A Method for Quantifying Back Flexion/Extension from Three Inertial Measurement Units Mounted on a Horse's Withers, Thoracolumbar Region, and Pelvis.

Back mobility is a criterion of well-being in a horse. Veterinarians visually assess the mobility of a horse's back during a locomotor examination. Quantifying it with on-board technology could be a major breakthrough to help them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a method of quantifying the back mobility of horses from inertial measurement units (IMUs) compared to motion capture (MOCAP) as a gold standard. Reflective markers and IMUs were positioned on the withers, eighteenth thoracic vertebra, and pelvis of four sound horses. The horses performed a walk and trot in straight lines and performed a gallop in circles on a soft surface. The developed method, based on the three IMUs, consists of calculating the flexion/extension angle of the thoracolumbar region. The IMU method showed a mean bias of 0.8° (±1.5°) (mean (±SD)) and 0.8° (±1.4°), respectively, for the flexion and extension movements, all gaits combined, compared to the MOCAP method. The results of this study suggest that the developed method has a similar accuracy to that of MOCAP, opening up possibilities for easy measurements under field conditions. Future studies will need to examine the correlations between these biomechanical measures and clinicians' visual assessment of back mobility defects.

Asymmetry Thresholds Reflecting the Visual Assessment of Forelimb Lameness on Circles on a Hard Surface.

The assessment of lameness in horses can be aided by objective gait analysis tools. Despite their key role of evaluating a horse at trot on a circle, asymmetry thresholds have not been determined for differentiating between sound and lame gait during this exercise. These thresholds are essential to distinguish physiological asymmetry linked to the circle from pathological asymmetry linked to lameness. This study aims to determine the Asymmetry Indices (AIs) with the highest power to discriminate between a group of sound horses and a group of horses with consistent unilateral lameness across both circle directions, as categorized by visual lameness assessment conducted by specialist veterinarians. Then, thresholds were defined for the best performing AIs, based on the optimal sensitivity and specificity. AIs were calculated as the relative comparison between left and right minima, maxima, time between maxima and upward amplitudes of the vertical displacement of the head and the withers. Except the AI of maxima difference, the head AI showed the highest sensitivity (≥69%) and the highest specificity (≥81%) for inside forelimb lameness detection and the withers AI showed the highest sensitivity (≥72%) and the highest specificity (≥77%) for outside forelimb lameness detection on circles.

Development of a Methodology for Low-Cost 3D Underwater Motion Capture: Application to the Biomechanics of Horse Swimming.

Hydrotherapy has been utilized in horse rehabilitation programs for over four decades. However, a comprehensive description of the swimming cycle of horses is still lacking. One of the challenges in studying this motion is 3D underwater motion capture, which holds potential not only for understanding equine locomotion but also for enhancing human swimming performance. In this study, a marker-based system that combines underwater cameras and markers drawn on horses is developed. This system enables the reconstruction of the 3D motion of the front and hind limbs of six horses throughout an entire swimming cycle, with a total of twelve recordings. The procedures for pre- and post-processing the videos are described in detail, along with an assessment of the estimated error. This study estimates the reconstruction error on a checkerboard and computes an estimated error of less than 10 mm for segments of tens of centimeters and less than 1 degree for angles of tens of degrees. This study computes the 3D joint angles of the front limbs (shoulder, elbow, carpus, and front fetlock) and hind limbs (hip, stifle, tarsus, and hind fetlock) during a complete swimming cycle for the six horses. The ranges of motion observed are as follows: shoulder: 17 ± 3°; elbow: 76 ± 11°; carpus: 99 ± 10°; front fetlock: 68 ± 12°; hip: 39 ± 3°; stifle: 68 ± 7°; tarsus: 99 ± 6°; hind fetlock: 94 ± 8°. By comparing the joint angles during a swimming cycle to those observed during classical gaits, this study reveals a greater range of motion (ROM) for most joints during swimming, except for the front and hind fetlocks. This larger ROM is usually achieved through a larger maximal flexion angle (smaller minimal angle of the joints). Finally, the versatility of the system allows us to imagine applications outside the scope of horses, including other large animals and even humans.

