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Although much work has focused on non-social personality traits such as activity, exploration, and neophobia, there is a growing appreciation that social personality traits play an important role in group dynamics, disease transmission, and fitness and that social personality traits may be linked to non-social personality traits. These relationships are important because behavioral syndromes, defined here as correlated behavioral phenotypes, can constrain evolutionary responses. However, the strength and direction of relationships between social and non-social personality traits remain unclear. In this project, we examine social and non-social personality traits, and the relationships between them, in the paper wasp Polistes fuscatus. With a novel assay, we identify 5 personality traits, 2 non-social (exploration and activity), and 3 social (aggression, affiliation, and antennation) personality traits. We also find that social and non-social personality traits are phenotypically linked. We find a positive correlation between aggression and activity and a negative correlation between affiliation and activity. We also find a positive correlation between exploration and activity. Our work is an important step in understanding how phenotypic linkage between social and non-social behaviors may influence behavioral evolution. As a burgeoning model system for the study of genetic and neurobiological mechanisms of social behavior, Polistes fuscatus has the potential to add to this work by exploring the causes and consequences of individual behavioral variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct alcohol biomarkers are of growing interest for the assessment of alcohol consumption, with particular interest in phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in recent years. PEth is only formed when alcohol is present in the body. However, there is no statement about how much the PEth concentration increases after single moderate alcohol consumption. This study was conducted to determine the increase in PEth concentrations after a single drinking event. Additionally, a new volumetric sampling device (volumetric dried blood spot cards (DBSV)) was evaluated, which was designed to simplify further sampling processes and to allow for easy self-sampling. Dried blood samples from 31 volunteers were collected before and after single alcohol consumption with a mean maximum breath alcohol concentration of 0.4 mg/L (range: 0.30–0.55 mg/L). PEth concentrations were determined after automated extraction by liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry. PEth 16:0/18:1 and PEth 16:0/18:2 concentrations increased to an average of 45 ng/mL each in patients starting below 20 ng/mL (range: 25.0–57.0 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1; range 26.8–62.3 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:2). PEth concentrations in patients starting above 20 ng/mL increased by a mean of 30 ng/mL (range: 6.2–71.3 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1; range 8.8–65.3 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:2). In addition, the comparison of the new sampling device DBSV with a standard filter paper card (with volumetrically applied 20 µL of blood samples) yielded a close agreement for the determined PEth concentrations in 24 forensic samples and three external controls. Therefore, the sampling device DBSV proved to be suitable for the determination of PEth concentrations in blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we use a variety of microscopic imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, 3D visible light microscopy, and portable microscopy to capture the topography of rough paper. Paper coated with a model soot was cleaned with either a firm vinyl eraser or softer, putty-like kneaded eraser and reimaged to characterize the disposition of remaining soot. Although both methods remove soot from the upper-most surface of the paper, only the kneaded eraser can conform to the complex topography to remove soot from the interstices between paper fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measure the broad impact of galaxy structure on galaxy formation by examining the ongoing star formation and integrated star formation history as revealed through the stellar masses of galaxies at z < 7 based on JWST CEERS data from the Extended Groth Strip (EGS). Using the morphological catalog of 3965 visually classified JWST galaxies from Ferreira et al. (2023), we investigate the evolution of stars, and when they form, as a function of morphological type as well as galaxies classified as passive and starburst through spectral energy distributions. Although disc galaxies dominate the structures of galaxies at z < 7, we find that these discs are in general either 'passive', or on the main sequence of star formation, and do not contain a large population of starburst galaxies. We also find no significant correlation between morphological type and the star formation rate or colours of galaxies at z < 7. In fact, we find that the morphologically classified 'spheroids' tend to be blue and are not found to be predominately passive systems at z > 1.5. We also find that the stellar mass function for disc galaxies does not evolve significantly during this time, whereas other galaxy types, such as the peculiar population, evolve dramatically, declining at lower redshifts. This indicates that massive peculiars are more common at higher redshifts. We further find that up to z ∼ 7, the specific star formation rate (sSFR) does not vary with visual morphology, but strongly depends on stellar mass and internal galaxy mass density. This demonstrates that at early epochs galaxy assembly is a mass-driven, rather than a morphologically driven process. Quenching of star formation is therefore a mass-dominated process throughout the universe's history, likely due to the presence of supermassive black holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the analysis of the stellar population and star formation history of 181 MIRI selected galaxies at z  = 0 − 3.5 in the massive galaxy cluster field SMACS J0723.3–7327, commonly referred to as SMACS0723, using the JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). We combine the data with the JWST Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) catalogue, in conjunction with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3/IR and ACS imaging. We find that the MIRI bands capture PAH features and dust emission, significantly enhancing the accuracy of photometric redshift and measurements of the physical properties of these galaxies. The median photo- z 's of galaxies with MIRI data are found to have a small 0.1 per cent difference from spectroscopic redshifts and reducing the error by 20 per cent. With MIRI data included in SED fits, we find that the measured stellar masses are unchanged, while the star formation rate is slightly lower by 0.1 dex. We also fit the median SED of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star-forming galaxies (SFG) separately. MIRI data provides tighter constraints on the AGN contribution, reducing the typical AGN contributions by ∼15 per cent. In addition, we also compare the median SED obtained with and without MIRI, and we find that including MIRI data yields steeper optical and UV slopes, indicating bluer colours, lower dust attenuation, and younger stellar populations. In the future, MIRI/MRS will enhance our understanding by providing more detailed spectral information and allowing for the study of specific emission features and diagnostics associated with AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "A Global Call to Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance" highlights the urgent need for global action to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a One Health approach. World leaders will convene at the United Nations General Assembly to address the escalating crisis of AMR, which poses a severe threat to global health. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) jointly issue a call for bold targets and practical steps to combat AMR across human, animal, agricultural, and environmental sectors. The article emphasizes the importance of scaling up action against AMR, reducing antimicrobial use, strengthening surveillance systems, and promoting evidence-based strategies to mitigate the impact of AMR on global health. [Extracted from the article]

