Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes under different environmental conditions, plays a profound role in several areas of evolutionary biology. However, it is unclear how much reaction norms vary among conspecific populations and whether differences in reaction norms represent adaptations to different levels of environmental variation. We present data on the reaction norms of growth and maturation to variation in temperature and salinity in sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) from three populations from South Carolina (SC). This area is the northern edge of the species range and we compare these reaction norms to those previously reported in populations from north Florida (NF), which is the center of the species range. In general, fish from SC displayed less plasticity than fish from NF because they grew faster and matured earlier at the lower temperatures and salinities compared to NF fish. Among fish from both regions, males were much less plastic than females. In both sexes, fish from SC matured at much younger ages than NF fish in the same conditions. While there was no detectable heterogeneity among populations from NF, males from one of the SC populations displayed a strikingly different response in age at maturity to temperature variation than did males from the other two SC populations, maturing earlier at the lower temperature, rather than at the higher one. The pattern in fish from SC is one of countergradient variation, in which they grow faster and mature earlier in conditions that would otherwise slow growth and delay maturity. This pattern is well-matched to the cooler thermal regime and shorter growing season experienced in SC populations, suggesting an adaptive divergence in reaction norms.

A document by Danielle L. Sarno. Click on the document to view its contents.

Purpose: Low flow (LF) (stroke volume index (SVI) < 35ml/m 2) is a prognostic marker in aortic stenosis (AS). Longitudinal strain evaluated with speckle tracking is related to LF. Unidimensional strain derived from Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) is a surrogate of longitudinal strain. The objective was to evaluate the relationship of the unidimensional longitudinal strain (LVSTRAIN) with the LF in moderate (MAS) or severe (SAS) AS. Methods: Patients with MAS (aortic valve area < 1.50 cm 2) or SAS (aortic valve area ≤ 1 cm 2) and ejection fraction ≥50% were evaluated. LVSTRAIN was calculated using the average of lateral and medial MAPSE, and divided by the length of the left ventricle (LV) in diastole. In SAS four groups were substratified, depending on LV flow status: normal flow (NF) vs. LF and mean pressure gradient levels: low gradient (LG) (<40 mmHg) vs. high gradient (HG) (≥40 mmHg). Results: One hundred and fifty-nine patients were evaluated. LF was 20.14%. LVSTRAIN was 16.74% (±2.45) in NF and 12.28% (±3.06) in LF (p=<0.001). A correlation was observed between the LVSTRAIN and the SVI (r=0.47-p=<0.001), both in MAS (r= 0.51-p<0.001) and in SAS (r=0.45-p=<0.001). Patients with LF and MAS had lower LVSTRAIN than those with NF, 11.39% (±2.51) and (16.75% (±2.05), respectively (p=0.007). Patients with SAS with both LFHG and LFLG had lower LVSTRAIN than those with NF (p=<0.001). Conclusion: LVSTRAIN is decreased in patients with MAS or SAS and LF. A significant correlation was observed between SVI and LVSTRAIN in both SAS and MAS.

Mediastinal masses are occasionally involved in extrinsic compression of heart structures such as cardiac chambers, great vessels, and their branches. In rare cases, this can lead to haemodynamic compromise. Echocardiography is key to identifying and describing salient features that might explain a patient's symptoms, and contributes valuable prognostic information. Here, we report a case study of a young male patient who presented with cardiac symptoms and was referred to our outpatient department for a routine transthoracic echocardiogram revealing an unusual presentation of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary valve compression, and pulmonary stenosis secondary to a large extracardiac mass.

Emerging infectious diseases threaten many wildlife populations, yet there is considerable variation in pathogen impacts both within and among species. Understanding this variability is key to identifying where and when pathogens will have substantial effects. Here we use data on prevalence of the invasive pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Australian frogs to test two predictions derived from the hypothesis that mismatches in host-pathogen thermal tolerances can explain prevalence patterns. We show that: 1) the slope of the relationship between Bd prevalence and temperature within host species transitions predictably from positive to increasingly negative as the host species’ thermal optima increases; and 2) among host species, mean Bd prevalence increases, peaks, and declines as the host species’ thermal optima increase. Both results align with theoretical expectations and suggest that mismatches in environmental tolerance between hosts and pathogens can explain much of the variation in pathogen impacts observed within and among species.

