The wild African harlequin quails (Coturnix delegorguei delegorguei) of Western Kenya suffer from incessant hunting, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of climate change. These challenges, among others, have forced them to breed under intensive pressure, disrupting normal evolutionary processes. Here, we provide the first overview of the selection signatures in wild African harlequin quails using genotyping-by-sequencing information from 76 captured individuals. Additionally, 19 domestic Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were incorporated for comparative signatures of selection analysis between wild and domesticated quail species that undergo different selection pressures. Composite likelihood ratio test (CLR) and integrated haplotype score (iHS) methods were used to detect selection signatures. As a result, 252 and 424 candidate genes were detected in wild African harlequin and domestic Japanese quails, respectively, through the CLR test, whereas 150 and 457 candidate genes were identified through iHS. Some of the essential candidate genes identified in the wild African harlequin quail were associated with important traits such as immune response (MAPK13, MAPK14, CREB1, ITGB3, and PPP1CA) and morphological traits (WNT5A, GRIA1, CREB1, ADCY8, and ALK) whereas, in domestic Japanese quail, primarily production-related genes such as VIPR2, DYNLL2, COL6A3, MSX2, PRF1and GNA12 were identified. Our findings provide insights into the role of selection in shaping both wild and domestic quail genomes in terms of significant immune response, growth, reproduction, and morphological and behavioral traits.

Title: SLE-induced Pancreatitis vs. Pancreatitis induced by the steroid treatment for SLE

This paper develops a neuro-adaptive observer for state and nonlinear function estimation in systems with partially modeled process dynamics. The developed adaptive observer is shown to provide exponentially stable estimation errors in which both states and neural parameters converge to their true values. When the neural approximator has an approximation error with respect to the true nonlinear function, the observer can be used to provide an H ∞ bound on the estimation error. The paper does not require assumptions on the process dynamics or output equation being linear functions of neural network weights and instead assumes a reasonable affine parameter dependence in the process dynamics. A convex problem is formulated and an equivalent polytopic observer design method is developed. Finally, a hybrid estimation system that switches between a neuro-adaptive observer for system identification and a regular nonlinear observer for state estimation is proposed. The switched operation enables parameter estimation updates whenever adequate measurements are available. The performance of the developed adaptive observer is shown through simulations for a Van der Pol oscillator and a single link robot. In the application, no manual tuning of adaptation gains is needed and estimates of both the states and the nonlinear functions converge successfully.

This study aims to investigate the potential of a modified Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) intervention in promoting social adjustment and reducing parental stress among children exhibiting symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The research also highlights the mechanisms and advantages of employing modified CBGT counseling to address negative symptoms associated with ADHD in children. The study was conducted at Fuzhou Children’s Hospital of Fujian Province, involving two CBGT counseling sessions held in 2021 and 2022, with a total of 20 pairs of parents and children with ADHD participating. The assessment utilized measures such as SNAP, Barratt Impulsivity, and Conners to evaluate changes in the children’s social adjustment abilities and core/associated ADHD symptoms before and after CBGT intervention. Additionally, the Parental Stress Index was employed to gauge the level of stress experienced by the parents. The results demonstrated that modified CBGT interventions effectively alleviate ADHD symptoms, enhance parent-child relationships, and reduce parental stress levels. Consequently, CBGT interventions have shown substantial improvements in children’s social adjustment abilities and have proven to be a significant source of relief for parents. The study also addresses the limitations associated with existing ADHD treatments and CBGT interventions.

Despite belonging to the most abundant and widespread genus of freshwater fishes in the region, the carp gudgeons of eastern Australia (genus Hypseleotris) have proved taxonomically and ecologically problematic to science since the 19th century. Several molecular studies and a recent taxonomic revision have now shed light on the complex biology and evolutionary history that underlies this group. These studies have demonstrated that carp gudgeons include a sexual/unisexual complex (five sexual species plus an assortment of hemiclonal lineages), many members of which also co-occur with an independent sexual relative, the western carp gudgeon (H. klunzingeri). Here we fill yet another knowledge gap for this important group by presenting a detailed molecular phylogeographic assessment of the western carp gudgeon across its entire and extensive geographic range. We use a suite of nuclear genetic markers (SNPs and allozymes) plus a matrilineal genealogy (cytb) to demonstrate that H. klunzingeri s.l. also displays considerable taxonomic and phylogeographic complexity. All molecular datasets concur in recognizing the presence of multiple candidate species, two instances of historic between-species admixture, and the existence of a natural hybrid zone between two of the three candidate species found in the Murray Darling Basin. We also discuss the major phylogeographic patterns evident within each taxon. Together these analyses provide a robust molecular, taxonomic, and distributional framework to underpin future morphological and ecological investigations on this prominent member of regional freshwater ecosystems in eastern Australia.

