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Genetic testing in a multisite clinical trial network for inherited eye conditions is described in this retrospective review of data collected through eyeGENE®, the National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping and Phenotyping Network. Participants in eyeGENE were enrolled through a network of clinical providers throughout the United States and Canada. Blood samples and clinical data were collected to establish a phenotype:genotype database, biorepository, and patient registry. Data and samples are available for research use, and participants are provided results of clinical genetic testing. eyeGENE utilized a unique, distributed clinical trial design to enroll 6,403 participants from 5,385 families diagnosed with over 30 different inherited eye conditions. The most common diagnoses given for participants were retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease, and choroideremia. Pathogenic variants were most frequently reported in ABCA4 (37%), USH2A (7%), RPGR (6%), CHM (5%), and PRPH2 (3%). Among the 5,552 participants with genetic testing, at least one pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant was observed in 3,448 participants (62.1%), and variants of uncertain significance in 1,712 participants (30.8%). Ten genes represent 68% of all pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in eyeGENE. Cross-referencing current gene therapy clinical trials, over a thousand participants may be eligible, based on pathogenic variants in genes targeted by those therapies. This article is the first summary of genetic testing from thousands of participants tested through eyeGENE, including reports from 5,552 individuals. eyeGENE provides a launching point for inherited eye research, connects researchers with potential future study participants, and provides a valuable resource to the vision community., (Published [2020]. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.)

Molecular genetics and genomics are revolutionizing the study and treatment of inherited eye diseases. In recognition of the impact of molecular genetics on vision and ophthalmology, the National Eye Institute established the National Ophthalmic Disease Genotyping and Phenotyping Network ( eyeGENE®) as a multidirectional research initiative whereby a clinical component for patients diagnosed with inherited eye disease fosters research into the causes and mechanisms of these ophthalmic diseases. This is accomplished by broadening access to genetic diagnostic testing and maintaining a repository of DNA samples from clinically characterized individuals and their families to allow investigations of the causes, interventions, and management of genetic eye disorders. The eyeGENE® Network currently includes Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments ( CLIA)-certified diagnostic laboratory partners, over 270 registered clinical organizations with 500 registered users from around the United States and Canada, and is now testing approximately 100 genes representing 35 inherited eye diseases. To date, the Network has received 4400 samples from individuals with rare inherited eye diseases, which are available for access by the vision research community. eyeGENE® is a model partnership between the U.S. federal government, eye health care providers, CLIA-approved molecular diagnostic laboratories, private industry, and scientists who represent a broad research constituency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi of the genus Aspergillus are widespread in the environment. Some Aspergillus species, most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus, may lead to a variety of allergic reactions and life-threatening systemic infections in humans. Invasive aspergillosis occurs primarily in patients with severe immunodeficiency, and has dramatically increased in recent years. There are several factors at play that contribute to aspergillosis, including both fungus and host-related factors such as strain virulence and host pulmonary structure/immune status, respectively. The environmental tenacity of Aspergilllus, its dominance in diverse microbial communities/habitats, and its ability to navigate the ecophysiological and biophysical challenges of host infection are attributable, in large part, to a robust stress-tolerance biology and exceptional capacity to generate cell-available energy. Aspects of its stress metabolism, ecology, interactions with diverse animal hosts, clinical presentations and treatment regimens have been well-studied over the past years. Here, we synthesize these findings in relation to the way in which some Aspergillus species have become successful opportunistic pathogens of human- and other animal hosts. We focus on the biophysical capabilities of Aspergillus pathogens, key aspects of their ecophysiology and the flexibility to undergo a sexual cycle or form cryptic species. Additionally, recent advances in diagnosis of the disease are discussed as well as implications in relation to questions that have yet to be resolved., (© 2016 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Canada's forests play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle because of their large and dynamic C stocks. Detailed monitoring of C exchange between forests and the atmosphere and improved understanding of the processes that affect the net ecosystem exchange of C are needed to improve our understanding of the terrestrial C budget. We estimated the C budget of Canada's 2.3 × 10 km managed forests from 1990 to 2008 using an empirical modelling approach driven by detailed forestry datasets. We estimated that average net primary production (NPP) during this period was 809 ± 5 Tg C yr (352 g C m yr) and net ecosystem production (NEP) was 71 ± 9 Tg C yr (31 g C m yr). Harvesting transferred 45 ± 4 Tg C yr out of the ecosystem and 45 ± 4 Tg C yr within the ecosystem (from living biomass to dead organic matter pools). Fires released 23 ± 16 Tg C yr directly to the atmosphere, and fires, insects and other natural disturbances transferred 52 ± 41 Tg C yr from biomass to dead organic matter pools, from where C will gradually be released through decomposition. Net biome production (NBP) was only 2 ± 20 Tg C yr (1 g C m yr); the low C sequestration ratio (NBP/NPP=0.3%) is attributed to the high average age of Canada's managed forests and the impact of natural disturbances. Although net losses of ecosystem C occurred during several years due to large fires and widespread bark beetle outbreak, Canada's managed forests were a sink for atmospheric CO in all years, with an uptake of 50 ± 18 Tg C yr [net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO=−22 g C m yr]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a patient with trisomy 21, microophthalmia, neonatal diabetes mellitus, hypopituitarism, and a complex structural brain anomaly who was a member of a large bilineal family with eye anomalies. The patient inherited a different mutation in PAX6 from each parent and is the only known living and second reported patient with compound heterozygosity for mutations in PAX6. PAX6 is a transcription factor involved in eye and brain development and has roles in pancreatic and pituitary development. Clinical evaluation of the propositus and his parents demonstrated the effects of mutations of differing severity in multiple individuals.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Studies have shown that infections especially bacteraemia and sepsis are associated with increased risks for endothelial dysfunction and related CVDs including atherosclerosis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, sealed membrane-derived structures that are released into body fluids and blood from cells and/or microbes and are critically involved in a variety of important cell functions and disease development, including intercellular communications, immune responses and inflammation. It is known that EVs-mediated mechanism(s) is important in the development of endothelial dysfunction in infections with a diverse spectrum of microorganisms including Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus for COVID-19) and Helicobacter pylori. H. pylori infection is one of the most common infections globally. During H. pylori infection, EVs can carry H. pylori components, such as lipopolysaccharide, cytotoxin-associated gene A, or vacuolating cytotoxin A, and transfer these substances into endothelial cells, triggering inflammatory responses and endothelial dysfunction. This review is to illustrate the important role of EVs in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, and the development of endothelial dysfunction in infectious diseases especially H. pylori infection, and to discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Checkpoint immunotherapy has made great strides in the treatment of solid tumors, but many patients do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Identification of tumor‐infiltrating cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) has the potential to stratify patients and monitor immunotherapy responses. In this study, the design of cluster of differentiation (CD8+) T cell‐targeted nanoprobes that emit shortwave infrared (SWIR) light in the second tissue‐transparent window for noninvasive, real‐time imaging of CTLs in murine models of breast cancer is presented. SWIR‐emitting rare‐earth nanoparticles encapsulated in human serum albumin are conjugated with anti‐CD8α to target CTLs with high specificity. CTL targeting is validated in vitro through binding of nanoprobes to primary mouse CTLs. The potential for the use of SWIR