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Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly known as prickly-pear, tuna, or nopal, is a cactus species of economic significance. It is widely cultivated for its fruits and cladodes, used as both fodder and human food. The species would have been domesticated in pre-Hispanic Mexico. In Argentina, two forms are present: the horticultural (spineless, f. ficus-indica) and the wild (spiny, f. amyclaea) forms. The presence/absence of spines would be a genetically controlled trait; thus, the species would have been introduced more than once in our country. A molecular and cytogenetic study was conducted to characterize the genetic variability, infer the source of introduction in Argentina, and explore the relationship between morphotypes. Most spine samples had the Q16-H1 haplotype, except for samples from Mexico, Santiago del Estero, and Catamarca. Samples from Salta, Santiago del Estero, and Catamarca showed morphological differences from O. ficus-indica. The cytological analysis revealed that most populations are octoploid, except for one diploid population from Mexico. Although the number of individuals from Mexico was low, haplotype diversity and number of diploid individuals was higher in that country than in Argentina. The occurrence of a single haplotype of the species associated with both spineless and spiny forms in Argentina reveals a single introduction event and its subsequent dispersion mainly through asexual reproduction. The haplotype diversity found in Argentina is probably due to hybrids between O. ficus-indica and Opuntia species native to this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although crackles on chest auscultation represent a fundamental component of the diagnostic suspect for fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), their reliability has not been properly studied. We assessed the agreement among respiratory physicians on the presence and changes over time of audible crackles collected in a prospective longitudinal cohort of patients with fibrotic ILD. Methods: Lung sounds were digitally recorded at baseline and after 12 months at eight anatomical sites. Nine respiratory physicians blindly assessed randomized couples of recordings obtained from the same anatomical site at different timepoints. The physicians indicated the presence of crackles in individual recordings and which recording from each couple eventually had more intense crackles. Fleiss' kappa coefficient was used to measure inter- and intra-rater agreement. Results: Fifty-two patients, mostly with a diagnosis of IPF (n = 40, 76.9%) were prospectively enrolled between October 2019 and May 2021. The final acoustic dataset included 702 single recordings, corresponding to 351 couples of recordings from baseline and 12-months timepoints. Kappa coefficient was 0.57 (95% CI 0.55–0.58) for the presence of crackles and 0.42 (95% CI 0.41–0.43) for acoustic change. Intra-rater agreement, measured for three respiratory physicians on three repeated assessments, ranged from good to excellent for the presence of crackles (κ = 0.87, κ = 0.86, κ = 0.79), and from moderate to good for acoustic change (κ = 0.75, κ = 0.76, κ = 0.57). Conclusions: Agreement between respiratory physicians for the presence of crackles and acoustic change was acceptable, suggesting that crackles represent a reliable acoustic finding in patients with fibrotic ILD. Their role as a lung-derived indicator of disease progression merits further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The control of insect pest species, mainly belonging to Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera orders, can be based on novel emerging species-specific pesticides. These consist of dsRNA molecules delivered by feeding to insect larvae or adults, which suppress vital gene functions by RNA-RNA sequence complementarity and RNA interference. However, fewer studies of dsRNA feeding have been performed in dipteran pest insects. Two studies in Orthoptera and Coleoptera species have shown that suppressing intestinal enzymes degrading exogenous dsRNA can improve insect mortality rates. Ceratitis capitata (Tephritidae), the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), is a major dipteran pest significantly impacting fruit and vegetable farming. Currently, its control heavily relies mainly on chemical insecticides, which pose health risks and have effects on beneficial pollinators. Previous attempts to induce mortality by adult dsRNA feeding in this and other Tephritidae species, such as Bactrocera tryoni and B. dorsalis, showed some effectiveness, but were often limited. We improved this method by simultaneously silencing two intestinal nucleases and a vital gene. We found a mix of three dsRNAs able to induce much higher mortality (79%) within one week, following only three days of adult feeding. Ceratitis capitata, known as the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), is a major dipteran pest significantly impacting fruit and vegetable farming. Currently, its control heavily relies mainly on chemical insecticides, which pose health risks and have effects on pollinators. A more sustainable and species-specific alternative strategy may be based on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivery through feeding to disrupt essential functions in pest insects, which is poorly reported in dipteran species. Previous reports in Orthoptera and Coleoptera species suggested that dsRNA degradation by specific nucleases in the intestinal lumen is among the major obstacles to feeding-mediated RNAi in insects. In our study, we experimented with three-day adult feeding using a combination of dsRNA molecules that target the expression of the ATPase vital gene and two intestinal dsRNA nucleases. These dsRNA molecules were recently tested separately in two Tephritidae species, showing limited effectiveness. In contrast, by simultaneously feeding dsRNA against the CcVha68-1, CcdsRNase1, and CcdsRNase2 genes, we observed 79% mortality over seven days, which was associated with a decrease in mRNA levels of the three targeted genes. As expected, we also observed a reduction in dsRNA degradation following RNAi against nucleases. This research illustrates the potential of utilizing molecules as pesticides to achieve mortality rates in Medfly adults by targeting crucial genes and intestinal nucleases. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of exploring RNAi-based approaches for pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitalisation of public policy requires that the State uses citizens' personal data. Although researchers agree that data privacy is important, we know little about the conditions under which citizens approve of their personal data being used in different policy domains. This study relies on data from original surveys conducted in Switzerland to demonstrate that citizens' willingness to share their data with the State is low and varies across policy domains. Support for sharing is significantly higher when the data are used to prevent benefit fraud in social assistance or to improve health research than when they are used to fight tax evasion or to prevent crime and terrorism. Nevertheless, we also argue that the more citizens trust government and the more important they consider a policy issue to be, the more likely they are to share their data with the State officials in charge of the relevant policy. Previous use of apps also increases citizens' agreement for the policy-related use of their personal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cactus moth is from South America and feeds on prickly pear cacti (Opuntia sp.). However, it is now present in North America and threatening the native Opuntia plants there. We are investigating a potential biological control agent, the wasp Apanteles opuntiarum, as a sustainable method to control the cactus moth population. This wasp is a larval parasitoid. We studied several aspects of A. opuntiarum reproduction and laboratory rearing. We documented the morphology of the wasp eggs and larvae. We found that A. opuntiarum prefers to lay its eggs on previously parasitized larvae compared to unparasitized larvae. We also found that exposing cactus moth larvae without the cactus and in groups of 20 larvae resulted in the highest parasitism and produced the most wasp offspring, suggesting that these factors reduced defensive behaviors of the cactus moth larvae. Understanding the wasp's preference for previously parasitized larvae and how the cactus moth larvae interact with their environment will allow us to manipulate these factors to improve wasp production in laboratory colonies. Efficient laboratory production will be critical for successful release of this wasp as a biological control for the invasive cactus moth. The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CFTR-related disorder (CFTR-RD) is a clinical entity associated to complex diagnostic paths and newly upgraded standard of care. In CFTR-RD, CFTR genotyping represents a diagnostic surrogate marker. In case of novel haplotype, the diagnosis could represents an area of concern. We described the molecular evaluation of the rare CFTR variant E583G identified in trans with the F508del in a novel haplotype. Methods and results: An adult woman was referred to our pulmonary unit for persistent respiratory symptoms. CFTR Next Generation Sequencing was performed to evaluate full-gene mutational status. The variant identified was evaluated for its pathogenicity integrating clinical evidences with dedicated bioinformatics analyses. Clinical evaluation of patient matched with a mono-organ CFTR-RD diagnosis. Genotyping revealed the novel CFTR haplotype F508del/E583G. Multiple evidences of a deleterious effect of the CFTR E583G rare variant emerged from the bioinformatics analyses performed. Conclusions: Guidelines for CFTR-RD are available with the purpose of harmonizing clinical and molecular investigations. In such context, the identification of novel CFTR haplotype need to a deeper evaluation with a combination of skills. The novel E583G variant could be considered of clinical interest and overall a CFTR-RD Variants of Varying Clinical Consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) experiments, two researchers typically collaborate in the lab. This study addresses the challenge a single researcher faces in managing the TMS experiment's timing while operating the TMS coil. It introduces the Arduino Trigger Generator (ArTGen) to remotely control the timing of TMS experiments using a footswitch pedal. Moreover, a bespoke printed circuit board (PCB) is designed to interface the eegoMylab amplifier with off‐the‐shelf EEG caps. The ArTGen facilitates accurate timing of the TMS stimulator's inter‐pulse intervals (IPIs) through a footswitch pedal, enhancing researchers' control over TMS‐EEG experiments. The PCB interface provides a cost‐effective tool to extend the functionality of the eegoMylab amplifier. The integration of our PCB interface has been validated in a custom TMS‐EEG setup by analyzing TMS‐evoked potentials (TEPs), global mean field power (GMFP), butterfly plots, and event‐related spectral potentials (ERSPs). The PCB reliably preserved EEG signal integrity, ensuring accurate data acquisition. Thorough channel‐wise consistency checks across components confirmed data accuracy. ArTGen's portability and footswitch feature streamline experimental control, aiding TMS‐EEG research and clinical applications. Moreover, our PCB resolves compatibility between the eegoMylab amplifier and the Waveguard EEG cap by extending the amplifier to connect to off‐the‐shelf EEG caps. The ArTGen serves as a robust remote control tool for TMS stimulators, while our PCB interface presents a solution for integrating a customized TMS‐EEG setup. This study addresses the gap in existing TMS‐EEG research by introducing innovative technological enhancements that not only augment experimental flexibility but also streamline procedural workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel host plant–insect interactions often arise from human-mediated introductions of potential hosts to areas inhabited by native insects, or invasive insects to regions with suitable hosts. These novel interactions may drive ecological and evolutionary change in native species. Here we investigate the role of the introduction of the prickly pear Opuntia ficus-indica on the demographic history of the native moth Cactoblastis cactorum. The latter became a pest in its native range after the introduction of the economically cultivated prickly pear. We evaluated potential scenarios of long-term population size changes by applying a demographic simulation framework to a large set of high-throughput sequence data. We sampled populations of the cactus moth from regions of historical incidence of prickly pear crop, in central and northwestern Argentina. To shed insight into the shared history of the exotic cactus/native moth system we integrated the historical records of the introduction of O. ficus-indica in South America into the demographic simulation. We also included a null hypothesis of stable population and/or ancient population changes. Our results reveal population size changes in both Quaternary and contemporary C. cactorum populations. Simulations pointed to a recent population expansion that coincided with the hypothesis of the introduction of the prickly pear after the arrival of Europeans in South America. The presence of the new host during the last centuries apparently prompted the expansion of C. cactorum. Overall, our results are of interest to understand the ongoing impact of introduced species and the complex ecological adjustments of native insects that occur with the introduction of new hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research uses a large dataset from the Italian Seismic Microzonation Database, containing nearly 15,000 measured shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles across Italy, to investigate the uncertainties in seismic risk assessment. This extensive collection allows a detailed study of the seismic properties of soil with unparalleled precision. Our focus is on evaluating Vs variations with depth within uniformly clustered areas, known as seismic microzones. These zones are carefully identified based on their spatial correlation and homogeneity in geological, geophysical, and geotechnical characteristics, which are critical for