Re-Evaluation of Vascular Histogenesis in the Root Tips of Selected Species in the Poaceae Using New Methods: Analysis of the Plerome, Vascular Initials, Pericycle and Late-Maturing Metaxylem Vessels.

Serial sectioning and 3D image reconstruction methods were applied to elucidate the structures of the apices of root vascular cylinders (VCs) in taxa of the Poaceae: Zea mays "Honey Bantam", Z. mays ssp. mexicana, Hordeum vulgare and Oryza sativa. The primary and nodal roots were investigated. Observations were performed using high-quality sectioning and 3D image-processing techniques improved and developed by the authors. We found that a quiescent uniseriate plerome was located at the most distal part of each VC. Vascular initials were located immediately basipetally to the plerome as a specific uniseriate layer that could be classified into central and peripheral initials that produced all the cells in the VC. No supplying of cells from the plerome to the vascular initials was observed. Numerical analysis revealed a "boundary point" along the root axis where the rate of increase of the vascular cell number markedly declined, and the VC diameter, number of vascular cells, and number of late-maturing metaxylem vessels (LMXs) at that point showed a similar relationship among the taxa and the types of roots examined (primary vs. nodal). The plerome and vascular initials layer can be considered independent after seed germination in these taxa. A boundary point at which procambial cell proliferation sharply declined was identified. The diameters of the VCs, number of LMXs, and number of vascular cells at the boundary point were found to be strongly related to each other.

Widely Targeted Metabolomic Analysis Provides New Insights into the Effect of Rootstocks on Citrus Fruit Quality.

The use of different rootstocks has a significant effect on the content of flavor components and overall fruit quality. However, little information is available about the metabolic basis of the nutritional value of citrus plants. In this study, UPLC-MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) was performed to analyze the metabolites of three late-maturing hybrid mandarin varieties ('Gold Nugget', 'Tango' and 'Orah') grafted on four rootstocks ('Trifoliate orange', 'Carrizo citrange', 'Red tangerine' and 'Ziyang Xiangcheng'). A total of 1006 metabolites were identified through OPLS-DA (Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis) analysis. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis revealed the most critical pathways among the different pathways associated with genes grafted on the four rootstocks that were differentially activated, including tryptophan metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism in 'Gold Nugget'; tryptophan metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and sphingolipid metabolism in 'Tango'; and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis- and photosynthesis-related biosynthesis in 'Orah'. A considerable difference between the different rootstocks was also observed in the accumulation of lipids, phenolic acids and flavonoids; further analysis revealed that the rootstocks regulated specific metabolites, including deacetylnomylinic acid, sudachinoid A, amoenin evodol, rutaevin, cyclo (phenylalanine-glutamic acid), cyclo (proline-phenylalanine), 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, and 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoic acid. The results of this study provide a useful foundation for further investigation of rootstock selection for late-maturation hybrid mandarin varieties.

Molecular and physiological characterization of early semi-dwarf mutants of rice and localization of SNP variants in Sd1 locus generated through gamma radiation.

PURPOSE: The 'Improved White Ponni' (IWP) rice variety, which is susceptible to lodging, leading to yield losses. Our primary goal is to develop new rice lines with non-lodging traits, enhancing stem strength and resistance to adverse conditions. Additionally, we aim to improve yield-contributing agronomic traits, benefiting farmers, food security, and the environment. Our work contributes to scientific knowledge and addresses a significant issue in Southern Indian rice cultivation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, early and semi-dwarf early mutants of IWP were developed without altering the native grain quality traits using gamma ray-mediated mutagenesis. The seeds (500) were irradiated with γ-rays after fixing the Lethal Dose 50 (LD50), and selection for semi-dwarfism and earliness was imposed on a large M2 population. The selected traits were confirmed by evaluating the M3 lines at morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. RESULTS: The response of mutants to gibberellic acid has been studied, which identified responsive mutants as well as slow-responding mutant lines including IWP-11-2, IWP-48-2, IWP-50-11, and IWP-33-2. Agar plate assay indicated low α- amylase content in IWP-50-11, IWP-33-2, IWP-43-1, IWP-47-2, and IWP-18-1. The scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the mutants displayed an increased cellular dimension in comparison to the wild type. In dwarf mutants, null alleles were observed for the SD1 gene-specific primers which depicts gene undergone mutation. Further sequencing revealed the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SD1 gene resulting in semi-dwarfism in the mutant IWP-D-1. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of a defective gibberellic acid-mediated signaling pathway in mutants to produce a novel high-yielding and early maturing semi-dwarf rice variety.

