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Abstract Living organisms synchronize their biological activities with the earth’s rotation through the circadian clock, a molecular mechanism that regulates biology and behavior daily. This synchronization factually maximizes positive activities (e.g., social interactions, feeding) during safe periods, and minimizes exposure to dangers (e.g., predation, darkness) typically at night. Beyond basic circadian regulation, some behaviors like sleep have an additional layer of homeostatic control, ensuring those essential activities are fulfilled. While sleep is predominantly governed by the circadian clock, a secondary homeostatic regulator, though not well-understood, ensures adherence to necessary sleep amounts and hints at a fundamental biological function of sleep beyond simple energy conservation and safety. Here we explore sleep regulation across seven Drosophila species with diverse ecological niches, revealing that while circadian-driven sleep aspects are consistent, homeostatic regulation varies significantly. The findings suggest that in Drosophilids, sleep evolved primarily for circadian purposes. The more complex, homeostatically regulated functions of sleep appear to have evolved independently in a species-specific manner, and are not universally conserved. This laboratory model may reproduce and recapitulate primordial sleep evolution.

Understanding how the brain encodes behaviour is the ultimate goal of neuroscience and the ability to objectively and reproducibly describe and quantify behaviour is a necessary milestone on this path. Recent technological progresses in machine learning and computational power have boosted the development and adoption of systems leveraging on high-resolution video recording to track an animal pose and describe behaviour in all four dimensions. However, the high temporal and spatial resolution that these systems offer must come as a compromise with their throughput and accessibility. Here, we describe coccinella, an open-source reductionist framework combining high-throughput analysis of behaviour using real-time tracking on a distributed mesh of microcomputers (ethoscopes) with resource-lean statistical learning (HCTSA/Catch22). Coccinella is a reductionist system, yet outperforms state-of-the-art alternatives when exploring the pharmacobehaviour in Drosophila melanogaster.

Host behavioural changes are among the most apparent effects of infection. 'Sickness behaviour' can involve a variety of symptoms, including anorexia, depression, and changed activity levels. Here, using a real-time tracking and behavioural profiling platform, we show that in Drosophila melanogaster, several systemic bacterial infections cause significant increases in physical activity, and that the extent of this activity increase is a predictor of survival time in some lethal infections. Using multiple bacteria and D. melanogaster immune and activity mutants, we show that increased activity is driven by at least two different mechanisms. Increased activity after infection with Micrococcus luteus, a Gram-positive bacterium rapidly cleared by the immune response, strictly requires the Toll ligand spätzle. In contrast, increased activity after infection with Francisella novicida, a Gram-negative bacterium that cannot be cleared by the immune response, is entirely independent of both Toll and the parallel IMD pathway. The existence of multiple signalling mechanisms by which bacterial infections drive increases in physical activity implies that this effect may be an important aspect of the host response.

The recent development of automatised methods to score various behaviours on a large number of animals provides biologists with an unprecedented set of tools to decipher these complex phenotypes. Analysing such data comes with several challenges that are largely shared across acquisition platform and paradigms. Here, we present rethomics, a set of R packages that unifies the analysis of behavioural datasets in an efficient and flexible manner. rethomics offers a computational solution to storing, manipulating and visualising large amounts of behavioural data. We propose it as a tool to bridge the gap between behavioural biology and data sciences, thus connecting computational and behavioural scientists. rethomics comes with a extensive documentation as well as a set of both practical and theoretical tutorials (available at https://rethomics.github.io).

Here, we present the use of ethoscopes, which are machines for high-throughput analysis of behavior in Drosophila and other animals. Ethoscopes provide a software and hardware solution that is reproducible and easily scalable. They perform, in real-time, tracking and profiling of behavior by using a supervised machine learning algorithm, are able to deliver behaviorally triggered stimuli to flies in a feedback-loop mode, and are highly customizable and open source. Ethoscopes can be built easily by using 3D printing technology and rely on Raspberry Pi microcomputers and Arduino boards to provide affordable and flexible hardware. All software and construction specifications are available at http://lab.gilest.ro/ethoscope.

In all animals, sleep pressure is under continuous tight regulation. It is universally accepted that this regulation arises from a two-process model, integrating both a circadian and a homeostatic controller. Here we explore the role of environmental social signals as a third, parallel controller of sleep homeostasis and sleep pressure. We show that, in Drosophila melanogaster males, sleep pressure after sleep deprivation can be counteracted by raising their sexual arousal, either by engaging the flies with prolonged courtship activity or merely by exposing them to female pheromones.

