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The variation in temperament among animals has consequences for evolution and ecology. One of the primary effects of consistent behavioral differences is on reproduction. In chelonians some authors have focused on the study of temperament using different methods. In our research our first aim was i) establish a methodology to determine the degree of boldness among individuals Rhinoclemmys areolata . Our second aim was to ii) determine the role boldness plays during reproduction, with emphasis on courtship and copulation, considering a) the interactions between males and females, and b) competition between males. We used 16 sexually mature individuals of each sex. Males were observed in four different situations and 17 behavioral traits were recorded. We selected 12 traits that allowed us distinguish between the bolder and the shier individuals and found that five behavioral traits were specific for bolder individuals and five others for shier individuals. In a second step, we observed a male in presence of a female and recorded courtship behaviors and breeding attempts. Bolder individuals did not display courtship behaviors and just attempted to copulate. Shier individuals displayed courtship behaviors and copulation attempts were rarely observed. Finally, in the simulations that compared two males in the presence of a female we noticed that bolder individuals displayed courtship behaviors while the shier ones simply ignored the female. Our results first allowed us to determine which methodology is the best to determine temperament in turtles. Secondly, temperament seems to be an important factor in modulating interaction between males and females. Bolder individuals have an advantage during competition and display courtship behaviours only if other males are present. Shier males displayed courtship behaviors and only try to copulate when no competitors were present. These two different temperament-dependant strategies are discussed in terms of ecology, evolution and management.

We present a radial velocity and model atmosphere analysis of both components of the spectroscopic binary central star of NGC 1514, based on high-resolution, high-signal-to-noise-ratio spectrograms taken with the CFH and Subaru telescopes at Maunakea, Hawaii. Together with the Gaia parallax and other data from the literature, all this information permits to determine the basic stellar parameters (Teff, L, log g, masses) of both binary components. This allows us to empirically test the theoretical post-AGB mass-luminosity relation.

Thymus L. is of great interest in horticulture as ornamentals, spices, and medicinal plants, as well as in the extracts industry due to the richness in bioactive specialized metabolites. The natural hybrid T. × josephi-angeli Mansanet & Aguil. is produced in Spain, as its horticultural forms are very popular for domestic uses and gardening. However, its micropropagation and chemical composition have not been studied yet. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop a micropropagation procedure for T. × josephi-angeli, and to check whether the in vitro culture had an impact on the chemical profile of the plants. The results showed a high initiation rate (>91%) after two sterilization treatments were applied. Moreover, a micropropagation rate of around 21 new rooted explants per culture cycle was obtained in treatment M7 (Murashige and Skoog with 0.064 µM 6-(γ,γ-Dimethylallylamino)purine) when compared to the other 10 treatments performed. Acclimatization was successful in all three approaches tested (>75%), and all plants kept growing after 4 months of outdoor cultivation. Finally, 36 volatiles were identified, and the content of major compounds remained not statistically different in acclimatized plants when compared to the wild-type plants according to the analyses made by HS-SPME-GC/MS and SPME-GC/MS. This chemical stability points out the uniformity of the microplants and the suitability of the procedure applied in this study for T.×josephi-angeli horticultural production using in vitro techniques.

The global increase in temperature has directly impacted the environment and reproduction of ectothermic organisms, leading to defects in processes that intervene in sperm quality and maturation. The present study evaluates the effect of temperature on sperm quality of the lizard Lepidophyma gaigeae in the surroundings of Landa de Matamoros, Querétaro, México. As a species under special protection, only 12 male individuals were captured in December 2020 with 4 exposed at (1) preferred temperature (Tpref) at 24 °C; (2) low temperature (LT) at 21 °C; (3) either individuals without treatment (Control) with fluctuating temperature of the habituation site, to compare the effect on the viability, concentration, and integrity of DNA, as well as the presence of the cytoplasmic droplet (CD). Sperm viability decreased by approximately 50% in organisms exposed to Tpref, accompanied by a significant reduction in concentration. Likewise, the CD evaluation showed a retention percentage of 30% at the cauda level, while the LT and Control groups showed 5% in this terminal area of the epididymis. The percentage of sperm with intact DNA was also decreased in the Tpref group compared to the LT and control groups. These findings highlight how thermal environments impact reptilian reproduction, reinforcing not only what has already been found in these species in recent years, but also the repercussions that it presents in the medium- or long-term exposure in these organisms at an ecological level, as well as the consequences with the potential damage and even infertility, in case of prolonged exposition to preferred temperatures.

