Search

In winter, many reptiles have a period of inactivity ("brumation"). During brumation there is no energetic intake, therefore there would be an advantage to reducing energetic expenditure. The size of energetically costly organs, a major determinant of metabolic rate, is known to be flexible in many tetrapods. Seasonal plasticity of organ size could serve as both an energy‐saving mechanism and a source of nutrients for brumating reptiles. We studied a population of an invasive gecko, Tarentola annularis, to test for seasonal changes in activity, metabolic rate, and mass of various organs. The observed period of inactivity was December–February. Standard metabolic rates during the activity season were 1.85 times higher than in brumating individuals. This may be attributed to decreased organ mass during winter: heart mass decreased by 37%, stomach mass by 25%, and liver mass by 69%. Interestingly, testes mass increased by 100% during winter, likely in preparation for the breeding season, suggesting that males prioritize breeding over other functions upon return to activity. The size of the kidneys and lungs remained constant. Organ atrophy occurred only after geckos reduced their activity, so we hypothesize that organ mass changes in response to (rather than in anticipation of) cold winter temperatures and the associated fasting. Degradation of visceral organs can maintain energy demands in times of low supply, and catabolism of the protein from these organs can serve as a source of both energy and water during brumation. These findings bring us closer to a mechanistic understanding of reptiles' physiological adaptations to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In continuous environments, niche limits of species often determine their distribution limits. However, when these limits spatially coincide with a perceived dispersal barrier, the determinants of species' ranges may be confounded. We investigate the distribution pattern of the Brown Hornbill (Aves: Bucerotidae), which spans significant riverine barriers, but stops south of the Brahmaputra River. Considering its preference for low‐elevation evergreen forests, we posit that the lack of sufficient habitats north of the Brahmaputra prevents dispersal of the Brown Hornbill, and not the river itself. Location: The Brahmaputra valley and the Indo‐Burma hotspot. Taxa: Anorrhinus austeni, Aceros nipalensis. Methods: We analysed citizen‐science occurrence data on hornbill presence against a suite of climatic, canopy‐specific and topographical predictors to model the environmental niche of the Brown Hornbill. We used presence‐only maximum entropy modelling in an information theoretic framework, in conjunction with constructing binary logistic regression models using presence and pseudoabsence data. We compared niche models of the Brown Hornbill and the Rufous‐necked hornbill, a close relative with a similar distribution, but which has spanned the Brahmaputra River. Results: Despite the presence of suitable wet‐evergreen forests north of the Brahmaputra River, the hilly terrains in the region act as a biogeographic barrier for the Brown Hornbill, which prefers lowland evergreen forests. Further, highly suitable regions for the Brown and the Rufous‐necked Hornbills precisely delineate low and high‐elevation evergreen forests respectively, indicating that these birds are separated along an elevational axis. Main Conclusions: The Brahmaputra River lies at the cusp of two subtly different environmental regimes. It may therefore serve as the niche limit for certain organisms and not as a physical obstacle to their dispersal. Our study implicitly predicts how widespread deforestation prevalent in the lowland evergreen forests of this region adversely impacts the distributions of organisms that depend on them, such as the Brown Hornbill. Further, our study proffers an approach to ascertain determinants of species distributions in a hypothesis testing framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results and Conclusions The rising importance of digital technologies in everyday communication has played a key role in processes of political polarization and rising mistrust and intolerance. We suggest this crisis could be productively conceptualized as a crisis in perspective‐taking—the tendency and competency to actively consider others' mental and emotional states.This conceptual paper sets out to propose a theoretical framework that identifies the key affordances of digital platforms for promoting perspective‐taking in formal educational settings (K‐12 and higher education): (1) connecting diverse individuals, (2) simulating interactions with other perspectives and (3) supporting the articulation and sharing of perspectives.Rather than summarizing the state of existing research, this paper aims to offer a novel conceptualization that allows unpacking the interplay between research on perspective‐taking and work on the affordances and constraints of digital media. We identify the three key affordances outlined above, exemplifying them by focusing on one type of digital tool and comparing them along two axes: (i) the depth vs. diversity of interactions it supports and (ii) its cultivation of intergroup perspective‐taking vs. interpersonal perspective‐taking.This framework, we argue, articulates the advantages and limitations of digital tools towards engagement in perspective‐taking, while providing a conceptual roadmap, and practical considerations, for researchers and practitioners interested in cultivating digitally mediated perspective‐taking in educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mixed‐methods study evaluates the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted reviewer selection in academic publishing across diverse disciplines. Twenty journal editors assessed AI‐generated reviewer recommendations for a manuscript. The AI system achieved a 42% overlap with editors' selections and demonstrated a significant improvement in time efficiency, reducing selection time by 73%. Editors found that 37% of AI‐suggested reviewers who were not part of their initial selection were indeed suitable. The system's performance varied across disciplines, with higher accuracy in STEM fields (Cohen's d = 0.68). Qualitative feedback revealed an appreciation for the AI's ability to identify lesser‐known experts but concerns about its grasp of interdisciplinary work. Ethical considerations, including potential algorithmic bias and privacy issues, were highlighted. The study concludes that while AI shows promise in enhancing reviewer selection efficiency and broadening the reviewer pool, it requires human oversight to address limitations in understanding nuanced disciplinary contexts. Future research should focus on larger‐scale longitudinal studies and developing ethical frameworks for AI integration in peer‐review processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the effect of Mankai, a cultivated aquatic duckweed green plant, on postprandial glucose (PG) excursions in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: In a 4‐week, randomized crossover‐controlled trial, we enrolled 45 adults with T2D (HbA1c range: 6.5%‐8.5%) from two sites in Israel. Participants were randomized to drink Mankai (200 mL of raw‐fresh‐aquatic plant + 100 mL of water, 40 kcal, ~10 g of dry matter equivalent) or water (300 mL) following dinner, for 2 weeks each, with a 4‐day washout interval, without dietary, physical activity or pharmacotherapy alterations. We used continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. Results: Forty patients (adherence rate = 88.5%; 743 person‐intervention‐days, 68.9% men, age = 64 years, HbA1c = 6.8%) completed the study with a consistent diet and complete CGM reads. Only two‐thirds of the individuals responded beneficially to Mankai. Overall, Mankai significantly lowered the PG peak by 19.3% (∆peak = 24.3 ± 16.8 vs. 30.1 ± 18.5 mg/dL; P <.001) and delayed the time‐to‐peak by 20.0% (112.5 [interquartile range: 75‐135] vs. 90 [60‐105] min; P <.001) compared with water. The PG incline and decline slopes were shallower following postdinner Mankai (incline slope: 16.8 vs. water: 29.9 mg/[dL h]; P <.001; decline slope: −6.1 vs. water: −7.9 mg/[dL h]; P <.01). Mean postprandial net incremental area‐under‐the‐glucose‐curve was lowered by 20.1% with Mankai compared with water (P =.03). Results were consistent across several sensitivity and subgroup analyses, including across antidiabetic pharmacotherapy treatment groups. Within 2 weeks, the triglycerides/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in the Mankai group (−0.5 ± 1.3) decreased versus water (+0.3 ± 1.5, P =.05). Conclusions: Mankai consumption may mitigate the PG response in people