Identification of novel genetic loci related to dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) morphometrics, biomechanics, and behavior by genome-wide association studies.

In the realm of animal breeding for sustainability, domestic camels have traditionally been valued for their milk and meat production. However, key aspects such as zoometrics, biomechanics, and behavior have often been overlooked in terms of their genetic foundations. Recognizing this gap, the present study perfomed genome-wide association analyses to identify genetic markers associated with zoometrics-, biomechanics-, and behavior-related traits in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). 16 and 108 genetic markers were significantly associated (q < 0.05) at genome and chromosome-wide levels of significance, respectively, with zoometrics- (width, length, and perimeter/girth), biomechanics- (acceleration, displacement, spatial position, and velocity), and behavior-related traits (general cognition, intelligence, and Intelligence Quotient (IQ)) in dromedaries. In most association loci, the nearest protein-coding genes are linkedto neurodevelopmental and sensory disorders. This suggests that genetic variations related to neural development and sensory perception play crucial roles in shaping a dromedary camel's physical characteristics and behavior. In summary, this research advances our understanding of the genomic basis of essential traits in dromedary camels. Identifying specific genetic markers associated with zoometrics, biomechanics, and behavior provides valuable insights into camel domestication. Moreover, the links between these traits and genes related to neurodevelopmental and sensory disorders highlight the broader implications of domestication and modern selection on the health and welfare of dromedary camels. This knowledge could guide future breeding strategies, fostering a more holistic approach to camel husbandry and ensuring the sustainability of these animals in diverse agricultural contexts.

Splits in the fabric: A community psychoanalytic project during COVID-19.

Demonstrating how psychoanalysts can be useful in community settings outside the conventional consulting room, this paper describes consultation and group interventions conducted at a San Francisco mental health agency serving a largely Asian community. In the traumatic context of the COVID-19 pandemic, agency staff became fragmented, due to remote working conditions and differential work assignments, including mandated deployments to emergency sites. Two psychoanalysts worked with agency leadership to devise a weekly process group held by video conferencing over 6 months, in an attempt to heal resentments and splits in the fabric of the agency. Examples of the group process, interventions, and major themes that emerged are described, as well as recommendations made, including the formation of an ongoing clinical consultation group. The paper situates these interventions in the greater context of the pandemic which exposed not only a universal threat to life and health, but also structural vulnerabilities organized along lines of (racial) difference and inequity. The dynamics at the agency are thus described as rooted within greater nested histories: of the clinic, its leadership, and their relationship with a strained public health system, and more broadly, of the tangled intersection of these histories with anti-Asian racism. These are understood as manifestations of the Social Unconscious, and the intervention as an example of Community Psychoanalysis.

Effect of Supplementation of a Cryopreservation Extender with Pectoliv30 on Post-Thawing Semen Quality Parameters in Rooster Species.

Sperm cryopreservation is a fundamental tool for the conservation of avian genetic resources; however, avian spermatozoa are susceptible to this process. To cope with the high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the addition of exogenous antioxidants is beneficial. Pectoliv30 is a substance derived from alperujo, and in this study, its effect was analyzed on seminal quality after its addition to the cryopreservation extender of roosters at different concentrations. For this purpose, 16 Utrerana breed roosters were used, and seminal collection was performed in six replicates, creating a pool for each working day with ejaculates of quality. After cryopreservation, one sample per treatment and replicate was thawed, and several seminal quality parameters were evaluated. Statistical analysis revealed numerous correlations between these variables, both positive and negative according to the correlation matrix obtained. Furthermore, the chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree (DT) reported significant differences in the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) variable between groups. Moreover, results for this parameter were more desirable at high concentrations of Pectoliv30. The application of this substance extracted from the by-product alperujo as an antioxidant allows the improvement of the post-thawing seminal quality in roosters and facilitates optimization of the cryopreservation process as a way to improve the conservation programs of different endangered poultry breeds.

Multiple pathways for lanthanide sensitization in self-assembled aqueous complexes.