Caseous mitral annulus calcification mimicking a cardiac tumor Henda Nèji a,b,c, Emna Bennour b,d, , Ines Baccouche a,c, Salma Kechaou a,c, Ikram Kammoun b,d, Meriem Affes a,b,cSaoussen Hantous-Zannad a,b,ca: Imaging Department, Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Ariana – Tunisiab: Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisiac: Cardio-thoracic imaging Research Laboratoryd: Cardiology Department

A document by Islam Khaled . Click on the document to view its contents.

IntroductionPancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are a subset of Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) that mainly originate from the neuroendocrine system. They account for less than 10% of total NETs and have a general incidence of 0.5 per 100,000 persons per year [1]. Only 10 to 30% of these tumors are hormone-secreting, with the majority being insulinomas. The tumors are often found incidentally in the pancreas or GI system on imaging. Pathological specimens are generally positive for Chromogranin A and Synaptophysin but can additionally be positive for other serum markers such as Insulin, Gastrin, and VIP, depending on the subtype of NET [2]. General management includes surgery for localized disease and surgery/chemotherapy in combination for extensive disease. Prognosis is poor for those with liver metastases, with an overall mortality rate greater than > 80%. Functional tumors are generally localized and rarely present as metastatic disease [3].Among functional NETs, Insulinomas are the most common. Incidence is around 1 to 3 cases per million and is usually present in the pancreas over 99% of the time [4]. Diagnosis is established with symptomatic hypoglycemia in the setting of elevated insulin and c-peptide levels after a 72-hour fasting test. Blood glucose levels usually improve with Glucagon or Dextrose administration. These lesions are amenable to treatments such as alcohol ablation, radiofrequency ablation, embolization, or surgical resection. Surgical resection is the preferred option for isolated lesions as it is often curative [5]. Symptomatic management of hypoglycemia involves dextrose administration and Diazoxide. Diazoxide inhibits the release of insulin from insulinoma cells and is often the only effective measure prior to surgery [6]. Somatostatin analogs such as octreotide are also used in combination with diazoxide in more severe cases but can lead to episodes of hypoglycemia [7]. Cases involving surgical management have a good prognosis [6,7].Malignant insulinomas only account for about 5% of all insulinomas at presentation [8,9]. In patients with distant metastases, surgical resection with lymph node dissection improves prognosis. However, the overall difference is minimal, and the data is limited in these cases [10]. Overall, these patients do quite poorly due to limited treatment options. There are very few case reports that discuss the conversion of non-functional metastatic NET into a malignant insulinoma. This case report presents such a conversion in an elderly female patient.

Previously presented method of calculating local average gradients for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) is enhanced by using interpolating grid-points and triangular grids. The interpolating mesh provides finer computational grid, which is then used for solving the PDE. The combined use of the finer interpolating grid together with the original sparser grid is a two-grid method. By comparing the previous application of rectilinear grid for diffusion from initial point concentration to the new triangular two grid method, it was found that the application of triangular two-grid method improves stability of the solution and it provides more rapid convergence to the correct analytical solution.

