An F-box Kelch repeat protein, PmFBK2, from Persicaria minor interacts with GID1b to modulate gibberellin signalling.

The F-box protein (FBP) family plays diverse functions in the plant kingdom, with the function of many members still unrevealed. In this study, a specific FBP called PmFBK2, containing Kelch repeats from Persicaria minor, was functionally investigated. Employing the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay, PmFBK2 was found to interact with Skp1-like proteins from P. minor, suggesting its potential to form an E3 ubiquitin ligase, known as the SCF complex. Y2H and co-immunoprecipitation tests revealed that PmFBK2 interacts with full-length PmGID1b. The interaction marks the first documented binding between these two protein types, which have never been reported in other plants before, and they exhibited a negative effect on gibberellin (GA) signal transduction. The overexpression of PmFBK2 in the kmd3 mutant, a homolog from Arabidopsis, demonstrated the ability of PmFBK2 to restore the function of the mutated KMD3 gene. The function restoration was supported by morphophysiological and gene expression analyses, which exhibited patterns similar to the wild type (WT) compared to the kmd3 mutant. Interestingly, the overexpression of PmFBK2 or PmGID1b in Arabidopsis had opposite effects on rosette diameter, seed weight, and plant height. This study provides new insights into the complex GA signalling. It highlights the crucial roles of the interaction between FBP and the GA receptor (GID1b) in regulating GA responses. These findings have implications for developing strategies to enhance plant growth and yield by modulating GA signalling in crops.

The Impact of High-Temperature Stress on the Growth and Development of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick).

Insect life processes and reproductive behaviors are significantly affected by extremely high temperatures. This study focused on Tuta absoluta, which poses a severe threat to tomato cultivars. The effects of intense heat stress on the growth, development, oviposition, and longevity of T. absoluta were investigated. This investigation encompassed various developmental stages, including eggs, pupae, and adults. This study revealed that egg hatching and pupa emergence rates were significantly reduced at a temperature of 44 °C maintained for 6 h. The longevity of adults that emerged after the egg and pupal stages were exposed to 44 °C for 6 h was significantly reduced compared to the control. Notably, there was no significant variation in adult fecundity after egg-stage exposure to high temperatures. However, all treatments exhibited significantly reduced fecundity compared to the control after exposure to high temperatures during the pupal stage. Adult survival rates after exposure to 40 °C and 44 °C for 3 h were 74.29% and 22.40%, respectively, dramatically less than that of the control, which was 100%. However, no significant differences were noted in terms of longevity and egg production. These results offer a better understanding of the complex interactions between extreme temperatures and the life history traits of T. absoluta, thereby offering valuable insights for implementing management strategies to alleviate its impact on tomato crops in response to climate change.

Utilizing Star Polycation Nanocarrier for the Delivery of miR-184 Agomir and Its Impact on the Life History Traits of the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae.

The investigation of genetics-based biopesticides has become a central focus in pesticide studies due to their inherent advantages, including species specificity, environmental safety, and a wide range of target genes. In this study, a mixture of miR-184 agomir and nanomaterial star polycation (SPc) was used to treat the nymphs of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.). The life parameters of the aphids at various developmental stages were analyzed using an age-stage two-sex life table to assess the effect of miR-184 agomir on the experimental population. The results indicated that miR-184 agomir had a significant negative effect on four key life parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase, the finite rate of increase, the net rate of increase, and the mean generation time. The population prediction revealed a substantial reduction (91.81% and 95.88%) in the population size of S. avenae at 60 d after treatment with miR-184 agomir, compared to the control groups. Our findings suggest that the miR-184 agomir has the potential to reduce the survival rate and mean longevity of S. avenae, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for the development of an effective genetics-based biopesticide.

The organic acid environmental capacity of mangrove ecosystem in Dongzhai harbor, Hainan, China.

