Divergent functional traits in three sympatric Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus morphs are not coupled with the age of the lineage divergence

Three genetically discrete morphs of Arctic charr in Loch Rannoch, Scotland originated from a recent divergence within the lake (in situ) (piscivore and benthivore morphs) and from secondary contact of two older lineages (ex situ; a planktivore–piscivore/benthivore divergence). To test if the expression of traits with strong functional roles was linked to the age of the divergence, fin and gill anatomy, and dentition were quantified and compared across morphs. Five additional working hypotheses suggesting a rank order of trait expression amongst morphs were also tested. The planktivorous morph had more rays in the dorsal and pectoral fins, longer gill rakers (but not more) as well as a smaller gill cavity than the other two morphs. The piscivorous morph had more palatine teeth and longer teeth on the mandible, pre-maxillary and glossohyal bones, and a larger buccal cavity. These differences indicate a differential response to selection in these functional anatomical features most likely related to morph foraging specialisms. Notably, between-morph divergences in the expression of these traits were not simply linked to the length of divergence between morphs and have arisen equally quickly in the recent (in situ) divergence as they have in older, ex situ divergences

ALS Surveillance in Massachusetts: A one-of-a-kind registry for tracking an elusive disease

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease with an etiology not yet fully understood. The Massachusetts Argeo Paul Cellucci ALS Registry is a unique population-based surveillance system used to monitor the occurrence of ALS throughout the state and to explore possible environmental causes of the disease. Methods: The Registry gathers annual reports of ALS cases from physicians, hospitals, and clinics in accordance with state regulations. Medical records are obtained and abstracted for each case, and eligible cases are reviewed by a consulting neurologist to confirm diagnosis. Necessary clinical and demographic information are recorded in a database and used by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) to prepare reports containing community-specific and statewide prevalence and incidence estimates. The data are also used to investigate spatial and temporal patterns and constitute a rich resource for researchers to explore environmental risk factors and whether they may impact disease rates. Results and Conclusion: The result is a first-in-the-nation registry that allows for complete ascertainment of all reported cases. From 2007-2011, 826 new ALS cases were reported to MDPH. The age-adjusted incidence rate was 2.2 people per 100,000 per year, and the age-adjusted prevalence rate was 5.6 per 100,000 per year - both comparable to the range of estimates reported in scientific literature. MDPH evaluated ALS occurrence similarly by community and other variables like age and family history. Data are available to inform patient service needs and epidemiologic studies. Researchers can apply for access with the MDPH\u27s IRB

Risk Factors for Pediatric Ischemic Stroke and Intracranial Hemorrhage: A National Electronic Health Record Based Study

BACKGROUND: Stroke is an important cause of morbidity in pediatrics. Large studies are needed to better understand the epidemiology, pathogenesis and risk factors associated with pediatric stroke. Large administrative datasets can provide information on risk factors in perinatal and childhood stroke at low cost. The aim of this hypothesis-generating study was to use a large administrative dataset to assess for prevalence and odds-ratios of rare exposures associated with pediatric stroke. METHODS: The data for patients aged 0-18 with a diagnosis of either ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage were extracted from the Cerner Health Facts EMR Database from 2000 to 2018. Prevalence of various possible risk factors for pediatric and adult stroke was assessed using ICD 9 and 10 codes. Odds ratios were calculated using a control group of patients without stroke. RESULTS: CONCLUSION: This is the largest retrospective study of pediatric stroke of its kind from hospitals across the US in both academic and non-academic clinical settings. Much of our data was consistent with prior studies. ICD codes for tobacco exposure, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension all had high odds ratios for stroke in children, which suggest a relationship between these conditions and pediatric stroke. However, ascertainment bias is a major concern with electronic health record-based studies. More focused study is needed into the role of these exposures into the pathogenesis of pediatric stroke

