bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different but not isolated: absence of reproductive barriers and strong floral divergence between ecotypes of Epidendrum fulgens (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Arida Beatriz L , Izquierdo Juliana V , Teixeira Marcelo C , Turchetto Caroline , Benitez-Vieyra Santiago , Pinheiro Fabio
Published: November 2024

Reproductive barriers and divergent traits may occur between populations of the same species occurring at different habitat types. Here, we investigated the reproductive compatibility and flower morphology of eight populations of Epidendrum fulgens (Orchidaceae) distributed in two different disjunct environments: coastal sand dunes and inland rock outcrops. We investigated potential reproductive isolation barriers using artificial hand pollination experiments, and considering fruit set and seed viability as proxies for pre- and postzygotic barriers, respectively. For morphology investigation, we analysed the shape of flowers using a geometric morphometric approach. Contrary to our expectations, we found high levels of fruit set (0.85) and seed viability (0.73) in crosses between ecotypes, suggesting a lack of reproductive isolation barriers. Regarding floral morphology, canonical variate analysis revealed all floral parts were significantly different between ecotypes (P < .05), while Procrustes ANOVA on symmetric components of shape indicated lateral sepals (P = .005) and ventral sepal (P = .011) were significantly different. Considering that both ecotypes are found on different habitats, the floral morphological divergence may be affected by specific abiotic conditions affecting flower development and/or different pollinator assemblages. Despite the morphological differences, reproductive barriers between ecotypes are absent, suggesting populations from divergent environments may merge upon secondary contact. Our contrasting results highlight the importance of multidisciplinary approaches for providing insights into the processes operating during the early stages of speciation.
Statin use is associated with higher white matter hyperintensity volumes and lower grey matter volumes
Authors: Gentreau Mélissa , Miguet Maud , Affatato Oreste , Rukh Gull , Schiöth Helgi Birgir
Published: November 2024

While statins are routinely prescribed to prevent cardiovascular diseases, their effects on brain alterations remain largely unknown. Very few studies have examined the differences in brain volumes between statin users and non-users, and existing research has yielded inconsistent results. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the association between statin use at baseline and global and specific brain volumes measured 9 years later in a large population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults. Participants from the UK Biobank without neurological and psychiatric disorders consisted of 3285 statin users (mean 60 years and 69% males) and 36 229 non-users (mean 55 years and 46% males). We used linear models to estimate the mean volumetric differences between statin users and non-users while adjusting for UK Biobank assessment centre, age, sex, ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E ɛ4 status, Townsend deprivation index, antidepressant use, intracranial volume, lifestyle factors (alcohol intake frequency, smoking and physical activity) and health-related conditions (body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, head injury, depression and insomnia). Moreover, mediation analysis was performed to evaluate whether the association between statin use and global brain volumes was mediated by total serum cholesterol concentration. Statin use was associated with lower grey matter volume [β = −1575 mm3 (−2358, −791)], with 20% of this association mediated by total serum cholesterol concentration. Statin use was also associated with lower peripheral cortical grey matter volumes [β = −1448 mm3 (−2227, −668)] and higher white matter hyperintensity [β = 0.11 mm3 (0.07, 0.15)]. However, white matter volume did not differ significantly between statin users and non-users. Further analyses revealed that volumes of thalamus, pallidum, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and other regions of the temporal lobe were smaller among statin users compared with non-users. This study showed that statin use is associated with higher white matter hyperintensity volumes and lower total and peripheral cortical grey matter volumes 9 years later, indicative of the brain’s ageing process. Moreover, the observed grey matter alterations were partially explained by statin-induced total serum cholesterol reduction. This study emphasizes the potential direct and indirect effects of statins on brain volume.
Does de novo malignancy heighten the risk of rejection in kidney transplant recipients?
Authors: Demir Erol , Dincer Mevlut Tamer , Karaca Cebrail , Erel Cansu , Karahan Latif , Pekmezci Aslihan , Trabulus Sinan , Seyahi Nurhan , Turkmen Aydin
Published: November 2024

Background

Malignancies are the third leading cause of death among kidney transplant recipients. These patients face increased mortality and challenges such as allograft loss and rejection, which may arise from surgical complications, changes in immunosuppressive therapy or the use of chemotherapeutics. This study aims to examine the risk of allograft rejection and loss in kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with de novo malignancies.

Methods

This retrospective case–control study included adult kidney transplant patients from 1986 to 2020 who developed de novo malignancies. Each patient with a malignancy was matched with a control without malignancy using the nearest neighbor matching method. The outcomes measured were biopsy-confirmed allograft rejection, death-censored allograft loss and overall mortality after the diagnosis of malignancy in the malignancy group and at any point in the control group.

Results

Of 2750 records reviewed, 267 patients (9.7%) had biopsy-confirmed malignancies, with a median age of 60 years and 66.3% men. The median follow-up was 218 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the allograft rejection rates were lower in the malignancy group compared with the control group (26 vs 60, P < .001). Overall mortality was higher in the malignancy group, although this difference was not statistically significant (104 vs 73, P = .25). Death-censored allograft loss was similar between groups (22 vs 32, P = .49). Chemotherapy and older recipient age were associated with reduced allograft rejection risk, as indicated by multivariable regression analysis.

