bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of preoperative endoscopic airway examination in complex airway management of a patient with supraglottic cancer
Authors: McAvoy James , Ewing Tyler , Nekhendzy Vladimir
Published: July 2019

The standard bedside airway assessment tests are poorly predictive for difficult tracheal intubation, and do not assess the presence of the inside pathology of the upper airway, such as base of the tongue lesions, glottic and vallecular lesions, pyriform sinus pathology, supraglottic tumors, etc. The preoperative endoscopic airway examination, also commonly called nasal endoscopy, or nasendoscopy, is the only technique that assesses the upper airway in its entirety, under dynamic conditions prior to induction of anesthesia, and is recommended for routine use by NAP4 even for high acuity cases. We present a case of a patient with a malignant partial upper airway obstruction and largely normal external airway exam where preoperative endoscopic airway examination findings were used in real-time to devise successful ventilation and intubation strategies.
Epidermal expression of human TRPM8, but not of TRPA1 ion channels, is associated with sensory responses to local skin cooling
Authors: Weyer-Menkhoff Iris , Pinter Andreas , Schlierbach Hannah , Schänzer Anne , Lötsch Jörn
Published: July 2019

Human cold perception and nociception play an important role in persisting pain. However, species differences in the target temperature of thermosensitive ion channels expressed in peripheral nerve endings have fueled discussions about the mechanism of cold nociception in humans. Most frequently implicated thermosensors are members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family TRPM8 and TRPA1. Regularly observed, distinct cold pain phenotype groups suggested the existence of interindividually differing molecular bases. In 28 subjects displaying either high or medium sensitivity to local cooling of the skin, the density at epidermal nerve fibers of TRPM8, but not that of TRPA1 expression, correlated significantly with the cold pain threshold. Moreover, reproducible grouping of the subjects, based on high or medium sensitivity to cooling, was reflected in an analogous grouping based on high or low TRPM8 expression at epidermal nerve fibers. The distribution of TRPM8 expression in epidermal nerve fibers provided an explanation for the previously observed (bi)modal distribution of human cold pain thresholds which was reproduced in this study. In the light of current controversies on the role of human TRPA1 ion channels in cold pain perception, the present observations demonstrating a lack of association of TRPA1 channel expression with cold sensitivity–related measures reinforce doubts about involvement of this channel in cold pain in humans. Since TRP inhibitors targeting TRPM8 and TRPA1 are currently entering clinical phases of drug development, the existence of known species differences, in particular in the function of TRPA1, emphasizes the increasing importance of new methods to directly approach the roles of TRPs in humans.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and the ERAS® Society
Authors: Ljungqvist Olle
Published: July 2019

This is a short review of the development of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and the role that the ERAS® Society has played. It covers the history in short, the guideline work from the society and implementation of the guidelines, as well as the philosophy and physiology behind ERAS and finally also some ideas around the future and the development of research collaboration.
Mutation of CEP72 Gene May Predispose Patients to Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Pham Robin , Hoeft Alice , Roberts Carol , Hamby Tyler , Maloy Charles , Ray Anish
Published: July 2019

Drug toxicities during treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia play a pivotal role in influencing the outcome as certain toxicities may impair treatment compliance. Polymorphisms in CEP72 have been linked to increased incidence of vincristine-induced toxicities, namely peripheral neuropathy. We hypothesize that polymorphisms in the same gene may increase a patient’s risk of developing hepatotoxicity when receiving potentially hepatotoxic agents during chemotherapy. This report describes hepatotoxicity that first developed during consolidation in a patient homozygous for the CEP72 risk alleles. Bilirubin levels normalized following dose reduction of 6-mercaptopurine. The patient continues to tolerate maintenance therapy at a reduced dose of 6-mercaptopurine.
The relationship between guarding, pain, and emotion
Authors: Olugbade Temitayo , Bianchi-Berthouze Nadia , Williams Amanda C de C.
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Pain-related behavior in people with chronic pain is often overlooked in a focus on increasing the amount of activity, yet it may limit activity and maintain pain and disability. Targeting it in treatment requires better understanding of the role of beliefs, emotion, and pain in pain behavior.

Objectives:

This study aimed to clarify the interrelationships between guarding, pain, anxiety, and confidence in movement in people with chronic pain in everyday movements.

Methods:

Physiotherapists rated extent of guarding on videos of people with chronic pain and healthy controls making specific movements. Bayesian modelling was used to determine how guarding was related to self-reported pain intensity, anxiety, and emotional distress, and observer-rated confidence in movement.

Results:

The absence of guarding was associated with low levels of pain, anxiety, distress, and higher movement self-efficacy, but guarding behavior occurred at high and low levels of each of those variables. Guarding was not directly dependent on pain but on anxiety; the relationship between pain and guarding was mediated by anxiety, with a high probability. Nor was guarding directly related to the broader distress score, but to self-efficacy for movement, again with a high probability.