Lanthanide photoluminescence (PL) emission has attracted much attention for technological and bioimaging applications because of its particularly interesting features, such as narrow emission bands and very long PL lifetimes. However, this emission process necessitates a preceding step of energy transfer from suitable antennas. While biocompatible applications require luminophores that are stable in aqueous media, most lanthanide-based emitters are quenched by water molecules. Previously, we described a small luminophore, 8-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydrocyclopenta[de]quinoline-3-phosphonic acid (PAnt), which is capable of dynamically coordinating with Tb(III) and Eu(III), and its exchangeable behavior improved their performance in PL lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) compared with conventional lanthanide cryptate imaging agents. Herein, we report an in-depth photophysical and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computational study that reveals different sensitization mechanisms for Eu(III) and Tb(III) in stable complexes formed in water. Understanding this unique behavior in aqueous media enables the exploration of different applications in bioimaging or novel emitting materials.

Heritability of cough across two generations: the RHINESSA study.

Aim: Heritability of cough has not yet been studied. We aimed to evaluate if individuals with cough are more likely to have offspring who develop cough, and if these associations differ by type of cough (productive/nonproductive). Methods: The RHINESSA Generation Study (Respiratory Health In Northern Europe, Spain and Australia) includes 7155 parents (initially aged 30-54) answering detailed questionnaires in 2000 and 2010, and 8176 offspring ≥20 years answering similar questionnaires in 2012-2019. Chronic cough was categorised as productive or nonproductive (dry) cough. Associations between parental and offspring cough were analysed using mixed-effects logistic regression, adjusting for offspring age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, education level, current asthma, rhinitis, nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux; parent sex and smoking history; centre and family. Results: Among parents with nonproductive cough, 11% of their offspring reported nonproductive cough, compared with 7% of offspring to parents without nonproductive cough, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.59 (95% confidence interval 1.20-2.10). Among parents with productive cough, 14% of their offspring reported productive cough, compared with 11% of offspring to parents without productive cough, aOR 1.34 (1.07-1.67). No associations were found between parent productive cough-offspring nonproductive cough, nor between parent nonproductive cough-offspring productive cough. Conclusions: Parents with chronic cough are more likely to have offspring with chronic cough independent of parental asthma, suggesting cough to be a separate heritable trait. The type of cough is important, as the nonproductive cough in parent associates only with nonproductive cough in offspring, and the same applied for productive cough.

Remembering the Old Propensity Rules of the Electromagnetic Enhancement Mechanism of SERS: Reorientation of Pyridine on a Silver Electrode Induced by the Applied Potential.

Electrochemical SERS of pyridine adsorbed on a silver electrode has been analyzed by comparing the spectra to the calculated normal Raman and resonance Raman intensities of model systems of pyridine bonded to linear silver clusters with different densities of charge through the nitrogen (Ag-NPy) or flipped through the hydrogen in the para-position (Ag-HPy). The changes observed in the ν(CH) region of the SERS have been investigated for the first time and related to a molecular reorientation at negative surface excess of charge of the metal in such a way that the ν(CH) bands with the highest (mode 2) and lowest (mode 13) wavenumber dominate this spectral region at positive or negative electrode potentials, respectively. The calculations support that the ν(CH) region is dominated by a specific vibration depending on pyridine orientation and suggest that both species coexist in the SERS recorded at negative potentials. This conclusion is supported by the SERS of centrosymmetric pyrazine which do not show this behavior and remembers the predictions from the old propensity rules of the so-called electromagnetic mechanism of SERS.

Pesticide exposure triggers sex-specific inter- and transgenerational effects conditioned by past sexual selection.

Environmental variation often induces plastic responses in organisms that can trigger changes in subsequent generations through non-genetic inheritance mechanisms. Such transgenerational plasticity thus consists of environmentally induced non-random phenotypic modifications that are transmitted through generations. Transgenerational effects may vary according to the sex of the organism experiencing the environmental perturbation, the sex of their descendants or both, but whether they are affected by past sexual selection is unknown. Here, we use experimental evolution on an insect model system to conduct a first test of the involvement of sexual selection history in shaping transgenerational plasticity in the face of rapid environmental change (exposure to pesticide). We manipulated evolutionary history in terms of the intensity of sexual selection for over 80 generations before exposing individuals to the toxicant. We found that sexual selection history constrained adaptation under rapid environmental change. We also detected inter- and transgenerational effects of pesticide exposure in the form of increased fitness and longevity. These cross-generational influences of toxicants were sex dependent (they affected only male descendants), and intergenerational, but not transgenerational, plasticity was modulated by sexual selection history. Our results highlight the complexity of intra-, inter- and transgenerational influences of past selection and environmental stress on phenotypic expression.

Exploration of Free Energy Surface of the Au10 Nanocluster at Finite Temperature.

