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Journal of Experimental Botany Jul 2024Phenotypic plasticity and rapid evolution are fundamental processes by which organisms can maintain their function and fitness in the face of environmental changes. Here...
Testing the evolutionary potential of an alpine plant: Phenotypic plasticity in response to growth temperature far outweighs parental environmental effects and other genetic causes of variation.
Phenotypic plasticity and rapid evolution are fundamental processes by which organisms can maintain their function and fitness in the face of environmental changes. Here we quantified the plasticity and evolutionary potential of an alpine herb Wahlenbergia ceracea. Utilising its mixed-mating system, we generated outcrossed and self-pollinated families that were grown in either cool or warm environments, and that had parents that had also been grown in either cool or warm environments. We then analysed the contribution of environmental and genetic factors to variation in a range of phenotypic traits including phenology, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic function, thermal tolerance, and reproductive fitness. The strongest effect was that of current growth temperature, indicating strong phenotypic plasticity. All traits except thermal tolerance were plastic, whereby warm-grown plants flowered earlier, grew larger, produced more reproductive stems compared to cool-grown plants. Flowering onset and biomass were heritable and under selection, with early flowering and larger plants having higher relative fitness. There was little evidence for transgenerational plasticity, maternal effects, or genotype-by-environment interactions. Inbreeding delayed flowering and reduced reproductive fitness and biomass. Overall, we found that W. ceracea has the capacity to respond rapidly to climate warming via plasticity, and the potential for evolutionary change.
PubMed: 38946283
DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae290 -
The American Journal of Psychiatry Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Pregnancy Complications; Perinatal Care
PubMed: 38946268
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20231024 -
Molecular Ecology Jun 2024Species with widespread distributions play a crucial role in our understanding of climate change impacts on population structure. In marine species, population structure...
Species with widespread distributions play a crucial role in our understanding of climate change impacts on population structure. In marine species, population structure is often governed by both high connectivity potential and selection across strong environmental gradients. Despite the complexity of factors influencing marine populations, studying species with broad distribution can provide valuable insights into the relative importance of these factors and the consequences of climate-induced alterations across environmental gradients. We used the northern shrimp Pandalus borealis and its wide latitudinal distribution to identify current drivers of population structure and predict the species' vulnerability to climate change. A total of 1514 individuals sampled across 24° latitude were genotyped at high geographic (54 stations) and genetic (14,331 SNPs) resolutions to assess genetic variation and environmental correlations. Four populations were identified in addition to finer substructure associated with local adaptation. Geographic patterns of neutral population structure reflected predominant oceanographic currents, while a significant proportion of the genetic variation was associated with gradients in salinity and temperature. Adaptive landscapes generated using climate projections suggest a larger genomic offset in the southern extent of the P. borealis range, where shrimp had the largest adaptive standing genetic variation. Our genomic results combined with recent observations point to further deterioration in southern regions and an impending vulnerable status in the regions at higher latitudes for P. borealis. They also provide rare insights into the drivers of population structure and climatic vulnerability of a widespread meroplanktonic species, which is crucial to understanding future challenges associated with invertebrates essential to ecosystem functioning.
PubMed: 38946210
DOI: 10.1111/mec.17448 -
Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica : ADC Mar 2024The baseline therapy of atopic dermatitis (AD) includes emollient therapy, prevention of triggering factors and proper patients' education. Appropriate level of... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
INTRODUCTION
The baseline therapy of atopic dermatitis (AD) includes emollient therapy, prevention of triggering factors and proper patients' education. Appropriate level of education about AD among patients is crucial for successful treatment of the disease.
AIMS
To compare and evaluate the level of knowledge about baseline therapy in atopic dermatitis (AD) between the adults with AD and the parents of children with AD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Adult patients with AD (n=180) and parents of children with AD (n=106) completed an original questionnaire covering issues of emollient therapy and bathing. For statistical comparison a chi - square test was used with significance level of 0,05.
RESULTS
With significance level of 0,05, the chi - square test showed a statistically significant difference comparing both groups. 52,38% adults and 68,73% parents proved to know the principles of basic therapy (p<0,05). 55,00% adults and 50,00% parents have not been informed how to apply emollients appropriately (p>=0,05). 75,56% and 74,53%, respectively, seek additional education about it (p>=0,05). 63,89% adults and 49,06% parents have not been informed about the principles of bathing (p<0,05). 70,00% and 74,54%, respectively, expect more comprehensive explanation of bathing rules (p>=0,05).
CONCLUSIONS
Adults with AD have lesser knowledge about baseline therapy than parents of children with AD. Both groups express a very strong need for education about baseline therapy in AD.
