Wood Ducks as Accidental Hosts of the Squirrel Flea, \u3ci\u3eOrchopeas Howardi\u3c/i\u3e (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae)

(excerpt) On 21 May 1985, two recently hatched wood ducklings, Aix sponsa (L.), brought to the McHenry County Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Woodstock, Illinois, were inspected for ectoparasites

Interacciones embrio-maternales y su impacto en la calidad y desarrollo embrionario temprano

Se conoce que entre un 25 y un 55% de los embriones mamíferos se pierden durante la gestación temprana, y aproximadamente dos tercios de estas pérdidas ocurren durante el período de pre-implantación. Si bien se ha estudiado que el sitio donde se transfieren los embriones respecto al cuerpo lúteo (CL) impacta sobre el desarrollo y supervivencia embrionaria y el establecimiento de la preñez, hay escasa información respecto a la funcionalidad del tracto reproductivo acorde a la posición del CL. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el efecto local del CL sobre la funcionalidad oviductal-uterina y el desarrollo embrionario en la oveja, mediante un modelo de transferencia embrionaria ipsi y contralateral al CL. Fueron transferidos 499 cigotos producidos in vitro a oviductos ipsilaterales y contralaterales al CL en 12 ovejas que se encontraban en el día siguiente a la ovulación (18-20 embriones por oviducto). El Día 0 fue definido como el día de la fertilización in vitro de los embriones, y el día de la ovulación en las ovejas receptoras. Al Día 6, se recuperaron los tractos reproductivos para el estudio de la funcionalidad y para la recuperación de los embriones. Se encontró una tendencia a presentar mayores tasas de recuperación embrionaria (P=0,09), tendencia a mayor proporción de blastocistos (P=0,07) y una mayor proporción de embriones viables (P=0,002) cuando los cigotos fueron transferidos al oviducto ipsilateral respecto al contralateral al CL. El oviducto ipsilateral tuvo casi cinco veces más alta la concentración de progesterona (P<0,001) y presentó menores concentraciones de estradiol (P=0,05) con respecto al oviducto contralateral, lo que indica un mejor ambiente uterino para el desarrollo embrionario. Asimismo, se observó una mayor concentración de adiponectina en los macerados de tejido uterino del lado ipsilateral respecto al contralateral al CL. En el fluido uterino se observó una menor concentración de insulina en el lado ipsilateral con respecto al fluido uterino contralateral al CL (P=0,05), lo que sugiere una mayor captación de esta hormona por los embriones y/o el útero. No se encontraron diferencias en las concentraciones de progesterona y estradiol entre los fluidos ipsi y contralaterales, como tampoco para las hormonas medidas en útero. En el tejido oviductal se encontró una menor expresión de PR e IGFBP5 y una mayor expresión de ADIPOR1 en el lado ipsilateral respecto al oviducto contralateral. En útero, la expresión de ERalfa, LEPR y IGFBP3 e IGFBP5 fue mayor del lado ipsilateral. En conclusión, esta tesis muestra que hay una tendencia a una mayor tasa de recuperación de embriones y mayor proporción de embriones viables, cuando los cigotos se transfieren del lado ipsilateral al CL, lo que estuvo asociado con mayores concentraciones de P4, una concentración diferencial de insulina y adiponectina, y una expresión diferencial de PR, ERalfa, IGFBP3,5, LEPR y ADIPOR1, genes relevantes para la adaptación del útero a la