A significant amount of researcher and practitioner effort has focused on developing new chemical controls for the parasitic Varroa destructor mite in beekeeping. One outcome of that has been the development and testing of "glycerol–oxalic acid" mixtures to place in colonies for extended periods of time, an off-label use of the otherwise legal miticide oxalic acid. The majority of circulated work on this approach was led by practitioners and published in nonacademic journals, highlighting a lack of effective partnership between practitioners and scientists and a possible failure of the extension mandate in beekeeping in the United States. Here, we summarize the practitioner-led studies we could locate and partner with a commercial beekeeper in the Southeast of the United States to test the "shop towel–oxalic acid–glycerol" delivery system developed by those practitioners. Our study, using 129 commercial colonies between honey flows in 2017 split into 4 treatment groups, showed no effectiveness in reducing Varroa parasitism in colonies exposed to oxalic acid–glycerol shop towels. We highlight the discrepancy between our results and those circulated by practitioners, at least for the Southeast, and the failure of extension to support practitioners engaged in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 circulation is mainly based on real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, which requires laboratory facilities and cold chain for sample transportation. This is difficult to achieve in remote rural areas of resource-limited settings. The use of dried blood spots shipped at room temperature has shown good efficiency for the detection of arboviral RNA. Using a similar approach, we conducted a study at 3 provincial hospitals in Laos to compare the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from neat and dried spot samples. Methods Between January 2022 and March 2023, patients with respiratory symptoms were recruited. Nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs in virus transport medium (VTM), dry swabs, saliva, and dried saliva spotted on filter paper were collected. All samples were tested by SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Results In total, 479 participants were included. The VTM samples tested positive for 288 (60.1%). High positive percent agreements were observed for dry swab (84.8%; 95% CI, 80.2%–88.8%) and saliva (89.2%; 95% CI, 85.1%–92.6%) as compared with VTM. There was a loss of sensitivity when saliva was dried on filter paper (73.6%; 95% CI, 68.1%–78.6%) as compared with saliva. SARS-CoV-2 variant (Delta or Omicron) had no significant impact on the performance of the different sample types. Conclusions Our findings suggest that dry swabs could be a good alternative for sample collection and permit easy shipping at ambient temperature for subsequent viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA purification and molecular investigation. This is a useful tool to consider for a rapid implementation of large-scale surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in remote areas, which could be extrapolated to other respiratory targets during routine surveillance or in the case of a novel emerging pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we update and develop algorithms for KMTNet tender-love care (TLC) photometry in order to create a new, mostly automated, TLC pipeline. We then start a project to systematically apply the new TLC pipeline to the historic KMTNet microlensing events, and search for buried planetary signals. We report the discovery of such a planet candidate in the microlensing event MOA-2019-BLG-421/KMT-2019-BLG-2991. The anomalous signal can be explained by either a planet around the lens star or the orbital motion of the source star. For the planetary interpretation, despite many degenerate solutions, the planet is most likely to be a Jovian planet orbiting an M or K dwarf, which is a typical microlensing planet. The discovery proves that the project can indeed increase the sensitivity of historic events and find previously undiscovered signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present relativistic magnetohydrodynamic modelling of jets running into hydrostatic, spherically symmetric cluster atmospheres. For the first time in a numerical simulation, we present model cluster atmospheres based upon the universal pressure profile (UPP), incorporating a temperature profile for a 'typical' self-similar atmosphere described by only one parameter – M 500. We explore a comprehensive range of realistic atmospheres and jet powers and derive dynamic, energetic, and polarimetric data which provide insight into what we should expect of future high-resolution studies of AGN outflows. From the simulated synchrotron emission maps which include Doppler beaming we find sidedness distributions that agree well with observations. We replicated a number of findings from our previous work, such as higher power jets inflating larger aspect-ratio lobes, and the cluster environment impacting the distribution of energy between the lobe and shocked regions. Comparing UPP and β-profiles we find that the cluster model chosen results in a different morphology for the resultant lobes with the UPP more able to clear lobe material from the core; and that these different atmospheres influence the ratio between the various forms of energy in the fully developed lobes. This work also highlights the key role played by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities in the formation of realistic lobe aspect ratios. Our simulations point to the need for additional lobe-widening mechanisms at high jet powers, for example jet precession. Given that the UPP is our most representative general cluster atmosphere, these numerical simulations represent the most realistic models yet for spherically symmetric atmospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) has been shown to be a rapid, simple and inexpensive alternative to traditional forensic drug screening methods. It can address the limitations of both immunoassays and chromatography-based techniques due to its non-reliance on sample preparation and its ability to rapidly screen for a wide array of compounds. In this study, an automated PS-MS system was employed to semi-quantitatively screen for 40 commonly abused drugs and metabolites in urine after a 15-min glucuronidase reaction. The target compounds included common prescription opioids, fentanyl and norfentanyl, stimulants including methamphetamine and cocaine, benzodiazepines and antidepressants. The enzyme, buffer and internal standard solution were combined in one spiking solution to minimize sample handling. Analysis was carried out using a commercially available automated paper spray system coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. This method may prove useful for clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories as it allows for automated screening of complex samples for drugs without extraction, separation and sample cleanup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Healthcare Nutrition Council (HNC) represents manufacturers of enteral nutrition formulas and oral nutrition supplements, including those categorized as medical foods and parenteral nutrition. HNC member companies, Abbott's Nutrition Division, Nestlé Health Science, and Nutricia North America, a subsidiary of Danone S.A., manufacture a majority of the medical foods consumed in the United States. HNC is proposing a modernized interpretation of the medical food framework to reflect the evolution of nutrition science and health care. The medical food category was first defined in 1988 as part of the Orphan Drug Act. Since then, the scientific community's understanding of nutrition and the role it can play in disease management has progressed. HNC believes that a patient-centric approach is needed to foster research and innovation and to position medical foods as a viable solution in the dietary management of disease. HNC proposes that distinctive nutritional requirements refer to the clinical need for a specific nutritional intake (compared with the intake of healthy populations), which may exist by reason of abnormal physiologic manifestation or physical impairment associated with a disease or condition. The dietary management of these diseases and conditions results in clinically meaningful improvements, including but not limited to nutritional status, health outcomes, or quality of life. HNC believes that abnormal physiologic manifestation or physical impairment would include a limited, impaired, or disturbed capacity to ingest, digest, absorb, metabolize, or excrete ordinary food or certain nutrients or metabolites or other medically determined requirements for nutrients or other food substances of biological value. HNC recommends our position be considered as we build consensus across the industry. We request that the Food and Drug Administration modify and codify the current definition to reflect this. Patients and the health care system will benefit from a strong regulatory interpretation of the medical foods framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host immune activation is common under a pathogen invasion. This physiological response can promote changes in the body surface compounds, thus providing chemical cues related to health that might be useful to conspecifics. By recognizing the current immunological status of social partners, individuals can modulate their behavior to minimize the risk of infection. Tegument wounding, an immune elicitor, is a required step for many parasites to become established in a host. By using the neotropical eusocial paper wasp Mischocyttarus metathoracicus as a model organism, we first performed a lure presentation experiment in the field to test if wasps discriminate conspecific immunological status (experimentally manipulated by wounding) during on nest social interactions. Then, we performed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses to test if immunostimulation by wounding alters the wasps' cuticular hydrocarbon profile. We found that wasps reduce the duration of aggressive physical contact when interacting with wounded lures, despite displaying a similar frequency of inspective and aggressive behaviors toward both the wounded and the control lures. Besides, we found a subtle increase in a single cuticular hydrocarbon in the wounded wasps. Thus, wasps recognize conspecific immunological status, likely by chemical cues, and modulate their behavior in order to defend the colony against intruders while minimizing the personal risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry are sensitive to red objects, such as comb and blood on the body surface, likely inducing injurious pecking in flocks. Light is an important factor that affects the pecking behavior of poultry. A wooden box was built to investigate the effects of Light Emitting Diode (LED) light color (warm white and cold white) and intensity (5 and 50 lux) of background light on the discrimination of red objects in broilers. A piece of red photographic paper (Paper 1) was used to simulate a red object and paired with another piece of paper (Paper 2 to 8) with a different color. Bigger number of the paired paper indicated greater color difference. The experiment consisted of three phases: adaptation, training, and test. In the adaptation phase, birds were selected for the adaptation to reduce the stress from the box. In the training phase, birds were trained to discriminate and peck at Paper 1 when paired with Paper 8 under one type of background light. Twenty-three birds were tested when the paired paper was changed from Paper 7 to 2. Each pair of paper included 12 trials for every bird, and response time to peck and proportion of choices of Paper 1 in the last 10 trials were collected. The results showed that broilers tested under 5 lux light had longer response times than broilers tested under 50 lux light (P < 0.05). When Paper 1 was paired with paper 7, broilers tested under warm white light had lower proportion of choices of Paper 1 than those tested under cold white light (P < 0.05). Color difference had a significant effect on response time of broilers (P < 0.05). Moreover, the proportion of choices of Paper 1 decreased to 50% (chance-level performance) when color of the paired paper was gradually similar to Paper 1. Conclusively, rearing broilers in warm white rather than cold white light with appropriate light intensity should be recommended to reduce damaging pecking behavior in broiler production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During social interactions, the behavior of an individual often depends on the sex of its social partner. Many animal societies have males and females that play very different behavioral roles, although they coexist and interact non-sexually. At specific phases of the colony cycle, social wasp females and males are contemporaries within a nest, they often interact, although mating occurs mostly off the nest, therefore providing an opportunity to test sex discrimination in contexts other than classical sexual ones. We performed a lure presentation experiment to test if Mischocyttarus metathoracicus discriminate between conspecifics of the 2 sexes during on-nest social interactions. Female wasps discriminated conspecific sex during experimentally simulated nest intrusions. Visual and chemical cues may account for this sex discrimination. Despite sex discrimination (evidenced by differential inspective behavior from the nest females toward the female and the male lures), female wasps were as aggressive toward lures of both sexes. In the female-dominated hymenopteran societies, males are often subordinate and not aggressive on nest, resulting in females directing less aggression to them compared to other females. Instead, M. metathoracicus males and females are both aggressive toward nestmates, so they might be perceived as similar threat during on-nest social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, recent calls have emphasized the unmet need to improve precision-based approaches in cardiovascular disease. Although some studies provide preliminary evidence of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circulating coding and non-coding RNAs, the complex RNA biology and lack of standardization have hampered the translation of these markers into clinical practice. In this position paper of the CardioRNA COST action CA17129, we provide recommendations to standardize the RNA development process in order to catalyse efforts to investigate novel RNAs for clinical use. We list the unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular disease, such as the identification of high-risk patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure who require more intensive therapies. The advantages and pitfalls of the different sample types, including RNAs from