Translatome analysis of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 patient-derived neural progenitor cells reveals rapamycin-dependent and independent alterations.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited neurocutaneous disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, with patients often exhibiting neurodevelopmental (ND) manifestations termed TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND) including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability. Hamartin (TSC1) and tuberin (TSC2) proteins form a complex inhibiting mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. Loss of TSC1 or TSC2 activates mTORC1 that, among several targets, controls protein synthesis by inhibiting translational repressor eIF4E-binding proteins. Using TSC1 patient-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs), we recently reported early ND phenotypic changes, including increased cell proliferation and altered neurite outgrowth in TSC1-null NPCs, which were unaffected by the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. METHODS: Here, we used polysome profiling, which quantifies changes in mRNA abundance and translational efficiencies at a transcriptome-wide level, to compare CRISPR-edited TSC1-null with CRISPR-corrected TSC1-WT NPCs generated from one TSC donor (one clone/genotype). To assess the relevance of identified gene expression alterations, we performed polysome profiling in postmortem brains from ASD donors and age-matched controls. We further compared effects on translation of a subset of transcripts and rescue of early ND phenotypes in NPCs following inhibition of mTORC1 using the allosteric inhibitor rapamycin versus a third-generation bi-steric, mTORC1-selective inhibitor RMC-6272. RESULTS: Polysome profiling of NPCs revealed numerous TSC1-associated alterations in mRNA translation that were largely recapitulated in human ASD brains. Moreover, although rapamycin treatment partially reversed the TSC1-associated alterations in mRNA translation, most genes related to neural activity/synaptic regulation or ASD were rapamycin-insensitive. In contrast, treatment with RMC-6272 inhibited rapamycin-insensitive translation and reversed TSC1-associated early ND phenotypes including proliferation and neurite outgrowth that were unaffected by rapamycin. CONCLUSIONS: Our work reveals ample mRNA translation alterations in TSC1 patient-derived NPCs that recapitulate mRNA translation in ASD brain samples. Further, suppression of TSC1-associated but rapamycin-insensitive translation and ND phenotypes by RMC-6272 unveils potential implications for more efficient targeting of mTORC1 as a superior treatment strategy for TAND.

Translatome analysis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-1 patient-derived neural progenitor cells reveal rapamycin-dependent and independent alterations.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an inherited neurocutaneous disorder caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes, with patients often exhibiting neurodevelopmental (ND) manifestations termed TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (TAND) including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The hamartin-tuberin (TSC1-TSC2) protein complex inactivates mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, leading to increased protein synthesis via inactivation of translational repressor eIF4E-binding proteins (4E-BPs). In TSC1-null neural progenitor cells (NPCs), we previously reported early ND phenotypic changes, including increased proliferation/altered neurite outgrowth, which were unaffected by mTORC1-inhibitor rapamycin. Here, using polysome-profiling to quantify translational efficiencies at a transcriptome-wide level, we observed numerous TSC1-dependent alterations in NPCs, largely recapitulated in post-mortem brains from ASD donors. Although rapamycin partially reversed TSC1-associated alterations, most neural activity/synaptic- or ASD-related genes remained insensitive but were inhibited by third-generation bi-steric, mTORC1-selective inhibitor RMC-6272, which also reversed altered ND phenotypes. Together these data reveal potential implications for treatment of TAND.

The monthly incidence of abusive head trauma, inflicted skeletal trauma, and unexplained skin lesion in children in six French university hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic was a stressful period. Lockdowns may have added to parental difficulty leading to an increase in violence. This study aimed to compare the monthly incidence of high suspicion of child physical abuse before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL: We have retrospectively reviewed imaging examinations of children having a skeletal X-ray examination in six university hospitals with high suspicion of abusive head traumatism (AHT), inflicted skeletal trauma (IST) and unexplained skin lesions (USL) between March 2020 and June 2021 and compared with the similar period from 2018 to 2019. The monthly incidence of the different physical maltreatment was analyzed using a QuasiPoisson regression model. RESULTS: We included 178 children (n = 127 boys, 71.3 %), 110 during the pandemic period, median age 5 months. AHT was diagnosed in 91 children, 55 had inflicted skeletal trauma (IST) and 46 had unexplained skin lesions (USL). Among the 91 patients with AHT, 86 had a subdural hematoma (95.6 %) and 40 had bridging veins thrombosis (44 %). The ophthalmological examination performed on 89 children (97.9 %) revealed retinal hemorrhages in 57 children (89.8 %). The incidence of AHT doubled during the months of COVID-19 lockdowns (rate ratio = 2; 95 % CI [1.1; 3.6], p = 0.03). No difference in monthly incidence was observed for IST and USL groups. CONCLUSION: A significant increase in AHT was observed during the months with lockdowns and curfews during the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlights the need for developing a national strategy to prevent physical abuse in children in this context.

