Species without dimorphic secondary sex characteristics easily visible to humans, such as difference in size or morphology, are expected to experience low levels of sex-specific selection. However, monomorphism in classic visible traits could be a result of genetic or physiological constraints that prevent the sexes from reaching divergent fitness optima. Additionally, biochemical and molecular work has revealed a variety of less easily observed phenotypes that none-the-less exhibit profound dimorphism. Sex-specific selection could act on these more subtle, less visible, traits. We investigate sex-specific selection in the polygynandrous dusky pipefish (Syngnathus floridae), which lacks size, color, and morphological dimorphism. Using experimental breeding populations, we revealed that although males and females have similar opportunities for sexual selection, only males experience significant sexual selection pressures on body size. We also investigated patterns of sex-biased and sex-specific gene expression in gonads, livers, and gills, and tested whether genes with highly divergent expression patterns between the sexes are more likely to be tissue specific, and therefore relieved of genetic constraints. We. Sex-bias in gene expression was widespread, although the reproductive organs had the most sex-biased and sex-specific genes. Sex-specific selection on gene expression in gills was primarily related to immune response, whereas the liver and gonads had a wide variety of cellular processes, as well as reproductive proteins, showing sex-biased expression. These sex-biased genes are likely less constrained by pleiotropy, as they were more organ-specific in their expression patterns. Altogether, we find evidence for ongoing and historical sex-specific selection in the dusky pipefish.

Eusocial insects, such as ants and termites, are characterized by high levels of coordinated social organization. This is contrasted by solitary insects, which display more limited forms of collective behavior. It has been hypothesized that this gradient in socio-behavioral sophistication is positively correlated with chemical profile complexity, due to a potentially increased demand for diversity in chemical communication mechanisms in insects with higher levels of social complexity. However, this claim has rarely been assessed empirically. Here, we compare different levels of chemical and transcriptomic complexity in selected species of the order Blattodea that represent different levels of social organization, from solitary to eusocial. We primarily focus on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) complexity, since it has repeatedly been demonstrated that CHCs are key signaling molecules conveying a wide variety of chemical information in solitary as well as eusocial insect species. We assessed CHC complexity and divergence between our studied species of different social complexity levels as well as the differentiation of their respective repertoires of CHC biosynthesis gene transcripts. Surprisingly, we did not find any consistent pattern of chemical complexity correlating with the degree of social complexity, nor did the overall chemical divergence or transcriptomic repertoire of CHC biosynthesis genes reflect on the levels of social complexity. Our results challenge the assumption that increasing social complexity is generally reflected in more complex chemical profiles and point towards the need for a more cautious and differentiated view on correlating complexity on a chemical, genetic, and social level.

Having recently relocated to the Colombian Rainforest in the foothills of the Andes, I have been struck by the rapid rate of destruction of native habitats by slash and burn techniques to make way for cattle farming. But equally astonishing is the rate of repair of these landscapes and forests once human destructive practices cease.

Title pageSuccessful management of 15 years late-onset Cytomegalovirus infection complicated with deep venous thrombosis in a kidney transplant patient: a rare case report and a review of the literature

Reference conditions are difficult to find in the Anthropocene but essential for effective conservation of biodiversity. Aquatic ecosystems in the Andes-Amazon transition zone of Colombia are now at high risk due to expanded human activities after peace agreements in 2016 ended armed conflict. Expanding human land use may reduce fish diversity across the altitudinal gradient but especially in premontane streams (i.e., <500 m a.s.l.) because lands are more amenable to human use than at greater altitudes. We evaluated natural fish diversity in twelve sites over eight years bracketing the end of armed conflict. Strong differences in community structure (measured as species richness, total abundance, and effective species number, and multivariate analyses) occurred as a function of altitude, as measured by. Our results provide a baseline to identify short-term and long-term changes due to impending human land use at a critical moment for the conservation of tropical fish diversity.

Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive fish present in all five Great Lakes and is becoming increasingly common in their tributaries. Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) is a native species that often coexists with N. melanostomus. In this work, historic factors are addressed as a source of genomic variation in study populations of these species. To do this, patterns of variation in the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) were characterized for both species throughout Lower Michigan. Populations of N. melanostomus and E. nigrum were sampled from 17 localities representing both eastern and western basins of Lower Michigan to test the hypothesis that populations differ between the eastern and western basins of the Great Lakes. Neogobius melanostomus populations were largely homogenous with no significant differences detected among populations or between the eastern and western basins. Additionally, N. melanostomus exhibited no evidence of overarching historical genetic structure, consistent with the recent invasion and rapid expansion of this species. Etheostoma nigrum exhibited significant differentiation among local populations; however, similarity among mtDNA haplotypes indicated that differences among populations are recent, suggesting that local forces are a more important factor in shaping patterns of variation than historical factors. Contrary to predictions, there were no significant differences detected between the eastern and western basins of the Great Lakes; however, construction of a neighbor joining tree with Fst estimates revealed clustering of populations by basin with some anomalies. These anomalies may be the result of recent stream capture events facilitating gene flow between the two basins.

Introduction The Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are exceptionally rare mesenchymal derived tumors accounting for only 1% of all malignancies. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) include 5-10% of STS cases that displays heterogeneous subtype of malignant mesenchymal tumor originated from smooth muscle tissues 1. The LMS Commonly diagnosed in the fifth and sixth decades of life, and it can be detected every anatomic site, including the uterus, retroperitoneum, extremities, and vasculature 2. The two primary categories of LMS contains uterine LMS (uLMS) and extrauterine (euLMS) types, the first is commonest subtype of uterine sarcoma, while metastatic euLMS are not well described in terms of treatment, outcomes and prognostic factors3. The treatment of this tumor is controversial. However, regardless the site of origin, surgical resection is cornerstone treatment for localized LMS 2,4. The standard surgical procedure includes a complete excision with wide negative margins that gives the best chance of cure 2. Pelvic external beam radiation therapy with or without brachytherapy are recommended for locally resected tumors, especially for advance metastatic disease, chemotherapy considered as an option2,4. In the euLMS is not clear that the choice of specific agent or sensitivity to first-line systemic therapy affects the response rate and clinical outcomes 5.The molecular heterogeneity of leiomyosarcoma is uknown also targeted therapy not available now, detection of different molecular subtypes is urgent to weigh novel therapeutic options. Two diagnostic immunohistochemical markers newly detected in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues; are LMOD1 (Leiomodin 1) in subtype I and ARL4C (ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 4C) in subtype II leiomyosarcoma 6,7. Acording leiomyosarcoma tissue microarray and considering clinical outcome, specified that subtype I leiomyosarcoma is associated with good outcome in extrauterine leiomyosarcoma nonetheless, subtype II is related to poor prognosis in uterine and extrauterine leiomyosarcoma 7.Due to rarity and few confirmed cases reported in the literature, this case report presents a young female patient with euLMS, invading the ovary, uterus, small intestine, sigmoid colon, rectum, omentum and pancreas, which were treated with radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Soil degradation is increasing in Kazakhstan, leading to severe losses in land productivity. The Almaty region, the country’s leading agricultural and industrial province, is among the most affected areas. The objective of this study is to evaluate, for the first time, the applicability of the revised model of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for estimating the rate of soil erosion and identifying areas susceptible to soil erosion in the Almaty region. The revised USLE (RUSLE) factors, including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length, and steepness, were represented using data on soil, topography, and land use/vegetation cover from the region. Using the RUSLE model’s algorithms, we generated an erosion risk map, emphasizing areas with a high potential for erosion. The results show higher soil erosion rates in agricultural areas with steep slopes and inadequate environmental practices—annual soil losses in the region as high as 26,279 t/ha/year in high-risk areas. On average, approximately 88% of the region’s territory loses up to 103 t/ha/year, while 9% loses about three times as much. Such potential soil erosion risks warrant the implementation of efficient soil conservation strategies in the region to protect soils, ensure desired agricultural productivity, and support journey in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.

We propose a novel analogy between infantile amnesia and the concept of network stability in neural networks. We argue that this analogy can provide significant insights into the mechanisms underlying memory formation and retention. We propose spectral analysis of connectivity matrices to demonstrate how transitions in network structure may contribute to memory consolidation, offering a potential explanation for infantile amnesia.

