Developmental Processes Research Articles

The pectus care guidelines: best practice consensus guidelines from the joint specialist societies SCTS/MF/CWIG/BOA/BAPS for the treatment of patients with pectus abnormalities.

Pectus defects are a group of congenital conditions found in approximately 1 in 250 people, where the sternum is depressed back towards the spine (excavatum), protrudes forwards (carinatum) or more rarely is a mixture of both (arcuatum or mixed defects). For the majority of patients, it is well tolerated, but some patients are affected psychologically, physiologically or both. The deformity becomes apparent at a young age due to the growth of the ribs and the cartilage that links them to the sternum. The majority of defects are mild and are well tolerated, i.e. they do not affect activity and do not cause psychological harm. However, some young people develop lower self-esteem and depression, causing them to withdraw from activities (such as swimming, dancing) and from interactions that might 'expose' them (such as sleepovers, dating, going to the beach and wearing fashionable clothes). This psychological harm occurs at a crucial time during their physical and social development. A small number of patients have more extreme depression of their sternum that impedes their physiological reserve, which can occur when engaging in strenuous exercise (such as running) but can also limit moderate activity such as walking and climbing stairs. The effects can be so extreme that symptoms occur at rest or cause life-threatening compression of the major blood vessels and organs. The group of patients with physiological impairment usually also suffer from low self-esteem and depression. This paper summarizes the current evidence for the different treatment strategies for this condition, including supportive care, psychological support and non-surgical techniques including bracing and vacuum bell therapy. We also consider surgical techniques including the Ravitch procedure, the Nuss procedure (minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum), pectus implants and other rare procedures such as Pectus Up. For the majority of patients, supportive care is sufficient, but for a minority, a combination of the other techniques may be considered. This paper also outlines best practice guidance for the delivery of such therapies, including standardized assessment, consent to treatment, audit, quality assurance and long-term support. All the interventions have risks and benefits that the patient, parents and clinicians need to carefully consider and discuss when deciding on the most appropriate course. We hope this evidence review of 'Best Practice for Pectus' will make a significant contribution to those considerations and help all involved, from patients to national policy makers, to deliver the best possible care.

Transitions in development - an interview with Sonia Sen.

Sonia Sen is Group Leader at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society in Bangalore, India. Her group is interested in understanding neurodevelopment and behaviour in Drosophila and Anopheles. We spoke to Sonia over a video call to talk about her research career, her transition to becoming a group leader, and the work that the Indian Society of Developmental Biologists is doing.

Approximate Bayesian computation for inferring Waddington landscapes from single-cell data

Single-cell technologies allow us to gain insights into cellular processes at unprecedented resolution. In stem cell and developmental biology snapshot data allow us to characterize how the transcriptional states of cells change between successive cell types. Here, we show how approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) can be employed to calibrate mathematical models against single-cell data. In our simulation study, we demonstrate the pivotal role of the adequate choice of distance measures appropriate for single-cell data. We show that for good distance measures, notably optimal transport with the Sinkhorn divergence, we can infer parameters for mathematical models from simulated single-cell data. We show that the ABC posteriors can be used (i) to characterize parameter sensitivity and identify dependencies between different parameters and (ii) to construct representations of the Waddington or epigenetic landscape, which forms a popular and interpretable representation of the developmental dynamics. In summary, these results pave the way for fitting mechanistic models of stem cell differentiation to single-cell data.

