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Dryland ecosystems cover 40% of our planet's land surface, support billions of people, and are responding rapidly to climate and land use change. These expansive systems also dominate core aspects of Earth's climate, storing and exchanging vast amounts of water, carbon, and energy with the atmosphere. Despite their indispensable ecosystem services and high vulnerability to change, drylands are one of the least understood ecosystem types, partly due to challenges studying their heterogeneous landscapes and misconceptions that drylands are unproductive "wastelands." Consequently, inadequate understanding of dryland processes has resulted in poor model representation and forecasting capacity, hindering decision making for these at‐risk ecosystems. NASA satellite resources are increasingly available at the higher resolutions needed to enhance understanding of drylands' heterogeneous spatiotemporal dynamics. NASA's Terrestrial Ecology Program solicited proposals for scoping a multi‐year field campaign, of which Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID) was one of two scoping studies selected. A primary goal of the scoping study is to gather input from the scientific and data end‐user communities on dryland research gaps and data user needs. Here, we provide an overview of the ARID team's community engagement and how it has guided development of our framework. This includes an ARID kickoff meeting with over 300 participants held in October 2023 at the University of Arizona to gather input from data end‐users and scientists. We also summarize insights gained from hundreds of follow‐up activities, including from a tribal‐engagement focused workshop in New Mexico, conference town halls, intensive roundtables, and international engagements. Plain Language Summary: Drylands are landscapes with limited water availability, which cover 40% of Earth's land surfaces, support billions of humans, and play a substantial role in Earth's weather and climate systems. However, these ecosystems are under threat from droughts and heatwaves. They are also poorly understood because of challenges measuring their highly diverse vegetation types and interspersed vegetation cover and because of incorrect perceptions that they are unimportant "wastelands." These limitations make it challenging to manage their landscapes and quantify how drylands are driving Earth's weather and climate. NASA solicited proposals for a multi‐year field campaign, of which Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID) was one of two scoping studies selected. The ARID scoping study aims to design a plan for how NASA satellite, aircraft, and field instruments can be used to better understand dryland ecosystems and their response to change. A primary scoping goal is to engage with scientists and data‐users, especially those who manage land, to understand research and management priorities in drylands. Here, we discuss details of our meeting with over 300 scientists and data‐users in Tucson, AZ in October 2023. We also highlight feedback from our tribal‐focused workshop in New Mexico, conference town halls, and international meetings. Key Points: Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID) is a 1‐year scoping study for a multi‐year NASA Terrestrial Ecology dryland field campaignAn ARID workshop was held in Tucson, Arizona in October 2023 with more than 30 data end‐users and 300 scientists in attendanceFurther input from hundreds of researchers and end‐users was obtained through workshops, conference townhalls, and tribal engagement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick vectors and tick‐borne disease are increasingly impacting human populations globally. An important challenge is to understand tick movement patterns, as this information can be used to improve management and predictive modelling of tick population dynamics. Evolutionary analysis of genetic divergence, gene flow and local adaptation provides insight on movement patterns at large spatiotemporal scales. We develop low coverage, whole genome resequencing data for 92 blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, representing range‐wide variation across the United States. Through analysis of population genomic data, we find that tick populations are structured geographically, with gradual isolation by distance separating three population clusters in the northern United States, southeastern United States and a unique cluster represented by a sample from Tennessee. Populations in the northern United States underwent population contractions during the last glacial period and diverged from southern populations at least 50 thousand years ago. Genome scans of selection provide strong evidence of local adaptation at genes responding to host defences, blood‐feeding and environmental variation. In addition, we explore the potential of low coverage genome sequencing of whole‐tick samples for documenting the diversity of microbial pathogens and recover important tick‐borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi. The combination of isolation by distance and local adaptation in blacklegged ticks demonstrates that gene flow, including recent expansion, is limited to geographical scales of a few hundred kilometres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging and re‐emerging pathogens often stem from zoonotic origins, cycling between humans and animals, and are frequently vectored and maintained by hematophagous arthropod vectors. The efficiency by which these disease agents are successfully transmitted between vertebrate hosts is influenced by many factors, including the host on which a vector feeds. The Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato has adapted to survive in complex host environments, vectored by Ixodes ticks, and maintained in multiple vertebrate hosts. The versatility of Lyme borreliae in disparate host milieus is a compelling platform to investigate mechanisms dictating pathogen transmission through complex networks of vertebrates and ticks. Squamata, one of the most diverse clade of extant reptiles, is comprised primarily of lizards, many of which are readily fed upon by Ixodes ticks. Yet, lizards are one of the least studied taxa at risk of contributing to the transmission and life cycle maintenance of Lyme borreliae. In this review, we summarize the current evidence, spanning from field surveillance to laboratory infection studies, supporting their contributions to Lyme borreliae circulation. We also summarize the current understanding of divergent lizard immune responses that may explain the underlying molecular mechanisms to confer Lyme spirochete survival in vertebrate hosts. This review offers a critical perspective on potential enzootic cycles existing between lizard‐tick‐Borrelia interactions and highlights the importance of an eco‐immunology lens for zoonotic pathogen transmission studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Poales are one of the most species‐rich, ecologically and economically important orders of plants and often characterise open habitats, enabled by unique suites of traits. We test six hypotheses regarding the evolution and assembly of Poales in open and closed habitats throughout the world, and examine whether diversification patterns demonstrate parallel evolution.We sampled 42% of Poales species and obtained taxonomic and biogeographic data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants database, which was combined with open/closed habitat data scored by taxonomic experts. A dated supertree of Poales was constructed. We integrated spatial phylogenetics with regionalisation analyses, historical biogeography and ancestral state estimations.Diversification in Poales and assembly of open and closed habitats result from dynamic evolutionary processes that vary across lineages, time and space, most prominently in tropical and southern latitudes. Our results reveal parallel and recurrent patterns of habitat and trait transitions in the species‐rich families Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Smaller families display unique and often divergent evolutionary trajectories.The Poales have achieved global dominance via parallel evolution in open habitats, with notable, spatially and phylogenetically restricted divergences into strictly closed habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐phase fluid flow in fractured porous media impacts many natural and industrial processes but our understanding of flow dynamics in these systems is constrained by difficulties measuring the exchange of water between fracture and adjacent porous matrix. We present a novel experimental system that allows quantitative visualization of the air and water phases in a single analog fractured porous medium. The fracture system consists of a sintered‐glass porous plate in contact with an impermeable glass plate. A reservoir connected to the porous plate allows control of pore pressure within the porous medium. The fracture fills and drains through the porous matrix and flow manifolds along two edges of the fracture. The fracture is mounted in an imaging system that includes a controlled light‐emitting diode panel and a charge‐coupled‐device camera. Flow and pressure are controlled and monitored by a computer during experiments. To demonstrate this system, we carried out a series of cyclic drainage and imbibition experiments in fractures bounded by porous media with different pore‐size distributions in the porous matrix. Images of the drainage process demonstrate that the air‐water distribution within the fracture evolves differently than has been observed in non‐porous fractured systems. Specifically, we observed limited trapping of water within the fracture during drainage. Conversely, during imbibition, because air cannot exit through the porous matrix, significant regions of air became entrapped once pathways to the fracture boundaries became water filled. The differences in phase evolution led to substantial differences in the evolution of estimated relative permeability with saturation. Key Points: Developed a novel experimental method to visualize two‐phase flow in a fracture bounded by a porous matrixThe evolution of the air‐water distribution within the fracture was measured during sequential drainage and imbibition experimentsCapillary head versus saturation curves are sensitive to the pore‐size distribution of the bounding porous matrix [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of skeletal maturation on sodium (23Na) MRI relaxation parameters and the accuracy of tissue sodium concentration (TSC) quantification in human knee cartilage. Methods: Twelve pediatric knee specimens were imaged with whole‐body 10.5 T MRI using a density‐adapted 3D radial projection sequence to evaluate 23Na parameters: B1+, T1, biexponential T2*$$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$, and TSC. Water, collagen, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content were calculated from osteochondral biopsies. The TSC was corrected for B1+, relaxation, and water content. The literature‐based TSC (TSCLB) used previously published values for corrections, whereas the specimen‐specific TSC (TSCSP) used measurements from individual specimens. 