The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 (M3-mAChR) is involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Owing to specific cardioprotective effects, M3-mAChR is an ideal diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Growing evidence has linked M3-mAChR to the development of multiple CVDs. This review summarizes the expression patterns, functions, and underlying mechanisms of action of M3-mAChR in CVDs, especially ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure.

Recently we demonstrated that in 452 COVID-19 inpatients higher colchicine doses reduced the mortality about 5 times. Here we report another 333 cases of COVID-19 inpatients, treated with different doses of colchicine. There was a clear trend of reduction in the mortality of inpatients with increasing doses of colchicine between 2- and 7-fold. Colchicine loading doses of 4 mg are more effective than those with 2 mg. Despite higher than the so-called “standard doses” of colchicine, our doses are completely safe. The World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended strategy to inhibit viral replication had partial success because there is no direct link between viral load and the hyperactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The neutralization of the IL-6 effects with anti-receptor antibodies and the inhibition of the tyrosine kinase JAK can be compromised if NLRP3 continues to be hyperactive and generates a cytokine storm. Our treatment strategy to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 entry into the cell with inhaled bromhexine and the hyperactivated NLRP3 inflammasome with higher doses of colchicine, as the source of the cytokine storm practically solves the problem of treating COVID-19. The timing of initiation of treatment is critical.

Asymmetry in horses has been suggested as an indicator of genetic quality, affecting disease resistance and performance potential. This review argues that equine bilateral trait asymmetries do not correlate with the directionality of competitive disciplines or selective breeding practices. The presence of similar limb asymmetries in both competitive and non-competitive horses strongly suggests a species-wide trait, with horses with superior athletic ability exhibiting fewer asymmetries. While limb asymmetries may not severely impact biomechanical function, they may indicate underlying physiological or anatomical problems. The review will suggest to readers several research questions that will help to understand the development of limb and hoof asymmetries, their effect on horse welfare and performance, and the factors contributing to these imbalances.

Objective: In this article, we review the clinical data of a case involving chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression complicated by pyogenic liver abscess, leading to endogenous endophthalmitis (EE). By consulting the relevant literature, we comprehensively analyse and summarise the information, ultimately offering diagnostic and therapeutic insights for similar cases. Methods: This article presents the case of a 65-year-old female patient with breast cancer who developed bone marrow suppression during postoperative chemotherapy. Imaging examinations revealed the presence of a pyogenic liver abscess, and the patient subsequently experienced visual impairment. Following a thorough examination, the diagnosis indicated secondary EE resulting from a pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Upon hospitalisation, the patient underwent treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to stimulate bone marrow haematopoiesis and she also received comprehensive systemic anti-infective therapy. Additionally, a pyogenic liver abscess drainage procedure was performed, coupled with intravitreal injection of antibiotics into the vitreous cavity of the affected eye. Results: After comprehensive systemic and local treatments, the patient’s laboratory parameters normalised. The volume of the pyogenic liver abscess reduced noticeably, allowing for the removal of the drainage tube. At the time of discharge, there was a reduction in intraocular inflammation. Nevertheless, complete loss of vision persisted in the affected eye. Conclusion: In patients with bone marrow suppression following chemotherapy, it is crucial to conduct liver imaging examinations to promptly exclude the possibility of bacterial pyogenic liver abscess. To prevent serious complications such as EE leading to blindness, timely pyogenic liver abscess drainage procedures must be performed. Administering antibiotics empirically for comprehensive systemic anti-infective therapy, along with localised ocular treatment, is also essential. This approach preserves vision as much as possible and enhances the overall prognosis for patients