Prognosis of naevoid melanomas.

INTRODUCTION: There appear to be several variants of naevoid melanoma suspected as having different outcomes, but follow-up studies have been few. We aimed to assess the prognosis of naevoid melanomas in a multi-centre study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From histopathology records we ascertained patients in the UK, Australia and Italy diagnosed with maturing naevoid melanoma (n = 65; 14; 7 respectively) and nodular/papillomatous naevoid melanoma (12; 6; 0), and patients with superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) from UK (73) and Australia (26). Melanoma deaths in UK patients were obtained from NHS Digital; in Australia, via the National Death Index and cancer registry; and in Italy, through clinical records. For maturing naevoid vs. SSM, we used Cox-proportional hazard regression models to compare survival adjusted for age, sex, tumour thickness, and ulceration, and additionally Fine-Gray regression analysis, to calculate sub-hazard ratios (SHR) in the UK cohort, accounting for competing causes of death. RESULTS: Among UK patients, there was a non-significantly lower risk of melanoma death in maturing naevoid vs SSM, including after accounting for competing causes of death (SHR 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12-1.31), while among nodular/papillomatous naevoid melanoma patients, there were no melanoma deaths on follow-up. Two melanoma deaths occurred in Australian SSM patients, and none in maturing or nodular/papillomatous naevoid melanoma patients, after 5 years' minimum follow-up. None of the 7 Italian patients with maturing naevoid melanoma died of melanoma after nearly 12 years' average follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in risk of death from melanomas with naevoid features, and SSM. Nodular/ papillomatous naevoid melanoma patients did not carry higher risk of death than SSM patients though the very few cases of the papillomatous naevoid variant limited our assessment.

Maturing Out: Between- and Within-Persons Changes in Social-Network Drinking, Drinking Identity, and Hazardous Drinking Following College Graduation.

Many college students reduce hazardous drinking (HD) following graduation without treatment. Identifying cognitive mechanisms facilitating this "natural" reduction in HD during this transition is crucial. We evaluated drinking identity as a potential mechanism and tested whether within-person changes in one's social network's drinking were linked to within-person changes in drinking identity and subsequent within-person changes in HD. A sample of 422 undergraduates reporting HD was followed from six months before until two years after graduation. Their drinking, drinking identity, and social networks were assessed online. Within-person changes in drinking identity did not mediate the relationship between within-person changes in social network drinking and personal HD, though significant positive between-person associations among all constructs were found. Instead, there was some evidence that within-person changes in drinking identity followed changes in HD, suggesting that drinking identity may function as a marker versus mechanism of "natural" HD reduction during transition out of college.

A life span developmental investigation of marriage and problem-drinking reduction.

While prior literature has largely focused on marriage effects during young adulthood, it is less clear whether these effects are as strong in middle adulthood. Thus, we investigated age differences in marriage effects on problem-drinking reduction. We employed parallel analyses with two independent samples (analytic-sample Ns of 577 and 441, respectively). Both are high-risk samples by design, with about 50% of participants having a parent with lifetime alcohol use disorder. Both samples have been assessed longitudinally from early young adulthood to the mid-to-late 30s. Separate parallel analyses with these two samples allowed evaluation of the reproducibility of results. Growth models of problem drinking tested marriage as a time-varying predictor and thereby assessed age differences in marriage effects. For both samples, results consistently showed marriage effects to be strongest in early young adulthood and to decrease somewhat monotonically thereafter with age, reaching very small (and nonsignificant) magnitudes by the 30s. Results may reflect that role transitions like marriage have more impact on problem drinking in earlier versus later adulthood, thereby highlighting the importance of life span developmental research for understanding problem-drinking desistance. Our findings can inform intervention strategies aimed at reducing problem drinking by jumpstarting or amplifying natural processes of adult role adaptation.

