Beyond conventional factorization: Non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with radial oscillator spectrum

The eigenvalue problem of the spherically symmetric oscillator Hamiltonian is revisited in the context of canonical raising and lowering operators. The Hamiltonian is then factorized in terms of two not mutually adjoint factorizing operators which, in turn, give rise to a non-Hermitian radial Hamiltonian. The set of eigenvalues of this new Hamiltonian is exactly the same as the energy spectrum of the radial oscillator and the new square-integrable eigenfunctions are complex Darboux-deformations of the associated Laguerre polynomials.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure

Dissecting The Influence of Perceived Discrimination and Genetic Liability on Mental Health

Background: Underrepresented groups are disproportionally affected by discrimination, which can have long-lasting influences on the individual’s wellbeing and mental health. This study leverages the diversity of the All of Us cohort to investigate the interplay between genetic risk factors and perceived discrimination in the context of mental health disorders. This study aims to shed light into the underlying biological and environmental risk factors, and its interplay, of mental health disorders in underrepresented populations. Methods: Data on perceived discrimination was retreived from the the All of Us (AoU) COVID-19 Participant Experience (COPE) questionnaire and matched with sociodemographic and phenotypic data. Perceived discrimination was considered as a binary variable (has the individual experienced discrimination in the past or not) thus including various types/sources of discrimination (e.g., racial, age, gender, economic status, etc.). Two major mood disorders: anxiety and depression were considered, phenotypes for these disorders were defined for each individual based on prescription medication use. ANOVA, CHI2, and regression models were implemented using python to further delve into the underlying risk factors in the population of study. Linear regression models were also constructed using a calculated discrimination score. Results: Preliminary results showed a total of 69,464 AoU participants who answered the discrimination questions within the COPE survey at any point. First survey responses for those participants were selected to be used for the data analysis. Medication use (anxiolytics and antidepressants) was assessed through participants medical records where 21,618 participants were prescribed one or more medications of the above two categories. The everyday discrimination score was constructed by summing the responses across all of the nine questions/ items assessing exposure, scores were then transformed to a mean item score by dividing the sum by number of completed items. Dose dependent associations reveal the impact of discrimination frequency on the individual’s wellbeing and mental health. Conclusion: The study uncovers a different perspective about the biological and environmental risk factors of mental health disorders in underrepresented populations. Mobilization of more resources to address the mental health burden in underrepresented populations is warranted

Is there an association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer? A systematic review

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a prevalent communicable disease in low- and middle-income countries, where non-communicable diseases like skin cancer are on the rise. However, the study of multi-morbidity or co-morbidity between communicable and non-communicable diseases is limited, and even null for some tropical or neglected diseases. Nevertheless, looking at these conditions together instead of as isolated entities in places where these illnesses exist, could show new prevention and treatment paths. We aimed to summarize and critically appraise the epidemiological evidence on the association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review using five search engines (Embase, Medline, Global Health, Scopus and Web of Science). We sought observational studies in which the outcome was skin cancer whilst the exposure was cutaneous leishmaniasis; these conditions should have had laboratory or pathology confirmation. Results: No epidemiological investigations have studied the association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer. Most of the evidence about the association of interest is still based on case reports and other clinical observations rather than strong epidemiological observational studies. Conclusions: Research is much needed to verify the repeatedly clinical observation that cutaneous leishmaniasis may be a risk factor for skin cancer. This evidence could inform and guide early diagnosis or prevention of skin cancer in survivors of cutaneous leishmaniasis or where cutaneous leishmaniasis is still highly prevalent. Registration: PROSPERO ID CRD42018111230; registered on 16/10/18

Seminal plasma AnnexinA2 protein is a relevant biomarker for stallions which require removal of seminal plasma for sperm survival upon refrigeration

Some stallions yield ejaculates that do not tolerate conservation by refrigeration prior to artificial insemination (AI), showing improvement after removal of most of the seminal plasma (SP) by centrifugation. In this study, the SP-proteome of 10 different stallions was defined through high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis in relation to the ability of the ejaculates to maintain semen quality when cooled and stored at 5°C. Stallions were classified into three groups, depending on this ability: those maintaining good quality after direct extension in a commercial extender (good), stallions requiring removal of seminal plasma (RSP) to maintain seminal quality (good-RSP), and stallions, unable to maintain good semen quality even after RSP (poor). Pathway enrichment analysis of the proteins identified in whole equine SP using human orthologs was performed using g: profiler showing enriched Reactome and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to hexose metabolism, vesicle mediated transport, post translational modification of proteins and immune response. Specific proteins overrepresented in stallions tolerating conservation by refrigeration included a peroxiredoxin-6 like protein, and transcobalamin-2, a primary vitamin B12-binding, and transport protein. Also, the protein involved in protein glycosylation, ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 was present in good stallions. These proteins were nearly absent in poor stallions. Particularly, annexinA2 appeared as to be the most powerful discriminant variable for identification of stallions needing RSP prior to refrigeration, with a P = 0.002 and a q value = 0.005. Overall this is the first detailed study of the equine SP-proteome, showing the potential value of specific proteins as discriminant bio-markers for clinical classification of stallions for AI

Differences in the proteome of stallion spermatozoa explain stallion-to-stallion variability in sperm quality post-thaw†