During development, all neurons have to decide on whether to cross the longitudinal midline to project on the contralateral side of the body. In vertebrates and invertebrates regulation of crossing is achieved by interfering with Robo signalling either through sorting and degradation of the receptor, in flies, or through silencing of its repulsive activity, in vertebrates. Here I show that in Drosophila a second mechanism of regulation exists that is independent from sorting. Using in vitro and in vivo assays I mapped the region of Robo that is sufficient and required for its interaction with Comm, its sorting receptor. By modifying that region, I generated new forms of Robo that are insensitive to Comm sorting in vitro and in vivo, yet still able to normally translate repulsive activity in vivo. Using gene targeting by homologous recombination I created new conditional alleles of robo that are sorting defective (robo(SD)). Surprisingly, expression of these modified proteins results in phenotypically normal flies, unveiling a sorting independent mechanism of regulation.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

The U.S. High-Luminosity LHC Accelerator Upgrade Project, in collaboration with CERN, is developing Nb 3 Sn quadrupole magnets (MQXFA) to be installed at the interaction region of the LHC. The project will deliver 20 MQXFA magnets in 10 cold masses. These magnets need to meet the stringent requirements on field quality at the nominal operating current. Compared to the mature NbTi accelerator magnet technology, achieving excellent field quality can be challenging for Nb 3 Sn magnets. To help track, understand, and allow effective correction of geometric field errors, field quality measurements at room temperature during the MQXFA assembly stage was planned for the project. The measurements also intend to evaluate the magnetic axis and twist angle along the magnet aperture. We report the first measurement on a prototype MQXFA magnet using a recently developed measurement system. The magnetic axis and twist angle met the acceptance criteria. Further development needs for the room-temperature measurements were discussed. We expect that statistics obtained from such measurements throughout the project will provide insight into future applications of high-performance Nb 3 Sn accelerator magnets.

During sleep, most animal species enter a state of reduced consciousness characterized by a marked sensory disconnect. Yet some processing of the external world must remain intact, given that a sleeping animal can be awoken by intense stimuli (for example, a loud noise or a bright light) or by soft but qualitatively salient stimuli (for example, the sound of a baby cooing or hearing one's own name.sup.1-3). How does a sleeping brain retain the ability to process the quality of sensory information? Here we present a paradigm to study the functional underpinnings of sensory discrimination during sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. We show that sleeping vinegar flies, like humans, discern the quality of sensory stimuli and are more likely to wake up in response to salient stimuli. We also show that the salience of a stimulus during sleep can be modulated by internal states. We offer a prototypical blueprint detailing a circuit involved in this process and its modulation as evidence that the system can be used to explore the cellular underpinnings of how a sleeping brain experiences the world. The authors develop a paradigm to study sensory discrimination during sleep in Drosophila melanogaster., Author(s): Alice S. French [sup.1] , Quentin Geissmann [sup.2] , Esteban J. Beckwith [sup.3] , Giorgio F. Gilestro [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, [...]

Abstract Background The abandonment of psychotherapeutic treatments is influenced by various factors, including patient characteristics, therapist traits, and the therapeutic relationship. Despite the well-documented importance of these factors, limited empirical research has focused on the role of the therapeutic relationship and the characteristics of therapist-patient dyads in predicting treatment dropout. This study protocol outlines a longitudinal research project aimed at predicting dropout and non-response in psychotherapy for individuals with personality disorders. The research seeks to identify predictive factors related to psychotherapy outcomes, focusing on patient, therapist, and dyadic elements. Specifically, the study will examine the influence of therapist characteristics (e.g., personality traits, countertransference, responsiveness) on treatment outcomes, explore the impact of relational factors (e.g., treatment expectations, epistemic trust, therapeutic alliance) on therapy effectiveness, and assess how the therapeutic alliance within therapist-patient dyads affects the likelihood of dropout and non-response. Methods The longitudinal study will include 100 therapist-patient dyads (200 participants) recruited from various Mental Health Services in Milan, Italy. Validated instruments will be administered to both patients and therapists at four-time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (3 months), T2 (6 months), and T3 (1 year). Data will be collected at baseline and at the one-year mark to evaluate the relationships between therapist, patient, and dyadic factors and treatment outcomes. Discussion Identifying predictive variables associated with high dropout rates can help preempt treatment discontinuation, reducing the financial and operational burdens on mental health services. Understanding these factors will enable the development of targeted interventions to improve treatment engagement and reduce attrition. This approach could enhance outcomes for individuals with personality disorders and lead to more efficient resource allocation and sustainable delivery of mental health care.

Abstract Global functional adaptation after local mechanical stimulation, as in mechanobiology and the mimosa plant, is fascinating and ubiquitous in nature. This is achieved by locally sensing mechanical deformation with precise thresholds, processing this information via biochemical circuits, followed by downstream actuation. The integration of such embodied intelligence allowing for mechano-to-chemo-to-function information-processing remains elusive in man-made systems. By merging the fields of chemical circuits and metamaterials, we introduce adaptive metamaterial hydrogels (meta-gels) that can accurately sense mechanical stimuli (local touch and global strain), transmit this information over long distances via reaction-diffusion signaling, and induce downstream mechanical strengthening by growing nanofibril networks, or soft robotic actuation through competitive swelling. All elements of the sensor-processor-actuator system are embedded in the device, functioning autonomously without external feeding reservoirs. Our concept enables designing advanced life-like materials systems that synergistically combine two worlds – chemical circuits for chemical information-processing and metamaterial unit cells for physical information-processing.

