Understanding the genomic basis of adaptation to different abiotic environments is important for understanding organismal responses to current short-term environmental fluctuations. Using functional and comparative genomics approaches, we here investigated whether genomic adaptation to a set of environmental parameters is contingent across vertebrate genomes or, alternatively, contains an element of evolutionary constraint that would be evident through recurrent involvement of specific subsets of...
Carotenoid coloration is widely recognized as a signal of individual condition in various animals, but despite decades of study, the mechanisms that link carotenoid coloration to condition remain unresolved. Most birds with red feathers convert yellow dietary carotenoids to red carotenoids in an oxidation process requiring the gene encoding the putative cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2J19. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the process of carotenoid oxidation and feather pigmentation is functionally...
Hummingbirds in flight exhibit the highest metabolic rate of all vertebrates. The bioenergetic requirements associated with hovering flight raise the possibility of positive selection upon proteins encoded by hummingbird mitochondrial DNA. Here, we have identified a non-conservative change within the mitochondria-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) that is fixed within hummingbirds, yet exceedingly rare among other metazoans. This unusual change can also be identified in several nectarivorous...
Although root traits play a critical role in mediating plant-plant interactions and resource acquisition from the soil environment, research examining if and how belowground competition can influence the evolution of root traits remains largely unexplored. Here we examine the potential that root traits may evolve as a target of selection from interspecific competition using Ipomoea purpurea and I. hederacea, two closely related morning glory species that commonly co-occur in the United States. We...
The cumulative reproductive cost of multi-locus selection has been seen as a potentially limiting factor on the rate of adaptive evolution. In this paper, we show that Haldane's arguments for the accumulation of reproductive costs over multiple loci are valid only for a clonally reproducing population of asexual genotypes. We show that a sexually reproducing population avoids this accumulation of costs. Thus, sex removes a perceived reproductive constraint on the rate of adaptive evolution. The significance...
Evolution via template-based replication was probably preceded by a more rudimentary form of evolution based on networks of autocatalytic reactions. However, reaction networks possessing the Darwinian properties of variation (in composition, the catalysts present and their relative amounts), differential reproduction (accumulation of products), and heredity (persistence of composition), have so far not been identified. Here we show that networks of catalytic RNAs can possess certain properties of...
Reconstructing invasion routes of transposable elements (TEs), so far, required capturing an ongoing invasion with population samples from different geographic regions and time points. Here, we propose a more accessible approach. Abundantly occurring internal deletions of DNA transposons allow to trace the direction as well as the path of an invasion, even hundreds of generations after the spread of a TE. We validated this hypothesis with computer simulations and by accurately reproducing the route...
Modern speciation theory has greatly benefited from a variety of simple mathematical models focusing on the conditions and patterns of speciation and diversification in the presence of gene flow. Unfortunately the application of general theoretical concepts and tools to specific ecological systems remains a challenge. Here we apply modeling tools to better understand adaptive divergence of whitefish during the postglacial period in lakes of northern Fennoscandia. These lakes harbor up to three different...
Under the model of micromutationism, phenotypic divergence between species is caused by accumulation of many small-effect changes. While mapping the causal changes to single nucleotide resolution could be difficult for diverged species, genetic dissection via chimeric constructs allows us to evaluate whether a large-effect gene is composed of many small-effect nucleotide changes. In a previously described non-complementation screen, we found allele difference of CUP2, a copper-binding transcription...
Natural environments are rarely static; rather selection can fluctuate on time scales ranging from hours to centuries. However, it is unclear how adaptation to fluctuating environments differs from adaptation to constant environments at the genetic level. For bacteria, one key axis of environmental variation is selection for planktonic or biofilm modes of growth. We conducted an evolution experiment with Burkholderia cenocepacia, comparing the evolutionary dynamics of populations evolving under constant...
Six-state amino acid recoding strategies are commonly applied to combat the effects of compositional heterogeneity and substitution saturation in phylogenetic analyses. While these methods have been endorsed from a theoretical perspective, their performance has never been extensively tested. Here, we test the effectiveness of 6-state recoding approaches by comparing the performance of analyses on recoded and non-recoded datasets that have been simulated under gradients of compositional heterogeneity...
When incipient species meet in secondary contact, natural selection can rapidly reduce costly reproductive interactions by directly targeting reproductive traits. This process, called reproductive character displacement (RCD), leaves a characteristic pattern of geographic variation where divergence of traits between species is greater in sympatry than allopatry. However, because other forces can also cause similar patterns, care must be given in separating pattern from process. Here we show how the...
