Marked Changes Research Articles

Bee Venom Causes Oxidative Stress, Biochemical and Histopathological Changes in the Kidney of Mice.

Accidents with venomous bees are a serious worldwide health concern. Since the kidney has been reported as the main venom-target organ, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo nephrotoxic effect of Algerian bee venom (ABV) (Apis mellifera intermissa) collected in the middle east of Algeria. A preliminary study was performed on ABV to identify the ABV using SDS-PAGE analysis and to determine the in vivo intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) using the Probit analysis test. In vivo nephrotoxic effect was assessed through the determination of physiological and kidney biochemical markers in mice intraperitoneally injected with ABV at doses of 0.76 (D1); 1.14 (D2) and 2.29 mg/kg body weight (bwt) (D3), corresponding respectively to LD50/15, LD50/10, and LD50/5 (i.p. LD50=11.48 mg/kg bwt) for seven consecutive days. Results revealed a marked decrease in body weight gain and food intake, and an increase in absolute and relative kidney weights in ABV D2 and D3 treated mice compared with controls. Furthermore, ABV D2 and D3 resulted in a significant increase in serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid. ABV-induced oxidative stress was evidenced by a significant increase in kidney MDA level, and a significant depletion in kidney GSH level, and catalase activity. Meanwhile, no marked changes in the above-mentioned parameters were noticed in ABV D1. Accordingly, the adverse nephrotoxic effect of ABV was proved by the dose-dependent kidney histological changes. In summary, the results of the present study evidence that ABV at doses of 1.14 (D2) and 2.28 mg/kg body weight (bwt) can cause marked changes in kidney biochemical and major antioxidant markers, and histological architecture.

Maternal restricted- and over- feeding during gestation perturb offspring sperm epigenome in sheep.

Inadequate maternal nutrition during gestation can have immediate and lifelong effects on offspring. This study shows that maternal restricted - and over- nutrition during gestation do not affect semen characteristics in F1 male offspring but alters offspring sperm sncRNA profiles and DNA methylome in sheep. There is a growing body of evidence that inadequate maternal nutrition during gestation can have immediate and lifelong effects on offspring. However, little is known about the effects of maternal nutrition during gestation on male offspring reproduction. Here, using a sheep model of maternal restricted - and over - nutrition (60 or 140% of the National Research Council requirements) during gestation, we found that maternal restricted - and over - nutrition do not affect semen characteristics (i.e. volume, sperm concentration, pH, sperm motility, sperm morphology) or scrotal circumference in male F1 offspring. However, using small RNA sequencing analysis, we demonstrated that both restricted - and over - nutrition during gestation induced marked changes in composition and expression of sperm small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) subpopulations including in male F1 offspring. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis further identified specific genomic loci where poor maternal nutrition resulted in alterations in DNA methylation. These findings indicate that maternal restricted - and over - nutrition during gestation induce epigenetic modifications in sperm of F1 offspring sperm in sheep, which may contribute to environmentally influenced phenotypes in ruminants.

Acetate supplementation rescues social deficits and alters transcriptional regulation in prefrontal cortex of Shank3 deficient mice

BackgroundThe pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves genetic and environmental factors. Mounting evidence demonstrates a role for the gut microbiome in ASD, with signaling via short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) as one mechanism. Here, we utilize mice carrying deletion to exons 4–22 of Shank3 (Shank3KO) to model gene by microbiome interactions in ASD. We identify SCFA acetate as a mediator of gut-brain interactions and show acetate supplementation reverses social deficits concomitant with alterations to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) transcriptional regulation independent of microbiome status. MethodsShank3KO and wild-type (Wt) littermates were divided into control, Antibiotic (Abx), Acetate and Abx + Acetate groups upon weaning. After six weeks, animals underwent behavioral testing. Molecular analysis including 16S and metagenomic sequencing, metabolomic and transcriptional profiling were conducted. Additionally, targeted serum metabolomic data from Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMS) patients (who are heterozygous for the Shank3 gene) were leveraged to assess levels of SCFA’s relative to ASD clinical measures. ResultsShank3KO mice were found to display social deficits, dysregulated gut microbiome and decreased cecal levels of acetate – effects exacerbated by Abx treatment. RNA-sequencing of mPFC showed unique gene expression signature induced by microbiome depletion in the Shank3KO mice. Oral treatment with acetate reverses social deficits and results in marked changes in gene expression enriched for synaptic signaling, pathways among others, even in Abx treated mice. Clinical data showed sex specific correlations between levels of acetate and hyperactivity scores. ConclusionThese results suggest a key role for the gut microbiome and the neuroactive metabolite acetate in regulating ASD-like behaviors.