Conclusions

In kidney transplant recipients with de novo malignancies, death with a functioning graft remains significant. However, allograft loss rates do not increase compared with those without malignancies, and rejection risk is reduced, especially in older and chemotherapy-treated patients. These findings suggest that managing immunosuppression reduction in this population may be appropriate, but further research is needed to determine optimal care strategies.
Sex-specific temporal trends in incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease: a Danish population-based cohort study
Authors: Vestergaard Anne Høy Seemann , Jensen Simon Kok , Heide-Jørgensen Uffe , Ladefoged Søren Andreas , Birn Henrik , Christiansen Christian Fynbo
Published: November 2024

Background

Rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may change with ageing populations, rising metabolic and cardiovascular disease prevalence, increasing CKD awareness and new treatments. We examined sex-specific temporal trends in CKD incidence and prevalence from 2011 through 2021.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study among adults residing in the North and Central Denmark Regions (population ∼1.5 million in 2021), utilizing routinely collected individual-level laboratory data. We identified individuals with incident or prevalent CKD, using data on plasma creatinine and urine albumin–creatinine ratios from samples performed in outpatient hospital settings or primary care. We estimated annual sex-specific crude and age-standardized incidence and prevalence and tabulated clinical characteristics.

Results

Throughout 2011–2021, CKD incidence and prevalence remained higher among females than males. A transient increase in the crude incidence was observed during 2011–2013, followed by a decrease from 11.8 per 1000 person-years in 2013 [95% confidence interval (CI) 11.5–12.1] to 10.7 in 2021 (95% CI 10.5–11.0) among females and from 10.9 (95% CI 10.7–11.2) to 10.6 (95% CI 10.3–10.8) among males. During 2011–2021, the crude prevalence increased among females from 85.1 per 1000 individuals (95% CI 84.4–85.8) to 99.9 (95% CI 99.2–100.6), and among males from 55.3 (95% CI 54.7–55.9) to 82.4 (95% CI 81.8–83.0). After age standardization, declines in incidence persisted, while the prevalence was stable among females, and the increase persisted among males.

Conclusions

The CKD incidence and prevalence remained higher among females than males during 2011–2021. Despite a notable decline in incidence rates from 2013 onwards, the crude prevalence increased during 2011–2021.
Hybrid stenting through direct ventricular access for severe stenosis of the pulmonary venous baffle after atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: a case report
Authors: Van Kerrebroeck Margaretha , Budts Werner , Pasquet Agnès , De Meester Pieter
Published: November 2024

Background

Atrial switch repair was the first surgical intervention to result in long-term survival in patients with ventriculo-arterial discordance or transposition of the great arteries. However, the natural history after atrial switch is not uneventful with frequent atrial arrhythmia, development of baffle stenosis, and eventually heart failure. For this, new interventions might be necessary but are often associated with increased risk.

Case summary

We present the case of a 49-year-old woman born with ventriculo-arterial discordance or dextro-transposition of the great arteries who underwent atrial switch repair according to Mustard at the age of 1 year. She presented with shortness of breath and reduced exercise capacity. The echocardiography revealed prominent turbulent flow at the level of the pulmonary venous baffle (PVB). This was confirmed on cardiac computed tomography. After multidisciplinary discussion, a hybrid approach was considered as the preferred strategy. In this, the cardiac surgeon provided apical access by left lateral thoracotomy. The PVB was accessed retrograde through right ventricular apical access, and stenting with a covered stent with subsequent balloon dilatation up to 13 mm was performed. This reduced the peak gradient on echocardiography from 18 to 11 mmHg. Clinical follow-up was uneventful with improved functional capacity 6 months after discharge.

Discussion

This case provides an alternative access to the PVB by left lateral mini-thoracotomy and apical ventricular access. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges in decision-making and the importance of the multidisciplinary collaboration between adult congenital cardiologist, the echocardiographer, and cardiac surgeon as well as the flexibility in interventional techniques to individualize the management of such cases.
Early discharge programme after transcatheter aortic valve implantation based on close follow-up supported by telemonitoring using artificial intelligence: the TeleTAVI study
Authors: Herrero-Brocal Marta , Samper Raquel , Riquelme Jorge , Pineda Javier , Bordes Pascual , Torres-Mezcua Fernando , Valencia José , Torres-Saura Francisco , Manso María González , Ajo Raquel , Arenas Juan , Feliu Eloísa , Martínez Juan Gabriel , Ruiz-Nodar Juan Miguel
Published: November 2024

Aims

Evidence regarding the safety of early discharge following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of very early (<24) and early discharge (24–48 h) as compared to standard discharge (>48 h), supported by the implementation of a voice-based virtual assistant using artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing.

