In the landmark paper by Lim, Hellard, and Aitken published in 2005, the rate of loss of workplace teaspoons was determined for the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health in Melbourne, Australia. In this institute of 140 people, the half-life of teaspoons in communal tearooms was 42 days and the rate of loss was not influenced by the teaspoons' value. Authors concluded that the loss of workplace teaspoons was rapid, influencing both teaspoon availability and office culture more generally. Over 20 years later, the issue of teaspoon loss from common rooms has not abated, leaving the question 'where have all the bloody teaspoons gone?' unanswered. In this study, we replicated the experiment of Lim and colleagues in a Scottish neuroscience department. 48 teaspoons (24 gold-coloured and 24 much cheaper standard silver coloured) were purchased and placed in the common room of our building which houses 82 researchers. Spoons were counted weekly to monitor attrition. We observed gold teaspoons started disappearing within the first week of data collection and over the course of 10 months of observation, over 66% of all spoons disappeared. The half-life of teaspoons was 182 days for gold spoons and 280 days for silver spoons. A linear model showed significant effects of both time and spoon type. In conclusion, we replicated Lim and colleagues data showing teaspoons are stolen from academic department common rooms, however our data from Scotland show that the more expensive teaspoons were stolen more than the cheaper spoons, contrary to the findings in Melbourne. Pilfering of teaspoons from academic common room remains a problem that warrants further research as it impacts the wellbeing of scientists, at least in two institutes on opposite sides of the globe.
Inaccurate measurement of liquid medicines remains a critical yet underrecognized patient safety concern in low-resource settings. In Sri Lanka, despite the adoption of metric units in formal healthcare, the use of uncalibrated household items such as teaspoons and tablespoons remains widespread. Bulk dispensing without standardized measuring aids is common, and dosing instructions often rely on informal household measures. This study assessed the volume accuracy of commonly used household liquid medicine measuring tools in a Sri Lankan suburb, highlighting their potential contribution to dosing errors. A cross-sectional survey of 50 households in Karapitiya, Galle District, Sri Lanka, was conducted. Frequently used measuring devices were tested using validated weighing and volumetric methods. Accuracy was evaluated against United States Pharmacopoeial (USP) specifications for acceptable deviation limits. Only 53.4% of measuring cups met USP accuracy standards across all tested volumes, although 86.2% complied for the 5.00 mL mark. Meanwhile, 62.5% of graduated measuring spoons failed to meet the standard. Household teaspoons and tablespoons demonstrated substantial variability, with volumes ranging from 2.893-7.759 mL and 4.252-15.043 mL, respectively. Over 93% of both spoon types delivered less than their expected standard volumes. The study discloses widespread inaccuracy in common dosing tools used in Sri Lankan households, posing avoidable risks to medication safety. It calls for urgent regulatory action to mandate standardized, calibrated devices and integrate user education into prescribing and dispensing practices. These findings point out a critical safety gap in primary care, particularly in low- and middle-income settings.
To compare the POS time in individuals diagnosed with PD in the conditions of isolated deglutition (ID) and dual-task deglutition (DD) for different consistencies and volumes. A total of 576 swallows edited from fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) of 16 individuals, both sexes, at different PD stages based on the Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) modified scale, aged 64 to 85 years (mean ± standard deviation: 72.4 ± 6). They underwent FEES with isolated deglutition (ID) and dual-task deglutition (DD) to analyze the POS time in swallowing. An otorhinolaryngologist performed the FEES, offering standardized consistencies at levels 0 - thin; 2 - mildly thick; and 4 - extremely thick, based on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). All food consistencies were dyed with blue artificial food coloring and offered 5 mL and 10 mL in disposable spoons. After adequate training, the quantitative temporal POS analysis for both deglutition conditions was performed using specific software. Data was analyzed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) with a significance level of 0.05 (5%). The Mann-Whitney test compared the ID and DD POS time. The POS time was statistically significantly different for 5 mL of consistency level 4 (ID = 912 ms and DD = 2.044 ms) (p-value = 0.007). The results indicated that there was significant difference in the POS time between ID and DD only at 5 mL of consistency level 4 for individuals with PD at performing the cognitive-motor dual-task proposed.
