Fiddler crabs (Afruca tangeri) detect second-order motion in both intensity and polarization.

Motion vision is vital for a wide range of animal behaviors. Fiddler crabs, for example, rely heavily on motion to detect the movement of avian predators. They are known to detect first-order motion using both intensity (defined by spatiotemporal correlations in luminance) and polarization information (defined separately as spatiotemporal correlations in the degree and/or angle of polarization). However, little is known about their ability to detect second-order motion, another important form of motion information; defined separately by spatiotemporal correlations in higher-order image properties. In this work we used behavioral experiments to test how fiddler crabs (Afruca tangeri) responded to both second-order intensity and polarization stimuli. Fiddler crabs responded to a number of different intensity based second-order stimuli. Furthermore, the crabs also responded to second-order polarization stimuli, a behaviorally relevant stimulus applicable to an unpolarized flying bird when viewed against a polarized sky. The detection of second-order motion in polarization is, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of this ability in any animal. This discovery therefore opens a new dimension in our understanding of how animals use polarization vision for target detection and the broader importance of second-order motion detection for animal behavior.

Semi-Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Navigation Accuracy During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in a Real-World Environment.

INTRODUCTION: Although surgical navigation is commonly used in rhinologic surgery, data on real world performance are sparse because of difficulties in collecting measurements for target registration error (TRE). Despite publications showing submillimeter TRE, surgeons do report TRE of >3 mm. We describe a novel method for assessing TRE during surgery and report findings with this technique. METHODS: The TruDi navigation system (Acclarent, Irving, CA) was registered using a contour-based protocol. The surgeon estimated target registration error (e-TRE) at up to 8 points (anatomic regions of interest [ROI]) during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). System logs were used to simulate the localization for quantitative assessment of TRE (q-TRE). RESULTS: We performed 98 localizations in 20 patients. The ROI in the sinuses were ethmoid (33 sites), maxillary (28 sites), frontal (17 sites), and sphenoid (22 sites). For localizations, mean qTRE and eTRE were 0.93 and 0.84 mm (P = .56). Notably, 80% of qTRE and 81% of eTRE were 1 mm or less. Mean qTRE and eTRE were less for attending-performed registrations at the maxillary, frontal and sphenoid. CONCLUSION: Surgical navigation accuracy, as measured by qTRE and eTRE, approaches 1 mm or better at all sinus sites in a real-world setting for 80% of localizations. The qTRE method provides a unique approach for assessing TRE. Surgeons underestimate TRE (overstate navigation accuracy), but this difference does not seem to be statistically significant. Registration performed by trainees yields higher TRE than registration performed by attendings. These data may be used to guide navigation optimization.

Use of Branched EVAR in Treatment of Juxtarenal Aortic Aneurysm and Essential Accessory Renal Artery: Another Tool on the Shelf? A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: We present the case of a 58-year-old male patient referred to our department from a smaller facility for further evaluation and treatment strategy regarding the choice between open or endovascular surgery. The patient was diagnosed with a 6 cm asymptomatic juxtarenal aortic aneurysm and a 5 mm diameter accessory renal artery (ARA) supplying the lower half of left kidney. Further diagnostic assessments indicated that the left ARA was perfusing over 40% of the left kidney. METHODS: Given the patient's significant pre-existing medical conditions and elevated perioperative risk, the decision was made to proceed with minimally invasive endovascular surgery using a custom-made 5-branches stent graft (BEVAR). RESULTS: In the early postoperative period, the patient reported left flank pain. A subsequent CT scan identified a partial infarction in the left kidney due to the occlusion of an early small branch from the upper left renal artery. However, laboratory results showed no significant change in renal function compared to preoperative values. The patient was discharged 6 days post-surgery, with no additional complications observed during the early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates that BEVAR is acceptable technique with satisfactory early postoperative outcomes for treating juxtarenal aortic aneurysms with an accessory renal artery in patients who are high-risk candidates for open repair and anatomically unsuitable for FEVAR or Ch-EVAR procedures.

Is Intraoperative Muscle Motor Evoked Potential Variability due to Fluctuating Lower Motor Neuron Background Excitability?