Objective: to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of a pillow-like position modification device to reduce supine sleep during late pregnancy, and to determine the impacts on the severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and fetal wellbeing. Design: Randomised cross-over study Setting and population: Individuals in the third trimester of pregnancy receiving antenatal care at a tertiary maternity hospital in Australia. Methods: Participants used their own pillow for a control week and an intervention pillow for a week overnight, in randomized order. Sleep position and total sleep time for each night of both weeks was objectively monitored, with a sleep study and fetal heart rate monitoring performed on the last night of each week. Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of sleep time in the supine position, apnoea-hypopnoea index, fetal heart rate decelerations and birthweight. Results: Forty-one individuals were randomized with data collected on 35 participants over 469 nights. There was no difference in percentage of total sleep time in the supine position overnight between the control or intervention pillow week (13.0% [6.1, 25.5] v 16.0% [5.6, 27.2], p = .81), and no difference in the severity of SDB or fetal heart rate decelerations across weeks. However, increased supine sleep was significantly related to a higher apnea-hypopnea index (r s = .37, p = .003), lower birthweight (r s = -.45, p = .007) and lower customised birthweight centile (r s = -.45, p = .006). The proportion of supine sleep each night of the week varied widely both within and across participants, despite awareness of side-sleeping recommendations. Conclusions: The adoption of a pillow designed to discourage supine sleep was not effective in late pregnancy, with women spending an average of one hour per night supine. Supine sleep was associated with SDB and lower birthweight. Alternative devices should be investigated, incorporating lessons learnt from this study to inform trials of supine sleep minimisation in pregnancy. Clinical Trial Registration Number – ACTRN12620000371998 (Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry)

Mechanistic interpretation of plant nutrients biogeographic patterns is necessary to a predictive framework for global biogeochemical cycle. However, the existed three hypotheses predicting these patterns have not been verified (especially the causal pathways) using both theoretical analysis and empirical data. We tested the validities, efficiencies, and key drivers of three hypotheses for the first time by synthesizing 2344 observations of major nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)) in leaf from 1073 species and of supporting indices (plant traits, climate and soil) at global scale. Structural equation models proved the validities of each hypothesis at global scale, except for the prediction of foliar N by Soil Substrate Age hypothesis (indirect effect via soil nutrient) as soil N affected leaf N by a path opposite to this hypothesis. Specifically, among three hypotheses, Species Composition hypothesis (indirect effect via plant functional type) is the best predictive model for leaf N, while Substrate Age hypothesis for both P and K in leaf. Soil, climate, and plant functional type together explained over half variations in leaf nutrient concentrations. Among all traits, soil nutrient was the strongest determinant for both P and K in leaf, while plant functional type for foliar N. Overall, we highlight the fundamentally different mechanisms and trait controls regarding global patterns of different nutrients in leaf.

This paper focuses on improving the performance of grid-connected Self-excited induction generator-based wind energy system (WES) with vector control method (VCM) using artificial neural network (ANN). A modified space vector modulation technique (MSVMT) has been presented to acquire the gate pulses for machine-side and grid-side multi-level NPC converters. The proposed model has been simulated with MATLAB/SIMULINK and the prototype model of the proposed grid-connected SEIG-based WES has been developed in the laboratory using WAVECT WCU300 FPGA R&D controller to validate its performance. During wind speeds step-change, the proposed MSVMT with ANN controller performs better than the conventional space vector modulation (CSVM) with PI Controller technique in terms of transient response, including overshoots, undershoots, ripples, and steady-state errors in rotor speed, torque, and power.

AbstractPityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare papulosquamous skin condition that affects both adults and the pediatric population. It is characterized by salmon-colored plaques with islands of sparing and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis. Currently, there are no established guidelines for PRP treatment, especially in pediatric patients. In this study, we presented an infant case of type III juvenile PRP successfully treated with a short-term, low-dose cyclosporine A (CsA). No recurrence occurred during the 3-month follow-up period after completing treatment. Additionally, we reviewed the use of CsA as an alternative treatment option for juvenile-onset PRP. The results of this study were consistent with previous findings for adult-onset PRP. Therefore, this study further supports using CsA as an alternative option for treating juvenile-onset PRP.

