Phylogenetic relationships of the Wolbachia of nematodes and arthropods

Wolbachia are well known as bacterial symbionts of arthropods, where they are reproductive parasites, but have also been described from nematode hosts, where the symbiotic interaction has features of mutualism. The majority of arthropod Wolbachia belong to clades A and B, while nematode Wolbachia mostly belong to clades C and D, but these relationships have been based on analysis of a small number of genes. To investigate the evolution and relationships of Wolbachia symbionts we have sequenced over 70 kb of the genome of wOvo, a Wolbachia from the human-parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus, and compared the genes identified to orthologues in other sequenced Wolbachia genomes. In comparisons of conserved local synteny, we find that wBm, from the nematode Brugia malayi, and wMel, from Drosophila melanogaster, are more similar to each other than either is to wOvo. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein-coding and ribosomal RNA genes on the sequenced fragments supports reciprocal monophyly of nematode and arthropod Wolbachia. The nematode Wolbachia did not arise from within the A clade of arthropod Wolbachia, and the root of the Wolbachia clade lies between the nematode and arthropod symbionts. Using the wOvo sequence, we identified a lateral transfer event whereby segments of the Wolbachia genome were inserted into the Onchocerca nuclear genome. This event predated the separation of the human parasite O. volvulus from its cattle-parasitic sister species, O. ochengi. The long association between filarial nematodes and Wolbachia symbionts may permit more frequent genetic exchange between their genomes

Immune genes undergo more adaptive evolution than non-immune system genes in Daphnia pulex

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Understanding which parts of the genome have been most influenced by adaptive evolution remains an unsolved puzzle. Some evidence suggests that selection has the greatest impact on regions of the genome that interact with other evolving genomes, including loci that are involved in host-parasite co-evolutionary processes. In this study, we used a population genetic approach to test this hypothesis by comparing DNA sequences of 30 putative immune system genes in the crustacean <it>Daphnia pulex</it> with 24 non-immune system genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In support of the hypothesis, results from a multilocus extension of the McDonald-Kreitman (MK) test indicate that immune system genes as a class have experienced more adaptive evolution than non-immune system genes. However, not all immune system genes show evidence of adaptive evolution. Additionally, we apply single locus MK tests and calculate population genetic parameters at all loci in order to characterize the mode of selection (directional versus balancing) in the genes that show the greatest deviation from neutral evolution.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that immune system genes undergo more adaptive evolution than non-immune system genes, possibly as a result of host-parasite arms races. The results of these analyses highlight several candidate loci undergoing adaptive evolution that could be targeted in future studies.</p

Fundamental movement skills and physical activity of 3–4-year-old children within early childhood centers in New Zealand

We sought to describe and explore relationships between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and level of physical activity (PA; light-, medium-, vigorous, and kCal/hour) in preschool children, aged 3–4-years-old, across four early childhood education (ECE) settings. Children’s FMS were assessed using the Test for Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2; n = 81) and PA via accelerometers (S = 53). Eighty-four children participated, with 50 in both assessments. The TGMD-2 showed as the children got older, their locomotor skills (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.512) and object control motor skills (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.383) improved. Accelerometry showed children were primarily inactive at ECE (78.3% of the time). There were significant correlations between kCal/hour and light (p &lt; 0.001, r = −0.688), moderate (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.599) and vigorous (p &lt; 0.001, rs = 0.707) activity, and between gross motor quotient and locomotor (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.798) and object control (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.367) skills. No correlation was observed between gross motor quotient and kCal/hour. To conclude, children in this cohort were primarily inactive during ECE center hours. Moreover, gross motor quotient was significantly correlated to locomotor and object control skills. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Claire McLaughlin” is provided in this record*

The effect of a 10-week physical activity programme on fundamental movement skills in 3–4-year-old children within early childhood education centres

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a 10-week physical activity (PA) programme, in early childhood education (ECE) settings, on 3 and 4-year-old children’s fundamental movement skills (FMS). A further aim was to examine FMS three-months post-intervention. The PA instructors delivered one 45 min session/week over 10 weeks, to 3-and 4-year-old children (n = 46), across four ECE centres. These sessions involved participation from ECE teachers. Children in the control group (CON; n = 20) received no PA classes and completed pre-and post-intervention assessments only. Locomotor (e.g., running/hopping) and object-control (e.g., kicking/throwing) skills were assessed using the Test for Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), before and after the intervention and, for the intervention group (EXP), at 3 months. Locomotor and object-control skills significantly improved in the EXP group, with typically no change in the CON group. The EXP group’s locomotor and object-control skills were maintained at 3 months. The 10-week PA intervention successfully improved 3-and 4-year-old children’s FMS. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Facebook reactions : how are they used and which personality factors predict their use?