Effectiveness of Bone Marrow-Derived Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rabbit Degenerative Model.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate. Although peripheral blood-derived PRF (P-PRF) is commonly applied in biological augmentation, there is no report about the therapeutic effect of bone marrow-derived PRF (BM-PRF) for degenerative rotator cuff tears (RCTs). PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: To examine the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), P-PRF, and BM-PRF during rotator cuff repair (RCR) in degenerative RCTs in rabbits. We hypothesized that BM-PRF would accelerate the bone-tendon healing after RCR. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Degenerative RCT models were created 2 weeks before beginning the study, and 68 juvenile rabbits were divided into 4 groups: the control, PRP, P-PRF, and BM-PRF groups. RCR without augmentation was done in the control group. PRP was prepared by centrifuging peripheral blood twice using a plastic tube. P-PRF and BM-PRF were prepared by centrifuging peripheral blood and bone marrow, respectively, using a glass tube. Rabbits from PRP, P-PRF, and BM-PRF groups were administered the augmentation in a similar fashion for RCR, between the rotator cuff and the footprint of the humerus. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks, rabbits were euthanized and histologically assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, Alcian blue staining, and immunohistochemical staining for type I and III collagen. The sections were also evaluated with immunofluorescence staining of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at 4 weeks. RESULTS: The continuity was significantly better in the BM-PRF group at 4 weeks (P < .05). Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that VEGF-positive stained cells were significantly greater in the BM-PRF group than in the control group (P < .01). The modified tendon maturing score was significantly greater in the BM-PRF group than in the control and PRP groups at 12 weeks (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the modified tendon maturing score of the P-PRF group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The rabbit model of degenerative RCTs demonstrated that RCR combined with BM-PRF enhanced tendon-bone continuity and increased the VEGF-positive cells at 4 weeks and obtained preferable tendon-bone maturation at 12 weeks. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: RCR augmented with BM-PRF has the potential to improve clinical outcomes for RCTs.

Maturing out of alcohol and cannabis co-use: A test of patterns and personality predictors.

OBJECTIVE: Reductions in substance involvement into adulthood are thought to represent a normative maturing out of substance use. However, patterns and predictors of maturing out of alcohol and cannabis co-use remain largely unstudied. Therefore, the current study tested developmental trajectories of alcohol and cannabis use from late adolescence into adulthood and whether late adolescent personality traits predicted trajectory class membership. METHODS: Data come from a longitudinal study of family history of alcohol disorder (N = 458). Age bands were created to model trajectories of drinking quantity, negative alcohol consequences, and cannabis use frequency from late adolescence (age 18-22) to young adulthood (age 23-28) and adulthood (age 29-36). Participants reported on their sensation seeking, conscientiousness, and neuroticism during late adolescence and their typical drinking quantity, negative alcohol consequences, and cannabis use frequency at each age band. RESULTS: Three trajectory classes were derived from an initial Parallel Process Growth Mixture Model: (1) low-risk maturing out of alcohol-only use, (2) high-risk maturing out of co-use, and (3) high-risk switchers who increased their cannabis use into adulthood. Late adolescent sensation seeking was associated with higher odds of being in both co-use trajectories, whereas a lack of conscientiousness was associated with higher odds of being a co-use switcher. CONCLUSIONS: We identified heterogeneity in trajectories of co-use, which suggests that a lack of maturing out of alcohol involvement may be accompanied by increased cannabis use. Moreover, late adolescent personality traits may predispose individuals toward riskier developmental trajectories of substance use into adulthood.

Plant Development of Early-Maturing Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Inoculation with Bacillus sp. V2026.

The effect of a plant growth-promoting bacterium (PGPB) Bacillus sp. V2026, a producer of indolyl-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA), on the ontogenesis and productivity of four genotypes of early-maturing spring wheat was studied under controlled conditions. The inoculation of wheat plants with Bacillus sp. V2026 increased the levels of endogenous IAA and GA in wheat of all genotypes and the level of trans-Zeatin in Sonora 64 and Leningradskaya rannyaya cvs but decreased it in AFI177 and AFI91 ultra-early lines. Interactions between the factors "genotype" and "inoculation" were significant for IAA, GA, and trans-Zeatin concentrations in wheat shoots and roots. The inoculation increased the levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids and reduced lipid peroxidation in leaves of all genotypes. The inoculation resulted in a significant increase in grain yield (by 33-62%), a reduction in the time for passing the stages of ontogenesis (by 2-3 days), and an increase in the content of macro- and microelements and protein in the grain. Early-maturing wheat genotypes showed a different response to inoculation with the bacterium Bacillus sp. V2026. Cv. Leningradskaya rannyaya was most responsive to inoculation with Bacillus sp. V2026.