Methods and results

Single-arm prospective observational study that included consecutive patients who underwent TAVI in a tertiary hospital in 2023 and were discharged under an AI follow-up programme. Primary endpoint was a composite of death, pacemaker implantation, readmission for heart failure, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, major vascular complications, or major bleeding, at 30-day follow-up. A total of 274 patients were included. 110 (40.1%) patients were discharged very early (<24 h), 90 (32.9%) early (24–48 h), and 74 (27.0%) were discharged after 48 h. At 30-day follow-up, no significant differences were found among patients discharged very early, early, and those discharged after 48 h for the primary endpoint (very early 9.1% vs. early 11.1% vs. standard 9.5%; P = 0.88). The AI platform detected complications that could be effectively addressed. The implementation of this follow-up system was simple and satisfactory for TAVI patients.

Conclusion

Early and very early discharge in patients undergoing TAVI, supported by close follow-up using AI, were shown to be safe. Patients with early and very early discharge had similar 30-day event rates compared to those with longer hospital stays. The AI system contributed to the early detection and resolution of complications.
Single high-sensitivity troponin-I for ruling out acute coronary syndrome: a detection limit approach
Authors: Hickling Siobhan , Francis Chelsea J , Chew Derek P , Mitra Biswadev , Hillis Graham S
Published: November 2024

Aims

The aim of this study was determine the incidence of major adverse cardiac events within 30 and 365-days among patients discharged from emergency departments (EDs), following a single high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I test result below or close to the limits of detection (LoD).

Methods and results

Patients ≥20 years old who presented to four EDs from mid-2014 to end-2015, underwent a single high-sensitivity troponin test and were discharged were included. Data from ED presentations, hospital admissions, mortality records, and pathology laboratories were linked and harmonized. High-sensitivity troponin levels were categorized as below (<2 ng/L) or close to (<5 ng/L) the LoD. The primary outcome was cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction (MI), identified using ICD-10-AM codes. In a cohort of 6633 patients, 49% had high-sensitivity troponin levels below the LoD (<2 ng/L), and 79% had levels <5 ng/L. There were no primary outcome events at 30-day follow-up among patients with high-sensitivity troponin results below 2 or 5 ng/L. At 365-days, there were 5 (0.15%) and 11 (0.21%) primary outcome events for patients with high-sensitivity troponin results below 2 and 5 ng/L, indicating negative predictive values of 99.85% and 99.79%.

Conclusion

These findings confirm that patients with a single very low level of high-sensitivity troponin on presentation to EDs are at low risk of MI and cardiovascular death at 30 and 365 days, supporting the safety of a triage strategy incorporating a single high-sensitivity troponin result below the LoD to identify patients at low-risk, who may be suitable for expedited discharge.
Prevalence and determinants of dyslipidemia in 2338 Dutch childhood cancer survivors: a DCCS-LATER 2 study
Authors: Bolier Melissa , Pluimakers Vincent G , de Winter Demi T C , Fiocco Marta , van den Berg Sjoerd A A , Bresters Dorine , van Dulmen-den Broeder Eline , van der Heiden-van der Loo Margriet , Höfer Imo , Janssens Geert O , Kremer Leontien C M , Loonen Jacqueline J , Louwerens Marloes , van der Pal Helena J , Pluijm Saskia M F , Tissing Wim J E , van Santen Hanneke M , de Vries Andrica C H , van der Lely Aart-Jan , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M , Neggers Sebastian J C M M
Published: November 2024

Objective

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) face an increased risk of early cardiovascular disease (CVD). In our nationwide CCS cohort, we assessed the prevalence and determinants of dyslipidemia, a well-established risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis and CVD.

Methods

Prevalence of dyslipidemia was cross-sectionally assessed in 2338 adult CCS and compared to adults with no cancer history (Lifelines, n = 132 226). Dyslipidemia was defined by multiple classifications as well as lipid abnormalities to investigate the impact on prevalence and determinants. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and BMI, were used to assess the cohort effect on presence of dyslipidemia. Determinants of dyslipidemia were identified through multivariable logistic regression.

Results

CCS (median age 34.7 year, median follow-up 27.1 year) had significantly increased odds of dyslipidemia compared to the reference cohort according to all classifications (NCEP-ATP-III, WHO, EGIR, CTCAEv.4.03). In survivors without lipid-lowering agents (n = 2007), lipid abnormalities were present in 20.6% (triglycerides > 1.7 mmol/L), 30.3% (HDL-c < 1.0/1.3 mmol/L (male/female)), 29.9% (total cholesterol > 5.2 mmol/L), 7.3% (LDL-c > 4.1 mmol/L), and 7.7% (apolipoprotein-B > 130 mg/dL). Compared to references without lipid-lowering agents (n = 126 631), survivors had increased odds of high triglycerides (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.68-2.13), low HDL-c (aOR = 2.73, 95% CI = 2.46-3.03), and high apolipoprotein-B (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.53-2.20). Sex, age, BMI, physical activity, abdominal/pelvic, cranial, and total body irradiation, alkylating agents, smoking, growth hormone deficiency, and diabetes mellitus were associated with (≥1 definition of) dyslipidemia in CCS.