plasma, extracellular vesicles, and whole blood, are discussed in the sample matrix, together with their respective analytical methods. The effect of patient demographics and highly prevalent comorbidities, such as metabolic disorders, on the expression of the candidate RNA is presented and should be reported in biomarker studies. We discuss the statistical and regulatory aspects to translate a candidate RNA from a research use only assay to an in-vitro diagnostic test for clinical use. Optimal planning of this development track is required, with input from the researcher, statistician, industry, and regulatory partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A crisis in pain management persists, as does the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, addiction, and diversion. Pain medicine is meeting these challenges by returning to its origins: the Bonica model of multidisciplinary pain care. The 2018 Academic Consortium White Paper detailed the historical context and magnitude of the pain crisis and the evidence base for nonpharmacologic strategies. More than 50% of chronic opioid use begins in the acute pain care setting. Acupuncture may be able to reduce this risk. Objective This article updates the evidence base for acupuncture therapy for acute pain with a review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on postsurgical/perioperative pain with opioid sparing and acute nonsurgical/trauma pain, including acute pain in the emergency department. Methods To update reviews cited in the 2018 White Paper, electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for "acupuncture" and "acupuncture therapy" and "acute pain," "surgery," "peri-operative," "trauma," "emergency department," "urgent care," "review(s) ," "systematic review," "meta-analysis," with additional manual review of titles, links, and reference lists. Results There are 22 systematic reviews, 17 with meta-analyses of acupuncture in acute pain settings, and a review for acute pain in the intensive care unit. There are additional studies of acupuncture in acute pain settings. Conclusion The majority of reviews found acupuncture therapy to be an efficacious strategy for acute pain, with potential to avoid or reduce opioid reliance. Future multicenter trials are needed to clarify the dosage and generalizability of acupuncture for acute pain in the emergency department. With an extremely low risk profile, acupuncture therapy is an important strategy in comprehensive acute pain care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper wasps are a model system for the study of social evolution due to a high degree of inter- and intraspecific variation in cooperation, aggression, and visual signals of social status. Increasing the taxonomic coverage of genomic resources for this diverse clade will aid comparative genomic approaches for testing predictions about the molecular basis of social evolution. Here, we provide draft genome assemblies for two well-studied species of paper wasps, Polistes exclamans and Mischocyttarus mexicanus. The P. exclamans genome assembly is 221.5 Mb in length with a scaffold N50 of 4.11 Mb. The M. mexicanus genome assembly is 227 Mb in length with a scaffold N50 of 1.1 Mb. Genomes have low repeat content (9.54–10.75%) and low GC content (32.06–32.4%), typical of other social hymenopteran genomes. The DNA methyltransferase gene, Dnmt3  , was lost early in the evolution of Polistinae. We identified a second independent loss of Dnmt3 within hornets (genus: Vespa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a call for submissions to a Special Issue of the journal GENETICS on Experimental and Computational Methods in genetics research. Topics include experimental techniques such as DNA sequencing, mutagenesis, and single-cell analysis, as well as computational methods for genomic data integration, modeling, and prediction, with an emphasis on new simulation and machine learning approaches.

Few biomarker-based validation studies have examined error in online self-report dietary assessment instruments, and food records (FRs) have been considered less than food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and 24-hour recalls (24HRs). We investigated measurement error in online and paper-based FFQs, online 24HRs, and paper-based FRs in 3 samples drawn primarily from 3 cohorts, comprising 1,393 women and 1,455 men aged 45–86 years. Data collection occurred from January 2011 to October 2013. Attenuation factors and correlation coefficients between reported and true usual intake for energy, protein, sodium, potassium, and respective densities were estimated using recovery biomarkers. Across studies, average attenuation factors for energy were 0.07, 0.07, and 0.19 for a single FFQ, 24HR, and FR, respectively. Correlation coefficients for energy were 0.24, 0.23, and 0.40, respectively. Excluding energy, the average attenuation factors across nutrients and studies were 0.22 for a single FFQ, 0.22 for a single 24HR, and 0.51 for a single FR. Corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.31, 0.34, and 0.53, respectively. For densities (nutrient expressed relative to energy), the average attenuation factors across studies were 0.37, 0.17, and 0.50, respectively. The findings support prior research suggesting different instruments have unique strengths that should be leveraged in epidemiologic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: UX and Usability 5 ~22 papers (paper titles including words: usability [6], user experience [5,] UX [1], Affective Computing 4 ~14 papers (paper titles including the words: emotion [12], happiness [2]) Chatbots 3 ~10 papers (paper titles including words: chatbot [5] conversational [2], voice Activated.

R.A. Fisher's 1922 paper On the dominance ratio has a strong claim to be the foundation paper for modern population genetics. It greatly influenced subsequent work by Haldane and Wright, and contributed 3 major innovations to the study of evolution at the genetic level. First, the introduction of a general model of selection at a single locus, which showed how variability could be maintained by heterozygote advantage. Second, the use of the branching process approach to show that a beneficial mutation has a substantial chance of loss from the population, even when the population size is extremely large. Third, the invention of the concept of a probability distribution of allele frequency, caused by random sampling of allele frequencies due to finite population size, and the first use of a diffusion equation to investigate the properties of such a distribution. Although Fisher was motivated by an inference that later turned out to lack strong empirical support (a substantial contribution of dominance to quantitative trait variability), and his use of a diffusion equation was marred by a technical mistake, the paper introduced concepts and methods that pervade much subsequent work in population genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Medical Certificate of Stillbirth (MCS) records data about a baby's death after 24 weeks of gestation but before birth. Major errors that could alter interpretation of the MCS were widespread in two UK-based regional studies. Methods A multicentre evaluation was conducted, examining MCS issued 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 in 76 UK obstetric units. A systematic case-note review of stillbirths was conducted by Obstetric and Gynaecology trainees, generating individual 'ideal MCSs' and comparing these to the actual MCS issued. Anonymized central data analysis described rates and types of error, agreement and factors associated with major errors. Results There were 1120 MCSs suitable for assessment, with 126 additional submitted data sets unsuitable for accuracy analysis (total 1246 cases). Gestational