Primary amino acid sequences of decapod (Na+, K+)-ATPase provide evolutionary insights into osmoregulatory mechanisms.

Decapod Crustacea exhibit a marine origin, but many taxa have occupied environments ranging from brackish to fresh water and terrestrial habitats, overcoming their inherent osmotic challenges. Osmotic and ionic regulation is achieved by the gill epithelia, driven by two active ATP-hydrolyzing ion transporters, the basal (Na+, K+)-ATPase and the apical V(H+)-ATPase. The kinetic characteristic of gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase and the mRNA expression of its α subunit have been widely studied in various decapod species under different salinity challenges. However, the evolution of the primary structure has not been explored, especially considering the functional modifications associated with decapod phylogeny. Here, we proposed a model for the topology of the decapod α subunit, identifying the sites and motifs involved in its function and regulation, as well as the patterns of its evolution assuming a decapod phylogeny. We also examined both the amino acid substitutions and their functional implications within the context of biochemical and physiological adaptation. The α-subunit of decapod crustaceans shows greater conservation (∼94% identity) compared to the ß-subunit (∼40%). While the binding sites for ATP and modulators are conserved in the decapod enzyme, the residues involved in the α-ß interaction are only partially conserved. In the phylogenetic context of the complete sequence of (Na+, K+)-ATPase α-subunit, most substitutions appear to be characteristic of the entire group, with specific changes for different subgroups, especially among brachyuran crabs. Interestingly, there was no consistent separation of α-subunit partial sequences related to habitat, suggesting that the convergent evolution for freshwater or terrestrial modes of life is not correlated with similar changes in the enzyme's primary amino acid sequence.

Diagnosis of forme fruste keratoconus with scheimpflug photography in Ghanaian patients.

AIM: This study aimed to differentiate moderate to high myopic astigmatism from forme fruste keratoconus using Pentacam parameters and develop a predictive model for early keratoconus detection. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 196 eyes from 105 patients and compared Pentacam variables between myopic astigmatism (156 eyes) and forme fruste keratoconus (40 eyes) groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off values, and a logistic regression model was used to refine the diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in most Pentacam variables between the groups (p < 0.05). Parameters such as the Index of Surface Variance (ISV), Keratoconus Index (KI), Belin/Ambrosio Deviation Display (BAD_D) and Back Elevation of the Thinnest Corneal Locale (B.Ele.Th) demonstrated promising discriminatory abilities, with BAD_D exhibiting the highest Area under the Curve. The logistic regression model achieved high sensitivity (92.5%), specificity (96.8%), accuracy (95.9%), and positive predictive value (88.1%). CONCLUSION: The simultaneous evaluation of BAD_D, ISV, B.Ele.Th, and KI aids in identifying forme fruste keratoconus cases. Optimal cut-off points demonstrate acceptable sensitivity and specificity, emphasizing their clinical utility pending further refinement and validation across diverse demographics.

Belief in a just world and fair behavior among clinical nurses: a moderated mediation model of empathy and observer justice sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Exploration of the relationship between nursing staffs' justice in belief world and fair behavior is important to promote equity and access to health services in health organizations, as well as to enhance the quality of care. In order to further dissect the influencing factors of fair behavior among clinical nurses, the current study aims to investigate how belief in a just world influences the fair behavior among nurses. Based on the belief in a just world theory, the empathy-altruism theory and the protective-protective model, the current study aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the effect of belief in a just world on fair behavior by investigating the mediating role of empathy and the moderating role of observer justice sensitivity. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study. 571 registered clinical nurses were included from five hospitals in Fuzhou through a convenience sampling method. Measurements included Chinese translations of belief in a just world scale, empathy scale, observer justice sensitivity scale, fair behavior scale. SPSS 22.0 was used to describe descriptive statistics and the variables' Pearson correlation coefficient. SPSS PROCESS macro Model 4 and model 14 were used to examine the mediation and the moderation between the relationship of belief in a just world and fairness behavior. RESULT: The results shower that fairness behavior was positively correlated with one's belief in a just world (r = 0.26, p < 0.01); (2)empathy mediated the relationship between belief in a just world and fair behavior. The mediation model explains 20.83%; (3) Observer justice sensitivity moderated the relationship between empathy and fair behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Belief in a just world, empathy, and observer justice sensitivity were motivations for nurses' fair behavior. Nursing administrators should focus on cultivating nurses' belief in a just world, their empathy abilities, and positive qualities of justice sensitivity to enhance fair behavior in a healthcare setting.

