, rapid detection method, RS has been considered a valuable asset in forensics, biology and medicine. The technique has been applied to zebrafish for various purposes, including physiological, biochemical or bioaccumulation analyses. The available data point out its potential for the early diagnosis of detrimental effects elicited by toxicant exposure. Nevertheless, no baseline spectra are available for zebrafish embryos and larvae that could allow for suitable planning of toxicological assessments, comparison with toxicant-elicited spectra or mechanistic understanding of biochemical and physiological responses to the exposures. With this in mind, this work carried out a baseline characterisation of Raman spectra of zebrafish embryos and larvae throughout early development. Raman spectra were recorded from the iris, forebrain, melanocytes, heart, muscle and swim bladder between 24 and 168 h post-fertilisation. A chemometrics approach, based on partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), was used to obtain a Raman characterisation of each tissue or organ. In total, 117 Raman bands were identified, of which 24 were well represented and, thus, retained in the data analysed. Only three bands were found to be common to all organs and tissues. The PLS-DA provided a tentative Raman spectral fingerprint typical of each tissue or organ, reflecting the ongoing developmental dynamics. The bands showed frequencies previously assigned to collagen, cholesterol, various essential amino acids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

Characterising developmental dynamics of adult epigenetic clock sites

DNA methylation (DNAm), an epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene activity in response to genetic and environmental influences, changes as we age. DNAm at specific sites on the genome can be used to calculate 'epigenetic clocks', which are powerful biomarkers of age, as well as of ageing. However, little is known about how these clock sites 'behave' during development and what factors influence their variability in early life. This knowledge could be used to optimise healthy ageing well before the onset of age-related conditions. We leveraged results from two longitudinal population-based cohorts (N=5019 samples from 2348 individuals) to characterise trajectories of adult clock sites from birth to early adulthood. To explore what factors may drive early individual differences at these clock sites, we also tested for enrichment of genetic factors and prenatal exposures based on existing epigenome-wide association meta-analyses. We find that clock sites (i) diverge widely in their developmental trajectories, often showing non-linear change over time; (ii) are substantially more likely than non-clock sites to vary between individuals already from birth, differences that are predictive of DNAm variation at later ages; and (iii) show enrichment for genetic influences and prenatal environmental exposures, including prenatal smoking, diet and maternal physical health conditions. These results suggests that age(ing)-related epigenetic processes might originate-and differ between individuals-already very early in development. Understanding what drives these differences may in future help us to devise better strategies to promote healthy ageing. This research was conducted while C.A.M.C. was a Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awardee in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research. Full personal funding details, as well as cohort funding details, can be found in the Acknowledgements.

The Utility of Electroencephalograhy in Guiding General Anesthesia in Children.

Traditional pediatric anesthetic dosing using pharmacokinetic estimates based on age and weight is often imprecise, frequently leading to oversedation. Intraoperative electroencephalography (EEG) allows visualization of the brain's response to anesthetic agents in real time, facilitating precise titration of anesthetic drug doses optimized for the individual child. The goal of EEG-guided anesthesia management is to maintain an optimal state of hypnosis during various stages of the procedure while minimizing hemodynamic instability and other adverse effects of anesthesia. This is especially important in children with less predictable anesthetic requirements, such as children with atypical neurodevelopment, altered levels of consciousness before anesthesia, or those receiving total intravenous anesthesia, neuromuscular blockers, or a combination of anesthetic agents with different mechanisms of actions. Children with limited cardiorespiratory reserves and those undergoing high-risk procedures such as cardiopulmonary bypass also benefit from EEG guidance as they have a narrower therapeutic window for optimal anesthetic dosing. Various processed EEG (pEEG) monitors are available for intraoperative monitoring in children. These monitors display a pEEG index based on the manufacturer's algorithm, purportedly indicating the patient's hypnotic state. Due to differences in developmental neurophysiology and EEG dynamics in children, pEEG indices may not always reliably indicate the hypnotic state, especially in neonates and infants. Learning to interpret nonproprietary EEG parameters including the raw EEG, spectral-edge frequency 95% (SEF95), and density spectral array can prevent overreliance on pEEG indices. This review provides an overview of the advantages of EEG guidance during clinical anesthesia, including potential reduction in anesthetic dosage, prevention of EEG suppression, and reduction in peri-operative adverse events. We describe the use of nonproprietary EEG parameters in guiding anesthesia in children for various clinical end points including laryngoscopy, surgical incision, and maintenance of anesthesia, as well as sedation. We illustrate these principles with various case examples commonly encountered during pediatric anesthesia. Lastly, we discuss strategies to expand intraoperative EEG monitoring in children through education and training programs, as well as advocate for further research to assess clinical outcomes associated with EEG guidance to support its routine use in clinical care.

