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Long-term outcomes of dissection of the depressor labii inferioris muscle to enhance symmetry after free functional gracilis muscle transfer in patients with facial paralysis
No full textVibrissae length as a morphological proxy for foraging behavior in pinnipeds
No full textForaging behavior is a key driver of ecological and evolutionary processes. Individual specialization can influence the behavioral flexibility of populations in response to environmental change, making it crucial to account for individual variation. While biologging has significantly advanced our understanding of individual specializations, its limitations in sample size and ethical concerns related to animal handling highlight the need for alternative approaches. We present a complementary, non-invasive method using relative vibrissae length (RVL) measured from images as a morphological proxy for foraging strategy in Galápagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki). In this species, RVL differs significantly between strategies: benthic foragers have shorter vibrissae due to abrasion compared to pelagic foragers. Our method proved highly reliable, demonstrating strong intra- and inter-observer repeatability, as well as within-season consistency. Moreover, RVL remained stable across multiple years, indicating long-term persistence in individual foraging specialization. Vibrissae length exemplifies how behavioral specializations can shape morphological traits within an individual's lifetime, offering a novel approach to study ecological polymorphisms. Integrating RVL assessments with existing tracking methods can improve our ability to investigate foraging specializations at the population level and bridge the gap between high-resolution data and broader-scale ecological monitoring, providing a scalable tool for studying foraging strategies in pinnipeds
Thalamo-frontal functional connectivity patterns in Tourette Syndrome: insights from combined intracranial DBS and EEG recordings
No full textThalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown clinical improvement for patients with treatment-refractory Tourette Syndrome (TS). Advancing DBS for TS requires identifying reliable electrophysiological markers. Recognising TS as a network disorder, we investigated thalamo-cortical oscillatory connectivity by combining local field potential (LFP) recordings from the DBS thalamic target region using the PerceptTM PC neurostimulator with high-density EEG in eight male TS patients (aged 27–38) while stimulation was off. We identified a spatially and spectrally distinct oscillatory network connecting the medial thalamus and frontal regions in the alpha band (8–12 Hz), with functional connectivity strength negatively correlated with TS symptom severity. Moreover, reduced thalamo-frontal alpha functional connectivity before tic onset, localised in sensorimotor regions and the inferior parietal cortex, suggests its direct role in tic generation. Importantly, associations with symptoms and pre-tic dynamics were specific to functional connectivity patterns and not evident in the pure power spectra. These findings underscore the importance of investigating electrophysiological oscillatory connectivity to characterise pathological network connections in TS, potentially guiding stimulation-based interventions and future research on closed-loop DBS for TS
deadtrees.earth — An open-access and interactive database for centimeter-scale aerial imagery to uncover global tree mortality dynamics
No full textMost methodological characteristics do not exaggerate effect estimates in nutrition RCTs : findings from a meta-epidemiological study
No full textObjectivesTo evaluate the influence of bias from methodological characteristics on intervention effect estimates in nutrition randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the Cochrane Risk Of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool.MethodsRCTs published until 2020 were selected from a representative sample of 183 nutrition meta-analyses. Pairs of reviewers conducted data extraction and risk of bias (RoB) assessments. Average estimates due to bias (ratio of risk ratio [RRR]) were computed through meta-analyses using a random-effects model, comparing RCTs rated as “high risk” or “some concerns” to those rated as “low risk” of bias. Subgroup analyses explored differences across RoB domains, types of interventions, and outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed through I2 and 2, and prediction intervals were calculated.ResultsWe included 26 meta-analyses, encompassing 82 RCTs with 120 outcome-specific RoB assessments. Of these, 70% were rated as “some concerns”, 18.3% as “low risk”, and 11.7% as “high risk” of bias. Overall RoB did not affect intervention effect estimates (RRR 0.99, 95% CI 0.85–1.14; I2 = 36%; heterogeneity estimator [2] = 0.03; prediction interval [PI] 0.66–1.47). Most RoB domains did not reveal differences in effect estimates, except for trials with biases related to deviations from the intended intervention (RRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13–1.48; I2 = 2%;2 = 0.01; PI 0.97–1.72). We confirmed these findings in subgroup and meta-regression analyses.ConclusionMost methodological characteristics in nutrition RCTs, as assessed by RoB2, did not overestimate or underestimate intervention effect estimates. However, the unexpected finding that biases arising from deviations from intended interventions may lead to an underestimation of effects, rather than an overestimation, requires further research.Plain Language SummaryRCTs are considered the most reliable method for determining whether an intervention is effective. However, weaknesses in study design or conduct can distort the results, a problem known as bias. The RoB2 tool helps researchers check in a structured way whether bias is present and how much it might affect the results. In this study, we looked at 82 RCTs on dietary interventions published up to 2020. We assessed 120 outcome-specific RoB assessments and identified whether they had a low, some concerns, or high RoB. We then compared the results of trials with a higher RoB to those with a low RoB to see whether bias influenced the reported treatment effects. The reviewed trials showed variable levels of RoB and had little overall impact on the trial results. The main exception was how well participants followed the assigned diet and whether the researchers used the best available analysis methods. Problems in this area may have made the intervention's true effect seem smaller than it really was. Our findings suggest that studies on nutrition interventions are mostly free from major bias and their results can be considered reliable. However, how well participants followed the assigned intervention and how good the analysis methods were seemed to play an important role. More research is needed to understand how study quality influences the results of nutrition trials
A robotic framework for high-throughput and multi-view 3D digital image correlation (3D-DIC): increasing measurement volume and versatility for deformation analysis
No full textThree-dimensional digital image correlation (3D-DIC) is a widely applicable, non-contact optical imaging technique for accurately quantifying full-field surface displacements and strains in materials and structures. However, conventional 3D-DIC implementations relying on fixed stereo camera positions face trade-offs between the field-of-view and spatial resolution and lack high-throughput for long-duration measurements. Here we present an integrated robotic 3D-DIC framework that employs an industrial robotic arm to autonomously and repeatedly reposition stereo cameras. This enables automated calibration, monitoring of multiple samples over extended periods, and expansion of the effective spatial coverage and data throughput, all while maintaining calibration stability and measurement fidelity. We validate this approach on rigid and deforming reference samples and demonstrate its ability to quantify material deformation of bio-composite samples simultaneously during the drying process. Under robotic repositioning, rigid samples exhibit stable displacement and strain measurements while benefiting from significantly increased volumetric coverage and reduced manual oversight. Thus, the proposed system improves experimental efficiency and allows for the incorporation of advanced techniques, such as multi-view stitching, to characterize complex geometries with higher effective resolution. When applied to slowly deforming bio-composites, the system can capture time-lapse images from multiple viewpoints, providing a more comprehensive assessment of complex, evolving material behaviors. These enhancements in 3D-DIC further improve geometric accuracy, increase data density, and expand applicability to a broader range of materials and experimental conditions. Ultimately, the proposed robot-assisted 3D-DIC system creates a robust, high-throughput monitoring framework for bio-fabrication, additive manufacturing, and advanced composite processing, paving the way for targeted programming of shape changes, among other applications