Reptiles, as ectothermic organisms, rely on environmental temperatures for optimal physiological performance. The thermal requirements for optimal locomotion in reptiles can severely affect their reproduction. However, some species are successful in environments with temperatures exceeding 40 °C. Holbrookuia propinqua is a species that reproduces at high temperatures, a difference from most species in the family Phrynosomatidae, to which it belongs. Adult male H. propinqua specimens were collected at their reproductive stage, kept in separate terrariums, and divided into four groups that were exposed to different temperatures. After seven days of exposure, both the testes and epididymides were removed. The organs were processed for immunohistochemistry and to determine SOD, CAT, and GPX activity. A sperm sample was obtained from the vas deferens. The GSI decreased with temperature, and the EI presented its maximum value at 24 °C. Sperm viability was lower at the highest temperature, and motility at 28 and 32 °C exceeded 90%. The specific SOD activity in the testis at 41 °C decreased by ~75%. In the epididymis, SOD activity decreased at 28 and 32 °C. Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) increased after 28 °C at the interstitial level and increased almost twofold in the seminiferous tubules.

Even after decades of usage as an extragalactic standard candle, the universal bright end of the planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF) still lacks a solid theoretical explanation. Until now, models have modeled planetary nebulae (PNe) from artificial stellar populations, without an underlying cosmological star formation history. We present PICS (PNe In Cosmological Simulations), a novel method of modeling PNe in cosmological simulations, through which PN populations for the first time naturally occur within galaxies of diverse evolutionary pathways. We find that only by using realistic stellar populations and their metallicities is it possible to reproduce the bright end of the PNLF for all galaxy types. In particular, the dependence of stellar lifetimes on metallicity has to be accounted for to produce bright PNe in metal-rich populations. Finally, PICS reproduces the statistically complete part of the PNLF observed around the Sun, down to six orders of magnitude below the bright end.

To monitor the gut colonization by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in residents of a single long-term care facility (LTCF) in relation to their clinical evolution, antibiotic consumption and mortality risk. In a total of 187 voluntarily enrolled residents, five rectal swabs samples were recovered over 1 year. Selective media were used to isolate MDR bacteria. Clinical data related to infections, antibiotic consumption and mortality were recovered. Mortality risk among residents who were MDR colonized and non-colonized was compared by Kaplan-Meier curves. Globally, 25% of residents have gut colonization by ESBL-producing with a lack of other pathogens such as or . Monitoring of ESBL-producing colonization for 1 year allowed to us to establish three categories among residents: 48.6% never colonized, 15.5% had a persistent colonization, and the remaining 35.8% presented intermittent colonization. The rates of mortality, infections and antibiotic exposure were comparable among ESBL-producing colonized and non-colonized residents, except for the intermittent colonization group in which a higher and statistically significant mortality rate was observed. As expected, urinary and respiratory tract infections were the most prevalent infectious pathologies in the LTCF, with amoxicillin/clavulanate and fluoroquinolones being the most prescribed antibiotics. A high percentage of ESBL-producing (28%), and fluoroquinolone resistance were detected in clinical samples. The monitoring of gut colonization by MDR microorganisms in a single LTCF for 1 year demonstrated the predominance of ESBL-producing . Almost half of the residents were resistant to its colonization, whereas in 15.5% of them gut colonization was stable. Incidence of infectious episodes and antibiotic exposure were comparable between colonized and non-colonized subjects, but the group with the highest risk of mortality was that with intermittent colonization by ESBL-producing .

