Greater Abundance Research Articles

Temporal variation in the spectrum and concentration of airborne microalgae and cyanobacteria in the urban environments of inland temperate climate.

Despite their non-negligible representation among the airborne bioparticles and known allergenicity, autotrophic microorganisms-microalgae and cyanobacteria-are not commonly reported or studied by aerobiological monitoring stations due to the challenging identification in their desiccated and fragmented state. Using a gravimetric method with open plates at the same time as Hirst-type volumetric bioparticle sampler, we were able to cultivate the autotrophic microorganisms and use it as a reference for correct retrospective identification of the microalgae and cyanobacteria captured by the volumetric trap. Only in this way, reliable data on their presence in the air of a given area can be obtained and analysed with regard to their temporal variation and environmental factors. We gained these data for an inland temperate region over 3 years (2018, 2020-2021), identifying the microalgal genera Bracteacoccus, Desmococcus, Geminella, Chlorella, Klebsormidium, and Stichococcus (Chlorophyta) and cyanobacterium Nostoc in the volumetric trap samples and three more in the cultivated samples. The mean annual concentration recorded over 3 years was 19,182 cells*day/m3, with the greatest contribution from the genus Bracteacoccus (57%). Unlike some other bioparticles like pollen grains, autotrophic microorganisms were present in the samples over the course of the whole year, with greatest abundance in February and April. The peak daily concentration reached the highest value (1011 cells/m3) in 2021, while the mean daily concentration during the three analysed years was 56 cells/m3. The analysis of intra-diurnal patterns showed their increased presence in daylight hours, with a peak between 2 and 4 p.m. for most genera, which is especially important due to their potential to trigger allergy symptoms. From the environmental factors, wind speed had a most significant positive association with their concentration, while relative air humidity had a negative influence.

Mechanism of microbial regulation on methane metabolism in saline–alkali soils based on metagenomics analysis

Saline–alkali soils constitute a globally important carbon pool that plays a critical role in soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes. However, the relative importance of microorganisms in the regulation of CH4 emissions under elevated salinity remains unclear. Here, we report the composition of CH4 production and oxidation microbial communities under five different salinity levels in the Yellow River Delta, China. This study also obtained the gene number of microbial CH4 metabolism via testing the soil metagenomes, and further investigated the key soil factors to determine the regulation mechanism. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the soil electrical conductivity, salt content, and Na+, and SO42− concentrations showed significantly negative correlations with the CO2 and CH4 emission rates, while the NO2−-N concentration and NO2−/NO3− ratio showed significantly positive correlations with the CO2 and CH4 emission rates. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that the mcrA gene for CH4 production was highest in low–salinity soils. By contrast, the relative abundances of the fwdA, ftr, mch, and mer genes related to the CO2 pathway increased significantly with rising salinity. Regarding CH4 oxidation processes, the relative abundances of the pmoA, mmoB, and mdh1 genes transferred from CH4 to formaldehyde decreased significantly from the control to the extreme–salinity plot. The greater abundance and rapid increase of methanotrophic bacteria compared with the lower abundance and slow increase in methanogenic archaea communities in saline–alkali soils may have increased CH4 oxidation and reduced CH4 production in this study. Only CO2 emissions positively affected CH4 emissions from low– to medium–salinity soils, while the diversities of CH4 production and oxidation jointly influenced CH4 emissions from medium– to extreme–salinity plots. Hence, future investigations will also explore more metabolic pathways for CH4 emissions from different types of saline–alkali lands and combine the key soil enzymes and regulated biotic or abiotic factors to enrich the CH4 metabolism pathway in saline–alkali soils.

Rasmussen Aneurysm Revealed by Hemoptysis: About Two Cases

Hemoptysis in cases of tuberculosis sequelae most often has a bronchial arterial origin. The pulmonary arterial origin is observed in cases of false Rasmussen’s aneurysm. We report two cases of patients admitted for a hemoptysis of great abundance in a context of altered general condition; fever and chills with thoracic scans that revealed false Rasmüssen aneurysms.