Short communication: Variability of response to feed restriction in lactating Charolais cows.

Involuntary temporary feed restriction on commercial cattle is likely to become more frequent with forage shortages in the context of climate change. If general consequences of feed restriction have been the subject of an abundant scientific literature, focus on the inter-individual variability of response is scarce. Here, we explore the response profile in terms of BW, body condition score, milk production, calf weight and cyclicity resumption of 293 lactations from 169 Charolais cows during a winter feed restriction in early lactation and its subsequent recovery at grazing using a principal component analysis followed by a hierarchical clustering on principal component. Results show a very continuous range of response profiles that was divided into three clusters: one with light animals having an intermediate response in terms of milk production and body maintenance, one with animals prioritising body maintenance and cyclicity resumption over milk production and calf weight, and the last one with animals prioritising milk production and calf weight over the rest. Among the animals performing more than one lactation, 57% remain in the same cluster on two successive lactations. This work highlights that an average group response to feed restriction may hide various resilience individual profiles. Further studies are required to determine the existence of a genetic component as well as the consequences of not taking this phenomenon into consideration with the regular use of feed restriction in commercial farms.

Investigation of Thresholds for Asymmetry Indices to Represent the Visual Assessment of Single Limb Lameness by Expert Veterinarians on Horses Trotting in a Straight Line.

Defining whether a gait asymmetry should be considered as lameness is challenging. Gait analysis systems now provide relatively accurate objective data, but their interpretation remains complex. Thresholds for discriminating between horses that are visually assessed as being lame or sound, as well as thresholds for locating the lame limb with precise sensitivity and specificity are essential for accurate interpretation of asymmetry measures. The goal of this study was to establish the thresholds of asymmetry indices having the best sensitivity and specificity to represent the visual single-limb lameness assessment made by expert veterinarians as part of their routine practice. Horses included in this study were evaluated for locomotor disorders at a clinic and equipped with the EQUISYM® system using inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. Visual evaluation by expert clinicians allocated horses into five groups: 49 sound, 62 left forelimb lame, 67 right forelimb lame, 23 left hindlimb lame, and 23 right hindlimb lame horses. 1/10 grade lame horses were excluded. Sensors placed on the head (_H), the withers (_W), and the pelvis (_P) provided vertical displacement. Relative difference of minimal (AI-min) and maximal (AI-max) altitudes, and of upward (AI-up) and downward (AI-down) amplitudes between right and left stance phases were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves discriminating the sound horses from each lame limb group revealed the threshold of asymmetry indice associated with the best sensitivity and specificity. AI-up_W had the best ability to discriminate forelimb lame horses from sound horses with thresholds (left: -7%; right: +10%) whose sensitivity was greater than 84% and specificity greater than 88%. AI-up_P and AI-max_P discriminated hindlimb lame horses from sound horses with thresholds (left: -7%; right: +18% and left: -10%; right: +6%) whose sensitivity was greater than 78%, and specificity greater than 82%. Identified thresholds will enable the interpretation of quantitative data from lameness quantification systems. This study is mainly limited by the number of included horses and deserves further investigation with additional data, and similar studies on circles are warranted.

A Pilot Study on the Inter-Operator Reproducibility of a Wireless Sensors-Based System for Quantifying Gait Asymmetries in Horses.

Repeatability and reproducibility of any measuring system must be evaluated to assess possible limitations for its use. The objective of this study was to establish the repeatability and the inter-operator reproducibility of a sensors-based system (EQUISYM®) for quantifying gait asymmetries in horses.. Seven wireless IMUs were placed on the head, the withers, the pelvis, and the 4 cannon bones on three horses, by four different operators, four times on each horse, which led to a total of 48 repetitions randomly assigned. Data were collected along three consecutive days and analysed to calculate total variance, standard deviation and the variance attributable to the operator on multiple asymmetry variables. Maximal percentage of variance due to the operator (calculated out of the total variance) was 5.3% and was related to the sensor placed on the head. The results suggest a good reproducibility of IMU-based gait analysis systems for different operators repositioning the system and repeating the same measurements at a succession of time intervals. Future studies will be useful to confirm that inter-operator reproducibility remains valid in larger groups and on horses with different degrees of locomotor asymmetry.