Here we present the results of the concurrent use of the sterile insect technique (SIT) plus fungal spore disseminator devices (DD) to control Drosophila suzukii Matsumura populations under laboratory conditions. Our study includes tests to determine the sterile: fertile ratio to induce sterility in the target population, as well as the conditions for packing and shipping the irradiated pupa to destination. We found that a 40:1 sterile: fertile male ratio was consistent inducing an 80% of sterility, and that hypoxia (24 h) was the most influential factor on the adult emergence and adult flier percentage parameters, which decreased significantly per se and combined with irradiation and temperature, revealing that irradiated D. suzukii pupae are highly sensitive to hypoxia and uncontrolled temperature during shipping conditions. Regarding the concurrent use of SIT plus DD of fungus spores, we found that males infected with entomopathogenic fungi successfully transmit fungal spores (75.56 ± 6.27% for Isaria javanica and 78.98 ± 6.02% for Metarhizium brunneum), the transmission to females affects their fecundity (mx) over time. We also observed that the treatment of SIT plus DD of fungal spores significantly reduced at least of 50% the offspring of the pest population compared to SIT alone and the control treatment (no SIT or fungus). These results suggest that both strategies can be successfully integrated in the control of D. suzukii populations under confinement conditions.

Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) is freshwater and estuarine fish, inhabiting the Earth since the Mesozoic era and undergoing limited physiological variation ever since. Besides its recognized cultural andscientific relevance, the species has seen remarkable growth in its economic impact due to pisciculture. In this study, we present the first report of the whole taxonomic composition of microbial communities in gut contents in juveniles and adults of A. tropicus, by sex and origin (wild and cultivated). For this study, 508 genera were identified, with the most and least abundant being Cetobacterium and Paludibacter, respectively. Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes phyla are the core gut microbiome of A. tropicus juvenile and adult by sex and origin. Deinococcus-Thermus phylum sequence was only identified in wild-type males. In the phylogenetic trees reconstruction Lactococcus lactis strains CAU929 and CAU6600, Cp6 and CAU9951,Cetobacterium strain H69, Aeromonas hydrophila strain P5 and WR-5-3-2, Aeromonas sobria strain CP DC28 and Aeromonas hydrophila were identified, some of them with probiotic potential within the three dominant phyla in core gut microbiome in A. tropicus adults, especially in wild-type organisms. Myroides genus was recognized in microbiota gut of the cultivated juvenile A. tropicus. Nevertheless, Alpha diversity indicated that the highest gut microbiota abundance and richness is found in cultivated juvenile and wild-type adult A. tropicus female, rather than adult wild-type males and the least gut microbiota abundance and richness is found in a cultivated adult of A. tropicus for both sexes.

Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength. Hormonal changes that occur early in women may influence protein synthesis and promote muscle atrophy, leading to probable sarcopenia, defined as a loss of muscle strength without an obvious decrease in muscle mass. Various types of exercise have already proven effective in treating sarcopenia. Power training (PT), a subtype of resistance training performed at high speed, has not yet been studied in this population group. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with three parallel groups: a PT group, a multicomponent training (MT) group, and a no-exercise group. The inclusion criteria will be women over 65 years of age who meet the diagnostic criteria for probable sarcopenia (Hand grip test less than 16 kg and Five Times Sit to Stand Test more than 15 s) according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Two assessments will be conducted at the beginning and at the end of the 32 weeks of intervention, in which variables of body composition (muscle, fat and weight) and functionality (strength and physical performance) will be collected. There will be 3 sessions of 50 minutes per week in each intervention group. The masking strategy will be double-blind. The analysis of intergroup differences will be conducted using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance (MANOVA and ANOVA), as well as pairwise comparisons (Bonferroni corrections). Changes in the degree of sarcopenia and how many women eliminate the risk of sarcopenia (no probable sarcopenia) after the different interventions will be tested. The study aims to investigate the impact of PT in older women at risk of sarcopenia. The expected results are that PT will significantly improve functionality and body composition compared to other forms of exercise (MT) and no physical activity. The results may represent a significant advance in understanding and addressing sarcopenia before it becomes established, providing preventive treatment and new tools whose clinical applicability has been studied.