PURPOSE: This pilot study tests the contribution of fluctuating lower motor neuron excitability to motor evoked potential (MEP) variability. METHODS: In six pediatric patients with idiopathic scoliosis and normal neurologic examination, cascades of 30 intraoperative H-reflexes (HRs) and MEPs were evoked in the soleus muscle using constant-current stimulators and recorded through surface electrodes with a 20-second interstimulus interval. First, HRs were obtained with an intensity capable of evoking the maximum response. Subsequently, MEPs were obtained with double trains and an intensity of 700 to 900 mA. Coefficients of variation (CVs) of amplitude and area under the curve from HRs and MEPs were compared using a paired two-tailed Student t test. Coefficients of correlation between the mean CVs of HR and MEP parameters were also assessed. RESULTS: Pooling the results from the six patients, the mean CV of amplitude from the MEP (24.6 ± 3) was significantly higher than that from the HR (3.5 ± 4.4) (P = 0.000091). The mean CV of the MEP area under the curve (21.8 ± 4.8) was also statistically significantly higher than that from the HR area under the curve (3.4 ± 4.5) (P = 0.00091). The coefficients of correlation of the mean CV of the HR amplitude and area under the curve compared with the corresponding values of the MEP were low (r = 0.29) and very low (r = 0.03), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that fluctuations in lower motor neuron excitability may be less important than previously thought to explain the magnitude of MEP variability. The efficacy of corticospinal volleys to recruit a larger and more stable lower motor neuron population would be critical to obtain reproducible MEPs.

Novel enrichment reduces boredom-associated behaviors in housed dairy cows.

There is currently societal interest and concern for dairy cow welfare. It has been suggested that boredom poses a welfare issue for dairy cows, particularly when presented with extended disposable time in housed environments that lack stimuli. Farm animals experience a multitude of affective states, which has created a need for positive experiences to be included in welfare management. Environmental enrichment can reduce boredom and facilitate positive experiences; however, the research in cows is limited. To assess the behavioral impact of a simple enrichment on commercially housed dairy cows, we provided 24-h access to a novel object, for 3 wk, for 2 separate groups of cows. Two boredom-associated behaviors significantly decreased when the object was present compared with when it was not present: "idling" behavior and unsuccessful robotic milking attempts ("refusals"). In addition, there was a significant increase in the occurrence of self-grooming during treatment weeks, when the novel object was present. These results suggest that idling and refusals may be behavioral indicators of boredom in dairy cows.

American Radium Society™ Appropriate Use Criteria on Cardiac Toxicity Prevention and Management After Thoracic Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The multidisciplinary American Radium Society (ARS) Thoracic Committee was assigned to create Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) on cardiac toxicity prevention and management for patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A systematic review of the current literature was conducted. Case variants of patients with thoracic malignancies undergoing radiation were created based on presence or absence cardiovascular risk factors and treatment-related risks assessed by dose exposure to the heart/cardiac substructures. Modified Delphi methodology was used by to evaluate the variants and procedures, with ≤3 rating points from median defining agreement/consensus. RESULTS: 6 variants were evaluated. The panel felt patients with cardiac comorbidities at high risk for radiation-related cardiac toxicity should undergo a prescreening cardiac focused history and physical (H&P) exam, electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac imaging including an echocardiogram, and referral to a cardiologist/cardio-oncologist. Recommendations for those without cardiac comorbidities at low risk for cardiac toxicity were to undergo a baseline history and physical examination only. Conversely, those without cardiac comorbidities but at high risk for radiation-related cardiac toxicity were recommended to undergo a prescreening EKG, in addition to a H&P exam. For patients with cardiac comorbidities at low risk for cardiac toxicity, the panel felt prescreening and post-screening tests may be appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: The ARS Thoracic AUC panel has developed multidisciplinary consensus guidelines for cardiac toxicity prevention, surveillance, and management after thoracic radiotherapy based on cardiac comorbidities at presentation and risk of radiation-related cardiac toxicity.

Machine translation training data for English-Tshivenda.

This data article describes a machine translation training data set for translation between English and Tshivenda. The data set contains parallel, aligned English-Tshivenda data as well as monolingual Tshivenda data. The data was collected from both web crawling of multilingual South African government sites and matched documents from translators or publishing sources. Additional unique data was translated from English into Tshivenda by professional translators to increase the total corpus size. This article contains information about the collection and translation of the data as well as how alignments and corpus cleanup were done. The wordcounts of the corpus are also given. In addition to training machine translation systems this data can also be used for the development of other Tshivenda core technologies as well as for linguistic studies.

Differences in cardiovascular risk factors associated with sex and gender identity, but not gender expression, in young, healthy cisgender adults.