Conclusions

CCS is at increased risk of dyslipidemia, with various modifiable and non-modifiable determinants identified, underscoring the importance of survivor-specific risk assessment tools to control cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population.
Concentrating intelligence: scaling and market structure in artificial intelligence
Authors: Korinek Anton , Vipra Jai
Published: November 2024

This paper examines the evolving structure and competition dynamics of the rapidly growing market for AI foundation models, with a special focus on large language models. We describe the technological characteristics that shape the AI industry and have given rise to fierce competition among the leading players. The paper analyses the cost structure of foundation models, emphasizing the importance of key inputs such as computational resources, data and talent, and identifies significant economies of scale and scope that may create a tendency towards greater market concentration and natural monopolies in the future. We explore two additional concerns for competition, the risk of market tipping and the implications of vertical integration, and we analyse policy remedies that may contribute to maintaining a competitive landscape. Looking ahead to increasingly transformative AI systems, we discuss how market concentration could translate into unprecedented accumulation of power, highlighting the broader societal stakes of competition policy.
Effectiveness of the AF-EduCare and AF-EduApp approach to improve atrial fibrillation knowledge and risk factor awareness in patients with atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Knaepen Lieselotte , Desteghe Lien , Delesie Michiel , Önder Rana , Vijgen Johan , Dendale Paul , Ector Joris , Heidbuchel Hein
Published: November 2024

Aims

Developing an integrated care pathway for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is of pivotal importance, given the different treatment strategies. Moreover, knowledge about the condition is an important factor in engaging patients in their care. Patient education formed the core of the integrated AF-EduCare/AF-EduApp approach. The main aim of this manuscript is to report the impact of this approach on AF and risk factor (RF)–related knowledge and self-care awareness.

Methods and results

Atrial fibrillation patients (n = 1232) were randomized to standard care (SC) or three educational interventions: in-person, online, or app-based education. Patients in the intervention groups received targeted education based on their responses to the Jessa Atrial fibrillation Knowledge Questionnaire (JAKQ) and a Self-Care Questionnaire (SCQ) presented at different time points. Patients who received educational follow-up reached a significantly higher knowledge score (in-person: 86.5 ± 13.2%; online: 82.5 ± 19.3%; app: 80.1 ± 15.0%) than the SC group (65.3 ± 16.6%) after 12/18 months (P < 0.001). The knowledge rapidly improved with the first sessions (i.e. 3 months) and remained sustained in all education groups. Patients with RF at baseline showed a slight but significant increase in awareness about their RF through education [e.g. no knowledge of last measured systolic blood pressure compared between education vs. SC: odds ratio of 0.45 (P = 0.012)], a change that was not seen in SC patients. Nevertheless, patients keep under-estimating the presence of their own RFs compared with objective documentation in their medical record (e.g. hypertension).

Conclusion

The JAKQ and SCQ are good instruments to provide targeted education to AF patients in daily clinical care. Knowledge level increases clinically significantly, but the impact on awareness about personal risk factors remains unsatisfactory.

Registration

ClinicalTrials/gov: NCT03707873NCT03788044.
Lessons learned from Taiwan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: successes, challenges, and implications for future pandemics
Authors: Hsieh Vivian Chia-Rong , Tsai Min-Hua , Chiang Hua-Chueh , Weng Ming-Yi
Published: November 2024

This study aims to provide an investigation of the containment and mitigation strategies encompassing the entirety of the pandemic in Taiwan. This descriptive, observational study used COVID-19 data from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, and analysed news releases from the Taiwanese health authority. Statistics provided evidence of outbreak severity through infection and mortality rates, while qualitative results from the document review offered insights on the actions taken by the government chronologically from 2 February 2020 to 31 December 2022. All three countries experienced significant infection peaks in 2022. Taiwan had two distinct peaks, one in late May and another in October. South Korea had a single, high peak in late March, while Japan experienced multiple smaller waves, the biggest wave in August. Similarly, weekly mortality rates peaked in 2022 for all three countries after a surge in their infected cases, with Taiwan (5.15/100 000) and South Korea (4.69/100 000) having higher rates than Japan (1.65/100 000). Results from qualitative analysis showed that Taiwan’s early containment measures might have delayed the epidemic curve, allowing time for better preparation and proactive responses. However, the lack of a clear transition plan and the vulnerability of the elderly population contributed to higher mortality and infection rates. Despite ongoing challenges, Taiwan avoided nationwide lockdowns and relied on targeted restrictions to control transmission of the virus. Results of this article offer the narratives, reflections, and experiences from the case of Taiwan which may potentially present promising opportunities for impact in other settings and for future pandemics.
Phylogenomics resolves key relationships in Rumex and uncovers a dynamic history of independently evolving sex chromosomes
Authors: Hibbins Mark S , Rifkin Joanna L , Choudhury Baharul I , Voznesenska Olena , Sacchi Bianca , Yuan Meng , Gong Yunchen , Barrett Spencer C H , Wright Stephen I
Published: November 2024

