bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carotid Web as an Embolic Source of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kawahara Yuki , Zahra Sayyeda , Isaza Fernando , Yacoub Hussam , Ju Mila
Published: August 2022

Introduction:

Carotid webs are shelf-like projections of the carotid bulb lumen associated with ipsilateral ischemic stroke in young patients. Given its rarity, a limited number of studies have evaluated the optimal management of symptomatic carotid webs to prevent further ischemic stroke.

Case Report:

A 40-year-old Caucasian man presented with a sudden onset of left-sided facial droop, hemiparesis, and dysarthria. Computed tomography angiography revealed occlusion of the distal M1 and proximal M2 segments of the right middle cerebral artery and a small intimal flap at the right internal carotid artery origin. Intravenous alteplase was administered without clinical improvement. The patient underwent successful mechanical thrombectomy with complete revascularization of the middle cerebral artery and no residual neurologic deficits. Magnetic resonance angiography confirmed a curvilinear, shelf-like projection from the right carotid bulb posterior wall, consistent with a carotid web. The patient underwent carotid endarterectomy with no complications and was discharged home with no residual deficits or recurrence of stroke.

Conclusion:

No randomized, controlled prospective studies have compared the efficacy of endarterectomy to carotid artery stenting in patients with symptomatic carotid web. This case emphasizes the importance of considering carotid web as an embolic source of stroke in the young and provides support for revascularization as a safe and effective mean of secondary stroke prevention.
No evidence of predicted phenotypic changes after hurricane disturbance in a shade-specialist Caribbean anole
Authors: Acevedo Miguel A. , Clark David , Fankhauser Carly , Toohey John Michael
Published: August 2022

Extreme climatic events (ECEs) such as hurricanes have been hypothesized to be a major driving force of natural selection. Recent studies argue that, following strong hurricane disturbance,
Anolis
lizards in the Caribbean undergo selection for traits such as longer forelimbs or smaller body sizes that improve their clinging ability to their substrates increasing their chances of surviving hurricane wind gusts. Some authors challenge the generalization of this hypothesis arguing that other mechanisms may explain these phenotypic changes or that they may not necessarily be generalizable across systems. To address this issue, we compared body size and relative forelimb length of
Anolis gundlachi
, a trunk–ground anole living in closed-canopy forests in Puerto Rico, before, four months after, and 15 months after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Overall, our results show no clear evidence of a temporal decrease in body size or increase forelimb length (relative to body size) challenging the generalizability of the clinging ability hypothesis. Understanding how animals adapt to ECE is an emerging field. Still, we are quickly learning that this process is complex and nuanced.
Telomere length predicts timing and intensity of migratory behaviour in a nomadic songbird
Authors: Vernasco Ben J. , Watts Heather E.
Published: August 2022

Our understanding of state-dependent behaviour is reliant on identifying physiological indicators of condition. Telomeres are of growing interest for understanding behaviour as they capture differences in biological state and residual lifespan. To understand the significance of variable telomere lengths for behaviour and test two hypotheses describing the relationship between telomeres and behaviour (i.e. the causation and the selective adoption hypotheses), we assessed if telomere lengths are longitudinally repeatable traits related to spring migratory behaviour in captive pine siskins (
Spinus pinus
). Pine siskins are nomadic songbirds that exhibit highly flexible, facultative migrations, including a period of spring nomadism. Captive individuals exhibit extensive variation in spring migratory restlessness and are an excellent system for mechanistic studies of migratory behaviour. Telomere lengths were found to be significantly repeatable (
R
= 0.51) over four months, and shorter pre-migratory telomeres were associated with earlier and more intense expression of spring nocturnal migratory restlessness. Telomere dynamics did not vary with migratory behaviour. Our results describe the relationship between telomere length and migratory behaviour and provide support for the selective adoption hypothesis. More broadly, we provide a novel perspective on the significance of variable telomere lengths for animal behaviour and the timing of annual cycle events.
Understanding the dynamic properties of trees using the motions constructed from multi-beam flash light detection and ranging measurements
Authors: Chau Wai Yi , Loong Cheng Ning , Wang Yu-Hsing , Chiu Siu-Wai , Tan Tun Jian , Wu Jimmy , Leung Mei Ling , Tan Pin Siang , Ooi Ghee Leng
Published: August 2022

Measuring the three-dimensional motion of trees at every position remains challenging as it requires dynamic measurement technology with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution. Consequently, this study explores the use of a novel multi-beam flash light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor to tackle such a sensing barrier. A framework is proposed to record tree vibrations, to construct the motions of tree skeletons from the point-cloud frames recorded by the LiDAR sensor and to derive the dynamic properties of trees. The feasibility of the framework is justified through measurement on a
Ficus microcarpa
under pull-and-release tests. The relative differences for the first two modal frequencies between the LiDAR and linear variable differential transformer measurements in the displacement Fourier spectra are 0.1% and 2.5%, respectively. The framework is further adopted to study the dynamic response of different trees subjected to typhoons, including a
Liquidambar formosana
, three
Araucaria heterophylla
trees,
a Sterculia lanceolata
, a
Celtis sinensis
, a
Tabebuia chrysantha
and a
Cinnamomum camphora
. Results suggest that broadleaved trees might exhibit vibration in a wide frequency band, whereas the coniferous trees could follow a distinct dominant frequency.
Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism
Authors: Zadeh-Haghighi Hadi , Simon Christoph
Published: August 2022

