Impact of Sex on Cardiac Functional Adaptation to Different Modes of Exercise Training: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

Purpose: We hypothesized that male and female volunteers would exhibit distinct changes in cardiac morphology, systolic, and diastolic function following endurance (END) and resistance (RES) training.

Methods: Thirty-eight females and 26 males participated in a randomized cross-over design trial in which all participants completed 12-weeks END and RES, separated by a 12-week washout. Echocardiograms assessed morphology (left ventricular mass, LVM), systolic function (ejection fraction, EF, and global longitudinal strain, GLS), diastolic function (mitral valve velocities, E, A; tissue Doppler velocities, e', a'), and left atrial volume.

Tropical forest clearance impacts biodiversity and function, whereas logging changes structure.

The impacts of degradation and deforestation on tropical forests are poorly understood, particularly at landscape scales. We present an extensive ecosystem analysis of the impacts of logging and conversion of tropical forest to oil palm from a large-scale study in Borneo, synthesizing responses from 82 variables categorized into four ecological levels spanning a broad suite of ecosystem properties: (i) structure and environment, (ii) species traits, (iii) biodiversity, and (iv) ecosystem functions. Responses were highly heterogeneous and often complex and nonlinear.

Summer-Wet Hydrologic Cycle during the Middle Miocene of the United States: New Evidence from Fossil Fungi.

Hydrologic reconstructions from North America are largely unknown for the Middle Miocene. Examination of fungal palynomorph assemblages coupled with traditional plant-based palynology permits delineation of local, as opposed to regional, climate signals and provides a baseline for study of ancient fungas. Here, the Fungi in a Warmer World project presents paleoecology and paleoclimatology of 351 fungal morphotypes from 3 sites in the United States: the Clarkia Konservat-Lagerstätte site (Idaho), the Alum Bluff site (Florida), and the Bouie River site (Mississippi).

Uterine cyclin A2-deficient mice as a model of female early pregnancy loss.

Proper action of the female sex steroids 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on the endometrium is essential for fertility. Beyond its role in regulating the cell cycle, cyclin A2 (CCNA2) also mediates E2 and P4 signaling in vitro, but a potential role in modulating steroid action for proper endometrial tissue development and function is unknown. To fill this gap in our knowledge, we examined human endometrial tissue from fertile and infertile cisgender women for CCNA2 expression and correlated this with pregnancy outcome.

Sorcery and witchcraft beliefs on the front line of public health response in Papua New Guinea and beyond.

Problem: Many communities refer to sorcery or witchcraft to explain misfortunes such as sickness, death and disability. The effects of these beliefs on public health service delivery have long been overlooked. Beliefs in sorcery and witchcraft are significant challenges for health-care workers to understand to deliver better health outcomes and avoid inadvertently triggering accusations of witchcraft that may lead to violence.

Molecular basis of hyper-thermostability in the thermophilic archaeal aldolase MfnB.

Methanogenic archaea are chemolithotrophic prokaryotes that can reduce carbon dioxide with hydrogen gas to form methane. These microorganisms make a significant contribution to the global carbon cycle, with methanogenic archaea from anoxic environments estimated to contribute > 500 million tons of global methane annually. Archaeal methanogenesis is dependent on the methanofurans; aminomethylfuran containing coenzymes that act as the primary C acceptor molecule during carbon dioxide fixation.

METTL3 shapes m6A epitranscriptomic landscape for successful human placentation.

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), the catalytic enzyme of methyltransferase complex for m6A methylation of RNA, is essential for mammalian development. However, the importance of METTL3 in human placentation remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that a fine balance of METTL3 function in trophoblast cells is essential for successful human placentation.

Opportunities to Enhance Diagnostic Testing and Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Qualitative Multinational Survey of Healthcare Professionals.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health challenge. Global efforts to decrease AMR through antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) initiatives include education and optimising the use of diagnostic technologies and antibiotics. Despite this, economic and societal challenges hinder AMS efforts.

Binding of carbon dioxide and acetylene to free carboxylic acid sites in a metal-organic framework.

The functionalisation of organic linkers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to improve gas uptake is well-documented. Although the positive role of free carboxylic acid sites in MOFs for binding gas molecules has been proposed in computational studies, relatively little experimental evidence has been reported in support of this. Primarily this is because of the inherent synthetic difficulty to prepare MOF materials bearing free, accessible -COOH moieties which would normally bind to metal ions within the framework structure.

Working memory and inhibitory control deficits in children with ADHD: an experimental evaluation of competing model predictions.

Introduction: Children with ADHD demonstrate difficulties on many different neuropsychological tests. However, it remains unclear whether this pattern reflects a large number of distinct deficits or a small number of deficit(s) that broadly impact test performance. The current study is among the first experiments to systematically manipulate demands on both working memory and inhibition, with implications for competing conceptual models of ADHD pathogenesis.

ERβ Regulation of Indian Hedgehog Expression in the First Wave of Ovarian Follicles.

Increased activation of ovarian primordial follicles in knockout () rats becomes evident as early as postnatal day 8.5. To identify the ERβ-regulated genes that may control ovarian primordial follicle activation, we analyzed the transcriptome profiles of rat ovaries collected on postnatal days 4.