Late-Season Sweet Orange Selections Under Huanglongbing and Citrus Canker Endemic Conditions in the Brazilian Humid Subtropical Region.

The Brazilian citrus orchards are comprised by few genotypes, which increases the risk of pest and disease outbreaks. The diversification of sweet oranges (Citrus × sinensis) in orchards also generates off-season revenue and extend the fruit processing period. This study aimed to evaluate several horticultural traits of 19 late-season sweet orange selections under citrus canker and huanglongbing (HLB) endemic condition in northwestern Paraná state, Brazil, in a long-term field experiment. Tree size, yield, fruit quality for fresh fruit and industrial markets, estimates of tree density and yield, and citrus canker and huanglongbing (HLB) incidences were assessed. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates and five trees per unit. The orchard was drip-irrigated and arranged at tree spacing of 6.5 m × 4.5 m. All scions were graft-compatible with Rangpur lime (C. × limonia). Valencia selections had the tallest trees and largest canopies, particularly Olinda, Frost and #121 with heights and volumes greater than 4.20 m and 43 m3, respectively. Natal África do Sul and Whit's Late Valencia trees were the most productive with cumulative yields above 640 kg per tree. Most of the selections produced fruits of excellent physicochemical quality attending the fresh fruit and industrial market requirements. All selections showed similar horticultural characteristics for the fresh market, while Natal África do Sul and Charmute de Brotas were more suitable for juice processing. Frost Valencia and Valencia Late Fla. had the highest incidence of citrus canker on fruits (>20%), whereas IPR Folha Murcha, Charmute de Brotas and some Valencia selections (Chafeei Late, Campbell 479, Campbell 294, Olinda, Mutação and Whit's Late) exihibed low incidence (3.0-17.7%). At 9 years, Valencia Mutação trees had high HLB incidence (93%). In contrast, Natal IAC and Folha Murcha IAC showed the lowest HLB incidence (13%). Our results revealed that Natal IAC, Folha Murcha IAC, IPR Folha Murcha, Natal Murcha, Campbell 479 Valencia and Valencia Late Fla. had the best horticultural performance in addition to low HLB incidence. Together, these late-season sweet oranges are the most advantageous selections for citrus orchard diversification under citrus canker and HLB endemic conditions in humid subtropical regions.

Physical Characterization, Nutrient, Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activities of 16 litchi Cultivars Grown in the Upper Yangtze River Region.

Litchi grown in the upper Yangtze River region have the advantage of being late-maturing owing to the geographical location. This study aimed to evaluate the physical characteristics, nutritional values, phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of 16 litchi cultivars grown in the upper Yangtze River region. Litchi grown in this region had total soluble solid and ascorbic acid contents comparable with those of cultivars grown in other locations. The total polyphenol contents were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, and the phenolic profiles were determined using UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS. Nine phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in this study. Naringin, rutin and p-coumaric acid were the major phenolic compounds in all the litchi cultivars. Statistical analysis of all the physiochemical results was performed using principal component analysis. Our results indicated that litchi grown in the upper Yangtze River region not only showed the late-maturity characteristic but were also good dietary sources of phenolic compounds and antioxidants. In particular, 'Fei Zi Xiao' and 'Jing Gang Hong Nuo', characterized by high polyphenol contents and high antioxidant capacities, were of superior comprehensive quality. This study provides important information for the development of late-maturing litchi industry.

Biochemical Properties Affecting the Nutritional Quality, Safety, and Aroma of Dry-Cured Products Manufactured from Meat of Rare Native Pig Breeds.

The aim of study was to compare the biochemical properties affecting the nutritional quality, safety, and aroma of dry-cured products manufactured from valuable meat of rare native pig breeds: Pulawska (Pul) and Zlotnicka Spotted (ZS). The count of lactic acid bacteria (4.4 log cfu/g) and the release of palmitic (23.1% and 25.9%), oleic (44.1% and 42.2%), and linoleic acids (8.3% and 7.8%), as well as arginine (30.0 and 44.3 mg/kg), histidine (25.8 and 20.6 mg/kg), and lysine (26.8-22.9 mg/kg), shaped the final pH (5.3 and 5.4) in Pul and ZS products during the 4 week maturing, respectively. Lastly, Pul and ZS meat differed in the proportion of decanoic, lauric, stearic, arachidic, and conjugated linoleic acids. The high content of putrescine (23.7 mg/kg), cadaverine (54.3 mg/kg), and tyramine (57.2 mg/kg), as well as a twofold greater share of histamine (163.2 mg/kg) and tryptamine (9.1 mg/kg), indicated a more advanced decarboxylation of ZS meat. Volatile compounds differentiating Pul and ZS meat were primarily hexanal, 3-hydroxybutan-2-one, phenylacetalaldehyde, 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 3-methyl- and 2-cyclopenten-1-one. Most marked volatile compounds were obtained as a result of microbial activity (acetic acid, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, ethanol, acetone, and 3-hydroxybutan-2-one), advanced lipid oxidation, and decomposition of secondary oxidation products (hexanal, phenylacetaldehyde, and 2-cyclopenten-1-one).

