As Large Language Models (LLMs) continue to evolve, their black-box nature poses significant challenges in terms of interpretability, trust, and accountability. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) emerges as a crucial approach to making these models more transparent by providing insights into their decision-making processes. This paper explores the significance of XAI techniques in enhancing the interpretability of LLMs, examining key methodologies, such as attention visualization, feature attribution, and surrogate modeling. Additionally, we discuss the implications of transparent AI systems in critical domains, addressing ethical concerns, bias mitigation, and regulatory compliance. By unveiling the black box, we aim to bridge the gap between high-performance AI and human-understandable explanations, fostering more reliable and accountable AI systems.

Background Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed medications approved for and used in the treatment of anxiolytic and sleep disorders, as well as for seizures, and alcohol withdrawal. However, benzodiazepines are also controlled substances (schedule IV in Canada) because of their potential for abuse and personal harms, which are especially prevalent among older people. It is therefore important to understand how benzodiazepines are being prescribed, and the prevalence of off-label benzodiazepine prescribing, of which very little is known due to challenges in documenting treatment indication. Methods Data from the MOXXI (Medical Office of the XXIst century) electronic health record system in Quebec Canada was used, where specifying the treatment indication for each prescription is required, to estimate the prevalence of off-label prescribing and indications for off-label use of benzodiazepines. Each drug indication was retrospectively classified as either on-label or off-label according to the Health Canada drug database. Off-label prescriptions were further classified as having class evidence supporting their prescription if another benzodiazepine had been approved for the indication by Health Canada. Results There were 20,125 (17.0%) adult patients prescribed benzodiazepines out of the 118,227 patients enrolled in the MOXXI system. The patients were predominantly female (65.6%), and tended to be older with an average age of 60.14 years (standard deviation = 15.68) at the time of the first benzodiazepine prescription. A total of 101,583 unique prescriptions were written for 14 different benzodiazepines to these patients. An approximately equal number of benzodiazepines were prescribed on and off-label (49.3% on-label, 49.2% off-label), with clonazepam having the highest prevalence of off-label prescription (99.5%). Most off-label prescription indications were classified as having class evidence (95.2%). The most common off-label indication was insomnia; 31.6% of all off-label benzodiazepine prescriptions were for insomnia. Conclusions We found that benzodiazepines were frequently prescribed in the province of Quebec and were prescribed off-label approximately half of the time. When prescribed off-label we found that the majority of these prescriptions were for indications that were approved for at least one benzodiazepine. These findings indicate the importance of reminding physicians on the important differences between benzodiazepines that can substantially impact patient outcomes, particularly in older people.

With the escalating global prevalence of obesity, understanding eating behavior is an imperative focus of research. Emerging evidence underscores the central role of dopamine and its receptors in normal and pathological regulation of food intake. Investigations have confirmed the stimulatory effect of selective activation of D4 dopamine receptors within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus on food intake. This leads to the hypothesis that perturbations in hypothalamic dopaminergic signaling pathways that regulate energy homeostasis may potentially underlie the propensity for obesity-related excess caloric consumption via a D4 Receptor-mediated mechanism. This study aims to elucidate the effects of central administration of the D4 receptor antagonist, L-745,870, on regulating food intake, satiety, and locomotor activity. Here, we investigated the impact of intra-paraventricular blockade of D4 receptors on standard food consumption, behavioral satiety sequence, and locomotor activity in male Wistar rats. Our results indicate that injection of L-745,870 at doses of 0.1 and 1 µg induces a significant reduction in standard food intake within sixty minutes of administration. At a dose of 0.1 µg, L-745,870 accelerated the onset of postprandial satiety without a significant effect on locomotor activity. Together, our results highlight the central role of D4 receptors in the modulation of feeding behavior and satiety and provide a potential avenue for using this compound for the development of pharmacological interventions for obesity. The demonstrated efficacy of L-745,870 in reducing food intake supports its potential therapeutic utility in the broader context of obesity management.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) acts as a central regulator of socioemotional and physiological processes. Individual differences in ANS activity are associated with mental and physical health outcomes across the lifespan, stabilizing over the first 5 years of life. Thus, ANS activity has become a focus of developmental research. Current approaches to assessing ANS are often infeasible for deployment in large epidemiological studies and low resource settings, necessitating new approaches. The goal of the current study was to compare a “gold standard” system (BioRadio) to a new system (Mawi), which offers advantages of ease of use and automated scoring pipelines, in a sample of children in Malawi, an African country with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world. Twenty-five children, aged 3 to 6 years, were assessed simultaneously with the two systems while participating in a standardized stressor protocol that included baseline, stressor, and recovery periods. Multiple ANS indicators outputted from each system were compared. Analyses assessed agreement in equivalent indices. Absolute heart rate scores were consistently higher from Mawi; consequently, other absolute scores were consistently higher or lower, depending on the index. After adjusting for index score mean differences between systems, agreement was good to excellent (ICC 0.75-0.97). There were no differences between systems in the detection of changes in ANS activity across the baseline, stressor, and recovery episodes of the protocol. The results provide initial evidence that the Mawi system produces data sufficiently similar to that of a gold standard to be considered valid. Thus, the Mawi system may be a feasible option for measuring ANS indicators, with particular utility under certain resource constraints. Future efforts to further validate the Mawi system should include testing in a variety of settings and contexts with larger sample sizes.