A multi-omics analysis identifies molecular features associated with fertility in heifers (Bos taurus)

Infertility or subfertility is a critical barrier to sustainable cattle production, including in heifers. The development of heifers that do not produce a calf within an optimum window of time is a critical factor for the profitability and sustainability of the cattle industry. In parallel, heifers are an excellent biomedical model for understanding the underlying etiology of infertility because well-nourished heifers can still be infertile, mostly because of inherent physiological and genetic causes. Using a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip, we collected genotypic data, which were analyzed using an association analysis in PLINK with Fisher’s exact test. We also produced quantitative transcriptome data and proteome data. Transcriptome data were analyzed using the quasi-likelihood test followed by the Wald’s test, and the likelihood test and proteome data were analyzed using a generalized mixed model and Student’s t-test. We identified two SNPs significantly associated with heifer fertility (rs110918927, chr12: 85648422, P = 6.7 × 10−7; and rs109366560, chr11:37666527, P = 2.6 × 10−5). We identified two genes with differential transcript abundance (eFDR ≤ 0.002) between the two groups (Fertile and Sub-Fertile): Adipocyte Plasma Membrane Associated Protein (APMAP, 1.16 greater abundance in the Fertile group) and Dynein Axonemal Intermediate Chain 7 (DNAI7, 1.23 greater abundance in the Sub-Fertile group). Our analysis revealed that the protein Alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase FTO was more abundant in the plasma collected from Fertile heifers relative to their Sub-Fertile counterparts (FDR < 0.05). Lastly, an integrative analysis of the three datasets identified a series of molecular features (SNPs, gene transcripts, and proteins) that discriminated 21 out of 22 heifers correctly based on their fertility category. Our multi-omics analyses confirm the complex nature of female fertility. Very importantly, our results also highlight differences in the molecular profile of heifers associated with fertility that transcend the constraints of breed-specific genetic background.

Facile Synthesis of Ultrafine and Highly Dispersible MnO2 Nanoparticles for Energy Storage in Supercapacitors

AbstractManganese dioxide (MnO2) has been extensively investigated as an electrode material for supercapacitors because of its high theoretical capacitance, great abundance, and low toxicity. To obtain satisfactory capacitance performance, in recent years, many efforts have been dedicated to the fabrication of MnO2 nanoparticles that offer a larger specific surface area and an escalated chemical activity. Beyond them, the ideal dispersibility of nanoparticles in a liquid medium is also of vital importance when processing those powdery materials into slurry ones for some particular uses, such as editable and ink‐printing supercapacitor devices. In this study, the as‐synthesized ultrafine MnO2 nanoparticles having excellent dispersibility in water can be prepared via a facile one‐step hydrothermal route, with a uniform size in diameter of 200 nm exhibiting a large specific surface area of ~389.7 m2 g−1, and a high specific capacitance of 135.7 F g−1 at 5 mV s−1.

Diversification and deleterious role of microbiome in gastric cancer.

Gut microbiota dictates the fate of several diseases, including cancer. Most gastric cancers (GC) belong to gastric adenocarcinomas (GAC). Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric epithelium and is the causative agent of 75% of all stomach malignancies globally. This bacterium has several virulence factors, including cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA), and outer membrane proteins (OMPs), all of which have been linked to the development of gastric cancer. In addition, bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Clostridium, Haemophilus, Veillonella, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus play an important role in the development of gastric cancer. Besides, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus were found in greater abundance in GAC patients. To identify potential diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for GC, it is essential to understand the mechanistic role of H. pylori and other bacteria that contribute to gastric carcinogenesis. Furthermore, understanding bacteria-host interactions and bacteria-induced inflammatory pathways in the host is critical for developing treatment targets for gastric cancer.

Photoperiod effects in a freshwater community: Amphibian larvae develop faster and zooplankton abundance increases under an early-season photoperiod.

Organisms that shift their phenologies in response to global warming will experience novel photic environments, as photoperiod (daylength) continues to follow the same annual cycle. How different organisms respond to novel photoperiods could result in phenological mismatches and altered interspecific interactions. We conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment exposing green frog (Rana clamitans) larvae, gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larvae, phytoplankton, periphyton, and zooplankton to a three-month shift in photoperiod: an early-season photoperiod (simulating April) and a late-season photoperiod (simulating July). We manipulated photoperiod by covering and uncovering tanks with clear or light-blocking lids to mimic realistic changes in daylength. We assessed amphibian life history traits and measured phytoplankton, periphyton, and zooplankton abundances. Green frog larvae and gray treefrog metamorphs were more developed under the early-season photoperiod. Gray treefrog total length was also reduced, but photoperiod did not affect green frog total length. Although phytoplankton and periphyton abundances were not affected by photoperiod, copepod nauplii were in greater abundance under the early-season photoperiod. Overall, this simplified aquatic community did not exhibit significant changes to structure when exposed to a three-month shift in photoperiod. Temperate amphibians that breed earlier in the year may develop faster, which may have long-term costs to post-metamorphic growth and performance. Asynchronous shifts in zooplankton abundances in response to altered photoperiods could subsequently affect freshwater community structure. While photoperiod has been shown to individually affect freshwater organisms, our study using replicated outdoor wetland communities shows that the comprehensive effects of photoperiod may be less important than other cues such as temperature and precipitation.