Forensic cardiac device analysis at the Los Angeles County Department of the Coroner: A 20-year experience.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) store information continuously; however, the log of these devices is rarely analyzed in forensic practice. We retrospectively reviewed all cases referred for CIED interrogation by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner between 2001 and 2020. According to the Department's practice, CIED interrogation may be requested for decedents in which details or cause of death are not clear from autopsy and clinical history. The CIED analysis was considered informative for the coroner's investigation either if it detected an arrhythmia or malfunction likely related to decedent's terminal event or if it was essential to determine time of death or identity of decedent. A total of 57 CIEDs were evaluated during the 20-year period. In almost half of cases (26/57: 45.6%), device analysis was informative for coroner's investigation. Arrhythmias likely related to terminal event were commonly detected (21/57: 36.8%). Device malfunction was identified as the likely cause of death in almost 10% of decedents (5/57: 8.8%), including three cases of battery depletion (3/57: 5.3%), one case of misclassification of ventricular tachycardia as supraventricular tachycardia with failure to deliver therapy (1/57: 1.7%), and one case of lead failure due to a broken pacing wire (1/57: 1.7%). Not infrequently, CIED interrogation was essential for determination of time of death (9/57: 15.8%), and there was one case (1/57: 1.7%) in which interrogation was essential for identifying the decedent. Our study shows that postmortem CIED interrogation can provide unique information regarding mechanism and time of death, and decedent's identity.

Stance Phase Detection by Inertial Measurement Unit Placed on the Metacarpus of Horses Trotting on Hard and Soft Straight Lines and Circles.

The development of on-board technologies has enabled the development of quantification systems to monitor equine locomotion parameters. Their relevance among others relies on their ability to determine specific locomotor events such as foot-on and heel-off events. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of different methods for an automatic gait events detection from inertial measurement units (IMUs). IMUs were positioned on the cannon bone, hooves, and withers of seven horses trotting on hard and soft straight lines and circles. Longitudinal acceleration and angular velocity around the latero-medial axis of the cannon bone, and withers dorso-ventral displacement data were identified to tag the foot-on and a heel-off events. The results were compared with a reference method based on hoof-mounted-IMU data. The developed method showed bias less than 1.79%, 1.46%, 3.45% and -1.94% of stride duration, respectively, for forelimb foot-on and heel-off, and for hindlimb foot-on and heel-off detection, compared to our reference method. The results of this study showed that the developed gait-events detection method had a similar accuracy to other methods developed for straight line analysis and extended this validation to other types of exercise (circles) and ground surface (soft surface).

A Secondary Analysis of the Intensity of Hospice Visits Among Medicare Decedents in the Last Seven Days of Life by Place of Residence.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, Medicare finalized the Service Intensity Add-on (SIA) payment policy to increase the intensity of hospice registered nurse (RN) or social worker (SW) visits in the last 7 days of life. The research objective was to compare the intensity of hospice RN or SW visits in the last 7 days of life among older decedents who received a hospice visit, while residing in a traditional home, an assisted living facility, or long-term nursing home. METHODS: A retrospective analysis using 2016-2018 Medicare data of decedents 65 years or older (n= 2 067 863) related to the Medicare SIA payment policy. Intensity was defined as the number and duration of hospice RN or SW visits in the last 7 days of life using Medicare claims code G0299 and G0155. RESULTS: Regression results suggest that decedents who received a SIA related visit while residing in an assisted living facility, had on average a slightly longer duration of hospice RN visits in the last 7 days of life, compared to decedents residing in a traditional home, after controlling for demographics and other factors (P<.0001). The duration of hospice RN visits remained unchanged among decedents who received a SIA visit in 2017 or 2018, when compared to 2016 (P <.0001). Overall the average number of hospice SW visits did not differ by place of residence among decedents who received a SIA visit. CONCLUSIONS: Among decedents who received a SIA related visit, the duration of hospice RN visits were slightly different by place of residence.

Age estimation based on computed tomography exploration: a combined method.