To establish a method for studying the organic acid environmental capacity of mangrove ecosystems, high-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the organic acid detoxification agent; Using different cultivation methods to determine the toxicity threshold of organic acids on mangrove plants; Calculate the environmental capacity of organic acids by combining the toxicity threshold of organic acids with the volume of water in the study area. The results showed the range of toxicity thresholds of organic acids to 25.29-30 mg/L would have an inhibitory effect on the development of mangrove plant hypocotyls; The organic acid environmental capacity of Dongzhai harbor Mangrove Wetland Protection Area is 7.76 × 10^4 kg/d ~ 8.73 × 10^4 kg/d, while the estimated organic acid emissions from shrimp ponds around Dongzhai harbor are 7.06 × 10^3 kg/d ~ 7.83 × 10^3 kg/d. Therefore, the organic acid emissions from shrimp ponds around Dongzhai harbor are within the carrying range of the mangrove wetland ecosystem in Dongzhai harbor.

Exogenous Eugenol Alleviates Salt Stress in Tobacco Seedlings by Regulating the Antioxidant System and Hormone Signaling.

Salt stress seriously affects crop growth, leading to a decline in crop quality and yield. Application of exogenous substances to improve the salt tolerance of crops and promote their growth under salt stress has become a widespread and effective means. Eugenol is a small molecule of plant origin with medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. In this study, tobacco seedlings were placed in Hoagland's solution containing NaCl in the presence or absence of eugenol, and physiological indices related to stress tolerance were measured along with transcriptome sequencing. The results showed that eugenol improved the growth of tobacco seedlings under salt stress. It promoted carbon and nitrogen metabolism, increased the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), sucrose synthase (SS), and glutamine synthetase (GS) by 31.03, 5.80, and 51.06%. It also activated the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the tobacco seedlings, and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 24.38%, 18.22%, 21.60%, and 28.8%, respectively. The content of glutathione (GSH) was increased by 29.49%, and the content of superoxide anion (O2-) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were reduced by 29.83 and 33.86%, respectively. Promoted osmoregulation, the content of Na+ decreased by 34.34, K+ increased by 41.25%, and starch and soluble sugar increased by 7.72% and 25.42%, respectively. It coordinated hormone signaling in seedlings; the content of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) increased by 51.93% and 266.28%, respectively. The transcriptome data indicated that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the MAPK signaling pathway, and phytohormone signal transduction pathways. The results of this study revealed the novel role of eugenol in regulating plant resistance and provided a reference for the use of exogenous substances to alleviate salt stress.

Prevalence and socio-economic determinants of growth and developmental delays among Iranian children aged under five years: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The main cause of growth and development delays remains unknown, but it can occur as an interaction between genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and social determinants of growth and developmental delays among children aged under five years in Qazvin, Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2019 to December 2020 with participation of 1800 mothers with children aged 4-60 months who were referred to comprehensive health centers in Qazvin city, Iran. Structural and intermediate social determinants of health were assessed including: parents and children socio-demographic characteristics, families' living and economic status, parents' behavioral factors, household food security, mother's general health, and perceived social support. Children's growth was assessed based on their anthropometric assessment and their development was assessed using their age-specific Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models using SPSS software version 24 and Stata version 14. RESULTS: The prevalence of developmental problems in each domain were 4.28% for personal and social delay, 5.72% for gross motor delay, 6.5% for communication delay, 6.72% for fine motor delay, and 8% for problem-solving delay. The prevalence of weight growth delays was 13.56% and height growth delays was 4.66%. Communication, gross motor, and problem-solving delays were higher among children whose fathers' smoked cigarettes. Fine motor delays were lower among mothers with education status of high school diploma and university degree vs. the under diploma group. Personal and social delay was significantly higher among families with fair economic status and lower among children when their fathers were employed (vs. unemployed). Weight and height growth delays were higher among mothers who had experienced pregnancy complications and household food insecure families, respectively. CONCLUSION: There are different predictors of growth and developmental delay problems among Iranian children aged under five years including fathers' smoking, families' economic status, and household food insecurity as well as history of mothers' pregnancy complications. The present study's findings can be used to screen for at-risk of growth and developmental delays among children and could help in designing and implementation of timely interventions.