Structure evolution at the gate-tunable suspended graphene-water interface.

Graphitic electrode is commonly used in electrochemical reactions owing to its excellent in-plane conductivity, structural robustness and cost efficiency1,2. It serves as prime electrocatalyst support as well as a layered intercalation matrix2,3, with wide applications in energy conversion and storage1,4. Being the two-dimensional building block of graphite, graphene shares similar chemical properties with graphite1,2, and its unique physical and chemical properties offer more varieties and tunability for developing state-of-the-art graphitic devices5-7. Hence it serves as an ideal platform to investigate the microscopic structure and reaction kinetics at the graphitic-electrode interfaces. Unfortunately, graphene is susceptible to various extrinsic factors, such as substrate effect8-10, causing much confusion and controversy7,8,10,11. Hereby we have obtained centimetre-sized substrate-free monolayer graphene suspended on aqueous electrolyte surface with gate tunability. Using sum-frequency spectroscopy, here we show the structural evolution versus the gate voltage at the graphene-water interface. The hydrogen-bond network of water in the Stern layer is barely changed within the water-electrolysis window but undergoes notable change when switching on the electrochemical reactions. The dangling O-H bond protruding at the graphene-water interface disappears at the onset of the hydrogen evolution reaction, signifying a marked structural change on the topmost layer owing to excess intermediate species next to the electrode. The large-size suspended pristine graphene offers a new platform to unravel the microscopic processes at the graphitic-electrode interfaces.

Energy-balance modeling of heterogeneous glacio-hydrological regimes at upper Indus

Study regionThe Upper Indus River Basin (UIB). Study focusThe UIB has experienced marked runoff change due to the accelerated glacier melting under climate warming. Nonetheless, the glacio-hydrological regime in the UIB remains unclear due to considerable uncertainties in precipitation data and glacio-hydrology modeling. Here, we used a state-of-the-art water and energy budget-based distributed glacio-hydrology model (WEB-DHM-S) that employed an energy-balance glacier module for both clean and debris-covered glaciers to analyze the hydrological regimes within the UIB during 2001–2020, particularly the spatial heterogeneity among the Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindu-Kush mountains. New hydrological insights for the regionResults indicated that the high-resolution ERA5-Land precipitation data showed the most reliable estimate (∼750 mm/yr) among available products, which was the model’s forcing data. Our results showed that the mean contributions of snow, glaciers, rainfall, and baseflow to total runoff in the UIB were 41.5%, 23.3%, 34.7%, and 0.5%, respectively. Glacial melting made the largest contribution to total runoff in the Karakoram (35.3%), while the smallest contribution was made in the Hindu Kush (15.9%). Further, we showed that glacial melting was highly sensitive to changes in air temperature and solar radiation inputs. In particular, fluctuating solar radiation could change the magnitude and timing of annual flood peaks in ice melting, which emphasized the crucial role of energy-related forcing data (besides the traditional precipitation and air temperature inputs) in glacio-hydrology modeling.

Patterns of trace element deposition in beluga whale teeth reflect early life history

Determination of trace element concentrations in continuously growing biological structures such as otoliths, whiskers, and teeth can provide important insight into physiological and ontogenetic processes. We examined concentrations of 11 trace elements (Li, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Cs, Ba, Pb) in the annual dentine growth layer groups (GLGs) of teeth of 66 Eastern Canadian Arctic belugas (Delphinapterus leucas). Several of these trace elements displayed clear and consistent patterns in early life, though few longer term trends or signals were present in trace element data for either females or males. Large changes in Sr and Ba concentrations in fetal dentine reflected in utero shifts in element deposition in the teeth of developing belugas. Marked changes in these elements during the first years after birth were likely associated with the onset of nursing and subsequent weaning. Mg, Mn, and Zn also displayed clear and consistent patterns in early life that correlated strongly with dentine stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) data, suggesting these elements merit further study as potential tools for studying nursing and weaning. Depositional patterns of Zn and Pb, which have been linked to sexual maturation in female Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), were inconsistent in beluga teeth. Some individuals (including males) displayed patterns strongly resembling those observed in female walruses, whereas many animals did not, perhaps because they had not yet reached sexual maturity. The lack of clear patterns in trace element deposition after the first few years of life may have resulted from pooling samples from multiple populations/regions collected across more than two decades, but may also indicate that elemental concentrations are primarily driven by other, extrinsic processes later in life, and might be useful as biomonitors of environmental element concentrations or tools for delineating population structure.