Longitudinal and vertical distribution of microplastics in various pipe scales in an operating drinking water distribution system

Microplastics (MPs) are ingested by humans through the daily consumption of drinking water. Pipe scales are recognized as important sites of MPs occurrence in the drinking water distribution system (DWDS). Despite extensive research on drinking water, no study has been conducted to investigate the distribution of MPs in pipe scales within an operational DWDS. The underground placement of DWDSs brings challenges for sampling pipe scales. In this study, 5 tap water and 16 pipe scales samples were collected from a typical DWDS. The analysis of MPs abundance in these 21 samples filled the data gap in the distribution of MPs in both pipe scales and tap water along the DWDSs. MPs were detected in all water samples (1.74–20.88 MPs/L) and pipe scales samples (0.03–3.48 MPs/cm2). In tap water, MPs abundance increased abruptly in the stagnant-slow flow region and reached the maximum value (20.88 MPs/L), even surpassing the abundance in raw water (6.42 MPs/L). In the pipe scales, MPs abundance decreased from the upstream to downstream of DWDS and was associated with the heavy metal concentration. MPs smaller than 150 µm accounted for 91.6% of the tap water (21–971 µm) and pipe scales (20–2055 µm). The abundance of MPs showed a logarithmic increase as the size decreased. The proportion of MPs fibers in tap water was lower than that in pipe scales. A total of 35 MPs polymers were detected, with 34 polymers in pipe scales and 26 polymers in tap water. In terms of abundance, polyethylene terephthalate (50.0%) was the dominant polymer in pipe scales, while polyamide (70.3%) was the dominant polymer in tap water. Regarding detection rate, polyamide was detected in all 21 samples, followed by polyurethane in 19 samples. The distribution of MPs along the longitudinal direction of the DWDS was correlated with heavy metal. While the distribution of MPs in the vertical direction of large diameter pipe scales was dependent on their sizes, and densities. The greatest abundance, size and density of MPs were detected at the bottom 120-degree.

Palynomorph Biozonation of the Malawa Formation, Barru Region, South Sulawesi

This study's subject is the Padanglampe traverse in Tanete Riaja, Barru Regency, at coordinates 040 30' 25.26" South Latitude and 1190 41' 43.43" East Longitude. Padanglampe sedimentary deposits of The Malawa Formation were the subject of this study. This study aims to establish the Malawa formation's age based on the presence of palynomorph fossils. Vertical measurement with a track thickness of approximately 10.5 meters was used for field investigation. The sediment's grain size helps to separate the two sections of the Padanglampe traverse. The top layer comprises coal layers and moderately fine- to medium-grained sediments. Coarse-grained sandstone makes up the lowest layer. At any spacing of 25 cm from the measurement of the stratigraphic cross-section, rock sampling was methodically done, yielding 45 lithology samples. A polarizing microscope with a 40x magnification was used to prepare and examine the material. Only 36 samples were used in the subsequent analysis, with nine barren samples. The palynomorph composition of each sample was determined quantitatively and displayed in a palynological diagram using the CONISS technique to measure the data based on life types. Based on the outcomes of observations, 64 pollen taxa and 17 spore taxa were identified. The Moraceae, Palmaepollenites, Spinizonocolpites echinatus, Pandanidites, Proxapertites operculatus, Laevigatosporites, Acrostichum, and Anthocerisporites are those with the greatest abundance. It is split into six informal palynomorph assemblage zones, labeled as zone I - zone IV using cluster analysis. Based on the palynomorph data, the age of the Malawa Formation is Middle Eocene – Upper Eocene.

