Secondary transitions to aquatic environments are common among vertebrates, and aquatic lineages display several adaptations to this realm, some of which might make these transitions irreversible. At ...the same time, discussions about secondary transitions often focus only on the marine realm, comparing fully terrestrial with fully aquatic species. This, however, captures only a fraction of land-to-water transitions, and freshwater and semi-aquatic groups are often neglected in macroevolutionary studies. Here, we use phylogenetic comparative methods to unravel the evolution of different levels of aquatic adaptations across all extant mammals, testing if aquatic adaptations are irreversible and if they are related to relative body mass changes. We found irreversible adaptations consistent with Dollo's Law in lineages that rely strongly on aquatic environments, while weaker adaptations in semi-aquatic lineages, which still allow efficient terrestrial movement, are reversible. In lineages transitioning to aquatic realms, including semi-aquatic ones, we found a consistent trend towards an increased relative body mass and a significant association with a more carnivorous diet. We interpret these patterns as the result of thermoregulation constraints associated with the high thermal conductivity of water leading to body mass increase consistently with Bergmann's rule and to a prevalence of more nutritious diets.
The extent to which Omicron infection
, with or without previous vaccination, elicits protection against the previously dominant Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is unclear. Here we measured the ...neutralization capacity against variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in 39 individuals in South Africa infected with the Omicron sublineage BA.1 starting at a median of 6 (interquartile range 3-9) days post symptom onset and continuing until last follow-up sample available, a median of 23 (interquartile range 19-27) days post symptoms to allow BA.1-elicited neutralizing immunity time to develop. Fifteen participants were vaccinated with Pfizer's BNT162b2 or Johnson & Johnson's Ad26.CoV2.S and had BA.1 breakthrough infections, and 24 were unvaccinated. BA.1 neutralization increased from a geometric mean 50% focus reduction neutralization test titre of 42 at enrolment to 575 at the last follow-up time point (13.6-fold) in vaccinated participants and from 46 to 272 (6.0-fold) in unvaccinated participants. Delta virus neutralization also increased, from 192 to 1,091 (5.7-fold) in vaccinated participants and from 28 to 91 (3.0-fold) in unvaccinated participants. At the last time point, unvaccinated individuals infected with BA.1 had low absolute levels of neutralization for the non-BA.1 viruses and 2.2-fold lower BA.1 neutralization, 12.0-fold lower Delta neutralization, 9.6-fold lower Beta variant neutralization, 17.9-fold lower ancestral virus neutralization and 4.8-fold lower Omicron sublineage BA.2 neutralization relative to vaccinated individuals infected with BA.1. These results indicate that hybrid immunity formed by vaccination and Omicron BA.1 infection should be protective against Delta and other variants. By contrast, infection with Omicron BA.1 alone offers limited cross-protection despite moderate enhancement.
Overkill of large mammals is recognized as a key driver of Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions in the Americas and Australia. While this phenomenon primarily affected mega-mammals, its impact on large ...Quaternary reptiles has been debated. Freshwater turtles, due to the scarcity of giant forms in the Quaternary record, have been largely neglected in such discussions. Here we present a new giant podocnemidid turtle,
sp. nov., from the Late Pleistocene Rio Madeira Formation in the Brazilian Amazon, that challenges this assumption. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the holotype, a massive partial lower jaw, reveal close affinities to extant Amazonian species and suggest an omnivorous diet. Body size regressions indicate
possibly reached about 180 cm in carapace length and is among the largest freshwater turtles ever found. This finding presents the latest known occurrence of giant freshwater turtles, hinting at coexistence with early human inhabitants in the Amazon.
The study objective was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in the nares and oropharynx of healthy persons and identify any risk factors associated with such S. aureus ...colonisation. In total 263 participants (177 adults and 86 minors) comprising 95 families were enrolled in a year-long prospective cohort study from one urban and one rural county in eastern Iowa, USA, through local newspaper advertisements and email lists and through the Keokuk Rural Health Study. Potential risk factors including demographic factors, medical history, farming and healthcare exposure were assessed. Among the participants, 25.4% of adults and 36.1% minors carried S. aureus in their nares and 37.9% of adults carried it in their oropharynx. The overall prevalence was 44.1% among adults and 36.1% for minors. Having at least one positive environmental site for S. aureus in the family home was associated with colonisation (prevalence ratio: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07-1.66). The sensitivity of the oropharyngeal cultures was greater than that of the nares cultures (86.1% compared with 58.2%, respectively). In conclusion, the nares and oropharynx are both important colonisation sites for healthy community members and the presence of S. aureus in the home environment is associated with an increased probability of colonisation.