The first step in comprehending the properties of Au10 clusters is understanding the lowest energy structure at low and high temperatures. Functional materials operate at finite temperatures; however, energy computations employing density functional theory (DFT) methodology are typically carried out at zero temperature, leaving many properties unexplored. This study explored the potential and free energy surface of the neutral Au10 nanocluster at a finite temperature, employing a genetic algorithm coupled with DFT and nanothermodynamics. Furthermore, we computed the thermal population and infrared Boltzmann spectrum at a finite temperature and compared it with the validated experimental data. Moreover, we performed the chemical bonding analysis using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) approach and the adaptive natural density partitioning method (AdNDP) to shed light on the bonding of Au atoms in the low-energy structures. In the calculations, we take into consideration the relativistic effects through the zero-order regular approximation (ZORA), the dispersion through Grimme's dispersion with Becke-Johnson damping (D3BJ), and we employed nanothermodynamics to consider temperature contributions. Small Au clusters prefer the planar shape, and the transition from 2D to 3D could take place at atomic clusters consisting of ten atoms, which could be affected by temperature, relativistic effects, and dispersion. We analyzed the energetic ordering of structures calculated using DFT with ZORA and single-point energy calculation employing the DLPNO-CCSD(T) methodology. Our findings indicate that the planar lowest energy structure computed with DFT is not the lowest energy structure computed at the DLPN0-CCSD(T) level of theory. The computed thermal population indicates that the 2D elongated hexagon configuration strongly dominates at a temperature range of 50-800 K. Based on the thermal population, at a temperature of 100 K, the computed IR Boltzmann spectrum agrees with the experimental IR spectrum. The chemical bonding analysis on the lowest energy structure indicates that the cluster bond is due only to the electrons of the 6 s orbital, and the Au d orbitals do not participate in the bonding of this system.

Influence of Sonication on the Molecular Characteristics of Carbopol® and Its Rheological Behavior in Microgels.

In this work, the effect of sonication on the molecular characteristics of polyacrylic acid (Carbopol® Ultrez 10), as well as on its rheological behavior in aqueous dispersions and microgels, was analyzed for the first time by rheometry, weight-average molecular weight (Mw) measurements via static light scattering (SLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. For this, the precursor dispersion and the microgels containing 0.25 wt.% of Ultrez 10 were sonicated in a commercial ultrasound bath at constant power and at different times. The main rheological properties of the microgel, namely, shear modulus, yield stress and viscosity, all decreased with increasing sonication time, while the microgel's Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) behavior, without thixotropy, was preserved. Also, Mw of Ultrez 10 decreased up to almost one-third (109,212 g/mol) of its original value (300,860 g/mol) after 180 min of sonication. These results evidence a softening of the gel microstructure, which results from the reduction in the Mw of polyacrylic acid with sonication time. Separately, FTIR measurements show that sonication produces scission in the C-C links of the Carbopol® backbone, which results in chains with the same chemistry but lower molecular weight. Finally, confocal microscopy observations revealed a diminution of the size of the microsponge domains and more free solvent with sonication time, which is reflected in a less compact and softer microstructure. The present results indicate that both the microstructure and the rheological behavior of Carbopol® microgels, in particular, and complex fluids, in general, may be manipulated or tailored by systematic high-power ultrasonication.

Data-Mining Methodology to Improve the Scientific Production Quality in Turkey Meat and Carcass Characterization Studies.

The present research aims to describe how turkey meat and carcass quality traits define the interest of the scientific community through the quality standards of journals in which studies are published. To this end, an analysis of 92 research documents addressing the study of turkey carcass and meat quality over the last 57 years was performed. Meat and carcass quality attributes were dependent variables and included traits related to carcass dressing, muscle fiber, pH, colorimetry, water-holding capacity, texture, and chemical composition. The independent variables comprised publication quality traits, including journal indexation, database, journal impact factor (JIF), quartile, publication area, and JIF percentage. For each dependent variable, a data-mining chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree was developed. Carcass or piece yield was the only variable that did not show an impact on the publication quality. Moreover, color and pH measurements taken at 72 h postmortem showed a negative impact on publication interest. On the other hand, variables including water-retaining attributes, colorimetry, pH, chemical composition, and shear force traits stood out among the quality-enhancing variables due to their low inclusion in papers, while high standards improved power.

Endomucin marks quiescent long-term multi-lineage repopulating hematopoietic stem cells and is essential for their transendothelial migration.

