Nitrogen fertilizers used in agriculture contribute significantly to global warming. A new breeding concept, specifically for wheat, could help reduce nitrogen fertilization. This holobiont principle places the complex interactions between plants and soil microbiomes at the center of plant breeding. In combination with machine learning, this could lead to the use of new wheat varieties, as well as other crops, that are more resilient to climate change and contribute to soil health. Two recent studies led by Wolfram Weckwerth from the University of Vienna have been published in the journals Plant Biotechnology and Trends in Plant Science.

A study analyzed data from more than 40,000 teens (ages 12 to 17) and found alarmingly low rates (about 35%) of treatment completion. Nearly 60% of the adolescents started using cannabis between ages 12 and 14. Those who started cannabis at age 11 or younger had a success rate of just 12.9%. Co-occurring disorders, early use, and race impacted outcomes, with Hispanic and Pacific Islander teens more likely to complete treatment than Black or white adolescents. Boys were somewhat less likely than girls to complete treatment.

Colon cancer is often driven by cancer stem cells, which resist treatment and lead to relapse. In a recent study, researchers from Japan revealed how transcription factors CDX1 and CDX2 suppress cancer cell stemness by blocking β-catenin’s ability to activate key genes like LGR5. Their findings showed that CDX1/2 prevent the formation of key transcriptional complexes involving DSIF and PAF1, identifying these as critical regulators and potential therapeutic targets in colon cancer.