Elevated Plasma Corticosterone Decreases Yolk Testosterone and Progesterone in Chickens: Linking Maternal Stress and Hormone-Mediated Maternal Effects

Despite considerable research on hormone-mediated maternal effects in birds, the underlying physiology remains poorly understood. This study investigated a potential regulation mechanism for differential accumulation of gonadal hormones in bird eggs. Across vertebrates, glucocorticoids can suppress reproduction by downregulating gonadal hormones. Using the chicken as a model species, we therefore tested whether elevated levels of plasma corticosterone in female birds influence the production of gonadal steroids by the ovarian follicles and thus the amount of reproductive hormones in the egg yolk. Adult laying hens of two different strains (ISA brown and white Leghorn) were implanted subcutaneously with corticosterone pellets that elevated plasma corticosterone concentrations over a period of nine days. Steroid hormones were subsequently quantified in plasma and yolk. Corticosterone-implanted hens of both strains had lower plasma progesterone and testosterone levels and their yolks contained less progesterone and testosterone. The treatment also reduced egg and yolk mass. Plasma estrogen concentrations decreased in white Leghorns only whereas in both strains yolk estrogens were unaffected. Our results demonstrate for the first time that maternal plasma corticosterone levels influence reproductive hormone concentrations in the yolk. Maternal corticosterone could therefore mediate environmentally induced changes in yolk gonadal hormone concentrations. In addition, stressful situations experienced by the bird mother might affect the offspring via reduced amounts of reproductive hormones present in the egg as well as available nutrients for the embryo

Multiple Regulatory Mechanisms to Inhibit Untimely Initiation of DNA Replication Are Important for Stable Genome Maintenance

Genomic instability is a hallmark of human cancer cells. To prevent genomic instability, chromosomal DNA is faithfully duplicated in every cell division cycle, and eukaryotic cells have complex regulatory mechanisms to achieve this goal. Here, we show that untimely activation of replication origins during the G1 phase is genotoxic and induces genomic instability in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our data indicate that cells preserve a low level of the initiation factor Sld2 to prevent untimely initiation during the normal cell cycle in addition to controlling the phosphorylation of Sld2 and Sld3 by cyclin-dependent kinase. Although untimely activation of origin is inhibited on multiple levels, we show that deregulation of a single pathway can cause genomic instability, such as gross chromosome rearrangements (GCRs). Furthermore, simultaneous deregulation of multiple pathways causes an even more severe phenotype. These findings highlight the importance of having multiple inhibitory mechanisms to prevent the untimely initiation of chromosome replication to preserve stable genome maintenance over generations in eukaryotes

Predicting Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

The ability to predict student performance in a course or program creates opportunities to improve educational outcomes. With effective performance prediction approaches, instructors can allocate resources and instruction more accurately. Research in this area seeks to identify features that can be used to make predictions, to identify algorithms that can improve predictions, and to quantify aspects of student performance. Moreover, research in predicting student performance seeks to determine interrelated features and to identify the underlying reasons why certain features work better than others. This working group report presents a systematic literature review of work in the area of predicting student performance. Our analysis shows a clearly increasing amount of research in this area, as well as an increasing variety of techniques used. At the same time, the review uncovered a number of issues with research quality that drives a need for the community to provide more detailed reporting of methods and results and to increase efforts to validate and replicate work.Peer reviewe

New frontiers in applied veterinary point‐of‐capture diagnostics: Toward early detection and control of zoonotic influenza

Among the chief limitations in achieving early detection and control of animal-origin influenza of pandemic potential in high-risk livestock populations is the existing lag time between sample collection and diagnostic result. Advances in molecular diagnostics are permitting deployment of affordable, rapid, highly sensitive, and specific point-of-capture assays, providing opportunities for targeted surveillance driving containment strategies with potentially compelling returns on investment. Interrupting disease transmission at source holds promise of disrupting cycles of animal-origin influenza incursion to endemicity and limiting impact on animal production, food security, and public health. Adoption of new point-of-capture diagnostics should be undertaken in the context of promoting robust veterinary services systems and parallel support for operationalizing pre-authorized plans and communication strategies that will ensure that the full potential of these new platforms is realized.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

New frontiers in applied veterinary point-of-capture diagnostics: Toward early detection and control of zoonotic influenza

Among the chief limitations in achieving early detection and control of animal-origin influenza of pandemic potential in high-risk livestock populations is the existing lag time between sample collection and diagnostic result. Advances in molecular diagnostics are permitting deployment of affordable, rapid, highly sensitive, and specific point-of-capture assays, providing opportunities for targeted surveillance driving containment strategies with potentially compelling returns on investment. Interrupting disease transmission at source holds promise of disrupting cycles of animal-origin influenza incursion to endemicity and limiting impact on animal production, food security, and public health. Adoption of new point-of-capture diagnostics should be undertaken in the context of promoting robust veterinary services systems and parallel support for operationalizing pre-authorized plans and communication strategies that will ensure that the full potential of these new platforms is realized.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Heat Kernels and Zeta-Function Regularization for the Mass of the Susy Kink