accurate prediction of seismic response. We contrast these results with clusters formed purely based on geographic survey density (here defined geographic clusters), thereby assessing the depth of our understanding of the subsurface geological and geophysical context. These results were further compared with those reported in the seismic code and literature. This study of depth-dependent Vs variations helps to refine our models of subsurface seismic behaviour. Our main discoveries show that: 1) uncertainties associated with seismic microzones (geological and geophysical clusters) are consistently lower than those identified in geographic clusters, particularly in the first 30 m of depth; 2) Vs profile variations show negligible increases in uncertainty within a certain range of correlation distances (up to about 4,500 m); 3) uncertainties for seismic microzones are lower than those previously reported in seismic codes and in the literature, indicating the effectiveness and precision of our methodological approach. The results of this study significantly improve local seismic response analysis and highlight the critical role of depth and spatial correlation in understanding seismic hazard. The dataset is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10885590 (Mori et al., 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has proven successful in wound healing. However, its potential effects on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of HBOT on graft healing following ACL reconstruction in rabbits. Male New Zealand rabbits underwent ACL reconstruction and were randomly divided into two groups: the HBOT group and the ambient air group. The HBOT group received 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 2 h daily for 5 consecutive days, starting from the first day after surgery. The ambient air group was maintained in normal room air throughout the entire period. After 12 weeks following the surgery, animals were euthanized, and their knees were harvested for analysis. The HBOT group demonstrated superior graft maturation and integration in comparison to the ambient air group, as evidenced by lower graft signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging, decreased femoral and tibial tunnel size, and higher bone mineral density values on high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans. Additionally, biomechanical testing indicated that the HBOT group had greater load to failure and stiffness values than the ambient air group. In conclusion, the adjuvant use of HBOT improved ACL graft maturation and integration, reduced tunnel widening, and enhanced the biomechanical properties of the graft. These results may provide important insights into the potential clinical application of HBOT as a therapeutic intervention to enhance graft healing after ACL reconstruction, paving the way for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an influential recent study, Broockman and Skovron (2018) found that American politicians consistently overestimate the conservativeness of their constituents on a host of issues. Whether this conservative bias in politicians' perceptions of public opinion is a uniquely American phenomenon is an open question with broad implications for the quality and nature of democratic representation. We investigate it in four democracies: Belgium, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. Despite these countries having political systems that differ greatly, we document a strong and persistent conservative bias held by a majority of the 866 representatives interviewed. Our findings highlight the conservative bias in elites' perception of public opinion as a widespread regularity and point toward a pressing need for further research on its sources and impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Policy Analysis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We describe the case of a young 33-year-old woman that was referred to our clinic for evidence of migrant cavitary nodules at CT scan, dyspnea, and blood sputum. Her physical examination showed translucent and thin skin, evident venous vascular pattern, vermilion of the lip thin, micrognathia, thin nose, and occasional Raynaud phenomenon. We prescribed another CT scan that showed multiple pulmonary nodules in both lungs, some of which had evidence of cavitation. Because bronchoscopy was not diagnostic, we decided to perform surgical lung biopsy. At histologic examination, we found the presence of irregularly shaped, but mainly not dendritic, foci of ossification that often contained bone marrow and were embedded or surrounded by tendinous-like fibrous tissue. After incorporating data from the histologic examination, we decided to perform genetic counseling and genetic testing with the use of whole-exome sequencing. The genetic test revealed a heterozygous de novo missense mutation of COL3A1 gene, which encodes for type III collagen synthesis, and could cause vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. In clinical studies, gene replacement therapy with onasemnogene abeparvovec (formerly AVXS-101, Zolgensma®, Novartis) was efficacious in improving motor functioning in children with SMA. However, its effects on cognitive and language skills are largely unknown. Methods: This longitudinal observational study evaluated changes in motor and neurocognitive functioning over a 1-year period after administration of onasemnogene abeparvovec in 12 symptomatic SMA type 1 patients with two copies of SMN2 aged 1.7--52.6 months at administration. Motor functioning was measured using the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test for Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP-INTEND) while neurocognitive assessment was measured using Griffiths III. Motor milestones and language ability were also assessed at each timepoint. Results and discussion: Statistically significant increases in median CHOP-INTEND scores from baseline were observed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after onasemnogene abeparvovec administration (all p ≤ 0.005). Most (91.7%) patients were able to roll over or sit independently for >1 min at 12 months. Significant increases in the Griffiths III Foundations of Learning, Language and Communication, Eye and Hand Coordination, and Personal-Social-Emotional subscale scores were observed at 12-months, but not in the Gross Motor subscale. Speech and language abilities progressed in most patients. Overall, most patients showed some improvement in cognitive and communication performance after treatment with onasemnogene abeparvovec in addition to significant improvement in motor functioning and motor milestones. Evaluation of neurocognitive function should be considered when assessing the global functioning of patients with SMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the cactus moth, is native to South America with a widespread distribution in Argentina. The larvae consume the interior of Opuntia spp. (Cactaceae) plants. The moth was used as a biocontrol agent against invasive non-native Opuntia spp. in many countries around the world. The cactus moth arrived unintentionally in Florida, USA, expanded its range and threatened Opuntia -based agriculture and natural