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Background: The distribution of lip shapes in young females and how morphological variation relates to attractiveness are poorly defined. Objectives: We hypothesized that among young female lip images generated by a statistical atlas model, those with more full lips compared with those with less full lips would be perceived as more attractive as measured by anonymous survey participants. Method: A statistical atlas of lip morphology was created using photographs of 700 women aged 18-35 years. The average lip shape was determined by coregistering and averaging images. Morphological variation was analyzed using principal component analysis. The relationship between attractiveness and observed lip morphologies was assessed using publicly distributed surveys. Results: In total, 428 survey responses were obtained. We developed a statistical model of variation of lip shape in the population and its relationship to attractiveness. The most attractive lips were significantly fuller than the average shape in the population, with greater vertical height and surface area. Conclusion: A statistical atlas can provide a visual guide to variation in lip shape in the population. The most attractive lip shapes vary significantly from the population average, lending support to procedures that increase lip height and surface area.

This Dataset Brief describes the computational prediction of protein structures for the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. Here, we report the proteome-scale generation of 15,333 protein structure predictions using AlphaFold, as well as an updated implementation of publicly available search, manipulation, and visualization tools for these protein structure predictions through the Mnemiopsis Genome Project Portal (https://research.nhgri.nih.gov/mnemiopsis). The utility of these predictions is demonstrated by highlighting comparisons to experimentally determined structures for the light-sensitive protein mnemiopsin 1 and the ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR). The application of these novel protein structure prediction methods will serve to further position non-bilaterian species such as Mnemiopsis as powerful model systems for the study of early animal evolution and human health., (© 2024 The Authors. PROTEOMICS published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Here we explore the evolutionary origins of fast N-type ball-and-chain inactivation in Shaker (Kv1) K + channels by functionally characterizing Shaker channels from the ctenophore (comb jelly) Mnemiopsis leidyi. Ctenophores are the sister lineage to other animals and Mnemiopsis has >40 Shaker-like K + channels, but they have not been functionally characterized. We identified three Mnemiopsis channels (MlShak3-5) with N-type inactivation ball-like sequences at their N termini and functionally expressed them in Xenopus oocytes. Two of the channels, MlShak4 and MlShak5, showed rapid inactivation similar to cnidarian and bilaterian Shakers with rapid N-type inactivation, whereas MlShak3 inactivated ∼100-fold more slowly. Fast inactivation in MlShak4 and MlShak5 required the putative N-terminal inactivation ball sequences. Furthermore, the rate of fast inactivation in these channels depended on the number of inactivation balls/channel, but the rate of recovery from inactivation did not. These findings closely match the mechanism of N-type inactivation first described for Drosophila Shaker in which 1) inactivation balls on the N termini of each subunit can independently block the pore, and 2) only one inactivation ball occupies the pore binding site at a time. These findings suggest classical N-type activation evolved in Shaker channels at the very base of the animal phylogeny in a common ancestor of ctenophores, cnidarians, and bilaterians and that fast-inactivating Shakers are therefore a fundamental type of animal K + channel. Interestingly, we find evidence from functional co-expression experiments and molecular dynamics that MlShak4 and MlShak5 do not co-assemble, suggesting that Mnemiopsis has at least two functionally independent N-type Shaker channels., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

As the sister group to all other animals, ctenophores (comb jellies) are important for understanding the emergence and diversification of numerous animal traits. Efforts to explore the evolutionary processes that promoted diversification within Ctenophora are hindered by undersampling genomic diversity within this clade. To address this gap, we present the sequence, assembly and initial annotation of the genome of Beroe ovata . Beroe possess unique morphology, behavior, ecology and development. Unlike their generalist carnivorous kin, beroid ctenophores feed exclusively on other ctenophores. Accordingly, our analyses revealed a loss of chitinase, an enzyme critical for the digestion of most non-ctenophore prey, but superfluous for ctenophorivores. Broadly, our genomic analysis revealed that extensive gene loss and changes in gene regulation have shaped the unique biology of B. ovata . Despite the gene losses in B. ovata , our phylogenetic analyses on photosensitive opsins and several early developmental regulatory genes show that these genes are conserved in B. ovata . This additional sampling contributes to a more complete reconstruction of the ctenophore ancestor and points to the need for extensive comparisons within this ancient and diverse clade of animals. To promote further exploration of these data, we present BovaDB (http://ryanlab.whitney.ufl.edu/bovadb/), a portal for the B. ovata genome., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics.)