fluorescence intensity to determine CTL presence is validated in two syngeneic mammary fat pad tumor models, EMT6 and 4T1, which differ in immune infiltration. SWIR imaging using CD8‐targeted nanoprobes successfully identifies the presence of CTLs in the more immunogenic EMT6 model, while imaging confirms the lack of substantial immune infiltration in the nonimmunogenic 4T1 model. In this work, the opportunity for SWIR imaging using CD8‐targeted nanoprobes to assess CTL infiltration in tumors for the stratification and monitoring of responders to checkpoint immunotherapy is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A 9‐month‐old Thoroughbred colt was presented to the University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital for investigation of suspected neck pain. Clinical signs included severe dullness, bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge, ptosis of the right eyelid, reduced range of motion of the neck and ataxia. Endoscopy of the medial compartment of both guttural pouches showed fungal‐like plaques, from which Aspergillus was cultured. Laser salpingopharyngeal fistulation was performed under standing sedation and the colt received treatment with oral potassium iodide. The colt developed bacteraemia post‐operatively which resolved after antimicrobial treatment. Serial endoscopic evaluation of the guttural pouches showed complete resolution of fungal plaques 4 months post‐operatively. Minimal neurologic deficits remained 6 months post‐operatively. This report highlights the importance of considering guttural pouch mycosis in young horses and those presenting with reduced range of neck motion and neck pain. It offers support for the use of salpingopharyngostomy as an effective treatment method for guttural pouch mycosis and documents its use in the case of bilateral disease confirmed by fungal culture. It also documents the recovery of a horse from GPM with associated severe neurological signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, desertification, salinisation of soils and the changing hydrology of the Earth are creating or modifying microbial habitats at all scales including the oceans, saline groundwaters and brine lakes. In environments that are saline or hypersaline, the biodegradation of recalcitrant plant and animal polysaccharides can be inhibited by salt‐induced microbial stress and/or by limitation of the metabolic capabilities of halophilic microbes. We recently demonstrated that the chitinolytic haloarchaeon Halomicrobium can serve as the host for an ectosymbiont, nanohaloarchaeon 'Candidatus Nanohalobium constans'. Here, we consider whether nanohaloarchaea can benefit from the haloarchaea‐mediated degradation of xylan, a major hemicellulose component of wood. Using samples of natural evaporitic brines and anthropogenic solar salterns, we describe genome‐inferred trophic relations in two extremely halophilic xylan‐degrading three‐member consortia. We succeeded in genome assembly and closure for all members of both xylan‐degrading cultures and elucidated the respective food chains within these consortia. We provide evidence that ectosymbiontic nanohaloarchaea is an active ecophysiological component of extremely halophilic xylan‐degrading communities (although by proxy) in hypersaline environments. In each consortium, nanohaloarchaea occur as ectosymbionts of Haloferax, which in turn act as scavenger of oligosaccharides produced by xylan‐hydrolysing Halorhabdus. We further obtained and characterised the nanohaloarchaea–host associations using microscopy, multi‐omics and cultivation approaches. The current study also doubled culturable nanohaloarchaeal symbionts and demonstrated that these enigmatic nano‐sized archaea can be readily isolated in binary co‐cultures using an appropriate enrichment strategy. We discuss the implications of xylan degradation by halophiles in biotechnology and for the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meeting climate change mitigation targets by 2050, as outlined in international pledges, involves determining optimal strategies for forest management, wood supply, the substitution of greenhouse gas‐intensive materials and energy sources, and wood product disposal. Our study quantified the cumulative mitigation potential by 2050 of the forest sector in the province of Quebec, Canada, using several alternative strategies and assessed under what circumstances the sector could contribute to the targets. We used the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector to project ecosystems emissions and sequestration of seven alternative and one baseline (business‐as‐usual [BaU]) forest management scenarios over the 2018–2050 period. Three baskets of wood products were used in a Harvested Wood Products model to predict wood product emissions. The mitigation potential was determined by comparing the cumulative CO2e budget of each alternative scenario to the BaU. The proportion of methane emissions from landfills (RCH4%) and the required displacement factor (RDF) to achieve mitigation benefits were assessed both independently and jointly. The fastest and most efficient way to improve mitigation outcomes of the forest sector of Quebec is to reduce end‐of‐life methane emissions from wood products. By reducing methane emissions, the RDF for achieving mitigation benefits through intensification strategies can be reduced from 1.2–2.3 to 0–0.9 tC/tC, thus reaching the current provincial mean DF threshold (0.9). Both a reduction and an increase in the harvested volume have the potential to provide mitigation benefits with adequate RCH4% and RDF. Increased carbon sequestration in ecosystems, innovations in long‐lived wood products, and optimal substitution in markets offer potential avenues for the forest sector to contribute to mitigation benefits but are subject to significant uncertainties. Methane emission reduction at the end of wood product service life is emerging as a valuable approach to enhance mitigation benefits of the forest sector. We determined the Quebec forest sector's carbon mitigation potential using alternative strategies (forest ecosystems/product decay/substitution). We estimated the displacement factors that are required for wood products by 2050. We estimated the landfill CH4 emission reductions that must be achieved by 2050. Conservation alternatives increase carbon sinks by 2050, and intensification alternatives increase carbon sources by 2050. With improved methane management and optimal substitution, both conservation and intensification scenarios could provide mitigation benefits. Quebec's forests sector can contribute to enhanced climate mitigation benefits if sustainable forest management, optimum use of wood, and improved methane management of landfills are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi and antifungal compounds are relevant to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. However, the modes‐of‐action of antifungals—whether they are naturally occurring substances or anthropogenic fungicides—are often unknown or are misallocated in terms of their mechanistic category. Here, we consider the most effective approaches to identifying whether antifungal substances are cellular stressors, toxins/toxicants (that are target‐site‐specific), or have a hybrid mode‐of‐action as toxin–stressors (that induce cellular stress yet are target‐site‐specific). This newly described 'toxin–stressor' category includes some photosensitisers that target the cell membrane and, once activated by light or ultraviolet radiation, cause oxidative damage. We provide a glossary of terms and a diagrammatic representation of diverse types of stressors, toxic substances, and toxin–stressors, a classification that is pertinent to inhibitory substances not only for fungi but for all types of cellular life. A decision‐tree approach can also be used to help differentiate toxic substances from cellular stressors (Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015 33: 228–259). For compounds that target specific sites in the cell, we evaluate the relative merits of using metabolite analyses, chemical genetics, chemoproteomics, transcriptomics, and the target‐based drug‐discovery approach (based on that used in pharmaceutical research), focusing on both ascomycete models and the less‐studied basidiomycete fungi. Chemical genetic methods to elucidate modes‐of‐action currently have limited application for fungi where molecular tools are not yet available; we discuss ways to circumvent this bottleneck. We also discuss ecologically commonplace scenarios in which multiple substances act to limit the functionality of the fungal cell and a number of as‐yet‐unresolved questions about the modes‐of‐action of antifungal compounds pertaining to the Sustainable Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical experiments drive important scientific discoveries in biology, but theory‐based research studies also contribute novel—sometimes paradigm‐changing—findings. Here, we appraise the roles of theory‐based approaches focusing on the experiment‐dominated wet‐biology research areas of microbial growth and survival, cell physiology, host–pathogen interactions, and competitive or symbiotic interactions. Additional examples relate to analyses of genome‐sequence data, climate change and planetary health, habitability, and astrobiology. We assess the importance of thought at each step of the research process; the roles of natural philosophy, and inconsistencies in logic and language, as drivers of scientific progress; the value of thought experiments; the use and limitations of artificial intelligence technologies, including their potential for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research; and other instances when theory is the most‐direct and most‐scientifically robust route to scientific novelty including the development of techniques for practical experimentation or fieldwork. We highlight the intrinsic need for human engagement in scientific innovation, an issue pertinent to the ongoing controversy over papers authored using/authored by artificial intelligence (such as the large language model/chatbot ChatGPT). Other issues discussed are the way in which aspects of language can bias thinking towards the spatial rather than the temporal (and how this biased thinking can lead to skewed scientific terminology); receptivity to research that is non‐mainstream; and the importance of theory‐based science in education and epistemology. Whereas we briefly highlight classic works (those by Oakes Ames, Francis H.C. Crick and James D. Watson, Charles R. Darwin, Albert Einstein, James E. Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, Gilbert Ryle, Erwin R.J.A. Schrödinger, Alan M. Turing, and others), the focus is on microbiology studies that are more‐recent, discussing these in the context of the scientific process and the types of scientific novelty that they represent. These include several studies carried out during the 2020 to 2022 lockdowns of the COVID‐19 pandemic when access to research laboratories was disallowed (or limited). We interviewed the authors of some of the featured microbiology‐related papers and—although we ourselves are involved in laboratory experiments and practical fieldwork—also drew from our own research experiences showing that such studies can not only produce new scientific findings but can also transcend barriers between disciplines, act counter to scientific reductionism, integrate biological data across different timescales and levels of complexity, and circumvent constraints imposed by practical techniques. In relation to urgent research needs, we believe that climate change and other global challenges may require approaches beyond the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics 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.)

Copyright of African Journal of Ecology 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.)

Boreal forests are important global carbon (C) sinks and, therefore, considered as a key element in climate change mitigation policies. However, their actual C sink strength is uncertain and under debate, particularly for the actively managed forests in the boreal regions of Fennoscandia. In this study, we use an extensive set of biometric-and chamber-based C flux data collected in 50 forest stands (ranging from 5 to 211 years) over 3 years (2016–2018) with the aim to explore the variations of the annual net ecosystem production (NEP; i.e., the ecosystem C balance) across a 68 km2 managed boreal forest landscape in northern Sweden. Our results demonstrate that net primary production rather than heterotrophic respiration regulated the spatio-temporal variations of NEP across the heterogeneous mosaic of the managed boreal forest landscape. We further find divergent successional patterns of NEP in our managed forests relative to naturally regenerating boreal forests, including (i) a fast recovery of the C sink function within the first decade after harvest due to the rapid establishment of a productive understory layer and (ii) a sustained C sink in old stands (131–211 years). We estimate that the rotation period for optimum C sequestration extends to 138 years, which over multiple rotations results in a long-term C sequestration rate of 86.5 t C ha−1 per rotation. Our study highlights the potential of forest management to maximize C sequestration of boreal forest landscapes and associate climate change mitigation effects by developing strategies that optimize tree biomass production rather than heterotrophic soil C emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare, autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder of DNA repair and transcription with developmental delay and abnormalities in brain, eye, skin, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. We followed a cohort of 37 patients with TTD at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 2001 to 2019 with a median age at last observation of 12 years (range 2–36). Some children with TTD developed rapidly debilitating hip degeneration (DHD): a distinctive pattern of hip pain, inability to walk, and avascular necrosis on imaging. Ten (27%) of the 37 patients had DHD at median age 8 years (range 5–12), followed by onset of imaging findings at median age 9 years (range 5–13). All 10 had mutations in the ERCC2/XPD gene. In 7 of the 10 affected patients, DHD rapidly became bilateral. DHD was associated with coxa valga, central osteosclerosis with peripheral osteopenia of the skeleton, and contractures/tightness of the lower limbs. Except for one patient, surgical interventions were generally not effective at preventing DHD. Four patients with DHD died at a median age of 11 years (range 9–15). TTD patients with ERCC2/XPD gene mutations have a high risk of musculoskeletal abnormalities and DHD leading to poor outcomes. Monitoring by history, physical examination, imaging, and by physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatland rewetting has been proposed as a vital climate change mitigation tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to generate suitable conditions for the return of carbon (C) sequestration. In this study, we present annual C balances for a 5‐year period at a rewetted peatland in Ireland (rewetted at the start of the study) and compare the results with an adjacent drained area (represents business‐as‐usual). Hydrological modelling of the 230‐hectare site was carried out to determine the likely ecotopes (vegetation communities) that will develop post‐rewetting and was used to inform a radiative forcing modelling exercise to determine the climate impacts of rewetting this peatland under five high‐priority scenarios (SSP1‐1.9, SS1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0 and SSP5‐8.5). The drained area (marginal ecotope) was a net C source throughout the study and emitted 157 ± 25.5 g C m−2 year−1. In contrast, the rewetted area (sub‐central ecotope) was a net C sink of 78.0 ± 37.6 g C m−2 year−1, despite relatively large annual methane emissions post‐rewetting (average 19.3 ± 5.2 g C m−2 year−1). Hydrological modelling predicted the development of three key ecotopes at the site, with the sub‐central ecotope predicted to cover 24% of the site, the sub‐marginal predicted to cover 59% and the marginal predicted to cover 16%. Using these areal estimates, our radiative forcing modelling projects that under the SSP1‐1.9 scenario, the site will have a warming effect on the climate until 2085 but will then have a strong cooling impact. In contrast, our modelling exercise shows that the site will never have a cooling impact under the SSP5‐8.5 scenario. Our results confirm the importance of rapid rewetting of drained peatland sites to (a) achieve strong C emissions reductions, (b) establish optimal conditions for C sequestration and (c) set the site on a climate cooling trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy promotes both health and disease, depending on tissue types and genetic contexts, yet the regulatory mechanism remain incompletely understood. Our recent publication has uncovered a coherent FOXO‐SNAI feed‐forward loop in autophagy, which is evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to human. In addition, it's revealed that DNA binding plays a critical role in intracellular localization of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling proteins. Based on these findings, herein we further integrate mechanistic insights of FOXO‐SNAI regulatory interplay in autophagy and unravel the potential link of FOXO‐induced autophagy with SNAI in diseases. Besides, the generality of DNA‐retention mechanism on transcription factor nuclear localization is illustrated with wide‐ranging discussion, and more functions potentially regulated by FOXO‐SNAI feedforward loop are provided. Elucidation of these unsolved paradigms will expand the understanding of FOXO‐SNAI interplay and facilitate the development of new therapeutics targeting FOXO‐SNAI axis in diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA‐templated formation and N,O‐transacetalization of N‐methoxyoxazolidines have been studied. Compared to the reaction without a DNA‐catalyst, the hybridization‐driven N‐methoxyoxazolidine formation shows a marked rate acceleration, whereas the rate of corresponding N,O‐transacetalization is limited by the rate of decay to aldehyde intermediates. In both cases, the equilibrium yield increases markedly on the DNA template. Different hairpin architectures have been studied to evaluate the role and limits of the template effect. Furthermore, an attention has been paid to stereochemical integrity (R/S) of the N‐methoxyoxazolidine linkage. The N‐methoxyoxazolidine formation represents a dynamic pH‐responsive DNA‐templated ligation that occurs readily in slightly acidic conditions (pH 5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood products may help to avoid fossil emissions when they substitute for more fossil‐intensive products. However, the estimates of avoided fossil emissions attributed to wood use tend to be based on incomplete market assumptions. Wood products are assumed to fully substitute for non‐wood products, yet substitution rarely occurs 1:1 and wood products can also substitute for each other. This study outlines a systematic procedure grounded on economic