Sex chromosomes have evolved independently many times across eukaryotes. Despite a considerable body of literature on sex chromosome evolution, the causes and consequences of variation in their formation, degeneration, and turnover remain poorly understood. Chromosomal rearrangements are thought to play an important role in these processes by promoting or extending the suppression of recombination on sex chromosomes. Sex chromosome variation may also contribute to barriers to gene flow, limiting introgression among species. Comparative approaches in groups with sexual system variation can be valuable for understanding these questions. Rumex is a diverse genus of flowering plants harboring significant sexual system and karyotypic variation, including hermaphroditic and dioecious clades with XY (and XYY) sex chromosomes. Previous disagreement in the phylogenetic relationships among key species has rendered the history of sex chromosome evolution uncertain. Resolving this history is important for investigating the interplay of chromosomal rearrangements, introgression, and sex chromosome evolution in the genus. Here, we use new transcriptome assemblies from 11 species representing major clades in the genus, along with a whole-genome assembly generated for a key hermaphroditic species. Using phylogenomic approaches, we find evidence for the independent evolution of sex chromosomes across two major clades, and introgression from unsampled lineages likely predating the formation of sex chromosomes in the genus. Comparative genomic approaches revealed high rates of chromosomal rearrangement, especially in dioecious species, with evidence for a complex origin of the sex chromosomes through multiple chromosomal fusions. However, we found no evidence of elevated rates of fusion on the sex chromosomes in comparison with autosomes, providing no support for an adaptive hypothesis of sex chromosome expansion due to sexually antagonistic selection. Overall, our results highlight a complex history of karyotypic evolution in Rumex, raising questions about the role that chromosomal rearrangements might play in the evolution of large heteromorphic sex chromosomes.
Testing the coordination hypothesis: incompatibilities in aggregative development of an experimentally evolved social amoeba
Authors: Jahan Israt , Scott Trey J , Strassmann Joan E , Queller David C
Published: November 2024

Multicellular organisms that form by aggregation of cells arguably do not achieve high levels of complexity. Conflict among the cells is a widely accepted explanation for this, but an alternative hypothesis is that mixing cells of different genotypes leads to failures of coordination, which we call the “coordination hypothesis.” We empirically tested the coordination hypothesis in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. We mixed D. discoideum clones that had evolved in isolation for generations and acquired mutations that have not been tested against each other by selection. To quantify the effect of incompatibilities, we measured performance in terms of the developmental traits of slug migration and spore production. Importantly, we mixed lines evolved from the same ancestor under conditions that would not select for the evolution of de novo kin recognition. Our results show no evidence of incompatibilities in four traits related to the coordinated movement of slugs toward light in the social amoeba. Spore production was higher than expected in mixtures, in apparent contradiction to the coordination hypothesis. However, we found support for coordination incompatibilities in an interaction between migration and spore production: in mixtures, fewer cells succeeded at both migrating and becoming spores.
Detection of snow disturbances in boreal forests using unitemporal airborne lidar data and aerial images
Authors: Räty Janne , Kukkonen Mikko , Melin Markus , Maltamo Matti , Packalen Petteri
Published: November 2024

Snow is among the most significant natural disturbance agents in Finland. In silviculture, maps of snow disturbance are needed to recognize severely disturbed forests where the risk of subsequential disturbances, such as insect outbreaks, is high. We investigated the potential of unitemporal airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) data and aerial images to detect snow disturbance at the tree level. We used 81 healthy and 128 snow-disturbed field plots established in a 63 800 ha study area in Eastern Finland. A subset of trees (n = 675) was accurately positioned in the field plots. We carried out individual tree detection (ITD) using airborne lidar data (5 p/m2), and a random forest classifier was used to classify healthy and broken trees. Tree features were extracted from a terrain elevation model, lidar data, and aerial imagery. We compared canopy height model–based (ITDCHM) and point cloud–based (ITDPC) ITD approaches. We explored random forest variable importance scores and evaluated the classification performance by an F1-score and its components (precision and recall). Performance was also evaluated at the plot level to investigate errors associated with the predicted number of broken trees. We achieved F1-scores of 0.66 and 0.85 for the tree- and plot-level classifications, respectively. The variable importance scores showed that elevation above sea level was the most important predictor variable followed by ITD-based features characterizing the neighborhood of trees. The ITDCHM slightly outperformed the ITDPC at the tree level, while they both underestimated the number of broken trees at the plot level. The proposed approach can be carried out alongside lidar-assisted operational forest management inventories provided that a set of positioned broken and healthy trees are available for model training. Since airborne lidar data often have a temporal resolution of several years for the same areas, future research should consider the utilization of other remotely sensed data sources to improve the temporal resolution.
Testis- and ovary-expressed polo-like kinase transcripts and gene duplications affect male fertility when expressed in the Drosophila melanogaster germline
Authors: Najera Paola , Dratler Olivia A , Mai Alexander B , Elizarraras Miguel , Vanchinathan Rahul , Gonzales Christopher A , Meisel Richard P
Published: November 2024