Improved Efficiency and Sensitivity Analysis of 3-D Agent-based Model for Pain-related Neural Activity in the Amygdala.

Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve injury and involves brain areas such as the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). We developed the first 3-D agent-based model (ABM) of neuropathic pain-related neurons in the CeA using NetLogo3D. The execution time of a single ABM simulation using realistic parameters (e.g., 13,000 neurons and 22,000+ neural connections) is an important factor in the model's usability. In this paper, we describe our efforts to improve the computational efficiency of our 3-D ABM, which resulted in a 28% reduction in execution time on average for a typical simulation. With this upgraded model, we performed one- and two-parameter sensitivity analyses to study the sensitivity of model output to variability in several key parameters along the anterior to posterior axis of the CeA. These results highlight the importance of computational modeling in exploring spatial and cell-type specific properties of brain regions to inform future wet lab experiments.

Microbiological profile of diabetic foot infections in China and worldwide: a 20-year systematic review.

Introduction: Pathogens causing diabetic foot infections (DFIs) vary by region globally; however, knowledge of the causative organism is essential for effective empirical treatment. We aimed to determine the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility of DFI pathogens worldwide, focusing on Asia and China. Methods: Through a comprehensive literature search, we identified published studies on organisms isolated from DFI wounds from January 2000 to December 2020. Results: Based on our inclusion criteria, we analyzed 245 studies that cumulatively reported 38,744 patients and 41,427 isolated microorganisms. DFI pathogens varied according to time and region. Over time, the incidence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria have decreased and increased, respectively. America and Asia have the highest (62.74%) and lowest (44.82%) incidence of Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Africa has the highest incidence (26.90%) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Asia has the highest incidence (49.36%) of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria with species infection rates as follows: Escherichia coli, 10.77%; Enterobacter spp., 3.95%; and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 11.08%, with higher local rates in China and Southeast Asia. Linezolid, vancomycin, and teicoplanin were the most active agents against Gram-positive aerobes, while imipenem and cefoperazone-sulbactam were the most active agents against Gram-negative aerobes. Discussion: This systematic review showed that over 20 years, the pathogens causing DFIs varied considerably over time and region. This data may inform local clinical guidelines on empirical antibiotic therapy for DFI in China and globally. Regular large-scale epidemiological studies are necessary to identify trends in DFI pathogenic bacteria. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023447645.

Masked ECG Changes in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Coexisting With Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.

Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, known for episodes of tachycardia and distinctive electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns, often makes it harder to diagnose myocardial infarction (MI) because it can hide the usual ECG signs of MI. Early use of high-sensitivity troponin levels and echocardiography to detect myocardial injury in WPW is important, facilitates timely intervention and improves patient outcomes. This report presents the case of a 39-year-old Caucasian male with no chronic disease history who presented to a family health center with intermittent mild chest pain localized to the left side, characterized by a burning and dull ache, for one week. On the day of presentation, the patient experienced increased pain accompanied by palpitations and mild sweating. An ECG at the family health center showed findings of WPW. Due to the presence of typical chest pain and WPW pattern on the ECG, the patient was referred to a tertiary hospital emergency department. At the tertiary hospital, repeat ECGs showed no changes, but blood tests revealed elevated troponin T levels (495 ng/ml initially, 485 ng/ml after 4 hours). The patient was admitted to the cardiology critical care ward. Echocardiography indicated regional wall motion abnormalities in specific segments. Coronary angiography revealed ectasia in vessels with slow flow but no obstructed vessels. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges posed by WPW syndrome in the context of MI and highlights the importance of using high-sensitivity troponin levels and echocardiography for early diagnosis to improve patient outcomes.