Identification of early and extra-early maturing tropical maize inbred lines resistant to Exserohilum turcicum in sub-Saharan Africa.

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) incited by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum is a foliar disease that significantly limits maize production and productivity in West and Central Africa (WCA), particularly in the mid-altitudes but during the last decade it has become a menace in lowland agro-ecologies. The most economical and environmentally friendly disease management strategy is the cultivation of maize varieties resistant or tolerant to NCLB. However, no early maturing (EM) and extra-early maturing (EEM) NCLB resistant varieties are commercially available in WCA. One hundred inbred lines each of EM and EEM derived from tropical maize germplasm were inoculated with a virulent isolate of E. turcicum at five locations in Nigeria during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. The objective of the study was to identify promising NCLB resistant lines and to investigate inter-relationships among the traits. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant genotype and genotype by environment (G × E) interactions for disease severity, grain yield (GYLD), and other agronomic traits. The average disease severity (TURC) values ranged from 1.9 to 5.8 and 2.9 to 5.7 for the EM and EEM inbred lines, respectively. The levels of reaction of the inbred lines to NCLB ranged from highly resistant to highly susceptible. Stepwise regression analysis showed that ears per plant, ear and plant aspects were significantly influenced by the disease scores. Ears per plant, ear and plant aspects, TURC and GYLD traits were employed to develop a base index (BI) for selecting NCLB resistant inbred lines for hybrid development. TZEI 135 and TZEEI 1 were outstanding in GYLD and also had the highest positive BI values in the EM and EEM inbred lines, respectively. The identification of NCLB resistant lines in this study has set the premise for development of NCLB resistant hybrids for WCA as well as the improvement of tropical maize breeding populations for NCLB resistance.

Phenotypic characterization and validation of provitamin A functional genes in early maturing provitamin A-quality protein maize (Zea mays) inbred lines.

The number of drought and low-N tolerant hybrids with elevated levels of provitamin A (PVA) in sub-Saharan Africa could increase when PVA genes are optimized and validated for developed drought and low-N tolerant inbred lines. This study aimed to (a) determine the levels of drought and low-N tolerance, and PVA concentrations in early maturing PVA-quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines, and (b) identify lines harbouring the crtRB1 and LcyE genes as sources of favourable alleles of PVA. Seventy early maturing PVA-QPM inbreds were evaluated under drought, low-N and optimal environments in Nigeria for two years. The inbreds were assayed for PVA levels and the presence of PVA genes using allele-specific PCR markers. Moderate range of PVA contents was observed for the inbreds. Nonetheless, TZEIORQ 55 combined high PVA concentration with drought and low-N tolerance. The crtRB1-3'TE primer and the KASP SNP (snpZM0015) consistently identified nine inbreds including TZEIORQ 55 harbouring the favourable alleles of the crtRB1 gene. These inbreds could serve as donor parents of the favourable crtRB1-3'TE allele for PVA breeding in maize.

The association between meaning in life and harmful drinking is mediated by individual differences in self-control and alcohol value.