Polo-like kinases (Plks) are essential for spindle attachment to the kinetochore during prophase and the subsequent dissociation after anaphase in both mitosis and meiosis. There are structural differences in the spindle apparatus among mitosis, male meiosis, and female meiosis. It is therefore possible that alleles of Plk genes could improve kinetochore attachment or dissociation in spermatogenesis or oogenesis, but not both. These opposing effects could result in sexually antagonistic selection at Plk loci. In addition, Plk genes have been independently duplicated in many different evolutionary lineages within animals. This raises the possibility that Plk gene duplication may resolve sexual conflicts over mitotic and meiotic functions. We investigated this hypothesis by comparing the evolution, gene expression, and functional effects of the single Plk gene in Drosophila melanogaster (polo) and the duplicated Plks in D. pseudoobscura (Dpse-polo and Dpse-polo-dup1). Dpse-polo-dup1 is expressed primarily in testis, while other Drosophila Plk genes have broader expression profiles. We found that the protein-coding sequence of Dpse-polo-dup1 is evolving significantly faster than a canonical polo gene across all functional domains, yet the essential structure of the encoded protein has been retained. We present additional evidence that the faster evolution of Dpse-polo-dup1 is driven by the adaptive fixation of amino acid substitutions. We also found that over or ectopic expression of polo or Dpse-polo in the D. melanogaster male germline resulted in greater male infertility than expression of Dpse-polo-dup1. Last, expression of Dpse-polo or an ovary-derived transcript of polo in the male germline caused males to sire female-biased broods, suggesting that some Plk transcripts can affect the meiotic transmission of the sex chromosomes in the male germline. However, there was no sex bias in the progeny when Dpse-polo-dup1 was ectopically expressed, or a testis-derived transcript of polo was overexpressed in the D. melanogaster male germline. Our results therefore suggest that Dpse-polo-dup1 may have experienced positive selection to improve its regulation of the male meiotic spindle, resolving sexual conflict over meiotic Plk functions. Alternatively, Dpse-polo-dup1 may encode a hypomorphic Plk that has reduced deleterious effects when overexpressed in the male germline. Similarly, testis transcripts of D. melanogaster polo may be optimized for regulating the male meiotic spindle, and we provide evidence that the untranslated regions of the polo transcript may be involved in sex-specific germline functions.
Sex Differences in the Association Between 24-hour Rest-Activity Rhythms and Frailty Among U.S. Older Adults: Findings From NHANES 2011–2014
Authors: Kim Jisu , Kenyon Jonathan , Sargent Lana , Kirkman Danielle L , Kim Youngdeok
Published: November 2024

Background

Little is known as to how rest-activity rhythms are associated with frailty and how this relationship differs by sex. This study examined the relationship between rest-activity rhythms and frailty in a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults, focusing on the moderating role of sex.

Methods

2 531 participants aged ≥60 years (females: 55.2%; frail: 5.15% [4.02–6.29]; pre-frail: 33.49% [31.29–35.68]) were included using the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nonparametric rest-activity rhythms parameters, including inter-daily stability, intra-daily variability, relative amplitude, most active 10-hour, and least active 5-hour, were estimated from wrist-worn actigraphy data. Frailty status was assessed using a modified version of frailty phenotype (range: 0–5): frail (≥3), pre-frail (1,2), and non-frail (0). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the interest of associations, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Frail and pre-frail older adults exhibited significantly lower relative amplitude, inter-daily stability, higher intra-daily variability, and phase delay when compared with non-frail older adults (p’s < .05). Particularly, older adults with low relative amplitude had significantly greater odds of being frail and pre-frail (aOR [95% confidence intervals]; frailty: 5.60 [2.61–12.04]; pre-frailty: 1.58 [1.13–2.20]). Significant sex-interaction was observed (p < .01), with this association being greater in females than in males (aOR [95% confidence intervals]; females: 7.78 [2.98–20.30] for frailty, 2.31 [1.60–3.32] for pre-frailty; males: 4.48 [1.38–14.54] for frailty, 1.12 [0.61–2.07] for pre-frailty).

Conclusion

Weakened rest-activity rhythms strength is unfavorably associated with frailty, particularly in females. Rest-activity rhythms may be a useful indicator associated with frailty in older adults, but sex-specific differences should be considered. Further longitudinal research is necessary to investigate the bidirectionality of their association.
Optimized stratified random surveys best estimate multispecies abundance in a rapidly changing ecosystem
Authors: Vilas Daniel , Barnett Lewis A K , Punt André E , Oyafuso Zack S , DeFilippo Lukas B , Siple Margaret C , Zacher Leah S , Kotwicki Stan
Published: November 2024

Data from fishery-independent surveys are critical inputs to stock assessments, ecosystem-based fishery management, and applied ecological research. However, environmental change may affect species distributions and their availability to surveys, with consequences for the consistency and precision of abundance estimates over time. We investigated whether defining survey stratum boundaries by environmental conditions improves the precision and accuracy of abundance estimates in a multispecies survey. We fitted univariate spatiotemporal species distribution models to 16 stocks (14 species) using historical observations of fishery-independent bottom trawl survey catch-per-unit-effort and sea bottom temperature in the eastern and northern Bering Sea from 1982 to 2022. These spatiotemporal models were used to simulate species distributions and survey observations under a variety of environmental conditions and survey designs. The predicted density of each species at each location and time was passed to a multivariate optimization routine to determine whether this could increase the accuracy of estimates of abundance per unit of survey effort across species relative to traditional survey designs. Historical and projected future abundances for 10 of the 16 stocks were estimated more precisely under optimized designs–up to 4× as precise as the existing design. The accuracy of the estimate of abundance precision was always lowest for systematic sample allocation and highest for random or balanced random sampling within strata, suggesting that designs optimized with historical biological and environmental data lead to a better ability to quantify survey precision. The approach developed here can be applied in other ecosystems experiencing change to support the design of flexible survey designs that could increase the efficiency of sampling marine resources under current and future climates.
A unified framework for the error analysis of physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Zeinhofer Marius , Masri Rami , Mardal Kent–André
Published: November 2024