Ab initio kinetics of H-atom abstraction from monomethylhydrazine

Monomethylhydrazine (CH3NHNH2, MMH) has been widely used as a propellant for attitude or trajectory control motors. Multi-channel reaction kinetics of H-atom abstraction in MMH may improve the understanding of combustion properties and the modeling of its chemical kinetics mechanisms. This study systematically investigated the ab initio kinetics of H-abstraction reactions of MMH with nine species: NO2, OH, H, O2, HO2, NH2, CH3, CH3O, and CH3O2. Four different H-atom abstraction were considered, resulting in the formation of corresponding CH3NNH2, t-CH3NHNH, c-CH3NHNH, and CH2NHNH2 radical. Their kinetic information was analyzed, including reaction enthalpy, barrier height, potential energy surface, and rate coefficient. An updated kinetics mechanism of the MMH system with 89 species and 547 reactions was applied for ignition delay time (IDT) simulations and sensitivity analyses. The results suggest that: (1) a distinction between t-CH3NHNH2 and c-CH3NHNH2 should be considered, (2) c-HONO and HNO2 are the main products of H-abstraction reactions in MMH + NO2, (3) MMH + CH3O is a very fast reaction, which has previously been mechanistically neglected, (4) the IDTs of the MMH/NTO system had marked changes at low temperatures, which were mainly due to the influence of H-abstraction reactions from MMH by NO2, and (5) the new MMH mechanism predicts IDTs for MMH in “air” that were noticeable effected at all conditions.

Roadside air pollution and secondary organic aerosol seasonal trends from an oxidation flow reactor in Seoul

The aim of this study was to determine the seasonal trends in secondary aerosols (SAs) and urban pollutants formed in an oxidation flow reactor (OFR) at a key roadside location in Seoul, South Korea. Spring 2019 saw high primary concentrations overall, and all seasons saw high levels of NOx, SO2, and equivalent black carbon (eBC) trends in the early morning (6:00–7:00). This exhibited similarities to the trend in diesel vehicle traffic volume. During the campaign, the modified hydroxyl radical (OH) exposure in the OFR was ∼1.1 × 1012 molecules cm−3 s (∼8.5 days), and the potential organic aerosol enhancement (OAPE) was 0.4–57.7 μg m−3 (winter 0.4−1.6, spring 28.4−52.3, summer 40.5−57.7, fall 18.1−31.1). The highest OAPE/ΔCO value was 89.5–414.7 μg m−3 for 0.1−4 OH·day in summer, and the lowest level was 1.1–8 μg m−3 for 0.5−8.5 in OH·day winter (including holidays). OAPE in seasons without winter under ∼4.5 OH· day had a ∼5.5 times higher value compared to that of organic on the roadside, accounting for 50.9−70.2% of the total sum (organic + eBC + OAPE). This had a high contribution to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and, for winter, a value of only ∼5.5%. The predicted SOA formation from intermediate volatile organic compounds (IVOCs) calculated based on literature was 11–47% during mornings (9:30–11:30), excluding the winter season. This value was higher than the SOA formation from anthropogenic VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m,p,o-xylene) and biogenic VOCs (isoprene, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes), indicating the need for additional research into the domestic status of IVOCs. The marked seasonal change in South Korea's climate made applying research findings from other countries difficult. Therefore, further studies must be conducted based on realistic applicability, considering various environmental conditions, chemical speciation, and the classification of emission inventory components.

Hospitalists as Facilitators of Surge and Contingency Medical Operations and Planning.

