19 research outputs found

    Evolutionary consequences of environmental effects on gamete performance

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    Variation in pre- and post-release gamete environments can influence evolutionary processes by altering fertilization outcomes and offspring traits. It is now widely accepted that offspring inherit epigenetic information from both their mothers and fathers. Genetic and epigenetic alterations to eggs and sperm-acquired post-release may also persist post-fertilization with consequences for offspring developmental success and later-life fitness. In externally fertilizing species, gametes are directly exposed to anthropogenically induced environmental impacts including pollution, ocean acidification and climate change. When fertilization occurs within the female reproductive tract, although gametes are at least partially protected from external environmental variation, the selective environment is likely to vary among females. In both scenarios, gamete traits and selection on gametes can be influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and pollution as well as intrinsic factors such as male and female reproductive fluids, which may be altered by changes in male and female health and physiology. Here, we highlight some of the pathways through which changes in gamete environments can affect fertilization dynamics, gamete interactions and ultimately offspring fitness. We hope that by drawing attention to this important yet often overlooked source of variation, we will inspire future research into the evolutionary implications of anthropogenic interference of gamete environments including the use of assisted reproductive technologies. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?

    Parental breeding age effects on descendants' longevity interact over 2 generations in matrilines and patrilines

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    Individuals within populations vary enormously in mortality risk and longevity, but the causes of this variation remain poorly understood. A potentially important and phylogenetically widespread source of such variation is maternal age at breeding, which typically has negative effects on offspring longevity. Here, we show that paternal age can affect offspring longevity as strongly as maternal age does and that breeding age effects can interact over 2 generations in both matrilines and patrilines. We manipulated maternal and paternal ages at breeding over 2 generations in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. To determine whether breeding age effects can be modulated by the environment, we also manipulated larval diet and male competitive environment in the first generation. We found separate and interactive effects of parental and grand-parental ages at breeding on descendants' mortality rate and life span in both matrilines and patrilines. These breeding age effects were not modulated by grand-parental larval diet quality or competitive environment. Our findings suggest that variation in maternal and paternal ages at breeding could contribute substantially to intrapopulation variation in mortality and longevity

    Therapeutic Validity and Effectiveness of Preoperative Exercise on Functional Recovery after Joint Replacement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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    Background: Our aim was to develop a rating scale to assess the therapeutic validity of therapeutic exercise programmes. By use of this rating scale we investigated the therapeutic validity of therapeutic exercise in patients awaiting primary total joint replacement (TJR). Finally, we studied the association between therapeutic validity of preoperative therapeutic exercise and its effectiveness in terms of postoperative functional recovery. Methods: (Quasi) randomised clinical trials on preoperative therapeutic exercise in adults awaiting TJR on postoperative recovery of functioning within three months after surgery were identified through database and reference screening. Two reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias and therapeutic validity. Therapeutic validity of the interventions was assessed with a nine-itemed, expert-based rating scale (scores range from 0 to 9; score ≥6 reflecting therapeutic validity), developed in a four-round Delphi study. Effects were pooled using a random-effects model and meta-regression was used to study the influence of therapeutic validity. Results: Of the 7,492 articles retrieved, 12 studies (737 patients) were included. None of the included studies demonstrated therapeutic validity and two demonstrated low risk of bias. Therapeutic exercise was not associated with 1) observed functional recovery during the hospital stay (Standardised Mean Difference [SMD]: −1.19; 95%-confidence interval [CI], −2.46 to 0.08); 2) observed recovery within three months of surgery (SMD: −0.15; 95%-CI, −0.42 to 0.12); and 3) self-reported recovery within three months of surgery (SMD −0.07; 95%-CI, −0.35 to 0.21) compared with control participants. Meta-regression showed no statistically significant relationship between therapeutic validity and pooled-effects. Conclusion: Preoperative therapeutic exercise for TJR did not demonstrate beneficial effects on postoperative functional recovery. However, poor therapeutic validity of the therapeutic exercise programmes may have hampered potentially beneficial effects, since none of the studies met the predetermined quality criteria. Future review studies on therapeutic exercise should address therapeutic validity. (aut.ref.

    Data for: Perceived dominance status affects chemical signalling in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis.

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    This data pertains to an analysis of cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and their plasticity as a function of the social environment (using an insect species). data sets are separated by sex and also using a combined data set (shared CHCs between the sexes). Two files contain thorax length TL data for males and females. The behaviour data set outlines responses of defensive behaviours and distance to food/oviposition source. Progenesis_condition is a file of high throughput CHC data comparing different larval diet and wild-type treatments

    Data for: Perceived dominance status affects chemical signalling in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis.

    No full text
    This data pertains to an analysis of cuticular hydrocarbon profiles and their plasticity as a function of the social environment (using an insect species). data sets are separated by sex and also using a combined data set (shared CHCs between the sexes). Two files contain thorax length TL data for males and females. The behaviour data set outlines responses of defensive behaviours and distance to food/oviposition source. Progenesis_condition is a file of high throughput CHC data comparing different larval diet and wild-type treatments.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

    Musculoskeletal research priorities of people of South Asian, Black, African or Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom

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    People from racially marginalised groups are underserved in healthcare and research. There is a clear need to address these inequalities and ensure that people from minoritised groups are involved in all stages of the research process, from research prioritisation to dissemination. Health research should include all members of the community for whom the research is relevant. To address this, the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) initiated the Innovations in Clinical Trial Design and Delivery for the underserved (INCLUDE) project, which aims to improve the inclusion of underserved groups in clinical trials (Witham et al., 2020). In 2020, the INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework was developed which aims to improve the inclusion of people from racially marginalised groups in trials (Treweek et al., 2021). The framework was designed to help researchers systematically consider how disease severity and prevalence, language, culture, faith, intervention, and trial design may affect the participation of people from different ethnicities. In addition to trial design and participation, the INCLUDE project provides a broader overview of improving the inclusion of underserved groups across the life course of research, acknowledging that this starts with research priority setting (Witham et al., 2020).Research priority setting is undertaken to identify and prioritise research questions deemed important to stakeholders (Tong et al., 2019). This informs funding calls and facilitates research funding provision to the areas of highest priority. However, setting the health research agenda has historically been driven largely by health professionals and academics, with poor patient representation (Chalmers & Glasziou, 2009). There have been increasing efforts to improve engagement and involvement of all stakeholders, particularly within the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships. However, these initiatives often pose barriers to inclusion of people from minority ethnic communities (Franck et al., 2018; NIHR Race Equality Framework, 2022), including language barriers, power dynamics that inhibit people from expressing their opinions freely, and perceived difficulty by researchers with accessing relevant communities (Erves et al., 2017; Iqbal et al., 2021).Diverse and responsive methods should be used in research priority setting activities to reflect the needs and preferences of different populations and environments in which the work is undertaken. Approaches need to be co-designed with communities to ensure the most culturally appropriate and inclusive methods are used to facilitate meaningful involvement in the research priority setting process (Bryan et al., 2020; Franck et al., 2018; Iqbal et al., 2021). We have previously co-developed guidance for researchers to promote good practice for inclusive involvement of people from racially marginalised communities in health research (Jameson et al., 2023). Continuing this partnership between academics and community groups, this work aimed to produce a list of musculoskeletal research questions which reflect the priorities of people from South Asian, Black, African or Caribbean heritage attending community groups in Bristol
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