Researchers analyzing data collected from borehole drilling projects can face dozens of terabytes of seismic, hydrologic, geologic, and rock mechanics data, including complex imagery, physical measurements, and expert-written reports. These diverse data sets play a pivotal role in understanding solid Earth processes. Ingesting and analyzing such data presents a colossal challenge that typically demands a team of experts and large amounts of time. The utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning emerges as a compelling approach to help tackle the volume and complexity of drilling data. This paper presents an AI-based pipeline for ingesting data from the Oman Drilling Project’s Multi-borehole Observatory. The study focuses on the alteration of peridotite core segments taken from Borehole BA1B, utilizing a catboost classification model trained on an integrated data set of machine learning segmented core images, physical measurements, geological, lithographic data, and AI-summarized expert texts and feature selection. This paper’s central objective is to establish a repeatable, efficient pattern for processing such multifaceted borehole data through connecting fracture networks detected in the borehole BA1B imagery to the host rock alteration.

The proliferation of microbial carbon fixation is a key control on the evolution of the biosphere and global carbon cycle. Most records of these metabolisms in ancient rocks come from organic matter or fossils, which are not always preserved. Here, we present a potential proxy for microbial carbon fixation (autotrophy) based on the isotopic composition of carbonate minerals. Autotrophs influence carbonate chemistry in the cellular microenvironment by decreasing CO2concentration and increasing carbonate saturation state. This can induce rapid precipitation of carbonate minerals that are out of isotopic equilibrium with their environment. Recent work has identified disequilibrated dual clumped isotope compositions (∆47 and ∆48) in the skeletal fossils of marine calcifying organisms. Here we test whether the same is true of non-skeletal carbonate fabrics associated with microbial autotrophs in modern and Eocene lakes. We found that microbial carbonate formed via autotrophic metabolism recorded lower ∆47 and higher ∆48 values (-∆47/+∆48) than predicted for thermodynamic equilibrium mineral formation. Our findings are supported by models of dual clumped isotope kinetics in the DIC system, and disequilibrium in the oxygen isotope system. We hypothesize that the inverse trajectory away from the equilibrium line (+∆47/-∆48) should be recorded by carbonates formed in association with alkalinizing heterotrophs, such as sulfate reducers. If so, carbonate dual clumped isotopes could be a powerful tool to identify the proliferation and rate of heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolisms in the carbonate rock record on Earth and (perhaps) other planets.

IntroductionParry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is characterized by progressive dystrophy or loss of subcutaneous tissue in one half of the face, usually beginning in childhood and often continuing with skin changes1. This atrophy affects the subcutaneous tissue, fat, muscle and bone-cartilaginous structures and creates a sunken appearance in the face2. This syndrome is often associated with linear scleroderma and is also known as En coup de sabre 3. The clinical feature of PRS that makes it possible to diagnose is unilateral idiopathic facial atrophy4. This disease is self-limiting and its treatment is multidisciplinary5. Treatment is usually based on the replacement of adipose tissue that has been lost due to atrophy 6. Surgical treatment for PRS often requires a multispecialty approach with repeated procedures, depending on the extent of involvement7. The goal of surgical treatment for PRS patients is to minimize the psychosocial effects and correct the appearance and function of the involved facial structures5.

A document by Qin Tan. Click on the document to view its contents.

Iron is an essential nutrient required for growth, development and also impacts disease resistance in plants. Plant absorb iron through their roots and citrate plays a vital role in transport of Fe 3+ through the xylem. In this study, we found that the rice cytoplasmic ATP-citrate lyase subunit A2, OsACL-A2 ( Os12g0566300) serves as a crucial factor in iron uptake and translocation. Leaf iron levels were depressed in the osacl-a2 mutant which caused iron deficiency induced chlorosis, activated defense signaling and eventually necrosis in mature leaves. Furthermore, loss of OsACL-A2 activity reduced disease resistance in leaves that had not reached development of necrosis. Citrate levels are increased in the osacl-a2 mutant, while ACL activity in the wild type is upregulated in response to both iron starvation and pathogen attack. We hypothesize that OsACL-A2 activity generates source-sink gradients through targeted lysis activity thus directing the movement of citrate-Fe 3+.