Despite an extensive number of existing methods, age estimation of human remains is still an unsolved matter in the field of forensic anthropology, especially when it comes to mature adults. The specific aim of this work was to propose a combined method for age estimation, for forensic purposes, by coupling the Suchey-Brooks method and the measure of the pubic bone density. For this purpose, we used an independent test sample comprising 339 CT scans of living individuals aged 15 to 99 years old. Measurement of bone density and staging according to the Suchey-Brooks phases were performed, followed by estimation of ages based on a combined method and an existing virtual reference sample. Results highlighted a significant negative correlation between bone density and age. Good accuracy was obtained for the measurement of pubic bone density for age estimation of men and women, especially concerning mature adults, with an absolute error ranging from 9 to 16 years for all individuals. The authors propose a practical combined method consisting of, first, allocating phases according to the scannographic approach of the Suchey-Brooks method. For phases I to IV, the age estimation is given using the Suchey-Brooks method. For phases V to VI, the pubic bone density measurement is used. Further study will be needed to assess the reproducibility of these results on cadavers and dry bones, as the post-mortem process could interfere with the measurement of mineral bone density.

The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors.

The protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs are important in the analysis of horse locomotion. This study explored two methods from an IMU positioned on the canon bone of eight horses to estimate these angles. Each method was based on a hypothesis in order to define the moment corresponding with the verticality of the canon bone: (i) the canon bone is in a vertical position at 50% of the stance phase or (ii) the verticality of the canon bone corresponds with the moment when the horse's withers reach their lowest point. The measurements were carried out on a treadmill at a trot and compared with a standard gold method based on motion capture. For the measurement of the maximum protraction and retraction angles, method (i) had average biases (0.7° and 1.7°) less than method (ii) (-1.3° and 3.7°). For the measurement of the protraction and retraction angles during the stance phase, method (i) had average biases (4.1° and -3.3°) higher to method (ii) (2.1° and -1.3°). This study investigated the pros and cons of a generic method (i) vs. a specific method (ii) to determine the protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs by a single IMU.

Academic-Service Partnerships: Increasing the Advanced Nurse Workforce.

BACKGROUND: Clinical education placement for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) students is challenging for most graduate schools of nursing. This study describes the experiences of hospitals that formed academic-service partnerships to facilitate clinical education placement for APRN students. METHOD: Hospital staff, schools of nursing administration and clinical faculty staff, clinical preceptors, and APRN students participated in the focus group and interview sessions during the evaluation of the Graduate Nurse Education demonstration project. RESULTS: Content analysis resulted in seven themes: APRN Student Enrollment, Clinical Placements/Process, Clinical Education Sites, Clinical Preceptors, Communication and Collaboration, Sustainability, and Funding Process. CONCLUSION: Future partnerships between hospitals, schools of nursing, and clinical education sites should consider collaborating in multiple regions to increase enrollment and clinical education placement opportunities for APRN students. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(4):190-195.].

Invited review: Disentangling residual feed intake-Insights and approaches to make it more fit for purpose in the modern context.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is an increasingly used trait to analyze feed efficiency in livestock, and in some sectors such as dairy cattle, it is one of the most frequently used traits. Although the principle for calculating RFI is always the same (i.e., using the residual of a regression of intake on performance predictors), a wide range of models are found in the literature, with different predictors, different ways of considering intake, and more recently, different statistical approaches. Consequently, the results are not easily comparable from one study to another as they reflect different biological variabilities, and the relationship between the residual (i.e., RFI) and the underlying true efficiency also differs. In this review, the components of the RFI equation are explored with respect to the underlying biological processes. The aim of this decomposition is to provide a better understanding of which of the processes in this complex trait contribute significantly to the individual variability in efficiency. The intricacies associated with the residual term, as well as the energy sinks and the intake term, are broken down and discussed. Based on this exploration as well as on some recent literature, new forms of the RFI equation are proposed to better separate the efficiency terms from errors and inaccuracies. The review also considers the time period of measurement of RFI. This is a key consideration for the accuracy of the RFI estimation itself, and also for understanding the relationships between short-term efficiency, animal resilience, and long-term efficiency. As livestock production moves toward sustainable efficiency, these considerations are increasingly important to bring to bear in RFI estimations.

[Compensation of damage in cancerology]. / Réparation du dommage en cancérologie.

In a few situations, the consequences secondary to a carcinological pathology require an assessment of damages for compensatory purposes. This is particularly the case when liable parties have been found to be at cause of the disease: occupational pathologies in the case of inexcusable employer's fault, exposure to a radioactive risk, for example in the context of full compensation for damages suffered by the victims of nuclear experiments performed by France, or lastly, in the after-effects of late diagnosis. This article does not discuss the imputability of cancer pathologies to an event, but it proposes an adaptation of methods for assessing damages, in an attempt to provide full compensation for damages.

Aberrant intrinsic connectivity in women victims of sexual assault.

