Saccade latency delays in young apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 carriers

The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2018.07.002 © 2018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/The apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 isoform has been associated with a significantly greater risk of developing late onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the negative effects of APOE-ε4 allele on cognitive function vary across the lifespan: reduced memory and executive function have been found in older individuals but, paradoxically, young APOE-ε4 carriers perform better on cognitive tests and show higher neural efficiency. This study aimed to assess the association between APOE genotype and saccade latency using a prosaccade and antisaccade task in young individuals (N = 97, age: 17–35 years). Results showed that prosaccade latency was significantly delayed in a group of ε4 carriers in comparison to non-carriers, which was due to a lower rate of signal accumulation rather than a change in the criterion threshold. In contrast, there was no significant genotype difference for antisaccade latency in this young cohort. These results indicate that prosaccade latency may be useful in establishing the APOE behavioural phenotype, which could ultimately assist with distinguishing between normal and pathological aging.Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, University of Waterlo

Bacterial symbionts of the leafhopper "Evacanthus interruptus" (Linnaeus, 1758) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae : Evacanthinae)

Plant sap-feeding hemipterans harbor obligate symbiotic microorganisms which are responsible for the synthesis of amino acids missing in their diet. In this study, we characterized the obligate symbionts hosted in the body of the xylem-feeding leafhopper Evacanthus interruptus (Cicadellidae: Evacanthinae: Evacanthini) by means of histological, ultrastructural and molecular methods. We observed that E. interruptus is associated with two types of symbiotic microorganisms: bacterium ‘Candidatus Sulcia muelleri’ (Bacteroidetes) and betaproteobacterium that is closely related to symbionts which reside in two other Cicadellidae representatives: Pagaronia tredecimpunctata (Evacanthinae: Pagaronini) and Hylaius oregonensis (Bathysmatophorinae: Bathysmatophorini). Both symbionts are harbored in their own bacteriocytes which are localized between the body wall and ovaries. In E. interruptus, both Sulcia and betaproteobacterial symbionts are transovarially transmitted from one generation to the next. In the mature female, symbionts leave the bacteriocytes and gather around the posterior pole of the terminal oocytes. Then, they gradually pass through the cytoplasm of follicular cells surrounding the posterior pole of the oocyte and enter the space between them and the oocyte. The bacteria accumulate in the deep depression of the oolemma and form a characteristic ‘symbiont ball’. In the light of the results obtained, the phylogenetic relationships within modern Cicadomorpha and some Cicadellidae subfamilies are discussed

The Effect of Sensory Uncertainty Due to Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) on the Planning and Execution of Visually-Guided 3D Reaching Movements

Background: Impairment of spatiotemporal visual processing in amblyopia has been studied extensively, but its effects on visuomotor tasks have rarely been examined. Here, we investigate how visual deficits in amblyopia affect motor planning and online control of visually-guided, unconstrained reaching movements. Methods: Thirteen patients with mild amblyopia, 13 with severe amblyopia and 13 visually-normal participants were recruited. Participants reached and touched a visual target during binocular and monocular viewing. Motor planning was assessed by examining spatial variability of the trajectory at 50–100 ms after movement onset. Online control was assessed by examining the endpoint variability and by calculating the coefficient of determination (R 2) which correlates the spatial position of the limb during the movement to endpoint position. Results: Patients with amblyopia had reduced precision of the motor plan in all viewing conditions as evidenced by increased variability of the reach early in the trajectory. Endpoint precision was comparable between patients with mild amblyopia and control participants. Patients with severe amblyopia had reduced endpoint precision along azimuth and elevation during amblyopic eye viewing only, and along the depth axis in all viewing conditions. In addition, they had significantly higher R 2 values at 70 % of movement time along the elevation and depth axes during amblyopic eye viewing. Conclusion: Sensory uncertainty due to amblyopia leads to reduced precision of the motor plan. The ability to implemen

Comment on the letter of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) dated April 21, 2020 regarding 'Fossils from conflict zones and reproducibility of fossil‑based scientific data': Myanmar amber

Recently, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) has sent around a letter, dated 21st April, 2020 to more than 300 palaeontological journals, signed by the President, Vice President and a former President of the society (Rayfield et al. 2020). The signatories of this letter request significant changes to the common practices in palaeontology. With our present, multi-authored comment, we aim to argue why these suggestions will not lead to improvement of both practice and ethics of palaeontological research but, conversely, hamper its further development. Although we disagree with most contents of the SVP letter, we appreciate this initiative to discuss scientific practices and the underlying ethics. Here, we consider different aspects of the suggestions by Rayfield et al. (2020) in which we see weaknesses and dangers. It is our intent to compile views from many different fields of palaeontology, as our discipline is (and should remain) pluralistic. This contribution deals with the aspects concerning Myanmar amber. Reference is made to Haug et al. (2020a) for another comment on aspects concerning amateur palaeontologists/citizen scientists/private collectors

Comment on the letter of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) dated April 21, 2020 regarding “Fossils from conflict zones and reproducibility of fossil‑based scientific data”: Myanmar amber