Hospital medicine, a specialty encompassing physicians and advanced practice providers in internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine, has been a core and rapidly growing component of civilian health care for the past two decades. More recently, hospitalists have been taking on key roles during surge and contingency planning and operations, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic which necessitated marked changes in inpatient care across the United States. The military health system has been slower to incorporate hospitalists into clinical care and planning than civilian organizations due to its unique features. However, an increasing focus on future distributed operations in contested environments, pandemic care, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response requires new consideration of their role in military medicine. This stems from hospitalists' value as clinicians who include triage, resource utilization stewardship, medical inpatient care, pre-/post-operative management of surgical patients, and high acuity patient stabilization and management within their scope, often working collaboratively with other specialists such as emergency medicine physicians, surgeons, and intensivists. Just as importantly, hospitalists are system-level facilitators and leaders of patient capacity expansion and/or clinical process changes when needed for response to incidents in a variety of acute care scenarios. With uniformed billets being increasingly targeted to military platform requirements, there is now an opportunity to revisit the value of hospitalists in military medicine. In this Commentary, we review the roles that hospitalists can fill in hospital and operational medical settings, with a focus on surge and contingency operations. To demonstrate this capability, we present here the experience of two operational units employing hospitalists for high acuity patient management and two civilian hospitals implementing surge operations during the 2022-2023 "tripledemic" of viral respiratory infections in the United States. Their innovations facilitated the care of higher acuity and higher volume during times when medical care requirements were limited by traditional staffing models. We end by reviewing opportunities and challenges related to expanding hospitalist use within the military health system and describing efforts that are underway to address the challenges.

Variability of biothermal conditions in the vicinity of the Polish Antarctic station in the South Shetlands, West Antarctica

There are nine year-round and 11 seasonal scientific stations in the South Shetland Islands, an area often visited by cruise ships and sailing yachts. Although this is the warmest part of Antarctica, the weather conditions may be demanding for humans. We analysed the variability of biothermal conditions near Henryk Arctowski Station Polish Antarctic Station, on King George Island, during the period 2013–2021, using the wind chill index (WCI), which combines air temperature and wind speed, to determine thermal sensation. WCI values were interpreted using two cold sensation categorisations. Hourly WCI values were assigned to thermal sensation classes that ranged from “comfortable” to “frosty.” The most favourable biothermal conditions occurred from December to February. The “cold” sensation was dominant in all months, its average occurrence frequency ranging from 56.4% (in January) to 84.4% (in July). From November to March, there was no risk of frostbite to uncovered body parts. Such conditions occurred only from April to October, with a frequency of 0.2–6.8%; biothermal conditions were also the most variable in this period. Maximal WCI hourly values show that dangerous weather conditions may occur throughout the day in June and for most of the day from July to September. An abrupt change in biothermal conditions was more often caused by wind speed change than by air temperature change. The most marked WCI changes occurred from April to September, on average five times per year. Our results indicate that biothermal conditions in the vicinity of Arctowski Station are predominantly favourable for outdoor work only if a person wears proper winter clothing.

MtTGA1 Transcription Factor Enhances Salt Tolerance through Hormonal Regulation and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Medicago truncatula

The TGACG motif-binding factor1 (TGA1) transcription factor, in which belongs to the bZIP transcription factor family and has vast application potential in plant growth and development. Here, we cloned the gene of the MtTGA1 transcription factor from Medicago truncatula. The MtTGA1 promoter region contains a diverse range of photoregulatory and hormonal regulatory elements. The expression profile of MtTGA1 indicated its highest expression in the root. Additionally, the expression level of MtTGA1 was significantly upregulated after SA and BR treatments and showed a downward trend after GA and ABA treatments. To explore the potential function of MtTGA1, we treated the transgenic plants with salt treatment for 15 days, and the results showed that transgenic plants demonstrated significantly longer root lengths and heightened activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbic acid catalase (APX), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in their roots and leaves. The levels of endogenous hormones, including ABA and BR were improved in transgenic plants, with a marked change in the morphology of their leaf cells. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 193 differentially expressed genes, which were significantly enriched in the pathways of “Brassinosteroid biosynthesis”, “Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism”, and “Plant hormone signal transduction”. Furthermore, MtTGA1 was found to interact with the SPX domain-containing protein 1 (SPX1) in Medicago truncatula. In conclusion, these results are beneficial for further studies about the plant growth and development regulatory network mediated by the TGA1 transcription factor family.

