Genetic algorithms reveal identity independent representation of emotional expressions.

People readily and automatically process facial emotion and identity, and it has been reported that these cues are processed both dependently and independently. However, this question of identity independent encoding of emotions has only been examined using posed, often exaggerated expressions of emotion, that do not account for the substantial individual differences in emotion recognition. In this study, we ask whether people's unique beliefs of how emotions should be reflected in facial expressions depend on the identity of the face. To do this, we employed a genetic algorithm where participants created facial expressions to represent different emotions. Participants generated facial expressions of anger, fear, happiness, and sadness, on two different identities. Facial features were controlled by manipulating a set of weights, allowing us to probe the exact positions of faces in high-dimensional expression space. We found that participants created facial expressions belonging to each identity in a similar space that was unique to the participant, for angry, fearful, and happy expressions, but not sad. However, using a machine learning algorithm that examined the positions of faces in expression space, we also found systematic differences between the two identities' expressions across participants. This suggests that participants' beliefs of how an emotion should be reflected in a facial expression are unique to them and identity independent, although there are also some systematic differences in the facial expressions between two identities that are common across all individuals. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19 and anatomy: Stimulus and initial response.

The outbreak of COVID-19, resulting from widespread transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, represents one of the foremost current challenges to societies across the globe, with few areas of life remaining untouched. Here, we detail the immediate impact that COVID-19 has had on the teaching and practice of anatomy, providing specific examples of the varied responses from several UK, Irish and German universities and medical schools. Alongside significant issues for, and suspension of, body donation programmes, the widespread closure of university campuses has led to challenges in delivering anatomy education via online methods, a particular problem for a practical, experience-based subject such as anatomy. We discuss the short-term consequences of COVID-19 for body donation programmes and anatomical education, and highlight issues and challenges that will need to be addressed in the medium to long term in order to restore anatomy education and practice throughout the world

Implementation of a standardized protocol to manage elderly patients with low energy pelvic fractures: can service improvement be expected?

Purpose: The incidence of low energy pelvic fractures (FPFs) in the elderly is increasing. Comorbidities, decreased bone-quality, problematic fracture fixation and poor compliance represent some of their specific difficulties. In the absence of uniform management, a standard operating procedure (SOP) was introduced to our unit, aiming to improve the quality of services provided to these patients. Methods: A cohort study was contacted to test the impact of (1) using a specific clinical algorithm and (2) using different antiosteoporotic drugs. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine prognostic factors. Study endpoints were the time-to-healing, length-of-stay, return to pre-injury mobility, union status, mortality and complications. Results: A total of 132 elderly patients (≥65 years) admitted during the period 2012–2014 with FPFs were enrolled. High-energy fractures, acetabular fractures, associated trauma affecting mobility, pathological pelvic lesions and operated FPFs were used as exclusion criteria. The majority of included patients were females (108/132; 81.8%), and the mean age was 85.8 years (range 67–108). Use of antiosteoporotics was associated with a shorter time of healing (p = 0.036). Patients treated according to the algorithm showed a significant protection against malunion (p < 0.001). Also, adherence to the algorithm allowed more patients to return to their pre-injury mobility status (p = 0.039). Conclusions: The use of antiosteoporotic medication in elderly patients with fragility pelvic fractures was associated with faster healing, whilst the adherence to a structured clinical pathway led to less malunions and non-unions and return to pre-injury mobility state

The PI3K p110δ regulates expression of CD38 on regulatory T cells.

The PI3K pathway has emerged as a key regulator of regulatory T cell (Treg) development and homeostasis and is required for full Treg-mediated suppression. To identify new genes involved in PI3K-dependent suppression, we compared the transcriptome of WT and p110δ(D910A) Tregs. Among the genes that were differentially expressed was the gene for the transmembrane cyclic ADP ribose hydrolase CD38. Here we show that CD38 is expressed mainly by a subset of Foxp3(+)CD25(+)CD4(+) T cells originating in the thymus and on Tregs in the spleen. CD38(high) WT Tregs showed superior suppressive activity to CD38(low) Tregs, which failed to upregulate CD73, a surface protein which is important for suppression. However, Tregs from heterozygous CD38(+/-) mice were unimpaired despite lower levels of CD38 expression. Therefore, CD38 can be used as a marker for Tregs with high suppressive activity and the impaired Treg function in p110δ(D910A) mice can in part be explained by the failure of CD38(high) cells to develop

Comparative Genomics of the Anopheline Glutathione S-Transferase Epsilon Cluster

Enzymes of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family play critical roles in detoxification of xenobiotics across many taxa. While GSTs are ubiquitous both in animals and plants, the GST epsilon class (GSTE) is insect-specific and has been associated with resistance to chemical insecticides. While both Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae GSTE clusters consist of eight members, only four putative orthologs are identifiable between the species, suggesting independent expansions of the class in each lineage. We used a primer walking approach, sequencing almost the entire cluster from three Anopheles species (An. stephensi, An. funestus (both Cellia subgenus) and An. plumbeus (Anopheles subgenus)) and compared the sequences to putative orthologs in An. gambiae (Cellia) in an attempt to trace the evolution of the cluster within the subfamily Anophelinae. Furthermore, we measured transcript levels from the identified GSTE loci by real time reverse transcription PCR to determine if all genes were similarly transcribed at different life stages. Among the species investigated, gene order and orientation were similar with three exceptions: (i) GSTE1 was absent in An. plumbeus; (ii) GSTE2 is duplicated in An. plumbeus and (iii) an additional transcriptionally active pseudogene (ψAsGSTE2) was found in An. stephensi. Further statistical analysis and protein modelling gave evidence for positive selection on codons of the catalytic site in GSTE5 albeit its origin seems to predate the introduction of chemical insecticides. Gene expression profiles revealed differences in expression pattern among genes at different life stages. With the exception of GSTE1, ψAsGSTE2 and GSTE2b, all Anopheles species studied share orthologs and hence we assume that GSTE expansion generally predates radiation into subgenera, though the presence of GSTE1 may also suggest a recent duplication event in the Old World Cellia subgenus, instead of a secondary loss. The modifications of the catalytic site within GSTE5 may represent adaptations to new habitats

Anatomical variations of the deltoid artery: relevance to the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder.

Despite the expansion of arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, the open deltopectoral approach to the shoulder is still frequently used, for example in fracture fixation and shoulder replacement. However, it is sometimes accompanied by unexpected bleeding. The cephalic vein is the landmark for the deltopectoral interval, yet its intimate relationship with the deltoid artery, and the anatomical variations in that structure, have not previously been documented. In this study the vascular anatomy encountered during 100 consecutive elective deltopectoral approaches was recorded and the common variants described. Two common variants of the deltoid artery were encountered. In type I (71%) it crosses the interval and tunnels into the deltoid muscle without encountering the cephalic vein. However, in type II (21%) it crosses the interval, reaches the cephalic vein and then runs down, medial to and behind it, giving off several small arterial branches that return back across the interval to the pectoralis major. Several minor variations were also seen (8%). These variations in the deltoid artery have not previously been described and may lead to confusion and unexpected bleeding during this standard anterior surgical approach to the shoulder