Conclusion:

Pain-related guarding is more likely to be effectively addressed by intervention to reduce anxiety rather than pain (such as analgesia); more attention to how people move with chronic pain, rather than only how much they move, is likely to help to extend activity.
Morphological Eyelids Changing After Orthognathic Surgery in Long-Face Syndrome
Authors: Carboni Andrea , Amodeo Giulia , Perugini Maurizio , Marrocco Sergio , Scopelliti Domenico
Published: July 2019

Purpose:

The aim of the authors study is to demonstrate the soft tissues changes in the eyelid–brow area (ELBA) in patients with long-face syndrome after LeFort I osteotomy and impaction movements.

Materials and Methods:

To perform this study the authors have analyzed retrospectively orthognathic patients with at least 1 years of completely follow-up. The inclusion criteria were: long-face syndrome according to Farkas’ studies and vertical maxillary shortening movement without considering whether movements have been made in the other 2 planes of space (sagittal and horizontal).

Orthognathic patients in which the maxillary impaction movement did not correlate to the long-face syndrome represented the control group. In this group too the authors did not consider if other movements were performed.

Size and shape of the eyelid and the eyebrow was assessed on the frontal patients photos calibrated on the three-dimensional soft tissue volume imported from cone beam computed tomography.

Two reference lines were taken: a horizontal line from the nasal point passing through both medial canthal angles and a perpendicular line through the pupil centre bilaterally. Then the measures were taken.

The same operator (A.C.) took all of the measurements.

In both groups, the preoperative measures were then compared with the postoperative ones. Then the soft tissue changes in both groups were compared.

Results:

The results demonstrate different reaction of the ELBA after orthognathic surgery. The ELBA's position changes in long-face patients in a higher position after maxillary impaction. The authors did not obtain the same results in patients who do not have long-face syndrome.

Conclusions:

Repositioning skeletal bases in patients with long face causes a change in the ELBA's morphology.
Aging With a Progressive Neurologic Disease
Authors: Karpatkin Herb , Cohen Evan
Published: July 2019

The confluence of an aging population and increasing life expectancy of people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis means that there is a growing segment of the population who are aging with a neurodegenerative disease. As such, rehabilitation professionals must be prepared for the combined challenges of age- and disease-related changes in physical function. First, a review of age- and disease-related problems experienced by older adults with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis will be presented, followed by a description of clinical practices that might be implemented by rehabilitation professionals to best address the problems experienced by these unique populations.
Aging With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Bollaert Rachel E. , Motl Robert W.
Published: July 2019

This review discusses research on physical and cognitive function, physical activity behavior, and physical activity interventions in older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Research indicates that older adults with MS demonstrate reduced physical and cognitive function as well as physical activity compared with healthy older adults. Preliminary evidence suggests that levels and patterns of physical activity are associated with physical function and possibly cognition, and physical activity interventions can improve physical function in older adults with MS. Additional research is warranted that further clarifies the value and role of physical activity in managing the functional consequences of aging with MS.
Motor, Cognitive, and Behavioral Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Saymuah Sara , Laird Hayley , Nitta Manon , Atalla Mareena , Fritz Nora E.
Published: July 2019

Age-related changes in motor function from young to old age in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been well-documented. However, little is known about motor, cognitive, and behavioral differences between middle-aged and older adults with MS, and global relationships among motor, cognitive, and behavioral factors in persons with MS. In this study, we recruited ambulatory middle-aged and older adults with MS to complete walking, dual-task, cognitive, and survey measures. We found no differences in performance between groups in our sample of mildly disabled individuals with MS, suggesting that individuals with mild disease may have reduced age-related declines in motor function.
Do Age and Disease Stage Impact Cognition and Balance in Older Adults and Persons With Parkinson Disease?
Authors: Gallagher Rosemary , Farella-Accurso Michelle , Johnson Dara , Kang Ramanjit , Rodriguez Angel , Parrott J. Scott , Cohen Evan
Published: July 2019

Background:

The combination of age and having Parkinson disease (PD) may result in deficits in cognition and balance over and above that of healthy older adults.

Objective:

To determine the impact of age and disease on cognition and balance in younger and older adults with and without PD.

Methods:

Forty people with PD and 28 healthy adults participated. Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Balance was assessed using the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MiniBESTest).

Results:

People with PD performed worse on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and MiniBESTest compared with healthy controls. No main or interaction effects of age were found.

Conclusions:

Although people with PD scored more poorly on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and MiniBESTest than healthy adults, the results were independent of age in this sample.
Aerosolization of Second-generation Triazoles: In Vitro Evaluation and Application in Therapy of Invasive Airway Aspergillosis
Authors: Thanukrishnan Harisudhan , Corcoran Timothy E. , Iasella Carlo J. , Moore Cody A. , Nero Joseph A. , Morrell Matthew R. , McDyer John F. , Hussain Shahid , Nguyen M. Hong , Venkataramanan Raman , Ensor Christopher R.
Published: July 2019

Background.