Foods are not only masticated and swallowed but they also influence the choice of utensils and their use. Comparing the contexts in which different utensils are used with each food form could help in the assessment of individuals experiencing eating difficulties in the food culture unique to East Asian countries. Considering East Asian rehabilitation practices, in this study, we evaluated upper body movements involved in eating pickles (solid food) and yogurt (semisolid food) using chopsticks and a spoon, respectively. Upper body kinematics, including joint and hand spatiotemporal parameters, were quantified using a 3D inertial motion-capturing system and analyzed in healthy males (n=22; mean age 27.9, SD 5.5 years) and females (n=21; mean age 26.9, SD 4.7 years) across 4 feeding phases (reaching, picking it up, transporting, and inserting food into the mouth) by comparing utensils for eating respective food forms using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Both sexes showed smaller maximum shoulder flexion angles with chopsticks for eating solid food across all phases (Males: reaching phase, P<.001; picking foods up phase, P=.04; transport phase, P<.001; and mouth phase, P<.001. Females: reaching phase, P<.001; picking foods up phase, P=.007; transport phase, P<.001; and mouth phase, P<.001.). Elbow, forearm, and wrist ulnar deviation angle changes were smaller using chopsticks during the "picking up" phase (in both sexes, P<.001) compared with using a spoon. However, greater elbow joint angle changes were found during the "reaching" phase (males, P=.002; females, P=.03) and greater forearm angle changes were found during the "transporting" phase (males, P=.01; females, P=.001) with chopsticks than with spoons. Regarding hand spatiotemporal parameters, the chopstick condition involved shorter actual distances (males, P<.001; females, P<.001), lower distance efficiency (males, P=.04; females, P=.001), and slower speed (males, P=.001; females, P<.001) during food transport. The joint angle and hand spatiotemporal parameter characteristics observed during chopstick use for eating solid foods and spoon use for eating semisolid foods in healthy individuals could serve as reference movements in individuals with sensorimotor dysfunctions and inform the selection of adaptive utensils in rehabilitation practice.
Impalement injuries to the oral cavity are common in preschool-aged children due to their tendency to fall while holding objects in their mouths. A variety of items, including pencils, straws, cylindrical toys, chopsticks, spoons, forks, and toothbrushes, can lead to such injuries. This case report discusses the management of a 4-year-old girl who sustained an accidental toothbrush impalement into the left buccal mucosa, demonstrating satisfactory healing during follow-up visits. Timely management of impalement injuries is essential to avoid severe complications.
Using colorimetric ELISA, this study aims to assess the impact of Gum Arabica (GA) consumption on functional molecular plasma biomarkers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) via a prospective cohort of GA-consumers (cases) vs. non-consumer (age- and CKD stage-matched) controls. Cohort's hypertension (92.5%), dyslipidemia (64.8%), and diabetes mellitus (54.8%) were prevalent; the mean CKD duration was 6.94 years (SD 7.8) for both study groups. Comparable eGFR, sCr, ESR, CRP, HbA1c, FPG, UA, and fasting lipid parameters were in both study arms. In consumer cases, the mean duration of GA-consumption was 1.3 ± 1.1 (range 0.25-6) years with a mean dose of 1.7 ± 1.0 (range 0.5-6) spoons per day. Leucine-rich alpha 2-glycoprotein, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, sirtuin 1, and SOST-sclerostin 1 were significantly (p value < 0.01) of lower concentrations, but lipocalin 2 and uromodulin were invariably (p value < 0.05) greater in the GA-consumer cases than those of controls. Strikingly, cystatin C, myeloperoxidase, orosomucoid 1, and symmetric dimethylarginine lacked any substantial variations in the GA-consumer cases vs. those in controls (p value > 0.05). Proportional correlations of CKD duration-PAI1 levels and sCr-lipocalin 2 levels but inverse correlations of orosomucoid 1-hypertension duration and SDMA-DBP were evident in cases.
Utensils with built-up handles are often recommended to minimize the required finger joint angles for functional grasping to reduce pain and help individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) overcome participation barriers. However, there is a paucity of data describing the impact of built-up handles on range of motion (ROM) requirements of the hand. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how built-up handles of varying thickness affect hand ROM in individuals with RA. Thirty-five individuals with RA were instructed to grasp a standard handle spoon, a 1.00 inch, and a 1.50 inch built-up handle spoon and perform a simulated eating task. Electrogoniometers were used to measure the finger joint angles of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints for digits 2-5. In general, there were significant decreases in finger joint flexion as handle diameters increased. Twenty-nine of the thirty-five individuals selected the 1.50 inch handle to take home with the remainder choosing the 1.00 inch. This study is the first to provide quantitative data to support the notion that the grasping postures required when using built-up handled spoons utilizes reduced finger joint angles for individuals with RA when compared to a standard handle spoon which could help providers when assessing patient needs and when designing hand orthoses. We recommend practitioners provide built-up handled utensils where possible, or educate people with RA on where to buy or how to make adaptive utensils, to assist the independence of individuals with RA. This paper supports the appropriate prescription and use of adaptive silverware by healthcare providers in the promotion of independence for individuals with RA.
