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Mapping the consequence of peripheral nerve transection and repair on brain organisation and hand function
Get PDFEvaluation of light traps for sampling lobster larvae in the German Bight, North Sea
Get PDFBiological monitoring of planktonic animals is greatly dependent on the deployment of traps. A variety of specialized traps have been designed for surface plankton and vertebrates. However, certain groups, such as planktonic larvae of benthic marine invertebrates remain underrepresented in sampling efforts. Catching them has proven to be more challenging because of their size, swimming ability, location, and abundance. In the present study a successful light trap for sampling American lobster larvae in New Brunswick, Canada, is evaluated on the island of Helgoland (German Bight, North Sea). Our results showed the traps were successful in catching larvae in laboratory experiments but were unable to catch European lobster larvae in the field. Traps deployed in the field were successful in capturing other benthic and pelagic zooplankton predominantly consisting of crustaceans from the orders: Cumacea, Amphipoda, Mysida and Isopoda. The low density of lobster larvae, the island's topography, and their unique photactic response possibly limited the success rate of the light traps. Future research is needed to construct a specialized trap to sample Helgoland's lobster larvae and provide information on the current larval fitness and population numbers
Are nitrification inhibitors effective in reducing N2O from farm-scale emission hotspots?
Get PDFLivestock congregation areas are nitrous oxide (N2O) hot-spots and could be key areas to focus mitigation action. We tested whether combined cattle urine and fertiliser N2O-N emission factors (EFs) would be higher from a farm gateway area compared to a standard pasture under sub-tropical conditions, and whether the nitrification inhibitor, dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP), would lower N2O EFs from the gateway area. Treatments (n = 3) included: (i) fertiliser applied to a standard pasture (50 kg urea-N ha−1), (ii) fertiliser (50 kg urea-N ha−1) + urine (350 kg N ha−1) applied to a standard pasture, (iii) fertiliser (50 kg urea-N ha−1) + urine (350 kg N ha−1) applied to the gateway area, and (iv) fertiliser (50 kg urea-N ha−1) + urine (350 kg N ha−1) + DMPP (1.5 kg ha−1) applied to the gateway area. Emissions were monitored via an automated static chamber-based system and 15N-labelled urine treatments (n = 4) used to assess N2O + N2 emissions, N2O:N2 and 15N recovery from the pasture. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed for EFs between the fertiliser + urine treatment for the standard pasture (1.10 ± 0.17%) or the gateway area (1.46 ± 0.40%). DMPP did not lower the N2O-N EF from the gateway area (1.50 ± 0.22%), where wet and warm conditions may have accelerated DMPP degradation. In the 15N-labelled urine treatments, significantly (p < 0.05) greater N2O + N2 emissions occurred in the gateway compared to the standard pasture, but disaggregating EFs between the contrasting areas was not warranted
Lee Silverman voice treatment versus NHS speech and language therapy versus control for dysarthria in people with Parkinson's disease (PD COMM):pragmatic, UK based, multicentre, three arm, parallel group, unblinded, randomised controlled trial
Get PDFOBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical effectiveness of two speech and language therapy approaches versus no speech and language therapy for dysarthria in people with Parkinson's disease.DESIGN: Pragmatic, UK based, multicentre, three arm, parallel group, unblinded, randomised controlled trial.SETTING: The speech and language therapy interventions were delivered in outpatient or home settings between 26 September 2016 and 16 March 2020.PARTICIPANTS: 388 people with Parkinson's disease and dysarthria.INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups (1:1:1): 130 to Lee Silverman voice treatment (LSVT LOUD), 129 to NHS speech and language therapy, and 129 to no speech and language therapy. LSVT LOUD consisted of four, face-to-face or remote, 50 min sessions each week delivered over four weeks. Home based practice activities were set for up to 5-10 mins daily on treatment days and 15 mins twice daily on non-treatment days. Dosage for the NHS speech and language therapy was determined by the local therapist in response to the participants' needs (estimated from prior research that NHS speech and language therapy participants would receive an average of one session per week over six to eight weeks). Local practices for NHS speech and language therapy were accepted, except for those within the LSVT LOUD protocol. Analyses were based on the intention to treat principle.