Capsicum chinense Polyphenols Extraction by Supercritical Fluids Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Capsicum chinense, commonly known as the habanero pepper, is renowned for its culinary and medicinal value due to a great abundance of polyphenolic compounds. The pursuit of eco-friendly methods for extracting these metabolites, which produce high-purity extracts applicable to the food and pharmaceutical sectors, has led to the adoption of green technologies such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In this methodology, by manipulating factors like temperature, pressure, and extraction time, the goal of producing extracts with elevated phenolic content from plant materials can be achieved. In this study, a central compound design (CCD) was conducted with the response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the extraction of polyphenols from Capsicum chinense using supercritical fluids. The optimal conditions for total polyphenol extraction were determined as 63.1 °C, 1161.82 psi, and an extraction time of 132 min, with a total polyphenol content (TPC) of 1870 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g extract. Additionally, concentration of several individual polyphenols were optimized, including catechin (236.27 mg/100 g extract, 62.8 °C, 1150 psi, and 132 min), chlorogenic acid (447.08 mg/100 g extract, 63.1 °C, 1150 psi, and 131.9 min), vanillic acid (136.38 mg/100 g extract, 41.9 °C, 1150 psi, and 132 min), diosmin + hesperidin (92.80 mg/100 g extract, 63 °C, 3200 psi, and 132 min), rutin (40 mg/100 g extract, 63.03 °C, 3200 psi, and 132 min), among others. These findings highlight the potential of supercritical fluid extraction for obtaining high yields of polyphenols from Capsicum chinese. The use of SFE-RSM also may optimize the extraction of specific phenolic compounds, and at the same time, it provides valuable insights for the development of extracts with enhanced bioactive properties for various applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Influence of biochar on succession of fungal communities during food waste composting

This study aims to examine the effects of biochar on fungal dynamics during food waste composting. The different dosage of wheat straw biochar from 0 to 15% (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15%) were used as an additive to composting and examined for 42 days. The results showed that Ascomycota (94.64%) and Basidiomycota (5.36%) were the most dominant phyla. The most common fungal genera were Kluyveromyces (3.76%), Candida (5.34%), Trichoderma (2.30%), Fusarium (0.46%), Mycothermus-thermophilus (5.67%), Trametes (0.46%), and Trichosporon (3.38%). The average number of operational taxonomic units were 469, with the greatest abundance seen in the 7.5% and 10% treatments. Redundancy analysis revealed that different concentrations of biochar applied treatments have significantly distinct fungal communities. Additionally, correlation analyses of fungal interactions with environmental elements, performed through a heatmap, also indicate a distinct difference among the treatments. The study clearly demonstrates that 15% of biochar has a positive impact on fungal diversity and improves the food waste composting.

A brief history of galectin evolution.

Galectins are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins found in vertebrates in great abundance and diversity in terms of both structure and ligand-binding properties as well as physiological function. Proteins with clear relationships to vertebrate galectins are already found in primitive Bilateria. The increasing amount of accessible well-annotated bilaterian genomes has allowed us to reveal, through synteny analyses, a new hypothesis about the phylogenetic history of the galectin family in this animal group. Thus, we can trace the genomic localization of the putative ancestral Bilateria galectin back to the scallops as a still very primitive slow-evolving bilaterian lineage. Intriguingly, our analyses show that the primordial galectin of the Deuterostomata most likely exhibited galectin-8-like characteristics. This basal standing galectin is characterized by a tandem-repeat type with two carbohydrate recognition domains as well as by a sialic acid binding property of the N-terminal domain, which is typical for galectin-8. With the help of synteny, the amplification of this potential primordial galectin to the broad galectin cosmos of modern jawed vertebrates can be reconstructed. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between the paralogs resulting from small-scale duplication and the ohnologues generated by whole-genome duplication. Our findings support a substantially new hypothesis about the origin of the various members of the galectin family in vertebrates. This allows us to reveal new theories on the kinship relationships of the galectins of Gnatostomata. In addition, we focus for the first time on the galectines of the Cyclostomata, which as a sister group of jawed vertebrates providing important insights into the evolutionary history of the entire subphylum. Our studies also highlight a previously neglected member of the galectin family, galectin-related protein 2. This protein appears to be a widespread ohnologue of the original tandem-repeat ancestor within Gnathostomata that has not been the focus of galectin research due to its nonclassical galactose binding sequence motif and the fact that it was lost during mammalian evolution.

Laser-Assisted and Device-Assisted Filler Delivery: A Histologic Evaluation.