23Na parameters were evaluated in eight cartilage compartments segmented on proton images. Associations between 23Na parameters, TSCLB − TSCSP difference, biochemical content, and age were determined. Results: From birth to 12 years, cartilage water content decreased by 18%; collagen increased by 59%; and sGAG decreased by 36% (all R2 ≥ 0.557). The short T2*$$ {\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast } $$ (T2*S$$ {{\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast}}_{\mathrm{S}} $$) decreased by 72%, and the signal fraction relaxing with T2*S$$ {{\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast}}_{\mathrm{S}} $$ (fT2*S$$ {{\mathrm{fT}}_2^{\ast}}_{\mathrm{S}} $$) increased by 55% during the first 5 years but remained relatively stable after that. TSCSP was significantly correlated with sGAG content from biopsies (R2 = 0.739). Depending on age, TSCLB showed higher or lower values than TSCSP. The TSCLB − TSCSP difference was significantly correlated with T2*S$$ {{\mathrm{T}}_2^{\ast}}_{\mathrm{S}} $$ (R2 = 0.850), fT2*S$$ {{\mathrm{fT}}_2^{\ast}}_{\mathrm{S}} $$ (R2 = 0.651), and water content (R2 = 0.738). Conclusion: TSC and relaxation parameters measured with 23Na MRI provide noninvasive information about changes in sGAG content and collagen matrix during cartilage maturation. Cartilage TSC quantification assuming fixed relaxation may be feasible in children older than 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest disturbances can result in very different canopies that carry elevated albedo, thus causing substantial cooling effects on the climate. Unfortunately, the resulting dynamic global warming potential from altered albedo (GWPΔα) is poorly understood. We examined and modeled the changes in albedo over time after disturbances (i.e., forest age) by forest type, disturbance type and geographic location using direct measurements from 107 sites in temperate and boreal regions. Albedo in undisturbed forests was used as the reference to calculate albedo changes (Δα) and GWPΔα after a disturbance. We found that age is a significant factor for predicting albedo amid the obvious regulations from forest type and geographic locations. We found the strongest cooling GWPΔα in the first 10 years after a disturbance, but it decreased rapidly with time. The changes in GWPΔα were very different from the chronosequence of net ecosystem production (NEP). In the first decade after disturbances, GWPΔα was negative (i.e., cooling) and surprisingly larger in magnitude, with an average of −0.609 kg CO2 m−2 yr−1, compared to NEP of −0.166 kg CO2 m−2 yr−1. Albedo continued to decrease and approached pre‐disturbance levels until around 50 years, resulting in a nearly zero GWPΔα. This research illustrates that many forests in temperate and boreal regions can be considered significant cooling agents by taking into account the high albedo of young forests following disturbances. Plain Language Summary: After forest disturbances, the removal of dense canopies exposes brighter surfaces, leading to higher surface albedo. Changes in albedo, which affect the reflection of solar energy from the Earth's surface, can have different climate impacts of greenhouse gases emissions like CO2. In this study, we used in situ observations to model how albedo changes over time following forest disturbances. We also assessed the climate impacts of these albedo changes, taking into account their temporal dynamics. Our results show that the age of the forest is the most significant factor influencing albedo dynamics after disturbances. However, the trajectory of albedo dynamics also depends on the forest types and disturbance types. We found that the elevated albedo in forests after disturbances accounts for substantial cooling effects in the first 20 years that is comparable to the effect of net ecosystem production (NEP). Understanding the dynamic of albedo following forest disturbances is essential for quantifying the climate impacts, especially as more forests are experiencing disturbances induced by human activities. Key Points: Age, forest type, and disturbance type significantly influence post‐disturbance albedo dynamics, with age having the most substantial impactElevated albedo in forests after disturbances exerts a dominant cooling effect within the first 20 years of successionQuantifying the climate impact of changing albedo post‐disturbance should consider the successional trajectory, as its effects are highly time‐sensitive [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Savannas are water‐limited ecosystems characterized by two dominant plant types: trees and an understory primarily made up grass. Different phenology and root structures of these plant types complicate how savanna primary productivity responds to changes in water availability. We tested the hypothesis that productivity in savannas is controlled by the temporal and vertical distribution of soil water content (SWC) and differences in growing season length of understory and tree plant functional types. To quantify the relationship between tree, understory, and savanna‐wide phenology and productivity, we used PhenoCam and satellite observations surrounding an eddy covariance tower at a semiarid savanna site in Arizona, USA. We distinguished between SWC across two different depth intervals (shallow, <0–30 cm and deep, >30–100 cm). We found that tree greenness increased with SWC at both depths, while understory greenness was only sensitive to the shallower SWC measurements. Onset of ecosystem dormancy, estimated from satellite observations close to the eddy covariance tower, explained more variability in annual gross primary productivity (GPP) than in other phenometrics. Higher SWC led to an extended growing season, caused by delayed dormancy in trees, but the understory showed no evidence of delayed dormancy in wetter periods. We infer that the timing of ecosystem scale dormancy, driven by trees, is important in understanding changes in a savanna's GPP. These findings highlight the important effects of rainfall during the winter. These findings suggest that savanna GPP is conditional on different responses to moisture availability in each of the dominant vegetation components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: In addition to the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the presence of excess neural activity is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a prognostic indicator for progression of AD pathology and clinical/cognitive worsening in mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI due to AD). The HOPE4MCI clinical study tested the efficacy of a therapeutic with demonstrated ability to normalize heightened neural activity in the hippocampus in a randomized controlled trial of 78 weeks duration in patients with MCI due to AD. METHODS: One hundred and sixty‐four participants were randomized to placebo (n = 83) or AGB101 (n = 81), an extended‐release formulation of low dose (220 mg) levetiracetam. The primary endpoint was the change in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes score (CDR‐SB) comparing follow up at 18 months to baseline. The goal of the primary efficacy analysis was to estimate the difference between the AGB101 and placebo arms in the mean change of the primary endpoint. RESULTS: The mean change in CDR‐SB was estimated to be 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 1.69) for the AGB101 arm and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.78) for the placebo arm. The estimated difference between arms is ‐0.10 (95% CI: ‐0.85, 0.58), which was not statistically significant. In a prespecified analysis, the difference was ‐0.45 (95% CI: ‐1.43, 0.53) for ApoE‐4 noncarriers and ‐0.10 (95% CI: ‐0.92, 0.72) for apolipoprotein E (ApoE)‐4 carriers. DISCUSSION: The possibility that ApoE‐4 carriers and noncarriers will respond differently to therapeutic intervention is consistent with recently reported findings from biologics and the present results show further testing of AGB101 in patients with MCI due to AD who are noncarriers of the ApoeE‐4 allele is warranted. Conclusions from the HOPE4MCI study are limited primarily due to the small sample size and results can only be regarded as a guide to future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCA12) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the PPP2R2B gene. Objective: In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the PPP2R2B antisense (PPP2R2B‐AS1) transcript containing a CUG repeat is expressed and contributes to SCA12 pathogenesis. Methods: Expression of PPP2R2B‐AS1 transcript was detected in SCA12 human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), iPSC‐derived NGN2 neurons, and SCA12 knock‐in mouse brains using strand‐specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The tendency of expanded PPP2R2B‐AS1 (expPPP2R2B‐AS1) RNA to form foci, a marker of toxic processes involving mutant RNAs, was examined in SCA12 cell models by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The apoptotic effect of expPPP2R2B‐AS1 transcripts on SK‐N‐MC neuroblastoma cells was evaluated by caspase 3/7 activity. Western blot was used to examine the expression of repeat associated non‐ATG‐initiated translation of expPPP2R2B‐AS1 transcript in SK‐N‐MC cells. Results: The repeat region in the PPP2R2B gene locus is bidirectionally transcribed in SCA12 iPSCs, iPSC‐derived NGN2 neurons, and SCA12 mouse brains. Transfected expPPP2R2B‐AS1 transcripts induce apoptosis in SK‐N‐MC cells, and the apoptotic effect may be mediated, at least in part, by the RNA secondary structure. The expPPP2R2B‐AS1 transcripts form CUG RNA foci in SK‐N‐MC cells. expPPP2R2B‐AS1 transcript is translated in the alanine open reading frame (ORF) via repeat‐associated non‐ATG translation, which is diminished by single‐nucleotide interruptions within the CUG repeat and MBNL1 overexpression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PPP2R2B‐AS1 contributes to SCA12 pathogenesis and may therefore provide a novel therapeutic target for the disease. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Drylands of the southwestern United States are rapidly warming, and rainfall is becoming less frequent and more intense, with major yet poorly understood implications for ecosystem structure and function. Thermography‐based estimates of plant temperature can be integrated with air temperature to infer changes in plant physiology and response to climate change. However, very few studies have evaluated plant temperature dynamics at high spatiotemporal resolution in rainfall pulse‐driven dryland ecosystems.We address this gap by incorporating high‐frequency thermal imaging into a field‐based precipitation manipulation experiment in a semi‐arid grassland to investigate the impacts of rainfall temporal repackaging.All other factors held constant, we found that fewer/larger precipitation events led to cooler plant temperatures (1.4°C) compared to that of many/smaller precipitation events. Perennials, in particular, were 2.5°C cooler than annuals under the fewest/largest treatment.We show these patterns were driven by: increased and consistent soil moisture availability in the deeper soil layers in the fewest/largest treatment; and deeper roots of perennials providing access to deeper plant available water. Our findings highlight the potential for high spatiotemporal resolution thermography to quantify the differential sensitivity of plant functional groups to soil water availability. Detecting these sensitivities is vital to understanding the ecohydrological implications of hydroclimate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to further advance our understanding of the species‐rich, and ecologically important angiosperm family Combretaceae to provide new insights into their evolutionary history. We assessed phylogenetic relationships in the family using target capture data and produced a dated phylogenetic tree to assess fruit dispersal modes and patterns of distribution. Location: Tropical and subtropical regions. Time Period: Cretaceous to present. Major Taxa Studied: Family Combretaceae is a member of the rosid clade and comprises 10 genera and more than 500 species, predominantly assigned to genera Combretum and Terminalia, and occurring on all continents and in a wide range of ecosystems. Methods: We use a target capture approach and the Angiosperms353 universal probes to reconstruct a robust dated phylogenetic tree for the family. This phylogenetic framework, combined with seed dispersal traits, biome data and biogeographic ranges, allows the reconstruction of the biogeographical history of the group. Results: Ancestral range reconstructions suggest a Gondwanan origin (Africa/South America), with several intercontinental dispersals within the family and few transitions between biomes. Relative abundance of fruit dispersal types differed by both continent and biome. However, intercontinental colonizations were only significantly enhanced by water dispersal (drift fruit), and there was no evidence that seed dispersal modes influenced biome shifts. Main Conclusions: Our analysis reveals a paradox as drift fruit greatly enhanced dispersal distances at intercontinental scale but did not affect the strong biome conservatism observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Transfusion of a high ratio of plasma to packed red blood cells (PRBCs), to treat or prevent acute traumatic coagulopathy, has been associated with survival after major trauma. However, the effect of prehospital plasma on patient outcomes has been inconsistent. The aim of this pilot trial was to assess the feasibility of transfusing freeze‐dried plasma with red blood cells (RBCs) using a randomized controlled design in an Australian aeromedical prehospital setting. Methods: Patients attended by helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) paramedics with suspected critical bleeding after trauma managed with prehospital RBCs were randomized to receive 2 units of freeze‐dried plasma (Lyoplas N‐w) or standard care (no plasma). The primary outcome was the proportion of eligible patients enrolled and provided the intervention. Secondary outcomes included preliminary data on effectiveness, including mortality censored at 24 h and at hospital discharge, and adverse events. Results: During the study period of June 1 to October 31, 2022, there were 25 eligible patients, of whom 20 (80%) were enrolled in the trial and 19 (76%) received the allocated intervention. Median time from randomization to hospital arrival was 92.5 min (IQR 68–101.5 min). Mortality may have been lower in the freeze‐dried plasma group at 24 h (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.03–1.73) and at hospital discharge (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.24–2.27). No serious adverse events related to the trial interventions were reported. Conclusions: This first reported experience of freeze‐dried plasma use in Australia suggests prehospital administration is feasible. Given longer prehospital times typically associated with HEMS attendance, there is potential clinical benefit from this intervention and rationale for a definitive trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Correct early diagnosis and intervention for schizophrenia is associated with improved outcomes. This study sought to determine the potential value of specialized consultations for individuals thought to have a recent‐onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder who were not receiving specialized care. Methods: 121 consecutive one‐time consultations were performed in a clinic specializing in recent‐onset schizophrenia. Parents of 79 patients were questioned about the process and the value of the consultation. Results: Consultations were perceived by parents as both positive and helpful experiences. 85% of parents were somewhat or very happy with the consultation experience, and 86% found the consultation to be moderately or very helpful. A third of parents viewed the consultation as contributing to the long‐term improvement of the patient's condition. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the potential value of consultations for individuals with possible schizophrenia spectrum disorders not receiving specialized treatment, and provide rationale for comprehensive studies investigating the widespread implementation of such consultations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyphostemma, with ca. 200 species, is the second‐largest genus after Cissus in the grape family Vitaceae. Cyphostemma exhibits a high degree of morphological variation both between and within species that confounds species delimitation. Additional questions remain due to limited taxon sampling, original reference specimens damaged or lost and incomplete descriptions of taxa. Previous molecular studies, with limited taxon sampling, suggested three major clades corresponding to their distribution in continental Africa, Madagascar and Asia. However, deep relationships and biogeographic history within Cyphostemma remain unresolved. We conducted phylogenetic analysis and morphological character reconstruction of Cyphostemma using 91 newly assembled plastomes, with a focus on resolving complex taxonomic issues in Madagascar. Our results strongly support the Malagasy Cyphostemma as non‐monophyletic for the first time. Biogeographic reconstructions reveal two independent dispersals from continental Africa to Madagascar. The first dispersal is dated to the Oligocene and has led to the diversification of species with pinnate leaves in Madagascar. The second dispersal is estimated to have occurred during the late Miocene and has given rise to the only species with digitate leaves in Madagascar. Ancestral state reconstructions reveal that several morphological innovations may have promoted adaptation of Cyphostemma to a diverse range of habitats in Madagascar. In particular, a group of species from southern Madagascar have evolved both succulent stems and leaves to cope with extreme aridification in this region. Finally, relationships within three species complexes from the "Sambirano domain", the southern spiny forest‐thicket and the northern limestone areas of Madagascar are clarified and four new taxa are proposed based on molecular and morphological evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni, is a cryptic, federally threatened snake species with several fragmented populations in Louisiana and Texas, USA. There are currently four captive breeding populations in zoos in the USA; however, little scientific data exists on their life history and anatomy. Accurate sex determination and identification of normal reproductive anatomy are an essential part of a veterinary exam and conservation programs. The authors had encountered various cases of sex misidentification in this species that were attributed to lack of lubrication of the sexing probes and enlarged musk glands. Anecdotal observation led to a hypothesis of sexual dimorphism based on body and tail shape. To test this hypothesis, we measured body length, tail length and width, and body to tail taper angle in 15 P. ruthveni (9 males and 6 females). We also obtained tail radiographs of all animals to document the presence of mineralized hemipenes. Significant dimorphism was identified in relative tail length, width, and taper angle; females consistently exhibited a more acute taper angle. Contrary to previous studies in other Pituophis species, a male‐biased sexual size dimorphism was not identified. Mineralized hemipenes were confirmed in all males (a newly described trait in this species), and we found that the lateral view was consistently more reliable for identification of hemipenes compared to the ventrodorsal view. This information contributes to the scientific community's understanding of this species and is of use to biologists and veterinarians working toward conservation of this threatened species. Highlights: We confirmed the presence of mineralized hemipenes as a normal attribute in male Louisiana pine snakes which can be used to differentiate them from females on radiographs.Louisiana pine snakes exhibit sexual dimorphism in the relative tail length and angle of the tail taper between males and females.Contrary to previous studies of sexual dimorphism in Pituophis species, male‐biased sexual size dimorphism was not identified within these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring and estimating drought impact on plant physiological processes over large regions remains a major challenge for remote sensing and land surface modeling, with important implications for understanding plant mortality mechanisms and predicting the climate change impact on terrestrial carbon and water cycles. The Orbiting Carbon Observatory 3 (OCO‐3), with its unique diurnal observing capability, offers