Human brain dynamics are shaped by rare long-range connections over and above cortical geometry.

A fundamental topological principle is that the container always shapes the content. In neuroscience, this translates into how the brain anatomy shapes brain dynamics. From neuroanatomy, the topology of the mammalian brain can be approximated by local connectivity, accurately described by an exponential distance rule (EDR).

Endonuclease G promotes hepatic mitochondrial respiration by selectively increasing mitochondrial tRNA production.

Mitochondrial endonuclease G (EndoG) contributes to chromosomal degradation when it is released from mitochondria during apoptosis. It is presumed to also have a mitochondrial function because EndoG deficiency causes mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the mechanism by which EndoG regulates mitochondrial function is not known.

Using DNA metabarcoding and direct behavioural observations to identify the diet of proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) in the Kinabatangan Floodplain, Sabah.

Characterizing the feeding ecology of threatened species is essential to establish appropriate conservation strategies. We focused our study on the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), an endangered primate species which is endemic to the island of Borneo. Our survey was conducted in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (LKWS), a riverine protected area that is surrounded by oil palm plantations.

Clonal phylogenies inferred from bulk, single cell, and spatial transcriptomic analysis of epithelial cancers.

Epithelial cancers are typically heterogeneous with primary prostate cancer being a typical example of histological and genomic variation. Prior studies of primary prostate cancer tumour genetics revealed extensive inter and intra-patient genomic tumour heterogeneity. Recent advances in machine learning have enabled the inference of ground-truth genomic single-nucleotide and copy number variant status from transcript data.

Late-stage changes in the composition of cell walls of maize plants expressing an apoplast targeted, senescence enhanced fungal ferulic acid esterase, and the subsequent effects on tissue saccharification.

Using maize plants expressing an apoplast targeted Aspergillus niger ferulic acid esterase (FAEA), with FAEA driven by a Lolium multiflorum senescence enhanced promoter (LmSee1), we extended measurements of FAEA activity to late-stage senescing plants and measured the stability of FAEA activity following stover storage. The impact of FAEA expression on cell wall hydroxycinnamic acid levels and arabinoxylan (AX) cross-links, and on the levels of cell wall sugars, acetyl bromide lignin and sugar release following saccharification by a cocktail of cellulases and xylanases, was assessed during plant development to full leaf senescence. These were determined in both individual internodes and in combined leaves and combined internodes of FAEA expressing and control partner plants.

Mathematical modelling approach to understanding the effect of Mg-rich synthetic gypsum used as fertilizer on growth of Hevea brasiliensis in acid soils.

Knowledge of plant growth dynamics is essential where constraints such as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have limited its field establishment. Thus, modeling can be used to predict plant performance where field planting/monitoring cannot be achieved. This study was conducted on the growth dynamics of rubber planted on two acid soils treated with either dolomitic limestone (GML), kieserite or Mg-rich synthetic gypsum (MRSG) to supply the Mg required by rubber seedlings.

De novo transcriptome assembly and discovery of drought-responsive genes in white spruce (Picea glauca).

Forests face an escalating threat from the increasing frequency of extreme drought events driven by climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand how widely distributed species of economic or ecological importance may respond to drought stress. In this study, we examined the transcriptome of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) to identify key genes and metabolic pathways involved in the species' response to water stress.

Social media-based Health Education plus Exercise Program (SHEEP) to improve muscle function among young-old adults with possible sarcopenia in the community: A feasibility study protocol.

Background: Despite the comparatively high prevalence of possible sarcopenia among young-old adults in the community, there is currently no available and effective social media-based intervention to increase the awareness and change the behavior of the target population to prevent sarcopenia. Using co-design methodology, we developed a multicomponent intervention strategy of health education and exercise for sarcopenia prevention utilizing the TikTok platform.

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the social media-based intervention to enhance muscle function in community-dwelling young-old adults with possible sarcopenia.

Creating a culture, not just a space-A qualitative investigation into reflective practice groups in inpatient mental health settings from the perspectives of facilitators and attendees.

Background: Working in inpatient mental health settings is often characterised by highly emotive work and staff shortages. Despite the suggested benefits of reflective practice groups on staff well-being and clinical practice across healthcare settings, to date, there have been limited empirical studies on reflective practice groups in inpatient mental health settings, especially on group engagement and improvement.

Methods: We interviewed fifteen participants, including both facilitators and attendees of reflective practice groups.

Turning the spotlight: Hostile behavior in creative higher education and links to mental health in marginalized groups.

Hostile, discriminatory, and violent behavior within the creative industries has attracted considerable public interest and existing inequalities have been discussed broadly. However, few empirical studies have examined experiences of hostile behavior in creative higher education and associated mental health outcomes of early career artists. To address this gap, we conducted a survey among individuals studying at higher education institutions for art and music (N = 611).

Investigating the point prevalence, types, severity, causes and predictors of vaccines administration errors during COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.