Skeletal Anchorage Augmentation in Extraction/Nonextraction Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Study.

To evaluate and compare skeletal, dental, and soft tissue parameters by therapeutic extraction of first premolar and nonextraction distalization of maxillary and mandibular arches in bimaxillary proclination using the skeletal anchorage system. About 40 orthodontic patients undergoing extraction or nonextraction treatment are enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. Participants are randomly assigned to either the extraction or nonextraction group and receive treatment augmented with skeletal anchorage. Mini implants were placed in the extraction group for retraction and infra-zygomatic crest (IZC) and buccal shelf screws were placed in the nonextraction group for distalization. Comparison between the ages of the patients among both Groups showed no significant difference. A significant difference is observed in dental and soft tissue parameters before and after the treatment in group A, whereas skeletal parameters also showed significant changes along with dental and soft tissue parameters in group B. There is a significant change in the position of incisors by retraction and facial profile improves gradually in group A while for group B, a marked change in lower facial height was even seen. On comparing both the groups, a highly significant difference can be seen with respect to the amount of incisor retraction and change in molar inclination. The time taken for retraction of incisors is less in comparison to distalization. With this, we can easily avoid premolar extraction, and in cases of impacted third molars distalization as when indicated can be helpful as a part of the nonextraction treatment plan.

Dynamics of High-Density Unipolar Epicardial Electrograms During PFA.

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel nonthermal cardiac ablation technology based on irreversible electroporation (IRE). While areas of IRE lead to durable lesions, the surrounding regions, where reversible electroporation occurs, recover. The behavior of local electrograms in areas of different electroporation levels remains unknown. The goal of this study is to characterize electrogram dynamics after PFA in IRE and reversible electroporation areas. A total of 6 domestic swine were used. PFA was applied in the epicardium of the right and left ventricles using a focal monopolar catheter. Additional radiofrequency ablations were performed. Epicardial unipolar electrograms were acquired at baseline and for 60 minutes post PFA/radiofrequency ablation using a high-density electrode matrix attached to the epicardium. Electrogram dynamics were analyzed in areas corresponding to different levels of electroporation. Acute lesion formation was assessed after 3 to 5 hours by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Electrogram analysis demonstrated a clear association between electrogram changes and the level of electroporation. Immediately after PFA, electrograms displayed the following: a significant decrease in R/S-wave amplitude; a large elevation of the ST-segment; and a large decrease in their |(dV/dt)|max. Marked changes in electrograms were observed beyond the lesion area. Thereafter, a gradual recovery was observed. The evolution of all the electrogram parameters throughout the 60 minutes after PFA was significantly different (P<0.05) between the IRE and reversible electroporation areas. Acute lesion staining showed significantly larger depth for PFA lesions compared with radiofrequency ablation. This study shows that unipolar electrograms can differentiate between reversible electroporation and IRE areas during the first 30 minutes post ablation. Differences after the first 30 minutes are less evident. Our findings could result useful for immediate lesion assessment after PFA and warrant further investigation.

No Excess Cancer Risk among Veterinarians in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden after the 1980s.

The cancer profile of veterinarians has received little research attention, despite the profession potentially being exposed to a wide range of known and suspected carcinogens. In this large-scale cohort study, we assessed cancer incidence in veterinarians in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, across more than 40 years (1961-2005). The cohort comprised 4708 veterinarians and 119,503 person-years at follow-up. The overall cancer incidence in veterinarians was close to the incidence in the total population in all countries and in all age groups. In male veterinarians, the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) in 1961-1990 were elevated for colon cancer (1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.44), prostate cancer (1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.67), and especially skin melanoma (3.62, 95% CI 2.78-2.84), while there was no longer any statistically significant excess in the more recent follow-up period. Decreased SIRs were observed for lip cancer (0.11, 95% CI 0.00-0.62), laryngeal cancer (0.38, 95% CI 0.12-0.89), lung cancer (0.59, 95% CI 0.47-0.74), and stomach cancer (0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.86), without a marked change in SIR over time. Non-significant excesses among male veterinarians were also observed in Hodgkin lymphoma (1961-1990 only), and leukaemia. This multi-country study indicates that there was an elevated incidence of several cancer types among male veterinarians before the 1990s but not after that. Some of the findings might rather be attributed to lifestyle factors and not directly to work conditions, but the excess risk of cancers of kidney and bladder, for example, might be related to work exposures.