The Molecular Mechanism of Cold-Stress Tolerance: Cold Responsive Genes and Their Mechanisms in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations, which can significantly reduce plant growth and development at different developmental stages, resulting in a dramatic loss of grain yield. Over the past century, substantial efforts have been undertaken to investigate the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms of cold stress tolerance in rice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent developments and trends in this field. We summarized the previous advancements and methodologies used for identifying cold-responsive genes and the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in rice. Integration of new technologies has significantly improved studies in this era, facilitating the identification of essential genes, QTLs, and molecular modules in rice. These findings have accelerated the molecular breeding of cold-resistant rice varieties. In addition, functional genomics, including the investigation of natural variations in alleles and artificially developed mutants, is emerging as an exciting new approach to investigating cold tolerance. Looking ahead, it is imperative for scientists to evaluate the collective impacts of these novel genes to develop rice cultivars resilient to global climate change.

Preliminary studies on the molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in the longest dorsal muscle of sheep.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular fat content is an important index reflecting the quality of mutton, which directly affects the flavor and tenderness of mutton. Livestock and poultry intramuscular fat content is influenced by genetics, nutritional level, and environmental factors. Key regulatory factors play a crucial role in intramuscular fat deposition. However, there is a limited amount of research on the identification and function of key genes involved in intramuscular fat content deposition specifically in sheep. RESULTS: Histological differences in the longest dorsal muscle of the small-tailed frigid sheep increased in diameter and decreased in several muscle fibers with increasing monthly age; The intramuscular fat content of the longest dorsal muscle of the small-tailed cold sheep varied with age, with a minimum of 1 month of age, a maximum of 6 months of age, and a minimum of 12 months of age. Transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed a large number of differential genes in the longest dorsal muscles of little-tailed billy goats of different months of age, which were enriched in multiple GO entries and KEGG pathways. Among them, the pathway associated with intramuscular fat was the AMPK signaling pathway, and the related genes were PPARGC1A and ADIPOQ; Immunohistochemical studies showed that PPARGC1A and ADIPOQ proteins were expressed in connective tissues, cell membranes, and, to a lesser extent, the cytoplasm of the longest dorsal muscle of the little-tailed frigid sheep; Real-time PCR and Western Blot validation showed that PPARGC1A and ADIPOQ were both expressed in the longest dorsal muscle of the little-tailed frigid sheep at different ages, and there were age differences in the amount of expression. The ADIPOQ gene was negatively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest dorsal muscle, and the PPARGC1A gene was positively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest dorsal muscle; As inferred from the above results, the ADIPOQ gene was negatively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest dorsal muscle (r = -0.793, P < 0.05); and the PPARGC1A gene was positively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest dorsal muscle r = 0.923, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above results, it can be inferred that the ADIPOQ gene is negatively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest back muscle (r = -0.793, P < 0.05); the PPARGC1A gene is positively correlated with the intramuscular fat content of the longest back muscle (r = 0.923, P < 0.05).

The Effect of Maternal Bariatric Surgery on Offspring Anthropometry: A Mixed Cohort.

