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  • Ochoa Suhr posted an update 3 days, 16 hours ago

    A notable example of spiral architecture in organs is the mammalian cochlear duct, where the morphology is critical for hearing function. Genetic studies have revealed necessary signaling molecules, but it remains unclear how cellular dynamics generate elongating, bending, and coiling of the cochlear duct. Here, we show that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation waves control collective cell migration during the murine cochlear duct development using deep tissue live-cell imaging, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based quantitation, and mathematical modeling. Long-term FRET imaging reveals that helical ERK activation propagates from the apex duct tip concomitant with the reverse multicellular flow on the lateral side of the developing cochlear duct, resulting in advection-based duct elongation. Moreover, model simulations, together with experiments, explain that the oscillatory wave trains of ERK activity and the cell flow are generated by mechanochemical feedback. Our findings propose a regulatory mechanism to coordinate the multicellular behaviors underlying the duct elongation during development.Maintaining stable body temperature through environmental thermal stressors requires detection of temperature changes, relay of information, and coordination of physiological and behavioral responses. Studies have implicated areas in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) and the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) as nodes in the thermosensory neural circuitry and indicate that the opioid system within the POA is vital in regulating body temperature. In the present study we identify neurons projecting to the POA from PBN expressing the opioid peptides dynorphin and enkephalin. Using mouse models, we determine that warm-activated PBN neuronal populations overlap with both prodynorphin (Pdyn) and proenkephalin (Penk) expressing PBN populations. Here we report that in the PBN Prodynorphin (Pdyn) and Proenkephalin (Penk) mRNA expressing neurons are partially overlapping subsets of a glutamatergic population expressing Solute carrier family 17 (Slc17a6) (VGLUT2). Using optogenetic approaches we selectively activate projections in the POA from PBN Pdyn, Penk, and VGLUT2 expressing neurons. Our findings demonstrate that Pdyn, Penk, and VGLUT2 expressing PBN neurons are critical for physiological and behavioral heat defense.Maintaining synaptic structure and function over time is vital for overall nervous system function and survival. The processes that underly synaptic development are well understood. However, the mechanisms responsible for sustaining synapses throughout the lifespan of an organism are poorly understood. Roxadustat ic50 Here, we demonstrate that a previously uncharacterized gene, CG31475, regulates synaptic maintenance in adult Drosophila NMJs. We named CG31475 mayday due to the progressive loss of flight ability and synapse architecture with age. Mayday is functionally homologous to the human protein Cab45, which sorts secretory cargo from the Trans Golgi Network (TGN). We find that Mayday is required to maintain trans-synaptic BMP signaling at adult NMJs in order to sustain proper synaptic structure and function. Finally, we show that mutations in mayday result in the loss of both presynaptic motor neurons as well as postsynaptic muscles, highlighting the importance of maintaining synaptic integrity for cell viability.In this two part essay, we have addressed the mental skills and strategies of surgeons that students interested in a career in Surgery and residents training in this realm should have or acquire during their trajectories on their career paths. In Part I of this treatise, we covered the concepts of foundations, the hardy personality, preparation, and decision making. In Part II, we will address the concepts of vision, awareness and focus, reflection and analysis, leadership, and independence.This study was conducted as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of nursing interventions, which were based on Dennis’s Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory and Pender’s Health Promotion Model during home visits, on the breastfeeding self-efficacy and success of immigrant women living in Northern Cyprus. The sample consisted of N = 60 primipar immigrant women (experimental group n = 30, control group n = 30) who attended a primary healthcare center in Northern Cyprus between April 2019 and January 2020. The data were collected from the participants using a Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool. Before the study, no statistically significant difference was found between two groups in terms of breastfeeding self-efficacy and the LATCH assessment (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the mean score for the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale increased by 9.73 in the experimental group and 3.16 in the control group compared to before the study, and the effect size was found to be 6.57. The score for the LATCH assessment increased by 3.2 in the experimental group and 1.44 in the control group, and the effect size was found to be 1.76 (p  less then  0.05).Current BCI-AAC systems largely utilize custom-made software and displays that may be unfamiliar to AAC stakeholders. Further, there is limited information available exploring the heterogenous profiles of individuals who may use BCI-AAC. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate how individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) learned to control a motor-based BCI switch in a row-column AAC scanning pattern, and person-centered factors associated with BCI-AAC performance. Four individuals with ALS completed 12 BCI-AAC training sessions, and three individuals without neurological impairment completed 3 BCI-AAC training sessions. To assess person-centered factors associated with BCI-AAC performance, participants completed both initial and recurring assessment measures including levels of cognition, motor ability, fatigue, and motivation. Three of four participants demonstrated either BCI-AAC performance in the range of neurotypical peers, or an improving BCI-AAC learning trajectory. However, BCI-AAC learning trajectories were variable.