theory for approximating the existence and rate of substitution between wood and non‐wood products, and calculates the marginal avoided fossil emissions with both conventional assumptions and more realistic assumptions based on an expert survey, taking the case of textile markets. The results suggest that regenerated cellulosic fibers (RCFs) are not perfect substitutes for synthetic fibers, meaning that part of an additional RCF supply will replace established textile fibers while part of it merely adds to the overall textile supply, and thereby aggregate fossil emissions. Moreover, in the long term, RCFs are more likely to substitute for synthetics than for cotton, and in the short term, non‐viscose RCFs are more likely to substitute for contemporary viscose than for polyester or cotton. In the specified case, the alteration of market assumptions leads to quadrupling the marginal substitution impacts of wood use. Besides the relatively high fossil intensity of contemporary viscose, this is partly explained by increased absolute aggregate fossil emissions. Producing a more realistic account of substitution processes in the forest products markets is central in directing investments that ensure a net reduction in fossil emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biallelic TENM3 pathogenic variants cause isolated or syndromic microphthalmia. Syndromic microphthalmia 15 (MCOPS15) is characterized by microphthalmia, coloboma, and developmental delay. Currently, only four cases of MCOPS15 have been reported and the clinical features varied among the patients indicating potential broad phenotypic spectrum. Methods: The present case was a 6‐month‐old male at diagnosis. The patient exhibited long philtrum, large ears, bilateral ptosis, and nystagmus. Ophthalmic tests showed that he had microcornea, iris and choroidal coloboma. The patient presented with global developmental delay (GDD). Trio‐whole exome sequencing and genome copy number sequencing were conducted to explore the disease‐causing mutations. Results: Exome sequencing and genome copy number sequencing showed the presence of L1471F and E661G compound mutations in TENM3, which were inherited from the mother and father, respectively. Sanger sequencing was conducted to verify association of the mutations with the disease in the present family. Conclusion: Two TENM3 variants were identified in a patient with Syndromic microphthalmia 15 in the present study. However, further studies should be conducted to explore the pathogenicity of the variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an inherent element of the Earth's ecosystem, forest, and vegetation fires are one of the key contributors to and direct consequences of climate change. Given that topography is one of the key drivers of forest landscapes and fire behavior, it is important to clarify what the topographical characteristics and trends of global fire events are, particularly in the tropics. Here, we have investigated the variations in elevation of active fires at the continental to a global scale, including the tropics, the extra‐tropics, the lowlands, and the highlands (greater than 200 m above sea level [asl]), using the available MODIS Collection 6 active fire products (2001–2019). The main conclusions are: (1) the annual totality (average of 4.5 million) of global active fire events decreased and over 97% of them occurred frequently below 1500 m asl. (2) The tropics and the highlands accounted for ~74% (±3%) and 71% (±2%) of global active fires, respectively, and 77% (±2%) were observed in the tropical highlands. (3) From the beginning of the 21st century, active fires in the highlands displayed an upward elevational trend, particularly in the tropics, while the opposite trend was observed for the lowlands. More importantly, the rate of the increasing elevation in the highlands had a greater magnitude than that of decreasing elevation in the lowlands. (4) Finally, the United Nations collaborative program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN‐REDD) in Developing Countries seemed to slow down or even result in a reversal of the upward elevational trend of fire occurrences in the tropics for the partner countries, especially in the lowlands. In the context of global climate change and rampant fires, the trend of rising elevation for active fire occurrences, particularly in the tropical highlands, indicates that more vegetation burning events occur or will occur in hilly to mountainous areas, thus posing further threats to tropical forests and some important biodiversity refuges. More sustained efforts should be made by governments and the scientific community to instigate enhanced fire management practices and to conduct in‐depth research programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pax2 is required for optic fissure development in many organisms, including humans and zebrafish. Zebrafish loss‐of‐function mutations in pax2a display coloboma, yet the etiology of the morphogenetic defects is unclear. Further, pax2 is duplicated in zebrafish, and a role for pax2b in optic fissure development has not been examined. Results: Using a combination of imaging and molecular genetics, we interrogated a potential role for pax2b and examined how loss of pax2 affects optic fissure development. Although optic fissure formation appears normal in pax2 mutants, an endothelial‐specific subset of periocular mesenchyme (POM) fails to initially localize within the optic fissure, yet both neural crest and endothelial‐derived POM ectopically accumulate at later stages in pax2a and pax2a; pax2b mutants. Apoptosis is not up‐regulated within the optic fissure in pax2 mutants, yet cell death is increased in tissues outside of the optic fissure, and when apoptosis is inhibited, coloboma is partially rescued. In contrast to pax2a, loss of pax2b does not appear to affect optic fissure morphogenesis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that pax2a, but not pax2b, supports cell survival outside of the optic fissure and POM abundance within it to facilitate optic fissure closure. Key Findings: Zebrafish pax2a null mutants display a defect in optic fissure closure and colobomaLoss of pax2b does not affect optic fissure developmentAn endothelial‐specific subset of periocular mesenchyme cells fails to initially localize to the optic fissure in pax2a mutantsAt a later stage of optic fissure development both neural crest and endothelial‐derived periocular mesenchyme ectopically accumulate within the optic fissurePax2a mutants have increased apoptosis in surrounding tissues, but not within the optic fissure margin cells, and apoptosis in part underlies the coloboma phenotype [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associations between personality traits and life outcomes are usually studied using the Big Five domains and, occasionally, their facets. But recent research suggests these associations may be driven by the items (reflecting personality nuances) chosen to measure these traits. Using a large dataset (N = 6126), we examined associations with 53 self‐reported outcomes using domains, facets and items (markers for nuances), training and validating models in different sample partitions. Facets better predicted outcomes than domains (on average, 18.0% versus 16.6% of variance explained), but items provided the most accurate predictions (on average 20.9%). Removing domain and facet variance from items had no effect on their predictive validity, suggesting that outcome‐related information was often in items' unique variances (i.e., nuance‐specific). Item‐based prediction also showed the highest discriminant validity. These observations, replicating previous findings, suggest that personality traits' valid associations with outcomes are often driven by narrow personality nuances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undisturbed peatlands are usually a sink of greenhouse gases (GHG), but turn to a GHG source when drained. While rewetting and restoration of drained peatlands play an important role in efforts to mitigate global warming, high uncertainties exist concerning the time period it takes after the start of rewetting until the point when the peatland becomes a GHG net sink. We investigated a site within the "Uchter Moor", NW Germany. It is an oligotrophic raised bog, which was never used for agriculture, but was drained in 1950 for peat mining. In 1999, restoration began; now the ecosystem is in transition back to a typical raised bog vegetation with Eriophorum vaginatum, Molinia caerulea and Eriophorum angustifolium being the dominant species. Sphagnum cuspidatum appears in patches. From June 2016 to January 2018, an eddy covariance (EC) tower measured the fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). The flux of ozone (O3) was also measured for 6 months by EC and modeled for the remaining experimental period. Using the sustained global warming potential for a 100‐year time horizon, the balance of CO2, CH4, and N2O in 2017 was +500 ± 120 g CO2‐equiv m−2 a−1. The plus sign indicates a net emission of GHG into the atmosphere. Methane contributed 78% to this flux. The inclusion of O3 into the balance yielded a somewhat smaller total flux of +430 ± 120 g CO2‐equiv m−2 a−1. Overall, the peatland is still a source of GHG, 18 years after re‐wetting. Plain Language Summary: Undisturbed peatlands usually have a long‐term cooling effect on global climate. If drained, peatlands turn from a sink to a source of greenhouse gases (GHG), which leads to a long‐term warming effect on climate. More recently, many drained peatlands have been re‐wetted. One of the goals is to bring back the peatland from