with T2D with an ~20% improvement in glycaemic values. These findings provide case‐study evidence for plant‐based treatments in T2D to complement a healthy lifestyle and pharmacotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding spatial variation in species distribution and community structure is at the core of community ecology. Nevertheless, the effect of distance on metacommunity structure remains little studied. We examine how plant‐pollinator community structure changes across geographical distances at a regional scale and disentangle its underlying local and regional processes.We use a multilayer network to represent linked plant‐pollinator communities as a metacommunity in the Canary Islands. We used modularity (i.e. the extent to which the community is partitioned into groups of densely interacting species) to quantify distance decay in structure across space. In multilayer modularity, the same species can belong to different modules in different communities, and modules can span communities. This enabled quantifying how similarity in module composition varied with distance between islands. We developed three null models, each controlling for a separate component of the multilayer network, to disentangle the role of species turnover, interaction rewiring and local factors in driving distance decay in structure.We found a pattern of distance decay in structure, indicating that islands tended to share fewer modules with increasing distance. Species turnover (but not interaction rewiring) was the primary regional process triggering distance decay in structure. Local interaction structure also played an essential role in determining the structure similarity of communities at a regional scale. Therefore, local factors that determine species interactions occurring at a local scale drive distance decay in structure at a regional scale.Our work highlights the interplay between local and regional processes underlying community structure. The methodology, and specifically the null models, we developed provides a general framework for linking communities in space and testing different hypotheses regarding the factors generating spatial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult female desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) dig underground to lay their eggs, ensuring optimal conditions for successful hatching. Digging is performed using the two pairs of oviposition valves at the tip of the female's abdomen. These valves are subjected to considerable shear forces during the repeated digging cycles, potentially leading to wear over time. The resilience of the valves is investigated by analyzing the relationship between digging experience and valve damage and wear throughout the female locust's life. The findings reveal the ability of the valves to withstand the significant shear forces encountered during digging. Despite this resilience, however, perceptible limitations in the valves’ mechanical durability against wear are observed. Toward the end of the female locust's life, the valves show substantial signs of wear, indicating effective performance but with limited longevity, i.e., a designated life span that enables successful oviposition for ca. four oviposition cycles. A comparison of the valve material with that of the animals’ mandibles, which are used continuously throughout their life and show remarkable wear‐resistance, further highlights the evolutionary adaptation of the valve materials to their specific function, suggesting a trade‐off between energetic investment and the sufficient, or “good‐enough”, performance that is required for survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation detection is being revolutionized by integrating photonic elements into scintillators. In this study, a scalable and cost‐effective method is proposed to achieve tuneable emission enhancement across the visible spectrum by colloidal self‐assembly of photonic crystals on scintillator surfaces. This concept is demonstrated for Eu3+/Tb3+‐doped Gd and Ta oxides. Widely available and affordable colloidal nanospheres of SiO2 or polymethyl methacrylate are self‐assembled on these scintillators. The size of the nanospheres is carefully optimized to match the desired emission lines of Eu3+/Tb3+. The result is homogeneous and closely‐packed structures with clear photonic bandgap in the visible range. Under X‐ray excitation, the scintillators covered with the photonic layers exhibit enhanced light extraction in the direction perpendicular to the surface, compared to isotropic emission in the bare scintillator. Such scintillation directionality, when optically matched with a proper detector, will result in higher efficiency of the overall detection system. Moreover, X‐ray imaging demonstrates an enhancement of 25% in system resolution of the scintillator supplemented with the photonic layer compared to unmodified scintillators. The proposed method is scintillator‐ and nanosphere‐agnostic, thus offering a promising versatile approach for directing the scintillation light toward a photodetector and increasing detection system performance, including high‐resolution imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of communication between cells. Here, we reveal a new mode of intercellular communication by melanosomes, large EVs secreted by melanocytes for melanin transport. Unlike small EVs, which are disintegrated within the receiver cell, melanosomes stay intact within them, gain a unique protein signature, and can then be further transferred to another cell as "second-hand" EVs. We show that melanoma-secreted melanosomes passaged through epidermal keratinocytes or dermal fibroblasts can be further engulfed by resident macrophages. This process leads to macrophage polarization into pro-tumor or pro-immune cell infiltration phenotypes. Melanosomes that are transferred through fibroblasts can carry AKT1, which induces VEGF secretion from macrophages in an mTOR-dependent manner, promoting angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo. In melanoma patients, macrophages that are co-localized with AKT1 are correlated with disease aggressiveness, and immunotherapy non-responders are enriched in macrophages containing melanosome markers. Our findings suggest that interactions mediated by second-hand extracellular vesicles contribute to the formation of the metastatic niche, and that blocking the melanosome cues of macrophage diversification could be helpful in halting melanoma progression. Synopsis: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to mediate cell-to-cell communication in various contexts. This study reveals a new mode of intercellular communication involving recycled, "second-hand" EVs that are originally secreted by melanoma cells and drive tumor-associated macrophage diversification. Melanosomes passaged through epidermal keratinocytes or dermal fibroblasts can be further engulfed by resident macrophages. This process polarizes macrophages into pro-tumor or pro-immune cell infiltration phenotypes. Macrophages treated with melanosomes from different source cells exhibit functional diversity. Fibroblasts can transfer melanosomes loaded with AKT1, which promote angiogenesis and metastasis in vivo. Melanoma patients that do not respond to immunotherapy exhibit elevated levels of macrophages containing melanosome markers. "Second-hand" extracellular vesicles secreted by melanoma cells induce macrophage polarization and diversification after passage through different cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian autophagy is a highly regulated and conserved cellular homeostatic process. Its existence allows the degradation of self‐components to mediate cell survival in different stress conditions. Autophagy is involved in the regulation of cellular metabolic needs, protecting the cell or tissue from starvation through the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic materials and organelles to basic molecular building blocks. It also plays a critical role in eliminating damaged or harmful proteins, organelles, and intracellular pathogens. Thus, a deterioration of the process may result in pathological conditions, such as aging‐associated disorders and cancer. Understanding the crucial role of autophagy in maintaining the normal physiological function of cells, tissue, or organs has led to copious and expansive research regarding the regulation of this process. So far, most of the research has revolved around transcriptional and post‐translational regulation. Here, we discuss the regulation of autophagy‐related (ATG) mRNA transcripts by RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs). This analysis focuses on how RBPs modulate autophagy in disease. A deeper understanding