A lung transplant patient with invasive aspergillosis (IA) manifested symptoms of voriconazole-induced transaminitis with systemic voriconazole and progression of IA after switching to oral posaconazole. With limited options for standard triazole therapy, aerosolized delivery with one of the second-generation triazoles was considered.

Methods.

Feasibility for aerosolized delivery was evaluated using cascade impactor and analysis of physicochemical characteristics of voriconazole (10 mg/mL) and posaconazole (6, 12 mg/mL) solutions.

Results.

Both triazoles showed favorable characteristics for aerosol delivery with mass median aerodynamic diameter, geometric standard deviation, respirable fraction (<5.4 µm) of 2.8 µm, 2.0, 86%; 3.4 µm, 2.4, 78%; and 3.0 µm, 2.3, 79% for voriconazole and 6, 12 mg/mL of posaconazole, respectively. Aspergillus fumigatus isolate from the patient was more susceptible to voriconazole, and hence aerosolized voriconazole was introduced around the third month posttransplant at 40 mg TID for 1 week, 40 mg BID for 1 week, followed by 40 mg daily thereafter, along with IV caspofungin (50 mg/d) and liposomal amphotericin B (300 mg/d). The aerosol regimen was well tolerated by the patient with undetectable trough plasma levels of voriconazole. Bronchoscopy at the fourth month revealed improvement in anastomotic plaques with reduction in bronchoalveolar lavage galactomannan values (7.48–2.15 ng/mL). This consolidated aerosolized and intravenous regimen was maintained until 2.97 years posttransplant.

Conclusions.

The intravenous solutions of both second-generation triazoles showed characteristics that were suitable for aerosol delivery. Our report further adds to the therapeutic experience with the use of aerosolized voriconazole for IA in a lung transplant patient.
Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors Combined With Calcineurin Inhibitors as Initial Immunosuppression in Renal Transplantation: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Montero Nuria , Quero Maria , Melilli Edoardo , Pérez-Sáez María José , Redondo-Pachón Dolores , Bestard Oriol , Crespo Marta , Cruzado Josep M. , Pascual Julio
Published: July 2019

Background.

The current standard of care immunosuppressive regimen in kidney transplantation (KT) includes a combination of mycophenolates (MMF/MPA) with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI).

Methods.

We designed a systematic review including all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the outcomes in KT recipients receiving mTORi + CNI compared with regimens containing MMF/MPA or azathioprine with CNI.

Results.

A total of 24 studies with 7356 participants were included. The comparison between mTORi-CNI and MMF/MPA-CNI did not show differences in acute rejection, mortality, or graft loss rates. Better graft function was observed using MMF/MPA-CNI than using mTORi + CNI, but this difference was not evident when the mTORi was associated with reduced dose CNI in more recent studies with everolimus. Dyslipidemia, lymphoceles, and impaired wound healing were more frequent with mTORi-CNI and diarrhea and leukopenia were more frequent with MMF/MPA-CNI. Viral infections at any time and malignant neoplasia beyond 2 years were less frequent with mTORi-CNI. Rates of discontinuation because of adverse effects in the mTORi groups varied between 17% and 46% compared to 0%–26.6% in MMF/MPA groups. The current use of lower mTORi dosage has decreased the discontinuation rates.

Conclusions.

Efficacy is similar with mTORi + CNI and MMF/MPA-CNI. The safety profile is the predominant difference between the 2 regimens.
Update in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
Authors: Waldrop Megan A. , Flanigan Kevin M.
Published: July 2019

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to highlight updates in the standard of care recommendations for DMD, and to describe approaches to and recent advances in genetic therapies for DMD.

Recent findings

Treatment of DMD patients with the corticosteroids prednisone or deflazacort remains the standard of care, and recent data shows that early treatment (as young as 5 months) with a weekend dosing regimen results in measurable improvement in motor outcomes. A mutation-specific therapy directed at restoring an open reading frame by skipping exon 51 is FDA-approved, and therapies directed at other exons are in trials. Gene replacement therapy shows significant promise in animal models, and trials are underway. Genome editing has received significant attention because of results in animal models, but challenges to implementation in humans remain.

The mainstay of treatment remains meeting well defined standards of care that have been shown to influence morbidity and mortality. These include use of systemic steroids, early nocturnal ventilatory support, appropriate cardiac care and prophylaxis, and wherever appropriate, scoliosis surgery. Early and accurate molecular diagnosis, along with appropriate and multidisciplinary care, provides the best opportunity for maximum benefit of both current standard and upcoming novel therapies for boys with DMD. Among the most promising of these is AAV-based gene replacement therapy, which is currently in clinical trials.
Colour polymorphism influences species' range and extinction risk
Authors: Takahashi Yuma , Noriyuki Suzuki
Published: July 2019

