Transsynaptic labeling and transcriptional control of zebrafish neural circuits.

Deciphering the connectome, the ensemble of synaptic connections that underlie brain function, is a central goal of neuroscience research. Here we report the in vivo mapping of connections between presynaptic and postsynaptic partners in zebrafish, by adapting the trans-Tango genetic approach that was first developed for anterograde transsynaptic tracing in Drosophila. Neural connections were visualized between synaptic partners in larval retina, brain and spinal cord and followed over development.

Leveraging supported liquid extraction and automated workflow for high efficiency and high quality clinical LC-MS/MS method for quantification of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA).

Background And Aims: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) are neurotransmitter metabolites used for the diagnosis and monitoring of neuroendocrine tumors. This study's objective was to apply automation to improve efficiency and quality of a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) procedure for quantification of 5-HIAA, VMA and HVA in human urine.

Methods: 5-HIAA, VMA and HVA in urine samples were extracted with automated supported liquid extraction (SLE) and quantified by LC-MS/MS utilizing scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).

Small Brains: Body Shape Constrains Tissue Allocation to the Central Nervous System in Ant-Mimicking Spiders.

In Batesian mimicry, mimetic traits are not always as convincing as predicted by theory-in fact, inaccurate mimicry with only a superficial model resemblance is common and taxonomically widespread. The "selection trade-offs hypothesis" proposes a life-history trade-off between accurate mimetic traits and one or more vital biological functions. Here, using an accurate myrmecomorphic (ant-mimicking) jumping spider species, Myrmarachne smaragdina, we investigate how myrmecomorphic modifications to the body shape impact the internal anatomy in a way that could be functionally limiting.

Should the C7-T1 Junction Be Feared? The Effect of a T1 Upper Instrumented Vertebra on Development of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis.

Purpose: Proximal junctional kyphosis is an infrequent complication in AIS; however, equipoise remains on the effects of ending a fusion proximally at the C7-T1 junction on the future development of PJK. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of PJK in patients with AIS who had a UIV of T1 vs those with a UIV of T2 at 5 years of follow-up.

Methods: A query was performed of a prospective, multi-center AIS database of patients who received a PSF with at least 5 years of follow-up.

Route learning and transport of resources during colony relocation in Australian desert ants.

Many ant species can respond to dramatic changes in local conditions by relocating the entire colony to a new location. While we know that careful learning walks enable the homing behavior of foraging ants to their original nest, we do not know whether additional learning is required to navigate to the new nest location. To answer this question, we investigated the nest relocation behavior of a colony of Australian desert ants (Melophorus bagoti) that relocated their nest in response to heavy rainfall in the semidesert terrain of Alice Springs.