Mccormackalexander5080

Satellite DNA (satDNA) is a fast-evolving portion of eukaryotic genomes. The homogeneous and repetitive nature of such satDNA causes problems during the assembly of genomes, and therefore it is still difficult to study it in detail in nonmodel organisms as well as across broad evolutionary timescales. Here, we combined the use of short- and long-read data to explore the diversity and evolution of satDNA between individuals of the same species and between genera of birds spanning ~40 millions of years of bird evolution using birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) and crow (Corvus) species. These avian species highlighted the presence of a GC-rich Corvoidea satellitome composed of 61 satellite families and provided a set of candidate satDNA monomers for being centromeric on the basis of length, abundance, homogeneity and transcription. Surprisingly, we found that the satDNA of crow species rapidly diverged between closely related species while the satDNA appeared more similar between birds-of-paradise species belonging to different genera.Although liver transplantation is a true success story, many patients still die awaiting an organ. The increasing need for liver grafts therefore remains an unsolved challenge to the transplant community. To address this, transplant donor criteria have been expanded and, for example, more liver grafts with significant steatosis or from donors with circulatory death are being used. These marginal grafts, however, carry an increased risk of graft-associated complications, such as primary nonfunction, delayed graft function, or late biliary injuries. Therefore, reliable assessment of graft viability before use is essential for further success. To achieve this, machine liver perfusion, a procedure developed more than 50 years ago but almost forgotten at the end of the last century, is again of great interest. We describe in this review the clinical most applied machine perfusion techniques, their mechanistic background, and a novel concept of combining immediate organ assessment during hypothermic oxygenated perfusion, followed by an extended phase of normothermic machine perfusion, with simultaneous ex situ treatment of the perfused liver. Such a new approach may allow the pool of usable livers to dramatically increase and improve outcomes for recipients.Abiotic and biotic environments influence a myriad of plant-related processes, including growth, development, and the establishment and maintenance of interaction(s) with microbes. In the case of the latter, elevated temperature has been shown to be a key factor that underpins host resistance and pathogen virulence. In this study, we elucidate a role for Arabidopsis NON-RACE-SPECIFIC DISEASE RESISTANCE1 (NDR1) by exploiting effector-triggered immunity to define the regulation of plant host immunity in response to both pathogen infection and elevated temperature. We generated time-series RNA sequencing data of WT Col-0, an NDR1 overexpression line, and ndr1 and ics1-2 mutant plants under elevated temperature. Not surprisingly, the NDR1-overexpression line showed genotype-specific gene expression changes related to defense response and immune system function. The results described herein support a role for NDR1 in maintaining cell signaling during simultaneous exposure to elevated temperature and avirulent pathogen stressors.Plant plastic responses are critical to the adaptation and survival of species under climate change, but whether they are constrained by evolutionary history (phylogeny) is largely unclear. Plant leaf traits are key in determining plants' performance in different environments, and if these traits and their variation are phylogenetically dependent, predictions could be made to identify species vulnerable to climate change. We compiled data on three leaf traits (photosynthetic rate, specific leaf area, and leaf nitrogen content) and their variation under four environmental change scenarios (warming, drought, elevated CO2 , or nitrogen addition) for 434 species, from 210 manipulation experiments. We found phylogenetic signal in the three traits but not in their variation under the four scenarios. This indicates that closely related species show similar traits but that their plastic responses could not be predicted from species relatedness under environmental change. Meanwhile, phylogeny weakened the slopes but did not change the directions of conventional pairwise trait relationships, suggesting that co-evolved leaf trait pairs have consistent responses under contrasting environmental conditions. Phylogeny can identify lineages rich in species showing similar traits and predict their relationships under climate change, but the degree of plant phenotypic variation does not vary consistently across evolutionary clades.

This study was undertaken to investigate the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype and clinical characteristics of anti-LGI1 encephalitis.

HLA genotyping was performed in 34 patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis admitted to West China Hospital between April 2014 and May 2021, as well as in 305 healthy controls. The online tool NetMHCIIpan 4.0 and AutoDock Vina software were used to predict binding between LGI1 peptide and HLA class II molecules.