A National, Electronic Health Record-Based Study of Perinatal Hemorrhagic and Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND: Perinatal stroke occurs in approximately 1 in 1100 live births. Large electronic health record (EHR) data can provide information on exposures associated with perinatal stroke in a larger number of patients than is achievable through traditional clinical studies. The objective of this study is to assess prevalence and odds ratios of known and theorized comorbidities with perinatal ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. METHODS: The data for patients aged 0-28 days with a diagnosis of either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were extracted from the Cerner Health Facts Electronic Medical Record (EMR) database. Incidence of birth demographics and perinatal complications were recorded. Odds ratios were calculated against a control group. RESULTS: A total of 535 (63%) neonates were identified with ischemic stroke and 312 (37%) with hemorrhagic stroke. The most common exposures for ischemic stroke were sepsis (n = 82, 15.33%), hypoxic injury (n = 61, 11.4%), and prematurity (n = 49, 9.16%). The most common comorbidities for hemorrhagic stroke were prematurity (n = 81, 26%) and sepsis (n = 63, 20%). No perinatal ischemic stroke patients had diagnosis codes for cytomegalovirus disease. Procedure and diagnosis codes related to critical illness, including intubation and resuscitation, were prominent in both hemorrhagic (n = 46, 15%) and ischemic stroke (n = 45, 8%). CONCLUSION: This electronic health record-based study of perinatal stroke, the largest of its kind, demonstrated a wide variety of comorbid conditions with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Sepsis, prematurity, and hypoxic injury are associated with perinatal hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, though prevalence varies between types. Much of our data were similar to prior studies, which lends validity to the electronic health record database in studying perinatal stroke

Shaping The Future: Developing Principles for Policy Recommendations for Responsible Innovation in Virtual Worlds

As Extended Reality (XR) technologies continue to evolve at a rapid pace, they hold the promise of transforming the way we interact both with digital information and the physical world. Whilst Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies offer unbridled opportunities for social connections, productivity, and play, these rapid technological advancements also pose critical challenges to ethics, privacy, accessibility, and safety. At present, there is little policy documentation that directly addresses the novel affordances posed by XR technologies, leading to a ‘policy void’ in this space. Having clear and effective policy frameworks prior to the widespread adoption of technology encourages and enables responsible and ethical innovation of XR technologies. This workshop is therefore dedicated to developing forward-thinking principles to guide policy recommendations that address potential future vulnerabilities posed by the widespread adoption of XR technologies whilst simultaneously encouraging the responsible innovation of new advancements within XR. To ensure these policy recommendations promote responsible innovation, the workshop will assemble multidisciplinary academics, industry developers and international policymakers. Our goal is to ensure that all perspectives are considered such that we can collaboratively chart a responsible and sustainable course for the XR landscape

Shaping the Future:Developing Principles for Policy Recommendations for Responsible Innovation in Virtual Worlds

As Extended Reality (XR) technologies continue to evolve at a rapid pace, they hold the promise of transforming the way we interact both with digital information and the physical world. Whilst Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies offer unbridled opportunities for social connections, productivity, and play, these rapid technological advancements also pose critical challenges to ethics, privacy, accessibility, and safety. At present, there is little policy documentation that directly addresses the novel affordances posed by XR technologies, leading to a 'policy void' in this space. Having clear and effective policy frameworks prior to the widespread adoption of technology encourages and enables responsible and ethical innovation of XR technologies. This workshop is therefore dedicated to developing forward-thinking principles to guide policy recommendations that address potential future vulnerabilities posed by the widespread adoption of XR technologies whilst simultaneously encouraging the responsible innovation of new advancements within XR. To ensure these policy recommendations promote responsible innovation, the workshop will assemble multidisciplinary academics, industry developers and international policymakers. Our goal is to ensure that all perspectives are considered such that we can collaboratively chart a responsible and sustainable course for the XR landscape.</p

Shaping the Future:Developing Principles for Policy Recommendations for Responsible Innovation in Virtual Worlds