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Abstract: A 36-year-old woman presented with intermittent fever, nausea and vomiting, generalized polyarthralgias, and bilateral optic disc swelling. She had a history of difficult-to-control myasthenia gravis since the age of 18 years. Lumbar puncture demonstrated a normal opening pressure; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was remarkable for high protein, low glucose, and a mononuclear pleocytosis. Although initial MRI of the brain was normal, a repeat study 8 weeks later revealed enlarged and enhancing...
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Asthma and rhinitis may share pathogenic mechanisms, and extensive investigation has been devoted to exploring their reciprocal impact. A recent prospective study investigated the prevalence of rhinitis and its phenotypes, symptom severity, and medication use in 619 asthmatic children (1). Rhinitis was found to be a common asthma comorbidity (93.5%) and was refractory to standard rhinitis medications. Perennial allergic rhinitis with seasonal exacerbation due to poly-allergy was common (34.2%), mostly...
The effects of climate change are diverse and include a multitude of detrimental effects on human health. There is a growing body of evidence examining changes in pollination patterns attributable to climate change1,2. Increased pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons have been observed; these climate change related trends have been linked to an increase in the development of and exacerbations of allergic disease1,3-6.
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Scalp angiosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy with poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Multimodality approach is currently the treatment protocol for resectable angiosarcoma, including wide local excision and post-operative radiation. This single-institution study reviews the 18-year experience of the surgical treatment of scalp angiosarcomas.
Evidence-based medicine is grounded on a strong philosophical assumption, i.e. that reality is objective. However, in everyday clinical practice, aesthetic and plastic surgeons have to manage the combination of objective and subjective factors, with the risk of weakening the realist assumption. In this letter, we present a theoretical framework that could provide the basis for an evidence-based approach to aesthetic surgery. The framework is based on the general idea that complex reality, as medical...
: With advances in microsurgery, the published success rate of microsurgical reconstruction by experienced microsurgeons is greater than 95%. However, it is unknown whether the training residents can produce similar results. At our county hospital, residents perform and lead all aspects of microsurgical reconstruction, from raising the flap to performing microanastomoses. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 156 consecutive microsurgical cases to determine the efficacy and safety...
Age-related change in ocular appearance occurs throughout adulthood, and involutional alterations in periocular tissues are common in middle-aged or older adults. This study sought to investigate significant differences in periocular anthropometry between young and middle-aged adults of Chinese Han ethnic group.
Dermal regenerative matrices (DRMs) have been used for several decades in the treatment of acute and reconstructive burn injury. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the clinical outcomes and safety profile of DRMs in full-thickness burn injury.
The CLEFT-Q is a patient-reported outcome measure developed for use in patients with cleft lip and/or palate. A significant indicator of the CLEFT-Q's validity relates to its ability to detect differences between the impact of specific aspects of clefting before and after surgery. This study compares relevant sub-scale scores of the CLEFT-Q for patients requiring four specific surgical treatments against those who either have had surgery, or never needed surgery.
Aesthetic surgeries may help people to increase their self-esteem. Due to complexity of procedure, sometimes surgeons cannot persuade them about the outcomes and ultimate shape of the nose and face after surgery. Having an assessment of facial landmarks, or applying scales to demonstrate the expected outcome, such as Rhino Scale1 would be remarkable.
Subcostal incisions are used primarily in hepato-pancreato-biliary procedures due to their excellent exposure of upper abdominal structures, ease of closure of the abdominal wall layers and their reduced incidence of incisional hernias compared to midline incisions. Nonetheless, subcostal hernias – when they occur - pose a substantial clinical problem, and are considered as “complex defects”.1 In 2009, Stumpf et al. performed dissections on cadavers and stated that, in the treatment of subcostal...
Today, the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is considered to be the gold standard in microvascular breast reconstruction. Although this procedure is known as technically demanding, novice plastic surgeons must be able to perform these procedures to meet the rising demand. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the young junior professional is trained adequate enough to set up and safely perform microsurgical breast reconstructions.
: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigates differences in shoulder-related morbidity after delayed breast reconstruction by either a latissimus dorsi (LD) flap or a thoracodorsal artery perforater (TAP) flap.
Removal of the infected device has been the general treatment for device-associated infection in antibiotic failure. There have been anecdotal attempts to salvage infected medical devices by introducing a continuous closed irrigation system.