a new opportunity to track drought stress on plant physiology. Using radiative transfer and machine learning modeling, we derive a metric of afternoon photosynthetic depression from OCO‐3 solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) as an indicator of plant physiological drought stress. This unique diurnal signal enables a spatially explicit mapping of plants' physiological response to drought. Using OCO‐3 observations, we detect a widespread increasing drought stress during the 2020 southwest US drought. Although the physiological drought stress is largely related to the vapor pressure deficit (VPD), our results suggest that plants' sensitivity to VPD increases as the drought intensifies and VPD sensitivity develops differently for shrublands and grasslands. Our findings highlight the potential of using diurnal satellite SIF observations to advance the mechanistic understanding of drought impact on terrestrial ecosystems and to improve land surface modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a progressive upper motor neuron disorder associated with considerable clinical disability. Symptoms are typically exclusively linked to primary motor cortex degeneration and the contribution of pre‐motor, supplementary motor, cortico‐medullary and inter‐hemispheric connectivity alterations are less well characterized. Methods: In a single‐centre, prospective, longitudinal neuroimaging study 41 patients with PLS were investigated. Patients underwent standardized neuroimaging, genetic profiling with whole exome sequencing, and comprehensive clinical assessments including upper motor neuron scores, tapping rates, mirror movements, spasticity assessment, cognitive screening and evaluation for pseudobulbar affect. Longitudinal neuroimaging data from 108 healthy controls were used for image interpretation. A standardized imaging protocol was implemented including 3D T1‐weighted structural, diffusion tensor imaging and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Following somatotopic segmentation, cortical thickness analyses, probabilistic tractography, blood oxygenation level dependent signal analyses and brainstem volumetry were conducted to evaluate cortical, brainstem, cortico‐medullary and inter‐hemispheric connectivity alterations both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. Results: Our data confirm progressive primary motor cortex degeneration, considerable supplementary motor and pre‐motor area involvement, progressive brainstem atrophy, cortico‐medullary and inter‐hemispheric disconnection, and close associations between clinical upper motor neuron scores and somatotopic connectivity indices in PLS. Discussion: Primary lateral sclerosis is associated with relentlessly progressive motor connectome degeneration. Clinical disability in PLS is likely to stem from a combination of intra‐ and inter‐hemispheric connectivity decline and primary, pre‐ and supplementary motor cortex degeneration. Simple 'bedside' clinical tools, such as tapping rates, are excellent proxies of the integrity of the relevant fibres of the contralateral corticospinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hybridization caused by frequent environmental changes can lead both to species diversification (speciation) and to speciation reversal (despeciation), but the latter has rarely been demonstrated. Parthenocissus, a genus with its trifoliolate lineage in the Himalayan–Hengduan Mountains (HHM) region showing perplexing phylogenetic relationships, provides an opportunity for investigating speciation dynamics based on integrated evidence.We investigated phylogenetic discordance and reticulate evolution in Parthenocissus based on rigorous analyses of plastome and transcriptome data. We focused on reticulations in the trifoliolate lineage in the HHM region using a population‐level genome resequencing dataset, incorporating evidence from morphology, distribution, and elevation.Comprehensive analyses confirmed multiple introgressions within Parthenocissus in a robust temporal–spatial framework. Around the HHM region, at least three hybridization hot spots were identified, one of which showed evidence of ongoing speciation reversal.We present a solid case study using an integrative methodological approach to investigate reticulate evolutionary history and its underlying mechanisms in plants. It demonstrates an example of speciation reversal through frequent hybridizations in the HHM region, which provides new perspectives on speciation dynamics in mountainous areas with strong topographic and environmental heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed satellite‐retrieved marine aerosol in the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) across a 12‐year period from coarse‐mode aerosol optical depth (AODC), often used as a proxy for sea spray aerosol (SSA), and marine aerosol optical depth (MAOD), a newly developed proxy for tropospheric marine aerosol. Across open ocean to coastal regions, daily fluctuations in nighttime and daytime winds, respectively, drove increasing MAOD and AODC. MAOD depicted strong correlations with wind speed across open ocean and weak correlations in coastal regions. In the open ocean, AODC exhibited a very weak significant correlation to wind speed and a weak significant correlation to sea surface temperature (SST). We thus observed that warmer SST enhanced the production of SSA, supporting prior studies. This is the first study to assess patterns of AODC in the WAP. In contrast to the tropical Pacific, seasonal patterns showed that biological activity likely contributed toward MAOD and AODC magnitudes. Plain Language Summary: The production of marine aerosol in the Bellingshausen Sea of the western Antarctic is coupled to the environment. Processes driving marine aerosol include wind speed, which produces sea spray aerosol (SSA), sea surface temperature (SST), which can enhance the production of SSA, and seasonal dynamics of sea ice melt and phytoplankton blooms, which can contribute to production of biogenic sources of marine aerosol. To study these drivers in closer detail, we used two specialized proxies of marine aerosol concentration: coarse‐mode Aerosol Optical Depth (AODC), a proxy for SSA, and Marine Aerosol Optical Depth (MAOD) a proxy for low‐altitude marine aerosol. We examined MAOD and AODC from 2007 to 2018 and found that wind speed was a driver of day‐to‐day fluxes in marine aerosol. In contrast to the tropical Pacific in which enhanced biological activity suppresses SSA particle production, we did not observe lessening of MAOD and AODC magnitudes during the biologically productive austral summertime. In fact, summertime MAOD exhibited a weak significant correlation to daily wind speed in the coastal ocean despite a lack of significance in wintertime. This work enriches our knowledge of biotic and abiotic drivers of marine aerosol in high‐latitude environments. Key Points: The open ocean and coastal Bellingshausen Sea show weak correlations of marine aerosol optical depth (MAOD) to daily windsAODC exhibits weak correlations to sea surface temperature (SST) in the open ocean and very weak correlations to daily wind speed across all regionsSeasonal increases in MAOD dependence on daily wind speed is likely associated with higher biological activity in summer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A frequently expressed viewpoint across the Earth science community is that global soil moisture estimates from satellite L‐band (1.4 GHz) measurements represent moisture only in a shallow surface layer (0–5 cm) and consequently are of limited value for studying global terrestrial ecosystems because plants use water from deeper rootzones. Using this argumentation, many observation‐based land surface studies avoid satellite‐observed soil moisture. Here, based on peer‐reviewed literature across several fields, we argue that such a viewpoint is overly limiting for two reasons. First, microwave soil emission depth considerations and statistical considerations of vertically correlated soil moisture information together indicate that L‐band measurements carry information about soil moisture extending below the commonly referenced 5 cm in many conditions. However, spatial variations of effective depths of representation remain uncertain. Second, in reviewing isotopic tracer field studies of plant water uptake, we find a prevalence of vegetation that primarily draws moisture from these upper soil layers. This is especially true for grasslands and croplands covering more than a third of global vegetated surfaces. Even some deeper‐rooted species (i.e., shrubs and trees) preferentially or seasonally draw water from the upper soil layers. Therefore, L‐band satellite soil moisture estimates are more relevant to global vegetation water uptake than commonly appreciated (i.e., relevant beyond only shallow soil processes like soil evaporation). Our commentary encourages the application of satellite soil moisture across a broader range of terrestrial hydrosphere and biosphere studies while urging more rigorous estimates of its effective depth of representation. Key Points: L‐band satellite soil moisture effective depth of representation is often deeper than the commonly referenced 5 cm limitIsotopic tracer studies reveal common preferential plant water use of moisture in these upper soil layers either primarily or seasonallyThe optimal soil moisture product changes in time and space, with satellite soil moisture often being optimal for many vegetated surfaces [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convolutional neural networks are paramount in image and signal processing, and are responsible for the majority of image recognition power consumption today, concentrated mainly in convolution computations. With convolution operations being computationally intensive, next‐generation hardware accelerators need to offer parallelization and high efficiency. Diffractive optics offers the promise of low‐latency, highly parallel convolution operations. However, thus far parallelism is only partially harvested, thereby significantly underdelivering in comparison to its throughput potential. Here, a parallelized operation high‐throughput Fourier optic convolutional accelerator is demonstrated. For the first time, simultaneous processing of multiple kernels in Fourier domain enabled by optical diffraction orders is achieved alongside input parallelism. The proposed approach can offer ≈100× speedup over the previous generation optical diffraction‐based processor and 10× speedup over other state‐of‐the‐art optical Fourier classifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of a species requires knowledge of their distribution and the