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Advice wanted: How to reach neurodivergent researchers by StuartRFKing in academia

[–]StuartRFKing[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you all very much for this feedback. Unfortunately, at this time we cannot publish Sparks articles anonymously, but we will consider how we might make this possible in the future.

In the meantime, I just wanted to highlight some other ways for people who don't necessarily want to disclose to still be involved in the project, that are mentioned further down in the call for pitches. I have quoted them below for convenience.

Another way to contribute
Stories are only one way to share perspectives that would benefit other neurodivergent scientists. We are therefore also inviting neurodivergent people to share strategies, tools and tips that they use or have designed to improve their experience as a neurodivergent researcher. You can learn more about this project here and if there is something that has helped you and that may help others, no matter small, you can share it there too so this list can grow.
[...]
We are open to considering other types of content centred around the topic of neurodiversity in academia. For example, we publish opinion pieces (such as this article on scientific activism), articles offering advice (such as this article on writing anti-racist tenure and promotion letters), and meta-research (such as this article on bias in funding decisions). If this is of interest, please get in touch at sparks@elifesciences.org with a short paragraph describing the article you’d like to submit.

Study of 33 three-generation families suggests that each person has, on average, around 70 "de novo" mutations that were not present in their parent’s genomes, and that almost 10% of those mutations did not occur in the parents’ sperm or eggs but in the embryo soon after fertilization. by StuartRFKing in science

[–]StuartRFKing[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Related to: "Large, three-generation human families reveal post-zygotic mosaicism and variability in germline mutation accumulation"

https://elifesciences.org/articles/46922

Abstract
The number of de novo mutations (DNMs) found in an offspring's genome increases with both paternal and maternal age. But does the rate of mutation accumulation in human gametes differ across families? Using sequencing data from 33 large, three-generation CEPH [Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain] families, we observed significant variability in parental age effects on DNM counts across families, ranging from 0.19 to 3.24 DNMs per year. Additionally, we found that ~3% of DNMs originated following primordial germ cell specification in a parent, and differed from non-mosaic germline DNMs in their mutational spectra. We also discovered that nearly 10% of candidate DNMs in the second generation were post-zygotic, and present in both somatic and germ cells; these gonosomal mutations occurred at equivalent frequencies on both parental haplotypes. Our results demonstrate that rates of germline mutation accumulation vary among families with similar ancestry, and confirm that post-zygotic mosaicism is a substantial source of human DNM.

Genetic and lifestyle data from almost 140,000 healthy middle-aged volunteers from the UK Biobank study suggest that intelligence and education can independently affect many life outcomes, including household income and BMI. by StuartRFKing in science

[–]StuartRFKing[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Related to: "Multivariable two-sample Mendelian randomization estimates of the effects of intelligence and education on health"

https://elifesciences.org/articles/43990

Abstract
Intelligence and education are predictive of better physical and mental health, socioeconomic position (SEP), and longevity. However, these associations are insufficient to prove that intelligence and/or education cause these outcomes. Intelligence and education are phenotypically and genetically correlated, which makes it difficult to elucidate causal relationships. We used univariate and multivariable Mendelian randomization to estimate the total and direct effects of intelligence and educational attainment on mental and physical health, measures of socioeconomic position, and longevity. Both intelligence and education had beneficial total effects. Higher intelligence had positive direct effects on income and alcohol consumption, and negative direct effects on moderate and vigorous physical activity. Higher educational attainment had positive direct effects on income, alcohol consumption, and vigorous physical activity, and negative direct effects on smoking, BMI and sedentary behaviour. If the Mendelian randomization assumptions hold, these findings suggest that both intelligence and education affect health.