In the setting of upper eyelid ptosis, asymmetric eyebrow position may be observed, and may contribute to overall facial asymmetry. In this study, the authors aim to elucidate the prevalence and predictors of brow height asymmetry in the setting of ptosis, and to determine the effect of eyelid surgery on brow height asymmetry, in order to guide preoperative evaluation and informed consent.
Both mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSCs CM) and Botox have demonstrated therapeutic effects for hypertrophic scar (HS). It is unclear if a synergistic effect occurs when these treatments are used in combination. We aimed to investigate therapeutic effects of MSCs CM and Botox alone compared with a combined regimen on HS.
Midface advancement with distraction osteogenesis is more routinely used for faciocraniosynostosis. Distraction devices are generally classified into external and internal types. Compared with external distractors, internal distractors are smaller and better tolerated, but their removal is complicated. Here, we introduce a refined internal distraction device and describe its applicability. Unlike the previous anterior fixation plate that utilises screws, the refined internal distraction (type Z'gok)...
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a devastating exfoliative disorder with life-changing complications. This study aimed to identify acute complications and long-term sequelae of TEN and to highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary management follow-up.
Fronto-orbital advancement (FOA) is one of the accepted first-line surgical procedure for craniosynostosis. The aims of FOA are to expand the anterior cranial fossa, provide protection for the globe, and to contour the forehead. However, one of the disadvantages of FOA is the development of a bony gap behind the advanced segments, especially when FOA is performed in older patients.1 In the absence of re-ossification, this may lead to functional issues.
Gaspare Tagliacozzi, universally considered a pioneer in reconstructive plastic surgery (the registered trademark logo of the American Board of Plastic Surgery depicts a portrait of Tagliacozzi), became a Professor of anatomy and surgery at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna from 1570.
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Abstract A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of intravaginal energy-based therapies (laser and radiofrequency) on sexual health of cancer survivors (CS) (breast cancer (BCS) and/or gynecological cancer (GCS)). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched until 21/02/2019. Quality of reporting, methodology, and body of evidence were assessed using STROBE, MINORS, and GRADE. Primary outcomes were dyspareunia,...
Abstract This study compared the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) versus laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 45 TMD patients were randomly divided into three groups. In group 1 (LLLT), a GaAlAs laser was applied on painful masticatory muscles and TMJs (810 nm, 200 mW, 30 s per point, Gaussian beam, spot size 0.28 cm2, 21 J/cm2) two times a week for 5 weeks. In group 2 (LAT),...
Abstract To evaluate whether acute photobiomodulation can elicit a hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR were submitted to the implantation of a polyethylene cannula into the femoral artery. After 24 h, baseline measurements of the hemodynamic parameters: systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, and heart rate were accomplished for 1 h. Afterwards, laser application was simulated, and the hemodynamic parameters were recorded for 1 h. In the...
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To investigate the influence of socioeconomic household characteristics on access to paediatric malaria treatment in Homa Bay County, Kenya.
Comparison was done between high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection and quantification of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in feed samples. The t...
The aim of the study was to identify reasons for protocol deviations during conduct of large epidemiological surveys despite training of field workers, validating clinicians, and providing field supervisory su...
The purpose of this study to determine the clinical pattern and prevalence of heart disease in pregnancy at the first established cardio-maternal unit in Iraq over the last 4 years; since January 2015 till May...
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The goal of this protocol is to establish a 3D in vitro model to study the differentiation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in a tumor bulk-like environment, which can be addressed in different analysis systems, such as immunofluorescence, transcriptional analysis and life cell imaging.
Presented here is a protocol to build an automatic apparatus that guides a monkey to perform the flexible reach-to-grasp task. The apparatus combines a 3D translational device and turning table to present multiple objects in an arbitrary position in 3D space.
Sleep loss and circadian misalignment contribute to numerous operational accidents and incidents. The effectiveness of countermeasures and work scheduling designs aimed at mitigating fatigue can be challenging to evaluate in operational environments. This manuscript summarizes an approach for collecting sleep, circadian, fatigue, and performance data in complex operational environments.
Here a protocol for continuous blood sampling during PET/CT imaging of rats to measure the arterial input function (AIF) is described. The catheterization, the calibration and setup of the system and the data analysis of the blood radioactivity are demonstrated. The generated data provide input parameters for subsequent bio-kinetic modeling.
This innovative device uses magneto-inertial sensors to permit gait and activity analysis in uncontrolled environments. Currently in the qualification process as an outcome measure in the European Medical Agency, one of the applications will be to serve as a clinical endpoint in clinical trials in neuromuscular diseases.