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was total score at three months of self-reported voice handicap index.RESULTS: People who received LSVT LOUD reported lower voice handicap index scores at three months after randomisation than those who did not receive speech and language therapy (-8.0 points (99% confidence interval -13.3 to -2.6); P<0.001). No evidence suggests a difference in voice handicap index scores between NHS speech and language therapy and no speech and language therapy (1.7 points (-3.8 to 7.1); P=0.43). Patients in the LSVT LOUD group also reported lower voice handicap index scores than did those randomised to NHS speech and language therapy (-9.6 points (-14.9 to -4.4); P<0.001). 93 adverse events (predominately vocal strain) were reported in the LSVT LOUD group, 46 in the NHS speech and language therapy group, and none in the no speech and language therapy group. No serious adverse events were recorded.CONCLUSIONS: LSVT LOUD was more effective at reducing the participant reported impact of voice problems than was no speech and language therapy and NHS speech and language therapy. NHS speech and language therapy showed no evidence of benefit compared with no speech and language therapy.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry ISRCTN12421382.</p
Hamstring Muscle Stiffness in Athletes with and without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction History: A Retrospective Study
Get PDFIntroduction: Sports requiring sprinting, jumping, and kicking tasks frequently lead to hamstring strain injuries (HSI). One of the structural risk factors of HSI is the increased passive stiffness of the hamstrings. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury history is associated with a 70% increase in the incidence of HSI, according to a recent meta-analysis. The same report recommended that future research should concentrate on the relationships between the HSI risk factors. Hence, the present study aimed to retrospectively compare changes in the passive stiffness of the hamstrings in athletes with and without ACL reconstruction history. Methods: Using ultrasound-based shear-wave elastography, the mid-belly passive muscle stiffness values of the biceps femoris long head, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles were assessed and compared amongst athletes with and without a history of ACL reconstruction. Results: There were no significant differences in the biceps femoris long head (injured leg (IL): 26.19 ± 5.28 KPa, uninjured contralateral (UL): 26.16 ± 7.41 KPa, control legs (CL): 27.64 ± 5.58 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 1; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL: p = 1), semimembranosus (IL: 24.35 ± 5.58 KPa, UL: 24.65 ± 8.35 KPa, CL: 22.83 ± 5.67 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 1; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL, p = 1), or semitendinosus (IL: 22.45 ± 7 KPa, UL: 25.52 ± 7 KPa, CL: 22.54 ± 4.4 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 0.487; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL, p = 0.291) muscle stiffness values between groups. Conclusions: The passive mid-muscle belly stiffness values of the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles did not significantly differ between previously injured and uninjured athletes; therefore, further assessment for other muscle regions of hamstrings may be necessary. To collect more comprehensive data related to the structural changes that may occur following ACL reconstructions in athletes, a future study should examine the passive stiffness of wider muscle regions from origin to insertion
Ni(II)-binding affinity of CcNikZ-II and its homologs:the role of the HH-prong and variable loop revealed by structural and mutational studies
Get PDFExtracytoplasmic Ni(II)-binding proteins (NiBPs) are molecular shuttles involved in cellular nickel uptake. Here, we determined the crystal structure of apo CcNikZ-II at 2.38 Å, which revealed a Ni(II)-binding site comprised of the double His (HH-)prong (His511, His512) and a short variable (v-)loop nearby (Thr59-Thr64, TEDKYT). Mutagenesis of the site identified Glu60 and His511 as critical for high affinity Ni(II)-binding. Phylogenetic analysis showed 15 protein clusters with two groups containing the HH-prong. Metal-binding assays with 11 purified NiBPs containing this feature yielded higher Ni(II)-binding affinities. Replacement of the wild type v-loop with those from other NiBPs improved the affinity by up to an order of magnitude. This work provides molecular insights into the determinants for Ni(II) affinity and paves way for NiBP engineering.</p