Burkholderia cepacia in cystic fibrosis children and adolescents: overall survival and immune alterations.

Background: In current literature there are only scarce data on the host inflammatory response during Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) persistence. The primary objective of the present research was to carry out cross-sectional analyses of biomarkers and evaluate disease progression in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic Bcc infection and pathogen-free ones. The secondary aim was to assess prospectively overall survival of the study participants during up to 8 years of follow-up. Methods: The study included 116 paediatric patients with CF; 47 CF patients were chronically infected with Bcc, and 69 individuals were Bcc free. Plasma and sputum biomarkers (neutrophil elastase, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, IL-22, IL-23, IL-17, IFN-γ, TGFß1, TNF-α) were analysed using commercially available kits. Besides, inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on proliferative response of PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes had been assessed. Results: Bcc infected patients did not differ from Bcc free ones in demographic and clinical parameters, but demonstrated an increased rate of glucose metabolism disturbances and survival disadvantage during prolong follow-up period. Biomarkers analyses revealed elevated TNF-α and reduced IL-17F levels in sputum samples of Bcc infected patients. These patients also demonstrated improvement of peripheral blood lymphocyte sensitivity to steroid treatment and reduction in plasma pro-inflammatory (IL-17F and IL-18) and anti-inflammatory (TGFß1 and IL-10) cytokine concentrations. Conclusions: Reduction in IL-17F levels may have several important consequences including increase in steroid sensitivity and glycemic control disturbances. Further investigations are needed to clarify the role of IL-17 cytokines in CF complication development. Low plasma TGFß1 and IL-10 levels in Bcc infected group may be a sign of subverted activity of regulatory T cells. Such immune alterations may be one of the factors contributing to the development of the cepacia syndrome.

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for rapid molecular identification in spinal infection diagnosis.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for detecting pathogens in spinal infections and to identify the differences in the diagnostic performance between mNGS and targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). Methods: A total of 76 consecutive patients with suspected spinal infections who underwent mNGS, culture, and histopathological examinations were retrospectively studied. The final diagnosis of the patient was determined by combining the clinical treatment results, pathological examinations, imaging changes and laboratory indicators. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS and culture were determined. Results: The difference between the two detection rates was statistically significant (p < 0.001), with mNGS exhibiting a significantly higher detection rate (77.6% versus 18.4%). The average diagnosis time of mNGS was significantly shorter than that of bacterial culture (p < 0.001, 1.65 versus 3.07 days). The sensitivity and accuracy of mNGS were significantly higher than that of the culture group (p < 0.001, 82.3% versus 17.5%; 75% versus 27.6%), whereas the specificity of mNGS (42.9%) was lower than that of the culture group (p > 0.05, 42.9% versus 76.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value (PPV) of pus were higher than those of tissue samples for mNGS, whereas for culture, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and PPV of tissue samples were higher than those of pus. tNGS demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) than mNGS (80% versus 50%; 87.5% versus 68.8%). Conclusion: mNGS for spinal infection demonstrated better diagnostic value in developing an antibiotic regimen earlier, and it is recommended to prioritize pus samples for testing through mNGS. Moreover, tNGS outperformed other methods for diagnosing spinal TB and identifying antibiotic-resistance genes in drug-resistant TB.

Dynamic responses of Salmonella Typhimurium to re-exposure to sublethal ciprofloxacin.