Objective: This study aims to develop a set of curriculum recommendations to support trauma training in Canadian general surgery residency programs., Design: A modified Delphi study was conducted with a panel of trauma and surgical education experts. Proposed curriculum components were developed from Canadian trauma surgery exposure and educational needs assessment data. Panelists were asked to rate each potential curriculum component for inclusion (mandatory or exemplary) or exclusion in the ideal and feasible trauma training curriculum., Setting: This national Delphi study was conducted in the Canadian trauma education context., Participants: A panel of trauma experts and surgeons holding leadership positions in training programs and professional societies across Canada were invited to participate., Results: Nineteen panelists representing all geographic regions of Canada achieved consensus on a set of curriculum components. The panel was largely in agreement with the RCPSC trauma competencies. At the end of the study, 71 items were considered mandatory for all programs (such as dedicated trauma rotations, trauma resuscitation and operative skills courses, structured trauma teaching within academic half day, and simulation experiences), and 21 items were considered exemplary (such as program funding for trauma courses, and opportunities to participate in trauma research and quality improvement projects)., Conclusions: This study suggests a framework of education components for curricular reform for trauma training in Canadian general surgery residency programs. Such recommendations include rotations, formal courses and certifications, education resources, and simulation experiences to supplement limited clinical exposure., (Copyright © 2023 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Regenerative potential is widespread but unevenly distributed across animals. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying regenerative processes is limited to a handful of model organisms, restricting robust comparative analyses. Here, we conduct a time course of RNA-seq during whole body regeneration in Mnemiopsis leidyi (Ctenophora) to uncover gene expression changes that correspond with key events during the regenerative timeline of this species. We identified several genes highly enriched in this dataset beginning as early as 10 minutes after surgical bisection including transcription factors in the early timepoints, peptidases in the middle timepoints, and cytoskeletal genes in the later timepoints. We validated the expression of early response transcription factors by whole mount in situ hybridization, showing that these genes exhibited high expression in tissues surrounding the wound site. These genes exhibit a pattern of transient upregulation as seen in a variety of other organisms, suggesting that they may be initiators of an ancient gene regulatory network linking wound healing to the initiation of a regenerative response., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ultrasound phantoms - alternatives to live human tissue - give learners the opportunity to practice ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia without introducing undue risk to patients. Gelatin-based phantoms provide educators with durable and reusable task trainers; however, commercially available gel-based phantoms are expensive. Here, we investigate the production of durable, low-cost, ballistic gel-based ultrasound phantoms for median, femoral, suprainguinal fascia iliaca plane, and serratus anterior plane nerve blocks, as well as a methodology for producing a phantom for any ultrasound-guided nerve block procedure. Computer-aided design (CAD) software was utilized to design four phantoms replicating the anatomy of median, femoral, suprainguinal fascia iliaca plane, and serratus anterior plane nerve blocks, including relevant landmarks and tissue planes. Plastic models of the desired tissue planes were 3D printed and used to create silicone molds. Ballistic gel was melted and mixed with flour and dye to create a liquid, echogenic ballistic gel, which was poured into the silicone molds. Vessels were simulated by creating negative space in the ballistic gel using metal rods. Nerves were simulated using yarn submerged in ultrasound gel. Simulated bones were designed using CAD and 3D printed. Ballistic gel is a versatile, durable medium that can be used to simulate a variety of tissues and can be melted and molded into any shape. Under ultrasound, these phantoms provide realistic tissue planes that represent the borders between different layers of skin, muscle, and fascia. The echogenicity of the muscle tissue layers, nerves, vessels, and bones is realistic, and bones have significant posterior shadowing as would be observed in a human subject. These phantoms cost $200 each for the first phantom and $60 for each subsequent phantom. These phantoms require some technical skill to design, but they can be built for just 4% of the cost of their commercial counterparts.

Introduction: Competency-based training requires frequent assessment of residents' skills to determine clinical competence. This study reviews existing literature on procedure-specific competence assessment tools in orthopaedic surgery., Methods: A systematic search of eight databases up to May 2023 was conducted. Two reviewers independently assessed validity evidence and educational utility of each assessment tool and evaluated studies' methodological quality., Results: Database searching identified 2,556 unique studies for title and abstract screening. Full texts of 290 studies were reviewed; 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Bibliography review identified another five studies, totaling 22 studies examining 24 assessment tools included in the analysis. These tools assessed various orthopaedic surgery procedures within trauma, sports medicine, spine, and upper extremity. Overall validity evidence was low across all studies, and was lowest for consequences and highest for content. Methodological quality of studies was moderate. Educational utility assessment was not explicitly done for most tools., Discussion: The paucity of current procedure-specific assessment tools in orthopaedic surgery lacks the validity evidence required to be used reliably in high-stake summative assessments. Study strengths include robust methodology and use of an evidence-based validity evidence framework. Poor-quality existing evidence is a limitation and highlights the need for evidence-based tools across more subspecialties., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.)