Polymorphisms in a population are expected to increase the growth rate and the stability of the population, leading to the expansion of geographical distribution and mitigation of extinction risk of a species. However, the generality of such ecological consequences of colour polymorphism remains uncertain. Here, via a comparative approach, we assessed whether colour polymorphisms influence climatic niche breadth and extinction risk in some groups of damselflies, butterflies and vertebrates. The climatic niche breadth was greater, and extinction risk was lower in polymorphic species than in monomorphic species in all taxa analysed. The results suggest that colour polymorphism facilitates range expansion and species persistence.
Individual variation in phenotypic plasticity of the stress axis
Authors: Guindre-Parker Sarah , Mcadam Andrew G. , van Kesteren Freya , Palme Rupert , Boonstra Rudy , Boutin Stan , Lane Jeffrey E. , Dantzer Ben
Published: July 2019

Phenotypic plasticity—one individual's capacity for phenotypic variation under different environments—is critical for organisms facing fluctuating conditions within their lifetime. North American red squirrels (
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
) experience drastic among-year fluctuations in conspecific density. This shapes juvenile competition over vacant territories and overwinter survival. To help young cope with competition at high densities, mothers can increase offspring growth rates via a glucocorticoid-mediated maternal effect. However, this effect is only adaptive under high densities, and faster growth often comes at a cost to longevity. While red squirrels can adjust hormones in response to fluctuating density, the degree to which mothers differ in glucocorticoid plasticity across changing densities remains unknown. Findings from our reaction norm approach revealed significant individual variation not only in a female red squirrel's mean endocrine phenotype but also in endocrine plasticity in response to changes in local density. Future work on proximate and ultimate drivers of variation in endocrine plasticity and maternal effects is needed, particularly in free-living animals experiencing fluctuating environments.
Dispersion, sedimentation and aggregation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as affected by single and binary mixed surfactants
Authors: Li Helian , Qiu Yanhua
Published: July 2019

Two commonly used dispersants, octyl phenol ethoxylate (Triton X-100) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were employed to explore the effects of single or mixed surfactants on the dispersion, sedimentation and aggregation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Non-ionic surfactant TX100 showed much superior capability to anionic surfactant SDS in dispersing MWCNTs due to the benzene ring structure in its tail group. The addition of SDS reduced the adsorption of TX100 on the surface of MWCNTs and the consequent suspension of MWCNTs. The dispersing ability of TX100–SDS binary mixture was between those of individual SDS and TX100. The introduction of SDS greatly retarded the sedimentation and aggregation of suspended MWCNTs. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) values of suspended MWCNTs dispersed by TX100 (2000 mg l
−1
), SDS (2000 mg l
−1
) and TX100–SDS (2000 mg l
−1
of each component) were 48.6, 398 and 324 mM, respectively, for Na
+
treatments. The CCC values were much lower for Ca
2+
treatments, which were 30.4 and 32.1 mM, respectively, for MWCNTs dispersed by TX100 and TX100–SDS mixture. Overall, these results demonstrated that although the introduction of SDS did not improve the ability of TX100 in suspending MWCNTs, the suspensions exhibited more stable properties than those dispersed by TX100 alone. Our findings have important implications for the design of surfactant mixtures and the prediction of the behaviour and fate of MWCNTs in the water environment.
The application of metal-organic frameworks in electrode materials for lithium–ion and lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Zhu Ji Ping , Wang Xiu Hao , Zuo Xiu Xiu
Published: July 2019

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained increased attention due to their unique features, including tunable pore sizes, controllable structures and a large specific surface area. In addition to their application in gas adsorption and separation, hydrogen storage, optics, magnetism and organic drug carriers, MOFs also can be used in batteries and supercapacitors which have attracted the researcher's attention. Based on recent studies, this review describes the latest developments about MOFs as battery electrode materials which are used in lithium–ion and lithium–sulfur batteries.
An asymptotic hyperbolic–elliptic model for flexural-seismic metasurfaces
Authors: Wootton P. T. , Kaplunov J. , Colquitt D. J.
Published: July 2019

We consider a periodic array of resonators, formed from Euler–Bernoulli beams, attached to the surface of an elastic half-space. Earlier studies of such systems have concentrated on compressional resonators. In this paper, we consider the effect of the flexural motion of the resonators, adapting a recently established asymptotic methodology that leads to an explicit scalar hyperbolic equation governing the propagation of Rayleigh-like waves. Compared with classical approaches, the asymptotic model yields a significantly simpler dispersion relation, with closed-form solutions, shown to be accurate for surface wave-speeds close to that of the Rayleigh wave. Special attention is devoted to the effect of various junction conditions joining the beams to the elastic half-space which arise from considering flexural motion and are not present for the case of purely compressional resonators. Such effects are shown to provide significant and interesting features and, in particular, the choice of junction conditions dramatically changes the distribution and sizes of stop bands. Given that flexural vibrations in thin beams are excited more readily than compressional modes and the ability to model elastic surface waves using the scalar wave equation (i.e. waves on a membrane), the paper provides new pathways towards novel experimental set-ups for elastic metasurfaces.
The mechanism of delayed release in earthquake-induced avalanches
Authors: Puzrin Alexander M. , Faug Thierry , Einav Itai
Published: July 2019