of the involvement of RBPs in autophagy can facilitate further research and treatment of a variety of human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted much attention in the field of photovoltaics, due to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low cost. In recent years, inverted PSCs have achieved significant advancements in PCE and operational stability. Among the strategies for optimizing PCE and lifespan of inverted PSCs, dimensional engineering plays a critical role and garners increasing attention due to its versatile functions of passivating defects, releasing residual tensile stress, strengthening structural stability, ameliorating carrier transport and extraction, and so on. Considering the importance of dimensional engineering, a comprehensive and deep understanding of 2D perovskites and 2D/3D heterojunction is definitely necessary. In this review, first, the progress of low‐dimensional perovskite light‐harvesting materials in inverted PSCs is summarized. Subsequently, the advances in constructing 2D/3D perovskite heterojunctions, including 2D/3D bulk heterojunction within perovskite materials, 2D/3D interfacial heterojunction at the interface between perovskite film and carrier transport layer, and bottom‐up 2D/3D perovskite heterojunction are discussed. The simultaneous construction of 2D/3D heterojunction at dual interfaces is highlighted. Finally, the legitimate outlook on the further development of dimensional engineering is proposed to advance the commercialization of inverted photovoltaic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Patients with FLT3‐mutated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) that relapse or are refractory (R/R) to intensive induction have poor outcomes. Gilteritinib has recently become standard‐of‐care for patients with R/R FLT3‐mutated AML. We investigated whether adding venetoclax to gilteritinib (gilt‐ven) improves outcomes as compared with gilteritinib monotherapy. We included patients treated with gilteritinib (n = 19) and gilt‐ven (n = 17) for R/R AML after intensive chemotherapy. Gilteritinib and gilt‐ven groups did not differ in terms of mCRc rates (53% and 65%, p = 0.51) and realization of allogeneic haematopoietic stem‐cell transplantation (HSCT, 47% and 35%, p = 0.5). Overall survival (OS) was comparable between groups, although a trend towards better OS was seen with gilt‐ven (12‐month OS 58.8% [95% CI 39.5%–87.6%]) versus gilteritinib (42.1% [95% CI 24.9%–71.3%] for gilteritinib). Early salvage with gilt‐ven versus any other gilteritinib‐based approach was associated with the best outcome (p = 0.031). Combination therapy was associated with increased haematological toxicity. In summary, gilt‐ven did not improve remissions or HSCT‐realization rates in patients with R/R FLT3‐mutated AML as compared with gilteritinib and was associated with increased haematological toxicity. Although OS did not differ, a trend towards better survival was suggested with gilt‐ven and a survival benefit was shown for gilt‐ven approach when sequenced early for salvage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer‐related death in women worldwide. Breast cancer subtypes are characterized by different gene expression patterns, which drive their prognostic factors and therapeutic options. Among them, triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the deadliest due to its aggressiveness, high rate of early recurrence and distant metastases, and limited therapeutic options. Despite the recent approval of monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) or its ligand (PD‐L1) for the treatment of TNBC patients with a locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic tumor expressing PD‐L1, their response rate is very modest. It is reported that polymeric nanoparticle (NP)‐based cancer vaccines, co‐entrapping tumor‐associated antigens, Toll‐like receptor ligands and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 by dendritic cells, sensitized TNBC to the agonist immune checkpoint OX40, inhibiting tumor growth and increasing overall survival. This anti‐tumor immune‐mediated effect is also observed in a luminal type of mammary cancer similar to human disease. Therefore, these synergistic anticancer effects of αOX40 and the antigen‐specific adaptive immunity induced by nanovaccine‐mediated TGF‐β silencing may guide the development of novel combination regimens able to improve the response rate to this aggressive tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Wild species are an invaluable source of new traits for crop improvement. Over the years, the tomato community bred cultivated lines that carry introgressions from different species of the tomato tribe to facilitate trait discovery and mapping. The next phase in such projects is to find the genes that drive the identified phenotypes. This can be achieved by genotyping a few thousand individuals resulting in fine mapping that can potentially identify the causative gene. To couple trait discovery and fine mapping, we are presenting large, recombination‐rich, Backcross Inbred Line (BIL) populations involving an unexplored accession of the wild, green‐fruited species Solanum pennellii (LA5240; the 'Lost' Accession) with two modern tomato inbreds: LEA, determinate, and TOP, indeterminate. The LEA and TOP BILs are in BC2F6–8 generation and include 1400 and 500 lines, respectively. The BILs were genotyped with 5000 SPET markers, showing that in the euchromatic regions there was one recombinant every 17–18 Kb while in the heterochromatin a recombinant every 600–700 Kb (TOP and LEA respectively). To gain perspective on the topography of recombination we compared five independent members of the Self‐pruning gene family with their respective neighboring genes; based on PCR markers, in all cases we found recombinants. Further mapping analysis of two known morphological mutations that segregated in the BILs (self‐pruning and hairless) showed that the maximal delimited intervals were 73 Kb and 210 Kb, respectively, and included the known causative genes. The 'Lost'_BILs provide a solid framework to study traits derived from a drought‐tolerant wild tomato. Significance Statement: We are presenting a very large Introgression population from drought‐tolerant wild tomato species for fine mapping and epistasis analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although dolutegravir (DTG) is deemed stable, safe, cost‐effective, and clinically beneficial, it also carries the risk of side effects, including observed weight gain among patients on DTG‐based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. We compared weight changes among adults (≥18 years) initiating tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, emtricitabine, and efavirenz (TEE) regimens and those switching from TEE to TLD (TEE‐to‐TLD switchers) in three large primary care facilities in South Africa Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal record review using patient medical records, extracting relevant demographic and clinical data from October 2018 to June 2021 from randomly selected adults who initiated TLD or TEE (initiators) and adult TEE‐to‐TLD switchers. We assessed weight, body mass index (BMI), and percentage weight changes for both groups and fitted linear regression and generalized linear models to determine factors associated with weight and BMI change and percentage weight change ≥10%, respectively, among treatment initiators. We fitted linear mixed‐effect models among TEE‐to‐TLD switchers to consider repeated measures. Results: Of 860 initiators, 450 (52.3%) initiated on TEE and 410 (47.7%) on TLD, with median follow‐up of 1.4 years and 1.0 year, respectively. At initiation, 43.3% on TEE and 40.8% on TLD were overweight or obese. TLD initiators had an adjusted higher mean weight gain of 1.6 kg (p < 0.001) and mean BMI gain of 0.51 kg/m2 (p < 0.001) than TEE initiators. Independent risk factors for higher mean weight and BMI included age ≥50 years, male, on ART for >12 months, initial BMI of <18.5 kg/m2, and CD4 counts <200 cells/μL. Of 298 TEE‐to‐TLD switchers, 36.6% were overweight or obese at TEE initiation. Comparing before and after TLD switch, TEE‐to‐TLD switchers had an adjusted mean weight of 1.2 kg less while on TLD (p = 0.026). Being overweight and CD4 counts >350 cells/μL were independent risk factors for lower weight gain after TLD switch. Conclusions: We report more weight gain among TLD than among TEE initiators, although to a lesser extent than previously reported. TEE‐to‐TLD switchers experienced less weight gain after TLD switch; return to health before receiving TLD may be a contributory factor. The current findings are reassuring for those switching to a DTG‐based regimen [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory authorities must balance ensuring evidence of efficacy and safety of new drugs. Various regulatory pathways, such as the accelerated approval program in the United States (US), allow authorities to quickly approve drugs for severely ill patients by granting market authorization based on surrogate end points and pending confirmatory trials. In this cross‐sectional study, we considered 23 indications of cancer drugs that received accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but were subsequently withdrawn as of April 2023. Our investigation extended to assessing the regulatory status of these accelerated approvals in the European Union (EU) and Japan, examining relevant regulatory documents and identifying factors contributing to the withdrawal in the United States. Comparing regions, we found that for 52% (12/23) and 30% (7/23) of withdrawn accelerated approvals in the United States, sponsors had also sought marketing authorization from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), respectively. As of the April 30, 2023 study cutoff date, 83% (10/12) of drug–indication pairs remained approved by the EMA, while the PMDA retained 100% (7/7). For these indications, the time from FDA withdrawal until the study cutoff date ranged from 0.23 years to 11.45 years for EMA approvals (median: 1.28 years) and 1.10 years to 11.45 years for PMDA approvals (median: 3.22 years). These findings highlight substantial regulatory discrepancies concerning cancer drugs with unconfirmed benefits. Addressing these discrepancies may involve requiring pharmaceutical companies to confirm clinical benefits using more robust end points and fostering international harmonization in regulators' assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a green Mediterranean (green‐MED) diet, which is high in dietary polyphenols and green plant‐based protein and low in red/processed meat, on cardiovascular disease and inflammation‐related circulating proteins and their associations with cardiometabolic risk parameters. Methods: In the 18‐month weight loss trial Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols Unprocessed Study (DIRECT‐PLUS), 294 participants with abdominal obesity were randomized to basic healthy dietary guidelines, Mediterranean (MED), or green‐MED diets. Both isocaloric MED diet groups consumed walnuts (28 g/day), and the green‐MED diet group also consumed green tea (3–4 cups/day) and green shakes (Mankai plant shake, 500 mL/day) and avoided red/processed meat. Proteome panels were measured at three time points using Olink CVDII. Results: At baseline, a dominant protein cluster was significantly related to higher phenotypic cardiometabolic risk parameters, with the strongest associations attributed to magnetic resonance imaging‐assessed visceral adiposity (false discovery rate of 5%). Overall, after 6 months of intervention, both the MED and green‐MED diets induced improvements in cardiovascular disease and proinflammatory risk proteins (p < 0.05, vs. healthy dietary guidelines), with the green‐MED diet leading to more pronounced beneficial changes, largely driven by dominant proinflammatory proteins (IL‐1 receptor antagonist protein, IL‐16, IL‐18, thrombospondin‐2, leptin, prostasin, galectin‐9, and fibroblast growth factor 21; adjusted for age, sex, and weight loss; p < 0.05). After 18 months, proteomics cluster changes presented the strongest correlations with visceral adiposity reduction. Conclusions: Proteomics clusters may enhance our understanding of the favorable effect of a green‐MED diet that is enriched with polyphenols and low in red/processed meat on visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current consensus holds that optically‐cleared specimens are unsuitable for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); exhibiting absence of contrast. Prior studies combined MRI with tissue‐clearing techniques relying on the latter's ability to eliminate lipids, thereby fostering the assumption that lipids constitute the primary source of ex vivo MRI‐contrast. Nevertheless, these findings contradict an extensive body of literature that underscores the contribution of other features to contrast. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether non‐delipidating clearing methods can produce MRI‐compatible specimens or whether MRI‐contrast can be re‐established. These limitations hinder the development of multimodal MRI‐light‐microscopy (LM) imaging approaches. This study assesses the relation between MRI‐contrast, and delipidation in optically‐cleared whole brains following different tissue‐clearing approaches. It is demonstrated that uDISCO and ECi‐brains are MRI‐compatible upon tissue rehydration, despite both methods' substantial delipidating‐nature. It is also demonstrated that, whereas Scale‐clearing preserves most lipids, Scale‐cleared brain lack MRI‐contrast. Furthermore, MRI‐contrast is restored to lipid‐free CLARITY‐brains without introducing lipids. Our results thereby dissociate between the essentiality of lipids to MRI‐contrast. A tight association is found between tissue expansion, hyperhydration and loss of MRI‐contrast. These findings then enabled us to develop a multimodal MRI‐LM‐imaging approach, opening new avenues to bridge between the micro‐ and mesoscale for biomedical research and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The extremely obese patient deserves special consideration: significant comorbidities, technical difficulties, and increased postoperative morbidity and mortality are all expected in this patient population. The study compared early postoperative complications (≤30‐day) following one‐anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) morbidity in patients with morbid obesity class IV obesity, body mass index (BMI) ≥50–59.9 kg/m2, and class V obesity, BMI ≥60 patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed perioperative OAGB outcomes in three BMI groups. Operative time, length of stay (LOS), and overall early postoperative complication rates were studied. Patient‐reported complications were ranked by Clavien–Dindo Classification (CDC). Results: Between January 2017–December 2021, consecutive patients with obesity class III (n = 2950), IV (n = 256), and V (n = 23) underwent OAGB. BMI groups were comparable in sex, age, and associated comorbidities. Mean operative time was significantly longer in the higher BMI groups: class III (66.5 ± 25.6 min), IV (70.5 ± 28.7 min), and V (80.0 ± 34.7 min), respectively (p = 0.018); no difference in LOS. In respective BMI classes, ≤30‐day complication rates were 3.2%, 3.5%, and 4.3% (p = 0.926). The respective number of patients with CDC grades of one to two were 45 (1.5%), 6 (2.3%), and 1 (4.3%), p = 0.500; and in grade ≥3a, 25 (0.8%), 1 (0.4%), 0 (0.0%), p = 0.669. There was 0.06% mortality (n = 2 in 3229), both in BMI class III. Conclusions: OAGB is a safe BS procedure in patients with class III, IV, and V obesity in the perioperative term with comparable ≤30‐day morbidity in the three BMI groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported by a large body of work demonstrating the impact of infant attachment representations on subsequent development, numerous therapeutic programs have been developed to promote secure attachment, with increasing focus on parental mentalizing. Nonetheless, empirical evidence supporting their effectiveness has yet to be fully established. The current pilot study (N = 24) was designed to evaluate whether and to what extent parents' shifts in parental mentalizing following a brief attachment‐based group intervention, namely circle of security parenting (COSP; Cooper, Hoffman & Powell, 2009) can be captured using the parental embodied mentalizing instrument (PEM; Shai & Belsky, 2017). Compared to a waiting list–control group, this small‐scale study examined whether community‐based low‐risk mothers of infants aged 5–48 months show an increase in their observed PEM capacities following the intervention. Secondary self‐reported outcome variables parental stress, feeling of competence, and self‐compassion. Findings show that PEM ratings improved significantly over time in the COSP group, but not in the control group. Intervention group mother–infant dyads also presented significantly longer embodied interactions communication post intervention compared to the control group. No effects of the COSP on parental stress, competence, or self‐compassion were found. Despite the small sample size, these results tentatively suggest that COSP can improve embodied mentalizing abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: I present a database that contains information on multiple key traits for all 11,744 recognised