preñez, entre el lado ipsi y contralateral al CL. Los resultados nos permiten sugerir que al Día 6 después de la ovulación, el oviducto/cuerno uterino ipsilateral al CL presentan un entorno más adecuado para el desarrollo embrionario temprano con respecto al lado contralateral.It is known that between 25 and 55% of mammalian embryos are lost during early pregnancy, and approximately two thirds of these losses occur during the pre-implantation period. Although, it has been studied that the site where embryos are transferred with respect to the corpus luteum (CL) impacts on embryonic development, survival and the establishment of pregnancy, there is little information regarding the functionality of the reproductive tract according to the position of the CL. The objective of this study is to evaluate the local effect of CL on oviductal-uterine functionality and embryonic development in sheep, using an embryonic transfer ipsi and contralateral to CL model. 499 zygotes produced in vitro were transferred to ipsilateral and contralateral oviducts to CL in 12 ewes that were on the day after ovulation (18-20 embryos per oviduct). Day 0 was defined as the day of in vitro fertilization of the embryos, and the day of ovulation in the recipient ewe. On Day 6, reproductive tracts were recovered for the study of functionality and for the recovery of embryos. We found a tendency to present higher rates of embryonic recovery (P=0.09), a tendency of a higher proportion of blastocysts (P=0.07) and a higher proportion of viable embryos (P=0.002) when the zygotes were transferred to the ipsilateral oviduct with respect to the contralateral one of the CL. The ipsilateral oviduct had almost five times higher progesterone concentration (P<0.001) and had lower concentrations of estradiol (P=0.05) with respect to the contralateral oviduct, indicating a better uterine environment for embryonic development. Likewise, a higher concentration of adiponectin was observed in uterine tissue macerates on the ipsilateral side with respect to the contralateral to CL. In the uterine fluid, a lower concentration of insulin was observed on the ipsilateral side with respect to the uterine fluid contralateral to the CL (P=0.05), which suggests a greater uptake of this hormone by the embryos and/or the uterus. No differences were found in the concentrations of progesterone and estradiol between the ipsi and contralateral fluids, nor for the hormones measured in the uterus. In the oviductal tissue there was a lower expression of PR and IGFBP5 and a higher expression of ADIPOR1 on the ipsilateral side with respect to the contralateral oviduct. In the uterus, the expression of ERalpha, LEPR, IGFBP3 and IGFBP5 was greater on the ipsilateral side. In conclusion, this thesis shows that there is a trend towards a higher embryo recovery rate and a higher proportion of viable embryos when the zygotes are transferred from the ipsilateral side to the CL, which was associated with higher concentrations of P4, a differential concentration of insulin and adiponectin, and a differential expression of PR, ERalpha, IGFBP3,5, LEPR and ADIPOR1, relevant genes for the adaptation of the uterus to pregnancy, between the ipsi and contralateral side to CL. The results allow us to suggest that at Day 6 after ovulation, the uterine oviduct/horn ipsilateral to CL presents a more adequate environment for early embryonic development with respect to the contralateral side