Background: The incidence of Aluminum Phosphide (AlP) poisoning constituted one of the most common causes of poisoning death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Aims: to evaluate the data available on the safety and efficacy of oil-based gastric lavage (GL) compared with standard therapy for the treatment of AlP poisoning. Design: were previously established (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022296780); an exhaustive search was carried out in different databases, identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Settings: health centers of any level. Participants: Any person presented within 6 hours post-exposure to AlP. Interventions: Lavage solution with oils, including liquid paraffin or coconut oil. Findings: We identified 7 RCTs. The evidence from 4 RCTs indicates that GL with paraffin oil is an effective treatment for acute AlP poisoning, decreasing the mortality rate (RR = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.48 to 0.81; participants = 226; I2=10%; low-quality evidence). We estimate an NNT of 4. Likewise, this intervention reduces the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation (RR = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.40 to 0.79; participants= 226; I2 = 0%; low-quality evidence). Regarding GL with coconut oil, the evidence from 4 RCTs, indicates a slight reduction in mortality in patients with acute AlP poisoning (RR= 0.82; 95%CI = 0.69 to 0.98; participants= 112; I 2= 0%; very low-quality evidence). Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that GL with paraffin oil is effective in reducing the mortality rate in acute AlP poisoning. Likewise, limited evidence showed in favor of paraffin oil concerning the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation. This efficacy was not confirmed in terms of length of hospital stay or the total amount of vasoactive agents used. Very limited evidence suggests that GL with coconut oil may have benefits in terms of mortality in patients with acute AlP poisoning. Very limited evidence suggests that both interventions would have a benign safety profile. Conclusions: Limited evidence suggests that GL with paraffin oil is effective in reducing the mortality rate in acute AlP poisoning. Likewise, limited evidence showed in favor of paraffin oil concerning the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation. This efficacy was not confirmed in terms of length of hospital stay or the total amount of vasoactive agents used. Very limited evidence suggests that GL with coconut oil may have benefits in terms of mortality in patients with acute AlP poisoning. Very limited evidence suggests that both interventions would have a benign safety profile.

Live streaming has emerged as a popular platform for digital marketing, enabling brands and businesses to connect with consumers in real time and showcase their products or services. Consumer purchase intention is the necessary element for organizational success and requires experienced researchers' emphasis. Consumer purchase intention is the necessary element for organizational success and requires experienced researchers' emphasis. The motive of the current article is to investigate the role of live streamers' social presence, trust and innovation acceptance on the consumer purchase intention in retail businesses in China. The study data were assembled from 359 consumers in China through online questionnaire methods.The smart -PLS was adapted by the researchers to survey the correlation between variables.The novelty of this paper is its investigation of the influence of live streamers' social presence, trustworthiness, and innovation acceptance on Chinese consumers' intention to make purchases from retail establishments. The results indicated that the live streamers' social presence, trust, and innovation acceptance is having a plus point nexus with consumer buying aim. The indication shows clearly that consumers had a remarkable mediation among the live streamers in China that are social presence, trust and intention of consumers in retail business.

A document by Philippe Koninckx. Click on the document to view its contents.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that is indicated for gastroduodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux and hypersecretory states. It has an excellent safety profile with a low incidence of adverse effects. We report an Omeprazole-induced urticaria in a patient and emphasize the role of allergological work-up to point out the culprit drug and in exploring cross-reactivity. A 56-year-old man with a history of Biermer anemia treated by vitamin B12. He has asthma and no other illnesses, allergic diseases or reactions, especially to drugs. He was treated with Omeprazole, for abdominal discomfort. Four hours after the first dose, the patient developed urticarial lesions with annular erythematous wheals localized on the trunk and upper limbs. There was neither angioedema nor respiratory and hemodynamic symptoms. An acute generalized urticaria to omeprazole was suspected. Four weeks later, Skin prick test than intradermal tests (IDT) to omeprazole were performed on the patient’s forearm. They revealed respectively a negative and a positive result. To assess cross-reactivity to other PPIs in our patient, we subsequently performed prick test to lansoprazole and IDT to esomeprazole, and pantoprazole that were negative at 20-min reading. Moreover, graded oral provocation test with these drugs were carried out with negative result. In conclusion we add to the medical literature a case report of omeprazole-induced urticaria without a cross reactivity and point out the usefulness and safety of skin and provocation testing in diagnosing this drug reaction and in the assessment of cross-reactivity between PPIs. KEYWORDS: omeprazole, urticaria, cross-reactivity, selective hypersensitivity

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) possess biological plausibility and energy efficiency as they communicate using asynchronous and mostly sparse spikes. These features make them an ideal choice for efficient neuromorphic computing. The non-differentiable, discrete binary spike events transmitted in SNNs pose a challenge for applying gradient-based optimization algorithms directly to these networks. Therefore, efficient techniques are necessary to enhance energy efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. In this work, we propose Spike Timing Dependent Gradient (STDG), a fast and lightweight learning scheme that uses temporal locality among spikes to avoid non-differentiable derivatives. Our experiments show that STDG reaches the state-of-the-art accuracy of 99.5% and 98.2% on the Caltech101 face/motorbike and the MNIST datasets, respectively.