PURPOSE: Although bariatric surgery is associated with a decrease in obesity complications, it may affect the children's growth by a maternal nutritional deficiency. This study was conducted to assess the effect of maternal bariatric surgery on offspring anthropometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a mixed cohort, anthropometric status of children aged 5 years or less born to mothers with a history of bariatric surgery was compared with a control group consists of peers born to mothers with obesity but without bariatric surgery. Anthropometric indices including crude and quantile values for BMI, weight, height, and head circumference at birth and the first 5 years of life were measured. Then, the adjusted effect of maternal surgical history on anthropometric status was estimated by linear regression. RESULTS: From a total of 56 children, 28 born to mothers with a history of bariatric surgery, and 28 born to mothers with obesity but without bariatric surgery. At birth, weight (2915 vs 3225 g) and BMI (11.72 vs 12.94 kg/m2) were lower in the group with maternal bariatric surgery than in the control group (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively), although after regression adjustment, there was only a significant difference between the two groups in height for age value in children less than 5 years old (B = 0.872, P-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery with decrease of weight indices at birth has a probable influence on growth and development in next years. Therefore, it is recommended further studies to identify unknown effect of types of preconception surgical procedures on childhood outcomes.

Contrasting Impacts of Ubiquitin Overexpression on Arabidopsis Growth and Development.

In plants, the ubiquitin (Ub)-26S proteasome system (UPS) regulates numerous biological functions by selectively targeting proteins for ubiquitylation and degradation. However, the regulation of Ub itself on plant growth and development remains unclear. To demonstrate a possible impact of Ub supply, as seen in animals and flies, we carefully analyzed the growth and developmental phenotypes of two different poly-Ub (UBQ) gene overexpression plants of Arabidopsis thaliana. One is transformed with hexa-6His-UBQ (designated 6HU), driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, while the other expresses hexa-6His-TEV-UBQ (designated 6HTU), driven by the endogenous promoter of UBQ10. We discovered that 6HU and 6HTU had contrasting seed yields. Compared to wildtype (WT), the former exhibited a reduced seed yield, while the latter showed an increased seed production that was attributed to enhanced growth vigor and an elevated silique number per plant. However, reduced seed sizes were common in both 6HU and 6HTU. Differences in the activity and size of the 26S proteasome assemblies in the two transgenic plants were also notable in comparison with WT, suggestive of a contributory role of UBQ expression in proteasome assembly and function. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that exogenous expression of recombinant Ub may optimize plant growth and development by influencing the UPS activities via structural variance, expression patterns, and abundance of free Ub supply.

Effects of miR-306 Perturbation on Life Parameters in the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae).

MicroRNAs (miRNA) play a vital role in insects' growth and development and have significant potential value in pest control. Previously, we identified miR-306 from small RNA libraries within the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae, a devasting insect pest for wheat. miR-306 not only involves in wing morphogenesis, but also is critically important for aphid survival. Its specific impacts on the life history traits, however, remain unclear. Here, we evaluate the impact of miR-306 perturbation on S. avenae populations using a two-sex life table approach. This comprehensive analysis revealed that miR-306 perturbation significantly prolongs the developmental stages (9.64% and 8.20%) and adult longevity of S. avenae, while decreasing pre-adult survival rate (41.45% and 38.74%) and slightly reducing average fecundity (5.80% and 13.05%). Overall, miR-306 perturbation negatively affects the life table parameters of the aphid population. The population prediction models show a significant decline in the aphid population 60 days post interference, compared to the control groups (98.14% and 97.76%). Our findings highlight the detrimental effects of miR-306 perturbation on S. avenae population growth and suggest potential candidate genes for the development of RNAi-based biopesticides targeted specifically at this pest species.

The gut bacterial composition across life stages of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and the effects of amikacin on their development.

Insects and microorganisms, ubiquitous organisms in the natural world, have developed intricate relationships throughout their evolutionary histories. However, most studies have concentrated on specific time points or life stages, but some limited studies have investigated the dynamics of microbial diversity within insects across life stages. Here, 16S rDNA sequencing technology was used to investigate the gut bacterial community across the life stages of Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The results revealed that the gut bacterial diversity of S. peregrina varied with life stage and showed similarity in the nearby life stages. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in S. peregrina. Genera such as Providencia, Ignatzschineria, and Myroides are implicated in potentially pivotal roles during the developmental processes of this flesh fly. Furthermore, the effects of amikacin on the growth and development of S. peregrina were not statistically significant. However, we did observe significant changes at the protein level, which suggests a close association between protein-level alterations and growth and development. Additionally, we speculate that S. peregrina regulates its nutritional status during nonfeeding stages to meet the demands of eclosion. This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the intestinal bacterial composition across various life stages of S. peregrina. Our findings deepen our understanding of the gut microbiota in this flesh fly and lay the groundwork for further exploration into the intricate interactions between microorganisms and insects.