This protocol describes high-throughput plasmid transfection of mammalian cells in a 384-well plate using acoustic droplet ejection technology. The time-consuming, error-prone DNA dispensing and multiplexing, but also the transfection reagent dispensing, are software-driven and performed by a nanodispenser device. The cells are then seeded in these prefilled wells.
System-wide analysis of multiple biomolecules is crucial to gain functional and mechanistic insights into biological processes. Hereby, an extensive protocol is described for high throughput extraction of lipids, metabolites, proteins and starch from a single sample harvested from synchronized Chlamydomonas culture.
Imaging techniques that reflect dynamic bone turnover may aid in characterizing a wide range of bone pathologies. We present detailed methodologies for performing and analyzing dynamic [18F]-NaF-PET-MRI data in a patient with facetogenic low back pain using the lumbar facet joints as a prototypical region of interest.
This protocol is a guide for implementing interference reflection microscopy on a standard fluorescence microscope for label-free, high-contrast, high-speed imaging of microtubules using in vitro surfaces assays.
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In the publication of this article [1], the figures were accidentally omitted due to an error. This has now been updated in the original article within the Case presentation section.
Anomalies in primary teeth are comparatively fewer than in the permanent teeth. The presence of a primary canine with two roots is very rare. An unusual anomaly like this may lead to problems during extraction...
Apert syndrome, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man number 101200, is a rare genetic condition, with autosomal dominant inheritance, characterized by craniosynostosis, midfacial malformation, and severe symmet...
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Abstract Background Since 1997, several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the same receptor or its ligand have been approved for use in oncology. However, no studies have summarized head-to-head trials of these mAbs. Methods Systematic search of the biomedical literature and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized studies comparing mAbs targeting the same...
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Abstract Purpose To provide an overview for radiologists of the systemic agents used in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and their associated toxicities. Results EOC is a common gynecological malignancy, with the majority of patients presenting with advanced stage disease at the time of diagnosis. Although primary cytoreductive surgery...
Abstract Objectives To assess 3 cm size threshold for follow-up of simple cysts in postmenopausal women. Materials and methods Radiology information system was retrospectively queried for “US pelvis complete” over 8 years in women > 50 years, with keywords ovarian cyst, adnexal cyst, ovarian mass, cystic mass, cystic neoplasm, ovarian neoplasm, and ovarian...
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Irrational use of antibiotics is a major driver of development of antibiotic resistance, which heavily threatens population health worldwide. Understanding the mechanism of physician’s antibiotic prescribing d...
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Multipartite entangled states are crucial for numerous applications in quantum information science. However, the generation and verification of multipartite entanglement on fully controllable and scalable quantum platforms remains an outstanding challenge. We report the deterministic generation of an 18-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state and multicomponent atomic Schrödinger cat states of up to 20 qubits on a quantum processor, which features 20 superconducting qubits, also referred to...
Multipartite entangled states are crucial for numerous applications in quantum information science. However, the generation and verification of multipartite entanglement on fully controllable and scalable quantum platforms remains an outstanding challenge. We report the deterministic generation of an 18-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state and multicomponent atomic Schrödinger cat states of up to 20 qubits on a quantum processor, which features 20 superconducting qubits, also referred to...
Although β-CsPbI3 has a bandgap favorable for application in tandem solar cells, depositing and stabilizing β-CsPbI3 experimentally has remained a challenge. We obtained highly crystalline β-CsPbI3 films with an extended spectral response and enhanced phase stability. Synchrotron-based x-ray scattering revealed the presence of highly oriented β-CsPbI3 grains, and sensitive elemental analyses—including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry—confirmed...
Landis et al. claim in their comment that Ca does not bind like a transition metal in Ca(CO)8. We reject their statement, which is based on a misconception of bonding models and misleading application and interpretation of quantum chemical methods for analyzing chemical bonds.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief radio emissions from distant astronomical sources. Some are known to repeat, but most are single bursts. Nonrepeating FRB observations have had insufficient positional accuracy to localize them to an individual host galaxy. We report the interferometric localization of the single-pulse FRB 180924 to a position 4 kiloparsecs from the center of a luminous galaxy at redshift 0.3214. The burst has not been observed to repeat. The properties of the burst and its host...
Studies of early human settlement in alpine environments provide insights into human physiological, genetic, and cultural adaptation potentials. Although Late and even Middle Pleistocene human presence has been recently documented on the Tibetan Plateau, little is known regarding the nature and context of early persistent human settlement in high elevations. Here, we report the earliest evidence of a prehistoric high-altitude residential site. Located in Africa’s largest alpine ecosystem, the repeated...