This study was designed to evaluate the history-dependent behaviors of Salmonella Typhimurium re-exposed to sublethal levels of ciprofloxacin. The S. Typhimurium cells were pre-exposed to 0 (CON), 1/16 (LOW), 1/8 (MED), and 1/4 (HIGH) minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ciprofloxacin, followed by re-exposure to the same concentrations. The bacterial growth, postantibiotic effect (PAE), relative fitness, and swimming motility of treatments were evaluated in the absence of ciprofloxacin. The lag phase duration (LPD) was estimate to assess bacterial recovery under ciprofloxacin exposure. A disk diffusion assay was used to determine the cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity of CON, LOW, MED, and HIGH treatments to ciprofloxacin (CIP), ceftriaxone (CEF), erythromycin (ERY), gentamicin (GEN), and polymyxin B (POL). The S. Typhimurium cells pre-exposed to ciprofloxacin were susceptible in antibiotic-free media, showing delayed growth. The highest PAE (>1 h) and bacterial fluctuation (CV = 5%) were observed at the High treatment compared to the CON. The HIGH treatment had the lowest relative fitness levels (0.87) and swimming motility (55 mm). The LPD was significantly decreased at the LOW treatment (1.8 h) when re-exposed to 1/16 × MIC of ciprofloxacin. The LOW, MED, and HIGH treatments showed the cross-resistance to POL and the collateral sensitivity to CEF, ERY, and GEN. The pre-exposure to ciprofloxacin could induce phenotypic diversity, corresponding to the history-dependent behaviors. These results provide important insights for the dynamic nature of bacterial populations when re-exposed to sublethal concentrations of antibiotics.

Integrated MICROFASP Method with CZE-Based Fractionation Technique and NanoRPLC-ESI-MS/MS for a Comprehensive Proteomics Analysis of a Submicrogram Sample.

We report a loss-less two-dimensional (2D) separation platform that integrated capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) fractionation and nanoRPLC-ESI-MS/MS for a comprehensive proteomics analysis of a submicrogram sample. Protein digest was injected into the linear polyacrylamide-coated capillary, followed by CZE separation. The schemes for collecting the fractions were carefully optimized to maximize the protein coverage. The peptide fractions were directly eluted into the autosampler insert vials, followed by the nanoRPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis without lyophilization and redissolution, thus dramatically minimizing sample loss and potential contamination. The integrated platform generated 30,845 unique peptides and 5231 protein groups from 500 ng of a HeLa protein digest within 11.5 h (90 min CZE fractionation plus 10 h LC-MS analysis). Finally, the developed platform was used to analyze the protein digest prepared by the MICROFASP method with 1 µg of cell lysate as the starting material. Three thousand seven hundred ninety-six (N = 2, RSD = 4.95%) protein groups and 20,577 (N = 2, RSD = 7.89%) peptides were identified from only 200 ng of the resulted tryptic digest within 5.5 h. The results indicated that the combination of the MICROFASP method and the developed CZE/nanoRPLC-MS/MS 2D separation platform enabled comprehensive proteome profiling of a submicrogram biological sample. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD052735.

GLIM Achieves Best Diagnostic Performance in Non-Cancer Patients with Low BMI: A Hierarchical Bayesian Latent-Class Meta-Analysis.

CONTEXT: Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) are commonly used nutrition assessment tools, whose performance does not reach a consensus due to different and imperfect reference standards. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of GLIM and PG-SGA, using a hierarchical Bayesian latent class model, in the absence of a gold standard. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was undertaken in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to October 2022. Diagnostic test studies comparing (1) the GLIM and/or (2) PG-SGA with "semi-gold" standard assessment tools for malnutrition were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently extracted data on sensitivity, specificity, and other key characteristics. The methodological quality of each included study was appraised according to the criteria in the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. DATA ANALYSIS: A total of 45 studies, comprising 20 876 individuals evaluated for GLIM and 11 575 for PG-SGA, were included. The pooled sensitivity was 0.833 (95% CI 0.744 to 0.896) for GLIM and 0.874 (0.797 to 0.925) for PG-SGA, while the pooled specificity was 0.837 (0.780 to 0.882) for GLIM and 0.778 (0.707 to 0.836) for PG-SGA. GLIM showed slightly better performance than PG-SGA, with a higher diagnostic odds ratio (25.791 vs 24.396). The diagnostic performance of GLIM was most effective in non-cancer patients with an average body mass index (BMI) of <24 kg/m2, followed by non-cancer patients with an average age of ≥60 years. PG-SGA was most powerful in cancer patients with an average age of <60 years, followed by cancer patients with an average BMI of <24 kg/m2. CONCLUSION: Both GLIM and PG-SGA had moderately high diagnostic capabilities. GLIM was most effective in non-cancer patients with a low BMI, while PG-SGA was more applicable in cancer patients. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration No. CRD42022380409.