environmental factors that influence their use of an area. The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) is a small fox species endemic to the threatened desert grasslands of the western United States and northern Mexico. Little information exists on the status and distribution of kit fox in Texas, USA; however, researchers have documented population declines in the closely related swift fox (Vuples velox) in the Texas Panhandle. Therefore, our objectives were to survey areas of potential kit fox habitat using remote trail cameras to determine use and detection rates for kit fox, evaluate and quantify environmental effects on habitat use, and map potential distribution of kit fox habitat throughout the Trans‐Pecos using results from the preceding occupancy analysis. We conducted camera surveys at 732 baited sites from March 2018 to March 2020, with each survey lasting 14 days on average (~10,248 camera‐days). We detected kit fox at 99 of 732 camera survey sites. We divided surveys into 3‐day sampling occasions and fit single‐season occupancy models to test for an effect of sampling occasion and season on detection and for effects of slope, elevation, shrub height, shrub canopy cover, percent litter, percent herbaceous cover, and bare ground on habitat use. Overall detection was 0.31 ± 0.001 (SE) and was influenced by sampling occasion and season, with detection being highest during November to February and earlier in the survey. Mean probability of use for sites was 0.17 ± 0.01 (range = 0.00–0.85) and was influenced by 4 environmental covariates, with the greatest probability of use in areas with gentler slopes, lower elevations, shorter shrubs, and a greater percentage bare ground. We used the most supported model to make a map of predicted habitat use across the Trans‐Pecos region and showed evidence of model fit. Our work provides detailed baseline information on the distribution and environmental relationships of kit fox in the region and can be used to assist with future research and monitoring efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(2959-2960) Proposals to conserve the name Abelmoschus against Laguna, and Pavonia, nom. cons., against the additional names Malvaviscus and Malachra (Malvaceae) Typus: I M. scabra i B. Vogel I Pavonia i is a well-known genus with its centre of diversity in the Americas, but, as traditionally defined, it is a pantropical genus of 291 species (Fryxell in Fl. Neotrop. The least disruptive nomenclatural solution for the re-circumscription of I Pavonia i is to include the smaller genera I Malachra i , I Malvaviscus i and I Peltaea i in a novel concept of I Pavonia i . Another option is to conserve I Pavonia i with a new type; however, this would still require a similar break-up of the genus, which may be no less disruptive, and the largest clade which could bear the name I Pavonia i would contain less than 50 species. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: The learning health system (LHS) aligns science, informatics, incentives, stakeholders, and culture for continuous improvement and innovation. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Institute designed a K12 initiative to grow the number of LHS scientists. We describe approaches developed by 11 funded centers of excellence (COEs) to promote partnerships between scholars and health system leaders and to provide mentored research training. Methods: Since 2018, the COEs have enlisted faculty, secured institutional resources, partnered with health systems, developed and implemented curricula, recruited scholars, and provided mentored training. Program directors for each COE provided descriptive data on program context, scholar characteristics, stakeholder engagement, scholar experiences with health system partnerships, roles following program completion, and key training challenges. Results: To date, the 11 COEs have partnered with health systems to train 110 scholars. Nine (82%) programs partner with a Veterans Affairs health system and 9 (82%) partner with safety net providers. Clinically trained scholars (n = 87; 79%) include 70 physicians and 17 scholars in other clinical disciplines. Non‐clinicians (n = 29; 26%) represent diverse fields, dominated by population health sciences. Stakeholder engagement helps scholars understand health system and patient/family needs and priorities, enabling opportunities to conduct embedded research, improve outcomes, and grow skills in translating research methods and findings into practice. Challenges include supporting scholars through roadblocks that threaten to derail projects during their limited program time, ranging from delays in access to data to COVID‐19‐related impediments and shifts in organizational priorities. Conclusions: Four years into this novel training program, there is evidence of scholars' accomplishments, both in traditional academic terms and in terms of moving along career trajectories that hold the potential to lead and accelerate transformational health system change. Future LHS training efforts should focus on sustainability, including organizational support for scholar activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth's ecosystems are increasingly threatened by "hot drought," which occurs when hot air temperatures coincide with precipitation deficits, intensifying the hydrological, physiological, and ecological effects of drought by enhancing evaporative losses of soil moisture (SM) and increasing plant stress due to higher vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Drought‐induced reductions in gross primary production (GPP) exert a major influence on the terrestrial carbon sink, but the extent to which hotter and atmospherically drier conditions will amplify the effects of precipitation deficits on Earth's carbon cycle remains largely unknown. During summer and autumn 2020, the U.S. Southwest experienced one of the most intense hot droughts on record, with record‐low precipitation and record‐high air temperature and VPD across the region. Here, we use this natural experiment to evaluate the effects of hot drought on GPP and further decompose those negative GPP anomalies into their constituent meteorological and hydrological drivers. We found a 122 Tg C (>25%) reduction in GPP below the 2015–2019 mean, by far the lowest regional GPP over the Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite record. Roughly half of the estimated GPP loss was attributable to low SM (likely a combination of record‐low precipitation and warming‐enhanced evaporative depletion), but record‐breaking VPD amplified the reduction of GPP, contributing roughly 40% of the GPP anomaly. Both air temperature and VPD are very likely to continue increasing over the next century, likely leading to more frequent and intense hot droughts and substantially enhancing drought‐induced GPP reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We evaluated patient outcomes after early, small volume red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in the setting of presumed hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesized that transfusion with even small amounts of blood would be associated with more complications. Study design and methods: Retrospective review of trauma patients admitted to a Level 1 trauma center between 2016–2021. Patients predicted to require massive transfusion who survived ≥72 h were categorized according to units of RBCs transfused in the first 24 h. A Cox regression model stratified by dichotomized ISS and adjusted for SBP <90 mm Hg and pulse >120 bpm on arrival was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for outcomes of interest. Results: A total of 3121 (24%) received RBC transfusion within the first 24 h. Massive transfusion protocol (MTP) was activated in 38% (1188/3121): 17% received no RBCs, 27.4% 1–3 units, 32.4% 4–9 units, and 22.7% ≥10 units. Mean ISS increased with each category of RBC transfusion. There was no difference in the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), infection, cardiac arrest, venous thromboembolism or stroke for patients receiving 1–3 units compared to the non‐transfused group or 4–9 units group (p > 0.05). Compared to those receiving ≥10 units, the 1–3 units group had a significantly lower risk of AKI, ARDS, and cardiac arrest. Discussion: Early empiric RBC transfusion for presumed hemorrhagic shock may subject patients to potential over‐transfusion and end‐organ damage. Among patients meeting clinical triggers for MTP, 1–3 units of allogeneic RBCs is not associated with worse outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a significant ecosystem flux, governing the partitioning of energy at the land surface. Understanding the seasonal pattern and magnitude of ET is critical for anticipating a range of ecosystem impacts, including drought, heat‐wave events, and plant mortality. In this study, we identified the relative controls of seasonal variability in ET, and how these controls vary among ecosystems. We used overlapping AmeriFlux and PhenoCam time series at a daily timestep from 20 sites to explore these linkages (# site‐years >100), and our study area covered a broad climatological aridity gradient in the U.S. and Canada. We focused on disentangling the most important controls of bulk surface conductance (Gs) and evaporative fraction (EF = LE/[H + LE]), where LE and H represent latent and sensible heat fluxes, respectively. Specifically, we investigated how vegetation phenology varied in importance relative to meteorological variables (vapor pressure deficit and antecedent precipitation) as a driver of Gs and EF using path analysis, a framework for quantifying and comparing the causal linkages among multiple response and explanatory variables. Our results revealed that the drivers of Gs and EF seasonality varied significantly between energy‐ and water‐limited ecosystems. Specifically, precipitation had a much higher effect in water‐limited ecosystems, while seasonal patterns in canopy greenness emerged as a stronger control in energy‐limited ecosystems. Given that phenology is expected to shift under future climate, our findings provide key information for understanding and predicting how phenology may impact 21st‐century hydroclimate regimes and the surface‐energy balance. Plain Language Summary: Surface‐to‐atmosphere water fluxes (i.e., evapotranspiration) are an important dynamic of terrestrial ecosystems, influencing the timing and severity of impacts such as drought, heat‐wave events, and plant mortality. In this study, we explored why seasonal variability in evapotranspiration (ET) varies among a wide range of ecosystems. To conduct this work, we used AmeriFlux and PhenoCam datasets, which measure daily