Notes

A new subthreshold synaptic mechanism regulating BDNF expression and also regenerating synaptic strength.
precocity.bicnirrh.res.in . The database source code and content can be downloaded through GitHub ( https//github.com/bic-nirrh/precocity ).Nutritional intake can promote early neonatal brain development in very preterm born neonates ( less then  32 weeks' gestation). In a group of 7-year-old very preterm born children followed since birth, we examined whether early nutrient intake in the first weeks of life would be associated with long-term brain function and neurocognitive skills at school age. Children underwent resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), intelligence testing (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 5th Ed) and visual-motor processing (Beery-Buktenica, 5th Ed) at 7 years. Relationships were assessed between neonatal macronutrient intakes, functional connectivity strength between thalamic and default mode networks (DMN), and neuro-cognitive function using multivariable regression. Greater functional connectivity strength between thalamic networks and DMN was associated with greater intake of protein in the first week (β = 0.17; 95% CI 0.11, 0.23, p  less then  0.001) but lower intakes of fat (β = - 0.06; 95% CI - 0.09, - 0.02, p = 0.001) and carbohydrates (β = - 0.03; 95% CI - 0.04, - 0.01, p = 0.003). Connectivity strength was also associated with protein intake during the first month (β = 0.22; 95% CI 0.06, 0.37, p = 0.006). Importantly, greater thalamic-DMN connectivity strength was associated with higher processing speed indices (β = 26.9; 95% CI 4.21, 49.49, p = 0.02) and visual processing scores (β = 9.03; 95% CI 2.27, 15.79, p = 0.009). Optimizing early protein intake may contribute to promoting long-term brain health in preterm-born children.Quenching of vibrational excitations in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of liquid acetic acid is observed. At the oxygen core resonance associated with localized excitations at the O-H bond, the spectra lack the typical progression of vibrational excitations observed in RIXS spectra of comparable systems. We interpret this phenomenon as due to strong rehybridization of the unoccupied molecular orbitals as a result of hydrogen bonding, which however cannot be observed in x-ray absorption but only by means of RIXS. This allows us to address the molecular structure of the liquid, and to determine a lower limit for the average molecular chain length.Individuals with chronic kidney disease are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This risk may partially be explained by a chronic inflammatory state in these patients, reflected by increased arterial wall and cellular inflammation. Statin treatment decreases cardiovascular risk and arterial inflammation in non-CKD subjects. In patients with declining kidney function, cardiovascular benefit resulting from statin therapy is attenuated, possibly due to persisting inflammation. In the current study, we assessed the effect of statin treatment on arterial wall and cellular inflammation. Fourteen patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3 or 4, defined by an estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate between 15 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, without cardiovascular disease were included in a single center, open label study to assess the effect of atorvastatin 40 mg once daily for 12 weeks (NTR6896). At baseline and at 12 weeks of treatment, we assessed arterial wall inflammation by 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron-emission tomography computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and the phenotype of circulating monocytes were assessed. Treatment with atorvastatin resulted in a 46% reduction in LDL-cholesterol, but this was not accompanied by an attenuation in arterial wall inflammation in the aorta or carotid arteries, nor with changes in chemokine receptor expression of circulating monocytes. Statin treatment does not abolish arterial wall or cellular inflammation in subjects with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease. These results imply that CKD-associated inflammatory activity is mediated by factors beyond LDL-cholesterol and specific anti-inflammatory interventions might be necessary to further dampen the inflammatory driven CV risk in these subjects.We use an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) and simulation modelling to assess the effect of improved feeding practices and increased yields of feed crops on milk productivity and GHG emissions from the dairy sector of Tanzania's southern highlands region. We calculated direct non-CO2 emissions from dairy production and the CO2 emissions resulting from the demand for croplands and grasslands using a land footprint indicator. Baseline GHG emissions intensities ranged between 19.8 and 27.8 and 5.8-5.9 kg CO2eq kg-1 fat and protein corrected milk for the Traditional (local cattle) and Modern (improved cattle) sectors. Land use change contributed 45.8-65.8% of the total carbon footprint of dairy. Better feeding increased milk yields by up to 60.1% and reduced emissions intensities by up to 52.4 and 38.0% for the Traditional and Modern sectors, respectively. Avoided land use change was the predominant cause of reductions in GHG emissions under all the scenarios. Reducing yield gaps of concentrate feed crops lowered emissions further by 11.4-34.9% despite increasing N2O and CO2 emissions from soils management and input use. This study demonstrates that feed intensification has potential to increase LUC emissions from dairy production, but that fertilizer-dependent yield gains can offset this increase in emissions through avoided emissions from land use change.Exosomal transfers represent an important mode of intercellular communication. Syntenin is a small scaffold