Purpose In heart failure, dyssynchrony is associated with accelerated cardiac remodeling and a worse prognosis. Both restored with resynchronization. We have previously developed a mouse model of dyssynchrony and resynchronization and here assess changes in protein expression within that model. Experimental design Mice were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion followed by pacemaker implantation. Three groups were defined: (i) sinus rhythm four weeks - synchronous heart failure (SynHF), (ii) right ventricular pacing (RVP) four weeks - dyssynchronous heart failure (DysHF) and (iii) RVP two weeks followed by two weeks sinus rhythm - resynchronized heart failure (ResynHF). Heart tissue was evaluated for protein content with mass spectrometry. Results A total of 3324 proteins were detected. The abundance of 589 proteins differed between DysHF and SynHF and 253 between DysHF and ResynHF. The changed proteins in the comparisons to DysHF overlapped to a great extent. Among the dysregulated proteins in DysHF were several immunoglobulin chains and extracellular matrix proteins. Conclusion Adding dyssynchrony to ischemic heart failure resulted in protein dysregulation, which was partly reversed with resynchronization. The dysregulation was characterized by an increased immune activity and skewing of the extracellular matrix proteins, which may be part of the remodeling process in DysHF.

A document by Kenneth Egwu. Click on the document to view its contents.

Blumea calcicola, a new species restricted to limestone areas in southwestern China, is described and illustrated. It is similar to B. aromatica, B. balsamifera, B. sagittata, but distinguished by the combination of pilose and glandular leaves, usually auriculate leaf bases with appendages, slender capitula, campanulate-cylindrical involucres, small receptacles, 9–11-ribbed achenes, and white to reddish pappus. Photographs, distribution information, conservation assessment, and comparisons with similar species are also provided.

Chronic stress typically provokes immunosuppression, activates tyrosine kinase (TK), and promote inflammatory responses. According to Persian medicine, the spleen plays an important role in immune system and stress response. The properties of Cuscuta epithymum (CE) are considered high through its effects on the immune system and its antioxidant effects. In this experimental study, 50 male and 15 female rats were randomly assigned into four groups and were subjected to restraint stress once a day continuously. At the same time, control and stress rats received normal saline and the other two groups received Cuscuta’s extract. Control and experimental rats were mated to create four types of coupling combinations as follows McFc, MsFs, McFc+EX, MsFs+EX (M: male, F: female, C: control, S: stress, EX: extract). Then, some parents and male pups were dissected on postnatal day (PND) 25; TK level, megakaryocyte, and macrophage cell number in the liver and spleen were evaluated. Quantitative expression of TNF-α and IL-1β protein in the brain were examined by western blot. The level of TK and macrophage cells in the liver and spleen tissues significantly increased in stressed rats compared to the others, while they were significantly decreased in the stress+CE group. Megakaryocyte cells significantly decreased in the stress group while they leveled up in the CE treated rats. Cuscuta extract significantly reduced the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the brain homogenate. Cuscuta is effective in reducing the adverse effects of stress on the liver and spleen immune system. Also, it shows anti- neuroinflammatory effects.