Aims.
To advance our knowledge of star formation, in addition to statistical studies and large surveys of young stellar objects (YSOs), it is important to carry out detailed studies towards ...particular objects. Given that massive molecular clumps fragment into cores where star formation takes place, these kinds of studies should be done on different spatial scales. The aim of this work is to investigate the star-forming processes at core and clump scales.
Methods.
Using near-infrared (NIR) data obtained with NIRI at the Gemini-North telescope, data of the complex molecular species CH
3
OCHO and CH
3
CN obtained from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) database, observations of HCN, HNC, HCO
+
, and C
2
H carried out with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE), and CO data from public surveys observed with the
James Clerck Maxwell
Telescope (JCMT), we perform a deep study of the YSO G29.862−0.0044 (YSO-G29) at core and clump spatial scales.
Results.
The NIR emission shows that YSO-G29 is composed of two nebulosities separated by a dark lane, suggesting a scenario consistent with a typical disc plus jets system, albeit in this case highly asymmetric. The northern nebulosity is open, diffuse, and is divided into two branches, while the southern one is smaller and sharper. They are likely produced by the scattered light in cavities carved out by jets or winds on an infalling envelope of material, which also presents line emission of H
2
S(1) 1–0 and 2–1, and FeII. The presence of the complex molecular species observed with ALMA confirms that we are mapping a hot molecular core. The CH
3
CN emission concentrates at the position of the dark lane and appears slightly elongated from southwest to northeast in agreement with the inclination of the system as observed in the NIR. The morphology of the CH
3
OCHO emission is more complex and extends along some filaments and concentrates in knots and clumps, mainly southwards of the dark lane, suggesting that the southern jet is encountering a dense region. The northern jet is able to flow more freely, generating the more extended features as seen in the NIR. This is in agreement with the redshifted molecular outflow traced by the
12
CO
J
= 3–2 line extending towards the northwest and the lack of a blueshifted outflow. This configuration can be explained by considering that G29-YSO is located at the furthest edge of the molecular clump along the line of sight, which is consistent with the position of the source in the cloud mapped in the C
18
O
J
= 3–2 line. The detection of HCN, HNC, HCO
+
, and C
2
H allowed us to characterise the dense gas at clump scales, yielding results that are in agreement with the presence of a high-mass protostellar object.
ABSTRACT
Evidence for triggered star formation linking three generations of stars is difficult to assemble, as it requires convincingly associating evolved massive stars with H ii regions that, in ...turn, would need to present signs of active star formation. We present observational evidence for triggered star formation relating three generations of stars in the neighbourhood of the star LS II +26 8. We carried out new spectroscopic observations of LS II +26 8, revealing that it is a B0 III-type star. We note that LS II +26 8 is located exactly at the geometric centre of a semi-shell-like H ii region complex. The most conspicuous component of this complex is the H ii region Sh2-90, which is probably triggering a new generation of stars. The distances to LS II +26 8 and to Sh2-90 are in agreement (between 2.6 and 3 kpc). Analysis of the interstellar medium on a larger spatial scale shows that the H ii region complex lies on the north-western border of an extended H2 shell. The radius of this molecular shell is about 13 pc, which is in agreement with what an O9 V star (the probable initial spectral type of LS II +26 8 as inferred from evolutive tracks) can generate through its winds in the molecular environment. In conclusion, the spatial and temporal correspondences derived in our analysis enable us to propose a probable triggered star formation scenario initiated by the evolved massive star LS II +26 8 during its main-sequence stage, followed by stars exciting the H ii region complex formed in the molecular shell, and culminating in the birth of young stellar objects around Sh2-90.