Snow avalanches can be triggered by strong earthquakes. Most existing models assume that snow slab avalanches happen simultaneously during or immediately after their triggering. Therefore, they cannot explain the plausibility of delayed avalanches that are released minutes to hours after a quake. This paper establishes the basic mechanism of delays in earthquake-induced avalanche release using a novel analytical model that yields dynamics consistent with three documented cases, including two from Western Himalaya and one from central Italy. The mechanism arises from the interplay between creep, strain softening and strain-rate sensitivity of snow, which drive the growth of a basal shear fracture. Our model demonstrates that earthquake-triggered delayed avalanches are rare, yet possible, and could lead to significant damage, especially in long milder slopes. The generality of the model formulation opens a new approach for exploring many other problems related to natural slab avalanche release.
Patterns of water in light
Authors: Horikis Theodoros P. , Frantzeskakis Dimitrios J.
Published: July 2019

The intricate patterns emerging from the interactions between soliton stripes of a two-dimensional defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) model with a non-local nonlinearity are considered. We show that, for sufficiently strong non-locality, the model is asymptotically reduced to a Kadomtsev–Petviashvilli-II (KPII) equation, which is a common model arising in the description of shallow water waves, as such patterns of water may indeed exist in light (this non-local NLS finds applications in nonlinear optics, modelling beam propagation in media featuring thermal nonlinearities, in plasmas, and in nematic liquid crystals). This way, approximate antidark soliton solutions of the NLS model are constructed from the stable KPII line solitons. By means of direct numerical simulations, we demonstrate that non-resonant and resonant two- and three-antidark NLS stripe soliton interactions give rise to wave configurations that are found in the context of the KPII equation. Thus, our study indicates that patterns which are usually observed in water can also be found in optics.
Representative subsampling of sedimenting blood
Authors: Rallabandi Bhargav , Nunes Janine K. , Perazzo Antonio , Gershtein Sergey , Stone Howard A.
Published: July 2019

It is often necessary to extract a small amount of a suspension, such as blood, from a larger sample of the same material for the purposes of diagnostics, testing or imaging. A practical challenge is that the cells in blood sediment noticeably on the time scale of a few minutes, making a representative subsampling of the original sample challenging. Guided by experimental data, we develop a Kynch sedimentation model to discuss design considerations that ensure a representative subsampling of blood, from a container of constant cross-sectional area, for the entire range of physiologically relevant hematocrit over a specified time of interest. Additionally, we show that this design may be modified to exploit the sedimentation and perform subsampling to achieve either higher or lower hematocrit relative to that of the original sample. Thus, our method provides a simple tool to either concentrate or dilute small quantities of blood or other sedimenting suspensions.
Leaf trait variability between and within subalpine grassland species differs depending on site conditions and herbivory
Authors: Firn Jennifer , Nguyen Huong , Schütz Martin , Risch Anita C.
Published: July 2019

Plant traits are commonly used to predict ecosystem-level processes, but the validity of such predictions is dependent on the assumption that trait variability between species is greater than trait variability within a species—the robustness assumption. Here, we compare leaf trait intraspecific and interspecific variability depending on geographical differences between sites and 5 years of experimental herbivore exclusion in two vegetation types of subalpine grasslands in Switzerland. Four leaf traits were measured from eight herbaceous species common to all 18 sites. Intraspecific trait variability differed significantly depending on site and herbivory. However, the amount and structure of variability depended on the trait measured and whether considering leaf traits separately or multiple leaf traits simultaneously. Leaf phosphorus concentration showed the highest intraspecific variability, while specific leaf area showed the highest interspecific variability and displayed intraspecific variability only in response to herbivore exclusion. Species identity based on multiple traits was not predictable. We find intraspecific variability is an essential consideration when using plant functional traits as a common currency not just species mean traits. This is particularly true for leaf nutrient concentrations, which showed high intraspecific variability in response to site differences and herbivore exclusion, a finding which suggests that the robustness assumption does not always hold.
Sea urchin reproductive performance in a changing ocean: poor males improve while good males worsen in response to ocean acidification
Authors: Smith Kathryn E. , Byrne Maria , Deaker Dione , Hird Cameron M. , Nielson Clara , Wilson-McNeal Alice , Lewis Ceri
Published: July 2019

Ocean acidification (OA) is predicted to be a major driver of ocean biodiversity change. At projected rates of change, sensitive marine taxa may not have time to adapt. Their persistence may depend on pre-existing inter-individual variability. We investigated individual male reproductive performance under present-day and OA conditions using two representative broadcast spawners, the sea urchins
Lytechinus pictus
and
Heliocidaris erythrogramma.
Under the non-competitive individual ejaculate scenario, we examined sperm functional parameters (e.g. swimming speed, motility) and their relationship with fertilization success under current and near-future OA conditions. Significant inter-individual differences in almost every parameter measured were identified. Importantly, we observed strong inverse relationships between individual fertilization success rate under current conditions and change in fertilization success under OA. Individuals with a high fertilization success under current conditions had reduced fertilization under OA, while individuals with a low fertilization success under current conditions improved. Change in fertilization success ranged from −67% to +114% across individuals. Our results demonstrate that while average population fertilization rates remain similar under OA and present-day conditions, the contribution by different males to the population significantly shifts, with implications for how selection will operate in a future ocean.
Of eyes and embryos: subfunctionalization of theCRXhomeobox gene in mammalian evolution
Authors: Royall Amy H. , Frankenberg Stephen , Pask Andrew J. , Holland Peter W. H.
Published: July 2019