Abstract Background Childhood abuse and neglect pose important risk factors for the development of psychopathology during pregnancy. However, only a few studies have assessed the effects of a specific type of abuse during the perinatal period, namely, psychological maltreatment, which includes emotional abuse and neglect. These studies have found that women who have experienced psychological maltreatment exhibit higher levels of antenatal depressive symptoms and greater difficulties forming attachment with their babies than women who have not experienced this kind of adversity. The aim of this study was to examine how emotional abuse and neglect experiences may favor the occurrence of psychological distress in pregnant women, and whether prenatal attachment might explain this association. Methods Participants comprised 128 Italian pregnant women ranging in age from 21 to 46 years (Mage = 33.4; SD = 6.10). Women responded to the following self-report instruments: CECA.Q and CTQ-SF, for the assessment of psychological maltreatment experiences; MAAS, for the evaluation of prenatal attachment; and PAMA, for the assessment of perinatal psychological distress. Results Pearson correlations revealed a positive association between childhood neglect and perinatal psychological distress and a negative association between childhood neglect and prenatal attachment scores. No significant correlations were found for emotional abuse. Perinatal psychological distress was negatively associated with prenatal attachment. Mediation analyses showed significant associations between childhood neglect and the dimensions of perinatal affectivity and prenatal maternal attachment. Prenatal maternal attachment mediated the relationship between neglect and perinatal psychological distress. Conclusions The transition to motherhood is a sensitive period, particularly for women who have experienced abuse and neglect during childhood. These experiences may negatively impact a woman’s disposition to emotionally and behaviorally engage in the formation of a bond with their unborn baby. These results may have important prevention and clinical implications and thus warrant further exploration.

Purpose: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) represents the persistent absence of sperm in ejaculate without obstruction, stemming from diverse disease processes. This survey explores global practices in NOA diagnosis, comparing them with guidelines and offering expert recommendations. Materials and Methods:Materials and Methods: A 56-item questionnaire survey on NOA diagnosis and management was conducted globally from July to September 2022. This paper focuses on part 1, evaluating NOA diagnosis. Data from 367 participants across 49 coun-tries were analyzed descriptively, with a Delphi process used for expert recommendations. Results:Results: Of 336 eligible responses, most participants were experienced attending physicians (70.93%). To diagnose azoosper-mia definitively, 81.7% requested two semen samples. Commonly ordered hormone tests included serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (97.0%), total testosterone (92.9%), and luteinizing hormone (86.9%). Genetic testing was requested by 66.6%, with karyotype analysis (86.2%) and Y chromosome microdeletions (88.3%) prevalent. Diagnostic testicular biopsy, distinguishing obstructive azoospermia (OA) from NOA, was not performed by 45.1%, while 34.6% did it selectively. Differ-entiation relied on physical examination (76.1%), serum hormone profiles (69.6%), and semen tests (68.1%). Expectations of finding sperm surgically were higher in men with normal FSH, larger testes, and a history of sperm in ejaculate. Conclusions:Conclusions: This expert survey, encompassing 367 participants from 49 countries, unveils congruence with recommended guidelines in NOA diagnosis. However, noteworthy disparities in practices suggest a need for evidence-based, international consensus guidelines to standardize NOA evaluation, addressing existing gaps in professional recommendations.

Abstract Aims The initial bundle of cares strongly affects haemodynamics and outcomes in acute decompensated heart failure cardiogenic shock (ADHF‐CS). We sought to characterize whether 24 h haemodynamic profiling provides superior prognostic information as compared with admission assessment and which haemodynamic parameters best predict in‐hospital death. Methods and results All patients with ADHF‐CS and with available admission and 24 h invasive haemodynamic assessment from two academic institutions were considered for this study. The primary endpoint was in‐hospital death. Regression analyses were run to identify relevant predictors of study outcome. We included 127 ADHF‐CS patients [65 (inter‐quartile range 52–72) years, 25.2% female]. Overall, in‐hospital mortality occurred in 26.8%. Non‐survivors were older, with greater CS severity. Among admission variables, age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.11; Padj = 0.005] and CPIRAP (OR = 0.62 for 0.1 increment; 95% CI: 0.39–0.95; Padj = 0.034) were found significantly associated with in‐hospital death. Among 24 h haemodynamic univariate predictors of in‐hospital death, pulmonary elastance (PaE) was the strongest (area under the curve of 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68–0.86). PaE (OR = 5.98; 95% CI: 2.29–17.48; Padj