Identification and expression analysis of Sox family genes in echinoderms

The Sox gene family, a collection of transcription factors widely distributed throughout the animal kingdom, plays a crucial role in numerous developmental processes. Echinoderms occupy a pivotal position in many research fields, such as neuroscience, sex determination and differentiation, and embryonic development. However, to date, no comprehensive study has been conducted to characterize and analyze Sox genes in echinoderms. In the present study, the evolution and expression of Sox family genes across 11 echinoderms were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. The results revealed a total of 70 Sox genes, with counts ranging from 5 to 8 across different echinoderms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the identified Sox genes could be categorized into seven distinct classes: the SoxB1 class, SoxB2 class, SoxC class, SoxD class, SoxE class, SoxF class and SoxH class. Notably, the SoxB1, SoxB2, and SoxF genes were ubiquitously present in all the echinoderms studied, which suggests that these genes may be conserved in echinoderms. The spatiotemporal expression patterns observed for Sox genes in the three echinoderms indicated that various Sox members perform distinct functional roles. Notably, SoxB1 is likely involved in echinoderm ovary development, while SoxH may play a crucial role in testis development in starfish and sea cucumber. In general, the present investigation provides a molecular foundation for exploring the Sox gene in echinoderms, providing a valuable resource for future phylogenetic and genomic studies.

Early Development of the Thalamo-Pallial Stage of the Tectofugal Visual Pathway in the Chicken (Gallus gallus).

The tectofugal pathway is a highly conserved visual pathway in all amniotes. In birds and mammals, retinorecipient neurons located in the midbrain roof (optic tectum/superior colliculus) are the source of ascending projections to thalamic relays (nucleus rotundus/caudal pulvinar), which in turn project to specific pallial regions (visual dorsal ventricular ridge [vDVR]/temporal cortex) organized according to a columnar recurrent arrangement of interlaminar circuits. Whether or to which extent these striking hodological correspondences arise from comparable developmental processes is at present an open question, mainly due to the scarcity of data about the ontogeny of the avian tectofugal system. Most of the previous developmental studies of this system in birds have focused on the establishment of the retino-tecto-thalamic connectivity, overlooking the development of the thalamo-pallial-intrapallial circuit. In this work, we studied the latter in chicken embryos by means of immunohistochemical assays and precise ex vivo crystalline injections of biocytin and DiI. We found that the layered organization of the vDVR as well as the system of homotopic reciprocal connections between vDVR layers were present as early as E8. A highly organized thalamo-vDVR projection was also present at this stage. Our immunohistochemical assays suggest that both systems of projections emerge simultaneously even earlier. Combined with previous findings, these results reveal that, in striking contrast with mammals, the peripheral and central stages of the avian tectofugal pathway develop along different timelines, with a tecto-thalamo-intrapallial organization arising before and possibly independently of the retino-isthmo-tectal circuit.

Myocyte enhancer factor 2 exerts a pivotal role in larval development in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) plays essential roles in a variety of developmental processes. Prominent amongst multiple MEF2 functions is the regulation of muscle differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster. Nevertheless, the physiological importance of MEF2 has not been explored in non-Drosophilid insect species. Here we found HvMef2 was highly expressed at the first-instar larvae, 0-day-old second- and fourth-instar larvae, pupae and adults, especially in adult muscle in a Coleopteran potato defoliator Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Injection of 200, 500 or 1000 ng of dsMef2 into the third instar larvae significantly reduced the expression of HvMef2 and impaired larval-pupal-adult transition, in a dose-dependent manner. About 68 %, 77 % and 87 % of the resulting larvae arrested as stunted prepupae, which were gradually blackened and eventually died. Around 32 %, 23 % and 13 % of the HvMef2 depleted beetles formed pupae. Among these HvMef2 depleted pupae, 22 %, 16 % and 7 % became shriveled pupae until death; roughly 10 %, 7 % and 6 % emerged as malformed adults. The growth of the adult thorax muscles was repressed. The length and width of dorsal–ventral muscles were significantly reduced. Knockdown of HvMef2 at the fourth larval instar stage caused similar defects. Likewise, introduction of dsMef2 at a dose of 200, 500 or 1000 ng into pupae led to 27 %, 20 % and 11 % emergence percentages respectively, with deformed elytra and hindwings. Therefore, MEF2 plays vital roles during metamorphosis, especially in myogenic regulation network in H. vigintioctopunctata.