Hundreds of studies have found that weak magnetic fields can significantly influence various biological systems. However, the underlying mechanisms behind these phenomena remain elusive. Remarkably, the magnetic energies implicated in these effects are much smaller than thermal energies. Here, we review these observations, and we suggest an explanation based on the radical pair mechanism, which involves the quantum dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins of transient radical molecules. While the radical pair mechanism has been studied in detail in the context of avian magnetoreception, the studies reviewed here show that magnetosensitivity is widespread throughout biology. We review magnetic field effects on various physiological functions, discussing static, hypomagnetic and oscillating magnetic fields, as well as isotope effects. We then review the radical pair mechanism as a potential unifying model for the described magnetic field effects, and we discuss plausible candidate molecules for the radical pairs. We review recent studies proposing that the radical pair mechanism provides explanations for isotope effects in xenon anaesthesia and lithium treatment of hyperactivity, magnetic field effects on the circadian clock, and hypomagnetic field effects on neurogenesis and microtubule assembly. We conclude by discussing future lines of investigation in this exciting new area of quantum biology.
Phosphorylation and sulfation share a common biosynthetic pathway, but extend biochemical and evolutionary diversity of biological macromolecules in distinct ways
Authors: Lima M. A. , Rudd T. R. , Fernig D. G. , Yates E. A.
Published: August 2022

Phosphate and sulfate groups are integral to energy metabolism and introduce negative charges into biological macromolecules. One purpose of such modifications is to elicit precise binding/activation of protein partners. The physico-chemical properties of the two groups, while superficially similar, differ in one important respect—the valency of the central (phosphorus or sulfur) atom. This dictates the distinct properties of their respective esters, di-esters and hence their charges, interactions with metal ions and their solubility. These, in turn, determine the contrasting roles for which each group has evolved in biological systems. Biosynthetic links exist between the two modifications; the sulfate donor 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate being formed from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine phosphosulfate, while the latter is generated from sulfate anions and ATP. Furthermore, phosphorylation, by a xylosyl kinase (Fam20B, glycosaminoglycan xylosylkinase) of the xylose residue of the tetrasaccharide linker region that connects nascent glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains to their parent proteoglycans, substantially accelerates their biosynthesis. Following observations that GAG chains can enter the cell nucleus, it is hypothesized that sulfated GAGs could influence events in the nucleus, which would complete a feedback loop uniting the complementary anionic modifications of phosphorylation and sulfation through complex, inter-connected signalling networks and warrants further exploration.
Modulating streptococcal phenotypes using signal peptide analogues
Authors: Brennan Alec A. , Mehrani Mona , Tal-Gan Yftah
Published: August 2022

Understanding bacterial communication mechanisms is imperative to improve our current understanding of bacterial infectivity and find alternatives to current modes of antibacterial therapeutics. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria use quorum sensing (QS) to regulate group behaviours and associated phenotypes in a cell-density-dependent manner. Group behaviours, phenotypic expression and resultant infection and disease can largely be attributed to efficient bacterial communication. Of particular interest are the communication mechanisms of Gram-positive bacteria known as streptococci. This group has demonstrated marked resistance to traditional antibiotic treatment, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality of infected hosts and an ever-increasing burden on the healthcare system. Modulating circuits and mechanisms involved in streptococcal communication has proven to be a promising anti-virulence therapeutic approach that allows managing bacterial phenotypic response but does not affect bacterial viability. Targeting the chemical signals bacteria use for communication is a promising starting point, as manipulation of these signals can dramatically affect resultant bacterial phenotypes, minimizing associated morbidity and mortality. This review will focus on the use of modified peptide signals in modulating the development of proliferative phenotypes in different streptococcal species, specifically regarding how such modification can attenuate bacterial infectivity and aid in developing future alternative therapeutic agents.
The partial merger of two dolphin societies
Authors: Danaher-Garcia Nicole , Connor Richard , Fay Gavin , Melillo-Sweeting Kelly , Dudzinski Kathleen M.
Published: August 2022