Interacciones embrio-maternales y su impacto en la calidad y desarrollo embrionario temprano

Se conoce que entre un 25 y un 55% de los embriones mamíferos se pierden durante la gestación temprana, y aproximadamente dos tercios de estas pérdidas ocurren durante el período de pre-implantación. Si bien se ha estudiado que el sitio donde se transfieren los embriones respecto al cuerpo lúteo (CL) impacta sobre el desarrollo y supervivencia embrionaria y el establecimiento de la preñez, hay escasa información respecto a la funcionalidad del tracto reproductivo acorde a la posición del CL. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el efecto local del CL sobre la funcionalidad oviductal-uterina y el desarrollo embrionario en la oveja, mediante un modelo de transferencia embrionaria ipsi y contralateral al CL. Fueron transferidos 499 cigotos producidos in vitro a oviductos ipsilaterales y contralaterales al CL en 12 ovejas que se encontraban en el día siguiente a la ovulación (18-20 embriones por oviducto). El Día 0 fue definido como el día de la fertilización in vitro de los embriones, y el día de la ovulación en las ovejas receptoras. Al Día 6, se recuperaron los tractos reproductivos para el estudio de la funcionalidad y para la recuperación de los embriones. Se encontró una tendencia a presentar mayores tasas de recuperación embrionaria (P=0,09), tendencia a mayor proporción de blastocistos (P=0,07) y una mayor proporción de embriones viables (P=0,002) cuando los cigotos fueron transferidos al oviducto ipsilateral respecto al contralateral al CL. El oviducto ipsilateral tuvo casi cinco veces más alta la concentración de progesterona (P<0,001) y presentó menores concentraciones de estradiol (P=0,05) con respecto al oviducto contralateral, lo que indica un mejor ambiente uterino para el desarrollo embrionario. Asimismo, se observó una mayor concentración de adiponectina en los macerados de tejido uterino del lado ipsilateral respecto al contralateral al CL. En el fluido uterino se observó una menor concentración de insulina en el lado ipsilateral con respecto al fluido uterino contralateral al CL (P=0,05), lo que sugiere una mayor captación de esta hormona por los embriones y/o el útero. No se encontraron diferencias en las concentraciones de progesterona y estradiol entre los fluidos ipsi y contralaterales, como tampoco para las hormonas medidas en útero. En el 12 tejido oviductal se encontró una menor expresión de PR e IGFBP5 y una mayor expresión de ADIPOR1 en el lado ipsilateral respecto al oviducto contralateral. En útero, la expresión de ERalfa, LEPR y IGFBP3 e IGFBP5 fue mayor del lado ipsilateral. En conclusión, esta tesis muestra que hay una tendencia a una mayor tasa de recuperación de embriones y mayor proporción de embriones viables, cuando los cigotos se transfieren del lado ipsilateral al CL, lo que estuvo asociado con mayores concentraciones de P4, una concentración diferencial de insulina y adiponectina, y una expresión diferencial de PR, ERalfa, IGFBP3,5, LEPR y ADIPOR1, genes relevantes para la adaptación del útero a la preñez, entre el lado ipsi y contralateral al CL. Los resultados nos permiten sugerir que al Día 6 después de la ovulación, el oviducto/cuerno uterino ipsilateral al CL presentan un entorno más adecuado para el desarrollo embrionario temprano con respecto al lado contralateral

Roughness of enamel surfaces after different bonding and debonding procedures: An in vitro study

Background and Aim: Maintaining an intact enamel surface is an essential aspect of orthodontic therapy; however, various therapeutic measures can affect this surface. The aim of our study was to evaluate roughness of the enamel surface after different conditioning and polishing procedures. Materials and Methods: 42 bovine incisors were submitted to conventional abrasion (using 37% phosphoric acid), to air abrasion, and a combination of the two. Brackets were put in place and then debonded, and the remaining adhesive removed with a carbide bur or via air abrasion. The enamel surface's roughness was assessed using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Results: Mean roughness (Ra) was 33.1. There were no statistically significant differences among the six groups, or in Rq values. Under CLSM, the roughness after polishing via air abrasion appeared even. Although it was macroscopically smoother after polishing with a carbide bur, the surface showed a wave-like pattern. Conclusion: The method of enamel conditioning revealed no significant effect on the enamel surface after debonding. Neither polishing via air abrasion nor carbide bur resulted in differences in superficial roughness. However, the carbide bur left a wave-like pattern on the enamel surfac

Pulsmessung an der Grenze: Die deutsch-französische grenzüberschreitende Gesundheitszusammenarbeit

Die Corona-Pandemie hat nicht nur Schwächen und Stärken im ­deutschen und französischen Gesundheitssektor offengelegt, sondern auch in der Gesundheitskooperation zwischen beiden ­Ländern. Dieser widmet sich die folgende dritte und letzte Studie des DGAP-Monitoring-Projekts zur deutsch-französischen grenzüberschreitenden Zusammenarbeit (GRÜZ). Sie untersucht die Ursachen für bestehende Mängel und zeigt: Systematische Datenerhebung, besserer Austausch und Lehren aus der Pandemie können die bilaterale Gesundheitskooperation verbessern - sowie Vorbildcharakter für den gesamteuropäischen Einigungsprozess haben