As Extended Reality (XR) technologies continue to evolve at a rapid pace, they hold the promise of transforming the way we interact both with digital information and the physical world. Whilst Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies offer unbridled opportunities for social connections, productivity, and play, these rapid technological advancements also pose critical challenges to ethics, privacy, accessibility, and safety. At present, there is little policy documentation that directly addresses the novel affordances posed by XR technologies, leading to a 'policy void' in this space. Having clear and effective policy frameworks prior to the widespread adoption of technology encourages and enables responsible and ethical innovation of XR technologies. This workshop is therefore dedicated to developing forward-thinking principles to guide policy recommendations that address potential future vulnerabilities posed by the widespread adoption of XR technologies whilst simultaneously encouraging the responsible innovation of new advancements within XR. To ensure these policy recommendations promote responsible innovation, the workshop will assemble multidisciplinary academics, industry developers and international policymakers. Our goal is to ensure that all perspectives are considered such that we can collaboratively chart a responsible and sustainable course for the XR landscape.</p

Dopaminergic manipulations affect the modulation and meta-modulation of movement speed:Evidence from two pharmacological interventions

A body of research implicates dopamine in the average speed of simple movements. However, naturalistic movements span a range of different shaped trajectories and rarely proceed at a single constant speed. Instead, speed is reduced when drawing “corners” compared to “straights” (i.e., speed modulation), and the extent of this slowing down is dependent upon the global shape of the movement trajectory (i.e., speed meta-modulation) – for example whether the shape is an ellipse or a rounded square. At present, it is not known how (or whether) dopaminergic function controls continuous changes in speed during movement execution. The current paper reports effects on these kinematic features of movement following two forms of dopamine manipulation: Study One highlights movement differences in individuals with PD both ON and OFF their dopaminergic medication (N = 32); Study Two highlights movement differences in individuals from the general population on haloperidol (a dopamine receptor blocker, or “antagonist”) and placebo (N = 43). Evidence is presented implicating dopamine in speed, speed modulation and speed meta-modulation, whereby low dopamine conditions are associated with reductions in these variables. These findings move beyond vigour models implicating dopamine in average movement speed, and towards a conceptualisation that involves the modulation of speed as a function of contextual information

Disruption of dopamine D2/D3 system function impairs the human ability to understand the mental states of other people

Difficulties in reasoning about others’ mental states (i.e., mentalising/Theory of Mind) are highly prevalent among disorders featuring dopamine dysfunctions (e.g., Parkinson’s disease) and significantly affect individuals’ quality of life. However, due to multiple confounding factors inherent to existing patient studies, currently little is known about whether these sociocognitive symptoms originate from aberrant dopamine signalling or from psychosocial changes unrelated to dopamine. The present study, therefore, investigated the role of dopamine in modulating mentalising in a sample of healthy volunteers. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled procedure to test the effect of the D2/D3 antagonist haloperidol on mental state attribution, using an adaptation of the Heider and Simmel (1944) animations task. On 2 separate days, once after receiving 2.5 mg haloperidol and once after receiving placebo, 33 healthy adult participants viewed and labelled short videos of 2 triangles depicting mental state (involving mentalistic interaction wherein 1 triangle intends to cause or act upon a particular mental state in the other, e.g., surprising) and non-mental state (involving reciprocal interaction without the intention to cause/act upon the other triangle’s mental state, e.g., following) interactions. Using Bayesian mixed effects models, we observed that haloperidol decreased accuracy in labelling both mental and non-mental state animations. Our secondary analyses suggest that dopamine modulates inference from mental and non-mental state animations via independent mechanisms, pointing towards 2 putative pathways underlying the dopaminergic modulation of mental state attribution: action representation and a shared mechanism supporting mentalising and emotion recognition. We conclude that dopaminergic pathways impact Theory of Mind, at least indirectly. Our results have implications for the neurochemical basis of sociocognitive difficulties in patients with dopamine dysfunctions and generate new hypotheses about the specific dopamine-mediated mechanisms underlying social cognition