protein that, when binding ALIX, can direct endocytosed syndecans and syndecan cargo to budding endosomal membranes, supporting the formation of intraluminal vesicles that compose the source of a major class of exosomes. Syntenin, however, can also support the recycling of these same components to the cell surface. Here, by studying mice and cells with syntenin-knock out, we identify syntenin as part of dedicated machinery that integrates both the production and the uptake of secreted vesicles, supporting viral/exosomal exchanges. This study significantly extends the emerging role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and syntenin as key components for macromolecular cargo internalization into cells.Bell's palsy is the most common cause of unilateral facial paralysis and is defined as an idiopathic and acute inability to control movements of the facial muscles on the affected side. While the pathogenesis remains unknown, previous studies have implicated post-viral inflammation and resulting compression of the facial nerve. Reported heritability estimates of 4-14% suggest a genetic component in the etiology and an autosomal dominant inheritance has been proposed. Here, we report findings from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies uncovering the first unequivocal association with Bell's palsy (rs9357446-A; P = 6.79 × 10-23, OR = 1.23; Ncases = 4714, Ncontrols = 1,011,520). The variant also confers risk of intervertebral disc disorders (P = 2.99 × 10-11, OR = 1.04) suggesting a common pathogenesis in part or a true pleiotropy.We employ the Google and Apple mobility data to identify, quantify and classify different degrees of social distancing and characterise their imprint on the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and in the United States. We identify the period of enacted social distancing via Google and Apple data, independently from the political decisions. Our analysis allows us to classify different shades of social distancing measures for the first wave of the pandemic. We observe a strong decrease in the infection rate occurring two to five weeks after the onset of mobility reduction. A universal time scale emerges, after which social distancing shows its impact. We further provide an actual measure of the impact of social distancing for each region, showing that the effect amounts to a reduction by 20-40% in the infection rate in Europe and 30-70% in the US.Two well-preserved, subadult 800 ky scapulae from Gran Dolina belonging to Homo antecessor, provide a unique opportunity to investigate the ontogeny of shoulder morphology in Lower Pleistocene humans. We compared the H. antecessor scapulae with a sample of 98 P. selleck troglodytes and 108 H. sapiens representatives covering seven growth stages, as well as with the DIK-1-1 (Dikika; Australopithecus afarensis), KNM-WT 15000 (Nariokotome; H. ergaster), and MH2 (Malapa; A. sediba) specimens. We quantified 15 landmarks on each scapula and performed geometric morphometric analyses. H. sapiens scapulae are mediolaterally broader with laterally oriented glenoid fossae relative to Pan and Dikika shoulder blades. Accordingly, H. antecessor scapulae shared more morphological affinities with modern humans, KNM-WT 15000, and even MH2. Both H. antecessor and modern Homo showed significantly more positive scapular growth trajectories than Pan (slopes P. troglodytes = 0.0012; H. sapiens = 0.0018; H. antecessor = 0.0020). Similarities in ontogenetic trajectories between the H. antecessor and modern human data suggest that Lower Pleistocene hominin scapular development was already modern human-like. At the same time, several morphological features distinguish H. antecessor scapulae from modern humans along the entire trajectory. Future studies should include additional Australopithecus specimens for further comparative assessment of scapular growth trends.Membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication in all organisms, and those produced by placental mammals have become increasingly recognized as significant mediators of fetal-maternal communication. Here, we aimed to identify maternal cells targeted by placental EVs and elucidate the mechanisms by which they traffic to these cells. Exogenously administered pregnancy-associated EVs traffic specifically to the lung; further, placental EVs associate with lung interstitial macrophages and liver Kupffer cells in an integrin-dependent manner. Localization of EV to maternal lungs was confirmed in unmanipulated pregnancy using a transgenic reporter mouse model, which also provided in situ and in vitro evidence that fetally-derived EVs, rarely, may cause genetic alteration of maternal cells. These results provide for the first time direct in vivo evidence that placental EVs target maternal immune cells, and further, that EVs can alter cellular phenotype.X-ray based lung function (XLF) as a planar method uses dramatically less X-ray dose than computed tomography (CT) but so far lacked the ability to relate its parameters to pulmonary air volume. The purpose of this study was to calibrate the functional constituents of XLF that are biomedically decipherable and directly comparable to that of micro-CT and whole-body plethysmography (WBP). Here, we developed a unique set-up for simultaneous assessment of lung function and volume using XLF, micro-CT and WBP on healthy mice. Our results reveal a strong correlation of lung volumes obtained from radiographic XLF and micro-CT and demonstrate that XLF is superior to WBP in sensitivity and precision to assess lung volumes. Importantly, XLF measurement uses only a fraction of the radiation dose and acquisition time required for CT. Therefore, the redefined XLF approach is a promising tool for preclinical longitudinal studies with a substantial potential of clinical translation.
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