Interactions between mammalian social groups are generally antagonistic as individuals in groups cooperate to defend resources from non-members. Members of the family Delphinidae inhabit a three-dimensional habitat where resource defence is usually impractical. Here, we describe a long-term partial fusion of two communities of Atlantic spotted dolphins (
Stenella frontalis
). The northern community, studied for 30 years, immigrated 160 km to the range of the southern community, observed for 20 years. Both communities featured fission–fusion grouping patterns, strongest associations between adult males, and frequent affiliative contact between individuals. For the 5-year period following the immigration, we found members of all age classes and both sexes in mixed groups, but there was a strong bias toward finding immigrant males in mixed groups. Some association levels between males, and males and females, from different communities were as high as the highest within-community associations. Affiliative contacts indicate that these individuals were forming social relationships. The mixing of two separate social groups with new bond formation is rare in terrestrial mammal groups. Such mixing between spotted dolphin groups suggests that adaptations to respond aggressively to ‘outsiders’ are diminished in this species and possibly other ecologically similar dolphins.
COVID-19 risk perception and hoax beliefs in the US immediately before and after the announcement of President Trump's diagnosis
Authors: Tanase Lisa-Maria , Kerr John , Freeman Alexandra L. J. , Schneider Claudia R.
Published: August 2022

A notable challenge of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been public scepticism over the severity of the disease, or even its existence. Such scepticism is politically skewed in the USA, with conservatives more likely to downplay or deny the risks of the virus. However, the hospitalization of President Trump with COVID-19 in October 2020 served as a high-profile exemplar of the reality and risks of the virus, and as such may have influenced opinions, particularly for US conservatives. We investigate whether President Trump testing positive was associated with changes in public attitudes towards the virus. In two studies, we surveyed independent representative US samples before and after the announcement of Trump's illness. In Study 1, measuring risk perceptions of the virus, we find that participants surveyed before and after the announcement did not differ in their risk perception regardless of political orientation. In Study 2, measuring belief that the virus is a hoax, we find that among those on the far right of the political spectrum, hoax belief was lower for those surveyed after the announcement, suggesting that Trump's hospitalization may have affected the beliefs of those most receptive to the President's earlier suggestions that the virus might be a hoax.
No signs of automatic perspective-taking or its modulation by joint attention in toddlers using an object retrieval task
Authors: Ni Qianhui , Fascendini Bella , Shoyer Jake , Moll Henrike
Published: August 2022

It is currently debated whether simple forms of social perspective-taking that are in place by late infancy are performed automatically. We conducted two experiments (
N
= 124) to test whether 3-year-olds show automatic perspective-taking during object searches, and whether automatic perspective-taking is facilitated by joint attention. Children were asked to retrieve an object immediately after it was moved from one (L1) to another (L2) location within a container, e.g. a sandbox. In Experiment 1, a between-subjects design was used, with children being randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: one in which child and other jointly attended to the object in L1 (joint attention condition); one in which the other was present but unengaged with the child when the object was placed in L1 (other present condition) and a baseline condition in which only the child was present (no other condition). Automatic perspective-taking should manifest in biased searches toward L1 in the other present and joint attention conditions, but not in the no other condition. No automatic perspective-taking was observed in either experiment, regardless of whether the other person left and remained absent (Experiment 1) or returned after the object was relocated (Experiment 2). The findings contribute to a growing body of empirical data that questions the existence of automatic perspective-taking.
Causal machine learning for healthcare and precision medicine
Authors: Sanchez Pedro , Voisey Jeremy P. , Xia Tian , Watson Hannah I. , O’Neil Alison Q. , Tsaftaris Sotirios A.
Published: August 2022

Causal machine learning (CML) has experienced increasing popularity in healthcare. Beyond the inherent capabilities of adding domain knowledge into learning systems, CML provides a complete toolset for investigating how a system would react to an intervention (e.g. outcome given a treatment). Quantifying effects of interventions allows actionable decisions to be made while maintaining robustness in the presence of confounders. Here, we explore how causal inference can be incorporated into different aspects of clinical decision support systems by using recent advances in machine learning. Throughout this paper, we use Alzheimer’s disease to create examples for illustrating how CML can be advantageous in clinical scenarios. Furthermore, we discuss important challenges present in healthcare applications such as processing high-dimensional and unstructured data, generalization to out-of-distribution samples and temporal relationships, that despite the great effort from the research community remain to be solved. Finally, we review lines of research within causal representation learning, causal discovery and causal reasoning which offer the potential towards addressing the aforementioned challenges.
Soft wetting with (a)symmetric Shuttleworth effect
Authors: Henkel C. , Essink M. H. , Hoang T. , van Zwieten G. J. , van Brummelen E. H. , Thiele U. , Snoeijer J. H.
Published: August 2022