Background: Sex differences exist in cardiovascular disease risk factors including elevated blood pressure and arterial stiffness, and decreased endothelial function in males compared to females. Feminine gender expression may be associated with elevated risk of acute coronary syndrome. However, no study has investigated the associations between sex, gender identity, and gender expression and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults. Methods: One hundred and thirty participants (22 ± 3 years) underwent assessments of hemodynamics, arterial stiffness [pulse wave velocity (PWV)], and brachial artery endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation; %FMD). Participants completed a questionnaire capturing sex category (50 male/80 female), gender identity category (49 men/79 women/2 non-binary), and aspects of gender expression assessed by the Bem Sex Role Inventory-30 (39 androgynous/33 feminine/29 masculine/29 undifferentiated). Sex/gender identity category groups were compared using unpaired t-tests and gender expression groups compared using one-way ANOVAs. Results: Resting systolic and mean arterial pressure (p < 0.01) were elevated in males vs. females. Central PWV was elevated in males [median (interquartile range): 6.4 (1.8) vs. 5.8 (2.2) m/s, p = 0.02]; however, leg and arm PWV were not different between sexes. %FMD was elevated in males vs. females, after accounting for a larger baseline artery diameter in males (8.8 ± 3.3% vs. 7.2 ± 3.1%, p = 0.02); since the majority of participants were cisgender, the same results were found examining gender identity (men vs. women). There were no differences across gender expression groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Sex/gender identity category, but not gender expression, influence cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, arterial stiffness, endothelial function) in cisgender adults; further research is needed in gender-diverse populations.

Butyrate-producing bacteria as probiotic supplement: beneficial effects on metabolism and modulation of behaviour in an obesity mouse model.

Obesity is a risk factor for cardio-metabolic and neurological disease. The contribution of gut microbiota to derangements of the gut-brain axis in the context of obesity has been acknowledged, particularly through physiology modulation by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Thus, probiotic interventions and administration of SCFAs have been employed with the purpose of alleviating symptoms in both metabolic and neurological disease. We investigated the effects of four butyrate-producing bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family on the development of metabolic syndrome and behavioural alterations in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. Male mice were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) or an ingredient-matched control diet for 2 months, and bacteria cultures or culture medium were given by gavage to HFD-fed mice every second day. Mice were assessed through a battery of metabolic and behaviour tests, and fluxes through the gut barrier and blood-brain barrier were determined using Dextran-based tracers. One of the administered bacteria from the Coprococcus genus, which produces butyrate and formate, afforded some degree of protection against the development of obesity and its complications. Results from this study, however, are insufficient to support brain health benefits of the bacteria tested. None of the bacteria modulated permeability through the gut or blood-brain barriers. Our results suggest health benefits of a bacteria from Lachnospiraceae family, and encourage further exploration of its use as probiotic.

Examining the causal effects of social exclusion on shame and dissociative detachment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dissociative detachment experiences (e.g., derealization, absorption) underpin much psychopathology and are often researched in relation to co-occurring affective states such as shame, the latter being known to occur in situations involving actual or perceived negative social evaluation. The association between shame and dissociative detachment may also be moderated by individual differences in people's need to belong. The goal of the present study was to experimentally investigate the effects of social exclusion on shame and dissociative detachment depending on perceivers' need to belong. METHODS: After measuring individual differences in need to belong and shame proneness, the Cyberball paradigm was utilized to communicate either social inclusion or exclusion. Following Cyberball, a sample of 281 participants completed measures of state shame and state dissociation. RESULTS: Social exclusion increased dissociative detachment, and these effects were mediated by increases in state shame. These effects were particularly evident among people with a high need to belong. LIMITATIONS: Other individual differences such as rejection sensitivity may also moderate the relationship between exclusion and shame. While Cyberball can be used to investigate shame, it can only induce shame via social exclusion, whereas shame can also be elicited in other ways such as performance failure. CONCLUSIONS: Social exclusion can elicit shame, which is most acutely felt by those with a strong need to belong, and this aversive experience appears to be managed by dissociative detachment.

Scalable mesoporous biochars from bagasse waste for Cu (II) removal: Process optimisation, kinetics and techno-economic analysis.

As the world faces the brink of climatological disaster, it is crucial to utilize all available resources to facilitate environmental remediation, especially by accommodating waste streams. Lignocellulosic waste residues can be transformed into mesoporous biochar structures with substantial pore capacity. While biochars are considered a method of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), they are in fact an environmental double-edged sword that can be used to extract metal ions from water bodies. Biochars possess high chemical affinities through chemisorption pathways that are tuneable to specific pH conditions. This work demonstrates how biochars can be enhanced to maximise their surface area and porosity for the removal of Cu (II) in solution. It was found that bagasse derived mesoporous biochars operate preferentially at high pH (basic conditions), with the 1.18 mKOH/mSCB material reaching 97.85% Cu (II) removal in 5 min. This result is in stark contrast with the majority of biochar adsorbents that are only effective at low pH (acidic conditions). As a result, the biochars produced in this work can be directly applied to ancestral landfill sites and carbonate-rich mine waters which are highly basic by nature, preventing further metal infiltration and reverse sullied water supplies. Furthermore, to assess the value in the use of biochars produced and applied in this way, a techno-economic assessment was carried out to determine the true cost of biochar synthesis, with possible routes for revenue post-Cu being removed from the biochar.