We apply zeta-function regularization to the kink and susy kink and compute its quantum mass. We fix ambiguities by the renormalization condition that the quantum mass vanishes as one lets the mass gap tend to infinity while keeping scattering data fixed. As an alternative we write the regulated sum over zero point energies in terms of the heat kernel and apply standard heat kernel subtractions. Finally we discuss to what extent these procedures are equivalent to the usual renormalization conditions that tadpoles vanish

Traditional healers in Tanzania: sociocultural profile and three short portraits

Traditional healers are an important part of African societies, but unfortunately the knowledge of the extent and character of traditional healing and the people involved in the practice is limited and impressionistic. They are frequently ignored in studies of user/provider patterns, although they cover the health needs of a substantial proportion of the population. For future health planning it is necessary to know what the reasons are that even in big cities, where western health care services are available, traditional healers flourish, and even compete with each other for certain aspects. The aim of this study was to investigate certain aspects of the profession of traditional healing in general in different areas in Tanzania in order to get an idea about the kind of traditional medical services which are available, and about the people who provide such services. For this reason traditional healers were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire in different rural and urban places: in the Kilombero valley (Kilombero/Ulanga District), on the main island of Ukerewe (Ukerewe District), in the region near Bukoba town (Bukoba District), and in the settlement of Dar es Salaam (largest city of Tanzania). The results of the study show that traditional healers are a very heterogeneous group of persons not having much in common relating to their religion, sex and level of education. The traditional practice is very often taken over from a family member, but also other reasons for becoming a healer, like initiation through ancestor spirits, are very frequently given. More than 50% of the respondents practice full time. These full time practitioners are mainly found among men and in the younger age group. Treatment of in-patients, who can stay in special patient-houses, is offered by half of the traditional healers. Divination used as a diagnostic tool was found mainly among men, Referral of patients to the hospital was mentioned by almost all respondents in cases where they failed with the own treatment or when they knew that the patient would be better treated in the hospital or dispensary. While traditional healers are an important part of African societies, not enough is known about the extent and character of traditional healing and the people involved in the practice. The authors interviewed 23 male and 8 female traditional healers in the Kilombero Valley, on the main island of Ukerewe, in the region near Bukoba town, and in the settlement of Dar es Salaam to gain insight into what kind of traditional medical services are available and the people who provide such services. The healers are a very heterogenous group of persons without much in common with regard to their religion, sex, and educational level. The traditional practice is often taken over from a family member. Other reasons for becoming a healer, such as initiation by ancestral spirits, were also frequently given. More than 50% of the respondents practice full time; these healers are mainly male and younger. Inpatient treatment is offered by half of the healers, and divination was used in diagnosis mainly by male practitioners. Almost all healers reported referring patients to hospitals when traditional treatment failed to work or when they knew that the patient would be better treated at a hospital or dispensary

Massive Rotator Cuff Tears With Short Tendon Length Can Be Successfully Repaired Using Synthetic Patch Augmentation.

BACKGROUND Choosing the optimal treatment for massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT) still poses a surgical problem. In MRCT with good muscle quality, but short tendon length, non-augmented repairs lead to high failure rates of up to 90%. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes of massive rotator cuff tears with good muscle quality, but short tendon length, which were repaired with synthetic patch augmentation. METHODS A retrospective study of patients who underwent arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repairs with patch augmentation between 2016 and 2019 was performed. We included patients older than 18 years, who presented with MRCT confirmed by an MRI arthrogram showing good muscle quality (Goutallier ≤II) and short tendon length (length <15mm). Constant-Murley score (CS), subjective shoulder value (SSV) and range of motion (ROM) were compared pre- and postoperatively. We excluded patients older than 75 years or with presence of rotator cuff arthropathy Hamada ≥ 2a. Patients were followed up for two years minimum. Clinical failures were defined by re-operation, forward flexion <120 or a relative CS < 70. Structural integrity of the repair was assessed using an MRI. Comparison between different variables and outcomes was performed using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Chi square tests. RESULTS Fifteen patients (mean age 57 years, 13 (86.7%) male, 9 (60%) right shoulders) were reevaluated with a mean follow-up of 43.8 months (27-55 months). There was a significant improvement in the absolute CS (from 33 to 81 points, p=0.03), the relative CS (from 41% to 88%, p=0.04), the SSV (from 31% to 93% p=0,007) and forward flexion (from 111° to 163°, p=0.004) but not in external rotation (from 37° to 38°, p=0.5). There were three clinical failures (one atraumatic, two traumatic) with re-operations (two reverse total shoulder arthroplasties and one refixation). Structurally, there were three Sugaya grade 4 and five Sugaya grade 5 re-ruptures resulting in a retear rate of 53%. The presence of a complete or partial re-rupture was not associated with inferior outcomes compared to intact cuff repairs. There were no correlations between the grade of retraction, muscle quality or rotator cuff tear configuration and re-rupture or functional outcomes. CONCLUSION Patch augmented cuff repair leads to a significant improvement of functional and structural outcomes. Partial re-ruptures were not associated with inferior functional outcomes. Prospective randomized trials are needed to confirm the results found in our study