Animal health professionals act as the first line of defence in zoonoses transmission. By handling animals on daily basis, they are at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases. However, lack of data on animal health professional risk perception on zoonotic disease and preventive practices may hamper decision making and policies to fight against transmissible disease at the human-animal and environmental interface. Therefore, a questionnaire-based survey of 272 animal health professional was done between July and December 2022 to assess their knowledge, risk perception on zoonosis and the implementation of preventive practices in four regions of Cameroon. Data obtained was recorded into binary scale and the sum of sufficient responses recorded for each participant was divided by the total number of items within the category. A one-way ANOVA was performed to identify factors associated with sufficient knowledge on zoonosis. The respondents mean knowledge scores of 0.79 ± 0.15 towards zoonosis was obtained. Gender and educational level significantly influence the knowledge scores on zoonosis. More than half (60.5%) of veterinarians perceived wild animals as the highest zoonotic diseases transmitter species, while for 50.26% of para-veterinarians, the highest risk was related to pets. All respondents considered there was low risk of contracting a zoonotic infection during assistance in parturition and when handling apparently healthy animals. Less than one third of the veterinarians reported using adequate personal protective equipment for surgery (17.3%), necropsy (4.7%) and delivery (11.1%), and not even one para-veterinarian reported using adequate personal protective equipment for the same cases. Factors such as regions, service sector, risk perception when handling apparently healthy animals and when getting in contact with animal saliva and animal faeces were significantly associated with preventive practices against zoonotic infection risks. Reducing the risk of occupationally acquired zoonotic infections requires continuous education and sensitization of all stakeholders

IntroductionTunas (and tuna-like species) are among the most important fish species commercialized worldwide. Despite the slight decrease recorded in 2019 due to the COVID-19 restrictions, which impacted the export and sashimi markets (FAO 2022b; FAO 2024), tunas reached a record level of annual landings of 8.3 million tonnes in 2022. From a global trade perspective, tunas and tuna-like species (including bonitos and billfishes) worthed €16.2 billion in exports revenue in 2022, which represented roughly 9% of the total value for aquatic animal products exports (FAO 2024).There are seven different tuna species with major commercial importance at a global scale (ISSF 2024). The most globally caught species is skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis , Linnaeus, 1758, SKJ), corresponding to 58% of the total catch, followed by yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares , Bonnaterre, 1788, YFT) with 30% of the global catch, bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus , Lowe, 1839, BET) with 7%, albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga , Bonnaterre, 1788, ALB) with 4%, and Atlantic Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus , Linnaeus, 1758, BFT) with only 1% (ISSF 2024). At the global level, all mentioned species are considered Least Concern by the IUCN (Collette et al. 2015a; Collette et al. 2021a; Collette et al. 2021b; Collette et al. 2021d), with the exception of BET which has maintained its Vulnerable conservation status throughout the years (Collette et al. 2021c). However, certain tuna populations may hold a regional conservation status that differs from the global assessment (Collette et al. 2015b).In 2022, 65% of the total tuna catches came from stocks that were not experiencing overfishing, mostly due to SKJ healthy stocks, but 13% still came from overfished YFT, BET, ALB and BFT stocks (ISSF 2024).Tuna can be sold fresh, frozen or cured, and its trade is divided into two main groups of commodities: the first comprised of processed and preserved tuna, mainly canned, and the second comprised of fresh and frozen tuna, mostly for sushi and sashimi markets (Klapper et al. 2023; Silva et al. 2024). The canned tuna market accounts for more than half of global tuna exports, primarily using SKJ and/or YFT, and with the European Union and the United States serving as key markets (Guillotreau et al. 2016). Canned tuna products experienced a decline in 2021 (FAO 2024), but made a robust rebound in 2022, increasing both in value and volume, and this increase is expected to continue over the next decades (Kawamoto 2022). In contrast, the fresh tuna market, which is lower in volume but commands a much higher trade value, has shown increased growth since 2021 (FAO 2024). A major share of this trade corresponds to the tuna sashimi market, which uses mostly BFT and BET (FAO 2022a; Klapper et al. 2023; Servusova and Piskata 2021) and is almost exclusively directed to Japan, which retains 60 to 80% of all global demand (Guillotreau et al. 2016). The market value of tuna species varies considerably depending on factors such as demand, quality, but also the species, origin and conservation status, influencing the allocation of specific species to different markets (Carreiro et al. 2023; Chapela et al. 2007; Kappel et al. 2017; Pecoraro et al. 2020).Over the last years, the importance and need for seafood to be traced back to its origins (traceability) has become evident (Cawthorn and Mariani 2017), with different mechanisms emerging to guarantee transparency and promote sector sustainability (Thorpe et al. 2022). Generally, food authenticity and traceability refers to a product’s taxonomical identification and geographical origins, respectively. The European Union’s regulations (2013) require seafood products in general, to have an indication of the scientific names and commercial designations of the species used in them. However, canned and processed products are excluded from this obligation, and according to the Council Regulation ECC 1536/1992 (1992), only the commercial designation is mandatory. Nevertheless, this regulation not only states that preserved tuna and bonito products must be prepared exclusively from designated species, namely those in the Thunnus genus or SKJ , but also explicitly prohibits the mixing of different species within the same container (1992). Beyond these regulations, companies can voluntarily identify the species used in their products, but some EU countries, such as Spain, impose additional rules, restricting the species that can be canned under each designation and mandating the use of precise labelling on packaging (Klapper et al. 2023).Different studies (Mariani et al. 2015) have suggested that seafood mislabelling is decreasing in European countries, but a study by Sotelo et al. (2018) revealed that 7.84% of canned tuna products, sampled from at least six European countries, incur in mislabelling practices. Incorrect identification and consequent mislabelling of tuna species, either intentionally or unintentionally, results in more than just economic deception of consumers. These errors can have far-reaching implications from inaccurate or erroneous landing reports, stock quota enforcement measures, fish species value, conservation assessments, population’s health parameters, loss of genetic diversity (Pardo et al. 2016), up to impaired sustainability evaluations of a specific fishing industry (Carreiro et al. 2023). Therefore, ensuring accurate species identification is essential for preserving both the economic and the ecological integrity of global tuna fisheries. However, species identification in the tuna canning industry, is particularly challenging since the extensive processing steps often hinder the identification of tuna species through morphological traits (Liu et al. 2016), and identification relies heavily on DNA-based methods (Klapper et al. 2023; Pardo et al. 2016).In Portugal, the canning industry is present in the mainland territory, which represents 80% of the national market, and in the Azores archipelago and, in 2022, the tuna canning industry alone accounted for 32.8% of all fishing and aquaculture processing industry’s production in Portugal (INE 2024). Portugal follows the standard European Union legislation for canned tuna products, and in some canning industries, such as the Azores canning industry, species scientific names are voluntarily indicated in cans, together with the capture origin and fishing methods used. However, the same does not happen for most of the other companies operating in the mainland, and little information is provided in the cans. In light of this, our study aimed to: 1) identify species used by the Portuguese tuna canning industry and determine if any of these species are classified under any conservation status, 2) test whether the canning industry shows any seasonal trends in the tuna species used or if these are randomly sourced throughout the year, 3) assess compliance of this industry with the current legislation, specifically with regards to the mixing of species (1992) within processed products.