Background China has officially implemented a special free medical education program known as the Targeted Admission Medical Education (TAME) program since 2010.Since retaining TAME doctors remains a challenge, continuing professional development (CPD) is often seen as a viable retention strategy. Methods A snowball sampling method was adopted to collect survey responses from 1,369 TAME doctors with 5 to 10 years of work experience in Jiangxi Province, China. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between TAME doctors’ turnover intention and demographic characteristics, work environment characteristics and CPD activities. Results Male doctors were less likely to report turnover intention (TI) than females (OR=0.425, 95% CI: 0.315 to 0.573). Rural doctors whose fathers were farmers were less likely to report TI (OR=0.410, 95% CI: 0.249 to 0.676), and a similar effect was seen for mothers who worked on farms. The highest TI effects were identified among those had pursued continuing professional development in a degree program (OR=6.927, 95% CI: 3.378 to 14.208) and had training in a higher-level institution totally for more than three months (OR=2.848, 95% CI: 1.934 to 4.195). Conclusion The study found that rural doctors in China who are active in continuous professional development (CPD), particularly among those pursuing a degree program, have highest turnover intention.The retention rate may be further improved by selecting students with strong rural connections and confirming their parents’ engagement in farming. Additionally, work-life balance can be enhanced by considering their work location preferences, facilitating convenient fulfillment of family commitments.

Background: Low contraceptive prevalence rates among women of reproductive age in low-income countries, including Nigeria, continue to impede efforts to improve women’s reproductive health through family planning services. This qualitative study examines the barriers to accessing family planning clinics. Methods: In-depth interviews with 30 women aged 15 to 49 were conducted at a secondary and a tertiary health facility, Lagos. Results: The research identifies two key themes: the impact of geographic proximity and the challenges faced at the clinic in accessing family planning services.” Women living far from clinics face transportation barriers. Long waiting times, stigma and privacy are issues identified, particularly in government clinics. Despite challenges, respondents praised nurses and expressed satisfaction with services. Conclusions: The study offers contemporary insights into the specific challenges faced by women in Lagos State, aiming to inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations. The study, however, suggests that even with the removal of proximity barriers, stigma remains a limiting factor for interventions, adding a novel perspective to the discourse on reproductive health in low-income settings. Addressing these barriers in a holistic manner is vital for empowering women to make informed reproductive choices, ultimately improving maternal and child health outcomes.

Background: Outcomes of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with bone sarcomas inclusive of osteosarcoma (OGS) and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) are impacted by various factors including inadvertent prior treatment and poor compliance. We aimed to identify prognostic factors and derive prognostic models for these patients. Methods: All AYA OGS and ES cases treated at our institute with the “OGS-12” and Ewing’s family of tumors-2001 (“EFT-2001”) protocols from 2011 to 2021, and 2013 to 2018 respectively, were prospectively analyzed. Results:. Among 606/748 (81.0%) AYA with non-metastatic osteosarcoma, significant factors included in the prognostic model were failure to complete protocol (hazard ratio (HR) 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65-4.26), prior treatment (HR 2.93, CI 1.4-6.1), necrosis <90% (HR 1.63, CI 1.24-2.1), joint involvement (HR 2.0, CI 1.49-2.69) and SAP> median (204 U/l) (HR 1.63, CI 1.24-2.14). Of 104/263 (39.5%) AYA ES, significant factors were failure to complete protocol (HR 2.84, CI 1.03-7.8), prior treatment (HR 6.37, CI 1.8-22.0), necrosis <100% (HR 8.73, CI 2.16-35.3), and tumor size >8cm (HR 2.64, CI 1.04-6.7). For 142/366 (38.8%) AYA with metastatic OGS, significant factors were failure to complete protocol (HR 5.29), metastases not amenable to local treatment (HR 1.96), necrosis <90% (HR 1.96), and >10 metastases (HR 2.44). For 38/82 (43.6%) AYA with metastatic extremity ES, significant factors were failure to complete protocol (HR 3.88) and metastases not amenable to local treatment (HR 10.6). Conclusion: We developed simple, effective prognostic models for AYA with bone sarcomas with wide applicability in LMIC.

Plastic pollution is increasingly becoming a threatening problem worldwide, with highlighted health risks associated with plastic waste incineration. Among the immediate measures to address this problem, proper recycling of PET bottles stands out as a pertinent strategy. Considering the urgent need for administrative-led reforms, we assessed the separation rates of PET bottle caps and labels in a government office in Japan, which revealed a concerning fact; only 59.3% had both caps and labels removed and properly separated. Thus, one potential solution is the use of Nudges, which are effective methods for promoting behaviors such as healthy actions. Since both health and environmentally conscious behaviors involve choices across different time points, leveraging insights from Nudges developed in the field of health behavior to environmental behaviors are considered crucial even from a health promotion perspective.