The wetting of soft polymer substrates brings in multiple complexities when compared with the wetting on rigid substrates. The contact angle of the liquid is no longer governed by Young’s Law, but is affected by the substrate’s bulk and surface deformations. On top of that, elastic interfaces exhibit a surface energy that depends on how much they are stretched—a feature known as the Shuttleworth effect (or as surface-elasticity). Here, we present two models through which we explore the wetting of drops in the presence of a strong Shuttleworth effect. The first model is macroscopic in character and consistently accounts for large deformations via a neo-Hookean elasticity. The second model is based on a mesoscopic description of wetting, using a reduced description of the substrate’s elasticity. While the second model is more empirical in terms of the elasticity, it enables a gradient dynamics formulation for soft wetting dynamics. We provide a detailed comparison between the equilibrium states predicted by the two models, from which we deduce robust features of soft wetting in the presence of a strong Shuttleworth effect. Specifically, we show that the (a)symmetry of the Shuttleworth effect between the ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ states governs horizontal deformations in the substrate. Our results are discussed in the light of recent experiments on the wettability of stretched substrates.
Globally-evolving-based generalized density evolution equation for nonlinear systems involving randomness from both system parameters and excitations
Authors: Chen Jian-Bing , Lyu Meng-Ze
Published: August 2022

It has long been one of the main challenges in science and engineering to capture the probabilistic response of high-dimensional nonlinear stochastic dynamic systems involving double randomness, i.e. randomness in both system parameters and excitations. For this purpose, a globally-evolving-based generalized density evolution equation (GE-GDEE) is established. Generally, for a multi-dimensional nonlinear system involving double randomness, if one single physical quantity as a response of the system is of interest, a GE-GDEE, as a two-dimensional partial differential equation (PDE) governing the probability density function (PDF), can be derived. The effective drift coefficients, which represent the physically driving force function in the GE-GDEE, can be determined based on the data from some representative deterministic dynamic analyses of the underlying physical system. A new estimator for effective drift coefficients is developed based on the vine copulas. Once the effective drift coefficients are determined, the GE-GDEE can be solved to capture the probability distributions of the quantities of interest. Several numerical examples, including linear and nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems subjected to white noise or non-stationary earthquake ground motions, are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, problems for future investigations are discussed.
Evolution of thermal tolerance and phenotypic plasticity under rapid and slow temperature fluctuations
Authors: Schaum C.-E. , Buckling A. , Smirnoff N. , Yvon-Durocher G.
Published: August 2022

Global warming is associated with an increase in sea surface temperature and its variability. The consequences of evolving in variable, fluctuating environments are explored by a large body of theory: when populations evolve in fluctuating environments the frequency of fluctuations determines the shapes of tolerance curves (indicative of habitats that organisms can inhabit) and trait reaction norms (the phenotypes that organisms display across these environments). Despite this well-established theoretical backbone, predicting how trait and tolerance curves will evolve in organisms at the foundation of marine ecosystems remains a challenge. Here, we used a globally distributed phytoplankton,
Thalassiosira pseudonana
, and show that fluctuations in temperature on scales of 3–4 generations rapidly selected for populations with enhanced trait plasticity and elevated thermal tolerance. Fluctuations spanning 30–40 generations selected for the formation of two stable, genetically and physiologically distinct populations, one evolving high trait plasticity and enhanced thermal tolerance, and the other, akin to samples evolved under constant warming, with lower trait plasticity and a smaller increase in thermal tolerance.
Cell wall deficiency – an alternate bacterial lifestyle?
Authors: Lazenby James J. , Li Erica S. , Whitchurch Cynthia B.
Published: August 2022

Historically, many species of bacteria have been reported to produce viable, cell wall deficient (CWD) variants. A variety of terms have been used to refer to CWD bacteria and a plethora of methods described in which to induce, cultivate and propagate them. In this review, we will examine the long history of scientific research on CWD bacteria examining the methods by which CWD bacteria are generated; the requirements for survival in a CWD state; the replicative processes within a CWD state; and the reversion of CWD bacteria into a walled state, or lack thereof. In doing so, we will present evidence that not all CWD variants are alike and that, at least in some cases, CWD variants arise through an adaptive lifestyle switch that enables them to live and thrive without a cell wall, often to avoid antimicrobial activity. Finally, the implications of CWD bacteria in recurring infections, tolerance to antibiotic therapy and antimicrobial resistance will be examined to illustrate the importance of greater understanding of the CWD bacteria in human health and disease.
DBP2Vec: Predicting DNA-binding proteins directly using pre-trained protein language model
Authors: Wei Chao , Ye Zhiwei , Wang Panru , Lan Wuyang
Published: August 2022

DNA-binding proteins (DBPs) play a crucial role in numbers of biological processes and have received wide attention in recent years. Meanwhile, the rapid development of sequencing technologies lead to the explosive growth of new protein sequences, it is highly desired to develop a fast and accurate method for DNA-binding proteins prediction. Experimental methods such as chromatin immunoprecipitation on microarray (ChIP-chip) and X-ray crystallography are highly accurate but expensive and time-consuming. To address this issue, many computational methods have been proposed, they usually exploit multiple information about protein sequence, e.g., sequence composition information, physicochemical properties, evolutionary information, structural information, etc. Despite the effectiveness of these approaches, they heavily depend on prior biological knowledge and undergo a very complex process of feature extraction. In view of these shortcomings, here, we present a novel method, named DBP2Vec, to predict DNA-binding proteins directly from pre-trained protein language model (e.g., ESM-1b) which effectively encode biological properties without any prior knowledge by virtue of deep representation learning (e.g., BERT) on large protein sequences databases (e.g., UniParc). Tests on two DBPs benchmark datasets (e.g., PDB296, UniSwiss-Tst) demonstrate that our proposed method significantly outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods. The source code and the datasets used in the paper are publicly available at: https://github.com/hgcwei/DBP2Vec.
The health impact of long COVID during the 2021-2022 Omicron wave in Australia: a quantitative burden of disease study
Authors: Howe Samantha , Szanyi Joshua , Blakely Tony
Published: August 2022

