Making supplemental information more accessible

Supplemental information is difficult to organize, review, and understand. Genome Biology has listed some new recommendations for the organization of supplemental data.     

Making radiotherapy more efficient with FAIR data

Given the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in radiotherapy and the related transformations toward the data-driven healthcare domain, this article summarizes the need and usage of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles in radiotherapy. This work introduces the FAIR data concept, presents practical and relevant use cases and the future role of the different parties involved. The goal of this article is to provide guidance and potential applications of FAIR to various radiotherapy stakeholders, focusing on the central role of medical physicists.     

Making muscle in mammals.

Classical embryology has provided a conceptual basis for our understanding of where muscle comes from. Histological and morphological studies of muscle fibre formation in the foetus and neonate have provided information on how muscle matures. More recent advances in molecular genetics have led to the characterization of muscle structural genes, and to the striking discovery of the MyoD family of myogenic regulatory factors. The question of how myogenesis takes place can now be formulated in terms of gene regulation, and molecular tools can be used to describe this process in the embryo and foetus.     

Making our diabetes patients' office visits more productive

Improving our health care procedures is ideally a collaborative and ongoing process, yet it takes time we may not feel we can easily afford. If we can consider how we might make even one change to improve our procedures, we might also be able to help improve not only the capabilities and skills of each member of our health care teams but also the ability of our patients to engage in effective diabetes self-care.     

Making predictive ecology more relevant to policy makers and practitioners

One of the aims of ecology is to aid policy makers and practitioners through the development of testable predictions of relevance to society. Here, we argue that this capacity can be improved in three ways. Firstly, by thinking more clearly about the priority issues using a range of methods including horizon scanning, identifying policy gaps, identifying priority questions and using evidence-based conservation to identify knowledge gaps. Secondly, by linking ecological models with models of other systems, such as economic and social models. Thirdly, by considering alternative approaches to generate and model data that use, for example, discrete or categorical states to model ecological systems. We particularly highlight that models are essential for making predictions. However, a key to the limitation in their use is the degree to which ecologists are able to communicate results to policy makers in a clear, useful and timely fashion.     

Microtubules in mammalian heart muscle

Sections of adult mammalian cardiac muscles fixed at room temperature reveal numerous microtubules (24--28 nm in diameter) both near the nucleus and in the extra-myofibrillar space. Microtubules encircle the nucleus, are associated with the myofibrils in a helical arrangement, and form a network that runs transversely at the level of the I band and axially between the myofibrils. Microtubules are more numerous in muscle cells than previously recognized and may perform more than cytoskeletal function.     

Propagated repolarization in heart muscle

The effect of current flow on the transmembrane action potential of single fibers of ventricular muscle has been examined. Pulses of repolarizing current applied during the plateau of the action potential displace membrane potential much more than do pulses of depolarizing current. The application of sufficiently strong pulses of repolarizing current initiates sustained repolarization which persists after the end of the pulse. This sustained repolarization appears to propagate throughout the length of the fiber. Demonstration of propagated repolarization is made difficult by appearance of break excitation at the end of the repolarizing pulse. The thresholds for sustained repolarization and break excitation are separated by reducing the concentration of Ca⁺⁺ in the environment of the fiber. In fibers in such an environment it is easier to demonstrate apparently propagated repolarization and also, by further increase of the strength of the repolarizing current, to demonstrate graded break excitation.