age demonstrated 'substantial' agreement [K = 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76)]. Primary cause of death (COD) showed 'fair' agreement [K = 0.26 (95% CI 0.24–0.29)]. Major errors [696/1120; 62.1% (95% CI 59.3–64.9%)] included certificates issued for fetal demise at <24 weeks' gestation [23/696; 3.3% (95% CI 2.2–4.9%)] or neonatal death [2/696; 0.3% (95% CI 0.1–1.1%)] or incorrect primary COD [667/696; 95.8% (95% CI 94.1–97.1%)]. Of 540/1246 [43.3% (95% CI 40.6–46.1%)] 'unexplained' stillbirths, only 119/540 [22.0% (95% CI 18.8–25.7%)] remained unexplained; the majority were redesignated as either fetal growth restriction [FGR: 195/540; 36.1% (95% CI 32.2–40.3%)] or placental insufficiency [184/540; 34.1% (95% CI 30.2–38.2)]. Overall, FGR [306/1246; 24.6% (95% CI 22.3–27.0%)] was the leading primary COD after review, yet only 53/306 [17.3% (95% CI 13.5–22.1%)] FGR cases were originally attributed correctly. Conclusion This study demonstrates widespread major errors in MCS completion across the UK. MCS should only be completed following structured case-note review, with particular attention on the fetal growth trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human gut microbiota is the microbial ecosystem in the small and large intestines of humans. It has been naturally preserved and evolved to play an important role in the function of the gastrointestinal tract and the physiology of its host, protecting from pathogen colonization, and participating in vitamin synthesis, the functions of the immune system, as well as glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism, among others. Mounting evidence from animal and human studies indicates that the composition and metabolic profiles of the gut microbiota are linked to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, particularly arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. In this review article, we provide an overview of the function of the human gut microbiota, summarize, and critically address the evidence linking compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiota with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and discuss the potential of strategies for therapeutically targeting the gut microbiota through various interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms are internal regulatory processes controlled by molecular clocks present in essentially every mammalian organ that temporally regulate major physiological functions. In the cardiovascular system, the circadian clock governs heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac metabolism, contractility, and coagulation. Recent experimental and clinical studies highlight the possible importance of circadian rhythms in the pathophysiology, outcome, or treatment success of cardiovascular disease, including ischaemic heart disease. Disturbances in circadian rhythms are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and worsen outcome. Therefore, it is important to consider circadian rhythms as a key research parameter to better understand cardiac physiology/pathology, and to improve the chances of translation and efficacy of cardiac therapies, including those for ischaemic heart disease. The aim of this Position Paper by the European Society of Cardiology Working Group Cellular Biology of the Heart is to highlight key aspects of circadian rhythms to consider for improvement of preclinical and translational studies related to ischaemic heart disease and cardioprotection. Applying these considerations to future studies may increase the potential for better translation of new treatments into successful clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery (JHPS) is not the only place where work in the field of hip preservation can be published. Although our aim is to offer the best of the best, we are continually fascinated by work, which finds its way into journals other than our own. There is much to learn from it, and so JHPS has selected six recent and topical subjects for those who seek a summary of what is taking place in our ever-fascinating world of hip preservation. What you see here are the mildly edited abstracts of the original articles, to give them what JHPS hopes is a more readable feel. If you are pushed for time, what follows should take you no more than 10 min to read. So here goes ... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larger animals studied during ontogeny, across populations, or across species, usually have lower mass-specific metabolic rates than smaller animals (hypometric scaling). This pattern is usually observed regardless of physiological state (e.g. basal, resting, field, and maximally active). The scaling of metabolism is usually highly correlated with the scaling of many life-history traits, behaviors, physiological variables, and cellular/molecular properties, making determination of the causation of this pattern challenging. For across-species comparisons of resting and locomoting animals (but less so for across populations or during ontogeny), the mechanisms at the physiological and cellular level are becoming clear. Lower mass-specific metabolic rates of larger species at rest are due to (a) lower contents of expensive tissues (brains, liver, and kidneys), and (b) slower ion leak across membranes at least partially due to membrane composition, with lower ion pump ATPase activities. Lower mass-specific costs of larger species during locomotion are due to lower costs for lower-frequency muscle activity, with slower myosin and Ca++ ATPase activities, and likely more elastic energy storage. The evolutionary explanation(s) for hypometric scaling remain(s) highly controversial. One subset of evolutionary hypotheses relies on constraints on larger animals due to changes in geometry with size; for example, lower surface-to-volume ratios of exchange surfaces may constrain nutrient or heat exchange, or lower cross-sectional areas of muscles and tendons relative to body mass ratios would make larger animals more fragile without compensation. Another subset of hypotheses suggests that hypometric scaling arises from biotic interactions and correlated selection, with larger animals experiencing less selection for mass-specific growth or neurolocomotor performance. An additional third type of explanation comes from population genetics. Larger animals with their lower effective population sizes and subsequent less effective selection relative to drift may have more deleterious mutations, reducing maximal performance and metabolic rates. Resolving the evolutionary explanation for the hypometric scaling of metabolism and associated variables is a major challenge for organismal and evolutionary biology. To aid progress, we identify some variation in terminology use that has impeded cross-field conversations on scaling. We also suggest that promising directions for the field to move forward include (1) studies examining the linkages between ontogenetic, population-level, and cross-species allometries; (2) studies linking scaling to ecological or phylogenetic context; (3) studies that consider multiple, possibly interacting hypotheses; and (4) obtaining better field data for metabolic rates and the life history correlates of metabolic rate such as lifespan, growth rate, and reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study regarding the production of a multi-fiber modifying enzyme from Mamillisphaeria sp. BCC8893. It mentions that the Mamillisphaeria sp. BCC8893 was optimized in submerged fermentation using a response-surface methodology. Result reveals the characteristics of the complex multi-fiber modifying enzyme utilized in refining and suggests its potential for local on-site enzyme production for the development an environmentally refining process in the pulp industry.