Comprehensive characterization of mitochondrial bioenergetics at different larval stages reveals novel insights about the developmental metabolism of Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mitochondrial bioenergetic processes are fundamental to development, stress responses, and health. Caenorhabditis elegans is widely used to study developmental biology, mitochondrial disease, and mitochondrial toxicity. Oxidative phosphorylation generally increases during development in many species, and genetic and environmental factors may alter this normal trajectory. Altered mitochondrial function during development can lead to both drastic, short-term responses including arrested development and death, and subtle consequences that may persist throughout life and into subsequent generations. Understanding normal and altered developmental mitochondrial biology in C. elegans is currently constrained by incomplete and conflicting reports on how mitochondrial bioenergetic parameters change during development in this species. We used a Seahorse XFe24 Extracellular Flux (XF) Analyzer to carry out a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (OCR) throughout larval development in C. elegans. We optimized and describe conditions for analysis of basal OCR, basal mitochondrial OCR, ATP-linked OCR, spare and maximal respiratory capacity, proton leak, and non-mitochondrial OCR. A key consideration is normalization, and we present and discuss results as normalized per individual worm, protein content, worm volume, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) count, nuclear DNA (ncDNA) count, and mtDNA:ncDNA ratio. Which normalization process is best depends on the question being asked, and differences in normalization explain some of the discrepancies in previously reported developmental changes in OCR in C. elegans. Broadly, when normalized to worm number, our results agree with previous reports in showing dramatic increases in OCR throughout development. However, when normalized to total protein, worm volume, or ncDNA or mtDNA count, after a significant 2-3-fold increase from L1 to L2 stages, we found small or no changes in most OCR parameters from the L2 to the L4 stage, other than a marginal increase at L3 in spare and maximal respiratory capacity. Overall, our results indicate an earlier cellular shift to oxidative metabolism than suggested in most previous literature.

KID ZONE 커뮤니티 공간 디자인에 나타난 체화된 인지(Embodied Cognition)에 관한 연구

With the acceleration of urbanization and changes in family structures, Kid Zone community spaces have become crucial places connecting urban areas and communities, making them key issues in urban planning and community development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of traditional Kid Zone community spaces as mediators for the healthy physical and mental development of children, based on the theory of embodied cognition. The research method involves conducting field investigations on traditional Kid Zone community spaces in the Xiamen region, followed by a case analysis of two selected communities that meet the criteria. The conclusion is that Kid Zone communities can be activated and improved from the perspective of embodied cognition space characteristics at three levels: embodiment, experience, and embeddedness.

Research on the Approach of Pre Writing in Art Activities Based on the Perspective of 3-6 Year Old Children

Children aged 3-6 have not yet acquired formal writing skills, and their main way of expressing their understanding and thoughts about the world is through painting. Almost all children have a strong interest in painting and hope to express their thoughts through it. The pre writing of children aged 3-6 is a spontaneous or adult guided behavior of drawing, writing symbols, and writing, which is an important foundation for transitioning to formal writing. Fully understand and respect the physical and mental development laws and characteristics of children aged 3-6 years old at different age stages. Based on the cognitive and learning needs of children, provide them with rich painting tools and materials, stimulate their interest in pre writing in playful art activities, exercise their fine motor skills, accumulate pre writing experience, and prepare them for scientific early childhood transition.

Spelling Development of Korean 1st Graders with and without Developmental Dyslexia

Objectives: This study examined the word writing abilities of Korean 1st graders with and without developmental dyslexia (DD) considering meaning accessibility and the structure of a Korean syllable. Methods: Fifteen typically developing children (TD) and fifteen children with developmental dyslexia were assigned word writing tasks in the first and second semesters of the first year. The word writing task contains ten words and ten non-words containing forty syllable-initial and syllable-medial graphemes, and twenty-two syllable-final graphemes. The analysis of the results was conducted in grapheme units, and the accuracy for each word/nonword and the error rate for each structure of a syllable was determined. Results: The DD group showed significant growth in both words/nonwords writing accuracy by the second semester, and the error rates of syllable-initial, syllable-medial, and syllable-final graphemes significantly decreased from the first to the second semester for the DD group. The TD group showed no significant difference in word/non-words writing, and there was no significant difference in error rates according to the structure of a syllable. Both the DD and TD groups showed higher error rates in final graphemes in both the first and second semesters. Conclusion: The word writing abilities of the DD group showed significant growth between the first and second semesters but still had difficulties, particularly in the final grapheme writing. The TD group developed word writing first, and nonword writing was still in development. But final grapheme writing was difficult even for TD group. Follow-up studies are needed to closely observe the developmental processes comparing with decoding level matched TD children.