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Background: Wrist-forearm orthoses used during self-feeding may alter scapular and shoulder mechanics and increase proximal load, but this has not been quantified. Methods: Seventeen right-hand-dominant young adults performed a spoon-feeding task under free and restricted conditions. A thermoplastic wrist-forearm orthosis positioned the wrist at approximately 30° dorsiflexion at rest and was intended to constrain wrist motion during the task without rigidly immobilizing forearm pronation-supination. Three-dimensional kinematics (scapula, shoulder, trunk, and distal joints) were recorded using inertial sensors, and surface electromyography was obtained from the upper trapezius, middle deltoid, and biceps brachii. Maximum joint angles and mean %MVC over the feeding cycle were compared between conditions (α = 0.05). Results: The restriction condition resulted in a more anteriorly tilted and downwardly rotated scapular posture, greater shoulder abduction and external rotation, and increased thoracic flexion, whereas maximum distal joint angles did not differ, suggesting a functional distal constraint rather than rigid immobilization. Middle deltoid and biceps brachii activities increased significantly, with a nonsignificant trend toward higher upper trapezius activation. Conclusions: In healthy young adults, limited wrist motion and forearm rotation during spoon-feeding were associated with altered proximal coordination, including scapular, shoulder/trunk, and proximal muscle changes.
Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is an effective minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Establishing a precise working channel is critical for success but is technically demanding with the conventional transforaminal endoscopic spine system (TESSYS) technique, often requiring multiple fluoroscopic attempts. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of a novel double-needle puncture technique against the conventional TESSYS technique for PELD in treating L4-L5 single-segment LDH. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to the double-needle group (n = 30) or the TESSYS group (n = 30). The novel technique utilized a rigid spoon-shaped needle and a flexible pen-tip needle for tandem puncture. Primary outcomes were the number of fluoroscopic shots, puncture time (from needle insertion to target exposure under endoscopy), and total surgery duration. Secondary outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and complication rates. The double-needle group demonstrated significant reductions in puncture time (8.4 ± 4.5 vs. 15.1 ± 7.4 min, P < 0.001), number of fluoroscopic shots (5.8 ± 1.3 vs. 9.6 ± 3.7, P < 0.001), and total surgery time (62.9 ± 24.5 vs. 81.9 ± 33.6 min, P = 0.015). VAS scores for back and leg pain were significantly lower in the double-needle group at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.05), with no significant difference at 1 year. The rate of required foraminoplasty was lower in the double-needle group (13.3% vs. 36.7%). Complication rates were comparable. For L4-L5 LDH, the double-needle puncture technique improves surgical efficiency by reducing operative time and fluoroscopy exposure compared to the conventional TESSYS technique, with associated benefits in early-to-mid-term postoperative pain. It represents a simpler and potentially safer alternative for establishing the working channel in PELD. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2500096847). Retrospectively Registered on 07-02-2025.
This study analyzed the usability of an assistive cutlery prototype designed to facilitate eating for people with PD (PwPD), focusing on satisfaction, effectiveness, and efficiency.Methods: Thirteen participants used the assistive cutlery at home for 7 to 10 days. Satisfaction was assessed through structured phone interviews that explored perceptions of usefulness, comfort, and safety. Effectiveness was evaluated in a laboratory setting using video recordings of a simulated eating task, assessing how well the cutlery enabled independent eating without spilling or dropping food. Efficiency was measured through kinematic analysis of movement smoothness, using data collected from an inertial measurement unit attached to the wrist. Participants reported improvements in task performance and satisfaction. Regarding movement effectiveness, there was a 14.4% increase in the minute transport of solid food using the fork (p ≤ 0.05) and increases of 33.1% and 36% in the total and minute transport of liquid food using the spoon (p ≤ 0.05). Efficiency improvements included reduced task time and enhanced vertical velocity with the spoon (p ≤ 0.05) as well as increased mediolateral velocity with the fork (p ≤ 0.05). These findings suggest that the assistive cutlery prototype demonstrates good usability, enhances user satisfaction, and improves movement effectiveness and efficiency for PwPD. People with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) may experience upper limb motor impairments that interfere with functional activities such as independent eating;Assistive cutlery developed through a user-centred design process can address specific challenges reported by PwPD;Appropriately weighted and ergonomically shaped utensils can improve task feeding effectiveness and efficiency.