Non peer reviewe

A three dimensional view of stereopsis in dentistry

Stereopsis and its role in dental practice has been a topic of debate in recent editions of this Journal. These discussions are particularly timely as they come at a point when virtual reality simulators are becoming increasingly popular in the education of tomorrow's dentists. The aim of this article is to discuss the lack of robust empirical evidence to ascertain the relationship (if any) between stereopsis and dentistry and to build a case for the need for further research to build a strong evidence base on the topic

The mid-Miocene Zhangpu biota reveals an outstandingly rich rainforest biome in East Asia

During the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum [MMCO, ~14 to 17 million years (Ma) ago], global temperatures were similar to predicted temperatures for the coming century. Limited megathermal paleoclimatic and fossil data are known from this period, despite its potential as an analog for future climate conditions. Here, we report a rich middle Miocene rainforest biome, the Zhangpu biota (~14.7 Ma ago), based on material preserved in amber and associated sedimentary rocks from southeastern China. The record shows that the mid-Miocene rainforest reached at least 24.2°N and was more widespread than previously estimated. Our results not only highlight the role of tropical rainforests acting as evolutionary museums for biodiversity at the generic level but also suggest that the MMCO probably strongly shaped the East Asian biota via the northern expansion of the megathermal rainforest biome. The Zhangpu biota provides an ideal snapshot for biodiversity redistribution during global warming

Changes to the Fossil Record of Insects through Fifteen Years of Discovery

The first and last occurrences of hexapod families in the fossil record are compiled from publications up to end-2009. The major features of these data are compared with those of previous datasets (1993 and 1994). About a third of families (>400) are new to the fossil record since 1994, over half of the earlier, existing families have experienced changes in their known stratigraphic range and only about ten percent have unchanged ranges. Despite these significant additions to knowledge, the broad pattern of described richness through time remains similar, with described richness increasing steadily through geological history and a shift in dominant taxa, from Palaeoptera and Polyneoptera to Paraneoptera and Holometabola, after the Palaeozoic. However, after detrending, described richness is not well correlated with the earlier datasets, indicating significant changes in shorter-term patterns. There is reduced Palaeozoic richness, peaking at a different time, and a less pronounced Permian decline. A pronounced Triassic peak and decline is shown, and the plateau from the mid Early Cretaceous to the end of the period remains, albeit at substantially higher richness compared to earlier datasets. Origination and extinction rates are broadly similar to before, with a broad decline in both through time but episodic peaks, including end-Permian turnover. Origination more consistently exceeds extinction compared to previous datasets and exceptions are mainly in the Palaeozoic. These changes suggest that some inferences about causal mechanisms in insect macroevolution are likely to differ as well

Aktywna termografia i jej wykorzystanie do detekcji uszkodzeń struktur mechanicznych

Development of measurements techniques helps to apply new more effective tools for damage detection and localization of damage in composite and metal based structure. One of the most intensively developing technology is active thermography which can be directly use for damage detection under operational conditions. The paper presents active thermography techniques, proposed image processing methods and application of vibrothermography for damage (crack) detection in aluminum plate. The experimental results confirm high sensitivity of the methods and its applicability for mechanical structure diagnostics.Rozwój technik pomiarowych umożliwia zastosowanie nowych, bardziej efektywnych narzędzi do detekcji oraz lokalizacji uszkodzeń w kompozytowych i metalowych strukturach. Jedną z najbardziej intensywnie rozwijających się technologii jest aktywna termografia, która może zostać użyta bezpośrednio do detekcji uszkodzeń w trakcie normalnych warunków pracy urządzenia. W artykule przedstawiono techniki aktywnej termografii, zaproponowano metodę przetwarzania obrazów termograficznych oraz aplikację wykorzystującą wibrotermografię do detekcji uszkodzeń dla płyty aluminiowej. Wyniki przeprowadzonego eksperymentu potwierdzają wysoką czułość metody oraz jej przydatność w diagnostyce

Ocena wyników testów płatkowych–badanie i rozwijanie metody opartej na termografii

Skin tests in allergology are a method of medical diagnosis that attempts to provoke a small, controlled allergic response. Evaluation of the patch test depends on visual assessment so it is not an objective method, because it does concern only skin surface and difficulties like changes in skin pigmentation, atopic skin, black race skin or delayed reaction may occur. Studies with use of thermography confirm that skin surface allergic reaction is strictly connected with temperature increasing at that area so such technique may be the key for impartial evaluation. Carried out tests, also confirmed information from literature review, that to obtain valuable infrared images large intervals between allergens must be kept.Testy skórne w alergologii to metoda diagnostyczna polegająca na wywołaniu małej, kontrolowanej reakcji alergicznej. Ocena testów płatkowych oparta jest na ocenie wizualnej, której podlega tylko powierzchni skóry, a więc nie jest obiektywna, gdyż mogą mieć na nią wpływ takie czynniki jak zmiany w pigmentacji skóry, skóra atopowa, skóra rasy czarnej lub opóźniona reakcja. Badania z użyciem termografii potwierdziły, że reakcja alergiczna powierzchni skóry jest ściśle powiązana ze wzrostem temperatury w tym obszarze, więc technika ta może być kluczowa w dążeniu do obiektywnej oceny. Przeprowadzone badania potwierdziły także informację z przeglądu literatury, że aby otrzymać wartościowe termogramy należy zachować duże odstępy pomiędzy aplikowanymi alergenami