Learning processes largely depend on visual cues. Graphic illustrations are indispensable tools in education, in studying as in teaching-appealing, clear, and concise images provide a cognitive imprint. Evolutionary relationships are best represented using the format of traditional "family trees"-not only in the life sciences, but also for illustrating relationships among languages (as in the recent field of phylolinguistics). We have created a set of free online phylogeny posters for study, teaching, and addressing open research questions not only for academia, but also useful for the general public: Plant Phylogeny Posters (PlantPP), Animal Phylogeny Posters (AnimalPP), and Language Phylogeny Posters (LangPP). The project's dimensions and success are reflected in its global and expanding scope, contributing to a growing awareness of today's pressing issues in biodiversity conservation. The posters are available in the major world languages, now including Portuguese.

Bioluminescence, the emission of light by living organisms, results from chemiluminescent reactions facilitated by enzymes like luciferases. Among these, NanoLuc (NLuc) stands out due to its exceptional brightness, stability, and compact structure, making it a valuable tool in bioassays and imaging applications. NLuc is a 19.1 kDa monomeric enzyme derived from the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus gracilirostris. Its structure comprises eleven antiparallel β-strands forming a β-barrel, capped by four α-helices. To enhance its versatility, NLuc has been engineered into split forms. The two-component split system divides NLuc into a large fragment and a small peptide, which can be either low-affinity (SmBiT) or high-affinity (HiBiT). Building upon this, a three-component system incorporates an additional peptide, offering improved control and potential applications in chemical biology. Despite the advancements in split NLuc applications, several impediments exist that can be addressed to improve these systems. Recent studies have illuminated the allosteric mechanisms of NLuc. The enzyme exhibits homotropic negative allostery, where product binding to an allosteric site inhibits substrate binding at the catalytic site. Ongoing research into its structural dynamics and allosteric behaviors continues to expand its potential applications, while efforts to enhance the efficiency of its split forms aim to broaden its utility in complex biological assays. In this in silico assay, we clarify the sources of malfunctions in split NLuc and also explore aspects of split NLuc technologies. We examine some hypotheses of NLuc mechanisms that display the complex behavior of this luciferase.

