When acquisition and aphasia converge: the case of copula omission

This paper reports evidence for a convergence between child language acquisition and Broca’s aphasia in the domain of copula omission. Our data shows that, in the spontaneous speech of people with Broca’s aphasia (PWBA), copula omission is confined to aspectual predicates, replicating a finding previously reported by Becker (2002) for child English. This grammatical property is a much stronger predictor of copula omission than alternative, extra-grammatical factors, such as predicate length or utterance length. We argue that grammatical accounts which predict the fragility of Tense by virtue of its cartographic location, in terms of ‘tree-pruning’/ ‘growing trees’, fare better than others in explaining similarities in patterns of omission in these two populations

Ultradian glucocorticoid exposure directs gene-dependent and tissue-specific mRNA expression patterns in vivo

In this paper we report differential decoding of the ultradian corticosterone signal by glucocorticoid target tissues. Pulsatile corticosterone replacement in adrenalectomised rats resulted in different dynamics of Sgk1 mRNA production, with a distinct pulsatile mRNA induction profile observed in the pituitary in contrast to a non-pulsatile induction in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). We further report the first evidence for pulsatile transcriptional repression of a glucocorticoid-target gene in vivo, with pulsatile regulation of Pomc transcription in pituitary. We have explored a potential mechanism for differences in the induction dynamics of the same transcript (Sgk1) between the PFC and pituitary. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation profiles were strikingly different in pituitary and prefrontal cortex, with a significantly greater dynamic range and shorter duration of GR activity detected in the pituitary, consistent with the more pronounced gene pulsing effect observed. In the prefrontal cortex, expression of Gilz mRNA was also non-pulsatile and exhibited a significantly delayed timecourse of increase and decrease when compared to Sgk1, additionally highlighting gene-specific regulatory dynamics during ultradian glucocorticoid treatment

Preliminary study of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess bone marrow adiposity in the third metacarpus or metatarsus in Thoroughbred racehorses

Background: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to investigate metabolic changes within human bone. It may be possible to use MRS to investigate bone metabolism and fracture risk in the distal third metacarpal/tarsal bone (MC/MTIII) in racehorses. Objectives: To determine the feasibility of using MRS as a quantitative imaging technique in equine bone by using the 1H spectra for the MC/MTIII to calculate fat content (FC). Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study Methods: Limbs from Thoroughbred racehorses were collected from horses that died or were subjected to euthanasia on racecourses. Each limb underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3T followed by single-voxel MRS at 3 regions of interest (ROI) within MC/MTIII (lateral condyle, medial condyle, proximal bone marrow (PBM)). Percentage FC was calculated at each ROI. Each limb underwent computed tomography (CT) and bone mineral density (BMD) was calculated for the same ROIs. All MR and CT images were graded for sclerosis. Histology slides were graded for sclerosis and proximal marrow space was calculated. Pearson or Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between BMD, FC and marrow space. Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to check for differences between sclerosis groups for BMD or FC. Results: Eighteen limbs from 10 horses were included. A negative correlation was identified for mean BMD and FC for the lateral condyle (correlation coefficient =-0.60, p=0.01) and PBM (correlation coefficient =-0.5, p=0.04). There was a significant difference between median BMD for different sclerosis grades in the condyles on both MRI and CT. A significant difference in FC was identified between sclerosis groups in the lateral condyle on MRI and CT . Main Limitations: Small sample size. Conclusions: 1H Proton MRS is feasible in the equine MC/MTIII. Further work is required to evaluate the use of this technique to predict fracture risk in racehorses

Geology of the Northwestern Krania Basin

The Greveniotiki Pindos Mountains of Greece showcases the tectonics affecting the Central Mediterranean; however no detailed geological maps have been produced of the region. In this study we present a 1:10000 geological map of Mount Orliakas and its surrounding areas, including westernmost parts of the Pindos Ophiolite complex and the Mesohellenic basin. We also provide new lithological, structural, and palaeontological discussions of the region and give new evidence for the provenance of the Kranea Formation

Supporting employers and their employees with mental hEalth conditions to remain eNgaged and producTive at wORk (MENTOR):A feasibility randomised controlled trial

Employees with mental health conditions often struggle to remain in employment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these employees faced additional stressors, including worsening mental health and work productivity. In 2020, as part of a larger programme of work called the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot (MHPP), we developed a new early intervention (MENTOR) that jointly involved employees, managers, and a new professional (Mental Health Employment Liaison Worker (MHELW). The intervention involved trained MHELWs delivering ten sessions to employees with existing mental health conditions and managers (three individual sessions and four joint sessions) over twelve weeks. These sessions aimed to improve psychological flexibility, interpersonal relationships, and engagement of employees. This feasibility randomised controlled trial aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention from the perspective of employees and managers using a mixed methods approach. The intervention was largely considered feasible and acceptable. Initial findings suggest there may be benefits for employee's productivity, mental health, and managers mental health knowledge. Logistical challenges acted as a barrier to the participation and retention of participants in the trial. The major strengths of this study were the co-design and inter-disciplinary approach taken. Overall, findings suggest that this novel intervention has potential but needs some adjustments and testing in a larger sample

Significant benefits of AIP testing and clinical screening in familial isolated and young-onset pituitary tumors

Context Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are responsible for a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) cases and sporadic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). Objective To compare prospectively diagnosed AIP mutation-positive (AIPmut) PitNET patients with clinically presenting patients and to compare the clinical characteristics of AIPmut and AIPneg PitNET patients. Design 12-year prospective, observational study. Participants & Setting We studied probands and family members of FIPA kindreds and sporadic patients with disease onset ≤18 years or macroadenomas with onset ≤30 years (n = 1477). This was a collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases. Interventions & Outcome AIP testing and clinical screening for pituitary disease. Comparison of characteristics of prospectively diagnosed (n = 22) vs clinically presenting AIPmut PitNET patients (n = 145), and AIPmut (n = 167) vs AIPneg PitNET patients (n = 1310). Results Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut PitNET patients had smaller lesions with less suprasellar extension or cavernous sinus invasion and required fewer treatments with fewer operations and no radiotherapy compared with clinically presenting cases; there were fewer cases with active disease and hypopituitarism at last follow-up. When comparing AIPmut and AIPneg cases, AIPmut patients were more often males, younger, more often had GH excess, pituitary apoplexy, suprasellar extension, and more patients required multimodal therapy, including radiotherapy. AIPmut patients (n = 136) with GH excess were taller than AIPneg counterparts (n = 650). Conclusions Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut patients show better outcomes than clinically presenting cases, demonstrating the benefits of genetic and clinical screening. AIP-related pituitary disease has a wide spectrum ranging from aggressively growing lesions to stable or indolent disease course