species of squamates worldwide. The database encompasses key traits and a reasonably comprehensive picture of available public knowledge. I present comprehensive description of the sources and rationale leading to the assignment of each particular trait state for each species. I hope the dataset can serve the scientific community, promote research and understanding of the group, comparisons with other taxa, and assessment of conservation needs. Furthermore, gaps in our knowledge of squamate traits become readily apparent and will hopefully lead to further study and even better knowledge. Main types of variables contained: Morphological, ecological, life history, geographical and conservation‐related traits. Spatial location: Global. Time period: Late Holocene to recent. Major taxa and level of measurement: Squamata, species. Software format: xlsx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most glial cell types in the central nervous system (CNS) arise from neuroectodermal progenitors, some, like microglia, are mesodermally derived. To understand mesodermal glia development and function, we investigated C. elegans GLR glia, which envelop the brain neuropil and separate it from the circulatory system cavity. Transcriptome analysis shows that GLR glia combine astrocytic and endothelial characteristics, which are relegated to separate cell types in vertebrates. Combined fate acquisition is orchestrated by LET-381/FoxF, a fate-specification/maintenance transcription factor also expressed in glia and endothelia of other animals. Among LET-381/FoxF targets, the UNC-30/Pitx2 transcription factor controls GLR glia morphology and represses alternative mesodermal fates. LET-381 and UNC-30 co-expression in naive cells is sufficient for GLR glia gene expression. GLR glia inactivation by ablation or let-381 mutation disrupts locomotory behavior and promotes salt-induced paralysis, suggesting brain-neuropil activity dysregulation. Our studies uncover mechanisms of mesodermal glia development and show that like neuronal differentiation, glia differentiation requires autoregulatory terminal selector genes that define and maintain the glial fate. Synopsis: Mesodermal glia have crucial functions in the nervous system, although the mechanisms regulating their development remain elusive. Here, transcriptomic and mutational analyses identify a gene regulatory network required for specification and maintenance of mesodermally derived GLR glia in C. elegans. In let-381/FoxF null mutants, GLR glia are not specified and some GLR lineages adopt sister muscle lineage fates instead. LET-381/FoxF acts as an autoregulatory terminal selector to maintain GLR gene expression via a common cis-regulatory motif. UNC-30/Pitx2 represses head mesodermal cell fate in GLR glia and regulates GLR morphology and gene expression. GLR glia ablation results in severe motor behavior defects and salt hypersensitivity. GLR glia that envelop the C. elegans central nervous system show a mixed astrocyte/endothelial cell identity and are specified by two co-operating transcription factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level‐set‐discrete‐element‐method (LS‐DEM) was developed to overcome the shape limitation of traditional discrete element method. LS‐DEM's shape generality relies on a node‐based surface discretization of grain boundary, and it has been used to shed new light of a variety of granular mechanics applications with realistically shaped grains and structural assemblies made of unbonded building blocks. Due to the node‐based discretization of grain boundary, the original LS‐DEM is discretization‐sensitive and it suffers from divergence of the response with discretization refinement, particularly for highly compressible problems. Previous studies have identified and addressed this issue in different ways, each with its own advantages and shortcomings. Here, we propose a methodologically‐rigorous and computationally‐efficient adapted formulation which solves LS‐DEM's discretization‐sensitivity issue. It adopts the classical contact description of continuum mechanics, wherein the contact interactions are traction‐based. We demonstrate the convergence of the adapted LS‐DEM in several highly compressible cases studies, show that it is key to correctly capturing the mechanical response, and compare it to alternative formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Biallelic pathogenic variants in CAD, that encode the multienzymatic protein required for de‐novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy‐50. This rare disease, characterized by developmental delay, intractable seizures and anaemia, is amenable to treatment with uridine. We present a patient with macrocytic anaemia, elevated haemoglobin‐A2 levels, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis and target cells in the blood smear, and mild developmental delay. A next‐generation sequencing panel revealed biallelic variants in CAD. Functional studies did not support complete abrogation of protein function; however, the patient responded to uridine supplement. We conclude that biallelic hypomorphic CAD variants may cause a primarily haematological phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Israel-Hamas war, researchers conducted a study on the physiological effects of repeated bombings on reptiles. The study focused on the elegant short-fingered gecko and found that their metabolic rates were 2.3 times higher immediately after explosions compared to before. The increased metabolic costs indicate an acute stress response, which could deplete energy stores and negatively impact fitness. The study highlights the far-reaching effects of armed conflicts on biodiversity conservation and calls for armed forces to consider conservation issues during training. [Extracted from the article]

Obesity is associated with negative effects on the brain. We exploit Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to explore whether differences in clinical measurements following lifestyle interventions in overweight population could be reflected in brain morphology. In the DIRECT‐PLUS clinical trial, participants with criterion for metabolic syndrome underwent an 18‐month lifestyle intervention. Structural brain MRIs were acquired before and after the intervention. We utilized an ensemble learning framework to predict Body‐Mass Index (BMI) scores, which correspond to adiposity‐related clinical measurements from brain MRIs. We revealed that patient‐specific reduction in BMI predictions was associated with actual weight loss and was significantly higher in active diet groups compared to a control group. Moreover, explainable AI (XAI) maps highlighted brain regions contributing to BMI predictions that were distinct from regions associated with age prediction. Our DIRECT‐PLUS analysis results imply that predicted BMI and its reduction are unique neural biomarkers for obesity‐related brain modifications and weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post‐racial discourse that permeates many Western European countries depicts society as having moved beyond race concepts and classifications. This article focuses on Sweden, a country that, in line with the post‐racial thinking, declares race to be an offensive and unscientific concept. The article investigates what happens when this post‐racial discourse meets clinical research standards that encourage, if not demand, the collection of data on patient race. Through an analysis of the reporting of patient race in 76 multinational trials with at least one study site in Sweden, and a review of the regulatory and medical standards and trial documents that direct the collection of patient race in trials, we show how race classification is kept intact in trials despite conflicting with post‐racial norms and conventions. Notably, our findings diverge from the way racialisation is typically assumed to work in Sweden and related countries. We argue this is possible because the two incompatible understandings of race are 'distributed' (Mol, 2002, The body multiple: Ontology in medical practice, Duke University Press) among different social worlds. The distribution, we propose, is upheld through the paucity of major debate on why and how race classification should be carried out in clinical trials in Europe as this allows contradictions to remain unspoken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing a biodiversity crisis, and species are in danger of slipping towards extinction before having their conservation status formally determined. Australian squamates (snakes and lizards) form a highly diverse (over 1000 species) fauna, with 12% being either Data Deficient or Not Evaluated. We examined attributes of Australian squamates categorized as