The use of in-line analytics for monitoring and understanding biological processes has been promoted since 2004 through the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative. Two such technologies are Raman and dielectric spectroscopies that are well established but deployed independently. For the very first time, simultaneous usage of in-line Raman and dielectric spectroscopic analytics for tracking progress of a lycopene overproducer E. coli 322 engineered strain was studied herein, alongside scale-up experimentation from shake flask to 0.5L and 10L bioreactor cultures. An intracellular lycopene extraction protocol was optimised for off-line quantification by Raman or UV-Vis spectroscopies, which aids the estimation of lycopene over-production in a high cell density E. coli fed-batch culture via in-line Raman. Correlating dielectric capacitance recordings and flow cytometry viable cell count measurements allows for real-time cell culture viability monitoring, which is more informative for bioprocess dynamic control in contrast to conventional in-/off-line biomass optical density (OD600) or dry cell weight (gDCW). This enabled fed-batch culture revitalisation prior to inducing intracellular lycopene production. The final biomass OD600 was ca. 81.8 corresponding to in-line dielectric capacitance estimated culture viability 43.38 gVCC/L. Intracellular lycopene yield was estimated at 495.1 mg/gVCC via in-line Raman, which was 12.3 times increase compared to initial trial reported for E. coli 322. The successful implementation of dual in-line dielectric capacitance and Raman monitoring exemplifies the quality by design (QbD) approach espoused by PAT framework for expediting bioprocess understanding, development and scale-up of engineered microbial strains.

Metastatic breast cancer poses a formidable clinical challenge, demanding a comprehensive understanding of the intricate signaling networks orchestrating disease progression. Herein, our findings revealed a pronounced increase in the nuclear translocation of both YAP and β-catenin in MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to a stiff substrate (32 kPa). Intriguingly, YAP knockdown resulted in elevated β-catenin nuclear translocation on soft substrates (2 kPa), while no significant change was observed on stiff substrates. Concurrently, the expression of Wnt/β-catenin downstream genes ( CCND1 and AXIN2) and cell migration were downregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells on stiff substrates following YAP knockdown. Conversely, on soft substrates, β-catenin nuclear localization, downstream gene expression, and cell migration remained unaltered unless both YAP and β-catenin were concurrently silenced, highlighting the compensatory role of β-catenin in response to YAP depletion in the cellular context of mechanotransduction within metastatic breast cancer cells. Moreover, our investigation revealed the significant impact of myosin-II and cell confluency on the interplay between YAP and β-catenin. Thus, we elucidated a paradigm in which β-catenin assumes a compensatory role in response to YAP knockdown, particularly under distinct mechanical conditions. The interplay is finely tuned to the mechanical microenvironment, highlighting the mechanosensitivity of this compensatory mechanism.

Air pollution is a major problem in many countries and especially in India. In November 2019, New Delhi recorded an air quality index level of 900, which is considered higher than the ‘severe’ level. The air pollution forecasting method predicts the pollution based on the available dataset and the data features and certain method performance in forecasting at high accuracy depends on the method and the measures used. Forecasting air quality levels in countries like India is very important because it has a direct impact on public health, and thus, is used for decision making. The main goal for this paper is to investigate air quality index prediction based on different algorithms, so experts can identify the methods that require development and it is useful as a starting point for novice researchers. The problem of the Air Quality Index (AQI) prediction in this paper is approached with different Fuzzy Inference Systems (FIS), Neural Networks, Swarm intelligence techniques and so on. The results of the experiments shows that the LSTM model performs better than all the deep learning based models and Fuzzy based models discussed in this paper

A document by ShyamKumar Sriram. Click on the document to view its contents.

Title:

Dynamic fluorescent materials used in data encryption suffer from photodegradation, poor latency, and susceptibility to unauthorized access. Herein, we propose a photochemically modulated dynamic fluorescent encryption system based on 1O2 sensitization of fluorescent composites, comprising a 1O2-sensitive fluorophore (F2) and non-emissive polymers. After UV irradiation, in-situ generation of 1O2 from the polymer effectively binds with F2 to form endoperoxides (F2EPO), resulting in a significant redshift in emission, up to 150 nm. The 1O2 concentration is closely related to the irradiation time, enabling time-gated encryption with diverse fluorescent colors. Moreover, polymer properties can be manipulated to further regulate F2EPO emission. Relying on these merits, we develop a dynamic data encryption method with various non-emissive polymers as the data storage media, UV light irradiation as the data encoder, and F2 as the data decoder. UV light irradiation of diverse polymer solutions generates 1O2 at different concentrations, effectively encoding the data, which remains invisible under both UV and natural lights. The addition of F2 to these irradiated polymer produces different redshifted fluorescence, enabling secure data decryption. Attributing to the non-emissive polymers, time-gated readout fashion, excellent latency of 1O2, and subtle interactions between 1O2 and F2, this data encryption is nearly undecipherable.