INTRODUCTION: The adoption of adult roles that provide meaning in life is associated with reduced harmful drinking. The current study examined whether this relationship is mediated by increased self-control and reduced value of alcohol. METHODS: Cross-sectional design. 1043 adults (786 females) ≥18 years old completed an online survey. The outcome variable was scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), predictor variables were presence of and search for meaning in life (Meaning in Life Questionnaire), and mediating variables were trait self-control (Brief Self-Control Scale) and the value of alcohol (Brief Assessment of Alcohol Demand). RESULTS: Presence of meaning in life had a significant negative association (B = -0.01, SE = 0.00, 95% CI -0.02 to -0.00, p = .015), whilst search for meaning in life had a significant positive association (B = 0.01, SE = 0.00, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.02, p = .001) with AUDIT scores. The negative association was mediated by increased self-control (B = -0.09, SE = 0.01, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.06) and decreased value of alcohol (B = -0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.00), whilst the positive association was mediated by decreased self-control (B = 0.05, SE = 0.01, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07) and increased value of alcohol (B = 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.04), thereby supporting our hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS: The relationships between presence and search for meaning in life and harmful drinking are mediated by individual differences in both trait self-control and the value of alcohol.

A description of the potential growth and body composition of two commercial broiler strains.

1. The potential growth of feathers and feather-free body and their chemical components was measured in two commercial broiler strains. 2. A total of 200 chicks of each sex x strain were fed adequate amounts of dietary protein using a four-phase feeding programme. Ten birds per genotype were sampled at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98 and 112 d of age. They were weighed before and after being dry-plucked to determine the weight of feathers, and the feather-free body was then minced and analysed for water, protein and lipid. 3. Body weights and chemical composition of males of the two strains were similar throughout the trial. Females of the two strains differed only in their body lipid contents, with mature Cobb females being higher than Ross (1371 vs. 1210 g). 4. Mature body weights of males and females from both strains averaged 8420 g and 6650 g; mature body protein weights averaged 1555 g and 1030 g; and mature body lipid contents averaged 908 and 1290 g, respectively. 5. Rates of maturing per day of body weights of males and females of both strains averaged 0.0385 and 0.0368; feather-free body protein was 0.0316 and 0.0348 and body lipid was 0.0503 and 0.0375, respectively. The rates for body lipid differed between Cobb and Ross females (0.0352 vs. 0.0397/d). Separate equations were required for males and females to describe the allometric relationship between lipid and protein in the feather-free body. 6. The rate of maturing of feathers in females was higher than in males (0.0526 vs. 0398/d) and the mature weight was lower (205 vs. 266 g), respectively. Mature body weights of broilers in this trial were considerably higher than those measured using the same protocol 24 years ago, whereas rates of maturing remained the same.

Maturing Out of Alcohol Use in Young Adulthood: Latent Class Growth Trajectories and Concurrent Young Adult Correlates.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate intraindividual variation in "maturing out" of alcohol use by using latent class growth trajectories of alcohol use from adolescence (age 17 years) through young adulthood (age 33 years). We also modeled trajectory group differences with regard to concurrent, age-relevant domains of substance use, health (e.g., physical health rating, sleep problems), interpersonal functioning (e.g., conflict with partner), and occupational functioning (e.g., intrinsic motivation). METHODS: Growth mixture modeling was used with a sample of 1,004 adolescents/young adults, and 3 trajectory groups were identified as follows: (i) a Normative Use group (n = 646) with low alcohol use remaining stable from adolescence to young adulthood; (ii) a Moderate Increase group (n = 300) with moderate alcohol use increasing slowly from adolescence to emergent adulthood (age 23 years) and then decreasing slightly from emergent adulthood to young adulthood (age 33 years); and (iii) a High Increase group (n = 58) with a high, increasing pattern of alcohol use from adolescence to emergent adulthood and then a small decrease in use from emergent adulthood to young adulthood. RESULTS: At age 33 years, trajectory groups differed, with High and Moderate Increase groups differing significantly from the Normative Use group in current alcohol and other substance use and other risk factors (e.g., friends' alcohol use). Furthermore, the High and Moderate Increase groups differed from the Normative Use group on indicators of health (poorer sleep and more sleep problems), social functioning (higher partner and work-family conflict), and occupational functioning (lower intrinsic work motivation). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that trajectory group membership in alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood is associated with the domains of substance use, health, and social and occupational functioning. Furthermore, the findings suggest that maturing out applies primarily to a subset of those individuals at moderate to higher levels of alcohol use.

Smaller anterior subgenual cingulate volume mediates the effect of girls' early sexual maturation on negative psychobehavioral outcome.

