Systematic bias in malaria parasite relatedness estimation.

Genetic studies of Plasmodium parasites increasingly feature relatedness estimates. However, various aspects of malaria parasite relatedness estimation are not fully understood. For example, relatedness estimates based on whole-genome-sequence (WGS) data often exceed those based on sparser data types.

Attention-aware differential learning for predicting peptide-MHC class I binding and T cell receptor recognition.

The identification of neoantigens is crucial for advancing vaccines, diagnostics, and immunotherapies. Despite this importance, a fundamental question remains: how to model the presentation of neoantigens by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules and the recognition of the peptide-MHC-I (pMHC-I) complex by T cell receptors (TCRs). Accurate prediction of pMHC-I binding and TCR recognition remains a significant computational challenge in immunology due to intricate binding motifs and the long-tail distribution of known binding pairs in public databases.

Effects of blood flow restriction on internal and external training load metrics during acute and chronic short-term repeated-sprint training in team-sport athletes.

This study examined internal, external training loads, internal:external ratios, and aerobic adaptations for acute and short-term chronic repeated-sprint training (RST) with blood flow restriction (BFR). Using randomised crossover (Experiment A) and between-subject (Experiment B) designs, 15 and 24 semi-professional Australian footballers completed two and nine RST sessions, respectively. Sessions comprised three sets of 5-7 × 5-second sprints and 25 seconds recovery, with continuous BFR (45% arterial occlusion pressure) or without (Non-BFR).

Rehabilitation and intervention of developmental and acquired prosopagnosia: A systematic review.

Prosopagnosia is a neurological disorder; characterized by an impairment in facial recognition. It can occur from acquired prosopagnosia (occurring in approximately 5.6% of the population), or from developmental prosopagnosia (occurring in approximately 2% of the population).

The impact of a secondary, rare, non-pathogenic PKD1 variant on disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused primarily by pathogenic variants in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Although the type of ADPKD variant can influence disease severity, rare, hypomorphic PKD1 variants have also been reported to modify disease severity or cause biallelic ADPKD. This study examines whether rare, additional, potentially protein-altering, non-pathogenic PKD1 variants contribute to ADPKD phenotypic outcomes.

Evolution of Human Pair Bonds as a Consequence of Male-Biased Mating Sex Ratios?

Compared to our closest primate relatives, human life history involves greater longevity, which includes a distinctive postmenopausal life stage. Given mammalian reproductive physiology in which females build a finite stock of cells that can become oocytes early in life, which then continuously deplete mostly through cell death while males produce new sperm throughout adulthood, the postmenopausal stage makes the sex ratio in the fertile pool, called the adult sex ratio (ASR), male biased. Additionally, this affects a more fine-grained ratio, the operational sex ratio (OSR), defined as the ratio of males to females currently able to conceive.

Operationalizing the ICF Core Sets for Autism and ADHD: A Multiple-Methods Feasibility Study.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is the World Health Organization's (WHO) standard for assessing individual functioning. Over the last decade, the ICF has been made more accessible for autism and ADHD through the development and validation of tailored shorter ICF versions for these diagnoses, ICF Core Sets. To further enhance their applicability in research and practice, these Core Sets have been operationalized and implemented on an online platform, the ICF CoreSets platform.

Polystyrene Nanoplastics Hitch-Hike the Gut-Brain Axis to Exacerbate Parkinson's Pathology.

The neurological implications of micro- and nanoplastic exposure have recently come under scrutiny due to the environmental prevalence of these synthetic materials. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major neurological disorder clinically characterized by intracellular Lewy-body inclusions and dopaminergic neuronal death. These pathological hallmarks of PD, according to Braak's hypothesis, are mediated by the afferent propagation of α synuclein (αS) via the enteric nervous system, or the so-called gut-brain axis.

Identifying metabolomic mediators of the physical activity and colorectal cancer relationship.

Background: Current evidence suggests higher physical activity (PA) levels are associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mediating role of the circulating metabolome in this relationship remains unclear.

Methods: Targeted metabolomics data from 6,055 participants in the EPIC cohort were used to identify metabolites associated with PA and derive a metabolomic signature of PA levels.

Accuracy of two-compartment modelling of gas exchange with ventilation-perfusion mismatch in inhalational anesthesia.

Background: Multi-compartment computer models of heterogeneity in alveolar ventilation-perfusion ratios (VA/Q scatter) across the lung explain the significant alveolar-arterial (A-a) partial pressure gradients and associated alveolar dead-space fractions (VDA/VA) seen in anesthetized patients for both carbon dioxide and for anesthetic gases of different blood solubilities. However, the accuracy of a simpler two-compartment model of VA/Q scatter to do this has not been tested or compared to calculations from the traditional Riley model with "ideal", unventilated (shunt) and unperfused (deadspace) compartments.

Methods: Measurements of gas partial pressures in inspired and expired gas and arterial and mixed venous blood from 29 patients undergoing inhalational general anesthesia for cardiac surgery was used to compare the accuracy of two simple models of VA/Q scatter and lung gas exchange in predicting measured alveolar and arterial partial pressure differences, and associated alveolar dead-space calculations for the modern anesthetic gases isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane.

Multidimensional Classification and Prediction of Outcome Following Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify outcome clusters among individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), 6 months to 10 years post-injury, in an Australian rehabilitation sample, and determine whether scores on 12 dimensions, combined with demographic and injury severity variables, could predict outcome cluster membership 1 to 3 years post-injury.

Setting: Rehabilitation hospital.