Data Deficient or Not Evaluated and compared key traits that are linked with threatened categories via univariate and multivariate models. We further used the machine learning model of Caetano et al. (2022, PloS Biology, 20, e3001544) to predict the putative extinction risk categories for Data Deficient and Not Evaluated Australian squamate species based on an analysis of reptiles globally. We found that Data Deficient Australian squamates are often lacking information on their drivers of threat and distribution, but not intrinsic traits or uncertain taxonomy. Data Deficient, Not Evaluated and threatened species often possess similar traits, including having small range sizes, being insular endemics and recently described, indicating that they may require some similar conservation management. Meanwhile, Not Evaluated species exhibit certain unique traits relative to evaluated species. We predicted 21% of Data Deficient and Not Evaluated species are threatened which is three times greater than currently assessed species (7%). This may indicate that a larger proportion of poorly known squamate species are more likely to be threatened than previously thought. Overall, our findings provide an important resource for the conservation management of Australian squamates by highlighting key traits and missing data, as well as providing a list of Data Deficient and Not Evaluated species that should be prioritized for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Contemporary environmental, historical and evolutionary factors are increasingly used to decipher the drivers of spatial patterns of species richness. Evidence of such correlations for Chinese reptiles is scarce and poorly understood. We therefore explored the validity of the environmental capacity, historical climatic stability and diversification rates hypotheses on Chinese lizard richness. Location: Mainland China. Taxon: Squamata: Sauria. Methods: We mapped the distribution ranges of all 237 lizards in mainland China using a combination of different datasets. We used current environmental conditions (ambient energy, environmental productivity, and habitat heterogeneity), historical climate stability indices (long term: since ~3.3 Ma and short term: since the last glacial maximum) and mean tip diversification rates, to test whether current environmental conditions, historical climate change and diversification rates drive contemporary richness patterns of lizards in China. We applied piecewise structural equation models (pSEM) to jointly evaluate our hypotheses, considering direct and indirect effects. Results: Chinese lizards showed strong latitudinal diversity gradients. We found consistent support for contemporary climatic and environmental factors relationships with richness. Richness was also positively correlated with short‐term climatic stability, but less so with long‐term stability. Diversification rates were seldom found to be positively correlated with lizard richness. Main Conclusions: Our results support the environmental capacity and historical climate hypotheses, which link high richness to highly productive warm and stable regions (and low richness to cold and unstable regions). We conclude that post‐speciation dispersal and short‐term climatic oscillations quickly swamp the long‐term signal of diversification rates and climatic fluctuations, creating strong current climate–richness associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Meat intake in masticatory dysfunction people is commonly reduced because the relatively tough texture of meat can impair mastication. Pork meat batters were prepared by different levels of bromelain (0%, 0.5% w/w), κ‐carrageenan (0.5%, 1.0% w/w), and rice berry and mung bean ratios (0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 0.5:0.5). The experiment was designed to study the effect of infusion treatments and their interaction on the properties of pork meat batter. Lower cooking losses (2.33%–3.45%) was observed in the samples with 1.0% (w/w) κ‐carrageenan. Hardness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and gumminess of samples with bromelain were lower, and higher in samples containing 1.0% (w/w) κ‐carrageenan. Bromelain also resulted in decreasing storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) values compared to nonbromelain‐treated samples. Microstructure revealed that connective tissue and muscle fibres were disrupted in bromelain‐treated meats while incorporation of plant proteins led to better binding of meat particles. These results revealed that bromelain has a potential to produce a softer texture batter, while 1.0% (w/w) κ‐carrageenan and plant proteins have potential to improve textural properties and shape a product. This implies that the effects and interactions of infusion treatments offer the possibility to improve texture‐optimised product for masticatory dysfunction people, such as elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in COVID‐19 presents challenges in patient management. Existing studies lack comprehensive review due to varied designs, samples, and demographics. A meta‐analysis can provide valuable insights into the incidence, features, and outcomes of UGIB in COVID‐19. A comprehensive literature search was carried out using several databases. We considered all appropriate observational studies from all over the world. Mantel‐Haenszel odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were produced to report the overall effect size using random effect models. Besides, Random effects models were used to calculate the overall pooled prevalence. Funnel plots, Egger regression tests, and Begg‐Mazumdar's rank correlation test were used to appraise publication bias. Data from 21 articles consisting of 26,933 COVID‐19 patients were considered. The pooled estimate of UGIB prevalence in patients admitted with COVID‐19 across studies was 2.10% (95% CI, 1.23–3.13). Similarly, the overall pooled estimate for severity, mortality, and rebleeding in COVID‐19 patients with UGIB was 55% (95% CI, 37.01–72.68), 29% (95% CI, 19.26–40.20) and 12.7% (95% CI, 7.88–18.42) respectively. Further, UGIB in COVID‐19 patients was associated with increased odds of severity (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 1.80–6.88, P = 0.001) and mortality (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.33–3.51, P = 0.002) compared with patients without UGIB. No significant publication bias was evident in the meta‐analysis. The results of our study indicate that UGIB in individuals with COVID‐19 is linked to negative outcomes such as severe illness, higher mortality rates, and an increased risk of re‐bleeding. These findings highlight the significance of identifying UGIB as a significant complication in COVID‐19 cases and emphasise the importance of timely clinical assessment and proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We created a database of lost and rediscovered tetrapod species, identified patterns in their distribution and factors influencing rediscovery. Tetrapod species are being lost at a faster rate than they are being rediscovered, due to slowing rates of rediscovery for amphibians, birds and mammals, and rapid rates of loss for reptiles. Finding lost species and preventing future losses should therefore be a conservation priority. By comparing the taxonomic and spatial distribution of lost and rediscovered tetrapod species, we have identified regions and taxa with many lost species in comparison to those that have been rediscovered—our results may help to prioritise search effort to find them. By identifying factors that influence rediscovery, we have improved our ability to broadly distinguish the types of species that are likely to be found from those that are not (because they are likely to be extinct). Some lost species, particularly those that are small and perceived to be uncharismatic, may have been neglected in terms of conservation effort, and other lost species may be hard to find due to their intrinsic characteristics and the characteristics of the environments they occupy (e.g. nocturnal species, fossorial species and species occupying habitats that are more difficult to survey such as wetlands). These lost species may genuinely await rediscovery. However, other lost species that possess characteristics associated with rediscovery (e.g. large species) and that are also associated with factors that negatively influence rediscovery (e.g. those occupying small islands) are more likely to be extinct. Our results may foster pragmatic search protocols that prioritise lost species likely to still exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fentanyl and its non‐pharmaceutical analogues (NPFs) are potent synthetic opioids, traditionally used