Glutamine promotes human CD8 T cells and counteracts imiquimod-induced T cell hyporesponsiveness.

T cells protect tissues from cancer. Although investigations in mice showed that amino acids (AA) critically regulate T cell immunity, this remains poorly understood in humans. Here, we describe the AA composition of interstitial fluids in keratinocyte-derived skin cancers (KDSCs) and study the effect of AA on T cells using models of primary human cells and tissues.

Influence of Fiber Diameter of Polycaprolactone Nanofibrous Materials on Biofilm Formation and Retention of Bacterial Cells.

To develop microbiologically safe nanofibrous materials, it is crucial to understand their interactions with microbial cells. Current research indicates that the morphology of nanofibers, particularly the diameter of the fibers, may play a significant role in biofilm formation and retention. However, it has not yet been determined how the fiber diameter of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), one of the most widely used biopolymers, affects these microbial interactions.

Cross-cousin marriage among Tsimane forager-horticulturalists during demographic transition and market integration.

Although still prevalent in many human societies, the practice of cousin marriage has precipitously declined in populations undergoing rapid demographic and socioeconomic change. However, it is still unclear whether changes in the structure of the marriage pool or changes in the fitness-relevant consequences of cousin marriage more strongly influence the frequency of cousin marriage. Here, we use genealogical data collected by the Tsimane Health and Life History Project to show that there is a small but measurable decline in the frequency of first cross-cousin marriage since the mid-twentieth century.

Clinical and molecular genetic analysis of cytologically uncertain thyroid nodules in patients with thyroid disease.

Background: The current requirement is to establish the preoperative diagnosis accurately as possible and to achieve an adequate extent of surgery. The aim of this study was to define the preoperative clinical and molecular genetic risks of malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III and IV) and to determine their impact on the surgical strategy.

Methods: Prospectively retrospective analysis of 287 patients provided the basis of preoperative laboratory examination, sonographic stratification of malignancy risks and cytological findings.

A Random Forest Classifier for Anomaly Detection in Laser-Powder Bed Fusion Using Optical Monitoring.

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive production technology, widely adopted in innovative industries that revolutionizes design and manufacturing. The interest in quality control of AM systems has grown substantially over the last decade, driven by AM's appeal for intricate, high-value, and low-volume production components. Geometry-dependent process conditions in AM yield unique challenges, especially regarding quality assurance.

Using repeatability of performance within and across contexts to validate measures of behavioral flexibility.

Research into animal cognitive abilities is increasing quickly and often uses methods where behavioral performance on a task is assumed to represent variation in the underlying cognitive trait. However, because these methods rely on behavioral responses as a proxy for cognitive ability, it is important to validate that the task structure does, in fact, target the cognitive trait of interest rather than non-target cognitive, personality, or motivational traits (construct validity). Although it can be difficult, or impossible, to definitively assign performance to one cognitive trait, one way to validate that task structure is more likely to elicit performance based on the target cognitive trait is to assess the temporal and contextual repeatability of performance.

Fitness consequences of cousin marriage: a life-history assessment in two populations.

Cousin marriage, a spousal union between close kin, occurs at high frequencies in many parts of the world. The rates of cousin marriage in humans are concordant with empirical studies that challenge the traditionally held view that reproduction with kin is generally avoided in animals. Similarly, some theoretical models in animal behaviour show that inbreeding avoidance is more constrained than previously thought.

The role of climate change and niche shifts in divergent range dynamics of a sister-species pair.

Species ranges are set by limitations in factors including climate tolerances, habitat use, and dispersal abilities. Understanding the factors governing species range dynamics remains a challenge that is ever more important in our rapidly changing world. Species ranges can shift if environmental changes affect available habitat, or if the niche or habitat connectivity of a species changes.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender gap in research productivity within academia.

Using measures of research productivity to assess academic performance puts women at a disadvantage because gender roles and unconscious biases, operating both at home and in academia, can affect research productivity. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research productivity has been the subject of a number of studies, including studies based on surveys and studies based on numbers of articles submitted to and/or published in journals. Here, we combine the results of 55 studies that compared the impact of the pandemic on the research productivity of men and women; 17 of the studies were based on surveys, 38 were based on article counts, and the total number of effect sizes was 130.

Two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy records reduced neurotransmission in blast-exposed artillery soldiers after live fire training.

There is a requirement for an objective method to determine a safe level of low-level military occupational blast, having recognised it can lead to neurological damage. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of artillery firing training on the neurochemistry of frontline soldiers using two-dimensional (2D) COrrelated SpectroscopY (2D COSY) in a 3-T clinical MR scanner. Ten men considered to be of sound health were evaluated before and after a week-long live firing exercise in two ways.

Population Pharmacokinetics and Dosing Simulations of Ampicillin and Sulbactam in Hospitalised Adult Patients.