Lasers and devices are used to enhance transcutaneous delivery of fillers. However, little has been published on the histologic findings of this form of laser/device-assisted delivery to determine the optimal devices and fillers. To objectively evaluate the histological effects of laser-assisted and device-assisted filler delivery. Ex vivo human abdominoplasty skin samples were treated with fractional CO 2 laser (ECO 2 , 120 μm tip, 120 mJ), fractional radiofrequency microneedling (FRMN, Genius, 1.5 mm, 20 mJ/pin), and microneedling (2.0 mm). Immediately after poly- l -lactic acid (PLLA), hyaluronic acid gel, calcium hydroxylapatite, and black tissue marking dye were topically applied. After treatment, biopsies were collected for histologic evaluation. Histology revealed that PLLA and black dye were found in greatest abundance, hyaluronic acid was found to a lesser extent, and calcium hydroxylapatite was least found within channels created by fractional CO 2 laser. Microneedling was effective only at delivering black dye, whereas FRMN failed to show significant channel formation or delivery of the studied products. Among the devices and fillers studied, fractional CO 2 laser and PLLA proved to be the most effective combination for laser/device-assisted filler delivery. Neither microneedling nor FRMN was effective as devices to enhance filler delivery.

Species Diversity and Abundance of Corals and Fishes in A Marine Protected Area

This quantitative-descriptive study’s purpose was to gather information about the current state of fish and coral distribution in the Barangay Tamisan Marine Protected Area. Specifically, it aimed to determine the level of physicochemical parameters, reef health status, coral composition and abundance, reef fish abundance, and biomass in the study site. The study used line transect and fish visual methods. Results of the study revealed that the physicochemical parameters in the said area fall within the normal range which is favorable for the survival of fishes and corals in the study site. The Tamisan Marine Protected Area’s average cover of hard coral is 38.5% which falls under the category of “fair”. Corals with the greatest abundance are from the massive porites genera which compromises 70% of the hard coral cover. Nineteen species from different families of fishes in the study area and 1 class was identified, Actinopterygii. Among the species, it is Pomacentridae that has the greatest number of counts, that is 34. Other species identified were the Labridae, Siganidae, Ephinephilenae, Acanthurida, Balistidae. Apogonida, Scarida, Chaetodontidae, Caesionidae. Monacantidae, Tetraodontidae, Fistularidae, Synodontidae, Synanciinae and, Pomacantidae. The fishes in the study area have a diversity index of 0,820, representing a high index of diversity, but have very low fish biomass. The results implied that although the coral cover is fair and fishes are diverse, it still needs further studies on human activities to find the reason behind very low fish biomass. Keywords: fishes, reef health status, quantitative-descriptive study, Marine Protected Area, Mati City

High-Accuracy ncRNA Function Prediction via Deep Learning Using Global and Local Sequence Information.

The prediction of the biological function of non-coding ribonucleic acid (ncRNA) is an important step towards understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying many diseases. Since non-coding RNAs are present in great abundance in human cells and are functionally diverse, developing functional prediction tools is necessary. With recent advances in non-coding RNA biology and the availability of complete genome sequences for a large number of species, we now have a window of opportunity for studying non-coding RNA biology. However, the computational methods used to predict the non-coding RNA functions are mostly either scarcely accurate, when based on sequence information alone, or prohibitively expensive in terms of computational burden when a secondary structure prediction is needed. We propose a novel computational method to predict the biological function of non-coding RNA genes that is based on a collection of deep network architectures utilizing solely ncRNA sequence information and which does not rely on or require expensive secondary ncRNA structure information. The approach presented in this work exhibits comparable or superior accuracy to methods that employ both sequence and structural features, at a much lower computational cost.

The lipidomic profiles of donkey semen present greater diversity and abundance than horse semen