Background: There is a paucity of research regarding COVID-19 vaccines administration errors (VAEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, types, severity, causes and predictors of VAEs in Jordan during the recent pandemic.

Method: This was a 3-day (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of the third week of November 2021) prospective, covert observational point prevalence study.

An end-to-end implicit neural representation architecture for medical volume data.

Medical volume data are rapidly increasing, growing from gigabytes to petabytes, which presents significant challenges in organisation, storage, transmission, manipulation, and rendering. To address the challenges, we propose an end-to-end architecture for data compression, leveraging advanced deep learning technologies. This architecture consists of three key modules: downsampling, implicit neural representation (INR), and super-resolution (SR).

The involvement of Elf5 in regulating keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation processes in skin.

Skin and hair development is regulated by multitude of programs of activation and silencing of gene expression to maintain normal skin and hair follicle (HF) development, homeostasis, and cycling. Here, we have identified E74-like factor 5 (Elf5) transcription factor, as a novel regulator of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation processes in skin. Expression analysis has revealed that Elf5 expression was localised and elevated in stem/progenitor cell populations of both the epidermis (basal and suprabasal) and in HF bulge and hair germ stem cell (SCs) compartments during skin and hair development and cycling.

Tocilizumab and rituximab for systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease: a real-world cohort analysis.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in SSc. Data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) supports rituximab and tocilizumab monotherapy but there is limited data regarding their use for those who fail standard immunomodulatory therapies.

Methods: SSc patients treated with rituximab or tocilizumab were retrospectively identified in a single centre cohort.

Sebaceous Carcinoma Arising in a Precursor Benign Sebaceoma: Rare Example Highlighting the Utility of Immunohistochemistry Including p53.

Reports of sebaceous carcinoma arising from a pre-existing benign precursor are extremely sparse in the literature. We describe a case in which there was clear transition between sebaceoma and sebaceous carcinoma, with a different pattern of p53 staining in each component.

A European Survey to Identify Challenges in the Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe subtype, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are highly prevalent and strongly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study sought to identify challenges to the diagnosis, treatment and management of people living with MASLD and MASH and understand the key barriers to adopting relevant clinical guidelines.

Methods: A real-world, cross-sectional study (BARRIERS-MASLD) consisting of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of physicians in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom was conducted from March to September 2023.

User Experiences of and Preferences for Self-Guided Digital Interventions for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Eating Disorders: Systematic Review and Metasynthesis.

Background: Digital interventions typically involve using smartphones or PCs to access online or downloadable self-help and may offer a more accessible and convenient option than face-to-face interventions for some people with mild to moderate eating disorders. They have been shown to substantially reduce eating disorder symptoms, but treatment dropout rates are higher than for face-to-face interventions. We need to understand user experiences and preferences for digital interventions to support the design and development of user-centered digital interventions that are engaging and meet users' needs.

Anticipatory smooth pursuit eye movements scale with the probability of visual motion: The role of target speed and acceleration.

Sensory-motor systems can extract statistical regularities in dynamic uncertain environments, enabling quicker responses and anticipatory behavior for expected events. Anticipatory smooth pursuit eye movements (aSP) have been observed in primates when the temporal and kinematic properties of a forthcoming visual moving target are fully or partially predictable. To investigate the nature of the internal model of target kinematics underlying aSP, we tested the effect of varying the target kinematics and its predictability.

Mortality Risk Prediction Models for People With Kidney Failure: A Systematic Review.

Importance: People with kidney failure have a high risk of death and poor quality of life. Mortality risk prediction models may help them decide which form of treatment they prefer.

Objective: To systematically review the quality of existing mortality prediction models for people with kidney failure and assess whether they can be applied in clinical practice.

Mental Disorders Among Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Systemic Glucocorticoids.

Importance: Current evidence of the association between prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids and long-term mental disorders is scarce and has limitations.

Objective: To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to systemic glucocorticoids and mental disorders in offspring at the age of 15 years, comparing exposed vs unexposed offspring born to mothers with the same underlying disease (risk of preterm delivery and autoimmune or inflammatory disorders).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nationwide population-based cohort study used data from registries in Denmark with follow-up until December 31, 2018.

Early access to fully funded tickets for BVA Live 2025.

BVA members can get exclusive early access to a limited number of fully funded educational bursaries for BVA Live 2025.

Markets and medicines discussed by BVA Council.

Two veterinary issues that look set to dominate 2025 - the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation and access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland - featured high on the agenda at a hybrid online/in person BVA Council meeting on 11 December 2024.

Message from the President.

BVA President Liz Mullineaux reflects on a busy 2024 and looks to the year ahead.

Fascination with hustle and bustle of the front desk leads to receptionist role.

Louise Hudson began as a cleaner in the veterinary practice where she is now head veterinary receptionist. Here she describes how her role has expanded, providing many exciting opportunities.