Endomucin (EMCN) currently represents the only hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) marker expressed by both murine and human HSCs. Here, we report that EMCN+ long-term repopulating HSCs (LT-HSCs; CD150+CD48-LSK) have a higher long-term multi-lineage repopulating capacity compared to EMCN- LT-HSCs. Cell cycle analyses and transcriptional profiling demonstrated that EMCN+ LT-HSCs were more quiescent compared to EMCN- LT-HSCs. Emcn-/- and Emcn+/+ mice displayed comparable steady-state hematopoiesis, as well as frequencies, transcriptional programs, and long-term multi-lineage repopulating capacity of their LT-HSCs. Complementary functional analyses further revealed increased cell cycle entry upon treatment with 5-fluorouracil and reduced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) mobilization of Emcn-/- LT-HSCs, demonstrating that EMCN expression by LT-HSCs associates with quiescence in response to hematopoietic stress and is indispensable for effective LT-HSC mobilization. Transplantation of wild-type bone marrow cells into Emcn-/- or Emcn+/+ recipients demonstrated that EMCN is essential for endothelial cell-dependent maintenance/self-renewal of the LT-HSC pool and sustained blood cell production post-transplant.

Use of N-acetylcysteine plus simethicone to improve mucosal visibility in upper digestive endoscopy via systematic alphanumeric-coded endoscopy: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

Background: The use of antifoaming and mucolytic agents prior to upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and a thorough systematic review are essential to optimize lesion detection. This study evaluated the effect of simethicone and N-acetylcysteine on the adequate mucosal visibility (AMV) of the upper GI tract by an innovative systematic method. Methods: This randomized, double-blind controlled trial included consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic upper GI endoscopy for screening for early neoplasms between August 2019 and December 2019. The upper GI tract was systematically assessed by systematic alphanumeric-coded endoscopy. Patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) water; 2) only simethicone; 3) N-acetylcysteine + simethicone; and 4) only N-acetylcysteine. The following parameters were assessed in each group: age, sex, body mass index, level of adequate mucosal visibility, and side-effects. Results: A total of 4564 images from upper GI areas were obtained for evaluation. The mean AMV in the 4 groups was 93.98±7.36%. The N-acetylcysteine + simethicone group had a higher cleaning percentage compared with the other groups (P=0.001). There was no significant difference among the remaining groups, but several areas had better cleaning when a mucolytic or antifoam alone was used. No side-effects were found in any group. Conclusion: The combination of N-acetylcysteine plus simethicone optimizes the visibility of the mucosa of the upper GI tract, which could potentially increase diagnostic yield.

How is Value Defined in Molecular Testing in Cancer? A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify how value is defined in studies that focus on the value of molecular testing in cancer and the extent to which broadening the conceptualisation of value in healthcare has been applied in the molecular testing literature. METHODS: A scoping review was undertaken using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance. Medline, Embase, EconLit and Cochrane Library were searched in August 2023. Articles were eligible if they reported costs relative to outcomes, novel costs, or novel outcomes of molecular testing in cancer. Results were synthesised and qualitative content analysis was performed with deductive and inductive frameworks. RESULTS: Ninety-one articles were included in the review. The majority (75/91) were conventional economic analyses (comparative economic evaluations and budget impact assessments) and undertaken from a healthcare system perspective (38/91). Clinical outcomes dominate the assessment of value (61/91), with quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) the most common outcome measure (45/91). Other definitions of value were diverse (e.g. psychological impact, access to trials), inconsistent, and largely not in keeping with evolving guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Broader concepts of value were not commonly described in the molecular testing literature focusing on cancer. Conventional approaches to measuring the health costs and outcomes of molecular testing in cancer prevail with little focus on non-clinical elements of value. There are emerging reports of non-clinical outcomes of testing information, particularly psychological consequences. Intrinsic attributes of the testing process and preferences of those who receive testing information may determine the realised societal value of molecular testing and highlight challenges to implementing such a value framework.

Ingestion of an unusually high number of foreign bodies in a mentally ill man.

The vast majority of ingested foreign bodies (FB) can pass through the digestive tract without major incidences. In some cases, they accumulate in large amounts in the stomach. They can also perforate the gastrointestinal wall and migrate to extraluminal sites, remaining quiescent for many years. We report a case of a psychiatric patient with more than 100 ingested FB in the stomach.

