Journal of The Royal Society Interface最新文献

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. We explore the application of statistical shape modeling (SSM) as a powerful tool in cardiac anatomy assessment, facilitating innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment. SSM uses advanced mathematical and statistical techniques to understand the geometric properties of anatomical structures across populations. By identifying significant shape parameters, it captures and quantifies subtle variations that may elude traditional approaches. We discuss its evolution, from landmark-based methods to point distribution models for establishing the point-to-point correspondence crucial for accurate shape analysis. We delve into the statistical techniques used to measure shape variability, with a focus on principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction. Key evaluation metrics in the assessment of model performance, such as compactness, generalization and specificity, are reviewed. The clinical utility of SSM across the spectrum of CVDs is examined, covering diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment optimization, follow-up and research applications. Future directions, including the development of multi-label models, integration of deep learning approaches, and spatio-temporal SSM to capture dynamic changes in cardiac geometry, are considered. Through this narrative review, we aim to underscore SSM's promise as a powerful tool in combating CVDs and advancing personalized medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Substrate modification networks are ubiquitous in living, biochemical systems. A higher-level hypergraph 'skeleton' captures key information about which substrates are transformed in the presence of modification-specific enzymes. Many different detailed models can be associated with the same skeleton; however, uncertainty related to model fitting increases with the level of detail. We show that essential dynamical properties such as existence of positive steady states and concentration robustness can be extracted directly from the skeleton independent of the detailed model. The novel formalism of directed hypergraphs is used to prove that bifunctional enzyme action plays a key role in generating robustness. Moreover, we use another novel concept of 'current' on a directed hypergraph to establish a link between potentially remote network components. Current is an essential notion required for existence of positive steady states, and furthermore, current-matching combined with bifunctionality generates concentration robustness.

Understanding the morphological development of infant sutures and fontanelles is essential for evaluating normal cranial growth, detecting developmental anomalies and aiding forensic evaluations. Yet, age-specific quantitative data and standardized growth charts for these structures have not been systematically established. Here, we present comprehensive normative growth charts for cranial sutures and fontanelles and quantify the prevalence and morphology of accessory sutures during the first year of infancy. A total of 194 head computed tomography (CT) scans from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID) were analysed using an automated morphometric framework, measuring suture width, length, sinuosity and fontanelle area. Growth trajectories were modelled using Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS), and suture closure was quantified via the suture closure ratio (SCR). Results show that suture length increases and width decreases with age; the metopic suture closes earliest, where other major cranial sutures remain open throughout the first year. The anterior fontanelle peaks in area around three months before gradually decreasing. Accessory sutures, particularly the mendosal suture and superior median fissure, are prevalent in early infancy but diminish rapidly with age. These results provide a comprehensive morphometric reference for infant cranial sutures and fontanelles, supporting objective clinical assessment and forensic interpretation.

Understanding the evolutionary origins of altruistic punishment, a critical mechanism sustaining cooperation, remains a central challenge in behavioural science. Voluntary participation is considered a powerful approach that enables its emergence, but its explanatory power typically rests on the common assumption that non-participants have no impact on the public good. Yet, given the decentralized nature of voluntary participation, opting out does not necessarily preclude individuals from influencing the public good. Here, we revisit the role of voluntary participation by allowing non-participants to exert either positive or negative impacts on the public good. Using evolutionary analysis in a well-mixed finite population, we find that positive externalities from non-participants lower the synergy threshold required for altruistic punishment to dominate. In contrast, negative externalities raise this threshold, making altruistic punishment harder to sustain. Notably, when non-participants have positive impacts, altruistic punishment thrives only if non-participation is incentivized, whereas under negative impacts, it can persist even when non-participation is discouraged. Our findings reveal that efforts to promote altruistic punishment must account for the active role of non-participants, whose influence can make or break collective outcomes.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for species detection and monitoring; however, understanding its dispersion and transport dynamics and how this influences detectability is essential to enhance the accuracy of eDNA use. A biophysical model was used to investigate the spatiotemporal dispersion of Chironex fleckeri eDNA in an open coastal bay in northern Australia. The model revealed that local hydrodynamics, geomorphology and meteorological conditions shaped 'detection shadows', with eDNA detectability constrained from hundreds of metres to kilometres from seeding locations. These dispersion estimates are closely aligned with empirical detections of C. fleckeri medusae and polyps, demonstrating the utility of biophysical models for estimating eDNA transport and dispersal dynamics. The findings highlight the influence of eDNA decay and dilution on detectability and provide valuable insights for interpreting detections of targeted taxa. Here, we demonstrate the broader potential of combining biophysical modelling with eDNA sampling.