Loss of ERβ Disrupts Gene Regulation in Primordial and Primary Follicles.

Loss of ERβ increases primordial follicle growth activation (PFGA), leading to premature ovarian follicle reserve depletion. We determined the expression and gene regulatory functions of ERβ in dormant primordial follicles (PdFs) and activated primary follicles (PrFs) using mouse models. PdFs and PrFs were isolated from 3-week-old knockout () mouse ovaries, and their transcriptomes were compared with those of control mice.

Patient, family caregiver, and economic outcomes of an integrated screening and novel stepped collaborative care intervention in the oncology setting in the USA (CARES): a randomised, parallel, phase 3 trial.

Background: The current standard of care of screening and referring patients for treatment for symptoms, such as depression, pain, and fatigue, is not effective. This trial aimed to test the efficacy of an integrated screening and novel stepped collaborative care intervention versus standard of care for patients with cancer and at least one of the following symptoms: depression, pain, or fatigue.

Methods: This randomised, parallel, phase 3 trial was conducted in 29 oncology outpatient clinics associated with the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in the USA.

Development of Novel Membrane Disrupting Lipoguanidine Compounds Sensitizing Gram-Negative Bacteria to Antibiotics.

A new class of amphiphilic molecules, the lipoguanidines, designed as hybrids of guanidine and fatty acid compounds, has been synthesized and developed. The new molecules present both a guanidine polar head and a lipophilic tail that allow them to disrupt bacterial membranes and to sensitize Gram-negative bacteria to the action of the narrow-spectrum antibiotics rifampicin and novobiocin. The lipoguanidine sensitizes , , , and to rifampicin, thereby reducing the antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) up to 256-fold.

The GATA transcriptional program dictates cell fate equilibrium to establish the maternal-fetal exchange interface and fetal development.

The placenta establishes a maternal-fetal exchange interface to transport nutrients and gases between the mother and the fetus. Establishment of this exchange interface relies on the development of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (SynT) from trophoblast progenitors, and defect in SynT development often leads to pregnancy failure and impaired embryonic development. Here, we show that mouse embryos with conditional deletion of transcription factors GATA2 and GATA3 in labyrinth trophoblast progenitors (LaTPs) have underdeveloped placenta and die by ~embryonic day 9.

Cardiac functional adaptation to resistance and endurance exercise training: a randomized crossover study.

Few training studies have assessed the impact of different modes of exercise on changes in cardiac function. This study investigated changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function following endurance (END) and resistance (RES) training in healthy participants. Sixty-four individuals participated in a randomized crossover design trial, involving 12 wk of END and RES training, separated by a 12-wk washout.

Considerations for deriving a safe intake of propylene glycol.

The use of propylene glycol (PG) in food and other applications is widespread, and some estimates of dietary exposure to PG approach or exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 25 mg/kg bw-day. The current ADI for PG applies a cumulative uncertainty factor of 100, which includes factors of 10 for both interspecies and intraspecies differences. Available toxicology studies and human data, however, indicate a plausible mode of action (MoA) that would support a chemical-specific adjustment factor (CSAF) of 1 for interspecies toxicodynamic differences, reducing the total uncertainty factor from 100 to 40.

Effects of antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents on postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections, antibody response, and serological cytokine profile.

Background: Despite immunization, patients on antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents have a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection. However, accurately attributing this risk to specific medications remains challenging.

Methods: An observational cohort study from December 11, 2020 to September 22, 2022, within a large healthcare system in San Diego, California, USA was designed to identify medications associated with greatest risk of postimmunization SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Age is positively associated with fading affect bias: A cross-sectional comparison.

Emotions elicited by personal event memories change over time such that negative affect fades more quickly than positive affect. This asymmetric fade is called the fading affect bias (FAB) and has been posited as a mechanism that helps promote a positive outlook on life. A similar bias toward positive information (i.

A phase II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of durvalumab as first line therapy in advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2.

Background: Approximately 30-40% of patients with advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present with an impaired performance status (PS). There are limited prospective data on the safety and efficacy of durvalumab in these patients.

Methods: In this single-arm phase II clinical trial (NCT02879617), patients with previously untreated Stage IIIB/IV NSCLC and ECOG PS of 2 received durvalumab 1500 mg every 28 days until progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The attention atlas virtual reality platform maps three-dimensional (3D) attention in unilateral spatial neglect patients: a protocol.

Background: Deficits in visuospatial attention, known as neglect, are common following brain injury, but underdiagnosed and poorly treated, resulting in long-term cognitive disability. In clinical settings, neglect is often assessed using simple pen-and-paper tests. While convenient, these cannot characterise the full spectrum of neglect.

Does Anxiety Systematically Bias Estimates of Executive Functioning Deficits in Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Growing evidence suggests that childhood ADHD is associated with larger impairments in working memory relative to inhibition. However, most studies have not considered the role of co-occurring anxiety on these estimates - a potentially significant confound given prior evidence that anxiety may increase working memory difficulties but decrease inhibition difficulties for these children. The current study extends prior work to examine the extent to which co-occurring anxiety may be systematically affecting recent estimates of the magnitude of working memory/inhibitory control deficits in ADHD.