Developmental dynamics of brain network modularity and temporal co-occurrence diversity in childhood

ObjectiveBrain development during childhood involves significant structural, functional, and connectivity changes, reflecting the interplay between modularity, information interaction, and functional segregation. This study aims to understand the dynamic properties of brain connectivity and their impact on cognitive development, focusing on temporal co-occurrence diversity patterns. MethodsWe recruited 481 children aged 6 to 12 years from the Healthy Brain Network database. Functional MRI data were used to construct dynamic functional connectivity matrices with a sliding window approach. Modular structures were identified using multilayer network community detection, and the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition technique, which uniquely allows for multi-faceted exploration of modular temporal co-occurrence diversities, quantified these diversities. Mediation analysis assessed the impact on small-world properties. ResultsTemporal co-occurrence diversity in brain networks increased with age, especially in the default mode, frontoparietal, and salience networks. These changes were driven by disparities within and between communities. The small-world coefficient increased with age, indicating improved information processing efficiency. To validate the impact of changes in spatiotemporal interaction disparities during childhood on information transmission within brain networks, we used mediation analysis to verify its effect on alterations in small-world properties. ConclusionThis study highlights the critical developmental changes in brain modularity and spatiotemporal interaction patterns during childhood, emphasizing their role in cognitive maturation. These insights into neural mechanisms can inform the diagnosis and intervention of developmental disorders.

Nutrient Stoichiometry and Tree Development: Insights from a 5-Year Study on Catalpa bungei Fertilization

Short-term fertilization may provide limited improvements in tree growth and demonstrate suboptimal fertilizer efficiency; however, its benefits often fall short of expectations. Unfortunately, research addressing the sustained impacts of prolonged fertilization (e.g., beyond five years) on trees’ developmental dynamics and productivity remains relatively scarce. This study focused on a 7-year-old Catalpa bungei plantation located in Jinan City, Shandong Province, China. The study employed two fertilization techniques: hole fertilization (HF) and integrated water and fertilizer application (WF), with a no-fertilization treatment serving as the control (CK). The findings revealed that the WF significantly enhanced stand productivity. When comparing the different treatments, the productivity of WF stands demonstrated a remarkable increase of 39.7% compared to HF stands and 55.1% compared to CK stands. After five years of fertilization, the stands treated with WF exhibited a significant increase in volume accumulation, reaching 112.36 m3·hm−2. Additionally, the productivity of these WF-fertilized stands achieved an impressive 41.75 m3·hm−2·a−1. Fertilization notably enhanced the nitrogen content in the leaves and fine roots of C. bungei, as well as the potassium content in the coarse roots. These nutrients were found to be more concentrated in the corresponding organs within the WF stands. Over the entire growth cycle, there was a substantial consumption of key nutrients, with leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents decreasing by 30.5%, 18.8%, and 47.3%, respectively. Similarly, the coarse root potassium and fine root phosphorus content decreased by 24.7% and 24.4%, respectively. The enhancement in leaf nitrogen content following fertilization significantly contributed to increases in tree height, breast height diameter (DBH), and individual tree volume. Similarly, the enrichment of potassium in the branches and coarse roots was associated with improvements in DBH and tree volume. To maximize forest stand productivity, the WF fertilization method demonstrated superior results compared to HF. Therefore, WF should be prioritized in future fertilization experiments for C. bungei.