Smart Nutrition for a Golden Generation: Nutrition Education for Mothers of Toddlers

Optimal nutrition during early childhood is crucial in supporting the overall growth and development of children. This period is known as the golden age, during which brain and physical development occur very rapidly. Therefore, nutrition education for mothers of young children is a vital step in ensuring that future generations grow up to be healthy and intelligent individuals. Knowledge about the nutritional needs of young children, the proper way to provide complementary feeding (MP-ASI), and the prevention of malnutrition are the main focuses of this education. This article also presents various essential nutrients needed by young children and practical tips for mothers in providing MP-ASI. The Community Service Program (PKM) was held at the Nurtiana Ginting Clinic, Serdang Bedagai Regency, on May 4, 2024, involving 18 participants. The primary goal of this PKM is that with good nutrition education, it is hoped that mothers will become more skilled in providing healthy and balanced meals, thus supporting the creation of a healthy and intelligent golden generation. Adequate knowledge will help mothers make the right decisions regarding diet and food choices, ultimately supporting the creation of a healthy, intelligent, and highly competitive golden generation. Nutrition education also plays an important role in preventing various health problems that can arise from nutritional deficiencies or excesses, thereby significantly improving children's quality of life.

Strategies of Kindergarten Teachers and Parents in Preparing Children's School Readiness: Academic, Social, and Emotional Perspectives

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the strategies employed by kindergarten teachers and parents in preparing children's school readiness in the Batang Angkola District, considering the local context and related social dynamics. Design/methods/approach – Utilizing a qualitative descriptive method, the research combines a descriptive approach to outline existing phenomena with a qualitative approach to explore the meanings and interpretations of the strategies used. Data were collected through direct interviews with several kindergarten teachers and parent representatives in kindergartens and surrounding areas in the Batang Angkola District. Additionally, secondary data related to supporting theories on children's school readiness were utilized. Findings – The findings reveal that both kindergarten teachers and parents are not fully prepared for children's school readiness. This is evidenced by the non-alignment of teachers' educational backgrounds with early childhood education and the parents' primary focus on academic readiness, often neglecting other critical aspects such as social and emotional development. Furthermore, the strategies implemented by kindergarten teachers and parents fail to holistically address the needs of children during the transition process. Research implications/limitations – The study is limited to the Batang Angkola District and may not be generalizable to other regions. These findings highlight areas in educational practices that require improvement and suggest the need for further research to develop more effective strategies for holistic school readiness preparation. Practical implications – The insights gained from this study provide guidance for the development of more holistic and integrated school readiness preparation programs that can better support children during their transition to school. These programs should aim to balance academic learning with social, emotional, and physical development to ensure well-rounded preparedness. Originality/value – This research sheds light on the specific challenges faced by kindergarten teachers and parents in the Batang Angkola District, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to school readiness that includes academic, social, and emotional aspects. By addressing these challenges, the study contributes to the broader understanding of effective strategies for early childhood education in similar contexts. Paper type Case study

Peran Guru dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Pembelajaran Pendidikan Jasmani di SD IT Al-Azhar Galang

The role of teachers in improving the quality of physical education learning at SD IT Al-Azhar Galang is very important, including the function as a teacher, guide, motivator, and supervisor who ensures that physical activities run safely and effectively. By using a varied and interesting curriculum, teachers can increase student interest and participation. In addition, providing constructive feedback and teaching sportsmanship values ​​helps in building positive character in students. The quality of physical education at SD IT Al-Azhar Galang is highly dependent on the competence and dedication of teachers in carrying out their roles holistically, which ultimately supports the physical, social, and emotional development of students.

A Decade of Organoid Research: Progress and Challenges in the Field of Organoid Technology.