The recent expansion of Facebook’s ‘like’ to six emotional reactions (love, haha, wow, sad, angry) represents the first update related to feedback, allowing users to respond to shared content, in almost a decade. We surveyed 260 Facebook users to investigate how reactions are utilized, and in response to what type of online content (status updates, pictures, links, timehops and events). We also measured Big Five personality and narcissism. Users were most likely to react using like, followed by positive reactions (love, haha, wow), and were least likely to employ the negative reactions sad and angry. Status updates and pictures were the types of content most likely to be responded to, and events least likely. Neuroticism, extraversion and openness positively predicted, and narcissism negatively predicted, utilization of reactions, and likelihood of responding. Established online norms and the affordances of Facebook features provide explanation for the findings

Resource Allocation during an Influenza Pandemic

Resource Allocation during an Influenza Pandemi

Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Background. The natural history of idiopathic membranous nephropathy and recurrent disease in transplants is variable. We performed a retrospective cohort study of renal transplant recipients with a primary diagnosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy. We aimed to establish patterns of disease recurrence and to identify factors associated with disease recurrence. Methods. We accessed the Irish renal transplant database to identify patients with biopsy-proven idiopathic membranous nephropathy in receipt of a renal transplant between 1982 and 2010. A detailed medical chart review was performed in all cases, and a senior renal histopathologist reviewed all histology specimens. Results. The outcomes of 32 patients, in receipt of 36 grafts, are reported. There was a male preponderance ( = 29). Significant graft dysfunction, directly attributable to recurrent disease, was evident in 31% of cases at 10 years. There was no significant association between time on dialysis, HLA mismatch, occurrence of rejection, and the development of recurrent membranous disease. One patient was retransplanted twice; all three grafts were lost to aggressive recurrent membranous disease. Conclusions. It remains difficult to identify those that will develop recurrent membranous nephropathy. Almost one third of patients in this cohort developed clinically significant recurrent disease at 10 years

Improving kidney care for people with severe mental health difficulties: a thematic analysis of twenty-two healthcare providers’ perspectives

IntroductionPeople with severe mental health difficulties (SMHDs) and concurrent kidney disease have less access to quality kidney care and worse clinical outcomes. Our research investigates the barriers and facilitators to effective kidney care for people with SMHDs, and how care might be improved for this underserved population.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty-two physical (n = 14) and mental (n = 8) healthcare professionals with experience working with people with SMHDs and concurrent kidney disease. Interview data were analysed and interpreted using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsFour themes were generated from the data: 1. “It’s about understanding their limitations and challenges, without limiting their rights” describes how some people with SMHDs need additional support when accessing kidney care due to challenges with their mental state, motivation, cognitive difficulties, or mistrust of the healthcare system. 2. “There are people falling through the cracks” describes how the separation of physical and mental healthcare, combined with under-resourcing and understaffing, results in poorer outcomes for people with SMHDs. 3. “Psychiatry is a black spot in our continuing medical education” describes how many renal healthcare providers have limited confidence in their understanding of mental health and their ability to provide care for people with SMHDs. 4. “When they present to a busy emergency department with a problem, the staff tend to go ‘…psych patient”” describes how stigma towards people with SMHDs can negatively impact quality of care.ConclusionHealthcare professionals accounts’ describe how people with SMHDs and kidney disease can have favourable outcomes if they have appropriate hospital, community and social supports. Findings indicate that effective management of kidney disease for people with SMHDs requires integrated physical and mental health care, which takes an individualised “whole person” approach to addressing the interaction between kidney disease and mental health

Graph Neural Network for Object Reconstruction in Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers

This paper presents a graph neural network (GNN) technique for low-level reconstruction of neutrino interactions in a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC). GNNs are still a relatively novel technique, and have shown great promise for similar reconstruction tasks in the LHC. In this paper, a multihead attention message passing network is used to classify the relationship between detector hits by labelling graph edges, determining whether hits were produced by the same underlying particle, and if so, the particle type. The trained model is 84% accurate overall, and performs best on the EM shower and muon track classes. The model's strengths and weaknesses are discussed, and plans for developing this technique further are summarised.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to the 25th International Conference on Computing in High-Energy and Nuclear Physic