meteorological conditions and canopy greenness, respectively, from 20 individual sites. Our study area covered a broad climatological aridity gradient in the US and Canada, spanning from deciduous forests ecosystems in the northeast to drylands in the southwest. The most important finding from this work was that reoccurring patterns in vegetation green‐up and senescence (i.e., phenology) consistently emerged as one of the strongest predictors of ET in ecosystems where water was non‐limiting. By comparison, seasonal patterns in precipitation were identified as the strongest control of ET seasonality in dryland ecosystems where water is considerably scarcer, and phenology had much weaker influence in these regions. Overall, this study provides key insight into the sensitivity of ET seasonality to various drivers and ecosystem water availability. Key Points: In terrestrial ecosystems of North America, evapotranspiration (ET) displays strong seasonal patternsPath analysis was used to explore how the drivers of ET seasonality vary among different ecosystems and hydroclimate regimesPhenology emerged as the best predictor of ET in energy‐limited regions; precipitation had a higher effect in water‐limited ecosystems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a charismatic and long‐lived species of the United States eastern coast, and the only North American turtle that exclusively inhabits coastal brackish waters. Many terrapin populations are declining, and these declines have been largely linked to human activities; however, few studies have documented human and natural factors affecting terrapin population demography. Jamaica Bay, an urban estuary located in southern New York City, USA, is home to 2 nesting aggregations of terrapins, located at Ruler's Bar Hassock (RBH) and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). We analyzed mark‐recapture data for RBH from 2003–2018 and JFK from 2011–2018 to estimate annual survivorship of female diamondback terrapins and test the effects of 3 factors (a hurricane, water quality represented by nitrogen concentration, and injuries) on survival. The initial estimated annual survival was high (0.93) at RBH but declined to 0.89, while survival remained constant at JFK (0.92). Models examining the effect of Hurricane Sandy (2012) indicated a significant decline in survival in the 2 years following the hurricane in the RBH nesting aggregation but no change at JFK. Water quality did not influence trends in either aggregation, but the presence of major injuries (caused by boat collisions, predators, and the hurricane) significantly reduced annual survival at RBH. We propose increasing terrapin survivorship through mitigation of boat traffic, reducing populations of northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) to reduce injury to female terrapins and decrease egg and hatchling mortality, and increased law enforcement to reduce on‐going poaching and capture as illegal by‐catch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Poverty; Climate change EN Poverty Climate change 9 12 4 07/05/22 20220701 NES 220701 The convergence of excessive heat, poor housing, energy insecurity and chronic disease has reached critical levels Most Australians take safe housing and uninterrupted electricity for granted. The profession can highlight the association of housing quality, heat stress and energy security in relation to demand on health services so it is given appropriate priority in government decision making. Around the world it has been shown that chronic disease and heat stress combine to exacerbate morbidity and mortality.6,7 The rate of chronic diseases in remote communities is high, and many people depend on heat-sensitive medications such as insulin. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Evidence on distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is limited. We assessed disparities in prevalence and incidence of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC. Methods: Electronic health records (EHR) data on 2262 patients with HNSCC diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 at a NCI‐designated cancer center were included. Prevalence of CVD risk factors at baseline and incidence at 1‐year post HNSCC diagnosis were assessed using logistic and robust Poisson regression, respectively. Results: At baseline, 31.72% white patients with HNSCC had dyslipidemia, compared to 24.29% blacks (p < 0.008); diabetes was more prevalent in blacks (p < 0.027). Odds of ≥1 prevalent CVD clinical risk factor at baseline was lower in blacks (OR, 95%CI: 0.71, 0.54–0.93) and in rural patients (OR, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.58–0.85). At 1 year, risk of incident diabetes was higher in rural patients (RR, 95%CI: 1.63, 1.21–2.19). Conclusions: Demographic disparities were observed in distribution of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Nitrosamines are a class of mutagenic substances that can display high carcinogenic potential. New chemical entities may have the potential to form unique nitrosamines specific to the drug substance. It is therefore essential to understand the gas-phase fragmentation behavior of nitrosamine compounds to enable the development of analytical methods to characterize novel nitrosamine compounds. Methods: The gas-phase fragmentation behavior of eight model nitrosamine compounds representing the common substructures seen in many small molecule pharmaceutical compounds was studied with positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The fragmentation patterns of these compounds under various collision parameters available in commercially available mass spectrometers were studied. Results: Protonated nitrosamine compounds produced diagnostic fragment ions upon MS/MS. Three primary structure-dependent fragmentation pathways were observed. The first pathway involves the loss of 30 Da which corresponds to the loss of the NO radical from the protonated nitrosamine compound (Group 1). The second and third fragmentation pathways, which have not been reported for nitrosamine compounds, proceed via the loss of H2O from the protonated nitrosamine compound (Group 2), and elimination and a loss of 46 Da (loss of NH2NO) from the nitrosamine compound (Group 3). Conclusions: Results presented in this work provide an overview of the gas-phase fragmentation patterns of nitrosamine compounds and may be useful in identifying novel nitrosamine compounds in complex matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires increasingly impact forested watersheds, with uncertain water resources impacts. While research has revealed higher peak flows, longer‐term yields may increase or decrease following fire, and the mechanisms regulating post‐fire streamflow are little explored. Hydrologic response to disturbance is poorly understood in the Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB), where snowmelt often occurs before the growing season. Here, we quantify annual streamflow changes following what have been, before 2020, two of the largest wildfires in the modern history of the contiguous United States. We evaluate nine nested watersheds with >50 years records within the Salt River Basin to evaluate fire impact over ranges of elevation, climate, vegetation, burned area, and spatial scale. We employ double‐mass comparison of paired watersheds, pre‐ and post‐fire runoff ratio comparison, multiple linear regression of climate and fire, and time‐trend analysis. Precipitation and streamflow are decoupled during dry periods; therefore we conduct separate change detection for wet and dry periods. Post‐fire summer streamflow increased by 24%–38% at all elevations. While winter/spring streamflow remained constant in the highest, coldest headwaters, winter flows declined in lower‐elevation headwaters. As a result, basin annual streamflow declined. These results support emerging understanding that warm semiarid watersheds respond differently to disturbance than well‐studied, colder watersheds. Asynchrony between winter snowmelt and summer evaporative demand is likely important when considering long‐term impacts of forest management and disturbance on water supply in the LCRB. Plain Language Summary: Wildfire is increasingly common and severe in many of the forested watersheds important for water supplies. Following fire, there is an increased risk of short‐term flooding. However, we do not understand how wildfire changes the amount of water flowing out of a watershed over multiple years. Although wildfire leaves fewer trees to take up water, it also destroys the shade from sun and wind which protects snowpack and soil moisture from evaporation. Here, we made side‐by‐side comparisons and before‐after comparisons to determine wildfire impacts on the multiyear streamflow from nine watersheds of the Salt River Basin in Arizona. We found that streamflow increased in summer. While the much larger winter/spring streamflow did not change much at high elevations, it declined in lower‐elevation watersheds following fire. One reason for this difference might be that at high elevation, the snow melts at the start of the summer growing season, when trees are likely to take up the water. Wildfire reduces trees and thereby increases streamflow. At lower elevations, snow melts much earlier in the year, when trees are not active, making the water savings from burned forests less important. These results suggest that lower, warmer forested watersheds may produce less streamflow following wildfire. Key Points: Summer streamflow increased in headwaters at all elevations following fireDominant winter/spring streamflow was unchanged in higher/colder headwaters but decreased in lower/warmer headwatersClimatological asynchrony of snowmelt and transpiration in warmer watersheds may reduce streamflow benefits of fire [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant canopy temperature (Tc) is partly regulated by evaporation and transpiration from the canopy surface and can be used to infer changes in stomatal regulation and vegetation water stress. In this study, we used a thermal Unmanned Aircraft Systems in conjunction with eddy covariance, sap flow, and spectral reflectance data to assess the diurnal characteristics of Tc and water stress status over a semiarid mixed conifer forest in Arizona, USA. Diurnal Tc dynamics were closely related to tree sap flow and changes in spectral reflectance associated with stomatal regulation. Consistent with previously reported deviations, we found that on average Tc was 1.8°C lower than the above canopy air temperature (Ta). However, the relationship between Tc and Ta varied significantly according to tree density and tree height classes, with taller and denser