Organoid technology, revolutionizing biomedical research, offers a transformative approach to studying human developmental biology, disease pathology, and drug discovery. Originating from the pioneering work of Henry Van Peters Wilson in 1907 and evolving through subsequent breakthroughs, organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells or tissue explants that mimic the architecture and function of organs in vitro. With the ability to model various organs such as intestine, liver, brain, kidney, and more, organoids provide unprecedented insights into organ development, disease mechanisms, and drug responses. This review highlights the historical context, generation methods, applications, and challenges of organoid technology. Furthermore, it discusses recent advancements, including strategies to address hypoxia-induced cell death and enhance vascularization within organoids, aiming to refine their physiological relevance and unlock their full potential in personalized medicine and organ transplantation.

Adolescents’ short-form video addiction and sleep quality: the mediating role of social anxiety

BackgroundAdolescence is a critical period for individual growth and development. Insufficient sleep adversely affects adolescents’ physical development, blood pressure, vision, and cognitive function. This study examined the effect of short-form video addiction on adolescents’ sleep quality, as well as the mediating role of social anxiety, to identify methods for improving adolescents’ sleep quality in the Internet era.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted in this cross-sectional study on 1629 adolescents recruited from three high schools. Their short-form video addiction, social anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated using corresponding scales. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to analyze the relationships among short‐form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety. Mediating effect analysis was constructed using AMOS 20.0 statistical software.ResultsParticipants’ sleep quality score is 6.12 ± 3.29 points. The detection rate of sleep quality among them is 31.06%. Short‐form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety are significantly correlated (r = 0.439, 0.404, 0.457, P < 0.001). The direct effect of short-form video addiction on sleep quality is 0.248, accounting for 62.4% of the total effect. The indirect effect exerted through social anxiety is 0.149, accounting for 37.6%.ConclusionsSleep disorders are very common among Chinese adolescents. Short‐form video addiction is positively correlated with adolescents’ sleep quality and social anxiety. Social anxiety partially mediates the relationship between short-form video addiction and sleep quality. The adverse effects of short-form video addiction and social anxiety on the sleep quality of this group must be minimized. Schools are recommended to implement measures to promote sleep quality among adolescents.

Methods for Tattooing Xenopus laevis with a Rotary Tattoo Machine.

Animal models expand the scope of biomedical research, furthering our understanding of developmental, molecular, and cellular biology and enabling researchers to model human disease. Recording and tracking individual animals allows researchers to reduce the number of animals required for study and refine practices to improve animal wellbeing. Several well-documented methods exist for marking and tracking mammals, including ear punching and ear tags. However, methods for marking aquatic amphibian species are limited, with the existing resources being outdated, ineffective, or prohibitively costly. In this manuscript, we outline methods and best practices for marking Xenopus laevis with a rotary tattoo machine. Proper tattooing results in high-quality tattoos, making individuals easily distinguishable for researchers and posing minimal risk to animals' health. We also highlight the causes of poor-quality tattoos, which can result in tattoos that fade quickly and cause unnecessary harm to animals. This approach allows researchers and veterinarians to mark amphibians, enabling them to track biological replicates and transgenic lines and to keep accurate records of animal health.

Recreational Space as the Embodiment of the Garden of Eden Archetype

The purpose of the article is to research the spiritual basis and motivation of human activity in the relationships between humans and the natural environment to create various forms of recreational spaces in the socio-cultural context of the post-industrial era. Theoretical basis. The research is based on the approach of analytical psychology by C. Jung, who identified the archetypes of the collective unconscious. These archetypes help overcome the limitations of the functional and pragmatic approach, which is focused on mere survival. They make sense and provide values in the relationship between humans and nature. Originality. The article evaluates how archetypal images of the collective unconscious, with the help of the Garden of Eden image in the socio-cultural context of European civilization, influence the recreational space in contemporary urban environments. The novelty of the work is also in the interdisciplinary approach, integrating knowledge from various fields such as philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, analytical psychology, and urban planning, which contributes to the profound understanding of complex socio-cultural processes. This paradigm emphasizes the interconnection and interdependence, adaptability, and co-evolution of society and nature, as well as requires the interdisciplinary methodological approach. Additionally, the article presents a fresh perspective on nature and its elements in terms of their importance both for individuals and society. Conclusions. The article investigates the socio-cultural factors that evoke the interest of man and society in natural factors as a recreational resource and determine the latest theoretical approaches to their use. Various recreational activities to create a renewed space provide a person with a full physical, socio-psychological and cognitive development. The humanization of the natural environment becomes the embodiment of the collective memory and history of mankind. The recreational space symbolizes spiritual values, so it is transformed from physical to socio-cultural and provides theoretical approaches to its implementation in modern urban planning practices.