Topics: Humans; Dermatitis, Atopic; Male; Female; Adult; Patient Education as Topic; Parents; Surveys and Questionnaires; Emollients; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Child; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult
PubMed: 38946184
DOI: No ID Found -
The Clinical Neuropsychologist Jun 2024To generate normative data (ND) for executive functions tests in the Waranka minority population of Ecuador. Four-hundred participants aged 6-17 completed the...
To generate normative data (ND) for executive functions tests in the Waranka minority population of Ecuador. Four-hundred participants aged 6-17 completed the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail-Making Test (TMT), Modified-Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST), and Test of Colors-Words (STROOP). Scores were normed using multiple linear regressions, including age, age, natural logarithm of mean parent education (MPE), sex, bilingualism, and two-way interactions as predictors. Age by MPE and Age by MPE interactions arose for SDMT, so that children with illiterate parents scored lower than those with literate parents. Girls scored higher in SDMT. All TMT and M-WCST scores were influenced by age. Age by MPE interaction was found for TMT-A, so that children with higher MPE went faster; and age by bilingualism interaction for TMT-B, so that more bilingual children needed less time. Stroop-Word and Color were influenced by age by MPE interaction, so that children, while older, scored higher, especially those with higher MPE. Also, age by sex interaction arose, so that girls increased scores curvilinearly while boys linearly. Word-Color was influenced by age, while Stroop-interference by age. Age by MPE interaction was found for MCST-Categories and Perseveration, so that perseverations decreased to then increased, especially in those with illiterate parents. M-WCST-Category scores increased to then decrease later on age in children with illiterate parents. Z-scores calculated through indigenous ND were significantly lower than generated through non-indigenous norms. ND for minority populations are critical since Waranka sample performed worse when using non-indigenous norms for z-score calculation.
PubMed: 38946161
DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2024.2367748 -
Cell Biology International Jun 2024Chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment, and promotion of ferroptosis can suppress cisplatin resistance in tumor cells. TCF12 plays a...
Chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle to effective cancer treatment, and promotion of ferroptosis can suppress cisplatin resistance in tumor cells. TCF12 plays a suppressive role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but whether it participates in the regulation of cisplatin resistance by modulating ferroptosis remains unclear. Here, we found that TCF12 expression was decreased in OSCC cells compared with normal oral cells, and it was reduced in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant OSCC cells compared with parental cells. Moreover, overexpression of TCF12 sensitized DDP-resistant cells to DDP by promoting ferroptosis. Intriguingly, silencing TCF12 reversed the promotion effect of the ferroptosis activator RSL3 on ferroptosis and DDP sensitivity, and overexpressing TCF12 antagonized the effect of the ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 on ferroptosis and DDP resistance. Mechanically, TCF12 promoted ubiquitination of SLC7A11 and decreased SLC7A11 protein stability through transcriptional repression of OTUB1, thereby facilitating ferroptosis. Consistently, SLC7A11 overexpression neutralized the promotion effect of TCF12 on ferroptosis and DDP sensitivity. Additionally, upregulation of TCF12 hindered the growth of mouse OSCC xenografts and enhanced the DDP sensitivity of xenografts by inducing ferroptosis. In conclusion, TCF12 enhanced DDP sensitivity in OSCC cells by promoting ferroptosis, which was achieved through modulating SLC7A11 expression via transcriptional regulation of OTUB1.
PubMed: 38946134
DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12211 -
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge... Jun 2024There is increasing evidence that competent handling of social interactions among conspecifics has positive effects on individual fitness. While individual variation in...
There is increasing evidence that competent handling of social interactions among conspecifics has positive effects on individual fitness. While individual variation in social competence has been appreciated, the role of long-term experience in the acquisition of superior social skills has received less attention. With the goal of promoting further research, we integrate knowledge across disciplines to assess social expertise, defined as the characteristics, skills and knowledge allowing individuals with extensive social experience to perform significantly better than novices on a given social task. We focus on three categories of social behaviour. First, animals can gain from adjusting social behaviour towards individually recognised conspecifics that they interact with on a regular basis. For example, there is evidence that some territorial animals individually recognise their neighbours and modify their social interactions based on experience with each neighbour. Similarly, individuals in group-living species learn to associate with specific group members based on their expected benefits from such social connections. Individuals have also been found to devote considerable time and effort to learning about the spatial location and timing of sexual receptivity of opposite-sex neighbours to optimise reproduction. Second, signallers can enhance their signals, and receivers can refine their response to signals with experience. In many birds and insects, individuals can produce more consistent signals with experience, and females across a wide taxonomic range can adaptively adjust mating preferences after perceiving distinct male signals. Third, in many species, individuals that succeed in reproducing encounter the novel, complex task of caring for vulnerable offspring. Evidence from a few species of mammals indicates that mothers improve in providing for and protecting their young over successive broods. Finally, for social expertise to evolve, heritable variation in social expertise has to be positively associated with fitness. Heritable variation has been shown in traits contributing to social expertise including social attention, empathy, individual recognition and maternal care. There are currently limited data associating social expertise with fitness, most likely owing to sparse research effort. Exceptions include maternal care, signal refinement, and familiarity with neighbours and group members. Overall, there is evidence that individuals in many species keep refining their social skills with experience throughout life. Hence we propose promising lines of research that can quantify more thoroughly the development of social expertise and its effects on fitness.