Pre-school children single inhalation anesthetic exposure and neuro-psychological development: a prospective study and Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: For children who are unable to cooperate due to severe dental anxiety (DA), dental treatment of childhood caries under Dental General Anesthesia (DGA) is a safe and high-quality treatment method. This study aims to evaluate the impact on neurocognitive functions and the growth and development of children 2 years after dental procedure based on previous research, and further establish a causal relationship between general anesthesia (GA) and changes in children's neurocognitive functions by incorporating Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: Data were collected and analyzed from 340 cases of S-ECC procedures of preschool children conducted in 2019. This involved comparing the neurocognitive outcomes 2 years post-operation of preschool children receiving dental procedures under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Physical development indicators such as height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of children were also compared at baseline, half a year post-operation, and 2 years post-operation. We performed a Mendelian randomization analysis on the causal relationship between children's cognitive development and general anesthesia, drawing on a large-scale meta-analysis of GWAS for anesthesia, including multiple general anesthesia datasets. Results: Outcome data were obtained for 111 children in the general anesthesia group and 121 children in the local anesthesia group. The mean FSIQ score for the general anesthesia group was 106.77 (SD 6.96), while the mean score for the local anesthesia group was 106.36 (SD 5.88). FSIQ scores were equivalent between the two groups. The incidence of malnutrition in children in the general anesthesia group was 27.93% (p < 0.001) before surgery and decreased to 15.32% (p > 0.05) after 2 years, which was not different from the general population. The IVW method suggested that the causal estimate (p = 0.99 > 0.05, OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 5.98 × 10-4-1.82 × 103) was not statistically significant for disease prevalence. This indicates no genetic cause-and-effect relationship between anesthesia and childhood intelligence. Conclusion: There were no adverse outcomes in neurocognitive development in 2 years after severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) procedure under total sevoflurane-inhalation in preschool children. The malnutrition condition in children can be improved after S-ECC procedure under general anesthesia. Limited MR evidence does not support a correlation between genetic susceptibility to anesthesia and an increased risk for intelligence in children.

The lateral septum partakes the regulation of propofol-induced anxiety-like behavior.

Repeated exposure to propofol during early brain development is associated with anxiety disorders in adulthood, yet the mechanisms underlying propofol-induced susceptibility to anxiety disorders remain elusive. The lateral septum (LS), primarily composed of γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) neurons, serves as a key brain region in the regulation of anxiety. However, it remains unclear whether LS GABAergic neurons are implicated in propofol-induced anxiety. Therefore, we conducted c-Fos immunostaining of whole-brain slices from mice exposed to propofol during early life. Our findings indicate that propofol exposure activates GABAergic neurons in the LS. Selective activation of LS GABAergic neurons resulted in increased anxiety-like behavior, while selective inhibition of these neurons reduced such behaviors. These results suggest that the LS is a critical brain region involved in propofol-induced anxiety. Furthermore, we investigated the molecular mechanism of propofol-induced anxiety in the LS. Microglia activation underlies the development of anxiety. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis of LS revealed activated microglia and significantly elevated levels of phospho-NF-κB p65 protein. Additionally, a decrease in the number of neuronal spines was observed. Our study highlights the crucial role of the LS in the development of anxiety-like behavior in adulthood following childhood propofol exposure, accompanied by the activation of inflammatory pathways.

Advances in the Multifaceted Functions of Cys2/His2-Type Zinc Finger Proteins in Distinctive Plant Characters.