In this study, we present an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) optimized for implantable neural interfaces. The proposed ADC integrates a series of memristors in both the input and feedback Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), significantly boosting the input impedance and making it suitable for neural interfaces. A defining feature of the ADC is the ability of the memristor resistance to adapt to various conditions such as large DC offset, motion, and stimulation artifacts. The model was simulated using 65nm MOSFET technology along with a physical memristor model, yielding an impressive signal-to-noise-and-distortion ratio (SNDR) of 62.7dB and a substantial Nyquist sampling rate of 50kHz. Power consumption is remarkably low, with less than nW for integrators, 5µW for the comparator, and 0.45 µW for the feedback DAC-a key requirement for neural interfaces implanted in the brain. The ADC demonstrates strong resilience against component mismatch, maintaining circuit stability even in variable conditions. Through its ability to adjust input resistance, the ADC can enhance its SNDR. This adaptive and robust ADC design shows promising potential for implantable neural interface applications.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer lacking effective targeted treatments, is a crucial area of research due to its pathogenesis. There is mounting evidence that non-coding RNA (ncRNA), such as microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays a vital role in the development of tumors. This article compiles the current knowledge on the involvement of miRNA and lncRNA in the progression, diagnosis, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy of TNBC. It categorizes the dysregulated miRNAs and lncRNAs based on their respective functions. Furthermore, it elucidates the diverse mechanisms through which lncRNA regulates gene expression in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Most importantly, the article expounds on how lncRNA regulates TNBC progression by interacting with miRNA at the post-transcriptional level. By focusing on miRNA and lncRNA associated with TNBC, this research opens up avenues for early diagnosis and treatment as potential targets for novel anticancer therapies.

The concept of 'hormesis' is defined as a dose-response relationship whereby low doses of various toxic substances or physical stressors trigger bio-positive effects in diverse biological systems, whereas high doses cause inhibition of cellular performance (e.g. growth, viability). The two-sided phenomenon of specific low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition imposed by a 'hormetic-factor' has been well documented in toxicology and pharmacology. Multitudinous factors have been identified which correspondingly cause hormetic effects in diverse taxa of animals, fungi, and plants. This study particularly aims on elucidating the molecular basis for stimulatory implications of ionizing radiation (IR) on plant male gametophytes (pollen). Beyond that, this analysis impacts general research on cell growth, plant breeding, radiation protection, and in a wider sense medical treatment. For this purpose, IR-related data were surveyed and discussed in connection with the present knowledge about pollen physiology. It is concluded that IR-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) have a key role here. Moreover, it is hypothesized that IR-exposure shifts the ratio between diverse types of ROS in the cell. The interrelation between ROS, intracellular Ca 2+-gradient, NADPH oxidases, ROS-scavengers, actin dynamics, and cell wall properties are most probably involved in IR-hormesis of pollen germination and tube growth. Modulation of gene expression, phytohormone signalling, and cellular antioxidant capacity are also implicated in IR-hormesis.

Climate change is increasing drought severity worldwide. Ocean discharges of municipal wastewater are a target for potable water recycling. However, because potable water recycling would reduce wastewater volume, but would not alter mass nitrogen loading, this practice has the potential to influence spatial patterns in coastal eutrophication. We apply a physical-biogeochemical numerical ocean model to understand the influence of nitrogen management and potable wastewater recycling on net primary productivity (NPP), pH, and oxygen. We model several theoretical management scenarios by combining dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) reductions from 50 to 85% and recycling from 0 to 90%, applied to 19 generalized wastewater outfalls in the Southern California Bight. Under no recycling, NPP, acidification, and oxygen loss decline with DIN reductions, which simulated habitat volume expansion for pelagic calcifiers and aerobic taxa. Recycling scenarios under intermediate DIN reduction show patchier areas of pH and oxygen loss with steeper vertical declines relative to a “no recycling” scenario. These elevated values are diminished under 85% DIN reduction across all recycling levels, suggesting nitrogen management lowers eutrophication risk even with concentrated discharges. These findings represent a novel application of ocean numerical models to investigate the regional effects of outfall management on eutrophication. Additional work is needed to investigate more realistic outfall-specific water recycling and nutrient management scenarios and to contextualize the benefit of these management actions, given accelerating acidification and hypoxia from climate change.