When Size Matters: New Insights on How Seed Size Can Contribute to the Early Stages of Plant Development.

The seed habit is the most complex and successful method of sexual reproduction in vascular plants. It represents a remarkable moment in the evolution of plants that afterward spread on land. In particular, seed size had a pivotal role in evolutionary success and agronomic traits, especially in the field of crop domestication. Given that crop seeds constitute one of the primary products for consumption, it follows that seed size represents a fundamental determinant of crop yield. This adaptative feature is strictly controlled by genetic traits from both maternal and zygotic tissues, although seed development and growth are also affected by environmental cues. Despite being a highly exploited topic for both basic and applied research, there are still many issues to be elucidated for developmental biology as well as for agronomic science. This review addresses a number of open questions related to cues that influence seed growth and size and how they influence seed germination. Moreover, new insights on the genetic-molecular control of this adaptive trait are presented.

Dynamic changes in subplate and cortical plate microstructure at the onset of cortical folding in vivo.

Cortical gyrification takes place predominantly during the second to third trimester, alongside other fundamental developmental processes, such as the development of white matter connections, lamination of the cortex and formation of neural circuits. The mechanistic biology that drives the formation cortical folding patterns remains an open question in neuroscience. In our previous work, we modelled the in utero diffusion signal to quantify the maturation of microstructure in transient fetal compartments, identifying patterns of change in diffusion metrics that reflect critical neurobiological transitions occurring in the second to third trimester. In this work, we apply the same modelling approach to explore whether microstructural maturation of these compartments is correlated with the process of gyrification. We quantify the relationship between sulcal depth and tissue anisotropy within the cortical plate (CP) and underlying subplate (SP), key transient fetal compartments often implicated in mechanistic hypotheses about the onset of gyrification. Using in utero high angular resolution multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging (HARDI) from the Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP), our analysis reveals that the anisotropic, tissue component of the diffusion signal in the SP and CP decreases immediately prior to the formation of sulcal pits in the fetal brain. By back-projecting a map of folded brain regions onto the unfolded brain, we find evidence for cytoarchitectural differences between gyral and sulcal areas in the late second trimester, suggesting that regional variation in the microstructure of transient fetal compartments precedes, and thus may have a mechanistic function, in the onset of cortical folding in the developing human brain.

Table tennis as part of an elective course in physical education

Importance. One of the methods to improve the level of physical education teaching is the introduction of elective disciplines. Elective disciplines allow the student to satisfy his professional interests and personal inclinations, and give the teacher the opportunity to organize the educational process most effectively.Materials and Methods. One of the issues of teaching is carrying out constant monitoring and recording of progress, the correct distribution of points for completing assignments. Continuous monitoring allows the teacher to identify shortcomings and issues that arise when teaching elective disciplines and timely adjust the educational process.Results and Discussion. Using the pedagogical principles of sports-oriented physical development, we are developed a system of criteria that allows us to effectively assess the preparation of students in the process of studying the elective discipline “Table Tennis”. The assessment system is focused on the content of educational material in the module and took into account the main areas of training such as special technical training, theoretical and methodological foundations of tennis, general physical training. The assessment of the level of students’ training in special technical training is carried out by testing the skills of performing certain technical techniques. The quality and speed of performing these techniques are translated into points. During the learning process, the set of technical techniques becomes more complex or the requirements for the speed and quality of its implementation increase.Conclusion. The presented assessment system made it possible to effectively assess the level of students’ preparation when studying the elective discipline “Table Tennis”.