ecosystems in southern North America. The insect is also a pest of cultivated O. ficus-indica L. in Argentina. An endemic South American parasitoid, Goniozus legneri Gordth (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is used in inundative biological control programmes against lepidopteran pests. The goal of this work was to evaluate G. legneri as a biocontrol agent to be used in inundative releases against C. cactorum. Mortality of C. cactorum by G. legneri was assessed at different spatial scales, as well as the interactions with Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a common Argentine natural enemy of C. cactorum. The ability of G. legneri to paralyse, parasitise and kill C. cactorum was confirmed. The paralysis inflicted on C. cactorum larvae reduced larval damage to the plants by 85%. Using two parasitoid species increased the mortality of C. cactorum larvae, but it was highly dependent on the order of their arrival. The combined mortality caused by both parasitoids was higher than a single one, in particular when G. legneri arrived first (56 ± 1%), suggesting asymmetric competition due to the preference of G. legneri attacking previously parasitised larvae. Goniozus legneri has potential as an inundative biocontrol agent of C. cactorum , but its interaction with the classical biocontrol agent A. opuntiarum needs to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni-base superalloys are employed to produce parts of aeronautic engines, space vehicles and power plants. During the production process or lifetime of components, cracks may occur which affect their performance. Reliable repairs can be carried out through high-energy density welding techniques. This work investigated laser welding of the directionally solidified IN792 DS superalloy. The characteristics of the original material and their evolution in the base metal, heat-affected zone and melt zone after laser welding in different conditions and post-welding heat treatment were investigated through micro-hardness tests, light and scanning electron microscopy observations. The study allowed to optimize the process parameters and post-welding heat treatment, obtaining joints without macro-defects, such as cracks and pores, and with properties and microstructures of the melt zone like those of base metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of a defect-free laser melting (PBF-LB) deposit of an AISI 316L steel alloy were assessed by means of an instrumented indentation test (IIT), at both the macro- and nano-scales. The inherent non-equilibrium microstructure of the alloy was chemically homogenous and consisted of equiaxed grains and large-elongated grains (under the optical microscope) with irregular outlines composed of a much finer internal cell structure (under the scanning electron microscope). Berkovich and Vickers indenters were used to assess the indentation properties across individual grains (nano) and over multiple grains (macro), respectively. The nano-indentation over the X-Y plane revealed nearly constant indentation modulus across an individual grain but variable on average within different grains whose value depended on the relative orientation of the individual grain. The macro-indentation test was conducted to analyze the tensile-like properties of the polycrystalline SS 316L alloy over the X-Y and Y-Z planes. The macro-indentation test provided a reliable estimate of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS-like) of the alloy. Other indentation properties gave inconsistent results, and a post factum analysis was, therefore, conducted, by means of a new approach, to account for the presence of residual stresses. The already existing indentation data were supplemented with new repeated indentation tests to conduct a detailed analysis of the relaxation ability of compressive and tensile residual stresses. The developed methodology allows the effect of residual stresses and the reliability of measured macro-indentation properties to be examined as a function of a small group of indentation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that politicians' perceptions of public opinion are subject to social projection. When estimating the opinions of voters on a broad range of issues, politicians tend to assume that their own preferences are shared by voters. This article revisits this finding and adds to the literature in three ways. First, it makes a conceptual contribution by bringing together different approaches to the analysis of projection and its consequences. Second, relying on data from surveys with politicians (n = 866) in four countries (Belgium, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland) conducted between March 2018 and September 2019, it shows that there is more projection in politicians' estimations of their partisan electorate than in their estimations of the general public or of their geographic district. Third, comparing the data on politician projection with data from parallel surveys with citizens, the article reveals that—at least in three out of the four countries studied here—elected politicians are not better at avoiding erroneous projection than ordinary citizens. The article discusses the implications of these findings for the workings of representative democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "policy subsystem" has long been a key concept in our understanding of how policies on a given topic are produced. However, we know much less about policymaking in nascent policy subsystems. This article draws on the theories of agenda-setting and venue shopping to argue that the similarity and convergence of policy subsystems' agendas across different institutional venues and over time are features that distinguish more nascent policy subsystems from their more established, mature counterparts. In simple terms, policy venues' agendas converge when policy actors begin to discuss the same issues and instruments instead of talking past one another. The article illustrates this argument using textual data on Germany's emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy: print media debates, parliamentary debates, and a government consultation from the period between November 2017 and November 2019. The insights from our analysis show that actors emphasize somewhat different policy issues and instruments related to AI in different venues. Nevertheless, the longitudinal analysis suggests that the debate does seem to converge across different venues, which indicates the formation of a subsystem-specific policy agenda regarding AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research campaign was to simulate in vitro the typical conditions for the corrosion in biofluid of a femoral bone implant manufactured with AZ31 alloy. The samples were immersed in biofluid (alpha-MEM) for time intervals of up to 56 days. For each immersion time, the chemical compositions and morphologies of the samples were studied with SEM, EDX, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS. The weight losses of the samples caused by corrosion were also measured. The results highlighted the formation of calcium phosphate crystals on the surface of the samples. This type of coating is well-known for its excellent