We prove a priori and a posteriori error estimates for physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for linear PDEs. We analyze elliptic equations in primal and mixed form, elasticity, parabolic, hyperbolic and Stokes equations, and a PDE constrained optimization problem. For the analysis, we propose an abstract framework in the common language of bilinear forms, and we show that coercivity and continuity lead to error estimates. The obtained estimates are sharp and reveal that the $L^{2}$ penalty approach for initial and boundary conditions in the PINN formulation weakens the norm of the error decay. Finally, utilizing recent advances in PINN optimization, we present numerical examples that illustrate the ability of the method to achieve accurate solutions.
Deadly Matters: Disciplinary Dilemmas in Aesthetic IR
Authors: Ciută Felix
Published: November 2024

International Relations (IR) has long been imagined as the discipline of somber, serious, “deadly” matters. This imagination constitutes a regime of visibility, intelligibility, and exigency—or, in the terms of Jacques Rancière, a disciplinary distribution of the sensible—that has profoundly shaped the manner in which popular culture has been constructed as an object of inquiry for aesthetic IR. The primary consequence of this distribution of the sensible is the tendency to reduce popular culture to its harmful effects. The benefit of this strategy is to establish aesthetic IR as a distinctive approach to world politics, in terms of its substantive focus on popular culture artifacts, as well as to popular culture, in terms of revealing the normative and ideological work popular culture does at the intersection of the everyday-local with the global-systemic. However, this successful incorporation of aesthetic IR into IR has reproduced the onto-epistemic distinctions that have consecrated IR as the discipline of “deadly matters,” chiefly that between the knowing IR scholar and the “knowledge-poor” that are the objects of her analysis. This creates an epistemic, methodological, and deontological dilemma, in that the necessary focus on “deadly matters” renders invisible the many subjects of popular culture, which contradicts the stated mission of aesthetic IR to make visible the multiplicity of knowledges and subjectivities constitutive of international politics.
Nursing home nurses’ opinion profiles on the potential evolution of their role in antimicrobial stewardship and associated factors: a national cross-sectional study in France
Authors: Ishara-Nshombo Elie , Bridey Céline , Pulcini Céline , Thilly Nathalie , Bocquier Aurélie
Published: November 2024

Background

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health threat, especially in nursing homes (NHs). Nursing home nurses (NHNs) can play a crucial role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), but research on their opinions regarding potential expanded AMS roles is limited.

Objectives

To identify different profiles of NHNs according to their opinions on the potential evolution of their AMS roles and to study facilitators/barriers to implementing new AMS roles and the demographic and professional characteristics associated with these profiles.

Methods

Data were collected from a national cross-sectional online survey conducted from May to July 2022 among French NHNs. Profiles were identified via hierarchical clustering. Factors associated with the identified profiles were studied via Fisher’s exact tests.

Results

Among the 922 participants included in the analysis, three distinct profiles were identified. NHNs ‘more favourable to the evolution of the AMS role’ (40% of the sample) expressed strong support for the potential evolution of their AMS role. NHNs ‘moderately favourable to the evolution of the AMS role’ (46%) were less prone to reinforce discussion with general practitioners about antibiotic prescription. NHNs ‘less favourable to the evolution of the AMS role’ (14%) showed little or no agreement regarding several potential new AMS roles. Being a head nurse was associated with more favourable opinions on the evolution of the AMS role as opposed to practicing in NHs connected to a hospital.

Conclusions

These findings could help healthcare managers and policy-makers tailor the implementation of these new roles among NHNs, if they prove effective and safe.
Bmpr1aa modulates the severity of the skeletal phenotype in an fkbp10-deficient Bruck syndrome zebrafish model
Authors: Jarayseh Tamara , Debaenst Sophie , De Saffel Hanna , Rosseel Toon , Milazzo Mauro , Bek Jan Willem , Hudson David M , Van Nieuwerburgh Filip , Gansemans Yannick , Josipovic Iván , Boone Matthieu N , Witten P Eckhard , Willaert Andy , Coucke Paul J
Published: November 2024