The identification of stallions and or ejaculates that will provide commercially acceptable quality post-thaw before cryopreservation is of great interest, avoiding wasting time and resources freezing ejaculates that will not achieve sufficient quality to be marketed. Our hypothesis was that after bioinformatic analysis, the study of the stallion sperm proteome can provide discriminant variables able to predict the post-thaw quality of the ejaculate. At least three ejaculates from 10 different stallions were frozen following a split sample design. Half of the ejaculate was analyzed as a fresh aliquot and the other half was frozen and then analyzed as a frozen-thawed aliquot. Computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry were used to analyze sperm quality. Detailed proteomic analysis was performed on fresh and frozen and thawed aliquots, and bioinformatic analysis was used to identify discriminant variables in fresh samples able to predict the outcome of cryopreservation. Those with a fold change > 3, a P = 8.2e-04, and a q = 0.074 (equivalent to False discovery rate (FDR)) were selected, and the following proteins were identified in fresh samples as discriminant variables of good motility post-thaw: F6YTG8, K9K273, A0A3Q2I7V9, F7CE45, F6YU15, and F6SKR3. Other discriminant variables were also identified as predictors of good mitochondrial membrane potential and viability post-thaw. We concluded that proteomic approaches are a powerful tool to improve current sperm biotechnologies

In Stallion Spermatozoa, Superoxide Dismutase (Cu-Zn) (SOD1) and the Aldo-Keto-Reductase Family 1 Member b (AKR1B1) Are the Proteins Most Significantly Reduced by Cryopreservation

Although cryopreservation is widely used in animal breeding, the technique is still suboptimal. The population of spermatozoa surviving the procedure experiences changes attributed to alteration in their redox regulation. In order to expand our knowledge regarding this particular aspect, the proteome in fresh and frozen thawed aliquots of equine spermatozoa was studied to identify the proteins most severely affected by the procedure. If alteration of redox regulation is a major factor explaining cryodamage, proteins participating in redox regulation should be principally affected. Using a split sample design, 30 ejaculates from 10 different stallions were analyzed as fresh spermatozoa, and another aliquot from the same ejaculate was analyzed as a frozen thawed sample. The proteome was studied under both conditions using UHPLC-MS/MS and bioinformatic analysis conducted to identify discriminant variables between both conditions. Data are available through the ProteomeXchange Consortium with identifier PXD022236. The proteins most significantly reduced were Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B (p = 2.2 × 10-17) and Superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn) (p = 4.7 × 10-14). This is the first time that SOD1 has been identified as a discriminating variable using bioinformatic analysis, where it was one of the most highly significantly different proteins seen between fresh and frozen thawed semen. This finding strongly supports the theory that alteration in redox regulation and oxidative stress is a major factor involved in cryodamage and suggests that control of redox regulation should be a major target to improve current cryopreservation procedures

Data and initial model set-up for the 2022 VPA stock assessment of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna

This document presents the data and initial model set-up for the 2022 Stock Assessment for the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock. During the 2017 Data Preparatory meetings, several changes in the data used for previous assessments have been presented, among which the revision of the Task 1 and Task 2 statistics and the selection of the indices of abundance. This led to completely revisiting the catch at age matrix and the model specifications for the 2017 assessment. For the present document, the data over the historical period (1968-2015) were nearly identical, whereas the data for the years 2016-2020 and abundance indices were updated. As agreed in previous meetings, the initial model specifications were kept identical to the 2017 assessment as no change has been agreed on since then

The seminal plasma proteins Peptidyl arginine deaminase 2, rRNA adenine N (6)-methyltransferase and KIAA0825 are linked to better motility post thaw in stallions

Seminal plasma plays an important role in sperm physiology. Seminal plasma proteins vehiculated in microvesicles, carry RNAs and proteins with a potential role in early embryo development. Additionally, proteins present in seminal plasma participate in redox regulation and energy metabolism. In view of these facts, we hypothesized that differences in protein composition of the seminal plasma among stallions may help to explain differences in freeze-ability seen among them. Three independent ejaculates from 10 different stallions of varying breeds were frozen using standard protocols in our laboratory. Aliquots of the ejaculate were separated and stored at −80 °C until further proteomic analysis. Semen analysis was performed using computer assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry. Significant differences in proteome composition of seminal plasma were observed in the group of stallions showing better motility post thaw. 3116 proteins were identified, and of these, 34 were differentially expressed in stallions with better motility post thaw, 4 of them were also differentially expressed in stallions with different percentages of linearly motile sperm post thaw and 1 protein, Midasin, was expressed in stallions showing high circular velocity post thaw. Seminal plasma proteins may play a major role in sperm functionality; being vehiculated through extracellular vesicles and participating in sperm physiology. Bioinformatic analysis identifies discriminant proteins able to predict the outcome of cryopreservation, identifying potential new biomarkers to assess ejaculate quality

The Stallion Spermatozoa: A Valuable Model to Help Understand the Interplay between Metabolism and Redox (De)regulation in Sperm Cells

Significance: Proper functionality of the spermatozoa depends on the tight regulation of their redox status; at the same time these cells are highly energy demanding and in the energetic metabolism, principally in the electron transport chain in the mitochondria, reactive oxygen species are continuously produced, in addition to that observed in the Krebs cycle and during the β-oxidation of fatty acids. Recent Advances: In addition, in glycolysis, elimination of phosphate groups from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate results in the byproducts glyoxal (G) and methylglyoxal (MG); these products are 2-oxoaldehydes. The presence of adjacent carbonyl groups makes them strong electrophiles that react with nucleophiles in proteins, lipids, and DNA, forming advanced glycation end products. Critical Issues: This mechanism is behind subfertility in diabetic patients; in the animal breeding industry, commercial extenders for stallion semen contain a supraphysiological concentration of glucose that promotes MG production, constituting a potential model of interest. Future Directions: Increasing our knowledge of sperm metabolism and its interactions with redox regulation may improve current sperm technologies in use, and shall provide new clues to understanding infertility in males. Moreover, stallion spermatozoa due to its accessibility, intense metabolism, and suitability for proteomics/metabolomic studies may constitute a suitable model for studying regulation of metabolism and interactions between metabolism and redox homeostasis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 521-537