Population dynamics of two sympatric intertidal fish species (the shanny, Lipophrys pholis, and long-spined scorpion fish,Taurulus bubalis) of Great Britain

The shanny/common blenny (Lipophrys pholis) and long-spined scorpionfish/bullhead (Taurulus bubalis) are commonly encountered, sympatric species within much of Great Britain’s rocky intertidal zones. Despite being prey items of the cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) respectively, and both contributors to the diet of the near-threatened European otter (Lutra lutra), little is known on the population dynamics of the temperate specimens of Great Britain. It is further less known of the degrees of sympatricy between the two fish species and to what extent they are able to coexist. The current study examines spatio-temporal distributions and abundances at various resolutions: monthly population dynamics of both species along England’s Yorkshire coast and seasonal population dynamics along the Yorkshire coast and around the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Studies of their abundances, sizes, degrees of rock pool co-occurrence and diel activities are further examined, which indicate coexistence is maintained when interspecific co-occurrence takes place only between specimens of similar sizes, thus demoting size-related dominance hierarchies

Conditions for use and implementation of globally-aligned versus local baseplate coordinate systems when computing migration using radiostereometric analysis

Radiostereometric analysis can be used for computing movement of a tibial baseplate relative to the tibia (termed migration) to determine stability of fixation. Quantifying migration in six degrees of freedom requires establishing a coordinate system in which to express the movement. Establishing consistent migration directions among patients and baseplate designs remains challenging. Deviations in imaging alignment (tibia/baseplate alignment during image acquisition) and surgical alignment (baseplate alignment on tibia) will affect computed migrations when using the conventional globally-aligned baseplate coordinate system (BCS) (defined by calibration box). Computing migration using a local BCS (defined by baseplate) may be preferrable. This paper (1) summarizes the migration equations when using a globally-aligned versus local BCS, (2) proposes a method for defining a local BCS, and (3) demonstrates differences in the two BCSs for an example patient whose baseplate has rotational deviations due to imaging or surgical alignments. Differences in migration for the two BCSs ranged from about +/- 0.5 mm in translations and -0.4 deg to 0.7 deg in rotations. Differences were largest for deviations in internal-external rotation and smallest for deviations in varus-valgus rotation. An example demonstrated that the globally-aligned BCS resulted in migration being quantified as subsidence instead of liftoff, thereby changing fundamental interpretations. Because migrations computed using a local BCS are independent of imaging and surgical alignments and instead characterize migration using baseplate features, a local BCS enhances consistency in migration directions among patients and baseplate designs relative to the interface in which fixation may be compromised.Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitatio

A phase 1/2, open-label, parallel group study to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of DARE-HRT1 (80 μg estradiol/4 mg progesterone and 160 μg estradiol/8 mg progesterone intravaginal rings) over 12 weeks in healthy postmenopausal women

OnlinePublObjectives: Primary objectives were to evaluate the safety and systemic pharmacokinetics (PK) of DARE-HRT1, an intravaginal ring (IVR), which releases 17β2-Estradiol (E2) with progesterone (P4) for 28 days in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, 2-arm, parallel group study in 21 healthy postmenopausal women with an intact uterus. Women were randomized (1:1) to either DARE-HRT1 IVR1 (E2 80 μg/d with P4 4 mg/d) or DARE-HRT1 IVR2 (E2 160 μg/d with P4 8 mg/d). They used the IVR for three 28-day cycles, inserting a new IVR monthly. Safety was measured by treatment emergent adverse events and changes in systemic laboratories and the endometrial bilayer width. Baseline adjusted plasma PK of E2, P4, and estrone (E1) was described. Results: Both DARE-HRT1 IVR were safe. All treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate and were distributed similarly among IVR1 versus IVR2 users. Month 3 median maximum plasma (Cmax) P4 concentrations were 2.81 and 3.51 ng/mL and Cmax E2 was 42.95 and 77.27 pg/mL for IVR1 and IVR2 groups, respectively. Month 3 median steady state (Css) plasma P4 concentrations were 1.19 and 1.89 ng/mL, and Css E2 was 20.73 and 38.16 pg/mL for IVR1 and IVR2 users, respectively. Conclusions: Both DARE-HRT1 IVRs were safe and released E2 in systemic concentrations, which were in the low, normal premenopausal range. Systemic P4 concentrations predict endometrial protection. Data from this study support further development of DARE-HRT1 for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.Andrea Thurman, Louise Hull, Bronwyn Stuckey, Jessica Hatheway, Nadene Zack, Christine Mauck and David Frien