Rare monogenic disorders often exhibit significant phenotypic variability among individuals sharing identical genetic mutations. Bruck syndrome (BS), a prime example, is characterized by bone fragility and congenital contractures, although with a pronounced variability among family members. BS arises from recessive biallelic mutations in FKBP10 or PLOD2. FKBP65, the protein encoded by FKBP10, collaborates with the LH2 enzyme (PLOD2) in type I collagen telopeptide lysine hydroxylation, crucial for collagen cross-linking. To identify potential modifier genes and to investigate the mechanistic role of FKBP10 in BS pathogenesis, we established an fkbp10a knockout zebrafish model. Mass-spectrometry analysis in fkbp10a−/− mutants revealed a generally decreased type I collagen lysyl hydroxylation, paralleled by a wide skeletal variability similar to human patients. Ultrastructural examination of the skeleton in severely affected mutants showed enlarged type I collagen fibrils and disturbed elastin layers. Whole-exome sequencing of 7 mildly and 7 severely affected mutant zebrafish siblings, followed by single nucleotide polymorphism-based linkage analysis, indicated a linked region on chromosome 13, which segregates with phenotypic severity. Transcriptome analysis identified 6 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between mildly and severely affected mutants. The convergence of genes within the linked region and DEGs highlighted bmpr1aa as a potential modifier gene, as its reduced expression correlates with increased skeletal severity. In summary, our study provides deeper insights into the role of FKBP10 in BS pathogenesis. Additionally, we identified a pivotal gene that influences phenotypic severity in a zebrafish model of BS. These findings hold promise for novel treatments in the field of bone diseases.
The association of where patients with prostate cancer live and receive care on racial treatment inequities
Authors: Hammarlund Noah , Holt Sarah K , Etzioni Ruth , Morehead Danté , Lee Jenney R , Wolff Erika M , Burrola-Mendez Yohali , Sage Liz , Gore John L , Nyame Yaw A
Published: November 2024

Background

Black individuals are less likely to be treated for prostate cancer even though they are more than twice as likely to die compared with White individuals. The complex causes of these inequities are influenced by social and structural factors, including racism, which contribute to the differential delivery of care. This study investigates how factors related to the location of where individuals live and receive care affect treatment inequities for prostate cancer between Black and White individuals. We hypothesize that both location and race independently influence treatment inequities.

Methods

We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry linked to Medicare claims to estimate the treatment inequity, as defined by differences in radiation or radical prostatectomy. Fixed effects at the physician, hospital, and patient ZIP code levels were incorporated to adjust for all time-invariant factors at these levels.

Results

The results indicate that residential location-related factors explain only half of the treatment inequity, whereas provider- and hospital-level factors do not significantly account for disparities. Even after accounting for all time-invariant factors, significant differences in treatment rates persist.

Conclusions

The study highlights the importance of understanding race as a social construct and racism as a systemic and structural phenomenon in addressing treatment inequities. These findings provide a necessary step toward understanding equitable care and designing interventions to solve this inequity.
Substrates-mediated microbes mitigate carbon loss in shrub peatlands
Authors: Xue Wenzhi , Ma Haikun , Deng Kaiwen , Qiu Penglei , Liu Jia , Xiang Meichun , Tian Jianqing , Liu Xingzhong
Published: November 2024

Peatlands store one-third of the Earth’s carbon. Climate warming-induced peatlands vegetation shifted from Sphagnum to shrub, however, it is controversial whether this change leads to increased carbon losses. Through sequencing of the rhizosphere microbiome (vertically), measuring peat properties (vertically), a 35-day incubation experiment and a 35-day cross-inoculation experiment (only the upper layer), we investigated the ecosystem functions and the role of microbial communities and substrates in influencing the ecosystem functions of Sphagnum- and shrub-dominated peatlands in three locations in south China. The carbon dioxide emission from shrub-dominated peatlands was significantly lower than that from Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. The slow-growing fungi: Archaeorhizomyces, Hyphodiscus and Acidobacteria: Bryobacter, Occallatibacter were identified as keystone taxa in shrub-dominated peatlands, which mainly explained the effects of shrub microbial communities on carbon dioxide emission. The recalcitrant carbon content was the key substrate associated with carbon dioxide emission and the community composition of the plant rhizosphere microbiome. Furthermore, microbes fixed carbon in shrub-dominated peatlands was significantly higher than in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands, as the carbon dioxide emission reversed between Sphagnum- and shrub-dominated peatlands after soil sterilization. Overall, the relative abundance of keystone microbial taxa and nutrient levels decreased with peatland depth. Our study provided new evidence that climate change-induced peatland vegetation shift from Sphagnum to shrub leads to a higher accumulation of recalcitrant carbon, and does not deteriorate ecosystem functions. This study has implications for predicting the future influence of climate change on peatland ecosystems.
A case of pseudoaneurysm of the marginal artery of Drummond post-open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair
Authors: Shahid Mehrqand , Alawattegama Lakna H , Latif Sherif A , Popplewell Matthew A , Garnham Andrew , Wall Michael L
Published: November 2024

We present the first published account of a pseudoaneurysm of the Marginal artery of Drummond (MAoD) following an emergency open surgical repair of an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm, in which the inferior mesenteric artery was ligated. This was hypothesized to be an iatrogenic injury secondary to retraction of the colonic mesentery during dissection of the aneurysm neck. The risk of pseudoaneurysm growth and rupture versus bowel ischaemia were evaluated in the post-operative phase. Ultimately, the patient underwent successful interventional embolization of the MAoD with no signs of bowel ischaemia post-intervention.