The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) was established to improve diagnosis, treatment, and research collaboration across rare diseases through collaborative, multi-site, translational, and clinical research. Its governance framework promotes efficient data sharing and collaboration among research consortia, NIH representatives, and patient advocacy groups (PAGs). This infrastructure facilitates coordinated efforts to advance rare disease research through shared resources and communication. Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on rare disease patients, the RDCRN recognized cross-consortia collaboration as a priority. Its policies promote data sharing while protecting participant confidentiality. PAGs participate in governance, study design, and regulatory discussions, helping to identify patient-relevant priorities, improve recruitment and retention, and strengthen trust between researchers and patients. Cross-consortia efforts have addressed challenges like biomarker identification and harmonization of clinical measures, leading to new methods and standardized data collection that benefit multiple rare diseases. Studies by teams focusing on different diseases have led to improved diagnostic tools by addressing overlapping disease presentations. The RDCRN offers scholars cross-consortia opportunities for presentations, competitions, and NIH training collaborations, fostering growth and networking. Network meetings promote exchange and process standardization; pilot projects facilitate independent grant submissions, forming a pipeline of skilled investigators. The RDCRN fosters trust, shared vision, and open communication by cultivating a culture of mutual respect, shared learning, and collective problem solving. By engaging a wide range of stakeholders, it has aligned its research with patient needs, advancing innovation. Its high-impact publications, effective mentoring programs, and pioneering cross-consortia initiatives underscore the value of collaboration in rare disease research.
Undernutrition remains a public health challenge in Ethiopia, despite several nutrition programmes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months in rural model households in the Central Zone of the Sidama regional state. This study employed a community-based cross-sectional design between 4 July and 4 August 2024. The study was conducted in selected woredas of the Central Zone of the Sidama regional state. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 627 children aged 6-59 months in the model households. Model households, defined as those that attended at least 75% of the 96-hour training sessions and successfully implemented 75% of the Health Extension Program (HEP) packages, were awarded certificates. The primary outcomes of this study were undernutrition, specifically stunting, underweight and wasting. The secondary outcome focused on factors associated with stunting, underweight and wasting. Bivariable and multivariable robust Poisson regression analyses were used to identify the associations between outcome and risk factors. The strength and significance of associations were assessed using adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) with 95% CIs and p<0.05. Although multilevel analysis was performed to account for woreda and kebele clustering, no significant effects were found. Simple robust Poisson regression findings are therefore presented. Stunting prevalence was 37.6%, underweight 13.9% and wasting 9.4%. Being male is linked to a higher prevalence of stunting (APR 1.37, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.69), underweight (APR 1.72, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.65) and wasting (APR 1.73, 95% CI 1.003 to 2.98). Conversely, spoon-feeding (APR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.95), mothers as housewives (APR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.76) versus farmers and maternal household decision-making (APR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.70) were associated with lower prevalence of stunting. Additionally, larger households (≥5 members) were also associated with higher prevalence of underweight (APR 1.61, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.52) and wasting (APR 1.88, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.24). Our findings indicate a higher prevalence of stunting, accompanied by moderate rates of wasting, among children residing in rural model households in the Sidama region. Notably, practices such as spoon-feeding and maternal involvement in decision-making were associated with a lower prevalence of stunting. Conversely, larger family size was linked with a higher prevalence of underweight and wasting among children. To address these challenges, it is essential to promote hygienic feeding practices via the HEP, empower women in their communities, advocate for family planning to manage family size and strengthen community-based nutrition programmes. These measures could help combat undernutrition in rural areas.