Breast segmentation in infrared thermography from characteristical inframammary shape.

Infrared thermography is gaining relevance in breast cancer assessment. For this purpose, breast segmentation in thermograms is an important task for performing automatic image analysis and detecting possible temperature changes that indicate the presence of malignancy. However, it is not a simple task since the breast limit borders, especially the top borders, often have low contrast, making it difficult to isolate the breast area. Several algorithms have been proposed for breast segmentation, but these highly depend on the contrast at the lower breast borders and on filtering algorithms to remove false edges. This work focuses on taking advantage of the distinctive inframammary shape to simplify the definition of the lower breast border, regardless of the contrast level, which indeed also provides a strong anatomical reference to support the definition of the poorly marked upper boundary of the breasts, which has been one of the major challenges in the literature. In order to demonstrate viability of the proposed technique for an automatic breast segmentation, we applied it to a database with 180 thermograms and compared their results with those reported by others in the literature. We found that our approach achieved a high performance, in terms of Intersection over Union of 0.934, even higher than that reported by artificial intelligence algorithms. The performance is invariant to breast sizes and thermal contrast of the images.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Usefulness in Liver Function Assessment of Novel Bile Acid Derivatives with Near-Infrared Fluorescence (NIRBAD).

Conventional serum markers often fail to accurately detect cholestasis accompanying many liver diseases. Although elevation in serum bile acid (BA) levels sensitively reflects impaired hepatobiliary function, other factors altering BA pool size and enterohepatic circulation can affect these levels. To develop fluorescent probes for extracorporeal noninvasive hepatobiliary function assessment by real-time monitoring methods, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions were used to conjugate near-infrared (NIR) fluorochromes with azide-functionalized BA derivatives (BAD). The resulting compounds (NIRBADs) were chromatographically (FC and PTLC) purified (>95%) and characterized by fluorimetry, 1H NMR, and HRMS using ESI ionization coupled to quadrupole TOF mass analysis. Transport studies using CHO cells stably expressing the BA carrier NTCP were performed by flow cytometry. Extracorporeal fluorescence was detected in anesthetized rats by high-resolution imaging analysis. Three NIRBADs were synthesized by conjugating alkynocyanine 718 with cholic acid (CA) at the COOH group via an ester (NIRBAD-1) or amide (NIRBAD-3) spacer, or at the 3α-position by a triazole link (NIRBAD-2). NIRBADs were efficiently taken up by cells expressing NTCP, which was inhibited by taurocholic acid (TCA). Following i.v. administration of NIRBAD-3 to rats, liver uptake and consequent release of NIR fluorescence could be extracorporeally monitored. This transient organ-specific handling contrasted with the absence of release to the intestine of alkynocyanine 718 and the lack of hepatotropism observed with other probes, such as indocyanine green. NIRBAD-3 administration did not alter serum biomarkers of hepatic and renal toxicity. NIRBADs can serve as probes to evaluate hepatobiliary function by noninvasive extracorporeal methods.

Proposal for a standardized methodology for performing endobronchial ultrasound-guided mediastinal cryobiopsy: a four-step approach.

Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided mediastinal cryobiopsy is a novel technique that increases the accuracy of diagnosing most pathologies that affect the mediastinum. Although EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is the first choice in the diagnosis of mediastinal pathology, mediastinal cryobiopsy offers a larger and higher quality biopsy with minimal artifacts and no crushing when compared to conventional cytological samples obtained through EBUS-TBNA. It is particularly valuable in pathologies where EBUS-TBNA has diagnostic limitations, such as lymphoproliferative diseases, benign granulomatous conditions like sarcoidosis and silicosis, some rare infectious processes, metastases from rare non-pulmonary tumors, and in advanced stages of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) where immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis are essential for personalized treatment. Therefore, mediastinal cryobiopsy seems to play a crucial role in these challenging scenarios. However, there is ongoing debate in the field of interventional pulmonology regarding the best approach for obtaining a mediastinal cryobiopsy. Some interventional pulmonologists use a high-frequency needle knife to create an incision in the tracheobronchial wall adjacent to the mediastinal lesion before inserting the cryoprobe, while others use a needle to create a pathway to the target area. There are also variations in the use of endoscopic or ultrasound imaging for guidance. In this article, we aim to review the current literature on different methods of performing mediastinal cryobiopsy and share our own clinical experience and methodology in a systematic way for its implementation in a safe, fast, and effective way.