While donkeys and horses belong to the same family and are able to cross-mate to produce hybrids, there are many unique features of either species regarding their sexual behavior, semen characteristics, and tolerance to cryopreservation; therefore, a better understanding of the physiology of either species can enhance semen processing and fertility. Lipids play a paramount role in the fluidity and flexibility of the sperm plasma membrane and are intrinsically related to sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity. This study aimed to determine the lipid profile of donkey and horse semen. Semen from 19 jacks and 25 stallions was collected by artificial vagina, and gel-free semen was assessed for motility, morphology, concentration, and volume. An aliquot of gel-free semen (50 million sperm/mL) was placed in cryovials and then plunged into liquid nitrogen until lipidomic analysis. The lipidomic profile of the gel-free semen was performed with MALDI-MS with no addition of an extender. The analyses were performed with MetaboAnalyst 2.0 and the discriminating analyses of PLS-DA to demonstrate differences between horses and donkeys. The lipid types that were differentially expressed were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey test. The Volcano plot was used to compare species, using the criteria values of P<0.05 andfold-change (FC) ≥1.5. A total of 101 ion lipids were found in horse semen and 105 in donkey semen. Five ion-lipids with mass charge (mz) 762, 822, 865, 867, and 879 were uniquely present in horse semen, but not identified in the databases (www.lipidmaps.org), whereas 9-ion-lipid were present in donkey semen (m/z 709.4, 731, 753, 756, 778, 796, 798, 811 and 880) with only 709.4 being identified (Phosphatidylglycerol). The donkeys showed 18 ion-lipid with greater relative abundance (P<0.05 and fold-change>1.5), 12 identified in the database (4 triacylglycerols, 2 phosphatidylglycerols, 2 phosphatidylcholine, 2 phosphatidylinositols and 2 sphingolipids); whereas the horse had ten ion-lipid with greater abundance (P<0.05 and fold-change >1.5) but only 4 identified (2 diacylglycerols, 1 triacylglycerol and 1 phosphatidylglycerol). Among these identified lipids, 10 have one or more double bonds, making them mono- or polyunsaturated, while in horses only 1 was polyunsaturated. This may be one of the underlying reasons for lower tolerance to cryopreservation/cooling of donkey semen. In conclusion, the lipidomic profile of donkey and stallion semen differ with regard to relative abundance and diversity.

Insights into uterine fluid proteins and putative roles on maternal recognition of pregnancy

The embryo is dependent on uterine secretions in early pregnancy and notably around the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP). This study aimed to identify key proteins in the uterine fluid and embryo before and around the time of MRP. We hypothesized that uterine fluid has a unique signature of proteins around the time of MRP. Mares were bred to a fertile stallion until ten embryos were obtained for each of days 7, 10 and12 post-ovulation. A gynecological tampon was inserted in utero for collection of the uterine fluid. Embryo flushing was carried out with Lactated Ringers Solution. Recovered embryos were flushed in DPBS, and then stored in DPBS enriched with proteinase inhibitors at -80°C. Uterine fluid was centrifuged, and the supernatant was stored at -80°C until analysis. The embryo was sonicated, centrifuged as the uterine fluid, and then stored at -80°C until analysis. Total protein was determined by the acid bicinchoninic method, in-gel tryptic digestion was carried out and samples were analyzed by mass-spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Gene-ontology was carried out on a Panther, vs17.0. Multivariate-analyses based on principle component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis-variables importance (PLS-DA/VIP) score were performed with Metaboanalyst, v5.0 via R-studio. The total protein numbers found at Days 7, 10, and 12 were 75, 81 and 84 in the uterine fluid and 151, 139, and 178 inthe embryos, respectively. The most abundant proteins (VIP-score, α>1.5) present in the embryos at Days 7, 10, and 12 were 0, 6 and 2; whereas uterine fluid had 0, 3 and 2 for the same respective days. Molecular functions found on gene-ontology were catalytic activity and binding in both samples from embryos and uterine fluids. There was a remarkable change in PCA from Day 7 to Day 10/12 in the embryo and uterine fluid proteins. Proteins found in great abundance in the embryos PLS-DA/VIP-score analysis were related to protection against thermal-stress, protein folding, stabilization, translation, lipid-metabolism and cell-structure. Cathepsin-B is involved with endometrial remodeling and implantation, but its role in the horse remains to be determined. Uterine fluid had proteins associated with the transport of molecules with low-molecular-weight; in the upregulation of the ERK1- and ERK2-cascades, which are essential for cell-proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration, survival; and calcium/phosphorus metabolism. Herein is the first description of Stanniocalcin-1 in equine embryos. In conclusion, the proteins found in utero may play a role in the MRP and the embryo proteins were related to mobility and protection functions. Acknowledgements: The Mass Spectrometry Facility at Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), CNPEM, Campinas, Brazil is thanked for their support with the use of equipment.

A Habitat Model for Disease Vector Aedes aegypti in the Tampa Bay Area, FloridA.