Background

Long COVID symptoms occur for a proportion of acute COVID-19 survivors, with reduced risk among the vaccinated, and for Omicron compared to Delta variant infections. The health loss attributed to pre-Omicron long COVID has previously been estimated using only a few major symptoms.

Methods

The years lived with disability (YLDs) due to long COVID in Australia during the 2021-2022 Omicron BA.1/BA.2 wave were calculated using inputs from previously published case-control, cross-sectional, or cohort studies examining the prevalence and duration of individual long COVID symptoms. This estimated health loss was compared with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection YLDs and years of life lost (YLLs) from SARS-CoV-2. The sum of these three components equals COVID-19 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); this was compared to DALYs from other diseases.

Results

5200 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2200-8300) YLDs were attributable to long COVID and 1800 (95% UI 1100-2600) to acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting long COVID caused 74% of the overall YLDs from SARS-CoV-2 infections in the BA.1/BA.2 wave. Total DALYs attributable to SARS-CoV-2 were 50 900 (95% UI 21 000-80 900), 2.4% of expected DALYs for all diseases in the same period.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive approach to estimating the morbidity due to long COVID. Improved data on long COVID symptoms will improve the accuracy of these estimates. As data accumulates on SARS-CoV-2 infection sequelae (e.g., increased cardiovascular disease rates), total health loss is likely to be higher than estimated in this study. Nevertheless, this study demonstrates that long COVID requires consideration in pandemic policy planning given it is responsible for the majority of direct SARS-CoV-2 morbidity, including during an Omicron wave in a highly vaccinated population.

Key messages

Our study is the first to comprehensively estimate long COVID morbidity using its individual symptoms, during Australia’s 2021-2022 Omicron wave.

We show that long COVID contributed to almost three-quarters of the non-fatal health loss resulting from Omicron infections in this period.

Long COVID contributes to a substantial proportion of direct COVID-19 morbidity, even in a highly vaccinated population during an Omicron wave. It should therefore be more explicitly considered in future pandemic policymaking.

Our method of estimating long COVID morbidity has explicable differences to existing long COVID burden of disease approaches and may provide a more accurate estimate of the morbidity attributable to long COVID.
Neuromodulation by Monoamines is a Bilaterian Innovation
Authors: Goulty Matthew , Botton-Amiot Gaelle , Rosato Ezio , Sprecher Simon , Feuda Roberto
Published: August 2022

Monoamines like serotonin, dopamine, and adrenaline/noradrenaline (epinephrine/ norepinephrine) act as neuromodulators that tune the response of the nervous system to the environment with predictable advantages for fitness. For instance, monoamines influence action selection depending on the internal state of the organism, contribute to ‘higher’ cognitive functions like learning and memory formation and modulate fundamental homeostatic needs such as sleep or feeding. Despite their significance and the extensive research in model organisms, the evolutionary origin of the monoaminergic system is uncertain. Here using a phylogenomic approach we study the evolution of the majority of genes involved in the production, modulation, and detection of monoamines. Our analyses suggest that most of the genes of the monoaminergic system originated in the common ancestor of bilaterians. These findings suggest that the monoaminergic synaptic pathway is a bilaterian innovation. We hypothesise that monoaminergic neuromodulation contributed to the diversification and complexification of behaviour and forms found in Bilateria.
Contributions of Gonadal Hormones in the Sex-Specific Organization of Context Fear Learning
Authors: Colón Lorianna , Peru Eduardo , Zuloaga Damian G. , Poulos Andrew M.
Published: August 2022