ETCHbox genes are fast-evolving homeobox genes present only in eutherian (placental) mammals which originated by duplication and divergence from a conserved homeobox gene,Cone-rod homeobox(CRX). While expression and function ofCRXare restricted to the retina in eutherian mammals, ETCHbox gene expression is specific to preimplantation embryos. This dramatic difference could reflect the acquisition of new functions by duplicated genes or subfunctionalization of pleiotropic roles betweenCRXand ETCHbox genes. To resolve between these hypotheses, we compared expression, sequence and inferred function betweenCRXof metatherian (marsupial) mammals and ETCHbox genes of eutherians. We find the metatherianCRXhomeobox gene is expressed in early embryos and in eyes, unlike eutherianCRX, and distinct amino acid substitutions were fixed in the metatherian and eutherian evolutionary lineages consistent with altered transcription factor specificity. We find that metatherianCRXis capable of regulating embryonically expressed genes in cultured cells in a comparable way to eutherian ETCHbox. The data are consistent withCRXhaving a dual role in eyes and embryos of metatherians, providing an early embryonic function comparable to that of eutherian ETCHbox genes; we propose that subfunctionalization of pleiotropic functions occurred after gene duplication along the placental lineage, followed by functional elaboration.
Sun, age and test location affect spatial orientation in human foragers in rainforests
Authors: Jang Haneul , Boesch Christophe , Mundry Roger , Kandza Vidrich , Janmaat Karline R. L.
Published: July 2019

The ability to know the direction of food sources is important for the foraging success of hunter–gatherers, especially in rainforests where dense vegetation limits visual detection distances. Besides sex and age, prior experience with the environment and the use of environmental cues are known to influence orientation abilities of humans. Among environmental cues, the position of the sun in the sky is important for orientation of diurnal animal species. However, whether or to what extent humans use the sun is largely unknown. Here, we investigated orientation abilities of the Mbendjele BaYaka people in the Republic of Congo, by conducting pointing tests (Nparticipants= 54, age: 6–76 years) in different locations in the rainforest. The Mbendjele were overall highly accurate at pointing to out-of-sight targets (median error: 6°). Pointing accuracy increased with age, but sex did not affect accuracy. Crucially, sun visibility increased pointing accuracy in young participants, especially when they were far from the camp. However, this effect became less apparent in older participants who exhibited high pointing accuracy, also when the sun was not visible. This study extends our understandings of orientation abilities of human foragers and provides the first behavioural evidence for sun compass use in humans.
Light pollution increases West Nile virus competence of a ubiquitous passerine reservoir species
Authors: Kernbach Meredith E. , Newhouse Daniel J. , Miller Jeanette M. , Hall Richard J. , Gibbons Justin , Oberstaller Jenna , Selechnik Daniel , Jiang Rays H. Y. , Unnasch Thomas R. , Balakrishnan Christopher N. , Martin Lynn B.
Published: July 2019

Among the many anthropogenic changes that impact humans and wildlife, one of the most pervasive but least understood is light pollution. Although detrimental physiological and behavioural effects resulting from exposure to light at night are widely appreciated, the impacts of light pollution on infectious disease risk have not been studied. Here, we demonstrate that artificial light at night (ALAN) extends the infectious-to-vector period of the house sparrow (
Passer domesticus
), an urban-dwelling avian reservoir host of West Nile virus (WNV). Sparrows exposed to ALAN maintained transmissible viral titres for 2 days longer than controls but did not experience greater WNV-induced mortality during this window. Transcriptionally, ALAN altered the expression of gene regulatory networks including key hubs (OASL, PLBD1 and TRAP1) and effector genes known to affect WNV dissemination (SOCS). Despite mounting anti-viral immune responses earlier, transcriptomic signatures indicated that ALAN-exposed individuals probably experienced pathogen-induced damage and immunopathology, potentially due to evasion of immune effectors. A simple mathematical modelling exercise indicated that ALAN-induced increases of host infectious-to-vector period could increase WNV outbreak potential by approximately 41%. ALAN probably affects other host and vector traits relevant to transmission, and additional research is needed to advise the management of zoonotic diseases in light-polluted areas.
Jaw elements in
Plumulites bengtsoni
confirm that machaeridians are extinct armoured scaleworms
Authors: Parry Luke A. , Edgecombe Gregory D. , Sykes Dan , Vinther Jakob
Published: July 2019