Ischemic stroke in a 4 year child resulting from scorpion envenomation: A case report from Nepal.Authors : Bhatta Sunil1, Awasthi Pusp Raj21-Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.2-Department of Pediatric Critical Care, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.Data availability statement : Data described to support the findings is openly accessible in the article.

Bilateral indirect ovarian inguinal hernia in a young female with type 1 Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser syndrome: An extremely rare clinical contextAuthors : Bhatta Sunil 1, Ojha Hemant1, Ansari Meraj Alam2, Shrestha Anuj31-Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.2-Department of General surgery, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.3- Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Nisarga Hospital and Research Center Pvt. Ltd.Data availability statement : Data described to support the findings is openly accessible in the article.

A Population Investigation of Allergy Prevalence and Cross- sensitization in ChinaTo the Editor,Food allergy is a global public health problem, and its prevalence continues to increase yearly[1]. According to epidemiological data, up to 10% of the world’s population suffers from food allergies[2]. Until now, there has identified more than 200 kinds of food allergens, with varying prevalence rates by specific food and population affected[3]. However, geographical variability in the incidence, major food allergens, and clinical presentation of food allergy as well as variations in symptoms and clinical phenotypes due to race,dietary habit, age, and coexisting allergic diseases exist[4]. The Codex Alimentarius Commission has identified eight major food allergens, but their prevalence trend in China is not clear. At present, some countries have already established allergen lists according to their national conditions [5]. However, national epidemiological surveys of food allergy are limited in China, and the food allergen list hasn’t been established yet. Therefore, we focused on the population of 32 different regions in China.The study collected 12,505 self-reported data and 5360 clinical diagnosis data. Sample size stratified in 5 intervals (0-81 years old) was estimated. A questionnaire plus skin prick tests (SPT) with food allergens were carried out. Descriptive analysis and X2 test were made.The result of our study showed that the proportion in the third age interval (18-44 years old) accounted for the largest, peaking to 51%. And the SPT positivity to egg and milk in the first and second age interval (0-17 years old) decreased over age while crustaceans became the first major allergen in the adult group (≥18years old). No significant variation over gender was observed in the skin test response to all kinds of foods. At the same time, the prevalence of food allergens showed certain regional differences. For example, the prevalence of insect allergy such as cicadas pupae in Yunnan province was higher than that in other places. Most allergic symptoms were mild. More than half of the allergic symptoms belonged to Grade 1. Especially, Grade 3 symptoms were the highest in the egg, accounting for 18% while Grade 4 symptoms were the most in the mango, accounting for 1%. In addition, Grade 5 reaction (anaphylactic shock) occurred in patients with crustaceans, milk, egg, peanut, and soybean allergies while the soybean accounted for the highest proportion (0.62%). The results of severe allergic reactions were consistent with that of the WHO. Severe allergic reactions occurred in the milk, peanut, crustacean, egg, and soybean allergies with the proportion increasing successively. Of total population, the 56% was positive to only one allergen, while 21% to two allergens, 11% to three allergens and 12% to more than three allergens. Further analysis demonstrated that partial cross-reactivity among the food involved. For example, beef - lamb, beef - milk, beef - crustaceans, milk - lamb, milk - crustaceans, wheat - buckwheat, peanut - soy, egg - milk, egg - wheat, egg - crustacean allergies were all significantly associated. Expecially, we found that cross-sensitization between egg and crustaceans.In summary, with reference to the standards of WHO and FAO, we have established a list of food allergens that is more suitable for the actual situation in China. The top eight food allergens in China are crustaceans, milk, egg, beef, peanut, soybean, mango, and mutton. Then, we confired partial cross-sensitization among the food involved.

A document by Hasan Sabah Hasan AL-Nuaimi. Click on the document to view its contents.

A document by PRAGYA RAI. Click on the document to view its contents.