This study aims to determine if resting-state functional connectivity may represent a marker for the progression of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women victims of sexual assault. Participants were 25 adult women recruited three weeks following exposure to sexual assault (T1) and 19 age-matched healthy, non trauma-exposed controls (HC). Among the victims, 10 participants met (PTSD) and 15 did not meet (trauma-exposed controls, TEC) DSM-IV criteria for PTSD six months post-trauma (T2). At both visits, patterns of intrinsic connectivity, a measure of network centrality at each voxel of the brain, were derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Compared to both the HC and TEC groups, victims who developed PTSD at T2 showed higher centrality in the right middle/superior occipital gyrus at T1, while reduced centrality of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus at T1 was found for the TEC group, compared to the HC group only. There were no differences in intrinsic connectivity at T1 between the TEC and PTSD groups. There were no significant between-group differences in intrinsic connectivity at T2, and no significant group-by-time interaction. This study indicates that increased occipital centrality three weeks post-trauma exposure may represent a marker of the later development of PTSD. On the other hand, reduced centrality of the PCC/precuneus may represent a marker of resilience to trauma exposure.

Portable neuromodulation induces neuroplasticity to re-activate motor function recovery from brain injury: a high-density MEG case study.

BACKGROUND: In a recent high-profile case study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor improvements in motor function related to neuroplasticity following rehabilitation for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The findings demonstrated that motor function improvements can occur years beyond current established limits. The current study extends the functional imaging investigation to characterize neuromodulation effects on neuroplasticity to further push the limits. METHODS: Canadian Soldier Captain (retired) Trevor Greene (TG) survived a severe open-TBI when attacked with an axe during a 2006 combat tour in Afghanistan. TG has since continued intensive daily rehabilitation to recover motor function, experiencing an extended plateau using conventional physical therapy. To overcome this plateau, we paired translingual neurostimulation (TLNS) with the continuing rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Combining TLNS with rehabilitation resulted in demonstrable clinical improvements along with corresponding changes in movement evoked electro-encephalography (EEG) activity. High-density magneto-encephalography (MEG) characterized cortical activation changes in corresponding beta frequency range (27 Hz). MEG activation changes corresponded with reduced interhemispheric inhibition in the post-central gyri regions together with increased right superior/middle frontal activation suggesting large scale network level changes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide valuable insight into the potential importance of non-invasive neuromodulation to enhance neuroplasticity mechanisms for recovery beyond the perceived limits of rehabilitation.

Gene networks for three feed efficiency criteria reveal shared and specific biological processes.

BACKGROUND: French beef producers suffer from the decrease in profitability of their farms mainly because of the continuous increase in feed costs. Selection for feed efficiency in beef cattle represents a relevant solution to face this problem. However, feed efficiency is a complex trait that can be assessed by three major criteria: residual feed intake (RFI), residual gain (RG) and feed efficiency ratio (FE), which involve different genetic determinisms. An analysis that combines phenotype and whole-genome sequence data provides a unique framework for genomic studies. The aim of our study was to identify the gene networks and the biological processes that are responsible for the genetic determinism that is shared between these three feed efficiency criteria. RESULTS: A population of 1477 French Charolais young bulls was phenotyped for feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and final weight (FW) to estimate RFI, RG and FE. A subset of 789 young bulls was genotyped on the BovineSNP50 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and imputed at the sequence level using RUN6 of the 1000 Bull Genomes Project. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to estimate the individual effect of 8.5 million SNPs and applied an association weight matrix (AWM) approach to analyse the results, one for each feed efficiency criterion. The results highlighted co-association networks including 626 genes for RFI, 426 for RG and 564 for FE. Enrichment assessment revealed the biological processes that show the strongest association with RFI, RG and FE, i.e. digestive tract (salivary, gastric and mucin secretion) and metabolic processes (cellular and cardiovascular). Energetic functions were more associated with RFI and FE and cardio-vascular and cellular processes with RG. Several hormones such as apelin, glucagon, insulin, aldosterone, the gonadotrophin releasing hormone and the thyroid hormone were also identified, and these should be tested in future studies as candidate biomarkers for feed efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of network and pathway analyses at the sequence level led to the identification of both common and specific mechanisms that are involved in RFI, RG and FE, and to a better understanding of the genetic determinism underlying these three criteria. The effects of the genes involved in each of the identified processes need to be tested in genomic evaluations to confirm the potential gain in reliability of using functional variants to select animals for feed efficiency.