The purpose of this paper is to state and/or prove multiple hypergeometric transformations by using known quadratic hypergeometric transformations, hypergeometric summation formulas and using formulas for Pochhammer symbols and Gamma functions. The new theorems are proved in detail and connections between several conjectures are proved. All possible cases of parameters for elimination regarding quadratic transformations are summarized in tables. We also find corresponding reduction and summation formulas for Horn functions. As a by-prodoct, q-analogues of some of the formulas are proved. 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification Primary 33C65; Secondary 33C20,33C05,33D15

Salmonids have a remarkable ability to form sympatric morphs after postglacial colonization of freshwater lakes. These morphs often differ in morphology, feeding, and spawning behaviour. Here, we explored the genetics of morph differentiation by establishing a high-quality, annotated reference genome for the Arctic charr and using this for population genomic analysis of morphs from two Norwegian and two Icelandic lakes. The four lakes represent the spectrum of genetic differentiation between morphs from one lake with no genetic differentiation between morphs, implying phenotypic plasticity, to two lakes with locus-specific genetic differentiation, implying incomplete reproductive isolation, and one lake with strong genome-wide divergence consistent with complete reproductive isolation. As many as 12 putative inversions ranging from 0.45 to 3.25 Mbp in size segregated among the four morphs present in one lake, Thingvallavatn, and these contributed significantly to the genetic differentiation among morphs. None of the putative inversions was found in any of the other lakes, but there were cases of partial haplotype sharing in similar morph contrasts in other lakes. The results are consistent with a highly polygenic basis of morph differentiation with limited genetic parallelism between lakes. The results support a model where morph differentiation is first established through phenotypic plasticity, leading to niche expansion and separation. This is followed by gradual development of reproductive isolation, locus-specific differentiation, and eventually complete reproductive isolation and genome-wide divergence. A major explanation for salmonids' ability to diversify into multiple sympatric morphs is likely their genome complexity from ancient whole genome duplication, which enhances evolvability.

The Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF; Vulpes vulpes necator) is an endangered subspecies restricted to high-elevation habitats. Competition with larger-bodied coyotes (Canis latrans) limits red fox abundance throughout their sympatric ranges. Because SNRF were isolated and have evolved solely within subalpine ecosystems, we hypothesized that specialized adaptations, including low foot loading to more efficiently hunt snow-adapted lagomorphs in deep snow conditions, facilitate coexistence with coyotes. Because subalpine lagomorphs are themselves in decline, understanding the contribution of these and other prey to the SNRF diet and those of coyotes and other sympatric mesocarnivores is fundamental to SNRF conservation. We used metabarcoding to investigate the diets and niche relationships of these carnivores, along with martens (Martes caurina) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) using 789 scats collected from sites of two SNRF populations (Lassen, Sierra Nevada). As predicted, SNRFs exhibited high dietary overlap with coyotes but showed greater specialization for white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) and American pika (Ochotona princeps). In both populations, SNRF diet consisted primarily of small rodents and lagomorphs. Dietary overlap was higher with coyotes (Pianka’s index: 0.89) than with martens (0.56) and bobcats (0.59). SNRFs more frequently than coyotes consumed lagomorphs (p ≤ 0.005). We also observed a high frequency of pine, most likely whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulus) seeds, in SNRF scats, particularly during winter. Our findings suggest that subalpine specialist prey species may play a major role in facilitating SNRF coexistence with coyotes, and underscore the need for data on the current status and trends of these sensitive lagomorph populations.