for pain management, with ever‐increasing illicit uses. Tightening the regulation for known fentanyls leads to new synthetic analogues in the opioid market. Furthermore, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has recently issued a decision regarding aerosolized use of central nervous system (CNS)‐acting agents, such as fentanyl and its analogues, under the concern that these materials could be misused for terror or war purposes. The ever‐increasing development of new fentanyl analogues makes the task of detection and identification of these new, unknown analogues crucial. In this work, we introduce an automated tool for the detection and putative identification of "unknown" fentanyl analogues, using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) (high‐resolution mass spectrometry [HRMS]) analysis, subsequently followed by data processing using the "Compound Discoverer" software. This software, in our modified use, enabled the automatic detection of various fentanyl analogues, by "digging" out components and comparing them to pre‐calculated theoretical molecular ions of possible modifications or transformations on the fentanyl backbone structure (no library or database used). Subsequently, structural elucidation for the proposed component of interest is carried out by automated MS/MS data interpretation, as performed by the software. This method was explored on 12 fentanyl‐based "unknown" analogues used as model examples, including chemical modifications such as fluorination and methylation. In all tested compounds, automatic detection and identification were achieved, even at concentrations as low as 1 ng/mL in an environmental soil matrix extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing significant damage due to climate change and human disturbances. Consequently, restoration actions have been implemented to repair degraded reef areas. However, many restoration efforts have been hindered by severe environmental conditions, which can hamper restoration success and create challenges in developing cost‐effective coral reef restoration methods. To address this, we conducted a study to test a low‐cost reef restoration tool known as "framed reef modules" (FRMs), specifically aiming to mitigate the impacts of typhoons. We measured the growth rates (after 300 days) and survivorship (after 400 days) of Acropora hyacinthus and A. microphthalma fragments located at different distances from substrates (H0, H10, H30, and H45). The FRMs were exposed to multiple typhoons, and despite the harsh conditions, they remained undamaged. For comparison, we also examined basalt grid plates buried in gravel. After 400 days, the H45 FRMs showed the highest survival rates (A. hyacinthus 86% and A. microphthalma 90%) compared to H30 FRMs (A. hyacinthus 80% and A. microphthalma 84%), H10 FRMs (A. hyacinthus 4% and A. microphthalma 24%), and H0 FRMs (A. hyacinthus 3% and A. microphthalma 22%). It was found that transplanted corals with a height of at least 30 cm from the substrate demonstrated resilience against impacts caused by macroalgae, turf algae, and sedimentation rates. This study showed the effectiveness of an ecological engineering approach using FRMs to enhance the three‐dimensional complexity of restored reefs and rehabilitate coral reefs damaged by typhoons. Furthermore, this method offered reduced costs and improved reef resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing data regarding the link between COVID‐19 vaccine and myasthenia gravis (MG) are scarce. We aimed to assess the association between Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine with both new‐onset MG and MG exacerbation. Methods: For the first aim, we conducted a nested case–control study in a cohort of 3,052,467 adults, without a diagnosis of MG, from the largest healthcare provider in Israel. Subjects were followed from January 1, 2021 until June 30, 2022 for the occurrence of MG. Ten randomly selected controls were matched to each case of new‐onset MG on age and sex. For the second aim, a nested case–control study was conducted in a cohort of 1446 MG patients. Four randomly selected MG patients (controls) were matched to each case of MG exacerbation. Exposure to COVID‐19 vaccine in the prior 4 weeks was assessed in cases and controls. Results: Overall, 332 patients had new‐onset MG and were matched with 3320 controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression models showed that the odds ratio (OR) for new‐onset MG, associated with COVID‐19 vaccine, was 1.14 (95% CI 0.73–1.78). The results were consistent in sensitivity analysis that used more stringent criteria to define MG. Overall, 62 patients with MG exacerbation were matched to 248 MG controls. The multivariable OR for MG exacerbation, associated with COVID‐19 vaccine, was 1.35 (95% CI 0.37–4.89). All results were similar when the prior exposure to COVID‐19 vaccine was extended to 8 weeks. Conclusion: This study suggests that Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine is not associated with increased risk of new‐onset nor exacerbation of MG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papilledema is thought to be the hallmark sign of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Distension of the subarachnoid space within the optic nerve sheath is also commonly reported in MR studies as an indirect sign of increased ICP. Hypothesis: General anesthesia and positive pressure ventilation might result in changes in optic sheath diameter (OSD) observed on clinical brain MRI. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: One hundred forty‐five patients (154 MRI scans, 7.3 years ± 5.1); 97 studies in the anesthesia group (4.4 years ± 3.4) of which 22 had papilledema, and 57 in the non‐anesthesia group (12.3 years ± 3.2), of which 28 had papilledema. Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5T or 3.0T volumetric T2 images. T2 images were obtained from different vendors. Assessment: OSD, optic nerve diameter (OND), and peri‐optic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured manually on T2‐weighted MR images for various population subgroups (with and without anesthesia; with or without papilledema). The correlation between these measurements and the clinical diagnosis of papilledema was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Statistical Tests: Chi‐square test; Mann–Whitney Test; Spearman's test and ROCs; Interclass correlation coefficient, P = 0.05. Results: General anesthesia resulted in significantly larger mean OSD in patients with or without papilledema (7.3 ± 1.0 mm vs. 6.1 ± 1.1 mm and 6.7 ± 1.0 mm vs. 5.4 ± 0.9 mm, respectively). In the non‐anesthesia group, the average OSD values (6.1 ± 1.1 mm) were significantly higher in papilledema patients compared to non‐papilledema patients (5.4 ± 0.9 mm), with larger peri‐optic CSF rim (1.6 ± 0.4 mm vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 mm). In the anesthesia group, OND was significantly larger in papilledema patients (3.4 ± 0.4 mm vs. 3.1 ± 0.5 mm), though the average peri‐optic CSF rim did not reach a significance in papilledema compared with non‐papilledema patients (2.0 ± 0.3 mm vs. 1.8 ± 0.4 mm, P = 0.06). In patients with general anesthesia, peri‐optic CSF rim had a limited correlation with increased ICP. Data Conclusion: In the pediatric population, imaging findings of increased OSD on brain MRI might be related to general anesthesia rather than increased ICP. The interpretation of optic nerve sheath distention should be reported cautiously in conjunction with anesthesia status, especially in the pediatric population. Evidence Level: 4 Technical Efficacy: 5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In animals, the success of particular lineages can be measured in terms of their number of species, the extent of their geographic range, the breadth of their habitats and ecological niches, and the diversity of their morphological and life‐history traits. Here, we review the distribution, ecology, morphology and life history of skinks, a diverse lineage of terrestrial vertebrates. We compared key traits between the three subfamilies of skinks, and between skinks and non‐scincid lizards. There are currently 1743 described species of skink, which represent 24% of global lizard diversity. Since 2010, 16% of lizard descriptions have been of skinks. The centres of skink diversity are in Australia, New Guinea, southeast Asia, Oceania, Madagascar and central Africa. Compared with non‐scincid lizards, skinks have larger distributional ranges, but smaller body sizes. Sexual size dimorphism is rare in skinks. Almost a quarter (23%) of skinks exhibit limb reduction or loss, compared with just 3% of non‐scincid lizards. Skinks are more likely to be