Recent research findings established the cruciality of Cys2/His2-type Zinc Finger Proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) in plant growth and their relevance in coping with various stressors. Nevertheless, the complex structure of the C2H2-ZFPs network and the molecular mechanisms of response to stress in adversity have received considerable attention and now require more in-depth examination. This paper reviews the structural characteristics, classification, and recent functional research advances of C2H2-ZFPs. In addition, it systematically introduces the roles of these proteins across diverse facets of plant biology, encompassing growth and development, responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, and laying the foundation for future functional studies of C2H2-ZFPs.

The contribution of circadian clock to the biological processes.

All organisms have various circadian, behavioral, and physiological 24-h periodic rhythms, which are controlled by the circadian clock. The circadian clock controls various behavioral and physiological rhythms. In mammals, the primary circadian clock is present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. The rhythm of the circadian clock is controlled by the interaction between negative and positive feedback loops, consisting of crucial clock regulators (including Bmal1 and Clock), three cycles (mPer1, mPer2, and mPer3), and two cryptochromes (Cry1 and Cry2). The development of early mammalian embryos is an ordered and complex biological process that includes stages from fertilized eggs to blastocysts and undergoes important morphological changes, such as blastocyst formation, cell multiplication, and compaction. The circadian clock affects the onset and timing of embryonic development. The circadian clock affects many biological processes, including eating time, immune function, sleep, energy metabolism, and endocrinology, therefore, it is also crucial for overall health, growth and development after birth. This review summarized the effects of the circadian clock in the body's physiological activities. A new strategy is proposed for the prevention of malformations or diseases by regulating the circadian clock or changing circadian rhythms.

Enigmatic role of auxin response factors in plant growth and stress tolerance.

Abiotic and biotic stresses globally constrain plant growth and impede the optimization of crop productivity. The phytohormone auxin is involved in nearly every aspect of plant development. Auxin acts as a chemical messenger that influences gene expression through a short nuclear pathway, mediated by a family of specific DNA-binding transcription factors known as Auxin Response Factors (ARFs). ARFs thus act as effectors of auxin response and translate chemical signals into the regulation of auxin responsive genes. Since the initial discovery of the first ARF in Arabidopsis, advancements in genetics, biochemistry, genomics, and structural biology have facilitated the development of models elucidating ARF action and their contributions to generating specific auxin responses. Yet, significant gaps persist in our understanding of ARF transcription factors despite these endeavors. Unraveling the functional roles of ARFs in regulating stress response, alongside elucidating their genetic and molecular mechanisms, is still in its nascent phase. Here, we review recent research outcomes on ARFs, detailing their involvement in regulating leaf, flower, and root organogenesis and development, as well as stress responses and their corresponding regulatory mechanisms: including gene expression patterns, functional characterization, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post- translational regulation across diverse stress conditions. Furthermore, we delineate unresolved questions and forthcoming challenges in ARF research.

Assessing growth in children and adolescents with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although growth delays and disruption are a well described medical complication of restrictive eating disorders in children and young adolescents, this complication has received less attention in patients with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Patients with ARFID have challenges with adequacy of food volume and variety that are not related to body image but are instead related to lack of interest in eating, sensory concerns, and/or fears of aversive consequences. Because onset of ARFID is commonly before puberty, concerns regarding growth adequacy may present an additional treatment challenge and a unique opportunity for support. REVIEW: Child and adolescent patients with other restrictive eating disorders are at risk of irreversible deleterious impact on growth and development, particularly when onset is before or around puberty. Although faltering growth is a defining feature of ARFID, less attention has been paid to methods for examining growth concerns in young patients with ARFID and training providers to assess growth adequacy when prepubertal and peripubertal patients present with this diagnosis. Providers working with patients under 18 years of age with eating disorders will benefit from the tools discussed in this narrative review to adequately assess growth and development against genetic potential, recognize alterations in growth that are a result of nutritional deficiencies, and support and maximize catch-up growth and development when it has been impaired. CONCLUSION: Established pediatric growth monitoring tools and techniques to assess adequacy of growth can be applied to child and adolescent patients presenting with ARFID. These tools can improve long term outcomes in linear height for these patients and allow for monitoring during and after treatment until growth and development is complete. Medical providers caring for patients presenting with ARFID will need to establish best practices for assessing and monitoring growth.