PubMed: 38946116
DOI: 10.1111/brv.13115 -
Chemistry & Biodiversity Jun 2024G-quadruplex DNA sequences present in the promoter and telomere regions of the genomic sequence are considered therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer. Curcumin,...
G-quadruplex DNA sequences present in the promoter and telomere regions of the genomic sequence are considered therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer. Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa, has been known as a quadruplex binder and has a potential role in the apoptosis of cancer cells. Here, we have reported the Schiff base ligand of curcumin synthesized through the condensation of the amino acid L-tryptophan and the knoevenagel derivative of curcumin (4-nitrobenzylidene curcumin (NBC)) as a potential G-quadruplex binder. Thus, spectroscopic and biophysical studies reveal a higher binding affinity of the ligand Sb-NBC towards the promoter and telomere G-quadruplex sequence as compared to the parent NBC. The ligand Sb-NBC highly stabilizes the parallel and hybrid G-quadruplex topologies to 10.5 0C- 6.4 0C. Interestingly, the ligands also exhibit selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells over normal cells. Taken together, this work provides evidence of the possibility of applying curcumin Schiff base in cancer therapy to regulate oncogene expression in cancer cells.
PubMed: 38946104
DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400797 -
Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the... Jun 2024People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE), with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Empirical...
OBJECTIVE
People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE), with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Empirical knowledge on the mechanisms underlying development of ED/DE in T1D is crucial for evolving prevention strategies.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Fourteen semi-structured interviews with adolescent females with T1D and ED/DE between 14 and 18 years were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
Analyses identified four main themes; 'Interconnected afflictions', 'Judgment', 'Feeling Different', and 'Chaos & Control', These themes explore the interconnectedness of T1D and ED/DE, with shame and guilt emerging as common underlying mechanism. The development of a biopsychosocial model was based on the integration of these data with existing models.
CONCLUSIONS
The study extends previous developmental pathways of ED/DE in adolescents with T1D. We propose a biopsychosocial model that incorporates various factors: predisposing factors such as parental management of T1D and weight gain during adolescence; precipitating factors including comments on weight, frequency of weighing, perceptions of surveillance; the perpetuating bilateral influence of ED/DE and T1D and finally highlighting the protective mechanisms of disease acceptance encompassing parental handling of diagnosis and the contribution of healthcare professionals (HCP's) role in psychoeducation. The present study highlight the vulnerability of adolescence in the presence of T1D, particularly concerning issues related to eating, weight, and body. It offers clinically relevant insights, with the aim to improve communication and management strategies for this very specific group.
PubMed: 38946057
DOI: 10.1111/dme.15397 -
Disability and Rehabilitation Jun 2024To understand the expectations and demand for a movement-tracking videogame (Bootle Blast) for home-based, upper limb (UL) rehabilitation among Costa Rican children with...
PURPOSE
To understand the expectations and demand for a movement-tracking videogame (Bootle Blast) for home-based, upper limb (UL) rehabilitation among Costa Rican children with cerebral palsy (CP).
METHODS
Data were collected via telephone screening () and child-parent dyads Zoom interviews (). Descriptive statistics and data transformation were used to report on success criteria (i.e., recruitment rate, having an appropriate screen and space to play, setting a weekly play time goal (PTG) ≥45 min, identifying one UL therapy goal). The DEPICT model for collaborative qualitative analysis was used in the thematic analysis of interview data.
RESULTS
Fifteen dyads participated (1.6 ± 1 recruited/month). All had a flat-screen TV in a suitable location to play, were able to set a UL therapy goal, and established PTGs ranging from 45-120 min per week. Identified themes were: 1) Socio-cultural factors heighten demand, 2) Feelings of hope prevail for the intervention, and 3) Collaborative goal setting supports realistic expectations for Bootle Blast.
CONCLUSIONS
Dyads had positive and realistic expectations about implementing the proposed videogaming intervention. This study provides insights on tailoring a family-centered, therapy gaming intervention to improve access to motor rehabilitation for children with CP in rural/remote settings and low-middle income countries.
PubMed: 38946018
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2362952