Bone provides a favourable niche for breast cancer colonization and metastatic progression. Breast cancer cells are attracted to the bone microenvironment, where they induce bone cells to resorb bone, which enhances tumour cell proliferation in a positive feedback loop often referred to as the vicious cycle. While this phenomenon is established, the molecular interactions between cancer cells and bone cells are not well defined. CXCL5/CXCR2 signalling has recently been shown to promote breast cancer colonization to the bone. Here, we investigate the effects of osteoblasts and osteocytes on breast cancer cell proliferation in engineered two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models. We observed that osteoblasts and osteocytes induce proliferative effects on cancer cells. Specifically, bone cells increase cancer proliferation in 2D culture, and osteoblasts increase cancer growth more than osteocytes in 3D models. Moreover, osteocyte interaction with cancer cells in 3D models is stiffness dependent. We show that these effects depend on the CXCL5/CXCR2 signalling axis. Taken together, we demonstrate that osteoblasts enhance cancer growth in a bone metastatic niche and that this effect is reversible with CXCL5/CXCR2 inhibition.

Ermine moths produce bursts of ultrasonic clicks that protect them from their predators. The clicks are produced by a tymbal organ that features a series of corrugated striations in the membrane of the hindwings. In response to wing folding during the wingbeat cycle, individual stria snap-through sequentially to excite the natural frequencies of a scaleless patch adjacent to the striations. Based on morphological characterization of the aeroelastic tymbal of Yponomeuta moths, we propose an analogue origami-like creased shell model to reproduce the actuation and sequential click production of the biological structure. The origami-like model helps to explain the governing biomechanics of aeroelastic tymbals; namely, the burst of clicks occurs as a result of a series of snapping vertex folds, reminiscent of the origami waterbomb, that buckle and snap-through in sequence when actuated by a global stimulus (wing folding). Such sequential buckling behaviour often occurs in pattern formation events and in the structural failure of compressed cylindrical shells and sandwich panels. Interestingly, ermine moths instead use this instability phenomenon for functionality-namely, phased acoustic sound emission-creating opportunities for new engineering applications.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has been reported in over 10 European countries. Despite the temperature sensitivity of mosquito-borne viruses, there are no specific models describing the temperature-trait relationship for the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) and vector competence (VC) of CHIKV within Aedes albopictus. This limits our understanding of how temperature influences CHIKV transmission risk in Europe. We used trait data obtained from a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided literature review to model the temperature-trait relationships for EIP and VC. These relationships were then integrated into a temperature-dependent basic reproduction number, R0(T), to generate climate-based risk maps and seasonal suitability. We estimate a maximum EIP50 of 8.7 days at 18°C, a minimum of 1.7 days at 30°C. The vector competence range spans 13.8-31.8°C, peaking at 25.6°C. Moreover, CHIKV is transmissible at lower temperatures than previously recognized, suggesting plausible transmission across most of Europe in July and August, with extended suitability from May to November in southern regions. CHIKV transmission is possible across a broad thermal range, placing large parts of Europe at risk-especially southern regions. Understanding which transmission areas receive the most incursions from trade and tourism during this period can further delineate risk areas for management.

The link between bicontinuous architectures in biological membranes and triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) is a well-established example of stunning geometric form in nature. The prolamellar body (PLB) in early plant plastid development is a classic example, forming the Diamond TPMS in a lipid-protein-pigment membrane. However, the early development of such spectacular geometric structures is poorly understood. Inspired by the presence of tubules in the micrographs of early plastid membrane formation, we explore here geometric modelling of transformations of packings of cylinders that coalesce together to form bicontinuous structures. Using computational modelling, we find that specific tubular packings transform into highly symmetric TPMS, which provide a geometric foundation for further investigation into the PLB, as well as other occurrences of bicontinuous membranes.

Snapping shrimp damp the shock waves they produce and use as weapons with a helmet-like structure termed the orbital hood. Here, we ask how structural and material properties contribute to shock wave damping by orbital hoods in Alpheus heterochaelis. Using tensile mechanical testing, we find orbital hoods are approximately half as stiff as carapace and have twice the capacity for viscous energy dissipation. Microstructural features probably contribute to tissue-specific mechanical properties: the endocuticles of orbital hoods have almost twice as many lamellae as those of carapaces despite being half as thick, suggesting a mechanism for enhanced material mobility underlying viscous behaviour. Using material properties from mechanical testing and geometric data from micro-computed tomography, we developed finite element simulations of interactions between shock waves and orbital hoods. These simulations predict orbital hoods reduce shock wave-induced strain and stress in the neural tissues of shrimp by 28% and 22%, respectively. Orbital hoods appear optimized for shock wave damping: simulated increases or decreases in their material properties reduce their protective capabilities. We conclude that structural and viscoelastic properties contribute to shock wave damping by orbital hoods, a promising step towards bio-inspired improvements to contemporary armour systems that currently underperform in preventing blast-induced neurotrauma in humans.