a source to a sink of GHG, and thus mitigate the human‐made global warming. There is still uncertainty about how much time a peatland ecosystem requires in order to turn back to a GHG sink. We measured the exchange fluxes of GHG between peatland and the atmosphere in a restored raised bog in NW Germany, which was re‐wetted 18 years earlier. In the year 2017 the restored ecosystem was still a net source of long‐lived GHG (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide). When including the short‐lived GHG ozone, the total balance was still positive, but ozone adds a cooling effect. We hypothesize that it will take another few decades before the peatland is a net sink of these GHG. However, in direct comparison the GHG emissions are already lower than in comparable peatlands, which were still drained for the purpose of peat extraction. Key Points: First attempt to include ozone into the greenhouse gas balance of a rewetted raised bog. The deposition of ozone adds a cooling effectThe site is still a net source of greenhouse gasesIt is likely that the yearly GHG emissions are lower than they would have been if restoration had not started 18 years ago [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Water is the cellular milieu, drives all biochemistry within Earth's biosphere and facilitates microbe‐mediated decay processes. Instead of reviewing these topics, the current article focuses on the activities of water as a preservative—its capacity to maintain the long‐term integrity and viability of microbial cells—and identifies the mechanisms by which this occurs. Water provides for, and maintains, cellular structures; buffers against thermodynamic extremes, at various scales; can mitigate events that are traumatic to the cell membrane, such as desiccation–rehydration, freeze–thawing and thermal shock; prevents microbial dehydration that can otherwise exacerbate oxidative damage; mitigates against biocidal factors (in some circumstances reducing ultraviolet radiation and diluting solute stressors or toxic substances); and is effective at electrostatic screening so prevents damage to the cell by the intense electrostatic fields of some ions. In addition, the water retained in desiccated cells (historically referred to as 'bound' water) plays key roles in biomacromolecular structures and their interactions even for fully hydrated cells. Assuming that the components of the cell membrane are chemically stable or at least repairable, and the environment is fairly constant, water molecules can apparently maintain membrane geometries over very long periods provided these configurations represent thermodynamically stable states. The spores and vegetative cells of many microbes survive longer in the presence of vapour‐phase water (at moderate‐to‐high relative humidities) than under more‐arid conditions. There are several mechanisms by which large bodies of water, when cooled during subzero weather conditions remain in a liquid state thus preventing potentially dangerous (freeze–thaw) transitions for their microbiome. Microbial life can be preserved in pure water, freshwater systems, seawater, brines, ice/permafrost, sugar‐rich aqueous milieux and vapour‐phase water according to laboratory‐based studies carried out over periods of years to decades and some natural environments that have yielded cells that are apparently thousands, or even (for hypersaline fluid inclusions of mineralized NaCl) hundreds of millions, of years old. The term preservative has often been restricted to those substances used to extend the shelf life of foods (e.g. sodium benzoate, nitrites and sulphites) or those used to conserve dead organisms, such as ethanol or formaldehyde. For living microorganisms however, the ultimate preservative may actually be water. Implications of this role are discussed with reference to the ecology of halophiles, human pathogens and other microbes; food science; biotechnology; biosignatures for life and other aspects of astrobiology; and the large‐scale release/reactivation of preserved microbes caused by global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many raised bogs in Central Europe are in an unfavorable state: drainage causes high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), while rewetting may result in high methane (CH4) emissions. Also, the establishment of typical bog species is often hampered during restoration. Measures like topsoil removal (TSR) or introduction of target vegetation are known to improve restoration success in other systems, but experiences on bogs after long‐term agricultural use are scarce and their climate effects including carbon losses from TSR are unknown. In a field trial in north‐western Germany, consisting of seven plots (intensive grassland, IG, and six restoration approaches), we explored the effects of rewetting, TSR and Sphagnum introduction on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We measured GHG fluxes to obtain two‐year GHG budgets and applied a radiative forcing model to assess the time‐dependent climate effects. Existing uncertainty of decomposition processes in the translocated topsoil has been incorporated by different topsoil accounting scenarios. According to our data, rewetting alone reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 75% compared to IG, but substantially increased CH4 emissions. After TSR and rewetting, on‐site CO2 emissions were close to zero or, with Sphagnum introduction, net negative while CH4 emissions remained very low. The climatic warming effect of TSR including C export becomes less climate warming than rewetting nutrient‐rich peatlands after a few decades. For raised bog restoration, we therefore recommend a TSR sufficient to achieve nutrient‐poor and acidic conditions needed for rapid Sphagnum establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fidelity base pairing is important for the transmission of genetic information. Weak base pairs can lower fidelity, complicating sequencing, amplification and replication of DNA. Thymidine 5′‐monophosphate (TMP) is the most weakly pairing nucleotide among the canonical deoxynucleotides, causing high errors rates in enzyme‐free primer extension. Here we report the synthesis of an ethynylpyridone C‐nucleoside analog of 3′‐amino‐2′,3′‐dideoxythymidine monophosphate and its incorporation in a growing strand by enzyme‐free primer extension. The ethynylpyridone C‐nucleotide accelerates extension more than five‐fold, reduces misincorporation and readily displaces TMP in competition experiments. The results bode well for the use of the C‐nucleoside as replacements for thymidine in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study regional variations in choroidal thickness (CT), luminal thickness and stromal thickness of the choroid, and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in low myopic and emmetropic eyes using wide‐field optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Sixty‐nine healthy young adults between 20 and 38 years of age participated in this study, including 40 low myopes (mean ± SD spherical equivalent (MSE) refractive error: −3.00 ± 1.39 D, range: −6.00 to −0.62 D) and 29 emmetropes (MSE: −0.05 ± 0.09 D, range: −0.25 to +0.12 D). Wide‐field CT, luminal thickness, stromal thickness and CVI were measured across five eccentricities (fovea, parafovea, perifovea; near‐periphery and periphery) and four quadrants (nasal, temporal, inferior and superior), in vertical and horizontal meridians, while controlling for a range of extraneous factors potentially influencing the CT. Custom‐written software was used to segment and binarize the OCT images. Results: Wide‐field CT, luminal thickness and stromal thickness, averaged across all participants, exhibited significant topographical variation, with the foveal (379 ± 8 µm, 200 ± 4 µm, 179 ± 4 µm, respectively) and peripheral (275 ± 8 µm, 161 ± 4 µm, 114 ± 4 µm, respectively) regions presenting the thickest and thinnest regions (all p < 0.001). Wide‐field CVI showed a progressively higher percentage (greater vascularity) with increasing eccentricity from the fovea towards the periphery (p < 0.001). Macular CT and stromal choroidal thickness were significantly thinner in myopes compared to emmetropes (p < 0.05). Myopes (55.7 ± 0.3%) showed a slightly higher CVI compared with emmetropes (54.4 ± 0.4%) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Low myopia in young adults was associated with significant choroidal thinning across the macular, but not extramacular regions, with this decrease in choroidal thickness mostly attributed to thinning in the stromal component of the choroid, rather than the luminal (vascular) component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Dallol protovolcanic area on the Danakil Depression (Afar region, Ethiopia) exhibits unique hydrothermal manifestations in hypersaline context, yielding varied polyextreme physicochemical conditions. Previous studies identified a wide archaeal diversity in less extreme brines but failed to identify microorganisms thriving in either high‐chaotropicity, low‐water‐activity brines or hyperacidic‐hypersaline Na‐Fe‐rich brines. Recently, we accessed several small lakes under intense degassing activity adjacent to the Round Mountain, west to the Dallol dome [Western Canyon Lakes (WCL); WCL1‐5]. They exhibited intermediate parameter combinations (pH ~ 5, 34%–41% (weight/volume) NaCl‐dominated salts with relatively high levels of chaotropic Mg‐Ca salts) that should allow to better constrain life limits. These lakes were overwhelmingly dominated by Archaea, encompassing up to 99% of prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences in metabarcoding studies. The majority belonged to Halobacteriota and Nanohaloarchaeota, the latter representing up to half of prokaryotic sequences. Optical and epifluorescence microscopy showed active cells in natural samples and diverse morphotypes in enrichment cultures. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy revealed tiny cells (200–300 nm diameter) epibiotically associated with somewhat larger cells (0.6–1 μm) but also the presence of silica‐dominated precipitates of similar size and shape, highlighting the difficulty of distinguishing microbes from mineral biomorphs in this kind of low‐biomass systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The loss of cellular water (desiccation) and the resulting low cytosolic water activity are major stress factors for life. Numerous prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa have evolved molecular and physiological adaptions to periods of low water availability or water‐limited environments that occur across the terrestrial Earth. The changes within cells during the processes of desiccation and rehydration, from the activation (and inactivation) of biosynthetic pathways to the accumulation of compatible solutes, have been studied in considerable detail. However, relatively little is known on the metabolic status of organisms in the desiccated state; that is, in the sometimes extended periods between the drying and rewetting phases. During these periods, which can extend beyond decades and which we term 'anhydrobiosis', organismal survival could be dependent on a continued supply of energy to maintain the basal metabolic processes necessary for critical functions such as macromolecular repair. Here, we review the state of knowledge relating to the function of microorganisms during the anhydrobiotic state, highlighting substantial gaps in our understanding of qualitative and quantitative aspects of molecular and biochemical processes in desiccated cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drainage and conversion of natural peatlands to forestry increases soil CO2 emissions through decomposition of peat and modifies the quantity and quality of litter inputs and therefore the soil carbon balance. In organic soils, CO2 net emissions and removals are reported using carbon emission factors (EF). The choice of specific default Tier 1 EF values from the IPCC 2013 Wetlands supplement depends on land‐use categories and climate zones. However, Tier 1 EF for afforested peatlands in the temperate maritime climate zone are based on data from eight sites, mainly located in the hemiboreal zone, and the uncertainty associated with these default values is a concern. In addition, moving from Tier 1 to higher‐Tier carbon reporting values is highly desirable when large areas are affected by land‐use changes. In this study, we estimated site‐specific soil carbon balance for the development of Tier 2 soil CO2‐C EFs for afforested peatlands. Soil heterotrophic respiration and aboveground tree litterfall were measured during two years at eight afforested peatland sites in Ireland. In addition, fine‐root turnover rate and site‐specific fine‐root biomass were used to quantify belowground litter inputs. We found that drainage of peatlands and planting them with either Sitka spruce or lodgepole pine, resulted in soils being net carbon sources. The soil carbon balance at multi‐year sites varied between 63 ± 92 and 309 ± 67 g C m−2 year−1. Mean CO2‐C EF for afforested peatlands was 1.68 ± 0.33 t CO2‐C ha−1 year−1. The improved CO2‐C EFs presented here for afforested peatlands are proposed as a basis to update national CO2‐C emissions from this land‐use class in Ireland. Furthermore, new data from these sites will significantly contribute to the development of more reliable IPCC default Tier 1 CO2‐C EFs for afforested peatlands in the maritime temperate climate zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific literature contains contrasting findings about the climate effects of forest bioenergy, partly due to the wide diversity of bioenergy systems and associated contexts, but also due to differences in assessment methods. The climate effects of bioenergy must be accurately assessed to inform policy‐making, but the complexity of bioenergy systems and associated land, industry and energy systems raises challenges for assessment. We examine misconceptions about climate effects of forest bioenergy and discuss important considerations in assessing these effects and devising measures to incentivize sustainable bioenergy as a component of climate policy. The temporal and spatial system boundary and the reference (counterfactual) scenarios are key methodology choices that strongly influence results. Focussing on carbon balances of individual forest stands and comparing emissions at the point of combustion neglect system‐level interactions that influence the climate effects of forest bioenergy. We highlight the need for a systems approach, in assessing options and developing policy for forest bioenergy that: (1) considers the whole life cycle of bioenergy systems, including effects of the associated forest management and harvesting on landscape carbon balances; (2) identifies how forest bioenergy can best be deployed to support energy system transformation required to achieve climate goals; and (3) incentivizes those forest bioenergy systems that augment the mitigation value of the forest sector as a whole. Emphasis on short‐term emissions reduction targets can lead to decisions that make medium‐ to long‐term climate goals more difficult to achieve. The most important climate change mitigation measure is the transformation of energy, industry and transport systems so that fossil carbon remains underground. Narrow perspectives obscure the significant role that bioenergy can play by displacing fossil fuels now, and supporting energy system transition. Greater transparency and consistency is needed in greenhouse gas reporting and accounting related to bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: The Mars surface/near‐surface is often considered to be biocidal. Here, diverse lines of evidence are presented indicating that some terrestrial microbes can survive the in‐situ conditions albeit in an inactive state. For the purposes of planetary protection, it is important to consider what we mean by a planetary 'surface'; this term has qualitatively distinct definitions fordifferent scientific disciplines, and can also have different meanings from a humanviewpoint versus that of a microbial cell. Most microbial cells spores or other cells deposited on Mars, even those that initially fall on the outward‐facing part of the absolute surface, will fall within pores of the regolith or become covered by its dust. They are, therefore, protected from ultra‐violet radiation. Desiccating conditions and low temperatures (−40 to −70°C) can act to preserve rather than kill all microbes, potentially maintaining cellular viability – especially for certain extremophiles – over geological timescales. Whereas salts are ubiquitous on Mars, many terrestrial microbes are highly tolerant to NaCl and other salts, and these substances (including potentially inhibitory chaotropes such as MgCl2 and perchlorates) cannot access cells in the absence of a liquid milieu. Whereas the Mars regolith is nutrient‐deplete and conditions may be acidic in places, oligotrophic conditions per se are not biocidal and many terrestrial microbes can thrive in acidic conditions (some acidophiles can proliferate at or below pH 0). The low temperatures of Mars' surface are not conducive to metabolic activity, but the biophysical sophistication and robust stress biology of many terrestrial microbes, and the protection afforded by Martian conditions, are likely to ensure the long‐term viability of some extremophilic microbes if transported to Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multifunctional amide additive N‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine‐dodecenylsuccinic anhydride (PPA‐DDSA) was synthesized by the reaction of DDSA and N‐phenyl‐p‐phenylenediamine. The successful synthesis of amide additive was confirmed by various analytical techniques like Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Performance of prepared additive was evaluated as multifunctional additive for anti‐oxidant, detergent dispersant, anti‐corrosion, and lubricity properties. The MAK‐500® mineral base oil and synthetic polyol base oil were used as a reference. The antioxidant property was evaluated by using the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl method, which revealed that PPA‐DDSA was better antioxidant than PPA and gallic acid but less effective than butylated hydroxytoluene. PPA‐DDSA was found to be excellent detergent dispersant in polyol in comparison to the MAK‐500. At 4000 ppm additive concentration, the coking value is reduced to 0.0205 g from the value of 0.0840 g for blank polyol while the % dispersancy increased to 40.67 from 20.00 for polyol base oil. The anti‐wear property was observed to be better in the MAK‐500 while the antifriction potential was found to be better in polyol base oil. The average wear scar is reduced from 881 to 550 μM at 2000 ppm concentration in MAK‐500 base oil, while at 3000 ppm PPA‐DDSA concentration, the average friction coefficient reduces to 0.0826 from 0.1276 for blank polyol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests play an important role in both regional and global C cycles. However, the spatial patterns of biomass C density and underlying factors in Northeast Asia remain unclear. Here, we characterized spatial patterns and important drivers of biomass C density for