Paper mills processing recycled paper suffer from biofouling causing problems both in the mill and final product. The total bacterial community composition and identification of specific taxa in the process water and biofilms at the stock preparation and paper machine areas in a mill with recycled paper pulp was described by using a DNA-based approach. Process water in a similar mill was also analyzed to investigate if general trends can be found between mills and over time. Bacterial community profiles, analyzed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), in process water showed that the dominant peaks in the profiles were similar between the two mills, although the overall composition was unique for each mill. When comparing process water and biofilm at different locations within one of the mills, we observed a separation according to location and sample type, with the biofilm from the paper machine being most different. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were generated and 404 clones were screened by RFLP analysis. Grouping of RFLP patterns confirmed that the biofilm from the paper machine was most different. A total of 99 clones representing all RFLP patterns were analyzed, resulting in sequences recovered from nine bacterial phyla, including two candidate phyla. Bacteroidetes represented 45% and Actinobacteria 23% of all the clones. Sequences with similarity to organisms implicated in biofouling, like Chryseobacterium spp. and Brevundimonas spp., were recovered from all samples even though the mill had no process problems during sampling, suggesting that they are part of the natural paper mill community. Moreover, many sequences showed little homology to as yet uncultivated bacteria implying that paper mills are interesting for isolation of new organisms, as well as for bioprospecting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, N-methoxybenzyl-methoxyphenylethylamine (NBOMe) derivatives, a class of designer hallucinogenic drugs, have become popular drugs of abuse. These drugs have been the cause of severe intoxications and even deaths. They act as 5-HT2A receptors agonists and have been reported to produce serotonin-like syndrome with bizarre behavior, severe agitation and seizures persisting for as long as 3 days. The most commonly reported derivatives are 25I-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe and 25C-NBOMe, respectively 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)- N-[(2-methoxyphenyl) methyl]ethanamine, N-(2-methoxybenzyl)- 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine and N-(2-methoxybenzyl)- 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine. Like many low dose hallucinogenic drugs these compounds are often sold on blotter paper. Three different types of commercially available blotter papers reported to contain NBOMe derivatives were obtained. These blotter papers were screened using Direct Analysis in Real Time AccuTOFTM mass spectrometry followed by confirmation and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrapole mass spectrometry. The major drug present on each of the three blotter products was different, 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe or 25B-NBOMe. The blotter papers were also found to have minute amounts of two or three NBOMe derivative impurities of 25H-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe, 25B-NBOMe and/or 25D-NBOMe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Genetics Society of America is calling for submissions of papers on the Genetics of Bacteria for their journals GENETICS and G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. The series aims to highlight recent genetic and genomic work on various aspects of bacterial genetics, including genetic diversity, genome preservation, mutagenesis, gene function and regulation, bacterial defense systems, and the genetic basis of medically important traits. The series will be launched in mid-2025, and authors are invited to submit manuscripts by September 30. The papers will undergo peer review and will be published online shortly after acceptance. [Extracted from the article]

We derive a corrected analytical solution for the propagation and enhanced phase mixing of torsional Alfvén waves, in a potential magnetic field with exponentially divergent field lines, embedded in a stratified solar corona. Further we develop a code named TAWAS that calculates the analytic solution describing torsional Alfvén waves using idl software language. We then use TAWAS to demonstrate that both our correction to the analytic solution and the inclusion of wave reflection have a significant impact on Alfvén wave damping. We continue to utilize TAWAS by performing a parameter study in order to identify the conditions under which enhanced phase mixing is strongest. We find that phase mixing is the strongest for high frequency Alfvén waves in magnetic fields with highly divergent field lines and without density stratification. We then present a finite difference solver, Wigglewave , which solves the linearized evolution equations for the system directly. Comparing solutions from TAWAS and Wigglewave we see that our analytical solution is accurate within the limits of the WKB approximation but under-reports the wave damping, caused by enhanced phase mixing, beyond the WKB limit. Both TAWAS and Wigglewave solve the linearized governing equations and not the complete non-linear magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations. Paper II will consider simulations that solve the full MHD equations including important non-linear effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deinococcus geothermalis has frequently been isolated from pink colored deposits of paper industry processes. Laboratory studies have shown that D. geothermalis is capable of forming on nonliving surfaces patchy biofilms that are resistant to adverse agents such as extreme pH, desiccation, solubilising detergents and biocides. This study was done to quantitatively assess the role of D. geothermalis as a biofouler in paper industry. Colored deposits were collected from 24 European and North American paper and board machines and the densities of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes and those of the red slime producers D. geothermalis and Meiothermus spp. were measured by QPCR (quantitative real time PCR). D. geothermalis was found at nine machines, usually from splash area deposits, but its contribution was minor, 0.001–1%, to the total bacterial burden of 8.3 to log 10.5 log units per gram wet-weight of the deposits. When D. geothermalis was found in a measurable quantity, Meiothermus spp. also was found, often in bulk quantity (7–100% of the total bacteria). The data are in line with the properties of D. geothermalis known from laboratory biofilm studies, indicating this species is a pioneer coloniser of machine surfaces and may help other bacteria to adhere and grown into biofilms, rather than competing with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colored biofilms cause problems in paper industry. In this work we used real-time PCR to detect and to quantitate members of the genus Meiothermus from the process samples and end products from 24 machines manufacturing pulp, paper and board in four countries. The results obtained from 200 samples showed the importance of members of the genus Meiothermus as ubiquitous biofoulers in paper machines. This genus was the dominant biofouler in some mills. From ≤104 to 1011 copies of Meiothermus 16S rRNA genes were found per gram of process deposit (wet weight). Meiothermus spp. were found in paper and board products with colored defects and connection between deposit-forming microbes and end-product spots was shown. 