The relationship between androgens and days per month of period pain, pelvic pain, headache, and TLR4 responsiveness of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in young women with dysmenorrhoea

Purpose: Women bear a disproportionate burden of persistent pain conditions when compared to men. To determine whether the hormonal environment affects the clinical experience of pain, as measured by the days per month of pelvic pain (DPelvicPM), period pain (DPeriodPM), headache (DHeadachePM) or the in vitro EC50 for Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release following TLR4 stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Findings were stratified according to use or non-use of the oral contraceptive pill. Patients and Methods: Fifty-six women aged 16-35 years, with minimal or severe dysmenorrhea, and use or non-use of the OC, were enrolled. Blood was collected on two occasions in a single menstrual cycle: Days 1-2 and Days 7-10. Hormonal analysis for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, Androstenedione, 3α-Androstanediol, 3β-androstanediol, estradiol, estrone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, cortisol and sex-hormone binding globulin was undertaken using ultra-sensitive Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry (LC-MS). PBMCs were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the resulting Interleukin-1β output was determined. Results: Non-users of the OC showed a strongly inverse correlation between a reducing free androgen index (FAI) and increasing DPelvicPM (p=0.0032), DPeriodPM (p=0.013), DHeadachePM (p=0.041). Non-users of the OC showed a significant increase in DPelvicPM (p=0.049) on Days 7-10. Modestly significant associations were found between reduced androgens and potentiated LPS-induced IL-1β (lower EC50). Conclusion: This is the first study to investigate the relationship between the hormonal environment and activation of the immune system in young women with dysmenorrhoea-related pain conditions. Low androgen levels were consistently associated with increased pain. Translational implications for the findings are discussed.Susan F Evans, Yuen Kwok, Ann Solterbeck, Carmen Pyragius, Mary Louise Hull, Mark R Hutchinson, Paul Rola

General Axisymmetric Solutions and Self-Tuning in 6D Chiral Gauged Supergravity

We re-examine the properties of the axially-symmetric solutions to chiral gauged 6D supergravity, recently found in refs. hep-th/0307238 and hep-th/0308064. Ref. hep-th/0307238 finds the most general solutions having two singularities which are maximally-symmetric in the large 4 dimensions and which are axially-symmetric in the internal dimensions. We show that not all of these solutions have purely conical singularities at the brane positions, and that not all singularities can be interpreted as being the bulk geometry sourced by neutral 3-branes. The subset of solutions for which the metric singularities are conical precisely agree with the solutions of ref. hep-th/0308064. Establishing this connection between the solutions of these two references resolves a minor conflict concerning whether or not the tensions of the resulting branes must be negative. The tensions can be both negative and positive depending on the choice of parameters. We discuss the physical interpretation of the non-conical solutions, including their significance for the proposal for using 6-dimensional self-tuning to understand the small size of the observed vacuum energy. In passing we briefly comment on a recent paper by Garriga and Porrati which criticizes the realization of self-tuning in 6D supergravity.Comment: 27 pages, 1 figure; JHEP3 style; Some references added, and discussion of tension constraints and unwarped solutions made more explici

Effect of Intralipid infusion on peripheral blood T cells and plasma cytokines in women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment

Objectives: Intravenous infusion of Intralipid is an adjunct therapy in assisted reproduction treatment (ART) when immune-associated infertility is suspected. Here, we evaluated the effect of Intralipid infusion on regulatory T cells (Treg cells), effector T cells and plasma cytokines in peripheral blood of women undertaking IVF. Methods: This prospective, observational pilot study assessed Intralipid infusion in 14 women exhibiting recurrent implantation failure, a clinical sign of immune-associated infertility. Peripheral blood was collected immediately prior to and 7 days after intravenous administration of Intralipid. Plasma cytokines were measured by Luminex, and T-cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. Results: A small increase in conventional CD8+ T cells occurred after Intralipid infusion, but no change was seen in CD4+ Treg cells, or naïve, memory or effector memory T cells. Proliferation marker Ki67, transcription factors Tbet and RORγt, and markers of suppressive capacity CTLA4 and HLA-DR were unchanged. Dimensionality-reduction analysis using the tSNE algorithm confirmed no phenotype shift within Treg cells or other T cells. Intralipid infusion increased plasma CCL2, CCL3, CXCL8, GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-6, IL-21, TNF and VEGF. Conclusion: Intralipid infusion elicited elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a minor increase in CD8+ T cells, but no change in pro-tolerogenic Treg cells. Notwithstanding the limitation of no placebo control, the results do not support Intralipid as a candidate intervention to attenuate the Treg cell response in women undergoing ART. Future placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm the potential efficacy and clinical significance of Intralipid in attenuating cytokine induction and circulating CD8+ T cells.Kerrie L Foyle, David J Sharkey, Lachlan M Moldenhauer, Ella S Green, Jasmine J Wilson, Cassandra J Roccisano ... et al

Regulatory T cell proportion and phenotype are altered in women using oral contraception

Advance access publication 04 July 2022Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a specialized CD4+ T cell subpopulation that are essential for immune homeostasis, immune tolerance, and protection against autoimmunity. There is evidence that sex-steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone modulate Treg cell abundance and phenotype in women. Since natural oscillations in these hormones are modified by hormonal contraceptives, we examined whether oral contraception (OC) use impacts Treg cells and related T cell populations. T cells were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry in peripheral blood collected across the menstrual cycle from healthy women either using OC or without hormonal contraception and from age-matched men. Compared to naturally cycling women, women using OC had fewer Treg cells and an altered Treg cell phenotype. Notably, Treg cells exhibiting a strongly suppressive phenotype, defined by high FOXP3, CD25, Helios, HLADR, CTLA4, and Ki67, comprised a lower proportion of total Treg cells, particularly in the early- and mid-cycle phases. The changes were moderate compared to more substantial differences in Treg cells between women and men, wherein women had fewer Treg cells—especially of the effector memory Treg cell subset—associated with more T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and CD8+ T cells and lower Treg:Th1 cell and Treg:CD8+ T cell ratios than men. These findings imply that OC can modulate the number and phenotype of peripheral blood Treg cells and raise the possibility that Treg cells contribute to the physiological changes and altered disease susceptibility linked with OC use.Lachlan M. Moldenhauer, Min Jin, Jasmine J. Wilson, Ella S. Green, David J. Sharkey, Mark D. Salkeld, Thomas C. Bristow, M. Louise Hull, Gustaaf A. Dekker, and Sarah A. Robertso

Non-Kaehler Heterotic String Compactifications with non-zero fluxes and constant dilaton

We construct new explicit compact supersymmetric valid solutions with non-zero field strength, non-flat instanton and constant dilaton to the heterotic equations of motion in dimension six. We present balanced Hermitian structures on compact nilmanifolds in dimension six satisfying the heterotic supersymmetry equations with non-zero flux, non-flat instanton and constant dilaton which obey the three-form Bianchi identity with curvature term taken with respect to either the Levi-Civita, the (+)-connection or the Chern connection. Among them, all our solutions with respect to the (+)-connection on the compact nilmanifold $M_3$ satisfy the heterotic equations of motion.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pp., no figures, new Theorem 1.1, references adde

VLA resolves unexpected radio structures in the Perseus Cluster of galaxies

High Energy Astrophysic