Word Learning in Arabic Diglossia in Children With Typical Language Development and Developmental Language Disorder.

Word learning requires the creation of phonological and semantic representations and links in long-term memory. Phonological distance of a given word from the spoken language affects children's lexical-phonological representations and processing. The study investigates the role of the phonological distance of Modern Standard Arabic (StA) words from the child's Spoken Arabic (SpA) vernacular in word learning in Arabic diglossia. It also examines whether, given their vulnerable phonological skills, children with developmental language disorder (DLD) show a stronger impact of phonological distance on word learning than children with typical language development (TLD). One hundred children with TLD and DLD in kindergarten and in first grade (25 per group) were tested on comprehension and production word-learning probes manipulating phonological distance. Learning monosyllabic and disyllabic nonwords encoding only SpA phonemes was compared with the learning of parallel nonwords encoding one unique StA consonant each. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed higher word learning scores in children with TLD on both probes and for both syllable lengths. Moreover, all children fared significantly lower, in both comprehension and production probes, when the target stimulus was phonologically distant from the spoken language. Finally, an interaction effect was observed on the production probes, revealing differences in the developmental dynamics of phonological distance effects between the groups: Phonological distance hindered word learning among children with TLD in kindergarten, but among children with DLD in the first grade. The results support the role of phonological distance as a phonological complexity factor in word learning in Arabic diglossia. Furthermore, they show that the effect of phonological distance is complex and it interacts with modality, language aptitude, and grade level. The theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and bullying victimization from childhood to adolescence - A within-person cross-lagged approach.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and subclinical symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattentiveness coincide with an increased risk of peer victimization. What remains unclear are the developmental dynamics of these associations. In a sample drawn from two Norwegian birth cohorts (n = 872; 49.94 % girls), assessed biennially from age 6 to age 14, reciprocal relations between ADHD symptoms and victimization were examined while controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression. ADHD symptoms were assessed through clinical interviews with parents, whereas victimization was reported by teachers using questionnaires. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling revealed a consistent reciprocal within-person effect of increased ADHD symptoms on victimization, and vice versa. Analyses of subdimensions of ADHD projected a consistent cross-lagged bidirectional relationship between victimization and inattentiveness symptoms only, whereas no such reciprocity was found for hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms. Results did not differ by gender. Findings suggest that the social context may constitute a vulnerability factor in the etiology of the inattentive subtype of ADHD, and at the same time, that inattentiveness symptoms pose a risk for becoming victimized.

Patterns of early embryogenesis and growth in the olfactory system of chick (Gallus gallus domesticus) based on iodine-enhanced micro-computed tomography.

The vertebrate olfactory system entails a complex set of neural/support structures that bridge morphogenetic regions. The developmental mechanisms coordinating this bridge remain unclear, even for model organisms such as chick, Gallus gallus. Here, we combine previous growth data on the chick olfactory apparatus with new samples targeting its early embryogenesis. The purpose is to illuminate how early developmental dynamics integrate with scaling relationships to produce adult form and, potentially, evolutionary patterns. Olfactory structures, including epithelium, turbinate, nerve, and olfactory bulb, are considered in the context of neighboring nasal and brain structures. Axonal outgrowth from the olfactory epithelium, which eventually connects receptor neurons with the brain, begins earlier than previously established. This dynamic marks the beginning of a complex pattern of early differential growth wherein the olfactory bulbs scale with positive allometry relative to both brain volume and turbinate area, which in turn scale isometrically with one another. The mechanisms driving observed patterns of organogenesis and growth remain unclear awaiting experimental evidence. We discuss competing hypotheses, including the possibility that broad-based isometry of olfactory components reflects constraints imposed by high levels of functional/structural integration. Such integration would include the frontonasal prominence having a strong influence on telencephalic patterning.

Environmental Factors Drive the Biogeographic Pattern of Hippophae rhamnoides Root Endophytic Fungal Diversity in the Arid Regions of Northwest China.

Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi (Abbrev. H. rhamnoides) stands as a vital botanical asset in ameliorating the ecological landscape of the arid regions in Northwest China, where its rhizospheric microorganisms serve as linchpins in its growth and developmental dynamics. This study aimed to explore the community structure characteristics and origin differences of root endophytic fungi in H. rhamnoides. Samples were collected from 25 areas where H. rhamnoides is naturally distributed along an altitude gradient in the northwest region. Then, endophytic fungi from different regions were analyzed by using high-throughput sequencing technology to compare the structural characteristics of endophytic fungi and examine their association with environmental factors. FUNGuild was employed to analyze the community structure and functions of endophytic fungi, and the results showed that each region had its own dominant endophytic fungal flora, demonstrating the differences in origin of endophytic fungi, and the specific endophytic flora acquired from the original soil in the growing season of H. rhamnoides will help us construct the microecological community structure. Furthermore, the study identified and assessed the diversity of fungi, elucidating the species structure and highlighting dominant species. The RDA analysis revealed that available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and total nitrogen (TN) exhibit significant correlations with the composition and diversity of root-associated fungi. In conclusion, the fungal community structure is similar within the same region, while significant differences exist in the taxonomic structure and biodiversity among different regions. These findings shed light on the intricate interplay and mechanisms governing the ecological restoration of H. rhamnoides, offering a valuable framework for advancing green ecology initiatives and harnessing the potential of root-associated microorganisms in this species.

Historical pyrodiversity in Douglas-fir forests of the southern Cascades of Oregon, USA

Our understanding of forest dynamics and successional pathways in coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var menziesii) forests with relatively frequent mixed-severity fires is limited by a lack of annually precise dendroecological reconstructions that combine records of historical fires and tree establishment. The processes by which old-forest heterogeneity developed under historical fire regimes with recurrent low- and moderate-severity fires has not been well studied at fine temporal scales and across spatial scales. We developed crossdated multi-century records of fire and tree establishment histories in old forests (170 – 550 years) at 34 plots distributed across six sites. Study sites include warm-dry to cool-moist Douglas-fir forest types found in the southern west Cascades of Oregon, USA. Spatial variability in historical fire frequency and fire effects resulted in tremendous diversity in forest developmental histories, age structure, and forest conditions. Most historical fire intervals were very frequent (<10 years) to frequent (<25 years) in dry Douglas-fir forests. Exceptionally high fire frequency and an abrupt decrease in fire frequency after European colonization in dry Douglas-fir forests adds to growing evidence and recognition of Indigenous fire stewardship in montane Douglas-fir forests. In moist forests where Douglas-fir is seral to western hemlock, fire intervals were frequent to moderately frequent (<50 years), but intervals varied substantially over time. Relatively young moist forests burned frequently while mature moist forests had long fire intervals (50–160 years). Nearly all tree establishment cohorts were preceded by either stand-replacing (28 %) or non-stand-replacing fires (64 %). However, tree cohorts only provided evidence of 16 % of historical fire events that we reconstructed from cambial fire scars. This study demonstrates that frequent fire can be an important driver of forest development and in some contexts shapes the structure of coastal old-growth Douglas-fir forests, which are often characterized as developing from endogenous disturbances during long fire-free periods. The high level of pyrodiversity we observed was associated with variation in and interactions of micro-climate, topography, fuels, and Indigenous fire stewardship. We recommend rigorous dendroecological reconstructions across the coastal Douglas-fir region to refine our understanding of the geography of fire-mediated forest developmental dynamics in this important forest type, to inform forest management, conservation, and ecocultural restoration.

The interplay of serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors in chronic stress.