Participants: A total of 467 individuals with TBI, aged 17 to 87 (M = 44.

Combining magnetically isolated CD45 cells with serum maintains intact drug responsiveness for ELISpot analysis in clinical trials.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot analysis is frequently used to investigate immune responsiveness during clinical trials. However, ELISpot classically utilizes peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolates from whole blood, requiring relatively high blood draw volumes and removing both granulocytes and bound drug. Here, we describe a novel protocol whereby CD45 cells are magnetically isolated from human whole blood and co-incubated with serum isolated from the same subject.

Exercising Self-Control Increases Responsivity to Hedonic and Eudaimonic Rewards.

The reward responsivity hypothesis of self-control proposes that, irrespective of self-control success, exercising self-control is aversive and engenders negative affect. To countermand this discomfort, reward-seeking behavior may be amplified after bouts of self-control, bringing individuals back to a mildly positive baseline state. Previous studies indicated that effort-an integral component of self-control-can increase reward responsivity.

A review of biogas upgrading technologies: key emphasis on electrochemical systems.

Biogas, consisting mainly of CO and CH, offers a sustainable source of energy. However, this gaseous stream has been undervalued in wastewater treatment plants owing to its high CO content. Biogas upgrading by capturing CO broadens its utilisation as a substitute for natural gas.

Topical review: Challenges and solutions for eye care in long-term care.

Background: The prevalence of visual impairment among individuals living in long-term care (LTC) is substantial, yet eye care is often disregarded and inadequately addressed. This neglect contributes to a decline in quality of life for residents. Thus, understanding the challenges faced by stakeholders in providing eye care for residents might suggest opportunities to improve eye health outcomes.

Systemic TRPV4 inhibition worsens retinal response to acute intraocular pressure elevation in older but not younger mice.

Significance: Previous evidence showed that transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) inhibition was protective of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss after chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in young animals. However, the role of TRPV4 in mechanosensing IOP changes in the aging eye is not well understood.

Purpose: This study compared the recovery of retinal function and structure after acute IOP elevation in 3- and 12-month-old mouse eyes with and without TRPV4 inhibition.

Fall rates in bifocal, trifocal, and progressive addition lens glasses wearers.

Purpose: There is evidence that wearing multifocal glasses increases the risk of falls in older people, especially when walking on stairs and in unfamiliar settings. However, it is not clear whether all types of multifocal glasses are equally associated with falls. This study comprised a secondary analysis of data from the VISIBLE randomized controlled trial to determine whether fall rates differ among older bifocal, trifocal, and progressive addition lens glasses wearers.

Ventral Rectopexy: An International Expert Panel Consensus and Review of Contemporary Literature.

Background: Ventral rectopexy has become increasingly utilized in the surgical management of rectal prolapse. There is a need for a contemporary evaluation of the role of the procedure and description of its use in clinical practice.

Objective: To create an international consensus on ventral rectopexy.

Long-term Outcomes After Minimally Invasive Ventral Rectopexy for Rectal Prolapse Using Biologic Graft Prosthesis: A 15-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Minimally invasive ventral rectopexy has widely become the preferred prolapse procedure. However there have been recent concerns regarding the safety of permanent synthetic mesh in the pelvis. Biologic grafts have also been commonly used as an alternative prosthesis, but data on their safety and the longevity of the prolapse repair have been lacking.

A comparison of maximal isometric force in the first pull, transition and second pull of the clean and their contribution to predict performance in national and international level weightlifters.

This study aimed to examine differences in isometric peak force (PF) at the start of the first pull, transition, and second pull phases of the clean, and determine their contribution in explaining the variance in snatch and clean & jerk (C&J) performance. Thirty-one national and international level male and female weightlifters participated. Isometric start position pull (ISPP), isometric transition position pull (ITPP), and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) PF, along with competition performance, were analysed both in absolute and allometrically scaled terms.

Acute and chronic effects of an intervention aiming to reduce prolonged sitting on glucose regulation in individuals with dysglycaemia.

Acute studies have consistently demonstrated small-to-medium glycaemic responses to breaking prolonged sitting, yet it is not known whether acute effects are maintained following a period of intervention or whether behavioural interventions lead to sustained benefits. A single arm, 4-week intervention with pre and post "two-arm" randomised cross-over conditions, study was conducted to investigate whether reducing prolonged sitting in free-living affects acute and chronic glucose and insulin responses. Adults aged 40-75 years living with overweight or obesity with an elevated HbA1c (5.

Extracellular thiol isomerase ERp5 regulates integrin αIIbβ3 activation by inhibition of fibrinogen binding.

Recent studies have shown that anti-ERp5 antibodies inhibit platelet activation and thrombus formation; Moreover, ERp5-deficient platelets exhibit enhanced platelet reactivity via regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we used a new ERp5-knockout mouse model as well as recombinant ERp5 (rERp5) protein, to examine the role of ERp5 in platelet function and thrombosis. Although platelet-specific ERp5-deficient mice had decreased platelet count, the mice had shortened tail-bleeding times and enhanced platelet accumulation in FeCl-induced mesenteric artery injury, compared with wild-type mice.

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) for Core Members Who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ (LGBTQIA+): An Exploratory Study.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) individuals are overrepresented in prison and face increased criminal justice attention on sexual offending. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ individuals experience challenges reintegrating into communities following prison. Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA)-a measure to support the community reintegration of people with sexual offence convictions-might therefore be mobilized to assist LGBTQIA+ individuals.