In March 2025, a 31-year-old female patient was admitted to Mangkang County People's Hospital in Tibet, complaining of upper abdominal pain for two days, which worsened after meals. She reported a habit of consuming raw beef. This case is unique as it highlights the diagnostic value of CT imaging in identifying taeniasis, particularly when worms are expelled post-CT examination. Previous imaging studies often lacked specific signs, with many cases only confirmed post-surgery. This case provides a valuable reference for the radiological characteristics of taeniasis. The patient presented with upper abdominal pain that worsened after meals. Physical examination revealed a soft abdomen with significant tenderness in the upper abdomen, no rebound tenderness, no muscle tension, no palpable liver or spleen below the costal margin, negative McBurney's sign, negative Murphy's sign, no renal percussion tenderness, negative shifting dullness, normal bowel sounds, and no abnormalities in the anus or rectum. Blood tests showed a white blood cell count of 15.15 x 10^9/L, neutrophil percentage of 92.4%, absolute neutrophil count of 14.0 x 10^9/L, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein of 1.3 mg/L, and amylase of 997.15 U/L. Abdominal CT revealed an irregular, poorly defined mass-like heterogeneous density shadow in the stomach, measuring approximately 83 mm x 38 mm x 51 mm (anteroposterior x transverse x craniocaudal), with an enlarged pancreas and surrounding exudation. After the CT scan, the patient vomited inside the CT room, expelling two white worms. The worms were milky white, ribbon-like, about 200 cm long, with a spoon-shaped scolex, body covered in transverse folds, and a slightly thinner tail. A follow-up CT scan after vomiting showed that the gastric mass had disappeared. Based on the worm morphology, epidemiological history, and laboratory findings, the diagnosis was taeniasis and pancreatitis. The patient was treated with fasting, intravenous administration of H2 receptor antagonists and somatostatin to relieve pancreatitis, and albendazole (2 tablets/day for 3 days) for deworming. Follow-up two months later showed no abnormalities. This case underscores the importance of considering taeniasis in patients presenting with gastric symptoms and abnormal CT findings. The main takeaway lesson is that prompt recognition and appropriate treatment can lead to successful management of taeniasis, even in unusual presentations. Immediate diagnosis after CT examination and expulsion of worms provides valuable insights into the radiological features of taeniasis.
Amorphous carbon/ZnO porous nanosheets (aC/ZnO PNSs) were synthesized using an innovative one-spoon amorphous carbon deposition (OSaCD) coating technique combined with water quenching during flame chemical vapor deposition (FCVD). The coating characteristics can be precisely tuned by adjusting simple processing parameters. The incorporation of amorphous carbon (aC) enhances NO2 gas-sensing performance at both the surface and interfacial levels. At the surface, this improvement arises from interactions among oxygen species, the target gas, and aC. At the interface, it is associated with the aC/ZnO junction. An enhanced sensor response of 18.8 ± 1.2 was achieved at a NO2 concentration of 4 ppm at 200 °C. Notably, the sensor was capable of detecting NO2 at concentrations as low as 200 ppb. This enhanced performance is attributed to the expansion of the surface electron depletion layer and the reduction of oxygen vacancies at the interface. Owing to the intrinsic fluidity of the OSaCD process, this strategy is broadly applicable. Its applicability extends beyond specific material systems, morphologies, compositions, or degrees of crystallinity.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 inflammatory disease of the esophagus, characterized by eosinophilic inflammation and an altered esophageal transcriptome. Dupilumab, a fully human mAb that blocks IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, is approved for use in multiple type 2 inflammatory diseases, including EoE, where it produces histologic, symptomatic, and endoscopic improvements in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients. We sought to investigate the effect of dupilumab on the dysregulated esophageal transcriptome in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with EoE. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02379052, NCT03633617, and NCT04394351. Changes in the esophageal transcriptome were analyzed from pretreatment and posttreatment esophageal biopsy specimens provided by pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with EoE who participated in 1 of 3 placebo-controlled clinical trials of dupilumab. Dupilumab treatment resulted in marked normalization of the EoE disease transcriptome, including gene signatures associated with eosinophils as well as other aspects of type 2 inflammation and esophageal dysfunction including mast cells, fibrosis, barrier function, and other cell functions and pathways. Overall, gene ontology enrichment analysis identified 41 biological processes dysregulated in EoE that were normalized with dupilumab treatment, including processes likely to be eosinophil independent. Transcriptome changes were comparable and sustained through week 52 across pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with EoE. IL-4 and IL-13 are the critical drivers of the molecular differences in the esophageal mucosa of patients with EoE compared with control subjects, consistent with the clinical benefit of dupilumab treatment.
Migration is a vital survival strategy for many species, but the increasing interruption of migratory routes by human activities has placed migratory shorebirds at high risk of extinction, particularly in Asia. Bangladesh, positioned at the crossroads of the Central Asian and East Asian-Australasian Flyways, is a critical region for shorebird migration and for understanding anthropogenic impacts on migratory populations. Here, we use 14 years of shorebird surveys and satellite tracking to investigate potential correlates of interspecific variation in shorebird population trends in Bangladesh. We find that 12 out of 20 shorebird species studied experienced population declines in 2009-2023. Coastal habitat obligates (e.g. spoon-billed sandpiper) showed the largest decreases. In contrast, several non-coastal obligate species (e.g. Tibetan sand plover) exhibited stable or increasing trends. Migration stopover habitat emerged as the primary factor predicting population trends. Our results emphasize the critical importance of previously overlooked inland stopover sites, particularly in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, where 64% of sites used by tracked birds are unprotected. Conserving coastal wetlands is vital to the conservation of Asia's shorebirds, but so too is the protection of stopover areas inland.
Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) is an uncommon progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the nervous system that primarily affects motor coordination. Measuring disease severity is crucial, as it allows clinicians to monitor disease progression and make appropriate treatment decisions. By using inertial measurement units (IMUs) to capture the motion of individuals with FRDA, it has been possible to develop algorithms that objectively assess motor impairment. These studies have primarily employed conventional machine learning (ML) methods but have been limited by small datasets, which is an inherent challenge in researching rare diseases. To address this, we propose a robust deep learning framework that integrates heterogeneous data sources to enhance model performance. Our approach leverages a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to automatically learn high-level representations from raw IMU signals, minimizing reliance on manual feature engineering. Central to our method is a two-stage training strategy that incorporates domain adversarial learning, enabling knowledge transfer between two IMU-based assessment tools: the Ataxia Instrumented Measures cup (AIM-C) and spoon (AIM-S). This strategy enhances learning from each device by exploiting shared underlying representations. The effectiveness of the framework was validated by comparing the coefficient of determination between clinical scores (the modified Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale) and model outputs from both standard CNNs and the proposed two-stage training approach. For the standard CNN models, the coefficients of determination were 0.53 for AIM-C and 0.46 for AIM-S. With the proposed two-stage training, these increased to 0.62 and 0.49, respectively, demonstrating clear performance gains through cross-device knowledge transfer.
Seminal fluid proteins are important modulators of male fertility and reproductive success, yet little is known about how their abundance responds to early-life developmental stress. Japanese quail Coturnix japonica) males produce a unique seminal foam that enhances fertilisation success. We characterised the proteome of the seminal foam for the first time and assessed how its composition is influenced by prenatal and postnatal developmental stress. Proteomic identification using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and subsequent gene ontology (GO) analysis of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) orthologs suggested roles for the foam proteome in sperm maturation and DNA protection, semen liquefaction, sperm plasma membrane homeostasis and energy production for sperm motility. Males that experienced prenatal stress exhibited increased abundance of proteins involved in lipid metabolic processes, inflammation and oxidative stress, including proteolytic enzymes, interleukin receptors and avidin-like proteins. Similarly, males that exhibited postnatal stress exhibited increased abundance of proteins involved in chromatin organisation, carbon metabolism and oxidative stress. Nine proteins involved in metabolic processes and antioxidant processes were consistently more abundant across developmentally stressed males from both experiments, suggesting convergent responses to early-life stress. These results demonstrate that early development environments can alter the seminal foam proteome of adult males, with potential implications for ejaculate quality and fertilisation ability.
The essential bacterial enzyme 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) is absent in humans, making the enzyme an attractive antimicrobial target. Its product DXP sits at a metabolic branchpoint and is required for biosynthesis of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), thiamin diphosphate (ThDP), and isoprenoids. DXP is formed via decarboxylation of pyruvate and subsequent carboligation with d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (d-GAP) in a ThDP-dependent manner. In the current mechanistic model, DXPS follows a ligand-gated mechanism. Pyruvate reacts with ThDP to form C2α-lactylThDP (LThDP), which coincides with a shift to a closed conformation. The flexible "spoon" and "fork" motifs become ordered and the catalytic residue H299 is placed within the active site, supporting LThDP formation and persistence in the closed conformation of the E-LThDP complex until binding of d-GAP. We aim to understand the molecular basis for stabilization of the E-LThDP complex in its closed conformation. We propose that the conserved aromatic residues Y288, F298, and F304 in theE. coli DXPS spoon and fork motifs form a cluster upon transition from the open to closed form, positioning H299 within the active site where it has roles in LThDP formation and persistence. We conducted mutagenesis studies to elucidate the roles of Y288, F298, and F304 in conformational cycling and catalysis. Variants (1) adopted open conformations, (2) displayed significantly reduced kcat, (3) promoted LThDP decarboxylation, and (4) exhibited decreased affinity for the postdecarboxylation intermediate. Our results support a model in which conserved aromatic residues within the mobile, sequence-diverse spoon/fork motifs promote the closed conformation, supporting catalysis and LThDP persistence.