Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

Strontium isotope (Sr/Sr) analysis with reference to strontium isotope landscapes (Sr isoscapes) allows reconstructing mobility and migration in archaeology, ecology, and forensics. However, despite the vast potential of research involving Sr/Sr analysis particularly in Africa, Sr isoscapes remain unavailable for the largest parts of the continent. Here, we measure the Sr/Sr ratios in 778 environmental samples from 24 African countries and combine this data with published data to model a bioavailable Sr isoscape for sub-Saharan Africa using random forest regression.

The role of between-group signaling in the evolution of primate ornamentation.

Gregarious mammals interact to varying degrees and in a variety of ways with neighboring groups. Since navigating this wider social environment via conventional means (social knowledge) may be challenging, we hypothesize that between-group socio-spatial dynamics have exerted strong selection on phenotypic markers of individual identity, quality, and competitive ability. Ornaments are sexually selected decorative traits with far-reaching signaling potential.

The MED13L Foundation strategic research plan: a roadmap to the future.

A strategic research plan (SRP) serves as a compass for the patient advocacy organizations driving the therapeutic options for their rare disorder. The MED13L Foundation commissioned the SRP in 2022 through COMBINEDBrain, a consortium of patient advocacy organizations of rare neurodevelopmental disorders, working toward clinical trial readiness. The MED13L Foundation SRP is an objective evaluation of MED13L literature including clinical and basic science knowledge interwoven with an assessment of preclinical trial readiness tools necessary for achieving therapeutic interventions.

A dynamical systems model for the total fission rate in Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission.

Mitochondrial hyperfission in response to cellular insult is associated with reduced energy production and programmed cell death. Thus, there is a critical need to understand the molecular mechanisms coordinating and regulating the complex process of mitochondrial fission. We develop a nonlinear dynamical systems model of dynamin related protein one (Drp1)-dependent mitochondrial fission and use it to identify parameters which can regulate the total fission rate (TFR) as a function of time.

A region on chromosome 16 is associated with Doberman Pinscher dilated cardiomyopathy.

Doberman Pinschers are known for their increased susceptibility to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) relative to other domestic dogs. This makes the Doberman Pinscher a key model for gene-disease investigations. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) leveraging a database of genetic profiles obtained through collaboration with the Doberman Diversity Project (DDP).