corrosion resistance and for its ability to accelerate tissue regeneration. The deceleration of the corrosion process, observed after 28 days of immersion in biofluid, confirms the anti-corrosive effect of the coating that was spontaneously formed during the immersion tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politicians regularly bargain with colleagues and other actors. Bargaining dynamics are central to theories of legislative politics and representative democracy, bearing directly on the substance and success of legislation, policy, and on politicians' careers. Yet, controlled evidence on how legislators bargain is scarce. Do they apply different strategies when engaging different actors? If so, what are they, and why? To study these questions, we field an ultimatum game bargaining experiment to 1,100 sitting politicians in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. We find that politicians exhibit a strong partisan bias when bargaining, a pattern that we document across all of our cases. The size of the partisan bias in bargaining is about double the size when politicians engage citizens than when they face colleagues. We discuss implications for existing models of bargaining and outline future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sutureless aortic bioprostheses are increasingly being used to provide shorter cross-clamp time and facilitate minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. As the use of sutureless valves has increased over the past decade, we begin to encounter their degeneration. We describe clinical outcomes and technical aspects in patients with degenerated sutureless Perceval (CorCym, Italy) aortic bioprosthesis treated with valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV-TAVR). Methods: Between March 2011 and March 2023, 1310 patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with Perceval bioprosthesis implantation. Severe bioprosthesis degeneration treated with VIV-TAVR occurred in 32 patients with a mean of 6.4 ± 1.9 years (range: 2–10 years) after first implantation. Mean EuroSCORE II was 9.5 ± 6.4% (range: 1.9–35.1%). Results: Thirty of thirty-two (94%) VIV-TAVR were performed via transfemoral and two (6%) via transapical approach. Vascular complications occurred in two patients (6%), and mean hospital stay was 4.6 ± 2.4 days. At mean follow-up of 16.7 ± 15.2 months (range: 1–50 months), survival was 100%, and mean transvalvular pressure gradient was 18.7 ± 5.3 mmHg. Conclusion: VIV-TAVR is a useful option for degenerated Perceval and appears safe and effective. This procedure is associated with good clinical results and excellent hemodynamic performance in our largest single-center experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local homogeneity, in ecology, is the often undisclosed assumption that variability within populations is negligible or mostly distributed evenly. In large areas, this can lead to the aggregation of different populations without regard for their unique needs and characteristics, such as drought sensitivity and functional trait distributions. Here, we discuss whether this assumption can be justified, and we hypothesize that discerning the source of variation between plasticity and adaptation could be a feasible approach to formulate an informed decision. We test this hypothesis on plants, resorting to a common garden experiment to determine the source of variation of several plant functional traits at a local scale (~60 km) of three wild species: Quercus ilex, Pistacia lentiscus, and Cistus salviifolius. Individuals of each species were sourced from three key sites chosen along a local aridity gradient. Our approach led to the rejection of the local homogeneity assumption for Q. ilex and C. salviifolius at this scale due to the adaptive divergence observed among neighboring populations. This case study provides evidence that addressing local homogeneity can highlight diverging populations in a relatively simple way. We conclude that gathering empirical evidence on intraspecific variability is a feasible approach that can provide researchers with solid bases to decide whether to adopt the local homogeneity assumption or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Policy Studies Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Proper monitoring of fatigue and muscular damage may be used to decrease the high levels of cardiovascular disease, overuse musculoskeletal injuries, and workers compensation claims within the profession of firefighting. The purpose of this study was to examine muscle damage, muscular fatigue, and inflammation responses following a typical firefighting shift. Twenty-four professional firefighters completed two Physical Ability Tests to standardize the tasks typically performed in a day of work, and to elicit similar physiological responses. Participants were then monitored for 48 h. Prior to, and 48 h following the Physical Ability Tests, participants were evaluated for changes in strength, power, range-of-motion, as well as blood markers including myoglobin and c-reactive protein. Following the Physical Ability Tests, significant differences in myoglobin (p < 0.05), grip strength (p < 0.05), vertical jump (p < 0.05), and sit-and-reach (p < 0.05) were observed. No difference in c-reactive protein was observed (p > 0.05). After 24 hours following a shift, firefighters exhibited decreased strength, power, and range-of-motion. This may lead to decreases in performance and an increased risk of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-menthol (menthol) is an organic compound derived from peppermint which imparts a refreshing mint flavor and aroma to oral hygiene products, chewing gum, and topical analgesics. Menthol has been identified as a non-thermal sensory cooling strategy for athletes when ingested or mouth-rinsed during exercise in hot environments. Therefore, sports nutrition products delivering a controlled concentration of menthol could be beneficial for athletes exercising in the heat. We sought to test the performance and perceptual outcomes of a novel menthol energy gel during treadmill running in the heat (33 °C, 49% RH). Fourteen trained runners (mean ± SD; age: 31 ± 6 years, VO2max: 56.5 ± 10.1 mL·kg−1·min−1, BMI: 23.2 ± 2.4 kg/m2; six female) participated in a randomized, crossover, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. A menthol-enhanced energy gel (0.5% concentration; MEN) or flavor-matched placebo (PLA) was ingested 5 min before and again at 20 and 40 min of a 40 min treadmill exercise preload at 60% VO2max, followed by a 20 min self-paced time trial. The total distance, vertical distance, perceptual measures (thermal comfort, thermal sensation, rating of perceived exertion, and affect), and cognitive performance via computerized neurocognitive assessment were measured. No difference between 20 min self-paced time trial total distance (MEN: 4.22 ± 0.54 km, PLA: 4.22 ± 0.55 km, p = 0.867), vertical distance (MEN: 49.2 ± 24.6 m, PLA: 44.4 ± 11.4 m, p = 0.516), or any perceptual measures was observed (all p > 0.05). Cognitive performance was not different between the trials (all p > 0.05). These results suggest that a menthol energy gel is not superior to a non-menthol gel in terms