It is widely established that gonadal hormones are fundamental to modulating and organizing the sex-specific nature of reproductive-related behaviors. Recently we proposed that context fear conditioning may emerge in a sex-specific manner organized prior to the pubertal surge of gonadal hormones. Here we sought to determine the necessity of male and female gonadal hormones secreted at critical periods of development upon context fear learning. We tested the organizational hypothesis that perinatal and pubertal gonadal hormones play a permanent role in organizing contextual fear learning. We demonstrate that the life-long absence of gonadal hormones by perinatal orchiectomy (oRX) in males and ovariectomy (oVX) in females resulted in a reduction of CFC in adult males and an enhancement of CFC in adult females. In females, the gradual introduction of estrogen before conditioning partially rescued this effect. However, the decrease of CFC in adult males was not rescued by introducing testosterone before conditioning. Next, at a further point in development, preventing the pubertal surge of gonadal hormones by prepubertal oRX in males resulted in a reduction in adult CFC. In contrast, in females, prepubertal oVX did not alter adult CFC. However, the adult introduction of estrogen in prepubertal oVX rats reduced adult CFC. Lastly, the adult-specific deletion of gonadal hormones by adult oRX or oVX alone or replacement of testosterone or estrogen did not alter CFC. Consistent with our hypothesis, we provide initial evidence that gonadal hormones at early periods of development exert a vital role in the organization and development of CFC in male and female rats.
Clinical Viability of Magnetic Bead Implants in Muscle
Authors: Taylor Cameron R. , Clark William H. , Clarrissimeaux Ellen G. , Yeon Seong Ho , Carty Matthew J. , Lipsitz Stuart R. , Bronson Roderick T. , Roberts Thomas J. , Herr Hugh M.
Published: August 2022

Human movement is accomplished through muscle contraction, yet there does not exist a portable system capable of monitoring muscle length changes in real time. To address this limitation, we previously introduced magnetomicrometry, a minimally-invasive tracking technique comprising two implanted magnetic beads in muscle and a magnetic field sensor array positioned on the body’s surface adjacent the implanted beads. The implant system comprises a pair of spherical magnetic beads, each with a first coating of nickel-copper-nickel and an outer coating of Parylene C. In parallel work, we demonstrate submillimeter accuracy of magnetic bead tracking for muscle contractions in an untethered freely-roaming avian model. Here, we address the clinical viability of magnetomicrometry. Using a specialized device to insert magnetic beads into muscle in avian and lagomorph models, we collect data to assess gait metrics, bead migration, and bead biocompatibility. For these animal models, we find no gait differences post- versus pre-implantation, and bead migration towards one another within muscle does not occur for initial bead separation distances greater than 3 cm. Further, using extensive biocompatibility testing, the implants are shown to be non-irritant, non-cytotoxic, non-allergenic, and non-irritating. Our cumulative results lend support for the viability of these magnetic bead implants for implantation in human muscle. We thus anticipate their imminent use in human-machine interfaces, such as in control of prostheses, exoskeletons, and in closed-loop neuroprosthetics to aid recovery from neurological disorders.
Absence of atrial smooth muscle in the heart of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta): a re-evaluation of its role in diving physiology
Authors: Costello Leah M. , García-Párraga Daniel , Crespo-Picazo Jose Luis , Codd Jonathan , Shiels Holly A. , Joyce William
Published: August 2022

Contraction of atrial smooth muscle in the hearts of semi-aquatic emydid turtles regulates ventricular filling, and it has been proposed that it could regulate stroke volume during characteristic rapid transitions in cardiac output associated with diving. For this hypothesis to be supported, atrial smooth muscle should be widely distributed in diving Testudines. To further understand the putative function and evolutionary significance of endocardial smooth muscle in Testudines, we studied the hearts of loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta (n=7), using immunohistochemistry and histology. Surprisingly, we found no evidence of prominent atrial smooth muscle in C. caretta. However, smooth muscle was readily identified in the sinus venosus. Our results suggest atrial smooth muscle does not contribute to the diving capabilities of C. caretta, indicating that the possible roles of smooth muscle in emydid turtle hearts requires a re-evaluation. In sea turtles, the sinus venosus may instead contribute to regulate cardiac filling.
Harmful self-pollination drives gynodioecy in European chestnut, a self-incompatible tree
Authors: Larue Clément , Petit Rémy J.
Published: August 2022

Summary

Gynodioecy is a rare sexual system in which two genders, cosexuals and females, coexist. It provides the opportunity to compare individuals having both sexual functions with individuals lacking the male function, an ideal situation to understand how sexes interact within individual plants.

We report gynodioecy in the European chestnut, an outcrossing self-incompatible Fagaceae tree species. This finding was unexpected because gynodioecy is often interpreted as an outbreeding mechanism. To understand how female chestnuts compensate for their lack of siring capacity, we compared key female fitness components between genders and performed emasculation experiments.

Genders have similar basal area and number of flowers but different fruit set. Following the removal of nectar-producing catkins on branches or entire trees, fruit set increased in cosexual trees but decreased in female trees.