trees exhibiting relatively low |Tc‐Ta| (2.4 and 2.1°C cooler canopies, respectively) compared to shorter and less‐dense tree stands (1.7 and 1.5°C cooler canopies, respectively). We used these data to evaluate space‐borne diurnal measurements of Tc and water stress from the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) mission. We found that ECOSTRESS observations of Tc accurately tracked seasonal shifts in diurnal surface temperatures and vegetation water stress, and that site‐level observations of heterogeneity in forest composition and structure could be applied to separate the processes of canopy transpiration and soil evaporation within the ECOSTRESS footprint. This study demonstrates how proximal and satellite remote sensing approaches can be combined to reveal the diurnal and seasonally dynamic nature of Tc and water stress. Plain Language Summary: Plant canopy temperature (Tc) is partly regulated via canopy evaporation and transpiration, similar to how the process of sweating works to cool the human body. In semiarid forests such as those of the southwest United States, the sensitivity of canopy water stress to changing environmental conditions may differ based on tree density and height. However, these links are not well understood due to the coarseness of currently available satellite‐based estimates of Tc and the challenges associated with field‐based measurements of Tc in relatively inaccessible tall tree stands. As a result, we took advantage of recent advancements in thermal Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the recent NASA ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station satellite mission to quantify Tc and inferred canopy water stress from previously inaccessible tall trees throughout the day. We found that Tc differed significantly among different tree density and height classes. In particular, Tc was higher in low density and short tree stands. Our measurements even demonstrated a strong water use signal from the trees during the winter due to the mild climate of the site in southern Arizona, USA. These results demonstrate the capability of linked site measurements and satellite observations to monitor tree water use over semiarid mixed conifer forest vegetation. Key Points: Canopy temperature differed significantly among different tree density and height classes at a semiarid mixed conifer forest siteDiurnal canopy temperature dynamics were closely related to canopy photochemical reflectance and sap flowSatellite observations from ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station captured key aspects of diurnal canopy temperature dynamics and were consistent with site‐level data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explicit representations of microbial processes in soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition models have received increasing attention, because soil heterotrophic respiration remains one of the greatest uncertainties in climate‐carbon feedbacks projected by Earth system models (ESMs). Microbial‐explicit models have been developed and applied in site‐ and global‐scale studies. These models, however, lack the ability to represent microbial respiration responses to drying‐wetting cycles, and few of them have been incorporated in land surface models (LSMs) and validated against field observations. In this study, we developed a multi‐layer, microbial‐explicit soil organic carbon decomposition model (MESDM), based on two main assumptions that (a) extracellular enzymes remain active at dry reaction microsites, and (b) microbes at wet microsites are active or potentially active, while microbes at the dry microsites are dormant, by dividing the soil volume into wet and dry zones. MESDM with O2 and CO2 gas transport models was coupled with Noah‐MP LSM and tested against half‐hourly field observations at a semiarid grassland site in the southwest US characterized by pulsed precipitation. The results show MESDM can reproduce the observed soil respiration pulses of various sizes in response to discrete precipitation events (Birch effect) and thus improve the simulation of net ecosystem exchange. Here, both microbial accessibility to accumulated dissolved organic carbon and reactivation of dormant microbes at the dry microsites upon rewetting are critical to reproducing the Birch effect. This study improves our understanding of and ability to simulate complex soil carbon dynamics that experience drying‐wetting cycle in climate‐carbon feedbacks. Plain Language Summary: Soil microbial respiration represented in Earth system models remains one of the greatest uncertainties in predicting the interactions between climate change and global carbon cycle. Explicit representations of soil microbial activities and respiration processes in soil organic carbon decomposition models (or the so called microbial‐explicit models) have received increasing attention, and advancements have been made in related studies. However, these microbial‐explicit models still fail to simulate soil microbial respiration responses to drying‐rewetting cycles and need to be incorporated into land surface models (LSMs) for further validation against field observations. In this study, we developed a new microbe‐explicit model accounting for soil moisture control on microbial physiological state and activity and extracellular enzyme activity at reaction microsites in soil pores. We then incorporated the new model into the Noah‐MP LSM in place of the conventional first‐order decay model. The results show that Noah‐MP coupled with the new microbial‐explicit model reproduces observed soil respiration pulses of various sizes in response to precipitation pulses in a semiarid grassland in the southwest US. Our study helps improve the projection of the interactions between climate changes and land carbon cycle. Key Points: We develop a microbial‐explicit soil organic carbon decomposition model considering dry enzyme activities and microbial dormancyThe model incorporated into a land surface model is tested against half‐hourly field observations at a semiarid grassland siteThe model reproduces the observed respiration pulses in response to rain pulses and improves the simulation of net ecosystem exchange [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Causonis (Vitaceae) is widely distributed in the tropical, sub‐tropical and temperate regions from Asia to Australia. The genus was established by Rafinesque in 1830 but included under Cayratia by Gagnepain in 1911. Generic status of Causonis was restored in 2013, but circumscription of the genus and its species remained poorly understood. Here, we sample 92 accessions of Causonis to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships within the genus using four chloroplast loci (atpB‐rbcL, trnC‐petN, trnH‐psbA, trnL‐F) and three nuclear loci (AS1, At103, ITS). Both the chloroplast and nuclear data support the monophyly of Causonis, and relationships among major clades of the genus are well‐supported based on the chloroplast data. The first diverged clade consists of two species both endemic to Australasia. Evolutionary trends of eight morphological characters are tested through ancestral character state reconstruction using the chloroplast dataset. We recognize 16 species and 4 varieties in Causonis, including two new species: C. australasica sp. nov. and C. glauca sp. nov. We herein make 10 new combinations for eight species and two varieties. The widespread Causonis japonica is also redefined based on morphological and molecular evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Active commuting (AC) to and from school can contribute to physical activity, although it has recently seen a global decline. The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement between parent and child perceptions of barriers to school AC. METHODS: Participants were parents (N = 152, Mage = 40.6 ± 6.3 years) and elementary school children (N = 98, Mage = 10.0 ± 1.2 years). School commute type/frequency and barriers to AC were collected via surveys. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess relative agreement between parent and child perceptions (N = 98 dyads). Paired t tests and equivalence testing were employed to assess group‐level agreement. Bland‐Altman analysis was used to assess individual‐level agreement. Partial correlations of AC with perceptions were also assessed. RESULTS: All parent and child perceptions of barriers to AC to school had low agreement. Bland‐Altman Plots indicated negative bias for all but 3 barrier perceptions. Paired t tests indicated significant differences between parent and child perceptions for 8 out of 15 barriers while equivalence testing deemed no parent‐child perception equivalent. Partial correlations with AC frequency were significant for 7 parent perceptions and 2 child perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: Parent and child perceptions have low agreement. Programs aimed at promoting AC to and from school should account for these discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: (1) To evaluate risk of hospitalization following initiation of perampanel (pre‐ and post‐analysis) and (2) to compare hospitalization rates following initiation of perampanel vs lacosamide. Methods: Patients were identified from Symphony Health's Patient Integrated Database if they had a prescription for perampanel (July 1, 2014‐June 30, 2016). Patients 4‐11 years of age with any partial‐onset seizure (POS) or ≥12 years of age with any POS or primary generalized tonic‐clonic seizure (GTCS) (pre‐post); or ≥12 years of age (perampanel vs lacosamide). The first fill of perampanel ("index date") marked the start of the analysis period. Patients had ≥1 additional fill for perampanel and ≥2 diagnoses for epilepsy or nonfebrile convulsion diagnosis during pre‐index (based on ICD‐9/ICD‐10 codes). Patients were matched using a 1:1 propensity scoring method for the perampanel vs lacosamide analysis. Primary outcome was hospitalization during the one year following medication initiation. Results: Pre‐ and post‐perampanel: N = 1771 (mean age 34 years, 55% female). One‐year all‐cause hospitalization risk ratio was 0.76 (P <.05) and 36.2% with hospitalization during the pre‐period vs 29.5% in the follow‐up. One‐year epilepsy‐related inpatient hospitalization risk ratio was 0.72 (P <.05) and 30.8% with hospitalization during the pre‐period vs 23.9% during follow‐up. In the perampanel and lacosamide cohorts, N = 1717 per cohort after matching, most baseline demographics were balanced. A higher percentage of subjects were prescribed ≥3 anti‐seizure medications for perampanel vs lacosamide (60.5% vs 57.7%, P <.001). The perampanel cohort had a 9.6% reduction