Northeast Asia, based on multisource data from in situ forest inventories, as well as remote sensing, bioclimatic, topographic, and human footprint data. We derived, for the first time, high‐resolution (1 km × 1 km) maps of the current and future forest biomass C density for this region. Based on these maps, we estimated that current biomass C stock in northeastern China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Republic of Korea to be 2.53, 0.40, and 0.35 Pg C, respectively. Biomass C stock in Northeast Asia has increased by 20%–46% over the past 20 years, of which 40%–76% was contributed by planted forests. We estimated the biomass C stock in 2080 to be 6.13 and 6.50 Pg C under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, which exceeded the present region‐wide C stock value by 2.85–3.22 Pg C, and were 8%–14% higher than the baseline C stock value (5.70 Pg C). The spatial patterns of biomass C densities were found to vary greatly across the Northeast Asia, and largely decided by mean diameter at breast height, dominant height, elevation, and human footprint. Our results suggest that reforestation and forest conservation in Northeast Asia have effectively expanded the size of the carbon sink in the region, and sustainable forest management practices such as precision forestry and close forest monitoring for fire and insect outbreaks would be important to maintain and improve this critical carbon sink for Northeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplet‐based microfluidic technology offers several benefits: the integration of multiple laboratory functions into a single microfabricated chip, manual intervention possibilities, minimal sample consumption, and increased analysis speed and data precision. These advantages have boosted the widespread application of this technology in biological and biomedical research. Despite recent progress, considerable challenges remain to be addressed for end‐user applications. This especially concerns the difficulty of creating powerful and easy to implement methods for real‐time analysis and active manipulation of passing droplets. Toward this end, we developed a very sensitive optical device equipped with smart algorithms for real‐time label‐free monitoring and active manipulation of passing droplets. We demonstrate the advanced properties of the developed optical device by measuring different droplet production parameters as well as the label‐free detection of cells in droplets. Moreover, the newly developed technology was connected with a function generator system to allow for subsequent manipulation of the monitored droplets based on the measured parameters. As an example, we performed electric field‐mediated, label‐free sorting of cell‐containing droplets from empty ones. Furthermore, we achieved an efficient size‐based separation of droplets. We envision that the developed optical device will be a useful tool for the online monitoring of passing droplets and will be implemented for the integration and automation of various droplet‐based microfluidic functional units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa is a heterogeneous group of inherited retinal diseases leading to progressive vision loss. It has been estimated that the etiology is still unclear in 22%‐40% of cases, indicating that many novel pathogenic variations related to RP remain unidentified in many patients. In this study, our aim was to investigate the disease‐causing variants and function of the variants in two Chinese families with non‐syndromic autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Methods: Clinical data and peripheral blood DNA samples were collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted to screen for variations. Then, the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐fused wild‐type PRPF31 protein and its variants was evaluated via western blotting and GFP fluorescence detection in vitro. Results: Two novel heterozygous variants of PRPF31 (NM_015629.4): c.855+5G>A and c.849_855del (p.Pro284Ilefs*35) were identified respectively in two families. The variant c.855+5G>A is co‐segregated with the disease in adRP‐01 family. The pedigree analysis result for c.849_855del (p. Pro284Ilefs*35) shows an inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance for adRP‐02 family. The RT‐PCR analysis shows the PRPF31 gene c.855+5G>A leading to the missing from the 997th to the 1405th positions of the PRPF31 gene (NM_015629.4) cDNA. The expressions of the mutant GFP‐fused PRPF31 protein were not detected in HEK293 cells or Cos7 cells via western blotting and immunofluorescence. Conclusions: Our findings identified two novel variants in PRPF31 in two Chinese families with adRP, expanding the mutational spectrum of this gene. Functional analysis reveals that these variants lead to the truncation of the PRPF31 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The ubiquitous fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is the primary cause of opportunistic mould infections in humans. Aspergilli disseminate via asexual conidia passively travelling through air currents to germinate within a broad range of environs, wherever suitable nutrients are found. Though the average human inhales hundreds of conidia daily, A. fumigatus invasive infections primarily affect the immunocompromised. At‐risk individuals can develop often fatal invasive disease for which therapeutic options are limited. Regrettably, the global insurgence of isolates resistant to the triazoles, the frontline antifungal class used in medicine and agriculture to control A. fumigatus, is complicating the treatment of patients. Triazole antifungal resistance in A. fumigatus has become recognized as a global, yet poorly comprehended, problem. Due to a multitude of factors, the magnitude of resistant infections and their contribution to treatment outcomes are likely underestimated. Current studies suggest that human drug‐resistant infections can be either environmentally acquired or de novo host selected during patient therapy. While much concerning development of resistance is yet unknown, recent investigations have revealed assorted underlying mechanisms enabling triazole resistance within individual clinical and environmental isolates. This review will provide an overview of triazole resistance as it is currently understood, as well as highlight some of the prominent biological mechanisms associated with clinical and environmental resistance to triazoles in A. fumigatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C)‐rich wetland soils are often drained for agriculture due to their capacity to support high net primary productivity. Increased drainage is expected this century to meet the agricultural demands of a growing population. Wetland drainage can result in large soil C losses and the concentration of residual soil minerals such as iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al). In upland soils, reactive Fe and Al minerals can contribute to soil C accumulation through sorption to poorly crystalline minerals and coprecipitation of organo‐metal complexes, as well as C loss via anaerobic respiration by Fe‐reducing bacteria. The role of these minerals in soil C dynamics is often overlooked in managed wetland soils and may be particularly important in both drained and reflooded systems with elevated mineral concentrations. Reflooding drained soils have been proposed as a means to sequester C for climate change mitigation, yet little is known about how reactive Fe and Al minerals affect C cycling in restored wetlands. We explored the interactions among soil C and reactive Fe and Al minerals in drained and reflooded wetland soils. In reflooded soils, soil C was negatively associated with reactive Fe and reduced Fe(II), a proxy for anaerobic conditions (reactive Fe: R2 =.54–.79; Fe(II): R2 =.59–.89). In drained soils, organo‐Al complexes were positively associated with soil C and Fe(II) (Al R2 =.91; Fe(II): R2 =.54–.60). Soil moisture, organo‐Al, and reactive Fe explained most of the variation observed in soil C concentrations across all sites (p <.01). Reactive Fe was negatively correlated to soil C concentrations across sites, suggesting these Fe pools may drive additional C losses in drained soils and limit C sequestration with reflooding. In contrast, reactive organo‐Al in drained soils facilitates C storage via aggregation and/or formation of anaerobic (micro)sites that protect residual soil C from oxidation and may at least partially offset C losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, we trace the symbolic conundrums of belonging and of the reconciliation of identities, in the context of Catalan and Scottish sport and politics. Our discussion will commence with a necessarily concise consideration of past academic contentions regarding the national "psyches," which have been argued to shape contemporary notions of identity and politics in Catalonia and Scotland, before turning our attention to the specific role of sport vis‐à‐vis these psyches and the growing clamour for greater political autonomy for each of these stateless nations. On the basis of the evidence drawn from the interaction between sport and politics in the two nations, we argue that secessionism is a liminal field of transformation as it includes what is seen as mutually exclusive sets of relationships (Catalans vs. Spaniards, Scottish vs. British, and secessionists vs. unionists/centralists), which at the same time allows subjects to pass from one state to another and occupy them nonexclusively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non‐enzymatic replication of the primordial genetic material is thought to