Gating-spring stiffness increases outer-hair-cell bundle stiffness, damping, and receptor current.

In our ears, outer-hair-cell bundles (OHBs) convert sound-induced forces into receptor currents that drive cochlear amplification, the process responsible for the micropascal-scale threshold and million-fold dynamic range of hearing. OHBs rely on gating springs to open mechanoelectrical-transduction (MET) ion channels, through which the receptor current flows. OHBs have larger gating-spring stiffnesses than other types of hair bundles, but we have a poor understanding of how gating-spring stiffness contributes to OHB mechanics and receptor-current regulation.

Identification of a dengue 2 virus envelope protein receptor in critical for viral midgut infection.

The establishment of a productive dengue virus (DENV) infection in the midgut epithelial cells of is critical for the viral transmission cycle. The hypothesis that DENV virions interact directly with specific mosquito midgut proteins was explored. We found that DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) pretreated with trypsin interacted with a single 31 kDa protein, identified as AAEL011180 by protein mass spectrometry.

Acute effects of manual breathing assist technique on lung volume and dyspnea in individuals with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: Manual breathing assist technique (MBAT) is a common physical therapy technique used to facilitate airway clearance and improve ventilation and oxygenation. The effects during and immediately after intervention in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects and potential mechanisms of MBAT on lung volume, dyspnea, and oxygenation in individuals with COPD.

3D morphology of an outer-hair-cell hair bundle increases its displacement and dynamic range.

In mammals, outer-hair-cell hair bundles (OHBs) transduce sound-induced forces into receptor currents and are required for the wide dynamic range and high sensitivity of hearing. OHBs differ conspicuously in morphology from other types of bundles. Here, we show that the 3D morphology of an OHB greatly impacts its mechanics and transduction.

Inborn Errors of Immunity and Cytokine Storm Syndromes.

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a diverse and growing category of more than 430 chronic disorders that share susceptibilities to infections. Whether the result of a genetic lesion that causes defective granule-dependent cytotoxicity, excessive lymphoproliferation, or an overwhelming infection represents a unique antigenic challenge, IEIs can display a proclivity for cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) development. This chapter provides an overview of CSS pathophysiology as it relates to IEIs.

Cytoskeleton-associated gelsolin responds to the midgut distention process in saline meal-fed Aedes aegypti and affects arbovirus dissemination from the midgut.

The mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the principal vector for several arboviruses. The mosquito midgut is the initial tissue that gets infected with an arbovirus acquired along with a blood meal from a vertebrate host. Blood meal ingestion leads to midgut tissue distention thereby increasing the pore size of the surrounding basal lamina.

Translating the Interplay of Cognition and Physical Performance in COPD and Interstitial Lung Disease: Meeting Report and Literature Review.

Topic Importance: Cognitive and physical limitations are common in individuals with chronic lung diseases, but their interactions with physical function and activities of daily living are not well characterized. Understanding these interactions and potential contributors may provide insights on disability and enable more tailored rehabilitation strategies.

Review Findings: This review summarizes a 2-day meeting of patient partners, clinicians, researchers, and lung associations to discuss the interplay between cognitive and physical function in people with chronic lung diseases.

Continuous measurements of respiratory muscle blood flow and oxygen consumption using noninvasive frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy.

Prior studies of muscle blood flow and muscle-specific oxygen consumption have required invasive injection of dye and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Such measures have limited utility for continuous monitoring of the respiratory muscles. Frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (FD-NIRS & DCS) can provide continuous surrogate measures of blood flow index (BF) and metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (MRO).

Improved methodology for fixation and preparation of Aedes aegypti embryos.

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is a major disease vector and an increasingly popular emerging model research organism. We present here an improved protocol for the collection, fixation, and preparation of A. aegypti embryos for immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies.

Online resources as a source of information for exercise and physical activity in solid organ transplant recipients.

Introduction: Exercise training post-transplant has been shown to improve physical function and quality of life in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Online resources in the form of websites and videos are commonly used to provide education and instruction on exercise and physical activity in SOT; however, the content and quality of these online resources has not been evaluated.