Early-maturing girls are relatively likely to experience compromised psychobehavioral outcomes. Some studies have explored the association between puberty and brain morphology in adolescents, while the results were non-specific for females or the method was a region-of-interest analysis. To our knowledge, no large-scale study has comprehensively explored the effects of pubertal timing on whole-brain volumetric development or the neuroanatomical substrates of the association in girls between pubertal timing and psychobehavioral outcomes. We collected structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of a subsample (N â€‹= â€‹203, mean age 11.6 years) from a large-scale population-based birth cohort. Tanner stage, a scale of physical maturation in adolescents, was rated almost simultaneously with MRI scan. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire total difficulties (SDQ-TD) scores were rated by primary parents some duration after MRI scan (mean age 12.1 years). In each sex group, we examined brain regions associated with Tanner stage using whole-brain analysis controlling for chronological age, followed by an exploration of brain regions also associated with the SDQ-TD scores. We also performed mediation analyses. In girls, Tanner stage was significantly negatively correlated with gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the anterior/middle cingulate cortex (ACC/MCC), of which the subgenual ACC (sgACC) showed a negative correlation between GMVs and SDQ-TD scores. Smaller GMVs in the sgACC mediated the association between higher Tanner stages and higher SDQ-TD scores. We found no significant results in boys. Our results from a minimally biased, large-scale sample provide new insights into neuroanatomical correlates of the effect of pubertal timing on developmental psychological difficulties emerging in adolescence.

Sex differences in substance use from adolescence to young adulthood: Tests of increases in emergent adulthood and maturing out in later young adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated sex differences in substance use changes across two transitions: from adolescence (age 17 yrs.) to emergent adulthood (age 23 yrs.), and maturing out from emergent to later young adulthood (ages 28 and 33 yrs.). METHODS: Four-wave longitudinal data (N = 1004) from adolescence to young adulthood were used and five substance outcomes were assessed (cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use, heavy drinking episodes (HDEs), and alcohol problems). A longitudinal mixed model tested Sex × Time interactions to determine if sex moderated changes in substance outcomes. RESULTS: Findings supported both increases in substance outcomes from adolescence to emergent adulthood and decreases in substance outcomes from emergent adulthood to later young adulthood. Sex moderated these relationships, with males increasing their use of substances more than females across the transition from adolescence to emergent adulthood. Findings were partially robust across substance outcomes, although sex specificity was indicated for some substance outcomes (e.g., males' greater acceleration than females for HDEs) for the adolescent to emergent adult interval (from ages 17-23 years) and sex differences in maturing out for some outcomes (e.g., females' matured out earlier than males for cigarette and marijuana use). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for developmental changes associated with significant increases in substance use during the early twenties and decreases (maturing out) in the late twenties and early thirties. Sex moderated the strength of these relationships and these sex differences may be associated with changes in young adult social roles (e.g., marriage, parenting, and occupational roles).

Predictors of aging out of heavy episodic drinking in emerging adults: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Heavy episodic drinking (HED) refers to alcohol consumption that exceeds the recommended threshold for a given episode and increases risk for diverse negative alcohol-related consequences. A pattern of weekly HED is most prevalent in emerging adults (i.e., age 18-25). However, rates of HED consistently decline in the mid to late twenties, referred to as 'aging out' or 'maturing out' of HED. Although many individual studies have followed changes in drinking behaviour over the transition to adulthood, there has yet to be a systematic review to identify consistent factors contributing to risk (i.e. failure to age out) and protection (i.e. successful aging out). The objective of this review will be to summarize and critically appraise the literature on factors contributing to aging out of HED among emerging adults. METHODS: A systematic search of observational cohort studies following drinking behaviours in age cohorts overlapping with the emerging adulthood period will be conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychInfo, and CINAHL. Two independent reviewers will evaluate identified studies for inclusion eligibility, extract study data, and assess the quality of included studies. Primary outcomes will be quantity/frequency of alcohol use (e.g. drinks/week) and severity of alcohol-related problems. Predictors of maturing out of HED will be reported narratively, and where appropriate, random effects meta-analyses will be conducted to provide pooled effect sizes. An evidence map will be created to characterize the overall pattern of findings. DISCUSSION: This systematic review will provide a timely and warranted summary of published work contributing to understanding aging out of heavy episodic drinking. Our findings will provide critical commentary on the developmental course of HED during the transition from adolescence to adulthood and will be the first review to consider both protective and risk factors for maturing out of frequent binge drinking. By highlighting factors identifying those at-risk for prolonged heavy episodic drinking, our conclusions will have important treatment implications for primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention strategies. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42017078436 .