Myths and methodologies: Assessing glycaemic control and associated regulatory mechanisms in human physiology research.

Accurate measurements of glycaemic control and the underpinning regulatory mechanisms are vital in human physiology research. Glycaemic control is the maintenance of blood glucose concentrations within optimal levels and is governed by physiological variables including insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and ß-cell function. These can be measured with a plethora of methods, all with their own benefits and limitations. Deciding on the best method to use is challenging and depends on the specific research question(s). This review therefore discusses the theory and procedure, validity and reliability and any special considerations of a range common methods used to measure glycaemic control, insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance and ß-cell function. Methods reviewed include glycosylated haemoglobin, continuous glucose monitors, the oral glucose tolerance test, mixed meal tolerance test, hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp, hyperglycaemic clamp, intravenous glucose tolerance test and indices derived from both fasting concentrations and the oral glucose tolerance test. This review aims to help direct understanding, assessment and decisions regarding which method to use based on specific physiology-related research questions.

An Effective textured Novel Object Recognition Test (tNORT) for Repeated Measure of Whisker Sensitivity of Rodents.

Rodents use their whisker system to discriminate surface texture. Whisker-based texture discrimination tasks are often used to investigate the mechanisms encoding tactile sensation. One such task is the textured Novel Object Recognition Test (tNORT). It takes advantage of a tendency of rodents to explore novel objects more than familiar ones and assesses the sensitivity of whiskers in discriminating different textures of objects. It requires little training of the animals and the equipment involved is a simple arena with typically two objects placed inside. The success of the test relies on rodents spending sufficient time exploring these objects. Animals may lose interests in such tasks when performed repetitively within a limited time frame. However, such repeated tests may be crucial when establishing a sensitivity threshold of the whisker system. Here we present an adapted rodent tNORT protocol designed to maintain sustained interest in the objects even with repeated testing. We constructed complex objects from three simple-shaped objects. Different textures were provided by sandpapers of varying grit sizes. To minimise olfactory clues, we used the sandy and the laminar side of the same sandpaper as the familiar and novel textures assigned at random. We subsequently conducted repeated tNORTs on eight rats in order to identify a critical threshold of the sandpaper grit size below which rats would be unable to discriminate the sandy from the laminar side. With an inter-test-interval of seven days and after five tNORTs, the protocol enabled us to successfully identify the threshold. We suggest that the proposed tNORT is a useful tool for investigating the sensitivity threshold of the whisker system of rodent, and for testing the effectiveness of an intervention by comparing sensitivity threshold pre- and post-intervention.

Understanding the Relationship Between Attachment Orientation and Physical Activity Participation: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is recognized as a global health challenge. Attachment theory may provide insight into individual physical activity (PA) patterns, informing the development of PA interventions to promote the maintenance of behavior change. This study investigated the associations between attachment orientation and why and how individuals engage in PA. Given the association between attachment and sensory processing, this study also investigated the link between sensory processing and PA participation. METHODS: Participants (N = 141) completed an online questionnaire that included the Modified Experiences of Close Relationships Scale and the Highly Sensitive Person Scale. The relationship between attachment orientation and sensory processing patterns, and preference for PA participation were analyzed using 2-sided independent t tests. RESULTS: Attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and sensory sensitivity were significantly related to participants' preference for PA participation in theoretically consistent ways. Avoidantly attached individuals were less likely to participate in PA as a form of social interaction (mean = 8.57, SD = 2.87, P = .005, d = 0.48). Anxiously attached individuals were more likely to participate in PA to support weight management (mean = 37.02, SD = 11.54, P = .01, d = -0.46) or if recommended by a health professional (mean = 43.55, SD = 12.45, P = .039, d = -0.88). Sensory sensitive individuals were more likely to participate in PA alone (mean = 124.11, SD = 19.23, P = .005, d = -0.510), and more likely to prefer light-intensity forms of PA (mean = 133.29, SD = 12.67, F3,123 = 5.49, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the potential value of considering an individual's attachment orientation and sensory processing patterns in the development of PA interventions. This may help to address the challenges of PA participation, by individually tailoring interventions to participants.