Methods: The first 200 websites and videos identified on Google and YouTube using the English search term "exercise and physical activity in solid organ transplantation" were analyzed.

Conserved and novel enhancers in the Aedes aegypti single-minded locus recapitulate embryonic ventral midline gene expression.

Transcriptional cis-regulatory modules, e.g., enhancers, control the time and location of metazoan gene expression.

Combined frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for comprehensive metabolic monitoring of inspiratory muscles during loading.

Significance: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a cornerstone technology in the intensive care unit as it assists with the delivery of oxygen in critically ill patients. The process of weaning patients from MV can be long and arduous and can lead to serious complications for many patients. Despite the known importance of inspiratory muscle function in the success of weaning, current clinical standards do not include direct monitoring of these muscles.

Clinical implications of frailty assessed in hospitalized patients with acute-exacerbation of interstitial lung disease.

Background: Approximately 50% of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) experience frailty, which remains unexplored in acute exacerbations of ILD (AE-ILD). A better understanding may help with prognostication and resource planning. We evaluated the association of frailty with clinical characteristics, physical function, hospital outcomes, and post-AE-ILD recovery.

EELS: Autonomous snake-like robot with task and motion planning capabilities for ice world exploration.

Ice worlds are at the forefront of astrobiological interest because of the evidence of subsurface oceans. Enceladus in particular is unique among the icy moons because there are known vent systems that are likely connected to a subsurface ocean, through which the ocean water is ejected to space. An existing study has shown that sending small robots into the vents and directly sampling the ocean water is likely possible.

Saline-immersion endoscopic submucosal dissection using pocket-creation method.

Video 1Saline-immersion endoscopic submucosal dissection using the pocket-creation method.

Physical activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Longitudinal change and minimal clinically important difference.

Background And Objective: Reference values of physical activity to interpret longitudinal changes are not available in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study aimed to define the minimal clinical important difference (MCID) of longitudinal changes in physical activity in patients with IPF.

Methods: Using accelerometry, physical activity (steps per day) was measured and compared at baseline and 6-months follow-up in patients with IPF.

A combined frequency domain near infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy system for comprehensive metabolic monitoring of inspiratory muscles during loading.

Significance: Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a cornerstone technology in the intensive care unit as it assists with the delivery of oxygen in critical ill patients. The process of weaning patients from MV can be long, and arduous and can lead to serious complications for many patients. Despite the known importance of inspiratory muscle function in the success of weaning, current clinical standards do not include direct monitoring of these muscles.

The interrelationship between lower limb movement, muscle activity, and joint moment during half squat and gait.

Joint moment is the resultant force of limb movements. However, estimation methods for joint moments using surface electromyography frequently use joint angles instead of limb angles. The limb angle in joint moment estimation using electromyography could clarify the effects of muscle activity on the limbs: acceleration, deceleration, or stabilization.

Intermittent neck flexion induces greater sternocleidomastoid deoxygenation than inspiratory threshold loading.

Purpose: To compare deoxygenation of the sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, and diaphragm/intercostals (Dia/IC) during submaximal intermittent neck flexion (INF) versus submaximal inspiratory threshold loading (ITL) in healthy adults.

Methods: Fourteen participants performed a randomized, cross-over, repeated measures design. After evaluation of maximal inspiratory pressures (MIP) and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for isometric neck flexion, participants were randomly assigned to submaximal ITL or INF until task failure.

The interplay of physical and cognitive function in rehabilitation of interstitial lung disease patients: a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses several diverse pulmonary pathologies that result in abnormal diffuse parenchymal changes. When prescribing rehabilitation, several additional factors need to be considered as a result of aging, polypharmacy, and comorbidities manifested in ILD patients. This review aims to discuss issues related to frailty, skeletal muscle and cognitive function that limit physical activities in ILD patients.

Circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection of distal rectal polyp in a patient with portal hypertension complicated by bowel obstruction.

Video 1Circumferential endoscopic submucosal dissection of distal rectal polyp in a patient with portal hypertension complicated by bowel obstruction.