Lithium (Li), a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder (BP) symptoms has important anti-inflammatory effects by downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β). However, sometime ...Li effect is not efficient in some patients suggesting genetic interference. Previous investigations described association between a genetic superoxide‑hydrogen (S-HP) imbalance caused by a superoxide dismutase manganese dependent gene polymorphism (Val16Ala-SOD2 SNP, rs4880) and differential anti-inflammatory response of some drugs and bioactive molecules. Therefore, we postulated here that S-HP imbalance could present some effect on GSK-3β modulation by Li.
to test this hypothesis, a genetic and a pharmacological S-HP imbalance protocols were performed. In the two protocols, immune cells were activated by phythohemaglutin (PHA). The first one, used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultures carrying different Val16Ala-SOD2 genotypes, and the second used a commercial macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Macrophages were exposed to paraquat to induce high S levels (VV-like cells) or porphyrin, that is a SOD2-like molecule that increase dismutation of S into HP (AA-like cells). In both protocols the Li effects on GSK-3β gene and protein modulation as evaluated in 24 h cultures. The inflammatory activation was also analyzed by cellular proliferation in 72 h cell cultures.
as expected PHA exposure triggered a strong upregulation of GSK-3β gene expression (p ≤ 0.001), and Li exposure showed GSK-3β gene downregulation from 0.7 mEq/L concentrations. However, Li modulatory effects on GSk-3β gene and protein expression was directly influenced by basal S-HP balance. Presence of high S-basal levels (VV genotype and VV-like cells) induced attenuated Li anti-inflammatory effects in comparison with balanced and AA and AA-like cells (p < 0.001). Despite methodological limitations related to in vitro assays, the whole of results suggested that Li anti-inflammatory effects is influenced by S-HP basal state and is plausible that its influence could contributes to resistance of some patients to Li treatment or to increase of intensity of some side effects Li-associated.
•The anti-inflammatory effects of lithium are influenced by superoxide-hydrogen (S-HP) imbalance.•Elevated basal levels of superoxide decreased the anti-inflammatory effects of Lithium.•Unbalance may be related to resistance of some patients to lithium treatment.
A structured approach to perioperative patient management based on an enhanced recovery pathway protocol facilitates early recovery and reduces morbidity in high income countries. However, in low- ...and middle-income countries (LMICs), the feasibility of implementing enhanced recovery pathways and its influence on patient outcomes is scarcely investigated. To inform similar practice in LMICs for total hip and knee arthroplasty, it is necessary to identify potential factors for inclusion in such a programme, appropriate for LMICs.
Applying a Delphi method, 33 stakeholders (13 arthroplasty surgeons, 12 anaesthetists and 8 physiotherapists) from 10 state hospitals representing 4 South African provinces identified and prioritised i) risk factors associated with poor outcomes, ii) perioperative interventions to improve outcomes and iii) patient and clinical outcomes necessary to benchmark practice for patients scheduled for primary elective unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty.
Thirty of the thirty-three stakeholders completed the 3 months Delphi study. The first round yielded i) 36 suggestions to preoperative risk factors, ii) 14 (preoperative), 18 (intraoperative) and 23 (postoperative) suggestions to best practices for perioperative interventions to improve outcomes and iii) 25 suggestions to important postsurgical outcomes. These items were prioritised by the group in the consecutive rounds and consensus was reached for the top ten priorities for each category.
The consensus derived risk factors, perioperative interventions and important outcomes will inform the development of a structured, perioperative multidisciplinary enhanced patient care protocol for total hip and knee arthroplasty. It is anticipated that this study will provide the construct necessary for developing pragmatic enhanced care pathways aimed at improving patient outcomes after arthroplasty in LMICs.
We recently described a complex multisystem syndrome in which mild‐moderate myopia segregated as an independent trait. A plethora of genes has been related to sporadic and familial myopia. More ...recently, in Chinese patients severe myopia (MYP25, OMIM:617238) has been linked to mutations in P4HA2 gene. Seven family members complaining of reduced distance vision especially at dusk underwent complete ophthalmological examination. Whole‐exome sequencing was performed to identify the gene responsible for myopia in the pedigree. Moderate myopia was diagnosed in the family which was associated to the novel missense variant c.1147A > G p.(Lys383Glu) in the prolyl 4‐hydroxylase,alpha‐polypeptide 2 (P4HA2) gene, which catalyzes the formation of 4‐hydroxyproline residues in the collagen strands. In vitro studies demonstrated P4HA2 mRNA and protein reduced expression level as well as decreased collagen hydroxylation and deposition in mutated fibroblast primary cultures compared to healthy cell lines. This study suggests that P4HA2 mutations may lead to myopic axial elongation of eyeball as a consequence of quantitative and structural alterations of collagen. This is the first confirmatory study which associates a novel dominant missense variant in P4HA2 with myopia in Caucasian patients. Further studies in larger cohorts are advisable to fully clarify genotype‐phenotype correlations.
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