These results show that self-pollination impairs fruit set in cosexual trees, a likely effect of self-pollen interference caused by late-acting self-incompatibility and by early inbreeding depression. Female trees escape from self-pollen interference but continue to attract pollinators thanks to their sterile but rewarding male catkins, resulting in a much higher fruit set than cosexuals. This demonstrates that even entirely outcrossed plants can benefit from the cessation of self-pollination.
Altered skin microbiome, inflammation, and JAK/STAT signaling in Southeast Asian ichthyosis patients
Authors: Ho Minh , Nguyen Huynh-Nga , Hoang Minh Van , Bui Tien Thuy Thi , Vu Bao-Quoc , Dinh Truc Huong Thi , My Vo Hoa Thi , Blaydon Diana , Eldirany Sherif A. , Bunick Christopher G. , Bui Chi-Bao
Published: August 2022

Cutaneous ichthyosis (CI) is a collective group of monogenetic disorders of cornification demonstrating epidermal scaling, fissuring, chronic skin inflammation, and increased susceptibility to infection. In healthy individuals the skin microbiome limits growth of pathogenic organisms; however, the microbiome signature in CI is poorly characterized. To rectify this, we investigated the microbiome signature across 7 subtypes of CI in 43 individuals of Southeast Asian ethnicity, of which exome sequencing revealed 20 novel and 31 recurrent pathogenic variants. Microbiome meta-analysis revealed distinct microbial populations, reduced commensal microbiota, and higher colonization by pathogenic species. This correlated with increased production of inflammatory cytokines, including Th17 and JAK/STAT signaling, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, we identified microbiota and inflammation alterations in wounds of CI patients responsible for impaired wound healing. Together, this research enhances our understanding of the microbiological, immunological, and molecular properties of CI patients and provides critical information for improving therapeutic management.
Multivariate GWAS of Alzheimer’s disease CSF biomarker profiles implies GRIN2D in synaptic functioning
Authors: Neumann Alexander , Ohlei Olena , Küçükali Fahri , Bos Isabelle J , Vos Stephanie , Prokopenko Dmitry , Tijms Betty M , Andreasson Ulf , Blennow Kaj , Vandenberghe Rik , Scheltens Philip , Teunissen Charlotte E , Engelborghs Sebastiaan , Frisoni Giovanni B , Blin Oliver , Richardson Jill C , Bordet Régis , Lleó Alberto , Alcolea Daniel , Popp Julius , Clark Christopher , Peyratout Gwendoline , Martinez-Lage Pablo , Tainta Mikel , Dobson Richard JB , Legido-Quigley Cristina , Van Broeckhoven Christine , Tanzi Rudolph E , ten Kate Mara , Lill Christina M , Barkhof Frederik , Lovestone Simon , Streffer Johannes , Zetterberg Henrik , Visser Pieter Jelle , Sleegers Kristel , Bertram Lars ,   EMIF-AD & ADNI study group
Published: August 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have identified several risk loci, but many remain unknown. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers may aid in gene discovery and we previously demonstrated that six CSF biomarkers (β-amyloid, total/phosphorylated tau, NfL, YKL-40, and neurogranin) cluster into five principal components (PC), each representing statistically independent biological processes. Here, we aimed to: 1. identify common genetic variants associated with these CSF profiles; 2. assess the role of associated variants in AD pathophysiology and 3. explore potential sex differences. We performed GWAS for each of the five biomarker PCs in two multi-center studies (EMIF-AD and ADNI). In total, 973 participants (n=205 controls, n=546 mild cognitive impairment, n=222 AD) were analyzed for 7,433,949 common SNPs and 19,511 protein-coding genes. Structural equation models tested whether biomarker PCs mediate genetic risk effects on AD, and stratified and interaction models probed sex-specific effects. Five loci showed genome-wide significant association with CSF profiles, two were novel (rs145791381 and GRIN2D) and three were previously described (APOE, TMEM160B and CHI3L). GRIN2D was associated with synaptic functioning, whereas rs145791381 was associated with biomarker evidence of inflammation. Mediation tests indicated that variants in APOE are associated with AD status via processes related to amyloid and tau pathology, while markers in TMEM106B and CHI3L are associated with AD only via neuronal injury/inflammation. Additionally, seven loci showed sex-specific associations with AD biomarkers. These results suggest that pathway and sex-specific analyses can improve our understanding of AD genetics and may contribute to precision medicine.
Opportunities for shared decision-making about major surgery: findings from a multi-method qualitative study of decision-making about orthopaedic, colorectal and cardio thoracic surgery with high risk patients
Authors: Shaw Sara E , Hughes Gemma L , Pearse Rupert , Avagliano Ester , Day James R , Edsell Mark E , Edwards Jennifer A , Everest Leslie , Stephens Timothy J
Published: August 2022

Background

Little is known about the opportunities for shared decision-making when high-risk patients (over 60 years, with co-morbidities) are offered major surgery. This paper examines when and why clinicians and patients can share decision-making about major surgery.

Methods

Multi-method qualitative study, combining video-recordings of pre-operative consultations, interviews and focus groups (with a maximum variation sample of 31 patients, 19 relatives, 37 clinicians), with observations of clinics in five UK hospitals undertaking major joint, colorectal and/or cardiac surgery.