have enabled the evolution of early forms of RNA‐based life. However, the replication of oligonucleotides long enough to encode catalytic functions is problematic due to the low efficiency of template copying with mononucleotides. We show that template‐directed ligation can assemble long RNAs from shorter oligonucleotides, which would be easier to replicate. The rate of ligation can be greatly enhanced by employing a 3′‐amino group at the 3′‐end of each oligonucleotide, in combination with an N‐alkyl imidazole organocatalyst. These modifications enable the copying of RNA templates by the multistep ligation of tetranucleotide building blocks, as well as the assembly of long oligonucleotides using short splint oligonucleotides. We also demonstrate the formation of long oligonucleotides inside model prebiotic vesicles, which suggests a potential route to the assembly of artificial cells capable of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of Jupiter's deep atmosphere by the Juno spacecraft have revealed several puzzling facts: The concentration of ammonia is variable down to pressures of tens of bars and is strongly dependent on latitude. While most latitudes exhibit a low abundance, the Equatorial Zone of Jupiter has an abundance of ammonia that is high and nearly uniform with depth. In parallel, the Equatorial Zone is peculiar for its absence of lightning, which is otherwise prevalent most everywhere else on the planet. We show that a model accounting for the presence of small‐scale convection and water storms originating in Jupiter's deep atmosphere accounts for the observations. Where strong thunderstorms are observed on the planet, we estimate that the formation of ammonia‐rich hail ("mushballs") and subsequent downdrafts can deplete efficiency the upper atmosphere of its ammonia and transport it efficiently to the deeper levels. In the Equatorial Zone, the absence of thunderstorms shows that this process is not occurring, implying that small‐scale convection can maintain a near‐homogeneity of this region. A simple model satisfying mass and energy balance accounts for the main features of Juno's microwave radiometer observations and successfully reproduces the inverse correlation seen between ammonia abundance and the lightning rate as function of latitude. We predict that in regions where ammonia is depleted, water should also be depleted to great depths. The fact that condensates are not well mixed by convection until far deeper than their condensation level has consequences for our understanding of Jupiter's deep interior and of giant‐planet atmospheres in general. Plain Language Summary: Measurements by the Juno spacecraft have shown that much more ammonia is present in Jupiter's atmosphere near the equator than at higher latitudes. This was never predicted by theory. In a companion paper, we showed that ammonia can combine with water to form hail‐like particles that we call "mushballs." Here we show that mushball formation in storms can effectively dry out the atmosphere of its ammonia. Our idea is supported by lack of lightning activity at the equator compared to higher latitudes. Because lightning is generated in rainstorms, the lack of lightning at the equator suggests that the thunderstorms forming the mushballs responsible for the depletion of ammonia are not present there. In contrast, in other regions where lightning is present, we predict that not only ammonia but also water are depleted to great depths, more than a hundred kilometers below the cloud tops. The complexity of Jupiter's meteorology means we must expect similar complexity in observing the weather on other giant planets in and beyond our solar system. Key Points: Juno measurements show that ammonia gas in Jupiter has variable abundance to great depth and as a function of latitudeWe show that Jupiter's powerful storms control ammonia abundance by leading to the formation of water‐ammonia hailstones (mushballs) and evaporative downdraftsA simple atmospheric mixing model successfully links measured lightning rate to ammonia abundance and predicts variable water abundance to great depth [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present multiwavelength measurements of the thermal, chemical, and cloud contrasts associated with the visibly dark formations (also known as 5‐μm hot spots) and intervening bright plumes on the boundary between Jupiter's Equatorial Zone (EZ) and North Equatorial Belt (NEB). Observations made by the TEXES 5‐ to 20‐μm spectrometer at the Gemini North Telescope in March 2017 reveal the upper‐tropospheric properties of 12 hot spots, which are directly compared to measurements by Juno using the microwave radiometer (MWR), JIRAM at 5 μm, and JunoCam visible images. MWR and thermal‐infrared spectroscopic results are consistent near 0.7 bar. Mid‐infrared‐derived aerosol opacity is consistent with that inferred from visible‐albedo and 5‐μm opacity maps. Aerosol contrasts, the defining characteristics of the cloudy plumes and aerosol‐depleted hot spots, are not a good proxy for microwave brightness. The hot spots are neither uniformly warmer nor ammonia‐depleted compared to their surroundings at p<1 bar. At 0.7 bar, the microwave brightness at the edges of hot spots is comparable to other features within the NEB. Conversely, hot spots are brighter at 1.5 bar, signifying either warm temperatures and/or depleted NH3 at depth. Temperatures and ammonia are spatially variable within the hot spots, so the precise location of the observations matters to their interpretation. Reflective plumes sometimes have enhanced NH3, cold temperatures, and elevated aerosol opacity, but each plume appears different. Neither plumes nor hot spots had microwave signatures in channels sensing p>10 bars, suggesting that the hot spot/plume wave is a relatively shallow feature. Plain Language Summary: To date, our only direct measurement of Jupiter's gaseous composition came from the descent of the Galileo probe in 1995. However, the results from Galileo appeared to be biased due to the unusual meteorological conditions of its entry location: a dark, cloud‐free region just north of the equator, known as a hot spot. One of the aims of NASA's Juno mission was to place the findings of the Galileo probe into broader context, which requires a detailed characterization of these equatorial hot spots and their neighboring plumes. We combine (a) data from Juno (microwave observations sounding conditions below the clouds and visible/infrared observations revealing variations in cloud opacity) with (b) observations from amateur observers (to track the hot spots over time) and (c) observations from the TEXES infrared spectrometer mounted on the Gemini‐North telescope. The latter provides the highest‐resolution thermal maps of Jupiter's tropics ever obtained and reveals contrasts within and between the individual hot spots and plumes. We find that the hot spots are distinguishable from their surroundings for relatively shallow pressures but that the deep measurements from Juno and Galileo are probably more representative of Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt than previously thought. Key Points: Gemini TEXES spectral mapping reveals temperature, aerosol, and ammonia contrasts associated with plumes and hot spots on Jupiter's NEB jetstreamJuno microwave measurements are consistent with the infrared mapping and reveals that hot spot ammonia contrasts are confined to pressures less than 8–10 barsHot spots and plumes are primarily contrasts in aerosols, with only subtle upper‐tropospheric ammonia and temperature variations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peat soils drained for agriculture and forestry are important sources of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Rewetting effectively reduces these emissions. However, rewetting also increases methane emissions from the soil and, on forestry‐drained peatlands, decreases the carbon storage of trees. To analyze the effect of peatland rewetting on the climate, we built radiative forcing scenarios for tropical peat soils, temperate and boreal agricultural peat soils, and temperate and boreal forestry‐drained peat soils. The effect of tree and wood product carbon storage in boreal forestry‐drained peatlands was also estimated as a case study for Finland. Rewetting of tropical peat soils resulted in immediate cooling. In temperate and boreal agricultural peat soils, the warming effect of methane emissions offsets a major part of the cooling for the first decades after rewetting. In temperate and boreal forestry‐drained peat soils, the effect of rewetting was mostly warming for the first decades. In addition, the decrease in tree and wood product carbon storage further delayed the onset of the cooling effect for decades. Global rewetting resulted in increasing climate cooling, reaching −70 mW (m2 Earth)−1 in 100 years. Tropical peat soils (9.6 million ha) accounted for approximately two thirds and temperate and boreal agricultural peat soils (13.0 million ha) for one third of the cooling. Forestry‐drained peat soils (10.6 million ha) had a negligible effect. We conclude that peatland rewetting is beneficial and important for mitigating climate change, but abandoning tree stands may instead be the best option concerning forestry‐drained peatlands. Key Points: Rewetting of tropical peat soils resulted in immediate coolingIn temperate and boreal agricultural peat soils, methane emissions offset a major part of the cooling for the first decadesAbandoning tree stands may be more beneficial than rewetting in temperate and boreal forestry‐drained peatlands [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]