Background/Objectives: Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most frequent cutaneous tumors globally. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represent the most frequently encountered representatives of this group and may represent a diagnosis challenge in some circumstances of hard to differentiate tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence the diagnosis of NMSC and their impact. Methods: A single center, descriptive, retrospective study was performed, with a total of 866 cases from 678 patients from 2016-2022. Cases were then analyzed based on their histological diagnosis and characteristics and the available clinical data. Results: From the 866 cases, 709 were histologically diagnosed as BCC and 157 as SCC. The clinical accuracy for BCCs was 95% whereas for SCCs was 62% with both having large variations among attending dermatologists. Clinical factors that were found to influence the diagnosis were: advanced age (p<0.001), a biopsy beforehand (p=0.009), and multiple diagnosis or uncertainty (p=0.005) were predictive for a final diagnosis of SCC. Factors predicting BCCs were: the presence of multiple lesions (p=0.032), presence of ulcerations (p<0.001), age under 50 (p=0.002). BCCs were more likely to be correctly diagnosed than SCC (p<0.001). Cases with multiple BCCs were thinner compared to single-lesion excisions (p<0.001). A tumor reduction was observed after the 2020 the SARS-CoV-2 (p=0.023). Conclusions: Differentiating NMSC can be challenging, but several trends have been observed which may aide in further improving the diagnosis rates especially for SCCs.

Alkaline pectinases are in demand in industrial processes that require the degradation of plant pectins at high pH, e.g., removal of pectin stains from fabrics, cutlery, and porcelain; treatment of pectic wastewater; fermentation of coffee, tea, and cocoa; manufacture of poultry and animal feeds, and processing of textiles, etc. The present study aimed to a) screen four alkaliphilic microbial isolates, previously obtained from samples collected around Lake Bogoria (soda lake), Baringo County, Kenya, for alkaline pectinases, and b) characterize the pectinase-producers. The screening data revealed that all the isolates were pectinase producers, exhibiting catalytic activities that ranged from 1.4 - 1.6 pectinolytic indices (PI) (primary screening) and 0.04 - 0.15 U/ml (secondary screening). These isolates’ colonies featured smooth textures and umbonate elevations and were moist, white, or cream. Their cells were motile, aerobic rods that were Gram-, catalase-, and oxidase-positive. They utilized inositol, sucrose, lactose, and glucose and hydrolyzed starch, pullulan, casein, and gelatin. They grew optimally at pH 10.5, 45 °C, and without NaCl but tolerated growth at higher temperatures (up to 55 °C) and saline conditions [up to 12.5 % (w/v) NaCl]. At neutral pH, no growth was detected. Based on these phenotypic characteristics, the Lake Bogoria alkaliphilic microbial isolates were identified as Bacillus halodurans, capable of producing alkaline pectinases that, if harnessed, can potentially find applications in the aforementioned industrial processes.

Coherence between EEG signals at specific frequencies is often used as a measure of functional connectivity between brain areas. This study investigated the components of coherence in EEG at the alpha frequency across scalp locations, focusing on the relative contributions of amplitude-correlation and phase-locking. Using simulations, we demonstrate how coherence is influenced by the combination of three factors: phase-locking, amplitude-correlation, and amplitude-variability. At empirically realistic levels of amplitude-variability, phase-locking had a stronger effect on coherence than amplitude-correlation. Empirical EEG data collected from 165 participants during an eyes-closed condition revealed that across participant-variations in phase-locking strength and amplitude-correlation were only weakly associated for frontal - occipital electrode pairs, which are least affected by volume conduction and thus provide the most interpretable measures of functional connectivity. This dissociation suggests that phase-locking and amplitude-correlation should be analyzed separately as distinct indicators of functional connectivity rather than being combined in the compound measure of coherence. Additionally, exploratory phase-analyses showed that most participants exhibited systematic plane traveling waves in either the anterior-posterior (backward) direction or posterior-anterior (forward) direction. Backward waves were approximately twice as common as forward waves. Interestingly, the scalp distribution of alpha amplitude was independent of the direction of wave travel, further highlighting the dissociation between alpha phase and amplitude dynamics. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying EEG coherence and traveling waves, with implications for understanding large-scale cortical dynamics during resting-state conditions.