Results

Three opportunities for shared decision making about major surgery were identified. Resolution-focused consultations (cardiac/colorectal) resulted in a single agreed preferred option related to a potentially life-threatening problem, with limited opportunities for shared decision-making. Evaluative and deliberative consultations offered more opportunity. The former focused on assessing the likelihood of benefits of surgery for a presenting problem that was not a threat to life for the patient (e.g. orthopaedic consultations) and the later (largely colorectal) involving discussion of a range of options while also considering significant comorbidities and patient preferences. The extent to which opportunities for shared decision-making were available, and taken up by surgeons, was influenced by nature of the presenting problem, clinical pathway and patient trajectory.

Conclusion and relevance

Decisions about major surgery are not always shared between patients and doctors. The nature of the presenting problem, comorbidities, clinical pathways and patient trajectories all inform the type of consultation and opportunities for sharing decision-making. This has implications for clinicians, with shared decision-making about major surgery most feasible when the focus is on life-enhancing rather than life-saving treatment.
Healthcare workers’ worries and Monkeypox vaccine advocacy during the first month of the WHO Monkeypox alert: Cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aljamaan Fadi , Alenezi Shuliweeh , Alhasan Khalid , Saddik Basema , Alhaboob Ali , Altawil Esraa S. , Alshahrani Fatimah , Alrabiaah Abdulkarim , Alaraj Ali , Alkriadees Khaled , Alshammari Yousef , Alharbi Homood , Jamal Amr , Halwani Rabih , AlZamil Fahad , Al-Subaie Sarah , Barry Mazin , Memish Ziad A , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A. , Temsah Mohamad-Hani
Published: August 2022

Background

Monkeypox virus re-surged in May 2022 as a new potential global health threat with outbreaks bursting in multiple countries across different continents. This study was conducted during the first month of the WHO announcement to assess the healthcare workers (HCWs) within Saudi Arabia, exploring their perception, worries, and vaccine acceptance for Monkeypox in-line with the resolving COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A national cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 27 and June 10, 2022, in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on the sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, COVID-19 infection status, HCWs’ worry levels of Monkeypox compared to COVID-19 and its sources, their perceptions, awareness, and HCWs’ Monkeypox vaccination advocacy.

Results

Among the 1130 HCWs who completed survey, 41.6% already developed COVID-19. Still, 56.5% were more worried from COVID-19 compared to Monkeypox, while the rest were more worried of Monkeypox disease. The main reason for their worry among 68.8% of the participants was development of another worldwide pandemic post COVID-19, followed by their worry of acquiring the infection themselves or their families (49.6%). Most HCWs (60%) rated their self-awareness of Monkeypox disease as moderate to high.

Males and those who previously developed COVID-19 were significantly less likely to worry about Monkeypox. The worry about Monkeypox developing into a pandemic and the perception of Monkeypox being a severe disease correlated significantly positively with the odds of high worry from the disease.

Regarding participants’ advocacy for HCWs’ vaccination against Monkeypox disease, those who developed COVID-19 previously and those who supported application of tighter infection control measures compared to the current ones to combat the disease were significantly predicted to agree for vaccination. 74.2% of the surveyed HCWs perceived that they need to read more about the Monkeypox disease after the survey.

Conclusion

During the first month of the WHO’s Monkeypox international alert, about half of HCWs in this study were more worried about Monkeypox disease as compared to COVID-19, and its possible progression into another pandemic. In addition, the majority were in favor of applying tighter infection prevention measures to combat the disease. The current study highlights areas needed for healthcare administrative about the HCWs’ perceptions and readiness for Monkeypox especially in the event of any occurrence of local or international pandemic.
Exposure-Response Relation for Vibration-Induced White Finger: Inferences from a Published Meta-Analysis of Population Groups
Authors: Scholz Magdalena F. , Brammer Anthony J. , Marburg Steffen
Published: August 2022

Purpose

It is questioned whether the exposure-response relation for the onset of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) in ISO 5349-1:2001 needs to be revised based on the epidemiologic studies identified by Nilsson et al., (2017) (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180795), and whether the relation they derive improves the prediction of VWF in vibrationexposed populations.

Methods

A pooled analysis has been performed using pidemiologic studies that complied with selection rules and reported a VWF prevalence of 10% or more, and exposure constructed according to the provisions of ISO 5349-1:2001. The lifetime exposure at 10% prevalence was calculated for various data sets using linear interpolation. They were then compared to both the model from the standard and that developed by Nilsson et al.

Results

Regression analyses reveal excluding extrapolation to adjust group prevalences to 10% produce models with 95-percentile confidence intervals that include the ISO exposure-response relation but not that in Nilsson et al. (2017). Different curve fits are obtained for studies involving daily exposure to single or multiple power tools and machines. Studies with similar exposure magnitudes and lifetime exposure durations but markedly different prevalences are observed to cluster.

Conclusions

A range of exposures and A(8)-values is predicted within which the onset of VWF is most likely to occur. The exposure-response relation in ISO 5349-1:2001, but not that proposed by Nilsson et al., falls within this range and provides a conservative estimate for the development of VWF. Additionally, the analyses demonstrate that the method for evaluating vibration exposure contained in ISO 5349-1:2001 needs revision.