Supporting Ontario public health units to address adverse childhood experiences in pandemic recovery planning: A priority-setting exercise.

BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic exposures experienced during childhood, for example, neglect. There is growing evidence that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related socioeconomic conditions contributed to an increased risk of ACEs. As public health programs/services are re-evaluated and restored following the state of emergency, it is important to plan using an ACEs-informed lens. The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize initiatives or activities that Public Health Ontario (PHO) could undertake to support Ontario public health units' work towards ACEs-informed pandemic recovery plans. METHODS: The Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative method was adapted to conduct a priority-setting exercise (May-October 2022). Two online surveys were administered with members of the Healthy Growth and Development (HGD) Evidence Network, comprised of public health unit staff working in child and family health/HGD from Ontario's 34 public health units. In the first survey, participants were asked to propose activities or initiatives that PHO could undertake to support Ontario public health units' work towards ACEs-informed planning. In the second survey, participants were asked to score the final list of options against pre-determined prioritization criteria (for example, relevance). Responses were numerically coded and used to calculate prioritization scores, which were used to rank the options. RESULTS: In all, 76% of public health units (n = 26) responded to the first survey to identify options. The 168 proposed ideas were consolidated into a final list of 13 options, which fall under PHO's scientific and technical support mandate areas (data and surveillance, evidence synthesis, collaboration and networking, knowledge exchange and research). A total of 79% of public health units (n = 27) responded to the follow-up survey to prioritize options. Prioritization scores ranged from 76.4% to 88.6%. The top-ranked option was the establishment of a new provincial ACEs community of practice. CONCLUSIONS: Over three quarters of public health units contributed to identifying and ranking 13 options for PHO to support public health units in considering and addressing ACEs through pandemic recovery planning. In consultation with the ACEs and Resilience Community of Practice, recently formed on the basis of this exercise, PHO will continue to use the ranked list of options to inform work-planning activities/priorities.

Investigating femoral growth disruption in subadults from the 10th-13th century St. Étienne cemetery of Toulouse, France.

OBJECTIVES: The skeleton embodies an individual's environment and lived experiences. Studying childhood growth disruption can, therefore, aid in understanding the experiences of children in the past. This study evaluates growth disruption in a medieval Toulousian subadult sample to explore factors that may have influenced childhood growth and mortality at this site and to assess the utility of Harris line (HL) interpretations in bioarchaeology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Femoral growth disruption was assessed in n = 71 subadults (0.125-12.42 years) from the 10th-13th century St. Étienne cemetery of Toulouse, France, using femoral length, total area, cortical area, and relative cortical area. Femoral radiographs were assessed for HLs. To determine the prevalence of growth disruption, z-scores were calculated using data from the Denver growth study. RESULTS: The majority of subadults in this sample suffered from femoral growth disruption. Young children (1.0-3.99 years) were the most affected, with >65% experiencing reduced appositional growth and linear growth stunting at time-of-death. Additionally, while many individuals presented with observable HLs, linear and appositional growth did not significantly differ between individuals with and without HLs. DISCUSSION: Maternal malnutrition and inadequate complementary feeding practices likely contributed to the high prevalence of growth disruption among the youngest individuals in the study. The older children and adolescents buried at St. Étienne experienced an amelioration in growth deficits, indicating an improvement in nutrition and/or disease load. The results of this study suggest that more consideration is required when interpreting the presence/absence of HLs, and that studies assessing HLs may benefit from using a more individualistic approach.