Machaeridians are Palaeozoic animals that are dorsally armoured with serialized, imbricating shell plates that cover or enclose the body. Prior to the discovery of an articulated plumulitid machaeridian from the Early Ordovician of Morocco that preserved unambiguous annelid characters (segmental parapodia with chaetae), machaeridians were a palaeontological mystery, having been previously linked to echinoderms, barnacles, tommotiids (putative stem-group brachiopods) or molluscs. Although the annelid affinities of machaeridians are now firmly established, their position within the phylum and relevance for understanding the early evolution of Annelida is less secure, with competing hypotheses placing Machaeridia in the stem or deeply nested within the crown group of annelids. We describe a scleritome of
Plumulites bengtsoni
from the Fezouata Formation of Morocco that preserves an anterior jaw apparatus consisting of at least two discrete elements that exhibit growth lines. Although jaws have multiple independent origins within the annelid crown group, comparable jaws are present only within Phyllodocida, the clade that contains modern aphroditiforms (scaleworms and relatives). Phylogenetic analysis places a monophyletic Machaeridia within the crown group of Phyllodocida in total-group Aphroditiformia, consistent with a common origin of machaeridian shell plates and scaleworm elytrae. The inclusion of machaeridians in Aphroditiformia truncates the ghost lineage of Phyllodocida by almost a hundred million years.
No evidence that warmer temperatures are associated with selection for smaller body sizes
Authors: Siepielski Adam M. , Morrissey Michael B. , Carlson Stephanie M. , Francis Clinton D. , Kingsolver Joel G. , Whitney Kenneth D. , Kruuk Loeske E. B.
Published: July 2019

Reductions in animal body size over recent decades are often interpreted as an adaptive evolutionary response to climate warming. However, for reductions in size to reflect adaptive evolution, directional selection on body size within populations must have become negative, or where already negative, to have become more so, as temperatures increased. To test this hypothesis, we performed traditional and phylogenetic meta-analyses of the association between annual estimates of directional selection on body size from wild populations and annual mean temperatures from 39 longitudinal studies. We found no evidence that warmer environments were associated with selection for smaller size. Instead, selection consistently favoured larger individuals, and was invariant to temperature. These patterns were similar in ectotherms and endotherms. An analysis using year rather than temperature revealed similar patterns, suggesting no evidence that selection has changed over time, and also indicating that the lack of association with annual temperature was not an artefact of choosing an erroneous time window for aggregating the temperature data. Although phenotypic trends in size will be driven by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, our results suggest little evidence for a necessary ingredient—negative directional selection—for declines in body size to be considered an adaptive evolutionary response to changing selection pressures.
Teacher-rated aggression and co-occurring behaviors and problems among schoolchildren: A comparison of four population-based European cohorts
Authors: Whipp A , Vuoksimaa E , Bolhuis K , de Zeeuw EL , Korhonen T , Mauri M , Pulkkinen L , Rimfeld K , Rose RJ , van Beijsterveldt T CEM , Bartels M , Plomin R , Tiemeier H , Kaprio J , Boomsma DI
Published: July 2019

Aggressive behavior in school is an ongoing concern, with the current focus mostly on specific manifestations such as bullying and extreme violence. Children spend a substantial amount of time in school, but their behaviors in the school setting tend to be less well characterized than in the home setting. Since aggression may index multiple behavioral problems, we assessed associations of teacher-rated aggressive behavior with co-occurring externalizing/internalizing problems and social behavior in 39,936 schoolchildren from 4 population-based cohorts from Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK. Mean levels of aggressive behavior differed significantly by gender. Correlations of aggressive behavior were high with all other externalizing problems (0.47-0.80) and lower with internalizing problems (0.02-0.39). A negative association was seen with prosocial behavior (−0.33 to −0.54). Despite the higher mean levels of aggressive behavior in boys, the correlations were notably similar for boys and girls (e.g., aggressive-hyperactivity correlations: 0.51-0.75 boys, 0.47-0.70 girls) and did not vary greatly with respect to age, instrument or cohort. Thus, aggressive behavior at school rarely occurs in isolation and children with problems of aggressive behavior likely require help with other behavioral and emotional problems. It is important to note that greater aggressive behavior is not only associated with greater amount of other externalizing and internalizing problems but also with lower levels of prosocial behavior.
Optimal choice of parameters in functional connectome-based predictive modelling might be biased by motion: comment on Dadi et al
Authors: Spisak Tamas , Kincses Balint , Bingel Ulrike
Published: July 2019

In a recent study, Dadi and colleagues make recommendations on optimal parameters for functional connectome-based predictive models. While the authors acknowledge that “optimal choices of parameters will differ on datasets with very different properties”, some questions regarding the universality of the recommended “default values” remain unanswered.

Namely, as already briefly discussed by Dadi et al., the datasets used in the target study might not be representative regarding the sparsity of the (hidden) ground truth (i.e. the number of non-informative connections), which might affect the performance of L1- and L2-regularization approaches and feature selection.