Introduction: In addition to being the most accessible medical center in the community, the pharmacy is a center for storing and providing medicines and cosmetics that are directly related to people’s health. Therefore, observing environmental health issues in the pharmacy, which is managed by the pharmacist, is considered necessary. Objective: In this study, an attempt has been made to provide the necessary ground for improving the health status of pharmacies by examining the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacists active in community pharmacies and presenting it. Method: In this study, researcher-made questionnaires were designed and after reviewing its validity by experts and its reliability by Cronbach’s alpha test, were completed by pharmacists and the results were analyzed in SPSS program. Results: Examination of the data obtained from this study showed that the pharmacists in the study have the appropriate level of knowledge and attitude, but their performance in pharmacies is different. Discussion: Observation of the results of the study shows that due to the lack of appropriate practical training and the lack of strict rules by regulatory authorities, despite the appropriate level of knowledge of pharmacists, in practice do not consider themselves very obliged to observe health principles.

The metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) is a high-motion joint subjected to substantial loads and elastic work during locomotion. Elastic strain energy is stored in the flexor tendons and suspensory apparatus during joint hyperextension and released during the push-off phase. These complex biomechanical characteristics predispose the joint structures to injuries such as subchondral bone injury, progressive osteoarthritis, and fractures, often linked to chronic fatigue from repetitive loading at the third metacarpal bone and proximal phalanx articulation. In horses, the MCPJ is commonly affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Several studies have focused on researching MCPJ mechanics and its relationship with OA. This review discusses leading advancements in the field of MCPJ biomechanics, emphasizing their clinical relevance in understanding osteoarthritis pathophysiology. Joint biomechanics evaluation includes kinematics and kinetics analysis. Kinematics are analyzed through the recorded trajectory of reflective markers attached to the distal limb, registered by a motion capture system. The trajectory data are then analyzed by the software for subsequent kinetic analysis. To calculate joint reaction forces, detailed activity of the muscles and ligaments directly impacting the MCPJ has been evaluated. As a high-motion joint with elastic properties during locomotion, the MCPJ experiences significant loads that create substantial pressure on articular cartilage and stress on surrounding bones. This review provides insights into the most recent concepts of stress distribution across bones and articular cartilage proposed to explain and enhance the understanding of injuries to joint structures.

Background: Precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is one of the most common types of leukemias in children. The majority of B-ALL patients are distinguished by chromosomal rearrangements; however, alternative splicing and epigenetic deregulations can also change the expression level of transcripts correlated with B-ALL. Therefore, the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers as well as the use of individualized treatments can help in B-ALL therapy. In this study, we performed an RNA-seq analysis to determine differentially expressed RNA transcripts in B-ALL. Methods: The RNA-seq data of 79 B-ALL and 14 non-malignant ITP (immune thrombocytopenic purpura) samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Moreover, RNA-seq was performed for Iranian patients with B-ALL to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In order to experimentally validate the findings, the mRNA expression of SPRING1 (or C12orf49) was evaluated in bone marrow aspiration samples of B-ALL patients using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Results: Differential expression analysis revealed 920 downregulated and 1216 upregulated genes in B-ALL compared to ITP samples. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed the significant upregulation of SPRING1 (80%) in B-ALL patients. Functional enrichment analysis exhibited that SPRING1 was principally associated with lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathways. Conclusion: Our results provided evidence for the involvement of SPRING1 in the B-ALL pathogenesis. However, further functional and clinical research is needed to understand its role in dysregulation of lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathways in B-ALL.

A document by Xianmin Zhang. Click on the document to view its contents.

Amino acids, including asparagine, aspartate, glutamine, and glutamate, play important roles in the purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis as well as serve as anaplerotic sources fueling the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for mitochondrial energy generation in mammalian cells. Despite extensive studies on glutamine and glutamate in CHO cell cultures, the roles of asparagine and aspartate, especially in feed media, remain underexplored. In this study, we utilized the CHO genome scale model to first deeply characterize the intracellular metabolic states of CHO cells cultured in different combinations of basal and feed media to understand the traits of asparagine/aspartate-dependent and glutamate-dependent feeds. Subsequently, we identified the critical role of asparagine and aspartate in the feed media as anaplerotic sources and conduct in silico simulations to ascertain their optimal ratios to improve cell culture performance. Finally, based on the model simulations, we reformulated the feed media by tailoring the concentrations of asparagine and aspartate. Our experimental data reveal a CHO cell preference for asparagine compared with aspartate, and thus maintaining an optimal ratio of these amino acids is a key factor for achieving optimal CHO cell culture performance in biopharmaceutical production.

A document by Nana Adjoa Coleman. Click on the document to view its contents.