Time-dependent postmortem redistribution of butyrfentanyl and its metabolites in blood and alternative matrices in a case of butyrfentanyl intoxication

A fatal case of butyrfentanyl poisoning was investigated at the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine. At admission at the institute approx. 9 h after death (first time point, t1), femoral and heart blood (right ventricle) was collected, as well as samples from the lung, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle and adipose tissue using computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy sampling. At autopsy (t2), samples from the same body regions were collected manually. Additionally, urine, heart blood (left ventricle), gastric content, brain samples and hair were collected. Butyrfentanyl concentrations and relative concentrations of the metabolites carboxy-, hydroxy-, nor-, and desbutyrfentanyl were determined by LC⿿MS/MS and LC-QTOF. At t1, butyrfentanyl concentrations were 66 ng/mL in femoral blood, 39 ng/mL in heart blood, 110 ng/g in muscle, 57 ng/g in liver, 160 ng/g in kidney, 3100 ng/g in lung, 590 ng/g in spleen and 550 ng/g in adipose tissue. At t2, butyrfentanyl concentration in urine was 1100 ng/mL, in gastric content 2000 ng/mL, in hair 11,000 pg/mg and brain concentrations ranged between 200⿿340 ng/g. Carboxy- and hydroxybutyrfentanyl were identified as most abundant metabolites. Comparison of t1 and t2 showed a concentration increase of butyrfentanyl in femoral blood of 120%, in heart blood of 55% and a decrease in lung of 30% within 19 h. No clear concentration changes could be observed in the other matrices. Postmortem concentration changes were also observed for the metabolites. In conclusion, butyrfentanyl seems to be prone to postmortem redistribution processes and concentrations in forensic death cases should be interpreted with caution

CRIM-negative infantile Pompe disease: 42-month treatment outcome

Pompe disease is a rare lysosomal glycogen storage disorder characterized by deficiency of acid α-glucosidase enzyme (GAA) and caused by mutations in the GAA gene. Infantile-type Pompe disease is a multiorgan disorder presenting with cardiomyopathy, hypotonia, and muscular weakness, which is usually fatal. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant human GAA (rhGAA) has recently been shown to be effective and subsequently yielded promising results in cross-reactive immunologic material (CRIM)-positive patients. CRIM-negative patients showed a limited response to ERT and died or were ventilator dependant. Over a period of 44months, we monitored cognitive and motor development, behavior, auditory function, and brain imaging of a CRIM-negative infantile Pompe disease patient on rhGAA and monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) antibody (omalizumab) treatment due to severe allergic reaction. Cardiorespiratory and skeletal muscle response was significant, with almost normal motor development. Cognitive development—in particular, speech and language—deviated increasingly from normal age-appropriate development and was markedly delayed at 44months, unexplained by moderate sensorineural hearing impairment. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 18, 30, and 44months of age revealed symmetrical signal alteration of the deep white matter. Titer values of IgG antibodies to rhGAA always remained <1:800. The potential role of omalizumab in immune modulation remains to be elucidated; however, this is the first report presenting a ventilator-free survival of a CRIM-negative patient beyond the age of 36months. The central nervous system (CNS) findings are hypothesized to be part of a yet not fully described CNS phenotype in treated patients with longer surviva