viviparous (34% of species) compared with non‐scincids (13%), and have higher clutch/litter sizes than non‐scincids. Although skinks mature later than non‐scincids, their longevity is similar to that exhibited by other lizard groups. Most skinks (88%) are active foragers, and they are more likely to be carnivorous than non‐scincids. Skinks are more likely to be diurnal or cathemeral than other lizard groups, but they generally have lower field body temperatures compared with non‐scincids. The success of skinks appears to be both a result of them hitting upon a winning body plan and ecology, and their capacity to regularly deviate from this body plan and adapt their ecology and life history (e.g. repeated limb reduction and loss, transitions to viviparity) to prevailing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative breeding (i.e. when alloparents care for the offspring of other group members) has been studied for nearly a century. Yet, inconsistent definitions of this breeding system still hamper comparative research. Here, we identify two major inconsistencies, discuss their consequences and propose a way forward. First, some researchers restrict the term 'cooperative breeding' to species with non‐breeding alloparents. We show that such restrictive definitions lack distinct quantitative criteria to define non‐breeding alloparents. This ambiguity, we argue, reflects the reproductive‐sharing continuum among cooperatively breeding species. We therefore suggest that cooperative breeding should not be restricted to the few species with extreme reproductive skew and should be defined independent of the reproductive status of alloparents. Second, definitions rarely specify the type, extent and prevalence of alloparental care required to classify species as cooperative breeders. We thus analysed published data to propose qualitative and quantitative criteria for alloparental care. We conclude by proposing the following operational definition: cooperative breeding is a reproductive system where >5% of broods/litters in at least one population receive species‐typical parental care and conspecifics provide proactive alloparental care that fulfils >5% of at least one type of the offspring's needs. This operational definition is designed to increase comparability across species and disciplines while allowing to study the intriguing phenomenon of cooperative breeding as a behaviour with multiple dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network analysis provides a powerful framework to study the complexity underlying the structure, dynamics and function of ecological systems. By now, analysing single‐layered networks is a common practice with clear guidelines and well‐established computational tools. Nevertheless, ecological communities are multilayered because they vary over space and time and contain multiple types of interactions. In recent years, the analysis of ecological multilayer networks (EMLNs) has allowed researchers to include such multilayered complexity. However, there is a paucity of practical guidelines and standardised tools to handle EMLN data, even before downstream analysis.In this article, we accomplish three objectives: (1) We provide practical guidelines for handling EMLN data. (2) We developed the EMLN R package to standardise the workflow of creating, storing and working with EMLN objects. The package also enables conversion between multiple formats for downstream analysis with other standard packages. (3) We provide EMLN data sets for research and training purposes.A dedicated website with explanations, detailed examples and code accompanies our paper. This website is a gateway for novice and experienced network ecologists who want to include EMLNs in their research.By simplifying the analysis of multilayer networks and promoting standardised approaches, we facilitate the analysis of EMLNs. This paves the road towards gaining deeper insights into functioning and resilience of natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective perceptions of inequality can substantially influence policy attitudes, public health metrics, and societal well‐being, but the lack of consensus in the scientific community on how to best operationalize and measure these perceptions may impede progress on the topic. Here, we provide a theoretical framework for the study of subjective perceptions of inequality, which brings critical differences to light. This framework—which we conceptualize as a series of four guiding questions for studying subjective perceptions of economic inequality—serves as a blueprint for the theoretical and empirical decisions researchers need to address in the study of when, how, and why subjective perceptions of inequality are consequential for individuals, groups, and societies. To lay the foundation for a comprehensive approach to the topic, we offer four theoretical and empirical decisions in studying subjective perceptions of inequality, urging researchers to specify: (1) What kind of inequality? (2) What level of analysis? (3) What part of the distribution? and (4) What comparison group? We subsequently discuss how this framework can be used to organize existing research and highlight its utility in guiding future research across the social sciences in both the theory and measurement of subjective perceptions of inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a prominent fruit with rich genetic resources for crop improvement. By using a phenotype‐guided screen of over 7900 tomato accessions from around the world, we identified new associations for complex traits such as fruit weight and total soluble solids (Brix). Here, we present the phenotypic data from several years of trials. To illustrate the power of this dataset we use two case studies. First, evaluation of color revealed allelic variation in phytoene synthase 1 that resulted in differently colored or even bicolored fruit. Secondly, in view of the negative relationship between fruit weight and Brix, we pre‐selected a subset of the collection that includes high and low Brix values in each category of fruit size. Genome‐wide association analysis allowed us to detect novel loci associated with total soluble solid content and fruit weight. In addition, we developed eight F2 biparental intraspecific populations. Furthermore, by taking a phenotype‐guided approach we were able to isolate individuals with high Brix values that were not compromised in terms of yield. In addition, the demonstration of novel results despite the high number of previous genome‐wide association studies of these traits in tomato suggests that adoption of a phenotype‐guided pre‐selection of germplasm may represent a useful strategy for finding target genes for breeding. Significant Statement: Fruit weight and total soluble solid content are key components of yield and taste in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we present a tomato collection of over 7900 accessions from around the world. In addition, we used two sub‐populations and identified new associations for complex traits such as fruit weight and total soluble solids (Brix). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Right middle lobe (RML) syndrome is a recurrent or chronic obstruction of the RML causing atelectasis of the right middle lobe due to mechanical and nonmechanical etiologies. The consequences of untreated RML syndrome range from chronic cough to post‐obstructive pneumonia and bronchiectasis. We report here our bronchoscopy experience in patients with RML syndrome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients who underwent bronchoscopy for RML syndrome at Rabin Medical Center from 2008 through 2022. Demographic data and medical history, bronchoscopy findings and procedures, and follow‐up results were collected. Results: A total of 66 patients (57.6% male, mean age 63 ± 13 years) underwent bronchoscopy for RML syndrome during the study period. Bronchoscopy revealed a mechanical etiology in 49 (74.2%) cases, including endobronchial mass (21, 31.8%) and external compression (7, 10.6%). Malignancy was identified in 20 (30.3%) cases. In 62 patients (93.9%), the bronchoscopy resulted in partial or complete reopening of the RML bronchus. The therapeutic bronchoscopic procedures were balloon dilatation (19), laser ablation (17), mechanical debridement (12), endobronchial stent insertion (11), and cryoablation (6). Conclusions: Malignancy was identified as the etiology of RML syndrome in approximately 25% of cases, suggesting bronchoscopy should be performed in every case of RML atelectasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported series of endobronchial stenting of the RML bronchus in the context of RML syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]