The repeated evolution of herbicide resistance in agriculture provides an unprecedented opportunity to understand how organisms rapidly respond to strong anthropogenic-driven selection pressure. In populations of the grass species Bromus tectorum L., resistance to multiple herbicides has been recently identified. To understand the evolutionary origins and spread of resistance, we investigated the resistance mechanisms in 49 B. tectorum populations to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and photosystem II inhibitors, two widely used herbicide modes of action. We assessed the genetic diversity, structure, and relatedness in a subset of 21 populations. Resistance to ALS inhibitors was associated with multiple types of non-synonymous mutations in ALS, the target site gene. Mechanisms not related to the target site evolved and were common in the populations studied. Resistance to photosystem II inhibitors was confirmed in two populations and was conferred by non-synonymous mutations in the plastid gene psbA. Population genetics analyses showed low levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that local selection pressure processes have shaped the populations. We also found evidence of long-distance gene flow among distinct growing regions and cropping systems. The results suggest that both gene flow via pollen and/or seed dispersal, and multiple local and independent evolutionary events were involved in the spread of herbicide-resistant B. tectorum. Our results provide an empirical example of the rapid repeated evolution of a trait under strong anthropogenic selection and elucidate the evolutionary origins of herbicide resistance in a plant species of agricultural importance.

Effective wildlife management and conservation strategies rely on sound data regarding faunal diversity and habitat preference. This study investigated medium to large mammal diversity, habitat preference, and abundance in Kafta-Sheraro National Park from March to August 2019. The park was stratified into four habitat types, and systematic sampling technique were applied to establish permanent transects within each. Species were identified and counted along transects. Statistical analyses were conducted using Python, PAST, and ArcGIS. A total of 11,054 individual animals belonging to 28 medium to large-bodied mammal species were recorded in the park. Six of the recorded species are classified as globally threatened, including the endangered African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the vulnerable leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), and red-fronted gazelle (Eudorcas rufifrons), and near-threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena). Seasonal species richness varied significantly in riverine forests and woodlands (p ≤ 0.05). Grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops) and anubis baboon (Papio anubis), were together comprising 47.68% of the total population of recorded, while leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), aardvark (Orycteropus afer), civet (Civettictis civetta) and crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) were least abundant (<1%). Mammals’ population were highest in bushland (3,111 ± 87.18), followed by grassland (2,917 ± 75.71), riverine forest (2,632 ± 88.03) and woodland (394 ± 93.62). Orycteropus afer was exclusive to bushland habitat. Bushland had the highest dry season diversity (H′ = 2.58), while woodland habitat had the lowest wet season diversity (H′ = 2.03). Wet season evenness was highest in grassland (J = 0.54). Long-term studies and conservation are crucial for Kafta-Sheraro National Park’s threatened species.

This paper presents bilateral control laws for one-dimensional(1-D) linear 2 × 2 hyperbolic first-order systems (with spatially varying coefficients). Bilateral control means there are two actuators at each end of the domain. This situation becomes more complex as the transport velocities are no longer constant, and this extension is nontrivial. By selecting the appropriate backstepping transformation and target system, the infinite-dimensional backstepping method is extended and a full-state feedback control law is given that ensures the closed-loop system converges to its zero equilibrium in finite time. The design of bilateral controllers enables a potential for fault-tolerant designs.

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) has become a global health issue and has caused significant social and family burdens worldwide. Although proteomic techniques have discovered some biomarkers of sTBI, the common biomarkers and pathological mechanisms of sTBI at different time points have not been systematically revealed. In recent years, studies have found significant changes in the expression of ubiquitin and ubiquitination modified proteins after TBI, but the specific ubiquitination modified proteins that undergo changes are still unclear. This study used label free ubiquitination proteomics technology to detect and screen for common differential ubiquitination modification proteins and sites in the sTBI group at different time points compared to the control group. Bioinformatics analysis was used to explore the pathological mechanism mediated by ubiquitination modification proteins after the occurrence of sTBI.Finally, parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) validation experiments were conducted on the ubiquitination sites of proteins in the selected specimens, confirming the omics resultsproviding new diagnostic and therapeutic ideas for the treatment of sTBI.

A document by Feisal Rahimpoor. Click on the document to view its contents.