Serotonin regulates multiple physiological and pathological processes in the brain, including mood and cognition. The serotonin receptors 5-HT1AR (also known as HTR1A) and 5-HT7R (also known as HTR7) have emerged as key players in stress-related disorders, particularly depression. These receptors can form heterodimers, which influence their functions. Here, we explored the developmental dynamics of 5-HT1AR and 5-HT7R expression and validated heterodimerization levels in the brain of control and stressed mice. In control animals, we found that there was an increase in 5-HT1AR expression over 5-HT7R in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus during development. Using a chronic unpredictable stress as a depression model, we found an increase in 5-HT7R expression exclusively in the PFC of resilient animals, whereas no changes in 5-HT1AR expression between control and anhedonic mice were obtained. Quantitative in situ analysis of heterodimerization revealed the PFC as the region exhibiting the highest abundance of 5-HT1AR-5-HT7R heterodimers. More importantly, upon chronic stress, the amount of heterodimers was significantly reduced only in PFC of anhedonic mice, whereas it was not affected in resilient animals. These results suggest an important role of brain-region-specific 5-HT1AR-5-HT7R heterodimerization for establishing depressive-like behaviour and for development of resiliency.

Molecular programs guiding arealization of descending cortical pathways.

Layer 5 extratelencephalic (ET) neurons are present across neocortical areas and send axons to multiple subcortical targets1-6. Two cardinal subtypes exist7,8: (1) Slco2a1-expressing neurons (ETdist), which predominate in the motor cortex and project distally to the pons, medulla and spinal cord; and (2) Nprs1- or Hpgd-expressing neurons (ETprox), which predominate in the visual cortex and project more proximally to the pons and thalamus. An understanding of how area-specific ETdist and ETprox emerge during development is important because they are critical for fine motor skills and are susceptible to spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis9-12. Here, using cross-areal mapping of axonal projections in the mouse neocortex, we identify the subtype-specific developmental dynamics of ET neurons. Whereas subsets of ETprox emerge by pruning of ETdist axons, others emerge de novo. We outline corresponding subtype-specific developmental transcriptional programs using single-nucleus sequencing. Leveraging these findings, we use postnatal in vivo knockdown of subtype-specific transcription factors to reprogram ET neuron connectivity towards more proximal targets. Together, these results show the functional transcriptional programs driving ET neuron diversity and uncover cell subtype-specific gene regulatory networks that can be manipulated to direct target specificity in motor corticofugal pathways.

Suicide Risk among Chinese Left-Behind Adolescents: Developmental Trajectories and Multi-Contextual Predictors.

Suicide is prevalent among left-behind youth, a group that has yet to be thoroughly explored in terms of the developmental dynamics of their suicide risk and associated factors. This study adopted a person-centered approach to investigate the developmental trajectories of suicide risk among Chinese left-behind adolescents, along with multi-dimensional predictors. A total of 774 left-behind adolescents (Mage = 13.60, 50.1% female) completed three surveys over a year, with six-month intervals. Result of Latent Class Growth Modeling identified three subgroups with distinct developmental trajectories: High Risk-Escalating (7.6% of participants started at the highest levels with a worsening trend), Risk-Holding (21.6% maintained a stable but risk level starting above the critical threshold), and Low Risk-Diminishing (70.8% started low and continued to decrease). Gender (being a female), increased levels of childhood maltreatment, psychological pain, and depression were risk factors for High Risk-Escalating and/or Risk-Holding trajectories, while increased sense of control and regulatory emotional self-efficacy played protective roles. The findings underscore the malignant developmental patterns of suicide risk among left-behind adolescents. The predictive factors play a crucial role in distinguishing and improving these developmental trajectories.

A 3D micro-computed tomography study comparing embryonic skeletal development in layer versus broiler strains of the domestic chicken