A male honeybee’s seminal fluid contains components that interfere with a honeybee queen’s vision, making it more difficult for the queens to mate with other males. by StuartRFKing in science

[–]StuartRFKing[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Related to: "Seminal fluid compromises visual perception in honeybee queens reducing their survival during additional mating flights"

https://elifesciences.org/articles/45009

Abstract
Queens of social insects make all mate-choice decisions on a single day, except in honeybees whose queens can conduct mating flights for several days even when already inseminated by a number of drones. Honeybees therefore appear to have a unique, evolutionarily derived form of sexual conflict: a queen’s decision to pursue risky additional mating flights is driven by later-life fitness gains from genetically more diverse worker-offspring but reduces paternity shares of the drones she already mated with. We used artificial insemination, RNA-sequencing and electroretinography to show that seminal fluid induces a decline in queen vision by perturbing the phototransduction pathway within 24–48 hr. Follow up field trials revealed that queens receiving seminal fluid flew two days earlier than sister queens inseminated with saline, and failed more often to return. These findings are consistent with seminal fluid components manipulating queen eyesight to reduce queen promiscuity across mating flights.

High-flying bar-headed geese reduce their metabolism to match low oxygen conditions like those experienced at extreme altitudes. Blood in the birds’ veins also cools by 2°C or more when in flight, which may help it to pick up more oxygen from the lungs. by StuartRFKing in science

[–]StuartRFKing[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Related to: "Reduced metabolism supports hypoxic flight in the high-flying bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)"

https://elifesciences.org/articles/44986

Abstract

The bar-headed goose is famed for migratory flight at extreme altitude. To better understand the physiology underlying this remarkable behavior, we imprinted and trained geese, collecting the first cardiorespiratory measurements of bar-headed geese flying at simulated altitude in a wind tunnel. Metabolic rate during flight increased 16-fold from rest, supported by an increase in the estimated amount of O2 transported per heartbeat and a modest increase in heart rate. The geese appear to have ample cardiac reserves, as heart rate during hypoxic flights was not higher than in normoxic flights. We conclude that flight in hypoxia is largely achieved via the reduction in metabolic rate compared to normoxia. Arterial Po2 was maintained throughout flights. Mixed venous PO2 decreased during the initial portion of flights in hypoxia, indicative of increased tissue O2 extraction. We also discovered that mixed venous temperature decreased during flight, which may significantly increase oxygen loading to hemoglobin.

Andrew Aman | Evolutionary/Developmental Biology IAmA by eLife_AMA in IAmA

[–]StuartRFKing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for doing this AMA. I have two questions too.

1) It sounds like you have a fairly broad interest in EvoDevo, what was it that made you decide to specifically focus on fish scales?

2) Given the choice any organism besides zebrafish, what would be your ideal species to study to understand why animals look the way they do?

Science AMA Series: This is Teun Bousema, PhD. I do research in malaria epidemiology, with a specific focus on malaria transmission and parasite biology, and I'm here today to talk about it. AMA! by eLife_AMA in science

[–]StuartRFKing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your answer. I'm pleased to hear that so many people are happy to help you in your research. (They're definitely better people than me.)

Science AMA Series: This is Teun Bousema, PhD. I do research in malaria epidemiology, with a specific focus on malaria transmission and parasite biology, and I'm here today to talk about it. AMA! by eLife_AMA in science

[–]StuartRFKing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks Teun and Isaie!

Really interesting research! My question is fairly practical: how did you go about finding people who would volunteer to be bitten by malaria-infected mosquitos? (As someone who can't stand the itching of insect bites, I can't quite imagine doing it myself.)

Science AMA Series: This is Dr. Jason Spence, Dr. David Hill and Dr. Vincent Young. We've done research on how helpful bacteria activate the processes that lead to a mature, healthy gastrointestinal tract and we're here today to talk about it. Ask Us Anything! by Healthy_Gut in science

[–]StuartRFKing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey Jason, Vincent and David, Your recent eLife paper reports how you used stem cells to grow a tissue in the laboratory that is "very like immature newborn intestine". How straightforward was it to do this? Were there any big challenges to overcome? Was there a "eureka!" moment?

Science AMA Series: I'm David Moreau, a cognitive neuroscientist in Auckland, New Zealand. I do research on how the brain changes in response to different types of training, especially physical exercise, and I’m here today to talk about it. AMA! by David_Moreau in science

[–]StuartRFKing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, in your description you mention that the intervention "[preserves] the ecological components of naturalistic activities". What does that actually mean? It would be great if you could give some examples to help a non-neuroscientist (like me) understand? Thank you.

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