Older adults prefer virtual reality when playing a fruit reaching game

Exergaming, physically active gaming, is widely used for training and rehabilitation purposes. Its popularity as a training tool in older adults has seen a considerable upsurge. Apart from the physical effect of exergaming, positive effects on cognition and balance have been reported as well. Targeted balance training can reduce the risk of falling which positively influences the ability of independent living in older adults. Extended technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or a combination thereof, passthrough (PT) have great potential to increase physical activity in older adults which leads to increased health. However, it is unclear which technology (AR, VR, or PT) is best suited for older adults. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to find out if AR, VR, or PT is subjectively preferred by older adults while playing a reaching game. The secondary aim was to objectively measure the movement of the trunk and hip, and center of pressure in AR, VR, and PT. Seven participants aged older than 65 years with no musculoskeletal or neurological diseases were recruited for this pilot study. In a randomized order, participants played the fruit reaching game, whereby flying fruit had to be grabbed, either with a VR (Oculus Quest 2), AR (HoloLens 2), or PT (Oculus Quest 2) mode. The game was played for 3 minutes in each mode while kinematics of the hip, trunk, and shoulder were recorded with motion capture (Vicon). After each mode, the experience was subjectively rated by the participants. At the end, VR, AR, and PT were compared to each other in a survey. The outcome suggests that the VR technology was subjectively preferred compared to AR and PT. The good orientation in the room and the large field of view of the VR technology convinced the participants. The motivation to reach for the fruit was highest with the VR headset and none of the participants experienced an uneasy feeling when the real environment was not visible in the VR mode. In the AR and PT mode, the game was found to be more tiring compared to the VR mode. No participant reported dizziness or nausea during or after the game. The evaluation of the trunk flexion-extension angles indicated that participants have different reaching patterns. While some participants showed high values in trunk angles (>25°) and therefore controlled the movement from the torso, other participants showed low trunk angles (< 25°). At small angles, the reaching movement was either controlled from the hips or with the arms only. Although it seems that the VR headset was favored by most of the participants, more research is necessary to get a deeper insight into the differences between extended technologies. More participants should be included and different games with adaptive difficulty levels should be performed. In addition, it would be of interest to investigate the correlation between the trunk angle and balance ability of the participants. With this knowledge, training specific exercises or movement sequences could lead to increased balance control and reduce the risk of falling

Who says what to whom? Alignments and arguments in EU policy-making

In the EU multilevel polity, domestic interest groups seek to shape EU legislation by accessing both national and EU institutions. Previous studies indicated that institutional and issue contexts, as well as organizational characteristics shape their strategies of interest representation. However, we know much less about how alignments and arguments impact on their participation in EU and national policy consultations. Addressing this gap, we investigate the lobbying strategies of almost 2,900 national interest organizations from five member states (Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) on 20 EU directive proposals bringing also a new empirical scope to the study of multilevel interest representation. The findings indicate that alignments and arguments shape the participation of domestic interest groups in consultations on EU policies. We infer from our study that some general predictions of interest group behaviour are overstretched and outline four variations of interest representation routines

The functional connectome of 3,4‐methyldioxymethamphetamine‐related declarative memory impairments

The chronic intake of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) bears a strong risk for sustained declarative memory impairments. Although such memory deficits have been repeatedly reported, their neurofunctional origin remains elusive. Therefore, we here investigate the neuronal basis of altered declarative memory in recurrent MDMA users at the level of brain connectivity. We examined a group of 44 chronic MDMA users and 41 demographically matched controls. Declarative memory performance was assessed by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and a visual associative learning test. To uncover alterations in the whole brain connectome between groups, we employed a data‐driven multi‐voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) approach on participants' resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Recent MDMA use was confirmed by hair analyses. MDMA users showed lower performance in delayed recall across tasks compared to well‐matched controls with moderate‐to‐strong effect sizes. MVPA revealed a large cluster located in the left postcentral gyrus of global connectivity differences between groups. Post hoc seed‐based connectivity analyses with this cluster unraveled hypoconnectivity to temporal areas belonging to the auditory network and hyperconnectivity to dorsal parietal regions belonging to the dorsal attention network in MDMA users. Seed‐based connectivity strength was associated with verbal memory performance in the whole sample as well as with MDMA intake patterns in the user group. Our findings suggest that functional underpinnings of MDMA‐related memory impairments encompass altered patterns of multimodal sensory integration within auditory processing regions to a functional heteromodal connector hub, the left postcentral gyrus. In addition, hyperconnectivity in regions of a cognitive control network might indicate compensation for degraded sensory processing