TP53, which encodes the tumor suppressor p53, is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer. The selective pressures shaping its mutational spectrum, dominated by missense mutations, are enigmatic, and neomorphic gain-of-function (GOF) activities have been implicated. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to generate isogenic human leukemia cell lines of the most common TP53 missense mutations. Functional, DNA-binding, and transcriptional analyses revealed loss of function but no GOF effects. Comprehensive mutational...
The synthesis of complex organic molecules requires several stages, from ideation to execution, that require time and effort investment from expert chemists. Here, we report a step toward a paradigm of chemical synthesis that relieves chemists from routine tasks, combining artificial intelligence–driven synthesis planning and a robotically controlled experimental platform. Synthetic routes are proposed through generalization of millions of published chemical reactions and validated in silico to maximize...
β-amyloid (Aβ)–dependent neuronal hyperactivity is believed to contribute to the circuit dysfunction that characterizes the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although experimental evidence in support of this hypothesis continues to accrue, the underlying pathological mechanisms are not well understood. In this experiment, we used mouse models of Aβ-amyloidosis to show that hyperactivation is initiated by the suppression of glutamate reuptake. Hyperactivity occurred in neurons with preexisting...
Quantum entanglement involving coherent superpositions of macroscopically distinct states is among the most striking features of quantum theory, but its realization is challenging because such states are extremely fragile. Using a programmable quantum simulator based on neutral atom arrays with interactions mediated by Rydberg states, we demonstrate the creation of "Schrödinger cat" states of the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) type with up to 20 qubits. Our approach is based on engineering the...
Dielectric capacitors with ultrahigh power densities are fundamental energy storage components in electrical and electronic systems. However, a long-standing challenge is improving their energy densities. We report dielectrics with ultrahigh energy densities designed with polymorphic nanodomains. Guided by phase-field simulations, we conceived and synthesized lead-free BiFeO3-BaTiO3-SrTiO3 solid-solution films to realize the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal nanodomains embedded in a cubic...
In 2017, western Canadian wildfires injected smoke into the stratosphere that was detectable by satellites for more than 8 months. The smoke plume rose from 12 to 23 kilometers within 2 months owing to solar heating of black carbon, extending the lifetime and latitudinal spread. Comparisons of model simulations to the rate of observed lofting indicate that 2% of the smoke mass was black carbon. The observed smoke lifetime in the stratosphere was 40% shorter than calculated with a standard model that...
In synthetic biology, methods for stabilizing genetically engineered functions and confining recombinant DNA to intended hosts are necessary to cope with natural mutation accumulation and pervasive lateral gene flow. We present a generalizable strategy to preserve and constrain genetic information through the computational design of overlapping genes. Overlapping a sequence with an essential gene altered its fitness landscape and produced a constrained evolutionary path, even for synonymous mutations....
When two sheets of graphene are stacked at a small twist angle, the resulting flat superlattice minibands are expected to strongly enhance electron-electron interactions. Here, we present evidence that near three-quarters () filling of the conduction miniband, these enhanced interactions drive the twisted bilayer graphene into a ferromagnetic state. In a narrow density range around an apparent insulating state at , we observe emergent ferromagnetic hysteresis, with a giant anomalous Hall (AH) effect...
Wu et al. (Reports, 31 August 2018, p. 912) claim that recently characterized octacarbonyls of Ca, Sr, and Ba mimic the classical Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson bonding motif of transition metals. This claim, which contradicts known chemistry and computed electron density distributions, originates in the assumption of a flawed reference state for energy decomposition analyses.
Perceptual experiences may arise from neuronal activity patterns in mammalian neocortex. We probed mouse neocortex during visual discrimination using a red-shifted channelrhodopsin (ChRmine, discovered through structure-guided genome mining) alongside multiplexed multiphoton-holography (MultiSLM), achieving control of individually specified neurons spanning large cortical volumes with millisecond precision. Stimulating a critical number of stimulus-orientation-selective neurons drove widespread recruitment...
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Publication date: Available online 8 August 2019Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationAuthor(s): Dina Pogrebnoy, Amy DennettAbstractObjectiveTo determine if prescribing a combined aerobic and resistance training exercise program in accordance with American Stroke Association physical activity guidelines improves mobility and physical activity levels of people after stroke.Data SourcesOnline database search from earliest available date to August 27, 2018.Study SelectionRandomized...
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