16S rRNA gene sequences of 29 biofilm producing bacterial isolates from different mills were determined. Based on sequence data, 25 of the isolates were assigned to the genus Meiothermus, with Meiothermus silvanus and M. ruber as the most frequent species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure—either with reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF/HFpEF)—is a clinical syndrome of multifactorial and gender-dependent aetiology, indicating the insufficiency of the heart to pump blood adequately to maintain blood flow to meet the body's needs. Typical symptoms commonly include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue with impaired exercise capacity, and peripheral oedema, thereby alluding to the fact that heart failure is a syndrome that affects multiple organ systems. Patients suffering from progressed heart failure have a very limited life expectancy, lower than that of numerous cancer types. In this position paper, we provide an overview regarding interactions between the heart and other organ systems, the clinical evidence, underlying mechanisms, potential available or yet-to-establish animal models to study such interactions and finally discuss potential new drug interventions to be developed in the future. Our working group suggests that more experimental research is required to understand the individual molecular mechanisms underlying heart failure and reinforces the urgency for tailored therapeutic interventions that target not only the heart but also other related affected organ systems to effectively treat heart failure as a clinical syndrome that affects and involves multiple organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urine is the best specimen for the diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus, but collection and processing of liquid urine are impractical for screening. Urine dried on filter paper was processed by the same convenient, low-cost method used by newborn screening to test blood spots and showed high sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is a global threat, causing high mortality, especially in the elderly. The main symptoms and the primary cause of death are related to interstitial pneumonia. Viral entry also into myocardial cells mainly via the angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) receptor and excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, however, also make the heart susceptible to injury. In addition to the immediate damage caused by the acute inflammatory response, the heart may also suffer from long-term consequences of COVID-19, potentially causing a post-pandemic increase in cardiac complications. Although the main cause of cardiac damage in COVID-19 remains coagulopathy with micro- (and to a lesser extent macro-) vascular occlusion, open questions remain about other possible modalities of cardiac dysfunction, such as direct infection of myocardial cells, effects of cytokines storm, and mechanisms related to enhanced coagulopathy. In this opinion paper, we focus on these lesser appreciated possibilities and propose experimental approaches that could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular bases of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. We first discuss approaches to characterize cardiac damage caused by possible direct viral infection of cardiac cells, followed by formulating hypotheses on how to reproduce and investigate the hyperinflammatory and pro-thrombotic conditions observed in the heart of COVID-19 patients using experimental in vitro systems. Finally, we elaborate on strategies to discover novel pathology biomarkers using omics platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the source and the distribution of bacterial contaminant communities in water circuits of industrial applications is critical even when the process may not show signs of acute biofouling. The endemic contamination of facilities can cause adverse effects on process runability but may be masked by the observed daily variability. The distribution of background communities of bacterial contaminants may therefore be critical in the development of new site-specific antifouling strategies. In a paper mill as one example for a full-scale production process, bacterial contaminants in process water and pulp suspensions were mapped using molecular fingerprints at representative locations throughout the plant. These ecological data were analyzed in the process-engineering context of pulp and water flow in the facilities. Dispersal limits within the plant environment led to the presence of distinct groups of contaminant communities in the primary units of the plant, despite high flows of water and paper pulp between units. In the paper machine circuit, community profiles were more homogeneous than in the other primary units. The variability between sampled communities in each primary unit was used to identify a possible point source of microbial contamination, in this case a storage silo for reused pulp. Part of the contamination problem in the paper mill is likely related to indirect effects of microbial activity under the local conditions in the silo rather than to the direct presence of accumulated microbial biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mulberry, a vigorous pioneer species used for ecological reclamation and a high-protein forage plant for economic development, has been widely planted in China. To further develop its potential value, it is necessary to explore the regulatory mechanism of nitrogen metabolism for rational nitrogen utilization. In this study, we investigated the morphology, physiology and transcriptome of a paper mulberry hybrid (Broussonetia kazinoki  ×  B. papyrifera) in response to different nitrogen concentrations. Moderate nitrogen promoted plant growth and biomass accumulation. Photosynthetic characteristics, concentration of nitrogenous compounds and activities of enzymes were stimulated under nitrogen treatment. However, these enhancements were slightly or severely inhibited under excessive nitrogen supply. Nitrite reductase and glutamate synthase were more sensitive than nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase and more likely to be inhibited under high nitrogen concentrations. Transcriptome analysis of the leaf transcriptome identified 161,961 unigenes. The differentially expressed genes associated with metabolism of nitrogen, alanine, aspartate, glutamate and glycerophospholipid showed high transcript abundances after nitrogen application, whereas those associated with glycerophospholipid, glycerolipid, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism were down-regulated. Combined with weighted gene coexpression network analysis, we uncovered 16 modules according to similarity in expression patterns. Asparagine synthetase and inorganic pyrophosphatase were considered two hub genes in two modules, which were associated with nitrogen metabolism and phosphorus metabolism, respectively. The expression characteristics of these genes may explain the regulation of morphological, physiological and other related metabolic strategies harmoniously. This multifaceted study provides valuable insights to further understand the mechanism of nitrogen metabolism and to guide utilization of paper mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms can cause severe problems in industrial paper mills, particularly of economic and technological types (clogging of filters, sheet breaks or holes in the paper, machine breakdowns, etc.). We present here some promising results on the use of essential oil compounds to control these biofilms. Biofilms were grown on stainless-steel coupons with a microbial white water consortium sampled from an industrial paper mill. Five essential oil compounds were screened initially in the laboratory in terms of their antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells and biofilms. The three most active compounds were selected and then tested in different combinations. The combination finally selected was tested at the pilot scale to confirm its efficiency under realistic conditions. All the compounds tested were as active against biofilms as they were against planktonic cells. The most active compounds were thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol, and the most efficient combination was thymol-carvacrol. At a pilot scale, with six injections a day, 10 mM carvacrol alone prevented biocontamination for at least 10 days, and a 1 mM thymol-carvacrol combination enabled a 67 % reduction in biofilm dry matter after 11 days. The use of green antimicrobials could constitute a very promising alternative or supplement to the treatments currently applied to limit biofilm formation in the environment of paper mill machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper wasps negotiate over help using indicators of demand. Animal societies are composed of individuals whose genetic interests are often opposed. We conducted experiments on a cooperative paper wasp which reveal the behavioural rules by which group members settle these conflicts.Recent theory and empirical studies of avian biparental systems suggest that animals resolve conflict over parental care via a process of behavioral negotiation or “rules for responding.” Less is known, however, about whether negotiation over helping effort occurs in cooperatively breeding animal societies or whether behavioral negotiation requires a relatively large brain. In this study, we tested whether negotiation over help occurs in a social insect, the paper wasp Polistes dominulus, by recording individual responses to both observed and experimentally induced foraging returns by other group members. In our experiments, we manipulated food delivery to the nest in 2 ways: 1) by catching departing foragers and giving them larval food to take back to the nest and 2) by giving larval food directly to wasps on the nest, which they then fed to larvae, so increasing food delivery independently of helper effort. We found