Can repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation influence the visual cortex of adults with amblyopia? - systematic review.

Amblyopia is the most frequent cause of monocular vision loss. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been used to improve several vision parameters of the amblyopic eye in adulthood. This study is relevant in order to evaluate TMS effects and to raise awareness of the need for further research. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a neuromodulation technique capable of changing cortical excitability. In the last decade, it has been used to improve visual parameters in amblyopic patients. The main goal of this systematic review is to evaluate the influence of TMS in the amblyopic eye, in the visual parameters of amblyopic patients. Searches were done in PubMed and Embase databases, and a combined search strategy was performed using the following Mesh, EMBASE, and keywords: 'Amblyopia', 'Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation', and 'theta burst stimulation'. This review included randomised controlled studies, descriptive cases, and clinical case studies with adult amblyopes. All articles that had any of the following characteristics were excluded: children or animal studies, reviews, pathologies other than amblyopia, and other techniques rather than repetitive TMS (rTMS), or Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS). A total of 42 articles were found, of which only four studies (46 amblyopes) meet the criteria above. Three of the articles found significant improvement after one session of continuous TBS (cTBS) in visual parameters like visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, suppressive imbalance, and stereoacuity. One study found a significant visual improvement with 10 Hz rTMS. Only one stimulation-related dropout was reported. The few existing studies found in this review seem to show that through the usage of high-frequency rTMS and cTBS, it is possible to re-balance the eyes of an adult amblyope. However, despite the promising results, further research with larger randomised double-blind studies is needed for a better understanding of this process.

Relations between tactile sensitivity of the finger, arm, and cheek skin over the lifespan showing decline only on the finger.

Touch sensitivity generally declines with age, contributing to loss of manual dexterity and tactile function. We investigated how touch changes over the lifespan, using different tests and on three body sites. We used a classical test of force detection sensitivity, where calibrated monofilaments were applied passively to the right index finger pad, forearm, and cheek. In addition, at the index, we used an active touch spatial discrimination task, developed by our group. Spatial discrimination was estimated through participants' ability to evaluate the distance between parallel bands printed on acrylic plates. Data were collected from 96 healthy women, aged 20-75 years. Force detection and tactile spatial discrimination on the index deteriorated significantly with age; however, no change was found for tactile detection on the forearm or cheek. Tactile detection on the cheek remained remarkably highly sensitive throughout life. There was a significant positive relationship between force detection and spatial discrimination on the index. Further, force detection on the forearm was significantly associated with detection on the index and cheek. Our results suggest a decrease in touch perception with age on the index finger pad, yet a preservation of tactile sensitivity in hairy skin. This opens discussion about the impact of daily activities upon the glabrous hand skin and on the function of hairs in tactile sensitivity. We highlight the need for new methods in evaluating tactile sensitivity on hairy skin.

The Subjective Visual Vertical and Electrocochleography Tests in Individuals with Meniere's Disease.

Introduction: Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder not associated with central brain structure involvement. Although the ECochG test has been commonly used to diagnose Meniere's disease recently, it has not demonstrated high sensitivity. Therefore, it is recommended that other complementary tests alongside the ECochG test be used to diagnose Meniere's disease. The SVV test has gained popularity recently for this reason, and in this study, it was decided to use the SVV test in both static and dynamic modes, along with the ECochG test, as a tool for diagnosing Meniere's disease and evaluating its diagnostic features. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 53 patients with confirmed unilateral Meniere's disease and a normal group. Means were calculated with a 95% confidence interval for the groups, and the corresponding graphs were plotted. Independent t-tests were used to examine the difference in SVV results between the normal and Meniere's groups. The ROC curve was then used to determine the cutoff point and calculate. Results: After investigating the cutoff point for the three SVV conditions (tilted towards the lesion), a cutoff point of 2.1 degrees with a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 0.7 was identified as the best condition for distinguishing the Meniere's group from the healthy group. Conclusion: Finally, based on the findings, it can be concluded that the SVV test has relatively low sensitivity for diagnosing Meniere's disease. Therefore, more than relying solely on its results to identify Meniere's disease is required, and it is suggested that other measures alongside the ECochG and SVV tests be included in future studies for further investigation.

