Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover.

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Prevalence and predictive factors of sleep bruxism in children with and without cognitive impairment

Studies have found a higher prevalence of sleep bruxism (SB) in individuals with cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the clinical manifestation of SB in children with and without cognitive impairment. The sample was made up of 180 individuals: Group 1 - without cognitive impairment; Group 2 - with Down syndrome; Group 3 - with cerebral palsy. Malocclusions were assessed based on the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI); lip competence was assessed based on Ballard's description. The bio-psychosocial characteristics were assessed via a questionnaire and clinical exam. Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test (p < 0.05) and multivariate logistic regression. The prevalence of bruxism was 23%. There were no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.970). Individuals with sucking habits (OR [95% CI] = 4.44 [1.5 to 13.0]), posterior crossbite (OR [95% CI] = 3.04 [1.2 to 7.5]) and tooth wear facets (OR [95% CI] = 3.32 [1.2 to 8.7]) had a greater chance of exhibiting SB. Sucking habits, posterior crossbite and tooth wear facets were identified as being directly associated with the clinical manifestations of bruxism

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far, Far Away: A Candidate z ~ 12 Galaxy in Early JWST CEERS Imaging

Abstract We report the discovery of a candidate galaxy with a photo-z of z ∼ 12 in the first epoch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey. Following conservative selection criteria, we identify a source with a robust z phot = 11.8 − 0.2 + 0.3 (1σ uncertainty) with m F200W = 27.3 and ≳7σ detections in five filters. The source is not detected at λ &lt; 1.4 μm in deep imaging from both Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and JWST and has faint ∼3σ detections in JWST F150W and HST F160W, which signal a Lyα break near the red edge of both filters, implying z ∼ 12. This object (Maisie’s Galaxy) exhibits F115W − F200W &gt; 1.9 mag (2σ lower limit) with a blue continuum slope, resulting in 99.6% of the photo-z probability distribution function favoring z &gt; 11. All data-quality images show no artifacts at the candidate’s position, and independent analyses consistently find a strong preference for z &gt; 11. Its colors are inconsistent with Galactic stars, and it is resolved (r h = 340 ± 14 pc). Maisie’s Galaxy has log M */M ⊙ ∼ 8.5 and is highly star-forming (log sSFR ∼ −8.2 yr−1), with a blue rest-UV color (β ∼ −2.5) indicating little dust, though not extremely low metallicity. While the presence of this source is in tension with most predictions, it agrees with empirical extrapolations assuming UV luminosity functions that smoothly decline with increasing redshift. Should follow-up spectroscopy validate this redshift, our universe was already aglow with galaxies less than 400 Myr after the Big Bang.</jats:p

High-value products from macroalgae: the potential uses of the invasive brown seaweed, Sargassum muticum

Marine seaweeds represent an abundant source of natural products and may harbour valuable chemicals. The brown seaweed Sargassum muticum is an invasive species to the coasts of the British Isles, mainland Europe and North America. Attempts at its eradication and control have generally not been successful, although time-consuming and costly. Commercial exploration of this biomass for food, fuel and pharmaceutical products could encourage its harvesting and control. Though S. muticum might be unsuitable as a source of biofuel due to high ash and water content, this rapidly growing macroalga has a naturally high content of antioxidants, carotenoids and phenols, including the well-known anti-cancer compound fucoxanthin, making this species a potential source of a range of pharmaceutically relevant material