no evidence from Experiment 1 that helpers adjusted their own foraging effort according to the foraging effort of other group members. However, when food was provided directly to the nest, wasps did respond by reducing their own foraging effort. One interpretation of this result is that paper wasp helpers adjust their helping effort according to the level of offspring need rather than the work rate of other helpers. Negotiation based on indicators of demand rather than work rate is a likely mechanism to resolve conflict over investment in teams where helpers cannot observe each other’s work rate directly, as is commonly the case in insect and vertebrate societies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Data papers have emerged as a powerful instrument for open data publishing, obtaining credit, and establishing priority for datasets generated in scientific experiments. Academic publishing improves data and metadata quality through peer review and increases the impact of datasets by enhancing their visibility, accessibility, and reusability. Objective We aimed to establish a new type of article structure and template for omics studies: the omics data paper. To improve data interoperability and further incentivize researchers to publish well-described datasets, we created a prototype workflow for streamlined import of genomics metadata from the European Nucleotide Archive directly into a data paper manuscript. Methods An omics data paper template was designed by defining key article sections that encourage the description of omics datasets and methodologies. A metadata import workflow, based on REpresentational State Transfer services and Xpath, was prototyped to extract information from the European Nucleotide Archive, ArrayExpress, and BioSamples databases. Findings The template and workflow for automatic import of standard-compliant metadata into an omics data paper manuscript provide a mechanism for enhancing existing metadata through publishing. Conclusion The omics data paper structure and workflow for import of genomics metadata will help to bring genomic and other omics datasets into the spotlight. Promoting enhanced metadata descriptions and enforcing manuscript peer review and data auditing of the underlying datasets brings additional quality to datasets. We hope that streamlined metadata reuse for scholarly publishing encourages authors to create enhanced metadata descriptions in the form of data papers to improve both the quality of their metadata and its findability and accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its high cardiovascular risk, patients with CKD, especially those with advanced CKD (stages 4–5 and patients on kidney replacement therapy), are excluded from most cardiovascular clinical trials. It is particularly relevant in patients with advanced CKD and heart failure (HF) who have been underrepresented in many pivotal randomized trials that have modified the management of HF. For this reason, there is little or no direct evidence for HF therapies in patients with advanced CKD and treatment is extrapolated from patients without CKD or patients with earlier CKD stages. The major consequence of the lack of direct evidence is the under-prescription of HF drugs to this patient population. As patients with advanced CKD and HF represent probably the highest cardiovascular risk population, the exclusion of these patients from HF trials is a serious deontological fault that must be solved. There is an urgent need to generate evidence on how to treat HF in patients with advanced CKD. This article briefly reviews the management challenges posed by HF in patients with CKD and proposes a road map to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the genes and mutations that drive the emergence of tumors is a critical step to improving our understanding of cancer and identifying new directions for disease diagnosis and treatment. Despite the large volume of genomics data, the precise detection of driver mutations and their carrying genes, known as cancer driver genes, from the millions of possible somatic mutations remains a challenge. Computational methods play an increasingly important role in discovering genomic patterns associated with cancer drivers and developing predictive models to identify these elements. Machine learning (ML), including deep learning, has been the engine behind many of these efforts and provides excellent opportunities for tackling remaining gaps in the field. Thus, this survey aims to perform a comprehensive analysis of ML-based computational approaches to identify cancer driver mutations and genes, providing an integrated, panoramic view of the broad data and algorithmic landscape within this scientific problem. We discuss how the interactions among data types and ML algorithms have been explored in previous solutions and outline current analytical limitations that deserve further attention from the scientific community. We hope that by helping readers become more familiar with significant developments in the field brought by ML, we may inspire new researchers to address open problems and advance our knowledge towards cancer driver discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animals have ornaments that mediate choice and competition in social and sexual contexts. Individuals with elaborate sexual ornaments typically have higher fitness than those with less elaborate ornaments, but less is known about whether socially selected ornaments are associated with fitness. Here, we test the relationship between fitness and facial patterns that are a socially selected signal of fighting ability in Polistes dominula wasps. We found wasps that signal higher fighting ability have larger nests, are more likely to survive harsh winters, and obtain higher dominance rank than wasps that signal lower fighting ability. In comparison, body weight was not associated with fitness. Larger wasps were dominant over smaller wasps, but showed no difference in nest size or survival. Overall, the positive relationship between wasp facial patterns and fitness indicates that receivers can obtain diverse information about a signaler's phenotypic quality by paying attention to socially selected ornaments. Therefore, there are surprisingly strong parallels between the information conveyed by socially and sexually selected signals. Similar fitness relationships in social and sexually selected signals may be one reason it can be difficult to distinguish the role of social versus sexual selection in ornament evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: To analyze the relative proportion of bioinformatics papers and their nonbioinformatics counterparts in the top 20 most cited papers annually for the past two decades. Results: When defining bioinformatics papers as encompassing both those that provide software for data analysis or methods underlying data analysis software, we find that over the past two decades, more than a third (34%) of the most cited papers in science were bioinformatics papers, which is approximately a 31-fold enrichment relative to the total number of bioinformatics papers published. More than half of the most cited papers during this span were bioinformatics papers. Yet, the average 5-year JIF of top 20 bioinformatics papers was 7.7, whereas the average JIF for top 20 non-bioinformatics papers was 25.8, significantly higher (P<4.5 x 10-29). The 20-year trend in the average JIF between the two groups suggests the gap does not appear to be significantly narrowing. For a sampling of the journals producing top papers, bioinformatics journals tended to have higher Gini coefficients, suggesting that development of novel bioinformatics resources may be somewhat 'hit or miss'. That is, relative to other fields, bioinformatics produces some programs that are extremely widely adopted and cited, yet there are fewer of intermediate success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-one bacterial strains isolated from the headbox water of two machines in a Canadian paper mill were associated with the genera Asticcacaulis, Acidovorax, Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas based on the sequence of their 16S rRNA genes. The metabolic profile of these strains were determined using Biolog EcoPlate, and the bacteria were divided into four metabolic groups. Metabolic profiles of the bacterial communities colonizing the headbox water of two paper machines was also determined weekly over a 1 year period. The only compound that was not reduced by the bacterial community was 2-hydroxybenzoic acid. Utilization frequency of the other carbon sources in the Biolog EcoPlate ranged from 3 to 100%. The metabolic profiles of the bacterial community did not vary considerably between the two paper machines. However, the metabolic profile varied among the sampling dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]