Histological response to radiotherapy is an early event in myxoid liposarcoma

Compared to other sarcomas, myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) is exceptionally sensitive to radiation therapy, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The objective was to assess the tissue-based changes in MLS during and after neoadjuvant radiotherapy in 26 patients of the DOREMY trial. Morphological assessment was performed on biopsies pre-treatment, after 8 fractions, 16 factions, and after surgical resection and included percentage of viable tumor cells, hyalinization, necrosis, and fatty maturation. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was performed for apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3), anti-apoptosis (Bcl-2), activity of mTOR signaling (phospho-S6), hypoxia (CAIX), proliferation (Ki67), inflammation (CD45 and CD68), and microvessel density (CD34 Chalkley count). A pronounced reduction in vital tumor cells was observed early with a drop to 32.5% (median) tumor cells (IQR 10–93.8%) after 8 fractions. This decreased further to 10% (IQR 5–30%) after 16 fractions and 7.5% (IQR 5–15%) in the surgical specimen. All but one patient had an excellent response with < 50% remaining tumor cells. Inversely, treatment response was mainly observed as hyalinization and less often as fatty maturation. Additionally, a decrease of inflammatory cells was noticed especially during the first eight fractions. Microvessel density remained stable over time. Immunohistochemical markers for apoptosis, anti-apoptosis, activity of mTOR signaling, proliferation, and hypoxia did not show any marked changes within the remaining tumor cells during and after radiotherapy. As a modest dose of neoadjuvant radiotherapy induces profound tissue changes in MLS, mainly during the first 8 fractions, current findings might suggest that in a carefully selected patient population further deintensification of radiotherapy might be explored.

Attachment disorder symptoms in foster children: development and associations with attachment security

BackgroundChildren in foster care constitute a risk population for developing symptoms of attachment disorders. However, little is known about the longitudinal course of attachment disorders and their association with attachment security in foster children.MethodThis longitudinal study assessed attachment disorder symptoms in a sample of foster children (n = 55) aged 12 to 82 months. Foster parents with a newly placed foster child were assessed at three points during the first year of placement. At all assessment points, the Disturbance of Attachment Interview (DAI; Smyke and Zeanah in Disturbances of attachment interview, Tulane University, New Orleans, 1999) and the Attachment Q-sort (AQS; Waters and Deane in Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 50:41–65, 1985 German version as reported(Schölmerich and Leyendecker in Deutsche Übersetzung des attachment behavior Q-Set, revision 3.2. Unpublished manual, Ruhr UniversityBochum, Bochum, 1999) were used to investigate the interplay between disorder symptoms and attachment security.ResultsThe results revealed that the symptoms of attachment disorders decreased. The decrease was more pronounced for the inhibited than for the disinhibited symptoms with marked changes in the first 6 months of placement. There was a noticeable gender difference in the development with boys showing a more pronounced decrease in inhibited attachment disorder symptoms and a stronger increase of attachment security. After 12 months, no significant gender effects were found. Regarding the association between symptoms of attachment disorders and attachment security, a significant negative correlation between the inhibited attachment disorder symptoms and attachment security was found 12 months after placement.ConclusionsAttachment disorder symptoms decreased in the stable foster care environment. Thus, foster care seems to be an effective placement option regarding children’s attachment development.

Unravelling the Roles of Integral Polypeptides in Excitation Energy Transfer of Photosynthetic RC-LH1 Supercomplexes.

Elucidating the photosynthetic processes that occur within the reaction center-light-harvesting 1 (RC-LH1) supercomplexes from purple bacteria is crucial for uncovering the assembly and functional mechanisms of natural photosynthetic systems and underpinning the development of artificial photosynthesis. Here, we examined excitation energy transfer of various RC-LH1 supercomplexes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides using transient absorption spectroscopy, coupled with lifetime density analysis, and studied the roles of the integral transmembrane polypeptides, PufX and PufY, in energy transfer within the RC-LH1 core complex. Our results show that the absence of PufX increases both the LH1 → RC excitation energy transfer lifetime and distribution due to the role of PufX in defining the interaction and orientation of the RC within the LH1 ring. While the absence of PufY leads to the conformational shift of several LH1 subunits toward the RC, it does not result in a marked change in the excitation energy transfer lifetime.

Degenerative disease of the spine: How to relate clinical symptoms to radiological findings.

Degenerative disease of the spine (DDS) is one of the most common pathological conditions in humans. The clinical presentation of DDS is highly variable, ranging from mild pain to severe neurological symptoms. When more severe clinical symptoms are present, it is necessary to use imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to confirm the diagnosis and establish the extent of the disease in order to determine proper treatment. There are several MRI changes which, based on clinicoradiological studies, are believed to be potential sources of pain and other clinical symptoms in DDS, including compression of the nerve root or spinal cord by disc herniations or osteophytes, recent ("active") disc herniation, Modic type 1 degenerative changes of the vertebral bodies, degenerative changes of the vertebral endplates (erosive intervertebral osteochondrosis), marked degenerative changes of the facet joints and ligamenta flava, degenerative spinal canal stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, and Baastrup's disease. The authors analyzed the relationship of the MRI findings mentioned above with clinical symptoms of DDS, as well as the differentiation between DDS and nondegenerative diseases, which can manifest with similar clinical signs. The role of contrast-enhanced MRI and advanced MR techniques (e.g., high field MRI, functional MRI and MR spectroscopy) was also discussed. To establish an appropriate treatment for DDS, it is important to emphasize in the MRI report specific changes, which might be the cause of the pain and other clinical signs, as well as to rule out nondegenerative lesions, especially neoplasms, infections and rheumatoid disorders.

Changes in partnership quality after successful in-vitro fertilization and natural conception

Objective: This prospective study explored changes in self-reported partnership quality related to childbirth in couples after successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and in those experiencing spontaneous pregnancy. Background: Previous research suggested decline in partnership satisfaction after childbirth in couples with spontaneous pregnancy. However, longitudinal studies on partnership quality in couples undergoing IVF are still scarce. Method: Seventy-five couples with successful IVF, and seventy with spontaneous pregnancy, completed the Partnership Questionnaire; data were recorded before pregnancy (baseline) and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after childbirth. Multi-level models were applied for data analysis. Results: Reports of general partnership quality, feelings of togetherness and experience of tenderness increased, while reports of conflictive behaviors declined overall across the observation period in couples with IVF. Couples with spontaneous pregnancy indicated marked negative changes in these facets of partnership quality after childbirth (month 6); subsequently, partnership quality progressively improved, reaching a similar level to that of couples with IVF at month 24. Conclusion: While couples with IVF reported an overall positive trend in partnership quality, in couples with spontaneous pregnancy partnership quality declined immediately after childbirth but improved again over time. The experiences of infertility and IVF treatment may promote the acquisition of dyadic coping strategies, which can buffer the negative effects of stressors characterizing the initial period of parenthood. Moreover, selection processes may be important for higher partnership quality in couples with successful IVF, where couples with abundant coping resources are more likely to stay together during infertility and the burdensome treatment.

Modelling and comparing the distributions and associations of two co-occurring catshark species off South Africa.

Holohalaelurus regani and Scyliorhinus capensis are relatively small catsharks, which both occur off the continental shelf around South Africa and are often caught together as bycatch in demersal trawls. The present study used data collected during annual demersal research surveys conducted between 2009 and 2015 and is a first attempt at modelling the potential intra- and interspecific associations, by maturity stage and depth, of H. regani and S. capensis in order to elucidate species-specific patterns in their distributions in South African waters. Intra-specifically, both species displayed a wide overlap in distribution between maturity stages but only H. regani displayed marked changes in distribution with maturity stage, with mature individuals found further eastwards and occupying deeper waters than immature individuals. Inter-specifically, the two catsharks displayed an inverse relationship in their distribution, with an increase in the abundance of H. regani and a decrease in the abundance of S. capensis when moving from the south coast to the west coast. Some localized patches of co-occurrence were however evident between species and maturity stages, especially in offshore areas. Overall, our results indicated a stronger co-occurrence of mature and immature stages within each species and a rather weak co-occurrence of maturity stages between the two species. The spatial information provided in the present study provides useful information into how sharks with similar morphologies and lifestyles may partition their habitat as a mechanism for potentially reducing competition between them. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.