Background: The pharmacokinetic variability of ampicillin-sulbactam in adults has not been extensively described, particularly in patients with a reduced renal function (i.e., < 60 mL/min).

An Assessment of Blood Vessel Remodeling of Nanofibrous Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Vascular Grafts in a Rat Animal Model.

The development of an ideal vascular prosthesis represents an important challenge in terms of the treatment of cardiovascular diseases with respect to which new materials are being considered that have produced promising results following testing in animal models. This study focuses on nanofibrous polycaprolactone-based grafts assessed by means of histological techniques 10 days and 6 months following suturing as a replacement for the rat aorta. A novel stereological approach for the assessment of cellular distribution within the graft thickness was developed.

Experimental surgery as part of the development of degradable biomaterials for cardiovascular surgery.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in the population. Artificial vascular grafts are often essential for surgical procedures in radical or palliative treatment. Many new biodegradable materials are currently under development.

The eco-evolutionary landscape of power relationships between males and females.

In animal societies, control over resources and reproduction is often biased towards one sex. Yet, the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of male-female power asymmetries remain poorly understood. We outline a comprehensive framework to quantify and predict the dynamics of male-female power relationships within and across mammalian species.

Case Report: Capacity to Objectively Monitor the Response of a Chronic Pain Patient to Treatment.

Response to pain therapy is currently by patient self-report. We demonstrate that by evaluating the neurochemistry of a patient, using two-dimensional Correlated SpectroscopY (2D COSY) in a 3T MRI scanner, response to therapy can be recorded. A chronic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain patient was evaluated by a pain physician specializing in temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and by 2D COSY, before, and 6 days after treatment with Botulinum Toxin A.

CD4 T-cell-derived IL-10 promotes CNS inflammation in mice by sustaining effector T cell survival.

Interleukin (IL)-10 is considered a prototypical anti-inflammatory cytokine, significantly contributing to the maintenance and reestablishment of immune homeostasis. Accordingly, it has been shown in the intestine that IL-10 produced by Tregs can act on effector T cells, thereby limiting inflammation. Herein, we investigate whether this role also applies to IL-10 produced by T cells during central nervous system (CNS) inflammation.

Localization of Viral Epitope-Specific CD8 T Cells during Cytomegalovirus Latency in the Lungs and Recruitment to Lung Parenchyma by Airway Challenge Infection.

Interstitial pneumonia is a life-threatening clinical manifestation of cytomegalovirus infection in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The mouse model of experimental HCT and infection with murine cytomegalovirus revealed that reconstitution of virus-specific CD8 T cells is critical for resolving productive lung infection. CD8 T-cell infiltrates persisted in the lungs after the establishment of latent infection.

Novel lipophosphonoxin-loaded polycaprolactone electrospun nanofiber dressing reduces Staphylococcus aureus induced wound infection in mice.

Active wound dressings are attracting extensive attention in soft tissue repair and regeneration, including bacteria-infected skin wound healing. As the wide use of antibiotics leads to drug resistance we present here a new concept of wound dressings based on the polycaprolactone nanofiber scaffold (NANO) releasing second generation lipophosphonoxin (LPPO) as antibacterial agent. Firstly, we demonstrated in vitro that LPPO released from NANO exerted antibacterial activity while not impairing proliferation/differentiation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Timeliness of antiretroviral therapy initiation in the era before universal treatment.

We assessed the prevalence and factors related to the time to antiretroviral (ART) initiation among persons who entered HIV care and subsequently started ART in Croatia from 2005 to 2014. Included were patients ≥ 18 years, the follow-up ended on Dec/31/2017. 628 patients were included into the study 91.

The potential to infer the historical pattern of cultural macroevolution.

Phylogenetic analyses increasingly take centre-stage in our understanding of the processes shaping patterns of cultural diversity and cultural evolution over time. Just as biologists explain the origins and maintenance of trait differences among organisms using phylogenetic methods, so anthropologists studying cultural macroevolutionary processes use phylogenetic methods to uncover the history of human populations and the dynamics of culturally transmitted traits. In this paper, we revisit concerns with the validity of these methods.

Double-layered Nanofibrous Patch for Prevention of Anastomotic Leakage and Peritoneal Adhesions, Experimental Study.

Background/aim: Anastomotic leakage is a feared complication in colorectal surgery. Postoperative peritoneal adhesions can also cause life-threatening conditions. Nanofibrous materials showed their pro-healing properties in various studies.

Local convergence of behavior across species.

Behavior is a way for organisms to respond flexibly to the environmental conditions they encounter. Our own species exhibits large behavioral flexibility and occurs in all terrestrial habitats, sharing these environments with many other species. It remains unclear to what extent a shared environment constrains behavior and whether these constraints apply similarly across species.