in all‐cause hospitalizations vs 5.8% for the lacosamide cohort (P <.05). Epilepsy‐related hospitalizations decreased from the pre‐index rate by 9.9% for perampanel and 8.3% for lacosamide (P <.05). Among those with baseline hospitalizations, perampanel was associated with a 59.9% reduction in all‐cause hospitalizations vs 48.6% for lacosamide (P <.05), and for epilepsy‐related hospitalizations, a reduction of 65.0% vs 58.9%, respectively (P <.05). Significance: Perampanel was associated with a significant reduction in one‐year hospitalization risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity exchanges across the Malesian region, linking the distinct biotas of Asia and Australia, have long attracted the curiosity of biologists. Tetrastigma (Vitaceae) has a wide distribution in Asia through the Sunda archipelago to Australia and provides a good case to elucidate floristic exchange between Asia and Australia. Tetrastigma species have fleshy fruits that are consumed by birds, representing a lineage with a predictable dispersal across island chains. We herein estimate the divergence times and reconstruct the biogeographic history of Tetrastigma with intensive taxon sampling (96 of approximately 120 species; >80%) using 10 chloroplast loci. The biogeographic history of Tetrastigma was reconstructed with 4‐area and 6‐area divisions by delineating the Sunda region into one or three areas of endemism based on a phylogenetic bioregionalization analysis and the geological history of Malesia. The 4‐area division shows that Tetrastigma originated in continental Asia and diverged from the recently segregated genus Pseudocayratia in the early Eocene (49.43 Ma). Dispersal from continental Asia might have started in the late Eocene but mainly occurred in the last 10 Myr. Continental Asia is indicated to be the most important source area while Sunda is the biggest sink, with 16 of the 27 dispersal events inferred from continental Asia to Sunda. Only seven dispersal events are inferred arriving in the Sahul plate and one reverse dispersal from Sahul back to Asia. The 6‐area division suggests that the Philippines have been an active junction between Asia and Australia. The biogeographic history of Tetrastigma illustrates an asymmetric floristic exchange between Asia and Australia in this genus, which has been facilitated by the formation of terrestrial connections in the late Miocene and the expansion of wet tropical forests across Wallace's Line and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in Ataxin‐2 (ATXN2) gene. The mutant ATXN2 protein with a polyglutamine tract is known to be toxic and contributes to the SCA2 pathogenesis. Objective: Here, we tested the hypothesis that the mutant ATXN2 transcript with an expanded CAG repeat (expATXN2) is also toxic and contributes to SCA2 pathogenesis. Methods: The toxic effect of expATXN2 transcripts on SK‐N‐MC neuroblastoma cells and primary mouse cortical neurons was evaluated by caspase 3/7 activity and nuclear condensation assay, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation assay was performed to identify RNA binding proteins (RBPs) that bind to expATXN2 RNA. Quantitative PCR was used to examine if ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing is disrupted in SCA2 and Huntington's disease (HD) human brain tissue. Results: expATXN2 RNA induces neuronal cell death, and aberrantly interacts with RBPs involved in RNA metabolism. One of the RBPs, transducin β‐like protein 3 (TBL3), involved in rRNA processing, binds to both expATXN2 and expanded huntingtin (expHTT) RNA in vitro. rRNA processing is disrupted in both SCA2 and HD human brain tissue. Conclusion: These findings provide the first evidence of a contributory role of expATXN2 transcripts in SCA2 pathogenesis, and further support the role of expHTT transcripts in HD pathogenesis. The disruption of rRNA processing, mediated by aberrant interaction of RBPs with expATXN2 and expHTT transcripts, suggest a point of convergence in the pathogeneses of repeat expansion diseases with potential therapeutic implications. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drylands occupy ∼40% of the land surface and are thought to dominate global carbon (C) cycle inter‐annual variability (IAV). Therefore, it is imperative that global terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), which form the land component of IPCC earth system models, are able to accurately simulate dryland vegetation and biogeochemical processes. However, compared to more mesic ecosystems, TBMs have not been widely tested or optimized using in situ dryland CO2 fluxes. Here, we address this gap using a Bayesian data assimilation system and 89 site‐years of daily net ecosystem exchange (NEE) data from 12 southwest US Ameriflux sites to optimize the C cycle parameters of the ORCHIDEE TBM. The sites span high elevation forest ecosystems, which are a mean sink of C, and low elevation shrub and grass ecosystems that are either a mean C sink or "pivot" between an annual C sink and source. We find that using the default (prior) model parameters drastically underestimates both the mean annual NEE at the forested mean C sink sites and the NEE IAV across all sites. Our analysis demonstrated that optimizing phenology parameters are particularly useful in improving the model's ability to capture both the magnitude and sign of the NEE IAV. At the forest sites, optimizing C allocation, respiration, and biomass and soil C turnover parameters reduces the underestimate in simulated mean annual NEE. Our study demonstrates that all TBMs need to be calibrated for dryland ecosystems before they are used to determine dryland contributions to global C cycle variability and long‐term carbon‐climate feedbacks. Plain Language Summary: Drylands occupy ∼40% of the land surface and are thought to dominate the inter‐annual variability and long‐term trend of the global carbon cycle. Therefore, it is imperative that global terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) are able to accurately predict dryland vegetation and carbon cycle processes. However, models have not been widely tested or calibrated against in situ dryland ecosystem CO2 fluxes. Here, we address this gap using a data assimilation system and daily net CO2 flux data from 12 southwest US Ameriflux sites spanning forest, shrub and grass dryland ecosystems to optimize the carbon cycle related parameters of the ORCHIDEE TBM. We find that before parameter optimization, the model drastically underestimates both the mean annual magnitude and inter‐annual variability of net CO2 flux. By testing different optimization scenarios, we showed that optimizing model parameters related to phenology dramatically improves the model's ability to capture the net CO2 flux inter‐annual variability. At the high elevation forested sites, optimizing parameters related to C allocation, respiration and biomass and soil C turnover reduces the model underestimate in simulated mean annual NEE. Our study demonstrates that all global TBMs need to be calibrated specifically for dryland ecosystems before they are used to determine dryland contributions to global carbon cycle variability and long‐term carbon‐climate feedbacks. Key Points: ORCHIDEE terrestrial biosphere model radically underestimates dryland mean annual net CO2 fluxes and their inter‐annual variability (IAV)Optimizing phenology, carbon allocation, and respiration parameters are crucial for capturing net CO2 flux mean and IAVModels need to be optimized against dryland CO2 flux data to achieve accurate predictions of dryland's role in global C cycle variability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Receive array layout, noise mitigation, and B0 field strength are crucial contributors to SNR and parallel‐imaging performance. Here, we investigate SNR and parallel‐imaging gains at 10.5 T compared with 7 T using 32‐channel receive arrays at both fields. Methods: A self‐decoupled 32‐channel receive array for human brain imaging at 10.5 T (10.5T‐32Rx), consisting of 31 loops and one cloverleaf element, was co‐designed and built in tandem with a 16‐channel dual‐row loop transmitter. Novel receive array design and self‐decoupling techniques were implemented. Parallel imaging performance, in terms of SNR and noise amplification (g‐factor), of the 10.5T‐32Rx was compared with the performance of an industry‐standard 32‐channel receiver at 7 T (7T‐32Rx) through experimental phantom measurements. Results: Compared with the 7T‐32Rx, the 10.5T‐32Rx provided 1.46 times the central SNR and 2.08 times the peripheral SNR. Minimum inverse g‐factor value of the 10.5T‐32Rx (min[1/g] = 0.56) was 51% higher than that of the 7T‐32Rx (min[1/g] = 0.37) with R = 4 × 4 2D acceleration, resulting in significantly enhanced parallel‐imaging performance at 10.5 T compared with 7 T. The g‐factor values of 10.5 T‐32 Rx were on par with those of a 64‐channel receiver at 7 T (eg, 1.8 vs 1.9, respectively, with R = 4 × 4 axial acceleration). Conclusion: Experimental measurements demonstrated effective self‐decoupling of the receive array as well as substantial gains in SNR and parallel‐imaging performance at 10.5 T compared with 7 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Georgia and the southeast region of the United States, acreage of soft red winter wheat (SRWW) (Triticum aestivum L.) has decreased in recent years. There is an urgent need to release new cultivars with high yield potential, resistance to yield‐limiting diseases and insects, and good baking quality to maximize value in regional markets. To address this, the SRWW breeding program at the University of Georgia (UGA), in collaboration with the SUNGRAINS breeding programs, developed 'GA JT141‐14E45' (Reg. no. CV‐1183, PI 689519), a SRWW cultivar released by the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and licensed to AGSouth (AGS) Genetics as AGS 3030. GA JT141‐14E45 is widely adapted to the U.S. Southeast, having high yield, good resistance to diseases such as leaf rust, stripe rust, powdery mildew, and Soil‐borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) and to current biotypes of Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say). It has good resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab. GA JT141‐14E45 has good grain volume weight and acceptable milling and baking quality. GA JT141‐14E45 was derived from the cross of 'AGS 2026'/'Jamestown'. Jamestown was used in the cross mainly for its resistance to FHB (FHB QTL 1A‐Neuse and 1B‐Jamestown). AGS 2026 is a UGA cultivar released in 2007 with very good disease resistance to rusts (Yr17/Lr37/Sr38), Hessian fly resistance (H13), and excellent yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]