Within the contiguous USA, Florida is unique in having tropical and subtropical climates, a great abundance and diversity of mosquito vectors, and high rates of human travel. These factors contribute to the state being the national ground zero for exotic mosquito-borne diseases, as evidenced by local transmission of viruses spread by Aedes aegypti, including outbreaks of dengue in 2022 and Zika in 2016. Because of limited treatment options, integrated vector management is a key part of mitigating these arboviruses. Practical knowledge of when and where mosquito populations of interest exist is critical for surveillance and control efforts, and habitat predictions at various geographic scales typically rely on ecological niche modeling. However, most of these models, usually created in partnership with academic institutions, demand resources that otherwise may be too time-demanding or difficult for mosquito control programs to replicate and use effectively. Such resources may include intensive computational requirements, high spatiotemporal resolutions of data not regularly available, and/or expert knowledge of statistical analysis. Therefore, our study aims to partner with mosquito control agencies in generating operationally useful mosquito abundance models. Given the increasing threat of mosquito-borne disease transmission in Florida, our analytic approach targets recent Ae. aegypti abundance in the Tampa Bay area. We investigate explanatory variables that: 1) are publicly available, 2) require little to no preprocessing for use, and 3) are known factors associated with Ae. aegypti ecology. Out of our 4 final models, none required more than 5 out of the 36 predictors assessed (13.9%). Similar to previous literature, the strongest predictors were consistently 3- and 4-wk temperature and precipitation lags, followed closely by 1 of 2 environmental predictors: land use/land cover or normalized difference vegetation index. Surprisingly, 3 of our 4 final models included one or more socioeconomic or demographic predictors. In general, larger sample sizes of trap collections and/or citizen science observations should result in greater confidence in model predictions and validation. However, given disparities in trap collections across jurisdictions, individual county models rather than a multicounty conglomerate model would likely yield stronger model fits. Ultimately, we hope that the results of our assessment will enable more accurate and precise mosquito surveillance and control of Ae. aegypti in Florida and beyond.

Abundance of Non-Native Birds in the City: Spatial Variation and Relationship with Socioeconomics in a South American City.

Cities commonly support a high abundance of non-native species that can affect both wildlife and human health; however, their distribution across the urban environment and their relationship with socioeconomics are not well documented. Here, we map the abundance of three non-native birds in a Latin American city-domestic pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica), house sparrow (Passer domesticus), and monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)-and investigate the effect of socioeconomics on their abundance. We found that C. livia f. domestica exhibited a random distribution of abundance across the city but reached its greatest abundance in low-income areas. P. domesticus exhibited an aggregated distribution of abundance, being most abundant in the southern and western areas of the city and in low-income areas. M. monachus exhibited an aggregated distribution of abundance, being most abundant in the northeastern part of the city and reaching its greatest abundance in high-income areas. Low-income areas likely provide high abundance of food, shelter, and nesting sites for both C. livia f. domestica and P. domesticus, whereas high income areas have greater tree cover and larger trees in which M. monachus can build communal nests. Our study finds that the abundance of non-native birds varies across the city and between socioeconomic groups; therefore, targeted management is needed in different city zones to limit negative effects on native species and prevent zoonotic diseases.

Horse Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Mangrove Forests and Estuarine Floodplains on Marajó Island, Brazil.

Tabanids constitute an important group of hematophagous insects that can transmit zoonoses, but with studies on the ecological distribution of species still neglected in the Amazon. We evaluated the role of mangrove forests and estuarine floodplains located inside and outside a conservation unit (UC) on the coast of Marajó Island, Amazon River estuary, on the diversity and distribution of tabanids. Specifically, we studied whether the community of mangrove and estuarine floodplain tabanids located inside and outside the UC differ in abundance, richness, and species composition. We collected tabanids using a Malaise trap at 40 sampling points, resulting in 637 specimens distributed in 13 species and one morphotype, representing approximately 37% of the tabanid fauna ever recorded for the Marajó Island. There was no significant difference in the richness and composition of tabanids between the phytophysiognomies, but the abundance was significantly different, with greater abundance in the mangrove. The areas inside and around the UC had an influence on the tabanids, with the areas inside the UC having the highest number of specimens and species, also influencing the species composition. Two species are new records for the Marajó Island, bringing the number of species recorded to 38. Our results suggest that, along the Amazonian coast, mangroves and estuarine floodplains maintain part of the diversity of tabanids known for the Brazilian Amazon. Our data also indicate that the region's UC provides potentially important habitats for the maintenance of local tabanid populations.