Advanced renal failure in a Down syndrome patient due to delayed diagnosis of non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder (Hinman syndrome): A case reportIlkhan Rezaei , Fatemeh RezaeiClinical Research Development Unit - Imam Reza Educational, Therapeutic and Research Center – Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) – Kermanshah- IranCorresponding author :Fatemeh RezaeiClinical Development Unit – Imam Reza Educational, Thraputic and Research Center – Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences ( KUMS ) – Kermanshah – Iran19farimah98@gmail.comAbstractKey Clinical MessageNonneurogenic neurogenic bladder (NNB) which is also known as Hinman syndrome, is an uncommon medical syndrome with clinical features resembling Neurogenic bladder (But there is no sign of neurologic damage as its cause). This syndrome typically occurs in toilet-learning-age children. However, it has been reported in adults, too. It’s more common in patients with Down Syndrome (no matter how old they are) as their intellectual skills are lower than normal people. If NNB is diagnosed early, it has a good prognosis, but delayed diagnosis and treatment will lead to irreversible renal damage and even ESRD (like this case). Taking medical history of DS patients is challenging as they may not complaining of their symptoms which can be critical to diagnose early. So, clinicians should be careful in taking history of Down Syndrome patients.IntroductionNonneurogenic neurogenic bladder syndrome, which is known as Hinman syndrome, is an uncommon medical syndrome that is characterized by urinary bladder dysfunction and clinical and radiologic features which resembels a neurogenic bladder but with no signs of neurologic damage(1). This syndrome typically occurs in childhood, specially in the age of toilet learning. However, it’s been seen in some adults, too (2). Based on previous studies, incidence of this syndrome may be higher in patients with Down syndrome than the general population(3). Advanced renal failure caused by Hinman syndrome is uncommon and it’s been reported only in cases with delayed diagnosis, specially in some developing countries(4).In this article, we have introduced an adult patient with Down syndrome and progressive renal failure due to delayed diagnosis of the Hinman syndrome. This case of end-stage renal failure is one of the first such reported cases in the world in this age group(5)\RL.Case History / ExaminationA 39-year-old female was referred to ED because of abnormal laboratory data which revealed anemia, pancytopenia and increased serum BUN and Cr. she had referred to an internist, complaining of bruised right forearm and thigh.In her medical history, except for Down syndrome and bruisiness of the mentioned areas, we found out that her urination’s frequency was remarkably less than expected based on her water consumption and she urinated so much during each urination. She had no complaint of weakness, lethargy, anorexia, shortness of breath, dysuria and she had no history of urinary infections.There was a history of blood cancer in her older brother (they didn’t know which type of cancer it was), leading to his death many years ago.During physical examination, we observed ecchymosis on the front side of right forearm and thigh. Also the conjunctiva was extremely pale. Nothing else was seen.MethodsBecause of high serum urea and creatinine (Urea=129, Cr=13.6), emergency hemodialysis was planned. Investigations were also started to find the reason of increased urea and creatinine.An ultrasound of both kidneys and urinary tracts showed enlarged kidneys with severe bilateral hydronephrosis and renal cortical atrophy. The echogenicity of remaining renal parenchyma was increased and renal surface was irregular with evidences of scars in some parts. Also a distended urinary bladder with diffuse wall thickening was seen. The bladder was severely distended even after voiding.An abdominopelvic CT scan without contrast was requested and it showed severe bilateral hydronephrosis with renal pelvic dilatation.( Image 1 ) Ureteral caliber was normal.No urinary obstruction was reported. Also a little amount of free fluid was seen in the abdominal cavity and pelvis\RL. In addition, bilateral mild pleural effusion and pericardial effusion (8 mm) were seen. (Image 2)At first, there was a suspicion of an obstruction, but no urinary obstruction was seen in imaging. Based on the medical history and examination and absence of any clear obstructive causes, along with severe renal failure, diagnoses of Hinman syndrome or non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder was the most likely diagnosis.She underwent dialysis for 6 sessions during her hospitalization through right femoral shaldon. She underwent arteriovenous fistula surgery and one day before discharging, right clavicular catheter was implanted for hemodialysis till maturation of AV fistula.Due to a very low hemoglobin level (2.9 mg/dl), an iso-group cross-matched packed RBC was prescribed in ED. After about 30 minutes, she complained of back pain and shortness of breath. Transfusion was immediately stopped and patient’s blood sample and packed RBC bag were sent to laboratory for more evaluations. The laboratory reported that blood sub-groups interferences were the cause of the patient’s symptoms and her blood sub-group was C-negative / KELL-negative which was a rare sub-group blood type. After transfusion of compatible packed RBC, hemoglobin level increased gradually. Iron profile was checked and additional tests were performed. Their results were as follows: