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Interdisciplinary Sciences,... Jul 2024The electrical activity of the neural processes involved in cognitive functions is captured in EEG signals, allowing the exploration of the integration and coordination...
The electrical activity of the neural processes involved in cognitive functions is captured in EEG signals, allowing the exploration of the integration and coordination of neuronal oscillations across multiple spatiotemporal scales. We have proposed a novel approach that combines the transformation of EEG signal into image sequences, considering cross-frequency phase synchronisation (CFS) dynamics involved in low-level auditory processing, with the development of a two-stage deep learning model for the detection of developmental dyslexia (DD). This deep learning model exploits spatial and temporal information preserved in the image sequences to find discriminative patterns of phase synchronisation over time achieving a balanced accuracy of up to 83%. This result supports the existence of differential brain synchronisation dynamics between typical and dyslexic seven-year-old readers. Furthermore, we have obtained interpretable representations using a novel feature mask to link the most relevant regions during classification with the cognitive processes attributed to normal reading and those corresponding to compensatory mechanisms found in dyslexia.
PubMed: 38954232
DOI: 10.1007/s12539-024-00634-x -
International Journal of Developmental... Jul 2024Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a diverse profile of cognitive functions. Heterogeneity is observed among both baseline and comorbid... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a diverse profile of cognitive functions. Heterogeneity is observed among both baseline and comorbid features concerning the diversity of neuropathology in autism. Symptoms vary depending on the developmental stage, level of severity, or comorbidity with other medical or psychiatric diagnoses such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders.
METHOD
The neurodiversity movement does not face variations in neurological and cognitive development in ASD as deficits but as normal non-pathological human variations. Thus, ASD is not identified as a neurocognitive pathological disorder that deviates from the typical, but as a neuro-individuality, a normal manifestation of a neurobiological variation within the population.
RESULTS
In this light, neurodiversity is described as equivalent to any other human variation, such as ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. This review will provide insights about the neurodiversity approach in children and adults with ASD. Using a neurodiversity approach can be helpful when working with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
DISCUSSION
This method acknowledges and values the various ways that people with ASD interact with one another and experience the world in order to embrace the neurodiversity approach when working with children with ASD.
PubMed: 38953464
DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10356 -
Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994) Jul 2024Intravascular lymphatic valves often occur in proximity to vessel junctions. It is commonly held that disturbed flow at junctions is responsible for accumulation of...
OBJECTIVE
Intravascular lymphatic valves often occur in proximity to vessel junctions. It is commonly held that disturbed flow at junctions is responsible for accumulation of valve-forming cells (VFCs) at these locations as the initial step in valve creation, and the one which explains the association with these sites. However, evidence in favor is largely limited to cell culture experiments.
METHODS
We acquired images of embryonic lymphatic vascular networks from day E16.5, when VFC accumulation has started but the developing valve has not yet altered the local vessel geometry, stained for Prox1, which co-localizes with Foxc2. Using finite-element computational fluid mechanics, we simulated the flow through the networks, under conditions appropriate to this early development stage. Then we correlated the Prox1 distributions with the distributions of simulated fluid shear and shear stress gradient.
RESULTS
Across a total of 16 image sets, no consistent correlation was found between Prox1 distribution and the local magnitude of fluid shear, or its positive or negative gradient.
CONCLUSIONS
This, the first direct semi-empirical test of the localization hypothesis to interrogate the tissue from in vivo at the critical moment of development, does not support the idea that a feature of the local flow determines valve localization.
PubMed: 38953384
DOI: 10.1111/micc.12873 -
Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part... Jul 2024There is an increased interest in the evolution and development of newts from the genus Triturus because: (1) morphological differentiation among the nine constituent...
There is an increased interest in the evolution and development of newts from the genus Triturus because: (1) morphological differentiation among the nine constituent species largely corresponds to different ecological preferences, (2) hybridization between different species pairs has various evolutionary outcomes in terms of life history traits and morphology, and (3) the genus expresses a balanced lethal system that causes arrested growth and death of half of the embryos. These features provide natural experimental settings for molecular, morphological, and life-history studies. Therefore, we produce a staging table for the Balkan crested newt (T. ivanbureschi). We provide detailed descriptions of 34 embryonic stages based on easily observable and interpretable external morphological characters, to ensure reproducibility. Compared with previous staging tables for Triturus, we include a vastly increased sample size and provide high-resolution photographs in lateral, ventral, and dorsal view, complemented by videos of specific developmental periods, and accompanied by detailed explanations on how to delineate the specific stages. Our staging table will serve as a baseline in comparative studies on Triturus newts: an emerging model system in evolutionary and developmental studies.
PubMed: 38953174
DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23269 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Post-ovulatory aging is a time-dependent deterioration of ovulated oocytes and a major limiting factor reducing the fitness of offspring. This process may lead to the...
INTRODUCTION
Post-ovulatory aging is a time-dependent deterioration of ovulated oocytes and a major limiting factor reducing the fitness of offspring. This process may lead to the activation of cell death pathways like apoptosis in oocytes.
METHODOLOGY
We evaluated oocyte membrane integrity, egg developmental competency, and mRNA abundance of apoptosis-related genes by RT-qPCR. Oocytes from zebrafish were retained at 28.5°C for 24 h post-ovulation (HPO). Viability was assessed using trypan blue (TB) staining. The consequences of in vivo oocyte aging on the developmental competence of progeny were determined by the embryo survival at 24 h post fertilization, hatching, and larval malformation rates.
RESULTS
The fertilization, oocyte viability, and hatching rates were 91, 97, and 65% at 0 HPO and dropped to 62, 90, and 22% at 4 HPO, respectively. The fertilizing ability was reduced to 2% at 8 HPO, while 72% of oocytes had still intact plasma membranes. Among the apoptotic genes (b-cell lymphoma 2), (bcl2-associated agonist of cell death a), (tumor protein p53), (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) studied, mRNA abundance of anti-apoptotic decreased and pro-apoptotic increased at 24 HPO. Furthermore, and mRNA transcripts decreased at 24 HPO compared to 0 HPO.
DISCUSSION
Thus, TB staining did not detect the loss of oocyte competency if caused by aging. TB staining, however, could be used as a simple and rapid method to evaluate the quality of zebrafish oocytes before fertilization. Taken together, our results indicate the activation of cell death pathways in the advanced stages of oocyte aging in zebrafish.
PubMed: 38952806
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1389070 -
Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za... Apr 2024To evaluate the potential risk of transmission of angiostrongyliasis by common freshwater snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, so as to provide...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential risk of transmission of angiostrongyliasis by common freshwater snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, so as to provide insights into local surveillance of angiostrongyliasis.
METHODS
Common freshwater snails were collected from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province from March to April, 2020, and identified and bred in laboratory. SD rats were infected with third-stage larvae of that were isolated from commercially available snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and freshwater snails were infected with the first-stage larvae of that were isolated from the feces of SD rats 39 days post-infection at room temperature. The developmental process and morphological characteristics of worms in hosts were observed, and the percentages of infections in different species of freshwater snails were calculated. Then, SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of that were isolated from -infected freshwater snails, and the larval development and reproduction was observed.
RESULTS
More than 3 000 freshwater snail samples were collected from farmlands, ditches and wetlands around Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and , , , , , , , spp., spp. and spp. were morphologically identified. A total of 105 commercially available snails were tested for infections, and 2 snails were found to be infected with , in which the third-stage larvae of were isolated. Ten species of freshwater snails were artificially infected with the third-stage larvae of , and all 10 species of freshwater snails were found to be infected with , with the highest positive rate of infections in spp. (62.3%, 137/204), and the lowest in (35.5%, 11/31). After SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of isolated from different species of freshwater snails, mature adult worms of were yielded.
CONCLUSIONS
Multiple species of freshwater snails may serve as intermediate hosts of under laboratory conditions in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. Further investigations on natural infection of in wild snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture seem justified.
Topics: Animals; Snails; China; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats; Fresh Water; Larva; Strongylida Infections
PubMed: 38952317
DOI: 10.16250/j.32.1374.2022245 -
ACS Applied Bio Materials Jul 2024Dopamine, alongside norepinephrine and epinephrine, belongs to the catecholamine group, widely distributed across both plant and animal kingdoms. In mammals, these...
Dopamine, alongside norepinephrine and epinephrine, belongs to the catecholamine group, widely distributed across both plant and animal kingdoms. In mammals, these compounds serve as neurotransmitters with roles in glycogen mobilization. In plants, their synthesis is modulated in response to stress conditions aiding plant survival by emitting these chemicals, especially dopamine that relieves their resilience against stress caused by both abiotic and biotic factors. In present studies, there is a lack of robust methods to monitor the operations of dopamine under stress conditions or any adverse situations across the plant's developmental stages from cell to cell. In our study, we have introduced a groundbreaking approach to track dopamine generation and activity in various metabolic pathways by using the simple nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon quantum dots (N, S-CQDs). These CQDs exhibit dominant biocompatibility, negligible toxicity, and environmentally friendly characteristics using a quenching process for fluorometric dopamine detection. This innovative nanomarker can detect even small amounts of dopamine within plant cells, providing insights into plant responses to strain and anxiety. Confocal microscopy has been used to corroborate this occurrence and to provide visual proof of the process of binding dopamine with these N, S-CQDs inside the cells.
PubMed: 38952293
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00506 -
Animal Microbiome Jul 2024To promote sustainable aquaculture, the formulation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) feeds has changed in recent decades, focusing on replacing standard marine-based...
Modulation of gut microbiota composition and predicted metabolic capacity after nutritional programming with a plant-rich diet in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): insights across developmental stages.
To promote sustainable aquaculture, the formulation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) feeds has changed in recent decades, focusing on replacing standard marine-based ingredients with plant-based alternatives, increasingly demonstrating successful outcomes in terms of fish performance. However, little is known about how these plant-based diets may impact the gut microbiota at first feeding and onwards. Nutritional programming (NP) is one strategy applied for exposing fish to a plant-based (V) diet at an early stage in life to promote full utilisation of plant-based ingredients and prevent potential adverse impacts of exposure to a plant-rich diet later in life. We investigated the impact of NP on gut microbiota by introducing fish to plant ingredients (V fish) during first feeding for a brief period of two weeks (stimulus phase) and compared those to fish fed a marine-based diet (M fish). Results demonstrated that V fish not only maintained growth performance at 16 (intermediate phase) and 22 (challenge phase) weeks post first feeding (wpff) when compared to M fish but also modulated gut microbiota. PERMANOVA general effects revealed gut microbiota dissimilarity by fish group (V vs. M fish) and phases (stimulus vs. intermediate vs. challenge). However, no interaction effect of both groups and phases was demonstrated, suggesting a sustained impact of V diet (nutritional history) on fish across time points/phases. Moreover, the V diet exerted a significant cumulative modulatory effect on the Atlantic salmon gut microbiota at 16 wpff that was not demonstrated at two wpff, although both fish groups were fed the M diet at 16 wpff. The nutritional history/dietary regime is the main NP influencing factor, whereas environmental and host factors significantly impacted microbiota composition in M fish. Microbial metabolic reactions of amino acid metabolism were higher in M fish when compared to V fish at two wpff suggesting microbiota played a role in digesting the essential amino acids of M feed. The excessive mucin O-degradation revealed in V fish at two wpff was mitigated in later life stages after NP, suggesting physiological adaptability and tolerance to V diet. Future studies are required to explore more fully how the microbiota functionally contributes to the NP.
PubMed: 38951941
DOI: 10.1186/s42523-024-00321-8 -
The European Journal of Neuroscience Jul 2024Myelin sheath plays important roles in information conduction and nerve injury repair in the peripheral nerve system (PNS). Enhancing comprehension of the structure and...
Myelin sheath plays important roles in information conduction and nerve injury repair in the peripheral nerve system (PNS). Enhancing comprehension of the structure and components of the myelin sheath in the PNS during development would contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the developmental and regenerative processes. In this research, the structure of sciatic nerve myelin sheath in C57BL/6 mice from embryonic day 14 (E14) to postnatal 12 months (12M) was observed with transmission electron microscopy. Myelin structure appeared in the sciatic nerve as early as E14, and the number and thickness of myelin lamellar gradually increased with the development until 12M. Transcriptome analysis was performed to show the expressions of myelin-associated genes and transcriptional factors involved in myelin formation. The genes encoding myelin proteins (Mag, Pmp22, Mpz, Mbp, Cnp and Prx) showed the same expression pattern, peaking at postnatal day 7 (P7) and P28 after birth, whereas the negative regulators of myelination (c-Jun, Tgfb1, Tnc, Cyr61, Ngf, Egr1, Hgf and Bcl11a) showed an opposite expression pattern. In addition, the expression of myelin-associated proteins and transcriptional factors was measured by Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. The protein expressions of MAG, PMP22, MPZ, CNPase and PRX increased from E20 to P14. The key transcriptional factor c-Jun co-localized with the Schwann cells Marker S100β and decreased after birth, whereas Krox20/Egr2 increased during development. Our data characterized the structure and components of myelin sheath during the early developmental stages, providing insights for further understanding of PNS development.
PubMed: 38951719
DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16457 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2024The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is considered as a species complex with 46 cryptic species, with Asia II-1 being predominant in Asia. This study addresses a...
The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is considered as a species complex with 46 cryptic species, with Asia II-1 being predominant in Asia. This study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the characterization of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in Asia II-1. We explored the expression patterns of OBPs and CSPs throughout their developmental stages and compared the motif patterns of these proteins. Significant differences in expression patterns were observed for the 14 OBPs and 14 CSPs of B. tabaci Asia II-1, with OBP8 and CSP4 showing higher expression across the developmental stages. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that OBP8 and CSP4 form distinct clades, with OBP8 appearing to be an ancestral gene, giving rise to the evolution of other odorant-binding proteins in B. tabaci. The genomic distribution of OBPs and CSPs highlights gene clustering on the chromosomes, suggesting functional conservation and evolutionary events following the birth-and-death model. Molecular docking studies indicate strong binding affinities of OBP8 and CSP4 with various odour compounds like β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene, reinforcing their roles in host recognition and reproductive functions. This study elaborates on our understanding of the putative roles of different OBPs and CSPs in B. tabaci Asia II-1, hitherto unexplored. The dynamics of the expression of OBPs and CSPs and their interactions with odour compounds offer scope for developing innovative methods for controlling this global invasive pest.
Topics: Animals; Hemiptera; Receptors, Odorant; Phylogeny; Insect Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Molecular Docking Simulation; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; Limonene; Sesquiterpenes
PubMed: 38951601
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65785-9