Black hole jets on the scale of the cosmic web.

When sustained for megayears (refs. 1,2), high-power jets from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) become the largest galaxy-made structures in the Universe3. By pumping electrons, atomic nuclei and magnetic fields into the intergalactic medium (IGM), these energetic flows affect the distribution of matter and magnetism in the cosmic web4-6 and could have a sweeping cosmological influence if they reached far at early epochs. For the past 50 years, the known size range of black hole jet pairs ended at 4.6-5.0 Mpc (refs. 7-9), or 20-30% of a cosmic void radius in the Local Universe10. An observational lack of longer jets, as well as theoretical results11, thus suggested a growth limit at about 5 Mpc (ref. 12). Here we report observations of a radio structure spanning about 7 Mpc, or roughly 66% of a coeval cosmic void radius, apparently generated by a black hole between 4.4 - 0.7 + 0.2 and 6.3 Gyr after the Big Bang. The structure consists of a northern lobe, a northern jet, a core, a southern jet with an inner hotspot and a southern outer hotspot with a backflow. This system demonstrates that jets can avoid destruction by magnetohydrodynamical instabilities over cosmological distances, even at epochs when the Universe was 7 to 1 5 - 2 + 6 times denser than it is today. How jets can retain such long-lived coherence is unknown at present.

Extended-period AOSLO imaging in the living human retina without pupil dilation: a feasibility study.

In vivo imaging using an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) is challenging, especially over extended periods. Pharmacological agents, administered as eye drops, are commonly used to dilate the pupil and paralyse accommodation, to improve image quality. However, they are contraindicated in some scenarios. Here, we evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of performing AOSLO imaging without pharmacological pupil dilation over 1.5 hours with visual stimulation. Through statistical analysis and theoretical modelling using a dataset of retinal and pupil images collected from six healthy, young, near-emmetropic participants between the ages of 20-30 years, we validate that the retinal image quality does not change significantly with time in the experimental session (p = 0.33), and that pupil size has a strong effect on image quality but is not the only contributing factor.

Unmasking a Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen in Adults: A Case Report of an Infected Urachal Cyst.

The urachus is a remnant of the fetal duct that typically obliterates and becomes a fibrous cord after birth. However, in rare cases where this process fails, urachal cysts and other abnormalities can form, often remaining undiagnosed due to their asymptomatic nature. Infection is the primary complication and can be misdiagnosed due to the cyst's obscurity and varied presentations. Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, fistula formation, and cyst rupture, potentially causing peritonitis. This paper discusses a 48-year-old male who consulted in the emergency department with acute abdominal symptoms, was diagnosed with an infected urachal cyst via imaging and successfully treated with antibiotics and subsequent surgical excision.

Linear and nonlinear models for assessing carcass composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry in egg- and meat-type chickens.

The objective of this study was to develop appropriate correction equations for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for total carcass composition of live meat- and egg-type chickens. Linear (bivariate linear and multivariate linear) and nonlinear (polynomial, multivariate polynomial, broken-line and Gompertz) equations were used to estimate carcass composition of DXA-scanned birds based on chemical proximate analysis. A total of 288 laying females (10-30 wk of age) and 305 broiler breeder females (4-32 wk of age) were used. The same birds scanned by DXA were dissected and utilized for whole-body proximate chemical analysis for body lean, fat, and mineral content (ash). As indicators of carcass fat and lean, abdominal fat pad and breast muscle weights were also recorded. Models were evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), coefficient of determination (R2), Durbin Watson test for autocorrelation (DW), and residuals observation (RES). Model estimations were done separately by strain or combined. Estimations of composition responses fit at least 1 of each linear and nonlinear models for the egg- and meat-type chickens on all parameters estimated (P < 0.05). In the egg-type chickens, multivariate linear regression was the best fit for body lean with the lowest RMSE and BIC, and highest R2 whereas body fat, body ash, and breast muscle were best predicted by the multivariate polynomial model. In the meat-type chickens, body lean was best predicted by the multivariate linear model with the lowest RMSE and BIC, and the highest R2 whereas the multivariate polynomial was the most parsimonious model for body fat, body ash, and abdominal fat. Positive autocorrelations were observed in several models tested for body fat, body ash, breast muscle, and abdominal fat pad when both strains were analyzed combined (P < 0.05). In summary, a strain-based correction is recommended to all the parameters, with exception of the BW estimation. Correction equations developed in this study demonstrated that the DXA technique is a reliable alternative to proximate chemical analysis in egg- and meat-type chickens.

Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation.

A hallmark of angiogenesis is the sprouting of endothelial cells. To replicate this event in vitro, biomaterial approaches can play an essential role in promoting cell migration. To study the capacity of a scaffold of fibrin (fibrinogen:thrombin mix) to support the movement of the endothelial cells, the migration area of spheroids formed with the HULEC cell line was measured. The cells were first allowed to form a spheroid using the hanging drop technique before being encapsulated in the fibrin gel. The cells' migration area was then measured after two days of embedding in the fibrin gel. Various conditions affecting fibrin gel polymerization, such as different concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin, were evaluated alongside rheology, porosity, and fiber thickness analysis to understand how these factors influenced cell behavior within the composite biomaterial. Data point toward thrombin's role in governing fibrin gel polymerization; higher concentrations result in less rigid gels (loss tangent between 0.07 and 0.034) and increased cell migration (maximum concentration tested: 5 U/mL). The herein presented method allows for a more precise determination of the crosslinking conditions of fibrin gel that can be used to stimulate angiogenic sprouting.

Optimization of Potent, Efficacious, Selective and Blood-Brain Barrier Penetrating Inhibitors Targeting EGFR Exon20 Insertion Mutations.

Herein, we report the optimization of a series of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Exon20 insertion (Ex20Ins) inhibitors using structure-based drug design (SBDD), leading to the discovery of compound 28, a potent and wild type selective molecule, which demonstrates efficacy in multiple EGFR Ex20Ins xenograft models and blood-brain barrier penetration in preclinical species. Building on our earlier discovery of an in vivo probe, SBDD was used to design a novel bicyclic core with a lower molecular weight to facilitate blood-brain barrier penetration. Further optimization including strategic linker replacement and diversification of the ring system interacting with the c-helix enabled photolytic and metabolic stability improvements. Together with refinement of molecular properties important for achieving high brain exposure, including molecular weight, H-bonding, and polarity, 28 was identified.

A radical containing micellar probe for assessing esterase enzymatic activity with ultra-low field Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

The ability to track altered enzyme activity using a non-invasive imaging protocol is crucial for the early diagnosis of many diseases but is often challenging. Herein, we show that Overhauser magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI) can be used to monitor enzymatic conversion at an ultra-low field (206 µT) using a highly sensitive "off/on" probe with a nitroxide stable radical containing ester, named T2C12-T80. This TEMPO derivative containing probe forms stable electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) silent micelles in water that are hydrolysed by esterases, thus yielding narrow EPR signals whose intensities correlate directly with specific enzymatic activity. The responsiveness of the probe to tumours, facilitated by increased esterase activity, was initially determined by comparing EPR signals measured upon incubation with 3T3 (healthy fibroblasts used as control), HepG2 (human hepatoma) and Hs766T (human pancreatic cancer cells) cell lysates and then with Hs766T and 3T3 living cells. Next, Overhauser MR images were detected on a phantom containing the probe and the esterases to show that the approach is well suited for being translated to the in vivo detection at the earth's magnetic field. Regarding detection sensitivity, ultra-low field OMRI (ULF-OMRI) is beneficial over OMRI at higher fields (e.g. 0.2 T) since Overhauser enhancements are significantly higher and the technique is safe in terms of the specific absorption rate.

Alzheimer's Disease Has Its Origins in Early Life via a Perturbed Microbiome.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with limited therapeutic options. Accordingly, new approaches for prevention and treatment are needed. One focus is the human microbiome, the consortium of microorganisms that live in and on us, which contributes to human immune, metabolic, and cognitive development and that may have mechanistic roles in neurodegeneration. AD and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD) are recognized as spectrum disorders with complex pathobiology. AD/ADRD onset begins before overt clinical signs, but initiation triggers remain undefined. We posit that disruption of the normal gut microbiome in early life leads to a pathological cascade within septohippocampal and cortical brain circuits. We propose investigation to understand how early-life microbiota changes may lead to hallmark AD pathology in established AD/ADRD models. Specifically, we hypothesize that antibiotic exposure in early life leads to exacerbated AD-like disease endophenotypes that may be amenable to specific microbiological interventions. We propose suitable models for testing these hypotheses.