Relative decline in density of Northern Hemisphere tree species in warm and arid regions of their climate niches.

Although climate change is expected to drive tree species toward colder and wetter regions of their distribution, broadscale empirical evidence is lacking. One possibility is that past and present human activities in forests obscure or alter the effects of climate. Here, using data from more than two million monitored trees from 73 widely distributed species, we quantify changes in tree species density within their climatic niches across Northern Hemisphere forests. We observe a reduction in mean density across species, coupled with a tendency toward increasing tree size. However, the direction and magnitude of changes in density exhibit considerable variability between species, influenced by stand development that results from previous stand-level disturbances. Remarkably, when accounting for stand development, our findings show a significant change in density toward cold and wet climatic conditions for 43% of the species, compared to only 14% of species significantly changing their density toward warm and arid conditions in both early- and late-development stands. The observed changes in climate-driven density showed no clear association with species traits related to drought tolerance, recruitment and dispersal capacity, or resource use, nor with the temperature or aridity affiliation of the species, leaving the underlying mechanism uncertain. Forest conservation policies and associated management strategies might want to consider anticipated long-term species range shifts alongside the integration of contemporary within-distribution density changes.

Highly efficient and sensitive detection of tetracycline in environmental water: Insights into the synergistic mechanism of biomass-derived carbon dots and N-methyl pyrrolidone solvent.

The tetracycline (TC) residue in water environment has caused serious public safety issue. Thus, efficient sensing of TC is highly desirable for environmental protection. Herein, biomass-derived nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) synthesized from natural Ophiopogon japonicus f. nanus (O. japonicus) were used for TC detection. The unique solvent synergism efficiently enhanced detection sensitivity, and the detailed sensing mechanism was deeply investigated. The blue fluorescence of N-CDs was quenched by TC via static quenching and inner filter effect. Moreover, the enhancement of green fluorescence from deprotonated TC was firstly proposed and sufficiently verified. The solvent effect of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) and the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with N-CDs achieved an instantaneous enhancement of the green emission by 64-fold. Accordingly, a ratiometric fluorescence method was constructed for rapid and sensitive sensing of TC with a low detection limit of 6.3 nM within 60 s. The synergistic effect of N-CDs and solvent assistance significantly improved the sensitivity by 7-fold compared to that in water. Remarkably, the biomass-derived N-CDs displayed low cost, good solubility, and desired stability. The deep insights into the synergism with solvent can provide prospects for the utilization of biomass-based materials and broaden the development of advanced sensors with promising applications.

A mathematical model for wound healing in the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis.

Coral reefs, among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, currently face major threats from pollution, unsustainable fishing practices , and perturbations in environmental parameters brought on by climate change. Corals also sustain regular wounding from other sea life and human activity. Recent reef restoration practices have even involved intentional wounding by systematically breaking coral fragments and relocating them to revitalize damaged reefs, a practice known as microfragmentation. Despite its importance, very little research has explored the inner mechanisms of wound healing in corals. Some reef-building corals have been observed to initiate an immunological response to wounding similar to that observed in mammalian species. Utilizing prior models of wound healing in mammalian species as the mathematical basis, we formulated a mechanistic model of wound healing, including observations of the immune response and tissue repair in scleractinian corals for the species Pocillopora damicornis. The model consists of four differential equations which track changes in remaining wound debris, number of cells involved in inflammation, number of cells involved in proliferation, and amount of wound closure through re-epithelialization. The model is fit to experimental wound size data from linear and circular shaped wounds on a live coral fragment. Mathematical methods, including numerical simulations and local sensitivity analysis, were used to analyze the resulting model. The parameter space was also explored to investigate drivers of other possible wound outcomes. This model serves as a first step in generating mathematical models for wound healing in corals that will not only aid in the understanding of wound healing as a whole, but also help optimize reef restoration practices and predict recovery behavior after major wounding events.