Here we exemplify that, at least in one of the investigated datasets systematic motion artefacts might bias the discriminative signal towards “non-sparsity”, which might lead to underestimating the performance of L1-regularized models and feature selection.

We conclude that the expected sparsity of the discriminative signal should be carefully considered when planning predictive modelling workflows and the neuroscientific validity of predictive models should be investigated to account for non-neural confounds.
TMEM16F phospholipid scramblase mediates trophoblast fusion and placental development
Authors: Zhang Yang , Le Trieu , Grabau Ryan , Mohseni Zahra , Kim Hoejeong , Natale David R. , Feng Liping , Pan Hua , Yang Huanghe
Published: July 2019

Cell-cell fusion or syncytialization is fundamental to the reproduction, development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. In addition to various cell-type specific fusogenic proteins, cell surface externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), a universal eat-me signal in apoptotic cells, has been observed in different cell-fusion events. Nevertheless, molecular underpinnings of PS externalization and cellular mechanisms of PS-facilitated cell-cell fusion are unclear. Here we report that TMEM16F, a Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase (CaPLSase), plays an indispensable role in placental trophoblast fusion by translocating PS to the cell surface independent of apoptosis. Consistent with its essential role in trophoblast fusion, the placentas from TMEM16F-deficient mice exhibit deficiency in syncytialization, placental developmental defects and perinatal lethality. Our findings thus identify a cell-cell fusion mechanism by which TMEM16F CaPLSase-dependent externalization of PS serves as a critical cell fusion signal to facilitate trophoblast syncytialization and placental development.
A novel subtype of pineal projection neurons expressing melanopsin share a common developmental program with classical projection neurons
Authors: Sapède Dora , Chaigne Clair , Blader Patrick , Cau Elise
Published: July 2019

The zebrafish pineal organ is a photoreceptive structure containing two main neuronal populations (photoreceptors and projections neurons). Here we describe a new pineal cell type that harbors both characteristics of projection neurons and photoreceptors. Indeed, a subpopulation of projection neurons expresses the melanopsin geneopn4xasuggesting photoreceptive properties. This population of hybrid cell fates, share a similar behaviour regarding dependency for BMP and Notch signalling pathways with classical non-photosensitive projection neurons (PNs) suggesting they are closer to the PN population. We describe two distinct types of activity within PNs: an achromatic LIGHT OFF activity inopn4xa−PNs and a LIGHT ON activity elicited by green and blue light inopn4xa+ PNs. Altogether the discovery and characterization ofopn4xa+ PNs suggest a previously unanticipated heterogeneity in the projection neuron population.
Ki-67 promotes sequential stages of tumourigenesis by enabling cellular plasticity
Authors: Mrouj K. , Singh P. , Sobecki M. , Dubra G. , Al Ghoul E. , Aznar A. , Prieto S. , Pirot N. , Bernex F. , Bordignon B. , Hassen-Khodja C. , Pouzolles M. , Zimmerman V. , Dardalhon V. , Krasinska L. , Fisher D.
Published: July 2019

Recent studies have shown that the cell proliferation antigen Ki-67 is not required for cell proliferation. Here, we demonstrate that Ki-67 enables implementation of transcriptional programmes conferring cellular plasticity, and is required for each step of tumour initiation, growth and metastasis. Ki-67 knockout causes global transcriptome remodelling, which, in mammary carcinoma cells, inhibits the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a polycomb-repressive complex 2-dependent manner. This results in suppression of stem cell characteristics and sensitisation to various drug classes. Cancer cells lacking Ki-67 proliferate normallyin vivo, but tumour growth is inhibited due to disrupted angiogenesis, and metastasis is abrogated. Finally, mice lacking Ki-67 are resistant to chemical or genetic induction of intestinal tumourigenesis. Thus, Ki-67, which is expressed in all proliferating cancer cells, confers the plasticity required for different steps of carcinogenesis.
Jagged-1 regulates Foxp3 expression and cytokine production in CD4+ T cells
Authors: Kimura Soichiro , Allen Ronald , Scola Melissa , Lukacs Nicholas W , Kunkel Steven L. , Schaller Matthew
Published: July 2019

Notch ligands are present during the interactions between T cells and dendritic cells (DC) and induce a myriad of effects that facilitate the activation of T cells, including the induction of T cell regulation, survival, and cytokine production. Although the ligands Delta-like 4 and Delta-like 1 are expressed as a function of DC activation, the notch ligand Jagged-1 is constitutively expressed on DC. We sought to determine the role of Jagged-1 in the interactions between CD4+ T cells and DC. We observed that Jagged-1 regulates Foxp3 expression, and Cd11cCre+Jaggedff mice have an altered expression of Foxp3 in effector cells that arise as a result of infection with the mycobacterium Bacille Calmette-Guerin. The observed changes in Foxp3 expression were correlated with an increase in cytokine production from cultures of antigen-stimulated draining lymph nodes.