of performance or perception during treadmill running in the heat. More research is needed to confirm whether these findings translate to ecologically valid settings, including outdoor exercise in ambient heat and during competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media networks have grown exponentially over the last two decades, providing the opportunity for users of the internet to communicate and exchange ideas on a variety of topics. The outcome is that opinion mining plays a crucial role in analyzing user opinions and applying these to guide choices, making it one of the most popular areas of research in the field of natural language processing. Despite the fact that several languages, including English, have been the subjects of several studies, not much has been conducted in the area of the Arabic language. The morphological complexities and various dialects of the language make semantic analysis particularly challenging. Moreover, the lack of accurate pre-processing tools and limited resources are constraining factors. This novel study was motivated by the accomplishments of deep learning algorithms and word embeddings in the field of English sentiment analysis. Extensive experiments were conducted based on supervised machine learning in which word embeddings were exploited to determine the sentiment of Arabic reviews. Three deep learning algorithms, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM), and a hybrid CNN-LSTM, were introduced. The models used features learned by word embeddings such as Word2Vec and fastText rather than hand-crafted features. The models were tested using two benchmark Arabic datasets: Hotel Arabic Reviews Dataset (HARD) for hotel reviews and Large-Scale Arabic Book Reviews (LARB) for book reviews, with different setups. Comparative experiments utilized the three models with two-word embeddings and different setups of the datasets. The main novelty of this study is to explore the effectiveness of using various word embeddings and different setups of benchmark datasets relating to balance, imbalance, and binary and multi-classification aspects. Findings showed that the best results were obtained in most cases when applying the fastText word embedding using the HARD 2-imbalance dataset for all three proposed models: CNN, LSTM, and CNN-LSTM. Further, the proposed CNN model outperformed the LSTM and CNN-LSTM models for the benchmark HARD dataset by achieving 94.69%, 94.63%, and 94.54% accuracy with fastText, respectively. Although the worst results were obtained for the LABR 3-imbalance dataset using both Word2Vec and FastText, they still outperformed other researchers' state-of-the-art outcomes applying the same dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal prosthesis and grafts are currently made of Ti alloys, stainless steels and Co–Cr alloys. In spite of excellent biocompatibility, they show some drawbacks that concern their mechanical properties (e.g. elastic modulus) and the need of secondary surgery for removing the implant. For this reason, a growing attention has been focused on biodegradable materials that can be absorbed into the body after tissue remodelling. In particular, Mg alloys are promising candidates for temporary implants thanks to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability and good mechanical properties that match those of human bone. In this work, the surface modifications of biodegradable AZ31 alloy were analysed after immersion for 15 days in a physiological solution (NaCl 0.09%) by using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. XPS analysis of the surface of as‐supplied AZ31 alloy showed the presence of MgO, whereas after immersion in the physiological solution, only Mg (OH)2 was detected. The result has been discussed with reference to literature data. From the photoemission spectra and quantitative analysis, a small amount of Ca (about 2 wt%) was also detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium and its alloys are widely employed in commercial dental devices. Because the surface morphology and chemical composition of Ti‐based dental implants play a relevant role in osseointegration, three different commercial threaded implants have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Implants A and C were made of pure Ti whereas the Implant B was made of Ti6Al4V alloy. Obtained results evidenced the common features and differences due to specific process parameters used in the treatments of mordanting and sandblasting for surface roughening. Implant A exhibits a uniform surface covered by very small dimples of about 1–2 μm. The surface of Implant B is not homogeneous: The thread tops present an irregular morphology (dimples size >10 μm) while finer dimples (about 1 μm) are observed along the thread flanks and valleys. Implant C shows an irregular morphology with dimples of different sizes and shapes distributed on thread tops, flanks, and valleys. XPS analyses revealed the presence of metal oxides: TiO2 in all the implants; Al2O3 and V2O5 only in the implant B. Moreover, these results demonstrated that Mg2SiO4 is present on the surface of Implant A, probably due to a specific preparation process. Obtained results have been discussed on the basis of the factors promoting the osseointegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin Al foils are promising materials for applications in devices of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In this work, three foils of high purity (5N) Al with different thickness (10, 50, and 125 μm) were analyzed by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), before and after annealing (720 K for 30 min). XPS surface analysis and depth profiling of chemical composition were performed to investigate the distribution of Al oxide. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements were also carried out in order to identify the plasmon losses and chemical state of Al. The loss peaks in the 5N‐Al thin foils were compared with those of an Al foil of commercial purity (99.95 wt%). The thickness of the oxide layer on the sample surface of all the samples is not constant and oxide is thicker in the samples of high purity than in those of commercial quality. Moreover, the thinnest foils of 5N‐Al (10 μm) exhibit the thinnest oxide layer. These findings have been discussed by considering the size effect, that is, mechanical properties of thin foils are improving as the thickness decreases. The complex morphology of the metal‐oxide interface may contribute to enhance the mechanical performances of Al foils with a thickness below ~50 μm, because the free dislocations pile up against the interface which represents an obstacle for their motion hindering plastic deformation. Obtained results suggest that Al foils to be used in MEMS devices should be of high purity and annealed to get a surface completely covered by the oxide layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiomyopathies are mostly determined by genetic mutations affecting either cardiac muscle cell structure or function. Nevertheless, cardiomyopathies may also be part of complex clinical phenotypes in the spectrum of neuromuscular (NMD) or mitochondrial diseases (MD). The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, molecular, and