1.IntroductionEccrine spiradenoma is a rare adnexal neoplasm originating from sweat glands. It typically presents as a small solitary nodule covered by a normal or bluish skin [1] . It can appear in nearly any part of the body, with 1/5 of cases occurring in extremities[2] . The tumor is most frequent in young adults, with no sexual or racial predilection [3,4] . Although it is considered benign, malignant cases have been reported [5] . Early diagnosis is essential to prevent chances of recurrence and malignant transformation [6] .

Crop wild relatives provide a valuable resource for improving crops. They possess desirable traits that confer resilience to various environmental stresses. To fully utilize crop wild relatives in breeding and conservation programs, it is important to understand the genetic basis of their adaptation. Landscape genomics associates environments with genomic variation and allows for examining the genetic basis of adaptation. In this study, we applied landscape genomics to examine the differences in allele frequency of 15,416 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) among 153 accessions of wild eggplant relatives from Africa, the principal hot spot of these wild relatives. Further, we explored the correlation between these variations and the bio-climatic and soil conditions at their collection sites. Our results showed that the environment has a greater impact on the genetic variation in the eggplant wild relative populations compared to the geographical distances between collection sites while controlling for population structure. These findings indicate the relevance of the environment in shaping genetic variation in eggplant relatives over time. We detected 396 candidate SNPs associated with ten environmental factors by applying four genotype-environment association methods. Some of these SNPs signal genes involved in pathways that help with adaptation to environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, pests, and diseases. These candidate SNPs will be useful for marker-assisted improvement and characterizing the germplasm of this crop for developing climate-resilient eggplant varieties. The study provides a model for how we can apply landscape genomics to the wild relatives of other crops.

Here, we describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable, robust, and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark places and can continuously record for 21 days. We also describe how to make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the great strengths of this shelter/camera setup is that the animals choose to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras could be used to film a range of behaviours in many small cryptic amphibian species, but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates globally.

A document by Francesco Rota. Click on the document to view its contents.

INTRODUCTIONAminoacyl tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are a group of cytoplasmic enzymes that bind to transcribed RNA during protein synthesis, esterify amino acids to transcribed RNA, and function as catalysts for aminoacyl-transcribed RNA.1 Patients who test positive for anti-ARS antibodies present with various extramuscular symptoms, such as interstitial pneumonia, mechanic’s hands, Raynaud phenomenon, polyarthritis, fever, and myositis. These symptoms share common clinical features, which led Targoff in 1992 to term them ”antisynthetase antibody syndrome.”2 Since Jo-1 (histidyl-tRNA synthetase: HisRS) antibody was discovered in 19803, eight ARS antibodies have been identified: histidyl-tRNA synthetase-1 (Jo-1), anti-threonyl (PL-7), anti-alanyl (PL-12), anti-glycyl (EJ), anti-isoleucyl (OJ) anti-asparaginyl (KS), anti-phenylalanyl (Zo) and anti-tyrosyl (Ha) tRNA synthetase4.5, 6 Among these antibodies, anti-OJ is the least prevalent (3.1%).7 Anti-OJ- positive anti-ARS syndrome is extremely rare, and is usually accompanied by interstitial pneumonia.8 Anti-OJ and anti-Sjögren’s-syndrome-related antigen A (Ro-52) antibodies are occasionally detected in patients with dermatomyositis and are a poor prognostic factor when associated with interstitial pneumonia.9 However, we encountered a patient with OJ-and Ro-52 positive anti-ARS syndrome without interstitial pneumonia and with severe phalanx necrosis due to Raynaud phenomenon. The activity of disease could be suppressed with steroid pulse therapy. We believe that this is an atypical clinical presentation that deserves acknowledgement by means of this case report. We also report it here with a review of the literature.

Overfishing not only drastically reduces the number of fish in an exploited population but is often selective for body size removing the largest individuals from a population. Here, we study experimentally the evolutionary effects of size-selective harvesting using whole genome sequencing on a model organism; the zebrafish, which also allows us to quantify gene ontology terms due to the high-resolution reference genome. We demonstrate genomic shifts in the populations exposed to size-selective harvesting for five generations and show reduced genetic diversity in all harvested lines, including control line (non-size-selected). We also determine differences in gene ontogeny, with enrichment in nervous system related genes. Our results illuminate the biological processes underlying fisheries-induced genetic changes, hence contribute towards the understanding of the changes potentially associated with the vulnerability of an exploited population to future stressors.