Risk of anti-LGI1 encephalitis was strongly associated with the DRB1*0301 allele (odds ratio [OR]=4.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.96-9.25, corrected p=2.75×10^-4 ) and the DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 haplotype (OR=4.45, 95% CI=2.02-9.59, corrected p=2.94×10^-4 ). Compared to carriers of the DRB1*0701 allele, those with the DRB1*0301 allele were more likely to be female (93.3% vs. 33.3%, p=0.004) and to be younger (median age=38 vs. 65years, p<0.001). DRB1*0301 carriers showed stronger response to immunotherapy than carriers of the DRB1*0701 allele, based on median score decrease on the modified Rankin scale (2, interquartile range=1-2 vs. 1, interquartile range=0-1; p=0.03) at 4weeks after immunotherapy. Prediction and docking algorithms suggested that the LGI1 peptide can bind to the DRB1*0301 molecule strongly.

The strong association between anti-LGI1 encephalitis and certain HLA class II alleles supports a primary autoimmune origin for the disease. Carriers of the DRB1*0301 allele in Chinese patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis are more likely to be female, to suffer earlier disease onset, and to respond better to immunotherapy.

The strong association between anti-LGI1 encephalitis and certain HLA class II alleles supports a primary autoimmune origin for the disease. Carriers of the DRB1*0301 allele in Chinese patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis are more likely to be female, to suffer earlier disease onset, and to respond better to immunotherapy.It is increasingly important to utilize novel approaches to improve student learning. This has become especially relevant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have shown positive outcomes of blended learning on student satisfaction. Yet, there are limited data in the field of biology on how blended learning practices correlate with overall student performance. Moreover, there is a dearth of information on student perceptions about how blended learning has impacted their education. Through this study, we present insights on the impact of blended learning in a first-year cell and molecular biology course. Using mixed-methods research, we evaluated the impact of a blended learning course format on student performance in the learning categories of knowledge and understanding, communication and application, and critical thinking and inquiry. Using a pre- vs. postintervention analysis, we show that a blended learning course model does not change students' performance on multiple-choice and short answer assessments when compared to a nonblended learning course model. Through a qualitative assessment of student perceptions and sentiments, however, the implemented blended learning approach does appear to provide significant perceived benefits, including learner flexibility, consolidation of content, and the opportunity to apply course content to the 'real world'. While we recognize that our report describes a very specific blended learning model, we believe that our findings are generalizable to similar introductory courses. As such, we are confident that our case study will provide course designers with a useful foundation to build future blended learning courses.Mechanisms regulating oligodendrocyte differentiation, developmental myelination and myelin maintenance in adulthood are complex and still not completely described. Their understanding is crucial for the development of new protective or therapeutic strategies in demyelinating pathologies such as multiple sclerosis. In this perspective, we have investigated the role of Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (Cdk7), a kinase involved in cell-cycle progression and transcription regulation, in the oligodendroglial lineage. We generated a conditional knock-out mouse model in which Cdk7 is invalidated in post-mitotic oligodendrocytes. At the end of developmental myelination, the number and diameter of myelinated axons, as well as the myelin structure, thickness and protein composition, were normal. However, in young adult and in aged mice, there was a higher number of small caliber myelinated axons associated with a decreased mean axonal diameter, myelin sheaths of large caliber axons were thinner, and the level of some major myelin-associated proteins was reduced. These defects were accompanied by the appearance of an abnormal clasping phenotype. We also used an in vitro oligodendroglial model and showed that Cdk7 pharmacological inhibition led to an altered myelination-associated morphological modification combined with a decreased expression of myelin-specific genes. Ipatasertib mw Altogether, we identified novel functions for Cdk7 in CNS myelination.Health care disparities and racial health inequities significantly influence health care delivery and patient outcomes, including for people with injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This narrative review explores factors that may influence the management of ACL injuries. Studies that have discussed potential social barriers to treatment such as socioeconomic status (SES), insurance status, educational level, and cost of treatment were identified by searching databases such as EBSCO Host, PubMed, and Galileo for the index years from 2008 to 2020. The influence of health care inequities on ACL injury management was explored. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria and described a total of 219,708 participants. Barriers to surgical management of ACL injury were higher cost of surgery, greater time to evaluation and treatment, lower SES, lack of private insurance, and being identified as a racial minority. In addition, surgical environment, whether within a private or community-based health care system, and access to care affected post-surgical complication rates. Finally, risk of revision, lack of physical therapy access, and odds of additional injuries to include chondral and meniscal derangement were higher in racial minority, lower SES, and government insurance populations. These findings suggest health disparity and inequity exist in the care of ACL injury for patients with lower SES and without commercial insurance, and in minority populations. These patients appear to have a significantly reduced ability to access timely care, which can impact healing and ability to return to preferred activities of daily life or sport.