histological characteristics of a consecutive cohort of patients with cardiomyopathy associated with NMDs or MDs referred to a tertiary cardiomyopathy clinic. Consecutive patients with a definitive diagnosis of NMDs and MDs presenting with a cardiomyopathy phenotype were described. Seven patients were identified: two patients with ACAD9 deficiency (Patient 1 carried the c.1240C>T (p.Arg414Cys) homozygous variant in ACAD9; Patient 2 carried the c.1240C>T (p.Arg414Cys) and the c.1646G>A (p.Ar549Gln) variants in ACAD9); two patients with MYH7-related myopathy (Patient 3 carried the c.1325G>A (p.Arg442His) variant in MYH7; Patient 4 carried the c.1357C>T (p.Arg453Cys) variant in MYH7); one patient with desminopathy (Patient 5 carried the c.46C>T (p.Arg16Cys) variant in DES); two patients with mitochondrial myopathy (Patient 6 carried the m.3243A>G variant in MT-TL1; Patient 7 carried the c.253G>A (p.Gly85Arg) and the c.1055C>T (p.Thr352Met) variants in MTO1). All patients underwent a comprehensive cardiovascular and neuromuscular evaluation, including muscle biopsy and genetic testing. This study described the clinical phenotype of rare NMDs and MDs presenting as cardiomyopathies. A multidisciplinary evaluation, combined with genetic testing, plays a main role in the diagnosis of these rare diseases, and provides information about clinical expectations, and guides management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aeronautics, additive manufacturing (AM) leads to specific benefits, mainly connected to topological optimization for weight reduction, the decrease in "buy-to-fly" ratio, and the operations of maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Al alloys processed by AM technologies are extensively investigated and play an increasing role in the production of aircraft structural parts. Based on the recent literature and research activity of the authors, this work examines advantages and drawbacks involved in the printing of Al alloys. Defects, microstructure, mechanical properties, development of new alloys, and postprocess treatments are described and critically discussed by focusing the attention on the effects of the specific alloy composition, AM process, and process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) was struck by a seismic crisis characterized by two main shocks (ML 5.9 and 5.8) which triggered relevant liquefaction events. Terre del Reno is one of the municipalities that experienced the most extensive liquefaction effects due to its complex geostratigraphic and geomorphological setting. This area is indeed located in a floodplain characterized by lenticular fluvial channel bodies associated with crevasse and levee clay–sand alternations, related to the paleo-Reno River. Therefore, it was chosen as a case study for the PERL project, which aims to define a new integrated methodology to assess the liquefaction susceptibility in complex stratigraphic conditions through a multi-level approach. To this aim, about 1800 geotechnical, geophysical, and hydrogeological investigations from previous studies and new realization surveys were collected and stored in the PERL dataset. This dataset is here publicly disclosed, and some possible applications are reported to highlight its potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BET proteins function as histone code readers of acetylated lysins that determine the positive regulation in transcription of genes involved in cell cycle progression, differentiation, inflammation, and many other pathways. In recent years, thanks to the development of BET inhibitors, interest in this protein family has risen for its relevance in brain development and function. For example, experimental evidence has shown that BET modulation affects neuronal activity and the expression of genes involved in learning and memory. In addition, BET inhibition strongly suppresses molecular pathways related to neuroinflammation. These observations suggest that BET modulation may play a critical role in the onset and during the development of diverse neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, fragile X syndrome, and Rett syndrome. In this review article, we summarize the most recent evidence regarding the involvement of BET proteins in brain physiology and pathology, as well as their pharmacological potential as targets for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of reinforced polymer composite materials has had a significant influence on the challenging problem of shielding against high-energy photons, particularly X-rays and γ -rays in industrial and healthcare facilities. Heavy materials' shielding characteristics hold a lot of potential for bolstering concrete chunks. The mass attenuation coefficient is the main physical factor that is utilized to measure the narrow beam γ -ray attenuation of various combinations of magnetite and mineral powders with concrete. Data-driven machine learning approaches can be investigated to assess the gamma-ray shielding behavior of composites as an alternative to theoretical calculations, which are often time- and resource-intensive during workbench testing. We developed a dataset using magnetite and seventeen mineral powder combinations at different densities and water/cement ratios, exposed to photon energy ranging from 1 to 100 6 kiloelectronvolt (KeV). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) photon cross-section database and software methodology (XCOM) was used to compute the concrete's γ -ray shielding characteristics (LAC). The XCOM-calculated LACs and seventeen mineral powders were exploited using a range of machine learning (ML) regressors. The goal was to investigate whether the available dataset and XCOM-simulated LAC can be replicated using ML techniques in a data-driven approach. The minimum absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and R 2 s c o r e were employed to assess the performance of our proposed ML models, specifically a support vector machine (SVM), 1d-convolutional neural network (CNN), multi-Layer perceptrons (MLP), linear regressor, decision tree, hierarchical extreme machine learning (HELM), extreme learning machine (ELM), and random forest networks. Comparative results showed that our proposed HELM architecture outperformed state-of-the-art SVM, decision tree, polynomial regressor, random forest, MLP, CNN, and conventional ELM models. Stepwise regression and correlation analysis were further used to evaluate the forecasting capability of ML techniques compared to the benchmark XCOM approach. According to the statistical analysis, the HELM model showed strong consistency between XCOM and predicted LAC values. Additionally, the HELM model performed better in terms of accuracy than the other models used in this study, yielding the highest R2score and the lowest MAE and RMSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of what voters prefer is central to several theories of democratic representation and accountability. Despite this, we know little in a comparative sense of how well politicians know citizens' policy preferences. We present results from a study of 866 politicians in four countries. Politicians were asked to estimate the percentage of public support for various policy proposals. Comparing more than 10,000 estimations with actual levels of public support, we conclude that politicians are quite inaccurate estimators of people's preferences. They make large errors and even regularly misperceive what a majority of the voters wants. Politicians are hardly better at estimating public preferences than ordinary citizens. They misperceive not only the preferences of the general public but also the preferences of their own partisan electorate. Politicians are not the experts of public opinion we expect them to be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) primarily affects old patients. Old age is a predictor of mortality. Nintedanib, the only antifibrotic drug approved in Italy for patients aged >80 years, can slow the progression of IPF by reducing the rate of decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and the risk of exacerbations. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to compare the decline of FVC after 12 months of nintedanib in patients aged >80 years versus younger patients. Differences related to other functional data, safety, tolerability, hospitalizations, exacerbations, and mortality were evaluated. Methods: An observational, retrospective, multicenter study was carried out in Italy. Results: 159 (122 [76.7%] males) patients were recruited: 106 (66.7%) aged ≤80 years and 53 (33.3%) aged >80 years. FVC decline after 12 months of therapy was not significantly different (−45 mL [−170; 75] vs. −20 mL [−138; 110] mL; p: 0.51). No differences were found for other functional data. Diarrhea was the most frequent adverse event (AE). Rate and type of any AEs, permanent/temporary dose reduction, or drug discontinuation were not significantly different between patients aged ≤80 vs. >80 years. Furthermore, acute exacerbations, hospitalization, and mortality were not significantly different. Conclusions: Nintedanib is effective and safe in patients with IPF aged >80 years, and no significant differences were found when clinical outcomes were compared with those of younger patients. Thus, older age should not be a barrier for the early prescription of antifibrotic treatment in IPF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Docência do Ensino Superior is the property of Revista Docencia do Ensino Superior and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Purpose: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress triggers an adaptive response in tumours which fosters cell survival and resilience to stress. Activation of the ER stress response, through its PERK branch, promotes phosphorylation of the α‐subunit of the translation initiation factor eIF2, thereby repressing general protein translation and augmenting the translation of ATF4 with the downstream CHOP transcription factor and the protein disulfide oxidase, ERO1‐alpha Experimental Approach: Here, we show that ISRIB, a small molecule that inhibits the action of phosphorylated eIF2alpha, activating protein translation, synergistically interacts with the genetic deficiency of protein disulfide oxidase ERO1‐alpha, enfeebling breast tumour growth and spread. Key Results: ISRIB represses the CHOP signal, but does not inhibit ERO1. Mechanistically, ISRIB increases the ER protein load with a marked perturbing effect on ERO1‐deficient triple‐negative breast cancer cells, which display impaired proteostasis and have adapted to a low client protein load in hypoxia, and ERO1 deficiency impairs VEGF‐dependent angiogenesis. ERO1‐deficient triple‐negative breast cancer xenografts have an augmented ER stress response and its PERK branch. ISRIB acts synergistically with ERO1 deficiency, inhibiting the growth of triple‐negative breast cancer xenografts by impairing proliferation and angiogenesis. Conclusion and Implications: These results demonstrate that ISRIB together with ERO1 deficiency synergistically shatter the PERK‐dependent adaptive ER stress response, by restarting protein synthesis in the setting of impaired proteostasis, finally promoting tumour cytotoxicity. Our findings suggest two surprising features in breast tumours: ERO1 is not regulated via CHOP under hypoxic conditions, and ISRIB offers a therapeutic option to efficiently inhibit tumour progression in conditions of impaired proteostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with previously diagnosed HF are at greater risk for subsequent morbidity and mortality when hospitalized for an Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The purpose of our study was to describe the time trend of the incidence of emergent CABG in patients with and without HF, the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and the risk factors for mortality of surgical revascularization in the short and medium term. This was a single-center retrospective observational study of patients who underwent isolated emergency CABG from January 2009 to January 2020. A propensity-score matching analysis yielded two comparable groups (n = 430) of patients without (n = 215) and with (n = 215) heart failure. In-hospital mortality did not differ in the two groups (2.8%; p > 0.9); the patients with heart failure presented more frequently with cardiogenic shock, and there was an association with mortality and mechanical circulatory support (OR 16.7–95% CI 3.31–140; p = 0.002) and postoperative acute renal failure (OR 15.9–95% CI 0.66–203; p = 0.036). In the early- and mid-term, heart failure and NSTEMI were associated with mortality (HR 3.47–95% CI 1.15–10.5; p = 0.028), along with age (HR 1.28–95% CI 1.21–1.36; p < 0.001). Surgical revascularization offers an excellent solution for patients with acute coronary syndrome, leading to a good immediate prognosis even in those with chronic heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In trait‐based ecology, phenotypic variation (PVar) is often quantified with measures expressing average differences between populations standardized in the range 0–1. However, these measures disregard the within‐population trait variability. In addition, some of them cannot be partitioned between populations. These aspects can either alter their interpretation or limit their applicability. To overcome these problems, we propose a new measure, the phenotypic dissimilarity (PhD) index, to quantify PVar between populations in scenarios of varying within‐population interindividual trait variability. PhD can also quantify within‐population PVar while accounting for intraindividual trait variability. Using simulated and real data, we show that using the PhD index becomes important when the within‐population trait variability is not negligible, as in all ecological studies. By accounting for within‐population trait variability, the PhD index does not overestimate PVar across an environmental gradient compared to other estimators. Traits inherently vary within species. Accounting for such variability is essential to understanding species' phenotypic responses to environmental cues. The proposed PhD index will provide ecologists with a tool for quantifying PVar within species and compare it between species at different levels of biological organization. We provide an R function to calculate the PhD index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]