Our objective was to analyze the effect of selection for divergent traits in the domestic chicken on embryonic skeletal development, which could affect postnatal bird welfare. Development was compared between the Ross 308 broiler line (fast growth and muscle mass accrual) and Novoponte layers (high laying rate and egg quality). In Study 1 (Initial Conditions), we characterized egg composition prior to incubation and identified the onset of embryonic skeletal mineralization in the 2 strains. In Study 2 (Developmental Dynamics), we used 3D X-ray tomographic imaging (µCT) on incubation days ED11, ED13, ED15 and ED17 to track skeletal maturation trajectories as a pseudo-time series. Results showed that Ross 308 embryos, which are heavier than Novoponte embryos, possess higher levels of yolk nutrients including phosphorus and calcium, but lower eggshell mineral content, than Novoponte embryos. Skeletal mineralization started synchronously in both strains, on ED11. The higher mineral ion content in the larger yolk of Ross 308 eggs compared to Novoponte eggs may partly explain why skeletal mineralization in Ross 308 embryos advances faster: using µCT, we show that the mandible and tibiotarsi in Ross 308 embryos are larger at ED11 and ED13 compared with Novoponte embryos. However, Novoponte embryos catch up from this initial lag in mineralization by ED15. The timing of the Novoponte acceleration coincides with the functional activation of the chorioallantoic membrane in releasing calcium from the inner eggshell. This correlates with a decrease in eggshell thickness from ED11 to ED17 in Novoponte eggs, which was not observed during Ross 308 incubation. To conclude, while some temporal discrepancies exist in early skeletal development between the embryos of Ross 308 and Novoponte strains, overall prenatal skeletal maturation seems to be robustly regulated. Despite selection for antagonist production traits, layer and broiler prehatch skeletal morphology ultimately synchronizes. Practically, since the extent of skeletal maturity equalizes between strains towards the end of incubation, refinements of farming practices, postnatal environment, and diet should be considered for improving domestic fowl welfare.

Uwarunkowania rozwoju w okresie dzieciństwa w perspektywie edukacji integralnej

Introduction: The childhood period is characterised not only by robust quantitative and qualitative developmental dynamics, but also by significant vulnerability to disintegrating factors. Research Aim: The aim of this paper was to present an “intellectual tool” for an integral understanding of development (the cognitive aspect) and its stimulation (the practical aspect) during childhood, while identifying opportunities and risks associated with this stage of life. Evidence-based Facts: The text presents an intellectual tool – Ken Wilber’s 4 quadrants model. It can be used to recognise the area of disintegration in the upbringing process (the cognitive aspect), but also to design integrative activities (the practical aspect). The authors discuss the problems of coherence between interior-oriented and exterior-oriented, as well as between individual-oriented and community-oriented approaches to an individual. Furthermore, they present the problematic of integrating civilisation and nature, culturalism and naturalism, direct and mediated experience, and inner and outer consciousness. Summary: The presented article analyses issues related to one of the strategies included in the integral approach: the strategy of coherence. More broadly, it should be supported by a strategy of accessibility based on knowledge of theories of human development. These theories distinguish stages of development characterised by different increasingly complex competencies in terms of grasping reality.

Gene expressivity on educational attainment increases with age, and then slows

The relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences to phenotypes vary with age. A Wilson effect denotes age-related increases in heritability, and an anti-Wilson effect the opposite (specifically a decline in heritability in late life). To date, few molecular-genetic studies of these effects have been conducted. Here we tested for Wilson effects on educational attainment (EA), leveraging a dataset with a wide age range (18–60 years) and polygenic scores (PGSs) for EA. Using a two-way interaction model, we estimated changes in the predictive power of one such PGS (specifically EA3) for EA as a function of aging. We found that the PGS predicted EA better in older participants (semi-partial regression coefficient [sr] = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.00, 0.10), potentially consistent with a Wilson effect. The effect of EA32 had a further independent negative effect on EA in older participants (sr = −0.06, 95%CI = −0.11, −0.01), indicating that the Wilson effect slows with greater age. The findings suggest that PGS expressivity increases as individuals attain an educationlevel in line with their abilities and preferences as they age. But past a relatively early age (in almost all cases), the maximal level of education in line with genetic liability is reached, and PGS expressivity plateaus. Beyond this point PGS expressivity may even start to decline (an anti-Wilson effect), which, rather than reflecting the developmental dynamics of EA itself, could result from the known tendency for episodic and semantic memory to decline later in life, leading to misrecollection of certain life events (which could cause erroneous recall of level of EA). Caution is warranted in interpreting these results, however, since, owing to the cross-sectional nature of our study, there are potential confounding factors at play.