Captivity-induced behaviour and spatial learning abilities in an enigmatic, aquifer-dwelling blind eel, Rakthamichthys digressus

We investigated the impact of captive life on behaviour and learning abilities in an enigmatic, aquifer-dwelling blind eel, Rakthamichthys digressus. Of eight major behavioural traits related to exploration and activity in a novel arena, four were significantly altered by life in captivity. While the startle response upon introduction into the arena and overall swimming away from the walls increased after captivity, inactivity exhibited immediately after the startle and the reaction to an external disturbance decreased. We also observed behavioural syndromes between ‘startle responses’ and ‘horizontal wall following’, and between ‘overall activity’ and ‘vertical wall following’; however, these behavioural syndromes were not altered by maintenance in captivity. Interestingly, this blind-eel failed to learn a simple spatial task in a Y-maze apparatus. Captive-associated behavioural changes in R. digressus may influence their survival after reintroduction into natural habitats, and such changes must be taken into account while developing protocols for ex-situ conservation and subsequent release

Author Correction: Discovery of 42 genome-wide significant loci associated with dyslexia

Correction to: Nature Genetics https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01192-y. Published online 20 October 2022. In the version of this article originally published, a paragraph was omitted in the Methods section, reading “Genomic control. Top SNPs are reported from the more conservative GWAS results adjusted for genomic control (Fig. 1, Extended Data Figs. 1–4, and Supplementary Tables 1, 2, 9 and 10), whereas downstream analyses (including gene-set analysis, enrichment and heritability partitioning, genetic correlations, polygenic prediction, candidate gene replication) are based on GWAS results without genomic control.” The paragraph has now been included in the HTML and PDF versions of the article

Assessing the economic performance of an environmental sustainable supply chain in reducing environmental externalities

This study investigates the mechanism that motivates supply chain firms to reduce environmental ex- ternalities while balancing the economic feasibility of the supply chain system under environmentally constrained circumstances in a competitive market. Taking government policy incentives into account, a quantitative model of an integrated supply chain that incorporates sustainable constraints is formu- lated to optimize supply chain firms’ operational strategies of producing environmental friendly products (EFPs). This study contributes to the literature with a better understanding the interplay and interrelation of multiple sustainable constraints and their impact on supply chain firms’ collaborative decisions. Our findings suggest that the decisions of operating EFPs are subject to sustainable constraints and that the government policy incentives play a dominant role overseeing supply chain firms’ environmental behav- iors toward sustainability

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of Parkinson?s disease

Although over 90 independent risk variants have been identified for Parkinson’s disease using genome-wide association studies, most studies have been performed in just one population at a time. Here we performed a large-scale multi-ancestry meta-analysis of Parkinson’s disease with 49,049 cases, 18,785 proxy cases and 2,458,063 controls including individuals of European, East Asian, Latin American and African ancestry. In a meta-analysis, we identified 78 independent genome-wide significant loci, including 12 potentially novel loci (MTF2, PIK3CA, ADD1, SYBU, IRS2, USP8, PIGL, FASN, MYLK2, USP25, EP300 and PPP6R2) and fine-mapped 6 putative causal variants at 6 known PD loci. By combining our results with publicly available eQTL data, we identified 25 putative risk genes in these novel loci whose expression is associated with PD risk. This work lays the groundwork for future efforts aimed at identifying PD loci in non-European populations

Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients Treated with Immunotherapy

Introduction: The full impact of COVID-19 infections on patients with cancer who are actively being treated with chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has not been fully defined. Our goal was to track clinical outcomes in this specific patient population. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 121 patients (age > 18 years) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from January 2020 to December 2021 with an advanced solid malignancy that were eligible to be treated with ICIs or on current therapy within 12 months of their COVID-19 diagnosis. Results: A total of 121 patients were examined in this study, and 61 (50.4%) received immunotherapy treatment within 12 months. One quarter of the patients on ICIs passed away, compared to 13% of the post-chemotherapy cohort. Patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 had lower mortality compared to unvaccinated patients (X2 = 15.19, p p < 0.01). Conclusions: COVID-19-related ICI mortality was higher compared to patients receiving chemotherapy. However, ICI cessation or delay is unwarranted as long there has been a risk–benefit assessment undertaken with the patient

SLAM-SAP-Fyn: Old Players with New Roles in iNKT Cell Development and Function

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a unique T cell lineage that develop in the thymus and emerge with a memory-like phenotype. Accordingly, following antigenic stimulation, they can rapidly produce copious amounts of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and mediate activation of several immune cells. Thus, it is not surprising that iNKT cells play diverse roles in a broad range of diseases. Given their pivotal roles in host immunity, it is crucial that we understand the mechanisms that govern iNKT cell development and effector functions. Over the last two decades, several studies have contributed to the current knowledge of iNKT cell biology and activity. Collectively, these studies reveal that the thymic development of iNKT cells, their lineage expansion, and functional properties are tightly regulated by a complex network of transcription factors and signaling molecules. While prior studies have clearly established the importance of the SLAM-SAP-Fyn signaling axis in iNKT cell ontogenesis, recent studies provide exciting mechanistic insights into the role of this signaling cascade in iNKT cell development, lineage fate decisions, and functions. Here we summarize the previous literature and discuss the more recent studies that guide our understanding of iNKT cell development and functional responses

English language acquisition through online mode of teaching during COVID-19 pandemic in India

Education and learning hitherto has undergone huge changes from the kind of teaching provided to Gen Y . One major differentiator is the rise of technology and the spread of internet. It has moved ahead&nbsp; from the ‘analog’ methods to the ‘digital’ methods. The unprecedented Covid-19 crisis which swept across the globes causing loss of human lives and forced people to stay indoors accelerated the process of seeking education through online modes. Thus, learning a language in such an advanced ecosystem is one of the most crucial components in terms of education. In developing countries such as India where English (used as a second language)&nbsp; is learnt not merely to communicate&nbsp; but as a tool for empowerment, the methods used to acquire the&nbsp; language needs to be&nbsp; assessed , helping the quality of language learning especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The observations are based on various data collected using surveys etc during the lockdown imposed due to the COVID 19 pandemic in India.&nbsp

Management of maxillary first molar with six canals using operating microscope

The purpose of this article was to highlight the importance of having a thorough knowledge about the root canal morphology. This case report highlights the unusual anatomy of a maxillary first molar with three mesiobuccal (MB) canals, two palatal canals, and one distobuccal canal which is extremely rare. The use of operating microscope was crucial, both for the detection and for the management of the additional canals. The use of surgical operating microscope and digital radiograph showed that MB root had Type 3-1 of Gulabivala classification and palatal canal showed Vertucci's Type II canal morphology This report describes and discusses the identification of variation in canal morphology of maxillary first molar and the use of latest adjuncts in successfully diagnosing and negotiating them